Category: Fantasy

THE HOBBIT (2012) movie review

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ImageI have to respect Peter Jackson no matter what. Doesn’t he basically employ New Zealand? Even if not, Aragorn is on the side of a plane, Tolkien is a household name, and 3-hour epics are no longer reserved for ancient greats like The Ten Commandments and Gone with the Wind. My family watches these together, and we have dubbed our family home “The Shire.”

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Jackson did endeavor to make this epic unique by filming in 48 fps (frames per second), when most films are shot in 24. I suppose this was to send a constant reminder that this is not just another installment of LOTR.  An hour into Hobbit Part 1 in 3-D, however, my brother asked if my eyes had adjusted yet. No. And I’m not certain that they ever quite did.

The 3-D and 48 fps somehow made this epic feel like a British sitcom. The perfection of every image was like watching HD ultra – super realistic, like Pixar fur. Hair and make-up was still flawless, of course, so Jackson’s attention to detail has not changed.

Everything moved quicker, except the storyline. Bilbo’s internal conflict is deciding if he is worthy of an adventure, or brave enough for one. His external is being accepted into the new fellowship of 14 – all dwarves but one and Gandalf, who is lovely as usual.

The main Dwarf Theron is played by an incredible actor, Richard Armitage, (seen recently in Captain America as the Hydra spy who shoots the professor and gets chased down by Cap).

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Of course Hobbit had incredible special effects. It made me want to scour the books for details. I thought that the “riddles in the dark” sequence was perfect, making our Gollum truly pitiable. “Twas pity that stayed Bilbo’s hand.”

Still, I left wondering what was missing.

I think they forgot to help me fall in love. This episode lacked a dashing ranger from the North and kindly blonde elf, though two moments with Lee Pace almost cured me.
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Audiences need to care deeply about characters, and dwarf mannerisms leave much to be desired. It felt like another Snow White cast at times, singing eating belching fighting dwarves who can’t help but put Bilbo and the elves down. Bilbo too seemed selfish and worrisome – hardly the pure-of-heart Frodo that I expected.

Don’t worry, Mr. Jackson: angry super fans haven’t turned on you like they did Lucas for making JarJar. My sisters still call themselves Hobbits, and they will go see it again and wait for the special featured extended edition to be released before they buy it. Who knows, people may even add the grotesque Goblin King to their figurine collections.

And, I’m afraid I’ll have to go along for all three films because It’s a worthy quest. I have always wanted to  hunt a dragon.
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A favorite blog preview on this film came from someone very close to me. Here is a poet’s take on the day of the Hobbit: http://anniemaeblog.wordpress.com/2012/12/12/twas-the-night-before-the-hobbit/

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.

MOONRISE KINGDOM movie review 2012

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Wes Anderson gets it.

Whatever “it”is, you may say in that sarcastic tone. But I will keep believing, perhaps forever, that this acclaimed, genius director of detail simply…gets it. His complex and vivid characters speak with endearingly blunt honesty.

“I love you, but you don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I love you too.”

I love this face:

One of my students claims that “Wes Anderson makes children’s books that come to life.” Agreed, Becca.   Anderson is indeed a visual storyteller whose medium is life-sized diorama. The doll houses, cut in half, swing open to reveal intricately placed treasures, and as the camera pans through we understand that pieces of the story are unfolding.

He is the king of moving panoramic shots, of directness in monotone line deliveries, of awkwardness from a swash of the explicit, of color schemes, of the quintessential slow motion sequence. His style is unmistakable once you are aware of it.

I love how his brain works – how he sees the world. I would dare call this director an archaeologist, for he uses found objects ritually and often symbolically. In this film, it’s the brooch, a record player, a pair of binoculars, a scout uniform, a tent, a map, a megaphone.

This film is a love story, but somehow sadness mingles with the sweet. Heartbreak. This film is for Anderson fans, young and old, to drink in, frame by frame, with delight. Just know that it’s totally Anderson, and that it wouldn’t be without that one scene. Moonrise Kingdom‘s one scene occurs in the place where the film gets its name and is so over-the-top verbally awkward and sexual that I’m surprised they didn’t earn a higher rating.

Through the eyes of Anderson, we become fellow anthropologists and sociologists. We study the fragments and artifacts of humanity. We listen to blunt, refracted statements that leave us heartbroken then bursting with the crowd in laughter. It’s all about relationships. A husband an wife who can only talk shop,  a sad officer who has to borrow family, a powerless leader, an angry boy and girl: very real pain, very felt love. Loneliness camps out on every island spot searching for belonging, for care, for home. It is rarely secure. Here, we join Anderson on the excavation and inevitably find life beneath the dirt. And, perhaps we find that we all belong and are … kindred spirits after all.

Thank you, SIFF, for a beautiful premier at the old, glorious Egyptian Theater in Seattle.

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.

Oscar Predictions 2012

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Confession: my Oscar picks rarely match the Academy’s choice winners. I can’t help it if I’m a sucker for the underdog. But, loving a loser in this case still means loving a nominee. Second runners up dodge with dignity but remain eternal favorites.

BEST ACTOR nods to Brad Pitt‘s tux,  but George Clooney should take it home for his distraught dad in The Descendants. Gary Oldman is still too creepy despite his beloved Commissioner Gordon in The Dark Knight. In the end, Jean Dujardin will accept in French for his perfect Gene Kelly joi de vivre in The Artist.

