After watching Rise, I was immediately excited to watch Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. I have to say that I had no idea what I was in for, how exciting this film would be, or how much fun I would have watching it. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is a superb sequel that shows the violent conflict between the humans and the apes.
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is the story of Caesar and his army of genetically enhanced apes being threatened by human survivors of the virus that was unleashed ten years earlier. One of the things that this movie does well is continue the story of the previous film while also standing on its own as a great sequel. There are a couple of plot points and character arcs that carry over to this film in a wonderful way. For example, we saw at the end of Rise that the virus that enhances apes has a vastly different affect on humans. Then, at the beginning of Dawn, we see that the virus has actually killed 150 million Americans. This leaves the apes as the dominant species on the planet. However, perhaps the most important aspect about this movie is how the conflict between the apes and the humans arises. While Caesar (Andy Serkis) and Koba (Toby Kebbell) both have opposing points of view about the humans, the most important thing about their relationship is that their points of view are CORRECT. They are both right in everything that they say about each other. This makes Kobas' betrayal, and his showdown with Caesar at the end of the film, so much more powerful. Also, like the previous film, Caesar is extremely adamant that the apes will only fight if necessary. This adds to the conflict between Caesar and Koba because Koba feels strongly that the humans are the enemy, and that they need to be eliminated. In fact, Koba feels as strongly about fighting as the humans do. The fact that Caesar sticks to his beliefs, even after Koba goes behind his back and does things without his knowledge, speaks volumes about Caesars' character. Tonally, this is a much darker film than the first, with many violent action sequences that enhance the story and the conflict between the characters. I would have liked to see a scene that explains Ellie's (Keri Russell) medical background but, other than that, this film is superb in every way.
Matt Reeves is the director of Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. As per usual with the second chapter in a story, this film is darker and more violent than the previous installment. However, it does not start that way. The conflict slowly builds through several scenes that are quite dramatic and tense to watch. This is is not only because you do not know how the characters will behave in certain situations, but also because Reeves uses long takes and good reaction shots to build the tension. The scene where Koba pretends to be a playful ape in front of two humans, and then shoots them point blank with their own guns, is a perfect example of this. I also love the sequence in which the apes attack the stronghold where the humans are located. The cinematography is beautiful, and the quick cuts make the action incredibly intense to watch. The long P.O.V. "turret shot" is a personal favorite of mine. I also enjoy the way the fight between Caesar and Koba is handled. This fight, between two CGI characters, could have easily been silly and laughable. However, given the tone of the movie and the emotions going through these two characters, this is more an emotional battle than a physical one. Also, given the arcs of both characters, the end result just about makes you leap for joy. This film is one of the better sequels in modern cinema, and that is due to the tone that Reeves set for this movie, and the direction in which he takes the story and the characters.
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is a rare example of a sequel being better than its predecessor. It expands on the relationships between the characters, and the action sequences are incredibly exciting to watch. If you enjoyed the first Apes movie, you will LOVE Dawn of the Planet of the Apes.
Monday, August 28, 2017
Saturday, August 19, 2017
Simian Takeover: Part 1
I was extremely skeptical of watching these new Planet of the Apes films. Even though I have become more tolerant of remakes in recent years, the original Apes movie will always have a special place in my heart because of my genetic connection to its director, Franklin J. Schaffner. Needless to say that, once again, I was proven wrong. Rise of the Planet of the Apes is quite an enjoyable film that has powerful themes within the story line.
Rise of the Planet of the Apes is the first installment of this new, reinvented Apes film franchise, and is the story of a brain-repairing substance that makes chimpanzees super-intelligent. I have to say that I worry about the future of humanity when I see film that makes us seem like the bad guys. Not that there is anything wrong with that. In fact, it is one of the main reasons this film is so compelling. We see how evil the human race is at its core right from the beginning of the movie. Instead of breeding the apes in captivity, and testing Substance 112 on them when they reach the right age, the humans go out into the jungle and capture them. Also, when the substance has an adverse affect on Bright Eyes, instead of tranquilizing her or putting her down in a peaceful way, she is violently shot in front of dozens of witnesses. The saddest part about this particular sequence is that she was just being protective of her son Caesar (Andy Serkis) which, of course, the humans were too reactionary to think about. The most important part of this film, as far as realizing the evil of humanity goes, is when Caesar is taken to a primate shelter after protecting Charles Rodman (John Lithgow) from their violent neighbor. We see that Caesar does not understand why he is being punished. After all, he is not the bad guy. He was just doing what he was taught to do by his master, Will Rodman (James Franco). Caesar sees the human race as primitive, and the apes as the superior, and more intelligent, race. Perhaps this is why Caesar leads the apes into the redwood forest at the end of the film: to wait for humanity to catch up to their intelligence level so that they do not react in a violent way, which of course is something that we begin to see. This is quite an enjoyable film that has a powerful message: some things are not meant to be changed. However, there are a couple of minor plot holes that I need to address. At one point in the film, I believe we see a picture of Will and his father. We are to understand that this picture was taken earlier in the film, and yet we do not see this happen. Also, later in the film during the sequences at the primate shelter, it is revealed that owner of the shelter is actually Dodge Landons' (Tom Felton) father. I think that this could have been revealed at an earlier time because, as it stands, it feels somewhat forced. These are EXTREMELY minor plot holes that in no way detract from how good this movie is. This movie proves that, if you get the right creative people involved, remakes/re-imaginings can actually be great films.
Andy Serkis plays Caesar. I truly love the way Caesar is portrayed by Serkis. The range of emotions that are portrayed on Caesar's face is nothing short of extraordinary. There is a beautiful moment in the film where Will opens the back door of his truck to let Caesar in, and Caesar refuses, instead choosing to ride in the back seat like a typical human being. The look on his face when he asks Will, "Am I a pet?" is the perfect combination of anger and confusion. I also love Caesar as a character because, even when the ape uprising starts, he feels strongly about not killing any humans unless absolutely necessary. He feels that killing makes them no better than the savageness of humanity. This groundbreaking role is a major reason why Serkis has become the godfather of performance capture.
Rupert Wyatt is the director of Rise of the Planet of the Apes. As I mentioned before, I enjoy the themes that this film deals with. Specifically, this movie shows how cruel humanity is at its core. When the humans realize that the apes have the potential to be better than them, both physically and mentally, they react in a violent way. That being said, I was actually quite surprised at how little violence is in this film. The violence does not escalate until the climax of the film, and it is only after the apes present a serious and legitimate threat. The action scene on the bridge is well shot and thrilling to watch. This action scene also shows the cruelty of humanity once again. The humans are the ones who instigate the violence, and the apes are responding in self-defense. The apes rarely kill any of the humans because they realize that doing so would mean that they are no better than them. This scene is exciting, and it also sets up the extremely violent second chapter in the Apes trilogy. Wyatt does a wonderful job of setting up the journey of Caesar. The sequence where we see Caesar grow up and develop is quite moving to watch. This is an epic and emotional film, and that is due to the tone that Wyatt set with this film.
I love being proven wrong about films. Rise of the Planet of the Apes breathes new life into this franchise while also reinvigorating my love for all of the previous films. All I can say is that if you are skeptical about watching this reinvention of the Apes franchise, as I was, I urge you to take a chance on it.
