Reviews from the Dark Side presents
Despicable Me 2
Released 7/3/13, now in theaters
Oh, those pesky Minions! The little yellow ones return this week in the sequel to the 2010 blockbuster. And let's not forget Steve Carell returning as bad-guy-turned-cuddly father, Gru. Let me say, more than any movie this summer, this is the one I marked on the calendar. As animated features go, it has a long way to go to equal the season's near-masterpiece, Monsters University. Time to see how close it came.
Gru and his three adopted daughters (Margo, Edith, and Agnes) have settled into civilian life nicely. Well, at least, Gru-style civilian life. The ex-villain is throwing birthday parties, dodging his obnoxious neighbor's attempts to set him up with her friends, and trying to make a living by inventing a new line of jellies and jams with his partner, Dr. Nefario (Russell Brand). Together with Kyle, the ill-tempered doglike creature of his own creation and his army of Minions, Gru and the girls have a very...different type of family.
Unfortunately, Dr. Nefario is rather bored with not being evil any longer (and making putrid jellies that even the Minions can't choke down). So, the good doctor leaves Gru for more evil pastures. Also, little Agnes has a speech to give in a play regarding the importance of mothers which she delivers in a dry, monotone voice as she has no frame of reference.
Anti-Villain League (AVL) agent, Lucy Wilde (Kristen Wiig), approaches Gru on the League's behalf and kidnaps him to their underwater lair. Here, AVL leader, Silas Ramsbottom (Steve Coogan) attempts to enlist the ex-villain's aid in recovering a recently stolen mutagen, PX-41, a chemical that turns any organism exposed to it to a vicious, mindless killing machine. According to Ramsbottom, it takes a criminal mind to know a criminal mind. When Gru eventually accepts, he's paired with Agent Wilde and the two survey the Paradise Mall undercover where the chemical has been trailed.
While investigating several business owners in the mall, Gru thinks he recognizes restaurant owner, Eduardo Perez (Benjamin Bratt), as long thought deceased villain, El Macho, a prime candidate as the thief of PX-41. To make matters worse, Margo has taken a liking to Perez's son, Antonio, which causes Gru no end of worry as a concerned father. And worse than that, he has his own developing feelings toward Lucy with no one to practice his moves on other than his Minions who are mysteriously disappearing by the day.
So, we have a simplistic plot and extremely silly premise. Ordinarily, a film with these qualities would deserve to be skewered. But, like its predecessor, it really doesn't matter because you're too busy laughing to care! You like the Minions? There are Minions galore doing every wacky thing you can possibly imagine speaking in their own unique unintelligible language.
But Despicable Me 2 doesn't feature the Minions only. Gru is as clueless as ever caring for his girls. Kristen Wiig adds a nice touch as Lucy who, against all odds, seems to wackily fit in to Gru's crazy family life, Minions and all. Steve Carell's voiceover is really comedic genius in these movies as humorless, Gru. And who can't get behind a character named "El Macho?" I don't think much more needs to be said about that.
Last week I believe I wrote that Monsters University was the best movie of the year. Well, Despicable Me 2 is not the BEST movie of the year. It is not BETTER than Monsters University, but...
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, July 7, 2013
Thursday, July 4, 2013
The Lone Ranger
Reviews from the Dark Side presents
The Lone Ranger
Released 7/3/13, now in theaters
Armie Hammer and Johnny Depp ride into theaters this week in The Lone Ranger. This Disney-sponsored epic is brought to you courtesy of producer, Jerry Bruckheimer, and director, Gore Verbinski, the team behind the Pirates of the Caribbean series. Helping to give the classic hero a facelift are Tom Wilkinson, Helena Bonham Carter, and William Fichtner. In a summer filled with highly anticipated movies, few are bigger than this. Will it live up to the hype or fall off the horse (get it? Lone Ranger...horse? forget it)?
San Francisco, 1933. A young boy dressed as a cowboy complete with outlaw mask and cap pistol wanders into the Wild West tent of the carnival he is attending. There, among the artifacts, he finds an old, withered "Noble Savage" (Depp) who says the boy reminds him of someone he knew once. This old wizened fellow is eccentric to say the least, insisting on feeding a dead crow sitting atop his head. He begins to regale the boy with the tale of his old partner, John Reid (Hammer), better known as, The Lone Ranger.
Flashback to Colby, Tx in 1869. Train baron, Latham Cole (Wilkinson) is hard at work promoting his company's new railroad that will connect the state to points as far west as San Francisco. As a sign of goodwill for the community and to prove that western lawlessness will not be tolerated in Colby, he has arranged for deranged criminal, Butch Cavendish (Fichtner) to be transported to the area for his long awaited hanging. Texas Rangers led by Dan Reid, the lawman who captured the criminal, are waiting at the station to take Cavendish into custody when he arrives.
