LadyLiberty
Joined Sep 2005
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It will doubtless come as no surprise to you that I'm a fan of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings (no one was more delighted than me when The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King won its Best Picture Oscar, and well deserved it was!). But while you might think that's to the movie-maker's advantage, it isn't. Sure, I'm predisposed to like the film. On the other hand, you do not mess with something as beloved as Tolkien's masterpiece! Director/Producer Peter Jackson didn't disappoint with his Lord of the Rings series, and I'm truly pleased to say that — so far, at least — he's managed to engineer the same feat with The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (part 1 in a series of 3).
The Hobbit takes place sixty years before the events that unfold in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. A much younger Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) is unexpectedly approached by a wizard he scarcely remembers having met as a child. Gandalf (Ian McKellen) wants Bilbo to go on an adventure, something the stay-at-home hobbit has absolutely zero interest in accepting. But when his home is effectively invaded by a troupe of dwarfs led by heir-to-the-throne Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage), Bilbo becomes even more certain that adventure is not for him!
Suffice it to say that a combination of envy, shame, and a desire for something beyond his own environment convinces Bilbo in the end to join the quest of the dwarfs: to take back the Kingdom of Erebor stolen from them decades ago by the greedy and vicious fire-breathing dragon, Smaug.
Though he knows the journey won't be an easy one, Bilbo is taken aback by the hardships of life on the road which are only exacerbated by the fact the dwarfs are less than impressed with the hobbit or any abilities he might or might not have. Gandalf, however, maintains that Bilbo has hidden depths and that he'll admirably suit the group's need for someone with the skills of a burglar (which, of course, Bilbo steadfastly denies he has).
Along the way, the travelers run into any number of impediments ranging from marauding orcs to duplicitous goblins, to say nothing of mountain trolls, giant spiders, or wizards who appear to be just a little less than entirely sane. And, of course, there are the elves, led by Lord Elrond (Hugo Weaving), and advised by the Lady Galadriel (Cate Blanchett). But perhaps the most dangerous and important creature to surface in their travels is met by Bilbo alone: the warped and undeniably psychotic Gollum who loses his most precious possession for which he blames Bilbo.
Although the script (penned by a team including Jackson himself and Guillermo del Toro, originally tapped to direct) diverges from the book (a certain Orc, for example, plays a pivotal role), it holds beautifully to Tolkien's vision. (In fairness, the added parts are also Tolkien's; they're part and parcel of extensive appendices Tolkien crafted to further flesh out his intricate creation of Middle Earth.) It includes moments of humor which are welcome, as well as some surprisingly deep emotion.
In some ways, it's the special effects that make or break movies like this no matter the caliber of the acting (very good), the direction (excellent), or the editing (also very good). It's also typically my favorite part of any movie like this, and The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey lives up to expectation. Given the extensive use of CGI, I'm amazed to have only seen a split second or two that might have been improved upon, and I'm still lost in jaw-dropping wonder at an extended battle scene that takes place in the goblin tunnels. I'd like to say that the special effects are brilliant, but that word really isn't sufficient. Though the 3D treatment wasn't strictly needed, I can't lie: It, too, was beautifully rendered and, in my opinion, added to the reality of even the most unreal of moments. Of course, the actual location of the filming doesn't hurt, either. A trip to New Zealand is so on my bucket list!
BOTTOM LINE: If you're a fan of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, you'll love seeing so much of what you've read come to vibrant life before your eyes. If you're not a fan of The Hobbit, you will be if you see this movie! I was a little concerned with the length since I'm not one to sit still for long if I'm not completely engrossed. Perhaps my best recommendation for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, then, is to tell you that the nearly three hours' run time flew by for me. I literally couldn't believe the movie was over already!
POLITICAL NOTES: It's interesting, especially in light of recent debates in Washington, to see how greed can so thoroughly corrupt even previously decent leaders. It's even more heartening to see that there are those who still (as Thorin Oakenshield says concerning his rag-tag company) value "loyalty, honor, a willing heart..." more than anything else, and who are willing to fight for what's decent and right.
FAMILY SUITABILITY: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is rated PG-13 "for extended sequences of intense fantasy action violence, and frightening images." The violence, though of a fantasy nature, is sometimes quite graphic; the suspense is beyond what younger children could easily handle. The storyline is also complex enough that younger children aren't going to understand it. Most of us read The Hobbit for the first time when we're 12 or 13 at youngest; The Lord of the Rings is typically read even later than that. And that's frankly not a bad gauge to consider when you wonder if this is a movie for your kids.
