Showing posts with label Three-Parter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Three-Parter. Show all posts

Tuesday, 15 January 2013

The Movies Of 2012: The Right Way Of Doing Romance Vs. The Wrong Way

Well, here we are. My favourite five of the year, and the five least favourite.
For the least favourite, like last year, I'll do the order from #46-50.

#46. Straw Dogs (Rod Lurie)

So, what did this remake/second adaptation do differently to the original? Nothing worth noting, except adding moral ambiguity. Whether or not that works, I'll leave up to you. Not the worst remake/second adaptation in film history, but if you want to stick with the original and the original only, can't say I blame you. 3/5

#47. Melancholia (Lars Von Trier)

After Antichrist, I should have expected more pretension and dullness. Well, I am a fool for expecting something better. Yes, the soundtrack is lovely, and some shots exquisite, but boring characters and slooooooow pacing kill any interest faster than a planet about to collide with Earth. No big loss to that Earth, I say. 2.5/5

#48. Ghost Rider: Spirit Of Vengeance (Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor)

Would I have been as leiniant with this film if it was straight-to-DVD? Maybe, but it doesn't change the fact that it's rather disappointing. The first wasn't a classic, but this makes it seem so by comparison. No one seems to care about what they're doing, the action is weak, and some shots are pointless (the scene, which is repeated, of Ghost Rider “pissing flames” for example). Just reboot, guys. I don't see a third coming now. 2.5/5

#49. Wanderlust (David Wain)

I hate how even with low expectations, some films can't even meet that. All I expected from Wanderlust was a decent little film, with a chuckle here and there. What I got was a bunch of jerkasses and stock villains. Alan Alda may be the sole saving grace for this movie. If you're going to watch, watch for him. Everything else can be disposed of. 2/5

But which film, amongst all others, is the lowest of the low? None other than...

#50. The Five Year Engagement (Nicholas Stoller)

I will reiterate this: I was not coerced into seeing this movie, I didn't go with anyone who wanted to go, I saw this of my own volition. And much like the entry above, all I wanted was a nice film, that maybe challenged a few things we've seen a lot. Instead, I'm “rewarded” with idiotic characters who should know better, telegraphed jokes, an ending that doesn't seem just, considering everything we've seen, and everybody seems to be ganging up on Jason Segel's character, even when there are more reprehensible characters.
It's been a long time since I've said this, but I've found a new contender for the worst movie I've ever seen. I HATE this movie. Considering all the talent involved, this should have been better. This should have been smart. Even if it didn't redefine the genre, it could have given it a solid movie. It didn't even manage to be cookie-cutter! How does it fail on a level like this? For a modern movie, it sure as Hell doesn't seem like it. Avoid. Avoid like the goddamn plague. 0.5/5

Right, now that we've been swimming in sewage, let's close out with the gems of the year, the golden standards, counting down from #5-1

#5. The Amazing Spider-Man (Marc Webb)

Show of hands, who expected the reboot to actually be any good? Keep them raised if you expected it to not only match but even surpass the Raimi films. This film is another reason that reboots CAN work, if done properly. Much like Batman Begins, just because we know the story, doesn't mean the creative team can't find new ways to make us care. The characters are well-rounded, the chemistry between Garfield and Stone is completely adorable, and the action scenes are what I expect from something bearing the Spider-Man name. Bring on The Amazing Spider-Man 2! 4.5/5

#4. The Cabin In The Woods (Drew Goodard)

The shot in the arm horror films needed. Don't get me wrong, 2011's Scream 4 is a reinvigoration I whole-heartedly welcome, but this is on a level comparable to Drag Me To Hell (especially with the ending. Oh, the ending is glorious in these films). Joss Whedon's writing shines through, the characters are among the best written in the genre, and the laughs are most welcome, especially since you'll get little reprieve with this beauty. Treasure every minute of it. 4.5/5 

#3. The Dark Knight Rises (Christopher Nolan)

I admit, I expected this to take out the top spot, even with the competition of The Avengers. Well, upon second viewing, I admit some things could have been tightened up. Despite that, and forgetting about popular opinion, I could not ask for a more fitting end to a terrific trilogy. The emotional stakes are even higher, the new characters make for welcome additions (I will say that Bane is the best villain of any film this year) and the close-combat action keeps you on the edge of your seat. I'm sad to see this universe go, but I am forever grateful to everyone involved, for everything they've done. I have never been more proud to call myself a Batfan. 4.5/5

#2. The Avengers (Joss Whedon)

When Iron Man was defeated by The Dark Knight, it's almost like that inspired Marvel to just lick their wounds and strike back, bigger and better. Well, this year, the Caped Crusader bows to Earth's Mightiest Heroes. A team effort, held together by action scenes that would make Michael Bay salivate and Whedon's wonderful writing, that pays off. Much like The Dark Knight shattered and rebuilt the game back in 2008, so too has Avengers laid the hammer down (no pun intended) and demanded that the world catch up. I will say this now: as good as the Justice League movie could be when it comes out in 2015, I'm already calling it now: Avengers 2 is the winner. And this movie is proof as to why. DC/Warner, Marvel has pushed back and is saying “Your move”. 4.5/5

But which film, amongst all others, do I deem to be the best release of 2012? The answer may surprise you...

#1. Ruby Sparks (Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris)

The amount of reasons as to why I love this movie... well, that's what my review is for. But one reason I didn't include reaffirms why this is a work of art. It is the polar opposite to The Five Year Engagement. Whereas I expected something good, and got spat on, Ruby Sparks transcended all expectations, from being a merely good film to being a masterpiece.
The performances, the passion, the dialogue, all of it combines to make something that seems to capture the essence of fiction itself.
If this film were a person, and it was also performing a play, I would be rushing out to buy three bouquets of roses. It stirred something in my heart and it made me feel alive.
Granted, the same can be said for The Avengers and The Dark Knight Rises, but I expected them to be as great as they were. Ruby Sparks embraced me, whispered sweet nothings in my ear and disappeared into the night, leaving me bewitched, bothered and bewildered. Films like this don't come along very often. Cherish them when they do. 4.5/5

Well, there you have it. Another year, another 50 films. I will be doing this again for 2013, and the film season has almost started. I hope I've inspired you to seek out a few of these films, and discover what magic they hold.




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Monday, 14 January 2013

The Movies Of 2012: Hunger Games, Games Of Shadows, They're All Just Games In The End

OK, Part 2 of the fifty 2012 movies begins. Listed below are movies #25-56

#25. The Dictator (Larry Charles)

Or, “Sacha Baron Cohen Plays Wacky Foreign Guy Again”. Though that may come off as a potshot at the man, at least this is funnier than Bruno. Dropping the “mockumentary” angle of Bruno and Borat helps it from feeling like too much of a retread, even if the story progression is too fast for its own good. But hey, it lets Anna Faris play someone who's not an idiot, so that makes it look favourable. 3.5/5

#24. Hugo (Martin Scorsese)

Unlike 50/50, I can get why this is so highly thought of. It pays homage to the origins of cinema, and treats it with the respect it deserves. I can't, however, give the film such high regard, since Hugo himself is unlikeable at times. If the film had been about Isabelle instead, I might have given it a higher rating. But don't take that as a deterrent, as Ben Kingsley and Sacha Baron Cohen (there he is again!) are wonderfully cast. Worth your time, for sure. 3.5/5

#23. Dark Shadows (Tim Burton)

Coming from slightly overrated, to slightly underrated, I actually do think this film works on its own merits (I haven't seen the show, can't vouch for it) and the solid cast hold it up. What doesn't is the inconsistent tone and the all-too-neatly-wrapped up conclusion revelations. But the good does outweigh the bad, and when you have a soundtrack this kick-arse, that helps. 3.5/5

#22. J. Edgar (Clint Eastwood)

Another well done biopic, but not without problems. Much like I mentioned above with Dark Shadows, the tone is off at times, but in reverse. Instead of being lighthearted when it should be serious, it takes serious scenes and makes them laughable. Not sure what Clint was going for there... but all in all, an interesting account of Hoover's life, and Leonardo DiCaprio is superb. 3.5/5

