Transformers

I remember seeing the first teaser trailer. The audience was confused by the Mars Rover footage, then we saw the robotic silhouette and the murmuring began. Then the title Transformers appeared on the screen and there was a testosterone cheer that shook the theatre. This is the movie everyone’s been waiting for. It was even given the ludicrous MTV Movie Award for Best Summer Movie You Haven’t Seen. My expectations were high at first, until I saw the first full image of a transformer. As those who have talked to me in the last couple months know, I had some issues with the movie from day one but I’ll get to them after I tell you about the good stuff.

Transformers is the typical Michael Bay film. It has the slow-motion low angle 180 degree arc around the main character as he slowly gets up. It has the soldier silhouettes walking around a hangar. It has the slow motion Americana shots of people and buildings just before they get obliterated. It has the highly explosive action sequences you have come to know and love. It has the music that is reminiscent of The Rock and Armageddon combined. And it has the wide array of main and supporting characters with great one-liners mixed with action movie clichés. I like Michael Bay films. I like Bad Boys, The Rock, Armageddon, The Island, Bad Boys II and even Pearl Harbor. (The latter one for the action and characters, not the historical content.) So this film was right up my alley when it came to the filmmaking. Michael Bay knows how to move the camera. There is a great shot of a transformer changing overtop a woman standing in the street; it looks awesome. So visually this movie rocks.

The human cast also does some fine work. I didn’t think that I would like Shia LaBeouf (Holes, Disturbia, Indy 4). He was great. He plays Sam Witwicky, the nervous teenager, perfectly and keeps the energy going throughout the movie. His love interest, played by Megan Fox (Hope & Faith), does a good job stringing him along. Anthony Anderson is very funny as a signal analyst and Bernie Mac is fun to watch as a car dealer. John Turturro goes slightly overboard as an FBI agent but still manages to make it work. Sam’s parents, played by Kevin Dunn and Julie White, are hysterical, as they don’t know how to deal with their son. Josh Duhamel (Las Vegas) and Tyrese Gibson (2 Fast 2 Furious) are your cliché spouting soldiers and Rachael Taylor plays the “typical” unbelievably hot signal analyst. Apparently, the government only hires good-looking people. No Ugly Bettys here. Probably the biggest waste of talent is Jon Voight, who is usually menacing but is given very little to do in this film.

So the cinematography is great, the cast is great and even the story works. Well, except for the fact that they decide to hide a valuable object in a highly-populated area so more people can accidentally get injured or killed.. So what’s wrong with the film? I think it’s the transformers themselves. Now I want to preface this by saying that I’m not trying to be a LOTR-type purist, but if you’re going to mine my childhood for some quick cash, you better make it look how I remember it.

Now there are some things I have come to terms with regarding the design of the Autobots. At first, I was annoyed that Bumblebee was made into a Camero instead of the classic VW bug, but I head that Volkswagon was asking for an insane amount of money, so Michael Bay said screw you. It also makes a scene where Bumblebee wrecks a VW that much more funny. I was also not a big fan of the muscular design of the transformers. I remember them looking more boxy instead of this toned figure with every little car part adding to its muscle mass. But then again, there have been newer anime cartoons of the Transformers so maybe that’s where they got the new sleeker inspiration. I was very happy that they got Peter Cullen to reprise his role as the voice of Optimus Prime. I also like the attitudes they gave the rest of the Autobots; it not only reminded me of the series but they also took a step further. I still laugh when I think of Optimus Prime saying “My bad.” There is a fantastic scene in Transformers where the Autobots are trying to hide in Sam’s backyard. This is what made the movie work for me. So there, I loved the Autobots. Too bad they screwed up the Decepticons.

For those who grew up with the Transformers, I’m sure you remember the Insectacons and Constructicons, but the big three baddies were Megatron, Starscream and Soundwave. All three are ruined in Michael Bay’s Transformers. First of all, Megatron is a gun, not a jet. And while I think Hugo Weaving does great evil voices, why not get Frank Welker, who did Megatron’s voice from 1984-1987, to come back. He’s does Santa’s Little Helper’s voice on The Simpsons, I’m sure he was available. I was also annoyed at the voice of Starsceam. He’s supposed to be whiny. The original was Chris Latta who also did Cobra Commander’s voice, but he unfortunately died in 1994. Still, Charles Adler could have made Starsceam more annoying.

The one villain who got the shaft was Soundwave. Sure, Soundwave is a tapedeck and the kids would get confused, but he’s a classic. Now at first I thought they had reduced this character to a Dead Like Me-type graveling instead of the towering monotone foot soldier he is. But looking through the credits, the gremlin creature is named Frenzy, who happens to be one of the cassette henchman Soundwave controls, much like Ravage and Rumble. So, I guess I can forgive that as well. My main issue with the Decepticons in this film is that they aren’t given enough personality. Action movies need dynamic villains. This is the one place where Michael Bay’s Transformers fails.

For some, the villain thing is minor issue and I realize I’m a bit of a freak when it comes to things like this. In conclusion, you should definitely see this film in the theatre. Like you need me to tell you that. It’s the eye-candy you’ve been waiting for and as they say throughout the film, it’s more than meets the eye. And it’s more than meets the trailer.

Reviews coming soon: Ratatouille

Live Free or Die Hard

The name Die Hard is synonymous with action flick. When it came out in 1988, it not only propelled Bruce Willis into stardom, but it also changed the nature of the action genre. What was so cool about Die Hard was that almost the entire film took place inside the Nakatomi Building. (Well, that and Alan Rickman’s Hans Gruber is the bomb.) The film was so influential everything got compared to it: Under Siege was “Die Hard on a boat”, Passenger 57 was “Die Hard on a plane”, and Speed was “Die Hard on a bus.” So does the fourth installment, Live Free or Die Hard live up to the original? Of course not, but it is one hell of a ride. Most people would agree that Die Hard 2 was too self-referential and that Die Hard with a Vengeance was pretty sweet with the addition of Samuel L Jackson as Zeus, but I think Live Free or Die Hard might be my second favourite in the Die Hard series. Why is this film not as good as the first? Well, the joy of Die Hard for me is that it takes place in one restrictive location. Ever since, the series has gotten less and less restrictive: from building to airport to New York to the entire Eastern Seaboard. I’m guessing Die Hard 5 will be international and Die Hard 6 will be in space. (There is talk of a fifth one.)

When you go into a Die Hard film you need to expect the following: taunting comments from Willis’ John McClane, stunts that are way beyond the realm of possibility, and a “yippee-ki-yay motherfucker.” Check. Check. And Check (even though it’s muffled due to its first PG rating). Live Free or Die Hard has all that you should expect in a summer big-budget action flick. I walked out of the theatre entertained and a little deaf from the sound. Good times. Bruce Willis is back in his element as John McClane, the New York cop in the wrong place at the wrong time. He has the same smirk and same creative methods of putting away bad guys, but he gets beat up a little more easily this time around. Some of the bad guy deaths are a little grizzly but McClane always undercuts it with a sound of triumph and disgust. It’s those responses that seem to bring McClane down to earth despite his over-the-top stunts.

