MOVIE REVIEW: GLASS ONION: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY

 

Tech billionaire Miles Bron invites his friends for a getaway on his private Greek island. When someone turns up dead, Detective Benoit Blanc is put on the case.

Director: Rian Johnson

Cast: Daniel Craig, Edward Norton, Janelle Monáe, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr., Jessica Henwick, Madelyn Cline, Kate Hudson, Dave Bautista

Release Date: November 23, 2022 

Genre: Comedy, Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller

Rated PG-13 for strong language, some violence, sexual material and drug content

Runtime: 2h 20m

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is the kind of film that pulsates with palatable energy from its cast and director that you can't help but be entranced in the murder mystery at play.  Rian Johnson delivers another sharp and playful mystery for his own Hercule Poirot, Detective Benoit Blanc.  Johnson and Daniel Craig clearly love the material and character with their energy gleefully seeping through the screen.  Craig clearly loves playing the character and his Foghorn Leghorn drawl with this entry finding him refining his persona making him more human even with the outsized attitudes.  He's graced with another solid ensemble cast who all bring their own sort of energy.  They, like Blanc, are all oversized personas representing certain kinds of people from eccentric billionaires like Ed Norton's Miles Bron or Kate Hudson's ditzy supermodel Birdie Jay.  Ethan Hawke shows up for a split second before disappearing entirely which leaves you wondering if a subplot was left on the cutting room floor.  Still, Johnson makes solid use of the rest of the supporting cast throughout the film which likes to play with scenes by telling them from different points of view as the story unfolds.  Each character has their own underlying agenda at play with Janelle Monáe's Cassandra Brand being the crux of the story.  In its final act the film feels reminiscent of the 1985's Clue, a game Blanc hates, with character's motivations being dissected.  The final reveal isn't much of a surprise but that doesn't make it any less fun when the cast in front of the camera and director behind it are clearly having so much fun.   

A-

MOVIE REVIEW: NO TIME TO DIE

 

James Bond is enjoying a tranquil life in Jamaica after leaving active service. However, his peace is short-lived as his old CIA friend, Felix Leiter, shows up and asks for help. The mission to rescue a kidnapped scientist turns out to be far more treacherous than expected, leading Bond on the trail of a mysterious villain who's armed with a dangerous new technology.

Director: Cary Joji Fukunaga

Cast: Daniel Craig, Léa Seydoux, Ben Whishaw, Naomie Harris, Jeffrey Wright, Christoph Waltz, Rory Kinnear, Ralph Fiennes, Rami Malek, Lashana Lynch, Billy Magnussen, Ana de Armas

Release Date: October 8, 2021

Genre: Action, Adventure, Thriller

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, some strong language, disturbing material and suggestive references

Runtime: 2h 43m

Review:

Daniel Craig's much delayed swan song as James Bond, No Time to Die, is an expansive wide-reaching finale that provides a true series capper to his run in the tuxedo.  Cary Joji Fukunaga directs the film with a steady hand, delivering the expected exotic locals and massive set pieces.  Those action set pieces are incredibly fun but mostly relegated to the film's first act before it moves into a heaty bit of exposition in its second act.  Fukunaga's film is visually appealing throughout even in its quieter moments as there's a palpable sense of finality and mortality.  Craig is more comfortable than ever with his world-weary take on the character feeling more at home here even as he drops sly quips with relative ease.  The script works in lighthearted moments even in the mist of more dramatic sequences to keep the entire thing from becoming overbearing.  Craig is able to work both ends of the spectrum easily and having a game supporting cast makes his job all that much easier.  Léa Seydoux returns as his primary love interest though her character doesn't carry as much emotional heft as she should.  Faring much better are Lashana Lynch, Naomie Harris and Ana de Armas who each leaving a strong impression with the film giving them ample time to shine.  Rami Malek though is saddled with undercooked villain who reeks of the worst clichés of Bond villains complete with a secret island base.  The script works in large portions of the film as it caps off story threads from Craig's run but it's also unfocused, causing the film to drag in its nearly 3 hour runtime which borders on attrition.  Those issues aside, No Time to Die brings a solid sense of closure and completion rarely seen in the Bond franchise

B

Cindy Prascik's Review of Knives Out

This weekend the cinema offered one of my most hotly-anticipated titles of the year: Rian Johnson's Knives Out.