#21. Frankenweenie (Tim Burton)

The better of the two Burton films, but suffering from one of the same problems (the ending should have undergone another draft at least), but this story seems to be closer to Burton's heart, which is why it looks like it was made with more care. Burton's really good with the stop-motion films, so I hope that when it comes time for the new Addams Family film he's involved with, that stays in stop-motion. 3.5/5

#20. The Hunger Games (Gary Ross)

As good as the book, for better or worse. Some of the supporting characters get shafted in terms of development, but the leads are great, especially Woody Harrelson as Haymitch. The visuals are much more impressive than I expected and the chemistry between Josh Hutcherson and Jennifer Lawrence is very convincing. I expect good things with Catching Fire, due later this year. 3.5/5

#19. The Perks Of Being A Wallflower (Stephen Chbosky)

If coming-of-age dramas were made in a style similar to this, I'd probably watch more of them. The characters are well cast, the music excellent, and with the author of the book at the helm of the film, the themes and feelings remain consistent from the source material. Granted, some of the subplots didn't make the cut (even though they get hinted at in the film) and I was disappointed by the severe lack of Paul Rudd screen time (a real shame considering a film entry on the next post...), but this is a film that is comparable, or even better, than the book itself. 3.5/5

#18. Justice League: Doom (Lauren Montgomery)

The best of the bunch from this year's DCUAO, though that's not saying much, as this year hasn't been a fantastic year for the line. Despite the watering down from the source material, the concept still works, the voice cast is excellent and the changes are (largely) still well thought out. A great effort, all things considered. 4/5

#17. Shame (Steve McQueen)

A depiction of sex addiction, confronting and passionate. Michael Fassbender proves why he'll have a long and prosperous career, as does Carey Mulligan. Not the easiest picture to sit through, nor should it be. But it still needs to be seen. 4/5

#16. Young Adult (Jason Reitman)

If you can see only one Charlize Thereon movie on this whole list, make it this one (yes she's in Prometheus, but that's not a leading role for her). She and Patton Oswalt have a great rapport, and the dialogue is sharp and witty. It's also a huge deconstruction on the “person tries to clean up their life and win over person from their past” schtick. Great work. 4/5

#15. Prometheus (Ridley Scott)

Debate rages on as to whether or not this is actually part of the Alien franchise, and about its quality based on said connection. I think any way you slice it, you have a solid science-fiction film. Yeah some of the supporting characters are dicks (and it was a boneheaded move to age up Guy Pearce when you could have hired someone like Max Von Sydow or Christopher Plummer), but it goes for the horror feel of the first Alien film, while trying to sow the seeds of that universe's genesis. Also, perhaps Noomi Rapace's finest role to date. I just hope other directors see her talent and utilise it. 4/5

#14. Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows (Guy Ritchie)

Hey look, another Noomi Rapace movie! OK, she's not the strongest aspect of it, but she does well here. Of course we can't expect her to be what carries the film, that's what Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law are here for, with their wonderful comedic timing, separate from each other and together. Throw in a wonderful Moriarty, Stephen Fry as Mycroft, and heart-pounding action, and you have a superior sequel to an already great movie. 4/5

#13. The Cinema Snob Movie (Ryan Mitchelle)

This guy needs a bigger fanbase, then more people would see this dynamite Kevin Smith-styled film. Snappy dialogue, characters who feel real, and a murder mystery! What more do you need? Go the Cinema Snob website and buy it now! 4/5

#12. The Muppets (James Bobin)

Despite not being a huge Muppets fan growing up, I appreciate the old school feel this film radiates. Much like an entry that I'll be getting to, the film works by keeping the same charm of the old and transplanting it into the modern era, acknowledging the change in times. Also, the songs are delightful! And I'm not just saying that because I have Me Party stuck in my head... 4/5

#11. Looper (Rian Johnston)

I really hope Rian gets a higher profile from this, this is his third solid outing as director. A time travel-action-thriller, with a superb cast (except for the kid. Ugh.) Joseph Gordon-Levitt just goes from strength to strength doesn't he? 4/5

#10. The Three Stooges (Peter and Bobby Farrelly)

Much like The Muppets, by keeping the fundamentals of the Stooges on display, while making the setting modern, the film makers have proven the Stooges can still be relevant, and downright hilarious. Hayes, Sasso and Diamantopoulos capture the essences of the Stooges exceptionally well, and this is without a doubt, my favourite comedy of the year (not counting the next few entries, since some are comedy/drama mixes. This is the best straight-out comedy of them all). 4/5

#9. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (David Fincher)

Loved the book, loved the Swedish version of the film, loved this one. Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara are one of the best pairings of leads in a film this year, the settings and atmosphere are grimmer than I ever thought they could be, and the music is great (especially Karen O's cover of Immigrant Song by Led Zeppelin. One of THE best covers I have ever heard, for any song ever). 4/5

#8. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (John Madden)

Some of the best of the British come together to make a delightfully entertaining movie, and making the most of its exotic scenery. Yeah, there are some cliches here and there, but the film is warm and inviting, and that's what matters. 4/5

#7. Skyfall (Sam Mendes)

From start to finish, a Bond film surely to join the upper levels of Bonddom. A charismatic villain, greater screen time devoted to the supporting cast, a BRILLIANT theme song (I cannot stress this enough, Skyfall by Adele is simply divine) and arse-kicking action. Bond will be back, and I will be there. 4/5

#6. Super (James Gunn)

Like Kick-Ass, if Kick-Ass was just a touch more realistic. Genuine shocks, a truly contemptible villain, and Ellen Page being awesome (as if she could be anything else). I expected something lighthearted, but this went totally in the opposite direction, and I love it more than I expected to. 4.5/5

Well, in the next post, we look at the bottom five and the top five. Though I imagine there will be few surprises, at least where the top five is concerned...
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Sunday, 13 January 2013

The Movies Of 2012: Tinker, Jailors, Hunstman Guy

Much like the films of 2011, now's the time I rank the fifty films from 2012 that I have seen, over the course of three posts.

Just a reminder of the ground rules (and for new readers, this will be the first time you see these rules) that I have obeyed for the year's film crop:

  • Since I've done reviews for each 2012 film listed, I'll provide the links to those if you want a greater analysis or general plot details, otherwise these posts would be bigger mountains of text than they are.
  • Some of these films may have seen release in 2011 overseas, but since I'm Australian, I'm going on Australian release date and availability for myself.
  • Not everything is going to be a huge, blockbuster release, so remember that this isn't what I think are the best films of the year, these are ALL the films released this year that I have seen and reviewed and all of them will be ranked. Granted, I did want to see stuff like Killing Them Softly, Wreck-It-Ralph and Argo (that's my biggest movie regret in 2012, not watching that one), but I can rectify that with DVD.
  • Much like the 2011 rankings, the top five and bottom five will be in the last post, and the first two posts will count downwards. This post will cover #45-26.

With that out of the way, let's get started!

