Since The Academy Awards are in 2 days, I figured I'd list off my predictions for this year's winners. Without further adieu....
Best Picture: 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: Alfonso Cuaron, Gravity
Best Actor: Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club
Best Actress: Meryl Streep, August: Osage County
Best Supporting Actor: Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club, or Barkhad Abdi, Captain Phillips
Best Supporting Actress: Jennifer Lawrence, American Hustle, or Lupita Nyong'o, 12 Years a Slave
Best Writing-Original Screenplay: Her, Spike Jonze
Best Writing-Adapted Screenplay: The Wolf of Wall Street, Terence Winter, or 12 Years a Slave, John Ridley
Best Animated Feature Film: Frozen
Best Foreign Language Film: The Hunt (Denmark)
Best Documentary Feature: The Square
Best Original Score: William Butler and Owen Pallett, Her, or Steven Price, Gravity
Best Original Song: "Let it Go" from Frozen, or "Ordinary Love" (by U2) from Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom
Best Visual Effects: Gravity, or The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, or Iron Man 3
Best Film Editing: 12 Years a Slave, or Gravity
Best Cinematography: Gravity, or Prisoners
Friday, February 28, 2014
Sunday, February 23, 2014
Game of Thrones: Season 2 (TV Review)
Today, I look at the second season of what Newsday calls "the best show on television". Based primarily on the second book in George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire book series (A Clash of Kings), and somewhat on the last third of the first book (A Game of Thrones), I bring you my review of D.B. Weiss and David Benioff's Game of Thrones: Season Two. (On an unrelated note: I just found out that Benioff and Weiss actually wrote an episode of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia called "Flowers for Charlie". And it was pretty funny, too. I remember seeing the ad for that episode, and they blatantly said that the creators of Game of Thrones wrote it, and I thought they were just joking. Pretty awesome how the creators of one of the most brutally violent and dark shows on TV were able to script a comedy series episode, and not only that, but do a great job. I guess it goes to show how great they are at writing.)
(SPOILER ALERT: If you are not caught up on the first season, this review will contain spoilers for the climax of that season, as it's essential in describing the plot of this one.)
Game of Thrones, Season Two:
After the unjust execution of Ned Stark, the kingdom is in peril. Robb Stark has declared himself King in the North and is raising an army to invade King's Landing and take King Joffrey's head like how he took Ned's. Now that the truth of Joffrey's heritage has come out (which is denied by the Lannisters as a disgusting lie), Robert's younger brothers Stannis and Renly have split apart to both claim the crown as their own. Stannis Baratheon commands a fleet of naval ships and recruits sellswords and pirates to his cause. He declares himself the King in the Narrow Sea, and declares himself lord of House Baratheon of Dragonstone. Renly Baratheon, on the other hand, declares himself the King in Highgarden. He leads an army of land soldiers and knights, and joins forces with Robb and Catelyn Stark. King Joffrey, still clinging to his crown, declares himself the King on the Iron Throne, and claims he is still rightful ruler. Lord Balon Greyjoy (Theon's cruel father) of the Iron Islands declares them independent from the Seven Kingdoms and names himself the King of the Iron Islands. In the continent of Essos, Dany, after the death of her beloved Khal Drogo and the scattering of the Dothraki clan, now must tame her growing baby dragons with the help of the loyal Ser Joarh and her remaining Dothraki followers. They take refuge in a desert paradise known as Qarth, a trade city in the middle of the Red Waste, a vast and barren desert wasteland, and Dany names herself "the Mother of Dragons". The War of the Five Kings has begun.
Again, you can't talk about this fantastic series without talking about the huge cast of characters. First, House Stark: Michelle Fairley, Sophie Turner, Kit Harington, Richard Madden, Maisie Williams, Isaac Hempstead-Wright, and Art Parkinson return as the Stark family, now all in grief and scattered across Westeros after the death of their beloved leader Ned. Catelyn Stark is a little more cold this time, as she is coping with the death of her husband and the war that is starting. Robb Stark is now more of a heroic military leader, having to take on his father's responsibilities as leader of House Stark. Sansa Stark must now learn how to survive in the hostile King's Landing, where there are spies and killers at every turn. Arya Stark is now on the run from Lannister soldiers, and must be smarter and more tough than ever before, now that the (arguably) most powerful family in Westeros wants her dead. Jon Snow is now completely invested in his duties in the Night's Watch, but is torn about his duties, as he wants to desert the Watch to deal with the events in the War of the Five Kings, but also feels obligated to fight alongside his NW brothers. Bran and Rickon are now the only Starks left staying in Winterfell, and are the only lords there, now having a lot more responsibility. They must also defend the castle against invaders. This family certainly has a lot on their shoulders this season, and they need a lot of courage if they're to be fighting the king and the Lannisters. Oona Chaplin debuts as Talisa Maegyr, a battlefield nurse for House Stark and Robb's love interest. She's kind, resourceful, gentle, and understanding, and keeps Robb in check. She's a great new addition to House Stark. Ron Donachie and Donald Sumpter return as the faithful and loyal servants Ser Rodrik Cassel and Maester Luwin, respectively. The stay at Winterfell with the young lords and must advise them on how to handle invaders trying to take over the castle. Natalia Tena and Kristian Nairn also reappear as Osha and Hodor, respectively, the personal servants of Bran and Rickon, who must defend the vulnerable lords against danger, in and out of the castle. Michael McElhatton portrays Lord Roose Bolton, a northern military leader and an ally of Robb Stark. John Stahl appears in the minor role of Rickard Karstark, an ally of Robb Stark's. Theon Greyjoy, Ned's ward and Robb and Jon Snow's friend, shows us a darker side this season. He's more jealous, treacherous, and violent, he's definitely a different Theon than what we've seen before. Props to Alfie Allen for being able to do a completer character 180.
Speaking of the Greyjoys, now onto House Greyjoy: Lord Balon Greyjoy, portrayed by Patrick Malahide, is a cold, spiteful, and mean old man who distrusts his only living son and despises House Stark. Yara Greyjoy, played by Gemma Whelan, cares for her brother, whom she hasn't seen since they were young children, but also distrusts him to a degree. She's a tough, tomboyish woman who is as strong and witty as her younger brother. Ralph Ineson appears as the supporting character Dagmer Cleftjaw, Theon's lieutenant who pushes him to be more violent than before so he can control people through fear.
Now for House Baratheon: This house is divided throughout the land, so it's a bit larger, in reality, it can now be considered three separate house: House Baratheon of King's Landing, House Baratheon of Dragonstone, and House Baratheon of Storm's End. First for King's Landing: Jack Gleeson returns as the despicable and evil King Joffrey Baratheon, now completely consumed and corrupted by his power as king. He enjoys sadistically tormenting Sansa Stark at every turn, and rules over the capital city with an iron fist, and holds everyone in his grip of fear. Just as gleefully cruel, psychotically violent, and pitifully cowardly as ever, this little spoiled bastard makes your blood boil with anger at the fact he hasn't been killed yet. Yeah, he's a twisted little shithead. (No offense to Jack Gleeson.) Lena Headey returns as Joffrey's doting mother, Queen Regent Cersei Lannister Baratheon. She's still a selfish, manipulative c-nt, however, she is shown to care a lot for her family, in particular her children, even Joffrey, which is actually a pretty big redeeming quality for her, despite all her bad ones, including the incest with her brother and cousin. Ian Beattie, Wilko Johnson, and Dominic Carter return in supporting roles as Ser Meryn Trant, Ser Ilyn Payne, and Lord Janos Slynt, respectively. These three are unfeeling, unflinchingly brutal, terrifying, and completely loyal to their evil and malevolent king, carrying out various sadistic tasks that he gives to them. James Doran guest-stars in the episode "Blackwater", as Ser Mandon Moore, another cruel knight in Joffrey's service. Tony Way appears as Ser Dontos Hollard, an unlucky knight who shows up slightly drunk to Joffrey's nameday (basically a birthday) celebration, and is publically humiliated by being made his court fool for his drunken state. Guest-star Julian Glover again appears as Grand Maester Pycelle, the loyal, albeit corrupt, and insanely old religious authority and adviser of Joffrey's Small Council.
Also on the Small Council are Lord Varys ("The Spider"), played by Coleth Hill, and Lord Petyr Baelish ("Littlefinger"), portrayed by Aidan Gillen, the two masters of deceit who run the largest spy networks in all the land. Varys and Baelish take their own sides, the sides that benefit them the most. Varys, while a manipulator and a liar, is definitely the less amoral of the two. Baelish manipulates absolutely anyone, including Catelyn Stark, his unrequited love, to get what he wants. Some have said that the "game of thrones" of the title is basically like a chess game between The Spider and Littlefinger. Esme Bianco guest-stars as Ros, the red-headed prostitute, who is now employed by Littlefinger in his whorehouse, who controls her via fear.
Sandor "The Hound" Clegane, played by Rory McCann (Hot Fuzz), shows us more of his good side, although he's still a bitter, cynical, and brutally violent killer, he does show kindness towards Sansa Stark, whom he saves on multiple occasions from different dangers.
Now for Dragonstone: Stannis Baratheon, portrayed by Stephen Dillane, is cold, stern, aggressive, temperamental, and will stop at nothing to get what he wants, even converting religions just to further his reach and increase his power in Westeros. Davos Seaworth, played by Liam Cunningham, is a loyal and friendly sea captain and close friend and ally of Stannis', who tries to talk him out of many bad decisions. He's a good leader and an even better friend to Stannis. His son Matthos, portrayed by Kerr Logan, is close with his father, and is a loyal soldier. Melisandre, played by Carice van Houten, is a mysterious and manipulative sorceress from a far-off land. She is constantly planting seeds in Stannis' mind, and Davos distrusts her, and with good reason, she's fucking creepy, and she is always acting devious and suspicious. Salladhor Saan, portrayed by Lucian Msamati, is an old friend of Davos' and a pirate/smuggler of the sea. He's witty, charismatic, and a skilled sailor. Oliver Ford Davies guest-stars as Maester Cressen and only appears in the season premiere. He is one of the few who can see through Melisandre's facade and distrusts her, thinking her to be a demonic sorceress with dark intentions, mostly because she threatens his position as religious adviser.
Finally, Storm's End: Renly Baratheon, played by Gethin Anthony, is friendlier than his brother, and more well-liked. He's charming, intelligent, and honorable, which is more than can be said for Robert or Stannis. Ser Loras Tyrell, portrayed by Finn Jones, is a handsome, courageous, and skilled young knight who is close with his friend Renly, in fact, they're secret lovers. Margaery Tyrell, played by Natalie Dormer (The Tudors, Casanova, Captain America: The First Avenger, The Counselor), is Loras' beautiful sister and Renly's queen. She's lovely-looking, and seemingly sweet and simple-minded, but she is actually a master manipulator who tries to move her family up the ladder of power, although she's not evil or extremely amoral like other manipulators in the show. Brienne of Tarth, portrayed by Gwendoline Christie, is a strong and stern female warrior, who is one f the finest fighters in Highgarden. Loyal to Renly and Catelyn Stark, she must deal with the antics of Jaime Lannister, and is a brutal fighter, and is tougher than most male characters.
Now onto House Lannister: Peter Dinklage gets top-billing as the charismatic, funny, and highly intelligent Tyrion "The Imp" Lannister, the best character on the show. He's in a little more trouble this season, taking on the distressing duty of being Joffrey's Hand of the King. He's just as witty, mischievous, and cunning as before, with some extra baggage this time around. Charles Dance now joins the main cast as the ruthless, cold, and calculating Tywin Lannister, Tyrion's powerful and violent father and lord of Casterly Rock, as well as arguably the most powerful and dangerous man in Westeros. Nikolaj Coster-Waldau returns as the jaded and unfeeling Ser Jaime Lannister, the "Kingslayer". Still as despicable ass before, this time around he is the Starks' captive and is physically degrading, not having bathed, shaved, or been taken care of in several months, as the Starks don't feel he deserves these things, being as violent and cruel a man as he is. Shae, played by Sibel Kekilli, is Tyrion's lover and their relationship becomes increasingly complex and dangerous as the season progresses, as Cersei uses it as leverage against him. Bronn, portrayed by Jerome Flynn, returns in full-force, and is just as cool as he was in the first season. A seasoned fighter and mercenary, Bronn is a loyal friend to Tyrion and a bad-ass fighter, a good anti-hero, and an interesting character in the series. Podrick Payne, whom guest-star Daniel Portman appears as, is the distant cousin of Ser Ilyn and is Tyrion's loyal and helpful young squire. Karl Davies plays the recurring character Ser Alton Lannister, who is Jaime's younger cousin. Eugene Simon returns as Lancel Lannister, now a young knight, and Cersei's new lover. Ian Whyte replaces Conan Stevens as Gregor "The Mountain" Clegane, a sadistic and enormous soldier in the service of Tywin Lannister, who operates in the ruins of the great castle Harrenhal. A mentally disturbed and physically powerful knight, he's a sick and cruel man who enjoys torturing his captives to death and killing anyone and anything in his path. (Whyte also appears as a White Walker in one episode.) Fintan McKeown plays the recurring character Ser Amory Lorch, a nasty knight serving House Lannister at Tywin's base in the ruins of Harrenhal. Andy Kellegher appears in the minor role of Polliver, a sickeningly sadistic soldier in the service of Lord Tywin. Anthony Morris appears in a recurring part as "The Tickler", a sadistic and incredibly cruel soldier and torturer in Harrenhal. Ian Gelder returns in a minor part as Kevan Lannister, Tywin's brother.
Now for House Targaryen: Daenerys "Stormborn" Targaryen, portrayed by Emilia Clarke, is stronger than ever in this season. Despite being without hope for the first part of the season after the death of Khal Drogo and the scattering of their clan, she arrives in the paradise of Qarth, where she recuperates and begins training her dragons and gaining more power. Ser Jorah Mormont, played by Iain Glen, is a great ally for Dany. He's smart, wise, and an awesome fighter. He's got such a cool voice, he could be a great narrator. Roxanne McKee and Amrita Acharia return as Dany's friends and handmaidens Doreah and Irri, respectively. Steven Cole appears as Dany's Dothraki bloodrider and soldier Kovarro. Rakharro, another bloodrider, is portrayed by Elyes Gabel. These two are fierce fighters, and remain loyal servants to their khalisee.
Now for the citizens and public figures of Qarth: Xaro Xhoan Daxos, portrayed by Nonso Anozie, is a clever and powerful man who is a wealthy trader in Qarth who befriends Dany when she first arrives. He is a bit suspicious and untrustworthy at first, but he slowly grows on you, and you, like Dany, figure "Hey, maybe he's not so bad". Nicholas Blane and Slavko Juraga play the Spice King and the Silk King, respectively, two pompous and rich aristocrats from Qarth who trade spice and silks, and who take a disliking to outsiders, including Dany, whom they think is causing trouble. Pyat Pree, portrayed by Ian Hanmore, is a warlock in Qarth and one of the more creepy and unsettling characters in the series. A lanky, skeletal man with blue lips, he has a strange appearance, and he is also a strange character in general, a real enigma, and an eerie one at that.
Now for the Night's Watch: John Bradley returns as the lovable and caring Samwell Tarly. He takes a liking to a wildling girl he meets in a "free village", and also starts facing more challenges, such as going beyond The Wall (the 700-foot ice wall separating the Seven Kingdoms from the wilding forests and mountains) to face feral nomads and creatures of the night. James Cosmo also reappears as Jeor Mormont, Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, and their leader and father figure. He's honorable, brave, and a survivalist. Qhorin Halfhand, portrayed by Simon Armstrong, is one of the more unlikeable NW brothers. He's mean, vulgar, and volatile. Francis Magee returns as Yoren, the gruff but likeable Night's Watch scout and Arya's current caretaker, whom he is trying to deliver home as a favor to his friend: the late Ned Stark.
Now for the wildling clan: Ygrette, played by Downton Abbey's Rose Leslie, is Jon Snow's lover interest and a skilled wildling hunter. She's sarcastic, humorous, resilient, and resourceful. She's a great new character for this season. The Lord of Bones, played by Edward Dogliani, is a brutish and savage warrior from the wildling clan who wears the bones of his enemies over his clothes, although he does have the respect and admiration of his people.
Finally, for characters with no real alliance: Joe Dempsie (Skins) and Ben Hawkey reprise their roles as Gendry and Hot Pie, respectively, Arya's friends and comapnions. Gendry is the tough, likeable, brave, and kind blacksmith apprentice turned fugitive and one of Robert Baratheon's many bastard children. Hot Pie is the pudgy street orphan from the first season's finale who now accompanies Gendry and Arya on the Kingsroad making their way North. Lommy Greenhands, played by Eros Vlahos, the other street orphan from the season one finale, also returns to accompany Arya and her two friends to the North. Although a bit selfish, he's still likeable enough, being an unfortunate street kid. Craster, portrayed by Robert Pugh, is a foul and cruel man who lives in a village beyond the Wall, and has incestuous relationships with his many unfortunate and miserable daughters, and the Night's Watch must deal with him numerous times. Gilly, played by Hannah Murray, is one of Craster's many daughters, and is the object of Sam's affection, and he wants to take her away from her miserable life under Craster's roof. And finally, one of the coolest characters in the second season: Jaqen H'ghar, portrayed by Tom Wlaschica, is a mysterious man from Braavos who befriends Arya at Harrenhal. Posing as a Lannister soldier, he's actually an assassin whom Arya employs to kill men whom she considers evil. He does this for free, and he's almost like a protector of the innocent. He's an enigmatic, stealthy, violent, highly skilled, witty untraceable, and has a strange way of speaking in vague riddles, and he may be a shape-shifter. He's one of the most interesting characters of the second season, and one of the most mysterious characters of the entire series.
That concludes the large cast of characters in season two. This seasons has even better performances than the first, with the characters evolving and their storylines becomes even more muddied and complex than in the first season. Ned Stark (Sean Bean) may be gone, but his legacy lives on through this season, and the series in general, as he's constantly mentioned, being the character whose death causes this great war.
Even though the first season was dark and brutal, this season manages to top that, with an even more grim tone. The scenes at Harrenhal, the riot at King's Landing, and the scenes between Joffrey and Sansa are especially tense and unsettling. The first season also had no major battles (they wanted one, but they ran out of time and money), this season builds up to one, the second-to-last episode "Blackwater" is dedicated to the epic and costly Battle on Blackwater Bay, a huge conflict between House Baratheon of King's Landing (aided in part by some other houses, who are located on land), and House Baratheon of Dragonstone (aided in part by pirates and sellswords, located on the sea). The battle is so intense and imaginative the producers had to save a lot of money up to make it happen. This season also introduces beautiful new locations, and some not so lovely. The rotting ruins of Harrenhal are amazingly built, but are supposed to be ugly and decrepit. The desert oasis Qarth is lush and exotic, a beautiful paradise city located in the middle of the Red Waste, a hot and barren desert sprawling miles and miles.
The music and opening titles are just as incredible as they were in the first season, and I love the music that plays during the season finale in Dany's final scene of the season (it's the music that plays over the Blu-ray menu). One of my favorite tracks was "The Throne is Mine", which combines the tunes of last season's "The King's Arrival" (King Robert's theme) and the "Chaos is a Ladder" theme used in all the seasons. It was used in the shocking climax at the end of the first episode of the season, and it matches the tone of that ending perfectly (intense, horrifying, and unexpected, but also kind of pumps you up for the next few episodes). It's more dark and foreboding than "Arrival", as Joffrey is now ruling the kingdoms with an iron fist, and also builds suspense with the ascending "Ladder" theme, which grows more intense with each note, which works in trying to get the audience excited to see what comes next. American independent band The National recorded a version of "The Rains of Castamere",or "The Lannister Theme", for the end credits of the episode "Blackwater". Although the job was initially to go to British band Florence and the Machine, I think The National pull the song off masterfully. It's a popular folk song in Westeros dedicated to Tywin Lannister's victory over the rebellious House Reyne. It's a dark and foreboding tune that serves as a celebratory victory song but also a warning to those who would dare cross Tywin again, and I think The National were able to perfectly capture the spirit and tone of the song.
Now onto the visual effects: There's some new creatures, such as Dany's quickly growing dragons. The special effects on these dragons are incredible, they really blend into the environments well. The special effects in general, such as those on the Starks' direwolves, and the amazing Blackwater Bay battle, are spectacular, especially for a television show, even one on HBO.
The writing in this season is equally as masterful as it was in the first one, and the direction is even more magnificent. Neil Marshall (The Descent, Centurion) directed the exhilarating ninth episode "Blackwater", and did such a fantastic job he's signed on to direct the ninth episode of the upcoming fourth season. This season has the recurring theme of religion.
Even though religion is a major theme of the entire series, this season in particular shows it's importance in this world. Several characters covert religions to gain others' trust or to further their own goals. This season had such a prominent religious tone that it got it's own special feature on the Blu-ray release.
Game of Thrones: Season Two is a triumph of television. It's a modern masterpiece of the small screen, and the second season shows how far this show can go. The increasingly complex and intriguing plot, the growing cast of characters, the incredible special effects, epic musical score, incredible writing and direction, astounding cinematography, intense action sequences, and the beautiful locations just show how this series isn't just a great television show, it's an artistic achievement. 5/5 stars.
