The Marvel cinematic universe just gets bigger and bigger. And in my opinion, better and better. From the TV show "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." to the newest edition of Captain America they are doing a wonderful job bringing very entertaining stories from the pages of the comics to the screen. All while weaving a much larger story with every installment.
I have to admit Captain America has a soft spot with me, but after the first movie I didn't have the highest of hopes for it's sequel. Don't get me wrong, I of course enjoyed "The First Avenger", but It was in my opinion the best character in the weakest film. See that review here >"Captain America: The First Avenger". Or don't because I just read it and it's a terrible review. He also didn't seem like he could compete physically with the other Avengers.
I feel Marvel's success has not just been from the stories it tells, but by the characters that help tell those stories. The actors really bring these heroes alive. I had my doubts back in the day when I heard Chris Evans was going to be Steve Rogers. To me he was the Human Torch, and I wasn't sure if he could be who Captain America should be. However, he is. He is the American icon. A hero in every sense of the word, inwardly and outwardly. He is the icon that other heroes in the comics look up to, That YOU want to look up to. So he is basically the opposite of Zack Snyder's Superman. They also give him a much more super feeling in this film by giving a good showcase of his abilities. They take an interesting avenue in trying to humanize The Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson). She is of course the secret agent ass kicker we know and love, but she has a very friendly relationship with Cap that chips away that hard outer shell and makes thier interactions fun. Samuel L. Jackson is just a bad mother f&@ker as Nick Fury. Everytime he shows up he's as cool as they come. It's probably because I don't follow his career... well, at all really. But it's good to see Robert Redford back in the game. He gives a really strong showing as the partial antagonist of the film. Anthony Mackie is the Falcon, He is a fine sidekick, and constant comic relief. He also gives a strong contrast against super soldier Steve Rogers and the normal soldier. Emily VanCamp is makes a brief appearance. I wish to have seen more of her lovely face, but I suppose we will all have to wait until the next installment. And so their are no spoilers Sebastian Stan is also in this film. His role is a spoiler to most so click his name at your own risk.
From a technical aspect this movie also looks significantly better than it's predecessor. I saw this one in IMAX 3D and it looked crisp and clean. IMAX is always just the best viewing experience. There weren't any of the weird ugly green screen moments that were in the first one. Just super huge action and awesome explosions! The SUPER shaky action cam during the fight scenes was a bit much at times, but the fist fights and car chases were intense and cool looking. There is also plenty of neat flashy tech to look at. The only one that was really dumb to me was a kind of hologram communication, and they kept an actual chair for the holograms to sit in and I just caught my self wondering why they needed it.
The story is of course the big draw for those of us who enjoy the comics. This one doesn't disappoint. Like all adaptations there are variations on this and that, but they always weave in references to the rest of the Marvel universe. I always give a mental "ooh!" when I hear them say Stark, Banner, or... Strange. Captain finds himself on the opposite side of the law from the organization that helped him so much. He has to fight the underlying menace that threatens to take what he feels is every person's right. FREEDOM! It also at times feels like a high action spy movie. Very much in the line of the most recent "Mission Impossible." Explosion heavy spy work. The Winter Soldier is the cause of may of these explosions. He is a worthy adversary for Cap, probably because he was built to be just that. As with every super hero movie the script can have those awesome one liners and moments of goofy "we must do this ridiculous thing to stop that ridiculous thing" dialogue, but that's part of it. That is one of the things that make these comic stories fun.
The comic lover and little kid inside my rejoice! Captain America: The Winter Soldier is one of the best Marvel movies to date. It really does have implications that will affect the rest of the Marvel universe. Well, at least on Earth (Cannot wait for Guardians of the Galaxy!). Captain America is a hero among heroes and they do a wonderful job making him look that way. Also Please stay seated all the way through the credits for 2 after credits scenes.
Thursday, April 3, 2014
Saturday, March 29, 2014
Noah (2014)
That's right folks it's back. For a movie so polarizing you'd think it was about the Jesus Christ. "Noah." I haven't written in this blog for more than a year but this movie deserves a review on it's controversy alone..
"Short" version: Noah is an interesting telling of a story every little church going southern boy grew up with, but it takes some serious liberties. I think it did, however, do a good job of exploring some of Noah's humanity and how he could mentally/spiritually struggle with extraordinary task he was given. This is not a straight King James Bible telling, it does take alternate theories of how the events could have occurred and weave them into the story.
