Thor: The Dark World

Thor: The Dark World directed by Alan Taylor, starring Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Anthony Hopkins, Tom Hiddleston, Christopher Eccleston, Rene Russo, Idris Elba, and Kat Dennings.

One thing I've liked about the Marvel movies (if you exclude the terrible Ed Norton Hulk movie) is that despite all of the action woven throughout the movies they always seem to focus on characters and actually let the actors and actresses actually act in the movies.  The Thor sequel is gladly living up to this as the action was fast paced, without being out of control, and weaved themselves through the movie without the story line being servant to the action.  This is a refreshing breath of fresh air from the summer movies that are more dependent on budget, action, and explosions than any form of interesting characters.

I liked how this movie actually let these actors act between themselves and didn't stay shackled to action scenes because the acting scenes were good and really helped to flesh out the characters.  I will say this though Tom Hiddleston's Loki is one of the best characters in the Marvel Movie Universe, hands down, even though he's technically a villain.  Hiddleston brings some very fascinating things to the character of Loki that helps to make him more than just a villain. 

There is a storyline to this movie but that story line is secondary to the expanding of the characters and the Marvel universe, which is fine by me as things are being explored and I'm not just getting a rehash of what had happened previously.  I felt this was the case with the two sequels to the Iron Man movies, which didn't seem to explore new ground and relied way to much of Downey's charisma to get by instead of fully investing in his persona of Tony Stark or exploring that character.  The character of Thor has grown from his experiences of the first Thor movie and the Avengers movie, it was fun to watch his character change from these experiences instead of remaining the same character.  Even Loki was affected differently from those movies as well.  It was a blast seeing him helping Thor out and the way that transpired was inspired without feeling forced.  I also believe there's something in Chris Hemsworth contract that for every movie he's in, he has to have at least one scene where his shirt is off - and yes that scene is here in the movie for all of the girls out there. 

All and all it was one of the better sequels of the Marvel Movies, at least much better than the Iron Man sequels, whose story lines always seemed shackled to the actions scenes and world never seemed expanded or explore but more of the same, same. 

Frozen

Frozen directed by Christ Buck and Jennifer Lee (also the writer).

One of the better cartoon movies I've in awhile and one of the better stories I've seen for a cartoon in awhile.  Oh, yeah, it's also a good kid and family movie to boot. 

This movie is a good example of how if you making good, interesting characters you don't have to have an evil villain moving things forward nor do you have to have a detailed ridden, plot driven story line.  Good characters can move things forward and make things interesting because they make you care about them and what's going to happen in their lives.  The two main characters, the sisters Anna and Else, drive this story forward with their different personalities as the movie makes us care about them and wants them to get back together.

The actually villain of the movie is Elsa's powers and how those powers have driven the sisters apart, putting a distance between them as the years and age over take them.  It's such a brilliant concept to not have a standard, stock villain but it works in wonderful ways and the movie feels really alive and original because of it.  By not having that stand out villain, the movie breaks down the feeling of cliche that seems to overpower many movies that rely to heavily on a villain for the sake of a villain - I think of the second Iron Man movie, which didn't need a standard villain and should just have relied on Robert Downey, Jr as Tony Stark fighting his demons because he was the driving force of that movie.  Then the other side characters that come into the sisters' lives only further enhanced the story and world created here and helped to bring everything to life.

Visually one of the things I liked about this movie was how the dresses worn by the sisters helped to convey and match their personalities.  Anna's dresses were flowing and moving, matching her care free and sunny personality.  Where as Elsa's dresses were straight, rigid, and rather frozen matching her personality of isolation and for the most part iciness.  This was a nice slight touch that think helped to transform these characters into some real people.   

Riddick

Riddick written and directed by David Twohy, starring Vin Diesel and Katee Sackoff.

This movie is basically a rehash of the first movie Pitch Black, only no where near as good as that movie.  This movie is entertaining but serves no point in the Riddick trilogy, in that it doesn't forward the story, universe, or mythology of Riddick. 

This movie seems to serve one purpose: that is to reaffirm that Riddick is a bad ass, which by now if you don't know that you're pretty thick of head.  I just wish this movie would have had Riddick finding his home and then journey with him as he explores more of his past, that would have made a much more interesting movie.  But even saying all of this, this movie was still entertaining and not a bad way to spend a couple of hours, just make sure you turn your brain off when watching the movie. 

