Newest articles on The Sacramento Press written by Luke Soin

Django Unchained

2012-12-30T02:29:09Z

The western seems to be a dying breed. The most recent iterations I can think of that were any good would have to be the remake of Appaloosa or the remake of 3:10 to Yuma. And while those were fantastic films they were released in 2008 and 2007 respectively; and they were remakes. Thankfully Quentin Tarantino has come along and given us western fans a truly great film that is entertaining, smart, and original.

Django Unchained follows a slave named Django (Jamie Foxx) who is bought by Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz) a German dentist turned bounty hunter. Schultz buys Django because he needs him to help identify the Brittle Brothers, his latest bounty. He offers Django a proposition, if he helps Schultz track down the Brittle Brothers, he will give Django his freedom. The two quickly bond and Django confides to Schultz that he has a wife, Broomhilda (Kerry Washington), who is still a slave somewhere. Feeling responsible for Django, Schultz decides to aid him in his quest to free his wife. Their quest leads them to one Calvin Candy (Leonardo DiCaprio), the owner of Candyland, one of the largest plantations in the United States. Together Django and Schultz devise a plot to enter Candyland and save Broomhilda.

People are throwing the word masterpiece around this movie like they throw cigarette butts on the ground at a Depeche Mode concert, and rightly so. Quentin Tarantino has worked his magic yet again, coming off the success of the revisionist history flick Inglourious Basterds.

One of the first things you notice as Django Unchained begins, besides the brilliant cinematography and choice soundtrack, is the incredibly smart and witty script. By now it’s something we come to expect from a Tarantino picture, but it’s still a marvel that he’s able to deliver such fantastic work time after time. Whether it’s the hilarious and fun introduction to Waltz’s Schultz, or the inane conversation that goes on in a lynch mob about the eye holes in their white hood masks, the script never loses its sharp edge.

The script also does not shy away from the evils of slavery. It’s hard to watch some of the scenes in which the white owners berate their slaves; even in a fictional setting it’s unsettling. That being said Tarantino handles it well.

The cast is brilliant in this film too. Foxx’s performance is full of both swagger and subtlety, proving once again that he is more than just another movie star (see Ray and Collateral for further evidence). Waltz is also great as Schultz. The magnetic charisma he displayed as the evil Colonel Hans Landa in Inglourious Basterds is on display here, only this time he’s playing the good guy and we love him for it.

Leonardo DiCaprio is also great as the charming and evil Calvin Candy. He is able to go from cool southern gent to raging tyrant in a second and back again. It’s as natural as watching ice melt. Samuel L. Jackson also turns in a great performance as the menacing house slave Stephen, intensely loyal to his white masters. His performance reminded me a lot of an angry Uncle Ruckus from The Boondocks. If you haven’t seen that show I suggest you pay more attention to Adult Swim.

Other standouts in the cast are the beautiful Kerry Washington and Don Johnson as Big Daddy, another plantation owner.

While the film is smart and well acted it is also a visual feast. Tarantino’s direction and Robert Richardson’s (JFK, Inglourious Basterds) cinematography come together to create a lot of beautiful and interesting shots. There are a lot of spaghetti western touches, though less of the Sergio Leone variety. I don’t think there was one eyeball showdown in the whole film. Either way, the film is a visual treat and another exercise in fine filmmaking.

It’s really no surprise that Quentin Tarantino has delivered yet another golden egg in Django Unchained. From the moment I saw the trailer I had no doubts as to whether this film would be a success or not. What makes it really satisfying to me is that it’s a fantastic western, and there just aren’t enough of those anymore. 5 out of 5 stars.

Django Unchained is currently playing at Palladio 16 Cinemas in Folsom as well as other Sacramento area theaters.

Skyfall

2012-11-09T19:51:35Z

A lot of people like to complain about sequels; that they’re soulless money grabs (often true), or that Hollywood is out of ideas (somewhat true), or that there is no reason for them to happen (completely untrue). I celebrate sequels. A well done sequel to a movie you love is a boon because it means you get to spend some more time with your favorite characters or experience more of a fun world or place. Without sequels we wouldn’t have The Godfather Part II, Spider-Man 2, Aliens, The Dark Knight, or The Empire Strikes Back. Skyfall, the 23rd Bond film, is such a movie. A sequel that doesn’t suck. A sequel that improves upon its predecessors the way those I mentioned above have.

Casino Royale was a fantastic Bond movie, reinventing 007 for modern audiences and keeping him away from the camp and pomp that the Brosnan movies were heading toward. And while Quantum of Solace was a sore misstep there were reasons for its problems. The Writers Guild strike cut short script writing time and the director Marc Forster was a weak choice to replace Martin Campbell. It was a disappointing failure especially since the film was trying to wrap up the Vesper thread and continue Bond’s investigation of the shadowy organization she was being manipulated by.

Thankfully long time producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli righted the series by hiring John Logan (Gladiator, The Aviator) to work on Neil Purvis and Robert Wade’s script for Skyfall. They also hired the very talented Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Jarhead) to direct. The result is possibly the best Bond film ever.

In Skyfall we find 007 (Daniel Craig) attempting to recover a stolen hard drive that contains the names of every undercover MI6 agent in every terrorist organization in the world. His attempts to recover the drive lead him on a thrilling chase sequence that starts on the streets of Istanbul and ends on the top of a train. Bond is just about to recover the drive from the man who stole it when M (Dame Judi Dench) orders fellow MI6 agent Eve (Pirates of the Caribbean’s Naomi Harris) to shoot him. She misses and hits Bond, sending him over a bridge and into a river.

One trippy opening credits sequence later and Bond has been pronounced dead. We find him hiding out under the radar, unwilling to return to MI6 after M had ordered the shot to be taken. But when a mysterious villain attacks MI6, Bond must return to help track him down and prevent him from releasing the names on the hard drive. Along the way Bond will have to deal with the very real threats of age and obsolescence while trying to stop a madman from M’s past.

Nearly everything about this movie is superb and it all starts with the star of the show, Daniel Craig. He continues giving a multifaceted performance as Bond, hitting all the necessary notes. He’s great at the confidence, the lady killing, the physicality, but what really sets him apart from other actors who’ve played the role is the humanity that he brings to it. As I just said, this Bond has to deal with age and the possibility of obsolescence in the face of technology. He doesn’t just shrug the gunshot wound off, it stays with him and Craig does an excellent job of communicating that throughout the film. He’s also endlessly cool in a way that no one else can duplicate. It’s really quite remarkable.

Judi Dench is, as usual, a standout as well. She gets an expanded role this time as much of the film is about her past and her mistakes. She and Craig share a lot of great scenes together, building the relationship that was established so well in Casino Royale. Not only are they funny together but there’s a real sense that they care about each other even if Bond is a loose cannon at times and M isn’t as careful at preserving the lives of her agents as she should be. It’s a rocky road for both of them in this film.

Javier Bardem plays the villain of the piece, the Joker-like Silva. From his fantastic entrance to his creepy and effeminate performance, everything about him screams classic Bond villain. He also has a great back story to give him motivation and a gnarly “scar” to show for it. Adding this to his No Country for Old Men role proves that he is one of the best at playing the villain.

Bérénice Marlohe turns in a solid performance as the gorgeous and tortured Sévérine, sharing a particularly memorable scene at a bar with Craig. Naomi Harris is fine as Bond’s partner Eve and flirty love interest. Ralph Fiennes plays a stuffy government official who used to work as an agent and Albert Finney also shows up towards the end as an old friend of Bond’s.
The other great performance is newcomer Ben Whishaw’s who plays the new Q. He and Craig have instant chemistry, echoing the classic banter between Sean Connery and Desmond Llewelyn.