Episode List:
One- "The North Remembers"
Two- "The Night Lands"
Three- "What Is Dead May Never Die"
Four- "Garden of Bones"
Five- "The Ghost of Harrenhal"
Six- "The Old Gods and the New"
Seven- "A Man Without Honor"
Eight- "The Prince of Winterfell"
Nine- "Blackwater"
Ten- "Valar Morghulis"
(SPOILERS BELOW POSTER)
(Image: gameofthrones.wikia.com)
SPOILER SEGMENT: Seriously, don't read ahead if you don't want some major spoilers: At the end of the Battle on Blackwater Bay, Stannis is driven off for the mean-time, Joffrey is now betrothed to Maergary Tyrell, and Sansa is still held captive in King's Landing. In the aftermath of Theon's betrayal of House Stark and his invasion of Winterfell, he is given over to invaders by his own men, who are then flayed alive in return for their surrender as the men who took Theon sack Winterfell, killing everyone inside and burning it to the ground. The great castle of the North is now gone. Beyond the Wall, Samwell Tarly and two other Night's Watch brothers are returning from a mission. They hear a horn blast from their base at Castle Black, signaling the return of Jon Snow, they get excited. They hear a second horn, signaling an attack by wildlings. They prepare for battle. They hear a third horn blast, and become terrified, this mean only one thing: White Walkers. They run for the Wall, and Sam trips and becomes lost in a sudden blizzard, and is blinded by the white snow. He ducks behind a rock, as dozens of wights (zombie servants of the White Walkers) pass him by. He looks up, weeping in terror, to see a Walker riding an undead horse. The Walker stairs into his eyes, but ignores him, sending out a battle cry. The camera pans back, revealing an army of wights lead by a large pack of White Walkers, approaching the Wall. The season ends on a cliffhanger. This sets up for more White Walkers in season three, and leaves the audiences in anticipation, wondering what happens next. (END OF SPOILERS)
(SPOILER ALERT: If you are not caught up on the first season, this review will contain spoilers for the climax of that season, as it's essential in describing the plot of this one.)
Game of Thrones, Season Two:
After the unjust execution of Ned Stark, the kingdom is in peril. Robb Stark has declared himself King in the North and is raising an army to invade King's Landing and take King Joffrey's head like how he took Ned's. Now that the truth of Joffrey's heritage has come out (which is denied by the Lannisters as a disgusting lie), Robert's younger brothers Stannis and Renly have split apart to both claim the crown as their own. Stannis Baratheon commands a fleet of naval ships and recruits sellswords and pirates to his cause. He declares himself the King in the Narrow Sea, and declares himself lord of House Baratheon of Dragonstone. Renly Baratheon, on the other hand, declares himself the King in Highgarden. He leads an army of land soldiers and knights, and joins forces with Robb and Catelyn Stark. King Joffrey, still clinging to his crown, declares himself the King on the Iron Throne, and claims he is still rightful ruler. Lord Balon Greyjoy (Theon's cruel father) of the Iron Islands declares them independent from the Seven Kingdoms and names himself the King of the Iron Islands. In the continent of Essos, Dany, after the death of her beloved Khal Drogo and the scattering of the Dothraki clan, now must tame her growing baby dragons with the help of the loyal Ser Joarh and her remaining Dothraki followers. They take refuge in a desert paradise known as Qarth, a trade city in the middle of the Red Waste, a vast and barren desert wasteland, and Dany names herself "the Mother of Dragons". The War of the Five Kings has begun.
Again, you can't talk about this fantastic series without talking about the huge cast of characters. First, House Stark: Michelle Fairley, Sophie Turner, Kit Harington, Richard Madden, Maisie Williams, Isaac Hempstead-Wright, and Art Parkinson return as the Stark family, now all in grief and scattered across Westeros after the death of their beloved leader Ned. Catelyn Stark is a little more cold this time, as she is coping with the death of her husband and the war that is starting. Robb Stark is now more of a heroic military leader, having to take on his father's responsibilities as leader of House Stark. Sansa Stark must now learn how to survive in the hostile King's Landing, where there are spies and killers at every turn. Arya Stark is now on the run from Lannister soldiers, and must be smarter and more tough than ever before, now that the (arguably) most powerful family in Westeros wants her dead. Jon Snow is now completely invested in his duties in the Night's Watch, but is torn about his duties, as he wants to desert the Watch to deal with the events in the War of the Five Kings, but also feels obligated to fight alongside his NW brothers. Bran and Rickon are now the only Starks left staying in Winterfell, and are the only lords there, now having a lot more responsibility. They must also defend the castle against invaders. This family certainly has a lot on their shoulders this season, and they need a lot of courage if they're to be fighting the king and the Lannisters. Oona Chaplin debuts as Talisa Maegyr, a battlefield nurse for House Stark and Robb's love interest. She's kind, resourceful, gentle, and understanding, and keeps Robb in check. She's a great new addition to House Stark. Ron Donachie and Donald Sumpter return as the faithful and loyal servants Ser Rodrik Cassel and Maester Luwin, respectively. The stay at Winterfell with the young lords and must advise them on how to handle invaders trying to take over the castle. Natalia Tena and Kristian Nairn also reappear as Osha and Hodor, respectively, the personal servants of Bran and Rickon, who must defend the vulnerable lords against danger, in and out of the castle. Michael McElhatton portrays Lord Roose Bolton, a northern military leader and an ally of Robb Stark. John Stahl appears in the minor role of Rickard Karstark, an ally of Robb Stark's. Theon Greyjoy, Ned's ward and Robb and Jon Snow's friend, shows us a darker side this season. He's more jealous, treacherous, and violent, he's definitely a different Theon than what we've seen before. Props to Alfie Allen for being able to do a completer character 180.
Speaking of the Greyjoys, now onto House Greyjoy: Lord Balon Greyjoy, portrayed by Patrick Malahide, is a cold, spiteful, and mean old man who distrusts his only living son and despises House Stark. Yara Greyjoy, played by Gemma Whelan, cares for her brother, whom she hasn't seen since they were young children, but also distrusts him to a degree. She's a tough, tomboyish woman who is as strong and witty as her younger brother. Ralph Ineson appears as the supporting character Dagmer Cleftjaw, Theon's lieutenant who pushes him to be more violent than before so he can control people through fear.
Now for House Baratheon: This house is divided throughout the land, so it's a bit larger, in reality, it can now be considered three separate house: House Baratheon of King's Landing, House Baratheon of Dragonstone, and House Baratheon of Storm's End. First for King's Landing: Jack Gleeson returns as the despicable and evil King Joffrey Baratheon, now completely consumed and corrupted by his power as king. He enjoys sadistically tormenting Sansa Stark at every turn, and rules over the capital city with an iron fist, and holds everyone in his grip of fear. Just as gleefully cruel, psychotically violent, and pitifully cowardly as ever, this little spoiled bastard makes your blood boil with anger at the fact he hasn't been killed yet. Yeah, he's a twisted little shithead. (No offense to Jack Gleeson.) Lena Headey returns as Joffrey's doting mother, Queen Regent Cersei Lannister Baratheon. She's still a selfish, manipulative c-nt, however, she is shown to care a lot for her family, in particular her children, even Joffrey, which is actually a pretty big redeeming quality for her, despite all her bad ones, including the incest with her brother and cousin. Ian Beattie, Wilko Johnson, and Dominic Carter return in supporting roles as Ser Meryn Trant, Ser Ilyn Payne, and Lord Janos Slynt, respectively. These three are unfeeling, unflinchingly brutal, terrifying, and completely loyal to their evil and malevolent king, carrying out various sadistic tasks that he gives to them. James Doran guest-stars in the episode "Blackwater", as Ser Mandon Moore, another cruel knight in Joffrey's service. Tony Way appears as Ser Dontos Hollard, an unlucky knight who shows up slightly drunk to Joffrey's nameday (basically a birthday) celebration, and is publically humiliated by being made his court fool for his drunken state. Guest-star Julian Glover again appears as Grand Maester Pycelle, the loyal, albeit corrupt, and insanely old religious authority and adviser of Joffrey's Small Council.
Also on the Small Council are Lord Varys ("The Spider"), played by Coleth Hill, and Lord Petyr Baelish ("Littlefinger"), portrayed by Aidan Gillen, the two masters of deceit who run the largest spy networks in all the land. Varys and Baelish take their own sides, the sides that benefit them the most. Varys, while a manipulator and a liar, is definitely the less amoral of the two. Baelish manipulates absolutely anyone, including Catelyn Stark, his unrequited love, to get what he wants. Some have said that the "game of thrones" of the title is basically like a chess game between The Spider and Littlefinger. Esme Bianco guest-stars as Ros, the red-headed prostitute, who is now employed by Littlefinger in his whorehouse, who controls her via fear.
Sandor "The Hound" Clegane, played by Rory McCann (Hot Fuzz), shows us more of his good side, although he's still a bitter, cynical, and brutally violent killer, he does show kindness towards Sansa Stark, whom he saves on multiple occasions from different dangers.
Now for Dragonstone: Stannis Baratheon, portrayed by Stephen Dillane, is cold, stern, aggressive, temperamental, and will stop at nothing to get what he wants, even converting religions just to further his reach and increase his power in Westeros. Davos Seaworth, played by Liam Cunningham, is a loyal and friendly sea captain and close friend and ally of Stannis', who tries to talk him out of many bad decisions. He's a good leader and an even better friend to Stannis. His son Matthos, portrayed by Kerr Logan, is close with his father, and is a loyal soldier. Melisandre, played by Carice van Houten, is a mysterious and manipulative sorceress from a far-off land. She is constantly planting seeds in Stannis' mind, and Davos distrusts her, and with good reason, she's fucking creepy, and she is always acting devious and suspicious. Salladhor Saan, portrayed by Lucian Msamati, is an old friend of Davos' and a pirate/smuggler of the sea. He's witty, charismatic, and a skilled sailor. Oliver Ford Davies guest-stars as Maester Cressen and only appears in the season premiere. He is one of the few who can see through Melisandre's facade and distrusts her, thinking her to be a demonic sorceress with dark intentions, mostly because she threatens his position as religious adviser.
Finally, Storm's End: Renly Baratheon, played by Gethin Anthony, is friendlier than his brother, and more well-liked. He's charming, intelligent, and honorable, which is more than can be said for Robert or Stannis. Ser Loras Tyrell, portrayed by Finn Jones, is a handsome, courageous, and skilled young knight who is close with his friend Renly, in fact, they're secret lovers. Margaery Tyrell, played by Natalie Dormer (The Tudors, Casanova, Captain America: The First Avenger, The Counselor), is Loras' beautiful sister and Renly's queen. She's lovely-looking, and seemingly sweet and simple-minded, but she is actually a master manipulator who tries to move her family up the ladder of power, although she's not evil or extremely amoral like other manipulators in the show. Brienne of Tarth, portrayed by Gwendoline Christie, is a strong and stern female warrior, who is one f the finest fighters in Highgarden. Loyal to Renly and Catelyn Stark, she must deal with the antics of Jaime Lannister, and is a brutal fighter, and is tougher than most male characters.
Now onto House Lannister: Peter Dinklage gets top-billing as the charismatic, funny, and highly intelligent Tyrion "The Imp" Lannister, the best character on the show. He's in a little more trouble this season, taking on the distressing duty of being Joffrey's Hand of the King. He's just as witty, mischievous, and cunning as before, with some extra baggage this time around. Charles Dance now joins the main cast as the ruthless, cold, and calculating Tywin Lannister, Tyrion's powerful and violent father and lord of Casterly Rock, as well as arguably the most powerful and dangerous man in Westeros. Nikolaj Coster-Waldau returns as the jaded and unfeeling Ser Jaime Lannister, the "Kingslayer". Still as despicable ass before, this time around he is the Starks' captive and is physically degrading, not having bathed, shaved, or been taken care of in several months, as the Starks don't feel he deserves these things, being as violent and cruel a man as he is. Shae, played by Sibel Kekilli, is Tyrion's lover and their relationship becomes increasingly complex and dangerous as the season progresses, as Cersei uses it as leverage against him. Bronn, portrayed by Jerome Flynn, returns in full-force, and is just as cool as he was in the first season. A seasoned fighter and mercenary, Bronn is a loyal friend to Tyrion and a bad-ass fighter, a good anti-hero, and an interesting character in the series. Podrick Payne, whom guest-star Daniel Portman appears as, is the distant cousin of Ser Ilyn and is Tyrion's loyal and helpful young squire. Karl Davies plays the recurring character Ser Alton Lannister, who is Jaime's younger cousin. Eugene Simon returns as Lancel Lannister, now a young knight, and Cersei's new lover. Ian Whyte replaces Conan Stevens as Gregor "The Mountain" Clegane, a sadistic and enormous soldier in the service of Tywin Lannister, who operates in the ruins of the great castle Harrenhal. A mentally disturbed and physically powerful knight, he's a sick and cruel man who enjoys torturing his captives to death and killing anyone and anything in his path. (Whyte also appears as a White Walker in one episode.) Fintan McKeown plays the recurring character Ser Amory Lorch, a nasty knight serving House Lannister at Tywin's base in the ruins of Harrenhal. Andy Kellegher appears in the minor role of Polliver, a sickeningly sadistic soldier in the service of Lord Tywin. Anthony Morris appears in a recurring part as "The Tickler", a sadistic and incredibly cruel soldier and torturer in Harrenhal. Ian Gelder returns in a minor part as Kevan Lannister, Tywin's brother.
Now for House Targaryen: Daenerys "Stormborn" Targaryen, portrayed by Emilia Clarke, is stronger than ever in this season. Despite being without hope for the first part of the season after the death of Khal Drogo and the scattering of their clan, she arrives in the paradise of Qarth, where she recuperates and begins training her dragons and gaining more power. Ser Jorah Mormont, played by Iain Glen, is a great ally for Dany. He's smart, wise, and an awesome fighter. He's got such a cool voice, he could be a great narrator. Roxanne McKee and Amrita Acharia return as Dany's friends and handmaidens Doreah and Irri, respectively. Steven Cole appears as Dany's Dothraki bloodrider and soldier Kovarro. Rakharro, another bloodrider, is portrayed by Elyes Gabel. These two are fierce fighters, and remain loyal servants to their khalisee.
Now for the citizens and public figures of Qarth: Xaro Xhoan Daxos, portrayed by Nonso Anozie, is a clever and powerful man who is a wealthy trader in Qarth who befriends Dany when she first arrives. He is a bit suspicious and untrustworthy at first, but he slowly grows on you, and you, like Dany, figure "Hey, maybe he's not so bad". Nicholas Blane and Slavko Juraga play the Spice King and the Silk King, respectively, two pompous and rich aristocrats from Qarth who trade spice and silks, and who take a disliking to outsiders, including Dany, whom they think is causing trouble. Pyat Pree, portrayed by Ian Hanmore, is a warlock in Qarth and one of the more creepy and unsettling characters in the series. A lanky, skeletal man with blue lips, he has a strange appearance, and he is also a strange character in general, a real enigma, and an eerie one at that.
Now for the Night's Watch: John Bradley returns as the lovable and caring Samwell Tarly. He takes a liking to a wildling girl he meets in a "free village", and also starts facing more challenges, such as going beyond The Wall (the 700-foot ice wall separating the Seven Kingdoms from the wilding forests and mountains) to face feral nomads and creatures of the night. James Cosmo also reappears as Jeor Mormont, Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, and their leader and father figure. He's honorable, brave, and a survivalist. Qhorin Halfhand, portrayed by Simon Armstrong, is one of the more unlikeable NW brothers. He's mean, vulgar, and volatile. Francis Magee returns as Yoren, the gruff but likeable Night's Watch scout and Arya's current caretaker, whom he is trying to deliver home as a favor to his friend: the late Ned Stark.
Now for the wildling clan: Ygrette, played by Downton Abbey's Rose Leslie, is Jon Snow's lover interest and a skilled wildling hunter. She's sarcastic, humorous, resilient, and resourceful. She's a great new character for this season. The Lord of Bones, played by Edward Dogliani, is a brutish and savage warrior from the wildling clan who wears the bones of his enemies over his clothes, although he does have the respect and admiration of his people.
Finally, for characters with no real alliance: Joe Dempsie (Skins) and Ben Hawkey reprise their roles as Gendry and Hot Pie, respectively, Arya's friends and comapnions. Gendry is the tough, likeable, brave, and kind blacksmith apprentice turned fugitive and one of Robert Baratheon's many bastard children. Hot Pie is the pudgy street orphan from the first season's finale who now accompanies Gendry and Arya on the Kingsroad making their way North. Lommy Greenhands, played by Eros Vlahos, the other street orphan from the season one finale, also returns to accompany Arya and her two friends to the North. Although a bit selfish, he's still likeable enough, being an unfortunate street kid. Craster, portrayed by Robert Pugh, is a foul and cruel man who lives in a village beyond the Wall, and has incestuous relationships with his many unfortunate and miserable daughters, and the Night's Watch must deal with him numerous times. Gilly, played by Hannah Murray, is one of Craster's many daughters, and is the object of Sam's affection, and he wants to take her away from her miserable life under Craster's roof. And finally, one of the coolest characters in the second season: Jaqen H'ghar, portrayed by Tom Wlaschica, is a mysterious man from Braavos who befriends Arya at Harrenhal. Posing as a Lannister soldier, he's actually an assassin whom Arya employs to kill men whom she considers evil. He does this for free, and he's almost like a protector of the innocent. He's an enigmatic, stealthy, violent, highly skilled, witty untraceable, and has a strange way of speaking in vague riddles, and he may be a shape-shifter. He's one of the most interesting characters of the second season, and one of the most mysterious characters of the entire series.
That concludes the large cast of characters in season two. This seasons has even better performances than the first, with the characters evolving and their storylines becomes even more muddied and complex than in the first season. Ned Stark (Sean Bean) may be gone, but his legacy lives on through this season, and the series in general, as he's constantly mentioned, being the character whose death causes this great war.
Even though the first season was dark and brutal, this season manages to top that, with an even more grim tone. The scenes at Harrenhal, the riot at King's Landing, and the scenes between Joffrey and Sansa are especially tense and unsettling. The first season also had no major battles (they wanted one, but they ran out of time and money), this season builds up to one, the second-to-last episode "Blackwater" is dedicated to the epic and costly Battle on Blackwater Bay, a huge conflict between House Baratheon of King's Landing (aided in part by some other houses, who are located on land), and House Baratheon of Dragonstone (aided in part by pirates and sellswords, located on the sea). The battle is so intense and imaginative the producers had to save a lot of money up to make it happen. This season also introduces beautiful new locations, and some not so lovely. The rotting ruins of Harrenhal are amazingly built, but are supposed to be ugly and decrepit. The desert oasis Qarth is lush and exotic, a beautiful paradise city located in the middle of the Red Waste, a hot and barren desert sprawling miles and miles.
The music and opening titles are just as incredible as they were in the first season, and I love the music that plays during the season finale in Dany's final scene of the season (it's the music that plays over the Blu-ray menu). One of my favorite tracks was "The Throne is Mine", which combines the tunes of last season's "The King's Arrival" (King Robert's theme) and the "Chaos is a Ladder" theme used in all the seasons. It was used in the shocking climax at the end of the first episode of the season, and it matches the tone of that ending perfectly (intense, horrifying, and unexpected, but also kind of pumps you up for the next few episodes). It's more dark and foreboding than "Arrival", as Joffrey is now ruling the kingdoms with an iron fist, and also builds suspense with the ascending "Ladder" theme, which grows more intense with each note, which works in trying to get the audience excited to see what comes next. American independent band The National recorded a version of "The Rains of Castamere",or "The Lannister Theme", for the end credits of the episode "Blackwater". Although the job was initially to go to British band Florence and the Machine, I think The National pull the song off masterfully. It's a popular folk song in Westeros dedicated to Tywin Lannister's victory over the rebellious House Reyne. It's a dark and foreboding tune that serves as a celebratory victory song but also a warning to those who would dare cross Tywin again, and I think The National were able to perfectly capture the spirit and tone of the song.
Now onto the visual effects: There's some new creatures, such as Dany's quickly growing dragons. The special effects on these dragons are incredible, they really blend into the environments well. The special effects in general, such as those on the Starks' direwolves, and the amazing Blackwater Bay battle, are spectacular, especially for a television show, even one on HBO.
The writing in this season is equally as masterful as it was in the first one, and the direction is even more magnificent. Neil Marshall (The Descent, Centurion) directed the exhilarating ninth episode "Blackwater", and did such a fantastic job he's signed on to direct the ninth episode of the upcoming fourth season. This season has the recurring theme of religion.
Even though religion is a major theme of the entire series, this season in particular shows it's importance in this world. Several characters covert religions to gain others' trust or to further their own goals. This season had such a prominent religious tone that it got it's own special feature on the Blu-ray release.
