Prometheus -- REVIEW

There has been a lot of debate as to whether or not Prometheus is a prequel to the Aliens trilogy (I personally do not consider the 4th film as part of the series).  The film was not advertised as a prequel but from the first glimpse of the giant alien in the chair which is an iconic image from the 1979 film there was no question in my mind.  Prometheus was going to be a story from a time predating Ripley and hopefully one that would give us some back story as to where the aliens came from.

For anyone that still has not seen the film I do not want to spoil too much, but I will say that I was barely satisfied with the amount of information given during the 2 hr film.  The opening sequence alone left more open to debate than it answered, and I'm still unsure the point was for the mysterious man on the edge of a waterfall.  There was no indication as to what year we were being told about or where it was taking place, and then it cut to 2089 where the story of Prometheus truly begins.  I mean it was a true ‘WTF’ moment.

From beginning to end the film tries to push you along and give you some answers but there are themes and elements within the film that might leave an odd taste in your mouth as you walk out of the theater.  I personally was excited that the evolution of the alien was finally explained, however there was almost no explanation as to where any of the other characters came from and the almost desperate push for answers by Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Rapace – Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) left me unimpressed.  In the end I found that the acting of almost unrecognizable actors in Prometheus far surpassed all other aspects of the film.  The cast was strong and carried the weight of the film far better than the story, and my favorite was the android David portrayed by Michael Fassbender (Inglorious Basterds and A Dangerous Method) whose acting skills appeared to surpass those of Charlize Theron (Snow White & the Huntsman and Monster)who was just there.  The special effects were of course impressive even if they left you scratching your hear as to what you just saw, but ultimately the “big reveal” was not as big as I would have liked.  I would have preferred to have gotten a few more answers out of the film rather than a new list of questions that were left unanswered.

Don't get me wrong I'm not saying that you shouldn't see Prometheus, I'm just advising that one should lower their expectations as the film may not quite satisfy your needs.  But don't worry, there is talk that this is not a stand-alone prequel, but in fact part of a trilogy of its own that would eventually give us the answers we are hoping for.

Over all I give Prometheus a 3 out of 5.  

**Review written for PacMan & the Hot One -- http://pacmanandthehotone.blogspot.com/2012/06/prometheus-2012-film-review.html.  Check out the link to read other reviews.**

Dark Knight Rises - New Trailer

When it comes to summer block busters there's always one film that stands out.  Dark Knight Rises is that film for me.  Granted I have some personal attachment to the project as I was lucky enough to get to be an extra in a scene, so my excitement to see the final product is heightened even more.

I remember driving out to Pittsburg last August for a full day on the set of DKR.  It was hot and humid with scattered rain in the early morning that broke up rehearsals, but watching the men and women working on set with all of the excitement of the unknown that we would be witnessing was beyond belief.  And now that the release of the film is approaching I'm desperately trying not to ready spoilers or watch clips that could potentially give away any hints to the plot, but this particular trailer leaves me feeling like a kid in a candy shop with the anticipation I'm feeling for the release of Dark Knight.  So enjoy watching the below clip.

Beastly -- REVIEW

There is something fun about film adaptations to pieces of literature.  Granted there are some books that should NEVER be messed with, but there are others that have potential of being something... well... interesting. Beastly is a fun book for what it is, and I feel that Young Adult lit is kind of one of those "touchy" areas because kids and teens read at different levels and have such a wide variety of interests that it quickly becomes one of those "agree to disagree" zones.  Alex Flinn's YA novel is an interesting modern twist to the classic 'Beauty and the Beast' tale.  The concept is fun and I like that it's trying to get new generations into the "classic fairy tales", however being a slightly older YA reader I did hope the film adaptation would help mature the story just enough that slightly older audiences would be able to enjoy the story as well.  The film, however, was a monster all of its own.

