So this weekend my son and I went to see Captain America: Civil War and I am happy to say that the film was AWESOME and a shinning example of why the Marvel films have been so successful and why the DC films have not.
ONE WORD: Consistency.
Now we take the earlier DC films, Tim Burton Batman, and most arguably the first and most successful of the superhero movies from the early 90s. The films have the same star, same tone and feeling through out and in the end the films were fun and well planned out. Then we fall into the fiasco of the changing of the guard, Kilmer and Clooney, and the slow downhill slide of the Batman Franchise. Then we have Chris Nolan and his Dark Knight Trilogy and the reinvention of Batman. WELL DONE! Each other films are well thought out and the characters are consistent from one film to another (Yes even though Rachel was changed from one film to another the tone of the character remained the same). The films were the perfect story arch and ended on the same note that they ended, siting Chris Nolan as a genius. Now we have the DC Superman Vs Batman, a clear lead into Justice League movies and an attempt to build a Marvel style franchise. Now anyone who loves comic book movies could see the absolute failure that was about to come but let me break this down so everyone can get on board.
Problem number one:
Time
Marvel has been pumping their films for nearly ten years. They started with Iron Man and continued building through seve story lines, nearly ten movies, and character backgrounds that not only have remained true through each film but each with an Easter egg (post and mid credit scenes) that wet an appetite for things to come. Doing something like this is a task that only few movie powerhouses could pull off and love them or hate them true fans go and see each film because without each film the Avengers one and Two and Civil War could never have happened
Problem number Two:
BACKGROUND!
Civil War introduced three new characters this turn, spider man, black panther, and Crossbones. Now with Spider Man and Black Panther the director took the time to lead in characters with a little bit of story and background, enough so that the audience understands not only how they got involved but why. With Crossbones this was a continuation from the Winter Soldier movie and thus ended his story line. Other new characters like Ant-Man and War Machine had several movies to build their characters and their reasons for being there and fighting on the sides that they did. The directors took the time to include small things that go a long way to lend toward the credibility of the film and this is a constant state within all Marvel films. The problem with Batman Vs Superman is that they are attempting to cram ten years worth of film in a 120 minutes of film and that's not possible. New characters such as Auqaman, Wonder Woman, Doomsday are introduced with hardly any intro background and foundation. Further more we're supposed to be catching these characters much later in their hero ethos and the film does not reflect that because you are introducing a new universe into an already established franchise, meaning you're trying to ad more to a standard that was already pretty perfect, thus, they break the film and it turns out like crap.
Problem Number Three:
Fanboys and the Geek Nation
Now there will NEVER be a film that satisfies everyone. NEVER. There will be little problems here and there that people will fight and disagree with. This is very true with Marvel and DC but where Marvel remains consistent is the idea that these films are sticking with a certain comic book series and are leading up to an epic such as the Infinity Stone saga. Batman Vs Superman rather combined five or six different comic book series with the intention of leading up to the Justice League, the only problem is they did it badly and left huge gaps in the film that were about the size of the grand canyon. Again all of this reflects back onto time and background but it seemed that this concept was rush on behalf of the Batman Vs Superman production team. This will sadly be reflected in the Suicide Squad as it seems most people are more caught up in the Joker, a character NOT in the main set of the Suicide Squad, and more of a secondary role in the comics and the film. Let's hope that I'm wrong.
The long and the short of it is Marvel and Disney have dedicated YEARS to these films and are producing gold. From Iron Man, Hulk, Captain America, Thor, Ant Man and Guardians of the Galaxy each film has complemented the last and has inevitably led up to Thanos and the Infinity Stones. The films have set records, broke those records, and set more. The concept of the story, background, and character arcs are firmly grounded in the formula of success and I'm afraid that this will be one that Dc WONT be able to copy.
Any, just my opinion
J.
Monday, May 9, 2016
Friday, April 29, 2016
Point Break and the curse of the millennial remake
Hey guys and dolls, I know it's been sometime since I wrote anything but trust me there's been so much going on in my personal life that it has been almost impossible to do anything but adult. However, I could not pass up posting something on the new Point Break film and how it is an exact representation with what the hell is going on in America today...
Point Break:
Now this film was screwed from the get go with me. I love the original and could watch it once a day for the rest of my life. Why? Because it's not too in depth to be a great dramatic film, like Silence of the Lambs, but it is exactly what a guy needs to be entertained. Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze are gold as the two male leads, the spiritual surfer and the FBI agent, who go head to head in 90 minutes of awesome. To say that the new film falls short is kind of an understatement.
But
Before I start with the bad, I'll go with what I did like about the film.
The Good:
The film is visually stunning. The film's scenes range from deep blue oceans to snow topped peaks and everything in between. The stunts are also action packed, from flying suits to free climbing huge cliffs, but that's just about where the good ends.
The Bad:
First lets look at the players. Keanu Reeves as Johnny Utah. In the original film Johnny Utah is a former football player who is injured and instead of NFL glory joins the FBI instead. He is young and cocky but is open to strange ideas of bank robbing that are presented to him by Pappas (played by Gary Busey in the original). Pappas is the old mentor that guides Johnny through the trials of getting too in deep with his cover and too involved with his prey. He's the grilled old timer that is hard nosed and bad ass with a little sense of humor on the side. There's Tyler, played by Lori Petty, is the hot surfer girl who teaches Johnny about surfing and introduces him to Bodhi. Bodhi, Patrick Swayze, is the spiritual surfer/gang leader who teaches Johnny how to know himself, the waves, and then kid naps his girl and almost kills him several times. All in all the plot is just as deep as it needs too and thus the cult hit/guy's movie that is really worth your time.
