Category: Action

THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (2012) movie review

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A message of hope pervades Nolan‘s third in this Batman trilogy.

From chaos, order.

From death, life.

From a cave-like prison of darkness to freedom in the light.

The Bale… The Bat… The JGL… The Cat… Fast vehicles and witty chopped phrasing. This one didn’t leave me with a 2 hour migraine like the last one. It’s like Nolan found a way to use a little humor to break up the tension a bit.

I’ll admit that even in the small town theater that I saw this in, I was overly aware of the recent shooting in Aurora. I eyed the doorways and crowd members, and scenes with gunfire became brutal, constant reminders of the tragedy. The violence is inescapable.

Fear plays a persistent enemy in film and life, nagging and threatening our joy. Author John Knowles calls fear “the opposite face of uncontrollable joy.” I love that phrase, seeing joy as the conqueror of fear. Since I have often found such joy in the medium of film, I found the mingling two awkward and disconcerting. I had to let go the nagging protective voice in my head that might have wept or fled the theater.

Without knowing of the events that would surround his movie, Nolan inlaid an escape route from fear within the film. He gave Batman an innate hatred of killing. Hathaway’s throwback to the Adam West version of Catwoman enjoyed teasing Batman for his distaste for weaponry.

Nolan instilled a love of justice and a selfless care for human life in his two heroes: the masked Bale and unmasked Joseph Gordon Levitt. Both seemed to understand that a hero must sacrifice himself to save others and must never lose faith. Real enemies care only for their own interests and sacrifice all to achieve them.

This film seemed to triumph beyond the shadows of July 20th. Even the title is given new meaning. As Proverbs 30, verse 5 says, “Sorrow may last for a night, but joy comes in the morning.”

THE AMAZING SPIDERMAN (2012) movie review

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Amazing? Yes, actually.

Spidey is human, unmasked and human.

I’ve hesitated in writing this review. Perhaps the product of simple summer joy, but maybe because I was shocked to really like this one. The old plot got a makeover. They covered up the old Maguireisms and moved Aunt Mae and Uncle Ben into the city.

Andrew Garfield makes the movie. He’s the real thing. He’s an actor. Heart on his sleeve, he stands out as the fresh, spirited, adolescent Peter Parker. He gives the character youthful zeal and uncommunicative tendencies, as well as a healthy bulletproof zeal.

Emma Stone is well cast as love interest Gwen Stacey. She’s sweet – a characteristic that only a fresh director can bring out in her.

Filmmakers are storytellers, fighting the age-old battle of structure vs character development. Fortunately for us, director Mark Webb believes in both. He carefully weaves moments of truth for each character while keeping the linear plot line clean.

The teacher at the end of the film preaches his singular question of character development with the line, “There is only one question, ‘Who am I?'”

Perhaps this is the only question a character needs to fuel a hero.

THE AVENGERS (2012) movie review

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As a little girl, I dawned the red pillowcase, diaper-pinned to my t-shirt, and ran the kitchen declaring that I was Wonder Woman. Day 2, same cape: She-Ra. Then Supergirl. My brother was He-Man, Spiderman, Superman, Batman…the classics. What we both would have given for a broader knowledge of the Marvel world.

Thor wields his trusty hammer! Iron Man boasts his metal wit. The Hulk explodes with anger.
Captain America leads the charge as the eldest and fittest of the group. It looks like an ad for a fitness place. Scarlett Jo, as Black Widow, could potentially teach the best kickboxing classes, if not Zumba. Hawkeye would be the yoga instructor. He’s the perching observer with great aim. Fury could…check people in with his eye patch and brunette model assistant. Why was she there?

Phil is a favorite with his kindly voice and hero worship. I get that he represents each of us = he is the “every man,” but I was a little lost on his sacrifice making all the difference.  Oh, Loki tries to escape his Daddy issues but cannot.

Despite these few idiosyncrasies, I do believe that this film lived up to the hype and won fan fav of the year. It’s not just the ever-fans who paid to see this. This is a film for all as it can boast good good-guy fun, a clean rep, and enough explosions to keep us jumping, cheering, and conquering evil. From one pillowcase caper to another, see this showstopper and walk away as I did: feeling like I could run faster, jump higher.

WAR HORSE (2012) movie review

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Spielberg, no doubt hoped for an epic. I’m sure that equestrians and fans of Spielbergian battle sequences will find this film perfect. A trusted, film-loving friend of mine dedicated herself to 3 viewings of this film in the theaters. She loves all things Cumberbatch and Hiddleston. Agreed. They are lovely. If only I could dream in such cinematography. Gorgeous in every frame, of course.