Beastly ultimately feels like it is a film meant for audiences 12 and under.  Although I loved that the art director decided to take the beast in a different direction than the traditional furry animal, I found that the tattoos and scars were a fun concept.  Granted I could not take my eyes off the words that were tattooed on Alex Pettyfer's in place of his eyebrows (Embrace Suck) and found it extremely distracting.  Aside from the unusual take on what makes a beast I found little else to be enjoyable about the film.  I'm not saying that I don't enjoy watching "pretty people" in movies, however my sympathy for the main character was not developed well enough for me to really care what happened to him over the course of the film.  I also think that transition from page to screen is difficult when you have "older" actors playing younger characters and it is made even worse when the film character is older than the novel character and yet the behaviors are exactly the same.  I almost wish they would have just told the story of a 16 year old boy suffering rather than a kid who shouldn't even be in high school because the believability of the actions just falls apart.  It is a problem I also found with Alex Pettyfer's role as John in I Am Number Four.

The best part of Beastly is watching Neil Patrick Harris play a blind guy.  Granted the role does not give him a whole lot to work with, but he definitely helps push the story alone.  The other character I wish they had used more was Mary-Kate Olsen's Kendra.  Although she has been changed slightly from the book, I found her to be the most believable of all the characters.  I wanted her to be a larger influence into the change that Kyle experiences and was saddened that that element of the book was lost.  I also wish the "magic mirror" was included and possibly could have changed the whole feel to the story.  I know that is getting back to the Disney tale and making it too "kiddie", but sometimes I just hope... hope that the things that work in books and have been laid out so well that they just translate over.  I know it is not likely to happen but I can keep dreaming.  I mean it is all fantasy after all.

Over all I give Beastly a 1 out of 5 and the one piece of advice I'd like to throw out into the cyber world...(hoping to be heard - but knowing I wont ) Alex Pettyfer BEWARE of the YA curse.  If you get type casted to only play roles based on childrens lit your reputation as an actor might become limited. 

Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles -- Broadway Review

Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles is an amazing show with great music that is fun for kids of all ages. This is not your traditional Broadway show, but it is definitely something worth taking note of. The four musicians who play the band and exceptionally talented and do an amazing job of keeping the audience entertained for a two hour show. Although there is not "real story", the show follows the Beatles and their music from their invasion of the US thru to the 70s. If you are a fan of the Beatles, or have children who have never heard the Beatles this is a great introduction to the band. Rain is an "interactive" concert like show where you are encouraged to sing along with the songs, and the band even gets the audience up on their feet several times throughout the show. It is one of those shows where no matter where you're from or how old/young you are you will definitely enjoy the experience. If you are in NY or in one of the cities where the tour is going I would recommend checking out the show. It s a different way of spending a night out on the town, but every bit just as fun.

Favorite Forgotten Films by Peter Jackson

Peter Jackson is a unique filmmaker who is primarily known for his later films, but it is his earlier films that I find to be some of his better flicks.

#3: 1992 brought about the release of Dead Alive, a campie horror comedy film that I have always considered one of my favorite films.

#2: In 1989 a very disturbing film was released call Meet the Feebles.  This flick was the second feature length film Jackson directed.  Although it is not a widely known film it is one that you will never forget once you see it.

#1: The Frighteners hit theaters in 1996 and terrified me.  15 years later and I can still remember the movie poster of the of the monster pushing its way through a white canvas.  It was not just the poster that scared me as a 10 yr old horror fan, but the idea that when it was our time to die that we might have a number etched into our forehead.  Personally I find this to be the best picture he made.

I feel that these early films are far too often forgotten and they shouldn't be.  If you haven't seen these films I recommend checking them out. 

Thor -- REVIEW

Most people would recognize Kenneth Branagh as one of top Shakespearean actors or more recently for his role as Professor Lockhart.  His is a brilliant actor in just about everything he does (even though sometimes over acted), and although this is not his first stab at directing it is his first take at a film of such "epic" proportions. I will however be completely honest with you, if you attempt to watch see Thor in 3D you are wasting your time.  There is NOTHING 3D about this film.  It was NOT shot in 3D -- in fact it was shot in 2D and then converted.  Although the "3D" does not appear as painful as that of Clash of the Titans (only meaning I didn't have a splitting headache by the end of the film) I was thoroughly irritated that I wasted my money when there was no 3D involved.

