Movie Roundup 12-3-08

Sorry about the late post, but I've had a pretty busy week with my INROSE project and ARCHORG departmental exam. Anyway, here's this week's post, featuring none other than the estrogen-induced Twilight.

MOVIE REVIEW OF THE WEEK

Twilight
Directed by Catherine Hardwicke
Starring Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson

Let me tell you my dirty little secret about the book. I am, despite all of my better senses, completely infatuated with the book. In terms of structure, pacing and even characters, it was highly uneven. In fact, a literary major would have spat on it and did all sorts of nasty things with the pages (toilet humor comes to mind). But the secret to the book's success did not lie in its literary quality, but in its undeniable power to infatuate and addict you in its tale of love. The mere words of Meyer, the author, made the romantic scenes so faint-inducing (at least to the eyes of a modern day teenager) that its appeal was undeniable despite all of its flaws. I do not love the book because it was a great book, instead i do so despite it being a pretty mediocre one. And that's the secret behind the book.

The movie adaptation lacks that very aspect. All the scenes were rushed, poorly handled and awkwardly shot. There were instances were I felt hints of the macabre love fest so temptingly hinted by the book, and at times I felt that the movie was about to finally find its stride. But every single time it did so followed it by completely losing its momentum. It tries very hard to capture the appeal of the book, so much so to a fault that it focuses on faithfully adapting every scene that it failed to leave room to its own creative inputs. A movie and a book are two completely different things. Following word-per-word does not make a good adaptation, as this movie clearly shows.

Finally the characters. Robert as Edward, for example, has been a bit of a mixed reaction. He's had quite a huge fanbase by now yet some are criticizing the pick. Well for me, he has the potential. There is something actually very appealing about him that may resonate to an Edwaresque vibe. You see, the key to the book as is to the film has to be the two lead cast. And indeed the two actually show potential in terms of looks. But their acting is mediocre at best, so much so that much of the sizzle is lost in the transition.

Long time fans of the books may be disappointed but inevitably will be clammoring for more in the end. I, for one, think that the movie had outlived way past its bearable point half way through the first film. So much for immortality.

6 out of 10

PREVIEW OF THE WEEK

Star Trek

I'm no Trekkie. I could never understand much of the appeal of the series, but then again I never watched them either except for the last couple of horrid Next Generation films. So conisder me basically a blank slate. So with this new trailer out, color me slightly impressed. I've liked JJ Abram's works so far and this trailer seems bursting with Trekkie goodness and shows it in an awesome cool new light that I've never seen before on any Trek installment. So yes, I am hopeful.

Trailer-> HERE

POSTER OF THE WEEK
There was a motion poster that came out recently and it featured a psoter that actually moved and played music. Though I doubt they'd ever use it outside the web, it's still pretty cool. The final screenshot of it, however is displayed above and even on its own static self it's still pretty kick-ass. So yah, pretty nifty stuff. You can find the full motion poster in all its cool glory here. Courtesy of Aintitcool

REVIEW: Hulk, Get Smart + Movie Schedules!!!

The Incredible Hulk
"HULK SMASH! HULK SMASH GOOD!"

Directed by Louis Leterrier Starring Edward Norton, Liv Tyler and William Hurt


Coming right at the heels of fellow Marvel hero Iron Man, the Hulk smashes into place, hoping in earnest to both make lots of greens and wash out the bad aftertaste left behind by the giant's previous outing.

It comes two-folds I suppose... with both the good and the bad news. The bad news is that it doesn't quit soar to the same standards as his iron-clad buddy, in fact it lacks much of what made Iron Man so stupendous. On the other hand, it beat himself up handily, well his Ang Lee version at least, and if put into the right perspective, the Hulk still manages up a solid, entertaining and, most importantly, an action-packed array of sequences (Take that, Ang Lee!)


You see, the main reason it doesn't soar the same heights as Iron Man lies in two huge factors- Robert Downey as Stark and the Hulk's pacing. The first one isn't its fault, but Robert Downey just beats Edward Norton handily. Not that Norton does not give in a good performance, in fact he gives in as good a performance as Bruce Banner as is possible, giving a good balance between torn fugitive, brilliant scientist and distraught lover. But Downey's turn as Stark is just much more fun to watch, and in a way it also lies down to the fact that Stark is a much more interesting AND irresistible character than Banner.


