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Alice in Wonderland : 3 of 5
3.08.2010 6:38 AM \| Link 0 comments	Since I generally like Tim Burton's movies and practically anything Disney (especially animated features like the original Alice in Wonderland), I thought this film would be an interesting yet bizarre combination of the two, so I was happy to see it on opening day with my pal Melinda. There are plenty of good things about this movie, but overall I have to say it's just not what I wanted to see. This film is really Tim Burton using the Lewis Carroll characters to tell his own story, which happens to be a fantasy action adventure that feels much more like The Chronicles of Narnia combined with The Wizard of Oz rather than the fairy tale that this movie should have been. This may be justified somewhat since this is actually more of a sequel, in which Alice returns to Wonderland (or Underland, as we discover) as a young adult who only remembers her first visit in dreams. I enjoyed the look of the movie, and I thought all the bizarre digital distortions turned the characters into living versions of the illustrations found in the original book (I especially loved the Cheshire Cat and the Caterpillar). Johnny Depp did what he could with the role of the Mad Hatter (who is obviously trying to be the Scarecrow), but even though the script attempts to broaden his character with sudden bursts of self-awareness, it's definitely not a surprise that Alice would want to go home rather than stay with him. Speaking of Alice, she's cast well, but no matter how good the actress is, I just can't get into an Alice who puts on armor and kicks butt (in the obligatory huge CG battle at the end of every movie released in the past few years). Actually, I thought the inclusion of the creatures from the poem Jabberwocky was a cool idea, but making them a central part of the plot seemed like a Tim Burton stretch to get some scary images on the screen. Alice in Wonderland will certainly make a lot of money, and people who are out for an exciting adventure will definitely enjoy the movie, but I would much rather watch the classic animated feature which is wonderful enough for me! Labels: disney, movies
Sherlock Holmes : 4 of 5
12.29.2009 12:07 PM \| Link 0 comments	Whenever I'm in Oklahoma City, my parents and I try to see several movies in the incredible Warren Theater balcony, so we braved the somewhat icy roads to check out Sherlock Holmes the day after Christmas. Although I had only watched the trailer once, I knew this was going to be a cool film, re-inventing the classic super-sleuth with a Batman feel. Of course, the plot is still set in turn of the century London, but the movie-making style is 100% modern, using unusual editing methods (both slow and fast motion) and altered colors that make things appear as a kind of watercolor wash at times. The character of Holmes is really interesting, since he's kind of like a James Bond with attention deficit disorder. Without a problem to occupy his mind, his life falls apart, but when he's on a case, his thought processes are razor sharp, as shown through the film's unique "flash forward" technique that shows how Sherlock plans something (such as how to win a lightning fast fist fight) in the wink of an eye. There's also lots of flashbacks to show how small clues aided Holmes' famous deductive powers. All of the acting is really enjoyable (with fairly convincing, yet understandable, British accents), and Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law make a great team as Holmes and Watson. There are some serious action showpieces that really give this intellectual story a superhero flair - the slaughterhouse escape scene was especially exciting and intense! I was surprised that Professor Moriarty is only hinted at in this story, which makes this film kind of an introduction to the real saga that will hopefully begin with the first of many sequels. Seeing Sherlock Holmes was a fantastic way to finish off Christmas vacation with my parents, and I'm definitely looking forward to more adventures from the 221B Baker Street boys. Labels: movies
Avatar : 5 of 5
12.22.2009 9:37 PM \| Link 0 comments	Even though I've been excited about seeing Avatar for a long time (mostly because I know one of the CG supervisors on the film), secretly I was extremely skeptical about James Cameron's monumental film. As much as I enjoy CG animation, I have to admit that I don't want motion capture to be the future of filmmaking - I will always lean toward real people, real sets, and even real miniatures and effects (strings and all). But after the first 30 minutes of Avatar, my opinions started to sway, and after the first conversation between Jake and Neytiri, I was absolutely amazed. Never before in the history of CG filmmaking have facial emotions been created with such realism and believability, and I'll say right now that as I was crying during the movie's finale I realized that I was completely wrapped up in these pixel-based characters. For me, that makes Avatar a complete success, since it was able to grab my heart in a way that Zemeckis couldn't do in a 100 years, and the reason for this is that Cameron still knows how to make movies. He came up with a brilliant story that felt like Pocahontas and Romeo and Juliet, he overcame the usual zombie issues with motion capture, and above all (for my taste), he cut the film using "traditional" editing and camera angles, rather than succumbing to the stupid video game floating camera style that has killed other CG films. All of the acting was fantastic - Sam Worthington was so convincing, and Sigourney Weaver was excellent (and added lots of fun Alien geek credibility). Avatar is overflowing with awesome details (I really enjoyed the console user interfaces and the menagerie of Pandora creatures), and even though this is a relatively long movie, I can easily see myself sitting through a much longer director's cut! Rather than adding comments that you can read in a million other reviews, the best thing I can say about Avatar is it made me realize that the kind of movie I don't want to be made can actually affect me emotionally in a way I never thought possible. If this has to be the future of filmmaking, at least I'm glad that James Cameron is leading the way. Labels: movies
The Princess and the Frog : 5 of 5
12.08.2009 11:30 AM \| Link 0 comments	It's not often that something so anticipated meets every expectation, so I had my fingers crossed when I went to a sneak preview (thanks to Melinda, of course!) of Disney's new animated feature The Princess and the Frog. This movie is so important to the future of animation, and marks several "returns" for Disney - a return to hand-drawn animation, a return to fairy tales with a princess, a return to true musicals - so I've been hoping with all my might that this film could start a new renaissance just like The Little Mermaid did so long ago. I'm so happy to say that Disney has done it - The Princess and the Frog brings back the magic and spirit of all the classics that Disney fans love! From the moment the movie began I was tingling at seeing a true cartoon on the big screen again - there's just something about knowing human hands made this living artwork that's overwhelming to me. The animation was never disappointing, with fantastic, expressive character designs, detailed lip-sync on human characters, and hilarious variety of movement. Of course I could keep gushing about the animation (I love it that the incredible Mark Henn has another beautiful princess in his portfolio), but truthfully the most important element is the story (as any Disney fan would tell you), and directors Clements and Musker (who thankfully were willing to come back to Disney after the animation shakedown) have managed to craft an absolutely beautiful tale. Each character has a perfect fit in the plot, and everyone (not only Tiana) is allowed to grow in a wonderful way. The songs are wonderful, especially since they're influenced by New Orleans Jazz, and there are several giant music numbers that really bring the house down (think of the pizzazz of I Just Can't Wait to be King from The Lion King, then multiply it by three)! Tiana is a truly lovable and admirable character, Prince Naveen has some hilarious lines, Louis the gator is a reincarnation of Baloo from The Jungle Book (and that's a compliment!), and Dr. Facilier is a welcome addition to Disney's gallery of villains. But the character that shines with brilliance (pun intended) is Ray the Cajun firefly, who creates an emotional sob-fest that ranks right up there with Bambi's mom and Dumbo's tear (all I can say is, be prepared to cry). I absolutely cannot wait to see The Princess and the Frog again - I'm going opening day to "vote with my wallet" for the future of hand-drawn animation! Labels: animation, disney, movies
Fantastic Mr. Fox : 4 of 5
11.25.2009 12:13 PM \| Link 0 comments	I was interested in this stop-motion animated movie from the moment I saw the trailer, and thanks to my pal Melinda I got to see it early at a sneak preview! I was already familiar with the story (I read the book several years ago when I was working my way through all of Roald Dahl's works), but when I started reading the incredibly positive reviews, I got really excited about the film! I'm happy to say that the reviewers were right, because Fantastic Mr. Fox is a wonderful, hilarious, charming and quirky movie that borders on genius. The plot is true to Dahl's story, but director Wes Anderson uses it as a jumping point to make another film in his unmistakable style (I was often reminded of The Royal Tenenbaums). Not only is the stop-motion beautiful and unique, with incredibly detailed characters and sets actually shot at 12 frames per second to increase the jerky, handmade feel, but the staging and camera angles are also fascinating, especially the use of extreme, in-your-face close-ups that switch back and forth between two characters in a conversation. I loved the subtlety of the jokes, helped by skillfully natural dialogue with excellent delivery by George Clooney and the rest of the cast (sometimes with a decidedly British comedy feel), with gags that often pay off later in the story, like the funny "Whack Bat" game that plays a part in the escape finale. There are a million simple details that had the audience roaring, from the idea of an animal real estate agent to the appearance of the skinny fox son brushing his teeth in his underwear (which caused immediate laughter!). Along with the humor, there's even some eloquent dialogue in Mr. Fox's toasts and messages about being true to yourself in his lines about being a "wild animal". The soundtrack is great as well, with unexpected montages set to Beach Boys tunes. As soon as the movie was over, I thought to myself that I could easily watch it again right away, just to enjoy the laughter and wonder of this stop-motion, toy-like world. Fantastic Mr. Fox is one of the best animated films of the year, simply because it doesn't try to be! Labels: movies
Disney's A Christmas Carol : 3 of 5
