Here we are again my friends, delving the depths of questionable movie rentals. The same person who rented the last batch of "New Releases" I spoke of chose this film as well. His habit of choosing movies based solely on how new they are and apparently little else led him to The Mechanic. This is the same strategy that once led him to rent Demons and Angels, which we didn't watch after I helpfully pointed out that it was a sequel to The DaVinci Code, which none of us in attendance had seen, so there you have it. But on to this particular yearly Jason Statham vehicle.
If there is one thing I can say about The Mechanic, it's that it certainly tries very hard to get people to like it. Like that kid in junior high that would sit at your lunch table and desperately try to shoehorn his/her way into your circle of friends, The Mechanic apes other assassin movies so hard that it could almost be considered a parody. Lots of explosions (Bourne), dudes getting shot (No Country For Old Men), and pointless sex scenes with female Non Entities (The American, if the love interest was a blow up doll). But I'm getting ahead of myself.
The Mechanic stars Jason Statham as Arthur, a killer for hire you can tell is an assassin just by looking at him. Which seems counterproductive in that line of work, but whatever. After he murders a man in his indoor pool in Columbia (hilariously swimming his corpse to the edge of the pool so he can escape, which has to be seen),his inner monologue lets us know that the best way to assassinate someone is to make it look like an accident and leave no trace of your presence. How original and never seen in a film before (Sarcasm). Arthur is requested to take out the man who trained him (Donald Sutherland), who is like a father to him and the film makes sure we know he dosen't deserve it by making him old and putting him in a wheelchair, You know, besides the whole "Assassin Trainer" thing, which is a job I'm pretty sure you can only train people for if you have done it yourself. So after a painful escape scene of Donald Sutherland in a wheel chair (Shit you not) Murderer Jason listens to Murderer Donald point out that the man in charge who put the hit on him will eventually kill Arthur as well when he is no longer useful. Cause why wouldn't a man who organizes a ring of professional killers let them have a kooshy retirement after they are done killing people on his orders? Arthur listens, and seems conflicted, then promptly shoots him in the chest anyway. But hey, he's still a friend, so Arthur, the guy who Shot him, shows at Murderer Donald's funeral. It's then that Arthur meets Murderer Donald's Son and for some reason decides to train this shiftless loser who never got along with his father to be a Hitman too, because getting his kid into the same business that got him killed is obviously the best way to honor his memory. The remainder of the movie is a series of increasingly idiotic set piece assassinations that Arthur tests Murderer Donald's son with, and which he seems to willfully screw up, even before (Spoiler alert!) he figures out Arthur killed his pops. It closes when the son decides to avenge his father for some reason, and promptly gets blown up when he takes Arthur's classic car for a joy ride, cause Arthur Totally put a bomb in it. And the record player blows up his house for some reason too.
So yeah, the plot is stupid. I really can't sugar coat that, it just isn't good, completely unoriginal, uninspired, and nonsensical. But, it's an action movie staring Jason Statham, so I'll cut it some slack, and in it's defense, some of the action set pieces are pretty cool, like a car flying into the front of a bus. But overall, stringing together about 5 good action beats with pointless sex scenes, over the top "Check out how cool this character is" montages of Arthur and Murderer Donald's Son 'training' or walking around, and a succession of absurdly obvious assassination targets doesn't add up to a good movie.
Which brings me to a final point. The writer did everything he could to make us like Arthur in spite of the fact that he literally kills every other important character in the movie for questionable reasons, to the point that he is knocking off a parade of action movie cliches. The first guy he kills is a Colombian Drug Kingpin, cause Drugs are Bad, mmkay? Then he kills his mentor, but that was just his job. Then he has the son kill another assassin who just happens to like pretty boys, so he's another hired killer, but also gay, so he's got to go. Then my personal favorite, the religious television personality who just happens to be a sex fiend and drug addict, Gasp! Then Arthur bumps into another assassin (it happens a lot I guess) and kills him for being alive when he was supposed to have died due to Donald, which is why Arthur had to kill him in the first place. Then he kills his nefarious boss to get even for him killing Donald. Then the son figures out Arthur killed his dad and tries to kill him back (and screws it up once again). Then he blows up the son... cause he's a Screwup? I guess? Whatever.
SO yeah, not unwatchable, but corny and pretty boring to boot.
