Variety and Hollywood Reporter both get a big kick out of Ryan Reynold's "Deadpool." Read the Variety review and Hollywood Reporter review for their takes on the new film!
I just saw both "The Martian" and "Jurassic World" this week. And, here are two movies whose first halves are better than their second halves.
The setup of "The Martian" is very good! Stranded on Mars, Matt Damon must use his science background to engineer his way out of dying on the red planet before a return mission can come and get him.
(SPOILERS BEGIN) His plan goes well, and he meets with setbacks, which you would expect. Meanwhile, everyone on Earth tries to figure on a way to come and rescue him. Everything goes well, in that respect. But, the ending gets a little crazy, including a space- based "Gravity"-type action sequence that defeated the decidedly better science-based opening. (END SPOILERS)
Ridley Scott does have a return to form here, after the muddled "Prometheus." Scott has always seemed at home with science-fiction, and I hope that he continues making more sci fi.
The acting is very good, especially by Damon, who must carry the film by design. The film score is pretty routine, which like "Prometheus" doesn't help the film like it should.
The cinematography is fine. I did have a problem with the visual effects. Those set on Mars are okay enough, even though they occasionally lack polish. But, the space-based ones look worse than those in the superior 2000 entry "Red Planet." That's odd, and might be a reflection of budgetary restrictions. ILM is on board here, but is a minor player. The effects seem more suited to a higher-budget Science Channel program.
With Scott Kelly doing his year in space at the moment on the International Space Station, it is especially odd to not see The Milky Way in the background while the ships are moving though space. As seen from Kelly's photographs, our galaxy should be very prominent, and really impossible to miss. Instead, we just get black, with a few scattered stars.
So, a good, but mixed entry. I am going to listen to the audiobook, and it should be interesting to see how that turns out compared to the film.
The 2015 movie year is officially underway! And, first up is "Taken 3" which promises to be the last of the "Taken" series. But, things are not starting out well. The latest Liam Neeson actioner is getting panned by both Variety and The Hollywood Reporter's critics.
20th Century-Fox is having a busy week! First, the new trailer for "Taken 3." Now, the first full trailer for this holiday season's "Exodus: Gods and Kings," Ridley Scott's take on Moses starring Christian Bale.
Liam Neeson is back to kick butt ONE MORE TIME! With the tagline, "It Ends Here," Neeson plays Bryan Mills once again, ready to use his "particular set of skills!"
SPOILER ALERT!: The trailer contains a major spoiler that sets up the rest of the movie. It is something that occurs early on in the film. But, if you want to go in not knowing what happens, best to avoid the trailer and just circle January 9 on your calendar to see the film!
Excellent, brutal, very well made film about the horrors of slavery. To me, this film has parallels with Spielberg's "Schindler's List," that film depicting the horrors of The Holocaust, this film depicting the horrors of slavery.
But, Spielberg basically just hammers away at the audience for three hours to pound the horror into their heads. The only character we get to know is a Nazi, Oscar Schindler. The Jews are just there to be lined up for the slaughter. That movie is more blunt object than film. It is fairly inartful, and shows little of Spielberg's former talents as a filmmaker.
But, here, Steve McQueen offers a dramatic, dynamic film that enthralls the audience. It is brutal, yes. But, it is about the central character, Solomon Northrup, who is a free black, abducted and sold into slavery.
We truly get to know him and those others who have been enslaved. They aren't just unknown victims.
The artistic qualities are masterful, especially Sean Bobbitt's cinematography and Hans Zimmer's film score. The performances are very good all around, and show how McQueen and his cast were able to create an excellent working relationship.
It is a tough film to watch, but I believe it is a film that should be seen.
The first trailer for "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" is live! Ten years have passed since the previous film, "Rise of the Planet of the Apes." Humans and apes fight for Earth's future after a worldwide pandemic cost the lives of billions.
Here is the YouTube Channel on which the trailer and subsequent videos will appear:
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