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

When a well-to-do author dies a suspicious death, a private investigator attempts to unravel the case while the millionaire's family fights over his estate.

Knives Out is a proper, original murder mystery, with a layered story and plenty of clever twists to keep the audience engaged. Set almost entirely in a Clue-like old mansion, the atmosphere is almost equal parts lush and creepy, with a healthy side of humor. The all-star cast includes such luminaries as Jamie Lee Curtis, Christopher Plummer, Michael Shannon, Chris Evans, Daniel Craig, LaKeith Stanfield, Toni Collette, and Don Johnson. Most are very good, with Evans turning in a particularly fun performance. Collette, unfortunately, is woefully miscast to the point of being distracting. Neither mattered as much to me as having Don Johnson on my screen. Knives Out is deliberately paced enough to border on too slow, making the two-plus hour runtime seem somewhat longer, and there's an uncomfortable political interlude that serves a purpose, but (for my money) not enough of a purpose to justify what it costs the picture. Overall, I didn't love Knives Out as much as I'd hoped, but--without spoiling any particulars--I think that's more down to it not playing out as I'd have liked than to any shortcomings as a film.

Knives out clocks in at 130 minutes and is rated PG13 for "thematic elements including brief violence, some strong language, sexual references, and drug material."

Knives Out is a sharp, darkly funny mystery that can rightly be counted among the year's best movies. Of a possible nine Weasleys, Knives Out gets eight.

Fangirl points: In addition to Gordon Lightfoot's "Sundown" featuring on the soundtrack, Knives Out name-checks the musical Hamilton and the movie Baby Driver. Win/win/win. Also, in case you missed it before: DON JOHNSON.

Until next time...

MOVIE REVIEW: KNIVES OUT

A detective and a trooper travel to a lush estate to interview the quirky relatives of a patriarch who died during his 85th birthday celebration.

Director: Rian Johnson

Cast: Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon, Don Johnson, Toni Collette, Lakeith Stanfield, Katherine Langford, Jaeden Martell, Christopher Plummer

Release Date: November 27, 2019

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements including brief violence, some strong language, sexual references, and drug material

Runtime: 2 hr. 10 min.

Genres: Comedy, Crime, Drama

Review:

Rian Johnson’s Knives Out is a refreshing throwback to those old school ensemble films based on Agatha Christie books.  Johnson’s plot bears a lot of resemblances to those types of films and he stacks his film with a wonderful motley crew of possible culprits.  His direction moves the film at a brisk pace with only a few dead spots in the final reel.  The crisp direction keeps your eyes peeled to every detail as you start trying to piece together the truth.  Some of these types of film tend to cheat the story by using unbelievable twist; thankfully this story is a bit more honest.  If there’s one drawback to that approach it’s that the central mystery isn’t all that complex and pretty easy to figure out before it’s all laid out on screen.  It’s not a major drawback but those looking for a strong mystery will be left wanting.  The film’s biggest asset is its stellar cast who each seem to be having a ball in each of their roles.  Daniel Craig’s turn as a Foghorn Leghorn sounding detective is just incredibly fun and you sort of wonder why the story didn’t use him as the central point of the film.  Instead he’s on the boundaries of the story playing a larger part in its finale.  Instead it’s Ana de Armas character who is the focal point of the story and she delivers a solid performance in the midst of bigger names.  Sadly, the supporting players like Toni Collette, Jamie Lee Curtis and Michael Shannon are left with precious slivers of screen time to shine.  Still they all make the most of it and deliver a fun film across the board that feels like a lesser version of the movie Clue.

