Category: Sci Fi

OBLIVION (2013) movie review

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Oblivion-movie-posterOblivion.

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

Despite extensive and irreconcilable plot holes, Oblivion is visually stunning.Oblivion-Movie-2013-Wallpaper-HD2

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.

zzz Christinas World Andrew Wyeth large image

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.

Oblivion-Movie

ROBOT & FRANK (2012) movie review

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RobotAndFrankPosterIt’s sweet. I did see it right after dental surgery, so I was on some strong pain medication. Perhaps this changed my perceptions a bit, but I walked away wishing I had a robot friend like the character coyly but simply called “Robot.”
Out the door with Data from the Next Generation, with Johnny 5, with the Small Wonder. This little guy never made 3-PO quips or pulled the stunts and whistles of the little R2 unit. The voice of Peter Sarsgaard will not awaken AI to allow the machines to scorch the sky. It will not instigate the murder of the one who could destroy Skynet. It has no dream of humanity. It doesn’t dream.

So what does it do?

robot-and-frank-movie-image-frank-langella-02It listens. It cooks & cleans. It assesses quality of life, becomes a daily companion, and verbalizes only curiosity, encouragements, and suggestions to the one human to whom it is assigned.

Wow. Bianca from Lars and the Real Girl may have been upstaged by Robot in this little indie film. Newbies Jake Schreier and Christopher Ford wrote and filmed a version of this in college, then got the green light to make it with much bigger budget this last year.

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The acting cast is stellar. No complaints. I love Marsden, Tyler, Sarandon, and especially Frank Langella as the cantankerous retired cat burglar suffering from dementia.

Slower moving but not without its twist endings, Robot & Frank is worth a watch.

PROMETHEUS (2012) movie review

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Ridley Scott directs a perfect cast for this brilliant ride. Thrilling and intricate, the storyline intoxicates and lays foundation for the rest of the Alien films by the same director.

Alien (1979), staring my beloved acting coach Tom Skerritt and Sigourney Weaver, pulsed with trepidation, the stuff of true horror flicks. The magic is in the mystery, as they say. You wait for so long and see so little, but the heart races and pounds with increased dramatic irony because we don’t know what’s around that corner. This film holds back and reveals in the same widescreen way. It’s the stuff of true cinema, storm theory included.

It is Michael Fassbender‘s character, David, who throws the greatest wrench into plot give-aways and best guess-ables. He is the mimic, the learner, the emotionless android. It’s unclear until the end whether his character is friend or foe, hero or psychopath. He is, after all, the gateway opener, the translator, the well-studied journeyman, the outsider. His story is the most fascinating and most detailed. David would have been a fun character to write and act for these reasons. His character obsesses over Peter O’Toole‘s title role in Lawrence of Arabia (1962). The parallels in place sync as they should, just as Damon Lindelof, writer of the Lost tv series, plans. Scott executes scenes with cinematic beauty and brilliance.

Oh, it’s gross. Don’t get me wrong. It wouldn’t be a precursor to Alien (1979) if it didn’t have its exploding heads, strange alien worms, an entire abdominal surgery, and a dangerous woman-with-ax sequence. It’s so classic it works. I can’t wait to see it again, and now I’ll know when to close my eyes.

Watch for: the halo crowning the virgin mother figure, the storm, the sly finger in the glass, and so much more. Stay alert. The clues are everywhere.

Retraction Note: My sincere apologies to the descendants of Peter O’Toole. I meant NO disrespect when I originally noted Sir Lawrence Olivier in the title role of Lawrence of Arabia. I’m afraid I did not do my homework. Thanks to the kind reader who set me straight.

THE ODD LIFE OF TIMOTHY GREEN (2012) movie review

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I was told to bring tissues. If only confusion made me cry…

The spoilers below are ponderances following this odd film.

In short: memorable characters say purposeless lines in search of little plot.

It was Benjamin Button for kids – not a compliment. The Greek playwright Euripides once said, “Question everything. Learn something. Answer nothing.” Though I consider this a futile quest, I followed his request and sought help and insight from the two brilliant minds in the picture below to review and discuss this film. Here are many of our questions:

Timothy –

  • Why the leaves on his legs? Leaves made of steel? Oh, well if Edward had scissors for hands…

    Why the endless arm stretching when the sun came out? If he lived in Arizonawould he just stand like that all the time? Is that how he gained his super strong leaf strength? Why did Timothy know so much? Was he from the future? WAS he a tree? They planted him. He sprouted. He knew them. Did he believe in God? Is that why the gardener turned gospel singer in the end? Did the fall season correllate with his leaf loss. Why did he gift his leaves? Some of his leaves turned color. Others didn’t. Why no warning that he was leaving…or should i say leaf… no. Sorry. Too soon.

