Ironman 3
(2013, Shane Black)
Robert Downey Jr. is back as Tony Stark in Marvel's third installment in the Ironman series. Marvel Studios has done a good job of re-tooling their properties in an effort to bring comics to cinema in a way that doesn't piss off fans-- Bravo Marvel! This movie is very much like first film in that the audience gets to see that what makes Ironman special is not the technology but Tony Stark's amazing intellect. This movie was fun and the best thing about it is Ben Kingsley's very fine performance. I strongly recommend checking this out if only to have a chuckle at Sir Ben Kingsley, CBE. (5/7)
Trailer
Ride With the Devil (Criterion)
(1999, Ang Lee)
Ang Lee's Civil War epic about Southern skirmishes, Jayhawkers, and Bushwackers is really a meditation on brotherhood, love, and the power of circumstance and less of an historical examination of an aspect of the Civil War not usually brought to film. Outstanding performances by Geoffrey Wright as the slave Holt, who chooses to stay by his friend who freed him and follow him as he fights a guerrilla war against the Union, and Tobey Maguire as Jake Roedel, a young man of German descent who chooses to support the South rather than the Union as many other recent German immigrants were doing at the time. Skeet Ulrich, Jewel Kilcher, Simon Baker, Mark Ruffalo, Jim Caviezel, and Jonathan Rhys Meyers all put in fine performances. A solid film well shot with an appropriate soundtrack. Filming on location in Kansas and Missouri adds authenticity. (5/7)
Trailer
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Saturday, February 16, 2013
On DVD: John Dies in the End
(2012, Don Coscarelli)
In the spirit of House II (1987) and Big Trouble in Little China (1986) comes the irreverent reverence that is John Dies at the End. Don Coscarelli (Bubba Ho Tep) is a "horror" director better known for the Phantasm movies. This however is an extracosmic psychedelic mash-up of a film that has a lot of nice qualities that echo Hellraiser and Gremlins in some ways. Chase Williamson and Rob Mayes star as Dave and John two unlikely heroes who gain various mental abilities through exposure to the living drug/ organism Soy Sauce and battle the extradimensional forces of darkness. I shouldn't say much more. John Carpenter's They Live is also similarly related to perception and things unseen just beneath the surface of apparent reality and good versus evil. So watch and think about Gremlins, and Hellraiser, and They Live, and House II: The Second Story, and Evil Dead II and Big Trouble in Little China and then realize that Paul Giamatti was a producer on this movie. What does all that have to do with anything? Dunno. Maybe this is a pilot for a TV series. . . . (5/7)
Trailer
David Wong
In the spirit of House II (1987) and Big Trouble in Little China (1986) comes the irreverent reverence that is John Dies at the End. Don Coscarelli (Bubba Ho Tep) is a "horror" director better known for the Phantasm movies. This however is an extracosmic psychedelic mash-up of a film that has a lot of nice qualities that echo Hellraiser and Gremlins in some ways. Chase Williamson and Rob Mayes star as Dave and John two unlikely heroes who gain various mental abilities through exposure to the living drug/ organism Soy Sauce and battle the extradimensional forces of darkness. I shouldn't say much more. John Carpenter's They Live is also similarly related to perception and things unseen just beneath the surface of apparent reality and good versus evil. So watch and think about Gremlins, and Hellraiser, and They Live, and House II: The Second Story, and Evil Dead II and Big Trouble in Little China and then realize that Paul Giamatti was a producer on this movie. What does all that have to do with anything? Dunno. Maybe this is a pilot for a TV series. . . . (5/7)
Trailer
David Wong
Thursday, January 3, 2013
On DVD: Bunraku
(2010, Guy Moshe)
Bunraku is a very original futuristic noirish fantastic western with swords and bushido ethos which is utterly theatrical and bizarre. Starring Josh Hartnett, Kevin McKidd (Rome), Woody Harrelson, Ron Perlman, Japan's music star Gackt and super hot Emily Kaiho, with Demi Moore, Immortal legend Shun Sugata (Ichi the Killer, Last Samurai, Izo) and voice over by Mike Patton (Faith No More, Mr. Bungle, Tomahawk, Fantomas, etc.) Great sets and concepts, good fight choreography, and good performances but this film may be too weird for some people. (5/7)
Trailer
Bunraku is a very original futuristic noirish fantastic western with swords and bushido ethos which is utterly theatrical and bizarre. Starring Josh Hartnett, Kevin McKidd (Rome), Woody Harrelson, Ron Perlman, Japan's music star Gackt and super hot Emily Kaiho, with Demi Moore, Immortal legend Shun Sugata (Ichi the Killer, Last Samurai, Izo) and voice over by Mike Patton (Faith No More, Mr. Bungle, Tomahawk, Fantomas, etc.) Great sets and concepts, good fight choreography, and good performances but this film may be too weird for some people. (5/7)
Trailer
Argo
(2012, Ben Affleck)
Ben Affleck bothers me. It is probably entirely due to the fact that he played Daredevil the Marvel Comics character in the terrible movie of the same name. Horrible. Also he was in another unvarnished turd of a film: Phantoms (1998). I do not care what anyone says Phantoms is a horrible Dean Koontz adaptation and a horrible movie and Ben Affleck is bad in it. That said here is my review:
John Goodman and Alan Arkin are awesome. This is a tightly scripted, tense thriller which really works. This is a fun ride. There are a few weak conventions here and there but on balance a solid film. Well done Mr. Damon, er Mr. Affleck-- well done. And it's based on a true story! Go USA!