#45. 50/50 (Jonathan Levine)

The performances are right, but something's lacking in this comedy about cancer. Not a bad film, but missing something to properly propel it. Critically acclaimed, for reasons I don't get. 3/5
http://imsureiwasmakingsomekindofpoint.blogspot.com.au/2012/12/cancer-cults-and-carl-jung.html

#44. Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark (Troy Nixey)

Oh, I'm not afraid of the dark. I'm actually laughing at it, because the creatures of the night are pathetic. The acting's OK, but I'm not sure this was clamoring for a remake. I hope this doesn't deter re-release of the original, though, I'd like to see that. 3/5

#43. Total Recall (Len Wiseman)

Speaking of remakes we weren't screaming for, I have a question for this movie: why so serious? A movie that has confused itself with Blade Runner, except forgetting that both that movie and the original Total Recall had ambiguity at play. Yeah, the action and music are decent, and Bryan Cranston is dynamite, but there isn't much more on offer. 3/5

#42. Hostel Part 3 (Scott Spiegel)

Still not sure why “Part” is a necessary word, this isn't the Godfather trilogy we're dealing with. Just another standard straight-to-DVD horror movie with tenuous connection to its predecessors. Gore-wise, yes, it's good, but if you don't see this, it's not the end of the world. 3/5

#41. The Woman In The Fifth (Pawel Pawlikowski)

The book is almost always better than the film, and this certainly proves that right. This adaptation feels watered down, and the ending is just as big a cop out as the book's. If you have to choose between one or the other, go with the book. 3/5

#40. Martha Marcy May Marlene (Sean Durkin)

Elizabeth Olsen is great in this film, but the dialogue doesn't leave us with anyone truly likeable. A lot more could have been done with this premise. A shame, really. 3/5

#39. Red State (Kevin Smith)

Smith's trying to move out of his comfort zone here, and this is proof of why staying in the comfort zone isn't always a bad thing. The action works, and John Goodman nails his role, but if you're trying to make me sympathetic to the one dimensional characters, I'm confused as to what you're trying to say. Oh well, they can't be juggernauts, eh? 3/5

#38. The Descendants (Alexander Payne)

On the one hand, the scenery is lovely and Clooney's very good. On the other, some of the supporting characters are dreadful, and the ending infuriates me. All in all, though, a nice film. 3/5

#37. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (Tomas Alfredson)

Great choice in cast, and the atmosphere is fitting, but it's not always that engaging. Maybe if I had read the book before hand. But hey, it's Gary Oldman in a lead role, so that's almost always a win for any movie. 3/5

#36. Snow White And The Huntsman (Rupert Sanders)

In which the Huntsman is the more interesting character (and better acted). Kristen Stewart is meh, Charlize Thereon is all over the place, and the final confrontation stretches credibility. But still, an enjoyable fantasy tale, though where will they go from here now that the sequel has been confirmed? 3/5

#35. Ted (Seth Macfarlane)

If you like Family Guy, here's more of the same! If you don't, turn away now. I can tolerate Family Guy these days but Ted should have risen above it, even just slightly. But it suffers from some of Family Guy's problems, like trying to have a heartwarming ending after tons of dick and fart jokes. Not buying it, guys. Still, acting's great, Patrick Stewart's narration is hilarious and I dig the premise. A good first try for Seth's film directing career, but let's hope he builds upon it from here. 3/5

#34. Rock Of Ages (Adam Shankman)

The perfect movie example for a balanced set of pros and cons. Pros: very good supporting cast and good music selection. Cons: poor choice in leads and bait-and-switch villains. For me, the good ultimately wins out, but only just. Doesn't deter me from wanting to see the stage musical, though. 3/5

#33. One For The Money (Julie Anne Robinson)

I was hoping this would have found a larger audience, I love the books (the ones I've read so far at least) and I want this to be a franchise. And I did have fun, but not as much as I should have been. Something's lacking, but I can't put my finger on it. Still, I didn't hate Katherine Heigl's performance, and I really don't like a lot of the stuff she's in. Maybe we can try again in TV series form? Please? 3/5

#32. A Dangerous Method (David Cronenberg)

I have to wonder if this was a stage production turned film, because it certainly seems like it. The three leads are well utilized and turn in marvelous performances. Good thing too, because the film would have fallen apart with nothing else to rely on. Still very much recommended. 3.5/5

#31. Batman: The Dark Knight Returns- Part 1 (Jay Oliva)

It should have been a slam dunk. Take a classic Batman story, split it into two films to properly cover it, and let the magic happen. But the creative team made the critical errors of removing the internal monologues and brightening the look of Gotham, a serious detriment to this and, potentially, Part 2. That's not to say it's all bad, but this is probably my least favourite from the DCUAO line. Please, please let Part 2 be better. 3.5/5

#30. The Great Mint Swindle (Geoff Bennett)

The only made-for-TV film on the list, and the only Australian one, but a decent effort. Shane Bourne goes against type, and the rest of the cast is very good, too. I doubt too many of you will see this, but it's not bad. 3.5/5


#29. Chronicle (Josh Trank)

The plot's an interesting take on the superpowered person angle. Shame the villain and his motivations are so textbook. One of the better found footage films I've seen, filled with surprises. I hear a sequel is in the works, curious as to how that will turn out. 3.5/5

#28. Superman Vs. The Elite (Michael Chang)

I think a 4 rating was a little too generous, now that I think about it. Sure, it's a very good film, but not quite up to snuff with previous Superman animated features (namely, All-Star Superman). Voice cast is nice, the story is great, but it just feels a little too streamlined. Still, none of the DCUAO films have sucked, but this year's batch hasn't been as good as the previous years. 3.5/5

#27. The Woman In Black (James Watkins)

If this is Hammer's way of saying “We're back”, consider that a good return. Supporting cast doesn't do much supporting, but the atmosphere works and the attempts at jump scares properly utilize the concept. Nice work, Daniel. Good to see you do well in post-Potter productions. 3.5/5

#26. My Week With Marilyn (Simon Curtis)

Very pleasant biopic, and Michelle Williams delivers a stellar performance as Marilyn. Hope her profile gets an increase after this, she is the best aspect of the film. 3.5/5

Alright, that's Part 1 done. Part 2, it'll be movies #25-6.
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Saturday, 28 July 2012

We're On The Eve Of Destruction


Well, here we are. The last of the Nolan Batman films has arrived. I know a lot of you are still to see it, so this will be as spoiler-free as possible. I will not talk about the ending, or the twists. The closest I will come to a spoiler is going over the story references I caught (not all of them, mind you). With that, let us begin.

Eight years after the events of The Dark Knight, Gotham is prospering, thanks to organized crime being virtually eradicated. Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) has retired from being Batman, and has remained at Wayne Manor all this time. But when the mercenary, Bane (Tom Hardy) shakes things up in Gotham, the Batman makes his presence known once again.

Yeah, that's pretty much the abridged version, but I think by now if you don't know what the basics for the movie are, it's because you don't care.

It's fair to say I've been waiting for this movie for a long time. Like, since 2008. Literally, since the day after The Dark Knight. So, hype was already high long before I saw the movie.

And you know what? It exceeded my expectations and then some. Not that I knew what to expect, but it was still a sight to behold and more.

Even though there's less for Gary Oldman and Morgan Freeman to do, they still bring their A-game to the table, with Oldman getting one of my absolute fave scenes in which he said Batman was his best friend. It warmed my cynical heart to hear such a thing.

Christian Bale spent more time out of the Batsuit, and that gave a greater focus on Bruce Wayne as a composite of the boy Alfred raised and the Batman persona. Bale has always delivered a solid performance and he's certainly not phoning it in here.

As for the new players: Anne Hathaway as Catwoman, a well casted role. Oozing confidence, charisma and likability, she plays off well against Bale when the two are just getting to know each other as Selina and Bruce, and she's a fierce fighter in her Catwoman gear (also, the blonde girl played by Juno Temple that hangs around with her? Totally Holly Robinson, am I right?)

Joseph Gordon-Levitt is a pretty damn good character, having good deductive skills, and is seemingly unmovable in his ideals. He makes a great cop and his scenes with Bale are nicely done.

Marion Cotillard as Miranda Tate... it takes a while to get into her character. She doesn't do so much at first, but as time goes on, she becomes more bearable.

But the big new performance of note is Tom Hardy as Bane. Completely undoing the last attempt at a live action Bane (I prefer to call him “Ralph Wiggum on steroids”), Tom Hardy's is brutal, menacing and actually somewhat funny (the stadium scene. Before blowing it up, he comments on what a lovely voice the child singing the national anthem has). One reviewer down here referred to him as the “minister of sinister” and that's actually a pretty accurate description. Much like the comics, he's a mighty mental and physical challenge for the Caped Crusader, which makes for a mean combination.

However, if there's one performance that eclipses all others, it's Michael Caine as Alfred. Despite a smaller role, his is the most emotional, and I damn well nearly cried at certain scenes. You, sir, are a living legend. Never leave us.

