"The story of a life and everything that came after..." - tagline
So Peter Jackson decides to followup his box office monsters like The Lord of the Rings, King Kong and his production of District 9 with The Lovely Bones. Let's find out if it was the right move.
Now several negative reviews and a lack of interest in the story itself almost swayed me from not seeing this movie. But I figured if I was going to be a legitimate critic I would have to watch some pretty bad movies as well. And also from the trailer, I thought this movie might actually be pretty enjoyable. Now I am back after watching The Lovely Bones and here is my review.
If you didn't know, The Lovely Bones is the Peter Jackson film adaptation of Alice Sebold's best selling novel of the same name. It is about your average ordinary girl Susie Salmon (Saoirse Ronan) who is raped and murdered by a local man named George Harvey (Stanley Tucci). After that the story takes place in two different worlds: our world where Susie's family (Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz, Rose McIver) tries to find out who killed her and a sort of little girl fantasy version of purgatory (or a private little heaven) where Susie watches and waits.
Now this movie I think has considerable hype because a lot of people read the book, and for Peter Jackson fans you get some of his simplistic fantasy movies he made before he started frolicking with Frodo. Yeah, kinda funny how the movie you make after the one about Michael J. Fox hanging with ghosts, is an adaptation of the one of the biggest fantasy stories ever. But that's Hollywood I guess. Fans of the book and probably fans of Jackson may not be disappointed.
I will get the pros and cons out of the way, with pros coming first. The acting in this movie is to be praised. Saoirse Ronan is a talented young actress. She pulls off her character splendidly and goes through a wide range of emotions. Her problem, like many young stars, is her character but I'll go into that later. Mark Wahlberg, who has been playing nice guys lately, is spot on here. Rachel Weisz is good for the most part, she isn't there as much as Wahlberg, but it's nice just to see her in a movie again. The same can be said of the always great Susan Sarandon. Michael Imperioli is a right choice to play the cop. But the big star here is Stanley Tucci who is scary as hell. I was almost surprised it was him when I saw advertisements for this movie. He goes DeNiro for this movie, transforming into the character physically. This is award worthy stuff right here. Also there is some CGI and cinematography in this movie that is just breathtaking and really cool, though this can be expected of Peter Jackson. There are also just some scenes and moments of beauty and heart that I can't go into without giving things away. I'll tell you my favorite little moment is one where Susie reaches out to her father from the afterlife by bringing a dead rose to life in his hands. It's just...lovely.
Now for the bad. I am just really annoyed with modern narration in movies. Narration takes a lot the subtlety out of some movies. Action more often than not speaks louder than words. And yes I said that some of the CGI is good, but at other times the little almost-heaven comes off as being pretty cartoonish and below Jackson's caliber. Also the logic behind the actions characters in this movie take are sometimes just strange. Like the all too conveniant romance between Susie and Ray, a boy from her school. Immediately after Susie tells us, through narration of course, of her Bella Swan like fascination and descriptions of him, Ray coincidentally reveals to her his love for her, asks her out on a date and almost kisses her. This is also coincidentally just right before she is killed. Susie Salmon herself was kind of a frustrating character. Her narration, which was tiresome, made her sound eloquent but hollow, but when in the real world she came off as being kind of a high maintenanced, preppy brat. And also a scene where the Salmon family is confronted by the cop played by Imperioli after attacking the killer, whom they now suspect. Imperioli suggests to them that they need proper evidence. Oh but that doesn't cut it with the Salmons. Bah, evidence! What is this the twentieth century or something? Susan Sarandon was fun when she was in the movie as the outrageous drunken grandmother, but it falls kind of flat when it turns out that is all she is there for: to be outrageous and drunk.
I would also have to agree somewhat with Roger Ebert when in his review he stated that the deaths of George Harvey's victims seemed like a good thing to them. They did all seem to be very happy after he raped, murdered, and (for Susie) dismembered them and sent them to what is basically the continent next to Neverland. I know most religious oriented movies make it kind of a point to view death as a good thing inevitably as it means you are going to a better place, but it still bugs me. Oh and to my surprise, Alice Sebold is not religious.
So yeah, The Lovely Bones is not a bad movie at all. It just wasn't great, but that's okay. There have been plenty of not that great movies out there that I have seen more than twice before. Did it beat Book of Eli, the other religious oriented movie of the year's beginning? Not for me. It was a film that had its moments and I liked it. It has good performances, images, and its story didn't disappoint me.
This has been a satisfied movie review from Your Modest Guru. Thanks for reading.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Friday, January 29, 2010
Dollhouse Cancellation
Okay I just got done watching the series finale of the terrific sci fi action series Dollhouse. It ended well, yes, but why did it end? Low ratings due to Fox placing it on a Friday night schedule. So yeah, the show was doomed to fail when Fox did that. No one watches TV on Friday nights, unless you're a loser like me. Tee hee.
In case you didn't know, Dollhouse is a story involving an advanced corporation that has the technology to erase the personalities of any individual and replace it with others. These individuals usually sign a contract that allows them to become these Actives (or Dolls). Actives are sent out on assignments for the wealthy with personalities necessary for the assignment. These assignments can range from anything from prostitution to assassination. The Actives are usually placed inside a secure and comfortable facility when without a personality whatsoever. One such Doll is Echo (played by Eliza Dushku), who is the star Active in a Los Angeles Dollhouse. She is however slowly becoming self aware and developing a need to break free from The Dollhouse and the corporation behind it. The story follows her struggles and the allies she makes along the way.
This show delivered on everything from characters to care for, compelling drama, exciting action, and a fascinating story. I ranked it up there with Lost. It's not to say the show didn't have its periodic faults because every show does. But really it is clear that this show was awesome and garnered a fan base quickly. Wouldn't the more reasonable approach be to move it to a better night instead of Friday. I'm sure you want Fox wants to make way for some show we just know is going to last like Human Target and some other American Idol ripoff, but something tells me Dollhouse was just a little bit better.
Even more mind boggling is the fact that this show was created by Joss Whedon, who has masterminded long running shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel (other shows I enjoyed). This wouldn't be the first time Fox has cancelled a show of his that was well received but had low ratings. The show Firefly, which many including Whedon believe to be his magnum opus, was cancelled. I have not seen Firefly unfortunately, but I will soon and then judge for myself. Ironically, Firefly later had a followup motion picture called Serenity which was much better than the Star Wars prequels along with the J.J. Abrams version of Star Trek. So yeah, I guess Whedon didn't learn his lesson and thought he could trust Fox with another of his projects. But lets hope he does believe in the "fool me once, fool me twice" expression.
Whedon knew he was cancelled midway through season 2 of the show but was able to get Fox to let him complete his show the way he wants. And he did it well, nothing felt rushed and everything was enjoyable and felt right. He completed the show with grace and it was fun. There was an impact with the series finale but it wasn't nearly as big as it would have been if the show had gone on for a few more seasons or even just one more. It is sad to see it go even still.
My advice to you is to rent Dollhouse season 1 and 2 when it comes out on DVD. See if you like it. My advice to Joss Whedon is to stay the hell away from Fox, they've already destroyed two of your great creations. But now that Dollhouse has past I have more things to look forward to regarding television. Renting more seasons of Dexter and Breaking Bad; begin watching Californiacation, Firefly, and Party of Five; finish watching what will probably be Heroes' last season; and finally watching the godliness that is Lost: the series finale. Hint, hint: I will try to make my next posts Lost oriented in tribute to the show.
This has been a goodbye to a good show from Your Modest Guru. Thanks for reading.
In case you didn't know, Dollhouse is a story involving an advanced corporation that has the technology to erase the personalities of any individual and replace it with others. These individuals usually sign a contract that allows them to become these Actives (or Dolls). Actives are sent out on assignments for the wealthy with personalities necessary for the assignment. These assignments can range from anything from prostitution to assassination. The Actives are usually placed inside a secure and comfortable facility when without a personality whatsoever. One such Doll is Echo (played by Eliza Dushku), who is the star Active in a Los Angeles Dollhouse. She is however slowly becoming self aware and developing a need to break free from The Dollhouse and the corporation behind it. The story follows her struggles and the allies she makes along the way.
This show delivered on everything from characters to care for, compelling drama, exciting action, and a fascinating story. I ranked it up there with Lost. It's not to say the show didn't have its periodic faults because every show does. But really it is clear that this show was awesome and garnered a fan base quickly. Wouldn't the more reasonable approach be to move it to a better night instead of Friday. I'm sure you want Fox wants to make way for some show we just know is going to last like Human Target and some other American Idol ripoff, but something tells me Dollhouse was just a little bit better.
Even more mind boggling is the fact that this show was created by Joss Whedon, who has masterminded long running shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel (other shows I enjoyed). This wouldn't be the first time Fox has cancelled a show of his that was well received but had low ratings. The show Firefly, which many including Whedon believe to be his magnum opus, was cancelled. I have not seen Firefly unfortunately, but I will soon and then judge for myself. Ironically, Firefly later had a followup motion picture called Serenity which was much better than the Star Wars prequels along with the J.J. Abrams version of Star Trek. So yeah, I guess Whedon didn't learn his lesson and thought he could trust Fox with another of his projects. But lets hope he does believe in the "fool me once, fool me twice" expression.
Whedon knew he was cancelled midway through season 2 of the show but was able to get Fox to let him complete his show the way he wants. And he did it well, nothing felt rushed and everything was enjoyable and felt right. He completed the show with grace and it was fun. There was an impact with the series finale but it wasn't nearly as big as it would have been if the show had gone on for a few more seasons or even just one more. It is sad to see it go even still.
My advice to you is to rent Dollhouse season 1 and 2 when it comes out on DVD. See if you like it. My advice to Joss Whedon is to stay the hell away from Fox, they've already destroyed two of your great creations. But now that Dollhouse has past I have more things to look forward to regarding television. Renting more seasons of Dexter and Breaking Bad; begin watching Californiacation, Firefly, and Party of Five; finish watching what will probably be Heroes' last season; and finally watching the godliness that is Lost: the series finale. Hint, hint: I will try to make my next posts Lost oriented in tribute to the show.
This has been a goodbye to a good show from Your Modest Guru. Thanks for reading.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
The Horror that is Heidi Montag
"Have no fear of perfection, you'll never reach it." - Salvador Dali
If Dali was alive, I'm sure he would say this to Heidi Montag, who as of late has become the wet dream of every form of modern plastic surgery. When all of this recent news came to light, I found myself wondering, just like I did about Kim Kardashian: just who the hell is Heidi Montag. Well apparently she's one of the god knows how many other annoying broads you'd find on The Hills, while also being a celebrity media personality and singer and was quite well known in these circles I guess.