One more thing the dog in here was awesome, finally the good guys get a really cool toy, instead of the bad guys always getting them, for that alone I will give this movie a thumbs up.

Ender's Game

Ender's Game written (for the screen) and directed by Gavin Hood, starring Asa Butterfield, Hailee Steinfeld, Harrison Ford, Abigail Breslin, Viola Davis, and Ben Kinsley.

Honestly I didn't really like this movie.  It moved way to fast over Orson Scott Card's story, which for the record is one my top 10 books of all time (and also for the record its sequel Speaker for the Dead is paired up with Ender's Game and is one of the best sequels ever made).  Needless to say I had a lot baggage going into this movie as it pertained to the story.  I've read the book at least 3 times so I'm very close to this story and am totally the wrong person to see this movie but being a fan of the book I had to give it a try.

Personally, I think they should have made the book into a mini-series on television because then all of themes and ideas from the book could have been explored in a lot more detail, rather than the cliff notes version the movie turned out to be.  I don't even think they tone or over all feel of the movie matches that of the book.  Everything just felt rushed in the movie and I also thought the set designs and production value were a little to slick and polished that they caused the movie to verge on looking fake making the tone feel more like the Lucas version of the Star Wars prequels rather than the passion of the original trilogy.  Only near the end of the movie, when they get to the the Bugger planet, does the sets really seem to look more lived in and not so stylish but by that time they had really lost my interest and it was too late.  Other than that I'd skip this movie and just read the book, you'll get much more out of the book experience.  

Atlas Shrugged part 2

Atlas Shrugged Part 2: The Strike directed by John Putch, starring Samantha Mathis, Jason Beghe, and Esai Morales.

This is by no means a great movie but I found the second part of this story line as completely compelling as the first part.  Especially as the political climate in our country seems to be trying really hard to mirror the political climate of this movie.  The similarities are that shocking, and all of this from a book written in the 1957, which needless to say was very prophetic. 

This is just a movie to be watched if you're in the mood for something a little different because I can no way guarantee you're going to like it.  But the storyline was what clicked for me, the acting and production are by no means a great thing.  Then again I was raised on the wobbly sets and man in rubber suits of the old Dr. Who and still have a huge fondness for that show.  This movie falls into the Dr. Who category with ease, that in my opinion, holds try to about anything artistic: you make either a compelling story line or interesting characters and everything else that happens doesn't have to be perfect the story line or characters will carry everything forward.

The Lookout

The Lookout written and directed by Scott Frank, starring Joseph Gorden-Levitt, Jeff Daniels, Mathew Goode and Isla Fisher.

I had never heard of this movie until a co-worker recommended it to me as he knows my desire to see about every movie known to man, or at least as close as I can get without going to far into the foreign film selection (sorry the torrential outpouring of Bollywood, Asian films, and insomnia inducing independent films just aren't on those lists).  I digress. 

And I've got say this was a little gem of movie that I'd never heard of.  It also goes to show what a good actor Joseph Gorden-Levitt has become over the years but even I've got to admit the scene stealer in this movie is the actor Matthew Goode.  I've seen him in other really good films (Stoker, Leap Year, and Watchmen) and in those films he has displayed an array of acting range as his screen presence is clearly on display.  In this film he dominates each scene he's in without being overbearing or exploding, it's just his sheer presence that commands attention.  He is that good.  Just watch the other films I mentioned that he's in to see what I'm talking about because even in those movies he doesn't shout or erupt onscreen.  He just acts and it's honestly a delight to see him on screen.  Honestly, I think he's just one movie away from reaching the Bradly Cooper stardom (do you remember him on the TV show Alias?  I do and at the time I thought he was one of the better actors on that show and the show was not as impressive when he wasn't on screen).  I've also got to say I think I would watch anything with Isla Fisher in it (which means I'm probably going to see the latest adaptation of The Great Gasby someday and I'll like her in that movie but then really want my time back from watching that movie).

Anyhow, this movie is worth tracking down to watch.  It owes a little bit to Nolan's Memento as it plays around with mental illness and film noir .  But ultimately this movie is it's own beast.  There's a solid screen play that is clearly focused on the main character and doesn't have too many scenes that aren't told from his perspective, which in movies made now-a-days is a bold move.  It's also a movie that actually has Act 1-3 where the first act really drops the viewer into the world of the main character easily connecting with the plight that is driving his life.  You want something to change him.  You long for something to change in his life.  Gorden-Levitt and Jeff Daniels really engage in this first Act, thoroughly convincing everything about the story and the world.  Track this movie down and watch it.

