Reviews from the Dark Side presents
The Heat
Released 6/28/13, now in theaters
Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy plunge headlong into the buddy cop genre in this week's action-comedy, The Heat. Directed by Bridesmaids', Paul Feig, from a screenplay by Parks and Recreations writer, Katie Dippold, could there be enough comedic pedigree to add something new to an extremely formulaic genre? Or, is The Heat destined to be another throwaway film with nothing interesting to say?
Special Agent Sarah Ashburn (Bullock) is a bright star in the FBI. She's smart, intuitive, and efficient. She is by the book almost to a fault. She has cleared more high profile cases than any other agent out of the New York office. Unfortunately for her career, she's also not well liked. Ashburn is also not quite promotable in the eyes of her superior officer. But, he's willing to reconsider if Ashburn agrees to go to Boston to track down a mysterious drug kingpin named Julian.
Boston Detective Shannon Mullins (McCarthy) does nothing by the book. She's violent, borderline psychotic to some, and extremely foul-mouthed. But, she's also quite effective at what she does. Like Ashburn, she has no friends and is not well liked within her department (or maybe everyone is just plain afraid of her).
When Mullins makes what is seemingly a routine drug collar, she's infuriated when Ashburn comes to town and interrogates him believing Mullins' collar has a connection to Julian. Mullins forces her way into the larger investigation much to Ashburn's chagrin. The two ladies bicker incessantly, but, despite all their differences, they are very effective tracking leads to Julian. That is, until a mole within either the Bureau, DEA, or Boston P.D. threatens to destroy the investigation from within along with the two law enforcement officers hot on the kingpin's trail.
The Heat doesn't have much to add to the buddy cop theme. You've seen this story before. Two people forced to work together who are like oil and water. They don't get along. Actually, they hate each other. After working together for awhile, they develop a liking and mutual respect for each other just in time to defeat the bad guy. The end. See, nothing new here.
But what makes The Heat work more than most others is the way McCarthy and Bullock riff off each other so seamlessly and hilariously. I've said before that it's hard for Melissa McCarthy not to be funny. What I found a little surprising was the way Sandra Bullock's straight-laced Fed character was able to keep up with her without missing a beat. In fact, this is one of the best onscreen pairings in a buddy cop movie that I've seen since Nolte and Murphy in the first 48 Hours. Call me crazy (and you probably will), but I thought these two were that good.
Other notable performers in The Heat include Michael Rappaport as Mullins' brother who is trying to go straight, Marlon Wayans as an FBI agent who takes a liking to Ashburn, and Kaitlin Olson (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia) as a Bulgarian drug supplier. All add some funny notes to the plot.
While the plot of the movie is nothing to write home about, McCarthy and Bullock strike all the right chords and make what could have been a colossal waist of time into one of the more enjoyable movies I've seen this year.
The Dark Lord of the Sith says:
***3/4 stars
Ratings Legend
Zero *= Don't waste your time. Pure dreck! Dreck is too good for this! Blind me please!
1 *= Fuggedaboutit!
2 *= Average, Mediocre, Nothing Special
3 *= Good viewing. Much better than a poke in the eye.
4 *= Great. Could possibly foot the price of a non-Matinee.
5 *= Pure eye candy. Hall of Fame material here.
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Sunday, June 23, 2013
Monsters University
Reviews from the Dark Side presents
Monsters University
Released 6/21/13, now in theaters
Pixar's first major release of the year, Monsters University, rolls into theaters this week. Does anyone really need to know MU is the prequel to Pixar's 2001's Monsters, Inc? Billy Crystal and John Goodman return as the voices of Mike and Sully, the main protagonists from Inc. So, without further ado, let's get this underway.
Friendless child monster, Mike Wazowski (Crystal) has dreamed of becoming a Scarer at the prestigious Monsters, Inc since he took a class field trip to the facility. But to be a top flight Scarer who frightens the living daylights out of small human children, you need training. And where does a young monster in Monstropolis get the best training? Why, you go to the best school in the land, Monsters University.
Mike is a whiz at scaring theory. He's memorized every technique and philosophy on the subject since he was a little monster. The only problem is that even as a large green eyeball, he's not very scary.
Scary is what fellow student, James P. "Sully" Sullivan (Goodman) does best. Sully is a slacker trying to coast through school on his family name. He has the roar, the look, and the attitude to be a top student. But, his technique is lazy and sloppy.
Mike and Sully don't like each other much which makes it all the more difficult when they are forced to team together with a group of misfits from the woefully pathetic Oozma Kappa fraternity. Thanks to their bickering, Mike and Sully have managed to anger Dean Hardscrabble (Helen Mirren) and have been kicked out of the University's Scare Program. They can re-enter the program if they can take the ragtag OK crew and turn them into champions at the Scare Games, a competition where rival fraternities/sororities take part in several physical challenges to test their scare abilities. The odds aren't good as their chief rivals are the privileged, arrogant jocks of the Roar Beta Roar frat. Mike and Sully may never realize their dreams (of course, you know they do if you've seen Monsters, Inc).
I usually try to go more in depth with my reviews, but I'll have to make this short and sweet. BEST...MOVIE...OF...THE...YEAR! At least, so far. What else can be said? MU is one of those very rare occasions when the sequel/prequel might be as good or better than the original. It's that good. It's that funny from beginning to end.
Crystal and Goodman are great as usual, but the standout performer here is Art (voiced by It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia alum, Charlie Day), the hairy, spidery-type monster in the OK fraternity. If you've ever seen Day in Sunny, you have some insight as to how manic Art can be. That is to say he's nuts squared.
For me, at least, Pixar's offerings over the last several years have been lackluster with the few high-end exceptions of Wall-E and Toy Story 3. I've written previously that I don't think it's possible for Pixar to make a horrid movie, but they have been a bit underwhelming. Even Disney's Wreck-It Ralph blew Pixar's Brave out of the water in 2012. DreamWorks, by far, has had my vote for offering the best animated features. With MU, Pixar might have just crept back into the team photo.
After seeing MU, I'm inspired now. I'm off to watch The Croods. I believe this could be a banner year for animation with the release of Epic and the upcoming releases of Turbo and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2. I'll reserve judgment on Pixar's upcoming, Planes. It looks a bit too much like Cars for my liking though. But, for now, Monsters University is on top of the mountain. We'll see if it stays there, or if Gru and his minions have something to say about that in a couple of weeks.
The Dark Lord of the Sith says:
****1/2 stars
Ratings Legend
Zero *= Don't waste your time. Pure dreck! Dreck is too good for this! Blind me please!
1 *= Fuggedaboutit!
2 *= Average, Mediocre, Nothing Special
3 *= Good viewing. Much better than a poke in the eye.
4 *= Great. Could possibly foot the price of a non-Matinee.
5 *= Pure eye candy. Hall of Fame material here.
Monsters University
Released 6/21/13, now in theaters
Pixar's first major release of the year, Monsters University, rolls into theaters this week. Does anyone really need to know MU is the prequel to Pixar's 2001's Monsters, Inc? Billy Crystal and John Goodman return as the voices of Mike and Sully, the main protagonists from Inc. So, without further ado, let's get this underway.
