Plot: A high school nerd, Peter (Tobey Maguire) is bitten by a genetically modified spider and gains spider-like abilities. He uses these abilities to fight evil as tragedy befalls his family. In the film, he must battle the Green Goblin as he terrorizes New York.
Review: I was never a big fan of the superhero genre, so I was slightly reluctant to watch this. I do believe it's because I never really found a superhero movie that I enjoyed. Until I watched this.
I didn't read the Spider-Man comic books that much when I was a kid. But I did watch several episodes of the animated series when I got older.
We all know the plot of Spider-Man. Peter gets bitten by a genetically modified spider. And in this film, he faces the Green Goblin. I liked the film's plot in general, but there were some slight flaws. One thing that bothered about the film's plot is that when Peter gets his abilities, there's really no inner struggle or reluctance to his new powers. Instead, he kind of accepts them quickly and uses them to his advantage. In superhero movies, I usually expect to see some struggle of sorts in accepting the new life that has fallen upon them. And there really wasn't much of it in this film so I was disappointed in that respect. They did explore this in the second film so that satisfied me. I will say that I also believe they did it intentionally because adolescence is a time where you don't want to face the entire grasps of new responsibilities that you have.
The acting is very strong. Toby Maguire is brilliant as Peter Parker/Spider-Man. Kirsten Dunst is also very good in this. She's able to portray Mary Jane's innocence and grace perfectly. James Franco plays Harry, Peter's friend, and I think he did a marvelous job. Willem Dafoe plays Norman/The Green and he is very convincing in both roles. He's very creepy when he transforms into the Green Goblin. But he also had a creepiness to him when he was Norman as well. Cliff Robertson plays Uncle Ben. For me, he was one of the best parts of the movie. I also enjoyed Rosemary Harris as Aunt May. I do wish we were able to see a little bit more of Uncle Ben and Aunt May together because I think the actors had a good spark between them. I honestly feel that J.K. Simmons can't be applauded enough for his role. He is absolutely hilarious and so over the top. It's never a dull moment.
The film's visuals are fantastic. Whether it's the costumes of Spider-Man and the Green Goblin, the Green Goblin's weapons, the fight sequences, New York and all other special effects were really well done. It didn't feel too cheesy to me.
I did like the film's ending. Even though the filmmakers couldn't be a hundred percent sure if they would make additional films, I did like that there was a big character development for Peter. And Mary Jane's reaction is a pivotal moment that I think is one of the more remembered moments in the film, even though it's very brief. But I think the film's ending was well-suited and that it connects well with the second film's plot and story.
Spider-Man is a thrilling, entertaining, funny and action-packed film.
Rating: 4/5
Tuesday, 31 January 2012
Thursday, 26 January 2012
Crash (2004)
Plot: The film deals with several characters during a two day period in Los Angeles, where their stories interweave. We have a black LAPD detective who is estranged from his mother, his criminal younger brother and his gang associate, a white District Attorney and his pampered wife, a racist white police officer who disgusts his younger partner, an African American Hollywood director and his wife who must deal with the white racist police officer, a Persian-immigrant who is wary of others and a Hispanic locksmith and his young daughter.
Review: Crash is a masterpiece and one of the most brilliant and more important films I've ever seen.
What I like about the film's gripping and intense plot is that it deals with racism in a direct matter. I also like that almost every character in the film is racist or prejudice in some way or another. Usually with films that involve racism, we have only one or two characters that are racist and the rest aren't. Practically every character has their flaws and I like that. It makes the film feel more realistic in a sense.
The film's plot feels very real to me. It doesn't feel like a melodramatic, over the top film about different people with different lives. We see the stories of different people and how they live and what they think of others. It's ordinary people.
The acting in this is simply phenomenal. I think with this kind of film, you can't have weak links in your cast. The cast is quite large so I'm not going to bother to point out every single actor. The reason is because the praise would be all be the same. All of the cast members were amazing and brilliantly played their roles. All of them were frighteningly convincing.
One thing that struck me this is that most of the characters aren't really that sympathetic. We have moments where we feel sympathy for them, but we rarely feel bad for them throughout the entire film. I think there are only two characters that I felt sympathy for throughout the entire film. That was Daniel (Michael Pena), the locksmith who is trying to do what he can to provide for his family and Christine (Thandie Newton), who is sexually molested by the racist cop (played by Matt Dillon). We do have moments where we have sympathy for some characters, but like I said, it's not everlasting.
The setting of Los Angeles is interesting and I like that we see many different sides of LA. I think that we expect to see a glamorous and beautiful city. Instead, we see the dark, poor and ugly sides of the city. I think Paul Haggis, the genius writer and director, had the right idea of showing us that even a city like LA can have its flaws, just like the characters that inhabit it.
Even though I think they did a fine job with portraying the different ethnicity's in this, I think the writers stereotyped the Asians in this film a little too much. That's just my own opinion.
Crash is a powerful, intense and brilliant film that I think should be seen by everybody.
Rating: 5/5
Review: Crash is a masterpiece and one of the most brilliant and more important films I've ever seen.
What I like about the film's gripping and intense plot is that it deals with racism in a direct matter. I also like that almost every character in the film is racist or prejudice in some way or another. Usually with films that involve racism, we have only one or two characters that are racist and the rest aren't. Practically every character has their flaws and I like that. It makes the film feel more realistic in a sense.
The film's plot feels very real to me. It doesn't feel like a melodramatic, over the top film about different people with different lives. We see the stories of different people and how they live and what they think of others. It's ordinary people.
The acting in this is simply phenomenal. I think with this kind of film, you can't have weak links in your cast. The cast is quite large so I'm not going to bother to point out every single actor. The reason is because the praise would be all be the same. All of the cast members were amazing and brilliantly played their roles. All of them were frighteningly convincing.
One thing that struck me this is that most of the characters aren't really that sympathetic. We have moments where we feel sympathy for them, but we rarely feel bad for them throughout the entire film. I think there are only two characters that I felt sympathy for throughout the entire film. That was Daniel (Michael Pena), the locksmith who is trying to do what he can to provide for his family and Christine (Thandie Newton), who is sexually molested by the racist cop (played by Matt Dillon). We do have moments where we have sympathy for some characters, but like I said, it's not everlasting.
