I had read the comic book that this movie was based on just before the first previews came out. The book is phenomenal, and an impressive read. So I looked forward to catching this movie. I missed it in the theaters, but got my chance to see it with some friends. So, would the movie live up to the standard set by the comic?
Welcome to Barrow, Alaska. A town that sees no daylight for 30 days straight during the year. Many residents leave for a time, leaving local Sheriff Ebon Oleson (Josh Hartnett) in charge. But as the long night comes, the town is suddenly cut-off from the rest of the world, and is then invaded by a group of blood-hungry vampires looking to take advantage of the constant darkness. Ebon must then keep a group of survivors safe, including his estranged wife Stella (Melissa George), until the sun can rise again.
The movie keeps some basic principles from the comic book, and even manages to improve on its few weaknesses. The movie has a good flow, and is easy to keep up with. Many special effects and visuals (especially the gore) are done extremely well, especially a scene with an overhead shot of the town with the vampires running amok. Even Hartnett does a good job as the hero, going back to his role from "Black Hawk Down" for some similarity. Ben Foster's small role stands out as quite disturbing and authentic. The rest of the cast when displaying horror are convincing enough.
The same can't be said of Hartnett's counterpart George, whose character is almost unneccessary and stale. The vampires themselves are not intimidating either, as they just act more like zombies than a well-organized faction. The final showdown at the end of the film also falls flat, and seems to come-and-go before you realize it's all over. The faults I've pointed out, although they seem few, are major things that hurt this film as they are essential to it.
The movie is better catagorized as a survival movie rather than a horror one. The desparation of the "human" characters is more interesting than the purpose of the vampires. While the movie has its moments, the overall goal it intended to achieve is far off. Still, I do rate this movie better than all those "gorefest" movies that have nothing but violence and special effects for the gore, and require no acting ability whatsoever. However, this movie gets you tense at the most rather than getting you scared out of your wits. You do however get a sense of what you would do in a situation like this. Do you hold out and hope you're not found? Or do you attempt to fight off the threat? Of course, head vampire Marlow looked at fighting this way:
"When man meets a force he can't destroy, he destroys himself. What a plague you are."
Makes it difficult to choose how to get out of the hell that is Barrow......which should really be called "Sorrow" after the horror it's seen.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
R.I.P. Paul Newman
When a legendary actor passes away, you just have to say something. Especially when it comes to Paul Newman. Cool Hand Luke. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. The Sting. This man was in some of the greatest movies of all time. And even the movies he was in that are lesser known are still some of his best. Two movies come to mind when I think along those lines: Slap Shot and Road to Perdition. Slap Shot was a comedy I had seen some time ago, and is still one of my favorites of all comedies. Paul Newman was the stand-out star of that one, and his charisma helped drive that movie to a great level of entertainment. Even when taking a supporting role in "Road to Perdition," he still stands out. He got a Best Supporting Actor nomination for that role too.
This man has been honored so many times that it's hard for me to pay any kind of tribute good enough here. All I can say is any movie I see with his name on it I will definitely look at with greater appreciation. Any serious actor looking to make it big need to take a cue from Paul Newman: charisma, personality, and dedication will make you as big a star as he was. There will never be another actor like him.
This man has been honored so many times that it's hard for me to pay any kind of tribute good enough here. All I can say is any movie I see with his name on it I will definitely look at with greater appreciation. Any serious actor looking to make it big need to take a cue from Paul Newman: charisma, personality, and dedication will make you as big a star as he was. There will never be another actor like him.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Coming Attractions
While there are movies in the theaters worth seeing, I thought I would give you a list of movies to definitely keep your eye out for:
Lakeview Terrace: Coming out this weekend, this movie sees Samuel L. Jackson go back to the role of the bad guy.........possibly. He harasses his new neighbors........but is also a cop. He is suspected of doing bad things........but the rest of the neighborhood likes him. What side is he on?
Blindness: No, this isn't an M. Night Shymalan movie, as much as it looks. A city is stricken blind, and the one person who isn't affected attempt a daring escape from their quarantine. Never seen anything like this before......get it? Blind people? Haven't seen it? Funny, right?
