“Clash Of The Titans” Movie Review

CLASH OF THE TITANS

Directed by Louis Leterrier

Starring:  Sam Worthington, Alexa Davalos, Liam Neeson & Ralph Fiennes

Update of the 1981 fantasy film of the same name and premise tells the myth of a demigod named Perseus, who discovers that his father is none-other than the greek God, Zeus.  But it’s bad timing for such a discovery because Zeus has a mortal rebellion brewing on his hands, which in a case of ‘in the wrong place at the wrong time’ spills out to destroy everyone and everything Perceus knew and loved; making any sort of warm reunion between estranged father and son almost impossible.

Making matters worse, in a mis-guided move, Zeus lets the diabolical Hades off his leash to deal with the troublesome Kingdom of Argus…who as luck would have it, is where we catch up with our hero who is brought with the surviving soldiers before Argos’ King Cepheus and Queen Cassioppeia (played by titan of the Rome tv series Polly Walker – who has a great knack for shooting her mouth off until a lot of people are dead) who immediately declare their contempt for the gods until Hades shows up and is threatening-up the place.  But Hades isn’t done…in a total dick move true to character, Hades takes a second before leaving to reveal Perseus’ famous parentage to  a not only shocked Perceus, but to a room full of haters then disappears in a puff of smoke and the Clash is on!

Clash of the Titans is filled with fantastic CGI effects that are a real highlight to this movie set in the ancient world of myth and legend.  The production design is also an asset, taking us from heaven to hell and back through beautiful designed landscape after landscape.  There’s a lot of fun action sequences and the fact that all the CGI elements fit seamlessly added to this being a successful remake.  On the performance side, Sam Worthington is kinda silently vacant throughout the movie, while Liam Neeson is good (as always) as Zeus; so is Raph Fiennes as Hades: who he plays with more subtle elegance than his Voldemort.   My favorite part and a huge selling feature is the movie’s sense of humour.  Clash of the Titan’s doesn’t take itself too seriously and has some pretty good one-liners and sight gags throuout  ie) the warrior who draws his bow next to a statue in the same pose inside Medusa’s lair was a good laugh.

The only real criticism is how rushed the story development and exposition dialogue are.  I know this is a fun-action/fantasy movie, but a few more developments in Perceus’ adopted family connections and more on Zeus and Hades motives wouldn’t have killed the production.

Is this a good movie?  Yeah it sure is.  It’s one of those films from my childhood list of faves (The Dark Crystal, Labrynth) that has benefitted from an upgrade.   I did not see this one in 3D, but this movie does just fine without the added gimmick.  “Realease the Kraken!”

“How To Train Your Dragon” Movie Review

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON

Directed by Chris Sanders & Dean Delbois

Featuring the voice talents:  Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill and Craig Ferguson.

Dreamworks Animation’s adaptation of the children’s book by English author Cressida Cowell, isn’t so much “How To Train Your Dragon” as much as it is “How Your Dragon Trains You”, or even lengthier “How Beings Train Each Other To A Mutually Beneficial End On Both Parties Involved” which translates as a sweet morality tale in that it demonstrates the mutual respect and trust between all creatures, especially ones we call friend; and sometimes the popular beliefs and opinions can be gross exaggeration built on misinformation and fear.

Good themes that make this movie a success.  Not that it’s all morals and no action or comedy, cuz there is plenty of both.  The story revolves around a small viking boy named Hiccup.  In a world of big, strong vikings the apprentice blacksmith is on the small side of things and in a world plagued by Dragon.

After a run-in with a Night Fury, Hiccup begins to observe the not-quite-as-dangerous-as-he-was-led-to-believe and even names the lovable beast Toothless.  Hiccup’s father and Chief, Stoick the Vast doesn’t make things easier as he continues to lead a campaign to find the dragon’s nest and try to eradicate the threat once and for all.  Meanwhile Hiccup and Toothless befriend each other and soon the training begins leading up to all the forces to an exciting climax.

