First Impression: Tangled

So Disney animation seems to be riding pretty high these days. Movies like Frozen and Big Hero 6 have made quite a few fans. Then you've got the upcoming Zootopia looking like it could be another hit. I'm seeing plenty of animation buffs even claiming we are in a new Disney Renaissance (how many of these can there be?) With all that said, lots of people feel that this all really started back in 2010 with Tangled. I was curious to see how Disney approached this take on the tale of Rapunzel, so I gave the movie a shot. Here are some first impressions.


Three Things I Liked:

• Some gorgeous animation and impressive set pieces
• Maximus the horse was a real fun character
• Mother Gothel was an interesting passive/aggressive take on a villain

Three Things I Didn't Like:

• The songs and music wasn't memorable
• The songs felt like they stopped the story cold
• Just what kind of movie were they going for?

Overall

I have to say that Tangled offers a lot to like. It moves quickly, keeps things light and fun with some very engaging characters. The high points are the impressive animation that creates a wonderfully vivid fairytale world. The action scenes are especially well executed and exciting. But the music for this musical just doesn't have the sticking power. Worse the songs feel like the interrupt the action more than build up within it. In a few ways this movie reminded me of Treasure Planet where it didn't quite know what direction to go, so it goes in all of them. The end result is a muddled movie that lacks memorability. I'm hoping another viewing will allow me to enjoy it a bit more. 

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Trigun: Badlands Rumble (2010)

Introduction:

Nearly ten years after the television series Trigun exploded on both Japanese and American shores, we finally get a film featuring everyone’s favorite walking disaster: Vash the Stampede. The good news is that the creative team behind the film is the same that worked on the television series. Word is that director Nishimura Satoshi wanted to have a good story before tackling the film. Is the wait worth it for Trigun fans, and can newbies enjoy the film without the knowledge of the series?

Summary:

On a small dusty planet in a far-flung solar system, the world is pretty much all a frontier. And the most dangerous man on that world is Vash the Stampede (Johnny Yong Bosch). The whole planet is afraid of him and the destruction that he leaves in his wake. But life must go on even for notorious bank robber Gasback (John Swasey). His goal is to perfect the art of robbing banks and practice makes perfect. He is about to make the biggest and most impressive score yet. But things go really wrong. First off, Gasback’s gang turns on him. But they are prevented by the arrival of Vash (who seems more like a complete doofus rather than a hardened killer and destroyer of towns). Vash’s meddling allows Gasback to be captured, but the gang escapes with the loot.

20 years later Vash is traveling to a new town (and attempting to keep a low profile) when he hears that Gasback has escaped and is looking for revenge on all those involved in that disastrous bank robbery. This results in a huge gathering of bounty hunters to converge on one town to capture Gashback. One of these hunters is the deadly Amelia (Colleen Clnkenbeard) who has a history with the robber. Vash makes it his mission to protect the lovely woman, even if she thinks he’s a complete loser. But things get more complicated as the preacher/hitman Wolfwood (Brad Hawkins) shows up. Then insurance gals Milly (Trina Nishimura) and Meryl (Luci Christian) arrive on the scene with guns ready to blaze. It’s going to come down to a nasty case of revenge, the ultimate heist, and an explosive finale that could only be called a Badlands Rumble,

Good Points:

• Visual design and style bring us right back to the world of Trigun.
• Johnny Yong Bosch is back as Vash, and it is like he never left
• A solid story that gives the character Vash plenty to chew on

Bad Points:

• New viewers may not catch all the character relationships established in the television series
• The story is not a continuation of the series, but more like a side story that happened during the same time
• The mix of humor, action, science fiction and western may not work for some viewers

Overall:

It was a lot of fun to come back to the world of Trigun and hang out with these characters again. Getting Bosch back was great and he nails everything about Vash’s character with his performance. The antagonist is a good one and I like the element that Amelia added to the story (and to challenge Vash’s strong beliefs). But all that aside, because of events that have to happen in the end of the television series, I knew none of the mains were in any real danger, and that this story couldn’t really have a major impact on their lives. It’s a bit of a shame, but understandable. Still, this movie is a lot of fun for fans of Trigun (especially folks who put it on their anime Top 10 list), but I think folks new to the series should start with the television series first

Scores (out of 5)

Visuals: 5

Sound: 5

Acting: 4

Script: 4

Music: 4

Direction: 4

Entertainment: 4

Total:  4

In Depth Review

Vash tries working his "magic" on Amelia.

