I have had several requests concerning my thoughts on the movie Avatar, so I figured I would oblige those few individuals, and post a few things I took away from the film.
First off, let it be said that this movie is a technological marvel. Visually, it is hands down the greatest thing I have ever seen on screen. It is rare that a movie is able to really “wow” me anymore, especially from a technical standpoint, but director James Cameron certainly succeeded. I was consistently amazed at the variety of flora and fauna that call the world of Pandora their home, and my only regret is that I was not able to view the movie on an IMAX screen. I did however see it in 3D, and I would recommend this to any potential viewers. This movie was made to be a visual spectacle, and though the first 30 minutes of the film were a bit disorienting, I eventually overcame it and settled into a comfortable viewing experience.
Apart from the visual experience however, there is little to recommend about this film. The story is recycled from various other sources, and the characters are such clichés that at times they become exaggerated caricatures. That isn’t to say that the story is bad, it just brings nothing new to the table. It’s clear that Cameron wanted his film to have a message, it’s simply unclear what that message should be. Is this a film about the environment? Is it about oppression? I’m unsure. In conversations with friends recently, I’ve summarized the plot as Ferngully meets Dances With Wolves, and I feel that’s a pretty accurate description. Concerning the latter, Avatar definitely exhibits all the wonderful clichés of a story about the guilt of the white man, in which he identifies with an oppressed people and becomes a race-traitor. (Yet he still maintains his superiority becoming not only part of the native tribe, but their greatest champion and savior, without whom they are doomed.)
For the most part, I found the acting to be passable. It was difficult to identify with, or relate to, most of the cast because as I mentioned earlier, it is all played a bit too far. However, I enjoyed the character of Neytiri (Zoe Saldana), and I thought she made an excellent guide into the life of the Na’vi people. She played her part with kindness as well as a feral animosity that made me like her, and at times fear her.
In the end, I did enjoy this movie. It became easy to overlook the story because it is such a beautiful movie to look at. (Perhaps that’s my ADD kicking in. I’m always distracted by bright lights and pretty colors.) And I would recommend seeing this in the theater. I just can’t imagine that it will translate to home viewing well, and I feel that without the visuals holding it up, the flaws in story and character will be much more apparent.
Final Grade: B-
In other news, this blog has been up and running for 3 days now, and we are already up to almost 100 hits. So thank you, all of you, for stopping by and checking it out. Be sure and let me know what you think of the films I’ve reviewed, and feel free to add suggestions of your own. (A few of you already have, and thank you to those who have left comments, as well as those who have emailed me.) And please help spread the word! If you like this blog, tell your friends. Let’s see how quickly we can get that counter up to 1000. This is the last post for 2009, so have a safe and happy New Years, and I’ll see you again in 2010.
Danny
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Trailer Reviews
Well friends, 2010 is only a few days away, which means that the first trailers for some of the biggest movies of the next year are already finding their way to us. It is time now for what will be a regular feature on this blog, and I hope you enjoy it. It's time to review some trailers. (Click on the movie titles for a link to the trailers.)
1. Iron Man 2 (scheduled release: May 7, 2010)
Let's face it, you could just show me the words "Iron Man 2" on the screen and I would automatically get excited. This is probably the flick that I am most looking forward to, and I'm sure many of my fellow geeks share my anticipation. As for the trailer itself, it gives us great looks at new heroes and villains (Whiplash, War Machine, and Black Widow especially), but not much detail on the actual plot of the movie. Let's just hope that with all the star-studded superhero power, director Jon Favreau will not fall into the trap of "more is better." (*ahem* Batman and Robin *cough*) Still, Robert Downey Jr. looks as good as ever as the charming, boozing, warmongering Tony Stark, and this is one 2010 blockbuster that I will not be missing.
Trailer Grade: A-
2. Alice in Wonderland (scheduled release: March 5, 2010)
Tim Burton is known for the creepy and weird, and the trailer for his retelling of this classic story appears to be no exception. Johnny Depp's Mad Hatter has been the focal point of much of the speculation about the film, and the trailer pays a good amount of attention to his portrayal. (He is even doing the voice-over.) However, the trailer is short, and while we catch brief glimpses of some of our favourite characters, we see very little of them. The cast list for this film is superb with names such as Alan Rickman, Stephen Fry, Michael Sheen, and Christopher Lee, and their absence from the trailer is disappointing. Not so much so as the absence of anything substantial from relative unknown Mia Wasikowska as Alice, who we see, but never hear from. All in all, this movie appears to be what I have come to expect from Burton and Depp, and as such, gives me little to look forward to.
Trailer Grade: C
3. Robin Hood (scheduled release: May 14, 2010)
From Ridley Scott, the director of Gladiator, and Russell Crowe, the star of Gladiator, comes Robin Hood. Or as it looks from the trailer: "Gladiator in the woods with more horses." Everything about this trailer is bland. There of course is no plot reveal (to be fair, this is just the teaser), but the direction looks bland. Russell Crowe looks bland, and may be the worst choice to play Robin Hood since...well, since Kevin Costner. (Is Crowe the antithesis of the great Errol Flynn?) At least Costner had an awesome Bryan Adams song in his movie. I'm not sure what song is playing during this trailer, but it's garbage. I understand that they're trying to go in a more "gritty and real" direction, but I myself could use a bit more "merry men."