Also, while Iron Man's pacing was sleek, fast and smart, Hulk comes across as a forced melodrama and action bonanza every scene. This is not completely a bad thing, in fact it's for this reason that this movie rises above the normal superhero movie. But, it also is its worst factor, because I just can't shake off the feeling that the pacing of this movie is not only strange but also nagging.

Still, if one were to stop comparing it to its Summer brother, it still is one superior Superhero movie, and definitely a superior summer blockbuster. The cast is tremendously talented and well suit for their roles. The fanboys will be screaming from all the hidden easter eggs scattered all throughout. The action sequences are amazing and exactly what we were looking for the first time around. The story and film itself is not afraid to embrace itself in its entirety. Plus, the effects here are just amazing. While I was fairly impressed with the first Hulk, this version does not only wear darker shade for green or forgo the silly purple shorts, but it's also much darker in its look and realism. The vein and muscle details are just amazing.


What does this mean? It means Marvel just gave out its second hit in a row. If we keep this up we might actually have too much good superhero movies, which for years now I have never imagined possible. And I must admit, I'm as excited about this prospect as I am of the thought that I will one day rule the world (no... really, I will).


8 out of 10


Get Smart
"Get Smart gets it right. Get it? Get Smart- gets rig.. ah forget it."

Directed by Peter Segal Starring Steve Carell, Anne Hathaway, Dwayne Jhonson and Alan Arkin



This movie is a convoluted mess, utterly lost in its pacing and has a certain lack of dynamics in its angles. It is also incredibly funny, joyously light-hearted and undeniably entertaining. Oh how I hate this kind of movies, they never make writing reviews easy. Can't I just completely love or completely hate a movie again?

Well, there's little else to say about the bad stuff than what I just summarized in the previous paragraph. This movie is no masterpiece, and the fact is that it even has some jokes fall flat. It has a case of mistake identity that can't seem to decide whether its a mix of action and comedy, pure action or pure comedy. In turn it doesn't quite live up to the maximum effect of either on some parts that had sadly a lot of potential. On the other hand, it does give us what it set out to do in the first place.

This movie is highly entertaining, at least in most parts. Steve Carell remains a comedic natural and while Anne Hathaway may no longer be as stunning as when I first saw her, she is nonetheless adequate for her role. The movie follows the shenanigans of Agent Maxwell and his partner Agent 99. And the shenanigans can be quite a treat too, none of which could have been nearly half as entertaining had it not been for Steve.

With those points aside, what else can I really say about the movie? It does a pretty good job of being entertaining, avoids being sucky unlike some movies nowadays. For movies in general, thats mission accomplished and sadly something of a rarity. But in a summer season as volatile as this, it serves more as a refreshing snack before moving on to the next main course.



7 out of 10

MOVIE SCHEDULES
Due to requests and complaints on the fact that I did not add the release dates on some of the movies I presented in my Summer Movie entry, I have decided to do so here. Yes, Bra, I'm looking at you. Hehe. Anyway...

Wanted
June 27



















Hancock
July 3


















Journey to the Center of the Earth
July 9


















The Dark Knight
July 17


















Mama Mia!
July 18


















The Mummy: Tomb of the Emperor Dragon
July 30


















You Don't Mess with the Zohan
August 6



















Wall-E
August 13


















X-Files: I Want to Believe
August 13
















Star Wars: The Clone Wars
August 20


















My Sassy Girl
August 20
















Disaster Movie
August 27


















Babylon A.D.
September 3



















Hellboy 2: The Golden Army
September 10

Book Review: Twilight! And some quick comic bashes!

Twilight
by Stephanie Meyer


Well, I finally read it. After constant insistence on the sheer awesomeness of this book and the countless times I've been told to just read the damn thing, I finally have. And I went into the book with an equal sense of high expectations and a bit of stubborn skepticism. On both fronts I have been generously not disappointed.

