Film Review #14

           Prometheus is a 2012 science fiction film from acclaimed director Ridley Scott. His résumé includes Alien, Gladiator, and American Gangster.  The cast is a mix of famous faces and those that are less known.  Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Guy Pearce, Idris Elba, Logan Marshall-Green, and Charlize Theron star in the film. Aside from being an opponent of science fiction I have to say I really enjoyed this film. The plot of the film is thought-provoking to say the least. Add that factor with convincing performances and first class special effects and you are in for one hell of a ride.

Scott's latest exploit is a prequel to the Alien franchise

             Prometheus begins with archaeologists Elizabeth Shaw (Rapace) and Charlie Holloway (Marshall-Green) uncovering a 35,000 year old painting in a cave. The portrait depicts an image of human beings pointing to the stars. This finding predates all other similar works of art. Suddenly we are whisked away to outer space. Several people (in stasis) are aboard the Prometheus- a spaceship funded by Peter Weyland (Pearce) and watched over by an android named David (Fassbender). The deep space exploration was devised to find alien life forms. The archeologists onboard intend to find and question “the engineers” who are responsible for the creation of mankind. Intentions change as the foreign environment becomes more and more hostile.  Exploration turns into a game of survival!

           Michael Fassbender is captivating as David the android. His character is incredibly intelligent, creepy and detached but still somehow manages to display signs of jealousy. Charlize Theron’s performance should be applauded as well. She plays a very pragmatic, cold and uptight role. Right off the bat you don’t know whether she can be trusted. Rapace is solid as the lead. In my opinion, she represents the attribute of resilience. Her character faces many emotional and physical obstacles that would crush a normal human being. While there are some obvious standouts, the entire cast deserves praise. My expectations were definitely fulfilled.

            Special effects permeate the entire film. The first 5 minutes of Prometheus surely proves my point. Careful consideration had to be taken to costume design, scene set construction, alien aesthetics, and so much more. The alien encounters throughout the movie are effectively convincing. I appreciate that the director did not obtain these effects to simply overcompensate for the script or for poor performances. Everything fit perfectly together like a puzzle set. The music for this film is spot-on. The score is perfectly place so that you feel scared when you are meant to. The composer did a great job of fitting the music with very intense moments: Noomi Rapace’s impromptu surgery scene is a great example.

Case In Point

            I would definitely recommend this movie to my audience. Ridley Scott has created something that is on par with many successful films in the genre. Without giving too much away, fans of the Alien franchise will be please.  Prometheus serves as a smart prequel to those cult classics. My decisive factor for convincing my readers to view this film would be that it is more than just eye candy. The acting and events that occur in this film are memorable. Whether the scene is subtle or adrenaline-filled you will buy into the atmosphere. I never felt bored and the ending leaves you pleading for a sequel.

7 out of 10

Film Review #13

          I have a confession. I hate movies involving science fiction. I don’t know why. Perhaps it was all those nights I had to endure waiting to watch pro-wrestling; every Monday at 8PM I had to sit through an hour of my dad watching Star Trek (FYI: the Captain Picard version). Nonetheless, I decided to watch Men in Black III. The first and most influencing decision for me was that this was a Will Smith film. He is one of my favorite actors. I think Seven Pounds and I Am Legend are two of his best flicks. Reason number two was also pretty simple: Barry Sonnenfeld was returning- the director of MIB and MIB2. Sonnefield directed a star-studded cast that included Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones and Josh Brolin. With all that said, MIB3 is an entertaining ride that lives up to its predecessors.

                

        The plot of the film is smart. Agent J (Smith) has to go back in time to 1969 to stop Boris the Animal from killing Agent K (Jones). When Agent J finally does travel back in time it becomes obvious that 1969 America is not as welcoming as 2012. Lack of civil rights, technology and an abundance of other predicaments occur. Not to mention, Agent J has to convince a 29-year old Agent K (Brolin) that he’s from the future and trying to save his life. Thankfully, K and J have Griffin to rely on- an alien who occupies 5 dimensions and is able to see the outcome of the future, which can sometimes be based on a few simple gestures. Not to be too confusing, but the film turns into a ‘race against time’ to stop 2012 Boris and 1969 Boris from colluding and killing 1969 Agent K.