Aside from that massive fail, Thor was entertaining.  Just like all of Branagh's Shakes films, Thor is very pretty to look at.  The CGI is well done and Asgard is very much a world fit for the comics.  It almost felt like Lord of the Rings had stepped into the world of Heros and traveled back in time only to travel back to present day etc, while also bringing along a few of the monsters from the Buffy/Angel series.  (Sadly I feel like I'm now waiting for the punch line of a "walks into the bar" joke)  There is however one slight downside to this film...

If you have seen any of the Shakes films Branagh directed/acted in, I'm sure that you will start to notice little things about Thor... Say that is sort of feels like Branagh wanted to relive his "glory days" and take the Henry V play and throw it into the comic universe via Thor.  Well there you have it, Thor (who sounds sort of english) goes off to war and just in the midst of a "bloody battle" (fight with Destroyer) the king (Thor) makes a LONG speech to his men (Sif and the Warriors Three) and only to go back into battle to victory. There was even a moment during the film where I half expected Branagh to make a cameo appearance.  There was, of course, the Stan Lee appearance which was hilarious and even the Jeremy Renner appearance (although brief) brought out a few chuckles.  It was almost like Branagh was so caught up in the Hamlet/Henry V aspects of the story that everything else was just glossed over.

Don't get me wrong.  I did not hate Thor.  I found it passable.  It kept me entertained for the full 130 minutes, even though it was a bit of a stretch at times.  I thought Chris Hemsworth was as good a Thor as was needed and his chemistry with Natalie Portman was believable, even though she came across like a bit of a giggly-girl meeting her very first crush.  I found that Kat Dennings as Darcy to actually be the best character, even though she was really only there as the comic relief (which wasn't really needed since Portman was doing well enough with that on her own).  Even Stellan Skarsgard was a fine addition to the cast as Erik Selvig.  I will say that I sort of had a hard time with Tom Hiddleston as Loki though.  He was the only character I felt wasn't really all there and I kept picturing Joseph Gordon-Levitt in his place since it was just as bad a role as Cobra Commander.  They also kinda look alike.   And unfortunately I keep almost forgetting that Anthony Hopkins is even in the film.  I love the man to pieces but Odin is the second least memorable character and his role in the film is so small that I find it hard to believe that Hopkins even accepted the role.  I guess he just wanted to play a few more gods and monsters before retiring.

Over all I give Thor a 2 out of 5.  It's not a film that will blow your mind, but it is at the very least entertaining.  I'm sure that it will do fine in theaters, maybe even well enough for Marvel Studios to attempt a round 2 with the franchise (however I wouldn't hold your breathe since it can't touch the Iron Man franchise with a ten foot pole).  It will be interesting to see what happens to Thor in the Avengers which is due out next week. 

Lollipop Chainsaw -- PAX 2012 game play

This weekend I attended PAX East in Boston and have to say for it being my first time at the con it was one hell of an experience.  I'm not much of a PC gamer but the crowd I went with are some serious games.  It was 2 days of PC games and board games, and when I needed a break from it all I managed to sneak away for a little xbox game play of my own.

My biggest highlight from the weekend was Suda51's latest game, Lollipop Chainsaw.  I stood in line for almost 2 hours as I anxiously waited for my turn in the bus kicking some ass with Juliet.  Yes it's a basic hack and slash zombie game but with the twist of a high school cheerleader being the main character for gameplay and the periodic assistance from her boyfriend's head (when placed on a glowing blue zombie) is a hilarious and fun take on the genre.  With a chainsaw in hand and constant need to collect lollipops to regenerate health, Juliet is the most fun I've had recently.  I love the concept of the Sparkle Hunting making this pom-pom carrying killer a blast to play.  Even the comic elements that give the overall look and feel of the game something I'm totally looking forward to playing.

Lollipop Chainsaw is set to hit shelves on June 12, 2012.  Make sure to stop in at your local Game Stop and pre-order your copy today.

Peter and the Starcatcher -- Off-Broadway Review

If you are in the NYC area, or will be before April 24th I HIGHLY RECOMMEND that you take a trip out to a small off-broadway theater to check out this amazing show.  Having been an avid Peter Pan fan since a young child, and for some reason seem to be spending my 25th year on a madd hunt following the lost boys around the country, this is one adapted tale that is unlike any that has come before.