Now the "Long" version. Noah is cool. Both as a story and a character. A man is tasked by God to save what is worth saving of creation in a world that has become too wicked to exist any longer. Russell Crowe does a great job with this icon from the Bible. I think he really brings a feeling of humanity to the character who has doubts and fears just like any other person, but still knows that he has a job given by the creator and must complete it at ANY cost. Possibly my favorite scene is immediately after the flood starts. Noah sits alone and he can hear screams of help coming from the out side the ark, and he knows there is nothing he can do. It's a cold lonely moment for the character. Jennifer Connelly is Naameh, Noah's Wife. She is loving, supportive, and feels real. She brings another source of real conflict into the character. She witness the miracles and trials of this monumental task that pushes Noah to his breaking point and she must be with him through it all. Ray Winstone is Tubal-cain. A great bad guy. he is dirty, mean, and strong. He is a corrupting force that just screams defiance. He has several moments speaking out against God, and even has a moment where he asks God why he never answers. Anthony Hopkins was Methuselah, and was AMAZING IN ALL THINGS, Moving on. Noah's kids were served their purpose well. Douglas Booth as Shem and Logan Lerman as Ham. Emma Watson is Ila. Her character has several burdens to carry in this movie and Emma executes them well. I haven't really seen that much of her outside of Harry Potter, but this is nice and I want to see more.
The movie looks really good for the most part. It's a totally different world than you are used to. but feels right for the story. It's simple but also dangerous. Everything has good color and texture specific to its region. I liked the near total black they had everyone except Noah's family wearing. It was reminiscent of a red shirt in the original Star Trek. Wearing black pretty much means you are wicked and die in the flood. From the deserts to the forests and beaches everything was lovely. The big gripe I had was the animals. It's really hard to have that many live animals around and 1-control them, 2-have them not eat each other. So, they CG'd all the animals. The birds looked fine, but the land animals got a little video gamey.
Now for the part that everyone it in a hooplah about. They story. Again this is not your straight KJV telling. It takes from several alternate theories on the ark's construction among several other things. SINGLE SPOILER ALERT. Tiny spoiler ahead. Stop now or skip ahead. There are giant rock monsters. Well, they aren't monsters. They are fallen angels. These angels helped man achieve their dominance and then men kicked them to the curb. They are still on Earth because they defied the creator by coming to help the humans. So there, don't be surprised when you see them. I was, but I got over it. This telling does get a bit heavy on the nature conservation at times and feels overstated. So again, this is a NOT a word for word Biblical film. It takes some liberties. Most of which I don't feel take away too much from the story. I suggest thinking of it that way. rather than trying to force it into a box that it cannot fit in. But Noah still has to trust in God for his provisions and safety to complete his task which is a great thinking to take away from a secular film.
This is a different telling than most of my friends will be used to. It's a well made film that entertains, and go see that reason. I very much enjoyed it even though it is not exactly what I thought it would, or even should be, as a Bible believing Christian. Again, is not a straight up Bible story. It is a good movie based on a Bible story. Enjoy.
"Short" version: Noah is an interesting telling of a story every little church going southern boy grew up with, but it takes some serious liberties. I think it did, however, do a good job of exploring some of Noah's humanity and how he could mentally/spiritually struggle with extraordinary task he was given. This is not a straight King James Bible telling, it does take alternate theories of how the events could have occurred and weave them into the story.
Now the "Long" version. Noah is cool. Both as a story and a character. A man is tasked by God to save what is worth saving of creation in a world that has become too wicked to exist any longer. Russell Crowe does a great job with this icon from the Bible. I think he really brings a feeling of humanity to the character who has doubts and fears just like any other person, but still knows that he has a job given by the creator and must complete it at ANY cost. Possibly my favorite scene is immediately after the flood starts. Noah sits alone and he can hear screams of help coming from the out side the ark, and he knows there is nothing he can do. It's a cold lonely moment for the character. Jennifer Connelly is Naameh, Noah's Wife. She is loving, supportive, and feels real. She brings another source of real conflict into the character. She witness the miracles and trials of this monumental task that pushes Noah to his breaking point and she must be with him through it all. Ray Winstone is Tubal-cain. A great bad guy. he is dirty, mean, and strong. He is a corrupting force that just screams defiance. He has several moments speaking out against God, and even has a moment where he asks God why he never answers. Anthony Hopkins was Methuselah, and was AMAZING IN ALL THINGS, Moving on. Noah's kids were served their purpose well. Douglas Booth as Shem and Logan Lerman as Ham. Emma Watson is Ila. Her character has several burdens to carry in this movie and Emma executes them well. I haven't really seen that much of her outside of Harry Potter, but this is nice and I want to see more.