B

MOVIE REVIEW: LOGAN LUCKY

West Virginia family man Jimmy Logan teams up with his one-armed brother Clyde and sister Mellie to steal money from the Charlotte Motor Speedway in North Carolina. Jimmy also recruits demolition expert Joe Bang to help them break into the track's underground system. Complications arise when a mix-up forces the crew to pull off the heist during a popular NASCAR race while also trying to dodge a relentless FBI agent.
Director: Steven Soderbergh

Cast: Channing Tatum, Adam Driver, Daniel Craig, Katie Holmes, Riley Keough

Release Date: Aug 18, 2017

Genres: Comedy, Crime, Drama

Rated PG-13 for language and some crude comments

Review:

Logan Lucky is a fun energetic return for Steven Soderbergh after a 4 year “retirement.”  This heist caper is like a Dixie styled Ocean’s 11 with a good sense of fun.  It never takes itself too serious and knows how to keep the audiences attention from waning.  Soderbergh’s direction is slick as always, resulting in a breezy film that never really feels long or hits many dips in energy.  The cast is all fully committed with each member giving a fun if occasionally understated performances, except for Daniel Craig who’s clearly having a ball.  Most of the characters are broadly drawn but they do their job in service of  the story.  Only a handful of them feel out of place like Seth McFarland over the top Nascar owner and Hilary Swank’s under baked FBI agent who shows up far to late in the game to be taken seriously.  Still, Logan Lucky a welcome return for Soderbergh and his film making style.

B+

Cindy Prascik's The Hitman’s Bodyguard & Logan Lucky

Dearest Blog: Yesterday it was off to Marquee Cinemas for the promising pair of The Hitman's Bodyguard and Logan Lucky.

 

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

 

First up: The Hitman's Bodyguard.

 

When a former assassin's testimony is needed at the International Criminal Court, it's up to a disgraced personal security expert to get him there safely.

 

The Hitman's Bodyguard is exactly as advertised, a thrilling and wildly funny action-comedy. Co-stars Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson have as much chemistry as the best buddy-comedy pairs, easily playing off one another in hilarious fashion. Gary Oldman digs his cartoonish bad-guy schtick out of storage for a broad, accented turn reminiscent of his mid-90s meat and potatoes. He's not really in the movie as much as I'd have liked, but, as always, he puts his screen time to good use. Action is almost non-stop, though the story beneath never feels underdone. Pretty European locales and a multi-cultural cast give the film a nice international flavor. Only the final chase scene seems to drag on just a bit too long; otherwise, the movie is a perfect balance of well-crafted action and foul-mouthed comedy.

 

The Hitman's Bodyguard clocks in at 118 minutes and is rated R for "strong violence and language throughout."

 

The Hitman's Bodyguard is a rollicking end-of-summer blast. Of a possible nine Weasleys, The Hitman's Bodyguard gets eight.

 

Fangirl points: GARY! (Duh.)

 

Next on the docket: Logan Lucky.

 

A pair of small-town brothers attempts to rob Charlotte Motor Speedway.

 

Dear reader(s), I'll consider it more a warning than a spoiler to tell you one thing about Logan Lucky that you probably didn't guess from the trailer: It's not really a comedy. It's amusing at times, and the overall tone certainly isn't heavy, but it is not the laugh-riot promised by the trailer.

 

Logan Lucky IS a clever, well-acted yarn about a down-on-his-luck West Virginia boy (Channing Tatum) who conscripts his brother (Adam Driver) into a wild plot to rob Charlotte Motor Speedway. The brothers enlist an "in-car-cer-rated" felon (Daniel Craig, playing delightfully against type) to assist with the scheme, which obviously doesn't go entirely as planned, or there'd be no movie. The terrific cast is rounded out by Katie Holmes, Riley Keough, Seth McFarlane, Katherine Waterston, Dwight Yoakam, and Sebastian Stan in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it turn. When Logan Lucky is funny, it's really funny, but unfortunately you've already seen most of what's really funny in the trailer. The twists and turns along our would-be robbers' path are well-plotted and certainly not boring, but the movie is so unlike its advertising that the whole can't help feeling kinda dull.

 

Logan Lucky runs 119 minutes and is rated PG13 for "language and some crude comments."