11.03.2009 5:37 PM \| Link 1 comments	It's nice to start getting into a Christmas mood with holiday movies, and I was able to see this new version of the Dickens classic at a sneak preview, thanks to my pal Melinda who is always lucky with preview passes! My opinion of this movie is right down the middle - there are things I love about it, and things I hate, which puts my review solidly in the center of my rating scale. I guess I'll get the hate out of the way - I am really against motion capture CG animation and Robert Zemeckis' bizarre opinions about the future of filmmaking! Although the characters in this film look much better than they did in The Polar Express, they still constantly look cross-eyed, with no attention to eye lines (they always seem to be looking "through" things), and might as well have been marionettes in most cases. Scrooge himself looks fantastic - I think they spent all their time getting him right and just let the computer crank out everyone else with no refinement. I was also appalled at Zemeckis' showboating floating camera moves, which only please himself and drive the audience crazy like they are stuck in a video game. Besides the opening sequence (which includes goofy moves like flying through a wreath), there's one sequence with the Ghost of Christmas Past that goes nearly 15 minutes without a single cut. I don't care if he thinks it's cool - it can only be special if it's hard to do in real life, so doing it in CG is just annoying. But now for some good points! I was really pleased and surprised that they stuck to all the original Dickens dialogue (most of the time I knew the line before they even said it), which prevented Jim Carrey (whom I dislike terribly) from ad-libbing and cheapening the whole thing. As I mentioned before, Scrooge does look incredible, and his exaggerated character design is great. I also liked all of the spirits, especially the creepy way that the Ghost of Christmas Future was mostly shown as a living shadow. The final scenes of the movie when Scrooge is filled with glee on Christmas Day are really well done, with just enough happiness to kick off the Christmas spirit in anyone. Overall I enjoyed myself, but mostly because I love Christmas movies and this classic story, not because of any of the filmmaking techniques that were being paraded on the screen. I only hope that audiences will enjoy the Christmas message while realizing that films using this technique have simply got to go! Labels: animation, disney, holidays, movies
Astro Boy : 3 of 5
10.29.2009 11:12 AM \| Link 0 comments	As soon as I first heard the rumors about an Astro Boy movie, I immediately had mixed emotions about it, since I knew that a modern "hip" American version of this classic Japanese character could never live up to what I've enjoyed in manga and anime. Of course, that wasn't going to stop me from seeing the film, and I definitely had a great time watching it! This movie is filled with things done right, but also riddled with things done wrong (especially for a serious Astro Boy fan). I guess I'll begin with the bad elements, starting with the bizarre changes to the story, which is now set in Metro City, a floating paradise above a WALL-E-esque trash heap Earth (which cruelly still has human outcasts living on it!). Dr. Tenma is now heavily involved with the military, and even the president of Metro City is a completely one-sided, ridiculously shallow warmonger. Astro ends up on junkyard Earth and makes friends with some orphan kids, who are unfortunately typical cookie-cutter "cool kids" found in way too many animated films. Even the music is a little obvious and heavy-handed, since even simple conversations are over-scored with dramatic themes! Finally, Nicolas Cage and Donald Sutherland deliver some of the worst voice acting I've ever heard (I wish studios would quit booking voices on celebrity recognition). Now it's time for the good stuff! The action sequences are excellent, and Astro's first flight through the city and in the clouds, as well as the discovery of his powers, is breathtaking! The design of Metro City architecture is really cool (quite a bit like the manga), and I really enjoyed the Tezuka Easter eggs (including a glimpse of the original Astro blueprints, and even a Hyoutan-Tsugi on the side of a building). And to counter those terrible voices, Freddie Highmore is fantastic as Astro himself! Without his sensitive and authentic performance, this movie would have been dismal! I suppose the filmmakers tried their best to Westernize this story (most likely under marketing pressure), but as an Astro fan I have to feel a little disappointed at what could have been an awesome addition to the world of Astro Boy. But if you're looking for some great animated action and a mild introduction to this fun character, don't hesitate to check it out! Labels: astro boy, movies
Where the Wild Things Are : 5 of 5
10.21.2009 5:10 PM \| Link 1 comments	Although my parents showered me with Dr, Seuss and other classics when I was learning how to read, somehow Maurice Sendak's 10-sentence masterpiece never made it into my library. But I was still super-excited to see this movie after watching the cool trailers and reading the good reviews, so I quickly enjoyed the book at the store to get ready for the film. Truthfully, the movie only uses the book as a seed, because the filmmakers have created an entirely new, deep, thought-provoking story that is an art film in every sense of the word. Yes, there are creatures amazingly created via live-action costumes and brilliant CG-animated faces, but there are simply no other aspects of a children's film to be found anywhere. Where the Wild Things Are is an adult movie, filled with real emotion and moments that I can't imagine a kid sitting through. But for me, this film was absolutely wonderful, giving me that beautiful melancholy feeling I get with other favorite films like Lost in Translation (I know that's a stretch!). The scenes of Max at home really help to setup his character, who simply struggles with the overflowing energy of childhood in a not-so-perfect world. When he interacts with the Wild Things, it's almost immediately obvious that each one is a part of Max himself, and by becoming their king and confronting each of them, Max sees what's going on inside and learns how to deal with it (just like real life, there's no "solution" - only a way to enjoy life and make it meaningful). Although the script uses a few lines from the book (which is cool), most of the Wild Things' dialogue is purely psychological and philosophical, and I ate it up! Along with the amazing animation effects, the cinematography (especially the prevalent use of hand-held shots) was gorgeous, and I loved how everything was always dirty, matted, and covered in dry leaves, as well as snot and tears. The voice work was astounding, too - James Gandolfini was perfect as Carol (and his trademark loud nose-breathing worked perfectly for this creature!). My opinion may be different from other film-goers since I didn't have a childhood connection to the book (plus I like weird movies!), but Where the Wild Things Are was truly incredible, and I have a feeling I'm going to want to watch it at home on a rainy day sometime! Labels: movies
9 : 3 of 5
9.14.2009 6:02 PM \| Link 0 comments	9 is a rare combination of generes that rarely work together - the story is first and foremost pure science fiction, yet presented in the medium of animation. While the average theatergoer will always equate animation with children's films, 9 is definitely an adult story - animation is simply used because the circumstances of the plot demand it (since we can't actually build small robotic dolls with burlap skin that can act!). 9 takes place in a post-apocalyptic world full of rubble and dust - there are no human characters at all, except for flashbacks, and much of the film is spent slowly revealing both what has happened and what's going on now for these nine living creations. Each of the dolls has a distinct personality, almost as if they were separate sides of a single mind (and there's a very good, if obvious, reason for that), and watching their interactions was fascinating to me. I wouldn't really call it character development, but it's definitely something like "character discovery", as both the dolls and the audience learn who they are together. However, I would say over half the movie is pure action, as the dolls battle against maniacal (and often horrific) mechanical creatures. These fights are all exciting, but definitely super-intense and PG-13 creepy (possibly to be expected since Focus Features also released Coraline!). It's easy to say that 9's plot is a bit thin, but I enjoyed the ambiguity (especially during the ending) and wondering what these creations can hope to accomplish in their bleak world. 9 is certainly an artistic, dystopian bit of science fiction, and I'd definitely recommend it to fans of movies like Blade Runner! Labels: animation, movies
Ponyo : 5 of 5
8.28.2009 11:58 AM \| Link 0 comments	It’s been way too long since anything from Studio Ghibli has seen a US release, so I’m really happy that Disney decided to release Ponyo (Gake no Ue no Ponyo in Japanese) in theaters (thanks to Hayao Miyazaki’s good friendship with Disney’s John Lasseter)! With the exception of Pixar’s masterpieces, lately I’ve been getting a little tired of too much CG (even in live-action films), so I’ve been feeling nostalgic to see some classic, old-school creativity. Ponyo completely fulfilled my wish, since Miyazaki’s goal was to stay away from CG completely, so the movie was created entirely with watercolors and pastels. The effect is stunning, since you can see the “humanity” in every frame – being able to observe brushstrokes and crayon-ish lines makes Ponyo feel like true living artwork from start to finish! Miyazaki was inspired to make this movie after seeing Disney’s The Little Mermaid, but of course the fairy tale was only the seed for Miyazaki’s brilliant imagination, which always offers a menagerie of bizarre creatures (both real and mythical) that made me gasp many times. Ponyo herself is amazingly cute – her far-apart bug-eyes when she is a fish really did remind me of funny goldfish I’ve seen at the pet store, and she’s hilarious as a rambunctious girl jumping around and discovering a new life on land. I enjoyed Sosuke’s character, but I think I was more impressed with Sosuke’s mom, who displayed such a wide range of emotion (love for her son and the seniors contrasting with a tough attitude) and was great looking to boot. But speaking of beauty, Gran Mamare (the “sea mother”) was absolutely breathtaking, with some of the most subtle facial animation I’ve seen in a long time! There are so many moments I could mention that I enjoyed, both funny and touching, such as Sosuke communicating with his dad across the ocean via signal light, or Ponyo using her powers to make Sosuke’s toy boat big enough to carry them. I can’t wait to watch Ponyo again on DVD, not only to take in the visuals again, but also to hear the original Japanese dialogue (Disney does a fine job of voice direction, but a dub can never compare to the original in my opinion!). Ponyo is simply required viewing for any fan of animation, and a wonderful, magical movie for anyone else to enjoy! Labels: anime, miyazaki, movies
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince : 3 of 5
