Well, at this point, I am a couple movies and one major event behind in this here blog, and let's not even discuss what happened to that story I was working on. But, I'm back in the saddle, and I have some things to talk about. So let's go with X Men: First Class for a Kickoff.
I should probably start out by saying that I have long been a complete fanboy spas for the X Men in all it's incarnations. Whether it be reading and re-reading my brother's X Men comics when I was a kid, the incalculable amount of money I spent on the X Men Arcade game in the 90's, devotion to the animated series bordering on unhealthy (and I liked Jubilee, so shut up!), or my shameless fan-boy squeeing when the original film was released, I've Always been an avid fan of the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters. However, in recent years, I've grown more guarded when it comes to X Men in popular media, as the quality of the films has, to my mind, decreased with each new release. While it was awesome to see Nightcrawler kick butt in X2, Last Stand is a film I can honestly say I've only seen once. It failed to capture what I loved about the concept in my mind and took a Pirates 3 style dive unceremoniously into the "One Sequel too many" files. So when I heard that a new X Men film was in the works, I scarcely took notice, not ready to be disappointed again. As the release date inched closer and trailers and story details began to surface, my interest was piqued. Focusing on Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr? The Hellfire Club? Set during the Cuban Missile Crisis? Quietly, a tiny fan-boy in the back of my mind was bouncing on the balls of his feet at the possibilities.
So I saw it. And I have to say, it was more than a mere return to form, it is reinventing the wheel in a big way.
First Class tells quite possibly the most important story in the X Men Mythos, the origin of Extraordinarily powerful telepath Professor X and The Master of Magnetism, Magneto's Friendship and subsequent Animosity. It also focuses a great deal on the shape-shifter Mystique, from when she was a young girl and how she came to be one of Magneto's most trusted allies.
The film opens with a dramatic demonstration of how different the two friend's childhoods were. Young Erik is seen manifesting his powers of magnetism in an attempt to keep his family together in a Nazi Concentration Camp, only to be taken away by a man named Sebastian Shaw and tormented into developing his powers further. Charles Xavier, on the other hand was raised in the lap of luxury, demonstrated by the fact that he lives in a mansion and recognizes Mystique aping his mother's appearance not only by reading her mind, but because he has never seen his mother anywhere near the kitchen. After Mystique reveals her true form, blue skinned, golden eyed, and red haired, and says her name is Raven, Charles offers to let her stay with him, so she will never have to steal again. From then on, Raven is raised as Charles' Sister.
Fast Forward to 1962, and we find Charles publishing a thesis on Mutation and using his powers to seduce women and Erik hellbent on finding Shaw, the man that tortured him and killed his family. After CIA agent Moira MacTaggart reveals the existence of The Hellfire Club, a collective of Mutants, led by Shaw, with dubious goals, Charles is brought in as an expert on Mutation. While in pursuit of Shaw's Submarine, Erik nearly drowns attempting to prevent his escape with his powers, but he is rescued by Charles, who was in pursuit of the Hellfire Club with MacTaggart. From there, Shaw's true goal is revealed and Charles and Erik work together to recruit other mutants to combat the Hellfire Club and bring Shaw to Justice.
I really have to praise the writing in this film. Never too corny, but never taking itself too seriously either, and with fantastic pacing, it tells the story of the first major conflict involving mutant combatants against a perfectly appropriate backdrop. I've heard some point out that the film feels more like "The Magneto Story" than X Men, and I can't really argue, but really, is there a more important character in X Men lore than their primary antagonist, with the exception of Xavier himself? While some of the mutants, like Riptide, Havok, Banshee, and Azazel (to some extent) are a bit one dimensional, they all get a chance to show off their impressive powers. One character I really enjoyed was the reboot of Angel from an aristocratic prettyboy with eagle wings to a young girl with dragonfly wings and the ability to spit explosive projectiles working as a stripper.
