The Movie Review and Discussion Thread

[Al_The_Strange]

X-Men: The Last Stand

After two satisfying X-Men films, it only seemed logical at the time that a third film should round off the series and provide a big-scale conclusion to the fight between mankind and mutant-kind.

If nothing else, The Last Stand has plenty of action to satisfy; the fights occur pretty frequently, and seem much more hard-hitting than before. It has always been great to watch Magneto take out an armored convoy with impunity, before gathering his army and taking over Alcatraz. The final battle is a pretty fun free-for-all with so many mutant powers being thrown around that it's crazy. A bunch of new mutants - Beast, The Juggernaut, the Phoenix - are welcome additions to the lore of the film series.

Unfortunately, the film has not sat well with many viewers. Part of the issue is that the film doesn't take itself as seriously as its predecessors, and there are moments throughout where it tries to be funny but mostly isn't. What really ticks viewers off will be the storytelling decisions; many of the characters go into undesirable directions (including death). One's enjoyment of the film may also hinge on how seriously you can accept that mutation can be cured so easily. There are probably some plot holes to be found as well.

A lot of these issues have never bothered me personally (save for what happens to

[Show spoiler]Mystique, Rogue, and Professor X

). For casual popcorn entertainment, the film is enjoyable in a laid-back manner. Its story flows well enough, and provides at least some closure to the series (at least at the time it was made).

The film looks nice and slick too, with quality photography and editing. Actors continue to do their job admirably, with Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Anna Paquin, Famke Janssen, and everybody else pulling their weight well. Even Halle Berry seems to step up her performance a little. Writing is okay. This production boasts good-looking sets, props, and costumes. Special effects are often good, but some are weak. Music is alright.

X-Men: The Last Stand is an enjoyable onslaught of mutant brawling, but many viewers won't like what they've done to the characters and plot. It is a thrilling enough climax to the original three movies, but it's not quite as powerful of a catharsis as it thinks it is. It is often considered one of the worst comic-book movies ever, alongside with Spiderman 3. I personally don't think it's that bad, but it certainly has a few weaknesses, and isn't quite as sublime as the first two movies.

3.5/5 (Entertainment: Good | Story: Marginal | Film: Pretty Good)

Recommendation: Rental.

On Blu-Ray, this one looks and sounds decent.

PQ: 4.5/5, AQ: 5/5

[Al_The_Strange]

The Wolverine

Wolverine has been through so much. In spite of that, he remains one of the biggest superheroes of comic-book legend, and thanks to Hugh Jackman's performance in four previous X-Men movies, he became one of the biggest cinematic icons of modern times. Even though the character received his stand-alone film in 2009, filmmakers wanted to go farther and deeper with the character. Taking after Chris Claremont's and Frank Miller's comic, The Wolverine would test the character's limits in Japan.

This film is nowhere near as overblown as other X-Men films: the action is confined to just a few fights. Some of the highlights include a fight on top of a high-speed bullet-train, confrontations with a small army of ninjas, and a final showdown with a giant armored samurai suit. These are fairly cool fights that show off quality choreography and a few cool weapons, but there's very little wow factor. The film does satisfy in the same way thrillers like The Man From Nowhere or Crying Freeman do, but it feels far less like a superhero movie, or even an X-Men movie. Those searching for big, explosive action might be let down, but there is still merit in this moody, slow-burning drama.

The Wolverine takes its time to breathe, giving a steady focus on the title character. It is a much-needed character study; as a sequel to X-Men: The Last Stand, Wolverine is a broken man, tormented by guilt and deprived of purpose. As he travels to Japan and becomes caught up in a major conspiracy, he is revealed to be a figurative ronin: a master-less samurai struggling to regain his honor, perhaps even through death. Due to these issues, and with the threat of taking away his healing powers, this is Wolverine at his most vulnerable, and it makes for a very intense struggle. The conflict runs good and hard throughout the story, and the plot is well-structured. The story has a dense layer of conspiracy that's not exactly easy to comprehend, especially with so many side characters, but other parts are predictable. At the film's core, however, strong parallels are drawn between Wolverine and the Bushido code, and it makes for a rather compelling show.

This film uses pretty straightforward photography and editing, and it's refreshing that way. Acting is good: Hugh Jackman is still perfect as Wolverine, and the rest of the cast is decent and feels authentic. Writing is good. This production uses good-looking sets, props, and costumes. Locales in particular look authentic, and it helps, since the setting plays a major role in this story. Music is not bad either.

The Wolverine is the film the character deserves, with emphasis on "THE" to indicate that this is not just another plain ol' superhero flick, but an exploration on the character and his quest for absolution. Viewers might find this dull, but it exceeded my expectations in spite of the dramatic aspects. In the end, I enjoyed watching the character, both for the action and for the melodrama. It is a worthwhile experience overall.