 

Logan Lucky is a smartly-crafted heist picture whose impact is sadly diminished by misleading advertising. 

 

Of a possible nine Weasleys, Logan Lucky gets six.

 

Fangirl points: Sebastian Stan! 

 

Also, however much it may have been intended to make fun of us, a roomful of people singing Country Roads will always put a teardrop in my eye.

 

Until next time...

Cindy Prascik's Reviews of The Peanuts Movie & Spectre

Dearest Blog: Yesterday it was off to Marquee Cinemas for the latest offerings from a pair of iconic franchises: The Peanuts Movie and Spectre.

 

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

 

First up: Hapless Charlie Brown tries to reinvent himself in The Peanuts Movie.

 

As animation goes, The Peanuts Movie is classically cartoonish, nothing revolutionary. If you pay to see it in 3D, you've probably wasted your money; you'd do better to put the extra two bucks towards a second 2D screening. That out of the way, The Peanuts Movie is otherwise PERFECT. The story is classic Peanuts: luckless Charlie Brown attempts to impress the Little Red-Haired Girl. 

 

That sounds pretty thin, but the film--even including an Ice Age short--is barely longer than your average TV special, and the main storyline is spelled by chapters of the WWI Flying Ace's never-ending battle with the Red Baron, so it holds up just fine. There's nothing in the movie that requires viewers to have previous Peanuts knowledge, but if you're a fan...boy are you going to be happy. 

 

This movie has absolutely everything a Peanuts lover could want...Vince Guaraldi's musical themes, Lucy's "Psychiatric Help" booth, Schroeder's Beethoven obsession, and "Sirs" and "Blockheads" to spare...hell, even Marcie and Franklin get a decent amount of screen time! Nostalgia is laid on good and thick, but not in a patronizing way that detracts from what's overall a delightful film for the entire family. The Peanuts Movie also bears a lesson about self-worth that's important, but never overbearing. My theatre gave the movie an enthusiastic round of applause as the end-credits rolled.

 

The Peanuts Movie runs 93 minutes and is rated G.

 

When classic properties are remade or rebooted, the Internet is fond of saying: "Childhood: ruined;" however, in the case of The Peanuts Movie, it's more like Childhood: regained. 

 

Of a possible nine Weasleys, The Peanuts Movie gets eight.

 

Next on the agenda, James Bond's latest outing: Spectre.

 

Bond's past haunts his present as he tries to derail a sinister foe's dastardly plan.

 

Dear Internet Blurbs: Spectre is no Skyfall, we get it. It's still pretty great, though, eh? Well, at least I thought so.

 

Spectre is looooooong...like, almost-two-and-a-half-hours long. I'm always the first to cast the stinkeye at any runtime that exceeds two hours, but in this case it would be an unfair complaint; I'm sure the movie could have been trimmed here or there, but it never feels like it should have been. 

 

The spectacular opening scene--beautifully set in Mexico City during a Dia de los Muertos celebration--sets the tone for what follows: a sexy, funny, sometimes cheesy (in the best way), fast-paced thriller that does the 007 franchise proud. Craig's Bond is on point as both super-spy and ladies' man, with a healthy dose of "haunted by the past" thrown in for good measure. 

 

The supporting cast is terrific, though the always-wonderful Christoph Waltz is MIA for most of the first hour, and I'd hoped for a bit more Ben Whishaw. *sigh* Well-placed humor lightens the tone amid frenetic action sequences, all set against the backdrop of some of the world's most beautiful locations.

 

Spectre clocks in at 148 minutes and is rated PG13 for "intense sequences of action and violence, some disturbing images, sensuality, and language."

 

Spectre may be a less perfect outing than its predecessor, but it's still a lot of fun. 

 

Of a possible nine Weasleys, Spectre gets seven and a half.

 

Until next time...

MOVIE REVIEW: SPECTRE

A cryptic message from Bond's past sends him on a trail to uncover a sinister organization. While M battles political forces to keep the secret service alive, Bond peels back the layers of deceit to reveal the terrible truth behind SPECTRE.

