So,
The summer of 2013 stands to be one of the largest box office bashes in the history of film. Iron Man 3, Superman, Wolverine, Pacific Rim. World War Z, FF6, Star Trek Into Darkness, White House Down, and soooooo many more it seems that this summer can't fail ooooooooor can it?
Iron Man 3:
Robert Downey Jr. is an acting god and it seems that no matter what he is placed in, he will shine. Sadly it takes more than one man to make a film. Now I'm not saying Iron Man 3 was a bad film, but it really wasn't all that great either. Now for a ten year old kid, Iron Man 3 was everything it was supposed to be and ten times more. Hard hitting action, wicked cool effects, the parade of new suits and the wicked cool bad guys who can do all sorts of things feed a ten year old appetite, but for the older viewers there has to be something more.
Let's take first thing first: the sense of finality.
So any nerd with an internet connection knows about the conflicts RDJ has had with the big wigs who produce the Marvel films. This sensation carried over into the film and through out the entire film there is a sense of finality that screams " I WILL NOT PLAY IRON MAN AGAIN!" Now while this can be missed by younger viewers, older viewers can't help but feel cheated with the Avengers sequel just on the horizon. In turn this cheated sensation spills over when dealing with the plot's take on the villains of the film, most notably The Mandarin. Add that plus a fire breathing Guy Pearce and by the end of the film one is thinking "Well, this is a good film, but couldn't I get more?"
To fire off anything more would be to give away a lot of film. So I rate this at a solid 3.5 stars. It's good, just not what we've come to expect from Iron Man.
Star Trek: Into Darkness
I am personally a huge Star Trek fan and I can honestly say JJ Abrams is a genius! Into Darkness is everything it's supposed to be and ten times more. Along with the stellar cast, this film gives Trekkies something to stand up and scream about. Add into the mixture Benedict Cumberbatch as the villain and you invent a gun that just can't miss. The action in the film is well paced and not over powering, the drama within each scene is not only well presented but feels heartfelt and real. There really isn't anything more to say about this, not that I would want to as each head turning surprise in the film is actually head turning. Star Trek into Darkness is a FIVE STAR FILM!!
Fast and Furious Six:
Okay, so in the past I've taken alot of flak for being a fan of this franchise, even more for being a Vin Diesel fan but honestly Fast and Furious Six kicks ass. The film is a little far fetched with its stunts and some of the action is a little too heavy in the CGI department, but the director and cast provide lots of love for true fans who remember the good, the bad, and the ugly the Fast and Furious films have provided. The new edition to this is Luke Evans who play's Shaw, a cold and calculated mercenary who manages to turn Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) to the dark side of crime. It is the revelation of Letty being alive that Agent Hobbs uses to get the old Fast and Furious team in gear and across the big water to Europe. So to keep the formula in check you take bad boy icons, such as the Rock and Vin, add fast cars and then multiply with guns and you have a very entertaining film that is exactly what it is supposed to be, an action film. All in all the film was not perfect, but it was a welcomed dose of kick ass and in the end a solid four star film.
Man of Steel :
If I had to say there is one film that I've been waiting for all summer it was Man of Steel. From the get go there is always a little hesitation when it comes to Superman and "reinventing" the franchise. Brandon Routh and Bryan Singer learned this the hard way with the box office failure Superman Returns. Man Of Steel further complicates because direction Zach Snyder and David S. Goyer decide to change and redefine some of the comic standards in which Superman comes to be and how the world receives him. Now that alone is enough for alot of geeks to walk out cursing but be still young ones, Man Of Steel is worth the understanding. Start off with Russel Crowe as Jor-El, Michael Shannon as General Zod and then rewrite the world of Krypton and how she met her end and you have a more plot driven film that has both hard hitting drama and harder hitting action that pulls angry geeks back into the seats.