While I enjoyed Sam Jackson’s banter with Willis in Vengeance, I loved seeing Justin Long (Accepted, Ed, Mac commercials) taking on the role of sidekick. Long is very funny as geeky target, Matt Farrell. I loved how his character is so impressed with everything John McClane does. It’s like he’s channeling the audience. The differences in age and skill definitely add to the chemistry between Willis and Long. The supporting characters do fine work as well. Timothy Olyphant (Go, Deadwood) is fun to watch as the cyber-villain of this installment. He’s no Alan Rickman or Jeremy Irons, but what do you expect? He may not be as lethal but he gets to have some fun lines as he demeans his crew. Maggie Q (MI:III) is awesome as Olyphant’s kick-ass assistant. She is both sexy and scary in her combat scenes with Willis. I wonder why she wasn’t the one in charge? Kevin Smith (Clerks, Catch & Release) also makes a cameo in the film as a fellow hacking nerd.

The story of using computers to shut down America worked for me. I like that John McClane is out of his element when it comes to technology; it only serves to strengthen his dependence on Justin Long’s character. But what I really liked about Live Free or Die Hard is that McClane’s family is back on the line. With the kidnapping of Lucy McClane (now all growed up), there is something more to fight for. I think that was the element missing from Vengeance.

This is a movie to see on the big screen. This is what the big screen is made for. Live Free or Die Hard is full of intense action sequences that will lose its power on the smaller television or computer screen. The freeway tunnel accidents won’t have the same impact at home. Oh, but if you’re looking for realism, you might want to stay away. I mean Willis jumps from a shot-up rig to an out-of-control jet wing to a destroyed highway while avoiding a giant fireball. But that’s John McClane. That’s Die Hard.

Reviews coming soon: Transformers, Ratatouille

1408

I usually know what movies I’m going to watch each summer; it’s pretty much planned out in May. I know I’m a freak. Every once in a while, a movie comes in under the radar, a movie I haven’t even heard about, but is getting lots of critical acclaim so I have to watch it. 1408 is one of those movies. It’s a ninety-minute suspense thriller adapted from a Stephen King short story starring John Cusack. I’m sold.

This movie is must see. The basic plot is John Cusack plays a writer who travels around and debunks haunted hotels and such. Then he hears about Room 1408 in The Dolphin Hotel. He takes the “challenge” and asks Samuel L Jackson’s hotel manager if there are “ghosts or specters” haunting the place to which Jackson ominously replies, “It’s an evil fucking room”. And that it is. The room has a mind of its own as it gives Cusack’s Mike Enslin one hour to live. Now in case you’re wondering, this movie isn’t torture porn like Saw and Hostel; it isn’t gory and there is only a little blood. What this film does have is suspense and disturbing images. It’s a psychological thriller. I would say it’s like The Shining with a much faster pulse.

John Cusack gives a tour-de-force performance in this film. Basically, it’s just him in Room 1408 for an hour. Cusack’s Mike Enslin goes through a wide range of emotions as the room starts to toy with him. I found his skepticism to be easily relatable and the audience gets pulled along as Enslin slowly gets convinced of the evil presence within the hotel room. What I actually found impressive was how well Cusack could cry. I have seen a lot of male actors try to cry on film and it usually looks terrible. The tears coming out of Cusack were totally believable. This guy is a much better actor than people give him credit for. This movie is worth it for just the acting experience alone.

Of course, it’s Stephen King’s brilliant story that keep the audience on their toes. If you are a fan of suspense, there are a couple of things you can see coming but then there are twists that will throw you for a loop. What’s really weird is that the pace of this movie is quick even though not much is happening on the screen at times. One of the things I love most about 1408 is that it’s only ninety minutes long. They tell their story and they finish it well. Hollywood seems to think that I want to see longer movies in order to get my money’s worth. That couldn’t be further from the truth. I would much rather see a well-plotted, well-acted hour and half over a poorly-scripted, three-hour mess any day.

In conclusion, if you like suspense, you have to see this movie. I won’t take no for an answer. You really gotta trust me on this one.

Reviews coming soon: Live Free or Die Hard, Transformers, Ratatouille

Evan Almighty

This is likely to be the review that most people will disagree with but I actually enjoyed Evan Almighty. Sure it has many flaws, most of which I would usually use against the film, but I still found myself liking what happened. Now, bear in mind, I went in with the lowest of expectations; it was basically Steve Carrell that got me into the theatre seat. You have to admit that Carrell is on a roll right now. However, if you are hoping for Bruce Almighty caliber, keep hoping. This film is a little more restrictive than Bruce but I’ll get to that in a minute. Let’s start with the flaws.

If you remember in Bruce Almighty, Steve Carrell and his gibberish newscast practically stole the film from Jim Carrey. That’s an impressive feat. Carrell played Evan Baxter, a pretentious news anchor who’s basically a jerk. In Evan Almighty, this character is now a nice, clean freak with some slight family issues. Apparently, Evan did a 180-degree character shift since that last film. That’s the first flaw. The second is the wife’s utter disbelief. Even though Joan Baxter, played by the loveable Lauren Graham (Gilmore Girls) is a good Christian wife who is all for reading the Bible and praying, she cannot accept the fact that her husband is turning into Noah. Evan is able to grow amazing facial hair overnight, he is in possession of enough wood to build a gigantic ark, exotic animals are following him home, what’s not to believe? I think the constantly growing facial hair is enough of a sign. What reason would he have to lie? The last major flaw in Evan Almighty, is the horrific cast/crew karaoke over the credits. Evan’s little victory dance (trying to match Carrey’s “It’s good” catchphrase) is blown out of proportion to the grating sounds of C+C Music Factory’s “Everybody Dance Now”. It was a terrible decision. There’s Something About Mary’s “Build Me Up Buttercup” and 40 Year Old Virgin’s “Aqaurius” were right on the money; this was anything but. What an unfortunate end.

But here’s what I liked about Evan Almighty. The story was simple. I had to laugh at one of the critics who complained that the story was too simplistic. In a time where the complex storylines of Spiderman III and Pirates III are sinking franchises, give me simplicity. The story is a nice modern-day version of Noah and the building of the ark. There is an unnecessary sub-plot about the wrecking of the environment but I can easily forgive that. The supporting characters do their job; the usually irritating Wanda Sykes gets a few good one-liners and John Goodman plays a good-enough bad guy. The standout for me was Jonah Hill (Accepted, Knocked Up) as Eugene, the knowledgeable intern. This is one funny guy with fantastic comedic timing. I’m looking forward to his work in Superbad with Arrested Development’s Michael Cera. Of course, Morgan Freeman is wonderful as God. He has the perfect mix of kindness, humour and seriousness. And even though Evan is now a kindler, gentler man, Steve Carrell still gets to have some fun.