The Hobbit takes place sixty years before the events that unfold in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. A much younger Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) is unexpectedly approached by a wizard he scarcely remembers having met as a child. Gandalf (Ian McKellen) wants Bilbo to go on an adventure, something the stay-at-home hobbit has absolutely zero interest in accepting. But when his home is effectively invaded by a troupe of dwarfs led by heir-to-the-throne Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage), Bilbo becomes even more certain that adventure is not for him!
Suffice it to say that a combination of envy, shame, and a desire for something beyond his own environment convinces Bilbo in the end to join the quest of the dwarfs: to take back the Kingdom of Erebor stolen from them decades ago by the greedy and vicious fire-breathing dragon, Smaug.
Though he knows the journey won't be an easy one, Bilbo is taken aback by the hardships of life on the road which are only exacerbated by the fact the dwarfs are less than impressed with the hobbit or any abilities he might or might not have. Gandalf, however, maintains that Bilbo has hidden depths and that he'll admirably suit the group's need for someone with the skills of a burglar (which, of course, Bilbo steadfastly denies he has).
Along the way, the travelers run into any number of impediments ranging from marauding orcs to duplicitous goblins, to say nothing of mountain trolls, giant spiders, or wizards who appear to be just a little less than entirely sane. And, of course, there are the elves, led by Lord Elrond (Hugo Weaving), and advised by the Lady Galadriel (Cate Blanchett). But perhaps the most dangerous and important creature to surface in their travels is met by Bilbo alone: the warped and undeniably psychotic Gollum who loses his most precious possession for which he blames Bilbo.
Although the script (penned by a team including Jackson himself and Guillermo del Toro, originally tapped to direct) diverges from the book (a certain Orc, for example, plays a pivotal role), it holds beautifully to Tolkien's vision. (In fairness, the added parts are also Tolkien's; they're part and parcel of extensive appendices Tolkien crafted to further flesh out his intricate creation of Middle Earth.) It includes moments of humor which are welcome, as well as some surprisingly deep emotion.
In some ways, it's the special effects that make or break movies like this no matter the caliber of the acting (very good), the direction (excellent), or the editing (also very good). It's also typically my favorite part of any movie like this, and The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey lives up to expectation. Given the extensive use of CGI, I'm amazed to have only seen a split second or two that might have been improved upon, and I'm still lost in jaw-dropping wonder at an extended battle scene that takes place in the goblin tunnels. I'd like to say that the special effects are brilliant, but that word really isn't sufficient. Though the 3D treatment wasn't strictly needed, I can't lie: It, too, was beautifully rendered and, in my opinion, added to the reality of even the most unreal of moments. Of course, the actual location of the filming doesn't hurt, either. A trip to New Zealand is so on my bucket list!
BOTTOM LINE: If you're a fan of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, you'll love seeing so much of what you've read come to vibrant life before your eyes. If you're not a fan of The Hobbit, you will be if you see this movie! I was a little concerned with the length since I'm not one to sit still for long if I'm not completely engrossed. Perhaps my best recommendation for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, then, is to tell you that the nearly three hours' run time flew by for me. I literally couldn't believe the movie was over already!
POLITICAL NOTES: It's interesting, especially in light of recent debates in Washington, to see how greed can so thoroughly corrupt even previously decent leaders. It's even more heartening to see that there are those who still (as Thorin Oakenshield says concerning his rag-tag company) value "loyalty, honor, a willing heart..." more than anything else, and who are willing to fight for what's decent and right.
FAMILY SUITABILITY: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is rated PG-13 "for extended sequences of intense fantasy action violence, and frightening images." The violence, though of a fantasy nature, is sometimes quite graphic; the suspense is beyond what younger children could easily handle. The storyline is also complex enough that younger children aren't going to understand it. Most of us read The Hobbit for the first time when we're 12 or 13 at youngest; The Lord of the Rings is typically read even later than that. And that's frankly not a bad gauge to consider when you wonder if this is a movie for your kids.
Black Swan has garnered more than a few glowing reviews and has collected a list of awards nominations to match (among others, the Golden Globes will consider Natalie Portman as Best Actress, Mila Kunis as Best Supporting Actress, Darren Aronofsky as Best Director, and the film itself as Best Drama). I made it my mission in life to see it before the awards ceremonies started. It could be that my expectations were too high, but I was frankly not as impressed by Black Swan as many critics seem to be.
