MOVIE REVIEW: AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER

 

Jake Sully and Ney'tiri have formed a family and are doing everything to stay together. However, they must leave their home and explore the regions of Pandora. When an ancient threat resurfaces, Jake must fight a difficult war against the humans.

Director: James Cameron

Cast: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Stephen Lang, Joel David Moore, CCH Pounder, Giovanni Ribisi, Dileep Rao, Matt Gerald, Sigourney Weaver, Kate Winslet, Cliff Curtis, Edie Falco, Jemaine Clement, Brendan Cowell

Release Date: December 16, 2022 

Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Sci-Fi

Rated PG-13 for sequences of strong violence and intense action, partial nudity and some strong language

Runtime: 3h 12m

The first Avatar was a huge film and leave it to James Cameron to deliver a larger more immersive experience with the sequel Avatar: The Way of Water.  Cameron's film delivers some truly awe-inspiring visuals which feel like another high point in technical achievement akin to Star Wars or Jurassic Park.  So much so that this is the first film since the original Avatar that'd I'd recommend be seen in 3D.  The massive world that is painted onscreen is so incredibly detailed and vibrant that it's almost overwhelming.  Cameron is fully aware of what he's achieved and reiterates the point with a handful of "wow" sequences which simply serve to show off the technical tenacity even if it doesn't do much for the actual story.  The story does tend to take a backseat to the overall experience almost to a detriment.  

This entry's plot focuses more on family/legacy drama with splashes of the overreaching conflict from the original.  It’s fairly straightforward with nearly everything playing out the way you'd expect with a scant amount of surprises.  It doesn't help matters that the story is so large and expansive that it lacks a defined focus even with a heavy emphasis on characters.  Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldaña's characters from the original still anchor the film but they play more of a secondary supporting role here with the film focusing more time on their children. 

Those characters are lead by Sigourney Weaver, Jamie Flatters and Britain Dalton and do their best with fairly clichéd roles.  Their characters are the film's focus, but they are never as engaging as they should be.  Stephen Lang fairs slightly better here as the resurrected Na'vi avatar of Colonel Miles Quaritch.  Lang, again, nails the gruff, laser focused solider with the script adding a subplot with his son who's gone native in his absence. His son, Miles "Spider" Socorro, played by Jack Champion is one of those characters that stands out for all the wrong reasons.  Champion isn't a strong enough of a performer to make the character work even though he serves an important role in the story.  It’s a shame because it does take you of the moment every time he pops up on screen.  

It’s one of the few glaring missteps overall but it's easy to overlook especially once the final act starts.  Cameron delivers a hodgepodge of his greatest hits by borrowing moments and beats from Aliens, The Abyss, Terminator and Titanic in a rousing finale which reminds you why he's one of the best big film directors in history.  Avatar: The Way of Water is a testament to his talent as a director and his ability to deliver the kind of memorable big screen experience which have been lacking in the current glut of superhero.

B+

Cindy Prascik Reviews of Selma & Taken 3

Dearest Blog, this weekend my cinema surprised me with three new(ish) releases. In an attempt at responsible behavior, I saw two of said new releases rather than just seeing The Hobbit again. Since I can be just SO responsible, you know it was always gonna be Taken 3 and whichever awards hopeful worked best with Taken 3, which happened to be Selma.

Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers.

First on my agenda was Selma.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. leads a march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, in an attempt to assure equal voting rights.

Well, dear reader(s), I don't really have adequate words for Selma, other than to say it should be required viewing for everyone, period. Based on actual events that are often difficult to watch, the movie still manages to entertain as it inspires.

The performances are extraordinary, with David Oyelowo leading the way in an Oscar-worthy turn.

Tim Roth is also especially noteworthy as Alabama Governor George Wallace.

The story moves at a good clip and is peppered with rousing monologues. There were times I actually jumped in my seat at the violence, even knowing what was coming. The movie's historical accuracy has been called into question a bit, but there's no denying Selma is a fantastic film with a vital message.

Selma runs 128 minutes and is rated PG13 for "disturbing thematic material including violence, a suggestive moment, and brief strong language."

