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Elysium (2013)
Elysium 6/10
Elysium, a film that I was not at all excited for, but still saw it. Blomkamp is back after the success of one of the best sci-fi films in along time, D9.
So, visually the film is incredible and that's what I think is the films strongest aspect. The vast landscapes of this poverty filled Earth is beautiful, yet so dirty. You can actually believe this is Earth because with a lot of neglect over time, Earth may or may not turn out that way. And then there's Elysium, that I find to be an extremely cheesy Utopian world. I was chuckling every time there were shots of that world and the people in it. Everything too perfect. Yes, I know that's the point, but I just think the way it's executed is really cheesy. The visual effects are perfect and blended extremely well. The CGI looks as real as you can possibly get with CGI. There wasn't a moment when I was questioning whether it's CGI or not. I honestly thought it was all real. The robots are so fascinating because of their colors. The robots are bright colors like red, yellow, orange, which is a contrast to what Earth is. The set and production designers are top of their game with Elysium. My biggest problem with the direction of this film is the shaky-cam. I'm usually a fan of the shaky-cam because it can add a grittiness to the film and most of the times it does in the film, except for the action scenes. Almost every action scene has so much shakiness you get disoriented to what actually going and which character is where. I would have loved smoother and more clarity to the action scene because I want to see what's going and what fight technique each character has. And having a ton of cuts during the fight scene doesn't help either. It's like one shaky tight shot, cut to another and another, then to a medium, then to a wide and back to a million more close ups. Thus being said, that didn't stop me from getting into most of the fight scenes. My favorite fight scene is probably the first one once Max is attached to the exoskeleton machine because you get introduced to the weapons and the strength this machine brings to Max. My least favorite is the final fight scene between Max and Kruger because the way it's shot makes me so disoriented and seems really rushed to get over with. Also, I love the gore. Get ready for some imploding and exploding humans.
The script is by far the weakest aspect of the film and it really turns me off big time. The film starts out pretty good with comparing the situations on Earth and on Elysium to show the social and economic inequality. But we kind of lose all that once the action starts. These issues just back into a corner and stay hidden, so it just turns into the "good guys" vs the "bad guys." And that's it. Of course you know the character's motives and what not, but I still just found that way over powered by one dimensional characters. There's hardly any character development for except for Max and Frey, which told through flashback, which I fairly enjoyed, but nothing new to storytelling. Finding out about Max's and Frey's relationship/friendship in the past still doesn't get me emotionally attached to the two character. Their relationship and motives seem way too mechanical. No other character has any character development. I think it's really comical that basically everyone on Elysium are rich white people, which are portrayed as evil bigots and then Earth is only filled with people of different race and Matt Damon is apparently the last white person on Earth. The film also takes cheap shots at health-care. Elysium just rudely slaps you in the face with a political agenda about inequality of wealth, health-care, and race. The whole film is also carried by really cheesy dialogue that is quite laughable at times.
I'm just going to start out by saying that I think Jodie Foster is comically dreadful. I remember when she is first on screen and delivers her lines, my girlfriend and I look at each other with confused looks. Foster is way too over dramatic with the way she delivers her lines and facial expressions. She literally pauses after every other word. And what kind of accent or should I ask accents is she speaking with? Her movements are stiff and robotic like. Foster is a bad actress by any means, but holy sh*t, she's unwatchable in this. Matt Damon is decent in the film. He does what he's hired to do and shows some emotion, which is nice, but nothing special. I don't have anything to say about Alice Braga besides, bland. Now, Sharlto Copley has by far the best performance out of everyone, but I still don't like him in the film. Copley disappears into his one dimensional character. His performance is very much a caricature, but that voice, that voice! My best, yet poorly way to describe his voice in the film is like a high pitched Australian Grouch from Sesame Street. I was annoyed from beginning to end. I almost forgot, Diego Luna is my favorite part of the whole film and he only has like 15 minutes of screen time. I think he has the best performance and most likable character. He connection emotionally with me without any character development, weird. Maybe I'm in love with the actor.