The point I loved most about this new film is the back story and the masterful way in which Director Zach Snyder manages to pull modern actions with flashbacks of Superman's past and history. Henry Cavill is outstanding as the Man of Steel and Amy Adams shines as Louis Lane as the two stand off against the old world of Krypton and fight for planet Earth. While the film was not as great as Avengers it still was a June standout and good enough for Man of Steel 2 to be in the works. Man of Steel is a solid four star movie.
Hangover III
If you're anything like me you loved Hangover and hated Hangover II. The second film just was a bad, and a I do mean bad, copy of the first film. Well writer and director Todd Phillips took the advice of the audience and completely took Hangover III in a new direction. Funny, action filled, gag reflex, and bust out laughter are some constant symptoms of this film and I promise you some surprises for the fans of the first film. Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, and Zach Galifiankis are all stand outs as the Wolf Pack as they head into the desert to take Alan to a rehab program after his father passes away. From that point on the film takes this wild roller coaster ride that takes the crew from a desert highway to Mexico and back to the dreaded Las Vegas to end a film trio that is full of surprises and satisfaction. Hangover III is a solid four star film that reaches into the five star range.
Oz The Great and Powerful:
Now when it comes to adding to or reinventing family classics I and most other people have never been fans. Tim Burton's huge bomb in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was proof enough of one should never mess with a classic and admittedly I felt the same way about Sam Raimi and his desire to do the prequel to The Wizard of Oz. I'm happy to report I was very wrong.
The film is about Oz, a con man, womanizer, and magician, who finds himself stranded in the world of OZ after his hot air balloon is sucked into a tornado over Kansas. James Franco shines as the fool behind the curtain learns that not all things are as they seem in OZ. The film also stars Mila Kunis and Michelle Williams who play the good and evil sides of the rainbow as Oz haphazardly dedicates himself to saving the land of OZ from the Evil witch Evenora played by Rachel Weisz. The film is beautifully mastered and full of life and color as Raimi takes from both the film and the original text to weave a tale that can make Disney proud. The film is a solid five star if you have kids and a solid four if you're just a fan of the films, but either way I highly recommend going to see this gem.
Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters
Not even going to waste my time, like I wasted it when I watched this film in the first place. Standard, lacking in all things, and pretty much a crappy version of Van Helsing. A flat zero in my opinion with too many flaws to detail.
Well sports fans that's about it for me. Look on the horizon for future reviews, hopefully a little bit more frequently, and I hope your movie watching is just as awesome has mine has been.
Just my thoughts.
J.
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Passing of an Acting Great
Today the information was released that James Gandolfini suffered a fatal heart attack while on vacation with his family in Rome. It is always so sad to see the passing of an icon such as this but this death is even more tragic given Mr. Gandolfini was only fifty one years old. Starring in such films as 8mm, Killing them Softly, The Last Castle, The Man Who Wasn't There, and The Mexican, Gandolfini was made a super star by bringing to life the character Tony Soprano. In HBO's smash crime drama Tony Soprano was an anxiety ridden Don who juggled life, family, and crime, in New Jersey. Gandolfini's performance of this character earned him several awards including 16 awards and 26 nominations.
A large man, with a large heart, James Gandolfini managed to hold his own against such power icons such as Rober Redford, Brad Pitt, and Denzel Washington. So in honor of the man, the artist, here are a list of movies that you must see!
The Mexican: a true powerhouse performance, the hit man with a heart.
The Last Castle: Standing toe to toe with Robert Redford is no easy task, but Gandolfini shines as the misguided warden of a military prison.
All the King's Men: May have been overshadowed by Sean Penn, but still an excellent example of his ability.
All 86 Episodes of The Sopranos: Tony Soprano, enough said!!
Where the Wild Things are: The softer and lesser seen side of Gandolfini's acting ability.
Killing them Softly: Mickey the conflicted killer, so awesome and yet again another great performance with Brad Pitt.
8mm: Another, smaller, role but still a twist on what you've come to expect from Gandolfini.
