Review: The Perks of Being a Wallflower

There are couple interesting things about this movie that I would have liked to know before watching it.  First, it's supposed to take place in the 1991-1992 school year and has a lot of 90's references.  Second, it originally received an R rating, but the filmmakers appealed the ruling and were able to convince the MPAA to give it a lower rating without editing it at all.

SYNOPSIS
An extremely shy freshman boy is taken under the wings of two seniors who welcome him to the real world. Only there are reasons for his shyness.

THE GOOD
The cinematography is very well crafted.  That was my first clue that this was NOT just another high school movie.

The acting, particularly by Logan Lerman, is brilliant.  I had no idea that Logan could be such a subtle actor. He will be one to watch in the future.

The reveals are done very well.  Very subtle and very effective.

THE BAD
It was really hard to watch Emma Watson try to do an American accent.  It felt forced to me, although her actual performance was great.

The high school extras that had one liners felt like they were pulled from a Disney movie and were a little distracting.  This might have been intentional, nevertheless I was distracted by it.

CONCLUSION
This movie has some very adult themes and should only be viewed by mature audiences (hence the original R rating).  I suppose there might be a high school student or two who would benefit from watching it, but if I had teenagers I wouldn't let them.  It was very well done and very heavy.  4/5 stars.

Superman's TV survival skills

How many of you out there in reader-land remember a show called 'Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman'? I remember that it aired on Sundays and I watched it every chance I got growing up.  How about the 1950's George Reeve 'The Adventures of Superman' TV series?  I'm told that children of that generation just ate it up.  Or perhaps the WB hit 'Smallville'?  All of these shows have more than one thing in common.  First, they all involve Superman and his supporting cast, all of which were played by very attractive actors and actresses.  Second, and more importantly, they were all HORRIBLY written, horribly acted, and every one of them ages about as well as Lindsey Lohan.

I noticed this pattern a few years ago after watching some early Smallville episodes at the same time I was also going through the old 'Lois & Clark' show.  I was shocked at how low the quality was, and yet I was still watching them!  All of these Superman TV series defied death (cancellation) much longer than their quality should have allowed.  Death should have stood at their doorstep soon after their respective first seasons, but they marched onward.

I would like you to imagine that the show didn't include Superman as a character, yet had the same actors and actresses in a different story. Would it even have gotten past the pilot stage?  Or maybe gotten a pilot, but been picked up for more than one season?  I humbly suggest that the answer is a hard NO. 

It seems that Superman is the King Midas of the comic book television world (Batman is a close second, but that's another topic for another column).  They have tried to turn many other superheroes into TV series, however they never get as much play.  The Flash, Wonder Woman, or the good-intentioned 90's Birds of Prey (a girl-only spin-off of the Batman universe) never reached the success that any of these Superman shows did.  Even the campy 60's version of Batman starring Adam West only had 2 seasons!  Lois and Clark had 4 seasons, the 50's 'Adventures of Superman' had 6 (which would've lasted longer if George Reeves hadn't committed suicide), and Smallville had a record-breaking 10 seasons.  The only other property to have as many successful incarnations is Law and Order.

So, what is it about Superman that can survive bad writing and bad acting?  I think there are many variables, but I will focus on two.  First, Superman seems to appeal to the best in us.  He is arguably the most powerful superhero ever created, and yet he is a grown-up boy scout.  He has the potential to be the worst tyrant, yet he uses his power for good.  That strikes a chord in the human heart.

Second, I think he is to many the definitive superhero.  When one thinks of comic books and superheroes, Superman is often the first to come to mind.  He is the most recognizable superhero in the world, in my humble opinion.  He is also very American, so there is a patriotic element to his appeal.  After all, he fights for 'Truth, Justice, and the American Way.'

I think it can be argued that the reason that Superman Returns wasn't as successful as Warner Bros had hoped it would be was that the film wasn't true to these principles.  When Superman becomes a Peeping Tom or has an out-of-wedlock child he is no longer Superman, merely a cheap knock-off.  My apologies to Bryan Singer (Director of Superman Returns), but you really dropped the ball on that one.

I await the day that there is another Superman-themed live TV show to test my hypothesis.  I predict it will have horrible actors and writing and production value.  Yet it will defy the laws of television gravity and beat the odds by getting picked up for a full season.  Superman is part of our modern day mythology.  He gives us hope that there are good people in the world.

P.S. I must give a shout out to Geoff Johns, the best writer of Superman in the last 20 years.  If you want to read some great Superman, read anything he's written with Superman in it. 

A review of Les Misérables

DISCLAIMER

I seem to be the only one in my circle of friends and family that didn't adore this movie.  So, statistically speaking, you will probably like it.  Take what I write with a grain of salt.  I am much more critical of movies than most.  Nevertheless, it was the single most unique film experience I think I've ever had.  

INTRODUCTION

From the first trailer, showing Anne Hathaway singing 'I Dreamed a Dream', I have anticipated this film.  With a cast including Hugh Jackman, Russel Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter, and Samantha Barks, I felt this project couldn't go wrong (with the exception of Amanda Seyfried, which I contend that she is always the worst part of any movie she's in).  Add Tom Hooper (director of The King's Speech, which I ADORED) and we are setup for Oscar territory.  Even more interesting was the innovative 'live singing' that they did--basically they sang live on set, instead of prerecording the tracks as all others filmed musical have done.  

THE GOOD

Anne Hathaway is the best part of this movie.  Every scene she was in had me in tears.  It will be a travesty if she doesn't win Best Supporting Actress for her performance.  Hugh Jackman gave the best performance of his life.  And of course Samantha Barks' Eponine was brilliant.  

The cinematography was quite brilliant, with a few exceptions.  The coloring, the costumes, the lenses were all amazing. 

THE BAD

Regarding the cinematography: I could have done with more variety of camera shots and angles.  The camera focused almost entirely on a close-up of the current singer's face.  It was very distracting to me.  

Russel Crowe is one of the great actors of our time, but Javere just might be one of his worst performances ever.  He CANNOT sing!  Whoever thought it was a good idea to cast him should be run out of Hollywood.  