Friendless child monster, Mike Wazowski (Crystal) has dreamed of becoming a Scarer at the prestigious Monsters, Inc since he took a class field trip to the facility. But to be a top flight Scarer who frightens the living daylights out of small human children, you need training. And where does a young monster in Monstropolis get the best training? Why, you go to the best school in the land, Monsters University.
Mike is a whiz at scaring theory. He's memorized every technique and philosophy on the subject since he was a little monster. The only problem is that even as a large green eyeball, he's not very scary.
Scary is what fellow student, James P. "Sully" Sullivan (Goodman) does best. Sully is a slacker trying to coast through school on his family name. He has the roar, the look, and the attitude to be a top student. But, his technique is lazy and sloppy.
Mike and Sully don't like each other much which makes it all the more difficult when they are forced to team together with a group of misfits from the woefully pathetic Oozma Kappa fraternity. Thanks to their bickering, Mike and Sully have managed to anger Dean Hardscrabble (Helen Mirren) and have been kicked out of the University's Scare Program. They can re-enter the program if they can take the ragtag OK crew and turn them into champions at the Scare Games, a competition where rival fraternities/sororities take part in several physical challenges to test their scare abilities. The odds aren't good as their chief rivals are the privileged, arrogant jocks of the Roar Beta Roar frat. Mike and Sully may never realize their dreams (of course, you know they do if you've seen Monsters, Inc).
I usually try to go more in depth with my reviews, but I'll have to make this short and sweet. BEST...MOVIE...OF...THE...YEAR! At least, so far. What else can be said? MU is one of those very rare occasions when the sequel/prequel might be as good or better than the original. It's that good. It's that funny from beginning to end.
Crystal and Goodman are great as usual, but the standout performer here is Art (voiced by It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia alum, Charlie Day), the hairy, spidery-type monster in the OK fraternity. If you've ever seen Day in Sunny, you have some insight as to how manic Art can be. That is to say he's nuts squared.
For me, at least, Pixar's offerings over the last several years have been lackluster with the few high-end exceptions of Wall-E and Toy Story 3. I've written previously that I don't think it's possible for Pixar to make a horrid movie, but they have been a bit underwhelming. Even Disney's Wreck-It Ralph blew Pixar's Brave out of the water in 2012. DreamWorks, by far, has had my vote for offering the best animated features. With MU, Pixar might have just crept back into the team photo.
After seeing MU, I'm inspired now. I'm off to watch The Croods. I believe this could be a banner year for animation with the release of Epic and the upcoming releases of Turbo and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2. I'll reserve judgment on Pixar's upcoming, Planes. It looks a bit too much like Cars for my liking though. But, for now, Monsters University is on top of the mountain. We'll see if it stays there, or if Gru and his minions have something to say about that in a couple of weeks.
The Dark Lord of the Sith says:
****1/2 stars
Ratings Legend
Zero *= Don't waste your time. Pure dreck! Dreck is too good for this! Blind me please!
1 *= Fuggedaboutit!
2 *= Average, Mediocre, Nothing Special
3 *= Good viewing. Much better than a poke in the eye.
4 *= Great. Could possibly foot the price of a non-Matinee.
5 *= Pure eye candy. Hall of Fame material here.
Saturday, June 22, 2013
World War Z
Reviews from the Dark Side presents
World War Z
Released 6/21/13, now in theaters
Brad Pitt fights the zombie apocalypse (another one?) in this week's release of World War Z. The film is adapted from a 2006 novel of the same name. Zombies appear to be the new "it" monsters today (sorry vamps). But, that also means zombie movies are becoming a dime a dozen. Can Z bring something new to the mix or is it destined monster movie obscurity?
It's an average day like most others for Gerry Lane and family sitting in heavy Philadelphia traffic. When their car's side view mirror is taken out by a speeding cop on a motorcycle, Gerry senses things aren't quite right. That could also have something to do with report of rabies spreading internationally that has come over the radio. Infected victims that can only be classified as "zombies" begin to mercilessly attack from every direction. Gerry and family narrowly escape thanks to a last minute helicopter rescue coordinated by a former colleague of Gerry's who works for the U.N.
The Lanes are taken to U.S. Navy ship off the coast of New York where the audience learns that Gerry is a former U.N. Investigator who left this life behind him years ago. Gerry's former colleague solicits him to accompany scientist, Dr. Fassbach, and a SEAL team to South Korea to investigate the outbreak. Gerry has no interest in leaving his family until it's implied that accommodations cannot be made for them unless he agrees to help.
When the crew arrives at a military base in South Korea, things go from bad to worse as Dr. Fassbach is lost and Gerry is left to travel the globe to discover the origins of the virus and find a cure before the whole planet is lost.
What struck me about World War Z is the multitude of items the audience is supposed to take on faith. For instance, these "infected", like most other zombies in TV or film, act on base animal instinct. They have no obvious sense of reason. So, how do they sense that some humans are different? That they are unfit? Maybe it comes down to that base animal instinct. It just seems strange for creatures that are seemingly mindless.
The temporary "solution" to the epidemic is a bit of a leap considering what little evidence is presented. If that solution had proved to be wrong, it would have been quite a shame to wipe out the rest of the population that survived the zombie attacks. Really, the reason that some humans aren't attacked could be as simple as having six toes on one foot. But, I get it. In desperate times, you'll try anything.
Then, there's Gerry himself. A clever fellow to be sure. He's not one to panic in a pressure situation. He's quick thinking. He's decent enough in a firefight. All very good qualities to have in this type of disaster to be sure. Someone you wouldn't mind having on your side. But, you find out all of these things along the way. You never have a notion that he's extraordinary in any way. Good, yes. But not outstanding. So, it left me scratching my head a little as to why his U.N. friend is so eager to gain his assistance. Seriously, Gerry's not Special Forces or Black Ops. He's not a super cop or a genetically enhanced warrior. He's a U.N. Investigator. And, he's been out of the game for a little while at that. With limited space and resources, what makes Gerry so special that the acting government would risk good men for a daring rooftop rescue? It's really not made very clear.
Now, there is plenty to like about World War Z. When the action starts, and it does fairly quickly, there's little time to catch your breath. The film moves at a frenetic pace that only enhances the terror of the epidemic.
You know what else enhances terror? Scary zombies! And these flesh munchers are frightening. These aren't your amble along, stumble-bum zombies. These tear after you with a visceral ferocity that makes your heart stop. They're so animalistic that they even bite at their prey when barriers separate them from it. Of course, this does take a bit of a comedic turn at times which I'm not sure is completely intentional.
World War Z is a worthy addition to genre. It gets an A for horror. I haven't seen zombies this vicious since the remake of Dawn of the Dead. There are a few contrivances that are head scratchers, but, overall, this is an apocalypse worth a couple hours of your time.