Get Shorty: Bear the stunt man, so calm with his little girl so hitting with Chili Palmer, a must see!
True Romance: Virgil the torturer, so hard hitting and physically demanding as he tortures Patricia Arquette.
So there are many many many nights of entertainment. Go forth and watch it, enjoy it, and remember the man for all the gifts he gave to film.
A large man, with a large heart, James Gandolfini managed to hold his own against such power icons such as Rober Redford, Brad Pitt, and Denzel Washington. So in honor of the man, the artist, here are a list of movies that you must see!
The Mexican: a true powerhouse performance, the hit man with a heart.
The Last Castle: Standing toe to toe with Robert Redford is no easy task, but Gandolfini shines as the misguided warden of a military prison.
All the King's Men: May have been overshadowed by Sean Penn, but still an excellent example of his ability.
All 86 Episodes of The Sopranos: Tony Soprano, enough said!!
Where the Wild Things are: The softer and lesser seen side of Gandolfini's acting ability.
Killing them Softly: Mickey the conflicted killer, so awesome and yet again another great performance with Brad Pitt.
8mm: Another, smaller, role but still a twist on what you've come to expect from Gandolfini.
Get Shorty: Bear the stunt man, so calm with his little girl so hitting with Chili Palmer, a must see!
True Romance: Virgil the torturer, so hard hitting and physically demanding as he tortures Patricia Arquette.
So there are many many many nights of entertainment. Go forth and watch it, enjoy it, and remember the man for all the gifts he gave to film.
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Red Dawn
Finally I got a chance to watch Red Dawn and again I'm disappointed in the outcome. The new Red Dawn is pretty much like the old one, just replace Russians with Koreans, and adjust one young cast with another and WHAM, you have a remake. The only problem is with the original there was a complete film. With a short time span you had emotion contact with the story and with the characters to the point where you actually felt for those who fell and the manner in which they died. From Charlie Sheen to C. Thomas Howell, you memorized their stories, agonized at their loss, and in the end felt personal attach when they died. Sadly the new film has none of that. The characters are about as deep as a table spoon and have the emotional capacity of rocks. Though the cast is young and hip from Chris Hemsworth to Josh Peck, the feeling just isn't there. It's almost like MTV took care of this production, gave them skinny jeans and machine guns and then turned them loose. The bad guys? Well they're really not all that bad, at least not in the horrific way the Russians and Cubans were in the first film. There's a prison camp but its not really all that different then the prison cams that we have in Cube, they kill one or two civilians (The main character's father) but that's about it.
The plot? Well the key to the original plot was that a group of untrained teenagers decided to stand up and fight against the wave of tyranny that was forced upon them. It all happened quite by accident and the progression of their ability and action was slow but effective. In the new film you have the attitude of "America...F*ck yeah!", one training montage, and WHAM you have a pack of well dressed, well trained killers who are putting boot to ass for their country. Yeah.....I'll give you a second to consider watching that or not.
By the end of the film, if you've watched the original, you kind of feel cheated. Sure one of the lead characters dies, but the others that die barley say a single line in the film and are kind of like farts in the whirl wind. The original Red Dawn worked because it was small town America not fighting for glory or to accomplish a mission, they were just fighting for their town, for their home. Almost all of them died bravely and all of them were remembered on hero's rock and the lesson of bravery and courage is there. With the new film there's no depth, no tragedy, and little to no point. They throw a trained Marine in there, give them a mission of retrieving a magic box for the US government and by the end of the film all they accomplish is setting up for a sequel. So sad. With a little more effort this could have been a better film, but yet again we have a half assed effort towards a film that only succeeds in ruining new generations to an classic film.
Please Hollywood, please stop jerking with my childhood.
J.
The plot? Well the key to the original plot was that a group of untrained teenagers decided to stand up and fight against the wave of tyranny that was forced upon them. It all happened quite by accident and the progression of their ability and action was slow but effective. In the new film you have the attitude of "America...F*ck yeah!", one training montage, and WHAM you have a pack of well dressed, well trained killers who are putting boot to ass for their country. Yeah.....I'll give you a second to consider watching that or not.
