If you have read my review of Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones(2014) then you know I walked out of it because the movie failed on many levels. Well Saving Mr. Banks is the movie I went to see in its place and I got to say it is a far more superb movie than The Marked Ones.
Saving Mr. Banks is about P.L. Travers and Walt Disney fighting over the how to best adapt her novel to film. P.L. Travers also "reflects on her difficult childhood" (imdb.com) during the preproduction stages of Mary Poppins (1964). It is written by Kelly Marcel and Sue Smith and directed by John Lee Hancock. The film has an amazing ensemble of actors; Emma Thompson as P.L. Travers, Tom Hanks as Walt Disney, Annie Rose Buckley as Ginty, Colin Farrell as Travers Goff, Ruth Wilson as Margaret Goff, Paul Giamatti as Ralph, Bradley Whitford as Don DaGradi, B.J. Novak as Robert Sherman, and Jason Schwartsman as Richard Sherman amongst others.
Colin Farrell steals the show with his performance as Travers Goff; due in large part to the marketing of this movie which withheld the childhood scenes from the commercials which I have seen. His scenes are powerful and provide much backbone to the present day scenes because of how flawed the character is. Travers Goff at first seemed to be a happy go lucky family man with a great job that loved his family. But then his alcoholism problems come into play which end up with his demise. He is the source of the internal and external conflict between P.L. Travers & herself and P.L. Travers & Disney (studio, Walt, Robert & Richard Sherman, and Don DaGradi).
Emma Thompson is magical in the role of P.L. Travers. Her performance is sublime. She puts on a "facade" of bravado, is particular about everything from grammar to speech and mannerisms, and yet the same time exudes a sense of vulnerability that hints at the internal conflicts which are then supported by the flashback scenes which focus on Travers' relationship with her father and how it is strained as it goes on.
John Lee Hancock did a wonderful job with this film. It did not have pacing issues, it was entertaining, provided a (possibly fictionalized or exaggerated) history that is about the making of one of the most beloved Disney classic films ever Mary Poppins, delivers great performances, great music tracks, and very moving. This film deserves an A+.
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones (Partial Review)
Yesterday I went to watch Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones which was released on January 3, 2014 in the United States of America. It is written and directed by Christopher Landon and stars Andrew Jacobs and Jorge Diaz. The reason the title says partial review is because I saw only about 45 minutes of the film before I got bored by the film. The film failed to capture my interest and attention. The dialogue between the characters was boring, images were boring, and the overall story line was boring. The scenes meant to give insight to the characters, seemed pointless because they just fell stupid with the bafoonery they did such as sliding down the stairway in a clothes basket, and felt random. The scenes may have interested me had the movie not used diagetic shots, meaning shots from cameras in the movie that the characters themselves use such as The Blair Witch Project(1999), Cloverfield(2008), End of Watch(2012), and Paranormal Activity(2007). They have lost their novelty and I feel that Paranormal Activity V risks the same thing occurring. They worked for The Blair Witch Project and Paranormal Activity because they were groundbreaking and took place in common places such as the bedroom and forest. However with this being the "fifth" film in the series, it just fails. The movie overall seems bland and failed to scare me. I give this film an F for failing to capture my attention and interest; and because I walked out of the film halfway through and decided to see Saving Mr. Banks(2013) instead of finishing the film.
Monday, January 13, 2014
her (2013 or 2014) Review
Introduction:
her, released in 2013 and 2014, is a film written and directed by Spike Jonze which stars Joaquin Phoenix as Theodore Twombly, Amy Adams as Amy, Scarlett Johansson as Samantha, Rooney Mara as Catherine, and Chris Pratt as Paul.
It is essentially about Theodore and his quest to recover or/and rediscover himself amidst the throes of a divorce. The main focus is on the relationship he develops with an operating system also known as Samantha.
Plot:
The film moves along at a steady medium pace. It is neither slow nor fast. However I believe because of the subject matter it seems to drag a little between the middle of Act 2 and beginning of Act 3. The film really examines what a relationship entails with Theodore's experiences with three women and Samantha.
Theodore Twombly:
Although some people contest that Theodore is a pretty stagnant character, he still goes through a variety of emotions. Joaquin Phoenix pulls off being Theodore with what is a flawless performance. I bought into the fact that he is a "normal or average" guy and was able to feel both empathetic and sympathetic towards him, and because of that I was able to see the world from his perspective.
