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Friday, December 24, 2010
Sunday, December 19, 2010
MOVIE REVIEWS: TRON: LEGACY
IN THEATERS
TRON:LEGACY 3D
The Master Control Program is booted back up in this revamped Tron continuation that sees the return of original star Jeff Bridges as Kevin Flynn, the brilliant computer programmer whose disappearance leads his son, Sam (Garrett Hedlund), to search for him in and out of the computer world. Original director and co-writer Steven Lisberger produces the new film, which is helmed by commercial director Joseph Kosinski. James Frain, Olivia Wilde, Beau Garrett, and Michael Sheen also star, with Bruce Boxleitner returning as Alan Bradley and Tron, the heroic protagonist of the original film. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Cast: Jeff Bridges, Garrett Hedlund, Olivia Wilde, Bruce Boxleitner, Michael Sheen.
Release Date: Dec 17, 2010
Rated: Sequences of sci-fi action violence and brief mild language
Runtime: 2 hr. 7 min.
Genres: Action/Adventure, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Review:
Tron: Legacy is very much like a jaw breaker candy, a cinematic concoction of tightly pressed sugar that’s tasty but difficult to get through and when you’re done you have nothing. That not to say it’s a horrible movie as much as it’s purely a visual experience, similar to the 1982 original. The biggest asset to this film is ascetic, they are amazing to behold especially in 3D. The digital world is a fully realized wonder that’s going to give everyone endless gee whiz moments. The battles whether disk to disk, light cycle or light planes are all thrilling and thoroughly enjoyable. The problem with this film is the script which is thoroughly complex yet incredibly basic and features characters that are thoroughly uninteresting. Rookie director Joseph Kosinski has the visual flair to make the film watchable but his inexperience shine through with the wooden performances he coxed out of his cast. Flat dialogue runs amok throughout the film with Bridges being the only one who doesn’t look like he’s acting. Garrett Hedlund is so disinteresting as the lead her that you kind of wish he’d just stay off the screen. The aforementioned Bridges seems to be having fun or at least seems a little high as he channels The Dude as the elder Flynn. As his villainous doppelganger Clu, with the creepy de-aged digital face which is far from perfect, Bridges is mostly just asked to yell a lot and not much more. Olivia Wilde seems content to pose for the camera since her character is so thinly conceived. Michael Sheen, in a small but memorable role, goes all out in a full camp mode reminding me of a flamboyant Riddler from the 60’s Batman show. Tron: Legacy is a film that follows its predecessor’s footsteps being all flash and no substance.
C-
TRON:LEGACY 3D
The Master Control Program is booted back up in this revamped Tron continuation that sees the return of original star Jeff Bridges as Kevin Flynn, the brilliant computer programmer whose disappearance leads his son, Sam (Garrett Hedlund), to search for him in and out of the computer world. Original director and co-writer Steven Lisberger produces the new film, which is helmed by commercial director Joseph Kosinski. James Frain, Olivia Wilde, Beau Garrett, and Michael Sheen also star, with Bruce Boxleitner returning as Alan Bradley and Tron, the heroic protagonist of the original film. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Cast: Jeff Bridges, Garrett Hedlund, Olivia Wilde, Bruce Boxleitner, Michael Sheen.
Release Date: Dec 17, 2010
Rated: Sequences of sci-fi action violence and brief mild language
Runtime: 2 hr. 7 min.
Genres: Action/Adventure, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Review:
Tron: Legacy is very much like a jaw breaker candy, a cinematic concoction of tightly pressed sugar that’s tasty but difficult to get through and when you’re done you have nothing. That not to say it’s a horrible movie as much as it’s purely a visual experience, similar to the 1982 original. The biggest asset to this film is ascetic, they are amazing to behold especially in 3D. The digital world is a fully realized wonder that’s going to give everyone endless gee whiz moments. The battles whether disk to disk, light cycle or light planes are all thrilling and thoroughly enjoyable. The problem with this film is the script which is thoroughly complex yet incredibly basic and features characters that are thoroughly uninteresting. Rookie director Joseph Kosinski has the visual flair to make the film watchable but his inexperience shine through with the wooden performances he coxed out of his cast. Flat dialogue runs amok throughout the film with Bridges being the only one who doesn’t look like he’s acting. Garrett Hedlund is so disinteresting as the lead her that you kind of wish he’d just stay off the screen. The aforementioned Bridges seems to be having fun or at least seems a little high as he channels The Dude as the elder Flynn. As his villainous doppelganger Clu, with the creepy de-aged digital face which is far from perfect, Bridges is mostly just asked to yell a lot and not much more. Olivia Wilde seems content to pose for the camera since her character is so thinly conceived. Michael Sheen, in a small but memorable role, goes all out in a full camp mode reminding me of a flamboyant Riddler from the 60’s Batman show. Tron: Legacy is a film that follows its predecessor’s footsteps being all flash and no substance.
