Film Reviews Archives - Page 57 of 59

August 16, 2013July 1, 2014

ELYSIUM [Face-Off Review]: ‘Bourne’ on the Fifth of LA…

Nicole “Naughty Angel” Brunner: So, I’m guessing this is the first time GodHatesGeeks has ever done a review via text message?

“Monsignor” Travis Moody: Yeah, we’re setting trends; what can we say! (And going to fix lots of spellcheck…) Let’s give our faithful the lowdown on the film we’re going to review, shall we?

Brunner: Sure. Elysium is Neil Blomkamp’s much anticipated follow-up to District 9, this time starring Matt Damon and Jodie Foster. The film also continues to address social injustice through the guise of a sci-fi action extravaganza, as a clear — and not to distant — future extremist look at classism and border wars, but taken literally to another level in a hyper-idealized space station called, you guessed it, Elysium. The uber-elite (or one percenters) are the only ones allowed to have citizenship on Elysium away from the overpopulated masses below on earth, where the people have no access to near perfect healthcare systems above their heads. The movie does provide some sexy, full-on, rip your face off action sequences. Unfortunately, those fantastic moments don’t make up for lack of meat left on the bone, politically or intellectually throughout the story. Elysium is a good example of a lot films today that fail to provide a tight enough script to match the dazzling visuals.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQX7uTiV5L0

Moody: Holy Crap, Batwoman Ebert! Who needs a “Face-Off” discussion when you summed up — and practically reviewed — Elysium to a tee. My biggest problem with the flick is how much critics disliked the next-level beauty and imagination of “that other political sci-fi film,” Oblivion (which we reviewed here), and then had the haystacks to revere this entertaining, albeit merely adequate actioneer. Meh.

Brunner: Critics and most people today seem to have a distinct aversion to anything Tom Cruise-related. But, yes, that is a good point because Oblivion was a stronger film. Watching Elysium left me kinda longing for District 9 and anyone who hasn’t seen that movie really should, including you, Moody! Also, I have to agree with my contemporaries on Jodie Foster’s performance, ugh, that accent was as repellent as her character. The dialogue was really contrived and super blasé for the most part too. Matt Damon gives his usual more than adequate performance as he is the white Denzel Washington. It’s as if Jason Bourne went to District 9…haha.

Elysium_Damon_620x350 — But, I never ran out of ammo in Borderlands 2…

Moody: Lol…basically, you know what you’re getting with Mr. Goodwill Hunting half the time, which isn’t entirely a bad thing. His protagonist in Elysium is actually bad-ass in the RoboCop human-mech sense, and there are a number of allegories surrounding his stature (i.e. the metaskeleton resembling a cross, etc.) And, uh-huh, its a low down dirty shame that Cruise doesnt get the respect he deserves for all the hard work and authenticity he puts into his roles, but, then again, he dug himself a pretty deep couch cushion. You dont think Blonkamp did himself justice here?

Brunner: No, absolutely not. Neill Blonkamp is super talented but very ‘new’ and judging from his failed attempt at adapting Halo into a film for Universal, he’s likely to have some hits and misses along his career. I really did enjoy the massively intricate exoskeletal/hydrolic armament worn but Matt Damon and more over, the one worn by Sharlto Copley, the lead from District 9. He ravages in this movie as a super scary mercenary, even overshadowing Damon a bit!

Moody: Certainly! Now Copley is going to be that next “it” guy for Marvel/Warner for their super villains list, especially now that Vin Deisel is all but GROOT. Can’t think of too many from down under tho. Although his Kruger certainly did remind me of former UFC Heavyweight Champ Andrei Arlovski — without the heavyweight part of course. And, about Jodie Foster, we love her…but what’s up with her playing the COTY?!!?! I’m sure you can guess what the first initial in that stands for…

elysium06 — In case Ray Donovan doesn’t want to come back as Sabretooth…

Brunner: *Spoiler!* Actually Copley is South African, like the director. Although they do sound very much like Aussies or kiwis. In Elysium, he’s far so different than his Wikus from District 9, actually placing himself in a much more marketable class with this role. Obviously, the director likes him a lot too. My favorite part of the movie is when Kruger gets his face blown off and re-animated…

