First Look at Indy 4

Here you have it - the first look at Indiana Jones as he preps for the 4th installment in the franchise. Yeah, I know this hit the net like 4 days ago, but I thought better late than never, right?

And maybe that's what Spielberg, Lucas and co thought about this film. It took them forever to approve a script and, well, its been 18 years since Last Crusade. I don't know... maybe its just me, but I really haven't ever been enthusiastic for a 4th film. I mean, I loved the first three film, but Last Crusade was great and had such a fitting title for wrapping up a trilogy. I like trilogies. Their tidy and make a nice package.

Oh well, Indy 4 is coming, I'll go see it and I can only hope that enough of the magic is still left to make it great. As for Indy himself... Harrison could look worse. I think he'll be ok.

Fantastic 4 Achieves the Nearly Impossible *SPOILERS*

I'll cut to the chase - Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer somehow managed to be worse than the first movie. The original was bad in that hokey, eye-rolling way - the jokes were lame, it struggled to set things up, the characters were awkward, etc. It had you leaving the theatre saying, "Wow, they really could have made that much better." So when the sequel somehow managed to see the bar it needed to clear and instead chose to bulldozed right through it, you left the theatre asking, "What the hell is wrong with this creative team?!"

For the record, my friend Blake and I went to this installment knowing full well it wasn't going to be high art. We were compelled to go because we had to see it for ourselves, but we fully expected that it would be at least somewhat better than the first. People normally learn from their mistakes and improve upon them, so this would have to be better, right? But to our own amazement, we were wrong (very wrong!) and the question of Rise of the Silver Surfer wasn't even "how" but rather surprisingly "why". The "how" was blatantly obvious. The "why" will forever remain unknown.

Consider a fanfic story and think about the kind of lame dialogue and antics that might take place. Now, translate that to the big screen and you have this movie, a poorly crafted, ill-conceived train wreck that made the wrong choice at almost every turn. For example, a typical fanfic might have that crazy power-swapping phenomenon where the characters find themselves awkwardly out of character wielding a power they are not used to. That MIGHT be amusing for a scene. MIGHT. So why did Tim Story and company choose to craft an entire movie around this weak device? Johnny Storm possessed every one's individual powers at least once and then in the end defeats a returned Dr. Doom as an uber-Johnny (who I refer to as Johnny Thunder-Storm) that possesses all four powers at once - flying through the sky while invisible, hurling fireballs and rock-fisted punches, then wrapping up Doom with his spandex-type body, courtesy of Mr. Fantastic. Or there is Sue Storm catching fire, burning off all her clothes and once again ending up naked on the streets of New York. (Yes, I understand that this is Jessica Alba that we're talking about and while that IS the point, its not the entire point.) We've seen it before and the joke is tired.

Or how about the fact that this entire movie was literally sold out to the highest bidder? This installment completely jumped the shark for me when Reed Richards' "fantasti-car" was built with none other than a Dodge Hemi engine under the hood and Dodge logos affixed to the all the seats (and the grill). The clever dialogue chosen to accompany it: Johnny: "Is that a Hemi?" Reed: "Of course!" *ugh*

At least the title of the film was appropriate. The Silver Surfer was very cool and very well done, proving that Tim Story's skull isn't completely filled of dog poop and that he didn't have to make this film so terrible. The problem was that this was a Fantastic 4 movie and not a Silver Surfer movie. So why then is it that the Silver Surfer defeats Galactus instead of our bumbling heroes? If you removed the Silver Surfer from this movie, a few things happen (or rather don't happen). First, there is no power-swapping. Second, Victor Von Doom doesn't return to his old form. And finally, the Fantastic 4 get absolutely boned by Galactus.

The Silver Surfer did ALL of the heavy lifting in this movie and proved to be a much more entertaining character than any of our hapless heroes. So in that regard, not only did the Silver Surfer rise, he stole the show! But that's ok, because someone needed to.