Jay Baruchel (She’s Out Of My League) and Gerard Butler (The Bounty Hunter) both have several movies out this year and they both are instantly recognizable…Baruchel as the lovable nerd and Butler as the ultimate manly-man.  Nothing new here, but they are perfectly cast.  Big standout is Craig Fergasson’s comic relief that steals every scene he’s in.  This movie was really quite good and the kids, as well as the parents, are going to love it cause the humor is universal.  Was this a good movie…you bet.  It’s fun, smart and very cute.

“The Bounty Hunter” Movie Review

THE BOUNTY HUNTER

Starring: Jennifer Aniston, Gerard Butler, Christine Baranski and Jeff Garlin

Written by: Sarah Thorp

Directed by: Andy Tennant

Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler star in this romantic comedy of ex’s.  Aniston is Nicole Hurley: Journalist to Butler’s bounty hunter Milo Boyd also former spouses.  When Boyd is down-on-his-luck the bounty of his life comes across his desk. It seems that Nicole is on the lamb after ducking out on a court date on a driving infraction, to chase after a story.  Boy meets Girl…Boy gets girl…boy loses girl…well, you probably already know the score on romantic comedies – too much poorly developed romance and not enough awkward comedy…so the same is true for this one.

While I really like Jennifer Aniston, Butler is the real problem here.  While I thought he made the character believable all I could think about watching him was, “Doesn’t this guy ever shave?  He’s gotta have male pattern permastuble.” When he looks at his wedding photo, look at the stubble in the photo…it’s the same as he’s got in the film.  He held the overly enthusiastic broad comedic moments with the hands of a mechanic.  And it’s not like Gerard Butler isn’t talented, after-all the guy pulled of the theatrical version of the musical Phantom of the Opera then 300.  But ultimately, I just didn’t believe him in this role.  Hey Gerard stick to revenge laiden flicks and work on more serious stuff that’ll one day get you an invitation to the Acadamy Awards as a nominee and not just because yer publicist thinks it’s a good photo-op.

Written by Sarah Thorpe  and directed by Andy Tennant (Hitch & Fool’s Gold), I think all the elements are here for a potentially good flick, but the broad comedy and deep emotional moments don’t mesh.  So Andy Tennant, you gotta take some of the blame for this one.  And there are some genuine laughs, but like the run-time, neither is enough to pull this one out of the mediocre bin at Blockbuster.

“Cop Out” Movie Review

COP OUT

Directed by Kevin Smith

Starring:  Bruce Willis, Tracy Morgan, Adam Brody, Kevin Pollack, Guillermo Diaz, Ana De La Reguera, & Sean William-Scott.

Director Kevin Smith adds a buddy-cop movie to his list of creds.  While Smith himself didn’t write this movie, he definately has his signature style all over it.  Written by Mark & Robb Cullen, this comedy follows NYPD-ers Jimmy and Paul – stereo-typical detectives, who while under suspension for bungling interference in another case, they must retrieve Willis’ only means of paying for his daughter’s lavish wedding – a mint condition baseball Card.

Cop Out has some very funny moments…the opening interrogation scenes showcases Tracy Morgans quick n funny wit acting out moments from various  cop movies of the past…one of which is Die Hard’s “Yippie-Kai-Aye…” line which Willis quickly denies seeing.  Another great moment amid Smith’s college sense of comedy is Morgan dressed as a cell-phone while he and Willis deliver a smug cell phone bit!

What makes this movie a hit, is not in any shape or form of originality;  it’s soundtrack gives it in places a real retro-80′s cop feel, while seeming like Willis was hired because DeNiro turned it down.  It was the list of hillarious supporting characters that made this a good flick: the crazy, high-strung, gun-toting woman…or the 10 (sorry 11) year old car thief/informant!   Also good was Sean William-Scott’s very like-able minor supporting role, which is classic fare for this guy and he wears it like a glove.  I was surprised at how quickly he came and went in this movie; leaving me wanting to see more of his up-beat humor.  A lot of the buddy-buddy dialogue is the classic “Clerks” – style bantering which I always like; the personal motivations here seem legit enough and carries the plot while delivering comic moments after long bouts of exposition and over-all  kinda long in places….and I kept expecting to see Jay & Silent Bob pop-up somewhere which kept breaking me out of story. 