This film has an extended cut available on specific home video editions. It is an evenly-paced cut that boasts some longer dialogue and longer action scenes, including more R-rated cursing and bloodshed. For mature audiences, it is a decent cut of the movie.

4/5 (Entertainment: Pretty Good | Story: Good | Film: Good)

Recommendation: Rental.

[Lepidopterous]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

X-Men

[Show spoiler]Superhero films are a dime-a-dozen these days. Regardless of whether you think that's good or bad, we all have the original X-Men film to thank. Prior to this, superhero movies were limited in scope, scale, and conception; after all, comic book stories are so larger-than-life that it's hard to adapt them for the big screen (much less justify a big enough budget for it). With the X-Men (and arguably Blade, released a couple of years earlier), filmmakers took a chance on modern effects and techniques to bring a whole team of heroes to life, ushering in a massive wave of comic-book movies that would eventually lead to Marvel's rise as a new studio: a cinematic force to be reckoned with.

As the first-ever X-Men film, it has its share of limitations, especially compared to later films. Action is kept to a minimum; the biggest highlights being the train station scenes and the big climax on Liberty Island. Special effects are plentiful, but used sparingly. What really matters is that you get to see a whole world of mutants showing off their varied powers. The film blasts so many memorable details with sporadic bursts of short scenes, crafting just enough spectacle to wow us, but also just enough to tell the story it needs to.

It is a decent enough story. The film takes its time tracking various characters and bringing them together, so we get a solid and well-composed introduction to the X-Men and the world they inhabit. There are a ton of characters involved, but the film juggles them well enough. A good amount of attention is given to Wolverine, Rogue, Magneto and Professor X, who are all endearing characters we can appreciate. Most of the others tend to be lacking; there is no real development involved with Storm, Cyclops, Jean Grey, or Mystique (and Toad and Sabretooth stand as two of the weakest villains in the franchise, for they are lacking in presence and depth). All things considering, the film covers so much ground that there's really no room for extraneous character beats; what matters the most is the plot, which is intriguing, as it builds up to a fairly decent climax. At its core, it's a film that underscores themes of prejudice, which provides all the dynamics for the character and the conflicts they go through.

This film is very tightly-composed, with excellent photography and very rapid editing. It is especially noteworthy how the film manages to relay so much information with a constant stream of short, revealing images. Acting is a little dry, but the casting choices are mostly perfect. Hugh Jackman is easily the most iconic character of the lot, thanks to his perfect portrayal of Wolverine. Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Anna Paquin, and Bruce Davidson are great in their roles, and I enjoyed watching Famke Janssen and Rebecca Romijn-Stamos. I got to admit that the more I watch this film, the more I dislike Halle Berry as Storm (she does deliver one of the worst lines ever in this film). Writing is pretty blunt, but it gets the job done. This production uses some very slick and cool-looking sets, props, and costumes. Special effects hold up mostly well, with just a few weaknesses. The music score is alright.

The first original X-Men film was an inspiring hit at its time, but would only be a small taste of even greater things to come. It still holds up thanks to its storytelling and nuanced attention to detail. It's worth seeing at least once, especially for genre fans.

4/5 (Entertainment: Good | Story: Good | Film: Good)

Recommendation: Yep.

The Blu-Ray looks good, sounds great.

PQ: 4/5, AQ: 5/5

Enjoyed reading through these. X-Men is still my preferred of the bunch.

[Lepidopterous]

It seems as if

[Show spoiler]the decision to go forward with Days of Future Past is in part an apology letter for or opportunity to overturn the criticized events in The Last Stand. It reminds me of the Mandarin short they made post-Iron Man 3 to tie up loose-ends and address criticisms.

[Lepidopterous]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

Edge of Tomorrow is also on my agenda, just don't know when. Been meaning to see The Amazing Spider-Man 2 as well, since it's still playing near me, but I'm still not sure if it'll really be worth it. Lots to catch up on...

I'm also planning to catch Edge of Tomorrow in theaters. Hoping it is as cerebral as Butterfly Effect or as gripping as Source Code.

[wormraper]

Title: Spike Lee Joint Collection - Vol 2




Movie: 4/5
Video: 4.5/5
Audio: 4.5/5
Extras: 2/5

Overall Score:83/100


WARNING: THE SCORES ABOVE ARE A COMBINED SCORE FROM BOTH FILMS, THE INDIVIDUAL SCORES ARE CONTAINED BELOW IN THE INDIVIDUAL SECTIONS OF THE REVIEW

Summary
Spike Lee is one of those very interesting directors. He’s not someone that I personally admire for many of his beliefs, but he’s an incredibly impassioned director who puts his entire heart and soul into his work and deals with a lot of social issues. “Do the Right Thing” is by far his polished piece of work and the crowning gem in his cap, but these golden “oldies” from the past were where he started out. Some of them good, some of them great, some of them not so good (“Jungle Fever” springs to mind). Director Spike Lee loves the nitty gritty trials of human existence, an honest emotional look at what makes humans ticks and he isn’t afraid to show us the bad as well as the good in our raw, human hearts.