One aspect of the Silver Surfer / Galactus relationship raises questions too. Why would Galactus empower a minion with the power to turn around and destroy it? If it is indeed that easy, why would the Silver Surfer continue to serve Galactus if it was only to spare his homeworld? Wouldn't he just kill Galactus and call it a day? Anyone? Anyone? ... Beuhler?

I'll be honest - I don't understand how anyone older than 10 years old would find this movie legitimately entertaining (aka not simply watching to make fun of it or see how bad it is). Even for a comic book movie, a genre often judged with a different set of criteria, Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer is bad. Consider that the X-Men and Spiderman franchises were crafted much more competently and were infinitely more entertaining. Consider that Batman Begins exists! Not the fairest of comparisons, but the point remains - comic book movies don't have to be garbage. And to top it all off, F4's antics were fused with a heavy-handed lesson: we all get to choose.

Yeah, and Tim Story CHOSE to make a horses**t movie. 2/10

WALL*E Trailer Hits....

While I'm reasonably excited for Pixar's upcoming Ratatouille, ever since I heard the concept for next summer's WALL*E---a small robot travels through space searching for a purpose, I've been far more excited for Finding Nemo director Andrew Stanton' s sophomore effort.

Thankfully, today apple released a teaser trailer:
http://www.apple.com/trailers/disney/walle/

I can feel my heartstrings tug already.

Pixar already has its fair share of masterpieces, but if this film turns out half as good as I hope-it could be their best yet.

H-DoGG Unimpressed By New Transformers Theme

So I ran across the new music video over on YouTube featuring the new theme for the new Transformers movie, performed by Black Lab. At first I was hopeful... and it quickly faded to disappointment. This new theme is a watered-down version of the original (which was awesome) in my opinion. Also my opinion - the vocalist is TERRIBLE!

Watch the video here.

It's just a music video and I reserve judgement on the film until I see it in its entirety. Still, I have not gotten on the bandwagon and remain very cautious about this one.

Best of 2006…6 Months Late

I know what you’re all thinking…

“Damn that guy’s lazy! It’s frickin’ June and he’s just now coming out with a top 10 list for last year? Lame.”

My undeniable lameness aside, let me explain myself: I live in Iowa. While that in itself may seem to explain a lot, allow me to divulge further: living in “The Land of Golden Corn and Hogs” (OK, I don’t really know the state motto) and not even the Des Moines area, mind you, we get passed over when it comes to some major film releases. While I was able to see many of the films in my list in the theatre, there were a handful of worthy releases (for example: Letters from Iwo Jima, The Good German, Shortbus) that never came within an hour-and-a-half’s drive from my place. I could have easily produced a list of films I was able to see in the theatre, but I know I’d be regretting it by this time. Now that I’ve caught up with every film I believe would be in contention for my list this year (knowing that I’ll probably come across a missed gem a year or two down the road) I’ll get on with it:

1. Children of Men- Creating a world as engaging and frightening as any put on film, Alfonso Cuarón’s tale of a society without a future was the most viscerally exciting film to hit cinemas in 06. Much like Blade Runner 25 years before, this film will be looked back upon as an essential piece of science fiction that was sadly overlooked (in awards and at the box office) the year it was released. The best science fiction uses high concepts to get us to look at the world around us. Children of Men does this while being both haunting and optimistic.

2. United 93- While not a film anyone would probably want to revisit over and over again, Paul Greengrass’ docudrama United 93 is an experience that displays the power of the cinema. Heart-wrenching, it presents a you-are-there account of the events of 9/11 through the eyes of the passengers of United Flight 93. It’s understandable that not a lot of people went to go see the movie in the theatre, but also a shame because I fear it won’t be nearly as gut-twisting in a home theatre setting.

3. Letters from Iwo Jima- Check The Film Lounge archives for a full review of what I think is one of the greatest World War II films ever made.

