Review: "The Green Hornet" (2011)

 

IMDB link

By Melissa Hanson

It's nice to go into a movie thinking it will be terrible and have it turn out to be pretty damn good. That was my thought as I left the screening for first of two "green" superhero movies. (The first is this one, The Green Hornet, the next is Green Lantern with Ryan Reynolds.) Seth Rogen/Evan Goldberg (Superbad, Pineapple Express) wrote as Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) directs, and between the writing and directing, give a fresh approach to the superhero movie genre. After seeing the trailers for it, I have to say, I was not expecting much. The dialogue looked terrible and the action scenes generic. Just viewing the clips, the movie looks hokey and cookie-cutter, but after seeing the entire movie, you realize that it really works.

Seth Rogen is Britt Reid, a typical rich playboy type. His unapproving newpaper  mogul father, James Reid (Tom Wilkinson), dies suddenly and leaves it all up to him. He really doesn't care much about anything and fires the house staff, but suddenly realizes that he is now without his sacred cappuccino and seeks out who makes it. He discovers Kato (Jay Chou) and the two form a friendship out of mutual hatred of the elder Reid.

The supporting characters are also not your typical superhero movie types. Christophe Waltz is quite funny as the villain and Cameron Diaz is thrown in and actually contributes to the story. There are other great cameos and you'll find yourself chuckling many times at the dialogue and antics of all the characters.

Even though you knew good would conquer evil (duh) there were many twists and turns along the way to surprise you. The action scenes were ridiculously exaggerated in the best way. Witty dialogue and fun action, not a bad combination.

So, go see it. I think you'll be surprised.

Review: "True Grit" (2010)

IMDB link 

by Stephen LaRose

Joel and Ethan Coen have been notorious for delivering bizarre and strange narratives from their own twisted minds. True Grit, their latest film is a remake of the 1969 film of the same name, starring John Wayne, falls short of being up to traditional Coen standards. The film follows Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld) a 14-year-old independent girl who has just lost her father to a man named Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin). Wanting to bring Tom Chaney to justice, she hires a man with “true grit,” named Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges) and with the help of Texas Ranger LaBouef (Matt Damon) they search for Chaney.

I had the chance to check out the original True Grit, thanks to Netflix. I find this film to be a charming and fun ride. John Wayne, although rough and tough, has a bit of wit, and the story is lighthearted enough to be enjoyable. The Coens have taken this story and given it a darker tone and that’s about all they’ve done with it, aside from a few narrative changes. The narrative does not offer the freedom to be able to add the Coen touch without drastically changing the story. The most interesting thing is watching Steinfeld hold her own up against the two Hollywood heavyweights of Damon and Bridges, who don’t really offer much to begin with. The entire film I felt as if I was watching the actors, and not the characters. I didn’t care when certain things happened to characters, I felt as if they were just happening. Bridges attempts to deliver that same charm we get from Wayne, but with his delivery, and the tone of the film, it seems out of place. The same goes for Damon, and any other attempts for comic relief aren’t necessary. Had the Coens played this completely dark, with no comedy, I feel it would have been much more effective. Instead these moments do more hurt than help.

The film moves along pretty well and doesn’t slow down for a second, with each scene being necessary for the plot. However, it isn’t too interesting until the group is well along on their journey. It isn’t until the film gets violent that we see the Coens add their own voice into the film. Other than that, it is pretty bland. Also, the cinematography doesn’t give the characters room to breathe. The film is very tight, and close, as opposed to the original. We don’t see that landscapes which are so essential to westerns. We simply watch the characters move around to different places, and don’t really understand where they are.

Maybe it’s my own fault for expecting so much from this. I mean, the trailer was pretty exciting. The narrative and actors presented a lot of potential for the Coens to take this film to the next level, but instead it falls. Unfortunately the Coens needed to do more than change the tone, and add a few big names to make this a worthy contender for this year’s Oscar season.

Complaining at a free screening, really???

By Graham Malin

I have been to my fair share of screenings over the years and have noticed something that has becoming more and more apparent while attending. Let me start however, by describing the experience of a screening for the people who haven’t had the opportunity to attend one. Usually these events are put on by studios, radio stations or other promotions to treat people to a special early screening of an upcoming film and/or sometimes get feedback from the attendees about the film.