The soundtrack by Thomas Newman (Little Children, Finding Nemo) is also epic. It’s sweeping and varied, employing everything from little electronic spy movie cues to big sumptuous strings while throwing in little snippets of the Bond theme. It all further adds to the depth and scope of the film.

The cinematography by Roger Deakins (No Country for Old Men, A Serious Man) is superb. This is without a doubt the best looking Bond ever. Whether it’s the stunning Scottish countryside, a silhouetted skyscraper fight, or a classy Asian casino, Deakins’s work is absolutely brilliant here. Oscar worthy in fact.

Speaking of Oscars, if there ever was a Bond film that deserved such honor, this is it. The story is smart, the themes are relevant, and the entire production feels so tight and so pro that it’s hard to not think about it. In all likelihood the Academy will overlook it and it might be nominated for categories like Cinematography and Sound Design, but it certainly deserves nods for Best Picture and Best Director. Director Sam Mendes’s talented eye creates many unique and memorable shots and sequences whether they are action scenes or intimate conversations.

Skyfall proves that sequels don’t have to be tasteless money grabs or that Hollywood is out of ideas. It proves instead, much like Terminator 2 Judgment Day, or the others I mentioned at the top, that a sequel can be good and even better than its predecessor when handled correctly. 5 out of 5 stars.

Skyfall is playing in both regular and IMAX showings at Regal El Dorado Hills Stadium 14 and in most other Sacramento Area theaters.

Dredd 3D

2012-09-23T03:52:48Z

For the most part the summer movie season ended when The Expendables 2 came out about a month ago. Since then there hasn’t been a lot to be too excited about, especially for all of us fanboys and fangirls. Thankfully, Lionsgate slotted the release of their highly anticipated(?) Judge Dredd remake to come out right now and hold us over until films like Skyfall and The Hobbit come out in a couple of months.

Dredd 3D follows a day in the life of the incredibly grim and badass Judge Dredd (Karl Urban), one of many Judges in the sprawling mess of Mega City 1. The Judges function as upgraded cops with added powers. Not only do they have some pretty versatile weaponry, but they’re also allowed to pass judgment on perpetrators on the spot. In other words, if someone is guilty of something like murder, a Judge can dispense capital punishment right there at the scene of the crime.

The film begins with an exciting action sequence showcasing Dredd’s abilities and no nonsense work ethic. Soon after Dredd is assigned a rookie named Anderson (Olivia Thirlby) who he will be evaluating in the field for the rest of the day. Their first assignment together sends them to one of the imposing residential towers in the city to investigate a routine triple homicide. This triple homicide however turns the rookie’s first day on the job into a life or death struggle with Ma-Ma (Lena Headey) and her gang as it threatens Ma-Ma’s booming drug business.

The film is startlingly similar to The Raid: Redemption, an Indonesian action film from earlier this year. In that movie a SWAT team is sent to a tenement building also ruled over by a crime lord who makes drugs. They are locked in the building just like the Judges and are forced to go up and fight the residents until they find the baddie at the top and take him out. Dredd 3D hits a lot of the same beats as The Raid, including the drug lord’s speech to the residents, having the heroes hide out in someone’s apartment, and a fight scene toward the end that’s staged in the drug lab. I can’t say that there was any stealing of ideas on either side but it is a bit odd. Despite this both movies are executed brilliantly and can be enjoyed separately. If you haven’t seen The Raid yet I highly recommend you do, like ASAP.

But let’s stick to the topic at hand, Dredd 3D, which is awesome and would not be as good as it is without three great performances from the leads.

Despite having half his face covered for the entire film (something the last movie got wrong because in the comics Dredd never takes off his helmet), Urban is brilliant. From the moment he comes on screen it’s clear that he belongs in this role. He’s intimidating, intense, and darkly funny. He’s like a grim boyscout, working from the book and getting the job done, no matter the situation.

Thirlby gives a wonderfully understated and subtle performance as the rookie Anderson. She provides a strong female lead that kicks a lot of ass while also giving us a way into the world of the film. She starts out nervous and mousy, relying on rhetoric to answer Dredd’s quiz-like questions and to assess situations. As the story progresses she convincingly matures, making you believe it when Dredd finally tells her, “You look ready.”

Game of Thrones’ Len Headey is also great as Ma-Ma. She plays her with a careless disdain and a sense of utter authority making it believable for her to be ruling over an entire mega tenement building.

The visual effects are also very well done. The film sports a seamless integration of real world city (much of the outdoor elements of the film were shot in South Africa) and CGI buildings. The sequences that show characters taking slow-mo, the drug Ma-Ma’s gang manufactures, are also stunning. They’re used a couple of times to slow down action scenes in an awesome way, making the violence almost beautiful, which is weird because it’s violence.

I heard a lot of good things about this film after it was shown all the way back in July at Comic Con. I’m happy to say that it is as good as everyone is saying it is. Karl Urban and company definitely came to play on this one. Here’s hoping it makes enough money to get some sequels. 4 out of 5 stars.

Dredd 3D is playing in both regular and 3D showings at Palladio 16 Cinemas in Folsom and most other local theaters.

The Expendables 2

2012-08-20T00:40:44Z

As the summer blockbuster season draws to a close, the Ocean’s 11 of action movies is back with new stars, better action, and a lot of hilarious awkwardness.

Nearly everyone is back for this second installment of the greatest gathering of muscular grandpas of all time (I know they’re not all grandpas but some of them have to be). Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, Jet Li, Terry Crews and Randy Couture all return as the titular mercenaries. They also have a new member, Bill the Kid (Liam Hemsworth), who functions largely as a plot device. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis also return for more screen time and a chance to join the ass-kicking.

The legend known as Jean-Claude Van Damme comes on as the villain who is aptly named Vilain. No that is not a typo, that’s really how it’s spelled. He is also a really bad guy. I’m not kidding guys; he’s so bad that he is a Satan worshipper. We are told this when he shows off his Satan goat tattoo, which his henchmen also sport.

Chuck Norris also shows up briefly as a “lone wolf” to save the day. His appearances throughout the film are unintentionally funny, mostly because of Chuck Norris’s severe lack of any acting skills. They also play the theme from The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly whenever he shows up which makes no sense since he’s never had anything to do with any Sergio Leone movies.

As the movie begins, finds our heroes still in debt to Willis’s CIA operative Mr. Church, who needs them to recover something from a downed plane in Eastern Europe. He also forces one of his agents, Maggie (Nan Yu) to accompany them on the mission. They find what they’re looking for but are ambushed by Vilain and his henchmen. Things go bad and one of their number is killed. They also find out that the item they recovered has information on the location of five tons of weapons grade plutonium which Vilain plans to dig up and sell on the black market. Don’t these bad guys know that nuclear war means they won’t ever be able to enjoy that beach front property they will probably buy?

After burying their fallen comrade, The Expendables go after Vilain to stop him from selling the plutonium and to get revenge. Much badassery ensues as well as some super goofy humor.

The humor I speak of involves any scene showing the Expendables interacting and palling around. Though it feels forced and weird most of the time it’s very entertaining to watch and it’s one of the joys of the film. These guys are all legends and even if they’re not the best actors, they’re still some of my favorite people to watch in a movie.

As I just said, this film is not about the story or the acting, it’s about kicking a lot of ass and doing it with style, and director Simon West is up to the task. He’s been hit and miss in his directing efforts (Con Air, Tomb Raider, and The Mechanic) but he’s a serviceable action director and it does show here.