Whether it wins any of the big prizes remains to be seen, but Selma is likely the most important movie you'll watch this year.

Of a possible nine Weasleys, Selma gets eight and a half.

Next up was the final (?) installment in Liam Neeson's Taken trilogy.

Accused of murder, Bryan Mills sets out to clear his name and protect his family.

So...you say "Taken 3" and people just kinda roll their eyes.

How many times can this happen to the same guy, right? If you're willing to suspend your disbelief, though, Taken 3 is self-aware good fun. Liam Neeson is in top ass-kicking form, managing lots of awesomely ridiculous escapes and delivering plenty of crowd-pleasing kills.

The rest of the cast--including Academy Award winner Forest Whitaker--is fine, but, if we're being honest, they could be marionettes for all it matters; it's Neeson's show and as long as he's outsmarting baddies and beating them to a pulp, you don't much care about anything else.

The movie has spectacular action sequences, well-choreographed fight scenes, a fair few laugh-out-loud moments, a satisfying--if predictable--final act, and is smart enough not to wear out its welcome.

With even half-reasonable expectations, you're guaranteed a fun couple hours.

Taken 3 runs 109 minutes and is rated PG13 for "intense sequences of violence and action, and for brief strong language."

If you're in the market for a bit of brainless entertainment, it doesn't get much more brainless or much more entertaining than this.

Of a possible nine Weasleys, Taken 3 gets six.

Until next time...

MOVIE REVIEW: SELMA

David Oyelowo stars as Martin Luther King Jr. in this historical drama set during the height of the American civil-rights movement, and depicting the marches from Selma, AL, to the state capital of Montgomery to secure voting rights for black people. Brad Pitt and Oprah Winfrey produce and Ava DuVernay (I Will Follow, Middle of Nowhere) directs. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Director: Ava DuVernay 

Cast: David Oyelowo, Tom Wilkinson, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Carmen Ejogo, Alessandro Nivola, Giovanni Ribisi

Release Date: Dec 25, 2014

Rated PG-13 for Brief Strong Language, A Suggestive Moment, Disturbing Thematic Material and Violence 

Runtime: 2 hr. 8 min. 

Genres: Drama 

Review:

Selma is an excellent film which captures the 60’s civil rights movement but feels timely at the same time.  Ava DuVernay’s direction, helped by some beautiful and evocative cinematography, provides immediacy to the entire story.  As a result the film rarely drags even though there are a few moments where it could have been trimmed, just a tad.  At the center of it all is a mesmerizing David Oyelowo who delivers a career making performance as King.  Oyelowo captures King’s voice inflections perfectly but it’s more than just mimicry.  The script gives us a King that’s very human and Oyelowo brings that to the screen perfectly.  We see the passion, some of the failings and pain King went through along with some wonderfully engrossing reenactments of famous speeches.  The rest of the cast was strong with nary a weak link in the cast even though I’d love to have seen a bit more of King’s relationship with his wife, played well by Carmen Ejogo.  Selma is a sure fire awards candidate, it’s also the type of film that may make your eyes well up on more than a few occasions.

A-

MOVIE REVIEW: A MILLION WAYS TO DIE IN THE WEST

Mild-mannered sheep farmer Albert Stark (Seth MacFarlane) feels certain that the Western frontier is trying to kill him, then he loses his girlfriend, Louise (Amanda Seyfried), to the town's most successful businessman. However, a beautiful, pistol-packing woman named Anna (Charlize Theron) rides into town and helps Albert find his inner courage. Then Stark must put his newfound bravery to the test when Anna's outlaw husband arrives with plans to plant him in an unmarked grave.