The best part about these screening are that they’re “FREE” and cost you nothing, which is a great deal you would think. Usually you need to arrive about an hour to an hour and a half early to ensure you get a decent seat because they do over book these events to guarantee a full crowd. This is where things get a little tricky though because along with the people who have received passes to see the screening, the press is also allowed to come and they have reserved seats which are usually roped off. On average, they usually mark off between two to six rows for the press based on how many have RSVP for the screening (which is fair because these are the people who opinions will be heard about the film and advise the general public about the quality of the film).

Unfortunately, this is where the biggest issue arises, because these sections are marked off for the press and only leave a very limited amount of seating for the people who have passes. In a decent size theater that seats about 300 people, the only available seating for people with passes is usually in the front rows or a few rows at the very top, and the rest is for press. This is where greedy people come in and things turn from enjoyable to uncomfortable and annoying. They start complaining to the people running the screening that they don’t have a seat because there are so many press seats reserved and they are very furious.

My most recent encounter of this happened this week when I attended a screening for “The Fighter”. We arrived early, like usual, and were able to get a decent seat right in front of the press and even congregated a bit with a few bloggers and film critics attending. Within three minutes of being let into the theater, most of the seating had filled up besides the six rows that were reserved for press, and the complaining began. I heard at least ten different people complain and become upset because of the reserved seating and how they didn’t have a seat and they wanted to be compensated for this and allowed to sit there. Now normally these people are not the classiest ones and usually are the ones that show up late and feel a sense of entitlement when it comes to life. These people bitched and complained for nearly ten minutes before they finally left, or should I say asked to leave.

People, these are “FREE” screenings, you are not paying a damn thing for them therefore you have no right to complain about the seating because you failed to arrive early or plan accordingly. If you want to see the film that bad, then wait a few days and pay to see it, or show up early next time. I can not stress how annoying it is to everyone around having to listen to these moronic crybabies when it’s not going to change a thing. So the point I’m trying to get at here is, if you go to something that is “FREE” do not complain, it’s free, just make the best of it and if you don’t want to sit in the front row then take your ass back home and stop ruining the screening for the rest of us.

Trailers: Transformers: The Dark of the Moon

Trailer

by Stephen LaRose

Michael Bay has given us hours of dumb fun with his two previous installments of the Transformers franchise. This last week we got the first glimpse of the third chapter from Bay, Transformers: The Dark of the Moon. I’ll admit it, that’s a pretty ridiculous title, but the trailer has potential. Right off the bat, the trailer highlights The United States’ achievement of landing on the Moon, which gives us all that warm, proud patriotic feeling. We also see stock footage of Mission Control to further the authenticity of that feeling. But alas, we soon discover, that “we are not alone.” Who I assume is Neil Armstrong descends from the lunar Lander and bounds over a ridge to reveal a gigantic spacecraft. Inside he discovers a secret that the US quickly covers up. The trailer concludes with a shot of Alpha Trion, which morphs into the Transformers logo. All of this makes up for the lack of awesome that came with last film.

This franchise is not known for having a deep, thought provoking narrative. With this teaser trailer, I don’t see that changing at all. The entire trailer only shows us that the US found aliens on the Moon in 1969, and that Steve Stevens (you know who I’m talking about if anyone watched Even Stevens) was a part of it. Although it is incredibly awesome with everything taking place on the Moon, it scares me a bit. We don’t see any recurring characters, so we don’t know how awful Rosie Huntington-Whiteley is going to be, or if Shia Lebouef will give us his signature, “Nononononono!” However, it is only a teaser trailer, so it succeeds in that sense. I couldn’t be more excited for this film than I am now, despite the utter stupidity of Revenge of the Fallen. I even let out a shout of joy when I saw the “In 3D” text pop up.