7.21.2009 11:41 AM \| Link 1 comments	Even though I'm only a casual Harry Potter fan, I still get excited when a new movie is released, and I enjoy seeing them with my pal Melinda since she has read all the books and can fill me in on all sorts of details! I've already made so many jokes about how old the actors are now (and they still have two movies to go!), but this time I have to say that they somehow did a great job of making them seem young enough for their roles. I think the introduction of some romance and heartbreak really helps, too - not only to reinforce the characters' growth, but also to provide a few lighthearted moments in this otherwise dark movie! I really liked Jim Broadbent as the new Professor Slughorn (he's good in just about every role he plays, and he fits this one perfectly), and I thought it was cool that much of this movie focuses on "physical" magic (like potions), although of course there is plenty of wand-play. Speaking of play, the Quidditch scenes are better than ever and they were a blast to watch as a break from the rest of the story (it seems like it would be so difficult to balance on a broom, even with those foot stirrup devices!). Besides the major plotline of Malfoy's attempts to kill Dumbledore, there is the additional mystery of who the Half-Blood Prince really is, since Harry discovers an old textbook filled with the Prince's notes and spells. The pacing of the movie isn't too bad, since the action sequences are fairly well-spaced, but it still takes a while to get through the two and a half hour story, and even then the ending felt a little rushed to me. In many ways this movie is just a giant setup for the final two (both of which make up the last book). Of course, I still had a great time at the theater, but I think the next film in the series will blow this one away! Labels: harry potter, movies
Moon : 4 of 5
7.19.2009 6:52 AM \| Link 2 comments	This is a small independent film with a limited release and practically no marketing, so I only heard about it by browsing the listings of my local art theater. Over the past few months I've been re-watching several science fiction classics, which was the perfect background for the genre of Moon, some of the best "true" science fiction I've seen in years! Moon pays homage to iconic films like 2001: A Space Odyssey and Silent Running by telling a story that's actually science based, focusing on characters and humanity's interaction with technology, and doing it all with low-budget (yet incredibly realistic) flair. The moon base sets and computer displays are all fantastic (everything looks authentic and lived in), and I absolutely loved the fact that the exterior moon rover and mining shots were created with miniatures (I will always enjoy old school effects over pure CGI)! But above all, the plot is incredibly well constructed, and quickly becomes an intriguing mystery (on the same level as the best Twilight Zone or Outer Limits episodes) that kept me guessing and fully attentive until the end. Sam Rockwell does an incredible job as the lone maintenance man nearing the end of his three-year contract on the moon (and slightly going crazy because of it), and Kevin Spacey is great as the voice of GERTY, the AI robotic support system on the moon base. Of course, comparisons with HAL are inevitable, but GERTY's ability to reason allows him to help Sam even when it goes against previous programming, which is a wonderful twist. Speaking of twists, Moon has a huge one that I won't completely reveal (although when I read other reviews after I saw the film, about half of the reviewers told it all!), but I have to say that the plot gives Sam a chance to play multiple simultaneous roles, and the interaction between these parts is one of the best examples of this technique I've seen. I'm thrilled that Moon is keeping alive this particular genre, and it was a joy to see a movie that wasn't all CGI action and explosions for a change! Moon proves that excellent storytelling is the true core of intelligent science fiction. Labels: movies
Ice Age / Dawn of the Dinosaurs : 3 of 5
7.13.2009 12:08 PM \| Link 0 comments	Even though I'm only a casual fan of the first two Ice Age movies, I definitely wanted to check out this latest installment with my pal Melinda. The film gets off to a rocky start, since the first several minutes are identical to the trailer that I had seen a hundred times already (Scrat fighting with his new girlfriend over the elusive nut)! Then there's about a half hour of warm-up stuff, re-establishing character relationships and such, that I just found a little boring. Thankfully things start to pick up when Sid discoveres the underground tropical world, and when the rest of the gang set out to rescue him, the action really takes over. The best part of the movie is Buck, a crazed adventuresome weasel with an eye patch who is obsessed with finding and battling the huge dinosaur known as Rudy (most definitely modeled after Captain Ahab and Moby Dick!), and I loved everything about him from his hilarious dialogue to his character design with the funny under-bite. Sid has some funny scenes with his baby dinosaur "children", as he tries to compete with their real mom for affection, but I didn't get much out of the other characters at all (which didn't matter much, since the rescue takes care of most of the plot). Although it's a big change for Scrat to have a female interest/antagonist, I think he's much funnier all by himself (but I have to say that the "lonely nut" musical montage was genius!). Animation-wise, everything pretty much duplicates the style of the previous movies (the 3D is well-done, but definitely not overused), though there was one splash when Sid lands in some water that really impressed me! Overall, I don't really think the Ice Age gang is interesting enough to keep this series going, but if you can make it past the first 30 minutes, you'll have a great time meeting Buck and enjoying the action! Labels: movies
Land of the Lost : 2 of 5
6.16.2009 11:58 AM \| Link 2 comments	I am seriously late with this review, since I saw Land of the Lost with my parents in Oklahoma City over a week ago, but better late than never, right? Even though I was a fan of the Saturday morning live-action TV series, I probably wouldn't have seen this movie on my own, but it was a perfect light-hearted comedy to enjoy with a beer in the balcony of the Warren Theater. Will Ferrell has really been churning out mediocre movies lately (I wonder if he will ever make something totally funny again?), but at least Land of the Lost could draw on the original series for laughs. My favorite moments of the film were when they brought up lyrics to the TV theme song (talking about going on a "routine expedition", or screaming "the greatest earthquake ever known"), and along the same lines, it was fun to see Will sing the song around the campfire. I enjoyed Cha-Ka and their cave home, but the best part was the Sleestaks, who looked absolutely identical to the way I remember them, even though they could have created something much more menacing with today's technology. Of course, there are some good dinosaur special effects and action sequences, but simply not enough laughs (was this supposed to be a comedy or an adventure movie?). Actually, the funniest moments happen at the beginning and end of the film when Will is interviewed by Matt Lauer, who does a great job playing himself. I wouldn't really recommend Land of the Lost to anyone except Saturday morning fans, but I still had a good time watching it with Mom & Dad. Labels: movies
Up : 5 of 5
5.28.2009 5:54 PM \| Link 1 comments	Thanks once again to lucky Melinda (who seems to my source of free sneak previews now!), I got to see Up a couple days early (and we even got press seats this time). Being the first animated feature to ever open the Cannes Film Festival, there were lots of reviews for me to read beforehand, and since all of them are so positive, I was prepared to be amazed. All I can say is that I'm completely impressed that Pixar is a studio that can totally focus on the art and storytelling of a truly great film, creating movies that can speak to everyone without compromising for Hollywood's money-making schemes. Up is so wonderful that I'm practically speechless, and it's a perfect example of Pixar's solid integrity. There won't be a lot of kids wanting to play with a 78-year old man action figure, yet Carl Fredricksen is an incredibly compelling character. Of course, animation has to include some suspension of belief (so we have to accept a house flying to South America on helium balloons), but the situations and emotions of falling in love, growing old, losing a spouse, and finding something to live for are all intensely real, and definitely intended for an adult audience. That's not to say there aren't tons of laughs to be had, because electronically-talking dogs ("Squirrel!") and great dialogue from Wilderness Explorer Russel make for some hilarious moments. Just about every detail is fantastic, from the beautiful score (which you can actually hum as you leave the theater), to the subtle use of 3D (which adds a little to the movie, but certainly isn't abused). I know I've said this before, but I'm so glad that Disney bought Pixar so their logo is on this film, because Pixar is without a doubt making the movies that Disney could have only made in the past. Up is not only a triumph of animation, but also a success in every element that makes a great film, period! Labels: animation, disney, movies, pixar
Night at the Museum / Battle of the Smithsonian : 4 of 5
5.24.2009 7:34 AM \| Link 0 comments	I really enjoying seeing the original Night at the Museum a few years ago, so I was kind of excited to check out this sequel, even though this movie is just pure goofy entertainment. I can't really pin down the reason why, but I just had a fantastic time! It has nothing to do with the characters, since there is practically no development (even though they try to get a brief moral across about doing what you love), and while the special effects are cool, they aren't miles ahead of anything else you can see these days. I guess it's just the magic of the idea that makes these movies click for me - I love seeing museums I have visited and real works of art and history that I've seen in person actually coming to life! Something new this time around is living paintings and photos - it was awesome to recognize so many famous ones and see them moving, and I loved the scene where Ben and Amelia Earhart jump into the classic VJ Day photo (which leads to a funny scene during the closing credits). Speaking of Amelia, Amy Adams was super-cute and hilarious in the role, and I got a kick out of her cliched slang and adventuresome attitude. Seeing the whole Air & Space Museum filled with activity was pretty awesome, and I enjoyed the exciting flying scenes (it makes no difference to me that the Wright brothers' flyer could never make those moves - remember, this is magic!). I think they could have done more with the Darth Vader scene, but Oscar the Grouch totally made up for it. It was also kind of interesting to see no less than three cast members of The Office in small roles in a single film. There's no doubt this movie is all fluff, but it's high quality and exceptionally fun fluff, and I hope they figure out how to make a third one! Labels: movies
Star Trek : 5 of 5