Game of Thrones: Season Two is a triumph of television. It's a modern masterpiece of the small screen, and the second season shows how far this show can go. The increasingly complex and intriguing plot, the growing cast of characters, the incredible special effects, epic musical score, incredible writing and direction, astounding cinematography, intense action sequences, and the beautiful locations just show how this series isn't just a great television show, it's an artistic achievement. 5/5 stars.
Episode List:
One- "The North Remembers"
Two- "The Night Lands"
Three- "What Is Dead May Never Die"
Four- "Garden of Bones"
Five- "The Ghost of Harrenhal"
Six- "The Old Gods and the New"
Seven- "A Man Without Honor"
Eight- "The Prince of Winterfell"
Nine- "Blackwater"
Ten- "Valar Morghulis"
(SPOILERS BELOW POSTER)
(Image: gameofthrones.wikia.com)SPOILER SEGMENT: Seriously, don't read ahead if you don't want some major spoilers: At the end of the Battle on Blackwater Bay, Stannis is driven off for the mean-time, Joffrey is now betrothed to Maergary Tyrell, and Sansa is still held captive in King's Landing. In the aftermath of Theon's betrayal of House Stark and his invasion of Winterfell, he is given over to invaders by his own men, who are then flayed alive in return for their surrender as the men who took Theon sack Winterfell, killing everyone inside and burning it to the ground. The great castle of the North is now gone. Beyond the Wall, Samwell Tarly and two other Night's Watch brothers are returning from a mission. They hear a horn blast from their base at Castle Black, signaling the return of Jon Snow, they get excited. They hear a second horn, signaling an attack by wildlings. They prepare for battle. They hear a third horn blast, and become terrified, this mean only one thing: White Walkers. They run for the Wall, and Sam trips and becomes lost in a sudden blizzard, and is blinded by the white snow. He ducks behind a rock, as dozens of wights (zombie servants of the White Walkers) pass him by. He looks up, weeping in terror, to see a Walker riding an undead horse. The Walker stairs into his eyes, but ignores him, sending out a battle cry. The camera pans back, revealing an army of wights lead by a large pack of White Walkers, approaching the Wall. The season ends on a cliffhanger. This sets up for more White Walkers in season three, and leaves the audiences in anticipation, wondering what happens next. (END OF SPOILERS)
Saturday, February 22, 2014
Game of Thrones: Season 1 (TV Review)
I haven't done a television review in quite some time, so I figured with a new season coming out this year, I should review one of my favorite television shows of all time, and, in my opinion, one of the best, if not the best, shows on television today: Game of Thrones. This is one of those fantasy shows or movies that makes you want to go out of your way to read the books it's based on.
Game of Thrones, Season One:
In the fantastical world of Westeros, Eddard "Ned" Stark, a just lord in the northern part of the land, is visited by his old friend, Robert Baratheon, who is the king. Many years before, Robert and Ned led an army to sack King's Landing, the capital of Westeros, to overthrow the insane and sadistic King Aerys Targaryen, and take the Iron Throne (a throne made by Targaryen's ancestor). Their followers killed all the remaining heirs and children, to make sure that the Targaryen dynasty could never rise to power again. Robert has approached Ned because he feels he's the only one he can trust. Robert thinks that someone in King's Landing is plotting against him, as his "Hand of the King" (right-hand man) Jon Arryn (who raised both of them like sons) has died under mysterious circumstances. He invites Ned to become his new Hand and take two of his daughters to King's Landing to stay for a few months. When they arrive, Ned feels as though someone really is plotting against them, and doesn't feel safe. He must play his cards right if he wants to survive in a land where no one is as they seem, and almost everyone will stab you in the back if they can gain something from it. Across the sea in the neighboring continent of Essos, two Targaryen heirs have survived, and are planning to recruit an army of nomadic conquerors called the Dothraki to help them reclaim the Iron Throne for themselves. Let the games begin.
This show is one of the best that HBO has ever aired, and its' equally as good as the Lord of the Rings series. You can't talk about this show without mentioning the incredible and vast cast of characters. (This is gonna take a while, FYI) Let's start with House Stark: Ned Stark, portrayed by Sean Bean (GoldenEye, Lord of the Rings, Black Death, Patriot Games), is an excellent hero. Despite making some bad decisions, he's the most relatable and good-natured of any of the characters. He's a nobel and brave hero, and he's someone you root for the whole way. Catelyn Stark, played by Michelle Fairley (24: Live Another Day, Harry Potter), is a good wife to Ned, and a fiercely protective mother. She's the matriarch of the Stark family, and loves her children and husband. Jon Snow, portrayed by Kit Harington, is a bit of an outcast. As Ned's bastard son, he's rejected by Catelyn, and must take the name "Snow" rather than Stark. He is accepted by his father (although Ned can't show it in public) and his siblings, however, which gives him comfort. He's a noble and kind young man who craves respect and acceptance. Robb Stark, played by Richard Madden, is Ned's eldest son, and a brave and intelligent warrior. Trying to keep his siblings in check and prove himself to his parents, he tries to be the best man he can be, and he's relatable in the way that most people crave the respect of their family and peers (much like Jon Snow). Sansa Stark, portrayed by Sophie Turner, is Ned's eldest daughter. She's kind of a typical damsel, very girly and pampered, and is vulnerable and easily manipulated. She's a typical teenage girl, basically. Arya Stark, played by Maisie Williams, on the other hand, is a tomboy and a bit mischievous. She loves archery and swordplay, and she is close with her father and brothers, including Jon Snow. She's an honest young girl and a lovable character. Bran Stark, played by Isaac Hempstead-Wright, is the second-youngest of the Stark children, and is a free-spirited and smart young boy. Art Parkinson is Rickon Stark, a sweet and innocent young boy, and the youngest of the Stark children. Ned's ward Theon Greyjoy, portrayed by Alfie Allen, is a somewhat arrogant young soldier, but a skilled one at that, despite his many faults. Ron Donachie and Donald Sumpter play Ser Rodrik Cassel and Maester Luwin, respectively, two wise and loyal servants of House Stark. Jamie Sives has a recurring role as Rodrik's nephew Jory Cassel, Eddard's loyal and helpful captain of the guard. Natalia Tena (Harry Potter series) portrays Osha, a wildling (wild nomad) woman taken in by House Stark as a servant to Bran, who cares and protects the boy like an older sister. Kristian Nairn is Hodor, a dim-witted but physically strong servant of House Stark. Susan Brown appears as Septa Mordane, the Stark girls' nanny who cares for the children and is a voice of reason. Matthew Scurfield has a small role as Vayon Poole, the Starks' loyal steward. He is mentioned several times before, and makes an appearance in "The Pointy End". His daughter Jeyne (one of five daughters), Sansa's best friend, has a slightly bigger role in the first book and is played by an unnamed extra in the series premiere. Old Nan, played by the late Margaret John, is a wise and witty old woman who serves the Starks and is famous for her storytelling abilities. Clive Mantle appears in a recurring role as Greatjon Umber ("The Greatjon"), a strong ally of the Starks.
Now onto House Baratheon: King Robert Baratheon, portrayed by Mark Addy, is a lot different than when Ned last saw him: he's a foolish drunk and a highly irresponsible king who is deep in debt, a tragic character really. He's piggish, stubborn, and has fallen from grace, he misses "the good old days" when he and Ned used to go around "bashing skulls and fucking girls". His queen, Cersei (maiden name: Lannister), played by Lena Headey (Dredd, The Purge), is a manipulative, spiteful, and selfish bitch. However, she is protective of her family and children, so that's something. However, that doesn't make her any better. Their eldest son, Prince Joffrey Baratheon, is betrothed to Sansa Stark. Joffrey initially appears to be a handsome, charming young man. However, under the surface he is a sadistic, cruel, arrogant, idiotic, cowardly liar. He is definitely the most despicable character in the series. Ironically, Jack Gleeson (Batman Begins, Shrooms), the actor who portrays him, is actually a kind, charming guy in real life, as far as I know. Joffrey's bodyguard Sandor "The Hound" Clegane, played by Rory McCann, is a very interesting character. At first, he seems like a sadistic, cynical, unfeeling, cruel, and brutish warrior, but under the surface, there's some good to him, it's just that he constantly hides it. Julian Glover (The Empire Strikes Back, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, The Fourth Protocol, For Your Eyes Only) guest-stars as Grand Maester Pycelle, a corrupt official who is loyal to the Lannister clan and abuses his power. Ian Beattie, Wilko Johnson, and Dominic Carter play Ser Meryn Trant, Ser Ilyn Payne, and Commander Janos Slynt, respectively. All three are cold, frightening and unfeeling knights who serve the crown unflinchingly, carrying out evil and despicable deeds on a whim. Gethin Anthony portrays Robert's brother Lord Renly Baratheon, a kind, charming, and well-liked young ruler who has a secret that could ruin his life. Finn Jones plays Ser Loras Tyrell, a close friend of Renly, and a well-liked knight.
On the king's small council are the two big manipulators: Lord Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish and Lord Varys. Baelish is portrayed by Aidan Gillen (Queer as Folk, The Wire, The Dark Knight Rises). Baelish is an amoral and deceitful, but highly intelligent man who serves as the king's "Master of Coin", or his money-handler. Commanding a vast network of spies, he's considered one of the most dangerous men, if not the most dangerous, in Westeros, by those who know his true nature. Varys (also known as "The Spider", or "The Eunuch"), is played by guest star Conleth Hill, and also is at the center of an enormous web of spies (hence the "Spider" nickname). He's a devious, cunning, morally ambiguous man who is a mystery not only to many of the characters but to us, the viewers, as well. The inner workings of his mind are an enigma. Ian McElhinney plays the supporting character Lord Commander Barristan Selmy, a loyal knight. David Michael Scott appears in a small role in "A Golden Crown", as Lord Beric Dondarrion, who is sent on a quest by Eddard Stark.
Now we arrive at House Lannister: We already touched upon Cersei, so I'm not gonna include her. Peter Dinklage appears as arguably the best character of the entire series: Tyrion Lannister. An intelligent, womanizing, alcoholic, knowledgeable, witty, sarcastic, and likeable character, he manages to steal every scene he's in, which is impressive considering how many great actors are in this show. Dinklage is one of the best actors working today, and it shows because he's won many awards because of this series. Nikolaj Coster-Waldau portrays Ser Jaime "The Kingslayer" Lannister. He's initially charming and seems friendly enough, but is revealed as a despicable, violent, and pretty cruel man who is loved by his brother Tyrion and his sister Cersei, but not by many others. In fact, he and his sister may be a bit too close, but I won't go any farther into that. Charles Dance (The Jewel in the Crown, The Golden Child, Last Action Hero, Alien 3) guest stars as Tywin Lannister. Considered the most powerful and manipulative man in Westeros, he's the puppet master, pulling the strings of the king and the Small Council to make sure they do things to his liking. Obsessed with maintaining the family legacy, he'll do anything and betray anyone as long as it benefits him. He's a very cold and unfeeling character, and he's extremely dangerous to cross. Jerome Flynn plays Bronn, a "sellsword" (mercenary), who remains loyal to his buddy Tyrion through thick and thin, at a price of course. He's a bad-ass, witty, cynical, and funny character who's one of those lovable rogue types. Sibel Kekilli portrays Shae, a mysterious, kind, and intelligent prostitute who serves as Tyrion's friend and love interest. Shagga, a brutish mountain man played by Mark Lewis Jones, is the leader of the Stone Crows, a group of tribesman who live in the valley known as the Vale of Arryn. A simple-minded man, he allies with Tyrion Lannister towards the end of the season. Ian Gelder appears in a small part as Tywin's brother Kevan Lannister. Eugene Simon appears as Lancel Lannister, King Robert's shy squire. Conan Stevens guest stars in the minor role of Gregor "The Mountain That Rides" Clegane, The Hound's older brother. Twice the size of his already large sibling, he's a cruel, extremely violent and unstable, sadistic, unpredictable, and corrupt knight and bannerman of Tywin Lannister. Despised by many (including his younger brother) due to his bad reputation and evil nature, he's a force to be reckoned with.
Now onto House Targaryen: Emilia Clarke plays Daenerys Targaryen, initially an innocent and helpless princess, eventually growing into a strong, compassionate, and intelligent queen, or "khalisee", leading the Dothraki people. Harry Lloyd portrays Prince Viserys Targaryen, a jealous young man who feels compelled to retake the Iron Throne for himself, as he, by blood, is the rightful heir. He's ruthless, self-centered, power-hungry, arrogant, stubborn, brainwashed (people have always told him the Targaryens were beloved by the people of Westeros, which is a complete lie), petty, and a little creepy, and has a huge superiority complex. He has few redeeming qualities, and his sister pities him more than loves him. Jason Momoa plays Khal Drogo, the leader of the Dothraki, and Daenerys' husband. He's a brutal and savage warrior with some insane fighting skills, and he prefers hand-to-hand-combat and swordplay rather than crossbows or having others do his dirty work for him. Despite his violent nature, he and Dany truly love each other, and he protects her from any sort of danger. Iain Glen portrays Ser Jorah Mormont, a loyal servant to Dany. He's protective of her, and has respect for her as a queen. He's a skilled warrior, and is wise and knowledgeable about many things, including the cultures of Essos, such as the Dothraki. Roxanne McKee plays Doreah, Dany's close friend and servant, and a former bedslave. Amrita Acharia also appears as Dany's Dothraki handmaiden Irri.
Now onto House Arryn: Jon Arryn never actually appears on screen, but is said to have been an honorable and wise man. Kate Dickie portrays Lysa Arryn (maiden name: Tully), Catelyn Stark's sister and Arryn's widow. She's a bit deranged and has a strange relationship with her son. Speaking of which, Lino Facioli plays Robin Arryn, a spoiled, somewhat stupid, and slightly sadistic young boy who still breastfeeds despite being at least eight years old. Ser Hugh of the Vale, played by guest star Jefferson Hall in a borderline cameo role, is a timid and unlucky former squire of Jon Arryn who is now a knight in a jousting tournament.
Now the Night's Watch: Joseph Mawle plays Ned Stark's ranger brother Benjen Stark, whom Jon Snow admires and respects. Samwell Tarly, portrayed by John Bradley, is a plump, simple-minded, and loveable ranger of the Night's Watch who Jon Snow befriends and defends. Sam is a kind and loving individual who you can relate to, and you want to see Jon Snow protect. Yoren, played by Francis Magee, is an acquaintance of Ned Stark's and a scout for the Night's Watch. A gruff but somewhat caring man, he protects the innocent on a number of occasions. Lord Commander Jeor Mormont, played by James Cosmo, is Jorah's father and a father figure to all the Night's Watchmen. Peter Vaughan appears as Maester Aemon Targaryen, an exiled maester who now serves as a helpful and wise member of the NW. Owen Teale guest-stars as Alliser Thorne, the training coach for the Night's Watch who constantly insults the new recruits, particularly Sam and Jon Snow. Pypar, played by Josef Atlin, is a friend of Jon Snow and Sam's who is a steward (the lowest-ranking position, usually for beginners) at the Night's Watch.
Now for House Frey: David Bradley (Filch from the Harry Potter series) portrays the repulsive and unsavory Walder Frey, a lord in the North who is very powerful and rich, albeit disgusting and vulgar. His young wife Joyeuse Erenford, played by Kelly Long, is miserable and quiet, rightfully so being wed to such an old, despicable, and nasty man.
Now for the miscellaneous characters, or the characters who have no true allegiance as of now: Syrio Forel, portrayed by Miltos Yerolemou, is a clever and humorous swordsman from Braavos (a "free city" in Essos), who Ned Stark hires to train Arya in the art of swordplay. Syrio is a good teacher, and takes a liking to Arya, whom he protects as well as trains. Ros, played by guest star Esme Bianco, is a witty prostitute who moves to King's Landing who wants more from life. Marillion, played by Emun Elliott, is a traveling musician and entertainer who runs into a spot of bad luck near the end of the season. Gendry, played by Joe Dempsie, is a young blacksmith's apprentice living in King's Landing. He's a tough guy from the streets, and he's one of the more likeable characters, despite the fact that he only appears in two of the episodes in this season. Hot Pie and Lommy Greenhands, portrayed by Ben Hawkey and Eros Vlahos, respectively, are two street kids/orphans who appear in the season finale. Initially just some punks, they are revealed to be just simple-minded children trying to survive in a world as dangerous as Westeros is. That about wraps up the characters in season one. All the actors do a fantastic job, and I can't get over how great everyone in the show is.
The production value on this series is incredible. Honestly, this is the best production value on any HBO program. The intricate attention to detail can be seen in everything: from the amazing sets, to the astounding special effects, the beautiful costumes, and the impressive action sequences. The cast is vast enough, and the variety of locations is equally as big.
The different locations within the series are fantastic as well. They're so distinct: the North has this Icelandic or Germanic look to it, with all the ice and snow; the Riverlands and middle-area of Westeros is reminiscent of the countrysides of the British Isles, with lots of marshes and damp grasslands; King's Landing is almost like Italy, particularly Venice, as far as climate and location near the sea, and almost Rome-like as far as the look goes; Braavos we never see, but as far as I can tell from the characters who come from there, it seems to be inspired by Spanish countries and France; and the continent of Essos has a very Asian-Middle-Eastern vibe, and the Dothraki feel like a mix of the Huns, the Mogolians, and the Apache: these locations are absolutely brilliant, and it feels like a very fleshed-out world, that's close to our own in many ways, and different also.
To be honest, I've never read the books this series is based on, but I really want to now. As far as I've heard, they only make minor changes and it's mostly faithful. David Benioff and D.B. Weiss have done an excellent job creating an epic fantasy series, and George R.R. Martin has to be commended for creating such a rich world and such vivid characters in his beloved series of books. The direction in all these episodes is amazing for a television show, even one on HBO, and the writing is absolutely brilliant.
The special effects are extremely convincing, and it's a mix of practical effects, CGI, and prosthetic makeup. The music is epic and rousing. Ramin Djawadi, an apprentice of Hans Zimmer, has composed some high-profile stuff in the past (Iron Man, Clash of the Titans, Prison Break, Blade: The Series), but this is the highlight of his career for sure. The opening title music is extremely catchy and puts you in the mood for an epic series. Speaking of the opening, this award-winning title sequence is incredible to watch. It amazes me every time I see it. It's so detailed, and it's unique to every episode. It's so detailed it got it's own special feature on the season one Blu-ray. It shows the map of Westeros and Essos, and the locations and major buildings from each episode pop up from the surface of the map like intricate clockwork devices. Each season has a recurring motif or theme, this season's is of betrayal. Although that's something that's a theme for the entire series, this is still most prominent in this episode, especially towards the latter half of the season. (Which I'll discuss in the spoiler section below.)
A cool little factoid is that the first and last episodes of the season are named after two famous house mottos: the premiere is "Winter is Coming" (House Stark), and the finale is "Fire and Blood" (House Targaryen). The fifth episode also centers on the conflict between Houses Stark and Lannister, hence the title "The Wolf and the Lion".
This is another fantasy franchise that is highly addicting and has a strong fan-base, and which has been engraved into popular culture, similar to the Middle-Earth and Harry Potter franchises although this show has a decidedly darker tone. Seriously, if you have no tolerance for lots of nudity or graphic violence, than just avoid this show. However, if you love good television, then by all means watch this series, you're guaranteed to love it.
Game of Thrones is an excellent television series. It's epic, dark, cinematic, complex, intriguing, divisive, highly addictive, and entertaining as hell. It's a raw, unflinchingly brutal, and is the greatest fantasy show of all time. 5/5 stars.
