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Saving Mr. Banks (2013)
An excellent movie of Walt Disney magic and what stories are all about
I visited America last year and among visiting several cities and historical sites I also managed to fit in a visit to Disneyworld (Florida) and Universal Studios. During my time there it struck me just how much stories played a role in the innovative and determined spirit of the American people and how much present day heroes took inspiration from the stories of heroes from the past. One such a hero is Walt Disney.
This movie inspires one to keep dreaming, to keep innovating, never to accept no for an answer and to build a better future with your vision. It is the feeling that Disney establishes in its parks and it is the feeling that you experience after listening to the stories of great heroes.
This movie is about the true power of stories: the love of stories and the ownership we feel about those stories, the good stories of our life and the bad stories of our life and which stories we choose to accept as the one defining ourselves.
Emma Thompson is delightful as the uptight P.L. Travers. She manages to play the uncooperative and disagreeable role superbly without sacrificing any likability. Tom Hanks is an equal treat as the imaginative Walt Disney and really makes the giant come to life. Several songs from Mary Poppins brings back a touch of nostalgia and gets new meaning within the context of the story. A quirky script dispersed with several comedic gems ensure many laughs. We aren't dealing simply with a comedy here, however, and underneath P.L. Travers' tetchy behaviour lies a more complex story that is also beautifully explored. It successfully brings about laughs and tears.
This movie is what movies are all about.
As for me, the movie reminded me that no matter how much one might love stories, the purpose of a story is not just an object onto itself to be admired as a created piece of art. A story only truly finds meaning when it serves to augment, flavour and shape our own stories.
Winter's Tale (2014)
Failed attempt at emotional fluff set against a supernatural backdrop
The preview hints at the fact that this movie contains some enchantment or magic. It never prepares you for the fact that the whole premise of the movie is a struggle between supernatural forces. The supernatural starts off fairly modest making one expect a romantic movie with a hint of magic while still grounded in reality. As the supernatural elements increases, however, all sense of reality is lost and it is as if the film loses grounding: it never really takes off as a supernatural film because of the strong reality in which it started, but because of the supernatural elements, the reality with which the film started is also lost. This all leaves the viewer with a feeling of having been cheated.
The time-lapse aspect of the movie also means that the story lines of different characters need to be fit in to the different time frames and this also fails. It is as if these story lines feel rushed. As a result any real love story that might have been intended gets lost. The sentimental narration with which the movie starts and again concludes feels like utter nonsense against the backdrop of such a failed attempt at a love story.
This movie was really a waste of time.
The Monuments Men (2014)
Historical movie quite different to what the previews suggest
Based on the previews I expected The Monuments Men to be more comedic. It has an excellent cast whom are no strangers to comedy (John Goodman, Bill Murray, George Clooney, Matt Damon). Don't be under any illusions, though. This is a historic movie against the very real backdrop of World War 2.
The movie doesn't quite know what it wants to be. It starts off with promise and reminds one a little of "Ocean's Eleven" as the team of Monuments Men are assembled. There is some light banter that is entertaining. The movie quickly loses this comic momentum though as the serious business of saving art starts. It never evolves fully into a movie with a true "war" feel as the comedic always threatens to come to the surface although it never really does. At some point you do start to wish that the movie will just finish and run to its conclusion.
I suppose (upon re-reading my previous paragraph) that this "don't know quite what to expect" feeling of the movie very closely resounds with the real historic events surrounding the Monuments Men (or anyone going to war, for that matter.) It starts off with unknown anticipation but as the personal costs escalate one does become more grave until you set about fighting for what you believe in in a "business-as-usual" matter. For this reason I do believe it to be a quite good historic film.
The film is not hugely entertaining, although the seasoned cast does bring enough to the table to keep the user engaged. I found the historical sites and the exploration of a part of history I was unaware of quite interesting and therefore enjoyed the film. I don't expect this film to have mass appeal though...
RoboCop (2014)
Surprisingly good action movie
This movie is much better than some of the negative reviews and commentary suggests.