I’m going to be honest and say this movie came out of nowhere, at least for me. I’ve been out of the main anime loop for quite a while, and I had no idea that a Trigun film was even in the works. Why would it be? The series was released in 1998, and was one of the first anime series I collected in full on DVD. I have fond memories of the show. It was one of the first series is reviewed in it’s entirety for the old Anime on DVD website. It was a series that took me by surprise with its unique tone and unique protagonist. I loved the bizarre combination of heavy metal and Morricone style music score by Imahori Tsuneo. And I was one of the few that rated it higher than Cowboy Bebop.

With all that said, it is easy to say that Trigun: Badlands Rumble was made for a fan like me. It brought me back to the familiar dusty world, with some of my favorite characters and gave them a fun adventure to play around with. There was even a touch of pathos as Vash has to come to grips with one of his decisions. It isn’t a game changer, but it wasn’t supposed to be. It is more like the encore you were hoping for.

Vash and Wolfwood are back in action!

When it comes to animation, Studio Madhouse is back, and now they’ve got a film-sized budget. So all the visual creativity of Trigun’s production design returns. Familiar elements, like the giant light bulb shaped generators are on hand. But you get all new steam punk vehicles, lots of that unique character design, and some well-executed action scenes. Some of the details are a bit richer than the series, and some of the action just looks more fluid. It certainly is a leg up on the older series, but you expect that.

Keeping up with the visuals is the sound design and execution. Trigun balances sci-fi and the old west, so you get this mix of creative sound design, with familiar sound effects. They creators maintain that, and with a full-fledged film style mix, this movie just sounds great.

On top of that is the return of Imahori Tsuneo with his distinctive music. Much like Cowboy Bebop or Neon Genesis Evangelion the music for Trigun is unique and immediately recognizable. Imahori combined industrial electronics, rocking electric guitars, banjos, piano into a musical score that helped build this world. Badlands Rumble is more of the same, and it was great to hear the opening credits music kick in (with a rougher edge) when Vash faces Gasback in the finale of the film.

Millie and Meryl keeping the world safe, one
insurance policy at a time.

Trigun had one of the best English dubs for its time. Johnny Yong Bosch embodied so much of Vash’s attitude and personality that I couldn’t imagine a new Trigun adventure without his involvement. For fans of the English dub (and the folks who first saw the series on Toonami) it will be great to hear Bosch back in the saddle. He brings all the energy, the silliness, and the warmth that you need in Vash (as well as a hint of the damaged man deep down). It’s a fine performance, only limited by a script that doesn’t dig too deep.

The rest of the cast is up solid. While all the other roles were recast, care was taking to match vocal styles as much as possible. I loved Lia Sargant as Millie in the original series, but Trina Nishimura does a very good job. Plus, Clinkenbeard and Christian are always dependable in their voice acting. Everyone delivers on all counts.

Amelia's search brings up more than she bargained
for.

For the script, the creators decided to have this story take place somewhere in the middle of the series plotline. I’m guessing it is after the group meets Wolfwood, but before they run into Legato and his crew. So some of the major and important events of the series haven’t happened yet. This allows fans to see all their favorite characters in action before the darker events that change everyone’s look on life. It also means that is plays on established relationships from the series. So anyone new to Trigun may not know why Milly and Meryl are following Vash. Or if Wolfwood is friend or just acting like one.

I see why the creators took this course, because they wanted this to be a fun movie. Trigun starts off as a fun series, but in the second half it gets darker and darker, really examining some thoughtful themes, and putting some characters through the ringer. Part of me wanted to see what the characters (who survived) were up to now. Because of the limitations of the setting of the story, the writers were stuck on writing something that couldn’t affect the end of the series, and couldn’t really impact the characters significantly. Oddly enough Cowboy Bebop: Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door had the same issue. But for the more episodic Bebop it was less of an issue.

