Movies: Honest To Blog
So I haven't posted in a while, mostly because I haven't spent much time on the computer - that's what happens when your mum decides to start a family tree project. So in the meantime I've been playing a LOT of Scrabble and watching a fair few movies.
Sweeney Todd:
A movie by Tim Burton starring Johnny Depp, and it's also a musical? Well, there's a no brainer, of course I'm going to see it.
Although I'll admit I'm not a huge Tim Burton fan like some, but I'm always keen on checking out his films, at the very least his movies are interesting visually.
I was torn about how to feel about Sweeney Todd. I loved the songs and there's some perverse pleasure to be had out of the black comedy, but another part of me wonders if I should be entertained by such a film knowing that, musical numbers aside, the story of the serial killer is based in fact. Still, judging it solely on its entertainment merits I'd have to admit that it is a well-made film with fine perfomrances from the cast. Whether I'd add it to my ever growing (and uncontainable) collection of DVDs is another matter. I don't think I'm spoiling it by saying it ends tragically. As great a film as Mystic River was, the tragic but inevitable ending has put me off wanting to watch it again, and I feel the same about this film. Until I change my mind, I'm quite content listening to the soundtrack over and over.
Jumper:
Best defined as the Bourne movies meets X-Men, Jumper is an exciting location-hopping yarn, which seems to have gotten more criticism that it deserves. Best known as Anakin Skywalker in the Star Wars prequels, Hayden Christensen might not be stretching his acting skills in this movie, but with the potential for future sequels he may be able to escape the shadow of Darth Vader yet. Christensen does the best he can with the material, showing the vulnerable side to his character particularly during the scene at the airport when he fully realises what the use of his gift has cost him. Whilst it's not the shallow affair some critics have claimed, there is definitely room for improvement. The Bourne movies would be a good model to follow, delving deeper into the characters and mythology in the sequels. Nevertheless, there are some decent character moments in this film that sets it apart from the majority of action blockbusters. Pitched as a realistic superhero movie, Jumper really tells the story of what would happen if your average teenager discovered he had special abilites. Would he fight crime a la Spider-man and Batman? Or would he use the abilities to his advantage, stealing money from banks and spending his day jumping from one city to the next, living the bachelor's lifestyle? Jumper takes the latter route, and it's refreshing to see a new spin on the superhero tale.
Cloverfield:
If this film gets one award it should be for it's ability to completely divide audiences. I saw it with a large group of friends who each reacted differently to seeing it. Some hated it, claiming it just wasn't scary, some saw it as a rip-off of countless other horror movies, from Alien to Blair Witch, and others thought it was merely average. I was one of the few to actually LOVE it.
I suppose a movie of this type - taking the idea of a huge Godzilla-type monster movie, and presenting it like an indie movie rather than Hollywood blockbuster - is obviously going to have it's fans and those who frankly can't see what all the fuss is about. Much like M Night Shyamalan did with Signs a few years back, the epic attack is merely the B-plot with the lives and reactions of the characters taking centre-stage. As a moviegoer who appreciates character development rather than big explosions and stunts, Cloverfield is just my type of film. Some friends actually said that the movie could have picked up quicker, dropping the introductions at the party, but without getting to know the characters the movie would just boil down to random people being picked off one by one. It's only in getting to know the characters that one can really get involved in any movie. And getting involved is the key in enjoying this movie.
This isn't a film that relies on cheap thrills, merely intent on making it's audience jump every now and again. I think that's why some people were disappointed. Cloverfield isn't a horror movie, it's a disaster movie, it's about survival. The handheld camera approach to filmmaking might not be original but it's incredibly effective. Perfectly capturing the atmosphere and drama of finding yourself in the middle of a war, albeit a war between man and monster, this is as realistic as a sci-fi/disaster movie gets.
Of course, it may be an acquired taste. Much like The Blair Witch Project divided audiences years ago, your like or dislike of Cloverfield may depend solely on whether you find yourself drawn in by the handheld filmmaker approach. It isn't a movie about scares, it's a movie documenting one night in the lives of a handful of friends. I don't really care what other people think, the movie industry could do with more films like this, there's only so many braindead blockbusters one can take. It's about time someone approached it from a different angle.
