Robin Hood (2010)

“The Hero rose until he became a Legend!”

Universal Pictures, Imagine Entertainment, Relativity Media in association with Scott Free Productions present…

Truly, a master of epic films! The story revolved on how a man with a vague history became the hero and how his legend began!

Interestingly, the director and crew have given the right ambiance to relive the tale and make it memorable for the audience to see! To add, I can say that it was entertaining fun to watch though less gritty from the other films produced in the past especially comparing it with Kingdom of Heaven. The beginning of the film was quite slow in setting the tone from two countries with a bitter rivalry! Here, it carries on what is happening simultaneously on both France’s battlegrounds and London’s infidelities which sets in motion a bloody conspiracy!

Director Sir Ridley Scott (Gladiator) delivers another sword and sandal film that follows a story of a man who was born to lead and to serve his country despite the oppression from the law! Cinematographer John Mathieson (Hannibal) collaborates with the Director to capture the lore of an anarchic land! He works with clear vision giving awe aspiring shots on both in-land landscapes, fields of green and scenic coasts of England!

Most of the cast made a commendable performance including Mark Strong’s stoic character. Other performers were a stereotyped and dull like Danny Huston (The Constant Gardener) is King Richard “The Lionheart” who I always find not interesting. He is well received by critics but I do perceive his monotonous delivery and facial expressions with any profoundness for neither intensity nor versatility his undoing. He was the “comeback King” so to speak and we can leave it at that! Cate Blanchett (The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring) is Lady Marion Loxley, as a strong woman she resembles duty and honor for her husband and inherited land from her Father–in-Law Sir Walter Loxley played by the greatly adulated Max Von Sydow (The Minority Report) who always delivers a wonderful performance! She gave a decent portrayal of a wife torn by her husband’s return home. I just cannot approve her constant annoying and repetitive smirk on men bantering about her capabilities or in her lost marriage. Nonetheless, still a great find for talent to portray the  female lead role, partnering with Russell was a match made in heaven!

I simply find it profound on how Sir Ridley captures very intricate details that gives the film its form to not just tell the story and be entertained but to also to learn from it especially in history. Things like how people from Royalty have this opulent lifestyle which is given and yet when it comes to servitude to his people becomes unrepentantly disgraced! While they have this luxury not by mere wealth alone as basis, with family and having wives to do with becomes a social norm and yet making them untouchable by laws of man!

Another example was with Chancellor William Marshal, a trusted and faithful servant of King Richard, portrayed by William Hurt (The Incredible Hulk) who sees a foreboding treachery that lies within their ranks! They have this saying “keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer!” which covers the overall impact of the premise from the start until the end!

Other points to ponder is the children of Sherwood Forest which gives a good backdrop on how they came to be juvenile delinquents in the first place since London’s men has been fighting in the Crusades for the last ten years which I easily find as a strong foundation giving emphasis and meaning to the whole story, although it was quite ironic when they started as a nuisance for the Loxley estate then turned into a “small force” to reckon with and even served a better purpose as allies with the uprising.

The fight scene at the shores was a bit inadequate and superficial. Which I do consider one of the lowest points of the film, with so little room to move and expand the storyline it was given emphasis merely on a duel of two countries rather than of its significance in the past!  The climactic battle between Robin Longstride portrayed by the indispensible Rusell Crowe (Cinderella Man) shooting the arrow at Godfrey played the consistently repugnant and outstanding at the same time Mark Strong (Sunshine) was the only moment that gave me shivers to my spine. This mole was the first foe to be circumvented before the Sheriff became his mortal enemy! On a side note, why would there be a need for Marion to be in the fight? And more so, the children who rode on smaller horses seemed farfetched considering they will be in a fight with French knights with armor and battle training, it was not necessary and more importantly looks absolutely ridiculous!

It was a wonderful film, not with the same calibre with his other films having the same type of battle scenes and great speeches before the conflict commences but still it got me thinking of the connection with Balian of “Kingdom of Heaven”! In end of the story, it showed that King Richard the Lionheart was going to Jerusalem to bring it back to Christians from the Muslims, then with shame and bankruptcy, he plunders every Kingdom he could set upon before trying to go back to London. These crusades have so much more to teach the populace not just with the Kingdoms involved seeking to conquer other lands or the prove which is the more deserving religion to rule the world but rather it was the men who impose their power and be responsible for their actions…not just to his fellow men but to God as well!

Salt (2010)

Not taking it with a grain of Salt, it was a definite premise for another spy franchise!!!

Relativity Media with Di Bonaventura Pictures in association with Columbia Pictures present…

North Korea, a woman in a jail cell tortured by soldiers was given a chance to be released in terms of an exchange by a prisoner from the US. (Bond here anyone, anyone???)

Present Day…

Evelyn Salt (Angelina Jolie), the Vice -President for a disguised Washington D.C. oil company is about to leave office to meet with her husband Michael, a German arachnologist who was instrumental for her release 2 years ago. As she was about to exit the door with superior Ted Winter (Liev Schreiber), it turns out there was an alert stating that a Russian is currently detained for questioning.

Situation given, the man by the name of Orlov states that he is a defector from Russia and claims that Day X is about to commence and Evelyn Salt would be the main player of these events to come! The information that was handed over is crucial for the survival of both countries.

Salt, now on the run for her life climbing walls, rooftops and jumping from one vehicle to the next in a freeway. Finding a way to contact her husband against a mob of CIA agents and government officials she was able to elude them and fulfill her mission to kill the Russian President who is attending the funeral of his close friend the deceased Vice President of the United States.

The story climaxes in another given mission for Salt and a liaison NATO officer in the White House, they were instructed to assassinate the President and to make a missile assault in Mecca and Tehran as all hell breaks loose!!!

