I Am Legend
A lot of the trends in Hollywood these days tend to swirl around the apocalypse. Disaster movies are getting to be more and more common, from the well known (Resident Evil: Extinction), to the less publicized (Sunshine). It seems that the movie business is obsessed with the end of the world. I understand that there are a few more such films to be released in the near future, including Shelter and even the newest Pixar announcement, Wall-E. I don’t know what it is about a catstrophic end of the world that draws people in, but I guess that’s what we’re going to get. My personal opinion is that we as a culture are noticing the slip of control that we seem to have in our lives, and that gets played out on the screen. But enough human observation – let’s get to the review.
From the very first trailer I saw on this film, I was intrigued. As one of those who “haven’t read the book”, along with, I’m sure, much of the world, I had no real biases going in. All I knew was that the film was about this guy (Will Smith) who is the last man on Earth, walking the streets of New York City. That, and there was going to be a red Shelby flying through the city at some point in the film.
Right at the start, we see a cryptic broadcast of this “miracle virus” that was based on the measles, that has been “genetically altered” to cause the cure for cancer. And then, we’re thrown into a Castaway-esque situation following Robert Neville, a biologist in New York City who is now “the last man on earth” after this “miracle” turned into a nightmare, and apparently killed every single person on the planet.
Now, I’ve never really been one to go into too many details on my reviews, but I wanted to be especially careful with this one. If you don’t really know the story, your best bet at enjoying it is to go in without knowing anything else. Otherwise, you’ll miss out on the vibes that this film has the potential to give you.
Smith, who has already established himself as a superb actor in many different genres and themes, was absolutely the perfect choice to carry this film. His portrayal of a man obsessed with a dying cause and lonely for real human companionship plays very well, and you really feel for him. The other main character worth mentioning is Sam, Robert’s german shepherd, who is the perfect companion to Smith’s lonely character. For Neville, Sam seems to represent the last vestiges of sanity that he’s desperately trying to hold on to, the last breath of hope that keeps him optimistic that somehow, a solution is possible.
One of the most tender and heart-breaking scenes in the entire film revolves around Sam, and the affect that that incident has on Neville as he finally succumbs to his personal madness. (When you see the film, you’ll know exactly what I mean, and you’ll probably come close to tears.) There is a real power that the audience seems drawn to in Smith’s performance, and you’re brought to care deeply for these two characters.
Unfortunately for me, the ending of the film seemed a little rushed. I still, to this day, am not completely satisfied with it, but I guess that’s the way that films go. I felt that the end of the movie kind of disintegrated, and that the addition of those two extra characters was both unneeded and unnecessary. Just like the fly in the ointment, they just didn’t seem to belong.
Would I see this film again? Probably. But, Will Smith’s amazing portrayal notwithstanding, this isn’t one that you need to shell full price for. I don’t regret seeing it, but it’s one that you can wait for until it gets to the dollar theater.
- Kyle
Movie Review: Enchanted
I’ve been a huge Disney fan since I was old enough to be interested by a television screen, and of course, a lot of that has to do with being raised watching Disney’s animated feature films. From Alladin to The Lion King, Mulan to Hercules, Rescuers Down Under to The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and even the less-acclaimed such as Lilo and Stitch or Treasure Planet. And be it non-masculine or whatever, I really love the stories of a number of the “princess” stories such as The Little Mermaid, Pocahontas, or Beauty and the Beast. These are strong films in their own right, regardless of the medium in which they’re shown.
However, they’re also pretty quirky, and anyone who “grew up Disney” can tell you that there’s some pretty crazy things going on in just about every one of these films that just don’t happen in real life. The prince usually doesn’t just magically find the woman of his dreams. There usually isn’t a dragon or giant to slay for the fair maiden’s heart. And many princesses wait for a long time waiting for their prince to come, and when he does, he’s not nearly as handsome or charming as everyone made him out to be. And when all is said and done, and the music has been sung, “happily ever after” takes a lot more work than it seems.
So, with this kind of a background, I walked into the theater of Enchanted. I’d heard a number of good things about the film, from friends who had seen it, and good reviews, but I don’t think I was entirely ready for it.
