[Originally posted on 6/20/13]
From June 18 press screening:I've never been a fan of zombies, but
thought I'd go see this for the big-budget blockbuster factor.
Adapted from Max Brooks' novel, the movie opens almost
instantly with chaos, attack from the zombies.The first infection and transformation from human to zombie looks pretty
cool, but loses its novelty fast.The
zombies are full-on CGI, fast-running and swarming like ants.They actually look pretty funny (watch for
the teeth! :-)), although I'm not sure if they're intended to be.One of the funniest scenes is the
hide-and-seek scene at the WHO facility where the main characters are trying to
get to some vials in a secured laboratory room in a desperate attempt to find a
potential cure for the pandemic.
The emotional element is minimal, and it's not with the
hero's (Gerry Lane, Brad Pitt) family; it's the connection the former United
Nations worker forms with a wounded Israeli soldier.They do a good job in ratcheting the urgency and horror, in close
quarters and globally.But it's clear
that while the stakes are high, nowhere do we feel that Gerry is harmed.It's a
don't-worry-Brad-is-gonna-save-the-world kind of deal, a very Hollywood
American hero.
Bottom line, it's pretty entertaining as a summer flick, but
it's hard to take seriously, and if you're a true zombie fan, you may be
disappointed.
"The closer you think you are, the less you'll actually see."
Without spoiling anything, it's a very personal story about
one of the main characters, using high-tech heist and magic as distraction and
illusion.
Take your pick: the Four Horsemen - card-reader (Jesse
Eisenberg, "The Social Network"), mentalist (Woody
Harrelson), escape artist (Isla Fisher, "The Great Gatsby") and lock-picker (Dave Franco) - and
their financier (Michael Caine, "The Dark Knight Rises"),
magician debunker (Morgan Freeman, "Red"), FBI detective
(Mark Ruffalo, "The Avengers") and Interpol agent (Melanie Laurent) on their tail.The Four
Horsemen perform robbery stunts ala Robin Hood, showering their audience with
money.
The pace is super fast and not much is known about the
characters, but things do come together in the end.Some of the tricks are elaborate but explainable, some require a
lot more than suspension of disbelief, but it's all in good fun.
"Now You See Me" is an entertaining trick for the eyes, definitely stands out among standard summer blockbuster fare.
"Big man in a suit of armor. Take that away and what
are you?" (Captain America to Tony Stark in "TheAvengers")
Directed by Shane Black (taking over from Jon Favreau),
"Iron Man 3" picks up after the events of "The Avengers"
and readily answers the question.It
turns out, even without the suit, he's everything.Here Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) is shown as a character more
than his alter-ego, Iron Man.The
existence of alternate dimension and alien invasion in New York City has
triggered nightmares and panic attacks and shows Tony's vulnerability as human,
"a man in a can."He's not
some God, supersoldier or hulking giant.He buries himself in his work, experimenting with a prototype suit that
could fly off and attach itself to Tony's body on command, and working on other
inventions as well.This has affected
his relationship with Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow, "Iron Man,"
"Iron Man 2").At
the same time, Black manages to keep things on the lighter side, as an
"Iron Man" movie should be.
When a terrorist bedecked in an elaborate getup, the
Mandarin (Ben Kingsley), recruits followers around the world and terrorizes the
country, Tony issues a challenge to come and get him.What follows is a massive destruction of his hillside
mansion.The helicopter strike is one
of the few awesome action set pieces in the movie.
The story then rewinds to 1999, where Tony spent New Year's
Eve with his squeeze, scientist Maya Hansen (Rebecca Hall, "The Town"), and stood up an appointment with another scientist, Aldrich
Killian (Guy Pearce, "The King's Speech").In present day, Killian has now
developed the ability to recode the human brain's DNA and created superhumans with
ability to self-heal and melt metals, although not without hiccup, such as
overheating and combustion.
Tony soon has his hands full.With his home in rubbles, out of his powered suit and stranded in
middle America, hunted down by Killian's agents, head bodyguard Happy Hogan in
a coma (cameo by Jon Favreau), best friend Colonel Rhodes (Don Cheadle,
"Iron Man 2") held hostage, and both the President of the
United States (William Sadler) and beloved Pepper in danger,he enlists an unlikely ally, a smart boy (Ty
Simpkins), and he must rely on his intellect, ingenuity, wit and resourcefulness to
improvise and survive, track down the enemy, save the country and the one he
loves most.A couple of action
sequences, midair human chain-rescues of Air Force One passengers and grand
face-off with an army of armored suits, are bold spectacles.A surprising link between the Mandarin and
Killian, and Peppper's role that seals the nemesis' fate are twists no one sees
coming.