Director: Sam Mendes

Cast: Daniel Craig, Christoph Waltz, Lea Seydoux, Ralph Fiennes, Ben Whishaw, Naomie Harris

Release Date: Nov. 6, 2015

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of action and violence, some disturbing images, sensuality and language

Runtime: 2 hr. 28 min.

Genres: Action, Adventure

Review:

Spectre is a totally serviceable Bond film that hits all the expected beats but rarely surprises.  Coming after Skyfall, which is probably one of the best Bond films, doesn’t help Spectre since the comparisons are unavoidable.  Skyfall felt fresh and had a strong sense of immediacy something Spectre lacks.  Spectre delivers all the globe trotting set pieces and love interest required for a Bond film.  Its biggest issue is that it feels rather paint by the numbers throughout.  Even the big reveal feels kind of perfunctory when it should be a jaw dropping moment.  In lesser hands this would be a total miss but Sam Mendes is an incredibly talented film maker.  He delivers a beautiful film that has some great moments with the opening sequence in Mexico City and a thrilling chase in the Austrian mountains leaving the biggest impression.  For all the grumpiness during the press tour, Daniel Craig delivers another strong performance as Bond.  I’ve always enjoyed the level of intensity that he’s brought to the role, something that’s been missing from previous incarnations.  Bond’s supporting cast gets some slightly expanded roles with Ben Whishaw bringing some much needed to energy to the middle portions of the film.  Sadly, some of the new faces like Christoph Waltz, Lea Seydoux, doing her best Eva Green impression, and Monica Belluci are woefully underused.  Christoph Waltz was born to play a Bond villain but he’s left on the sidelines for the better part of the film meandering runtime.  Spectre has a steady sense of finality for Craig’s run as Bond which is a shame on so many levels.  Sadly, Spectre stands closer to Quantum of Solace instead of a worthy follow up to Skyfall.

C+

MOVIE REVIEW: SKYFALL

SKYFALL




007 (Daniel Craig) becomes M's only ally as MI6 comes under attack, and a mysterious new villain emerges with a diabolical plan. James Bond's latest mission has gone horribly awry, resulting in the exposure of several undercover agents, and an all-out attack on M16. Meanwhile, as M (Judi Dench) plans to relocate the agency, emerging Chairman of the Intelligence and Security Committee Mallory (Ralph Fiennes) raises concerns about her competence while attempting to usurp her position and Q (Ben Whishaw) becomes a crucial ally. Now the only person who can restore M's reputation is 007. The film was directed by Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Revolutionary Road) and shot by acclaimed cinematographer Roger Deakins (True Grit, The Reader, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford). ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Release Date: Nov 09, 2012

Rated PG-13 for language, Intense Violent Sequences, Smoking and Some Sexuality

Runtime: 2 hr. 23 min.

Genres: Action/Adventure, Suspense/Thriller

Director: Sam Mendes

Cast: Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes, Judi Dench, Naomie Harris, Ben
Whishaw

Review:

Roger Moore’s take on James Bond still sticks in my mind whenever the series pops out another entry into the long running series. Moore was the Bond of my childhood and while some of it was enjoyable it never really did much for me as a series or character. So much so that I skipped the entire Dalton and Brosnan iterations of the character, the latter of which fell into some of the sillier set ups and situations. Craig’s take on the other hand, I rather enjoyed even with the overly self serious mess that is Quantum of Solace. That misstep seems like a distant memory with Skyfall, it cover so much franchise territory that it feels like the perfect Bond flick, doubly so with this being the 50th anniversary. Sam Mendes direction is superb, his love of the series seeps through every moment of the film. Skyfall is a visually stunning film, thanks to some truly impressive cinematography from Roger Deakins. The entire production could be seen as a love letter to the franchise as a whole, yet it works perfectly as a film and story in of itself. Mendes lets the plot breathe, never letting it get too serious dour or overdone. He moves it all forward at a steady pace and delivers an experience which never feels its 2 and ½ hours. Action set pieces are all very strong, especially the opening sequence which start thing off on a great note. Craig comfortably steps back into Bond’s tuxedo with ease. He is able to maneuver the character’s nuances, dealing with some deeper character moments very well. Judi Dench is given more to do than just issue orders and sit behind a desk. Her status as Bond’s surrogate mother figure comes into play here, allowing for some great character moments between M and Bond. The newcomers to the series; Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris and Ben Whishaw all make for strong additions with Whishaw making his presence felt in a natural and organic manner for the character and series. Javier Bardem is wonderfully flamboyant and maniacal as the villain. Bardem’s villain encapsulates all the craziness of past Bond villains but adding a great twist to it, he’s hard to take your eyes off when he’s on screen thanks to Bardem’s commitment to his creation. The story itself has enough beef to keep causal and hardcore fans engaged especially with it’s focus on the old fashion ways of doing things.

B+

[Trailers] Skyfall 007 James Bond

The international (my personal favorite) and domestic trailers for James Bond’s next outing are out. Either one looks like a massive upgrade over the last entry (Quantum of Solace) convoluted mess of a film.

The plot looks intriguing with Bardem playing a fun villainous role.

MOVIE REVIEW: THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO

IN THEATERS
THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO



A discredited journalist (Daniel Craig) and a mysterious computer hacker discover that even the wealthiest families have skeletons in their closets while working to solve the mystery of a 40-year-old murder in this David Fincher-directed remake of the 2009 Swedish thriller of the same name. Inspired by late author Stieg Larsson's successful trilogy of books, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo gets under way as the two leads (Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara) are briefed in the disappearance of Harriet Vanger, whose uncle suspects she may have been killed by a member of their own family. The deeper they dig for the truth, however, the greater the risk of being buried alive by members of the family, who will go to great lengths to keep their secrets tightly sealed. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Director: David Fincher

Cast: Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara, Christopher Plummer, Steven Berkoff, Stellan Skarsgård

Release Date: Dec 21, 2011

Rated R for brutal violent content including rape and torture, strong sexuality, graphic nudity, and language

Genres: Suspense/Thriller

Runtime: 2 hr. 38 min.

Review:

Remaking a foreign film that came out in 2009 still kind of boggles the mind but if somebody was going to do it and do it well, David Fincher is probably the right guy to helm it. Personally I’m a fan of the Swedish film trilogy which I found sleek and impressively shot, not to mention the cast with Noomi Rapace leaving the biggest impression. So while it’s hard to not compare and contrast, I’ll try and avoid it as much as possible but it’s unavoidable. Fincher’s film sizzles with his trademark visual style which gives his film an oppressive and grim atmosphere throughout. Fincher seems to be reaching back to his own film, The Game, when dealing with the Vanger’s. A few things change here and there but for the most part, to its detriment, Fincher sticks to the general structure of the Swedish film. Sadly, some of the plot issues that bothered me previously seem amplified here with a choppy story structure especially in the final act which seems to have more ending that the last Lord of the Rings. Still, Fincher does a good job of pacing the film at a steady pace even if there isn’t much tangible action. Fincher handles Lisbeth’s more explicit scenes with impressive style, making it just as shocking even if you’ve seen the Swedish version. Rooney Mara in the role of Lisbeth is a revelation, while I loved Noomi Rapace’s take on the character she had a bit of an issue showing the character’s fragile side. Mara deftly deals with this through simple facial movements, typically with no dialogue. She also plays her rage like a sort of wild animal pushed into a corner; just listen to her manic yelping when restrained. Daniel Craig fills the role of Mikael Blomkvist with a more believable sense of self than Michael Nyqvist in the Swedish version. Some of the issue with Blomkvist is that comes off as kind of aloof, it’s more of an issue with the source material than anything else but Craig does a solid job. Christopher Plummer’s small but pivotal role is well done as he’s clearly on task and having a ball. Stellan Skarsgård seems slightly off and understated for some reason. David Fincher brings it all together and delivers a strong film that, like the original film, works much better off the films leads especially the showcase role of Lisbeth which Mara nails.

