Pacific Rim

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Aliens, the Kaiju's, have arisen from beneath the ocean through a wormhole. Jaegers, giant mechanical robots, were created to fight these giant aliens. The Jaegers were designed to operate off two pilots, so that the neural load could be manageable. In it memories are shared with both the co-pilots. Raleigh Becket left the Jaeger after he lost his brother and co-pilot. After five years, Raleigh was pulled back into the Jaeger program to rescue humanity from the aliens.

This film was directed by Guillermo Del Toro. This is mainly designed for science fiction, video game, and 'otaku' nerds. There is a lot of story used to create this world, but not much used for characterization. The story is carried by standard tragedy of the main characters. There is various moments of comedy used to lighten the mood of the film. Sometimes not in the best moments. Most of the films story was told through its action sequences. The story plot carries out like a video game plot, but it works for the film. It is also familiar with anime nerds who know of Mechanical beings and their pilots. There is a lot of computer animation in this film. It can be a bit much, but it was well done. The Del Toro's visual style is apparent. The acting was good for the film. But the secondary cast outdid the leading cast. Charlie Hunnam played the role of Raleigh Becket. What his character lacked in personality was made up in his story. Rinko Kikuchi played the role of Mako Mori. She was good, but failed to make her character stand out from the others. Idris Elba played the role of Stacker Pentecost. All his emotions were told through subtle gestures that suited his role. 

I give this film 4 out of 5 stars! It is a great summer action science fiction film. This film has great visual style and action, but lacks in story.

Answer to last blog: Actress Mia Wasikowska, Stoker, starred as the popular writer Jane Eyre.

Que: What other film has actress Rinko Kikuchi starred in?

The Reader
Gran Torino
Burn After Reading
The Brother's Bloom

Stoker

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India Stoker's father mysteriously dies leaving her and her unstable mother alone. Charlie, an uncle India never knew existed, arrives to change their lives. However, India suspects that something darker hides behind his charming nature.

This film was directed by Chan-wook Park. This film takes a very unique perspective. It is very different from the film Oldboy, but the art direction is familiar. There is a heavy influence from Hitchcock's Shadow of a Doubt with the storytelling motifs, themes, and plot devices. For those unfamiliar with Park's work, or Hitchcock's work, will find this film odd. The story is more told through its cinematography than its script. A lot of the script keeps its characters a mystery. There are several turns in the film that changes the image of the characters. The artistic cinematography and background makes it feel like a darkened fairytale. This film keeps a calm but creepy feeling. There is some sexual references, but little gore. This film only hints at the violence. It doesn't throw it in your face like modern films do. Together the cast created a chilling portrait of insanity. Mia Wasikowska played the role of India Stoker. She created an image of a girl lost to her families darkness. Matthew Goode played the role of Charles Stoker. He was the perfect image of the charming antihero. Nicole Kidman played the role of Evelyn Stoker. Her character was kept too far hidden in the shadows to be understood, but it worked for the film. 

I give this film 4 out of 5 stars! This is a great psychological film, but it doesn't contain the intense dramatic storytelling of Park's earlier works.

Answer to last blog: Actress Berenice Bejo, The Artist, also starred in the film A Knight's Tale.

Que: What popular writer did actress Mia Wasikowska star as?

Jane Austen
Mary Shelley
Mary Wollstonecraft
Jane Eyre

The Artist (2011)

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In the early years of Hollywood silent films, George Valentin is a legend. George meets Peppy Miller, a young up and coming dancer/actress. With the introduction of talking films their careers go into very different directions. 