Black Swan is a reference to the white Swan Queen's opposite in the famous ballet, Swan Lake. Nina Sayers (Natalie Portman) is a technically brilliant dancer in a New York ballet company who desperately wants to snag the dual role. The problem? The dance company's director, Thomas Leroy (Vincent Cassel) tells her she's the perfect Swan Queen, but that she lacks the passion and emotional abandon of her Black Swan twin.
The pressure on Nina to prove the director wrong is considerable. Her mother (Barbara Hershey)—a retired ballerina herself—exerts considerable control over her daughter in the guise of kindness and support. The company's aging prima ballerina (Winona Ryder) is volatile and dramatic, particularly when she learns she's soon to be giving her final performance before a retirement that isn't her idea. And a new dancer from San Francisco (Lily, played by Mila Kunis), quickly becomes both Nina's friend and bitter rival.
Lily, very much a free spirit, spreads her attitude wherever she goes and Nina needs it more than most. Thomas, meanwhile, is inclined to use any means necessary to inspire the performance he wants out of her. As Nina's life spins beyond her ability to control, her emotions and her sanity both begin to wear thin. But her focus on dance becomes ever more laser-like as she determines that nothing will stop her from being the perfect ballerina.
Natalie Portman reportedly lost some 20 pounds from her already tiny frame to more authentically portray a dedicated dancer. She and Kunis alike spent months studying ballet as well. Their efforts show. While a few more complicated maneuvers were performed by doubles, much of what you see on screen is really done by the actors themselves. Their acting, too, is superlative. Vincent Cassel is also good, but Barbara Hershey is brilliant as the overbearing mother whose demands for perfection set Nina on her course from childhood. Kudos, too, to Winona Ryder. Her role is small, but it's memorable.
Director Darren Aronofsky, perhaps best known for his previous award-winning film The Wrestler, does a credible job here. There are interesting edits and camera effects everywhere, and he does seem to know well how to elicit a stellar performance from his cast. I'm not a ballet fan, so I can't vouch for the authenticity of the dancing here, but it certainly looked lovely on screen and was a nice counterpoint to some of the seamier visions interspersed.
BOTTOM LINE Despite the obvious quality of the crafting of Black Swan, I didn't really like it all that much. That may be because there were so many moments where the sheer brilliance of the acting or some technical aspect in the making of the scene actually overshadowed the story itself. I found myself all too conscious of those things rather than paying attention to what was really going on. In many ways, Black Swan was the proverbial "too much of a good thing." I can't fault those who claim Black Swan is a well-made movie. I just can't pretend that I personally enjoyed it very much. The quality of filmmaking alone gave Black Swan its six stars. Whether or not my interest held up throughout garnered considerably less.
POLITICAL NOTES None.
FAMILY SUITABILITY Black Swan is rated R for "strong sexual content, disturbing violent images, language and some drug use." All of those cautions are entirely too real. Black Swan is not a movie for children, or even for young teens. An R rating is entirely appropriate, and movie-goers should take note. I'd add that, while I wasn't particularly happy with my movie-going experience, I can't deny that there are reasons to see Black Swan, not least among them some very strong performances indeed.
Black Swan is a reference to the white Swan Queen's opposite in the famous ballet, Swan Lake. Nina Sayers (Natalie Portman) is a technically brilliant dancer in a New York ballet company who desperately wants to snag the dual role. The problem? The dance company's director, Thomas Leroy (Vincent Cassel) tells her she's the perfect Swan Queen, but that she lacks the passion and emotional abandon of her Black Swan twin.
The pressure on Nina to prove the director wrong is considerable. Her mother (Barbara Hershey)—a retired ballerina herself—exerts considerable control over her daughter in the guise of kindness and support. The company's aging prima ballerina (Winona Ryder) is volatile and dramatic, particularly when she learns she's soon to be giving her final performance before a retirement that isn't her idea. And a new dancer from San Francisco (Lily, played by Mila Kunis), quickly becomes both Nina's friend and bitter rival.
Lily, very much a free spirit, spreads her attitude wherever she goes and Nina needs it more than most. Thomas, meanwhile, is inclined to use any means necessary to inspire the performance he wants out of her. As Nina's life spins beyond her ability to control, her emotions and her sanity both begin to wear thin. But her focus on dance becomes ever more laser-like as she determines that nothing will stop her from being the perfect ballerina.
