I don't know why it's taken me so long to watch True Grit. My goal this year was to watch every Oscar Nominated film for Best Picture, and I failed up until now. True Grit is a perfectly emotional Western that hits every right note to make one great film.
Now, True Grit is based on a novel of the same name, and it follows the novel very well, or so I'm heard. The story follows a young woman by the name of Mattie Ross, who tells the story of when her father was killed by a Mr. Tom Cheney, when she was just 14 years old. The story is told through her eyes, and follows her journey to avenge her father's death. She does this with the reluctant help of Deputy Marshal Rooster Cogburn, who insists that she shouldn't tag along. She does so, anyways, and the duo sets off in search of Cheney. Meanwhile, a ranger named LeBouef, who is pursuing Cheney for his own reasons, lends them a hand along the way. This puts the plot in full swing, as they travel across rugged Texas land in hot pursuit. Being a road movie, it's important that the plot never drags. Thankfully, it doesn't, and the pacing is excellent, balancing between more subtle quieter scenes within a cabin, and crazy gunfire chases in the old West. It's this element that makes the film great, since it's never rushed. All this great pacing leads up to an excellent confrontation with Cheney and his goons, and you'll smile seeing your favorite characters aid each other, especially one heartfelt scene between Mattie and Rooster, which puts Mattie's life in danger.
With such an excellent plot, you must expect excellent acting. Like always, the Coen Brothers deliver, and I haven't seen a better cast for any movie in a long time. Jeff Bridges is the star of the show, playing Rooster, and Bridges delivers a fantastic role. He balances humor with stern and care, and his character and Steinfeld's really interact, almost to the point of calling them related. It's truly a wonder to see these two on screen, since they give such a sincere and relatable performance as their relationship throbs up and down. 14 year old breakout star Hailee Steinfeld gives a phenomenal performance as Mattie Ross, and it's no wonder why her role got her an Oscar Nomination. Matt Damon also gives a great role as LeBouef, but his character is never really fleshed out, and is sort of just there for the ride. You'll want him to be developed more, but it never really happens. Thankfully, we get a phenomenal villain played by Josh Brolin, who, up until now, I never really enjoyed as an actor.
Another surprise from True Grit is its soundtrack. Every piece is fully orchestrated, with soft piano beats and violin riffs rounding it out. One track in particular, titled "The Wicked Flee" is sort of played as the theme song for the film, and it's obvious why. A great piano introduction leads into an astonishing orchestra melody, and its emotional quality is surreal.
True Grit is that rare Western that stumbles along and astonishes us all. With a great plot, astounding acting, and a beautiful soundtrack, it's clear why True Grit is receiving all the praise, and it tops my list for best Western film of all time.
Overall: 4.5/5.0
Friday, July 22, 2011
Friday, July 15, 2011
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part Two Review
My childhood consisted mostly of Harry Potter, Harry Potter, and more Harry Potter. Ever since my mom read me the first book in the series, Harry Potter became more than obsession for me, it became fandom. I've followed the series extensively, going to almost every midnight book release, and many, many midnight movie releases. So, it's safe to say that I'm a huge fan, and had enormous hopes for the finale of the franchise. I can say this: it certainly delivers.
I think that most of us know the plot by now. Voldemort has just gotten the Elder Wand, and Harry and Co. are searching for the remaining horcruxes. This starts with an intense break-in to Gringotts Bank, which is very intense and well done. Once the trio breaks into Hogwarts, that's when things begin. The Battle of Hogwarts is not only the most action-packed sequence in any movie so far, but it sets the stage for some emotional setbacks, so get the kleenexes ready. We also delve deep into Severus Snape's story, and see where his true loyalties lie, and these were among my favorite scenes in the movie. We see our heros journey back to past areas of Hogwarts untouched, like the Chamber of Secrets, and the Room of Requirement, which makes for some blast-to-the-past moments that everyone will enjoy. We even meet new characters, in the form of Aberforth Dumbledore, who helps Harry break into Hogwarts, and the Grey Lady, Ravenclaw's ghost who hides a dark secret. After the dust settles, the film is over, and we get a fun epilogue showing our heros ship their kids off to Hogwarts 19 years later. It's fun to see each character older, and this makes for some theater laughs, as well as some cries.