Badlands? Check! Rumble? Check... oh wait that
was Vash's stomach.

Here I admit, I was a bit disappointed that the movie didn’t dig a little deeper. But in all honesty, that isn’t what this movie is trying to do. It is the fun reunion with old friends. You forget that some of them are going to be killed or emotionally crushed by the end of the series. Instead, you just have a good time.

In the final analysis, that isn’t a bad thing at all. Trigun: Badlands Rumble does play a bit like a turbo-powered episode from the first half of the series. But it also feels like a celebration for the show, giving all your favorite characters a chance to shine. It gives the viewer a chance to see a new part of the world, see some different technology and meet some new characters. But most of all, it was a chance to see and hear Vash in action once again. Trigun’s strength has always been in the character of Vash, and he is the lynchpin for the movie too. It was a blast to have him back, and this makes a fine addition to any Trigun fan’s collection.

If it came down to a duel between bad ass cowgirls,
Amelia would blow Faye Valentine away.

The Color Out of Space (2010)

Introduction:

As most of you know, I’m a fan of H.P. Lovecraft and his style of horror fiction. His works get adapted into films pretty regularly these days, but it is rare that you get a film that sticks to close the source material. There are plenty of reasons for this (and I could spend a whole blog babbling about it), but most of the time us Lovecraft fans have to settle for something “inspired” by the writer instead of getting an actual adaptation. That is why I was pretty excited to see this film; one that I heard was very close to the original tale of terror.

Summary:

In the year 1975 Jonathan Davis (Ingo Heise) leaves his home in Arkham to seek out his father who was last seen somewhere in Germany. Jonathan meets up with Armin Pierske (Michael Kausch) who tells him a tale about the little village where his father was last seen. During World War II a meteorite fell into one of the fields owned by a farmer named Nahum Gartener (Erik Rasetter). Gartener calls the university and they send some professors over to study the meteorite. It exhibits some very odd properties. It seems to remain hot even as the metallic object evaporates over time. Most bizarre are the globules of color that appear in the center of the meteor – a color no one has ever seen before or can even describe.

Eventually the meteor dissolves into nothingness, but the Gartener’s farm begins a strange metamorphosis. Crops grow to enormous size, but taste horrible. Animals begin to mutate or shun the area. The family notices the trees appear to move without any wind. Pierske maintains contact with the family but fears they are losing their minds. Eventually the war brings soldiers. One of them is Dr. Davis (Ralf Lichtenberg) an American medic who becomes tied to the final revelation of The Color Out of Space.

Good Points:

• A very faithful adaptation of the Lovecraft story
• Minor changes to setting and characters help enhance the film
• Moody and effective black and white cinematography

Bad Points:

• The low budget hinders a few of the larger scale concepts
• Moves at a slow measured pace to build up terror
• Looking for a traditional horror film – look elsewhere

Overall:

It takes an independent German film to finally do justice to one of Lovecraft’s most interesting mixes of horror and science fiction. The result is a movie that takes time building up the dread until you can almost taste it. While some of the more horrifying visuals are compromised by a low budget, the film makes up for it with some lovely and disturbing cinematography. The cast does a fine job (although I had to judge based on a subtitled performance). All in all, this is a great find for Lovecraft fans and will work for anyone looking for something a little different for their Halloween Horror fest.

Scores (out of 5)

Visuals: 4

Sound: 4

Acting: 4

Script: 5

Music: 3

Direction: 4

Entertainment: 4

Total:  4

Curious about a full review, sent me an email and I’ll make additional thoughts to this review.

The King’s Speech (2010)

Introduction:

Oscar buzz can be a dangerous thing. You keep hearing how great a movie is and you get your expectations set so high. Then you watch the movie and wonder what the heck all those critics were smoking. So I’m always curious to see Best Picture winners, I’m also a bit leery of them. Is this winner from 2010 all it was cracked up to be?