Moody: That.. was cool. Elysium def had its own special touches like that freaky sequence, especially when it came to depicting a very post apocalyptic Mad Maxian LA. I thought Matty D was gonna end up the Road Warrior there for a while. It just saddened me that Blomkamp made it so obvious that he was referring to the overpopulation in SoCal and the demonstrative differences between its races and classes. Seeing how we watched the film in Anaheim, I was a tad uncomfortable as I left the theater with…the general population of the area. I get the 99/1% agenda he had, but there could have been a more subtle, indirectly creative way to get his point across. And, yet another movie where Damon becomes “Jesus” for the other race; though, I will give him credit for making two strong(er) characters in the nurse/childhood friend/love interest (Alice Braga) and computer tech smuggler/internet gangbanger (No, not Ray Getsbusy, but Wagner Moura), who offered some great acting chops, but overall just not that funny. At least Oblivion — and hell, Man of Steel — packed a lot more soul, charm, and, yes, humor.

Brunner: Agreed. Max is very, well, Mad Max-meets-Mexico, which is where they shot the Los Angeles backdrop anyway (in addition to some sections in Vancouver). Kinda makes sense, considering the current border wars and all. Also, the exoskeletal effects mirror the technology that is now being researched for military applications. All very relevant material, sure; it just doesn’t complete the thought enough. Kinda like Obama’s healthcare reform…

1683530-slide-s-10-elysium-the-art-of-the-film-book — And that’s for calling me BANE!

Moody: Boom! Shots from the cannon! Other than the obvious Philip K. Dick stuff, influences I caught were Blade Runner (the rainy, dismissed concrete setting), A Clockwork Orange (the mannequin mannerisms), D.O.A. (the sociopolitical thrill), and anything Darren Aronovsky (the quick-cut editing). The fight scenes were the best thing of the movie for that very reason, which is why I thought the Black Swan director would have killed on The Wolverine (thankfully, Mangold manned up enough). In addition to the confrontational excitement, snappy dread, and brilliant viciousness, Elysium‘s array of Borderlandsesque guns were among the very best I’ve witnessed and — especially — heard. As an audience, it felt like we were able to customize them ourself! Boom! (Again..)

Brunner: I still need to play that game! I know…sue me, will ya? I just don’t think Borderlands 2 will be #fullretard enough for me with The Motherf*$%^#&# President arriving in stores this week! Back to the matter at hand, though… Like NOT SEEING the damn trailer for the new RoboCop movie! For some reason our theater did not show the other dystopian future flick in their previews. Total bust, fucking Anaheim! What’s really missing from Elysium is Elysium; the actual place is practically a still painting hanging in the sky throughout the film. Kinda like an aerial shot from “The Real Housewives of Orange County”. I guess the director thought a perfect society would be too boring to explore, but there’s no doubt it would’ve given the story some much needed depth. Maybe there’s a lot more wrong up there than just Jodie Foster’s jacked-up Elysium accent. The political power players could’ve carried more weight too. Thankfully, the guns had a “sonic boom!” quality that was worth it, for sure.

Moody: Not to belt any more of this political agenda stuff over the head.. like Blomkamp did to us, but maybe not showing much discovery within this sateplanet was olso Blomkamp’s political agenda; that often the life we want could also become the life that is the most unfulfillingly hollow. As much as I try, it’s hard for me to label Elysium anything further than standard sci-fi fare. There was certainly a lot of press on the fact this director doesn’t want to do “Hollywood” movies. But, with Elysium, and some of the one-note villains and characters, that’s basically what he does. Sure, the movie has a fairly smart lead actor and smart set design metallica. But, is this really any more brilliant than Pacific Rim? NO. Del Toro wipes the map with this flick in terms of its overall brilliance…yet reviews said it was yet another dumb popcorn flick. Maybe we should have had some popcorn with this one?

635095870477075089jileshijie — Blomkamp couldn’t make Halo, so went ahead and made.. Halo. With humans.

Brunner: Oh, so NOW you’re offering! Typical Moody. Speaking of Pac Rim, or, hell yes, even Man of Steel, those films far outdid Elys with its humor and there were at least a few moments of chuckle in both Snyder and del Toro’s flicks of comparison. I know Henry Cavill offered a lot more charm with Clark Kent than Damon did with Max — and it’s hard to argue that Max had any rougher upbringing than Clark. Yes, one is a gifted alien was raised out in peace by a pair of pretty terrific midwest bumpkins; the other guy basically grew up an orphan in a very Max Payne-ful Rio. Yet, who had the honor of witnessing more tragedy? Maybe we should have just have Kruger and General Zod duke it out…

Moody: Ha! Loving all of the Max references, Naughty! Why oh why must everything reflect back to Man of Steel? Because it was the best damn movie of the year, that’s why! Seemingly every podcast or Face-Off our blogazine has had has referenced the Man of Tomorrow. Hopefully, “Mad” Max and his pals aren’t truly the Men of Tomorrow, or else this will truly be an ugly world. Maybe Blomkamp is on to something here with all of that. I just wish Copley’s sleeper agent had a little bit more to work with. It just seems that a lot of the cast had to outwork their own dialogue, as you mentioned. Maybe Dennis Leary and Peter Weller could have helped with funnying-up Kruger’s lines– because the man was a beast!