Rise of the Planet of the Apes is the first installment of this new, reinvented Apes film franchise, and is the story of a brain-repairing substance that makes chimpanzees super-intelligent. I have to say that I worry about the future of humanity when I see film that makes us seem like the bad guys. Not that there is anything wrong with that. In fact, it is one of the main reasons this film is so compelling. We see how evil the human race is at its core right from the beginning of the movie. Instead of breeding the apes in captivity, and testing Substance 112 on them when they reach the right age, the humans go out into the jungle and capture them. Also, when the substance has an adverse affect on Bright Eyes, instead of tranquilizing her or putting her down in a peaceful way, she is violently shot in front of dozens of witnesses. The saddest part about this particular sequence is that she was just being protective of her son Caesar (Andy Serkis) which, of course, the humans were too reactionary to think about. The most important part of this film, as far as realizing the evil of humanity goes, is when Caesar is taken to a primate shelter after protecting Charles Rodman (John Lithgow) from their violent neighbor. We see that Caesar does not understand why he is being punished. After all, he is not the bad guy. He was just doing what he was taught to do by his master, Will Rodman (James Franco). Caesar sees the human race as primitive, and the apes as the superior, and more intelligent, race. Perhaps this is why Caesar leads the apes into the redwood forest at the end of the film: to wait for humanity to catch up to their intelligence level so that they do not react in a violent way, which of course is something that we begin to see. This is quite an enjoyable film that has a powerful message: some things are not meant to be changed. However, there are a couple of minor plot holes that I need to address. At one point in the film, I believe we see a picture of Will and his father. We are to understand that this picture was taken earlier in the film, and yet we do not see this happen. Also, later in the film during the sequences at the primate shelter, it is revealed that owner of the shelter is actually Dodge Landons' (Tom Felton) father. I think that this could have been revealed at an earlier time because, as it stands, it feels somewhat forced. These are EXTREMELY minor plot holes that in no way detract from how good this movie is. This movie proves that, if you get the right creative people involved, remakes/re-imaginings can actually be great films.
Andy Serkis plays Caesar. I truly love the way Caesar is portrayed by Serkis. The range of emotions that are portrayed on Caesar's face is nothing short of extraordinary. There is a beautiful moment in the film where Will opens the back door of his truck to let Caesar in, and Caesar refuses, instead choosing to ride in the back seat like a typical human being. The look on his face when he asks Will, "Am I a pet?" is the perfect combination of anger and confusion. I also love Caesar as a character because, even when the ape uprising starts, he feels strongly about not killing any humans unless absolutely necessary. He feels that killing makes them no better than the savageness of humanity. This groundbreaking role is a major reason why Serkis has become the godfather of performance capture.
Rupert Wyatt is the director of Rise of the Planet of the Apes. As I mentioned before, I enjoy the themes that this film deals with. Specifically, this movie shows how cruel humanity is at its core. When the humans realize that the apes have the potential to be better than them, both physically and mentally, they react in a violent way. That being said, I was actually quite surprised at how little violence is in this film. The violence does not escalate until the climax of the film, and it is only after the apes present a serious and legitimate threat. The action scene on the bridge is well shot and thrilling to watch. This action scene also shows the cruelty of humanity once again. The humans are the ones who instigate the violence, and the apes are responding in self-defense. The apes rarely kill any of the humans because they realize that doing so would mean that they are no better than them. This scene is exciting, and it also sets up the extremely violent second chapter in the Apes trilogy. Wyatt does a wonderful job of setting up the journey of Caesar. The sequence where we see Caesar grow up and develop is quite moving to watch. This is an epic and emotional film, and that is due to the tone that Wyatt set with this film.
I love being proven wrong about films. Rise of the Planet of the Apes breathes new life into this franchise while also reinvigorating my love for all of the previous films. All I can say is that if you are skeptical about watching this reinvention of the Apes franchise, as I was, I urge you to take a chance on it.
Wednesday, August 2, 2017
Sweaty Nerd Fandom: Part 7
When it comes to superhero/comic book movies, Superman: The Movie is the grandfather of them all. The sheer spectacle of the film, as well as a flawless performance by Christopher Reeve, helped pioneer these kinds of films into their own genre. This is such a revolutionary movie that helped launch comic book characters off of the printed page and on to the cinema screen.
Superman: The Movie is the story of an alien boy who gets sent to Earth because his planet is dying. This boy grows up to become Earth's first superhero. What this movie does so well that, quite frankly is insanely hard to do in narrative storytelling, is dive right into the action by giving you a scene of exposition. We learn about the history between Jor-El (Marlon Brando) and General Zod (Terence Stamp) without actually seeing the events that happened. One could argue that it would have helped the film if we actually got to see these events, but I believe that there is enough dialog in this opening scene to understand what happened, and to also understand the intentions of the characters. This film also does a wonderful job of explaining the mythology of the character of Superman. We see Kal-El's birth mother, Lara (Susannah York), wrap him in the red and blue clothing that he will eventually wear as Superman. We also clearly understand that Clark Kent is a disguise, that he took his adoptive mothers' middle name, and Superman is the kind of person that Kal-El is at his core. This film does a magnificent job of bringing the Man of Steel to the big screen in a beautiful way. After nearly forty years, this film still holds up for the most part. However, after re-watching it recently, there are some cheesy elements that just do not feel right. After the sequence where Kal-El speaks to Jor-El at the Fortress of Solitude, Jor-Els' face turns to ice and slowly spins off screen. If this was meant to be a metaphor for his permanent disappearance, I do not believe that this was executed well. I think it would have been better to have his face just slowly fade away into nothingness. This would also help us understand that Jor Els' task is done, and that Kal-El does not need his fathers' wisdom and advice anymore. Also, in the scene where Superman and Lois Lane (Margot Kidder) are flying together, we hear narration by Kidder that explains her feelings when she is with Superman. This is unnecessary. We can clearly see how she is feeling from the way she is looking at Superman. We do not need to be told this through narration. There are also a few flaws in the scene where Lois Lane interviews Superman. Lois asks a few questions that begin with, "Is it true that...." In order for her to phrase the question like that, she had to have heard rumors about Superman, and yet there are no previous scenes where she is learning anything about him. Also, later in the film, when Eve Teschmacher (Valerie Perrine) is reading about the interview in the newspaper, some of the traits she reveals about Superman were not even asked in the interview! Later in the film, Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman) puts Superman through a gauntlet of attacks before he enters Luthors' lair. While this is all visually splendid to watch, Luthor knows these attacks will not kill Superman. So, why does he do this? Does he think Superman will retreat?? Now, towards the climax of the film, it is revealed that there are two nuclear missiles that Lex Luthor and Eve Teschmacher have altered (even though it was actually Otis, played by Ned Beatty, that did the altering). The only thing is, we only Otis alter ONE missile. Where was the other one this whole time?? During the exciting climax of the film, an earthquake occurs which results in a dam breaking, sending endless amounts of water towards a neighborhood. Wait....is there really a neighborhood near a dam?? Does that even make sense?? I feel that this particular scene exists just so we can witness the power of Superman. Despite all the glaring plot holes, Superman: The Movie is still just as influential and entertaining as it was forty years ago. I personally never get tired of watching the movie that launched superhero films as their own genre.
Christopher Reeve, in one of my personal favorite performances of all time, plays Superman/Clark Kent. What Reeve does in this movie is so beautiful. His physical nuances as Clark Kent and his gentlemanly demeanor as Superman are captivating to watch. The first scene with Clark Kent at the Daily Planet is a personal favorite of mine. Reeve completely disappears into the character, and it feels genuine. When Superman says, "I'm here to fight for truth, justice, and the American way", you believe him. There are truly not enough words for how much I love Reeves' performance in this film.
Margot Kidder plays Lois Lane. Personally, I find this version of Lane to be somewhat dimwitted. Yes, she does display remarkable exuberance when it comes to her job, but other than that it just seems like nothing can go right for her. Now, her being "dimwitted" may partially have something to do with her being head-over-heels in love with Superman, which is understandable. I just do not see her purpose in being in the film other than being Supermans' love interest. I mean, how can you be a writer at the Daily Planet if you do not know how to spell?? Kidder is fantastic at playing the character, do not get me wrong. I just do not like the character all that much.
Gene Hackman plays Lex Luthor. Quite honestly, I have always had mixed feelings about the way Hackman plays the character. I enjoy seeing the maniacal, intelligent side of Luthor. However, I do not particularly care for the scenes where he shows his more humorous side. I believe this takes away from how cunning the character can be. In fact that cunning side is played brilliantly by Hackman when Luthor and Superman come face to face near the climax of the movie. Even though I do have some misgivings about the portrayal of the character, that does not take away from how much I enjoy watching Gene Hackman play the character. This is a solid piece of acting by one of cinemas' finest.