4. Pan’s Labyrinth- In my recent Pirates of the Caribbean 3 non-review I did a rant on a problem I have with the fantasy genre. I had totally forgotten about the ‘childhood/is this a dream or is this the reality’ subgenre consisting of Alice in Wonderland, The Wizard of Oz, and Spirited Away—of which I’m a fan. In that subgenre the fantastical is allowed to be nonsensical, this is how a child’s imagination works. Guillermo del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth is an instantly classic example of this form of storytelling- a dark fairy tale that follows a young girl who, when not dealing with her abusive (and insane) stepfather, performs a series of tasks for a faun she discovers in the labyrinth behind her house.

5. Little Children- I’m a sucker for dramatic irony and Todd Field’s adaption of Tom Perrotta’s novel has it in spades. Centered on a couple of young, desperate housepeople in a small community, the film is carried by strong performances by the always great Kate Winslet and former child star Jackie Earle Haley as a sexual deviant, just-released from prison. The film is surprisingly funny while it prepares to stab you in the heart.

6. The Fountain- A lot of people will no doubt absolutely hate The Fountain, Darren Aronofsky’s sci-fi epic about the search for eternal life. It’s a bit pretentious, it’s certainly over-reaching, and it gets a bit kooky in the third act---all three reasons why I loved it. I’ll admit to personally reacting strongly to the subject matter while conceding that it may be more of a brilliant disaster/future cult classic than a legitimate cinema great.

7. Marie Antoinette- A smart, light film about the horrors of young womanhood and the expectations and isolation that comes with privilege, Sophia Coppola’s third film is a real charmer. Kirsten Dunst glows in the title role while a pop music soundtrack keeps this period piece from feeling old and stuffy.

8. The Departed- Martin Scorcese’s best film since…The Aviator is a twisty-turny crime thriller that touches upon the same ‘what does identity mean’ ground as 06s A Scanner Darkly (just shy of making this list.)

9. Dreamgirls- Throwing any man-credibility I had out the window, I can’t deny the infectious energy this film radiated from the screen. Doling out strong musical numbers and a history lesson on race/image issues in the music industry, Dreamgirls’ tale of an alternate Supremes universe is a real crowd-pleaser. Jennifer Hudson probably doesn’t have much of a future acting in films where’s she’s not required to sing, but at least she has a well-deserved Oscar for her role as Effie, the singer with the voice and depth that strongly contrasts Beyonce Knowles’ Deena.

10. The Descent- I’ve been making top 10 lists for my own personal gratification for around eight years and I usually like to throw an oddball film as my tenth choice. While there were certainly better films this year than The Descent that didn’t make this list, none got my blood racing like this film did. A mixture of the scariest parts of Deliverance, Aliens, and Ravenous, The Descent is also the rare horror film with depth. Watch it in the darkest room possible.

The Pick of Destiny ROCKS!

The next band asked me to read the following statement...

Watching the following movie is hazardous to your health. It is like a lethal injection of rock in your ass or getting gunned down in a hail fire of awesomeness.

There are two types of stupid movies - those that are stupid but hilarious (BASEketball) and those that are stupid and a complete waste of your time (Date Movie). Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny is solidly one of the former. Yes, it is probably best you have some familiarity with "The D", but either way, I know I loved this movie!

The rock duo known as Tenacious D (Jack Black and Kyle Gass) are a joke band (the self-proclaimed greatest rock band in the world) that consistently deliver the laughs, whether through their crazy songs or their film shorts (HBO's Tenacious D: The Masterworks). I heard the soundtrack to The Pick of Destiny long before I saw the film and, if the soundtrack was any indication at all, I knew I would enjoy the film. Yes I did!

Knowing the D's material prepares you for what is to come - 90 minutes of drug induced stupor, rock antics, profanity and juvenile raunchiness... all worth the price of admission or, as the case is now, the cost of a DVD rental. Just like another juvenile classic (and favorite from high school) BASEketball, this film had me laughing beginning to end and well afterwards. I will never outgrow it.

