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Jack the Giant Slayer (2013)
JACK THE GIANT SLAYER - Would you rather be chased by man-eating giants or man-eating zombies?
Compared to other recent fairy tale adaptations, "Jack the Giant Slayer" is not high-ranking for me. The relationship between the giant(s) and Jack/humans has been rewritten, which isn't bad, but throw in weak villains, a Barbie and Ken like romance, and not enough screen time for the funny guy, makes this film only an OK production. As the writers are still new to the trade, I look forward to future better pieces. Overall, great kids film and thriller for families with small children. For us older "kids" still hung up on our favorite fairy tales, this film was a nice tribute to Jack and the Giant Beanstalk but disappointing. Walking out of the theater, I felt a bit empty. The carrot that was dangling before me as a promise also got thrown over the cliff. Plus, (SPOILER) where's the goose????? (END OF SPOILER) FULL REVIEW check out FEIXIANGFILMS
21 & Over (2013)
"21 and Over" - OK Rating. A Hang Over+Jackass+American Pie Combo
Watched "21 and Over" last night at an advanced screening so sharing a review for those wondering about it.
If you should use other films/media to describe "21 and Over", it is like a combination of "Hang Over", "American Pie", and "Jackass". If describing in one sentence, "21 and Over" is stupid drunkenness or drunk galore? It is an enjoyable film and I would recommend it for those who enjoy dirty slapstick humor and just college craziness. I wouldn't feel the need to watch this film again and it isn't an Oscar nominee type of film, but If you like watching drunk people, this film is for you.
I admit, I like watching this type of films from time to time, but a big reason I was interested in this film was because I liked the writers' Jon Lucas and Scott Moore's other pieces, the popular "Hang Over" film series and "Change Up". I did assume that "21 and Over" would be structured and directed just like "Hang Over but "21 and Over" does not have the story-telling abilities that "Hang Over" has nor are the story, plot, resolution, and characters anywhere as interesting. One's own experiences and perspectives change with age, and Lucas and Moore are out of touch with the current 20s generation as the dialogue, story development, and characters in "21 and Over" are old, clichéd, and stereotypical.
The movie took a while to pick up the pace. Surprisingly and thankfully Jeff Chang is not the main focus in this film, nothing against the actors (these newcomers did a great job), but the supposed main character burned through his drinking and bar scenes early on in a series of montages.
Some of the likable aspects of this movie are the timing of the stunts and how outrageous the stunts are. When it seemed like the film would end soon or run out of tricks, the characters' rolling ball of chaos just got bigger and bigger. The stunts pulled now a day for slapstick humor are getting more outrageous and openly, visually sexual. If nothing, Lucas and Moore get kudos for fresh stunts. Perhaps they spent the time they were supposed to use for brainstorming dialogue and story development, watching "Jackass" instead.
In the end this film is still enjoyable because it's not like this film's audience watches these kinds of films for the dialogue nor accurate representation of cultural identities. All that matters is that the slapstick stunts and moderate dirtiness of the film is enough to not leave a silent house. For sure, the high school kids during the advanced screening got a kick out of it, hoping their college life can be that fun? Crazy at least.
Review by WendyXS@FeiXiangFilms
The Grey (2011)
FeiXiangFilms - Reivew: "The Grey" (2012) GREATLY DISLIKED Rating
Pros: Breathtaking landscape and fine cinematography, a chilling quietness in performance and presentation symbolizing the simplicity of life and death
Cons: Inconsistent and unrealistic storytelling, misleading genre, poor story-telling and character development. Personally I felt bored and disbelief at how poorly this film and story was executed. It was like watching an excellent cinematographer, cast, and team paired with a film student's first attempt.
Summary: The only way to watch this film is if you ignore the "wolves" and replace them with imaginary/fictional monsters. The film could even continue if you subtract wolves from the equation and just left nature, climate, the cold, lack of food, sickness. You would also have to ignore the lack of reality of the film and imagine it as a fantasy, but isn't the whole point of this film the rawness, the survival in the wild, life and death? It's a paradox that still doesn't excuse how poorly thought- out this film was. The only positive side of this film is the pretty landscape and cinematography.
Full Review (http://feixiangfilms.wordpress.com/2012/07/14/the-grey- 2012- greatly-disliked-rating/)
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (2012)
"Abraham Lincoln - Vampire Hunter" (2012) - LIKED Rating
Pros: Artistic interpretation of one of America's most colorful time periods/events, rich historical context, strong story/character and plot development, well-balanced genre distribution, fun & creative action choreography/scenes, beautiful cinematography, and genuine love for our dear President Abraham Lincoln. The story was touching - the raw intensity of humanity, human faith, and what it means to be a friend, to be free, to live, to die
it brings out emotions. Also, they did a great job of making Benjamin Walker look like Abraham Lincoln!
Cons: Not the best story background for the vampires. Although that also builds onto one of the film's good qualities, I would have also enjoyed a bit more vampire dirty secrets :). Also not a detrimental flaw, but there is not a great deal of eye-candy. But then again, it is a presidential film...
