Soul Surfer, Kung Fu Panda 2, Monte Carlo, and Transformers 3

Let's get "Transformers 3" out of the way first. I didn't go into this movie expecting character development or a good story; I wasn't disappointed. This movie contains none of the elements which are typically needed for even the most basic of movies, yet it does have Transformers, so at least that's something. I'll admit that there were a few funny moments, but why in the world did I feel like I was watching a watered-down "Hangover" rip-off? I'll tell you why, because one of the characters is from "The Hangover" playing the exact same character, ripping-off his previous performance. This may have been fun if done right, but it was so out of place, and it didn't fit into the context of the rest of the movie. Usually I'm OK with Michael Bay's mish mash style, but this movie was such a jumbled mess I don't think I could actually recount for you what or why anything happened. Transformers are awesome, but what is up with those stupid mini Transformer clown characters? Perhaps Michael Bay did some market research and found that Americans secretly loved Jar Jar Binks. Maybe I'm alone on this, but these mini Transformers are so irritating that they seriously detract from the whole movie. Ultimately, this film was a spectacle, an experience more than a movie. If you're waiting to watch this on a television you're a moron. Pay the ten bucks, see Transformers beating the crap out of each other, then never watch this movie again.

"Kung Fu Pand 2" wasn't half the movie the first one was. Too bad. Once again we have concrete evidence that story, writing, and characters are the foundation of a good film; if any one of these elements is weak, the whole movie fails. "Kung Fu Panda" gave us the characters; unfortunately, like so many sequels, the story here was so flat that the movie is really only good for napping. It's too bad that the creators of this movie thought that action, fighting animals, and explosions were all the audience wanted. Too bad.

I got to see the movie "Monte Carlo" with my daughter Ashley. This movie was really well done, sure nothing really new as a story, but then sometimes the best movies are simply re-tellings of the greatest stories. The kids and I sometimes watch Wizards of Waverly Place, which also stars Salena Gomez, and she basically plays a nicer version of that character here in "Monte Carlo". The movie probably would have been flat if it had merely followed her, impersonating a famous celebrity, taking advantage of the benefits of fame. Fortunately she has a step sister and best friend along for the ride, who really are more interesting than she is, and the movie ended up being dynamic and fun because of the other characters and their side stories. This is at its heart a Fairy Tale, and it does contain the appropriate moral lessons which are conveyed in a down to earth, heartwarming way. I can think of quite a few teenager/tween movies of late that have horrible messages and terrible role models, it's nice that "Monte Carlo" breaks that mould.

Thomas, the kids, and I saw "Soul Surfer" a little while ago (when Thomas was here of course). This is the best out the four movies I'm reviewing this time, which I am happy to report. Sure there are hints of preachiness in this film, which isn't always a bad thing, but delivery is so important. Unfortunately the filmmakers chose to cast Carrie Underwood to have the preachy role, and she was not meant to act. Other than that minor complaint, the rest of the film was very well done. The story was quite compelling, and this was coupled with a main character who really made the whole thing convincing. AnnaSophia Robb was wonderful in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory", and has grown up just enough to be perfect as the surfer girl who struggles with life after a shark attack. Even with a strong supporting cast (with the exception of Underwood) Robb really must carry this movie herself. She displays a wide range of emotions, and is one of the better role models in recent movie history. It's also interesting to note that this movie is rated PG; and considering that there is a limb lost to a shark the filmmakers did a great job conveying the significance of that moment without graphically exploiting the horror. This is a rare thing today, a great family film.

Super 8

"Super 8" is not a great creature film, but who wants to see that anyways. It is a wonderful film, that just so happens to have a creature moving about within its story. I don't want to give too much away, but this is basically a retelling of "E.T.", with two noteworthy exceptions. The first, and most important is that here the story is centered around a relationship between a boy and a girl, whereas "E.T." was focused on the boy and an alien. I liked the writing in this film; there are a group of kids making their own movie and each of their experiences are mirrored in the film that we are watching. For any film to be successful it must first make us sympathetic to the characters that we are watching. There are shortcuts which many filmmakers depend upon which result in very shallow movies. Some movie makers have given up entirely on character development, which is really a shame. Fortunately J.J. Abrams knows that the people are what make the film. The creature in this film represents the action, the danger looming in the background. What keeps us watching is the relationship between the boy and the girl. We want them to succeed, we want them to live happily ever after, but will they? Oh, and the second difference between "Super 8" and "E.T." is that ET never ate anybody, at least not onscreen.

On a side note; I really liked the look of this film. Abrams captured the feel of 1979 without it coming across as cheesy. When Spielberg made "E.T." it was shot to as a modern film, reflecting the look of 1982. In "Super 8" Abrams has revisited that time period, but it looks just as natural as Spielberg's film. This is how a good film transports you to another time without distracting from the story.

Catchup. "Thor", "Fast Five", "Rango", a bad sequel, and "Pirates of the Caribbean Part 4"

I'm torn because it's late and my first instinct is to write really short reviews like; "Thor" sucked.

My journalistic integrity (or whatever it might be) implores me to at the very least explain myself; "Thor" sucked because it was all window dressing, it lacked soul, or perhaps a Biblical analogy would be it was a whitewashed tomb.

Perhaps that's a little excessive, but it gets to the point and hopefully steers anyone reading this from even renting this movie in the future. If I had to rate these movies I am reviewing tonight, "Thor" would definitely be the second to last movie that I would recommend. Check that, it would be one of two movies that I would not recommend ever due to the fact that it would be next to impossible to convince me that there was any redeemable value in watching this movie. I bet most of you are thinking "what a dork, why'd he even go see such a stupid movie?" Good question, my only answer is that I did it for you, kind of like taking a bullet for someone you love.

"Fast Five" was actually fun.

Yes, that was the review.

"Rango" was a highly entertaining experience, yet I was dissapointed with the overall message of the movie. The animation and character developement here was wonderful. The filmmakers were not aiming low to reach children, rather they made a rich and interesting film that will appeal to anyone who enjoys a good movie. I especially liked the "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas", "Apocalypse Now" and "Singing in the Rain" references. Johnny Depp never felt like just Rango's voice, rather this animated lizard was another great Depp performance, which speaks highly of the animators and director, Gore Verbinski. Unfortunately the movie falters in its bleak worldview. Sure the main character, Rango is a hero, yet he is operating in a world where only personal gain matters. Heroes and villans are only seperated by how much they are willing to hurt those around them in pusuit of their desires. I was thinking earlier this evening about how important a director can be to the tone and spirit of a film. Look at the last two James Bond movies for example; by all accounts Daniel Craig's second outing as Bond should have been so much more, but the change in directors between the films caused a major discrepency. I suggest that you look at Gore Verbinski's earlier films, and it will become clear why "Rango" is a great film with a very empty outlook on humanity.

Oh yeah, and that is actually one of the movies I would recommend.

It's the "bad sequel" which I won't even mention by name that I would highly suggest that any and all avoid. I'm guessing that I've already said too much and most people who wanted to see this movie already have, so they too know why I'm raving against it, and those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about have no desire to see this movie anyways, so really, what's the point?

Moving on to the final film of the night; Jess and I just got back from seeing the newest "Pirates of the Caribbean". I really enjoyed it, I found it to be a great improvement on the last two installments. I don't want to get into all the reasons I disliked parts 2 and 3 (Keira Knightley) rather I would like to focus on what made part 4 enjoyable. Captain Jack is a wonderfully created character, and this movie spends most of its time with him. I never could really get interested in all the side stories and the political wrangling that went on in the previous films. Maybe when you have too many poplular actors in a movie it becomes necassary to give them something to do. What this film got right was letting us see how Depp's Captain Jack interacts with those other characters. There is a special chemistry between Geoffrey Rush's Barbossa and Jack, which director Rob Marshall takes full advantage of. There's enough here to make the journey back to the glory days of pirates seem worthwhile, without being bogged-down by the part 2/part 3 stroyline or the overpaid/undertalented actors that were so distracting in earlier outings.

Look, I actually reviewed 2 out of 5. That's got to count for something.

Hanna

You may remember the last time I wrote about one of director Joe Wright's movies was after seeing "Atonement". To summarize that review, it sucked. I am happy to report that my impression of "Hanna" is significantly different. The best parts of the film come early, as we see Hanna at home with her father. There is a depth and affection in their relationship that is almost startling because you see that kind of love so rarely depicted in film. What is nice about the opening minutes is that the Wright allows the audience to take everything in. From the relationship between Hanna and her father to the rich cinematography which establishes where they live. Soon we are introduced to the plot, and at times we feel its pull and those are the weak momemets in the film. Yet for the most part the film is suprisingly thoughtful and never feels like its rushing from one action scene to another. Instead it is about a girl and her father and the devolopement of other relationships beyond her experience. I liked very much the sense of disorientation that the cinematographer and editor was able to convey. How often do we see a landscape and think "that looks just like Southern California" only to have a subtitle explain that we are actually in Iraq. This film lets you figure out where you are on your own, just like Hanna, and sometimes the clues aren't very helpful. I probably should mention that Rob and I had a debate over whether or not the film was promoting lesbians, and I'll admit to you that I was stretching it by suggesting that it was not. The movie also has a bunch of murder and stuff like that in it, but you probably don't mind that so much.

