Fantasy – Page 6 – Splatter: on FILM

THOR 2 The Dark World (2013) movie review

November 24, 2013October 25, 20159 Comments

Scandinavian heritage and curiosity regarding its folklore may have encouraged your ticket purchase, but no one can deny an attraction to Chris Hemsworth‘s beautiful body…of work. Avengerites across the globe sit theater-bound searching for clues in the connective tissues between the franchised Marvel movies.

Natalie Portman is finally allowed to laugh in Thor 2. It takes grizzly black goblin goo, but giddy Natalie trumps stern constipated Nat any day. She courageously glides into a galaxy far away without a hitch. She is scientific, pragmatic.

It is, as always, Tom Hiddleston as Loki who steals the show. He is the maniacal brother with daddy issues who woos an audience with ease.

Zachary Levi (best known as the lead in the tv show Chuck) adds contagious joy and enthusiasm to every scene he graces.

Riddled with humor, color, high action, and life, Thor 2 is as promised, a true comic book film bringing characters to life. It did not disappoint.

ENDER’S GAME (2013) movie review

November 20, 2013October 25, 20151 Comment

Heartbreaking. As essential questions go, this film delves deeper into the empathetic psyche forcing a mirror glance into beliefs about war and genocide than most want to explore.

A jocund former Juliet becomes starfighter as Hailee Steinfeld lifts lazer blaster to teach Ender, the young Asa Butterfield, how to win a very serious anti-gravity laser tag sphere game. The guarantee from the start is that it is all a game. The government recruits children because they lack the fear and hesitation that comes with a fully developed frontal lobe. Instinct and impulse rule decisions, so in the training camps they learn to lead and develop war strategies in interactive gaming scenarios.

Warning, this film is NOT for children, despite promotional ploys. Children love games until the mask is lifted and the game becomes real. Young men feel bulletproof in war until they understand the gravity of the task before them and see themselves in the reflection of those they are fighting. This film lifts the mask, albeit slowly.

The Last Starfighter is a parallel precursor film of sorts, and my favorite pre-teen film. It is fun,lively, and oh so 80’s. Alex Rogan, least likely intergalactic warrior, breaks the record on a video game at his trailer park only to be approached and recruited by the game’s creator who needs a Starfighter in space. Alex is left with a decision to sacrifice known for unknown and use his innate skills to take down the enemy in the real universe or go back to playing games.

Or is he? Where ignorance is bliss, knowledge negates choice. Just as Truman could never have continued the Truman Show once he knew the… truth. In the same way, Jack from Lost, knows he must go back and save the island and the Little Mermaid will never be content to swim for life. Heroes like these stand alone, optionless on the platform only to bow and wish the afflicters a hopeful “Good afternoon, good evening, and good night.

Innocence has its own beauty. It equates with child-likeness. Harrison Ford and Viola Davis do an excellent job in this film of grieving its loss when weighing the cost in the light of war. Highlighting defensive strategies allows audiences to root for underdogs. Good guys must win, until the plot twists and we don’t recognize the good guys anymore. Ender’s twist ending unmasks the essential question of the film, and therein his heartache as well.

PERCY JACKSON Sea of Monsters (2013) movie review

October 6, 2013October 25, 20152 Comments

The script is smart. Logan Lerman is stellar. Certainly this film from kid-fic is kid-friendly, but like most cartoons today this one grins all teeth with proper myth, a well-written script, and likable characters.

It’s a complete story, each character given an arch. It’s dangerous. It’s an Odyssian journey, (not to confuse the mythologies).

It’s entertaining, and it boasts scenes with the two top fellows of film and tv: Stanley Tucci …

and Nathan Fillion. Deep love.

THE LONE RANGER (2013) movie review

September 8, 2013October 25, 20155 Comments

Solid ideas, explosive execution, but they forgot to choose an audience.
It’s too scary and gory for kids (the bad guy is also a cannibal …gruesome). But it’s too silly for most adults. (Johnny’s big repeated physical joke is feeding a dead crow that he wears on his head.) It’s classic Johnny Depp in every scene. He drops one-liners and quirky quips throughout. It felt like The Hatter got a facelift. Then it just exhausted with the second layer of Johnny as an old man telling the story. Overkill. Over overkill. Deathly overkill.