Now fast forward to 2016
Johnny Utah has gone from former athlete to EXTREME athlete. There is no more Tyler, rather some hot chick named Samsara that serves almost NO purpose in the film. Pappas also has no purpose in the film and no back story, and Bodhi has gone from spiritual surfer to nut job eco terrorist. The plot is Utah is an FBI agent who understands that a series of robberies are connected to some extreme ritual that will gain them enlightenment. Along the way they give billions of stolen loot to poor people so they are good guys/bad guys in the process. The film's action (apart from the stunts) is subpar at best. The strongest scene is a bank robbery which was fubar from the get go and the final mountain climbing scene which is pretty much pointless. Because Utah knows how to surf there is no purpose for Tyler and because they changed Pappas from FBI to interpol there is a total of maybe ten lines for what was a main character in the film. Bodhi and Utah have some kind of weird bro-mance that completely avoids putting blame on either the FBI agent who is allowed to break the law and run around the globe, and the nut job surfer turned eco-terrorist.
AND that's my point to this whole thing, the entire film had purpose, could have been a good flick, but had no heart an soul whatsoever. The characters are all shallow, sub par, and by the end of the film it's revealed that they knew Johnny Utah was a cop the whole time. WHAT THE HELL? To add insult to injury the whole film is pretty much a millennial's wet dream. How so? It's all about right now, there's no background, there's no depth, and it's got a bunch of girls in bikinis. To add gas to the flame there is this whole PC line of political correctness as Bodhi and his crew "give back to the earth" by killing some innocent drivers and guards and by giving a bunch of poor people stolen money and diamonds. BUT THAT'S IT! There's almost no explanation of why they are eco terrorists and why they chose those targets or why anything.
An example of this is one scene where Utah sneaks his way into some secret fight club thing. He fights Bodhi for some odd reason that is never explained and then is told he's not good enough as Bodhi leaves. Alright Fight Club the film was about men trying to be men again, soap, and trying to bring down the system. This scene has no point, no explanation, and seems to just be a reason for Johnny Utah to take off his shirt and show off his "tats". That's pretty much the film in the film in a nut shell. Johnny spends four or five days with these guys, bonds with them mystically, and then stabs them in the back, In the end Johnny and Bodhi have some bro moment on a boat and then the film ends just as the original. Sad, but the lowest point of the film is where they redo the famous shoot the gun in the air scene where Utah just can't bring himself to shoot Bodhi. The only problem is in this scene again there is no heart, no soul, no depth. Johnny fell down, got a boo boo and Johnny just stares at Bodhi for a second and then shoots in the air.
Another pointless element is the love interest Samsara. She has a total of three scenes with the main character and then there is a plot twist (I really want to reveal but I won't) and then she is gone. She says two or three hippy lines, confesses a portion of the plot (badly) and then sleeps with our hero, again utterly hopeless.
All in all this film ranks right up there with the Red Dawn remake. It's an MTV adaption of a good film that will completely ruin the franchise for generations to come. Thanks Hollywood, thanks a alot. If you wanted to make a better film, you should have spent less money of CGI and stunts and spent a little more time on plot and story.
Point Break:
Now this film was screwed from the get go with me. I love the original and could watch it once a day for the rest of my life. Why? Because it's not too in depth to be a great dramatic film, like Silence of the Lambs, but it is exactly what a guy needs to be entertained. Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze are gold as the two male leads, the spiritual surfer and the FBI agent, who go head to head in 90 minutes of awesome. To say that the new film falls short is kind of an understatement.
But
Before I start with the bad, I'll go with what I did like about the film.
The Good:
The film is visually stunning. The film's scenes range from deep blue oceans to snow topped peaks and everything in between. The stunts are also action packed, from flying suits to free climbing huge cliffs, but that's just about where the good ends.
The Bad:
First lets look at the players. Keanu Reeves as Johnny Utah. In the original film Johnny Utah is a former football player who is injured and instead of NFL glory joins the FBI instead. He is young and cocky but is open to strange ideas of bank robbing that are presented to him by Pappas (played by Gary Busey in the original). Pappas is the old mentor that guides Johnny through the trials of getting too in deep with his cover and too involved with his prey. He's the grilled old timer that is hard nosed and bad ass with a little sense of humor on the side. There's Tyler, played by Lori Petty, is the hot surfer girl who teaches Johnny about surfing and introduces him to Bodhi. Bodhi, Patrick Swayze, is the spiritual surfer/gang leader who teaches Johnny how to know himself, the waves, and then kid naps his girl and almost kills him several times. All in all the plot is just as deep as it needs too and thus the cult hit/guy's movie that is really worth your time.
Now fast forward to 2016
Johnny Utah has gone from former athlete to EXTREME athlete. There is no more Tyler, rather some hot chick named Samsara that serves almost NO purpose in the film. Pappas also has no purpose in the film and no back story, and Bodhi has gone from spiritual surfer to nut job eco terrorist. The plot is Utah is an FBI agent who understands that a series of robberies are connected to some extreme ritual that will gain them enlightenment. Along the way they give billions of stolen loot to poor people so they are good guys/bad guys in the process. The film's action (apart from the stunts) is subpar at best. The strongest scene is a bank robbery which was fubar from the get go and the final mountain climbing scene which is pretty much pointless. Because Utah knows how to surf there is no purpose for Tyler and because they changed Pappas from FBI to interpol there is a total of maybe ten lines for what was a main character in the film. Bodhi and Utah have some kind of weird bro-mance that completely avoids putting blame on either the FBI agent who is allowed to break the law and run around the globe, and the nut job surfer turned eco-terrorist.