Peter and the Starcatcher is a fun, rather adult, telling of how Neverland and the infamous lost boys came to be.  With a cast of unforgettable characters, witty dialog and a light sprinkling of modern jokes writer Rick Elice has given the ultimate fan a play that I'm likely never going to forget.  Staged in a small theater, and having chosen a front row seat, I got an up-close and personal experience as the cast took me on an amazing journey from England to a small island when the H.M.S. Neverland is shipwrecked.

With a small stage the set design is quite simple, but the originality of items used to create the props, costumes and set itself is quite amazing.  Giving the production more of an improv feel as the actors are fully the ones propelling the story forward as they illustrate the battle between the Bristish sailors and pirates seeking to steal the Queen's chest.  This alone is like a treasure hunt game as it gives children in the audience a chance to try and find how many household items are used to create the set and costumes.  A perfect example is the opening act in the second half.  Being so close to the stage I actually had to avert my eyes from some of the actors because watching them in their mermaid costumes, and the faces they were making as they sang was so hilarious that if I dared look directly at them I knew I would not be able to keep a straight face.  You can tell that these talented actors truly enjoyed playing these characters as they surely got to be children once again playing make-believe.
Peter and the Starcatcher is an amazing play full of amazingly talented actors that really desereve immense recognition for this little play.  I wish I had been able to get this information out sooner so more could enjoy it, but there is a little over 1 week left, and if you are looking for something fun that you will surely never forget this is it.  It is an "all hands on deck" performance as the actors play multiple roles and the bring to life and whole new vibe to the classic Peter Pan story.  If the young kids in the audience are old enough to really appreciate the humor, it will kick off a whole new generation of Peter Pan fans.

So please check out the video below and then check out the link to the New York Theatre Workshop website to grab yourself a ticket before the curtain call.  You will not regret the decision.





Cast:
ADAM CHANLER-BERAT  A Boy/Peter
CARSON ELROD  Prentiss
KEVIN DEL AGUILA  Smee
CELIA KEENAN-BOLGER  Molly Aster 
KARL KENZLER  Lord Aster
GREG HILDRETH  Alf
BRANDON DIRDEN  Captain Scott
ARNIE BURTON  Mrs. Bumbrake/ Teacher
CHRISTIAN BORLE  Black Stache
TEDDY BERGMAN  Grempkin/ Mack/ Fighting Prawn

THERE BE DRAGONS -- Review

I have always found foreign films to be something of an acquired taste. There are stories that are so interesting that you cannot help but want to watch, there are images that are either so original or so stunning that you just have to watch play out, and then there are those that fit into a niche that you follow and watch out of fan-dom. There Be Dragons is a story, that truthfully I know nothing about. Granted it is not a "true story" and the fact that it is "inspired by true event" is something that so many story tellers and filmmakers use today that it's almost become a bit of a joke, however this is anything but a joke.

The story is told with such passion that you cannot help but feel for all those involved. I'm not just saying this because it's being told during a time of war, but because each and every character is brought to life and they literally jump off the screen at you. In addition to the beautiful story, the cinematography is something I've never seen before. I have gotten used to spanish cinematographers and their unique filming styles, but Gabriel Beristain takes it to a whole new level. With sweeping shots, original camera placement used to very distinctly tell you exactly who you would be focusing on, to transitions between time and place that move you through the film in such a way that it will literally take your breathe away if you truly understand and appreciate all of the work and effort that goes into making a film like this.

There Be Dragons transports you back to Spain during the 1930s in mind, body and soul. The sets are georgous, the wardrobe and costuming is stunning, the acting is exceptional, and every little detail that went into this historical epic, written and directed by Roland Joffe is something to be seen. Regardless if you know anything about the Spanish Civil War, or anything about Josemaría Escriva who the story is about, this is a film that should not be missed.

I give There Be Dragons a 5 out of 5.