Brunner: Indeed, Moody. He took over the film, even in all its uproarious banter! Let’s put a cap to this, eh? Elysium gets 2.75 Bibles from the Naughty Angel. It was good; I enjoyed it; but I’m with you with all of Blomkamp’s politics being shoved down our throats, and the film not going above and beyond the call of duty. I’m spent.

Moody: 2.75? Kinda liked the 3.75 you wanted to give RoboCop: The Last Stand #1? LOL.. You making up Bible scores now? Not sure if you remember, but when we left the theater you asked me what I thought of Elysium and my answer was “It was OK.” So, there you have it. 2.5 equals OK. I’d Redbox it, or pay the $6 for a matinee, but there were far better options this summer. Maybe even 2 Guns, with the aforementioned Denzel Washington and another Boston Boy, which we probably should’ve went to see instead…

Brunner: Boom!

July 27, 2013July 27, 2013

THE WOLVERINE [Review]: Logan’s Run.. Shall Only Continue.

If this movie isn’t ya confirmation that superhero movies are here to stay, then I don’t know what the hell else to tell ya.

You see, Bub, being the Wolverine ain’t so easy. I’m hurt. I have nightmares. Damn grizzly bears ain’t afraid of me, and neither are vicious broads. Sure, I might be damn near invincible; my adamantium skeleton and extraordinary healing powers makes sure of that. But, look, pal. My heart ain’t invincible. I can’t stop thinkin’ about Jeanie since, well, shit, you know.

the_wolverine_movie-review-2013-8 — Damn — these kids even do their homework inside the casinos.

It hurts.

And, now.. Now, there’s another one who infects this already shattered heart with a virus. Leaves me all damn vulnerable to things like bullets and blades. Good one. Even that Yashida Clan kung-fu chop to my left shoulder left a mark. Some fucker is really puttin’ Logan through the brink.

That someone…is James Mangold.

Shit, we even share the same first name. Of course, you’d never know that unless you had the grapefruits — or, what they’d call ignorance — to hear about that durin’ my “Origins.” You know, those 2-hours of Ray Donovan chasing me around town, surrounded by a bunch of aimless action figu.. mutants. Weapon X.. mutants. So, when I give Viper (Svetlana Khodchenkova) some lip, it’s okay. It’s just me, this deranged tongue lady — who’s no Shiva, but fuck it — and the damn Samurai, who I thought’d be much, much smaller, kids. For all of that nonsense, I’ve Jimmy to thank.

Can’t all be perfect.

the-wolverine-family-review — Told you to wipe that damn chocolate off your face the last time.

Those little dark demons aside, Mangold (3:10 to Yuma, Walk the Line) may even be my best friend. He’s a guy who actually cares about what I’ve been through; actually cares about the source material, and offers more than just respect for Mr. Claremont and Mr. Miller. There’s even shades of Logan in here by that “Under the Dome” writer, Mr. BKC, but you ain’t heard that from me. No, punk. Just tell Mr. Mangold that good ol’ Wolvie got his back. Even thinkin’ about dodgin’ retirement Past the Future of Days, despite all these stab wounds and sword gashes not even The Bride could handle.

Hey, it was nice to get back to Tokyo. Lots of pretty lights, lots of pretty girls (Rila Fukushima is one of ’em, and a redhead to boot), and lots of prettyboy ninjas and yakuza thugs to toss around. Each frame in each o’ these battles show these theater-goin’ creeps why I’m The Best At What I Do — and what I do is fight (or play an angry, somewhat hairy Canadian runt at the movies; codename Hugh Jackman; shhhh…).

And, I gotta say.. these film fellas did their best at capturing the classic essence of The Wolverine. Mangold even made me look good — more physical (retooled claws), more mental (less 80s rock hair), more rangy (finer humor and believable drama) — despite still no use of the mask (which mighta went well with the whole Ronin ninja deal and all.. just sayin’). In this flick I bring the lethal assault from all angles, as close up as you’re gonna get. It don’t got any of that flashy editing crap, either.