AND that's my point to this whole thing, the entire film had purpose, could have been a good flick, but had no heart an soul whatsoever. The characters are all shallow, sub par, and by the end of the film it's revealed that they knew Johnny Utah was a cop the whole time. WHAT THE HELL? To add insult to injury the whole film is pretty much a millennial's wet dream. How so? It's all about right now, there's no background, there's no depth, and it's got a bunch of girls in bikinis. To add gas to the flame there is this whole PC line of political correctness as Bodhi and his crew "give back to the earth" by killing some innocent drivers and guards and by giving a bunch of poor people stolen money and diamonds. BUT THAT'S IT! There's almost no explanation of why they are eco terrorists and why they chose those targets or why anything.
An example of this is one scene where Utah sneaks his way into some secret fight club thing. He fights Bodhi for some odd reason that is never explained and then is told he's not good enough as Bodhi leaves. Alright Fight Club the film was about men trying to be men again, soap, and trying to bring down the system. This scene has no point, no explanation, and seems to just be a reason for Johnny Utah to take off his shirt and show off his "tats". That's pretty much the film in the film in a nut shell. Johnny spends four or five days with these guys, bonds with them mystically, and then stabs them in the back, In the end Johnny and Bodhi have some bro moment on a boat and then the film ends just as the original. Sad, but the lowest point of the film is where they redo the famous shoot the gun in the air scene where Utah just can't bring himself to shoot Bodhi. The only problem is in this scene again there is no heart, no soul, no depth. Johnny fell down, got a boo boo and Johnny just stares at Bodhi for a second and then shoots in the air.
Another pointless element is the love interest Samsara. She has a total of three scenes with the main character and then there is a plot twist (I really want to reveal but I won't) and then she is gone. She says two or three hippy lines, confesses a portion of the plot (badly) and then sleeps with our hero, again utterly hopeless.
All in all this film ranks right up there with the Red Dawn remake. It's an MTV adaption of a good film that will completely ruin the franchise for generations to come. Thanks Hollywood, thanks a alot. If you wanted to make a better film, you should have spent less money of CGI and stunts and spent a little more time on plot and story.
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
Entertainment Weekly's Top 100
Note: This is an old blog, but as I am not blogging regularly (I have blog constipation) I thought this would be a good lead in for starting up again. I will punch through each genre when I can in hopes of completing the list soon.
So...here...we....go.
Today my copy of Entertainment Weekly arrived boasting the "The 100 All-Time Greatest", or in laymen terms the top 100 all time movies, books, tv shows, plays, and albums. Now while I can't claim to be an expert in anything other than personal opinion but I found their lists of films very safe and very disappointing. When opening the film portion of the article and seeing that the number one film was Citizen Kane, I could already tell everything after would not meet my expectations and here's why.
For those of you who have not seen Citizen Kane, God truly loves you, is about an empire mogul his rise to power and his climatic downfall. The film is epic because Orson Welles, the director and star, designs film techniques that become standards of how every film that came after Kane was to be directed and filmed. Citizen Kane is not epic because of the plot, which was based off the real life several tycoons of the time including William Randolph Hearst, and was just enough to have Mr. Hearst set to ruining Welle's life. Now for many years Citizen Kane has been hailed as the all time top film but in recent poles the film has been replaced by Hitchcock's Vertigo, which really is both a masterpiece to other film makers and a really good film; but Citizen Kane will always remain the safe choice for pop culture's search for the ultimate film. Just because it's safe doesn't mean its true.
Now it is my personal belief that it is almost impossible to list films by looping them all together in one grand list. The evolution of film has divided film into different genres and as a turn of that each genre effects film differently. Admittedly there are some films that do defy this notion and are stand out masterpieces but such films are rare and their appearances in film rock a generation. So to ease my mind, and to have something to blog about, I intend to create my own list of my personal choices for the top ten films in each genre. This will not be a perfect list and truthfully you may disagree, but as stated at the end of each of my blogs these words written within are just my opinions and not fact.
So, here we go: 1....2....3....
Westerns:
1: The Searchers (1956)
Directed by John Ford
Starring: John Wayne
A brutal truth and an unrelenting search for a civil war veteran's niece who has been captured by Indians. This film is truly definitive for both Ford and Wayne as audiences are treated to the hard nosed acting styles of John Wayne and the sweeping pans of western landscapes provided by Ford. Though this is not the first of the last film for the pair it is one of the most memorable.
2: High Noon (1952)
Directed by Fred Zinnermann
Starring: Gary Cooper
A marshal stands alone against a viscous gang, bent on revenge, while the town around him refuses to help. This is probably the first real shot at realism in the western genre and it was penned by Carl Foreman, a black listed writer, and directed by an outcast director. The film was not well received by peers within the industry, such as John Ford and John Wayne, and well respected by audiences who witnessed a truth never seen before by heroic films that happened in the past.