Dylan Dog -- REVIEW

Dylan Dog is one of those films that feels like it was made in the 90s, and had at some point probably aired on Sci-Fi (before it became Syfy) and had a large enough following to have a small indie production company offer it a limited theatrical release.  The actors are your typical sci-fi "studs" circa now... and could have just been an added episode to the Being Human series that is now airing on the network.  Granted Sam Huntington is playing a zombie named Marcus in Dylan Dog rather than a semi-pathetic werewolf, but even Brandon Routh (Superman Returns) has one of those "has-been" vibes going on in his portrayal of the lead character Dylan.  And of course lets not forget Taye Diggs who sadly offers nothing more than an impeccable smile throughout the entire film even though he is supposed to be the "big bad"... well technically.

I'm not exactly sure where to start with this film since it first started out like an old throw-back to PI films, where as the trailers lead us to believe that Dylan was supposed to be this "watcher" of sorts which I found quite interesting since it would be like a "b-film" version of the Night Watch series that came out of Russia.  I couldn't help thinking "Oh cool a campie watcher film... SWEET!"... but sadly the only thing that kept my interest was the overly cheesy dialog, Buffy/Star Trek style make-up from the early 90s, and the horrible continuity throughout the film that ultimately turned into a scavenger hunt as to how many mistakes were not caught (**if you go watch keep a close look at Digg's teeth... you'll be able to figure out which "monster" is him and which is his stunt double**).

Granted I will say that the film does have a few moments of glory in the campiness of the film when Dylan and Marcus are sharing the screen, and I will admit it was nice to see some of the "old" vampire make-up making a quick (and hopefully brief) come-back, but other than that this film is sadly nothing to write home about.  And please don't even get me started on the female love interest.  Anita Briem, who plays Elizabeth, might be a pretty face to look at for the 107 minute running time, but she is a worse actress than the ladies of the sexploitation era.  I myself found The Jezebels (aka The Switchblade Sisters from 1975) to be quite hilarious, but man can Anita Briem give these ladies a run for their money on lack of talent.

Over all I would recommend saving Dylan Dog for a rainy night if you have nothing else to do.  I give Dylan Dog a 2 out of 5.

The Change Up -- REVIEW

When it comes to body-switch comedies most people think of family films like Freaky Friday, Big, 17 Again, and even, The Hot Chick.  This weekend we get a new take on this old storyline, but the success or failure of The Change-Up is up for debate.  From the director of Wedding Crashers and the writing team that brought us The Hangover, one would think that a grown-up take on the otherwise family friendly genre, would have potential to be a success. The Change-Up, however, takes the risk of being so over the top and inappropriate that it borders on the side of an epic failure.  From poor pacing and characters, that are just plain irritating, I’m sorry to report that there is very little to give praise.  Having been a fan of the original Hangover and just about any project involving Jason Bateman, I was extremely excited to see this film, especially, having just having come off the amazingness that is Horrible Bosses.  Unfortunately, I feel that with this film, the writing team just shot themselves in the foot and put the final nail in the coffin when their latest round of TV spots were released.

Having added only one line to their new 30-second spots, it is almost a plea for people to avoid this film like the plague.  I mean, let’s be honest here, if you hear “The director of Wedding Crashers and the writers of The Hangover take the body-switch comedy where it's never gone before" would you really go running to the theater to check out the film?  Personally, every time I hear that line I get chills from the scheer memory of how horrible this film is and the pain that I suffered watching it. 

Don’t get me wrong, if you are a fan of bad jokes made in poor taste that are delivered back to back with no time to recover, than I’m sure you will enjoy this film but the overall shock value of the dialogue is caked on so heavily that there is no time to recover and truly appreciate the joke (if there is one).  Truth is, the entire time I sat in the theater I seriously wished I could just reach over and smacked the stupid out of Reynolds character because it was so beyond what I was willing accept.  All the while I was watching, I had only one hope and that was, that something might happen that would actually make me care for one of the characters, but sadly Bateman’s Dave Lockwood was so likeable, I wanted him to mess up somewhere and try to live a little, while Reynolds’ Mitch Planko was such an ass I just wanted someone, if not on screen, than off screen, to beat him up.  What makes all of this worse is that Bateman was on such a career high that he was overdue for a bad film, and poor Reynolds is still riding off one relatively bad box office film, Green Lantern, and I was hoping this might be a step in the right direction.  I can only hope that these good actors in bad films, will be short lived, because each  deserves better roles than those provided in The Change-Up. 

