Predators. After twenty years, the first Predator movie not to involve the Aliens has arrived from producer Robert Rodriguez and director Nimrod Antal. This time an assorted group of humans (mercenaries, soldiers, killers) arrive in a jungle. They quickly realize they are no longer on Earth and, even worse, are being stalked by a group of alien hunters. So, how is it? Pretty good actually. I went in with low expectations but was not disappointed by the end result. It's not a deep insightful film about the nature of mankind and his tendency for violence--but it was never intended to be (and neither were any of the previous films either). What we do get is a solid monster "B" movie--much like the original. We get predator style dogs, two groups of Predators and a whole lot of action. The film slows down enough in places to explain who everyone is and takes it's time getting to revealing the Predators head-on. Of course, as with any sequel the element of surprise over what the adversary is gets lost. We know what the Predators are, what they look like and will ultimately do. Despite that, we get a good action movie and a decent amount of characterization. Unlike the first AVP movie where we get introduced to everyone only to have them all die within five minutes of each other this movie stretches the body count out which makes for a more satisfying story overall. The movie is R-rated and does not shy away from the gore--but that is appropriate for this type of film. Anything less then "R" does the material a disservice. One minor nitpick--a couple of action scenes happen so fast that it's hard to tell what's happening (like one Predator vs. Predator scene reminded me of that ninja scene in Batman Begins--it lost me as to the details of what was happening). A satisfying sequel to Predator. If they make movies of this calibre, I would gladly welcome them. Recommended. (July 9/10).
Knight and Day. A movie about a spy named Roy Miller (Tom Cruise) and his chance encounter with June Havens (Cameron Diaz) at the airport. He uses her to sneak onto a plane where they are attacked by various agents who are after Roy and some experimental technology he took. The story is pretty by-the-numbers. Roy drags June into his world and they experience various adventures as both the government and an arms dealer seek the gizmo Roy has. One twist is that we're not sure until nearly the end of the movie whether or not Roy can really be trusted. Is he all that he seems or is he playing June? The movie's one real annoyance is that something like five people wrote the script over time and apparently no one did any research. The device is some kind of battery sized cold fusion thing that can supposedly fuel a small city--I found this stretched credibility somewhat as did other things like Roy tossing a grenade and taking out a trailer or how a small army of agents could take over an jetliner in ten minutes of Roy's boarding the plane (okay, he was there for a while but then why did he board the jet at all if he knew they were all on it?) Still, if you can get by these small (and stupid) details then there is a fluffy action comedy to enjoy. Tom Cruise is funny and Cameron Diaz manages her way well enough through the story. I don't know why the movie is called Knight and Day--the Roy character's real last name is "Knight" but that still doesn't explain where "Day" comes in. Still, this is a reasonably good summer action comedy popcorn movie. Recommended. (June 24/10).
Get Him To The Greek. A spin-off to the 2008 hit Forgetting Sarah Marshall, this film follows the character of Aldous Snow (the rocker who was dating Sarah in that movie). This time, Aldous (Russell Brand) has released an album that totally bombs commercially and critically. His long-time girlfriend dumps him (she's a star on the rise) and he falls back into drinking and drugs. Enter Aaron Green (Jonah Hill), a record executive that suggest to his boss Sergio Roma (Sean "Diddy" Combs) that they host an anniversary concert with Aldous Snow at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles. This will sell them records and put Infant Sorrow (Snow's band) back into the public consciousness. Sergio ultimately agrees with Aaron and sends him to London to bring Aldous back for the concert in a few days time. What results is several comic misadventures as Aaron tries to accomplish his mission and protect his job. The movie is pretty good overall. We get many, many comic scenes and many of them are truly funny. Even Sean Combs is hilarious as Aaron's boss--and if you don't care for him generally, watching him get hit by a car in Las Vegas is somehow satisfying. There is a quick call-out to Sarah Marshall during the movie (a clip of her newest show while they're traveling back to the States. The scene is pointless but amusing). Between the two movies, I have to say I prefer the original one more. It was better written in some respects--we care about the protagonist right from the get-go and can sympathize with his plight. By contrast, this movie (this time written by the director of both films) is an excuse to set-up various comedic situations and it's not until near the end of the film that we truly learn what's wrong with Aldous Snow. He's an entertaining character all through out but it's hard to truly identify with him. After all, he seems to have it all and live a life many would envy (conversely, I'm not sure if there would've been another way to present the story). Even still, this is a funny comedic romp that's worth checking out. Recommended. (June 21/10).