Summary:

Being the son of King George V (Michael Gambon) can never be easy at the best of times. But for his son, the Duke of York (Colin Firth), it is torture. He has a terrible stammer that renders him nearly useless at public functions. Luckily his brother Bertie (Guy Pearce) is next in line for the throne. So the Duke can dally with speech therapy, even the eccentric techniques of Lionel Logue (Geoffry Rush).

However things start to get serious when Bertie begins to neglect his royal duties, and King George is deathly ill. The Duke realized that the time might come when he may have to take on the role as king, and speaking, especially via radio will be a necessity. Logue is confident he can help him, but the Duke must be willing to open up t the man and really look hard at the reasons for the stammer. Will the two be able to get the Duke ready to become the monarch and deliver The King’s Speech?

Good Points:

• Some top notch acting by all the cast
• The story is engaging and entertaining
• Evokes the sense of period with some excellent sets and costumes

Bad Points:

• A movie focused on dialogue and acting – dull for some viewers
• Some historical inaccuracies and speculation may annoy some historians
• Some of the language in the film may offend viewers

Overall:

It’s easy to see why this movie swept up awards in 2010, its well made, well acted and well directed. The story is interesting and Firth brings the struggles of the Duke/King to life. Even Helena Bonham Carter reminds us that she can play someone other than a lunatic or eccentric. But the whole movie is also very entertaining and you can’t ask for more than that.

Scores (out of 5)

Visuals: 4

Sound: 4

Acting: 5

Script: 4

Music: 4

Direction: 4

Entertainment: 4

Total:  4

Curious about a full review, sent me an email and I’ll make additional thoughts to this review.

Tucker and Dale vs. Evil (2010)

Introduction:

Time for another dive into the horror/comedy realm, but instead of another funny zombie movie, we get a new take on the teenagers vs. hillbillies. So do the laughs and the thrills add up to a good time?

Summary:

Tucker (Alan Tudyk) and Dale (Tyler Labine) are two backwoods fellas out for a nice weekend of fishing and camping. But when Dale lays eyes on the lovely Allison (Katrina Bowden) he triggers a series of incidents that leads to a grisly death, and then another and then another. Now Alison’s teenage friends are running scared from Tucker and Dale, who may or may not be deranged killers. But the real question is, just who is the “evil” of the title?

Good Points:

• Several funny twists keep the viewer guessing
• Great mix of gore and laughs
• Solid acting by the entire cast

Bad Points:

• Comedy fans may find this too gory
• Gore-hounds will be disappointed
• If you haven’t seen a lot of slasher films, this may not be as amusing

Overall:

This movie was a lot of fun. It takes the “teens pursued by insane hicks” genre and turns it on its ear. A deft hand with the direction and some excellent acing makes keeps the laughs coming (as well as a few ewwws). Anyone who enjoys a good horror comedy mix should check this movie out.

Scores (out of 5)

Visuals: 4

Sound: 3

Acting: 4

Script: 5

Music: 3

Direction: 4

Entertainment: 4

Total:  4

Curious about a full review, sent me an email and I’ll make additional thoughts to this review.   

YellowBrickRoad (2010)

Introduction:

Follow, follow, follow, follow, follow the yellow brick road. Or not. Because this yellow brick road leads to insanity, pain and death. Are you ready for a heaping helping of surreal horror? Then ditch Dorothy and see just how wicked the woods can really be.

Summary:

In 1940 everyone in a small town of New Hampshire took a walk in the woods. Only one person came back, completely insane and covered in blood. The corpses found on the “Yellow Brick Road” were mutilated beyond sanity. This story has intrigued Ted Barnes (Michael Laurino) for years and now he’s got a small expedition together to walk the same trail and seek out answers. Quickly very odd things start happening. Compasses and GPS work erratically. Mysterious music is heard floating through the woods. A hat from the 40s is found completely untouched by time. But with each step the group takes the further from sanity they get, and its only a matter of time before someone breaks and blood is spilled again on the YellowBrickRoad.

