Countdown to Into Darkness: Star Trek 2: the Wrath of Khan Review

Often considered the best of the original Star Trek Movies, Wrath of Khan pretty much wrote the textbook about how to write a film that is pretty much a retrospective. Other examples of this type of film would include Live Free or Die Hard and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. For most fans and critics Star Trek 1 was no good. It was too high budget and destroyed much of what fans had loved about the tv show. When one watches Star Trek 2 there is no sign that there was ever a first one. The film picks up like a continuation of the tv show except fifteen years later. What makes Trek 2 work is the fact that in many ways it feels more like an episode of star trek. It brings back the major characters and even a major villain. This really works in its favor. It also knows that it’s a movie and it makes sure to let the bigger canvas work to its benefit instead of hurting its story. The story of dealing with old age was virtually ripped off in Indiana Jones 4. No joke there are way too many similarities for this to be a coincidence. But don’t worry Trek 2 is better than indy 4 mainly because it has much stronger scripting anda way better villain. Khan is menacing and although he doesn’t get too much screen time he makes the most of it. The acting here is pretty good all around and the philosophical quality of the script makes it smarter than your normal space opera. Unfortunately one thing really hurts Star Trek 2, it hasn’t aged well. When watching this film you know you’re watching an ‘80’s scifi flick from the hair to the costumes and the sets. The technology looks old and the effects are definitely showing their age. The script too is sometimes way over the top but in the end this is a fun ride that really continues the original show well and with good taste 3.5/5

Countdown to Gatsby: Seabiscuit (Toby Maguire) and Django Unchained (Leonardo Dicaprio)

This is going to be a short series of reviews that counts down to the Great Gatsby (May 10^th) by looking at the main actors in the film and their previous work. These roles will specifically focus on that actor’s role in the particular film

Seabiscuit (Toby Maguire) (2003)

Toby Maguire is best known for playing Spider Man in Sam Rami’s three films and like many superhero actors he has been in typecasting trouble. With Gatsby Maguire will hopefully get himself out of that trouble by proving he is in fact an actor as he did in this 2003 underdog story. The first third  of seabiscuit is quite muddled and struggles with the broadness of its themes. This story about a champion horse too small and a jockey too big stars out too broad nad unfocused. In many respects this sports film does not correct that but it does become far better as it goes along much like the horse it portrays. By the end of the film you are riveted to this entertaining story and that doesn’t achieve greatness but which does in many ways entertain. The film is lavishly produced and the period detail is really cool. Maguire’s performance is the best I’ve seen from him. He shows that he can play a truly dramatic and flawed character without being over the top ( a la Spider-Man 3). He plays the character he knows best the young gun and underdog and his role gets far better like the film. He seems real and genuine and helps hold the film together as well as he can. Seabiscuit does not quite ever make up the ground it loses in its first half but it definitely tries 3.5/5

Django Unchained (2012) (Leonardo DiCaprio)

Leonardo DiCaprio has been quite a popular and prolific actor recently. His latest outing Django Unchained gave him his first opportunity to play a true villain and he does not disappoint. Quentin Tarantino’s homage to the spaghetti western is a bloody good time with humor and tragedy mixed. DiCaprio’s villain is ruthless and unflinchingly evil beyond doubt and DiCaprio pulls it off with a menace that is frightening and believable. His great last monologue about his theory of slavery is truly and acting tour de force. His presence recharges the movie which starts the wane in the beginning of the second act. Django Unchained is a really solid outing for Tarantino and it is helped along greatly by DiCaprio’s Performance.

Blockbuster News: Iron Man 3 Clip and Gatsby Trailer!

                It’s almost that time of year again. In less than a month the 2013 summer blockbuster season will begin with the release of Iron Man 3. Because of the upcoming event many of these films are releasing new footage.

