Skyfall: An authentic Bond film.....

Where to begin? I had my doubts going into this movie after seeing so many good reviews that only served to hype up the film in my mind. I was thankfully proven wrong.

Aston Martin? Check. Excellently choreographed action sequences? Check. Two gorgeous Bond girls to complement Bond? Check. Memorable score? Check. Catchy ending? Check. And memorable villain? Definite check. The best thing this film has going for it is how it injects the classic Bond film feel into various parts of the film from beginning to end.

A brief synopsis of the plot: An important list of all the Mi6 agents has fallen into the wrong hands, and it's up to 007 and M to try and retrieve this list before too many agents are knocked off, one by one. Add to it, the return of a former agent gone mad, played so wildly wacky by Javier Bardem, this film carries much in the department of emotion and tension. Does the plot sound familiar to previous action genre films? It should, but it makes no difference due to the excellent execution by the film's director, Sam Mendes and all those involved with this project. The Cinematography provided by Roger Deakins is dazzling to the eyes, particular during the scenes shot in Shanghai. Speaking of Shanghai, there's one action scene in particular, where it's a maze of lights in a highrise above Shanghai, as Bond moves in for the kill that really hits the spot for this movie, in my opinion. It's not campy Roger Moore Bond, it's spot on Ian Fleming, trained agent in the field ready to do damage Bond. That's the way these films should have been made a long time ago, and thankfully, between the last two entries with Daniel Craig, the two more serious Timothy Dalton entries, and obviously Sean Connery's contributions, this series finally has a nice catalog of mature, spy thrillers.

Having said that, it's also noticeable throughout the film that there was an earnest effort to lighten things up a little more from the previous film. By lighten up, I just mean show more of what fans came to expect in past Bond films.  For starters, the character of Q has returned, the original 1960's Aston Martin even makes an appearance, and lastly, I won't spoil the other example of classic Bond being fused into this picture. This entry had a nice balance between serious, and very subtle moments of tongue and cheek humor. Even better, there's one scene in particular, where Bond is chatting it up with the character named Severine, and as she's smoking her longer cigarette (very similar to the kind smoked in Dr. No) in this Chinese gambling club, you can't help but feel it was a 60s Bond moment placed perfectly in the framework of this modern day version of a James Bond film. It simply works, and if you're a true fan of Bond, I'm not sure how you can't appreciate everything about the scene, from the acting, the flirting, the lighting, and the overall mood. It should also be noted, the one major critique about this film is that the two leading ladies have no chemistry on screen with Daniel Craig. Well, that couldn't be farther from the truth, it's all in the eye contact the three of them share, and it's perfect, simply perfect.

The reviews you've read are true, this Bond film shines in all the right places, and the ending in particular should make you really excited for the next entry. Here's to hoping there's not another 4 year gap between Bond films! Nuff said

Retro review: A View to a Kill--satire at its finest!!!

 I recently decided to throw in A View to a Kill on Blu-ray, since I picked up the Bond 50 boxed set with all of the films. It was barely watchable to say the least. I'm being generous.

I'm not sure what the heck the Bond producers at the time (Cubby Broccoli, and Micheal G. Wilson) were thinking by allowing a geriatric looking Roger Moore come back for one last round as 007, but they're damn lucky it didn't completely backfire on them. This film could have easily been the end of Bond had it bombed financially, and boy it should have bombed in my opinion. There's simply no way to take this entry seriously when Roger Moore was 57 years old, and not only was he not convincing enough to believe he was doing the physical scenes as James Bond, but he looked like he should have been playing the lead Bond girl's father, not a potential love interest! The film plays like it's a satire of itself, and more than makes a big joke out of the character Ian Fleming created decades before. I can't imagine had Ian Fleming was alive to see this film, he'd have been the least bit happy with the direction it took.

The real crime? This film had all the elements needed to make an outstandingly cool Bond film, but was wasted on such an over the hill actor in Roger Moore. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed Roger Moore as Bond, particularly when he didn't look like he was pushing 60, but his being in A View to a Kill prevented it from being what it could have been. Having said that, Christopher Walken did a great job playing the lead villain, Max Zorin, and Grace Jones did a nice job as the villain's sidekick, Mayday. In the end, it was wasted simply because Moore wasn't believable as an agent with a License to Kill on screen. The script needed to be altered to eliminate the campy jokes, and over the top humor, along with recasting 007 at the time. Had that been done, it would have been a respectable Bond film. Another head scratcher, the casting of an even older sidekick for Roger Moore's James Bond character, Sir Goddrey Tibbet, played by then way over the hill Patrick Macnee just threw believability out the window with this picture. Several of the scenes early on, when Bond and Tibbet are infiltrating one of Zorin's facilities is silly at best. When the only good thing about a film is its theme song (A View to a Kill, Duran Duran), that's when you know it has major issues across the board.

It now makes perfect sense why with the following film, The Living Daylights, the producers were more than happy to allow then newly cast Bond, Timothy Dalton, to make the character of 007 a serious, no nonsense 00 agent. There was even talk that it was Roger Moore (at the time of A View to a Kills release) who resigned from the role, and for his own reasons, but come on, can you imagine him coming back for yet another film, 2 years later? I know I can't. A View to a Kill really was like The Naked Gun franchise merging with the Bond universe, only in the worst way possible.

Nuff said...

Moonrise Kingdom: Varying degrees of nostalgia..

 If you've never seen a Wes Anderson film before, brace yourself, you just may not enjoy it. I'm going to go out on a limb and say you better be good friends with the intellectual side of your brain. You need to be able to appreciate the small things in his movies, particularly with the main characters involved. There's definitely a dry humor at work not only in this film but his previous films, and if you can dig in to such wit, I'm sure you'll thoroughly enjoy the film.

