Where the Wild Things Are

Rating: ★★★★★ 

Directed By: Spike Jonze

Starring: Max Records, Forest Whitaker, Catherine O’Hara, James Gandolfini, Chris Cooper, Catherine Keener

Plot:

An adaptation of Maurice Sendak’s classic children’s story, where Max, a disobedient little boy sent to bed without his supper, creates his own world–a forest inhabited by ferocious wild creatures that crown Max as their ruler. [IMDB]

Pre-Review Editorial:

I read an actual review of Spike Jonze’s Where the Wild Things Are that stated the following:

Authentic though it may be, this movie will appeal to douchey hipsters. If you are upper-middle-class, liked I Heart Huckabees, have Buddy Holly glasses, listen to rap ironically, and/or believe yourself to be an undiscovered genius or otherwise tortured and unique person, this is right in your wheelhouse for Movie of the Year. [Film School Rejects]

Now, let me put on my horn rimmed glasses and get on with my douchy hipster review of Where the Wild Things Are.

Review:

Spike Jonze‘s Where the Wild Things Are isn’t for everyone.  If you go in expecting a brainless, whimsical and safe children’s movie, you’ll be disappointed.  (But don’t worry, Disney will fill this void with The Rock as a Tooth Fairy very soon).  Where the Wild Things Are is a film that is very much for adults, not based on questionable content, but based on the themes and layers this film offers.  Spike Jonze has given us a brilliant film that captures the beauty, messiness, danger and lonliness of a young boy’s imagination.

I don’t really know where to start with this film.  Where the Wild Things Are is a film that needs to be discovered for yourself, so I won’t get into the detail of the plot.  The plot itself is very simple.  Max gets in a fight with his mother, runs away to a fantastical island full of monsters and comes home.  The music, imagery and subtext are what sets Where the Wild Things Are above almost everything I’ve seen this year.

First of all, the images on screen are simply stunning.  The “real world” scenes are shot handheld, with a sense of urgency and energy that sucks us right into the story.  Once we get to the monster’s island, we see breathtaking landscapes of the ocean and beaches, forest and even desert.  The landscapes totally enveloped me and were extremely beautiful.  All the imagery is highlighted by Carter Burwell’s wonderful score and songs by Karen O And The Kids.  (Both the soundtrack and score are highly recommended.)

The monsters were real.  They were organic to each scene, I believed they were there.  Spike Jonze decided to employ the Jim Henson Company to create large puppets with CGI sparingly and convincingly used for the faces.  The amount of emotion conveyed was wonderful.  I found myself empathizing with each character and 100% invested in them.  Also, the voice work by James Gandolfini as Carol was spot on, both menacing and tender.  The rest of the voice work was also remarkable, most notably Forest Whitaker, Catherine O’Hara and Chris Cooper.

The glue holding the story together is our main character, Max, played by a brilliant Max Records.  This kid is simply amazing and totally convincing as a troubled young boy dealing with loneliness and anger as his sister is growing up, his mom (perfectly portrayed by Catherine Keener) struggles with her job and finding time for her boyfriend.  Max, a creative and imaginative boy, is feeling alone and neglected.  He tries to leave all this behind in creating a perfect world with monsters who will make him their king.  You totally believe Max Records.  He’s genuine and full of life.  I haven’t seen such an honest performance ever from someone Max’s age.

The brilliance of Where the Wild Things Are isn’t just on screen.  The conversations I’ve had since seeing this film have been honest, emotional and deeply revealing.  Spike Jonze has somehow tapped into the core of all of us and has made a highly introspective movie about life itself.  Life is messy and imperfect.  We can complain and squabble about meaningless things, but what life boils down to is those around us and the unconditional love of family.  There are many more layers to this film and I’m sure many essays can be written about all the meanings and subtlties of the film.

Whether or not you enjoy Where the Wild Things Are is up to you.  This is a film that relies on what you take into the movie.  Drop whatever expectations you have at the door, and open yourself up to a wonderful journey of childhood, all the joys and pain it brings.  The honesty of this “children’s” movie is to be admired.  Not all kids will get it, and I’d suggest that if your kid is under 7 or 8, they could get bored.  I personally was deeply affected by Spike Jonze‘s take on Where the Wild Things Are.  It is a film that sparks conversation and reflection.  Not many movies do that today, and I thank Spike Jonze for a moving and wonderful film.

Author’s Note: I am not upper-middle-class, I can’t stand “I Heart Huckabees”, I wear glasses but not Buddy Holly glasses, I actually enjoy listening to Ice Cube non-ironically, I do not believe myself to be a genius, don’t think I’m any more unique than you, and I grew up in a lovingly stable yet imperfect family environment.  Surprisingly, Where the Wild Things Are is in my wheelhouse for Movie of the Year.