Being the last film in the franchise, and part two of the seventh book, pacing is key for this movie to succeed. David Yates does a great job of balancing action with more calmer scenes, and this is well appreciated. Some scenes are a bit rushed, especially the Gringotts scene, but the Hogwarts Battle is very in-depth and extensive, down to each character's demise. You'll appreciate the attention to detail that is thrown in, and fans of the book will be in for a special treat. Of course, as a book-to-movie film, there has to be some sacrifices here in there in terms of story. I won't spoil anything, but the producers have done a great job of pretending like nothing was changed, and, in my opinion, some changes were even for the better, and make the movie flow much more effectively. Some character's deaths are glossed over with a brush of the hand, which is disappointing, and just seeing their dead corpse on the ground isn't enough to get emotional about. There is one scene, however, that trumps all the rest, and it involves none other than Mr. Severus Snape, who happens to be my favorite character. Like I said earlier, we jump into his backstory, and a very long scene with his memories being shown is very, very emotional.
Acting in Part II couldn't be any better. We've grown up with this trio, and watched them learn and grow as young actors, which only adds to the emotional quality of the film. Daniel Radcliffe has probably grown the most, and in the stunning conclusion in the Forbidden Forest and at King's Cross, we really see his culmination of all his previous work in past Potter films. Rupert Grint and Emma Watson, too, have grown immensely, and we finally see how those two end up. Alan Rickman gives an Oscar-worthy performance as Snape, and it's still a wonder to me of why he's gotten no recognition for this fine role that he's played over the years. Even Michael Gambon, who plays Dumbledore, gets a lot of screen time, what with his character being dead. In one of my favorite scenes, Harry and Dumbledore take a walk through the station, just as friends, and just talk. Other standouts include Tom Felton as Draco and his cast of family, who get to show their allegiance, and they show it quite well. One of the best performances in Ralph Fiennes, as Lord Voldemort, who I think is finally represented as the evil villain in this one, and the final showdown between him and Harry is a sight to behold. One thing about the acting that I really loved was that past Hogwarts friends got a lot of scenes to show their worth. Professor McGonagall, one of my favorites, gets a host of laughs, as she leads the professors in protecting the castle. Slughorn, Flitwick, and even Mr. Filch get well-deserved screen time, and it's a treat to see your favortie professors aid in the battle. Other characters like Neville, Luna, Ginny, and even Seamus and Dean get many scenes, which is well appreciated and will make you laugh out loud, especially when Seamus and Neville blow up a bridge. Neville's final showdown with Voldemort's snake, Nigini, is also a great spectacle.
Of course, being the Battle of Hogwarts, expect a lot of explosions and rubble. It's a sight seeing Voldemort and his Death Eaters cast spell after spell at the castle's protective barrier, and seeing it fall apart acts like a ticking clock for Harry and friends. Seeing the Hogwarts set in pieces is very depressing, especially since we've all grown to love the castle and all its nooks and crannies. Special effects are very well done, and wand flair has received an added touch since previous films, which should be noted. The film was also shot in 3D, so if you get the chance to see it in 3D, definitely do so, as the movie benefits well from it. One gripe about the visuals that I noted is that some characters, mainly villains, kind of just explode into confetti when they die, which is sort of nonsensical, but once again, it's a very minor gripe. Alexandre Desplat also reprises his role as conductor, and the soundtrack is just as good as it was in Part One, balancing emotion with action. We even get to hear past tunes that really bring back memories, like Hedwig's Theme, and the Platform 9 and 3/4 tune.
As the end of an era of wizards, Harry and company get a proper sendoff in the form of Deathly Hallows Part Two. The pacing is excellent, the acting is superb, and the emotional quality that this film can possess is beyond me. Luckily for us, Harry Potter is not over. If you are a true Potter fan then you will listen to the great words of Albus Dumbledore: 'I will only truly have left this school when none here are loyal to me...', 'To the well organized mind, death is but the next great adventure.' The Harry Potter phenomenon isn't going to die, but rather move on, away from the actors and movies. With Pottermore, the theme park, and maybe even more books, Jo knows how to keep fans at bay. Now that the Potter movies are finished, there's only one thing left to say: Mischief Managed
Overall: 5.0/5.0
I think that most of us know the plot by now. Voldemort has just gotten the Elder Wand, and Harry and Co. are searching for the remaining horcruxes. This starts with an intense break-in to Gringotts Bank, which is very intense and well done. Once the trio breaks into Hogwarts, that's when things begin. The Battle of Hogwarts is not only the most action-packed sequence in any movie so far, but it sets the stage for some emotional setbacks, so get the kleenexes ready. We also delve deep into Severus Snape's story, and see where his true loyalties lie, and these were among my favorite scenes in the movie. We see our heros journey back to past areas of Hogwarts untouched, like the Chamber of Secrets, and the Room of Requirement, which makes for some blast-to-the-past moments that everyone will enjoy. We even meet new characters, in the form of Aberforth Dumbledore, who helps Harry break into Hogwarts, and the Grey Lady, Ravenclaw's ghost who hides a dark secret. After the dust settles, the film is over, and we get a fun epilogue showing our heros ship their kids off to Hogwarts 19 years later. It's fun to see each character older, and this makes for some theater laughs, as well as some cries.