Episode List:
One- "Winter Is Coming"
Two- "The Kingsroad"
Three- "Lord Snow"
Four- "Cripples, Bastards, and Broken Things"
Five- "The Wolf and the Lion"
Six- "A Golden Crown"
Seven- "You Win or You Die"
Eight- "The Pointy End"
Nine- "Baelor"
Ten- "Fire and Blood"
(SPOILERS BELOW POSTER)
(Image: gameofthrones.wikia.com)
SPOILER segment: Seriously, if you haven't caught up yet, I urge you not to read ahead, if you simply don't care, well, that's your problem: At the end of the season, Ned Stark is betrayed by Petyr Baelish, and is charged with treason for trying to expose the truth about Prince Joffrey's heritage: he is the son of Cersei and her brother Jaime, not Cersei and Robert (who is now dead due to a hunting accident). Joffrey is now king, and he tells Sansa Stark that if she gets her father to recant his statement about Joffrey's parentage (which Joffrey still thinks is a lie), he will be merciful to him. This is of course a lie, and Joffrey has Ned publically beheaded, which even the cold Cersei tries to stop. Unfortunately, this unjust execution causes uproar (and for good reason, Ned was a noble and good-natured man who was only being honest), and Robb and Catelyn openly rebel and start to raise an army in the North to invade the South. The killing of Ned not only completely changes the direction of the series (he was the main character up until this point), but also shows that no one is safe in the series, anyone can die at any time. This execution also begins the War of the Five Kings, which dominates the next two seasons and the upcoming fourth season. Ironically, even though the series is all about this war, it's ultimately not that big a deal compared to two other forces that are revealed to be coming in the second season. Also, another major character, Khal Drogo, also dies at the end of this season, which again shows the series has the balls to kill off major/popular characters like Ned and Drogo. Speaking of which, at the end of the season finale, Dany enters a huge bonfire caused by Drogo's funeral pyre, carrying her three stone dragon eggs. Jorah and the Dothraki think she has gone insane and this is some strange suicide. However, in the morning Jorah and the clan are astounded to see Dany emerge from the ashes naked, completely unharmed, carrying three baby dragons. The biggest crawls on her soldier as the entire clan, along with Jorah, bow to her in awe. The little dragon lets out a triumphant screech as the season ends. (END OF SPOILERS)
Game of Thrones, Season One:
In the fantastical world of Westeros, Eddard "Ned" Stark, a just lord in the northern part of the land, is visited by his old friend, Robert Baratheon, who is the king. Many years before, Robert and Ned led an army to sack King's Landing, the capital of Westeros, to overthrow the insane and sadistic King Aerys Targaryen, and take the Iron Throne (a throne made by Targaryen's ancestor). Their followers killed all the remaining heirs and children, to make sure that the Targaryen dynasty could never rise to power again. Robert has approached Ned because he feels he's the only one he can trust. Robert thinks that someone in King's Landing is plotting against him, as his "Hand of the King" (right-hand man) Jon Arryn (who raised both of them like sons) has died under mysterious circumstances. He invites Ned to become his new Hand and take two of his daughters to King's Landing to stay for a few months. When they arrive, Ned feels as though someone really is plotting against them, and doesn't feel safe. He must play his cards right if he wants to survive in a land where no one is as they seem, and almost everyone will stab you in the back if they can gain something from it. Across the sea in the neighboring continent of Essos, two Targaryen heirs have survived, and are planning to recruit an army of nomadic conquerors called the Dothraki to help them reclaim the Iron Throne for themselves. Let the games begin.
This show is one of the best that HBO has ever aired, and its' equally as good as the Lord of the Rings series. You can't talk about this show without mentioning the incredible and vast cast of characters. (This is gonna take a while, FYI) Let's start with House Stark: Ned Stark, portrayed by Sean Bean (GoldenEye, Lord of the Rings, Black Death, Patriot Games), is an excellent hero. Despite making some bad decisions, he's the most relatable and good-natured of any of the characters. He's a nobel and brave hero, and he's someone you root for the whole way. Catelyn Stark, played by Michelle Fairley (24: Live Another Day, Harry Potter), is a good wife to Ned, and a fiercely protective mother. She's the matriarch of the Stark family, and loves her children and husband. Jon Snow, portrayed by Kit Harington, is a bit of an outcast. As Ned's bastard son, he's rejected by Catelyn, and must take the name "Snow" rather than Stark. He is accepted by his father (although Ned can't show it in public) and his siblings, however, which gives him comfort. He's a noble and kind young man who craves respect and acceptance. Robb Stark, played by Richard Madden, is Ned's eldest son, and a brave and intelligent warrior. Trying to keep his siblings in check and prove himself to his parents, he tries to be the best man he can be, and he's relatable in the way that most people crave the respect of their family and peers (much like Jon Snow). Sansa Stark, portrayed by Sophie Turner, is Ned's eldest daughter. She's kind of a typical damsel, very girly and pampered, and is vulnerable and easily manipulated. She's a typical teenage girl, basically. Arya Stark, played by Maisie Williams, on the other hand, is a tomboy and a bit mischievous. She loves archery and swordplay, and she is close with her father and brothers, including Jon Snow. She's an honest young girl and a lovable character. Bran Stark, played by Isaac Hempstead-Wright, is the second-youngest of the Stark children, and is a free-spirited and smart young boy. Art Parkinson is Rickon Stark, a sweet and innocent young boy, and the youngest of the Stark children. Ned's ward Theon Greyjoy, portrayed by Alfie Allen, is a somewhat arrogant young soldier, but a skilled one at that, despite his many faults. Ron Donachie and Donald Sumpter play Ser Rodrik Cassel and Maester Luwin, respectively, two wise and loyal servants of House Stark. Jamie Sives has a recurring role as Rodrik's nephew Jory Cassel, Eddard's loyal and helpful captain of the guard. Natalia Tena (Harry Potter series) portrays Osha, a wildling (wild nomad) woman taken in by House Stark as a servant to Bran, who cares and protects the boy like an older sister. Kristian Nairn is Hodor, a dim-witted but physically strong servant of House Stark. Susan Brown appears as Septa Mordane, the Stark girls' nanny who cares for the children and is a voice of reason. Matthew Scurfield has a small role as Vayon Poole, the Starks' loyal steward. He is mentioned several times before, and makes an appearance in "The Pointy End". His daughter Jeyne (one of five daughters), Sansa's best friend, has a slightly bigger role in the first book and is played by an unnamed extra in the series premiere. Old Nan, played by the late Margaret John, is a wise and witty old woman who serves the Starks and is famous for her storytelling abilities. Clive Mantle appears in a recurring role as Greatjon Umber ("The Greatjon"), a strong ally of the Starks.
Now onto House Baratheon: King Robert Baratheon, portrayed by Mark Addy, is a lot different than when Ned last saw him: he's a foolish drunk and a highly irresponsible king who is deep in debt, a tragic character really. He's piggish, stubborn, and has fallen from grace, he misses "the good old days" when he and Ned used to go around "bashing skulls and fucking girls". His queen, Cersei (maiden name: Lannister), played by Lena Headey (Dredd, The Purge), is a manipulative, spiteful, and selfish bitch. However, she is protective of her family and children, so that's something. However, that doesn't make her any better. Their eldest son, Prince Joffrey Baratheon, is betrothed to Sansa Stark. Joffrey initially appears to be a handsome, charming young man. However, under the surface he is a sadistic, cruel, arrogant, idiotic, cowardly liar. He is definitely the most despicable character in the series. Ironically, Jack Gleeson (Batman Begins, Shrooms), the actor who portrays him, is actually a kind, charming guy in real life, as far as I know. Joffrey's bodyguard Sandor "The Hound" Clegane, played by Rory McCann, is a very interesting character. At first, he seems like a sadistic, cynical, unfeeling, cruel, and brutish warrior, but under the surface, there's some good to him, it's just that he constantly hides it. Julian Glover (The Empire Strikes Back, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, The Fourth Protocol, For Your Eyes Only) guest-stars as Grand Maester Pycelle, a corrupt official who is loyal to the Lannister clan and abuses his power. Ian Beattie, Wilko Johnson, and Dominic Carter play Ser Meryn Trant, Ser Ilyn Payne, and Commander Janos Slynt, respectively. All three are cold, frightening and unfeeling knights who serve the crown unflinchingly, carrying out evil and despicable deeds on a whim. Gethin Anthony portrays Robert's brother Lord Renly Baratheon, a kind, charming, and well-liked young ruler who has a secret that could ruin his life. Finn Jones plays Ser Loras Tyrell, a close friend of Renly, and a well-liked knight.
On the king's small council are the two big manipulators: Lord Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish and Lord Varys. Baelish is portrayed by Aidan Gillen (Queer as Folk, The Wire, The Dark Knight Rises). Baelish is an amoral and deceitful, but highly intelligent man who serves as the king's "Master of Coin", or his money-handler. Commanding a vast network of spies, he's considered one of the most dangerous men, if not the most dangerous, in Westeros, by those who know his true nature. Varys (also known as "The Spider", or "The Eunuch"), is played by guest star Conleth Hill, and also is at the center of an enormous web of spies (hence the "Spider" nickname). He's a devious, cunning, morally ambiguous man who is a mystery not only to many of the characters but to us, the viewers, as well. The inner workings of his mind are an enigma. Ian McElhinney plays the supporting character Lord Commander Barristan Selmy, a loyal knight. David Michael Scott appears in a small role in "A Golden Crown", as Lord Beric Dondarrion, who is sent on a quest by Eddard Stark.
Now we arrive at House Lannister: We already touched upon Cersei, so I'm not gonna include her. Peter Dinklage appears as arguably the best character of the entire series: Tyrion Lannister. An intelligent, womanizing, alcoholic, knowledgeable, witty, sarcastic, and likeable character, he manages to steal every scene he's in, which is impressive considering how many great actors are in this show. Dinklage is one of the best actors working today, and it shows because he's won many awards because of this series. Nikolaj Coster-Waldau portrays Ser Jaime "The Kingslayer" Lannister. He's initially charming and seems friendly enough, but is revealed as a despicable, violent, and pretty cruel man who is loved by his brother Tyrion and his sister Cersei, but not by many others. In fact, he and his sister may be a bit too close, but I won't go any farther into that. Charles Dance (The Jewel in the Crown, The Golden Child, Last Action Hero, Alien 3) guest stars as Tywin Lannister. Considered the most powerful and manipulative man in Westeros, he's the puppet master, pulling the strings of the king and the Small Council to make sure they do things to his liking. Obsessed with maintaining the family legacy, he'll do anything and betray anyone as long as it benefits him. He's a very cold and unfeeling character, and he's extremely dangerous to cross. Jerome Flynn plays Bronn, a "sellsword" (mercenary), who remains loyal to his buddy Tyrion through thick and thin, at a price of course. He's a bad-ass, witty, cynical, and funny character who's one of those lovable rogue types. Sibel Kekilli portrays Shae, a mysterious, kind, and intelligent prostitute who serves as Tyrion's friend and love interest. Shagga, a brutish mountain man played by Mark Lewis Jones, is the leader of the Stone Crows, a group of tribesman who live in the valley known as the Vale of Arryn. A simple-minded man, he allies with Tyrion Lannister towards the end of the season. Ian Gelder appears in a small part as Tywin's brother Kevan Lannister. Eugene Simon appears as Lancel Lannister, King Robert's shy squire. Conan Stevens guest stars in the minor role of Gregor "The Mountain That Rides" Clegane, The Hound's older brother. Twice the size of his already large sibling, he's a cruel, extremely violent and unstable, sadistic, unpredictable, and corrupt knight and bannerman of Tywin Lannister. Despised by many (including his younger brother) due to his bad reputation and evil nature, he's a force to be reckoned with.
Now onto House Targaryen: Emilia Clarke plays Daenerys Targaryen, initially an innocent and helpless princess, eventually growing into a strong, compassionate, and intelligent queen, or "khalisee", leading the Dothraki people. Harry Lloyd portrays Prince Viserys Targaryen, a jealous young man who feels compelled to retake the Iron Throne for himself, as he, by blood, is the rightful heir. He's ruthless, self-centered, power-hungry, arrogant, stubborn, brainwashed (people have always told him the Targaryens were beloved by the people of Westeros, which is a complete lie), petty, and a little creepy, and has a huge superiority complex. He has few redeeming qualities, and his sister pities him more than loves him. Jason Momoa plays Khal Drogo, the leader of the Dothraki, and Daenerys' husband. He's a brutal and savage warrior with some insane fighting skills, and he prefers hand-to-hand-combat and swordplay rather than crossbows or having others do his dirty work for him. Despite his violent nature, he and Dany truly love each other, and he protects her from any sort of danger. Iain Glen portrays Ser Jorah Mormont, a loyal servant to Dany. He's protective of her, and has respect for her as a queen. He's a skilled warrior, and is wise and knowledgeable about many things, including the cultures of Essos, such as the Dothraki. Roxanne McKee plays Doreah, Dany's close friend and servant, and a former bedslave. Amrita Acharia also appears as Dany's Dothraki handmaiden Irri.
Now onto House Arryn: Jon Arryn never actually appears on screen, but is said to have been an honorable and wise man. Kate Dickie portrays Lysa Arryn (maiden name: Tully), Catelyn Stark's sister and Arryn's widow. She's a bit deranged and has a strange relationship with her son. Speaking of which, Lino Facioli plays Robin Arryn, a spoiled, somewhat stupid, and slightly sadistic young boy who still breastfeeds despite being at least eight years old. Ser Hugh of the Vale, played by guest star Jefferson Hall in a borderline cameo role, is a timid and unlucky former squire of Jon Arryn who is now a knight in a jousting tournament.
Now the Night's Watch: Joseph Mawle plays Ned Stark's ranger brother Benjen Stark, whom Jon Snow admires and respects. Samwell Tarly, portrayed by John Bradley, is a plump, simple-minded, and loveable ranger of the Night's Watch who Jon Snow befriends and defends. Sam is a kind and loving individual who you can relate to, and you want to see Jon Snow protect. Yoren, played by Francis Magee, is an acquaintance of Ned Stark's and a scout for the Night's Watch. A gruff but somewhat caring man, he protects the innocent on a number of occasions. Lord Commander Jeor Mormont, played by James Cosmo, is Jorah's father and a father figure to all the Night's Watchmen. Peter Vaughan appears as Maester Aemon Targaryen, an exiled maester who now serves as a helpful and wise member of the NW. Owen Teale guest-stars as Alliser Thorne, the training coach for the Night's Watch who constantly insults the new recruits, particularly Sam and Jon Snow. Pypar, played by Josef Atlin, is a friend of Jon Snow and Sam's who is a steward (the lowest-ranking position, usually for beginners) at the Night's Watch.
Now for House Frey: David Bradley (Filch from the Harry Potter series) portrays the repulsive and unsavory Walder Frey, a lord in the North who is very powerful and rich, albeit disgusting and vulgar. His young wife Joyeuse Erenford, played by Kelly Long, is miserable and quiet, rightfully so being wed to such an old, despicable, and nasty man.
Now for the miscellaneous characters, or the characters who have no true allegiance as of now: Syrio Forel, portrayed by Miltos Yerolemou, is a clever and humorous swordsman from Braavos (a "free city" in Essos), who Ned Stark hires to train Arya in the art of swordplay. Syrio is a good teacher, and takes a liking to Arya, whom he protects as well as trains. Ros, played by guest star Esme Bianco, is a witty prostitute who moves to King's Landing who wants more from life. Marillion, played by Emun Elliott, is a traveling musician and entertainer who runs into a spot of bad luck near the end of the season. Gendry, played by Joe Dempsie, is a young blacksmith's apprentice living in King's Landing. He's a tough guy from the streets, and he's one of the more likeable characters, despite the fact that he only appears in two of the episodes in this season. Hot Pie and Lommy Greenhands, portrayed by Ben Hawkey and Eros Vlahos, respectively, are two street kids/orphans who appear in the season finale. Initially just some punks, they are revealed to be just simple-minded children trying to survive in a world as dangerous as Westeros is. That about wraps up the characters in season one. All the actors do a fantastic job, and I can't get over how great everyone in the show is.
The production value on this series is incredible. Honestly, this is the best production value on any HBO program. The intricate attention to detail can be seen in everything: from the amazing sets, to the astounding special effects, the beautiful costumes, and the impressive action sequences. The cast is vast enough, and the variety of locations is equally as big.
The different locations within the series are fantastic as well. They're so distinct: the North has this Icelandic or Germanic look to it, with all the ice and snow; the Riverlands and middle-area of Westeros is reminiscent of the countrysides of the British Isles, with lots of marshes and damp grasslands; King's Landing is almost like Italy, particularly Venice, as far as climate and location near the sea, and almost Rome-like as far as the look goes; Braavos we never see, but as far as I can tell from the characters who come from there, it seems to be inspired by Spanish countries and France; and the continent of Essos has a very Asian-Middle-Eastern vibe, and the Dothraki feel like a mix of the Huns, the Mogolians, and the Apache: these locations are absolutely brilliant, and it feels like a very fleshed-out world, that's close to our own in many ways, and different also.
To be honest, I've never read the books this series is based on, but I really want to now. As far as I've heard, they only make minor changes and it's mostly faithful. David Benioff and D.B. Weiss have done an excellent job creating an epic fantasy series, and George R.R. Martin has to be commended for creating such a rich world and such vivid characters in his beloved series of books. The direction in all these episodes is amazing for a television show, even one on HBO, and the writing is absolutely brilliant.
The special effects are extremely convincing, and it's a mix of practical effects, CGI, and prosthetic makeup. The music is epic and rousing. Ramin Djawadi, an apprentice of Hans Zimmer, has composed some high-profile stuff in the past (Iron Man, Clash of the Titans, Prison Break, Blade: The Series), but this is the highlight of his career for sure. The opening title music is extremely catchy and puts you in the mood for an epic series. Speaking of the opening, this award-winning title sequence is incredible to watch. It amazes me every time I see it. It's so detailed, and it's unique to every episode. It's so detailed it got it's own special feature on the season one Blu-ray. It shows the map of Westeros and Essos, and the locations and major buildings from each episode pop up from the surface of the map like intricate clockwork devices. Each season has a recurring motif or theme, this season's is of betrayal. Although that's something that's a theme for the entire series, this is still most prominent in this episode, especially towards the latter half of the season. (Which I'll discuss in the spoiler section below.)
A cool little factoid is that the first and last episodes of the season are named after two famous house mottos: the premiere is "Winter is Coming" (House Stark), and the finale is "Fire and Blood" (House Targaryen). The fifth episode also centers on the conflict between Houses Stark and Lannister, hence the title "The Wolf and the Lion".
This is another fantasy franchise that is highly addicting and has a strong fan-base, and which has been engraved into popular culture, similar to the Middle-Earth and Harry Potter franchises although this show has a decidedly darker tone. Seriously, if you have no tolerance for lots of nudity or graphic violence, than just avoid this show. However, if you love good television, then by all means watch this series, you're guaranteed to love it.
Game of Thrones is an excellent television series. It's epic, dark, cinematic, complex, intriguing, divisive, highly addictive, and entertaining as hell. It's a raw, unflinchingly brutal, and is the greatest fantasy show of all time. 5/5 stars.
Episode List:
One- "Winter Is Coming"
Two- "The Kingsroad"
Three- "Lord Snow"
Four- "Cripples, Bastards, and Broken Things"
Five- "The Wolf and the Lion"
Six- "A Golden Crown"
Seven- "You Win or You Die"
Eight- "The Pointy End"
Nine- "Baelor"
Ten- "Fire and Blood"
(SPOILERS BELOW POSTER)
(Image: gameofthrones.wikia.com) SPOILER segment: Seriously, if you haven't caught up yet, I urge you not to read ahead, if you simply don't care, well, that's your problem: At the end of the season, Ned Stark is betrayed by Petyr Baelish, and is charged with treason for trying to expose the truth about Prince Joffrey's heritage: he is the son of Cersei and her brother Jaime, not Cersei and Robert (who is now dead due to a hunting accident). Joffrey is now king, and he tells Sansa Stark that if she gets her father to recant his statement about Joffrey's parentage (which Joffrey still thinks is a lie), he will be merciful to him. This is of course a lie, and Joffrey has Ned publically beheaded, which even the cold Cersei tries to stop. Unfortunately, this unjust execution causes uproar (and for good reason, Ned was a noble and good-natured man who was only being honest), and Robb and Catelyn openly rebel and start to raise an army in the North to invade the South. The killing of Ned not only completely changes the direction of the series (he was the main character up until this point), but also shows that no one is safe in the series, anyone can die at any time. This execution also begins the War of the Five Kings, which dominates the next two seasons and the upcoming fourth season. Ironically, even though the series is all about this war, it's ultimately not that big a deal compared to two other forces that are revealed to be coming in the second season. Also, another major character, Khal Drogo, also dies at the end of this season, which again shows the series has the balls to kill off major/popular characters like Ned and Drogo. Speaking of which, at the end of the season finale, Dany enters a huge bonfire caused by Drogo's funeral pyre, carrying her three stone dragon eggs. Jorah and the Dothraki think she has gone insane and this is some strange suicide. However, in the morning Jorah and the clan are astounded to see Dany emerge from the ashes naked, completely unharmed, carrying three baby dragons. The biggest crawls on her soldier as the entire clan, along with Jorah, bow to her in awe. The little dragon lets out a triumphant screech as the season ends. (END OF SPOILERS)
Saturday, February 15, 2014
Top 50 Movies of All Time: Volume 1
This year I decided to count down my fifty favorite movies of all time. Again, this is all based on opinion, so if you feel a movie should've been on here or don't like a movie that shows up on the list, then that's just your personal opinion. I'll be releasing a volume every month, each one with between ten and fifteen films. Also, I'll place a list of some honorable mentions at the end of each top ten, rather than waiting til the last one and then including a huge list of films.
Criteria:
Personal opinion
No TV films or miniseries
However, I can group a series or film trilogy together as one story if I can't decide between them
50. The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus: Now, don't get me wrong, I like this movie more for the style, not the substance. This movie is pretty strange and surreal, but it also shows that Terry Gilliam hasn't lost his talent. It's got some incredibly unique visuals and is very colorful, and it's cool to see Heath Ledger's final performance. It's certainly no Joker (that was the best of his career), but it's a really good performance, and it's an interesting role: sort of an anti-hero, a tragic villain almost. The story itself is a little confusing and odd, but the camerawork and special effects are amazing and pretty much make up for whatever faults the movie might have.
49. Con Air: Although this movie is incredibly over-the-top and cheesy, it's still a really enjoyable action movie. Even though Nicolas Cage is very dull and wooden throughout the entire run-time, and John Malkovich's villain is a bit too theatrical, the cast is actually pretty solid, it's pretty much all A and B-list actors. The action sequences are thrilling and well-executed, and even the soundtrack is pretty awesome. It's definitely a guilty pleasure of mine that I enjoy watching every once in a while for the nostalgia factor and for a few laughs.
