Tristan + Isolde (2006) - Starring James Franco, Sophia Myles, Rufus Seawell, David O'Hara, Mark Strong, Henry Cavill. Written by Dean Georgaris. Directed by Kevin Reynolds. Rated PG-13. Available on DVD.
Set during the 5th century as Great Britain and Ireland are at war with each other, Tristan + Isolde tells the story of Tristan (Franco), the second in line to the throne of Britain, and Isolde, the daughter of the king of Ireland, and their illicit affair during the war and once she is married to the king of Britain. This marriage is a political one and it's to Tristan's king, which makes the affair even more scandalous, as it threatens to destroy the peace that has been made.
The film feels evocative of the tale of Romeo and Juliet (a fact that is referenced in the film's marketing). The story is compelling enough, but is heavily built upon coincidence. Franco gives a good performance in the first half of the film as the honorable Tristan, but becomes sullen in the last half of the film. His sullenness is understandable but becomes grating as Franco continues to make the same facial expression scene after scene. Sophia Myles gives a good performance as the object of his affection, the beautiful Isolde, and it makes me want to see her in more roles. Also interesting to see is a pre-Superman Henry Cavill.
The sword-fighting scenes in this film I found were well-done and I did enjoy the story. It felt very familiar, but in a good way. It might have gone on a bit too long and I can't really say I like Tristan's choice at the end of the film, but it was enjoyable.
Rating: 3 out of a 5.
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Saturday, July 27, 2013
Atonement (2007) - Review
Atonement (2007) - Starring James McAvoy, Keira Knightley, Saoirse Ronan, Romola Garai, Juno Temple, Benedict Cumberbatch. Written by Christopher Hampton. Based on the novel by Ian McEwan. Directed by Joe Wright. Rated R. Available on DVD.
Atonement is a beautiful, heart-breaking film. It centers around two lovers Robbie and Cecilia (McAvoy and Knightley) who are torn apart when Robbie is falsely accused of a crime by Cecilia's sister, Briony (Ronan). The film follows them as they face the consequences of what happened and as they leave and return to each other's lives.
This film features fantastic performances from all of its cast. McAvoy and Knightley are incredible as the two lovers torn apart by their horrid circumstances. Saoirse Ronan was nominated for Best Supporting Actress - at the age of 13 - for her role as Briony. The film is wonderfully shot and brilliantly made. It has a fantastic and compelling script. The ending might be one of the most heartbreaking endings I've ever seen.
This film is incredible and definitely worth watching. I am normally not a fan of romantic films. But this film surprised me by being more than a good romance film. It's all-in-all just a great film.
Nominated for 7 Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Supporting Actress.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5.
Atonement is a beautiful, heart-breaking film. It centers around two lovers Robbie and Cecilia (McAvoy and Knightley) who are torn apart when Robbie is falsely accused of a crime by Cecilia's sister, Briony (Ronan). The film follows them as they face the consequences of what happened and as they leave and return to each other's lives.
This film features fantastic performances from all of its cast. McAvoy and Knightley are incredible as the two lovers torn apart by their horrid circumstances. Saoirse Ronan was nominated for Best Supporting Actress - at the age of 13 - for her role as Briony. The film is wonderfully shot and brilliantly made. It has a fantastic and compelling script. The ending might be one of the most heartbreaking endings I've ever seen.
This film is incredible and definitely worth watching. I am normally not a fan of romantic films. But this film surprised me by being more than a good romance film. It's all-in-all just a great film.
Nominated for 7 Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Supporting Actress.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5.
Unknown (2011) - Review
Unknown (2011) - Starring Liam Neeson, Diane Kruger, January Jones, Aiden Quinn, Bruno Ganz, and Frank Langella. Written by Oliver Butcher and Stephen Cornwell, Based on the novel "Out of My Head" by Didier Van Cauwelaert. Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra. Rated PG-13. Available on DVD.
