Thursday, November 15, 2012
Sorry...
Sorry, I've been giving the wrong address for my other blog, it's mattmonstermovies.blogspot.com I was mis-typing it the whole time. How funny, go check it out!
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Reel Time: Chronicle
Today, I look at the sleeper hit Chronicle.
Chronicle:
Released just a few months before I started doing reviews on my blog, this was a pleasant surprise for many viewers. It chronicles (tee-hee) the life of Andrew, a teenager (who happens to have the shittiest life ever) who, along with his cousin and a friend, discovers an underground, almost ancient technology. The trio discover they have telekenis and a psychic connection with each other. They, like teens do, use their powers to fuck about and play pranks. But, when they start to get stronger, Andrew begins to lose control, and unleash his inner demons. The young cast of no-names are fantastic. Dane DeHaan plays Andrew, a disturbed teen with zero social life. He begins filming his life, and shows his shitty home life (abusive alcoholic father, mother dying of cancer, poor), bad school life (bullies, no friends, no girlfriend, isolated), and his isolation from his own family (cousin is distant, mother loves him but always is sick, dad hates him). DeHaan really pulls off the role, and the change into evil does not feel drastic, but very gradual and natural. And this film shows that people with absolute power (especially those who have never had power before) will never become heroes, but flawed, tragic villains. This film isn't quite on par with Unbreakable, but it's just under there. Alex Russell plays Matt, Andrew's cousin and friend. He is distant at first, but grows close to Andrew through bonding with their powers. He gives an empathetic and realistic portrayal of a jock trying to be more of a smart guy. Michael B. Jordan plays Steve, a popular guy who is a sportsy guy who bonds with Andrew and Matt. He really bonds with Andrew, which makes Andrew's downfall and his breaking away from Steve more tragic. Michael Kelly is great as Richard, Andrew's abusive asswhipe of a father. The film is written and directed by Josh Trank (The Kill Point), and co-written by John Landis's son, Max Landis (TV's Fear Itself). Although it appeals to fans of the found footage genre, it uses the psychic powers of the boys to it's advantage, using them to make excuses to move the camera like traditional cinematography. The special effects are spectacular, and several scenes are the most realistic view of flying I've ever seen. Chronicle is smart, emotional, entertaining, and near the end, somewhat dark. A great film that combines the superhero film, sci-fi, teen movie, a dark drama about the downfall of a disturbed boy, and a smart psychological film. A must-see. 5/5 stars.
Chronicle:
Released just a few months before I started doing reviews on my blog, this was a pleasant surprise for many viewers. It chronicles (tee-hee) the life of Andrew, a teenager (who happens to have the shittiest life ever) who, along with his cousin and a friend, discovers an underground, almost ancient technology. The trio discover they have telekenis and a psychic connection with each other. They, like teens do, use their powers to fuck about and play pranks. But, when they start to get stronger, Andrew begins to lose control, and unleash his inner demons. The young cast of no-names are fantastic. Dane DeHaan plays Andrew, a disturbed teen with zero social life. He begins filming his life, and shows his shitty home life (abusive alcoholic father, mother dying of cancer, poor), bad school life (bullies, no friends, no girlfriend, isolated), and his isolation from his own family (cousin is distant, mother loves him but always is sick, dad hates him). DeHaan really pulls off the role, and the change into evil does not feel drastic, but very gradual and natural. And this film shows that people with absolute power (especially those who have never had power before) will never become heroes, but flawed, tragic villains. This film isn't quite on par with Unbreakable, but it's just under there. Alex Russell plays Matt, Andrew's cousin and friend. He is distant at first, but grows close to Andrew through bonding with their powers. He gives an empathetic and realistic portrayal of a jock trying to be more of a smart guy. Michael B. Jordan plays Steve, a popular guy who is a sportsy guy who bonds with Andrew and Matt. He really bonds with Andrew, which makes Andrew's downfall and his breaking away from Steve more tragic. Michael Kelly is great as Richard, Andrew's abusive asswhipe of a father. The film is written and directed by Josh Trank (The Kill Point), and co-written by John Landis's son, Max Landis (TV's Fear Itself). Although it appeals to fans of the found footage genre, it uses the psychic powers of the boys to it's advantage, using them to make excuses to move the camera like traditional cinematography. The special effects are spectacular, and several scenes are the most realistic view of flying I've ever seen. Chronicle is smart, emotional, entertaining, and near the end, somewhat dark. A great film that combines the superhero film, sci-fi, teen movie, a dark drama about the downfall of a disturbed boy, and a smart psychological film. A must-see. 5/5 stars.
Lincoln review
Today, I look at Steven Spielberg's new war epic, Lincoln, a semi-follow-up to last year's War Horse. Not a sequel, but another Spielberg epic.