First up we have a trailer for the delayed and highly anticipated film the Great Gatsby. This new trailer focuses more on the romantic aspects of the films. To me it has the same strengths and weaknesses as everything else I’ve seen from the film. On the one hand it seems as though the story is being rendered well. That’s very good because Gatsby is one of the greatest works of American literature and one of my all time favorite books. The movie also sports a strong cast that seems well chosen for their roles. On the other hand I don’t like how much CGI ( computer Generated Imagery) there is, I like movies to be done for real and sometimes this trailer almost looks like a video game. I think we’ll have to wait and see when the film is released but I am apprehensively excited.

Here’s a link to the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozkOhXmijtk

Next up we have our first clip from Iron Man 3. Due to the power of the internet movie clips released by studios are becoming more and more popular and for us critics this is very helpful for making early predictions. I was disappointed with Iron Man 2 and am not really all that excited about the third installment but I have to admit that this role is definitely Downey Jr.’s defining one. From what I see it is his presence that allows this clip to work and it was also his presence that made the Avengers so good. I am, however, a little apprehensive about what I’m seeing because it seems like the same old same old. This time Stark is once again overconfident but this time by blind revenge. He will get beat up and realize his stupid, rash, ways and save the day in the end. If this is done well it will be formula but watchable. If not done perfectly it will just feel old and uninteresting, we shall see.

Here’s a link to the clip:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edkcosdafcg

Most Anticipated Movie of the Year!: Man of Steel

                I remember when I first saw Superman the Movie, the one made in 1978 directed by Richard Donner. I remember the sense of wonderment I felt when watching that film. I had been a moderate fan of the comics for a little while, especially the older ones. When I saw that film the comic world I had been reading seemed to come to life and I remember not wanting the film to end. Unfortunately despite my best efforts I did not feel that way about Superman Returns.

                Ever since that very expensive film that for all intensive purposes flopped it has seemed as if that first Superman film might be the best film. I’m hoping that all that will change this summer. Most critics would not tell you that their most anticipated movie of the year was a superhero film but I’m not most critics and I also happen to really like good comic book films. This film seems to have the makings of one.

The cast looks excellent with the likes of Russell Crowe and Kevin Cosner. This in many ways reminds me of that first film which had Marlon Brando and Gene Hackman. Henry Cavil looks like he can play the part and like Christopher Reeve before him he’s not a huge name. The crew behind the film is almost more impressive. Although I’m not the biggest Zack Snyder fan he does have his own sense of style and Christopher Nolan and David Goyer working on the story. They were the ones who made the greatest comic book films of all time, The Dark Knight Trilogy. Christopher Nolan is also producing which gives me a lot of confidence in the project. Hans Zimmer is doing the music which he says will be “very different” from the original iconic theme by John Williams.

                Not only is the crew exciting but everything that I’ve been hearing about this film seems good. Certainly much of this is probably paid hype but I get the sense that the people working on this film genuinely believe in the direction its going. I also feel that if anyone can make Superman relevant today it will be this cast and crew. Early screenings for Executives were said to have received rave reviews. Some even saying it might be the “best movie of the year”  take that with a major grain of salt but it is still good to see all of the positive buzz.

                I think David Goyer put it best when he stated in an interview that “the world needs a Superman movie now more how more than ever” I agree wholeheartedly with this statement. It is a difficult task to bring the classic superhero into relevance today but if anybody could do it, it would be this crew. If they meet the challenge and overcome it Man of Steel might be “movie of the year” material. I sincerely am just hoping that it can rekindle that magic I felt when watching the original. Because of this Man of Steel is my most anticipated movie of 2013.

Spotlight: Sergio Leone, The Man With No Name Trilogy Review 1: A Fistful of Dollars (1964)

For the next few weeks my spotlight will be on Director Sergio Leone’s famous Dollars Trilogy. These films made Clint Eastwood a star and changed the western movie forever.

Review 1: A Fistful of Dollars

In 1964, movies were going through a period of tremendous change. The studio system had collapsed and many films that had been incredibly popular before didn’t sit as well with audience used to watching the body count increase in Vietnam every day. The western had long been a symbol of American film and that symbol was now fading. Cowboy films were becoming less and less popular as more and more TV shows were giving audiences the same experience. In Italy however, the legend of the American cowboy was still strong and these Italian made “spaghetti westerns” were quite popular with audiences in that country. Sergio Leone was an established Italian director by the time he made a Fistful of Dollars but he had never made a western. He was a fan of American westerns and loved the genre. He made some very important choices when making this film, one of which was to hire TV star Clint Eastwood in the title role. The rest as they say is history.