SUPPORTING ACTOR? Kenneth Branagh in My Week with Marilyn.

Though The Help will put up a good fight, this Oscar for BEST ACTRESS belongs to Michelle Williams for her Marilyn Monroe. And Jessica Chastain is up for playing my favorite character in The Help, but she should have been nom’d for Tree of Life.

It seems the true battle cry will rise up between the DIRECTORS – all deserving. The Artist Michel Hazanavicius, The Descendants Alexander Payne, Hugo Martin Scorsese, Midnight in Paris Woody Allen, The Tree of Life Terrence Malick.

Malick may not show, Payne may be all show, Allen would dance the jig if he got it, H will bring the dog along, but the night will belong to Scorsese.

Hugo might just take BEST PIC’s statue home. But I believe that all the feel-good films that fight or first will sit it out while the little, lower budget, love song of a silent film The Artist takes first.

It’s a good year for Oscars and a decent year in film. They open with the red carpet, and the show begins at 4pm, Feb. 26. Download a ballot and cast your votes, or get the Oscar App free this week.

THE FAMILY MAN (2000) movie review

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Brett Ratner redeemed. He claims that this is his favorite of his films. I know I’ve trash talked him a bit, but I must credit him with best direction of Nick Cage. Sure Nick’s made enough terrible film choices to make you overlook this national treasure, but he’s precious in this one. This is his best character to date. His grinch-turned-Griswold kills me softly and I adore him as a Family Man.

Tea Leoni performs flawlessly, creating chemistry, making matronhood and mothering look sexy and appealing. I fall for Jeremy Piven and Don Cheadle along with the rest of the world.

“Oh, you mean this chocolate cake? No. It’s too important to me…”

It’s an inverted “Wonderful Life” story. The glimpse is the gift and the journey of the film. It answers our ever-loving “what-ifs.” Our lives are built on decisions and priorities. Who would we be if we had chosen differently? I don’t know, but “I choose us.”

HUGO (2011) movie review

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HUGO!

I thought this movie would be about a boy who wishes a robot to life and journeys to a magical land.

But, this       is not that movie.

Scorsese changes his tune and shoots a children’s flick? Nope…not really.  He does present a film in true 3D. I usually loathe 3D movies – waiting for the trick – when the bug or sword or shield flies out toward a flinching audience. In this, however, you feel that you are in the movie. Characters float in depth. You almost forget you’re watching a movie, let alone a 3D movie.

In fact, you must curb all expectations and see this film with the mind of a movie lover.

This is a film about filmmaking.

Scorsese croons a love song to his art, singing film in the lyric of filmmaker.

Toward the end, I sat stunned…glued… forgetting completely my 3D glasses. Tears streamed my cheeks as I pondered the opus. This  was an operetta of winding gears, of a singular beam of light hitting a screen, of dreams come to life, of magic.

Movie magic. Storybooks left undusted, are breathed upon and revived!

The characters are lovely, memorable. The train station plays the constant character of permanence, despite cataclysm.

Shift & surge, dream & love, but know that this is not about the people; it’s about the projection. It’s not even about the adventure. Odysseus is safely home, recounting the story to Penelope, and inviting us into the dreaming. Story pages lift and float once more.

Blessed Ben Kingsley, like  the automaton, stands in need of awakening. The boy stands as savior in desperate need of saving.

I rarely talk of my own dreams on this blog. I prefer to cuddle safely in the warm blanket of anonymity. But, in truth and blunt honesty, I dream of being a mother. And, that boy Hugo is the son of my dreams.

Visit Scarecrow Video!

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Scarecrow Video, just off of Roosevelt & 50th in the U District in Seattle has EVERY title! Ask any one of the employees as you walk in for any new release, genre, director, obscure indie or international title and their degree in film studies will register beneath the lenses, and a pointer finger will raise to the exact location of that movie. Beware. When I say EVERY movie…I mean it. Many are not for young eyes…or mine. But go.

If you remember seeing The Hunt for Red October on an old gigantic lazer disc and you’ve ever wanted to relive that experience, you can rent players there. Even VHS players (what are those, right?), and projectors for that backyard film fest. Remember that one that you saw with your mom on Turner Classics when you were little that just haunts you? They’ve got it. What’s that one Wes Anderson movie? It’s there, and they know.

So, go! Visit Scarecrow Video and support a local legend. If you have out of town guests coming in, show them Seattle and take them to Scarecrow. Let them pick the movie or take them to the Italian film section and rent Life is Beautiful for a lovely and memorable evening.  Say Hi to Kevin for me while you’re there. Shake his hand. He’s a good man.

I heart Scarecrow Video!

COWBOYS & ALIENS

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Contrived.

The cake mix of cowboy movie must-haves: dirty, gun-toting scoundrels, swigging whiskey, court’n women. Then pour a spittoon-load of current blockbuster must have’s and mix! Make the one woman on set spout feminism while standing for her freedoms naked…because she owns her ill-clad body, doggonit! Have the expressionless hero earn points with the audience by literally petting a dog…er..uh..saving a cat.Don’t forget the daddy issues, aliens with hard outer shells & useless slimy inner belly-hands, cool shooting wrist gadgets, throw backs to the holocaust (to ground it in real life), some one-take one-liners, and a mutual galaxy-wide lust for gold.
If you don’t see this movie, watch the trailer. It’s like the movie, but the content is rich and satisfying.