The Dark Lord of the Sith says:
***1/2 stars
Ratings Legend
Zero *= Don't waste your time. Pure dreck! Dreck is too good for this! Blind me please!
1 *= Fuggedaboutit!
2 *= Average, Mediocre, Nothing Special
3 *= Good viewing. Much better than a poke in the eye.
4 *= Great. Could possibly foot the price of a non-Matinee.
5 *= Pure eye candy. Hall of Fame material here.
World War Z
Released 6/21/13, now in theaters
Brad Pitt fights the zombie apocalypse (another one?) in this week's release of World War Z. The film is adapted from a 2006 novel of the same name. Zombies appear to be the new "it" monsters today (sorry vamps). But, that also means zombie movies are becoming a dime a dozen. Can Z bring something new to the mix or is it destined monster movie obscurity?
It's an average day like most others for Gerry Lane and family sitting in heavy Philadelphia traffic. When their car's side view mirror is taken out by a speeding cop on a motorcycle, Gerry senses things aren't quite right. That could also have something to do with report of rabies spreading internationally that has come over the radio. Infected victims that can only be classified as "zombies" begin to mercilessly attack from every direction. Gerry and family narrowly escape thanks to a last minute helicopter rescue coordinated by a former colleague of Gerry's who works for the U.N.
The Lanes are taken to U.S. Navy ship off the coast of New York where the audience learns that Gerry is a former U.N. Investigator who left this life behind him years ago. Gerry's former colleague solicits him to accompany scientist, Dr. Fassbach, and a SEAL team to South Korea to investigate the outbreak. Gerry has no interest in leaving his family until it's implied that accommodations cannot be made for them unless he agrees to help.
When the crew arrives at a military base in South Korea, things go from bad to worse as Dr. Fassbach is lost and Gerry is left to travel the globe to discover the origins of the virus and find a cure before the whole planet is lost.
What struck me about World War Z is the multitude of items the audience is supposed to take on faith. For instance, these "infected", like most other zombies in TV or film, act on base animal instinct. They have no obvious sense of reason. So, how do they sense that some humans are different? That they are unfit? Maybe it comes down to that base animal instinct. It just seems strange for creatures that are seemingly mindless.
The temporary "solution" to the epidemic is a bit of a leap considering what little evidence is presented. If that solution had proved to be wrong, it would have been quite a shame to wipe out the rest of the population that survived the zombie attacks. Really, the reason that some humans aren't attacked could be as simple as having six toes on one foot. But, I get it. In desperate times, you'll try anything.
Then, there's Gerry himself. A clever fellow to be sure. He's not one to panic in a pressure situation. He's quick thinking. He's decent enough in a firefight. All very good qualities to have in this type of disaster to be sure. Someone you wouldn't mind having on your side. But, you find out all of these things along the way. You never have a notion that he's extraordinary in any way. Good, yes. But not outstanding. So, it left me scratching my head a little as to why his U.N. friend is so eager to gain his assistance. Seriously, Gerry's not Special Forces or Black Ops. He's not a super cop or a genetically enhanced warrior. He's a U.N. Investigator. And, he's been out of the game for a little while at that. With limited space and resources, what makes Gerry so special that the acting government would risk good men for a daring rooftop rescue? It's really not made very clear.
Now, there is plenty to like about World War Z. When the action starts, and it does fairly quickly, there's little time to catch your breath. The film moves at a frenetic pace that only enhances the terror of the epidemic.
You know what else enhances terror? Scary zombies! And these flesh munchers are frightening. These aren't your amble along, stumble-bum zombies. These tear after you with a visceral ferocity that makes your heart stop. They're so animalistic that they even bite at their prey when barriers separate them from it. Of course, this does take a bit of a comedic turn at times which I'm not sure is completely intentional.
World War Z is a worthy addition to genre. It gets an A for horror. I haven't seen zombies this vicious since the remake of Dawn of the Dead. There are a few contrivances that are head scratchers, but, overall, this is an apocalypse worth a couple hours of your time.
The Dark Lord of the Sith says:
***1/2 stars
Ratings Legend
Zero *= Don't waste your time. Pure dreck! Dreck is too good for this! Blind me please!
1 *= Fuggedaboutit!
2 *= Average, Mediocre, Nothing Special
3 *= Good viewing. Much better than a poke in the eye.
4 *= Great. Could possibly foot the price of a non-Matinee.
5 *= Pure eye candy. Hall of Fame material here.
Sunday, June 16, 2013
This is the End
A who's who of Hollywood stars come together in the apocalyptic comedy, This is the End. Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel, Craig Robinson, Danny McBride, Jonah Hill, and James Franco play themselves along with a bevy of other well-known names. Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg make their directorial debuts.
Seth Rogen picks up his best friend, Jay Baruchel, at LAX. For the next several hours, they proceed to catch up and get high on pot in several different ways. The evening takes a fateful turn when the two pals attend James Franco's house party (against Jay's wishes) where several guests, including Rhianna, Michael Cera, Kevin Hart, Aziz Ansari, Mindy Kaling, Jason Segel, Emma Watson, Johah Hill, Craig Robinson, and others are in attendance.
Jay and Seth leave the party briefly to buy cigarettes at the local convenience store when the world as they know it turns on its ear. A disaster level earthquake rocks L.A. causing widespread panic and death. The Hollywood Hills are set ablaze. A mysterious blue light engulfs part of the population taking them upward to some unknown destination in the sky (what Jay later realizes is the Rapture).
Barely escaping death on several occasions, Jay and Seth return to Franco's house where the partiers still have no clue as to what is happening outside the walls. Another tremor forces everyone outside where they see the mass destruction, and that's when all Hell breaks loose as most of Franco's guests perish from a large sinkhole that forms in his front yard. Now, with no where to run, Seth, Jay, Craig, Jonah, Franco, and Danny McBride (who crashed the party) hole up in what's left of Franco's new house with limited rations awaiting a rescue that isn't coming. Jay surmises that it's the apocalypse that is upon them. And with these six goofs, survival isn't likely.
Ridiculous, idiotic, inappropriate, and mind numbing are some of the words you can use to describe This is the End. But, it's all in a good way. I don't know where to start here. What scene is the most ludicrous? Is it king nerd Michael Cera portrayed as a cocaine-addled perv? Should it be Emma Watson unleashing her inner badass wielding an ax? Or, maybe it should be Kevin Hart kicking Aziz Ansari down a large sinkhole? The comedy is non-stop and it looks like everyone had great time performing like absolute lunatics.
But, amidst the fun and games, the film examines themes such as friendship, sacrifice, and spirituality. As sleazy as some of the characters are in the movie, it does provide the idea that no one is beyond redemption. Well, except Danny McBride maybe. But, most of us at least have a chance to avoid eternal damnation.
One thing I would count as a negative is the frequent drug use. Well, marijuana use. I've said this before, but watching potheads begins to wear thin with me even if it is initially funny. Maybe it's the fact that I don't do it myself that's the reason for my attitude. Fortunately, the goofiness comes from several other sources to help offset the marijuana-fueled humor.