It does not bring anything miraculous or earth-shattering to the table - not in terms of story or action - but it is a very decent action movie. It certainly doesn't match up with the recent Marvel Blockbusters or Christoper Nolan's Batman trilogy, but if one takes this (unfair) comparison away it is a very enjoyable film. I'd rate it on par with Hancock.
The story keeps one guessing and very nicely progresses into more than you expect when the film starts. The blurry lines between good guys and villains and the development of each into his final role is very intriguing. It is so good, in fact, that for a brief moment it reminded me of The Dark Knight (although that moment does pass).
The one very distracting and irritating aspect of this movie is Samuel L Jackson as loudmouth propaganda-making TV host. While the TV Studio clip with which the movie starts provides valuable background information and a very effective opening scene, the TV Studio clips soon become very tiresome and a source of great irritation in the rest of the movie.
This only detracts slightly from the entertainment though, and I found this a surprisingly good action movie with a bit of character depth thrown in.
Faan se trein (2014)
Good but depressing movie with an art-house feel
This film is very well made. It has excellent cinematography and has very good performances by some of the most talented South African actors. I believe the story is true to its time and setting with typical characters for a small South African town at the time.
It is a deep story about honest innocence opposed to people wearing masks. It is about loyalty, stereotypes, prejudice, community, acceptance, priorities and redemption.
All of this does not make it a pleasant film to watch, though. The film explores the beauty and the dark side in people and raises difficult questions about what we base our decisions on.
Overall I found this a very depressing film that wallows in an "Afrikaner struggle" mentality. The only emotional appeal that the film has is that it tries very hard to evoke pity from the viewer - pity for the prejudices that Faan faces as a handicapped person and pity for his father who, as a struggling manual laborer is up against the threat of mechanization. Unfortunately I believe that pity serves rather badly as the sole golden thread that's supposed to keep me glued to a movie screen.
If you enjoy art-house films that explore the darker side of the human psyche and if you enjoyed a film like "Die Wonderwerker", then you'll enjoy this film. If you are looking to be entertained, though, you might need to look a bit further.
Romeo & Juliet (2013)
Passionate, enjoyable film but with many shortcomings
I am in two minds about this film: On the one hand I can honestly say that I enjoyed it and that it swept me away in the timeless love story. On the other hand there are several things that really bothered me and that I believe would disqualify it from being classified a "good" film.
Firstly, the bad:
1) The movie doesn't follow Shakespeare's original text. Sure enough, the most famous lines are all there, but the movie frequently deviates from Shakespeare's text. The simplification of some text insults the intelligence of the audience and does seem a little arrogant on the parts of the screenwriters. It also doesn't help that much of the changes has the feel of modern speech being rewritten in an "old-english-sounding" tongue which clearly stands out from the classic words of the bard. Not even the ending escapes some liberal changes. 2)Hailee Steinfeld is really a bad casting decision for Juliet. She is simply so much younger than Romeo that their on-screen chemistry looks a bit creepy. Her portrayal of Juliet lacks depth and she simply does not possess the beauty to be a Juliet - especially if you pair her with Douglas Booth as Romeo. (Another reviewer complained that Romeo is more beautiful than Juliet in this film and I have to agree that this is true)
Now for the good: 1) Bringing fierceness and intense passion to the role, I thought Douglas Booth was a really good Romeo. 2) Paul Giamatti is excellent as Friar Laurence. He brings some comic relief, lightness and heart to the film. 3) The story is fast-paced, passionate and intense. Enough of Shakespeare's most-loved soliloquies and dialogue appear to retain the timeless beauty of his words. The words still bring layer upon layer of meaning to the story and brings so much depth and emotion to the story of the star-crossed lovers that one can't help but wander at just how Shakespeare was able to get so much emotion into so few lines.
I give this film a score of 7 as I quite enjoyed it despite it's flaws. Don't watch this movie if you have to do a school project on Romeo and Juliet, though!