I saw Elysium with three other people and we all left the theater joking about how bad it is. At least we got $10 worth of laughs out Elysium, right?
Miles to Go (2012)
Miles to Go review
I was having a hard time deciding to rate this movie either 3-4. I ended up rating a 3.5 because it doesn't have a strong re-watchability factor. Miles to Go is like one long episode of Girls. That's all I could think about the whole time. It's relatable by the way it's shot, written, pop culture references, and characters. I really like the way this film is shot. There's some hand-held work and also some static shots. A lot of the shots last for a longer duration than most of your general audience may be used to. I love films that haves long duration shots. Quincy Rose, the writer, director, and also actor in this film has an eye for composition. There are two male character in Miles to Go that I do not like at all. First one being the main character, Miles, and the second being a small role as Miles' friend, Sydney. When they're together all they do is talk about having sex with woman and that's it. It's mostly the character Sydney because that's literally all he talks about when he's on screen and Miles makes sexual comments here and there. Here is a quote by the character Sydney from the film for an example: "Sometimes I just take my dick and slap across a woman face." I can't relate to these characters at all. There's a lot of repetition with Miles' everyday routine. I love repetition in films where you just watch this character do their daily stuff and for me, I become more invested into the character even if can't relate to him. As for the story, it's nothing new. It's just about a man trying to get back into a relationship with the girl who he just broke-up with. But the plot is what makes it a bit different and watchable. You get to see Miles do his daily routine, go to his psychologist and here him talk about how much he wants this girl again, yet he's still really negative about the future of all relationships, and then he has random sex with the girl he just broke up with. I feel that throughout the film you're suppose to think that Miles has really changed for the good, even though you don't see his past relationship, but I think he hasn't changed at all; he's just a scared, desperate man who doesn't want to be alone for the rest of his life. Miles to Go isn't a bad film at all. I laughed a couple times during it because of pop culture references, I was always wondering how things would play out for Miles as the plot unraveled and I really like the way it was shot.
The Thing (2011)
HA! Nice try
And this is suppose to be a prequel? The Thing is a slap in the face to John Carpenter and the original Thing from 1982. First time director, Matthijs van Heijningen Jr., does a terrible job with giving The Thing that horror movie feel. The point of horror films is to scare your audience. The Thing has zero scares and is just a mess of visual effects. The script for this film is trash. If you're going to write a prequel, write an actual prequel! Give a back story to how the thing got there, don't just write new characters and throw in a spaceship. This is just garbage. The CGI in The Thing is hard to watch because it looks like you're watching Dead Space video game graphics. I really don't like how fake everything looks.The performances in The Thing are just as bad as the story, but what do you expect, right? This film has a random cast and it's funny how cheesy the line delivery is by everyone. The Thing is by far one of the worst horror films and a sorry excuse for a prequel.
A History of Violence (2005)
In this family, we do not solve problems by hitting people!
A History of Violence is a film that shows how violence is part of human nature and influences decisions in our lives.It is also based on the graphic novel of the same title. I remember watching A History of Violence in the theaters when I was 12 years old. I hated the film; I loved how graphic it was, but I don't think I understood the story. Now, 7 years later I buy it and re-watch. Director David Cronenberg has a style of directing that no one can imitate. The way he shoots sequences using only one shot to tell a story makes it so much more engaging of a film, than just having a bunch of cuts and different angles. David Cronenberg does an excellent job with storytelling in this film. A History of Violence story is what is really interesting. It shows the good and evil of humans and what it takes for someone to cross those evil boundaries. The only thing that I'm a little eh on is the subpar performances. A History of Violence stars: Viggo Mortensen, Maria Bello, Ashton Holmes, William Hurt, Stephen McHattie, & Ed Harris. The performances by Mortensen is sometimes good in this film and sometime it isn't. Sometimes the delivery of his lines aren't that believable. Bello's performance is embarrassing and found myself laughing at how cheesy it is at parts. The best performance in A History of Violence is by: William Hurt and Stephen McHattie. Both of these actors are hardly in the film and give performances better than the leads. McHattie is really mean and I love it. Hurt comes in at the end of the film and the few lines he has the delivery of them is a bit scary. A History of Violence is a film that I don't recommend for everyone.