Inglourious Basterds

Rating: ★★★★★ 

Directed By: Quentin Tarantino

Starring: Brad Pitt, Diane Kruger, Mélanie Laurent, Christoph Waltz

Plot Synopsis:

Inglourious Basterds begins in German-occupied France, where Shosanna Dreyfus (Mélanie Laurent) witnesses the execution of her family at the hand of Nazi Colonel Hans Landa (Christoph Waltz). Shosanna narrowly escapes and flees to Paris, where she forges a new identity as the owner and operator of a cinema.

Elsewhere in Europe, Lieutenant Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt) organizes a group of Jewish soldiers to engage in targeted acts of retribution. Known to their enemy as “The Basterds,” Raine’s squad joins German actress and undercover agent Bridget Von Hammersmark (Diane Kruger) on a mission to take down the leaders of The Third Reich. Fates converge under a cinema marquee, where Shosanna is poised to carry out a revenge plan of her own… [TrailerAddict]

Review:

Quentin Tarantino‘s films are event films.  Because he isn’t a “hired gun” director, Tarantino gets to take his time and make the movies he’s interested in making.  He’s one of the few directors who works this way, and the only current director with his own style (granted his style is a mish mash of influence) and his own stamp on a film.  You know when you’re watching a Quentin Tarantino movie.  With only 5 previous films under his belt, Inglourious Basterds is Tarantino‘s 6th film (if you count the Kill Bill films as one film), his first period film, his first war film, and his finest film since Pulp Fiction.

The title of the film is a bit misleading.  It’s not 100% about the Nazi killing troop who call themselves The Basterds (yes, the misspelling is on purpose), Inglourious Basterds centers around 2 main characters with one goal in common: end World War II by killing all the leaders of the Nazi party who will be attending a premiere of a German Propaganda film called Nation’s Pride in Nazi populated France.

Inglourious Basterds is Tarantino’s most focused film yet.  It’s also his most outrageous.  He plays with our knowledge of real WWII events and doesn’t restrict himself to real historic accounts.  This is very much an “Alternative Reality” film and it’s best if you don’t even think about history on this one.  Because of this, Tarantino is able to craft a movie that is fairly unpredictable and extremely fun to watch.

If you go into Inglourious Basterds thinking this is a Brad Pitt let film, you’ll be disappointed.  Brad Pitt plays more of a supporting role and the weight and main plot of the film is carried by two relatively unknown actors.  First, by French actress Mélanie Laurent who plays Shosanna Dreyfus, a Jewish woman living in France after her family is murdered by Nazis.  Then, by German actor Christoph Waltz as the likable villain Col. Hans Landa aka “The Jew Hunter.”

Mélanie Laurent is captivating as a Jewish theater owner living in France.  Her family was murdered by Nazis and she escaped, living under the radar in Paris after changing her name.  She’s beautiful, strong willed and motivated in her revenge for what the Nazis did to her family.  I totally believed her character and enjoyed following her story.  Christoph Waltz steals every scene he has in this film.  Even the scenes he shares with Brad Pitt.  He plays Col. Hans Landa, an ex-detective now working for the Nazi part dubbed the “Jew Hunter” for his ability to expose Jews’ hiding places across Europe.  Waltz chews the scenery, but isn’t overbearing.  His character is both frightening and likable, it’s a weird balance that can be credited to Waltz’s charisma on screen.

All the other actors are great to watch.  Tarantino has provided a laundry list of actors to fill in the supporting roles and guest appearances.  One of my favorite things about Tarantino movies are the casting choices he makes.  Everyone here does their part well and doesn’t detract from the story he’s trying to tell.

One of the biggest criticisms of Quentin Tarantino‘s films is use of dialogue.  While dialog is praised in most all his films, the criticism is sometimes he over-uses it and it sometimes feels self-indulgent.  I think Death Proof is the best example of this.  Inglourious Basterds is Tarantino at his best with dialogue.  Every word, phrase and sentence furthers the story.  None of it is dialogue for the sake of dialogue.  The other brave choice Tarantino made was to not shy away from different languages.  In fact, Inglourious Basterds can qualify for a foreign film with the amount of subtitles.  This isn’t a bad thing, in fact I think it helps with the character of the film and makes for some nice and subtle dialogue moments.

Inglourious Basterds is a film that one could write essays about.  It is a multi-layered alternative historical fiction that will benefit from multiple viewings.  This is Quentin Tarantino‘s best and most enjoyable film since Pulp Fiction.  It also shows Tarantino growing as a film  maker and does a great job reigning himself in.  While Inglourious Basterds is 100% a Quentin Tarantino film with his musical queues and use of freeze frames, titles and flashbacks.  It is also his most mature, tightly woven and fun movie to date.  I had a blast with this film and can’t wait to re-visit it.

