Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

When I heard John Hurt, Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, and Tom Hardy had done a movie together I almost wept with joy. Little did I know that these would eventually become sleepy tears. You know, the kind that you get from yawning. The look and feel of the film was very good, but unfortunately pretty pictures won't keep me awake for terribly long. I would like something to listen to. What good does it do to have an epic cast when there is nothing for them to act? How can you have so much story of nothing. Or at least nothing that anyone cares about. Can I have one more arttitic shot of nothing? Please?! Or how about you don't have 1,000 of them? Benedict Cumberbatch, awesome name. This movie makes The Kings Speech look like Casino Royale. Tinker Tailor Soldier ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

What Is It?

"What is it" is the best name for this movie. Because that is what I was asking myself almost the entire time. My main quest in viewing this was to have a chance to meet Mr. Crispin Hellion Glover and quite possibly have him sign my Back To The Future box set, and I failed. I did have the pleasure of, before the movie, having Mr. Glover read excerpts from his book accompanied by a slide show. But this is not about slides shows. It's about movies. And It was insaine. I normally try to have a small break down of the plot, but in this case I am unable to come up with one that makes any sense. So here is what my eyes saw: Snails, snail murder, naked monkey head women. King Shirley Temple, Nazi Shirley Temple, Michael Jackson impression, murder, black-face, and  puppet shows. Best I can figure from the credits and the Q&A afterwards (needed) this is about propaganda and  and internal struggle in the main character Michael Blevis' mind. Why these things are happening or what they mean? No clue. Is there any actual sense of good vs bad or protagonist vs antagonist? Not that I can tell. The one good thing I can say about this is the interesting music choices. Some classical and beautiful, and some super racist. Over all this is supposed to be what he called a "weird movie" with a message. A message that I could not see. The only way any of it can make sense is with the Q&A with Mr. Glover afterward. A mind melting experience into the voids of insanity's depths. But it does, for whatever reason, make me curious of the sequel (How that even makes sense) It's Fine.
CAUTION Naked monkey head women below

Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows

The riveting tale of Sherlock and Watson is continues with this installment. The future father of my children, Robert Downey Jr., is again the most eccentric Sherlock Holmes. With his quirks, whit, and disguises steals the show. Jude Law is the incomparable Dr. Watson. Watson and his new bride's lives are at stake when Professor Moriarty uses them as pawns in his game to distract Holmes. Jarred Harris is Moriarty. He does an excellent job at being the twisted, conniving, evil doer he should. Noomi Rapace and Stephen Fry make a good supportive showing.
Now this is not the same as the last movie. To me it is less intellectual. Sherlock is not ahead the entire time. It actually feels more like he is playing from behind. Now there are plenty of twists and turns, however Sherlock has to use his massive intellect to adjust and adapt.
Now, where is has to cut back in thinking it substitutes punching. Lots of punching. And shooting, And action. There is no shortage of Mr. Holmes special Kung Fu and Dr. Watson's physical stylings. It makes for a very entertaining show.
Another thing that really shines are the settings. The dark dank areas, and the lovely bright portions. They are just as important as the actors. They serve their purpose wonderfully.
Robert and Jude have the kind of chemistry that two best friend adventurers should have, and Guy Ritchie tells the tale very well. This sequel does not recreate the original it expounds on it and moves the world of Holmes forward in his conflict of the mind with Professor Moriarty.

The Adventures Of Tin Tin

I often complain about movies that promise me one thing and deliver another. Like I order pizza and instead receive a casserole. However, this time I was given what I was promised. Not some pseudo visionary bull, but an action filled tale from Steven Spielberg that puts on the Indian Jones clothes and takes off running in them. Now, again, I have complained about other movies that blatantly rip of other movies. Tin Tin does it without trying to be more than it is. Tin Tin is a reporter who gets caught up in an adventure involving a feud going back hundreds of years, and embarks on a trek to find a long lost treasure.
After seeing this, in IMAX might I add, I never want to have to gripe about special effects ever again. Tin Tin looks good. Really good. At many parts the CGI is so good that I forget I am watching an animated feature. The only one that throws me off is Tin Tin himself.  He often looks cartoony, but seeing how that is the origin of this tale I cannot complain that much. I just really appreciate this quality when just a few weeks ago I saw Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol where the CGI was garbage and even the stable scenes were blurry. So such attention to detail goes a long way and helps me buy in to this reality I am being sold.
The voice acting is nothing to be scoffed at either. Jamie Bell a young cat, who I know basically nothing about, has actually done quite a bit of voice acting. He is the voice of Tin Tin and brings good youth and feeling to the character. Andy Serkis, who I do know, is a very good voice actor. He is Tin Tin's companion Captain Haddock. Haddock is a drunk old sailor who joins up with Tin Tin because of his love of adventure... and booze. Daniel Craig does such a good job as the villain Sakharine that I had no idea that it was him. Nick Frost and Simon Pegg also deserve a mention, if for nothing more than I enjoy the crap out of these guys.
There are plenty of action sequences and gun play to satisfy. It follows the Indy path again. It gives you a bit of research, then explosions/chases/fighting, then more story.
One thing that was super obvious to me was the John Williams score. You may know him from a few of the tiny films he has done like: Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park, E.T. His distinct and every epic sound is evident throughout the film.
The one gripe I have is in the very cartoony moments of the movie. They are few, but with this movie being so realistic and Jones like when they do happen they stick out like a sore thumb. One such scene is When Haddock get caught in a plain propeller and spun around it several times, then thrown out of it. There are a couple of those moments that kill me.
Over all Tin Tin in IMAX 3D was really enjoyable. It good looking, funny, and action filled. It is wonderful as an homage to the Indiana Jones film that we know and love so much. Nothing new just a formula that in my opinion works for my entertainment.

