Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides...what a ride

Now I have to confess, I have enjoyed the first three installments of this series.  My expectations of these films are simply a good time – a ride to the ridiculous with some good looking actors. These movies are not going to move you to save the world or inspire world peace. If you seek something that deep or motivating, go see something else.  If you want to see what trouble Captain Jack Sparrow will get into, watch this movie.

John Depp and Geoffrey Rush return as Jack and Barbossa.  They are joined by Ian McShane and Penélope Cruz as Blackbird and his daughter.  The exploits of Blackbird and his ship the Queen Anne’s Revenge are well known to historians - don’t expect a history lesson here.  Yes there are zombies, but of the voodoo variety (not George Romero).  The mermaids are a new touch – but expect something you would find in an Anne Rice novel and nothing like Disney’s Ariel.

The story – alluded to at the end of the 3^rd movie – is a search for the Fountain of Youth, rack your brain…you remember hearing about Ponce de Leon and the Spanish settlements in the land we now call Florida.  He was supposedly looking for the legendary fountain or spring which would grant eternal life.  This story is far more fun.  You have the pirates versus the English privateers versus the Spanish religious zealots.  You have mystical rituals, crazy fights, and explosions.  There is even proof Captain Jack Sparrow might have a heart.  The cameos by Dame Judi Dench and Keith Richards (returning as Jack’s dad) are a nice touch.

I enjoyed the movie, as did my husband and son.  It is no more violent than the first three so even kids will have fun. Go and have a good ride.

Go see Thor while still in theatres

Thor - one of Marvel's summer contribution. Now I was on the fence before watching it.  Although I enjoyed most of the comics which later combined to become the Avengers (like Iron Man), I was never a huge Thor fan.  It was certainly one of the stranger backgrounds – Norse mythology.  The character rarely seemed very developed, but may be I missed those issues.  Regardless, I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed this movie. 

The actors were of a surprising caliber for a super hero movie…Anthony Hopkins as Odin and Natalie Portman as Jane bring interesting touches to their roles.  Yes, Natalie has Star Wars in her repertoire but she has a youthful innocent quality which suits the role.  Chris Hemsworth gave a thunderous rendition as Thor (pun intended) and Tom Hiddleston had just the right amount of mischievousness and evil to make a perfect Loki. Actually, I think the movie was well cast throughout – including Stellan Skarsgard as Erik and Colm Foere as King Laufey.

Not to scare anyone off, but the story has a Shakespearean flair.  It has the family tragedy of King Lear and ruthless violence of Titus Andronicus with a few puns and inside jokes thrown in for good measure.  And why shouldn’t it, Kenneth Branagh - Olivier’s successor to the throne – helms this movie.  Even I paused when I saw his name…but as a fan of the Bard, it makes perfect sense.  Those who cannot get passed the language barrier often do not get to glimpse the wonders of Shakespeare.  He has many stories with larger-than-life characters, such as Julius Caesar.  Kenneth melds a classical story of a father and sons, good versus evil, and love conquers all.

So should you see it?  Yes, if…you like comic book movies, you like action movies, you like redemption stories, you like special effects, or if you like to see things go boom.  Have fun.

Movies to Rent: I was a Male War Bride

Need something other than a summer action movie...I recommend watch "I was a Male War Bride" starring Cary Grant and Ann Sheridan.  Yes, it is a black and white movie - released in 1949 - but it is funny, even today.  Legendary director Howard Hawks delivers a delicious romp through WWII Europe - not something easy to do.  Cary Grant plays french Officer Henri Rochard (with a British accent).  His nemesis is US Lieut. Catherine Gates...but soon disdain turns into love. (Duh) Then the fun begins...thanks to government bureaucracy.  They marry...or at least they tr, three times :)  Then Catherine is shipped out...she wants to bring her hubby.  They try to use the War Bride's Act but of course all the rules, paperwork, and language refers to brides...not grooms.  Yes, there is cross dressing...and a bit about a horse('s tail).

Based on a real story - I was an Alien Spouse of Female Military Personnel Enroute to the United States Under Public Law 271 of the Congress - this movie is a screwball comedy at its best: slapstick, goofy humor, comedy of errors...all in there.  Apropriate for all ages,  good for a family night, date night, or just 'cuz...

