“War of the Worlds”
Starring: Tom Cruise, Dakota Fanning, Justin Chatwin, Tim Robbins, Miranda Otto
3 stars out of 4
Steven Spielberg’s “War of the Worlds” is a 4 star movie all the way until its final act; it is so utterly disappointing that it automatically makes you think about how you wish the movie stopped after the first 2 acts of the film which chew up about an hour and a half of the 2 hour running time.
Tom Cruise plays Ray Ferrier a crane tower in New Jersey that has his two kids for the weekend. Ray is made out to be the dad that no child would want to stay with on there weekend, they are left to him by there mother and step dad who the kids both respect more. (Fanning, Chatwin) When the kids arrive at Ray’s working class bachelor pad it seems all too awkward for them and him and they realize they will have to make the best to survive the weekend.
When Rachel (Fanning) is flipping through the channels while her deadbeat dad sleeps, there are news postings everywhere about citing strange occurrences throughout the world that involve electro magnetic pulses, they seem harmless at first until Ray and his kids , along with the whole neighborhood experience them on there own. Robbie (Chatwin) later tells dad that lighting has struck 26 times in the same spot, and there is no thunder. We know trouble is coming when the street is completely trembling are there are for sure signs that a mysterious object will arise from it.
This is the genius of the first 30 minutes; everyone is in total disarray along with Ray, who is inspecting very closely while his family remains indoors. Drastic turns take place when the tripods finally show themselves in such an epic revealing sense that most of the film lacks, Ray and the rest of the neighborhood are running around hiding and trying to escape the sight of these tripods that instantly kill once you are zapped by them.
The rest of the movie unfolds when Ray quickly, and I cannot stress that enough, sucks everything up and realizes he has to hide his kids from this immediate danger. This is what is good about the beginning, Ray grows up FAST, and realizes his duty, and his children’s lives have become far more important to him. The innocent Rachel asks questions rapidly after Ray steals the only car in miles that seems to work, Ray is the only one in the car that realizes that this situation is obviously far from solving, and he must do WHATEVER is possible to get these kids to Boston, where there mother has traveled to.
The whole movie is hiding, running and traveling; it’s actually impressive how real all of it seems up until a certain point. The audience gets a phenomenal sense of what it must have been like in New York during the 9/11 attacks. The alien attack isn’t every scene non-stop in your face action. It’s an organized, decently spaced out schedule of filming that takes place, Spielberg gives a few minutes to digest what is happening, and then he goes right back at it, and leaves you claustrophobic, especially in a scene where dozens of citizens are surrounding the family’s transportation in the pouring down rain. That scene was absolutely horrifying along with the many other scenes of Ray doing everything in his power to not let his son fight, and his daughter feel fear.
My review at this point must sound like a 4 star review, but there are so many flaws in the last 30 minutes, when Tim Robbins comes into the film, he not only takes away from the atmosphere of the film, but his basement is a scapegoat for one of the most clichéd scenes a thriller could have. Taking Jurassic Park for example, the scene where the two kids are hiding in the kitchen from the raptors, this is the EXACT same thing, and we are reminded that.When the supposed climax takes place it leaves us under whelmed and unsatisfied, there are a certain amout of plot holes that also leave the viewer baffled.
If you’ve read this review and you trust my words, leave the movie when Tim Robbins enters it, and then go home and dream about how ridiculously good the first hour and a half is. How does S.S. (director) make a great 2/3 of an epic summer horror movie, and then totally lose his grasp on the plot. If you aren’t going to see this movie and you haven’t seen M. Night Shyamalan’s Signs, I highly suggest renting it.
The worst part about this review for the reader is that this movie sounds great and terrible, but trust me many people will automatically love this movie, and some will hate it, I however am the rare in-between person that steadily prays for an upcoming successful movie that will wash the taste of the last 30 minutes of this film out of my mouth.
Thursday, June 30, 2005
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
Bale is the right man for the job
“Batman Begins”
Starring: Christian Bale, Katie Holmes, Michael Caine, Liam Neeson, Cillian Murphy, Morgan Freeman, Ken Watanabe, Gary Oldman, Tom Wilkinson
4 stars out of 4
Chris Nolan’s “Batman Begins” isn’t some cinematic prequel trip down memory lane reminding us how much potential the Batman movies have, Nolan’s Batman is a dark, tormented, and surprising prequel that may very well lay the foundation for comic book movies in the future.