Overall I would recommend a pass on The Change-Up.  If you are looking for a good comedy and have not yet seen Horrible Bosses that would more than make up the gaping hole brought on by David Dobkin’s latest film.    I give The Change-Up a 1.5 out of 5 and highly recommend that the guys out there do not make your ladies watch this film.  If you want to go do a guys night and then compare notes on how your life compares to these guys that's fine, but if you have no interest in doing either avoid the film completely and you will be a much happier person.

Paul -- REVIEW

Hollywood had three alien invasions hit theaters this month, each dramatically different films. Disney's Mars Needs Moms is a family friendly animation, Battle:LA is an action heavy flick with an Independence Day meets Cloverfield feel, but it is Paul that clearly brings the house down with an amazing balance of story, comedy and geek-tastic references.  Although the box office might rank Battle: LA higher than Paul, I would not judge the films in that order.  I think Paul is a film that brings all elements of film-making together into a perfect package for sci-fi lovers.  I mean lets be serious here... sci-fi geek-dom is something known world wide and if you cannot laugh at yourself for being a fan of some of the craziest films to be made and probably even being one of those "obsessed" fans who dress up to go to 20-minute previews, or stand in line for HOURS, or rush the lines at (enter name here) Comic Con than what else do we have to offer this world?  I myself am a proud fan and willing to admit that I camped out to attend a 20-minute preview of Serenity as well as bought passes to both the NY and San Diego Comic Cons last year... not to mention drove cross country just to attend the events in San Diego... so for that fact alone I fit right in with writer Clive Owen (Nick Frost) and his illustrator Graeme Willy (Simon Pegg).  If you have seen the film you know what I mean.

Paul is one of those films that gives you a taste of everything that is great about sci-fi with amazingly funny characters that drive the story home.  The visual effects are well done that it doesn't even miss a beat.  It almost comes off like a live-action version of American Dad only with better human characters.  Graeme and Clive are some of the quirkiest characters I've seen since Fanboys but I love every bit of them.  Then there is Paul.  Oh Paul, you will win over the hearts of the human race and all it will take is the twirl of a finger and some inappropriate nudity.  Although I normally cannot stand Seth Rogen, I found him to be the perfect voice to give life to the extraterrestrial. Although Paul does steal the show (and rightfully so) the combination of Kristen Wiig (SNL, Whip It and Extract), Jason Bateman (Juno and Arrested Development), Jane Lynch (Glee), John Carroll Lynch (Fargo), and Blythe Danner (Meet the Parents) there is nothing but comedic gold from start to finish.

From amazing comedic timing, a great ensemble cast and a wide range of jokes, references and puns off of previous sci-fi films there is very little that goes wrong - well plenty goes wrong but the quality of the film has few flaws.  The two elements that I most enjoyed were the jokes made at "shock value", some moments even made me drop my popcorn they were so outrageous.  On top of that I felt a personal connection as the route I took while driving to the San Diego Comic Con took me to the infamous site used for the final scene in the film.  It was nice to recognize exactly where they were going and WHY.  Granted I am an 80s baby, but I was born in the late 80s so some of the references come from films and other references before my time.  However having a brother that is 12 years older helped me catch a lot of things that others my age missed.  I will confess I felt like quite the geek during my screening being over of the "older" people in the audience and actually picking up and laughing at some of the scenes and was shocked when it took the group of college kids sitting next to me the ENTIRE film to recognize who the voice of The Big Guy was.

Paul is a great flick to kick back and have a good time.  I'm actually considering going again to see if there are any additional references I missed the first time through.  I give Paul a 4 out of 5.  If you are a fan of sci-fi and have either attended a comic con or just love to laugh than this is your film.

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus -- REVIEW

If given the opportunity to walk into your own wildest dreams, would you take it? Would you walk through a mirror, into the unknown, unaware of the actions or consequences of what that journey might be, and just hoping to come out the other side as close to the same as you went in? What if there was an incredibly attractive person sweet talking you into the idea? Terry Gilliam's film The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus is an interesting twist to the story of deals made with the devil. It is a little hard to watch at times, and at others the visual content over powers the story itself leaving you feeling almost dizzy. The film feels like a bit of a mash-up of the visual styles of Tim Burton and Guillermo del Toro, with a clear sense of madness present within each of his characters.

