Daniel Craig and Javier Bardem are brilliant in Skyfall! In IMAX and theatres November 8, 2012. Courtesy of Sony Pictures
Sean Connery brilliantly embodied Britain’s most famous fictional secret agent 50 years ago. When Daniel Craig took the reins as James Bond in 2006, all of his skeptics were thoroughly proven wrong. Craig’s confident, modern, suave portrayal of Bond rivaled Connery’s iconic performances of the 60’s and 70’s. Then there was the writer’s strike of 2008 resulting in the poorly written sequel, Quantum of Solace; an all-around flop. Four years later, we have what may be the best Bond film yet!
In Skyfall, Bond’s loyalty to M is tested when a terrorizing computer genius unleashes his vengeful plans upon them.
The main cast of this film are nothing short of spectacular. Daniel Craig delvers everything we’ve come to expect from his rugged yet composed portrayal of Bond, and Javier Bardem (No Country For Old Men) is easily one of the all-time greatest Bond villains. His charismatic performance brings a multitude of layers to the surface just waiting to be explored by the audience.
These great characters all stem from the wonderful minds of Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, both of whom worked on Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace. Together with John Logan (The Last Samurai, Gladiator) they crafted an intriguing, original story, while remaining faithful to the original flavour of our favourite MI6 agent.
Academy Award winning director, Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Road to Perdition), was the perfect choice to captain the 23rd Bond film. This isn’t a nonsensical mash-up of endless action scenes. Mendes makes this a methodical film with heart-stopping action woven into a gripping story.
There is absolutely no reason the Academy should not recognize this film as one of the year’s best.
Bottom Line: Don’t miss the ride. This is one film you’ll want to watch over and over and over again.
Andrew Garfield is Peter Parker in The Amazing Spider-Man. In theatres July 3, 2012. Courtesy of Sony Pictures
How many of you are wondering why Spider-Man is being rebooted only five years after the absolute garbage that was Spider-Man 3? Well, if the latter half of your own question doesn’t give you a hint, here’s the answer you’re looking for: In order for Sony to hold the rights to the web-slinging franchise, they had to make a movie within a certain number of years and time was running out. Fortunately for us, The Amazing Spider-Man successfully reboots the dying franchise and fixes all of the character errors running rampant the original trilogy.
In this reboot, high school genius, Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield), struggles with the loss of those closest to him and deals with his newfound arachnoid powers.
Correcting Sam Raimi’s production faults of the past was a high priority in this reimagining. The fresh new faces were perfectly cast with the talented Andrew Garfield (The Social Network) delivering a far superior Peter Parker than his predecessor, Tobey Maguire. Matching his excellence in performance is Emma Stone (Easy A), whose subtle character nuances are not something you can teach at drama school.
Director Marc Webb (500 Days of Summer) nailed the character development. Where his direction, and the script from a trio of writers, falls short is in the development of the villain. Had Dr. Connors/The Lizard’s journey been further elaborated upon, he would have been seen as more than your run of the mill mutant monster.
The special effects are fantastic in every aspect except for the CGI rendering of The Lizard, who looked out of place when compared to more accurately rendered characters like The Hulk in The Avengers.
In the end, the solid story and depth left me hungry for a sequel.
Bottom Line: This is Peter Parker as he should be. Definitely venture out to watch this in IMAX 3D on Wednesday, July 3, 2012.
Logan Marshall-Green, Noomi Rapace, and Michael Fassbender star in Prometheus. Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
It’s difficult not to become completely encapsulated in an epic horror/sci-fi the likes of Ridley Scott’s Alien from 1979. With the standards set from that film, any movie associated with it will be viewed under extreme scrutiny. Luckily, Prometheus separates itself from the original by focusing on the science and adds elements of horror to spice things up.
In Prometheus, a scientific discovery leads to a galactic exploration to find the origins of humanity. What they find when they reach their destination is nothing close to what they expected.