Amanda Seyfried was less atrocious than I expected, but she had dramatically less screen time than I had anticipated.  It seems they got the memo that she is an awful actress during the editing process.  Her singing voice is almost unbearable to my ears. 

In the end, the 'live singing' was also a distraction for me.  It didn't feel like a musical to me, but like an entirely new genre.  Each individual performance was powerful (with the exception of Russel Crowe's and Amanda Seyfried's), however when they are strung together it just felt weird to me.  It didn't have the energy that a musical normally does.  I felt the brakes being slammed between almost every number.  

CONCLUSION

Like I said in my disclaimer, I seem to be the only one of my acquaintances that didn't love this film.  As a result I recommend it to all except those who are critically-minded.  Also, it is NOT family-friendly.  Lots of sexual content, most of it unneeded.  My score: 3/5 stars. 

Review: The Bourne Legacy

When I first heard about The Bourne Legacy and that the director and many of the same actors would be involved, I will admit I was elated.  Then I felt the project was bulletproof with the additions of Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker, MI4) and Edward Norton (the man who re-wrote The Incredible Hulk script because he didn't want to be a part of something that was less than perfect).  Then, I saw that they slated an August release for it, the month where they release movies that have a blockbuster budget but the studios lost faith in. Ruh-Roh.  I just brushed that off.  There's no way that a movie with all these talented people could be August-worthy.  It must be a coincidence, right?

SYNOPSIS
The plot takes place during the same basic time frame as The Bourne Ultimatum.  Another recruit (Jeremy Renner) of the secret CIA program known as Black Brier finds himself being hunted by the said same group.  He teams up with a doctor that has helped him before to find out why they want him dead.

THE GOOD
The action scenes are almost flawless.  They are on par with what we expect from a Bourne movie.  It was wonderfully shot. The acting was wonderful on all counts.

THE BAD
The problem with this movie is that there was no third act.  It ends abruptly with almost no resolution and no hint of a sequel.  It's not even a cliffhanger!  It just ends in an awful place, story-wise. When they started playing the definitive end-of-a-Bourne-movie song (Extreme Ways by Moby), I loudly proclaimed in the middle of a full theater 'You've got to be kidding me!' @RaySubers said that there were rumors that the 3rd act had problems early on in the development of the script and in shooting.  I consider that an understatement: I honestly believe that they just skipped the third act entirely and tried to end it in the least painful place possible.

CONCLUSION
I despised this movie.  My hatred of it is probably spawned from my high expectations, but this movie shouldn't be included in the Bourne Saga.  2/5 Stars.

Let me know what you thought of the review or the movie in the comments!

Star Trek Into Darkness Preview Locations

Our good friends at Paramount didn't do a good job making the site that details the locations of the IMAX Star Trek Into Darkness preview very searchable.  So, here's the website:

http://www.startrekmovie.com/imax/

In Arizona, there are several locations, but only in Phoenix and Mesa.  I personally am probably going to hit up the one in Mesa this weekend. :)

#14 Rudy

To those that know one of my best friends Steve, you are aware that he loves sappy sports movies.  Throughout high school, he would always say that his favorite movies of all time were Remember the Titans and Rudy.  And I am grateful to this day that he made me watch Rudy (I had already seen Remember the Titans in the theater).  It was a 'too-cold-for-the-buses-to-run-day' in Rexburg, Idaho and he brought over the DVD.  I didn't fully appreciate the film back then, but it is now a yearly tradition in my home that we watch Rudy in the fall.  

SYNOPSIS

Rudy Ruttiger has always wanted to attend the University of Notre Dame and play football for them.  This movie is about his journey of overcoming almost impossible odds to achieve his dreams. 

REVIEW

Before Sean Astin won an Academy Award for Lord of the Rings, he showed his talent as Rudy.  He really makes this movie, although the supporting cast is great as well.  I would suggest that this is Warren Beatty's best performance, playing Rudy's father.  

The story is one of the most inspiring stories ever put on film.  The highs of the movie move me every time.  It motivates me to try and be a better person and reach my goals. 

The music is a gem.  This is easily Jerry Goldsmith's best music and is one of my favorite soundtracks of all time.  I can listen to it any time, any day and feel inspired.  It does what a soundtrack should do: it is memorable and moving but not distracting.  

CONCLUSION

This movie is a must see.  You've probably seen it on cable, but it's certainly worth owning on DVD or even Blu-ray.  

Star Trek 2 Trailer

I know I'm late to the game in posting this here, but I saw it on the big screen over the weekend, in front of The Hobbit.  I don't think I took a breathe during the whole thing.  It was AMAZING.  The poster (click the pic on the left for a larger version)  is obviously borrowing from The Dark Knight Rises teaser poster.  And you will notice the addition of a certain Sherlock playing the villain, which we don't know his identity yet.  My pick for most anticipated of 2013.  On a side note, you can see see the first 9 minutes of the movie in the front of The Hobbit in IMAX.

Comment below to let me know what you think!

The Hobbit was indeed an Unexpected Journey

The Hobbit is easily one of the most anticipated films of this year, and for good reason: The Lord of the Rings trilogy will go down in cinematic history as both a masterpiece and a game changer.  Now Peter Jackson has returned to the storyteller's chair to tell the prelude tale of the trilogy, The Hobbit.  Does it live up to the hype, or in this case the critical panning?  I'll go over the good and the bad, and then my conclusion.

THE BAD
There are certainly pacing issues, which is expected with the amount of filler content that Mr. Jackson and his team inevitably had to create.  There are whole scenes that weren't needed and only provided nostalgic value.  The side stories were distractions rather than adding to to it.

It seems there was less detail in many of the scenes than in any of the LOTR films.  The Shire wasn't as beautiful, nor was Rivendell.

The Goblin King was disgusting to look at and really distracted me.  I found myself avoiding the screen whenever it showed him.  If the Orcs and Goblins weren't CGI, the film would've easily been rated R for the sheer amount of graphic beheadings.

THE GOOD
The soundtrack was brilliant, as always.  Many of the recognizable themes were present as well as new ones that were just as memorable and emotion-provoking.

Martin Freeman as Bilbo was the best part of the movie.  Never once did I think that he wasn't Bilbo or that he was Watson from Sherlock.  He really lived the part, and I daresay did a better job as a leading man than Elijah Wood did as Frodo.