I also bought the relationship he has with Samantha. Joaquin's performance was greatly complemented by Scarlett Johansson's Voice work as the operating system. Her voice was perfect in its delivery of cadence, timbre, and tone of and for each scene it is in.
Tone:
her is a really dramatic piece with comedic relief scenes throughout. Spike Jonze was able to find the balance between the heavy emotional scenes and the comedic relief scenes through a game, Chris Pratt, and Amy Adams. Chris Pratt's and Amy Adams' characters provide the counter balance that help Theodore through his moments of self doubt, divorce, and relative lethargy in relation to social interests.
Spike Jonze and Company:
Wow!!! This film is so visually striking. Each scene has Theodore stand out from the crowd with a bright orange or red shirt or jacket and the color palate of the rest of the frame. The movie constantly alternates it's depth of field from far and wide shots to close ups and extreme close ups by changing from shallow depth of field to deep focus which added to each scene. If Theodore was particularly introverted and introspective in the scene then the depth of field would be shallow allowing the viewer to really focus in on and with Theodore and what he is saying, thinking, or doing.
Final Thoughts:
I really like the musical tracks that accompany the film. This is a visually striking narrative that examines what it means to be in a relationship and in love with great performances from the lead actor and supporting actors and actresses. I give her an A.
her, released in 2013 and 2014, is a film written and directed by Spike Jonze which stars Joaquin Phoenix as Theodore Twombly, Amy Adams as Amy, Scarlett Johansson as Samantha, Rooney Mara as Catherine, and Chris Pratt as Paul.
It is essentially about Theodore and his quest to recover or/and rediscover himself amidst the throes of a divorce. The main focus is on the relationship he develops with an operating system also known as Samantha.
Plot:
The film moves along at a steady medium pace. It is neither slow nor fast. However I believe because of the subject matter it seems to drag a little between the middle of Act 2 and beginning of Act 3. The film really examines what a relationship entails with Theodore's experiences with three women and Samantha.
Theodore Twombly:
Although some people contest that Theodore is a pretty stagnant character, he still goes through a variety of emotions. Joaquin Phoenix pulls off being Theodore with what is a flawless performance. I bought into the fact that he is a "normal or average" guy and was able to feel both empathetic and sympathetic towards him, and because of that I was able to see the world from his perspective.
I also bought the relationship he has with Samantha. Joaquin's performance was greatly complemented by Scarlett Johansson's Voice work as the operating system. Her voice was perfect in its delivery of cadence, timbre, and tone of and for each scene it is in.
Tone:
her is a really dramatic piece with comedic relief scenes throughout. Spike Jonze was able to find the balance between the heavy emotional scenes and the comedic relief scenes through a game, Chris Pratt, and Amy Adams. Chris Pratt's and Amy Adams' characters provide the counter balance that help Theodore through his moments of self doubt, divorce, and relative lethargy in relation to social interests.
Spike Jonze and Company:
Wow!!! This film is so visually striking. Each scene has Theodore stand out from the crowd with a bright orange or red shirt or jacket and the color palate of the rest of the frame. The movie constantly alternates it's depth of field from far and wide shots to close ups and extreme close ups by changing from shallow depth of field to deep focus which added to each scene. If Theodore was particularly introverted and introspective in the scene then the depth of field would be shallow allowing the viewer to really focus in on and with Theodore and what he is saying, thinking, or doing.
Final Thoughts:
I really like the musical tracks that accompany the film. This is a visually striking narrative that examines what it means to be in a relationship and in love with great performances from the lead actor and supporting actors and actresses. I give her an A.
Sunday, January 12, 2014
Lone Survivor (2014)
Introduction:
Lone Survivor is written and directed by Peter Berg and is based on a book by Marcus Lutrell & Patrick Robinson. It stars Mark Wahlberg as Marcus Lutrell, Taylor Kitsch as Michael Murphy, Emile Hirsch as Danny Dietz, Ben Foster as Matt 'Axe' Axelson, Yousuf Azami as Shah, Ali Suliman as Gulab, and Eric Bana as Erik Kristensen among other actors.