Director: Seth MacFarlane 

Cast: Seth MacFarlane, Charlize Theron, Amanda Seyfried, Giovanni Ribisi, Liam Neeson

Release Date: May 30, 2014

Genres: Comedy Western, Outlaw (Gunfighter) Film, 

Comedy, Western 

Review:

After the surprising success of Ted, my expectation of Seth MacFarlane next live action film were fairly high.  Sadly, A Million Ways to Die in the West doesn’t live up to expectations.  It plays out like an extended “Road to…” episode of Family Guy with very little in the way of innovation, satire or even laughs.  It will bring a grin to your face from time to time but MacFarlane seems to forget he’s making a comedy and seems more interested in making a clichéd western.  Outside of the occasional MacFarlane riffs on how horrible the old west was, there isn’t a ton to the plot.  As a result the story as a whole lacks forward momentum with noticeable dead spots spread across the bloated run time, most obvious during the climax of the forced storyline with MacFarlane and Theron.  A Million Ways to Die in the West is one of those films that has a few false endings and then it drags on for another 20 minutes longer than it should, essentially wasting  Liam Neeson’s screen time.  A few laughs here and there will never replace Blazing Saddles.

C-

MOVIE REVIEW: TED

IN THEATERS

TED




A man wrestles with the lingering consequences of a childhood wish in this live-action comedy from Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane. As a young boy, John Bennett wanted nothing more than for his beloved teddy bear Ted (voice of MacFarlane) to come to life. Incredibly, that wish was granted. But now that John (Mark Wahlberg) is all grown up, his boyhood dream has become a nightmare nuisance. Mila Kunis, Joel McHale, and Giovanni Ribisi co-star. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Director: Seth MacFarlane

Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, Seth MacFarlane, Joel McHale, Giovanni Ribisi.

Release Date: Jun 29, 2012

Rated R for some Drug Use, Pervasive Language and Crude and Sexual Content

Runtime: 1 hr. 46 min.

Genres: Comedy

Review:

If you are familiar with Seth MacFarlane’s brand of humor from Family Guy, American Dad etc… then you’ll know what to expect in his first feature film. It’s very much in keeping with those way lengths, even teetering closely into full crossover with Ted sounding very much like Peter Griffin. MacFarlane transposes a standard rom-com plot; annoying friend comes between couple, and mixes it up with a foul mouthed CGI bear. It’s raucous vulgar and generally a lot of fun. MacFarlane is allowed to go balls to the wall without having to worry about TV censors and it’s pretty much what you’d expect, frat boy humor gone wild. Along the way a certain 80’s cult movie star shows up during a crazy party scene and one of the most hilarious fights I’ve sat through since Borat. It’s all utterly silly and stupid and it never takes itself too seriously. The cast is all game with each actor and actress hitting their marks around an impressively realized CGI star voiced with great gusto by MacFarlane. A few hiccups come in the form of the aforementioned well worn plot and kind of unnecessary subplot that adds an extra 15 minutes to the film that could have been excised without much issue. Regardless, Ted is the kind of comedy that’ll end up on many a shelf when it hits video.

B-

Movie Reviews: AVATAR 3D

Saturday, December 19, 2009
Movie Reviews: AVATAR 3D
IN THEATERS

AVATAR 3D

AVATAR takes us to a spectacular world beyond imagination, where a reluctant hero embarks on an epic adventure, ultimately fighting to save the alien world he has learned to call home. James Cameron, the Oscar-winning director of “Titanic,” first conceived the film 15 years ago, when the means to realize his vision did not exist yet. Now, after four years of production, AVATAR, a live action film with a new generation of special effects, delivers a fully immersive cinematic experience of a new kind, where the revolutionary technology invented to make the film disappears into the emotion of the characters and the sweep of the story.


Cast: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Michelle Rodriguez, Giovanni Ribisi, Joel David Moore


Director: James Cameron


Opened ..December 18, 2009..


Runtime: 2 hr. 30 min.


Rated PG-13 for warfare, intense battle sequences, some smoking, sensuality and language


Genres: Sci-Fi Action, Science Fiction


Review:


