New This Weekend

Premium Rush (PG-13)

In Manhattan, a bike messenger picks up an envelope that attracts the interest of a dirty cop, who pursues the cyclist throughout the city  (IMDb).

I must confess, when I saw this trailer in theaters, my first reaction was not positive.  It felt like a writer pitched this one saying, "So, it's like a car chase movie, but not at all, because those are over done and this movie is unique.  You see, they aren't in cars, wait for it... they're on bikes, being chased by cars!"  All I can say is, good luck to the guy on the bike.

The Apparition (PG-13)

A couple are haunted by a supernatural presence that is unleashed during a college experiment (IMDb).

I don't watch horror, but this one seems pretty interesting.  The concept that paranormal events happen because the human mind wills them into existence isn't new, on the contrary it is the most popular rationalization for ghost sightings and anything that "isn't real."  This film takes a literal interpretation of that and runs with it.  The monster comes alive and feeds off the belief of humans.  "Once you believe, you die."  In case you need a cherry on top, Tom Felton is in it.  As a geeky science guy.  'Nuff said.

Hit and Run (R)

Former getaway driver Charlie Bronson jeopardizes his Witness Protection Plan identity in order to help his girlfriend get to Los Angeles. The feds and Charlie's former gang chase them on the road (IMDb).

In case bike chases aren't exciting enough for you, here is a car chase flick!  Judging from the trailer, it is car chase film, meets witness protection film, meets raunchy comedy.

That's all that is coming out on wide release, here are the limited release titles.

Sleepwalk With Me (NR)

A burgeoning stand-up comedian struggles with the stress of a stalled career, a stale relationship, and the wild spurts of severe sleepwalking he is desperate to ignore (IMDb).

General Education (PG-13)

Levi Collins is set to go to the local University on a tennis scholarship, but he forgot to tell his parents one thing - he didn't graduate. As a result, he must take summer school before his mom and dad discover he's failed senior science. At school, Levi falls in love with his classmate, Katie, and learns that he has to make a choice between playing tennis and receiving a proper education. General Education is a quirky comedy about a family learning to grow together (IMDb).

This film is also available for download on iTunes.

What's New in the Box Office

Hello, everyone!  There are a lot of new releases in the box office this week, so I hope there is something out there that meets your fancy.

The Expendables (R)

Mr. Church reunites the Expendables for what should be an easy paycheck, but when one of their men is murdered on the job, their quest for revenge puts them deep in enemy territory and up against an unexpected threat (IMDb).

This film's cast is practically a roll call of the most popular action flick actors.  Jet Li, Bruce Willis, Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Chuck Norris, and more unite to make this sequel to the 2010 original, entitled The Expendables.

ParaNorman (PG)

 A misunderstood boy who can speak with the dead, takes on ghosts, zombies and grown-ups to save his town from a centuries-old curse (IMDb).

ParaNorman hails from the same production company that presented Corpse Bride and Coraline, Laika Studios.  It promises to have the same darkly humorous feel of those two films, in a style that I can best describe a Burton-esque.

Sparkle (PG-13)

Set in the 1960s, three sisters form girl group and soon become Motown sensations, but fame becomes a challenge as the close-knit family begins to fall apart (IMDb).

Sparkle is gaining notoriety because it is Whitney Houston's final film after her death February this year at the age of 48.  This will no doubt give a film that may have flown under the radar more attention.  Houston recorded two songs for the sound track, though I am not sure if they are included in the film.  I only hope that  Sparkle a swan song fitting for one of such talent and voice as Whitney Houston.

The Odd Life of Timothy Green (PG)

A childless couple bury a box in their backyard, containing all of their wishes for an infant. Soon, a child is born, though Timothy Green is not all that he appears (IMDb).

I am really excited for this one!  It seems like a warm and fuzzy, family-friendly film.  The premise is interesting, and hopefully the writing will realize its potential.  Trailers say it is about slowing down appreciating every day moments.  Who doesn't need a message like that?

That is it for wide release.  Here is what is out on limited release this week.

Cosmopolis (R)

Riding across Manhattan in a stretch limo in order to get a haircut, a 28-year-old billionaire asset manager's day devolves into an odyssey with a cast of characters that start to tear his world apart (IMDb).

Compliance (R)

When a prank caller convinces a fast food restaurant manager to interrogate an innocent young employee, no-one is left unharmed. Based on true events (IMDb).

Robot and Frank (PG-13)

Set in the near future, an ex-jewel thief receives a gift from his son: a robot butler programmed to look after him. But soon the two companions try their luck as a heist team (IMDb).

Why Stop Now (NR)

When a college piano prodigy tries to check his mother into rehab, he is taken hostage by her drug dealer and swept along on a wild adventure.

What's New in the Box Office!

Hello everyone!  Don't worry, Victoria and I are still breathing and we are sorry for our hiatus, but life sort of ran away with us.  The weekly release update it back with what you can look for in box offices this weekend.

Total Recall (PG-13)

Welcome to Rekall, the company that can turn your dreams into real memories. For a factory worker named Douglas Quaid, even though he's got a beautiful wife who he loves, the mind-trip sounds like the perfect vacation from his frustrating life - real memories of life as a super-spy might be just what he needs. But when the procedure goes horribly wrong, Quaid becomes a hunted man. Finding himself on the run from the police – controlled by Chancellor Cohaagen, the leader of the free world – Quaid teams up with a rebel fighter to find the head of the underground resistance and stop Cohaagen. The line between fantasy and reality gets blurred and the fate of his world hangs in the balance as Quaid discovers his true identity, his true love, and his true fate. (Yahoo! Movies)

This is a reboot of the 1990 film, also entitled Total Recall, in which the lead takes a virtual vacation to Mars via memory-meddling.  Just as in this film, his escape doesn't go quite as well as he had hoped.  I think both of these films seem intriguing, if done well.  Toeing the line between dream and reality becomes tricky business.  Perhaps this could be turned into a double-feature weekend?

Diary of a Wimpy Kid:  Dog Days (PG)

During his summer vacation, "Wimpy Kid" Greg Heffley, the hero of the phenomenally successful book series, hatches a plan to pretend he has a job at a ritzy country club -- which fails to keep him away from the season's dog days, including embarrassing mishaps at a public pool and a camping trip that goes horribly wrong. (Yahoo! Movies)

This is the third film adaptation from the popular children's book series Diary of a Wimpy Kid.  I saw the first film, released in 2010 while babysitting.  The kids, two elementary-age girls, loved it.  I thought Greg Heffley's struggles to fit in at his middle school, while greatly exaggerated, was a comedy of errors.  It was by no means sophisticated or particularly plot-driven, but it was okay.  If this film follows suit, it will go over well with the kids; parents will have to resist the temptation to face-palm every so often, but they will get a few laughs out of it, too.

Here are the films out on limited release:

Celeste and Jesse Forever (R)

A divorcing couple tries to maintain their friendship while they both pursue other people (IMDb).

Am I the only one who thinks that several sitcoms have already explored this topic, Old Christine and Reba to name a few.  The difference here is that they are still BFFs!  It rates a 77% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, so it may be worth a chance if it is playing near you.

The Babymakers (R)

After trying everything to get his wife Audrey pregnant, Tommy Macklin realizes to his horror that he may be "shooting blanks." Terrified that his marriage may fall apart, Tommy recruits his friends to rob a spermbank where he made a deposit years ago. As with any half-baked scheme, everything can and does go wrong, testing the limits of Tommy and Audrey's relationship and showing how far one couple will go in hopes of getting pregnant (Yahoo! Movies).