The action scenes are well wrought, using less quick cutting and shaky cam than in the original. Everything is shot so that it’s clear what’s happening and to whom it’s happening to. There’s a nice Jet Li fight scene, almost like a shout out to all of his kung fu movies, before he inexplicably disappears for the rest of the film (and doesn’t come back). The gunplay throughout is nice as well. There’s nothing quite like seeing Arnold Schwarzenegger blast fools away with a huge gun while driving through an airport in a Smart Car driven by Bruce Willis. It’s also a lot of fun to see them talking smack to each other.

The vehicle elements are spectacular too. The Expendables’ seaplane has been upgraded with a particularly badass peripheral. Overall the film shines whenever people are being shot or things are blowing up.

When you go to buy your ticket to see The Expendables 2, you’ll know what you’re going to get. There aren’t really any surprises and the movie doesn’t do anything new but it definitely delivers on the promise of seeing all of your favorite action heroes duke it out on screen in a badass manner. 3.5 out of 5 stars.

The Campaign

2012-08-12T00:41:22Z

Forget the summer; it’s been a slow year for comedies. Besides 21 Jump Street and Ted there hasn’t been much of anything to talk about. That is unless you were going to talk about how awful That’s My Boy was. So it stands to reason that it shouldn’t be hard for Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis to deliver something funny if not hilarious, right?

The Campaign opens with a montage of career politician Cam Brady (Will Ferrell) campaigning throughout the state of North Carolina for congressman with his wife Rose (Katherine LaNasa), his children, and his campaign manager Mitch (Jason Sudeikis). He runs unopposed and seems to have the perfect thing going. That all changes however when bumbling and unassuming Marty Huggins (Zach Galifianakis) is recruited by big businessmen Glenn and Wade Motch (John Lithgow and Dan Aykroyd respectively) to run as their puppet. They want to use him to open up a Chinese sweat shop in NC. Huggins is unaware of his beneficiaries’ “evil” plans however. As such he jumps into his newfound political persona, engineered by suave and ruthless campaign manager Tim Wattley (Dylan McDermott), to impress his father Raymond (Brian Cox).

The surprised Brady and the seemingly inept Huggins go on to battle it out with increasingly ridiculous shenanigans as the two vie for the title of congressman.

Cam Brady is not one of Ferrell’s best or most original characters. Rather he feels like a piecemeal amalgam of past Ferrell characters; like a blend of Ricky Bobby, his George Bush impersonation, and Jackie Moon. The character does deliver a lot of solid laughs however.

Fans of Galifianakis will notice that he’s used his Seth Galifianakis character, a fake twin brother of Zach’s, as the jumping off point for Marty Huggins. It’s not quite as weird or funny as it was on his DVD special, Zach Galifianakis – Live at the Purple Onion, but no doubt it’s because he had to make the character fit into the movie’s storyline. He still gets a lot of solid laughs, but it would have been nice to see the character used in another movie where his odd mannerisms could really shine.

McDermott is a surprising scene stealer. His character (oddly named, as Bryan Cranston played a dentist with the same name on Seinfeld for several episodes) does things like appear out of nowhere like Batman and he delivers some of the funniest scenes in the movie. Jason Sudeikis also appears as Brady’s campaign manager but basically plays the straight man to Ferrell’s latest manchild. It’s a fairly thankless role that does not get any laughs. I have to wonder why he’d sign onto a project like this if that’s all his character was.

As comedies go The Campaign has a simple script but it keeps the movie together unlike the mishmash that was The Other Guys, Ferrell’s last big summer outing. Writers Shawn Harwell and Chris Henchy seem to do a wonderful job sending up the political world, though I have to admit I don’t spend a lot of time following politics.

The Campaign is not one of Will Ferrell or Zach Galifianakis’s best movies, nor is it entirely original. But it certainly delivers enough laughs to warrant a viewing in the theater, especially if you’re a fan of either star. If you’re not you may want to steer clear. 3 out of 5 stars.

The Campaign is playing at most local theaters, including the Century Downtown Plaza 7.

Total Recall (2012)

2012-08-07T00:25:58Z

I’ve only seen the original Total Recall once, and while I found it entertaining I was never smitten with it the way some people are. Maybe it’s the weirdness of the story, maybe it’s the weirdness of Paul Verhoeven’s direction. In any case, I was largely indifferent to the idea of a remake of the movie, especially if the director was going to be Len Wiseman, of Underworld fame. But when I saw the first trailer my interest was piqued, even if it was only because of the futuristic visuals. I’m disappointed to say that the visuals and the frenetic action scenes are the only reason this movie is watchable.

In this second take on Philip K. Dick’s short story “We Can Remember It for You Wholesale,” we find our hero, Doug Quaid (Colin Farrell) a factory worker who lives in one of two remaining “safe” zones on the planet. The rest of the world is uninhabitable after nuclear wars ravaged the surface. Quaid lives in a renamed Australia and commutes to his job in the leftovers of Europe via a gigantic elevator that goes through the planet core; one of the more ridiculous sci-fi aspects of the film, but an interesting one nonetheless.

Quaid is unhappy with his boring factory worker life and begins to consider visiting Rekall, a place that manufactures and implants fake memories. His friend Harry (Bokeem Woodbine) and his wife Lori (the insanely gorgeous Kate Beckinsale) warn him to stay away but a coworker (Will Yun Lee) convinces him it’s a good idea and recommends him to a friend who works there, McClane (John Cho).

One or two short scenes later and Quaid is strapping in to the chair, getting ready for the ride of his life. Something goes wrong and suddenly he’s being hunted by military forces commanded by a politician named Cohaagen (Bryan Cranston). His wife turns out to be an agent of Cohaagen’s, assigned to watch Quaid under the guise of loving wife. After evading her he runs into Melina (Jessica Biel), an agent working for a rebellion leader, Matthias (Bill Nighy). From here chase scene after chase scene lead us toward an uninteresting ending that completely ignores the idea that this all may not be happening anyways.

And this is my biggest problem with the film. There is not enough questioning what is real and what is not. There are a few scenes where Quaid struggles with deciding whether his predicament is all memory or real life but ultimately the question is never a compelling part of the film. It feels like the character never figures anything out for himself and instead just goes with the violent flow, allowing other people to tell him what to believe and do. It’s frustrating given the interesting setup.

The performances are largely forgettable, though Wiseman’s direction and a weak script from Kurt Wimmer and Mark Bomback don’t give anyone anything worthwhile to work with. As I said, Quaid never seems to do anything for himself, making his character a void. And though it may be okay that he doesn’t know who he is, the script doesn’t seem to know either, making Ferrell’s performance empty. He gives us a lot of stressed or worried looks and absolutely no personality.

Beckinsale is one-note, an angry operative trying to clean up a mess she couldn’t contain. At least she’s nice to look at though right? Biel has even less personality than Ferrell, if that’s possible and Woodbine is downright awful. I haven’t seen a more awkward scene than when he’s pretending to be drunk outside of a bar. He would win a Razzie if his performance and this movie weren’t going to be so forgettable. The biggest crime however is relegating Cranston to a simple old school Bond villain type role. At one point he says something a lot like this: “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to take over the world (Mr. Bond).”

The sheer laziness behind the camera is appalling. What can you expect though when a film like this is green-lit? It’s clearly a case of the studio hoping the name Total Recall can put asses into seats. I may have bashed the film so far but it’s not entirely unwatchable.

The sci-fi elements of the film are handled with verve. There are elements of films like The Fifth Element, Blade Runner, and Minority Report, as well as videogames like Mass Effect. The cities, whether in Australia or Europe, look amazing. The architectural design, the details, the people, all look awesome. The gadgets and vehicles are inspired as well. From magnetically propelled hover cars to infantry grenades that blossom mini cameras, there is a lot of sweet tech to get any nerd all hot and bothered. Even the robots are slick. Much cooler than anything featured in 2004’s I, Robot.