The setting of Los Angeles is interesting and I like that we see many different sides of LA. I think that we expect to see a glamorous and beautiful city. Instead, we see the dark, poor and ugly sides of the city. I think Paul Haggis, the genius writer and director, had the right idea of showing us that even a city like LA can have its flaws, just like the characters that inhabit it.
Even though I think they did a fine job with portraying the different ethnicity's in this, I think the writers stereotyped the Asians in this film a little too much. That's just my own opinion.
Crash is a powerful, intense and brilliant film that I think should be seen by everybody.
Rating: 5/5
Monday, 23 January 2012
127 Hours (2010)
Plot: Based on a true story that happened in 2003, mountain climber Aron Ralston (James Franco) becomes trapped under a boulder and must resort to drastic measures in order to survive. During the 127 hours where he is trapped, he reflects on his life.
Review: This movie is phenomenal. Simply phenomenal.
This is James Franco and Danny Boyle's film. It's all there's. James Franco is essentially a one-man show in this and he does an incredible job. We have a brief appearance from two girls that Aron meets and some flashbacks of Aron's family, but other than that, at least 90% of the film, if not more than that, focuses on Aron.
In James' performance, we see Aron's carelessness, joy in living in the moment in the beginning. When he becomes trapped, we see a different side of Aron. We see a man who is scared and has regrets of what he's done and what he could've done to make things better in his life. Even his simple facial expressions, his pain and grunts when he tries to feel himself could send chills down your spine. James was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor last year and he rightfully earned that nomination. I still believe that if Colin Firth hadn't been nominated for The King's Speech, James Franco would've probably won.
Danny Boyle is a fantastic director. I find that he is a very visual director. You can see it with certain shots like a cold water bottle, certain mountains, the lake and even of the boulder itself. The film is very visual and certain visuals support the film's intensity. Like when the boulder falls on Aron's arm, it's a great shot because you can practically feel Aron's pain when it happens.
As for the scene itself in which Aron resorts to drastic measures to free himself, it wasn't entirely as gory as I had suspected. It's still gory nonetheless. But what's so chilling about that scene isn't the gore itself, but the intensity, determination and pain that James Franco displays during that scene. It's very difficult to watch. The entire film is suspenseful and keeps you on your toes, but that particular scene can make you turn away for a while.
127 Hours is an intense and brilliant film, that's one of the best films that was released in 2010.
Rating: 4.5/5
Review: This movie is phenomenal. Simply phenomenal.
This is James Franco and Danny Boyle's film. It's all there's. James Franco is essentially a one-man show in this and he does an incredible job. We have a brief appearance from two girls that Aron meets and some flashbacks of Aron's family, but other than that, at least 90% of the film, if not more than that, focuses on Aron.
In James' performance, we see Aron's carelessness, joy in living in the moment in the beginning. When he becomes trapped, we see a different side of Aron. We see a man who is scared and has regrets of what he's done and what he could've done to make things better in his life. Even his simple facial expressions, his pain and grunts when he tries to feel himself could send chills down your spine. James was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor last year and he rightfully earned that nomination. I still believe that if Colin Firth hadn't been nominated for The King's Speech, James Franco would've probably won.
Danny Boyle is a fantastic director. I find that he is a very visual director. You can see it with certain shots like a cold water bottle, certain mountains, the lake and even of the boulder itself. The film is very visual and certain visuals support the film's intensity. Like when the boulder falls on Aron's arm, it's a great shot because you can practically feel Aron's pain when it happens.
As for the scene itself in which Aron resorts to drastic measures to free himself, it wasn't entirely as gory as I had suspected. It's still gory nonetheless. But what's so chilling about that scene isn't the gore itself, but the intensity, determination and pain that James Franco displays during that scene. It's very difficult to watch. The entire film is suspenseful and keeps you on your toes, but that particular scene can make you turn away for a while.
127 Hours is an intense and brilliant film, that's one of the best films that was released in 2010.
Rating: 4.5/5
Sunday, 22 January 2012
Temple Grandin (2010)
Plot: This is a biopic film on Temple Grandin (played by Claire Danes), an autistic woman who has become one of the top scientists in humane livestock handling industry. In the film, we see Temple's summers on her aunt's ranch, how she came to invent the "squeeze machine" (a machine used for people with hypersensitivity issues) and how she became a scientist in humane livestock handling.
Review: This is a TV film that was released on HBO. I will say that this is probably one of, if not, the best television film I've ever seen.
This is an inspiring film. You root for Temple to be able to achieve, even though she's been told she won't be able to. The film is also very fascinating in terms of somebody with autism, to see how they act, think and talk. The film does a marvelous job of avoiding the cliches that would come with this kind of story and I applaud them for that.
The film is surprisingly humorous and joyous. I like that with this kind of story that we're able to laugh and smile. But we smile not only because this film is funny, but because we root for Temple as we watch her grow and achieve and beat the odds that were set against her.
The film's use of effects for Temple's thought process is fantastic. It's great to see how she thinks in pictures and how visual her mind actually is. It's very unique and allows us to enter her brilliant mind.
The acting is stupendous. There are really four primary actors in the film. Catherine O'Hara plays Aunt Anne, Temple's aunt who owns a ranch and she is great in this, even though we don't see too much of her. David Strathairn plays Professor Carlock, Temple's boarding school science teacher. He is the one who was aware of Temple's visual skills and furthered her education. He is a great character and I also like that Professor Carlock wasn't a woman because I personally think it would've resembled too much to Helen Keller's equally inspiring story. Julia Ormond plays Temple's mother, who despite knowing her daughter's autism is determined to give her [Temple] the best life possible.
But the real star of this film is Claire Danes in her powerful, touching and incredible performance as Temple Grandin. Claire isn't afraid to go for it in this. Whether it's to change her voice into different modulations. Her portrayal of Temple's anxiety, frustration with people who belittle her and her determination to do great things despite her autism is so amazing to see unfold. Claire Danes won several awards, including a Golden Globe and Emmy, for her performance. She deserved every single award that was given to her.
Temple Grandin is an inspiring, touching, joyous heartwarming and funny film that everyone should see. One of the best television films I've ever seen.
Rating: 5/5
Review: This is a TV film that was released on HBO. I will say that this is probably one of, if not, the best television film I've ever seen.
This is an inspiring film. You root for Temple to be able to achieve, even though she's been told she won't be able to. The film is also very fascinating in terms of somebody with autism, to see how they act, think and talk. The film does a marvelous job of avoiding the cliches that would come with this kind of story and I applaud them for that.