Natalie Portman reportedly lost some 20 pounds from her already tiny frame to more authentically portray a dedicated dancer. She and Kunis alike spent months studying ballet as well. Their efforts show. While a few more complicated maneuvers were performed by doubles, much of what you see on screen is really done by the actors themselves. Their acting, too, is superlative. Vincent Cassel is also good, but Barbara Hershey is brilliant as the overbearing mother whose demands for perfection set Nina on her course from childhood. Kudos, too, to Winona Ryder. Her role is small, but it's memorable.
Director Darren Aronofsky, perhaps best known for his previous award-winning film The Wrestler, does a credible job here. There are interesting edits and camera effects everywhere, and he does seem to know well how to elicit a stellar performance from his cast. I'm not a ballet fan, so I can't vouch for the authenticity of the dancing here, but it certainly looked lovely on screen and was a nice counterpoint to some of the seamier visions interspersed.
BOTTOM LINE Despite the obvious quality of the crafting of Black Swan, I didn't really like it all that much. That may be because there were so many moments where the sheer brilliance of the acting or some technical aspect in the making of the scene actually overshadowed the story itself. I found myself all too conscious of those things rather than paying attention to what was really going on. In many ways, Black Swan was the proverbial "too much of a good thing." I can't fault those who claim Black Swan is a well-made movie. I just can't pretend that I personally enjoyed it very much. The quality of filmmaking alone gave Black Swan its six stars. Whether or not my interest held up throughout garnered considerably less.
POLITICAL NOTES None.
FAMILY SUITABILITY Black Swan is rated R for "strong sexual content, disturbing violent images, language and some drug use." All of those cautions are entirely too real. Black Swan is not a movie for children, or even for young teens. An R rating is entirely appropriate, and movie-goers should take note. I'd add that, while I wasn't particularly happy with my movie-going experience, I can't deny that there are reasons to see Black Swan, not least among them some very strong performances indeed.
I know it sounds a little silly, but I was really looking forward to seeing The Green Hornet this weekend. The trailers made it look like a lot of fun, and I thought a lot of fun sounded pretty good on a Friday night. I bought a ticket (3D version, of course), and you know what? I had a lot of fun! The Green Hornet is born when spoiled rich boy Britt Reid (Seth Rogan) loses his newspaper mogul father (Tom Wilkinson) to an untimely accident. Though more a party boy than anything else, Britt at least has the sense to know he has no business running his father's publishing empire. He leaves that to his father's longtime editor, Axford (Edward James Olmos). Britt had endured a longtime love/hate relationship with his father anyway, and seems inclined to go on with his life as a very rich ne'er-do-well.
Meanwhile, Britt's father is the least of the concerns of most in Los Angeles. Crime is rampant, and the boss behind most of it is a man with the unpronounceable name of Chudnofsky (Christoph Waltz). Fortunately, District Attorney Scanlon (David Harbour) has adopted a hard line, and his re-election campaign consists almost entirely of the fact he's cleaned up a good deal of crime in the city and intends to keep doing that job no matter the threat to his personal safety.
It's a bad morning cup of coffee (really) that begins to change the way Britt sees the world. In search of a more drinkable form of caffeine, he discovers his father's former aide, Kato (Jay Chou). As it turns out, Kato is capable of a whole lot more than making a good cup of morning joe! On a lark, the pair engage in a little crime of their own. Circumstances converge, however, to make them rethink the thrust of their little adventure and perhaps even to expand on it in some way. And thus is The Green Hornet born.
Seth Rogan, although he lost a good deal of weight to more ably play the title character, doesn't seem like ideal casting for the role of a comic book hero. Yet because he also penned the script (along with Evan Goldberg), he actually turns out to be a good choice who fit right into his character. Jay Chou is an even better call. A pop star in Asia, he learned some English for his role as Kato and does a surprisingly effective job. His chemistry with Rogan is also considerable. Christoph Waltz, who picked up an Oscar® for his supporting role in the brilliant The Reader, could easily have played up the comic relief his character offers. Yet he manages the silliness with a serious and frankly dangerous veneer that makes even the ridiculous almost sublime.
The Green Hornet is directed by Michel Gondry (who also directed the wonderfully eccentric Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind). Gondry, too, could have gone a more slapstick route but didn't. The cinematography is fine, the explosions and weapons effects are wonderful, and some of the chase scenes combine some very nice humor with some very real tension. The 3D (added after filming) probably wasn't necessary, but I'll be honest with you and say that I thought it did add something.