           Josh Brolin’s performance as a younger Agent K stands out! He played K remarkably similar to Tommy Lee Jones… but with one difference. We don’t see the old, bitter, jaded version of K. Brolin perfectly depicts a character with a sense of humor, enthusiasm, trust, and nose for curiosity. Brolin is very important to the film because the audience gets to learn why Agent K became so discontented. That discovery is by far one of the best parts of this movie. Jones and Smith are certainly likable and should be applauded for their performances but Brolin stole the spotlight. I was expecting powerhouse performances from Jones and Smith. Brolin was an afterthought for me. With that said, my expectations were exceeded.

           Special effects are an enormous part of this sci-fi comedy. Not to mention MIB3 was made to be presented in 3D. In my opinion the special effects were good. Not groundbreaking…. Not awe-inspiring…. Just good.  Not once could I say the aliens looked fake or something was too over-the-top. Although the jetpack scene was rather amusing; I couldn't help but think about the James Bond movie Thunderball when Sean Connery was 007. The music seemed perfectly placed in my opinion. I had zero complaints. The score is particularly effective when we meet a 6 year old J.

          I would definitely recommend this movie to my readers. MIB3 may be the best film in the entire franchise. You may think differently but at the very least you will acknowledge that MIB3 certainly deserves to compete for the title. My decisive factor for encouraging my audience to see the film is that a good story is told. The writer actually finds a subtle way to connect the films too. I was not expecting a lot from this film and I got much out of it. I hope you will have similar feelings when you view it.

7 out of 10

Film Review #12

This week I decided to take a walk down memory lane and watch Iron Man. The last time I saw this movie was May 2008, a week after its initial release. After viewing Iron Man for only the second time I have to say it may be Marvel’s crown jewel in terms of comic book films. Director Jon Favreau should be very proud of his work. Iron Man is smart, fun, action-packed, aesthetically pleasing, and loaded with great actors. Robert Downey Jr. is the star of the film but Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Shaun Toub are integral characters.

The plot of the film is quite interesting. Tony Stark (Downey Jr.) is a highly intelligent, egocentric playboy who inherited a weapons manufacturing company from his father. During a routine weapons demonstration overseas Stark is captured by terrorists. While being held captive he learns lessons in mortality from a fellow prisoner- Yinsen (played endearingly by Toub). Stark manages to escape his death sentence and decides that Stark Industries will no longer manufacture weapons because of the negative effect it has in the world. This causes a rift with his company partner Obadiah Stane (Bridge) whom Stark later finds out has been double-dealing to the United States’ foreign enemies. Shortly after that time Tony designs an Iron Man suit and does battle with a host of newfound enemies including Obadiah.

He's Pissed

Robert Downey Jr. is perfect in his role as Tony Stark. He embodies everything a sophisticated, billionaire playboy is and more. Terrence Howard and Gwyneth Paltrow do not get a lot of screen time but when they do their presence is definitely felt. Jeff Bridges deserves praise for his role as well. His metamorphosis from company pal to murderous, double-crossing cheat is quite convincing. Shaun Toub also deserves applause for his portrayal of Yinsen. He is probably in the film for ten minutes but his portrayal is heartfelt. It had to be. It was a big reason why Tony Stark decides to adopt a new philosophy on life. My expectations for this cast were fulfilled and then some!

Stark & Yinsen

Iron Man uses a variety of film techniques. Special Effects are a big part of the movie. With that said, the director went a long way to ensure this film had top-notch special effects. Examining Stark’s finished Mark III Iron Man suit is all the evidence you need to prove my last statement. Modern rock is a big part of the music. It helps to capture the ‘maverick’ that Tony Stark is [read: badass]. The instrumental musical scores are also very crucial for setting the tone of certain scenes.