As far as visuals go, all of the characters and their powers are well designed and convincingly real looking. Sets are, for the most part, period accurate and costuming is well done. Visual effects never really overwhelm the scene and are usually subtle for most of the mutant's powers, with Havok and Riptide as fairly obvious exceptions. The only real complaint I have from a visual standpoint is Hank McCoy's Beast form. It just looks... off for some reason.
Sound is excellently done in this film as well, with plenty of well crafted sound effects and suitably epic or subdued music to fit the scene. There are also some popular period songs that add to the 60's feel of the film.
Overall, I'd have to say that First Class soundly eclipses the original X Men Trilogy. It's bigger, and yet more personal, and it has a lot of heart, and a lot more to say than just "Mutant Powers are Cool!" Plus, Logan in the Single greatest Cameo ever, besides maybe Stan Lee's in Thor.
9 Nazi Coins out of 10
PS: Is it wrong of me to wish Jubilee would make more of an appearance in a future X Men Sequel? I always liked her.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
Adventures in Redboxing ; The Mechanic
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
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
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!
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Sucker Punch
A while back, I ended a post with this same trailer and gushed about the potential of this motion picture. Well, I saw it on Friday night, and I have to say, it did not disappoint.
The story of Sucker Punch is either terribly complicated or deceptively simple, and I have yet to decide which. Set in the 1950's, it opens with an incredible sequence that is void of dialog and driven by compelling visuals and a great song, but expertly introduces us to our protagonist "Babydoll" (Emily Browning) and her tragic back-story. She is betrayed and wrongly committed to an insane asylum. Shortly after arriving, she slips into a delusional state. Whether it's due to improper medication/treatment or simply a defense mechanism of her mind is not made clear, but she imagines the asylum as a cabaret show in a brothel. Her fellow inmates are dancers as well, and she perceives therapy sessions as practicing her dancing. However, the first time she dances, the truly amazing part of the movie begins. Her delusional state deepens, and she finds her conscious self in the courtyard of a snowy Japanese castle. She enters and finds a mysterious sage (Scott Glenn) who grants her two weapons, an elegant Katana and an engraved Colt 1911 pistol. He tells Babydoll that she will need five items for escape to be possible. A Map, A Fire, A Knife, A Key and a mysterious Fifth Item. Almost immediately she is attacked by three Giant Samurai Golems, and the real fun begins. As the film progresses, Babydoll recruits other girls to help carry out her plan to escape.
The fight scenes in this movie are simply jaw-dropping, to the point I just sat agape every time Babydoll started dancing and a new action sequence began. While some will no doubt be annoyed by anachronistic issues, such as modern assault rifles being used by the girls, these scenes all take place in a delusional state, and Babydoll would no doubt imagine futuristic weapons for her friends. While some key fights are won by Babydoll and her Katana, the majority of the action is gun-play and vehicle combat. The varied action sequences include Steam Punk WWI Trench Warfare, a Fantasy Castle under siege by Orc Like beasts.and the always classic bomb on a runaway train full of robots. They have to be seen to be believed.
And while the story is interesting, the action and visuals incredible, mention must be made of the soundtrack. Any fan of song covers, like Brian Ibbot for example, will doubtless be impressed by the array of songs in this film. As a rule, the movie is light on dialog, and many of the scenes are completely driven by the songs and the action.
Overall, the film is well acted for the most part. I was especially fond of Rocket, played by Jena Malone, who also played Gretchen in Donnie Darko (Applause!). Emily Browning as Babydoll is very impressive, and it is always a great treat to see Scott Glenn. I only really had a few things that bothered me, the ending for example and some slightly contradictory scenes. I almost guarantee that director Zack Snyder will produce a Director's Cut of this film when it is released on Blu Ray, and hopefully that will clear up some of the things that I felt didn't make sense. When it comes right down to it tho, I have to say that I thuroughly enjoyed this film, and will probably go see it again in the theater, for the action and ambiance if nothing else.
8 Bunny Faced Mechs out of 10
Yes, there is a Bunny Faced Mech in this film.
