Star Wars: The Clone Wars - 2 stars out of 10
This movie probably shouldn't have been made. It is filled with cheesy dialogue, has a story that is just okay, and all in all it looks too much like a video game. I was expecting it to be realistic computer animation instead of cartoon computer animation, I just shouldn't have seen this within a week of seeing "Avatar." Really, the only thing that I liked was the version of the Star Wars theme played during the opening. As a Star Wars fan I thought that I would like it (even with the expectation that it wouldn't come close to the live-action movies), but this really just did not do it for me. I struggle to even find something nice to say about this film that was obviously designed with kids in mind. I wouldn't watch it again, even if it was just on tv in the background.
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Monday, July 23, 2012
20,000 Leagues Under The Sea (1954) - 5 stars out of 10
20,000 Leagues Under The Sea (1954) - 5 stars out of 10
"20,000 Leagues Under The Sea" is a classic Disney live-action film, and typically believed to be the best adaptation of Jules Verne's wonderful underwater adventure. The film truely feels like an adventure as its many different segments (Finding Nemo, life on the Nautilus, the penal colony, the sea monster) give a sensation of progressing through chapters in a book. Although it is not a musical like many of Disney's live-action films, the lone song "Whale of a Tale" really makes me wish that there was more music. The film boasts strong performances by James Mason as Captain Nemo, Kirk Doulas as ned Land, Paul Lukas as Professor Aronnax, and Peter Lorre as Conseil. In spite of some dialogue that drags, the layers of this story held my attention as I wanted to know what would happen in the end. Could you really ask more of a sea adventure when it gives you sinking ships, unique characters, and a giant squid attack? This is may be a "watch it once and put it back in the vault" Disney film, but it's definitely worth that one watch!
"20,000 Leagues Under The Sea" is a classic Disney live-action film, and typically believed to be the best adaptation of Jules Verne's wonderful underwater adventure. The film truely feels like an adventure as its many different segments (Finding Nemo, life on the Nautilus, the penal colony, the sea monster) give a sensation of progressing through chapters in a book. Although it is not a musical like many of Disney's live-action films, the lone song "Whale of a Tale" really makes me wish that there was more music. The film boasts strong performances by James Mason as Captain Nemo, Kirk Doulas as ned Land, Paul Lukas as Professor Aronnax, and Peter Lorre as Conseil. In spite of some dialogue that drags, the layers of this story held my attention as I wanted to know what would happen in the end. Could you really ask more of a sea adventure when it gives you sinking ships, unique characters, and a giant squid attack? This is may be a "watch it once and put it back in the vault" Disney film, but it's definitely worth that one watch!
Sunday, July 22, 2012
The Glenn Miller Story - 10 stars out of 10
The Glenn Miller Story - 10 stars out of 10
Wow, this could very well be the greatest biopic of all time. Combine the acting talents of Jimmy Stewart with the amazing music of Glenn Miller and you simply cannot go wrong. At times it is difficult to believe that these events actually transpired, and yet that's what makes it such a beautiful story. It is inspirational to see the man who wanted to create a "new sound," but even more so to see his wife pushing him to pursue greater things because she believed in him. If you are familiar with Miller's music, you will get chills down your spine every time that you see him composing the classics that we love so much and seeing the inspiration behind each song. I love Henry Mancini's variations on Miller's greatest hits to craft a beautiful soundtrack to this film. The song "Little Brown Jug" means so much more to me after seeing this film and it will to you once you've seen it, as well.
Wow, this could very well be the greatest biopic of all time. Combine the acting talents of Jimmy Stewart with the amazing music of Glenn Miller and you simply cannot go wrong. At times it is difficult to believe that these events actually transpired, and yet that's what makes it such a beautiful story. It is inspirational to see the man who wanted to create a "new sound," but even more so to see his wife pushing him to pursue greater things because she believed in him. If you are familiar with Miller's music, you will get chills down your spine every time that you see him composing the classics that we love so much and seeing the inspiration behind each song. I love Henry Mancini's variations on Miller's greatest hits to craft a beautiful soundtrack to this film. The song "Little Brown Jug" means so much more to me after seeing this film and it will to you once you've seen it, as well.