Look, bub, this classic, near noirish Wolvie tale comes with them.. modern sensibilities.

WolverineFilaAW-620x349 — They even got Redheads in Asia. Immortality ain’t so bad afterall…

Don’t forget to park ya butts when the credits roll, too, brats.

Finally, someone decided to show off my world-class berserker rage. The head-bustin’ choreography (guess I been hangin’ around that blue furball Hank for too long) was somethin’ else. I’m sure hackin’ and a slashin’ can only go appealin’ these folks for so long. Attention span thing. It’s a tribute to Jimmy that I got my wits back about me, and let the, well, beast out the cage. Bullet trains, poison arrows, and even damn humanity couldn’t slow me down on my best day.

Not without my new “bodyguard,” anyway.

Only thing holdin’ me back — or keepin’ me goin’, pendin’ how you look at it — are the gals. Jean Grey (Famke Janssen, lookin’ her damn best) won’t let go. Even Slim’s girl has got me on a leash in my sleep. Thankfully, finally, met the boss I can put up dealin’ with, and barely: Mariko (Tao Okamato). Even though chasin’ Miss Tokyo Sunshine for a little when walkin’ wounded wasn’t exactly an ideal first date, I just can’t express it. They’re my kryptonite and I just got to, despite takin’ six trips for anyone to set me straight; with Comic Con tellin’ you kids last week that lady seventh’s on her way, too.

Thanks.

Bryan.

And, while I’m sure as hell happy this flight to Japan is over…

This thing ain’t never over. Simply ’cause, I am The Wolverine.

July 11, 2013July 11, 2013

THE CONJURING [Review]: These demons like to keep it.. ‘All in the Family’.

My brethren, you know I’m not a big horror fan. I even wish I avoided moving furniture into cobwebby basements in my past New England life – the everywhere location for just about anything horror — but it seems to me that there are really two common types of horror flicks: instant gorefests and subtle suspension. Much like an “American Horror Story” (to which this prophet found its second season subtitled, “Asylum,” the finest TV series last fall), The Conjuring does an admirable job at exhibiting both — until the director’s late-game decision to reveal the horror’s existence in the physical flesh.

It’s a low down dirty shame because this flick has so much good going for it. Sure, I’m a guy who tears up when wookies win the most imaginative space battles, and when brave men in bright red capes overcome all [z]ods. I get it. I’m just not one for horror that chooses to deliver its suspense with a steam-cleaning stomp over a tip-toe.

What initially interested this not-so-much-a-horror-geek in The Conjuring was the plot’s use of a throwback “X-Files” formula. Take two married experts, in this case demonologists — cause somebody’s gotta do it! — who conveniently have horrific problems of their own (i.e. daughter neglect, strange collections, whimsical pasts), and give them some prime real estate.

Lorraine (the always delightful Vera Farmiga) and Ed Warren (Patrick “Don’t Call Me Chris Evans” Wilson) are boosted, not only by their respective actor’s solid performances, but by a neat history of paranormal investigations that run from the Amityville Horror case to the Conjuring‘s ties to the Salem Witch Trials. The film showcases their relentless teamwork and teaching work (what a class that must’ve been!) between the creaks and cries of the Harrisville, Rhode Island farmhouse — doing wonders for character development.

Wait. A horror flick with.. what, character development? You’re kidding, Jimmy.

No, the dude who directed the initial Saw of all things, James Wan, decides to ride on some solid supernatural-acting chops than a rather menacing murderfest. Until Wan couldn’t help himself towards the end, mind you.

conjuring-review — Wait. I think I hear aliens.

The director allows the audience to care about these folks because they care for these folks. And these folks, the unlucky new owners of this historical bloody mess, are played admirably by Ron Livingston (the Office Space dude) and Lili Taylor (everything). One of them plays it terrifically straight and narrow, and the other.. oh-oh-oh.. the other thankfully shows signs of instability early, so you won’t have to lose your entire sense of disbelief when shit get cray. Also, to this critic’s delight, none of the performances from the Perron’s five daughters — or the Warren’s one — proved too annoying, or bratty. The youngest (played in all the innocence of Kyla Deaver), who approves of at least one of the family’s ghostly hosts, may have been the most enjoyable.

Good acting in a horror flick. This is nice.