Being the last film in the franchise, and part two of the seventh book, pacing is key for this movie to succeed. David Yates does a great job of balancing action with more calmer scenes, and this is well appreciated. Some scenes are a bit rushed, especially the Gringotts scene, but the Hogwarts Battle is very in-depth and extensive, down to each character's demise. You'll appreciate the attention to detail that is thrown in, and fans of the book will be in for a special treat. Of course, as a book-to-movie film, there has to be some sacrifices here in there in terms of story. I won't spoil anything, but the producers have done a great job of pretending like nothing was changed, and, in my opinion, some changes were even for the better, and make the movie flow much more effectively. Some character's deaths are glossed over with a brush of the hand, which is disappointing, and just seeing their dead corpse on the ground isn't enough to get emotional about. There is one scene, however, that trumps all the rest, and it involves none other than Mr. Severus Snape, who happens to be my favorite character. Like I said earlier, we jump into his backstory, and a very long scene with his memories being shown is very, very emotional.
Acting in Part II couldn't be any better. We've grown up with this trio, and watched them learn and grow as young actors, which only adds to the emotional quality of the film. Daniel Radcliffe has probably grown the most, and in the stunning conclusion in the Forbidden Forest and at King's Cross, we really see his culmination of all his previous work in past Potter films. Rupert Grint and Emma Watson, too, have grown immensely, and we finally see how those two end up. Alan Rickman gives an Oscar-worthy performance as Snape, and it's still a wonder to me of why he's gotten no recognition for this fine role that he's played over the years. Even Michael Gambon, who plays Dumbledore, gets a lot of screen time, what with his character being dead. In one of my favorite scenes, Harry and Dumbledore take a walk through the station, just as friends, and just talk. Other standouts include Tom Felton as Draco and his cast of family, who get to show their allegiance, and they show it quite well. One of the best performances in Ralph Fiennes, as Lord Voldemort, who I think is finally represented as the evil villain in this one, and the final showdown between him and Harry is a sight to behold. One thing about the acting that I really loved was that past Hogwarts friends got a lot of scenes to show their worth. Professor McGonagall, one of my favorites, gets a host of laughs, as she leads the professors in protecting the castle. Slughorn, Flitwick, and even Mr. Filch get well-deserved screen time, and it's a treat to see your favortie professors aid in the battle. Other characters like Neville, Luna, Ginny, and even Seamus and Dean get many scenes, which is well appreciated and will make you laugh out loud, especially when Seamus and Neville blow up a bridge. Neville's final showdown with Voldemort's snake, Nigini, is also a great spectacle.
Of course, being the Battle of Hogwarts, expect a lot of explosions and rubble. It's a sight seeing Voldemort and his Death Eaters cast spell after spell at the castle's protective barrier, and seeing it fall apart acts like a ticking clock for Harry and friends. Seeing the Hogwarts set in pieces is very depressing, especially since we've all grown to love the castle and all its nooks and crannies. Special effects are very well done, and wand flair has received an added touch since previous films, which should be noted. The film was also shot in 3D, so if you get the chance to see it in 3D, definitely do so, as the movie benefits well from it. One gripe about the visuals that I noted is that some characters, mainly villains, kind of just explode into confetti when they die, which is sort of nonsensical, but once again, it's a very minor gripe. Alexandre Desplat also reprises his role as conductor, and the soundtrack is just as good as it was in Part One, balancing emotion with action. We even get to hear past tunes that really bring back memories, like Hedwig's Theme, and the Platform 9 and 3/4 tune.
As the end of an era of wizards, Harry and company get a proper sendoff in the form of Deathly Hallows Part Two. The pacing is excellent, the acting is superb, and the emotional quality that this film can possess is beyond me. Luckily for us, Harry Potter is not over. If you are a true Potter fan then you will listen to the great words of Albus Dumbledore: 'I will only truly have left this school when none here are loyal to me...', 'To the well organized mind, death is but the next great adventure.' The Harry Potter phenomenon isn't going to die, but rather move on, away from the actors and movies. With Pottermore, the theme park, and maybe even more books, Jo knows how to keep fans at bay. Now that the Potter movies are finished, there's only one thing left to say: Mischief Managed
Overall: 5.0/5.0
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Just Go With It Review
Just Go With It is a fine blend of romance and comedy that anyone can enjoy, but you won't help feeling that the movie is letting you down. The movie wastes your time with unnecessary scenes and characters, but it's still a hilarious movie with its high points.
