This is a great sequel (although it would have been nice to have a more original title) - a great story and action, and fantastic animation. The writers are doing a great job of keeping the story fresh, even with the tv show, and with allowing the characters to grow and grow up. Original and fun and entertaining.
August 31, 2014
August 30, 2014
Draft Day (2014)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2223990/
Nicely done one-day story, with touches of romance, comedy and celebrity spotting. While the heart-warming touches were predictable, the pathway to them was not, and so only moderately Disney-feeling. Nice performances all around, and nice to see Kevin Costner back and in fine sporting-movie form.
Jamie Marks is Dead (2014)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2381046/
A very interesting ghost story - a kind of adolescent The Sixth Sense. Not too scary but still certainly spooky, with great performances from all of the teens (sadly, the same is not true for the two adults - Liv Tyler, what has happened to you?
The Rover (2014)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2345737/
This was a very spare but violent film, with lovely landscapes and a haunting score. Comparisons with other post apocalyptic films such as Mad Max are not really appropriate. Performances by Guy Pearce and Robert Pattinson were exceptional, although the script and story have many weak spots, including the ending.
August 23, 2014
Are you here (2014)
This was a strange film. A story about friendship, family, love, self-discovery, the decline of civilization, natural food, and saving the planet - but not really addressing any of those thing directly or completely. Owen Wilson as his usual goofy and oddly attractive self, and Zach G as the stoner, start out as you'd expect, but then the story takes several strange turns and becomes more interesting and hopeful than expected. This was neither The Hangover or The Big Chill - it was unfocused and really not that funny, but still worth watching for moments of brilliance like this:
"That's the thing about friendship - it's a lot rarer than love. And there's nothing in it for any body."
August 17, 2014
The Quiet Ones (2014)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2235779/
Strange horror movie about I-don't-know-what. Possession? Ghosts? Demons? Didn't really care.
Tammy (2014)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2103254
Bad. Really really bad. I think they were trying for Thelma and Louise meets The Hangover, but it was just horrible gags and gaffs by the horrible Melissa McCarthy. Susan Sarandon must have lost a big bet to have ended up in this.
Maleficent (2014)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1587310
This film is very well done - lovely to look at, great characters, good story, and best of all NO MUSICAL NUMBERS. Angelina Jolie is outstanding as the hero/villian, and most of the rest of the cast matches her; the exception is the terribly miscast Sharlto Copley, who is just not believable as the lame ambitious king. Although the ending is somewhat predictable, the story is heartwarming and worth watching.
August 4, 2014
Endurance (2000)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0264578/
Excellent documentary. The film seemlessly blends interviews, images and film footage from 100 years ago and today, with great narration and cahracitures of the historical figures. Wonderful.
Beyond the Edge (2013)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2468638/
An okay version of the 1953 climbing of Mt. Everest by Hillary and Norgay. It was an interesting blend of real and faux-documentary footage, with voiceover/dialogue entirely from the real folks. But while some of the cinematography was breathtaking, other parts seemed amateurishly done, especially the scenes of climbers standing around at 26,000 with no wind and hardly a parka on anywhere (and you couldn't see their breath). It's also impossible to believe that this was filmed on Everest, given the length of time required for filming and the complete absence of any evidence of other modern-day climbers (which Everest is currently littered with).
An okay version of the 1953 climbing of Mt. Everest by Hillary and Norgay. It was an interesting blend of real and faux-documentary footage, with voiceover/dialogue entirely from the real folks. But while some of the cinematography was breathtaking, other parts seemed amateurishly done, especially the scenes of climbers standing around at 26,000 with no wind and hardly a parka on anywhere (and you couldn't see their breath). It's also impossible to believe that this was filmed on Everest, given the length of time required for filming and the complete absence of any evidence of other modern-day climbers (which Everest is currently littered with).
August 2, 2014
Papadoupoulos & Sons (2012)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2006810/
A lovely and heartfelt story about the fall and rise of a Greek-English family caught in the storm of the 2008 financial crisis. Looking at the notion of returning to your roots to find your way forward is a classic story set in modern times.
A lovely and heartfelt story about the fall and rise of a Greek-English family caught in the storm of the 2008 financial crisis. Looking at the notion of returning to your roots to find your way forward is a classic story set in modern times.
The Calling (2014)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1666335
Very well done thriller, with a great story, performances and setting - a cross-Canada serial killer mystery. Also, unbelievable cast and some strikingly good performances from unexpected folks (Gil Bellows and Topher Grace were outstanding). A few procedural and other holes, and I think several key elements of the story (from the novel by Inger Ash Wolfe) had to be dropped to save time, do not take away from the tension and mystery.
Very well done thriller, with a great story, performances and setting - a cross-Canada serial killer mystery. Also, unbelievable cast and some strikingly good performances from unexpected folks (Gil Bellows and Topher Grace were outstanding). A few procedural and other holes, and I think several key elements of the story (from the novel by Inger Ash Wolfe) had to be dropped to save time, do not take away from the tension and mystery.
Locke (2013)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2692904/
Well done one-man show, with a great performance by Tom Hardy. Tense, moving and captivating.
Well done one-man show, with a great performance by Tom Hardy. Tense, moving and captivating.
I'll Follow You Down (2013)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3297792/
Interesting time travel/love story, with good performances all round with the notable exception of Haley Joel Osment - who has not retained anything of his charm or talent since childhood. Rather fantastic science story for the time travel piece, but otherwise a delightful tale.
Interesting time travel/love story, with good performances all round with the notable exception of Haley Joel Osment - who has not retained anything of his charm or talent since childhood. Rather fantastic science story for the time travel piece, but otherwise a delightful tale.
The Lego Movie (2014)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1490017/
"This is awesome!" I was surprised how much I enjoyed this. It really is a grown up movie, with pop culture and literary references that would sail over the heads of the Lego age range - my favourite was the "piece of resistance". The climax and conclusion was also well done, with the merging of the real and toy worlds in a very clever way. The inclusion of Batman, the middle managers, and Gandalf/Dumbledore were well done, and the animation with Lego (especially the ocean and underwater scenes) were fantastic. Highly recommend this for just about everyone.
"This is awesome!" I was surprised how much I enjoyed this. It really is a grown up movie, with pop culture and literary references that would sail over the heads of the Lego age range - my favourite was the "piece of resistance". The climax and conclusion was also well done, with the merging of the real and toy worlds in a very clever way. The inclusion of Batman, the middle managers, and Gandalf/Dumbledore were well done, and the animation with Lego (especially the ocean and underwater scenes) were fantastic. Highly recommend this for just about everyone.
Disney's Bears (2014)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2458776/
Beautiful and amazing footage, but I could have done without the naming of all of the animals - typical Disney anthropomorphization - and the phoney "dialogue". And they lived happily ever after, of course. No threat to the Attenborough dynasty at BBC or the Discovery Channel, both of whom do this kind of thing much better.
Beautiful and amazing footage, but I could have done without the naming of all of the animals - typical Disney anthropomorphization - and the phoney "dialogue". And they lived happily ever after, of course. No threat to the Attenborough dynasty at BBC or the Discovery Channel, both of whom do this kind of thing much better.
Man of Steel (2013)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0770828/
A pretty good version of this story - perhaps the third time's the charm? Good use of modern technology in this film, to bring the story up to date, while maintaining the characters and basics of the legend. The extreme violence and destruction of the repeated battles was realistic, but it's hard to imagine that the aftermath of all of that could leave folks as cheery as they were at the end. Well set-up for the sequel.
A pretty good version of this story - perhaps the third time's the charm? Good use of modern technology in this film, to bring the story up to date, while maintaining the characters and basics of the legend. The extreme violence and destruction of the repeated battles was realistic, but it's hard to imagine that the aftermath of all of that could leave folks as cheery as they were at the end. Well set-up for the sequel.
Love is All you Need (2012)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1854236/
A delightful love story in such a beautiful setting. Pierce Brosnan is excellent as the tough but needing to be vulnerable sad man, not looking for love but really needing it. The blend of casts from various nationalities, and the combination of languages and cultures, makes for a very interesting environment for the story. And a delightfully happy and not sappy ending. Love is not always be easy, but it is all you need.
A delightful love story in such a beautiful setting. Pierce Brosnan is excellent as the tough but needing to be vulnerable sad man, not looking for love but really needing it. The blend of casts from various nationalities, and the combination of languages and cultures, makes for a very interesting environment for the story. And a delightfully happy and not sappy ending. Love is not always be easy, but it is all you need.
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