The cinematography is simply outstanding, as well. My favorite shot consisted of a rolling overhead during the film’s most bizarre, climactic instance. Most of the frames in The Conjuring are near perfect, and many will fuck with you, too, so you never know where or when that ghost or goblin will appear. While some horror tropes are indeed put on display, Wan does a superb enough job using many of these familiarities to push the story along. Some of the film’s more original moments include a game of “blind” hide-and-clap (glad none of my ghetto New England friends thought of this one) and the use of their own “demon prevention” camera crew (for the 70s, mind you) to capture all the spookiness firsthand.

And, unlike “The X-Files”, at least there are other beings able to confirm the evidence. But, unlike that phenomenal series on the paranormal, The Conjuring loses its tone just when the going gets tough.

The Conjuring hits theaters nationwide July 19. Rated R. (Not sure why, though.)

3bibles — 3 (out of 5) Bibles. As much as I enjoyed this, there’s no way I could rate it the same as Pacific Rim. With that said — and from a non-horror film fan, mind you — The Conjuring is a whole lot better than most of the spook shit out there. There’s no doubt a lot of people are going to see and enjoy this film. I just wish James Wan kept it old-school “thriller” all the way through…

July 9, 2013July 9, 2013

PACIFIC RIM [Review]: Finally, that ‘Smart’ Summer Blockbuster.

Only when the massive monsters and giant mechs do all the talking, of course.

Pacific Rim is the most interesting movie of the year, if only because the premise reads like a dumb b-movie idea from a state college C+ film student (read: me), but lays behind one of Hollywood’s brightest minds in Guillermo del Toro.

Yes, after pleasing both critics and fangirls/boys alike with Pan’s Labyrinth (and more of the hardcore with a pair of terrific Hellboy flicks and The Devil’s Backbone), it was del Toro’s time to make his dream movie. But maybe that “dream” is the forthcoming Crimson Peak. Or Justice League Dark. Pinnochio. Or, hell, even a third Incredible Hulk. For now, however, even the angriest of sci-fi blockbuster pundits can see the 12-year old boy’s brightest wish in this forever-dreaming director’s Pacific Rim.

It’s large. It’s loud. It’s unpredictably smart.

Oh yeah. You’ll see some techie things not even the brightest minds at Google could conjure up. Surprisingly enough, the Kaiju damn near steal the show. These monsters are not your great-granny’s Godzilla, certainly. Some of the things these aquatic beasts do in this flick are damn near amazing.

But I’ll let you be the witness to all of the majestic wanton (or is it wonton?) destruction, preferably in IMAX 3D (though I’m a bit tired of the dirty glasses these theaters keep giving me every time I attend a 3D movie. Least I’m smart enough to put my contacts in, now…).

ku-xlarge — Should have never given this guy that new aqua flavored Hi-C.

Not to be entirely outdone, the Jaegers give America a chance.. with gigantic robot skills so elite, they make The Many Armors of Iron Man jealous. At least their presence in the flick was far more on display than that of Tony Stark’s latest genius. There’s an opening montage where the Jaegers rise to patriotic fame during initial Kaiju attacks, but the scene is so fast and furiously loud (the rock music cranked up during Charlie Hunnam‘s opening narrative proved bothersome) that it was hard to care. Even with all of the historic trials and tribulations of this likeable band of Becket brothers (Homeland‘s Diego Klattenhoff plays the Hunnam’s bro, Yancy), I still wasn’t hooked on our would-be heroes.

You see, unlike the family ties that drew so many into the care of the couple-weeks-ago’s Clark Kent, the sentimental tie is broken off way too early in Pac Rim for any personal interest in this “Jax in a spacesuit”.

Uh-huh. Chuck’s Jaeger-[co]pilot Raleigh Becket still talks, walks, and stalks like everyone’s favorite motorcycle-riding rebel. Hunnam couldn’t even help himself from strutting thumbs-in-the-belt-buckle for the movie’s first hour. Thankfully, he only gets better as the movie does. When the world series of titantic poker stakes gets raised, so does Hunnam’s range. He should go on to have a fine film-acting career whenever Kurt Sutter decides to send Charming on a highway to heaven.

As far as detail, perhaps del Toro is only rivaled by his fellow Hobbit-producing pal, Peter Jackson. The barbaric Cherno Alpha, the shifty 3-armed/piloted Crimson Typhoon, war-scarred stars-and-striped Gipsy Danger, and the fresh-fastie Striker Eureka all pack significantly different builds and skill-sets that make their initial arrivals and brutal confrontations with the Kaiju so exciting. Their overwhelming presence and non-stop resilience make every second of the smashing screentime worth sweating out, as some of these epic skyscraper-toppling battles are among the coolest events ever witnessed at the cinema. The same people who hated the 42-minute war between General Zod and Superman are already raving about these fights, despite the fact that nearly half as many people survived (without being mourned either) as the Man of Steel‘s end-game insanity.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6_TkUTHOwg

But I’ll save all that bitching for the podcast.