The Rotten Tomatoes rating for this one it painfully low at 7%.  Reviews say it fails in the attempt to blend raunchiness with romantic comedy.

Mosquita y Mari (NR)

In a fast-paced immigrant community where dreams are often lost to economic survival, two young Chicanas contemplate life when they stir unexpected desires in each other (Yahoo! Movies).

Craigslist Joe (NR)

In a time when America'’s economy and sense of community were crumbling, one guy left everything behind - to see if he could survive solely on the support of the 21st century's new town square: Craigslist. It was in this climate that 29-year-old Joseph Garner cut himself off from everyone he knew and everything he owned, to embark on a bold adventure. Armed with only a laptop, cell phone, toothbrush, and the clothes on his back - alongside the hope that community was not gone but just had shifted - Joseph began his journey. For 31 December days and nights, everything in his life would come from the Craigslist website. From transportation to food, from shelter to companionship, Joe would depend on the generosity of people who had never seen him and whose sole connection to him was a giant virtual swap meet. Would America help Joe? Could he survive with nothing, apart from the goodwill of others (Yahoo! Movies)?

A Second Opinion: Brave falls short of former Pixar favorites

I am happy to introduce a guest blogger for this review, Shannon.  Shannon is a good friend of Victoria's and mine and is a contributing writer for our college's newspaper.  We are both very happy to have her write her opinion on Brave, and I hope you all do as well.

-Katelyn

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Note: This review contains spoilers.

Brave, Disney/Pixar’s newest film, is a courageous attempt to live up to the renowned names of Pixar classics like Toy Story and Finding Nemo, but this attempt falls sadly short of the aforementioned childhood classics.

Merida, the young protagonist, is a Scottish princess who doesn’t meet the princess standards of her mother, Elinor. One thing her mother truly can’t stand is a princess shooting archery. In Hollywood female characters shooting bow and arrow are gaining popularity—Queen Susan and Katniss Everdeen, anyone?—and tragically, Disney joins the bandwagon.

This movie contains several tense moments. After Merida gives her mother a cake holding a spell, her mother begins experiencing internal bodily issues. She stumbles, becomes queasy, and frantically questions her daughter on the sweet’s contents. Following a minute of uneasiness, Merida is horrified to discover she has turned her mother into a bear.

To right her wrongs, Merida is given a riddle to solve, and she comes to the conclusion she must fix a physical tear she made out of anger. What she doesn’t realize is she really needs to mend the broken relationship with Elinor.

Her mother, as a pathetic bear, never makes any obvious realization she is partly at fault and never directly apologizes to Merida. No apparent attempts are made on Elinor’s behalf to mend the relationship. The creators barely mention the riddle’s second half, leading one to wonder if this was accidentally looked-over. Merida keeps repeating she must mend the tear, but doesn’t seem to remember it was “torn by pride.” Both mother and daughter made grave errors because of their pride but neither confesses nor apologizes. It is only when Merida thinks she is too late to save her mother that she gives a sobbing apology—but not for her prideful actions. Even when Elinor transforms back into a human, she doesn’t apologize to Merida, suggesting either the filmmakers didn’t notice the omission of the riddle’s second half, or they thought the ending was satisfactory without the lesson of pride’s dangers.

On the positive side, the Celtic sounds are haunting and the scenery is beautiful beyond belief. For an animated film, the forests and mountains of Scotland look real and breathtaking—even without 3D—and make the audience look to see the sights in person. Another great work of art is Merida’s steed. The broad black stallion is lifelike and majestic. Every characteristic, including his rolling white eyes and pawing hooves, is reminiscent of the real creature.

Brave does have some moments of laughter and jolliness, but for the most part, the film had a depressing feel to it, complete with some tears. Most of the laughs come from Merida’s younger brothers, thanks to the prankster threesome’s crazy antics. Even as bear cubs, the trio stirs up audience laughter by terrorizing castle occupants.

Overall, I felt this movie is not up to par with former Disney/Pixar makes. The creators tried nobly, but their attempts just can’t measure up to the standard that Pixar set when they made Toy Story. Brave is not a terrible movie, but I don’t think it’s really a child’s film due to some of the tense and sad scenes. It seems to better for older children and adults, if only it would have been more consistent on the issue of pride. Regardless of my personal pet peeves, Brave deserves a B-.

-Shannon

Brave

Brave (PG)

Brave's princess Meirda is not your average Disney Princess.  Both of her parents are alive and well.  She  does not break into songs at random moments or carry on conversations with woodland creatures.  Most shocking of all, she does not have a prince.  The suitors serve mainly as comic relief.  Meirda is refreshingly strong and independent, and prefers archery and riding with her hair free over pretty dresses and princes, much to the chagrin of her mother.  She may be Pixar's first female lead character, but she is an excellent start.


Brave is the latest release by the Disney and Pixar partnership.  The film features the breath-taking animation that viewers have come to expect from a Pixar film and the heart-warming (and tear-jerking) tale that viewer expect from both of them.  This film breaks the Pixar mold in several ways.  It is the first period piece they have undertaken.  The wonderful musical styling of Pixar's usual composer, Randy Newman, were noticeably absent from this film.  Instead, the delightful score was written by Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire composer Patrick Doyle (of whom, until now, Victoria did not at ALL approve).  This was also the first Pixar film to have two directors.

No matter what the trailer says about having the courage to change your fate, at its heart, Brave is a mother-daughter story.  Get your tissues ready; I cried more in this movie than I did in Toy Story 3.  However, I think Meirda's character had more potential than the plot allowed. Her peak moment came early in the film at the archery competition.  Then, there was a bit of a muddle in the middle that could have had a stronger plot and followed the sense of an angsty teenager.  In my opinion, writers relied too heavily on the (incorrect) use will o' wisps to make the plot move forward.  It didn't bother me much because screenwriters clearly defined what they meant for the film early on, I just happen to be a stickler for correct mythology.  Will o' wisps = doom in a boggy grave NOT fate.  That's all I'm going to say.  The middle of the film did offer some cute mother/daughter moments that caused a few laughs and kept it interesting and lively.  I am a firm believer that a bit of fluff never hurt anyone, especially in a kid's film, and it never lost the trademark Disney/Pixar whimsy (and moralizing attitude).  The story redeemed itself with an emotional and action-packed climax.  As a warning, small children may be frightened by some of the more intense sequences.  Several wee ones started to cry at some points, but others got through just fine.  Judge the mettle of your children for yourself.


While we are on parental warnings, perhaps I should throw in the nudity/sexual content warnings.  I never thought I would have to do that for a Disney movie!  There are two different scenes where we see male bottoms.  There is a moment where one of the boys go after a key hidden in the shirt of an extremely buxom serving woman.  The king either slaps or pinches the queen on the bottom, but it is easy to miss.  Though the queen remains covered at all times, she does make reference to being naked beneath a tapestry.  All of these are to humorous effect and are not too graphic.