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. The latest movie rendition of a popular video game is almost certainly the best produced one ever. Everything in this world, from sets to locations to special effects are top notch in their execution (the previous winner was Resident Evil, btw). Jake Gyllenhaal places Prince Dastan, the adopted son to the King of Persia and a noble if somewhat wreckloose character. He aids his forces in capturing Princess Tamina's home city under the belief they are supplying Persia's enemies with weapons. Dastan accidentally comes into possession of the Dagger of Time, a weapon that can turn time itself backward and which someone he believes to be his ally desperately seeks. It's not long before he's framed for murder and on the run with the princess. Of all the actors, I felt Ben Kingsley, Alfred Molina and Gemma Arterton were the most convincing white people playing mid-easterners (Gemma had some kind of make-up to make her skin look darker and it helped with the illusion). Dastan seemed a tad white for my tastes but whatever... The story is by the numbers in many respects with no big surprises or twists coming one's way. Which is not to say it isn't an entertaining popcorn movie that satisfies on a visceral level (if not an intellectual one). One thing I did find annoying was the mention early on in the film about how the arrows they find have "steel" heads when steel wouldn't be invented for several centuries to come. I also wondered why Nizam didn't remember the past when he was also holding the dagger for most of the final time it was used. Also, was there two daggers at the end? And if not, how is that possible when logically there should be. Such are the issues when the screenwriters/producers don't understand that the audience does pay attention to these things. Gemma Arterton's Tamina is quite dazzling and certainly worthwhile eye candy (while Gyllenhaal's Dastan should satisfy that quotient for the female demographic). Recommended. (May 28/10.)
Robin Hood. A new grittier version of the classic tale about the folk hero who never was. In this version, Robin (Russell Crowe) is one of several soldiers in the employ of King Richard the Lionheart as his army slowly returns home from the Crusades. Richard is attacking castles along the way, plundering as he goes to replenish his coffers. In one such instant he is killed and his men must then return his crown to England ahead of the army's arrival so that his brother, Prince John may become the new King. John is a lazy, selfish cad and has no understanding of how to rule men. Robin is the one to return the crown to John, along with his comrades, Will Scarlett, Little John and Alan-a-Dale. Unlike previous versions of the concept, this one has far less light humor and much more gritty action. Some may find this disappointing but I felt it suited the film fine. Cate Blanchett is Marion and does a fine job of the role (although the role is a little below an actor of her caliber). If this movie suffers from anything it's that it was intended as a summer blockbuster and the plot is pretty standard fare. There's no real attempt to zig instead of zag with the plot--the story's climax and resolution are predictable. Well done and entertaining but not unexpected. Even still, this is a very good medieval action flick and worth checking out. Recommended. (May 17/10).
Iron Man 2. The sequel to the 2008 film finds us a year later in the story where Tony Stark is riding high on his popularity as Iron Man. But all is not well--his company Stark Industries is in disarray; Tony himself is slowly dying from poisoning by his ARC reactor and a new enemy arises in Ivan Vanko, the son of Howard Stark's forgotten partner on the ARC reactor project all those years ago. Add to that, the government wants his armor and the presence of a sexy new secretary who's not quite what she seems and you have a crowded new tale. Unlike Spiderman 3 though, all the elements come together in the end to produce a satisfying story. One of the highlights of the movie is Tony and Pepper's verbal play which is just as rich as in the first movie (if not more so). Jon Favreau (the Director) got more to do in this movie in his role as Happy Hogan (Stark's bodyguard/driver) and he fits well with the rest of the cast. Don Cheadle replaces Terrence Howard as James Rhodes--he does an adequate job (personally, I liked Howard more but I guess it doesn't really matter. The change is less jarring then the change in actors who played Rachel in the two recent Batman movies). Mickey Rourke's Ivan Vanko is a good villain (he's a composite of Backlash and Crimson Dynamo from the comics). I do hope for the third movie that they skip out on another Iron Man clone derived from Tony's technology and use the Mandarin (that would mix things up and be cool). A good movie and a good addition to the series. Recommended. (May 8/10).
Gunless. A Canadian movie about the Montana Kid, a bad-ass American gunslinger who accidentally ends up in Canada when his hanging goes wrong. He is at first surprised by the mellow and irreverent attitudes the Canadians possess and then eventually starts to adapt to their way of life. But trouble has not forgotten him and soon catches up... Paul Gross is charming and instantly likable as a ruffian who's tough but not heartless. Sienna Guillory as his love interest Jane is also well acted. The rest of the cast don't get nearly as much screen time (although they play their parts well enough and there's just enough hints of characterization that they're believable in context of the film). The film is short at a mere ninety minutes and really they could have added a bit more to both fill it out and expand upon what was there. Which is not to say that it doesn't work as it is merely that it could've been padded out a bit more as it feels a little lean in places. I find the social commentary and philosophical elements the film touched upon to be interesting (it suffers slightly from not getting deeper on those issues but what's there works). I also noticed it seems as if they wrote it with a hint to Americans seeing it as the film initially presents the Canadians as strange and kooky for their beliefs (which strikes me as how an American would see Canadians in that context). Later on, the Canadian way comes across seeming much better the the brutal Wild West style of justice these Americans engage in. All in all, a pretty good effort...not perfect but still entertaining. Recommended.
