What happens when a guy falls asleep playing a video game - say Resident Evil or Lara Croft - who had previously spend the early morning hours playing an old throwback version of Mortal Kombat or Street Fighter? Well most likely he's dreaming of girls who can kick ass... but might somehow resemble Sailor Moon. Yeah I said it. The Sucker Punch trailers gave off the appearance of being something cool like a post-apocalyptic version of Annie, however the reality of the film had it being nothing more than a lame attempt at creating a "hot action flick". The lead character Baby Doll (Emily Browning) looks like the female version of Draco Malfoy in a Sailor Moon costume and although she seems to be able to fight, the over abundance of visual effects completely takes away any necessity to truly know how to act, let alone fight. With her hair color changing from scene to scene and the "film tricks" used to transition between realities the film becomes more of a bore than an entertaining "pretty" action film. I know this sounds harsh... BUT if you give off the appearance of being nothing more than a one trick pony I'm sure people will eventually see through the "cool" blind have up to hide the lack of... story... acting... talent... ummm dare I say lack of everything?
Sucker Punch should have been a film full of eye candy, but it left me constantly checking my watch to see how much longer I had to stay until the end. Granted the cast of ladies was not a complete waste (and shockingly enough Vanessa Hudgens who plays Blondie did not bother me as it was a role that she did little and almost never spoke) as Emily Browning and Jena Malone hold their own throughout the film and Scott Glenn as the Wise Man starts out cool but then turns into a running joke with horrible one liners before sending the girls off into battle.
With a backdrop that changes from World War II to the set of Lord of the Rings as the ladies battle orcs (which I'm surprised Peter Jackson didn't try to sue because I'm sure they were designed by the exact same team of WETA developers used for the LotR series). It was a cool concept, although not completely thought through. The "bosses" that needed to be defeated in each level were interesting however not well developed as some of the story just did not connect. I almost wish Zach Snyder had given up the film-making side and just created an amazing video game because then I would at least feel like I'm achieving something by interacting with the characters and story.
I'm sorry but all in all I can't even say that Sucker Punch is a film strictly meant to be nothing more than eye candy, because it could have been so much better. Yes there are a few AMAZING scenes (although completely created by CGI). Over all it felt like a better attempt at making Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (and if you've seen that movie I'm sure you get what I'm hinting at). Sometimes an idea is better left alone and I personally feel that this is one of them. The only thing I can say is that if you do not believe me now... go see the film and let me know what you think after you see the crap they dished out as the ending.
I give the over all film a 1 out of 5. Visuals for Sucker Punch are a 2.5 out of 5. Soundtrack is a 4 out of 5. So maybe to spare yourself the pain I just endured you'll just go buy the soundtrack and wait til the film comes out on DVD. I wished that's what I had done.
The film world has lost one of its greats this morning. Elizabeth Taylor was one of the talents that surpassed all others and it is with sadness that we hear of her passing. Ms Taylor has been the guiding light for so many and she leaves behind dozens of roles that will never be matched by anyone else. Her career spanned 6 decades and included such memorable roles as Cleopatra (Cleopatra), Katharine (The Taming of the Shrew), Martha (Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?), Leslie Benedict (Giant), Maggie Pollitt (Cat on a Hot Tin Roof), and Amy March (Little Women) along with many others. Aside from her award winning roles she has acted along side some of the greatest actors to grace the silver screen -- James Dean in Giant, Paul Newman in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and Richard Burton (who eventually became her 5th and 6th husband) in Cleopatra, Virginia Woolf and Taming. The legacy she leaves behind is one that will continue to live on in the hearts of anyone who will ever love movies.
There is something about invasion films that always seem to bring in scores of movie go-ers, regardless of the quality of the film.. Over the last few years we have had a few great alien invasion films like District 9 and even Cloverfield, if the handheld cinematography did not cause motion sickness; but we have also has some really bad invasion films, such as Skyline, which gave the appearance that it would be good though in reality, it had NO point). Two weeks ago I Am Number Four came out, and although, not technically an attack on Earth, it is an invasion film that takes place on Earth while searching for aliens who inhabited our planet. Granted the film could have been better but it had its shining moments too. Please keep in mind I am strictly speaking Earth invasions so please, do not think of Avatar or Predators as neither took place on Earth.
That being said, Battle: Los Angeles can be classified as a decent film for what it is and will most certainly bring in the crowds this weekend. Just viewing the trailers, the film looks like a cross between Independence Day and Saving Private Ryan or perhaps a mini-series like 'Band of Brothers' or 'The Pacific'. I realize that sounds a bit like a "DUH" statement, but if you decide to see the film this weekend you will be hit over the head with that visual just as I was. Although the cinematography choices are similar to Cloverfield, providing such a bumpy ride that it almost distracts from the overall story as you tilt your head left and right in an attempt to figure out what visual is on the screen, and there is little else that the sci-fi end of the story brings to the film. I only wish that the story had been better developed, giving the viewer a better idea of what these aliens are like, but then again, the story is about humans and not the aliens.
