The Pirates! Band of Misfits

Family Faire:  The Pirates!  Band of Misfits  (2012)  In this animated film, Pirate Captain sets sail with the intent of winning Pirate of the Year.  The competition though, is tough this year and it’s going to take something special - like storming the streets of London and taking on the ultimate pirate hater, the Queen of England, to win. This film is from the same animation company, Aardman Animations, that brought us the Wallace and Gromit films and last year's Arthur Christmas. While I like the stop motion animation and the witty dialogue, the kids around me at the screening seemed really bored and uninterested. The film is very complicated and I think it will be hard for kids to understand what exactly is the purpose of the voyages of the Pirates. There are some clever characters in the film that kids will enjoy, like the monkey that uses cue cards to communicate, but I just feel this film doesn't have enough for kids to engage with to make it a good family film.   My Rating:  Cable   The Pirates: Band of Misfits Website

Indiefest: Damsels in Distress  (2012)  Lily (Analeigh Tipton) is the new girl on campus at Seven Oaks College. She joins a trio of girls, led by Violet (Greta Gerwig), who are determined to show Lily how to find the right man, even if Lily doesn’t always take Violet’s advice. Quirky and a little strange are the best words to describe this film, as it is full of outrageous dialog and very odd characters. Greta Gerwig is perfect in the role of the headstrong and determined Violet, who delivers lines with such a serious deadpan expression, that you have to believe she is fully behind what she says. Overall the film relies too much on repeat bits and has a tendency to go overboard with its best comedic ideas. This is one of those films you want to love but it just doesn't quite make the experience enjoyable enough for you to do so. My Rating:  Bargain Matinee   Damsels in Distress Website

Indiefest: The Hunter  (2011)  Martin (Willem Dafoe) is a mercenary who has been sent by a European Pharmaceutical company, to Tasmania to track and kill the last remaining Tasmania tiger. The tiger is rumored to have a venom that paralyzes it's victims and the company wants the venom to use in its vaccines. When Martin arrives, he finds things are much more complicated than just hunting down an animal. He must deal with a family who's environmental efforts may have led to the death of their father and a community that devided between big business and the good of the Tasmanian forests. As always, Willem Dafoe gives an intense and multilayered performance and the storyline keeps you guessing on what he will do next.   My Rating:  Bargain Matinee   The Hunter Website

The 50 (A Movie From My Best/Worst Films of All Time)
#22 Best Film
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington  (1939)  This eleven time Oscar nominated picture was directed by Frank Capra, who during the period that this film was made, was at the top of his game.  Jimmy Stewart plays Jefferson Smith, a naive young man who. due to back door politics and his family connections, is appointed to fill a vacancy in the US Senate. He is soon taken under the wing of a political savvy reporter (Jean Arthur), who tries to help him deal with the complexities of the political world. Smith learns that he is being used by a fellow senator (Claude Rains) to push through a bill in Congress that will damage the environment. The film is about how the little man, with enough conviction, can win when he has the people behind him and he believes in himself and his convictions.   Mr. Smith Goes to Washington Info

Forgotten Film: Blood Simple  (1984)  The filmmaking debut of Joel and Ethan Coen, Blood Simple is a celebration of the Film Noir style film where nothing is as it seems to be. A bar owner (Dan Hedaya) hires a private investigator (M. Emmet Walsh) to find out if his wife (Frances McDormand) is having an affair with one of his bartenders (John Getz). The film is shot mostly at night, with darkness covering most of the scenes, as the bartender learns that the affair he is having is just tip of the iceberg of what is going on in this world of deceit and intrigue. Frances McDormand is riveting in the role of a woman that is the key to a story that you understand until the end of the film.   My Rating:  Full Price   Blood Simple Info

In Case You Missed It (A Film Just Released on DVD): Contraband  (2012)  I did not enjoy this very predictable film of a former smuggler (Mark Wahlberg) who is pulled back into the game when his brother-in-law gets in over his head. I especially didn't enjoy the performance of Giovanni Ribisi, who plays the main bad guy in the film, as I never could figure out what accent he was using, and he is way over the top with his performance.   My Rating:  Cable   Contraband Website

In Memory of Ed Wood (A Movie I've Only Seen in Trailers but Just Looks Like a Bad Idea): Rock of Ages  (2012)  I realize this film is based on the big Broadway hit musical but it looks to be just an excuse for a bunch of stars, like Tom Cruise or Alec Baldwin, to sing karaoke.   Rock of Ages Info

Weird Credits:  From the credits of Damsels in Distress: Tap Dancing Foley Artist

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You: Chernobyl Diaries  (2012)  This film is getting a lot of buzz among horror fans as it deals with a group of tourists who hire an "extreme" tour guide to take them to a town near the Chernobyl Nuclear disaster site. While exploring the town, they soon discover that they may not be alone.     Chernbobyl Diaries Website

Until Next Time!