Synopsis:
"Based on the failed June 28, 2005 mission "Operation Red Wings"." (IMDB.com) It follows four Navy SEALS on a mission in Afghanistan to "capture or kill notorious Taliban leader Ahmad Shahd." (IMDB.com)
Cinematography and Editing:
I feel that this film's cinematography and editing work well in the action sequences in putting the audience in the middle of the action and moving the plot along. In concern to the plot, the film did a wonderful job connecting me with the Navy Seals that would go on Operation Red Wings. I was able to feel the bond and brotherhood between them. There was beautiful scenery that made for stunning visual transitional shots. The plot has a fast pace to it but doesn't feel rushed. Intensity was built well within each scene with the circumstances getting progressively worse for the Navy SEALS. The quick cuts add to the intensity as well as the seemingly real gunfire audio. The reason for this is that the gunfire doesn't have the tight crisp and clean sound that many movies have when the gunfire audio is added in post. It has more of an echo that sounds harsher than if it were cleaned up.
Tone:
Surprisingly there was much comedic relief throughout the film in the brotherly dialogue, even in the horrible predicaments that these men faced. It helped even out or lessen the seriousness and pain that the audience witnesses and is plunged into.
The film feels very patriotic with the use of the real life SEAL Team 10 members pictures and clips and a dedication to them as well.
I also like the motif of pushing yourself to the limit, because that is truly what these men did.
Final Thoughts:
A well executed film with great intensity, emotional narrative, and overall good film. I grade this film A-.
Lone Survivor is written and directed by Peter Berg and is based on a book by Marcus Lutrell & Patrick Robinson. It stars Mark Wahlberg as Marcus Lutrell, Taylor Kitsch as Michael Murphy, Emile Hirsch as Danny Dietz, Ben Foster as Matt 'Axe' Axelson, Yousuf Azami as Shah, Ali Suliman as Gulab, and Eric Bana as Erik Kristensen among other actors.
Synopsis:
"Based on the failed June 28, 2005 mission "Operation Red Wings"." (IMDB.com) It follows four Navy SEALS on a mission in Afghanistan to "capture or kill notorious Taliban leader Ahmad Shahd." (IMDB.com)
Cinematography and Editing:
I feel that this film's cinematography and editing work well in the action sequences in putting the audience in the middle of the action and moving the plot along. In concern to the plot, the film did a wonderful job connecting me with the Navy Seals that would go on Operation Red Wings. I was able to feel the bond and brotherhood between them. There was beautiful scenery that made for stunning visual transitional shots. The plot has a fast pace to it but doesn't feel rushed. Intensity was built well within each scene with the circumstances getting progressively worse for the Navy SEALS. The quick cuts add to the intensity as well as the seemingly real gunfire audio. The reason for this is that the gunfire doesn't have the tight crisp and clean sound that many movies have when the gunfire audio is added in post. It has more of an echo that sounds harsher than if it were cleaned up.
Tone:
Surprisingly there was much comedic relief throughout the film in the brotherly dialogue, even in the horrible predicaments that these men faced. It helped even out or lessen the seriousness and pain that the audience witnesses and is plunged into.
The film feels very patriotic with the use of the real life SEAL Team 10 members pictures and clips and a dedication to them as well.
I also like the motif of pushing yourself to the limit, because that is truly what these men did.
Final Thoughts:
A well executed film with great intensity, emotional narrative, and overall good film. I grade this film A-.
American Psycho (2000)
Introduction:
American Psycho was released on April 14, 2000 and is co-written by Mary Harron and Guinevere Turner, based on the novel by Bret Easton Ellis, and is directed by Mary Harron. The film stars Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman, Justin Theroux as Timothy Bryce, Josh Lucas as Craig McDermott, Jared Leto as Paul Allen, Willem Dafoe as Detective Donald Kimball, and Reese Witherspoon as Evelyn Williams among many other great actors.
I believe this is Christian Bales breakout performance that put him in adult film and on the map.
Synopsis:
Patrick Bateman is a "wealthy New York banking executive" (IMDB) who hides his interior, feelings, motives, and hatred, from the world and those around him and takes it out on the helpless of the world.
Understanding:
If you do not like dark comedies then you will hate this film. This film in my opinion sheds light on the socioeconomic disparities of the 80s which actually still exist. Much of the film's performances are over the top and exaggerated, so I can see why people may be turned off, but if you understand or look at the film as a satyre you'll be able to appreciate the performances and film better.