The action scenes also have a solid energy, no doubt because of Len Wiseman’s visual talents. He may not be able to tell a story but he is a competent action scene director. Some of the action suffers from a bit of shaky-cam but overall it’s not a huge problem.

The issue isn’t always whether a remake is necessary or not, but whether it’s done well. Films like Ocean’s 11 and John Carpenter’s The Thing prove that a remake can be a worthy endeavor if brought to life by talented and creative individuals who want to tell a good story. A film like Total Recall on the other hand is a clear indication that Sony and Columbia Pictures were looking at this from a purely financial viewpoint, never once considering to deliver a new or interesting take on the material. Despite a lifeless cast and simple, uninspired plot, the sci-fi elements and action scenes shine through just enough to recommend a possible matinee viewing. 2 out of 5 stars.

Total Recall is playing at Palladio 16 Cinemas in Folsom and other local theaters.

The Dark Knight Rises

2012-07-21T23:11:15Z

Well folks, the most highly anticipated summer blockbuster of the year is finally here. The Dark Knight Rises, the final chapter of Christopher Nolan’s epic and reality-based take on arguably the greatest superhero of all time is finally out in theaters. Though it will be tough knowing that there will not be a new Batman film for a while, we should be happy that what we have is so good. I mean these Batman movies are probably more than we ever could have asked for. Especially after *shudder* the utter mess that Joel Schumacher made of the franchise in the 90's... But let's forget about that for now, on with the review!

The Dark Knight Rises begins eight years after Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) let Batman take the blame for Harvey Dent’s death. As a result the city passed the Harvey Dent Act which has locked up all of the mobsters without parole. Gotham seems to finally be clean leaving Commissioner Jim Gordon (Gary Oldman) as more a figurehead than anything else. In the absence of any crime and in the shadow of Rachel Dawes’s (Maggie Gyllenhaal) death, Wayne has also diminished, locking himself in his manor and becoming a limping recluse nursing his injuries. Alfred Pennyworth (Michael Caine) is forced to look on with grief, hoping that Wayne will emerge and move on.

Bale is once again stellar in the role of Bruce Wayne/Batman. He’s still charismatic, flawed, human, and badass all at the same time. He also convincing as the obsessive Bruce Wayne, the one who will stop at nothing to save his city even if it means his own health. Michael Caine’s performance is also wonderful as he puts on another acting master class.

Meanwhile the enigmatic Bane (Tom Hardy), the most physically imposing of all of Batman’s rogues gallery, is busy organizing a massive terrorist attack on the entire city of Gotham. He aims to complete the plans of the deceased Ra’s Al Ghul (Liam Neeson) by creating organized chaos while also unleashing a fusion bomb that will eventually wipe the city from the face of the Earth.

Hardy’s performance as Bane is fantastic. Though he wears that crazy mask for the entire movie, he is almost as threatening as Heath Ledger’s Joker and every bit as physically intimidating as he is in the comics. A lot of it has to do with Hardy’s imposing figure and the self-assured way that he carries himself. Hardy’s voice is also fantastic, they fixed the clarity issues and he comes across like some sort of ringmaster or showman; like he’s orchestrating some kind of insane murder circus.

There is also no issue of trying to live up to the Joker. Bane is simply another formidable villain Batman must defeat. They both have their own strengths. Where the Joker is an agent of anarchy and chaos that manipulates people, Bane is an unbreakable force of physicality that relies on brute strength and quickness to fight Batman. Both villains attack him emotionally however and are very much equally menacing in that regard.

Also in the mix is the very capable Selina Kyle (Anne Hathaway), a master thief who is in trouble with some powerful people tied to Bane. In order to get out of it they force her to steal something from Bruce Wayne.

This is the best iteration of Catwoman to hit the silver screen yet. She’s strong, sexy, and smart, the kind of heroine that you might find in a Joss Whedon project. She doesn’t take crap from the men who try to walk all over her and that’s awesome. Hathaway also does a brilliant job of vamping just enough to evoke the spirit of the character without ever becoming campy or ridiculous.

Bale and Hathaway’s chemistry is also great. The two of them have a lot of fun interactions both in costume and out that recall the best of their characters interactions in the comics. Unfortunately the rest of the film gets in the way of letting their relationship establish a lot of depth. There’s just too much going on at the end of the day.

Other new characters include Miranda Tate (Marion Cotillard) a businesswoman who is trying to help Wayne and Luscious Fox (Morgan Freeman) bring Wayne Enterprises out of a troubled financial situation, and John Blake (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) a young rookie cop who is quickly promoted to detective by Commissioner Gordon. JGL gets more screen time than Cotillard but both are fine in their roles.

Of course none of this would be possible without the sure hand of director Christopher Nolan or the script he and his brother Jonathan Nolan wrote. Like he did in The Dark Knight, Nolan establishes tension and dread expertly when Bane is threatening the city or beating the crap out of Batman. It’s not as scary as it was with the Joker, but there is still a sense of foreboding that permeates the movie, especially when Batman both literally and figuratively hits rock bottom. The dramatic scenes are also handled very well, as expected.

Nolan has also come a long way with his action scenes. No I’m not being blasphemous. If you watch Batman Begins it’s evident that he had a problem with showing or even staging action well when it came to any sort of hand to hand combat. In this film there are plenty of well shot fight scenes including a couple bone crunching bouts between Bane and the Caped Crusader. The vehicle scenes are also suitably epic, being taken to new heights literally with “The Bat,” Batman’s new aerial vehicle. It’s probably the coolest vehicle in any Batman movie ever.

The Dark Knight Rises is also a beautifully shot film. Whether it’s a dramatic moment or a huge action sequence, Nolan and cinematographer Wally Pfister deliver shot after shot of cinematic gold.

Bane’s introduction at the beginning of the film is a perfect example of the technical wizardry behind the camera. This aerial heist/abduction will certainly go down as one of the most remarkable action scenes of all time. The stunt work and camera placement is just amazing, especially considering the fact that IMAX cameras were used to film it. Because of the large film size, the cameras are very heavy and very obtrusive.

The only major issue I have with the film is some of the sluggish pacing and long stretches without seeing Wayne in the costume. It takes about 40 minutes before we finally see Batman. Later he is absent for another hour or so before finally suiting up for the finale. This section of the film drags noticeably. For someone like me who is a major Bat-fan it was not a huge deal, but the average moviegoer may be a little less forgiving. The good news is after that sluggish part the film ramps up and delivers on every level, including tying up the loose ends (minus the Joker who is never once mentioned).

The Dark Knight Rises is an excellent bookend to the series and yet another fantastic addition to the Batman franchise. Not only does it feature some wonderful performances from the cast, stellar direction from Nolan, and great cinematography, but it also pays off the events of the first film in a compelling and intriguing way. This is the droids we were looking for. 4 out of 5 stars.

The Dark Knight Rises is currently playing at the Esquire IMAX theater on K Street in Downtown Sacramento.

The Amazing Spider-Man

2012-07-04T17:17:27Z

Of comic book movies there are three this year that demand every nerd’s attention: The Avengers, The Amazing Spider-Man, and The Dark Knight Rises. We already know that The Avengers is the coolest thing since sliced bread, and not to jinx anything but The Dark Knight Rises is all but guaranteed to be a dazzler, but The Amazing Spider-Man has definitely been, at least to me, the biggest question mark. But now it’s out and luckily it’s a fantastic movie.