Unknown feels like an imitation of a Jason Bourne movie, just with a much older main character and more time spent with the main character going, "Why don't I know who I am?" Plus, it's nowhere as good. The dialogue feels very stilted and badly-written. January Jones delivers her lines in this film like she's an actress in a high-school play, and Liam Neeson's delivery isn't a whole lot better, which is a disappointment because they could've done much better. Diane Kruger, however, gives a great performance.
But the main problem with this film isn't the acting. It's the crazy script. It feels so convoluted, yet it moves so slowly. The twist is not in the least bit surprising. The movie is also filled with loads of action movie clichés, such as running away from a bad guy and narrowly escaping through a closing subway train door. Overall, it's just a dumb action movie trying to play it smart.
Rating: 1.5 out of 5.
Unknown feels like an imitation of a Jason Bourne movie, just with a much older main character and more time spent with the main character going, "Why don't I know who I am?" Plus, it's nowhere as good. The dialogue feels very stilted and badly-written. January Jones delivers her lines in this film like she's an actress in a high-school play, and Liam Neeson's delivery isn't a whole lot better, which is a disappointment because they could've done much better. Diane Kruger, however, gives a great performance.
But the main problem with this film isn't the acting. It's the crazy script. It feels so convoluted, yet it moves so slowly. The twist is not in the least bit surprising. The movie is also filled with loads of action movie clichés, such as running away from a bad guy and narrowly escaping through a closing subway train door. Overall, it's just a dumb action movie trying to play it smart.
Rating: 1.5 out of 5.
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Once (2007) - Review
Once (2007) - Starring Glen Hansard, Markéta Irglová. Written and Directed by John Carney. Rated R. Available on DVD.
Once lives up to all the hype and critical acclaim surrounding it. It is an incredibly small film with incredibly large heart and passion behind it. The songs (especially the Academy Award-winning song "Falling Slowly) are fantastic. The acting (done by two non-actors) feels natural and the chemistry between the two leads is quite great. It is a unique story that tells of two people working on music together as they are possibly falling in love. It feels completely fresh and original and is definitely worth watching.
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Here is the song "Falling Slowly" from the film:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8mtXwtapX4
Once lives up to all the hype and critical acclaim surrounding it. It is an incredibly small film with incredibly large heart and passion behind it. The songs (especially the Academy Award-winning song "Falling Slowly) are fantastic. The acting (done by two non-actors) feels natural and the chemistry between the two leads is quite great. It is a unique story that tells of two people working on music together as they are possibly falling in love. It feels completely fresh and original and is definitely worth watching.
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Here is the song "Falling Slowly" from the film:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8mtXwtapX4
The Incredible Burt Wonderstone (2013) - Review
The Incredible Burt Wonderstone (2013) - Starring Steve Carrell, Steve Buscemi, Olivia Wilde, Jim Carrey, James Gandolfini, Alan Arkin. Written by Jonathan M. Goldstein and John Francis Daly. Directed by Don Scardino. Rated PG-13. Available on DVD.
The Incredible Burt Wonderstone is anything but incredible. It is instead quite lackluster. There is quite a bit of comedy missing from this film. Most of the jokes revolve around the characters doing weird things and then other characters reactions to these things, which grows tiresome. Especially tiresome are Carrey's character's David Blaine-like antics. They are slightly (and by slightly, I mean barely) amusing in the beginning, but almost become annoying. And that's disappointing because this good cast is utterly wasted. It doesn't help that most of them seem like they're phoning their performance in. The concept of magicians, which could've have been cool, just seemed like a diversion for standard character development and plot advancement. It could've been much better, but it wasn't.
Rating: 2 out of 5.
The Incredible Burt Wonderstone is anything but incredible. It is instead quite lackluster. There is quite a bit of comedy missing from this film. Most of the jokes revolve around the characters doing weird things and then other characters reactions to these things, which grows tiresome. Especially tiresome are Carrey's character's David Blaine-like antics. They are slightly (and by slightly, I mean barely) amusing in the beginning, but almost become annoying. And that's disappointing because this good cast is utterly wasted. It doesn't help that most of them seem like they're phoning their performance in. The concept of magicians, which could've have been cool, just seemed like a diversion for standard character development and plot advancement. It could've been much better, but it wasn't.
