Archive for May, 2010

Alice in Wonderland

  • Written by Jason
  • Posted May 31, 2010 at 12:01 pm

Alice In Wonderland Smoking Catepillar- oh my!!A Review by Jason L. King

Starring: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter
Directed by: Tim Burton
Rated: PG for fantasy violence and a smoking caterpillar (gasp!)
Movie Released: 2010
IMDB Link

Tim Burton’s latest trip down the rabbit hole brings with him all the familiar faces that his flicks normally bring and the bizarre antics and strange worlds that only the mind of the demented mastermind could create.  However, the bigger question at hand was never if the man that was behind The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Corpse Bride, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Sweeney Todd just to name a few, could create the bizarre world of wonderland, but instead if it was really needed to be created in the first place.

Burton set out with his familiar old hats, Helena Bonham Carter and Johnny Depp to create Wonderland, casting Carter as the Red Queen, a short and squat little woman, hell bent on punishing the world by chopping off the heads of all that oppose her, and Depp as the deranged Mad Hatter.  The Hatter, a slight bit more comical than Depp’s Willy Wonka role, brings out the creepy child molester in Depp mixed with a hint of loony circus clown.   Burton decides to recreate wonderland without retelling the same tale of yesteryear, and brings Alice back down the rabbit hole at the age of 21.

As she begins to realize that Wonderland wasn’t a dream of her youth but instead a reality, she finds out that her old friends need her to defeat a jabberwocky and release them from the tyrannical clutches of the Red Queen’s rule once and for all.

Theatrically, Burton’s film was claimed to have been released in “Wonderful 3-D” for movie audiences- an aftermarket gimmick meant to sell tickets at a higher premium.  DVD viewers of course will miss out on the 3-D effects but should know there was little to miss.  Unlike 3-D filmed flicks like Cameron’s Avatar, Wonderland was formatted for 3-D after the fact, which means it was originally filmed with 2-D cameras.  That means that someone went in after the fact and used 3-D technology to try and add some depth perception and some eye popping cheap pops to try and weasel a few extra bucks out of a theatrical audience.  Burton’s film stands alone just fine as a 2-D version and really does not need the effects of amazing 3-D what so ever.

Visually, Burton has created a strange world of fantasy and reality, a perfect in between world for the magical world of wonderland.  No 3-D is really needed to find enjoyment in the care and craft that Burton took in creating the world.  Much like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Burton takes a colorful pastel pallet and keeps it on very white cloudy backdrop giving the whole movie a very mystical feel.

Helena Bonham Carter is one of those actresses I can usually live without.  Now, don’t get me wrong, I wish no ill will towards her; I just don’t think she would have a career if she didn’t marry Burton.  In other words, there are perks to sleeping with the boss.  Her perk is she gets to work with Johnny Depp, which puts her in some of the highest grossing films in Hollywood today.  Carter always holds her own, but I always feel as though people give the actress more credit than she deserves.  One can only play stoic and creepy so many times before people start to realize that she may be a one trick pony.  I’m curious to see how many more times Carter can pull it off.

Of course alongside Carter is Johnny Depp, one of the most gifted character actors of our time.  What I love about Depp is you forget you are watching Depp acting as a “fill in the blank” but instead believe he actually is the character.  This time, Depp becomes a crazy clown faced deranged hat maker who helps Alice remember her first childhood trip to Wonderland.  Depp as always does a great job with the material he is given, and as always pretty much steals the show.

Where Alice in Wonderland goes astray is it feels like it brings nothing new to the table.  Burton feels as though he is on Auto-pilot.  He’s figured out the formula with Charlie and the Chocolate factory.  Step 1.) Get Johnny Depp.  Step 2.) Get same Cinematographer and turn them loose with this above average at best script.  Step 3.) Profit.   The film is really not bad.  It just brings nothing new to the table.  I’ve seen it before.  I’ve seen plenty of Burton works, and I know the story of Alice in Wonderland.  Just because Burton changes it up by making it take place 16 years later, doesn’t make it a different wonderland.  It just makes Alice older, and gives them some liberties with the story.