Though it covers a lot of the same ground as Sam Raimi’s 2002 original, The Amazing Spider-Man is a well constructed effort that would be lauded much more if we hadn’t already seen another Peter Parker get bitten by a radioactive spider ten years ago.

The origin story sticks close to the Spider-Man mythos. Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) is an orphan, living with his Aunt May (Sally Field) and Uncle Ben (Martin Sheen). He goes to high school, he’s brainy, he’s quiet and unassuming but also witty, he deals with bullies, and he likes a super cute girl who is seemingly unattainable. In this instance it’s Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone) instead of Mary Jane Watson.

How Peter gets bitten is handled a bit differently than in the Raimi-verse. He finds a mysterious file in his father’s old briefcase that leads him to Dr. Curt Connors (Rhys Ifans) and Oscorp. It’s here that he sneaks in and accidentally runs into the radioactive spiders. He gets bitten and you know the rest.

While at Oscorp he also meets the one-armed Connors who is working on developing regenerative technology from gene splicing with lizard DNA. The two hit it off and Peter soon shares the notes in his father’s file with him. The file provides Connors with the breakthrough he has been looking for but under pressure from Norman Osborn, who we don’t see in the film really, he eventually experiments on himself and becomes the Lizard.

Meanwhile Peter goes on to discover his new powers in a series of funny and entertaining scenes. But when he loses someone close to him (it’s pretty obvious who but I won’t say), he takes it on himself to find the man responsible. It’s during this hunt that he becomes Spider-Man, much like the Raimi version. It’s done well enough, as are all of the retreaded elements in the film. I just wish they had found a way to skip the origin process and get right into a truly original Spider-Man story.

Eventually Peter’s new alter ego must stop the Lizard, who like all good comic book villains, has a ridiculous plan to turn all of New York into lizard monster people. Ok they don’t all have that same plan, but it’s usually something awesomely ridiculous like that.

If there’s one thing better about this version of Spider-Man it’s the cast.

Andrew Garfield is brilliant. With the help of the script he not only captures the patented “Spider-Man snark” but all of the other bits of Peter’s personality. His nerdy charm, nervous ticks, awkward mannerisms, angst-ridden daddy issues all come together in a wonderfully subtle performance.

Emma Stone is also amazing, as always. She’s incredibly charming, handles the dramatic scenes beautifully, and perfectly balances her roles of drop dead gorgeous hottie and smart young woman. She and Garfield have excellent chemistry that feels real if not a little awkward. It certainly reminded me of high school.

As the film’s villain, Rhys Ifans is ok. If anything the script doesn’t give him a lot to do except pine for a replacement arm and become an evil monster. The Lizard is well rendered in CGI but to me it was the least convincing effect in the film. I think I may be biased because I always thought he was a lame villain.

Other cast members that stand out are Martin Sheen as Uncle Ben and Dennis Leary who plays Captain Stacy. Both characters provide some intense emotional moments that go a long way to shape Peter’s character, the former being the major one. Speaking of character, a lot of the great character development has to do with the director and the script.

When I first heard that the aptly named Marc Webb had been hired to direct Sony’s reboot of the wall crawler, I had no worries about his ability to handle the dramatic and humorous elements of the film. His work on 500 Days of Summer was very good after all. I was however worried that he would not be able to handle the action scenes. Thankfully Webb seems to be a virtuoso action director.

The well-choreographed action scenes are shot with graceful camera moves that let us actually see everything. There is almost no shaky-cam and I could not be happier about that. It’s also obvious someone went through a serious amount of panels and grabbed a bunch of their favorite Spidey moves to throw in. The variety of acrobatic moves and creative web shooting is not only cool but another great way to show Peter Parker's brilliance and ingenuity. The money spent on this film is visible on screen much the same way that it was in The Avengers.

The Amazing Spider-Man is a great movie. My only real gripe is that the filmmakers decided to retell Spidey’s origin story instead of tell an original story we haven’t seen on the big screen before. That being said, it’s executed fantastically and I can’t wait to see where they go from here. 4 out of 5 stars.

Ted

2012-07-01T02:38:46Z

Up till now the summer movie season has been utterly devoid of any good comedies. I mean I don’t actually know anyone who saw That’s My Boy and The Dictator seemed to fade as quickly as it appeared. But now we have Ted, the first live action film from writer and director Seth MacFarlane; and I must say fellow nerds, the man behind Family Guy and American Dad delivers!

Ted begins with an extended prologue, narrated by Starfleet’s own Sir Patrick Stewart, that explains the titular teddy bear’s magical origin. After little John Bennett (played as an adult by Mark Wahlberg) wishes for a friend on Christmas, his wish is granted in the form of a walking, talking teddy bear named Ted (voiced by Seth MacFarlane). The issue of how the world deals with a fantastical stuffed toy is also briefly addressed through obligatory news reports and an appearance on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.

Fast forward 25 years or so and though Ted is no longer a celebrity, John and Ted are still best friends, living together with John’s girlfriend of four years Lori (Mila Kunis). It’s here that we’re introduced to the main thrust of the story which is John having to basically choose between the love of his life and his magical BFF. In other words it’s a movie about a man having to choose between growing up and remaining a child. Nothing we haven’t seen before; but it is handled ably by first time feature-helmer MacFarlane.

There is another subplot as well involving a creepy dad (Giovanni Ribisi) and his son (Aedin Mincks) who try to steal Ted away for themselves. This results in some weird and funny hi-jinks as well as the dramatic climax of the film.

As I just said, Seth MacFarlane’s directorial debut is solid. He creates a charming and whimsical tone that is laced with his signature raunchy comedic sensibilities; a lot like a Family Guy episode. Not surprising really but it’s a good thing.

The movie does not skimp on the R-rated humor that you can tell MacFarlane always wished he could do on Family guy. There aren’t as many of the trademark flashbacks and cutaways but they are there. The plot is also very simple like a lot of Family Guy episodes but it works as a skeleton MacFarlane and company can graft their jokes and funny scenes onto.

Speaking of company, Family Guy vets Alec Sulkin and Wellesley Wild helped MacFarlane write the rude, crass, and hilarious script. It’s fairly evident that they’re having fun with the ability to go all the way to an R-rating after being restricted on TV for so long. Some people may not enjoy the raunchier jokes, but I’m guessing the above 40 set isn’t going to rush out and see this movie.

The CGI that brings Ted to life is brilliant as well. He’s expressive enough to almost make you forget that you’re just watching an animated teddy bear and not a real life character. But it’s MacFarlane’s performance and charm that give Ted his irreverent and loveable personality and make Ted become more than just a high-concept idea.

The other cast members are great as well. Wahlberg and Kunis definitely have chemistry which is important if we’re to believe she’s willing to deal with his and Ted’s shenanigans and not leave him the first time he messes up. They also have some nice dramatic scenes together where both of them can display some acting chops.

Rounding out the cast are Patrick Warburton, John’s coworker, Joel McHale, Lori’s ass of a boss, Matt Walsh, John’s boss, and Jessica Barth, Ted’s trashy girlfriend.. There are also several awesome cameos from people like Norah Jones and Tom Skerritt. The other two big ones I will not ruin because of their awesomeness.

It has certainly been a tough summer for comedy so far. Thankfully Ted is a consistently funny film that does not let its high concept idea get in the way of delivering a great comedy. I can’t wait to see what MacFarlane does next. 4 out of 5 stars.

Ted is playing in most local theaters including UA Arden Fair 6.