The movie looks really good for the most part. It's a totally different world than you are used to. but feels right for the story. It's simple but also dangerous. Everything has good color and texture specific to its region. I liked the near total black they had everyone except Noah's family wearing. It was reminiscent of a red shirt in the original Star Trek. Wearing black pretty much means you are wicked and die in the flood. From the deserts to the forests and beaches everything was lovely. The big gripe I had was the animals. It's really hard to have that many live animals around and 1-control them, 2-have them not eat each other. So, they CG'd all the animals. The birds looked fine, but the land animals got a little video gamey.
Now for the part that everyone it in a hooplah about. They story. Again this is not your straight KJV telling. It takes from several alternate theories on the ark's construction among several other things. SINGLE SPOILER ALERT. Tiny spoiler ahead. Stop now or skip ahead. There are giant rock monsters. Well, they aren't monsters. They are fallen angels. These angels helped man achieve their dominance and then men kicked them to the curb. They are still on Earth because they defied the creator by coming to help the humans. So there, don't be surprised when you see them. I was, but I got over it. This telling does get a bit heavy on the nature conservation at times and feels overstated. So again, this is a NOT a word for word Biblical film. It takes some liberties. Most of which I don't feel take away too much from the story. I suggest thinking of it that way. rather than trying to force it into a box that it cannot fit in. But Noah still has to trust in God for his provisions and safety to complete his task which is a great thinking to take away from a secular film.
This is a different telling than most of my friends will be used to. It's a well made film that entertains, and go see that reason. I very much enjoyed it even though it is not exactly what I thought it would, or even should be, as a Bible believing Christian. Again, is not a straight up Bible story. It is a good movie based on a Bible story. Enjoy.
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Seven Psychopaths
I walked into this movie expecting a wild action heavy violence driven movie with lots of quips and one liners. I left this movie having seen a dialogue heavy story that was driven augmented by action and violence. The basic plot is Marty (Colin Ferrell) is a screen writer who's latest idea is Seven Psychopaths. The only problem is, he cannot think up psychopaths to his liking, and his creative process id stymied. But with his best buddy Billy (Sam Rockwell) and Hans (Christopher Walken) he finds all the psychopaths he needs.
There is most definitely plenty of violence and action in this movie. Blown up heads, cut throats, bullet wounds, but being a bunch of psychos it is done without dumbing down or taking away from all of the stories this movie has to tell. When the action shows up it is plenty over the top so as to make up the time it had missed. It was really bloody and fun.
But the real vehicle here is the story, or more accurately the stories. The main plot is as listed above, but there are many little subplots and mysteries that come about that really make this tangled web an interesting one. Those subplots are usually used to reveal or affirm another Psychopath, and to give important back story to the characters you will enjoy. The goals are traditional for some and not for others. How they get there matches their destination. I would love to tell you may favorites, but that would be spoiling it for you.
Ferrel's character goes along for the ride of his life compiling a list of lunatics to add to his screen play. His flaws are outweighed by his friends and desire to make a good character. He is the lead in an off center kind of way Kind of like Capt. Jack in Pirates 4. Sam Rockwell (who is awesome in general) is Ferrel's bestie. He is dedicated to the betterment of his pal, and dedicated to his pals just in general. He is as crazy as a bag of cats in the best way possible. Christopher Walken (another one of my personal favorites) is Hans. He and Billy are... business partners. Hans brings a wonderful perspective, attitude, and humor to the group. His unique experiences make him a valuable member to our hero trio. Woody Harrelson is our villain. Though, with all the insane acts in this movie, the villain can be a point of view. He is hilarious and menacing all at the same time. He does not get the back story that most of the other characters get, but it is understood that he is bad and not to be messed with . The entire cast feels finely tuned so that no line is wasted.
On a personal not (as if this entire thing is not a personal note) the film deals in may ways with Marty's creative process. He is a writer who is stuck, and through the most extreme circumstances finds his juices and gets them flowing. Here at the start of film school i have been reading heavily on that very subject. In lost of ways I saw the principles of the books i have been reading personified, so in that way I enjoyed it even more.