This film is directed by Michel Hazanavicius. This film is set in the time frame of 1927 to 1932 during the decline of the silent film era, and the introduction of the talkies. This film is unique among modern films because it's entirely in black and white and is (for the most part) silent. It is awkward since there appears to be a lot of conversation missed through the film. Only a handful of speech cards to highlight important moments. The music for this film is great. But this has created controversy, since one of the songs used was the love theme from the film Vertigo. This film was designed as an homage to the classic film style. Familiar segments can be spotted for movie buffs. The story is charmingly simple. Two actors meet at varied moments in their careers, they watch their careers go into separate directions, and all the while falling in love with one another. There is an awesome use of sound manipulation. The silence in the film is a tone for the character. The use of sound indicates the characters emotions. The acting was great for the silent film. It had to be more over the top, and more directed, to show emotions instead of telling emotions. Jean Dujardin played the role of George Valentin. He was great in his role of complete silence. He was able to show all his emotions through his physical actions. Berenice Bejo played the role of Peppy Miller. It was good seeing her as the love interest. James Cromwell played the role of Clifton. He was good in a small role. John Goodman played the role of Al Zimmer. He was the best comic relief in this film-even if it was only slight. Uggie as Jack the dog was adorable. 

I give this film 5 out of 5 stars! It is a unique perspective that harkens back to the silent film era. Its creative outlook makes it worth a watch.

Answer to last blog: Director Steven Soderbergh, Side Effects, also directed the film Contagion.

Que: What other film has actress Berenice Bejo starred in?

Moulin Rouge
Amelie
Mulholland Drive
A Knight's Tale

Side Effects (2013)

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After a suicide attempt, Emily Taylor meets a psychologist, Dr. Jonathan Banks. She is prescribed various types of antidepressant drugs to cure her of her depression. After being prescribed a mixture of medications, Emily Taylor faces the consequences of the side effects.

This film is directed by Steven Soderbergh. This film's story feels directly like a classic Hitchcock film. It reminiscences classic psychological thrillers with a modern twist. It plays of very recent fears of not knowing how much control we have with various psychological drugs. It also plays on the fear of how much control patients and doctors have. This film does keep a dry tone though out the film that works. It also feels like it need san intermission. It begins one way with one character, and that radically changes to a new character and seemingly a new storyline. This change creates a unexpected twist. The story does become a little far fetched once it reaches the climax of the twist, but its effective. There is some gore, but not too much. There are also no jump thrills, or fast paced action. Its thrills rely purely from the script. This film also does a great job with visual manipulation to keep the plot twist as surprising as possible. The cast was great in this film. The acting was very subtle. Rooney Mara played the role of Emily Taylor. She was great in her role. She truly gave the film its twist. However, it would still be better if it were easier to hear on screen. Jude Law played the role of Dr. Jonathan Banks. He was great as the doctor. Unfortunately, under either light it is hard to feel wholly sympathetic for his character. Channing Tatum played the role of Martin Taylor. He was good, but his character needed more definition. Catherine Zeta-Jones played the role of Dr. Victoria Siebert. She was great in her limited role. Her small time on the screen works for the film.

I give this film 3 out of 5 stars! It has a great suspense story that keeps you unaware of its future surprises.

Answer to last blog: Actress Famke Janssen, Taken 2, starred in the role of Jean Grey in the X-men series.

Que: What other film did director Steven Soderbergh direct?

Fast Five
Contagion
Drive
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Taken 2

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This film is a sequel to the film Taken made in 2008. Retired CIA operative, Bryan Mills, goes to Istanbul with his family. Bryan and his wife are taken by the father of a man he had murdered. A man who had aided in kidnapping his daughter. Now, Bryan must fight to keep his daughter safe, and rescue his wife from their captors.

This film is directed by Olivier Megaton. This sequel is highly remnant of the original. It is so remnant of the original that it feels like a highly formulated action film. That doesn't make it bad if you are a fan of the original. This film's story carries similarly, but there is less fear. There is no thrill in this film. It is obvious that Mills can very easy murder any opponent in his path. There is no true failure, so there is no sadness. This film also ends very predictably and cliched. The story can also be judged on its merits of making foreigners appear bad. It can be seen that it plays of general stereotypes of certain peoples. The action if the film is a lot cleaner than the first. There is less torture replaced by fast paced adrenaline. This film was made more for the box office than the first. On a better side, this action film does carry on with great acting that isn't seen in most action films. Liam Neeson returned to his role as Bryan Mills. He was great returning to role of the familiar obsessive father and retired agent. He kept this film alive with moderate emotion. Famke Janssen returned to her role as Lenore. She was good in her limited victim role. The script did not allow for more of a connection to her character. Maggie Grace returned to her role as Kim Mills. She was good in a more open role. She was able to rescue her father. Rade Serbedzija played the role of Murad Krasniqi. He was great as a villain to oppose Nesson's character. 