Danny Maccabee is your typical bachelor plastic surgeon, who has bad luck with women. He enjoys pretending to have families to hook up with women, and it usually ends in just more heartbreak. That is, until he meets Palmer, a math teacher who's got the looks. She finds out about his faking marriage joke, and assumes that he was hiding his marriage, and she leaves. Heartbroken, Danny returns to work, and gets a crazy idea to use his coworker Katherine, and her children, as his pretend family whom he is divorcing from. Reluctantly, Katherine agrees, and we're thrown into a wild ride as the fake family travels to Hawaii, and Danny has a change of heart.
I didn't explain the plot very well, since there is so much to it, because most of it seems unnecessary. We get introduced to pointless characters, that only add comedic elements and nothing else, and it just becomes a bore to follow the plot. There is no reason why Danny's cousin should be thrown in the mix, or Katherine's old nemesis, and the movie just gets boring after that. Also included is a ridiculously stupid hula competition, and I just couldn't help but wonder why we needed this. It's not to say that the plot isn't enjoyable, and it certainly is. It's fun to see Danny and Katherine pretend to be exes, and some of the situations that they end up in are downright hilarious. The ending is predictable, but it shouldn't have ended any other way.
The acting in Just Go With It is great. I normally despise Adam Sandler, and after Happy Gilmore, he just became annoying, and hasn't made a good movie in a long time. He was still annoying here, but he was a great fit for the role of Danny, and it seems just like something that Adam would do in real life. I'm a huge Jennifer Aniston fan, and seeing her play Danny's pretend wife is a real treat. She does a great job, and it brought me back to seeing her as Rachel way back on Friends, which was an added bonus. Brooklyn Decker, whom I haven't seen much, did a decent job as Danny's newest girl, but she wasn't a standout.
Just Go With It is a confusing mess of a plot, and, although enjoyable at many times, you won't get over the fact that most of it is unnecessary. With good acting and a decent plot, Just Go With It is a perfect one-night rental.
Overall: 3.5/5.0
Danny Maccabee is your typical bachelor plastic surgeon, who has bad luck with women. He enjoys pretending to have families to hook up with women, and it usually ends in just more heartbreak. That is, until he meets Palmer, a math teacher who's got the looks. She finds out about his faking marriage joke, and assumes that he was hiding his marriage, and she leaves. Heartbroken, Danny returns to work, and gets a crazy idea to use his coworker Katherine, and her children, as his pretend family whom he is divorcing from. Reluctantly, Katherine agrees, and we're thrown into a wild ride as the fake family travels to Hawaii, and Danny has a change of heart.
I didn't explain the plot very well, since there is so much to it, because most of it seems unnecessary. We get introduced to pointless characters, that only add comedic elements and nothing else, and it just becomes a bore to follow the plot. There is no reason why Danny's cousin should be thrown in the mix, or Katherine's old nemesis, and the movie just gets boring after that. Also included is a ridiculously stupid hula competition, and I just couldn't help but wonder why we needed this. It's not to say that the plot isn't enjoyable, and it certainly is. It's fun to see Danny and Katherine pretend to be exes, and some of the situations that they end up in are downright hilarious. The ending is predictable, but it shouldn't have ended any other way.
The acting in Just Go With It is great. I normally despise Adam Sandler, and after Happy Gilmore, he just became annoying, and hasn't made a good movie in a long time. He was still annoying here, but he was a great fit for the role of Danny, and it seems just like something that Adam would do in real life. I'm a huge Jennifer Aniston fan, and seeing her play Danny's pretend wife is a real treat. She does a great job, and it brought me back to seeing her as Rachel way back on Friends, which was an added bonus. Brooklyn Decker, whom I haven't seen much, did a decent job as Danny's newest girl, but she wasn't a standout.
Just Go With It is a confusing mess of a plot, and, although enjoyable at many times, you won't get over the fact that most of it is unnecessary. With good acting and a decent plot, Just Go With It is a perfect one-night rental.
Overall: 3.5/5.0
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Super Scribblenauts Review
Super Scribblenauts (DS)
The original Scribblenauts was a sleeper hit. Selling over 1 million copies, the game was a spark of creativity and originality, that encouraged different thinking in unique scenarios. The game's "Write Anything. Solve Everything" campaign has been expanded on in the form of Super Scribblenauts, which retains all the original's charm, but leaves you wanting more from the gameplay.