Obv.

Luckily, if some form of the sentiment is missing, the humor isn’t. Ron Pearlman steals every scene he’s in, even from the Always Sunny, though not always funny Charlie Day. As black market Kaiju organ and part pirate, Hannibal Chau (the explanation for the already hilarious name does wonders), Pearlman adds as much levity to the universal stakes as all of the constant, in-house domestic-political drama built upon Raleigh, Idris Elba‘s domineering Stacker Pentecost, and a frustratingly cutesy Mako Mori (Rinko Kuikuchi). Her story, again, as a curious underdog cutie pie in a mecha anime world makes a ton of sense — as to why she needs to prove herself — but left my heart in Michael Bay territory. Only Elba’s defense corp commander struck a give-a-shit chord with me, and that came far (too) late in the flick.

Why oh why aren’t these monsters Coming to America anyway? Done giving up daps to the dogpound with Arsenio Hall? We sure hope so!

Even if the plot and the pilots themselves aren’t exactly brilliant, the script centers around a neural bridge called “The Drift”. This conjoining of pilots’ inner thoughts (and demons) is thankfully enough intelligence to overcome any one-note personality or romantic bluffs that come along our way. The Legacy team has no choice in the matter, but to have enough rigor in those upper-hemispheres in order to handle the control of the Jaeger; and, hey, if their partner’s mental state proves too nightmarish to bare, then spelling out “certain doom” is only putting it nice, precisely.

SSD-15157.DNG — Don’t tell me you lost your portable zipper again.

Although many of the circumstances come off predictable, del Toro pulls the rug from right under our cynical brains and whips up even more monster than we could ever bargain for.

In other words, Pacific Rim is advertised as Giant CGI Monsters Versus Giant CGI Robots and that’s exactly what the movie executes so wondrously. del Toro’s tech team nails everything down from the organic realism of natural size and scaled physics (not too fast for 250 feet tall!) to superbly imaginative weapons (retractably rigid swords!) to cool interior cockpit graphics (LED lights!) to beautifully illuminated battlegrounds (uh.. Tokyo!). As far into the future these battles appear, there’s nothing too far-fucking-fetched.

It’s sci-fi that isn’t Star Trek.

There’s also no doubt del Toro intended Pac Rim to come off as a modernized “gothic” version of a b-movie with the use of a RED EPIC, but that doesn’t necessarily justify the often sappy script. However, despite all its faults, this Rev does feel that the majority of audiences are going to love the mesh of Rim‘s smart cinematic sequences and dumb dialog. It’s Transformers with a little more humor, a lot more heart, and a far superior level of detail.

If that sounds like a winner to you, then Pacific Rim may just be the smartest moviegoing choice you make all summer.

June 14, 2013June 14, 2013

MAN OF STEEL [Review]: Critical Beatdown.

Man of Steel is science fiction drama at its very best.

That statement may sound a little bit odd to you, considering the “Man of Steel” — Superman — is a superhero. And, by most accounts, superheroes punch out bad guys. They solve crime. They deliver a sense of safety and protection. They give us someone to trust.

Superman, the superhero, has always been known as this sort of extraterrestrial gift from God, a gift from the sky. He’s an icon, an idol. A savior. Perhaps even a martyr.

He’s our hero.

The problem with Superman, however, has always been our perception of him. It doesn’t help that the Justice League frontman has often been portrayed as a two-dimensional stiff. Supreme in every imaginable way, he’s a paragon of virtue and seldom screws up. And, his form of justice is a different shade of cave-ridden, unlike his bitter rich half.

Krypton factor Henry Cavill in Man of Steel — Heading towards Wayne Enterprises?

No, Superman’s flaw has always been that he has no flaws — exactly the type of perception Man of Steel director, Zack Snyder, and producer, Christopher Nolan, attempt to alter. Successfully and most convincingly, they do.

That’s not to say this Superman (played by the handsomely stoic Henry Cavill) is off playing Black Jack, sleeping around the penthouses of Metropolis, or getting his ass handed to him by mindless henchman. The Big Blue Boy Scout still plays it by the straight and narrow, despite having enough heat under those eyelids to bring down an entire legion of miscreants. What this Superman has that many previous installments haven’t, though, is innerturmoil. There’s a reason why Nolan was brought along to deliver the Dark in this legendary superhero’s lore, and why Snyder was just the man to make it all work.