The film is surprisingly humorous and joyous. I like that with this kind of story that we're able to laugh and smile. But we smile not only because this film is funny, but because we root for Temple as we watch her grow and achieve and beat the odds that were set against her.
The film's use of effects for Temple's thought process is fantastic. It's great to see how she thinks in pictures and how visual her mind actually is. It's very unique and allows us to enter her brilliant mind.
The acting is stupendous. There are really four primary actors in the film. Catherine O'Hara plays Aunt Anne, Temple's aunt who owns a ranch and she is great in this, even though we don't see too much of her. David Strathairn plays Professor Carlock, Temple's boarding school science teacher. He is the one who was aware of Temple's visual skills and furthered her education. He is a great character and I also like that Professor Carlock wasn't a woman because I personally think it would've resembled too much to Helen Keller's equally inspiring story. Julia Ormond plays Temple's mother, who despite knowing her daughter's autism is determined to give her [Temple] the best life possible.
But the real star of this film is Claire Danes in her powerful, touching and incredible performance as Temple Grandin. Claire isn't afraid to go for it in this. Whether it's to change her voice into different modulations. Her portrayal of Temple's anxiety, frustration with people who belittle her and her determination to do great things despite her autism is so amazing to see unfold. Claire Danes won several awards, including a Golden Globe and Emmy, for her performance. She deserved every single award that was given to her.
Temple Grandin is an inspiring, touching, joyous heartwarming and funny film that everyone should see. One of the best television films I've ever seen.
Rating: 5/5
Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
Plot: A family determined to get their daughter into the finals of a beauty pageant take a cross-country road trip in a VW bus.
Review: This is one my favorite movies. It's just an awesome movie to watch and I'll tell you why.
Firstly, what I like about the film's plot is that it feels real. This is a movie about a family and how dysfunctional they are. It doesn't feel entirely over the top. We have a father trying to succeed in his business proposal, a somewhat rebellious teenage boy who doesn't want to have anything to do with the family, a hilarious, cursing grandfather, a mother trying to keep everything together, a suicidal, gay uncle and a little girl who just wants to win a beauty pageant. When the plot and the characters are described, you would think that it's melodramatic. But it really isn't.
The acting is incredible. There's no weak link at all in the main cast, consisting of the family. Greg Kinnear plays the father Richard and he is awesome in his role. We see Richard's determination that everything go perfectly, whether it's his business or family, he just wants everything to go smoothly. And when it doesn't, everything cracks and he tries to make everything right.
Toni Collette plays Sheryl, the mother. I love Toni Collette and I think this is one of her better film roles that I've seen her in so far. She's determined to keep everything together and is also more rational that most of her family members. I'm always impressed that Toni Collette, who is an Australian, is able to do an American accent so well.
Paul Dano plays Dwayne, Sheryl's teenage son from a previous relationship. Dwayne doesn't speak for a great portion of the film. Paul's facial expressions and gestures when his character doesn't speak is fantastic. It takes a great actor to be able to show us what the character is saying without actually saying anything.
Steve Carell plays Frank, Sheryl's brother who attempted suicide. What I like about Carell's portrayal is that we see the evolution of his character as he tries to cope with the mess that his life has become. You would think that this kind of character doesn't bring laughs, but he does and Carell plays it very well.
Alan Arkin is Edwin, the drug-abusing, cursing grandfather that teaches Olive the dance moves for the pageant. Alan Arkin is absolutely hilarious and very touching in this role. He plays the grumpy old man with a balance of sweetness and tenderness very well. It's no wonder he won an Oscar for this role.
Finally, Abigail Breslin plays Olive and she is simply amazing in this. Her ability to portray Olive's innocence, determination, sadness and naive ways is just fantastic to watch. Abigail Breslin received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress when she was only 10 years old. That speaks volumes.
The film is well-cast and there's no weak link. I'd even go as far to say that Greg Kinnear, Toni Collette and Steve Carrell should've been nominated at the Oscars for their performances.
The writing is phenomenal. What I like about Michael Arndt's writing is that he's able to make every single character relatable to the audience and we're also able to feel sympathy for every character at some point during the film. His script also brings dark comedy in a dark situation like death and I admire that. Michael Ardnt won an Oscar for his script for a reason.
The film is a black comedy so there's good laughs for the audience, but we also have those sad, dark moments in which the audience can relate. The audience can relate in the comedic and dramatic of this film.
Little Miss Sunshine is a brilliant film and one of that will probably be one of my favorites for a long time to come.
Rating: 5/5
Review: This is one my favorite movies. It's just an awesome movie to watch and I'll tell you why.
Firstly, what I like about the film's plot is that it feels real. This is a movie about a family and how dysfunctional they are. It doesn't feel entirely over the top. We have a father trying to succeed in his business proposal, a somewhat rebellious teenage boy who doesn't want to have anything to do with the family, a hilarious, cursing grandfather, a mother trying to keep everything together, a suicidal, gay uncle and a little girl who just wants to win a beauty pageant. When the plot and the characters are described, you would think that it's melodramatic. But it really isn't.
The acting is incredible. There's no weak link at all in the main cast, consisting of the family. Greg Kinnear plays the father Richard and he is awesome in his role. We see Richard's determination that everything go perfectly, whether it's his business or family, he just wants everything to go smoothly. And when it doesn't, everything cracks and he tries to make everything right.
Toni Collette plays Sheryl, the mother. I love Toni Collette and I think this is one of her better film roles that I've seen her in so far. She's determined to keep everything together and is also more rational that most of her family members. I'm always impressed that Toni Collette, who is an Australian, is able to do an American accent so well.
Paul Dano plays Dwayne, Sheryl's teenage son from a previous relationship. Dwayne doesn't speak for a great portion of the film. Paul's facial expressions and gestures when his character doesn't speak is fantastic. It takes a great actor to be able to show us what the character is saying without actually saying anything.
Steve Carell plays Frank, Sheryl's brother who attempted suicide. What I like about Carell's portrayal is that we see the evolution of his character as he tries to cope with the mess that his life has become. You would think that this kind of character doesn't bring laughs, but he does and Carell plays it very well.