The story is more convoluted than the previous installments
and it runs a bit slow in the middle, but it remains entertaining.While the overall tone is less vivacious,
the comedic moments are still laugh-out-loud funny.The movie works for the most part thanks to Robert Downey,
Jr.Whilst this may or may not be the
last standalone "Iron Man" movie for Downey, it's a very good thing
that we have "The Avengers 2" to look forward to.
Downey truly makes the movie the worldwide success that it
has become and launched Marvel to the next level with "The
Avengers."It's hands down the
most impeccable casting in superheroes' history.Downey IS Tony Stark.Especially after seeing him in person more than once command the
attention of over 6,000 people at Comic-Con, it's impossible to imagine
another actor with the sheer presence, personality, style, talent and charisma
fit for the larger-than-life character.This movie is proof that, without Downey's Tony, Iron Man is simply a
metal suit or a machine, which can beremotely controlled, assembled, disassembled or destroyed.The one thing irreplaceable is him.The real Iron Man.Maybe not a superhero, but certainly a hero.
"Iron Man 3" is a full blast of fun and action, a
perfect lead to the 2013 summer blockbuster season.
[Originally posted on 6/01/13] [Note: I had been traveling overseas and missed a few movies in the last couple of weeks. Hope to catch up soon!]
An aspiring writer (Nick Carraway, Tobey Maguire) finds himself living in a cottage next to a mysterious neighbor, a millionaire (Gatsby, Leonardo DiCaprio) famous for his lavish parties. The parties turn out to be a bait to hopefully lure his now-married cousin (Daisy, Carey Mulligan), whose shares a past with Gatsby.
Hyped up to be this dramatic story of love, betrayal and tragedy among the excess of 1920s New York, "The Great Gatsby" is surprisingly not-so-great. The expansive waterfront estates, sequined dresses and tuxes, endless champagne, party streamers, confetti and fireworks don't make up for the lack of depth in the characters. And Gatsby's object of affection really has no redeeming quality; one-note spoiled, vapid and deceitful that it's hard to root for.
The film sure is pretty, but it's flat (much flatter than Baz Luhrmann's previous works, "Moulin Rouge" and "Australia"). It just goes to show that all that glitter may not be gold.
“Oblivion” centers on a drone technician, Jack Harper (Tom Cruise, “Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol), who flies a Bubble Ship (a hybrid of a fighter spaceship and helicopter) and is tasked to fix downed drones on earth in 2077. He lives in a sleek dig high above the clouds together with his partner, Victoria (Andrea Riseborough), who also serves as his communication officer. She monitors his safety from their base in space and dutifully reports to their superior, Sally (Melissa Leo) through a sophisticated system. Before embarking on their five-year service, Jack and Victoria had their memories wiped to maintain the security of their mission.
60 years ago, earth was invaded by aliens, called 'scavs' (scavengers). The scavs shattered the moon, and without the moon, the earth destablized, resulting in earthquakes and tsunamis that destroyed half of the planet. Humans launched nukes to stave off the scavs and eventually won the war. However, the earth became mostly inhabitable and the surviving humans moved to Titan, one of the moons of the Saturn ring. The drones are used to man fusion reactors that drain seawater and convert into energy. They also patrol the earth's surface to shoot down any remaining scavs.
Jack and Victoria are nearing the end of their mission; in two weeks, they will conclude their service and join the rest of the humans in Titan. While Victoria is looking forward to it, Jack has doubts and oddly feels that earth would always be his home. He's traveled far and wide and found unspoiled swaths on earth, including a remote cabin by the lake, a calming oasis. His uncertainty is confounded by recurring dreams of a woman (Olga Kurylenko) and flashes of life in New York, which strangely feels like a memory of a past than a fantasy.
When a spaceship crash lands on earth, Jack finds that it's filled with several pods of humans in hyper-sleep state. And inside one of the pods, is the woman in his dreams, who later wakes up and mentions that her name is Julia. Jack and Julia are discovered and captured by a group of rebels (led by Morgan Freeman and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau), human survivors. The events that transpire, followed with fierce flying and firefights, make Jack realize that his life is not what it seems to be and that he's not what he thinks he is. He may just unknowingly holds the fate of mankind on his hands.