5.03.2009 12:34 PM \| Link 3 comments	I can hardly believe it myself, but yesterday I got to see a sneak preview of the new Star Trek movie (thanks to my pal Melinda and her lucky free passes again)! I promise this will be a spoiler-free review (even though it will be tough!), but I want to get my thoughts down while they are fairly fresh, since this is such an important movie to Star Trek fans like me. The best thing I can say about the film is that I want to see it again right now! I don't know how they did it, but JJ Abrams managed to create an awesome story that should make long-time fans happy, while brilliantly (and simply, I might add) making possible an entirely new future of Star Trek adventures in the years to come. Although the other Star Trek series were all enjoyable and fun to watch, nothing will ever top the original series characters for me, so even though this is an entirely new, younger cast, they immediately became the Enterprise crew that I know so well. Their youth (Chekov is only 17!) is pretty cool, but even though they can be wild and full of fire, there's no mistake that they are also brilliant scientists and serious about Starfleet! I was happy with the entire cast, except for Winona Ryder's small role as Spock's mom, just because it was jarring to see a well-known face. It was a blast to catch the many references to the series and previous movies, but also fun to see the updated Enterprise, which looks cool both inside and out. There's hardly a need to mention the special effects, since everything looks amazing these days, but I will say that I really enjoyed the glimpses at Starfleet Academy in future San Francisco as well as the Vulcan city where Spock grew up, just because I have a thing for sprawling futuristing cities. I'm sure more demanding Star Trek fans will be more negative than me, but I'm totally into this movie as both a satisfying trip with my Enterprise friends, as well as a starting point for new movies I can get excited about! Labels: movies, star trek
Alien Trespass : 3 of 5
4.19.2009 8:43 AM \| Link 0 comments	You might not have heard of this movie, since it's an independent Canadian film with a limited release, but if it shows up at your local art theater, you should check it out, especially if you're a fan of low-budget B-movie science fiction like I am! The idea behind Alien Trespass is pretty cool, which is spelled out in a black & white "newsreel" from 1957 before the movie. This film is supposed to have been lost and recently discovered (even the movie poster claims it was made in 1957), so everything is designed to look just like a "so bad it's funny" sci-fi monster movie of that era. For the most part, they do a fantastic job with saturated colors, silly dialogue, over-dramatic music, and of course a hilarious one-eyed rubber monster suit (called the Ghota)! Unfortunately, there are two flying saucer scenes that are painfully CG, which would have been so much better if they had been shot with miniatures (with visible strings, of course!). The story is fun to watch unfold, and has all the necessary cliches including a pipe-smoking professor (who is possessed by the alien lifeform known as Erp), teenagers who discover the creature but nobody will believe them, and small-town cops who end up getting dissolved by the monster into a bubbling puddle (which always has something like glasses or a police badge in the middle of the muck). Everyone in the cast does a fine job with the campy acting, and most of the cast is made up of actors with recognizable faces, but no huge stars (the police chief was the dad in The Wonder Years, for example). I really had a great time watching Alien Trespass, and when it was over it really felt like I had just seen a vintage movie at a film festival or something, except for that CGI, which was really a glaring mistake! Labels: movies
Earth / Disneynature : 4 of 5
4.17.2009 7:02 AM \| Link 1 comments	My pal Melinda is really lucky with getting tickets to sneak previews, and we were able to see this new Disney-distributed nature film a full two weeks before its release (it comes out on Earth Day next week)! When I first saw the trailer for this movie, I thought it was cool to see Disney associated with something similar to the old True Life Adventures series, but of course the quality of what can be accomplished now is much more spectacular. Earth is simply shot after shot of moments that make you wonder two things: first, how in the heck did they film that, and second, do I actually live on this planet? There are so many breathtaking views, including some awesome lime-lapse work, that it just seems like our big blue marble is a never-ending world of beauty, all made possible by that magical tilt of the Earth's axis. The movie is narrated by James Earl Jones (which is a nice connection to The Lion King), with just the right amount of detail - nothing is over-explained, and even though topics like global warming are mentioned, there's no preaching, which allows you to just be astounded at the life all around us (which is a better method of ecological argument than any heavy-handed documentary). The story loosely follows three families of polar bears, elephants, and whales, and does a nice job of characterizing them without getting too anthropomorphic. Of course, there has to be death scenes in a movie like this, but they are presented without much blood and in such a way that the circle of life actually becomes something natural (and there's only one shark scene that I didn't watch!). I could go on and on about incredible scenes (such as a lion attack shot in night-vision), and some of them are explained by a little behind-the-scenes footage of the filmmakers during the credits (they even suspensed a camera platform from a hot air balloon!). I'm definitely going to consider getting Earth on DVD to go along with my other True Life Adventures! Labels: disney, movies
Adventureland : 4 of 5
4.10.2009 12:18 PM \| Link 0 comments	My pals and I went to see Adventureland last weekend, and I think all of us were expecting this movie to be something like Superbad, mainly due to the trailer and the roles filled by Saturday Night Live folks. It turned out to be completely different, and actually much better than I had hoped, and I really enjoyed this nostalgic and believable story! The plot follows James, a hopelessly academic college grad who ends up working at a run-down amusement park during the summer of 1987, as he makes friends, falls in love, and learns about life in unexpected ways. Even though the characters can easily fall into categories, they all seemed genuine to me and revealed so many details about themselves that they reminded me of high school friends I actually knew back in the 80s. Of course, there's plenty of 80s music to keep the time period straight, and even the park itself is full of crappy rides that I remember vividly from going to state fairs (although the midway games have some pretty hilarious names like "Hats Off to Larry"). Most of the story revolves around a love story with a cool, understandably messed-up girl, but I loved the way the plot makes each of the other characters essential - they all help each other grow in different ways (just like real life). One thing this movie is not is hilarious, regardless of how the trailer spins it - it's much more like a well-made, easygoing after-school special than anything. I had a nice, relaxing experience watching Adventureland, which stirred up fun memories as well as appreciation for the way life shapes us into who we are. Even though it's not a full-on comedy, there are still some nice laughs along the way! Labels: movies
Monsters vs Aliens : 3 of 5
3.24.2009 5:41 PM \| Link 0 comments	When my pal Melinda and I saw the sneak preview of Race to Witch Mountain, they handed us free passes to see an early showing of this movie, which means I get to post this review before the release date, just like a real critic. Although Dreamworks never reaches the depth of emotion in a typical Pixar film, they can certainly make an entertaining movie, and Monsters vs Aliens is totally fun! If you're a fan of giant monster movies, you will especially enjoy this film, and I wouldn't be surprised if the filmmakers are kaiju fans, since a few of the scenes really have the feel of a good Godzilla battle (especially the knock-out sequence involving the Golden Gate Bridge!). Actually, some of the best background modeling work is in the San Francisco cityscape, which looks amazing (and it's always fun to see a familiar place in a giant monster movie). I was happy with all the character designs, and although I didn't notice any animation technology breakthroughs in this movie, I was mesmerized by the awesome transparency effects on B.O.B., especially seeing that eyeball suspended in his gooey head in profile shots. All of the action is really cool, but judging from the miniature voices I heard in the theater saying "I want to go home", there may be a few moments that went a little overboard in intensity (but they are definitely short and the kiddos perked up soon!). I really enjoyed the voice work, especially Stephen Colbert as the president (although the character design didn't completely fit), and his big moment making first contact with the giant alien robot is hilarious. I wouldn't call Monsters vs Aliens a "must see" film, but it's definitely good for a nice afternoon of animated action! Labels: movies
Race to Witch Mountain : 3 of 5
3.17.2009 7:35 PM \| Link 0 comments	When I was young, I completely ate up the original Witch Mountain movies, since I loved seeing kids from outer space with amazing powers, so those films have a lot of nostalgic value for me. But I didn't mind at all when I saw that Disney was going to re-invent this movie for today's audience, and I was lucky enough to get to see it at a free sneak preview with my pal Melinda! Race to Witch Mountain takes the basic idea of alien kids trying to get back to their spaceship, but that's about the only thing similar (unless you count the Winnebago, which doesn't get to fly, unfortunately), since the plot has been completely re-created as an all out action movie. But even car chases, military conspiracy and Vegas nightlife can't keep this from feeling like a Disney movie, which is a good thing, in my opinion - it's completely action-packed and light-hearted (without being stupid) at the same time. The Rock does a fine job as the taxi driver who becomes the kids' protector, and the kids themselves are excellent (even though they have to talk in contraction-less robot dialogue most of the time). The girl is especially cool - I remembered her role in Bridge to Terebithia and I think she has a nice career ahead of her. It was fun to see the actors who originally played the kids appear in small roles - I noticed their names during the opening credits and expected them to have two-second walk-ons, but I was impressed that they actually gave them some lines! I really enjoyed the special effects, too, which are mostly concentrated near the end of the movie while the kids' spaceship is actually flying (sometimes a simple saucer design is just right!). I'd recommend this movie to just about anyone, since it's a fun action story that won't put anyone to sleep. I'm glad Disney is getting some more mileage out of my childhood memories! Labels: disney, movies
Paul Blart: Mall Cop : 2 of 5