By the end of the film, if you've watched the original, you kind of feel cheated. Sure one of the lead characters dies, but the others that die barley say a single line in the film and are kind of like farts in the whirl wind. The original Red Dawn worked because it was small town America not fighting for glory or to accomplish a mission, they were just fighting for their town, for their home. Almost all of them died bravely and all of them were remembered on hero's rock and the lesson of bravery and courage is there. With the new film there's no depth, no tragedy, and little to no point. They throw a trained Marine in there, give them a mission of retrieving a magic box for the US government and by the end of the film all they accomplish is setting up for a sequel. So sad. With a little more effort this could have been a better film, but yet again we have a half assed effort towards a film that only succeeds in ruining new generations to an classic film.
Please Hollywood, please stop jerking with my childhood.
J.
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Been a while but still going strong
So it's been about three months since I last posted. It's been very crazy around here as my wife is going to give birth in the next couple of days so needless to say I haven't been able to flee to the movie theater to catch anything new in some time, but thanks to Red Box, I've got a little bit of new stuff to slip under my belt.
Fat Kid Rules the World:
Now at first examination of this film, it looks like some cheap, thrown together flick, about a fat kid who really needs a friend; but when you throw Matthew Lillard into the mix and you have a heartfelt introduction into what true passion and friendship is. Fat Kid is a large and depressed young man with no friends and little social skills. Seeing his endless abyss of razzing and hazing by his peers, he attempts suicide by walking into a bus. Enter Marcus, a down and out junkie with a talent for guitar and a knack for saving folks. He manages to save Fat Kid, aka Troy, and drags him (kicking and screaming) into the world of being a punk rock drummer. Now Troys father, all time dad of the century, is a hard nosed military man who is not too keen on the direction of his son's new friendship, but sees passion stirring in his son's heart and provides him with a drum kit to kick ass. Though the plot may be considered generic, lovers of punk rock music and the underdog will get up and cheer when Fat Kid sits behind the kit and gets ready to rock!
Sinister:
So, I watched the Possession and it was a complete waste of time. The plot was predictable, the staging was lame, the CGI effects were alright, but a horrible point to build a movie around. Now Sinister, starring Ethan Hawke, is not Possession. The film centers around a true crime writer who moves his family into the house where an entire family was hung. When the writer finds a box of mysterious movies in the attic, his entire world is turned upside down. Sinister's plot is well paced, the effects are not CGI heavy and are very well done as spirits dance back and forth, in and out of both the character's world as well as the audience's. Sinister is not the horror hit of the year, but it is a hell of a lot better than most of the crap that is out there now.
Hit and Run:
Hit and run is about a former bank robber who has to take his girlfriend to a job interview in LA and must avoid is old partners (who he ratted out) the US Marshal service, and his girl's crazed ex boyfriend. Now this plot is not original, not well done, slightly humors, but mostly kind of offending to anyone who likes action films. The heroes are nut checked when he uses the world "fag" and is critizised for his hero name (Charlie Bronson) and then is forced to be more "sensitive" to others needs. While the villains are also neutered to be dog loving, tree hugging, psychopaths that beat a man half to death for feeding his dog the wrong kind of food. Yeah, it sucks that much. The best part of the film has to be the cars. Hands down the most bad ass Lincoln that I have ever seen, suicide doors and all. Also, the dune buggy in the end is pretty boss as well. All in all it's paced with well choreographed action sequences and filled with lame, politically correct characters that are apparently signs of our times. Sad, cool, and in the end kind of LAME.
The Hobbit:
All I can say, Peter Jackson, halve a billion dollars, New Zealand, and short people, enough said lol. The Hobbit was a visually stunning, heart pounding, and jaw dropping. Though some may complain that there elements that were not from the book or that some of the characters were not traditional from the book. Come on, it's Peter Jackson with half a billion dollars in New Zealand with short people, how can it fail?