Summer of Sam 4.5/5
“Summer of Sam” is easily one of Spike Lee’s most under rated films. I remember hearing about it years ago but it passed under my, and many other peoples, radar over the years. Like the “25th Hour” I was ended up shocked that I missed out on this fantastic film. It’s easily one of his most raw and in your face film’s though. The language is up there with “Wolf of Wall Street” and its one rough film from beginning to end. Spike Lee has a way of making films that are simply emotionally draining in nature, and “Summer of Sam” follows that tradition. You come out sweating and gasping at the end of the film, feeling like you’ve been put through the wringer.

Set in 1977, “Summer of Sam” focuses on the infamous serial killer “Son of Sam” and the effect that it has on a group of New York City residents. Vinny (John Leguizamo) happens to be passing by a crime scene one night and comes under the realization that he might have actually seen the killer a few nights earlier while he was messing around with his wife’s cousin that the sighting might have been a two way street. Now Vinny starts panicking and out, wondering if the killer is gonna be after him next. Vinny also happens to be friends with Ritchie (Adrien Brody), who happens to be deep in the punk rock scene, and moonlights as a male prostitute/dancer at a gay club. His outlandish behavior and crazy hair styles make everyone around him uncomfortable (everyone that is but Vinnie’s half-sister Ruby) and the suspicion starts to turn on Ritchie. Now everyone is panicking, everyone is looking at each other with side long glances and wondering if any one of them could be the killer. Brother turns against brother, friend against friend as more and more people start thinking that Ritchie is the killer, Vinny included.

“Summer of Sam” is an incredibly taut and well directed thriller. Adrien Brody always plays a reserved and calm character, for the most part, but here we seem him in a role that we’ve never witnessed before. Ritchie is an extremely troubled man, one who saturates himself in a scene that many others around him can’t seem to comprehend and embrace. Vinny is classic Leguizamo, rough, crude and very “New York”, if you know what I mean. As you can guess from the description, the film focuses less on the killer, but more on the victims and the everyday people around him. The killer is out and at large, and very little is every really focused on him. Instead we see how his presences and his reign of terror impacts the people in New York. Ritchie, Vinny, Ruby etc are all terrified, turned into a gang mentality group that lives in fear of everyone around them. The lack of clarity on WHO the killer is allows their imaginations to run wild and create false situations that satiates their need for justice and need for an end to the situation, even if it’s not the right end. Taut, emotional and raw as a pulsing vein, “Summer of Sam” is now one of my favorite Spike Lee endeavors and one I wished I had seen years ago.


Miracle at St. Anna 3/5
“Miracle at St. Anna” is the one movie that I’m surprised at being included in this selection. On one hand we have one of Spike Lee’s best with “Summer of Sam”, and we have it paired up with Spike Lee’s worst film to date. Not only that, but one that was previously released on home video in a single disc released during the beginning of the format wars. I would have rather them put in a new title to the collection, but it is what it is and I’ll take it if it’s the only way to get “Summer of Sam”. The movie has moments of brilliance and is fantastically shot on film, but those moments are intertwined with long periods of sheer boredom and moments of “who cares”. I wish it had been better, for I love a good war film, but it still stands as a mediocre slot in an otherwise fantastic career for Spike.

The story is a story told through flashbacks in modern times. It tells the tale of four members of the “Buffalo soldiers” from the 92nd infantry division, caught behind enemy lines and carrying back a priceless treasure. One love survivor is the narrator and voice behind the entire movie, telling his tale to a modern audience through those flashbacks I mentioned. The opening battle sequence is one of pure brilliance as you see the black soldiers, listening to Nazi propaganda on the edge of the river, promising them equality, women, whatever over in Germany while their own white officers open fire on their position, refusing to believe that any black soldiers could have advanced so far. To make matters worse the Nazi’s open fire on their position and create a pure massacre. The 4 soldiers who escape make their way to a little Tuscan village where they hunker down and recoup. There they create bonds with the people that they previously thought impossible. For the majority of the film we see the soldiers grow, interact and adapt to their new environment.

I hate to dislike this movie. This had so much potential. Michael Ealy and Omar Miller are simply fantastic in their roles. Especially the simple Omar Miller’s character. His interaction with the village child is beautiful and emotional, giving the film a heart that otherwise was dead. The problem is that there was TOO much going on in the film. Too many side plots, too many characters and too much drama. After a while you become saturated with all of the side plots and all the characters to the point where you really don’t care what happens after a while. The movie tries to be poignant, but it falls under the weight of too much superfluous dialogue and characters. Even the ending of the movie, just feels a little weird, almost as if Spike Lee couldn’t cut anything from the movie and just left as much as he could in there. With about 30 minutes trimmed out and some mild editing done and I think we could have had a much better film, but as it stands now, it’s a mixed back of excellence and boredom wrapped up in one wrapper. The most I can say about the film is “what could have been”.