Having said that, this is an intriguing film all around, regardless of the notes it may or may not hit on with humor. I also feel like it's the kind of film you must see more than a few times to pick up on all the subtle nuances that are on the screen. To sum up the plot, a boy named Sam, who is apart of a boy-scout platoon, goes missing and all in the name of falling in love with a local girl. The visuals and aura are what make this film work for me, along with some very convincing acting all around. There's also added charm by setting this film in the 60's, and getting to see the characters in an environment where one is not picking up their Iphone every 40 seconds to see if another character in the film messaged them. You may even find yourself getting nostalgic for a time when we all didn't have quite as many distractions and were able to be in the moment with those around us; much like you'll see with the characters of this film.

The acting is solid all-around. Ed Norton plays the boy scout platoon leader, Scout Master Ward. Bill Murray plays the father of Suzy, who flees with Sam. Bruce Willis plays the cop in this local New England town, named Captain Sharp, and I must mention the ageless Bob Balaban, who narrates the film at different points in the beginning and end. I'm beginning to think he (Balaban) never ages.
Last but not least, the film would never have worked if not for the acting chops of the two young lovers, played by Kara Hayward, and Jared Gilman. There's some key moments in the first leg of the film where they're isolated together, by a lake, and their chemistry works. It's just that simple.

Overall, if you want a nice escape into a world that not only doesn't exist anymore being that it's the 2000s, but also because it's a world that only Wes Anderson could create in his films, give this one a try.

Nuff said

E.T.: Still a gem 30 years later....

 I remember watching this film as a kid but never truly grasping the themes of this classic: Friendship/Companionship/Loyalty, etc. But the simple magic presented on the screen of seeing this young kid who befriends a being from another planet was enough to keep me entertained from start to finish. And then when I turned 21, it was re-released in theaters just about everywhere in the US. I remember going to see it with a close friend, a fellow "dude" if you will, and being completely caught off guard at just how sad the ending was. It hits you right in the gut, that this child who has bonded to a being from another world, is about to lose a friend. Add to it, the absolutely majestic and emotional John Williams soundtrack, and you have the perfect recipe to make an entire theater weep like it's a funeral. It's simply one of those films that reminds you it's OK to think like a kid, and become nostalgic for the imagination your childhood was filled with.

I'm going to simplify the plot for all of you. An alien is left stranded on earth by his fellow alien pals, the government takes an interest in these E.T.'s, all the while a younger kid named Elliot allows his new alien pal to hang out and take shelter at his mom's house. Like any plot that needs to move forward, conflict arises, but in the form of the government wanting to capture E.T. The ending? Not going to spoil it for those of you who for some insane reason haven't seen this classic. Overall this story should remind all of us what it means to go to bat for a true friend, and the great lengths we sometimes have to go to ensure you take care of those who matter most in your life. Somehow director Steven Spielberg captures this theme the best I've ever seen captured in a film. What's ironic is that it's not dealing with a human to human friendship, it's with a human and non-human friendship story arc.

Watching it nearly ten years later on Blu-ray it's become apparent to me that nothing has changed. It's still a tear-jerker, and still tackles the themes of friendship and loyalty without losing the same punch it packed years ago. Even better, it looks brilliant on Blu-ray. If it can look epic while projected onto a white wall, about 90" size, I can't imagine how crystal clear it's going to look on your TV. Oh, and it doesn't hurt it sounds like it was recorded yesterday. Great cinematography, great soundtrack, well acted, well directed, and still holds up some 30 years after its initial release.

All around, if you haven't seen this film, go get it! But be warned in advance, don't be so sure it won't strike a cord emotionally, it's been known to make grown men cry like school girls!

Nuff said.... 

Interview with Troll 2 star George Hardy!

Hi friends, instead of writing a movie review for this blog I'm going to share with you a recent phone interview in which I was able to speak with the great George Hardy, known well from his starring role in the cult classic horror film, Troll 2, and the more recent documentary Best Worst Movie that catches up with those who were apart of Troll 2. He discusses everything from what got him started in acting to his thoughts on films, and the prospects for a Troll 3!!

Enjoy!

Blu-ray review: Jaws....

I'm going to admit that Jaws, for as big a movie buff as I considered myself, was a film I avoided in adulthood. After all, it's just a movie about a shark killing a bunch of people, that sounds just like a slasher film, right? Wrong!

For starters, let me address how awesome this film, that was made in 1975, looks in present day via the Blu-ray version: Like it was shot yesterday. You'd think Robert Shaw was sitting in your living room slurring his words, it looks just that lifelike. Secondly, the film really does hold up 40 years later. For those who haven't seen it, this is a film about a small town known as Amityville, home to a police chief Brody, played superbly by the late, great Roy Scheider, who grows increasingly concerned after a teenager is killed by a shark attack late one night. Later, a more paranoid Brody is watching the beach with fear, wondering when the shark will turn up next, and just when he thinks he's wigging out a little too much, it returns and spares no sympathy for the kids in the water. In the end, the character of Hooper, played by Richard Dreyfuss is brought in to help Brody to investigate what kind of shark is causing bloodshed in and around the beaches at Amityville. It's later decided by Brody and Hooper, that the only person who has the experience and knowledge in killing sharks is Quint, played by Robert Shaw. All the while the mayor of Amityville refuses to want to shut the beach down in fear of losing money and tourists, and gives the film an added theme of how corporate greed could care less about innocent people.

Towards the end of the film the three main characters of Brody, Hooper, and Quint, are out at sea, on a small fishing/hunting vessel and are truly at the behest of the killer shark. Even though it's obvious at some points the shark is fake, and has a rubber shell, it's the perfect acting from all three actors that convinces the audience they are indeed in a dire situation. My favorite moment during the last act is as Quint is riding the engine of his boat too hard, and burning it up, he begins to sing his favorite sea faring song, all the while laughing and winching, knowing the three of them are basically screwed.

The acting in this film is truly what carries it from being just an average film about a deadly shark, to that of a best picture quality feature film. I can't underline that enough, and it's obvious why the sequels never had the same impact as the original did. If you've seen this film before, but really want to see what it would have looked like back in 1975 with a clean print, get the Blu-ray edition. If you're simply a home theater enthusiast and want to see an old film look like it was shot yesterday, get the Blu-ray! This may be one of the best remastered projects the home-video world has ever seen, it's just that good.