Eagle Eye: Shia LeBeouf gets a lead role as a normal guy who is forced to do things for a woman watching his every move. Throw in Michelle Monaghan as the normal gal in the same situation, and it seems like a good duo-movie. At least both are good to look at (of course Michelle is hot, and I know the ladies dig Shia).
X-Men Origins: Wolverine: This movie is pretty far off, but after seeing a trailer that got leaked online, I thought it worth mentioning. Wolverine, the most well-known character from the previous films, gets the star treatment in the movie that tells how he came to be. Hugh Jackman and counterpart Liev Shreiber look to steal the show in this one.
Damn, doesn't seem like anything strong will be out for a few more weeks. Don't worry, I'll fill you in when they get closer. If I'm lucky, I may be able to get a review in this weekend. We'll see how packed it is.
Lakeview Terrace: Coming out this weekend, this movie sees Samuel L. Jackson go back to the role of the bad guy.........possibly. He harasses his new neighbors........but is also a cop. He is suspected of doing bad things........but the rest of the neighborhood likes him. What side is he on?
Blindness: No, this isn't an M. Night Shymalan movie, as much as it looks. A city is stricken blind, and the one person who isn't affected attempt a daring escape from their quarantine. Never seen anything like this before......get it? Blind people? Haven't seen it? Funny, right?
Eagle Eye: Shia LeBeouf gets a lead role as a normal guy who is forced to do things for a woman watching his every move. Throw in Michelle Monaghan as the normal gal in the same situation, and it seems like a good duo-movie. At least both are good to look at (of course Michelle is hot, and I know the ladies dig Shia).
X-Men Origins: Wolverine: This movie is pretty far off, but after seeing a trailer that got leaked online, I thought it worth mentioning. Wolverine, the most well-known character from the previous films, gets the star treatment in the movie that tells how he came to be. Hugh Jackman and counterpart Liev Shreiber look to steal the show in this one.
Damn, doesn't seem like anything strong will be out for a few more weeks. Don't worry, I'll fill you in when they get closer. If I'm lucky, I may be able to get a review in this weekend. We'll see how packed it is.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Bashing the Critics
While looking up some info on "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" when I did its review, I had seen some comments from movie critics that basically bashed the movie to no end. And after reading the comments and after seeing the movie myself, the first thought I had was, "These people don't have a clue." You see, I actually stopped reading full reviews from actual critics some time ago because I would see movies that would get average reviews, yet the way they talked about them made them seem worse than how they grade it. Doesn't make sense to me that you would rate the movie a 3 out of 5, but say how it falls flat on its face and is not very entertaining.
I also notice that these critics seem to have their own guideline as to what makes a movie good. And if it's missing any of their criteria, even if the movie doesn't even need it, they sit there and say it sucks. Take "Clone Wars" for example. The movie was made to boost the upcoming television show on Cartoon Network, according to the people that made it. Critics said the movie looked like a Saturday morning cartoon....no kidding! Because it's completely computer-animated, the "Star Wars" franchise is stepping into new territory. One critic said something like "This isn't the Star Wars we've known and loved".......maybe because it's new? The critics bashed some aspects of the animation by comparing it to older shows.........even though George Lucas said their style was a way to pay homage to those shows. But the worst thing I had seen was the comments on the writing. Because this movie is animated, it is meant to get attention from kids. Considering kids would be more drawn to the visuals of the movie, you would expect the script to be easy to understand. Then the comments I saw said the movie's dialog was "simplistic," and character development was lacking because of the many action sequences. Now, think of yourself when you were a child. When watching a movie or TV show, did you even give a crap about character development and complex dialog? I sure as hell didn't.
One critic said "If you can regress your mind to that of a 12 year old, you could enjoy the movie." That's an intelligent critic. Not only did he give the movie some credit, he told you who it would appeal to. That's what any real critic would do. That's what I'm trying to do on here. There are a couple of movies that are truly bad, and deserve the reviews they get. "House of the Dead" is the best example I can give. Other than one interesting character, the movie was badly made. The movie was made in '03 and had 60's special effects, the characters really showed no personality and you could care less about, and the action scenes consisted of the camera rotating around every character while they fired guns.......which lasted like that a whole 15 minutes. That's a movie that deserved to get bashed.