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter

2012-06-23T06:19:00Z

What does Abraham Lincoln have in common with Buffy Summers, Blade, and Van Helsing? Apparently vampire hunting. Yes, according to novelist turned screenwriter Seth Grahame-Smith (The Hard Times of RJ Berger) our nation’s 16th president slew the undead as a young man and even while he was leading this great nation as the president. Director Timur Bekmambetov (Wanted) and producer Tim Burton (Edward Scissor Hands, Dark Shadows) seem to agree. Surely a film would have to be a success with names as big as these involved right? Right??

After witnessing a vampire murder his mother, a young Abraham Lincoln (Benjamin Walker) makes it his mission to get revenge. But when he finally works up the courage to kill the man who took his mother from him he is horrified to find out that that man is in fact an undead blood sucker. With the help of the mysterious Henry Sturgess (Dominic Cooper) Lincoln survives the encounter and learns the ways of vampire hunting.

One uninspired montage later and Henry sends Lincoln out to begin dealing bloody justice. Along the way he marries the lovely Mary Todd (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), reunites with old friend Will Johnson (Anthony Mackie), and makes a new friend in Joshua Speed (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’s Jimmi Simpson). He also runs into the evil vampire Adam (Rufus Sewell) who is the leader of the vampires in the south. With the help of his newfound friends Abraham Lincoln endeavors to rid the United States of the vampire problem.

Speaking of vampire problems, one of the biggest problems with the film is the portrayal of the undead. Uninspired and cartoony, the vampires only reveal their “true selves” in quick flashes during action scenes. Not only are the vampires visually lacking but they’re also not really beholden to any solid vampire lore.

In this movie there’s never a clear answer to anything vampire. We are told they can’t hurt each other but twice in the film we see them fighting each other. Worse still, they walk around in direct sunlight with no mention of whether or not it can kill them. They wear sunglasses sometimes and they do seem to be wearing sunscreen, but who knows if they actually fear the sun or not. In any vampire fiction that’s a huge issue that has to be addressed.

Another large problem is the mess of a screenplay. The film jumps around without giving anything that happens enough time to breath. Lincoln and Mary Todd get married after being in one or two scenes together. Lincoln’s childhood friend Will Johnson shows up and suddenly their thick as thieves. No set up and no back story. They just happened to be friends, I guess.

The only relationship that feels somewhat fully formed and real is that between Lincoln and Henry. The two clash on how vampires should be fought, especially when Henry’s fairly obvious secret is revealed. It’s an interesting bit of the movie that should have been explored deeper.

The performances for the most part are largely forgettable. Walker certainly looks like Lincoln, especially later in the film when he becomes president and has his full on Lincoln beard, but his performance is hit and miss. I would blame the script and the direction though because he does show promise. Obviously I’ve only seen Lincoln in photos, but Walker manages to evoke the man on the $5 bill very well, even if it’s with the help of very good makeup.

Winstead looks cute but doesn’t do anything memorable. Cooper however is fun as Henry and has a nice scene in a flashback toward the middle of the film. He injects much needed personality to this mirthless film. The rest of the cast isn’t worth mentioning.

Is there any saving grace to this movie? Well, the action scenes are kinda neat. There’s definitely that signature Bekmambetov vibe to them. Frenetic camera moves and glorious slow-mo make a lot of the action scenes fun, but use of shaky cam and quick cutting hurts them also. It doesn’t help that obvious CGI is gratuitously used throughout; giving the movie an oddly hazy and artificial feel. The vampires themselves, as I mentioned before, are cartoony and not scary or interesting. I did however enjoy seeing Walker swing the axe around. It was like he invented his own special martial art for wielding the tree cutting tool. He also gets some sweet kills when the slow-mo kicks in.

Overall Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter is an intriguing idea, but a poorly executed one that no one will remember a couple years from now. See it in a matinee or wait for the Blu-ray. 2 out of 5 stars.

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter is currently playing at Century Downtown Plaza 7 and other local theaters in both 2D and 3D.

Prometheus

2012-06-08T21:55:14Z

Mild SPOILER WARNING. If you do not want to know anything going into this movie I recommend you do not read this review until AFTER you’ve seen the film. Alright, let’s start the review...

First of all, yes, Prometheus is indeed set in the same universe as the 1979 classic Alien. But it does not have anything to do with Ripley, Dallas and the other doomed space truckers of that film. This story is about a group of explorers looking for the Creator and the horrible things they find along the way.

The film opens with a very intriguing scene that I won’t spoil here. It then jumps to Scotland where a team of scientists are exploring an old cave. Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Rapace), our optimistic and plucky protagonist, and her “boo” Charlie Holloway (Logan Marshall-Green) lead them. In that cave they find drawings that depict humans standing next to big men who point to the stars. Must be aliens! The stars also give them coordinates that suggest the place of origin of these possible creators of humanity.

Jump several years into the future and we find ourselves sliding through space aboard the Prometheus. Here we are introduced to the android David (Michael Fassbender) the only crewmember not sleeping through the voyage. The introduction comes via an amusing quasi-montage that endears him to us almost immediately. Michael Fassbender’s virtuoso performance has a lot to do with this endearment. Everything he does seems to be minutely calculated to emphasize that this is an android and not a human being. The way he walks, the way he carries himself, the way he emotes or doesn’t. It’s eerie, fascinating, and just plain awesome.

When the Prometheus reaches its destination, Shaw, Holloway, and the rest of the crew wake up from their two year slumber. Several scenes reminiscent of Alien introduce us to the other crewmembers. Meredith Vickers (Charlize Theron) is a determined and superficially cold woman. She gives the impression that she is representing the money behind the mission. Captain Janek (Idris Elba) is a charismatic lady-killing man’s man. One scene later in the film shows him with an accordion, suggesting a sea captain of old; a scoundrel on par with Han Solo. Fifield (Sean Harris) is a geologist who is way out of his depth. His xenophobia is countered by his want for money. Guy Pearce also shows up in the film as Peter Weyland. There are other members of the crew who fill in the background as well.

The real fun of Prometheus begins when the crew starts exploring an unnatural structure on the planet surface and certain crewmembers begin doing shady things. This is nothing new in sci-fi storytelling, but it is compellingly wrought here. Damon Lindelof’s script and Ridley Scott’s direction ensure a tight sense of dread and tension whenever the crew is exploring or examining the alien structure. You might have seen people die in the trailer but you still don’t know when those scenes happen. Even something like the autopsy of an alien body part is exciting and edge of your seat. It also helps that the film is incredibly nice to look at.

The visual effects are nothing short of stunning. Whether it’s the colorful and detailed holograms, the alien creepy crawlies, or the starships and planetary vistas, Prometheus delivers beautiful first class effects work. The production design, art direction, practical effects, makeup, and costumes are also top notch.

And for those of you worried that this movie would somehow skimp on the horrific and disgusting gore factor don’t worry, there is plenty to go around. Your skin will crawl a lot.

Luckily the film never devolves into some kind of cheap horror movie counting on ingenious kills to keep your attention. Most of the characters are very likeable or interesting even if they don’t all get enough time to grow and develop. The charisma and strength of the performances from the cast, especially Rapace and Elba, are enough to make you root for them. In a crowded film like Prometheus this is very important.

Prometheus also keeps us enthralled with its overarching theme of finding out where we come from, who made us, and why. I won’t say if the filmmakers try to completely answer these questions here, but I personally enjoyed how they handled it.

Ultimately Prometheus’s success for you will hinge on your own expectations. If you want an answer to life, the universe, and everything in it, you may or may not get what you want. But if you’re a fan of provocative sci-fi or horror, you will find something wonderful here. Prometheus is certainly a welcome addition to the Alien universe. 4 out of 5 stars.