Before she went all Bride of Frankenstein part 2, I found Montag to be a very attractive woman. Nevermind that she looked like my cousin, because frankly most hot women these days look like my cousin (damn you, God!) But seriously from the look of her presurgery I'd say she seemed very beautiful in a natural sort of way. So whereas most would agree she was almost physically flawless, Heidi completely disagreed and claimed she was postively flawed physically. With that the once normal and appealing (at least bodywise, unless they moved some brain tissue to her cheeks) Heidi Montag turned into the plastic and comic book caricture Heidi Montag. In her Billy Bush interview, when I got the first sight of her really, I felt as if Hugh Hefner himself would cringe at this woman. When The Girls Next Door resemble normal girls more than you, you know you went too far. If memory serves me right, Montag got breast implants going to a near F, her ears pinned back, her face completely destroyed and reshaped with rhinoplasty, fat filled into her cheeks, forehead and lips, and I think some bone removed from her lower back to support her breasts. Yeah, she didn't go over the top AT ALL=blatent sarcasm!
Now it is known that this chick has an addiction to plastic surgery (yahuh, no shit), but if that was just the case I might have forgiven her for this. But I was just appalled by her interview with the shocked Billy Bush. Heidi, who was moving her face as little as possible so as not to reenact the opening scene of Scanners, told Bush the details of her surgery and how she almost died in the process. According to her, she was a near cardiac arrest victim, being down to five breaths per minute. But you know what, Heidi thinks it was worth it. Heidi thinks her beauty, her freaky as hell beauty was worth dying for and that suffering massive swelling and bruises post surgery was worth it and that the public disgust at her vanity and horrid appearance was worth it. There's a good lesson to the kids: your life can be destroyed, but your looks must survive.
That wasn't even the best part though. The best part was how she tried to ignore her obvious plastic surgery addiction as much as possible, even if it meant contradicting herself completely (oh wait she didn't realize she was doing that). Montag claimed that the surgery was just as spiritual as it was physical. Oh yeah, church can be found in the plastic surgery clinics now. And by contradicting herself I meant that at one moment she claims that God creates us all perfect but then when questioned about her having surgery if that were case she says God "gave her a little extra." No honey, I think he'd just give it all upfront if that was what he had intended. And further distracting people from her addiction, she goes on to briefly talk about how much she appreciates the science behind plastic surgery. But then she obviously doesn't appreciate it enough by not listening to her accomplished surgeon and resting up and letting the surgery sink in. No, no, instead she goes off and flashes her shit all over the hills she has become so familiar with. The, the reaction was not that great and she was very irresponsible. Once again, contradicting one's self. It would seem perfection also matters enough that God and scientific research become your scapegoats?
It is also known that prior to her surgeries, Montag was at an arms length catfight with Brooke Hogan, another celebrity media personality and high maintenance bitch and the daughter of Hulk. During this test of one-ups-womanship, Montag and Hogan drew comparisons between their shitty records along with their careers and no doubt their looks. Now Brooke Hogan is fake as hell, that's a fact, but I find her massively attractive because there is still a great deal of humanity left. It is not unreasonable to believe that someone as vain and stupid as Heidi Montag would alter her whole body to one up Brooke Hogan. This didn't turn out well. Whether Montag was or was not trying to become physically more attractive than Hogan, she failed. And This is what we in the land of internet back and forths call EPIC FAIL! Bringing the big guns for this mother.
So all in all, what have I taken away from Heidi Montag's little moment in the limelight's shame section? Well personally I think it's fucking retarded in all aspects but hey that's just me. If you reader by some miracle believe this monstrosity was in the right feel free to tell me in the comment section below. This begs more than enough questions this fiasco does. Like whether or not natural beauty is something to be tampered with, or whether vanity is on the rise in a world where you can get almost anything you want or whether inner beauty is more important than physical beauty. I will give Montag some props though. 1, she has made better worse. 2, she has shed light on vanity's cruel mistreatment of modern science and medicine. And 3, she has more than likely baffled MacNamera and Troy from Nip/Tuck. I don't think even they'd have the balls to do something so unbelieveable.
This has been a look into Hollywood's gutter from Your Modest Guru. Thanks for reading.
If Dali was alive, I'm sure he would say this to Heidi Montag, who as of late has become the wet dream of every form of modern plastic surgery. When all of this recent news came to light, I found myself wondering, just like I did about Kim Kardashian: just who the hell is Heidi Montag. Well apparently she's one of the god knows how many other annoying broads you'd find on The Hills, while also being a celebrity media personality and singer and was quite well known in these circles I guess.
Before she went all Bride of Frankenstein part 2, I found Montag to be a very attractive woman. Nevermind that she looked like my cousin, because frankly most hot women these days look like my cousin (damn you, God!) But seriously from the look of her presurgery I'd say she seemed very beautiful in a natural sort of way. So whereas most would agree she was almost physically flawless, Heidi completely disagreed and claimed she was postively flawed physically. With that the once normal and appealing (at least bodywise, unless they moved some brain tissue to her cheeks) Heidi Montag turned into the plastic and comic book caricture Heidi Montag. In her Billy Bush interview, when I got the first sight of her really, I felt as if Hugh Hefner himself would cringe at this woman. When The Girls Next Door resemble normal girls more than you, you know you went too far. If memory serves me right, Montag got breast implants going to a near F, her ears pinned back, her face completely destroyed and reshaped with rhinoplasty, fat filled into her cheeks, forehead and lips, and I think some bone removed from her lower back to support her breasts. Yeah, she didn't go over the top AT ALL=blatent sarcasm!
Now it is known that this chick has an addiction to plastic surgery (yahuh, no shit), but if that was just the case I might have forgiven her for this. But I was just appalled by her interview with the shocked Billy Bush. Heidi, who was moving her face as little as possible so as not to reenact the opening scene of Scanners, told Bush the details of her surgery and how she almost died in the process. According to her, she was a near cardiac arrest victim, being down to five breaths per minute. But you know what, Heidi thinks it was worth it. Heidi thinks her beauty, her freaky as hell beauty was worth dying for and that suffering massive swelling and bruises post surgery was worth it and that the public disgust at her vanity and horrid appearance was worth it. There's a good lesson to the kids: your life can be destroyed, but your looks must survive.
That wasn't even the best part though. The best part was how she tried to ignore her obvious plastic surgery addiction as much as possible, even if it meant contradicting herself completely (oh wait she didn't realize she was doing that). Montag claimed that the surgery was just as spiritual as it was physical. Oh yeah, church can be found in the plastic surgery clinics now. And by contradicting herself I meant that at one moment she claims that God creates us all perfect but then when questioned about her having surgery if that were case she says God "gave her a little extra." No honey, I think he'd just give it all upfront if that was what he had intended. And further distracting people from her addiction, she goes on to briefly talk about how much she appreciates the science behind plastic surgery. But then she obviously doesn't appreciate it enough by not listening to her accomplished surgeon and resting up and letting the surgery sink in. No, no, instead she goes off and flashes her shit all over the hills she has become so familiar with. The, the reaction was not that great and she was very irresponsible. Once again, contradicting one's self. It would seem perfection also matters enough that God and scientific research become your scapegoats?
It is also known that prior to her surgeries, Montag was at an arms length catfight with Brooke Hogan, another celebrity media personality and high maintenance bitch and the daughter of Hulk. During this test of one-ups-womanship, Montag and Hogan drew comparisons between their shitty records along with their careers and no doubt their looks. Now Brooke Hogan is fake as hell, that's a fact, but I find her massively attractive because there is still a great deal of humanity left. It is not unreasonable to believe that someone as vain and stupid as Heidi Montag would alter her whole body to one up Brooke Hogan. This didn't turn out well. Whether Montag was or was not trying to become physically more attractive than Hogan, she failed. And This is what we in the land of internet back and forths call EPIC FAIL! Bringing the big guns for this mother.
So all in all, what have I taken away from Heidi Montag's little moment in the limelight's shame section? Well personally I think it's fucking retarded in all aspects but hey that's just me. If you reader by some miracle believe this monstrosity was in the right feel free to tell me in the comment section below. This begs more than enough questions this fiasco does. Like whether or not natural beauty is something to be tampered with, or whether vanity is on the rise in a world where you can get almost anything you want or whether inner beauty is more important than physical beauty. I will give Montag some props though. 1, she has made better worse. 2, she has shed light on vanity's cruel mistreatment of modern science and medicine. And 3, she has more than likely baffled MacNamera and Troy from Nip/Tuck. I don't think even they'd have the balls to do something so unbelieveable.
This has been a look into Hollywood's gutter from Your Modest Guru. Thanks for reading.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Modest PSA # 5: Bella Casting
DISCLAIMER: THIS PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM EVEN THOUGH IT PROBABLY SHOULD BE!
Hi, I'm Your Modest Guru and today I'm here to tell you of a tragic occurance that has protruded from the cast of films in recent years. Kristin Stewart. This is in no way an attack on Stewart's acting ability. She is talented. Her problem is not acting related, but casting related. It happens to many actors, it is called typecasting. Kristen Stewart's type happens to unfortunately be that of the depressed, introspective girl. It is annoying quite frankly. You will find in films such as Adventureland, Twilight, In the Land of Women, and The Messangers.
Signs of this typecasting can be found in a Kristen Stewart role if she shows signs of silence, distance, perpetual confusion, and an otherwise anti-social personality. Though her emotionally strung character role may have worked in In the Land of Women, it comes off as repetitive and lame in the long run. If she is to be redeemed in the audience's eyes simply watch films of hers where she is given more depth. These inlcude Into the Wild, Panic Room, and Zathura. She is still a good actress and we must have hope that she will go places in the future. Her latest film that will be coming out is called The Runaways, a biopic of the all girl band where Stewart herself will be portraying the famous Joan Jett. Things are looking up in the Bella Casting situation.
Now you know and knowing is half the battle. The rest Your Modest Guru leaves to you.
Hi, I'm Your Modest Guru and today I'm here to tell you of a tragic occurance that has protruded from the cast of films in recent years. Kristin Stewart. This is in no way an attack on Stewart's acting ability. She is talented. Her problem is not acting related, but casting related. It happens to many actors, it is called typecasting. Kristen Stewart's type happens to unfortunately be that of the depressed, introspective girl. It is annoying quite frankly. You will find in films such as Adventureland, Twilight, In the Land of Women, and The Messangers.
Signs of this typecasting can be found in a Kristen Stewart role if she shows signs of silence, distance, perpetual confusion, and an otherwise anti-social personality. Though her emotionally strung character role may have worked in In the Land of Women, it comes off as repetitive and lame in the long run. If she is to be redeemed in the audience's eyes simply watch films of hers where she is given more depth. These inlcude Into the Wild, Panic Room, and Zathura. She is still a good actress and we must have hope that she will go places in the future. Her latest film that will be coming out is called The Runaways, a biopic of the all girl band where Stewart herself will be portraying the famous Joan Jett. Things are looking up in the Bella Casting situation.