Lincoln:
The film chronicles the months leading up to the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation (Funny enough, the film was released in the weeks leading up to the 150th anniversary of this great day). It is not a chronicle of Lincoln's life. And the film is stronger for it. Lincoln's life is vastly intriguing, but his life wasn't an accomplishment, his accomplishment was the indoctrination of the EP. The film is led by an all-star cast. Daniel Day-Lewis plays President Abraham Lincoln, a role that originally went to Liam Neeson. Now, just gonna say this now, there is a very beloved attraction at Disneyland called Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, which chronicles Lincoln's life and greatest moments. I make sure to visit it at least once every time I visit. Now, that version of Lincoln is very different from how Spielberg and Day-Lewis envision him. He is a big, broad, loud man with almost an importance to the way he moves. Day-Lewis plays him as a quiet, peaceful, somber man who is physically imposing, but not that proud or broad. I believe each interpretation is true to the man, and each are great in their own way. The Disneyland attraction shows the vision of Lincoln, almost as an icon. This shows us the human side of Lincoln. Both have great, but very different voices for Lincoln. Daniel Day-Lewis plays Lincoln very effectively. He and the rest of the cast make this an emotional powerhouse of a film. Lincoln talks at almost a whisper, so when he raises his voice or loses his temper, it's all the more effective. It's great seeing Day-Lewis stretch his bounds, as he usually plays big, broad characters, and recently has played very malicous or destructive characters. (Bill the Butcher in Gangs of New York, and Daniel Plainview in There Will Be Blood) He makes Lincoln an engrossing and intriguing character, and really drives the film. He enjoys a good story and joke, and lifts the sometimes very depressing mood at times. Sally Field plays Mary Todd Lincoln, his infamously mad wife. But, Spielberg shows her as not that crazy. She is a woman on the fringe, and although she loves her husband, she has yet to get over the death of their middle son, Willie. Field gives an emotional and powerful performance, and her relationship with her husband is strange, but altogether very sweet and caring. Tommy Lee Jones plays Thaddeus Stevens, a speaker at many Congressional debates, and an advocate for abolition. He gives a very sympethetic performance, showing Stevens as a near-crippled, emotionally distraught man, he is one of the best characters in the film. Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays Robert Todd Lincoln, Lincoln's eldest son. They have a strained relationship, and Robert longs to join the military. Robert can come off as loving and kind, and then at one point he brushes off a poor man begging him to a deliver a letter to Lincoln, and he basically tells him to piss off, and comes off as an asshole. He doesn't have quite as big a role as he was advertised to have, but altogether, an interesting man. Gulliver McGrath plays Tad, Lincoln's youngest son, who has a good relationship with his father. So (and am I really spoiling anything here?) when Lincoln (spoiler!!!) dies at the end, his reaction is truly heartbreaking. David Straithairn plays Secretary of State William Seward, a smaller, but still powerful role. Jackie Earle Haley (Watchmen, A Nightmare on Elm Street, The Bad News Bears) plays Confedrate V.P. Alexander H. Stephens, a small role, but still effective, as a pretty racist, but polite, confederate. I believe that Dane DeHaan (Andrew from Chronicle) makes a cameo as a young soldier at the beginning of the film. The muscial score by John Williams (like in War Horse) is forgettable and a little bland (unusual for Williams), but it does very much carry the film, just a little forgettable. Be warned, there are some very brief, but somewhat gruesome moments, especially for PG-13. But, I would not discourage people from seeing it, because I believe it's an important historical film that's true to facts, and I really enjoyed the acting and story. 5/5 stars.
Lincoln:
The film chronicles the months leading up to the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation (Funny enough, the film was released in the weeks leading up to the 150th anniversary of this great day). It is not a chronicle of Lincoln's life. And the film is stronger for it. Lincoln's life is vastly intriguing, but his life wasn't an accomplishment, his accomplishment was the indoctrination of the EP. The film is led by an all-star cast. Daniel Day-Lewis plays President Abraham Lincoln, a role that originally went to Liam Neeson. Now, just gonna say this now, there is a very beloved attraction at Disneyland called Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, which chronicles Lincoln's life and greatest moments. I make sure to visit it at least once every time I visit. Now, that version of Lincoln is very different from how Spielberg and Day-Lewis envision him. He is a big, broad, loud man with almost an importance to the way he moves. Day-Lewis plays him as a quiet, peaceful, somber man who is physically imposing, but not that proud or broad. I believe each interpretation is true to the man, and each are great in their own way. The Disneyland attraction shows the vision of Lincoln, almost as an icon. This shows us the human side of Lincoln. Both have great, but very different voices for Lincoln. Daniel Day-Lewis plays Lincoln very effectively. He and the rest of the cast make this an emotional powerhouse of a film. Lincoln talks at almost a whisper, so when he raises his voice or loses his temper, it's all the more effective. It's great seeing Day-Lewis stretch his bounds, as he usually plays big, broad characters, and recently has played very malicous or destructive characters. (Bill the Butcher in Gangs of New York, and Daniel Plainview in There Will Be Blood) He makes Lincoln an engrossing and intriguing character, and really drives the film. He enjoys a good story and joke, and lifts the sometimes very depressing mood at times. Sally Field plays Mary Todd Lincoln, his infamously mad wife. But, Spielberg shows her as not that crazy. She is a woman on the fringe, and although she loves her husband, she has yet to get over the death of their middle son, Willie. Field gives an emotional and powerful performance, and her relationship with her husband is strange, but altogether very sweet and caring. Tommy Lee Jones plays Thaddeus Stevens, a speaker at many Congressional debates, and an advocate for abolition. He gives a very sympethetic performance, showing Stevens as a near-crippled, emotionally distraught man, he is one of the best characters in the film. Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays Robert Todd Lincoln, Lincoln's eldest son. They have a strained relationship, and Robert longs to join the military. Robert can come off as loving and kind, and then at one point he brushes off a poor man begging him to a deliver a letter to Lincoln, and he basically tells him to piss off, and comes off as an asshole. He doesn't have quite as big a role as he was advertised to have, but altogether, an interesting man. Gulliver McGrath plays Tad, Lincoln's youngest son, who has a good relationship with his father. So (and am I really spoiling anything here?) when Lincoln (spoiler!!!) dies at the end, his reaction is truly heartbreaking. David Straithairn plays Secretary of State William Seward, a smaller, but still powerful role. Jackie Earle Haley (Watchmen, A Nightmare on Elm Street, The Bad News Bears) plays Confedrate V.P. Alexander H. Stephens, a small role, but still effective, as a pretty racist, but polite, confederate. I believe that Dane DeHaan (Andrew from Chronicle) makes a cameo as a young soldier at the beginning of the film. The muscial score by John Williams (like in War Horse) is forgettable and a little bland (unusual for Williams), but it does very much carry the film, just a little forgettable. Be warned, there are some very brief, but somewhat gruesome moments, especially for PG-13. But, I would not discourage people from seeing it, because I believe it's an important historical film that's true to facts, and I really enjoyed the acting and story. 5/5 stars.