Ridley Scott, the once legendary director, has returned to where his major success had initialized with classics like Blade Runner. With the aid of writers Jon Spaihts and Damon Lindeloff, Scott takes us on a journey that explores man’s greatest mystery: Where do we come from? Both director and writers achieve an incredible level of thought provoking ideas and thrilling storytelling. However, they also left a lot of unexplored venues which will prevent this movie from reaching the stratospheric acclaim of its predecessor.
Casting for this movie hit an almost perfect score with an excellent ensemble of actors to portray the various archetypes. Michael Fassbender is yet again phenomenal in his role as the multi-layered, intriguing android. Alongside him, Noomi Rapace shows equal skill in manifesting her character’s emotions (very reminiscent of Sigourney Weaver in 1979). While the rest of the cast was great, Charlize Theron completely lacked everything that was required to make her performance memorable. Mind you, it is hard to be memorable when your character appeared to be tacked on haphazardly.
The cinematography is beautiful, but the musical score lacked atmosphere to really provide punch to crucial moments.
Scott’s use of the added 3rd dimension works phenomenally. The entire film viewed through 3D glasses delivered the most realistic “looking through a window” effect to date. Definitely worth the additional cost.
Bottom Line: No matter how great this film appears to be, the nagging flaws keep it from becoming an epic classic.
Taylor Kitsch and Lynn Collins star in the Blu Ray release of John Carter. Courtesy of Disney Pictures
Edgar Rice Burroughs’ magazine serials from the early 1900’s hit cinemas earlier this year in the form of John Carter. Unfortunately, the film was completely ill-advertised and suffered a disastrous box office run. Hopefully more people are willing to give this fantasy/sci-fi adventure a chance when it’s released on Blu Ray today.
The movie tells the story of Civil War veteran John Carter’s unwitting transport to Mars, discovering a race of human and alien life forms at war.
Academy Award winning writer/director Andrew Stanton (Finding Nemo, Wall-E) does a good job with his first foray into live action cinema. He creates a good balance between drama and action, with neither element overpowering the other – Unlike a hollow blockbuster. To be honest, this isn’t his best work, but there’s enough substance in the story to keep the audience eagerly intrigued.
This is Taylor Kitsch’s first time as a lead in a film with such a vast budget (estimated at $250 million… Not exactly pocket change). Kitsch did a great job as the leading man, showing a good range of emotion as well as a much appreciated knack for slap-stick comedy. The rest of the cast felt solid, but never outstanding.
For Blu Ray + DVD release, Disney has included a stout amount of special features for fans to explore. Among these are Disney’s interactive Second Screen feature that allows you to connect with a computer or tablet for additional viewing pleasure, Deleted Scenes, Barsoon Bloopers, 360 Degrees Of John Carter featurette, 100 Years in the Making featurette, and a feature length commentary with the director and producers.
On top of that wallop of special features, the movie itself looks and sounds fantastic.
Bottom Line: If you’re a fan of the film or looking for something different to watch, this movie will provide a ride you’re sure to enjoy.
Chris Hemsworth and Kristen Stewart star in Snow White and the Huntsman. Courtesy of Universal Pictures
Earlier this year, Mirror Mirror failed (in every conceivable way) to reimagine the classic fairy tale. However, hopes were very high for the second, darker take on the classic Brothers Grimm tale, Snow White and The Huntsman. Unfortunately, our hopes have been shattered and the blame lay in the hands of many.
This film attempts to give the age old tale some back story while adding more magic and throwing in a lot of CGI action.
If you’re thinking to yourself those sound like the right ingredients for this kind of endeavour, you’d be right. The problem rests with the people involved in making the film. Put simply, they hadn’t the foggiest idea what they were doing.
Starting with inexperienced director Rupert Sanders, whose resume up until now included a handful of overrated shorts and commercials, seemed painfully ill equipped to translate his brooding ideas to film. The question on everyone’s mind after seeing this dismal attempt will inevitably be: who at Universal Pictures thought giving Sanders a whopping $175 million budget was a good investment.