Now to discuss the animation!  Stunning, like any Pixar film!  The setting of the Scottish Highlands made a beautiful back drop with rich greens, streams, and rolling hills.  I think the best piece of animation was Meirda's hair, and not just because I am partial to red hair.  Her wild curls had natural movement and definition.  When she pulled her bow on to her shoulder, the hair fell around the bow and the string like real hair would.  Close ups allow viewers to appreciate high and low lights.  On closer inspection, that fiery red hair is actually a natural blend of reds, browns, and blonds with well defined shadows at the neck and around the curls.  I cannot imagine how long someone-or a team of someones-worked on that hair!  It is so refreshing to see a princess whose hair is not perfectly coiffed and frozen in place for 99 percent of the movie!  I did not like the animation on the will o' the wisps.  They seemed out of place with the rest of the animation and reminded me of the Heartless in the Kingdom Hearts video game.

Despite my small quibbles, Victoria and I really enjoyed this movie!  It was one of those movies where you just sit in the dark theater and watch the credits roll by.  By the way, if you do wait for the end, you will be rewarded by a short, funny mini-scene.  I watched it again a couple of days ago, and it still did not lose its charm.  It is not the best Pixar film made, but it was still very enjoyable.  I recommend this film to families and kids at heart!

I give this film a B.  Victoria gives it a C+.

Katelyn

Hugo

The animation of Hugo was easily the best I have ever seen.  I am so in awe of the awesomeness of Hugo that I can not even decide what to say.  I will begin by saying that there were times Victoria and I forgot it was not a live action film because the animation looked so real and the characters were animated to look like their voice actors.  If for no other reason, watch this movie to glory in the artistic value of the images.

The story was sweet, and while the movie is geared towards children, it still had the power to engage adults.  It was not particularly exciting, but it was comfortable, for lack of a better word.  Victoria also recommends the book, The Invention of Hugo Cabret, which is a lovely combination of storytelling and pictures.  She says the film was decently faithful to the book, and only sacrificed what would not translate to film well.

The score did not necessarily stand out, but it was a good score.  It complemented the film well.  It was there when it needed to be and backed off when it did not.

As a bonus, the film shows re-made scenes from the early film A Trip to the Moon and a look at how some of the scenes were made.  It is worth mentioning that Georges Melies, the character, is different than Georges Melies, the man.  This early film was a pioneer in the movie industry, but very few people come in contact with it.  Seeing it in this film was a real treat.

Do not let the brevity of this review fool you.  This was one of our favorites so far.  It was so good, in fact, that we are a bit lost for words.  What the film lacked in story lines, it made up for in stunning animation.  It truly deserved its Oscars.  We give this film an A+.

Coming...RIGHT NOW! June 29

Hello, folks!  I apologize for the tardiness of this post, but I have recently had internet trouble (to put it lightly), and so now you can read about this weekend's new releases, most of which probably premiered last night or this morning.  So let's get started!!

Today marks the release of the latest film designed to bring hordes of women flocking to their nearest RMP: Magic Mike.

 
As this movie poster suggests, this film is about a male stripper called Magic Mike (Channing Tatem), who is teaching the newbie on the block (Alex Pettyfer) all about the life and times of this particular branch of the entertainment business.  IMDB summarizes the plot: "A male stripper teaches a younger performer how to party, pick up women, and make easy money."  The film stars Channing Tatem, Alex Pettyfer, Matt Bomer, Joe Manganiello, and Matthew McConaughey, so I think it's safe to say that the target audience is predominantly women 18 and over.  Though the short summary seems to imply a film without much plot development, the longer synopsis suggests a character journey and a choice between the fantastic and glamorized world of male strippers or the real life world where true love may await.  Yeah, I know it sounds cheesy, but it really does seem to have the potential to both be a good film.  I'd suggest leaving the kids at home first, and maybe even the hubby.  This would probably be a "girl's night out" kinda film.  It's rated R for "pervasive sexual content, brief graphic nudity, language and some drug use."  The parental guidance section on IMDB says that the film contains much male and female nudity and tons of sexual scenes/references.  Interesting fun fact: the film was supposedly inspired by Channing Tatem's life as a male stripper before he made it as an actor.


Every child has wished at some point that his or her favorite toy would come to life (where do you think the idea for Toy Story came from?).  This week's new release, Ted, explores that possibility in a new way: what if your childhood wish came true, and that toy stayed with you into adulthood?

IMDB summarizes: "As the result of a childhood wish, John Bennett's teddy bear, Ted, came to life and has been by John's side ever since - a friendship that's tested when Lori, John's girlfriend of four years, wants more from their relationship."  It stars Mark Wahlbery, Mila Kunis, and Seth MacFarlane (as the voice of Ted the Teddy Bear).  While on the surface, the summary might make the film sound like something the kids would enjoy, this film is rated R for crude and sexual content, pervasive language, and some drug use.  There also seems to be a little female nudity in it as well.  Ted the Teddy Bear is not as innocent as he first seems (as evidenced by the beer bottle in his hand on the film's poster).  However, if you do enjoy the crude type of humor often found in comedies these days, this might be the film for you!  While the first film seems to be a girl's night out kind of film, this seems to be more of a guy's film.  After all, it's from the creator of Family Guy, so I'm sure it will be at least a modest success.


Here are some of the less-advertised films for the weekend:

People Like Us
IMDB summary: "While settling his recently deceased father's estate, a salesman discovers he has a sister whom he never knew about, leading both siblings to re-examine their perceptions about family and life choices."  Finally, we come to a film I might actually be willing to see (I actually lived a slightly similar situation: I discovered I had an older brother when I was 8 years old).  It sounds like a nice, heartfelt film to watch with the family or some close friends.  Starring Chris Pine, Elizabeth Banks, Olivia Wilde, Jon Favreau, and Michelle Pfeiffer, I think it might be wise to bring a couple extra tissues with you to see this film.  Rated PG-13 for language, some drug use and brief sexuality.

Madea's Witness Protection
I'm sure by this point, everyone has at least heard of Tyler Perry's Madea films.  I personally have only seen Madea's Family Reunion, which was a lovely blend of serious drama and hilarious comedy.  I have heard that the other films have not necessarily followed suit.  However, I'm sure Madea's new adventure will have some people rolling with laughter.  IMDB summary: "A Wall Street investment banker who has been set up as the linchpin of his company's mob-backed Ponzi scheme is relocated with his family to Aunt Madea's southern home."  If you didn't want to pay to see this film in theaters, it may be worth catching on DVD or Netflix at some point.
Rated PG-13 for some crude sexual remarks and brief drug references.


Limited Release this Weekend:
Take This Waltz
IMDB Summary: "A happily married woman falls for the artist who lives across the street."  There isn't much more information available about this film, but it looks like a promising emotional comedy.  It's rated R for language, some strong sexual content and graphic nudity.

Unforgivable
IMDB Summary: "A crime writer living in Venice while working on his new novel meets and soon marries his real-estate agent. Relocated to a remote house on Torcello Island, his obsession with his wife's daily whereabouts takes a dark turn."  Seems to be an interesting take on the tale of love turning sour with suspicion and paranoia.  The tagline "You can't escape the sins of your past." promises a dark and perhaps horrific film.  This film is French, though I'm not sure if it will be in English or if it will have subtitles.  It is unrated.


So that's the lineup for this weekend!!  Hope you have a film you're planning to see, whether it be one of these new releases or one that's been in theaters for a while now.  Enjoy the movie :).

~Victoria

PS: Katelyn and I are currently working on our review of Brave!  Look for it in the next week or so!

Coming Soon to a Theater Near You...

Here are the new releases you can look for your movie night!  The line up this week looks great.  I want to see all three films that are opening this Friday, how about you?

