Change Your Image
deimos47ca
Reviews
Oblivion (2013)
I want to believe.. I want to give it higher!
Recall when you watched Jurassic Park - the enchanted beauty and jaw dropping serenity. Oblivion outdoes Prometheus - it is like a candle lit dinner in Paris for the visual senses bedazzling with majestic 4K surreal landscapes. The soundtrack from M83 is haunting. The acting average.. with Olga stealing the show. Without this it would be a 3/10.
The plot, like that of Wall-e, centers on somebody repairing robots in a desolated broken world unaware of what's out there. Unfortunately, Oblivion borrows too much from Moon and 2001 a Space Odyssey. Here is where the proverbial wheels come off the wagon.
Not only are Cruise's pretentious soliloquies vague with so little story to support them, but the plot has gaping holes and the most unremarkable obvious plot twist I've seen in decades. A far superior example of Sci-Fi is Book of Eli.
Oblivion feels like $10 mil art-house movie despite $120 mil budget. I really wish at least a day was spent thinking about making the story more convincing and logical. I really wish Hollywood made more thought provoking sci-fi which deals with the human condition, morals, etc.. instead of yet another saving damsel in distress story.
Man of Steel (2013)
Indestructible grunting Rock 'em Sock 'em Robots
There are always hyped up "best movie ever" reviews, even for the worst of movies. Transformers2 and After Earth come to mind.
SPOILERS Krypton scenes straight out of Matrix (human pods), and Avatar (flying dragon), and Star Wars (weird shiny flying city lasers.. I was expecting a light saber any second).
Kryptonians have been exploring the stars, colonizing planets for 100,000 years only to stop recently... in ironic twist, the only two spacecraft are a prison ship for General Zod who tried to overthrow the government, and one only big enough for a baby. Oh and prison ship releases everybody when the home-world explodes - Seriously?
The beginning is OK. Young Clark is angry his father wont let him use his powers. But crucial character development missing. You don't see Clark smile, laugh, learn, or have any sense of what's on his mind, because he's a mindless frowning drifter.
General consensus on inter-webs has two categories of Man of Steel watchers: those who got super bored by beginning but gave 10/10 because of over 1 hr of non-stop punching and throwing through buildings, and those like me who watched in horror as your friendly neighborhood nice guy turns into the hulk smashing everything in sight.
People on Krypton are genetically engineered, and would be super strong if not for the poor air and faint sunlight on Krypton. Krypton had a archive of all DNA - the codex (no backups). Zod arives in giant spaceship and demands Kal-El (superman) to get Codex. USA military arrests Superman and hands him over to Zod. Superman bleeds from breathing poor air, but freed by Lois. Zod's invincible goons search Superman's baby ship for it, and fight him demolishing small town, killing plenty of soldiers. But Superman cracks helmet and gives them x- ray vision superpowers which they don't have Superman 33 years experience to control.
So, the aliens send down a terra-forming ship which stars destroying Metropolis and making air poor like Krypton's. In a "surprise" twist, it turns out the Codex is embedded in Superman's cells. Superman smashes the machine in 1 punch, and then starts 15 rounds of boxing with Zod (who got super powerful breathing Earth's air), smashing through building like Hulk, while military throws his baby spaceship into Zod's spaceship because it will cause blackhole. Finally, Superman gets really mad, strains like constipated and kills Zod... and flash forward Clark disguised with black glasses as reporter.
