Abandoned Insanity

A film of Will Smith alone with a dog. So if you don’t like Will Smith, you should probably stay clear of I Am Legend. That being said, I thought he did a fine job as the last man on the planet. It can’t be easy shooting scenes without any human interaction. That made for some funny and touching scenes, because his character set up a bunch of mannequins at a local video store for him to ‘talk’ to on a daily basis. And as a supporting character, the dog was fantastic, getting all the emotion from an audience you could hope for. The story starts off very quickly. It goes from a woman doctor announcing the cure for cancer to a spectacular shot of a completely abandoned New York City. The New York visuals were arguably the best things about the film. It was amazing to see a city that normally has millions of people wandering around, reduced to nothing. The streets were filled with roaming animals. Grass grew seemingly everywhere. Neville, in his three years alone, was able to go from house to house, looking for supplies. He had done a good job with his own house, setting up generators to power everything he could ever want. All in all, I was impressed with the job the film crew did to make New York empty.

But the movie isn’t all fun and games. The dark seekers are some creepy people and they’ll pop out at you when you most expect it, which doesn’t reduce the scares at all. They looked mostly CGI, but every one of them seems to have a credit on IMDB, which makes me wonder if I just couldn’t see them clearly. I wasn’t completely impressed with the creature effects so that took away from my enjoyment of the film a little. There was also never any real explanation of how a cure for cancer turned into a killer virus. I guess it was just one of those things we’re supposed to accept. But considering one of the main story elements was Neville trying to find a cure, it would have been nice to maybe hear some science. The movie (without closing credits) was only around 91 minutes, so there was certainly time to throw in some more exposition. We do get to see flashbacks to what took place when people realized the virus was killing people, so there is some back story, but I could have used some more.

The action sequences were fast and intense and rather scary. More than once I saw the audience jump out of their seats. There’s no question this movie can scare you. It will also make you laugh and make you cry. So from that perspective, the movie has a little bit of everything. But in the end, the movie rests on the large shoulders of Will Smith. I know about 10 years ago this movie almost got made with Arnold Schwarzenegger in the lead. I can’t say it would have been a bad movie, but it would have been different. Schwarzenegger’s version of the film would have likely been more action heavy. Will Smith on the other hand is a very likeable actor so they use his ability to bring emotion out of every scene to make a film that was dramatic as well as having a lot of action. I can’t honestly think of another actor right now that could have pulled the role off as well.

THE BOTTOM LINE

So overall, I enjoyed I Am Legend. I may have liked it more because of where I was when I saw it, but upon reflection it still holds up pretty well. There were some things I would have liked to have understood more, but from a pure moviegoing experience, this one is worth seeing.

The original National Treasure was a lot of fun mainly because it wasn’t expected to be fun. It was a surprise hit that many people enjoyed even if they won’t admit it. Book of Secrets was fun, but the movie lost its originality so it didn’t have the same feel. I did like the idea that the time in between films wasn’t spent with all the main characters off having fun and living the perfect life. Having marital and IRS problems was a nice touch. Diane Kruger has only gotten more attractive over the last couple of years, while Nicolas Cage looks like his hairline has been painted on. But getting the band back together was a good idea because they all work well with each other. Adding Helen Mirren as Patrick’s wife (and Ben’s mom) was an inspired touch because she’s one of the last people you’d expect to see going off on a treasure hunt. It was like seeing friends after a long time apart.The story wasn’t anything all that new. In the first movie they were going after the greatest treasure known to man. In this movie, they were going after… the greatest treasure known to man. In the first movie, there are all sort of historical clues/questions that need to be answered before you get to the final location where there’s a huge action sequence and the discovery. Same thing this time around. The stakes are raised somewhat in Book of Secrets if only because they have to kidnap the President to get some information, but for the most part the plots are pretty similar. There was one major difference, and that was in the bad guy.

In the original, Sean Bean was the bad guy who was out specifically to find treasure. He was in it for the money and he let everyone know it. He didn’t mind killing people if he had to and was a pretty, well, bad guy. In Book of Secrets, Ed Harris plays the bad guy. He’s the one who comes out of the woodwork with the accusation that Thomas Gates was a traitor. He trails the Gates family as they run around the world trying to figure out the clues. He’s willing to hurt people if necessary to find the treasure. Except… when the time comes to reveal why he did all of that, there is no explanation. At least nothing worthwhile. The entire movie builds up to a finale and you expect some major revelation as to why this guy would go through all this trouble and we’re left with the flimsiest of reasons. I kept waiting for someone to say something worthwhile but there was nothing.

That being said, the action piece at the end was very well done. The Balance Cave (you’ll understand when you see the movie) was rather inspired, and the ultimate reveal at the end was pretty spectacular. I thought the historical clues angle wasn’t as strong as before, but was still somewhat interesting. The car chase through the streets of London was very well done. And as I said before, the cast worked well together and seemed to enjoy being back on the hunt. And, unlike the original, this one has the makings of a sequel built right in, and it has to do with the infamous Book of Secrets.

