Up - B+
Still not the best of Pixar's films, it is a heart-tugging adventure that gets underway quickly and never bores. Should win Best Animated Feature easily.
A Serious Man - B+
The Coen Brothers strike again! Quirky humor, an opening that seemingly has nothing to do with the rest of the film and an ending that left most of the audience grumbling (I was laughing). Following the life of a put-upon Jewish man, his bizarre family and comically failing marriage, the laughs come easily and, like many Coen films, don't look for dramatic payoff.
The Hurt Locker - B
The military/war film formula hasn't altered much over the decades. The wars and technology change, but themes of alienation, brotherhood, finding oneself in life-or-death situations and soldiers unable to reaclimate don't. The Hurt Locker doesn't add anything new to the formula, but it's tense, well-directed and quickly paced.
An Education - A-
Probably the most surprising of the Best Picture nominees, this movie shouldn't be pigeon-holed with a simple English girl coming-of-age tag. It's remarkably witty, thanks to strong performances by fresh-faced Carey Mulligan and seasoned Alfred Molina. Mulligan plays a teenage girl compelled to choose between her intellect and the affections of a charming playboy (Peter Sarsgaard).
District 9 - A-
I admit to being shocked this was nominated (one of the perks of the expanded field of nominees), but the sci-fi premise is only the means to tell a gritty, action-filled allegory of apartheid and racial tension.
If you're watching the awards tonight, enjoy and if you want a drinking game, take a shot every time someone thanks their agent, a nominee obviously fakes a smile after losing and someone cracks a painful Avatar joke.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Sunday, February 28, 2010
2010 Best Picture Nominees, Part I
The first half of AMC Theatres' Best Picture showcase took place yesterday, affording die-hard movie fans and those eager to see all of the year's expanded nominees a chance to catch them in two Saturday marathons. I sat in on three yesterday and expect to do so again next week. I've seen three of the remaining four and chose to skip one entirely (call me a less-than-completely-dedicated critic).
Avatar - B+
I saw it in 3D this time, which was actually a pretty cool experience. I was also surprised how rewatchable it was. Still a little slow and occasionally painfully obvious, but it's a beautifully rendered and exciting popcorn cruncher.
Up in the Air - A-
Jason Reitman definitely has a flair for modern, sardonic comedy. Up in the Air may not be as charming as Juno or as dark as Thank You for Smoking but it's filled with wry wit and believable characters. George Clooney is typically rogueish as a corporate "hit man" who skips around the country firing people for a living. He lives a detached life built around airports, hotels and the pursuit of travel "rewards." More importantly, he's perfectly okay with this...until a young go-getter (Anna Kendrick) looking to reinvent his business and a beautiful fellow hard-traveler (Vera Farmiga) throw a few kinks into his perfected world.
Precious - B-
This is the kind of film that will make you despise the human race because you know somewhere it's probably happening. Sixteen year old Precious is abused in every facet of her life...physically and emotionally by her spiteful mother (nominated Mo'Nique) and classmates. She's also suffered sexual abuse by her absent father (a source of her mother's resentment), resulting in two pregnancies. All of this is unveiled in the first ten minutes or so...the rest of the film does give some hope as Precious finds some direction and kinship in an "alternative school," but the horrific circumstances of her world are unrelenting. It's bleak in its honesty and terrifyingly believable.
The Blind Side
In an effort not to be completely exhausted, I skipped the Sandra Bullock feel-gooder. I'm not casting any judgement on the film, but I think I can reasonably say that this movie would not be mentioned in the same sentence with Best Picture were it not for the expanded category.
Inglourious Basterds - B
(From my November 27th review) Quentin Taratino's latest piece of violent fiction is still distinctly his, but the premise and setting, following a troop of cutthroat (scalp?) WWII assassins and various Nazis, is new and helps elevate the film above quirk. In the end, it's a piece of revisionist fantasy, but a funny one filled with several moments of Tarantino's typical talking head dialogue pieces. Brad Pitt turns in another bizarre performance but Christoph Waltz turns in the best performance as a slick Nazi colonel.