The story starts with classic Disney animation, as we are introduced to the love-lorn beauty, Giselle (Amy Adams) in the kingdom of Andalasia. She’s singing with the animals, and waiting for her charming prince to come and sweep her off her feet, though she’s only ever seen him in a dream. Enter Prince Edward (James Marsden), who just happens to be a handsome young prince searching for a princess-to-be. After a troublesome encounter with an ogre, a little daring do and tree-climbing, Giselle falls into Edward’s arms where he romantically whisks her away with one of my favorite lines in the film: “We shall be married in the morning!”
But Edward’s mother, the evil Queen Narissa (Susan Sarandon), is not happy about this little engagement taking her crown away, and so she entices the gullible young girl to a magical wishing well, whereupon she pushes her inside, sending her to the world where there is no “happily ever after” – Our world. But more specifically, New York City.
After some rather funny encounters and misadventures, Giselle, lost and disoriented in a “strange” world that she doesn’t understand, is discovered by single-father Robert Phillip (Patrick Dempsey) and his clever little daughter, Morgan (Rachel Covey). So begins this tale of Disney magic and music meeting the so-called “harsh realities” of real life, as Giselle is simply trying to get back home to Prince Edward, who has leapt into the portal himself and is desperately searching for his bride-to-be, all the while with Queen Narissa trying to rid herself of this thorn in her side once and for all.
And that’s about as much as I can tell you without ruining the story, which you REALLY need to discover for yourself. This is the kind of movie that doesn’t come out very often. A satire on Disney films done by the masters themselves, who show that they aren’t ignorant of the silliness that surrounds their craft. But instead of just relying on cheap little laughs that are quickly forgotten, they’ve crafted a light-hearted but memorable drama that you can’t help but enjoy.
The acting is top-notch, from Adams’ amazing portrayal of Giselle to the perfect casting of little Rachel Covey, who has some of the best lines in the film. The characters are memorable and adorable, the lines are perfect, and the story is amazing. There are so many little moments, references, and lines to take in that it is just overwhelming, but the good, covered-up-with-fifteen-blankets-warm kind, including the strangest “clean the home” experience ever, the goofiest time of “slaying the dragon”, and one of the greatest musical numbers ever to grace Central Park.
All in all, I honestly have very little bad to say about this film. The only thing that I think could have been improved is Nancy, played by Idina Menzel of Wicked fame. I wish that they had really spent more time on her character, but in the end, you hardly notice her, which is both good and bad. It’s good in the fact that her character really is kind of secondary to the relationship between the main characters, but bad in that her acting and talent are actually pretty inconsequential to the story, as they really could have had just about anyone play that part.
Disney could have made a small little film that only relied on little gags to make it through, much like the parody films that have been recently gracing our cinemas. We all know how ”amazing” those films are. But instead, they “did it again”, showing that magic and heart are what make a family film work. That, and maybe a couple musical numbers that you’re sure to be humming as you smile your way out of the theater.
- Kyle
Dan In Real Life
I prefer to go into films without knowing very much about them. I helps me to judge them a little more fairly than if I had any “previous biases.”
With that in mind, I went and saw Dan in Real Life this past weekend with a friend of mine, with the only thing that I knew about it being Steve Carell’s role as the main character. I’ll tell you right now that I recommend this movie. It’s really one of the best films that I’ve seen in quite some time.
Carell plays Dan Burns, an advice columnist for a local paper, who is struggling as a single parent to raise his three daughters after the death of his wife four years ago. He and his family are on their way to the family reunion in Rhode Island, at a family cabin. It’s obvious that Dan a break from his daughters, and that his daughters need a small break for him, and so Dan’s mother (Dianne West) sends him out to get the newspapers.
At the local bookstore, Dan inadvertantly meets Marie (Juliette Binoche), and the two strike up a great conversation. It’s obvious that Dan is interested, and Marie as well, but the “date” suddenly ends as Marie gets a phone call wondering why she’s late. Dan is able to get her phone number, however, and elatedly tells about his little adventure as he arrives back at the cabin.