Nuff said.

Super-8 review: Remembering childhood

I'm going to admit off the bat that the first time I saw JJ Abram's Super-8, I was only quietly entertained. I left the theater thinking that would be the one and only time I watched this film, and that would be all I would get out of it.

Then a couple of years later, a close friend texts me and asks if I've ever seen it before and I admit I saw it in the theater but never felt a reason to view it again. He tells me about how much that film took him back to growing up, and what it meant to be a kid again. That was enough for me to plop down $8 for the Blu-ray and give it one more whirl. The second time was the charm indeed. 

This is a movie that would and should tug on the emotional connection to your childhood. Making you long for the days when hanging out with your friends was an event, and usually an all-day one. You're only job, outside of school during the year, was to play outside and use your imagination as much as possible in creating your own fun. It also may even tug at you a little more if you've ever lost a parent at a young age growing up, and knowing what it's like to be parented by one parent who has to try shouldering the weight of two. Overall, this is a well made film, and a lot of the critics who felt it was too much like E.T. or The Goonies are wrong. It's very much it's own film, and has it's own sense of wonder and fun.

The story centers on the character of Joe Lamb, played by Joel Courtney, as well as his father, Jackson Lamb, played by Kyle Chandler. Joe has recently lost a mother, and Jackson lost his wife. The arc of the story truly centers around the process of emotional stress the father and son feel in trying to truly let go of their loved one. Add to it, Joel still an adolescent, as are his group of friends who love to make short-films with a Super-8 camera. This is the tie that binds their friendship and also provides a needed escape for Joel as he heals from losing his mother. Jackson is a small-town cop in the town  they live in and is very much reeling from not just losing the love of his life, but the extra stress of being a single parent, and primary cop in town. Things inevitably begin to change when on a night Joel and his friends shoot a scene for their zombie movie at a train station, they witness a truck smashing into a train carrying some very important cargo owned by the military. This sets off a chain of events in which the kids realize what they saw was out of this world and ultimately things begin to happen in their small town that get not just the police involved, but also the US Air Force as well.

I won't spoil the rest of how the story unfolds, but I can assure you there's a certain charm with this film that stands out from start to finish. I also won't spoil the mystery of what was in the cargo hold of the derailed train that serves a catalyst to complete the emotional healing of Joel and his father Jackson. Director JJ Abrams did a masterful job capturing the magic of what it means to be a kid again, and the excitement associated with a group of friends having to overcome some major obstacles together. Special mention to the films composer, Michael Giacchino, for hitting all the right notes that truly connect the audience to the emotion on screen.

Watch this movie, or if you need a second go around like I did, either way, you won't be disappointed!

The Films of Steven Spielberg: Jaws

Star Trek The Next Generation (Blu Ray) Review...

There was a baseball card set back in the mid 90s that claimed there were never original film reels for Star Trek: The Next Generation TV show that existed. Boy that couldn't have been farther from the truth, and truth be told this show now officially looks like it was shot yesterday.

CBS studios decided to invest in having a production team go back to a vault, buried somewhere in Pennsylvania, and dig up every single 35mm film reel that was shot for every episode of the entire series. So far, a season 1 remastered set in glorious HD has been released. Words can't describe how much this show pops to life now. I really can't give justice to all the painstaking work that has gone through to bring this show to high definition life for the first time, you'll just have to take my word for it. There are so many nuances you'll discover for the first time watching it in this format if you were a fan of the show previously. Subtle variables such as the different costumes characters wore that now look supremely bright and colorful, or the accessories that were worn that now just seem to stand out like never before.

There's one particular example, in the disc 1, season 1 episode, Code of Honor, where a guard standing next to Captain Picard clearly has something wrong with his right eye. This was obviously on purpose to hint that these guards get into fights all the time, however there's no way in hell anyone watching the show in standard definition ever would have noticed this before. It's simply that crystal clear. Add to it, the sound has been remastered into 7.1 DTS sound, which is quite remarkable considering this show use to air on TV with a standard two channel audio track. The opening theme has never sounded better thanks to the sound tweaking.

If you're a fan of this series, pick up this set. If you're a new fan of Star Trek in general and want a PROPER introduction to this classic TV show, do yourself a favor and only watch it in this format. It's almost criminal how faded, and bland the original aired versions of this series looked by being converted from film to VHS tape. I do realize a lot of fans hated season 1 of this series, and I can partially see why, but at the same time this season had a certain sense of zaniness and fun the later seasons just never had. That's obviously because the shows writers didn't have a grasp on how to write the main characters consistently and seemed to be trying very hard to emulate the feel of the original series. In the end, it's still worth the trip down memory lane because of the fact it feels like it was filmed on the Paramount lot this year.

 If there was ever an example of why Blu-ray is worth the upgrade for most films and TV shows, this is it. When proper time and money is invested in remastering an old film or in this case a now 25 year old television show, the results are beyond the realm of thought. Besides, now you get to see Capt. Picard's bald head in high-def, ya just can't beat that! Nuff said:)

The Dark Knight Rises: One of the better superhero films made (not quite the best)

 I'll admit, from the trailers, I thought this was going to just be another Christopher Nolan film that made me leave the theater depressed. Boy I was more than wrong. It was a fantastic film, and hit all the right notes, at the right times from beginning to end.

I'm not going to get too deep into the plot, except that after 8 years in hiding, Bruce Wayne has good reason to return to fight crime in Gotham. The villain Bain, played superbly by Tom Hardy, who has a connection to the League of Shadows from the first film in this series, Batman Begins, emerges with plenty of men to carry out plan to leave Gotham City in ashes. Annie Hathaway, dazzles as Catwoman/Selina Kyle and manages to have great screen presence in every scene she's in. Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays a Gotham City cop named Blake, and also creates a very believable character from beginning to end. Overall, the acting is top notch from everyone involved, and this film has many surprises that will make fans of this series smile from ear to ear.

