Movie Review: 'OSHIT this is late' edition
STAR TREK (2009)
I will make this perfectly clear- I am not a Trekkie. I don't mind watching the TV series when they are on, but don't expect me to give you a chronological account of Gene Roddenberry's extended universe 'cos it's not gonna happen!
I'll be honest- I did indeed think 'cool' when I saw this
When I saw the admittedly interesting trailer of the Enterprise being assembled late last year, I was somewhat curious, though unlike others, I didn't start counting down the days. When release day came closer this year, I still wasn't making a concentrated effort to see the movie first thing, truth be told, I was almost on the grounds of 'Meh'. Granted, I did appreciate the fact that J.J Abrams was directly responsible for this interpretation, but that wasn't enough to press me.
BUT.
A week or so later, curiousity got the best of this cat and I decided what would the harm be? It was obviously marketing itself off as a standalone picture without any direct references to the last lot of movies that had been made from the Shatner/Next Generation years, after all. So on Cheap Tuesday, I got a ticket, a packet of S&V thigh-killers and sat down expecting nothing.
To which I received everything that a Star Trek film could give.
What struck me first and foremost was that it was accessible to everybody, not just those in the know- while I could spot some obvious winks to the previous franchise and a very special cameo by a very special Vulcan, this movie worked beautifully as a standalone effort. The film quickly established likeable characters in a breezy, easy-going manner with some excellent comedy sequences to spare (the constant running gag of Kirk's Bad Day Syndrome worked gangbusters) and offered a wholly satisfying addition to the general mythos that gallivanted along at a crowd-pleasing pace.
Special props must go to Chris Pine who plays the young Kirk who wisely chose not to model his performance on William Shatner's previous work, but more along the lines of Tom Cruise from Top Gun (though he was pretty straight as far as I was concerned >:D). Alongside that, Zachary Quinto manages to overcome the difficult transition from television to screen as a young and not-quite-composed Spock, while Karl Urban makes a memorable impression as the surly Doc Bones.
Totally Fucking
One thing that somewhat disappointed me was my fellow Australian Eric Bana's performance as Nero, a particularly nasty Romulan with a special grudge towards Spock. His work in itself wasn't anything to be ashamed of, but I found that his character didn't pose a distinct threat. Yes, he certainly looked fierce and had some brutal scenes, but I didn't feel his motivation for his actions were completely convincing. I'm not saying they weren't warranted, but I just felt the character didn't have as much conviction as he should have to be a truly memorable villain.
But that is just me.
Somewhat wasted potential.
All said and done, however, this was a fantastic ride filled to the brim with excitement, charm and strong promise to reignite the franchise that really must be experienced on the big screen to be enjoyed.
HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE (2009)
Before I kick this off, I have to say- is it my imagination, or is it due to the fact that as the young leads get older, these movies get longer and longer?
As somebody who still hasn't managed to read the books, I can't compare what the film has done to what was written by J.K Rowling, but I can certainly say this movie is quite a distance from the very first film in terms of tone, themes and the characterization of Harry and his friends. While perverts out there are now celebrating the fact they don't sound dirty any more now that Emma Watson has turned 18 (you know who you are), what struck me the most about the movie was how much Daniel Radcliffe (Harry) has become more of an accomplished actor. This young man has turned into a promising performer who I feel definitely has a career away from the franchise. The fella isn't afraid to explore new material and it shows in this movie. He is also allowed to cut loose emotionally and not have to worry about looking precocious or innocent. Harry is getting older and is learning the definition of responsibility, oh and he's starting to listen to his hormones even further.