48. Pee-Wee's Big Adventure: Tim Burton's debut film is based off the successful television series starring Paul Reubens, this movie, like many of Burton's films, is...weird. Really weird. But weird in a good way. It follows the adventures of Pee-wee Herman, a strange man-child who is obsessed with his precious bicycle. When it is stolen by another man-child, who is his rival, Pee-wee travels across America to find it. This is another film I like for nostalgia. However, even though I watched it as a kid, I still recognize that it's definitely not for everyone. It still has the strangeness of the television show, and has some of Burton's trademark creepiness: Pee-wee encounters a strange truck-driver's ghost (Large Marge), and also has a nightmare involving terrifying clown doctors. Seriously, whose idea was it to put those things in the movie? Overall, it's an entertaining film that's got some colorful visuals, cool special effects, and some odd characters.
47. The 7th Voyage of Sinbad: The first of Ray Harryhausen's fantasy film projects, this movie is actually incredibly influential. It revolutionized special effects (in particular, stop-motion), and inspired many filmmakers, including George Lucas, Peter Jackson, John Landis, James Cameron, Nick Park (Wallace and Gromit, Shaun the Sheep, Creature Comforts), and Henry Selick (The Nightmare Before Christmas, James and the Giant Peach, Coraline). The film has some bad acting, and the special effects look bad when compared to today's CG, but I think it's one of the better fantasy/adventure movies, especially when compared to its' competition at the time. Also, the stop-motion has to be appreciated, the amount of work that went into those effects is insane.
46. The Blob: Steve McQueen stars in this classic 50's B-movie. It was his first lead role that led to his career as a major Hollywood star in films like Bullitt, The Thomas Crown Affair, The Getaway, The Magnificent Seven, The Towering Inferno, and The Great Escape. This film is not only entertaining and funny, but is a cult phenomena, with a Blob festival held annually in the small town where the film was shot. I can understand why this film had such a big impact: despite it's laughable-looking monster, it's actually a well-made monster movie. It's got a charming atmosphere, likable characters, and a cool opening song. I also understand why the people of that town hold the film so dear, I actually live in a fairly famous small town in California that holds a festival every year in honor of American Graffiti, one of the many films that was shot here, so I can relate. I really love this movie, it's another film that's brings me back to when I was younger.
45. Carrie: Brian De Palma's haunting supernatural thriller is one of my favorite horror films. Although some things are changed from the book (and some of my issues with the film were resolved in the remake), it still holds up today as a haunting tale of one poor girl who has a really shitty life and just snaps. The infamous prom night massacre sequence is brilliant. It has such a tense buildup, it has you sitting on the edge of your seat up until the very end, when Carrie goes ballistic. Then De Palma makes the smart decision to have the camera have a split-screen to show Carrie facials expressions, and then simultaneously show her uses her telekinesis to destroy the high school gym. It's one of the most shocking endings to any horror film, and leaves the viewer pretty traumatized.
44. From Dusk Till Dawn: Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriquez's mexploitation horror/action film is one of my favorite vampire movies. The first half features Tarantino and George Clooney as bad-ass criminal/murderer brothers and the run from the police and heading for the Mexican border. They eventually take a small family, the father of which is a faithless preacher (Harvey Keitel), hostage and force them to help them get across the border. The first half is a straightforward crime-thriller, and it's very tense and exciting, and it's filled with great Tarantino dialogue. Then, they reach this strip club called the Titty Twister, and then Salma Hayek does a strip tease for a bit, and then all hell breaks loose. Turn out this place is run by vampires who, at a certain time during the night, lock the doors and kill and eat the patrons. But this family and these two brothers won't go down without a fight. This whole movie is just crazy. The first half has a great story and dialogue. The second half is a well-done B-horror movie. The prosthetic makeup is excellent, and all the vampires are uniquely hideous. The action is fast-paced and reminiscent of an old exploitation movie. This is probably the movie that led to 2007's excellent Grindhouse, and this film is even more entertaining than that film was.
43. Strangers on a Train: This Hitchcock classic is not only extremely well-acted, but it's still chilling to this day. The story of a mentally disturbed man who misunderstands a deal made with a stranger while on a train is tense and has excellent cinematography. Robert Walker's performance is excellent, and it's still pretty unsettling to this day, particularly the scene where he calmly stares at Farley Granger during a tennis match, his eyes focused on Granger despite everyone else's eyes following the tennis ball. It's one of Hitchcock's best, truly he is the master of suspense.
42. Clerks: Kevin Smith's debut film is not only extremely quotable and entertaining, but also one of the best comedies ever made. The story of a couple of average joes working in a shitty convenience store, it's comprised of some funny and intriguing discussions about the important things in life: like in Return of the Jedi, were the Rebels right when they destroyed the second Death Star? Another film that shows how much someone can do on a shoestring budget.
41. The Matrix: The Wachowski's hit science fiction film is definitely one of the best films of the 90's. Although there were some shitty sequels and abysmal game adaptations, nothing changes the fact that the original is a highly original and high-octane sci-fi thriller. It's got some pretty good CG, great fight sequences, unforgettable gun fights, and a creepy villain played by the great Hugo Weaving. Not to mention Laurence Fishburne's excellent portrayal of Morpheus, the leader of the human resistance. Keanu Reeves may not be the best actor, but I think he pulled off the Neo role really well. This is a movie I can watch every couple years and still be as blown away as when I first watched it.
(Images: Wikipedia)
Honorable mentions: Cloud Atlas, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, There's Something About Mary, Time Bandits, Do the Right Thing, Idiocracy, Hoosiers, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, The King's Speech.
Criteria:
Personal opinion
No TV films or miniseries
However, I can group a series or film trilogy together as one story if I can't decide between them
50. The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus: Now, don't get me wrong, I like this movie more for the style, not the substance. This movie is pretty strange and surreal, but it also shows that Terry Gilliam hasn't lost his talent. It's got some incredibly unique visuals and is very colorful, and it's cool to see Heath Ledger's final performance. It's certainly no Joker (that was the best of his career), but it's a really good performance, and it's an interesting role: sort of an anti-hero, a tragic villain almost. The story itself is a little confusing and odd, but the camerawork and special effects are amazing and pretty much make up for whatever faults the movie might have.
49. Con Air: Although this movie is incredibly over-the-top and cheesy, it's still a really enjoyable action movie. Even though Nicolas Cage is very dull and wooden throughout the entire run-time, and John Malkovich's villain is a bit too theatrical, the cast is actually pretty solid, it's pretty much all A and B-list actors. The action sequences are thrilling and well-executed, and even the soundtrack is pretty awesome. It's definitely a guilty pleasure of mine that I enjoy watching every once in a while for the nostalgia factor and for a few laughs.
48. Pee-Wee's Big Adventure: Tim Burton's debut film is based off the successful television series starring Paul Reubens, this movie, like many of Burton's films, is...weird. Really weird. But weird in a good way. It follows the adventures of Pee-wee Herman, a strange man-child who is obsessed with his precious bicycle. When it is stolen by another man-child, who is his rival, Pee-wee travels across America to find it. This is another film I like for nostalgia. However, even though I watched it as a kid, I still recognize that it's definitely not for everyone. It still has the strangeness of the television show, and has some of Burton's trademark creepiness: Pee-wee encounters a strange truck-driver's ghost (Large Marge), and also has a nightmare involving terrifying clown doctors. Seriously, whose idea was it to put those things in the movie? Overall, it's an entertaining film that's got some colorful visuals, cool special effects, and some odd characters.
47. The 7th Voyage of Sinbad: The first of Ray Harryhausen's fantasy film projects, this movie is actually incredibly influential. It revolutionized special effects (in particular, stop-motion), and inspired many filmmakers, including George Lucas, Peter Jackson, John Landis, James Cameron, Nick Park (Wallace and Gromit, Shaun the Sheep, Creature Comforts), and Henry Selick (The Nightmare Before Christmas, James and the Giant Peach, Coraline). The film has some bad acting, and the special effects look bad when compared to today's CG, but I think it's one of the better fantasy/adventure movies, especially when compared to its' competition at the time. Also, the stop-motion has to be appreciated, the amount of work that went into those effects is insane.
46. The Blob: Steve McQueen stars in this classic 50's B-movie. It was his first lead role that led to his career as a major Hollywood star in films like Bullitt, The Thomas Crown Affair, The Getaway, The Magnificent Seven, The Towering Inferno, and The Great Escape. This film is not only entertaining and funny, but is a cult phenomena, with a Blob festival held annually in the small town where the film was shot. I can understand why this film had such a big impact: despite it's laughable-looking monster, it's actually a well-made monster movie. It's got a charming atmosphere, likable characters, and a cool opening song. I also understand why the people of that town hold the film so dear, I actually live in a fairly famous small town in California that holds a festival every year in honor of American Graffiti, one of the many films that was shot here, so I can relate. I really love this movie, it's another film that's brings me back to when I was younger.
45. Carrie: Brian De Palma's haunting supernatural thriller is one of my favorite horror films. Although some things are changed from the book (and some of my issues with the film were resolved in the remake), it still holds up today as a haunting tale of one poor girl who has a really shitty life and just snaps. The infamous prom night massacre sequence is brilliant. It has such a tense buildup, it has you sitting on the edge of your seat up until the very end, when Carrie goes ballistic. Then De Palma makes the smart decision to have the camera have a split-screen to show Carrie facials expressions, and then simultaneously show her uses her telekinesis to destroy the high school gym. It's one of the most shocking endings to any horror film, and leaves the viewer pretty traumatized.
44. From Dusk Till Dawn: Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriquez's mexploitation horror/action film is one of my favorite vampire movies. The first half features Tarantino and George Clooney as bad-ass criminal/murderer brothers and the run from the police and heading for the Mexican border. They eventually take a small family, the father of which is a faithless preacher (Harvey Keitel), hostage and force them to help them get across the border. The first half is a straightforward crime-thriller, and it's very tense and exciting, and it's filled with great Tarantino dialogue. Then, they reach this strip club called the Titty Twister, and then Salma Hayek does a strip tease for a bit, and then all hell breaks loose. Turn out this place is run by vampires who, at a certain time during the night, lock the doors and kill and eat the patrons. But this family and these two brothers won't go down without a fight. This whole movie is just crazy. The first half has a great story and dialogue. The second half is a well-done B-horror movie. The prosthetic makeup is excellent, and all the vampires are uniquely hideous. The action is fast-paced and reminiscent of an old exploitation movie. This is probably the movie that led to 2007's excellent Grindhouse, and this film is even more entertaining than that film was.
43. Strangers on a Train: This Hitchcock classic is not only extremely well-acted, but it's still chilling to this day. The story of a mentally disturbed man who misunderstands a deal made with a stranger while on a train is tense and has excellent cinematography. Robert Walker's performance is excellent, and it's still pretty unsettling to this day, particularly the scene where he calmly stares at Farley Granger during a tennis match, his eyes focused on Granger despite everyone else's eyes following the tennis ball. It's one of Hitchcock's best, truly he is the master of suspense.
42. Clerks: Kevin Smith's debut film is not only extremely quotable and entertaining, but also one of the best comedies ever made. The story of a couple of average joes working in a shitty convenience store, it's comprised of some funny and intriguing discussions about the important things in life: like in Return of the Jedi, were the Rebels right when they destroyed the second Death Star? Another film that shows how much someone can do on a shoestring budget.
41. The Matrix: The Wachowski's hit science fiction film is definitely one of the best films of the 90's. Although there were some shitty sequels and abysmal game adaptations, nothing changes the fact that the original is a highly original and high-octane sci-fi thriller. It's got some pretty good CG, great fight sequences, unforgettable gun fights, and a creepy villain played by the great Hugo Weaving. Not to mention Laurence Fishburne's excellent portrayal of Morpheus, the leader of the human resistance. Keanu Reeves may not be the best actor, but I think he pulled off the Neo role really well. This is a movie I can watch every couple years and still be as blown away as when I first watched it.
(Images: Wikipedia)Honorable mentions: Cloud Atlas, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, There's Something About Mary, Time Bandits, Do the Right Thing, Idiocracy, Hoosiers, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, The King's Speech.
Monday, February 10, 2014
Top 10 Guilty Pleasure Movies: My favorite "so-bad-they're-good" movies
Today, I figured I'd list my favorite "guilty pleasure" movies. FYI: if you didn't know this already, a "guilty pleasure" film is a movie that's so cheesy, stupid, or shitty (or all three), it becomes funny and you can't help but like it. It can also be something that you're nostalgic about, and therefore can't totally hate as an adult, no matter how silly or bad it may seem now. Guilty pleasures can be applied to really anything people love: music, video games, books, comics, TV shows, even food.
Criteria:
No movies that I genuinely hate (that's a given)
Based on personal opinion
10. Mighty Morphin Power Rangers- The Movie: Now this is something that's an example of the nostalgia kind of guilty pleasure. I used to love watching this movie when I was young, like really young, around maybe 4 or 5. As I got older, like most people, I grew out of the Power Rangers phase around age 6 or 7. However, this movie (and the franchise in general) is great to watch as an adult for a good laugh. The laughable plot, acting that's either phoned-in or extremely hammy, terribly written dialogue, immature and unthreatening villains, and shitty CGI and prosthetics are the main reasons most people hate this movie, but it's also the reason many people enjoy re-watching it just for the nostalgia and laugh factors. Seriously, how can you not help but laugh at the over-the-top bad guy, who basically looks like Emperor Palpatine with a purple paint-job, who also manages to be even more cheesy than Palpatine. He chews scenery like there's no tomorrow. Trust me, just watch the movie, it's hard to not at least smirk at it.
9. Transformers: Michael Bay's over-the-top and sometimes mind-numbingly stupid big-screen adaptation of the popular 80's cartoon was a huge hit at the box office, but critics denounce it as being mindless drivel that panders to dumb teens and young kids. Although the main human characters are terribly written and, as far as acting goes, they phoned-it-in for every single performance. Not to mention the accusations of racism because of the film's juvenile humor, which sometimes uses racial stereotypes as the basis for its' jokes. But I like it because of the pretty entertaining action sequences and the awesome voice work on the robots themselves, including Hugo Weaving as Megatron and the return of Peter Cullen as the voice of Optimus Prime. However, the two sequels are just garbage, they're not so-bad-they're-good, they're so-bad-they're-fucking-unbearable.
8. Stephen King's IT: This two-part television miniseries from 1990 holds many people in it's grip of fear: tons of people I've talked to say how this movie traumatized them as a kid because of Tim Curry's terrifying performance as the demonic entity that takes the form of a killer clown. So, I finally mustered up the courage to watch it when I was 10, and... it's all bullshit. I just can't imagine why people are afraid of this shit, I mean, yeah, one of the scenes in the second episode involving "IT" disguised as an elderly woman is pretty unsettling, and the main theme is creepy, but other than that, it's not fucking scary. The adult actors aren't bad, they are just cast in dull roles with nothing really to work with. The special effects are what you'd expect from a TV movie from 1990, they're shit, involving bad stop-motion and even worse prosthetics. But what really makes this one a guilty pleasure is Tim Curry as Pennywise the Dancing Clown (the main villain). Holy shit, this guy knows how to ham it up just right. Channeling his comedic side from his Rocky Horror days, Curry just goes crazy in this role. He's hilarious, he just goofs around and does random shit in the background of such scenes and the cheesy and self-aware way he delivers such lines as "Beep, beep Ritchie!" and "We all float down here!" is just priceless. I can't believe people found this guy scary. (I mean, maybe when you're like five or something, but to still be fearful in your twenties and thirties is just ridiculous.)
7. The Fifth Element: Luc Besson's slick, thrilling, colorful, stylized, energetic, and slightly self-aware and comedic sci-fi/action is a good watch if you love science fiction, comedy, or cheesy 90's action films. The design of the world is familiar and has some things that we have in our world (McDonalds, New York cabbies, obnoxious celebrities), but is just different enough. Some of the customs and practices of the people in this world are pretty strange and foreign to us, so it's fascinating from that perspective. What makes this a "guilty pleasure" is the over-the-top action sequences, the annoying as hell but also mildly amusing supporting character played by Chris Tucker, and the scenery chewing and just plain weird bad guy played by the great Gary Oldman, who previously played the terrifying villain in Besson's Leon: The Professional. Despite the stunning visuals, impressive special effects, and cool hero (played by the bad-ass Bruce Willis), many people hate on this movie for the three things I just listed, which for me, are actually "so-bad-they're-funny" qualities. This is also a bit of a nostalgia thing, as I used to really like this movie when I was a young kid.
6. Con Air: Simon West and Jerry Bruckheimer's adrenaline-fueled, star-studded action film starring Nicolas Cage, John Cusack, and John Malkovich is incredibly cheesy and over-the-top, but also extremely entertaining and exhilarating. Even though Cage is a bit bland as the main hero (and also has a terrible hair cut), at least he tones down the crazy for this movie. On the other hand, Malkovich is perfect because he cranks the over-the-top insanity to eleven as the villain: Cyrus "The Virus". This movie is another one I liked when I was younger, like 11 or 12, and it's one I still turn on once-in-a-while for simple nostalgia or for a 90's action movie fix.
5. Starship Troopers: Paul Verhoeven's crazy and extremely gory sci-fi action film/satire was panned for it's wooden acing, one-dimensional characters, and over-reliance on gore and shock value, but many people missed the point. The reason all the characters are bland and under-developed, the acting is bad, and the film is over-reliant on graphic violence is because the film is a satire on both the American military and society in general, but also on cheesy and over-the-top 80's and early 90's action films. The film is essentially a parody of itself, and that's what's great about it. Plus, the CGI monsters are actually really scary and well-animated, so that's a plus.
4. Dumb and Dumber and The Cable Guy (tie): Both of these Jim Carrey movies are pretty good, despite some critical backlash. The former is one that everyone's seen at one point or another, some hate it, others love it. It was a huge box office success, and although it's extremely over-the-top, goofy, and sophomoric, it's still a pretty good comedy if you like that kind of thing. The second one is a film a lot of people hate on, and I don't know why. Sure it's dark and weird and a bit creepy, but it's also funny, a bit surreal, and even a little touching, in an odd sort of way. Its' underrated in my opinion.
3. Signs: Despite having mixed reviews, I still enjoy this M. Night Shyamalan alien movie. Despite some laughable moments and plot holes, (Aliens who mastered space travel can't break through boarded-up basement doors, and travelled to a planet covered with the only thing that hurts them: water? Come on!) this movie is pretty enjoyable. It has some good scares, some good CGI, and an ominous feel to it. Despite the sometimes awkward dialogue, bad child actors, bland alien design, and dumb plot twist, I still think Signs is one of Shyamalan's better movies, but definitely not his best (Unbreakable and The Sixth Sense are far superior), but it's also not the worst (The Last Airbender holds that title).
2. Joel Schumacher's Batman films (Batman Forever and Batman & Robin): I used to like these movies... then I turned eight. These movies are the epitome of cheesy, with hammy acting, bad costume design, sets that are way too flashy and colorful, and laughable villains. However, if you're bored and want to watch something that will entertain you and make you laugh your ass off at its' sheer stupidity, then pop one of these in. You and your buddies can even turn it into a fun drinking game. A word of warning though: if you play a Batman & Robin drinking game, don't make it a rule that you have to take a shot every time Arnold Schwarzenegger makes an ice-related pun, because you'll be dead before the credits, as your blood will be 99.9% alcohol. Other than that you should be good.
Before I unveil the number one pick, here are some honorable mentions:
Judge Dredd
Pirates of the Caribbean sequels (excluding the fourth film, that's just a terrible movie)
Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)
Friday the 13th (2009)
Death to Smoochy
Tommy Boy
Black Sheep (2006)
Black Sheep (1996)
Braindead (aka Dead-Alive)
The Evil Dead trilogy
A.I.: Artificial Intelligence
Tomb Raider film series
Top Gun
Austin Powers trilogy
The Mask
Stephen King's The Tommyknockers
Stephen King's The Langoliers
Stardust
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (for sheer stupidity)
Independence Day
Star Wars prequels (for sheer stupidity)
Mortal Kombat
Highlander
Children of the Corn
Spider-Man 3
X-Men: The Last Stand
1. The Room: Tommy Wiseau's hilariously bad "drama" has been dubbed "the Citizen Kane of bad movies". Greg Sestero's entertaining book The Disaster Artist is a novel I'm reading right now, and it's as hilarious as this movie. It chronicles the troubled production of this film, and the author's personal relationship with the producer, director, writer, and star of the movie: Tommy Wiseau, an incredibly strange and awkward man from a foreign country whose origins are mysterious. Room fans have theorized Wiseau is actually an alien based on his strange behavior and how odd and fucked-up his movie turned out. From the numerous unresolved plot threads, to awful dialogue and acting, to the uncomfortable-to-watch sex scenes, to even the camerawork and lighting, almost everything about the movie is terrible, but in a charming way, and you can't help but burst out laughing hearing the delivery of the film's lines by it's stars, especially Wiseau himself, whose peculiar accent makes everything he says sound incredibly weird and funny. The Room is a disastrous masterpiece, a great example of how not to make a movie.