James Cameron’s Avatar is a thrilling and mind blowing visual feast for the eyes and ears. It’s the type of film that will leave you with your mouth wide open on more than a few occasions. Cameron’s Pandora and the Na’vi are completely realized creations that feel entirely real and believable the entire way through. The lush landscape and its inhabitants are incredible marvels of technological achievements. This is epic filmmaking in every sense of the word and nothing here is done on a small scale. The environments are massive there isn’t nary a sense that anything was skimped on. While this is Cameron’s crowing achievement in visual and technical feats, the story and characters don’t come anywhere close to living up to them. The plot is a predictable rehash of the “gone native” themes that’s been done plenty of times over the years. The characters are mostly single dimensional and paint by the numbers. Sam Worthington gives a mostly wooden performance throughout but he’s not really done any favors by thread bare scripting. He does his best to emote passion in the last act but it never reaches a believe level. Faring much better is Zoe Saldana who gives life and energy to her CGI Na’vi character. Saldana adds as much depth and pathos to her character as she can. Sigourney Weaver is mostly in Jane Goodall mode for the better part of her time on screen. Stephen Lang plays the one dimensional army head well and I would have liked to have seen what he could have done with a more fleshed out role. Michelle Rodriguez and Giovanni Ribisi are in the film for what amount to extended cameos and neither really adds anything to the goings on. Regardless of the story’s shortcomings, this the type of movie watching experience that will leave an indelible experience and won’t be quickly forgotten. It’s a real disservice to not see this film in 3D as it adds a wonderful level of immersion to the entire thing.


B

Movie Reviews: PUBLIC ENEMIES

Saturday, July 04, 2009
Movie Reviews: PUBLIC ENEMIES
IN THEATERS

PUBLIC ENEMIES

No one could stop Dillinger and his gang. No jail could hold him. His charm and audacious jailbreaks endeared him to almost everyone—from his girlfriend Billie Frechette (Cotillard) to an American public who had no sympathy for the banks that had plunged the country into the Depression. But while the adventures of Dillinger’s gang—later including the sociopathic Baby Face Nelson (Stephen Graham) and Alvin Karpis (Giovanni Ribisi)—thrilled many, Hoover (Billy Crudup) hit on the idea of exploiting the outlaw’s capture as a way to elevate his Bureau of Investigation into the national police force that became the FBI. He made Dillinger America’s first Public Enemy Number One and sent in Purvis, the dashing “Clark Gable of the FBI.’’ However, Dillinger and his gang outwitted and outgunned Purvis’ men in wild chases and shootouts.

Cast: Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, Marion Cotillard, Channing Tatum, Giovanni Ribisi

Director: Michael Mann

Opened ..July 1, 2009..

Runtime: 2 hr. 23 min.

Rated R for gangster violence and some language

Genres: Period Film, Crime Drama, Gangster Film, Crime



Review:




Michael Mann’s Public Enemies is a well polished and measured film that sizzles but never quite boils over. Mann shooting again in HD, which is surprisingly effective considering the subject matter, effectively places the audience into an authentic 1930’s surrounding. His style allows for a sense of immediacy that fits the films subject matter. It gives the film a pop that most big budget action films lack and anyone who’s seen a Michael Mann film knows he’s a thinking man’s crime drama auteur. The action sequences are jarring and never gratuitous; the shootout in the woods is especially effective, allowing the audience to feel the sensation of the collected carnage unleashed by Tommy gun fire. Needless to say Mann knows how to set the table and here he uses his cast wonderfully to populate this meticulously recreated era. Johnny Depp is on center stage here and he’s through effective in a restrained performance as he chooses to avoid the more cartoonish aspects of Dillinger’s persona. Instead, he brings a natural charisma and bravado to the character that standout through fairly subtle movements, it’s definitely a less is more approach that works well for the film. Christian Bale character is as stoic and stiff as an over starched shirt and the script doesn’t allow for much else to do. That being said Bale does take a few opportunities to give his character a bit more depth through some small but noticeable facial expressions during that film’s latter segments. Marion Cotillard does fine work as Dillinger’s love interest even if her accent wavers as much as Depp’s Fedoras. Billy Crudup turns in a scene stealing take as J. Edgar Hoover complete with old time accent and accelerated speech. While the overall production and cast are top notch there is a very apparent detachment from the characters and story. While Mann tries valiantly to put the audience in the room with these characters, something he does very effectively, we feel very little if any connection to these characters. As the film closes the emotional punches don’t hit as hard as they should. Considering Mann’s studious and meticulously process this effect might be quite intentional, simply giving the audience a glimpse at what happened during these last few years of Dillinger’s intriguing life.




B-