Saturday, July 21, 2012
The Dark Knight Rises - 10 stars out of 10
The Dark Knight Rises - 10 stars out of 10
"The Dark Knight Rises" is a stunning finale to arguably the best superhero trilogy in history. While it fails to match the perfection of "The Dark Knight," it achieves its goal: to properly complete Christopher Nolan's vision of the Batman story. It is absolutely necessary to see this film in the context of the other two and I recommend watching the previous installments within a week of seeing this finale. What many may perceive as weakness in the middle of the film where there is little action and even less Batman, I view it as strength because all of the pieces are being set in place for two of the most jaw-dropping twists that you will ever experience. Nolan was not looking to make the greatest Batman film of all time - he was looking to prepare us for the culmination of Bruce Wayne's character development over the course of three films. This "Who's Who" cast list speaks for itself as Nolan introduces a few of his favorite "Inception" actors - Marion Cotillard, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Tom Hardy as Bane (and wow, is he frightening). I was skeptical when I saw Anne Hathaway's name, but she is sexy and smart as Selina Kyle (and ten billion times better than Halle Berry). Gary Oldman is given the opportunity to really show off his acting chops (with much success) and Michael Caine delivers the emotional monologue that we've all been waiting for. Simply incredible, especially when you toss in Morgan Freeman in his usual awesomeness and Christian Bale as the ultimate hero. Hans Zimmer's score is particularly good in this film, with the bass making the floor rumble and his heroic themes that build tension until the very end. The fight sequences are great and, while Bane isn't as good of a villain as Joker, he is the right character for the job. He gives this film a different tone since he is well-spoken and carefully calculates his crimes (while being fierce and aggressive) instead of an unpredictable madman. The plot is carefully woven around Selina Kyle and most of the other characters in the story until everything comes full circle in the end, not only being set up by the events of this movie but also by events from "The Dark Knight" and "Batman Begins." Everything from this film and its predecessors leads up to the perfect ending to this story, but maybe not the way that any of us expected. If I was going to choose one of these films to watch on a Friday night, I would definitely go with "The Dark Knight." But if I was going to cite the reason that Christopher Nolan's presentation of Batman is simply better than any other superhero series, the credit would belong to this film. "The Dark Knight Rises" is the climax of the Batman series and will leave you frozen in your theater seat saying "Wow..."
"The Dark Knight Rises" is a stunning finale to arguably the best superhero trilogy in history. While it fails to match the perfection of "The Dark Knight," it achieves its goal: to properly complete Christopher Nolan's vision of the Batman story. It is absolutely necessary to see this film in the context of the other two and I recommend watching the previous installments within a week of seeing this finale. What many may perceive as weakness in the middle of the film where there is little action and even less Batman, I view it as strength because all of the pieces are being set in place for two of the most jaw-dropping twists that you will ever experience. Nolan was not looking to make the greatest Batman film of all time - he was looking to prepare us for the culmination of Bruce Wayne's character development over the course of three films. This "Who's Who" cast list speaks for itself as Nolan introduces a few of his favorite "Inception" actors - Marion Cotillard, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Tom Hardy as Bane (and wow, is he frightening). I was skeptical when I saw Anne Hathaway's name, but she is sexy and smart as Selina Kyle (and ten billion times better than Halle Berry). Gary Oldman is given the opportunity to really show off his acting chops (with much success) and Michael Caine delivers the emotional monologue that we've all been waiting for. Simply incredible, especially when you toss in Morgan Freeman in his usual awesomeness and Christian Bale as the ultimate hero. Hans Zimmer's score is particularly good in this film, with the bass making the floor rumble and his heroic themes that build tension until the very end. The fight sequences are great and, while Bane isn't as good of a villain as Joker, he is the right character for the job. He gives this film a different tone since he is well-spoken and carefully calculates his crimes (while being fierce and aggressive) instead of an unpredictable madman. The plot is carefully woven around Selina Kyle and most of the other characters in the story until everything comes full circle in the end, not only being set up by the events of this movie but also by events from "The Dark Knight" and "Batman Begins." Everything from this film and its predecessors leads up to the perfect ending to this story, but maybe not the way that any of us expected. If I was going to choose one of these films to watch on a Friday night, I would definitely go with "The Dark Knight." But if I was going to cite the reason that Christopher Nolan's presentation of Batman is simply better than any other superhero series, the credit would belong to this film. "The Dark Knight Rises" is the climax of the Batman series and will leave you frozen in your theater seat saying "Wow..."