The story of Sucker Punch is either terribly complicated or deceptively simple, and I have yet to decide which. Set in the 1950's, it opens with an incredible sequence that is void of dialog and driven by compelling visuals and a great song, but expertly introduces us to our protagonist "Babydoll" (Emily Browning) and her tragic back-story. She is betrayed and wrongly committed to an insane asylum. Shortly after arriving, she slips into a delusional state. Whether it's due to improper medication/treatment or simply a defense mechanism of her mind is not made clear, but she imagines the asylum as a cabaret show in a brothel. Her fellow inmates are dancers as well, and she perceives therapy sessions as practicing her dancing. However, the first time she dances, the truly amazing part of the movie begins. Her delusional state deepens, and she finds her conscious self in the courtyard of a snowy Japanese castle. She enters and finds a mysterious sage (Scott Glenn) who grants her two weapons, an elegant Katana and an engraved Colt 1911 pistol. He tells Babydoll that she will need five items for escape to be possible. A Map, A Fire, A Knife, A Key and a mysterious Fifth Item. Almost immediately she is attacked by three Giant Samurai Golems, and the real fun begins. As the film progresses, Babydoll recruits other girls to help carry out her plan to escape.
The fight scenes in this movie are simply jaw-dropping, to the point I just sat agape every time Babydoll started dancing and a new action sequence began. While some will no doubt be annoyed by anachronistic issues, such as modern assault rifles being used by the girls, these scenes all take place in a delusional state, and Babydoll would no doubt imagine futuristic weapons for her friends. While some key fights are won by Babydoll and her Katana, the majority of the action is gun-play and vehicle combat. The varied action sequences include Steam Punk WWI Trench Warfare, a Fantasy Castle under siege by Orc Like beasts.and the always classic bomb on a runaway train full of robots. They have to be seen to be believed.
And while the story is interesting, the action and visuals incredible, mention must be made of the soundtrack. Any fan of song covers, like Brian Ibbot for example, will doubtless be impressed by the array of songs in this film. As a rule, the movie is light on dialog, and many of the scenes are completely driven by the songs and the action.
Overall, the film is well acted for the most part. I was especially fond of Rocket, played by Jena Malone, who also played Gretchen in Donnie Darko (Applause!). Emily Browning as Babydoll is very impressive, and it is always a great treat to see Scott Glenn. I only really had a few things that bothered me, the ending for example and some slightly contradictory scenes. I almost guarantee that director Zack Snyder will produce a Director's Cut of this film when it is released on Blu Ray, and hopefully that will clear up some of the things that I felt didn't make sense. When it comes right down to it tho, I have to say that I thuroughly enjoyed this film, and will probably go see it again in the theater, for the action and ambiance if nothing else.
8 Bunny Faced Mechs out of 10
Yes, there is a Bunny Faced Mech in this film.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Saturday Anime: GXP
In recent weeks, my latent obsession with all things Tenchi Muyo has re-emerged as a passion of mine. I've been re-watching the OVA, reading up on the continuation of the different continuities that American fans have never seen, and most recently watching GXP. This show is set in the original Tenchi OVA continuity, and while it features characters from the OVA from time to time, it is it's own story. The show bears clear resemblances to other Series in the Tenchi Franchise, most notably the "Harem" aspect of the relationships between the show's main characters, but the fact that this series was directed by Watanabe Shinichi (Nabeshin of Excel Saga fame, who also appears in this show in the form of a lecherous wise cracking automaton named NB) makes this show uniquely zany.