The story is as follows, Bruce Wayne is far off in a poor Eastern country that is un named, his whereabouts are known by Henri Ducard, (Neeson) who convinces Wayne to train under him and his leader Ra’s Al Ghul (Watanabe). Al Ghul is the leader of the League of Shadows, there plan and the plan of there leaders Ducard and Ghul is set on destroying Gotham City, the famous city that once showed promise when it was controlled by the Wayne family, the city’s chances fell short after a young Bruce witnessed his parents death. The steadily decaying Gotham is now run by high level criminal Carmine Falcone (Wilkinson) who is the “muscle of the city.” During Wayne’s training under Ducard, he learns how to control his fear, and hopefully in the future turn fear against the people that prey on it.
Wayne returns to Gotham shortly after his training settlement run by Ducard and Ghul is destroyed after they reveal there plan to not help Gotham, but destroy it completely, Wayne hates the idea and set’s off an incident that blows up the whole mountain. The first hour is devoted to Wayne’s development towards revenge, his anger outweighs his guilt, and that is the key thing that drives him to becoming a symbol that the short lists of noblemen in Gotham stand by. The short list includes Rachel Dawes, (Holmes) Bruce’s lifelong friend, who is now a district attorney that seems to be the only person willing to put Carmine Falcone’s crime ring behind bars. Another is Jim Gordon, an honest and decent cop that is pretty much the only non-corrupt official in Gotham, along with Dawes; Wayne feels that the 3 of them alone are the only people that can slowly save Gotham. Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman play Alfred and Lucius Fox respectively, Caine brings a comfortable and caring presence in his warming character as Alfred, the lifelong butler of the Wayne family, who never gives up on Bruce Wayne. Lucius Fox is the forgotten mastermind of Wayne enterprises, he supplies Wayne with his creative weapons that the Wayne company manufactures, but has stored away for a rainy day.
Cillian Murphy plays Dr. Jonathan Crane, he scares us mostly when he is the Scarecrow, the main villain that feeds on fear, and is plotting to drive the whole city mad by emptying a poison into the Gotham’s water supply. Murphy is on the verge of becoming a breakout star in Hollywood, and he brings a fresh new face to the villains that the Batman series has head, although this one has 3 or 4 villains, the Scarecrow is probably the most terrifying and feared upon.
Now about Christian Bale, some said he wouldn’t work, he obviously is working perfectly because the Batman series just took a giant step in the right direction under Chris Nolan’s helm, and he is so visionary and precise that he can’t screw this up like Joel Schumacher did with “Batman Forever”and“Batman and Robin.” Nolan’s is has made all the right choices so far, his casting was flawless, his vision is dark and bottomless, and with Christian Bale by his side, and probably sequels on the way, Chris Nolan has just struck gold.
Starring: Christian Bale, Katie Holmes, Michael Caine, Liam Neeson, Cillian Murphy, Morgan Freeman, Ken Watanabe, Gary Oldman, Tom Wilkinson
4 stars out of 4
Chris Nolan’s “Batman Begins” isn’t some cinematic prequel trip down memory lane reminding us how much potential the Batman movies have, Nolan’s Batman is a dark, tormented, and surprising prequel that may very well lay the foundation for comic book movies in the future.
The story is as follows, Bruce Wayne is far off in a poor Eastern country that is un named, his whereabouts are known by Henri Ducard, (Neeson) who convinces Wayne to train under him and his leader Ra’s Al Ghul (Watanabe). Al Ghul is the leader of the League of Shadows, there plan and the plan of there leaders Ducard and Ghul is set on destroying Gotham City, the famous city that once showed promise when it was controlled by the Wayne family, the city’s chances fell short after a young Bruce witnessed his parents death. The steadily decaying Gotham is now run by high level criminal Carmine Falcone (Wilkinson) who is the “muscle of the city.” During Wayne’s training under Ducard, he learns how to control his fear, and hopefully in the future turn fear against the people that prey on it.
