Prometheus

My View: Prometheus (2012) Director Ridley Scott (Alien, Blade Runner, Gladiator) brings us a film about a team of explorers sent on a journey to the edge of the universe to piece together a vast puzzle of clues that may lead to the origins of mankind on Earth. When they arrive at a distant planet, a destination guided by numerous cave drawings on Earth and a clue, they discover something that may end their lives and ultimately destroy the human race. This is a lush, beautiful film, reminiscent of Stanley Kubrick's 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey.  It's a film, though, that lacks enough tension and horrifying moments to make it a truly scary film.  I did like some of the acting, especially Noomi Rapace, who plays a scientist determined to get to the bottom of things and Michael Fassbender as the creepy android servant, but they weren't enough to save this over-long, too-drawn-out possible "prequel" to Scott's earlier Alien film.  Watch Alien or its sequel, Aliens.  You will have a better time and save a few bucks.   My Rating:  Bargain Matinee   Prometheus Website

Indiefest:  Moonrise Kingdom (2012) Sam (Jared Gilmian) and Suzy (Kara Hayward) are two unhappy teenagers in the early 1960’s, who, after a chance meeting, decide to run away together. The problem is that they live on an Island that is only 13 miles long, so their escape maybe cut a little short. Writer/Director Wes Anderson (Rushmore, Fantastic Mr. Fox) has created another one of his magical worlds where normal is the exception, not the rule. This film has an all-star cast and makes the most of it with Edward Norton as the uptight Scout Master, Bruce Willis as the mild-mannered police chief, Captain Sharp, Bill Murray and Frances McDormand as Suzy’s parents, who are more interested in their law briefs than their child. This is a funny, quirky film that celebrates love and the adventuresome sprit of childhood.  This is definitely a film not to be missed.  My Rating: Full Price   Moonrise Kingdom Website

The 50 (A Movie From My Best/Worst Films of All Time)

#19 Worst Film:

At Long Last Love (1975) Peter Bogdanovich (Oscar nominated director of The Last Picture Show (1971) and Paper Moon (1973) had already made one clunker starring his then girlfriend, Cybil Shepherd, 1974’s Daisy Miller. Undeterred, he decided to make another film with Shepherd, a musical comedy set in the 1930’s. So, he cast Burt Reynolds, then one of the top box office draws, to be his leading man, ignoring that fact that Reynolds can’t sing or dance. The film was made worse when Bogdanovich decided to shoot all the musical numbers without lip syncing and shot the film with “live performances."  The film turned out so badly that Bogdanovich published a letter of apology in major newspapers to filmgoers who had endured this musical catastrophe.   At Long Last Love Info

Forgotten Film: Little Darlings (1980) Ferris (Tatum O’Neal) and Angel (Kristy McNichol) are two teenage girls who go to a summer camp and take an instant dislike for each other. At the urging of other girls in the camp, the two girls make a bet as to which one will lose their virginity first.  Ferris is the pampered rich girl, the more romantic of the two, and sets her sights on the hunky camp counselor (Armand Assante). Angel is the more street-wise of the two and she goes after the bad boy of camp (played by Matt Dillon).  Soon, though, the bet takes a life of its own, as the whole camp has made wagers on the girls, and the camp becomes divided between the Angels and the Ferris’. In the end, the girls learn valuable lessons about life, love and the consequences of sex.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee   Little Darlings Info

In Case You Missed it (A Film Just Released on DVD): John Carter (2012) This film, due to a bad title and even worse marketing, never got its due. When I reviewed this film a couple of months ago, I felt this was an excellent adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs' book about a 1860’s Civil War Vet, who, when mysteriously transported to Mars, learns he has almost superpowers and get's stuck in the middle of Mar’s own version of the Civil War.   My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again   John Carter Info

In Memory of Ed Wood (A Movie I’ve Only Seen in Trailers but Just Looks Like a Bad Idea):  Ted (2012) Seth MacFarlane (The Family Guy) wrote and directed this film about a man and his teddy bear, a stuffed animal who comes to life during a childhood Christmas miracle. But, now the man is grown, and the Teddy Bear has been become a trash talking, always inappropriate companion.   Ted Website

Weird Credits: From the credits of Moonrise Kingdom: Book Cover Artwork

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  Seeking a Friend for the End of the World (2012) From the writer of Nick and Nora’s Infinite Playlist comes a film starring Steve Carell as a sad sack of a man who, when it is discovered that the world will come to an end in three weeks due to a massive asteroid that is going to crash into the Earth, decides to go on a road trip to reunite with his high school sweetheart. Accompanying him on the trip is a neighbor (played by Keira Knightley) who wants more than anything to see her family one last time.    Seeking a Friend for the End of the World Website

Until Next Time!