Brave (PG)

Determined to make her own path in life, Princess Meirda defies a custom that brings chaos to her kingdom. Granted one wish, Meirda must rely on her bravery and archery skills to undo a beastly curse.  -IMDb

I am ridiculously excited for this movie!  How could you not love a kick-butt princess like Meirda?  She rides, she fights, she shoots a bow, and apparently she climbs mountains with her bare hands.  With Pixar and Disney teaming up for this endeavor, I don't see this being a box office flop.  The animation is as sophisticated as we have come to expect from Pixar film with the magic and whimsy of a good Disney film.

There has been a noticeable lack of kids films this summer, so Brave already stands out.  The action will appeal to boys, while a female heroine will appeal to the girls.  100 minutes of peace will no no doubt appeal to parents.  Victoria and I are going to see this tomorrow afternoon, so expect a review soon!

Abraham Lincoln:  Vampire Hunter (R)

Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, discovers vampires are planning to take over the United States. He makes it his mission to eliminate them.  -IMDb

A... unique look at the 16th president of the United States brought to you by Tim Burton.  This is an adaptation of a popular novel that I saw in the bookstore a few months ago and put down laughing.  The trailers make me wish I had given it a second look.  Producers and directors are calling it a classic super hero origins story.  This has the potential to be weird and wonderful, so it may be worth a shot.

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World (R)

As an asteroid nears Earth, a man finds himself alone after his wife leaves in a panic. He decides to take a road trip to reunite with his high school sweetheart. Accompanying him is a neighbor who inadvertently puts a wrench in his plan. -IMDb

"The final mission to save mankind has failed."  This sounds like an better suited to a doomsday tragedy film, but this is a comedy.  A humorous take on the very serious question, What would you do if you knew the world was going to end?  Starring the unlikely duo, Steve Carell and Keira Knightly,  Seeking a Friend for the End of the World seeks to answer this question.

Here is the list of what will be on limited release this weekend.

To Rome With Love (R)

A story about a number of people in Italy, some American, some Italian, some residents, some visitors, and the romances and adventures and predicaments they get into. -IMDb

It is worth mentioning that this is a Woody Allen film.

The Invisible War (NR)

An investigative documentary about the epidemic of rape of soldiers within the US military.  -IMDb

Grassroots (R)

After losing his job, a journalist reluctantly agrees to help his oddball friend with his bid to earn a seat on the Seattle City Council. -IMDb

What will you choose to see this weekend?  Happy watching!

Katelyn

Snow White and the Huntsman

My first thought leaving Snow White and the Huntsman was, "It could have been better, but it could have been much worse."  I liked the darker take on the classic Snow White fairy tale, and who doesn't love a princess that can fight for herself?  However, I think that this film did not realize its own potential.  There were moments of excellent symbolism that hinted at a deeper meaning, especially the scene with the White Stag.  I felt that the plot was under-developed and, at times, relied too heavily on the audience to not ask the question, "Why?"  You need a horse?  Oh look, there is one right by that rock!  Man, I really wish I could get out of here.  BAM!  There is the key to your escape that you have overlooked for the past ten years.  So what if I just broke out of imprisonment and the Huntsman just showed me how to use a knife like, yesterday?  I totally have the training to go into battle.


Visually, this film was very nice.  It was visually and thematically dark, with the exception of a few minutes in the middle, but it did not fall into the trap of being flat, as some 'dark' films do.  The whole palate drew on Snow White's physical description, "Skin as white as snow, hair as dark as a raven's wing, lips as red as a rose."  The contrast made the shots interesting and dynamic.  The battle scenes were sweeping and epic.  I cannot think of a single scene where I could not find something to look at.  The production values were easily the best part of the film.

There was one particular casting decision that left me wondering who even thought it would be a good idea.  I have made my opinions on Kristin Stewart's acting known before, but in case you missed it, I am not a fan. That being said, she was better in this one and only fell back on her default pained expression in a few moments where it was not appropriate.  What really confused me, was why she was even considered.  This film was full of British, Irish, South African, and Australian actors, with one random American--Kristin Stewart.  Her accent was decent, and had the happy side-effect of more deliberate line delivery, but could they really not find a single young British actress to play Snow White?  I will give her this, her performance was more emotive and did not often distract from the rest of the film.  She even smiled.

I really liked the twist on the Queen's character.  If she was not so evil, I would feel sorry.  I wish that filmmakers would have explored her background more.  It appeared they did not have time to delve into the Queen and establish the superfluous, half-baked love triangle.  In the original fairy tale and the animated Disney film, the Queen is very flat.  Charlize Theron does a wonderful job reinventing the character.

All things considered, I do not think this film was a waste of my money and time.  I enjoyed it as a unique take on an old classic.  I do not think it will be listed as one of the great films of the summer, but it was a good time.  I rate this film a D+.

Katelyn

New this Weekend!

Yes, this comes a bit late this weekend, I know, but better late than never!  Here are the movies that are new at a theater near you!

Rock of Ages (PG-13)

A small town girl and a city boy meet on the sunset strip while pursuing their Hollywood Dreams. -IMDb

A small town girl and a city boy?  I don't know about you, but I am feeling some Journey coming on.  Not just Journey--this Broadway musical turned film also features music from fellow 80's rockers, Def Leppard, Foreigner, Poison, and Twisted Sister.  From what I have seen in the trailers, Rock of Ages promises to be big, flashy, and sexy.  The movie spot failed to do it justice, but the theater trailer intrigued me.  Hopefully, this film will love up to the hype.

That's My Boy (R)

While in his teens, Donny fathered a son,  Todd,  and raised him as a single parent up until Todd's 18th birthday.  Now, after not seeing each other for years, Todd's world comes crashing down when Donny resurfaces just before Todd's wedding.  -IMDb

This film seems like a mash-up of the standard wedding and dead-beat dad comedy plot lines with extra raunchiness thrown in for good measure.  Call me a prude, but I don't think sex and swearing make up for an unoriginal plot or make a film funny.  Based on its 24% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the critics seem to agree with me.

Here are the films coming out this week on limited release...

Marina Abramovic:  The Artist is Present (NR)

A biography that documents Serbian performance artist Marina Abramovic's preparations for a retrospective of her work at New York's Museum of Modern Art.

Something from Nothing:  The Art of Rap (R)

Ice-T directs this film documentary and interviews Rap talent including its founders, newcomers, and superstars.  This film explore's Rap's origins and what makes it relevant, 'living' art through interviews and performances by the entire cast.

The Weekend Line Up- June 1

Wondering what to watch this weekend?  Here are the new releases coming to a theater near you!

Snow White and the Huntsman
In a twist to the fairy tale, the Huntsman ordered to take Snow White into the woods to be killed winds up becoming her protector and mentor in a quest to vanquish the Evil Queen. -IMDb

 Snow White and the Huntsman, seems to be the headliner for this weekend's new releases.  Yes this is the second Snow White adaptation released this year, but it clearly takes a different direction than Mirror, Mirror.  As a sucker for a good fairy tale adaptation, this film intrigues me.  Though I do not plan to use this blog to intentionally bash a particular franchise or actor/actress, I do have opinions.  I, personally, do not particularly like Kristen Stewart's acting.  Hopefully she will make a good performance for a film that seems like an action-packed take on a tale that I have always found particularly gruesome.  It will be interesting to see Snow White as a strong. independent character who saves herself.  Expect to see me do a review on this one!  Rated PG-13.

