The game is afoot!

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s legendary sleuth — that’d be Sherlock Holmes, if you must know — is updated style for its third century in a new film titled, simply, Sherlock Holmes. It’s unlikely that a strict adaptation of Doyle’s original incarnation of the Holmes character would find much success in a run through the modern box office gauntlet. So there are many changes afoot for not only Holmes (Robert Downey, Jr.), but also for his partner and confidant, Dr. Watson (Jude Law). The emphasis is on character interaction (though not character development). The action is, inevitably, ramped up. And the dialogue is meant to appeal more toward humor than to character development, or even the typical exposition necessary in mystery stories. The mystery itself seems to be merely a means to an end, provided the necessary engine that drives its characters in and out of often dangerous, and usually amusing, situations. And if there was one word to summarize the film’s entire approach, it’d be: bravado. The result is a film that has the potential to be quite entertaining — even if it is, ultimately, just a hollow and empty tale.

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Topics: Film Review, Mystery
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Without question, Avatar is a visually stunning film. The 3D presentation alone, makes the film a feast for the eyes. But director James Cameron displays a great deal of craft in designing, framing, and displaying the fantastical world of Pandora. Cameron is also a master of choreographing and executing action sequences. Avatar is a beautiful movie … but is this the revolution in filmmaking that Avatar had been billed as?

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Topics: Fantasy, Film Review, Sci-Fi
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“A long time ago, we were apart from nature.

We almost died but now we are together in life.”

Battle For Terra may be one of the best movies you’ve never seen. Visually, it’s an exquisite panorama of color, texture and detail. In terms of character and story, it’s a moving, complex and thoroughly affecting story about not just finding common ground or fighting for your home, but about seeing beyond one’s prejudices to truly build a better world for all. More importantly, this is an emotional film which isn’t afraid to take chances and portray the consequences of conquest — and oppression. From start to finish, this is a work of art — mesmerizing and captivating: visually, emotionally, and philosophically. Despite its cartoonish presentation, this is a decidedly mature film. The result is, simply, one of the more moving experiences I’ve ever had watching a motion picture.

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It goes without saying that Invictus has a great story to tell. The fall of apartheid, the leadership of Nelson Mandela, and the very real, inspirational drama of the 1995 Rugby World Cup in South Africa almost demand the attention of feature film. The question, then, is whether or not a film directed by Clint Eastwood, and starring Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon, could do justice to the transcendent power of these events. The answer is yes. The film maintains a slow (almost too slow), deliberate pace. There are some issues with scene transitions. The story, at times, approaches (but never quite becomes) being schmaltzy. But this is a clear case of the whole being greater that the sum of its parts. Not only does Invictus have a great story to tell, it tells a story that commands attention. Like its characters, the film rises above its faults to exceed its own expectations.

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Topics: Film Review, Historical
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Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery is one of those classic films that has taken on a larger-than-life aura since its initial release in 1997. As a spoof on the whole James Bond/super-agent film genre, and on late-90s pop-culture, it works very well. As a flat-out comedy, however, its jokes run the gamut from innovative to cliché. Ultimately, it’s a film well-worth watching – but if you haven’t seen it before, and if you buy into the hype that this is one of the best comedies of the past two decades, you might find yourself disappointed. Otherwise, if you have fond memories of its initial release and subsequent sequels, there’s plenty to enjoy and reminisce about.

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Topics: Comedy, Film Review, Mystery
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Batman Forever is a dazzling display of style over substance. The plot is so paint-by-numbers that it barely registers any measure of interest. The characters are pure caricature, with hardly any depth to them whatsoever. Add in singularly amateurish camera movements, chintzy close-ups, bad acting, and a stylized Gotham that is so cartoonish it might as well be a theme-park ride, and you’ve got a film with almost no value whatsoever beyond, perhaps, a tripped out viewing of neon colors and explosions.

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Topics: Comics, Film Review
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It is rare for a movie trailer to become something akin to a work of art. But that’s precisely what many consider the preview for Where The Wild Things Are to be. And I must admit, I agree. It was a moving, memorable short-film, worthy of consideration on its own merits. With that in mind, it sets up a rather difficult expectation. How can the feature film be as good? The fact is, though, Where The Wild Things Are is a fantastically conceived and executed movie. It is a story about something. And the craft with which the story is told is exceptional. This may be one of the best movies of the year.