To give a brief synopsis, The Pick of Destiny serves as an origin story of sorts for this duo and we follow their epic quest to possess the most powerful rock artifact EVER - the legendary Pick of Destiny! We come to learn that the success of such bands as Van Halen didn't rise to stardom by accident, but rather they came into the possession of the pick, which just so happens to be one of Satan's teeth, dislodged hundreds of years before in a battle with a dark mage. They just need it to win an open-mic night so they can pay the rent. I'm sure you can reasonably infer the rest of the goings-on. Even Ronnie James Dio and the venerable Meatloaf make appearances.

The thing about Tenacious D is that they are talented enough musically to make screwing around and being silly still extremely entertaining, watchable and listen...able. That and Jack Black has that class clown charisma and charm that always gets the laughs. And unlike many bad comedies, they keep their antics contained in a small 90 minute package; not too long, not too short - just right.

If you are a fan of the D and haven't yet watched The Pick of Destiny, go out and rent it. You will not be disappointed. Its time to ROCK! 8/10

ARGH! Me Mateys! A Non-Review of Pirates 3

I really had no intention of writing a review for Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End. It’s been a week since I saw it in the theatre and it didn’t compel me in any fashion to rush home and write about it. Still, a week later I’ve decided to write down some quick thoughts for the benefit of ‘future me’----the ‘me’ in eight months, who sees the DVD on sale for $5.99 on Netflix and can’t decide if he wants to complete his collection or not. So, this isn’t really a formal review w/ intelligent discourse (because my other reviews are FULL of that) or plot synopses (it’s barely been a week and I honestly can’t remember half of it)…just whatever thoughts I have while typing.

The creators of the POTC franchise must think the audience REALLY loves these characters…not the main ones, mind you. I personally do really enjoy Captain Jack Sparrow (there may be too many of him in this film, though….yeah, I typed that right) and I can understand if fans of the film have affection towards Orlando Bloom’s Will Turner, Kiera Knightley’s Elizabeth Swann, or Geoffrey Rush’s Captain Barbosa, but the filmmakers don’t stop there. Is the fandom so large for Fat-pirate-with-bad-teeth and Wooden-eye-pirate that, not only are they back in both sequels, but their roles grow with each movie? I guess this sequel wouldn’t be able to capture the magic of the original movie if it didn’t bring back the two dim-witted, bickering navy soldiers who guarded the ship that Jack purloined in the original. This is using the charms of the original as a crutch instead of carving out a new identity for the sequels. The best sequels know that they have to tweak the dynamic a bit (Aliens is the best example I can think of this, The Mummy Returns the worse.)

Not only are all these characters back, but they all have vague agendas and, while I don’t want to say there needs to be more exposition in this film-God no!, they certainly needed to telegraph some character’s intentions a bit more. This will probably improve with a second viewing of the film---it is a complex plot for what many go in expecting to be a brainless summer blockbuster. I have no objections to an action movie that requires me to think (I’m psyched for the third Bourne movie), but at two-hours and forty-eight minutes, this one just got tiresome.

Pirates brought to light a problem I have with fantasy/magic movies---they don’t need to follow any specific logic. The first film established a set of rules w/ the Aztec treasure and stuck to them and it made for some cool twists in the third act, whereas this film had a series of things that annoyed me: most of them involving magical squid pirate Davy Jones. I guess this is why I’m a sci-fi guy, but when magic items or a character w/ magic powers is established to have certain characteristics, it annoys me when they play loose with the rules or explain an arbitrary loophole (usually another type of magic item) that exists simply to advance the plot. I fully realize that these types of ‘deus ex machina’ exist in science fiction (technobabble usually), but the script usually has to work harder to justify it—instead of ‘ooooh, it’s maaaagic.’

The film is not without its bright spots, though. The effects, as expected, are top-notch and it certainly delivers on spectacle. The actors all commit to their characters and deliver better performances than any ghost/squid/stereotype pirate movie series ever (I’m assuming-I haven’t seen a ton of that genre.) Also, the third film succeeds in actually providing an ending to the series---and it’s actually a good one. I won’t give anything away, but it serves as a sea fable as enchanting as the ones that inspired the series.