Searching for Bobby Fischer and Sucker Punch

"Searching for Bobby Fischer" is one of those films that is a refreshing breath of fresh air every time I come back to it. I think that most great films are allegories. Even those based on historic events such as"Schindler's List" or set in a harsh real world like "The Departed" are not meant to be viewed only for the story contained within. Written between the lines is a commentary on contemporary society and the human condition. "Searching for Bobby Fischer" is not an allegory, rather it is about people searching for meaning without the clever assistance of some benevolent screenwriter. Don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking "Schindler's List", yet let us look at a difference between these two films. In "Schindler's List" the Ben Kingsley character is able to help his fellow Jews by compiling a list which represents those who will be saved from death. This scene is carefully crafted for maximum emotional impact, contrasting the horrific impersonal slaughter that the Nazis carried out versus the heart wrenching choices that one man made to try to save those he loved. On the other hand in "Searching for Bobby Fischer" the Ben Kingsley character, a skilled Chess master loses his patience, taking out his frustration on a little boy who himself is struggling with emotional conflict. Every scene in "Schindler's List" means something, whereas "Searching for Bobby Fischer" seems to be at a loss, what was clear minutes before suddenly is no longer applicable. Yet the latter film more accurately represents how we live our lives. Even if your world view is firmly established, there will be many challenges in your life. "Searching for Bobby Fischer" is a breath of fresh air because it challenges me to look for purpose and what is good in the life that God has given me. Winning Chess won't bring meaning, not even just playing Chess can do that.

After writing about "Searching for Bobby Fischer" I feel less inclined to go into great detail on "Sucker Punch". I will briefly summarize my opinion of the movie and make a related observation. I liked the movie, it is one of those movies that is entertaining to experience but doesn't contain much in the way of substance. Once it's over, it's over. I'm a sucker for a good music video, and this was a series of music videos loosely tied together as a feature film. I really like "A Knight's Tale" which is somewhat similar, except at least that movie had a story to hold the whole thing together. Now maybe I'm alone on this one, but any movie that has action sequences set to Björk has got to be good. The observation I mentioned before has to do with film as art. I have heard it said that movies are the only truly American artform, and I tend to agree with this idea. Where this relates to "Sucker Punch" and movies like it is in how we appreciate them. This movie had shallow characters, a contrived plot which I hesitate to even call a story, yet it was viscerally amazing. There is one scene in particular that stands out where the camera completes a 360 degree pan around the main characters. To accomplish this it must go in and then out of a mirror, or did it start in and return to the mirror? Would it have been a far better film if it's visuals had achieved a higher purpose? Maybe just the fact that I'm asking whether or not it was art is itself the answer... Go figure that one out.

The Adjustment Bureau and Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2

This and the next post are catch-up reviews, so don't think that I just saw four movies in the last couple days. I saw "The Adjustment Bureau about two weeks ago, but I still wanted to write about it today. Let me throw in the little fact that Jess and I have also watched the three "Bourne" movies and the three "Oceans" movies since I saw "The Bureau" so that will color my review as well. Matt Damon is a convincing young senator in this his most recent film. There were definitely allusions to President Obama's rise to power, which makes the film seem realistic and current. As you most likely already know from the trailers, Damon's character learns that there is a group of behind-the-scene workers, tasked with the keeping all humanity on their predetermined path. Damon's senator doesn't like that he can't be with the girl he loves, and decides to fight this control over his life. Of course the film is meant to spark questions about Free Will versus Predestination. The is an interesting question buried within this screenplay; is the daily struggle with choices that people have part of the plan? Unfortunately the movie is content to present these ideas merely as motivation for the plot and the action that takes place. There's no concern over how certain decisions may effect others, rather the Damon character seems bent on going after what he wants. His motivation borders on obsession, ultimately he is very selfish. This movie misses two important points: One, if you're really destined to do (or not do) something it is not physically possible to avoid that fate, the overseeing guardians in this movie barely have any real influence. Secondly, great men and women throughout history were those willing to sacrifice personal pleasure and comforts for a higher purpose. The people who made this movie should watch "Braveheart" and "12 Monkeys", then they might have a basic understanding on what would make a good movie...

It's been over two weeks since I began the review above, which means that my initial impression of these movies have faded and this review is bound to be affected by that fact. Yet surprisingly my memories of "Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2" a quite favorable. My kids all like the Wimpy Kids books and enjoy watching the first movie on DVD. I think the best way for me to judge this kind of movie is by recalling how much it made me laugh. I found it to be very funny, and as is often the case was laughing more than anyone else in the theater. I think that I have mentioned it before, but please humor me and hear my theory on movie theater etiquette once more. I think that it is wrong, I mean morally wrong to talk during a movie. I will go see a movie by myself first if I think there is any chance that the person I go with will need explanations at any point during the movie. Even then, my most common response is, "Hold on, they'll explain it in a moment" or "I can't tell you if I don't know". Secondly, if you get up and leave the moment the credits start rolling; what's wrong with you? Do you walk away from someone the moment they've fulfilled your use for them or do you politely take your leave like a civilized human being. When the sermon's over do you crumple up you bulletin, throw it on the floor and noisily exit while the remainder of the service continues? Finally, I laugh when something is funny. All those artists, the writer, the director, the actor and the editor have all worked hard to make something funny. Am I supposed to sit there straight faced like I'm being interrogated by the FBI? Know, it's more than just my right to laugh, I am compelled by my humanity to laugh when something is funny. Hey I just paid $9.50 to be entertained, if I didn't want to laugh I could have stayed home and watched television... Oh yeah, "Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2" was funny and I laughed.

The Fighter and The King's Speech

There have been some great boxing movies, but I really hate watching the sport of boxing, so I usually avoid the movies. I am glad that I made an exception for "The Fighter". As with other great boxing movies, this film is not about boxing, rather it is about family, overcoming obstacles and understanding what is really important in life. I know that sounds very cliche, and I know it's all been done before, what distinguishes this film is the how. Here is an unflattering portrayal of a family that is full of selfish, broken people. Yet instead of telling the story of escape, or rising above, the filmmakers focus on working through the differences, growth, and forgiveness. Christian Bale's character is central in accomplishing this challenge. As an actor he thoroughly convinces us that he is worthless, yet that is not how his brother sees him. There were characters and moments within the film that I really disliked, almost cringingly so. Yet as the film concluded it became clear that those elements only contributed to the underlying message. This is the best constructed film of the past year, but it's not the individual pieces that prove that, rather how those pieces fit together.

"The King's Speech" is another example of Harvey Weinstein backing a good movie, yet convincing us all that it's a great film. I must admit that even while watching the film that aura infiltrated my mind, leading me to think that I was witnessing something great. Yet in retrospect, this was a very simple, somewhat generic movie, with a great cast and rich, detailed settings. Even now as I write this I remember reading an article comparing the plot of this movie to "The Karate Kid". I am grateful that I was not thinking of this as I viewed the movie, because I the parallels are obvious. I bring this up, because out of honesty that article may be subconsciously influencing my perspective on the film. I can only hope that I would have reached the same conclusion all on my own. What keeps this film from achieving true greatness (like "The Fighter" above) is that the story is driven by the performances of the characters, and those performances are designed only to drive the story. Even if each individual piece is well crafted, the overall result seems contrived. Once again, once that curtain is lifted and I am jolted from the illusion, my appreciation of the movie is seriously degraded.

Tron and True Grit

It has been just over a week since I watched the new "Tron" There are three thoughts that come immediately to mind when thinking of the movie: 1. It was fun to see the Tron world once again. The sounds, images, effects and costumes are an updated version of the universe created for the first. 2. Plastic, synthetic, animated Jeff Bridges isn't anywhere close to as cool as the real Jeff Bridges. Unfortunately I found this effect to be extremely distracting, and that really kept me from enjoying the movie overall. 3. Why? I know the answer, we've talked about this before. I know that Hollywood makes movie for one reason, which is to make money. It just seems that by now common sense would dictate that a really great sequel will make more money than a mediocre one. If this principle would prevail then both filmmaker and viewer would win. Perhaps it would be impossible to ever build upon the memories that Tron gave us, but it seems as though they could have done a better job this time around.

Jon and I watched the John Wayne version of "True Grit" on Tuesday evening. My understanding is that the Coen Brother's were more concerned with adapting the book rather than remaking the film. There were aspects of the new movie that are significantly different from the 1969 version, but nothing that makes a remake worthwhile. Actually, if anything the new version reaffirms the greatness of the original. This is too bad, since the Coen brothers have made some of the best American movies of our generation. One example has to do with Rooster Cogburn's final showdown in the movie. In the classic film, John Wayne clenches his horse's reins in his teeth and charges four bad guys, a lever action rifle in one hand, pistol in the other. This scene is intact with Jeff Bridges as Cogburn, yet he opts for two pistols as he charges across the field. Let me just say that there is no good explanation for this change. Perhaps the book clearly specifies two pistols. Maybe the Bridges couldn't pull of the stunt. Or, it may be possible that John Wayne copyrighted that technique. If the ride doesn't include that lever action rifle, it's not really "True Grit".