Rating: 2 out of 5.
Saturday, July 20, 2013
Superman/Batman - 5 Reasons Why I'm Excited/ 5 Reasons Why I'm Worried
Today at the Warner Bros./Legendary Panel at Comic-Con, it was announced that there will be an upcoming Superman/Batman film to be released in 2015. My feelings about this are mixed, to say the least.
5 Reasons Why I'm Excited
1. It sets up for the Justice League- It will combine two of DC's biggest heroes, who are both members of the Justice League. We're getting closer and closer to the Justice League movie, which has the capacity to be better than The Avengers. As far as comics and stories go, I've also thought the Justice League was better. (It was also announced that a movie centering around the Flash will come out after the Superman/Batman film and after that will come the Justice League film.)
2. Henry Cavill is back as Superman- As many problems that Man of Steel may have had, casting Henry Cavill is not one of them.
3. Batman and Superman's Relationship- Batman and Superman's dynamic is very interesting to me, as they are almost two sides of the same coin. They have clashed countless times in the comics about how things should be handled and it'll be great to see how that's handled on screen.
4. Adding Batman Might Mean Less Lois Lane- Because let's be honest, as great as Amy Adams, the character of Lois Lane sucked in Man of Steel.
5. It's Batman and Superman in One Movie- Seriously, that's enough right there. I'm having a super nerdy freak out just thinking about it. This movie could be amazing.
5 Reasons Why I'm Worried
1. Casting a New Batman- Christian Bale has said he's done with being Batman, so a new one will have to be cast. They could choose to keep Joseph Gordon-Levitt like they set up to do at the end of The Dark Knight Rises, but that wouldn't quite work, since it's Bruce Wayne's attitudes and behaviors that lead to clashing with Superman. Honestly though, I can't think of anybody who could take Bale's place.
2. The Villain- The villain is going to have be pretty formidable in order to force Batman and Superman to work together. The problem is that the villain can't be TOO formidable, since the baddie will have to be tougher and stronger for the eventual Justice League film. I really hope Lex Luthor is used in some capacity.
3. Bad Timing- This movie is coming out in a summer that also boast Avengers 2 and Star Wars Episode 7, which will probably end up being some of the biggest movies ever. This movie definitely could be as well, but will the summer feel overcrowded? Can we handle that many nerdy things happening at once? Will it cause me to die of nerd overdose?
4. A Possible Horrible Title- While I doubt it will match the awfulness of the newly announced title for the second Avengers film (The Avengers: Age of Ultron - seriously, how bad is that) or the latest Star Trek (come on, admit it), it still has the possibility to be named something stupid. Let's keep it simple D.C. Superman/Batman is a good enough title.
5. Man of Steel Messed Up Key Aspects of Superman's Character Which Had Led to His Conflicts With Batman in the Comics - The fact that Superman (SPOILER ALERT) kills somebody in Man of Steel changes the relationship between him and Batman. Their classic squabbles were typically because Superman's morality caused him to be angry at some of Batman's methods of handling things. Of course, the fact that he has killed somebody might increase Batman's fear that Superman is too powerful (which is why Batman keeps kryptonite, just in case).
So this is what I think about the possibility of this movie. Let me know what you think in the comments.
5 Reasons Why I'm Excited
1. It sets up for the Justice League- It will combine two of DC's biggest heroes, who are both members of the Justice League. We're getting closer and closer to the Justice League movie, which has the capacity to be better than The Avengers. As far as comics and stories go, I've also thought the Justice League was better. (It was also announced that a movie centering around the Flash will come out after the Superman/Batman film and after that will come the Justice League film.)
2. Henry Cavill is back as Superman- As many problems that Man of Steel may have had, casting Henry Cavill is not one of them.
3. Batman and Superman's Relationship- Batman and Superman's dynamic is very interesting to me, as they are almost two sides of the same coin. They have clashed countless times in the comics about how things should be handled and it'll be great to see how that's handled on screen.
4. Adding Batman Might Mean Less Lois Lane- Because let's be honest, as great as Amy Adams, the character of Lois Lane sucked in Man of Steel.