Richard Donner is the director of Superman: The Movie. I love Donners' work in this film because he dives right into the conflict between the characters, and sets up their characteristics and motivations. This makes you care about the characters even more when all the spectacular visual effects scenes happen. I love the set design of the Daily Planet and Lex Luthor's lair. The Daily Planet is bustling with people doing their jobs, people typing and phones ringing off the hook. Luthor's lair is lined with encyclopedias and research books written by well-renowned authors. I have to say that some of the visual effects during the flood sequence at the climax of the film do feel a bit dated. You can tell that the sets of the neighborhoods are miniatures. Other than this minor complaint, Donner does a marvelous job with this movie. The characters, sets and visual effects are handled with the greatest of care by one of the most brilliant directors of our time.
Superman: The Movie is an unmitigated classic in every sense of the word. It has a great story, wonderful characters, and spectacular visual effects. If you have not yet checked out the movie that started the superhero movie genre, I highly suggest that you do as soon as possible. You will love it.
Superman: The Movie is the story of an alien boy who gets sent to Earth because his planet is dying. This boy grows up to become Earth's first superhero. What this movie does so well that, quite frankly is insanely hard to do in narrative storytelling, is dive right into the action by giving you a scene of exposition. We learn about the history between Jor-El (Marlon Brando) and General Zod (Terence Stamp) without actually seeing the events that happened. One could argue that it would have helped the film if we actually got to see these events, but I believe that there is enough dialog in this opening scene to understand what happened, and to also understand the intentions of the characters. This film also does a wonderful job of explaining the mythology of the character of Superman. We see Kal-El's birth mother, Lara (Susannah York), wrap him in the red and blue clothing that he will eventually wear as Superman. We also clearly understand that Clark Kent is a disguise, that he took his adoptive mothers' middle name, and Superman is the kind of person that Kal-El is at his core. This film does a magnificent job of bringing the Man of Steel to the big screen in a beautiful way. After nearly forty years, this film still holds up for the most part. However, after re-watching it recently, there are some cheesy elements that just do not feel right. After the sequence where Kal-El speaks to Jor-El at the Fortress of Solitude, Jor-Els' face turns to ice and slowly spins off screen. If this was meant to be a metaphor for his permanent disappearance, I do not believe that this was executed well. I think it would have been better to have his face just slowly fade away into nothingness. This would also help us understand that Jor Els' task is done, and that Kal-El does not need his fathers' wisdom and advice anymore. Also, in the scene where Superman and Lois Lane (Margot Kidder) are flying together, we hear narration by Kidder that explains her feelings when she is with Superman. This is unnecessary. We can clearly see how she is feeling from the way she is looking at Superman. We do not need to be told this through narration. There are also a few flaws in the scene where Lois Lane interviews Superman. Lois asks a few questions that begin with, "Is it true that...." In order for her to phrase the question like that, she had to have heard rumors about Superman, and yet there are no previous scenes where she is learning anything about him. Also, later in the film, when Eve Teschmacher (Valerie Perrine) is reading about the interview in the newspaper, some of the traits she reveals about Superman were not even asked in the interview! Later in the film, Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman) puts Superman through a gauntlet of attacks before he enters Luthors' lair. While this is all visually splendid to watch, Luthor knows these attacks will not kill Superman. So, why does he do this? Does he think Superman will retreat?? Now, towards the climax of the film, it is revealed that there are two nuclear missiles that Lex Luthor and Eve Teschmacher have altered (even though it was actually Otis, played by Ned Beatty, that did the altering). The only thing is, we only Otis alter ONE missile. Where was the other one this whole time?? During the exciting climax of the film, an earthquake occurs which results in a dam breaking, sending endless amounts of water towards a neighborhood. Wait....is there really a neighborhood near a dam?? Does that even make sense?? I feel that this particular scene exists just so we can witness the power of Superman. Despite all the glaring plot holes, Superman: The Movie is still just as influential and entertaining as it was forty years ago. I personally never get tired of watching the movie that launched superhero films as their own genre.
Christopher Reeve, in one of my personal favorite performances of all time, plays Superman/Clark Kent. What Reeve does in this movie is so beautiful. His physical nuances as Clark Kent and his gentlemanly demeanor as Superman are captivating to watch. The first scene with Clark Kent at the Daily Planet is a personal favorite of mine. Reeve completely disappears into the character, and it feels genuine. When Superman says, "I'm here to fight for truth, justice, and the American way", you believe him. There are truly not enough words for how much I love Reeves' performance in this film.
Margot Kidder plays Lois Lane. Personally, I find this version of Lane to be somewhat dimwitted. Yes, she does display remarkable exuberance when it comes to her job, but other than that it just seems like nothing can go right for her. Now, her being "dimwitted" may partially have something to do with her being head-over-heels in love with Superman, which is understandable. I just do not see her purpose in being in the film other than being Supermans' love interest. I mean, how can you be a writer at the Daily Planet if you do not know how to spell?? Kidder is fantastic at playing the character, do not get me wrong. I just do not like the character all that much.
Gene Hackman plays Lex Luthor. Quite honestly, I have always had mixed feelings about the way Hackman plays the character. I enjoy seeing the maniacal, intelligent side of Luthor. However, I do not particularly care for the scenes where he shows his more humorous side. I believe this takes away from how cunning the character can be. In fact that cunning side is played brilliantly by Hackman when Luthor and Superman come face to face near the climax of the movie. Even though I do have some misgivings about the portrayal of the character, that does not take away from how much I enjoy watching Gene Hackman play the character. This is a solid piece of acting by one of cinemas' finest.
Richard Donner is the director of Superman: The Movie. I love Donners' work in this film because he dives right into the conflict between the characters, and sets up their characteristics and motivations. This makes you care about the characters even more when all the spectacular visual effects scenes happen. I love the set design of the Daily Planet and Lex Luthor's lair. The Daily Planet is bustling with people doing their jobs, people typing and phones ringing off the hook. Luthor's lair is lined with encyclopedias and research books written by well-renowned authors. I have to say that some of the visual effects during the flood sequence at the climax of the film do feel a bit dated. You can tell that the sets of the neighborhoods are miniatures. Other than this minor complaint, Donner does a marvelous job with this movie. The characters, sets and visual effects are handled with the greatest of care by one of the most brilliant directors of our time.
Superman: The Movie is an unmitigated classic in every sense of the word. It has a great story, wonderful characters, and spectacular visual effects. If you have not yet checked out the movie that started the superhero movie genre, I highly suggest that you do as soon as possible. You will love it.
Thursday, June 22, 2017
Keeping Up With The Doctor: Part 3
I personally believe that there is an argument that can be made for Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade as the best of the Indiana Jones movies. The story and character arcs are wonderful, the action is intense, and the final shot of the film is iconic. I also believe this to be Harrison Fords' best performance as Indiana Jones.
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is the third installment of the Indiana Jones film series, and is the story of Indiana Jones a.k.a. Henry Jones, Jr., teaming up with his father in order to stop the Nazis from getting their hands on the Holy Grail. There are countless things to love about this film. In the opening sequence, we learn that Indy was not that much different when he was a boy. For the most part, he has always passionately felt that important historic artifacts belong in a museum. We also learn in this sequence how he received his scar and his hat. We also learn what sparked his fear of snakes and the kind of upbringing he received from his father. In fact, the character of Professor Henry Jones (Sean Connery) is a rather important one, both to Indy and the story itself. While Indys' quests in the past have been about recovering historical artifacts, his quest this time finds him going after his father. Henry has been captured by the Nazis, and they intend to use him to find the Holy Grail, and Indy goes after him. The quest for the Grail is more important to Henry, and I love the fact that the artifact he has been searching forty years for is the same artifact that, in the end, saves his life. This brings Henrys' character arc full circle, as well as his relationship with his son. Their relationship is both emotional and humorous because, while they both have a passion for archaeology, they have different ways of exploring and are two completely different people entirely. Indy is the real explorer, and Henry is the bookworm. Over the course of the film, their relationship is mended and they form a genuine respect for one another. This film makes you feel many different kinds of emotions which is what makes it such a great piece of cinema and, for nineteen years, the Indiana Jones films stood as one of the greatest trilogies of all time.
