Welcome to another episode Lights....Camera....Popcorn!
Today's review is The Hangover Part II.
Directed by Todd Phillips.
Written by Craig Mazin, Scot Armstrong & Todd Phillips.
Review #122
MPAA Rating: R for pervasive language, strong sexual content including graphic nudity, drug use and brief violent images.
Runtime: 102 min
Cast
Bradley Cooper - Phil
Ed Helms - Stu
Zach Galifianakis - Alan
Justin Bartha - Doug
Ken Jeong - Mr. Chow
Paul Giamatti - Kingsley
Mike Tyson - Himself
Jeffrey Tambor - Sid Garner
Mason Lee - Teddy
Jamie Chung - Lauren
Sasha Barrese - Tracy
If you read my Kung Fu Panda II review then you are aware of the categories that sequels fall into. If you need a reminder, here they are again.
1) They suck (that's webster's term....not mine)
2) They are passable. No new ground is broken. The story just moves laterally with no fresh outlook.
3) They supersede the original. On every level, the new film takes what the first one accomplished and establishes a higher standard.
The Hangover Part II falls right into category #2. Historically that isn't good news for a sequel but in this case it's great news because you get exactly what you want. Which is an instant replay of the original.
Plot
Right after the bachelor party in Las Vegas, Phil, Stu, Alan, and Doug jet to Thailand for Stu's wedding. Stu's plan for a subdued pre-wedding brunch, however, goes seriously awry.
After the enormous success of the first film. There was no way the money men weren't going to let this golden goose fly away. So the scribes went to work and hammered out a new adventure for Stu, Phil and Alan. Like I said earlier, this is exactly the same film. You are not seeing anything new here and it works. They found a way to duplicate the exact same scenario of the first one and have it still feel fresh. A big factor was the change of scenery. Thailand was a good place to set up this new chapter. We've all heard stories about how crazy that place can be and the craziness is on full display. It also allowed for some very very funny jokes that only work in Thailand.
You'll know what I'm talking about when you see the scene.
The performances of the main cast were just as zany and fun as in the original. In fact they may have outdone themselves because of the unbelievable reality among the trio that the exact same situation happened again. Stu shines here since he is the main character affected here. Phil continues his super cool thing and Alan is the same moron that we all remember. He was probably the character I liked the least here. In The Hangover, he was fresh and new. Here he gave me a small bit of a been there, done that feel.
The story is very tight and follows the blueprint that was set ahead of it. Normally I would scoff at this kind of writing but once again it works. Every situation that falls on the main characters gets explained. In fact the only beef I have with the situations that happen to the characters was what happens to Teddy. I felt the aftermath of his story was weak and a cop out. Other than that, everything else was well done.
On the 5 star scale. The Hangover Part II gets 4 stars with a "Worth Every Penny" recommendation.
Making a sequel to one of the greatest "R" rated comedies of all time was a very suspect and risky venture. The success of part II will no doubt spawn a part 3, 4, 5 and so on. I hope we're all prepared because lighting can only strike the money men enough times before we end up getting hit.
That's a wrap for today. Up next is X-Men: First Class.
Until next episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"
"D"
Kung Fu Panda II
Welcome to another episode Lights....Camera....Popcorn!
Today's review is Kung Fu Panda II.
Directed by Jennifer Yuh Nelson.
Written by Jonathan Aibel & Glenn Berger.
Review #121
MPAA Rating: PG for sequences of martial arts action and mild violence.
Runtime: 90 min
Cast
Jack Black - Po
Dustin Hoffman - Shifu
Jackie Chan - Monkey
Lucy Liu - Viper
David Cross - Crane
Angelina Jolie - Tigress
Seth Rogen - Mantis
James Hong - Mr. Ping
Gary Oldman - Lord Shen
Jean-Claude Van Damme - Master Croc
Michelle Yeoh - The Soothsayer
Dennis Haysbert - Master Oxen
Victor Garber - Master Thundering Rhino
Sequels are in a word enigmatic. They follow one of several categories.
1) They suck (that's webster's term....not mine)
2) They are passable. No new ground is broken. The story just moves laterally with no fresh outlook.
3) They supersede the original. On every level, the new film takes what the first one accomplished and establishes a higher standard.
Kung Fu Panda II hands down, undoubtedly and unequivocally falls into category #3!!!
Plot
Po along with the furious five joins forces with a group of new kung fu masters to take on an old enemy with a deadly new weapon.
From the start, Kung Fu Panda II hits you in the face with well crafted updated story. Po is still training but has the respect and loyalty of the five. His skills are also on full display here. This was a VERY NICE touch. It's very easy to just pick up right after the first film. Po could still be a bumbling panda trying to understand his new found abilities. Instead he's a full fledged fighter that can handle himself and work well in tandem with the five.
The action here is plentiful and superb. Each member of the five get a chance to showcase their skills with Po standing out at the forefront. The villains also have their moments. If you ever wondered how a peacock could be dangerous. Look no further. Lord Shen though not imposing by sight was a real bad ass. In fact he felt like a more convincing villain than Tai Lung (the snow leopard from Kung Fu Panda)
Of course as we all know, a martial arts film is known for it's great action. Having said that, it doesn't fall into a full blown film unless there's an acceptable story to accompany it. Just like it's predecessor, Kung Fu Panda II has that. If you read the plot then you just got a taste of what's in store. And I mean a taste. there's so much else to enjoy and explore here that it just tops everything the first film gave us. The ending was especially satisfying because of what you see. As always, the story is amplified by the ALL STAR cast. New additions Gary Oldman, Dennis Haysbert and Jean Claude Van Damme add a terrific complement to the already super group of talent led by Jack Black.
I would love to go on about this but you all need to just see it. Just like any martial art, the student if trained well will become better than the teacher.
That's EXACTLY what you have here.
On the 5 star scale. Kung Fu Panda II gets the full house 5 stars with a RESOUNDING! "Worth Every Penny" recommendation.
That's a wrap for today. Up next is The Hangover Part II.
Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"
"D"
Today's review is Kung Fu Panda II.
Directed by Jennifer Yuh Nelson.
Written by Jonathan Aibel & Glenn Berger.
Review #121
MPAA Rating: PG for sequences of martial arts action and mild violence.
Runtime: 90 min
Cast
Jack Black - Po
Dustin Hoffman - Shifu
Jackie Chan - Monkey
Lucy Liu - Viper
David Cross - Crane
Angelina Jolie - Tigress
Seth Rogen - Mantis
James Hong - Mr. Ping
Gary Oldman - Lord Shen
Jean-Claude Van Damme - Master Croc
Michelle Yeoh - The Soothsayer
Dennis Haysbert - Master Oxen
Victor Garber - Master Thundering Rhino
Sequels are in a word enigmatic. They follow one of several categories.
1) They suck (that's webster's term....not mine)
2) They are passable. No new ground is broken. The story just moves laterally with no fresh outlook.