Then you go to a movie like "The Warriors," which was a review I did some time ago. When the movie came out, it got some bad reviews, with critics harping on dialog, characters, and style. But the movie made good money on its release, and it has gained cult status to the point that critics themselves have re-examined the movie, and ended up giving it a better review. Goes to show you that even when the critics don't like it, the people still do.
The world of entertainment is not made for everybody. Certain things are only going to be liked by certain people. But if you take a movie, and make it sound like it's not worth anybody's time, then it ruins its chance to entertain people who would go for it. That's not what these "esteemed" critics should be doing. They place a value on these films when it should be up to the casual people who see them on their own. If you're looking for an opinion on a movie you might want to see, do you go out and find an actual critic? No, you find an average guy you know personally who has seen the movie. That person may say "it's great" or "it sucks", but you know what they like. So it's easier to judge how your take on the movie might be.
Here's how I usually like to operate: when I see a preview for a film, I look at who stars in it, how it looks, and what's the general story. If I see something I like in any of those aspects, chances are it's a movie I'll like. And honestly, I don't think I've seen a movie I was insanely hyped about, and didn't enjoy it. "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" was not liked by the critics. But I saw the preview. I like Star Wars, and I like action. This movie had what I wanted, and I enjoyed it. 'Nuff said. If you see a movie trailer, and it doesn't appeal to you, don't see it. There could come a time when you might end up seeing it and might like it, but it's not often. Even then, your level of entertainment may have changed anyways. But the biggest piece of advice I can give is this: forget what any movie critic on TV, in magazines and newspapers, and those online have to say about a movie. That's their "opinion," and will not be yours. Even if they give a movie an extremely positive review, but the ads didn't get your attention, you don't need to see it. "Chicago" won Best Picture at the Oscars, and was well reviewed. I had no interest in it, and never saw it. Just because it won an award doesn't mean it would get one from me.
Here's hoping you read all of this, and maybe got something from it. I do welcome any response, and I would also like to add that if there's a particular movie you'd like to see a review of, feel free to suggest it. Even if it's a movie I haven't seen, I'll go out of my way to see it. However, I need to stay true to my word, and I'll only see those that I have an interest in. Like "Sex and the City." I wouldn't touch that movie with a 10-foot pole.
I also notice that these critics seem to have their own guideline as to what makes a movie good. And if it's missing any of their criteria, even if the movie doesn't even need it, they sit there and say it sucks. Take "Clone Wars" for example. The movie was made to boost the upcoming television show on Cartoon Network, according to the people that made it. Critics said the movie looked like a Saturday morning cartoon....no kidding! Because it's completely computer-animated, the "Star Wars" franchise is stepping into new territory. One critic said something like "This isn't the Star Wars we've known and loved".......maybe because it's new? The critics bashed some aspects of the animation by comparing it to older shows.........even though George Lucas said their style was a way to pay homage to those shows. But the worst thing I had seen was the comments on the writing. Because this movie is animated, it is meant to get attention from kids. Considering kids would be more drawn to the visuals of the movie, you would expect the script to be easy to understand. Then the comments I saw said the movie's dialog was "simplistic," and character development was lacking because of the many action sequences. Now, think of yourself when you were a child. When watching a movie or TV show, did you even give a crap about character development and complex dialog? I sure as hell didn't.
One critic said "If you can regress your mind to that of a 12 year old, you could enjoy the movie." That's an intelligent critic. Not only did he give the movie some credit, he told you who it would appeal to. That's what any real critic would do. That's what I'm trying to do on here. There are a couple of movies that are truly bad, and deserve the reviews they get. "House of the Dead" is the best example I can give. Other than one interesting character, the movie was badly made. The movie was made in '03 and had 60's special effects, the characters really showed no personality and you could care less about, and the action scenes consisted of the camera rotating around every character while they fired guns.......which lasted like that a whole 15 minutes. That's a movie that deserved to get bashed.