When it is all said and done, I found enjoyment in Alice in Wonderland.  I didn’t miss a bit of the 3-D.  It was obvious where they would have tried the cheap pops, and tried to add depth.  As a viewer, you should be glad you saved your extra couple of bucks.  Now that the flick is out on DVD though, you can kick back and enjoy the film with your family.  Alice in Wonderland isn’t ground breaking cinema, but it’s a popcorn escapist flick that’s at least good enough for a one time viewing.
Final Grade:

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Filed under: Family, Movies, Science Fiction

The Maiden Heist

  • Written by Jason
  • Posted May 26, 2010 at 3:26 pm

A Review by Jason L. King

Starring: Christopher Walken, William H. Macy, Morgan Freeman, Marcia Gay Harden
Directed by: Peter Hewitt
Rated: PG-13 for nudity, and language
Movie Released: 2009
IMDB Link

Everyone loves a good heist movie.  There is nothing that gets your blood pumping a bit faster than a good old fashioned out smart, the good guys flick.  It brings out the little bit of evil that lives in each of us.  There is that part of us that lives deep inside that wants to live dangerously, and do something even though we fully know that it is wrong.  Maybe that is why we reach for films that help us feed that need.  After all, a good heist film can be cathartic in many ways, as long as you don’t give into the temptation to go plan your very own heist after the film’s conclusion.

I picked up a copy of a little known heist flick called  The Maiden Heist by director Peter Hewitt not because of the director’s fine arsenal of work which include Zoom, Garfield, and Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey, but instead because of the Oscar winning cast that he got to star in it.  Any time that the likes of Christopher Walken, Morgan Freeman and William H. Macy are paired together in a film at the very least my interests are peaked.  Armed with only knowledge of the cast and the title which led me to believe the film had something to do with a heist, I popped the DVD into the player having very little to go on.

What I found myself enjoying was a rather unknown indie flick about 3 museum guards, whom have each fallen in love with various pieces of art in the museum collection.  However, when the museum curator announces that the collection is moving to Denmark, these novice criminals decide to try and pull off the ultimate museum heist and save their beloved works of art for their own private collections.  Their plan seems fool proof, but when their fool proof plan was planned by a group of novice fools, they soon find themselves in for one bumpy ride of a heist.

What I enjoyed most about The Maiden Heist is the fact that it took itself light hearted enough and still had the flair and charm of a good heist flick.  It plays out much like a Ocean’s 11 type film, but instead is planned by people who have NO clue what they are doing.  It’s obvious from the get go that these guys are planning the heist based on what they have seen in the movies- not based on any experience.  It’s because of the way the film pokes fun at itself that it works so well.

Perhaps the best part of the film is the cast that was chosen.  When you put star power like Christopher Walken and Morgan Freeman side by side, it’s hard to disappoint.  And if you have them plan and execute a heist, you really can’t go wrong.  And just when you think that you can’t possibly top the two veteran actors working together, you have William H. Macy gracing the screen, playing George, a dim witted security guard who thinks he knows more than he truly does.  George really becomes the true secret to the film, as he becomes the true comic relief.    Macy does a wonderful job towing the fine line between having George be one of the criminal masterminds behind the caper, and a complete loon.

For its 90 minute runtime I had a great time watching The Maiden Heist and am actually suggesting to others as well.  I’m glad it was one of those titles I picked up blind and tossed in the DVD player.  Sometimes the little films that slip through the cracks are some of the most fun.  This is definitely one of those cases.    If you get a chance to check out this hidden gem, why not give The Maiden Heist a chance.  I think you just might be glad you did.
Final Grade: 

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Filed under: Comedy, Criminal, Movies, Suspense

Robin Hood

  • Written by Jason
  • Posted May 13, 2010 at 10:30 pm

A Review by Jason L. King

Starring: Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett, Mark Strong
Directed by: Ridley Scott
Rated: PG-13 for violence including intense sequences of warfare, and some sexual content
Movie Released: 2010
IMDB Link

As the 2010 summer season kicked off in full force with the release of Iron Man 2, Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe team up again to keep summer rolling ahead like a steam roller.  Of course many people remember 2000’s Gladiator, the Oscar winning picture that propelled Crowe into A- list super stardom, and was also directed by none other than Ridley Scott.  Because of the success of Gladiator, the marketing on Robin Hood is playing up the fact that this is the teaming of Scott and Crowe once again- or a return to glory if you will.  You see, Robin Hood is the latest collaboration between the actor and the director, but it certainly was not the first since Gladiator.  Few remember a 2006 film called, A Good Year in which Crowe and Scott collaborated.  The film quickly slunk out of box offices with few people remembering it’s existence. Now back to right their wrongs, Crowe and Scott try to return to the top with Robin Hood.

