The Savage Iceage

Well, I'm here in Florida and while hanging out with family I had the chance to take in two films, Ice Age: Continental Drift and Oliver Stone's new film Savages. I have to say on a whole I am very pleased with the outcomes of the films. So, let's get the ball rolling.

Ice Age: Continental Drift

This is the fourth installment of this franchise and all in all the same tempo of laughter and heart felt moments is kept all through the film. The original cast returns with the strong additions of Peter Dinklage, Nick Frost, Josh Grad, and many other big names that offer hard hitting humor with grace that makes children and adults laugh out loud. The film ends on a high note and gives a dramatic closing that suggests a possible end to the franchise. Let's hope that's not true as the fourth film just brings on more and more magic.

Savages:

Some years ago Oliver Stone delivered a one two punch called Platoon. This film, centering on Vietnam and the internal struggle of one soldier, jump started the careers of Johnny Depp, Charlie Sheen, and offered performances by Willem Dafoe and Tom Berenger that will always be remembered. The film Savages, starring new comers Taylor Kitsch and Aaron Johnson, follows right in Platoon's footsteps. Savages centers on two independent pot growers who go up against a major cartel when their girl is snatched and held for ransom. Stone uses his god like powers to wield both political agenda and modern hell that is fresh in everyone's mind to build a ruthless enterprise that only looks at the bottom dollar.  Enter a Shakespearean romance of the pot growers and their girl, so named O as in Ophelia,  and you have a volatile and down right entertaining situation.  Stone also calls upon veteran performers such as Benicio Del Toro, John Travolta, and Selma Hayek to wind together tensions that are both powerful and mysterious. Savages is a hard hitter through and through and with a plot twist at the end, edge of your seat action is promised throughout.


Some things to look for in the future:
Dark Knight Rises, Looper, Bourne Legacy, Total Recall, and many many other films.

Just my thoughts,
J.