Life is too short, make the most of it

Although I have been on this planet more than four decades, I do not pretend to have all of the answers. Heck, I don't even have all of the questions. But I do know that one must find a way to make the best of one's life. Don't dwell on the negatives of your life. The traumas you may have experienced are a part of you but do not let them own you. We each have our secrets. We each have our horrors. We each have our sorrows. Many of us have significant health issues. But when the dark side takes over, when you let the evil eat at your heart...your spirit dies. Don't let the negatives in your life rule your life. You are too special. Guess what, the glass isn't half empty...it's brimming with possibilities. I'm not some cock-eyed optimist, just a gal who finally realized that I have much more to offer this world and I'm not going without a fight. So stop being a ninny and find something worth living for.

What a piece of work is a man, how noble in reason, how infinite in faculties, in form and moving how express and admirable, in action how like an angel, in apprehension how like a god! (Hamlet)

Oh, and THE answer is indeed 42. (Thanks to Douglas Adams)

Movie to Rent - The King’s Speech (2011)

A dear friend and I went to see The King’s Speech the other night and had a wonderful evening.  I can tell you that if you do not British movies, stop…do not go on…you will not enjoy this movie.  However, if you liked The Queen (2006) or Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007) you will like this movie.

This movie tells the true story of Albert Frederick Arthur George, the Duke of York who later became King George VI of England and better known to today’s world as Queen Elizabeth II’s daddy.  We see the transition of from his father (King George V) to his brother (Edward VIII) to him.  But this movie gives us a very human and real story.  The reality on how royal children were raised is revealed, warts on all.  You feel for Bertie (as his family called him) who struggle with a stammer which dates back to his horrid childhood.  (SPOILER ALERT) You learned how he was starved by a spiteful nanny, forced to change from left-handed to right-handed (common back then), painfully had his legs straightened, and how he was tormented by father and brother nearly from birth. 

Colin Firth is amazing.  His stutter is absolutely believable.  You feel his pain and struggle with shyness and lack of confidence.  You really believe him when he says he does not want to be king.  You know he loves the children and his wife.  You see the friendship he develops with Lionel Logue, his speech therapist.  Geoffrey Rush is superb as Lionel.  Again, the actor disappears and all you see is the character. Helena Bonham Carter rounds out the main trio of actors.  Although today’s audiences recognize her primarily as quirky characters (Bellatrix Lestrange or the red Queen).  But when she first entered the world of acting she was best known for her costume dramas.  She has not lost her touch and plays Queen Elizabeth (the Queen Mum today) deftly.  Supporting actors round out this well-acted piece include Guy Pearce as Edward VIII, Derek Jacobi and the Archbishop, and Michael Gambon as King George V.

The acting is flawless.  The cinematography is breath-taking.  The emotion is raw.  Worth every penny!

X-Men: First Class - catch it while still in theatres

Wonderful, marvelous, amazing.  Ok, if you read my last post you will know I am biased and love comic books.  But who cares - I truly enjoyed the latest X-Men movie, a prequel showing a version how Professor X and Magneto began.  Now the comic book aficionados know the story line is not exact, but I think they will still like this movie.

The movie opens with a near-perfect repeat of the 2000 X-Men.  We see Erik Lehnsherr as a young Polish Jew arriving at a concentration camp.  The anguish of the moment is very well done.  One of the few times I was less than please occurred during the introduction of Sebastian Shaw (Kevin Bacon) – I cannot fathom why a young Polish boy is speaking German with the “doctor.”  Still, this scene is otherwise good and opens up a better understanding of Erik.  Michael Fassbender does a splendid job as Erik.  You feel his turmoil – you see how he makes his choices (good and bad).  He gives Magneto a human side, something fans have known for years.  Erik is not evil – yes, he becomes one of the biggest bad guys in comic book history but there are events in his life which lead Erik down the path to Magneto.

James McAvoy (recently heard as the voice of Gnomeo in the cartoon Gnomeo and Juliet) plays Charles Xavier, an intellectual prodigy and telepath.  In the comic book he completes his degrees while still a teenager and is bald before 20 (I assume they were hard pressed to find a young actor willing to cut it all off).   Charles compassion for his fellow man – human and mutant – is very strong.  This theme has run throughout the recent movies.  Even the cartoons of the 80s held this ideal (in the comic books Professor X screws up from time to time and occasionally makes judgment errs).  This Charles truly wants peace and thinks human fears can be allayed (although we already know this is difficult at best).

There are familiar characters to the comic book readers, such as Moira MacTaggert played well by Rose Byrne and Emma Frost (January Jones). Sometimes I think the movie writers use the names for fan recognition but then minimize their significance or change their functions to fit the story better.  Most audiences will recognize Raven - later known as Mystique – nicely portrayed by Jennifer Lawrence.  Zoë Kravitz (progeny of Lenny Kravitz and Crosby Show Lisa Bonet) plays Angel and Nicholas Hoult plays Beast.  Oliver Platt rounds out the cast as a sympathetic CIA agent. There are additional mutants and humans relevant to the story – most are well-acted or at least work well with their CGI demands.