Narnia and Following

I skipped "Prince Caspian" because I was disappointed with "The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe". Rob heard good things about "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" and since I usually pick the movies, so we decided to give the new Narnia another try. This is one of those moments when I could really complain, or I could look on the bright side... Heads; positives, tails; negatives... Aslan is a big puppet, with Liam Neeson's voice. The best part of the book, when Eustace becomes a dragon, is condensed into about three minutes. The special effects all (and I do mean all) look like a Technicolorized version of better effects from better movies. The Dawn Treader itself looks like something Captain Jack Sparrow would give to his kids (if he had any). The entrance Aslan's Country, while artistically interesting, just doesn't come close to matching my imagination. Perhaps it's because thee filmmakers use an effect from "The Abyss" (which was better 21 years ago). The story and characters were all watered-down, and not in a good Sea-voyage kind of way. If I pretend for a minute that the coin had come up heads; the movie does capture moments from the book, and some of its spirit. Too bad the filmmakers don't love the material, or have the talent (or both) to accurately bring this wonderful series to the screen.

A Few weeks ago I watched "Following" on Netflix. I had it in my queue for quite some time, I think "Inception" coming out on video nudged me to take a look. As many of you know, "Memento" is one of my favorite movies, so to see the movie that made "Memento" possible was interesting to me. What I found were all the elements of a great Christopher Nolan film. Shot in black and white with unknown actors and a low budget, Nolan proves that an interesting script and an eye for storytelling is all you need. That being said, the independent nature of this film definitely leaves its mark, the film is somewhat simplistic and rough. Action and photography seem to take a back seat to dialogue and editing (as should it should be) but here those shortcomings stand out and are distracting. One thing that Nolan tried to do was surprise the audience with certain plot points. He employed the non-chronological techniques that would show up again in "Memento". Unfortunately, since "Memento" is a far superior film, I was able to pick up on his cues, and found this movie to be quite predictable. All in all though, it is great to be able to see how Nolan started out, and I sure do hope that he keeps it up.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I

The Harry Potter series has been hit or miss over the past few years. Overall I would place "Deathly Hallows Part I" in the 'hit' category. I have become acutely aware of movie cliches, actually more than that, cultural cliches. Clever comedies, like "30 Rock" recognize and play with these cliches. Shows like "24" and movies like "Twilight" take advantage of these cliches, but unfortunately rely so heavily upon them as to become cliches themselves. This relates to "Harry Potter" in the fact that when it's original, it's great, but when it turns to cliche, it falls flat. The whole opening sequence, as children are leaving home was terribly flat. I made it better in my head by playing "She's leaving home after living alone for so many years..." in my head as Hermione left her house. Movies like this need to be filled with a sense of wonder and amazement, otherwise the weight of reality will crush their potential. That being said, there were wonderful scenes and moments. The sidecar motorcycle chase sequence was amazing. The crackling AM radio dance scene was a great scene, not just for Harry Potter, but as film capturing an idea so gracefully. I think back to the first Harry Potter film, and I like that it focused on Harry's point of view. It was of course the Ugly Duckling story retold. Since then there have been a few movies that were good, either for exciting action or compelling stories. The movies have always contained at least enough to make me want to see the next on. Surprisingly, "The Prisoner of Azkaban" accomplished the amazing feat of making a Harry Potter book into a great stand alone film. Imagine how different the world would be if only all the Harry Potter stories had come out that good. Yet, as we have come farther from Harry's initial experience with magic, it seems as though the thrill has gone. I want to see it through of course. Having not read the books I'm hoping there's still a surprise or two in store. Obviously the wizard guy, Dumbledore isn't really dead. Snape (the undercover wizard) is going to bring down Voldemort and his whole organization (tax evasion charges). Once and for all Harry's going to tell Ron to take a hike (he's been the third wheel for too long already). And if there's any justice in this world, Harry and Hermione will finally get married, fade to black, "The End".

Hereafter and Due Date

I'm hoping that these movies represent the sad, disappointing calm before a storm of really good movies. Even though I don't completely believe that it'll help, I'm keeping my fingers crossed...

"Hereafter" could easily be considered Clint Eastwood's "The Sixth Sense". Unfortunately it's not that entertaining, and the tough questions Eastwood is willing to ask are the same ones he runs away from at the end of the movie. If I had to sum-up the message of this movie it would be; find people who understand you, because most people are just too shallow to be sensitive to your needs. Matt Damon's character cannot get the girl because his gift/curse has unnaturally breached the emotional barriers that protect us from each other. The movie could have been an analysis of honesty, fear and vulnerability within relationships. Instead, Eastwood got overly caught-up in the storytelling process. The characters threads seemed more important than the characters themselves. Usually I wouldn't complain about an open-ended conclusion to a movie, and really this movie could have a wonderful ambiguous ending. Instead, Eastwood came up with a hybrid mushy/vague ending that was edited to make it seem better than it really was. Obviously, this is Eastwood's movie, so he can do whatever he wants, but if you can't come up with a good ending, don't try to trick me.

PS, If you want to see how to properly end a movie, see "No Country for Old Men".

Head over to www.apple.com/trailers and watch the preview for "Due Date". Most likely you've laughed about as much as you would during the feature length film. I will admit that there was enough new content in the movie that I laughed at things that weren't in the preview. Unfortunate, since I had already seen the preview, and therefore didn't really laugh at the stuff I'd already seen, the movie itself didn't add enough to the experience to make it feel worth while. If you've read my previous reviews of movies, especially comedies you probably recognize the following trend; I am gullible when it come to movie previews. If a trailer really strikes me as funny, if it asks a question I find intriguing or shows me imagery that I find amazing, I'm hooked. No matter how many times movies have failed to deliver on their promises, I'm still giving out hope, through the act of purchasing tickets. I could tell you about some other funny scenes. I could warn you of some of the inappropriate content. I could, but I'm not going to. If you want to see the movie, I don't want to spoil the few laughs you'll get, and honestly, the inappropriate stuff, relatively speaking, for an R-rated comedy, is tame. Mostly I just wanted to take a moment to decry the trend in Hollywood to produce trailers that in essence make it unnecessary to see the movie. Ya, ya, I know, I don't have to watch the trailers or the movies, but hey, it's fun to complain about something.

PS, Have you seen the trailer for "Sucker Punch" (specifically the one with 'When the Levee Breaks'), the movie is probably going to suck, but the trailer sure is sweet.

Red and The Pirates of Penzance

There wasn't enough of the good stuff and a little too much of the bland stuff.
I'm currently in an English Composition class, and let me just say, that first sentence just wouldn't fly. So I will revise my statement. "Red" is a film that observes nuances very well. Bruce Willis' character stands in his front lawn and glances up and down the street. He notices something is lacking, causing his house to stand out. After remedying the oversight, a look of satisfaction comes over his face. It is details like this that make "Red" an enjoyable little movie. Unfortunately the subject matter, retired CIA agents, seems like a retread. One cliché leads to another. Tired, worn-out elements overwhelm the fresh, quirky humor. There are plenty of laughs, quite a few entertaining moments, but overall there's nothing new here. I think that Morgan Freeman, Bruce Willis and John Malkovich make movies better by just being present. This movie had a lot going for it, just not enough to make it better than 'just OK'.

I wrote that review almost a month ago, I just realized that it has been sitting waiting to be posted...

I saw "The Pirates of Penzance" around the same time, but this review is fresh off my brain:

There are many ways I could approach "The Pirates of Penzance". Unlike some in the family it has probably been 10 years since I last saw this movie. Mom had a good point though, the film transfer make it a completely different experience no matter how recently or often (frequently) you've seen the movie. The colors are vibrant, the full screen is there and the sound is wonderful. For our family the nostalgia of this movie is unavoidable (and even if it was avoidable, why would anyone want to avoid such a great movie?) I sat down and watched it with Jude one evening, and it is interesting to share the experience with the next generation. Of course I love the movie because of the good memories it stirs up. Even the corniest, most ridiculous lines and moments are hilarious to me. Yet, as a self-proclaimed critic, I believe that I am able, on some level, to analyze the movie somewhat impartially. But honestly, as I sit here, I cannot think of one thing I would change about the movie. Sure, some of the musical numbers are not as strong as others, but they are are so interwoven that the film would be seriously lacking with any omissions. I seem to remember some dislike for the "Hail Poetry" interlude. I would argue that without that song, "The Pirates of Penzance" would cease to exist. It might not be as cherished as "I Am A Pirate King" or "I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major General", but when those characters, stop at the moment they do, and in one voice proclaim "Hail Poetry", it sends shivers down my spine. Jude liked the movie. He especially (spoiler!) liked that Frederic is only five years and a little bit older. Of course even a month later I sing that I am a pirate king at least 17 times every day, but hey, there's worse things I could be singing right?

The Town, The Social Network and True Grit

I think that "The Town" was successful in delivering everything I expected from it. This may seem odd, but really, what it left out may have been one of it's strengths. Affleck (as director) wisely avoided many paths that this material could have followed. For example, instead of dwelling on plot twists, Affleck focuses on how his characters react to surprises. As a director he understands that why people do things is far more interesting than what they do. He allows a natural, emotional response to occur, which is refreshing for this kind of movie. I think that the ending was the weakest aspect of the film. There is a tendency to wrap things up cleanly (a happy ending), which is understandable, but for it to work in this kind of a story it has to be executed perfectly. Here it just seemed forced. Not to be too repetitive in my view on movies, but once again, sitting through this movie, I was reminded of a similar film that was far superior. "Heat" set the bar so high in this genre that it almost seems pointless to compete against it. For example, there has not yet been a firefight depicted on screen that even comes close to the one in "Heat". The conversation between De Niro and Pacino in the coffee shop makes all other conversations between cops and robbers seem like Mr. McFeely and Mr. Rogers talking on the front porch on a Thursday afternoon.