The Adventures Of Robin Hood (1938)

As a fan of the Disney animated version and the Prince Of Thieves versions, but not the Russell Crowe "Robin Hood" fiasco, I was told I might enjoy this version. And enjoy it I did. This is the film from which the other Robin Hoods take their  material. The acting power that is in this movie makes it worth the watch. Errol Flynn is Robin Hood. The playful and dashing hero set on keeping the government in check until the rightful king, King Richard, returns. His very cool and suave nature brings the confidence this cocky hero should have. The lovely Maid Marian is played by Olivia de Havilland. She is just as lovely as the character should be. and a huge kudos to her wardrobe designer. They really went all out to dress her in extravagance. Claude Rains is the terrible Prince John. He is as arrogant, demeaningly sophisticated, and vile a villain as you can want. His disregard for his country and self absorbance makes you hate him all the more. Last on my list, but certainly not least is Basil Rathbone. Besides being a fabulous actor he has one of my favorite names of all time. He is the violent anti-Robin Sir Guy of Gisbourne who would love nothing more than to hang our hero for his crimes.
The action in this epic tale is also very well done. The choreography of the fights is tight and doesn't feel forced. Which is an often difficult task in many older films. These action sequences take place in settings that are just as vivid as the actions that take place there. It is a very attractive movie, on a purely aesthetic point of view.
Instead of new "Robin Hood Begins" (What is should have been titled), They should have just remade this classic. That way we could have all of our favorite scenes from the others in a nice little package.

It's A Wonderful Life

A bit late, but it has been a very festive Christmas season. And I had to right a review on on of my favorite Christmas movies of all time. It isn't just a movie for the holidays. It's a movie for all seasons. James Stewart is George Baily who in my opinion is the protagonist and antagonist of this film. George has what he considers a lackluster life until he is shown how things would turn out had he never been born. He really shows the virtuous nature George who, despite his own dreams, puts the needs and welfare of others above his own. He is surrounded by a cast that is as convincing as he is. From his wife Mary (Donna Reed) to the town's crooked financial baron Mr. Potter (Lionel Barrymoore). Catchy tunes and one liners are riddled throughout the entire movie. This is a very simple setting but the heart warming message gets me every single time. One man's seeming meaningless gestures can make all the difference, if he could only see it. The message of kindness and selflessness can never be overstated. I like this movie to much to be objective about anything that may be wrong with it. I just wanted to say how awesome I think it is.

Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

This weekend I went to see The Dark Knight Rises. It was followed by a small independent film you might have heard of called Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol. To be completely honest the reason i went to see this was for the 6 minute preview for TDKR. And it was DOPE!  The only complaint I have about it is that I could not understand one word Bane says. I went to IMAX where the sound is as big as the picture, and still couldn't catch an entire phrase. Sounded important, but oh well.
The feature, I suppose, was MI:4. And it was good. Good and LONG. There are a few things I liked, and a few more that I didn't.
Like: Cast.  Tom Cruise is back again as Ethan Hunt. And is really good. I have been turned off by Cruise for a while because of the big old bag of crazy he has been waving around, but here I can let it slide because he kicks all kinds of butt. Simon Pegg, somebody that I personally enjoy, makes a really good showing as the plucky comedic relief. Jeremy Renner is a fine, if not TOTALLY unnecessary, addition to the story. Last but definitely not least is Paula Patton. Now she is a very attractive woman, but they make her SO HOT in this. She also does plenty of butt kicking herself.
Dislike: Plot. This has the most boring typical action plots of all time. Somebody has nuclear launch codes, and is trying to incite world nuclear war... snore. No twists, no turns. I was really hoping that Renner's character was going to be bad, but nope his twist is much more lame. It is just really boring there are no surprises. It serves to move the action and story, but that is about all.
Like: Action. There is plenty of action to go around. From Prison riots, to hotel brawls, to climbing on the side of a building, to car chases. It has plenty. And they are very enjoyable. And everyone gets in on the action including Pegg. What I feel like was the peak of the film was the part at Burj Kalifa. It has plenty of tension and action though out.
Dislike: CG Effects. These are some of the worst CG effects that I have seen in a while. The bombing of the Kremlin, the samdstorm, and missiles are all just blatently fake. It takes away from the action that is goig on in these sequences. Just a fail on the effects side.
Dislike: Length. This movies feels long, and it is. Too long. It peaks in the middle and then ends really lack luster. With no real story to keep you interested you get tired of the action because it peaks to soon. It just gets to be a real drag.
Like/dislike: IMAX. As far as I am concerned they should scrap 3D til they can be sure it won't almoist always suck, and do everything in IMAX. The picture is larger than life and the sound moves you to the core. Having said that this movie gets a 75% good in IMAX rating. 50% for the excellent sound. I caught myself looking around me when I would hear the noises because they were so big and vivid. And 25% for half of the movie looking great. There were scenes like the one on Burj Kalifa that looked so real I got a little dizzy, and then others like many of the just plain simple sequences that looked fuzzy and out of focus. And when it is the picture you only notice it when its wrong, because it shold be clear period.
So I went into this wanting to see Batman, and kinda enjoyed myself for at least half the time. This is a pure action movie. So if that is what you want go for it.