Is this a good movie?  Yeah, Smith handles it fine.  Nice to see him do something a little more main-stream and less an acquired taste like his previous catalogue of films.

“Alice In Wonderland” Movie Review

Disney’s Alice In Wonderland

Directed by Tim Burton

Starring: Mia Wasikowska, Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham-Carter, Anne Hathaway and Crispin Glover.

Tim Burton treats us to his masterful vision of the Lewis Carroll Classics “Alice in Wonderland” & “Through The Looking-Glass”, and I can’t think of a better choice of director that is more suited to making this movie!  Burton reteams with ultra-kewl actors’ Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham-Carter who both give outstanding performances as The Mad Hatter and The Red Queen; grounding their fantastic characters in very human emotions and motivations.

Burton directs Linda Woolverton’s screenplay that has Alice Kensington, now 17, and equipped with ideals far ahead of her Victorian times.   Dealing with the recent passing of her beloved father and feeling the pressure to marry into the prestigious family that now owns her father’s trading company, the movie opens with Alice being a guest at her own surprise engagement party.  At the moment of truth Alice finds a timely escape in the sudden appearance of The White Rabbit and runs off before answering the proposal.  After chasing the rabbit to a hole beneath a tree, she falls headfirst into the topsy-turvy, crazy Wonderland and on a journey of self-discovery while on a quest to liberate Wonderland from the terror of The Red Queen.

While the storyline and production design are strong elements, I did find that Mia Wasikowska’s ‘ahead-of-her-time’  Alice was little more than a spoiled, bossy and annoying teenager.  On the other end of that spectrum is Anne Hathaway’s supporting role as the White Queen; overthrown sister to The Red Queen.  The character is handled brilliantly… she is on the surface a ”good” Queen, but not snow-white, she is dark with potential for evil leanings and tendencies; the real qualities of any ruler.

Is this a good movie?  You bet!  I have not seen it yet in 3D, but I enjoyed Avatar 3D so much that I will be standing in line again to see Alice In Wonderland 3D!

“Shutter Island” Movie Review

Shutter Island

Directed by Martin Scorsese

Starring:  Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsly and Michelle Williams.

Scorcese is in top form in this intensely dark and ominous tale dealing with the suspense-ladened, “Shutter Island”; I am dispensing with any synopsis as that is part of the thrill and suspense of this film based on Dennis Lehane’s novel of the same name.

Scorsese puts his masterful touch on a genre that hasn’t seen the like since Kubric or Hitchcock. As with any of his catalogue of films, he has assembled a cast of incredible actors, re-teaming with Leonardo DiCaprio as US Marshall Teddy Daniels, Mark Ruffalo as his partner Chuck Aule, Ben Kingsley as the mysterious Dr. Cawley and Michelle Williams as Daniel’s bespectred wife plus an amazing list of great character parts amply played by Patricia Clarkson, Elias Koteas, Emilie Mortimer, Jackie Earle Haley & Max Von Sydow…and Scorsese draws pitch-perfect performances out of each of them!

This is the 1st really good film I’ve seen in 2010. Scorsese’s best-picture “The Departed” was a bit of a miss for me, but “Shutter Island” makes up for any misgivings I may have had. It is deeply rich in both the look and feel immediately drawing the audience in right from the 1st scene and lasts right to the end! This is must-see film and I hope Mr. Scorsese and his fine cast get a nod or two next award season.

“The Wolfman” Movie Review

The Wolfman

Director Joe Johnston

Starring Benicio Del Toro, Anthony Hopkins, Emily Blunt and Hugo Weaving.

Universal updates their american horror classic, The Wolfman.  A tale of the beauty who falls in love with a beast, this remake is very faithful to the original 1941 film of the same name. Benicio Del Toro does a fine job as the wayward Lawrence Talbot; The Wolfman opposite Anthony Hopkins as St. John Talbot. These two acting heavy-weights are terrific to watch as the story unfolds amid the dark and dreary english landscape. Hugo Weaving is very good,as usual, playing the driven Inspector Aberlene, the man who must hunt down and kill The Wolfman.