Now you know and knowing is half the battle. The rest Your Modest Guru leaves to you.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
The Book of Eli Review
"Believe" - tagline
Believe in what? Hard to say. But believe me when I say this is a movie you won't be sorry you saw. Now watching the trailers for this I thought that this would be a very religious movie where the religious aspects are downplayed considerably by nonstop action and its two mega stars Denzel Washington and Gary Oldman, but a good movie nevertheless. Now after watching The Book of Eli, I've decided that that mindless action undermining spirituality movie is destined to be Legion. The Book of Eli, directed by the very talented Allen and Albert Hughes, is the kind of action movie that should be made more in this new decade.
The movie is set in the future, I don't know how far in, where "a war" has left the world in a dystopian state and the last remaining humans are not zombies but scavengers, thieves and killers. A wandering man named Eli (Denzel Washington), at least I think his name is Eli, journeys west alone on what seems to be blind faith and has been doing so for over thirty years. In his possession is a book, the last of its kind, that holds salvation for many people. The book is made up like it's some kind of mystery but really you can tell what it is before you see the movie. Eli would like to have no trouble on his journey but he is in Road Warrior territory so there really is nothing he can do but fend for himself and he does that very well. Unfortunately he ends up in a makeshift town in the middle of nowhere run by the corrupt Carnegie (Gary Oldman), who has ironically been searching for the same book Eli has and won't give up. After teaming up with a resiliant young woman (Mila Kunis), Eli must fight his biggest battle and protect the book from Carnegie's forces.
I found this to be a very cool movie. It is deep and grim but it also has a touch of humor and charm. The Hughes Brothers' direction is almost flawless. Cinematography is especially cool here; the tint is almost sepia tone and some action scenes do what appear to be single shot 360 degree go arounds. Action is fast paced, gritty but smooth. If Denzel is given a weapon in a movie, you can just about guarentee he can use it well. The actors in this movie are the best part, we have the big stars here performing at the top of their game. Denzel Washington plays the solemn loner on a mission with great subtlety and grace. But we shall not forget that he is a badass. Washington, like Liam Neeson, is the kind of big powerhouse actor who just has to go and make a freaking awesome action movie to remind people that he didn't just star in Philadelphia, Glory, and Crimson Tide. He has to remind people that he kicked some ass in Man on Fire, shook shit up in John Q, and won in academy award playing gangster-esque dirty cop Alonzo Harris in Training Day. Yeah, people best remember that Denzel. And Gary Oldman too. Sure he can be all civil and play James Gordon in Nolan's Batman movies but once upon a time Gary Oldman was the guy you got for two roles: villainous douchebags and villainous psychopaths. He's a villainous douchebag here and god do I love it. And how about a strong performance from Mila Kunis, moving further away from That '70s Show with every new role and showing more talent each time as well. And playing her mother is Jennifer Beals, you know from Flashdance, who plays repressed, strong and blind very well. Her character had a lot of conviction. And apocalypse or not, she's still beautiful. And a bunch of great supporting characters like Ray Stevenson as Oldman's right hand man with a personality, Michael Gambon and Frances de la Tour as the not so familiar kindly old folks (they're a damn good surprise), Malcolm MacDowell in a role I wish he had more often later in the film, and finally Tom Waits as an engineer of sorts. The scenes with Denzel and Waits are my favorite.
The spiritual aspect behind the movie is what may divide some people. This movie is not extremely preachy. I am agnostic, as you readers know, and I found the theme of hope and faith in dark times was what the movie was about. If you are not of the faith and are just looking for action, you will probably like this movie. If you are of the faith and think the action will ruin it, you are probably wrong and you'll like it too. I went into the movie expecting the action and the spirituality, but what I was looking for was for was a good film and for action and spirituality to mesh decently. I got what I wanted.
The Book of Eli is not The Road but it is a good dystopian movie. It has the look, the feel, the little details that make this world on the brink work. I was reminded partially of The Road, I Am Legend, and of course The Road Warrior. The characters are great, especially Eli, who is not at all your traditional man following the word of God. He has a few surprises. And what of his book, is the book exactly what you think it is. Sure you may get the title right, but it's what's inside that counts. The whole time watching the movie I thought I'd be wrong and the book was just a dictionary. At one point the funny thought that it was The Da Vinci Code crossed my mind, but we see what becomes of that book.
In the end I will only ask you to watch The Book of Eli, it is a very enjoyable film and the first real action movie of 2010 and hopefully there are more like it.
This has been a positive review from Your Modest Guru. Thanks for reading.
Believe in what? Hard to say. But believe me when I say this is a movie you won't be sorry you saw. Now watching the trailers for this I thought that this would be a very religious movie where the religious aspects are downplayed considerably by nonstop action and its two mega stars Denzel Washington and Gary Oldman, but a good movie nevertheless. Now after watching The Book of Eli, I've decided that that mindless action undermining spirituality movie is destined to be Legion. The Book of Eli, directed by the very talented Allen and Albert Hughes, is the kind of action movie that should be made more in this new decade.
The movie is set in the future, I don't know how far in, where "a war" has left the world in a dystopian state and the last remaining humans are not zombies but scavengers, thieves and killers. A wandering man named Eli (Denzel Washington), at least I think his name is Eli, journeys west alone on what seems to be blind faith and has been doing so for over thirty years. In his possession is a book, the last of its kind, that holds salvation for many people. The book is made up like it's some kind of mystery but really you can tell what it is before you see the movie. Eli would like to have no trouble on his journey but he is in Road Warrior territory so there really is nothing he can do but fend for himself and he does that very well. Unfortunately he ends up in a makeshift town in the middle of nowhere run by the corrupt Carnegie (Gary Oldman), who has ironically been searching for the same book Eli has and won't give up. After teaming up with a resiliant young woman (Mila Kunis), Eli must fight his biggest battle and protect the book from Carnegie's forces.
I found this to be a very cool movie. It is deep and grim but it also has a touch of humor and charm. The Hughes Brothers' direction is almost flawless. Cinematography is especially cool here; the tint is almost sepia tone and some action scenes do what appear to be single shot 360 degree go arounds. Action is fast paced, gritty but smooth. If Denzel is given a weapon in a movie, you can just about guarentee he can use it well. The actors in this movie are the best part, we have the big stars here performing at the top of their game. Denzel Washington plays the solemn loner on a mission with great subtlety and grace. But we shall not forget that he is a badass. Washington, like Liam Neeson, is the kind of big powerhouse actor who just has to go and make a freaking awesome action movie to remind people that he didn't just star in Philadelphia, Glory, and Crimson Tide. He has to remind people that he kicked some ass in Man on Fire, shook shit up in John Q, and won in academy award playing gangster-esque dirty cop Alonzo Harris in Training Day. Yeah, people best remember that Denzel. And Gary Oldman too. Sure he can be all civil and play James Gordon in Nolan's Batman movies but once upon a time Gary Oldman was the guy you got for two roles: villainous douchebags and villainous psychopaths. He's a villainous douchebag here and god do I love it. And how about a strong performance from Mila Kunis, moving further away from That '70s Show with every new role and showing more talent each time as well. And playing her mother is Jennifer Beals, you know from Flashdance, who plays repressed, strong and blind very well. Her character had a lot of conviction. And apocalypse or not, she's still beautiful. And a bunch of great supporting characters like Ray Stevenson as Oldman's right hand man with a personality, Michael Gambon and Frances de la Tour as the not so familiar kindly old folks (they're a damn good surprise), Malcolm MacDowell in a role I wish he had more often later in the film, and finally Tom Waits as an engineer of sorts. The scenes with Denzel and Waits are my favorite.
The spiritual aspect behind the movie is what may divide some people. This movie is not extremely preachy. I am agnostic, as you readers know, and I found the theme of hope and faith in dark times was what the movie was about. If you are not of the faith and are just looking for action, you will probably like this movie. If you are of the faith and think the action will ruin it, you are probably wrong and you'll like it too. I went into the movie expecting the action and the spirituality, but what I was looking for was for was a good film and for action and spirituality to mesh decently. I got what I wanted.
The Book of Eli is not The Road but it is a good dystopian movie. It has the look, the feel, the little details that make this world on the brink work. I was reminded partially of The Road, I Am Legend, and of course The Road Warrior. The characters are great, especially Eli, who is not at all your traditional man following the word of God. He has a few surprises. And what of his book, is the book exactly what you think it is. Sure you may get the title right, but it's what's inside that counts. The whole time watching the movie I thought I'd be wrong and the book was just a dictionary. At one point the funny thought that it was The Da Vinci Code crossed my mind, but we see what becomes of that book.
In the end I will only ask you to watch The Book of Eli, it is a very enjoyable film and the first real action movie of 2010 and hopefully there are more like it.
This has been a positive review from Your Modest Guru. Thanks for reading.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Avatar: The Ultimate Form of Depression
People are strange. That's what I think. Moreso than stupid, modern day people are just flat out weird. Now I know you've heard quite enough about Avatar from me, but this you have to hear.
It would seem that apart from the 2009 epic masterpiece Avatar making people happy and fulfilled moviewise, it made them sad and discontent lifewise. Yes, Star Wars didn't quite do it, Michael Jackson's death made it possible, and now Avatar is starting to do it. People are actually so worked up over the movie, so depressed that they couldn't be Na'vi warriors soaring through the skies of Pandora on their very own Ikran, that they are suffering from depression and even suicidal. How does this work. There is such a thing as loving something too much, I'll admit that. There is also such a thing as a movie being just a movie. I kind of feel like that with Lost sometimes, but it's never depressing or making me want to kill myself...Cause then I'd miss more Lost and other things.
Another point of depression was the themes of the movie shed light on modern day issues in politics for some viewers. They just felt like we are going to head down the tubes if we keep doing what we are doing. This I can relate to. The themes of militarism, corporate control, the pursuit of profit by any means necessary, class battles, and corrupt politics as a whole were apparent throughout the film. I saw it but I definitely didn't need Avatar to tell me about it. I have Keith Olbermann and Jon Stewart for that. I've known the world of politics, especially America's, has been shitty and leading the world on a downward slope since I was about eight.
Now I love the hell out of movies, and Avatar in particular. Movies make up most of my conversations and thoughts and I'm not at the edge of my bed with a gun in my mouth. I will hate myself for saying this, but in comparison to life movies are not that big a deal. Sure, being in an Avatar-esque world would be cool but you could say the same thing about any number of other movies (unless it's Schindler's List, you might actually have serious problems if that was the case). Let's face it, a movie like Avatar will not be the last of its kind. Seeing it, I knew it was destined to be the beginning in the next stage in filmmaking. We wanna see what will happen in years to come. Not to mention any other great movies that come out. Oh yeah and let's not forget those other things, you know tedious, insignificant little things like...love, music, good books, interactions with other people, dinner at a nice restaurant or even fast food, sunrises and sunsets and snowy winter mornings. Movies make life more fun but they are not essential to living. The only depressing thing about Avatar for me was that it would not be in movie theatres forever (I don't know if it is meant for home viewings). See it again and while you are watching it just enjoy it for what it is.