The story of Robin Hood is that age old tale that everyone knows.  Robin Hood is an outlaw who steals from the rich and gives to the poor in the town of Nottingham, a town that is plagued by high taxation, a tyranical king and a villainous sheriff.   After, all how many versions of Robin Hood have been made over the years?  I had a hard time believing that there was room in the cinematic world for one more version.  However, Scott’s Robin Hood takes an old tale and gives it a new fresh twist.  Instead of focusing on what everyone knows, Scott tells you how we got there in the first place.  In this prequel like story telling of the classic tale, Scott tells the story of how Robin of Loxley becomes the infamous hero, Robin Hood.

Despite the fact the Scott takes some liberties with the original story and characters, he creates a wonderful story that is fun to watch unfold.  It was certainly interesting to see Scott’s take on Robin Hood, and you could tell all involved worked very hard  to try and create something fresh out of aged material.  While audiences think that they know the tale inside out and backwards, this retelling is almost guaranteed to add something new to the mix.

Russell Crowe does a great job as Robin, however in many ways that is to be expected.  Love him or hate him, Crowe is a gifted actor, (and if you don’t agree with that statement he just might bludgeon you with a hotel telephone).  This epic like tale requires again the Crowe taps into that same acting strength that he showed years ago in Gladiator, and the star does so with ease.  However, one man can not carry the entire film on his own.  It is the people who surround Crowe that enhance the performance.  Cate Blanchett appears as maid Marion, in a role that she hits spot on.   And if Blanchett wasn’t enough star power to propel this flick forward, an appearance by Mark Strong (Sherlock Holmes, Rock and Rolla, Body of Lies) as the villainous Godfrey is enough to make you excited about this film.

Now I am the last person in the world who pays attention to sound.  I’m not much of an audiophile, so when sound sticks out to me in a film that means it is either doing something very right…or very wrong.  In the case of Robin Hood, I felt as though it was the latter.   The theater echoed with the pounding of hoof beats, clanking swords and a soundtrack that really seemed to enhance the film from start to finish.  In fact, many times it was the soundtrack that sucked you in the moment with greater ease than the performances on the screen.

My biggest issue with Robin Hood was after watching it from start to finish, I realized I really don’t care if I watch it again.  This epic film was a popcorn flick cross between Gladiator and Braveheart, and aside from a new twist on an old tale really brought nothing new to the table.  I am certainly glad that I have seen it, and even in the days following the screening I find myself suggesting it to people.  I think Robin Hood is certainly a great film for a one time viewing, but I don’t feel as though it has much re-watch value.  It’s a great 2 hour 20 minute escape from reality but in the end I felt that it was a film that would be only gratifying the first time around.  Whether you decide to see Robin Hood in theaters or wait until DVD is up to you.  I will say that I had a great time seeing it in the theaters, and personally I think it’s the type of film that was made for a big screen.  Audiences that see the film theatrically will really enjoy it, however, the film should still play well on a decent home theater system.  Grab your popcorn folks and get ready for Robin Hood.

Final Grade:

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Filed under: Action, Drama, Movies

Edge of Darkness

  • Written by Jason
  • Posted May 10, 2010 at 9:00 am

A Review by Jason L. King

Starring: Mel Gibson, Ray Winstone
Directed by: Martin Campbell
Rated: R
Movie Released: 2010
IMDB Link

Final Grade:

It’s been a while since we’ve seen Mel Gibson, de-crazy-fy and make a good old action- thriller film again.  Mel was all the rage in the 90’s, cranking out things like Lethal Weapon films, Payback, Ransom, Braveheart and Conspiracy Theory.  So as January 2010 rolled around, studios found room in the doldrums of Hollywood’s “slow season” of theatrical releases for the film Edge of Darkness.  At first glance, the film looks mildly entertaining, filling people’s minds of hopes of a return to Mel’s roots, leaving behind the days of drunken Jew hating and “sugar-tits.”