District 9

Rating: ★★★★★ 

Directed By: Neill Blomkamp

Starring: Sharlto Copley, Nathalie Boltt, William Allen Young

Plot Synopsis:

N/A.  Go in fresh on this one.

Review:

District 9 is the kick in the pants that this summer needed.  I absolutely loved it.  Finally an event film/special effects extravaganza that is entertaining, stunning to look at, action packed, and thought provoking.  In fact, District 9 makes all the other “Summer Event” movies look like a total joke.

This is another film that the less you know, the better.  I’m going to keep this review short.

In short: See District 9 ASAP and in a Theater.

District 9 is an astounding Science Fiction/Action film that succeeds on a visceral level as well as a social commentary.  The script is smart and doesn’t pull punches.  It’s brave, humorous, tense, emotional and unpredictable.  I haven’t felt this sense of discovery in a long time and hope that District 9‘s success shows Hollywood that a Special Effects and Action fueled movie can be also be smart.

I’m not going to give away any plot in this review.  District 9 works if you go in totally fresh, knowing as little as possible.  I applaud the marketing team on this one.  The trailer sucks you in, but doesn’t spoil anything at all.  I think more movie marketing needs to operate this way.

District 9s budget was $30 million.  This is staggering because, I think these special effects look better than any movie I’ve seen this year.  The aliens look real.  This is a huge pay-off because you get 100% emotionally invested in these creatures and their struggle.  Also, the space craft and weapons are 100% believable.

Finally, Sharlto Copley is a revelation.  This is his first feature film role, his only other acting role was in the short film Alive in Joburg, which District 9 was based on.  He is simply stunning to watch.

District 9 is my favorite film of 2009 and has skyrocketed to my top 10 of all time.  Neill Blomkamp is a name to watch, he could be the next James Cameron, Stephen Speilberg or Ridley Scott.  It is the best Science Fiction film I’ve seen in the past 10 years, maybe even 20.  Go see it.  Now.

*I know this was a pretty vague review.  For more in depth discussion, hit me up via email.  If you’ve seen it and want to continue this conversation just drop me a line!

Rated R for bloody violence and pervasive language.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

Rating: ★½☆☆☆ 

Directed By: Michael Bay

Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, John Turturro, Ramon Rodriguez

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen exists only to fuel Michael Bay‘s U. S. Military and Gigantic Explosion masturbatory fantasies.  It is an exercise in excess gone horribly wrong.  Maybe Michael Bay just wanted to create a Frat Boy Drinking Game movie, “Every time you see an explosion or cleavage, take a drink!” So, maybe he succeeded in what he set out to do.  However, Mr. Bay, I’ve cut you slack numerous times, but I would like my 2 AND A HALF HOURS of my life back.

There is so much wrong with Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.  I almost don’t know where to start.  I should say that I really enjoyed the first Transformers, and it’s one of my “Demo Quality” Blu-Rays that I proudly display.  However, with Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Michael Bay seemed to lose his mind and didn’t worry about plot or character, but wanted nothing but Frat Boy juvenile humor, robots and explosions.

[SPOILERS AHEAD]

The Good:

• I do need to applaud ILM for the effects here.  They are on par with the first film and really are impressive.

• Soundwave as the Decepticon’s communication expert hovering over Earth as a satellite works and it pretty awesome.  Thank God they didn’t make him an Mp3 player.

• Some people hated the “nano-bot” ball bearings robot, I thought it was pretty cool.

• The “Pretender” robot hot chick had no purpose for the story, but her transformation scene was pretty awesome.  (Some people complained about a robot disguised as a human, but there was a Pretender sub-line with the Transformers toys.)

• The amazing Forest Battle Scene with Optimus Prime battle Megatron and other Decepticons.  Epic.  Too bad that was the high point of the movie, and within the first hour.

• Ravage was pretty badass.

The Bad:

• Michael Bay’s sense of humor.  Dogs humping, pot brownies, Jive-talking robots, Robots that hump legs, a robot with a gun for a penis, Testicles on Devastator.

• Shia LaBeouf.  Why is he trying to be an action star these days?  He’s good in smaller movies, but not a believable action star.  Was is just me or did he still have his Indiana Jones haircut?

• Optimus Prime’s lack of screen time.  He’s the iconic leader of the Autobots and barely in the film.

• The Jive Talking Twin Autobots.  Mudflaps and Skids.  Ugh.  Really? These guys are the most annoying characters since Jar Jar Binks, and they have more screen time than any of the Autobots.

• Exposition? Don’t you mean, more EXPLOSIONS?! Michael Bay does not give a shit about the story, only explosions.

• The Fallen is a wimp.  He’s supposed to be this old time badass, but is dispatched so quickly and stupidly by Uber-Optimus Prime, it’s just ridiculous.