The film actually ties in more with Batman Begins than The Dark Knight, mostly with the mentions of Ra's Al Ghul, the “why do we fall?” theme returning, but its biggest connection to The Dark Knight is Harvey Dent and the truth surrounding the events of his death. It's a good choice to connect to the first film, as it brings up things we may have forgotten over time.

Action-wise, it's astonishing. Bane's beatdown with Batman, the Batwing (yeah they call it The Bat, but I think Batwing is cooler) in battle, but the best of all is the huge criminal vs. cop brawl, with Batman and Bane gearing up for round two. Now THAT'S an action sequence. Not loads and loads of guns and explosions, just good ol' fashioned fisticuffs with hundreds and hundreds of people (see Gangs Of New York for something similar).

Also, I love the choice for stories that the Nolans have cherry-picked aspects from: The Dark Knight Returns (Bruce Wayne coming out of retirement), Knightfall (the first Batman and Bane battle) and No Man's Land (Gotham cut off from the world) just to name a few. All are classic stories in the Batman mythology so to see them get a mention is wonderful for a long time Batman fan like me.

Surprisingly, I've heard very little in terms of people bitching that this isn't as good as The Dark Knight. And really, does it matter? Does everything always have to be bigger and better? Can't it just be good on its own? And with a movie like this, calling it “good” is a slap in the face to the movie.
So, as you've guessed, it's the number one film for me this year so far. To Christopher Nolan, the cast, the crew, everyone involved: you've created a triumphant and terrific trilogy. We will forever be grateful for what you've done for the Dark Knight Detective. I know you said this was the last but if you ever do decide you have one more film in you, I'll be there. Hell, I'll be there regardless of what Nolan does next. The keys to the kingdom should be his. He redefined the game a long time ago. No, wait, scratch that: he BECAME the game. The one to beat. Batman Begins showed how a reboot can not only work but be acclaimed. The Dark Knight utterly shattered expectations not just for comic book movies, but blockbuster films. And The Dark Knight Rises shows how you end a trilogy: with the biggest bang you can muster. 4.5/5
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Friday, 20 July 2012

Jokerman Dance To The Nightingale Tune


So, since we looked the beginning of a new Batman series, it's only natural we'd go into the sequel, The Dark Knight, the first Batman movie not to feature the word Batman in the title.

Some time after the events of Batman Begins, organized crime has taken a huge hit, thanks to the efforts of Batman (Christian Bale), James Gordon (Gary Oldman) and new District Attorney, Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart). However, a new player enters the game, calling himself The Joker (Heath Ledger), shaking up the status quo and threatening to bring Gotham to its knees. How far will Batman go to stop a madman with no clear goal in mind?

Yeah, I'm just going to come right out and say it early: this is one of the greatest films I have ever seen in my life. I remember sitting in the cinema, watching the events unfold, filled with awe and wonder, not wanting it to end. Some people say it was too long, I say it was too short! Considering how it took until 2012 to get the next film, how could it be too long? Maybe I'm just a wee bit obsessed with Batman to notice...

As criminal as this might be, I'm only going to cover the returning actors briefly, partly because this will probably be another long blog, partly to go over the new arrivals, and partly because what I said in the Batman Begins blog still holds true (also, for the handful of people who haven't seen this yet, some spoilers may show up).

Christian Bale is still dynamic as the Caped Crusader, at odds with himself over the fact that he feels he can retire and settle down with Rachel (played by Maggie Gyllenhaal this time around), but also with the fact that the mob is cottoning on to the fact that Batman doesn't kill. In the Batman persona, he's a lot more fierce and brutal, and I like it. This fury, THAT'S the Batman I've been wanting for a while. The Batman that does not rest, the Batman that will hunt you down. Don't get me wrong, I love Keaton's Batman and Conroy's definitely has shades of this, as well as being one of the greatest examples you can follow, but DAMN!

Michael Caine plays more of a mentor role than a father-figure here compared to the last film (not that he's any less of one, just that the Batman/Alfred soundboarding that they do in the comics gets more of a look-in) and he has some fantastic lines, both as one of the primary sources of humor (the bit on the boat about the supermodel “applying her own bloody sun tan lotion”) and for his observations on the human race and how the criminal mind thinks. Have I mentioned just how legendary this man is?

Gary Oldman and Morgan Freeman continue their upstanding work, as confidantes and aides to Batman, with Oldman getting one of the best scenes in the movie when he has The Joker at gunpoint: “We got you, you son of a bitch”

Also, Cillian Murphy returns, albeit briefly. It's still awesome, and also offers the first hint that Batman is getting too well known in his methods, when Crane recognises when the real Batman shows up amongst the copycats.

While she's not new, the actress is, so I'll use Maggie Gyllenhaal as the converging point between the old and the new. As much as I no longer dislike Katie Holmes as Rachael, Maggie is just a better fit for the role. She exudes a warmer personality, as indicated by her smile, and she comes across less angsty.

Now, for the new players. And of course, I would be remiss if I didn't mention Heath Ledger as The Joker. Holy crap, is he ever ace! The Joker in this incarnation forgoes the classic gag arsenal of previous Jokers in favour of knives, guns and the clever use of a pencil (who doesn't love that scene?) and also has the best lines (“Got a little fight in ya. I like that”). It's implied that he's wearing make-up, as opposed to being exposed to a chemical pool and staying that white. Combine that with his tatty clothes and attitude, and we have the most realistic Joker yet, who borders on being the bastard son of Alexander DeLarge from A Clockwork Orange. Heath raised the bar for supervillain acting in comic book movies and it's a masterful role.

Aaron Eckhart is the other new major player and damn if he's not charismatic as all Hell. It's almost like he took his Nick Naylor role from Thank You For Smoking and transplanted it here, but gave him a heroic angle. Dent is dashing, debonair, determined, and has a mean right cross. His eventual downfall into Two-Face is tragic and the make-up for the scarred side is among the best Two-Face designs I've ever seen (only beaten by the artwork for the incredible Dark Victory. Seriously, between this movie and that book, that's how I think Two-Face should look. Less like Jekyll and Hyde fused together, more like an actual burn victim).

Wow, what was supposed to be a brief look at the returning players ended up being longer than I thought... but on to other things.

The action sequences are excellent, and the whole movie has a heist/crime film feel to it. In fact, if you took Bruce Wayne out of the Batsuit, that's what it would be. Certain scenes with Dent and Gordon play out like it's a new version of Heat. My absolute fave scene is the interrogation between Batman and The Joker. From the moment it's revealed that Batman has been standing in the room when the lights were out, to the final moment of the scene, it's excellent directing and writing. Panning around the room, The Joker trying to convince Batman he'll be an outcast, Batman's outrage, pure gold. The dialogue in this movie is sensational, and I praise all the writing talent on hand.

Two things this movie has over Batman Begins: first, this movie shows a little more of Batman being a detective, like the bullet testing scene. This is something I had been wanting since Batman Begins, and I was glad to see it here, though I'd have loved a little more.

Secondly, I found this film a little more emotional, not that the first was lacking. But with Two-Face... oh man, he's written so well. The scene in which he puts the gun to his own head, flips the coin and looks disappointed when he's spared? How can one small scene be done so well?

There is obviously so much more to say about this movie and how brilliant it is. It is my fourth favourite movie of all time (I should do a top ten list somewhere down the line) and nothing I can say will do it justice. An easy 4.5/5

As early as this may be, tomorrow will be the finale of the Batman films as directed by Nolan. So, if you haven't seen it yet (and chances are, many of you won't have), I'll try and keep it as spoiler free as I can but just in case, come back to it at a later date. But for everybody else, tomorrow's blog will be The Dark Knight Rises.
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Wednesday, 18 July 2012

He's Gonna Hit The Highway Like A Battering Ram


With one day left until The Dark Knight Rises graces our screens, it's time for my next theme week: the Nolan directed Batman films. So, naturally, the best place to start is at the beginning, with... well, Batman Begins, of course.

