Alice in Wonderland (2010)

Introduction:

I’ve always been a fan of Lewis Carroll’s stories and world. I grew up watching Disney’s classic 1951 version of the story. I’ve managed to see several version of the tale and even played a wicked gothic video game version. When I heard that Tim Burton was going to provide his take on the story I was intrigued. But will my love for the original story taint my view of this version.

Summary:

Little Alice (Mia Wasikowska) has grown up, and now at 19 she finds herself at her engagement party. When her suitor pops the question, Alice runs off and follows a white rabbit down a hole. She finds herself in a wonderful land, where everyone seems to remember her and has been waiting for her return. But Alice has no memory of this land. The Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp) does his best to guide her along her path to destiny. You see the Red Queen (Helena Bonham Carter) rules Underland with an iron fist and threatens any dissent by unleashing the Jabberwocky. Alice is prophesized to become the White Queen’s (Anne Hathaway) champion and defeat the beast. That’s all well and good but Alice doesn’t seem motivated to help. Will she embrace her destiny or become another pawn of the Red Queen?

Good Points:

• Burton’s gift for amazing visuals shines throughout
• Danny Elfman’s score is one of his best
• The supporting cast is very good

Bad Points:

• A very serious plot takes away some of the fun you associate with the story
• The middle portion of the film tends to drag
• What is with that dance sequence?

Overall

A curious movie to say the least. With a straightforward quest plot it feels like a bit of the fun was taken out of the nonsensical world. At the same time the movie has some amazing characters and sequences that pay homage to the original stories and the Disney incarnation. It’s a mixed bag, worth checking out but not quite as good as I hoped it would be.

Scores (out of 5)

Visuals: 4

Sound: 4

Music: 5

Acting: 4

Script: 3

Direction: 3

Entertainment: 3

Total: 3

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Zombieland (2009)

Introduction:

Abigail Breslin in a zombie movie? Well that sounds interesting. Oh hey its got Woody in it too, and the guy from “Adventureland”. Well that’s pretty cool. Bill Murray? Wait a sec, what kind of movie is this?

Summary:

Zombies have overrun the earth. A young man who goes by the name Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg) has survived because he sticks close to his rules of survival, including gems like “Limber up”, “Avoid bathrooms”, “Don’t be a hero” and “Cardio”. He eventually runs into Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson) a man who’s obsessed with finding an edible Twinkie. The two team up and eventually meet the duo of Wichita (Emma Stone) and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin). They two are on a quest to Pacific Playland, the only amusement park that is supposed to be zombie free. Their journey will take them across the country and face to face with zombie hordes. But the real question is how does Bill Murray fit into “Zombieland”.

Good Points

• A nice combination of action and comedy
• Woody Harrelson nearly steals the movie
• And then Bill Murray shows up

Bad Points

• Not scary, and not a horror movie
• The story is pretty predictable
• Forces you to watch someone eat a Hostess snowball

Overall

This is a fun little movie that breezes right along giving you laughs and action in equal doses. Those looking for scares need not apply, but you do get some gruesome zombie deaths. All the cast seems to be having a good time and it oozes like zombie gore into the audience.

Scores (out of 5)

Visuals: 4

Sound: 3

Acting: 4

Music: 4

Script: 4

Direction: 3

Entertainment: 4

Total: 4

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Tropic Thunder (2008)

Introduction

It tough to pull off a good parody film. Most of the time the jokes fall flat or are too obvious. Every once in a while you get a movie that is smart, entertaining and funny. The last one that really entertained me was "Galaxy Quest", but I heard very good things about this movie.

Summary

In a bid to make the ultimate war film four of the biggest names in Hollywood are brought together. Tugg Speedman (Ben Stiller) - action star extraordinaire, Jeff Portnoy (Jack Black) - comedian specializing in fat and fart jokes, Kirk Lazarus (Robert Downey Jr.) - an actor willing to do anything to achieve his role, and Hip Hop Superstar Alpa Chino (Brandon T. Jackson). In a bid to create the height in realism, the group is dropped into the jungle for guerrilla style filmmaking. But there's a hitch, a group of well-armed drug lords is convinced that these actors are actual solders sent to hunt them down. How long will it take these actors to realize that they are fighting for their lives, not filming "Tropic Thunder"?