There's one particular scene that pretty much cemented the greatness of this film for me and paid a true homage to the old TV series. I'm not sure if anyone else saw it this way, but I know I did. Towards the climax of the movie, when you see Bain going toe to toe with Batman, in the city streets, amidst hundreds of other cops and Bain's men fighting, it truly captured what Batman and previous incarnations meant to me: Fun "zop, bam, pow" action. Seeing Bain and Batman exchange blow after blow could only make me think of the 60's TV show, as campy as it was, when Batman and Robin would go hand to hand against villain after villain. It just worked, along with everything else that worked so effortlessly in the film.

This review is not giving this film due justice. There's too many layers to absorb to be able to lay out and truly explain to you why this movie is LITERALLY bat-crap crazy good! I had more reservations about this film than probably any film I've ever waited to see in my lifetime, and everyone of them was eroded from the opening sequence. The vibe that Christopher Nolan created as a director stayed consistent throughout the entire movie. It was 2 hours and 45 minutes long and yet it felt like it was no more than 2 hours long. You will not check your watch in this movie.

Lastly, I think it's safe to say, this entry finally ended the curse of "3rd" films in comic book franchise films being really bad. However,  my personal favorite out of this series is still the first one, Batman Begins. There was just something about that journey, seeing Bruce Wayne become Batman that not only worked but had replay value to it. Nuff said.

Retro Review: Commando (1985)

 
I'm going to make this review straight and to the point: This is the most entertaining 80's action flick I've ever seen before. Somehow, someway I'd never seen it until I reached my current age of 31, and yet it was a wildly popular Arnold Schwarzenegger film at the time of its release in the mid-80s.

The plot is as simple as you're going to get for an action film. A group of South American criminals decide to get back at Arnie's main character, Matrix, a former Black Ops commando, for all the problems he caused them when he was still in the military, by kidnapping his beloved daughter, played by a very young Alyssa Milano. Matrix is not the type of man you want to piss off, so in turn, you proceed to see him kill as many bad guys as possible en route to hunting down the main villains of the film, played by Vernon Wells and Dan Hedeya. The action scenes are extremely well done, and very easy to follow on the screen, back in an era where action didn't have to be choreographed at an above rapid pace. Add to it, the flow and pace of the film just takes off and never really lets up. Even though there is a central female lead in the film, a flight attendant turned rogue pilot, played by the gorgeous Rae Dawn Chong, there's never that typical love scene that usually gets stuck in the middle of the film between Arnie's character and hers. It's purely business between the two.

Now make no mistake, this is a very unrealistic film, but since it almost feels like it's an over the top, tour de force of comic book style action, it allows your brain to let go and not nitpick the lack of realism. This film is from an era where people used to go to the movies to purely "escape" for 2 hours, and be sucked into a completely different world where the rules aren't the same as our reality. Another thing of importance, is that even though there is some brutal violence in this picture, it's almost as if the catchy "comic relief" one liners delivered so appropriately by Schwarzenegger, allow the violence to never be absorbed with too much shock value. It brings a necessary balance to the tone of the picture, and keeping a good sense of fun amidst the cart Blanche chaos we see on screen. Lastly, the James Horner, bohemian drum soundtrack just works for this type of film. It fits the setting, and the action to a tee, and never relents just as the action in the film never seems to let up either.

So take a trip down memory lane with this 80s extravaganza of over the top action, fun, and bloated testosterone. You won't regret it!

The Amazing Spiderman: Not too far from Amazing...

I went into this film with lowered expectations, mainly because I wasn't so sure a film that reboots a series that had its last film released as recently as 2007, could be that well made. Then again, I'll admit, I was never blown away by any of the Tobey Maguire Spiderman film entries. Sure, Spiderman 2 was a well made comic book film, but the overall nagging complaint I had about those entries was how much Peter Parker worshipped Mary Jane. It was overkill, and in reverse, how much Mary Jane allowed Parker to worship her. It ruined any sincerity those films could have had because they didn't create a love story on equal footing. It was a stereotypical, one-sided affair, and I think it sends the wrong message to young girls and guys in general.

Fast forward to The Amazing Spiderman and that's one key area they knocked out of the park. Spiderman/Peter Parker, played so well by Andrew Garfield, is certainly smitten by his classmate Gwen Stacy, played by Emma Stone. However, it's not a case of him having to chase her, or beg for her attention. Gwen develops an eye for him even before he becomes Spiderman, observing his bravery at school when he refuses to let another classmate get picked on; and takes a beating for it in return. Additionally, Gwen is a self-sufficient, science loving, intelligent woman in this film, versus the sometimes smug attitude of the Mary Jane character in the previous films. The dynamic between Garfield's Spiderman and Stone's Gwen Stacy character just works, and never drags the film down with it. It's a 50/50 admiration for the two, and I hope more films like this approach it the same way in the future. Additionally, Garfield's interpretation of Peter Parker is vastly superior to Tobey Maguire's in my opinion. Maguire came off as almost too nerdy, and way too depressed over moments when things weren't working out with Mary Jane. Whereas Garfield adds multiple layers to his character, displaying not just a small nerdy side, but a socially awkward side as well that projects much more than what was seen in the original three films.

The rest of the film is built around Peter Parker learning about what it means to be responsible, and to take responsibility for his actions as a superhero. His Uncle Ben, played so convincingly by Martin sheen, really walks the walk by showing Parker what it means to help others and be a man when he tries to stop a thief from getting away on the streets of NYC. This was a defining moment in the picture when Parker understands he can't just be running around as Spiderman in an irresponsible way, and that he needs to temper his energy and sometimes immature attitude. Later in the film, when he has to save people from near death on a bridge, thanks to the transformed Dr. Curt Connors Lizard character reaking havoc, it's saving one child in particular from a car that's hanging from the bridge and on fire that cements Peter Parker as Spiderman. Not only is he firmly cemented as a superhero, but he gains an important ally out of saving the child that will help him later on in the film.