Now I know that just about everyone and his dog has talked at length about this movie, but not everybody in the world is going to have seen it, shared the same opinion or seen many reviews/viewpoints, so if they should stumble across this one, it could very well be their first (which is good for them, because that means the next ones they read will be better). On the subject of people and firsts, I'll put the spoiler warning here for anyone yet to see the movie. Not that it is a high number, but you never know.
Much like my post on the latest Superman film, I'll skip the creation of Batman because this won't be a short blog.

Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) returns to Gotham after receiving training overseas in the methods of crimefighting from Henri Ducard (Liam Neeson), intent on reclaiming his city from the grips of criminals, in particular Carmine Falcone (Tom Wilkinson). But in between re-establishing himself in the city, and with a childhood friend of his, Rachel Dawes (Katie Holmes) and fighting off the new threat of Scarecrow (Cillian Murphy), Bruce Wayne finds he's in for a bigger challenge than he thought.

To say that after Batman And Robin, any Batman film would be good in comparison is the least praise you can sprinkle onto this. To say that it reinvigorated the Batman series, and film in general, and is the model for doing a reboot right is also too little to fully appreciate just how fantastic this film is.

When I first heard that Christian Bale was going to play Batman, I was already in approval because of American Psycho, and that only heightened when I got the chance to see The Machinist two weeks before Batman Begins made its debut (by the way, if you watch those and all the Nolan Batman films together, that's like one of the greatest movie marathons I can think of. And I should do that when The Dark Knight Rises comes out on DVD) and he does not disappoint. What he gets more so than any other portrayer of Bruce Wayne and Batman (with the possible exception of Michael Keaton but definitely excepting Kevin Conroy) is that Bruce Wayne and Batman should have a different voice, as part of the idea that Bruce Wayne couldn't possibly be Batman. And when he's Batman, hot damn! That voice often gets complaints for how gruff it is but I love it, it helps project the image that this Batman is a force of nature. It's like when Nolan resurrected him, he didn't come back as Batman, he came back as Bat-Demon! (And considering what some people see him as when they're hallucinating in this movie, that's a distinct possibility). As Bruce Wayne, he plays up the “rich idiot with no day job” angle well, channeling the Patrick Bateman (insert your own Bateman/Batman joke here) character from American Psycho for the Bruce Wayne scenes when he's in public. But then there's the in-between, the Bruce that only Alfred sees, and Rachel to a point, the one who has a determination that cannot be swayed, but also the vulnerability of the little boy who will never fully come to terms with the death of his parents.

Speaking of, much like the recent Amazing Spider-Man, it takes a lot to make us care about something we all know is coming, and to keep it from looking like you're going through the motions. In Begins, the details are changed to be an opera instead of a film, and the reason for leaving is Bruce's fear of the bat creatures. So, when Thomas and Martha leave and are killed by Joe Chill, it adds a little to the scene, by giving Bruce the idea that it was his fault, even though we as an audience know he is not to blame. Not to mention tying into one of the central themes, of fear and how it controls us.

Now, talking about the cast could end up making this the longest blog I've ever done, so I'm going to try and praise them in one paragraph each (criminal, I know, I should really look into vlogging at one point).

Michael Caine as Alfred is just more proof of how awesome Michael Caine is. He's dry, witty but ever so fatherly. Hell, I'm actually wondering if he was just playing himself under an assumed name. And he gets some of the best lines in the movie, too (“What good are all those push-ups if you can't even lift a bloody log?”, priceless)

Gary Oldman as James Gordon is a much better utilization of the character when compared to the Burton/Schumacher era. Seemingly the only good cop amongst the rats, he's determined, clever and noble. Also, he gets to drive the freakin' Batmobile (which is awesome, by the way. I swear it would eat cars if it was sentient, it's that much of a beast.)

Morgan Freeman portrays Lucius Fox, a character who hasn't been used in that many adaptations (he was seen in Batman: The Animated Series but from there, I couldn't tell you) but he's Morgan Freeman, what can I say? He's dry and hilarious, like Michael Caine, and serves as useful exposition on Batman's arsenal. Also, it makes sense he knows that Bruce Wayne and Batman are the same person, he spends a lot of time with the guy, so he would know when something's up. And that scene at the end when he shows up William Earle (Rutger Hauer)? Loved it.

Katie Holmes as Rachael Dawes... I have to admit, initially I was not fond of her. Maybe that was me being prejudiced against her due to being the wife of an ego-maniac (whose claws she finally escaped), or her time on Dawson's Creek, but over time, I've come to realize she wasn't that bad in her role. She's still the weakest link, no question, but not something that drags the movie down (she is, however, responsible for one of my criticisms of the movie, which I'll get into later).

Liam Neeson, much like Morgan Freeman, just has to show up and awesomeness pretty much ensues. He's one Hell of a fighter and when it's revealed that he's really the leader of the League Of Shadows, Ra's Al Ghul (though that's not much of a spoiler if you know the comics, you get that vibe from him), the action just gets better.

And lastly, Cillian Murphy as the Scarecrow, aka Jonathan Crane. Now, out of all the Batman villains, Scarecrow is my absolute fave, so naturally I was so eager to see him on the big screen. And while they took a few liberties, as they often do (mostly with his looks, making him a handsome young psychiatrist with mob ties as opposed to a scrawny looking, creepy looking older male), he is still fun to watch. He may not be much of a fighter but he knows his way around a confrontation and lets nothing intimidate him (until dosed with his own fear gas, but hey, these things happen on the job). And as much as I love his comic costume, or that really cool hangman motif he had for the animated series, the simple sack look works too, and doesn't distract from his badassness.

Now, while I have mostly minor criticisms (Ra's Al Ghul not being pronounced correctly, Zsasz getting little screen time and looking like he belongs in a System Of A Down cover band), the one semi-major one I have is the scene in which Scarecrow's riding on a horse, terrifying Rachel (this isn't the bad part), Rachel zaps him with a taser and he goes down for the count, with the horse riding off and that's the last we see of him (that's the bad part).
I get that he's not THE major villain, but come on, you're trying to undo everything he did with a pathetic manoeuvre like that! Yes, he's in the sequel, but that's not the point! He looked like a chump, and the master of fear deserved a better send off!

On to the action scenes, some have complained that it's hard to figure out what's going on, that it's too confusing. That makes sense to me, since part of what Batman is trying to accomplish is to create confusion and fear with his fighting style. By being constantly on the move, ever adaptable, he ensures that he will have the upper hand.

Really, there's a lot I could say, like how well it handles the theme of fear, or Tom Wilkinson's marvelous turn as Falcone, or discuss the most awesome scene in the movie (three words: “SWEAR TO ME!”), but we could be here all day. Chances are, you've seen it by now, and you know how awesome it is (and if you didn't like it, fair enough, you're under no obligation to like what I like). Outstanding work, and clearly a 4.5/5

Up next... gee, I wonder?
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Saturday, 28 April 2012

Recruit A Team Of Heroes With Attitudes


Well, we've looked at all five films leading up the massive crossover film, The Avengers. The dominoes are lined up, the cogs in the machine are all aligned. We've waited four years. But is it a case of a coming together of the greats, or is there still some assembly required?

Before we get into that, let's go over the Avengers as a team in the comics: in September, 1963, Thor's arch-nemesis Loki tricks the Hulk into destroying a railroad track, which leads to Hulk's friend Rick Jones sending out a radio call seeking help, a call which Loki diverts to Thor, in the hopes of drawing him out. What Loki didn't expect was that the distress call would be answered by more heroes: Iron Man, Ant-Man and The Wasp. Together, they all defeated Loki and decided to become a team. And it took all of two issues to lose a member, in this case it was Hulk, who left because he realized his unstable personality was a source of great fear for his team mates. But a few issues later, Captain America would be found and he would become a long time member of the team. And the rest is history. A long and confusing history, especially with all the different Avenger teams.

Now, if you don't read comics and know little about them, you're probably wondering who the Hell Ant-Man and The Wasp are. Well, the answer is: they are two characters who had better appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the years to come, because they are great. But that's for another time.