Good Points

• Some very funny moments in the script that contain biting satire and laugh out loud lines
• Smaller parts for big name actors are hilarious
• Robert Downey Jr. nearly steals every scene he's in

Bad Points

• Not every joke lands, and some scenes are a little too "inside"
• Ben Stiller is good, but miscast
• The trailers in the opening are so funny that the rest of the movie ends up looking a bit weak

Overall

For anyone who loves movies and knows about the filming of war films will find plenty to enjoy here. It takes lots of jabs at Hollywood style filmmaking and personalities. The humor ranges from gross out jokes to nasty satire. If anything its worth seeing the first sequence of fake trailers.

Scores (out of 5)

Visuals: 4

Sound: 4

Music: 4

Acting: 4

Script: 4

Direction: 4

Entertainment: 4

Total: 4

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500 Days of Summer (2009)

Introduction:

It's amazing what good buzz can do. When I first read a review for this movie during its festival run, no one had heard of it. Jump forward about six months and I couldn't rent it from my local DVD store - it was always out. Well I finally got a chance to see it. Did it live up to the buzz?

Summary:

Tom Hansen (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is breaking up with Summer Finn (Zooey Deschanel). Everything seemed perfect and now its all going wrong. Tom's memories take us through 500 days of falling love, being in love and falling out of love with his perfect girl. But as the story progresses we begin to see that Summer may not be perfect after all. What will be revealed about Tom after we see all "500 Days of Summer"?

Good Points:

• Gordon-Levitt and Deschanel bring their characters to life
• An entertaining and original script
• Avoids the clichés of current romantic comedies

Bad Points:

• A little gimmicky in parts
• The pacing suffers at times with the fractured narrative
• The song selections are sure to rub some people the wrong way

Overall:

This is how you make a film about relationships. It’s entertaining, managing to be funny and touching all at the same time. It never goes overboard with the characters or wacky antics. Instead it does its best to show how to people come together, fall for each other and grow apart - even if one of them doesn't realize it. Gordon-Levitt nails the character and Deschanel is perfect in her part, and since they carry the movie it clicks all the way through. Definitely worth checking out, even if this isn't normally your type of movie.

Scores (out of 5)

Visual: 4

Audio: 4

Acting: 5

Script: 4

Music: 4

Direction: 4

Entertainment: 4

Total: 4

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Moon (2009)

Introduction:

This movie had some good buzz on it when it came out in theaters. Many reviewers found it refreshing to have an original sci-fi idea actually executed in a movie. Most sci-fi these days is really space opera, lots of fun and adventure, but not much science. "Moon" was more of a throwback to classic sci-fi adventures of the 50's, but without the Fire Maidens or Bug Eyed Monsters.

Summary:

Sam Bell (Sam Rockwell) has been alone on the lunar station for almost three years, but it’s getting close to the end of his shift. Soon he'll be able to return to earth and be with his wife and child. During a final check of some mining equipment, he is in an accident. When he awakens his robot companion GERTY (Kevin Spacey) tells him that he was unharmed. But Sam begins to doubt this. You see, now he's pretty sure he's not the only human on board the lunar station - and that solving that mystery is going to shatter his idea of reality.

Good Points:

• Top notch acting from Sam Rockwell
• The whole movie and its themes leave you thinking at the end
• Amazing production design for a film with this budget

Bad Points:

• The movie's slow pace may bore some viewers
• A few of the shots get a little artsy and pull you out of the film
• Some viewers dislike GERTY and/or Spacey's take on him

Overall

I love space adventure films, but it's nice to get a solid sci-fi flick once in a while, and "Moon" is a good one. Rockwell owns the movie and really makes you care about his character. The slow pace makes perfect sense when you look back on it, but it can be challenging for someone expecting more excitement. I can recommend this film easily to anyone who enjoys sci-fi and is looking for something with a bit more meat in the story.

Ratings (out of 5)

Visuals: 4

Sound: 5

Music: 3

Acting: 5

Script: 4

Direction: 4

Entertainment: 4

Total: 4

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