In Time (2011)
We'll see if we can get back some of that time
In Time is set in the future where people stop aging at 25, but are engineered to live only one more year, having the means to buy your way out of the situation is a shot at immortal youth. Here, Will Salas finds himself accused of murder and on the run with a hostage - a connection that becomes an important part of the way against the system.(IMDb). In Time is written and directed by Andrew Niccol. There isn't really anything too impressive in this film direction wise. It looks a typical action film and is pacing is a typical action pacing. What really holds In Time together is the intriguing story. I think it is a good Sci-Fi story that is entertaining throughout.The writing is a bit eh, there are cheesy lines and action clichés. In Time has pretty good cast with: Justin Timberlake, Amanda Seyfried, Olivia Wilde, Cillian Murphy, & Vincent Kartheiser. The performances are what you expect; they're good, but nothing special. Timberlake has always stood out as a good actor and I really enjoy seeing him as an actor. Seyfried still sucks as an actress and I don't think she'll ever be good. The best performance in In Time is by, Vincent Kartheiser. Kartheiser is an extremely talented actor and his talent shows in this film. In Time may lack in many aspects to be a good film, but it didn't stop me from being entertained. Overall In Time is an OK film and can be a skip for some.
Hugo (2011)
This is truly cinema magic
Hugo is about an orphan who lives in the walls of a train station is wrapped up in a mystery involving his late father and an automaton. Hugo also has a back story about Georges Méliès life. The master of cinema, Martin Scorsese, takes on a beautiful adventure that makes you feel like a kid and at the same time showing you movie magic. After I watched Hugo I just sat on my couch in amazement and thinking to myself this is why I love filmmaking. Scorsese is one of the best directors of our time and will go down in history as on of the best filmmakers. Hugo is Scorsese's most unique work because it's his first family film and the way he grabs the audience into this adventure is remarkable. The camera work in this film is beautiful. The way Scorsese shoots the train station and the secret corridors of the station is jaw-dropping, along with the shots of Paris. The best part of Hugo is the way Scorsese re-creates the life of Méliès, a filmmaker who crafted over hundreds of films from 1896 to 1913. It is beautiful to be able to watch old cinema in Hugo and just fall in love with it. The visual-effects in Hugo are superb. Everything looks realistic and magical at the same time. This film deserved the Oscars it won for visual-effects. The script for Hugo is written flawlessly. A story about two kids adventure and tying in a backstory of Méliès life fascinating. I was really grabbed into this story. Hugo has a flawless cast with: Ben Kingsley, Sacha Baron Cohen, Asa Butterfield, Chloe Moretz, Jude Law, & Christopher Lee. Everyone gives perfect performances, but the ones I want to talk about are: Cohen's, Butterfield's, and Moretz's. Sacha Baron Cohen is one of those actors whose talents are like no one else's. He is a unique actor and when he acts it feels like he has become his character. His performance in Hugo is hilarious and quite enjoyable. Asa Butterfield the lead actor in Hugo and has one of the best performances I have seen from a kid actor. The emotion in his face and the dedication you see from his performance is remarkable. You will find yourself rooting for his character throughout Hugo, due to his engaging performance. Another young actress, Chloe Moretz, never disappoints me in the films I have seen her in. She is one of my favorite young actress's. Moretz's performance in Hugo is seems so natural and sweet. She delivers one of her best performances of her career so far. Hugo is one of those films that if you respect and love filmmaking you will fall in love with it. Martin Scorsese's heart is truly in this film and Hugo is the reason why I love filmmaking.