It is beautifully shot, which I expect nothing less from Peter Jackson.  The opening prologue scene was a spectacle to see.

The language was less Shakespearean than the previous trilogy, but the content is less epic (i.e. the fate of the world doesn't hang in the balance).  The banter between the dwarves is fun and appropriate for the story.  There is a scene between Cate Blanchet's character and Gandalf that was the turning point for my verdict of the film.  It really touched me and brought home what the story was about.  Peter Jackson, like all the master directors, is a master of manipulating emotions.

CONCLUSION
I really enjoyed this movie.  There were problems, most of them relating to the 'filler content' that they had to insert in order to fill up 3 films from only a 300 page novel.  Also, thanks to @RaySubers and other critics, my expectations were REALLY low, which helped me enjoy this movie even more.  It has heart and a playfulness that the other films didn't.  I would try not to compare them too much, because they are very different with different goals.  4/5 stars.  I recommend it.

3D or not 3D: The Hobbit

The big movie of the weekend/month/season is without a doubt the first of three Hobbit films, which is being released worldwide today.  I haven't seen it yet, but will tomorrow  morning (Saturday) and will have the review up by the afternoon.

Most don't know that there is a bit of controversy surrounding this movie in critics' circles.  First of all, it's very strange that they are taking a book that is dramatically smaller than any of the individual installments of The Lord of the Rings trilogy and making it into 3 different movies.  There is bound to be a lot of filler content, and that's almost never a good thing.

Second, Peter Jackson decided to use new camera setups for this film with a higher frame-rate than any previous feature film has ever used.  A normal Hollywood film would use a 30 frames-per-second (fps) rate, with quite a bit of detail already being showcased.  Mr. Jackson decided that he was going to up it to 48 fps, which is over a 50% increase.  He showed some footage of the new frame rate at Comic Con this year, and it was it horribly panned. People hated it.  But, he was not deterred and went ahead with the higher fps with most of the 3D releases, and in particular the IMAX release.

So, I almost always recommend against the 3D version of a film, but this one I say: run far away from the higher priced, headache inducing 3D. Critics have DESPISED this higher fps, which is one of the main reason that it hasn't gotten higher scores across the board.

Please let me know your decision and if you liked the movie in the comments.

Oscar buzz cola and predictions

Oscar season is upon us!  What is Oscar season you ask?  It refers to the last few months of a year in which movie studios release their best bets at winning awards.  They do this for many reasons, but the two main ones that I'm aware of are a) to get the good movies in before the deadline of January 1st and b) to release them later in the year to keep them fresh in voters' minds.  This is the reason why there is usually a major lull in good movies from January to May (right before the summer blockbusters) and from August to the end of October.  Some have argued that there have been some great movies that were released during these lull times, but I counter that these are the exception and not the rule.  Also, it is important to understand that these buzz-worthy films are most often not big money makers.  The studios are kind of split-personalities in this regard: they make their money from summer blockbusters, but will distribute artsy, Oscar-ish films in the hope that they get some praise.  

So, which films were released near the end of the year to help their Oscar consideration?  Here's my list, but feel free to add to it in the comments section if you feel I omitted any.  I also included what category(s) it will be considered for and bold the ones that I think it will win. 

• Argo (Best Picture, Best Actor-Ben Aflek, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay)
• Lincoln (Best Picture, Best Actor-Daniel Day Lewis, Best Director, Best Score, Cinematography)
• Zero Dark Thirty (Best Picture, Best Director)
• Les Miserables (Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor -Hugh Jackman, Best Supporting Actress-Anne Hathaway)
• Life of Pi (Best Director, Best Picture, Best Score, Best Cinematography, Best Adapted Screenplay)

There are others that will rank consideration, but I don't think that any film not listed above will be a contender for one of the big awards.  There are several societies that have voted or will vote their picks.  Overwhelmingly Zero Dark Thirty has taken the Best Picture award from these societies (i.e. New York Film Critics, Boston Film Critics, etc.).  The most important of these votes that will indicate Best Picture is the Director's Guild Awards.  They have consistently chosen the Best Picture winner for a very long time, even when others have scoffed at their choice (i.e. The King's Speech beating The Social Network a few years ago).  

So, those are a few of my early predictions.  They might change, they might not.  And they DO NOT reflect my views of what I think SHOULD get it, but what I think WILL get it.  I haven't seen Zero Dark Thirty or Les Miserables, so I can't judge yet!  

New Superman: Man of Steel Trailer!

Alright, here it is!  The brand-new trailer for the new Superman movie: Man of Steel!  I'm still wary of the film, mostly because of Sucker Punch, Zach Snyder's last outing.  But this sure does look awesome!  Please leave comments on what you think about the trailer. 

Review: The Dark Knight Rises on Blu-ray

I was lucky enough to attend The Dark Knight Marathon that our local theater presented this last summer.  It showed Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, and then culminated in the midnight premiere of The Dark Knight Rises.  It was an amazing experience to see those first two movies in the theater again.  But, did the third Christopher Nolan Batman movie live up to its hype?  Is the Blu-ray worth owning?  I'll try to answer these questions, and many others, here.

SYNOPSIS
Taking place 8 years after the events of The Dark Knight, Bruce Wayne is in seclusion and has not been Batman since.  But, a new terrorist named Bane has arrived in Gotham City and threatens to undo what he and Police Commissioner Gordon had worked so hard for.  Bruce must then become the vigilante to fight his most formidable foe yet.

MOVIE REVIEW
Seeing this movie directly after watching its predecessors was a mixed bag. On the one hand, it was amazing to see those two glorious films again on the big screen.  But, on the other hand, it raised my expectations for the third movie to almost impossible levels.  I ended up seeing it again the next weekend so I could take it in on its own, which did help give me a better impression of it.

I felt like it was a good superhero movie, but just not a great Christopher Nolan Batman movie. It is much better than Thor, Iron Man 2, Captain America, Superman Returns, and many others.  I just was hoping for more from the genius, Christopher Nolan. I suppose what they say is true: it's very hard to end a franchise.

