Snow White and the Huntsman (2012)
- Written by Benjamin -
Can amazing spectacle help overcome other issues within the film? In this instance, yes.
Blasted among critics (currently at a 46% rating on RT), this film has a much better audience rating (currently at a 74% rating on RT).
The issues with the film are obvious - Kristen Stewart is a horrendous actress. This shouldn’t be news to anyone however. She’s consistently been terrible in the Twilight films too. She has such a limited range of facial emotions. She has a smirk, a smile, and most often a look of constipation and disgust. It’s unfortunate, because this film could have used a little more brightness from Snow White.
Especially frustrating is the fact that her casting was not one of talent but more so out of commercialism. As frustrating as it may be, Kristen Stewart has a massive following of teenage girls due to her character in the Twilight films. My theater consisted of approx 40-50% tween girls.
There are a few places where this film drags, and I think the theatrical version should probably be a few minutes shorter. However, it wouldn’t surprise me if this film is released on blu-ray with a special director’s cut or an extended edition. Make no mistake, they’re going for an epic story here.
Despite Stewart’s attempt to ruin the film, there’s enough interesting stuff here to make up for it. I really hadn’t paid much attention to the players behind the camera until after the fact.Amazingly this is Rupert Sanders directorial debut. Additionally, Hossein Amini and John Lee Hancock are credited with working on the screenplay - Amini adapted ‘Drive’ and Hancock wrote & directed ‘The Blind Side’.
Chris Hemsworth may be incorrectly cast, but he is good enough to make it work. On the other hand, Charlize Theron is a perfect cast. She plays the role on another level compared to everyone else in this movie. It’s really the highlight of the movie. Plus, she gets all the cool, dramatic, slow shots too.
I had a lot of fun with this movie. For comparison’s sake, think Lord of the Rings mixed with something like Labyrinth or another 80s fantasy film set in the medieval period.
Two thumbs way up!
The Dictator: Review
By: Matt Sandy
My expectations for The Dictator were pretty low since it was not a fake documentary like Sacha Baron Cohen’s other films and shows. From the trailers I felt like it was a cheap rip off that could’ve been named Borat 2.0. The Dictator is a safe and average comedy for me, especially when the mind of Cohen is capable of much more.
In some ways my original feeling of the film rehashing some of Borat’s themes was correct. Jew jokes, female inequality, and middle eastern stereotypes all return but if you can get over the offensive material I think you will have a fun time like I did with the movie. As one of our fellow reviewers, Benjamin, points out all of Cohen’s movies basically have the same foundation: foreigner goes to American, meets a sidekick, sidekick helps progress story. I noticed this in Bruno and I believe that the formula needs to change very soon. In a cultural sense the Dictator has less to say than Cohen’s previous films, which is disappointing because that was one reason those movies were standout comedies for me. Also disappointing was how stereotypical the character development with Anna Faris’ character was.
With my complaints all piled up, it may seem like I absolutely hated the film, but honestly it was full of laughs from start to finish. While not all the jokes made me burst out loud, I found myself chuckling at almost every comedic element the film threw at me. While the themes of Cohen’s other movies are used in this film, the way the themes are explored are very different. Using variations of a traditional comedy setup gave Cohen room to explore new ways to make the audience laugh. I think this a good movie to rent if you are already a fan of Cohen’s work, but with the Summer season kicking in, your 10 dollars can be spent on a lot better entertainment.
3/5
The Avengers (2012)
- Written by Benjamin -
This movie is HUGE. Everything about it is.
The concept behind this film is pretty remarkable. To take four individual successful franchises with their own larger than life characters and fit them into a single movie is impressive. To do it this well I thought would be impossible.
Additionally, to be able to plan and execute this vision that requires so much set up demands some serious respect. The executives at Marvel Studios & Joss Whedon, they deserve a lot of credit.
This film is awesome. There are so many things this film does well, but perhaps the most impressive is that each individual character has their own mini-story-arc within the film.
Equally impressive is the action. Anyone who’s had gripes about not seeing Iron Man in action enough will get their fill in The Avengers. While Iron Man is fantastic, The Hulk steals the show each time he’s on screen. This is the best rendition of The Hulk that’s been on screen in the last decade. Don’t get me wrong though - Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye, and the Black Widow all have their shining moments too.