Alan Arkin is Edwin, the drug-abusing, cursing grandfather that teaches Olive the dance moves for the pageant. Alan Arkin is absolutely hilarious and very touching in this role. He plays the grumpy old man with a balance of sweetness and tenderness very well. It's no wonder he won an Oscar for this role.
Finally, Abigail Breslin plays Olive and she is simply amazing in this. Her ability to portray Olive's innocence, determination, sadness and naive ways is just fantastic to watch. Abigail Breslin received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress when she was only 10 years old. That speaks volumes.
The film is well-cast and there's no weak link. I'd even go as far to say that Greg Kinnear, Toni Collette and Steve Carrell should've been nominated at the Oscars for their performances.
The writing is phenomenal. What I like about Michael Arndt's writing is that he's able to make every single character relatable to the audience and we're also able to feel sympathy for every character at some point during the film. His script also brings dark comedy in a dark situation like death and I admire that. Michael Ardnt won an Oscar for his script for a reason.
The film is a black comedy so there's good laughs for the audience, but we also have those sad, dark moments in which the audience can relate. The audience can relate in the comedic and dramatic of this film.
Little Miss Sunshine is a brilliant film and one of that will probably be one of my favorites for a long time to come.
Rating: 5/5
Saturday, 21 January 2012
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)
Plot: Journalist Mikael (Daniel Craig) is sought by a wealthy man, Henrik (Christopher Plummer) to find out what happened to his niece, Harriet, forty years ago. As he tries to uncover the mystery, he seeks the help of Lisbeth (Rooney Mara), a troubled and disturbed computer hacker.
Review: I haven't finished reading the book itself so I'm reviewing this movie entirely separately from the novel itself.
This is a fantastic film. Completely blew me away.
Firstly, the plot is fascinating, unique and intriguing. What I like about the plot is that we have the plots for two completely different characters. We have Mikael investigating Harriet's disappearance and her family. And then we have Lisbeth and her struggles. Mikael and Lisbeth's plots aren't really similar yet when they start working together, the plot blends together perfectly.
The acting is phenomenal. The cast is fairly large and everyone stands out, but I'll just give my thoughts on those I think are important. Daniel Craig, who most of us associate with James Bond, is great in this. I didn't think of James Bond when I saw Daniel Craig on-screen. I thought of him as your normal, typical guy that gets himself in a what becomes a twisted and deadly situation.
Christopher Plummer is superb as Henrik, a man who is desperate for the truth. You feel for him throughout the film.
Yorick van Wageningen plays Nils, a government worker who takes advantage of Lisbeth and her situation. He is vile and a complete piece of crap. And he sells it perfectly. You never feel bad for the character and what happens to him and Wageningen plays it very well.
Stellan Skarsgard plays Martin, a member of the Vanger family. I've always liked his work and he shines in this. His range is incredible.
But the true star in this is Rooney Mara as Lisbeth. Her performance is chilling, disturbing, dark and powerful. If you've seen pictures of Rooney herself, she is completely unrecognizable in this. Her ability to portray Lisbeth's psychological problems, her way of thinking and how she interacts with people. Also, Rooney Mara is an American and you wouldn't think that she is because she does a great Swedish accent. When the film ends, you feel terrible for her. If Rooney Mara doesn't get an Oscar nomination for her powerful performance, there's no justice.
The film is so layered in its themes such as violence against women, how we perceive people in society, criminals etc. that the film and the novel itself can be a good discussion topic.
The film runs for approximately 158 minutes. It actually doesn't feel like it runs for that long until near the end. There were some scenes that I thought could've ended the film better. For example, Lisbeth and Mikael reunite after everything's been solved and she tells him she'll see him soon and she walks away. That I thought would've been a good ending. Even though the ending is sad, it is pivotal to Lisbeth's character development, who can now possibly feel something. I do believe they had the ending like that because it opens up the possibility for adaptations of the two other novels in the trilogy.
David Fincher directed this and he does an amazing job, as he usually does. I have a feeling that this will get him an Oscar nomination for Best Director. He pays very close attention to the details.
A recurring theme I see in David Fincher's films is that there's humor in films you wouldn't expect. Fincher directed Zodiac, which tells the story of the Zodiac Killer, who has still not been found. That film had good, humorous moments where you wouldn't expect it. His other most recent film, The Social Network, which tells us about the founding of Facebook, was surprisingly funny in many aspects. But the real humor in this isn't jokes that are told. Instead, it is the way that either Daniel Craig or Rooney Mara deliver their lines and their facial expressions.
I have a feeling this is going to be one of the big contenders at the Oscars this year. I believe that the film will be nominated in the categories of Best Actress for Rooney Mara, Best Director for David Fincher and Best Makeup. The Oscars this year have weird rules for nominations for Best Picture. I think The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo will get nominated for Best Picture. I'll even go as far to say that Daniel Craig might even get an Oscar nomination for Best Actor. But we'll see when they announce the nominations.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is a brilliant, disturbing, dark and twisted film that must be seen and appreciated. One of the best movies of 2011.
Rating: 4.5/5
Review: I haven't finished reading the book itself so I'm reviewing this movie entirely separately from the novel itself.
This is a fantastic film. Completely blew me away.
Firstly, the plot is fascinating, unique and intriguing. What I like about the plot is that we have the plots for two completely different characters. We have Mikael investigating Harriet's disappearance and her family. And then we have Lisbeth and her struggles. Mikael and Lisbeth's plots aren't really similar yet when they start working together, the plot blends together perfectly.
The acting is phenomenal. The cast is fairly large and everyone stands out, but I'll just give my thoughts on those I think are important. Daniel Craig, who most of us associate with James Bond, is great in this. I didn't think of James Bond when I saw Daniel Craig on-screen. I thought of him as your normal, typical guy that gets himself in a what becomes a twisted and deadly situation.
Christopher Plummer is superb as Henrik, a man who is desperate for the truth. You feel for him throughout the film.
Yorick van Wageningen plays Nils, a government worker who takes advantage of Lisbeth and her situation. He is vile and a complete piece of crap. And he sells it perfectly. You never feel bad for the character and what happens to him and Wageningen plays it very well.
Stellan Skarsgard plays Martin, a member of the Vanger family. I've always liked his work and he shines in this. His range is incredible.