Patrick Bateman:
Wow!!! I did not think another "Psycho" could be made up after Anthony Perkins as Norman Bates in Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho (1960). However Christian Bale's performance as Patrick Bateman is top notch. He is a vain, narcissistic, and emotionless psychopath who is extremely perverse in his thoughts. Bale's eyes and neutral expressions really are able to exude a blankness, hatred, and intellect at the same time. The two movies even end in a similar fashion with a slow transition from a full shot to an extreme close up of the eyes.
Story:
There are many clues that suggest what you will witness will merely be a mirage or illusion because you are being placed in the head of Patrick Bateman. First off the opening credits are first accompanied by thick red droplets which I first presumed to be blood, and yet it turns out that those droplets were a sauce dropping onto a plate. Then it transitions to the waiters in a seemingly expensive restaurant giving the people at the tables recommendations of menu items. Then it cuts to Patrick sitting with his chronies from work and a dialogue between them which exudes over the top sarcasm. After that, they are in a club and patrick is getting drinks from the bar where the bartender tells him it's only cash that is accepted. To that he replies something along the lines of "You fucking bitch!" but the bartender does not hear him.
Memorable Scenes:
Patirck's Morning Routine
Business Cards Comparison
Paul Allen Murder
Det. Kimball's Initial Inquiries
Prostitutes Night 1
Prostitute and Friend Night 2
ATM at Night
Patricks Confession
Ending
Mary Harron:
Mary did a marvelous job with this satirical portrayal of 80s and contemporary "America". The film is consistent in tone throughout the film. The pacing is slow, because there are drawn out scenes with Patrick's voice over and dialogue with other characters, but not horrendously slow. The audience saw exactly what Patrick saw and yet I was not able to feel truly sympathetic or empathetic for him because in the end nothing really happened. It was all just in his twisted and perverse mind.
Final Thoughts:
I think this film is a classic that is not meant for everyone. If you can not get over the dark comedy aspect of it, you will not like this film. I give it an A.
American Psycho was released on April 14, 2000 and is co-written by Mary Harron and Guinevere Turner, based on the novel by Bret Easton Ellis, and is directed by Mary Harron. The film stars Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman, Justin Theroux as Timothy Bryce, Josh Lucas as Craig McDermott, Jared Leto as Paul Allen, Willem Dafoe as Detective Donald Kimball, and Reese Witherspoon as Evelyn Williams among many other great actors.
I believe this is Christian Bales breakout performance that put him in adult film and on the map.
Synopsis:
Patrick Bateman is a "wealthy New York banking executive" (IMDB) who hides his interior, feelings, motives, and hatred, from the world and those around him and takes it out on the helpless of the world.
Understanding:
If you do not like dark comedies then you will hate this film. This film in my opinion sheds light on the socioeconomic disparities of the 80s which actually still exist. Much of the film's performances are over the top and exaggerated, so I can see why people may be turned off, but if you understand or look at the film as a satyre you'll be able to appreciate the performances and film better.
Patrick Bateman:
Wow!!! I did not think another "Psycho" could be made up after Anthony Perkins as Norman Bates in Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho (1960). However Christian Bale's performance as Patrick Bateman is top notch. He is a vain, narcissistic, and emotionless psychopath who is extremely perverse in his thoughts. Bale's eyes and neutral expressions really are able to exude a blankness, hatred, and intellect at the same time. The two movies even end in a similar fashion with a slow transition from a full shot to an extreme close up of the eyes.
Story:
There are many clues that suggest what you will witness will merely be a mirage or illusion because you are being placed in the head of Patrick Bateman. First off the opening credits are first accompanied by thick red droplets which I first presumed to be blood, and yet it turns out that those droplets were a sauce dropping onto a plate. Then it transitions to the waiters in a seemingly expensive restaurant giving the people at the tables recommendations of menu items. Then it cuts to Patrick sitting with his chronies from work and a dialogue between them which exudes over the top sarcasm. After that, they are in a club and patrick is getting drinks from the bar where the bartender tells him it's only cash that is accepted. To that he replies something along the lines of "You fucking bitch!" but the bartender does not hear him.