3 'Swimming' Dead Guys out of 10
Monday, May 23, 2011
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Thor
It's been just over a day and a half since I saw Thor on opening night, and it is a testament to how dog tired I've been the last few days and honestly a bit of a miracle that I haven't done a write up on it before now. But now, powered by a Red Eye Coffee from Java Joes, a Monster Rehab, and the first decent night's sleep I've had in a few days, I'm finally awake enough.
*May I humbly Suggest you play this song while you read this?*
As the day comic nerds and action junkies the world over are salivating (or dreading in some cases) approaches, Thor is the penultimate origin film leading up to the long awaited Avengers crossover film, with only Captain America yet to be released. Of all the members of the Avengers, few are more worrisome when it comes to a live action adaptation than the Norse God of Thunder himself, Thor Odinson. In all honesty, I've always loved the character, both in mythology and comics, but when news that the Avengers movies were in the works began to surface around the internet after the success of Iron Man, I was skeptical. With an Idea as fantastic as Thor himself coming to Earth, it's hard to imagine how a convincing film adaptation could be accomplished. In fact, I wasn't convinced that the film wasn't a doomed enterprise until I saw the trailers. The images were so compelling, and the actor so believably Aesir like, that I went straight from guarded optimism to fanboy obsession before the first trailer ended. So now that I've seen it, was my initial skepticism confirmed, or did it deliver the satisfying film version of a classic Marvel Hero the Trailers seemed to promise?
The answer is it didn't meet my expectations, it completely eclipsed them.
I normally talk a bit about the story, but honestly, I just can't. I really don't want to ruin any aspect of the story, but trust me when I say, It is utterly top notch and tells the story of Thor's descent to the Earth Realm in a compelling and at times, suitably humorous, fashion. That being said, I'll skip ahead.
There are two primary pitfalls that could have easily sunk this movie. Modernization and Cheese, for lack of a better term. I could easily have seen a version of this movie where the story revolved around a normal man acquiring Thor's actual powers or Thor-like powers in a way that didn't directly involve the Aesir Gods, and such a film would have brought my blood to a boil. And while some will argue that such a story is technically canonical (See Thunderstrike), it would be a pale shadow of the tale told in the actual film. On the other hand, the film could have easily overdone it when it comes to sticking to the comic version, or half-assed the visuals, or most disturbing of all, miscast Thor himself so badly that he never becomes believable as the mortal incarnation of a Norse Warrior God. Thankfully, this was not the case.
One of the great strengths of Thor is it's casting. Chris Hemsworth, a largely unknown actor, is a truly brilliant choice. For a start, he looks the part. Tall, Blonde, Ripped, and from what I overheard from the ladies sitting near me in the theater and on the internets, none too hard on the eyes. But a pretty face and abs you could grate cheese on do not a convincing Thor make. Luckily, Hemsworth's acting chops are impressive, conveying the emotional state of his character perfectly. From the arrogant pride of a massively powerful Aesir Prince, to the unease of a God made Mortal, to the the devastation of losing his birthright, to the Heroic resolve to save the day at any cost, his performance drives the movie. That is not to say that the rest of the cast isn't similarly impressive. For a start, Anthony Hopkins as Odin is an absolutely inspired choice, as he brings dignity and subtle power to the role. Natalie Portman as 'love-interest' Jane, the scientist who is the first to 'encounter' Thor when he arrives on earth is a great reversal of the Hollywood trend of Gorgeous but Vapid girls pursuing a Nerdy Male lead. She is Gorgeous, make no mistake, but she is the brains of the film for sure, and her relationship with Thor feels very genuine. Jane's intern, Darcy, played by Kat Dennings (another gorgeous young woman, for the record) commonly fills the role of comedy relief, but comes across more as a quirky person dealing with an unexplainable situation, rather than the cartoony variety of 'funny character' who may as well just grab the camera and demand the audience laugh. (see Jar Jar Binks). Thor's brother, Loki, is played by Tom Hiddleston, another actor I didn't know much about going into this movie, but his performance is nuanced and he plays the Trickster God not as the Smirking, Mustache twirling Snidely Whiplash type, but a cold and calculating manipulator, comparable to Ozymandias in Watchmen. However, there are a couple of casting choices that may have some scratching their heads. In fact, there was a small stink over the casting of Idris Elba, an acclaimed African actor from England as Heimdall, and the incomparable Japanese actor Tadanobu Asano, best known for Ichi the Killer and Last Life in the Universe, as Hogun. However, once you see Elba in the film, it quickly becomes clear that he is an excellent choice and Asano's only real issue is that his accent is occasionally distracting, but he plays the role admirably.