Armie Hammer was a great cast for the role. He pretties up the screen and makes the character likable. The Lone Ranger icon came into existence in comic books and on televisions in the 1940’s. Echoes from my grandfather prepared me to recall of the name of his friend “Tonto” and the Ranger’s call: “Hi-Ho Silver, away!” These were not, however, enough to endear the premise of this drawn out and violent film.

WOLVERINE (2013) movie review

July 31, 2013October 25, 20154 Comments

I am sad to report that this film was a shameful contribution to an already too slobbery Wolverine franchise. I usually respect director James Mangold for his visual decisions. I loved his 3:10 to Yuma, and Night and Day was just plain fun. Though not all great decisions, I did recognize some of his signature camera angles in this, his stunt tricks like killing off the same guys more than once, and his forced Christ-pose via tethered arrows. I was surprised at his choice to spare audiences the sight of blood, perhaps keeping it PG-13. The Wolverine’s 3-prong approach is usually a bloody business. Not here.

Perhaps we blame the cuts made on the editing floor – or rather the cuts that should have been made. The Venomous skin-peeler could have made fewer appearances, said almost no lines and still perfected her 80’s snake dance move at the end. Every scene took a mini-series pace. This movie made an episode of Downton seem rushed. Hugh Jackman, though I’m a great fan of his body…of work, could have left his one liners at the door and sung this. There’s an idea! Wolverine the musical!

This tale follows our hero from Japan at the end of the Second World War to animal activism in Alaska, through too many Inceptionesque visits with nightie-clad ghost Jean Grey, and back to Japan.

Upon re-entry into Tokyo, it feels like a remake of The Karate Kid Part 2. Remember when Mr. Miyagi takes Danielson back to Okinawa? Ralph Macchio fights the angry cast off son, wins the girl who falls in love with him over a tea ceremony, and finally fights in the great battle at the end to the sound of spinning drums. It’s all here in this film. But I really missed that Peter Cetera song in this one. So, here you go:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgRw3m4h13c&feature=youtube_gdata_player

FAST AND THE FURIOUS 6 (2013) movie review

July 13, 2013October 25, 20151 Comment

It du’dnt git any betta than this.

It’s all about family, bro.

As long as the cars are fast.

I thank God for family and for fast cars.

Yes is the answer to all of your Fast and the Furious Six questions:Yes, there will be perfect jumps from fast-moving vehicles of all kinds, even from tanks and huge aircrafts.

Yes, there will be hard face punching.

Yes women are valued for their assets, meaning their strong brains and driving skills.

Yes, these hot girl(s) will be asked to take the wheel at least three times. Why? So either Vin or the Rock can jump from the car…on a bridge …to take out the bad guys …to save the world.

Yes, you should see it without kids that you are trying to influence for the better who may not understand the farce and who may decide to make these guys their roll models. No. Just no…and

Yes, there is a disclaimer in the credits that normal humans shouldn’t stunt in life, but you will be tempted.

Yes, this may fill you with knee-hugging joy that stays with you long after you leave the theater.

Yes, every low bar you set will be met.

Yes, Vin gets to finish every line.

And, yes, there will be a Fast 7.

You’re welcome, world.

STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS (2013) movie review

May 27, 2013October 25, 20158 Comments

We are here as witnesses to one another’s stories. Some stories I just wouldn’t want to miss. This film excavates human emotion while exploding (quite literally) on-screen. I love JJ Abrams. He understands my need to connect with the characters and my almost equal desire for on-screen action. He took the Trek dynasty to another level. My expectations, though very high, were more than met. I felt lucky to witness this.

Lessons in leadership: I swear it was like watching Twenty-seven Secrets of Highly Effective Leaders onscreen (…I made up that book title FYI). ie…Sometimes we must fight the instinct to go out guns blazing and instead trust the people around us to use their gifts to work together in order to win the day.

Favorite moments: The heartbreaking wordless scene near the beginning felt “Up“esque in its ability to tell a visual story. Beautiful. Brilliant.