B+

[Trailer] David Fincher's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

This new longer, close to 4 minutes, trailer for David Fincher’s remake of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo really hits up on a lot of the major plot points of the story.

Most should seem fairly familiar to those that have seen the Swedish films, which I thought were fairly strong, and while the style is all Fincher I don’t really see all that much derivation is terms of story or character.

Rooney Mara does seem to give off a stronger tough but wounded vibe than Noomi Rapace as Lisbeth. Still think Rapace will be a tough act to follow personally. Daniel Craig does seem like a good fit for Mikael Blomkvist so we shall see, I have a lot of faith in Fincher so I’m very curious to see the final product.

MOVIE REVIEW: COWBOYS AND ALIENS

IN THEATERS

COWBOYS AND ALIENS



Based on the graphic novel by Scott Mitchell Rosenberg, Cowboys & Aliens starts in 1800s Arizona, where the local cowboys, headed by gunslinger Jake Lonergan (Daniel Craig), and the indigenous Apache tribe have been feuding fiercely for quite a while. Their skirmish is interrupted, however, by the appearance of a spaceship, commanded by an alien creature that's bent on enslaving the human race. It's time for a six-gun shoot-out between these cattle rustlers and space invaders, and there might even be a temporary peace between the cowboys and Indians as they both take aim at these extraterrestrial uninvited guests. Jon Favreau directs from a script by Star Trek scribes Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, with help from Lost's Damon Lindelof. Olivia Wilde, Harrison Ford, and Sam Rockwell fill out the headlining cast. ~ Cammila Albertson, Rovi

Director: Jon Favreau

Cast: Daniel Craig, Olivia Wilde, Harrison Ford, Sam Rockwell, Paul Dano

Release Date: Jul 29, 2011

Rated PG-13 for Intense sequences of western and sci-fi action and violence, some partial nudity and a brief crude reference

Runtime: 1 hr. 58 min.

Genres: Action/Adventure, Suspense/Thriller

Review:

Cowboys and Aliens is the type of film that should just reek of fun. A galloping mash up of genres that keeps you excited and thrilled throughout. Instead, Jon Favreau delivers a dour film that rarely thrills and occasionally falls into motionless boredom. As a film, it’s mostly inert moving forward only because it must. The characters are all variations of classic film characters and there’s not much of a twist brought to them here. There’s nothing interesting about any of the characters or particularly deep. This would be entirely forgivable if the spectacle of it all was rousing and exciting. The cast assembled is an impressive collection stars and stellar character actors. Daniel Craig is a sight in his full cowboy get up but he’s not asked to do much but pose and occasionally say something. Harrison Ford seems barely interested in the film or role. His lines are delivered like he’s in a hurry to get off the set. Olivia Wilde isn’t asked to do much but look out of place and then really be out of place in the latter half of the film. Sam Rockwell, Paul Dano, Adam Beach, Keith Carradine, Walton Goggins and David O’Hara would all make a hell of a film in their own right but here’s they’re mostly wasted in pointless bit parts that could have been filled by mannequins. With the assembled talent behind and in front of the camera you’d expect a somewhat passable film by default. Sadly this overlong comic adaptation is devoid of any fun or originality.

D

[Trailer] THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN: THE SECRET OF THE UNICORN

I’ll admit that I’ve got very limited knowledge of the books this is based on. That being said with the star power behind the film (Steven Spielberg & Peter Jackson) it’s kind of hard to dismiss it.

Motion capture, Avatar aside, has been kind of hit or miss but this seems to keep with the art style of the books giving it a more stylized look than say Beowulf, A Christmas Carol or The Polar Express.

Regardless it looks like an interesting endeavor even if this teaser doesn’t really show much.

[Trailer] Cowboys & Aliens

New full trailer is out and it gives you a better idea of what to expect from this Western / Sci-Fi Hybrid.

The original teaser trailer intrigued me but this full trailer got me pretty excited, looks like a good time all around with a solid cast, should be fun!

Cowboys & Aliens Trailer