Director Joseph Kosinski (“Tron Legacy”) executes his vision with excellence. Cruise plays his part with sincerity, connects with both of his leading ladies and the higher mission he's entrusted with. With a straightforward story and humanity, “Oblivion” is captivating from the start. Part of the appeal is the mystery, which unfurls easily piece by piece and takes us along through each discovery and ultimate truth. A bigger appeal is the phenomenal visual, reminiscent of last year's “Prometheus,” elevated by an electronica beat, along the same vein of "Tron Legacy" and “Hanna.” Oscar-winning cinematographer Claudio Miranda (“Life of Pi”) creates a vast and elegant canvas. Desolate, barren wasteland dotted with ruined monuments in stark contrast with deep gorges and verdant mountains. The sterile white of the glassy homebase and pool in space with the homey, lakeside wood cabin on earth.
A cool sci-fi with a heart, “Oblivion” is satisfyingly entertaining.
[Originally posted on 6/02/13] June 7
"The Internship" (http://www.theinternshipmovie.com/) - Two salesmen whose careers have been torpedoed by the digital age find their way into a coveted internship at Google, where they must compete with a group of young, tech-savvy geniuses for a shot at employment.
"The Purge" - A family is held hostage for harboring the target of a murderous syndicate during the Purge, a 12-hour period in which any and all crime is legalized.
June 14
"Man of Steel" (http://manofsteel.warnerbros.com/index.html) - A young journalist is forced to confront his secret extraterrestrial heritage when Earth is invaded by members of his race.
"The Bling Ring" - Inspired by actual events, a group of fame-obsessed teenagers use the internet to track celebrities' whereabouts in order to rob their homes.
June 21
"World War Z" (http://www.worldwarzmovie.com/) - A United Nations employee traverses the world in a race against time to stop the Zombie pandemic that is toppling armies and governments, and threatening to destroy humanity itself.
"Monster University" (http://disney.go.com/monsters-university/) - A look at the relationship between Mike and Sulley during their days at Monsters University -- when they weren't necessarily the best of friends.
June 28
"White House Down" (http://www.whitehousedown.com/site/) - While on a tour of the White House with his young daughter, a Capitol policeman springs into action to save his child and protect the president from a heavily armed group of paramilitary invaders.
"Byzantium" - Residents of a coastal town learn, with deathly consequences, the secret shared by the two mysterious women who have sought shelter at a local resort.
Summer is around the corner, which means one thing... blockbuster season! Oblivion. Iron Man 3. The Great Gatsby. Start Trek Into Darkness. Hang-Over Part III. Fast & Furious 6. After Earth. Man of Steel. Red 2. White House Down. World War Z. The Lone Ranger. The Wolverine.
Summer may not officially arrive yet, but a packed blockbuster season is definitely here!
May 3
"Iron Man 3" (http://marvel.com/ironman3) - When Tony Stark's world is torn apart by a formidable terrorist called the Mandarin, he starts an odyssey of rebuilding and retribution.
May 10
"The Great Gatsby" (
http://thegreatgatsby.warnerbros.com/) - A Midwestern war veteran finds himself drawn to the past and lifestyle of his millionaire neighbor.
May 17
"Star Trek Into Darkness" (http://www.startrekmovie.com/) - After the crew of the Enterprise find an unstoppable force of terror from within their own organization, Captain Kirk leads a manhunt to a war-zone world to capture a one man weapon of mass destruction.
May 24
"Fast & Furious 6" (http://www.thefastandthefurious.com/) - Agent Hobbs enlists the aid of Dom and team to help bring a rival gang, led by Owen Shaw, to justice. In exchange for clear records, they must put an end to their schemes, no matter how personal the cost.
"The Hangover Part III" (http://www.hangoverpart3.com/) - This time, there's no wedding. No bachelor party. What could go wrong, right? But when the Wolfpack hits the road, all bets are off.
May 31
"After Earth" (http://www.afterearth.com/site/) - A crash landing leaves a son and his father stranded on Earth, 1,000 years after events forced humanity's escape. With his father injured, a boy must embark on a perilous journey to signal for help.