On the train transporting Cavendish is Ranger Reid's straight-laced, law abiding brother, attorney John Reid. In the prison car, Cavendish is chained with a mysterious Native American wearing a dead crow on top of his head, Tonto. Tonto is on a mission that only he seems to understand. Cavendish is freed when his gang raids the train. Tonto and Reid meet for the first time here as Reid attempts to assist the outgunned law officials guarding the train's dangerous host.
Reid teams up with his brother, six other Rangers, and a tracker to hunt down the Cavendish Gang. When they are betrayed by one of their own and ambushed, a chain of events is set into motion that transforms by-the-book John Reid into a masked vigilante who rides for justice and vengeance.
One of the issues I have with The Lone Ranger is that it doesn't seem to know what it wants to be. It ranges from gory, to comical, to wildly action-packed. And that would all be fine if the movie made those transitions seamlessly. Unfortunately, it does not. Seriously, you "see" Cavendish cut out and eat a human heart and five minutes later you're back to crazy Tonto with the dead bird on his head. The parts don't always fit nicely. I think this film would have benefited a great deal by picking a lane. It would have worked better as either a complete farce or a bloody, visceral type actioner. But, the studio takes the easy way out by making it a PG-13 jumble of nonsensical parts to try and draw the largest audiences. You can't always force this. Sometimes you have to let the material judge where a film needs to go.
Now, maybe it's just me, but I believe if you are making a movie about a legendary hero, the hero should be, oh, I don't know, believably heroic? I'm not bagging Armie Hammer's performance because I think he did the best he could with what he had, but, spirit warrior or not, how the heck did he survive the first half hour let alone the entire two and a half hours? He's shot and beaten so many times (even by Tonto) that it's not believable that this is a man who should be feared. His horse (who is much smarter than the Ranger) saves him a majority of the time.
Did I mention the movie is two and a half hours? I guess it's fruitless to complain about the length of movies these days, particularly the summer blockbusters, but 20-30 minutes could have easily been on the cutting room floor. With a few exceptions, the attempts at comedy are mildly amusing at best. The action sequences are decent, but nothing that keeps you in awe. There's a very lame attempt to create some drama through a contrived love triangle involving the Ranger, his brother, and his brother's wife that, thankfully, goes nowhere. The big reveal involving the Ranger realizing the railroad tycoon's criminal involvement in the events of the film is a little far-fetched for my tastes.
Now, let's get on to what I'm sure everyone is wondering about. Johnny Depp. This performance was just...weird. Yes, I know Johnny Depp is the unofficial "King of Weird" these days, but there's a problem. With this role as Tonto, last year's role as Barnabus Collins, The Mad Hatter, and, maybe his most famous role as Captain Jack Sparrow, he's becoming a little one note. And this note is getting old. Depp is one of the better actors in Hollywood and he's better than his recent material. That's not to say he's been bad in his films, but it seems every role he takes now is the same, flamboyantly over-the-top character. I defy you to tell me the difference between Tonto and Jack Sparrow other than the former spouting the term "kemo sabe." I'm ready for the more slightly off-kilter Johnny Depp that you saw in films like Sleepy Hollow, From Hell, and Secret Window. It's time to put the out-his-mind Depp to rest for a few roles as I believe the specter of Captain Jack is doing him a disservice. It seems that either Depp or Hollywood thinks he needs to equal or top that character.
There is some good in The Lone Ranger. William Fichtner is ghoulishly vile as the Ranger's arch-enemy. He's the best reason for sitting through this mish mosh. Tom Wilkinson gives a more than credible performance as the megalomaniacal railroad tycoon. There are three laugh-out-loud moments I counted, one involving a doll, one involving a thrown rock, and one in the very last scene of the movie (got a nice water shower from the girlfriend with that one).
The Lone Ranger could have been so much more than it was. It's not a bad movie so much as it's a movie with little pizazz. Unless you're a junkie who consumes everything Johnny Depp, this is one you shouldn't be disappointed to wait for on Netflix, Red Box, On Demand (still too much money), etc.
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.
The Lone Ranger
Released 7/3/13, now in theaters
Armie Hammer and Johnny Depp ride into theaters this week in The Lone Ranger. This Disney-sponsored epic is brought to you courtesy of producer, Jerry Bruckheimer, and director, Gore Verbinski, the team behind the Pirates of the Caribbean series. Helping to give the classic hero a facelift are Tom Wilkinson, Helena Bonham Carter, and William Fichtner. In a summer filled with highly anticipated movies, few are bigger than this. Will it live up to the hype or fall off the horse (get it? Lone Ranger...horse? forget it)?