Evan Almighty is not as outrageous as Bruce Almighty but there are two big reasons for that. First, it’s rated G. This is meant to be a family film; therefore things need to be a bit tamer. There’s no orgasm jokes in this one. Some of the fun is meant solely for the kids, like birds pooping on people. The second reason is that we’re now dealing with a Biblical character. Bruce was just a wacky individual who challenged God; Noah is figure from the Old Testament. This film is more respectful in tone; it doesn’t feel the need to become blasphemous. So there isn’t as much edginess in Evan Almighty; it’s a different movie, despite the same director and some returning actors. You need to ignore the Bruce Almighty factor if you want to truly enjoy this film. I’m sure some of you will say that the movie is too simple and preachy. Maybe I was just in the mood for that. Sue me.

Reviews coming soon: 1408, Live Free or Die Hard, Transformers

Ocean's Thirteen

I loved Ocean’s Eleven. I thought it was slick, funny and exciting. George Clooney’s suaveness, Brad Pitt’s eating, Matt Damon’s deer-in-headlights look, Scott Caan and Casey Affleck’s bickering, Bernie Mac’s racial taunting, Don Cheadle’s gleeful pyrotechnics; this film was so much fun to watch. The lines were sharp, the cinematography was smooth, and the story sailed. It was one of my favourite movies of 2001.

I didn’t like Ocean’s Twelve. I thought it was tired, pompous and slow. George Clooney and Brad Pitt are left in jail with most of the gang. Matt Damon, Don Cheadle, Scott Caan and Julia Roberts are left to do all the dirty work. Catherine Zeta-Jones was boring, the locations weren’t hip and the dialogue was too tongue-in-cheek. It’s like the cast was having fun but didn’t let the audience participate in it. It was poor use of resources.

I really like Ocean’s Thirteen. The slick, funny and exciting elements are back. It’s like this group of well-connected stars are apologizing to their audience. Director Steven Soderbergh actually wanted to call the movie Ocean’s Thirteen: The One We Should Have Made Last Time. (I’m guessing the studio wouldn’t let him.) It’s still not as good as the first one, but that’s a pretty hard thing to do. I was just happy to be having fun again.

The story of revenge is a great device to bring the group back together again, sans Julia Roberts and Catherine Zeta-Jones (Thank God). The task of rigging an entire casino to loose millions in 3.5 minutes is both challenging and fun to watch. I’m a big fan of heist movies, especially ones where they let you in on how it can be accomplished. Of course there will be some ‘unforseen’ snags but that just adds to the excitement. This was one of the elements missing from Twelve; they didn’t show you what happened until the very end, leaving the audience out of the loop and scratching their head. Trying to trick a casino is next to impossible, which makes this story so fascinating and enjoyable. From rigging shufflers to weighting dice, the task has each member of the thirteen doing what they do best.

As much as I like the work of George Clooney and Brad Pitt, I loved the supporting players in this one. Caan and Affleck’s Malloy brothers are hilarious as they take part in a protest. Matt Damon, with the large fake nose, is great as the nervous seducer. And conversations with the Amazing Yen are hysterical. I love how there are no subtitles and the rest of the characters simply know the language. Al Pacino did his smarmy best as Willie Bank, but that should be expected. I think my only surprise was the lack of Bernie Mac in this installment. Even though his name is on top of the bill, he wasn’t given much to do this time around.

My only disappointment with this movie was that Topher Grace didn’t have a cameo. His scenes as a terrible card player and destructive actor in the first two films were hysterical. I would have loved to see a small moment with Grace and Pitt. But that’s all I have for complaints. I had fun watching this movie. Granted my expectations were low. Not only was this a threequel, but I was suckered by the Ocean Twelve ads before and didn’t want to be fooled again. So maybe that’s the trick: expect to see Twelve's caliber and you’ll be overjoyed with lucky Thirteen.

Reviews coming soon: Evan Almighty, 1408, Live Free or Die Hard

Knocked Up

“From the people who brought you The 40 Year Old Virgin . . .” actually means something. I hate those ads that say, “the studio that brought you”, who cares what a studio did? I want to see the next project from the same director, actors and writers. These people who brought us The 40Year Old Virgin, a movie that while raunchy had a heart at its core and cemented Steven Carrell as a star, have now given us Knocked Up. Like Virgin, this film also contains some over-the-top disgusting scenes but despite that, you end up caring about the characters.

You can thank writer/director/producer Judd Apatow for giving this movie a strong base. It’s kinda like Apatow bakes the cake and the actors add all the frosting and sprinkles on it to make it even more delectable. I’ve been watching Apatow’s earlier TV work on The Larry Sanders Show and have found that this writer/director knows how to perfectly mix the crass, the realistic and the heart. I find it both funny and sad, that when he made his critically acclaimed shows Freaks & Geeks and Undeclared, America and the networks practically shunned him and now he is one of the most sought after comedy writer/directors in Hollywood. If you haven’t seen Apatow’s early stuff, you should definitely go down to the video store and rent these gems. I’m sure you’ll recognize most of the cast.

Seth Rogen is awesome. I love that the poster of Knocked Up is just his face with the tag line “What if this guy got you pregnant?” Rogen has always been good at interjecting the hysterical one-liners in film and television, but in this movie he has to do so much more. The audience needs to care what happens to him, and I think he pulls it off beautifully. He still has the crackling wit and dumb-guy humour, but he also manages to have (I’ll keep saying it) heart. One of the funniest moments for me was when his Ben Stone character is describing his BC heritage, seeing as Rogen is actually from Vancouver. I’m looking forward to Rogen’s work in Superbad which comes out soon. He is a funny, funny guy.

Along with Rogen is the surprisingly funny Paul Rudd as Pete. Rudd’s earlier work included Clueless, The Object of My Affection and Romeo + Juliet, now he’s this extremely funny guy in Friends, Anchorman and 40 Year Old Virgin. He works very well with Rogen as was evidenced in their “You know how I know you’re gay” routine from Virgin. Katherine Heigl (Grey’s Anatomy) and Leslie Mann (Big Daddy) do a great job as the counterparts to these funny guys. The rest of the cast have small but incredibly funny roles throughout the film including Jason Segel (Freaks, How I Met Your Mother), Jay Baruchel (Undeclared, Million Dollar Baby) Jonah Hill (Accepted) and Alan Tudyk (Dodgeball, Serenity). Some of the standouts are Kristen Wiig who channels her quiet, cutting down character from SNL, and Ryan Seacrest playing himself as a total jerk. I was also amazed that Harold Ramis (Ghostbusters, Orange County) actually looks like he could be Rogen’s dad.

The story of Knocked Up contains a good message about taking responsibility, just like 40 Year Old Virgin talked about waiting until marriage. And while some of the scenes seem a little sitcomy and cliché with their montage sequences, there are plenty of laugh-out loud moments that will keep you laughing through the next scene. I will never look at hotel chairs the same way again. This movie is definitely for an older crowd and not intended for young teenagers. If you liked The 40 Year Old Virgin, you’ll like Knocked Up; I’m not going to say better or worse, because I really feel that they are equal in story, quality and humour. I guess that’s what you get when you get a movie “from the people who brought you . . .”