5. It's Batman and Superman in One Movie- Seriously, that's enough right there. I'm having a super nerdy freak out just thinking about it. This movie could be amazing.
5 Reasons Why I'm Worried
1. Casting a New Batman- Christian Bale has said he's done with being Batman, so a new one will have to be cast. They could choose to keep Joseph Gordon-Levitt like they set up to do at the end of The Dark Knight Rises, but that wouldn't quite work, since it's Bruce Wayne's attitudes and behaviors that lead to clashing with Superman. Honestly though, I can't think of anybody who could take Bale's place.
2. The Villain- The villain is going to have be pretty formidable in order to force Batman and Superman to work together. The problem is that the villain can't be TOO formidable, since the baddie will have to be tougher and stronger for the eventual Justice League film. I really hope Lex Luthor is used in some capacity.
3. Bad Timing- This movie is coming out in a summer that also boast Avengers 2 and Star Wars Episode 7, which will probably end up being some of the biggest movies ever. This movie definitely could be as well, but will the summer feel overcrowded? Can we handle that many nerdy things happening at once? Will it cause me to die of nerd overdose?
4. A Possible Horrible Title- While I doubt it will match the awfulness of the newly announced title for the second Avengers film (The Avengers: Age of Ultron - seriously, how bad is that) or the latest Star Trek (come on, admit it), it still has the possibility to be named something stupid. Let's keep it simple D.C. Superman/Batman is a good enough title.
5. Man of Steel Messed Up Key Aspects of Superman's Character Which Had Led to His Conflicts With Batman in the Comics - The fact that Superman (SPOILER ALERT) kills somebody in Man of Steel changes the relationship between him and Batman. Their classic squabbles were typically because Superman's morality caused him to be angry at some of Batman's methods of handling things. Of course, the fact that he has killed somebody might increase Batman's fear that Superman is too powerful (which is why Batman keeps kryptonite, just in case).
So this is what I think about the possibility of this movie. Let me know what you think in the comments.
Thursday, July 18, 2013
21 & Over (2013) - Review
21 & Over - Starring Skyler Astin, Miles Teller, Justin Chon, Sarah Wright, Jonathan Keltz, Francois Chau. Written and Directed by Jon Lucas & Scott Moore. Rated R. Available on DVD.
21 & Over is written by the same guys who wrote The Hangover, and it shares many of the same elements. It features loads of drunken escapades and insane situations. It has a lead cast who have great chemistry with one another. And of course, a naked Asian male.
But while it is very similar to The Hangover, there are some differences. This time, the activities happen at a college. The film also gets a tad more serious than The Hangover ever did. Amidst all the foul language and bad behavior, the main characters also face growing apart as friends as they grow older and they face the fear of being stuck in a career they don't want to be in. But if serious moments aren't for you, there's plenty of laughs to be had in this film.
It's not necessarily the funniest movie ever, or the most original. But there are enough laughs and the cast is likable enough to make this film worth watching.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5.
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Movie 43 (2013) - Review
Movie 43 (2013) - Starring Dennis Quaid, Greg Kinnear, Common, Seth McFarlane, Hugh Jackman, Kate Winslet, Jeremy Allen White, Liev Schreiber, Naomi Watts, Anna Faris, Chris Pratt, J.B. Smoove, Kieran Culkin, Emma Stone, Richard Gere, Kate Bosworth, Jack McBrayer, Aasif Mandvi, Justin Long, Jason Sudeikis, Uma Thurman, Bobby Cannavale, Kristen Bell, John Hodgman, Will Carlough, Katrina Bowden, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Chloe Grace Moretz, Patrick Warburton, Jimmy Bennett, Matt Walsh, Gerald Butler, Sean William Scott, Johnny Knoxville, Halle Berry, Stephen Merchant, Terrence Howard, Josh Duhamel, Elizabeth Banks. Written by Rocky Russo, Jeremy Sosenko, Ricky Blitt, Bill O'Malley, Jacob Fleisher, Elizabeth Wright Shapiro, Matt Portenoy, Will Graham, Jack Kukoda, Patrik Forsberg, Ollie Sarri, Claes Kjellstrom, Jonas Wittenmark, Tobias Carlson, James Gunn, Will Carlough, Jonathan van Tulleken, Greg Pritikin. Directed by Elizabeth Banks, Steven Brill, Steve Carr, Rusty Cundleff, James Duffy, Griffin Dunne, Peter Farrelly, Patrik Forsberg, Will Graham, James Gunn, Brett Ratner, Jonathan van Tulleken. Rated R. Available on DVD.