• The run time.  2 hours and 30 minutes?! Are you serious? Is this Ben Hur? MAYBE if 45 minutes were cut out, this would be a wee bit better.  Maybe.

• Robot Heaven. Huh?

Really, I can go on and on.  But this subject has been covered by so many reviewers and blogs.  Basically, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is the worst film of 2009,  Michael Bay’s worst film, and probably the worst film of the past decade.  However, it made tons of money so expect the sequel.  I won’t be in line for that.

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi action violence, language, some crude and sexual material, and brief drug material

The Hurt Locker

Rating: ★★★★★ 

Directed By: Kathryn Bigelow

Starring: Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, Brian Geraghty

Plot Synopsis:

When a new sergeant, James, takes over a highly trained bomb disposal team amidst violent conflict, he surprises his two subordinates, Sanborn and Eldridge by recklessly plunging them into a deadly game of urban combat. As the men struggle to control their wild new leader, the city explodes into chaos, and James’ true character reveals itself in a way that will change each man forever. [Uncredited, WorstPreviews.com]

Review:

Finally, we’re starting to hit the real films of 2009.  This summer has been plagued by pretty lousy “event” films.  Most of the pretty horrible and underwhelming.  While I enjoyed G. I. Joe for what it was, The Hurt Locker arrives and shows us what a real war movie is.  Kathryn Bigelow (Near Dark, Point Break) gives us her best work to date with The Hurt Locker, bringing us the best modern warfare film since 2001′s Black Hawk Down.

The Hurt Locker is a film that works best if you going in knowing as little as possible.  While I had some things spoiled by reading reviews and blogs, the film still worked.  However, I think if I had gone in knowing nothing a few moments could have had a significantly more powerful impact.

Kathryn Bigelow has really turned heads with this movie.  She’s always been an interesting director.  Near Dark is one of my favorite movies of all time.  Point Break is a great time.  But, she hasn’t come through with an Oscar worthy film yet.  Well, that is, until The Hurt Locker.  If this film doesn’t give her a well deserved Best Director and Best Picture nod at the Oscars, I will stop watching the Academy Awards.  The intensity and emotional impact of the film enhances the action sequences.  This the first well-balanced film of 2009.

Jeremy Renner is the one to watch here.  Think Tom Cruise’s Maverick character from Top Gun but with actual depth.  He’s fun to watch and very engaging.  Also, there is that layer of unpredictability and recklessness that makes the character so compelling.  You really don’t know what to expect from this guy.  All other supporting characters are great and help elevate this film to a level above just a war film.  These are real guys in real situations, and you can relate to all the characters you’re introduced to.

There are many more things I absolutely love about the film, but don’t want to give anything away.  The Hurt Locker has a handful of memorable scenes and action set pieces.  Also, the intensity of each scene had me on the edge of my seat.  From the music to the editing, The Hurt Locker is an intense experience worth having in the theater.  If you can see it on the big screen, do it.

Kathryn Bigelow has just pole vaulted up into my favorite directors top 10.  I’ve always had respect for her films, but only a few can be considered great films.  Until now she’s been hit or miss.  But, with The Hurt Locker, she’s delivered a masterpiece.  One of the few great war movies and hands down the best film that depicts warfare in Iraq.  The Hurt Locker is a refreshing standout in a ho hum Summer movie season.

Rated R for war violence and language.

G. I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra

Rating: ★★★☆☆ 

Directed By: Stephen Sommers

Starring: Channing Tatum, Rachel Nichols, Marlon Wayans, Sienna Miller, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Christopher Eccleston, Byung-hun Lee, Ray Park

Plot Synopsis:

Director Stephen Sommers (The Mummy, Van Helsing) adapts the beloved Hasbro G.I. Joe toy line with this Paramount Pictures production that pits the Global Integrated Joint Operating Entity against the evil forces of the organization known as Cobra. [Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide]

Review:

No movie this summer has been made fun of pre-release like Stephen Sommers‘ take on G. I. Joe.  The marketing was horrible.  The scenes we saw early were unimpressive.  And the characters looked stupid, uninspired and goofy.  Meanwhile, the Transformers 2 marketing seemed to showcase a better take on cartoons and toys from the 80s, and we all know how Transformers 2 failed on all levels as a film (yet raked in tons of brainless cash).  So, is G. I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra better than this summers earlier disappointments? Yes!

I know this isn’t really saying much, but G. I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra is more fun and satisfying than X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Terminator: Salvation and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (we can call the Summer of 2009, Summer 09: The Rise of Colons).  The pacing is what both prior movies should have had, the action more fun and the characters are likeable, although the story is just as dumb and effects a bit shoddy at times.