Memorable Scenes:
Patirck's Morning Routine
Business Cards Comparison
Paul Allen Murder
Det. Kimball's Initial Inquiries
Prostitutes Night 1
Prostitute and Friend Night 2
ATM at Night
Patricks Confession
Ending
Mary Harron:
Mary did a marvelous job with this satirical portrayal of 80s and contemporary "America". The film is consistent in tone throughout the film. The pacing is slow, because there are drawn out scenes with Patrick's voice over and dialogue with other characters, but not horrendously slow. The audience saw exactly what Patrick saw and yet I was not able to feel truly sympathetic or empathetic for him because in the end nothing really happened. It was all just in his twisted and perverse mind.
Final Thoughts:
I think this film is a classic that is not meant for everyone. If you can not get over the dark comedy aspect of it, you will not like this film. I give it an A.
Friday, January 10, 2014
Hardball (2001) Review
I just finished watching Hardball, so I'm now typing this review.
Introduction:
Hardball is a film written by John Gatins, based on a novel by Danny Coyle, released in 2001 and directed by Brian Robbins. The film stars Keanu Reeves, Diane Lane, John Hawkes, Graham Beckel, and even features a young Michael B Jordan amongst many young actors whom I have not heard or seen in many recent projects.
Synopsis:
Conor O'Neil is a man with a gambling problem who just lost $6,000 which he owes to Duffy who has had it up to here with Conor not paying him his money and losing it. He goes to an acquaintance for money, but because a previous transaction of $5,000 the money isn't just handed over. Conor must coach a community youth baseball team in the Cabrini Green housing project in Chicago in order to get the money.
Performances:
I feel that this is one of Keanu Reeves strongest performances of his career. His portrayal of Conor is sublime in my opinion. Conor has the greatest character arc in changing from a gambling addict fuck up in deep debt to clearing his debt and bettering his life from coaching the Little League team he initially begrudgingly coached at first.
Direction:
Through providing Conor an outlet through a Little League team in the poorer side of Chicago, I felt that there was a great amount of socio-political commentary. This is evident when Conor takes the kids to their home in the project and he witnesses the poverty and the living conditions in which many people live. Another example is on the field itself where all the other teams have better looking uniforms and the coach is a prick calling out all the little things once the Kekambas start to win games.
Cinematography and Editing:
Tom Richmond did a wonderful job with the cinematography. The greatest exemplary scene is the one in which the camera is handheld or seemingly so because of the shaking as it tracks the boy with asthma through the project as he tries to get home at night. Although some may argue at this quality I believe it is necessary and intentional with its sole intention to put the audience in the character's shoes. It is night time and the character is in the projects running home but is struggling to breathe properly and needs to use the inhaler. The jarring effect of the shakiness of the camera combined with the rapid cuts to the p.o.v. shots really made me feel all of what I expect the boy must be feeling as I see the action unfold. The reason why this is essential is because there are other chase scenes where Conor is running away from the "thugs" who want him to pay up or get beat up, and the tracking is nowhere near as shaky and almost like they were dolly shots.
Ned Bastille did a wonderful job with the editing. I feel that the cathedral scene where Conor is giving a speech in memory of G Baby works because of the way it was executed. In the scene prior to G Baby's death the Kekambas are in the semifinal game and the last shot is of Conor telling G Baby he is up to bat. In the next scene Conor is dropping off G Baby and his brother at the project complex and that he expects at practice insinuating that they won, thus leaving me interested and unsatisfied that the winning play was not shown. Then the events that take G Baby's life occur. In the cathedral Conor gives a speech reflecting the blessing that is G Baby and talks of the final play. The speech is done as voice over on the intermittent cuts to the flashbacks of the actual play. This editing technique really enhanced that final speech delivered by Conor as the audience is left with the really happy and memorable moment he just described.
Final Thoughts:
Everyone who worked on this project did a wonderful job. I wish I could just talk about the whole movie but that would take a considerable amount of more time and typing when I try to keep these as short and concise as possible. I leave with the grade of A.
Introduction:
Hardball is a film written by John Gatins, based on a novel by Danny Coyle, released in 2001 and directed by Brian Robbins. The film stars Keanu Reeves, Diane Lane, John Hawkes, Graham Beckel, and even features a young Michael B Jordan amongst many young actors whom I have not heard or seen in many recent projects.