3) They supersede the original. On every level, the new film takes what the first one accomplished and establishes a higher standard.
Kung Fu Panda II hands down, undoubtedly and unequivocally falls into category #3!!!
Plot
Po along with the furious five joins forces with a group of new kung fu masters to take on an old enemy with a deadly new weapon.
From the start, Kung Fu Panda II hits you in the face with well crafted updated story. Po is still training but has the respect and loyalty of the five. His skills are also on full display here. This was a VERY NICE touch. It's very easy to just pick up right after the first film. Po could still be a bumbling panda trying to understand his new found abilities. Instead he's a full fledged fighter that can handle himself and work well in tandem with the five.
The action here is plentiful and superb. Each member of the five get a chance to showcase their skills with Po standing out at the forefront. The villains also have their moments. If you ever wondered how a peacock could be dangerous. Look no further. Lord Shen though not imposing by sight was a real bad ass. In fact he felt like a more convincing villain than Tai Lung (the snow leopard from Kung Fu Panda)
Of course as we all know, a martial arts film is known for it's great action. Having said that, it doesn't fall into a full blown film unless there's an acceptable story to accompany it. Just like it's predecessor, Kung Fu Panda II has that. If you read the plot then you just got a taste of what's in store. And I mean a taste. there's so much else to enjoy and explore here that it just tops everything the first film gave us. The ending was especially satisfying because of what you see. As always, the story is amplified by the ALL STAR cast. New additions Gary Oldman, Dennis Haysbert and Jean Claude Van Damme add a terrific complement to the already super group of talent led by Jack Black.
I would love to go on about this but you all need to just see it. Just like any martial art, the student if trained well will become better than the teacher.
That's EXACTLY what you have here.
On the 5 star scale. Kung Fu Panda II gets the full house 5 stars with a RESOUNDING! "Worth Every Penny" recommendation.
That's a wrap for today. Up next is The Hangover Part II.
Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"
"D"
Bridesmaids
Welcome to another episode Lights....Camera....Popcorn!
Today's review is Bridesmaids.
Directed by Paul Feig.
Written by Kristen Wiig & Annie Mumolo.
Review #120
MPAA Rating: R for some strong sexuality, and language throughout.
Runtime: 125 min
Cast
Kristen Wiig - Annie
Maya Rudolph - Lillian
Rose Byrne - Helen
Melissa McCarthy - Megan
Wendi McLendon-Covey - Rita
Ellie Kemper - Becca
Rebel Wilson - Brynn
Matt Lucas - Gil
Jill Clayburgh - Annie's Mom
Comedy is a very tough film genre to get right. That goes double for the now en vogue R rated comedies. Since the invasion of films like 40 Year Old Virgin, Knocked Up and Superbad, R rated comedies became the norm in Hollywood and the way to go. This became even more of a challenge when The Hangover graced our presence. That film had all the dick jokes you could handle wrapped around a very tight and cleverly written story. As is the case with all hits like The Hangover, many studios tried to copy the formula with very little to no success.
Bridesmaids comes pretty close to what The Hangover had to offer.
Plot
Annie is a maid of honor whose life unravels as she leads her best friend, Lillian and a group of colorful bridesmaids on a wild ride down the road to matrimony.
At first glance this picture felt like it was going to be another road trip disaster type film with the theme of a bachelorette party in the forefront. Thankfully that was not the case. In fact this movie played much differently. And that was a good thing. Kristen Wiig once again shows her ability to carry a scene with her trademark dry humor. However, the star of the show here is Melissa McCarthy.
HANDS DOWN!
Her performance as Megan was absolutely HYSTERICAL! Her tomboy, asexual look combined with her tough guy/gal persona was way too much for me to handle. There were times that the movie just went to a cutaway of her for a reaction shot and I started laughing. She didn't even say anything. That is the mark of a terrific character and performance. Another standout performance was Rose Byrne as Helen. She really does a great job playing the misunderstood villain. You REALLY REALLY hate her in this movie. She is the perfect yin to Kristen Wiig's Yang.
According to who you listen to, a lot of the funny moments were improvised and ad libbed. That's pretty common in comedies but the over the top comedic gags were paced very well by cleverly written dialogue. You will get that sense right off the bat during the first scene. Jon Hamm utters a line that's so subtle yet so funny that you have to take a second and digest it. Once you do it hits you right in the gut.
If I have a bone to pick with this movie (and it's a small one) is that it falls into the Judd Apatow pitfall. Which is a long run time. At just over 2 hours, Bridesmaids makes a concerted effort to wrap up all storylines and plot arcs that are introduced. As a result the film starts to lag a bit. I think it could have used a 10-15 min trim. Otherwise this was a really fun film and a pleasant surprise. I expected a lot of fluff and lame jokes and instead I was treated to a pretty funny and smart film that has some heart.
On the 5 star scale. Bridesmaids gets 3.5 stars with a "Go See It!" recommendation.
That's a wrap for today. Up next is Kung Fu Panda II to be followed by The Hangover Part II.
Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"
"D"
Today's review is Bridesmaids.
Directed by Paul Feig.
Written by Kristen Wiig & Annie Mumolo.
Review #120
MPAA Rating: R for some strong sexuality, and language throughout.
Runtime: 125 min
Cast
Kristen Wiig - Annie
Maya Rudolph - Lillian
Rose Byrne - Helen
Melissa McCarthy - Megan
Wendi McLendon-Covey - Rita
Ellie Kemper - Becca
Rebel Wilson - Brynn
Matt Lucas - Gil
Jill Clayburgh - Annie's Mom
Comedy is a very tough film genre to get right. That goes double for the now en vogue R rated comedies. Since the invasion of films like 40 Year Old Virgin, Knocked Up and Superbad, R rated comedies became the norm in Hollywood and the way to go. This became even more of a challenge when The Hangover graced our presence. That film had all the dick jokes you could handle wrapped around a very tight and cleverly written story. As is the case with all hits like The Hangover, many studios tried to copy the formula with very little to no success.
Bridesmaids comes pretty close to what The Hangover had to offer.
Plot
Annie is a maid of honor whose life unravels as she leads her best friend, Lillian and a group of colorful bridesmaids on a wild ride down the road to matrimony.
At first glance this picture felt like it was going to be another road trip disaster type film with the theme of a bachelorette party in the forefront. Thankfully that was not the case. In fact this movie played much differently. And that was a good thing. Kristen Wiig once again shows her ability to carry a scene with her trademark dry humor. However, the star of the show here is Melissa McCarthy.
HANDS DOWN!
Her performance as Megan was absolutely HYSTERICAL! Her tomboy, asexual look combined with her tough guy/gal persona was way too much for me to handle. There were times that the movie just went to a cutaway of her for a reaction shot and I started laughing. She didn't even say anything. That is the mark of a terrific character and performance. Another standout performance was Rose Byrne as Helen. She really does a great job playing the misunderstood villain. You REALLY REALLY hate her in this movie. She is the perfect yin to Kristen Wiig's Yang.