3: The Shootist (1976)
Directed by Don Siegel
Starring: John Wayne
A dying gunfighter spends his last days looking for a way to die in the least amount of pain and the maximum amount of dignity. This the last of John Wayne's films and massive honor to the memory of a man who dedicated his life to film. The film also stars Lauren Bacall, and Ron Howard and is a gem to any lover of the genre.
4: The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976)
Directed by Clint Eastwood
Starring: Clint Eastwood
A Missouri farmer joins Confederate guerrillas and winds up on the run from the very same soldiers who killed his family. This is Clint's fifth film he directed and one of his best. Filled with action that becomes common place in the remainder of Clint's films, Josey Wales sets the tone for what would become a stellar career in film.
5: Unforgiven (1992)
Directed by Clint Eastwood
Starring: Clint Eastwood
Clint Eastwood's last feature western stands out alone as his best. The aging gunfighter steps up to avenge the abuse of a whore and discovers that some talents don't fade and some men just need to be killed. The film also stars Morgan Freeman and Gene Hackman and is a true homage to everything from the earlier Italian westerns to the westerns he directed himself.
6: The Magnificent Seven (1960)
Directed by John Sturges
Starring: Yul Brynner
An oppressed Mexican village turns to a group of skilled gunfighters to help them stand against an army of bandits. This is the American version of the classic film the Seven Samurai and though the film is not as perfect as the Samurai but it does manage to get the blood pumping in the way only a good Western can. Yul Brenner stands tall as the classic gunfighter and with the aide of such acting giants as Charles Bronson and Steve McQueen, this film goes down as just a flat out good time.
7: Lonesome Dove (1989)
Now I know this isn't a film strictly speaking but it is one of the most hailed made for tv films ever! Starring Tommy Lee Jones, Robert Duvall, and Danny Glover, this film stands as a shinning showcase for Larry McMurtry's literary wonder. The stars perform wonders in the six hour teleplay that brings words to life in a way never seen before in prime time television.
8: Open Range (2003)
Directed by Kevin Costner
Starring: Robert Duvall, Kevin Costner.
A former gunslinger stands up against a corrupt landowner when the landowner threatens his cattle crew. Another stroke of realism in the western films, the singing cowboy becomes a distant memory as Kevin Costner wears the chaps and plays Charley Waite. Taking a lead from John Ford, Costner showcases the land, the people, and everything in between in this tale of men standing against oppression and corruption. If you're a stranger to the Western genre, this film is a good one to cut your teeth on.
9: Appaloosa (2008)
Directed by Ed Harris
Starring: Ed Harris, Viggo Mortensen
Taking a note from their collaboration in A History of Violence, Ed Harris and Viggo Mortensen team up again in this hit western that bring audiences back to a simpler story and a simpler time in the old west. Though Ed Harris is known for his tics and craziness when getting into character, his directorial style shines in this realistic and gritty telling of a friendship as seen through the eyes of Viggo's character Everett Hitch. The film is a sure fire explosion of action, drama, and a smooth style that again pays tribute to the John Wayne films of past.
10: Tombstone (1993)
Directed by George P. Cosmatos
Starring: Kurt Russell, Val Kilmer
Now George P. Cosmatos was not a legendary director by any means. He directed a Rambo film, several of Stallone's lacking action films, so it's easy to say that Tombstone was his peak performance behind the camera. He is helped out by Kurt Russel in his portrait of Wyatt Earp and Val Kilmer with is knock out showing of Doc Holiday. Add to the mix such power house talents like Sam Elliott and Powers Booth and there is the perfect western film for new fans to cut their teeth on.
So...here...we....go.
Today my copy of Entertainment Weekly arrived boasting the "The 100 All-Time Greatest", or in laymen terms the top 100 all time movies, books, tv shows, plays, and albums. Now while I can't claim to be an expert in anything other than personal opinion but I found their lists of films very safe and very disappointing. When opening the film portion of the article and seeing that the number one film was Citizen Kane, I could already tell everything after would not meet my expectations and here's why.
For those of you who have not seen Citizen Kane, God truly loves you, is about an empire mogul his rise to power and his climatic downfall. The film is epic because Orson Welles, the director and star, designs film techniques that become standards of how every film that came after Kane was to be directed and filmed. Citizen Kane is not epic because of the plot, which was based off the real life several tycoons of the time including William Randolph Hearst, and was just enough to have Mr. Hearst set to ruining Welle's life. Now for many years Citizen Kane has been hailed as the all time top film but in recent poles the film has been replaced by Hitchcock's Vertigo, which really is both a masterpiece to other film makers and a really good film; but Citizen Kane will always remain the safe choice for pop culture's search for the ultimate film. Just because it's safe doesn't mean its true.
Now it is my personal belief that it is almost impossible to list films by looping them all together in one grand list. The evolution of film has divided film into different genres and as a turn of that each genre effects film differently. Admittedly there are some films that do defy this notion and are stand out masterpieces but such films are rare and their appearances in film rock a generation. So to ease my mind, and to have something to blog about, I intend to create my own list of my personal choices for the top ten films in each genre. This will not be a perfect list and truthfully you may disagree, but as stated at the end of each of my blogs these words written within are just my opinions and not fact.
So, here we go: 1....2....3....
Westerns:
1: The Searchers (1956)
Directed by John Ford
Starring: John Wayne
A brutal truth and an unrelenting search for a civil war veteran's niece who has been captured by Indians. This film is truly definitive for both Ford and Wayne as audiences are treated to the hard nosed acting styles of John Wayne and the sweeping pans of western landscapes provided by Ford. Though this is not the first of the last film for the pair it is one of the most memorable.