First of all, this book is highly entertaining, the most of any book in my recent memory. It is rare to find a page-turner of this magnitude and like many books of the same breed, it draws this from its narrative. This Romance novel is dangerously addictive with its sensual tale and dark tone, it appeals to the inner romantic and emotive of any normal-brained adolescent (myself included). It is, however, by and large a girl's book. Not that open-minded testosterone induced individuals cannot enjoy it, I did immensely, but this was done by a woman and it clearly shows. The hero is a girl, and not only that, but a rather plain girl. Bella then falls in love with Edward, a vampire who by the most Estrogen-filled chance is a complete stud. If anything, this is by part an ode to one of a perfect female fantasy of falling in love with a mysterious and very dark stranger who is handsome and powerful beyond belief.

That brings us to what works perfectly. The first part, and by large a majority of the book, deals with Bella's descent into a dark, romantic and very dangerous world. How Stephanie handles Bella's teenage mindset, the stages of her falling in love from outright denial and hate to the point of sheer unconditional love, is so well made that it makes every page gush with suspense even when there's absolutely nothing happening. The author's expert use of the senses in her narrative, her masterful grasp of the teenage mindset and even a dash of old school irony borrowed heavily from Meyer's obvious love of the classics all contribute to an expertly told tale of macabre romance. And there's barely a drop of blood for the majority of the novel. All this tells a lot of the narrative work and the excellent conversation handling.

But then for all its undeniable appeal, it has its downside. The hyped finale is both predictable and abrupt, not to mention the pumped up pacing horribly shatters the slow dark build up of much of the book's romantic run. If anything, the delve into death is inevitable to add a sense of conflict and danger, but the handling of it is by far different from the rest of the book it ends up feeling completely different and quickly concluded, as if as an afterthought. If anything, it acts more like the end of a television episode where you have the feeling of inevitable continuation. While many books deal like that, this one deals so in such a case that it leaves a lot of disappointing conclusions, though a lot of the more interesting unanswered ones leave one wanting much more from the sequel.

Another disappointing turn is the handle on some characters. While most supporting are left ignored, it is the interesting ones that I feel are not given enough room to shine, and those that compromise this group is basically the Vampire family. While some characters are given a side story or two that adds a new dimension, such as the likable Alice, most feel more like missed opportunities such as Jasper and Rosalie who are both hinted at more conflict yet are never pushed to the extent beyond that of a character caricature. Speaking of which, the heroine herself, Bella, is by far a mixed element. While I applaud the exert handle on her for a majority of the issue, once she starts falling hopelessly in love with Edward she becomes highly annoying. You could excuse her sheer addiction for Edward's constant presence from time to time, one may even forgive her for thinking just about him just about every single page, but once this starts to pan out for the last quarter of the novel's run, it ruins a lot of the character build up she's had done on the first part of the book. In other words, she starts off as a responsible, smart and stubborn teenage girl and ends up a love-sick puppy with no sense of self worth. I know characters are supposed to change and evolve through the stories, but this is ridiculous, she feels like a completely different person by the end of it.

But all these, I suppose are excusable for now, just because of how well the story is driven into one's cranium. Despite its several flaws, and a few major one here and there, this story leaves one frantic and driven to know more about this dark world in Forks, despite the inevitable conclusion that, yes, you can probably guess what occurs in the next chapter. If anything, this is an ode to masterful storytelling that is entertaining beyond praise. It is no wonder that the book is so ridiculously popular, its appeal is just both so unique and yet so natural. A definite must-read for anyone looking for something to delve to in those long lonely nights.

7.5 out of 10


Quick COMIC Bashes

Wolverine # 62-65 (Get Mystique)
Written by Jason Aaron/ Pencils by Ron Garney


One of the best interpretations of the two characters ever, period. From the intricate look at their pasts to the mind-blowing confrontation between these two legendary characters, the handle on the interaction between the two is just spotless and highly entertaining. Now that Sabertooth is dead and rotting, I am really rooting for Mystique to take his place as Logan's arch-rival. This great book just shows that it's a match made in heaven. P.S. Garney's sketchy art is bot unique and highly addictive. While unremarkable at first, it grows on you to the point that you can't quite get enough of it.
10/10

Invincible Iron Man # 1
Written by Matt Fraction/ Pencils by Salvador Larroca


Awesome. It is clear that with the success of the blockbuster film, Marvel has decided to delve back a bit on what truly makes Tony Stark such a likable character. From his playboy mannerisms to his witty charm, this book molds the good old Stark with his more modern role as S.H.I.E.L.D Director. Better yet, it even plays up old school spasms withe Ezekiel Stane, son of the movie's villian Obadiah Stane, taking up the role as Iron Man's rival in the Iron suit business.