If I had to find a few things to complain about, it would be the film’s evil invading army. While Loki is a great villain, his army is given very little set up and filling out. We don’t know much about them, their weakness, etc. But at 2 hrs and 22 min. running time, the film didn’t have much more time to give anyone else.
I was also slightly disappointed in Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury character. We really haven’t got a chance to see him much in the previous Marvel films, and this was his chance to shine. He has his moments, but I think my expectations were a little too high for his role. He essentially plays the commander and stays on-board their massive flying control center for most of the film.
I’m trying not to make the inevitable, cliched statement, but oh well. This is my favorite Marvel film, overtaking last year’s “X-Men: First Class”. What will be difficult is what Marvel plans to do next. Will the next Iron Man, Captain America, or Thor movie feel like a let down after The Avengers? It’s going to be very difficult to top this in any way.
I guess the most deserving praise I can give this film is the following: I haven’t seen a movie in theaters twice - ever. I am planning on watching this movie again in a few hours, and am very excited to have this experience again. The truth is that we may never have another Avengers movie with the same all-star cast and characters due to contracts and other story lines. I plan on taking advantage of this opportunity as much as I can.
Avengers Assemble!
Midnight Express (1978)
- Written by Isaac -
The most depressing movie I have ever seen. So the other day I decided to watch Midnight Express. Truthfully the only reason was because it had Randy Quaid in it. I am probably one of the few people who actually look forward to Randy Quaid in a film. Anyways, the synopsis goes, Billy Hayes (Brad Davis) and his girlfriend are in vacation in Turkey and he decides to buy a couple kilos of hashish to take home to his friends in America. Just his luck the Turks have been having problems with terrorist bombings which causes them to increase their security and in turn discover Hayes trying to smuggle the drugs back home. The Turkish government is trying to improve their public appearance in the drug wars and decide to throw the book at Hayes and give him a harsh sentence. This film is based on the true story of Billy Hayes.
Hayes befriends fellow American Jimmy Booth (Quaid) and an English heroin addict Max (John Hurt). Hurt does a great job as a veteran inmate whose only pleasure in life is his next high. His life goes from the hope of getting the charges dropped to the deep slide into being trapped in a foreign prison and the complete abandonment and despair it brings. This film is really about the breaking of the human spirit. I’ll admit it is one of the more depressing films I have ever watched. The inmates are constantly abused by a power hungry warden (cliche). You get a feeling of the hopelessness and complete misery prison would bring as they break down more and more. The transition is portrayed spot on by Brad Davis.
If there is but one reason to watch this film it is for the masterful performance of Davis. The guys absolutely kills the part. The way he communicates his emotions is a masterpiece in itself. One of the most genuine and soulful performances I have ever seen. I didn’t view Davis as an actor, I viewed him as a prisoner who has lost his will to live. I truly felt a sense of sorrow for him. He pours himself into this role and completely turns into Hayes.
And like I said before, maybe the most depressing movie I have ever seen, and I think that is exactly the point.
John Carter (2012)
- Written by Benjamin -
I bet Disney wishes they could take this decision back. On paper, this film sounded like a great idea. Andrew Stanton (director of Wall-E and other great Pixar films) directing a sci-fi epic that could be made into quite a series - it was a no brainer.
Then they cast a relatively unknown lead actor. Then they surrounded him with no big names to slap on the poster. Then the first few trailers came out and wow … they were horrible.
After finally watching this film, I can say that it truly is a disaster in most respects. The frustrating part is that with the right script and vision it could’ve been a really interesting movie.
Just so we’re all on the same page, this is a hard science fiction film without a doubt. And because sci-fi films have stolen many concepts from this film’s source material, the set pieces, battles, and ideas seem recycled.
The director, Andrew Stanton, directed one of my favorite films of all time and my favorite Pixar film ever, Wall-E. I was expecting greatness from ‘John Carter’ as well.
Add this film to your Netflix queue and forget about it until it hits disc. It’s worth a rental, I guess.
Oh, and by the way, the 3D conversion is pretty awful too.
Cabin in the Woods (2012)
- Written by Benjamin -
The beauty of a film like this is that I can’t really write about any of the plot without giving anything away. Cabin in the Woods builds up and tears down all the classic horror film stereotypes in a way that is so smart and tongue-in-cheek. There will be people that ‘don’t get it’ and that’s fine - this film wasn’t made for them anyway.