Synopsis:
Conor O'Neil is a man with a gambling problem who just lost $6,000 which he owes to Duffy who has had it up to here with Conor not paying him his money and losing it. He goes to an acquaintance for money, but because a previous transaction of $5,000 the money isn't just handed over. Conor must coach a community youth baseball team in the Cabrini Green housing project in Chicago in order to get the money.
Performances:
I feel that this is one of Keanu Reeves strongest performances of his career. His portrayal of Conor is sublime in my opinion. Conor has the greatest character arc in changing from a gambling addict fuck up in deep debt to clearing his debt and bettering his life from coaching the Little League team he initially begrudgingly coached at first.
Direction:
Through providing Conor an outlet through a Little League team in the poorer side of Chicago, I felt that there was a great amount of socio-political commentary. This is evident when Conor takes the kids to their home in the project and he witnesses the poverty and the living conditions in which many people live. Another example is on the field itself where all the other teams have better looking uniforms and the coach is a prick calling out all the little things once the Kekambas start to win games.
Cinematography and Editing:
Tom Richmond did a wonderful job with the cinematography. The greatest exemplary scene is the one in which the camera is handheld or seemingly so because of the shaking as it tracks the boy with asthma through the project as he tries to get home at night. Although some may argue at this quality I believe it is necessary and intentional with its sole intention to put the audience in the character's shoes. It is night time and the character is in the projects running home but is struggling to breathe properly and needs to use the inhaler. The jarring effect of the shakiness of the camera combined with the rapid cuts to the p.o.v. shots really made me feel all of what I expect the boy must be feeling as I see the action unfold. The reason why this is essential is because there are other chase scenes where Conor is running away from the "thugs" who want him to pay up or get beat up, and the tracking is nowhere near as shaky and almost like they were dolly shots.
Ned Bastille did a wonderful job with the editing. I feel that the cathedral scene where Conor is giving a speech in memory of G Baby works because of the way it was executed. In the scene prior to G Baby's death the Kekambas are in the semifinal game and the last shot is of Conor telling G Baby he is up to bat. In the next scene Conor is dropping off G Baby and his brother at the project complex and that he expects at practice insinuating that they won, thus leaving me interested and unsatisfied that the winning play was not shown. Then the events that take G Baby's life occur. In the cathedral Conor gives a speech reflecting the blessing that is G Baby and talks of the final play. The speech is done as voice over on the intermittent cuts to the flashbacks of the actual play. This editing technique really enhanced that final speech delivered by Conor as the audience is left with the really happy and memorable moment he just described.
Final Thoughts:
Everyone who worked on this project did a wonderful job. I wish I could just talk about the whole movie but that would take a considerable amount of more time and typing when I try to keep these as short and concise as possible. I leave with the grade of A.
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
The Hobbit Desolation of Smaug
Introduction:
Many of my friends described how utterly terrible The Hobbit An Unexpected Journey (2012) was. They gave reasons such as the pacing being too slow, mainly due to the lack of substantial action, and that many of the plots within by the end were left unresolved. I did not have these problems because I viewed the whole film as the first act in accordance to the three act structure that most scripts/films follow. Thus I naturally thought many of the plots would be left unresolved because I knew it would be a mere introductory course to the many characters that need to be covered. However I do think it was a bit slow and did not like the cgi of many of the orcs/goblins in the Misty Mountains.
The Hobbit Desolation of Smaug(THDoS) (2013), I naturally thought of as being the second act, is directed by Peter Jackson and penned by Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, Phillipa Boyens, and Guillermo del Toro. So I expected it to be filled with action and to be faster paced. Needless to say the film delivered the goods with many more memorable action sequences and a much better paced film that ended on the perfect note.
The Goods:
As aforementioned, there were vast improvements from The Hobbit An Unexpected Journey to THDoS. There was more prosthetic use for the orcs/goblins versus cgi. There were more memorable action sequences, from the spider sequence in the Mirkwood Forest, the barrel ride when the dwarves and Bilbo were escaping the Mirkwood Elven Land, the Laketown fights, Gandalf the Grey and Sauron in Dol Guldur, and the fight between the dwarves, Bilbo, and Smaug.
The pacing was greatly improved. I believe this is due at least in part to the artistic liberties of adding characters that are not in the novel. These additions include Radagast the Brown, Bolg, Legolas, Tauriel, and Sauron. These additions allowed for more cut away points for a better rounded film that doesn't seem to drag on and some interesting subplots.