But the true star in this is Rooney Mara as Lisbeth. Her performance is chilling, disturbing, dark and powerful. If you've seen pictures of Rooney herself, she is completely unrecognizable in this. Her ability to portray Lisbeth's psychological problems, her way of thinking and how she interacts with people. Also, Rooney Mara is an American and you wouldn't think that she is because she does a great Swedish accent. When the film ends, you feel terrible for her. If Rooney Mara doesn't get an Oscar nomination for her powerful performance, there's no justice.
The film is so layered in its themes such as violence against women, how we perceive people in society, criminals etc. that the film and the novel itself can be a good discussion topic.
The film runs for approximately 158 minutes. It actually doesn't feel like it runs for that long until near the end. There were some scenes that I thought could've ended the film better. For example, Lisbeth and Mikael reunite after everything's been solved and she tells him she'll see him soon and she walks away. That I thought would've been a good ending. Even though the ending is sad, it is pivotal to Lisbeth's character development, who can now possibly feel something. I do believe they had the ending like that because it opens up the possibility for adaptations of the two other novels in the trilogy.
David Fincher directed this and he does an amazing job, as he usually does. I have a feeling that this will get him an Oscar nomination for Best Director. He pays very close attention to the details.
A recurring theme I see in David Fincher's films is that there's humor in films you wouldn't expect. Fincher directed Zodiac, which tells the story of the Zodiac Killer, who has still not been found. That film had good, humorous moments where you wouldn't expect it. His other most recent film, The Social Network, which tells us about the founding of Facebook, was surprisingly funny in many aspects. But the real humor in this isn't jokes that are told. Instead, it is the way that either Daniel Craig or Rooney Mara deliver their lines and their facial expressions.
I have a feeling this is going to be one of the big contenders at the Oscars this year. I believe that the film will be nominated in the categories of Best Actress for Rooney Mara, Best Director for David Fincher and Best Makeup. The Oscars this year have weird rules for nominations for Best Picture. I think The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo will get nominated for Best Picture. I'll even go as far to say that Daniel Craig might even get an Oscar nomination for Best Actor. But we'll see when they announce the nominations.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is a brilliant, disturbing, dark and twisted film that must be seen and appreciated. One of the best movies of 2011.
Rating: 4.5/5
Saturday, 14 January 2012
Push (2009)
Plot: The film focuses on a group of people who have superhuman abilities who band together in hopes of taking down a government agency that is using a drug to enhance people's abilities in hopes of making an army of super soldiers. Nick (Chris Evans) is a Mover (he has telekinetic abilities) living in Hong Kong who is sought out by Cassie (Dakota Fanning), a Watcher (able to see the future). They work along with others to bring down Division, the organization after them and find Kira (Camilla Bell), a Pusher who is the only one to survive after being given the drug.
Review: I enjoyed this movie. But that doesn't mean it doesn't have flaws.
Firstly, I like the plot and I think it's an interesting premise to explore. People who have superpowers and trying to escape from those after them. This is probably insignificant to others, but I like that the film isn't set in America. I like that the film is set is Asia because it gives us a sense of mystery and adds to the desperation of characters that are trying to hide from Division. The setting for me was very interesting and one of the better elements of the film as a whole.
But despite an interesting premise, the plot is cliche and predictable at times. Another aspect of the movie I didn't like is that the story feels unbalanced. It was confusing for me the first tine that I watched it and I wouldn't be surprised if others found it confusing as well. There are many unanswered questions, some that aren't relevant to some viewers. But there are some unanswered questions that are prudent and I think the writers should've paid better attention.
Now for the cast. I think Chris Evans is fine in this as the leading role. He's okay, but I don't think he's that strong of an actor to begin with. Camilla Bell plays Kira, a Pusher (able to implant memories) and I thought she stood on her own in this different role. She plays a woman with a huge range of emotions, which comes from what happens to her in the film. Djimon Hounsou plays Agent Henry Carver, who is an Agent of Division. I think he does a great job of playing this manipulative, scheming and cold character. But the standout for me is Dakota Fanning. This is very different compared to other characters that she's played. She's drunk in a scene, she's feisty and headstrong.
The special effects in this were alright. But there was nothing really amazing or worth noticing for me when I watched this.
This film is entertaining and enjoyable to an extent, but if you never have a chance to watch this, you aren't really missing anything.
Rating: 3/5
Review: I enjoyed this movie. But that doesn't mean it doesn't have flaws.
Firstly, I like the plot and I think it's an interesting premise to explore. People who have superpowers and trying to escape from those after them. This is probably insignificant to others, but I like that the film isn't set in America. I like that the film is set is Asia because it gives us a sense of mystery and adds to the desperation of characters that are trying to hide from Division. The setting for me was very interesting and one of the better elements of the film as a whole.
But despite an interesting premise, the plot is cliche and predictable at times. Another aspect of the movie I didn't like is that the story feels unbalanced. It was confusing for me the first tine that I watched it and I wouldn't be surprised if others found it confusing as well. There are many unanswered questions, some that aren't relevant to some viewers. But there are some unanswered questions that are prudent and I think the writers should've paid better attention.
Now for the cast. I think Chris Evans is fine in this as the leading role. He's okay, but I don't think he's that strong of an actor to begin with. Camilla Bell plays Kira, a Pusher (able to implant memories) and I thought she stood on her own in this different role. She plays a woman with a huge range of emotions, which comes from what happens to her in the film. Djimon Hounsou plays Agent Henry Carver, who is an Agent of Division. I think he does a great job of playing this manipulative, scheming and cold character. But the standout for me is Dakota Fanning. This is very different compared to other characters that she's played. She's drunk in a scene, she's feisty and headstrong.
The special effects in this were alright. But there was nothing really amazing or worth noticing for me when I watched this.
This film is entertaining and enjoyable to an extent, but if you never have a chance to watch this, you aren't really missing anything.
Rating: 3/5
Alvin & The Chipmunks (2007)
Plot: Dave Seville (Jason Lee) is a struggling songwriter. One day, he discovers the Chipmunks: Alvin, Simon and Theodore. When he hears them sing, he makes them a deal: he write songs for them to sing in exchange for food and shelter. But a record executive, Ian (David Cross) has his eyes on the Chipmunks.
Review: Like the recent Scooby-Doo and Garfield films, we have beloved cartoon characters who are computer animated and brought into the world of live-action films.
I found the plot cliche and predictable. But what I did like about the plot is the idea of showing an audience how the Chipmunks met Dave and how they made it big. It's a good premise, but the film's plot was just childish.
