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Reviews
G.I. Joe: Resolute (2009)
Great take on GI Joe and Cobra...(very minor spoilers)
At almost 36 yrs old, I grew up with GI Joe. Whether in comic, cartoon, or toy form, it was a part of my life. I always did like the cartoon, but this is a great new take on the series. As a fan of animation such as the kind on display in films like Blood +, parts of the Animatrix, some of Adult Swim's line-up, and both versions of the animated Star Wars Clone Wars, I think GIJ:R fits into this universe nicely. You really have to see this for yourself. Just watch it. I'll simply say that there are characters offed in this and while that is a minor spoiler, the way said characters are dispatched works well and in some cases leaves you to wonder what if... I can only hope that the film is half as fun as this. GI Joe as a team is as strong-willed as say the OSI from the Venture Brothers, but there is a sense of technological advancement and pseudo-realism here that makes the team's movements somewhat believable. Cobra seems to be an army as before, but I like that in these mostly 5 minute vignettes when a Cobra "leader" is in it you get a keen sense of how they operate. Finally, the vs. part as in Storm Shadow/Snake Eyes has a really great back story and modern confrontation. Seeing what has been done by Warren Ellis with Snake Eyes makes me long to see what Ray Park does with the character in the film. So...to sum up, there is an hour in 11 parts here. Moves along very well. To me, this may be my favorite short animation story since Genndy Tartakovsky's Clone Wars: fast, full, and fun. Enjoy!
Superman Returns (2006)
Awesome, elegant, bravo
As disappointed as I was with the 3rd installment of Xmen, is as overjoyed I am at Superman Returns. While Last Stand was fine for a bit of special effects and the fine performances of Stewart and especially Mckellen, Superman is a completely different animal. I will write spoilers in the next few lines, so be warned.
Still with me....
Last chance....
OK. The film is bookended by 2 tributes to the originals, both in the opening credits and in the way Superman flys around Earth at the films' end. While the end credits contain a small tribute to Christopher Reeve and his wife, the whole film really builds on what we've seen before. Routh slides into the Reeve role very well, especially in the Kent scenes. Bravo to both Posey and Spacey, who work well as a couple in it for their own gains. Luthor shines as Spacey adds the flair of one who's power mad, but also highly intelligent. John Ottman does a great job realizing the work of John Williams and adds nice touches of his own. While he's entitled to his opinion(as are we ALL), I do believe Robert Ebert is smoking something rancid when he slams the effects and the emotion. I saw this in a Cinemark with a new digital projector, but even the basic effects here are mind-blowing. The planet sequence the credits are over is fantastic(love the double-ringed half smashed planet) and the effects from the heat vision to the new continent creation are superb. Just go see it. If you love film, this works as a complete tale. It lives up to the legacy and clearly gives Ratner a lot to work with in the 1st of an alleged 3 film series. Awesome!
Click (2006)
This is a 2006 version of The Girl, the Gold Watch & Everything!
OK, it's not a Gus Vant Sant style shot for shot remake, but it's the same premise. Yes, I know the Twlight Zone had an episode like this as well. But I just find it amazing that for as talented as Sandler is, Click boils down to TGTGW&E. I'm not a huge Sandler fan, but he has made some funny stuff. Happy Gilmore usually gets me in front of the TV when it's re-run, for instance. And I am a big fan of Walken, great, talented actor. BUT, like this if you want, I'm not knocking ANYONE who wants to see or enjoys Click, I'm just pointing out that Hollywood is doing some bad bottom barrel scraping here. Sandler can act, of course Punch Drunk Love is case #1 for that. After catching a screening this past weekend, I gotta say, this just doesn't do it for me. Some funny stuff in the cruelty dept, Hasselhoff continues to be a funny Icon of weirdness, but nah, not my cup of tea. Better effects than TGTGW&W, though.
X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)
Great action film!
I marked spoiler just out of noting one thing...the pace is very crisp. To me the film truly has the pacing of a great comic book. It's obviously very fresh at this point, but ignore the haters and go see this. X2 is still my favorite of the 3, but I really admire the movement of this film. I will agree that the Phoenix story gets short shifted mingled here with the Cure story, but it still works. As posted on Chud, I do hope this series continues. And finally, Ian Mckellen is just flat out magnificent as Magneto. His anger and focus on his ideals really come through in this one. Bravo! Go see it. The story works. The effects are quite amazing. It will reside in my collection and from the visual standpoint, I do want a version in HD. The best thing I can say is that I'm going again this weekend. It was worth pulling my lazy arse outta work to see the midnight show, but I wanna go again, now.
King Kong (2005)
Awesome, magical experience
Finally saw this tonight and it's fantastic. Right up there with the LOTR trilogy. All the folks hating on this have not seen it, to see it is to feel what makes films great. One of the best of this decade already. Superb shots, great lighting, the whole skull island act is just an astonishing work of art. I enjoyed a LOT of films this year; Sin City, Kung Fu Hustle, A History of Violence, Layer Cake, WAG: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, GAR's Land of the Dead, Syriana. I especially enjoyed Sin City, Batman Begins, and Star Wars ROTS. But this is just on another level. I am a fan of the original. As a kid I'd see it on TV once in a while and I do enjoy the finally released DVD. But this is not only a fine tribute, but also a film that fleshed out stands on it's own and really brings something to the table.
Saw II (2005)
Fine sequel.
I'll simply say that if you enjoyed the first one, then Saw II will not disappoint you. After reading many reviews and comments on this and other sites, the majority of which were condemning of this film, I'd advise one to just go out and see it, ignoring the bandwagon mentality that this film unjustly faces. Horror that has been processed down to a PG-13 and made for the sake of a test audience is not something I even remotely entertain. As a matter of opinion, I have no problem with sequels if they can be a continuance of a good cinematic idea. In that regard, Saw II is right up my alley. The shots are composed for maximum tension, the lighting is on par with the first-an effective tool used to shade your mood as a viewer. I could give spoilers, but that is something I can not stand about many of today's reviews. Bottom line- if you are a fan of independent horror, if you enjoyed the first Saw, the works of Bava, Cube, or Haute Tension you will do well with this.