Why does this movie exist? Why did no one take a look at this script and think "You know, this might not be that good of a movie to make"? If someone had stopped to think that, no one would have had to suffer through this complete and utterly inane waste of time, and also talent. This movie features many actors who I enjoy and respect, but now I respect them quite less.
This movie might very well earn the title of worst movie I've ever seen. It's a completely unfunny comedy. The sense of humor that permeates through this film is the sense of humor of a immature 13 year old boy. It's gross-out, potty, and sexual humor at it worst. Jokes like that are the easiest to make, but Movie 43 can't even do that correctly since none of the jokes are in the least bit funny. Seriously. I didn't laugh at this movie a single time, and I laugh fairly easily. It's so low brow that it makes the Scary Movie films look like intellectual comedies. As a point of reference, this movie starts out with a character who has male genitalia attached to his neck. It only gets worse from there.
This movie is beyond terrible. And not in a so bad it's good way. It's just plain terrible and a miserable experience all around. Don't watch it. I'm begging you.
Rating: 0 out of 5.
Why does this movie exist? Why did no one take a look at this script and think "You know, this might not be that good of a movie to make"? If someone had stopped to think that, no one would have had to suffer through this complete and utterly inane waste of time, and also talent. This movie features many actors who I enjoy and respect, but now I respect them quite less.
This movie might very well earn the title of worst movie I've ever seen. It's a completely unfunny comedy. The sense of humor that permeates through this film is the sense of humor of a immature 13 year old boy. It's gross-out, potty, and sexual humor at it worst. Jokes like that are the easiest to make, but Movie 43 can't even do that correctly since none of the jokes are in the least bit funny. Seriously. I didn't laugh at this movie a single time, and I laugh fairly easily. It's so low brow that it makes the Scary Movie films look like intellectual comedies. As a point of reference, this movie starts out with a character who has male genitalia attached to his neck. It only gets worse from there.
This movie is beyond terrible. And not in a so bad it's good way. It's just plain terrible and a miserable experience all around. Don't watch it. I'm begging you.
Rating: 0 out of 5.
Sunday, July 14, 2013
Serendipity (2001) - Review
Serendipity (2001) - Starring John Cusack, Kate Beckinsale, Jeremy Piven, Molly Shannon, Eugene Levy. Written by Marc Klein. Directed by Peter Chelsom. Rated PG-13. Available on DVD.
Serendipity is a completely unrealistic, but harmless romantic comedy. It follows two people, who many years ago spent a magical night together, hoping to find one another by relying on fate or destiny. This film is all about things magically falling into place and that's what drives every event in this film. Everything that happens in this movie is because the characters see a sign that leads them to act in a certain way.
This romantic comedy doesn't go far into the comedy side of the romantic comedy spectrum, despite having supporting actors known for their comedy roles. The two leads seem to have enough chemistry, but aren't necessarily the most likable. It's hard for me to like two people who leave their significant others on their wedding day for someone else. I know it's true love and all that, but still, that's a jerk move.
Over all, this film wasn't the worst that a romantic comedy film could be and it was still fairly entertaining. By no means is it high cinema, but it's not the worst movie your girlfriend could force you to watch on Valentine's Day or date night.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5.
Serendipity is a completely unrealistic, but harmless romantic comedy. It follows two people, who many years ago spent a magical night together, hoping to find one another by relying on fate or destiny. This film is all about things magically falling into place and that's what drives every event in this film. Everything that happens in this movie is because the characters see a sign that leads them to act in a certain way.