Avatar - B+
I saw it in 3D this time, which was actually a pretty cool experience. I was also surprised how rewatchable it was. Still a little slow and occasionally painfully obvious, but it's a beautifully rendered and exciting popcorn cruncher.
Up in the Air - A-
Jason Reitman definitely has a flair for modern, sardonic comedy. Up in the Air may not be as charming as Juno or as dark as Thank You for Smoking but it's filled with wry wit and believable characters. George Clooney is typically rogueish as a corporate "hit man" who skips around the country firing people for a living. He lives a detached life built around airports, hotels and the pursuit of travel "rewards." More importantly, he's perfectly okay with this...until a young go-getter (Anna Kendrick) looking to reinvent his business and a beautiful fellow hard-traveler (Vera Farmiga) throw a few kinks into his perfected world.
Precious - B-
This is the kind of film that will make you despise the human race because you know somewhere it's probably happening. Sixteen year old Precious is abused in every facet of her life...physically and emotionally by her spiteful mother (nominated Mo'Nique) and classmates. She's also suffered sexual abuse by her absent father (a source of her mother's resentment), resulting in two pregnancies. All of this is unveiled in the first ten minutes or so...the rest of the film does give some hope as Precious finds some direction and kinship in an "alternative school," but the horrific circumstances of her world are unrelenting. It's bleak in its honesty and terrifyingly believable.
The Blind Side
In an effort not to be completely exhausted, I skipped the Sandra Bullock feel-gooder. I'm not casting any judgement on the film, but I think I can reasonably say that this movie would not be mentioned in the same sentence with Best Picture were it not for the expanded category.
Inglourious Basterds - B
(From my November 27th review) Quentin Taratino's latest piece of violent fiction is still distinctly his, but the premise and setting, following a troop of cutthroat (scalp?) WWII assassins and various Nazis, is new and helps elevate the film above quirk. In the end, it's a piece of revisionist fantasy, but a funny one filled with several moments of Tarantino's typical talking head dialogue pieces. Brad Pitt turns in another bizarre performance but Christoph Waltz turns in the best performance as a slick Nazi colonel.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
The Best of 2009: Music
This list always takes me a while to compile and I'm never entirely satisfied with the results. I really should invest in iTunes or some other music service to give me a wider pool of music than just what I buy on CD or stumble across on the internet. (Though I doubt anyone would accuse me of being limited in my tastes.)
10. All I Ever Wanted - Kelly Clarkson
Still the best thing that ever came out of American Idol, Kelly followed up the rather somber My December with an album more in tune with her smash Breakaway. Kelly is the anti-Taylor Swift, an artist who accomplishes pop pervasiveness without the faux-"I'm a delicate flower that no one understands" schtick. She doesn't break any molds, but she makes music fun while making fun music.
Highlights: "My Life Would Suck Without You," Whyyawannabringmedown," "Tip of My Tongue"
9. It's Blitz! - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Karen O. can count two big moments for the year, scoring the wonderful Where the Wild Things Are soundtrack and releasing the Yeah Yeah Yeahs third album, a set of tunes that wouldn't be out of place mixed in a dance club but still remain unmistakeably alt-rock.
Highlights: "Zero," "Heads Will Roll," "Runaway"
8. Only By the Night - Kings of Leon
Hardly new to the music scene, you'd be hard-pressed to find a handful of people that had ever heard of them before "Sex on Fire" stormed the airwaves. Night has the feeling of a sweaty, smoky club where couples make out in dark corners and the band drinks heavily before and during the set. It is the definition of a sexy album.
Highlights: "Sex on Fire," "Use Somebody," "Notion"
7. Life Starts Now - Three Days Grace
Of the hard rock acts releasing new albums last year, Three Days Grace' latest was the only one that didn't disappoint (I'm looking at you Breaking Benjamin and Alice in Chains). A little more anthemic than their first two discs, Life gets by on slick hooks and the increasingly recognizable voice of Adam Gontier.