On a side note, if you happen to be into Snow White, I recently read a book (not what this blog is dedicated to, I know!) called Fairest of All.  It is authorized by Disney and tells the Evil Queen's story.  It describes her descent into madness and how it affected her love for Snow.  I recommend it!

Piranha 3DD

After the events at Lake Victoria, the pre-historic school of blood-thirsty piranhas make their way into a newly opened waterpark. -IMBd

Seems like the standard Hollywood smut-humor-horror flick, now in 3D! or excuse me, 3DD.  Okay, if you are into that sort of thing.  I predict the majority of its sales will be in the teenage/early twenties male demographic.  Rated R.

Battlefield America

A young businessman who lands a community service sentence falls in with a group of misfit kids who need mentoring. With the help of a pro instructor, he works to get the kids ready for a big underground dance competition. -IMBd

As this seems to be an inspirational story and it is a musical, it is probably not releasing quite as widely as the two previous movies discussed.  Only one theater out of six or so around me are playing it, so be sure to check your theater ahead of time if you want to see this one.  Rated PG-13.

On limited release this weekend:

For Greater Glory

A chronicle of the Cristeros War (1926-1929); a war by the people of Mexico against the atheistic Mexican government. -IMBd

From the few TV spots of this I have seen on the History Channel, it looks interesting and it features a pretty strong cast.  I have not learned about this war before, so I would like to see it.  Unfortunately, I will probably not get to see it until it comes to DVD.  If it is in a theater near you, it may be worth a look.  Rated R.

If you see any of these movies, please comment and tell us what you think of them!  Happy watching!

Katelyn

P.S. Also coming this weekend:  Victoria's wedding!  Congratulations to the bride-to-be and her groom!

The Future

Well, ladies and gentlemen, Victoria and I have reached the end of our semester.  For this summer, Victoria and I have a couple of new goals and ideas for the blog and now we will finally have time to implement them.  First, we will change the way we post.  We will make our reviews shorter and more concise.  We will also try to watch and review movies in a timely manner, which was just not possible with school work burying us.  We will also be branching out into opinion and news pieces, like Victoria's pieces on Chick Flicks and The Hobbit.  About once a week, we will try to post a list of films coming out that weekend, along with any plans we have for reviewing within the next week.

So, that is the immediate future... let's talk about next semester.  Sadly Victoria and I will not be able to watch movies together in the fall.  More happily, the reason is because I will be studying in the UK!  Hopefully I will have time to watch and review movies there, but I make no guarantees.  Victoria will also be going through some happy changes, as she is getting married next week!  So you see, things will be different for us in the coming months, but we have no intentions to stop blogging so we hope that our readers do not stop reading.

If anyone has any suggestions for us or things that you would like to see happen with this blog, feel free to leave us a comment.  We truly value your opinion as we work to make this blog more informative and entertaining.

Katelyn

Dark Shadows

I went and saw Dark Shadows yesterday morning.  This film is based on an old 60's soap opera of the same name, and the style of the film greatly reflects this.  Before I review this film, I'd like to take a moment to issue a disclaimer:

I AM NOT A TIM BURTON FAN.

Movie Poster for Dark Shadows

However, I liked the film!  It managed to be an excellent mix between drama and comedy, and some of the humor was rather dark while other bits were quite light.  It meshed together well to create an interesting film.  The storyline was simple enough to follow but complicated enough to be interesting, and the film definitely sets itself up for a sequel in a couple years (big surprise there).  My one complaint is that I wish there were fewer sexual references/scenes, though other people may not be as bothered by those things as I am.

Even thought I usually can't stand Tim Burton, I feel like he didn't try to take this film to the next level of weirdness and creepiness, which worked out well for me, at least.  It kept to his style without being over the top, and for the type of film this was intended to be, his style worked perfectly.  The characters were decently believable (though, of course, greatly exaggerated), and there were several excellent actors.

Also, FINALLY there is a good, nice, intelligent character named Victoria!  Seriously, all the Victoria's are either evil, annoying, or dim-witted, so it's nice to see my name put to dignified use!

All in all, I'd recommend this film to anyone who likes Johnny Depp or Tim Burton, or anyone who likes dramatic yet funny vampire/horror-type films.  I rate this film a C+.

Cheers,
Victoria

PS: Katelyn and I hope to be making a post about our summer and fall semester plans in the near future.

How to Create a Decent Chick Flick

I have found that chick flicks often get a bad rap for being pointless, silly, and as far from life-like as you can get with live action and no special effects.  However, I think that there are levels of quality for chick flicks, and I have come across several of them that are actually pretty good films, even according to non-chick flick standards.  So I'd like to take some time to go over several things that can turn a silly chick flick into a good general film.

1.) Believable characters
Love at first sight hardly ever happens in the real world, and relationships have to be founded on much more than a single glance.  The characters in a good chick flick are believable; they are not flawless or wonderful people.  In fact, often the chick flick characters with the biggest personality glitches are the best ones.  Take, for example, the film Two Weeks Notice  starring Sandra Bullock and Hugh Grant.  Sandra Bullock plays an organized, highly goal-oriented workaholic and Hugh Grant plays a spoiled millionaire who doesn't take anything seriously and can barely take care of himself.  These two personalities are meant to clash horribly, creating part of the plot of the film, but they also seem to complete each other in some way.  It works out into a lovely and memorable film.  The two personalities are also believable because both characters have normal faults (Bullock's being that she is often too serious about things and Grant's being that he is horribly irresponsible and selfish) and they come together in a way that would be completely normal for regular people (she works for him).  The believability is what makes this film work.

2.) Have a plot that doesn't center completely on romance.
I know that the point of most chick flicks is that the man and woman fall in love.  It's what happens in 99% of them, so it's not anything new.  In order to have a quality chick flick that isn't just the cheesiest thing you've ever seen, it has to have SOMETHING ELSE in it besides romance.  The plot of the film needs to be driven by something other than two characters longing for each other and all the things that stand in their way.  It's boring, it's old, and it's been overdone so many times that it's not even funny.  (I think the only film I'll allow to get away with this one is Sleepless in Seattle, but that one's a classic, the chick flick of all chick flicks.)  Films like The Notebook, while they are sweet and make you cry, are pretty darn boring.  You know they're going to be together in the end.  That's what those films do.  It wouldn't be a proper chick flick if that didn't happen, and everyone who watches it knows that's what's going to happen (if you say you really thought she was gonna go for the other guy, then you are just gullible or kidding yourself).  Chick flicks with plots that have something going for them other than romance tend to be much more entertaining to watch and also much more believable.  Usually there is something else going on that acts as a catalyst for the romance between the two characters, something that forces them together in a way they would not normally be together.  Being stranded on an island, having to pretend to date to avoid being deported, dating someone on a bet or for some sort of payment, or even an unlikely work pairing all form better story lines than just a simple romance.  10 Things I Hate About You (based on Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew) is an excellent example of this.  Sure, Kat and Patrick fall for each other in the end...that's expected.  But that wouldn't have happened if A) The characters did not both have pretty glaring personality flaws, B) Kat's father wasn't super overprotective and C) Patrick was not paid to take her out.  There's a whole other list of story lines in this film besides two people falling in love: the development of the sisters' relationship, the loss of the mother and dealing with the over-protectiveness of the father, Cameron's silent admiration of Bianca as well as her development into a character that the audience doesn't want to just slap, and especially the character development of both Kat and Patrick separately.  All the things that happen in the film help move it toward the denouement of Kat and Patrick falling in love, but they could not have fallen in love without the rest of the plot.