The protagonist of the series is Yamada Seina, an acquaintance of Masaki Tenchi who lives in the same town. Seina is largely unremarkable, except for one distinguishing feature, his remarkably bad luck. The first few episodes mostly cover examples of Seina's terrible luck causing problems for him and everyone around him, including his friend Kai and his older sister Kiriko, who looks out for Seina as if he were her own brother. One day he decides to take a shortcut through the woods on his bike, and it isn't long before his trademark bad luck lands him with a flat tire. As he looks for water to repair the tire (is that how bike tires work?) he finds himself at the lake just outside the Masaki House, where Tenchi and the girls all live. Suddenly he is overcome by an incredible noise like nothing he has ever heard, but it is all to familiar to fans of Tenchi Muyo. It's the sound of someone crashing a Galaxy Police Patrol ship into the lake (and it isn't Mihoshi for once). Seina is knocked into the lake and passes out. He awakens with his head in the lap of one Amane Kaunaq, a blonde GXP officer. She asks if he is okay, and when he responds that he is, she explains how she came to be there at a tempo that would make Excel Excel proud. Thinking that Seina is a pupil of Tenchi or his grandfather Katsuhito based on the bruises and scars caused by his bad luck, Amane gives him a recruitment form for the GXP. When he arrives home, his family physically force him to sign the document, thinking it is for a raffle or lottery.
That night, Seina awakens on board a spaceship. It is a Galaxy Police ship, and they will be transporting Seina to the GXP academy to begin his training. However, it quickly becomes clear that Seina's bad luck is still in full effect even in space, as the ship is attacked by a number of space pirates. Among them is raven-haired space pirate idol Ryoko Balta, who was named after Hakibi Ryoko, Masaki Tenchi's Space Pirate Squeeze. After receiving aid from the Royal Family of Jurai itself, the most powerful government in the universe, Seina enrolls in the G P Academy. When he arrives, he finds that Kiriko is already a member of the Galaxy Police, and she begs him to return home for his own safety, worried that his bad luck will doom him in space. Unable to resist the possibilities that joining an inter-stellar police force brings, he joins the Academy. Only to become a captain shortly there after to work as a decoy for space pirates, making use of his unique ability to attract trouble. Along the way he meets a young (looking, think Washu) priestess named Neju, and along with Amane, Kiriko, and Ryoko they make a remarkable discovery towards the end of the series.
As I said, GXP deftly melds two very distinct styles. The "Fan Service" heavy and sexually frustrated/indecisive protagonist Harem aspects of Tenchi Muyo and the fast paced wackiness of Excel Saga. And while Seina is not nearly the playboy Tenchi is, he ends up with an impressive group of girls at his side. The comedy is very well done, with Nabeshin's flare for the ludicrous well represented.
Now, it has come to my attention that there is something of a debate amongst Tenchi Fans regarding this show. Apparently many consider it the black sheep of the series, some going so far as to refuse to consider it canonical. There seem to be two primary reasons for this. One, it is Too crazy for some, with Nabeshin (both the character and the director) taking the art and comedy styles in directions that some fans didn't approve of. The other is the fact that the name of the show is Tenchi Muyo: GXP, but the primary protagonists of the Tenchi Universe are not the main characters, appearing in only a couple episodes and only speaking in one of them. Let me go on record as a huge fan of this series and address these two issues. GXP is gut bustlingly hilarious a lot of the time, but it is also appropriately serious and often touching when the story calls for it. And this show isn't about Tenchi and the Girls, but it populates the universe they inhabit more completely and adds depth and scope to the canon they are part of.
All in all, I think that GXP is a show that fans should enjoy, and complete newcomers to the Tenchi Franchise could get into without seeing the other shows, particularly if you enjoy Nabeshin's other work. I recommend it highly and get a big kick out of it whenever I watch it.