Main Cast

Angelina Jolie (Tomb Raider) pulls another ace in her sleeve making another thriller film that was exciting and entertaining to watch.  She portrays a very unique character that jumpstarted a franchise for women spies that can take most action guys to shame!

Liev Schrieber (X-Men Origins: Wolverine) makes up more of a better villain with his direct to the point, suave, pencil pushing Superior together with the anti-hero based characters of Chiwetel Ejiofor (American Gangster), very nice delivery all the time, I begin to think of him as a young Laurence Fishburne. Very passionate and creates an atmosphere that is gritty and cold at the same time. Now, he is one of the most sought out actors in Hollywood providing award winning performances and blockbuster films.

Production

Director Philip Noyce (The Bone Collector) initially gave this project to Tom Cruise but he respectfully declined seeing this film as another spy/agent character, pertaining to Ethan Hunt of the Mission Impossible franchise. I think it was best this way since it was more convenient for another actor to portray the role.

Angelina Jolie was brought in and with the help of Kurt Wimmer, a decent writer/director in my opinion who wrote “Law Abiding Citizen”, “The Thomas Crown Affair” and “Street Kings”. Though not all his works were credible he directed “Ultraviolet”, “Equilibrium” and wrote “The Recruit” which were all flops. Noyce’s film nevertheless had Box Office sales that was decent making it more than 100 million worldwide.

The score and soundtrack is genuine and depicts the tone of the given sequences. I specifically loved the Barge Apocalypse, it had a Terminator base into it and with an eclectic background!

Story

The film dictates that Salt is a sleeper, double agent, a mole in the United States soil. Trained by Orlov, a spymaster (Daniel Obrychski) since the fatal accident that killed her parents (so it would seem). Moulded to be assassins, they were given specific instructions when and where to strike.

I was aware that the film connotes what specific plot influences are being manifested since the beginning of the film’s title was shown; it had a background depicting a Russian font and in red color to signify a double effect on the name of Salt. It gives a bigger picture on how the story works wherein two great countries, one was a superpower currently in the spotlight. Actually, it’s already farfetched for these two countries to be at war again, but all is forgiven since it’s only a film!

It also gives pertinence to the backdrop of the Bourne series action sequences, take note only the intricacies of the escape and M.O. was significantly copied, I too agreed on the concept at first but it took me to another level where the film was going and give it a try to be blown away.

I really loved the ending because it was not mission intrinsic but to help save a nation in crises, one must know and understand where loyalty lies and what future holds for someone like her who is still on the run from the government (not just the US of course!) I think you don’t get away that easily killing off KGB spies or defectors for that matter.

Full of chases, adrenaline sequences and lame guards pun intended!  It was a straight up action film that makes Angelina one of the best and sought out actresses of our time!

Vantage Point (2008)

The trails of suspicion will have its vulnerable “point” with the people you actually trust!

Columbia Pictures in association with Relativity Media and Original Film present…

11:59:58…59

Time is the only consistent thing you will experience in the film while staging grounds that will tackle every possible angle, situation and standpoint of focal characters bringing together cohesion to the plot that will later unravel in the story! Don’t let the redundancy get into you, the moment the film starts it will provide the levity needed as you go along…

Director Pete Travis (Endgame) gives us an action political thriller that not only is unique in delivery but it was able to maximize its full potential on a 360 degree bird’s eye view letting the audience free flow with the film’s intended objective! Screenwriter Barry Levy gave a remarkable take on the premise helping create a needed environment that not just focuses on the “ceremony” but by also making sure the surrounding cast are well focused to do their jobs! (well, not all of them)

1^ST TIER:   A REPORTER’S CONUNDRUM

Veteran actress, Sigourney Weaver (Working Girl) GNN Production Head Rex Brooks, formerly written for a man to take the responsibility to be the eyes and ears of the event yet Sigourney with her knack of having a adamant personality gets the job done! She is partnered with rising star, Zoe Saldana (The Terminal) she plays GNN Field Reporter Angie Jones, a very brief scenario on what news coverage she intends to relay to the audience and the world! I think she was not the best person to have been chosen to play the role of a field reporter, though Angie plays just a small portion of the bigger picture, her character’s delivery was stale, trying hard and annoying! Not that she was given an aggressive demeanor; it was a forced effort especially at the beginning of the film! In short, she can be an eye candy shooting guns but not behind a microphone and a camera!

2^nd TIER: BACK IN THE GAME…

Dennis Quaid (The Day After Tomorrow) US Secret Service Agent Thomas Barnes! He’s back coming from his last stint in rescuing the President from an assassination plot. He’s old and he’s paranoid! Instinct is key as they say, his obligation to protect the President at all cost is in his aura, his motives are direct and implemented throughout the film, his delivery was sometimes off and gets overacted at times but still redeemable in this film even from his previous ones!

3^rd TIER: “YOU ARE ALWAYS AT THE WRONG PLACE AT THE WRONG TIME!”

Eduardo Noriega (Open Your Eyes) is covert Police Officer Enrique, on the run and suspected for foul play! The assassination of the President needs to come to terms with his past and what he needs to do in order to investigate the incident! Eduardo was chosen for his stern look and deep moral resolve, his character was embedded to be someone who can make the audience think while giving him the benefit of the doubt to be resolute and with integrity!

4^TH TIER: SEPARATING CITIZEN FROM CIVILIAN

Howard Lewis, is alone, a visitor in a native land trying to break free from marital problems and just unwind from his supposedly “away from it all” vacation! He brings a camera surveying the crowds, the buildings and the most coveted ceremony for the United States President to address the people of Spain! Forest Whitaker (The Crying Game) gives a troubled man a purpose in his life, seeking the happiness that he longs for through his own camera.

His performance being Howard was already seen thousands of times and not to give much attention to the “Last King of Scotland” star, he goes back to being the peculiar one, the troubled person who needs attention no just through his own but by the situations surrounding him, he needs to change that kind of trademark where he tries to save the day but can’t! Few films come to mind such as “Blown Away”, “Species” and “Repomen”!

