[REVIEWS] Films: Miscellaneous
Jun. 16th, 2010 08:50 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
thewlisian_aferFive more random movies that I wanted to watch.
Iron Man 2 (2010)
Wealthy inventor Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) -- aka Iron Man -- resists calls by the American government to hand over his technology. Meanwhile, Ivan Vanko (Mickey Rourke) has constructed his own miniaturized arc reactor, causing all kinds of problems for our superhero. Sam Rockwell, Gwyneth Paltrow, Scarlett Johansson, Don Cheadle and Samuel L. Jackson co-star in director Jon Favreau's sequel based on Marvel comic book characters.
If you saw the first movie, watch this one, too. If you didn't see the first movie, watch that one, and then watch this one. That's my opinion in its simplest form. Now I'll get into more complicated thoughts. When you sit down to watch IM2, keep in mind that it is not only a superhero comic book movie, but a superhero comic book movie sequel. Precedent suggests it will suck. It doesn't. It's not Academy Award material but it does not suck. It's fun to look at and the music is great. They tried to stuff a lot of plot and action into a relatively small space; it could afford to lose a couple of plot points so the remaining ones could be better developed. But it's still enjoyable. The thing I liked best was how well all the actors fit into their roles. Even the characters that I disliked, I never wished them off the screen because the people who played them made them so much fun to dislike. [Rating: 4 star]
The Losers (2010)
After learning that their handler, Max (Jason Patric), has set them up, a group of disavowed CIA operatives led by Clay -- aka the Colonel (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) -- bands together to bring down their betrayers in this slick action thriller. The film, adapted from the comic book series by Andy Diggle and Jock, co-stars Zoe Saldana, Idris Elba, Chris Evans, Columbus Short and Holt McCallany; Sylvain White directs.
Well, it took about an hour and ten minutes for me to give a crap about any of the characters. But once I did, the last twenty minutes or so were good... I'd watch it again if the right mood hit me, but I doubt I'll ever actually seek it out again. [Rating: 3 star]
Metropia (2009)
In an oil-depleted future, Stockholm native Roger (voiced by Vincent Gallo) navigates the vast web of underground networks that connect Europe. When a voice in his head persists, Roger begins to suspect someone is pulling all the strings of his life. Enlisting the aid of Nina (Juliette Lewis), Roger fights for his own freedom in this beguiling animated feature, which also features the voices of Stellan Skarsgård and Alexander Skarsgård.
Visually, I liked this movie very much. However, the story did not grab me. I'm actually a little baffled by this; it's the sort of thing that would normally hit a whole lot of my buttons. I love dystopian stories... I don't know. It could just be that I failed to really relate to any of the characters. [Rating: 3 star]
Clash of the Titans (1981)
This epic mythological adventure stars Harry Hamlin as Perseus, son of Zeus (Laurence Olivier), who embarks on a series of perilous quests in the hopes of rescuing Princess Andromeda (Judi Bowker) and winning the keys to the kingdom of Joppa. With winged horse Pegasus as his steed, Perseus must answer vexing riddles, capture the head of Medusa and slay a ravenous sea monster. Burgess Meredith and Ursula Andress co-star in this classic tale.
Well, that was fun. I looooove Ray Harryhausen special effects. So cheesy and wonderful! My favorite characters were the little clockwork owl and Ammon (Burgess Meredith's character). But I was kind of squeeful every time any of the Harryhausen characters -- Calibos, Pegasus, Medusa, the kraken, Charon, &c. -- were on the screen. I have to admit, the beginning really kind of bored me, but it picked up for me when Ammon showed up, and by the end I was talking to the screen (MST3K-style). [Rating: 3.5 star]
Kick Ass (2010)
Inspired by his love of comic books, high school student Dave Lizewski (Aaron Johnson) decides to transform himself into a masked crime fighter -- a decision that eventually thrusts the teenager into Internet stardom. Soon, Dave's antics inspire a wave of would-be heroes to don costumes and live out their superhero fantasies. Nicolas Cage, Christopher Mintz-Plasse and Chloe Moretz also star in this comic book adaptation from director Matthew Vaughn.
Okay, that was good. Originally, I had absolutely zero desire to see this movie. Not only was it a superhero/comic book movie (which I always balk at, and maintain that I don't really like, even though I end up liking pretty much every single one I give in to) but it has Nicolas Cage, who irritates the living hell out of me for no particular reason that I can name. But then a bunch of blogs that I follow started lighting up with debate about how wonderful or how awful the movie was. There seemed to be no middle-of-the-road reviews. So, naturally, I had to see it. I'm firmly in the "KICK-ASS KICKS ASS" camp. It clocks in at nearly two hours long and despite my puny, pathetic attention span, I didn't pause it or even look at the clock to see how much longer until the end. Not even once. It kept me thoroughly engaged and entertained from start to finish. And, yes, complain-y blogs, it was violent. But just because there's an 11-year-old main character in it doesn't mean you should let your 11-year-old see it. It's not a kid's movie. Sorry. Even though it was pretty brutal, I didn't feel like it was excessive. Your mileage may vary, and I won't try to tell anyone who thinks the violence was excessive that they're wrong. But it didn't feel that way to me.I think what I liked best about this movie was ... well, okay, it was the soundtrack. But what I liked second best was that it was comic book-y without being cartoon-y; it wasn't goofy but it still made me laugh. [Rating: 4 star]
Iron Man 2 (2010)
Wealthy inventor Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) -- aka Iron Man -- resists calls by the American government to hand over his technology. Meanwhile, Ivan Vanko (Mickey Rourke) has constructed his own miniaturized arc reactor, causing all kinds of problems for our superhero. Sam Rockwell, Gwyneth Paltrow, Scarlett Johansson, Don Cheadle and Samuel L. Jackson co-star in director Jon Favreau's sequel based on Marvel comic book characters.