All the actors do what they can with the script they’ve been given, and you can tell they all just had a good time with it.  There’s not Oscar worthy performances here.  The stand outs were Sienna Miller as The Baroness, Ray Park kicks ass as Snake Eyes (although the lips on his mask were just stupid), and Joseph Gordon-Levitt chews the scenery and is gleefully over the top as The Doctor/Cobra Commander.  Everyone else is passable and Marlon Wayans isn’t as annoying as he usually is.

There’s really not much more to say about this.  G. I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra isn’t a great film or fine art by any means.  But, it’s a fun, harmless way to pass 2 hours, and so far the most fun of the Summer Blockbusters in 2009.  By the end I was interested in seeing where everything goes in a sequel.  It’s a PG-13 movie made for 10 year olds, and my 10 year old self loved the hell out of G. I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra.

Rated PG-13 for strong sequences of action violence and mayhem throughout.

Terminator Salvation

Rating: ★★★☆☆ 

Directed By: McG

Starring: Christian Bale, Sam Worthington, Anton Yelchin, Moon Bloodgood, Bryce Dallas Howard, Common, Michael Ironside, Helena Bonham Carter

Plot Synopsis:

Set in post-apocalyptic 2018, John Connor (Christian Bale) is the man fated to lead the human resistance against Skynet and its army of Terminators. But the future Connor was raised to believe in is altered in part by the appearance of Marcus Wright (Sam Worthington), a stranger whose last memory is of being on death row. Connor must decide whether Marcus has been sent from the future, or rescued from the past. As Skynet prepares its final onslaught, Connor and Marcus both embark on an odyssey that takes them into the heart of Skynet’s operations, where they uncover the terrible secret behind the possible annihilation of mankind. [Warner Bros. Pictures]

Review:

Let me rant for a second.  McG is a stupid name for a director.  I don’t care if it’s your Frat Boy nickname or whatever.  If you want to be taken seriously as an artist, ditch the first name only names.  Let alone a name with no vowels.  The Rock changed his name back to Dwayne Johnson for movies.  Rappers-turned-actors are my pet peeve.  Whenever I see names like Common or 50 Cent appear in credits, I roll my eyes.  Now we have a McG film.  Dude, are you a rapper, a frat boy or a director?

Stupid names or not, Terminator Salvation delivers on action, great effects and sound, but is sorely lacking in a compelling lead performance or a compelling plot.  For the most part, this is a fun, brainless thrill ride with some fun action sequences.  It’s a good looking film and I don’t doubt all the money is on the screen.  Terminator Salvation looks great and sounds great on the big screen.  Just don’t prepare to get your mind blown.  While I don’t think it’s as bad as most critics are saying (and most are being extremely unfair), this isn’t the best movie of the summer.

The Good.

McG knows how to direct action and combines practical effects with CGI pretty impressively.  The post-apocalyptic world is stark and the digital re-creation of a post-nuclear Los Angeles is pretty stunning.  The action is thrilling and a lot of fun with explosions that are on par with any Michael Bay film.  I had a lot of fun with the Moto-Terminator chase sequence and the last act in the Skynet factory.

See Terminator Salvation in the theater at least to experience the visuals and the sound design.  Explosions rumble, bullets whiz by your head, the robots are threatening.  I loved how they gave the T-600s kind of a gutteral growl.  Also the plasma canon on The Harvestor is just plain cool sounding.  Loved it.

On the acting end, only 2 actors really stand out and save this movie.  Anton Yelchin as young Kyle Reese is captivating.  He’s totally channeling Michael Biehn‘s performance from the original Terminator and you believe every second of his performance.  With Star Trek under his belt and now Terminator Salvation, Anton Yelchin is a young talent to watch.  I know he’s now on my radar.

Also, Sam Worthington is great.  Although he occasionally slips into his Australian accent (how did the ADR folks miss that?!) he emotes convincingly and proves that he can out-act Christian Bale.  I’m looking forward to seeing him in James Cameron’s Avatar and also the remake of Clash of the Titans.

I need to mention Danny Elfman‘s score here.  People have given him a lot of crap for the score, but I think it’s great.  While nothing can touch Brad Feidel‘s scores for Terminator and Terminator 2, it’s not Danny Elfman’s usual sound.  This is a plus.  It’s a subdued score, that fits right into the story and doesn’t call attention to itself.

The Bad.

I really, really wanted to LOVE Terminator Salvation.  But, while I came out enjoying the ride, it just seemed like the screenwriters really missed an opportunity.  While the plot isn’t the weakest link of the film, it just seems lazily written.  It’s safe, sterile PG-13 action which feels like a Cliff Notes version of a bigger, more complex film.  Everything is spelled out, dialog is kept to a minimum and the main driving force of the plot is been-there-done-that.  I’m not sure how much was left on the cutting room floor when Warner Brothers decided on a PG-13 film after Watchmen tanked, but it feels like a Director’s Cut could remedy a bunch of problems.