Highlights: "Bitter Taste," Lost in You," "The Good Life"
6. Them Crooked Vultures
The Vultures are exactly what Queens of the Stone Age should have been after Songs for the Deaf. Lead singer Josh Homme teams up again with Dave Grohl and, in a stroke of supergroup genius, Led Zeppelin's John Paul Jones for an album filled with rock goodness. Rumor has it Paul McCartney wanted in on the act, too.
Highlights: "No One Loves Me & Neither Do I," Mind Eraser, No Chaser," "Dead End Friends," "Elephants"
5. Backspacer - Pearl Jam
Let's be honest here, Pearl Jam hasn't been particularly relevant or exciting since 1998's Yield. After a stream of socially conscious but ultimately unenthusiastic albums, it took a solo project from frontman Eddie Vedder, the Into the Air soundtrack, and the re-release of the album that started it all, Ten, to get the last of the great grunge acts back on track. Many a listener hearing this set in my car actually inquired as to their identity...Eddie's voice is unmistakable but the tone isn't. He sounds happy...almost filled with a newfound joy for life. After a nearly two decade career that's seen so many contemporaries fade away, Eddie has a reason or two to smile. Not that Backspacer is all shiny happy setlist, but as Eddie admits on standout track "Just Breathe" I'm a lucky man to count on both hands the ones I love... We'll be lucky if this is simply the beginning of the next phase for a band that is definitely iconic.
Highlights: "Got Some," "The Fixer," "Just Breathe"
4. It's Not Me, It's You - Lily Allen
It was hard to imagine how sassy young Lily would top her sharp-tongued debut, Alright, Still, but she accomplished the mission by simply growing up a little and learning a few new ways to tell everyone off. Her sing-song wit is still there and you still get a bit shocked when she slips a sweetly accented "fuck you" into a song or makes no allusions about being disappointed at "spending ages giving head" with nothing in return. She tells it like it is and it turns what could be poppy tunes into frank confessionals about young adult life.
Highlights: "Everyone's At It," "The Fear," "Who'd Have Known," "Him"
3. The Resistance - Muse
It really was inevitable that Muse would release a rock opera. Resistance isn't the best Muse has offered, but it's certainly the most cohesive...a sometimes overly symbolic tale of fighting the powers that be that is really best heard in one sitting, singles be damned. They also unabashedly unleash their synth-loving, Queen-inspired power rock.
Highlights: "Uprising," "Undisclosed Desires," "United States of Eurasia," "MK Ultra"
1 (tie). 21st Century Breakdown - Green Day
Let me confess something to you...I didn't think American Idiot was the earth-shattering album some made it out to be. It was filled with some solid tunes, but I felt it was a bit of a sell-out from Green Day's early punk days. Breakdown, on the other hand, takes what I think Idiot wanted to be to the next level...grand scale stadium rock and roll. Perhaps I enjoy it so much because the beats and diversity remind me of my beloved Oasis (who they blatantly ripped off on Idiot) fused with modern punk-pop.
Highlights: "21st Century Breakdown," "Know Your Enemy," "Before the Lobotomy," "Last Night on Earth," "21 Guns"
1 (tie). Swoon - Silversun Pickups
I always felt like Smashing Pumpkins never got gritty enough often enough for my tastes. I loved them, but every time I really got into a down and dirty song like "Zero," "Siva" or "Bullet With Butterfly Wings," they'd spin off into some nostalgic catchy tune like 1979 or Today (both great songs in their own right). Silversun Pickups never lets up on the grinding guitars and vocal drive. Throw in the lead singer's kick-ass scratchy, effeminate-in-a-rocking-way voice, some well-placed strings and you have a fine album.
Highlights: "The Royal We," "Growing Old is Getting Old," "It's Nice To Know You Work Alone," "Panic Switch"
10. All I Ever Wanted - Kelly Clarkson
Still the best thing that ever came out of American Idol, Kelly followed up the rather somber My December with an album more in tune with her smash Breakaway. Kelly is the anti-Taylor Swift, an artist who accomplishes pop pervasiveness without the faux-"I'm a delicate flower that no one understands" schtick. She doesn't break any molds, but she makes music fun while making fun music.