Just mesh the director’s fantastical CG elements in Sucker Punch, hand-deliver the enchanting score-god Hans Zimmer to the threshold, and allow The Dark Knight scripter, David S. Goyer, to capture moments from great Supes comic stories (such as “Birthright”, “All-Star Superman”, “World of Krypton”, and, of course, John Byrne’s “Man of Steel”), and you’ve got yourself a dandy Man of Steel in a hand-basket. Dark doesn’t necessarily mean “cool,” either, my friends. Nolan’s Dark involvement merely equates to “smart,” since using such brilliant source material only allowed these filmmakers an easier go at telling the Steel truth.

And trust is the underlying moral dilemma that conflicts our hero throughout this movie.

man-of-steel-stills-14 — “I told you what breastfeeding would do to this boy.”

Who is exactly telling the truth? Kal-El essentially hears these “truths” from two different dads, Jor-El of Krypton (an enjoyable Russell Crowe) and Jonathan “Pa” Kent (Kevin Costner at his best) — just in time for Father’s Day! — and one more concerned elder, if you’d like to count the nearly convincing, entirely maniacal General Zod (Boardwalk Empire‘s Michael Shannon). Then, there’s that whole trust thing between ace reporter Lois Lane (a terrific, albeit dirty blonde Amy Adams) and her future loverboy, Clark Kent. Can’t fault the guy for needing a shoulder to cry on, right? And, in order to take down the terrifying threat of Kryptonian criminals — as outstanding a threat as any in recent cinematic memory — Superman is going to need the trust of the US Armed Forces, too.

For those who complained that Superman Returns didn’t have any action — and justifiably so — you can now complain that Man of Steel has too much action. There are essentially three massively epic battles Superman has to endure in the film. Three! But some of y’all wouldn’t appreciate that level of epicness, anywho. Our Daily social media Planet headlines are out, and I’m coming across the terms “too gratuitous,” “too Sci-Fi,” “too serious,” “too restrained,” or my new favorite superhero movie review adjective “too comic-bookish.” Too yikes!

51b8ca531e94b.image — Never imagined a Superman/Wolverine team-up until now.

Before we get too far into any sort of defense mechanism for those reviews, allow the Rev to drop this bombshell on you for a minute: this man-alien lost a loving birth-mother, both of his fathers (who thankfully recur their roles throughout an assortment of wonderful flashbacks), and an entire planet’s worth of his own blood. And, you want cheesy quips? You want this dude to hold back? You want The Man of Tomorrow to spend his time saving kittens?

Get real.

Superman deserved nothing less than this spectacular adaptation. Snyder and Nolan proved they can be a creative team with whom fanboys/girls (the real audiences for which these films are made) can comfortably place their trust. Maybe most critics aren’t human, and Kal-El isn’t the only one with this conflict about what it means to be a member of the human race. Maybe being human is having the ability to feel and desire. Maybe that human fear and desire is worth risking everything for…

Maybe this film is what they finally call Hope.

May 13, 2013May 13, 2013

STAR TREK: INTO DARKNESS [Review]: Man, it’s all about Location.

You know what would have been a blast?

Watching Star Trek: Into Darkness immediately following J.J. Abrams’ first Star Trek, with the very same audience from last week’s CapeTown Film Fest. These people, many of which like yours truly were not even true Trekkies, pumped the Egyptian Theater that Monday full of energy, cheers and laughter.

It was a good ass time.

Why Paramount wouldn’t allow this audience to witness the movie “early” when there were international screenings for at least 2-weeks now, beats me. Then again, it’s probably best if this Rev shuts up when his spoiled ass was lucky enough to see the first one on the big screen again in the first place.

Star trek Into Darkness Movie — –They’re heading for Earth, sir!– “WHERE ELSE WOULD THEY BE HEADING!!”

It’s just.. watching ST:ID with Thursday’s preview crowd at Universal City Walk just didn’t feel right.

There was absolutely no reaction to a stunning opening scene that watched our favorite crew from the USS Enterprise go where no other space shuttle has ever gone before: underwater. Sure, this sequence consisted of a lot of boom-and-bang, a mumbling lot of primitive beings, a crew with a far more serious demeanor (who lighten up a bit the more the movie goes on, but we’ll get to that in a bit), or…it may have just been an awfully strange experience watching this in 3D.