Dan is wordless, however, when his brother Mitch (Dane Cook) introduces his new girlfriend to everyone, and she just so happens to be Annie “Marie”, the same woman Dan had met at the bookstore! This sets the stage for some of the most interesting, hilarious, and heart-touching scenes ever filmed.
Carell is amazing. I’d seen him The Office, as well as Bruce Almighty, Anchorman, and even Evan Almighty, but I don’t think I ever fully realized his full acting scope. He has an earnest quality in him that you can just easily relate to. He’s stuck in a situation where the woman that he’s fallen for is with someone else, and that someone else just so happens to be his brother. He’s struggling to raise his daughters without a mother, all the while just striving to keep himself afloat. You just feel for him, and you want him to succeed, despite his own failings.
Binoche, as Marie, plays the part so well. She’s an easily likable character that you can easily see either of these brothers falling in love with. With the situations that they get into, its amazing how she can pull off not only the poise of a smart and sophisticated woman, but also the easy-going personality of a human being who can appreciate the absurdity of each situation. (Think about the “shower scene”, and you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about.)
I could go on and on about each of the characters, but the bottom line is, you have to see this movie. Your personality needs it, and your heart needs it. This is a film that will make you laugh, at least make you want to cry, and will help you to look at love in a whole new way. And who knows? Maybe you’ll know your soulmate’s identity in just three days.
- Kyle
Bee Movie
The commercials for Seinfeld’s new film seemed pretty interesting. If you haven’t seen the previews of Jerry and Chris Rock on the windshield in bug costumes, I recommend that you head over to Apple.com and check them out. They’re absolutely hilarious, and so I thought it’d be interesting enough to at least give it a chance.
So, I went over to the theatre to check out Jerry Seinfeld’s newest foray, Bee Movie. Let me tell you right off – this is a film meant to imitate the style of Pixar™, the wit of Dreamworks™, and the likability of Disney™. And on that note, let’s discuss why there were three strikes even before the first act was over.
From the beginning, we meet Barry B. Benson (Jerry Seinfeld), a bee in a hive who is, (surprise, surprise), unsure that he wants to fit in with the rest of the hive. He just isn’t sure that he wants to live the bee life, working every day until he dies. He’s portrayed as a dreamer, but with the deadpan and cynicality that only Seinfeld can portray.
Now the number one rule that the bees live by is that they are not supposed to talk to humans. It’s “Bee Law”. Which, of course, means it’s the set-up for the entire movie. The thing is, though, is that we’re hammered with it right off, and repeatedly so, enough that I wanted to say out loud, “Okay, we get it! He’s not supposed to talk to humans!”
So, on a venture with the “Pollen Jocks” into the outside world, he accidentally finds himself in a near-death experience under a human’s boot. But, he’s saved by a good-natured florist named Vanessa (Renée Zellweger), and placed outside of the apartment window. He agonizes over this, until he finally decides that he’s going to thank her. So starts this relationship as Barry and Vanessa become friends.
As time goes on, Barry finds out that the humans are “stealing” the honey from the bees, keeping them smoked in honey farms, and taking the honey from them. So what does he do? He decides that he’s going to file a lawsuit against the human race. Through a crazy amount of theatrics by both Barry and the opposing attorney (John Goodman), the jury finds in favor of the bees.
But then, after the bees stop working, apparently all of the world falls to their knees because nothing will grow without the bees’ pollinating. So, Barry and Vanessa have to fly to the Pasadena Rose Bowl parade, steal a float, transport it back by plane, and then get the pollen to New York. (Which is just ridiculous, because if they’d been thinking, they’d just have transported the bees all to California and just started the pollination there. But then you wouldn’t have a ridiculous scene with a florist trying to land a plane, and whole bunch of bees coming in to fly under it and save the day.)
And the magical pollen suddenly brings life to the whole world, and everything’s instantly happy again.
The whole thing is supposed to be fictional, and I understand it. But even fictional worlds are supposed to have rules. When anything can and does happen, it just becomes surreal, and you no longer care about the story. First you have a bee that can talk to humans. Fine. Then he can read, he becomes a lawyer, representing all of “bee kind.” He just lives this whirlwind adventure with no crime or consequence, and there’s no real repercussions for him at all in all that he does. Sure, he kills the world, but because bees are so amazing, they can fix it all in a second.