The victims of this very, very unique form of depression have formed some kind of website or group in which they talk to each other and help each other overcome these feelings. The evolution of communication comes through again. A part of me does find the obsessive and impulsive feelings these people have due to the film to be just that: obsessive and impulsive, and hella stupid. But then another part of me sympathizes and relates to them. I mean, don't lie to yourself, being in that breathtaking world and fighting with those amazing creatures would be amazing. But it just won't happen...maybe for our grandchildren, but not us. For now though, I have the movie and, frankly my dear, that's all I need.
This has been sort of like a Modest PSA from Your Modest Guru. Thanks for reading.
It would seem that apart from the 2009 epic masterpiece Avatar making people happy and fulfilled moviewise, it made them sad and discontent lifewise. Yes, Star Wars didn't quite do it, Michael Jackson's death made it possible, and now Avatar is starting to do it. People are actually so worked up over the movie, so depressed that they couldn't be Na'vi warriors soaring through the skies of Pandora on their very own Ikran, that they are suffering from depression and even suicidal. How does this work. There is such a thing as loving something too much, I'll admit that. There is also such a thing as a movie being just a movie. I kind of feel like that with Lost sometimes, but it's never depressing or making me want to kill myself...Cause then I'd miss more Lost and other things.
Another point of depression was the themes of the movie shed light on modern day issues in politics for some viewers. They just felt like we are going to head down the tubes if we keep doing what we are doing. This I can relate to. The themes of militarism, corporate control, the pursuit of profit by any means necessary, class battles, and corrupt politics as a whole were apparent throughout the film. I saw it but I definitely didn't need Avatar to tell me about it. I have Keith Olbermann and Jon Stewart for that. I've known the world of politics, especially America's, has been shitty and leading the world on a downward slope since I was about eight.
Now I love the hell out of movies, and Avatar in particular. Movies make up most of my conversations and thoughts and I'm not at the edge of my bed with a gun in my mouth. I will hate myself for saying this, but in comparison to life movies are not that big a deal. Sure, being in an Avatar-esque world would be cool but you could say the same thing about any number of other movies (unless it's Schindler's List, you might actually have serious problems if that was the case). Let's face it, a movie like Avatar will not be the last of its kind. Seeing it, I knew it was destined to be the beginning in the next stage in filmmaking. We wanna see what will happen in years to come. Not to mention any other great movies that come out. Oh yeah and let's not forget those other things, you know tedious, insignificant little things like...love, music, good books, interactions with other people, dinner at a nice restaurant or even fast food, sunrises and sunsets and snowy winter mornings. Movies make life more fun but they are not essential to living. The only depressing thing about Avatar for me was that it would not be in movie theatres forever (I don't know if it is meant for home viewings). See it again and while you are watching it just enjoy it for what it is.
The victims of this very, very unique form of depression have formed some kind of website or group in which they talk to each other and help each other overcome these feelings. The evolution of communication comes through again. A part of me does find the obsessive and impulsive feelings these people have due to the film to be just that: obsessive and impulsive, and hella stupid. But then another part of me sympathizes and relates to them. I mean, don't lie to yourself, being in that breathtaking world and fighting with those amazing creatures would be amazing. But it just won't happen...maybe for our grandchildren, but not us. For now though, I have the movie and, frankly my dear, that's all I need.
This has been sort of like a Modest PSA from Your Modest Guru. Thanks for reading.
Regarding Haiti
Though you already know, a catastrophe has occured in Haiti a few days ago in which an earthquake shook the area near the country's capital of Port-au-Prince. This earthquake was one big bitch, being at a huge intensity that took down nearly everything. The number of deaths is somewhere around 50,000 people. You have to be one cold son of a bitch not to feel bad when you hear something like that. Since then a charity campaigns or services have come out of the woodwork to help the people in need down there. President Obama himself has initiated American action in the aid of Haiti already (and how the fuck long did Bush wait before sending help to New Orleans?) Currently the Haitian people are doing what anyone else would do after such a tragedy: they bury their dead and they rebuild, because that is the way of humans.
The previous decade had a wealth of tragedies, natural or otherwise, that brought a lot of pain to the world and shaped it to be what it is now (9/11, Hurricane Katrina, the Tsunamis, the California fires, maybe Global Warming, as well as earthquakes). I guess it was nature's way of saying Happy New Year by destroying something else. Maybe it's a sign that we should wake up and stop pilliging our land and polluting our air, if we want to be green about this. Though I don't generally believe in the fuck with nature-nature fucks with you theory, one must keep an open mind.
I just felt like a total asshole for not saying something about this, like immediately. It was a bad week for me, but no way am I comparing my week to the one Haiti had. I could never imagine that kind of suffering and loss, it's completely heartbreaking. I keep the people of Haiti in my heart and mind and hope for their gradual recovery as all should also hope.
This has been condolences from Your Modest Guru. Thanks for reading.
The previous decade had a wealth of tragedies, natural or otherwise, that brought a lot of pain to the world and shaped it to be what it is now (9/11, Hurricane Katrina, the Tsunamis, the California fires, maybe Global Warming, as well as earthquakes). I guess it was nature's way of saying Happy New Year by destroying something else. Maybe it's a sign that we should wake up and stop pilliging our land and polluting our air, if we want to be green about this. Though I don't generally believe in the fuck with nature-nature fucks with you theory, one must keep an open mind.
I just felt like a total asshole for not saying something about this, like immediately. It was a bad week for me, but no way am I comparing my week to the one Haiti had. I could never imagine that kind of suffering and loss, it's completely heartbreaking. I keep the people of Haiti in my heart and mind and hope for their gradual recovery as all should also hope.
This has been condolences from Your Modest Guru. Thanks for reading.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Twilight Movie Review
"When you can live forever, what do you live for?" - Tagline
Alright, my expectations on Twilight are considerably low. Various fans have divulged in detail the entire series to me. The movie adaptations have been panned by nearly every critic I admire. Numerous people I entrust news from have said that it is basically nothing but prissy shirtless guys trying to sound deep all trying to get in the pants or throat of one superdramatic girl who can't even bare to think of a world of normalcy or, for lack of a better word, calm. But who the hell was I to pass judgement on an acclaimed young adult fantasy series that I haven't read or seen; I won't make the same mistake I made with Harry Potter. As I've said in my previous Twilight article, I've been intrigued by Twilight since I judged it by it's awesome cover. So, being that I am not finished with The Dark Tower series (read that readers) and the Twitards have ruined the series anyway, I decided to watch Twilight: The Movie.
Twilight of course gained popularity in the early 2000s when it was first published by first time author Stephanie Meyer and as everyone knows it is a vampire romance set in the bleak state of Washington. It is adapted by filmmaker Catherine Hardwicke, who has made many popular movies that I want to see but never have (Thirteen, The Nativity Story, Lords of Dogtown), and the movie stars Kristen Stewart as our creepy loner protagonist Bella Swan and Robert Pattinson as Edward Cullen. Those of you lucky enough not to know, Edward has a secret that is built up in the movie but nevertheless displayed on every piece of promotional material for the film: he's a vampire. An aloof, beautiful, sparkling, yes sparkling, vampire. This just so happens to be Bella's fetish. Well he tries to avoid her at first, but he just can't resist because he lusts for her blood like he hasn't lusted before. Another turn on for Bella.
The first part of the movie is kind of funny, watching all of the kindness that I've never seen shown to a new kid released onto Bella within her first fifteen seconds of being the new kid at Forks high school and what does she do? She gets annoyed of course. Come to think of it, I'm exactly like that; we should hook up. Oh but that wouldn't do any good, seeing as how the ten other nice enough guys at her school just don't quite catch her fancy but oh you better goddamn believe mr. pale-white-red-lips-empty eyes and sits in a corner does. Another funny thing is how big of a douche Edward is to Bella at the beginning. After a rather awkward jizz in his pants moment in class (seriously watch him when Bella first walks in, he totally did), Edward tries and fails to get a new schedule to be away from Bella and then walks past her uttering that he'll "just have to endure it!" It makes sense later, I know, but then and there all of this was priceless.
But yeah, Edward does finally open up to Bella in small doses and he tells her of his vampirism, his death/birth in 1918 and of his vampire family who get by being as inconspicuous as possible. The Cullens are pretty cool people; a loving, stable family of mostly unrelated vampires who welcome Bella warmly...mostly. But of course there has to be a conflict and that comes in the form of James played by Cam Gigandet, a tracker vampire who upon locking eyes on Edward and Bella makes it his mission in life to destroy them. This whole run away scenario comes way too fast way too late in the film and though it is okay it doesn't fit well. By the end I'm not disappointed but just a bit flabbergasted by the "oh it's lovey dovey bloodsucking fun" thing quick change to "omg we's all gonna die" thing before shapeshifting back to the lovey dovey thing. And the very end when you know who looks down on the star crossed lovers was just kind of cartoonish. Otherwise Twilight was anywhere near as bad as it was made out to be by some. It wasn't even bad at all really. It's certainly not a good movie for people unfamiliar with the series. For people familiar with the series it may hold up for them or it may not.
I don't know why I'm saying this really. The movie's been out for three years. I guess this is another one just for me so you can go fu--
(PLEASE RELAX WHILE RAGE IS VENTED)
...Whooo, I'm better now. But yeah I liked the acting a lot better than I thought I would, if anything that's what I thought would suck the most. I still like Kristen Stewart, I just think her problem here is her character. I really didn't like Bella all that much; I said it before, it was as if she couldn't be involved with anything that wasn't epic or incredible like vampire love for instance. Robert Pattinson, who I only know as Cedric from Harry Potter, was really good in this. He made the character of Edward kind of interesting and sympathetic. Cam Gigandet, who can play a douchebag well, is going for the tormenting Lestat type of vampire and comes off being really creepy. The only actor I liked was Billy Burke as Bella's dad, he was cool.
So Twilight was decent but it doesn't change the things I didn't like about it: sparkling vampires, frustrating characters, and romantic eye gazing. Yeah, other than gazing into each others' eyes and going for superspeed piggy back rides I didn't see a whole lot of romance between Edward and Bella. Their dialogue was good but there wasn't enough of it. And every time Taylor Lautner shows up as Jacob I find myself asking why the hell Bella isn't with him. He was childhood friend, he is charming, he likes her, she likes him, there is good dialogue bordering on good chemistry between them. But no, every time the pale wonder comes around he backs off like a republican on Rush Limbaugh and it is so goddamn--
(VENTING RAGE)
Okay I'm tired. In closing, watch Twilight or better yet read the freakin book. You probably won't be disappointed, most people weren't so there you go. I'm going to bed.
This has been a poor review of a poor story...Just kiddin'. I'm Your Modest Guru. Thanks for reading.
Alright, my expectations on Twilight are considerably low. Various fans have divulged in detail the entire series to me. The movie adaptations have been panned by nearly every critic I admire. Numerous people I entrust news from have said that it is basically nothing but prissy shirtless guys trying to sound deep all trying to get in the pants or throat of one superdramatic girl who can't even bare to think of a world of normalcy or, for lack of a better word, calm. But who the hell was I to pass judgement on an acclaimed young adult fantasy series that I haven't read or seen; I won't make the same mistake I made with Harry Potter. As I've said in my previous Twilight article, I've been intrigued by Twilight since I judged it by it's awesome cover. So, being that I am not finished with The Dark Tower series (read that readers) and the Twitards have ruined the series anyway, I decided to watch Twilight: The Movie.