So, what's wrong? EVERYTHING - young Clark saves kids but watches hurricane engulf his dad - all the kids find out he has superpowers, all town's people when he's fighting Zod's goons, and Lois tells everybody Clark is a super alien, yet he disguides himself by putting on black glasses. - No backup to codex.. seriously? Why not take Superman's blood he bled. And why Earth.. you can terraform any planet. Heck, we have super air, why "pollute" it? - no "its bird, its plane, its superman"... nobody admires him - he is like Hulk smashing villains through cars and buildings - so what's the whole point of inspiration speech by his father about being hero. - how can Superman be a hero. Hero is sacrifice for others. What can he sacrifice when he's invincible... we never see a bruise or scratch. - why bother giving military orders to drop his baby spaceship into Zod's ship if he's super strong and can do it lickedy split. And two "warp drives" explode if they collide - so how did Krypton;s people explore the stars? - since when was Superman so bossy? - 0 romance. 0 comedy. Only iconic memorable lines are spoken by Rusell Crowe. Superman makes up for only 6-7 lines, with plenty of frowning, grunting and angry face.. is he Hulk constipated? is this Halloween? - Dark Knight, Avatar, Avengers, even all 3 Transformers had memorable lines, laughs, comradery and imaginative original atmosphere. This new Superman has nothing... there was nothing distinctive. Just same generic skyrise being smashed over and over like punching bag.
Honestly, the legions of people voting this movie as perfect speaks to the extent of the brain drain in this world.
Man of Steel is EXACTLY what's wrong with Hollywood. It is the absolute worst of all the superhero movies ever created.
Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)
Glitzy, fancy, unoriginal, pompous
ST:ID is NOT a SCI-FI movie. Its a popcorn action movie. This is incredibly difficult to understand because Abbrams took a franchise known for being allegory to our society (racism, communism, democracy), full of lessons on morals and self discovery, and turned it into "die hard in space". It is exactly what Star Wars EP1 was for the old series.
This is a completely different movie than what you probably expect or saw in trailers. I honestly don't know why I'm giving a 6 and not lower:
* Hundreds of scenes have distracting over bright effect - very distracting when trying to pay attention to dialogue.
* Nothing special about dialogue or characters... unlike the old movies, you do not get a sense the crew are all comrades who have been through a lot.
* ADD sufferers you're in luck - most of the scenes are so jam packed with dozens of extras and shiny machinery, its difficult to tell what's going on.
* Cowboys. Not the future. Movie is full of tech contradictions. You got phasers and teleporters but can't use them - instead lots of running and punching. Its all strange and out of place.
* Star Fleet is the Navy? Forgetting for a moment how absurd it is that the WHOLE crew is 20 yr olds. Even today's armed forces don't sent out warships with 70 cruise missiles to kill a terrorist.. not even for Bid Laden.
* The movie is completely unoriginal. Its famous scenes from movies 1-5 in a blender. I would not have been surprised if whales showed up. If you like a movie that repeats dialogue from older movies than all the power to you.
In conclusion, ST:ID is out of place today or any day. Should have made a completely new franchise - something along lines of DS9. This special effects extravaganza completely lacks any sci-fi, philosophy and crew comradery the franchise is known for. In some ways its so absurd I thought I was watching a "Scary Movie".
Skyline (2010)
Entertaining!, cool CGI - perfect... for 12 year old boys!
It seems nowadays everybody is making some kind of Alien movie. But, its not like 10-20 years ago. Through the powers of CGI, directors can make elaborate creatures and scenarios to bedazzle the audience.
But very few movies bring anything novel to the "franchise". Take this list for example:
The Darkest Hour Dreamcatcher War of the Worlds The Mist The Arrival Invasion of the Body Snatchers Battlefield Los Angeles
You got 2 basic stories: 1. Hordes of bizarre spaceships and creates come down from space and the cast runs for cover while militarily desperately tries to fend off the invaders. 2. They have already been here for decades and nobody noticed. The protagonists slowly follow the clues to uncover the shocking mystery.
Skyline is type #1. It had HUGE potential. I thought it was going to be great until near the end. I can see why some people like it.
How does Skyline innovate? Humans are drawn to the blue light made by the aliens. Alien design looks like hybrid of Matrix and Gears of War game.
The problem is you don't feel for the protagonists because they are some hot shot party goers - none are funny or memorable. Usually in this genre, the trapped people are constantly on the run. But for Skyline, they spend 90% of the time in their little condo - which is a boring setting. There is so little plot and character interaction, it wouldn't matter if you had missed the first half of the movie.