Reviews coming soon: Ocean’s 13, Evan Almighty, 1408, Live Free or Die Hard

Hot Fuzz

It’s a shame Hot Fuzz didn’t get more exposure in North America. In the UK, this film was a smashing success; here it was barely seen. I think the name of the movie had something to do with it. To some it sounds dirty, even if it is referring to the police. I would say maybe it was because Americans aren’t huge fans of British humour, but that wouldn’t explain the success of Snatch or Monty Python. In fact, Shaun of the Dead, which was made by the Hot Fuzz people, did very well. So colour me confused.

Hot Fuzz is the very definition of homage. In my media class, I sometimes talk about the differences between parody and homage. A parody is often more specific and mocking in tone. Classic parodies are found in scenes from Airplane!, The Naked Gun, Hot Shots, and to a lesser degree Scary Movie. An homage is more respectful in tone and looks more at the style of filmmaking. Simon Pegg (Mission Impossible III), Nick Frost and director Edgar Wright have taken the big-budget Bruckheimer genre and turned it on its ear. Not only do they poke fun at the action genre, but they start to revel in it. You can tell that these people enjoy American action flicks, just like they enjoyed the zombie genre in Shaun of the Dead. I also enjoy the stereotypical summer action blockbuster, so this film was an absolute treat to watch.

Simon Pegg and Nick Frost are a comedy dream team. They play perfectly off each other and have instant chemistry. In real life, these two have been friends for years and used be roommates, or flatmates as they would say in England, and it shows on the screen. With them are a number of gifted British actors including Martin Freeman (Hitchhiker, Love Actually, UK’s The Office), Bill Nighy (Hitchhiker, Love Actually, Pirates II & III), Jim Broadbent (Narnia, Gangs of New York, Moulin Rouge), Timothy Dalton (James Bond), and Cate Blanchett (Babel, Aviator, LOTR). Okay, Timothy Dalton is usually not considered a great actor, but he is definitely fun to see channeling Daniel Day-Lewis’ Bill the Butcher for this film. In any case, the acting is top notch and fun to watch.

The directing and camera-work of Edgar Wright is also masterful. Wright uses the Guy Ritchie (Snatch, Lock Stock & Two Smoking Barrels) style of editing to establish scenes and activities. Quick, close up flashes of objects to get you to the scenes quicker. And as we all know when it comes to comedy, quicker is better.

As a slight warning, there is quite a long lead up to the intensely funny showdown at the end of the film. There are a lot of thing introduced, but everything is there for a huge pay-off later in the film. It’s amazing how a simple sign reading “One Student at a Time Please” can be so funny when it is used near the end of the movie. The last half-hour is where the movie shines. Action movie clichés are demonstrated left and right as a small English town becomes a trigger-happy video game. And if you have seen films like Point Break and Bad Boys, you will definitely share in the glee. When I watch Bruckheimer films I often like to point out the quintessential Michael Bay shot that has the camera do a slow-motion low angle 180 degree arc around the main character as he slowly gets up to face what is ahead. Hot Fuzz nails this shot, it almost brought a tear to my eye.

Hot Fuzz can still be found in a couple of theatres but it’s coming out on DVD August 7. Download or buy it and enjoy, especially if you love the blow-em up action blockbusters as much as I do.

Reviews coming soon: Knocked Up, Ocean’s 13, Evan Almighty, 1408, Live Free or Die Hard

Shrek the Third

I’ll just come straight out and say I’ve never been a huge fan of Shrek. While I still go to the theatres to watch them, I find many things wrong with the Shrek series. I remember when the first one came out and everyone was impressed with the animation, the characters and the storyline with its theme of beauty being on the inside. The animation of Shrek is fine, but it doesn’t hold a candle to the genius of Pixar. I always find that Dreamworks animation looks a little grainy, while Pixar films are vibrant and clean. I like most of the characters of Shrek although many are one-note wonders. I still like Eddie Murphy’s donkey but he has regrettably turned down the annoyance factor as the movies progressed. And while I usually love Mike Meyers work, I do not like what he does with Shrek. Why did he have to go with the Scottish accent again? I didn’t even like it in Austin Powers. If you want to see Mike Meyers do some great Scottish, go further back and watch the classic So I Married an Axe Murderer. The voice of Shrek was supposed to be done by Chris Farley but he unfortunately died before he could finish. It would have been awesome to have Farley’s voice coming out of Shrek’s mouth. Stupid drugs. And what actually annoyed me most about the original Shrek story is that Fiona had to be transformed into an ogre in order to be with Shrek. I would have much rather preferred a cross-species relationship (much like Donkey and Dragon), as that would have helped it’s beauty-on-the-inside theme a lot more.

The second Shrek managed to push my buttons as well. While I did enjoy Puss in Boots, I was horrified with the sexual innuendos found throughout the movie. I understand putting in jokes for parents that are above the kid’s heads, but they went too far. The three maidens trying to take off the transformed Shrek’s clothes was a little much, the fairy godmother was usually crass, and the final song was not a good choice. Livin’ La Vida Loca is not a kid’s song, it’s basically about a woman who drugs, sleeps with, and robs a guy who is helpless to her advances. I’m a Believer was much more family-friendly.

And now onto Shrek the Third. Like it’s previous installments, I do find myself laughing at some of their jokes and mildly enjoying their story. My biggest problem with this third film is how un-ogreish Shrek has become. In the first one, he was burbing, farting and generally scaring all those who hadn’t met him before. Now he’s become a green Barney. When he goes to the school to pick up Justin Timberlake’s tepid Arthur, no one seems phased by Shrek’s appearance. He’s an ogre, people.

Shrek the Third deals with realizing your place in the world and preparing for fatherhood. Wow, another milestone in the journey of life. Dreamworks is already working on Shrek 4, which will probably deal with raising an ogre-child. I’m thinking Shrek 10 will deal with the Fiona’s menopause and Shrek thinking about retirement.

The one thing I loved about Shrek the Third was the army of princesses. Snow White (Amy Poehler), Rapunzel (Maya Rudolph), Sleeping Beauty (Cheri Oteri), Cinderella (Amy Sedaris) and Doris the Stepsister (Larry King) were a riot. Sleeping Beauty’s fall down attack was brilliant and Snow White’s sarcasm is just what this film needed. If the princesses are in the foreground of Shrek’s fourth film, I’ll definitely check it out. With Shrek the Third, I would wait till DVD just so you can watch the princess scene over and over again. But if you want to take some kids (yours, nieces, nephews or random kids off the street), go ahead, this installment is not as sexual as the second. Thank goodness.

Reviews coming soon: Hot Fuzz, Knocked Up, Ocean’s 13, Evan Almighty, 1408, Live Free or Die Hard.

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End

This is the summer of threequels. Some are made to finish off a story and some are made as just another series of wacky adventures. Both are made as a cash grab for the studio. I find it sad that I too have been trained by Hollywood to anticipate these “cookie-cutter” features over original edgy material. By creating sequels, the film industry has created such high expectations for their movies that they can rarely live up to them. Everyone knows that there will be comparisons to the original, which are often found to be far superior because of its originality. Look at what happened to The Matrix. It is now up to audience members to lower their excitement in order to be blown away by the latest Hollywood offering. Luckily for me, Spiderman 3 already let all the air out of my expectations so I can try to enjoy these sequels based on their own merit. But who am I kidding, the comparisons are bound to come out.