I however, found it lacking in story and character development…possibly my two great musts in film love. It was hard to empathize with the horse. The facial expressions were hard to read. Perhaps a method actor?

Other characters came and went so quickly, we barely had time to buy in. Most seemed interesting, but doomed. And, all were tragically doomed.

WWI feels redundant at best, neck deep in trench muck. Not even the great creator of Band of Brothers could make this war seem a worthy front for fighting.

One scene stood out from the rest, making a moment of life-changing film watching for me. It was worth the rental and the whole watch for me. The horse is tangled in barbed wire between the two front lines. A momentary truce is called, white-flagged to save the horse. Two soldiers, one German and one British, meet and greet and chatter congenially while working together to set the horse free. They wish each other well and walk back into battle reminding the other to keep his head down. The beauty of this moment, of peace and good will, mingles in the odd confusion of duty and conflict between brothers at war.

HUNGER GAMES (2012) movie review

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Reality TV becomes social political commentary in the 2012 film Hunger Games.  It’s a bruital Truman Show with show hosts, sponsors, and producers ruling like a mythological godhead. Then like in the Gladiatorial arena, the thumb lifts selecting life or death.

No. I haven’t read the books. Now I don’t think I can. I almost walked out of the theater three times. There I sat, knowing conceptually that the games were a Shirley Jackson-esque Lottery ending in murder, but the promise of a “bloodbath” was sure to be fulfilled and suddenly more than I could take. It felt like seeing Clint Eastwood‘s Million Dollar Baby. I knew it was about boxing, but I’d forgotten until I was sitting there in the theater that girls would be punching each other in the face. Certainly, the director handled the carnage in Hunger Games like a Bourne or Bond film with fast hand-held camera shaking around the action followed by a montage of dead children. Dead children. Children murdering children. That’s what this film is about. I’m wrecked, disgusted, befuddled. Why the hype? Why the encouragement? Why will we all take time to see this? From concept to box office, however, this has not been a hard sell. Why?

It released at midnight, and I saw it less than 24 hours later. As I’d hoped, the theater was full of fans, the best and worst crowd to see a movie with because they know what is coming and because they know what is coming. I heard anticipatory sobs before pivotal deaths happened.

Okay. So, it’s brilliant. It’s a could-be post-apocalyptic America. It’s the French Revolution. The commoners must rise up against the aristocracy. Big Brother must not win despite his sci-fi magic dogs and hallucinogenic killer bees. So, the people must fight. Sacrifices will be made. A hero must rise up. The chosen hero is Katniss Everdeen. She will be a symbol of relief and freedom. She cheated the games – a true tribute. I love that she only fights defensively and ever out of mercy. We love her first for breaking small rules, for showing skills with a bow, for loving her sister, for parenting her family, for surviving. We love her would-be boyfriend for loving her, for his beauty. Oh, that Hemsworth family…

Casting is possibly perfect. Woody Harrelson endears himself like he hasn’t since Cheers. His character redeems the story – a true mentor who knows well the special world of the arena, a true coach and friend. I like that his character is messy, honest, crude, and trustworthy.

Lenny Kravitz steps in as the stunner with heart.Stanley Tucci, as usual, can do no wrong. Wes Bentley‘s facial hair stands alone. I love him. Well done, costuming and make-up.

Even young Josh Hutcherson stands out as a precious Peeta. I believe that he loves her and always has. Lovely. And, Jennifer Lawrence remains the new it girl.

 

Donald Sutherland, as always, gives the cast credibility. I’d cast him as F.D.R. someday, the beloved father and strong politician. These characteristics make Sutherland a viable villain as well. He calmly tends his roses as we figure out that he‘s the thumb calling life or death. He’s the dictator offering a socialist hope while disguising a communist regime. The quintessential line of the film is his. He comments that the only weapon greater than fear is hope. Katniss represents the hope for the common people, those still starving to death in prison camps beyond the gates of the golden city. War will be the inevitable outcome of these Hunger Games, but I hope the war doesn’t manifest off-screen in evermore gratuitous youth violence.

JOHN CARTER movie review (2012)

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Dedicated to Steve Jobs, this high budget, high concept film essentially offers another cowboy meets aliens film with far less gimmick but a lot more Disney. It feels a bit like Return of the Jedi meets Prince if Persia meets Avatar. Watch for legitimate Jedi allusions. It was a blast. Decent writing – its far cleverer than I presumed, funny and pretty classy.

Riggins returns as a warrior with nothing left but self interest and gold lust until one day…the inciting incident of this film transports you from High Noon to Tatooine.