Battle: Los Angeles is a high stress war film between humans and aliens. The filming adds to this particular aspect of the film in a way that will make for another successful sci-fi invasion film for the movie industry. I only two real issues I would like to make about this film, the first being how the 'Band of Brothers'/'The Pacific' vibe provided when introducing the characters, clearly providing the audience their names by showing text in the lower third of the screen, but honesty, the film moved so fast this added information was almost an insignificant piece of information.. I’m suspecting that there wasn’t other way for the viewer to catch the names of the character during the dialog, it being inaudible. The second issue, if you're going to make a war film, whether it be based in reality or sci-fi world, you had better make it believable. Now, granted I am not a soldier and have never had to experience war (or anything war like), I have watched a lot of TV and films involving war and every one that I have seen has shown these brave men and women swearing under pressure, however, now that the censors have been hard a work to make life merry, either the studio felt that Battle: Los Angeles to be so violent that to keep the rating of PG-13 they needed to leave out the profanity... OR the writer decided to make these boys - and girl - so righteous to not piss off their maker by using inappropriate language, as their world is being turned into a living hell.
If you are a fan of games like Call of Duty than, overall, I’d say this is the film to see as you will be able to follow the action much better than those that do not fall within this group. If, however, you have never played a first-person shooter game, you may have a difficult time keeping up with the momentum of the film. The story, for what it is, delivers, but fails to provide what is needed to raise it above any other alien invasion film. The visual effects are decent, but since the aliens are rarely seen up close and personal, I question how well they were developed, thinking perhaps that the individual’s creative ability does not provide him with enough imagination to develop aliens unlike any others that have come before. I found the best part of the film to be the joy of watching Aaron Eckhart (Dark Knight) and Michelle Rodriguez (Resident Evil, Fast and the Furious) take down so many aliens. The cast was most definitely the biggest highlight of the film. So if you are looking for a movie to see this weekend for pure entertainment, Battle: Los Angeles will do, but if you are looking for an amazing film to see, you might want to check what else is playing.
So this weekend I spent much of my time at the movies... that being said there was one trailer that played just before Rango that grabbed my heart and held on for dear life...
Now that you have been introduced to HOP is it time for you to see the "real" trailer...
Who wouldn't love a bunny that looks like E.B.? I wish it was April 1st already so because I can't wait for HOP.
In addition to HOP there is another Dreamworks film scheduled to hit theaters in November that I'm sure everyong will love.
I just completed my second podcast for Picktainment.com. We covered three films that are opening this weekend. Push play to listen to reviews on The Adjustment Bureau, Rango and Take Me Home Tonight.
Have you ever wondered what your life would be like if you had made a different choice from one you made that put you where you are today? Maybe selected a different college then the one you attended... or turned down a job that relocated you to where you are now... or stuck with something a little longer than you originally had to see what could happen... or even taken that right turn rather then the left you made on the way home. Where would you be if you had made that other decision? The Adjustment Bureau is a psychological suspense film that addresses questions like these throughout the film as it plays with the idea of fate and free will and whether or not we as humans are in control of either.
The Adjustment Bureau is an amazing film that is exceptionally written and directed. From the moment you are first introduced to David Norris, played by Matt Damon (Bourne films and True Grit), you instantly like him -- even though he is a politician. He is someone you can relate with and feel compassion for, and that is just the beginning. When Elise Sellas (Emily Blunt - Wolfman, Young Victoria and Sunshine Cleaning) interrupts a rather personal moment for David the audience instantly feels the connection between the two characters. It's a chemistry on film that I have not seen in a long time and it was refreshing to watch these two extraordinary actors compliment each other. Even though we know that whatever is causing their instant attraction and connection will be their ultimate challenge and that is when the Adjustment Bureau steps in.
The employees of the Adjustment Bureau are great characters full of depth and life regardless of the lack of visible emotion throughout the film, with the exception of one "adjuster". Anthony Mackie (Hurt Locker) plays Harry Mitchell, who has been assigned to David since he was a young kid to try and keep him on the path that had been laid out for him but Harry makes a few mistakes and opens the door for fate to throw a few curve balls. John Slattery (Mad Men) plays Richardson who is a straight faced "adjuster" assigned to clean up Harry's mistakes. But it is Terence Stamp (Valkyrie and Wanted) who plays the ultimate "adjuster" Thompson who is only called in when there is no other choice. With the talent behind the Adjustment Bureau there is no question as to whether you would ever want to face a group of men like this is real life -- the answer would be no! Although they are very well dressed and at first glance would not be accused of anything other than being businessmen they are very far from that and definitely not anyone you'd want to mess with.