According to who you listen to, a lot of the funny moments were improvised and ad libbed. That's pretty common in comedies but the over the top comedic gags were paced very well by cleverly written dialogue. You will get that sense right off the bat during the first scene. Jon Hamm utters a line that's so subtle yet so funny that you have to take a second and digest it. Once you do it hits you right in the gut.
If I have a bone to pick with this movie (and it's a small one) is that it falls into the Judd Apatow pitfall. Which is a long run time. At just over 2 hours, Bridesmaids makes a concerted effort to wrap up all storylines and plot arcs that are introduced. As a result the film starts to lag a bit. I think it could have used a 10-15 min trim. Otherwise this was a really fun film and a pleasant surprise. I expected a lot of fluff and lame jokes and instead I was treated to a pretty funny and smart film that has some heart.
On the 5 star scale. Bridesmaids gets 3.5 stars with a "Go See It!" recommendation.
That's a wrap for today. Up next is Kung Fu Panda II to be followed by The Hangover Part II.
Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"
"D"
Pirates of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
Welcome to another episode Lights....Camera....Popcorn!
Today's review is Pirates of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.
Directed by Rob Marshall.
Written by Ted Elliott & Terry Rossio.
Screen Story by Ted Elliott & Terry Rossio.
Based on characters created by Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio, Stuart Beattie & Jay Wolpert.
Review #119
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of action/adventure violence, some frightening images, sensuality and innuendo.
Runtime: 137 min
Cast
Johnny Depp - Jack Sparrow
Penélope Cruz - Angelica
Geoffrey Rush - Barbossa
Ian McShane - Blackbeard
Kevin McNally - Gibbs
Sam Claflin - Philip
Astrid Berges-Frisbey - Syrena
Stephen Graham - Scrum
Keith Richards - Captain Teague
Richard Griffiths - King George
When Pirates of The Caribbean: The Curse of The Black Pearl came to our shores in 2003. It gave summer audiences a new and fresh take on a very tired and overdone action/adventure genre. The film's popularity was also catapulted by the breakout performance of Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow. The highly inebriated, speech slurring, cunning and conniving vagabond pirate made us fall in love instantly with every syllable he uttered. The massive success of the Pirates maiden voyage prompted tinsletown super producer Jerry Bruckheimer to not make 1 but 2 sequels and make them both at the same time.
BIG BIG BIG....TERRIBLE....HORRIBLE....DREADFUL....MISTAKE!!!!!
The subsequent films. 2006's Dead Man's Chest and 2007's At World's End were mind numbingly dull, uninspired and convoluted. Monetarily both films garnered high profits but yielded very very low acclaim from critics and fans alike. Which leads us to this latest installment to the Pirates franchise. So does this one stack up to the very fun and cool original? Or does it just join the status quo of lackluster tack ons?
It's better than the last 2 sequels. That's the good news. The bad news is that I didn't care.
Plot
Crossing paths with the enigmatic Angelica. Our beloved Captain Jack Sparrow’s not sure if it’s love or if she’s a ruthless con artist who’s using him to find the fabled Fountain of Youth. When she forces him aboard the “Queen Anne’s Revenge,” the ship of the legendary pirate Blackbeard, Jack finds himself on an unexpected adventure in which he doesn’t know whom to fear more: Blackbeard or Angelica, with whom he shares a mysterious past.
At the outset, the franchise's brain trust realized the problems with the last 2 films and went back to basics. They made the story simple and formulaic which is exactly what it needed. That's the only fresh approach. Everything else that made the other films so bad is here as well. Uninspired performances, cardboard characters and worse, wasteful characters. There's so much of nothing going on here that it was anger inducing to watch at times. The really sad thing here is this issue could have been solved with some more finessing in the Avid. At 137 minuets, the film isn't as long as it's predecessors but it's too long for this stand alone story. The other sequels were continuing story lines however stupid they were over the course of the trilogy. Here it's a one shot deal with a couple of the main characters crossing over. No need to drag this thing out.
Just get to the fu@#ing point already.
That's my biggest problem with this film. It had the makings of a very tight and fun adventure story until we get bogged down in unnecessary character arcs. I know I might get some heat for this but not even Johnny Depp saves this one. Don't get it twisted, he's good in this installment. Which is the problem. His character is a GREAT one so he needed to be exactly that. Depp's performance almost had a hint of dare I say it.... paycheck acting. Maybe it was the very punch less script but Depp just didn't have the same amount of swashbuckling flare and moxie that he displayed in the previous 3 films. This actually goes for the rest of the cast as well. Penelope Cruz was just ANNOYING! I had enough of her back and forth relationship swings with Jack.
I don't want to write about this anymore. It's time for the Pirates franchise to set sail toward the horizon of NO MORE DAMN MOVIES! Of course we all know that's not happening.
On the 5 star score. Pirates of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides gets 2.5 stars with a "Netflix It" recommendation.
I'm sure most of you will venture out and see this one and that's always your right. But if you are expecting some great revival of a very tired narrative. Stay home and wait for the little red envelope.
That's a wrap for today. Up next is Bridesmaids.
Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"
"D"
Today's review is Pirates of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.
Directed by Rob Marshall.
Written by Ted Elliott & Terry Rossio.
Screen Story by Ted Elliott & Terry Rossio.
Based on characters created by Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio, Stuart Beattie & Jay Wolpert.
Review #119
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of action/adventure violence, some frightening images, sensuality and innuendo.
Runtime: 137 min
Cast
Johnny Depp - Jack Sparrow
Penélope Cruz - Angelica
Geoffrey Rush - Barbossa
Ian McShane - Blackbeard
Kevin McNally - Gibbs
Sam Claflin - Philip
Astrid Berges-Frisbey - Syrena
Stephen Graham - Scrum
Keith Richards - Captain Teague
Richard Griffiths - King George
When Pirates of The Caribbean: The Curse of The Black Pearl came to our shores in 2003. It gave summer audiences a new and fresh take on a very tired and overdone action/adventure genre. The film's popularity was also catapulted by the breakout performance of Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow. The highly inebriated, speech slurring, cunning and conniving vagabond pirate made us fall in love instantly with every syllable he uttered. The massive success of the Pirates maiden voyage prompted tinsletown super producer Jerry Bruckheimer to not make 1 but 2 sequels and make them both at the same time.
BIG BIG BIG....TERRIBLE....HORRIBLE....DREADFUL....MISTAKE!!!!!
The subsequent films. 2006's Dead Man's Chest and 2007's At World's End were mind numbingly dull, uninspired and convoluted. Monetarily both films garnered high profits but yielded very very low acclaim from critics and fans alike. Which leads us to this latest installment to the Pirates franchise. So does this one stack up to the very fun and cool original? Or does it just join the status quo of lackluster tack ons?
It's better than the last 2 sequels. That's the good news. The bad news is that I didn't care.