Cinegasm Episode 018

Episode 018 - Click to listen in your browser
or right-click and "Save Target As" to download

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Host:  Brian J Blottie
Co-Hosts: Stephen LaRose, Graham Malin, Kevin Brotman

• Box Office Rundown
  
• Upcoming Weekend: How Do You Know, Tron Legacy, Yogi Bear
• Nicolas Cage Match: Favorite Christmas movie VOTE
• Stephen - The Santa Clause
  
• Graham - A Christmas Story
• Kevin - Die Hard
• Melissa - Love Actually
• Brian - Scrooged
  

• Movies we've seen this week
• Kevin - Alien, Aliens, Tron Legacy 
• Graham - 25 Days of Christmas on ABC Family
• Stephen - Matrix Trilogy, Winter's Bone
• Melissa - The Departed, V for Vendetta, True Grit, Branded, Season of the Witch, Rabbit Hole, Casino Jack
• Brian - Year of the Dog
• What did you see this week? Do you want to review movies? Email us at cinegasmpodcast @ gmail.com

• Topic of the Week: The decline of Christmas movies

Review: "The Fighter" (2010)

IMDB link

by Melissa Hanson

The Fighter follows a typical underdog storyline, but director David O. Russell made it compelling, real and raw. Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale play half-brothers Micky and Dicky from Lowell, Massachusetts. Dicky was a former fighter who's claim to fame was knocking out "Sugar" Ray Leonard. He has since become addicted to crack and trains Micky, an up-and-coming fighter. The always impressive Melissa Leo plays Alice, the mother and manager of Micky, while Amy Adams shakes up the family as Micky's girlfriend, Charlene.

The handheld shots give it a documentary vibe, but more than that it really just makes you feel like you are actually there. Instead of edits and cutaways, the camera moves back and forth between characters so you really get a sense of the moment. There are several close-up shots that give a very emotional connection to the characters.

Every character is complex and in most cases, not shown in their best light. Each character is portrayed as a real person; their dialogue is more about how they say something rather that what they are saying. There are no good guys and bad guys but instead shades of grey.

Mark Wahlberg was Mark Wahlberg. He didn't show us anything we haven't seen him do before. Christian Bale on the other hand was fantastic. He transformed himself so much that I had to remind myself that he was Batman. His mannerisms, speech and attitude complete his character. When I first saw him cast in this, I wondered why he was playing second fiddle to Mark Walhberg, but now I see that he knew he could really dig deep for this role and he delivered.

Now for the fun. The movie is set in 1993. Without being too blatant, the wardrobe and hairstyles are spot on. Micky and Dicky have eight sisters and they all have the rockin' 90's hair and jean jackets. Alice steals the show with her leopard outfits and white jeans, but Micky runs a close second with oversized geometric-printed button up shirts.

I liked the movie mostly because it didn't turn into a cheesy, feel-good story. Sure it had that aspect at times, but it was more natural and really felt like it actually happened to someone. This is not just a boxing story. This is not just an underdog story. It's a story of a guy trying to balance everyone in his life and still do something for himself.

Cinegasm Episode 017

Episode 017 - Click to listen in your browser
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Host:  Brian J Blottie
Co-Hosts: Stephen LaRose, Melissa Hanson

• Box Office Rundown
  
• Upcoming Weekend: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, The Tourist

• Nicolas Cage Match: Worst on-screen chemistry VOTE
• Melissa - Heart Breakers Jennifer Love-Hewitt & Jason Lee
• Stephen - Star Wars: Episode II & III Natalie Portman & Hayden Christiansen
  
• Brian - The Break-Up Jennifer Aniston & Vince Vaughn
•  
• Movies we've seen this week
• Melissa - The Fighter
• Stephen - 127 Hours (Review)
• Brian - Black Swan
• What did you see this week? Do you want to review movies? Email us at cinegasmpodcast @ gmail.com

• Topic of the Week: What is the most important aspect of a blockbuster film to you?

Blu-Ray Review - 2001: A Space Odyssey

2001: A Space Odyssey - Blu-Ray Review

by Stephen LaRose

Stanley Kubrick’s science fiction epic, 2001: A Space Odyssey is without a doubt one of the most intellectual, and beautiful films ever made. It only makes sense that this film be given the blu-ray treatment. Seeing Kubrick’s vision in 1080p gives the viewer a blu-ray experience like never before. The film continues to blow me away with repeat viewings. The crisp, clear and flawless quality of the picture alone makes this worth a buy, but for the die hard fans, there are a few extras that make this disc even more valuable.