Monday, November 12, 2012
Daniel Craig Bond Trilogy
Today, I look at one of the most beloved and acclaimed film franchises ever. (Well, at least three of them.) Well, I look at the most recent three: the prequel series starring Daniel Craig and Judi Dench as Bond and M (Dench reprising her role from the Bronsnan films). Let's begin, there's a lot of movie to get through. (Possible spoilers ahead.)
Casino Royale:
This films chronicles Bond's journey to becoming the Bond we know and love. The first scene chronicles his first two kills: one a messy, Bourne-style fight, the other: a cold, calculating kill we expect from Bond. We see his ID card printed up, and we see his jounrey to becoming Bond, his first martini, his first introduction ("Bond, James Bond"), his first real mission. This Bond abandoned the usual Bond formula after Die Another Day had proved such a failure eight years earlier. This was more inspired by the sleeper hit The Bourne Identity and it's sequels. The plot follows Bond's first mission: find the international criminal Le Chiffre, who is being hunted by African warlords due to complications with money. He plans to get it back by winning a criminally-run game of Texas Hold-'Em at the Casino Royale. Bond, and his contact, the mysterious Vesper Lynd, try to take out Le Chiffre, but conflict ensues, and things get more complicated than Bond had hoped... The cast are fantastic. Daniel Craig offers a darker, more serious, but altogether more human Bond than we've ever seen. He has a more brutal and fast-paced way of killing than previous Bonds, and doesn't drop as many one-liners, which is what makes him such a great Bond. He doesn't even have any fancy Q-branch gadgets to assist him, relying on pure skill. Eva Green gives agreat performance as Vesper She's not the typical Bond girl. She's smart, but isn't constantly shown as eye candy. She has very dark moments, especially in the scene where she and Bond are nearly murdered by African war criminals. Madds Mikkelsen plays Le Chiffre, a French villain who is a banker serving many international criminals, who is an expert mathematician and a genius chess player, and applies his skills to poker-playing. He isn't quite that big Bond-baddie like Dr. No, or Goldfinger, but is a worthy adversary for Bond's first mission. he has a creepy presence, due to his one scarred eye and deadly pale face, almost like a vampire. Judi Dench plays M, aka "Mother", the head of MI6. She is cold and somewhat remorseless in some situations, and has a bit of an odd relationship with Bond, that of well, a stern mother. She is a key character, but isn't a big part of the movie. She is more of a side character. Jeffrey Wright plays Felix Leiter, a CIA contact who works with Bond during the poker tournament. Isaac de Bankole plays Steven Obanno, an African warlord who was working with Le Chiffre through an outside contact, Mr. White. Jepser Christensen plays Mr. White, a contact for a criminal organization. The music is interesting. The theme song, "You Know My Name" by Chris Cornell of Soundgarden fame, serves as the main theme of the movie. They do not play the Bond theme until the end scene, for that's when Bond becomes the Bond we know. The main theme is pretty kick-ass, and is the first Bond theme not to share the same title as the film (Editorial note: sorry, no it's not.) . The action and stunts are spectacular, exciting, and are excellently paced. The opening chase on an African construction site is pretty exhilirating, and the stunt work is truly amazing. The final shoot-out in Venice is pretty damn intense and suspenseful, with some great tension built up. The direction by Martin Campbell (Green Lantern, GoldenEye, Mask of Zorro) is slick and inventive, just like Bond himself, and I believe this is because Campbell has directed a Bond film before, having experience with the franchise. This is truly one of the best Bond films ever made. It took a gamble by trying a completely new approach, and succeeded on all levels. Casino Royale is a heart-pounding action-thriller that will leave you on the edge of your seat until the credits roll, and this is a movie centering around a card game! 5/5 stars.