"Now You See Me" (http://www.nowyouseememovie.com/) - An FBI agent and an Interpol detective track a team of illusionists who pull off bank heists during their performances and reward their audiences with the money.
The year is still young and we've got a lot more movies to cover. Yahoo! Movies has all the sequels, bestselling book adaptations, post-apocalyptic adventures, and comic-book movies to pick out and rank the 25 most anticipated titles of 2013.
April 5 "Trance" - An art auctioneer who has become mixed up with a group of criminals partners with a hypnotherapist in order to recover a lost painting. "The Company You Keep" - A thriller centered on a former Weather Underground activist who goes on the run from a journalist who has discovered his identity. April 12 "Oblivion" (http://www.oblivionmovie.com/) - A veteran assigned to extract Earth's remaining resources begins to question what he knows about his mission and himself. "To the Wonder" (http://www.magpictures.com/tothewonder/) - After visiting Mont Saint-Michel, Marina and Neil come to Oklahoma, where problems arise. Marina meets a priest and fellow exile, who is struggling with his vocation, while Neil renews his ties with a childhood friend, Jane. April 26 "Mud" (http://mud-themovie.com/) - Two teenage boys encounter a fugitive and form a pact to help him evade the bounty hunters on his trail and to reunite him with his true love. "The Big Wedding" (http://thebigweddingmovie.com/) - A long-divorced couple fakes being married as their family unites for a wedding.
Not only it's 'Die Hard in the White
House,' it's die harder. "Olympus Has Fallen" takes full advantage of
the R-rating by having the highest body count and headshots ever seen in an
action movie. The stabbings are brutal and gunfire roars almost nonstop. A
former secret agent and head of presidential security detail is put on desk
duty after he saved the president from a freak car accident at the expense of
the first lady. When the White House is under air and ground attack from North
Korean terrorists, he pushes his way in and goes 'Rambo' to save the president
and his young son, and the security advisers. He also serves as an insider who
connects with the war room in the Pentagon. The plot holes are bigger than the
undetected bomber plane and armored garbage trucks, but it's entertaining
nonetheless. At the same time, the constant gunplay in the dark becomes
monotonous after a while. A half-hour shorter running time would have been
sufficient to restore the old glory and it would've been more fun. DVD: http://tinyurl.com/bmletsq DVD (blu-ray): http://tinyurl.com/cahrp4o
Edge-of-your-seat realistic... until it's not.Realistic, that is.A 9-1-1 operator faces a serial killer on
the line hell-bent on kidnapping and murdering teenage girls."The Call" manages to keep the
suspense going scene after scene mostly because of the probability of the
incidents happening in real life (and shows us what to do and what not to do), and the consequences suffered by the victims
and bystanders.But it goes downhill
after three-quarter of the movie, with an idiotic ending that betrays what we
know about the main protagonist.A strong
'B' movie, it's enjoyable for what it is, but a different ending wouldn't have lessened
the edge-of-your-seat element, and it would have kept it real.
Posterous, acquired by Twitter last year, is shutting down on April 30, 2013 (sadly), so this blog (http://themoviemaven.posterous.com), created in 2010, will be gone forever. If you receive this via e-mail from Posterous and would like to continue to receive updates, this is the right page on Blogger and enter your e-mail address. Unless otherwise notified, http://sdmoviemaven.blogspot.com/ will be the new home for The MovieMaven. Thanks for reading!