The acting is good, but nothing to write home about.  I think Michael Caine (Alfred) gives the best performance in this movie.  Christian Bale gives a good deep performance, although probably not his best.  Anne Hathaway was a delight to watch as Catwoman.  Tom Hardy did good as Bane, however his character was really deflated at the end, in my opinion.

The music was not as good as Batman Begins or even The Dark Knight.  It was fine, just not as deep or emotionally prescient as Batman Begins (which I consider to be the gold standard for comic book movie soundtracks).

The cinematography was amazing and probably the best of the trilogy.  The lighting really invokes the right emotions and of course is beautiful to look at, like all of Wally Pfister's work.

BLU-RAY REVIEW
The Blu-ray is a good buy, especially to complete a collection or to look at how they made the movie.  The featurettes (i.e. small documentaries about how they made the film) are plentiful, well done, and very informative.  Getting into the mind of Christopher Nolan and his crew is well worth the time and money you put into watching/purchasing it.

The HD quality of the film really brings out the beauty of Wally Pfister's cinematography.  There are some movies that should be watched in HD because or the lightning and detail, and this film belongs on that list.  Like I said, this is the best cinematography of the trilogy and the HD really makes that evident.

CONCLUSION
I give the movie 4/5 stars.  Not the best of the trilogy, but still in my top 10 superhero movies list (which will be released at a later date, I'm sure).  The Blu-ray is worth it if 1) you are completing your collection, 2) you are a junkie for how films are made, or 3) You really liked the film.  Most of the special features can be found on the 2-disc DVD, but not in HD.  This week it's at the low price of $17.96 at Amazon.  It will go up by the end of the week, so now's the time to buy. The Link is below:

The Dark Knight Rises (Blu-ray/DVD Combo+UltraViolet Digital Copy)

The Blu-ray Experience: Batman Begins

I can still remember seeing this movie in the AMC in the Foothills Mall in Tucson with my dad in the summer of 2005.  It was a great experience.  My dad said it was the best movie he'd ever seen.  It really redefined the comic book movie genre.  So, when I saw it on sale for $3.99 at Wal-Mart's Black Friday event, I just had to get it.  Does the Blu-ray Experience live up to the actual movie?  That's what I'm here to answer.

SYNOPSIS
Bruce Wayne, heir to his family's fortune, saw his parents murdered right before his eyes.  In an attempt to avenge his parents' death, he becomes a vigilante that preys on the fear of criminals in order to clean up one of the most corrupt cities in history.

REVIEW
The movie itself in HD doesn't add a lot.  The only thing I noticed was that the music was better, and the music is one of the best things about this movie.

Most of the special features are the same as the DVD two-disc Edition: featurettes that document the making of the movie.  These featurettes are wonderful to watch, but they are not in HD so it is the same experience as watching them on DVD.  However, there is a great Blu-ray exclusive 'in-movie-experience' feature that intermittently shows the filmmakers (director, producers, actors, costume designers, etc.) talking about particular places in the movie.  It was AWESOME to watch it with this feature turned on!  It really added to the movie, and I think this type of experience is what owning a movie on Blu-ray is about.

THE VERDICT
I give it a thumbs up at the right price.  It really is a great movie and the features are great IF you don't already own the two-disc DVD set. It's currently $8.99 at Amazon.  And again, I've provided the link below.

          Batman Begins [Blu-ray]

#15 Twelve Angry Men

If you were lucky, you were shown 12 Angry Men in school.  I was introduced to it in high school, but I can't seem to recall which class (I think it was Junior English).  Even though I was not cinematically mature  (yes, I just made up a word), I could not keep my eyes off the screen.  Out of all the movies I watched in a high school classroom, this one had the most impact.

SYNOPSIS
A Hispanic teenage boy is on trial for murder and a jury of twelve men deliberate on whether or not to sentence him to death.

REVIEW
This movie is part of cinema history.  It's ahead of its time in both acting and the depth of the characterizations. This is one of the few films Pre-Star-Wars that I can really get into.  Any audience of any generation can relate to these characters and most probably know people that fit into the personality archetypes of each of these men.

Every one of the performances is so spot on with Henry Fonda leading the way and proving why he's one of the greatest screen actors of all time.  Lee Cobb is stellar as well and is really the person that makes you feel the strongest emotions.

The story is so deep, yet takes place in such a small room.  I guess it started it out as a play, which would make sense; it would be very easy to build a stage for this!  I personally would feel intimidated to play some of these characters.

TRIVIA

• As shooting went on, the director chose to gradually change the focal lengths of the lenses to induce the feeling of claustrophobia.
• Was shot in 21 days, which is unheard of.
• All but 3 minutes are shot in a 16 by 24 ft room.
• The budget for the film was only $350,000

CONCLUSION

Seriously, if you haven't seen this movie, do it!  It can be found at almost any public library.  It is essential viewing, in my opinion.  4.7/5 stars. 

Life of Pi Review

No matter how many times Lucy promised Charlie Brown she wouldn't move the football, inevitably Charlie Brown ended up kicking air.  That's how I feel about watching movies in 3D: with the exception of Avatar, every time I think a 3D movie might be good, I am utterly disappointed.  Yet I keep doing it!  It invariably results in a bad experience and really takes AWAY from the movie rather than add to it.  In my defense, many critics (What the Flick!: I'm looking at you) said it was the best 3D since Avatar.  So, it is possible that my experience was tainted and I would have liked the movie more if I had watched it in 2D.  

SYNOPSIS

A floundering author finds an Indian (dot, not feather) man and persuades him to share his experience of when he was shipwrecked.  He then narrates an unbelievable tale of friendship, survival, and introspection.

REVIEW

First, let's go over the good.  The acting is spectacular.  All three different actors portraying Pi were fantastic.  It really is a beautifully shot film and will probably win best cinematography, in my opinion.  It doesn't deserve that award over Lincoln, but it will probably win.  And, the 3D was quite good, despite being a distraction at times. 

The music was fitting, in particular the Indian themes.  

Next, the bad.  I really should've listened to Michael Medved's warning that this film was all looks with no substance.  Although I think there was some substance, it was very difficult to get into.  It took a long time to get going and felt way too abstract.  

