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The Last Samurai (2003)
Cruise's Finest Hour
Many people dismiss Tom Cruise unfairly. Yes it's true that he's starred in more than his fair share of Hollywood blockbuster bullcrap but occasionally he appears in the odd gem just to remind audiences that he can actually act. Born on the 4th of July, Jerry Maguire, and A Few Good Men are a few examples. This film is most definitely another.
The basic storyline isn't anything you haven't seen before. Soldier goes to war. Soldier gets caught by enemy. Soldier learns to love enemy culture. Soldier fights for enemy against former comrades. We've seen the plot before in Dances With Wolves with native Americans and Confederate soldiers. More recently we've seen the plot in Avatar with aliens and marines. What sets this apart from all the others is the sheer breathtaking beauty of the cinematography, the level of authenticity in recreating ancient Japan, the attention to detail in depicting Samurai culture, and the utterly brilliant Ken Watanabe in the supporting role as the legendary Samurai warlord Katsumoto. On a deeper level the film also serves as a poignant observation of how technological progress and so called civility can destroy century old tradition to the heartbreaking detriment of society.
Initially the Samurai are depicted as vicious warmongering savages. However along with the character of Nathan, played by Tom Cruise, we are taken on a journey of enlightenment to the Way of the Samurai so emotionally gripping and compelling that the viewer cannot help but feel completely awestruck by the end credits. This is a film that you will remember for a very long time and that you will re-visit time and again.
If you like beautiful visuals, if you like excellent acting, if you like breathtaking action, and if you like historical fact instead of the usual Hollywood embellishment, then this film is definitely for you.
Big Trouble in Little China (1986)
A Carpenter Classic
In the late 70's and the 80's you had directors...and then you had John Carpenter.
Big Trouble in Little China is right up there with his other classics such as Escape from New York, The Fog, Assault on Precinct 13, and The Boy Who Could Fly. Films like this are movie magic. They remind you why you used to enjoy going to the cinema so much. Nowadays films concern themselves with CGI and 3D whereas Carpenter was a director who believed in giving the audience a story first. Effects are merely props. The key to a great movie is the characters and the choice of cast playing them. Could anyone ever imagine Snake Pliskin being played by any actor other than Kurt Russell or anyone other then the late great Ernest Borgnine driving a yellow NY taxi? If you grew up in the 80's then a description of this film is pointless. Chances are you've already seen it over and over again. If you're a 90's kid and you're wondering what all the fuss is about then put down your xbox controller for a couple hours, put some popcorn in the microwave, shove the DVD in the player, dim the lights and then sit back and bask in the chop-socky-comic-book-glory of this movie!
Red Tails (2012)
The silver screen equivalent to a video game
Whether or not you enjoy this movie will depend largely on what you hope to gain from the experience. If you're hoping for Saving Private Ryan with airplanes then prepare to be disappointed. There are no meaningful messages here. There are no gritty depictions of the horrors of war here. There are certainly no Oscar winning performances. What you do get, in glorious abundance, are thrills, big explosions, breathtaking CGI, and Germans getting their butt kicked. This film really is the big screen answer to a next generation video game.
The story centres around the first African-American fighter squadron in WW2 but this almost seems incidental to the action. Characters are never fully developed, obvious themes of racism are never fully explored, and there is no real emotional attachment to the story. In this respect I can understand why some people may have found the film to be a disappointment as the subject matter really could have delivered something truly memorable.
Instead what Lucas delivers is almost comic-book like in feel and tone. The audience isn't expected to understand the real life physics of flight or perhaps even to care. The audience is simply expected to sit back, put their arm round their date, grab a handful of popcorn, and enjoy the ride.
The Three Musketeers (2011)
One for all and all for nothing
A disappointing adaptation of the Dumas classic.
I think anyone over the age of 30 who still fondly remembers the Michael York and Oliver Reed 1973 classic will inevitably draw comparisons and on all fronts this film comes a woeful second best.
The dialogue is atrocious. The acting, with the exception of Cristoph Waltz, is wooden and unengaging. Even the CGi laden sword fighting, complete with 300 style slow mo, feels strangely out of place.
There really isn't much to recommend this film to anyone who has an age that does not end with the word teen.
Do yourself a favour and watch the 1973 version online somewhere to see how it should be done.
Immortals (2011)
An Idiot's Guide to Greek Mythology
I had read mixed reviews before watching this film so I went into the theatre expecting to be disappointed. I was pleasantly surprised, however, to be completely mistaken. I thoroughly enjoyed this film.
This movie isn't meant to be a student's study guide. Those who have pointed out factual errors are totally missing the point. Like 300 this is a movie made for entertainment's sake and there is enough factually correct material for newcomers to the legend of Theseus to follow the general gist of the story.
Some have complained that the movie is slow to get going. I disagree. A movie with visuals this beautiful should be savoured and there are enough sequences of slicing and dicing before the finale to keep things interesting.
Mickey Rourke is perfectly cast as the evil Hyperion and Frieda Pinto is as stunningly beautiful as ever. We even get a pervy peek at her delectable derriere halfway through the film which for that reason alone means this movie is highly recommended to all red blooded males. Theseus, played by Henry Cavil, unfortunately cannot compete with the screen presence of Rourke and is somewhat overshadowed by his counterpart. Stephen Dorff is better in the supporting role of Stavros and I am at a loss to know why he wasn't given the part of Theseus himself. This is only a small niggle, however, and doesn't detract from the overall enjoyment of the experience.
If you're after a perfect screen adaptation of Greek mythology you won't find it here. What you will find is an immensely entertaining comic book style presentation.
In short, Immortals is the reason why people should still go to the movies.
Brilliant.
Real Steel (2011)
Rocky with Robots
This is a thoroughly enjoyable film. It borrows heavily from the Rocky franchise and the story is clichéd and predictable but the concept, execution and cast make this film work.
There's nothing here that you haven't seen before. Washed up boxer gets crack at World title. But there are a few deviations from the theme to make it interesting and worthwhile.
The CGi is brilliantly done and the fight sequences are excellent. The robots look convincing and you can't help but feel a real affection for the main protagonist at the end. There are no distractions to the main plot. No love stories to complicate matters needlessly. Just straight hardcore action all the way.
A perfect Saturday night beer and popcorn movie.
Anuvahood (2011)
Poor. Uninspired. Unoriginal.
This film was terrible. I had high hopes for it as the idea has the potential for a sharp satirical look at life on a London estate. Instead it's a tired remake of a far superior film. Namely Friday http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113118/. Whereas the latter had the comic genius of Chris Tucker and the likable personality of Ice Cube all this film has going for it is an unlikeable stereotypical cast, who, put simply, are all atrocious actors. Anyone who has seen Kidulthood or Adulthood will instantly recognise faces and the accompanying one dimensional characters who seem to think that shouting blud a lot at each other represents London youth. The characters are poor, unbelievable and unlikeable. The attempts at humour are tired and unoriginal. In short anyone over the age of 14 has seen this before doe far better.
If you want a good, funny comedy, about a day in the life of two guys living in the ghetto rent Friday instead.