Silent House (2011)
Interesting way to shoot, but just doesn't deliver
Before going into Silent House I did a little reading about it and read that the whole 86 minute film is shot in one take, but is it? Silent House is directed by: Chris Kentis and Laura Lau. I don't believe that the whole film is shot in one take. There are two spots in the film that I could notice a cut, but the general audience wouldn't notice. The camera work in Silent House is surprisingly really good and appealing, but that doesn't make up for the terrible script. Silent House is written terribly with bad dialog and horror movie clichés. At the end of this film there is a poor excuse for a twist and you can see it coming(at least I did). The performances by everyone besides, Elizabeth Olsen, are terrible. I think that Elizabeth Olsen has a ton of potential to be a really good actress if she chooses the right roles. Silent House may have unique approach with the style of directing, but that doesn't make up for the lackluster script.
Like Crazy (2011)
I don't feel like I'm part of your life
Like Crazy is one of the films I have been excited to watch since I first watched the trailer last year. This film is directed by, Drake Doremus, a new face in filmmaking. What really connects me to Like Crazy is the style and cinematography. I love when films use a lot of steadicam sequences, which most of Like Crazy is shot that way. When watching Like Crazy it feels like Doremus is showing us a study of love between two people; I love it. The script is written really well. It's a believable love story, showing realistic details of love. The strong performances by: Anton Yelchin and Felicity Jones make you actually feel for their characters. Yelchin and Felicity both deliver performances that so much emotion is expressed through their facial expressions, rather than words. I actually teared up during this film. Like Crazy is a really good independent love story that could have you tearing up throughout.
Monsters vs. Aliens (2009)
I may not have a brain, gentlemen, but I have an idea
Monsters vs. Aliens is animated film about a women who is turned into a giant, becomes part of a team of monsters to defeat an alien trying to take over Earth. this is one of the few animated films that I like now a days. I'm not a huge fan of the way animation is now. I like animation from the 30s to the 80s. Directors Conrad Vernon and Rob Letterman do a pretty good job with Monsters vs. Aliens. Some of the action sequences are engaging. What really holds Monsters vs. Aliens together is the script. It is written very clever with the humor about the government and I really like the homage to old horror monsters. I had some really good laughs through this film. Monsters vs. Aliens has an impressive voice cast: Reese Witherspoon, Hugh Laurie, Seth Rogen, Will Arnett, Kiefer Sutherland, Stephen Colbert, Rainn Willson, & Paul Rudd. The whole cast delivers line after line really good giving you laughs throughout. Monsters vs. Aliens is entertains for all ages and you're bound to get laughs out of it.
Project X (2012)
Too much party for one night
Project X is about three friends who plan to gain popularity by throwing a party, a plan which quickly escalates out of their control. Project X is director Nima Nourizadeh's first film and decided to go with the overly done found footage POV. This film is really bad filmmaking because it's sloppy. It feels like there isn't really a lot direction going on. It's like a bunch of crazy party shots thrown together to make a movie. I can't deny though that Project X is hilarious all the way through and is a lot of fun. That is the only reason why I didn't hate this film. The performances by Thomas Mann, Oliver Cooper, & Jonathan Brown are alright. There isn't really anything special about their performances besides they're somewhat believable and make you laugh. If you go into Project X with the mindset of thinking its going to be an extremely good film, you'll most likely hate it. But if you go into it wanting a hilarious, pointless, chaotic, party film; then you will have a fun time.
The Dark Knight (2008)
..And here we go!