Pad na jou hart (2014)
A heartwarming movie with an authentic South African flavour
As the tagline of the movie says, "Pad na jou hart" is a movie about finding your True North and it is this theme that sticks with me and keeps bringing my mind back to the movie even some time after seeing it.
It follows the story of young ambitious Businessman Basson van Rensburg (Ivan Botha) who has 5 days to get to Cape Town for his Father's funeral. If he does this and completes several tasks along the way he will become CEO of the family business. What follows is a road trip where he meets the free-spirited Amory (Donnalee Robberts) as well as a variety of colourful characters that challenges Basson's sheltered and narrow world views.
It is the type of plot that has been seen before, but where the film really shines is in it's sincerity. The moments that are created are heartfelt and real. The supporting cast consists of some of the heavyweight veterans of South African film who are at their best and give depth to their full-round characters and their stories. The on-screen chemistry between the two lead characters works and the viewer really becomes part of their adventurous road trip and their struggles.
One thing that really irks me of some Afrikaans films is the over-use of clichés and I can honestly say that this film was very well written and steers clear of such clichés: The characters are original rather than carbon copies from other films; the humour is light and fresh and the dialogue has a "real" human tone to it. Subtle, unobtrusive suggestions guide the viewer's hopes and fears for the characters and the plot keeps surprising.
The choice of music strongly contributes to the road trip mood of the movie and the landscapes and people showcase the diversity and beauty of South Africa. A road trip between Johannesburg and Cape Town is a theme that resonates strongly with many South Africans (including me) and it is probably the celebration of this theme that will make me buy the DVD once it's released.
The movie is much more than just a Romance between a guy and a girl - it is an adventure Romance that confronts you with the question of whether you're truly following your heart. It stays with me.
Jobs (2013)
Lacks some magic but still very entertaining
This movie was actually much better than many of the reviews suggest. I was skeptical about Ashton Kutcher playing Steve Jobs, but he manages the transformation very well. You don't see Kutcher - you see Steve Jobs. I thought that Ashton Kutcher's portrayal of Steve's passion for quality was portrayed quite nicely. The "reality distortion" persuasive nature of his arguments and his charismatic character was perhaps lacking...For this I blame a script that is adequate, but not really notable. (It certainly does not have the same genius as Aaron Sorkin's The Social Network. An unfair comparison to make, perhaps, but due to the similar source material for the films, a comparison that many people will make nonetheless...) The movie perhaps relies a little too much on the audience's background knowledge of Apple and the magic of the Apple brand. I work in the technology field and have followed the developments of Apple, Microsoft and their contemporaries IBM, HP and Intel since I was very young. I have also read Walter Isaacson's very entertaining (official) biography of Steve Jobs. So I went into the movie with a lot of background and was able to see each event in context and I found this very interesting. I was mesmerized. But the same might not apply to viewers that have perhaps not read the book or don't share the same background knowledge. I can understand that some people might simply view it as a documentary about the history of Apple.
I felt that the movie ended quite abruptly. I was expecting a bit more flair towards the end as Jobs and the Apple brand grew to the icons they are today, but this is downplayed a lot. This is done with purpose, I suppose as it allows more time to focus on the lesser known history without rehashing what we've seen in the media over the past ten years. And it lends some welcome subtlety.
I enjoyed Jobs. And as I reflect on it I like and appreciate it even more. Most of the reviews I've read are unfairly harsh. It is by no means a life-changing movie and won't make any "best of" or "top 10" lists but is very decent entertainment and it is worth seeing Ashton Kutcher's transformation.
As Jy Sing (2013)
Feels like a school concert with shallow characters and bad music
"As jy sing" is a musical. I understand that. And any musical will have some exaggerated characters. This movie, however, takes the phrase "cardboard character" to a whole new level.
The movie starts with a quick montage sequence where each of the main characters is briefly introduced literally with an accompanying label (or, more aptly, stereotype) for the character. This is the first and last attempt that is made to distinguish the characters for the rest of the film.