Seven Psychopaths:
Now if you were looking to a traditional hard hitting action film, this is your movie. Starring acting legends like Woody Harrelson, Christopher Walken, and Sam Rockwell, Seven Psychopaths is everything you ever could want or need in a film. The movie centers around Collin Ferrell's character, a screen writer who is struggling to find his muse to write his masterpiece, and his friend Sam Rockwell's character who kidnaps dogs to collect the rewards when returning them. The film takes a different pace when the dog of a craze mobster disappears and the shenanigans begin. Seven Psychopaths has everything you could need, comedy, tragedy, action, and sadness; and it's delivered by a perfect fit cast that just can't miss. If you haven't rented it yet, GO RENT IT NOW!!!
Fat Kid Rules the World:
Now at first examination of this film, it looks like some cheap, thrown together flick, about a fat kid who really needs a friend; but when you throw Matthew Lillard into the mix and you have a heartfelt introduction into what true passion and friendship is. Fat Kid is a large and depressed young man with no friends and little social skills. Seeing his endless abyss of razzing and hazing by his peers, he attempts suicide by walking into a bus. Enter Marcus, a down and out junkie with a talent for guitar and a knack for saving folks. He manages to save Fat Kid, aka Troy, and drags him (kicking and screaming) into the world of being a punk rock drummer. Now Troys father, all time dad of the century, is a hard nosed military man who is not too keen on the direction of his son's new friendship, but sees passion stirring in his son's heart and provides him with a drum kit to kick ass. Though the plot may be considered generic, lovers of punk rock music and the underdog will get up and cheer when Fat Kid sits behind the kit and gets ready to rock!
Sinister:
So, I watched the Possession and it was a complete waste of time. The plot was predictable, the staging was lame, the CGI effects were alright, but a horrible point to build a movie around. Now Sinister, starring Ethan Hawke, is not Possession. The film centers around a true crime writer who moves his family into the house where an entire family was hung. When the writer finds a box of mysterious movies in the attic, his entire world is turned upside down. Sinister's plot is well paced, the effects are not CGI heavy and are very well done as spirits dance back and forth, in and out of both the character's world as well as the audience's. Sinister is not the horror hit of the year, but it is a hell of a lot better than most of the crap that is out there now.
Hit and Run:
Hit and run is about a former bank robber who has to take his girlfriend to a job interview in LA and must avoid is old partners (who he ratted out) the US Marshal service, and his girl's crazed ex boyfriend. Now this plot is not original, not well done, slightly humors, but mostly kind of offending to anyone who likes action films. The heroes are nut checked when he uses the world "fag" and is critizised for his hero name (Charlie Bronson) and then is forced to be more "sensitive" to others needs. While the villains are also neutered to be dog loving, tree hugging, psychopaths that beat a man half to death for feeding his dog the wrong kind of food. Yeah, it sucks that much. The best part of the film has to be the cars. Hands down the most bad ass Lincoln that I have ever seen, suicide doors and all. Also, the dune buggy in the end is pretty boss as well. All in all it's paced with well choreographed action sequences and filled with lame, politically correct characters that are apparently signs of our times. Sad, cool, and in the end kind of LAME.
The Hobbit:
All I can say, Peter Jackson, halve a billion dollars, New Zealand, and short people, enough said lol. The Hobbit was a visually stunning, heart pounding, and jaw dropping. Though some may complain that there elements that were not from the book or that some of the characters were not traditional from the book. Come on, it's Peter Jackson with half a billion dollars in New Zealand with short people, how can it fail?
