TRON: Legacy

RATING:**** (4 stars)

Twenty-five years after the disappearance of Kevin Flynn, his son Sam goes to investigate his old office where apparently a call was made from a line that has been disconected for years. Sam is transported into the virtual world his father created and has been trapped in, and fights to escape and save them both.

The sequel to the popular cult favorite from 1982 about the virtual reality program, and to the films benefit the major actors are back reprising their roles: Jeff Bridges as both Kevin Flynn and Clu, and Bruce Boxleitner as both Alan Bradley and Tron. This time we are also introduced to Kevin's orphaned son Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund) and Quorra (Olivia Wilde), a program within the virtual world that has allied herself with Kevin Flynn while he lives in exile.

Noticeably the visuals for TRON: Legacy have gotten quite the upgrade since the first film, and they really make everything come alive. Perhaps even better than the CGI was the very clever use of 3D in this film, much as color was used in The Wizard of Oz--the film does not switch to 3D until we are in the virtual world, and helps to further differentiate that otherness from reality. Everything about the TRON universe has been given a similar kind of slim, barely noticeable makeover that just makes a huge difference on the large scale that the whole world really just jumps off the screen.

The same things that people didn't like about the original film are present here as well, namely character development and plot. With the exception of in this case a single character, all of the characters are very static throughout the film. The plot is nothing fancy either, just another take on the reunion with estranged family with a "save the world" twist thrown in. To detract from TRON:Legacy on those two points, however, is silly because this is not a film pretending to masquerade as a powerful drama. From beginning to end, this is merely a fun film with some spectacular use of CGI and creative use of 3D. Obviously to fully enjoy the 3D, you'll have to catch it in theaters.

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Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1

RATING:***** (5 stars)

With Voldemort beginning a reign of terror after the death of Dumbledore, Harry Potter and his friends Ron and Hermione embark on a search for the remaining horcruxes--the key to Voldemort's power.

Disclaimer: Arthur has not read any of the Harry Potter books. Whether by popular demand from fans or otherwise, the final Harry Potter installment has been broken up into two parts, with the second being released in 2011. For those who have been following Harry since his debut on the silver screen back in 2001, you should be well-acquainted with the knowledge that evil wizard Voldemort is quite immortal and that Harry Potter is the "chosen one" needed to defeat him. You should also have a solid grasp of all of the major (and many minor) characters that have already been introduced over the last six films as HP 7.1 (as I am dubbing it) wastes no time in exposition.

One of the beautiful things about a cast that has stayed with a franchise as long as Harry Potter is watching and truly appreciating the growth of the young actors and actresses, particularly in this case when they have been surrounded by such a large assortment of Britain's finest actors and actresses themselves. Our three lead characters get plenty of chance to stretch and demonstrate their acting skill this go-around, with quite a large chunk of the two-hour film consisting of them on-screen by themselves.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1 delivers much of the same in terms of music, effects, cinematography--a good number of things to be consistent with throughout any franchise remains true here. What is markedly different in this latest installment is the tension of our protagonists to the world around them and to each other. Without spoiling any of the details for any movie-goers who like myself are not familiar with teh book and do not know how things turn out, rest assured that HP 7.1 is exciting, funny, dramatic, and sets the stage beautifully for the finale next year.

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Unstoppable

RATING:**** (4 stars)

Two blue-collar men working together for the first time decide to chase down a runaway freight train with dangerous materials that threatens a heavily populated area.

Starring Denzel Washington and Chris Pine as our two primary leads, the star power alone almost demands a theater viewing. Luckily, we are given a tense drama with very human characters that can deliver an experience worthy of the big screen.

There really is not a whole lot of depth to the story: Frank (Washington) is a veteran of the train industry who has only a couple weeks left before his forced early retirement, while Will (Pine) is a young dad with marriage trouble who from one perspective got a nice job because he has relatives in the industry. The tension starts at the very beginning of the movie, and rides hard until the very end, so all of the character development (what little there is) comes along the way and cuts to the point--not unlike many people having normal conversation. It is in this aspect that Unstoppable really shines. We see two men that by all accounts are very "normal" people put into an extraordinary situation, and do the best they can under those circumstances.

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Due Date

RATING:*** (3 stars)

When a stressed-out father-to-be gets put on a no-fly list, he ends up taking a cross-country jaunt with the aspiring actor who got him put on the no-fly list.

There has been a lot of buzz recently over Due Date, in no small part because of the trailers loaded with choice bits of comedy from the film. As expected, the story focuses on Peter Highman (Robert Downey, Jr.) and Ethan Tremblay (Zach Galifianakis) and the many misadventures they have from the moment they meet as they travel to Los Angeles for the birth of Peter's first child. The story is pretty straight-forward, our two characters meet briefly outside the airport, get put on a no-fly list shortly thereafter, and share a rental car as they both travel halfway across the country to California.