Let’s get the blockbuster ball rolling with Pirates of the Caribbean III: At World’s End. Actually the III shouldn’t be there because the studio doesn’t want you to know it’s a sequel. By this rationale they should be able to sell the movie without the Pirates moniker and just name it At World’s End just like Return of the Jedi. C’mon, people don’t call it Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, do they? But I digress. Let’s talk about the movie.

I found Pirates to be blah. I went in looking forward to seeing all the story lines that were introduced in Dead Man’s Chest to be resolved. I left not caring. The problem that I have with these movie is all the double crossing. Now I realize that we are dealing with pirates and these aren’t the most trust-worthy people in the world but this installment had ten characters switching from one side to another. First they’re on this ship, then they’re considered the property of this ship, then they steal this other ship. At the end of the day, I really have no idea who I am supposed to be rooting for. Am I supposed to want Will to save his father, or do I want him to marry Elizabeth, do I want Jack to get his ship back, am I supposed to like Barbossa now, do I want Davy Jones to find the girl of his dreams? I don’t know and maybe I’m not supposed to care. I guess I should be rooting for Jack since he’s the one we tend to see the most of (in more ways than one in this movie). While I love the energy his performance brings to the screen, I prefer to see Johnny Depp’s Jack Sparrow in smaller funnier doses.

My biggest disappointment about Pirates III was its lack of sword-fighting. I’ll admit I wasn’t a huge fan of the second installment but it sure had some awesomely fun three-way sword duels. It was the highlight of the movie for me. This episode only has one on a mast with the incredible balance of Jones and Sparrow. I’m not really into ship fights. The big whirlpool was cool but cannons and swinging from ship to ship is kind of ho-hum for me. I did find it funny that with all the pirate ships banded together and all the East Coast Trading Company ships ready to attack, we only saw two ships fighting each other. Maybe they were representing their team or something.

A lot of people have told me how much they didn’t like Keira Knightly and the fact that she’s forever making out with half the cast. Well, I think she’s hot so those scenes didn’t bother me at all. What did bother me were the previews. I am fine with movie trailers before a film but we were treated to the Feature Presentation fanfare then subjected to two more previews. I wonder if that was just in my theatre?

So if you haven’t seen Pirates III already, should you see it in the theatres? I think so. The action scenes do lend themselves well to the big screen. Like I said, the whirlpool does look cool, as does a fun ship-tipping scene. Of course, if you think sitting in the theatre for three hours is ridiculous and painful, you may want to wait for the DVD.

The TV Season In Review

I’ll get to my reviews of Pirates, Shrek, Oceans and Knocked Up soon, but first I’ll wrap up my thoughts on the network TV season. Just so you know, there’s definitely spoilers ahead so you may want to jump from section to section. Also, my thoughts are a little disjointed as this review was written over a few days and I’ve been really, really tired.

THE DRAMAS

Lost
Since returning in February, I would almost say that this season has been its best. This is the season that showed us Locke’s big fall, Desmond’s disturbing gift, the true Sawyer, the awful death of minor characters, Ben’s creepy eyes, Charlie’s list, and much, much more. And what a season finale! Wow! Hurley’s rescue made me clap, Sayid’s foot trick made me wince, and Charlie’s final moments made me sad. And how about that fantastic twist with the flash-forward that makes us ponder even more: was that Ben in the coffin? Is Jack’s dad still alive? I think so. Unfortunately, we have to wait till next February to start the ball rolling again. Fortunately, the show runs uninterrupted and we know they need to wrap up the series in 48 episodes; it’s going to be a fun ride!

Heroes
As much as liked Hiro’s yell in the middle of Times Square in the first episode, I think it was Claire’s response to her open chest cavity on the morgue table that sold me on the series. I was happy to see all the characters come together in New York for the finale. My favourite line would have to be Sylar’s “Turns out you’re the villain, Peter. I’m the hero.” The only thing that bothered me about the finale was the “All You Need Is Love” answer to the impeding explosion. Of course, they made up for it by hinting at a scarier villain and starting with Volume Two featuring a confused Hiro seeing another eclipse. Well, that and Sylar escaping. With its wide variety of character, the cool powers, the unabashedly serialized plot, this series is a true protégé of Lost. If you missed out, get the DVD on August 28 and watch it non-stop, you won’t be disappointed.

24
This season was a train wreck. These writers need to take a seminar with the staff of Lost and Heroes (I’m most disappointed in David Fury, a former Buffy writer who should know better.) I wish Jack Bauer worked for the FBI or something so that we could get away from terrorism and the silly antics of CTU. We know that in each season, Jack will have to be working for and against CTU in some capacity. Don’t you think Jack has earned the right to do whatever he pleases? He’s always right; the president may want to write that down somewhere. The season started okay but when CTU is handed over to someone who was interrogated of suspected terrorism four hours earlier, you gotta start wondering what the hell the writers are thinking. The day should have ended when Jack secured the bombs instead starting another storyline with Audrey. And do they not work in shifts over at CTU? Just imagine the overtime pay. And what happened to Palmer? There’s way too much sloppy writing this season.Unless the terrorists are from Canada next year, I may be bowing out on Bauer come January.

House
I’m getting more addicted to the show with each passing episode. I’m not even really bothered with its “almost-solution-with-twenty minutes-to-go” ploy. I’ve been liking the longer story arcs, the interesting cases, and of course Hugh Laurie’s work as House. Loved the episode on the plane. Good stuff.

Prison Break
The first season was better. There’s something about restrictions that makes me enjoy a show more. That’s probably why I like the first Die Hard. This season had its ups and downs but I was still compelled to watch. I’m intrigued with Michael being stuck in a prison he didn’t help design, and with a bunch of people who want to kill him to boot. Should make for an interesting season three.

Veronica Mars
I can’t decide which season I like best, they each seem so strong. I can’t believe more people don’t watch this clever and puzzle-filled show. I hope The CW gets with the program and allows Veronica’s FBI series on the air. It’s always sad when bad things happen to good television shows.

Smallville
I didn‘t mind Lex and Lana together but it didn’t leave Clark with much to do. The Phantom Zone hunting grew pretty stale. I did like the addition of Green Arrow and the start of the Justice League. I would love to see Bruce Wayne make an appearance next season. I also loved Chloe and Jimmy, especially in their film noir episode. Here’s hoping that Lana is dead and Chloe survives. I can only hope.

CSI:
I like that this show has moved away from the sexually-based crimes that seemed to dominate previous seasons. The exploits of the miniature killer were a treat to watch this year, especially when the lab rats tried to solve the case. I also enjoyed the subtle exchanges between Sarah and Grissom. There’s a reason this show is still one of the most watched in America.

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
I’ll never understand how people can watch the David Caruso-diseased CSI: Miami instead of Studio 60. This show had some wonderful messages and some brilliant acting. Sure, they could have used a seasoned sketch writer to punch up the Studio 60 sketch segments but Aaron Sorkin still did a wonderful job with the rest of the series. Shame on NBC for prematurely yanking the plug. Maybe they only give chances to initially low-rated comedies like Cheers, Seinfeld and The Office.