This is the End may not be for everyone, but, if you're looking for a goofy, laugh-out-loud good time and don't mind a side of raunch with your humor, you may have found gold here. And hey, you even get Backstreet Boys performance to boot.
Seth Rogen picks up his best friend, Jay Baruchel, at LAX. For the next several hours, they proceed to catch up and get high on pot in several different ways. The evening takes a fateful turn when the two pals attend James Franco's house party (against Jay's wishes) where several guests, including Rhianna, Michael Cera, Kevin Hart, Aziz Ansari, Mindy Kaling, Jason Segel, Emma Watson, Johah Hill, Craig Robinson, and others are in attendance.
Jay and Seth leave the party briefly to buy cigarettes at the local convenience store when the world as they know it turns on its ear. A disaster level earthquake rocks L.A. causing widespread panic and death. The Hollywood Hills are set ablaze. A mysterious blue light engulfs part of the population taking them upward to some unknown destination in the sky (what Jay later realizes is the Rapture).
Barely escaping death on several occasions, Jay and Seth return to Franco's house where the partiers still have no clue as to what is happening outside the walls. Another tremor forces everyone outside where they see the mass destruction, and that's when all Hell breaks loose as most of Franco's guests perish from a large sinkhole that forms in his front yard. Now, with no where to run, Seth, Jay, Craig, Jonah, Franco, and Danny McBride (who crashed the party) hole up in what's left of Franco's new house with limited rations awaiting a rescue that isn't coming. Jay surmises that it's the apocalypse that is upon them. And with these six goofs, survival isn't likely.
Ridiculous, idiotic, inappropriate, and mind numbing are some of the words you can use to describe This is the End. But, it's all in a good way. I don't know where to start here. What scene is the most ludicrous? Is it king nerd Michael Cera portrayed as a cocaine-addled perv? Should it be Emma Watson unleashing her inner badass wielding an ax? Or, maybe it should be Kevin Hart kicking Aziz Ansari down a large sinkhole? The comedy is non-stop and it looks like everyone had great time performing like absolute lunatics.
But, amidst the fun and games, the film examines themes such as friendship, sacrifice, and spirituality. As sleazy as some of the characters are in the movie, it does provide the idea that no one is beyond redemption. Well, except Danny McBride maybe. But, most of us at least have a chance to avoid eternal damnation.
One thing I would count as a negative is the frequent drug use. Well, marijuana use. I've said this before, but watching potheads begins to wear thin with me even if it is initially funny. Maybe it's the fact that I don't do it myself that's the reason for my attitude. Fortunately, the goofiness comes from several other sources to help offset the marijuana-fueled humor.
This is the End may not be for everyone, but, if you're looking for a goofy, laugh-out-loud good time and don't mind a side of raunch with your humor, you may have found gold here. And hey, you even get Backstreet Boys performance to boot.
The Dark Lord of the Sith says:
***3/4 stars
Ratings Legend
Zero *= Don't waste your time. Pure dreck! Dreck is too good for this! Blind me please!
1 *= Fuggedaboutit!
2 *= Average, Mediocre, Nothing Special
3 *= Good viewing. Much better than a poke in the eye.
4 *= Great. Could possibly foot the price of a non-Matinee.
5 *= Pure eye candy. Hall of Fame material here.
Zero *= Don't waste your time. Pure dreck! Dreck is too good for this! Blind me please!
1 *= Fuggedaboutit!
2 *= Average, Mediocre, Nothing Special
3 *= Good viewing. Much better than a poke in the eye.
4 *= Great. Could possibly foot the price of a non-Matinee.
5 *= Pure eye candy. Hall of Fame material here.
Man of Steel
Reviews from the Dark Side presents
Man of Steel
Released 6/14/13, now in theaters
The Superman franchise is rebooted in this week's release of Man of Steel courtesy of 300 director, Zack Snyder. Warner Brothers has gone all out to make this reboot a success enlisting the aid of recent Batman director and writer, Christopher Nolan and David Goyer, respectively as producers on the project. An all-star cast of Amy Adams, Michael Shannon, Laurence Fishburne, Kevin Costner, Diane Lane, Russell Crowe, and new Man of Steel, Henry Cavill, rounds out the affair. Superman really hasn't been a breakout force in motion pictures for decades. Warner is banking on this reboot to give Supes the mega-boost Batman has recently received. Man of Steel seems to have everything going for it. But is it enough?
On the planet, Krypton, with assistance from her scientist husband, Jor-El (Crowe), Lara gives birth to a healthy baby boy. It's the first natural birth of a Kryptonian in an extremely long time. Jor-El has plans for his newborn son who he names Kal.
Jor-El has predicted the destruction of the planet; a prediction that falls on deaf ears among the Kryptonian High Council. There is one who heeds Jor-El's warning. Kryptonian General Zod (Shannon) and his followers have staged a coup to overthrow the Council and return the planet to its former glory by eliminating the bloodlines they deem unworthy. Zod asks Jor-El to join him. When he refuses, he escapes from Zod's forces, steals the Kryptonian genetic codex (used to create new Kryptonians), and returns to his home to await the inevitable. Zod's forces pursue him. In a vicious battle, Zod kills Jor-El. In the mêlée, Lara is able to launch a rocket containing Kal that is set on a course for Earth where Jor-El believed his son's Kryptonian physiology would make him a god when exposed to Earth's yellow sun.
Zod's forces lose the coup, and the whole surviving lot is banished to a dimensional prison located in the Negative Zone. Soon after, Jor-El's prediction rings true as Krypton's core explodes.
Flash forward to a 33-year old Kal-El (Cavill) going by the name Clark Kent on Earth. Clark is a drifter working odd jobs under false names,sometimes performing heroic deeds for those in need, and then moving on to the next town. He's become somewhat of an urban legend. Through flashback it's revealed how Clark learned of his alien heritage from his adoptive parents, the Kents (Costner and Lane), and see his life as an adolescent and teenager.
His latest job finds him in the arctic on a U.S. military dig. It's here that he first meets Lois Lane (Adams) who is there reporting for the Daily Planet. It's here that he also finds a Kryptonian scout ship that has technology allowing him to communicate with the consciousness of Jor-El.
Unfortunately, the ship also acts as a beacon for Zod and his followers who were released from their imprisonment upon Krypton's explosion. When Zod comes to Earth, he demands the population turn over Kal-El to avoid dire consequences for the planet. From Kal-El, he wants the codex that Jor-El sent to Earth with him. With the codex, the General plans to re-populate Earth with new Kryptonians causing the extinction of humanity. That is, unless Kal can realize his full potential as a hero and save a species that fears him as much as they fear Zod.
Despite the mixed reviews I've read, I would call Man of Steel a success for several reasons. The first and best reason is that MOS doesn't dumb down Superman for the audience. Let me explain. I have never been hugely into the character due to items I believed were just plain stupid about Superman. Items like, "how does a pair of sunglasses keep Clark Kent's alter ego from being the worst kept secret in the universe?" In this movie, only Lois knows that Clark and Kal-El are one and the same. The audience knows she knows and also knows that she won't betray his secret. I think it's a much better storyline than Lois suffering from selective amnesia as most do through the Superman mythos.