Good Points:

• Excellent use of editing, sound and music creates a nightmare world
• Solid acting by an unknown cast pulls the viewer in
• There is no sense in madness

Bad Points:

• Gore hounds are going to be disappointed
• Does not follow traditional storytelling rules
• There is no sense in madness

Overall:

This is one of those movies where the atmosphere is everything. If you don’t get pulled into the slowly escalating insanity, then the movie is going to come across as nonsensical and stupid. But if you roll with it, don’t ask why, and just take the trip with these poor folks, you’ll find yourself sufficiently creeped out. It’s hard to do these types of movies well, and directors Jesse Holland and Andy Mitton pull it off.

Scores (out of 5)

Visuals: 4

Sound: 5

Acting: 4

Script: 4

Music: 4

Direction: 5

Entertainment: 4

Total:  4

Curious about a full review, sent me an email and I’ll make additional thoughts to this review.   

The Ward (2010)

Introduction:

Well here is John Carpenter’s latest film, and coming nearly five years after his installment for Masters of Horror and almost a full nine years after his last theatrical film Ghosts of Mars. Is he breaking new ground or sticking with the tried and true? But more importantly, is the movie scary?

Summary:

Kristen (Amber Heard) is a very disturbed young woman. She is found in front of a burning farmhouse ranting and raving. That is why she ends up in the North Bend Psychiatric Hospital. And since it’s 1966, there’s some experimental treatments going on as well as the classic electroshock therapy. She meets the other gals in the ward, as well as what appears to be a very pissed off ghost. This specter is targeting all the girls and taking lives. But the staff believes that these traumatized women are just suffering from their own mental and drug related issues. Will Kristen be able to solve the mystery of the haunting and escape the hell of The Ward?

Good Points:

• Solid performances all the way around
• Some great mood setting scenes
• Has a good mix of jump scares and gore

Bad Points:

• The setting and plot are pretty familiar
• The twist ending may be pretty obvious to some viewers
• Those with high expectations will be disappointed

Overall:

I think some folks were really hoping for a grand slam here, but what you get instead is a respectable double. All the elements work well enough to create some tension and a few good scares. But the story and the unreliable point of view are nothing terribly new. The script could have used an injection of unique, and that could have really made this something interesting. Otherwise you’ve got an average horror film, handled in a functional way.

Scores (out of 5)

Visuals: 4

Sound: 3

Acting: 3

Script: 3

Music: 3

Direction: 3

Entertainment: 3

Total:  3

In Depth Review

I think the main problem I’ve seen in other reviews of The Ward is that expectations are sky high for any Carpenter film. Everyone wants him to make another Halloween or The Thing. But most filmmakers just can’t crank out top-notch material every time, especially directors who have to play within the budgets they’ve got to deal with.

What seems odd about Carpenter is that his films seem to find audiences a few years after the movie is released. The Thing was really slammed and ignored by audiences back in 1982, but now its considered one of the best horror films of the ‘80s. No one knew what to make of Big Trouble in Little China when it was released, but now with anime and comic book films being so prevalent it has a strong following.

I get the feeling that The Ward is going to fall in the same boat. It’s not a game changer by any means. But is an effective horror film, with some very good acting and excellent suspense building.

Carpenter does enjoy using long slow shots to build tension. These days it’s rare to see any shot lasting longer than thirty seconds. And some folks just don’t have the patience for it. There is more than a little Kubrick in the style of The Ward and for me it worked excellently to build atmosphere and make those jump scares really count.

The period is also used to a good advantage here. Once we see the old equipment used in the ward, we know just how bad this can turn out. In addition, the head doctor is using experimental treatments, and that always leaves a little room for something to go awry. Combine this with an unreliable main character and it keeps viewers guess at what they are really seeing.

Usually Carpenter creates his own music for his films (and boy did he love his keyboards back in the ‘80s). This time he’s got Mark Kilian to compose some very interesting stuff. There’s quite a bit that sounds like Carpenter’s typical stuff, but the opening credits music and images do a great job of setting the mood.

I also have to give all the actresses some credit here. They do a good job making us feel bad for them and want them to get out of the situation alive. I’ve never seen Heard in anything before this, and she does a real great job here. She’s in nearly every scene of the film and her emotions run the gamut, but she always keeps the performance grounded and that keeps us rooting for her.