Trailer Grade: D+
That's it for now, thanks for stopping by. Have anything to say about these three trailers? Leave comments. Seen a good movie trailer recently and want me to check it out? Email me: dannylovesmovies@gmail.com
I'm Danny, and I love movie trailers.
1. Iron Man 2 (scheduled release: May 7, 2010)
Let's face it, you could just show me the words "Iron Man 2" on the screen and I would automatically get excited. This is probably the flick that I am most looking forward to, and I'm sure many of my fellow geeks share my anticipation. As for the trailer itself, it gives us great looks at new heroes and villains (Whiplash, War Machine, and Black Widow especially), but not much detail on the actual plot of the movie. Let's just hope that with all the star-studded superhero power, director Jon Favreau will not fall into the trap of "more is better." (*ahem* Batman and Robin *cough*) Still, Robert Downey Jr. looks as good as ever as the charming, boozing, warmongering Tony Stark, and this is one 2010 blockbuster that I will not be missing.
Trailer Grade: A-
2. Alice in Wonderland (scheduled release: March 5, 2010)
Tim Burton is known for the creepy and weird, and the trailer for his retelling of this classic story appears to be no exception. Johnny Depp's Mad Hatter has been the focal point of much of the speculation about the film, and the trailer pays a good amount of attention to his portrayal. (He is even doing the voice-over.) However, the trailer is short, and while we catch brief glimpses of some of our favourite characters, we see very little of them. The cast list for this film is superb with names such as Alan Rickman, Stephen Fry, Michael Sheen, and Christopher Lee, and their absence from the trailer is disappointing. Not so much so as the absence of anything substantial from relative unknown Mia Wasikowska as Alice, who we see, but never hear from. All in all, this movie appears to be what I have come to expect from Burton and Depp, and as such, gives me little to look forward to.
Trailer Grade: C
3. Robin Hood (scheduled release: May 14, 2010)
From Ridley Scott, the director of Gladiator, and Russell Crowe, the star of Gladiator, comes Robin Hood. Or as it looks from the trailer: "Gladiator in the woods with more horses." Everything about this trailer is bland. There of course is no plot reveal (to be fair, this is just the teaser), but the direction looks bland. Russell Crowe looks bland, and may be the worst choice to play Robin Hood since...well, since Kevin Costner. (Is Crowe the antithesis of the great Errol Flynn?) At least Costner had an awesome Bryan Adams song in his movie. I'm not sure what song is playing during this trailer, but it's garbage. I understand that they're trying to go in a more "gritty and real" direction, but I myself could use a bit more "merry men."
Trailer Grade: D+
That's it for now, thanks for stopping by. Have anything to say about these three trailers? Leave comments. Seen a good movie trailer recently and want me to check it out? Email me: dannylovesmovies@gmail.com
I'm Danny, and I love movie trailers.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Review: Up In The Air
For my first official review on this blog, I figured I would start with a big one. Up In The Air is currently on lots of lists, and the nominations have only begun for this much talked about film. And rightfully so, because it is a fantastic picture.
Jason Reitman, director of Juno, has crafted a great movie about any number of things: the lure of a life always on the go, the ups and downs of living without various emotional or material attachments, even the state of the economy and careers in the sometimes hard to stomach business world.
George Clooney is Ryan Bingham, a man who's hired by large corporations to come in and fire their employees, and he spends his days flying around the country for just that purpose. It's a difficult job to be sure, and the difficulties become evident again and again as you see the emotional effects on the faces of the terminated employees. Bingham is not a horrible person, but he does carry out his duties well, if only because it allows him the freedom to live his life free of commitments and attachments which would weigh him down. Clooney is excellent in this role, and he plays Bingham with his usual subtlety and charm.
However, the supporting cast shines as well. Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick, and Jason Bateman are all great, but for me the real stars of the film were those poor souls who were terminated. There were a few "real" actors among the bunch (best of which was J.K. Simmons), but the majority of the recently unemployed were individuals who had lost their jobs and were asked to speak their thoughts to the camera, and this gave the film such a grounded and honest feel to it.
I loved this movie. Perhaps the thing I enjoyed most was the character of Ryan Bingham himself. His life is always on the move, and there are two distinct moments in the film where I really got a sense of how important that life is to him. His job is horrible, and his life is terribly lonely for sure, but yet there is something appealing about it that almost makes it worth it all. Almost.
Final Grade: A
Jason Reitman, director of Juno, has crafted a great movie about any number of things: the lure of a life always on the go, the ups and downs of living without various emotional or material attachments, even the state of the economy and careers in the sometimes hard to stomach business world.
George Clooney is Ryan Bingham, a man who's hired by large corporations to come in and fire their employees, and he spends his days flying around the country for just that purpose. It's a difficult job to be sure, and the difficulties become evident again and again as you see the emotional effects on the faces of the terminated employees. Bingham is not a horrible person, but he does carry out his duties well, if only because it allows him the freedom to live his life free of commitments and attachments which would weigh him down. Clooney is excellent in this role, and he plays Bingham with his usual subtlety and charm.