For this film, our team is instead made up of Captain America (Chris Evans), Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo, the only change in actors for this film, with Lou Ferrigno providing the voice for the Hulk himself), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), brought together by Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), to take on Loki (Tom Hiddleston) and his alien army. Also joining the fray is Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders), a high ranking S.H.I.E.L.D agent, and we also see the return of Coulson (Clark Gregg), Erik Selvig (Stellan Skarsgard) and Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow), as well as more voice-work from Paul Bettany as Iron Man's AI program, JARVIS.

And... well, OK, I pretty much described the plot right there. They come together, settle their differences and they fight some bad guys.

And you know what? I love every goddamn minute of this movie. From the moment Iron Man ended, I knew this movie was going to be monumental. After five movies, the anticipation just rose even higher. Every scrap of information relating to this movie pointed to it having enough momentum to actually be the greatest Marvel movie ever, to be something that would shape how Marvel's movies would be for ages to come. And considering how this came out in the same year as the currently-the-worst-film-I've-this-year-based-on-rankings Ghost Rider: Spirit Of Vengeance, it's almost like Marvel are trying not only to wipe away their embarrassment but overcompensate.

The aspect I love the most, the key to this whole film, is the blending of the different styles from the respective films of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Iron Man's solo segment before the team comes together is hilarious but also sweet, since he's spending time with Pepper. Cap's is solemn and you can tell he's just begging to get back into the action, but there's also drama as he is a man out of time and that weighs heavily upon him. Thor appears later in the film but there's a strong dramatic tone with his first few scenes, especially those with Loki. And Hulk (well, when he's Banner) is funny, but darkly so and showing how he's grown accustomed to his surroundings. As for those who didn't have their own movie, Black Widow's segment is like something out of a spy movie, and it's funny, though Hawkeye doesn't get much of a back-story, if any at all (probably my only real nitpick with the movie, but that's only if I need to have something against it. The good heavily outweighs the bad, so much that the bad is virtually non-existent).

Acting-wise, everyone carries on their role and proves yet again why they have made these roles their own. Mark Ruffalo is the exception, but only in the part about carrying on the role, since he's taking over the role. And how does he do? He may just be better than Edward Norton in this role, and that's a mean feat! He's got Banner's sense of meekness down, and his sardonic wit. And he's also the first actor to actually “play” Hulk, as in, motion capture and such and DAMN! When Hulk smashes, he REALLY smashes! As much as I loved the Hulk in his previous film, he's a sight to behold in this and for anyone who thinks he can't hack it in another sequel, you will damn well apologize right now, because this movie proves that not only does he deserve another sequel, he NEEDS it.

Cobie Smulders is the only other major new player and I have to say at this point that I LOVE How I Met Your Mother, and I consider it the best show currently on TV, and I love her character in the show. And while she's not always on screen here, I loved seeing her here and seeing just how badass she could be. Also, now she shares something with HIMYM co-stars Alyson Hannigan and Neil Patrick Harris: working with Joss Whedon (more on him later)

Coulson FINALLY gets a bigger role, and he even reveals his inner fanboy about Captain America. Yeah, that guy keeps getting awesome.

But Hiddleston... holy crap, that guy borders on scary! I think it's his smile. That damn slasher smile... it's really bad when he smiles, it means he knows something you don't. And you never want that. While he was great in Thor, he's even better here and he made for a worthy adversary.

Now, Whedon. I love the man's work. Buffy, Angel, Firefly, all classics (though I have yet to see Dollhouse, because they haven't been released on DVD down here, which pisses me off. And I just found out we're not getting a cinematic release of The Cabin In The Woods down here, it's going straight to DVD. Well, it better bloody well be soon, justice must be served!)\
But while his direction is spectacular, his best work is in the script. I kept thinking “Oh that is so Whedon!” at some of the funniest bits, since they remind me of Buffy and Angel, like the deadpan way people snark at each other, or the random humor that takes a little tension out of the scene but not so much as to undermine it, but rather to get us to relax before the drops the hammer (no pun intended).
For example, in one scene, Tony's hacking into S.H.I.E.L.D's database and spouting off all sorts of information, and one thing he says (very matter of factly) “And that guy's playing Galaga and thinks no one can see him”. A few minutes later, we watch as a guy switches his screen back to a game of Galaga. Priceless.
Or this, I love this exchange:
Thor: He's my brother
Black Widow: He killed 80 people in 2 days
Thor: He's adopted
The timing of that, I couldn't help but crack up.

But I can't share my favourite scene for fear of spoilers. I will say this much: despite Iron Man being the funniest character within the movie, Hulk wins with the laugh-your-arse-off moment for the entire affair. It's towards the end. You'll know it when you see it, even though it's in that third act that Hulk gets even funnier.

And the action... oh Lord, is it ever sweet. There's gunplay, sorcery, tech, projectiles and good ol' fashioned fisticuffs. Sure, the battle at the end (not a spoiler, you so know there was going to be a huge one) is epic, and doesn't overstay its welcome, but it's the fight between Thor, Cap and Iron Man that I love the most. Egos clashing, power flowing, the darkness around them, the intensity, it's magic. Especially the end of it.

I could go on all day about it but since it's not out in America at the time of writing, it would be disrespectful of me to do so, since I'd run the risk of spoilers. But I'd like to end on this closing statement:

Everyone that was involved in this movie: you're not leaving. You will damn well come back and do a sequel, no ifs, ands or buts. I know most of you are under contract anyway, which is great, but the rest I don't know about. I know Joss has been offered the chance to direct again should it arise but it's obviously early days. Nevertheless, you can't leave. You all created magic with this film. I was never bored, never insulted and I now consider this the greatest Marvel movie ever.

Whether or not it will be the best movie of the year remains to be seen. As much as this film is an outstanding triumph, the Caped Crusader's next (and last for the live action interim) is its biggest threat. And Nolan always has a trump card. That being said, The Avengers has raised the bar for crossovers and team-up movies. Even if the Justice League movie gets off the ground, it will not be able to beat this. Marvel crafted this to perfection, taking it's time, letting things build up and putting in little clues here and there as to what was coming next. It resulted in a massive pay-off, one that will never be replicated, not until the next time this team is together.

Take all the time you need to, Marvel. You rewarded our patience and we'll happily wait again. Easily 4.5/5, richly deserved.

Well, that wraps up this week devoted to the Avenger film and its tie-in's. Hope you enjoy this movie as much as I did. And a little tip: once the credits roll, it begins with a montage of close-ups of the character's costumes and such, listing the actors for each respective character. After this, the traditional post-credits scene plays, hinting at what's to come (and my jaw dropped at the reveal of the figure who had their back turned to the audience for that scene). So, after that, you can leave if you wish, since there's nothing else after the next set of credits (yes, I stuck around, on the off chance there was some kind of teaser for Iron Man 3) but on the plus side, I got to hear a bitchin' new song from Soundgarden, called Live To Rise. I must have this song. And I will.

So, next week, got something big and special planned, and something completely different from what I've done before. But I won't be saying a thing until next week.
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Friday, 27 April 2012

Has He Lost His Mind? Can He See Or Is He Blind?


Alrighty then, one more double tying into The Avengers and then on to the main event itself!
Today, we're looking at the genesis of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as well as its sequel. So, let's get into the high flying action of the Iron Man duology.

Now, I've reviewed a comic on Iron Man much earlier in the blog's history (the trade called Iron Man: War Of The Iron Men) but I never went into his origin story. Well, let's go through that now, shall we?

Iron Man was created in 1963 by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Larry Lieber and Don Heck. Thematically, the Iron Man title was used to represent the Cold War and the idea of business tackling communism.

Tony Stark is overseas, observing how his new technology is aiding the American war effort, but is injured by a booby trap and taken hostage. His captors demand that he make weapons for them, but with the help of fellow prisoner Ho Yinsen, he constructs a suit to both make his escape and sustain his heart, after the heart became loaded with shrapnel.

The origin is perhaps one of the best of any hero in comics and to this day, remains the same, save for updating the war to the current day (the first film naturally has this event occur in Afghanistan). The one exception I can think of is The Invincible Iron Man, a straight to DVD film from 2007, in which he's in China trying to raise a city (I'll get to that one somewhere along the line).