Special mention for Dennis Leary and his portrayal of Captain Stacy,  he does a nice job making you believe he really is a police chief of such a big city. I think the only disappointing performance for my money is the main villain, played by Rhys Ifans. It just seemed somewhat dull for me. Obviously the action scenes where his character is fighting with Spiderman as the Lizard are well done, and thought out, but overall Ifan's portrayal doesn't command a lot of attention in my book as a top notch villain the same way some previous comic book film bad guys have. Put it this way, you're not going to go home and quote any of his lines from the film like you may have with The Joker, General Zod, The Penguin, or even Obehdiah Stane from Iron Man. That's really my only gripe with the picture, and it's not enough to detract from how impressed overall I was with the story and execution of this film. I know some comic book purists may be upset they redid the origin story again, but I could care less. This is a comic book film and as far as I'm concerned it should be allowed to have many different interpretations of how a superhero came into harnessing such great powers.

Go see this movie, I have a feeling it'll be the only comic book film through the summer months (not counting The Avengers) that will be worth a hill of beans. The Dark Knight Rises, judging from trailers, looks more like a depressing episode of Law and Order than an actual bright, colorful, comic book film. Time will tell though. Nuff said.

The Rum Diary: A drunken mess of a film...

 
This is a Johnny Depp film I've been curious about since I saw the trailers a year ago on TV. I never got to the theater for it, and maybe it's good I waited until Netflix had it available. This is really a mixed bag for me. On one hand you have Depp playing this eccentric drunk, named Paul Kemp, who moves to Puerto Rico to work for a newspaper that's on it's last legs. On the other hand, as you witness the character adapt to his environment, you can see he easily loses focus, as does the story. At one point Kemp is motivated by a beautiful woman named Chenault, played by Amber Heard, who just happens to be married to a shady land developer on the island named Sanderson, and played by Aaron Eckart. Then, as time moves on and eventually she does throw herself at Kemp, he quickly shifts his mindset towards fighting a political agenda, and fighting against the suspect land deals conceived by Sanderson. Eventually, Kemp wants to help get money back into the hands of the natives, and go against the government in general. All of these quick changes happen within a span of about 10 minutes it seems within the third act, and that makes it a jumbled mess of a plot in my opinion.

Or, maybe the audience is just supposed to believe that since Kemp is such a drunken, hot mess, that the story should naturally flow with the energy of his character. Either way, it's easy to feel like it's a mixed bag of a film. The good things are obviously the beautiful sights and visuals of the film shooting in Puerto Rico, some funny character moments not just from Johnny Depp, but also the oscar nominated Giovanni Ribisi who plays a completely drugged out, and bitter newspaper worker. Even the editor of the newspaper, Lotterman, played by Richard Jenkins, has some really funny one liners that will make you burst out loud. Overall, if you are easily entertained by Johnny Depp's acting abilities and character driven moments, even if the plot doesn't make sense towards the end, then you'll enjoy this. However, the plot is such a disorganized mess, its made writing this review a major challenge to organize my thoughts on the film.

I say "netflix" it, and tell me what you think! Nuff Said:)

Prometheus review: I'm still asking questions...

OK, this is the second review I've written on this movie as I'm still asking questions as to what I witnessed in this film. I've been waiting for this movie to come out since it was announced over 2 years ago. Needless to say my anticipation has been through the roof. Now it's here, I've seen it twice, and now for my honest review.

If you're not familiar with the mythology of the ALIEN series, that's OK, because even though this is considered a loosely based prequel, set in the same universe as the previous movies, it follows its own original storyline. The film opens with one of the most breathtaking shots of a planet, which one would assume is earth, with a ship hovering overhead, and a humanoid being walking towards a cliff overlooking a waterfall. It drinks a black goo substance in a cup, and proceeds to flinch in pain as its DNA begins to break down. Cue the music, and cut to the opening titles that are equally stunning (even in 2d) Fast forward to earth, in the not too distant future, and two doctors uncover cave paintings that hint at ancient civilizations pointing humanity towards the stars. This is the basis for the films storyline, and the reason the primary characters of Dr. Elizabeth Shaw and Charlie Holloway, with the help of a rich company owner, are able to travel to this distant planet, in search of our "makers". You follow me so far? I'm not going to break down the plot any further but point out that you MUST have an attention span for this kind of film. If you get lost or confused at different happenings, it's quite possible you will leave the theater feeling short-changed. This is a film full of big ideas, and plenty of mystery regarding how humans were created, as well as the familiar aliens from the previous films. The visuals are incredible, the music suits the mood of the film perfectly, and the acting is for the most part, top notch. The set-design is as lifelike as a film can be. For example, early on in the film, when the Prometheus ship is headed towards the distant planet, you see the ship's android David, played so effortlessly by Micheal Fassbender, wandering around the ship, keeping an eye on members of the crew in hypersleep, watching movies, playing basketball, and overall trying to stay entertained. The set's are so convincing you really believe this is a real ship, on a real mission, with a dude who is really a robot acting as a caretaker, and none of what you see is make-believe. Movie making at its finest if you ask me.

Now, if you're a die-hard fan of the Alien films from the 80s, don't expect the link to those films spelled out in cookie cutter fashion. If you blink, you'll miss the subtle nods that lead to bigger ideas as to how everything strings together. Trust me, the hints are there, but you actually have to use your brain to figure it out. Not only that, but trying to figure out how this race of engineers you'll see halfway through the film, and what their motivations were for creating or destroying humans, is a challenge as well. However, that fits the theme of this movie to a tee. Asking the question "why?" and not necessarily getting a clear answer is the focal point for the characters. As far as traumatic death scenes, they're aren't as many as found in previous Alien films, but the graphic ones you do see in this film are extremely well done. And in the end, the story is left open for a sequel. However, I think the questions raised in this film leave enough up to the imagination to decide for yourself what happens after the events in this film, and how it all ties to the first Alien film. That's what makes this film work. Even after you leave the theater, you may find yourself debating about not just the events within the story, but what comes next? That is the mark of a great film.