Juno:
Last but certainly not least is Juno, this years hit indie dramedy. Critics have praised it no end, though it seems of late there's been somewhat of a backlash. Don't ask me why, this deserves all the kudos it gets. Easily my favourite film this year, Juno is like my favourite indie flicks both realistic and a little off-beat, doesn't circle around the difficult subjects but at the same time manages to be both cute and funny at times. Ellen Page makes a likable lead, witty and sardonic but without coming across as a complete smartarse. It's stylised dialogue is bound to catch on with the movie's more passionate fans (myself included) and soon enough I expect phrases like "Thundercats are go" and "Honest to Blog" will soon become a natural part of one's vocabulary.
It's a movie that's just begging me to see it again, which I may just yet do. Meanwhile I'm spending most of my time listening to the soundtrack which is just fantastic.
Recently I've managed to rent a few DVDs recently, I'll just briefly mention them (three all having links to Juno actually, albeit tenuous links)
Knocked Up like Juno follows the drama of a young woman discovering she is pregnant and all the stress it entails. And that's where the comparison ends. Another comedy from Judd Apatow who brought us The 40 Year Old Virgin and may other films of its kind and starring Seth Rogen and Katherine Heigl. Although it got some great reviews, I was bit unsure about Knocked up at first. After all 40 Year Old Virgin did too, but I found that film to be fairly average. Frequent profanities aside though, Knocked Up is all it's cracked up to be, and more. Like 40 Year Old Virgin, it's a longer film than most comedies, running at two hours, but again we are given time to get to know the characters, witness the strength and their flaws, and fall in love with them all the same. Seth Rogen looks an unlikely male lead but he's a fantastic comedy actor and anyone who's seen Freaks & Geeks will know he can handle the more serious dramatic stuff too, which he gets the chance to do in this too.
It's crude at times sure, and it doesn't need all the swearing, but it's also one of the funniest comedies in a long time, and unlike most of it's kind, actually leaves you with a warm feeling. It's an indie film parading itself as a mainstream comedy, sex gags aside, it's about a young guy being forced to grow up and take on responsibility. It's real and it's got heart, and of course more importantly it's damn funny.
Superbad, another from the Apatow machine and another hit comedy stars Juno's Michael Cera and Knocked Up's Seth Rogen. Although it seems to have developed a cult following, I'd have to say it would appeal more to the teen crowd than the adults. In brief it has some funny moments - McLovin is one of the greatest names for a character it has to be said, fake or not - but it definitely wreaks of juvenile humour a lot of the time. It's more in the mold of American Pie than Apatow's other movies, and as a result doesn't have the same wide appeal. I found it to be fun and diverting enough, but in the end not worth watching more than once.
The Kingdom. Completely different sort of movie now starring amongst others Juno's hopeful adoptive parents to be Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman. I had heard different reviews for this movie but since there was an offer of three movies for two at the store, I decided to give it a shot anyway. A little slow at first but interesting enough to keep me watching, what appealed mostly about this film was the fact that it didn't paint the americans as "better than" the enemy but in fact, as shown quite clearly by it's final scene, the two opposing sides weren't so different after all. Both parties wanted blood and, in the end, wars will continue to be fought so long as this need for revenge consumes them on each side.
Run Fatboy Run. It's Simon Pegg training like Rocky to run the London Marathon. That's all you need to know. It's funny as hell and is at times quite emotional. Like About A Boy, just because it's labelled a comedy, doesn't mean it should shy away from being a drama that tugs at the heart-strings. Simon Pegg is fast becoming a star and I'd have to say this is his finest role yet. Sure Shaun of the Dead and to a lesser extent Hot Fuzz were good movies, and Pegg is great at playing the everyday joe, but here he gets to sink his teeth into an actual dramatic role. I always felt that the "serious" elements of those other two films didn't quite sit right and represent the weakest elements of each script. Run Fatboy Run on the other hand perfectly balances the comedy with the drama, and as such is, in my opinion, a much better movie that either of them,
Okay, that's it I'm done talking movies
I'll try to post my next blog tomorrow,
wildigital gave me a little task to do a while back and I still haven't done it!