THE COMDIES

The Office
If you asked me which series I preferred: The UK version or the first season of the US version, I’d pick the British one in a heartbeat. Now, with a couple more seasons under its belt, I’d say that the US version kicks ass. I find myself caring about the characters a lot more while still cringing at the antics of Steve Carrell’s Michael Scott. I am really enjoying the times when the characters talk to the camera. Dwight is the king of those interviews. I also loved the string of guest directors like Harold Ramis, JJ Abrams and Joss Whedon. My favourite would have to be Whedon’s episode with Michael teaching Ryan’s class and Jim slowing turning into a vampire to freak out Dwight.

How I Met Your Mother
Now this is a clever sitcom. The way this show jumps around the timeline is both interesting and hysterical. Every word that comes out of Neil Patrick Harris’s mouth is pure gold. It’s legendary. The relationships are fun and true to life. These are the kind of people I would like to hang out with. The show is also great for rewarding fans with small inside jokes that need no explanation; there’s a slap bet in progress that can happen at any time. This is a stellar show, more people should be watching it. Are you?

30 Rock
This show started off a little clunky with the exception of the brilliant Alec Baldwin. Now the show is sheer comic genius. The storylines involving Baldwin and Tina Fey are fun and witty as hell. I just wish more time was spent in the show’s fictional writing room where there are a lot of laughs. This new show is definitely a keeper.

Scrubs
The show was little disappointing this year. It still had the great dream sequences and powerful storytelling but something seemed to be missing. The child-like innocence from the first few seasons are gone, they’re all leading more adult lives now which makes sense but is not as interesting to me. This next year is probably their last, I hope they can go out with a bang.

Simpsons
Say what you will about the show losing some of its humour over the last few years, but this show just cracked 400 episodes and I still like it more than Family Guy and American Dad. Their 24 parody was fun, their guest stars are still huge and you can’t tell me that The Simpson Movie isn’t going to rock. I hope they keep cranking this show out. Let’s shoot for 500.

SNL
I love watching Amy Poehler She is awesome. Also Kristen Wiig is starting to grow on me. I miss Seth Meyers being in sketches, but I do like his work on Weekend Update. This season has been pretty uneven but shows were saved with Andy Samberg’s Digital Shorts and hosts like Alec Baldwin and Justin Timberlake. You should check out some of their work on You Tube. Funny stuff.

I watch a bunch of other shows but there’s not much to say about their season this year. Here’s to next season and hoping more people watch what I watch.

Spiderman 3

What a mess! Okay, I’ll admit that my expectations for Spiderman 3 were a tad high. When I read what other critics had said, I felt that they were judging the film too harshly. Then I saw the train-wreck up close. When I first heard about Spiderman 3 back in 2004, I figured, there is no way they can screw this up. They were using the same actors, the same director and three years to make their masterpiece. What could go wrong? A lot, apparently.

Let’s backtrack to the first two Spidey outings. The first Spiderman is my favourite of the franchise. I don’t really like the Green Goblin costume, but I love myself an origin story. The casting was wonderful, the shots were epic, the screenplay was skillfully put together, and it exceeded my already high expectations. I believe I even named Spiderman my top movie of that year. Then came Spiderman 2, which built nicely on its predecessor. Doc Ock was a way better villain, they had a lot of fun with Parker’s character, the special effects were even cooler, but the film also made one of the most unforgivable mistakes in my opinion. They have a moment where an entire elevated train learns the identity of Spiderman but promise not to tell. Yeah right. From a creative standpoint, I can understand that the hero’s mask keeps coming off so the audience can see the emotion (or the actor wants more face time), but I don’t recall superheroes telling everyone who they are. If they do, it kind of negates the whole costume idea. But I digress. The first two Spiderman flicks are some of the best superhero films out there, unfortunately the third installment takes a nose-dive.

I can’t really blame the acting. Tobey Maguire, James Franco and Kirsten Dunst all do an adequate job with the lines they are given. Maguire gets to have some fun as a nerd trying to be a bad ass. Franco’s character seems bi-polar in this film, but it’s nice to Harry Osborne smile again. Unfortunately, Dunst’s Mary Jane has turned into a whiny, closed off, bitch; which was echoed by many of the fans sitting behind me in the movie theatre. They yelled out some names during the screening, I wanted to join them. The returning supporting characters all turn in fun performances. JK Simmons’ Jameson is still a treat to watch, Rosemary Harris’ Aunt May is still a great source of wisdom, and Bruce Campbell (the fight MC in 1 and usher in 2) takes on another memorable role as a French Maitre d’ trying to help Peter propose. And then there are the new characters. Topher Grace is the standout as Eddie Brock who becomes Venom. Grace is fun to watch and a welcome addition to the Spidey films. Bryce Dallas Howard is fine as new love interest, Gwen Stacy, but she isn’t given that much to work with. And Thomas Haden Church is okay as Sandman but his brooding drags the whole film down. But I have a hard time blaming him for that, since the script calls for it.

In then end, it all comes down to the writing. And who can we thank for this chaos; none other than the Raimi brothers, Sam the director and his brother Ivan. Their past writing credits is basically the Evil Dead series, which is cheesy fun, but in a good way. The cheesiness found in Spiderman 3 is not. I’ll never know why Sam Raimi thought he could do it all himself, has he not learned from George Lucas’ mistake? Stick to directing and get a professional to write these things. My biggest problem with Spiderman 3 is the same issue I had with the end of the original Batman series, too many villains. Does Parker really have to fight three people, isn’t one enough? If it was just Spiderman and Venom, this movie could have rocked but they had to bring in Sandman.

Why use Sandman at all? In my opinion, he is one of the lesser villains like Rhinoman. Stick to the big guys, like Mysterio. So they go and make Sandman sympathetic with an ailing daughter, to kind of justify his actions. Snoresville. They also make him responsible for Uncle Ben’s death. Really? You’re going to play that trilogy card of fiddling around with the facts stated in the first movie? Not smart. Find another reason for Parker to seek vengeance. I felt bad for Thomas Haden Church, what a boring role to play. He can do funny, he was Lowell on Wings for Pete’s sake.

The other lame character that is given more screen time is Harry’s butler who hasn’t said boo all series up till now. In the end, he clears some things up in such a way that he should have had the words "Deus Ex Machina" tattooed on his forehead. Lame. This guy apparently preferred to sit on the sidelines and watch people practically kill each other rather than interject. Where’s Alfred when you need him?

I know I’ve been ragging on Spiderman 3 but at least it wasn’t as bad as Batman and Robin. The action sequences are well crafted and fun but the quieter moments are long and tedious. So should you see this film on the big screen? Sure. Judge it for yourself. Maybe my expectations were too high. I thought there was no way they could screw this up. I was wrong. This does makes me a little bit worried about Pirates III. But maybe that’s a good thing.

Studio 60 Is Back!