3.08.2009 10:25 AM \| Link 0 comments	I never dreamed I would actually see this movie after watching the trailer, but my pal Melinda and I just needed something to see, so we ended up going. It was an OK movie with a few laughs, but I was definitely expecting something with a little more full-on comedy. Instead, this movie wants to be part comedy, part romance, part action film, and part sad commentary on eating disorders! The idea of an overly gung-ho mall cop is definitely a good one, and it's fun to see Paul riding his Segway and taking pride in being a "security officer". Then the lonely romance angle comes in, which seems more depressing than inspiring, followed quickly by the weirdest crime plot ever - taking over an entire mall in order to run around and get credit card codes. I also found it completely bizarre that the bad guy gang seemed to made up of Cirque du Soleil rejects, since they are constantly being overly-acrobatic - leaping over displays, sliding down escalators, and zipping through the mall on bikes and skateboards. I lot of the smaller parts are really strange, too - the constantly shirtless Indian ex-boyfriend that keeps calling Paul's borrowed cell phone was downright creepy! I guess it's fair to say that the movie wasn't really boring, so I had a pretty good time in theater, but I can easily say I wouldn't watch it again or recommend it to anyone. Someone else should make a really good, really funny mall cop movie so we can all forget about this one! Labels: movies
Coraline : 3 of 5
2.14.2009 6:54 AM \| Link 3 comments	I have to admit that I wasn't overly excited about seeing Coraline the first time I saw the trailer, but after reading the countless positive reviews when the movie was released, I knew I had to go! Coraline is kind of a landmark movie, since it's the longest stop-motion film ever made, as well as the first shot completely in 3D, so I'm glad to see this artistic medium can be such a box office success! The only reason I'm not completely glowing in this review is that Coraline is a full-on horror film (in my opinion), which just isn't my favorite genre. My pal Melinda and I were pretty amazed at the incredible lack of comic relief - there were almost no laughs in the theater, and I think everyone was left when the same creepy feeling inside when the movie was over! Of course, I enjoyed the experience - the movie is beautifully shot, with fantastic sets and incredible character designs (I especially liked Wybie's "hunch neck"). Most of the time the stop-motion is so perfect that it feels like a CG animated film, although at times some movements are a little too jerky (as if they were shot on twos). The story is really suspenseful and full of mystery, but I have to say that if I had seen this movie as a child I would have been completely freaked out! On top of the story, the soundtrack is wall-to-wall eerie choir music and contemporary moody songs, which are all beautiful and well-suited to the film, but they really add to the overall dreary mood that simply doesn't ever change (even though the evil Other Mother is finally defeated, of course). Coraline will certainly become a classic and take its place in animation history, but unfortunately, I don't have the urge to emotionally get through it again! Labels: animation, movies
Gran Torino : 4 of 5
1.14.2009 6:40 AM \| Link 0 comments	I'm almost certain I would never have seen this film if I hadn't been invited with my pals, but I ended up really enjoying it, and it was nice to watch a "serious" movie again for a change. Gran Torino is about a Korean War veteran who has become a grumbly old man (his first dialogue in the film can only be described as a growl), living in a neighborhood that has become inhabited mostly by Hmong immigrants. Clint Eastwood's character is a product of his time, and during the course of the movie he spouts every racial slur known to man (and several I had never even heard), which becomes hilarious even though it's uncomfortable to hear at first! Clint's character seems like an elderly Dirty Harry at the beginning (with the guns to prove it), but becomes truly human as he befriends and helps his neighbors in their struggle against local gangs. There are lots of funny and warm moments in the story, but also some horrific plot turns that eventually bring the story to a close. Clint did a fantastic job, and I also enjoyed the performances of the young persistent priest, as well as the Hmong girl who lives next door who isn't scared to talk to Clint. My pals that saw the movie with me thought some of the acting of the minor characters was bad, but I never noticed it - I guess I was just wrapped up in the story. I completely expected to be pretty bored by Gran Torino, but it turned out to be a really interesting movie with a compelling plot, and it deserves the box office success it's having right now - I'm glad I saw it! Labels: movies
The Tale of Despereaux : 3 of 5
1.07.2009 7:35 PM \| Link 2 comments	My movie pal Melinda and I went to see The Tale of Despereaux for our first animated film of the year, and we were both pretty surprised at the kind of movie it turned out to be. There was definitely a lot to enjoy, including some interesting animation and shot compositions, as well as a relatively complex plot with lots of characters to keep track of, but these same elements made it difficult for the audience of children to get through it all. Although there are certainly some fun action sequences, there are also huge stretches in the story where nothing much happens except for narration, and it was funny to hear all the kids start squirming and whining at the same time. The visual look of the movie is quite drab (since continuous cloudy weather plays a part in the story), but the mice are very cute with a nice level of characterization and realism. I didn't enjoy the human characters as much - some of them were OK (like Princess Pea), but the supporting humans seems really unfinished to me (and the servant girl looked way too much like ogre Fiona from Shrek!). This movie has a huge cast of celebrity voice actors (including Dustin Hoffman, who unfortunately wasn't half as good as his great performance in Kung Fu Panda) - so many, in fact, that some of their talent is wasted in tiny roles, and their salaries could probably have been better spent on the animation! I guess I'm sounding pretty negative about The Tale of Despereaux, but the fact is that I enjoyed watching it and I actually liked the quirky, bizarre plot with all its strange pacing. It was great to start another new year of animated fun! Labels: animation, movies
Bedtime Stories: 3 of 5
12.31.2008 11:45 AM \| Link 0 comments	My parents and I decided we had to get another dose of Warren Theater balcony luxury, so we decided to go to a second movie during my Christmas visit. I had been interested in Bedtime Stories since the trailer looked pretty funny, plus I like Adam Sandler, and of course I like going to see anything by Disney! My favorite aspect of this movie is that it includes mini-movies of several genres to show the stories that Adam is telling to the kids, so we get to see a Western, a Roman gladiator film, and even a sci-fi epic. All of these are full of cheesy cliches, but that's what makes them fun! My least favorite part of the movie is Bugsy the guinea pig, who seems to only exist for a cheap laugh - he adds absolutely nothing to the plot, and his CGI design is so goofy looking that he's actually distracting. The story is pretty clever and interesting, although there's never a hint of explanation why the kids have the power to make stories affect real life (maybe Bugsy was supposed to be magic). Besides Adam's love interest Keri Russell, there are lots of extra characters thrown into the mix - I thought his hotel work buddy was pretty wild and funny. The finale is exciting, although there's no earth-shattering character development, but since everything else was entertaining I guess I can forgive that. Of course, the best part of seeing Bedtime Stories was being with my parents at Christmas time (and the banana splits that Dad and I ate didn't hurt either!). Labels: movies
Yes Man : 2 of 5
12.30.2008 9:27 PM \| Link 0 comments	Normally I would have never seen this movie, since I pretty much despise Jim Carrey, but during my Christmas visit to Oklahoma City my parents and I wanted to see something funny and take advantage of the awesome balcony seating at the Warren Theater (complete with butt warmers!). Jim was a little less stupid than usual, which helped me enjoy the film, and I thought the plot was a pretty good idea. The philosophy of saying "yes" to everything was actually kind of cool, so it was interesting to see how things worked out and where they went wrong. Zooey Deschanel was quirky and cute - it was fun to see her again since I enjoyed her performance in Elf and other films. Jim's boss at the bank was pretty hilarious, too - his Harry Potter party was one of the best parts of the movie! The movie was shot in the Hollywood area, so I also thought it was fun to see so many places that I had just visited a few months ago, including the Griffith Observatory, where they shot a scene next to the exact site-seeing telescope that my friends and I looked through! Actually, I enjoyed the plush balcony experience and the Warren's incredible digital screen more than the film itself, but I'm definitely glad Yes Man was much more bearable than Jim's other crappy movies! Labels: movies
Bolt : 4 of 5
11.24.2008 7:12 AM \| Link 0 comments	I actually got to see Bolt a couple of days before the actual premiere, thanks to my pal Melinda who won tickets to a special sneak preview! I was really excited to see it, since this Disney animated feature actually had some influence from John Lasseter, I think it showed in the pacing of the story. Bolt has some really funny and heart-warming moments (though the lack of tear-jerking is what makes me give it a 4 rating), and it definitely feels like a Disney movie, much more than early CG efforts like Chicken Little. It's still missing that certain something that makes a Pixar movie so fantastic, but it's certainly the best Disney CG feature so far! The main characters of Bolt and Penny are well-acted by John Travolta and Miley Cyrus (though in Miley's case I think the animated acting definitely improved her work), but the supporting characters of Mittens the cat and Rhino the hamster (in his ball) completely steal the movie! Rhino is one of the funniest animated characters in a while, and he gets all the great lines in the film ("Fully awesome!"). The sneak preview was in 3D, which was really tastefully done with lots of depth to the backgrounds without too many things being poked at the camera. I really can't find any fault with Bolt visually, and I loved the story, but it could have used a little more emotion in there somewhere. Even though Bolt's character changes and finds his inner hero, I really didn't warm up to him as much as Rhino! I can't wait to see Disney's future animated features (hopefully in traditional 2D), and I hope they will once again learn how to get the story just right. Labels: disney, movies
Quantum of Solace : 3 of 5
11.19.2008 7:43 AM \| Link 0 comments	Even though I've enjoyed James Bond movies in the past, I was never that excited about seeing a new "mean" Bond, so I didn't see the last film with Daniel Craig. I probably never would have gone to Quantum of Solace, but since my pals were going I decided it would be fun (plus I wanted to see the trailer for the new Star Trek movie!), and it was a great film. The opening car chase was pretty amazing, although it suffered a bit from over-editing - this movie is filled with quick cuts that make it hard to follow the action (and probably serve to make impossible feats seem possible!), but it's still really exciting to watch. I thought the opening chase was kind of short, but that's because it's almost immediately followed by a great foot chase that has them leaping on rooftops like in Mary Poppins! My favorite shot of the film occurs in this sequence, when Bond and the bad guy fall together through a glass roof and some scaffolding - the camera itself seems to fall with them, so you feel like you are right in the midst of the crash! I was a little disappointed in the lack of spy gadgets, but the surface-based computing interface was really cool. The latest Bond girl is really intriguing, and she kept reminding me of a younger Catherine Zeta-Jones (which is definitely a good thing), but I wish she would have had at least one ultra-glamourous scene. The plot itself isn't too espionage-filled to follow, and although the villian is interesting and has creepy eyes, he's just a simple greedy crook, which was kind of a let-down. But overall I really enjoyed the action, so I think I better rent Casino Royale to get caught up on the new 007! Labels: movies