Lastly, it should also be noted, it was obvious in some parts that the films director, Ridley Scott, had to make some tough decisions in the editing bay. Some scenes standout as being awkwardly chopped, or dialogue that seems like it came after something we didn't get to see. I suspect this will be resolved in the now rumored "extended cut" that is in the works for home-video releases. I also suspect it will only make a great film, that much better. I don't think I've ever read such a split of opinions on any highly anticipated film before. Some love it, some hate it, and there doesn't seem to be much middle ground. Imagine how this film will be remembered 20 years from now? Bladerunner shared the same controversy during its initial release, and it's considered a masterpiece in some circles now. Either way, this film has great acting, great visuals, moments of the highest tension imaginable, and a plot that continually keeps your brain wanting more answers, in the best way possible. Go see it! Nuff said.

Forgotten review: What Planet Are You From?

I vaguely remember back in 2000, seeing TV trailers for this film that starred Garry Shandling, and also remember hearing about how badly it bombed at the box office. Well, let's face it, most comedies do horribly during their theatrical release, and then eventually find some sort of an audience years later. Every once in awhile you have a film like The Hangover, that breaks box office records across the board. In the case of What Planet are you from? it was a mega bust. Its budget was listed somewhere around $60 million dollars, and it didn't even earn half of that back.

I'm hear to tell you it wasn't for it being an unfunny film. I randomly found this on Netflix the other night, and being the Garry Shandling fan that I am, from his days on the Larry Sanders Show on HBO, I had to at least watch it for a little bit and see if the film's lack of success was warranted. It was not. I found myself laughing hysterically throughout the first hour of the film, and then enough through the last half to keep it afloat. The story was co-written by Garry Shandling, and he doesn't just insert goofy material into the script, there are some subtle, serious moments where he's trying to make a point about how humanity acts on this planet.

The plot in a nutshell involves Shandling's character, an alien from a distant planet who is sent to earth on a mission to impregnate one human female, in order to start a takeover from his alien homeworld. He's pre-trained with cliche pick-up lines and the result are some hilarious scenes where you see earth females responding accordingly. The rest of the cast is top notch, with Annette Bening, who plays the prototypical crazy woman so well, Greg Kinnear who plays an adequate prick, John Goodman as a somewhat paranoid agent who has a belief that Shandling's character, Harold Anderson, is indeed from another world. Ben Kingsley even has a supporting role, playing the leader of Anderson's homeworld! Garry Shandling's facial expressions alone will have you cracking up throughout the better part of the film, and the rest of this great cast fills their roles perfectly.

As the plot rolls along, you see Anderson evolve from more of a robotic alien, with no emotions, to one who embraces the tendencies of the humans around him. This film could even be played as a how-to guide for men on what to not say to a woman, and have men and women alike laughing out loud at how absurd some of the awkward situations are.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this comedy. I have a feeling because it has some sci-fi themes embedded within the story, that this is one of the main reasons it bombed at the box-office. Comedies are tough enough to find a big, universal audience. Mix in science fiction themes, and you've just cut your audience into a thousand pieces. However, I'm here to tell you to give it a viewing. If nothing else, the fact that the main character's penis hums anytime a woman turns him on, will have you gasping for air. Nuff said!

Are movies over-hyped?

 
More specifically, are movies over-hyped to the point our expectations for a particular film are raised so high, it makes it next to impossible to truly enjoy that movie?

In the era of the internet, film connoisseurs, geeks, nerds, all have 24-7 access to information regarding any film that's due to come out later in the year (or the year after that!). When I was a kid, the only inside access we had was either movie trailers that we'd see on TV or at the movies, or heading to the local corner store to pick up the latest issue of various film magazines. Word of mouth seemed to be the hype machine 30 years ago, and it wasn't uncommon for a films box office to go up in the second or third week of release as opposed to the first. From my perspective, that limited amount of exposure films received until released, offered a sort of innocence along with going to the movies. Now it's just too damn easy to get access to the latest tidbits, and rumors regarding a highly anticipated film.

For example, Ridley Scott's Prometheus has been over-hyped from day one of being announced it was green lit back in 2011. Maybe for good reason, a lot of closet geeks like myself want to see if he has the ability to catch lightning in a bottle twice, by returning to the "ALIEN" universe he successfully delivered on screen back in 1979. OK, great, but what if it sucks? And what if that suckage really stems more from the constant stream of news related to its production, it's leaked plot information, and all of the current movie fandom websites that spew something new every other day about this film? Time will tell what kind of palpable effect it has on the audience opinion.

It makes me wonder if all of this overabundance of information sort of destroys the point of movies altogether. JJ Abrams, who is a writer/director/producer in Hollywood has always hammered home the point of keeping things a mystery to film audiences. The longer you can keep the audience wondering what the movie is about, the better the payoff when they actually get to see the film firsthand. I agree. It gives you a better chance to be in awe once the theater lights go dark.

In the end, it's probably better to avoid the internet all together when it comes to leaked, upcoming film information. Watch the trailer, and leave it at that until you pay your 10 bucks or whatever the hell it costs to see movies these days. Nuff said.

Retro Review: The Conversation (1974)

Some would argue, myself included, that Francis Ford Coppola was at the top of his game when he made The Conversation in the mid-70s. I've spoken with a few people who viewed it and felt it was boring, and slow. I couldn't disagree more. There's a lot of building in this film from start to finish. It all starts with it's main character, Harry Caul, played so masterfully by Gene Hackman. Caul is an extremely private man, and very paranoid within the confines of his world. His one outlet is playing the saxophone while he's not on the job, a job that has him running surveillance of people he's hired to track. One gets the feeling this guy never has any fun, and his only true outlet is his work.

