Atari: Game Over - 8 stars out of 10

Atari: Game Over - 8 stars out of 10

“Atari: Game Over” is a telling of the history of the video game industry through the lens of “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial,” widely considered to be the worst video game ever made.  The scene is set by the beginnings of an excavation at a landfill in New Mexico.  Allegedly, Atari produced a game so bad that the only way to deal with its millions of unsold copies was to bury them in a landfill and cover them in concrete.  This documentary explores the rise of the video game industry, the big-name designers of the 80’s, and the circumstances surrounding the 5-week deadline to take the E.T. video game from concept to final product.  “Atari: Game Over” is informative, interesting, and exciting in its storytelling through unique characters.  Whether you are a video game junkie or merely someone who is interested in history, you will love the details of this quirky piece of pop culture.

[Pictured: The mere presence of this game on my blog makes me so happy]

Shanghai Noon - 5 stars out of 10

Shanghai Noon - 5 stars out of 10

“Shanghai Noon” is a Western/martial arts film.  It’s exactly what you expect.  Add in Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson as the lead actors and it becomes even more predictable.  The excellent play on words contained in the title is an overture for the comedy that follows.  The plot is simple but effective as two opposite men are placed into a situation in which it is natural for them to pair up to save the day.  Why not also represent the Buddy-Cop genre as they work together to save the day.  Fans of Westerns and martial arts films will enjoy the many tongue-in-cheek nods to these genres.  And fear not, they do mispronounce Princess Pei-Pei's name as Pee-Pee, but only once to keep it from getting old.  The acting isn’t anything special but it matches the expectation of a comedy.  Personally, I prefer “Rush Hour” but “Shanghai Noon” is a nice departure from Jackie Chan’s typical films.

[Pictured: Who doesn't love Jackie Chan?  Seriously!]

Z for Zachariah - 6 stars out of 10

Z for Zachariah - 6 stars out of 10

They probably could’ve called this movie by any other title because there are so few similarities to the original book by Robert C. O’Brien.  I generally expect (and welcome) small alterations in a movie adaptation if it will strengthen the story or help the story to translate better onscreen, but to take a story that only has two characters and add a third?  And completely alter the personality and actions of the first character?  And rewrite the majority of the events of the film… and rewrite the ending to be the complete opposite of the original?  I would say that, as an adaptation, this film is a complete failure.  As a standalone story, it builds great drama from its simplicity.  Well, except for the most sudden ending ever written, of course.  I would dare the screenwriters to leave an ending more open-ended but I’m pretty sure that it can’t be done.  Reading the synopsis of the book, you would swear that there is no possible way that this could be the same story.  Some helpful information (not as a spoiler, but something that is implied but never clearly stated), a nuclear apocalypse destroys the earth with the exception of a small weather pocket that preserves earth as it used to be.  The setting is well-developed and the characters display great depth.  Margot Robbie (the girl from “About Time”) commands half of the film’s screen time and accomplishes the transition from girl to woman.  I love anything with Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Chris Pine adds a complete contrast.  I really like the treatment of these characters and the way that their chemistry builds so much tension.  With three great performances like this, you would expect a 10-star rating but the vagueness of the story and severe departures from the original story create a distraction.  “Z for Zachariah” is a good dystopian drama but it unfortunately falls into a category with “The Giver” instead of “The Hunger Games.”

[Pictured: Three great acting performances don’t always equal one great movie]

Stand by Me (1986) - 7 stars out of 10

Stand by Me (1986) - 7 stars out of 10

“Stand By Me” is the classic coming-of-age story in which four friends set out on an adventure but later discover that the journey is more valuable than the destination.  The story is stereotypical 1950’s and the film is stereotypical 1980’s, but that is what makes it a classic.  The acting of the four lead boys is average for their age range but the story still comes through.  I expected more from Corey Feldman, but I certainly did not expect to see 20-year-old Kiefer Sutherland!  I appreciate the progression that the boys experience.  Legends (like Chopper) are revealed to be tall tales and the boys discover that you are not always rewarded for doing the right thing.  The film is full of important messages but the content may be too rough for the younger kids who might benefit.  The whole pie-eating sequence feels very out of place and eats up too much of this film’s short 90-minute runtime.  I understand that part of Gordie’s character is his love of writing and storytelling, but I can think of better ways to spend my time than watching people vomit on each other.  “Stand By Me” has its high and low points, but it will remind every man of his formative teenage years and the lessons that guided his path in life.