Music in Film: I love Giacchino’s scores. I’m always listening for LOST moments in his sound.

“Stop with the metaphors, Bones!”: What did they say in the special featurette of the first JJ Star Trek film (2009)? …something to the tune of “Star Trek has always been beautiful classical music. Star Wars is rock and roll. We wanted to combine the two.” That’s what they’ve done with the new Trek films. There are so many gorgeous nods to old Trek, aka Tribbles, Spock yelling “Kaaaaaahhhhhnnn!” Oh, and that Cumberbatch… I just love it all.

Here is a link to my review of the 2009 Star Trek film: https://splatteronfilm.wordpress.com/2011/03/20/star-trek/

In this next chapter, Captain Kirk’s story needed an arch. He HAD to play the classic pompous pilot ignoring his mentor’s pleas for humility, fight an impossible battle, and sacrifice for the good of the many. What happens when we must bury our mentors? Perhaps the last lesson they taught becomes the loudest voice, the unsolved mystery, the final fight left unresolved. Frodo had to go on alone to deliver the ring. Superman had to find his birth father to fulfill his destiny. Skywalker had to become a Jedi against all odds. Each of us must listen to our mentors, make choices, and learn from our mistakes. Sometimes we must venture into the darkness of our own hearts to recognize that even heroes need saving.

OBLIVION (2013) movie review

May 4, 2013October 25, 20155 Comments

Oblivion.

More Tom Cruise than you thought possible in a single film.

Despite extensive and irreconcilable plot holes, Oblivion is visually stunning.

If you care more about the visual than the plot, you will call the unfortunate plot moments “twists.” You will quickly forgive those final lines that sound a lot like those spoken by Randy Quaid in ID4… You won’t find the title ironic, at all. You will personally resolve that beautiful people working together on a beautiful film will always make something meaningful. You will appreciate the splendor of a house in the clouds. Your belief in Morgan Freeman as the God-figure of film in this era will perhaps deepen. Your post-apocalyptic hope will grow to the point that you may even see that new Will Smith movie coming out. And your Christmas toy list will include the newest x-wing as flown by Tom Cruise in this movie.

When you see it, watch for the classical allusions to famous art and literature: A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens and the painting Christina’s World by Andrew Wyeth (1948, MOMA, NY). These are purposefully and artfully placed in the film adding richness. I appreciated the opinions of this blogger on the painting’s meaning: thefineartdiner.blogspot.com

See Oblivion on IMax. Each shot is breathtaking and sci-fi wonderful.

OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL (2013) movie review

April 9, 2013October 25, 20151 Comment

Sam Raimi directs James Franco well. Long lost are the hints of Franco’s Spring Break or his trips on the Pinapple Express. No, this is Franco the actor, Franco the deserving. He proves a multifaceted Disney-worthy come-clean heroic Wizard. I had little hope for him, or for this film, but both were a delight.

It’s well-acted and beautifully manufactured. It’s a Disney ride in itself, splash drops and all. It’s magical and illuminating, but too scary for smaller viewers. Witches prove truly wicked or purely good, while munchkins dance and fight as they should. Each character proves endearing, especially the girl from Chinatown and the primate sidekick. The story delights and comes full circle along with each of its characters, adding new insight into the origins of the famous 1939 favorite The Wizard of Oz.

I look forward to seeing it again.

JACK THE GIANT SLAYER (2013) movie review

March 10, 2013October 25, 20152 Comments

CGI may have had its heyday, but great casting, writing, and acting can never be overdone or overrated. This is a great cast.

Every year seems to sprout fresh remakes of old fairy tales. This delightful film only adds to the cannon.

Of course there is a beautiful and strong-willed princess to rescue. Of course a twisted and corrupt fiancé is hungry for the throne. Of course the hero stands as underdog.

Likable Jack (Nicholas Hoult) uses his layman’s skills and passionate heart to save the day, make his father proud, and come out on top.

Stanley Tucci steals the show as the cruel fiancé, and Ewan McGregor wins a close second as the captain protector.

It may be too frightening for children, but this story is lovely and well done.

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