Madagascar / Escape 2 Africa : 3 of 5
11.16.2008 8:14 AM \| Link 0 comments	Although several "animals out of their element" animated features came out in the past few years, the original Madagascar was one of the best, especially since the story ended with the characters still in the jungle. This sequel picks up after the lemurs and penguins have somehow managed to rebuild an airplane to take the zoo animals home, but ends up crashing in Africa. The plot has a lot going for it, since it does a nice job of retelling the essential parts of the first film, and then introduces new characters, mainly Alex the lion's parents. There are some pretty funny moments, but nothing that made me roll on the floor. Actually some of the best parts had to do with the love story between Melman the giraffe and Gloria the hippo - they really have some tender and hilarious lines! But everyone's favorite characters, the penguins and the lemurs, seemed a little underused to me - the penguins are fantastic during the airplane scenes, but the lemur king needed a lot more screen time! The animation keeps the same quirky style as before (I love the angular yet soft style of the lions paws!), but the human characters (safari tourists from New York this time) seem a little improved, which is nice. Overall I think the original film is better, just because the escape from New York is a crazier and more dynamic story that's hard to top. This sequel really tries to get into the emotions of the four main characters (some more successfully than others), but I really just wanted more insanity instead! Labels: animation, movies
High School Musical 3 / Senior Year : 3 of 5
10.28.2008 7:17 AM \| Link 0 comments	Even though I was a little late in becoming a High School Musical fan, I've really enjoyed the first two movies and soundtracks, so of course my pal Melinda and I had to see Disney's new big screen release right away. It was nice to get away from the school itself in High School Musical 2, but for this supposedly final part of the trilogy we have to come back to the classroom, which means a lot of the numbers are reminiscent of the original movie, including a basketball song and a cafeteria production. But this time around they really take advantage of their silver screen budget, so everything is pushed to the limit! Sharpay's big song is hilarious (definitely her best of the series), and Zac and Corbin show off some high-energy moves in a junkyard as they relive their childhood adventures (and even turn into kids in one funny moment). The plot is as simple as can be, with predictable tensions about future college decisions and preparations for the big school musical, but it's a fine story for this film's audience (and it was obvious the kids in the audience were loving it). I'm in it for the songs and dancing, which is deliciously formulaic and perfect! Just watching it makes me stunned at the youth, beauty and talent of these performers - it's a fantastic feeling to step into this perfect high school world for a few hours and feel like a teenager again. High School Musical 3 tries to make it obvious that this is the end of the line, complete with a graduation ceremony and final looks into the camera from all the major characters, but of course they will all live on in endless marketing opportunities. For me, I'm looking forward to getting the soundtrack and enjoying some upbeat, cheesy songs with Troy and Gabriella! Labels: disney, movies
Burn After Reading : 3 of 5
10.18.2008 7:14 AM \| Link 0 comments	I'm not really a fan of the Coen brothers (although I really enjoyed O Brother, Where Art Thou back in 2001), but I wanted to see Burn After Reading since my parents enjoyed it and my pals Matt & Kumiko wanted to go. The best feature of this movie is its well-crafted story, which is really complex and yet easy to follow, with lots of characters and plots that keep winding around until they all intersect in various ways (it reminded me a little of Short Cuts). It's entirely too much to summarize in a short review, but the story includes a retired CIA agent, his horrific wife, her lover, a lonely fitness club employee, her bizarre friend, and even more, including the Russian embassy. Everything in this movie is about deception, either on purpose (as in all the affairs going on) or by accident (as in the incredible misunderstandings the characters go through regarding CIA "data" and paranoia). The acting is all terrific - George Clooney is cool in any role (even when he's freaking out), and Brad Pitt is pretty hilarious as the somewhat stupid personal trainer. But even with a great story and actors, I still wasn't totally entertained, since I just couldn't connect to a single character in the film. For me to really enjoy a movie, I need to care about the people in it, or identify with someone, and all of the characters in Burn After Reading are so unlikable. Everyone is either a complete bitch or too insane for me to relate to! I know I'm in the minority, especially with all the good reviews that have been written, but at least I still had a good time at the theater and I'm glad I saw it! Labels: movies
Igor : 3 of 5
9.22.2008 7:55 AM \| Link 0 comments	It's always interesting to see an animated feature by a studio I've never heard of, so my pal Melinda and I had fun watching Igor, animated by Sparx Animation Studios (based in Paris, although there were tons of Vietnamese animators listed in the credits!). While this movie won't win any awards, it has three great things going for it - a quirky, original story, off-the-chart character design, and fantastic voice work! The plot is really clever, set in the Kingdom of Malaria where the economy is based on evil scientists getting the world to pay them not to unleash hideous inventions. Igor is treated as an "Igor", but when his scientist boss is out of the picture he gets the chance to create life, which ends up being a hulkish drama queen (in the literal sense!). Igor's friends Scamper (who is immortal but keeps trying to kill himself) and Brain (who is a brain in a glass jar with less than stellar intelligence) are hilarious, and the interaction between everyone has some great comedic timing! (I should also say I really enjoyed the invisible man who never wears pants - so funny!) The character designs are truly imagination run amok - everything is stretched to the extreme, from outlandish noses to pointy boobs. The only unfortunate design is the king, who is an obvious rip-off of the mayor from The Nightmare Before Christmas (Melinda and I both recognized it immediately!). The voice work is really funny, too, with Eddie Izzard delivering the best performance as the villain Dr. Schadenfreude. He definitely gets all the best lines, and delivers them with awesome dynamics and skill! Even with all these good points, Igor is still missing something, and it's difficult to say if a studio like Pixar could create something better with the same material. But if you're looking for a good laugh and some "out there" animation, give Igor a try! Labels: animation, movies
Bangkok Dangerous : 2 of 5
9.19.2008 5:57 PM \| Link 0 comments	While my parents were here for their recent visit, we decided we should see a movie at the Alamo Drafthouse just so we could eat lunch and have an Austin experience. We really didn't care what we were seeing, but since Mom likes Nicolas Cage and Dad likes action movies, we ended up watching Bangkok Dangerous, which I would have never gone to otherwise. Actually, it was much better than I expected, and I wasn't bored at all! The main character Joe is a cold-hearted assassin who takes on a series of jobs in Bangkok, and while he's there he begins to feel compassion and become a "real person" again, mainly through his love for a beautiful deaf girl who reminds him what peace and kindness can be like. The action sequences are pretty good (even though there are a couple of instances of unnecessary gore), and it was cool seeing the Bangkok sights, since Dad has been there and could tell me about seeing things like the floating market and the Reclining Buddha! My biggest complaint is with the narration - I never like it as a rule, but it's even worse when the narrator dies at the end of the movie! When is he supposed to be narrating? Bangkok Dangerous was good enough for a lunch movie, but I wouldn't really suggest rushing out to see it (especially since I just gave away the ending anyway). Labels: movies
Cirque du Soleil / Delirium : 3 of 5
9.10.2008 11:09 PM \| Link 0 comments	I saw this movie several weeks ago, so please bear with me as I try to review it from memory! Over the years I've become a pretty big fan of Cirque du Soleil, since I've seen most of the permanent shows in Las Vegas and Walt Disney World, as well as a few traveling shows, but all I knew about Delirium was that it focused on music. Somehow I discovered this movie of the Delirium performance was being shown in Austin as a one-show-only limited run, so I decided to see it with my pal Melinda (who is also a Cirque fan). I wasn't sure what it would be like watching a movie of a Cirque performance, but once the show began it was amazing how easy it was to forget it wasn't live. Delirium features non-stop music sung by several talented performers who are visible onstage, along with lots of dancing and some smaller-scale acrobatics. The songs are knit together with Cirque's usual concept of regular characters - there is a guy hanging on a balloon to travels from "song to song", plus a bizarre devilish character who is tormented by another loud clown character. The singing was fantastic (I really enjoyed hearing some songs from Alegria), and there were some awesome physical performances, such as a beautiful hula hoop girl and a group of incredible balancing bald guys! Of course, I think it would be more fun to see Delirium live, but this movie experience was really nice and I'm glad I had the opportunity to see it. Labels: cirque du soleil, movies
Tropic Thunder: 3 of 5
8.29.2008 7:40 AM \| Link 0 comments	Wow, I'm getting so behind on reviewing things that I'm going to starting forgetting what to talk about! My pals and I saw Tropic Thunder last weekend at the Alamo Drafthouse (always the best choice for this kind of movie), and we all laughed our heads off! I have to say that I wasn't as totally impressed as my other friends (I thought it got a little stale in the middle of the film), but this is still a fantastic comedy, since spoofs of movie-making are so much fun. The best part of the entire movie occurs right at the beginning with some fake trailers and advertisements featuring each of the main characters - these start before any of the opening credits, so they took me by surprise at first! I really enjoyed the "monks in love" trailer with Tobey Maguire and Robert Downey's character - the crazy contacts he wears to make his eyes look piercing are genius. Actually, Downey is a pretty amazing actor and he really steals the show from Ben Stiller (who plays every role the same, but funny) and Jack Black. Speaking of acting, I have to mention Tom Cruise's performance as the crude balding movie executive - he may be crazy, but it took some guts to go all out for this role! The plot of the movie is fairly predictable, but does have some nice twists. I thought the kid playing the leader of the drug factory was funny, and the toddler stabbing Stiller in the neck was totally hilarious (in a sick humor kind of way)! I wouldn't want to see it a second time, but Tropic Thunder was still a ton of fun overall! Labels: movies
