Thursday, December 24, 2015

Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back - 10 stars out of 10

Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back - 10 stars out of 10

“The Empire Strikes Back” is often seen as the pinnacle of the Star Wars saga.  It offers many of the greatest moments of the entire series: The battle on Hoth, the asteroid field chase sequence, Luke’s training with Yoda, “I love you”/”I know,” and one of the biggest plot twists in movie history have all found their place in the cinematic hall of fame.  While I agree that this is probably the best film of the original trilogy, it is interesting that it is also the film that most relies on the others.  The opening sequence gives little introduction to the characters, the main characters spend the majority of the film separated from one another (so there isn’t any chemistry to show the bond between Luke and his friends), Darth Vader doesn’t do anything sinister until the very end (so we don’t see why everybody is so scared of him), and the fate of every character is left completely up in the air at the film’s conclusion.  Rather than call “The Empire Strikes Back” the best Star Wars film, perhaps we should call it the most integral chapter of the original trilogy.  It is hard to view any of these films without the context of the others.  The character development picks up where the last film left off, making this the film where we truly fall in love with the characters.  Luke learns the ways of the Jedi, Han begins caring for others, Leia’s love grows, C-3PO’s love-hate relationship with R2-D2 becomes more apparent, plus we get to meet great characters like Yoda, Boba Fett, Lando Calrissian, and The Emperor.  I feel that the actors came into their own with this film and put on better performances than in Episode IV.  Whether it is acting maturity, more chemistry, or a better script, the entire film feels more real.  This episode contains another masterful John Williams score which includes the first appearance of the iconic Imperial March and the Love Theme.  Williams seems to be underappreciated for this series as he is often remembered as “that guy who wrote the music to Star Wars” but not remembered for the little gems in each individual film.  One of the most important pieces of the Star Wars series is the special effects, and they continue to stand the test of time 35 years later.  Of course, modern CGI makes everything more realistic but I find the realism of the spaceship models, go-motion animation of the Hoth battle, and the puppeteering of Yoda to be infinitely more impressive than computer graphics.  It is difficult to remove the nostalgia factor when judging this series.  It is a part of our culture and our childhoods; however, when looking at “The Empire Strikes Back” in the context of other 1980’s sci-fi films, it truly deserves this high rating and will forever be a classic.

[Pictured: One of the greatest images from all of Star Wars]

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Sicario (2015) - 7 stars out of 10

Sicario (2015) - 7 stars out of 10

“Sicario” is a realistic interpretation of the drug trade in Mexico as seen through the eyes of a slightly ignorant FBI operative.  The film did not arrive with the same pomp as “The Martian” (which opened the same weekend), but it left an equally large impression on the critics.  It is dark, gritty, and the only thing more disturbing than the imagery of cadavers hanging in the streets is the idea that the residents of Juarez have accepted this atmosphere as a part of daily life.  The story seems a bit overdramatic but a little research shows this portrayal to be chillingly accurate.  Moreover, the main reason that Juarez has descended from its rank as the most violent city in the world is because one drug cartel has defeated its rivals.  One would hope that the police and military had brought order to the area, but that is simply not the case.  Director Denis Villeneuve has made a bold statement about the government corruption and drug violence that rule this area.  Most of the critical praise surrounding “Sicario” has involved the acting.  Emily Blunt and Benicio del Toro turn in impressive performances through subtle but powerful moments.  I could see either of them receiving an Oscar nomination but neither performance is good enough to win.  Josh Brolin also gives the high-caliber performance that we expect from him.  I do feel that the film moves a bit too slow, especially after a riveting opening sequence, but the pace gives you a chance to reflect on the unfortunate circumstance of the area.  The film focuses on situational development more than character development so that, in the end, you feel a greater attachment to the story than the characters within.  “Sicario” accomplishes its goal of bringing awareness to the drug violence in Mexico through strong acting performances and a story that is so unbelievable that you have to believe it.

[Pictured: Blunt reminds us that she can play any role from "Into the Woods" to FBI agent]

Monday, December 21, 2015

Oculus (2014) - 9 stars out of 10

Oculus (2014) - 9 stars out of 10

“Oculus” is a psychological horror film that will have your mind spinning and your eyes second-guessing what you see in the mirror.  I hesitate to call this a horror film because it is more of a thriller with a few moments of horrific imagery, but I suppose that the ghosts with glowing eyes are enough for most to consider it horror.  And the staple remover and the lightbulb!  But a label isn’t important when you have well-paced surprises that pump your adrenaline at calculated moments from start to finish.  Prepare to be disturbed and on the edge of your seat when you watch this one.  The use of dual storylines is an excellent device to give this story depth and display the hallucinations caused by the mirror.  When the two storylines merge, the film becomes a disorienting nightmare that mixes past with present and delusion with reality.  I read that the final twenty minutes of the movie became so complex that the writers had to italicize the text of past events to keep everything straight.  I cannot imagine the intricacy of filming and editing these sequences, but the final result is stunning.  The script is brought to life by amazing acting performances.  Karen Gillan’s performance is far beyond what I typically expect from a horror film and I cannot wait to see her in more roles.  Brenton Thwaites captures the blend of disturbed child and rational adult that so perfectly contrasts his confident older sister.  I was really amazed by Annalise Basso and Garrett Ryan, the child versions of the aforementioned characters.  They bring a continuity to the characters (as they act alongside the adult versions of each other) that is convincing and realistic.  The film relies on a constant sense of dread of what might happen next instead of cheap scares that fade quickly.  The film flies by because the anticipation never loses steam.  It doesn’t need to rationalize what is happening because we just accept the circumstances and hope for a happy ending.  I would love to see a sequel, but I said the same thing about “The Ring” so I’m grateful that this standalone story keeps us wondering “what if.”  In this case, it is best to just leave your jaw dropped to the floor.  “Oculus” is a true sleeper hit that will force you to look away from the screen a few times but keep you looking back to find out what happens next.

[Pictured: Gillan and Thwaites bring the intensity that drives this entire film]

Sunday, December 20, 2015

Escape to Witch Mountain (1975) - 6 stars out of 10

Escape to Witch Mountain (1975) - 6 stars out of 10

“Escape to Witch Mountain” is Disney’s take on the sci-fi novel of the same name.  Like many of Disney’s classic live-action films, it is family-friendly but less impressive than the studio’s animated output.  The studio obviously believes in this story because it spawned a sequel and two remakes.  It is interesting but lacks the energy of a Disney musical, so don’t expect “Mary Poppins.”  The special effects are a bit underwhelming when compared to today’s standard (or even “Star Wars,” which was released two years later), but it gets the point across.  The film actually might be too scary for its target audience if it were any more realistic.  It also has a good nostalgia factor so parents who enjoyed the film as children will likely enjoy it more than new viewers.  The film is well-cast with a few Oscar-caliber actors (Eddie Albert, Ray Milland) and two strong child actors (Kim Richards and Ike Eisenmann).  Their dialogue successfully creates curiosity about the mysterious background of the kids from start to finish.  “Escape to Witch Mountain” is a humorous sci-fi film that can still entertain kids today, but it probably isn’t a film that will hold the attention of an adult watching without their family.

[Pictured: Eddie Albert's chemistry with the kids is probably my favorite part of the film]