2: High Noon (1952)
Directed by Fred Zinnermann
Starring: Gary Cooper
A marshal stands alone against a viscous gang, bent on revenge, while the town around him refuses to help. This is probably the first real shot at realism in the western genre and it was penned by Carl Foreman, a black listed writer, and directed by an outcast director. The film was not well received by peers within the industry, such as John Ford and John Wayne, and well respected by audiences who witnessed a truth never seen before by heroic films that happened in the past.
3: The Shootist (1976)
Directed by Don Siegel
Starring: John Wayne
A dying gunfighter spends his last days looking for a way to die in the least amount of pain and the maximum amount of dignity. This the last of John Wayne's films and massive honor to the memory of a man who dedicated his life to film. The film also stars Lauren Bacall, and Ron Howard and is a gem to any lover of the genre.
4: The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976)
Directed by Clint Eastwood
Starring: Clint Eastwood
A Missouri farmer joins Confederate guerrillas and winds up on the run from the very same soldiers who killed his family. This is Clint's fifth film he directed and one of his best. Filled with action that becomes common place in the remainder of Clint's films, Josey Wales sets the tone for what would become a stellar career in film.
5: Unforgiven (1992)
Directed by Clint Eastwood
Starring: Clint Eastwood
Clint Eastwood's last feature western stands out alone as his best. The aging gunfighter steps up to avenge the abuse of a whore and discovers that some talents don't fade and some men just need to be killed. The film also stars Morgan Freeman and Gene Hackman and is a true homage to everything from the earlier Italian westerns to the westerns he directed himself.
6: The Magnificent Seven (1960)
Directed by John Sturges
Starring: Yul Brynner
An oppressed Mexican village turns to a group of skilled gunfighters to help them stand against an army of bandits. This is the American version of the classic film the Seven Samurai and though the film is not as perfect as the Samurai but it does manage to get the blood pumping in the way only a good Western can. Yul Brenner stands tall as the classic gunfighter and with the aide of such acting giants as Charles Bronson and Steve McQueen, this film goes down as just a flat out good time.
7: Lonesome Dove (1989)
Now I know this isn't a film strictly speaking but it is one of the most hailed made for tv films ever! Starring Tommy Lee Jones, Robert Duvall, and Danny Glover, this film stands as a shinning showcase for Larry McMurtry's literary wonder. The stars perform wonders in the six hour teleplay that brings words to life in a way never seen before in prime time television.
8: Open Range (2003)
Directed by Kevin Costner
Starring: Robert Duvall, Kevin Costner.
A former gunslinger stands up against a corrupt landowner when the landowner threatens his cattle crew. Another stroke of realism in the western films, the singing cowboy becomes a distant memory as Kevin Costner wears the chaps and plays Charley Waite. Taking a lead from John Ford, Costner showcases the land, the people, and everything in between in this tale of men standing against oppression and corruption. If you're a stranger to the Western genre, this film is a good one to cut your teeth on.
9: Appaloosa (2008)
Directed by Ed Harris
Starring: Ed Harris, Viggo Mortensen
Taking a note from their collaboration in A History of Violence, Ed Harris and Viggo Mortensen team up again in this hit western that bring audiences back to a simpler story and a simpler time in the old west. Though Ed Harris is known for his tics and craziness when getting into character, his directorial style shines in this realistic and gritty telling of a friendship as seen through the eyes of Viggo's character Everett Hitch. The film is a sure fire explosion of action, drama, and a smooth style that again pays tribute to the John Wayne films of past.
10: Tombstone (1993)
Directed by George P. Cosmatos
Starring: Kurt Russell, Val Kilmer
Now George P. Cosmatos was not a legendary director by any means. He directed a Rambo film, several of Stallone's lacking action films, so it's easy to say that Tombstone was his peak performance behind the camera. He is helped out by Kurt Russel in his portrait of Wyatt Earp and Val Kilmer with is knock out showing of Doc Holiday. Add to the mix such power house talents like Sam Elliott and Powers Booth and there is the perfect western film for new fans to cut their teeth on.
Thursday, March 5, 2015
Dracula and The Curse of the 120 Minute Movie
Dracula Untold
Today I got Dracula untold, starring Luke Evans, and I have to say I'm pretty happy. The film is a background on the young Dracula and instead of making him the villain of the story, he is the hero of his people. While this may be hard for some people to swallow, just due to pop culture and what is considered the norm, I found it a refreshing take on an old legend. The film also stars Charles Dance, Game of Thrones, as the Master Vampire and I was happy to see the actor completely throw himself into the point where you stop seeing the monster and start hearing Tywin Lannister. The film actions sequences are well times and the special effects are well done and all in all the film was a solid 3.5 on a scale of five.
Why wasn't it a knock out? The curse of the 120 minute movie. What is that? That is the American ideal of what a film should be and the pace that most films take today. Filming a film in 120 minutes leaves plenty of room for action and CGI but very little time for character background and character development. Take the new film the Maze Runner. The film is too fast paced and you don't have time to understand the characters let alone identify with them. This is completely maddening to people who take time to read the books because as a result of 120 minutes the movie only hits certain high points and the vast majority of the books are left out. If anything that is my one complaint about Dracula. The character development is crap. You don't have enough footage to understand or identify with Dracula and then secondary characters are only there for a brief moment before they are killed, leaving you wondering why they were in the film at all.