Highlights: "My Life Would Suck Without You," Whyyawannabringmedown," "Tip of My Tongue"
9. It's Blitz! - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Karen O. can count two big moments for the year, scoring the wonderful Where the Wild Things Are soundtrack and releasing the Yeah Yeah Yeahs third album, a set of tunes that wouldn't be out of place mixed in a dance club but still remain unmistakeably alt-rock.
Highlights: "Zero," "Heads Will Roll," "Runaway"
8. Only By the Night - Kings of Leon
Hardly new to the music scene, you'd be hard-pressed to find a handful of people that had ever heard of them before "Sex on Fire" stormed the airwaves. Night has the feeling of a sweaty, smoky club where couples make out in dark corners and the band drinks heavily before and during the set. It is the definition of a sexy album.
Highlights: "Sex on Fire," "Use Somebody," "Notion"
7. Life Starts Now - Three Days Grace
Of the hard rock acts releasing new albums last year, Three Days Grace' latest was the only one that didn't disappoint (I'm looking at you Breaking Benjamin and Alice in Chains). A little more anthemic than their first two discs, Life gets by on slick hooks and the increasingly recognizable voice of Adam Gontier.
Highlights: "Bitter Taste," Lost in You," "The Good Life"
6. Them Crooked Vultures
The Vultures are exactly what Queens of the Stone Age should have been after Songs for the Deaf. Lead singer Josh Homme teams up again with Dave Grohl and, in a stroke of supergroup genius, Led Zeppelin's John Paul Jones for an album filled with rock goodness. Rumor has it Paul McCartney wanted in on the act, too.
Highlights: "No One Loves Me & Neither Do I," Mind Eraser, No Chaser," "Dead End Friends," "Elephants"
5. Backspacer - Pearl Jam
Let's be honest here, Pearl Jam hasn't been particularly relevant or exciting since 1998's Yield. After a stream of socially conscious but ultimately unenthusiastic albums, it took a solo project from frontman Eddie Vedder, the Into the Air soundtrack, and the re-release of the album that started it all, Ten, to get the last of the great grunge acts back on track. Many a listener hearing this set in my car actually inquired as to their identity...Eddie's voice is unmistakable but the tone isn't. He sounds happy...almost filled with a newfound joy for life. After a nearly two decade career that's seen so many contemporaries fade away, Eddie has a reason or two to smile. Not that Backspacer is all shiny happy setlist, but as Eddie admits on standout track "Just Breathe" I'm a lucky man to count on both hands the ones I love... We'll be lucky if this is simply the beginning of the next phase for a band that is definitely iconic.
Highlights: "Got Some," "The Fixer," "Just Breathe"
4. It's Not Me, It's You - Lily Allen
It was hard to imagine how sassy young Lily would top her sharp-tongued debut, Alright, Still, but she accomplished the mission by simply growing up a little and learning a few new ways to tell everyone off. Her sing-song wit is still there and you still get a bit shocked when she slips a sweetly accented "fuck you" into a song or makes no allusions about being disappointed at "spending ages giving head" with nothing in return. She tells it like it is and it turns what could be poppy tunes into frank confessionals about young adult life.
Highlights: "Everyone's At It," "The Fear," "Who'd Have Known," "Him"
3. The Resistance - Muse
It really was inevitable that Muse would release a rock opera. Resistance isn't the best Muse has offered, but it's certainly the most cohesive...a sometimes overly symbolic tale of fighting the powers that be that is really best heard in one sitting, singles be damned. They also unabashedly unleash their synth-loving, Queen-inspired power rock.
Highlights: "Uprising," "Undisclosed Desires," "United States of Eurasia," "MK Ultra"
1 (tie). 21st Century Breakdown - Green Day
Let me confess something to you...I didn't think American Idiot was the earth-shattering album some made it out to be. It was filled with some solid tunes, but I felt it was a bit of a sell-out from Green Day's early punk days. Breakdown, on the other hand, takes what I think Idiot wanted to be to the next level...grand scale stadium rock and roll. Perhaps I enjoy it so much because the beats and diversity remind me of my beloved Oasis (who they blatantly ripped off on Idiot) fused with modern punk-pop.