For example, one minute Moon Bloodgood and Sam Worthington are getting ready to establish shelter from the rain and the next scene there’s no rain and 4 baddies are confronting Moon Bloodgood.  Also, I guess in the future it doesn’t take much to get from Los Angeles to San Francisco.  One character makes it there on FOOT.  For another character it’s a quick motorcycle ride.  I really hope there’s about 20 minutes missing from this film that will make up for the editing here.

Along with the simpleness of the script, it seems that all humor has been ejected from the series.  While they were intense Sci-Fi Actioners, the Terminator movies all had some sort of sense of humor.  Here, everything is dard and drab.  Hell, even Saving Private Ryan and Schindler’s List has moments of humor in them.  There is nothing for us an an audience to grab on to emotionally so we could invest in the characters in the story.

Finally, Christian Bale turns in the worst performance of his career here.  He’s one note, boring and talks in his low Batman voice for most of the movie.  I feel another actor could have done more here.  Actually, if Sam Worthington had been John Connor it would have been an entirely different film.  Maybe even a better film.  It’s a shame, because I am a total Christian Bale fan.  Here, though, he doesn’t emote at all.  He gives us no reason to care about him.

While filled with stellar effects, great sound design and score combined with thrilling action set pieces and a couple of really great performances, Terminator Salvation falls flat.  The PG-13 cut takes all gravity out of the story, but even with an R rating and the cuts put back in, I’m not sure how much better it will be.  As mindless spectacle, Terminator Salvation delivers.  It’s a billion times better than Wolverine and better than Terminator 3.

It’s a shame that such a technically well done film is undermined by it’s lead actor and the script.

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action, and language.[See Full Rating]

Star Trek

Rating: ★★★★½ 

Directed By: J.J. Abrams

Starring: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban, Zoe Saldana, Simon Pegg, John Cho, Anton Yelchin, Bruce Greenwood, Eric Bana, Leonard Nimoy

Plot Synopsis:

The greatest adventure of all time begins with Star Trek, the incredible story of a young crew’s maiden voyage onboard the most advanced starship ever created: the U.S.S. Enterprise. On a journey filled with action, comedy and cosmic peril, the new recruits must find a way to stop an evil being whose mission of vengeance threatens all of mankind.The fate of the galaxy rests in the hands of bitter rivals. One, James T. Kirk (Chris Pine), is a delinquent, thrill-seeking Iowa farm boy. The other, Spock (Zachary Quinto), was raised in a logic-based society that rejects all emotion. As fiery instinct clashes with calm reason, their unlikely but powerful partnership is the only thing capable of leading their crew through unimaginable danger, boldly going where no one has gone before! [Paramount]

Review:

Star Trek has been something I’ve known my whole life.  At a very young age, I used to watch the original episodes with my grandpa whenever I visited (which was often since we lived next door).  In 1987, when I was 9 years old, my Dad and I got hooked on Star Trek: The Next Generation.  This was a fond Dad/Son time we’d share, staying up late to catch the new TNG episode after the late night news (since it began in syndication).  I’ve seen/own every Star Trek film (the good and the bad) and while I’ve never considered myself a Trekkie/Trekker (or whatever), I’ve always considered myself a fan of the Star Trek Universe (with the exception of the spin-off shows: Deep Space Nine, Voyager and Enterprise).

With all that said, J. J. Abrams Star Trek is the shot of Romulan Ale the Star Trek Universe needed after 2 lack luster feature films in the Star Trek franchise.

Now, there are people who absolutely HATE some of the Star Trek feature films.  Star Trek V: The Final Frontier was clunky, poorly plotted film directed by William Shatner, although it did have some great character moments between Kirk, McCoy and Spock.  Star Trek: Insurrection and Star Trek: Nemesis were the last two feature films (featuring The Next Generation cast) and they didn’t feel cinematic.  They felt like longer TV episodes and didn’t do anything to further the series.  Some felt Star Trek: Nemesis officially killed the Star Trek Franchise.  While I feel like those 3 least-liked films were not the best, I still enjoy them for what they are and I enjoy spending time with the characters.

J. J. Abrams Star Trek is a fresh start.  A new beginning.  However, because of an ingenious plot device, it doesn’t discount Star Trek Canon.  Star Trek catapults the more thought provoking aspects of the Star Trek Universe (such as exploring the new Socialist-like government system, commentary of race relations and predjudice, space exploration and science), strips it down and focuses on character, action and humor.  J. J. Abrams has given us a sort of “origin story’ and succeeds in bringing new people into the Star Trek universe without alienating the long time Star Trek fans.  If you think about it, this is a major feat.  One of the most divisive properties in the last 40 years has opened it’s closed doors and can finally usher in a whole new generation of fans.