Joining Harrison Ford is Sean Connery as Professor Henry Jones. I love this character so much because we see that, in terms of archaeology, he is a bookworm and very much out of his element when it comes to exploring. Connerys' body language, facial expressions and dialogue are some of the best in the film. We also find out that he, quite honestly, has no qualms about the falling out he had with his son. Henry raised Indy well, and he let him go off and become a man in his own way. I think that shows a certain respect that Henry has for his son, and it also shows a certain pride within the character. I mean, if your child went away to do his own thing, and you had no reason to worry, would you not be proud as well? Connery shines in the role, particularly in the scenes where he and Indy are bickering at one another, which are quite humorous to watch and shows how talented both actors are. There is also a beautiful moment near the end of the film where Henry thinks he has lost his boy, and the way Connery plays this moment almost makes you tear up. This is one of the few instances when, in my opinion, the supporting actor is better than the lead actor. Connery had quite a career rejuvenation in the late 80's and throughout the 90's. This film, and his performance, is one of the reasons why.
Steven Spielberg returns as director of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. I love that Spielberg has one of Harrison Fords' first scenes be a scene where Indy is talking about how most archaeology is done by reading and research. It is as if Indy is encouraging his students to NOT follow the path that he has gone. There is a certain irony to this scene as well because, as we find out later in the film, X truly does mark the spot. I also like that, from a storytelling point of view, Henry Jones has a phobia just like his son. It seems that they run in the family. Also, the action sequences are magnificent to watch. This is the most action-packed of all the Indiana Jones films, and each one is bigger and better than the previous. My personal favorite is the plane attack because it evolves into a sequence where the plane is chasing the Jones' in a car, and then Henry becomes the hero of the entire sequence by using his literary knowledge against the enemy. The dialogue sequences are quite emotional to watch as well because you can see that the relationship between Indy and his father is gradually healing throughout the film. The scene where Henry is shot is particularly emotional because Indy only recently reconnected with his father, and now he is slipping away right before his eyes. This also adds an emotional weight to Indys' path through the booby traps, and adds to the feeling of anxiousness during this sequence. Spielberg is at the top of his game with this film. Every sequence, every scene, is so expertly crafted. The final shot of the movie just might bring a tear to your eye.
Indiana Jones is a thrilling adventure film that rides higher on emotion than you might think. It is hard to make one good film, let alone three, but Spielberg and Company truly captured lightning in a bottle with this film franchise. If you enjoyed the previous installments of the series, you will definitely enjoy this one. If you are already an Indiana Jones fan, go ahead and treat yourself to another viewing. It is totally worth it.
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is the third installment of the Indiana Jones film series, and is the story of Indiana Jones a.k.a. Henry Jones, Jr., teaming up with his father in order to stop the Nazis from getting their hands on the Holy Grail. There are countless things to love about this film. In the opening sequence, we learn that Indy was not that much different when he was a boy. For the most part, he has always passionately felt that important historic artifacts belong in a museum. We also learn in this sequence how he received his scar and his hat. We also learn what sparked his fear of snakes and the kind of upbringing he received from his father. In fact, the character of Professor Henry Jones (Sean Connery) is a rather important one, both to Indy and the story itself. While Indys' quests in the past have been about recovering historical artifacts, his quest this time finds him going after his father. Henry has been captured by the Nazis, and they intend to use him to find the Holy Grail, and Indy goes after him. The quest for the Grail is more important to Henry, and I love the fact that the artifact he has been searching forty years for is the same artifact that, in the end, saves his life. This brings Henrys' character arc full circle, as well as his relationship with his son. Their relationship is both emotional and humorous because, while they both have a passion for archaeology, they have different ways of exploring and are two completely different people entirely. Indy is the real explorer, and Henry is the bookworm. Over the course of the film, their relationship is mended and they form a genuine respect for one another. This film makes you feel many different kinds of emotions which is what makes it such a great piece of cinema and, for nineteen years, the Indiana Jones films stood as one of the greatest trilogies of all time.
Joining Harrison Ford is Sean Connery as Professor Henry Jones. I love this character so much because we see that, in terms of archaeology, he is a bookworm and very much out of his element when it comes to exploring. Connerys' body language, facial expressions and dialogue are some of the best in the film. We also find out that he, quite honestly, has no qualms about the falling out he had with his son. Henry raised Indy well, and he let him go off and become a man in his own way. I think that shows a certain respect that Henry has for his son, and it also shows a certain pride within the character. I mean, if your child went away to do his own thing, and you had no reason to worry, would you not be proud as well? Connery shines in the role, particularly in the scenes where he and Indy are bickering at one another, which are quite humorous to watch and shows how talented both actors are. There is also a beautiful moment near the end of the film where Henry thinks he has lost his boy, and the way Connery plays this moment almost makes you tear up. This is one of the few instances when, in my opinion, the supporting actor is better than the lead actor. Connery had quite a career rejuvenation in the late 80's and throughout the 90's. This film, and his performance, is one of the reasons why.
Steven Spielberg returns as director of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. I love that Spielberg has one of Harrison Fords' first scenes be a scene where Indy is talking about how most archaeology is done by reading and research. It is as if Indy is encouraging his students to NOT follow the path that he has gone. There is a certain irony to this scene as well because, as we find out later in the film, X truly does mark the spot. I also like that, from a storytelling point of view, Henry Jones has a phobia just like his son. It seems that they run in the family. Also, the action sequences are magnificent to watch. This is the most action-packed of all the Indiana Jones films, and each one is bigger and better than the previous. My personal favorite is the plane attack because it evolves into a sequence where the plane is chasing the Jones' in a car, and then Henry becomes the hero of the entire sequence by using his literary knowledge against the enemy. The dialogue sequences are quite emotional to watch as well because you can see that the relationship between Indy and his father is gradually healing throughout the film. The scene where Henry is shot is particularly emotional because Indy only recently reconnected with his father, and now he is slipping away right before his eyes. This also adds an emotional weight to Indys' path through the booby traps, and adds to the feeling of anxiousness during this sequence. Spielberg is at the top of his game with this film. Every sequence, every scene, is so expertly crafted. The final shot of the movie just might bring a tear to your eye.
Indiana Jones is a thrilling adventure film that rides higher on emotion than you might think. It is hard to make one good film, let alone three, but Spielberg and Company truly captured lightning in a bottle with this film franchise. If you enjoyed the previous installments of the series, you will definitely enjoy this one. If you are already an Indiana Jones fan, go ahead and treat yourself to another viewing. It is totally worth it.
Tuesday, June 20, 2017
Secret Agent Man: Part 3
Goldfinger is the quintessential James Bond movie. It has the perfect combination of fun, thrills, excitement, it has a great leading man in Sean Connery, and is captained by a wonderful director in Guy Hamilton. When people ask, "What is your favorite James Bond film?", nine times out of ten the answer is Goldfinger.