However, the supporting cast shines as well. Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick, and Jason Bateman are all great, but for me the real stars of the film were those poor souls who were terminated. There were a few "real" actors among the bunch (best of which was J.K. Simmons), but the majority of the recently unemployed were individuals who had lost their jobs and were asked to speak their thoughts to the camera, and this gave the film such a grounded and honest feel to it.
I loved this movie. Perhaps the thing I enjoyed most was the character of Ryan Bingham himself. His life is always on the move, and there are two distinct moments in the film where I really got a sense of how important that life is to him. His job is horrible, and his life is terribly lonely for sure, but yet there is something appealing about it that almost makes it worth it all. Almost.
Final Grade: A
Welcome
Hello friends, and welcome to my new blog. If you don't know me, my name is Danny. I'm a huge movie fan, and for years friends and family have been coming to me for my two cents on which movies are good and which are to be avoided, and I have decided to make my two cents available to anyone and everyone. I love movies of all kinds, and no genre will be off-limits here.
Now, who am I to think that said two cents are even worth that much? I'm nobody. I'm not a serious film critic, I've never been to film school, and I'm not an industry insider of any kind. I'm just a normal guy who's favourite hobby is sitting in front of the big screen with a tub of popcorn and a soda, and I'm never happier than when I get the chance to escape to a galaxy far far away, or perhaps somewhere over the rainbow.
So what can you expect from me? Hopefully, I can use this space for a variety of purposes. The main focus of course will be my reviews of current films. You'll get to hear my "take" on everything about the movies I go to see as I evaluate all the things I love and hate about the latest blockbusters and indies. But apart from reviews of current films, you can expect my thoughts on other aspects of the entertainment business. Want to hear my Oscar predictions? I'll post them. Perhaps I'll review the latest film soundtracks, or even talk about some of my favourite moments in television. (Expect some serious ramblings when LOST finally wraps up its amazing run.) You can also expect the occasional DVD recommendation, because as much as I love the experience of the theater, some nights there is nothing better than an old John Wayne flick on DVD seen from under a blanket on the couch.
What do I expect from you? Input and Comments are always welcome. Agree or disagree with a review of mine? Please, leave your comments. (Just remember to be civil and act like a human being. My mom will probably read this.) Seen a good movie lately that you want me to review? Feel free to email me at dannylovesmovies@gmail.com. Other than that, just stop by and I'll be happy. If you like the blog, share it with your friends. I find that much of my social life is spent talking about great movies with friends, and there's no reason why that can't take place here.
It's the holidays (as well as awards season), so there are plenty of good flicks out there for you to enjoy. So you can expect my first official review soon. Until then:
My name is Danny, and I love movies.
Thanks for stopping by.
PS - An extra special thanks to my friend Evan, who's food blog A Man About Town is part of the inspiration for this blog. Evan writes excellent reviews about restaurants in and around Knoxville, TN, so if you're ever taking a trip or already live there, check it out. http://ehiggin.wordpress.com/
Now, who am I to think that said two cents are even worth that much? I'm nobody. I'm not a serious film critic, I've never been to film school, and I'm not an industry insider of any kind. I'm just a normal guy who's favourite hobby is sitting in front of the big screen with a tub of popcorn and a soda, and I'm never happier than when I get the chance to escape to a galaxy far far away, or perhaps somewhere over the rainbow.
So what can you expect from me? Hopefully, I can use this space for a variety of purposes. The main focus of course will be my reviews of current films. You'll get to hear my "take" on everything about the movies I go to see as I evaluate all the things I love and hate about the latest blockbusters and indies. But apart from reviews of current films, you can expect my thoughts on other aspects of the entertainment business. Want to hear my Oscar predictions? I'll post them. Perhaps I'll review the latest film soundtracks, or even talk about some of my favourite moments in television. (Expect some serious ramblings when LOST finally wraps up its amazing run.) You can also expect the occasional DVD recommendation, because as much as I love the experience of the theater, some nights there is nothing better than an old John Wayne flick on DVD seen from under a blanket on the couch.
What do I expect from you? Input and Comments are always welcome. Agree or disagree with a review of mine? Please, leave your comments. (Just remember to be civil and act like a human being. My mom will probably read this.) Seen a good movie lately that you want me to review? Feel free to email me at dannylovesmovies@gmail.com. Other than that, just stop by and I'll be happy. If you like the blog, share it with your friends. I find that much of my social life is spent talking about great movies with friends, and there's no reason why that can't take place here.
It's the holidays (as well as awards season), so there are plenty of good flicks out there for you to enjoy. So you can expect my first official review soon. Until then:
My name is Danny, and I love movies.
Thanks for stopping by.
PS - An extra special thanks to my friend Evan, who's food blog A Man About Town is part of the inspiration for this blog. Evan writes excellent reviews about restaurants in and around Knoxville, TN, so if you're ever taking a trip or already live there, check it out. http://ehiggin.wordpress.com/
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