"The Social Network" reminded me of an epidode of the old television show "Max Headroom" All publicity is good publicity. No matter how sharply users of Facebook get ridiculed, it's still cool. It's like the people who advocate for privacy rights against Facebook. It's like getting angry at the barber for removing your hair... Don't get me wrong, I think Facebook is a wonderful invention, and the film certainly portrays Mark Zuckerberg as a genius. Yet I think that the average Americans are notorious for recognizing what is great for the wrong reasons. Point in case; Obama and "Avatar". Obama would be a great replacement for Oprah (not Bush). "Avatar" was a great movie (not film). Facebook is a great social network, it is not a replacement for friendship.
David Fincher was the perfect director to make this movie. It takes a special kind of ironic sense of humor to make a film that both glorifies and condemns at the same time. Think about it, in "Fight Club", Tyler Durden speaks of the evils of materialism, all while being the epitome of cool. In "The Social Network" Fincher addresses the meaning of friendship. The guy who invents the website that has defined friendship for this generation doesn't know what friendship is. It's interesting how a shadow of a thing is so often the replacement for something real in our society.

I've mentioned to some of you before the remake of "True Grit" by the Coen brothers. A couple trailers are now available to view, and it's looking pretty good. In the first trailer there is some clear John Wayne imagery, and the second trailer features a fitting song (albeit overused of late). I sense some depth in this remake that didn't quite make it into the original. I'm going to have to say that this looks like the most promising upcoming movie. Until next time, goodnight.

The American

It is important that you, the reader of this review know that the movie I saw just before "The American" was "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo". This is vital information because in many ways these movies are very similar. Both are dripping with European moodiness. What I mean is possibly 30% of each movie is devoted to long pauses, 25% of each movie is focused on sullen faces, 17% is shadows, with another 21% pure darkness. That leaves approximately 7% for story, action, dialogue and the titles (opening and closing). Perhaps I am being unfair. Even though I was aware of its style, it didn't distract me during "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo". And in all honesty "The American" was a good movie, and I liked certain aspects. The problem is that it was too much, too close together.

George Clooney plays an assassin who is confronted with the idea that he has lost his soul. What makes this a dilemma for him is the discovery that he wants a soul. Of course regaining a soul is not quite as easy as losing it (at least according to standard cinema conventions). The plot is standard, simple and merely a vehicle for a performance by Clooney. What sets this film apart are his conversations with a local priest. These brief exchanges lead to Clooney's character making decisions at key moments, that will forever change the course of his life. I liked the cause and effect nature of what was said and done. So often in movies, one seems to be a slave to the other (dialogue and action). "The American" did something else I really appreciate, it developed a character without seeming heavy-handed. Clooney's American has a love/hate relationship with life. This is symbolized in his mechanical expertise. It is clear that he is gifted and even finds peace in working with his hands, yet he uses this ability to do that which he is trying to avoid. For this reason, even with its thick European feel, I found the film to be very intriguing.

Machete

I have witnessed the progression of special effects, as we have moved from film techniques such as scale models) into the digital age (computer generated imagery). Early in the development of CGI I was willing to forgive filmmakers for taking risks. "The Abyss" for example really did something that sparked my imagination. Along with effects came new techniques (such as Bullet-time in "The Matrix"). The first time seeing a new technique, regardless of context it seems pretty amazing. "The Abyss" came out 21 years ago, and by now CGI has become commonplace, and I personally expect these effects to be perfect by now. That being said I have a few exceptions to this expectation, and Robert Rodriguez defines the first: No matter how many movies Rodriguez has made, he has maintained a very home-made feel to his movies. What worked in "El Mariachi" (and more so in "Desperado") has carried through all his films, which now includes "Machete". Action is cartoonish (graphic and violent, but nevertheless cartoonish). Dialogue is direct, efficient and funny. The acting, storylines and music all match the feel that Rodriguez has established, which produces a grown-up Coyote and Roadrunner cartoon. I am sometimes surprised that I like this kind of movie, when I think about it as separate parts, or try to explain it later, I realize that it really was a shallow, visceral movie experience. Yet Rodriguez is so energetic in his delivery that this mess of a movie somehow works for me. I think of it this way; if they had a 24 hour a day Coyote and Roadrunner channel, that would get old real quick, but small, inventive doses can be extremely entertaining. The reason Rodriguez is an exception to my special effect rule is that in writing, directing, shooting and editing the films all himself, his movies truly leave the impression that you're somehow tapped into his imagination. The shotgun basts that take off a limb and send the recipient hurtling back into a wall, aren't meant to be real, rather a fantastic representation. I know that Rodriguez (like Tarantino) has a great deal of appreciation for exploitation films of the 60s and 70s. Even though "Machete" is a tribute to those movies, I think that I can enjoy Rodriguez's vision without sharing his opinion on what defines a great film.

I think that I should take time to mention once again that movies like "Machete" aren't for everyone. Maybe they aren't for anyone.

The Other Guys, The Karate Kid and The Expendables

Over the last two weeks I've seen a few movies in the theater, but up till now haven't taken the time to write about them. I will devote a paragraph to each, starting with the first movie I saw.

"The Other Guys" is another one of those comedies that is funny (as a comedy should be), but is so shallow that it will soon be forgotten. As I have stated before there seems to be a requirement in Hollywood that 95% of all movies must be drivel, so that the 4% that are pure crap get special attention, and the 1% that are actually good have a chance to stand out. "The Other Guys" has its moments. Will Ferrell has an extended retort to a comment Mark Whalberg makes, which is extremely funny. Michael Keaton has a quirky role to play, although it seems a little forced and could have been funnier. Unfortunately, if you've seen the trailer, you've pretty much either seen the funniest parts or you've already been set up for the funniest parts. This is the kind of movie that makes me realize that even though Woody Allen has been doing pretty much the same stuff for 44 years, his movies are actually funny and in many cases memorable. Perhaps comedies have the greatest challenge of any kind of movie. There needs to be a story, a plot to keep the audience interested, just as in other films, but the hard part is to keep us laughing the whole time. Of course different people have different senses of humor, but it seems like a waste when so much effort is put into making so many comedies that just aren't funny.

I will be brief in my comments on "The Karate Kid". First off, it was a good remake. For the most part I enjoyed the flow of the plot, the development of the characters and the choreography of the action. I thought that having a younger actor playing the part of the Karate Kid (Jaden Smith) worked overall, but when it came to the final showdown I felt uncomfortable. To allow such a young kid to continue with the severity of his injuries was wrong, and for me was a major distraction. Jackie Chan as the mentor worked very well. Unfortunately this was my biggest problem of the movie; the payoff in the original "Karate Kid" never happens in this movie (the scene in the parking lot after the final tournament). If anyone could have convincingly pulled off that scene it would be Jackie Chan, but alas, the filmmakers here take a gentler, more symbolic approach, which I found disappointing.

About a week ago I was thinking to myself; "I'm looking forward to seeing "The Expendables: because I know that there won't be any Lady Gaga music on the soundtrack." Sure enough. This is a Lady Gaga free zone, and that is a welcome change... This is a movie dripping with testosterone, and yes I do realize that quite a few jokes could be made based on that statement. Stallone directed and stars in this action star packed action movie. As with his other recent films ("Rocky Balboa" and "Rambo") this film does a have deeper message than the action fare of the 80s that Stallone is famous for. Of course Stallone isn't making a chick flick, this is a blood soaked, brutal action movie to its core, but wrapped around a plot with heart. I hesitate to describe the best scenes from the movie, mostly because I don't want to ruin it for anyone. I will say that the casting set the stage for quite a few scenes where "what if" questions from the past 25 years finally get answered. Personally I don't believe that we'll ever get clear answers to the "What if Bruce Lee fought Stallone?" or "Jackie Chan versus Seagal?" But this movie take a big bite out of these questions and it sure is entertaining. I think it's kind of funny that Stallone does seem to be holding on to some of the cliches from 80s action movies, the endless line of paramilitary troops who are basically moving targets is perhaps my fovorite. The list of stuntmen for this movie is far greater than special effect technicians, which is rare these days in Hollywood. One final note I wanted to make; Mickey Rourke plays a role here which really puts his "Iron Man 2" character to shame. It's really sad how big budget blockbusters miss the point of great actors, yet a little action movie by Rocky himself can focus in on 2 minutes of performance that makes the whole movie. I guess I'm the sucker who paid money to see the first...

Salt and Inception revisited

Rob didn't get to see "Inception" with me on opening night, so this past Friday we saw "Salt" and then stayed to watch "Inception". I can quickly say that "Salt" was better than I had expected it to be. I would have thought that it would be like Tom Cruise's most recent "Knight and Day", which was entertaining, but predictable and shallow. "Salt" has a few surprises, nothing earth-shattering, yet enough to keep it interesting. Let me take a moment to talk about surprises. Sure "Knight and Day" may have had its twist and double crosses, just as "Salt" does, but the difference is how those twists affect the plot and more importantly how the characters react. Angelina Jolie has done this stuff before, her biggest movies are probably the action movies. She has also proven herself time and again to be a great actress, and I think it helps to make this movie captivating, even though its not believable. Talking about believability, this is not a movie that contains much, if any of that commodity. What I find to be the most irritating is that here, as in so many other action movies, the heroine gets 50 1-shot kills in a row, followed by a climactic shootout in which she can hit no one. I would ask the filmmakers to please establish a set of rules, I'll ascribe to them for the course of the movie no matter how outrageous they are, but please, never break your own rules. All in all I liked this movie, it leaves room for a sequel, but as is true with most movies, it would be far better to leave it as is. If they make a sequel, it'll just detract from this movie.