Quantum of Solace:
This was the first direct sequel in the entire franchise. After the death of his lover in the last film, James Bond seeks revenge on the people responsible. He is aided by Camille Montes, a beautiful but tough woman seeking revenge for the murder of her entire family. He is aided by a fellow MI6 agent, a CIA ally, and a contact from the last film in taking down Quantum, a criminal orgnaization which Mr. White worked for, led by the mysterious Mr. Greene. This film is not quite as good as Casino, mainly due to the fact it took many cues from the original films, and didn't follow the successful pattern that the previous film did. The direction by Marc Forster is slick and cool, but the plot isn't quite as complex or interesting as the previous installment. Daniel Craig returns as Bond, this time a little more cold and less complex than the Bond we saw in Casino, and he isn't quite as interesting either. Olga Kurylenko plays Camille, Bond's sexy and smart accomplice, who seeks revenge for her family's murder. She is pretty good Bond girl, but doesn't have that flare to her that Eva Green did in the previous film. She is a good actress, but the character isn't written as well. Mathieu Amalric plays Dominic Greene, the main villain, and leader of Quantum, who is posing as a businessman who is starting a reforestation program. He is a step above Le Chiffre, but not quite that ultimate Bond bad guy yet. He's a formidable opponent, representing hidden evils in people, but really isn't all that interesting. Unlike Le Chiffre, or any other Bond villains, he doesn't really have that presence around him, and is threatening, but isn't all that complex, like you'd want a Bond villain to be. Gemma Arterton plays Strawberry Fields, an MI6 agent who assists Bond in his investigation of Quantum. She constantly tries to be Bond's equal, to no avail. She is a strong woman, but also, not all that interesting. Giancarlo Giannini plays Rene Mathis, Bond's contact from Casino Royale, this time helping Bond investigate Quantum. Jeffrey Wright once again plays Felix Leiter, Bond's CIA contact who helps him take down Greene. The music is pretty good. The main theme: "Another Way to Die" by Jack White and Alicia Keys is pretty good, but, like many things in this film, is not as good as Casino. Marc Forster, director of such films as Stranger than Fiction, The Kite Runner, Monster's Ball and Finding Neverland presents a slick and cool film which is, at it's core, simply mediocre. The action scenes are pretty damn good, but aren't as good as some stuff in Casino. Overall, Quantum of Solace is an acceptable Bond film, but doesn't live up to the hype. 3/5 stars.
Skyfall:
This film is released on Mr. Bond's 50th birthday, and was announced November 3, 2011, 50 years to the exact date that Sean Connery was first announced to play Bond. This definitely lives up to the hype. This is a must-see for anyone, anywhere. When MI6 is attacked by a shadowy cyberterrorist, Bond is called back into action after being presumed dead for several months after an incident involving the cyberterrorist. After being so shaken, Bond is hardly ready to take on a new enemy, let alone a (gasp) real Bond villain. Enter Mr. Raoul Silva, the effemintent, theatrical, and truly terrifying cyber-criminal with a strange relationship with M. He is a ruthless, disturbed, ingenius, intelligent, and completely insane ex-MI6 agent who felt betrayed by M when he was captured on a mission and left for dead. Javier Bardem (who I feel is typecast as the villain) gives a subtly creepy and brilliant performance as Silva, who's only goal is to make sure M, Bond, and the entirety of MI6 is taken down and humiliated. Bardem plays it ever so effeminate, with the right tinge of theatricality, making the villain thousands of times more threatening than he already is. He even flirts with Bond. During this conflict, M and Bond's relationship is put to the test, Bond's psyche is pushed to the limit, and M is questioned on her ability to lead MI6. As usual, Daniel Craig gives a great performance as Bond. He is my favorite Bond so far, which will make me sad when he's inevitably replaced by someone else. I just hope he can get one or two more out before he gets too old for the part. It's gonna be hard to top this one, though. Judi Dench gives a more human and deep side to M that has been somewhat missing in the character. She is truly broken down as good agents die, and she is confronted by the insane Silva, who shocks and appauls her with his continued efforts to end her life, no matter what the cost. Ralph Fiennes (another actor often typecast as the villain) plays Mallory, chairman of the Intelligence and Security Committee, and one of Bond and M's closest allies. He is a smart, tough, and very cool character, and gives Fienne a break from his usual evil deeds. Naomie Harris and Berenice Lim Marlohe play Bond girls Eve Moneypenny and Severine, one a bad-ass MI6 agent, the other an enigmatic and tough woman in the employ of Silva. Ben Whishaw plays Q, the new MI6 quatermaster, who does not equip Bond with nifty little gadgets that help Bond out of every situation, but instead a radio transmitter, and a gun that fires only in his hands. The writers do have a little joke about how the Q branch are basically equipping Bond with an arsenal of dues ex machinas. In fact, that's something I truly enjoyed. it had the realism of Casino, but some fun of the original Bond films, and some truly witty humor. Due to it being the 50th anniversary, they do make clever references to past Bond film (one is a title drop), but don't shove it in your face like Die Another Day did for the 40th anniversary. Albert Finney makes a cameo as Kincaid, the caretaker of Bond's old estate, a role that was originally offered to the original Bond, Sean Connery. Rory Kinnear plays Bill Tanner, the Chief of Staff at MI6. Ola Rapace plays a sadisitic, nearly mute French mercenary by the name of Patrice. The music is terrific. The main theme: "Skyfall" by Adele, is a terrific theme, and Adele surprised me, not needing autotune to make her voice beautiful. It really matches the tone of the film. This is as good a Bond theme as any, the best in yeats. The direction by Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Road to Perdition, Jarhead, Revolutionary Road) is slick, smart, and well-paced. The action is breathtaking, and really exhilirating and fun. Skyfall is the ultimate Bond film, the ultimate action-thriller, the ultimate spy film, combining the fun of last year's Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol and the darkness of this year's The Bourne Legacy, making it a balanced, thrilling, action-packed, spectacular thrill ride. This is truly worthy of being called the 50th anniversary celebration of Bond. This is a must-see for any moviegoer, and any Bond fan, or any average joe, the year's best blockbuster by far. 5/5 stars!!!! Happy 50th Mr. Bond, let's hope for another great 50 years!