So, with the first movie going with that for the first act, how does the rest of it go?
Well, after Tony (Robert Downey Jr.) gets back to America, he announces that Stark Enterprises is getting out of the weapon manufacturing game and he spends his time making better versions of the suit. Tony's partner, Obidiah Stane (Jeff Bridges) is not pleased about this change in plans, and decides to take things in his own direction. All the while, Tony's trying to prove not just to the world that he's making an effort to change, but his friend Jim Rhodes (Terence Howard), his secretary/love interest Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) and himself.

Going into the film back in 2008, I had little knowledge of the Iron Man franchise. I knew that Tony was one of the few heroes whose identity was public knowledge (though Marvel did kind of flip-flop on that) and that the suit was his means of escaping. Though the film did look really good based on the trailer, I still wasn't sure on how things would turn out. But here's my opinion in a nutshell: if The Dark Knight had not come out in 2008, this would have been my favourite movie of the year.

There is just so much to love about this movie. It's a wonderful mix of humor, action, drama and even the faintest hint of romance. Even with the changes between the comic history and the movie, they are changes that aren't done to the movie's detriment.

Let's start with the characters: I swear, it's like Robert Downey Jr. was born just to be Tony Stark. Even though the film doesn't really go into detail with Tony's alcoholism (often considered his Achilles heel in the comics), it's still present as is his desire for attention, over-confidence and dry sense of quick-wit. The man with a thousand one-liners, never missing his mark and always at the ready. RDJ's best role by far and he is an absolute joy. My absolute favourite part of the movie is this exchange, between a reporter (Leslie Bibb) and Tony:
“What do you say to your other nickname, "The Merchant Of Death”?”
“That's not bad.”
He says that without missing a beat. AND he manages to seduce the reporter, despite the fact that she's basically mud-slinging! He's like James Bond minus the spy part!
And his slight evolution from playboy to crusader is totally believable. I say slight, because he's still got ways to go, but that works. As does his attempts at being sincere with Pepper about how much he needs her. RDJ swaps gears within a second anytime he needs to and he's wonderful.

Speaking of Pepper, of any love interest in any comic book movie, she is the absolute best. She's independent, capable, confident, and funny. As a bonus (spoilers for the... what is it, six people who haven't seen this yet?), she DOESN'T get kidnapped AND she actually helps take down the villain! Holy crap, she's not a prop! Why has it taken this long to happen?! Why can't Mary Jane Watson be more like this?

Terence Howard's the straight man for this film, when Pepper's not on screen, and that totally works. Too bad he couldn't be War Machine, but hey, he was still a great supporter.

Jeff Bridges... holy crap, Jeff Bridges was a marvelous (no pun intended) villain. Cool and confident (yeah, this movie oozes confidence), even when going to the brink of insanity (“TONY STARK BUILT THIS IN A CAVE! WITH A BOX OF SCRAPS!” Come on, you knew I was going to do it). And when he climbs into the Iron Monger suit... awesomeness ensues.

Action-wise, it blows (again, no pun intended) the competition away. Seeing the Iron Man suit in action, my jaw dropped the first time he flew. And even today, I'm still in awe of what they've achieved. Whether it's just simple flight, or taking on planes and hitching a ride on them, it's breathtaking.

Now, with me and my tendencies to find flaws, did I find any in this film? One. And it's a small one: over the closing credits, Black Sabbath's Iron Man is playing. That is awesome. However, it's instrumental. I was hoping for the original. Yeah, the lyrics may not play out well with the movie, but still, it's an awesome song. There, that's the only complaint, a tiny one.

Also, the changes I mentioned? There's only one major one: in the comics, Edwin Jarvis is the butler of the Avengers, and is kind of like Alfred, to an extent. In this movie, he's an AI instead, voiced by Paul Bettany. Am I bothered by this? No, because he has Edwin's dry wit and is extremely useful. Much like Edwin.

Oh, and Coulson. He's awesome. Nothing more needs to be said.

So, yes, I love this movie and I highly recommend it. 4.5/5. Oh and the scene at the very end of the credits? Amazing. Samuel L. Jackson's first appearance as Nick Fury and in that very short scene, he commands the scene. “I'm here to talk to you about the Avenger Initiative”. And with that, the game changed even more.

But how does Iron Man 2 stack up?

Six months after the end of Iron Man, in which Tony Stark has revealed he is Iron Man, Ivan Vanko (Mickey Rourke) seeks vengeance on Tony for what Tony's father did to his own. Meanwhile, Tony's dying from the arc reactor that keeps his heart going and is growing more and more reckless. He's trying to win Pepper over, but only succeeds in pushing her further away, as well as Rhodey (Don Cheadle stepping in to take over the role from Terence Howard, the only change in actors between the two films). Can they save him from self-destruction?

You know, I get sick of people who are like “it's not as good as the first, boooo!” And that goes for anything. To them I say: so, because it may not be super-special-awesome, it's automatically deemed crap? Piss off! You just don't appreciate what you've got. You just want more and more of everything, without even knowing what you want.

It's not AS good as the first, sure, but it's still damn enjoyable!

Of the new characters, Mickey Rourke is really good as lead villain, Whiplash. Able to take on Iron Man with just a couple of special whips, he amazes early on and always seems to have an ace up his sleeve.

Sam Rockwell as Justin Hammer, Tony's business rival and second villain of the piece, isn't as good as Whiplash or Iron Monger, but he's still pretty good. It's not his fault he gets overtaken by Mickey Rourke (and his “burd”. I love that bit)

Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow makes her debut, ready for The Avengers, and damned if she's not cool. I'm a huge fan of Scarlett (personal life choices aside) and for her to be a part of this world is wonderful, as is a bigger role for Nick Fury, who is hilarious.

Don Cheadle does a great job in the role of Rhodey, probably right on par with Terence Howard. And yes, he does get to be War Machine.

And that leads to the best scene of the entire movie. As Tony's at home, drunk as a skunk, and showing off his Iron Man capabilities to his party guests. Rhodey's had enough. He gets into one of Tony's suits, tells everybody to leave, and gets into a physical match with Tony. To the tune of both Queen's Another One Bites The Dust and Daft Punk's Robot Rock. HELL. YES. This is too awesome for words. Seeing the two of them just duke it out, at one point using gym equipment, is priceless. When it comes to action, I'm a huge fan of close quarter combat, and this does not disappoint.

I know I didn't mention much about Tony and Pepper for Iron Man 2. Well, pretty much everything from the first movie applies here, but with a huger development on their chemistry, which is magical. And it pays off, as we'll (or rather, you'll) soon see...

Another great thing both movies share: awesome music. Both of them start with a kickarse AC/DC song, with Back In Black in the first movie and Shoot To Thrill in this. Hot damn.

But there is one big flaw with the movie, and that's with the end, so there will be spoilers.

Now, Tony and Rhodey teaming up to take on drones, that's all cool, that's fine. But Whiplash in his own suit... it's just a little too similar to the Iron Monger/Iron Man confrontation from the previous movie. I mean, it's still cool but I was hoping for something a little different.

But still, I highly recommend this film. And not just because Coulson is still awesome. 4/5
And the scene at the very end of this one? Damned if it wasn't good.

Well, that clears the rest of the Avenger tie-ins. Next time, the main event itself.
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Tuesday, 24 April 2012

He Could Clear A Super Mario Level In Seconds Flat...


Alright, time for another theme week involving movies. With the Avengers looming ever closer, it's about time I finished the other tie-in films. So, for the next two posts, Iron Man and the Hulk will get their turn. Today, however, we turn to the not-so-jolly green giant himself.

Now, despite the fact that it's not technically connected to the Avengers, I'll also be covering the Hulk film directed by Ang Lee. Why? Well, it is kinda-sorta-maybe-related. Besides, if Spirit Of Vengeance can be connected to the first Ghost Rider, why can't this?