In typical "B" movie fashion aliens are stupid, and cast even more so. But, Skyline is so bad, and so stupid, that people hide from the monsters behind bed sheets... literally.
Prometheus (2012)
HORRIBLE. Implausible. No atmosphere. No horror. No sense.
I gave a very generous 4/10, only because it pays some homage to Alien series.
The movie is a mishmash of "Contact" (ie religion/belief/first-contact) and "The Thing" and "Blade Runner/AI". First 1 minute of movie reveals the robot, David.
There is no suspense. There is no atmosphere. If you like horror flicks, you WILL be disappointed.
There is no SCI-FI. There is no cool tech. Or moral dilemmas for that matter. Those who grew up with Jurassic Park (technology lets biology run amock), or Star Trek (how to deal with first contact), will be very disappointed.
What this waste of a movie does have is an incompetent crew and plot with more holes than swiss cheese, some scare gag aliens killing people at random times, and of course those huge awe inspiring shots of a giant head / space ship.
If your idea of a good time is staring at the big head poster for this movie, with your buddy jump-scaring you every now and then, then you're in for a treat. However, if you're looking for at least B-Movie logic and some logical plot progression and character development, then like me and 99% of audience, you'll be warning others of seeing this.
There is a very good reason 2nd week sales are down over 60%. Stay away = it sucks.
Inception (2010)
Inception - for all its complexity, its shallow and lacking.
Unquestionably it is a great movie. But a 9 or 10 implies it couldn't have been done better.
But, its not (strictly) an action movie, and may disappoint super hero movie fans. Its obviously not a comedy or horror movie, either. But its smart and thought provoking, although it seems too focused on the subject.
OVERVIEW OF PLOT: .---------------. Inception is sci-fi drama at its finest. Cobb, is recruited into corporate espionage - by stealing secrets from the mind.
But, in the first audition, the deception of a dream within a dream doesn't fool the victim, Saito, a very powerful business man. Saito turns the tables on Cobb, and hires him for a different kind of job - Inception - rather than stealing information, the planting of an idea.
Cobb is relentlessly pursued around the world by his former employer for services not delivered, while putting together his team for the job. The target is a wealthy heir to a huge energy-conglomerate, with a bitter relationship with his father.
The "job" will require 3 levels of dream within a dream. And everybody is on the run from screeching bullets as the host's subconscious attacks the invaders in the form of Matrix like agents. But, there is a bigger danger. Cobb has been holding out many secrets of his past from his team, and his unstable psyche jeopardizes the mission.
PROS and CONS: .-------------. Spectacular soundtrack and visuals whisk you away on an almost real journey. But, already here is the problem - the dreams seem too real and have few discontinuities or missing pieces. Perhaps then deliberately, the viewer cannot easily identify what portrayed is real or a dream-state.
The movie draws parallels to other reality bending flicks like the 'Matrix', 'Dark City', 'What Dreams May Come', 'Total Recall', and especially 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind'. Like in Matrix, the dreamers jack into the system to share a dream. And in the gist of Dark City, the dreamer or architect, can construct the virtual world. Like in Total Recall, eerie parallels between reality and dream world lead Cobb to question what is real.
But, although Inception presents many layers to the dream and elaborate "kicks" and their explanations, at its heart, like Jim Carrey's Eternal Sunshine, or What Dreams May Come, it boils down to a tragedy separating a man from his beloved soulmate. And as Cobb discovers meaning in his flaws and failed relationship, so do we as the audience - all while incredible reality distorting CGI sequences carry us along through the mission.
So, where are they connected. What does a man's lost childhood and bitter relationship have to do with Cobb. Just 1 repeatedly shown photograph - we learn so little about Fischer. Moreover, why do we learn so little about the other characters and their personalities. Having them infused into the dream reality was a missed opportunity for Nolan. At very least, I expected the architects of each level to have some influence on the reality - ie hang on, I'll turn this pistol into a grenade launcher.