San Francisco, 1933. A young boy dressed as a cowboy complete with outlaw mask and cap pistol wanders into the Wild West tent of the carnival he is attending. There, among the artifacts, he finds an old, withered "Noble Savage" (Depp) who says the boy reminds him of someone he knew once. This old wizened fellow is eccentric to say the least, insisting on feeding a dead crow sitting atop his head. He begins to regale the boy with the tale of his old partner, John Reid (Hammer), better known as, The Lone Ranger.
Flashback to Colby, Tx in 1869. Train baron, Latham Cole (Wilkinson) is hard at work promoting his company's new railroad that will connect the state to points as far west as San Francisco. As a sign of goodwill for the community and to prove that western lawlessness will not be tolerated in Colby, he has arranged for deranged criminal, Butch Cavendish (Fichtner) to be transported to the area for his long awaited hanging. Texas Rangers led by Dan Reid, the lawman who captured the criminal, are waiting at the station to take Cavendish into custody when he arrives.
On the train transporting Cavendish is Ranger Reid's straight-laced, law abiding brother, attorney John Reid. In the prison car, Cavendish is chained with a mysterious Native American wearing a dead crow on top of his head, Tonto. Tonto is on a mission that only he seems to understand. Cavendish is freed when his gang raids the train. Tonto and Reid meet for the first time here as Reid attempts to assist the outgunned law officials guarding the train's dangerous host.
Reid teams up with his brother, six other Rangers, and a tracker to hunt down the Cavendish Gang. When they are betrayed by one of their own and ambushed, a chain of events is set into motion that transforms by-the-book John Reid into a masked vigilante who rides for justice and vengeance.
One of the issues I have with The Lone Ranger is that it doesn't seem to know what it wants to be. It ranges from gory, to comical, to wildly action-packed. And that would all be fine if the movie made those transitions seamlessly. Unfortunately, it does not. Seriously, you "see" Cavendish cut out and eat a human heart and five minutes later you're back to crazy Tonto with the dead bird on his head. The parts don't always fit nicely. I think this film would have benefited a great deal by picking a lane. It would have worked better as either a complete farce or a bloody, visceral type actioner. But, the studio takes the easy way out by making it a PG-13 jumble of nonsensical parts to try and draw the largest audiences. You can't always force this. Sometimes you have to let the material judge where a film needs to go.
Now, maybe it's just me, but I believe if you are making a movie about a legendary hero, the hero should be, oh, I don't know, believably heroic? I'm not bagging Armie Hammer's performance because I think he did the best he could with what he had, but, spirit warrior or not, how the heck did he survive the first half hour let alone the entire two and a half hours? He's shot and beaten so many times (even by Tonto) that it's not believable that this is a man who should be feared. His horse (who is much smarter than the Ranger) saves him a majority of the time.
Did I mention the movie is two and a half hours? I guess it's fruitless to complain about the length of movies these days, particularly the summer blockbusters, but 20-30 minutes could have easily been on the cutting room floor. With a few exceptions, the attempts at comedy are mildly amusing at best. The action sequences are decent, but nothing that keeps you in awe. There's a very lame attempt to create some drama through a contrived love triangle involving the Ranger, his brother, and his brother's wife that, thankfully, goes nowhere. The big reveal involving the Ranger realizing the railroad tycoon's criminal involvement in the events of the film is a little far-fetched for my tastes.
Now, let's get on to what I'm sure everyone is wondering about. Johnny Depp. This performance was just...weird. Yes, I know Johnny Depp is the unofficial "King of Weird" these days, but there's a problem. With this role as Tonto, last year's role as Barnabus Collins, The Mad Hatter, and, maybe his most famous role as Captain Jack Sparrow, he's becoming a little one note. And this note is getting old. Depp is one of the better actors in Hollywood and he's better than his recent material. That's not to say he's been bad in his films, but it seems every role he takes now is the same, flamboyantly over-the-top character. I defy you to tell me the difference between Tonto and Jack Sparrow other than the former spouting the term "kemo sabe." I'm ready for the more slightly off-kilter Johnny Depp that you saw in films like Sleepy Hollow, From Hell, and Secret Window. It's time to put the out-his-mind Depp to rest for a few roles as I believe the specter of Captain Jack is doing him a disservice. It seems that either Depp or Hollywood thinks he needs to equal or top that character.
There is some good in The Lone Ranger. William Fichtner is ghoulishly vile as the Ranger's arch-enemy. He's the best reason for sitting through this mish mosh. Tom Wilkinson gives a more than credible performance as the megalomaniacal railroad tycoon. There are three laugh-out-loud moments I counted, one involving a doll, one involving a thrown rock, and one in the very last scene of the movie (got a nice water shower from the girlfriend with that one).
The Lone Ranger could have been so much more than it was. It's not a bad movie so much as it's a movie with little pizazz. Unless you're a junkie who consumes everything Johnny Depp, this is one you shouldn't be disappointed to wait for on Netflix, Red Box, On Demand (still too much money), etc.
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 29, 2013
The Heat
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.
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.
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.
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