If you saw the first movie, watch this one, too. If you didn't see the first movie, watch that one, and then watch this one. That's my opinion in its simplest form. Now I'll get into more complicated thoughts. When you sit down to watch IM2, keep in mind that it is not only a superhero comic book movie, but a superhero comic book movie sequel. Precedent suggests it will suck. It doesn't. It's not Academy Award material but it does not suck. It's fun to look at and the music is great. They tried to stuff a lot of plot and action into a relatively small space; it could afford to lose a couple of plot points so the remaining ones could be better developed. But it's still enjoyable. The thing I liked best was how well all the actors fit into their roles. Even the characters that I disliked, I never wished them off the screen because the people who played them made them so much fun to dislike. [Rating: 4 star]
The Losers (2010)
After learning that their handler, Max (Jason Patric), has set them up, a group of disavowed CIA operatives led by Clay -- aka the Colonel (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) -- bands together to bring down their betrayers in this slick action thriller. The film, adapted from the comic book series by Andy Diggle and Jock, co-stars Zoe Saldana, Idris Elba, Chris Evans, Columbus Short and Holt McCallany; Sylvain White directs.
Well, it took about an hour and ten minutes for me to give a crap about any of the characters. But once I did, the last twenty minutes or so were good... I'd watch it again if the right mood hit me, but I doubt I'll ever actually seek it out again. [Rating: 3 star]
Metropia (2009)
In an oil-depleted future, Stockholm native Roger (voiced by Vincent Gallo) navigates the vast web of underground networks that connect Europe. When a voice in his head persists, Roger begins to suspect someone is pulling all the strings of his life. Enlisting the aid of Nina (Juliette Lewis), Roger fights for his own freedom in this beguiling animated feature, which also features the voices of Stellan Skarsgård and Alexander Skarsgård.
Visually, I liked this movie very much. However, the story did not grab me. I'm actually a little baffled by this; it's the sort of thing that would normally hit a whole lot of my buttons. I love dystopian stories... I don't know. It could just be that I failed to really relate to any of the characters. [Rating: 3 star]
Clash of the Titans (1981)
This epic mythological adventure stars Harry Hamlin as Perseus, son of Zeus (Laurence Olivier), who embarks on a series of perilous quests in the hopes of rescuing Princess Andromeda (Judi Bowker) and winning the keys to the kingdom of Joppa. With winged horse Pegasus as his steed, Perseus must answer vexing riddles, capture the head of Medusa and slay a ravenous sea monster. Burgess Meredith and Ursula Andress co-star in this classic tale.
Well, that was fun. I looooove Ray Harryhausen special effects. So cheesy and wonderful! My favorite characters were the little clockwork owl and Ammon (Burgess Meredith's character). But I was kind of squeeful every time any of the Harryhausen characters -- Calibos, Pegasus, Medusa, the kraken, Charon, &c. -- were on the screen. I have to admit, the beginning really kind of bored me, but it picked up for me when Ammon showed up, and by the end I was talking to the screen (MST3K-style). [Rating: 3.5 star]
Kick Ass (2010)
Inspired by his love of comic books, high school student Dave Lizewski (Aaron Johnson) decides to transform himself into a masked crime fighter -- a decision that eventually thrusts the teenager into Internet stardom. Soon, Dave's antics inspire a wave of would-be heroes to don costumes and live out their superhero fantasies. Nicolas Cage, Christopher Mintz-Plasse and Chloe Moretz also star in this comic book adaptation from director Matthew Vaughn.
Okay, that was good. Originally, I had absolutely zero desire to see this movie. Not only was it a superhero/comic book movie (which I always balk at, and maintain that I don't really like, even though I end up liking pretty much every single one I give in to) but it has Nicolas Cage, who irritates the living hell out of me for no particular reason that I can name. But then a bunch of blogs that I follow started lighting up with debate about how wonderful or how awful the movie was. There seemed to be no middle-of-the-road reviews. So, naturally, I had to see it. I'm firmly in the "KICK-ASS KICKS ASS" camp. It clocks in at nearly two hours long and despite my puny, pathetic attention span, I didn't pause it or even look at the clock to see how much longer until the end. Not even once. It kept me thoroughly engaged and entertained from start to finish. And, yes, complain-y blogs, it was violent. But just because there's an 11-year-old main character in it doesn't mean you should let your 11-year-old see it. It's not a kid's movie. Sorry. Even though it was pretty brutal, I didn't feel like it was excessive. Your mileage may vary, and I won't try to tell anyone who thinks the violence was excessive that they're wrong. But it didn't feel that way to me.I think what I liked best about this movie was ... well, okay, it was the soundtrack. But what I liked second best was that it was comic book-y without being cartoon-y; it wasn't goofy but it still made me laugh. [Rating: 4 star]