Casino Royale:
This films chronicles Bond's journey to becoming the Bond we know and love. The first scene chronicles his first two kills: one a messy, Bourne-style fight, the other: a cold, calculating kill we expect from Bond. We see his ID card printed up, and we see his jounrey to becoming Bond, his first martini, his first introduction ("Bond, James Bond"), his first real mission. This Bond abandoned the usual Bond formula after Die Another Day had proved such a failure eight years earlier. This was more inspired by the sleeper hit The Bourne Identity and it's sequels. The plot follows Bond's first mission: find the international criminal Le Chiffre, who is being hunted by African warlords due to complications with money. He plans to get it back by winning a criminally-run game of Texas Hold-'Em at the Casino Royale. Bond, and his contact, the mysterious Vesper Lynd, try to take out Le Chiffre, but conflict ensues, and things get more complicated than Bond had hoped... The cast are fantastic. Daniel Craig offers a darker, more serious, but altogether more human Bond than we've ever seen. He has a more brutal and fast-paced way of killing than previous Bonds, and doesn't drop as many one-liners, which is what makes him such a great Bond. He doesn't even have any fancy Q-branch gadgets to assist him, relying on pure skill. Eva Green gives agreat performance as Vesper She's not the typical Bond girl. She's smart, but isn't constantly shown as eye candy. She has very dark moments, especially in the scene where she and Bond are nearly murdered by African war criminals. Madds Mikkelsen plays Le Chiffre, a French villain who is a banker serving many international criminals, who is an expert mathematician and a genius chess player, and applies his skills to poker-playing. He isn't quite that big Bond-baddie like Dr. No, or Goldfinger, but is a worthy adversary for Bond's first mission. he has a creepy presence, due to his one scarred eye and deadly pale face, almost like a vampire. Judi Dench plays M, aka "Mother", the head of MI6. She is cold and somewhat remorseless in some situations, and has a bit of an odd relationship with Bond, that of well, a stern mother. She is a key character, but isn't a big part of the movie. She is more of a side character. Jeffrey Wright plays Felix Leiter, a CIA contact who works with Bond during the poker tournament. Isaac de Bankole plays Steven Obanno, an African warlord who was working with Le Chiffre through an outside contact, Mr. White. Jepser Christensen plays Mr. White, a contact for a criminal organization. The music is interesting. The theme song, "You Know My Name" by Chris Cornell of Soundgarden fame, serves as the main theme of the movie. They do not play the Bond theme until the end scene, for that's when Bond becomes the Bond we know. The main theme is pretty kick-ass, and is the first Bond theme not to share the same title as the film (Editorial note: sorry, no it's not.) . The action and stunts are spectacular, exciting, and are excellently paced. The opening chase on an African construction site is pretty exhilirating, and the stunt work is truly amazing. The final shoot-out in Venice is pretty damn intense and suspenseful, with some great tension built up. The direction by Martin Campbell (Green Lantern, GoldenEye, Mask of Zorro) is slick and inventive, just like Bond himself, and I believe this is because Campbell has directed a Bond film before, having experience with the franchise. This is truly one of the best Bond films ever made. It took a gamble by trying a completely new approach, and succeeded on all levels. Casino Royale is a heart-pounding action-thriller that will leave you on the edge of your seat until the credits roll, and this is a movie centering around a card game! 5/5 stars.
Quantum of Solace:
This was the first direct sequel in the entire franchise. After the death of his lover in the last film, James Bond seeks revenge on the people responsible. He is aided by Camille Montes, a beautiful but tough woman seeking revenge for the murder of her entire family. He is aided by a fellow MI6 agent, a CIA ally, and a contact from the last film in taking down Quantum, a criminal orgnaization which Mr. White worked for, led by the mysterious Mr. Greene. This film is not quite as good as Casino, mainly due to the fact it took many cues from the original films, and didn't follow the successful pattern that the previous film did. The direction by Marc Forster is slick and cool, but the plot isn't quite as complex or interesting as the previous installment. Daniel Craig returns as Bond, this time a little more cold and less complex than the Bond we saw in Casino, and he isn't quite as interesting either. Olga Kurylenko plays Camille, Bond's sexy and smart accomplice, who seeks revenge for her family's murder. She is pretty good Bond girl, but doesn't have that flare to her that Eva Green did in the previous film. She is a good actress, but the character isn't written as well. Mathieu Amalric plays Dominic Greene, the main villain, and leader of Quantum, who is posing as a businessman who is starting a reforestation program. He is a step above Le Chiffre, but not quite that ultimate Bond bad guy yet. He's a formidable opponent, representing hidden evils in people, but really isn't all that interesting. Unlike Le Chiffre, or any other Bond villains, he doesn't really have that presence around him, and is threatening, but isn't all that complex, like you'd want a Bond villain to be. Gemma Arterton plays Strawberry Fields, an MI6 agent who assists Bond in his investigation of Quantum. She constantly tries to be Bond's equal, to no avail. She is a strong woman, but also, not all that interesting. Giancarlo Giannini plays Rene Mathis, Bond's contact from Casino Royale, this time helping Bond investigate Quantum. Jeffrey Wright once again plays Felix Leiter, Bond's CIA contact who helps him take down Greene. The music is pretty good. The main theme: "Another Way to Die" by Jack White and Alicia Keys is pretty good, but, like many things in this film, is not as good as Casino. Marc Forster, director of such films as Stranger than Fiction, The Kite Runner, Monster's Ball and Finding Neverland presents a slick and cool film which is, at it's core, simply mediocre. The action scenes are pretty damn good, but aren't as good as some stuff in Casino. Overall, Quantum of Solace is an acceptable Bond film, but doesn't live up to the hype. 3/5 stars.