Highlights: "21st Century Breakdown," "Know Your Enemy," "Before the Lobotomy," "Last Night on Earth," "21 Guns"
1 (tie). Swoon - Silversun Pickups
I always felt like Smashing Pumpkins never got gritty enough often enough for my tastes. I loved them, but every time I really got into a down and dirty song like "Zero," "Siva" or "Bullet With Butterfly Wings," they'd spin off into some nostalgic catchy tune like 1979 or Today (both great songs in their own right). Silversun Pickups never lets up on the grinding guitars and vocal drive. Throw in the lead singer's kick-ass scratchy, effeminate-in-a-rocking-way voice, some well-placed strings and you have a fine album.
Highlights: "The Royal We," "Growing Old is Getting Old," "It's Nice To Know You Work Alone," "Panic Switch"
Saturday, January 9, 2010
The Best of 2009: Movies
First, I have to follow up on my statement on the Avatar review that I wasn't sure it would even recover production costs. Yeah, my bad...but really, who knew? I thought all the nerds (I'm including myself in that group) would rush out to see it the first week or two and then it would quickly fizzle out, unable to attract the mass moviegoer. I guess the buzz, the allure of the special effects and the premium 3D pricing ($12 at my local theatre, I can only imagine the price in major cities) helped it rake in some money.
So, onward with my first top 10 list for 2009. As always, the usual caveat...not all films were necessarily released in '09. A couple '08 films I didn't catch until last year are also on the list.
10. Inglourious Basterds
Not the best Tarantino flick, but this WWII fantasy (trust me, the last half hour is pure revisionist history, but fun) features his trademark brilliant, tense dialogue punctuated by moments of bloody violence.
9. Avatar
A fairly predictable story takes a backseat to some state of the art special effects. Worth seeing in a theatre.
8. Up
Ah, Pixar...spectacular animation, soulful storytelling. I've yet to see one of their films I didn't enjoy...I hope I never do.
7. Slumdog Millionaire
The Best Picture winner is a sweet, coming of age, boy-gets-girl concoction wrapped up in some very modern and stylish film-making.
6. Watchmen
The slavish interpretation of the acclaimed graphic novel may be too faithful at times, but it's still a fascinating story of "heroism" in a darker world.
5. The Hangover
Easily the funniest movie in years, a very adult comedy for a modern audience.
4. Where the Wild Things Are
Ah, Spike Jonze...will you please make such wonderful movies out of all of our favorite childhood stories?
3. WALL-E
I know...this one really doesn't belong on a 2009 list, but I waited to watch this film for too long and it deserves some love. Pixar's most beautifully animated flick...I highly recommend watching it on Blu ray.
2. District 9
The most surprising film of the year was this under-the-radar sci-fi gem with apartheid parallels.
1. Star Trek
Take a franchise that really hasn't been relevant for a decade, put it in the hands of a hot uber-producer/director (J.J. Abrams), go back to the basics and perfectly cast it. Accessible to almost anyone.
There you have it...look for the Music list soon...I'm still re-visiting this year's CDs to make my decisions.
So, onward with my first top 10 list for 2009. As always, the usual caveat...not all films were necessarily released in '09. A couple '08 films I didn't catch until last year are also on the list.
10. Inglourious Basterds
Not the best Tarantino flick, but this WWII fantasy (trust me, the last half hour is pure revisionist history, but fun) features his trademark brilliant, tense dialogue punctuated by moments of bloody violence.
9. Avatar
A fairly predictable story takes a backseat to some state of the art special effects. Worth seeing in a theatre.
8. Up
Ah, Pixar...spectacular animation, soulful storytelling. I've yet to see one of their films I didn't enjoy...I hope I never do.
7. Slumdog Millionaire
The Best Picture winner is a sweet, coming of age, boy-gets-girl concoction wrapped up in some very modern and stylish film-making.
6. Watchmen
The slavish interpretation of the acclaimed graphic novel may be too faithful at times, but it's still a fascinating story of "heroism" in a darker world.