Perhaps you could tell that my thoughts on "Salt" seemed rather flat and maybe you could tell that I'm distracted. Yes, and watching the movie, all the while knowing that a far better film lay waiting on the other side may in fact have influenced my viewing of "Salt". The second viewing of "Inception" only built upon my admiration of the film and those involved in its production. Today I went to a site that was discussing the chronology of events and their meaning in this film. I find that to be somewhat amusing. Perhaps I am just not a detail person. If you've read many of my reviews, you will have noticed that I care very little for what happened at any given moment in a film, rather it is the big picture, the meaning that I am interested in. The author of this other blog broke down the film by its individual scenes, then explained the three possible conclusions that could be drawn from the ending. Sure I find this kind of discussion interesting, it's probably one of my favorite things to do, but where this film is concerned it feels a like a waste of time. The movie isn't at all what it's about. To examine the details, as this blogger said; (and I paraphrase) "open it up and find out how it works", misses the whole point of the film. My fellow blogger did acknowledge that Christopher Nolan was 10 steps ahead for the whole movie. I liked that (I actually said that myself, not that anyone cares), this is a masterpiece of a film. Nolan didn't sit around watching the Smurfs for ten years, he wrote draft after draft of this script. Each rule that he establishes, each character and the relationships between characters, all of these are important. Sure, the plot, the images, even the sounds of a passing bicycle are all important. When the screen cuts to black, those details are no longer elements of a film, rather they have successfully fused together, bringing us to a conclusion that is greater than the sum of the parts. I could have ended with that cliché of a statement, but I will explain. Nolan knows that we as an audience are bringing our own pre-conceptions to the theater. As with "Memento" and "The Prestige" before, Nolan is not attempting to trick us, he is willing to explain a whole lot more than most directors would. No, he wants us to piece the puzzle together and then reach conclusions as though on our own. The final statement of the movie is not meant to frustrate us or trick us, rather to remind us who's puzzle this is.

Inception (Initial Review)

With "Inception", Christopher Nolan has taken ideas and crafted them so smoothly into a film that definitely is greater than the sum of its parts. At a number of points I noticed that the dialogue was simplistic, too explanatory. Yet later, when the film was over I recognized why this was necessary. The characters onscreen weren't explaining it for us, rather they were trying to wrap their own minds around some pretty heavy ideas. I thought the casting was excellent, I really was pleasantly surprised with how well Ellen Page was able to fit into the film without me thinking about "Juno" (too much). Perhaps it is because I most recently saw him in "Shutter Island" but there were some scenes where DiCaprio's performance was too familiar. Unfortunately there is a similar plot-line between this film and "Shutter Island" so in a way similarities in acting will be present too. That is not to say that DiCaprio wasn't amazing as usual, he was, and this will be added to an impressive streak.

Ideas are what this film is about, but in films ideas must be conveyed through images. This film was beautiful. A perfect combination of expression of ideas and the visual representation thereof. I liked that there wasn't need for explanation of the technology behind linking to dreams. We've all seen by now plenty of movies that have spent countless hours treating us like idiots by showing us how to "plug in". No, this film isn't about connecting to others dreams or fighting the Matrix. This is a film about the life of a thought. Where does that idea come from? How does that idea grow? What are the consequences of having one little, harmless thought? For Nolan to take those ideas (as the screenwriter)and so clearly conceive of ways to represent them visually is truly amazing. I think that one of the interesting facts about "The Matrix" is that most of the questions that movie sparks aren't addressed in the film. The film makes some interesting statements and sets up certain parameters, yet the audience is far smarter than the movie. With "Inception" Nolan has blown "The Matrix" out of the water. There is always the sense that he is a few steps ahead of us. Nolan knows the answers, all the possible answers, yet he is able to keep everything comprehensible and tightly interwoven with the story. Sure, once again you will walk out of a movie with plenty of questions, perhaps even some doubts about the answers you've been given, but don't doubt for a moment that anything was unintentional.

The Last Airbender

I had high hopes for this movie. I don't want to regurgitate what must be going around all the message boards these days, but M. Night Shaymalan has let down his fans for the first time. Up until now I have liked all of Saymalan's films. I have thought that in many ways his films have become progressively better, with the exception of "Lady in the Water" which wasn't as good as "The Village" which came right before it. When I heard Shaymalan explain that his kid had turned him on to "Avatar: The Last Airbender", and that he (Shaymalan) was excited about making it into a film, I was excited too. I was excited because I knew that he, if anyone, could make anything interesting. Up until just last week, no matter how many times I saw the trailer, I knew that Shaymalan has the ability to make a quirky anime kids show into a great visual cautionary tale. But alas, it was not to be so. Instead I saw a movie with poor acting, poor dialogue, a run-of-the-mill New Age plot, and sub-par special effects. The worst of it was realizing that this movie is a setup, most likely for two other movies. Are we going to be deprived of a true Shaymalan film for four years? Has Shaymalan lost it? Is this just some great pre-amble to an even worse second movie, followed up by a great masterpiece, which could only be truly appreciated by being disappointed by the earlier two films? I know I'm probably reaching there. It would be far healthier to forgive Shaymalan this one error, maybe even a trilogy of errors, and hope that he gets this out of his system and goes back to who he was meant to be.

Knight and Day and Twilight 3

As I told my friend Rob, "Knight and Day" is one of those movies that is slowly but surely chipping away at my desire to see movies. It's not that it was a bad movie. It's not that it was without it's moments of humor or action. It's fault was that it was bland. It is a poor copy of what has already been done. I hesitate to recommend the following, because it has faults of its own, but "Grosse Pointe Blank" is the king of this genre. The everyday guy who is really something different and the innocent woman who is in love with the everyday guy, or is she in love with the bad boy? They're both the same guy so it doesn't matter, right? Anyways, "Grosse Pointe Blank" truly understands what is interesting about this pairing, and the relationship is the focus of the film. Here in "Knight and Day", plot devices, action scenes and a poor attempt at witty dialogue are all we're really given. Sure the action was good. Sure Tom Cruise is a smooth action hero, one of a kind. But I want "Mission Impossible 4", not some generic genre retread to hold me over. Have you ever noticed that when I spend most of the time talking about another movie, most likely it's because I don't want to talk about the movie I'm supposed to be writing about?

There is nothing I can compare last night's experience to. As I looked around, I could count the number of men in the crowd with my fingers (on one hand). A Taylor Lautner cell phone screen saver to my right. A small group of women huddled around a laptop screening of "New Moon" one row ahead of me. Excitement in the air. "Do you know what trailer we get to see before the movie starts?" I hear from a couple rows away, and then oohs and ahhs as the questioner reveals "the new Harry Potter!" Of course conversation then turned to the travesty over splitting one book into two movies, which of course led to the a conversation over the far deeper travesty of splitting the final "Twilight" into two movies. Yes, there I was waiting for the midnight showing of "Twilight: Eclipse" My sister Jill and her friend fit right into the faithful fans waiting for the movie to finally begin. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I prepared for this moment a while back by watching the previous two films on DVD. I will admit to you, and not easily, that I actually liked "Eclipse". First let me say that I am fully aware that the energy of a midnight crowd and viewing the movie in a theater are automatically going to give any movie and advantage. The added fact that I was with my sister, and I knew how excited she was must also be considered. All of that aside, I believe that I am able to achieve some level of objectivity when watching any movie, and I can say without any hesitation that I did like the movie and it was by far the best of the three. One of my main complaints about the previous two movies was an apparent lack of self awareness. What I mean by that is that the subject matter is pretty far fetched, and even withing the context of the legends it deals with, it has broken quite a few rules. Some may feel that "Twilight" is "redefining" what vampires and werewolves are, but I am of the opinion that "watering-down" is a better way of stating that point. Finally this move acknowledged that vampires don't have blood pumping through their veins, they are cold, lifeless creatures. The exchanges between the main vampire Edward and the werewolf "Jacob" finally seemed real, instead of controlled by the plot. Even Bella's explanation for her stubborn position felt understandable to me. Instead of just being a girl who wants to be a vampire, I finally got the sense that this is a decision that she has made for herself. Everyone around her knows that it is the wrong decision, but with the limited perspective on life that she has, it is right in her mind. On top of those previous points being addressed, I also liked that the film makers took the time to explain some of the side characters and their motivations a bit more. The last movie especially was so bogged down in back and forth territorial bickering, that having everyone "get along" for the most part was a nice change. I will also say that the special effects, although distractingly PG-13 were significantly better in this installment. At one point Bella gets to pet a wolf, a pretty big wolf, and I personally couldn't spot the line between real and effect. So in conclusion, if some girl tries to get you to see this movie with her, of course you'll want to say "Please, not another chick flick!" "Can't we rent a musical or something?" But when you're sitting there in the dark, you can secretly enjoy it, while at the same time earning brownie points for when the next Tarantino movie comes out...