10/10

Batman # 676 (R.I.P.)
Written by Grant Morrison / Pencils by Tony Daniel


Is it just me or is every comic I've been getting so good it merits a ten? This is yet another one, not that R.I.P has begun, everyone is dying to know how Morrison is planning to kill of the Dark Knight. This book is more like a prologue more than anything else, and serves as a jumping point for any new readers and as a refresher for all the old ones. While books like these are usually boring, nothing Grant manages to do ever comes across as that. Besides, the spectacular and creepy finale more than merits the high score I give it now. Really, that ending is just so insane, I still have goosebumps right now. Joker is the bomb.

10/10

IRON MAN REVIEW!!!

IRON MAN
"Robert Downey Jr. shines like gold in his metal suit"

Directed by Jon Favreau
Starring Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges and Terrence Howard

Iron Man is in a tough position, mostly because it has to meet my standards on two different levels. First off, it has to meet my expectations as a standard film, and secondly it has to meet it again as a Comic Book adaptation. It is to my extreme pleasure to announce that the movie pulls off both with flying colors beams of repulsor rays.

But before we get into any other aspect of the film, it is important for us to give credit first to the aspect of the film that is not only getting the most attention by the critics but without which the entire film would become a piece of scrap metal. I am talking, of course, about our star, Robert Downey Jr. As an actor portraying a character, he gives Tony Stark a perfect balance between brilliant scientist, irresponsible playboy and gold-hearted hero. Had it not been for Downey's brilliant portrayal, the delicate balance of Stark's character would shatter and we would be left with an asshole billionaire we end up not really caring about. Seriously, even the comics I have yet to see a representation of the character so perfectly executed as it was by Downey. I am left with the satisfied knowledge that until the day he dies, Downey will look to this role as his crowning achievement and people will look to him as the only man capable of spewing out Stark's witty lines so perfectly.

Moving on from Downey's amazing performance, we move on to Farveau's vision with the film, and how it stands up on its own. Already mentioned is how perfectly the character of Stark is done, we have to add in the other characters. And while none of them stand a chance of outshining Downey, it's his film through and through, they all give unique quirky supporting roles that flesh out this new Marvel world slowly being created. On that note, it is to a fanboy's delirious joy that they crafted a world so attuned to its comic basis. From the hints to a future Avenger collaboration all the way to the inclusion of a popular government agency, this movie is a drug ride for any respectable comic fan.

Not to say that the movie isn't awesome for non-fans. I suppose it is no shock to know that the movie boasts some pretty cool visuals. And while none of them are breath-takingly new or ground-breaking, their execution from Stark's high-tech computer system named 'Jarvis' all the way to his astonishing suit, they are carefully used to give out moments after moments of "Oh Damn!" Still, the movie is not without it's flaws, the ending itself for example is a bit too hastily wrapped up for my taste. The pacing is steady and ends in breakneck speed, with the action and the characterization balanced well.

Take note that while this movie is indeed an origin movie, exploring the start of Iron Man, it is also unlike any other Superhero origin movie so far. It has the same giddy and childlike mirth of Spiderman, but shows it in the mature sense of Batman Begins. It is hard to put at it, mostly because no superhero appeals to that sense more than Iron Man and no movie has yet to execute that sense to this extent.

In conclusion, Iron Man is a joy to behold. Whether you're a fan of in-depth characterization of your beloved hero, witty remarks thrown to and fro, amazing visual action or just plain out excellent story telling, this movie gleams like diamond in the golden casing of Iron. Tony Stark may not be as big a name as Peter Parker, Clark Kent or Bruce Wayne, but Downey makes damn well sure that people will start remembering who the man is behind that Iron Mask. The only other downside to all this is that for all the awesomeness the movie displays in its two-hour run, enough is never enough. It's rare for a movie to have you actually all and out screaming for a sequel the moment the credits roll. Now if you'll excuse me, let me pick out everyone's favorite Black Sabbath tune...