The Dark Knight - 10 stars out of 10
The Dark Knight - 10 stars out of 10
"Batman Begins" set the bar really high and I don't know if anybody believed that it could be topped; and yet, "The Dark Knight" undoubtedly trumps its predecessor. Christopher Nolan once again utilizes a character-based script to create a film that makes a strong statement, carrying the theme of justice that connects his entire trilogy. With Bruce Wayne's backstory explained in the previous installment, this sequel allows Nolan to focus on developing the most evil, sinister, psychotic villain in movie history: Joker. This new movie icon provides pure chills with a disturbing, fearless desire to "burn the world down." Even though I was never a fan of his prior to this film, I believe that Heath Ledger established himself as one of the greatest actors in the history of film with his role in "The Dark Knight." His interpretation of the Joker, while nothing like previous depictions, is villainous perfection. A motivated killer can be very frightening, but a relentless psychopath without a fear of death is about as scary as it gets. If you've seen Ledger in any other role, you likely would not recognize him as the Joker. His voice that varies from playful to a growl, the subtle mannerisms like the licking of his lips, and the way that he moves is a complete transformation away from the actor that we know. Joker is just plain terrifying and Ledger's posthumous Oscar is more than a tribute - it is an indication of cinematic genius. Although most of this review is dedicated to Ledger (as it should be), Aaron Eckhart is incredible as Harvey Dent. Christian Bale, Michael Caine, and Morgan Freeman are amazing again, and there is really only one problem with this film: Maggie Gyllenhaal. I hate Katie Holmes for not signing on for this sequel and allowing her role to be taken over by an annoying actress who looks like her face is constantly smushed up against a glass window. She is simply awful in this role and actually detracted from the fine performances of everybody else. But it is easy to get over it with the nonstop action, strong plot, excellent acting by the rest of the cast, and self-sacrifice by Batman. With the Joker running rampant, this story has so many unexpected twists, particularly his "social experiment" with the two ferries on the water and by making Batman choose to save his love or his cause. People may be asking you "Why so serious?" as you unwind from this film, but it's simply because the tension of this film will be visible on your face as you comprhend the levity of the hero that Gotham deserves, but not the one that it needs right now.
"Batman Begins" set the bar really high and I don't know if anybody believed that it could be topped; and yet, "The Dark Knight" undoubtedly trumps its predecessor. Christopher Nolan once again utilizes a character-based script to create a film that makes a strong statement, carrying the theme of justice that connects his entire trilogy. With Bruce Wayne's backstory explained in the previous installment, this sequel allows Nolan to focus on developing the most evil, sinister, psychotic villain in movie history: Joker. This new movie icon provides pure chills with a disturbing, fearless desire to "burn the world down." Even though I was never a fan of his prior to this film, I believe that Heath Ledger established himself as one of the greatest actors in the history of film with his role in "The Dark Knight." His interpretation of the Joker, while nothing like previous depictions, is villainous perfection. A motivated killer can be very frightening, but a relentless psychopath without a fear of death is about as scary as it gets. If you've seen Ledger in any other role, you likely would not recognize him as the Joker. His voice that varies from playful to a growl, the subtle mannerisms like the licking of his lips, and the way that he moves is a complete transformation away from the actor that we know. Joker is just plain terrifying and Ledger's posthumous Oscar is more than a tribute - it is an indication of cinematic genius. Although most of this review is dedicated to Ledger (as it should be), Aaron Eckhart is incredible as Harvey Dent. Christian Bale, Michael Caine, and Morgan Freeman are amazing again, and there is really only one problem with this film: Maggie Gyllenhaal. I hate Katie Holmes for not signing on for this sequel and allowing her role to be taken over by an annoying actress who looks like her face is constantly smushed up against a glass window. She is simply awful in this role and actually detracted from the fine performances of everybody else. But it is easy to get over it with the nonstop action, strong plot, excellent acting by the rest of the cast, and self-sacrifice by Batman. With the Joker running rampant, this story has so many unexpected twists, particularly his "social experiment" with the two ferries on the water and by making Batman choose to save his love or his cause. People may be asking you "Why so serious?" as you unwind from this film, but it's simply because the tension of this film will be visible on your face as you comprhend the levity of the hero that Gotham deserves, but not the one that it needs right now.