All in all I didn't get what I had expected, but I really liked what I got. I enjoyed what I saw, and what I heard. The stories help you invest in the characters, and the action give you the kick it needs. And everyone is soo funny. Now some who don't like this Tarantino (Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction) style won't like this, but I did. Very much so.
Hans: An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind.
Billy: No, it doesn't. There'll be one guy left with one eye. How's the last blind guy gonna take out the eye of the last guy left?
MAN, I LOVE SAM ROCKWELL & CHIRSTOPHER WALKEN!
And just for fun
There is most definitely plenty of violence and action in this movie. Blown up heads, cut throats, bullet wounds, but being a bunch of psychos it is done without dumbing down or taking away from all of the stories this movie has to tell. When the action shows up it is plenty over the top so as to make up the time it had missed. It was really bloody and fun.
But the real vehicle here is the story, or more accurately the stories. The main plot is as listed above, but there are many little subplots and mysteries that come about that really make this tangled web an interesting one. Those subplots are usually used to reveal or affirm another Psychopath, and to give important back story to the characters you will enjoy. The goals are traditional for some and not for others. How they get there matches their destination. I would love to tell you may favorites, but that would be spoiling it for you.
Ferrel's character goes along for the ride of his life compiling a list of lunatics to add to his screen play. His flaws are outweighed by his friends and desire to make a good character. He is the lead in an off center kind of way Kind of like Capt. Jack in Pirates 4. Sam Rockwell (who is awesome in general) is Ferrel's bestie. He is dedicated to the betterment of his pal, and dedicated to his pals just in general. He is as crazy as a bag of cats in the best way possible. Christopher Walken (another one of my personal favorites) is Hans. He and Billy are... business partners. Hans brings a wonderful perspective, attitude, and humor to the group. His unique experiences make him a valuable member to our hero trio. Woody Harrelson is our villain. Though, with all the insane acts in this movie, the villain can be a point of view. He is hilarious and menacing all at the same time. He does not get the back story that most of the other characters get, but it is understood that he is bad and not to be messed with . The entire cast feels finely tuned so that no line is wasted.
On a personal not (as if this entire thing is not a personal note) the film deals in may ways with Marty's creative process. He is a writer who is stuck, and through the most extreme circumstances finds his juices and gets them flowing. Here at the start of film school i have been reading heavily on that very subject. In lost of ways I saw the principles of the books i have been reading personified, so in that way I enjoyed it even more.
All in all I didn't get what I had expected, but I really liked what I got. I enjoyed what I saw, and what I heard. The stories help you invest in the characters, and the action give you the kick it needs. And everyone is soo funny. Now some who don't like this Tarantino (Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction) style won't like this, but I did. Very much so.
Hans: An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind.
Billy: No, it doesn't. There'll be one guy left with one eye. How's the last blind guy gonna take out the eye of the last guy left?
MAN, I LOVE SAM ROCKWELL & CHIRSTOPHER WALKEN!
And just for fun
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Here Comes The Boom
Well I fell off the face of the Earth there for a while, but I'm back in action. This time getting a preview of Kevin James' new flick. And I was pleasantly surprised. The basic idea is a less than enthusiastic school teacher must resort to extreme measures to save the music program at his school.
The story is simple and predictable, but the action is still fun and entertaining. There are no terrible twists and jabs that throw you off track. There are a couple of side quests our hero takes on that were not crucial to the story, but they did add to character appeal. He is flawed, and must overcomes those flaws to triumph. Everything plays exactly how you want it to (or at least how I wanted it to) which is OK, this time. There are plenty of jokes to really suite all ages. From gross to just plain funny. There was a young girl (who was a excellent movie goer btw) who laughed at everything she was supposed to. From her and my reactions I can surmise that this movie does have general mass appeal.