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Topics: Fantasy, Film Review
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You have to give a film like Primer a lot of credit for being a both intelligent and innovative on a threadbare production budget. And any story which chooses not to “dumb down” its content for viewers – instead challenging them to struggle with its complexities – is likewise praiseworthy. But ultimately, the problems with Primer have less to do with its realistic (and thoroughly complex) take on time travel, and more to do with its lack of focus on character and theme. True, it does present characters whose ethics are undermined by the sudden, unexpected power to travel through time. But considering this: Most of the discussions about the film center on unraveling its labyrinthine plot structure than on the morality of their efforts.

In other words, it’s essentially an empty box. Once you figure out how to get inside, there’s little to see or do but wait for enough time to pass so you can get out.

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There are those few tales which have the ability to transcend the stories with which they are told. The Shawshank Redemption is one of those tales. It’s a movie whose humanity is far more important than the particulars of plot or setting. Or even of the specific characters. And yet, the film does an exemplary job of making use of its plot, setting and, particular, its characters. What makes it special, however, is how well the film speaks to emotions and thoughts – of real human nature. It’s a tale that has almost universal application because it is about *us* — about our decisions, our triumphs … it’s about regrets … and, most importantly, about hope.

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Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow is the kind of visual film George Lucas would love. Filled with stunning visuals and spectacular special effects, this is one of the most stylized movies in recent years. It’s a style that you will either love, or hate. And personally, I loved the style.

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Topics: Adventure, Fantasy, Film Review, Sci-Fi
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District 9 is a visceral, gripping, and oftentimes evocative film – one that bears the hallmarks of a technically superb production. The style, including the use of mock documentary footage, and the visuals, from the aliens to the setting, are superbly crafted and seamlessly blended into the film. The performances are solid, if not superlative. There’s enough action in the film’s second half to keep audiences riveted to their seats. And there’s a deeper subtext about discrimination, segregation and how easy it is for humanity to revert to its inner demons. The problem with the movie, however, is one that no amount of cinematography or special effects wizardry can overcome: it’s one of concept and, to a smaller extent, writing. This is a film that wants to be taken seriously – as an “intelligent” example of sci-fi. But its flaws become a substantial detriment.

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Overview

Batman Returns is a shallow, hollow and ultimately meaningless exercise is dark, brooding and stylized filmmaking. There’s no doubt that director Tim Burton had a specific vision for the film and went for it with as much bravado and craft as he could possibly muster. The problem is a story that is ultimately devoid of character, theme or originality beyond your typical Burton film. The characters are positively two-dimensional and the pacing is thoroughly glacial. Add in the fact that the film makes too many “sophomore mistakes” and the end result is a film that often looks like and feels the original Batman film but is, otherwise a poor substitute.

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Topics: Comics, Film Review
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G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra is a movie that defies logic and the laws of physics, and will likely defy box office expectations, as well. It’s a big, dumb summer action flick that manages to be entertaining and exciting, despite the fact that it’s not particularly well-written, acted or directed – not to mention its fairly cartoonish and unimpressive CGI. What the film has going for it, though, is a bravado and a swagger; the kind that can make an otherwise average person just interesting enough to watch – as in, you know, whether or not the person succeeds or is a spectacular failure. In this case, G.I. Joe flirts with being a disastrous film right from the start. And it manages to weave its tale without being completely ridiculous.  Part of the time.

Which, for this kind of a film, makes it something like a success.

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Topics: Film Review, Sci-Fi
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Powerful.

Blood Diamond is the kind of film that can be a transformative experience. It’s filled with evocative moments that challenge the heart, mind and spirit. From start to finish, it is a film of profound juxtapositions – of the beauty of the African continent with the brutality of the wars of profit and power that have long ravaged its people; of characters who search for wealth or profit or the truth. It’s an action movie, but only insofar as war is a kinetic event, propelling its characters, its people, in wildly different directions. It’s a commentary on unrestrained profiteering and avarice, but it’s also a quietly introspective tale of redemption and salvation. And amid its high-minded intentions, it’s a brutally honest portrayal of the events surrounding the Sierra Leone civil war in 1999, and the trade in diamonds which find their way onto the fingers of young women around the world – particularly in America. Despite all of these often disparate elements the film works – and works well – not unlike an orchestra.

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Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is an entertaining, if somewhat overly long film. It’s obvious that sophomore Potter director David Yates clearly has a much better handle on the material this time around, resulting in a film that, visually, is quite beautiful. But Half-Blood Prince has some issues, too. It really does seem to be a tale of two movies: the first, a quirky, witty and lighthearted romantic comedy; the other a dark, ominous, deadly tale of the growing power and influence of the forces of darkness. And regardless of fan objections over what was or wasn’t included from the book, the fact that the film is unable to fully meld its two most prominent elements (romance and darkness) together is its greatest flaw.

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