Rating:

Summer of Sam: Rated R for strong graphic violence and sexuality, pervasive strong language and drug use

Miracle at St. Anna : Rated R for strong war violence, language and some sexual content


Video 4.5/5

Summer of Sam 4.5/5
“Summer of Sam” is a very grainy film and it’s replicated here with a gorgeously tight grain structure allowing the image to really pop in that gritty sort of way. The film is saturated with TONS of dark images and bathed in over lit colors. The nightclub scenes have a sort of inky “brightness” to them and the detail level is superb. I haven’t seen the image look this nice EVER. Contrasts are beautiful and skin tones are very natural looking. Out of the 4 Spike Lee films in the joint collection this one tops the list for picture quality. Simply superb looking

Miracle At St. Anna 4.5/5
“Miracle at St. Anna” is sporting the same AVC transfer that Buena Vista gave the release in it’s standalone release and thusly it pretty much will carry the same rating. It was a fantastic transfer back then and it’s still a great transfer. Spike Lee does love that grainy look, and while it’s still a grainy film it doesn’t come close to that heavy textured look that “Summer of Sam” has. The grain structure is tight and clean, without any digital manipulation showing on the encode. Colors tend to lean towards very brown and earthy with some yellows thrown in for good measure. I noticed that the sunlight scenes seem to be a bit boosted in the contrast levels, but nothing wild. Skin tones are accurate and black levels are incredible. There are one or two scenes that show some mild black crush, but again, nothing that would cause any real complaining. Facial detail and the fantastic countryside shots show some amazing detail, with uniforms and close up shots of facial features benefiting the most. Well done Buena Vista, well done.



Audio 4.5/5


Summer of Sam 4.5/5
The 5.1 DTS-HD MA track is surprisingly robust and powerful for what I was expecting. The dynamic range is great, with massively powerful night club scenes and the sounds of the gun shots are heavily impactful with some great LFE. Dialogue is clean and smooth, well balanced with no need to constantly be shifting the volume up and down between dialogue scenes and the nightclub or action oriented scenes. Surround usage is very impressive, with ambient street noises bleeding through from all directions, and the dance scenes in the clubs were impressive to say the least. Very impressive job and easily the best sounding Spike Lee film I’ve seen to date for its attention to detail.

Miracle at St. Anna 4.5/5
The 5.1 DTS-HD MA is the same thing. The audio sparkles with intense clarity and directionality, giving the battle sequences an amazing amount of depth and immersion. The dialogue is clean, locked to the front channels as one with expect, with the surrounds getting some serious usage. Gunfire pops all around the listener and the LFE kicks in big time with the sounds of mortars exploding all around. Being that this is a character drama for the most part, we do have a lot of quiet scenes that are really well done with detailed ambient noises saturating the back channels, from the creaking of a door to the sound of dirt falling off of a soldiers shows. Incredibly well done track that was good back in the day and just as good today.



Extras: 2/5
Summer of Sam
• Audio Commentary By Director Spike Lee And Actor John Leguizamo

Miracle at St. Anna
• Audio Commentary By Director Spike Lee And Screenwriter James McBride
• Deeds Not Words
• The Bufallo Soldier
• Deleted Scenes





Overall: :4stars:

It's a bit of a conundrum here. We have one blatantly great Spike Lee film (as long as you're not offended by some very coarse language), and one very mediocre Spike Lee film that's been released in standalone feature. "Summer of Sam" is easily the winner and it's a bit disappointing that no other Spike Lee filmed was paired with it. However both releases are given top notch video and audio scores and if you're a spike Lee fan, it's well worth the $20 msrp. The films have been given brand new commentaries and even ported over the DVD and previous blu-ray extras for their corresponding films which makes this a high value title in my opinion. Again, my recommendation is dependent on if you're a Spike Lee fan. He's an incredible director, but one that is very divisive and tends to land on the rougher side of the tracks in his portrayal of life. For fans it's a must see, for others, be aware of the roughness and rent it to give it a whirl.

Additional Information:

Starring: John Leguizamo, Mira Sorvina, Adrien Brody, Derek Luke, Michael Easly
Directed by: Spike Lee
Written by: Victor Colocchio, Spike Lee, Michael Imperioli : James McBride
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 AVC / 2.40:1 AVC
Audio: ENGLISH: DTS-HD MA 5.1, Spanish DD 5.1, French DD 2.0/ English: DTS-HD MA 5.1, French, Spanish DD 5.1
Studio: Touchstone/Buena Vista
Rated: R / R
Runtime: 142 minutes : 160 minutes
Blu-Ray Release Date: June 10th, 2014


Buy Spike Lee Joint Collection Volume 2 Blu-ray on Amazon

Recommendation: Watch it

[Diesel]

Originally Posted by DjMethod

I'm also planning to catch Edge of Tomorrow in theaters. Hoping it is as cerebral as Butterfly Effect or as gripping as Source Code.