Alice in Wonderland. Despite its title, this is really a sequel to the Lewis Carroll classic novel and not an adaptation of it. Calling it "Alice in Wonderland" is likely some dimwitted attempt at marketing rather then coming up with a good original title. At any rate, this story follows Alice as a young woman faced with an important life design. She steps out of her life for a little while to return to Wonderland and live out an incredible adventure. The special effects are top notch, seamlessly blending live action with cgi. The acting, involving Burton regulars Helena Bonham Carter and Johnny Depp as well as newcomer Mia Wasikowska (playing Alice) is top notch and Wasikowska makes Alice both innocent and tenacious, making us concerned for her ultimate destiny. I was particularly impressed with the ending. One could imply the whole movie's point is a metaphor for imagination and the human spirit--not compromising your greatest strengths for mediocrity. Recommended. (Mar. 26/10).
The Wolfman. A film starring Benicio Del Toro, Anthony Hopkins, Emily Blunt and Hugo Weaving. It was well acted, well cast and had very good special effects and cinematography. My one complaint is that it was not even two hours long and the movie moved quickly in places. I don't think it needed more plot but they could've thrown in a bit more refinements to the existing story. More time between Lawrence and Gwen, a bit more about John Talbot's past, a little more cat and mouse between the werewolves and their prey. It's a real challenge making a movie just long enough, but not going too far one way or the other--and this one seems to have been cut a little too fine. The special effects for the werewolves were generally pretty good but when they stood on camera full-on, it looked a bit cheesy (like a guy wearing an elaborate costume). I think the werewolf in this story and, indeed in all werewolf stories, works best when we see them in glimpses and blurs instead. This movie does succeed in bringing back the mood and feel of those classic Universal monster movies generally. Recommended. (Feb. 20/10).
The Edge of Darkness. Mel Gibson's return to the movies is with a tale about a father's search for justice when his twenty-something daughter Emma Craven (Bojana Novakovic) is brutally shot to death when she's come home for a visit. We quickly learn her job as a nuclear technician made her a target and it's up to her father, Thomas (Gibson) to find out why. I like revenge thrillers as much as anyone but this one was long and dull in many places. The action, what there was, was good but there wasn't nearly enough of it! We spend far too much of the movie with Thomas investigating one lead or the other, etc, etc. In the end, justice prevails--sort of. The ending is a bit of downer after all the work we have to do to get to it. I found last year's Taken much more entertaining then this drivel. Don't waste your time with it. Pass. (Feb. 5/10).
The Book of Eli. Yet another apocalyptic movie. This one follows the adventures of a man named Eli (Denzel Washington) some thirty years after the incident in question. He's a scavenger and armed to the teeth as he makes his way west across a harsh, unforgiving desert landscape. His most prized possession is a copy of the Bible. He happens into a town run by Carnegie (Gary Oldman), who discovers Eli's treasure and wants it for his own. When Eli refuses, Carnegie gives chase, determined to get that book no matter what. It's a well acted movie and the world it creates is dark, bland and lifeless--a perfect setting for this type of story. The story is simple enough and the action is enjoyable. Not an extremely deep movie but a fun action flick that delivers. Recommended. (Jan. 19/10).
Daybreakers. Yet another vampire movie in an age which the concept threatens to grow very stale. Despite this, Daybreakers manages to do something interesting with the vampire concept and make a movie that's entertaining and imaginative. The film is set in 2019 and follows a world where almost everyone is a vampire. Society has been re-constructed around this new change to the bulk of its population. There are now cars to mask out sunlight; an elaborate sub-tunnel system; much living and working is now done at night under the cover of dark. All would seem to be well for this vampiric society, save one thing: they're running out of blood. Many humans are kept alive in vast farms to be used for supply while a precious few move about the world freely, evading their would-be captors as best as possible. Edward Dalton (Ethan Hawke) is the chief Hemotologist for his company, working frantically to develop a blood substitute to help save the others before they mutate into human-sized bat creatures. He accidentally encounters some humans one day on the way home and before he knows it, is embroiled in a frantic struggle to survive. It seems these people have a secret--a vampire who stumbled on a way to become human once more. Edward undergoes the procedure as well and then it becomes a race against time to stop the frenzied vampire populace before it devours the last remaining humans and before the mutation can claim them all. The acting, story and special effects are all very good in this movie. My only complaint is that it seems like the characters don't have a definite enough plan near the end of the movie (let's just walk in and hope we don't die!) Another minor nitpick is an early scene where Edward is seen to have no reflection, which seems silly given the real-world scenario they're trying to establish here (any physical object has a reflection. Period. Classic vamps were thought to have no souls, hence no image. But cameras and mirrors show real reflections, not souls, so this seems a little odd of a choice on someone's part). One other criticism I have is that the music is a bit too melodramatic, especially given the contemporary tone of the film (it seems a bit out of place). All in all, a good fantasy action movie and worth checking out. Recommended. (Jan. 13/10).
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