DA...DA... DA DA DA!!! DADADADADADADADADA!!! I...AM.... IRON MAN!!!!

9/10

MORE REVIEWS MORE PREVIEWS!

REVIEWS

NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN
"The Coen makes a home run... and then some."

Directed by Joel and Ethan Coen
Starring Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem and Josh Brolin

I finally managed to grab the chance to see No Country for Old Men, and I have to say I'm slightly disappointed.
Alright, it might be a pessimistic way to start off this review, but I am by no means saying this is a bad film. On the contrary it's a brilliant film. Relate it to me expecting a 10/10 and getting instead a solid 9. This movie however has more soul and human emotion than any other film out there.
This movie won this year's BEST PICTURE category, and although I must now say I'm still leaning more towards THERE WILL BE BLOOD, it's pretty obvious what about this movie caught everyone off guard.
Javier is brilliant, a silent tension cuts the air everytime he is onscreen and he is easily one of the best villains ever in recent movie history.
The cast is great, and the Coen does their thing, and they do so brilliantly. The movie is fast paced but lets out a sorrowful note the entire time. It's bold in showing the evils and tragedies that befall the land, and it does so in a gloriously manner. It's a short review because there is little else to say about this film, reall there isn't, not to mention I'm in a bit of a hurry right now. Soooo...

9/10


PREVIEWS WALL-E

They did it with toys, they did with bugs. They did it with scary monsters, underwater fish, spandex clad superheroes, shiny race cars and even artistic rodents. And in each outing it seems that Pixar is incapable of making a bad movie. Hell, they're incapable of making a mediocre one. All their films are topnotched and they're about to add another one into their list, WALL-E. If you want a genuine movie experience, this is the film to see. I cannot express how much this movie is going to rock, big time. GO! SEE IT!!!



SPEED RACER

The Wachowski Brothers doing Speed Racer? That old catchy cartoon, go go go, is coming to the big screen and its in the hands of the men behind The Matrix Trilogy. What we have so far is an adrenaline-induce film fest, with dazzling Schmuacher-eske colors without the Batman nipples. Although the trailer so far has been too cocaine-induced to be to my taste, I am putting my faith into the brothers and hope they do pull this one off.



IRON MAN

When I first heard Iron Man was going to be made, it was Tom Cruise's name that was thrown into the mix. Needless to say I was ready to chuck dynamites into people's mouth. But then Robert Downey Jr. took over and I took a dose of morphine. Now with a stellar cast such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges, Terrence Howard and even a cameo by Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury himself, this movie is shaping up to be a fanboy's wet dream.

Spiderwick, There Will be Blood reviews + Dark Knight and Mama Mia! preivew!!!

REVIEWS


SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES
'A breath of fresh magical air, even if it does border on mediocrity'

Directed by Mark Waters
Starring Freddie Highmore, Mary Louise Parker and David Strathairn