Plot
Crossing paths with the enigmatic Angelica. Our beloved Captain Jack Sparrow’s not sure if it’s love or if she’s a ruthless con artist who’s using him to find the fabled Fountain of Youth. When she forces him aboard the “Queen Anne’s Revenge,” the ship of the legendary pirate Blackbeard, Jack finds himself on an unexpected adventure in which he doesn’t know whom to fear more: Blackbeard or Angelica, with whom he shares a mysterious past.
At the outset, the franchise's brain trust realized the problems with the last 2 films and went back to basics. They made the story simple and formulaic which is exactly what it needed. That's the only fresh approach. Everything else that made the other films so bad is here as well. Uninspired performances, cardboard characters and worse, wasteful characters. There's so much of nothing going on here that it was anger inducing to watch at times. The really sad thing here is this issue could have been solved with some more finessing in the Avid. At 137 minuets, the film isn't as long as it's predecessors but it's too long for this stand alone story. The other sequels were continuing story lines however stupid they were over the course of the trilogy. Here it's a one shot deal with a couple of the main characters crossing over. No need to drag this thing out.
Just get to the fu@#ing point already.
That's my biggest problem with this film. It had the makings of a very tight and fun adventure story until we get bogged down in unnecessary character arcs. I know I might get some heat for this but not even Johnny Depp saves this one. Don't get it twisted, he's good in this installment. Which is the problem. His character is a GREAT one so he needed to be exactly that. Depp's performance almost had a hint of dare I say it.... paycheck acting. Maybe it was the very punch less script but Depp just didn't have the same amount of swashbuckling flare and moxie that he displayed in the previous 3 films. This actually goes for the rest of the cast as well. Penelope Cruz was just ANNOYING! I had enough of her back and forth relationship swings with Jack.
I don't want to write about this anymore. It's time for the Pirates franchise to set sail toward the horizon of NO MORE DAMN MOVIES! Of course we all know that's not happening.
On the 5 star score. Pirates of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides gets 2.5 stars with a "Netflix It" recommendation.
I'm sure most of you will venture out and see this one and that's always your right. But if you are expecting some great revival of a very tired narrative. Stay home and wait for the little red envelope.
That's a wrap for today. Up next is Bridesmaids.
Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"
"D"
Priest
Welcome to another episode Lights....Camera....Popcorn!
Today's review is Priest. Directed by Scott Stweart. Written by Cory Goodman. Based on the graphic novel "Priest" created by Min-Woo Hyung.
Review #118
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, disturbing images and brief strong language.
Runtime: 87 min
Cast
Paul Bettany - Priest
Karl Urban - Black Hat
Cam Gigandet - Hicks
Maggie Q - Priestess
Lily Collins - Lucy Pace
Brad Dourif - Salesman
Stephen Moyer - Owen Pace
Christopher Plummer - Monsignor Orelas
Alan Dale - Monsignor Chamberlain
Mädchen Amick - Shannon Pace
There has been a lot of buzz and promotion for this movie. I would have bought in hook, line and sinker save for 1 very BIG detail.
Scott Stewart.
If you recall, he was the man responsible for 2010's Worst Film of The Year. Legion. That movie was SO BAD that I couldn't fathom how he got another chance to direct another film. Then I remembered that we are dealing with Hollywierd. They don't play by the rules of the sane. For every crappy film that's made, there's a studio just ready and willing to throw money away to the people responsible for making said crappy film.
Which leads us to Priest. Early reports were positive but I still refused to avoid the 800lb gorilla in the room. I couldn't get too pumped up knowing who was behind the lens. The only thing that gave me a moment of pause was that Priest was a film being adapted from a popular graphic novel series. Even then I didn't get too excited because we all know how bad comic book movies can be when placed in the hands of the incompetent. So was this a step up for Mr. Stewart?
Yes.
Plot
Set in a post apocalyptic world. The story revolves around a legendary Warrior Priest from the last Vampire War who now lives in obscurity among the other downtrodden human inhabitants in walled-in dystopian cities ruled by the Church. When his niece is abducted by a murderous pack of vampires, Priest breaks his sacred vows to venture out on a quest to find her before they turn her into one of them. He is joined on his crusade by his niece's boyfriend, a trigger-fingered young wasteland sheriff, and a former Warrior Priestess who possesses otherworldly fighting skills.
Right out of the gate, this film has a lot going for it. Starting with the back story. Like most films of this genre, instead of fleshing out the full history of the comic's universe, they just provide a cliff notes version then go straight to the action. A good portion of the time this tactic does more harm than good. With Priest, they were able to split the difference between both methods. You got a good enough back story without dragging you down into a story coma.
What followed was a straight by the numbers action/adventure flick. You get absolutely nothing new or fresh here. But for some reason it works. A lot of that can be attributed to Paul Bettany's performance as Priest. He channels his performance as the Archangel Michael with a little bit of Anakin Skywalker after he turns to the darkside. The Skywalker reference is mostly because of Priest's brooding demeanor. He walks around with a disposition of a war torn soldier living in a world that both respects and fears him. His look is also very Jedi-esque. Priest's robes and hooded cape instantly remind you of Jedi Knights or Sith Lords. Priest is a very troubled man that struggles to hold on to his faith while controlling his combative urges.
Speaking of combat. Priest does a pretty good job in that department. One major change to the vampire universe here is that the vamps are more of the mindless creature variety than a human with fangs. This gives Priest the chance to showcase why he's labeled the greatest warrior the world had against these unholy villains. The fight scenes were pretty good considering Priest wasn't fighting any "human" adversaries until the end. Sadly it's that fight that was very underwhelming and unimpressive. It was poorly edited and failed to capture any emotion with the exception of the obvious one you'll feel when the time comes.
The remaining cast wasn't stellar but they were serviceable. I did get a kick out of Stephen Moyer's character. For those of you who don't watch True Blood on HBO. He plays Bill Compton. The main vampire character of that show and here he is in a vampire movie playing a human. Insert ironic joke here.
The story of Priest is like I mentioned before as vanilla as you can get but you get the point. Normally I would have been screaming by now for more plot development but the pace is smooth enough that you don't need to have this drag out. They also did or actually didn't do some things here that is considered status quo for films of this ilk. Perhaps this is due to the actual source material or maybe a condensing of many story ideas. From what I understand the book series is rather long so there are many opportunities for expansion. If handled well this has the potential to be as successful as the Blade series if not better.
On the 5 star scale. Priest gets 3.5 stars with a "Go See It" recommendation.
Has Scott Stewart been vindicated for Legion? No. He will NEVER be forgiven for that unholy mess (pun intended). He has however gotten off to a good start attempting to get the awful taste of that film out of my mouth.
That's a wrap for today. Up next is Pirates of The Caribbean : On Stranger Tides.
Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"
"D"
Today's review is Priest. Directed by Scott Stweart. Written by Cory Goodman. Based on the graphic novel "Priest" created by Min-Woo Hyung.
Review #118
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, disturbing images and brief strong language.