This film is aimed to a specific demographic, which is of course young kids. It's obvious to anyone the way they were marketing it. A good portion of the humor used in the film is for kids and to get a laugh. Adults might get a chuckle or two from this and that's it. I believe that it's good to provide humor for adults in family-orientated movies so that the parents and/or teenagers won't get bored.
The acting is decent at best. Jason Lee is okay as Dave Seville. David Cross is decent as Ian, although I found his character incredibly annoying and melodramatic. Cameron Richardson plays Carrie, Dave's love interest. And I think that she also does an alright job. There aren't that many main characters to begin with, which is good because I don't think I could've handled more.
I will say that the film does have a few touching moments that any family watching will appreciate.
I've said countless times that I believe those films would work better if they stuck to the animation instead of trying to make it all live-action and more current. That's just my two cents.
Alvin and the Chipmunks is a harmless and often humorous film. It's just not a good one.
Rating: 2/5
Review: Like the recent Scooby-Doo and Garfield films, we have beloved cartoon characters who are computer animated and brought into the world of live-action films.
I found the plot cliche and predictable. But what I did like about the plot is the idea of showing an audience how the Chipmunks met Dave and how they made it big. It's a good premise, but the film's plot was just childish.
This film is aimed to a specific demographic, which is of course young kids. It's obvious to anyone the way they were marketing it. A good portion of the humor used in the film is for kids and to get a laugh. Adults might get a chuckle or two from this and that's it. I believe that it's good to provide humor for adults in family-orientated movies so that the parents and/or teenagers won't get bored.
The acting is decent at best. Jason Lee is okay as Dave Seville. David Cross is decent as Ian, although I found his character incredibly annoying and melodramatic. Cameron Richardson plays Carrie, Dave's love interest. And I think that she also does an alright job. There aren't that many main characters to begin with, which is good because I don't think I could've handled more.
I will say that the film does have a few touching moments that any family watching will appreciate.
I've said countless times that I believe those films would work better if they stuck to the animation instead of trying to make it all live-action and more current. That's just my two cents.
Alvin and the Chipmunks is a harmless and often humorous film. It's just not a good one.
Rating: 2/5
Thursday, 12 January 2012
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)
Plot: It's the annual vegetable growing contest. And a mysterious rabbit creature is eating all of the town's vegetables. So it's up to inventor Wallace and his loyal dog, Gromit, to solve the mystery.
Review: I'm a fan of Wallace and Gromit and was looking forward to watching this. And it did not disappoint.
What I like about the film's plot is that it does a good job parodying horror films. But what's impressive is that it's a parody that's appropriate for kids to watch. When people aim to make a spoof of any genre, they tend to go the teen-adult demographic. You don't see parodies directed to a younger age group. I remember watching the DVD features and one of the crew members calling this "the world's first vegetarian horror movie". And it is.
The humor that's used is fine for kids to watch and will make them laugh. There's also some good laughs for the parents or adults watching this with the little ones. For me, the big source of humor is Gromit. He doesn't talk at all in any of their films. But his facial expressions are priceless and most of time will match the audiences own reactions.
In the short films, there's usually a limited amount of characters. So I did enjoy the additional characters. Like Victor Quartermaine, the film's primary antagonist and Lady Tottington, the third protagonist are enjoyable new characters. There are some that make recurring appearances, like Ms. Mulch and the priest, and some that just appear in one shot. But all the additional characters are so unique and distinct so there's really no similarities between any of the characters.
I'm always impressed by clay animation (a.k.a stop-motion animation) and this is no different. You watch this film and you know that they put their heart and soul in the entire process. It took five years to make and it shows. You get this especially when you watch the behind the scenes features on the DVD if you ever buy it.
This is a funny, entertaining and touching movie for the entire family.
Rating: 4.5/5
Review: I'm a fan of Wallace and Gromit and was looking forward to watching this. And it did not disappoint.
What I like about the film's plot is that it does a good job parodying horror films. But what's impressive is that it's a parody that's appropriate for kids to watch. When people aim to make a spoof of any genre, they tend to go the teen-adult demographic. You don't see parodies directed to a younger age group. I remember watching the DVD features and one of the crew members calling this "the world's first vegetarian horror movie". And it is.
The humor that's used is fine for kids to watch and will make them laugh. There's also some good laughs for the parents or adults watching this with the little ones. For me, the big source of humor is Gromit. He doesn't talk at all in any of their films. But his facial expressions are priceless and most of time will match the audiences own reactions.
In the short films, there's usually a limited amount of characters. So I did enjoy the additional characters. Like Victor Quartermaine, the film's primary antagonist and Lady Tottington, the third protagonist are enjoyable new characters. There are some that make recurring appearances, like Ms. Mulch and the priest, and some that just appear in one shot. But all the additional characters are so unique and distinct so there's really no similarities between any of the characters.
I'm always impressed by clay animation (a.k.a stop-motion animation) and this is no different. You watch this film and you know that they put their heart and soul in the entire process. It took five years to make and it shows. You get this especially when you watch the behind the scenes features on the DVD if you ever buy it.
This is a funny, entertaining and touching movie for the entire family.
Rating: 4.5/5
Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
Plot: Set in 1947, Eddie Valiant (Bob Hoskins) is an alcoholic private investigator who holds a grudge against Toons (cartoon characters). Five years earlier, his brother was killed by a Toon and the killer was never caught. He is angry and takes it out on everyone. Roger Rabbit is an A-list Toon who works for Maroon Cartoons and is married to Jessica Rabbit, a beautiful Toon woman. Acme (Stubby Kaye) is a prankster who is caught "cheating" with Jessica by playing patty-cake with her. When Acme is murdered, Roger is accused. Eddie tries to prove Roger's innocence and protect him from Judge Doom (Christopher Llyod), judge of Toontown with the help of his on-off girlfriend Dolores (Joanna Cassidy).
Review: This is one of my favorite movies. Who Framed Roger Rabbit was released in 1988 and the film has interaction between real-life and cartoon characters. We see now so many films that do the same so it's not really anything that exciting for a modern audience in the 21st century. So to see that being done in that time period was quite the accomplishment. And it's very well done. I'm going to go as far to say that the special effects aspect of the film are better than some films I see today that have cartoon and real-life characters in the same scene.