The disc includes nine exclusive features that include a “making of” documentary, narrated by James Cameron, and several featurettes highlighting Kubrick and his legacy. Another few featurettes take a look into the technical side of 2001, and the possibilities of what could exist beyond the infinite.

2001: The Making of a Myth

A simple, but very informative “making of” documentary. This is a must watch for anyone interested in filmmaking, and gives the viewer a glimpse of Kubrick’s unique process. Through interviews with Arthur C. Clarke, Keir Dullea, and others, many of Kubrick’s secrets, and technical tricks are revealed and add more too the enjoyment of the film. Furthermore, the documentary looks into Kubrick’s themes about the evolution of technology, and the accuracy of his futuristic vision.

Standing on the Shoulders of Kubrick: The Legacy of 2001

Stanley Kubrick is, without doubt, one of the greatest directors of all time. He belongs in an elite category of filmmakers that few will ever reach. In this featurette, Steven Spielberg, Sidney Pollack, George Lucas, and others give their testimonies of Kubrick’s influence on them. They also tell of the impact 2001 had being released in the midst of B-movie science fiction that was common in the mid-1960’s. For anyone who’s a fan of film history, and any of the directors mentioned above, check this out for sure.

Vision of a Future Passed: The Prophecy of 2001

This featurette discusses how Kubrick was able to successfully create a vision of the future, even though that vision proved to be inaccurate. We also get some information regarding the historical context of the film, such as how it influenced, and was influenced by the space race. Most importantly, it reflects on how Kubrick’s consistency and detailed methods were able to pull off a film that will continue to stand the test of time.

2001: A Space Odyssey – A Look behind the Future

You know how every now and then we see some old film footage of informative videos, which give a walkthrough of an old factory, and explain some kind of scientific theory? Well, this is actually one of those old videos. Viewers are given details, and evidence to support Kubrick’s vision of the future. We see how he makes different choices, and get some behind-the-scenes footage of the art department. Essentially, this is a “making of” documentary before they got super popular. Well worth the watch.

What is Out There?

This featurette had the potential to be the most interesting; however, it is poorly executed. Keir Dullea, who plays Dr. Dave Bowman in 2001, reads from a script for 80% of the time, while occasionally cutting to some cover footage. He questions some of the ideas in the film, and breaks down Kubrick’s theories on the existence of Gods, or extra terrestrial beings. Along with that, we do get a few excerpts of Arthur C. Clarke and his personal beliefs on lesser, and higher beings in the Universe. Now, although Dullea just reads the entire time, he does present some interesting ideas that still make this worth the time.

2001: FX and Early Conceptual Artwork

Here, we’re given a breakdown of the artwork and design of the sets in 2001. This is remarkable to any upcoming filmmaker. The complexity, and simplicity, put into the sets and artwork is truly amazing to observe. Although pretty short, we’re given enough to be satisfied.

Look: Stanley Kubrick!

This is simply a short montage of Kubrick’s early photography that was taken for Look! Magazine. His subjects are great, and it is interesting to see Kubrick’s earliest work.

Interview with Kubrick (audio only)

Although pretty long (about an hour and twenty minutes) this interview with Kubrick is by far the most entertaining and engaging feature on the disc. He discusses his early life, through his first interests in filmmaking, and how his career had gone up until the release of 2001. He tells stories in such a friendly, and inviting tone, that we feel as if we’re hearing the old stories of a close relative. This is something to throw on in the background, and listen to while you sit around the house.

Commentary

The commentary for 2001, given by Dullea and Gary Lockwood, who plays Dr. Frank Poole, is not the best, but not the worst commentary out there. While the two actors recount their experiences while making the film, and provide a different perspective in Kubrick’s process this is not nearly as informative as it could have been. Of course, it’s the best we could get considering it was probably recorded after Kubrick had passed. However, I think anyone who is a fan of the film would love the stories shared by the actors. Besides, it shares even more facts that aren’t heard in the other features on the blu-ray.

This is a must buy for anyone who loves 2001, simply because the quality of the picture is simply breathtaking. However, all of the features give the film buffs something more to enjoy. Each featurette adds to the enjoyment of the film. This blu-ray release of this classic science-fiction film is one for everyone’s collection.