Sorry I haven’t updated lately. Been crazy busy. Just heard today that Studio 60 is returning Thursday, May 24 at 10:00pm. They still have six episodes to go, and I can’t wait to see what happens next. Don’t know if it’ll be back next year, but the fact that NBC is putting the show on the day after sweeps is over is not a good sign. We’ll know the true fate of Studio 60 and other shows like Veronica Mars in a couple of weeks. The networks have their "upfronts" for the advertisers where we’ll see who is returning, who’s getting the axe and who’s new next fall. The batting order goes: NBC (May 14), ABC (May 15), CBS (May 16) and FOX & CW (May 17). Keepin’ my fingers crossed. (They’re sure gonna hurt in two weeks.) Gotta go.

Calm Before the TV Storm

So I was going to write a big review of Blades of Glory but there really wasn’t that much to say. It was funny. I laughed a lot. It was nice and short like a good comedy should be. Will Ferrell’s Chazz Michael Michaels is basically Ron Burgundy on ice with bigger hair. This movie is not clever but it’s still a great idea. There’s ultra fake dance moves, disturbing costumes and a fantastic chase scene. Jon Heder, Will Arnett and Amy Poehler were fun to watch; and I loved seeing Jenna Fischer outside The Office. If you like dumb comedy, you’ll enjoy this movie.

Now onto television. We are mere weeks away from the final installments of new episodes from some of the most addicting series on TV. As May sweeps approaches, each show will pull out all the stops to end strong and keep us wanting more. Here’s my two cents on what’s currently on:








Lost: If you’ve seen the last three episodes, I’m sure you will agree with me that Lost is back on track. Sure the season started off with a weak six episode arc that didn’t excite its audience but since they’ve come back, they have been near perfect. Desmond’s powers, the meteor accident, the ping pong game, the disturbing burial and the revelation of Locke’s wheelchair causing accident are just a few of the wonderful scenes that Lost has blessed us with the season. For those just sittin’ around waiting for the DVD, you have missed out on some of the best hours of television. Hope the surprises aren’t ruined before you get there.







24: Wow, I’m bored. Many think last year’s season with surprising deaths and an evil president was its best, but I’m still convinced season four with Behrooz was it’s breakout season. It was the first year they didn’t depend on the return of Sherry Palmer or Nina and they managed to wrap up situations that would normally take five episodes in twenty minutes. This season started off strong but has been watered down week after week. Thank goodness there’s five bombs so we can take the entire season to get them all. Milo and Nadia’s CTU romance doesn’t hold a candle Tony and Michelle. The White House betrayals are nothing compared to Mike’s usurping of power. And Wayne Palmer ain’t doing it for me (and I’m a fan of DB Woodside). His sudden reversal at the end of this week’s episode was utterly ludicrous. The wheels are falling off. Maybe they’re introducing Ricky Schroeder to take over Keifer Sutherland’s job if he should perish this season. Now, that’s a surprise that would wake me up.







Prison Break: Well the season is over and so is the manhunt. Next season they’re in a new prison. I’m hoping that Lincoln and Sarah are as smart as Michael when it comes to a prison break. I didn’t mind seeing the man hunt this season, even if they did thin out the herd. At least they kept T-Bag who continues to creep me out. The producers of this show intended to end the series after two seasons but of course money changed their mind. Here’s hoping they keep things as tight as the first season and as emotional as the second.







House: I used to scold this show for adhering to the same formula week after week. They usually think they solve the problem by 9:35pm and then have 25 more minutes to get inspiration from a seemingly meaningless clinic call or conversation. And while this show still falls into the same pattern, they have elevated the drama of medical shows. The story arc involving House and the vengeful policeman was compelling television. The relationships between Chase & Cameron and the growing chemistry between House & Cuddy have been a treat this season. If you haven’t seen this show before, you’re missing out. And each episode is self-contained so you don’t need to know the whole backstory to enjoy it.







Amazing Race: It’s the only reality show I still watch. Unfortunately this has not been their best season. When they announced the all-star teams, I was shocked that the hippies and the clowns were not competing, but the lame Kentucky coal miner and his wife were. I’m also sad that Rob and Amber were defeated and by the annoying Mirna and Charla no less. What amazes me this season is how far certain teams are ahead. Although, it seems like the producers have stepped in and rigged the show again. (You may remember the holding of the plane so at least two teams would compete for the finish line a couple of seasons ago.) This year when Mirna and Charla were more that a full day ahead of everyone else, they were suddenly held at bay when a boat couldn’t cross the water because of ‘bad weather’, thereby reducing their lead by almost 14 hours! C’mon, they were rafting the last teams at 11 at night. Anyway, I’ll watch to end since I’m committed already, but I don’t really care who wins as long as it’s not Mirna and Charla.







Dexter: Okay, this show isn’t on TV right now but you can certainly download it somewhere. This 12 episode season starring Michael C Hall of Six Feet Under fame was certainly a fun ride. Hall plays Dexter, a FBI blood splatter analyst who happens to commit grizzly murders in his free time. Granted, he only murders bad people. This new crime series has the darkest of dark humour and Hall is amazing as the calculating serial killer who is trying to mask his lust for blood by interacting ‘normally’ with other people. Unfortunately, the rest of the cast looks weak compared to Hall, but there has been improvement over the season. Well maybe not for Erik King’s Srgt. Doakes who is a caricature of the angry black cop. He just yells a lot. Fortunately, the stories are so wonderfully told that I can often excuse the acting. The season-long arc of The Ice Cream Truck Killer is captivating as a serial killer tries to impress and draw out the evil nature of Dexter. Also, for you Angel fans, Dexter’s girlfriend is played by the lovely Julie Benz (Darla). It’s a fun show but if blood makes you queasy, you definitely want to stay away.

Okay, so maybe that was more than two cents. At the end of the TV season, I’ll wrap up the other shows that are currently awaiting the release of their final batch of episodes. Can I just say that I can’t wait for the return of Entourage, Heroes and Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. Once June rolls around, I’ll be revealing my Top 10 episodes from various television shows including Buffy, Angel, Alias, X-Files, West Wing and more. Stay tuned.

The Movie Onslaught, Part IV

I’m glad I have this blog so that I don’t have to keep repeating myself when it comes to describing what I thought about a movie. Oh wait, I do keep repeating myself. Maybe it’s because I don’t update this blog nearly enough, or maybe I just can’t contain myself when it comes to a movie like 300. In any case, here are the movies I have been watching lately. Let another onslaught begin.

I don’t always understand the Rotten Tomatoes rating. It usually helps to distinguish the great films from the crap but sometimes I find myself wondering what the critics were thinking. I guess they sometimes are looking for different things than I am. Case in point: 300. Rotten Tomatoes gave it 62%, I don’t know what they were expecting. Just watching the trailer, I was convinced that this film would rock even with a terrible storyline and weak acting. I was actually surprised how simple and enjoyable the plot was despite the constant carnage. The choreography of the fight sequences and the stylized cinematography were truly stunning. Some critics say they could have simply watched the trailer, but then they’d miss out on some great scenes like the one involving philosophy while eating an apple. If you think this movie will be like Brad Pitt’s clunker, Troy, you are greatly mistaken. In my opinion, 300 is a mixture of Sin City’s graphic images, Gladiator’s wheat scenes, and Lord of the Rings epic battle sequences (Maybe it’s also ‘cuz Faromir is in it). And a mixture of those three films is not too shabby. Sure there are some gratuitous sex scenes and loads of blood-thirsty violence but what else would you expect from mythology and the mind of Frank Miller? This is definitely one to watch in the theatre. (Imax may be a bit much) My only worry with the success of 300 is that studios will now steal any and all graphic novels and start an adapting frenzy that will take the magic away from the art form. Hey, you can’t just do any old story, THIS IS SPARTA!