Hands down, this is the best looking Star Trek film ever.  You could take any of the space scenes, frame them and have some sweet artwork for your walls.  Colors are vibrant, the ships are massive and have scale, ILM was the main effects house used and the effects are near flawless.  Forget the shoddy CG work from Wolverine, the bar for Summer Movie special effects has been set through the roof.

Screen writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman (Mission Impossible III and Transformers) have been given a lot of shit based on their past efforts.  Here, they’ve turned in their best work to date.  Think about it.  They had to take 40 years of plot and character, backtrack to the beginning and create a fresh take on this world and characters.  Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman may not have given us anything super intellecual here plot-wise, but they were able to weave a story that doesn’t discount any previous Star Trek mythology or canon.  It’s all here, it makes sense.  If you’re a Star Trek super geek, you may have some things to nitpick about and some plot-holes to uncover.  But, this is the most taut and fun Star Trek film in the series.  I dare you to look back at all the previous films and have as much fun as you’ll have with the new Star Trek.

Like I’ve said, Star Trek has always been about characters.  Here, casting is pitch perfect.  Everyone brings their game and knocks all the characters out of the park.  Chris Pine as Kirk is great.  He brings the arrogance of young Kirk to life and, yeah, Kirk can be a dick! But, Chris Pine is able to present the arrogant Kirk with a tinge of endearment.  You do get the sense that Kirk will become a great captain.  Zachary Quinto as Spock is jaw dropping.  First off, the similarity to him and Leonard Nimoy’s Spock is staggering.  Quinto brings us the confilicted young Spock with an amazing subtlety.  He’s tough and cool, yet beneath the surface you can sense the internal struggle of Spock.

The supporting cast here is so good, I could keep writing and bore you all to tears.  Let me just say that everyone avoids the feared Saturday Night Live impersonation here.  These are fleshed out characters, which embody the spirit of the classic crew with a fresh, yet logical spin.  Most notable are Simon Pegg as Scotty and Karl Urban as Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy.

Star Trek is a perfectly paced Science Fiction/Action film that is respectful of the source material and one of the best Science Fiction films I’ve seen in recent memory.  This is the first film in a long time where I’ve wanted to immediately stay in my seat and watch again.  I’d go back to the theater to see this in a heart beat (and probably will) and I can’t wait to own the Blu-ray so I could revisit the film again.  This is the most accessable Star Trek film and that is a good thing.  I really have nothing bad to say about J. J. Abrams’ Star Trek.  Could I nitpick? Probably.  Does that take away any enjoyment of the film?  No.

Why are you still reading this? Get out and see Star Trek in the theater.  It’ll be the most fun you’ll have in the theater this year.

Rated PG-13 for sci-fi action and violence, and brief sexual content[See Full Rating]

Bolt

Rating: ★★★★½ 

Directed By: Byron Howard and Chris Williams

Written By: Dan Fogelman and Chris Williams

Starring: John Travolta, Miley Cyrus, Susie Essman, Mark Walton, Malcolm McDowell

Plot Synopsis:

Bolt tells the story a dog who plays a heroic pup in a hit TV show and has some trouble recognising that he is in fact not possessed of extraordinary powers beyond the ability to lick his own nether regions. This becomes something of a hindrance when he is accidentally shipped from Hollywood to New York City. From there he has to make his way home with only the help of a manky old cat and an overweight hamster in a plastic ball. John Travolta, Miley Cyrus, Susie Essman and Mark Walton provide voices. (Trailer Addict)

Review:

Disney Animation has been in a bit of a slump recently.  Their last non-Pixar Computer Animated Chicken Little was a turd, and other than direct to DVD sequels to their classics we haven’t seen much.  So, much to my surprise, along comes Bolt.  This is the first non-Pixar movie that is up to par in quality with The Incredibles; a fun, action packed and funny little movie.  Of course, Bolt was executive produced by Pixar’s John Lasseter.  So Bolt can be a distant cousin of a Pixar movie.

The plot is a simple fish-out-of-water scenario.  If you read the synopsis you know what you’re getting.  As is the case with most simple plots, it’s the execution that is key.  From the voice acting to the animation, Bolt works.  John Travolta voices Bolt and you totally buy it.  He does a great job of not drawing our attention to his voice.  It works perfect for the character and the story.

Miley Cyrus is the surprise here.  Her voice is perfect for Penny.  I’m NOT the demographic for anything Miley Cyrus.  She usually annoys the hell out of me.  But her voice acting is so good here, it really fits the character and also isn’t a “Hey! Look at me!” performance.  Hats off to Miley Cyrus for actually being a part of something I enjoy!