But one issue here is the story. It’s either going to work for you or it’s not. The twist is very familiar, and was used in a recent Hollywood film to great and memorable effect. Many of the reviews I read compared the two films with The Ward losing the battle. But these movies are quite different in their goals and themes.

Besides to ignore this movie is to miss out on some very good performances, some great jump scares, excellent atmosphere and a solid nights entertainment. Yes, this is an average horror film, but compared to some of the crappy horror flicks floating around out there now, this feels like a real breath of fresh air.

Kick Ass (2010)

Introduction:

Heard a lot of interesting buzz about this movie. Some folks really enjoyed it, others found it to be distasteful and disturbing. Well disturbing works in my book too, so when this popped up on Netflix download I had to give it a shot.

Summary:

Dave Lizewski (Aaron Johnson) decides he wants to try his hand at the super hero biz. So he creates a costume, grabs some weapons and attempts to fight crime as Kick Ass. Sadly his enthusiasm is not matched by his skill, and he is promptly beaten up and put in the hospital. By freak chance, the severe beating ends up numbing the pain centers in his brain. So when Kick Ass takes to the streets again, he’s able to stand up to the thrashing he gets, and actually do some good.

Little does he know that two actual crime fighters Big Daddy (Nicholas Cage) and Hit Girl (Chloe Grace Moretz) are keeping an eye on him. Do they want to join forces with this new hero in their battle to bring down crime boss Frank D’Amico (Mark Strong) or do they think he’s a threat? And just how does the mysterious Red Mist (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) fit into the picture?  All we know for sure is that there will be explosions, there will be blood and there will be asses kicked.

Good Points:

• Turns superhero conventions on their ear
• Manages to be funny, and dark all at the same time
• The acting is surprisingly good

 Bad Points:

• The odd tone is not going to appeal to everyone
• The whole concept of Hit Girl and what happens to her is sure to offend some viewers
• Anyone looking for a traditional superhero flick will be disappointed 

Overall:

This is a lot like Scott Pilgrim vs. The World but with a darker, nastier streak. But that dark side is full of smiles and I got a big kick out of the whole film. The wildly shifting tone of the film was a little tough to get into, but once I figured out what the movie was trying to do I had a good time. Recommended for anyone looking for a nice twist on the superhero genre (as long as you don’t mind seeing a little girl mercilessly kill evildoers and get herself beaten up during the fight scenes).

Scores (out of 5)

Visuals: 4

Sound: 4

Acting: 4

Script: 4

Music: 4

Direction: 4

Entertainment: 4

Total:  4

Curious about a full review, sent me an email and I’ll make additional thoughts to this review.

The A-Team (2010)

Introduction:

Why does Hollywood keep taking old television series and turning them into feature films? Did they learn nothing from The Beverly Hillbillies debacle? So when I heard that the ‘80s cheesefest The A-team was getting a big screen treatment I waved it off as stupid. But then I read a few negative reviews and was surprised. People didn’t like it, but not because it was a goofy idea, but because it wasn’t serious enough… um, did they watch the original show? So I figured I’d check the movie out and see what went wrong.

Summary:

The story begins when Hannibal (Liam Neeson) is on a mission to save his pal Face (Bradley Cooper) from the clutches of a Mexican drug lord. Along the way he teams up with B.A. Baracus (Quinton “Rampage” Jackson) and Murdock (Sharlto Copley). They form a great team that quickly becomes the best of the best in U.S. Military.

But things take a turn for the nasty after the group is accused of killing a General during the Iraq war. Not about to take this lying down the group escapes from their prisons and goes on a mission to prove their innocence. Along the way they have to navigate their way past a mysterious CIA agent Lynch (Patrick Wilson) and the determined intelligence officer Sosa (Jessica Biel). Is there any way for the A-Team to get out of this one?

Good Points:

• Captures the fun spirit of the show
• Our leading men do a good job with the parts
• Has some solid action set pieces

Bad Points:

• The plot is a little too convoluted
• The origin story structure slows the film down
• Needed a few more action scenes

Overall:

This was a fun action movie, just like the show was. It’s got a good mix of humor and thrills to make it the perfect weekend rental. The cast is having a blast and brings a lot of energy to a script that gets a little too complicated for its own good. The use of CG to add scope was a bit disappointing, I would have like to see more stunt driving (a staple of the show), but all in all, worth checking out for action fans looking for a nostalgic blast.