Then you go to a movie like "The Warriors," which was a review I did some time ago. When the movie came out, it got some bad reviews, with critics harping on dialog, characters, and style. But the movie made good money on its release, and it has gained cult status to the point that critics themselves have re-examined the movie, and ended up giving it a better review. Goes to show you that even when the critics don't like it, the people still do.
The world of entertainment is not made for everybody. Certain things are only going to be liked by certain people. But if you take a movie, and make it sound like it's not worth anybody's time, then it ruins its chance to entertain people who would go for it. That's not what these "esteemed" critics should be doing. They place a value on these films when it should be up to the casual people who see them on their own. If you're looking for an opinion on a movie you might want to see, do you go out and find an actual critic? No, you find an average guy you know personally who has seen the movie. That person may say "it's great" or "it sucks", but you know what they like. So it's easier to judge how your take on the movie might be.
Here's how I usually like to operate: when I see a preview for a film, I look at who stars in it, how it looks, and what's the general story. If I see something I like in any of those aspects, chances are it's a movie I'll like. And honestly, I don't think I've seen a movie I was insanely hyped about, and didn't enjoy it. "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" was not liked by the critics. But I saw the preview. I like Star Wars, and I like action. This movie had what I wanted, and I enjoyed it. 'Nuff said. If you see a movie trailer, and it doesn't appeal to you, don't see it. There could come a time when you might end up seeing it and might like it, but it's not often. Even then, your level of entertainment may have changed anyways. But the biggest piece of advice I can give is this: forget what any movie critic on TV, in magazines and newspapers, and those online have to say about a movie. That's their "opinion," and will not be yours. Even if they give a movie an extremely positive review, but the ads didn't get your attention, you don't need to see it. "Chicago" won Best Picture at the Oscars, and was well reviewed. I had no interest in it, and never saw it. Just because it won an award doesn't mean it would get one from me.
Here's hoping you read all of this, and maybe got something from it. I do welcome any response, and I would also like to add that if there's a particular movie you'd like to see a review of, feel free to suggest it. Even if it's a movie I haven't seen, I'll go out of my way to see it. However, I need to stay true to my word, and I'll only see those that I have an interest in. Like "Sex and the City." I wouldn't touch that movie with a 10-foot pole.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
R.I.P. Don LaFontaine + Soon To Come
You know who has the coolest voice in the movies? Vin Diesel? Christian Bale? Clint Eastwood? Hell no. That title belongs to Don LaFontaine. Most movies that come out get some hype while they're in development, then you find out about the cast and crew who are a part of it. Then those first teaser trailers come out, and get you a little interested. Finally, that first full preview comes out at a theater, and you here a deep voice saying something like "In the beginning..." or "In a world..." You hear that voice, and you know you're going somewhere else. And it's only the beginning of an amazing tale. Don LaFontaine got your attention in those first few seconds. Anybody that can do that in a few words has some talent rarely seen. No sports announcer, game show host, or animated voiceover could top what he's done. His voice will be sadly missed in the world of film.........he never had to actually star in any movie to become famous.
Anyways, just to let those of you out there who read this blog know, I plan on having a big post soon. I've been planning this for several days, getting my thoughts together, and making sure I make the best points I can. Nothing like this has gotten me so pumped up before, and I do want to at least give a hint as to what you'll be reading: I am going to bash a certain group of people who I feel commit the worst atrocities to the world of entertainment. And unfortunately, these people are still heard on a regular basis, and need to be silenced. While you ponder that, I must be going.
Anyways, just to let those of you out there who read this blog know, I plan on having a big post soon. I've been planning this for several days, getting my thoughts together, and making sure I make the best points I can. Nothing like this has gotten me so pumped up before, and I do want to at least give a hint as to what you'll be reading: I am going to bash a certain group of people who I feel commit the worst atrocities to the world of entertainment. And unfortunately, these people are still heard on a regular basis, and need to be silenced. While you ponder that, I must be going.
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