Goldfinger is the story of James Bond investigating a smuggling case, and uncovering a plot to contaminate Fort Knox in the process. I love the way the story unfolds in this film. James Bond (Sean Connery) is first assigned to investigate Goldfinger (Gert Frobe) to find out if he is smuggling his gold illegally. This quickly evolves to believing that Goldfinger is going to steal the gold supply of Fort Knox, and we actually believe this for the majority of the movie. It is only towards the climax of the film that we find out Goldfingers' true intentions, and this leaves us anxiously waiting to see if Bond will be able to save the world once again. This film also set the standard for gadgetry-equipped vehicles. No Bond car will ever be better than the Aston Martin DB5, and that is, in large part, thanks to all of its high-tech weaponry. The moment in the film that showcases the ejector seat is perhaps the most memorable moment in the history of the franchise. There is one EXTREMELY minor plot hole that I feel the need to address. When Bond is Goldfingers' "guest" on his private jet, we learn that their final destination is actually Kentucky. Perhaps I missed it, but I do not recall the jet ever actually landing there. This flaw in no way diminishes the enjoyment of watching this film. In fact, one of the best moments of my life was watching this film with my grandfather. He had seen the movie when it was released in 1964, and it was quite wonderful knowing that he was also a Bond fan. If you have never seen one of these films, Goldfinger is the perfect place to start.
Sean Connery returns as James Bond. This is perhaps his best performance as 007 because he brings the perfect blend of charm, wit and lethalness to the character. The scene where he is playing golf with Goldfinger is the perfect example of this. This is also the film that, in my opinion anyway, sets the standard for the Bond one-liners. Connery delivers them in such a humorous yet deadly way, and they become second nature to the franchise for years to come. This is an iconic performance from Connery in an iconic James Bond film.
Honor Blackman plays Pussy Galore. I like this character quite a bit because even though she is Goldfingers' personal pilot, and even though she says she is immune to Bonds' charm, you can tell by the way Blackman plays the character that both things are getting to her emotionally in different ways. The look that Galore gives Bond when he says, "He's quite mad, you know." speaks volumes. Galore is a strong, independent woman which is why she is one of the most popular "Bond Girls", and Blackman gives an exemplary performance.
Gert Frobe plays Goldfinger. Goldfinger is one of those Bond villains that you love to hate. There is a certain charm and confidence that he has that Frobe plays into quite well. The scene with the industrial laser is one where Goldfinger shows all of these traits, as well as being exceptionally evil. Frobe's performance is one of the countless reasons why this film is so re-watchable.
Guy Hamilton is the director of Goldfinger. I love the style and tone that Hamilton brings to Bond. In nearly every scene you are anxious to see what happens next, and yet there is a certain enjoyment that is there as well. That kind of tone is tough to achieve. I also love the way Hamilton directs action sequences. There are longer cuts, shorter cuts, tracking shots, and even a couple of P.O.V. shots. The car chase throughout Goldfingers' warehouses keeps you on the edge of your seat the entire time. This film is a brilliant cinematic achievement, and that is due to Hamiltons' masterful directing.
Goldfinger is certainly the most popular of the James Bond films, and there are many reasons why. With a unique combination of action and humor, the film long ago established itself as the Bond film for the ages. If you are a Bond fan like me, and especially if you are a fan of the Sean Connery Bond films, then I cannot recommend this movie highly enough.
Goldfinger is the story of James Bond investigating a smuggling case, and uncovering a plot to contaminate Fort Knox in the process. I love the way the story unfolds in this film. James Bond (Sean Connery) is first assigned to investigate Goldfinger (Gert Frobe) to find out if he is smuggling his gold illegally. This quickly evolves to believing that Goldfinger is going to steal the gold supply of Fort Knox, and we actually believe this for the majority of the movie. It is only towards the climax of the film that we find out Goldfingers' true intentions, and this leaves us anxiously waiting to see if Bond will be able to save the world once again. This film also set the standard for gadgetry-equipped vehicles. No Bond car will ever be better than the Aston Martin DB5, and that is, in large part, thanks to all of its high-tech weaponry. The moment in the film that showcases the ejector seat is perhaps the most memorable moment in the history of the franchise. There is one EXTREMELY minor plot hole that I feel the need to address. When Bond is Goldfingers' "guest" on his private jet, we learn that their final destination is actually Kentucky. Perhaps I missed it, but I do not recall the jet ever actually landing there. This flaw in no way diminishes the enjoyment of watching this film. In fact, one of the best moments of my life was watching this film with my grandfather. He had seen the movie when it was released in 1964, and it was quite wonderful knowing that he was also a Bond fan. If you have never seen one of these films, Goldfinger is the perfect place to start.
Sean Connery returns as James Bond. This is perhaps his best performance as 007 because he brings the perfect blend of charm, wit and lethalness to the character. The scene where he is playing golf with Goldfinger is the perfect example of this. This is also the film that, in my opinion anyway, sets the standard for the Bond one-liners. Connery delivers them in such a humorous yet deadly way, and they become second nature to the franchise for years to come. This is an iconic performance from Connery in an iconic James Bond film.
Honor Blackman plays Pussy Galore. I like this character quite a bit because even though she is Goldfingers' personal pilot, and even though she says she is immune to Bonds' charm, you can tell by the way Blackman plays the character that both things are getting to her emotionally in different ways. The look that Galore gives Bond when he says, "He's quite mad, you know." speaks volumes. Galore is a strong, independent woman which is why she is one of the most popular "Bond Girls", and Blackman gives an exemplary performance.
Gert Frobe plays Goldfinger. Goldfinger is one of those Bond villains that you love to hate. There is a certain charm and confidence that he has that Frobe plays into quite well. The scene with the industrial laser is one where Goldfinger shows all of these traits, as well as being exceptionally evil. Frobe's performance is one of the countless reasons why this film is so re-watchable.
Guy Hamilton is the director of Goldfinger. I love the style and tone that Hamilton brings to Bond. In nearly every scene you are anxious to see what happens next, and yet there is a certain enjoyment that is there as well. That kind of tone is tough to achieve. I also love the way Hamilton directs action sequences. There are longer cuts, shorter cuts, tracking shots, and even a couple of P.O.V. shots. The car chase throughout Goldfingers' warehouses keeps you on the edge of your seat the entire time. This film is a brilliant cinematic achievement, and that is due to Hamiltons' masterful directing.
Goldfinger is certainly the most popular of the James Bond films, and there are many reasons why. With a unique combination of action and humor, the film long ago established itself as the Bond film for the ages. If you are a Bond fan like me, and especially if you are a fan of the Sean Connery Bond films, then I cannot recommend this movie highly enough.
Saturday, June 17, 2017
Fathers and Sons: Part VII
For over thirty years, Star Wars Episode VII was just an idea. Star Wars fans around the world talked about and thought up ideas of what they would like to see. On December 18th, 2015, Star Wars Episode VII became a reality called The Force Awakens and, for me personally, the film lived up to all of its hype.
Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens is the seventh chapter in the Star Wars saga, and is the story of a defecting stormtrooper and a scavenger who band together with Han Solo to fight the First Order, and help the Resistance find the missing Luke Skywalker. The first thing you notice about this film is its similarities, particularly in its themes and occasional plot points, to A New Hope. You have the reluctant hero, Rey (Daisy Ridley), who receives guidance from an older man (in this case, Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and starts training with legendary Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill). You have the message that is given to a droid at the beginning of the film (a map leading to Luke), a space battle above a circular space station (Starkiller Base),the best pilot in the galaxy (Poe Dameron played by Oscar Isaac) and even the boy who has turned to the dark side, Kylo Ren (Adam Driver). For better or worse, The Force Awakens is a love letter to A New Hope. This film also gives us several moments that we as fans were not expecting. Everyone expected to see a reunion of Han, Luke and Leia, but that did not happen. Everyone expected Han and Leia to be happily married and have a family, but that did not happen. Everyone expected all of the heroes to survive this new trilogy, but that is not going to happen. Personally, I rather enjoy the fact that this movie surprised me. After all, unlike the prequel trilogy, we have no idea where the story is going. This film also does a good job of raising more questions than answers. Who is Supreme Leader Snoke, and where did he come from?? When did Ben Solo turn to the dark side and form the Knights of Ren?? Who are Reys' parents?? When did Luke vanish?? I have a feeling that these questions will be answered in the forthcoming movies. One of the other things this film does quite beautifully is mention the events of the prequels in an extremely subtle way. Kylo Ren suggests that General Hux (Domhnall Gleeson) use an army of clone troopers because the stormtroopers are not performing at proper efficiency levels. Also, the character of Maz Kanata (Lupita Nyong'o) mentions that she saw the rise of the Sith and the Empire. Both of these dialogue sequences remind you of the important events of the prequel trilogy without reminding you how awful those movies are.