All the other character works fine.  Susie Essman as Mittens is great and  Mark Walton as Rhino the Hampster is pretty hilarious.  He’s kind of channeling Jack Black a tiny bit, but it fits the character.

As a whole, Bolt is a great family movie.  The story is fun.  The humor is there, but doesn’t take you out of the story and has a very natural feel to it (as opposed to a few certain Dreamworks Animation movie…like…say…Shrek).  I originally saw this in 3D with my wife, but unlike other 3D gimmicked movies, Bolt stands up very well in 2D and looks beautiful on Blu-ray.  I have a feeling Bolt will stand up for some time and will become another classic Disney character.

Rated PG for some mild action and peril.

Watchmen

Rating: ★★★★★ 

Directed By: Zack Snyder

Starring: Jackie Earle Haley, Patrick Wilson, Malin Akerman, Billy Crudup, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Matthew Goode

Plot Synopsis:

A complex, multi-layered mystery adventure, Watchmen is set in an alternate 1985 America in which costumed superheroes are part of the fabric of everyday society, and the “Doomsday Clock” – which charts the USA’s tension with the Soviet Union – is permanently set at five minutes to midnight. When one of his former colleagues is murdered, the washed-up but no less determined masked vigilante Rorschach sets out to uncover a plot to kill and discredit all past and present superheroes.

As he reconnects with his former crime-fighting legion – a ragtag group of retired superheroes, only one of whom has true powers – Rorschach glimpses a wide-ranging and disturbing conspiracy with links to their shared past and catastrophic consequences for the future. Their mission is to watch over humanity…but who is watching the watchmen? (Trailer Addict)

Review:

With the sort of reputation and scope of Alan Moore‘s epic graphic novel, Watchmen, one can imagine the strong reaction and expectation fans have given Zack Snyder‘s film adaptation.  In fact, there was such hype that I believe there was no way Zack Snyder could deliver on everyone’s expectations with the film version of Watchmen.  Just look at the reviews.  Main criticisms included: confusing plot, strange song selection for key scenes, superhero sex and a blue penis.  Granted, this is a complex plot.  But song choice, sex and a blue penis are not what I was focused on.  Critics are a strange breed.

I am not a critic.  Nor am I a uber-geek when it comes to the graphic novel.  I’ve read it and enjoyed it immensly.  But, it’s not the end-all-be-all graphic novel for me.  So I was able to go into this movie and appreciate it as a seperate form of entertainment.  A beautiful, engaging, exciting and complex film that turns the superhero movie on it’s head.  This is not The Dark Knight nor Spiderman.  Watchmen is a truly unique vision that asks important questions and tries our patience at times, however this is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time.

Zack Snyder had a unique balancing act to perform when taking on this movie.  He had to balance cinematic vision with the expectations and the weight that comes along with a project like this.  Aiming to please the fans, non-fans and a cynical author.  However, you can’t please them all.  And that’s where I feel Zack Snyder has succeeded.  Watchmen is a movie that can stand on it’s own, but is definitely more enjoyable as a whole for someone who has read the graphic novel.

The performances are really strong.  A lot of critics were brutal when it came to the acting.  Maybe I’m not as jaded or educated as these critics, but I thought every actor brought what was needed to the table.  There were a few stand outs, though.

Jackie Earle Haley was perfect as Rorschach.  His performance was so pitch perfect, he is easily the most memorable character of the movie.  Acting through a mask for 90% of the movie, you totally get the angst and determination of the character.  Pretty astounding when you think that Jackie Earle Haley had to convey all his emotion through body language.

Other notable performances were Patrick Wilson as Night Owl II, Billy Crudup as the god-like Dr. Manhatten and Jeffrey Dean Morgan as The Comedian.  These performances went above any expectation I had.  Other performances in the movie were good as well, just not as memorable as these stand outs.  I think certain characters suffered as the results of cuts that had to be made.  Malin Akerman as Silk Spectre II and Matthew Goode as Ozymandias were good, but I had the feeling there were pieces to their characters that were missing.  We’ll have to see how the Director’s Cut plays out.

Overall, Watchmen is the first great movie of 2009.  It’s not a movie that’s made for mass consumption.  Those expecting The Dark Knight or Spiderman will probably be disappointed.  There are a lot of ideas and layers to this movie that will take multiple viewings to fully understand.  If you want to get the most out of Watchmen, read the graphic novel first and watch the film as a “companion piece.” There are things that had to be changed or left out to bring this to the screen, but all that is a non issue for me.

Zack Snyder has brought us a movie that will only get better with time, a visually stunning and memorable film that honors the graphic novel.  Truly one of the best adaptations from book to film I’ve ever seen.  Highly recommended.

Rated R for strong graphic violence, sexuality, nudity and language.