Runtime: 87 min
Cast
Paul Bettany - Priest
Karl Urban - Black Hat
Cam Gigandet - Hicks
Maggie Q - Priestess
Lily Collins - Lucy Pace
Brad Dourif - Salesman
Stephen Moyer - Owen Pace
Christopher Plummer - Monsignor Orelas
Alan Dale - Monsignor Chamberlain
Mädchen Amick - Shannon Pace
There has been a lot of buzz and promotion for this movie. I would have bought in hook, line and sinker save for 1 very BIG detail.
Scott Stewart.
If you recall, he was the man responsible for 2010's Worst Film of The Year. Legion. That movie was SO BAD that I couldn't fathom how he got another chance to direct another film. Then I remembered that we are dealing with Hollywierd. They don't play by the rules of the sane. For every crappy film that's made, there's a studio just ready and willing to throw money away to the people responsible for making said crappy film.
Which leads us to Priest. Early reports were positive but I still refused to avoid the 800lb gorilla in the room. I couldn't get too pumped up knowing who was behind the lens. The only thing that gave me a moment of pause was that Priest was a film being adapted from a popular graphic novel series. Even then I didn't get too excited because we all know how bad comic book movies can be when placed in the hands of the incompetent. So was this a step up for Mr. Stewart?
Yes.
Plot
Set in a post apocalyptic world. The story revolves around a legendary Warrior Priest from the last Vampire War who now lives in obscurity among the other downtrodden human inhabitants in walled-in dystopian cities ruled by the Church. When his niece is abducted by a murderous pack of vampires, Priest breaks his sacred vows to venture out on a quest to find her before they turn her into one of them. He is joined on his crusade by his niece's boyfriend, a trigger-fingered young wasteland sheriff, and a former Warrior Priestess who possesses otherworldly fighting skills.
Right out of the gate, this film has a lot going for it. Starting with the back story. Like most films of this genre, instead of fleshing out the full history of the comic's universe, they just provide a cliff notes version then go straight to the action. A good portion of the time this tactic does more harm than good. With Priest, they were able to split the difference between both methods. You got a good enough back story without dragging you down into a story coma.
What followed was a straight by the numbers action/adventure flick. You get absolutely nothing new or fresh here. But for some reason it works. A lot of that can be attributed to Paul Bettany's performance as Priest. He channels his performance as the Archangel Michael with a little bit of Anakin Skywalker after he turns to the darkside. The Skywalker reference is mostly because of Priest's brooding demeanor. He walks around with a disposition of a war torn soldier living in a world that both respects and fears him. His look is also very Jedi-esque. Priest's robes and hooded cape instantly remind you of Jedi Knights or Sith Lords. Priest is a very troubled man that struggles to hold on to his faith while controlling his combative urges.
Speaking of combat. Priest does a pretty good job in that department. One major change to the vampire universe here is that the vamps are more of the mindless creature variety than a human with fangs. This gives Priest the chance to showcase why he's labeled the greatest warrior the world had against these unholy villains. The fight scenes were pretty good considering Priest wasn't fighting any "human" adversaries until the end. Sadly it's that fight that was very underwhelming and unimpressive. It was poorly edited and failed to capture any emotion with the exception of the obvious one you'll feel when the time comes.
The remaining cast wasn't stellar but they were serviceable. I did get a kick out of Stephen Moyer's character. For those of you who don't watch True Blood on HBO. He plays Bill Compton. The main vampire character of that show and here he is in a vampire movie playing a human. Insert ironic joke here.
The story of Priest is like I mentioned before as vanilla as you can get but you get the point. Normally I would have been screaming by now for more plot development but the pace is smooth enough that you don't need to have this drag out. They also did or actually didn't do some things here that is considered status quo for films of this ilk. Perhaps this is due to the actual source material or maybe a condensing of many story ideas. From what I understand the book series is rather long so there are many opportunities for expansion. If handled well this has the potential to be as successful as the Blade series if not better.
On the 5 star scale. Priest gets 3.5 stars with a "Go See It" recommendation.
Has Scott Stewart been vindicated for Legion? No. He will NEVER be forgiven for that unholy mess (pun intended). He has however gotten off to a good start attempting to get the awful taste of that film out of my mouth.
That's a wrap for today. Up next is Pirates of The Caribbean : On Stranger Tides.
Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"
"D"
Hoodwinked Too! : Hood vs Evil
Welcome to another episode Lights....Camera....Popcorn!
Today's review is Hoodwinked Too! : Hood vs Evil.Directed by Mike Disa. Written by Mike Disa, Cory Edwards, Todd Edwards & Tony Leech.
Review #117
MPAA Rating: PG for some mild rude humor, language and action.
Runtime: 86 min
Cast
Glenn Close - Granny Puckett
Hayden Panettiere - Red Riding Hood
Cheech Marin - Mad Hog
Patrick Warburton - The Big Bad Wolf
Joan Cusack - Verushka the Witch
Bill Hader - Hansel
David Ogden Stiers - Nicky Flippers
Amy Poehler - Gretel
Cory Edwards - Twitchy
Martin Short - Kirk the Woodsman
Brad Garrett - The Giant
Andy Dick - Boingo the Bunny
David Alan Grier - Moss the Troll
Tommy Chong - Stone
Phil LaMarr - Wood / Ernesto
Wayne Newton - Jimmy 10-Strings
Sequels are always a risky venture. They are especially risky when it comes to animated films. Even more so when the first film wasn't a great overall success.
This is the case here.
Plot
Red Riding Hood is training in the group of Sister Hoods, when she and the Wolf are called to examine the sudden mysterious disappearance of Hansel and Gretel.
The original Hoodwinked had a very clever concept. It told the Red Riding Hood story very akin to Roshomon. For those of you who never saw Kurosawa's greatest (shame on you for not) the film was told via the point of view of the main characters. Red Riding Hood, The Big Bad Wolf, Granny and the Woodsman. It was a very smooth and funny way to tell a very old fairy tale. It was a great re-imagining.
This sequel is nothing like that and that's why it fails.
Instead of going a similar route they tried to make this more of a straight laced narrative. The problem with that is the immediate disconnect with ALL of the main characters. The original gave the audience the chance to experience plot and character development. Each version of the characters story gave you a chance to see their back story and what led to their eventual meeting. That's not the case here. After 6 years between films you are supposed to remember who everyone is and what their involvement to the story is. They try to take you back with a tiny flashback that sums up the first film but it just washes over the main points and moves on.
Very shoddy.
To make matters worse when you find out what each character is up to now.....you don't care. You care even less about the new characters that are introduced in this installment. It's so bland and underwhelming that it just plays off as lazy writing. The pop culture jokes are lame and placed very poorly throughout the story. They stand out for all the wrong reasons. To wrap it up the voice casting was poorly done as well. The original had some A list talent behind the mic. The main person missing was Anne Hathaway as Red Riding Hood. She was replaced by Hayden Panettiere. Just didn't fit. Hathaway played Red with just the right amount of innocence to go with her tough girl bravado and ability. Here, Panettiere plays her like a spoiled, inconsiderate adolescent.