The characters for me were what made this story worth it. I really liked James character. He was charming, cool (in an awkward way), and genuine. Made his journey to success one that you want to succeed. Heeeeyyy! I don't know if I am just lame, but I really like Henry Winkler. He just seems like the nicest guy on the planet. He is just a kind simple teacher who loves the arts. I loved him. James trainer Niko is played by Bas Rutten. I often have problems with athletes being "actors". Not this time. He really put some effort into his show, making another truly likable character. There are many terrible things in the world. from the state of the economy, to trouble in the middle east, to bacon shortages. The one constant is that Salma Hayeck is still hot. Yes, I know. You are thinking, "Still?!" Yes, still. And still acting wonderfuly to boot. Greg Germann, Joe Rogan, and Mark Dellagrotte round out the cast notables. Well, except Mookie Barker who was the creepy assistant principle. Actually now that I type this it makes sense. He did well, also.
Something else that I enjoyed from this flick was the action. There were often parts where James would have a strain, and I would catch myself tensing up with him in hopes of adding my strength to his own in somehow lol. There were also some cameras shots that were intended to be inside the grapple of the fighters. It was pretty neat. There weren't too many so that it got old, but enough to make it and interesting sensation. By its very nature Mixed Martial Arts is intense and this did an excellent job conveying that intensity in the fights while keeping them fun to watch.
There was also a very small spiritual aspect to the film where Dellagrotte quoted the Bible and they prayed before a fight. As a Christian I appreciated the sentiment. And it was not preachy so as to exclude anyone, just very natural feeling and nice.
All together this film has some small issues, but nothing to write it off for. It is a family friendly film (except perhaps the fights, which aren't too bad) that anyone who goofy enough will laugh at. As a film student I appreciate that it does try and convey how important the arts are, but doesn't show any direct examples. "A" for effort in that area. If you like a decent but obvious comedy go for it. In my opinion much better than Paul Blart and Zookeeper... if that is saying anything.
The story is simple and predictable, but the action is still fun and entertaining. There are no terrible twists and jabs that throw you off track. There are a couple of side quests our hero takes on that were not crucial to the story, but they did add to character appeal. He is flawed, and must overcomes those flaws to triumph. Everything plays exactly how you want it to (or at least how I wanted it to) which is OK, this time. There are plenty of jokes to really suite all ages. From gross to just plain funny. There was a young girl (who was a excellent movie goer btw) who laughed at everything she was supposed to. From her and my reactions I can surmise that this movie does have general mass appeal.
The characters for me were what made this story worth it. I really liked James character. He was charming, cool (in an awkward way), and genuine. Made his journey to success one that you want to succeed. Heeeeyyy! I don't know if I am just lame, but I really like Henry Winkler. He just seems like the nicest guy on the planet. He is just a kind simple teacher who loves the arts. I loved him. James trainer Niko is played by Bas Rutten. I often have problems with athletes being "actors". Not this time. He really put some effort into his show, making another truly likable character. There are many terrible things in the world. from the state of the economy, to trouble in the middle east, to bacon shortages. The one constant is that Salma Hayeck is still hot. Yes, I know. You are thinking, "Still?!" Yes, still. And still acting wonderfuly to boot. Greg Germann, Joe Rogan, and Mark Dellagrotte round out the cast notables. Well, except Mookie Barker who was the creepy assistant principle. Actually now that I type this it makes sense. He did well, also.
Something else that I enjoyed from this flick was the action. There were often parts where James would have a strain, and I would catch myself tensing up with him in hopes of adding my strength to his own in somehow lol. There were also some cameras shots that were intended to be inside the grapple of the fighters. It was pretty neat. There weren't too many so that it got old, but enough to make it and interesting sensation. By its very nature Mixed Martial Arts is intense and this did an excellent job conveying that intensity in the fights while keeping them fun to watch.
There was also a very small spiritual aspect to the film where Dellagrotte quoted the Bible and they prayed before a fight. As a Christian I appreciated the sentiment. And it was not preachy so as to exclude anyone, just very natural feeling and nice.
All together this film has some small issues, but nothing to write it off for. It is a family friendly film (except perhaps the fights, which aren't too bad) that anyone who goofy enough will laugh at. As a film student I appreciate that it does try and convey how important the arts are, but doesn't show any direct examples. "A" for effort in that area. If you like a decent but obvious comedy go for it. In my opinion much better than Paul Blart and Zookeeper... if that is saying anything.
Sunday, June 24, 2012
That's My Boy
Growing up I had Adam Sandler movies that I loved like Billy Madison and Happy Gilmore, but those movies get fewer and farther between. That's My Boy is a grasp at the old days. Sandler is a grown up child sensation that got his fame from having sex with his math teacher. He decides to reunite with his son in order to create a situation where he will be able to pay his tax debts.