 SPOILER ALERT BELOW

In the end I thought it tried too hard to be just like the movie Atonement; the ending was so similar it was eerie.  The big difference is that Atonement was a more compelling and gripping story, which was made BETTER by the revelation at the end.  Whereas, I felt the out-of-this-world tale was cheapened by the revelation at the end of Life of Pi.  

CONCLUSION

Overall, I didn't like this movie, especially when compared to some of the other Oscar contenders like Argo and Lincoln.  I walked out of the theater confused and even angry at the ending.  2.25/5 stars.  

Review: ParaNorman

This still really is really descriptive of the characterizations

The big DVD/Blu-ray release this week is ParaNorman and I felt it important to review the movie here because 1) I think it's an important piece of cinema, and 2) I didn't get a chance to review it when I originally saw it.

Silas Lesnick over at ComingSoon.net, whom I follow on Twitter, posted late in the summer that he thought that ParaNorman was the most fun he'd had all year, which really piqued my interest in the film.  What I found was something I did not expect, but I'll leave that to the review portion below.

SYNOPSIS
Norman lives in a small witch-obsessed New England and finds himself to be very different from other people: he can see and talk with dead people.  Soon the town finds itself in a zombie crisis that only Norman is equipped to deal with.

REVIEW
This film was VERY different from what I thought it would be.  I thought it would be another Tim Burton-esque wannabe claymation film.  What it ended up doing was pushing Tim Burton to the back of the line of great claymation filmmakers.

The animation is very distinct and not as smooth as a Burton film, but I think that's a deliberate style choice.  The world they create is not as macabre as I thought it would be (i.e. it had a lot more color contrast).  The world they create is really fantastic.

They cover almost every base when it comes to stereotypical characters: the gooey-on-the-inside-bully, the over-dramatic-embarassed-of-her-little-brother teenage girl, the how-should-we-deal-with-our-strange-son parents, and the jock (who ends up surprising everyone at the end).  The voice acting is great and really matches the atmosphere they are set in.  The funniest thing to me was the extensive use of warm-ups in the wardrobes.

I didn't expect this film to have as much heart as it did.  I REALLY felt it at the climax.  Also it teaches an immensely important lesson to children, although I can't say that I recommend to small children because of the scary imagery.

The movie is SO funny.  And not just fart-joke funny, but really clever.

CONCLUSION
Whether you're a horror film fan or a student of cinema, this movie is a home run on almost all fronts.  The filmmakers really were able to package so many great elements into one animated movie.  The PG rating is too low, IMO.  4.68/5 Stars.

The Blu-ray Experience: Superman The Movie

BLU-RAY EXPERIENCE?
At the request of a good friend, I've decided to review the Blu-ray Experience of certain films, in particular ones that I own.

When I say 'Blu-ray Experience,' I am referring to what my experience was in watching it in HD compared to Standard Definition DVD.  Also I will review the special features and what they add to a film.  Finally, I will give a 'Thumbs Up' or 'Thumbs Down' as to whether or not owning it is worth the price that it's going for on Amazon.

SHAMELESS PLUG
At the bottom of the page is a link if you wish to purchase the reviewed Blu-ray, and I actually end up getting a cut if you use that link to purchase it.

THE HD EXPERIENCE
Watching this film in High-Definition was really breathtaking.  Like I have and will continue to say about many films on Blu-ray: It was like watching a whole new movie.  There were many details that I noticed in the background or could read signs that I hadn't seen before.  It is a beautifully shot film and it really shines in HD, especially the Kansas scenes.  And, unlike many films in the 70's that I have watched in HD, it didn't ruin the movie or make it seem fake.  In the end, watching it with the higher quality made me appreciate the movie more, not less.

SPECIAL (OR NOT SO) FEATURES
The special features included in the Blu-ray are great, but they are the exact same as the two disc DVD release.  They include the original trailers, screen tests, a commentary track, and a documentary.  The commentary by Richard Donner (director) and Tom Mankiewicz (final script revisionist) is really worth listening to, IMO.  And the documentary about the making of the film is spectacular, detailing this chapter in cinematic history.

FINAL VERDICT
Thumbs Way Up.  I loved this and am very happy with the purchase.  You can get it in a 3-pack along with Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut and Superman Returns for about $17 on Amazon right now.  Very worth it, in my opinion. The product is linked here:
Superman / Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut / Superman Returns [Blu-ray]

#16 Return of the King

When I returned (no pun intended) from my two-year LDS mission in Canada I found that my dear friend Christopher was quite obsessed with The Lord of the Rings Trilogy.  And, wanting to spend time with him, I think he made me watch The Return of the King 4-5 times in a two month period, since it was the most recent of the Trilogy that had been released.  Then, I had several other friends who wanted me to watch it with them throughout that first summer. So, I initially had a bad taste in my mouth for this movie, having watched it so many times.  But, over time I grew to appreciate it more and more (especially after watching the extended edition on Blu-ray).

SYNOPSIS
If you haven't seen this movie or know what it's about, I feel sorry for you and recommend that you leave the rock that you've been living under for the past 15 years.  It's based on the the third and final novel in the genre-defining fantasy trilogy The Lord of the Rings.

REVIEW
What makes this movie great?  Almost everything.  The story is one for the ages, which is why it has lasted so long.  It is a true battle between freedom and tyranny, extinction or genocide, light vs dark. It highlights the perseverance of the human heart and how two small people can overcome unbearable odds.

The acting is spectacular with everyone giving the performances of their lives.  Sean Astin really did deserve the Best Supporting Actor nod he got.  I think Viggo Mortensen should have received Best Actor, ESPECIALLY in the extended edition.

I consider the cinematography and music in all of the trilogy to be the among the finest every filmed/recorded.  The cinematography is eye candy of a celestial nature.  And the music is everything a soundtrack should be: it evokes emotions, is quite memorable, and is very fitting of the scenes.