(Images: Wikipedia)
Criteria:
No movies that I genuinely hate (that's a given)
Based on personal opinion
10. Mighty Morphin Power Rangers- The Movie: Now this is something that's an example of the nostalgia kind of guilty pleasure. I used to love watching this movie when I was young, like really young, around maybe 4 or 5. As I got older, like most people, I grew out of the Power Rangers phase around age 6 or 7. However, this movie (and the franchise in general) is great to watch as an adult for a good laugh. The laughable plot, acting that's either phoned-in or extremely hammy, terribly written dialogue, immature and unthreatening villains, and shitty CGI and prosthetics are the main reasons most people hate this movie, but it's also the reason many people enjoy re-watching it just for the nostalgia and laugh factors. Seriously, how can you not help but laugh at the over-the-top bad guy, who basically looks like Emperor Palpatine with a purple paint-job, who also manages to be even more cheesy than Palpatine. He chews scenery like there's no tomorrow. Trust me, just watch the movie, it's hard to not at least smirk at it.
9. Transformers: Michael Bay's over-the-top and sometimes mind-numbingly stupid big-screen adaptation of the popular 80's cartoon was a huge hit at the box office, but critics denounce it as being mindless drivel that panders to dumb teens and young kids. Although the main human characters are terribly written and, as far as acting goes, they phoned-it-in for every single performance. Not to mention the accusations of racism because of the film's juvenile humor, which sometimes uses racial stereotypes as the basis for its' jokes. But I like it because of the pretty entertaining action sequences and the awesome voice work on the robots themselves, including Hugo Weaving as Megatron and the return of Peter Cullen as the voice of Optimus Prime. However, the two sequels are just garbage, they're not so-bad-they're-good, they're so-bad-they're-fucking-unbearable.
8. Stephen King's IT: This two-part television miniseries from 1990 holds many people in it's grip of fear: tons of people I've talked to say how this movie traumatized them as a kid because of Tim Curry's terrifying performance as the demonic entity that takes the form of a killer clown. So, I finally mustered up the courage to watch it when I was 10, and... it's all bullshit. I just can't imagine why people are afraid of this shit, I mean, yeah, one of the scenes in the second episode involving "IT" disguised as an elderly woman is pretty unsettling, and the main theme is creepy, but other than that, it's not fucking scary. The adult actors aren't bad, they are just cast in dull roles with nothing really to work with. The special effects are what you'd expect from a TV movie from 1990, they're shit, involving bad stop-motion and even worse prosthetics. But what really makes this one a guilty pleasure is Tim Curry as Pennywise the Dancing Clown (the main villain). Holy shit, this guy knows how to ham it up just right. Channeling his comedic side from his Rocky Horror days, Curry just goes crazy in this role. He's hilarious, he just goofs around and does random shit in the background of such scenes and the cheesy and self-aware way he delivers such lines as "Beep, beep Ritchie!" and "We all float down here!" is just priceless. I can't believe people found this guy scary. (I mean, maybe when you're like five or something, but to still be fearful in your twenties and thirties is just ridiculous.)
7. The Fifth Element: Luc Besson's slick, thrilling, colorful, stylized, energetic, and slightly self-aware and comedic sci-fi/action is a good watch if you love science fiction, comedy, or cheesy 90's action films. The design of the world is familiar and has some things that we have in our world (McDonalds, New York cabbies, obnoxious celebrities), but is just different enough. Some of the customs and practices of the people in this world are pretty strange and foreign to us, so it's fascinating from that perspective. What makes this a "guilty pleasure" is the over-the-top action sequences, the annoying as hell but also mildly amusing supporting character played by Chris Tucker, and the scenery chewing and just plain weird bad guy played by the great Gary Oldman, who previously played the terrifying villain in Besson's Leon: The Professional. Despite the stunning visuals, impressive special effects, and cool hero (played by the bad-ass Bruce Willis), many people hate on this movie for the three things I just listed, which for me, are actually "so-bad-they're-funny" qualities. This is also a bit of a nostalgia thing, as I used to really like this movie when I was a young kid.
6. Con Air: Simon West and Jerry Bruckheimer's adrenaline-fueled, star-studded action film starring Nicolas Cage, John Cusack, and John Malkovich is incredibly cheesy and over-the-top, but also extremely entertaining and exhilarating. Even though Cage is a bit bland as the main hero (and also has a terrible hair cut), at least he tones down the crazy for this movie. On the other hand, Malkovich is perfect because he cranks the over-the-top insanity to eleven as the villain: Cyrus "The Virus". This movie is another one I liked when I was younger, like 11 or 12, and it's one I still turn on once-in-a-while for simple nostalgia or for a 90's action movie fix.
5. Starship Troopers: Paul Verhoeven's crazy and extremely gory sci-fi action film/satire was panned for it's wooden acing, one-dimensional characters, and over-reliance on gore and shock value, but many people missed the point. The reason all the characters are bland and under-developed, the acting is bad, and the film is over-reliant on graphic violence is because the film is a satire on both the American military and society in general, but also on cheesy and over-the-top 80's and early 90's action films. The film is essentially a parody of itself, and that's what's great about it. Plus, the CGI monsters are actually really scary and well-animated, so that's a plus.
4. Dumb and Dumber and The Cable Guy (tie): Both of these Jim Carrey movies are pretty good, despite some critical backlash. The former is one that everyone's seen at one point or another, some hate it, others love it. It was a huge box office success, and although it's extremely over-the-top, goofy, and sophomoric, it's still a pretty good comedy if you like that kind of thing. The second one is a film a lot of people hate on, and I don't know why. Sure it's dark and weird and a bit creepy, but it's also funny, a bit surreal, and even a little touching, in an odd sort of way. Its' underrated in my opinion.
3. Signs: Despite having mixed reviews, I still enjoy this M. Night Shyamalan alien movie. Despite some laughable moments and plot holes, (Aliens who mastered space travel can't break through boarded-up basement doors, and travelled to a planet covered with the only thing that hurts them: water? Come on!) this movie is pretty enjoyable. It has some good scares, some good CGI, and an ominous feel to it. Despite the sometimes awkward dialogue, bad child actors, bland alien design, and dumb plot twist, I still think Signs is one of Shyamalan's better movies, but definitely not his best (Unbreakable and The Sixth Sense are far superior), but it's also not the worst (The Last Airbender holds that title).
2. Joel Schumacher's Batman films (Batman Forever and Batman & Robin): I used to like these movies... then I turned eight. These movies are the epitome of cheesy, with hammy acting, bad costume design, sets that are way too flashy and colorful, and laughable villains. However, if you're bored and want to watch something that will entertain you and make you laugh your ass off at its' sheer stupidity, then pop one of these in. You and your buddies can even turn it into a fun drinking game. A word of warning though: if you play a Batman & Robin drinking game, don't make it a rule that you have to take a shot every time Arnold Schwarzenegger makes an ice-related pun, because you'll be dead before the credits, as your blood will be 99.9% alcohol. Other than that you should be good.
Before I unveil the number one pick, here are some honorable mentions:
Judge Dredd
Pirates of the Caribbean sequels (excluding the fourth film, that's just a terrible movie)
Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)
Friday the 13th (2009)
Death to Smoochy
Tommy Boy
Black Sheep (2006)
Black Sheep (1996)
Braindead (aka Dead-Alive)
The Evil Dead trilogy
A.I.: Artificial Intelligence
Tomb Raider film series
Top Gun
Austin Powers trilogy
The Mask
Stephen King's The Tommyknockers
Stephen King's The Langoliers
Stardust
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (for sheer stupidity)
Independence Day
Star Wars prequels (for sheer stupidity)
Mortal Kombat
Highlander
Children of the Corn
Spider-Man 3
X-Men: The Last Stand
1. The Room: Tommy Wiseau's hilariously bad "drama" has been dubbed "the Citizen Kane of bad movies". Greg Sestero's entertaining book The Disaster Artist is a novel I'm reading right now, and it's as hilarious as this movie. It chronicles the troubled production of this film, and the author's personal relationship with the producer, director, writer, and star of the movie: Tommy Wiseau, an incredibly strange and awkward man from a foreign country whose origins are mysterious. Room fans have theorized Wiseau is actually an alien based on his strange behavior and how odd and fucked-up his movie turned out. From the numerous unresolved plot threads, to awful dialogue and acting, to the uncomfortable-to-watch sex scenes, to even the camerawork and lighting, almost everything about the movie is terrible, but in a charming way, and you can't help but burst out laughing hearing the delivery of the film's lines by it's stars, especially Wiseau himself, whose peculiar accent makes everything he says sound incredibly weird and funny. The Room is a disastrous masterpiece, a great example of how not to make a movie.
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(Images: Wikipedia)
Sunday, February 9, 2014
Top 5 Games of 2013: My favorite video games of the year.
Now, before I start this list, I'll admit, I haven't had the chance to play too many major or independent gaming titles this year, so this list is a bit short, however, I think most people could agree, more or less, with my selections, so without further delay, the list:
5. Battlefield 4 and Call of Duty- Ghosts (tie): Both these popular franchises were given new installments this year. The former is EA's masterful first-person shooter that revolutionizes what war games are all about: lots of impressive action set-pieces and incredibly fun online multiplayer. This game perfects both, and raises the bar on what an FPS action game should be like. The latter is Infinity Ward, Activision, and Square Enix's latest installment in the increasingly mediocre Call of Duty franchise. Despite the fact that Black Ops II and Modern Warfare 3 are both excellent games, they still let a lot of fans hoping for more. I wasn't expecting much from this latest game, but it was a pleasant surprise. It has all the things that made earlier installments such as Modern Warfare 2 so great: fantastic action sequences, awesome weapons, and fun multi-player maps, and it's a breath of fresh air for this slowly dying action franchise.
4. Grand Theft Auto V: Rockstar kept fans, myself included, waiting in anticipation for the next game in their successful crime/action/satire franchise. Sure, L.A. Noire was awesome, and Red Dead Redemption and Max Payne 3 were nearly perfect, but none of those matched the fun and excitement of the Grand Theft Auto franchise. Finally, last fall we were able to play Rockstar's highly anticipated fifth installment in the GTA series. Although some activities in the game (like surfing the Internet or playing tennis) seem pointless to include as part of a crime game, the city of Los Santos is so expansive and incredibly detailed, you can't help but be in awe. This puts even the fantastic Grand Theft Auto IV to shame. No wonder it took the developers five years to create this game. Even though some of the characters are a bit under-developed, sometimes the game's pacing is off, and some of the side-missions are incredibly boring and tedious, GTA V is a ton of fun. When you finally do a mission like robbing a bank, taking out a SWAT team, or fighting off some thugs during a car chase, it's exhilarating, adrenaline-fueled, and even a bit frustrating. And if you look closely, you can find some humorous touches to the crazy city of Los Santos: for instance, if you surf the Internet or listen to talk radio in the game, almost everything you see, watch, and hear is a parody or satire of something in the real world. Rockstar mocks everything from celebrities, to radio DJs, to cartoons, to reality TV, to fast food restaurants, and even other video games. But my personal favorite, especially when I'm bored with nothing to do, I pick up the game, and just free-roam, cause some mayhem, because that's one of the best things about this game, freedom: you can do anything, customize your character and vehicles, and buy up whatever you want: property, items, weapons, drugs, etc. And that's pretty fucking awesome.
3. Tomb Raider and Batman- Arkham Origins (tie): Both of these games were action-packed prequels to groundbreaking game franchises, and I loved them both. The first is Square Enix and Crystal Dynamics' gritty and violent prequel to the Tomb Raider series, showing a younger, more naïve Lara Croft become the survivalist and adventurer she is. The game smartly blends quick-time action with Uncharted-esque set-pieces that makes this entry not only more innovative and brutal, but also more cinematic than previous entries in the franchise. This game also takes a more realistic approach to the series, and is more focused on character development and survival tactics than explosive set-pieces and fell-fledged gun battles (although this has enough of those to keep action-obsessed gamers satisfied). The second game is Warner Bros. Montreal's prequel to Rocksteady's incredible Arkham franchise. Although not as satisfying as its' predecessors, Arkham Origins still delivers enough comic book action, detective work, and stealth-based sequences to keep Batman fans like myself happy. The voice acting (especially by the two leads: Roger Craig Smith and Troy Baker) is absolutely amazing, and the action sequences are thrilling and intense, despite some of the boss battles feeling a bit lackluster; even the musical score by Christopher Drake is excellent. The game also has a map twice the size and scope of Arkham City's, and incorporates a fast travel system. The game also features more detective work, and introduces a mechanic where you re-build a crime or murder scene to figure out exactly how a victim was killed. This game packs in a ton of fan-favorite villains, like The Joker, Black Mask, The Penguin, Firefly, Bane, Deathstroke, and Killer Croc, as well as some lesser-known ones like Anarky, Lady Shiva, Copperhead, and Electrocutioner. The game has a ton of side-missions to complete, including a long one tracking down a mysterious hacker nicknamed "Enigma" (it's not a big surprise who that guy turns out to be), and numerous murders to solve and smaller crimes to stop along the way. Overall, this is a game that was a tad disappointing, but I definitely wouldn't miss out on it, and it's one I'll probably play several times over in the near future.
2. BioShock Infinite: Irrational and 2K Games' incredible and visionary project may not be directly connected to it's predecessors (which took place in the hellish underwater dystopia of Rapture), but it certainly shares some obvious connections, including themes about self-identification, human psychology and philosophy and how it affects behavior, god complexes, and the nature of and relationship between good and evil. The visuals are absolutely beautiful (I'm talking about graphics and surroundings here, because some of the events in this game are horrifying to witness), the characters are three-dimensional, complex, and well-developed, the music is great, and the plot is astoundingly complex for a videogame. The game mechanics are cool, including the Skyhook, which can help the player travel between locations, and provides some help during gun fights and action scenes. Despite the fact that the action sequences are fantastic and intense, it's the quieter moments between characters that make this game so great. The two leads (Booker and Elizabeth) have fantastic chemistry, and you really relate to them as if they're real people, not just animated characters (which is because of the fantastic writing, and also the voice talents of Troy Baker and Courtnee Draper). Not to mention the ending: it continues the BioShock tradition of having a crazy, unexpected plot twist that completely changes the way a player looks at the game upon a second playing, but this one takes it to the next level, it even makes the fantastic twist in the original BioShock look predictable and simple, and that's a pretty big accomplishment.
Before I reveal the number one pick, here are some honorable mentions:
Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag (I'm gonna be honest, never got around to playing this entry in this great series, but I've heard a lot of good things)
Outlast
DmC: Devil May Cry
MLB 13: The Show
Madden 25
The Wolf Among Us (doesn't count, as only the first episode of this five-episode miniseries came out in 2013, still a great game, though)
Dead Space 3
LEGO Marvel Super Heroes
Crysis 3
1. The Last of Us: Naughty Dog took a break from the pulpy, fun action of their fantastic Uncharted series to make a darker, bloodier, grittier game. Revolving around two relatable characters surviving a horrific apocalypse (brought on by a the outbreak of a deadly disease that turns people into fungus-covered zombie-like creatures), this game is a more dramatic and brutal game than Naughty Dog has produced before. The two lead voice actors (Troy Baker and Ashley Johnson) are amazing, and bring these characters to life. Like Tomb Raider, The Last of Us has a lot of intense and violent action sequences which employ a lot of survival and stealth tactics (unlike Uncharted, which goes for the more direct approach of explosive gun fights), but also focuses on themes like human nature, and how constant exposure to gruesome violence and having to survive affects the human psyche. The graphics are stunning and extremely realistic, everything from the slight grayness of the character Joel's hair, to the light reflecting in people's eyes, to the nasty textures of the zombies' fungus-covered flesh, every detail is perfected, no matter how gruesome or how beautiful. The music is subtle, but effective, and the gameplay is perfect, ranging from something as simple as hunting deer with a bow and arrow to something as complex as holding down a fortress against a horde of zombies with nothing but some bombs and limited amounts of ammo. The relationships between the characters is what drives the story, and you slowly but surely grow on them as the game progresses, and you fear for them as the story gets more bleak and horrifying, which leads to an intense climax which may leave some gamers divided on some of the choices the characters make, but I found it very satisfying and a fitting conclusion the game, considering the tone and content. The Last of Us is an incredible action/horror game which explores dark and complex themes, has some extremely well-written characters, insanely good graphics, and some great action sequences, as well as an emotional storyline about survival in a dog-eat-dog world. It's not just the best game of the year, it may be one of the best games of all time.
(Images: Wikipedia)
5. Battlefield 4 and Call of Duty- Ghosts (tie): Both these popular franchises were given new installments this year. The former is EA's masterful first-person shooter that revolutionizes what war games are all about: lots of impressive action set-pieces and incredibly fun online multiplayer. This game perfects both, and raises the bar on what an FPS action game should be like. The latter is Infinity Ward, Activision, and Square Enix's latest installment in the increasingly mediocre Call of Duty franchise. Despite the fact that Black Ops II and Modern Warfare 3 are both excellent games, they still let a lot of fans hoping for more. I wasn't expecting much from this latest game, but it was a pleasant surprise. It has all the things that made earlier installments such as Modern Warfare 2 so great: fantastic action sequences, awesome weapons, and fun multi-player maps, and it's a breath of fresh air for this slowly dying action franchise.
4. Grand Theft Auto V: Rockstar kept fans, myself included, waiting in anticipation for the next game in their successful crime/action/satire franchise. Sure, L.A. Noire was awesome, and Red Dead Redemption and Max Payne 3 were nearly perfect, but none of those matched the fun and excitement of the Grand Theft Auto franchise. Finally, last fall we were able to play Rockstar's highly anticipated fifth installment in the GTA series. Although some activities in the game (like surfing the Internet or playing tennis) seem pointless to include as part of a crime game, the city of Los Santos is so expansive and incredibly detailed, you can't help but be in awe. This puts even the fantastic Grand Theft Auto IV to shame. No wonder it took the developers five years to create this game. Even though some of the characters are a bit under-developed, sometimes the game's pacing is off, and some of the side-missions are incredibly boring and tedious, GTA V is a ton of fun. When you finally do a mission like robbing a bank, taking out a SWAT team, or fighting off some thugs during a car chase, it's exhilarating, adrenaline-fueled, and even a bit frustrating. And if you look closely, you can find some humorous touches to the crazy city of Los Santos: for instance, if you surf the Internet or listen to talk radio in the game, almost everything you see, watch, and hear is a parody or satire of something in the real world. Rockstar mocks everything from celebrities, to radio DJs, to cartoons, to reality TV, to fast food restaurants, and even other video games. But my personal favorite, especially when I'm bored with nothing to do, I pick up the game, and just free-roam, cause some mayhem, because that's one of the best things about this game, freedom: you can do anything, customize your character and vehicles, and buy up whatever you want: property, items, weapons, drugs, etc. And that's pretty fucking awesome.
3. Tomb Raider and Batman- Arkham Origins (tie): Both of these games were action-packed prequels to groundbreaking game franchises, and I loved them both. The first is Square Enix and Crystal Dynamics' gritty and violent prequel to the Tomb Raider series, showing a younger, more naïve Lara Croft become the survivalist and adventurer she is. The game smartly blends quick-time action with Uncharted-esque set-pieces that makes this entry not only more innovative and brutal, but also more cinematic than previous entries in the franchise. This game also takes a more realistic approach to the series, and is more focused on character development and survival tactics than explosive set-pieces and fell-fledged gun battles (although this has enough of those to keep action-obsessed gamers satisfied). The second game is Warner Bros. Montreal's prequel to Rocksteady's incredible Arkham franchise. Although not as satisfying as its' predecessors, Arkham Origins still delivers enough comic book action, detective work, and stealth-based sequences to keep Batman fans like myself happy. The voice acting (especially by the two leads: Roger Craig Smith and Troy Baker) is absolutely amazing, and the action sequences are thrilling and intense, despite some of the boss battles feeling a bit lackluster; even the musical score by Christopher Drake is excellent. The game also has a map twice the size and scope of Arkham City's, and incorporates a fast travel system. The game also features more detective work, and introduces a mechanic where you re-build a crime or murder scene to figure out exactly how a victim was killed. This game packs in a ton of fan-favorite villains, like The Joker, Black Mask, The Penguin, Firefly, Bane, Deathstroke, and Killer Croc, as well as some lesser-known ones like Anarky, Lady Shiva, Copperhead, and Electrocutioner. The game has a ton of side-missions to complete, including a long one tracking down a mysterious hacker nicknamed "Enigma" (it's not a big surprise who that guy turns out to be), and numerous murders to solve and smaller crimes to stop along the way. Overall, this is a game that was a tad disappointing, but I definitely wouldn't miss out on it, and it's one I'll probably play several times over in the near future.