Seven Psychopaths:
Now if you were looking to a traditional hard hitting action film, this is your movie. Starring acting legends like Woody Harrelson, Christopher Walken, and Sam Rockwell, Seven Psychopaths is everything you ever could want or need in a film. The movie centers around Collin Ferrell's character, a screen writer who is struggling to find his muse to write his masterpiece, and his friend Sam Rockwell's character who kidnaps dogs to collect the rewards when returning them. The film takes a different pace when the dog of a craze mobster disappears and the shenanigans begin. Seven Psychopaths has everything you could need, comedy, tragedy, action, and sadness; and it's delivered by a perfect fit cast that just can't miss. If you haven't rented it yet, GO RENT IT NOW!!!
Monday, December 3, 2012
High Fidelity
Since I'm broke and since there is nothing else out I want to see right now, I feel like I should review some older flicks that are gems in my personal collection. Hopefully this will tide me over on films and push me towards productiveness until something epic *cough, cough* like the Hobbit comes out in the box office.
So today I realized that I have made a huge mistake in my film collection when High Fidelity came on Sundance and I realized I don't own this flick. High Fidelity, starring John Cusack, Jack Black, Joan Cusack, and Iben Hjejle, is truly a must see for anyone.
Why?
Well first off, when I first heard about this flick it was from a bunch of "cool" people who snubbed me routinely and I had my doubts about the film. One night, I sat down with a bottle of Jack Daniels and found the film playing on HBO or something and I was HOOKED. The film is about a thrity something guy who is going through a bad breakup and combines his love for great music, his passion for records, and his confused approach at life to examine the dos and don'ts of living life. John Cusack is a god in this film, but it's not just because of his position in the film or the whole hearted effort he gives to the performance, it's mostly because of his past and the progression of the film icon that he as become.
Let me explain.
Back in 1989 John Cusack defined grunge love and romance in the Cameron Crowe film Say Anything. He was THE ladies man because not only was he an ass kicking kick boxer, he was also a sensitive, smart, romantic guy every wall flower wanted to be. In Say Anything, John Cusack proves that only can the nice guy get the girl, he can lose the girl, get the girl back, and break every woman's heart by holding a boombox over his head in the early evening. My god, that film oozes love and romance, and most people would agree that most girls during that time period were either looking for John Cusack or looking to turn some asshole into John Cusack.
Now fast forward eleven years and we no longer have Lloyd Dobler, now we have Rob Gordon, and in this transition we have the evolution of romance and love. You see, the relationship from Say Anything couldn't have lasted and what walked out of that relationship was a jaded, road weary, heart broken guy who has no idea why he's heart broken. It couldn't have been more perfect if John Cusack had planned it out that way! In High Fidelity we have the answer to what happens when the plane lands, what happens when the romance fades or just simply dries up and dies. You get this guy, who has no clue what the hell he needs to do, no clue what he wants to do, and has the idea of not dying young and being a legend, rather growing old and having to face the dreaded real world.
So now you have the concept of why this part is so genius, now you have to see the performance. John Cusack, under the direction of Stephen Frears, reaches out and speaks right to the audience (probably to the men) and breaks the third wall in film. By taking this step the director turns the film into a work of self motivation and by the end of the film the guys in the audience are reviewing their plans for the future and reviewing the health status of their relationship.....Well probably not really, still it's nice to wonder if a good film, a great film, can still have that effect on people.
In short, High Fidelity is the film that answers the question "What do we do tomorrow?", and in that effort the actors in the film pull out an all star performance that is both memorable and something you can come back to again and again. Each scene is heartfelt, and reaches right into personal experiences and triggers a memory that can be both good and bad in one roll. For a film to be able to do that is down right magic. Don't believe me, go and see it.
Just my thoughts.
J.
So today I realized that I have made a huge mistake in my film collection when High Fidelity came on Sundance and I realized I don't own this flick. High Fidelity, starring John Cusack, Jack Black, Joan Cusack, and Iben Hjejle, is truly a must see for anyone.
Why?