As the story begins he's tasked with tracking a young couple, in park in San Francisco. The deeper we get into the film's second and third acts we see how increasingly paranoid Caul is that this couple he was spying on in the beginning of the film, are going to get murdered. Add to it, he thinks it will be at the hands of the person who hired him to track their every move. (Uncredited character played by Robert Duvall, as well as his assistant played by a young Harrison Ford) Surrounded by this major plot element are more intimate details of Caul's life, and the relationship he has with his main co-worker, Stan, played by the late John Cazele. Stan never feels as if Caul lets him into the know on what's really going on with their work. That drives Caul to the point of quitting as his right hand man. It all connects to the complexity and darker side of Caul. A very private man who wants to do things his way, regardless of anyone else's opinions. It also lends a connection to how he feels about the women in his life. We see a scene where Caul visits what seems to be his main love interest in the film (played by Teri Garr), yet he keeps his distance from her. It's obvious from this scene Caul is a loner, and has no real need for a woman to be living with him. All of these emotions are sold so well by Hackman in the role, you almost forget he is even acting. Even better, midway through the film, Caul is treated to a party from co-worker friends, and essentially a call girl spends the night in his dark, murky apartment. When he wakes up and realizes she isn't there, it really sets off a rage in his face that lets you know he's got some hidden demons when it comes to the relationships of his past. This is a man who has indeed been hurt before.

So as the story nears the films climax, Caul is running around watching his back, and ever so paranoid about what may happen to this young couple that he's convinced will be taken out by his former boss. There's no time to spoil what happens, but if you've never seen this film, the end result of Caul's findings will more than likely have you covering your mouth. Sure, it's not as extreme as some of the vivid things you see in the cinema today, but for 1974, it was a pretty big deal! The rest of this classic is wrapped up beautifully by the soundtrack of David Shire (Some may remember his contributions to the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack a few years later), as well as the fantastic sound design, that brought the audience into the world of a surveillance expert. You get to hear so many unique and interesting sounds, and voices you've probably never heard mixed in a film before. For that reason alone, this film begs a viewing on blu-ray, in 7.1 surround sound. You'll think your sucked into the world that Coppola created with this tense, and dark masterpiece. I'm even going to say this film reminded me a lot of the same themes you see in another classic of the same era, Taxi Driver. Two main characters who really start to open their eyes at how dark the world can be, without any light at the end of the tunnel. Nuff said.

Retro Review 2: Rocky II

 
Rocky II has to be one of the more underrated sequels to any movie franchise in the history of cinema. The film's writer/director/actor, Sylvester Stallone, managed to take a character that went through an incredible character arc of the first film and classic, Rocky, and give the character new life. Definitely not an easy thing to do from a writers standpoint. So how did he (Stallone) accomplish this? He wrote a tale about life after a taste of the spotlight.

Yes, Rocky II picks right up where its predecessor left off, and you see a badly bruised and injured Rocky Balboa in the hospital recovering from going the distance with his nemesis Apollo Creed. There's a scene early on in particular that really gave this movie a sense of humility early on. Rocky wakes up in the middle of the night and walks over to Apollo's hospital room. He quietly asks Apollo if he did indeed give him his "best". Apollo (played so well by Carl Weathers) responds by saying he did, and in a tone of voice that exudes mental and physical exhaustion. This wasn't the norm for Apollo's character, who usually is as bombastic sounding as real life boxer Muhammad Ali. Not only did this scene add a true sense of complexity to Apollo's character, it also reminded the audience of just how important the final fight was in the first film.

From there, you get to see Rocky try and find a real job, and life after boxing. He's been told he should never fight again, due to the eye damage incurred from the beating he took from Apollo. Not only going on the job hunt, Rocky and Adrian get married. A lot of subtle, yet touching scenes that continue the magic both characters displayed on screen in the first film. However, after several attempts at finding a regular job, and the frustration that goes along with that, Rocky decides he has no choice but to try and fight again. Not only does he want to do this to support Adrian, but the child that Adrian is now carrying. This leads to seeing Rocky become extremely vulnerable, having to relearn how to box now that he has the added distraction of a wife, and a child on the way. The conflict's that brew central to this character also come from his manager, Mickey, who truly doesn't think it's a smart idea that Rocky goes back into the ring. Add to this, even Apollo's character is going through his own arc of being told he's a loser by fans for allowing Rocky to take him the distance. This motivates Apollo to really go after Rocky in the media, cementing a motivation and drive that forces Rocky to want to fight him again to prove the first fight wasn't just luck.

Now, let's get to the real gem of this film. The final fight. This is in my opinion the best choreographed boxing match I've ever seen in the cinema. Sure, it may not be completely realistic in terms of how many punches are thrown, but it's just a thing of beauty to watch nonetheless. Add to it, the insanely classic score from Bill Conti, and it truly sucks the audience into it, and gets the adrenaline pumping at key points during the fight. It not only tops the fight from the first film, it ups the stakes in the best way possible. I couldn't imagine seeing this film for the first time, before the internet and fan boards ruining plot details, and wondering whether Rocky or Apollo will get up before the ten count. Absolute edge of your seat drama, and I'm not sure many films of today have that kind of gravitas going for it in the third act.

So take a trip down memory lane. Watch Rocky II (especially if you haven't seen it before, shame on you!), and make sure you do it with an adequate surround sound set-up to really make the movie pop the way it should. Nuff said.

Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol- A one look pony..

For those of you who have seen the previous installment of the Mission Impossible series, Mi:III, and who enjoyed that entry, may find a different feel to the newest installment, Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol. For starters, JJ Abrams didn't direct this, he "produced" it, which can mean a great many things in terms of how much control or fine tuning he had on the final product. Add to it a new director, Brad Bird, and you have a very different feel for this film compared to the last. That's good and bad in my opinion.

Let's start with the good. The action scenes don't let up, everything is choreographed beautifully, and in a way you're not going to feel sick from trying to keep up with what's being punched, kicked, or thrown out of a window on the screen. Brad Bird shot this film's action scenes in the best way possible, so he gets top billing for that in my book. Even the opening scene has a certain charm to it, with Tom Cruise's Ethan Hunt character having to break out of a Russian prison, and I won't spoil what gives it that extra zeal. I would even go as far as saying fans of the original 60s TV series, may sense the same vibe of the classic show in spades throughout this film. Even Michael Giacchino's soundtrack truly pays homage to the classic TV series in a big way. These are all nice touches, but I still came away from this film feeling it missed some things that made the third entry work so well.