BOTTOM LINE The Green Hornet isn't as serious as it might have been in different hands (writers, actors, and director alike), but it's also not a movie that relies on silliness (though there are some very funny moments). It is, in fact, a little more real than you might expect. After all, the vast majority of us would be a "superhero" something very much like the titular Green Hornet: In possession of good intentions, but hopelessly unprepared to create and carry out plans we're in no way qualified to make in the first place. I kind of related to the Green Hornet, and I kind of liked him. The movie? No "kind of" about it. I liked it a lot. How could I not when I had such a good time for two hours?
POLITICAL NOTES The notion of power politics and backdoor deals isn't anything new. Unfortunately, it's also not uncommon, even in the real world. Although some of the shenanigans here are over the top, they're also sadly plausible.
FAMILY SUITABILITY The Green Hornet is rated PG-13 for "sequences of violent action, language, sensuality and drug content." Most of the violence, though, is comparable to a comic book or video game. While the sensuality may be a bit much for younger kids, the drug content is relatively understated (and presented in a bad light, which also mitigates the depiction). I'd have no problem bringing the average 12 year-old to see The Green Hornet. And if you still have some younger version of yourself hidden somewhere inside, well, I'd suggest a ticket for yourself might be a good thing, too.
Meanwhile, Britt's father is the least of the concerns of most in Los Angeles. Crime is rampant, and the boss behind most of it is a man with the unpronounceable name of Chudnofsky (Christoph Waltz). Fortunately, District Attorney Scanlon (David Harbour) has adopted a hard line, and his re-election campaign consists almost entirely of the fact he's cleaned up a good deal of crime in the city and intends to keep doing that job no matter the threat to his personal safety.
It's a bad morning cup of coffee (really) that begins to change the way Britt sees the world. In search of a more drinkable form of caffeine, he discovers his father's former aide, Kato (Jay Chou). As it turns out, Kato is capable of a whole lot more than making a good cup of morning joe! On a lark, the pair engage in a little crime of their own. Circumstances converge, however, to make them rethink the thrust of their little adventure and perhaps even to expand on it in some way. And thus is The Green Hornet born.
Seth Rogan, although he lost a good deal of weight to more ably play the title character, doesn't seem like ideal casting for the role of a comic book hero. Yet because he also penned the script (along with Evan Goldberg), he actually turns out to be a good choice who fit right into his character. Jay Chou is an even better call. A pop star in Asia, he learned some English for his role as Kato and does a surprisingly effective job. His chemistry with Rogan is also considerable. Christoph Waltz, who picked up an Oscar® for his supporting role in the brilliant The Reader, could easily have played up the comic relief his character offers. Yet he manages the silliness with a serious and frankly dangerous veneer that makes even the ridiculous almost sublime.
The Green Hornet is directed by Michel Gondry (who also directed the wonderfully eccentric Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind). Gondry, too, could have gone a more slapstick route but didn't. The cinematography is fine, the explosions and weapons effects are wonderful, and some of the chase scenes combine some very nice humor with some very real tension. The 3D (added after filming) probably wasn't necessary, but I'll be honest with you and say that I thought it did add something.
BOTTOM LINE The Green Hornet isn't as serious as it might have been in different hands (writers, actors, and director alike), but it's also not a movie that relies on silliness (though there are some very funny moments). It is, in fact, a little more real than you might expect. After all, the vast majority of us would be a "superhero" something very much like the titular Green Hornet: In possession of good intentions, but hopelessly unprepared to create and carry out plans we're in no way qualified to make in the first place. I kind of related to the Green Hornet, and I kind of liked him. The movie? No "kind of" about it. I liked it a lot. How could I not when I had such a good time for two hours?
POLITICAL NOTES The notion of power politics and backdoor deals isn't anything new. Unfortunately, it's also not uncommon, even in the real world. Although some of the shenanigans here are over the top, they're also sadly plausible.
FAMILY SUITABILITY The Green Hornet is rated PG-13 for "sequences of violent action, language, sensuality and drug content." Most of the violence, though, is comparable to a comic book or video game. While the sensuality may be a bit much for younger kids, the drug content is relatively understated (and presented in a bad light, which also mitigates the depiction). I'd have no problem bringing the average 12 year-old to see The Green Hornet. And if you still have some younger version of yourself hidden somewhere inside, well, I'd suggest a ticket for yourself might be a good thing, too.