Wayne returns to Gotham shortly after his training settlement run by Ducard and Ghul is destroyed after they reveal there plan to not help Gotham, but destroy it completely, Wayne hates the idea and set’s off an incident that blows up the whole mountain. The first hour is devoted to Wayne’s development towards revenge, his anger outweighs his guilt, and that is the key thing that drives him to becoming a symbol that the short lists of noblemen in Gotham stand by. The short list includes Rachel Dawes, (Holmes) Bruce’s lifelong friend, who is now a district attorney that seems to be the only person willing to put Carmine Falcone’s crime ring behind bars. Another is Jim Gordon, an honest and decent cop that is pretty much the only non-corrupt official in Gotham, along with Dawes; Wayne feels that the 3 of them alone are the only people that can slowly save Gotham. Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman play Alfred and Lucius Fox respectively, Caine brings a comfortable and caring presence in his warming character as Alfred, the lifelong butler of the Wayne family, who never gives up on Bruce Wayne. Lucius Fox is the forgotten mastermind of Wayne enterprises, he supplies Wayne with his creative weapons that the Wayne company manufactures, but has stored away for a rainy day.
Cillian Murphy plays Dr. Jonathan Crane, he scares us mostly when he is the Scarecrow, the main villain that feeds on fear, and is plotting to drive the whole city mad by emptying a poison into the Gotham’s water supply. Murphy is on the verge of becoming a breakout star in Hollywood, and he brings a fresh new face to the villains that the Batman series has head, although this one has 3 or 4 villains, the Scarecrow is probably the most terrifying and feared upon.
Now about Christian Bale, some said he wouldn’t work, he obviously is working perfectly because the Batman series just took a giant step in the right direction under Chris Nolan’s helm, and he is so visionary and precise that he can’t screw this up like Joel Schumacher did with “Batman Forever”and“Batman and Robin.” Nolan’s is has made all the right choices so far, his casting was flawless, his vision is dark and bottomless, and with Christian Bale by his side, and probably sequels on the way, Chris Nolan has just struck gold.
Tuesday, June 7, 2005
Cinderella Man
“Cinderella Man”
Starring: Russell Crowe, Renee Zelwegger, Paul Giamatti, Craig Bierko, Paddy Considine, Bruce McGill
4 stars out of 4
Throughout Ron Howard’s new drama “Cinderella Man” I kept thinking of what I would rate the movie, that is my problem when I am viewing a film, I ask myself too early and often what I should rate it. I came to a truce with myself that I would rate it 3 and a half stars or 4 stars. But afterwards I realized how much of a good thing was shown in that 2 and a half hour timeslot that Ron Howard along with the wonderful cast had painted.
Everyone knows that this is the first mainstream Oscar contender of the year, and it has so many good reasons to be; Russell Crowe, Renee Zelwegger and Paul Giamatti all could be nominated respectfully, the Academy appreciates period pieces, and uplifting ones at that, take a look at 2003’s “Seabiscuit” if you need convincing.
The story is set in the depression era; it starts off in 1928 with a James J. Braddock victory, his manager is played by Joe Gould (Giamatti) who might be a shoe-in for best supporting actor, consistently supporting Braddock, they know each other to well to ever argue, and Gould is only looking for Braddock’s best interests, due to the fact that he knows his strengths. We witness Braddock’s family, his loving wife Mae (Zelwegger) who never goes to his fights or listens to them, and his 3 children Howard, Jay, and Rosie
Howard’s script fast forwards 4 years into the Great Depression, Braddock and his family are now tenants of a low scale, run down living style that the Depression ultimately depicts. Howard is key at making this seem real, the Depression is the main character of the story, it breathes suffering, despair, and family unity quickly through the Braddock family, and the entire nation. Jim and Mae’s kids soon begin to starve and freeze and there father will have none of that.
Now to Russell Crowe, the man who is criticized as being a punk, he seems to be portrayed as a “know it all” actor who cannot make a wrong move. Crowe’s creation, James J. Braddock, is the most decent character in the movie along with his wife; Braddock is so much of a family man that when he fails to pay for the heating bill he has to ask for help from the Emergency Relief Dept. of New Jersey, since they only grant him $19, he then travels as a respected beggar and asks Mr. Johnston (McGill) along with his friends for more money. This takes place after Braddock’s boxing license is stripped away from him by Johnston, mainly for putting on a boring fight that he got paid $50 for.