Twilight of course gained popularity in the early 2000s when it was first published by first time author Stephanie Meyer and as everyone knows it is a vampire romance set in the bleak state of Washington. It is adapted by filmmaker Catherine Hardwicke, who has made many popular movies that I want to see but never have (Thirteen, The Nativity Story, Lords of Dogtown), and the movie stars Kristen Stewart as our creepy loner protagonist Bella Swan and Robert Pattinson as Edward Cullen. Those of you lucky enough not to know, Edward has a secret that is built up in the movie but nevertheless displayed on every piece of promotional material for the film: he's a vampire. An aloof, beautiful, sparkling, yes sparkling, vampire. This just so happens to be Bella's fetish. Well he tries to avoid her at first, but he just can't resist because he lusts for her blood like he hasn't lusted before. Another turn on for Bella.
The first part of the movie is kind of funny, watching all of the kindness that I've never seen shown to a new kid released onto Bella within her first fifteen seconds of being the new kid at Forks high school and what does she do? She gets annoyed of course. Come to think of it, I'm exactly like that; we should hook up. Oh but that wouldn't do any good, seeing as how the ten other nice enough guys at her school just don't quite catch her fancy but oh you better goddamn believe mr. pale-white-red-lips-empty eyes and sits in a corner does. Another funny thing is how big of a douche Edward is to Bella at the beginning. After a rather awkward jizz in his pants moment in class (seriously watch him when Bella first walks in, he totally did), Edward tries and fails to get a new schedule to be away from Bella and then walks past her uttering that he'll "just have to endure it!" It makes sense later, I know, but then and there all of this was priceless.
But yeah, Edward does finally open up to Bella in small doses and he tells her of his vampirism, his death/birth in 1918 and of his vampire family who get by being as inconspicuous as possible. The Cullens are pretty cool people; a loving, stable family of mostly unrelated vampires who welcome Bella warmly...mostly. But of course there has to be a conflict and that comes in the form of James played by Cam Gigandet, a tracker vampire who upon locking eyes on Edward and Bella makes it his mission in life to destroy them. This whole run away scenario comes way too fast way too late in the film and though it is okay it doesn't fit well. By the end I'm not disappointed but just a bit flabbergasted by the "oh it's lovey dovey bloodsucking fun" thing quick change to "omg we's all gonna die" thing before shapeshifting back to the lovey dovey thing. And the very end when you know who looks down on the star crossed lovers was just kind of cartoonish. Otherwise Twilight was anywhere near as bad as it was made out to be by some. It wasn't even bad at all really. It's certainly not a good movie for people unfamiliar with the series. For people familiar with the series it may hold up for them or it may not.
I don't know why I'm saying this really. The movie's been out for three years. I guess this is another one just for me so you can go fu--
(PLEASE RELAX WHILE RAGE IS VENTED)
...Whooo, I'm better now. But yeah I liked the acting a lot better than I thought I would, if anything that's what I thought would suck the most. I still like Kristen Stewart, I just think her problem here is her character. I really didn't like Bella all that much; I said it before, it was as if she couldn't be involved with anything that wasn't epic or incredible like vampire love for instance. Robert Pattinson, who I only know as Cedric from Harry Potter, was really good in this. He made the character of Edward kind of interesting and sympathetic. Cam Gigandet, who can play a douchebag well, is going for the tormenting Lestat type of vampire and comes off being really creepy. The only actor I liked was Billy Burke as Bella's dad, he was cool.
So Twilight was decent but it doesn't change the things I didn't like about it: sparkling vampires, frustrating characters, and romantic eye gazing. Yeah, other than gazing into each others' eyes and going for superspeed piggy back rides I didn't see a whole lot of romance between Edward and Bella. Their dialogue was good but there wasn't enough of it. And every time Taylor Lautner shows up as Jacob I find myself asking why the hell Bella isn't with him. He was childhood friend, he is charming, he likes her, she likes him, there is good dialogue bordering on good chemistry between them. But no, every time the pale wonder comes around he backs off like a republican on Rush Limbaugh and it is so goddamn--
(VENTING RAGE)
Okay I'm tired. In closing, watch Twilight or better yet read the freakin book. You probably won't be disappointed, most people weren't so there you go. I'm going to bed.
This has been a poor review of a poor story...Just kiddin'. I'm Your Modest Guru. Thanks for reading.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Avatar/District 9 part 2
Continuing from part 1 of my analysis of Avatar and District 9, my two favorite sci fi movies of 2009.
VILLAINS:
Both movies have very similar villains as well. They both have two: the ruthless corporations and the corporations' kill crazy mercenaries. I guess I will rate the villains by how evil they are. The most evil wins of course.
Avatar's two primary villains are Parker Selfridge, leader of a mining corporation, and Colonel Miles Quaritch, a cold mercenary leader. Selfridge is bad but he seems to have tried to avoid violence for a long time. He is strictly business, but has no qualms about destroying any obstacle in his path. Though when his actions lead to a near genocide, even he seems a little disgusted with himself. Quaritch, however, doesn't feel bad about any of the things he does. He seems to see himself as an all American and just doing his job. We learn from the gitgo that he has long since held a grudge against the Na'vi and their planet in general. Throughout the film he seems very obsessesed with destroying them, to the point where he cares more about their destruction than the lives of his own men. Selfridge and Quaritch are both cold, calculating and aggravating bastards.
In District 9, we have three main antagonists: Wikus' father in law, Piet Smit, a rich executive in an alien affairs branch of South Africa's government; Koobus Venter, an even more sadistic and impulsive mercenary leader; and finally the insane and cannibalistic Nigerian warlord, Obesandjo. Smit is all about business as well, to the point of sacrificing his son in law to be used for organ harvesting. He doesn't care about the feelings of others, even those dearest to him and will do anything to ensure the interests of his partners and the government. Venter is even worst than Avatar's Quaritch. He is a homicidal hired gun and bully who enjoys nothing more than making others miserable, especially the Prawns who he at one point says he loves killing. Every word out of his mouth makes you hate him even more. Plus he is given much more freedom than Quaritch and can do whatever he wants. Finally Obesandjo, the voodoo practicing madman who is obsessed with gaining the Prawn's "power", which he believes he can get by killing and devouring Prawns. He kills indescriminately and has a sort of humour toward incredible violence. Obesandjo himself is not that dangerous, he is confined to a wheelchair, his power lies in his small army of Nigerian crazed murderers who seem ready to take on just about anybody and follow his every order.
Bottom line all of these guys are bad. But the District 9 villains just struck me as being the worst, they are just completely and unapologetically cruel. Though Avatar's villians commit near genocide, they weren't passionate about it. And the majority of District 9's villains most definitely are passionate about the atrocities they commit. So District 9 wins in this case.
EFFECTS:
This is going to be pretty quick.
District 9 has some tremendous effects. The aliens, surprisingly, look very real at times. It is very hard to make a humanoid insect look tangible. They do have there moments of being too animated, but thanks to motion capture their body language and movements are just spot on. This could be best noticed in the facial expressions of the main aliens. You can see the fear, nervousness, anger, or wonder in their eyes every time. The alien effects are terrific. Aside from the aliens, District 9's weapons were some of the coolest ever put on screen. They've got guns that totally vaporize people, they've got guns that cut people in two, they've got guns that do more damage than a bazooka. The most impressive though is the MECH, yeah, the armored battle suit. You get inside and you are the most bad ass thing on earth, but you're still vulnerable. Also the design and effects of the alien mothership is very amazing.
But District 9's special effects pale better than albinos in comparison to Avatar. With a totally original and superb perfection of motion capture animation, the CGI aliens don't just appear to have realistic emotions and expressions, they do have them. There are many moments where the effects are just so convincing and genuine that the creatures in Avatar are real. It can barely be described how good it is, In regard of the technology in the movie, the majority of it looks a little too Transformers animated. It is hard to avoid that. This movie has more MECH's than District 9 and the one MECH there was far more real looking than the hundred sum we get in Avatar, and the battle ships suffered the same problem. But that can be forgiven everytime I see a plant or an animal. It is colorful, unique, and beautiful and art for the ages.
So yeah, Avatar owns the effects department.
FILMMAKING ASPECTS:
This is how I rate the stuff that was behind the camera during the making of these two great films. I look at the direction, the writing, the acting, the works.
Both movies are examples of how to use money to make movies. The veteran creator of Avatar, James Cameron uses one of the biggest budgets in years, maybe ever, to make not just a film masterpiece, but a new film experience. The first time creator of District 9, Niell Blomkamp uses a considerably small budget of $30 million to make a great and fascinatingly inspired film. So they both have points for that. They also get points for the level of craft they put into their films. Both movies seemed to have all of their makers hearts into them and that is the main reason they are so good.
Talking cinematography, Avatar had really clear and glistening visuals I think using steady cam mostly whereas District 9 had a raw and grainy saturated picture with heavy shaky cam use, but in the end Avatar was just much more beautiful with it's images.
District 9 wins in the acting department because it is just more believeable. While there was a lot of emotion and solid acting in Avatar, District 9 just felt really gritty and painstaking, everyone felt real to me. Everyone in Avatar speaks movie, everyone in District 9 speaks human.
When it comes to sets the movies are at a tie because they are both so unique and cool. District 9 is shot on the ground in the real slums outside of Johannesburg, South Africa so they have the realism. Avatar was shot in the Middle American jungles and then molded over with CGI to be a dreamlike alien environment. They were both great so they both win.
The writing, one of the most important parts, was good for both movies. They both knew how to keep our interest with a wealth of things we really haven't seen in sci fi movies before. James Cameron succeeded in writing a true blue action epic like he always does and doesn't force anything on you. The pacing was perfect and the story was always flowing nicely. His intention is to make you join the characters, let them grow on you, and then follow them as their destinies unfold on screen. He has the heart. Neill Blomkamp may not have the pacing right and the story was a bit murky due to budget limits, but all in all he made a very inventive film. Few filmmakers these days can write just about every aspect we love in movies into one movie, but Blomkamp did with District 9 and that's one of the main reasons it's so great. There were just so many things I didn't expect to see in District 9 and when I did I loved it. We have another tie here.
And well I've gone on forever, so I will stop myself now. So what was better in my opinion? Avatar, the revolutionary and earth shaking adventure epic for our times? Or District 9, the intense and satirical indie actioner. On the scoreboard Avatar received 7 points whereas District 9 ended off with 6. So Avatar wins in this case. Don't get me wrong, it doesn't diminish how much I love the hell out of District 9, I just think it will be looked upon as a greater experience for people. Though I got a huge adrenaline rush in the last act of District 9 and felt my heart ease, my blood was pumping before Avatar even began. It is just a ride and one people will not soon forget. I just hope I live in the time when I see other movies that were as cool as these.