The weirdest thing is, though, is the characters themselves. They try to portray this sort of romantic tension between Barry and Vanessa, and it’s just plain ridiculous. I mean, okay, he’s a talking bee, but my goodness. She’d have to be the most ditsy person in the world to think that this was actually going anywhere. Then you have this Ken character (Patrick Warburton), who is supposed to be there for comic relief, but is really just a complete idiot. Barry’s so-called best friend, Adam (Matthew Broderick), gets only superficial screentime, but he too is just a one-sided character. And then you’ve got the token appearance of Chris Rock as Mooseblood the mosquito, who’s only purpose as a character comes about as a lame overtold joke about attorneys.
The whole movie was just a power-packed plunge that didn’t nearly live up to its potential. It was a cliché-ridden ride that I was only too-happy to get off of. I think that Seinfeld should stick to movie trailers, because that’s where his really talent lies: Short, witty bursts of emotion and cynicism. My advice? Stick with what works, because Bee Movie is most definitely living up to its punny namesake.
- Kyle
Sydney White
I love watching movies. (Now let’s hear a collective “duh” from everyone.) Something that has always bothered me, though, is that theaters tend to only show the “popular” or seemingly “well-advertised” films, in order to guarantee a large initial audience, regardless of whether the film is actually worthwhile or not. I remember walking into the theater, and looking to buy tickets to Ressurecting the Champ, which I’ve read some really great reviews for, but it wasn’t shown anywhere near my zip code. The same could be said for King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters, or a number of other films with original thought.
But every once and a while a film will be released quietly, and sheer word-of-mouth will help to spread it. It happened a few years ago with the classic My Big Fat Greek Wedding, where it was only shown in a few selected theaters, and the sheer unique nature of Tom Hanks’ film allowed it to generate quite a following. (And I still wonder if Windex sales were affected by it.)
Recently, I read a review about a film called Sydney White, explaining that it was just such a film. I searched throughout my area, and there was no showings, and I feared I might miss yet another interesting piece. But I was able to find a single screening about 30 minutes up the freeway at 6:50 PM, which was one of the most awkward times to hit a movie. Regardless, I’m glad that I took the time because this movie was definitely worth the effort.
Amanda Bynes (Hairspray) is Sydney White, a tomboyish college freshman who was raised by her father, a plumber, and the construction crew that he works with. As such, she has a much more practical view of life, especially compared to the social ladder-focus of her peers. Through a wonderful turn of events, though, she earns a scholarship to the same university that her mother attended, leaving a legacy at Kappa Phi Nu, the most popular sorority on campus for her daughter Sydney to follow.
Through a twist of events, however, she denounces the sorority, and is taken in by a lovable group of seven guys who are by all definitions of the words, dorks. Each unique and memorable in his own way, you’ll quickly draw the parallels in this adaptation of the classic tale, Snow White, as Sydney and her friends attempt to usurp the control that the “greek society”, led by Rachel Witchburn (I wonder who she could be?), has on the campus.
While it’s obvious that the filmmakers drew much of their inspiration from the Disney version, as opposed to the Grimms’ version, the references do nothing but enhance an already robust and well-written story. (Besides, its so interesting and fun how the writers used each reference.)
Bynes does an amazing job as Sydney, playing the part of the lovable tomboy so well that you can’t help but like her. There was one part of the film where Sydney is talking with Tyler Prince, (again, can you figure out who this character is?), and the subject turns to sports. Where most girls would have been lost in such a conversation, Sydney knows the subject intimately, and makes an obscure reference. Immediately, Tyler’s eyes widen, and he exclaims, “Marry me.” I’d have to agree.
It’s kind of hard to explain what exactly it was about the film that I loved so much. Each of the characters was played so well, they were unique and interesting, and the dialogue and one-liners were simply amazing. I don’t know if you’ll always be able to find it, but if you can, I encourage you to definitely track down Sydney White.
- Kyle