The story’s pacing is also important, it starts slow showing the downside of this family then reaches towards hope, when Gould gets Braddock 1 more fight, “it’s not a comeback he explains.” Braddock will fight for $250 against the number 2 contender that is in line for the championship. Sure enough Braddock wins that fight, and learns that not only has he surprised the nation; he has surprised himself and his family. One fight leads to another, those fight’s lead to Braddock’s chance to fight the world champion Max Baer, who had killed 2 men in the ring with his vicious blows.
Baer played by Craig Bierko is not in the movie that long, but his presence gets under the audience’s skin so much that you can’t help think of the genius in Ron Howard’s mind when making that casting call. The last fight is made with precision and craftsmanship, the editing is so slick that our eyes bounce everywhere excitingly.
Throughout “Cinderella Man” everything seemed perfect; there weren’t a lot of scenes that were irrelevant, every word spoken had meaning, especially by Crowe who could very well receive another Best Actor award come Oscar time.
Starring: Russell Crowe, Renee Zelwegger, Paul Giamatti, Craig Bierko, Paddy Considine, Bruce McGill
4 stars out of 4
Throughout Ron Howard’s new drama “Cinderella Man” I kept thinking of what I would rate the movie, that is my problem when I am viewing a film, I ask myself too early and often what I should rate it. I came to a truce with myself that I would rate it 3 and a half stars or 4 stars. But afterwards I realized how much of a good thing was shown in that 2 and a half hour timeslot that Ron Howard along with the wonderful cast had painted.
Everyone knows that this is the first mainstream Oscar contender of the year, and it has so many good reasons to be; Russell Crowe, Renee Zelwegger and Paul Giamatti all could be nominated respectfully, the Academy appreciates period pieces, and uplifting ones at that, take a look at 2003’s “Seabiscuit” if you need convincing.
The story is set in the depression era; it starts off in 1928 with a James J. Braddock victory, his manager is played by Joe Gould (Giamatti) who might be a shoe-in for best supporting actor, consistently supporting Braddock, they know each other to well to ever argue, and Gould is only looking for Braddock’s best interests, due to the fact that he knows his strengths. We witness Braddock’s family, his loving wife Mae (Zelwegger) who never goes to his fights or listens to them, and his 3 children Howard, Jay, and Rosie
Howard’s script fast forwards 4 years into the Great Depression, Braddock and his family are now tenants of a low scale, run down living style that the Depression ultimately depicts. Howard is key at making this seem real, the Depression is the main character of the story, it breathes suffering, despair, and family unity quickly through the Braddock family, and the entire nation. Jim and Mae’s kids soon begin to starve and freeze and there father will have none of that.
Now to Russell Crowe, the man who is criticized as being a punk, he seems to be portrayed as a “know it all” actor who cannot make a wrong move. Crowe’s creation, James J. Braddock, is the most decent character in the movie along with his wife; Braddock is so much of a family man that when he fails to pay for the heating bill he has to ask for help from the Emergency Relief Dept. of New Jersey, since they only grant him $19, he then travels as a respected beggar and asks Mr. Johnston (McGill) along with his friends for more money. This takes place after Braddock’s boxing license is stripped away from him by Johnston, mainly for putting on a boring fight that he got paid $50 for.
The story’s pacing is also important, it starts slow showing the downside of this family then reaches towards hope, when Gould gets Braddock 1 more fight, “it’s not a comeback he explains.” Braddock will fight for $250 against the number 2 contender that is in line for the championship. Sure enough Braddock wins that fight, and learns that not only has he surprised the nation; he has surprised himself and his family. One fight leads to another, those fight’s lead to Braddock’s chance to fight the world champion Max Baer, who had killed 2 men in the ring with his vicious blows.
Baer played by Craig Bierko is not in the movie that long, but his presence gets under the audience’s skin so much that you can’t help think of the genius in Ron Howard’s mind when making that casting call. The last fight is made with precision and craftsmanship, the editing is so slick that our eyes bounce everywhere excitingly.
Throughout “Cinderella Man” everything seemed perfect; there weren’t a lot of scenes that were irrelevant, every word spoken had meaning, especially by Crowe who could very well receive another Best Actor award come Oscar time.
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