When one watches the film today it is still quite striking. This begins with the great musical score composed by Ennio Morricone. This music is far different from the traditional brassy western score and in many ways a precursor of what things are to come. The film is the shortest of the trilogy at about an hour and three quarters and it movies at a breathtaking speed.  The music follows this speed with an abandon that is operatic and thrilling, something quite different from the traditional score. The over the top aspect of the score adds to the mood of the film and never feels either cheesy or out of place and it still feels different and iconic even today.

Eastwood’s Performance as the man with no name (called here Joe) is also iconic and quite different from the typical western leading man. He has a presence almost like a stick of dynamite with which the fuse only need be lit and yet he does not talk much. This lack of talking propels his character into territory not before seen in a popular western. Eastwood of course is also great at the action and he still looks cool to this day.

The story was ripped straight from a Japanese samurai movie Yojimbo which was directed by Kurosawa. In some ways the story of two feuding families works better as a western and with Leone’s style which tells the story with less dialogue and more visuals. Leone here is perfecting his craft and figuring out ways to make the Western his own while working on a small budget. Fistful was made on nothing and yet it looks pretty expensive. The cast of lesser Italian actors play their roles admirably and the visuals are sometimes stunning.

Overall Fistful thrills and exhilarates in a way different from any other great western before. The operatic score and Eastwood’s performance make the film something to admire. It isn’t perfect though with parts of the film feeling dragged and others feeling too quick but it was the first of its kind and changed the western forever! 4.5/5

As always please say what you thought of the review in the comments below and also be sure to check back for the next review in my spotlight on Sergio Leone’s Dollars Trilogy  

My Rating System

Whenever one reads a new critic it is always important to know a little about that critic and his/her ratings system. Mine is a 5 star (or point) system which goes like this:

1/5 (unwatchable: this is very rare, there is no reason to watch this movie whatsoever and it is a complete waste of time!)

2/5 (bad: This movie has very little to recommend about it and it is very flawed)

3/5 (Fair: this film is ok, there’s stuff to recommend about it but it is also very flawed)

3.5/5 (good: this is an enjoyable movie that is recommended but not spectacular)

4/5 (Really Good: this film has a lot going for it and despite some minor flaws is really good)

4.5/5 (Exceptional: This film is highly recommended and is almost as good as it gets)

5/5 (Amazing: This film is something everyone must see, it’s the epitome of why we go to the movies)

Ratings are done mainly in comparison with other films in that genre For instance: Skyfall would be rated against other Bond/ action films whereas The Naked gun is rated against comedies. I feel that this is the fairest way to do it because a Bond film for instance is not trying to be as analytical and deep as an Bergman film for example. Movies that are going to be rated Five Stars generally will have the title : Movies Everyone Must See, before their reviews

Welcome!

Cinema is one of the great common experiences of our time. Movies combine a variety of art forms to create an experience that can stir captivate and entertain their audiences. The purpose of this blog is to explore this great common experience. I, Brendan J. Anderson, am a 17 year old high school senior who fell in love with film at a very young age. I have done much research on film and have done everything from school presentations to amateur movie reviews. I have a true passion for the art and shared common experience that is film and my goal for this blog is to be able to share that love with all of you. This blog will contain a variety of posts which will include reviews, analysis, speculation, and information all of which pertain to the pure love of all things film. Movies reviewed will vary based on what I see, everything from the silent era up to present day films will be reviewed. Despite my age I have a real passion for great movies from every era and some might even say that I favor older movies, so many reviews will simply be about movies from every era that everyone should see. Movies as stated above are also a collective experience shared by an audience in a darkened theater. Because of this I strongly encourage reactions to the reviews and articles in the comments section.  Thank you for coming to this blog and I hope you will join me on this great Cinematic Adventure!