Smaug:
Benedict Cumberbatch did an amazing job voicing Smaug. His voice along with the added effects was a slightly raspy low bass of a voice that boomed with power that sounded as though it belonged to an enormous dragon. At times I could not tell if Smaug was actually cgi or animatronic because of how real life it looked on screen.
Performances:
Everyone did a great job. I believe the stand out performances were Orlando Bloom, Martin Freeman, and Richard Armitage. They showed a progression in character traits that helped evolve the character. Legolas is slightly darker than in The Lord of The Rings and Bilbo is waning ever so slightly under the influence of the Ring as Thorin becomes obsessed with the Arkinstone to the point that he is reminiscent to Boromir of The Lord of the Rings.
Minor Qualms in the Grand Scheme of Things:
I wish more time could have been spent with Beorn.
Ending:
It ended with Legolas chasing Bolg, Gandalf in captivity in Dol Guldur, Smaug flying off to destroy Laketown, and ends with Bilbo saying something along the lines of "What have we done?". The cherry on top of the sundae is the song by Ed Sheeran "I See Fire" which encapsulates the tone which was set by the hung cliffhangers which leave the audience dying for The Hobbit There and Back Again.
I give THDoS an A.
Many of my friends described how utterly terrible The Hobbit An Unexpected Journey (2012) was. They gave reasons such as the pacing being too slow, mainly due to the lack of substantial action, and that many of the plots within by the end were left unresolved. I did not have these problems because I viewed the whole film as the first act in accordance to the three act structure that most scripts/films follow. Thus I naturally thought many of the plots would be left unresolved because I knew it would be a mere introductory course to the many characters that need to be covered. However I do think it was a bit slow and did not like the cgi of many of the orcs/goblins in the Misty Mountains.
The Hobbit Desolation of Smaug(THDoS) (2013), I naturally thought of as being the second act, is directed by Peter Jackson and penned by Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, Phillipa Boyens, and Guillermo del Toro. So I expected it to be filled with action and to be faster paced. Needless to say the film delivered the goods with many more memorable action sequences and a much better paced film that ended on the perfect note.
The Goods:
As aforementioned, there were vast improvements from The Hobbit An Unexpected Journey to THDoS. There was more prosthetic use for the orcs/goblins versus cgi. There were more memorable action sequences, from the spider sequence in the Mirkwood Forest, the barrel ride when the dwarves and Bilbo were escaping the Mirkwood Elven Land, the Laketown fights, Gandalf the Grey and Sauron in Dol Guldur, and the fight between the dwarves, Bilbo, and Smaug.
The pacing was greatly improved. I believe this is due at least in part to the artistic liberties of adding characters that are not in the novel. These additions include Radagast the Brown, Bolg, Legolas, Tauriel, and Sauron. These additions allowed for more cut away points for a better rounded film that doesn't seem to drag on and some interesting subplots.
Smaug:
Benedict Cumberbatch did an amazing job voicing Smaug. His voice along with the added effects was a slightly raspy low bass of a voice that boomed with power that sounded as though it belonged to an enormous dragon. At times I could not tell if Smaug was actually cgi or animatronic because of how real life it looked on screen.
Performances:
Everyone did a great job. I believe the stand out performances were Orlando Bloom, Martin Freeman, and Richard Armitage. They showed a progression in character traits that helped evolve the character. Legolas is slightly darker than in The Lord of The Rings and Bilbo is waning ever so slightly under the influence of the Ring as Thorin becomes obsessed with the Arkinstone to the point that he is reminiscent to Boromir of The Lord of the Rings.
Minor Qualms in the Grand Scheme of Things:
I wish more time could have been spent with Beorn.
Ending:
It ended with Legolas chasing Bolg, Gandalf in captivity in Dol Guldur, Smaug flying off to destroy Laketown, and ends with Bilbo saying something along the lines of "What have we done?". The cherry on top of the sundae is the song by Ed Sheeran "I See Fire" which encapsulates the tone which was set by the hung cliffhangers which leave the audience dying for The Hobbit There and Back Again.
I give THDoS an A.