I realize that this is rather harsh for a kids film. If you have kids and this is still playing in your area then it's probably worth a look since they won't care about what I care about. But since I loved the first one so much I expected a much better stab at bringing me back to that world. I was sadly disappointed on so many levels. I just wonder why it took 6 years to make this one. There clearly wasn't a lot of creativity flowing around the writer's room.
On the 5 star scale. Hoodwinked Too! : Hood vs Evil gets 1 star. With a "Save The Loot" recommendation.
That's a wrap for today. Up next is Priest.
Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"
"D"
Today's review is Hoodwinked Too! : Hood vs Evil.Directed by Mike Disa. Written by Mike Disa, Cory Edwards, Todd Edwards & Tony Leech.
Review #117
MPAA Rating: PG for some mild rude humor, language and action.
Runtime: 86 min
Cast
Glenn Close - Granny Puckett
Hayden Panettiere - Red Riding Hood
Cheech Marin - Mad Hog
Patrick Warburton - The Big Bad Wolf
Joan Cusack - Verushka the Witch
Bill Hader - Hansel
David Ogden Stiers - Nicky Flippers
Amy Poehler - Gretel
Cory Edwards - Twitchy
Martin Short - Kirk the Woodsman
Brad Garrett - The Giant
Andy Dick - Boingo the Bunny
David Alan Grier - Moss the Troll
Tommy Chong - Stone
Phil LaMarr - Wood / Ernesto
Wayne Newton - Jimmy 10-Strings
Sequels are always a risky venture. They are especially risky when it comes to animated films. Even more so when the first film wasn't a great overall success.
This is the case here.
Plot
Red Riding Hood is training in the group of Sister Hoods, when she and the Wolf are called to examine the sudden mysterious disappearance of Hansel and Gretel.
The original Hoodwinked had a very clever concept. It told the Red Riding Hood story very akin to Roshomon. For those of you who never saw Kurosawa's greatest (shame on you for not) the film was told via the point of view of the main characters. Red Riding Hood, The Big Bad Wolf, Granny and the Woodsman. It was a very smooth and funny way to tell a very old fairy tale. It was a great re-imagining.
This sequel is nothing like that and that's why it fails.
Instead of going a similar route they tried to make this more of a straight laced narrative. The problem with that is the immediate disconnect with ALL of the main characters. The original gave the audience the chance to experience plot and character development. Each version of the characters story gave you a chance to see their back story and what led to their eventual meeting. That's not the case here. After 6 years between films you are supposed to remember who everyone is and what their involvement to the story is. They try to take you back with a tiny flashback that sums up the first film but it just washes over the main points and moves on.
Very shoddy.
To make matters worse when you find out what each character is up to now.....you don't care. You care even less about the new characters that are introduced in this installment. It's so bland and underwhelming that it just plays off as lazy writing. The pop culture jokes are lame and placed very poorly throughout the story. They stand out for all the wrong reasons. To wrap it up the voice casting was poorly done as well. The original had some A list talent behind the mic. The main person missing was Anne Hathaway as Red Riding Hood. She was replaced by Hayden Panettiere. Just didn't fit. Hathaway played Red with just the right amount of innocence to go with her tough girl bravado and ability. Here, Panettiere plays her like a spoiled, inconsiderate adolescent.
I realize that this is rather harsh for a kids film. If you have kids and this is still playing in your area then it's probably worth a look since they won't care about what I care about. But since I loved the first one so much I expected a much better stab at bringing me back to that world. I was sadly disappointed on so many levels. I just wonder why it took 6 years to make this one. There clearly wasn't a lot of creativity flowing around the writer's room.
On the 5 star scale. Hoodwinked Too! : Hood vs Evil gets 1 star. With a "Save The Loot" recommendation.
That's a wrap for today. Up next is Priest.
Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"
"D"
Thor
Welcome to another episode Lights....Camera....Popcorn!
Today's review is Thor. Directed by Kenneth Branagh. Written by Ashley Miller, Zack Stentz & Son Payne. Screen story by J. Michael Straczynski & Mark Protosevich. Based on the comic book created by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby & Larry Lieber.
Review #116
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for sequences of sci fi violence and action.
Runtime: 114 min
Cast
Chris Hemsworth - Thor
Natalie Portman - Jane Foster
Tom Hiddleston - Loki
Anthony Hopkins - Odin
Stellan Skarsgård - Erik Selvig
Kat Dennings - Darcy Lewis
Clark Gregg - Agent Coulson
Idris Elba - Heimdall
Colm Feore - King Laufey
Ray Stevenson - Volstagg
Tadanobu Asano - Hogun
Josh Dallas - Fandral
Jaimie Alexander - Sif
Rene Russo - Frigga
The vast and wonderful world of comic book films have been helmed by some of hollywood's best and visionary director's. Richard Donner, Sam Raimi, Ang Lee, Bryan Singer, Zack Snyder, Jon Favreau and of course Christopher Nolan. And now we have Kenneth Branagh.
Kenneth Branagh? Really? Mr. Henry V, Mr. Hamlet, Mr. Shakespeare Kenneth Branagh? Directing a Marvel comic book film? Yup that Kenneth Branagh. He was tasked with not only directing the film that would jump start the summer blockbuster season. But begin Marvel Studios very publicized plan to continue the crossover of 3 films that would lead to the genre's most ambitious undertaking ever.
My friends....Marvel's plan has gotten off to a GREAT start!
Thor is the son of Odin, King of Asgard. A mystical realm that exists among earth and other realms. On the day Thor was to be appointed the future king of Asgard, the city is attacked by a race of people that fought a massive war against Asgard centuries ago. Bound for vengeance, Thor disobeys his father and travels to the land of the attackers along with his brother Loki and several other warriors. This act breaks a truce that lasted years between the two realms. Thor's impetuous nature and defiance forces Odin's hand and banishes him to earth. Powerless and alone Thor wanders around New Mexico searching for a way to return home. Along the way he meets three humans that he comes to care for.
That is the bare bones plot of a film that much more rooted inside. I really enjoyed this story mainly because Thor is not your everyday run of the mill superhero. In fact he's not a superhero at all. He's a god. The god of thunder to be exact. He doesn't acquire superpowers, he's already born with them. Very similar to Superman with the exception that Thor doesn't need to conceal his identity to the real world. What really made this film compelling was the dynamic between Thor, Odin and Loki. Thor being the elder sibling, he is the next in line to take the throne of Asgard. This could have played into a sibling rivalry angle but the film goes another way.
This is best represented by the cast. Hemsworth plays Thor with just the right amount of arrogance and attitude mixed in with humility. Not once are you against him even though his actions could have cost the lives of his loved ones. Hiddleston as Loki is equally impressive. His character is very cunning and deliberate. His power is no greater or lesser than Thor's but he finds a away to upstage his brother when deemed necessary to serve his needs. Finally there's the great Anthony Hopkins as Odin. The man just owns the character. After seeing him as the all father, there's no one else I could imagine playing him. The respect he commands by his people is prevalent from frame one to end credits.