5^TH TIER: DESPERATE MEASURES

William Hurt (A History of Violence) plays the part of the US President seeing that there was a confirmed plot for his demise, he was brought back to the hotel with Bruce McGill (Collateral) his Adviser Phil McGullough. William had so many chances to be a successful actor and yet falls into under worthy projects which leave him with no solid ground for at least another Academy award nomination after so many years of work. His character is flat footed, very predictable (most of his portrayals are) and needs a lot of strong stellar support to bring in at least a memorable film!

 Bruce on the other hand was a long time TV series actor, a mainstay for MacGyver in the 80’s! He has a few films on his own usually B rated but at least he gets the right characters and films best suited for his talent!

6^th TIER: BOMBS AWAY!

Said Taghmaoui (Three Kings) is cool and calculative Suarez armed with a cell phone that has the specs capable of triggering devices in a long distance radius. He had a collaborated film with Dennis in 2009 with a special military unit but that project was “mediocre” and they both play on the same team!

While Ayelet Zurer (Munich) the co-conspirator named Veronica who serves only as support and eye candy for the film! Speaking of which, Matthew Fox (We are Marshall) US Secret Service Agent Howard Lewis, people have been clamoring for this guy since he played the role of Jack Shephard in LOST created by the next “Spielberg” Director J.J. Abrams! Seriously, I am aware that he received a Golden Globe “Nomination” from the acclaimed TV series but his performance in this film falls flat, tumbles down and rolling over thrice then face on the ground! His worse than Sam Worthington for crying out loud!

It was a laborious take the Director even discussed the right amount of given takes to make the scenes perfect even choosing the “right “ people for the job, for me it was hits and misses and frankly it was lacklustered! When it comes to the idea, it was out of the ball park and how they captured every situation very well while telling the story in segments, they were able to put together the pieces of the puzzle in a well coordinated manner!

The trick that made it work was the plot; it was also a character and story driven at the same time! The only one who didn’t impress me was Zoe and Matt where she acts as someone reading an idiot board in front of the camera and started to bawl her brains out without concentrating on her objective, I understand this is how it was written, my point implies on her delivery. While Matt, is dull his portrayal even got shoddier because he was a Secret Service Agent, obviously I just preferred who was worse between him and Dennis and I chose the latter since he was already in the business for a long period of time!

To give an overall remark, it was a 6.5 out of 10, the film was able to fulfill the political thriller aspect, the storytelling was not distinctive which is one of its “Achilles Heel” and everyone has an open ended conclusion coming from underdeveloped characters to provide fruition for the story itself which gives at least its full circle to realize what “point” was most advantageous…the audience decides!

Ghost Rider (2007)

The film was forgivable but let the Director experience and suffer the “Penance Stare”!

Relativity Media and Michael De Luca Productions, GH One, Vengeance Productions Pty Ltd., Crystal Sky Pictures in association with Marvel Entertainment present…

Marvel Comics was getting tired of swashbuckling superheroes so they gave way to a more “off the rails” type of character. Roy Thomas along with Gary Friedrich and Artist Mike Ploog created the Spirit of Vengeance in Marvel Spotlight No. 5 on August 1972.

I have been a fan of comic book films, especially with those grittier, dark characters and this anti-hero is definitely one of them! Coming from the publisher’s imprint Marvel Knights the story is all about a deal made by a young man to save his father from dying due to cancer, thus a contract was signed by blood in exchange for his soul but the thing is, he got more what he bargained for! A choice should be made and time is running out… Tick tock tick tock!!!

I’ve watched the film thrice already since way back in my country and it never gave me that sense of enthusiasm until now! I was able to watch its extended cut and delved more into the story on how on earth Johnny Blaze brought to life by Nicolas Cage (Con Air) became Ghost Rider. This is an amazing character with a decent following of fans and yet somehow the film has given not much justice to the comic book. Adding Eva Mendes (The Spirit) in the role of Roxanne Simpson the love interest of the “flaming skull” in the picture was even not enough for the audiences to properly receive the premise of the film!

To think that maybe Marvel has not given much credit for the director to step up the plate in order to script write and direct the film, the budget definitely goes beyond the grave with props that can be compared with a high school stage presentation, special thanks to Richard Hobbs (Dark City) and Kirk Petrucelli (Blade), the sets were really pathetic seriously, even coming from already known Production and Art Direction. Don’t forget putting in the poorly written and pathetic which were done by the self-proclaimed “Master of Comic Books” himself, Director Steven. While Cinematography was given “life” by Russell Boyd (American Outlaws) not much to say except his works speak for themselves, all ordinary to the eyes with Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World as the only exception!

While the CGI for Ghost Rider’s skull motorcycle, burnt roads from his trail blazing was authentic enough feel the character’s movements and expressions! The verbal quips, cheesy one liners, poor dialogue from every cast, fight scenes that our laughable, even Blackheart portrayed by Wes Bentley (American Beauty) the son of the Devil changing into his demon form to name a few! This guy can do so much more acting wise; he was just given a really horrible script to recite in front of the audience! Don’t forget the constant finger pointing of the man himself (maybe it was part of the Guilty or Innocent platform) the one whom he gives his woes, the giver of burden, the most evil, the malevolent Mephisto from the acting legend Peter Fonda (South of Heaven, West of Hell). On a positive note, I’m psyched up every time he screams with rage when someone pisses him off or even just if he wanted to ride his bike! What a riot!

But the essence is there and it was how Johnny wants to be redeemed and have another chance for salvation as well. With the help of another Ghost Rider, returning to Marvel Films is Sam Eliott (Hulk) only known as the Caretaker who has done the same mistake in the past; he gives more conclusive interaction between the two characters and the main plot of the story.