2. BioShock Infinite: Irrational and 2K Games' incredible and visionary project may not be directly connected to it's predecessors (which took place in the hellish underwater dystopia of Rapture), but it certainly shares some obvious connections, including themes about self-identification, human psychology and philosophy and how it affects behavior, god complexes, and the nature of and relationship between good and evil. The visuals are absolutely beautiful (I'm talking about graphics and surroundings here, because some of the events in this game are horrifying to witness), the characters are three-dimensional, complex, and well-developed, the music is great, and the plot is astoundingly complex for a videogame. The game mechanics are cool, including the Skyhook, which can help the player travel between locations, and provides some help during gun fights and action scenes. Despite the fact that the action sequences are fantastic and intense, it's the quieter moments between characters that make this game so great. The two leads (Booker and Elizabeth) have fantastic chemistry, and you really relate to them as if they're real people, not just animated characters (which is because of the fantastic writing, and also the voice talents of Troy Baker and Courtnee Draper). Not to mention the ending: it continues the BioShock tradition of having a crazy, unexpected plot twist that completely changes the way a player looks at the game upon a second playing, but this one takes it to the next level, it even makes the fantastic twist in the original BioShock look predictable and simple, and that's a pretty big accomplishment.
Before I reveal the number one pick, here are some honorable mentions:
Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag (I'm gonna be honest, never got around to playing this entry in this great series, but I've heard a lot of good things)
Outlast
DmC: Devil May Cry
MLB 13: The Show
Madden 25
The Wolf Among Us (doesn't count, as only the first episode of this five-episode miniseries came out in 2013, still a great game, though)
Dead Space 3
LEGO Marvel Super Heroes
Crysis 3
1. The Last of Us: Naughty Dog took a break from the pulpy, fun action of their fantastic Uncharted series to make a darker, bloodier, grittier game. Revolving around two relatable characters surviving a horrific apocalypse (brought on by a the outbreak of a deadly disease that turns people into fungus-covered zombie-like creatures), this game is a more dramatic and brutal game than Naughty Dog has produced before. The two lead voice actors (Troy Baker and Ashley Johnson) are amazing, and bring these characters to life. Like Tomb Raider, The Last of Us has a lot of intense and violent action sequences which employ a lot of survival and stealth tactics (unlike Uncharted, which goes for the more direct approach of explosive gun fights), but also focuses on themes like human nature, and how constant exposure to gruesome violence and having to survive affects the human psyche. The graphics are stunning and extremely realistic, everything from the slight grayness of the character Joel's hair, to the light reflecting in people's eyes, to the nasty textures of the zombies' fungus-covered flesh, every detail is perfected, no matter how gruesome or how beautiful. The music is subtle, but effective, and the gameplay is perfect, ranging from something as simple as hunting deer with a bow and arrow to something as complex as holding down a fortress against a horde of zombies with nothing but some bombs and limited amounts of ammo. The relationships between the characters is what drives the story, and you slowly but surely grow on them as the game progresses, and you fear for them as the story gets more bleak and horrifying, which leads to an intense climax which may leave some gamers divided on some of the choices the characters make, but I found it very satisfying and a fitting conclusion the game, considering the tone and content. The Last of Us is an incredible action/horror game which explores dark and complex themes, has some extremely well-written characters, insanely good graphics, and some great action sequences, as well as an emotional storyline about survival in a dog-eat-dog world. It's not just the best game of the year, it may be one of the best games of all time.
(Images: Wikipedia)Saturday, February 8, 2014
Top 25 BEST Movies of 2013: The most entertaining, thoughtful, and well-made films of the past year.
Today, I look back on the year in reflection, and list off what I feel are the best films of the year. This was tough, as so many great movies have come out this year. Again, this is a bit longer than last year's, which means I've seen even more great films than I did last year. Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to see everything I wanted, some big ones you won't see on this list are: Nebraska, Her, The Place Beyond the Pines, The Fifth Estate, Inside Llewyn Davis, Frances Haa, Fruitvale Station, Philomena, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, Blue Jasmine, The Bling Ring, Before Midnight, August: Osage County, Blue is the Warmest Color, The Hunt, The Square, Stoker, Spring Breakers, The Iceman, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, and Out of the Furnace. Well, without further delay, I present the top 25 films of the year. (Mild SPOILERS)
25. Side Effects: Steven Soderbergh's final film may not be the best last project as a director, but as a stand-alone film (without all the hype of it being his last film) it's excellent. An intriguing and well-executed tale of lies and deceit surrounding a murder trial, it serves as both an excellent murder mystery/thriller as well as an examination of how medicine affects one's psyche, if at all. Rooney Mara and Jude Law are definitely the stand-outs of the film, and both play their roles extremely convincingly, with moments of real, raw emotion. This was profoundly effective, as, at the time this came out (early February), I hadn't seen too many good movies, as January is the worst month to see movies, so this was a pleasant surprise. The writing is excellent, the camerawork is fantastic, and Soderbergh brings his signature style to this psychological thriller.
24. The Hunger Games- Catching Fire: This second installment in the popular teen romance/science fiction/thriller franchise was really surprising, considering the fact I wasn't the hugest fan of the first film. Jennifer Lawrence is excellent (no surprise there), and the supporting cast (including the late, great Philip Seymour Hoffman) were surprisingly good as well. This film has a darker, more serious tone than the previous, and spends less time focusing on the games themselves (they only take up about 30 minutes of the film), and more on the development of the characters and the effects the events of the first film have on them and on the world they live in. This is one of those rare sequels that is far superior to the original.
23. Iron Man 3: Even though it's not nearly as good as the first film or The Avengers (or even Iron Man 2), this superhero epic still packs enough action, comedy, and insanely good special effects to make the list. Even though the film maintains the series' humor, it takes a decidedly darker, more serious tone. Shane Black (writer of Lethal Weapon and director of Kiss Kiss Bang Bang) helms this film, but Jon Favreau stays on as an actor and producer. Black brings some of his trademarks to the series (like the Christmastime setting), and he brings a new flavor to the series. This installment definitely feels a bit different, like how instead of the title appearing on screen in gold lettering (like in the two previous films), it doesn't appear until the end (in a 60's TV show-esque credits sequence), and is stylized as "Iron Man Three". Little changes like that make this one feel fresh and new, and that's something I haven't seen in a while: a superhero film that breaks tradition and gives a breath of fresh air into the genre, despite all it's flaws. And yes the whole Mandarin plot twist halfway through the film is a crock of shit, and that's why this film is a little low on the list, but other than that, I really enjoyed this movie: it's fun, fast-paced, and exciting, and for a superhero film, that's pretty impressive, especially considering how many shit superhero and actions films there are these days.
22. Pacific Rim: Guillermo del Toro takes a break from horror/fantasy films to make a fun, Power Rangers-esque movie where the military of the future must use giant robots (codenamed "Jagers") to combat against reptilian creatures (codenamed "Kaiju"), which come into our world from a portal at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. This movie is just kick-ass. It's got awesome fights between robots and monsters (these thrilling sequences put Transformers to shame), some humor (mostly due to the supporting characters played by Charlie Day and Burn Gorman), and slick cinematography. The CGI is absolutely incredible, and Guillermo made some good choices when it came to how to approach the tone of the film: he wanted it to be serious, but not too cynical or dark, he still wanted it to be fun and exciting; he didn't want the female character to be a "sex kitten" (or sexually objectified character), he wanted her to be somewhat attractive, but also to have a real personality and for the audience to like her. I really have to compliment him on that. Even though this is different than most of his films (even the superhero film Hellboy is a bit different than this film), he still kept some of his signatures, like the Lovecraftian-looking creatures, and the casting of Ron Perlman in a supporting role. Mr. del Toro, I commend you for being able to pull this movie off: it's smart, funny, action-packed, has good writing and fleshed-out characters, and is just dark enough to be taken seriously. That's pretty much a perfect blockbuster.
21. Frozen: This acclaimed animated film not only has beautiful animation and some good supporting characters, but also is one of the better animated films of the past five years. Although the villain is very lackluster and the whole climax is pretty rushed, the film is overall really good. The best characters are definitely Olaf and Oaken (the latter of which only has one scene). To be honest, I wasn't a huge fan of the film's music (despite the fact it was done by the musical team behind excellent Broadway comedies like The Book of Mormon and Avenue Q), and luckily, the musical numbers are short and there's not too many of them. Besides that, I really enjoyed this movie, and, according to aggregator sites like RottenTomatoes, most people agree that this is definitely worth a few viewings.
20. Prisoners and Rush (tie): I couldn't decide between these two, so I gave them each their own spot. One is a dark and disturbing thriller/drama about a father obsessed with finding his missing daughters at any cost, which also follows a highly intelligent detective who's on the same case. Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Paul Dano all do a fantastic job in this twisted, raw film that doesn't hold back at all. It's gruesome, dark, and very realistic, which is why I believe it's so effective. The second film is Ron Howard's film about the real-life rivalry and friendship between two legendary Formula One drivers: James Hunt and Niki Lauda. Chris Hemsworth puts his action hero persona aside and fills a more dramatic role alongside Peter Bruhl, who gives an amazing performance. The shining moment of this inspirational true sports story is Bruhl's powerful ending monologue, which sums up what makes the film interesting: the respect these two rivals have for one another, and how far they go to be the best.
19. The Heat: Paul Feig's buddy cop comedy is not only hilarious, it's also somewhat touching in it's portrayal of the two leads as sort of foster sisters to each other. Melissa McCarthy continues to prove she is one of the funniest female actors working today, and she definitely is the best part of the movie, she's foul-mouthed, stubborn, crazy, breaks the rules, belittles her superiors, and is a bad-ass cop. It may not be as good as The Other Guys or Hot Fuzz, but this movie is action-packed, hysterical, and a tugs at the heart-strings a bit, and that's quite and accomplishment, especially when you think about how many shitty comedies there are these days.
18. This Is the End: This self-deprecating comedy about the Biblical apocalypse has enough movie references and pop culture jokes to keep any cinephile happy, and the main actors do a fantastic job mocking themselves. This very original film is not only hilarious, but also has some creepy elements in it, such as demonic possession, tribes of cannibals, and hellish monsters. An uproariously funny horror-comedy, This is the End not only makes fun of it's stars and most of Hollywood, but also shows the touching friendship between the two main characters: Jay and Seth, and how they stick together through the worst situations, whether it be dealing with a possessed Jonah Hill, a cannibal tribe led by Danny McBride, or an encounter with Satan incarnate.
17. The Conjuring and Insidious-Chapter 2 (tie): Both of these are terrifying James Wan horror films involving the supernatural (and both star Patrick Wilson, and in both films he has a pretty attractive wife). The former is based on a real-life case (one of the few "based on a true story" films that's actually based on a true story), and is all the more horrifying because of it. It's a pretty authentic movie, and is very reminiscent of classic 70s ghost films (and it takes place in the 1970s). The music is a little too similar to the Insidious score, but they do have the same composer, so that's not a huge surprise. The makeup, practical effects, and camerawork are superb, props to you James Wan. And as if that wasn't enough, his next project, a sequel to his hit film Insidious, came out only a few months later. This film has a little more in common with The Conjuring than the first Insidious. It's more grounded in reality than the first movie (despite the ghost segments), and the villains are terrifying and eerie. The makeup and prosthetics, as well as the cinematography, music, and special effects are all extremely well-executed, and this is one of the few sequels to be on par with the original.
16. American Hustle: David O. Russell's latest film is an expertly crafted crime-comedy/drama which is inspired by actual events and people. Christian Bale, Jeremy Renner, and Jennifer Lawrence really shine in this excellent movie about con men, which won the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress- Musical or Comedy (Lawrence), Best Actress- Musical or Comedy (Adams), and Best Picture- Musical or Comedy. If those three awards don't convince you to check this out, then you have a problem. As for me, I loved it, and look forward to seeing it again.
15. The Wolf of Wall Street: Martin Scorsese's black comedy/drama about Wall Street corruption and indulgence is extremely entertaining, with a great cast headed by Leonardo DiCaprio (who won the Golden Globe for Best Actor- Musical or Comedy). Jonah Hill also pulls off a more dramatic role this time around, which he showed he could do in 2011's Moneyball, but he still is able to deliver tons of laughs as he and Leo go on several drug-fuelled misadventures involving stock markets, corruption, and Quaaludes. However, if black comedies aren't for you, then don't see this one, this is as dark as they get. If you hate long movies, skip this one, too: it's exactly 3 hours long. Also, if you're a prude about swearing and nudity, this one probably isn't for you either. It had to be edited down from an NC-17 rating for graphic sex, and it broke the record for uses of the expletive "fuck" (or related words like "fucker" or "fucking"): over 500 times, breaking the record held by Spike Lee's Summer of Sam. However, if you can get past all the cussing, constant graphic sex and drug abuse and drinking, then I guarantee you'll enjoy this crazy true story about one man's unbelievable climb to power on Wall Street. I definitely did.
14. Monsters University: Although this Pixar film isn't as good as it's predecessor, it definitely was enjoyable and gave me a feeling of nostalgia, after all, Monsters Inc. was one of the first films I saw in a theater. It holds a special place in my heart, like many things I saw when I was young, it brings me back every time I see it, so I was skeptical of this one at first. However, the people at Pixar swung me. With a star-studded cast, some of whom returned from the original (Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, etc.), this film made the wise decision to focus more on Mike than Sully this time around. It's now more of an underdog story, because when the original film began, Sully and Mike were already the top employees at their workplace, here, Sully is still the top dog, but Mike is constantly disrespected and belittled for his unthreatening appearance. This film has a bit of a different feel from the original, which isn't a bad thing, but still maintains faithful to the overall tone of the first movie. I would definitely recommend checking out this movie if you loved the first one or are generally a fan of Pixar.
13. The Wolverine: In this surprisingly entertaining superhero film (based on the beloved comic book limited series by Chris Claremont and Frank Miller), which branches X-Men: The Last Stand with the upcoming X-Men: Days of Future Past, and which discards the previous Wolverine film, Wolverine must deal with the loss of his powers and must use his hunting and tracking skills, brute strength, and more intelligent side to stop some treacherous foes in Japan. Showing the more human side of Wolverine while exploring his psyche, this film is a darker, more serious X-Men film, more similar to the tone of the first two films, but also packs in a good amount of exhilarating action sequences, including an excellent fight atop a bullet train, and an epic final battle between Logan and the villains inside a mountaintop fortress. James Mangold has crafted a very entertaining and more in-depth Wolverine movie than I've seen before, and the ending of this film perfectly sets up the much-anticipated Days of Future Past film coming out this summer.
12. The Way, Way Back: This coming-of-age-dramedy is definitely one of the better comedies of the year, and one of the more touching films I've seen this year. An underdog story about an awkward young teen finding his place during a stay at a beach house with his mom and her douchebag boyfriend during the summer, this movie has an amazing cast, and a talented writing team behind it. The entire movie has this charm and appeal to it that's just mesmerizing, and the story is not only very compelling, but some moments make you a bit teary-eyed. This is one of the few movies this year that has made shed a tear.
11. Gravity: In Alfonso Cuaron's stunning space thriller, Sandra Bullock and George Clooney must survive the barren and desolate conditions of space all while attempting to get back to Earth after their transport is destroyed. This film is not only extremely intense (it keeps you on the edge-of-your-seat for almost the entire run-time), but also has some heart-wrenching dramatic moments (like when Bullock tells a harrowing story about her daughter), and has some of the best cinematography I've ever seen. The realism of this film is astounding, and its' authenticity is undeniable. The unbelievably great cinematography and incredible sound design create the feeling that you are actually in space with these characters, and you can't help but root for them to get home. There's pretty much no music for this movie, creating a feeling of awkward tension, as if you're expecting something awful to happen at any second (which I was). I was worried about Bullock carrying this movie mostly by herself, and although at times it was obviously hard (as that's a lot of pressure for an actor), but I thought she actually kept it together and did a great job, I really have to compliment her for that. Gravity is just an amazing technical feat, and even more than that, its' a profoundly effective film, and the ending makes you almost want to cheer.
10. 42 and Lee Daniels' The Butler (tie): Both these films are emotionally gripping real-life stories about African-Americans fighting for respect in a world that doesn't appreciate or love them based on the color of their skin. The first is the story of baseball player Jackie Robinson, who went from playing small-time games with his friends to becoming one of the most respected and admired athletes to ever live. Chadwick Boseman's performance is amazing, especially coming from a relatively unknown actor. Harrison Ford also gives a very good performance as the team executive of the Brooklyn Dodgers, Christopher Meloni appears as the Dodgers' manager, and Alan Tudyk appears in a brief role as the despicable and racist manager of the Philadelphia Phillies. This film is not only inspirational and moving, but also is pretty accurate as far as history goes. The second film chronicles the life of an African-American butler named Cecil Gaines, who works in the White House, and serves under many different presidents. The film has a huge all-star cast, and features Oprah Winfrey and David Oyelowo is main roles. Forest Whitaker plays Cecil, and gives one of the best performances of his career, almost as good as his performances in Ghost Dog, The Shield, and The Last King of Scotland. It's a powerful story that shows the evolution of the United States during the 20th Century from the perspective of one man and his family.
9. Trance: Danny Boyle's slick and twisted psychological thriller may look like just another Inception knock-off, but I can assure you it's anything but. Boyle's dark and complex film is packed with grisly violence, nudity, swearing, and has some crazy plot twists. The film is like a jigsaw puzzle that the viewers have to solve along with the characters, and just when you think you've got it all figured out, it changes everything you think you know. The three main characters seem like typical characters at first: hero, villain, love interest, but as Boyle peels back the layers of each one, they're revealed to be completely different than you thought, and are less cut-and-dry and black-and-white, and more shades of gray. A perplexing and interesting thriller, Trance is full of surprises.
8. Anchorman 2- The Legend Continues: Finally, after almost a decade of anticipation, I was able to finally see the sequel to one of my favorite comedy films. Will Ferrell and the cast haven't lost it after 9 years, and they don't spend the whole time retreading jokes from the original (even though they do it a few times), but actually do some new stuff like having Ron Burgundy move to New York City, get a new catchphrase, get new rivals and some new friends, and raise a shark named Doby from birth. The movie is not only insanely funny and over-the-top, it also has just the right amount of absurdity and surrealism to make it feel like it takes place in some crazy alternate reality. This was definitely worth the wait.
7. Dallas Buyers Club: This tragic true story about AIDS patient Ron Woodruff is extremely powerful and bold. Stars Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto have already gotten Screen Actors Guild and Golden Globe awards, and the film is now nominated for several Oscars including Best Picture. McConaughey gives a gut-wrenching performance as the bigoted redneck Woodruff, who slowly evolves into a more accepting and caring human being due to his experiences with AIDS. Leto turns in yet another mesmerizing performance as the cross-dresser Rayon. Leto is a true chameleon, physically molding himself to fit each role he accepts. Jennifer Garner and Denis O'Hare fill in supporting roles, and both are excellent as well. This may be the best movie McConaughey has ever done, and this is also, without a doubt, one of Leto's best as well.
6. Man of Steel: Zack Snyder and Christopher Nolan's collaboration could have been hit-or-miss. Luckily, at least in my opinion, it was a definite hit. Despite some people thinking some of the changes they made (such as the way the villain dies, and the way Superman's dad dies) ruined the movie for them, I felt like they weren't all that bad, and the villain's death can actually be viewed as a good decision, especially the way the filmmakers chose to handle Superman's reaction to it. This movie is definitely one of the better superhero films of the past few years, and is one of the best action films this year. The rousing musical score, the special effects, intense action sequences, exploration of Superman's psyche and past, and uplifting ending make Man of Steel enjoyable every time you see it.
5. The World's End: The final installment in the Three Flavors Cornetto Trilogy is the best comedy of the year in my opinion. From the trio behind the previous two films (director and writer Edgar Wright, and stars Simon Pegg and Nick Frost), this film chronicles the journey of an old group of friends as they trek across their home town to finish an epic pub crawl, only to discover the town has been infested and taken over by alien robots. Combining comedy, science fiction, and the apocalypse, this British film has something for everyone: cool fight sequences, funny dialogue and situations, and some real drama, as the main character must learn to accept that his glory days of high school are over.
4. 12 Years a Slave: In Steve McQueen's stomach-churning, disturbing, and emotionally grueling historical drama, an all-star cast led tell the tale of a free black man being kidnapped, taken away from his family, and sold into slavery for 12 years. The cinematography, writing, and music are all fantastic, but the best aspect of this film is the incredible acting. The performances by Chiwetel Ejiofor, Lupita Nyong'o, and Michael Fassbender in particular are superb and captivating, with lots of raw, intense emotion. This movie is truly one of the most graphic and powerful portrayals of slavery that I have ever seen put to celluloid.
3. Captain Phillips: In Paul Greengrass' thrilling drama based on true events, Tom Hanks and Barkhad Abdi lead an amazing cast in retelling a story of survival and courage. The film is incredibly tense and keeps your heart racing wondering what's going to happen next. Even though you know that Phillips makes it out alive, you can't help but be scared for him. However, the film's made the smart choice to also portray the pirates who take Phillips captive in an empathetic light, showing that they don't like what they're doing, but are forced into it by war lords and by the poverty they live in. A powerhouse film about a brave man who risked it all to save his crew, Captain Phillips definitely constitutes several viewings.