Because it’s difficult to know who is actually responsible for the plot of the film, I hate to give Joss Whedon (pictured above) more credit than he deserves, but damn this film centers around a crazy concept. Whoever wrote it, they did a fantastic job. Very innovative.
Interestingly, this film’s trailer gives very little away, including a large piece of the plot that is introduced in the clever title sequence. Additionally, this movie has a few surprising cameos and has some outright humor (remember the speakerphone scene?).
I highly recommend this film, but horror junkies beware - it isn’t that horrific, especially the final 30 minutes. There’s plenty to enjoy, but the best aspect of the film is the imaginative script.
To read my spoiler section, including how this film is partially superior to The Hunger Games, click below.
The Hunger Games (2012)
- Written by Benjamin -
Writing my thoughts on this film has been very difficult. The Hunger Games is an alright movie, but I have too many issues with it to unequivocally give it a glowing review. Some of my issues relate to the story itself, which I understand can’t be fixed within the film. However, there are storytelling problems that could’ve been made clearer to the betterment of the film.
Disclaimer: I have not read the books - so the following ramblings are thoughts and feelings from watching the movie and asking my wife (who has read the entire series three times) questions. This review has spoilers … you’ve been warned!
First, let’s start with the good stuff. Jennifer Lawrence does a fantastic job in her first huge ‘commercial’ role. I would be really surprised if we don’t see her name pop up for big-time roles for the rest of her career. Unfortunately, her mood throughout the film is pretty even, as in, there’s only a few times she doesn’t look like she absolutely hates life. Stanley Tucci, excellent as always.
Additionally, on the surface, this feels like a really good film. It has an eerie foreboding mood throughout and except for the action scenes (which are cut so fast the character’s actions are constant blurs) the film is shot really well. You can tell that for the most part, a lot of care and though went into the ‘look’ of the film.
Essentially, the story’s basic elements have been told many times before. This film had the potential to dive into deeper sociological elements, but instead went for a more crowd pleasing film, which is my biggest frustration. This movie makes the tiniest scratches in material that is way more interesting than the alternatives.
For example, is it not amazing that the game makers built/developed an arena that can be morphed into whatever, whenever? Fireballs can be shot at anything, from anywhere? Wolves can materialize from thin air? These concepts are too out there for the film to just throw in whenever it is convenient. They must be built into the story, otherwise it just feels like lazy storytelling.
Another example is the reality TV aspect of the games. Other than showing a faceless crowd of people watching the games silently (except once) we are not given a glimpse into what it must be like to watch this nutty event live. What happens if everyone in all the districts just denounces the games and rebels?
The final showdown between Cato, Peeta, and Katniss is a great example too. In the scene, Cato has Peeta in a choke hold threatening to toss him off the structure into a pack of killer wolves. While Katniss is preparing to shoot, Cato gives a really interesting dialog about how he just wants to bring pride to his district - basically he’s a deranged lunatic at this point. This is a fascinating aspect of the games that seems like it should have been explored a little more.
For the movie to be centered around a game where young people fight to the death … there are only a few instances where our main character, Katniss is faced with the dilemma of actually killing someone. The first instance is when Rue is killed. Katniss immediately shoots an arrow to get even and/or defend herself against Rue’s killer. The next instance is in the film’s finale, and even then, there isn’t much moral ambiguity within that situation. I wish we could’ve known what she would have done in a truly dire situation. Is she capable of being a cold dead killer?
Lastly, let’s be honest here folks. This film was really made for the people who have read the books. Without that existing knowledge, you have to be able to give this movie a lot. A lot. I think this is where the divide comes between the devoted book fans and newbies to the series.
In summary, I thought this movie was just alright. Obviously the movie is doing gangbusters at the box office, so more than likely you’ve already seen it. Despite all of its flaws, I still think its worth seeing, even if its just to be in on the conversation.
The Hunger Games: Brief Review
- Written by Matt -
With heightened anticipation The Hunger Games released with critical praise and an overwhelming success at the box office. After watching the film I can state that aside a few annoyances, The Hunger Games is a good adaptation and a solid start for a new franchise.
First of all, I have not read any of the books so I may be oblivious to some of the fiction of the series. After talking to some friends that have read the series, I immediately would have done some things differently. My biggest complaint was the lack of explanation for the arena. It mentions the Capital custom building it, but it seemed confusing for some scenes, such as the fireball sequence. What was worst was the explanation of the wolves appearing out of nowhere. The arena, wolves, or mockingjays could have been explained more thoroughly instead of the Tracker Jackers, because in all honestly those could’ve been just regular bee’s killing someone.