The other great thing is Clark doesn't act like a complete, clumsy hayseed when he's not in his super heroic persona. The "Aww, shucks!" boy scout never appealed to me. Here, Clark is still quiet and unassuming, but you can still see something dangerous smoldering under the surface. Even as Superman, as much as he tries to do the right thing, he comes to the realization some things that need to be done aren't pretty. Sometimes a hard decision has to be made because there is no redemption to be had within some beings.
Another thing I liked is that as much as Clark looks, walks, and talks like a human, the film doesn't lose sight that he is, in fact, an alien that ultimately isn't like us. Even the redesign on the costume looks more like an organic alien flight suit and less like something that was cobbled together (yes, the red shorts are gone). The Kryptonian tech in the movie looks decidedly otherworldly and alive, like large deadly octopi at times. All of this adds up to give Man of Steel kind of a stranger in a strange land type of vibe that I found to be pretty cool.
The action sequences are very Superman meaning fast and powerful. I think this is the best depiction of heat vision that I have seen in a Supes movie. The characters' eyes look as if they're on fire when Clark and Zod use it.
Man of Steel is not without its plotline issues. This has likely been explained before and I missed it, but, I've never understood why Jor-El and Lara didn't accompany their son to Earth when Krypton was doomed to destruction. It's not like the event took Jor-El by surprise. You're telling me he couldn't build a rocket for the entire family? It always seemed like a contrived plot device to me. Man of Steel makes this action no clearer.
Also, Clark is not always subtle in using his powers as he's growing up. How the Feds don't have him on a lab table trying to dissect him when he's a kid, I'll never know. People seriously buy the Kents' lame excuses on how miraculous and unexplainable things happen when their son is around?
Michael Shannon does an admirable job chewing the scenery as the obsessed General Zod. Russell Crowe does his best Yoda impression to Kal-El's Luke Skywalker. But, I think Henry Cavill does a more than credible job here. Cavill conveys a sad loneliness in Clark as someone who knows that he doesn't fit anywhere on Earth due to his abilities and doesn't fit with Kryptonians due to his morals.
Overall, Man of Steel is a solid effort from Warner Brothers. If the filmmakers are planning on making MOS the starting point for a possible Justice League franchise, it would have been nice to see hints of the larger DC Universe at some point. A minor complaint, yes. But, Marvel Studios has created the blueprint on how to market a super team. There's no need to reinvent the wheel here.
So, two of three big superhero films of the year have been released. The Golden Avenger and the Man of Steel have had their shot. God of Thunder...you're up in November!
The Dark Lord of the Sith says:
***1/2 stars
Ratings Legend
Zero *= Don't waste your time. Pure dreck! Dreck is too good for this! Blind me please!
1 *= Fuggedaboutit!
2 *= Average, Mediocre, Nothing Special
3 *= Good viewing. Much better than a poke in the eye.
4 *= Great. Could possibly foot the price of a non-Matinee.
5 *= Pure eye candy. Hall of Fame material here.
Man of Steel
Released 6/14/13, now in theaters
The Superman franchise is rebooted in this week's release of Man of Steel courtesy of 300 director, Zack Snyder. Warner Brothers has gone all out to make this reboot a success enlisting the aid of recent Batman director and writer, Christopher Nolan and David Goyer, respectively as producers on the project. An all-star cast of Amy Adams, Michael Shannon, Laurence Fishburne, Kevin Costner, Diane Lane, Russell Crowe, and new Man of Steel, Henry Cavill, rounds out the affair. Superman really hasn't been a breakout force in motion pictures for decades. Warner is banking on this reboot to give Supes the mega-boost Batman has recently received. Man of Steel seems to have everything going for it. But is it enough?
On the planet, Krypton, with assistance from her scientist husband, Jor-El (Crowe), Lara gives birth to a healthy baby boy. It's the first natural birth of a Kryptonian in an extremely long time. Jor-El has plans for his newborn son who he names Kal.
Jor-El has predicted the destruction of the planet; a prediction that falls on deaf ears among the Kryptonian High Council. There is one who heeds Jor-El's warning. Kryptonian General Zod (Shannon) and his followers have staged a coup to overthrow the Council and return the planet to its former glory by eliminating the bloodlines they deem unworthy. Zod asks Jor-El to join him. When he refuses, he escapes from Zod's forces, steals the Kryptonian genetic codex (used to create new Kryptonians), and returns to his home to await the inevitable. Zod's forces pursue him. In a vicious battle, Zod kills Jor-El. In the mêlée, Lara is able to launch a rocket containing Kal that is set on a course for Earth where Jor-El believed his son's Kryptonian physiology would make him a god when exposed to Earth's yellow sun.
Zod's forces lose the coup, and the whole surviving lot is banished to a dimensional prison located in the Negative Zone. Soon after, Jor-El's prediction rings true as Krypton's core explodes.
Flash forward to a 33-year old Kal-El (Cavill) going by the name Clark Kent on Earth. Clark is a drifter working odd jobs under false names,sometimes performing heroic deeds for those in need, and then moving on to the next town. He's become somewhat of an urban legend. Through flashback it's revealed how Clark learned of his alien heritage from his adoptive parents, the Kents (Costner and Lane), and see his life as an adolescent and teenager.
His latest job finds him in the arctic on a U.S. military dig. It's here that he first meets Lois Lane (Adams) who is there reporting for the Daily Planet. It's here that he also finds a Kryptonian scout ship that has technology allowing him to communicate with the consciousness of Jor-El.
Unfortunately, the ship also acts as a beacon for Zod and his followers who were released from their imprisonment upon Krypton's explosion. When Zod comes to Earth, he demands the population turn over Kal-El to avoid dire consequences for the planet. From Kal-El, he wants the codex that Jor-El sent to Earth with him. With the codex, the General plans to re-populate Earth with new Kryptonians causing the extinction of humanity. That is, unless Kal can realize his full potential as a hero and save a species that fears him as much as they fear Zod.
Despite the mixed reviews I've read, I would call Man of Steel a success for several reasons. The first and best reason is that MOS doesn't dumb down Superman for the audience. Let me explain. I have never been hugely into the character due to items I believed were just plain stupid about Superman. Items like, "how does a pair of sunglasses keep Clark Kent's alter ego from being the worst kept secret in the universe?" In this movie, only Lois knows that Clark and Kal-El are one and the same. The audience knows she knows and also knows that she won't betray his secret. I think it's a much better storyline than Lois suffering from selective amnesia as most do through the Superman mythos.
The other great thing is Clark doesn't act like a complete, clumsy hayseed when he's not in his super heroic persona. The "Aww, shucks!" boy scout never appealed to me. Here, Clark is still quiet and unassuming, but you can still see something dangerous smoldering under the surface. Even as Superman, as much as he tries to do the right thing, he comes to the realization some things that need to be done aren't pretty. Sometimes a hard decision has to be made because there is no redemption to be had within some beings.