Sandler really sells his wicked good role as Donny Berger. He is constantly drinking and saying the wrong thing, but you like him. He really does have some weird engaging quality about him that creeps you out and makes him fun at the same time. Andy Samberg is Han Solo Berger. Yep Han Solo. He has a boatload of insecurities and quirks, like security underwear, that he plays to a T. He and his dad's chemistry just seems a little off when it needs to be on. My favorite parts of the cast were the supporting roles. Vanilla Ice, James Cann, Will Forte, Nick Swardson, Susan Sarandon, Rex Ryan, and the rest of the supporting cast are give this movie those little moments that you look for.
This is definitely not a kid friendly movie. Right off the bat there is the teacher and the student fling. The teacher is hot, but the whole situation just feels awkward. There are a couple of scenes that are just more awkward than funny, and needlessly so. But that could have just been me. From the myriad of sexual references to the strip club all the jokes are more raunchy than funny. Like tasting bodily fluids to find out what it is. That's not funny, that's dumb.
I was actually looking forward to this movie. I had hoped that it would bring back my younger years. It tried really hard, but ultimately fell a little flat. I enjoyed, just not nearly as good as I had wanted it to be. I'm probably just warped like that. It jut isn't for people who want a genuinely funny comedy. You have to take what good it gives you and enjoy that, cause that sex "jokes" is all you are going to get.
Sandler really sells his wicked good role as Donny Berger. He is constantly drinking and saying the wrong thing, but you like him. He really does have some weird engaging quality about him that creeps you out and makes him fun at the same time. Andy Samberg is Han Solo Berger. Yep Han Solo. He has a boatload of insecurities and quirks, like security underwear, that he plays to a T. He and his dad's chemistry just seems a little off when it needs to be on. My favorite parts of the cast were the supporting roles. Vanilla Ice, James Cann, Will Forte, Nick Swardson, Susan Sarandon, Rex Ryan, and the rest of the supporting cast are give this movie those little moments that you look for.
This is definitely not a kid friendly movie. Right off the bat there is the teacher and the student fling. The teacher is hot, but the whole situation just feels awkward. There are a couple of scenes that are just more awkward than funny, and needlessly so. But that could have just been me. From the myriad of sexual references to the strip club all the jokes are more raunchy than funny. Like tasting bodily fluids to find out what it is. That's not funny, that's dumb.
I was actually looking forward to this movie. I had hoped that it would bring back my younger years. It tried really hard, but ultimately fell a little flat. I enjoyed, just not nearly as good as I had wanted it to be. I'm probably just warped like that. It jut isn't for people who want a genuinely funny comedy. You have to take what good it gives you and enjoy that, cause that sex "jokes" is all you are going to get.
Snow White And The Huntsman
"You know what would make Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs better?" SHOULD NEVER BE SAID!
Now having gotten that out of the way, this is a darker more epic take on the old tale of Snow White. The story is basically the same. The evil queen wants to be young and powerful forever, and must make the fairest maiden, Snow White, dead to stay that way. In order to add some scale and weight to the story, this telling has quite a bit of action. And it is pretty good. Fighting trolls, soldiers, and the queen does bring some fun and excitement to the table. But in creating this variation it feels like it drags at times. I caught myself thinking, "Yeah, I get it. Now lets move on." Because the story augmentation was just extra fluff. It didn't give me anything that I wanted and didn't receive in my previous outing with Ms. White and her merry men. They tried to give you perspective on how the queen was wronged and warped in to this monster, but I don't care. We don't need a reason. She is evil. Pure and simple. The introduction of the dwarf feels unnecessary. It is kind of like they put them in because they had to, although they added very little to the narrative. And there is something of a love triangle that doesn't even get played our for whatever reason... surprised?
I read that they wanted to do as much practical effects as possible. Which I think worked out pretty well for them. Most everything looks as it should. Trolls, Dwarfs that weren't actually little people, and the super cool Magic Mirror were all sharp. The dark forest is extra evil and creepy, while the untainted areas to have a certain Disney-esque feel to them that I liked. I feel like they took the time to polish those aspects.