I would have liked to have seen the writers and director elaborating on the backstory of the evil queen, maybe then we would actually care about what was happening to the characters when the drama begins to unfold.
The performances by the primary cast further polluted the film. Kristen Stewart had as much charisma as a rock, even when she was seemingly forcing herself to show more. You’ll also find more chemistry in a kindergarten class than between Stewart and her male co-stars, Chris Hemsworth and Sam Claflin. Shockingly, this wasn’t the worst performance in the film. That shameful title goes to Oscar winning actress Charlize Theron (Monster), whose countless attempts at delivering child-like temper tantrums were painful to sit through.
The only thing worth mentioning were the enchanting seven dwarfs, who were fully grown actors convincingly shrunk down to miniature size.
Bottom Line: This big budget movie has nothing to offer but big time disappointment. Save your money and watch paint dry – Far more entertaining.
Josh Brolin and Will Smith star in Men In Black III. Courtesy of Sony Pictures
The original and highly entertaining Men In Black came out in 1997, taking audiences on a rollercoaster ride of fictional extra-terrestrial conspiracy theories. Five years later, an unfortunate mistake was made resulting in the creation of a lackluster sequel that stepped too far from the charm of its predecessor. Fast forward to a decade later, and we’re a little hesitant with the third movie due to the dismal track record of money-driven sequels. Fortunately, Men In Black III returns to the formula that made the first movie a success.
In the third movie, Agent J (Will Smith) must travel back in time to prevent a ruthless alien, Boris the Animal, from murdering Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones).
The producers made the perfect decision to hire an entirely new set of writers to pen the script. They’ve limited the cheesy gags to the bare minimum, making them funnier than expected. This paired with a cohesive story made for a very entertaining movie.
The cast seemed to work very well together, especially Will Smith and Josh Brolin (young Agent K). Their humor and chemistry reinvigorated the characters and made the ride that much more fun.
Barry Sonnenfeld, director of the first two films, returns for the third installment with a welcome case of amnesia that eliminated Men In Black II from his memory. With his second chance at a sequel, he takes the audience on a journey that ties the first and third films together wonderfully.
Even the post-production 3D treatment is well done, as is the thunderous, dynamic audio mastering.
Bottom Line: Leave your well-founded fears at home and trek out for the sequel that should have been.
SAM WORTHINGTON as Perseus and LIAM NEESON as Zeus in the mythical Greek action adventure, WRATH OF THE TITANS. Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
Do you ever wonder how a movie that was panned by critics and the public, like 2010’s Clash of the Titans could possibly receive a sequel? Grossing nearly $500 million worldwide was more than enough incentive for Warner Bros. to green light another godly battle in Wrath of the Titans.
In this sequel, Greek demigod (half human, half god) Perseus treks down to the depths of the underworld to rescue his imprisoned father Zeus.
Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson, and Ralph Fiennes reprise their roles and are able to deliver better performances with the improved script from a fresh trio of writers. Of the entire cast, the only memorable performance came from Bill Nighy as the comically, albeit slightly insane blacksmith to the gods.
Jonathan Liebesman (Battle Los Angeles) was brought in to take the reins as director and gives the screenplay better flow than his predecessor.
Everyone who, in 2010, watched Clash of the Titans in 3D will remember the horribly rushed treatment (simply used as a cash-grab after Avatar’s astonishing success). This movie has also received a post-production 3D treatment which surprisingly turned out better than the first film. However, the inconsistent depth and multiple jumping-out-of-the-screen effects do not equal a worthwhile 3D experience.
Last but not least, beware of the poorly mastered dialogue, which is difficult to comprehend during a number of scenes.
Bottom Line: There is some entertainment to be had from this sequel, but nothing worth more than a rental to enjoy in the comfort of your own home.