3.) Go easy on the cheese.
I know that in a chick flick, it's difficult not to include lines like "The best love is the kind that awakens the soul and makes us reach for more, that plants a fire in our hearts and brings peace to our minds"  (The Notebook), but really, lines like that don't help the movie.  It might make the girls sigh, but in the end it just makes everyone want to groan and roll their eyes.  Lines like that might sound good at first, but if you heard them in real life, you'd probably wanna puke.  Try for witty instead of gushingly romantic, those often create the best chick flicks (see Pride and Prejudice for proof).


4.) Cliches are only okay if used in a creative manner.
I'm not gonna go on a tirade about staying away from cliches.  Sometimes you really do need them (after all, aren't chick flicks kinda cliche in themselves??).  But try not to use cliches in a cliche way, if you catch my drift.  If your characters need to have a romantic, climactic kiss, please don't spin the camera around them while they stand on a hill in the bright, golden sunlight.  That's cheesy.  Perhaps they could have their climactic kiss in a hallway or standing outside a car (kisses in cars are also a horribly cliche way of doing things).  The climactic kiss in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days happens in a bathroom in Ben's parent's house - very not cliche.  Also, balcony scenes should be avoided unless there's a new and creative way to use it (I can't think of one off the top of my head).  Also avoid romance scenes in the rain.  Ugh, those are pretty bad.


5.) Make sure the film makes you happy...happy endings are a must.
I think at least 90% of all regular films have happy endings in some way or another.  Chick flicks basically require a happy ending...the point of watching a chick flick most of the time is to feel good, right??  So you can't have your characters hate each other at the end.  Some chick flicks get away with a sweet but sad ending (like P.S. I Love You), but most of them need a happy ending to hold it all together.  You can have a happy ending without being horribly cheesy.  After all, everyone expects that the characters will fall in love at the end, so it's not like that fact alone will start up the groan machine.  This is the point where even the best chick flicks sometimes fail.  The happy ending/fall in love/happily ever after moment doesn't have to be the biggest cliche of the film.  With a bit of creativity, it can be something unique.  I think 10 Things I Hate About You is a good example (though I won't spoil the ending for you...if you've seen it, you know what I'm talking about...her list and the guitar, or rather the idea of those things, is a pretty good ending).  


Overall, I must say that it is quite possible to have a really good chick flick.  So the next time someone wants  to watch one, don't groan and resign yourself to a horrible experience.  Instead, find some of the good ones and suggest one of those.  You might just share a valuable cinematic experience.  Who knows??

Hunger Games

Let me begin by getting my fan-girling out of the way.  OH MY GOSH!  THE MOVIE WAS AMAZING!!!  There.  I am better now, and ready to be objective.  Dignity, always dignity.

In all seriousness, The Hunger Games was one of the better book adaptations I have seen.  Though extreme book purists (a category I usually put myself in) may have a problem with the decision to move outside of Katniss' perspective, I thought that the scenes outside of the arena added a lot of depth to the plot and the world of Panem.  Fans can rest assured that the director Gary Ross and producers did not high-jack the story from Collins and have their way with it; in fact she wrote the first draft of the screenplay.  Characters like Senca Crane, Caesar Fickerman, and President Snow, who barely make an appearance in the book, are much more central to the movie.  I believe this was crucial to the casual viewer's understanding of the social and political structure of Panem, in addition to being very good scenes.  These actors (especially Stanley Tucci as Caesar Flickerman) did an impeccable job.  Overall, even though the screenwriters did not chain themselves to the text, it was faithful to the essence of the story as well as the plot.

Okay, now it is time for the gripes.  For the first time, my major complaints are not about the movie itself, but the reaction to it.  I saw it once at the midnight release and once on a weeknight.  What disturbed me most of all was when viewers would laugh or cheer at the death of a tribute.  Do you know who else gets excited about a tribute's death?  That's right, the Capitol.  Part of the blame belongs with the film because it made the careers into the main villains, but that does not change the fact that they were children who died especially horrific deaths (If you would like to read more about this, see the pre-Hunger Games post).  In the end, the writers did try to humanize Cato, but it was too little too late.  I also took issue with the odd little Cato/Glimmer thing going on.  That came out of left field.  Laughing and cheering was not as much of a problem on the weekday viewing.  I understand that it is premiere night, and its exciting, but let's not forget what the book actually stood for.  If you read the book and thought the killing was supposed to something to cheer for, maybe we read different books.  The movie is not meant to glorify the Games; it is meant to condemn them and the society they stand for.  Frankly, I thought the cheering was disgusting.

Moving on to the actual film... Gary Ross was loving the shaky-cam.  If you are easily motion-sick, be forewarned and sit high up and in the center.  In action sequences, it was a good effect and it was not distracting.  It may also be theorized that it kept the viewer from focusing on the acts of violence, which kept it in the range of a PG-13 rating.  This may be true, but many PG-13 movies have a fair amount of violence without using shaky-cam.  Granted, they are not brutally killing children.  In the opening establishing sequence, I found the shots hard to watch.  I heard someone on another site (sorry I forgot which one) say it was like they taped the camera to a chihuahua.  I have to agree with that.  The cutting in this sequence was interesting (and plentiful) and I think it would have sufficed to make the scene visually compelling.  Combined with the shaky-cam, it was a bit dizzying.  As the movie progressed, I am not sure if Ross used less of the shaky-cam, or I became more used to it, but it was less noticeable.  All and all, I wish it was used less in non-action shots, but I did not think it took too much away.

I have talked about the adult actors, so now I will talk about the younger actors.  I was skeptical of the casting choices going in, but the film sold me.  Jennifer Lawrence (Katniss) was excellent, and though Josh Hutcherson (Peeta) was a bit upstaged by her for the most part, he held his own.  Their chemistry was good and the romance believable, even if the pacing made it somewhat rushed.  Book readers will know why believable romance could be a bit of a problem, but there are small signs that Katniss isn't fully in it the same way Peeta is.  These could be missed by someone who wasn't looking for them, but as there was no voice-over (thank goodness!) viewers could not be in Katniss' head.  The signs were subtle, but they were there.  Amandla Stenberg was an excellent Rue.  She was sweet and innocent... exactly what Rue should be.  With what little we saw, Dayo Okeniyi as Thresh was good, but there was not much of it.  I can honestly say there was not a single cringe-worthy performance, and with a younger cast, that is saying something.

Overall, I liked the look of this film (minus the shaky-cam) and I thought the screenwriting was done well.  The actors didn't just fill in their roles, they made them come alive.  It has great re-watch value--the second time was even better than the first.  I give this film an A-

Katelyn

The Hobbit's Worry

Director Peter Jackson has apparently filmed The Hobbit at 48 fps (frames per second), double the normal rate, and people are freaking out.  Some think that it's a horrible idea and will make the film difficult to watch.  Others praise Jackson as a pioneer for new film technology.  I think that this will definitely be something interesting to see.

The Hobbit is J.R.R. Tolkien's prequel to his famous Lord of the Rings trilogy, following the adventures of Bilbo Baggins of Bag End as he embarks on an adventure (sent by Gandalf the Grey) to help several dwarves reclaim their homeland.  Along the way, he stumbles upon the One Ring, and so the epic journey begins.