Let's face it, not since Lord of the Rings took the stage has the fantasy mania ever been much in terms of quality. That said, only a handpicked few after the trilogy was any good, and none of which were nearly AS good. These good fantasy movies included Narnia, Pan's Labyrinth and few others. Thankfully Spiderwick Chronicles fall into this category.
The first essential thing Spiderwick does right is that it doesn't suck. No, seriously. Every other fantasy recent fantasy movie from The Golden Compass to Eragon has fallen at this first simple step. You make a movie, before you make it anywhere good, you have to make sure first that it will not torture your audience.
Second thing Spiderwick does right? It doesn't stop at simply not sucking. It doesn't fall into the same pitfalls of its brothers and sisters and actually focus of its effort to telling the story and not flashing it around with all sorts of C.G.I. This movie is actually plot-driven, and the special effects serve more as an enhancer rather than the main attraction. That said, the special effects were pretty well done, and some designs managed to capture some of the great images of the book. It isn't anything groundbreaking but it manages to be eye-pleasing.
Freddie Highmore is official the FANTASY KID. With movies such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Arthur and the Invisibles, The Golden Compass and Finding Neverland already under his belt, he adds yet another notch. And while has done a remarkable job considering in all the previous films, he is finally showing a bit more maturity in his roles here. The fact that he plays twins and he plays them effectively is to be noted.
But be warned, while the movie is pretty good, it isn't great. For one thing, it doesn't capture the entire magic of the book. One could counter this by saying that one expects differences with its source material (which there are a considerable amount), but this movie overall lacks magic as well. Throughout the film, one gets the feeling that the magical world, though amazing, is greatly limited. Chalk this up also to the fact that while the movie does the job of entertaining across, it doesn't add anything new to the table. Remember when I said that this movie was actually more driven by plot than by effects, well as good as that is, they screenplay here was not able to push the plot to anything above a pleasing experience.
While it is refreshing to finally see a fantasy movie that doesn't take for granted the essentials of an effective film, this is still not the movie that is poised to bring back the Fantasy genre from the deep hole it has sunk in. Seriously, the genre has been falling apart faster than Hilary Clinton's campaign and all this film really manages to do in the end is to slow it down a bit.

7.0 out of 10

There Will be Blood
'There will be Oscars.... Lots of them...'

Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson
Starring Daniel Day-Lewis and Paul Dano

Of all the movie released last year, there have been quite a good set of films. Some of my favorites have ranged from Ratatouille to Juno. But after watching this movie, I have never been left so haunted and mesmerized.
This is easily one of the best films of the year and quite possibly my favorite already. It has been barely three hours since reeling from the movies incredible finale and still my mind is reeling from this cinematic achievement.
This is Paul Thomas Anderson at his best, with stunning cinematography and a screenplay that brings the characters to scary depths with its intoxicating and vividly vicious lines. The score here is just nothing short of a masterpiece and I now understand why everyone is so infuriated at the music not getting an Oscar nod for Best Original Score simply because part of it was used in a previous film. A minor technicality that grossly does injustice to this film's grand and haunting music, without which the scenes would only be half as potent.
There are some incredible performances in this movie with Paul Dano making the performance of his career as the disturbingly calm doe-eyed Eli Sunday. I swear I will see his accusing eyes in ever dark corner.
But this entire film banks on and if to be put bluntly, centers around one factor alone, and that is Daniel Day-Lewis. He plays Daniel Plainview, a charismatic prospector looking for the oil find of his career. He inhabits his role with scary enthusiasm and fills with it such vigor and intensity, every scene is consumed by his theatrical flair. You look into his eyes you don't see Daniel Day-Lewis doing a great job as Daniel Plainview. You don't even see him doing a good job as Daniel Plainview. What you're watching is Daniel Plainview himself. I cannot express how incredible his performance is, especially at the incredible finale and if he does not take home the Oscar this February 25, may an earthquake eat Hollywood up whole.
If you're into great cinema in the making, this is an experience you must not miss. And for the moment, it is my horse in the rapidly approaching Academy Awards.

10 out of 10



PREVIEWS


The Dark Knight

In case you haven't heard, Heath Ledger has passed away. This puts a serious dent into the film which this early on has been receiving incredible buzz on Ledger's performance as The Joker. I cannot express how frustrated I am that this great emerging actor will no longer be able to continue from what is to be the performance of his short-lived career. Still, I've made it painfully obvious to anyone who knows me at all that this is my most anticipated movie of the year, and it should be yours too!!! HAHAHAHahhahahahhah!!!!
(RELEASE DATE JULY 18, 2008 U.S.A.)

Previews:



Mama Mia!
Recently the Musical genre has come back to the right track. With last year's HAIRSPRAY and SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET shining in its own way. Let's hope the trend continues as the popular Musical based off the songs of ABBA come alive on the silver screen in this year's Mama Mia! With the ever wonderful Meryl Streep and the still dashing Pierce Brosnan top-billing the film, this promises to be quite an experience.
(RELEASED JULY 18, 2008 U.S.A.)

Previews: