300 (2006)

A blood and sand epic masterfully collaborated by Frank’s visionary genius and Zack’s visual despotism!

Warner Bros. Pictures in association with Legendary Pictures, Virtual Studios, Cruel and Unusual Films and Dark Horse Comics present…

From the mind of Frank Miller who gave us “Sin City”, “The Dark Knight Returns” and “Daredevil: Born Again”, definitely regarded as one of the greatest Writers in comic book history!

A film that presents an amalgamation of flawless visual effects and spectacular action sequences that makes it breathtaking, leaving your jaws ajar! Director Zack Snyder (Man of Steel) and for the upcoming Man of Steel, brings to life the story of 300! Depicted from the battle between one state against an Empire in Thermopylae, Greece! His forte in this genre comes from his instinctive imagination and how he brings this world to the big screen is always palpable to the senses!

I may give him a pat on the back for his creativeness but he really needs to work on his pace of storytelling, he has a grandiose take on every movie he has made, which gives him a distinctive type from the likes of Michael Bay who tends to slow down capture motion sequences to enhance its subtle and brutal delivery. To add, I am easy to please with comic based films, I do have a soft spot for them but I still take it with the right attitude when it comes to its story not just lacing it with sugar coated toppings and sprinkles, good thing there are those who provide the cavalry in his conquest in film making!

Since most of my reviews have more take on the story. Now, I tweaked this process a little bit more on the side of people at the back of the camera, of course casts are always instilled in the picture but let us see how the stories are made from different angle and standpoint!

PRODUCTION TEAM:

Screenplay: Kurt Johnstad and Michael Gordon gave the story a worthy take; it was on the right pace and was decent enough to hold together what Frank Miller and Lynn Varley had set to put in his work. The entry of the harbingers of death, to the day in and out slaughtering, conception of the finale and demise was specifically laid out to make the story tell its tale by itself!

Director of Photography: Larry Fong who has worked with Zack from his previous films has a real eye for the intricate details needed to show the beauty and awesome display of backgrounds and landscapes! We can say that his in depth take of capturing scenes is well worth to watch though still short on films he was great in the series Lost which was a certified hit!

Production Designer: James Bissell had made a lot of impression with works like “Jumanji”, “The Rocketeer” and “The Spiderwick Chronicles” which are well themed and suited for him and for his collaboration with Zack since both have the fantasy element in their projects so why stop…

Editor: William Hoy should really choose his projects well but his name gave more credence to his work in “Dances with Wolves”, “Patriot Games” and “Bone Collector” now these are called films that have content. He was able to provide the intended story line that makes this film acclaim its glory!

Music: Tyler Bates has a portfolio of films that concerns more of the horror and dead rather of the living it must have been insightful for him to engage his music from such pieces of work where I could perceive it to be half-rated, B movies and series. Daunting and profound I still have faith with this guy since he gave 300 the energy and in sync its gut wrenching battle scenes with palpitating music and vibe!

Visual Effects: Chris Watts gave films from “Harry Potter: Prisoner of Azkaban”, “The Day after Tomorrow” and the lovable “Where the Wild Things Are”, just like James from Production gave fantasy based films more color and life, his work with 300 CGI and practical elements is like a walk in the park!

CASTS:

Gerard Butler (Law Abiding Citizen) rules Sparta as King Leonidas, a wise ruler and a man of honor; confident as he is fierce in combat! He assembled an army of 300 to head north towards “The Hot Gates” to stop the Persian army from advancing. For his leading lady, Lena Heady (The Brothers Grimm) as Queen Gorgo gives a splendid performance as interim head of their city while she awaits her husband’s return!

Rodrigo Santoro (Rio) is the egotistic King Xerxes, I really don’t know what’s up with this guy, rolling his eyes in disgust while dressing himself in jewellery let alone laced in gold! Assumption would be ignorance in this matter. He outdid himself, a fool’s errand for Leonidas to take advantage, he might have won the battle but the war was far from over!

Dominic West (Punisher: Warzone) plays Theron, a councilman whose cowardice and lack of faith in his King made him a very reputable man (for his own sake). Michael Fassbender as Stelios, one of the soldiers whose last stand with their King gave way to a revolt! This guy came a long way; I can see him as another rising star with projects in his belt such as the Academy Award Winning series “Band of Brothers”, films like “Inglorious Basterds”, “X-Men: First Class” and upcoming projects like “Prometheu”s and “Haywire”. Commendable as he is ardent in his roles, I even consider his villainy remarkable for the wasted DC comics film “Jonah Hex”!

Packed with blood and gore, this ball to the wall extravaganza comes in its glorious fruition that makes this epic story truly a masterpiece. Seamless waves of fight scenes provide adrenaline rush while its morals of integrity and honor gives it full circle for the audience to digest! Intense moments of being adamant as they stood their ground, even one scene after blotting the sun with arrows gave it more meaning of being defiant as they hacked everyone, everything without remorse while laughing on a given metaphor!

Finally, this films gives significance and respect to all those who have given their lives, as courage bequeaths who are able to stand up for many and be able to fight suppression, greed and lust for power, this will be just an understatement to what Leonidas and his soldiers have done for their country since their actions speak louder than words!

Compelling and with full of promise, Frank and Lynn certainly did instill vision from this farce, piece of history! For Zack and his team, a film well made…soldier on!

Conan The Barbarian (2011)

Another “undreamed” classic tale denied from its journey to seek out retribution from its creator!

Nu Image Films, Millenium Films and Paradox Entertainment in association with Lionsgate present…

From the creator of “Kull the Conqueror” and “Solomon Kane”…

Robert E. Howard presents his fantastic fantasy world of Hyboria! His creation Conan, a Cimmerian warrior born in the battlefield has transcended from the pages of supernatural elements of magic, monsters and adventure! In 1932, his imagination came into fruition when he was selling Mexican gastronomic and cheap wine in the barren hills of southern Texas and thus the book of the famous barbarian was born!

Though many continued his work since his suicide in June 11, 1936, it was passed on to friends and relatives until The Baums family sold their rights to a Swedish Company, Paradox Entertainment Inc. which took part as a studio in producing the film!

Morgan Freeman narrates the timeless tale of an age of war and destruction from the sorcerers of Acheron, they forged a Mask that will give limitless power to whoever wields it! Morgan always has that tact and gentry accent that gives him a higher standard from other actors whether through voice or on the actual set! But his words were quickly lost in the cacophony of a manhandled village as we begin our story…

Directed by Marcus Nispel (Pathfinder) he should never went into the project without a script, even when people and Producers keep pushing for timeframes and deadlines! But if I was the Director I would not hesitate to leave and not jeopardize millions of dollars and make a failure for the audience to feel being robbed of their money! Some of his works were also forgettable as well! Even using shaky cameras to give the fight scenes a little more illusion of realism instead, it only made it worse! Some stunts worked out fine while incorporating the background shots brought in by Cinematographer Thomas Kloss (Fear) set in the landscapes of Bulgaria where he had his moments with the communities of Cimmerian townsfolk!

Writers Thomas Dean Donnelly and Joshua Oppenheimer (Dylan Dog: Dead of Night), Sean Hood (The Crow: Wicked Prayer) have given a lacklustered script, it only became worse since actualization and the poor delivery of the characters were immensely felt throughout the film! The first two scriptwriters made an abysmal story pouring it all to Mr. Hood to do the rewrites on set! It was just a shame that these icons from fictionalized stories were just wasted and not being maximized to propel the character into a blockbuster success.

Jason Mamoa (The Game) is the savage Conan; his demeanor for battle is relentless and visceral! His vengeance will soon find its way for the man find its way for the man who has made atrocities to his people and his family! He soon cross paths with Rachel Nichols (The Amityville Horror) is Tamara, a pure blood who is needed as the last part of the ritual to bring to life the “evil” that once came close in conquering Hyboria!

The chosen one for the 2018 “King of the Seven Seas”, Jason gave his dedication for the film and it shows on how he does his “sword swings” to intimidate his opponents, his menacing look and his courage. For Rachel, she needs acting lessons, definitely a lot to improve on I believe she was only there for eye candy just like what transpired in “GIJOE: The Rise of Cobra”!

Stephen Lang (Avatar) Khalar Zym, it’s the first time I have seen a nomad warrior with really clean fingernails. His goal is to resurrect his “witch” wife from the Mask of Acheron that was broken into several pieces thousands of years ago! Together with his daughter Marique played by Rose McGowan (Machete) who was supposed to be the leading lady but since her fatal accident she was sidelined until she recuperated to be considered as the film’s supporting villain!

Before Ron Perlman (Hellboy) took the part, it was first offered to two other seasoned actors Dolph Lundgren then to Mickey Rourke which turned it down to join another CGI heavy The Immortals (cough, flop as well). Ron portrayed Corin the Chief of the barbarian tribe! He has owned character driven roles for the last three decades and usually plays a villain but redeems himself at times to be part of the good guys! He instills his teachings to his young son, in spite of his rage and violence the boy sincerely bequeaths honor and love for his father!

A thief from Argalon who soon joins Conan’s quest for vengeance is another upcoming DC Comics “superhero” Said Taghmaoui (Traitor) he gives life to Ela-Shan, though he was not recognizable at first his acting made him more forgettable. He used to do fine with films like Three Kings and Vantage Point maybe it was just an overall “cram it down” movie which affected his acting or maybe just a poor choice of a character!

Gut wrenching and a powerful display of savagery, sometimes you want to watch a film that merely entertains you or even just to kill time (pun intended)! All of the Production Staff from the Director to Scoring had no exceptional work not even in a mediocre level being delivered in their respective areas of expertise. Especially the writers who I believe needs to be given a 101 class in storytelling! It was still first half of the film and I’m too bored to watch it! Tyler Bates (Watchmen) handles the music to give the scenes a more intense take inciting its animosity, gloom and impending doom!

Set in the backdrops of artist rendered cities, combined with state of the art 3D give it some kicks with awesome fight scenes, blood and gore to make it gruesome enough to compel the audience ‘s appeal but without a “sensible story” all things will fall apart! So what really killed Conan in the box office? Time constraints, Re-edited scripts on set, Budget, Production Staff, Casting or the infamous CGI which corrupted films such as “The Golden Compass”, “Clash of the Titan”s, “Sucker Punch” and “Green Lantern”! They poured in $90 M to cover the costs and the returns were so shallow, with a measly $48 M worldwide which was really embarrassing for Nu Line, Millennium Films, Lions Gate and especially to Paradox Entertainment Executives!

It was a pity, seeing Kull and Solomon fell in the pits of despair as well! Conan was an indispensible representation of “a world undreamed of” which Mr. Howard was able to capture even comparing his creation to classic greats like “Tarzan of the Apes”, “Sherlock Holmes” and “James Bond”!

I do hope they would inculcate the need to sum up a story that is compelling and worth seeing in the next reboot or remake of the film!

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

Every journey begins with a single step – farther away from your circle! But remember, once you have stepped out of it…you have to expect the unexpected!

 

Warner Bros. Pictures in association with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, New Line Cinema and WingNut Films present…

The film was based on the novel “The Hobbit” from a man that needs no further introduction,       John Ronald Reuel Tolkien. A fantasy laden children’s book that captivated millions of readers worldwide since it was published on September 21, 1937.

A lighting of a candle that symbolizes a beginning of a story, of hope and courage to bring a little something more than just its intended journey! Now before we start, a pleasant good morning to each and everyone well ok, good afternoon and a good evening to all as appropriately be fitting your current timelines wherever you are.

I was ambivalent with how they were able to concoct a very warm and humorous bunch of dwarves, craving for adventure, food, good company and last but not the least their lost home. It’s a creature’s habit in always finding a reason to claim back their lives even if they have to sacrifice it for the sake of their species and for these forgers of “will” they will do everything, anything to reclaim what was taken from them.

Director Peter Jackson (District 9) distinctively embraces that world of Middle Earth and all of its wonder and danger! While helping make the story promising, another film great and fan favorite Guillermo Del Toro (Pan’s Labyrinth) shares the spotlight with the Director to brainstorm for the Screenplay. Also returning from the previous films are Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens who again inspired by Middle Earth’s grandeur, found this journey worth taking once more!

A precursor here and there before the story can be told in the eyes of a hobbit named Bilbo Baggins portrayed by Martin Freeman (Wild Target) who lives quietly in a hole, a clean one if you please where there is a place for a soothing bath, a warm bed and a feast that can be laid on your table when you’re hungry. But his so called life has been only a facade of who truly the person is, a person whose heart always leaps with the sound of longing for adventure followed with feelings of excitement, the thrills and a sojourn that will always be encrypted in his being and for generations to come!

A proud nation of dwarves led by the brave but lost Thorin Oakenshield played by Richard Armitage (Captain America: The First Avenger) compelled to lead when both his father and his grandfather the king perished in an assault by Orcs. He vowed to lead the nomad dwarves back to their mountain whatever it takes! On the other hand, rising star who turned to “the darkness” is Benedict Cumberbach (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) who voiced The Necromancer was not even felt seeing that it had both actors from the BBC hit Television series Sherlock but only this time Martin gets the bigger piece of the pie!

Not to be carried away with the sheer story alone but instead let us focus on the returning casts which critics and fans considers a set to reckon with. Front and center we start with Sir Ian McKellen (The Da Vinci Code) returns to the big screen as Gandalf “The Grey” who was actually considered weakfish seeing he is constantly supported by his staff but very few who knows him well can truly see his capabilities both for being wise and warm hearted in which brings the element of fire that is cloaked only by the color of ash, a ring was bestowed to him to secure the power in which Sauron hates most. While a man who has contributed to villainy for so many years and yet left unscathed; from Count Dracula to Count Dooku he is none other than the late and great Christopher Lee (Star Wars: The Clone Wars).

From wizards we turn our sight to the elderly elves who are also guardians of Middle Earth for four centuries. King Elrond portrayed by Hugo Weaving (The Matrix) and Academy Award winner Cate Blanchett (Elizabeth) stars as Lady Galadriel both in short but significant roles which ripples to the next chapters of this masterpiece!

The Producers along with key people in making these films invested wisely on New Zealand’s vast resources. Filled with ice capped mountains and green landscapes that really captivates the viewers to make the world of The Lord of the Rings truly a sight to behold. So many films have even copied the how the camera captures all the intricate details that make the storytelling even more intense, inspiring and surreal! The “endless walk” that was always included in these quest filled films seem pedestrian and redundant at most but not here since it has been an intricate part where we can actually see the world these characters travel on and this is where another Academy Award winner Andrew Lesnie (The Delinquents) comes in and be on top of things!

On the aspect of SFX and VFX, this was way better and improved in terms of using Green Screen and CGI especially for multiple objects being panned in and out of the screen courtesy again by       WETA Workshop stationed in the same country and managed by the Director himself with coordination from Academy Award Winner Production Designer Dan Hennah (Underworld: Rise of the Lycans). Three time Academy Award winner Howard Shore’s (Silence of the Lambs) music and scoring was captivating that it did not overshadow nor was it overbearing for the actual scenes that infuse significance especially through the characters dialogue and scenarios.

On a lighter side the film’s characters has the hilarity of being compared to a certain Snow White, but rather having seven dwarves this group will be called instead “ The Greying Gandalf and the Seven Dwarves multiplied by Two minus One plus One (Hobbit)”. Not crazy about the title though but seriously just like all they have the courage to stand up for their friends and family, has a hearty laugh, great appetite matched only for their sense of industry and integrity!

This is wonderfully created, full of excitement and speaking of which we could do a roll call right about now as we do have a dragon, wizards, elves, trolls, orcs, goblins, hobbits, dwarves though there were no humans at least there were stone “freaking” giants who actually fights by throwing boulders at each other, enchanted monoliths that has a knack for rough housing MMA style! So that was done, breath taking as it is but wait until you get a load of this…

All journeys have stopovers but in this one you don’t want to get off, the cave segment between Bilbo and his “win the riddle game or we’ll eat you up” tour guide has left me several goose bumps that I’ve lost count! Andy Serkis (King Kong) was brilliant as always giving life to the diabolical wide eyed, nerve racking, schizophrenic and preciously insane Gollum! I really got a head ache when they finally crossed paths; it was like a tidal wave lambasting the breakwater over and over again!

It also cites the sense of having to leave the comfort of one’s home just to add some spark in your being. Not that we pursue perilous journeys in our lifetime but rather staying true to oneself and find the time to have fun and enjoy the company of your loved ones in spite of challenges ahead. There is a world out there that needs to be explored (not like Middle Earth) where we need to find what we are looking for in life and surely the journey we have to face is simply put as, to be unexpected…

 

 

Wrath of the Titans (2012)

Man has grown weary of worshipping and this time it’s the gods turn to pray!

Warner Bros. Pictures with Legendary Pictures in association with Cott Productions and Thunder Road Pictures present…

A cacophony of gods and monsters that needs to go back straight to Tartatus! The gods have fallen, weak; in desperate need and Zeus the “all-omnipotent” seeks out his demigod son Perseus to help them in their time of despair! The premise has given light to its purpose coming from the latter film, after man aggravated the gods they have no more means of sustaining their powers and Armageddon is coming!

The story picks up after 10 years as Perseus reprising his role once more, Sam Worthington (Thunderstruck) moves on with a secluded life as a fisherman with his son Helios. Even after losing his wife, he never prayed for his Father nor to the other gods and he knows in spite of his tribulations there will always be a time for peace and a time to fight especially if it is for your dear life! It’s an endless cycle of moral undertakings that makes it cumbersome already for audience’s to appreciate and to relate to!

A father and son dynamic that gives testament to failed parenting and children growing up with a “Mt. Olympus” ego! Though Perseus’s character is better defined here, his embodiment of the hesitant hero had supplementary flair and instinct to pull off his clichéd one liners! Given that screenplay and dialogue was merely an assortment of quotes for each character derides even the intelligence quotient of a Cyclops!

The Three Kings: Danny Huston (30 Days of Night), Ralph Fiennes (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 and 2) and Liam Neeson (Kingdom of Heaven) Tell me again please…what’s going on with those beards? Why do they have to retain the same old fake looking hair and don’t tell me it was the same ones being used from the last film! But enough of that, the sons of Kronos has been torn apart since they ruled over their own separate paradise, unfortunately one got so sick of being a “doormat” that he turned desperate unleashing their past sins! Danny comes back as Poseidon Lord of the Seas, he still does not impress me with his antics but the latter two has been at ease with the viewing public with Ralph returning as Ruler of the Underworld Hades, he actually looks freshened up here, no more back aches and his voice was greatly improved! While fan favorite Liam was not stiff as a burnt tree his performance has been tilted to being emotional not just with his son but also with his brothers!

Speaking of former characters even the pivotal one’s like Andromeda who was portrayed now by a definite head turner Rosamund Pike (Promised Land) grabbing the crown from Alexa Davalos to be the new Queen of the “lost its glory city” Argos! What do you expect joviality, parades and a feast to celebrate? Actually it was rather fists that sucker punched each individual that stood in their way! I even feel pity to those hammered and slashed by the volcano born demons called Makhais “cyclone of death”! (come on give us a chance, can we hit you please…oh sorry your dead now!)

The eccentric Toby Kebell (Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time) son of Poseidon, the demigod Agenor has a knack of lying and stealing! Maybe it sunk into his head that there will be nothing left to ransack if the world is going to be in ashes and dust! Fantastic and suave as he was (not in this film) in “Rock n Rolla” he still brought in some hindered comedy to match his wits as a “Navigator” to find the fallen blacksmith god!

The man of the hour, Edgar Ramirez (Vantage Point) as the war mongering god Ares, nothing pleases him than to see everything in ruins so much as his arrogance contemplates his demeanor for his source of strength even to the point of sacrificing his own father! While the always entertaining Bill Nighy (Underworld) as the forger of weapons, Hephaestus who has a DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder) guides a small band of heroes to claim Zeus in his prison and save the planet from a wrath filled god imprisoned for eternity! He had his due even for a small part but nevertheless fulfilling!

Writer for the Story Greg Berlanti (Green Lantern) while Screenplay and Story brain storming were done by David Leslie Johnson (Red Riding Hood) and Dan Mazeau (The Land of Lost Things) which was Based on the actual Screenplay in 1981, Beverley Cross (Sinbad and The Eye of the Tiger) gives that moral support to these “Harbingers of Doom”! Thus the scriptwriters were bestowed with the responsibility of keeping pace with the myth and lore of the Greek gods. It’s like watching an extended pilot for a TV series and the Producers should decide that there will be no more contracts to renew and sign! Were they able to pull it off…ask the Panther fire breathing Chimera (now burn)!

Director Jonathan Liebesman (Darkness Falls) definitely brings in the bite but not the bark! Which was kind of first intended to get to know the context of what was actually meant to be improved and despite of all the bashing of heads and thrusting of spears and swords the film was way different in terms of delivering their performances I must admit it actually improved! Though, Jonathan just laid out the story, it was just a free flowing chaos filled centric film! It was also more inclined through the human aspect of interacting (well most of them are not mortals) that was still scarce but at the same time inclined with action in a monolithic scale which will be given emphasis next!

On another note, it was meant to be CGI heavy compromising the budget for the props being made in every scene that needs to be fantasy laden from the depths of Tartarus, to the fallen hall of the gods and even to the miniscule camp of Andromeda’s warriors! But it was great, I like how they animated the high flying Pegasus from he’s take off and landings, the band of one eyed giants mobility and how they amalgamate them with the live actors least we not forget the bathed in molten lava “King of the Titans” Kronos, his absolute rendition of visual spectacle gave emphasis on his burning structure, background components like smoke, fire and rocks! He’s so massive which you cannot hope to win merely by putting three lines of defense in ditches and wooden spikes and to think this is how Galactus should be envisioned (take note Marvel). This was made courtesy of MPC also known as Moving Picture Company, leading the pack is VFX Supervisor Greg Brozenich and Producer Oliver Money!

It was another precarious journey and mission to save mankind (or the gods themselves) with more overbearing, more powerful, more massive monsters to deal with! It still needs a lot of work but was clearly entertaining compared from the previous film! Yet, Tinsel town’s obvious display in their lack of concern for the viewing public’s hard earned pay makes it unforgivable to say the least. Giving this excuse in making these films to the point of even pushing for sequels just to huddle more greed for their pockets!

A third installment is in the works and hopefully this time…they can focus on the performer’s lines to bring it to another epic scale!

Clash of the Titans (2010)

The film was a mockery in an epic scale! Release the Kraken and let it punish those who made this abomination!

Warner Bros. Pictures in association with Legendary Pictures, Zanuck Company and Thunder Road Pictures present…

From a remake of the classic 1981 film of the same title, directed by Desmond Davis and starring the Academy Award Winner Lawrence Olivier and Harry Hamlin. It tells an extraordinary tale of fantasy filled with immortals; demons, gigantic and horrific abominations that will make you cower in fear or rise up to become who you are destined to be…

It all began long ago; Io narrates the Titanomachy on how three Olympian brothers were able to overthrow their creators, the Titans! They were Zeus, Poseidon and Hades. Triumphant from the battle, they separated the vast Universe as the eldest took the heavens and created man for them to worship him, while the second one lorded over the seas and the final sibling was tricked to oversee the underworld! Over time, the two grew stronger from the people and creatures they took care of but the latter had nothing except resentment…

The film first suggested fast paced story telling for the audience to understand what has come about the myth of Perseus, how he came to be and what will his path in life take him. After a fisherman named Spyros finding a casket with a dead woman and a baby in it, he took him in as one of his own! A good start but had fallen short of its intention to meld and capture the story and bring it into life! All but the dues ex-machina of CGI that gave unjust precedence in the story to save a mediocre screenplay and delivery of talent!

The cast was composed of fine actors it even had Ralph Fiennes (The Constant Gardener) and Liam Neeson (Dark Man) in it to bring more star power while Sam Worthington (Avatar) and Gemma Arterton (The Boat that Rocked) are starting to rise as one of today’s promising stars. But the delivery and presence of their characters are really pedestrian and vapid. There were scenes that Gemma who plays Io, a wandering entity punished for her non-reciprocating demeanor! She started to look like a stalker for Sam, in the forest, the throne room of Argos, the prison cell. Also, I really didn’t get the flirting, short training scene they have under the boat going to Medusa’s lair, was it really needed? Sam was just seen going down the boat then suddenly Gemma is attacking him, ending in holding his chest and saying to “calm your storm” emphasizing on what, his heart beating faster when a storm is brewing or is it his feelings for her? That was a really classy dialogue (sarcasm).

Liam’s and Ralph’s performance as gods namely Zeus and Hades respectively was really under the sink or was they basking too much light rays in their magnificent chamber at Mt. Olympus! With Ralph’s voice like a constipated man and even the arch backed, dragging of his feet movement was terrible, come on he is a god you could have at least made him vicious, sinister looking! For the ruler of the underworld he looks like a elderly man who was having an ailment. Liam had statutory power, confidence as a character and yet his delivery was stale and boring even with that so much fake looking facial hair!

What I did appreciate was the family of Sam when he was a fisherman they have a genuine bond and love for one another even though Perseus was just an orphan and grew up with surrogate parents. I liked the way they manipulated the CGI of the winged harpies (which was also Hades), Pegasus and especially the monstrous abhorrence known only as The Kraken. The giant scorpions were alright except for the part the soldiers were going down from them and have their claws really look like props.

Another thing was the ferry boat of the underworld was like a pile of wood extracted from the Trojan horse, the creature who ferries the boat was really a “dead giveaway” how can that be so animatronic and robot looking? I think they gave all the digital effects sequences for the Kraken and Medusa which was not lucrative at all!

I really love films like this and I still hand it to Louis Leterrier (Transporter) as a Director but not with this one! The cast and the production team were also non compliant, the fans and audience were really expecting the talent involved to keep up the pace to marry both its great story of lore and technology that was available today. Speaking of which, the original film did give us that awe enthusiasm bringing us to another world of gods and monsters that even with very limited resources it still showed us not all films can stand on SFX and VFX alone, it’s monumental to say the least given on it’s cast and production capacities!

A sequel is coming and we hope this time…the “wrath” will stay on screen and not beyond it!

Where the Wild Things Are (2009)

“It is unnatural to think that there is such a thing as a blue-sky, white-clouded happy childhood for anybody. Childhood is a very, very tricky business of surviving it because if one thing goes wrong or anything goes wrong then you are compromised as a human being. You’re going to trip over that for a good part of your life.” – Maurice Sendak

Warner Bros.  in association with  Legendary Pictures, Village Roadshow Pictures and Playtone present…

An American fantasy drama from the imagination of Maurice Sendak’s children’s books with the same title! The Writer and Illustrator was inspired from Walt’ Disney’s animated film “Fantasia” while infused in his work a melancholic childhood growing up as a Jew and experiencing death in his extended family in the Holocaust.

Maurice’s take on the “wild things” have a deeper meaning not just simply intentionally making these creatures grotesque, actually his ideas came from visiting aunts and uncles back in his early days. These experiences he used later on drew attention to readers and critics to censor or even being banned in libraries. But the Director enabled these fearsome looking creatures to actually look timid, shy, aloof and with the sense of being frustrated in life! In relation, at least they were not horses which were an early concept of his illustrations.

Friends and Families, they are part of our lives and we all come from these smaller communities which made us who we are today. Being with these set of people, we learned to acknowledge them to help us become an individual who will either become a stronger or stranger person when we grow up. In every child’s eyes they can see their world and to those around them it may be. good or bad simply put!

It was very evident to see that people criticized the film for its scary content that made it less attracted to viewers. On the other hand, we could say that it was being thematic on what real life is all about, what makes children act that way and how do they cope up with their own fears. On the other end, living out these fantasies and escapism to what they used to call home makes the story come into full circle which was always been the objective of Mr. Sendak.

Even the support of the Productions companies and people like Tom Hanks (Cast Away) from his Playtone Company was overwhelming and commendable seeing that projects like these can push through when given in the right direction and attention. It was even passed on to Disney, as they made a test run for an animated film but was not pursued further since Glenn Keane and John Lasseter built their own company Pixar. Universal Studios tried it as well but failed with their own rendition of a CGI film. The studio held over the rights until Spike Jonze came into the scene and was well liked by the Author himself which is why they needed a new home for the “monsters” to live in and so they found Warner Bros. to bring them in and provide the Director and the Cast and Crew to stay with them in the long haul!

Max Records (The Brothers Bloom) plays the leading role Max (no kidding). The young actor was chosen and has set his sights with temperament concerns or in short to be annoying! He goes on outburst of tantrums and vandalism and yet still be considered as a typical child who only wants and ceaselessly needing the attention of his family.

Max have seen his life and it was less than what he expected and that made it painful for him to accept seeing his sister, Pepita Emmerichs (Blue Heelers) as Claire spending more time with her boyfriend and neighbors rather than play with him and his mother, Catherine Keener (The 40 Year Old Virgin) as Connie who does not give in to his demands to cook his food! Now I know why he became a monster “The Hulk” since he was the reason for Max to be angry and runs away. Mark Ruffalo (Collateral) joins a cast for a minor role which even sees the young Max and the actor work for the second time in the same year.

A shorter period was given to the so called reality Max was facing being implied on the other casts so that it will enable the Director and Screenwriter to maximize the time for the child to “rule” his kingdom” it may simply to be mere acts of playing but rather to give it emphasis on how he interacts with others even if they are just a figment of his imagination then this can be fully be understood on why they behave this way.

To make it as close to the work of Mr. Sendak’s books, one of the best in the business, Jim Henson’s Creature Shop provided the animatronics as they stepped in to take the puppeteering chores when the original VFX Supervisor quitted. So, it came out fantastic the creatures made and rendered was uncanny and to give life into these wild things, they were able to integrate both live actors and animatronics which turned out adoring and fascinating! Supervisors Adam Keenan and John Nolan of the shop did their homework and have straight A’s in the process!

Canadian actress Catherine O’ Hara (Home Alone) as Judith the squeeze (not too tight) of Ira who was voiced by the soft spoken Forest Whitaker (Blown Away). They provided the banters and insults while Nick Farnell and Sam Longley respectively moved their way to become one of the two pairs of love birds (not literally) on the set! While veteran actor Chris Cooper (American Beauty) stars as Douglas who is Carol’s best friend and confidant. He was coordinated with John Leary to lend his reaching out disposition to the man size Fowl! (enough Peter…you’re beating up the wrong guy)

From the multi-awarded hit series “The Sopranos” James Gandolfini (The Last Castle) as Carol the de-facto leader of the pack! On the aspect of motor skills, his beleaguered musings were hands down responded by Vincent Crowley. Another HBO talent from “Six Feet Under” Lauren Ambrose (Cold Souls) as K.W. Carol’s on and off girlfriend. The hate and love relationship between these two was heartfelt at the same time heartbreaking. The lover was given also two actors to work with Alice Parkinson and Garon Michael they have been given the responsibility to be her prison guards.

Michael Berry Jr. (Mission: Impossible III) as the Bull who has his own world just like Max! The sullen, lonesome creature’s burden was carried by two men Angus Thompson and Mark McCracken and finally, my personal favorite Paul Dano (Gigantic) as Alexander, the mistreated, gullible and bullied goat while Sonny Gerasimowicz is there at least to have a shoulder to lean and cry on!

The characters were wonderfully acted, genuine and full of talented individuals! Director Spike Jonze and Dave Eggers gave life to its screenplay to jumpstart the project with a thought compelling premise in reaching out to children with anger issues. It was even used with a hand held camera by the Director to show his point of view on the personal interaction being embraced by the creatures and Max to tell the story as it happens from fun to its censored themes. In fact, the book shows a child prancing naked with the creatures while made it unavailable for consumption from 1990 to 1999.

By giving weight on the message to viewers especially to parents and to their children that this film is all about childhood and their experiences in life encompassed by happiness, daydreaming, insecurities, rebellion and attention from people around them especially form their families.

I share the same sentiments with the Author of the book seeing this film was nothing that was ever made before. It was like Sesame Street and all of its characters that became more aggressive and at the same time lonely. It felt like you were in another place, a place where you can really explore your inner being and make it into reality and in those moments that you wander around in your own far away land, one thing was still certain…you can still get hurt physically and emotionally but more importantly, you learn, you grow up and at least in some way understand that you can be better and find a way to let go! From this point, a child can find his way back home…

Stardust (2007)

A star shines as it serves its purpose like Love; don’t ever let it fade away!

Paramount Pictures in association with di Bonaventura Pictures, Marv Films and Ingenious Film Partners present…

Stardust was Neil Gaiman’s one of many contributions in his great stories through DC Comics! Published in February 1, 1999 (the collected novel) with Illustrator Charles Vess, it was Awarded for Comic’ Buyer’s Guide for Favorite Limited Series in the same year, he also brought us the other epic comic books such as “Sandman”, “The Dream Hunters” and earlier works from “Marvelman”.

Filled with magic and lore, the story originated from a simple town called Wall just at the edge of the Kingdom of Stormhold where Dunstan, actor Ben Barnes (Chronicles of Narnia) inspires the hard headed young man in his hope to explore the outside world as it becomes happenstance but after a long 18 year period, it will give him another reason to live not just for himself but for his son as well…

The plot focuses in the life of Charlie Cox (Casanova) played by the young Tristan Thorne whose enamor for Sienna Miller (Layer Cake) portrayed by Victoria, the most beautiful lady in town was either meant from a harboring crush or was it true love? Trying his best to win her affection, he promised to bring the fallen star Yvaine brought to life by Claire Danes (Romeo & Juliet) an intended gift for her birthday and to be the pact for them to get married. But love does come with a price and without prejudice!

From all over the land Princes, Witches and a Family seeking to own this precious “gem” will soon find the difference between fate and destiny! Surviving heirs to the throne battle it out to acquire the ornament bequeathed by their Father; Jason Flemyng (From Hell) is Primus the eldest of the brood of seven and his youngest brother Mark Strong (Robin Hood) as Septimus a villain by heart and he’s the best on what he does! Matthew brought in his future cast for his films as they race against time to avoid getting killed (or being killed) they also need to face-off with an evil entity (whose losing her face), the timeless Michelle Pfeiffer (What Lies Beneath) is Lamia the Witch Queen who technically needs to eat the heart of the star in order to survive and be eternally young (don’t forget to share ok?).

Another character in the role of Captain Shakespeare, strong both in muscle and “heart” he commands a group of hard core pirates sailing the vastness of the skies gathering lightning bolts to be sold as general merchandise. Academy Award Winner Robert De Niro (Ronin) gives an exemplary performance providing veteran guidance and intuition for the upstarts. You can put this guy in any genre and you won’t be disappointed! I even remember him singing a part from The West Side Story in “Anaylze That” which was so funny!

Director Matthew Vaughn (X-Men: First Class) actually was in ties with the “X-Men: Last Stand” movie until he was brought back to helm this project instead since starting 2005 where he finished “Layer Cake”. He Co-Written in terms of its Screenplay, the piece to set a synergy of fantasy and humor while staying faithful in the graphic novel. It was dark and depicted with sexual and violent overtones which needed to be diverted to acquire more patronage from audiences and fans alike. Locations were amazing here but not entirely the actual shots! Covered by Ben Davis (Franklyn) they showed clear green fields and high mountainous parts from Scotland and Iceland while covering in-house productions from Pinewood Studios in London. Rotating cameras shot on a longer lens to cover the landscapes were pedestrian already but nevertheless it was not as bad as Eragon’s cinematography. While Production and Visual effects made it happen to inspire the fantasy to come into fruition! Gavin Bocquet (Star Wars Prequels) lends his imagination to sculpt the interior backgrounds for the film while the collaboration of digital enhancement giants Baseblack, Cinesite, Machine and Double Negative to bring the out of this world sequences from the supervision of Peter Chiang who spearheads the latter department.

