Dreamgirls Review

Well we had the director's outing last week. Me, Diana, Ansis, Jas, Charm and Anna (The last two however didn't make it until the latter part). We had fun, even without the two goodie-tooshoes who had to stay for practice (yah I'm talking to you guys!!! -_-) Hahaha! Anyway, the day ended with Dreamgirls which I review now, and while I'm sure Jas already has the song out of her head, I'm afraid I cannot say otherwise about myself. :D

Based on the 1960's Broadway of the same title, the movie accounts the lives of the rise and fall of several singers including James "Thunder" Early (Eddie Murphy) and of course the main characters, The Dreams (Beyonce Knowles, Jennifer Hudson and Anika Noni Rose).

Well the first thing I have to say is that the visuals work really nicely. The sets are magnificent and flashy, half the time we were gawking at the stage than at the gals singing on it.

That's not to say the singing wasn't nice. It was actually very brilliant. I loved the soundtrack and the music really tugs at you. Well written and played, both new and old pieces. I was sent looking for all the songs the moment I got home. The thing is however, I've done the same thing with previous musicals so it doesn't really mean anything new.

One of the greatest points of the film is the acting. While everyone did a deccent job, Knowles doing a slightly better performance than what I thought her capable of, two people stole the limelight. Firs off is Eddie Murphy in a very serious role that presents a new side of Murphy's acting chops unlike any we've seen before. We see Eddie sad, melancholic, vulnerable and human. No disrespect to Mr Alan Arkin but I feel Murphy really should have gotten an Oscar for this.

The second got the oscar and deservingly so. Although I feel that part of her acting brilliance here is due to the song itself, Jennifer Hudson's pieces in the film were the only songs that nearly brought a tear to my eye and wrung my soul. Though some of the songs really touches the heart (like Patience and Listen) only Hudson makes you feel that much intensity of human emotions that brought life to this movie. Because otherwise, the movie would have been very lacking.

The movie is not however without its flaws. It is probably most compared to Chicago, which won the Best Picture award a few years ago and jumpstarted the return of the musicals in film. After watching the movie, it seems quite obvious that the darker and grittier Chicago is the superior and Rob Marshal the better at this round with Bill Condon.

What are the flaws? Well for one thing, Bill Condon has some seriously flawed pacing. While the movie seemed to go along smoothly in terms of story, it began to drag at the center. Not because of the writings, no, but because of the songs. The songs aren't bad, but unlike Chicago most of the songs here actually sound like each other. Thus there are many scenes in which Condon switches from one scene to another by directly connecting songs. At first it kind of flows smoothly, the rich music helps there. But after a while I actually started to wish they just say the lyrics than sing it. Again not because they were bad.

Also, although the screenplay included all the necessary parts, it seemed to me that it wasn't stretched to its greatest capabilities. Jimmy's part could have used some additional scenes for example, I would have loved to see more of Jimmy. Also, while emotional impacts was strong in the songs, it wasn't so in the script. They seemed to be thrown around frivolously as if trying to hit a random bullseye and hoping we shed a tear. Doesn't work that way. As I said, the only reason the movie managed to have some emotional content was on the songs and performances.

Also, I would have loved to see some nice choreography. True, many of the songs are more fitting for just singing performances without any dancing, but there were some songs such as Cadilac Car that just screamed for some flash of the arm or leg. There were a few, though not nearly enough and again I am reminded of the great choreography employed in Chicago. If it were not for the dazzling stage designs (which also began to get slightly old at one point) the songs would have gotten old despite their great quality. This is a movie, not a cd soundtrack for listening, I want a nice variety of visuals to go along with the audio!

But then again, most of those were just being picky. There is no doubt this movie was incredible and I am astounded it did not make the Best Picture Category. It was certainly entertainging yet filled with quality. Sure it wasn't a classical musical, it still is however a well made on.

My end point?

8.5 out of 10

300 Review

Alright, here's another review for my blog. This particular movie I've been waiting for two years now. and before I start my review, I just want to say this...

Madness? This. Is. SPARTA!!!!

Sorry, couldn't resist.