Heath Ledger plays Tony, who it seems all on his own embodies a collective of characters previously played by Johnny Depp. It was odd to watch him speaking like Jack Sparrow, and yet having Willy Wonka and even the Mad Hatter coming through. It was almost as though he modeled his character primarily off the works of the other actor, or rather that director Terry Gilliam had modeled this particular character after friend and actor Johnny Depp. I feel puzzled as to where the choice came from or if it was just something that might become apparent to only some, and yet I also question if it may have been caused by the extreme measures that had to be taken to complete the film after the unfortunate passing of Heath Ledger during production.

Ever since news was released regarding how Mr. Gilliam planned to complete the film I was a little hesitant as to how he would be able to pull off having one character played by 4 different actors. In a weird way Heath Ledger, Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell all have similarities that could make it a little easier for them to play the same character, but I questioned whether or not it would be effective or if it would hurt the film. If you have read any news on Mr. Gilliam's choice to use these particular actors you will know that it was done because these men were friends of the late actor, and the choice to keep it "in the family" was made out of respect for Ledger with the film being dedicated to him upon its release. It is touching to know that so many people offered to step up to the plate and help the production when the tragic news haulted the film, and even more so to know that Ledger had touched so many people's hearts and particularly that a director would turn down so many people and only choose someone that knew and could honor the memory of such an amazingly talented actor in the way that he should be remembered. Depp, Law and Farrell channeled Ledger in every sense, with hair and make-up added into the mix to help with the visual aspect. I just wonder what it meant to these actors to have such a weight placed on their shoulders to pull off this particular type of role. It was not just the role of a character, but also the role of upholding the memory of a fallen actor in his final role.

The world of the imaginarium, or rather what we see from inside Doctor Parnassus' head, is truly a fantasy world fit for any child's wildest imagination. This is the world in which we find Depp, Law and Farrell. Each time Tony walks through the mirror and enters the imaginarium, we are given a different glimpse of who he is and his face is never the same. The first Imaginarium Tony is played by Johnny Depp and in this world it is an upper east side class of woman that he entertains with his charm and good looks. The second imaginarium Tony is played by Jude Law, and in this we see the scheming, sly character in which we begin to see the true colors of who Tony really is. The third imaginarium Tony is played by Colin Farrell and it is at this point when Doctor Parnassus' daughter has fallen for the sweet talker and it is only through the help of another member of the traveling circus, Anton, do we finally see just who Tony is.

The sometimes overwhelming visuals highlight the traveling show and the magic of the imagination. I found that I sometimes needed to dig through the images to find the cast, even though I knew that on their own they would stand strong. The traveling show's crew was graciously made of up such talent as Christopher Plummer as Doctor Parnassus, supermodel Lily Cole as his young daughter Valentina, Andrew Garfield as Anton, and Verne Troyer as Percy. They are later joined by the collective cast of Tony's, and even Tom Waits who plays Mr. Nick whom Doctor Parnassus places bets with the devil for life, love and even his daughter's freedom. It is the ever betting man and his wagers with the devil that lead the story through Terry Gilliam's wild imaginarium.

As a whole the film is worth watching just to see what wild things Terry Gilliam can come up with. The actor's performances are great when you can see them, but the ever changing visuals sometimes become too much and you have to look away if only for a second. I would give this film a 3 out of 5 for story, but a 4 out of 5 for originality and imagery. As dedicated to Heath Ledger, the actors help up their part of the bargain and gave you a deep character that makes you think about life. Thank you Heath for such a great performance. You are surely missed as a shinning star and great talent.

Transformers: Dark of the Moon -- REVIEW

First off I should preface this by confessing that I am a big transformers fan: 1) I blame my brother for introducing me to the cartoon series at a young age and 2) I blame Michael Bay for making it look so badass to be a transforming robot.  I mean, let’s be honest here, Bay has created three films for a franchise that can now continue to grow by showing younger generations that “old” cartoons make for some pretty cool stories (and toys).