1/3 dreadful, 1/3 not-good, and 1/3 not-bad—Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End provides a satisfying conclusion to the series…after two hours of nonsense and confusion. Future Jacob, I know you’re too compulsive of a DVD collector to leave out the third part of a trilogy---just make sure you pay no more than $5.99 for it.

5/10

Pretty Darn Good German

One thing becomes evident almost instantly while watching The Good German: Steven Soderbergh REALLY loves Casablanca. The look, the sound, the poster, the ending and a lot of the plot elements mirror the 1942 classic and, while its nowhere near as memorable as that film (how could it be?), it makes for some favorable comparisons..

Shot in black & white and using vintage cameras, The Good German emulates the films of the time in which it takes place: WWII era Berlin, post-surrender/pre-Potsdam Conference. It’s a daring visual experiment that captures the viewer’s attention for the course of the film, the homage never stepping into gimmick territory. It would be a shame to not mention Thomas Newman’s Oscar nominated score which is as good as anything produced in the early days of cinema and helps sell the movie’s old fashioned conceit.

The plot itself twists and turns with the motives and morals of its characters. George Clooney, in a role that showcases his timeless movie star charisma, plays an American journalist that gets entangled with a mystery after discovering that his assigned motor pool driver (Tobey Maguire) is romantically involved with his former mistress (Cate Blanchett, lit like she was born to be filmed in black and white). Torn between conflicting Russian and America agendas, Clooney’s character soon learns that morality in the world following the fall of Berlin is as grey as the film’s color palette.

I remain purposefully vague in the plot details as to not spoil any of the film’s surprises, which are numerous. The plot is complex and not for casual viewing, but even those who lose the plot halfway in may still find themselves in the film’s grip. The Good German is not quite guilty of style over substance (I can’t in good conscience brand a film with a story so intricate and so much to say with that distinction), but the success of its visual/audible elements ultimately overshadows what is still an above-average noir tale.

9/10

Transformers Clip Up on YouTube

As a follow-up to Jacob's post concerning the upcoming Transformers film, I am posting a new clip from the film that has been posted on YouTube.

Optimus Prime vs. Bonecrusher

Maybe If The Film Was Called Go-Bots, I’d be More Excited…

A sad realization came over me the other day while enjoying my lunch-“

There is an Autobot logo on a bottle of soda…and why am I not geeking out about this?”

The truth is that I’m just not excited for this summer’s Transformers. And as a dyed in the matrix Insecticon, this is very troubling to me.

When the film was first announced, I was juiced. Spielberg was a producer, they’re throwing some money at it…so what if that hack Micheal Bay is directing—he can direct action and as long as the film’s fun… And alas, that’s what I’m worried about—the fun. After the teaser trailer was released last year, I’ve had this sad feeling that a movie based off of a cartoon that was created to sell toys is taking itself far too seriously. I don’t care that the robots look different than their cartoon counterparts (ok, Optimus Prime having a mouth is a little troublesome…but I’m fine with the general look of everything else) or that Megatron doesn’t turn into a handgun—it’s that I’m worried that a film that probably needs to be a little tongue-in-cheek will instead be using that tongue (Optimus Prime’s, presumably) to speak self-important cliché’d dialogue: "Freedom is the right of all sentient beings."

In all honesty, I think Brett Ratner would have been a better choice. Yup, I can’t believe I typed that either, but his slight camp sense-of-humor is the sensibility I think Transformers needs…and I think the action in X3 holds up to any blockbuster.

I generally don’t like to judge a film before I see it, and I’ll give the film a chance once it’s released. Even if it is the worse thing ever, I’ll still have Transformers: The Movie.

Still, I thought I would vent about my apprehension. It could still be good-it’ll just need a little energon…and a lot of luck.