This has been another in depth analysis from Your Modest Guru. Thanks for enduring.
VILLAINS:
Both movies have very similar villains as well. They both have two: the ruthless corporations and the corporations' kill crazy mercenaries. I guess I will rate the villains by how evil they are. The most evil wins of course.
Avatar's two primary villains are Parker Selfridge, leader of a mining corporation, and Colonel Miles Quaritch, a cold mercenary leader. Selfridge is bad but he seems to have tried to avoid violence for a long time. He is strictly business, but has no qualms about destroying any obstacle in his path. Though when his actions lead to a near genocide, even he seems a little disgusted with himself. Quaritch, however, doesn't feel bad about any of the things he does. He seems to see himself as an all American and just doing his job. We learn from the gitgo that he has long since held a grudge against the Na'vi and their planet in general. Throughout the film he seems very obsessesed with destroying them, to the point where he cares more about their destruction than the lives of his own men. Selfridge and Quaritch are both cold, calculating and aggravating bastards.
In District 9, we have three main antagonists: Wikus' father in law, Piet Smit, a rich executive in an alien affairs branch of South Africa's government; Koobus Venter, an even more sadistic and impulsive mercenary leader; and finally the insane and cannibalistic Nigerian warlord, Obesandjo. Smit is all about business as well, to the point of sacrificing his son in law to be used for organ harvesting. He doesn't care about the feelings of others, even those dearest to him and will do anything to ensure the interests of his partners and the government. Venter is even worst than Avatar's Quaritch. He is a homicidal hired gun and bully who enjoys nothing more than making others miserable, especially the Prawns who he at one point says he loves killing. Every word out of his mouth makes you hate him even more. Plus he is given much more freedom than Quaritch and can do whatever he wants. Finally Obesandjo, the voodoo practicing madman who is obsessed with gaining the Prawn's "power", which he believes he can get by killing and devouring Prawns. He kills indescriminately and has a sort of humour toward incredible violence. Obesandjo himself is not that dangerous, he is confined to a wheelchair, his power lies in his small army of Nigerian crazed murderers who seem ready to take on just about anybody and follow his every order.
Bottom line all of these guys are bad. But the District 9 villains just struck me as being the worst, they are just completely and unapologetically cruel. Though Avatar's villians commit near genocide, they weren't passionate about it. And the majority of District 9's villains most definitely are passionate about the atrocities they commit. So District 9 wins in this case.
EFFECTS:
This is going to be pretty quick.
District 9 has some tremendous effects. The aliens, surprisingly, look very real at times. It is very hard to make a humanoid insect look tangible. They do have there moments of being too animated, but thanks to motion capture their body language and movements are just spot on. This could be best noticed in the facial expressions of the main aliens. You can see the fear, nervousness, anger, or wonder in their eyes every time. The alien effects are terrific. Aside from the aliens, District 9's weapons were some of the coolest ever put on screen. They've got guns that totally vaporize people, they've got guns that cut people in two, they've got guns that do more damage than a bazooka. The most impressive though is the MECH, yeah, the armored battle suit. You get inside and you are the most bad ass thing on earth, but you're still vulnerable. Also the design and effects of the alien mothership is very amazing.
But District 9's special effects pale better than albinos in comparison to Avatar. With a totally original and superb perfection of motion capture animation, the CGI aliens don't just appear to have realistic emotions and expressions, they do have them. There are many moments where the effects are just so convincing and genuine that the creatures in Avatar are real. It can barely be described how good it is, In regard of the technology in the movie, the majority of it looks a little too Transformers animated. It is hard to avoid that. This movie has more MECH's than District 9 and the one MECH there was far more real looking than the hundred sum we get in Avatar, and the battle ships suffered the same problem. But that can be forgiven everytime I see a plant or an animal. It is colorful, unique, and beautiful and art for the ages.
So yeah, Avatar owns the effects department.
FILMMAKING ASPECTS:
This is how I rate the stuff that was behind the camera during the making of these two great films. I look at the direction, the writing, the acting, the works.
Both movies are examples of how to use money to make movies. The veteran creator of Avatar, James Cameron uses one of the biggest budgets in years, maybe ever, to make not just a film masterpiece, but a new film experience. The first time creator of District 9, Niell Blomkamp uses a considerably small budget of $30 million to make a great and fascinatingly inspired film. So they both have points for that. They also get points for the level of craft they put into their films. Both movies seemed to have all of their makers hearts into them and that is the main reason they are so good.
Talking cinematography, Avatar had really clear and glistening visuals I think using steady cam mostly whereas District 9 had a raw and grainy saturated picture with heavy shaky cam use, but in the end Avatar was just much more beautiful with it's images.
District 9 wins in the acting department because it is just more believeable. While there was a lot of emotion and solid acting in Avatar, District 9 just felt really gritty and painstaking, everyone felt real to me. Everyone in Avatar speaks movie, everyone in District 9 speaks human.
When it comes to sets the movies are at a tie because they are both so unique and cool. District 9 is shot on the ground in the real slums outside of Johannesburg, South Africa so they have the realism. Avatar was shot in the Middle American jungles and then molded over with CGI to be a dreamlike alien environment. They were both great so they both win.
The writing, one of the most important parts, was good for both movies. They both knew how to keep our interest with a wealth of things we really haven't seen in sci fi movies before. James Cameron succeeded in writing a true blue action epic like he always does and doesn't force anything on you. The pacing was perfect and the story was always flowing nicely. His intention is to make you join the characters, let them grow on you, and then follow them as their destinies unfold on screen. He has the heart. Neill Blomkamp may not have the pacing right and the story was a bit murky due to budget limits, but all in all he made a very inventive film. Few filmmakers these days can write just about every aspect we love in movies into one movie, but Blomkamp did with District 9 and that's one of the main reasons it's so great. There were just so many things I didn't expect to see in District 9 and when I did I loved it. We have another tie here.
And well I've gone on forever, so I will stop myself now. So what was better in my opinion? Avatar, the revolutionary and earth shaking adventure epic for our times? Or District 9, the intense and satirical indie actioner. On the scoreboard Avatar received 7 points whereas District 9 ended off with 6. So Avatar wins in this case. Don't get me wrong, it doesn't diminish how much I love the hell out of District 9, I just think it will be looked upon as a greater experience for people. Though I got a huge adrenaline rush in the last act of District 9 and felt my heart ease, my blood was pumping before Avatar even began. It is just a ride and one people will not soon forget. I just hope I live in the time when I see other movies that were as cool as these.
This has been another in depth analysis from Your Modest Guru. Thanks for enduring.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Avatar/District 9 part 1
"Greatness lies not in being strong, but in the using of strength." - Henry Ward Beecher
As I did with my previous duel article, involving Angelina Jolie and Megan Fox, I am here today to do a comparison of the films Avatar and District 9, which I think are the top sci fi films of the year and probably two of my favorite this year. Now where my Fox/Jolie duel was basically for my own pleasure, this is really just to help me clarify which film I think surpasses the other in greatness.
It is hard because they are both so geniusly crafted and done with such devotion that I really can't find too many problems with either. I guess I'll be making my decision based on which film I enjoyed more. So let's go.
SPOILERS
STORY:
The story of both Avatar and District 9 are very similar to each other. Each involves the lackey of cutthroat bureaucrats who goes native and buddies up with the aliens and eventually goes against his own people. The movies just take that story, which has been done many times, and do something very new with it. But the films go in different directions when dealing with the occupation element. In Avatar humans have set up shop on alien turf, whereas in District 9 the aliens' mothership stalls over Johannesburg, South Africa of all places. But it's okay because in both cases the aliens get the short end of the stick. I liked the grimy, in the trenches, semi-mockumentary thing District 9 has more then Avatar's straight, self discovery approach. And though I like the idea of Wikus van de Merwe joining the aliens reluctantly and out of desperation, I like Avatar's more because Jake Sully goes there for to explore and gets more involved. Plus the story of Avatar builds up tension between the humans and aliens and when the action breaks out it is presented very delicately whereas in District 9 all of the action is released to close to the end and, though very cool, it all happens too fast. Unless District 9 has a sequel, I think Avatar has a bit more to explore and enjoy. So where District 9 is a grungy and versatile sci fi drama, Avatar is a beautiful and gripping experience.
So in the story section, Avatar wins.
HEROES:
In Avatar, the hero Jake Sully is encouraged to join the aliens and learn from them as a form of strategy. I liked Jake, he seemed to be a jarhead who grew out of his gung ho military persona quickly after his injury and got real about things. Plus after seeing him in a wheelchair, I couldn't help but share his joy as he got into his avatar body and could run again. But to boot he was a trained and compassionate warrior, who knows what is right and wrong and knows especially which side he should fight for. In many ways he is a true and likeable hero I didn't really have a problem with, aside from moments of overconfidence and totally cocky attitude. Jake was just cool.
In District 9, Wikus van de Merwe goes to the aliens as a last resort in fear of what his government will do for him. He also has a sympathy vote even bigger than Jake because Wikus is literally falling apart. After being infected by an alien chemical, he starts becoming one of them which is not as fun a process for him as it was for Jake. Wikus is a bit more of a realistic character. His personality shifts often and you feel different about him in just about every new scene. Wikus keeps you on your toes. I think it's cool though how in just a few short days he goes from a nerdy pencil pusher handing out alien eviction notices to being a mutated badass fighting against merceraries. Plus Sharlto Copley, the actor who plays Wikus, is just a terrific actor.
It is kind of funny how in Avatar the hero is a brave and heroic ex marine but in District 9 the hero is an infuriating and scared cubicle worker. Still I think Wikus wins here because his character is far more compelling and is completely multi-dimensional; he's just interesting to watch. So District 9 wins.
ALIENS:
Avatar and District 9 both have incredible aliens. Both films are like the study of a specific species from the Star Wars universe anway. And these are probably some of the most fascinating of all alien races I've ever seen depicted in science fiction films ever. And they both show up in the same year.
For Avatar we have the Na'vi, the only humanoids on the moon Pandora. Watching Avatar, you go in depth and learn all about the Na'vi's culture which is really quite amazing. In appearance, the Na'vi are over ten feet tall, their bodies are very much reminiscent of human's, they have four fingers, blue skin (no Smurf jokes please), golden eyes, a tail, and feline characteristics. And somehow these big, blue cat people are made believeable. Their culture and lifestyle is very similar to pre-colonial Native Americans. These blue skins are very elegant and beautiful, just like their home. Some can speak english which is good when dealing with others. All Na'vi seem to be very stubborn and follow a code of honor. Their society is very united and peaceful, though they can be fierce when neccesary. Na'vi weapons are traditionally bows and arrows, daggers, and spears. They are very graceful, lovely people that you really care about.