If I could only offer one decisive factor for my readers to see this film I would say go because you will love everything about the film. It’s not your average comic book movie. It doesn't suffer from being unrealistic or too cheesy. The actors do a superb job with their depictions of the characters. I promise when you finish the film you will want more. And audiences did. The 2010 sequel to the franchise grossed over $600 million dollars.

9.5 out of 10

Film Review #11

            Countless memories of Arnold Schwarzenegger films caused me to take a gamble on watching the 2011 reboot of Conan the Barbarian. Jason Momoa plays the title character along with a cast that includes Rachel Nichols, Rose McGowan, Stephen Lang, Ron Perlman, and Bob Sapp. Marcus Nispel directed the action-adventure film. In the end, Conan simply lacked substance. I went into this film thinking it was going to be awesome. After all what movie where Morgan Freeman narrates, isn’t? This one apparently!

            This plot is modest. As a boy Conan’s entire village is destroyed by Khalar Zym (Lang) and his band of ruthless killers. Zym is attempting to reunite the pieces of the Mask of Acheron, a powerful relic that can bring back his dead wife and allow him to conquer the known world. Years pass and Conan has turned into a mountain of a man. He has traveled the world slaying beasts, freeing captives, and defying death. Remarkable tales exist about his adventures. Zym along with his daughter Marique (McGowan) need only one more thing to accomplish their dastardly plans: they must find the pure-blood descendant of the sorcerers of Acheron. By happenstance, Conan finds the pure-blood first. Her name is Tamara (Nichols) and by finding her the stage is set for a definitive encounter between Zym and Conan.

            While none of the actors in this film are terrible there are zero defining moments. The script never allows Jason Momoa to display any depth to his character. The child actor playing Conan has a better role in my opinion- Ron Perlman lucks out because that’s the only time he is in the movie. As an adult Conan is only presented as a sword swinging, blood spilling, slave-freeing barbarian who happens to have a predisposition for performing good deeds. Rose McGowan and Stephen Lang have a very incestuous energy on camera but the dialogue is weak. In my opinion, the actors are not left with much to portray because the writers have every character in tunnel vision mode. While I did not have very high expectations coming into the movie, even my low expectations were not met.

            Special effects were important in this film. While they were not fantastic or groundbreaking they were more than acceptable; the film had a budget of $90 million dollars. Unquestionably Conan had some very cool action scenes. But well-choreographed fight scenes mixed with blood and gore can’t save a film that has no dimension for its characters. The music was correctly placed and added to the sense of awe and adventure when it was introduced. The YouTube trailer I've attached should support the opinions expressed in this paragraph.

Hasta La Vista Baby

            Honestly, I would not tell my readers to view Conan the Barbarian. It suffers from poor dialogue, tunnel vision, and a lack of character dimension. In my opinion, the best part of this film is the first 20 minutes. After that, you are whisked away on an adventure that’s not very memorable. To make matters worse. There wasn't even a giant snake in the film! Conan should almost always fight a giant snake…. because that’s cool.

3 out of 10

Film Review #10

This week I decided to check out the biographical drama J. Edgar. The film was directed by Clint Eastwood. It stars one of my favorite on-screen actors- Leonardo DiCaprio. His supporting cast is absolutely outstanding. Mr. DiCaprio shares time with Armie Hammer, Naomi Watts, Josh Lucas, and Judi Dench. Overall, I thought this movie was solid but it does feel ‘drawn out’ at times. The progression of the film is a bit hard to interpret as well.

J. Edgar examines the rise of one of the most powerful men in America during the 20^th century. The audience first meets John Edgar Hoover when he is working for Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer at the United States Department of Justice in 1919. From the ‘get-go’ we see that Hoover is motivated, focused, and determined to be the best. This leads to his success of targeting, arresting, and sometimes deporting anti-radical groups. Achievement leads to reward and Hoover was appointed director of the Bureau of Investigation (the FBI’s predecessor). From here Hoover is able to reform police protocol and technology for crime science. He was an advocate for the centralized fingerprint system and forensic laboratories we use today. The film subsequently follows Hoover’s involvement in several high-profile events from 1920 until his death. What is more interesting however is the view into his personal life; in particular his interactions with his mother, trusted secretary, and friendship with Clyde Tolson.