Star Wars: The Clone Wars : 3 of 5
8.19.2008 7:42 AM \| Link 0 comments	I really enjoyed the first two seasons of the 2D animated series on Cartoon Network several years ago, so when I first heard that The Clone Wars was going to be continued as a CGI series, I was definitely excited. I was even more thrilled to hear that the first few episodes of the series were being combined into a theatrical release, since there's nothing better than seeing Star Wars in an actual theater! But after reading a few bad reviews of this movie, my expectations were really low, and maybe that made it possible for me to enjoy the movie more, since my pal Matt and I had a great time seeing it. The CGI animation looks fantastic for space ships, equipment, droids, and so on, but the character design inherited from the 2D series doesn't translate well in my opinion (their movements really felt like marionettes to me!). The plot is pretty cool with an interesting twist involving Jabba's fruity uncle, but essentially the movie is a long string of battle scenes, which is OK when they look this cool! I really enjoyed seeing the clones with their helmets off (all the same with different hairstyles, and the Jango Fett voice was well-done), and it was great to see Asajj Ventress again. Anakin's new padawan Ahsoka is pretty interesting, through her cutesy voice doesn't really go with her exotic looks, and I'm glad Padme was included (and I enjoyed her brief eye contact with Anakin). Even though I generally groan at battle droid dialogue, I actually thought their goofy lines were funny this time! Of course, there are lots of things wrong with this movie (don't get me started about the opening narration), but for me there were enough good things going on to get me excited about the upcoming TV series. The Clone Wars certainly doesn't compare to any of the six movies, but during a Star Wars drought, I'll take what I can get! Labels: movies, star wars
The Dark Knight : 5 of 5
7.26.2008 6:49 AM \| Link 0 comments	Until now, Batman Begins was the best Batman movie ever made, and now it's been topped by this incredible sequel! All of the fantastic dark, serious, and realistic elements of the first movie are back in full-force, completely embracing the nature of Batman as merely a human who constantly must keep his own sense of justice in check. This is exactly why the Joker is such a perfect villain, since he represents an even darker side of the Dark Knight, and this film's new version of this classic character is sheer genius. Heath Ledger's development of the Joker is so perfect, since his voice and mannerisms transform him into a deranged nerd gone wild - even though no true backstory is given (since the Joker's own story telling changes on a whim), you can almost imagine his personality and events that might have lead to his crime spree. The musical score really adds to the Joker's scenes as well. At certain moments a long, slow crescendo begins that keeps rising until a dramatic moment explodes on the screen, and it certainly adds tension and apprehension that something is about to erupt! As soon as I heard the name Harvey Dent in the trailer, I knew there was a second villain in the mix as well (minor spoiler!), but it's a shame that a cool character like Two-Face has such a short time in the movie. Actually, my only complaint is The Dark Knight really seems like two movies pushed together, which could have easily been made into separate normal-length films (although I'm sure the director must have a had a reason, which will probably come out in the third movie!). Of course, the action and effects are incredible and the Batpod is really cool, but they don't overshadow the actors or take over the story at all. I can't decide if The Dark Knight is the best super hero movie ever, but there's no doubt that it's earned the title of "best Batman ever"! Labels: batman, movies
Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D : 3 of 5
7.19.2008 8:07 AM \| Link 0 comments	It was such a coincidence that I saw this movie with my pal Melinda so soon after enjoying the original film on DVD, and it was lots of fun to compare the two and see how they handled different parts of the story. This version is quite a bit campier and light-hearted, and actually is kind of a sequel or retelling of the original Jules Verne story, since they use the book itself as a reference in the film. The use of 3D (which is totally spectacular and lots of fun) adds to the goofiness, since they decided to go all-out and throw every 3D cliche in the book at the audience! In only the first five minutes all kinds of things have been pointed at the camera, and Brendan Fraser even spits out his toothpaste directly in your face. After some quick background story about Brendan and his nephew (played by Josh Hutcherson, who I've enjoyed in every movie he's done), the story moves to Iceland very quickly and gets the guys (plus their cute Icelandic girl guide) into spelunking mode. There's a fantastic roller coaster sequence where they ride old mine cars over some completely crazy tracks (which looks a lot like some simulator rides I've experienced), and a pretty funny long fall as they actually descend into the world within the world. The scenery of what they find is spectacular, and I enjoyed seeing everything from the jungles to the huge ocean, which is filled with both giant-toothed fish (that jump at the camera, of course!) and massive swimming dinosaurs! The dramatic escape has the characters riding a dinosaur skull on a column of steam until they are shot out of a volcano in Italy, and I loved the tension beforehand as the lava was rising, which was an excellent twist on what I had watched recently in the original film. Overall, this version of Journey to the Center of the Earth really doesn't take itself seriously. Instead, this is just an action-packed, 3D-infused, Saturday morning adventure, and if that's what you're looking for, you'll love it! Labels: movies
WALL-E : 5 of 5
7.06.2008 8:28 AM \| Link 0 comments	There is absolutely no doubt that Pixar is the new Disney - of course, they actually are Disney, but you know what I mean. No other animation studio, including Disney's own, comes close to creating the brilliance of the Pixar films, and WALL-E is no exception! Director Andrew Stanton has definitely taken his place next to Brad Bird as one of the most amazing storytellers in the business - Finding Nemo and WALL-E are such fantastic original stories! There is so much to say about this movie that I don't know where to begin. The plot is wonderful, combining science fiction, romance and comedy into one beautiful package, and there's almost no need to even mention the animation, which is simply top-notch (the effects animation is particularly superb, rendering everything from dust storms to fire extinguishers in space perfectly). The character design is fascinating, since every robot is filled with emotion, but also seems to be mechanically feasible (no bendable metal, like in Cars)! WALL-E himself is filled with emotion, EVE is beautiful and can express so many moods, and all of the other designs are simply cool (I really want to collect some WALL-E robot toys now!). There's little voice work to comment on, but I have to say that Ben Burtt's sound design for the robot voices and sounds is fantastic (Of course, that's just what you would expect from the creator of R2-D2's language!). I only have one complaint, and this is true of most Pixar movies - I wish they had turned up the emotion just a little bit more. I really want to cry during touching scenes, and while I did let a few tears fall towards the end, the moment was cut a little too short for me. Movies like WALL-E are showing the world what a fantastic experience an animated film can be, and I'm thankful Pixar is around to do it right! Labels: disney, movies, pixar
Wanted : 3 of 5
7.03.2008 5:48 AM \| Link 0 comments	While I was in Oklahoma City, my parents and I decided to experience a movie in the plush Warren Theater balcony, so we saw this comic book adventure film together. Wanted isn't the type of movie I would normally see, but when I found out it was based on a graphic novel, I was intrigued, and I actually enjoyed it quite a bit since the entire movie really does have a superhero style. The story is about Wesley Gibson, a wimpy guy with a terrible job, cheating girlfriend, and a life going nowhere, who suddenly finds out he's the son of a master assassin. These assassins are in an ancient order called the Fraternity, who take their orders from "fate" (dealt out by weaves of a mystical loom), and have almost superhuman powers that allow them to heal quickly and even bend the path of bullets from their guns! Angelina Jolie plays the Fox, who becomes Wesley's mentor, and I was glad to see she wasn't the main character, since I'm not much of a fan. James McAvoy was fantastic as Wesley, and his range from anxiety attacks to bad-ass fighting really made the movie enjoyable. I loved the over-the-top touches, such as deflecting bullets with other bullets, or the incredible scene where a train falls off a bridge into a mountain gorge - the more spectacular, the better! There's definitely plenty of blood (including scenes like bullets exiting head wounds in slow motion - yuck!), but since it's all presented with almost a fantasy feel, I didn't mind it too much. Wanted turned out to be a great action movie with a well-written, interesting storyline, and I'm glad I got to see it from my huge, comfy balcony seat! Labels: movies
Death Note : 3 of 5
5.29.2008 7:06 AM \| Link 0 comments	Although this movie came out in 2006, I somehow managed to miss downloading a fan-subbed version of the film, even though I was already a huge fan of the Death Note manga. Now that I've been watching the anime, and with the complete story fresh on my mind, I was really excited to see this special one-night local showing of this live-action version at the theater! Unfortunately, the experience was both good and bad. I was really expecting to see the movie in Japanese with subtitles, but instead they showed the dubbed version (I'm hoping both will be released by Viz soon). The dub was interesting since they used the same voice actors from the anime, but it's still a sucky dub that caused lots of audience laughter. Speaking of the audience, that was my other complaint - it was like being at an anime convention, complete with a little cosplay and homemade T-shirts! Of course, I love and respect that stuff, but I wanted to really get into the film without hearing the girls squeal at the first sight of L. The movie itself was cool, though, and really captured the story well. Of course, there are major departures from the manga plot, but some of them are actually more dramatic and possibly even improve on the original! The major difference is the role of Light's girlfriend Shiori (before Misa enters the story), which comes to a chilling climax along with the wife of the FBI agent! I also enjoyed the final scenes of the film with the first meeting of Light and L, since it sets up the next movie so well (only the first few volumes of the manga are covered in this film). The movie has a bit of a tokusatsu feel, which is fine with me, especially because the CG version of Ryuk is a bit old-school, so it feels a little like a TV show. But overall, the film is definitely worth watching again in Japanese, so I can't wait for the DVD release! Labels: death note, movies