Source Code is a very good comparison. I highly enjoy both, but I think I'd have to say Edge is a bit better.

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by Pondosinatra

I remember it being beautifully filmed, but wasn't blown away. Maybe I didn't 'get it'.....I remember the end where

[Show spoiler]she drives up to the house and goes in and it ends

....and I was like? Huh? That's it?

I felt the same way; it's a gorgeous film, but there wasn't much of a plot imo. Need to give it a re-watch some time, see how it holds up.

[Al_The_Strange]

Excuse me if the following review gets choppy while I multitask; writing this, eating grub, and exploiting an XP glitch in Borderlands to get a trophy...

X-Men: Days of Future Past

It's been fourteen years since the X-Men first hit the big screen, setting the trend for a whole monsoon of comic-book movies. Counting the two stand-alone Wolverine movies, Days of Future Past is the seventh in the series. The X-Men have had so many ups and downs over the years that it's easily become the most convoluted franchise since the original Planet of the Apes (why is it always Fox that likes to jack up their own timelines?!). DoFP fulfills the same role as Escape from POTA, redirecting the story arcs to rectify past mistakes and set the path for a bold, promising future (all with the magic of time travel nonetheless! The same wonderful plot device that saved POTA before the fifth movie killed it, and kick-started the new Trek series (sorta; that's alternate universes, but hell, it's all about rebooting a series and declaring it a separate timeline )).

Days of Future Past takes after First Class primarily, but there are vague connections to the other movies (except for X-Men Origins: Wolverine, that one officially no longer exists ). Regardless, this film doesn't have the light-spirited kick-ass feel of its predecessors. If anything, it starts off looking like The Terminator, with Sentinels standing in for T-800s, Wolverine standing in for the T-101, Mystique fulfilling the role of Sarah Connor, Bolivar Trask standing in for Miles Dyson, and Trask Industries replacing Cyberdyne. And yet, it never comes off as a rip-off; it's still X-Men to the core. The bleak future we see in the film's opening has always been in the cards, representing the apex of the ongoing conflict between men and mutants; the set-up is laid out very quickly, before launching a double-barreled narrative in both the past and the future with substantial stakes and suspense.

In lesser hands, this could have become a hokey affair (and chances are that the most critical of viewers could nitpick plot inconsistencies, especially when time travel is involved). However, this is easily the most mature film of the series, thanks not only to the complex plot dynamics that unfold with this unique premise, but also because of the characters. Their motivations and relationships are as strong as ever, and drives the story into different directions. Charles Xavier in particular emerges as the heart and soul of the whole film, driving numerous conflicts among other characters and within himself that underscores key themes concerning progress, destiny, and overcoming adversity of any kind. A lot of the lesser characters get sidelined (especially Storm, Colossus, Kitty Pryde, the elder Magneto, Peter Maximoff, a whole bunch of new mutants hanging around Vietnam, and a few new mutants struggling to survive in the future), but Wolverine, Mystique, Magneto, and Beast get plenty of screen time (damn, this cast is actually pretty huge...).

Fortunately, as the plot unfolds, it does pull out a satisfying amount of action and spectacle. It's never overblown or overwhelming, and it's not just a bunch of things blowing up just because; it's nicely-balanced action that builds logically from the story. Scenes in the future show some pretty harrowing super-powered fights, while the rest of the film dishes out a lot of cool fights (including one crazy scene entirely in slow-motion, thanks to one super-fast mutant). It all builds up to a double-whammy climax, which not only ramps up the carnage, but also draws out the suspense.

This film features pretty good photography. Editing is fine, although it seemed like there were a lot of scenes in the beginning where a character starts to talk, but then the camera cuts away, and it came off as a little weird, as if the movie didn't want to show you who was talking. Acting is great across the board; James McAvoy and Patrick Stewart both excel as Charles Xavier, while Michael Fassbender continues to dominate as the younger Magneto (unfortunately, I felt Ian McKellen wasn't given enough to do here).

DING!!! Level 50!!! Frakk yeah!!!!!

...ahem. It was also great to watch Jennifer Lawrence, Hugh Jackman, and Peter Dinklage. Writing is good, especially in the way it addresses the continuity of the series and bridges the gaps it needs to, while keeping things fresh and crafting a quality story with quality dialogue. This production has good-looking sets, props, costumes, and special effects. Music is alright (you can expect to hear a little bit of a reprise of the theme from the first two movies).

Days of Future Past is a movie about saving the future, not only in the movie, but also for the franchise as a whole. Despite certain contrivances, it is a highly nuanced story that rectifies some of the low points of the series. It genuinely kept me interested to see where it was all going. Even after the movie, it kept me interested, leaving just enough questions wide open to leave me wanting more (especially with the post-credits

[Show spoiler]Pyramid guy, WTF?