Trailer
Ben Affleck bothers me. It is probably entirely due to the fact that he played Daredevil the Marvel Comics character in the terrible movie of the same name. Horrible. Also he was in another unvarnished turd of a film: Phantoms (1998). I do not care what anyone says Phantoms is a horrible Dean Koontz adaptation and a horrible movie and Ben Affleck is bad in it. That said here is my review:
John Goodman and Alan Arkin are awesome. This is a tightly scripted, tense thriller which really works. This is a fun ride. There are a few weak conventions here and there but on balance a solid film. Well done Mr. Damon, er Mr. Affleck-- well done. And it's based on a true story! Go USA!
Trailer
Django Unchained
(2012, Quentin Tarantino)
Quentin Tarantino has come on a long, varied journey since Reservoir Dogs (1992) and Pulp Fiction (1994). The ride has been mostly enjoyable with a few missteps here and there. I was not a fan of Inglorious Basterds (2009) though aspects of it are great. The greatest thing about that film was the incomparably good Christoph Waltz. It is around Christoph Waltz's fine performance that Django Unchained revolves. Jaime Foxx is decent as Django and there are some nice nods and cameos as well as some fun character actor performances but it is the truly sensitive acting of Waltz that keeps the cheese of Django at bay-- at least until the end. The pulpy grindhouse vibe is clearly what Tarantino is enamored with and generally it works. A gorefest Peckinpah might appreciate. Virtually no nudity and a view of slavery that, while heightened and hyperbolized, does not hide from the absolute horror that was slavery in the 1860's South. There is good social commentary here, beneath the surface, and I've no doubt many people will not be able to handle Django on many levels. The ubiquitous use of the "n" word may inspire drinking games. . . .
This is a western and it works as a western. The music is good when it is morriconian and not good when it is anachronistically rap laden-- not because hip hop can't work or the songs are not ok-- it is simply because it is distracting. So what did I really think? Jamie Foxx is fine. Christoph Waltz is awesome. I liked seeing Tom Savini, Zoë Bell, and Michael Parks hidden in there and Franco Nero was a nice add among others. Location shooting in Louisiana worked as the South but Southern California will never look like anywhere but California. Just one question: why does SoCal's Leo DiCaprio always play southerners? At least Brad Pitt is from Oklahoma/Missouri. . . ha ha
(6/7)
Trailer
Quentin Tarantino has come on a long, varied journey since Reservoir Dogs (1992) and Pulp Fiction (1994). The ride has been mostly enjoyable with a few missteps here and there. I was not a fan of Inglorious Basterds (2009) though aspects of it are great. The greatest thing about that film was the incomparably good Christoph Waltz. It is around Christoph Waltz's fine performance that Django Unchained revolves. Jaime Foxx is decent as Django and there are some nice nods and cameos as well as some fun character actor performances but it is the truly sensitive acting of Waltz that keeps the cheese of Django at bay-- at least until the end. The pulpy grindhouse vibe is clearly what Tarantino is enamored with and generally it works. A gorefest Peckinpah might appreciate. Virtually no nudity and a view of slavery that, while heightened and hyperbolized, does not hide from the absolute horror that was slavery in the 1860's South. There is good social commentary here, beneath the surface, and I've no doubt many people will not be able to handle Django on many levels. The ubiquitous use of the "n" word may inspire drinking games. . . .