Bitches love Da Rickman
Perhaps it was my state of mind when I saw it, but as spectacular and as dazzling as the film looked, it didn't really generate a enormous amount of interest from me and to be frank, I noticed the length and I found myself wondering, quite a few times actually, when would the movie end. Oh, don't think I am saying the film itself is an atrocity, but it felt incredibly drawn-out. Yes, Harry must find strength in himself to prepare for the battle to end all battles with Lord Voldermort as well as contend with his own hang ups, but this movie felt tremendously sloppy when it tried to convey these things. I still can't accurately describe why I felt underwhelmed by the film, but once again, I couldn't find myself emotionally invested in a majority of what was going on, no, not even with that incident (Potter fans will know what I mean by this). The only elements I remember chiefly was Radcliffe's independent skills as an actor, and really, I thought Half-Blood Prince could have done a lot better to support Radcliffe and his work. My God, can you smell the bias?
Don't worry Daniel, it wasn't your fault.
No doubt, true Potter fans loved this movie, and they have every right to as far as I'm concerned- it's got enough mystical sorcery and enchantment to keep their interest- but for a casual film goer such as myself who did enjoy the past few movies but wasn't blown away by them, I felt more could have been added as well as cut out. Perhaps I really do need to read the books in order to fully appreciate the series, but I felt this particular entry was quite lackluster.
INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS (2009)
The second world war, what was it good for?
KILLING NAZIS!!!!
At risk of getting myself into an epileptic seizure, I will say this as plainly as possible- this movie was a BLAST. No. You don't get it; a motherfuckering, baseball bat bashing, Nazi-scalping, goose-stepping blast.
Tarantino and his Basterds/Basterdettes
While set against the events of World War II during the Nazi occupation of France, it must be noted that this movie goes for the fantastic from the word 'go', heavy with the mysticism of spaghetti-westerns, sly film culture references, awesome set pieces and with moments of brilliant, yet slightly exaggerated brutality, Tarantino's return effort is a triumph from the intense opening sequence to the all-out OSHIT finale involving a movie theatre filled with Nazis and total vengeance.
One of the best opening scenes I have witnessed.
Tarantino obviously hasn't lost his knack with eclectic yet appropriate casting- Brad Pitt makes an awesome spectacle as Lt. Aldo Raine, a Nazi-hating Jewish Apache with a manic perchant for Nazi-scalping. Subsequently, the rest of his Basterds (including director Eli Roth) all stand out with their own individual moments, including a gloriously and quietly psychotic Til Schwiger as HUGO STIGLITZ.
Additionally, Michael Fassbender makes for thoroughly charming last-minute addition to Raine's crack group with a pitch-perfect British accent, meanwhile a very vivacious Diane Krueger makes you forget she was Helen of Troy as the German actress/undercover agent Bridget Von Hammersmarck.
However, other than Pitt, two other actors stood out marvelously; Christoph Waltz as the crazysexyawesomeviciouscunningprick Hans Landa and the radiant Melanie Laurent as Shoshanna Dreyfus.
Not once have I ever considered saying this about a Nazi, but now it must be said- Lt. Hans Landa is a crazysexyawesome motherfucker
Beautiful.
While these two do not share the screen a lot (save for one particularly tense sequence involving strudel), not once do you feel these characters are lost in translation. In fact, without Laurent, a lot of the emotional investment of the film would be lost, and without Waltz's pitch perfect performance, Tarantino's representation of Nazism would be but a vague figure in the background. Indeed, the two characters are awesome contrasts of vengeance and retribution coming from opposite ends before meeting in the middle. Shoshanna is a strong female character who isn't afraid to do what must be done in order to avenge the brutal execution of her family by Landa's (and subsequently Hitler's) hand, and Landa doesn't think like a Nazi when he is hunting for his prey- he thinks like a Jew, which makes him all the more terrifying, and boy does he know it.
True, this film may confuse some with obscure references and irritate others with unnecessary moments, but the central complaint I have heard was that the film was too long.
I personally did not feel the time go by as I watched it. Yes, I knew the movie went for a good two and a half hours, but it was what happened within that time that truly counts and let me tell you cousin, as far as this movie is concerned, business is boomin'.
Tarantino invests his passion into each of his movies, and Basterds is no exception.
Congrats, Herr Tarantino, you've made a bingooo!