I give this film 3 out of 5 stars! It is a decent action film that follows the first. It's a lot more fast paced action, even if it is predictable.

Answer to last blog: Actress Abigail Breslin, The Call, starred in the film Zombieland.

Que: What role did actress Famke Janssen play in the X-Men series?

Ororo Munroe
Jean Grey
Raven Darkholme
Marie

The Call (2013)

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LAPD Veteran, 9-1-1 operator Jordan Turner, receives a life altering phone call from Leah Templeton. The one single mistake continues to haunt her six months later. She takes on another life altering call from Casey Welson. Jordan must face a killer from her past to save this Casey's life. 

This film was directed by Brad Anderson. This 94 minute film has a very simple set-up that becomes all too clear very early in the film. It builds a lot of its tension through the conversations of phone calls between the two heroines. The terrified heart of this film is the constant feeling of helplessness while trying outwit the kidnapper, and briefly observing the police chase. However, after the phone call ends-it turns into a familiar cliched ending with a slight twist. The story being simple, also keeps it fairly predictable. This film uses a lot of old school thriller techniques to add to the suspense. This film does have some gore in it, and some general morbid creepiness. Halle Berry, as Jordan Turner, offers a unique perspective on a thrillers protagonist character. Her emotions are fully felt through her voice. Abigail Breslin, as Casey Welson, is a familiar  emotional victim. Michael Eklund, as Michael Foster, created the familiar portrait of a murderer. Berry pulls the character out of that cliched thriller stereotype. 

I give this film 3 out of 5 stars! This film begins as great, but fails to create an ending to match. Berry's emotional performance, and Eklund's unnerving performance, does make it worth a watch.

Answer to last blog: Actor Jonathan Frid played the original role of Barnabas Collin in the 1966 television show.

Que: What other film has actress Abigail Breslin starred in?

District 9
Zombieland
Coraline
17 Again

Dark Shadows

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This film is based off the gothic soap opera of the same name. Barnabas Collins was a man who was cursed by a witch, years ago for loving the wrong woman. He spent several decades locked in a coffin until per chance he was released. He returns to the Collin homestead to rebuild his families fortunes and reputation. However, Angelique Bouchard (the witch the cursed Collins) continues to fight for his affection.

This film was directed by Tim Burton. This films story does cross into several genres. Its a clash of horror, drama, and comedy. The film follows Collins as he discovers this new era and the new family. His attempt at learning the new era does add most of the humour to the film. The characters, and their connections, makes the film very dramatic. It also gives the story its richness of heart. However, the ending did feel out of place. So many elements were just tossed in to make the ending more exciting and unexpected. There was a lack of overall focus. The unusual gothic stylings are very familiar to fans of Burton. The computer animation worked to enhance this gothic world. A lot of the cast was good, but a lot of the time felt dryly dull. Johnny Depp played the role of Barnabas Collins. In many ways he brought life to this film. He give his dark characters moments of humour. Michelle Pfeiffer played the role of Elizabeth Collins Stoddard. More could have been with her character to gain a better perspective on her. Eva Green played the role of Angelique Bouchard. Her character was elegant on screen. She did create a great villain who opposed Barnabas. 

I give this film 3 out of 5 stars! It has a lot of potential but it falls short with its lack of focus and multiple genres.

Answer to last blog: Director Zack Snyder, Man of Steel, also directed the film Dawn of the Dead.

Que: Who played the role of Barnabas Collins in the 1966 television show Dark Shadows?

Louis Edmonds
David Shelby
David Henesy
Jonathan Frid