This title role was originally created one hundred years ago as a sci-fi novel series. John Carter, as a character, is truly likable.

His strong female counterpart, though beautiful with a sultry dark voice, would be better cast as antagonist, or sister, or queen of hearts, or the one-scene seductress. The character feels monotone at best, but I think I’d fire her costume designer first. Another odd choice was the robed Mark Strong – classic bad guy since he dawned the cloak and angry eyes in the first Sherlock. He’s back, bald, still bitter, and holding all of the cards. Otherwise, casting was lovely from Cranston to Church, (as in Bryan Cranston of Breaking Bad fame who plays Powell, a Civil War scoundrel, and Thomas Haden Church who voices one of the inhabitants of Mars).

Fortunately, the title role does for this film what he did for Friday Night Lights. He looks good, adds heart, and fights until he wins the day.

SHERLOCK HOLMES: A Game of Shadows (2011)

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Not the usual second. Seconds usually infer either more of the same or the meanness of second skimmings.

In the case of Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, I see ingenuity, creative freedom, and brilliant new camera work and effects. It maintains the same quick wit, cool chemistry, slow-motion prep scenes, and dry British charm while delivering well-paced action.

To quote Sherlock himself, so overt it’s covert.

This brilliant film stands alone and should be seen again.
The ticket price was worth it to see the war in the woods scene a second time.

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE 4: GHOST PROTOCOL (2011) movie review

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I wanted to walk right back in and watch it again on the biggest screen possible –and that’s rare for me, even for an action flick. It’s lousy with intensity, explosions, and hand-to-hand fight scenes. It also has this lovely hand-of-God element, forcing a slight hesitation from each actor before the big jumps and big missions. They aren’t as cocky anymore. They shoot from the hip, on hunches, but don’t negate the possibility of death. This element makes it more suspenseful, and possibly more fun. Attainable. Personal. I maybe want to be a spy…or just write spy flicks.

Perhaps this level of pleasant, humble humanity stems from the writer / director, Brad Bird, who is new to live action. He is most famous as writer / director of both Ratatouille and The Incredibles. Impressive mantle to take on the next of the MI series.

Such a tease to play Sawyer’s (Josh Holloway) cocky mug in the beginning. Oh, J.J. Tom Cruise is back in impressive array, doing his own stunts, and taking it for the team. Despite his quirks, he’s a real movie star. Perhaps the memory of his crazy couch jumping incident lies dormant in the shrouded tomb of Oprah’s show. If Ghost Protocol is his awakening, I can’t wait to see what he comes up with next.

IN TIME (2011) movie review

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RECIPE FOR DISASTER:

  1. Choose cast from latest Teen Vogue’s celeb update. Only.
  2. Choose cast first.
  3. Costumes 2nd. Use the prom section of the magazine.
  4. Brainstorm with pre-teens. Know your audience. They like running, jumping, cool explosions, kissing, dangerous car kissing, twists with time, hot people, and glow-in-the-dark stuff.
  5. Figure out how to keep the whole cast under 30. This is critical. 30 is like…the age of death. Jk. But seriously.
  6. Make it so the highest paid celebs die at the beginning.
  7. Let Amanda Seyfried improv all her lines. She’s totally good at it. She’s all…”don’t steal my time, you bleep bleep man!” That’s money.
  8. Time is money.  [On a serious note, this film reads socialist propaganda to me. Time is the currency. When it’s held from the people and only the rich get richer…time should be shared. This is the message of the film. Time should be free. Everyone should have equal time. Timberlake’s Robin Hood kidnaps his Maid Marian (Seyfried) for a high speed crime spree robbing the rich. Wow. Deep. New… can you sense the sarcasm? …This is not a very good film.] 

THE THREE MUSKETEERS (2011) movie review

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A new Three Musketeer movie? It must have a new plot!

It doesn’t. The exact story arises in fairer face.

It must be full of adventure and excellent special effects? Oh it is. It’s better than most movies on the Scifi channel.

It must have a stellar cast? It does at that. Orlando plays an unbelievable bad guy. Really. I don’t believe him as the bad guy. The boy brings a bit of redemption. But just when your hope grows, it also deflates.  Suspense builds, but to what end? For me, the end came about thirty minutes in when I’d had enough of Milla Jovovich’s expressionless American accent in France and the pointless musketeer dialogue. Not even the promise of another sword fight could keep me in my seat.

Have you seen the 1987 Rob Reiner comedic masterpiece Princess Bride? Then you’ve heard much of this script. Stolen. Line for line. “Oh, this gate key.”  “…anyone else is trying to sell you something.” “Take Buttercup.” Sure, in this one Buttercup is a horse…