There is little plot in Super Scribblenauts to speak of at all. You play as Maxwell, the young hero tasked with collecting Starites, which are stars scattered around his world. You have the aid of a notebook and pen, within which you can write any word you can think of, and it will come to life in the game and help you with your objective. Each level plays out differently, and they all have different goals that will make the Starite available. For example, you may need to find something in common between three people. This is where you use your brain, and you can write whatever you need to help you reach your goals.
This mechanic works flawlessly, just like it did in the original, and it's this mechanic that you'll use to advance through the games numerous levels. It's only a shame, that there wasn't more to it. It's just like the original, plus adjectives. In terms of replay value, there isn't much here. You're encouraged to replay each level three times, and be creative in each one, but there isn't much incentive and the reward is unsatisfying. Thankfully, the level creator has been revamped. Instead of editing previous levels, you can now create your own from scratch, and it's a lot of fun designing interesting scenarios that you can share with friends. It does have its problems, and there are limitations to what you can do, but it's still a fun diversion.
New in the sequel is the ability to write adjectives, that help modify your items to make them more specific. There are special adjective-based levels that are loads of fun, and you'll laugh out loud at some of the combinations you can create. As if a plaid elephant isn't funny enough, you can even add more than one adjective and get crazy with it. Adjectives are a lot of fun, and it's a shame that they aren't used more often. The controls in the original Scribblenauts were a mess. Stylus control for Maxwell didn't work at all, almost to the point of frustration. Thankfully, in the sequel, you have the option to use the DS's d-pad, which works ten times better. This is a welcome addition that is definitely for the better.
The visuals in Super Scribblenauts are simple, but purposely. The cartoony-drawn style of animation seen in the game is a lot of fun, but some items look really stupid, and sometimes they don't behave as you'd expect. The music in the game is clean and fun, with the main theme sticking out as the star.
Super Scribblenauts is every bit worthy of this sequel to its predecessor. The game's writing mechanic has been untouched for the better, and, although you'll want more, it's still a fun game that is worth your time.
Pros:
Brilliant Writing Mechanic
Updated Controls
Great Tunes
Level Creator Works Great
Cons:
Not Much To Do After
Weak Visuals
Overall: 7.5/10.0
The original Scribblenauts was a sleeper hit. Selling over 1 million copies, the game was a spark of creativity and originality, that encouraged different thinking in unique scenarios. The game's "Write Anything. Solve Everything" campaign has been expanded on in the form of Super Scribblenauts, which retains all the original's charm, but leaves you wanting more from the gameplay.
There is little plot in Super Scribblenauts to speak of at all. You play as Maxwell, the young hero tasked with collecting Starites, which are stars scattered around his world. You have the aid of a notebook and pen, within which you can write any word you can think of, and it will come to life in the game and help you with your objective. Each level plays out differently, and they all have different goals that will make the Starite available. For example, you may need to find something in common between three people. This is where you use your brain, and you can write whatever you need to help you reach your goals.
This mechanic works flawlessly, just like it did in the original, and it's this mechanic that you'll use to advance through the games numerous levels. It's only a shame, that there wasn't more to it. It's just like the original, plus adjectives. In terms of replay value, there isn't much here. You're encouraged to replay each level three times, and be creative in each one, but there isn't much incentive and the reward is unsatisfying. Thankfully, the level creator has been revamped. Instead of editing previous levels, you can now create your own from scratch, and it's a lot of fun designing interesting scenarios that you can share with friends. It does have its problems, and there are limitations to what you can do, but it's still a fun diversion.
New in the sequel is the ability to write adjectives, that help modify your items to make them more specific. There are special adjective-based levels that are loads of fun, and you'll laugh out loud at some of the combinations you can create. As if a plaid elephant isn't funny enough, you can even add more than one adjective and get crazy with it. Adjectives are a lot of fun, and it's a shame that they aren't used more often. The controls in the original Scribblenauts were a mess. Stylus control for Maxwell didn't work at all, almost to the point of frustration. Thankfully, in the sequel, you have the option to use the DS's d-pad, which works ten times better. This is a welcome addition that is definitely for the better.
The visuals in Super Scribblenauts are simple, but purposely. The cartoony-drawn style of animation seen in the game is a lot of fun, but some items look really stupid, and sometimes they don't behave as you'd expect. The music in the game is clean and fun, with the main theme sticking out as the star.
Super Scribblenauts is every bit worthy of this sequel to its predecessor. The game's writing mechanic has been untouched for the better, and, although you'll want more, it's still a fun game that is worth your time.
Pros:
Brilliant Writing Mechanic
Updated Controls
Great Tunes
Level Creator Works Great
Cons:
Not Much To Do After
Weak Visuals
Overall: 7.5/10.0
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