Skyfall:
This film is released on Mr. Bond's 50th birthday, and was announced November 3, 2011, 50 years to the exact date that Sean Connery was first announced to play Bond. This definitely lives up to the hype. This is a must-see for anyone, anywhere. When MI6 is attacked by a shadowy cyberterrorist, Bond is called back into action after being presumed dead for several months after an incident involving the cyberterrorist. After being so shaken, Bond is hardly ready to take on a new enemy, let alone a (gasp) real Bond villain. Enter Mr. Raoul Silva, the effemintent, theatrical, and truly terrifying cyber-criminal with a strange relationship with M. He is a ruthless, disturbed, ingenius, intelligent, and completely insane ex-MI6 agent who felt betrayed by M when he was captured on a mission and left for dead. Javier Bardem (who I feel is typecast as the villain) gives a subtly creepy and brilliant performance as Silva, who's only goal is to make sure M, Bond, and the entirety of MI6 is taken down and humiliated. Bardem plays it ever so effeminate, with the right tinge of theatricality, making the villain thousands of times more threatening than he already is. He even flirts with Bond. During this conflict, M and Bond's relationship is put to the test, Bond's psyche is pushed to the limit, and M is questioned on her ability to lead MI6. As usual, Daniel Craig gives a great performance as Bond. He is my favorite Bond so far, which will make me sad when he's inevitably replaced by someone else. I just hope he can get one or two more out before he gets too old for the part. It's gonna be hard to top this one, though. Judi Dench gives a more human and deep side to M that has been somewhat missing in the character. She is truly broken down as good agents die, and she is confronted by the insane Silva, who shocks and appauls her with his continued efforts to end her life, no matter what the cost. Ralph Fiennes (another actor often typecast as the villain) plays Mallory, chairman of the Intelligence and Security Committee, and one of Bond and M's closest allies. He is a smart, tough, and very cool character, and gives Fienne a break from his usual evil deeds. Naomie Harris and Berenice Lim Marlohe play Bond girls Eve Moneypenny and Severine, one a bad-ass MI6 agent, the other an enigmatic and tough woman in the employ of Silva. Ben Whishaw plays Q, the new MI6 quatermaster, who does not equip Bond with nifty little gadgets that help Bond out of every situation, but instead a radio transmitter, and a gun that fires only in his hands. The writers do have a little joke about how the Q branch are basically equipping Bond with an arsenal of dues ex machinas. In fact, that's something I truly enjoyed. it had the realism of Casino, but some fun of the original Bond films, and some truly witty humor. Due to it being the 50th anniversary, they do make clever references to past Bond film (one is a title drop), but don't shove it in your face like Die Another Day did for the 40th anniversary. Albert Finney makes a cameo as Kincaid, the caretaker of Bond's old estate, a role that was originally offered to the original Bond, Sean Connery. Rory Kinnear plays Bill Tanner, the Chief of Staff at MI6. Ola Rapace plays a sadisitic, nearly mute French mercenary by the name of Patrice. The music is terrific. The main theme: "Skyfall" by Adele, is a terrific theme, and Adele surprised me, not needing autotune to make her voice beautiful. It really matches the tone of the film. This is as good a Bond theme as any, the best in yeats. The direction by Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Road to Perdition, Jarhead, Revolutionary Road) is slick, smart, and well-paced. The action is breathtaking, and really exhilirating and fun. Skyfall is the ultimate Bond film, the ultimate action-thriller, the ultimate spy film, combining the fun of last year's Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol and the darkness of this year's The Bourne Legacy, making it a balanced, thrilling, action-packed, spectacular thrill ride. This is truly worthy of being called the 50th anniversary celebration of Bond. This is a must-see for any moviegoer, and any Bond fan, or any average joe, the year's best blockbuster by far. 5/5 stars!!!! Happy 50th Mr. Bond, let's hope for another great 50 years!
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Here Comes the Boom review
Today, I look at the "comedy" film Here Comes the Boom, the latest Kevin James film.