I will say that by the end of Dracula you are hoping for a sequel which is where most films today are heading and maybe that is the cause of the 120 minute curse. Directors don't find the need to really build any story because they can just include it in the sequel or the prequel if need be and that's pretty sad.
If you want to rebel against the 120 minute film, look for such directors as Peter Jackson, Bryan Singer, JJ Abrams and Joss Whedon. These all stars take a few moments longer to build a story for the characters and for the audience that leaves you feeling satisfied and happy with what you just saw. Some of my favorites are the Lord of the Ring movies, Serenity, The Avengers, The Xmen films, and the Star Trek films. Granted is it not the norm to spend more than 120 minutes in a theater but it's worth it if you know the right director.
Just my thoughts
J.
Today I got Dracula untold, starring Luke Evans, and I have to say I'm pretty happy. The film is a background on the young Dracula and instead of making him the villain of the story, he is the hero of his people. While this may be hard for some people to swallow, just due to pop culture and what is considered the norm, I found it a refreshing take on an old legend. The film also stars Charles Dance, Game of Thrones, as the Master Vampire and I was happy to see the actor completely throw himself into the point where you stop seeing the monster and start hearing Tywin Lannister. The film actions sequences are well times and the special effects are well done and all in all the film was a solid 3.5 on a scale of five.
Why wasn't it a knock out? The curse of the 120 minute movie. What is that? That is the American ideal of what a film should be and the pace that most films take today. Filming a film in 120 minutes leaves plenty of room for action and CGI but very little time for character background and character development. Take the new film the Maze Runner. The film is too fast paced and you don't have time to understand the characters let alone identify with them. This is completely maddening to people who take time to read the books because as a result of 120 minutes the movie only hits certain high points and the vast majority of the books are left out. If anything that is my one complaint about Dracula. The character development is crap. You don't have enough footage to understand or identify with Dracula and then secondary characters are only there for a brief moment before they are killed, leaving you wondering why they were in the film at all.
I will say that by the end of Dracula you are hoping for a sequel which is where most films today are heading and maybe that is the cause of the 120 minute curse. Directors don't find the need to really build any story because they can just include it in the sequel or the prequel if need be and that's pretty sad.
If you want to rebel against the 120 minute film, look for such directors as Peter Jackson, Bryan Singer, JJ Abrams and Joss Whedon. These all stars take a few moments longer to build a story for the characters and for the audience that leaves you feeling satisfied and happy with what you just saw. Some of my favorites are the Lord of the Ring movies, Serenity, The Avengers, The Xmen films, and the Star Trek films. Granted is it not the norm to spend more than 120 minutes in a theater but it's worth it if you know the right director.
Just my thoughts
J.
Saturday, February 28, 2015
Big Hero 6 and The Drop
After three days off from work and a couple of days at school, it's the weekend again and I have a couple of films on the que and a couple more I can post here soooo let's get started!
Big Hero 6
This is Disney's newest animated feature and is about a young boy, his robot, and how they become heroes. Though the plot is not all that original the film makes up for that by injecting a healthy dose of humor and action that keeps adults and kids alike on the edge of their seats. Though there isn't much that I can post here without giving details away but I can say that as you walk away you will find yourself reciting lines from the film and giggling all the day long. Go and pick it up!!
The Drop
This is James Gandolfini's last film and honestly one of my favorites. The film center's around a neighborhood bar that serves as a drop point for illegal money and pick up by underworld forces. The film centers on the bar's manager Cousin Marv (Gandolfini) and Bob (Tom Hardy) and what happens after the bar is robbed by two hoods one dark and stormy night. The film is a hauntingly sad reminder of the talent that was lost when we lost Gandolfini but he's not the only powerhouse in the film. Tom Hardy blows me away as the seemingly slow and gentle character Bob, Marv's cousin and second in command at the bar. We delve deeper into his characters story as he is introduced to Nadia (played by the bombshell Noomi Rapace) and her loads past drama that is following her around. Add to the mix an abused dog, gangsters, and a plot for money and revenge and the film becomes one of my top ten films of all time. By the end of the film you are angry, sad, and pleasantly complete which very few films do these days. This is not only a definite rental, but a solid purchase as well. GO AND GET IT!!!
Big Hero 6
This is Disney's newest animated feature and is about a young boy, his robot, and how they become heroes. Though the plot is not all that original the film makes up for that by injecting a healthy dose of humor and action that keeps adults and kids alike on the edge of their seats. Though there isn't much that I can post here without giving details away but I can say that as you walk away you will find yourself reciting lines from the film and giggling all the day long. Go and pick it up!!
The Drop
This is James Gandolfini's last film and honestly one of my favorites. The film center's around a neighborhood bar that serves as a drop point for illegal money and pick up by underworld forces. The film centers on the bar's manager Cousin Marv (Gandolfini) and Bob (Tom Hardy) and what happens after the bar is robbed by two hoods one dark and stormy night. The film is a hauntingly sad reminder of the talent that was lost when we lost Gandolfini but he's not the only powerhouse in the film. Tom Hardy blows me away as the seemingly slow and gentle character Bob, Marv's cousin and second in command at the bar. We delve deeper into his characters story as he is introduced to Nadia (played by the bombshell Noomi Rapace) and her loads past drama that is following her around. Add to the mix an abused dog, gangsters, and a plot for money and revenge and the film becomes one of my top ten films of all time. By the end of the film you are angry, sad, and pleasantly complete which very few films do these days. This is not only a definite rental, but a solid purchase as well. GO AND GET IT!!!