 

Wrath of the Titans

My View:  Wrath of the Titans (2012) Sam Worthington is back as the hero, Perseus, on a new quest – to rescue his father, Zeus.  Ares, the God of War, and Zeus’s brother, Hades, have devised a plot to use the powerful Titans to unleash the father of all Gods, Kronos, and destroy Zeus.  Perseus must stop them in time or the human race will cease to exist.  I didn’t like the first Clash of the Titians (2010) and, while I liked the action sequences more than the previous film, I still didn’t like the overall feel of this film. The storyline is very confusing, and we get tired, very quickly, of Perseus’ refusal to help his father, Zeus. The lone, bright spot in this film is Koby Kebbell’s role of Agenor, another half-god who is the son of Poseidon.  Kebbell gives some life and a little comic relief to a script a role that is just a little too somber for this type of film.   My Rating: Cable   Wrath of the Titans Website

Family Faire: Mirror Mirror (2012) This film is a new take on the old fairy tale Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. Julia Roberts plays the evil queen who has stolen control over a kingdom. Her only threat is an exiled princess, Lily Collins, who enlists the aid of seven small rebels and a handsome huntsman, Armie Hammer, to help her win her birthright if she can defeat the evil queen. This is an enjoyable, family film where Julia Roberts as the Evil Queen, seems to be having the time of her life in this role, as she spits out her lines with sarcasm and wit.  Lilly Collins is beautiful as the spunky Snow White, but this film is at its best when the dwarves are on-screen. This film presents a very different version of the dwarves (as opposed to the meek and kind Disney version), as theses dwarves are thieves and proud of it.  Armie Hammer stands out as the handsome Prince who falls in love with Snow White but keeps getting held up by the dwarves who steal his pants upon each meeting.  If you are looking for a fun family film that will keep the kids and the adults equally amused, this film is for you.   My Rating: Full Price   Mirror Mirror Website

Indiefest: W.E. (2012) Madonna co-wrote and directs this film that explores the love affair that shocked the world – the romance between American divorcee, Wallis Simpson, and the man she fell in love with, the soon to be King, Edward VIII.  W.E. is intercut with a contemporary romance between an unhappily married woman and a security guard at Sotheby’s Auction House. While I liked Abbie Cornish, who played Wally, the contemporary married woman, and Andrea Riseborough, who played Wallis Simpson, much of the rest of the cast is unimpressive in their roles. Madonna seems to have suffered from A.D.D. when she directed this film, as she can’t seem to stay on one shot for more than a few seconds.  I also got very tired of newsreels with audio narration, used constantly in the film, which makes it seem she doesn’t trust that we can figure out what happened in the past.  Madonna has created an uninteresting film about a very interesting subject.  My Rating: Cable   W.E. Website

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

#23 Worst Film:

Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977) A sequel to the classic horror film The Exorcist, this movie was cursed from the start when most of the original cast, director, or writer wouldn't sign on. The only cast member to reprise her role was Linda Blair, and it was with the understanding that she would not have to put back on the demon makeup from the first film.  Richard Burton plays a priest who is battling the devil, and it’s said that as the film progressed, Sir Richard drank more and more, which is very evident on-screen. Meant to be a “metaphysical thriller”, the movie had audiences laughing at its premiere, and Linda Blair’s career was left on the table like a cold bowl of split pea soup.   Exorcist II: The Heretic Info

Forgotten Film: The Reivers (1969) This film is a turn of age film about a small boy named Lucas (Mitch Vogel) who grows up in a Mississippi town at the turn of the century. When Lucas is left in the care of his half-brother, Boon (Steve McQueen), no one could predict that they would soon be on a journey involving gambling, ladies of the evening and a horse race or two.  This is a very different role for McQueen as he plays a rather simple guy who would rather sleep than work - not the cool persona that he normally played. This film perfectly captures the magic of the William Faulkner novel of the same name.   My Rating: Full Price   The Reivers Info

In Case You Missed it ( A Film Just Released on DVD):  The Muppets (2011) One of my top ten movies of last year, The Muppets is a brilliant, funny film with great songs (one that won an Oscar) and a great message about being happy with the person you are.   My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again   The Muppets Website

In Memory of Ed Wood (A Movie I’ve Only Seen in Trailers but Looks Like a Bad Idea): The Three Stooges  (2012): It’s got to be the bottom of the barrel when Hollywood decides to do this type of remake. I think the studio that is releasing this film deserves a two-finger poke to the eyes.   The Three Stooges Website

Weird Credits: From the credits of Mirror Mirror: Crowd Wardrobe Master

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You: The Hunter (2011) Willem Dafoe is always one of those actors who brings everything he has to a role, so it will be fascinating to see him play a hunter in the wilderness who searches for the last Tasmania tiger in existence.   The Hunter Website

Until Next Time!