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
The Wolf of Wall Street
Introduction:
The Wolf of Wall Street (TWoWS), directed by Martin Scorsese and screenplay written by Terence Winters, is based on the true story of Jordan Belfort and was theatrically released on 25th of December 2013. It stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, and Matthew McConaughey along with a huge supporting cast including Jon Bernthal, Rob Reiner, Kyle Chandler, Margot Robbie, and Cristin Milioti among others. This film is one of the best Martin Scorsese films ever ranking up there with Goodfellas, Casino, King of Comedy, and The Departed.
Synopsis:
The film follows Jordan Belfort's entrance into the stock market world as a connector to being a licensed stock broker on October 19th, 1987 to a stint selling penny stocks to making his own brokerage firm Stratton Oakmont and then his eventual demise.in being indicted by the FBI.
Warnings:
This film has a lot of act of incredulous debauchery from sex, drug use, and foul language.
Flow/Pace:
TWoWS may be Scorsese's longest running time film to date at two hours and fifty-nine minutes. That run time is longer than The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug, and yet it never felt dull or as if it dragged on. Every scene is rich with dialogue and character interactions which may be a testament to the script and mise-en-scene being totally complementary. Each scene developed a/some character(s) by introducing a new character or throwing exposition into the dialogue. The movie has a rather quick pacing that may be correlated to or exemplary of the fast life which Jordan Belfort lived.
Performances:
The whole cast gave wonderful performances which only added to the scenes. However there are three that stand out to me and those are the performances delivered by Matthew McConaughey, Jonah Hill and Leonardo DiCaprio. The characters they portrayed were extremely similar in their narcissism, expensive tastes, and greed for money. Yet they are each different in the deeper confines of their personalities.
Tone:
Overall the film has a comedic tone what with all the ridiculous acts of debauchery which the characters partake in. I found myself laughing about seventy to eighty percent of the film. However there is drama and serious internal & external conflict namely in the last act of the film where Belfort is being indicted by the FBI.
Final Thoughts:
This is another Scorsese classic. You will laugh, feel empathy and sympathy, watch amazingly constructed scenes (cinematography, editing, performances, soundtrack), watch an incredulous story unfold, and be entertained. I give The Wolf of Wall Street an A.
The Wolf of Wall Street (TWoWS), directed by Martin Scorsese and screenplay written by Terence Winters, is based on the true story of Jordan Belfort and was theatrically released on 25th of December 2013. It stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, and Matthew McConaughey along with a huge supporting cast including Jon Bernthal, Rob Reiner, Kyle Chandler, Margot Robbie, and Cristin Milioti among others. This film is one of the best Martin Scorsese films ever ranking up there with Goodfellas, Casino, King of Comedy, and The Departed.
Synopsis:
The film follows Jordan Belfort's entrance into the stock market world as a connector to being a licensed stock broker on October 19th, 1987 to a stint selling penny stocks to making his own brokerage firm Stratton Oakmont and then his eventual demise.in being indicted by the FBI.
Warnings:
This film has a lot of act of incredulous debauchery from sex, drug use, and foul language.
Flow/Pace:
TWoWS may be Scorsese's longest running time film to date at two hours and fifty-nine minutes. That run time is longer than The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug, and yet it never felt dull or as if it dragged on. Every scene is rich with dialogue and character interactions which may be a testament to the script and mise-en-scene being totally complementary. Each scene developed a/some character(s) by introducing a new character or throwing exposition into the dialogue. The movie has a rather quick pacing that may be correlated to or exemplary of the fast life which Jordan Belfort lived.
Performances:
The whole cast gave wonderful performances which only added to the scenes. However there are three that stand out to me and those are the performances delivered by Matthew McConaughey, Jonah Hill and Leonardo DiCaprio. The characters they portrayed were extremely similar in their narcissism, expensive tastes, and greed for money. Yet they are each different in the deeper confines of their personalities.
Tone:
Overall the film has a comedic tone what with all the ridiculous acts of debauchery which the characters partake in. I found myself laughing about seventy to eighty percent of the film. However there is drama and serious internal & external conflict namely in the last act of the film where Belfort is being indicted by the FBI.
Final Thoughts:
This is another Scorsese classic. You will laugh, feel empathy and sympathy, watch amazingly constructed scenes (cinematography, editing, performances, soundtrack), watch an incredulous story unfold, and be entertained. I give The Wolf of Wall Street an A.
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