Toy Story 3

The film makers over at Pixar have once again delivered an entertaining, beautiful and moving movie that's good for the whole family. Instead of making a children's movie or animating a grown up's movie, Pixar just makes a great film, combining all the elements necessary, without adding or subtracting according to some notion of what would appeal to certain age groups. One of the film's strengths is character development. Sure, we know the central characters from the previous film, but there is always room for growth, and new characters are introduced who are vital to the plot and the conclusion of this story. As in the previous films, "Toy Story 3" brings back memories of childhood, showcasing even more toys that are bound to spark nostalgic feelings and plenty of laughs. This movie is very funny, some jokes the kids might not get, but there's plenty here for everyone. I really liked how "Toy Story 2" was told from the perspective of the toys, and captured that bittersweet relationship between toy and child. The story of "Toy Story 3" does a wonderful job of actually exploring that relationship deeper, swinging the camera around and allowing us to see it from the child's perspective as well. This is interesting considering that I feel that Pixar's weakness has always been capturing humans. I think as the company and its artist continue to grow and mature we will see even more groundbreaking, and hopefully plenty of great stories and amazing visuals for years to come.

The A-Team

Except for the last major sequence, this was all in all a pretty good movie. Some of you might not know (Mom) that I grew up on the A-Team. Part of an episode here, a few brief flashes there. I seem to remember a very small black and white television in the corner of my parent's room as being our primary viewing location. (This is also how we watched Dukes of Hazard I believe). You didn't have to watch every week, or see a whole episode to quickly get the gist of the show and understand the characters and their relationship to each other. In television this is an attribute. Understand your viewers and give them entertainment. And in the case of A-Team it wasn't a bad thing. What kept us watching was the action and the funny dialogue. Colorful characters and a variety of locations also kept the show fresh from week to week. Then of course there was Mr. T, Hannibal, Face and my personal favorite Murdoch... Has ever a better team of mercenaries ever been assembled? This brings you to my perspective when approaching the movie last night. How could a 2 hour Hollywood movie compare to childhood memories formed over some of the most impressionable years of my life? Let's just say I had fun. It was kind nostalgic trip down memory lane. Liam Neeson paid tribute to Hannibal, which some of you will read as a kind of ridiculous waste of time, but that's what old people think about things they don't understand. The rest of the cast also did a great job of portraying familiar characters, while at the same time making them their own. The screenplay captured the main elements of the television series (there's a problem, A-Team fixes it). And it was funny script with plenty of nods to what I remembered most about the show. I won't spoil the best part of the movie, but I will say that it completely captured my feelings about current film making trends and made fun in a good old fashioned A-Team way. Would it be too cliche for me to say that I pity the fool who doesn't see this movie?

How To Train Your Dragon and Shrek 4

"How To Train Your Dragon" was a fun adventure. Unlike other recent releases ("Iron Man 2") this movie actually has a sense of wonder. We are transported to another place and time. We meet a interesting cast of characters and variety of unique dragon species. There is a simple story, yet this isn't so much about what or why, rather it's a movie about who and how. The relationships, between father and son, girl and boy, and human and dragon, this is the good stuff. The fact that the people here are vikings made everthing all the more entertaining. The voices, the attitudes and the beards, all made this movie better. The main dragon and his human counterpart are the center of the movie, and I liked them both. The drogon reminded me of Stitch (from "Lilo and Stitch") and since I really love that character, it worked here as well. The emotion and communication is so dependent on facial expression and body language, I believe that can either make or break the effectiveness of a film, and here it works amazingly well.

"Shrek 4" may not be as bad as "Shrek 3" (it's hard for me to say since I've tried to erase most Shrek from my mind). Sure there are funny moments. The filmmakers know the funniest material because they actually use a time warp element in order to ensure we return in time to see the funniest part a second time. Unfortunately, like with so many sequels, what made the first one truly original, barely exists in this fourth installment. Should I talk about the animation or the voice work or even the music? What's the point? Blah, blah, and a little more blah. How in the days after "Ratatouille" can animators make "Shrek 4" and bare to look at themselves in the mirror? I guess (to answer my own question) it must be the paychecks sitting on the table next to the mirror in their grand hall of their Hollywood mansions. Maybe if I didn't help support these second rate artist wannabes, crap like "Shrek 5" won't get made...

Lost

Here's my problem tonight...

I believe that there is no ambiguity when it comes to eternity. I believe that peace can be found through only one path. And when the end comes, it will not be subtle, no one will doubt at the end.

Now I have enjoyed "Lost" with all its twists and turns. I like wondering what's going to happen next, then after seeing what happpens, wondering what in the world I just saw. I enjoy that the show always left room for discussion and it was refreshing to see television that was truly interesting.

In the end I'm afraid that the show took the easy way out. Kind of like the Obama advisor who will not acknoledge Islamic extremism as a threat. It would be nice to live in a world where every belief leads to some euphoric afterlife. Can't we all just get along? Unfortunately the truth can be hard to swallow. What do they say about broad and narrow roads? Anyways, maybe "Lost" would have finished better taking sides. I kind of thought that's what the show was about.

Iron Man 2 and Robin Hood

Now most of you reading this probably saw "Iron Man 2" with me, so it'll be old news, but sometimes it's good to make a solid copy as a reminder (or a warning) as a lasting reference... I would guess that there are two basic camps; those who liked the original "Iron Man" and those who didn't. Those who did, should be disappointed by the sequel. Those who didn't like the first will have far less expectations and therefore be less disappointed. Sure I was still disappointed, I believe that I am a movie optimist, I always hope the movie is going to be good. (I'm a realist too, realizing that my hopes are usually quashed by the Hollywood machine). This movie has no style and no substance. Sure it's amazingly crafted, the artists and technicians earned their share of the take. But no matter how many suitcase Iron Man suits transform, no matter how many, wait a minute... This movie wasn't even that cool. The special effects weren't even that amazing. It wasn't interesting, it wasn't funny, it wasn't anything, just blah. Very expensive blah. To top it off, apparently they hired Mickey Rourke to repeat his performance from "The Wrestler". He must have read the script and thought to himself, "This will be a nice little mental vacation". If I can praise the movie for anything it would be consistency. The actors, the story, the dialogue, the setting, etc. all were equally blah.

Let me set up my review of Ridley Scott's "Robin Hood" talking about the true Robin Hood for a moment. Howard Pyle wrote a little book called "The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood" which for me is the standard by which all things Robin Hood should be measured. My childhood had its references too, the Errol Flynn film and of course the wonderful Walt Disney version featuring Roger Miller. That being said, Ridley Scott seems to know a little about Robin Hood. Enough to use him as a cultural reference in telling his own tale and relaying his own message. This very easily could have been very upsetting to me, yet I found myself liking the film and going along with this retelling. I think he avoided making any definitive statements, like "this is what really happened" or "my version is better than that version". Scott tells a story with convincing characters (played well by great actors) and uses the legend for a backdrop. Really this film could have been an original story that took place in the time of Robin Hood and it would have been just as good. My complaints about Scott in the past have been lack of originality ("Gladiator") and frustration to the point of annoyance ("Black Hawk Down"). With "Robin Hood", although it never achieves greatness, he at least makes his own film, and tells a compelling tale that pays tribute to its source material.

David Mamet

Years ago I was blown away by "Glengarry Glen Ross" It was one of the most boring movies visually, yet one of the most captivating to listen to. An eye opening experience (or ear opening I guess) in realizing how important writing is in film. The reason I write today about Mamet is that I just watched "Redbelt" for the first time. It is truly amazing how a little film that is written well can be such a captivating experience. People that react to what has happened. Not in a contrived plot sense. Sure, in the upcoming Summer blockbusters people are going to do and say stuff, but it will all be a slave to the plot. Mamet makes me feel that the plot serves the words. I mean when someone says something it impacts what happens next. Words and actions have true consequences in a Mamet screenplay. The most powerful moment in this film is a slap. But the slap can't stand alone. There must be a build-up and a reaction to the act of a slap. In a few weeks people will be watching Iron Man flying around blowing stuff up. He'll say something and Gwyneth Paltrow will say something funny in return. But in the end I will be left with an shallow memory of having been entertained. "Redbelt" is burned into my memory, and I believe was a worthwhile time spent watching a film.

I look back at other films by Mamet; "The Spanish Prisoner", "Heist" "Ronin", "Hannibal" and "The Edge". I think all of them were entertaining, and very importantly different from each other. "Redbelt" is his latest, and I think his best. So in a world of write-by-numbers, dumb it down for the masses, it's nice to think that Mamet is only getting better.