Scores (out of 5)

Visuals: 4

Sound: 5

Acting: 3

Script: 3

Music: 3

Direction: 4

Entertainment: 3

Total: 3

Curious about a full review, sent me an email and I’ll make additional thoughts to this review.

Iron Man 2 (2010)

Introduction:

Having enjoyed the first Iron Man film, I was ready for more. But I kept hearing that this movie felt like a lot of set up with little payoff. Does the franchise lose its footing in its first sequel, or is there more going on than meets the eye?

Summary:

Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) is Iron Man and now the whole world knows it. Things makes things a little more difficult for Tony as all kinds of folks come out of the woodwork to challenge him. One is Ivan Vanko (Mickey Rourke) a man with a serious grudge and some serious smarts. He combines forces with industrialist Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell) to create weapons similar to the Iron Man suit. But things go horribly wrong and its up to Tony to save the day if only he can survive long enough. Don Cheadle, Gwyneth Paltrow, Samuel L. Jackson and Scarlett Johansson round out the cast of “Iron Man 2”.

Good Points:

• Robert Downey Jr. maintains his excellent performance as Stark
• Some interesting plot developments keep things fresh
• Maintains its spirit of fun

Bad Points:

• Does suffer from middle episode syndrome
• Seems a bit overstuffed with characters
• The ending lacks a proper punch

Overall:

The creators decided to create a sequel that would act as more of a bridge, really piling on the plot and cramming in the characters. As such, this movie is on overdrive from the moment it starts. Still it manages to keep things fun and entertaining. You wish some of the characters (and actors) had more screen time, but it all balances in the end. You get a movie almost as entertaining as its predecessor.

Scores (out of 5)

Visuals: 4

Sound: 4

Acting: 4

Script: 3

Music: 3

Direction: 3

Entertainment: 3

Total: 3

Curious about a full review, sent me an email and I’ll make additional thoughts to this review.

The Ghost Writer (2010)

Introduction:

Well how could I not check this one out. Not only does it have Pierce Brosnan and Ewan McGregor in it, but it’s about a writer. Throw in a few samples of the intriguing score by Alexandre Desplat and I was hooked.

Summary:

Adam Lang (Pierce Brosnan) is a former British Prime Minister in a bit of a bind. He’s currently being accused of war crimes. As the pressure around him heats up, a close friend and colleague is found drowned off the coast of New England. Turns out the drowned man was working on Lang’s memoirs, and the publisher involved is eager to get them completed. They hire a ghost writer (Ewan McGregor) to finish working on them. Unfortunately, the memoirs are a mess and Lang is less then helpful. As the writer begins to dig a bit deeper he becomes entangled in a mystery that includes Ruth Lang (Olivia Williams) and Amelia Bly (Kim Cattrall) – Adam’s assistant. What secret will the Ghost Writer discover and will it cost him his life.

Good Points:

• The acting is very good all the way around
• Roman Polanski keeps the tension and mystery flowing
• Desplat’s score balances the thrills with a sense of dark humor

Bad Points:

• The resolution is going to rub some folks the wrong way
• The movie takes its time weaving its story
• Roman Polanski directed it

Overall:

Polanski crafts an entertaining thriller. He builds tension and gets performances from his cast that fit the story perfectly. I was especially impressed by Olivia Williams as Ruth. At times the plot stretches itself a bit much, but there is a sense of dark humor to the whole film that keeps it fun. Still Roman Polanski directed it and that’s going to turn away a lot of viewers. If you’re looking for a solid but slightly wordy thriller, check this one out.

Scores (out of 5)

Visuals: 4

Sound: 3

Acting: 4

Script: 4

Music: 3

Direction: 4

Entertainment: 3

Total: 4

Curious about a full review, sent me an email and I’ll make additional thoughts to this review.

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (2010)

Introduction:

My fellow reviewers over at DVD Verdict picked this film as the DVD release of the year. I was one of the few the missed it, so I decided to rectify it. The only thing I really knew about it was that the title reminded me a lot of the old Nintendo game “Bart Simpson vs. The World”.