The Adjustment Bureau is George Nolfi's first directed film, but his background as a screenplay writer (The Adjustment Bureau, Bourne Ultimatum, Timeline) has definitely helped him create the perfect blend of suspense, drama, and action. You will feel every fall and hit as though it were happening to you, and because of this George Nolfi has created a perfect piece of cinema. The images are beautiful and the acting is some of the best we have in Hollywood, and if you did not already think Emily Blunt was gorgeous I guarantee you will after you see her dance. She is just as elegant in her speaking role as she is when she's dancing. So if you are looking for a suspense film to catch this weekend I highly recommend The Adjustment Bureau.
We’ve all heard the age old joke… Why did the armadillo cross the road? To get to the… Eeeekkk! Ok maybe not, but after this weekend you will get what I’m trying to say. Director Gore Verbinski shares a story that over flows with life due to his unusual method of recording voices by actually having his actors acting out the scenes and recording the action to create a base line for the animated characters that are soon to follow. Rango is a film that has placed the bar so high, that one can only hope it delivers.
Rango follows the journey of a chameleon who goes from being a family pet to finding its inner strength to become the hero to a small western town named Dirt. Having lived a rather boring life behind four glass walls, when accidently thrown from the family car out into the hot dessert, and needing to quickly find his footing in order to survive in the Wild West. Rango is one of those unlikely heroes who spent his entire life dreaming of adventure, when suddenly he is put into a situation where he has to use his acting skills to play the role of his life! Rango must save Dirt from drying up and prevent it from being taken over by bandits. This little animated western can easily rival any western that has come before.
Rango is a fantastic film full of little nods to a variety of previous films that ultimately makes a transition from being a kid’s film to a film more likely enjoyed by adults. Paying homage to a wide variety of western films, as well as some film and entertainment references easily recognized and others not quite as obvious that it is the “big kids” that will truly enjoy the film for what it is. With a classic camp fire scene that reminds us of the great Mel Brooks’ Blazing Saddles, to an Apocalypse Now aerial action sequence, to a bridge crossing that rivals The Fellowship of the Ring, to a Mariachi band of owls whose reappearance throughout the film, with perfect timing, only adds to the overall hilarity of the story. There’s even a bit of Fear and Loathing visible during some of the hallucination scenes, and there is even a little nod to Verbinski’s Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End. With a quirky main character voiced by the talented Johnny Depp and a leading lady-lizard, voiced by the beautiful Isla Fisher, the caliber of talent that lends their voices to so many well developed characters almost makes you forget you’re actually watching a cartoon. The ensemble includes Alfred Molina (Sorcerer's Apprentice) as Roadkill, who will leave you squirming in your seat; Bill Nighy (Pirate Radio) as Rattlesnake Jake, who is the epitome of a western bandit; Ned Beatty as the crocked Mayor; Abigail Breslin (Zombieland) as Priscilla, who you can identify a little with True Grit’s Hailee Steinfeld; Harry Dean Stanton (Big Love) as Balthazar; and Gil Birmingham (Twilight) as Wounded Bird, just to name a few of the memorable characters.
But if that was not enough, there is one scene in particular that will make this film a true hit. Bare in mind this is purely for the adults in the room as it is highly unlikely that anyone under the age of 15 would appreciate what Verbinski delivered just before the end of the film, and it is at this point that I fell head over heels in love with Rango. It is the Spirit of the West who brings the film full circle, and once you met this character will you understand the perfection that is Rango. My only complaint is that for my own selfish desire I wish the actor chosen actually sounded a little more like the person they were portraying. Even though I love Timothy Olyphant (Justified and I Am Number Four) who voices the Spirit of the West, and was thrilled that he was attached to Rango, I felt that they could have found someone a little more fitting.
Over all the team up between Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies was extremely successful, giving audiences of all ages a story that hit the ball so far out of the park that we are not likely to see a competitor in the near future. It is rare these days to find an animated project that is this well developed and not from the powerhouses of Disney, Pixar or Dreamworks. Audiences will be thoroughly surprised and impressed by the way these two companies are able to provide you with an entertaining story that is well fitted to be called a modern western, exceptional animation and characters that you can’t wait to see where the story takes them. I suggest that you attend a showing of Rango, whether or not you have kids that provide you an excuse to attend a cartoon. I guarantee that you will be thoroughly entertained and leave the theater wanting more.
I give Rango a 4.5 out of 5.
The above review was originally written for Picktainment.com. Please take a minute and follow the link to view the original posting... Picktainment: RANGO Review