And now, your moment of AMV Zen
The protagonist of the series is Yamada Seina, an acquaintance of Masaki Tenchi who lives in the same town. Seina is largely unremarkable, except for one distinguishing feature, his remarkably bad luck. The first few episodes mostly cover examples of Seina's terrible luck causing problems for him and everyone around him, including his friend Kai and his older sister Kiriko, who looks out for Seina as if he were her own brother. One day he decides to take a shortcut through the woods on his bike, and it isn't long before his trademark bad luck lands him with a flat tire. As he looks for water to repair the tire (is that how bike tires work?) he finds himself at the lake just outside the Masaki House, where Tenchi and the girls all live. Suddenly he is overcome by an incredible noise like nothing he has ever heard, but it is all to familiar to fans of Tenchi Muyo. It's the sound of someone crashing a Galaxy Police Patrol ship into the lake (and it isn't Mihoshi for once). Seina is knocked into the lake and passes out. He awakens with his head in the lap of one Amane Kaunaq, a blonde GXP officer. She asks if he is okay, and when he responds that he is, she explains how she came to be there at a tempo that would make Excel Excel proud. Thinking that Seina is a pupil of Tenchi or his grandfather Katsuhito based on the bruises and scars caused by his bad luck, Amane gives him a recruitment form for the GXP. When he arrives home, his family physically force him to sign the document, thinking it is for a raffle or lottery.
That night, Seina awakens on board a spaceship. It is a Galaxy Police ship, and they will be transporting Seina to the GXP academy to begin his training. However, it quickly becomes clear that Seina's bad luck is still in full effect even in space, as the ship is attacked by a number of space pirates. Among them is raven-haired space pirate idol Ryoko Balta, who was named after Hakibi Ryoko, Masaki Tenchi's Space Pirate Squeeze. After receiving aid from the Royal Family of Jurai itself, the most powerful government in the universe, Seina enrolls in the G P Academy. When he arrives, he finds that Kiriko is already a member of the Galaxy Police, and she begs him to return home for his own safety, worried that his bad luck will doom him in space. Unable to resist the possibilities that joining an inter-stellar police force brings, he joins the Academy. Only to become a captain shortly there after to work as a decoy for space pirates, making use of his unique ability to attract trouble. Along the way he meets a young (looking, think Washu) priestess named Neju, and along with Amane, Kiriko, and Ryoko they make a remarkable discovery towards the end of the series.
 |
| Yamada Seina, yet another intergalactic lucky bastard. |
As I said, GXP deftly melds two very distinct styles. The "Fan Service" heavy and sexually frustrated/indecisive protagonist Harem aspects of Tenchi Muyo and the fast paced wackiness of Excel Saga. And while Seina is not nearly the playboy Tenchi is, he ends up with an impressive group of girls at his side. The comedy is very well done, with Nabeshin's flare for the ludicrous well represented.
Now, it has come to my attention that there is something of a debate amongst Tenchi Fans regarding this show. Apparently many consider it the black sheep of the series, some going so far as to refuse to consider it canonical. There seem to be two primary reasons for this. One, it is Too crazy for some, with Nabeshin (both the character and the director) taking the art and comedy styles in directions that some fans didn't approve of. The other is the fact that the name of the show is Tenchi Muyo: GXP, but the primary protagonists of the Tenchi Universe are not the main characters, appearing in only a couple episodes and only speaking in one of them. Let me go on record as a huge fan of this series and address these two issues. GXP is gut bustlingly hilarious a lot of the time, but it is also appropriately serious and often touching when the story calls for it. And this show isn't about Tenchi and the Girls, but it populates the universe they inhabit more completely and adds depth and scope to the canon they are part of.
All in all, I think that GXP is a show that fans should enjoy, and complete newcomers to the Tenchi Franchise could get into without seeing the other shows, particularly if you enjoy Nabeshin's other work. I recommend it highly and get a big kick out of it whenever I watch it.
And now, your moment of AMV Zen
Friday, March 25, 2011
Paul
One thing I've always loved in cinema is the skillful parody. Masters like Mel Brooks and the Python's have always split my sides with their precise dissection of genre norms, whether they wield subtle or sledge-hammer wit. These days, the emerging "New Guard" in the field of parody films is headed up by the team of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. Their first film, Shaun of the Dead, brilliantly lampooned the oft over the top Zombie Movie genre. They teamed up again for Hot Fuzz, a film that skillfully skewered Buddy Cop action films. Now with their third major collaboration, Paul, they tackle Alien Encounter science fiction films like ET and (big surprise) Close Encounters of the Third Kind. And while the parody aspect of their first two films was obviously born of a desire to announce their devotion to the given genre, warts and all, Paul succeeds in remaining a dutifully devoted parody of the source material while still telling a compellingly original story. And while I have to say that I find SotD and HF with their plethora of in jokes to be more thoroughly hilarious in general, I appreciate Paul as a more complete film.