The casts made it remarkable to impress as simple as it may be! Cut scenes were made to elaborate the premise; even at times it fell short in significance whether it was still needed to be part of the screenplay or just connecting supporting roles in give the bigger picture. Claire and Charlie have admirable chemistry even with not enough solid performance, it worked in a way they were able to see each other in the eye while one is only human with so much love to share while the other, a cosmic deity with so much love to experience, while their characters have so much load to carry they were still able to bring along the casts in their misadventures of soul searching!

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (2010)

If you think Blake Balthazar was having a bad hair day wait until you get a load of this film’s “magic”!

Walt Disney Pictures in association with Jerry Bruckheimer Films, Saturn Films and Broken Road present…

In the tradition of Disney’s film spectacles comes Goku’s Apprentice, (do they really have to release the plasma bolts from that specific stance and manner?!?)

From the forthcoming and ever generous Producer Jerry Bruckheimer who brought us blockbuster films like “Bad Boys”, “Armageddon”, “Pirates of the Caribbean Quadrilogy”, “Prince of Persia” and the list goes on. Always providing films that dictate full non-stop action and breathtaking sequences! For Jerry and Nic, anything will be made available for one of his favored actors and believe me money won’t be a problem! Since in the 90’s, these two have collaborated in films that are worth watching!

Directed by Walt Disney mainstay Jon Turteltaub (National Treasure) is hired again to join forces from previous work talent and former school mate as they decently brought in the big screen the action adventure films of “National Treasure” and “National Treasure: The Book of Secrets”.

An epic battle ensues for the fate and survival of humanity (nice plot!) Three Apprentices and one Traitor do the math! In a thousand years Balthazar seeks the Prime Merlininan, a descendant of the “Great Wizard” who was destined to be the next protector of the world from the forces of darkness (so exciting!) This is a Disney movie what do you expect, the imagination is always the key to bring forth these fantasy laden stories to life!

Growing up being humiliated for a decade has made David Stutler a worried, insecure freak! Jay Baruchel (How to Train your Dragon) provides another wonderful performance, eccentric and yet full of energy! His a genius nevertheless he stutters (maybe this should be his last name) and he does sound a bit of a cartoon character but no harm done, his great to watch! Last time I saw him (animated mode) he was the one chasing dragons here it’s not just wolves but also a fire breathing lizard (a little bit bigger though) would like to eat him up, well definitely not related to Toothless of course!

In the early parts of the film, the Sorcerer was just babbling, too fast paced to explain to a kid what’s going on around him or maybe it just how the portrayal works. Nicholas Cage (Gone in 60 Seconds) is Blake Balthazar now this one resembles the character intended for a hero! But who was the inconsiderate make-up artist for the actor? This guy looks like he hasn’t taken a bath for a hundred years!

He always looks stiffed and out of character not really believable being a sorcerer, but Alfred was! Arch-nemesis and branded traitor Maxim Hovarth played by Alfred Molina (Spider-Man 2)…what a weird name! His first is a reference to a men’s magazine for crying out loud! Suave and cunning his villainy always stands out in every role that he plays!

The sacrificial lamb, Veronica Gorloisen (seriously what’s going on with these names?) who makes a brief appearance from the talents of Monica Belluci (The Passion of the Christ) she suffered her fate by choosing Balthazar. She’s been out for quite some time and at least her come back film was decent enough.

A young girl who was technically asked for a relationship (these kids have to hang on to their raging hormones a little longer) so meeting his “Proposer” after a decade, Teresa Palmer (I am Number Four) plays Rebecca Barnes in my honest opinion, she’s a knockout! A combination of Ali Larter and Naomi Watts’s good looks…sigh! Impressions last for anyone since her previous role in the film were from the same mother company. Probably needs more films to harness her acting skills.

Well Balthazar was not the only one with reinforcements that would not be fair right? He seeks out help in the form of Illusionist Drake Stone, a vain, opulent performer who was given breath by Toby Kebell (Rock N Rolla). Now who can forget his performance with Guy Ritchie’s gangster film? His comedy take was on par with Jay but with a lot more finesse!

The film generated good reviews and even went for more than £215 million worldwide in the box office. It was filled with great visual and special effects the only turn down for me is the use of too much car chase scenes it never runs out of gas! Pathetic display of power (which I also commented to a more powerful Wizard from WB) they are Sorcerers they can do anything they want but for some reasons it was understandable to be discreet since their battle ground is a city not an enchanted forest!

It’s a mashed up of ideas coming from Larry Konner (no work to begin with) and Mark Rosenthal who only impressed audiences from his acting in “Tales from the Script” while the rest was laid down miserably on mediocre writing. On a lighter side, I like the way the bird flew away with its prey wish they had more fight sequences! It was still respectable to watch, some cheesy moments which were tolerable they even covered certain aspects from the previous original film “Fantasia” where “very helpful” brooms and mops find more ways to clean and mess up at the same time!

Wish that Jerry would support other films that makes more sense in both story and display of “hard earned money” it was a complete waste of time coming from Disney as well. Not enough magic was conjured here that would make Tinkerbell wave her wand on the screen!