2. The Hobbit- The Desolation of Smaug: Peter Jackson delivers yet another grand interpretation of the epic fantasy story that is Tolkien's Middle-Earth. Sir Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Luke Evans, Evangeline Lily, Orlando Bloom, and Benedict Cumberbatch lead a massive cast (which includes Lee Pace and Stephen Fry) in this highly entertaining fantasy adventure film. The cinematography and locations are amazingly beautiful, Peter Jackson always gets the best locations for these films. The design of this world, including costumes, weapons, creatures, and structures, is intricately detailed and its' incredible to think about how much work went into it all. The performances are really good, and the entire sequence involving the company of dwarves' encounter with Smaug the dragon is extremely entertaining, and his conversation with Bilbo is very tense and frightening, and sometimes a bit humorous. Even the ending song ("I See Fire" by Ed Sheeran) was excellent. The only complaint: the massive cliffhanger at the end, that kind of pissed me off.
Well, I couldn't include everything, so here are so honorable mentions:
Ender's Game
Despicable Me 2
The Family
You're Next
Evil Dead
Dead Man Down
Oz the Great and Powerful
World War Z
The Croods
The Great Gatsby
The Hangover Part III
Fast & Furious 6 (just for cheesiness factor)
Elysium
Carrie
Thor: The Dark World
Don Jon
1. Star Trek- Into Darkness: This movie took everything I loved about the first movie and made it even better. Everything, from the adrenaline-fueled action sequences, to the likeable characters, to the threatening villains, to the musical score, is taken to the next level with this superior sequel. The main characters have to face even more challenges this time around, facing off against a mysterious and extremely dangerous new foe (played Benedict Cumberbatch, who is a perfect fit for the role) as well as dealing with more responsibilities in Starfleet. J.J. Abrams' masterful science fiction action movie is definitely the best movie of the year because it's not only entertaining and exhilarating, but also thoughtful and compelling, with a somewhat sympathetic villain and an ending that leaves the door open for more excellent sequels. I loved it and I'm sure anyone who sees it will, too.
(Images: Wikipedia)
25. Side Effects: Steven Soderbergh's final film may not be the best last project as a director, but as a stand-alone film (without all the hype of it being his last film) it's excellent. An intriguing and well-executed tale of lies and deceit surrounding a murder trial, it serves as both an excellent murder mystery/thriller as well as an examination of how medicine affects one's psyche, if at all. Rooney Mara and Jude Law are definitely the stand-outs of the film, and both play their roles extremely convincingly, with moments of real, raw emotion. This was profoundly effective, as, at the time this came out (early February), I hadn't seen too many good movies, as January is the worst month to see movies, so this was a pleasant surprise. The writing is excellent, the camerawork is fantastic, and Soderbergh brings his signature style to this psychological thriller.
24. The Hunger Games- Catching Fire: This second installment in the popular teen romance/science fiction/thriller franchise was really surprising, considering the fact I wasn't the hugest fan of the first film. Jennifer Lawrence is excellent (no surprise there), and the supporting cast (including the late, great Philip Seymour Hoffman) were surprisingly good as well. This film has a darker, more serious tone than the previous, and spends less time focusing on the games themselves (they only take up about 30 minutes of the film), and more on the development of the characters and the effects the events of the first film have on them and on the world they live in. This is one of those rare sequels that is far superior to the original.
23. Iron Man 3: Even though it's not nearly as good as the first film or The Avengers (or even Iron Man 2), this superhero epic still packs enough action, comedy, and insanely good special effects to make the list. Even though the film maintains the series' humor, it takes a decidedly darker, more serious tone. Shane Black (writer of Lethal Weapon and director of Kiss Kiss Bang Bang) helms this film, but Jon Favreau stays on as an actor and producer. Black brings some of his trademarks to the series (like the Christmastime setting), and he brings a new flavor to the series. This installment definitely feels a bit different, like how instead of the title appearing on screen in gold lettering (like in the two previous films), it doesn't appear until the end (in a 60's TV show-esque credits sequence), and is stylized as "Iron Man Three". Little changes like that make this one feel fresh and new, and that's something I haven't seen in a while: a superhero film that breaks tradition and gives a breath of fresh air into the genre, despite all it's flaws. And yes the whole Mandarin plot twist halfway through the film is a crock of shit, and that's why this film is a little low on the list, but other than that, I really enjoyed this movie: it's fun, fast-paced, and exciting, and for a superhero film, that's pretty impressive, especially considering how many shit superhero and actions films there are these days.
22. Pacific Rim: Guillermo del Toro takes a break from horror/fantasy films to make a fun, Power Rangers-esque movie where the military of the future must use giant robots (codenamed "Jagers") to combat against reptilian creatures (codenamed "Kaiju"), which come into our world from a portal at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. This movie is just kick-ass. It's got awesome fights between robots and monsters (these thrilling sequences put Transformers to shame), some humor (mostly due to the supporting characters played by Charlie Day and Burn Gorman), and slick cinematography. The CGI is absolutely incredible, and Guillermo made some good choices when it came to how to approach the tone of the film: he wanted it to be serious, but not too cynical or dark, he still wanted it to be fun and exciting; he didn't want the female character to be a "sex kitten" (or sexually objectified character), he wanted her to be somewhat attractive, but also to have a real personality and for the audience to like her. I really have to compliment him on that. Even though this is different than most of his films (even the superhero film Hellboy is a bit different than this film), he still kept some of his signatures, like the Lovecraftian-looking creatures, and the casting of Ron Perlman in a supporting role. Mr. del Toro, I commend you for being able to pull this movie off: it's smart, funny, action-packed, has good writing and fleshed-out characters, and is just dark enough to be taken seriously. That's pretty much a perfect blockbuster.
21. Frozen: This acclaimed animated film not only has beautiful animation and some good supporting characters, but also is one of the better animated films of the past five years. Although the villain is very lackluster and the whole climax is pretty rushed, the film is overall really good. The best characters are definitely Olaf and Oaken (the latter of which only has one scene). To be honest, I wasn't a huge fan of the film's music (despite the fact it was done by the musical team behind excellent Broadway comedies like The Book of Mormon and Avenue Q), and luckily, the musical numbers are short and there's not too many of them. Besides that, I really enjoyed this movie, and, according to aggregator sites like RottenTomatoes, most people agree that this is definitely worth a few viewings.
20. Prisoners and Rush (tie): I couldn't decide between these two, so I gave them each their own spot. One is a dark and disturbing thriller/drama about a father obsessed with finding his missing daughters at any cost, which also follows a highly intelligent detective who's on the same case. Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Paul Dano all do a fantastic job in this twisted, raw film that doesn't hold back at all. It's gruesome, dark, and very realistic, which is why I believe it's so effective. The second film is Ron Howard's film about the real-life rivalry and friendship between two legendary Formula One drivers: James Hunt and Niki Lauda. Chris Hemsworth puts his action hero persona aside and fills a more dramatic role alongside Peter Bruhl, who gives an amazing performance. The shining moment of this inspirational true sports story is Bruhl's powerful ending monologue, which sums up what makes the film interesting: the respect these two rivals have for one another, and how far they go to be the best.
19. The Heat: Paul Feig's buddy cop comedy is not only hilarious, it's also somewhat touching in it's portrayal of the two leads as sort of foster sisters to each other. Melissa McCarthy continues to prove she is one of the funniest female actors working today, and she definitely is the best part of the movie, she's foul-mouthed, stubborn, crazy, breaks the rules, belittles her superiors, and is a bad-ass cop. It may not be as good as The Other Guys or Hot Fuzz, but this movie is action-packed, hysterical, and a tugs at the heart-strings a bit, and that's quite and accomplishment, especially when you think about how many shitty comedies there are these days.
18. This Is the End: This self-deprecating comedy about the Biblical apocalypse has enough movie references and pop culture jokes to keep any cinephile happy, and the main actors do a fantastic job mocking themselves. This very original film is not only hilarious, but also has some creepy elements in it, such as demonic possession, tribes of cannibals, and hellish monsters. An uproariously funny horror-comedy, This is the End not only makes fun of it's stars and most of Hollywood, but also shows the touching friendship between the two main characters: Jay and Seth, and how they stick together through the worst situations, whether it be dealing with a possessed Jonah Hill, a cannibal tribe led by Danny McBride, or an encounter with Satan incarnate.
17. The Conjuring and Insidious-Chapter 2 (tie): Both of these are terrifying James Wan horror films involving the supernatural (and both star Patrick Wilson, and in both films he has a pretty attractive wife). The former is based on a real-life case (one of the few "based on a true story" films that's actually based on a true story), and is all the more horrifying because of it. It's a pretty authentic movie, and is very reminiscent of classic 70s ghost films (and it takes place in the 1970s). The music is a little too similar to the Insidious score, but they do have the same composer, so that's not a huge surprise. The makeup, practical effects, and camerawork are superb, props to you James Wan. And as if that wasn't enough, his next project, a sequel to his hit film Insidious, came out only a few months later. This film has a little more in common with The Conjuring than the first Insidious. It's more grounded in reality than the first movie (despite the ghost segments), and the villains are terrifying and eerie. The makeup and prosthetics, as well as the cinematography, music, and special effects are all extremely well-executed, and this is one of the few sequels to be on par with the original.
16. American Hustle: David O. Russell's latest film is an expertly crafted crime-comedy/drama which is inspired by actual events and people. Christian Bale, Jeremy Renner, and Jennifer Lawrence really shine in this excellent movie about con men, which won the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress- Musical or Comedy (Lawrence), Best Actress- Musical or Comedy (Adams), and Best Picture- Musical or Comedy. If those three awards don't convince you to check this out, then you have a problem. As for me, I loved it, and look forward to seeing it again.
15. The Wolf of Wall Street: Martin Scorsese's black comedy/drama about Wall Street corruption and indulgence is extremely entertaining, with a great cast headed by Leonardo DiCaprio (who won the Golden Globe for Best Actor- Musical or Comedy). Jonah Hill also pulls off a more dramatic role this time around, which he showed he could do in 2011's Moneyball, but he still is able to deliver tons of laughs as he and Leo go on several drug-fuelled misadventures involving stock markets, corruption, and Quaaludes. However, if black comedies aren't for you, then don't see this one, this is as dark as they get. If you hate long movies, skip this one, too: it's exactly 3 hours long. Also, if you're a prude about swearing and nudity, this one probably isn't for you either. It had to be edited down from an NC-17 rating for graphic sex, and it broke the record for uses of the expletive "fuck" (or related words like "fucker" or "fucking"): over 500 times, breaking the record held by Spike Lee's Summer of Sam. However, if you can get past all the cussing, constant graphic sex and drug abuse and drinking, then I guarantee you'll enjoy this crazy true story about one man's unbelievable climb to power on Wall Street. I definitely did.
14. Monsters University: Although this Pixar film isn't as good as it's predecessor, it definitely was enjoyable and gave me a feeling of nostalgia, after all, Monsters Inc. was one of the first films I saw in a theater. It holds a special place in my heart, like many things I saw when I was young, it brings me back every time I see it, so I was skeptical of this one at first. However, the people at Pixar swung me. With a star-studded cast, some of whom returned from the original (Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, etc.), this film made the wise decision to focus more on Mike than Sully this time around. It's now more of an underdog story, because when the original film began, Sully and Mike were already the top employees at their workplace, here, Sully is still the top dog, but Mike is constantly disrespected and belittled for his unthreatening appearance. This film has a bit of a different feel from the original, which isn't a bad thing, but still maintains faithful to the overall tone of the first movie. I would definitely recommend checking out this movie if you loved the first one or are generally a fan of Pixar.
13. The Wolverine: In this surprisingly entertaining superhero film (based on the beloved comic book limited series by Chris Claremont and Frank Miller), which branches X-Men: The Last Stand with the upcoming X-Men: Days of Future Past, and which discards the previous Wolverine film, Wolverine must deal with the loss of his powers and must use his hunting and tracking skills, brute strength, and more intelligent side to stop some treacherous foes in Japan. Showing the more human side of Wolverine while exploring his psyche, this film is a darker, more serious X-Men film, more similar to the tone of the first two films, but also packs in a good amount of exhilarating action sequences, including an excellent fight atop a bullet train, and an epic final battle between Logan and the villains inside a mountaintop fortress. James Mangold has crafted a very entertaining and more in-depth Wolverine movie than I've seen before, and the ending of this film perfectly sets up the much-anticipated Days of Future Past film coming out this summer.
12. The Way, Way Back: This coming-of-age-dramedy is definitely one of the better comedies of the year, and one of the more touching films I've seen this year. An underdog story about an awkward young teen finding his place during a stay at a beach house with his mom and her douchebag boyfriend during the summer, this movie has an amazing cast, and a talented writing team behind it. The entire movie has this charm and appeal to it that's just mesmerizing, and the story is not only very compelling, but some moments make you a bit teary-eyed. This is one of the few movies this year that has made shed a tear.
11. Gravity: In Alfonso Cuaron's stunning space thriller, Sandra Bullock and George Clooney must survive the barren and desolate conditions of space all while attempting to get back to Earth after their transport is destroyed. This film is not only extremely intense (it keeps you on the edge-of-your-seat for almost the entire run-time), but also has some heart-wrenching dramatic moments (like when Bullock tells a harrowing story about her daughter), and has some of the best cinematography I've ever seen. The realism of this film is astounding, and its' authenticity is undeniable. The unbelievably great cinematography and incredible sound design create the feeling that you are actually in space with these characters, and you can't help but root for them to get home. There's pretty much no music for this movie, creating a feeling of awkward tension, as if you're expecting something awful to happen at any second (which I was). I was worried about Bullock carrying this movie mostly by herself, and although at times it was obviously hard (as that's a lot of pressure for an actor), but I thought she actually kept it together and did a great job, I really have to compliment her for that. Gravity is just an amazing technical feat, and even more than that, its' a profoundly effective film, and the ending makes you almost want to cheer.
10. 42 and Lee Daniels' The Butler (tie): Both these films are emotionally gripping real-life stories about African-Americans fighting for respect in a world that doesn't appreciate or love them based on the color of their skin. The first is the story of baseball player Jackie Robinson, who went from playing small-time games with his friends to becoming one of the most respected and admired athletes to ever live. Chadwick Boseman's performance is amazing, especially coming from a relatively unknown actor. Harrison Ford also gives a very good performance as the team executive of the Brooklyn Dodgers, Christopher Meloni appears as the Dodgers' manager, and Alan Tudyk appears in a brief role as the despicable and racist manager of the Philadelphia Phillies. This film is not only inspirational and moving, but also is pretty accurate as far as history goes. The second film chronicles the life of an African-American butler named Cecil Gaines, who works in the White House, and serves under many different presidents. The film has a huge all-star cast, and features Oprah Winfrey and David Oyelowo is main roles. Forest Whitaker plays Cecil, and gives one of the best performances of his career, almost as good as his performances in Ghost Dog, The Shield, and The Last King of Scotland. It's a powerful story that shows the evolution of the United States during the 20th Century from the perspective of one man and his family.
9. Trance: Danny Boyle's slick and twisted psychological thriller may look like just another Inception knock-off, but I can assure you it's anything but. Boyle's dark and complex film is packed with grisly violence, nudity, swearing, and has some crazy plot twists. The film is like a jigsaw puzzle that the viewers have to solve along with the characters, and just when you think you've got it all figured out, it changes everything you think you know. The three main characters seem like typical characters at first: hero, villain, love interest, but as Boyle peels back the layers of each one, they're revealed to be completely different than you thought, and are less cut-and-dry and black-and-white, and more shades of gray. A perplexing and interesting thriller, Trance is full of surprises.
8. Anchorman 2- The Legend Continues: Finally, after almost a decade of anticipation, I was able to finally see the sequel to one of my favorite comedy films. Will Ferrell and the cast haven't lost it after 9 years, and they don't spend the whole time retreading jokes from the original (even though they do it a few times), but actually do some new stuff like having Ron Burgundy move to New York City, get a new catchphrase, get new rivals and some new friends, and raise a shark named Doby from birth. The movie is not only insanely funny and over-the-top, it also has just the right amount of absurdity and surrealism to make it feel like it takes place in some crazy alternate reality. This was definitely worth the wait.
7. Dallas Buyers Club: This tragic true story about AIDS patient Ron Woodruff is extremely powerful and bold. Stars Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto have already gotten Screen Actors Guild and Golden Globe awards, and the film is now nominated for several Oscars including Best Picture. McConaughey gives a gut-wrenching performance as the bigoted redneck Woodruff, who slowly evolves into a more accepting and caring human being due to his experiences with AIDS. Leto turns in yet another mesmerizing performance as the cross-dresser Rayon. Leto is a true chameleon, physically molding himself to fit each role he accepts. Jennifer Garner and Denis O'Hare fill in supporting roles, and both are excellent as well. This may be the best movie McConaughey has ever done, and this is also, without a doubt, one of Leto's best as well.
6. Man of Steel: Zack Snyder and Christopher Nolan's collaboration could have been hit-or-miss. Luckily, at least in my opinion, it was a definite hit. Despite some people thinking some of the changes they made (such as the way the villain dies, and the way Superman's dad dies) ruined the movie for them, I felt like they weren't all that bad, and the villain's death can actually be viewed as a good decision, especially the way the filmmakers chose to handle Superman's reaction to it. This movie is definitely one of the better superhero films of the past few years, and is one of the best action films this year. The rousing musical score, the special effects, intense action sequences, exploration of Superman's psyche and past, and uplifting ending make Man of Steel enjoyable every time you see it.
5. The World's End: The final installment in the Three Flavors Cornetto Trilogy is the best comedy of the year in my opinion. From the trio behind the previous two films (director and writer Edgar Wright, and stars Simon Pegg and Nick Frost), this film chronicles the journey of an old group of friends as they trek across their home town to finish an epic pub crawl, only to discover the town has been infested and taken over by alien robots. Combining comedy, science fiction, and the apocalypse, this British film has something for everyone: cool fight sequences, funny dialogue and situations, and some real drama, as the main character must learn to accept that his glory days of high school are over.
4. 12 Years a Slave: In Steve McQueen's stomach-churning, disturbing, and emotionally grueling historical drama, an all-star cast led tell the tale of a free black man being kidnapped, taken away from his family, and sold into slavery for 12 years. The cinematography, writing, and music are all fantastic, but the best aspect of this film is the incredible acting. The performances by Chiwetel Ejiofor, Lupita Nyong'o, and Michael Fassbender in particular are superb and captivating, with lots of raw, intense emotion. This movie is truly one of the most graphic and powerful portrayals of slavery that I have ever seen put to celluloid.
3. Captain Phillips: In Paul Greengrass' thrilling drama based on true events, Tom Hanks and Barkhad Abdi lead an amazing cast in retelling a story of survival and courage. The film is incredibly tense and keeps your heart racing wondering what's going to happen next. Even though you know that Phillips makes it out alive, you can't help but be scared for him. However, the film's made the smart choice to also portray the pirates who take Phillips captive in an empathetic light, showing that they don't like what they're doing, but are forced into it by war lords and by the poverty they live in. A powerhouse film about a brave man who risked it all to save his crew, Captain Phillips definitely constitutes several viewings.
2. The Hobbit- The Desolation of Smaug: Peter Jackson delivers yet another grand interpretation of the epic fantasy story that is Tolkien's Middle-Earth. Sir Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Luke Evans, Evangeline Lily, Orlando Bloom, and Benedict Cumberbatch lead a massive cast (which includes Lee Pace and Stephen Fry) in this highly entertaining fantasy adventure film. The cinematography and locations are amazingly beautiful, Peter Jackson always gets the best locations for these films. The design of this world, including costumes, weapons, creatures, and structures, is intricately detailed and its' incredible to think about how much work went into it all. The performances are really good, and the entire sequence involving the company of dwarves' encounter with Smaug the dragon is extremely entertaining, and his conversation with Bilbo is very tense and frightening, and sometimes a bit humorous. Even the ending song ("I See Fire" by Ed Sheeran) was excellent. The only complaint: the massive cliffhanger at the end, that kind of pissed me off.
Well, I couldn't include everything, so here are so honorable mentions:
Ender's Game
Despicable Me 2
The Family
You're Next
Evil Dead
Dead Man Down
Oz the Great and Powerful
World War Z
The Croods
The Great Gatsby
The Hangover Part III
Fast & Furious 6 (just for cheesiness factor)
Elysium
Carrie
Thor: The Dark World
Don Jon
1. Star Trek- Into Darkness: This movie took everything I loved about the first movie and made it even better. Everything, from the adrenaline-fueled action sequences, to the likeable characters, to the threatening villains, to the musical score, is taken to the next level with this superior sequel. The main characters have to face even more challenges this time around, facing off against a mysterious and extremely dangerous new foe (played Benedict Cumberbatch, who is a perfect fit for the role) as well as dealing with more responsibilities in Starfleet. J.J. Abrams' masterful science fiction action movie is definitely the best movie of the year because it's not only entertaining and exhilarating, but also thoughtful and compelling, with a somewhat sympathetic villain and an ending that leaves the door open for more excellent sequels. I loved it and I'm sure anyone who sees it will, too.
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(Images: Wikipedia)
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