The film opens with two Science Fiction fans from the UK (played by Pegg and Frost) attending the San Diego Comic-Con, a well known mecca for Nerds all over the world. After the conference, they rent an RV and set out on a tour of purported Alien encounter hot-spots. As they travel, they witness a car crash in the desert. Stopping to help, they meet Paul, a smart mouthed Extra terrestrial who quickly befriends the two. He lets them know that he is attempting to meet up with a ship that will take him off world. As they travel, they encounter government agents attempting to reacquire Paul for nefarious reasons.
From a technical standpoint, Paul demonstrates some impressive special effects and sound. The character Paul, voice hilariously by Seth Rogan, is completely computer generated and almost always believable. The sound design and score are excellent, including a number of recognizable queues. Overall, effects rarely distract from the story, which is always important in this kind of film.
Overall, Paul does a great job of telling a humorous and heartwarming story within the guidelines of it's genre while managing to feel completely original and complimentary of it's inspiration at the same time. While I can't say that it is a better film than Pegg and Frost's previous work, it certainly deserves to be mentioned among them.
8 Small Cowboy's out of 10.
The film opens with two Science Fiction fans from the UK (played by Pegg and Frost) attending the San Diego Comic-Con, a well known mecca for Nerds all over the world. After the conference, they rent an RV and set out on a tour of purported Alien encounter hot-spots. As they travel, they witness a car crash in the desert. Stopping to help, they meet Paul, a smart mouthed Extra terrestrial who quickly befriends the two. He lets them know that he is attempting to meet up with a ship that will take him off world. As they travel, they encounter government agents attempting to reacquire Paul for nefarious reasons.
From a technical standpoint, Paul demonstrates some impressive special effects and sound. The character Paul, voice hilariously by Seth Rogan, is completely computer generated and almost always believable. The sound design and score are excellent, including a number of recognizable queues. Overall, effects rarely distract from the story, which is always important in this kind of film.
Overall, Paul does a great job of telling a humorous and heartwarming story within the guidelines of it's genre while managing to feel completely original and complimentary of it's inspiration at the same time. While I can't say that it is a better film than Pegg and Frost's previous work, it certainly deserves to be mentioned among them.
8 Small Cowboy's out of 10.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Saturday Anime: Iria - Zeiram the Animation.
This series is one of the shows that most deserves to be mentioned in an edition of Saturday Anime (which I am going to try to do more consistently, I swear). One of the first 'True' anime that I saw, the first DVD I bought, and still one of my favorite shows All Around. Dan and I watched this again last night, so with my latest of many viewings fresh in my mind, I thought I would talk a bit about it.
The titular protagonist of the series is Iria, a hunter from the planet Myce in a distant galaxy. As the show opens, she is apprenticed to her brother, Gren and his partner Bob. She is strong willed and tough as nails, a true heroine, not the Kung Fu mistress or Dragon lady stereotypes. She fights with an impressive arsenal of Guns, explosives, and a segmented Katana, similar to the sword used by Ivy of Soul Calibur fame. And while she is easily the toughest person (note the word Person) in the show, when she isn't busy kicking ass and taking names, she can still be endearingly feminine. For example, at one point in the show after fighting tooth and nail for the better part of 15 minutes, the first thing she thinks of is that she could use a shower.
Early in the first episode, Iria, Gren, and Bob take on a hush-hush mission to rescue the occupants of a high-jacked ship known as the Karma. Expecting space pirates, industrial espionage, or a mercenary force, they instead find that the majority of the crew has been slaughtered by a single assailant.
It is Zeiram, a bloodthirsty unstoppable killing machine of unknown origins.