Well first off, when I first heard about this flick it was from a bunch of "cool" people who snubbed me routinely and I had my doubts about the film. One night, I sat down with a bottle of Jack Daniels and found the film playing on HBO or something and I was HOOKED. The film is about a thrity something guy who is going through a bad breakup and combines his love for great music, his passion for records, and his confused approach at life to examine the dos and don'ts of living life. John Cusack is a god in this film, but it's not just because of his position in the film or the whole hearted effort he gives to the performance, it's mostly because of his past and the progression of the film icon that he as become.
Let me explain.
Back in 1989 John Cusack defined grunge love and romance in the Cameron Crowe film Say Anything. He was THE ladies man because not only was he an ass kicking kick boxer, he was also a sensitive, smart, romantic guy every wall flower wanted to be. In Say Anything, John Cusack proves that only can the nice guy get the girl, he can lose the girl, get the girl back, and break every woman's heart by holding a boombox over his head in the early evening. My god, that film oozes love and romance, and most people would agree that most girls during that time period were either looking for John Cusack or looking to turn some asshole into John Cusack.
Now fast forward eleven years and we no longer have Lloyd Dobler, now we have Rob Gordon, and in this transition we have the evolution of romance and love. You see, the relationship from Say Anything couldn't have lasted and what walked out of that relationship was a jaded, road weary, heart broken guy who has no idea why he's heart broken. It couldn't have been more perfect if John Cusack had planned it out that way! In High Fidelity we have the answer to what happens when the plane lands, what happens when the romance fades or just simply dries up and dies. You get this guy, who has no clue what the hell he needs to do, no clue what he wants to do, and has the idea of not dying young and being a legend, rather growing old and having to face the dreaded real world.
So now you have the concept of why this part is so genius, now you have to see the performance. John Cusack, under the direction of Stephen Frears, reaches out and speaks right to the audience (probably to the men) and breaks the third wall in film. By taking this step the director turns the film into a work of self motivation and by the end of the film the guys in the audience are reviewing their plans for the future and reviewing the health status of their relationship.....Well probably not really, still it's nice to wonder if a good film, a great film, can still have that effect on people.
In short, High Fidelity is the film that answers the question "What do we do tomorrow?", and in that effort the actors in the film pull out an all star performance that is both memorable and something you can come back to again and again. Each scene is heartfelt, and reaches right into personal experiences and triggers a memory that can be both good and bad in one roll. For a film to be able to do that is down right magic. Don't believe me, go and see it.
Just my thoughts.
J.
Monday, November 19, 2012
The Amazingness of Spiderman
Where film is concerned, the concept of the remake or the reinvention of a film is big business. The common thought of "We can do it better" has dominated old westerns, horror films, sci-fi, and action flicks alike and for the most part it is kind of true. In the case of the Coen Brother's True Grit it was true. Jeff Bridges blew up the screen, filling the shoes of John Wayne, as Rooster Cogburn. However in the cases of Total Recall and the upcoming Robocop the same can't be said with such certainty.
Now when The Amazing Spiderman was announced I was totally against it. In my mind remaking a film franchise that is less than fifteen years old is a waste of time. When the trailers came out I thought that the film would be heavily filled with CGI and have huge plot gaps that would put the older franchise to shame. After watching the film today, I'm happy to say I was wrong.
Marc Webb takes the reins away from Sam Raimi and transforms Spiderman into a darker, more adult character. Where Toby Maguire was a more lovable geek who kind of accidently fills the role of Spiderman, Andrew Garfield plays a more emotional Peter Parker with a rough background that interprets his role as a hero. Together with supporting cast like Sally Field, Martin Sheen, Emma Stone, and Rhys Ifans, The Amazing Spiderman is a well put together action flick that will appeal to a more older and matured audience. Now, was this Marc Webb's plan? I don't know, but I do know that there are going to be a lot of huge steps that must be taken if more films are to follow. Though The Amazing Spiderman did not hit the box office nearly as hard as Sam Raimi's Spiderman did not totally flop. The film has a firm story, a well rounded foundation, and does not depend on CGI to support it.