DiCaprio’s portrayal of J. Edgar provokes emotion. As the story progresses you can’t help but dislike Hoover because of his egocentric behavior, lack of sentiment, and illegal methods for obtaining evidence. Armie Hammer is endearing as Clyde Tolson- Hoover’s ‘number-two man’ and rumored lover. Judi Dench’s performance as Hoover’s mother is spot-on. I must confess I despised her character. My opinion was cemented when the audience discovers how Hoover’s mother feels about homosexuals and the possibility of her son being one. With all that said, my expectations were definitely met. The cast is a desirable one and the acting in this film is first-class.

This film pays particular honor to the close-up shot. It allows us to interpret our character’s emotions so vividly. It is especially effective when DiCaprio is on the silver screen. The audience is able to feel so much of Hoover’s seriousness, frustration, egocentricity, and sadness. The music in the film becomes prominent towards the finish line of the film. The end of DiCaprio & Hammer’s fight scene is a great example; the finest instance may be Hoover after the death of his mother.

If I could only offer you one decisive factor to convince you to attend this film, I would say go for the fine acting performances. Each actor gives a truly memorable depiction of their character. While the film does have flaws and it is sometimes hard to grasp the timeline, the events in the film are appealing. Prohibition is not targeted but other happenings like the Lindbergh kidnapping case, the death of JFK, and MLK’s support for civil rights are present. Unless you know the title character’s history front and back J. Edgar will keep you curious I promise that.

7.5 out of 10

Media Literacy Topic #3 - Part B

Subjective or Objective

PART B: Stereotypes & Genres

·        List as many as you can.

Nerd, athlete, goth, prep, Italian mobster, African-American gangsta, flamboyant homosexual, promiscuous woman, hooker with the heart of gold, corny Caucasian, brainy Asian, blonde ditz, hot-tempered Latin American, greedy Jew, punk rocker, Bohemian drug addict, detached doctor, emo Asian, Middle-Eastern terrorist, drunk Russian….

·        Is there any truth to the stereotypes you listed? If yes, how?

Some of these stereotypes do exist in real life. With that said, to an extent, yes, these stereotypes have truth to them. There are almost 7 billion people on this planet. Stereotypes are simply archetypes that have been spotlighted. Every individual is different but some people do fit into certain categories, profiles, or stereotypes

·        Give an example of one of the stereotypes being used in a movie and why you think it was used.

The Godfather is the first film that popped into my mind. It portrays Italian Americans as organized crime figures in the Mafia. I believe this stereotype was used to highlight the dangerous yet lavish lifestyle of being in the mob. I also believe that America has had a fascination with organized crime since Prohibition began. Boardwalk Empire is a great example of this. Al Capone & Lucky Luciano are prominent characters on the HBO series.

·        Was your reaction to the stereotype positive or negative, and why?

My reaction to the stereotype was of mixed emotions. The Mafia is not a fairytale. It has its roots in Sicily, Italy and arrived on American shores in the early 1900s. New York and New Jersey were their ‘stomping grounds.’ In regards to my reaction, it is negative because some Americans will buy into the idea that this is how the Italian-American family/individual is. In regards to a positive reaction, the stereotype made for great performances and an entertaining movie. Stereotypes are not always helpful but it is the context in which you use the stereotype. A great actor finds a way to portray more than just a stereotype- they have to generate depth to their character so that we remain attached and not bored.

·        List as many film genres or types as you can.

Sci-fi, Fantasy, Action, Adventure, Horror, Gore, Thriller, Drama, Animation, Mystery, Foreign, Documentary, Comedy, Westerns, Crime, Gangster, War, Musicals…

·        Do any of the genres you listed use specific stereotypes? What are they and how are they used?