Here Comes the Boom:
I saw this film last week, and have been putting it aside, and am now reviewing it. This, like many Kevin James productions, is lackluster. And like other features (such as Paul Blart: Mall Cop and Grown-Ups) it's simply boring. There were a few moments of chuckling, but otherwise, the movie's pretty damn boring to watch. It doesn't know if it's a sports dramady, or a straight-up slapstick. The plot follows Mr. Voss, the supposedly "cool" biology teacher who tries to save his friend Marty's school music program from being cut by competing in boxing matches. He mostly fails, but there are some pretty good fights. Funny enough, I didn't want to see this film. I saw this on October 30th, and wanted to get a second screening of Sinister as a Halloween film. I saw it at a San Francisco Century Theaters, which, to my dismay, had just show the original Halloween just an hour prior to our arrival, and was showing the comedy Young Frankenstein the very next day, Halloween. I was dragged to see this under the promise I could see Sinister on Halloween. (Check out my review of that film on my other blog: mattsmonstermovies.blogspot.com) The cast are pretty dull. Kevin James is okay as Mr. Voss, and does the usual "cool" act while being a total idiot at the same time. Salma Hayek plays the nurse, who is the object of Voss' affections. She eventually become his girlfriend (like that would happen). Henry Winkler (Fonzie!!) plays Marty, the funny and kind music teacher. He's a wonderful and sweet man, and he does have a pretty good chemistry with Voss, which is a little saving grace in the film, unfortunately, that's overshadowed by some cheap gags. Gary Valentine shows up as Eric, Voss' brother in a troubled marriage, which is often showed for humor, because broken marriages are soooo funny. Fiipino Charice plays Voss and Marty's student Malia, a young Filipino girl who enjoys music, and sings at one of Voss' battles. Bas Rutten plays Niko, a comedy relief, Russian-stereotype character (evne though he's from Holland), who is the best part of the movie. He trains Voss, and Voss helps him become a US citizen. There are also numerous cameos from UFC celebrities, like Joe Rogan. The film is paced pretty slow, and they immeadietly try to make anyone who disagrees with him an asshole or a weirdo (namely, the principal and vice principal.) The plot is so thin, Wikipedia sums the entire film up in a paragraph or two. If you want to go see a good comedy, see Young Frankenstein, or go see the dark comedy Seven Psychopaths. Also, go rent 21 Jump Street, Magic Mike, or Ted. This one, go see it if you want, but otherwise, skip it or rent it. 2.5/5 stars.
(Image from: Wikipedia.com)
Here Comes the Boom:
I saw this film last week, and have been putting it aside, and am now reviewing it. This, like many Kevin James productions, is lackluster. And like other features (such as Paul Blart: Mall Cop and Grown-Ups) it's simply boring. There were a few moments of chuckling, but otherwise, the movie's pretty damn boring to watch. It doesn't know if it's a sports dramady, or a straight-up slapstick. The plot follows Mr. Voss, the supposedly "cool" biology teacher who tries to save his friend Marty's school music program from being cut by competing in boxing matches. He mostly fails, but there are some pretty good fights. Funny enough, I didn't want to see this film. I saw this on October 30th, and wanted to get a second screening of Sinister as a Halloween film. I saw it at a San Francisco Century Theaters, which, to my dismay, had just show the original Halloween just an hour prior to our arrival, and was showing the comedy Young Frankenstein the very next day, Halloween. I was dragged to see this under the promise I could see Sinister on Halloween. (Check out my review of that film on my other blog: mattsmonstermovies.blogspot.com) The cast are pretty dull. Kevin James is okay as Mr. Voss, and does the usual "cool" act while being a total idiot at the same time. Salma Hayek plays the nurse, who is the object of Voss' affections. She eventually become his girlfriend (like that would happen). Henry Winkler (Fonzie!!) plays Marty, the funny and kind music teacher. He's a wonderful and sweet man, and he does have a pretty good chemistry with Voss, which is a little saving grace in the film, unfortunately, that's overshadowed by some cheap gags. Gary Valentine shows up as Eric, Voss' brother in a troubled marriage, which is often showed for humor, because broken marriages are soooo funny. Fiipino Charice plays Voss and Marty's student Malia, a young Filipino girl who enjoys music, and sings at one of Voss' battles. Bas Rutten plays Niko, a comedy relief, Russian-stereotype character (evne though he's from Holland), who is the best part of the movie. He trains Voss, and Voss helps him become a US citizen. There are also numerous cameos from UFC celebrities, like Joe Rogan. The film is paced pretty slow, and they immeadietly try to make anyone who disagrees with him an asshole or a weirdo (namely, the principal and vice principal.) The plot is so thin, Wikipedia sums the entire film up in a paragraph or two. If you want to go see a good comedy, see Young Frankenstein, or go see the dark comedy Seven Psychopaths. Also, go rent 21 Jump Street, Magic Mike, or Ted. This one, go see it if you want, but otherwise, skip it or rent it. 2.5/5 stars.
(Image from: Wikipedia.com)
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Monday, October 29, 2012
Halloween reviews: The Exorcist
Today, I look at a highly-respected classic film, directed by William Friedkin, based off the hugely successful novel by William Peter Blattey...