For all of its strong points, this film does have a number of problems. The character of Captain Phasma (Gwendoline Christie) is severely underused. It is disappointing that such an important and imposing character received only ten minutes of screen time. Also, at the beginning of the movie, Finn (John Boyega) and Poe crash on the planet Jakku. There is no sign of Poes' survival, and yet he magically shows up when the Resistance attacks the First Order on Takodana. I would have liked to see how he survived and was able to rendezvous with the Resistance. I also feel that the A New Hope references, such as the Dejarik game table and the trash compacter suggestion by Han Solo, are forced. We do not need those references to understand that The Force Awakens is an homage to A New Hope. I also strongly feel that Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew) and Leia (Carrie Fisher) should have embraced when they returned to the Resistance base. The death of Han Solo is an emotional moments for these characters, and for them to not acknowledge that is disrespectful. I also have a hard time believing that R2-D2 (Kenny Baker) has been distrought, or "in low power mode", ever since Luke left. Granted, we all know that R2 is the best droid in the galaxy but he is not a pet who misses his owner. He is a machine.
Even with its fair share of problems, Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens definitely rekindles the spirit of the original Star Wars trilogy. There are new characters we get introduced to, and great arcs for those characters. The film also has the best cliffhanger in the series since The Empire Strikes Back, leaving you wanting to see the next chapter as soon as this film ends.
Harrison Ford returns as Han Solo. In my opinion, this is Fords' best performance as the character because he is older and wiser now that he has experienced certain things in his life, but deep down he is still the smart-ass that we love so much. Of course, seeing Han Solo back on the Millennium Falcon after so long is enough to make a grown man cry, and Ford is great in the action sequences, but there are several dialogue scenes in this movie where Ford shines as an actor. I love that the scene in which Han Solo tells Finn and Rey, "It's true.....all of it." takes place in the same room on the Millennium Falcon where, years earlier, he told Luke, "I've never seen anything to make me think there's one all-powerful force controlling everything." I think that the dialogue, as well as the subtext of the scene, shows a certain growth in Han Solo as a character. I also think Ford is brilliant in his scenes with Carrie Fisher, particularly in the scene where they are talking about their son. Ford brings an emotional side to Han Solo, but does so in a way that does not make the scene a giant tear-fest. Ford plays this scene as if Solo has buried his grief deep within himself, which is exactly the way it should be. Ford also brings this kind of emotion to his death scene in which he is killed by his son. In one of the more brilliant acting moments I have ever seen, Han Solo touches his sons' cheek just before he falls to his death as if to say, "This path that you have chosen is going to kill you, and everyone that you love". In this small moment, Solo is acknowledging the fact that his son is truly gone. This moment also shows why Harrison Ford is the kind of actor that he is. He knows the character of Han Solo so well, and any other actor would not have thought to add that tiny moment of grief. Ford disappears into the character so much in this movie that I do not see Harrison Ford. I see Han Solo. When I was a kid, I was not sure if I wanted to be Luke Skywalker or Han Solo. This movie, and Fords' performance in it, makes me want to be Han Solo.
Daisy Ridley plays Rey. I love Ridleys' first scene because, while she does not say much, we immediately know who she is and what she does. I also love the fact that she is such a strong female character. We see early on that she can fend for and defend herself without any help from anyone else. As Rey gets thrust into the epic story of this film, Ridley displays a wide range of emotions because she is experiencing things she has never felt or seen before. Her scenes with Adam Driver are particularly well done because she displays the perfect combination of fear and determination to overcome his evil. The banter between Rey and Finn is also well done because you get the sense that they need each other, but there is also a comedic element to their friendship because their characters are so different. She also displays a good combination of fear and confusion during the force-vision sequence. I also love the way she delivers the line, "I didn't know there was this much green in the whole galaxy". Rey is someone who has never left her homeworld, so for her to take in the world around her is awe-inspiring, but you also feel bad for her that she has not experienced much in her life. This is a wonderful, emotional performance by Ridley, and I cannot wait to see where her career takes her.
John Boyega plays Finn. I love this character and his storyline because he has seen how truly awful the First Order is, and chooses to defect and fight against them. Like Daisy Ridley, Boyega gives a performance fueled with emotion. The scene where he tells Rey the truth about him being a stormtrooper is quite impactful because you feel for the upbringing he has had, and you also understand everything he has experienced since he met her. I also find Finn a great character because he is attempting to find himself and find his place in the world. He is a boy who is becoming a man. These aspects actually lend some comedic elements to the film, especially in the scenes he has with Harrison Ford. Han Solo is like a father figure to Rey and Finn, and you really get the sense that Solo is attempting to bond with and understand his teenage "son", if you will. The "I'm in charge now, Phasma!" bit is quite hilarious. Boyega brings the perfect blend of dramatic and comedic elements to the character, and it will be nice to see how Finn evolves over the course of the new films.
Oscar Isaac plays Poe Dameron. I like the way Isaac plays this character because, while Dameron may be the best pilot in the Resistance, there is a very down-to-earth quality about the character. Dameron does not brag about his abilities, instead being humble about them and his role in the Resistance. Isaac and Boyega also play well off of each other, which is a testament to both of the actors' talents. I feel like I want to see more of this character because I like it so much, and I think Isaac is a solid actor. This is another character that I am looking forward to seeing evolve over the coming movies, and I am especially looking forward to what Isaac does with the character. This is a fine performance by Isaac.
Adam Driver plays Kylo Ren. Rens' storyline and character arc, like Finns', is completely original, and that is one of the reasons I love it so much. As opposed to previous generations of Jedi who attempted to resist the call of the dark side, Kylo Ren embraces the dark side and is attempting to resist the light side. The scene where Ren is praying to the spirit of his grandfather, Darth Vader, and the reveal of Vaders' mask, is particularly haunting. It also begs the question of how and when Kylo Ren got a hold of the mask. You also understand that Kylo Ren admires Darth Vader for what he did, and he hates Luke because he turned Vader back to the light side. I mean, from Rens' perspective, Vader was seduced by the enemy. This raises another question: Does Kylo Ren know that Vader was redeemed? Adam Driver plays Kylo Ren with such gravitas, and completely owns the character. The scenes where he is interrogating both Poe and Rey are completely bone-chilling. Also, the scene where he kills his father, Han Solo, is an important moment for both the character and the plot of the movie. It is important because we see how far down the dark path Ben Solo has gone. It is also important because it raises the stakes for the upcoming films. Adam Driver gives a truly phenomenal performance in this film.
Carrie Fisher returns as Princess Leia. I particularly love her scenes at the climax of the film that showcase Leia as the leader of the Resistance because we see how great of an actress Fisher was. Fisher is also exceptionally good in the scene I mentioned earlier when Han and Leia are talking about their son. What Fisher does as an actress is so special in this scene because we see that, while Han and Leia may have grown apart, there is still enough love there for her to essentially say that if they can get their son back, then they can be a family again. Also, the moment where Leia realizes Han is dead, while brief, is very powerful. It is still hard for me to talk about Carrie Fisher in the past tense. She was the original female badass. She brought everything she had to the role of Leia, and did so again with this film.