There is a great number of animal life in Avatar that are really cool. They are so many and so cool that I can't just go into detail on them, besides it's better if it is a surprise. I call these the Pandoran equivalents because of their resemblence to earth animals. My favorite however is the legendary flying creature called The Toruk.
District 9 has over a million aliens dropped off in one of the worst places on earth. South Africa. A place chockful of racism, apartheid, civil war, crime and poverty. No real name was given, but the aliens were nicknamed Prawns, because they are bottom feeders. In appearance Prawns are the exact opposite of the Na'vi. They are, as Roger Ebert put it, a cross between a lobster and a grasshopper. It is assumed that any form of leadership died onboard the Prawns' ship of some sort of disease. The aliens who survived, found malnourished, seem listless, of low intelligence, and with little understanding of their own technology. A main concensus was that the surviving aliens were drones or workers. Though some intelligent Prawns are still around. But in terms of personality the Prawns reminded me of, well, most humans. They are like loathsome, bitter homeless people. Watching them at first is like watching an episode of Cops. Prawns are physically powerful and agile and have advanced, coveted weaponry at their disposal but are still nevertheless oppressed, brutalized and manipulated very easily. They reproduce asexually and lay eggs, but it is known that they can have sex with others, even humans. They also have an intense obsession with cat food.
The only animal seen in District 9 is a slimy insect-like creature. It looks like a larvae version of the Prawn. The locals call it Muti. They are used in sort of cockfights where one is pitted against the other. It looks like a scorpion and centipede hybrid. In a deleted scene, it is noted that if eaten, Muti holds certain medical properties. It is very bluntly stated that it can cure "everything but AIDs". This could be a delusion, as many of the voodoo practicing Africans believe that eating a Prawn's limbs will grant them alien power (crazy fuckers).
So there are the aliens. But which did I like more, the enchanting and lethal warrior tribes of the Na'vi in Avatar or the darkly comedic and disgustingly fascinating lower middle class type Prawns in District 9. Though the Prawns are interesting and an easy source of sympathy, they are almost a complete mystery for the whole film. I guess that was kind of the point, god knows there were enough explanations as to why they couldn't give us any information about their species. But a little more exposition and backstory would have made them a bit more interesting or who knows, maybe a little less. The Na'vi however are given much depth and backstory to take in. They are a people to be admired and looked at with wonder. You are right there experiencing and learning their lifestyles and it is very brilliant stuff. The Na'vi are honorable and amazing people who you care about and respect. While you may care about the Prawns (at least these Prawns) and think they are amazing, you will never think they are honorable and you will never respect them. Na'vi are just too intoxicating, so Avatar wins in the alien section.
This concludes part 1 of my analysis of Avatar and District 9. I will continue with a followup in the above post.
As I did with my previous duel article, involving Angelina Jolie and Megan Fox, I am here today to do a comparison of the films Avatar and District 9, which I think are the top sci fi films of the year and probably two of my favorite this year. Now where my Fox/Jolie duel was basically for my own pleasure, this is really just to help me clarify which film I think surpasses the other in greatness.
It is hard because they are both so geniusly crafted and done with such devotion that I really can't find too many problems with either. I guess I'll be making my decision based on which film I enjoyed more. So let's go.
SPOILERS
STORY:
The story of both Avatar and District 9 are very similar to each other. Each involves the lackey of cutthroat bureaucrats who goes native and buddies up with the aliens and eventually goes against his own people. The movies just take that story, which has been done many times, and do something very new with it. But the films go in different directions when dealing with the occupation element. In Avatar humans have set up shop on alien turf, whereas in District 9 the aliens' mothership stalls over Johannesburg, South Africa of all places. But it's okay because in both cases the aliens get the short end of the stick. I liked the grimy, in the trenches, semi-mockumentary thing District 9 has more then Avatar's straight, self discovery approach. And though I like the idea of Wikus van de Merwe joining the aliens reluctantly and out of desperation, I like Avatar's more because Jake Sully goes there for to explore and gets more involved. Plus the story of Avatar builds up tension between the humans and aliens and when the action breaks out it is presented very delicately whereas in District 9 all of the action is released to close to the end and, though very cool, it all happens too fast. Unless District 9 has a sequel, I think Avatar has a bit more to explore and enjoy. So where District 9 is a grungy and versatile sci fi drama, Avatar is a beautiful and gripping experience.
So in the story section, Avatar wins.
HEROES:
In Avatar, the hero Jake Sully is encouraged to join the aliens and learn from them as a form of strategy. I liked Jake, he seemed to be a jarhead who grew out of his gung ho military persona quickly after his injury and got real about things. Plus after seeing him in a wheelchair, I couldn't help but share his joy as he got into his avatar body and could run again. But to boot he was a trained and compassionate warrior, who knows what is right and wrong and knows especially which side he should fight for. In many ways he is a true and likeable hero I didn't really have a problem with, aside from moments of overconfidence and totally cocky attitude. Jake was just cool.
In District 9, Wikus van de Merwe goes to the aliens as a last resort in fear of what his government will do for him. He also has a sympathy vote even bigger than Jake because Wikus is literally falling apart. After being infected by an alien chemical, he starts becoming one of them which is not as fun a process for him as it was for Jake. Wikus is a bit more of a realistic character. His personality shifts often and you feel different about him in just about every new scene. Wikus keeps you on your toes. I think it's cool though how in just a few short days he goes from a nerdy pencil pusher handing out alien eviction notices to being a mutated badass fighting against merceraries. Plus Sharlto Copley, the actor who plays Wikus, is just a terrific actor.
It is kind of funny how in Avatar the hero is a brave and heroic ex marine but in District 9 the hero is an infuriating and scared cubicle worker. Still I think Wikus wins here because his character is far more compelling and is completely multi-dimensional; he's just interesting to watch. So District 9 wins.
ALIENS:
Avatar and District 9 both have incredible aliens. Both films are like the study of a specific species from the Star Wars universe anway. And these are probably some of the most fascinating of all alien races I've ever seen depicted in science fiction films ever. And they both show up in the same year.
For Avatar we have the Na'vi, the only humanoids on the moon Pandora. Watching Avatar, you go in depth and learn all about the Na'vi's culture which is really quite amazing. In appearance, the Na'vi are over ten feet tall, their bodies are very much reminiscent of human's, they have four fingers, blue skin (no Smurf jokes please), golden eyes, a tail, and feline characteristics. And somehow these big, blue cat people are made believeable. Their culture and lifestyle is very similar to pre-colonial Native Americans. These blue skins are very elegant and beautiful, just like their home. Some can speak english which is good when dealing with others. All Na'vi seem to be very stubborn and follow a code of honor. Their society is very united and peaceful, though they can be fierce when neccesary. Na'vi weapons are traditionally bows and arrows, daggers, and spears. They are very graceful, lovely people that you really care about.
There is a great number of animal life in Avatar that are really cool. They are so many and so cool that I can't just go into detail on them, besides it's better if it is a surprise. I call these the Pandoran equivalents because of their resemblence to earth animals. My favorite however is the legendary flying creature called The Toruk.
District 9 has over a million aliens dropped off in one of the worst places on earth. South Africa. A place chockful of racism, apartheid, civil war, crime and poverty. No real name was given, but the aliens were nicknamed Prawns, because they are bottom feeders. In appearance Prawns are the exact opposite of the Na'vi. They are, as Roger Ebert put it, a cross between a lobster and a grasshopper. It is assumed that any form of leadership died onboard the Prawns' ship of some sort of disease. The aliens who survived, found malnourished, seem listless, of low intelligence, and with little understanding of their own technology. A main concensus was that the surviving aliens were drones or workers. Though some intelligent Prawns are still around. But in terms of personality the Prawns reminded me of, well, most humans. They are like loathsome, bitter homeless people. Watching them at first is like watching an episode of Cops. Prawns are physically powerful and agile and have advanced, coveted weaponry at their disposal but are still nevertheless oppressed, brutalized and manipulated very easily. They reproduce asexually and lay eggs, but it is known that they can have sex with others, even humans. They also have an intense obsession with cat food.
The only animal seen in District 9 is a slimy insect-like creature. It looks like a larvae version of the Prawn. The locals call it Muti. They are used in sort of cockfights where one is pitted against the other. It looks like a scorpion and centipede hybrid. In a deleted scene, it is noted that if eaten, Muti holds certain medical properties. It is very bluntly stated that it can cure "everything but AIDs". This could be a delusion, as many of the voodoo practicing Africans believe that eating a Prawn's limbs will grant them alien power (crazy fuckers).
So there are the aliens. But which did I like more, the enchanting and lethal warrior tribes of the Na'vi in Avatar or the darkly comedic and disgustingly fascinating lower middle class type Prawns in District 9. Though the Prawns are interesting and an easy source of sympathy, they are almost a complete mystery for the whole film. I guess that was kind of the point, god knows there were enough explanations as to why they couldn't give us any information about their species. But a little more exposition and backstory would have made them a bit more interesting or who knows, maybe a little less. The Na'vi however are given much depth and backstory to take in. They are a people to be admired and looked at with wonder. You are right there experiencing and learning their lifestyles and it is very brilliant stuff. The Na'vi are honorable and amazing people who you care about and respect. While you may care about the Prawns (at least these Prawns) and think they are amazing, you will never think they are honorable and you will never respect them. Na'vi are just too intoxicating, so Avatar wins in the alien section.
This concludes part 1 of my analysis of Avatar and District 9. I will continue with a followup in the above post.
Friday, January 1, 2010
Avatar Movie Review
"If there is a hell, you might wanna go there for some R&R after a tour on Pandora" - Colonel Miles Quaritch
Oh my lord...
Alright so I've have just returned from my quest to see Avatar in theatres after many months of anxiousness and excitement. And now that I am back here is my review. Few short words can describe what it is like to watch a movie like this. Luckily I am not a man of few short words. I'm going in depth as usual.
Avatar is in many ways a perfect movie. A new breed of computer generated and motion capture effects. An epic story that brings to the table every possible element to make a story compelling and memorable. High octane action that would astound the warriors of Lord of the Rings and Star Wars. A gorgeous and fascinating new world of Pandora and all of the wondrous creatures that inhabit it. My brother told me on the way out "it had no faults" and I agree with him. It is just mesmerizing and remarkable.
James Cameron, who has made some of my favorite films, has had this idea down since the early 90s. And after a long break upon the success of Titanic, one of the biggest films a director could hope to make, he comes back and makes a bigger one. People have had problems with the dialogue or the story but I didn't and if I had I probably wouldn't have even cared. Some filmmakers like to make really great films, but it seems as if Cameron strives to make new advances in films. In the 80s he had designed new types of underwater filmmaking equipment for his film The Abyss as well as awesome special effects for that and the first two Terminator films, which may have been some of the first real huge advances in CGI's beginning. For Titanic...well I think the film speaks for itself in what it took to make look as great as it was. He has always had a great skill with action and stories, but here he has risen to the level of a true artist. Cameron may just rack up several more Oscars this year.