The basic story is interesting and well-written.  Placed into the context of a real and frightening situation in our history – the Cuban Missile Crisis – the mutants must save humanity from a megalomaniac (don’t want to spoil it by telling you whom).  Many viewer of this movie may only know of this event through history books.  Those who lived through it could tell you just how close we came to WW3.  This spin is intriguing and provides a magnificent backdrop to the stories of Charles, Erik and their band of mutants.  There is action, adventure, explosions and heartache - the perfect summer blockbuster.

So, if you like comic books, action, or stories about saving humanity…go see X-Men: First Class.

Movie to rent: Mr. Roberts

Mr. Roberts is a 1955 classic World War II movie starting James Cagney as Captain Morton, William Powell as Doc, Jack Lemmon as Ensign Pulver and Henry Fonda as the title character.  Directed by John ford and Mervin LeRoy, this film is based on a novel and subsequent play.  

Mr. Roberts is the Executive Officer on board the Navy cargo ship USS Reluctant.  Lt. Roberts not only oversee the daily operations of the ship, but he also acts as a buffer between the crew and their inane Captain Morgan.  The captain is obsessed with the ship’s efficiency record – earned  thanks to Roberts – and the palm tree he received in recognition.  There are many dimensions to this story.  On face-value you might think it is a comedy – and it is.  The palm tree and her captain are the butt of many practical jokes, played by a crew going crazy because they are continually denied shore leave. Ensign Pulver is a girl-crazy young officer who is afraid of his own shadow.  Doc is more bartender and less medical professional…although he does seem to also have a degree in psychiatry.  Captain Morton’s Napoleon complex is classic – he hates Mr. Roberts for being college-educated, he hates the crew (and they him), he is a small tyrant who thinks fear is better than respect.  The crew look like they just came off the national tour of South Pacific – you do kinds expect them to break out into song…but they do not.

Then there is the plight of Lt Roberts - a Navy officer watching the war pass him by.  He runs a cargo ship which supplies the Navy fleet in the Pacific.  He watches as the vessels he serves goes off into action.  He feels he is not doing enough and continuously puts in transfer requests.  Morton assumes Roberts thinks he is superior and even suspects Roberts just wants a promotion.  Morton cannot understand Roberts and takes much of his anger out on this one officer.  

I don’t want to tell you the whole story…I certainly don’t want to spoil the ending…But I do want to recommend this movie.  This movie is good for nearly every age, but those under 13 might not find it interesting (too young to understand most of the concepts jokes).  For the most part, the movie is tame – although the antiquated treatment of women, shore leave antics and innuendos can be slightly annoying to today’s sensibilities.  

DISCLAIMER: As a fan of older movies, I have to put aside the sexism or racism sometimes prevalent.  It’s like reading Tom Sawyer, the story includes ideas today would be considered quaint as best and offensive at worst but does show you how people once felt.  I believe it is important to NOT whitewash these moments from books and movies – lest we forgot how things once were and allow history to repeat. If people are uncomfortable, good – these prejudices should make you uncomfortable.  Maybe this topic can be saved for a later posting….

Comic Book Movies

Many recent movie reviews I have seen talk about how much they enjoyed the newest Marvel release despite their disappointment in other of the X-Men series.  I always find it interesting that movies reviewers are so myopic. Not only have I been a big movie picture fan (starting with silent films such as Metropolis) I am also an avid reader (hence my first degree in English and massive library) which includes comic books.  I loved the old X-men, Avengers, Batman, Superman, etc.  I enjoyed the comic rebirth in the 80s with Frank Miller and Todd McFarlane.  I still occasionally sniff out a graphic novel today… So, I have listened over the last few decades when the fans complain the movies aren’t accurate enough and the critics just don’t get them. 

My two-cents on comic book and their movies…enjoy them for what they are – don’t expect a blow-by-blow of 40+ years of storyline in two short hours and don’t expect the storylines to rival Shakespeare. 