J.J. Abrams is the director of Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens. Abrams had the daunting task of making us care about Star Wars again, and thanks to his personal love of the original film, he brings the spirit of Star Wars back while also making a good movie. One of the things I enjoy about the film is that we get to see what Han Solos' smuggling life is like. We see him "talk his way out of it" and attempt to cover his tracks. I also particularly like the tone that Abrams set with this film. The Force Awakens has the perfect blend of the lighthearted fun of A New Hope and Return of the Jedi and the darkness of The Empire Strikes Back. The final scene of the film is also quite emotional to watch. I personally feel that the reveal of Luke Skywalker is as close to a religious experience as I am ever going to get. This scene slowly builds with slow cuts that give you goosebumps until the shot that reveals Luke. You can tell that Abrams is a fan of Star Wars just by watching this film, and The Force Awakens is the perfect entry into an entire new generation of this series.
I am still wrapping my head around the fact that Star Wars is back. The Force Awakens breathes new life into the franchise while also honoring the legacy of what has come before. If you like Star Wars at all, specifically the original trilogy, this film is definitely for you.
Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens is the seventh chapter in the Star Wars saga, and is the story of a defecting stormtrooper and a scavenger who band together with Han Solo to fight the First Order, and help the Resistance find the missing Luke Skywalker. The first thing you notice about this film is its similarities, particularly in its themes and occasional plot points, to A New Hope. You have the reluctant hero, Rey (Daisy Ridley), who receives guidance from an older man (in this case, Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and starts training with legendary Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill). You have the message that is given to a droid at the beginning of the film (a map leading to Luke), a space battle above a circular space station (Starkiller Base),the best pilot in the galaxy (Poe Dameron played by Oscar Isaac) and even the boy who has turned to the dark side, Kylo Ren (Adam Driver). For better or worse, The Force Awakens is a love letter to A New Hope. This film also gives us several moments that we as fans were not expecting. Everyone expected to see a reunion of Han, Luke and Leia, but that did not happen. Everyone expected Han and Leia to be happily married and have a family, but that did not happen. Everyone expected all of the heroes to survive this new trilogy, but that is not going to happen. Personally, I rather enjoy the fact that this movie surprised me. After all, unlike the prequel trilogy, we have no idea where the story is going. This film also does a good job of raising more questions than answers. Who is Supreme Leader Snoke, and where did he come from?? When did Ben Solo turn to the dark side and form the Knights of Ren?? Who are Reys' parents?? When did Luke vanish?? I have a feeling that these questions will be answered in the forthcoming movies. One of the other things this film does quite beautifully is mention the events of the prequels in an extremely subtle way. Kylo Ren suggests that General Hux (Domhnall Gleeson) use an army of clone troopers because the stormtroopers are not performing at proper efficiency levels. Also, the character of Maz Kanata (Lupita Nyong'o) mentions that she saw the rise of the Sith and the Empire. Both of these dialogue sequences remind you of the important events of the prequel trilogy without reminding you how awful those movies are.
For all of its strong points, this film does have a number of problems. The character of Captain Phasma (Gwendoline Christie) is severely underused. It is disappointing that such an important and imposing character received only ten minutes of screen time. Also, at the beginning of the movie, Finn (John Boyega) and Poe crash on the planet Jakku. There is no sign of Poes' survival, and yet he magically shows up when the Resistance attacks the First Order on Takodana. I would have liked to see how he survived and was able to rendezvous with the Resistance. I also feel that the A New Hope references, such as the Dejarik game table and the trash compacter suggestion by Han Solo, are forced. We do not need those references to understand that The Force Awakens is an homage to A New Hope. I also strongly feel that Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew) and Leia (Carrie Fisher) should have embraced when they returned to the Resistance base. The death of Han Solo is an emotional moments for these characters, and for them to not acknowledge that is disrespectful. I also have a hard time believing that R2-D2 (Kenny Baker) has been distrought, or "in low power mode", ever since Luke left. Granted, we all know that R2 is the best droid in the galaxy but he is not a pet who misses his owner. He is a machine.
Even with its fair share of problems, Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens definitely rekindles the spirit of the original Star Wars trilogy. There are new characters we get introduced to, and great arcs for those characters. The film also has the best cliffhanger in the series since The Empire Strikes Back, leaving you wanting to see the next chapter as soon as this film ends.
Harrison Ford returns as Han Solo. In my opinion, this is Fords' best performance as the character because he is older and wiser now that he has experienced certain things in his life, but deep down he is still the smart-ass that we love so much. Of course, seeing Han Solo back on the Millennium Falcon after so long is enough to make a grown man cry, and Ford is great in the action sequences, but there are several dialogue scenes in this movie where Ford shines as an actor. I love that the scene in which Han Solo tells Finn and Rey, "It's true.....all of it." takes place in the same room on the Millennium Falcon where, years earlier, he told Luke, "I've never seen anything to make me think there's one all-powerful force controlling everything." I think that the dialogue, as well as the subtext of the scene, shows a certain growth in Han Solo as a character. I also think Ford is brilliant in his scenes with Carrie Fisher, particularly in the scene where they are talking about their son. Ford brings an emotional side to Han Solo, but does so in a way that does not make the scene a giant tear-fest. Ford plays this scene as if Solo has buried his grief deep within himself, which is exactly the way it should be. Ford also brings this kind of emotion to his death scene in which he is killed by his son. In one of the more brilliant acting moments I have ever seen, Han Solo touches his sons' cheek just before he falls to his death as if to say, "This path that you have chosen is going to kill you, and everyone that you love". In this small moment, Solo is acknowledging the fact that his son is truly gone. This moment also shows why Harrison Ford is the kind of actor that he is. He knows the character of Han Solo so well, and any other actor would not have thought to add that tiny moment of grief. Ford disappears into the character so much in this movie that I do not see Harrison Ford. I see Han Solo. When I was a kid, I was not sure if I wanted to be Luke Skywalker or Han Solo. This movie, and Fords' performance in it, makes me want to be Han Solo.
Daisy Ridley plays Rey. I love Ridleys' first scene because, while she does not say much, we immediately know who she is and what she does. I also love the fact that she is such a strong female character. We see early on that she can fend for and defend herself without any help from anyone else. As Rey gets thrust into the epic story of this film, Ridley displays a wide range of emotions because she is experiencing things she has never felt or seen before. Her scenes with Adam Driver are particularly well done because she displays the perfect combination of fear and determination to overcome his evil. The banter between Rey and Finn is also well done because you get the sense that they need each other, but there is also a comedic element to their friendship because their characters are so different. She also displays a good combination of fear and confusion during the force-vision sequence. I also love the way she delivers the line, "I didn't know there was this much green in the whole galaxy". Rey is someone who has never left her homeworld, so for her to take in the world around her is awe-inspiring, but you also feel bad for her that she has not experienced much in her life. This is a wonderful, emotional performance by Ridley, and I cannot wait to see where her career takes her.
John Boyega plays Finn. I love this character and his storyline because he has seen how truly awful the First Order is, and chooses to defect and fight against them. Like Daisy Ridley, Boyega gives a performance fueled with emotion. The scene where he tells Rey the truth about him being a stormtrooper is quite impactful because you feel for the upbringing he has had, and you also understand everything he has experienced since he met her. I also find Finn a great character because he is attempting to find himself and find his place in the world. He is a boy who is becoming a man. These aspects actually lend some comedic elements to the film, especially in the scenes he has with Harrison Ford. Han Solo is like a father figure to Rey and Finn, and you really get the sense that Solo is attempting to bond with and understand his teenage "son", if you will. The "I'm in charge now, Phasma!" bit is quite hilarious. Boyega brings the perfect blend of dramatic and comedic elements to the character, and it will be nice to see how Finn evolves over the course of the new films.
Oscar Isaac plays Poe Dameron. I like the way Isaac plays this character because, while Dameron may be the best pilot in the Resistance, there is a very down-to-earth quality about the character. Dameron does not brag about his abilities, instead being humble about them and his role in the Resistance. Isaac and Boyega also play well off of each other, which is a testament to both of the actors' talents. I feel like I want to see more of this character because I like it so much, and I think Isaac is a solid actor. This is another character that I am looking forward to seeing evolve over the coming movies, and I am especially looking forward to what Isaac does with the character. This is a fine performance by Isaac.