I’m a big fan of Jim Carrey, I make no apologies for it. I have been enjoying his work since the first Fire Marshall Bill on In Living Color. He stars in one of my favourite comedies of all time (Liar, Liar) and I have enjoyed his desire to not only stretch his face but also his acting ability. His work in Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind was outstanding, as was his turns in The Truman Show and Man on the Moon. How he has been denied Oscar nominations is beyond me. I even liked him in The Majestic. So when I heard he was playing an obsessed psycho in The Number 23, I was intrigued. Rotten Tomatoes was not, they gave it 8% (From Justin to Kelly got 9%!). But to enjoy a film, you need to get past the actor and look at the story, the characters, the way the camera moves. And while I was skeptical of the direction of Joel “Batman-killer” Schumacher, I found this film entertaining. The interpretations of the novel was well shot and Carrey does a creepy manic job near the end of the film. Sure there are some strange devices like the sudden obsession of the son and the unexplained saxophone, but on the whole, I found the plot moved along at a nice pace and ahd some great moments. It’s not a great film but definitely worth more than an 8% rating. Rent The Number 23 on video and see what I mean; Unless of course you hate Jim Carey and are watching it with your back already up.

I was shocked when Germany’s The Lives of Others beat out Pan’s Labyrinth for Best Foreign Film at this year’s Oscars. Granted, I never saw the winning film but I can’t imagine it was shot better than Guillermo Del Toro’s masterpiece. The art direction of Ofelia’s dream world is truly magnificent; the creatures are imaginative and creepy, the dual plot is captivating. I actually found myself feeling for the character of Ofelia which a testament to the beautiful acting from Ivana Baquero. And while this film is full of fantasy elements, this is definitely not a story for youngsters. There are some brutal scenes in Pan’s Labyrinth as well as moments of heart-breaking drama. I was surprised at the ending but I found it perfectly justified. If you can get past the subtitles and some truly uncomfortable torture sequences, I highly recommend Pan’s Labyrinth. Del Toro’s work (like his previous film, Hellboy) is not for everyone, but those who like it, like it a lot.

I have to admit that I was really tired when I went to see Breach. Probably not a good idea since the action is subtly suspenseful not explosive. As you may have guessed, Chris Cooper (Adaptation, Jarhead, American Beauty) is amazing yet again. His portrayal of real-life traitor Richard Hanssen is compelling to say the least. His relationship with Ryan Phillippe’s Eric O’Neil is at times father-like, while at other times, deeply suspicious. While I felt the plot dragged at times, there were some heart-pounding scenes involving bag pockets and a traffic jam. The supporting cast of Laura Linney, Gary Cole and Dennis “President Palmer” Haysbert are well executed as expected. Although I did find Haysbert a little too calm at times. In regards to the plot, I felt the sexual indiscretions seemed tacked on to the spy story but I guess it’s based on true events. Breach was a fine film. Nothing special in my opinion but I know others who loved it a lot. So maybe I was just too tired to appreciate it fully.

I’m not that big on documentaries. I don’t know why. Maybe it’s because of the film quality, maybe it’s because of the director’s bias. I’m not sure. I do appreciate the editing of documentaries; how they put the perfect clips back to back or find that great song that perfectly describes the moment. Say what you will about the bias of Fahrenheit 9/11, but the use of The Greatest American Hero theme song was brilliant. I think what always surprises me about documentaries is how much it draws me in enough to care. I saw Wordplay recently and found myself rooting for some of the players. Wordplay looks at the making and solving of the New York Times crossword puzzles. You get to see the rules and how a crossword puzzle is made. You get to see why Jon Stewart and Bill Clinton are fans. And you are treated to a no-holds barred crossword tournament, where contestants are solving an entire puzzle in under two minutes. All in all, Wordplay is an enjoyable documentary that may not challenge you, but is sure fun to watch.

Phew. Now I'm caught up.

Zodiac

I’m a big, big fan of David Fincher. Loved Seven, adored Fight Club, enjoyed Panic Room and even tolerated Alien 3. I find that Fincher has the ability to keep you glued to the screen whether it be through creative camera moves, dark humour or compelling characters. Fincher pulls this off again with Zodiac.

Recently, I’ve been teaching cinematography to my media class so my eye has been sharply focused on the way film is shot. While Fight Club is still the benchmark of trippy camera moves in a Fincher film, Zodiac has some sweet shots like following cars around the city of San Francisco. There is also an awesome time sequence that incorporates newspaper articles, handwriting and visuals that is reminiscent of Stranger Than Fiction’s math equations or Fincher’s own Ikea shots in Fight Club.

The Zodiac story is based on true events. The story jumps from decade to decade starting in 1969 and ending in 1991. There aren’t too many embellishments to the story, Fincher has tried to retrace all the evidence of this unsolved case, even filming at a couple of the crime scenes. This is not the first re-telling of the story though, there are many Zodiac films in circulation today, ones even as recent as 2005 and 2006. A story about a serial killer is nothing new to Fincher, but don’t go in expecting Seven. There is a lot more talking in this film. But even so, I found the case to be fascinating and it did help that some humour was thrown into the mix. A friend of mine has complained about David Fincher movies, saying that Fincher always ends his film with zero hope and a bullet to the head. Because the Zodiac case is still unresolved, there may be little hope but at least there is no violent conclusion. In fact, with a movie about a serial killer, there is not that much violence on the screen. There are a couple gruesome scenes but it’s not a constant killing spree.

The actors in Zodiac all give fine performances. I even liked Jake Gyllenhaal, an actor I get sick of pretty easily. He usually reminds me a depressed-looking Tobey MacGuire, but he actually does well in this film as a cartoonist obsessed with finding the true identity of the Zodiac killer. Robert Downey Jr. is his usual vice-ridden self and Mark Ruffalo does great as the lead cop with a bad bowtie. It was also nice to Anthony Edwards (ER, Top Gun) back on the screen as Ruffalo’s partner. Of course, Fincher has his token female character, this time played by the lovely Chloe Sevigny. There are also some great character actors popping up on the screen. I don’t find that anyone truly outshines the others, but it’s still a great cast to watch.

It’s been five years since Panic Room. Fincher was supposed to direct Mission Impossible III early on but backed out. It’s nice to see this meticulous director return with something substantial. His next one is with Brad Pitt growing younger and younger. I can’t wait to see it; and you shouldn’t wait to see Zodiac. It’s a little long and talk-heavy but I’m sure it will still appease all the David Fincher fans out there.