Granted, I should give myself a disclaimer, adding that Bay is not a great story teller, by any stretch of the imagination, and his films aren’t meant to be Oscar winning or anything close to that, but it is obvious that he knows how to entertain an audience.  But let’s digress, as I need to just throw this out there to who hate Michael Bay, perhaps you need to look beyond the story, sure there the story is faulty, but you do have to admit the skill Bay shows creating explosions and CGI transforming robots is the coolest thing and for the audience he is creating for, it is beyond cool.

So to all you Bay haters – Get over it! Stop beating yourself up trying to make Bay anything more than he is: a genius for bigger, badder things that go boom, with an eye for detail with CGI that make fans nerd-gasm in their pants.  Mhmm I said it, and all you out there reading this know exactly what I’m talking about.  Well now that that’s out of the way, let’s get down to the nuts and bolts of why we are here.

Transformers: Dark of the Moon is a visually stunning summer blockbuster.  Although, it clearly suffers a bit of a rocky start, leading with some awkward transitions in storytelling and poorly casted extras wearing highly recognizable full face prosthetics that make the actors look like the Barbie factory had a mishap in their Ken department, but by the film’s mid-point, you have all but forgotten the pathetic, torture of the opening scenes, and have moved on to enjoying Bay’s in-your-face entertainment.  But before too long you are reminded of the storyline when wait a minute… is that Buzz Aldrin making a cameo appearance (a la Stan Lee style)?  Hehe oh yes, it is. Michael Bay all but bitch-slaps the audience with the insanity of humans casted in various roles throughout Dark of the Moon.

So we have covered the astronaut appearance, and we know that Shia LaBeouf returns as Sam Witwichy, Josh Duhamel as Lennox, the whacky John Turturro as “Former” Agent Simmons, Tyrese Gibson as Epps, and thankfully Megan Fox has been kicked to the curb and replaced by British Victoria Secret model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley who is just a hot bod in heels.  Yet, it is the new faces that make cast dynamics so interesting; John Malkovich plays Sam’s insane boss Bruce Brazos and Frances McDormand plays the US Secretary of Defense Charlotte Mearing, each of their appearances almost brings about a Burn After Reading hilarity to an already outrageous film.  Without giving away too much I just want to add this, it is nice to see McDreamy get his ass handed to him by a kid.  But let’s not forget, the Transformers series is not about the humans… it is about the robots!

It was great to see the traditional characters back in action.  Bumblebee is adorable as ever (I’ve missed the teary eyed Autobot since Revenge of the Fallen), Ironhide is still a badass, and of course Optimus Prime who has a few upgrades of his own like a trailer full of new toys that he can combine to create even bigger explosions and Decepticon destruction. But it is the quirky Autobots like Wheelie and the addition of Brains and an Albert Einstein look alike Bot named Wheeljack that make it clear that Dark of the Moon is all about having fun.  Even the fact that the addition of Leonard Nimoy, who voices Galvatron, brings a smile to ones face and may even bring out some of the Trekkies.

My only real complaint with the Dark of the Moon is that after seeing it in IMAX 3D, I wish that Bay had stepped back and provided a few more slow-motion transformation sequences like those in Revenge of the Fallen was so full of.  There is so much taking place in Dark of the Moon, and with characters like Driller (Shockwave’s pet), the screen was so busy I had a hard to focus on all the action.  I, personally would have loved to have seen more CGI that the Transformers franchise has become so well known for, and yet maybe even another “big robot balls” joke or two.  But all in all the film is highly entertaining, well worth the money and 155 minutes spent in the theater.

Dearest Michael Bay I ask, will you ever again give us a film shy of the 120 minute marker? Although I will happily confess that I am an avid admirer of your “make it bigger” philosophy with regards to explosions, fight sequences and CGI effects, I feel you will leave me no choice but to do the potty dance as I race from the theater after your films.  Word to the wise: if you plan to see Transformers be sure to use the restroom before entering the theater and opt out of the Michael Bay size sodas that the concession stands are now selling.  This is just a warning for adults, come in pairs, one to watch the kids in the theater and one to make the multiply potty runs.