Rasl

Rasl written and illustrated by Jeff Smith.

I like to give shout out to books, movies, or TV shows I've invested time into that don't normally get a lot of attention.  This book is one of those books that hasn't gotten a lot of attention from the main stream comic press because it wasn't part of the big two comics DC or Marvel.  But this comic book needs to be talked about because it was so much better than most of the combined output of the big two.  Also Jeff Smith is one of few writer/artist who's new work needs to be talked about when it comes out.  I mean he made a huge impression with his series Bone (of which I still need to read and am waiting on tip toes to finally be able to dive into that world) so just based on that series alone anything he puts out needs to be addressed.   Rasl, unlike most comic book actually has a beginning, middle, and an end, so much so that I would put it in the category of a actually book than a comic book.   It's also a good 400 pages long, and when it ends I can actually say I would to see another part of this story continue.

Rasl stands for Romance At the Speed of Light.  So yes, it is sort of a romance story as well as being a sci-fi story mixed in with some historical Tesla also.  I've got to admit the story has a Tesla theme running through it, which is one of the reasons I was drawn to reading it.  I've been a Tesla fan ever since I heard about him and his inventions, so with this story having any form of Tesla in it, automatically peeked my interest.  And the Tesla involvement was well rewarded. 

This story revolves around parallel worlds and electricity as the main character of Rasl weaves his way through them and the various relationships of his life also.  It is a very character driven story as Rasl is front and center of everything that happens and as the story pulls away layer upon layer of his history he becomes a fascinating and complex character.  The story is full of action, science, romance, sci-fi, and is really a good mixture of them all without anything over shadowing the character of Rasl.  All in all it was good time I spend in a world created by Jeff Smith.

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2.

Not one of the best animated movies I've seen but it was still a great time with the family and the kids had a blast, which in the end, is what it's all for.  This series is no where in the same league as the Ice Age movies, nor the Despicable Me series, nor the early Pixar movies (man it feels weird to write line as it makes me feel old).  But the movie does have its own humor and off beat world.  Even going back to this world again was a welcome return as familiar themes of friendship and loyalty are explored once again in a kids movies. 

Elysium

Elysium written and directed by Neill Blomkamp,starring Matt Damon, Jodie Foster, Sharlto Copely, and William Fitner.

I really like sci-fi movies and sci-fi stories and will watch about anything if it's sci-fi related, so you must understand that I will always have a bias with anything sci-fi related. Blade Runner is one of those movies that is by no means perfect but because the sci-fi themes in it I give it a lot more wiggle room than I normally do with other movie, thus is the reason I really like Blade Runner.  But you must also understand that I will be severely critical also with sci-fi because I have such a passion for it.  I don't like sci-fi that is so focused on delivering a message that it bypasses all logic and any form of character development for the sake of pushing a message.  Or the sci-fi movie becomes so focused on the technology and science that everything else in the story plays second fiddle.  These are how you don't do a sci-fi movie, hell for that matter, these are how you don't do any story in general.  Character should always be the first focal point in any story.  You create a good, interesting character then everything else should flow from that character with ease.  If the character isn't interesting then everything will feel forced.

Elysium is an example of how not to do a sci-fi movie.  It's preachy and agenda driven as it sacrifices all character development for the message it's trying to deliver.  Then because of this there are a bunch of things this movie does to force the agenda on the audience.  One is by having a dying girl be a kind of catalyst for the story line, without really giving her any sort of motivation, well because the writer doesn't have to, she's dying, so dammit we should have to care about her.  If we don't then we are just callused, mean people.  This is the worst sort of helping the viewer care about the character ever.  Honestly I cared more the about Sharlto Copely character (who's the bad guy) than I did about anyone else in the movie.  His character was just that much more interesting as was his motivations when compared to the other stale, standard characters in this movie.

Another thing I didn't understand about his movie.   Matt Damon's character works in a factory that manufactures robots, by I'm guessing either the thousands or hundred of thousands a day (this factory has to be at least one of many more), yet there seems to be a very short supply of these robots walking around on either or Elysium to police the people, which is why they were created.  Little things like this irritate me.  Needless to say I was very disappointed in this movie considering Blomkamp's first film District 9 was very good and could be held up high as an example of how to do a sci-fi movie the right way.  That Elysium is this bad doesn't excite me for Blomkamp's next film.