5. The Hangover
Easily the funniest movie in years, a very adult comedy for a modern audience.
4. Where the Wild Things Are
Ah, Spike Jonze...will you please make such wonderful movies out of all of our favorite childhood stories?
3. WALL-E
I know...this one really doesn't belong on a 2009 list, but I waited to watch this film for too long and it deserves some love. Pixar's most beautifully animated flick...I highly recommend watching it on Blu ray.
2. District 9
The most surprising film of the year was this under-the-radar sci-fi gem with apartheid parallels.
1. Star Trek
Take a franchise that really hasn't been relevant for a decade, put it in the hands of a hot uber-producer/director (J.J. Abrams), go back to the basics and perfectly cast it. Accessible to almost anyone.
There you have it...look for the Music list soon...I'm still re-visiting this year's CDs to make my decisions.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Avatar
Twelve years ago, James Cameron's last film, Titanic, was released to little fanfare. You might not believe that and I shouldn't say little, as it debuted at number one, but it actually took weeks for the film to build into the "must-see" event of early 1998. Word of mouth and incredibly broad appeal kept it at the top of the charts for months. Women flocked to the love story and Leonardo DiCaprio's charm...men waited for a couple hours to see the gee-whiz special effects as the ship sinks (and maybe Kate Winslet's breasts).
I waited years before seeing it and was admittedly underwhelmed. It's a good movie, sure, but not one I'd have seen multiple times in the theatre. I guess I'm not a softy (not always, anyway) and if I wanted Cameron special effects brilliance, I'll revisit the Terminator films, Aliens...hell, even The Abyss.
I appreciate that Cameron took some time making his next film and that he chose to return to his sci-fi roots rather than make another flick sure to appease the masses. (As a coworker put it, "aren't you disturbed by the fact that the people in this movie are blue?") He claimed that, in part, he was waiting for special effects to get where he needed them...apparently Gollum in The Lord of the Rings was the tipping point.
So now we get Avatar, an epic that relies heavily on it's effects wrapped in an eco-friendly plot about the greed of man and the kill-first military mentality. Sam Worthington stars as Jake Sully, a crippled vet who arrives on the planet Pandora determined to matter again by fulfilling his brother's commitment to assist in a project to develop relationships with the native humanoids, the Na'vi.
The story works quickly as we get an overview of the situation. The Na'vi are sitting on top of a deep vein of an incredibly valuable mineral. The industrial machine, in conjunction with a gung-ho military, wants to plow right in (literally strip-mining and destroying the forests), but the scientists would like some time to attempt peaceful diplomacy with the indigenous. Jake's asked to slide his consciousness into a Na'vi body to assist, but he's also expected to provide intel for his Colonel.
The plot predictably follows Jake as he becomes embedded in the tribe (who refer to themselves as "The People") and finds it harder and harder to help those who wish to exploit them. He learns their ways, becomes enamored of their spirituality (very "earth mother") and even falls in love. Again, nothing new or unexpected here.
Where Avatar sells itself and leaves an impression is in it's beautifully rendered special effects work. I'd venture to say that some 85-90% of the film is digitally constructed. It's not flawless effects, but believable enough that you'll eventually fall into the mystique of a beautiful world filled with exotic fauna and creatures both deadly and exciting. I did not see the film in 3D, so I can't speak to those charms, though they were impressive in the preview I saw months ago. The Na'vi themselves are realized with grace and realism, capturing just enough of the look of the source actor and yet maintaining an alien quality (I love that Sigourney Weaver's avatar has her sleepy eyes).
Much like Titanic, the first couple hours of the movie are occasionally slow before the action really kicks in. The military forces on the planet eventually move to take the Na'vi land by force and the ensuing battle is truly masterful. It's grandiose and often breath-taking.
Avatar will not be the slow-burn success of Cameron's last film and it might even struggle to recoup it's production costs (rumored around $300 million), but it's a welcome addition to his resume and a film that should be experienced on the big screen (though I suspect it will be dazzling on Blu-ray, too).