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
The Judge and the Predestination of Science Fiction
Hello all,
In case you have not known Natchitoches Parish has been out of school for three days due to weather and as a smart little trooper I raided Red Box of some real cinema gold!
The Judge
I can honestly say I was excited about this one and very pleased with the outcome. The Judge, starring Robert Downey Jr., Robert, Duvall and Billy Bob Thornton, is a film about a lawyer coming home to his estranged family to bury his mother only to be entangled in a murder trail that involves his Judge father. This is the first non superhero role that Robert Downey Jr. has tackled in a while and I was very interested to see if his drama chops were still up to speed and I can honestly say WOW! The one two punch of raw emotion is centered around the relationship between Robert Downey Jr and Robert Duvall and comes to a head as Robert Duvall finds himself on trail for murder for hitting a man he doesn't remember hitting. Huge questions of fatherhood, ethical responsibility, and moral justice are tackled through the progression of the film and by the end you are not only dedicated to the main character, RDJ, but also to the Judge himself who finally finds common ground with his middle child. GO TO RED BOX RIGHT NOW and get the Judge, I promise you will not be disappointed.
Predestination
Now as a sci-fi nut I have to admit when I saw the preview for Predestination, starring Ethan Hawke and Sara Snook, I was pretty excited. The film trailer portrayed the film to be something of a time travel murder mystery that centered around Hawke as a temporal agent trying to hunt down a murderer through the wake of time. Sounds exciting right? Well like any time travel film it always comes down to the details and sadly that's where Predestination lost me.
Now let's clarify, Predestination is not a bad movie, it's just not everyone's cut of tea and I'll explain why. The film starts out with an agent, Hawke, getting hurt by an explosion set off by the killer and his road to recovery. Then we time travel to a crappy bar in New York where Hawke talks to a sex changed woman/man and she/he delivers a very sad and gut wrenching tale of her/his life. Long story short this person, played by Sarah Snook, has her entire life ruined by a mystery man who gets her pregnant which leads to the changing of her sex and the kidnapping of her daughter. Hawke promises her to take her back in time to allow her to kill this mystery man and become a new agent. Well not to give anything away but if you're already confused, it only gets worse from here. By the end of the film you're either scratching your head or wondering why you spent time sitting through the film to reach that end.
Now what makes a good time travel movie? Well not everything can be Back to the Future and even Back to the Future had it's own hiccups that we ignored because well it was Back to the Future. A time travel film has to be easy to interpret while being complex in the plot. The sequence of events have to be linear while not being too linear and there always has to be that time travel twist at the end. Take Denzel Washington in Deja Vu. Here you have a cop who has to solve a crime using time travel. The plot isn't too hard to understand, the flow of events has a viewer on the edge of their seats while the plot twist at the end gets them up and cheering for the emotional ending. Predestination didn't really have that. The plot twist was just kind of twisted and when the big ending come up it wasn't all that big. The good thing about Predestination? It wasn't CGI pumped and it had a real retro vibe to it. In Predestination time travel was inventing in 1981 and everything revovled around this underground science movement that started with the space program and flowed into time travel. The time machine wasn't some overly complex machine or some flash car, it was a violin case. The hero's weapon wasn't some over the time laser beam, it was a simple revolver. The simplicity of the props and the retro sensation of the setting lends alot to the complex issues that are surrounded by the plot and the details of the plot. In the end it's like what the hell did I just watch and why?
Tune in next time for Big Hero 6!!
J.
In case you have not known Natchitoches Parish has been out of school for three days due to weather and as a smart little trooper I raided Red Box of some real cinema gold!
The Judge
I can honestly say I was excited about this one and very pleased with the outcome. The Judge, starring Robert Downey Jr., Robert, Duvall and Billy Bob Thornton, is a film about a lawyer coming home to his estranged family to bury his mother only to be entangled in a murder trail that involves his Judge father. This is the first non superhero role that Robert Downey Jr. has tackled in a while and I was very interested to see if his drama chops were still up to speed and I can honestly say WOW! The one two punch of raw emotion is centered around the relationship between Robert Downey Jr and Robert Duvall and comes to a head as Robert Duvall finds himself on trail for murder for hitting a man he doesn't remember hitting. Huge questions of fatherhood, ethical responsibility, and moral justice are tackled through the progression of the film and by the end you are not only dedicated to the main character, RDJ, but also to the Judge himself who finally finds common ground with his middle child. GO TO RED BOX RIGHT NOW and get the Judge, I promise you will not be disappointed.
Predestination
Now as a sci-fi nut I have to admit when I saw the preview for Predestination, starring Ethan Hawke and Sara Snook, I was pretty excited. The film trailer portrayed the film to be something of a time travel murder mystery that centered around Hawke as a temporal agent trying to hunt down a murderer through the wake of time. Sounds exciting right? Well like any time travel film it always comes down to the details and sadly that's where Predestination lost me.
Now let's clarify, Predestination is not a bad movie, it's just not everyone's cut of tea and I'll explain why. The film starts out with an agent, Hawke, getting hurt by an explosion set off by the killer and his road to recovery. Then we time travel to a crappy bar in New York where Hawke talks to a sex changed woman/man and she/he delivers a very sad and gut wrenching tale of her/his life. Long story short this person, played by Sarah Snook, has her entire life ruined by a mystery man who gets her pregnant which leads to the changing of her sex and the kidnapping of her daughter. Hawke promises her to take her back in time to allow her to kill this mystery man and become a new agent. Well not to give anything away but if you're already confused, it only gets worse from here. By the end of the film you're either scratching your head or wondering why you spent time sitting through the film to reach that end.