Prometheus is playing in IMAX 3D, 3D, and regular formats at most local theaters including Regal El Dorado Hills Stadium 14 & IMAX.

Men in Black III

2012-05-25T21:05:38Z

It’s been ten years since the last installment in the comic book inspired series but the Men in Black are back for Men in Black III. After all that time is it even something we want to see at this point? Only the box office results will really tell us what America thinks. But I can safely say it’s a welcome appetizer to what promises to be a huge meal of a summer.

In MIB3 we find Agents J and K (Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones respectively) in a bit of a rut. They’re both feeling a little old and a little tired of each other. They’re forced to put their friendship issues on hold however when an especially nasty alien that K put away years ago (played by Flight of the Conchords’ Jemaine Clement) escapes from a maximum security prison on the moon. His name is Boris the Animal, but don’t call him that. He prefers Boris. And Boris is pissed that K not only locked him up 40 years ago but also took his arm. So he goes back in time to kill K and stop him from deploying a worldwide shield that will in the future destroy Boris’s entire race of conquering aliens. When K disappears from the present it’s up to J to go back in time and save both his partner and the Earth once again.

The best part of this movie is going in with low expectations. After reading about how production was stopped mid-shoot to fix the script I kind of wrote the movie off as a probable bomb. But unlike the Pirates of the Caribbean sequels, also written as they were being shot, MIB3 comes out relatively unscathed from this process. At 104 minutes it’s a pretty tight film with just enough humor and action and weird alien fun. In fact by the end you’ll be downright glad you spent your money on this movie. At least, I was.

Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones reprise their iconic roles and do just about what we expect. Smith delivers his usual onscreen persona, snarky and slightly arrogant in that Fresh Prince way we’ve come to know and love. Jones has less to do than in other films as he’s away for half the movie when J travels into the past. For those scenes Josh Brolin takes over as the 29 year old Agent K. He does a pretty good job at imitating Jones’s no nonsense and assured quick wittedness. At times Brolin’s performance feels slightly wooden but he eventually manages to bring some more life into the character of K, something that J is searching for at the beginning of the film.

The other cast members include Emma Thompson as Agent O, the new head of MIB. The insanely gorgeous Alice Eve plays young Agent O. Both don’t get a lot to do except pine for Agent K in both time periods. We also have Michael Stuhlbarg (from the Coen Brothers’ A Serious Man) as a helpful alien who can see and experience any possible future timeline. But the most fun performance is probably delivered by New Zealand’s own Jemaine Clement.

Clement shines as Boris the Animal. He’s menacing, funny, and just plain weird in a wonderfully memorable way. I’d also like to rave about the design of his creepy alien features. In both of his palms is a small claw-like mouth where a little creepy crawler pops out and shoots deadly bone spikes at people. What a weirdly awesome thing! He also has a bunch of interlaced zigzags all over him indicating more “mouths”. His voice is very cool as well. Not only does it have shades of his Kiwi accent, but it also goes up and down in pitch as he gets more angry and frightening; some pretty sweet sound design on that. Overall a really neat alien and the best Men in Black villain so far, though “Eggar” is still pretty awesome.

My favorite part of the film comes towards the end. It’s an emotional scene that I was surprised find in a movie that is so predominantly made of fluff. I won’t spoil it of course, but I will say that had Pixar tackled this scene I would have started bawling my eyes out.

Men in Black III is a surprisingly fun and engaging sequel to a franchise that no one seemed to be clamoring for. As I said before it’s a nice appetizer to a summer full of huge dishes, namely The Avengers, The Dark Knight Rises, and the quickly approaching Prometheus. Plus, the idea of smartly suited agents who protect us from the weirdness of the galaxy is always a fun concept that has endless possibilities. 3 out of 5 stars.

Men in Black III is playing in both 3D and regular formats at most local theaters including Regal Natomas Marketplace Stadium 16.

The Avengers

2012-05-06T23:30:50Z

In 2008 a little movie called Iron Man came out and dazzled us with fun characters, solid storytelling, and exciting set pieces. But the most exciting thing came at the end of the movie, after the credits rolled, when we were treated to a very short scene featuring Samuel L. Jackson and Robert Downey Jr. That scene basically announced one of the craziest and coolest ideas anyone has ever had, a real live superhero team-up movie: The Avengers! And now after five setup movies and just four short years this epic nerdgasm of a film is finally here.

The Avengers begins with Loki (Tom Hiddleston) coming to Earth and stealing the Tesseract (that little blue cube from Captain America) from S.H.I.E.L.D. This is a problem as it contains unlimited power. So Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) calls together Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans), Thor, (Chris Hemsworth), the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Black Widow (Scarlet Johansson), and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) to get the Tesseract back and stop Loki from taking over the world with it and his army of mysterious alien warriors. It’s certainly a bare bones plot but that doesn’t matter here, as the characters and their interactions are the real draw; more on that in a minute though.

First let’s talk about why the characters and their interactions are so good: Joss Whedon. Marvel made a fantastic decision when they decided to hire this guy to write and direct their biggest movie yet. Not only is he a consummate nerd but he’s also an incredibly talented filmmaker.

Nearly all of Whedon’s previous work has shown that he is very skilled when it comes to working with an ensemble cast. From Buffy to Angel to Firefly, Whedon knows how to give every character their due (with style to boot) while still telling a good story. Here it’s an invaluable skill as all of these heroes are such large personalities. And Whedon delivers. He really makes every character shine whether they’re kicking ass or just talking to each other. Whether it’s Thor or Cap or even Maria Hill (How I Met Your Mother’s Cobie Smulders) everyone gets to do something fun, exciting, surprising, or just straight up awesome.

Speaking of awesome how about the action scenes! A lot of people including myself have griped about the anti-climactic final battles in most of the Marvel films so far. Whether it was Thor’s truncated fight with the Destroyer Armor, or Tony Stark’s malfunctioning suit, there was never really a solid finish to any of those movies. Not the case with The Avengers as nearly the entire third act is a huge battle between Earth’s Mightiest heroes and Loki’s alien army. Just shot after shot of comic book badassery. There’s also little to no shaky cam or quick cutting. The camera is dynamic and engaging without distracting from what’s on screen (take note Jonathan Liebesman, this is how it’s done). It’s nice to have a director who knows how action should be shot and does it with a passion. You can tell that Whedon is as big a fan as anyone and that he can’t wait to see this movie either.

Now to the cast. Wow. They all have these characters down so well and they’re so awesome. Don’t really need to mention how awesome Downey is because we all know he owns the roll of Tony Stark. Evans continues to play Cap as a bigger boyscout than Superman and Hemsworth continues to make the Thor-speak work while filling out the costume and swinging the hammer in the coolest way possible.

Ruffalo is a wonderful addition as the tortured Bruce Banner. Certainly the most fun any actor has had with the role so far. I’m excited that he’s signed for 6 movies because his world weary but humored take on the character is refreshing after Edward Norton’s fairly bland portrayal.

Hiddleston as Loki is also great again. He’s never not compelling even when he’s wearing his goofy horned helmet. The man needs to be in more films stat.

As for our friends at S.H.I.E.L.D. Jackson is badass as Director Fury, Johansson is more than meets the eye as Black Widow, Renner is definitely underused as Hawkeye, Clark Gregg is at his scene-stealing comedic best as Agent Coulson, and newcomer Smulders is sexy and cool as Maria Hill. Pretty much everyone does a fantastic job both in front of and behind the camera.

The planning and the building of this franchise is, for lack of a better word, a marvel. It has been fascinating to see it unfold over the course of now six films and nearly five years. But the best part is that all the hype and all of the fanfare is completely justified.