Director Mark Steven Johnson (Daredevil) has made movies that really not blended well with the audience especially that were comic based. It might be more emphasized on how the characters are represented in the big screen and give that rapport on not just the viewers but the Producers as well making them understand that the film has proper direction and financing. To make it easier for you, don’t give a green light to a rubbish project!

Everybody deserves a second chance (but I’m not expecting you to touch on a comic book film again, maybe in other genres!) He will ride again with another Director (there’s two…and they look really angry!) and I hope that this time it will be worth watching, or we’ll be the one’s unleashing hell!

The Spirit of Vengeance left trails on fire in winter 2012 and it didn’t stand a chance, hopefully the turning over of the character back to Marvel can bring the skull fire back from it’s dying ember!

R.I.P.D. (2013)

There will be no peace; this film will be wandering the Purgatory for a very long time trying to find a out why did it met its own demise!

Universal Pictures in association with Original Film, Relativity Media and Dark Horse Entertainment present…

Another comic book adaptation courtesy of Dark Horse Comics that gave us “The Mask”, “Alien vs Predator”, “Hellboy”, “300” and “Sin City”! Writer Peter M. Lenkov and Penciler Lucas Marangon were the key people that helped created the “Rest in Peace Department” that was published on September 17, 2003.

Director Robert Schwentke (RED) was trying to overcompensate a lacklustered script (you can’t blame the guy) that became so reliant with video games standard CGI as it always does! Robert has made some watchable and decent films for the past few years but it never fails to amaze how sleazy marketing can still turn these adaptations into films which actually fail in the first place.

Now, seeing that it is widely compared from “MIB” which threads only in the difference of hunting down ghosts instead of aliens and sending them off to a better place! While incorporating the overly clichéd combination of a veteran law enforcer who is preachy, sarcastic and poker faced while being joined by a rookie cop who needs to prove his worth by following the rules until he gains the respect of his fellow officers.

Old timer and still bringing in the quality acting is Jeff Bridges (True Grit) he portrays the gun slinging and straight shooter Roy Pulsipher, a United States Marshal who was originally named “Roy Powell” in the comics. I really don’t know how he does that way of talking kind of reminds me of “The Godfather” and “The Dark Knight” principal actors, other than that Jeff can still add some levity in his work while giving the production a little credit even when there is no more hope for redemption!

While still lost in limbo in the comic book industry, Ryan Reynolds (Safe House) as recently deceased cop Nick Walker who was forced to join an elite group of police officers for a century or to face an unknown circumstance come Judgment Day! So, since he has some issues to settle especially with his conscience, he finally decided to take the first option! Just like his new partner, his actual name was “Nick Cruz” but was changed maybe to give it a more superhero effect or whatever reason that may be…

Ryan “can” really be an a asset if he wanted to, having moved away from the his actual comedic route, he has given movie goers the experience of seeing his versatility as an actor from a leading man on rom-coms, to action thrillers and even with the horror genre! But there is always something missing in his performance and that makes him vulnerable in his casting choices. More so, he has been clamored by fans to give them his own CBM character that will really suit his repertoire and attributes, from the box-office bomb “Green Lantern” and his take on pre “Dead Pool” days as Wade Wilson in another film failure “X-Men Origins: Wolverine”! Well, he is about to take another stab on the character (pun intended) this coming February 2016 as he returns with more blood, more gore and a mouthful of fourth wall comedy!

Returning to work with the Director is Mary-Louise Parker (Let the Devil Wear Black) she plays Director Mildred Proctor, a no non-sense woman that oversees all operations in the Boston division. Her penchant for irk phrasing and the ability to be sarcastic has a little implication on what she needs more other than the capability of her officers in the line of duty (again) and in their field work but rather of something entirely different especially with Roy!

Nick’s partner and best friend Kevin Bacon (Stir of Echoes) takes on the bad guy role since his departure from “X-Men: First Class”. He is cop who turned foe who was named s Bobby Hayes, his motives are predictable seeing that even before the film was shown in theatres, we already know that he will be the antagonist. I believe, it is up to the script and his performance to at least show some instensity to what he can do in order to make it more interesting, not that we question his talent but what do you expect from a banausic work handovered by David Dobkin (The Change-Up), Phil Hay (Clash of the Titans) and lastly, Matt Mandredi (Aeon Flux)? At least I can forgive the latter two Writers considering they have at least “Crazy/Beautiful” in their resume, but until David pulls a “good” trick up his sleeve that will be the day…

To round off the cast, Chinese actor James Hong and American model Marissa Miller serves also their part in bringing a more diversified cast to provide an engaging dialogue and comedic turns not just between the main protagonists other than for some funky music to make heads turn literally. Speaking of which, how does someone turn their heads and bodies inside out, have gapes on them and protrude more hands? Of course there is nothing that a CGI and Visual Effects can’t do in this age, but frankly this has been one of those projects that Rhythm and Hues Studios was not able to save as with its really poor, cartoonish like animation specifically for the slow motion capture, the disfigured monsters and the hole in the sky scenarios!

It’s was entertaining at some point considering that it did try to be funny with Jeff and Mary-Louise’s bantering was even way convenient rather than the two buddy cops solving their case. Ryan on the other hand was too serious as he wanted to redeem himself so bad to make amends for his widowed wife; since this was conveyed just out of necessity to balance out the actual objective which was an action comedy!

Not much to see here if you’re looking for quality film making and story, other than a half-baked supernatural, fantasy driven, good cop / bad cop routine running through the streets shooting at “Deados” who won’t go away like the souls still stuck in limbo!

The Wolfman (2010)

“Who hails the moon cometh change and renew for tonight we will howl in the darkness!”

Universal Pictures in association with Relativity Media and Stuber Productions present…

What truly makes a man a monster? His self-disposition for power and wealth! Humans as we are, we have tendencies to be destructive and be more inhumane than animals, we are given an option to who we are destined to be, to be sealed by our fate or be free and be one with destiny!

The Man…

Remarkable performances by Anthony Hopkins (Hannibal) who played Sir John Talbot, an elitist who hides darker secrets that even the moon sways its light upon its malevolent schemes and one of the finest actors of our time Benicio Del Toro (24 Grams) as Sir Lawrence Talbot, a troubled son, a brother who is still tormented by past nightmares. They were able to provide the needed suspense and grit that makes the Wolfman feared, hated as well as misunderstood and revered for his courage to take the responsibility of this curse!

The CGI was not perfect but it did make of good use for the monster’s movements, fast paced action and thus resulting a killing spree that is more breathtaking to watch. Some great moments in the Gypsy encampment massacre, The London hunt and the climactic slugfest.

As always, Danny Elfman provides the appropriate piece to ensue audience captivity for his music. The score was melancholic, pretence for horror are being set for the audience to encompass the film’s gothic centerpiece.  Even if it was not finalized, I still consider it very truthful to the theme of the film, it even resembled a bit from Bram Stoker’s Dracula!

To add, who can forget the multi-awarded special effects artist Rick Baker who brought life to such films as King Kong, Men in Black, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, An American Werewolf in London and much more!

I also loved how the gore and power of the werewolf was manifested every time he gets loose! My favorite was when he was examined in the asylum by Dr. Hoenneger with fellow Doctors and officials as audience. Lawrence bellowed at him: “You Moron! tonight I will kill all of you, I WILL KILL ALL OF YOU!!! with greater emphasis while transforming, it was a riot!

The Monster…

The story was standstill, a film with great potential and it was lack lustred due to poor suspense, horrific tendencies that may have been the key to bring forth a better redux to this classic monster film!

The Wolfman was based from the same title shown in 1941. It has the same plot and screenplay, though it still gives that eerie, horrifying feeling, it was quite boring and dragging, considerable minutes were wasted just to see Lawrence journey  back home to Blackmoor after his rampage in London.

Another concern was the score made originally by Danny Elfman, haggled by time another composer was brought in to provide more energy to the film, Paul Haslinger, Conrad Pope did some more materials just to meet the demands of Director Joe Johnston and the studio!

Emily Blunt (The Devil Wears Prada) as the fiancée of Ben Talbot Gwen and Hugo Weaving (V for Vendetta) the determined Inspector Francis Aberline was mediocre in my opinion, both are great in their own right, but in this film they have been held back or was not given enough sustainability of the character they portrayed. The woman was torn between brothers, she was without any intensity or passion who might as well be dead from the start and the hunter who was just settling old scores, defined by his judgement not really giving emphasis on understanding what the monster is or capable of.

The Curse…

It has been always observed to make things better, we must learn through experience, the film was good but it failed most of the viewers’ expectations. Actors plays a primordial role to deliver but it has not been always the root cause of a film’s failure or success, The Director, Producers, Studio capacity, music and special effects converge to provide the needed details to  make film’s worth watching.

I would like to commend the film also because there are tons of Vampire movies out there, even TV series for that matter, but very little do consider this icon as a potential hit with the right script and talent, a lucrative source of lore, grand storytelling for generations to come!

The Wolfman does indeed have its curse, it was not perfect but was entertaining nevertheless! As a statement, a poem was uttered before and at the end the film…so I made mine as well!

Oblivion (2013)

“If we have souls, they’re made of the love we share. Undimmed by time, unbound by death.”

Universal Pictures in association with Relativity Media, Chernin Entertainment, Monolith Pictures and Radical Studios present…

From the unfinished graphic novel of Director Joseph Kosinski (Tron: Legacy) coming from Radical Studios in which he also worked on as its Co-Writer and additional credits to be one of its Producers who gave us the 2011’s blockbuster “Rise of the Planet of the Apes”. The film conveys a post-apocalyptic future wherein planet Earth was invaded by alien beings known as the Scavengers who initiated the attacks by blowing up the moon (a new tactical approach) which caused earthquakes and tsunamis that destroyed life as we know it. With the use of Nuclear Weapons, humanity was able to tip the scale in their favor and won the war but at a terrible cost, it ravaged their home world leaving it inhabitable due to radioactivity.

With the brief overview out of the way, we start off with Tom Cruise (Minority Report) who plays Commander Jack Harper (why can they just think of another name besides this one?). The year was 2077, Jack is part of a two man team that serves as repairman for the Drones and act as a guard on patrol duty monitoring and reporting any left resistance to Tower 49 where his partner and lover Andrea Riseborough (Never Let Me Go) the clingy and possessive Victoria Olsen. She then coordinates and gives feedback to their Mission Controller Sally the unnerving pencil pusher who successfully annoys me with her “effectiveness mandate”, she was portrayed by Melissa Leo (Olympus Has Fallen).

Going back to our main protagonist, Tom could never undersell his films particularly due to his acting, we all know his work ethic and for obvious reasons that this was considered a sleeper, the performances in spite of its nonchalant and sober environment and interaction did still comply with what was needed to entice a rapport from the audience. Also, his character here is well restrained even with its tense moments which most of the time triggers Tom’s signature over the top speeches! This was really aesthetically pure and resonant as it gives form to what was actually in store to fulfill their objectives!

From the get-go, his mind is always thinking of something besides the mission at hand and although given the premise that these “loyal” servants has been mind wiped, these memories always comes back to haunt him in his dreams that makes it compliant to stage the second act. Speaking of being workaholics without questioning authority, as of late changes need to be made to get on with the story, Jack together with recently recovered crash survivor Olga Kurylenko (Land of Oblivion) who looks exactly the same as the woman of his dreams (both figuratively and literally) her name was Julia Rusakova to whom he took chances in order to go down deeper the “rabbit hole”!

We won’t have Tom hogging the entire spotlight now would we? He still needs a validated support cast that can go toe-to-toe with these invading parasites! Morgan Freeman (Deep Impact) and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Firewall) serves as the last bastion for humanity, with less than impressive dialogue especially for the latter who thinks he speaks only to himself, Nikolaj can be a force to reckon if given the chance but everyone needs a good script and Director to lead him into that so-called paradise, it worked great for him as the antagonist in the heist thriller “Headhunters” and of course in being part the hugely successful TV series “Game of Thrones”. Morgan’s portrayal on the other hand is another story where he serves as another “Morpheus” to his “Neo” instinctively waiting for the right moment to lure the hero in and save them from utter annihilation!

The vehicles like the Bubble Ship, the “death dealing” Drones, the collapsible Bike were simply but superbly designed by Daniel Simon (Captain America: The First Avenger) for years has honed his skills with Volkswagen and Bugatti, a man of many talents his collaborations with different internationally recognized companies has given Hollywood films something to look forward to in the coming years ahead! This was a second collaboration with the Director from their “Tron: Legacy” hit as Joseph even mentioned that “I believe form follows function” which is logical since what we see or imagine to make something perform its objective. We can design something that is best suited by how it looks in the first place with a great example, I like how the ship’s landing gear disengages when it lands and takes off its launchpad!

While location wise, the landscapes are spectacular, visually unique and striking especially with the Award Winning Cinematographer Claudio Miranda (The Life of Pi) at the helm, he was able to made a clear impression on how the Joseph’s mindset will come into fruition with the anticlimactic resonance of Iceland’s ice covered white plains and mountains against the lifeless barren lands in which these remaining human survivors inhabit!

The film was generally convincing in spite of its taut plot which stretches thinly as they try to convey the story. Considering that the cast were highly recognized and remarkable, it would seem that some aspects have pulled it down that might have given it more box-office hit potential as expected. The Director at least gave his effort to bring sci-fi another refreshing look while instilling multiple angles of drama, action and mystery coming from borrowed elements in films like “Solaris” which was very evident in terms of the love lost, the painful memories and knowing when to let go moments, “The Matrix” wherein getting the hero to understand that there are two worlds and only one is real, “Independence Day” the Trojan Horse gift to the gods and lastly, “Star Wars” from the Empire’s Tie Fighters versus the Rebel’s X-Wing anyone?

Overall, Joseph and the scriptwriters was able to amalgamate all these aspects which surround the “missing alien invasion”, the need for survival, the subconscious dejavu, the mystery that surrounds the twist and of course the love story which in effect makes you forget that some of these people were actually in limbo and it’s just a matter of time to finally get back to reality!

Repo Men (2010)

“I will burn my tomorrow as I stand inside today at the edge of the future as my dreams fade away”

Universal Pictures in association Ruber Media and Relativity Media present…

Directed by Miguel Sapochnik (Fringe) a post –modern thriller denoting fragments from films like “The Minority Report”, “Daybreakers” and “The Matrix”, hunted down and framing one of their own to secure a better tomorrow, a better future…

Just like what the world’s banking system is doing for the past thousand years. Credit cards, mortgages, interest rates that never runs out of gimmicks, all of these things will kill you literally!

Customer Service and huge companies emptying your pockets just for the market to buy their goods and sell it to you like it was the best thing ever to have happened in your entire life, free goods, discounts, holidays, family get away, bargains we are all sucked up into this grand scam of living. But in this case, it’s your anatomy that is literally spilled all over the place when you failed to make a payment for your artificial mechanized parts!

People are actually dying and in bad health, now the only way to save yourself is to get a transplant from an unscrupulous Union Manager Frank played by Liev Schreiber (Salt), philanthropist, business man with a medical breakthrough that can give your life back, but everything always has a catch and he has 2 of the best guys doing their jobs in their freaking finest!

Forest Whitaker (The Last King of Scotland)  plays Jake an overzealous pedant who cares only for the job; he is the closest thing to a brother ever since the 4^th grade, from the war and work to Remy. The only thing that matters to him is to get the job done even if it upsets the balance of morality and decency. He hunts people down like they were game to be butchered wide open!

After being knocked-out 4 times, having a 90 day notice ultimatum, a broken marriage, it can’t get any worse than this right??? Jude Law (Cold Mountain) is Remy, one of the top guns for the company, partnered with old time friend Jake. All things were fine until an accident that turned him to one of the hunted.

He succumbs to frailty and compassion for a bar singer named Beth played by Alice Braga (City of God), who is more than meets the eye. Longing for love or just getting on with his life after losing his wife and son. To add, he has lost the desire for the job after getting the new heart.

Casting was decent from the main protagonist and the antagonists, adding Liev to the picture is of well credence despite his still, starkly aura that makes him one fine villain! Alice is an up and coming actress, can be given multiple situations and see it through, unlike that poker faced Michelle Rodriguez with her masculine delved acting which I consider a one trick pony!

I never realized how things can get out of hand when all the governments of the world just stand by with these proclivities of a dying world. Simpler were the days of transacting your food, goods bought in a supermarket and being scanned in a counter…now, it’s you that are being scanned to see if you have been a good citizen or a rotting civilian!

This film is so messed up literally so much to say that the plot gives notion to having people take over your lives without any law governing and enforcing the human rights act. Of course there is a contract but to what extent are these so-called Repo men can get away for all the dealings they do day in and day out!

It’s a film I am at the same page as anyone else, but think about it, this is actually happening around us, it may be simpler than it looks like with regards to everyday transactions and commitments to grander economic scale! With all things said and done, it will be those who are on the top that will remain and even though millions of lives pass them by, it would not even matter as long as they are doing their jobs!

After all the gore and feel good music fetish, it was a mediocre film with a poor screenplay which could have been way better handled more so with great actors in front of the camera. With closing, it is being incited that you do owe it to yourself and to your family!!! It’s up to you, if you’re going to be a parrot, a vulture or…

Paul (2011)

The Dynamic Duo is back after fighting hordes of the dead, taking into justice a neighborhood watch who hides the dead and now, they brought along someone who brings back the dead!

Universal Pictures in association with Relativity Media, Working Title Films and Big Talk Pictures present…

Moorcroft, Wyoming -1942

A little girl and her dog became witnesses in a crash landed ship but not without casualty! Growing up, Tara Walton was ridiculed and cursed for so many years that she recluse to society, Blythe Danner (Meet the Fockers) gives light to the fallen alien even if he has caused so much pain!

San Diego California – 2009

The film inspires long overdue dreams and it took two road tripping blokes to make it all worthwhile. From England, they ventured to the United States to fulfil their destiny, to be part of something bigger, bigger I tell you! The Comic-Con, every fan boy and geek’s ultimate goal to venture to other worlds of imagination, hysteria, the supernatural, superheroes…the amalgamation of cool!

To add, they wanted to visit every place of significance that involves extra-terrestrial occurrences! The tour dictates the following sites: Vasquez Rocks, California, Area 51 Black Mail Box in Nevada, Apache Junction and last stop Roswell, New Mexico which corresponds on the Crash of 1947. Minding their own business while stopping for a drink and a break in Little A’Le’Inn, they encountered some hostile hunters. Leaving abruptly, they were on the road again until an accident occurs which will change their lives forever…

It was fun to watch especially with great supporting cast who are well known in the land of laughs! Jeffrey Tambor (Hellboy) is Author Adam Shadowchild, a reunion of sorts with his son Michael Bluth (played by Jason) in the famous comedy series Arrested Development while Jason Bateman (Horrible Bosses) is Special Agent Lorenzo Zoil (derived from and sounds like Lorenzo’s Oil) whatever floats your boat man! His character shows more a serious take from the usual comedy he portrays but still deadpan which I really like about in his every performance. Hot on the trail and bossed around by the mysterious “Big Guy” on the radio who will be given a more dramatic entrance later in the film!

While Ruth Buggs, a domesticated Christian living with her father in a RV Trailer business lot, Kristen Wiig (Bridesmaids) brings the skeptic for science, coming of age woman to the fold of fugitives on the run from the law for harbouring a cigarette smoking, grey skinned, bird eating, finger pointing, half-pint critter (pant, pant)! She always makes it easy for her character delivery seeing that she got her repertoire from SNL.

Director Greg Mottola (Superbad) gives the story a wonderful experience which still mixes all the elements of action, comedy, drama and a little moral lesson of…never ever go on a road trip as two guys giving brotherly love as it becomes another proclivity especially in a hostile territory!

Who can forget the screen icon herself, paying homage in a indirect manner is not without applause as ‘the Big Guy’ played by Sigourney Weaver (Alien) while compromising the mission with incompetent FBI Agents Haggard Bill Hader and O’Reilly Joe Lo Truglio (Pineapple Express) both came from the same film they gave more funny moments seeing them get through the lead agent while running across country hi-ways searching for visiting fugitives and then some…

He was a definite masterpiece coming from VFX giant Double Negative, known to bring big budgeted Academy and BAFTA favourites to the movie going public, based in London they were responsible for the effects generated in The Wolfman, Iron Man 2, Inception and recently the final episodes of Harry Potter and the epic Marvel super soldier Captain America to name a few! These guys had the hard work in making the alien come to life. Jody Johnson is Head for VFX with Anders Beers Leads the Animation Group, they collaborated with Producer Hal Couzens to bring the performance of  Seth Rogen (The Green Hornet) into Paul a synergy of sequences, CGI, motion capture and puppetry courtesy of Spectral Motions which was used for the outlays of the character with the actual actors. It shows a combination of good lighting, direction by using still cameras and crane that will enable precise inputs and proper timing.

It had great trivial inputs from the alien himself talking with a hotshot “Director“ while still starting his film career, a Government Agent tracking aliens was his creation and a snapshot of George Bush Sr.’s picture was absolute pun! It was a fun filled movie blending in moments of hysteria and mystery. Paul was hilarious throughout, he possessed more humanity rather than those crazed gun carrying locals!

Les Misérables (2012)

This was a monumental and groundbreaking renovation coming from the musical stage play since 1980 as historic France and its revolution that spanned for years captured genuinely by the Director and Producers for it to come alive and share for the world to experience!

Universal Pictures in association with Relativity Media, Working Title Films and Cameron Mackintosh Ltd. present…

Lights, Camera, Sing and Applause!!!

Victor Hugo’s hugely phenomenal timeless classic from his 1862 novel with the same title. With his work continued and praised by the people behind the highly successful stage musical they are: Alain Boublil, Claude –Michel Schönberg and music from Herbert Kreztmer. The former two are the same ones who gave the spectacular screenplay while coordinating with William Nicholson’s to do the scriptwriting.

Directed by Academy Award Winner Tom Hooper (The King’s Speech) who helped envision the film as grandiose, spectacular and heartfelt! With Producers Tim Bevan (Fargo), Eric Feliner (Love Actually), Debra Hayward (Pride & Prejudice) and the pioneer in these production tours not just in London but in other countries as well, he is none other than the persevering Cameron Mackintosh (The Phantom of the Opera – Royal Albert Hall) all were catalyst to keep the fight burning…living the dream!

Another commendable aspect of the film was the transition of set pieces amalgamated with special and visual effects that gave its surroundings a surreal look of a nation at war and its citizens scampering in the dirt waiting for their long overdue demise! While engulfed with the palpable scenarios inspired by tag team players Production Designer Eve Stewart (The Hole) and Anna-Lynch Robinson (Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason) who supervised Set Decoration. Costume Design by Francisco Delgado Lopez (Biutiful) together with Makeup and Hairstyling duo of Lisa Westcott (Shakespeare in Love) and Julie Dartnell (The Lost Prince).