Another minor complaint is the acting of Josh Hutcherson. To be fair I’ve never been to fond of his acting, but I think he is getting better. In some scenes I just didn’t buy into him. What makes up for this, is the great performances by Stanley Tucci and Woody Harrelson. It seemed like they gave took interest in their performances because every time they were on screen a layer of interest was added for me.
Finally, I have to complain about the directing. All in all it was average, but especially in the beginning, the shaky cam went overboard. I don’t mind shaky cam shots when used well like in the Bourne series. I think certain moments call for that style such as a chase scene. I guess my point is, you don’t need to use the shaky cam when you are filming a goat!
With all my complaints it may seem like I didn’t enjoy the movie, but that is not the case! I was entertained, and intrigued in this new world. I think the setting and themes are pretty ambitious, and I hope the future installments will explore them more.
Pros:
- Stanley Tucci
- Woody Harrelson
- Interesting Story
Cons:
- Spotty Performances
- Explaining
- Shaky Cam
4/5
Why The Oscar’s Don’t Matter (To Me)
- Written by Benjamin -
This weekend, the film industry’s biggest and most grandiose awards ceremony will take place. Legends will be established and awards will be handed out to the year’s … best films … right?
… WRONG. A resounding wrong to be exact.
Why am I taking such a strong stance? Because I’m tired of being told which movies are ‘the best’. I’m tired of movies that get fantastic reviews shunned from even being nominated. It’s a joke, and I’m done with it.
Angie Han, a writer for Slashfilm wrote an article this week summarizing who represents a majority of the nearly 5,800 voters for the Academy. No surprise, 94% of voters are Caucasian and 77% are male. Most importantly, the median voter age is 62, with only 14% of voters under the age of 50.
So why does this matter? How many people do you know over the age of 62 that even watched HALF of the movies you did last year? It’s no wonder why the Oscar winners are so predictable & why movies like “The Dark Knight” or “The Muppets” aren’t even nominated for Best Picture despite their excellent overall critical reviews!
Let’s look at two examples. “The Dark Knight” has a 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. This means that out of 283 nationwide critic reviews, 265 gave the film a positive review. If you can remember, “The Dark Knight” wasn’t even nominated for Best Picture. To be fair however, it was nominated for a few other awards - but not for the big one.
In 2008, there were five films nominated for Best Picture. Here’s the Rotten Tomato scores for each film:
- The Reader, 60%
- Slumdog Millionaire 94% (winner)
- The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, 71%
- Milk, 93%
- Frost/Nixon, 91%
(Full disclosure: Slumdog Millionaire was also one of my favorites from 2008).
So how does “The Reader” and “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” get nominated over “The Dark Knight”? Go back and read about the voter statistics and you’ll get my point. I could come up with this scenario each and every year.
Lastly, consider my favorite film this year, “The Muppets”. It earned a 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which means that out of 190 nationwide critic reviews, only 7 gave the film a negative review. 7 critics across the US gave the film a bad review - yet no Best Picture nomination.
I’ve given up on the Academy Awards. I will probably watch the ceremony this year but the awards will be (mostly) meaningless.
- Rant over -
This Means War
- Written by Benjamin -
I really wanted to like this film. In some regards I do. But, overall, this was a disappointment. I’m ok with some of the over the top elements when done right. This wasn’t done right.
There’s a line towards the end of the film where a character says “Just don’t think about it”, and honestly, if you have the ability to do just that, you’ll be ok. Otherwise, you’ll easily see how commercialized and plastic-y this film is. Every actor & actress has perfect features. Government employees (or assassins?) drive $200,000 Audi convertibles and have lavish multi-million dollar apartments. Everyone’s job is sooo fun too!
This film could have been worse without its excellent two male leads. Hardy & Pine play their parts really well and their charisma carries the film along as far as it can.
I think that this film’s marketing was mis-leading. It is not an action film in any way. Yes, there are action sequences, but most films have action sequences!
Perhaps I went to this film thinking it was going to be a little more serious and down to earth, which it definitely is not. It’s worth a rental whenever it comes out on blu-ray & DVD. However, until then, I would stay away.