Now what makes a good time travel movie? Well not everything can be Back to the Future and even Back to the Future had it's own hiccups that we ignored because well it was Back to the Future. A time travel film has to be easy to interpret while being complex in the plot. The sequence of events have to be linear while not being too linear and there always has to be that time travel twist at the end. Take Denzel Washington in Deja Vu. Here you have a cop who has to solve a crime using time travel. The plot isn't too hard to understand, the flow of events has a viewer on the edge of their seats while the plot twist at the end gets them up and cheering for the emotional ending. Predestination didn't really have that. The plot twist was just kind of twisted and when the big ending come up it wasn't all that big. The good thing about Predestination? It wasn't CGI pumped and it had a real retro vibe to it. In Predestination time travel was inventing in 1981 and everything revovled around this underground science movement that started with the space program and flowed into time travel. The time machine wasn't some overly complex machine or some flash car, it was a violin case. The hero's weapon wasn't some over the time laser beam, it was a simple revolver. The simplicity of the props and the retro sensation of the setting lends alot to the complex issues that are surrounded by the plot and the details of the plot. In the end it's like what the hell did I just watch and why?
Tune in next time for Big Hero 6!!
J.
Monday, February 23, 2015
Red Box and St. Vincent.
So it's been forever and a day since I've blogged or had the chance to see a movie. Money has been right and well with three kids in tow making a movie is next to impossible. So I have decided to take a different route. Red Box is just about the greatest invention in well ever... There is a huge selection of films with little cost and unlike most theaters there's not a lot of restriction on what I have at my fingertips and what I don't, I'll explain a little little more on that later. So let's get started.
St. Vincent and the Blockbuster Vs Good films
So in the dawn of technology and the birth of CGI the blockbuster is the main focal point of the movie experience. The typical movie watcher is looking for something like the super hero or the over top action film and production studios (like any good drug dealer) are are more than ready to provide them with what they need. The question comes when a movie goer wants something a little less than Vin Diesel. Films like The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Chef, St. Vincent, The Drop, and Whiplash (which just scored gold at the Oscars) are either only released in large cities, which for me is Alexandria and Shreveport, or are limited released and that means New Orleans or Austin. So what does that mean? It means most people miss out on real treasures and have to settle for cheap laughs or big explosions and super heroes.
Redbox changes everything. Suddenly there is a blockbuster again right in your local store or rather in front of it and for a buck a day you can expose yourself to some real cinema gold. Which brings us to St. Vincent.
St. Vincent, starring Bill Murry, Melissa McCarthy, and Naomi Watts, is a solid gold success about an old drunk who takes in the neighborhood loser and teaches him life lessons. But not everything is as it seems with Vincent, played by Bill Murry, who is a true asshole with the heart of gold. He reaches out in his own way and touches the heart of his neighbor kid, a pregnant hooker, an over worked mom, and shows them that there is still humanity left in the world. In the words of Oliver, the nerdy neighbor kid, saints are people and sometimes they touch you in unique ways.
St. Vincent is a solid film filled with powerful laughter and real emotion that is really rare in film today. Billy Murry reminds you why he is a powerhouse while Jaeden Lieberher (Oliver) shines as an up and coming star with a real future in film. Of course Melissa McCarthy and Naomi Watts hold their own so of course you should step up and shine as you watch a true gem in film.
ALSO
Go to redbox, hit up something not seen at your local theater.
Just my thoughts.
J.
St. Vincent and the Blockbuster Vs Good films
So in the dawn of technology and the birth of CGI the blockbuster is the main focal point of the movie experience. The typical movie watcher is looking for something like the super hero or the over top action film and production studios (like any good drug dealer) are are more than ready to provide them with what they need. The question comes when a movie goer wants something a little less than Vin Diesel. Films like The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Chef, St. Vincent, The Drop, and Whiplash (which just scored gold at the Oscars) are either only released in large cities, which for me is Alexandria and Shreveport, or are limited released and that means New Orleans or Austin. So what does that mean? It means most people miss out on real treasures and have to settle for cheap laughs or big explosions and super heroes.
Redbox changes everything. Suddenly there is a blockbuster again right in your local store or rather in front of it and for a buck a day you can expose yourself to some real cinema gold. Which brings us to St. Vincent.
St. Vincent, starring Bill Murry, Melissa McCarthy, and Naomi Watts, is a solid gold success about an old drunk who takes in the neighborhood loser and teaches him life lessons. But not everything is as it seems with Vincent, played by Bill Murry, who is a true asshole with the heart of gold. He reaches out in his own way and touches the heart of his neighbor kid, a pregnant hooker, an over worked mom, and shows them that there is still humanity left in the world. In the words of Oliver, the nerdy neighbor kid, saints are people and sometimes they touch you in unique ways.
St. Vincent is a solid film filled with powerful laughter and real emotion that is really rare in film today. Billy Murry reminds you why he is a powerhouse while Jaeden Lieberher (Oliver) shines as an up and coming star with a real future in film. Of course Melissa McCarthy and Naomi Watts hold their own so of course you should step up and shine as you watch a true gem in film.
ALSO
Go to redbox, hit up something not seen at your local theater.
Just my thoughts.
J.
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