). Best of all, the film accomplishes all this using plot and character more than special effects. So long as you've freshened up on the events of First Class, this film is highly recommended.

4.5/5 (Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good)

Recommendation: Yes.

[Al_The_Strange]

Edge of Tomorrow

What if, in an almost video-game-like fashion, a soldier could respawn after death over and over again and relive the same day? Surely, he would learn and alter the events over and over, and continuously hone his skills (basically, try something different, level up) until victory is achieved. Based on the Japanese novel All You Need is Kill, this film brings this unique premise to life on the big screen.

The film wastes little time in the set-up, before the big battles commence that pit armored men against crazy tentacled aliens. It is a pretty hectic and hard-hitting struggle as is. You'd think these scenes would get repetitive if the main character keeps having to relive this, but the film keeps the backtracking short, so that it always explores new directions in the narrative. As a result, the action remains frequent, but is always varied. All the different tangents lead to a suspenseful and satisfying finale.

Given the film's premise, it is an inherently interesting idea. It probably could have come off as generic, cliched, or repetitive in lesser hands. Fortunately, the story is well-built and well-told in this film, not only because it keeps things brisk and varied, but also because it has endearing characters and a strong attention to detail. There are a few instances where I questioned the plausibility of certain things, but it doesn't stop the plot from holding up.

The film features good and straightforward photography. Editing is pretty good, especially in the way it can string together multiple recurrences of a scene (to show progress, or sometimes for humor when the character dies a stupid death). Acting is not bad; Tom Cruise isn't always endearing to watch, but he does have moments that help us sympathize with his situation. Emily Blunt delivers a solid performance. Everybody else is alright. Writing is not bad. This production has pretty good and gritty-looking sets, props, costumes, and special effects. Locales are surprisingly interesting. Music is alright (the end credits song seems out of place though).

This is kinda like what you get if you cross The Source Code with the Resistance: Fall of Man video game. It's a pretty solid piece of military sci-fi that's certainly better than average, offering its fair share of intriguing storytelling and rip-roaring action.

4/5 (Entertainment: Good | Story: Good | Film: Good)

Recommendation: Sure, why not?

[L-Rouge]

What We do In The Shadows

A great kiwi (New Zealand) film/Mocumentary about the lives of an underground Vampire culture in the vicinity of New Zealand’s capital Vellington, focusing on 5 vampiric flatmates, in a mock documentary reality t.v style focus, the film attempts to document the everynight goings on in a vampires life, the troubles of love, dining out, “night” clubbing and issues with a rival gang of Werewolves.

And according to my tastes works a damn treat. This is entirely improvised; the final result is edited from over 160 hours of material, whittled down to an hour and a half of screen time. This will work if you are familiar with all the tropes and mythology that surround Vampires; the burning of silver, reaction to light etc, as these themes are lampooned in the comedic flair of Flight of The Concords. So if you are familiar with that brand that is a slight sense of the humour involved, a degree of the talent is recognizable from that show!.

..and it has terrific music
//// out of ///// bundle of sticks. Love it!
Trailer

What We Do in the Shadows - Official Trailer - YouTube

[Al_The_Strange]

Maleficent

You know her, you walked with her once upon a nightmare. Maleficent, the original villain from Disney's Sleeping Beauty, is an instantly recognizable icon of evil; even if you never knew her name, there is no mistaking her tall dark figure with the twisted horns, the wicked green fire all around her, and her coldly sardonic demeanor. Originally, she was evil just for the sake of being evil, and for all intents and purposes, that was all she needed; she was a villain we all loved to hate, and she is one of the most definitive examples of her given archetype (that of the evil witch, sorceress, or a dark queen of sorts). But, she was a rather one-dimensional caricature that was begging to be filled and fleshed out as a deeper character. I always wondered, what was her beef with the king and the princess and everybody else? Why was she so evil?

2014's Maleficent comes in an ever-growing line of live-action fairy-tale movies, to flip around the moral roles of the classic Sleeping Beauty tale and show a new perspective on who's really good and who's really evil. Those who are familiar with the classic animated film will recognize the characters and scenes instantly, but they are remixed in pretty refreshing ways. Obviously, the main goal is to make Maleficent herself a more empathetic character with a compelling backstory, so we can understand why she does what she does, and allow us to root for her. At the same time, the other characters we always thought of as good are villainized.

Despite these interesting twists, the story doesn't really bring that much new to the table. It's actually been a common trend nowadays to make the bad guys sympathetic (as Disney already did with Frozen, Wreck-It Ralph, and Oz: The Great and Powerful). Thus, the story for Maleficent became predictable, even when it tried its best to be unpredictable. The only thing that really keeps it from falling into mediocrity is Angelina Jolie's sumptuous performance as the title character, and the sumptuous visuals.