Friday, July 20, 2012
Batman Begins - 10 stars out of 10
Batman Begins - 10 stars out of 10
Christopher Nolan has given Batman his greatest identity in "Batman Begins." Leaving behind the cheesy action comedies of the 90's, Batman has never had so much grit. This much darker perspective of Gotham City has brushed aside fantasy villains like Mr. Freeze and focused on transforming these classic comic villains into believable, real life threats to our society. Nolan's origin script is inspired, relying on character development instead of special effects as it paints a hopeless portrait of our society and the symbol (not the man) who can save us. This version of Batman must discover the difference between justice and revenge, struggling with the disgust that he feels toward the murderer of his parents. The script cleverly explains how Batman received his ninja training by tying his teacher into the overarching plot, rather than throwing in an explanatory flashback that is unrelated to the rest of the film. But Nolan's project goes far beyond the script. Masterful acting brings the characters to life, with Christian Bale becoming a beacon of hope that we truly do cheer for amidst his turbulent circumstances. Alfred is much more than a butler as Michael Caine turns him into the devoted friend and steadfast support of Bruce Wayne. Cillian Murphy is a great psychological villain and Liam Neeson gives Ra's al Ghul an interesting persona as a villain who is attempting to bring good to the world in an evil way, but more importantly, the film focuses on Batman becoming a symbol of hope instead of "Ooh, look at the c'ool' villain with the Austrian accent!" Lucius Fox is a great character and who better to play this role than Morgan Freeman with that little bit of fun in his attitude that plays so well off of Bale. Also, you have to mention Gary Oldman because he's just one of those actors that makes you like any character that he portrays. This character-based approach to Batman has elevated the film beyond the realm of "Oh my gosh, that explosion was so awesome!" and given it a strong theme and meaning that carries through the entire series to the climax of the final film. "Batman Begins" redefined the genre of superhero films. This merger of superheroes and realistic settings has created a line of dramatic films (Iron Man, Captain America, The Amazing Spiderman, etc.) that are easily comparable to the critically acclaimed films that sweep the Oscars each year and have a legitimate place in cinematic stardom.
Christopher Nolan has given Batman his greatest identity in "Batman Begins." Leaving behind the cheesy action comedies of the 90's, Batman has never had so much grit. This much darker perspective of Gotham City has brushed aside fantasy villains like Mr. Freeze and focused on transforming these classic comic villains into believable, real life threats to our society. Nolan's origin script is inspired, relying on character development instead of special effects as it paints a hopeless portrait of our society and the symbol (not the man) who can save us. This version of Batman must discover the difference between justice and revenge, struggling with the disgust that he feels toward the murderer of his parents. The script cleverly explains how Batman received his ninja training by tying his teacher into the overarching plot, rather than throwing in an explanatory flashback that is unrelated to the rest of the film. But Nolan's project goes far beyond the script. Masterful acting brings the characters to life, with Christian Bale becoming a beacon of hope that we truly do cheer for amidst his turbulent circumstances. Alfred is much more than a butler as Michael Caine turns him into the devoted friend and steadfast support of Bruce Wayne. Cillian Murphy is a great psychological villain and Liam Neeson gives Ra's al Ghul an interesting persona as a villain who is attempting to bring good to the world in an evil way, but more importantly, the film focuses on Batman becoming a symbol of hope instead of "Ooh, look at the c'ool' villain with the Austrian accent!" Lucius Fox is a great character and who better to play this role than Morgan Freeman with that little bit of fun in his attitude that plays so well off of Bale. Also, you have to mention Gary Oldman because he's just one of those actors that makes you like any character that he portrays. This character-based approach to Batman has elevated the film beyond the realm of "Oh my gosh, that explosion was so awesome!" and given it a strong theme and meaning that carries through the entire series to the climax of the final film. "Batman Begins" redefined the genre of superhero films. This merger of superheroes and realistic settings has created a line of dramatic films (Iron Man, Captain America, The Amazing Spiderman, etc.) that are easily comparable to the critically acclaimed films that sweep the Oscars each year and have a legitimate place in cinematic stardom.
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
The Hangover - 5 stars out of 10
The Hangover - 5 stars out of 10
This movie is SO over the top! There were too many f-words for my taste and I just felt really sorry for the characters the entire time (I call this the "Meet the Parents" effect, where so many things go wrong that I just feel bad). Luckily, the wedding singer starts singing that ridiculous song so I was able to stop feeling bad and just laugh. From the tiger to Mike Tyson, you'll never know what to expect next. Zach Galifanakis is hilariously awkward throughout the entire movie, Ed Helms plays a clone of "Andy Bernard" from The Office, and Bradley Cooper holds the story together as they try to recover from their amnesia and retrace the steps of their crazy night. The best feature of this movie is how the end credits pull this entire mysterious story together. This won't ever be a classic like "Happy Gilmore" or "Anchorman," but it's still good for a few laughs.
This movie is SO over the top! There were too many f-words for my taste and I just felt really sorry for the characters the entire time (I call this the "Meet the Parents" effect, where so many things go wrong that I just feel bad). Luckily, the wedding singer starts singing that ridiculous song so I was able to stop feeling bad and just laugh. From the tiger to Mike Tyson, you'll never know what to expect next. Zach Galifanakis is hilariously awkward throughout the entire movie, Ed Helms plays a clone of "Andy Bernard" from The Office, and Bradley Cooper holds the story together as they try to recover from their amnesia and retrace the steps of their crazy night. The best feature of this movie is how the end credits pull this entire mysterious story together. This won't ever be a classic like "Happy Gilmore" or "Anchorman," but it's still good for a few laughs.
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