This is a western and it works as a western. The music is good when it is morriconian and not good when it is anachronistically rap laden-- not because hip hop can't work or the songs are not ok-- it is simply because it is distracting. So what did I really think? Jamie Foxx is fine. Christoph Waltz is awesome. I liked seeing Tom Savini, Zoë Bell, and Michael Parks hidden in there and Franco Nero was a nice add among others. Location shooting in Louisiana worked as the South but Southern California will never look like anywhere but California. Just one question: why does SoCal's Leo DiCaprio always play southerners? At least Brad Pitt is from Oklahoma/Missouri. . . ha ha
(6/7)
Trailer
Friday, November 23, 2012
Skyfall and Cloud Atlas
Skyfall
(2012, Sam Mendes)
Daniel Craig returns in another solid James Bond film. Not a whole lot of new territory is covered but Javier Bardem is always awesome as a bad guy. This film strips things back to a simpler more traditional Bond adventure. (6/7)
Trailer
Cloud Atlas
(2012, Tom Twyker and The Wachowskis)
This could have been so cool. The trailer made me cry. Then I watched the movie. It has its moments and the idea of using the same actors and actresses for all the rolls was an interesting one-- but the gimmick was distracting. Not especially amazing nor moving. The acting overall was decent and there were especially good performances from Doona Bae and Xun Zhou. It seems like this film could have been edited differently and it might have had more resonance. Hrm. (4/7)
Trailer
(2012, Sam Mendes)
Daniel Craig returns in another solid James Bond film. Not a whole lot of new territory is covered but Javier Bardem is always awesome as a bad guy. This film strips things back to a simpler more traditional Bond adventure. (6/7)
Trailer
Cloud Atlas
(2012, Tom Twyker and The Wachowskis)
This could have been so cool. The trailer made me cry. Then I watched the movie. It has its moments and the idea of using the same actors and actresses for all the rolls was an interesting one-- but the gimmick was distracting. Not especially amazing nor moving. The acting overall was decent and there were especially good performances from Doona Bae and Xun Zhou. It seems like this film could have been edited differently and it might have had more resonance. Hrm. (4/7)
Trailer
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Taichi Zero and Pitch Perfect
Taichi 0
(2012, Stephen Fung)
A fun first part of a multi-part series this film features a cast of classic wuxia actors and some new faces from the world of wushu competition and taichi. This is billed as a steam-punk influenced epic but it really more of a fantasy in the tradition of Scott Pilgrim style game influenced editing. There are some wonderful performances and smart editing but there are also a lot of weak moments that distract from the forward movement of the plot. Hopefully part two is better. Definitely worth seeing with your favorite beverage and a bowl of popcorn. Angelababy is capable as the love interest and wushu competitor and new comer Yuan Xiaochao does a great job. Tony Leung Fa Kai is one of China's great actors Wei Ai Xuan is awesome as a the little taichi master girl. (5/7)
Trailer
Pitch Perfect
(2012, Jason Moore)
Uh, this Anna Kendrick collegiate acapella competition movie is fun. I liked it. Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson) is extra solid. All the singing is decent and some nice 80's Breakfast Club nods. Skylar Astin is suitably not annoying as the male lead. At times very funny and occasionally moving this movie did not suck. (6/7)
Trailer
(2012, Stephen Fung)
A fun first part of a multi-part series this film features a cast of classic wuxia actors and some new faces from the world of wushu competition and taichi. This is billed as a steam-punk influenced epic but it really more of a fantasy in the tradition of Scott Pilgrim style game influenced editing. There are some wonderful performances and smart editing but there are also a lot of weak moments that distract from the forward movement of the plot. Hopefully part two is better. Definitely worth seeing with your favorite beverage and a bowl of popcorn. Angelababy is capable as the love interest and wushu competitor and new comer Yuan Xiaochao does a great job. Tony Leung Fa Kai is one of China's great actors Wei Ai Xuan is awesome as a the little taichi master girl. (5/7)
Trailer
Pitch Perfect
(2012, Jason Moore)
Uh, this Anna Kendrick collegiate acapella competition movie is fun. I liked it. Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson) is extra solid. All the singing is decent and some nice 80's Breakfast Club nods. Skylar Astin is suitably not annoying as the male lead. At times very funny and occasionally moving this movie did not suck. (6/7)
Trailer
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