    The Town –

  • Can you base a movie on a writing utensil? – Stanleyville, home of the pencil. Very small town. Does one factory a whole town make? Jennifer Garner works in a pencil museum without mention of the boredom factor…odd.
  • Who is the crotchety museum lady?  The boss of the town? Was that drawing scene way too creepy?  Too Titanic.  And why did the town erupt in cheers when the same woman said my favorite line from the film: “If this boy can grow leaves from his legs then we can make pencils from leaves!” What does that mean? How do those connect at all?The Director –
  • I can’t tell if this film was pro-adoption propaganda or a subliminal drug / anti-drug campaign. ???
  • What’s the lesson to be learned here? Stop crying. Get tipsy. Bury your hopes in the garden. And you’ll get a Timothy who matches all your dreams??? Please say no.
  • …the gardener singing in the choir at the end? Who was that guy? Was he ashamed of his…faith? of his…green thumb?
  • Shouldn’t Timothy have come from an egg or a meteor? Like Superman or Condorman?The Family –
  • …the odd sibling rivalry? “My kid’s better than your kid.” Does that really happen to that extent? Is anyone ever that cruel to adopted children? “Now that my accomplished musician kids have performed in their home recital, you get up here and perform little boy…” Cruel.
  • …the most inane marital spat caught on camera to date? “I’m not the worst parent in this house.” ” Yes you are.” “No I’m not.” “I’m the worst.” “No I am…”
  • Who lets angry grandpa with a nasty arm pummel all the little kids at dodgeball? Parents stood around and supported this guy who usually doesn’t get invited to these surprise family picnics…?
  • …family recitals?The Girl …I saved her questions for last…
  • Why would a mean, emo, teenage girl with no friends or family to speak of choose to spend all of her time making weird hippie tree art with kid she doesn’t know?

  • Is she only attracted to those that hurt her?
  • Could she not have been given just a few lines in the movie  so we could understand her purpose there? Her one line, “Duh,” just didn’t do it for me.
  • She obviously felt super kindred with him because of her unsightly but completely hidden birthmark…?
  • The boy is 10 years old, and he chooses to “love and be loved by her?”
  • She shows up carrying signs, “I’m with ‘0’?” It’s too much.

 

Little Timothy is sweet, guileless. He can’t help himself. Jen Garn & Joel Edgerton were great, funny.  Sadly, even the 0ver-explanatory framed narrative couldn’t offer connection in this very odd tale.

TOTAL RECALL (2012) movie review – OR – Emily Dickinson at the movies

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SPlatter’s movie review:

Wake up.

Ask what is real.
Fight IRobot Storm Troopers.
Rescue Biel.
Save the world.

It’s a fiery-paced action ride with trust issues. Watch it if your hungry for 100% action and a decent amount of facetime with Colin Farrell.

I’m not exactly sure where this next bit came from, but I imagined that a film like this would be quite a shock to the system of an ancient literary figure. So, I attempted to write a review from the mind of a favorite poet. Here are her potential thoughts on this film:

Emily Dickinson at the movies

by S. Platter

If I see a film and it makes my whole body so cold no fire can warm me, I know that it is sci-fi.

In darkened room I waited

Eyes frozen, open wide,

For frame to frame unfettered

Moved time on glowing picture tide.

The characters, half-clothed,

Seemed so happily in love

That I thought I oughtn’t spy them there

In voyeuristic hove.

 

But they seemed yet undaunted

by my own presence there;

we were drawn in fast by sudden pace

and inoffensive gore.

The future in my present

Some men seemed made of steel,

And women swarmed and mannish moved

Demonstrating how I feel.

 

To fight for men, for causes yet

To sense the pressured pulse,

I was confused, but centered still,

Made stronger by the rush.

I know not when I’ll see again

Such glow of pace and force,

But God himself must meet us there

When future is past once more.

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.

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.

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.] 

CAPTAIN AMERICA (2011)

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Call me muscle-biased. Call me a patriot. Call me, Chris Evans. Seriously. I’ll answer. We’ll go out.

Everyone loves a good underdog-turned-hero-to-beat-incredible-odds story. It’s The Last Starfighter (my favorite 80’s film). It’s Frodo with the ring. It’s The Rocketeer. And it should be, as it’s made by the same director. Check out Joe Johnston‘s lovely list on IMDB.com. From The Ewok Adventure to Honey I Shrunk the Kids to Young Indy to October Sky. I’ve been blindly enjoying his work my whole life. Feed me a good story and I’m satisfied. 

Captain America feels like a complete story. Hero fights bad guy (Hugo Weaving…deep curtsy to the Matrix & its Mr. Smith). Hero loses again and again, then wins, saves lives, loves, makes bad decisions, makes good decisions, and wins at last. I love twists in film, and I the end of this one was no exception. Shield-toting, war-bond selling, enlisted man reignites the swing years with his British female counterpart, Hayley Atwell.  Okay, yes, it has a bit of an every movie feel, and you can guess what is coming next. But what’s wrong with that? Pin it up against one cowboy and alien film that I won’t name, and it’s a masterpiece. I really didn’t expect to enjoy this one. It felt to hyped, too far down in a long a line up of comic book action films. But, I loved it. I left feeling like I’d actually seen a movie – the kind we used to wish was playing. Dare to love a hero again. I love you, Captain America.

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!