When it comes to the visuals, it bears mentioning that it is no small task to present a believable film version of Asgard, home of the Aesir gods, or the Frost Giant lands of Jotunheim, not to mention Bifrost the Rainbow Bridge, but the environments feel simultaneously stupendously alien and completely believable as the Realms of the Gods. That said, a desert in New Mexico may seem a boring setting to switch to, but a one horse town and sprawling S.H.I.E.L.D investigation site make for interesting Earth backdrops. The visual effects overall are very well done, with only the occasional instance of action that is hard to follow to mention as a negative, and a lot of well executed set pieces as a posative. The Destroyer (which I have always wanted to see in a film) is a great example. It also bears mentioning that the costuming completely embraces the style of the comics without becoming too cheesy as a result. Colors are subdued and metalic, rather than spandex, but still incorporate the recognizable traits of the costumes so that the main Asgardian characters are instantly recognizable. The only gripe I had was that Thor only dons his trademark winged helm in one scene early in the film, but at least Loki wears his curled horn helm for most of the second half of the film. The fight scenes are well constructed and appropriate to the scene, from Thor easily overpowering Frost Giants in all his Aesir glory to the frantic, knock-down-drag-out fistfights of mortal Thor.
Sound wise, the music is suitably epic, with only two licensed songs, both in the credits if I remember correctly. The score is memorable and adds volumes to the emotional feel of the moment it accompanies. Sound effects are very well done, very convincing.
It may surprise some to hear that Kenneth Branagh, famed as an actor in his own right and known for his film adaptations of Shakespear, was the films director. To me, it seems somewhat fitting that he would helm this film, as it could be safely described as part epic adventure and part comedy, in the Shakespearian sense of the word. Overall, there was really only one scene (the very first to be honest) where a choice of camera movement took me out of the movie to any degree.
Overall, Thor proves that, with the proper treatment and devotion to the source material, even a comic about the God of Thunder kicking butt in the human realm can be made believable, compelling, and incredibly entertaining. The honest truth is that this film may be the best comic book adaptation I've ever seen, and may have surpassed The Dark Knight as my favorite Super Hero movie. It's that Good. Cap has his work cut out for him!
10 Pulverized Frost Giants out of 10. Go see it, at once!
*May I humbly Suggest you play this song while you read this?*
As the day comic nerds and action junkies the world over are salivating (or dreading in some cases) approaches, Thor is the penultimate origin film leading up to the long awaited Avengers crossover film, with only Captain America yet to be released. Of all the members of the Avengers, few are more worrisome when it comes to a live action adaptation than the Norse God of Thunder himself, Thor Odinson. In all honesty, I've always loved the character, both in mythology and comics, but when news that the Avengers movies were in the works began to surface around the internet after the success of Iron Man, I was skeptical. With an Idea as fantastic as Thor himself coming to Earth, it's hard to imagine how a convincing film adaptation could be accomplished. In fact, I wasn't convinced that the film wasn't a doomed enterprise until I saw the trailers. The images were so compelling, and the actor so believably Aesir like, that I went straight from guarded optimism to fanboy obsession before the first trailer ended. So now that I've seen it, was my initial skepticism confirmed, or did it deliver the satisfying film version of a classic Marvel Hero the Trailers seemed to promise?
The answer is it didn't meet my expectations, it completely eclipsed them.
I normally talk a bit about the story, but honestly, I just can't. I really don't want to ruin any aspect of the story, but trust me when I say, It is utterly top notch and tells the story of Thor's descent to the Earth Realm in a compelling and at times, suitably humorous, fashion. That being said, I'll skip ahead.
There are two primary pitfalls that could have easily sunk this movie. Modernization and Cheese, for lack of a better term. I could easily have seen a version of this movie where the story revolved around a normal man acquiring Thor's actual powers or Thor-like powers in a way that didn't directly involve the Aesir Gods, and such a film would have brought my blood to a boil. And while some will argue that such a story is technically canonical (See Thunderstrike), it would be a pale shadow of the tale told in the actual film. On the other hand, the film could have easily overdone it when it comes to sticking to the comic version, or half-assed the visuals, or most disturbing of all, miscast Thor himself so badly that he never becomes believable as the mortal incarnation of a Norse Warrior God. Thankfully, this was not the case.