The Dark Knight has blown every super hero film out of the water. I have watched this film so many times and I never get bored. The Dark Knight is directed by profound director, Christopher Nolan. Nolan isn't your average filmmaker; he's smart. He crafts every shot with perfection, taking hold of the audience and making you feel the action. Nolan's use of shooting The Dark Knight with IMAX cameras is beautiful. If you saw this film in IMAX or watched it on Blu-ray you will know what I'm talking about. What I find really interesting is the Christopher Nolan was against using a lot of visual effect for The Dark Knight. There is one big scene that is done visually, but most of the effects you see are special effects. For example, when the Joker blows up the hospital; that is special effects. Nolan found a building that would work for a hospital, then his crew basically cut the building in half, so when it blows up it looks like a wave(building dropping down in layers). The performances in The Dark Knight by: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Michael Caine, Maggie Gyllenhaal, & Gary Oldman are terrific. My two favorite performances that stand out in this film are by Aaron Eckhart and Heath Ledger. What stands out with Eckhart's performance is his transformation into Two-Face. All his character need was a catalyst to make him break and when he did, Eckhart shows the emotion beautifully. In my opinion Heath Ledger's performance is one of the greatest performances of all time. It's fascinating that what Ledger did to become The Joker. He live alone in a hotel room concocting every little twitch and idiosyncrasy of The Joker's unique physicality. Ledger also kept a diary of The Joker's thoughts. Ledger's performance is a work of art and the perfect portrayal of The Joker. The Dark Knight is by far the best comic book film to date and has one of the greatest performances that will go down in history by, Heath Ledger.
The Last of the Mohicans (1992)
In case your aim's any better than your judgment
The Last of the Mohicans is set in 1757 during the French and Indian war. This film is a excellent war epic all the way down to the perfect customs. Director Michael Mann takes you into this detailed action that is staged with excitement and excellence. Mann knows how to direct action sequences with such grace because he draws you into Daniel Day-Lewis's character and you actually feel for him. I want to see Michael Mann direct another action film! The Last of the Mohicans is based off the novel of the same title. The script for this film is impeccable. It is written with the right amount of action, great dialogue, & the perfect love story. The Last of the Mohicans has excellent performances from just about the whole cast, but the incredible, Daniel Day-Lewis has another flawless performance. What I believe makes Day-Lewis stand out as one of the greatest actors is that he becomes his characters. When you watch the films he is in your not watching Daniel Day-Lewis, your watching the character. His use of method acting is perfection and shines in The Last of the Mohicans down to the last second. This film has one of the best scores I have ever heard in a war film composed by Trevor Jones. I can't say much about the score because I don't know a lot of the aspects that go into creating the score for films, but I can say the score in The Last of the Mohicans is unforgettable. The Last of the Mohicans is a excellent period piece, extremely well done war film, and the perfect love story.
A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)
Hey, Stella
I get sad when I watch films from this time era because films aren't made like this anymore. A Streetcar Named Desire is a classic and perfect film. Elia Kazan directs this film with perfection just making me wish this style of directing was still used. There is something about the style of A Streetcar Named Desire that is the definition to perfection. The way Kazan captures every shot flawlessly makes you more engaged in the film. A Streetcar Named Desire is carried heavily by both Vivien Leigh's and Marlon Brando's outstanding performances. Leigh has such a powerful performance that when the credits role you will sit there and just think about it. The legend, Marlon Brando, brings the realism of performances to the screen. Brando's style of acting is one of a kind. A lot of the actors now a days can't get close to how extremely talented Brando was. He brings his character to life in A Streetcar Named Desire. I highly recommended every film lover out there to watch the masterpiece, A Streetcar Named Desire.
Young Adult (2011)
Good 'cause I have a small dog... in my vehicle.
Young Adult is a comedy about a fiction writer who returns to her home in small-town Minnesota, looking to rekindle a romance with her ex-boyfriend, who is now happily married and has a newborn daughter.(IMDb) Director, Jason Reitman, does a solid job with directing Young Adult. The way he approaches this film is will really bore some audiences. I really enjoy the way Young Adult is directed because it's simple and use of stedicam is great. This film definitely has its funny moments and is a good look at an adult who still dwells in the past. What really holds Young Adult together is the convincing performance by, Charlize Theron. Theron's performance is on my list of favorite female performances of 2011. Her performance is really believable and somewhat heartbreaking at the same time. Young Adult is overall a good film, but may bore some audiences.