The casting was a little wonky. It's not that there weren't good actors, it is just that they don't really work together as a unit. Chris Hemsworth as the huntsman, was the only character that felt was adequately cast. He is dashing, handsome, and Strong. He plays the lonely hunter well. Charlize Theron is the evil queen. She is twisted and mean and great. Problem is that she is way more attractive that Snow White. Our queen needs to be beautiful, but not so beautiful that it diminishes the beauty of out princess. The actors that they chose to play the dwarfs were too good for such lousy tiny parts. Ian McShane, Bob Hoskins, Ray Winstone, Nick Frost, and Toby Jones are all good actors. Too good, in fact, to play such nothing roles. That have such a small effect on the story as a whole. Last and least is Kristen Stewart. Listen, I'm sure she is a nice person. She probably has done something once where somebody actually thought she acted well. (I personally think she practices better than she plays) But she just drags everyone down. The lack of emotion/acting range just leaves everything bland and tasteless. She just doesn't give you the delightful Snow White that you want to love because she is just wonderful. She just doesn't stand up to the on screen presence that Theron provides.
Snow White leaves much to be desired. The action and increase in serious tone of the story do not make up for it's over all lack of goodness. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) was moving art with sound. It was satisfying, and this just isn't.
Now having gotten that out of the way, this is a darker more epic take on the old tale of Snow White. The story is basically the same. The evil queen wants to be young and powerful forever, and must make the fairest maiden, Snow White, dead to stay that way. In order to add some scale and weight to the story, this telling has quite a bit of action. And it is pretty good. Fighting trolls, soldiers, and the queen does bring some fun and excitement to the table. But in creating this variation it feels like it drags at times. I caught myself thinking, "Yeah, I get it. Now lets move on." Because the story augmentation was just extra fluff. It didn't give me anything that I wanted and didn't receive in my previous outing with Ms. White and her merry men. They tried to give you perspective on how the queen was wronged and warped in to this monster, but I don't care. We don't need a reason. She is evil. Pure and simple. The introduction of the dwarf feels unnecessary. It is kind of like they put them in because they had to, although they added very little to the narrative. And there is something of a love triangle that doesn't even get played our for whatever reason... surprised?
I read that they wanted to do as much practical effects as possible. Which I think worked out pretty well for them. Most everything looks as it should. Trolls, Dwarfs that weren't actually little people, and the super cool Magic Mirror were all sharp. The dark forest is extra evil and creepy, while the untainted areas to have a certain Disney-esque feel to them that I liked. I feel like they took the time to polish those aspects.
The casting was a little wonky. It's not that there weren't good actors, it is just that they don't really work together as a unit. Chris Hemsworth as the huntsman, was the only character that felt was adequately cast. He is dashing, handsome, and Strong. He plays the lonely hunter well. Charlize Theron is the evil queen. She is twisted and mean and great. Problem is that she is way more attractive that Snow White. Our queen needs to be beautiful, but not so beautiful that it diminishes the beauty of out princess. The actors that they chose to play the dwarfs were too good for such lousy tiny parts. Ian McShane, Bob Hoskins, Ray Winstone, Nick Frost, and Toby Jones are all good actors. Too good, in fact, to play such nothing roles. That have such a small effect on the story as a whole. Last and least is Kristen Stewart. Listen, I'm sure she is a nice person. She probably has done something once where somebody actually thought she acted well. (I personally think she practices better than she plays) But she just drags everyone down. The lack of emotion/acting range just leaves everything bland and tasteless. She just doesn't give you the delightful Snow White that you want to love because she is just wonderful. She just doesn't stand up to the on screen presence that Theron provides.
Snow White leaves much to be desired. The action and increase in serious tone of the story do not make up for it's over all lack of goodness. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) was moving art with sound. It was satisfying, and this just isn't.
Friday, June 22, 2012
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
Here is a movie that catches your attention with just it's title. You pass the poster then think, "Wait. What?! Vampires... crap." But it is super entertaining. What they have done is taken the already super icon, President Abraham Lincoln, and made him even more epic.
Mr. Lincoln's mother is murdered by vampires, so his desire for vengeance drives him to learn to hunt and kill the evils that stalk in the night while he develops into the Lincoln we know.
The premise is what I hear the most complaints about when I mention this movie. And those people should get off their high horse and have some fun. Because Ole Honest Abe takes his silver ax and smokes vampires like a boss. He learns to channel his strength where he can fell a tree with one swing. It's so cool. It is just a really fun addition to what is already and interesting story that just needed more hand to hand supernatural action. Accept their reality and enjoy it.