The f/x were fitting to the story and stand-up well fully exposing Del Toro’s ”wolfing-out” transformation; the couple scenes are reminiscent of An American Werewolf in London.  The movie had me up until the last 15 minutes when Emily Blunt rather annoyingly forces her way into the climax of the story. While I agree it is a very dramatic ending, it was just not very well executed and seemed rushed. With a budget of 150 million, Johnston could have done a little more story development on the climax. I get what he was trying to do, but his direction was lacking. Much like his direction of Jurassic Park III paled in comparison to Spielberg’s Jurassic Park & The Lost World.

Is this a good monster movie? Yeah it is. But if you want to compare…the original and the original ending was far more dramatic and meaningful.

“Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief” Movie Review

Percy Jackson and the Olympians:  The Lightning Thief

Directed by Chris Columbus

Starring:  Logan Lerman, Brandon T. Jackson, Alexandra Daddario and Jake Abel.

Chris Columbus’ adaptation of Rick Riordan’s “The Lightning Thief”, the 1st novel in his “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” series of novels; stars Logan Lerman as the title character, who after quickly discovering he is the son of the mythical God Poseidon, is accused of ripping off top God Zeus’ Lightning Bolt, prompting him and his two side-kicks to embark on the hero’s journey to rescue his kidnapped mother and crack the case of the missing bolt.
With a supporting cast of well-known faces: Sean Bean, Pierce Brosnan, Uma Thurman, Rosario Dawson, Steve Coogan, Kevin McKidd, Joe Pantoliano & Catherine Keener, it seems like Columbus and producers are trying to start-up a US franchise to equal that of one bespectacled boy who also discovers he was born from an extraordinary background and abilities!

This movie should do well with 10 and under set, as that who this movie is geared toward. There is very little plot or character development other than quick lines of brief exposition, where the characters’ (and audience) must readily accept; and the film moves very fast through the trials Percy and friends must go through to find Zeus’ bolt and reveal the identity of the lightning thief.

The three leads: Lerman, Jackson & Daddario do well enough with the script, but come of a bit bored amid moments of self- discovery. It’s Columbus’ direction and the script that falls short here – never giving any real meaning in dramatic moments and end up feeling anti-climactic during Percy’s triumphs. Even when Poseidon and Percy finally have a chance to clear the air and have a meaningful moment together, the intimacy between father and son just isn’t there.

Is this a good movie…yeah it’s okay, and if I was 10 years old I would have appreciated it more as just a fun ride.

Sherlock Holmes Movie Review

Sherlock Holmes

Directed by Guy Ritchie

Starring:  Robert Downey Jr, Jude Law, Rachel McAdams and Mark Strong.

Guy Ritchie directs Robert Downey Jr.’s supberbly subtle and intensely likeable portrayal of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes!

This latest incarnation of the Holmes lore is a brilliant mix of action, comedy and intelligent storytelling. At the heart is Downey Jr.’s Holmes and Jude Law’s Dr. John Watson caught up in a mesmerizing original case that has them chasing down the ghostly Lord Blackwood throughout 1891 London.

Ritchie’s direction of Michael Robert Johnson,Anthony Peckham,Simon Kinberg and Lionel Wigram’s screenplay and story is very well done. Most notably, when we get to glimpse inside Holmes’ head to witness his brilliant and keen sense of deductive reasoning, then watch it play out realtime. The look of the film is also a very strong point as this 1891 London looks and feels very much lived in.

The strongest part of this film is the bromantic repertoire between Downey Jr. and Law. They are both exquisite actors and are a joy to watch onscreen with Holmes’ and Watson who are at a cross-roads in life and Watson has a hard time breaking away from Holmes and the exciting lifestyle that comes with their friendship.   This is one for the library folks when it hits shelves on BlueRay and DVD!