But first, some backstory: a Stan Lee-Jack Kirby creation, the Incredible Hulk came about in May 1962, making his debut in the first issue of the comic bearing the same name.
Meek and awkward scientist Dr. Bruce Banner risks his life to save a young man who inadvertently makes his way on to the test range for Bruce's creation, a gamma bomb. Instead of killing him, it creates an alternate personality that emerges in times of great rage: The Hulk. Hulk's primary superpower is incredible strength, which actually increases as he gets angrier. He also has accelerated healing, high resistance to mind control and is immune to disease and viruses.
The Hulk may just be one of the most feared yet misunderstood characters in comic history, as most of the time, he's on the run from the army, in particular, General Ross, father of his love interest, Betty.

But now, for the first film:

It begins in 1974 and goes over how Bruce's (Eric Bana) unstable father, David (Nick Nolte) experimented on himself while trying to create super-soldier prototypes. His altered DNA gets passed down to Bruce and David tries to find a cure. When the plus is pulled on his project, David goes mad and attempts to kill his son, which results in the accidental death of his wife and being locked away in a mental hospital, with Bruce going into foster care and repressing the entire event.
Years later, Bruce is working in a military-industrial complex, working on a similar project that his father was involved in. An accident involving gamma radiation mingling with his unusual DNA soon causes him to transform into a giant green monster. Banner ends up being hunted by General “Thunderbolt” Ross (Sam Elliot) while simultaneously pursued by his ex-girlfriend, Betty (Jennifer Connoly), who happens to be the general's daughter.

There's a little bit more to that, but we could be here all day, and I've got another movie to review below. Actually, that's one of the film's problems in a nutshell: the story is more complicated than it needs to be. I mean, what's wrong with the origin story from the comic? Yeah, using weapons on test ranges is probably uncommon these days (I have no idea, I'm not American) but it's simplified and classic. You don't have to have Rick Jones in there, just some random guy. Yes, the movie tries something that's almost the same, but the part I don't like is the whole “born with mutant DNA” thing. Wait, so that technically makes him a mutant. Now you're crossing into X-Men territory. I don't know if it's a retcon from later in the comics, but even so, I would have preferred the simpler approach.

Speaking of simple, another thing that bugs me is the use of splitscreen-like shots. I get that they're supposed to resemble comic panels, but for what reason? To remind us it's a comic book movie? Why not add thought bubbles while we're at it? It's actually kind of off-putting.

But I guess what bugs me the most is that it's hard to tell what's going on in places. Especially the final battle. I mean, it's mostly dark, with some movement, some glimpses of the Hulk and... that's it. I don't know if anyone had any idea what went on.
So, in a nutshell, I guess the biggest problem was the editing.

Were there positives? Well, sure, a few.
Compared to Ghost Rider, despite being released four years after Hulk, Sam Elliot cares more about this film than Ghost Rider. Maybe over the years he just stopped caring? No, that can't be it. For what little time he was in Thank You For Smoking, he was great. Maybe he found this role more believable, which I can't blame him for.

Eric Bana... is just OK. He's not terrible, not outstanding. Even when trying to get angry, I'm just not buying it. Oh well, good effort, Eric. You rocked in Chopper, though, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
Jennifer Connelly, though, I did like. She's supportive and smart, which is in character with her comic counterpart (I say that very obvious statement because you would believe otherwise if you have only been reading comics from the Ultimate Universe, you'd find she's a raging bitch. But then, for reasons I can't fathom, most of the Ultimate Universe versions are arseholes).

David Banner... OK, I have to ask: did they just get Nick Nolte to speak gibberish, look like a homeless addict and just roll camera? That's pretty much how he comes off, a homeless addict. Yeah he spent time in a mental hospital, but dear lord, couldn't he at least have shaved and cleaned himself up a bit? You want people to take you seriously, stop looking like you're about to bash our faces in with a hammer to steal our fillings. Also, as a supervillain, you wasted your power.

But, and perhaps the most important aspects when making anything Hulk related, two questions will be raised: how do they handle the Hulk effects and how are the action scenes? To answer the first question: it's actually pretty decent. The green's a little too bright and he only looks slightly bigger, but I can live with it. The action's not terrible, but not entirely convincing either. Sure, he fights some tanks and wins, naturally, but there's no tension. Yeah, we know he's going to win, cos, he's the goddamn Hulk, but couldn't you at least put in a chance he could fall?

That's still better than the aforementioned final battle, or the fight with the three big dogs. Yeah. Like a crappy boss in a bad video game, Hulk takes down three mutated dogs. It sucked.

So, all in all, a confusing, poorly edited film saved by decent acting from the supporting cast and the passable effects on the Hulk (but bonus points for all the shots of his giant leaps, those were pretty cool). It gets by on 2.5/5, half a star more than when I originally saw it nearly a decade ago, proving why rewatching movies is a good thing. Third time seeing it now and it's making a little more sense! Maybe another five viewings and I'll understand all of it.

And now, for The Incredible Hulk, which is officially part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, whereas Hulk is... sort of related, like a distant cousin no one talks about.

Skipping the origin (it takes care of that in the credits, so already it wins points), Bruce (now played by Edward Norton) has been on the run for at least five years, successfully keeping off the grid, has a job in a bottling factory. However, some of his blood spills into a bottle that is ingested by an American man, which gives General Ross (William Hurt taking the reigns here) the tip-off on his location. With a team led by British soldier Emil Blonsky (Tim Roth), Ross attempts to capture Banner and fails to do so, though Bruce now heads back to America, reunites with Betty (Liv Tyler stepping in) and attempts to find a cure.

Again, I'm leaving a lot of detail out, but it's meant to be an intro, not a full recap. All you need to know is this: between the two films, this Hulk smashes the other one into the ground.
You can say what you want about how Hulk tried to elevate comic book films by adding a bit more drama to it, but considering what the Hulk's about, is the Hulk the first character you think of for high concept films? The Incredible Hulk manages to blend both invigorating action scenes and introspective moments without dropping the quality of the film, much like the comic. It's about the right blend, as is anything.

Acting-wise, of the three roles carried over, only one of them is on-par with the previous film (the role of General Ross), while the other two exceed it. Edward Norton has been one of my favourite actors for some time, ever since the first time I saw Fight Club and Red Dragon. He adds layers of emotion that Bana just couldn't conjure, and he's always believable. He has said he's a fan of the TV show that this movie pays loving homage to (from what I can gather, anyway, I've never seen it) and the some of the runs in the comic, and it's always nice when an actor is a major comic fan who gets to participate in a movie such as this (Nic Cage may be a subversion to a point but like I said in my Ghost Rider blog, his appearance in Kick-Ass appeases me).

Liv Tyler takes what Jennifer Connelly did and expands on it, making her a little more pro-active in helping Bruce, and getting moments to shine on her own (one of my absolute favourite scenes is her verbal-bordering-on-physical attack on a taxi driver, with Bruce humorously looking on and joking with her soon after. It's a sweet moment). The chemistry between Liv and Edward is great and it's another sign that Marvel knows how to make a great, three-dimensional love interest in their cinematic universe (something that Spider-Man, as fantastic as that trilogy is, never quite did to the full.)

Moving on to the new, Tim Roth made a far more capable villain with the Abomination. A man driven to be the best, like no one ever was (yes, wanting to outdo the Hulk himself), even more ruthless than Ross. Even when it's Tim in human form taking on the Hulk, he's a credible threat and never stands down in the face of overwhelming odds.
But when he does become the Abomination...
Well, like every other action scene, it's as exciting as I expected. Banner avoiding the soldiers in the factory, Hulk's fight on the campus, the final battle... glorious. And this time around, the Hulk looks more realistic (as realistic as a giant green rage monster can). What I mean is, he's more detailed and the transformation looks and flows more organically. Also, Lou Ferrigno's few lines as the Hulk were neat! Including the classic “HULK SMASH!” His and Stan's cameos in both films were great, though I prefer both of their cameos in this film, obviously.

Overall, a better effort and a sign that Hulk wasn't staying down for the count this time. 4/5. He may not be played by Edward Norton in The Avengers but that's not going to stop him from being awesome again.

And that ends the Hulk double. Next time, the movie that kicked off the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and the sequel.
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