Kick-A**

Typically I never look at Roger Ebert's review of a movie until after I've written about it myself. I hope that my ideas come across as my own, and then I compare my perspective to his. I mention this only because as I was skimming through his site I caught the first few lines of his "Kick-A**" review. To tell the truth I was going to give an overall positive review of the movie, but after seeing his thoughts I began to question myself. The title character of this movie is an average New York City high schooler, who wants to be a super hero. This is one of those self-aware, self-narrated, tongue in cheek dark comedies that is meant to be funny by being outrageous. I will admit that I liked the movie. It is one of those fast paced, well written visceral experiences that sucks you in, while you're in your seat. Now what Ebert so clearly states is that this movie is morally reprehensible. One of the supporting characters (who steals every scene she's in) is an eleven year old girl. He mother was killed when she was young, and her father has trained her to assist him in their pursuit of vengance. Now on one hand, seeing an eleven year old girl do the stuff she does is pretty amazing. No matter what special effects they used, this is one talented little actress. But (to quote "Jurassic Park") it seems they were so busy wondering if they could make a little girl fly through the air and slice bad guys heads off, that they didn't stop to consider if they should. I am reminded of "The Professional" with a young Natalie Portman, that was a gritty, reaistic glimpse at a similar situation. This is a good example of how the approach to certain subjects is so important. Real life is messy. It is sad that people who are too young often deal with the harsh realities of this world. I think it can be a good thing to make films that address these concerns, but "Kick-A**" is not the way to do it.

Twilight (so far)

So the other night I gave the first "Twilight" movie a chance...(and watched the second one the following night)...

Jess had already seen the first one, and had liked aspects of it, and since I have a feeling I'll be watching the third one this Summer, I though it best to get caught-up. That being said, I heard a comedian not too long ago say that he'd just watched "Twilight". He said that "Footloose" is a better vampire movie than "Twilight", and he was right. The makers of the "Twilight" series display a real lack of knowledge when it comes to their subject matter. I'm sure that this has been discussed in extensive detail elsewhere, so I won't go into it. On the other hand these movies aren't about vampires or werewolves, rather they are about people. Teenage angst. The feeling of being old beyond your years. Frustration that the world is passing you by and the things you long for seem so distant and unattainable. I think the movies do a good job of tapping in to that human condition, and the characters do represent honest emotions. The movies are also lush visually. Sure the makeup and the close-ups and the slow motion are obviously overdone, but hey, it all fits the package. I found myself snickering when wolf-boy takes off his shirt, but then I'm not a fifteen year old girl (no offense to my favorite sister). When vampire-boy and Bella kiss, I can't help but think that his body is ice cold, no blood pumping to warm his lips, how can she enjoy it? But then I guess different things turn on different people, so who am I to judge?
The best vampire movies know why we a both afraid and drawn to the idea of vampires. They possess immortality and supernatural abilities, yet they also represent the dark, addictive, lost nature of man. The moral is that there is a price to pay for selling your soul, and the price always outweighs the rewards.

Now I don't know how this "Twilight" series is going to turn out, my impression is that somehow, if your love is strong enough, even the pitfalls of vampirism can be lessened, and life can be at least bearable for the damned.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Jude has read all the "Wimpy Kid" books and Ashley has read a few of them. The movie "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" is faithful to the series. Jude and I both liked the animation used throughout the film. Even though the animation is based on the very simplistic drawings from the books, it helped to set the atmosphere for the movie. It's one of those things that I believe is endearing about the books as long as you don't give it too much thought (like thinking about the fact that the drawings are by an adult). I found the movie to be very funny and I laughed throughout. The actors chosen for the main roles were all well cast. This movie had charisma and like "The Sandlot" for example, a kids movie needs that to survive a grown-up viewing. If you've read any of the books you already know that since the story is told from the perspective of a middle school boy there may be some situations and behaviors that adults would consider questionable. There are irreverent kids, mean kids, gross kids, etc. There is an incident that takes place midway through the movie in which the main character faces an important decision. Even though I was unhappy with his decision and many that followed, I like that the story made him suffer the consequences. Sure, as with most movies, kids or otherwise, the ending was nice and clean. Typically I would complain how this cinematic device would jolt me from the illusion of the film and completely ruined a perfectly good movie. In this case it rings true, kids are much more likely to forgive and forget. Perhaps this is a lesson that adults can learn from children. After all, unless you have the faith of a child...

The Blind Side

Jess and I got to go out for her birthday last night and we got to see "The Blind Side" together. This is the kind of movie we both like, this kind of movie and "Ocean's Eleven". There has been much made about Sandra Bullock's likability but poor choice in starring roles. She typically goes for roles that guys like me find irritating. Yet how can anyone not like Sandra Bullock? The buzz was right on, Bullock does an excellent job in "The Blind Side" and this is an uplifting, heartwarming story (if you're into that sort of thing). This is one of those little films that knows what it's trying to accomplish and doesn't overstep its scope. What I mean is that although football is a thread, the movie never tries to be about football. There are just the right number of characters, and theses characters support the story being told. And "The Blind Side" is successful as a film by telling a dramatic, interesting, well organized story, yet feels real because it never stoops to cinematic cliche or forced cause/affect moments. I hope that Bullock takes this film to heart in future role selection. It is proof that you can make a Sandra Bullock movie that doesn't feel like it was written in an afternoon by someone who only ever has seen chick flicks and is under the impression that they are the only kind of film to make. It reminds of of the line from "The Blues Brothers"; Elwood: "What kind of music do you usually have here?" Woman: "Oh, we got both kinds. We got country *and* western". "While You Were Sleeping" was a good movie, cream of the crop in its genre. I just hope with this movie Bullock can finally escape the genre and make films that remind us why nobody really dislikes Sandra Bullock.

The Green Zone

Ben and I have talked about Paul Greengrass' camerawork before, and once again it seems like the ad for a camera operator must have stated that it was an entry level position... Personally I don't think this is a knock against the movie. For the most part the gritty, personal, somewhat spastic camera actually works for the story being told here. The trailer is somewhat misleading, suggesting that this is another "Bourne" action movie. Fortunately Greengrass and Matt Damon take this story a different route. Damon's character is a wise and experienced soldier. Yet he is not without limitations, and the fuel that drives this movie is the story, not the action. I like how Greengrass makes definite statements about details that are undeniable, yet respects the intelligence of his audience when the questions raised drift into the uncertain. For example, we were told that Iraq currently possessed weapons of mass destruction, as a reason for engaging in a war against Saddam Hussein's regime. As of yet these weapons have not been discovered, which means that somewhere there was flawed information. These are all points that the film uses as its base. The questions it raises and theories it presents pertain to how and why such an important piece of the puzzle was flat out wrong. I like that Damon is presented 100% as a patriot, and 100% as a thoughtful, conscientious man. Unfortunately this is also an area where the movie became somewhat unrealistic. Damon's character as an Army Chief Warrant Officer acts in a way that no member of the military would ever get away with. There are acts of insubordination here that would at the very least get him court martialed and most likely get him killed. Then too there is an Iraqi citizen called Freddy, who never rises above the cliche that his character represents. This can sometimes make sense in a screenplay, because of the time limitations in a film you must have simple supporting characters to drive the story. But here it's just real bad. Freddy is a shortcut in every way imaginable. There is actually evidence in my mind that he isn't even a real character, just a jumble of thoughts and ideas. Especially his last moments in the film, which are inevitable made me fell so cheated. As I have said before, when a film, especially one that intends to be believable jolts me into realizing that everything is a slave to the plot, the whole film falls apart. This would have been a very good film if Freddy would have been omitted.

The Princess and the Frog and Alice In Wonderland

I took my daughters to see "The Princess and the Frog" not too long ago, and because I don't review enough family friendly, here I go: I think it's pretty obvious that this movie is an attempt by Disney to make a traditional animated film that appeals to a broader audience, or maybe a more specific, as of yet neglected audience. It does seem odd when you think about it that Disney of all companies has maintained (as they say in Washington) the status quo for so long. This political insight aside, I thought that the movie was a good one. "The Princess and the Frog" continues in the spirit of this style animation from recent memory. At the same time I've been getting the feeling that this style has become a back-burner priority for the studio, and in some ways it feels unnecessarily bland and dated. Another knock against this movie relates to its setting and its villain. Louisiana and a Voodoo witch doctor aren't exactly wholesome family friendly fare. Yet to be fair I think it would be difficult to find any Disney movie that doesn't dabble in the occult or evil of one kind or another that isn't somewhat questionable. So by that rationale, this movie like its predecessors does make a distinction between good and evil, and in the end good does prevail. Now as I said I did like the movie overall. It had that classic Disney fairytale quality. Some of the visuals were very entertaining, and I hope that the studio keeps this art form alive for a long time to come. The music wasn't great, too bad about that, but it fit well into the context of the movie. Maybe it's that it's that I'm getting old, I tend to fondly remember the greatness of "Aladdin", and long for a current film to equal its technical and artistic level. Perhaps I need to recognize that the talent has shifted, moved on to a newer form. "Ratatouille" definitely surpassed the "Aladdin" benchmark, so I guess I just need to go with the flow, enjoy classic animation from its heyday, and appreciate what we have now.

I'm going to compare Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland" to Tim Burton's "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" Both succesfully take us into a highly imaginitive world as only Burton could bring to life. Both contain a prfomance by Johnny Depp as only Depp could deliver. Each have a story that delves deeper into the human condition than you might expect. These are modern fables in a tradition of storytelling that seems lost upon most current filmmakers. So at this point in the review I would say that I was happy with "Alice in Wonderland", it contained all the elements it should, and the 3D technology used help contribute to the overall visual experience. Unfortunately this movie lacks something that made "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" great. Here is where I should explain exactly what that "something" lacking is, but it's more complicated than that. It may be that Depp's characters, although each original and amazingly realized, are on two different levels. In "Charlie" he really got me to sympathize with his character. Whereas in "Alice" I never became personally involved with his character plight. In "Charlie" Burton was able to establish a flow to the film, and even with the flashbacks everything seemed to progress the story in a fluid and entertaining fashion. In "Alice" there seems to be a more traditional, chronologically strict style, which seems to bog down the screenplay at times. Now none of these critisisms are fatal flaws, yet they detract enough to keep the film from being as good as it should have been.