Jennifer Lawrence stars as 'Katniss Everdeen' in THE HUNGER GAMES. Courtesy of Alliance Films Media
How many times has Hollywood butchered novels when adapting them into films? It’s fair to say countless times. The Hunger Games novel by Suzanne Collins has sold 800,000 copies around the world, making expectations for the movie adaptation climb to dizzying heights.
Collin’s story tells the tale of a future in which the Capitol of an oppressive North America selects a boy and a girl from each of the 12 districts to fight to the death in The Hunger Games tournament. We follow an anti-social, skilled archer, Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) who takes the place of her younger sister when she is chosen to compete.
This is one of the first blockbuster adaptations in recent memory to be, not only faithful to the source material, but also a fantastic film.
The story gives the audience something to sink their teeth into, alongside characters to route for and against. It isn’t peddling to the masses by giving into the romantic aspect of the story. Instead, it allows a natural progression that feels organic and true to human nature.
Jennifer Lawrence (Winter’s Bone, X-Men: First Class) is one of Hollywood’s finest talents at the moment and she brings every bit of her acting arsenal to our heroine. Her empathetic performance shows incredible range and raised the level of acting from all around her. Her cast members, including Josh Hutcherson (The Kids Are All Right), Woody Harrelson (Zombieland), Elizabeth Banks (Man On A Ledge), Stanley Tucci (Captain America: The First Avenger), and Wes Bentley (Underworld: Awakening) all deliver the necessary goods in spades.
The one major criticism is in the direction. Gary Ross (Seabiscuit) did everything a director should do except competently shoot the action scenes. Even the simple things like walking quickly or moving through a crowd were riddled with shaky camera work. The actual battle royal was impossible to decipher with his extreme close-up, earthquake-worthy shooting style.
Regardless of this foible, this movie does everything Twilight should have done and will captivate both male and female audiences around the world.
Lynn Collins and Taylor Kitsch star in John Carter. Courtesy of Disney Pictures
Would your life change much if you were unwittingly transported to Mars, discovering a race of human and alien life living there? That’s what happens to Civil War veteran John Carter in this adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ magazine serial, A Princess of Mars.
This movie may hold a record for being 79 years in the making. Countless directors have been slated to bring this classic to the big screen until Disney gave the job to Academy Award winner Andrew Stanton (Finding Nemo, Wall-E).
Stanton, known for writing and directing some of Pixar’s most celebrated animated features, does a good job with his first foray into live action cinema. In John Carter, he created a good balance of drama and action, with neither element overpowering the other – Unlike a hollow blockbuster.
Stanton also wrote the adapted screenplay with the help of Mark Andrews and Michael Chabon. To be honest, this isn’t his best work, but there’s enough substance in the story to keep the audience intrigued.
This is Taylor Kitsch’s first time as a lead in a film with such a vast budget (estimated at $250 million… Not exactly pocket change). Kitsch did a great job as the leading man, showing a good level of emotional range and a knack for slap-stick comedy. The rest of the cast felt solid, but never outstanding.
That’s where the film seems to fall. While it is more than just a fun ride, it lacks a certain something from making it phenomenal.
Technically, the special effects and CGI are above par, as is the post-production 3D addition.
Bottom Line: Expect more than your everyday, run-of-the-mill action flick.
Danny DeVito and Ed Helms star in Dr. Seuss' The Lorax. Coutesy of Universal Pictures
Dr. Seuss’ books, with their whacky imagination, have touched the lives of millions of people around the world. So far, two of the three films based on his classic books have been box office successes. This adaptation however, is less likely to make the cut.
Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax takes us into a city where trees are extinct and the citizens buy oxygen from a tyrannical business tycoon. However, one love-struck twelve year old boy ventures out to find The Once-ler – An elderly man who is his only hope in finding a tree to impress the girl of his dreams.