So overall, I enjoyed National Treasure: Book of Secrets. It lost some of its originality, with the story being mostly a rehash of the first film, and the villain being less villainous. But it was still an entertaining ride with some exciting sequences and a group of actors who looked like they were just having fun.

Once again it seems the world is after Jason Bourne, when all he wants is to figure out who he really is. But no matter what country he’s in, someone wants to kill him. This time however, Bourne finds someone who can actually help him discover his past and in doing so, he uncovers a lot more than he ever expected.

So I remember not liking The Bourne Supremacy because of the fact that the camera shook so much it gave me a headache. I swore not to watch another movie by that director. So this time I went into the theaters expecting the camera to move non-stop, and with a higher opinion of the director. What I got was a film that was almost completely non-stop action and pretty good from start to finish. There was maybe 5-10 minutes in the whole film where something wasn’t happening. We got to finally learn the truth about Jason Bourne and about where he came from and who he really is. I’m not sure it was a very satisfying explanation - considering it’s taken 3 movies to get here - but it was a reasonable one. But the story isn’t what drives this film: it’s the action.

From the start we see Bourne shot and while injured still manages to beat up an armed Russian solider. For the rest of the movie we get to witness Bourne being Bourne. During one extended sequence in a Waterloo train station, Bourne not only manages to get into a fight with half a dozen people, and beat them all, he manages to lead a newspaper reporter through a maze of people trying to kill them both. If only the reporter had trusted Bourne as much as we do. It was a brilliantly filmed cat and mouse sequence that had the audience applauding at the end.

Bourne is a quiet, thoughtful man who can kill anyone at any time. As played by Matt Damon, he shows virtually no emotion. He’s sort of a meaner, less suave 007, although I’m betting head to head, Bourne would win. The thing about these films is that they’re more ‘real’ action than most of the action films you see today. There isn’t a lot of CGI, just man vs. man. In the last movie he used a newspaper to beat someone up. This time around he uses a book. Bourne doesn’t need fancy gadgets to get the job done. His supporting cast is mainly along for the ride. Because Bourne doesn’t show any emotion, the rest of the cast gets to show the various stages of fear, anger and happiness. We see familiar faces from the past films, and a couple of new recognizable ones pop up to get in Bourne’s way. Needless to say, things don’t always end well for them.

I think what I liked most about the movie was that for an end-of-summer blockbuster, it had enough of a story to make you think, and more than enough action to be satisfying. It’s definitely a movie that I think everyone can enjoy. There isn’t a lot of romance, although there is a tease about one in the past. It’s just basically a non-stop thrill ride that leaves you wanting more.

THE BOTTOM LINE

So overall, I enjoyed The Bourne Ultimatum more than the previous two films. If you’re looking for a great action film, look no further than Jason Bourne.

What do you do when you’re a rat who loves the finer things in life? That’s the question Remy has to deal with every day. All he wants to be able to do is eat the finest food and create the most amazing meals on his own. There’s just that small problem of being a rodent. But when he’s separated from his family he finds himself on the streets of Paris just outside one of the most famous restaurants in the city. He ends up befriending the spastic Linguini and together they set the Parisian food world on its collective ear. But how long can they keep up the charade before the entire city realizes the best chef in Paris is a rat?

THE REVIEW

After last years disappointing Cars I didn’t have the highest hopes for Ratatouille. There is no longer that buzz in the air when a new Pixar film comes out. Computer animated films seem to come out once a month so the anticipation levels have dropped. But there is still that name recognition that comes from a Pixar film and they’ve had a boat load of success over the years. So while Pixar films are no longer ‘events’ there is still that expectation of something special. Even for a film about a rat who wants to work in a kitchen. There was a lot of talk about how this movie was going to be a tough sell since it centers on a rat, but I never worried too much about that. If Pixar can make fish adorable, they can certainly make a rodent cute.

The first thing I noticed about the film was how amazingly fluid the animation looked. There were a lot of times where the ‘camera’ would follow Remy the rat up and down pipes, through tight spaces and it felt like you were right there with him. I really didn’t believe animation could get any better than it already is, but Ratatouille proved me wrong. There are still heights animation can reach and this movie showcased a lot of the good. The picture was still as sharp and realistic as ever. There are scenes where you really feel like you’re overlooking the city of Paris and when Remy gets separated from his family, the trip he takes down the sewer system was intense.

But even while I now realize that animation can get better, the real key to any film is whether or not the story can keep up with the visuals. I’ve seen a lot of movies that looked great, but couldn’t hold my interest. Ratatouille’s story wasn’t as strong as it could be, but it was still pretty solid. Once you get past the idea that a rat could control a human by pulling his hair of course. I thought it was interesting that they had an American voice a rat in Paris. I can understand the idea that a rat wouldn’t necessarily have an accent, but it seemed funny that the universal accent for a rat is American. I wonder if that was a subtle dig at our culture. The plot revolved around not just Remy wanting to be a chef, but also whether or not Linguini could possibly be the heir to the restaurant. That lead to many of the funniest scenes in the movie with the tiny little head chef Skinner who was desperately trying to hold on to what he considered ‘his’ restaurant. Voice almost unrecognizably by Ian Holm, Skinner was far and away the biggest scene stealer in the film. Every word, every facial expression, every reaction he had was completely hilarious.