The movie was brilliant. A few months before I saw the film I went off and finally read a copy of Frank Miller's 300. It was a masterpiece, containg visual arts that spread through out and absolutely leaves you stunned.

The first point this movie probably garnered is the most obvious. The Visuals. It's cinematography is just beautiful. The sienna tint, the ancient epic feel and the highly stylized fight scenes. Jean Pe actually thought the actors were CGI themselves. It perfectly captured the essence of the comic book visual and I have to say, this is the first film that ever made skewered and decapitated bodies actually look gorgeous. The visuals alone is enough to garner the movie price.

Secondly the plot was actually pretty good. The screenplay of course was based on Miller's comic book script, which makes it awesome enough as it is. Miller is a master storyteller. But Zack Snyder masterfully strokes in enough additional content (the Queen Gorgo sublot for example) that actually enhances the story, making it superior even to the comic book's (which admittedly was quite simple). The story isn't going to win any oscars, but it has enough power to carry the weight of the visuals and acting which makes it very effective nonetheless.

If there was another start of the show that could probably top even the jaw-dropping cinematography, it's probably the heart-stopping fight scenes. Although I have to sya at times it felt awkward seeing so many slow-motions in a historical movie, one has to keep in mind it was based on a visual comic book medium, which explaines its highly stylized nature. I realize this may be one if the film's biggest flaw and strenghts as not everyone will agree to this. But the fight scenes are incredibly choreographed and with the help of the visuals, make one intensifying scene after another. Each cut, slice and stab makes you feel the ground shake. The blood splatters are amazingly 2-D, which helps enhance the feel that this indeed is a comic book brought to life. And Snyder's stroke of genius comes in the hand-to-hand fighting, where he slows down the frame-rate to a near stop as the Spartan is getting ready for a kill, before speeding it up again and then slowing it down again. this allows the viewers to absorb the viusal spectacle before them befroe they are brought forward again into the fray, very much like a comic book frame.

Then comes the acting. It was nothing marvelous, certainly not at the level o the technical side (which are the real stars of the show) but it is effective enough. Gerard Buthler (Phantom of the Opera) is the only one who gives a real note-worthy performance. This role will almost certainly get him fame and fortune at last. His Leonidas easily crosses the boundery of goodly king to fearless warrior. Let's just say every time he shouts out "Spartans!!!" you feel your seats shake.

In the end, it was one incredible, intense ride. There is no way it is getting into the Oscars, perhaps maybe for Best Visual Effects and Best Cinematography. But it suceeds in what it aimed to do, be an intense enjoyable film that leaves a lasting impact and a hallmark for comic-book movies out there. It easily is the superior to Frank Miller's Sin City (which in itself was quite a good movie) and is certainly at level with some of the best comic book movies out there (Batman Begins for example)

9 out of 10

Summer Woes

f othAlright Summer has long begun. I'm pretty sorry I wasn't able to write about lots other major events that happened before. I didn't get to write about Valentine's, Prom, Passion Play and everything else. Those were all pretty big events. So big in fact, that I couldn't possibly write about them now. Anyway, Summer has begun. I found out recently I passed Hwa Wen, thank you Lord! I've been trying to complete the script for my 7 issue comic book miniseries but it is taking a lot longer than I expected. I had initially planned to have all 7 issues done by the end of the vacation, I now doubt that would ever happen. Me still being busy doesn't help at all. Take this week for example. I had to focus this week doing the Chimes pages, that was of course until I was bombarded by Anna on the Judenites Layout. I was pretty much haggard and spent after she was done with me -_- though I must say this wasn't the first time haha. Also, the graduation practices are all so boring and useless, the only highlights are the fact that I actually get to talk with some friends, which brings me to my biggest problem this summer. I am so friggin lonely at home... hahaha. Is this any indication of what my life in college would be like, if so I am SUCH a loser. Seriously, I never get any calls, text messages or even ym messages (with the slight exception recently of Anna but that's about Judenites). And I honestly believe that if I don't ever go back to practices I will never ever receiver another message again. I never realize just how easily I could be forgotten, just how shallow my mark goes. It's all really sad, I guess I can't do much about it. Probably my fault anyway. I jus thope the Summer will turn out better than my already below-than-average expectations.