And it's here where Branagh's talents are best displayed. Having performed in several works of Shakespeare, he tackles the family feuding between father and his two sons very well. Especially when a crown is at stake. The film when Asgard is the showcase plays like a Shakespearean tale. You forget that this is a comic book movie. It has more of a fantasy feel to it. The pacing of the film is also pretty good. At a shade over 2 hours (trailers included) Thor moves rather well. You're not sitting there waiting for the next fight to happen. The back and forth between Earth and Asgard keep you ingrained with both worlds so your interest doesn't fall into fatigue.
Of course Branagh doesn't allow you to forget that Thor is indeed a comic book. He does this by displaying some pretty cool action set pieces. Starting with the fight between Thor, his warriors and the Ice Giants to the final fight against Loki. The action is hard, fast and LOUD! It's balanced well enough between the non action scenes which contain several very cool hints of the future Avengers film including the introduction of a future Avengers character. Speaking of which. Make sure you stay until after the end credits. Just like Iron Man, Iron Man II and here with Thor there's an easter egg scene that continues the lead up to the Avengers crossover film.
On the 5 star scale. Thor gets 4 stars. With a "Worth Every Penny" recommendation.
The summer blockbuster season has officially begun and Marvel has kicked it off with a BANG!
That's a wrap for today. Up next is Priest. This film scares me a bit. It was made Scott Stewart. He was the same moron that made last year's Worst Film of The Year....Legion. I'm holding out a little bit of hope here because Priest is an adaptation of a graphic novel and Legion was a very unoriginal original idea.
We'll see.
Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"
"D"
Today's review is Thor. Directed by Kenneth Branagh. Written by Ashley Miller, Zack Stentz & Son Payne. Screen story by J. Michael Straczynski & Mark Protosevich. Based on the comic book created by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby & Larry Lieber.
Review #116
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for sequences of sci fi violence and action.
Runtime: 114 min
Cast
Chris Hemsworth - Thor
Natalie Portman - Jane Foster
Tom Hiddleston - Loki
Anthony Hopkins - Odin
Stellan Skarsgård - Erik Selvig
Kat Dennings - Darcy Lewis
Clark Gregg - Agent Coulson
Idris Elba - Heimdall
Colm Feore - King Laufey
Ray Stevenson - Volstagg
Tadanobu Asano - Hogun
Josh Dallas - Fandral
Jaimie Alexander - Sif
Rene Russo - Frigga
The vast and wonderful world of comic book films have been helmed by some of hollywood's best and visionary director's. Richard Donner, Sam Raimi, Ang Lee, Bryan Singer, Zack Snyder, Jon Favreau and of course Christopher Nolan. And now we have Kenneth Branagh.
Kenneth Branagh? Really? Mr. Henry V, Mr. Hamlet, Mr. Shakespeare Kenneth Branagh? Directing a Marvel comic book film? Yup that Kenneth Branagh. He was tasked with not only directing the film that would jump start the summer blockbuster season. But begin Marvel Studios very publicized plan to continue the crossover of 3 films that would lead to the genre's most ambitious undertaking ever.
My friends....Marvel's plan has gotten off to a GREAT start!
Thor is the son of Odin, King of Asgard. A mystical realm that exists among earth and other realms. On the day Thor was to be appointed the future king of Asgard, the city is attacked by a race of people that fought a massive war against Asgard centuries ago. Bound for vengeance, Thor disobeys his father and travels to the land of the attackers along with his brother Loki and several other warriors. This act breaks a truce that lasted years between the two realms. Thor's impetuous nature and defiance forces Odin's hand and banishes him to earth. Powerless and alone Thor wanders around New Mexico searching for a way to return home. Along the way he meets three humans that he comes to care for.
That is the bare bones plot of a film that much more rooted inside. I really enjoyed this story mainly because Thor is not your everyday run of the mill superhero. In fact he's not a superhero at all. He's a god. The god of thunder to be exact. He doesn't acquire superpowers, he's already born with them. Very similar to Superman with the exception that Thor doesn't need to conceal his identity to the real world. What really made this film compelling was the dynamic between Thor, Odin and Loki. Thor being the elder sibling, he is the next in line to take the throne of Asgard. This could have played into a sibling rivalry angle but the film goes another way.
This is best represented by the cast. Hemsworth plays Thor with just the right amount of arrogance and attitude mixed in with humility. Not once are you against him even though his actions could have cost the lives of his loved ones. Hiddleston as Loki is equally impressive. His character is very cunning and deliberate. His power is no greater or lesser than Thor's but he finds a away to upstage his brother when deemed necessary to serve his needs. Finally there's the great Anthony Hopkins as Odin. The man just owns the character. After seeing him as the all father, there's no one else I could imagine playing him. The respect he commands by his people is prevalent from frame one to end credits.
And it's here where Branagh's talents are best displayed. Having performed in several works of Shakespeare, he tackles the family feuding between father and his two sons very well. Especially when a crown is at stake. The film when Asgard is the showcase plays like a Shakespearean tale. You forget that this is a comic book movie. It has more of a fantasy feel to it. The pacing of the film is also pretty good. At a shade over 2 hours (trailers included) Thor moves rather well. You're not sitting there waiting for the next fight to happen. The back and forth between Earth and Asgard keep you ingrained with both worlds so your interest doesn't fall into fatigue.
Of course Branagh doesn't allow you to forget that Thor is indeed a comic book. He does this by displaying some pretty cool action set pieces. Starting with the fight between Thor, his warriors and the Ice Giants to the final fight against Loki. The action is hard, fast and LOUD! It's balanced well enough between the non action scenes which contain several very cool hints of the future Avengers film including the introduction of a future Avengers character. Speaking of which. Make sure you stay until after the end credits. Just like Iron Man, Iron Man II and here with Thor there's an easter egg scene that continues the lead up to the Avengers crossover film.
On the 5 star scale. Thor gets 4 stars. With a "Worth Every Penny" recommendation.
The summer blockbuster season has officially begun and Marvel has kicked it off with a BANG!
That's a wrap for today. Up next is Priest. This film scares me a bit. It was made Scott Stewart. He was the same moron that made last year's Worst Film of The Year....Legion. I'm holding out a little bit of hope here because Priest is an adaptation of a graphic novel and Legion was a very unoriginal original idea.
We'll see.
Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"
"D"
The Conspirator
Welcome to another episode Lights....Camera....Popcorn!
Today's review is The Conspirator. Directed by Robert Redford. Written by James D. Solomon. Screen story by James D. Solomon & Gregory Bernstein.
Review #115
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for some violent content.