Summary:

Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera) may be dating a high school girl, but its all a front. He’s still recovering from a nasty break up. Well, he was until he meets Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead). It’s love at first sight for Scott, but little does he know that seven evil Exs are going to make it very tough for him. They start popping up all over the place, challenging him to duels and creating all kinds of havoc. Does Scott have what it takes to defeat them and date Ramona, or is he going to be the subject of a fatality.

Good Points:

• Visually expressive
• The cast is gung ho and having a great time
• A true geek movie

Bad Points:

• Runs a little long
• Takes itself too seriously on a number of occasions
• Vissually assaulting

Overall:

Another example of taking a premise from a comic book and just letting it go to town on the screen. Combining video game aesthetics with a romantic comedy story and injecting killer action scenes seems like a recipe for disaster. Director Edgar Wright makes it look easy. The end result is one fun movie.

Scores (out of 5)

Visuals: 5

Sound: 5

Acting: 4

Script: 4

Music: 4

Direction: 4

Entertainment: 4

Total: 4

In Depth Review

This movie reminded me a lot of “Moulin Rouge” in that it is embracing the art of telling a story using film-making techniques. It’s not quite as hyperactive as Luhrman’s film, but it has that same spirit. And that is a spirit of fun. Scott Pilgrim is meant to entertain your eyes and ears, and it succeeds marvelously. I’ve got to give director Edgar Wright a hand, he makes it look easy.

When you boil it down to basics, this is a romantic comedy. It’s got boy meets girl, boy fights for girl and boy wins girl all over it. That simple story is what helps and hinders the film. In a way, you don’t have to worry too much about the plot because you know how it’s going to turn out. At the same time, Wright goes out of his way to build the characters and create added depth. It’s not a bad thing, but it does end up slowing the movie down in a few places. Most comedies of this type can only sustain about 90 minutes or so, and “Scott Pilgrim” is pushing two hours. Still, just when it feels like it’s flagging a bit much, something outrageous happens to pull you back in.

Taking elements from video games, comic books, television shows and slamming them all together into a geek pop-culture blender is what makes the movie so much fun. And here is where I wonder if viewers who didn’t grow up playing 8-bit Nintendo or reading Japanese comic books are going to enjoy this movie as much. Everything from the music and sound effects down to the posing and lighting is reminiscent of these pop-culture elements. The battles between Scott and the Ex’s are done with the over the top zeal of a game of “Street Fighter II” or “Mortal Kombat”. These battle scenes are the highlight of the film, each one is a color bombastic blast. The stylized elements appear all way through the film, but it’s the battle scenes that show them off.

The cast is completely committed to the concept and the story. Cera nails the part of Scott, a typical geek who has fallen hard for Ramona. His love triangle with her and the high school girl Knives (Ellen Wong) is well played. You can tell he likes Knives a lot, but it’s Ramona he wants to be with. Winstead makes Ramona alluring, smart, a little bitchy but still obtainable. It’s a tougher part than it first appears, but she’s a great fit. The rest of the cast is just as good, with Kieran Culkin, Anna Kendrick, Satya Bhabha, Chris Evans, Brie Larson and Jason Schwartsman having a ton of fun.

The music is a nice mix of pop songs and electronic music. Much of the electronic work includes samples from the video games being parodied in the film, and adds to the humor. Sound effects follow the same theme, mixing the real with the electronic.

The more I think about this movie, the more I appreciate what Wright has done. A had a similar reaction to Speed Racer by the Wachowski brothers. This movie managed to avoid some of the pitfalls of that film and is superior in many ways. But that energy and excitement to be doing something fun flows right off the screen and into the viewers. But I can also see that enthusiasm actually keeping some folks from enjoying the film. So I recommend it cautiously. If you’re of the age that remembers playing “Street Fighter II” in the arcade, someone who grows nostalgic when you hear the MIDI theme from “Legend of Zelda” and someone who enjoys a good comic book, check out “Scott Pilgrim vs. The World”. You’ll probably finish with a smile on your face.