The Exorcist:
This is the film that shocked and jolted audiences, and was able to even frighten people like Stephen King. Rob Zombie said this was one of the many films to scare him as a young kid. In Washington DC, Chris MacNeil, a big-time actress and atheist, finds something strange with her usually sweet daughter Reagan after playing with an old ouija (wigi) board, and finds that possibly she has been possessed by a demon, possibly even the Devil himself. Aftert trying every scientific test in the book, Chris, as a last resort, calls two priest to exorcise her daughter... The performances in this film are incredible. Academy Award-winning actress Ellen Burstyn (Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore, Requiem for a Dream) plays Chris. Her performance as a confident actress and loving mother quickly switched to a distubred, troubled woman trying to find help for her daughter. But this switch is not abrupt or noticeable, it's a believable and gradual switch, and it's brilliantly played by Burstyn. Jason Miller plays Father Damien Karras, a young priest at the Georgetown University in DC. He has lost faith in God after the sudden death of his elderly mother. He is a troubled and intellectual man, who begins to fall apart during the exorcism of Reagan, and builds a teacher-student relationship with Father Merrin. It's truly a powerful perofrmnce, and one that drive the film, up until Damien's selfless sacrifice at the end. Ironically, a few years later, the main character, also named Damien, from The Omen was portrayed as the Devil's son, not a holy man. At the time only in his mid-20's, Max von Sydow plays Father Merrin, the wise, old priest who teams with Damien to exorcise Reagan. It's incredible that someone so young delivers a performance that is so convincing, he really gets into character of the old, wise priest, and he's so convincing in the role, I was convinced he was actually 60-something-years-old. Lee J. Cobb plays a police detective who thinks Reagan is involved in a murder, and later becomes involved with the exorcism. The performance that really makes the last half of the film is the young Linda Blair as Regan. She, at first, plays herself, a sweet, quiet young girl, but, during the second half, she convincingly plays a putrid, sick, disgusting, vile, cruel, vulgar, and evil demon, who just happens to share the same body. Mercedes McCambridge provided the voice of the demon, and she provides a truly strange voice, with no identifiable gender. Father William O'Malley (yes, a real priest) plays Damien's friend Joseph Dyer, a fellow priest who is trying to help his friend through his tough times. The writing and direction is great. William Peter Blattey (former priest) wrote the bestselling novel, and helped with the film, and the realistic handling of a possession is astounding. William Friedkin (The French Connection) directs the film beautifully, with great cinematography. The special effects in the film are impressive, having to invent new animatronics and techniques to pull off the iconic spider crawl and head spin scenes. The haunting muscial theme by Jack Nitzsche is truly creepy and has a sinister sound. The Exorcist may not be the scariest film right now, but it's truly disturbing, convincing, and beautiful, and has some amazing performances and special effects. 5/5 stars,
The Exorcist:
This is the film that shocked and jolted audiences, and was able to even frighten people like Stephen King. Rob Zombie said this was one of the many films to scare him as a young kid. In Washington DC, Chris MacNeil, a big-time actress and atheist, finds something strange with her usually sweet daughter Reagan after playing with an old ouija (wigi) board, and finds that possibly she has been possessed by a demon, possibly even the Devil himself. Aftert trying every scientific test in the book, Chris, as a last resort, calls two priest to exorcise her daughter... The performances in this film are incredible. Academy Award-winning actress Ellen Burstyn (Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore, Requiem for a Dream) plays Chris. Her performance as a confident actress and loving mother quickly switched to a distubred, troubled woman trying to find help for her daughter. But this switch is not abrupt or noticeable, it's a believable and gradual switch, and it's brilliantly played by Burstyn. Jason Miller plays Father Damien Karras, a young priest at the Georgetown University in DC. He has lost faith in God after the sudden death of his elderly mother. He is a troubled and intellectual man, who begins to fall apart during the exorcism of Reagan, and builds a teacher-student relationship with Father Merrin. It's truly a powerful perofrmnce, and one that drive the film, up until Damien's selfless sacrifice at the end. Ironically, a few years later, the main character, also named Damien, from The Omen was portrayed as the Devil's son, not a holy man. At the time only in his mid-20's, Max von Sydow plays Father Merrin, the wise, old priest who teams with Damien to exorcise Reagan. It's incredible that someone so young delivers a performance that is so convincing, he really gets into character of the old, wise priest, and he's so convincing in the role, I was convinced he was actually 60-something-years-old. Lee J. Cobb plays a police detective who thinks Reagan is involved in a murder, and later becomes involved with the exorcism. The performance that really makes the last half of the film is the young Linda Blair as Regan. She, at first, plays herself, a sweet, quiet young girl, but, during the second half, she convincingly plays a putrid, sick, disgusting, vile, cruel, vulgar, and evil demon, who just happens to share the same body. Mercedes McCambridge provided the voice of the demon, and she provides a truly strange voice, with no identifiable gender. Father William O'Malley (yes, a real priest) plays Damien's friend Joseph Dyer, a fellow priest who is trying to help his friend through his tough times. The writing and direction is great. William Peter Blattey (former priest) wrote the bestselling novel, and helped with the film, and the realistic handling of a possession is astounding. William Friedkin (The French Connection) directs the film beautifully, with great cinematography. The special effects in the film are impressive, having to invent new animatronics and techniques to pull off the iconic spider crawl and head spin scenes. The haunting muscial theme by Jack Nitzsche is truly creepy and has a sinister sound. The Exorcist may not be the scariest film right now, but it's truly disturbing, convincing, and beautiful, and has some amazing performances and special effects. 5/5 stars,
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