Another thing I liked is that as much as Clark looks, walks, and talks like a human, the film doesn't lose sight that he is, in fact, an alien that ultimately isn't like us. Even the redesign on the costume looks more like an organic alien flight suit and less like something that was cobbled together (yes, the red shorts are gone). The Kryptonian tech in the movie looks decidedly otherworldly and alive, like large deadly octopi at times. All of this adds up to give Man of Steel kind of a stranger in a strange land type of vibe that I found to be pretty cool.
The action sequences are very Superman meaning fast and powerful. I think this is the best depiction of heat vision that I have seen in a Supes movie. The characters' eyes look as if they're on fire when Clark and Zod use it.
Man of Steel is not without its plotline issues. This has likely been explained before and I missed it, but, I've never understood why Jor-El and Lara didn't accompany their son to Earth when Krypton was doomed to destruction. It's not like the event took Jor-El by surprise. You're telling me he couldn't build a rocket for the entire family? It always seemed like a contrived plot device to me. Man of Steel makes this action no clearer.
Also, Clark is not always subtle in using his powers as he's growing up. How the Feds don't have him on a lab table trying to dissect him when he's a kid, I'll never know. People seriously buy the Kents' lame excuses on how miraculous and unexplainable things happen when their son is around?
Michael Shannon does an admirable job chewing the scenery as the obsessed General Zod. Russell Crowe does his best Yoda impression to Kal-El's Luke Skywalker. But, I think Henry Cavill does a more than credible job here. Cavill conveys a sad loneliness in Clark as someone who knows that he doesn't fit anywhere on Earth due to his abilities and doesn't fit with Kryptonians due to his morals.
Overall, Man of Steel is a solid effort from Warner Brothers. If the filmmakers are planning on making MOS the starting point for a possible Justice League franchise, it would have been nice to see hints of the larger DC Universe at some point. A minor complaint, yes. But, Marvel Studios has created the blueprint on how to market a super team. There's no need to reinvent the wheel here.
So, two of three big superhero films of the year have been released. The Golden Avenger and the Man of Steel have had their shot. God of Thunder...you're up in November!
The Dark Lord of the Sith says:
***1/2 stars
Ratings Legend
Zero *= Don't waste your time. Pure dreck! Dreck is too good for this! Blind me please!
1 *= Fuggedaboutit!
2 *= Average, Mediocre, Nothing Special
3 *= Good viewing. Much better than a poke in the eye.
4 *= Great. Could possibly foot the price of a non-Matinee.
5 *= Pure eye candy. Hall of Fame material here.
Monday, June 10, 2013
The Purge
Reviews from the Dark Side presents
The Purge
Released 6/7/13, now in theaters
Ethan Hawke returns to horror in this week's latest ode to home invasion, The Purge. Written and directed by James DeMonaco, The Purge takes place in a very different America in the not too distant future. Summer horror is not the norm among the season's mega blockbusters. Will this be a hidden gem among the giants, or is it a gross miscalculation destined to be buried in obscurity?
The year is 2022. The place? America. The country is experiencing its greatest prosperity in history. Unemployment is down to one percent. Crime is at an all-time low. It's all credited to an idea executed by the "New Founding Fathers" of the U.S. called The Purge. The Purge is an annual 12 hour period in March where all manners of violent crime are accepted without fear of prosecution. This cleansing of the American people takes place nationwide from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. During this period, no aid is given by police, firefighters, paramedics, or hospital personnel. There are only two rules during the Purge. "Level 10" government officials must remain unharmed and use of "Level 4" weaponry is forbidden. Otherwise, Americans can unleash their full fury and aggression against anyone they wish before returning to being "good citizens" for the remainder of the year.
James Sandin (Hawke) is a wealthy security system developer. He has equipped many of the homes in his gated community with his company's state-of-the-art security systems, including his own, in preparation for the annual event. He lives with his wife and two children. His home life is not idyllic (as much as he would like it to be so). His teenage daughter is dating an older boy who he has no use for. His gadget-clever pre-teen son questions the need for the Purge (this plays a part later).
On the night this year's Purge, as he arms the house's security system and prepares to watch the night's news coverage of the event with his family, trouble is brewing on the inside. His daughter's boyfriend, Henry, snuck into the house before the system was armed wanting to convince James that he truly loves his daughter. Unknown to his daughter, Henry plans to exercise his right as an American by taking part in the Purge. Translation; He's there to kill James.
Trouble is brewing on a second front. James' son notices a stranger running for his life from...something. Taking pity on the man, he disarms the house's security system long enough to invite the wounded stranger inside. As the family soon discovers, the stranger, a military veteran, is on the run from a group of sadistic, privileged college students who are taking full advantage of the Purge by ridding the streets of the "homeless trash." The leader offers an ultimatum to the Sandins. Return the victim to them or they will be forced to break into the house and kill all inside. James has a dilemma. Does he take the easy road and send the stranger outside to his certain doom, protecting his family but losing the respect of his children? Or, does he take the difficult road and prepare to defend his home from the siege to come? The night is long and there are no easy answers. And the source of danger may not be as obvious as it seems.
After watching The Purge, ethical dilemmas abound. Would you lend help to a total stranger in need if it placed your family in extreme danger? Would you commit a violent crime if there were no chance of conviction? Would you take bloody revenge on one who has wronged you if given the opportunity? For some questions there may not be a true right or wrong answer. Others are more obvious. Or, are they? We can all say how we would act in these situations, but do we truly know when life or death is on the line? That is the true power of this movie as it forces us to look deep within ourselves. The fact that most characters in the movie simply accept this annual ritual as something good and somewhat like a sporting event (oh, yes. there are Purge parties) is a testament as to how callous humans can be toward each other.
The last quarter of the film is more of your standard horror movie with some decent jump-scares. It creates a cold creepiness which is an appropriate atmosphere for this night of high anxiety. Death lurks around every corner. And, you don't know who to trust.
One thing that struck me as odd was how easily the Sandins' security system was defeated. Of course, I know it had to be defeated as a plot device, but I would think if you know there will be an annual night of chaos, you would take every precaution possible to stay safe. Yes, the Sandins do have a small arsenal inside the house, but if it were me, I think I would have a moat with crocodiles, barbed wire fences, and gun turrets on the roof. Even then, I would still have a vicious German Shepard at my side. Yet, in the Sandins' serene gated community, all the residents seem to think armor plating at the doors and windows are enough. And until this fateful night, they were. Maybe this is merely hindsight on my part, but when my life or the life of my family could be on the line, I would build of fortress, especially if I had the financial means to do so. Maybe you just don't think much about it until the craziness lands at your doorstep.
The Purge isn't typical slasher horror. The threat isn't supernatural in nature. There's not an unstoppable psycho killer who simply won't die. What makes The Purge disturbing is the fact that average people have the capacity to kill each other with extreme prejudice. Or, kill simply for the fact that they can. The danger could come from your best friend, your neighbor, or a complete stranger. The Purge may make you a little paranoid. But, it also makes you think.