There were a couple of downsides to the film. One was that there were a lot of times where picking up the French accents of the supporting players was kind of difficult. There were a couple of sequences where I really had no idea what someone was saying. The second problem was that there were times when the story felt really slow. Whenever Skinner or Anton Ego came on screen, things would lighten up, but some of the middle of the film felt a bit long. Anton Ego reminds me that the funniest shot in the film comes towards the end when he’s re-evaluating the restaurant for the first time in years. It’s a short moment that lasts all of a couple of seconds, but it might have been the funniest thing I’ve seen in film in a very long time.

It is year 5 at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Last we saw of Harry Potter, he had witnessed the return of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and watched his friend Cedric Diggory be murdered. Harry tries to tell the world that Lord Voldemort has returned, but the Ministry of Magic turns a deaf ear, not wanting to believe the possibility that the most evil wizard to ever walk the planet could be back. Instead the Ministry does everything in its power to make people believe Harry is insane. They also install a new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor by the name of Dolores Umbridge. She soon becomes mad with power and threatens to take over the whole school. Harry, joined by best friends Ron and Hermione, band together and start a group known as the DA to learn defensive magic in order to protect themselves. At the same time, Headmaster Dumbledore has restarted the Order of the Phoenix, a group originally created to stop Voldemort the last time he was in power. Together, the Order and the DA will fight Voldemort and his Death Eaters in a battle that will end with both sides suffering heavy losses… The Rebellion Begins.

The first thing you notice about Order of the Phoenix is how gritty it looks. The opening shot reminded me a lot of independent films where the picture was overexposed and blown out. There’s a radio playing in the background and when Harry goes face to face with his cousin Dudley, there’s a real showdown feel to it. That feeling or grittiness stays with the movie the entire way through. Sorcerer’s Stone was a fun loving, true-to-the-book film which grows on me the more I watch it. At the time I didn’t feel like it was magical enough, but now I appreciate it mainly because it has everything in it. It stays close to the book and has a very warm quality about it. Chamber of Secrets followed the same path and was only hampered by a story line that wasn’t as engaging as the other books. Prisoner of Azkaban took the films to a whole new level. There, for the first time, I felt like I was watching a movie about wizards. The entire film felt magical and while it was darker than the first two, it was still lighthearted. Goblet of Fire took the story even darker, which is to be expected since the older Harry gets, the darker the books become. That movie strayed farther from the books than before but still kept its essence. Order of the Phoenix is the shorted film of the five, even though the book was the longest of the series. A lot of the book is repetitive, so I can understand cutting out things here and there, but as always, there were little things that I missed, things that while not important to the story as a whole, could have helped explain a lot of things to the uninformed.

A lot of things were condensed, and a lot of things were time shifted. One of the teachers gets sacked early on in the movie, something that happens in the last third of the book. Harry gets placed before a tribunal to explain his use of magic in front of a Muggle, but his going was thrown into the mix by a single line by Hermione that many people may have missed. I suppose I could go on and on about the things that were taken out, but I do understand that in order to keep the movie manageable, certain things needed to be removed. However since this was the shortest movie so far, I think they could have easily added another 20-30 minutes of footage (information) and still kept fans happy. They did touch on a lot of the important points and did a good job of giving you certain information that was important, without doing it exactly as the book did. Die hard fans like myself will always wish there was more and will always wish that the movies could stay as close to the book as possible, but everything that needed to be said, was said.

I found the acting to be the best so far, which is to be expected as everyone is used to their roles. This movie is mainly about Harry, as Ron and Hermione are shuttered to the background for the most part. Severus, Sirius, Dumbledore, Hagrid and the rest all have their moments, but Harry and Umbridge get the showier roles. The one thing I’ve always said about the Harry Potter films is that they’re always well cast. Alan Rickman as Snape is arguably the most spot-on casting job ever. And Imelda Staunton did a tremendous job as Dolores Umbridge. She had the “hem-hems” down perfectly and did a great job trying to remain cutesy while going crazy with power.

With every film since the second one, there has been a change of director, which has kept the movies fresh. But this movie had another change which shouldn’t be discounted. Steve Kloves wrote the screenplay for the first four films, but Michael Goldenberg came on board to write this one. I believe that added to the darker tone of the film. There were some lighthearted moments, but for the most part it was kept dark and mysterious. While the use of magic was increased, the magical feel of the movie was decreased. The film no longer felt like a fun popcorn film, it felt real, like by now the audience no longer needs to be wowed by the fact there are wizards in the world, but that it should be accepted as fact. That being said, the last 20-30 minutes of the film, once Harry and friends get to the Ministry, are fantastic. It was like watching a massive battle sequence where normally you’d find people with guns, but this time they’re all using wands.

So overall, I enjoyed Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. It was much darker than any of the previous films, and took on a very gritty and real film that the others didn’t. Visually it was great, but at the same time some of the magical qualities the first four films had, disappeared.