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull : 4 of 5
5.26.2008 12:34 PM \| Link 0 comments	It was so great to be able to see this movie with my pals Ryan & Jennifer while I was visiting them in Arizona, and we had a fun time seeing our hero Indy hit the big screen one more time. This is another one of those films where the audience has to understand the filmmakers' intention, which in this case was to re-create the 1980s adventure feel of the original movies, and I think they succeeded brilliantly! Of course, that means there are some incredibly goofy and impossible stunts and action sequences, but when it comes down to it, Indiana Jones is kind of a superhero, so it makes sense to me! This time around Indy is up against the Russians, who want an alien power (tied in nicely with Area 51 lore) to control minds (sorry for the brief spoiler!). The first section of the movie takes place around Indy's college, but in my opinion, it takes a little too long to get the action into the jungle where it belongs. Harrison Ford does a great job, and it really seems like he's enjoying himself, and it was a blast to see Indy using so much of his intellect and solving riddles with his vast historical knowledge. Truthfully, I was a little surprised at everyone's ages - Indy and Marion both looked older than I expected, but their chemistry was still hilarious and really captured the fun of the original movie. I loved the long action sequence with the jeep chase through the jungle, combined with killer ants and crazed monkeys (although Mutt's vine swinging was ridiculous), and the exploration scenes in the various temples were cool as expected, with lots of moving contraptions and spider webs. Of course, the door is left wide open for a new series of movies with Mutt as the new hero, so I hope audiences can appreciate the campy adventure style enough to generate more sequels! Labels: movies
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian : 4 of 5
5.20.2008 8:12 AM \| Link 0 comments	I've been looking forward to the next film in the Narnia series from the moment I saw The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, so I made sure to see this movie with my pal Melinda as soon as I could! Prince Caspian is a much different movie than the first Narnia tale, since it takes place 1,300 years after the first film (of course, the Pevensie children have only aged a year back in our world), and the magical Narnians have been nearly exterminated by the Telmarines, essentially regular, non-magical humans. The four children arrive at the call of Prince Caspian, a young prince who is destined to overthrow his evil uncle and reunite Narnian magic with humanity. The movie adds quite a bit to the original book, mostly in a new castle siege battle, but this is a exciting and dramatic scene that also sets up an interesting conflict between Peter and Caspian. The children do a great acting job again and still look quite young (good thing they filmed this one quickly!), and the many CG characters are cool and lots of fun, especially the flamboyant mouse Reepicheep! The appearance of the White Witch is nice and creepy, too. Of course, the special effects are wonderful during the final tension-filled battle, but overall, this Narnia movie is missing the warm-hearted magic of the first film. Part of that is simply due to the nature of the CS Lewis story, but I also think the filmmakers purposely tried to create a much darker movie. The first movie made me cry tears of both sorrow and joy, but Prince Caspian only provided action (and quite a bit of bloodshed). Of course, I'm still a fan and enjoyed the film, but given the choice to watch either movie again, I would definitely be reaching for The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe on my DVD shelf. Labels: disney, movies, narnia
Speed Racer : 5 of 5
5.13.2008 7:13 AM \| Link 0 comments	I've been a fan of the Speed Racer anime since I was little, and it was practically my introduction into Japanese entertainment, so I've been looking forward to this movie for quite a while, even though I was skeptical about bringing this classic cartoon to the big screen. The film has received lots of mixed reviews, but for a fan of the original show like me, all of the reasons that critics have found to fault the movie are the exact reasons that I loved it! Instead of trying to bring the plot into modern times, the Wachowski brothers chose to keep the nostalgic, other-worldly style of the cartoon intact, only updating the presentation into a glorious explosion of video game color. The action is fantastic, and the visuals are filled with so much detail that I want to watch it over and over again to take it all in! Most of the casting is surprisingly good - Speed's hair is just right, Trixie is sassy, and I'm so glad they used a real monkey for Chim-Chim! On the subject of acting, there are a few unexpected touching moments between Speed and Pops and his mom which really add a nice dimension not seen in the cartoon. If I had to mention a couple minor negatives, it would have to be the new Sparky, who just didn't work for me, and they changed the use of some of the buttons on the Mach 5, which is actually the Mach 6 for racing, so I guess that's just fan nitpicking on my part! But there are so many other good things to mention - the liberal use of the classic theme song, the inclusion of several villains like Crusher Block and Snake Oiler, the nod to the Mammoth Car episode, the joke about Speed's red socks, and how about Racer X's voice? I thought the delivery was uncanny! I'm convinced that Speed Racer fans, if they embrace the spirit and fun of the original series, will really enjoy this movie. I certainly did, and I'm already dying for the DVD! Labels: movies
Iron Man : 5 of 5
5.11.2008 7:43 AM \| Link 0 comments	Although I'm not totally immersed in the comic book adventures of Iron Man, I've certainly read enough of his stories both alone and with the Avengers (plus watched the cartoon TV series!) to be somewhat of a fan, so I was really excited to see this movie. Along with movies like the first Spider-Man and Batman Begins, Iron Man is a truly fantastic superhero movie that manages to keep both comic book geeks and general movie-goers happy, and I loved it! The first few scenes to establish the playboy character of Tony Stark are absolutely hilarious, and Robert Downey Jr. does a great job playing him, and later in the film really shines when he turns around Stark's emotions to reveal his new life purpose as a hero. It was nice to Gwenyth Paltrow again, and the short romance scenes had nice chemistry, I thought. But of course, the real star is the Iron Man suit (as well as Tony's other gadgets), which includes a fantastic progression of development and testing sequences (perfectly played for laughs), and watching Iron Man blaze across the sky (especially when pursued by other jets) is thrilling! The origin story has been updated to Afghanistan, but all of the elements are there so I think comic book purists are satisfied. As for me, I'm just glad I noticed the cartoon series theme song as a cell phone ringtone! I'm definitely excited about seeing future movies in this series, especially if they start to involve SHIELD more, or even the Avengers (as they hinted in the bonus scene at the end of the credits!). It's amazing to look at a great movie like Iron Man compared to crap like Fantastic Four - I'm just thankful someone in Hollywood can do superheroes right! Labels: movies
Nim's Island : 3 of 5
4.18.2008 6:44 AM \| Link 0 comments	Since I'm not really a Jodie Foster fan, I wasn't sure that I would see this movie, but because the trailer seemed really fun and my parents enjoyed it so much, I went with my pal Melinda to see it. Actually we were the only ones in the theater, but even though audiences may have given up on Nim's Island, I really enjoyed it. The main surprise for me was that the trailer makes the movie seem to be a story about a scared city person's stay on a remote island with the little girl Nim, when actually the plot is all about the journey to get to the island. Once Jodie Foster's character finally makes it, the movie abruptly ends! But the character development is nice, though, focusing on an agoraphobic author who writes Indiana Jones style adventure novels without ever leaving her house. Nim is a cute girl living with her scientist father alone on their island, but she has to reach out for help (thank goodness for satellite internet!) when her dad is lost at sea. This is without a doubt a fantasy movie - there are lots of facts that you just have to accept and move on, like Nim's animal communication, the unlikely survival of Nim's dad, and so on. There's also an encounter with an unsavory cruise line, and the crew is so surreal that they might as well be pirates! But even with all the goofiness in the story, I was still interested throughout the film. Nim's Island is a nice relaxing movie that's good for a quick escape! Labels: movies
Horton Hears a Who! : 3 of 5
3.21.2008 6:14 AM \| Link 0 comments	You may already know that I'm a Jim Carrey anti-fan, but my love of animated features overcame my aversion to seeing this movie, so my pal Melinda and I went on opening weekend. If you ask me, after how terrible How the Grinch Stole Christmas was, Dr. Seuss should have a restraining order to keep Jim Carrey away from his stories, but thankfully Jim's much more toned down than usual this time around. Actually, Steve Carrell has a much bigger role as the Mayor of Whoville, and he does an excellent job! The animation is really nice, and extremely true to the Dr. Seuss designs, which was a joy to see (I thought the snooty kangaroo looked like she had just stepped out of the book). It made me wish for a series of films for all of the classic books, as long as they were done in this style! The screenplay follows the story pretty closely, keeping just a little narration and enough of the well-known lines (in rhyme), along with the inevitable plot fillers, and the addition of the Mayor's son JoJo, who provides the "misunderstood son saves the day" element to the story. In addition to the nice CG animation (definitely above average), there are a couple 2D segments that really excited me - especially an extended anime-style fantasy fight sequence that was completely hilarious! The most unusual moment comes at the end of the movie, when disaster is averted and everyone celebrates by suddenly singing REO Speedwagon's I Can't Fight This Feeling, which is one of the most off-the-wall choices I can imagine! I'm sure the filmmakers were just sitting around brainstorming and couldn't let go of the idea once it popped up! It was fun to see a Dr. Seuss story presented with respect, comedy, and warmth, and I'm happy that Blue Sky Studios is out there as another animation studio to watch for! Labels: movies