Edge of Darkness is the story of a Boston police detective who’s daughter is killed in what looks like an attempt on his life.  With the blood stains of his daughter still on his hands, Gibson begins tracking down leads to find the truth behind her murder.  (Never mind the unrealistic angle of a cop investigating the death of his own family)  What he uncovers is a shocking government conspiracy and a race to find out the answers before a cleaner makes the trail run cold.

As the film plays out, this film has all the makings of a movie that would have a Glenn Beck listening, card carrying, tea-party going, gun toting, right wing extremist shouting, “I told you so!” at the top of their lungs.   After a slow start, the film meanders down the road of big government cover ups and conspiracy theories and leaves the action packed plot line in the dust.  I suppose the point is trying to uncover the mystery, but the problem is too many of us have grown tiresome of the “rich big brother” is really “the man behind the curtain” plot line.  The plot line reeks of a reject season of 24 with Gibson playing the “extremely nice” version of Jack Bauer.  Many times I felt the movie was similar to something like State of Play (2009).   Little did I know until after I watched the film, was that much like State of Play, Edge of Darkness was based off a BBC mini-series of the same name.

I suppose it is nice seeing Gibson back in the role of a tough guy gumshoe  but unfortunately that is really all the film brings to the table.  There are a few scenes here and there that make you chuckle at the sheer ingenuity of  Gibson’s character as he shakes tailing cars or uncovers a clue, but even those a minimal at best.  Along side Gibson’s performance, you have a great performance by Ray Winstone as the clever cleaner assigned to erase the evidence trail that Gibson is uncovering.  Winstone’s performance is both intriguing and entertaining, but his true purpose is to play a cleaner with a morality complex and a case that challenges him to reflect on which side he wants to be on.  While I enjoyed the complex nature of his character, I felt the film did a terrible job of making it work.  Instead, his character comes off as idiom speaking buffoon that leaves the viewer scratching their heads.

Perhaps about 20 years ago a film like Edge of Darkness would have been the perfect niche film.  After all, much like State of Play from last year, Edge of Darkness really feels like a film that would have been better suited for the 90’s.  Because of this, the film suffers and brings nothing out of the ordinary to its viewers.  From start to finish this film sucks you in and then makes you feel intelligent for figuring out the ending before it does.  While you are yawning, this film tries to pull its “A-ha! Bet you didn’t see that coming!” moment.  When it’s all said and done, I now know why they called this film Edge of Darkness.  The answer you see is really quite simple; all this film really achieves is keeping you teetering on that fine line of staying awake for the conclusion, and closing your eyes for a much more rewarding shut eye time.

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Iron Man 2

  • Written by Jason
  • Posted May 6, 2010 at 10:59 pm

A Review by Jason L. King

Starring: Robert Downey Jr.,  Mickey Rourke, Sam Rockwell, Scarlett Johansen, Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle
Directed by: Jon Farveau
Rated: PG-13 for sequences of intense sci-fi action and violence, and some language
Movie Released: 2010
IMDB Link

In the summer of 2008 we kicked off our summer as comic book billionaire Tony Stark announced to cinematic audiences that he was Iron Man.  Stark, and his alter ego Iron Man (a superhero that saves the world with his high tech suit of armor) seemed to be the perfect role for actor Robert Downey Jr., a man who in his past never met a illegal drug he didn’t like.  Reformed and rehabbed for what seemed like the 100th time, Downey proved that he could take a summer blockbuster like Iron Man and propel it to the next level.  Audiences loved it, Downey re-surged as a household name, and Marvel continued to plod forward with their ultimate goal of a successful Iron Man franchise and eventually a superhero compilation film called The Avengers.