'Jima Thing'---Letters From Iwo Jima is a WWII Great

Halfway through last year, Clint Eastwood’s film about the battle of Iwo Jima, Flags of Our Fathers, was getting loads of press, healthy buzz, and was considered to have a good shot at serious Oscar consideration. Barely any ink was spent writing up the companion piece, Letters from Iwo Jima, Clint’s experiment in balancing one war film with another from the opposing side—ultimately providing a potent anti-war message that the films themselves barely touch upon. When Flags was released, many (this critic included) found the film uneven (a total shift in narrative 2/3rds of the way through definitely didn’t help), heavy-handed, and a bit over-acted. Even the title was snooze-temptingly square. While the story, following the soldiers from the famous photograph of the flag-raising at Iwo Jima and suggesting that propaganda was as much of a weapon in winning World War II as nuclear armament, was unique and worth telling—the film itself was flawed, far from a bad film—but nowhere near the masterpiece it was anticipated to be.

Undoubtedly there are unlimited tales to tell about World War II, but in a post-Private Ryan world, it was beginning to feel like the cinematic well was running a bit dry.

Maybe not---as it turns out Eastwood’s Letters, released at the end of last year for Oscar eligibility after Flags’ hopes diminished (a gamble that paid off with best picture/director/screenplay nominations and a best sound editing win) proves to be one of the best war films ever made.

Told from the perspective of several Japanese soldiers, Letters from Iwo Jima is much smaller in scale than its American counterpart—much of the action takes place in small bunkers where the soldiers argue with one another in close quarters. The film gets to know its characters intimately, through the letters written to family back home and the interactions the soldiers have with one-another all the way down the chain of command.

By far the most interesting aspect of the film is how, when complimented with Flags, it makes both separate pieces better than they are alone. Letters offers insight into Japanese culture by displaying the soldiers’ willingness to sacrifice their lives if not for each other, than for honor. Contrasting this to the often selfish acts of the soldiers in Flags and we’re left with a (possibly unintended) dig at American values and priorities. The film is almost subversive in that, while we never out-right root for American soldiers to die, we sympathize with the Japanese and the Americans—heroes of hundreds of WWII films before—become the faceless enemy.

Letters from Iwo Jima highlights Eastwood’s strengths as a director: austere, poetic storytelling and the ability to evoke subtle nuanced performances (especially from Ken Watanabe as General Kuribayashi). In offering a tragedy much less complex than Flags, Eastwood is able to deliver a touching war film that displays the similarities of soldiers on opposing sides of a battle, while also challenging us with the differences.

10/10

*The film deserves much better than the lame Dave Matthews reference in the headline...but I couldn't resist

News That Ruins My Day: BSG Is Finishing

It was reported on the LA Times website today that officials at the SciFi Network have announced that Battlestar Galactica will be done after this next season (2008). Its a great show that I have enjoyed immensely and its conclusion seems a bit premature. I have said previously that I thought this show had five seasons worth of story, but the creators disagree and who am I to stop them. This news means that BSG will only have four seasons.

While disappointed as a fan, I cannot complain that the show was given an unfair shake - it wasn't. Four full seasons is infinitely better than, say, the half season that Fox's mis-handled Firefly was given. Still, anyone who has watches the show knows that it was an intelligent, well-handled show; it is one of the best on television. It will be a shame to have it go off the air.

This news pretty much ruined my day, certainly my lunch break. While I am not completely surprised by the news, I didn't want to hear it this soon. Now all we have left is a TV movie and 22 episodes to wrap this story up. The good news is that this show won't drag on too long and start to sour like some shows do. Best to remember shows at their peak, rather than when they ran out of steam. And if we go on the words of show creators Ronald Moore and David Eick, this last season will be full of big things. They released the following statement to the Times:

"This show was always meant to have a beginning, a middle and finally, an end. Over the course of the last year, the story and the characters have been moving strongly toward that end and we've decided to listen to those internal voices and conclude the show on our own terms. And while we know our fans will be saddened to know the end is coming, they should brace themselves for a wild ride getting there –- we're going out with a bang."

Read the LA Times article here.