19^th century France, the year was 1815…

From its opening sequence, the audience will feel how daunting and horrific conditions were back from those days where prisoners were treated less than human. As interlocking stories pave the way, we focus on a set of people facing life in its bleakest moments but still find the strength to hope in spite their flaws which were drawn in their moments of madness and grief!

With a superb cast backing up the stage phenomenon, they have already won the Golden Globe Awards for Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress and Best Film in a Musical or Comedy category. Now, they are gunning for more accolades in two of the anticipated ceremonies from The Oscars and BAFTAs’ coming this February.

Finding the very talented Hugh Jackman (Kate & Leopold) who has so many credentials in stage acting to play an ex-prisoner Jean Valjean is like pulling in a massive ship coming from the galleys! His sojourn for reprieve not just from being a prisoner to a town Mayor but more so as a human being was heartbreaking and earnestly portrayed. After taken in by the Bishop Myriel of Digne, represented by stage alumni Colm Wilkinson (The Tudors), from here his life was never the same! While searching for a meaning of “Who Am I”, to be more than a man, to have a better acceptance for his undertakings and for his trespasses as he sought retribution and like a guiding light salvation was found.

Academy Award Winner Russell Crowe (Robin Hood) as the zealot man hunting Police Inspector Javert! Inspired from the works of Eugene Francois Vidocq a criminal who turned into criminology, he was considered as the First Detective in France and the Father of the French Police Department. Initially Russell was hesitant to take on the role but found it intriguing after learning from the Author’s curator what his character had accomplished and going back to society a redeemed man. But in honesty, what was unredeemable was his voice in singing; it was without cause or conviction of how and officer of the law must be represented noting how far he has reached his goals compared the “Stars”.

But the breakthrough star of the film in my humble opinion was Anne Hathaway (The Other Side of Heaven) as Fantine a grisette, lost in a world that abandoned and left her at the abyss of her sanity and hopelessness. A devoted mother who was doing her best to provide for her only child even when she had literally nothing to spare, nothing except for her physical beauty and her smile. You would really feel her pain and break into tears after seeing what has transpired in her days but that’s not the only thing what we are trying to relay here, what I’m referring was how she sang the piece “I Dreamed A Dream” with absolute vulnerability and melancholy!

Multi-Awarded Filipino Singer, Film and Stage Actress Lea Salonga gave her rendition to the song with absolute grace and intimacy but Anne made it her own. That song was already so awe inspiring for so many years and yet she was still able to give an ante-up performance to invoke the prevailing and moving message in which up to this day I could still feel the audience bawling in the theatre.

Helen Bonham Carter (Alice in Wonderland) as the unscrupulous and without conscience Madame Thénardier, she was casted once again coming from her last project with the Director which won an Oscar for Best Picture in 2011. Helen has become one of the sought after actresses of today, although having worked most of her career with partner Tim Burton; her passion to play dark and wicked characters on the big screen has proven to be an attribute so far. While comedy centric Sacha Baron Cohen (The Dictator) the thick skinned as well as ravenous Land Lord Thénardier.       His work is well-known and for most viewers and fans, full of energy at the same time with controversy, that is…they both claim he is the “Master of The House”! (absolutely preposterous)

All of us have the every right to enjoy childhood unfortunately for others, a certain maltreated child who we just need to wait since she’s fetching some water or is she still daydreaming from her “Castle On A Cloud”? Isabelle Allen portrays the young and fragile Cosette rescued from her awful caretakers and growing up to be a beauty in the eyes of one man (or two).

Fast forward to 1832, as we welcome singing sensation Samantha Barks (I’d Do Anything) reprising her role from the West End stage play as Ѐponine, the girl who fell in love with a boy who will do anything just to get his attention and affection while sobbing “On My Own” in the rain! On the other end, it was puzzling for her and her siblings to have that kind of disposition growing up, to have the courage, to be generous and committed to her ideals unlike her parents’ unbearable antics for fame and greed! While actor and model Eddie Redmayne (The Other Boleyn Girl) lends his skills to the test as a student rebellion leader Marius Pontmercy, a member of an upper class family and yet he’s fighting a war for the masses while still waiting in a room full of “Empty Chairs at Empty Tables”. A triangle love story has been ensued courtesy of Amanda Seyfried (Letters to Juliet) she plays the grown up Cosette full of life, eagerness and compassion. Her role was finesse but bearable or maybe Samantha’s role was just more intriguing but she’s not bothered by this since she’s busy having a duet with Marius singing “In My Life – A Heart Full of Love” and they did was sing their hearts out!

This was the curriculum conscientiously followed by the writers and that is to make this production as real as it gets coming off from a musical extravaganza and turning it into a cinematic masterpiece. As burdensome as it can be, the cast would record their voice so many times as possible, match it, play it and deliver this as crystal clear for Tom to accept and venerate from. This is the concern and the difference between stage acting and coming from behind the lens, every single detail matters the precision needed in order for the audience to contemplate on the emotions felt by the characters on the big screen no matter how trivial it may be should be perfected! That is the objective of the Director as well as the Cast and Crew by maintaining the kaleidoscope aspects of the novel, it still never let’s go of its essence and content!

The Author have seen France and the country’s starvation for justice which has been the primal point of the novel, it combines so many subplots including politics, religion, poverty, monarchy, family and social diversity, cases that is very rampant throughout history! Although, the premise was concentrated on the needed transition of the government, its laws and its citizens coping with life on how it compensates those who are rulers and for those who are slaves; it also gave emphasis on retribution while crawling back from hell to pray for forgiveness. This has been the ways of man and for this film to really inspire people to do what is right, to affirm ones’ moral obligations for his countrymen and for himself, miserable or deterrent as it may seem for others…if we can only truly understand that the gift of love when genuinely endowed to another person then it will be like seeing the face of God…and that’s all that matters!