TRIVIA

• WETA (The special effects shop that worked on all LOTR films) was quite intimidated by the rendering of Aragog, the giant spider in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. They felt when creating Shelob they should at least live up to that standard that HP set. 
• Peter Jackson has very intense arachnophobia and based the designs of Shelob on the spiders he is most scared of.
• All the beacons were CGI-created except one: that one was dropped by a helicopter and then lit. 
• This film had an almost record breaking amount of CG shots at 1488.  A normal film has at most 200, the first film had 540, and the second one had 799.
• The dead oliphant (giant elephant) is said to be the biggest prop ever built for a motion picture. 
• Film reels are often shipped to theaters under false names in order to retain its secrecy. This one was shipped under the name 'Till Death For Glory'

CONCLUSION

I recommend that you watch this movie, but first watch the preceding two (which are higher in my top twenty).  And enjoy the 9 or so endings that it provides (my brother tells a funny story of a family in his same theater that got up after the first ending to walk out of the theater and ended up standing in the aisle for about 20ish minutes waiting for the movie to end, and end, and finally end). 4.85/5 Stars. 

Rise of the Guardians rises above its competition

When I first saw the trailers for this film, I was filled with both skepticism and excitement.  The trailer seemed to promise to combine several of my favorite film themes: epic fantasy, folklore, and humor.  This could be very good...or a disaster.  Dreamworks Animation doesn't have a great track record this year (or in past years for that matter).  I knew I would eventually see it, but wasn't really excited to see it until the folks over at collider.com liked it and made particular mention that there weren't any fart jokes in it.

SYNOPSIS
The children's legends Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Sandman, and the Tooth Fairy are the Guardians: protectors of children's happiness.  A new threat has presented itself in which the fun-loving Jack Frost is chosen to join the Guardians to help protect the children of the world.

REVIEW
This movie was the best thing to come out of Dreamworks animation since How To Train Your Dragon.  The story is epic as I hoped it would be.  It's very funny and is even touching at points.  It's the closest that Dreamworks has come to the Pixar formula.  But, it's not quite Pixar quality.

The voice acting was better than How To Train Your Dragon, IMO.  Chris Pine as Jack Frost really showed subtlety and made you feel his conflict.  Hugh Jackman using his native Australian accent was brilliant.  Alec Baldwin's Russian Santa Claus was over hyped and didn't really do much for me.

The music was forgettable.  Although the climax was well scored.

CONCLUSION
It was a very enjoyable film.  It's quite a shame that it's not doing better at the box office (I think it came in 4th this long weekend).  3.5/5 Stars.

#17 The Dark Knight

I've probably read hundreds, if not thousands, of  individual issues of Batman comics and I have never seen the Joker portrayed as scarily as Heath Ledger portrays him in 2008's Christopher Nolan masterpiece The Dark Knight.  His Hannibal Lecter-esqe performance is one for the history books and earned him his well deserved Academy award.

SYNOPSIS
Gotham city's criminals are scared that their livelihood will diminish as the masked vigilante Batman cleans up the streets. In desperation they turn to a psychopath who dresses as a clown to handle the Batman problem.  What ensues is an epic battle between chaos and order.

REVIEW

To say that this is the best comic book movie ever made is an understatement.  It is so scary that I can barely sit through some of the scenes.  It really makes the audience think about whether humans are by nature good, bad or neutral.  This is a substance-filled film in every sense.  

The acting is superb by everyone, with Heath Ledger standing out.  Bale gives a great performance as a conflicted Batman.  Aaron Eckhart and Gary Oldham also gave Oscar-worthy performances.  

The music is perfect.  It really brings out the conflicts and will make you weep at times.

TRIVIA

• Based on several Batman comic story lines including The Long Halloween, The Killing Joke, and Dark Victory. 
• Heath Ledger basically locked himself in a hotel room for a month with only a few Joker-focused Batman comics in order to prepare for the role.  He would keep a journal  that was what his interpretation of the Joker would think about his day to day activities.
• Is currently 5th on the all-time domestic box office with a whopping $522 million dollars in North America alone.
• It is the first time that IMAX cameras were used in a feature film (i.e. non-documentary, etc.)

CONCLUSION

This is an amazing movie.  I can't recommend it enough.  5/5 stars. 

Black Friday Plunder

I thought I would post my black friday deals I got. All this for less than $35.

The Case of the Missing LOST Envy (or the lack thereof)

Although I thought that the final season of Lost was a huge disappointment and that they jumped the shark earlier in the series, I still consider Lost to be one of the definitive examples of quality television.  Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse ran a very tight show, despite not being able to end it well (which isn't a surprise because there are almost no shows that end on a high note).  So, I shouldn't be surprised by the amount of television shows that have what I have coined as 'Lost Envy.'

I define 'Lost Envy' as any show that tries to create a sci-fi mystery with two or more components of Lost.  I think the first show that blatantly exhibited this was Flash Forward.  They had a huge mystery that was gradually being uncovered and also alternated between two different time periods.  It died a horrible death and now lies at the bottom of the heap of shows that died of Lost Envy.  The next entry was probably The Event, but I'm not sure.

The current season of Lost Envious shows that have cropped up include Last Resort and in particular Revolution.  Last Resort was cancelled, in part at least, because I think people saw through its Lost Envy right away.  But, Revolution was a different story.

If you know me at all, you probably know how awful I think Revolution is.  This is not blind hatred: I have suffered through almost 5 whole episodes!  The acting is atrocious.  The plot is mildly interesting, but is going nowhere fast.  It really needs to die.  I sincerely don't see the appeal of it.

So, my point is that Lost cannot be replicated, no matter how hard you try.  The closest thing to it is Once Upon A Time: a character-driven, emotionally deep ensemble show with a great story to boot.  So, writers of the television world: PLEASE STOP TRYING!  That formula is so delicate and you need some really great show runners to pull it off, which have all gone over to USA methinks.

#18 Rocky (1976)

It seems that certain movies put certain cities on the map, and I really think that this movie put Philadelphia on the map for me.  If I ever visit I will certainly visit the stairs featured in Rocky.  I also believe that this was the first real sports movie hit (granted, I wasn't born yet when it was released). Disney owes a great deal to this movie. (I'm looking at you Remember the Titans).

SYNOPSIS
A young boxer tries to make ends meet by being a loan shark debt collector whilst trying to court the girl of his dreams.  Eventually he is given a chance of a lifetime to fight the heavyweight champion of the world as a publicity stunt by said champion.  The boundaries of the human drive are then tested in the fight of a lifetime.