One of the great strengths of Thor is it's casting. Chris Hemsworth, a largely unknown actor, is a truly brilliant choice. For a start, he looks the part. Tall, Blonde, Ripped, and from what I overheard from the ladies sitting near me in the theater and on the internets, none too hard on the eyes. But a pretty face and abs you could grate cheese on do not a convincing Thor make. Luckily, Hemsworth's acting chops are impressive, conveying the emotional state of his character perfectly. From the arrogant pride of a massively powerful Aesir Prince, to the unease of a God made Mortal, to the the devastation of losing his birthright, to the Heroic resolve to save the day at any cost, his performance drives the movie. That is not to say that the rest of the cast isn't similarly impressive. For a start, Anthony Hopkins as Odin is an absolutely inspired choice, as he brings dignity and subtle power to the role. Natalie Portman as 'love-interest' Jane, the scientist who is the first to 'encounter' Thor when he arrives on earth is a great reversal of the Hollywood trend of Gorgeous but Vapid girls pursuing a Nerdy Male lead. She is Gorgeous, make no mistake, but she is the brains of the film for sure, and her relationship with Thor feels very genuine. Jane's intern, Darcy, played by Kat Dennings (another gorgeous young woman, for the record) commonly fills the role of comedy relief, but comes across more as a quirky person dealing with an unexplainable situation, rather than the cartoony variety of 'funny character' who may as well just grab the camera and demand the audience laugh. (see Jar Jar Binks). Thor's brother, Loki, is played by Tom Hiddleston, another actor I didn't know much about going into this movie, but his performance is nuanced and he plays the Trickster God not as the Smirking, Mustache twirling Snidely Whiplash type, but a cold and calculating manipulator, comparable to Ozymandias in Watchmen. However, there are a couple of casting choices that may have some scratching their heads. In fact, there was a small stink over the casting of Idris Elba, an acclaimed African actor from England as Heimdall, and the incomparable Japanese actor Tadanobu Asano, best known for Ichi the Killer and Last Life in the Universe, as Hogun. However, once you see Elba in the film, it quickly becomes clear that he is an excellent choice and Asano's only real issue is that his accent is occasionally distracting, but he plays the role admirably.
When it comes to the visuals, it bears mentioning that it is no small task to present a believable film version of Asgard, home of the Aesir gods, or the Frost Giant lands of Jotunheim, not to mention Bifrost the Rainbow Bridge, but the environments feel simultaneously stupendously alien and completely believable as the Realms of the Gods. That said, a desert in New Mexico may seem a boring setting to switch to, but a one horse town and sprawling S.H.I.E.L.D investigation site make for interesting Earth backdrops. The visual effects overall are very well done, with only the occasional instance of action that is hard to follow to mention as a negative, and a lot of well executed set pieces as a posative. The Destroyer (which I have always wanted to see in a film) is a great example. It also bears mentioning that the costuming completely embraces the style of the comics without becoming too cheesy as a result. Colors are subdued and metalic, rather than spandex, but still incorporate the recognizable traits of the costumes so that the main Asgardian characters are instantly recognizable. The only gripe I had was that Thor only dons his trademark winged helm in one scene early in the film, but at least Loki wears his curled horn helm for most of the second half of the film. The fight scenes are well constructed and appropriate to the scene, from Thor easily overpowering Frost Giants in all his Aesir glory to the frantic, knock-down-drag-out fistfights of mortal Thor.
Sound wise, the music is suitably epic, with only two licensed songs, both in the credits if I remember correctly. The score is memorable and adds volumes to the emotional feel of the moment it accompanies. Sound effects are very well done, very convincing.
It may surprise some to hear that Kenneth Branagh, famed as an actor in his own right and known for his film adaptations of Shakespear, was the films director. To me, it seems somewhat fitting that he would helm this film, as it could be safely described as part epic adventure and part comedy, in the Shakespearian sense of the word. Overall, there was really only one scene (the very first to be honest) where a choice of camera movement took me out of the movie to any degree.
Overall, Thor proves that, with the proper treatment and devotion to the source material, even a comic about the God of Thunder kicking butt in the human realm can be made believable, compelling, and incredibly entertaining. The honest truth is that this film may be the best comic book adaptation I've ever seen, and may have surpassed The Dark Knight as my favorite Super Hero movie. It's that Good. Cap has his work cut out for him!
10 Pulverized Frost Giants out of 10. Go see it, at once!
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