The story of Avatar takes place in the year 2154 on this new world called Pandora, a moon orbiting a large gas giant in another part of our galaxy. Pandora is a lush, beautiful, and unique forest planet. Humanity found it some time ago and the corporations, with the vile Parker Selfridge (Giovanni Ribisi) at the helm, are of course trying to rape and pillage as much as possible in order to get vast quanities of highly valuable mineral nicknamed 'unobtanium'. The large deposits of this mineral rest under the land of a native Pandoran population called The Na'vi. Na'vi are very humanlike creatures with obvious alien traits: they are as Cameron described them "ten foot tall, blue, humanoid tigers." Needless to say, The Na'vi aren't too keen on leaving their sacred home to be burned to the ground for greed of "the sky people" so paramilitary forces are present, ready and hungry for action at the drop of a hat. They are commanded by Col. Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang), a lethal lifer who would gladly wipe out all life on Pandora. As humans cannot breathe Pandora's air, human-Na'vi hybrids called avatars have been genetically designed by scientists led by Grace Augustine (Sigourney Weaver), a highly moral idealist. Our hero, a paraplegic marine named Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) has arrived on Pandora to replace his scientist brother in the avatar program. But on assignment he gets lost and is taken in by a local Na'vi tribe and is soon taught by their warrior princess Neytiri (Zoe Saldana). Selfridge and Quaritch use his entry as a strategic advantage should a war break out. Growing close to Neytiri and enjoying Na'vi life on Pandora alltogether, Jake finds himself caught between two worlds and the question of right and wrong at the brink of a full scale war. And it all comes together in a big way to the audiences utter satisfaction.
I have never seen CGI like this before. In most movies it is all too obvious when something isn't real and you can tell the developers did not take time to make the CGI work. Not here though. Cameron and his crew seem to have gotten it perfect down to the very bark of the trees. Yes there are times when the aliens look animated, because they are, but at other calm moments in close ups they look like actual, tangible people. That is thanks to the motion capture, which gets the expressions and body language all right, and I think motion capture will be used much, much more in years to come.
The acting is enjoyable. I didn't think much of Sam Worthington after watching Terminator Salvation but here he shows his acting chops and he is very good. It seemed as if his character in both movies are kind of the same: dangerous guy wakes up in a vastly different world and becomes a source of hope. Hmm. The other lead is an actress I'm more familiar with Zoe Saldana who plays the total alien role of Neytiri with much passion and care. I did not realize how good of an actress she was until I saw her here and she was computer generated here. And still very sexy. Stephen Lane, who I'm seeing more and liking, and Giovanni Ribisi, who I already like, play the most horrific and evil men so convincingly. You just want to strangle them the entire time. Sigourney Weaver plays the strong willed scientist Grace with all the power that she brings to every other role. Not quite Ellen Ripley, but still cool. Honestly, you put Sigourney Weaver in a sci fi movie, more than likely it's gonna be good or at least she will be. Of course Wes Studi plays the stern Na'vi tribe chief, he's already played a badass Native American in about every other films he has been in. Other good actors to see here were Michelle Rodriguez and Joel David Moore as Jake's friends, Laz Alonso as a tough Na'vi warrior, and CCH Pounder as the wise Na'vi shaman.
The story is not quite original and some people had problems with that but I didn't. I got really sick and tired of hearing people bitch and say it looks like Ferngully or Pocahontas (I admit that, because it is inspired in part by that historical story) or Dances With Wolves (I got that vibe too). Sure I can see the similarities but it takes that type of story and makes it apply only to this movie and it works. I was really reminded of the Japanese anime Princess Mononoke, another highly environmental and nature friendly film. But I see a lot of things in this movie. I see touches of Star Wars, Dances With Wolves, Jurassic Park, Lord of the Rings, commentary on modern government, a very green message, and a sort of revisionist look at early American history. Other critiques were at the dialogue, which I'll admit were a bit cliche at times but otherwise well written. I just think that after a hundred and fifty years maybe our slang and jargon would change a little bit. It wasn't something I was upset about. Cameron has always written good scripts, he has an interest in intense and large conflicts as well as love stories and the unknown. The story and dialogue was something I loved especially.
So yes, Avatar is probably the best movie of the year. It is beautiful, emotional, action packed, thrilling, intriguing, thought provoking, and one of the coolest movies I have ever seen. It is a movie you want to see again right after you get out of your seat. It could quite possibly be the best adventure movie of the last decade, it is this decade's Star Wars next to Lord of the Rings. I can't quite say if it is up to par with Star Wars or Lord of the Rings, because while this has a lot here to wrap your head around, those two may have a bit more. But then Cameron has said there are other moons besides Pandora and maybe there will be a sequel. Only time will tell. But for now we have Avatar and god do I love it.
This has been a New Year's review from Your Modest Guru. Thanks for reading and Happy New Year and see Avatar as soon as possible and if you have seen it see it again.
Oh my lord...
Alright so I've have just returned from my quest to see Avatar in theatres after many months of anxiousness and excitement. And now that I am back here is my review. Few short words can describe what it is like to watch a movie like this. Luckily I am not a man of few short words. I'm going in depth as usual.
Avatar is in many ways a perfect movie. A new breed of computer generated and motion capture effects. An epic story that brings to the table every possible element to make a story compelling and memorable. High octane action that would astound the warriors of Lord of the Rings and Star Wars. A gorgeous and fascinating new world of Pandora and all of the wondrous creatures that inhabit it. My brother told me on the way out "it had no faults" and I agree with him. It is just mesmerizing and remarkable.
James Cameron, who has made some of my favorite films, has had this idea down since the early 90s. And after a long break upon the success of Titanic, one of the biggest films a director could hope to make, he comes back and makes a bigger one. People have had problems with the dialogue or the story but I didn't and if I had I probably wouldn't have even cared. Some filmmakers like to make really great films, but it seems as if Cameron strives to make new advances in films. In the 80s he had designed new types of underwater filmmaking equipment for his film The Abyss as well as awesome special effects for that and the first two Terminator films, which may have been some of the first real huge advances in CGI's beginning. For Titanic...well I think the film speaks for itself in what it took to make look as great as it was. He has always had a great skill with action and stories, but here he has risen to the level of a true artist. Cameron may just rack up several more Oscars this year.
The story of Avatar takes place in the year 2154 on this new world called Pandora, a moon orbiting a large gas giant in another part of our galaxy. Pandora is a lush, beautiful, and unique forest planet. Humanity found it some time ago and the corporations, with the vile Parker Selfridge (Giovanni Ribisi) at the helm, are of course trying to rape and pillage as much as possible in order to get vast quanities of highly valuable mineral nicknamed 'unobtanium'. The large deposits of this mineral rest under the land of a native Pandoran population called The Na'vi. Na'vi are very humanlike creatures with obvious alien traits: they are as Cameron described them "ten foot tall, blue, humanoid tigers." Needless to say, The Na'vi aren't too keen on leaving their sacred home to be burned to the ground for greed of "the sky people" so paramilitary forces are present, ready and hungry for action at the drop of a hat. They are commanded by Col. Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang), a lethal lifer who would gladly wipe out all life on Pandora. As humans cannot breathe Pandora's air, human-Na'vi hybrids called avatars have been genetically designed by scientists led by Grace Augustine (Sigourney Weaver), a highly moral idealist. Our hero, a paraplegic marine named Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) has arrived on Pandora to replace his scientist brother in the avatar program. But on assignment he gets lost and is taken in by a local Na'vi tribe and is soon taught by their warrior princess Neytiri (Zoe Saldana). Selfridge and Quaritch use his entry as a strategic advantage should a war break out. Growing close to Neytiri and enjoying Na'vi life on Pandora alltogether, Jake finds himself caught between two worlds and the question of right and wrong at the brink of a full scale war. And it all comes together in a big way to the audiences utter satisfaction.
I have never seen CGI like this before. In most movies it is all too obvious when something isn't real and you can tell the developers did not take time to make the CGI work. Not here though. Cameron and his crew seem to have gotten it perfect down to the very bark of the trees. Yes there are times when the aliens look animated, because they are, but at other calm moments in close ups they look like actual, tangible people. That is thanks to the motion capture, which gets the expressions and body language all right, and I think motion capture will be used much, much more in years to come.
The acting is enjoyable. I didn't think much of Sam Worthington after watching Terminator Salvation but here he shows his acting chops and he is very good. It seemed as if his character in both movies are kind of the same: dangerous guy wakes up in a vastly different world and becomes a source of hope. Hmm. The other lead is an actress I'm more familiar with Zoe Saldana who plays the total alien role of Neytiri with much passion and care. I did not realize how good of an actress she was until I saw her here and she was computer generated here. And still very sexy. Stephen Lane, who I'm seeing more and liking, and Giovanni Ribisi, who I already like, play the most horrific and evil men so convincingly. You just want to strangle them the entire time. Sigourney Weaver plays the strong willed scientist Grace with all the power that she brings to every other role. Not quite Ellen Ripley, but still cool. Honestly, you put Sigourney Weaver in a sci fi movie, more than likely it's gonna be good or at least she will be. Of course Wes Studi plays the stern Na'vi tribe chief, he's already played a badass Native American in about every other films he has been in. Other good actors to see here were Michelle Rodriguez and Joel David Moore as Jake's friends, Laz Alonso as a tough Na'vi warrior, and CCH Pounder as the wise Na'vi shaman.
The story is not quite original and some people had problems with that but I didn't. I got really sick and tired of hearing people bitch and say it looks like Ferngully or Pocahontas (I admit that, because it is inspired in part by that historical story) or Dances With Wolves (I got that vibe too). Sure I can see the similarities but it takes that type of story and makes it apply only to this movie and it works. I was really reminded of the Japanese anime Princess Mononoke, another highly environmental and nature friendly film. But I see a lot of things in this movie. I see touches of Star Wars, Dances With Wolves, Jurassic Park, Lord of the Rings, commentary on modern government, a very green message, and a sort of revisionist look at early American history. Other critiques were at the dialogue, which I'll admit were a bit cliche at times but otherwise well written. I just think that after a hundred and fifty years maybe our slang and jargon would change a little bit. It wasn't something I was upset about. Cameron has always written good scripts, he has an interest in intense and large conflicts as well as love stories and the unknown. The story and dialogue was something I loved especially.
So yes, Avatar is probably the best movie of the year. It is beautiful, emotional, action packed, thrilling, intriguing, thought provoking, and one of the coolest movies I have ever seen. It is a movie you want to see again right after you get out of your seat. It could quite possibly be the best adventure movie of the last decade, it is this decade's Star Wars next to Lord of the Rings. I can't quite say if it is up to par with Star Wars or Lord of the Rings, because while this has a lot here to wrap your head around, those two may have a bit more. But then Cameron has said there are other moons besides Pandora and maybe there will be a sequel. Only time will tell. But for now we have Avatar and god do I love it.
This has been a New Year's review from Your Modest Guru. Thanks for reading and Happy New Year and see Avatar as soon as possible and if you have seen it see it again.
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