Adam Driver plays Kylo Ren. Rens' storyline and character arc, like Finns', is completely original, and that is one of the reasons I love it so much. As opposed to previous generations of Jedi who attempted to resist the call of the dark side, Kylo Ren embraces the dark side and is attempting to resist the light side. The scene where Ren is praying to the spirit of his grandfather, Darth Vader, and the reveal of Vaders' mask, is particularly haunting. It also begs the question of how and when Kylo Ren got a hold of the mask. You also understand that Kylo Ren admires Darth Vader for what he did, and he hates Luke because he turned Vader back to the light side. I mean, from Rens' perspective, Vader was seduced by the enemy. This raises another question: Does Kylo Ren know that Vader was redeemed? Adam Driver plays Kylo Ren with such gravitas, and completely owns the character. The scenes where he is interrogating both Poe and Rey are completely bone-chilling. Also, the scene where he kills his father, Han Solo, is an important moment for both the character and the plot of the movie. It is important because we see how far down the dark path Ben Solo has gone. It is also important because it raises the stakes for the upcoming films. Adam Driver gives a truly phenomenal performance in this film.
Carrie Fisher returns as Princess Leia. I particularly love her scenes at the climax of the film that showcase Leia as the leader of the Resistance because we see how great of an actress Fisher was. Fisher is also exceptionally good in the scene I mentioned earlier when Han and Leia are talking about their son. What Fisher does as an actress is so special in this scene because we see that, while Han and Leia may have grown apart, there is still enough love there for her to essentially say that if they can get their son back, then they can be a family again. Also, the moment where Leia realizes Han is dead, while brief, is very powerful. It is still hard for me to talk about Carrie Fisher in the past tense. She was the original female badass. She brought everything she had to the role of Leia, and did so again with this film.
J.J. Abrams is the director of Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens. Abrams had the daunting task of making us care about Star Wars again, and thanks to his personal love of the original film, he brings the spirit of Star Wars back while also making a good movie. One of the things I enjoy about the film is that we get to see what Han Solos' smuggling life is like. We see him "talk his way out of it" and attempt to cover his tracks. I also particularly like the tone that Abrams set with this film. The Force Awakens has the perfect blend of the lighthearted fun of A New Hope and Return of the Jedi and the darkness of The Empire Strikes Back. The final scene of the film is also quite emotional to watch. I personally feel that the reveal of Luke Skywalker is as close to a religious experience as I am ever going to get. This scene slowly builds with slow cuts that give you goosebumps until the shot that reveals Luke. You can tell that Abrams is a fan of Star Wars just by watching this film, and The Force Awakens is the perfect entry into an entire new generation of this series.
I am still wrapping my head around the fact that Star Wars is back. The Force Awakens breathes new life into the franchise while also honoring the legacy of what has come before. If you like Star Wars at all, specifically the original trilogy, this film is definitely for you.
Sunday, June 11, 2017
Bratzi Party!!!
When it comes to making original films, few directors can compare to Kevin Smith. He makes movies with his friends, writes his own material and does not care who likes it or who does not. Yoga Hosers is one of the most outrageous comedies I have ever seen and, while there are some issues with it, I personally loved it.
Yoga Hosers is the story of two teenage yoga students who team up with a legendary detective to fight an evil organization of Nazi bratwursts. With this film, it definitely feels like Kevin Smith is making movies for himself and his audience, and less for critics. You cannot help but be intrigued at what he has created from his imagination. The adult-themed humor is at an all-time high, and you can definitely tell that this movie is not for children, or for people who are easily offended. Yet, for all its comedic glory, there are a couple of minor problems with the film. For one, Lily-Rose Depp and Harley Quinn Smith both play girls named Colleen, and you never know which Colleen is which. Secondly, it is never actually clear that both Colleens work for Colleen C's dad, nor is it clear which Colleen Tony Hales' character is supposed to be the father of. Other than these extremely minor issues, Yoga Hosers is a balls-to-the-wall comedy that will cause your jaw to drop to the floor before it is even over.
Harley Quinn Smith and Lily-Rose Depp play Colleen McKenzie and Colleen Collette, respectively. Their comedic banter is flawless, and it drives the entire film. The two play off of each other so well, while also bringing their own unique presence to the film. There is one scene, specifically, where they get their cellular phones taken away from them, that had me in stitches because it was so perfectly executed. When you have two actresses that are the daughters of such talented people as Kevin Smith and Johnny Depp, it is only natural to assume that they would inherit that talent, and trust me when I say that they do not disappoint.
Kevin Smith is the director of Yoga Hosers. There are several things that Smith does exceedingly well with this film. First, the fact that this film is partly historical fiction makes it all the more enjoyable. Also, this movie is partly a commentary on how much of an impact social media has on our daily lives. Again, I go back to the scene where the Colleen girls get their phones taken away from them. The girls' reaction represents one of the main problems with todays' youth, and their reliance on technology. I also love the yoga sequences in the film because it represents how overly serious some people can be about exercise. The standout sequence of the film is the Bratzi fight near the end. This is one of the most hilarious action sequences I have ever seen. At this point in his career, Kevin Smith is clearly making movies because it is fun, and he delivers originality in spades with this film.
I have said this plenty of times before: in an age of franchises, remakes and reboots, it is always nice to see some original films, and you cannot get more original than Kevin Smith. Whether it is his brand of humor, his dialogue or just his concept ideas, the man is a creative force. If you are a fan of Kevin Smiths' movies, I highly recommend that you pick up Yoga Hosers.
Yoga Hosers is the story of two teenage yoga students who team up with a legendary detective to fight an evil organization of Nazi bratwursts. With this film, it definitely feels like Kevin Smith is making movies for himself and his audience, and less for critics. You cannot help but be intrigued at what he has created from his imagination. The adult-themed humor is at an all-time high, and you can definitely tell that this movie is not for children, or for people who are easily offended. Yet, for all its comedic glory, there are a couple of minor problems with the film. For one, Lily-Rose Depp and Harley Quinn Smith both play girls named Colleen, and you never know which Colleen is which. Secondly, it is never actually clear that both Colleens work for Colleen C's dad, nor is it clear which Colleen Tony Hales' character is supposed to be the father of. Other than these extremely minor issues, Yoga Hosers is a balls-to-the-wall comedy that will cause your jaw to drop to the floor before it is even over.
Harley Quinn Smith and Lily-Rose Depp play Colleen McKenzie and Colleen Collette, respectively. Their comedic banter is flawless, and it drives the entire film. The two play off of each other so well, while also bringing their own unique presence to the film. There is one scene, specifically, where they get their cellular phones taken away from them, that had me in stitches because it was so perfectly executed. When you have two actresses that are the daughters of such talented people as Kevin Smith and Johnny Depp, it is only natural to assume that they would inherit that talent, and trust me when I say that they do not disappoint.
Kevin Smith is the director of Yoga Hosers. There are several things that Smith does exceedingly well with this film. First, the fact that this film is partly historical fiction makes it all the more enjoyable. Also, this movie is partly a commentary on how much of an impact social media has on our daily lives. Again, I go back to the scene where the Colleen girls get their phones taken away from them. The girls' reaction represents one of the main problems with todays' youth, and their reliance on technology. I also love the yoga sequences in the film because it represents how overly serious some people can be about exercise. The standout sequence of the film is the Bratzi fight near the end. This is one of the most hilarious action sequences I have ever seen. At this point in his career, Kevin Smith is clearly making movies because it is fun, and he delivers originality in spades with this film.
I have said this plenty of times before: in an age of franchises, remakes and reboots, it is always nice to see some original films, and you cannot get more original than Kevin Smith. Whether it is his brand of humor, his dialogue or just his concept ideas, the man is a creative force. If you are a fan of Kevin Smiths' movies, I highly recommend that you pick up Yoga Hosers.
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