The Avengers is a success in every way. It’s already a financial success (it’s made over $600 million worldwide as of this writing) but what’s more important is that it’s a creative success. Marvel did the right thing in letting Joss Whedon do his thing. This movie has real characters with real motivations and personalities while also delivering some of the best action oriented eye candy of recent memory. It’s scary to think about all of the things that could have gone wrong or stopped the film from ever happening. But there it is, as real as the blue sky outside. The Avengers gets a 5 out of 5.

Oh and don’t forget to sit all the way through the credits for this one, there are two extra scenes people. TWO!

The Avengers is playing in both 2D and 3D at most local cinemas including Century Downtown Plaza 7 and Century Stadium 14.

Wrath of the Titans

2012-03-30T22:42:51Z

I’m a sucker for Greek mythology so any time a film uses it my interest is instantly piqued. I play all the God of War games, I read the Iliad for fun, and I even went to see Percy Jackson and the Olympians in the theater just because it was about Greek gods and monsters. Never mind that I haven’t read any of the books. So even though 2010’s remake of the Clash of the Titans is widely regarded as a mess of a film (I mostly agree) I couldn’t help but find myself sitting in theater 14 at Regal El Dorado Hills last night waiting to see this sequel of a remake.

In Wrath of the Titans, Hades (Ralph Fiennes) is still trying to get back at Zeus (Liam Neeson) for forcing on him the thankless task of ruling the underworld. With the help of Zeus’s treacherous son Aries (Edgar Ramirez), the god of war, Hades traps Zeus and uses his powers to reawaken their father, the Titan Kronos (seen here as a massive lava monster and Kraken stand-in). Once again it’s up to everyone’s favorite demigod, Perseus (Sam Worthington), to leave his simple life as a fisherman and save the world from certain doom. Along for the ride this time are Agenor (Rocknrolla’s Toby Kebbell) and love-interest-because-we-always-need-one Princess Andromeda (this time being played by Rosamund Pike). Danny Huston and Bill Nighy also show up as the gods Poseidon and Hephaestus respectively.

Wrath of the Titans is a grittier, more serious affair when compared to its goofy and frivolous forebear. Nearly everyone has a continual layer of sweaty grime on their brows or a determined scowl on their face. It certainly adds to the slight increase in weight to the events taking place onscreen.

This film also feels more personal. Where the last movie was about saving Argos, an entire city, this film keeps the stakes personal. We know that Kronos will threaten the entire world when he is released, but the story focuses on Perseus’s village and his son. It’s still a melodramatic fetch quest but it’s at least a little more engaging.

The cast does what it can with the script. Actors like Neeson, Fiennes, and Huston, all in a film way below their talents, elevate the simple dialogue enough for you to go, yeah, those guys are powerful gods. But Fiennes has been more threatening (Harry Potter 4-8) and Neeson more badass (Taken).

It should be noted that Worthington is a solid action hero. I enjoy watching him because he’s great at making me believe he can get beat up as much as he does and still kick so much ass. He’s like a less charismatic Bruce Willis. Unfortunately he’s only memorable when he’s swinging a sword or leaping onto fire-breathing Chimeras. I think with the right script and direction he could really shine.

Speaking of Chimeras, Wrath does not disappoint on the action front. I had a huge problem with Jonathan Liebesman’s direction on Battle: LA; which was a colossal mess action wise. Quick cuts of seemingly cocaine-fueled camera handling led to incoherent battle scenes that in turn led to headaches and a waste of millions of dollars of production value. Liebesman has reigned in his shaky cam habits here, allowing both action scenes and even dramatic ones to breath. Some fights are still a bit incoherent, but overall we get a solid set of action set pieces that are beautifully complemented by suitably epic locales.

At times the visual effects are not quite up to snuff. Some of the monsters look pretty half-baked. But when Kronos finally emerges, he is pretty amazing to behold. He also gets more screen time than the Kraken which basically came up for some air only to be instantly defeated by Medusa’s stony gaze in the last film.

Wrath of the Titans is certainly an improvement over Clash of the Titans. How much of an improvement is debatable. The tone is more serious, the actors play their parts with a good amount of conviction, and the action scenes are appropriately epic. But is that enough? Should we be happy with just that? I don’t think we should. For every three Transformers movies, there’s an Inception, which proves that you can have your cake and eat it too. You just have to work a little harder.

If you’re prepared to shut off your mind for a couple hours and zone out to bombastic set pieces this film is for you. If you’re hoping for some mental stimulation you might want to try something else while you wait to throw this into your Blu-ray player or stream it on Netflix. 2 out of 5 stars.

Wrath of the Titans is playing in both 2D and 3D at most local cinemas including Century Downtown Plaza 7.

The Artist

2012-02-03T21:15:35Z

If you’re going to remove the sound from a film, you’d better do it right. Not being able to hear what people are saying is very odd and kind of disconcerting, especially for a modern audience. Luckily for The Artist, there is a way to make it work, and work fantastically at that.

The Artist opens during the late 1920’s, at the height of our star, silent film actor George Valentin’s (Jean Dujardin) career. He’s a loveable guy, instantly showing his charisma at a premier (evoking some shenanigans from Singin’ in the Rain) for one of his movies. After the premier he bumps into Peppy Miller (Bérénice Bejo) a beautiful young dancer who soon falls in love with him. Unfortunately for George, his world is quickly turned upside down by the advent of sound in the motion picture industry. As he struggles and begins to lose his near perfect life, Peppy’s film career takes off. George must then find a way to put his life back together. But don’t worry it’s not as depressing as that sounds...

Like I said it’s not easy to sit through a whole movie with no sound but the phenomenal soundtrack by Ludovic Bource more than makes up for it. It’s wonderfully upbeat, like the music you hear when you walk down Main Street in Disneyland. It’s also jazzy at times, and quite bombastic at times. If it wins best soundtrack at the Oscars I won’t be surprised.

And while the soundtrack is wonderful, the actors are what sell the movie at the end of the day. Jean Dujardin and Bérénice Bejo are incredibly charismatic as they smile, wink, and dance their way through the movie. I completely fell in love with Bérénice Bejo after watching this film. She has such a beautiful smile and wonderfully expressive eyes. She also evokes a sense of eternal joy and fun that permeates every scene she is in.

Dujardin looks like he’s the illegitimate love baby of Hank Azaria and Gene Kelly; and that’s a good thing. He, like his costar, has a great smile and is fantastic at delivering emotions through simple glances and looks. He’s also serious about his career as George, his hubris and his belief that “talkies” are not a serious form of art is communicated brilliantly by Dujardin.

Michel Hazanavicius’s direction is brilliant too. He uses a variety of intriguing shots throughout the film while also evoking the feel of an old silent movie. I especially liked a wide shot he used of an interesting set featuring staircases. Peppy leaves the scene going up the stairs to the next level (just as her career is beginning), while George walks down the stairs to a lower level (just as his career is beginning to die). How often do you see things like that in Pirates of the Caribbean or Transformers? Never.

It’s a rare thing to see a director who can tell a story so well using only the visual aspect of filmmaking when so many rely on expository dialogue too often. “We’re gonna to do this thing next because it will mean that that thing is happening because of this!” Show me! Don’t tell me.

Having seen The Artist I understand why it’s been nominated for so many awards. It’s a beautiful film that evokes the essence of the silent film era while also celebrating the magic of film as a whole. And despite being a silent film, the sheer charm of the leads and the fantastic soundtrack will win you over. 4 out of 5 stars.

Editor's note: "The Artist" is playing at various local cinemas, including Tower Theatre.