[Pictured: If this doesn't scream "Coming-of-Age-Story," what does?]

The Martian (2015) - 9 stars out of 10

The Martian (2015) - 9 stars out of 10

“The Martian” is an epic fantasy film that transports us to a planet that has always been enshrouded in mystery.  In most situations, I would automatically rank this film at a 10 for its impeccable acting, well-written script, and awesome special effects.  Unfortunately, 2013’s “Gravity” and 2014’s “Interstellar” set an unfair expectation, unintentionally branding this as “2015’s Token Space Movie.”  With the inevitable comparisons, this film seems weak; still, it deserves a high rating for the aforementioned reasons.  “The Martian” is worth seeing solely for Matt Damon.  The story ranges from comedy to drama and from action to mindbender, all within Damon’s one-man-show.  Everything from Damon claim of being the best horticulturalist on Mars to his communication using the hexadecimal alphabet makes his character likable and enhances our desire to see him return home.  A second story counters Damon’s experiences on Mars.  This story brings in A-list actors Jessica Chastain, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Jeff Daniels, Kristen Wiig, Sean Bean, Michael Peña, and Kate Mara, all of whom support the strong emotional content of the story.  One of the strengths of this screenplay is that it remains believable.  I have been told that the Damon faces many more issues in the book, but any more than what is contained in this film would make his survival seem farfetched.  While fans of the book may view this as an injustice to the source material, I believe it to be a victory.  Whether you are interested in science fiction or not, “The Martian” is believable enough that any audience member can enjoy it.

[Pictured: The visuals are this film are just stunning]

The Painting (Le Tableau) (2013) - 8 stars out of 10

The Painting (Le Tableau) (2013) - 8 stars out of 10

"The Painting" is, for lack of a better term, a work of art.  It is clearly a cartoon for adults and not just because of the nude painting.  The story is a parable about unfairly judging others and would likely be of little interest to younger children.  While some might scoff at this story for lacking "maturity," the simplicity of its plot allows us to full absorb the visual beauty without distraction.  This is especially helpful if you are watching with English subtitles while trying to enjoy the artistry on this canvas... and the artistry off of the canvas as these characters venture out of the paintings and into the real world.  The animators faced a tough challenge as the world inside of each painting took on a different style from Picasso to Matisse, but the end result is an enormous success.  The surrealist colors of the Allduns are stunning and effectively contrasted by the simple black and white appearance of the charcoal Sketchies.  The backdrops come to life and the conversations between paintings are very clever.  I wouldn’t give this film Disney ratings when it comes to storytelling abilities, but “The Painting” is a feast for the eyes that should not be overlooked.

[Pictured: This film is so beautiful that it makes me want to cry.]

Inside Man (2006) - 9 stars out of 10

Inside Man (2006) - 9 stars out of 10

“Inside Man” is not a story that I would expect to be told by Spike Lee.  He steps away from his typical racial themes to give us a lesson in deception.  This unique crime thriller intersperses police interviews with flashbacks of the bank robbery in question.  At first, the out of context interviews do not make much sense.  As the story progresses, the flashbacks give meaning to the interviews until the end reveals that… all of our assumptions were wrong!  The film alludes to (and even directly shows) how these criminals will pull off this heist, but you will still be completely shocked in the end.  You have to love a story that successfully turns the bank robbers into heroes and the cops into bad guys.  The intentionally convoluted story is supported by big-name actors who all live up to their reputations.  Clive Owen is truly terrifying as the criminal mastermind, Denzel Washington balances his heroic moments and his situational failures, Jodie Foster successfully contrasts Washington’s straight-laced character with her shifty, sly role, Christopher Plummer provides the intrigue that makes us wonder what could be in his safe deposit box, and Willem Dafoe does exactly what you’d expect him to do in a gruff cop role.  The film makes for a great rewatch.  It has “The Sixth Sense” syndrome, where the twist blows your mind the first time but the film becomes a new experience with each subsequent watch as you catch more clues that you never realized were there.  “Inside Man” has some violence and swearing, but it is pretty tame for an R-rated film and worth watching for its complex story and rewarding twist.

[Pictured: The characters never do what you expect]