This movie wins points to the heart and reveals its hidden potential. It had a difficult time with marketing, an unfair, disadvantage. Perhaps it was an inadequate preview – the trailer consisted of action scenes and moments emphasizing vampire slaughters, deemphasizing its qualities as a historical piece. Viewers also laughed at the absurdity and maybe disrespectful play of even considering a treasured U.S President with vampires. Whatever the reason, a good population of the viewers tossed this film aside, choosing to focus on the upcoming Spiderman or other big names. Too bad. If given a chance, this film pleasantly surprises with an artistic interpretation of one of America's most colorful time periods/events, rich historical context, strong story/character and plot development, well-balanced genre distribution, fun & creative action choreography/scenes, beautiful cinematography, and genuine love for our dear President Abraham Lincoln. I fully enjoyed the film and from the commentary afterwards, so did many viewers.
The film's interpretation of the slavery abolition period is fully developed and adequately supported, convincing viewers that the whole notion almost could be possible. If there was going to be a vampire era in the United States. It would be the 1800s. If there was going to be a vampire hunter, Mr. Lincoln would have been one.
Though the film portrayed itself as a pure vampire flick, the detail in historical references and de-emphasis of vampires makes it much more (there isn't a scene that allows a careful study of the vampire design, which from quick glances looks like a 'Supernatural' multi-fanged/'Van Helsing' demonic/ and Trueblood creation, and the vampires' backgrounds are not fully explained). ***SPOILER*** In fact, Abraham Lincoln's prime time as a vampire hunter was very short, limited to a few scenes in his youth, while the path to him becoming a vampire hunter and his later career as a lawyer, politician, and president got more devotion. Slavery, North and South's relationship, the war, and even the under- ground railroad play key roles in this story's development.***END OF SPOILER*** The story was touching - the raw intensity of humanity, human faith, and what it means to be a friend, to be free, to live, to die
brings out emotions.
Although Abraham Lincoln is put in a fictional scenario, the film puts out quite a bit of his "true life". Some viewers unfamiliar with our 16th President's background may get a bit of an education, like how Abraham Lincoln was indeed an "axeman" in his youth. Other characters are also introduced and developed to a satisfying degree, and romance is kept to a minimal. This film is a great blend of adventure, action, suspense, comedy, and feminine heroism!
The cinematography and choreography are also not to be left out when awarding compliments. Possessing a lovely 'Gone with the Wind' feel, the soft lighting and tones enchant viewers to the charms of romanticism. The action scenes are also not lacking in comparison to 'Bond' films or our favorite sci-fis.
All in all, the film greatly celebrated Abraham Lincoln, the abolition of slavery, and our obsession for vampires ;). It was a great film – if you enjoy adventure/action/sci-fi/vampires/history and/or are a Tim Burton fan, you should go watch this!
The Raven (2012)
Exciting. Riveting. Without room for fault.
Highlights (Full Summary Below) Pros: Tastefully made thriller that beautifully encompasses the mind of, not a serial killer, but a game-master who has challenged the character Edgar Allan Poe to a game of live chess. Each pen stroke, artistically developed creative prose that tells a murderous tall tale, is Poe's retaliating move to the killer's forward pressing pieces disguised as condemned victims. Exciting. Riveting. Without room for fault.
Cons: For mysteries, it's best when the audience can feel like they can interact with the film by playing the detective as well. Unfortunately for "The Raven", unless you are an Edgar Allan Poe fanatic and are very familiar with his work, it's hard to stay a step ahead of the characters or even produce a slightly reasonable answer/hypothesis for each mystery in the film.
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"Nevermore", like the famous line from Edgar Allan Poe's literary work The Raven, the single word describes the desolation, desperation, sorrow that is portrayed through this film. Bringing a light to some of Edgar Allan Poe's life and also that time period with a cleverly weaved mystery, the 21st century audience is brought back to seemingly simpler times where literary work and subtle prose were forms of art that brought society together and gave spaces to dreams.
"The Raven" is not a gory, torture story like "Saw" or Jack the Ripper like some critics/review may state. The villain in "The Raven" shouldn't be compared to those serial killers (like America's very own Ed Gein – inspiration of Silence of the Lambs, Ted Bundy, or Mudgett "Dr. Holmes") who murdered for the joy of destroying their victims. "The Raven" created a mastermind whose target is Poe and finds fascination in the game of challenging other intellectuals. A game of chess. That point strongly separates this film above and away from the horror category of mindless killing sprees and into a mystery/adventure genre.
Aside from a fascinating, interacting story development, "The Raven" is structurally pieced together beautifully and minute with holes for criticism. In all sense just like fashion, movies have only a select few plot development and story-telling techniques to use. "The Raven" is no different. E.g. starting off with a present view (or future), the audience is then taken to revisit the events that led to that first scene. Though not an outlandishly innovative film that creates 1st time experiences for the audience, "The Raven" does not reinvent the wheel but elegantly rides on it.
Put simply – in an elegant, concise manner, "The Raven" keeps its focus on the story of murders and murderers. Romance, jeers, side stories are kept at a minimal, allowing the audience not too much but just enough to absorb in and stay continuously, deeply entrenched in the world of Edgar Allan Poe.
Honestly, this is going to be one of my favorite films (and not just because I like the Romantic Movement).
And thus I end my review of the film with a quote: "Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dreamed before."
"Nevermore"
Edgar Allen Poe, The Raven.