In 2010, we get to see Tony Stark back in action again, in the film, Iron Man 2.  Downey gears up again to play the reformed, egotistical billionaire, now faced with the United States government trying to force him to turn his suit of armor to the department of defense. And if that wasn’t enough,  a rival arms dealer (Sam Rockwell)  teams up with an evil mastermind physicist named Whiplash (Mickey Rourke)  to create their own Iron Man suit, forcing Stark to show the world why there can be only one true Iron Man.

One of the scariest things about a sequel is that as a viewer you never know what you are going to get.  Coming off the 2008 high of Iron Man, people are excited to see Downey suit up again.  However, much like last summer’s blockbuster, Transformers 2, Iron Man 2 could be a financial success but a truly lackluster show.  Luckily however, Iron Man 2 doesn’t take the same road as Michael Bay’s battle robots did and focuses on continuing forward with an original story instead of rehashing its proceeding film.  A bit slower starting than the original, Iron Man 2 focuses a bit more on Tony Stark, the billionaire arms dealer and inventor rather than focusing on his alter-ego, metal clad Iron Man.  Despite this, there is still enough action packed events in this film to make this popcorn flick flow like clockwork.

Of course everyone who has seen Iron Man knows that one of the things that makes this franchise so much fun is the presence of Robert Downey Jr.  The actor finally found the role he was born to play, as Tony Stark and Downey really are next to interchangeable in reality. Because of this Downey plays Stark with such ease that it only enhances the ego charged dialogue of the film.  Of course, the secret is trying to find someone who can play ball at the same level as Downey.  Marvel looked no further than Sam Rockwell (Moon, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind).  Rockwell does an all out fantastic job as Justin Hammer, a rival weapons director competing with Tony Stark’s Stark Industries.  In fact, Rockwell’s performance almost out shines Downey’s, mostly because it is a fresh new face that runs with the same pack that Stark does.

Mickey Rourke signs on to Iron Man 2 playing Whiplash, a physicist who has devoted his life to bringing down Stark Industries.  While Rourke makes a very cool looking super villain, you have a very hard time accepting his character for who he is.  The muscle bound, tattooed Whiplash looks like he spent more time in a prison yard and a weight room than he does behind a computer screen perfecting his genius.  Therefore, when they try to play up Whiplash as a computer whiz, you have a hard time buying it.  In fact, people would have an easier time convincing themselves that DJ Qualls was a world champion UFC fighter.  When Rourke is on the screen trying to destroy Stark in his own suit of power, he steals the screen.  However, those scenes are few and far between.

Along with appearances by Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, Sacrlett Johansen joins the cast as the Black Widow ( a super spy who romantically intrigues Tony Stark.  Both of these characters play a minor role in the film, mostly there to continue pushing the planned Avengers film.  In fact, Scarlett Johansen is there pretty much to build to one scene of girl power in spandex that really doesn’t advance the plot in any way.  While the film certainly could have gone forward with out Johansen, they didn’t dwell enough on her character anyway.  And who really wants to complain about Scarlett Johansen kicking butt in a skin tight outfit?

Perhaps the biggest flaw in Iron Man 2 was the decision to have Don Cheadle take over the reigns of Stark’s military friend, James Rhodes.  For those of you who forgot, it was Terrence Howard who played “Rhoddie” in the first flick and did a very nice job in the role.  Cheadle steps in for Iron Man 2, and while he doesn’t do a terrible job, it’s just not the same.  I had a very hard time convincing myself that Cheadle was a military man and not just someone playing dress up.  It was something so simple that Howard did that Cheadle wasn’t able to pull off.   Somehow, I felt that Howard looked the part, Cheadle wanted to play the part.  Personally, I think no matter what the reasoning was, Paramount should have stuck with Howard.

When it is all said and done, Iron Man 2 aims to be a popcorn block buster film that gives you action, explosions and larger than life characters.  While Iron Man 2 loses a bit of the charm that the first film has, I think it is mostly because people now know what to expect as they check out the show.  Iron Man 2 is certainly a worthy sequel, but just isn’t quite at the same level as its predecessor.  Despite that, you’re still going to enjoy this summer flick so grab your popcorn and get your seat- Iron Man 2 is ready to kick off the your summer.

Final Grade:

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Filed under: Action, Comic Book, Movies, Science Fiction
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