If it's fantastic visual whimsey you want, the film will certainly deliver, but not in any kind of dark or gothic manner. Even at its darkest moments, Maleficent maintains a pretty light fairy-tale tone, offering just a few major scenes of combat and battle. There are scenes that are goofy just as much as there are scenes that are dramatic and serious. You could find it really delightful or really dry, and it all really depends on how invested you are in the storytelling and genre.

Fortunately, the storytelling isn't all that terrible. Even though it retreads much of the classic tale, it moves at a pretty even rate, and it seems more interested in actually telling the story and developing a deeper pathological struggle than stringing together action setpieces. In the end, I found it most interesting in the way it spun the characters around and developed a pathological conflict between Maleficent and King Stefan, using other characters as proxies, as if they were pawns in a 16-year-long chess game. As this goes on, the characters experience just enough change to make them endearing and twist the plot around to its inevitable climax.

The film is pretty well-made, with decent photography and editing. Angelina Jolie embodies the title character perfectly, while Sharlto Copley plays a perfect jerk once again. Writing gets the job done, but I felt that some of the dialogue was weak. This production uses good-looking sets, props, and costumes. Special effects tended to look cartoony and fake. Music is alright.

Maleficent falls somewhere in between the colorful, whimsical Oz: The Great and Powerful and the gritty, serious Snow White and the Huntsman. It is pretty much more of the same, but it's best seen for its visual flair and for Angelina Jolie's captivating performance. Chances are that families and genre fans will love this film, while most others will be indifferent. Probably best recommended as a rental.

3.5/5 (Entertainment: Pretty Good | Story: Pretty Good | Film: Average)

Recommendation: Rental.

[JavaJulien]

So I finally watched 300: Rise of an Empire last night. Eva Green was the only good thing about it.

[Show spoiler]How would you describe that sex scene though? It was like two people trying to rape one another.

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by JavaJulien

So I finally watched 300: Rise of an Empire last night. Eva Green was the only good thing about it.

[Show spoiler]How would you describe that sex scene though? It was like two people trying to rape one another.

[Show spoiler]It reminded me a lot of the gunfighting sex scene in Shoot 'Em Up.

I wouldn't call it rape so much though, because I think the two genuinely dug each other, but as mortal enemies they couldn't help but to let their aggression take over. So they wind up fighting each other with sex.

[JavaJulien]

The Grand Budapest Hotel was the most Wes Andersy Wes Anderson movie I've seen.

[JavaJulien]

I watched A Million Ways to Die in the West today at the local Dollar Theater. I honestly don't know what it is about comedy movies, but they have a nasty habit of overplaying all the best jokes in trailers. Anchorman 2 and Ride Along were both really guilty of this, a Million Ways is joining that club.

I'd say the movies biggest flaw is that it overplays and explains the jokes.

[Al_The_Strange]

Transformers: Age of Extinction

Regardless of how good or bad the last three Transformers films have been received, I can't deny that I've loved the whole lot of them. Even at their dumbest and most stupid moments, these films have always blown me away, leaving me satisfied and excited in a way that all the best summer blockbusters can. I would have been happy if they left it where it was, with the Chicago battle in Dark of the Moon serving as the final climax to the series. With the closing of the first three films, filmmakers decided to kick off a new trilogy with a new cast and new story arc.

It takes a while for the film to build its momentum. Once it does, you can certainly expect the same kind of big-scale spectacle that the last films provided: an onslaught of bullets and rockets, huge explosions, cars flying in all directions, robots bashing each other to scrap, and entire cities being ripped apart. When the action picks up, it becomes a stream of setpieces, one after another, that takes the characters across the US, onboard alien spaceships, and ultimately to China for the final battle. In the midst of it all, a plethora of new Transformer characters pop up, including an all-too-brief and understated appearance by the Dinobots and Grimlock.

As cool as it all is, I can't escape the feeling that something is missing. The film drags at spots, especially in the opening act. A lot of the manic, goofy comedy is gone, and what little remains isn't really all that great. The overall experience is not nearly as enthralling as the film's predecessors; it feels like business as usual, offering little new to the table and offering very little that I'd say actually blew me away or made a lasting impression.

The story has its moments. Ditching the saga of Sam Witwicky, the film focuses on a Texan dude, his daughter, and her boyfriend, setting up the exact same dynamic that went into the characters of Armageddon. What matters the most is that they all go on the run, hunted by the government while becoming caught up in a new war between Autobots and a mysterious faction of aliens. The Autobot characters had a weird penchant for infighting, and seemed to harbor a lot more angst than before, which made them a lot less endearing. The plot is pretty much just one thing after another, before reaching a lengthy all-out battle at the end. As long as the film is, it feels like a two or three different Transformers films have been shoved into one, and I think parts of it could have been trimmed easily.