Runtime: 122 min
Cast
James McAvoy - Frederick Aiken
Robin Wright - Mary Surratt
Kevin Kline - Edwin Stanton
Evan Rachel Wood - Anna Surratt
Danny Huston - Joseph Holt
Tom Wilkinson - Reverdy Johnson
Colm Meaney - David Hunter
Johnny Simmons - John Surratt
Chris Bauer - Major Smith
Stephen Root - John Lloyd
James Badge Dale - William Hamilton
Alexis Bledel - Sarah Weston
Justin Long - Nicholas Baker
In the over 200 years of our country's existence. We have experienced the assassination of four commander's in chief.
Abraham Lincoln, 1865
James A. Garfield, 1881
William McKinley, 1901
John F. Kennedy, 1963
Lincoln's assassination carried more notoriety than being the first in our history. He was also killed during wartime. That action sent our country who was already in upheaval to utter panic and chaos. This is why we have our government. They're supposed to re-establish order and revive a nation shaken by combat and tragedy.
But what happens when our elected leaders end up doing more harm than good?
After the president's assassination, steps are immediately taken to apprehend the supposed perpetrators which happens quite swiftly. One of the accused is Mary Surratt, owner of a boarding house that held several of the men who plotted to kill Lincoln. She is also the mother of a key and only member of the group who evaded capture.
Due to this connection, she was to be tried along with the rest in a military tribunal and not in a civilian trial with a jury of her peers. Frederick Aiken, a lawyer by trade enjoying civilian life after his time in combat was asked to defend Mary. Against strenuous objection he takes the case and realizes that things are indeed not what they seem.
This film was tough to read. There were instances where it fell into a lull and it appeared it was staying there. Then when Surratt's trial takes place The Conspirator hits it's stride. Unfortunately it's those same scenes that bring the film down a peg or two. There have been many reviews and opinions toward this film having indirect parallels to 9-11 and the governments misdirection toward the actual enemy.
It is very evident that that tone is set but it goes too far.
The panel of generals and prosecution are bullies, hell bent on securing a conviction no matter the cost. It's very clear early on that the public demand retribution for the horrific crimes committed against their leader. It's that blind hatred and misguided sense of justice that the powers that be wield to serve their needs in order to preserve the greater good. You can even make the case that corruption was rampant throughout the judicial preceding. These thoughts and practices are well executed and performed by the all star cast.
The issue I have was this Redford's intent.
I found it very disappointing and infuriating that our government at the time chose to abandon the laws created by them in the interest of "justice" while hiding behind the absurd notion that it was all for the people. I felt deeply for Aiken in this film. He had a snowball's chance in hell of winning the case but even less of a chance of being heard as a equal in the court of law. The abuse of power also flowed all the way to the top. Minds were made up and no amount of evidence was going to sway the already convicted Surratt. It's this mindless thinking that pushed me to root for Aiken more and more.
I really hope this was the objective of this film. Otherwise it serves as a very poor reflection of our country during a time where it's leaders were supposed to honor a system that they implemented to maintain peace and civility. I want to make this abundantly clear. Just because I spent the better part of this review spewing anger towards the government's portrayal and actions. It doesn't change the fact that the film is very well made and thought provoking. I think it tries too hard to make a connection to a past historic event with a more recent one.
Just stick to the event in play and let us make our own minds.
On the 5 star scale. The Conspirator gets 3.5 stars with a "Go See It" recommendation.
That's a wrap for today. Up next is Thor.
Until Next Episode...."I'll save you a seat!"
"D"
Today's review is The Conspirator. Directed by Robert Redford. Written by James D. Solomon. Screen story by James D. Solomon & Gregory Bernstein.
Review #115
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for some violent content.
Runtime: 122 min
Cast
James McAvoy - Frederick Aiken
Robin Wright - Mary Surratt
Kevin Kline - Edwin Stanton
Evan Rachel Wood - Anna Surratt
Danny Huston - Joseph Holt
Tom Wilkinson - Reverdy Johnson
Colm Meaney - David Hunter
Johnny Simmons - John Surratt
Chris Bauer - Major Smith
Stephen Root - John Lloyd
James Badge Dale - William Hamilton
Alexis Bledel - Sarah Weston
Justin Long - Nicholas Baker
In the over 200 years of our country's existence. We have experienced the assassination of four commander's in chief.
Abraham Lincoln, 1865
James A. Garfield, 1881
William McKinley, 1901
John F. Kennedy, 1963
Lincoln's assassination carried more notoriety than being the first in our history. He was also killed during wartime. That action sent our country who was already in upheaval to utter panic and chaos. This is why we have our government. They're supposed to re-establish order and revive a nation shaken by combat and tragedy.
But what happens when our elected leaders end up doing more harm than good?
After the president's assassination, steps are immediately taken to apprehend the supposed perpetrators which happens quite swiftly. One of the accused is Mary Surratt, owner of a boarding house that held several of the men who plotted to kill Lincoln. She is also the mother of a key and only member of the group who evaded capture.
Due to this connection, she was to be tried along with the rest in a military tribunal and not in a civilian trial with a jury of her peers. Frederick Aiken, a lawyer by trade enjoying civilian life after his time in combat was asked to defend Mary. Against strenuous objection he takes the case and realizes that things are indeed not what they seem.
This film was tough to read. There were instances where it fell into a lull and it appeared it was staying there. Then when Surratt's trial takes place The Conspirator hits it's stride. Unfortunately it's those same scenes that bring the film down a peg or two. There have been many reviews and opinions toward this film having indirect parallels to 9-11 and the governments misdirection toward the actual enemy.
It is very evident that that tone is set but it goes too far.
The panel of generals and prosecution are bullies, hell bent on securing a conviction no matter the cost. It's very clear early on that the public demand retribution for the horrific crimes committed against their leader. It's that blind hatred and misguided sense of justice that the powers that be wield to serve their needs in order to preserve the greater good. You can even make the case that corruption was rampant throughout the judicial preceding. These thoughts and practices are well executed and performed by the all star cast.
The issue I have was this Redford's intent.
I found it very disappointing and infuriating that our government at the time chose to abandon the laws created by them in the interest of "justice" while hiding behind the absurd notion that it was all for the people. I felt deeply for Aiken in this film. He had a snowball's chance in hell of winning the case but even less of a chance of being heard as a equal in the court of law. The abuse of power also flowed all the way to the top. Minds were made up and no amount of evidence was going to sway the already convicted Surratt. It's this mindless thinking that pushed me to root for Aiken more and more.
I really hope this was the objective of this film. Otherwise it serves as a very poor reflection of our country during a time where it's leaders were supposed to honor a system that they implemented to maintain peace and civility. I want to make this abundantly clear. Just because I spent the better part of this review spewing anger towards the government's portrayal and actions. It doesn't change the fact that the film is very well made and thought provoking. I think it tries too hard to make a connection to a past historic event with a more recent one.
Just stick to the event in play and let us make our own minds.
On the 5 star scale. The Conspirator gets 3.5 stars with a "Go See It" recommendation.
That's a wrap for today. Up next is Thor.
Until Next Episode...."I'll save you a seat!"
"D"
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)