REVIEW
The acting is so subtle and easily Stallone's best performance ever.  Everyone else in the movie, and I mean EVERYONE, gives an Oscar-worthy performance.

The writing is especially good when you realize it was Stallone himself who wrote it.

The cinematography is especially beautiful, and I would say is the best of its decade.  The lighting, the angles, everything is just gorgeous.

The music is fun too, but isn't epic.  It's very low budget, which is fine for the film.

TRIVIA

• The film is an allegory of Stallone's career as an actor.  In particular he shows how hard it is for Rocky to make it as a boxer representing how hard it was for him to make it as an actor.
• He refused to sell the script unless he starred in it as well.
• Stallone quit smoking in order to make this film, because he kept running out of breath. 
• Each of the 4 rounds witnessed in the film were shot IN THEIR ENTIRETY twice: once with the steady cam operator in the audience and once with him in the ring. 
• Rocky is a Southpaw, which makes him the coolest boxer ever. 

CONCLUSION

One of the best sports movies ever.  The best boxing movie ever.  The best Stallone movie ever.  Great film. I can't recommend it enough.  5/5 stars. 

Lincoln Review

I was quite excited for this film.  History + Spielberg + great reviews = recipe for success. Right?  Well it's quite a mixed bag in many ways.

SYNOPSIS
The basis of this film is a book called "Team of Rivals" that details the political machinations of Lincoln and his cabinet.  The period of the book/history that the movie is taken from is the one month in which Lincoln tries to get the House of Representatives to pass the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, or in other words to abolish slavery.  What ensues is a treatise on the sausage making known as American Politics.

REVIEW
The first half of the film showcases how brilliant of an actor Daniel Day-Lewis is.  But that's about it.  The first half is so discombobulated and straight up boring that I considered leaving the theater.  My blog-writing self eventually prevailed and I am very happy that it did.

The second half is amazing with the most powerful payoffs, which is what we all expect from Spielberg and why we all consider him the master of movie making.  I openly wept more than once and am getting emotional just thinking about it.

The acting was amazing with Day-Lewis easily winning his third best actor award.  There were so many big names in this that I couldn't even keep attempt to keep a mental list of them.  My unexpected favorite was Gloria Reuben as Mrs. Lincoln's handmade.  She added so much with so little.

The soundtrack is superb and probably Williams' best since Harry Potter.  So moving and fitting to the times.

The cinematography really is something to write home about.  It was masterfully shot knocking the much heralded Skyfall out of the....well...sky.

CONCLUSION
I recommend this movie, but go into it remembering that the first hour or so is a chore to get through.  In the end I really liked this movie, even though it took time to get there.

This film is pretty safe for children, but could be considered by some to be cruel and unusual punishment to bring them along.  

I really don't think this will or should win Best Picture.  It is not a perfect film by any standard. 3.75/5 stars.

#19 Ghostbusters 1984

It seems that everyone has a different favorite quote from Ghostbusters, and there is a plethora to choose from! My personal favorite is:

"Of course, you forget, Peter, I was present at an undersea, unexplained mass sponge migration."

At the age of 5 when I first saw this movie I had no idea it was a spoof on the paranormal film genre explosion of the late 70's and early 80's, but apparently that's exactly what it was.  I just thought it was awesome that 4 guys carried around backpacks that could wrangle ghosts!  To this day I want a proton pack!

SYNOPSIS
In New York City, 3 research professors of paranormal studies are fired and are forced to open a ghost catching business in order to make ends meet.

REVIEW
I still consider this to be one of the funnier movies of all time.  The guys are just great together, with my favorite being Rick Moranis as Vince Clothor. The chemistry between Sigourney Weaver and Bill Murray is priceless.  It also ends up being fairly scary at parts too, especially to a 5 year old.  This is an ensemble movie at its best.

The music is fantastic!  Elmer Bernstein's score is great and of course the theme song is wonderful too.

TRIVIA

• Eddie Murphy was originally slated to play Winston, but was doing Beverly Hills Cop at the time. 
• As a result of Eddie Murphy not being in the movie, the script was rewritten to introduce the Winston character later in the film instead of having him as an original part of the team.
• John Candy was originally supposed to play a lawyer/accountant character that helped out as the team's lawyer and then was turned into the dog.  Obviously Rick Moranis' character is what they ended up with, for which I am eternally grateful.
• Although not explicitly an SNL movie, its writers and actors all have very strong ties to the late night sketch show. 
• The Stay-Puft Marshmallow suits cost $20 Grand to make. 
• Until the release of Home Alone, Ghostbusters was the highest grossing comedy of all-time. 

CONCLUSION

The film has aged very well.  I adore and can still watch it anytime I want a chuckle.  I give it a 10/10 or 5/5.  

PS. Please share your favorite quote from the film below. 

BREAKING: I will not be reviewing Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part II

My normal evening de-stressing process normally involves either an episode of Parks and Recreation or Modern Family.  Much to my delight I coincidentally stumbled upon this episode of Parks and Rec two weeks ago that shows the craziness of some Twilight fans:

It's not that I am not proud of what Stephanie Meyer has accomplished, it's that I just despise everything about the books/movies. To be fair, I did watch the first three films at the urging of my dear mother.  The first one wasn't that bad, and the second one was okay.  But the third one was painful to watch.  As said in Billy Madison: "We are now dumber for listening to that answer."

I won't get into whether Twilight is good for society (mostly because I don't want to offend my sweet mother or loving sisters), but I will say that I do not see the appeal and am very glad this phenomenon is coming to an end.  In the (supposed) words of Stephen King:

"Harry Potter is about confronting fears, finding inner strength and doing what is right in the face of adversity. Twilight is about how important it is to have a boyfriend."

So, I will be reviewing Lincoln this weekend, not Twilight.  Definitely count me in team NOT-Twilight. 

#20: Superman The Movie (1978)

I'm not sure how many little boys didn't want to be Superman growing up, but I can't imagine there are more than a few.  Like many little boys, after seeing this movie I ran around both mine and others' houses with a towel on my back for weeks.  This movie had a defining impact on my life by introducing to the world of dreams where right is might, virtue is commendable, and of course SUPERHEROES!