Melancholia (2011)
Beautiful work of art.
Melancholia revolves around two sisters and how they deal with the fact that a rogue planet is going to collide with Earth. Melancholia is written and directed by the brilliant filmmaker, Lars Von Trier. What makes Trier different from other filmmakers is that his films are beautiful works of art that you don't want to take your eyes off of. Trier has been on my favorite directors list for awhile now. The way he shoots Melancholia is like you're watching a documentary because basically the whole film is shot hand-held. The style of Melancholia grabs you and takes you into this emotion driven, end of the world film. Lars Von Trier did a ton of research before he started writing Melancholia. The idea all started when he was getting help for his depression. The way Trier wrote this film to show how humans would react during a disaster. You get a look at how one sister(Dunst) reacts so calm with the world about to end and the other sister(Gainsbourg) reacts in a the complete opposite. Melancholia's cast consists of: Kirsten Dunst, Alexander Skarsgård, Kiefer Sutherland, & Charlotte Gainsbourg. The performances by everyone are impeccable, but the two that stand out are Dunst's and Gainsbourg. Kirsten Dunst won Best Actress at the Cannes Film Festival. Dunst's performance in Melancholia stands out as her best work and is the perfect showcase for her talent. What stands out the most from her performance is the emotions she show without saying words. You can really feel what she is feeling just by her facial expressions. Charlotte Gainsbourg is a very powerful actress and the few films I have seen that she's in, you can her talent shine. Gainsbourg's performance is a little bit better than Dunst's performance. The way Gainsbourg is broken-down with emotions to the very end and how distraught she looks is powerful. Once again I'm having a hard time finding words to explain everything about this film. Melancholia is a film that not everyone will be able sit through. This is a very depressing film and is beautifully shot until the very end. Melancholia come highly recommended.
We Were Soldiers (2002)
That my men... that my men died and I didn't.
We Were Soldiers is about the story of the first major battle of the American phase of the Vietnam War and the soldiers on both sides that fought it. We Were Soldiers was one of my favorite war films growing up and still is one of my favorites. Director, Randall Wallace, takes you into this gritty, realist war film. What stands with the directing style of, We Were Soldiers, is the use of a steadicam affectively for action sequence. When you watch this film you get right into the middle of the action, seeing all the detail and emotions. I like the film grain; it adds to the grittiness of war. The performances in We Were Soldiers are great and succeeds with giving the characters life. It's always bad in films characters are so flat and lifeless because of the acting and character development. You get none of that in this film. Mel Gibson leads in We Were Soldiers and this by far one of his best performances of his career. The emotion you feel from beginning to end from Gibson is astounding. From the very beginning you see that he cares about being a parent, husband, & soldier. By the end of this film Mel Gibson has my eyes tearing up because of how much he loves his country and soldiers. The only tiny problem with this film is that it falls to little war movie clichés, but that didn't bother me. We Were Soldiers comes highly recommended for those who love war films.
The Human Centipede II (Full Sequence) (2011)
Disgusting, Film Trash
The Human Centipede 2 is about Martin who is inspired by the fictional Dr. Heiter, disturbed loner Martin dreams of creating a 12-person centipede and sets out to realize his sick fantasy.(IMDb) Let me just start off by saying this one of the most disgusting films I have ever seen. Director, Tom Six, captures the gruesomeness of everything very well and has a little potential to be good. Having The Human Centipede 2 in black and white really adds to the film. I think it makes little more disgusting in black and white. Tom Six is just a shock value director and that's it. Tom Six also write this film and there isn't much to the script. It's just a disgusting story to get people cringing. As far as the performances go they aren't good, except for Laurence Harvey who plays Martin. Harvey gives an unsettling performance for a disgusting character. He's really gross to watch and I found myself at times taking my eyes of the screen. The Human Centipede 2 (Full Sequence) is a disgusting film that is made for shock value. If you want to watch this film go for it, but I don't recommend it.