Cop Out

I realize that my taste in movies is broader than that of some of my readers. Some of you may never have seen a Kevin Smith film before, and if that is the case, maybe it should stay that way. "Cop Out" is by far and away the tamest of anything Smith has ever done, but that isn't really saying all that much. Smith has a distinct sense of comedy, in that he understands the psycology behind base humor. I guess I would suggest that Smith has elevated a form of low entertainment. When people around me talk about certain subjects I find it to be degrading and offensive. Smith has the ability to take far worse and place it into a context that I can relate to, or at least have sympathy for the plight of his characters. Let me be clear though that I do believe that Smith often goes too far. "Dogma" and "Clerks 2" and "Zack and Miri..." all take their subject matter well beyond any line as far as I'm concerned.

Beginning with "Jersey Girl" Smith has been dabbling in mainstream Hollywood movies with mainstream Holywood actors. I have found these endeavors to be somewhat lacking, but only lacking compared to his earlier independent films. Compared to the mainstream Hollywood comedies he is competing with, he is definitely at the top of the game. "Cop Out" falls into the mainstream category. It's funny, it's even Kevin Smith funny. Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan are cast well together, and aside from the fact that once again the trailer gives away too much of the good stuff, this is a funny comedy throughout.

Perhaps I'm allowing my satisfaction with "Shuuter Island" to influence my analasys of this movie too much. I had high expectations from Scorsese last weekend, and this weekend I was looking forward to a Kevin Smith film. You can read the results from last week, but this week wasn't without some dissapointment. Perhaps a brief appearance from Jay and Silent Bob would have upped this review, but alas it was not to be.

Shutter Island

I've been looking forward to "Shutter Island" for quite a while. So far the combination of Scorsese and DiCaprio has proven to be flawless. I have been so disappointed with mediocrity in films of late that I was really hoping for something that could deliver on it's promises... "Shutter Island" is everything I knew it would be. Even though I had high expectations going in, and even though the film achieved greatness throughout, it's amazing how Scorsese still has the ability to surprise and impress at just about every moment he chooses. And of course once again, here's DiCaprio at the top of his game. Perhaps someday he'll lose his touch. Maybe he'll make a poor role selection or slip in his personal life in a way that catastrophically affects his onscreen presence. But right now he seems perfect. I don't want to give too much away about the plot, but here DiCaprio must play such a wide range and he makes the needed transitions take place so smoothly as to be nearly invisible. In a sense you can't fully appreciate everything he's done until the film is completely over. I could use clichés to describe why this film was so effective; I could discuss how the atmosphere, the sets, the editing and the camera work all worked together to create terrifying tension. I could point out the obvious homage that Scorsese was paying to Hitchcock through not only cinematography, but also with his direction of the actors performances and the classic Phyco-esque music. Instead I would suggest that for Scorsese all these elements were a natural, automatic course to follow. When you're making a perfect film there is only one perfect answer to each decision a director must make. Of course unlike other directors who may choose the "easy" course or they feel that their individual style requires them to do something unexpected, so they avoid perfection in an effort to leave distinct trademark. With "Shutter Island" we get the best possible version of the film, which personally I prefer to any excuse others might come up with when they make movies similar in subject yet far inferior in substance.

 
On a side note there were two aspects of this film that I was uncomfortable with at the time. One, which I will not discuss here, though very disturbing, in retrospect I feel was necessary in conveying the emotional power of the film. The other element, which I'm still not sure how I feel about, was the film's Holocaust flashback sequences. I guess that I have become very alert when filmmakers use historical events as backdrops to further their stories. It is very easy to use a setting so horrible as a Nazi deathcamp to establish a sense of despair and trauma. Yet does it take away from the impact those events should have in our lives when they are used for dramatic effect in a work of fiction? I think arguments can be made for and against, and ultimately it probably comes down to how reverently history is treated (and accurately). Just a thought I had. Please feel free to let me know what you all think, I'd love to have your input on this subject.

Crazy Heart

On the road with a legend. Amazing creativity in a time of mediocre drivel. An ability to tap into the rawest of human emotions and connect with his audience. Great music and great actors. These are the qualities of the film "Crazy Heart" staring Jeff Bridges and Maggie Gyllenhaal. Like "Walk The Line" before it, this film glorifies a lifestyle that if you actually think about it isn't a life you'd want for yourself. Maybe it's one of those ageless questions of what is an acceptable throwing up/writing hit song balance? Personally I really hate thowing up and I try to avoid it as much as possible. On the other hand I really would like to be a great singer/songwriter, so maybe I'd take the bad to get the good. My point is that this film contains not only the strengths of "Walk The Line" but also it's weaknesses. Although, I think "Crazy Heart" does a better job of imparting the idea that even though it's super cool to be a musical legend, it's not all a bed of roses. But really, beds of roses are overrated.

Nominees

"Avatar", "The Blind Side", "District 9", "An Education", "The Hurt Locker", "Inglorious Basterds", "Precious", "A Serious Man", "Up" and "Up In the Air". These are the films nominated for Best Picture this year at the Academy Awards. Now I know that these awards are designed to promote an industry and therefore cannot be seen as unbiased. The list most likely contains certain films added primarily to spark controversy for even being on the list. It should also be noted that a list this year compared to a list from previous years would look very different and that is partly because the pool of contenders vary from year to year. So it would be unfair to say that none of these movies are as good as "Braveheart" because no movies this year were that good. So it really sucks for filmmakers when they release great films in a year of great films because it hurts their chances of being singled out that particular year (personally this is why I prefer a Top 100 List like the American Film Institute puts out, which covers all films from all time). Finally, before I comment on the specific movies nominated this year, it should be mentioned that there are three I haven't seen, including two I don't really have any desire to see...

First and foremost there is one movie on this list that does not deserve to be anywhere near the "Best Picture" category. Now this movie is a great visual masterpiece. It contains everything that the average moviegoing idiot is looking for without a shred of anything that would make it more substantial than that. If "Avatar" wins, then the Academy should officially apologize to the makers of "Speed", "Armageddon" and "Top Gun", because those films all gave us the same visceral rush that "Avatar" achieved, and didn't really give us much more. (I'd like to take this time to apologize to those three movies I just mentioned because they are actually far superior to "Avatar"). Typically the movies that gross the highest, that have the highest mass appeal are the ones that don't dig too deep. Blockbuster movies are an escape, which by definition is a kind of mindless disconnect from the real world. What gets me is that "Avatar" in it's core is a self-loathing criticism of the very system that made it possible, yet it's so gorgeously packaged in vibrant blue 3D action that everyone seems snowed. Maybe in the days of Obama, we deserve a Best Picture like "Avatar".

Secondly, the other nominees. You could go back and read what I thought of the ones I've seen so far. I'm hoping for "The Hurt Locker" to win, because it was a well crafted, effective dramatic film that got me involved and caring for the character. "Up" wasn't the best Pixar film, it really is too bad that the Academy is just now recognizing a Pixar film in this category. I feel that "Finding Nemo" should have been a nominee the year it came out. "Up in the Air", which I saw relatively recently contained a good performance, but I thought the film overall was too contrived. "A Serious Man" was another well made film that in retrospect I just didn't really enjoy. I was surprised to see "District 9" make this list, on the other hand it was a far superior alien movie than "Avatar" and even though the endings are similar, the messages are very different. And finally "Inglorious Basterds". Tarantino is back, nominated again. "Pulp Fiction" lost to "Forrest Gump", is this the film that'll finally give Tarantino some official Academy recognition? Overall the film wasn't consistently good enough in my opinion. I liked the arc that he created beginning with the opening farmhouse sequence and concluding with the Brad Pitt line. Yet it wasn't my favorite, and there was just too much unneeded 'filler' from my perspective. Yet in a year with such a weak competition, maybe Tarantino will get it. As for the three films I haven't seen, maybe "Precious" is as good as the "Godfather" but I'll never know. You know what they put on french fries in Holland instead of ketchup?

From Paris With Love

The best line in this movie wasn't written well enough to deserve being present. When you reference another movie, you're using that other movie's greatness to build up your movie. Unfortunately here in "From Paris With Love" the reference alone isn't enough. John Travolta plays a secret agent who doesn't seem to value his secrecy all that much. I don't mind the shoot/blow/beat-up action movie every once in a while, but sometimes I feel as though some directors want both, a serious espionage thriller and an action movie. Well, this movie was not successful in combining those genres, so it should have stuck with one or the other. It's too bad really, because there was a hint of a great film here. We've all seen the reluctant rookie agent teamed up with the hardened veteran chasing down the terrorist. But what if one of the agents was in love with the terrorist, and what if maybe, just maybe the terrorist was in love with that agent as well. Of course now things start getting sticky and a simple moral line is more difficult to establish. This movie chickened out and answered all the questions in typical Hollywood, dumbed down, average American fashion.

The film that Travolta pays homage to is "Pulp Fiction". Now there was a film that understood that people talking about stuff is way more interesting than the stuff itself.