Rating: B+
I waited years before seeing it and was admittedly underwhelmed. It's a good movie, sure, but not one I'd have seen multiple times in the theatre. I guess I'm not a softy (not always, anyway) and if I wanted Cameron special effects brilliance, I'll revisit the Terminator films, Aliens...hell, even The Abyss.
I appreciate that Cameron took some time making his next film and that he chose to return to his sci-fi roots rather than make another flick sure to appease the masses. (As a coworker put it, "aren't you disturbed by the fact that the people in this movie are blue?") He claimed that, in part, he was waiting for special effects to get where he needed them...apparently Gollum in The Lord of the Rings was the tipping point.
So now we get Avatar, an epic that relies heavily on it's effects wrapped in an eco-friendly plot about the greed of man and the kill-first military mentality. Sam Worthington stars as Jake Sully, a crippled vet who arrives on the planet Pandora determined to matter again by fulfilling his brother's commitment to assist in a project to develop relationships with the native humanoids, the Na'vi.
The story works quickly as we get an overview of the situation. The Na'vi are sitting on top of a deep vein of an incredibly valuable mineral. The industrial machine, in conjunction with a gung-ho military, wants to plow right in (literally strip-mining and destroying the forests), but the scientists would like some time to attempt peaceful diplomacy with the indigenous. Jake's asked to slide his consciousness into a Na'vi body to assist, but he's also expected to provide intel for his Colonel.
The plot predictably follows Jake as he becomes embedded in the tribe (who refer to themselves as "The People") and finds it harder and harder to help those who wish to exploit them. He learns their ways, becomes enamored of their spirituality (very "earth mother") and even falls in love. Again, nothing new or unexpected here.
Where Avatar sells itself and leaves an impression is in it's beautifully rendered special effects work. I'd venture to say that some 85-90% of the film is digitally constructed. It's not flawless effects, but believable enough that you'll eventually fall into the mystique of a beautiful world filled with exotic fauna and creatures both deadly and exciting. I did not see the film in 3D, so I can't speak to those charms, though they were impressive in the preview I saw months ago. The Na'vi themselves are realized with grace and realism, capturing just enough of the look of the source actor and yet maintaining an alien quality (I love that Sigourney Weaver's avatar has her sleepy eyes).
Much like Titanic, the first couple hours of the movie are occasionally slow before the action really kicks in. The military forces on the planet eventually move to take the Na'vi land by force and the ensuing battle is truly masterful. It's grandiose and often breath-taking.
Avatar will not be the slow-burn success of Cameron's last film and it might even struggle to recoup it's production costs (rumored around $300 million), but it's a welcome addition to his resume and a film that should be experienced on the big screen (though I suspect it will be dazzling on Blu-ray, too).
Rating: B+
Sunday, December 20, 2009
The Best Tracks of 2009
Long time friends and readers know that every year I put together a mix CD of my favorite tracks from that year. I typically give them out during the holidays, mailing several with Xmas cards to friends around the country.
I completed this year's mix last week, copies are currently burning for distribution at work, but you, dear MM fans, get a sneak peak at the playlist before copies make their way into the general populace. Without further ado...The Best of 2009.
1. The Fixer - Pearl Jam
2. Feel Good Drag - Anberlin
3. Sex on Fire - Kings of Leon
4. The Fear - Lily Allen
5. My Life Would Suck Without You - Kelly Clarkson
6. Just Breathe - Pearl Jam
7. Two Weeks of Hip-Hop - Dead Prez vs. Grizzly Bear
8. Dance Anthem of the 80's - Regina Spektor
9. Ghost Town - Shiny Toy Guns
10. Dominos - The Big Pink
11. Use Somebody - Kings of Leon
12. Who'd Have Known - Lily Allen
13. Lost in You - Three Days Grace
14. Undisclosed Desires - Muse
15. It's Nice to Know You Work Alone - Silversun Pickups
16. Uprising - Muse
17. Sometime Around Midnight - The Airborne Toxic Event
18. 21 Guns - Green Day
19. Panic Switch - Silversun Pickups
If you got a copy and it's damaged, please let me know and I will replace it.