What I like about the plot is that we're introduced to cartoon characters that remind us of the cartoon characters we enjoyed as kids. And we see several cartoon characters that we know and love like Mickey Mouse, Tweety Bird, Donald Duck, Daffy Duck are among some of these characters.
Because this film is a mixture of real-life and animation, many would expect for this to only be aimed at kids. That's far from the truth. Let me explain.
The film's plot is adult and so are some of the jokes. For example, Eddie is an alcoholic who hasn't properly coped with his brother's death. And we have a seen where Eddie asks for alcohol on the rocks and gets actual rocks in his drink. It's a kind of joke that adults and kids might find funny but it doesn't take away it's adult content. We also have the wife of Roger Rabbit, Jessica Rabbit, who is accused of having an affair by playing "patty-cake" with Acme. We have a baby smoking a cigarette, a cartoon character getting murdered and we see the scene of the crime. It's these examples that just show that this isn't a movie for young kids to see.
Not only is the plot adult, but there are also suspenseful and even intense moments. For example, we have the scene where someone is shot, we see the gun and the bullet hit the person.
The acting in this is top notch. Bob Hoskins is a fantastic lead actor in this. When you read the description of his character, you wouldn't believe to have any sympathy for him. But as Eddie grows in the film, we do feel for him and that's because of his performance. Christopher Lloyd is a very entertaining and convincing villain in his performance of Judge Doom. You know Judge Doom is bad news from when he first appears and Lloyd plays that throughout the entire film. He doesn't try to get us and sympathize with Doom because he [Christopher Lloyd] knows we shouldn't. I feel that Joanna Cassidy wasn't used as much in the film as she could've been but she shined in every scene she was in. All of the actors were acting with nothing when their characters were talking to the Toons so I have respect for them to be able to pull that kind of task off so effortlessly.
Who Framed Roger Rabbit is enormously entertaining, funny and thrilling. An amazing movie to watch and if you have the chance to watch it, do it. It's worth it.
Rating: 5/5
Review: This is one of my favorite movies. Who Framed Roger Rabbit was released in 1988 and the film has interaction between real-life and cartoon characters. We see now so many films that do the same so it's not really anything that exciting for a modern audience in the 21st century. So to see that being done in that time period was quite the accomplishment. And it's very well done. I'm going to go as far to say that the special effects aspect of the film are better than some films I see today that have cartoon and real-life characters in the same scene.
What I like about the plot is that we're introduced to cartoon characters that remind us of the cartoon characters we enjoyed as kids. And we see several cartoon characters that we know and love like Mickey Mouse, Tweety Bird, Donald Duck, Daffy Duck are among some of these characters.
Because this film is a mixture of real-life and animation, many would expect for this to only be aimed at kids. That's far from the truth. Let me explain.
The film's plot is adult and so are some of the jokes. For example, Eddie is an alcoholic who hasn't properly coped with his brother's death. And we have a seen where Eddie asks for alcohol on the rocks and gets actual rocks in his drink. It's a kind of joke that adults and kids might find funny but it doesn't take away it's adult content. We also have the wife of Roger Rabbit, Jessica Rabbit, who is accused of having an affair by playing "patty-cake" with Acme. We have a baby smoking a cigarette, a cartoon character getting murdered and we see the scene of the crime. It's these examples that just show that this isn't a movie for young kids to see.
Not only is the plot adult, but there are also suspenseful and even intense moments. For example, we have the scene where someone is shot, we see the gun and the bullet hit the person.
The acting in this is top notch. Bob Hoskins is a fantastic lead actor in this. When you read the description of his character, you wouldn't believe to have any sympathy for him. But as Eddie grows in the film, we do feel for him and that's because of his performance. Christopher Lloyd is a very entertaining and convincing villain in his performance of Judge Doom. You know Judge Doom is bad news from when he first appears and Lloyd plays that throughout the entire film. He doesn't try to get us and sympathize with Doom because he [Christopher Lloyd] knows we shouldn't. I feel that Joanna Cassidy wasn't used as much in the film as she could've been but she shined in every scene she was in. All of the actors were acting with nothing when their characters were talking to the Toons so I have respect for them to be able to pull that kind of task off so effortlessly.
Who Framed Roger Rabbit is enormously entertaining, funny and thrilling. An amazing movie to watch and if you have the chance to watch it, do it. It's worth it.
Rating: 5/5
Thursday, 5 January 2012
A Walk to Remember (2002)
Plot: Landon (Shane West) is forced to join several after-school activities after a prank goes wrong. In drama club, he's forced to interact with the quiet, bookish Jamie (Mandy Moore). As they grow closer, Landon realizes she isn't who he thought she was. Their love continues to grow, but obstacles get in their way.
Review: I enjoy this movie. But that doesn't mean the movie doesn't have its flaws. Firstly, the plot doesn't offer anything new and original. Troubled guy falls in love with the good girl, who changes him for the better. Don't get me wrong, it's sweet to watch and see how Landon changes because of his love for Jamie. But it's nothing we haven't seen before. I did like the twist with Jamie having cancer only because it added some conflict. But it still didn't make the plot any more original because it's been done over and over. Even though it's sad, I did appreciate the ending because it's realistic. But the plot is still weak and cliched.
One aspect of the film I did appreciate are the Christian values. Jamie is a devout Christian, but she isn't holier-than-thou. She doesn't think of herself as a higher human being because of her religion, so I did like that plot point because I've seen so many films and television shows that have religious characters who act like they're better than others because of their beliefs.
The acting is convincing from the two leads. Shane West has great presence and pulls off the arrogant, jerk Landon well. As he transitions from that to considerate and loving Landon, he shines. Mandy Moore's performance is also worthy of praise. Her performance is quietly effective and powerful.
Despite a few flaws, A Walk to Remember is a touching and sad love story, which I give credit to Shane West and Mandy Moore's performances.
Rating: 3.5/5
Review: I enjoy this movie. But that doesn't mean the movie doesn't have its flaws. Firstly, the plot doesn't offer anything new and original. Troubled guy falls in love with the good girl, who changes him for the better. Don't get me wrong, it's sweet to watch and see how Landon changes because of his love for Jamie. But it's nothing we haven't seen before. I did like the twist with Jamie having cancer only because it added some conflict. But it still didn't make the plot any more original because it's been done over and over. Even though it's sad, I did appreciate the ending because it's realistic. But the plot is still weak and cliched.