Crime and Gangster genres tend to use stereotypes. They can target Italian Americans, greedy Jews, Russian mobsters, or British crime syndicates.

90s Action genres are very stereotypical. They usually involve an innocent man who doesn’t want to get involved, eventually does, has to beat the antagonist, save the girl, and flex his muscles at some point.

Westerns are rather stereotypical. These usually involve visions of the Old West, miners, saloons, clever prostitutes, sheriffs, outlaws, Native-Americans, gunslingers, coach wagons, and horses. True Grit is a great modern example but let us not forget about films starring John Wayne and Clint Eastwood.

Horror movies can be stereotypical as well; especially those involving a single killer knocking off victims one by one. It’s been done countless times. Classic examples are Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween, Child’s Play, and Friday the 13th. More current examples are Scream, The Ring, The Grudge, and Silence of The Lambs.

Media Literacy Topic #3 - Part A

Subjective or Objective?

PART A 

• List some movies that you really like and some of the things they have in common

The Fighter, The Dark Knight, Clerks, In Bruges, Pirates of the Caribbean, Taken, Kung Fu Panda, Interview with the Vampire, Tropa De Elite, The Departed, My Name Is Khan, The Big Lebowski, Brokeback Mountain, Waiting, Cinderella Man, Gladiator, Diarios de Motocicleta, Jeux d'enfants, A Single Man, Reservoir Dogs

Some of these films have sidesplitting but sometimes raunchy dialogue. I have a knack for fantasy-adventure films. I enjoy a good drama from time to time. I like foreign films quite a bit- especially those that are socially conscious. Health Ledger was my favorite actor and I’m partial to his films. It took all I had not to write Casanova down.

• Now list some movies that you dislike and some of the things they have in common

Transformers, Hostel, Saw, Fantastic Four, Street Fighter, Captain America (1990 version), Any Horror Movie, Sci-Fi Movie

Many of these films are poorly written, rely on effects too much, or belong in a category I like to call 'horror porn.' I have a personal dislike of Sci-Fi. The most recent Star Trek movie was not bad. It is just hard for me to 'get into' them.

• List the qualities that would make you see a movie

I enjoy a good gangster-crime flick. In regards to that genre, Safe House was probably the last gratifying film that I viewed. The director can influence my decision. Kevin Smith does not have the greatest track record but I have seen all of his films (even Jersey Girl). I enjoy Christopher Nolan’s films too. The same thing can be said for some actors. Heath Ledger, Russell Crowe, Denzel Washington, Liam Neeson, Ian McShane, Leonardo DiCaprio, Colin Farrell,  and few others. As I type I’m noticing a male-dominated list of names.

• List the qualities that would make you avoid a movie

Any movie that is highly reliant on special effects always has the potential to be a disaster….Transformers.. cough, cough. This may also explain my utter hatred for 3D movies. I am not saying all movies that use special effects are bad. After all, I listed Pirates of the Caribbean as a favorite. The key word here is potential. But yes, if I am suspicious that this is the case I will avoid such a movie.

• Pick one medium that you use regularly, such a magazine, television show, or blog. What biases can you find? Are they similar to your biases? If so, how?

Bias is evident on CNN and Fox News

I read CNN news quite a bit. There is no doubt that they are a liberal news provider. And whenever I read something that’s odd I usually go to the Associated Press for clarification- I consider them nuetral. In regards to politics, CNN does cast a more positive light on Democratic politicians. Regardless of the party the majority of legislators are skilled liars in my book. Not to mention, the 2011 Congress was the least active it’s been in 50 years. Now to answer the question: Are CNN’s biases similar to my own. I would answer saying, “Somewhat.” Do I have staunch democratic views? Yes. Do I believe in healthy debate (unlike most liberals and conservatives)? Yes. This “my way or the highway” approach is crazy. One has to respect a difference of opinion.