This romantic comedy doesn't go far into the comedy side of the romantic comedy spectrum, despite having supporting actors known for their comedy roles. The two leads seem to have enough chemistry, but aren't necessarily the most likable. It's hard for me to like two people who leave their significant others on their wedding day for someone else. I know it's true love and all that, but still, that's a jerk move.
Over all, this film wasn't the worst that a romantic comedy film could be and it was still fairly entertaining. By no means is it high cinema, but it's not the worst movie your girlfriend could force you to watch on Valentine's Day or date night.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5.
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Upside Down (2012) - Review
Upside Down (2012) - Starring Jim Sturgess, Kirsten Dunst. Written and Directed by Juan Solanas. Rated PG-13. Available on DVD.
Upside Down has a pretty interesting sci-fi premise, which is the main point of interest for the film in my opinion. I don't know how much science actually backs up this premise, but I find it interesting nonetheless. However, the focus on the film is the love story of the main characters, a love that crosses over two worlds. The story is very interesting, despite sometimes not making complete sense why certain things are happening in it. But it is definitely an unique tale. It is also quite visually stunning and interestingly shot. Some of the scenes in the movie are absolutely beautiful and breath taking. The leads do quite well in their roles, but sometimes the dialogue feels stilted. The film also uses some heavy voiceover, which I believe should only be used in extreme moderation.
I did enjoy this film and found it quite interesting. If you're interested in another sci-fi romance indie film, I also recommend the film Another Earth.
Rating: 3 out of 5.
Upside Down has a pretty interesting sci-fi premise, which is the main point of interest for the film in my opinion. I don't know how much science actually backs up this premise, but I find it interesting nonetheless. However, the focus on the film is the love story of the main characters, a love that crosses over two worlds. The story is very interesting, despite sometimes not making complete sense why certain things are happening in it. But it is definitely an unique tale. It is also quite visually stunning and interestingly shot. Some of the scenes in the movie are absolutely beautiful and breath taking. The leads do quite well in their roles, but sometimes the dialogue feels stilted. The film also uses some heavy voiceover, which I believe should only be used in extreme moderation.
I did enjoy this film and found it quite interesting. If you're interested in another sci-fi romance indie film, I also recommend the film Another Earth.
Rating: 3 out of 5.
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
The Cabin in the Woods (2012) - Review
The Cabin in the Woods (2012) - Starring Kristen Connolly, Chris Hemsworth, Anna Hutchison, Fran Kanz, Jesse Williams, Richard Jenkins, Bradley Whitford. Written by Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard. Directed by Drew Goddard. Rated R. Available on DVD and Netflix Watch Instantly.
I'll go ahead and say it. The Cabin in the Woods may currently be my favorite horror movie and one of my favorite movies in general. I find it to be quite brilliant. Without giving too much away - because not knowing much going in is essential for the first viewing - it flips the conventions and ideas behind horror movies on their head and offers a fresh take on a sometimes derivative genre. While it does have funny moments, it definitely seems more horror than horror comedy. But it's hard to pinhole this film.
The script by Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard is quite good and original. The effects are insane. The performances are fantastic (my favorite in particular are Jenkins and Whitford). The ending was not necessarily what I wanted to happen, but I still thought it was a good one. I highly recommend this movie and it's a travesty that it is not more popular than it is.
Rating: 5 out of 5.
I'll go ahead and say it. The Cabin in the Woods may currently be my favorite horror movie and one of my favorite movies in general. I find it to be quite brilliant. Without giving too much away - because not knowing much going in is essential for the first viewing - it flips the conventions and ideas behind horror movies on their head and offers a fresh take on a sometimes derivative genre. While it does have funny moments, it definitely seems more horror than horror comedy. But it's hard to pinhole this film.
The script by Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard is quite good and original. The effects are insane. The performances are fantastic (my favorite in particular are Jenkins and Whitford). The ending was not necessarily what I wanted to happen, but I still thought it was a good one. I highly recommend this movie and it's a travesty that it is not more popular than it is.
Rating: 5 out of 5.
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