The Dark Lord of the Sith says:
**** stars
Ratings Legend
Zero *= Don't waste your time. Pure dreck! Dreck is too good for this! Blind me please!
1 *= Fuggedaboutit!
2 *= Average, Mediocre, Nothing Special
3 *= Good viewing. Much better than a poke in the eye.
4 *= Great. Could possibly foot the price of a non-Matinee.
5 *= Pure eye candy. Hall of Fame material here.
The Purge
Released 6/7/13, now in theaters
Ethan Hawke returns to horror in this week's latest ode to home invasion, The Purge. Written and directed by James DeMonaco, The Purge takes place in a very different America in the not too distant future. Summer horror is not the norm among the season's mega blockbusters. Will this be a hidden gem among the giants, or is it a gross miscalculation destined to be buried in obscurity?
The year is 2022. The place? America. The country is experiencing its greatest prosperity in history. Unemployment is down to one percent. Crime is at an all-time low. It's all credited to an idea executed by the "New Founding Fathers" of the U.S. called The Purge. The Purge is an annual 12 hour period in March where all manners of violent crime are accepted without fear of prosecution. This cleansing of the American people takes place nationwide from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. During this period, no aid is given by police, firefighters, paramedics, or hospital personnel. There are only two rules during the Purge. "Level 10" government officials must remain unharmed and use of "Level 4" weaponry is forbidden. Otherwise, Americans can unleash their full fury and aggression against anyone they wish before returning to being "good citizens" for the remainder of the year.
James Sandin (Hawke) is a wealthy security system developer. He has equipped many of the homes in his gated community with his company's state-of-the-art security systems, including his own, in preparation for the annual event. He lives with his wife and two children. His home life is not idyllic (as much as he would like it to be so). His teenage daughter is dating an older boy who he has no use for. His gadget-clever pre-teen son questions the need for the Purge (this plays a part later).
On the night this year's Purge, as he arms the house's security system and prepares to watch the night's news coverage of the event with his family, trouble is brewing on the inside. His daughter's boyfriend, Henry, snuck into the house before the system was armed wanting to convince James that he truly loves his daughter. Unknown to his daughter, Henry plans to exercise his right as an American by taking part in the Purge. Translation; He's there to kill James.
Trouble is brewing on a second front. James' son notices a stranger running for his life from...something. Taking pity on the man, he disarms the house's security system long enough to invite the wounded stranger inside. As the family soon discovers, the stranger, a military veteran, is on the run from a group of sadistic, privileged college students who are taking full advantage of the Purge by ridding the streets of the "homeless trash." The leader offers an ultimatum to the Sandins. Return the victim to them or they will be forced to break into the house and kill all inside. James has a dilemma. Does he take the easy road and send the stranger outside to his certain doom, protecting his family but losing the respect of his children? Or, does he take the difficult road and prepare to defend his home from the siege to come? The night is long and there are no easy answers. And the source of danger may not be as obvious as it seems.
After watching The Purge, ethical dilemmas abound. Would you lend help to a total stranger in need if it placed your family in extreme danger? Would you commit a violent crime if there were no chance of conviction? Would you take bloody revenge on one who has wronged you if given the opportunity? For some questions there may not be a true right or wrong answer. Others are more obvious. Or, are they? We can all say how we would act in these situations, but do we truly know when life or death is on the line? That is the true power of this movie as it forces us to look deep within ourselves. The fact that most characters in the movie simply accept this annual ritual as something good and somewhat like a sporting event (oh, yes. there are Purge parties) is a testament as to how callous humans can be toward each other.
The last quarter of the film is more of your standard horror movie with some decent jump-scares. It creates a cold creepiness which is an appropriate atmosphere for this night of high anxiety. Death lurks around every corner. And, you don't know who to trust.
One thing that struck me as odd was how easily the Sandins' security system was defeated. Of course, I know it had to be defeated as a plot device, but I would think if you know there will be an annual night of chaos, you would take every precaution possible to stay safe. Yes, the Sandins do have a small arsenal inside the house, but if it were me, I think I would have a moat with crocodiles, barbed wire fences, and gun turrets on the roof. Even then, I would still have a vicious German Shepard at my side. Yet, in the Sandins' serene gated community, all the residents seem to think armor plating at the doors and windows are enough. And until this fateful night, they were. Maybe this is merely hindsight on my part, but when my life or the life of my family could be on the line, I would build of fortress, especially if I had the financial means to do so. Maybe you just don't think much about it until the craziness lands at your doorstep.
The Purge isn't typical slasher horror. The threat isn't supernatural in nature. There's not an unstoppable psycho killer who simply won't die. What makes The Purge disturbing is the fact that average people have the capacity to kill each other with extreme prejudice. Or, kill simply for the fact that they can. The danger could come from your best friend, your neighbor, or a complete stranger. The Purge may make you a little paranoid. But, it also makes you think.
The Dark Lord of the Sith says:
**** stars
Ratings Legend
Zero *= Don't waste your time. Pure dreck! Dreck is too good for this! Blind me please!
1 *= Fuggedaboutit!
2 *= Average, Mediocre, Nothing Special
3 *= Good viewing. Much better than a poke in the eye.
4 *= Great. Could possibly foot the price of a non-Matinee.
5 *= Pure eye candy. Hall of Fame material here.
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
After Earth
Reviews from the Dark Side presents
After Earth
Released 5/31/13, now in theaters
Father-son duo, Will and Jaden Smith, team up in the latest mindbender from director, M. Night Shyamalan, After Earth. Both W. Smith and Shyamalan could both use a hit (it's been awhile). Could this latest post-apocalyptic journey what the doctor ordered?
In the future, humanity leaves Earth due to an environmental cataclysm. It colonizes a new planet that is named Nova Prime.
Kitai Raige (Jaden Smith) is the son of legendary General, Cypher Raige (Will Smith). Raige gained prominence when an alien race attempted to conquer humanity on Nova Prime. The aliens unleashed horrific beasts known as Ursas upon the planet. They were attracted to pheromones secreted in times of fear, literally feeding on human fear. Cypher learned that Ursas became blind to humans if one did not give in to it. He taught this skill to the warrior peacekeeping force known as the Rangers leading to the eventual defeat of the invaders.
Kitai has tried to get on the fast track to becoming a Ranger himself, partly to gain his father's respect and partly over guilt that his sister died defending him from an Ursa. When his candidacy is rejected by the Academy, his mother convinces Cypher to do some father-son bonding by taking Katai on the elder Raige's next mission to train a group of new Rangers off planet.
The mission becomes one of survival when the Raige's spacecraft is forced to crash land on the last place in the universe humans should be. Earth. The landing kills the entire crew except for Kitai and Cypher who is badly injured. Of the two homing beacons on the craft, one his broken in the crash. The other is about four days' journey away from the Raige's crash site in what was once the tail end of the ship. With Cypher incapacitated, it becomes Katai's mission to retrieve the last working beacon to send a distress signal back home requesting a rescue. Not only does Kitai have to face his fear and avoid the dangerous wildlife on the planet, but he also must try to avoid an Ursa (used for Ranger training) that escaped from its holding pod during the crash landing.