C-
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Terrence Malick's The Tree of Life Trailer
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Sunday, December 5, 2010
MOVIE REVIEWS: BLACK SWAN
IN THEATERS
BLACK SWAN
New York City ballet dancer Nina (Natalie Portman) enters into an intense battle of wills with a talented and ambitious new arrival (Mila Kunis) who seems intent on edging her out of the spotlight in this supernatural-flavored psychological thriller from director Darren Aronofsky. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
Director: Darren Aronofsky
Cast: Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel, Barbara Hershey, Winona Ryder.
Release Date: Dec 03, 2010
Rated R for strong sexual content, disturbing violent images, language and some drug use
Runtime: 1 hr. 43 min.
Genres: Suspense/Thriller
Review:
Macabre, mystifying and absolutely engrossing, Darren Aronofsky’s Black Swan is an operatic dark fair tale. Aronofsky, shooting mostly via handheld camera, creates an impressively arresting tale that has a sense of immediacy and intensity from the first frame of the film. While the actual plot is fairly simplistic, Aronofsky’s ability to take us through the throws of insanity and lunacy by showing the character’s crumbling reality elevates it’s into high art. While it stumbles on a few occasions in particular near the finale, deciding to be overly visual with the extended metaphor which leads into unintended camp. Natalie Portman shines in a meticulously measured performance. Her beautiful but emaciated figure walks and dances through the film in a detached but dedicated haze. Portman and Barbara Hershey share some excellent chemistry with forays into Nina’s disturbing homelife which display the levels of arrested development in play. Vincent Cassel is appropriately sleazy as the lothario dance director. Mila Kunis isn’t asked to do much of depth here and is mostly a one dimensional foil. Aronofsky’s Black Swan is a beautiful film that occasionally borders on high class horror.
A-
BLACK SWAN
New York City ballet dancer Nina (Natalie Portman) enters into an intense battle of wills with a talented and ambitious new arrival (Mila Kunis) who seems intent on edging her out of the spotlight in this supernatural-flavored psychological thriller from director Darren Aronofsky. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
Director: Darren Aronofsky
Cast: Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel, Barbara Hershey, Winona Ryder.
Release Date: Dec 03, 2010
Rated R for strong sexual content, disturbing violent images, language and some drug use
Runtime: 1 hr. 43 min.
Genres: Suspense/Thriller
Review:
Macabre, mystifying and absolutely engrossing, Darren Aronofsky’s Black Swan is an operatic dark fair tale. Aronofsky, shooting mostly via handheld camera, creates an impressively arresting tale that has a sense of immediacy and intensity from the first frame of the film. While the actual plot is fairly simplistic, Aronofsky’s ability to take us through the throws of insanity and lunacy by showing the character’s crumbling reality elevates it’s into high art. While it stumbles on a few occasions in particular near the finale, deciding to be overly visual with the extended metaphor which leads into unintended camp. Natalie Portman shines in a meticulously measured performance. Her beautiful but emaciated figure walks and dances through the film in a detached but dedicated haze. Portman and Barbara Hershey share some excellent chemistry with forays into Nina’s disturbing homelife which display the levels of arrested development in play. Vincent Cassel is appropriately sleazy as the lothario dance director. Mila Kunis isn’t asked to do much of depth here and is mostly a one dimensional foil. Aronofsky’s Black Swan is a beautiful film that occasionally borders on high class horror.
A-
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