Sunday, June 17, 2007
Movie Reviews: FANTASTIC FOUR: RISE OF THE SILVER SURFER, BREACH, & GHOST RIDER
IN THEATHERS
FANTASTIC FOUR: RISE OF THE SILVER SURFER
Having just gotten comfortable with their newfound superpowers, Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Woman, the Human Torch and the Thing face a world-devastating threat in the form of the Silver Surfer — a strange being who travels through space on a cosmic surfboard. But while trying to subdue their silvery foe, America's first superhero family discover to their horror that the Surfer is just a herald for an even bigger menace: the planet-devouring Galactus.
Cast Michael Chiklis, Jessica Alba, Ioan Gruffudd, Chris Evans (more)
Director(s) Tim Story
Writer(s) Don Payne
Status In theaters (wide)
Genre(s) Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Release Date June 15, 2007
Running Time 92 minutes
MPAA Rating PG
Review:
Having had no connection or affinity for the comic book version of the Fantastic Four, I enjoyed the first film as a mindless summer fun. The 2nd entry does more or less the same thing and is equally forgettable. The film does deliver what we've come to expect from most comic book movies; large action set pieces, cool characters and a save the world scenario. Gruffudd, Alba, Chiklis and Evans all do a serviceable job, Evans feeling the most comfortable in his role, in reprising their characters. Julian McMahon is back as well, though he's not given very much to do this time around. The script and delivery feels a lot more stilted in this sequel and most situations are played for out right laughs, causing the film to lack any real dramatic weight. The Silver Surfer is introduced but only has about a handful of dialogue and has about as much depth as an empty pool, still his effects are fairly well done and enjoyable to watch in action. Overall this film is fun but quickly forgettable and I can't see anyone dying to see a repeat viewing of it. Not horrible but not memorable either.
C
ON DVD
BREACH
Eric O'Neill's (Ryan Phillippe) dream of becoming a big-time agent in the FBI is finally coming true; he's been promoted to work with renowned operative Robert Hanssen (Chris Cooper). But O'Neill soon realizes that he's supposed to spy on Hanssen — a suspected traitor within the organization.
Cast Chris Cooper, Ryan Phillippe, Kathleen Quinlan, Gary Cole, Laura Linney, Dennis Haysbert (more)
Director(s) Billy Ray
Genre(s) Drama
Release Date Feb. 16, 2007
DVD Release Date June 12, 2007
MPAA Rating PG-13 - for violence, sexual content and language.
Review:
Breach is a well acted tense thriller that excels at visualizing paranoia. The top notch cast doesn't disappoint, Chris Cooper in particular is excellent. Cooper's performance is a deft mix of menace and paranoia. Ryan Phillippe also turns in a very adult performance as his character tries to ensnare Cooper's Hanssen. Laura Linney delivers a solid performance as the head of the investigation team. Breach is impressively directed with surgical precision by sophomore director Billy Ray. As a spy film this is a slower film than most in the genre lacking any real gun play. This might come as a disappointment to some but those that enjoy more cerebral fare will find quiet a bit to enjoy here. One small fault of the film is that the outcome is shown at the start of the film hence stealing some of this films thunder. Still, this is a soild film that engages the audience throughout.
B
GHOST RIDER
The story is based on the Marvel character Johnny Blaze, a motorcycle stuntman who becomes the host of a "spirit of vengeance" in exchange for the safety of his true love. At night he's transformed into a fiery demon with superpowers who chases bad guys.
Cast Nicolas Cage, Wes Bentley, Eva Mendes, Sam Elliott, Peter Fonda, Donal Logue (more)
Director(s) Mark Steven Johnson
Writer(s) Mark Steven Johnson
Status On DVD
Genre(s) Action/Adventure
Release Date Feb. 16, 2007
DVD Release Date June 12, 2007
MPAA Rating PG-13 - for horror, violence, and disturbing images
Review:
Ghost Rider is a painfully embarrassingly bad entry into the comic book genre where everything misses the mark. A stellar cast can't save this woefully acted, directed and scripted film. Cage is in full ham mode as is Fonda in his few brief appearances. Eva Mendes performance is on base with an actress fresh off the bus in Hollywood, by far her worse performance I've experienced. Sam Elliott is Sam Elliott and you can't fault this real life cowboy for collecting a paycheck. Mark Steven Johnson some how crafted a movie that was devoid of any brains and fun and stretched it out for nearly 2 hours worth of head scratching torture. The effects border on decent and chessy most of the time leaning towards the latter. It doesn't help matters that Ghost Rider himself comes off more cartoonish than fearsome. The oddest thing about this movie is that it takes itself fairly seriously while it plays out its campy dialogue and pedestrian plot. Considering the acting talent involved, it's truly a spectacle to behold as it gets progressively worse as it slugs towards it climax.
F
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