This story admirably tries to embed its critical environmental message into the audience. However many aspects of the production are not up to scratch compared to previous works.
The most disappointing of these shortcomings is the voice acting. There was barely enough energy in every actor’s line delivery giving the dialogue a corny, Saturday morning cartoon feel. Danny DeVito, who is normally excellent in anything he does, delivers one of the most unsatisfactory performances of the group as the mustached Lorax, along with Taylor Swift (Audrey), and Rob Riggle (Mr. O’Hare).
There are also too many lackluster and unmemorable songs, that could have been trimmed from the final cut.
Fortunately, the vibrant colours, cuddly animal characters, solid animation and the screen-popping 3D should keep your little ones entertained.
Bottom Line: Bare minimum entertainment available for the young target audience and nothing more.
The main cast of this film are nothing short of spectacular. Daniel Craig delvers everything we’ve come to expect from his rugged yet composed portrayal of Bond, and Javier Bardem (No Country For Old Men) is easily one of the all-time greatest Bond villains. His charismatic performance brings a multitude of layers to the surface just waiting to be explored by the audience.
These great characters all stem from the wonderful minds of Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, both of whom worked on Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace. Together with John Logan (The Last Samurai, Gladiator) they crafted an intriguing, original story, while remaining faithful to the original flavour of our favourite MI6 agent.
Academy Award winning director, Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Road to Perdition), was the perfect choice to captain the 23rd Bond film. This isn’t a nonsensical mash-up of endless action scenes. Mendes makes this a methodical film with heart-stopping action woven into a gripping story.
There is absolutely no reason the Academy should not recognize this film as one of the year’s best. 
John Carter: Blu Ray + DVD Review
Taylor Kitsch and Lynn Collins star in the Blu Ray release of John Carter. Courtesy of Disney Pictures
Edgar Rice Burroughs’ magazine serials from the early 1900’s hit cinemas earlier this year in the form of John Carter. Unfortunately, the film was completely ill-advertised and suffered a disastrous box office run. Hopefully more people are willing to give this fantasy/sci-fi adventure a chance when it’s released on Blu Ray today.
The movie tells the story of Civil War veteran John Carter’s unwitting transport to Mars, discovering a race of human and alien life forms at war.
Academy Award winning writer/director Andrew Stanton (Finding Nemo, Wall-E) does a good job with his first foray into live action cinema. He creates a good balance between drama and action, with neither element overpowering the other – Unlike a hollow blockbuster. To be honest, this isn’t his best work, but there’s enough substance in the story to keep the audience eagerly intrigued.
This is Taylor Kitsch’s first time as a lead in a film with such a vast budget (estimated at $250 million… Not exactly pocket change). Kitsch did a great job as the leading man, showing a good range of emotion as well as a much appreciated knack for slap-stick comedy. The rest of the cast felt solid, but never outstanding.
For Blu Ray + DVD release, Disney has included a stout amount of special features for fans to explore. Among these are Disney’s interactive Second Screen feature that allows you to connect with a computer or tablet for additional viewing pleasure, Deleted Scenes, Barsoon Bloopers, 360 Degrees Of John Carter featurette, 100 Years in the Making featurette, and a feature length commentary with the director and producers.
On top of that wallop of special features, the movie itself looks and sounds fantastic.
Bottom Line: If you’re a fan of the film or looking for something different to watch, this movie will provide a ride you’re sure to enjoy.
Movie Grade B
Blu Ray Grade A
Runtime: 132 minutes
Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
Leave a comment | tags: 3D, A Princess of Mars, action cinema, Andrew Stanton, blockbuster, blu ray, box office, CGI, civil war veteran, david budo, Disney, dvd, Edgar Rice Burroughs, entertainment, feature length commentary, film, Finding Nemo, hollywood, IMAX, John Carter, Lynn Collins, movie, oscars, review, Sci Fi, Second Screen, special features, Taylor Kitsch, Wall-E | posted in Jun. 2012