The movie is set against the very real South African backdrop where Rugby is often adored in schools to such an extent that cultural interests such as music is completely neglected and those that practice it almost ostracized. The unrealistic and extreme extent to which the characters are, however, blinded to only one side of the "sport vs music" debate make the characters completely unbelievable to me.
The romance between Bobby van Jaarsveld's character and Leah's character seems forced and shallow with no chemistry whatsoever except for the fact that they are man and woman.
The boot-camp that forms the main setting for most of the movie is set in a lovely location and is a clever idea in principle: Most Afrikaans South Africans would probably experience some camp like this sometime during their school careers. And yet again, it is here where the characterization falls completely flat. The over-the-top emotionally scarred ex-army drill sergeant played by Bok van Blerk is totally over the top and unrealistic. The same applies to his assistants. The way that Bobby van Jaarsveld's character responds to these drill sergeants is equally unrealistic for anyone who has ever seen a real teacher on a school camp. Bad, bad writing indeed.
One would hope that a redeeming element for such a movie is the music, but here too it disappoints. None of the songs tend to really resonate with the viewer and in many parts I simply felt that the words in the music simply did not fit in well with the current point of the film. (The one exception perhaps being Bobby van Jaarsveld's acoustic version of "'n vrou wil dit hoor".)
The film is riddled with clichés: the worse probably being where the token super-hot school girl walks down the corridors in slow motion with her hair clearly being blown around her face by off-screen fans. (Although Bok van Blerk's slow-motion Rambo-jump from a chopper and Bobby van Jaarsveld's slow-motion undressing scene at the swimming pool with accompanying electric guitars are also close contenders.)
"As jy Sing" is a bunch of beautiful and very talented actors and musicians thrown together with a horrifically bad script, average music and a director that did not show any creativity or vision on this project. Bobby van Jaarsveld has shown in the superb musical "Liefling" that he has what it takes to be a great leading man. Karlien van Jaarsveld gives a good performance and is the pick of the actors. The idea behind the movie is creative and truly South African as is the film setting. This movie really had so much potential, but yet failed to deliver. Very disappointing.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)
Best book adaptation I've seen. Gripping, riveting stuff.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is exquisite and is made so by a strong storyline, great pace, tension and great actors.
What impressed me most in the books were the perfectly timed plot twists and how each turn of events consistently tops the previous ones. The book also manages to plant subtle suspicions, fears and ideas in the reader's mind that is just as often helped by what the characters DO NOT SAY than what they DO say. Combine that with the honesty and immediacy with which Katniss Everdeen narrates her own tale in the book and you have your job cut out if you want to bring her story to the big screen. But that is exactly what director Francis Lawrence has done with panache.
The movie is superbly paced. Each plot twist and storyline is given enough focus to give the user time to process and appreciate. I dare say it evokes some of the same thrills and shocks as the chapter-endings had when reading the book.
Jennifer Lawrence brings perfect life to Katniss as she struggles to adapt to her new status as a symbol of hope. This time around Peeta gets given much more opportunity to play his very central role and reveal his character. The complexity of the relationship between Katniss and Peeta is also explored in more depth and with more conviction than in the first film.
Donald Sutherland is menacing as President Snow. The introduction of Philip Seymour Hoffman as Plutarch Heavensbee as well as the introduction of some victors from previous Hunger Games adds a great deal of tension to the film.
Visually the film is stunning. From the gray military-style districts through to the technicolor over-indulgence in the capital and through forests, each setting contributes strongly to the mood and enjoyment of the film.
The film balances a dark mood and action with moments of light humor. It is not devoid of emotional moments that evoke great empathy but manages to do so without becoming sentimental.
I give The Hunger Games: Catching Fire my highest rating - something I don't easily do. It is one of the few films where, at the end, I stayed behind through all the end credits - Elated, stunned, somehow tired but very very satisfied. I'd say that this is probably the best book-adaptation I have seen in a film.