SYNOPSIS
This is the story of a child of a scientist who is trying to save a dying alien civilization.  In an attempt to save his only Son, he sends him away to earth with all his knowledge and love.  That Son is found in Smallville, Kansas by two loving parents who teach him right from wrong and to master his superhuman abilities caused by his exposure to the earth's yellow sun.  Eventually this child becomes Superman: the first superhero.

REVIEW
This story is fantastic and rings true to the human heart.  It is split into three different acts that could easily be movies of their own.  The first act is a Shakespearean space opera, the second is Americana hometown life, and the third is a comic book.  It really is masterfully put together, although I wish they had kept the original ending that Richard Donner, the director, had intended for it.

Christopher Reeve is a wonderful Superman (most don't know that he is an accomplished pianist and studied acting at Juliard). Marlon Brando and Glenn Ford were also brilliantly cast.  Whereas Margo Kidder was miscast, IMO.  I know they were really trying to get chemistry, which they did, but I still think they could have found someone better.  Lois has proven to be the hardest part to cast for in any Superman production.  I think the TV series Smallville cast the best Lois in Erica Durance.  Also I feel that Gene Hackman was miscast, or at least mis-characterized.  He was a funny bad guy, but neither a mad scientist or a brilliant billionaire.  They really missed an opportunity with that one.

The music is absolutely brilliant.  It REALLY captures the heart of Superman and to this day I think is some of John Williams' best work.

USELESS TRIVIA

• The Smallville scenes were filmed in Calgary, Alberta
• Both this and its sequel were filmed at the same time
• The ending of the first movie was originally supposed to be the ending of the second movie
• Marlon Brando got paid more for 2 weeks of shooting than the rest of the cast got combined
• The part of Superman was originally offered to several big name actors including Clint Eastwood, Robert Redford, and others.
• Is considered to be the 3rd real 'Blockbuster' after Jaws and Star Wars. 
• Steven Spielberg showed interest in directing the movie before Jaws was released, but then was asking for too much money after such a big success. 
• The original teaser trailer showed nothing but the camera going through clouds like the audience was flying. 

CONCLUSION

If you haven't seen this movie, I highly recommend it. The ending is bit much, but the rest of the movie is such a joy that I overlook it every time. 5/5 stars. *****

Top 20 List

Hey All,

I've decided that I will give reviews of my top 20 movies of all time in between the regular new releases that I see (which I will be reviewing Lincoln this weekend). I will also be providing useless trivia associated with each of these films.  Cheers!

Skyfall is no Chicken Little

Does Skyfall live up to its hype? Is Daniel Craig the best James Bond ever? How does Javier Bardem's 'Silva' stack up against 50 years of competition? Does the sky really fall in Skyfall?  These were my questions going into the theater yesterday, and I will now answer them.

SYNOPSIS
If you've seen any trailer for Skyfall, you know that Bond is shot as the climax of the first action sequence. Then Bond reappears to help MI6 in their most dire moments. He is badly damaged emotionally and physically but perseveres as one expects Bond to do. The twist is a villain that scares everyone, including Bond and the audience.

REVIEW
The acting was quite brilliant with Javier Bardem stealing the show (no surprise) and is hands down the BEST Bond villain ever. Bardem needs to play the Joker in a Batman movie someday. I liked Craig in Casino Royale more, but he still stands as the best Bond in my opinion. Judi Dench's M was as good as ever. And both Ralph Feines and the kid playing Q were great as well.

There was a lot of hype associated with the cinematography.  And I'm sorry to say that while it was good, it wasn't brilliant. It was the best shot Bond film ever, but not Oscar-worthy, IMO.

The normal musical opening montage was really good.  I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The story was good, but didn't feel like a Bond story for some reason.  I can't pinpoint what it was, but it just didn't feel Bondish.

The reason for the title of the film isn't revealed until later in the story, and I was a bit taken aback by it.  I won't spoil it here!

CONCLUSION
Skyfall was a great film. My expectations were really high because of the hype.  The folks that said that it was better than Casino Royale are smoking somethin'.  But it was a great spy flick nonetheless and a welcome addition to the Bond collection. 4/5 stars.

Wreck-It Ralph demolishes the competition

What do you get when you combine Scott Pilgrim and Disney?  You get a clever, emotional roller coaster of a movie, which is what Wreck-It Ralph is.  A Pixar quality film that races circles around every animated movie since Toy Story 3.

SYNOPSIS
The film is about a video game character Wreck-It Ralph whose entire purpose is to be a 'bad guy' in a Donkey Kong-esqu game called Fix It Felix Jr.  His life consists of breaking a building that Felix cleans up and then being thrown off the top of said building when he loses. Understandably, he gets sick of that and not getting any recognition for his contributions.  So, he decides to go on a quest for a medal and starts game jumping to find it.

REVIEW
The Story is wonderful! If you're not laughing you are either crying or in awe at this world that Disney has created here.  It was is one of the most clever concepts for an animated movie.

The voice acting was amazing with Sarah Silverman really stealing the show.  But the rest were fantastic as well with Jane Lynch really providing a convincing dominant general type role.

The animation was good, but not quite Pixar quality; it didn't stun me like Toy Story 3 or even Tangled did.

WHO WILL ENJOY THIS MOVIE
I took my 56-year-old father in law to see this movie, and he loved it almost as much as I did.  So, you don't need to be 'gamer' to appreciate this film, but there certainly were places where other games and I were laughing and others like my father-in-law weren't.

It is NOT appropriate for small children. There were scary scenes and a very strange scene where a character rips the heart out of a zombie (not sure how they got a PG rating with that in there).

CONCLUSION
I give it 5/5 stars. An absolutely brilliant.  My pick for best of the year so far.  Not sure how much Oscar attention it will get mostly because the academy doesn't 'get' movies that have to do with video games or any amount of science-fiction.  It's just their way.

P.S. 
Stay after the credits. Also, the opening short was brilliant.

Welcome to my blog!

Coming to you from Sonora desert, this is Disco Dan's Movie Blog!  Here I will provide family friendly movie reviews. But I will also review TV shows and comment on the relevant pop culture in the news (i.e. I will not be talking about any Kardashians). And I promise NO POLITICS! I do have certain values which will come through in what movies I like, but no overt political commentary.