One aspect of the film I did appreciate are the Christian values. Jamie is a devout Christian, but she isn't holier-than-thou. She doesn't think of herself as a higher human being because of her religion, so I did like that plot point because I've seen so many films and television shows that have religious characters who act like they're better than others because of their beliefs.
The acting is convincing from the two leads. Shane West has great presence and pulls off the arrogant, jerk Landon well. As he transitions from that to considerate and loving Landon, he shines. Mandy Moore's performance is also worthy of praise. Her performance is quietly effective and powerful.
Despite a few flaws, A Walk to Remember is a touching and sad love story, which I give credit to Shane West and Mandy Moore's performances.
Rating: 3.5/5
Silent Hill (2006)
Plot: Rose (Radha Mitchell) decides to take her troubled adopted daughter, Sharon (Jodelle Ferland) to Silent Hill, the place that Sharon calls out to when she sleepwalks. On the way there, they get into a car accident and Rose is knocked into unconsciousness. When she wakes up, Sharon is not there. Rose finds herself in Silent Hill, a town engulfed by an alternate reality of fog and falling ash. While searching for Sharon, Rose encounters reality shifts and monsters and uncovers Sharon's connection to the town's mysterious past.
Review: I liked this movie, but it does have its flaws. Firstly, I found the film's plot to be interesting and original, but it can be difficult to follow. In the beginning, it wasn't that hard to go along with the plot and story, but when they entered Silent Hill, it was confusing because there are many time shifts and they're in an alternate reality that it isn't in any way related to the real world.
This film is based off a series of video games. So people who have played this game might understand, but I haven't played those games so I don't. I think it would've been better for the writers to try and make the film more understandable to people who are hearing of Silent Hill for the first time. I've watched this movie twice and I do understand a little bit more, but it can still be confusing. Especially the ending.
But what I did appreciate about the plot is all the different elements in it. Despite this film being set in an alternate reality, we see various elements such as what makes a good mother, religion, love for a child and the depth of human emotion from different perspectives.
I found the film too long. It runs for 125 minutes and I found there were several unnecessary scenes that could've been cut.
This movie is genuinely scary and suspenseful. Many horror films released in the last twelve years or so go for cheap and predictable scares. For me, there weren't much of those scares in Silent Hill and I appreciate that as a fan of horror movies.
Visually, the film is stunning. The universe of Silent Hill is a great thing to see. You feel that Silent Hill is an entirely different universe altogether and not in this world. The isolation, the creepiness, mystery and suspense that draws from the sets is just fantastic.
The demonic creatures that we see in the film are very scary and strange. Some of them don't have eyes, mouths or arms. The great majority of them don't have either of those three. These are the kind of creatures that kids would have nightmares about. Not knowing what they are just adds the fear and intensity in the scenes they appear.
The acting is pretty good. Radha Mitchell is a great lead as Rose, who takes her daughter to Silent Hill. She does great work portraying Rose's vulnerability and her strength, which continues to grow throughout her journey in Silent Hill. Laurie Holden plays Cybil, a motorcycle police officer who is suspicious of Rose and follows her into Silent Hill. Although she's not likable in the beginning, we see Cybil is kind and loyal, which is evident towards the film's ending. Alice Krige plays Christabella, the leader of the town's cult. She's just as creepy as the creatures and plays the role exceptionally well.
But the standout for me is Jodelle Ferland, who is actually very impressive in this. She plays three different roles in this, all different and distinct from one another. Most child actors wouldn't be able to play that convincingly. And she pulled it off and brilliantly so.
Silent Hill is entertaining, has surprising genuine scares and is very unique, but it's still a film that is slightly unbalanced and can be confusing to people who are entering this world for the first time. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't give it a try because despite its flaws, it's well-worth watching.
Rating: 3/5
Review: I liked this movie, but it does have its flaws. Firstly, I found the film's plot to be interesting and original, but it can be difficult to follow. In the beginning, it wasn't that hard to go along with the plot and story, but when they entered Silent Hill, it was confusing because there are many time shifts and they're in an alternate reality that it isn't in any way related to the real world.
This film is based off a series of video games. So people who have played this game might understand, but I haven't played those games so I don't. I think it would've been better for the writers to try and make the film more understandable to people who are hearing of Silent Hill for the first time. I've watched this movie twice and I do understand a little bit more, but it can still be confusing. Especially the ending.
But what I did appreciate about the plot is all the different elements in it. Despite this film being set in an alternate reality, we see various elements such as what makes a good mother, religion, love for a child and the depth of human emotion from different perspectives.
I found the film too long. It runs for 125 minutes and I found there were several unnecessary scenes that could've been cut.
This movie is genuinely scary and suspenseful. Many horror films released in the last twelve years or so go for cheap and predictable scares. For me, there weren't much of those scares in Silent Hill and I appreciate that as a fan of horror movies.
Visually, the film is stunning. The universe of Silent Hill is a great thing to see. You feel that Silent Hill is an entirely different universe altogether and not in this world. The isolation, the creepiness, mystery and suspense that draws from the sets is just fantastic.
The demonic creatures that we see in the film are very scary and strange. Some of them don't have eyes, mouths or arms. The great majority of them don't have either of those three. These are the kind of creatures that kids would have nightmares about. Not knowing what they are just adds the fear and intensity in the scenes they appear.
The acting is pretty good. Radha Mitchell is a great lead as Rose, who takes her daughter to Silent Hill. She does great work portraying Rose's vulnerability and her strength, which continues to grow throughout her journey in Silent Hill. Laurie Holden plays Cybil, a motorcycle police officer who is suspicious of Rose and follows her into Silent Hill. Although she's not likable in the beginning, we see Cybil is kind and loyal, which is evident towards the film's ending. Alice Krige plays Christabella, the leader of the town's cult. She's just as creepy as the creatures and plays the role exceptionally well.
But the standout for me is Jodelle Ferland, who is actually very impressive in this. She plays three different roles in this, all different and distinct from one another. Most child actors wouldn't be able to play that convincingly. And she pulled it off and brilliantly so.
Silent Hill is entertaining, has surprising genuine scares and is very unique, but it's still a film that is slightly unbalanced and can be confusing to people who are entering this world for the first time. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't give it a try because despite its flaws, it's well-worth watching.
Rating: 3/5
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)