After watching this film, there were some things that struck me as odd. First, what was with the faux British accents everyone seemed to have? Understandably, some of these actors may have been British, but the main stars are not. It probably wouldn't have bothered me as much if Will Smith didn't sound like Prince Charles one minute and the Fresh Prince the next. Will, I love 'ya, but accents aren't for you.
Now, on to issue #2. Don't be fooled by the commercials and trailers that claim you will learn the reason "Why we left!" The narration tells us that in the first three minutes. There is no big Shyamalan reveal here if you are looking for one.
Issue #3. The statement that's made by Cypher that "everything on this planet has evolved to kill humans", struck a wrong chord with me. Aren't angry baboons, feral cats, and large birds of prey dangerous to humans now? Let me think on that while I feed my pet tiger raw meat by hand.
Finally, let's look at the tech that is used. In the future, it seems humanity is capable of colonizing other planets and using warp drives. Very Star Trekky. Yet, when the ship crash lands on Earth, don't you think the Raiges would have a Wall-E or R2-D2 that would be more equipped to traverse the dangerous wilderness and retrieve the lost homing beacon? How about the probes that were released to find the missing beacon having some retrieval capabilities? Anything would have been better than sending your son to his almost certain, violent death.
With this said, I found After Earth to be relatively engaging and somewhat suspenseful. Shyamalan does succeed in creating a sense of danger for Kitai. Sometimes it feels as if the forests themselves will reach out and take him. You can feel why he is afraid. Who wouldn't be when thrust into a seeming no win situation?
I think there are many who are predisposed to dislike any and all of Shyamalan's work. I'll admit he's given the masses a few good reasons to doubt him. However, After Earth, is not one of his disasters. Despite its shortcomings, it's a decent sci-fi action movie if you look at it through that lens. It's no Unbreakable or Sixth Sense, but it's no The Village either. That alone is a point in its favor.
You will or have likely read a ton of negativity toward this film. As I will suggest to anyone, don't take a critic's word for it wholeheartedly. Don't even take my word for it. Just watch with an open mind.
The Dark Lord of the Sith says:
*** stars
Ratings Legend
Zero *= Don't waste your time. Pure dreck! Dreck is too good for this! Blind me please!
1 *= Fuggedaboutit!
2 *= Average, Mediocre, Nothing Special
3 *= Good viewing. Much better than a poke in the eye.
4 *= Great. Could possibly foot the price of a non-Matinee.
5 *= Pure eye candy. Hall of Fame material here.
After Earth
Released 5/31/13, now in theaters
Father-son duo, Will and Jaden Smith, team up in the latest mindbender from director, M. Night Shyamalan, After Earth. Both W. Smith and Shyamalan could both use a hit (it's been awhile). Could this latest post-apocalyptic journey what the doctor ordered?
In the future, humanity leaves Earth due to an environmental cataclysm. It colonizes a new planet that is named Nova Prime.
Kitai Raige (Jaden Smith) is the son of legendary General, Cypher Raige (Will Smith). Raige gained prominence when an alien race attempted to conquer humanity on Nova Prime. The aliens unleashed horrific beasts known as Ursas upon the planet. They were attracted to pheromones secreted in times of fear, literally feeding on human fear. Cypher learned that Ursas became blind to humans if one did not give in to it. He taught this skill to the warrior peacekeeping force known as the Rangers leading to the eventual defeat of the invaders.
Kitai has tried to get on the fast track to becoming a Ranger himself, partly to gain his father's respect and partly over guilt that his sister died defending him from an Ursa. When his candidacy is rejected by the Academy, his mother convinces Cypher to do some father-son bonding by taking Katai on the elder Raige's next mission to train a group of new Rangers off planet.
The mission becomes one of survival when the Raige's spacecraft is forced to crash land on the last place in the universe humans should be. Earth. The landing kills the entire crew except for Kitai and Cypher who is badly injured. Of the two homing beacons on the craft, one his broken in the crash. The other is about four days' journey away from the Raige's crash site in what was once the tail end of the ship. With Cypher incapacitated, it becomes Katai's mission to retrieve the last working beacon to send a distress signal back home requesting a rescue. Not only does Kitai have to face his fear and avoid the dangerous wildlife on the planet, but he also must try to avoid an Ursa (used for Ranger training) that escaped from its holding pod during the crash landing.
After watching this film, there were some things that struck me as odd. First, what was with the faux British accents everyone seemed to have? Understandably, some of these actors may have been British, but the main stars are not. It probably wouldn't have bothered me as much if Will Smith didn't sound like Prince Charles one minute and the Fresh Prince the next. Will, I love 'ya, but accents aren't for you.
Now, on to issue #2. Don't be fooled by the commercials and trailers that claim you will learn the reason "Why we left!" The narration tells us that in the first three minutes. There is no big Shyamalan reveal here if you are looking for one.
Issue #3. The statement that's made by Cypher that "everything on this planet has evolved to kill humans", struck a wrong chord with me. Aren't angry baboons, feral cats, and large birds of prey dangerous to humans now? Let me think on that while I feed my pet tiger raw meat by hand.
Finally, let's look at the tech that is used. In the future, it seems humanity is capable of colonizing other planets and using warp drives. Very Star Trekky. Yet, when the ship crash lands on Earth, don't you think the Raiges would have a Wall-E or R2-D2 that would be more equipped to traverse the dangerous wilderness and retrieve the lost homing beacon? How about the probes that were released to find the missing beacon having some retrieval capabilities? Anything would have been better than sending your son to his almost certain, violent death.
With this said, I found After Earth to be relatively engaging and somewhat suspenseful. Shyamalan does succeed in creating a sense of danger for Kitai. Sometimes it feels as if the forests themselves will reach out and take him. You can feel why he is afraid. Who wouldn't be when thrust into a seeming no win situation?
I think there are many who are predisposed to dislike any and all of Shyamalan's work. I'll admit he's given the masses a few good reasons to doubt him. However, After Earth, is not one of his disasters. Despite its shortcomings, it's a decent sci-fi action movie if you look at it through that lens. It's no Unbreakable or Sixth Sense, but it's no The Village either. That alone is a point in its favor.
You will or have likely read a ton of negativity toward this film. As I will suggest to anyone, don't take a critic's word for it wholeheartedly. Don't even take my word for it. Just watch with an open mind.
The Dark Lord of the Sith says:
*** stars
Ratings Legend
Zero *= Don't waste your time. Pure dreck! Dreck is too good for this! Blind me please!
1 *= Fuggedaboutit!
2 *= Average, Mediocre, Nothing Special
3 *= Good viewing. Much better than a poke in the eye.
4 *= Great. Could possibly foot the price of a non-Matinee.
5 *= Pure eye candy. Hall of Fame material here.
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