Review: "Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader" (2010)

IMDB Link

by Casey O'Connor

2008's "Chronicles of Narnia" sequel, "Prince Caspian" had a comparatively disappointing turn-out, making less than half what it's predecessor had ($141 million to the original's $291). So I must admit I was a little surprised to see Walden Media had decided to go ahead with "Voyage of the Dawn Treader".

This installment, the third in the 7 book series, begins 1 year after the conclusion of "Prince Caspian". The world is still at war, and the youngest Penvensie siblings, Edmund and Lucy, have been sent to Cambridge to stay with family while their mother and older siblings have followed their father to his assignment in America. While discussing their wish to return to Narnia, and especially to escape their unpleasant cousin Eustace, Lucy notices a painting on her wall. Within moments, the painting comes alive, and pulls Lucy, Edmund, and the horrid Eustace into the water. The three are soon rescued by their friend Caspian, now King of Narnia. Three years have passed, in Narnian time, and Caspian has brought peace to most of Narnia. He recruits Edmund and Lucy to help find the seven lost lords, who have not been seen since before the death of Caspian's father years earlier. Of course, nothing is as simple as it seems in Narnia, and before long the children are on a quest to reunite the lords' magic swords and save Narnia from a mysterious evil.

While this film is definitely more action packed than the previous installments, it remains essentially a character driven film. With heavier material, it is not unusual for young actors to stumble their way through a performance. Georgie Henley and Skander Keynes, returning as Lucy and Edmund Penvensie, have happily avoided this pitfall. For Henley, especially, this film brings a higher level of emotional depth. Lucy, previously portrayed as a naive, though brave, child is growing into a young woman. The 15 yr old actress deftly handles the emotional ups and downs of a teenage girl fighting extraordinary circumstances while dealing with the very average concerns of self-image all girls face. I look forward to seeing more of Henley.

The failing of this cast seems to be Will Poulter, portraying Edmund and Lucy's annoying cousin Eustace. Poulter appears to be much younger than his 17 yrs, both physically and in maturity. It is difficult to tell if the problem lies in the character, or Poulter's portrayal. Each time he appears on-screen it is difficult to focus on the story, as I was continually distracted by what appeared to be a bad case of over-acting. As the film progresses, Eustace undergoes several changes, both magical and otherwise. In his later scenes, he appears to have found some realism in his character. It's just a shame it took an hour and 20 minutes to accomplish.

The film, shot in Queensland, Australia, is beautifully shot, truly taking advantage of the wonderful locations. What it lacks, however, is the utilization of the full potential of Real-D 3D technology. This does not feel like a film shot in 3D, rather it appears to have been hastily added in post-production. Scenes at the beginning and end of the film, the entrance to and exit from Narnia, are breathtaking. The rest falls quite flat, no pun intended. This is the kind of film 3D technology is made for. Fantastical creatures, fierce battles, and magic could have all benefited from being presented in 3D. In "Narnia", these elements are virtually ignored.

At 1 hour and 52 minutes, this is by far the shortest of the "Narnia" films, coming in a full half hour less than "Prince Caspian". This is truly a blessing, as it manages to avoid the dragging feeling so evident in the first films. Over all, I found it to be a thoroughly enjoyable film. Given the chance, I would recommend it be viewed in traditional format. But the plot is strong, the characters are generally well developed, and even the religious references so common in all of Lewis's works are kept to a minimum. For Narnia fans, this could absolutely become a quick favorite.

Cinegasm Episode 016

Episode 016 - Click to listen in your browser
or right-click and "Save Target As" to download

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Host:  Brian J Blottie
Co-Hosts: Stephen LaRose

• Box Office Rundown
  
• Upcoming Weekend: Warrior's Way

• Nicolas Cage Match: Best bloodbath in movie history  VOTE
• Stephen - Saving Private Ryan
  
• Brian - Battle Royale
•  
• Movies we've seen this week
• Stephen - Trainspotting
• Brian - The Kids Are All Right
• What did you see this week? Do you want to review movies? Email us at cinegasmpodcast @ gmail.com

• Topic of the Week: Genre cross-over we'd like to see
• Stephen - Sci-Fi Western
• Brian - Sci-Fi Sports