The trailer for this film looks absolutely amazing.  The Lord of the Rings films are well-known for being fantastic films, and The Hobbit looks like it's going the same way.  Here is the official trailer for the film, due out December 14 of this year:

The Hobbit will actually be split into two films, I believe, with the first being called The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.  

An article from Hypable.com addresses Peter Jackson's thoughts on the negative reactions he's received for his use of 48 fps technology to shoot the film:

http://www.hypable.com/2012/04/28/peter-jackson-addresses-hobbit-48-fps-concerns-nobody-is-going-to-stop/

Jackson spoke to Entertainment Weekly:

Peter Jackson says the negative reaction this week over new technology he’s using to shoot The Hobbit won’t hold him back, and he hopes moviegoers will give it a try and judge for themselves.
“Nobody is going to stop,” he said. “This technology is going to keep evolving.”
He hopes critics of the format will change their minds when they see the finished film.
“At first it’s unusual because you’ve never seen a movie like this before. It’s literally a new experience, but you know, that doesn’t last the entire experience of the film; not by any stretch, after 10 minutes or so,” Jackson tells EW. “That’s a different experience than if you see a fast-cutting montage at a technical presentation.”
So what does he say to people who just decide they don’t like the glossy new look of the format he’s using?
“I can’t say anything,” Jackson acknowledges. “Just like I can’t say anything to someone who doesn’t like fish. You can’t explain why fish tastes great and why they should enjoy it.”

I personally trust Jackson's decision.  Someone in the comments of the article pointed out the worry when Jackson wanted to use motion capture to make the character of Gollum feel more realistic for The Lord of the Rings, and that turned out splendidly.  Jackson knows how to make a good film, so people should let him.  We shall view the finished product on December 14 and make our judgments afterwards.  Let Jackson make the film he wants.  He made three fantastic ones before, I'm sure he'll do it again.

Meanwhile, I'm going to watch that trailer over and over again, just for the chills it gives me.

State and Main

Victoria and I both really enjoyed State and Main.  It tells the story of the filming of the fictional movie Old Mill.  The production is facing a whole stack of problems.  They are forced to move from their previous location, the old mill they thought was in their new location has burned down, the lead actor's "hobby" is statutory rape, the lead actress won't bare her chest, some of the townsfolk are not as easily pushed over as the mayor, and the moralist writer is scrambling to adjust the screenplay to fix all of these problems.  It is a very interesting look at pre-production and the financial side of the film industry, as most movies about movies are set during the filming process.

The character I found most endearing was Joe White (Philip Seymour Hoffman), the screenwriter.  This is his first big break into the movie industry and he is still adjusting to the way movie making works.  The loss of the old mill comes as a big blow to him and a killer case of writer's block sets in.  Luckily, he finds an ally and collaborator in a pretty local bookstore owner; unluckily, she is engaged.  White has a sense of naivete about him, and that was what made him so likable.  It can be said that at no point was Hoffman's performance suave or sophisticated, for lack of a better word.  That does not make it bad or inadequate in any way.  On the contrary, that was what made him believable as Joe White, new kid in the industry.  You really can't help but pull for him as he learns to find his voice and stand up for what he knows is right.

Actor Bob Barrenger (Alec Baldwin) makes an interesting foil for White's relatively innocent character.  Coming off a sex scandal with a fourteen-year old, the producer and director pray he has learned his lesson.  They were wrong.  Barrenger is repentantly slimy and always very self-assured that he is untouchable.  He knows his studio will do whatever it takes to protect him, so he does as he pleases.  The director deals with him with a sense of exasperation.  He does't condone Barrenger's actions and tries to prevent them, but he is not about to let him take the fall and bring the whole picture down with him.  The irony of a sex scandal in a movie that ends up being "all about purity" is obvious as the film progresses.

Victoria:
As Katelyn said, we really liked this film.  I found it witty, funny, and very entertaining.  I agree that the most likable character is Joe White, but I think one of the most hilarious characters in the film was the director played by William H. Macy.  Macy plays one of those controlling and demanding directors that is always exasperated with the people around him who can't seem to do anything he asks.  All he wants is a simple shot  through a window; he doesn't care if it's impossible for the cameraman to shoot.  Is it really too much to ask the lead actress (Sarah Jessica Parker) to bare her breasts for the film?  And can't Bob Barrenger get another hobby, one that doesn't involve girls 1/3 of his age, perhaps?  Nothing just seems to go right for him.  Even his assistant keeps bugging him and wanting to shirk his duties...something about his wife and a baby or some other unimportant nonsense.  He's trying to make a FILM, for goodness sakes!  Why can't they all just respect that and do as he says?
Macy does a fantastic job being the director centered so much on making his film that he doesn't care about the obstacles, as long as someone gets them out of his way.  He's very funny and convincing as a rather angry guy stomping around the set and demanding sometimes random and insane things.  I think he might have been my favorite character, just for the fact that I couldn't help but smile whenever he came onscreen.

The film was an excellent balance of actual plot and crazy hilarity.  Too much of either and it wouldn't have worked: too much hilarity and you get a funny film that doesn't make any sense, too much plot and you lose the attention of the audience (since it's not a particularly moving or impressive plot by itself).  What makes the film works the combination of things, plus the fabulous acting by all involved.  There's a bit of something to everyone.  You have comedy with the director, drama with Claire (the lead actress), a sex scandal with Bob Barrenger (which also brings in a bit of law, court, and bribery), and romantic interest with Joe White and Ann Black.
There are also several really funny jokes that one might not catch while watching the film.  For example, I just noticed that the romantic characters both have common first names with last names White and Black.  There's also the running joke of the product placement of a website in a film set in the 1800's.  It adds a nice touch and gets a couple more laughs.

All in all, quite an excellent film, I believe.  I'd recommend it to anyone, as long as they didn't have a problem with a bit of strong language.

Katelyn:  It is also worth mentioning, what with all this talk about breast-baring, that there is no actual nudity.  There is a cartoon and suggested nudity, but it is not incredibly graphic.

I would defiantly recommend this film.  There is no super-deep plot, but it is a fun movie.  I laughed throughout the movie and just made me feel happy.  Victoria and I give this film a B-.

The Stunt Man (1980)

I think The Stunt Man is one of the strangest films I've ever seen.  We just had to watch it for our film class, and  after finishing watching it, I am left feeling confused, weirded-out, and slightly entertained.  The film follows a man wanted by the police as he stumbles upon a film set just in time for their stunt man to die and him to become the replacement.  Peter O'Tool is the insane director Eli Cross who will do anything for a shot, and Steve Railsback as the criminal turned stunt man.

The confusing thing about this film is its treatment of reality.  There are several instances where the film shows what the audience believes to be reality only to reveal that "reality" to be a shot of the "film within a film."  It's rather disconcerting to be thrown around like that.  

Oh, one other thing: there are several bouts of nudity in this, mostly of females...yes, it actually shows things.

I didn't really like this film much.  Several parts were a little funny (I think Peter O'Tool was the only really funny thing, especially when he sat on his flying bench).  It was odd and confusing and a bit disturbing at parts.  All in all, I wouldn't really recommend it.