Most comic book movies get the basic story right, making tweaks to fit today’s audience, compressing storylines, and selecting only a few characters to highlight.  Many super hero comic books are ensemble pieces; even Superman, Spiderman, and Batman have a cast of characters around them.  It can be hard in only 2-2.5 hours to develop all of the characters.  Most X-Men fans have a favorite (and I heard many complaints when their idol was not included).  To those not indoctrinated, there are multiple comic book series involving the X-Men including, The Amazing X-Men, Mutant X, Ultimate X-Men, Uncanny X-Men…many more including storyline on individual mutants (such as Wolverine).  Suffice to say, there are hundreds of characters. 

Comic book movies have action, adventures, sci-fi, etc – there is also underlying stories of humanity.  Super heroes often feel different from the rest of the world, yet do everything they can to save it.  Many storylines appeared either during WWII or is inspired by it.  The horrors of Hitler and later Stalin inspired many writers to create champions of justice.  They are also uniquely American – the belief in “truth, justice, and the American way” is evident in Superman, Wonder Woman, Captain America, etc. in their costumes, speeches, and ideals.  Although we have not always lived up to our own standards and not always upheld the freedoms we cherish, in general the ideals spread by the DC and Marvel writers are true.  The storylines in the comic book are often about righting injustices, stopping prejudice, and fighting evil. 

So look past the CGI and costumes…look again at their stories.  These are ancient tales with relevance in today’s world.  In 2011 we are more informed, more aware, and more connected as a planet.  We may never allow a Hitler or Stalin to rise again, but they exist, just on smaller scales.  So, these stories of justice and freedoms still ring true. Enjoy.

Green Lantern Movie Review

I love comic books.  I love movies.  I usually love comic book movies.  I hate this movie.  There were a couple of could points…I enjoyed both Ryan Reynolds as Hal Jordon and Mark Strong as Sinestro.  In the comics the battle between these two are a good example of the formulaic "good vs. evil" fight so often found in this genre.  Both actors were believable as their sharacters.  I do have issues watching Ryan Reynolds - i always seem to picture him as the goof-ball on the short-lived TV show "Two Guys, a Girl, and a Pizza Place."   I last saw Mark Strong as the villian in  Robert Downey Jr.'s "Sherlock Holmes" and I really liked him in the soon-to-be-Professor Moriarty...

The worst acting was from Blake Lively – I did not believe she was a fighter pilot, business women…or for that matter I didn’t believe she was an actress.  Her wardrobe was ridiculous and she looked younger than her 24 years.  Although non-super-women in comics are often rarely more than eye candy for teenage bpys, she is scrapping at the bottom of the barrel.  I am sure she is a perfectly nice woman/girl.  However it is obvious her family connections got her this "career" in Hollywood.  Beauty can only carry you so far.  There are many beautiful women who can also act...she is nto one of them.  Thankfully her part is relatively small. 

There is a strong cast of supporting actors - whose skills are wasted in their weak parts.  Peter Sarsgaard – usually a good actor – is impossible to believe as Hector Hammond.  His make up was silly and obvious – too much.  Tim Robbins plays his unlikable politician with none of the relish he should.  Angela Basset - an amazing actress - is simply a two-line part in 5-inch stilettos and micro-mini-skirts (no real scientist would be caught dead in such an awful outfit).  Hey she looks good...but good Lord, she's an actress so let her act.

By far, the biggest deficient is the script.  Poorly written, bad dialogue, long lags, shall I continue???  They could have cut a dozen boring moments, pumped up the action, and made it a livelier story.  It wasn’t interesting.  I could care less if Hal and Carrie ever got together.  The father-son relationship between Hector and his father the senator – barely developed and poorly executed.  The jealousy between Hector and Hal…boring, trite, sad…

The only thing that gives me hope…if they make a second one, the rivalry between Sinestro and Hal could be amazing.  I liked the storyline in the comics and have a bit of hope they could do it well. Oh yeah, and thankfully I only paid matinee prices for the tickets.

Bottom line: little kids might like the comic book action but there is not enough action to apease those over ten - teenage boys might the skimpy dresses but moms may not approve - comic book fans will be disappointed.

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Ah Julie;

But I love comic book movies, as a matter of fact I can only think of a couple in the past decade I disliked (ironically Green Lantern and Green Hornet both come to mind).  I expect them to be over the top, melodramatic, and often tongue-in-cheek.  I did stay for the ending (hence my comment about hope for #2) but I avoid spoilers.  Believability is the complaint… poor writing and poor acting killed this film. What’s her name was so unmemorable that I am not surprised I got the name wrong – and I did not find her particularly attractive, but the “acting” may have blinded me.  I did love the effects.  I just wish that the movie lived up to the decades of comics I grew up loving.  RR is nice looking, but he is no Hugh Jackman ;)