All in all I was pleasantly surprised and I think you will be too.
Just my thoughts
J.
Now when The Amazing Spiderman was announced I was totally against it. In my mind remaking a film franchise that is less than fifteen years old is a waste of time. When the trailers came out I thought that the film would be heavily filled with CGI and have huge plot gaps that would put the older franchise to shame. After watching the film today, I'm happy to say I was wrong.
Marc Webb takes the reins away from Sam Raimi and transforms Spiderman into a darker, more adult character. Where Toby Maguire was a more lovable geek who kind of accidently fills the role of Spiderman, Andrew Garfield plays a more emotional Peter Parker with a rough background that interprets his role as a hero. Together with supporting cast like Sally Field, Martin Sheen, Emma Stone, and Rhys Ifans, The Amazing Spiderman is a well put together action flick that will appeal to a more older and matured audience. Now, was this Marc Webb's plan? I don't know, but I do know that there are going to be a lot of huge steps that must be taken if more films are to follow. Though The Amazing Spiderman did not hit the box office nearly as hard as Sam Raimi's Spiderman did not totally flop. The film has a firm story, a well rounded foundation, and does not depend on CGI to support it.
All in all I was pleasantly surprised and I think you will be too.
Just my thoughts
J.
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Wreck-It Ralph
Through out the span of film the Disney franchise has always challenged itself to rethink animated films. Starting with toon shorts and then working their way towards full featured films like Snow White and Cinderella, Disney has built a billion dollar industry out of the dreams and imaginations of children. Now with the digital age coming Disney again endeavors to reinvent animated film again. From WALLE to Toy Story and now Wreck-It Ralph.
Wreck-It Ralph is the story of Ralph, a video game villain who no longer wants to be a bad guy. Taking place inside the world of an arcade after hours, director Rich Moore pushes to show us that our world is not much different from theirs. We see Ralph in a support group for villains as he reveals the sad and lonely life of a bad guy. As the film progresses we see Ralph "go Turbo" and begin game hoping to find a way to become the hero of a game.
John C. Reilly, the voice of Ralph, is one of the most underrated character actors of our time. His parts from Boogie Nights, Magnolia, Carnage, Step Brothers, and countless more have maybe not always be the leading role but always have been strong characters with deep hearts. He is able to pull Ralph from a simply two dimensional character to a big lug we all come to love and cherish. Wreck-It Ralph is a stand out film that will appeal to all family members, even the grumpy adults :).
The film also showcases talents like new comer Jack McBrayer and comedic goddesses like Sarah Silverman and Jane Lynch. Wreck-It Ralph is funny, sad, scary, exciting, and will have you either laughing to tears or secretly crying for Ralph and all characters involved to achieve their dreams.
Take my word for it,
go see it!
Just my thoughts,
J.
Wreck-It Ralph is the story of Ralph, a video game villain who no longer wants to be a bad guy. Taking place inside the world of an arcade after hours, director Rich Moore pushes to show us that our world is not much different from theirs. We see Ralph in a support group for villains as he reveals the sad and lonely life of a bad guy. As the film progresses we see Ralph "go Turbo" and begin game hoping to find a way to become the hero of a game.
John C. Reilly, the voice of Ralph, is one of the most underrated character actors of our time. His parts from Boogie Nights, Magnolia, Carnage, Step Brothers, and countless more have maybe not always be the leading role but always have been strong characters with deep hearts. He is able to pull Ralph from a simply two dimensional character to a big lug we all come to love and cherish. Wreck-It Ralph is a stand out film that will appeal to all family members, even the grumpy adults :).
The film also showcases talents like new comer Jack McBrayer and comedic goddesses like Sarah Silverman and Jane Lynch. Wreck-It Ralph is funny, sad, scary, exciting, and will have you either laughing to tears or secretly crying for Ralph and all characters involved to achieve their dreams.
Take my word for it,
go see it!
Just my thoughts,
J.
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