Nolan did an exceptional job of introducing developing Cobb. But, once again, by solely focusing on his character and repeatedly showing only his flashbacks, the movie focuses too narrowly on Cobb, with some sci-fi dreams backdrop thrown in for entertainment.
Avatar (2009)
Mediocre Pocahontas plot + 3D = 8.8?
I rated Pocahontas 7. Wonderful songs, beautiful artwork and captivating voice actors with clear environmental message.
Avatar is just a simple pretty movie for kids. Its PG. And perhaps that is why it lacks philosophical subtext, true romance or any plot twists. The movie is not "bad". Like 'Finding Nemo' or 'Fern Gully', the high contrast vivid colours of Pandora are pretty to look at. The levitating rocks of Pandora ensure no scene is scoffed at by the viewer as "implausible".
Yet, like many older viewers, I find it lacking.
1. No plot twists of any kind. No subplots even. Jake arrives. Jake learns to be Navi while not revealing what will happen to last minute. Jake betrays military commander to help save Navi. The End.
2. The military white guys lose to the "natives".Its frustrating that despite giving him 3 months, and many "warning shots", the white military is portrayed as the bad guys.
3. Firepower? The military's futuristic "advanced" technology defeated by bow and arrow? No radar? No smart guns? How about some actual armour? --spoiler-- The ending is sort anti-climactic. Jake as the Avatar leads neighbouring tribes to their quick and pointless deaths - yet this is portrayed as a happy ending. Avatar suggests that "soft military" presence and diplomacy are flawed. Only aggressive attacks work.
4. What is the point of the Avatars? The Navi immediately know Jake is not real Navi. Either way the Navi don't trust outsiders. Why the deception? Wouldn't human contact be simpler. Would also perhaps allow at least 1 hr for negotiations instead of 3 months of vine swinging.
5. Navi never know WHY they are being attacked. Jake never explains and neither does Grace. Only that "they are coming". Hundreds of years into the future no technology to dig under HomeTree? How about other deposits? I just find it difficult to imagine mankind beginning right away with deforestation on Pandora after leaving a desolate Earth devoid of plant life.
Quantum of Solace (2008)
little to no indication this is even a Bond film.
To make a Bond movie is actually quite difficult. Its a very fine line between action, suspense, one liners and Bond suave without going over the top and pulling a "Die Another Day" (which is credited with sickening Brosnan with so much cheesiness that he stopped doing them).
Quantum of Solace starts of nearly instantly after Casino Royale, as Bond slaloms tunnel traffic, trying to deliver Mr. White - infamous MI6 mole - for interrogation by M. And of course in an amazing spectacle of crunching trucks, and falling pursuit cars, Bond escapes unscathed. Unfortunately, just as the "cargo" is delivered, an accomplice not only sets Mr White free but hurts M.
A fast paced chase over and under the Italian ceramic tiled roof tops ensues ending with a dramatic upside-down grab for guns as Bond once again comes out a split second ahead in a heart gripping duel.
Afterwards, we are reminded of Bond's steely resolve to not feel a thing for Vespa. With help from Mathis Bond is on the trail of the gang who hurt mom - ie M. Arriving in Haiti, he assumes identity of an inside man, only to quickly discover he supposed to assassinate the beautiful Camille. After their quick fight, Bond follows her to discover Greene working at the docks with a Bolivian General at some no doubtingly nefarious plot to control "it". After a very long boat chase we also discover that Camille, after nearly dying in a tragic fire when young, is seeking to avenge death of her family by killing the General.
Unfortunately, this is also where things don't just turn confusing, rushed, or poorly directed, but utterly pointless. Bond discovers a big meeting of Quantum at an Opera. We are to believe they are an evil organization because they are "transferring" funds, setting milestones and drafting plans. But, after taking out some backstage help, the result is some grainy pictures of the guests leaving.