There are familiar faces in this movie, but our lead is a complete mystery to me. Benjamin Walker is a very good Lincoln. He has this strong presence to him that the character needs, and he just executes very well. Dominic Cooper plays Henry Sturgess. Sturgess is Abraham's rather strict vampire killing mentor. Cooper is starting to string together a nice run of flicks, and he can definitely add this one to his win column. Anthony Mackie is a child hood friend of Abe, and a very capable side kick durring his slaying days. The only problem is he his kind of forgettable. You recognize him from his other roles, but he is not a guy that you know his name. He is "that guy from that thing" not "Anthony". But he still shows up in a big way for out main character. May Elizabeth Winstead is good as his Mrs. Lincoln. She just has some lines that seem out of time, but that isn't necessarily her fault. Jimmi Simpson, who you will recognize from his many roles, is also a welcome addition to the Presidents entourage. Last But certainly not least is Rufus Sewell. He is such a good bad guy. He just has a natural arrogance want about his characters that makes you hate them. I wouldn't know what to do with him in a non-completely evil role. But as a bad guy he is fantastic.
Special effects are also quite good. There were only a couple of times where I notice, and in a effects heavy movie where you have peoples faces getting all monstered up, that is not bad. There are also some large scale fight scenes in a stampede, on a racing locomotive, and in a plantation look good and just really add to that epicness that they are pouring into this movie.
This is just a twist on a great story that is actually executed well. It even throws some interesting social commentary in there with out being overbearing and ruing the flow of the story. I recommend it to anyone who likes our 16th president, the violent elimination of the undead, and has the slightest interest in the combination of both. Or if you are just sick of the crap vampire garbage that Twilight give you. Go see how a man deals with those filthy blood suckers. Step aside Buffy, Abe has some work to do.
AND ALSO!!!! here is a trailer for a movie a saw before this, because i want to see SANTA CLAUS punch a bad guy in the face. Yes, you heard me.
Mr. Lincoln's mother is murdered by vampires, so his desire for vengeance drives him to learn to hunt and kill the evils that stalk in the night while he develops into the Lincoln we know.
The premise is what I hear the most complaints about when I mention this movie. And those people should get off their high horse and have some fun. Because Ole Honest Abe takes his silver ax and smokes vampires like a boss. He learns to channel his strength where he can fell a tree with one swing. It's so cool. It is just a really fun addition to what is already and interesting story that just needed more hand to hand supernatural action. Accept their reality and enjoy it.
There are familiar faces in this movie, but our lead is a complete mystery to me. Benjamin Walker is a very good Lincoln. He has this strong presence to him that the character needs, and he just executes very well. Dominic Cooper plays Henry Sturgess. Sturgess is Abraham's rather strict vampire killing mentor. Cooper is starting to string together a nice run of flicks, and he can definitely add this one to his win column. Anthony Mackie is a child hood friend of Abe, and a very capable side kick durring his slaying days. The only problem is he his kind of forgettable. You recognize him from his other roles, but he is not a guy that you know his name. He is "that guy from that thing" not "Anthony". But he still shows up in a big way for out main character. May Elizabeth Winstead is good as his Mrs. Lincoln. She just has some lines that seem out of time, but that isn't necessarily her fault. Jimmi Simpson, who you will recognize from his many roles, is also a welcome addition to the Presidents entourage. Last But certainly not least is Rufus Sewell. He is such a good bad guy. He just has a natural arrogance want about his characters that makes you hate them. I wouldn't know what to do with him in a non-completely evil role. But as a bad guy he is fantastic.
Special effects are also quite good. There were only a couple of times where I notice, and in a effects heavy movie where you have peoples faces getting all monstered up, that is not bad. There are also some large scale fight scenes in a stampede, on a racing locomotive, and in a plantation look good and just really add to that epicness that they are pouring into this movie.
This is just a twist on a great story that is actually executed well. It even throws some interesting social commentary in there with out being overbearing and ruing the flow of the story. I recommend it to anyone who likes our 16th president, the violent elimination of the undead, and has the slightest interest in the combination of both. Or if you are just sick of the crap vampire garbage that Twilight give you. Go see how a man deals with those filthy blood suckers. Step aside Buffy, Abe has some work to do.
AND ALSO!!!! here is a trailer for a movie a saw before this, because i want to see SANTA CLAUS punch a bad guy in the face. Yes, you heard me.
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