There is something so cool about this antagonist. He has no ambitions. No Agenda. No personal beef with anyone in particular. No tragic past. No tortured psychotic personality. No reason to kill.
But that doesn't stop him. The best way to describe Zeiram is as a Force of Nature. He is pure Malice, unfocused hatred incarnate, unfettered instinct in an indestructible body. He kills everything in his path, not for kicks or honor or really for any reason, simply because it's what he does. And he is damn good at it. Zeiram is an extremely intimidating figure, huge in stature, accompanied by an eerie chant and a hissing laugh that freezes the blood of his victims. And there is only one person who has ever taken him on, one on one, and lived. Iria.
The show has a very unique visual style that blends traditional eastern art and architecture with otherworldly technology, and character design is excellent, particularly Iria and Zeiram. Audio is excellent, with a number of memorable pieces of background music and an insanely catchy opening theme song that, to this day, I can't get enough of.
It bears mentioning that this series was one of the shows that made me the Anime Fan I am today. I saw it first on the Sci Fi channel during the Saturday Anime days. It is amongst the original handful of series that hooked me on the medium, including the likes of Tenchi Muyo, Dominion Tank Police, Gunsmith Cats, Ghost in the Shell and Neon Genesis Evangelion; placing it in some fine company. And I remember it fondly as one of the first shows that featured a powerful and well developed female in the lead role of an animated series at a time when animated women were sidekicks at best and damsels in distress at worst. I recommend it to anyone who can get a hold of it and who wants a taste of Great old school anime and a Badass Female Hero.
And now, your moment of AMV zen.
The titular protagonist of the series is Iria, a hunter from the planet Myce in a distant galaxy. As the show opens, she is apprenticed to her brother, Gren and his partner Bob. She is strong willed and tough as nails, a true heroine, not the Kung Fu mistress or Dragon lady stereotypes. She fights with an impressive arsenal of Guns, explosives, and a segmented Katana, similar to the sword used by Ivy of Soul Calibur fame. And while she is easily the toughest person (note the word Person) in the show, when she isn't busy kicking ass and taking names, she can still be endearingly feminine. For example, at one point in the show after fighting tooth and nail for the better part of 15 minutes, the first thing she thinks of is that she could use a shower.
Early in the first episode, Iria, Gren, and Bob take on a hush-hush mission to rescue the occupants of a high-jacked ship known as the Karma. Expecting space pirates, industrial espionage, or a mercenary force, they instead find that the majority of the crew has been slaughtered by a single assailant.
It is Zeiram, a bloodthirsty unstoppable killing machine of unknown origins.
 |
| This is Zeiram. Holy Schnikies! |
But that doesn't stop him. The best way to describe Zeiram is as a Force of Nature. He is pure Malice, unfocused hatred incarnate, unfettered instinct in an indestructible body. He kills everything in his path, not for kicks or honor or really for any reason, simply because it's what he does. And he is damn good at it. Zeiram is an extremely intimidating figure, huge in stature, accompanied by an eerie chant and a hissing laugh that freezes the blood of his victims. And there is only one person who has ever taken him on, one on one, and lived. Iria.
The show has a very unique visual style that blends traditional eastern art and architecture with otherworldly technology, and character design is excellent, particularly Iria and Zeiram. Audio is excellent, with a number of memorable pieces of background music and an insanely catchy opening theme song that, to this day, I can't get enough of.
It bears mentioning that this series was one of the shows that made me the Anime Fan I am today. I saw it first on the Sci Fi channel during the Saturday Anime days. It is amongst the original handful of series that hooked me on the medium, including the likes of Tenchi Muyo, Dominion Tank Police, Gunsmith Cats, Ghost in the Shell and Neon Genesis Evangelion; placing it in some fine company. And I remember it fondly as one of the first shows that featured a powerful and well developed female in the lead role of an animated series at a time when animated women were sidekicks at best and damsels in distress at worst. I recommend it to anyone who can get a hold of it and who wants a taste of Great old school anime and a Badass Female Hero.
And now, your moment of AMV zen.
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