Hell, I was a bit peeved for taking out my contacts before finding out the movie was three-dimensional. Talk about possibly walking “into darkness” (thankfully, they handed out rims massive enough to cover the biggest of Ray Bans).

And darkness is far from the truth, as the film’s tremendous scope, energizing score, and exotic intergalactic locales, including a superb view of far future London — not to mention the signature JJ lens flares — will keep even the sleepiest of snoozers up in awe. There’s even Klingons.

But, there was no audience applause when the closing credits hit.

That was a bit stunning, for a sequel deserving of major props. Sure, Into Darkness is no Terminator 2, no Dark Knight, and surely no Empire Strikes Back; but it’s no Iron Man 2, Aliens or Temple of Doom, either. In other words, those films were enjoyable follow-ups that just weren’t as incredible as their debuts. While Into Darkness has a hell of a lot more action and frenetic dialogue, 2009’s Star Trek offered a tighter plot, more surprises (“seeing this all again for the very first time”), and a boatload of unforced humor.

Star-Trek-Into-Darkness-Kirk-Spock-Black-Shirts-1024x559 — We’ve become those very men the X-Files and Tommy Lee Jones warned us about: a success.

Humor still remains prevalent in the sequel — just not so much.

For example, Zachary Quinto plays Spock with a rougher edge, including a slightly larger frame and bigger neck, with, of course, his classic, stilted sophistication. Don’t worry: Spock still packs plenty of LOL moments.

Chris Pine, in his very best William Shatner impersonation (and I mean that in the best way possible), offers a more seasoned ship leader this time out; and, surely, opened my six-eyes to wondrous shock when the Cap barely flirted with — never mind force himself upon — his newest shipmate, Dr. Carol Marcus (played by the beautiful Alice Eve), especially during one unnecessary teenage hormone-driven scene which I’m sure you can find in with Google images.

There’s a definitive reason why Pine leaves a lot of his swagger “on the pine,” and yet not to the extrem[is] of, say, Tony Stark in Iron Man 3. Something happens in this movie that affects him tremendously. Thus, it’s a pleasure to watch Pine elevate his performance and still remain the charismatic, cocky, cool-hand-Kirk. His new quarrel never reaches cheesy-anger or too loose territory, neither.

Nope. He nails it.

And despite the dynamic duos’ newer, stern approach (tragedy will do that, people), the chemistry between Pine and Quinto has never been better. Other members of the Enterprise don’t get left in the darkness, either, with scene-stealing performances from king-of-the-one-liner Karl Urban and Robocop nutjob Peter Weller (whose Admiral clearly puts the douche in the bag), more screen time for John Cho’s “Captain” Hulu, to my good buddy Tom Archdeacon‘s cameo as Ensign Spyke(!?!), to the more droll bits of Zoe Saldana and Simon Pegg (sorry, guys — guess you could blame the script?).

But, no one quite owns this Star Trek movie like Benedict Cumberbatch.

star-trek-2-into-darkness-pictures-28 — Just making sure you watched Dredd and enjoyed it, pal.

It’s unfortunate that a few morons have spoiled it for the rest of the bunch, but if you take a hard look at Star Trek and its minimal rogues sheet, it shouldn’t take a genius to figure out who the hell Cumberbatch plays. Entertainment Weekly has already rumored the “Sherlock” actor’s villain in its latest issue; meanwhile, IMDB has no problem spoiling all the fun.

When the reveal happens, it should still send a shiver up most spines.

More importantly, Cumberbatch’s former Starfleet commander is a certifiable bad-ass. A lot of his actions come with a contrite balance of sheer, tragic reasoning and senseless immortality. Didn’t you wish you could command or confront this guy on the home LCD instead of this trash?

Part of me — in addition to wishing this was the video game — preferred to have seen Into Darkness spread into a pair of flicks, so critical scenes in the final third act wouldn’t come off so rushed. I do appreciate Abrams wanting audiences to get more bang for the buck, without ever a dull moment. And, between eruptive volcanoes, in-crew conflict, and Halo-inspired alien commandos, hell knows this voyage doesn’t lack for its share of excitement.

Hey, perhaps because I’ve never been a fan of the franchise until the reboot, I just needed some more exposition. Or, maybe the fact that the abominable Man of Steel is landing in theaters soon gives us viewers a little more reason to be finicky.

In all, whether J.J. helms the director’s chair or not, there’s no preventing this franchise from having another blast-off.