Bond does get a lead, but kills every person he chases is or being chased by. Yet, he's supposed to be the good guy? The surprising revelation is that Bond kills more people, and destroys more property than all the villains and henchmen of this movie. And even M's contribution is too cliché, reprising the "cant trust him" lines from Casino Royale.
The anti climatic plot twists continue. We are introduced to some American agents who may or may not be helping Greene and Quantum. Bond does take Camille for "romantic" sight seeing plane trip that's cut short by a dog fight. And then there are sad moments where the audience is asked to shed some tears for the very poor South Americans being deprived of water.
All in all, Quantum of Solace barely resembles a Bond movie, and even barely qualifies as a good action movie on its own. Numerous key elements are missing: - there are no gadgets. Unless flip flops in the desert counts. - other than opening sequence, no showcase of exotic cars. - lamest villain ever created. - no memorable henchman. Greene's assistant provides the single comedy moment when he trips and loses his toupee. - Bond is never really hurt or in jeopardy of dying. Swerving through traffic is dangerous, and so is running or roof tops, but I cant recall any memorable stunts. - intentionally dumbed down? Like Bourne, in Casino Royale Bond was very clever, quickly pulling info from cell, tracking location, and reading other people. - no atmosphere of impending doom. Whether Bond "succeeds" or not, doesn't really seem to matter. The evil transactions the villains are plotting may take months or years. And even if Bond saves, some girl or makes water a little more affordable for the Bolivians, why should the audience care? - finally the ending, was bland at best. A hotel in the middle of the desert blows up when Bond tries to see Camille gets her revenge.
In conclusion, Quantum of Solace is kind of like Batman Begins, but where Batman has no utility belt, only shortly uses the Batmobile once early on, has no vixen to seduce him, and is up against a sleazy used car salesman who writes bad checks. Its up to Batman to save the day and ensure the good folks who can't afford a new car, get a quality pre-owned vehicle and not a lemon.
All in all, considering the moans and groans at my local theater, a very generous 5/10.
Red Dragon (2002)
Best prequel I've ever seen
Making a sequel or prequel is very difficult. Arguably, harder than making the original. Silence of the Lambs had a unique atmosphere of fragility and sexual inequality. You COULD just copy that, but it would just be a re-hash of the same old thing. Unfortunately, in Silence of the Lambs, all the attention was on Agent Stirling, and the audience barely got to know the killer - they were just added to the stereotypical group of serial killer... Red Dragon changes that. Not only do we learn more about Lecter's mutual relationship with Dr. Chilton and Barney (caretaker), but Red Dragon's antagonist, the "Toothfairy", also shows a rare glimpse into how delicate the balance is between sanity and psychopathy. He wasn't born a dysfunctional anti-social predator - he was made one through years of abuse. Yet in the movie is constantly at odds with himself, watching normal families, trying to lead a normal relationship, going to great lengths to find a balance between Agent Graham's repulsion of his artistic talent, and Lecter's complete embrace with his darker animal side.
This is definitely one of those movies that just keeps on giving, and you discover more each time you watch it. As Lecter puts it, "rest assured, this one will give you plenty of exercise".
Haibane Renmei (2002)
Beautiful... Breathtaking
"I really enjoyed it and would watch it several more times, enjoying it as much as the first. The ending had me virtually in tears, it really was perfect. If you're gonna purchase any anime on DVD in the future, this one should be next on your list. No doubt about that. This one makes the top of my favourite list without problems"
I would like to add to this user's comment, that although perhaps he/she was "virtually" in tears, by the pile of tissues laying beside me i can attest that there wasn't anything "virtual" about my tears. However, although there is a sad depressing side to the later half of the anime, it swings through the whole gamut of emotions. As another poster noted, this anime does require a calm attitude and patience to let it all sink in and notice many subtle clues about the characters. So if you've read this far, stop wasting time and go watch it.. in fact I think I'll go see it again (#3rd time).
If you like this anime... go see "Jacob's Ladder".