The film boasts some really great imagery in some scenes, some horrid camera-shake in a few action scenes, and the rest of it looks a bit plain. Editing seemed pretty cheap, with choppy action scenes and one too many shortcuts. Acting is okay: Mark Wahlberg is pretty much the same kind of dude he always plays, Nicola Peltz is average, Stanley Tucci is fairly compelling, and Kelsey Grammer is surprisingly effective in his role. Writing is kinda bad. This production spares no expense on the locales, props, and costumes. Special effects look great in some scenes and weak in others. Music has some interesting moments.

The fourth Transformers film is pretty much more of the same - loud, bloated, excessive - which is fun at times, but I find it's not as consistently energetic or satisfying as its predecessors. I don't think this film is quite as bad as critics make it out to be, but if you hated these films before, you'll certainly hate this installment. If you're a fan, you'll probably enjoy this all the same.

3.5/5 (Entertainment: Good | Story: Average | Film: Average)

Recommendation: A rental for fans.

[Diesel]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

Transformers: Age of Extinction

[Show spoiler]Regardless of how good or bad the last three Transformers films have been received, I can't deny that I've loved the whole lot of them. Even at their dumbest and most stupid moments, these films have always blown me away, leaving me satisfied and excited in a way that all the best summer blockbusters can. I would have been happy if they left it where it was, with the Chicago battle in Dark of the Moon serving as the final climax to the series. With the closing of the first three films, filmmakers decided to kick off a new trilogy with a new cast and new story arc.

It takes a while for the film to build its momentum. Once it does, you can certainly expect the same kind of big-scale spectacle that the last films provided: an onslaught of bullets and rockets, huge explosions, cars flying in all directions, robots bashing each other to scrap, and entire cities being ripped apart. When the action picks up, it becomes a stream of setpieces, one after another, that takes the characters across the US, onboard alien spaceships, and ultimately to China for the final battle. In the midst of it all, a plethora of new Transformer characters pop up, including an all-too-brief and understated appearance by the Dinobots and Grimlock.

As cool as it all is, I can't escape the feeling that something is missing. The film drags at spots, especially in the opening act. A lot of the manic, goofy comedy is gone, and what little remains isn't really all that great. The overall experience is not nearly as enthralling as the film's predecessors; it feels like business as usual, offering little new to the table and offering very little that I'd say actually blew me away or made a lasting impression.

The story has its moments. Ditching the saga of Sam Witwicky, the film focuses on a Texan dude, his daughter, and her boyfriend, setting up the exact same dynamic that went into the characters of Armageddon. What matters the most is that they all go on the run, hunted by the government while becoming caught up in a new war between Autobots and a mysterious faction of aliens. The Autobot characters had a weird penchant for infighting, and seemed to harbor a lot more angst than before, which made them a lot less endearing. The plot is pretty much just one thing after another, before reaching a lengthy all-out battle at the end. As long as the film is, it feels like a two or three different Transformers films have been shoved into one, and I think parts of it could have been trimmed easily.

The film boasts some really great imagery in some scenes, some horrid camera-shake in a few action scenes, and the rest of it looks a bit plain. Editing seemed pretty cheap, with choppy action scenes and one too many shortcuts. Acting is okay: Mark Wahlberg is pretty much the same kind of dude he always plays, Nicola Peltz is average, Stanley Tucci is fairly compelling, and Kelsey Grammer is surprisingly effective in his role. Writing is kinda bad. This production spares no expense on the locales, props, and costumes. Special effects look great in some scenes and weak in others. Music has some interesting moments.

The fourth Transformers film is pretty much more of the same - loud, bloated, excessive - which is fun at times, but I find it's not as consistently energetic or satisfying as its predecessors. I don't think this film is quite as bad as critics make it out to be, but if you hated these films before, you'll certainly hate this installment. If you're a fan, you'll probably enjoy this all the same.

3.5/5 (Entertainment: Good | Story: Average | Film: Average)

Recommendation: A rental for fans.

Mostly accurate I would say, though I was more harsh on it than you were and would go probably 2.5/5 or 2.75/5.

Tucci and Grammer were by far the best parts of this film.



Also....your review is the 35,000th post in this thread!

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by Diesel

Mostly accurate I would say, though I was more harsh on it than you were and would go probably 2.5/5 or 2.75/5.

Tucci and Grammer were by far the best parts of this film.

I might still tweak my review around. The score could drop another half-point as I think about it and re-evaluate it; I probably should list the story as "Marginal." It is a pretty thin plot. But yeah, I always like Tucci's roles, and Grammer is great.

I didn't think it'd resonate much, but the film is still on my mind today, which is at least somewhat redeemable. Still not sure if I'll cave in and buy a copy; maybe on Black Friday or something.

So far, X-Men DOFP and The Lego Movie are the only day-one purchase movies I've seen this year.

Originally Posted by Diesel

Also....your review is the 35,000th post in this thread!

Sweet!

[SquidPuppet]

How to Train Your Dragon 2.

5/5. Enjoyed the hell out of it.