Katelyn

I think this film was strange, but okay.  It accomplished what is set out to do.  It makes a statement about directors that most people would agree with:  they are controlling and at least a little insane.  There is no "little insane" with Eli Cross.  He is totally nuts, controlling, manipulative, egotistical, and all an around unpleasant guy.  He soars around on his little crane, a direct reference to his God complex.  All in all, there is not much more to say.  Everyone knows he is awful, but everyone lets him get away with it because he makes good movies.  He knows he is awful, but he doesn't care because everyone lets him get away with it.  That being said, I do think he really cares about his leading lady, but that doesn't stop him from using her either.  It adds up to a very unpleasant working environment.

V:

So yeah....see the film if you are interested.  I wouldn't blame you if you skipped out on it, though.

-V+K

PS: We rate this film in the C-/D+ range.

Pre-Hunger Games Predictions

     Well, we promised it, and here it is: Our Pre-Hunger Games post!  Katelyn and I both have tickets to the midnight premiere of the Hunger Games this Thursday, and we are very excited to see this film for ourselves (especially after reading glowing reviews, seeing lovely trailers, and reading lengthy interviews with the actors).  So, the question on everyone's mind: Will the Hunger Games live up to the hype?

     Victoria: I have to say, I have high hopes for this film.  I know trailers can be misleading, but from all the trailers, clips, and photos I've seen of this film, it really looks fantastic.  To go with my high hopes, I have high standards. I am expecting a lot of this film, and I really really hope it lives up to those expectations.  One thing I expect from this film is excellent acting.  From the trailer line "We wouldn't make it five miles." I knew I would love Jennifer Lawrence, and so far as I can tell, it doesn't seem that she will disappoint as Katniss.  Her quote to Vanity Fair and director Gary Ross about Katniss' character I think tells quite a bit about how she will be portraying the character:

"Katniss is an incredible character: she’s a hunter but not a killer, a 16-year-old who’s being forced into the arena. These kids are killing one another only because if they don’t they’ll die. It’s needless, pointless, unjustified violence. It’s heartbreaking. When I auditioned, I told [director] Gary [Ross], “I understand if you don’t hire me, but please remember that after Katniss shoots a bow and kills someone, her face cannot be badass.” So there’s nothing cool about her. It’s not like she looks around the arena and goes, Yeah, I got this. I think she looks around helplessly, and thinks, I made a promise to my sister that I would survive; now I have to kill in order to do so."

     This quote proves to me that Lawrence gets Katniss.  I'm also excited to see Lenny Kravitz as Cinna, since I was impressed with him in the trailers and clips I've seen.  I know he's not the most important character by a long shot, but he certainly means a lot to Katniss, and to get that sort of connection across can be difficult.  I hope the film does it justice.  As far as cinematography goes, from the trailers, the film looks beautiful in a destitute way, and that's exactly what I think it should be.  Everything is not a wasteland, nor is it Narnia.  It's broken and sad, but there's still something compelling about it.
     One other thing about the film before I let Katelyn tell her opinion: I admire Lionsgate for their marketing campaign on this film.  Though I've seen at least 4 or 5 clips plus several trailers and a ton of pictures, I have seen virtually nothing of the actual Hunger Games from the film.  They have managed to keep that portion of the film under wraps, and I admire them for doing so.  I absolutely hate when trailers show pretty much the whole film, and Lionsgate made sure that didn't happen for The Hunger Games.  The trailers leave you feeling tense and with a feeling of anticipation.  That is exactly the purpose they are meant to serve.
     I am extremely excited about this film, and I am very confident that it will meet and possibly even exceed my expectations.  I, and the world, will be watching Thursday night ;).

Katelyn:
     I will pick up where Victoria left off:  with the marketing campaign.  They are taking a very interesting angle with their promotions and what not.  They are literally putting fans in the position of a district citizen by allowing them to register for ID cards and joining their district.  I got on to thecapitol.pn while Victoria was writing her bit and registered.  Apparently I am a dockworker in District 4.  Not sure how good I would be at lifting, but it seems much better than a coal mine to me.  The sun, the sea, the spray... a nice view of Finnick.  What is not to like?  Ok, besides the fighting to the death thing.  On these sites, they promote the film like they are promoting the actual 74th Hunger Games with notes about viewing being required for all citizens.  None of the trailers show the actual games, so it is like they haven't happened yet.  There is even a Capital Couture page.  Rather than bombarding us with sneak peeks, they um... "captiolizing" on social networking to do their promotion for them.  At least 5 of my friends have gotten these cards and all their friends see them and think, "hmm... what is this Hunger Games?"  Well played, Lionsgate.  Not only do you have us excited about promoting your movie, you have gained access to our demographic info.  Kudos on clever marketing.  I am not being cynical or complaining, because I think this is a great move on their part. Movie making is a big BUSINESS, as well as an art, so it is not a bad thing that they are promoting this with all they have.

My District 4 ID

Here is what I want to see from the film:

• Gale and Peeta as more than eye candy.  The two male leads are there for more than being pretty and making a nice little love triangle.  They have distinct personalities and reflect the different extremes in Katniss.  Gale is tough to the point of being brutal and Peeta is caring to the point of self-sacrifice.  In a way, who she ends up choosing is a reflection of the side of herself that she chooses to embrace.  She can live in bitterness or love and be loved.  This contrast must be set up early to work.  Gale's dark side is present from the very beginning when he tells Katniss that killing animals isn't really different than killing people so she should have the upper hand.  Filmmakers will be doing the character a great disservice if they make him into stock love interest.
• Bloody Death.  Ok, it is morbid, but the Hunger Games is supposed to be disgusting and horrifying.  Should they turn it into a slasher?  Definitely not.  There has to be a balance, and the emotional component is crucial to this goal.  Going too gory would be disgusting and over the top but making it too gentle defeats the purpose.  It should always be obvious that we are dealing with scared kids, not ruthless adults.  The feeling of the Games must be preserved for the movie to work.
• Rue and Prim.  For Rue's death to have the impact it should, there needs to be setup in the relationship with Prim as well as a decent amount of character development for Rue.  They are more than cute twelve year-olds, they represent the most horrific part of the games.  They are the innocents that would never stand a chance.  Katniss protects Prim's innocence at the cost of her own, and she cannot turn off her maternal instinct.  It seems just from the trailer that the relationship is set up well, so that is reassuring.  Madge's character was axed in the process, but if that is the price that must be paid, it is well worth it.
• Haymitch is NOT just comic relief.  Sure he is a drunk, and does stupid drunk things like fall off the stage.  The reasons behind his drunkenness are dead serious.  He is living proof that the games never end.  He will be haunted by his games for the rest of his life and to make it worse he has to lead two more children to their deaths every year.  This comes in later with the morphlings and Annie.  He is just the first example of the lasting psychological toll it takes.
• The Capitol system is evil, the support team is not.  Effie and the prep team are Capital people through and through, but they do not hate the districts.  They are also not evil people.  They are shallow, gullible, and amoral but as far as they know they are normal.  This comes into play in Catching Fire and Mockingjay.  The Capitol citizens are conditioned to be detached and when they become attached to Katniss and Peeta they cannot handle losing them.  The system (and Snow) are evil.  They are the ones pulling the strings. 

As you can see, my wish list is not very long.  I hope it stays close to the book but is not limited to Katniss' first person.  I have faith in the filmmakers and the actors to do the best they can.  I am looking forward to the end product.

I suppose the only thing left to say is "Happy Hunger Games!  May the odds be ever in your favor."