So what did it miss? This film lacked that emotional resonance the third one had, and I think that was due in part because Ethan Hunt didn't have his wife to directly worry about as the course of the film went on. Her character was essentially written out of this installment, and only mentioned a few times. There wasn't that major payoff like you had in the last film where Hunt and his wife go to hell and back together and win. Secondly, the films main villains in this were no names compared to the kind of acting chops brought to the table by Philip Seymour Hoffman's villain in the last film. That was the final nail in the coffin preventing me from giving this movie full marks. Every action film has to have that definitive alpha male villain, without it, it prevents it from reaching greatness status. Every classic action film has had them in the past, this one did not!

However, it's definitely worth an evening, and one bowl of popcorn. The action sequences alone hold this baby together, even without a big emotional payoff in the end. Getting to see Tom Cruise act crazy and (no stunt doubles, really!) scale the worlds tallest building in Dubai warrants 2 hours of your time.  Nuff said.

American Reunion: A successful one!

Alright, I'm going to get to the point. If you don't remember the American Pie films from the late 90s, early 2000s, then you just may not see the nostalgia factor in the latest, and most likely final installment of this franchise. However, for someone like myself, who was in their senior year of high school when the original came out in 1999, it was a welcomed trip down memory lane.


The beauty part about this fourth entry in the series is the entire gang is back from the original three films. Does everyone have something worthwhile to do? No, but the main characters you want to see have the most fun, and get their due screen time in this installment. The great story arc to this movie is you get to see a group of friends who have gone on to do various things in their lives 13 years later, and every one of them is having doubts about where they're at in adulthood. It's the kind of thing most people my age can truly relate to, and something that transcends the overtly funny laughs and gags of this film. Sure you get to see Stifler, Finch, Jim, Oz, and Kevin getting into trouble, and getting out of trouble, but the main theme of this film is the fact they all sort of realize they're doing OK in life by the end of the reunion. Many people from my generation will most assuredly enjoy the chance to escape for a few hours and get lost while watching characters going through similar transformation in their life.

Now, the important stuff, Stifler's mom? check. Jim's dad, check. Both are in here and provide some hilarious moments that keep the films comedic pace moving along without any hiccups. Eugene Levy is in top form playing Jim's dad.  The best surprise of all? We get to meet Finch's mom for the first time. That's right, and I wonder how many people will be able to figure out what famous actress she is? She brings new meaning to the term "cougar", and I think you'll find that Stifler agrees!

So go out, enjoy American Reunion, you won't regret seeing the old gang back together again for their high school reunion that couldn't go worse, but yet make you pound your kneecap in laughter wanting more!

Retro Review: License to Kill

It should be noted that most people don't even remember this entry into the James Bond franchise. When I organized a screening for this hidden gem into the Bond films on Syracuse University's campus, not one person ever remembered the title of this film, let alone the actor who played Bond in this criminally underrated entry. Why? Probably because their parents never knew about it either. United Artists and Eon Productions originally spent millions on marketing materials for this film to have a different title: License Revoked. However, at the last minute, producers assumed American audiences wouldn't understand that title had any connection to 007, and instead mistake it for having ones drivers license revoked. Don't laugh, it's true! In the end, they pissed all the money away on a marketing campaign they couldn't use in the U.S.

Having said that, this film brought Bond films back to the 60s flare and style. It had a serious villain, exotic locations, and didn't have an over the top plot that had the film's main villain wanting to take over the world. In this case, the lead villain Sanchez, played by Robert Davi (you may remember him as a special agent in Die Hard, as well as one of the Fratelli brothers in The Goonies) merely wanted to be the king of cocaine dealing for the free world. He was truly one of the best Bond villains in the history of the Bond franchise, adding more than just a one dimensional layer to his character. Davi's portrayal would have you believe Sanchez appreciated loyalty from his workers, and was consistent with rewarding that concept. You may also recognize a very young Benecio Del Toro, playing Sanchez's hencemen, Dario. He was very effective, with a few choice lines that helped elevate his character beyond the few words of dialogue his character was given. Not to be forgotten, the two women playing the Bond girls for this film, Carey Lowell, and Talisa Soto. Both brought more of an edge to the stigma of being a Bond girl. Carey's character Pam Bouvier, plays a CIA operative, and really sells the tough girl persona throughout the film. Talisa's character of Lupe Lamora makes you not only believe why Sanchez would be obsessed in not let letting her out of his grasp, but you also gets the sense she can only take so much abuse before snapping herself.  And last but not least, the actor playing James Bond, Timothy Dalton, did a lot of his own stunts, and tried to earnestly project a persona that Ian Fleming wrote about for the Bond character in the original novels. This wasn't Roger Moore, ham it up Bond. This was grab the girl by the throat, and not even have the courtesy to wink at her or the camera "intense Bond", projected so effortlessly by Dalton. The real shame? He (Dalton) never really started getting credit for his portrayal of Bond until about 17 years later when Daniel Craig played Bond in very similar fashion. It took American audiences almost two decades to really appreciate what Dalton was trying to do with the role in this film and his first entry into the series.

Overall, this film hit all the right notes with amazing action stunt sequences from the films opening montage as Bond and Felix Leiter take to the skies in a DEA helicopter to reel in Sanchez, to the films climax in which Bond uses a tanker truck to his advantage in trying to seek revenge on the death of Leiter's wife. I'm not going to spoil the rest of this film, but it's got some of the best, if not the best action scenes ever put on the silver screen. The pace of the film just works. Just when you think it's going to slow down and suffer from the same fate as a lot of the Roger Moore entries, it picks right up and never lets go. Not to be underrated a fantastic score by the late Micheal Kamen, who scored other action films such as Die Hard and Lethal Weapon during the same era. It's a shame poor marketing, and being released in the ultra competitive "summer of 89" prevented it from becoming the blockbuster it should have been financially.

Hopefully, like many films from decades past, it will continue to become more of a fan favorite as time goes on. One of the Bond producers recently said the film was too dark for the time it was released, and I can only help but wonder what a blockbuster it could have been if released in our current era of darker themed heroes and films. Nuff said.