I completed this year's mix last week, copies are currently burning for distribution at work, but you, dear MM fans, get a sneak peak at the playlist before copies make their way into the general populace. Without further ado...The Best of 2009.
1. The Fixer - Pearl Jam
2. Feel Good Drag - Anberlin
3. Sex on Fire - Kings of Leon
4. The Fear - Lily Allen
5. My Life Would Suck Without You - Kelly Clarkson
6. Just Breathe - Pearl Jam
7. Two Weeks of Hip-Hop - Dead Prez vs. Grizzly Bear
8. Dance Anthem of the 80's - Regina Spektor
9. Ghost Town - Shiny Toy Guns
10. Dominos - The Big Pink
11. Use Somebody - Kings of Leon
12. Who'd Have Known - Lily Allen
13. Lost in You - Three Days Grace
14. Undisclosed Desires - Muse
15. It's Nice to Know You Work Alone - Silversun Pickups
16. Uprising - Muse
17. Sometime Around Midnight - The Airborne Toxic Event
18. 21 Guns - Green Day
19. Panic Switch - Silversun Pickups
If you got a copy and it's damaged, please let me know and I will replace it.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Movie Leftovers
I saw a few movies this summer and fall that I neglected to review. Shame on me, so here are some quick and dirty reviews to catch you up.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - B+
As a fan of the books, it's hard to get completely excited by the films anymore. Too much has been excised and streamlined to keep the films from running several hours long. From a Hollywood perspective it makes perfect sense and the films are well-produced and exciting. Half-Blood Prince is no exception...it's dark, brooding and perfectly sets the stage for the final installment(s) of the series. From a fan perspective, the best part of the book, an extensive backstory for villain Voldemort, is sadly missing.
Inglourious Basterds - B
Quentin Taratino's latest piece of violent fiction is still distinctly his, but the premise and setting, following a troop of cutthroat (scalp?) WWII assassins and various Nazis, is new and helps elevate the film above quirk. In the end, it's a piece of revisionist fantasy, but a funny one filled with several moments of Tarantino's typical talking head dialogue pieces. Brad Pitt turns in another bizarre performance but Christoph Waltz turns in the best performance as a slick Nazi colonel.
9 - B
Not to be confused with District 9, this computer animated flick about strange canvas-doll creatures trying to survive in a machine-controlled post-apocalypse (I like hyphens!) is exciting and looks great. The pacing is brisk but the story could have been fleshed out a bit.
Law Abiding Citizen - C+
It's interesting to see Gerard Butler as a villain and his one-up vengeance plots are exciting, if very graphic. There's nothing inherently bad about the film, it simply offers nothing new either.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - B+
As a fan of the books, it's hard to get completely excited by the films anymore. Too much has been excised and streamlined to keep the films from running several hours long. From a Hollywood perspective it makes perfect sense and the films are well-produced and exciting. Half-Blood Prince is no exception...it's dark, brooding and perfectly sets the stage for the final installment(s) of the series. From a fan perspective, the best part of the book, an extensive backstory for villain Voldemort, is sadly missing.
Inglourious Basterds - B
Quentin Taratino's latest piece of violent fiction is still distinctly his, but the premise and setting, following a troop of cutthroat (scalp?) WWII assassins and various Nazis, is new and helps elevate the film above quirk. In the end, it's a piece of revisionist fantasy, but a funny one filled with several moments of Tarantino's typical talking head dialogue pieces. Brad Pitt turns in another bizarre performance but Christoph Waltz turns in the best performance as a slick Nazi colonel.
9 - B
Not to be confused with District 9, this computer animated flick about strange canvas-doll creatures trying to survive in a machine-controlled post-apocalypse (I like hyphens!) is exciting and looks great. The pacing is brisk but the story could have been fleshed out a bit.
Law Abiding Citizen - C+
It's interesting to see Gerard Butler as a villain and his one-up vengeance plots are exciting, if very graphic. There's nothing inherently bad about the film, it simply offers nothing new either.
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