Magic. Fantasy. Wonder. These are some of the things that came to mind when viewing “Oz: The Great and Powerful.” Oscar Diggs (James Franco, “Eat Pray Love") is a street-magician with traveling circus in Kansas. He performs his tricks, both for the audience and beautiful women, with equal charm and smarminess. Although he does seem to hold a special place in his heart for a special lady, Annie (Michelle Williams, “Shutter Island”). The extended black-and-white scenes are necessary and give insight into Oscar's life and aspiration. After being chased out of his trailer during an incident, Oscar hops into a hot air balloon and runs into a tornado. He gets twirled and transported into a fantasy land vibrant beyond imagination. Cascading waterfalls, blooming flowers and glowing butterflies over verdant lands, and snowy mountains in the background. Oscar meets a beguiling beauty, Theodora (Mila Kunis, “Black Swan”), who says that she's a good witch. She mistakes him for a wizard, who falls out of the sky to save the people and claims the throne, fulfilling a prophecy of defeating a wicked witch who killed the king. She leads him the yellow brick road to the diamond palace of Emerald City and see her sister, another witch, Evanora (Rachel Weisz, "The Bourne Legacy"). Dangled with riches and respect, Oscar plays along and pretends that he's indeed Oz, the wizard. Along the way, he partners with a winged monkey (Finley) and porcelain doll (China Girl), who accompany him in his misadventures. His interactions with them are the highlights of the movie, comical and tender. When Oscar finally finds the purported Wicked Witch of the West, Glinda (Michelle Williams), the truth comes out. He faces the challenge of continuing to assume his identity as a savior for the sake of the people, who places their belief and hope in him, or run and hide. Oscar is faced with the impossible dilemma of leading an army of ordinary folks - munchkins, farmers and tinkers, who only know how to work the land, make bread, sew clothes or play music - against wicked witches, trained soldiers and flying beasts. With faith and encouragement from those around him, the mortal con-man comes up with a plan utilizing his skills as a magician and everyone's strengths to create wondrous smokescreen to defeat the enemy. The clever trickery, using fog bank, scarecrows, illusion, fires and fireworks, play out masterfully. Oscar may not be the great and powerful wizard they're looking for, but he may be just what they need. He may be destined for greatness and there may be goodness in him after all. "Wizard of Oz” may be a movie originally made for kids, but “Oz: The Great and Powerful” is a magical spectacle and story enjoyable for all ages. The vivid visuals alone are worth the admission price. The 3-D makes the special effects really pop but not overused. And especially for those who've never seen the 1939 film, director's Sam Raimi's version of 'Oz' is sweepingly enchanting and engaging. http://www.sdentertainer.com/arts/movie-review-oz-the-great-and-powerful/ DVD: http://tinyurl.com/ahh5h5w DVD (blu-ray): http://tinyurl.com/ajwrs6d
"Jack the Giant Slayer" (http://jackthegiantslayer.warnerbros.com/) - The ancient war between humans and a race of giants is reignited when Jack, a young farmhand fighting for a kingdom and the love of a princess, opens a gateway between the two worlds.
"Stoker" (http://www.foxsearchlight.com/stoker/) - After one girl's father dies, her uncle, who she never knew existed, comes to live with her and her unstable mother. She comes to suspect this mysterious, charming man has ulterior motives and becomes increasingly infatuated with him.
March 8
"Oz the Great and the Powerful" (http://disney.go.com/thewizard/) - A small-time magician arrives in an enchanted land and is forced to decide if he will be a good man or a great one.
"Dead Man Down" - In New York City, a crime lord's right-hand man is seduced by one of his boss's victims, a woman seeking retribution.
March 15
"The Call" - When a veteran 911 operator receives a call from a girl who has just been abducted, she soon realizes that she must confront a killer from her past in order to save the girl's life.
"Upside Down" (http://upsidedown-movie.com/) - Adam and Eden fell in love as teens despite the fact that they live on twinned worlds with gravities that pull in opposite directions. Ten years after a forced separation, Adam sets out on a dangerous quest to reconnect with his love.
March 22
"Olympus Has Fallen" (http://olympusmovie.com/) - Disgraced former Presidential guard finds himself trapped inside the White House in the wake of a terrorist attack; using his inside knowledge, he works with national security to rescue the President from his kidnappers.
"Admission" (http://m.focusfeatures.com/) - A Princeton admissions officer who is up for a major promotion takes a professional risk after she meets a college-bound alternative school kid who just might be the son she gave up years ago in a secret adoption.
March 29
"G.I. Joe Retaliation" (http://www.gijoemovie.com/) - The G.I. Joes are not only fighting their mortal enemy Cobra; they are forced to contend with threats from within the government that jeopardize their very existence.
"The Host" (http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/thehost_movie.html) - A parasitic alien soul is injected into the body of Melanie Stryder. Instead of carrying out her race's mission of taking over the Earth, "Wanda" (as she comes to be called) forms a bond with her host and sets out to aid other free humans.
This sweet serving from Nicholas Sparks' novel offers a lovely taste of a simple life in a seaside town in the South. Julianne Hough (Katie) and Josh Duhamel (Alex) seem comfortable together and sell the story of second chances. But don't mistake simple life for safe. Katie's past follows her and there's nice twist you won't see coming (unless if you read the book), which makes "Safe Haven" a step above your run-of-the-mill Sparks' romance.