While there is plenty of comedy to be had here, much of it feels forced. The story seems to serve only as a vechicle to take us from one ridiculous situation to the next, where there will be similar-but-different hijinks going on. This is not to say that you won't laugh--there is plenty to laugh at in Due Date. You might feel a bit swindled that much of the best comedic moments were in the trailers and that you've already seen them, but otherwise there is some good comedy here.

Maybe not worth theatre money, but definitely worth a rental. Also as a note to parents, plenty of marijuana jokes and smoking on-screen.

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RED (2010)

RATING:**** (4 stars)

When a retired CIA operative is targeted for elimination, he assembles his old team to find out who wants them all dead.

Many Americans (myself included) have been looking forward to RED since the first trailer came our earlier this year. If you haven't even heard of this yet, prepare for another action movie in a year of action movies--except this one has an all-star cast and is liable to make you laugh the entire time as well. Our hero this time around is Frank Moses (Bruce Willis), who thinks he might have found a girl (Mary-Louise Parker) who will let him put his past behind him and lead a "normal" life. A professional hit squad, that he deals with rather well I might add, lead to a more awkward first meeting than he hoped for. So he rounds up friends from the old days to figure out what is going on (Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich, Helen Mirren) while they are pursued by young CIA operative William Cooper (Karl Urban).

RED delivers on everthing the trailer promised, from beginning to end. We have more than enough action to classify this as an action movie, and more than enough one-liners and laughter-inducing scenes to call it a comedy as well. In addition to the cast above, you can expect some notable roles from Richard Dreyfus and Brian Cox to give you even more of a reason to get to theaters this weekend and see this film.

Sure, some of the camera-work could have been a little better and the plot itself isn't anything outstanding. Let's face it, we're not exactly looking at anything that is likely to get anybody an Academy Award in a few months. But that also is part of the reason you want to go and see it--because it's a blast to watch and sure to sate your movie appetite for the month. Unless of course you wanted lots of drama and romance, but there are other movies in theaters to provide that.

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Life As We Know It

RATING:**** (4 stars)

When their best friends die in a car accident, two godparents who can't stand each other are left to raise their friends' baby.

I'm not going to deny that I can be rather picky when it comes to "date movies", but pickings have been pretty slim in the latter half of 2010. So it was with reserve that I went to Life As We Know It, and I was pleasantly surprised. The movie starts rather slowly, taking its time to build up to the premise. But hang in there, because what is really happening is that you are being introduced to Messer (Josh Duhamel) and Holly (Katherine Heigl) and learning what makes them tick. We then get pivotal event #1: the married couple dies. Given the fact that this film is not meant to be a depressing film, the way this was handled was startlingly well done. Things progress quickly from there in a fairly genre-typical fashion.

Life As We Know It fires on all cylinders and does exactly what it is meant to do. We get the small laughs throughout the film, interspersed with just the right amount of emotional touches. What was particularly interesting, and well-done by both the writers and our lead actor and actress, are the various scenes where Messer and Holly are coping with the loss of their best friends. Two strong, independent people coping and looking for emotional release in ways that won't make them look vulnerable. Very good stuff.

Really, the only thing going against the film is the predictability, and I'm certainly not going to hold that against one of the few really good date movies to come out recently that is quite good. So grab that special someone (or that person you would like to become that special someone!) and go see it!

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The Social Network (2010)

RATING:*** (3 stars)

A story about the founders of Facebook.

Perhaps the most talked about film of the 2010 movie season has not been The Twilight Saga: Eclipse or Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows, Part 1, but the not-entirely-factual film about a website that has changed the way we interact dramatically over the last decade: FACEBOOK.

In what seems almost a natural role for him, Mark Zuckerberg is played by Jesse Eisenberg and does a great job portraying the CEO of Facebook as a genius, a nerd, and perhaps a little socially inept. Aaron Sorkin's screeplay is also particularly good at bluring the lines between "reality" and what the character of Zuckerberg "believes" to be the reality.

However, outside of the scripting and the acting of the young actors and actresses, we do not have anything particularly great. Everything pretty well plays out as one would expect and there certainly isn't anything memorable about the film. A great film to grab for a night with popcorn at home, but maybe not one worth theater money.

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Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (2010)

RATING:**** (4 stars)

As the world is on the brink of economic collapse, a young Wall Street trader allies himself with Gorden Gekko--a Wall Street mogul recently released from prison after having been convicted of insider trading.

Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps is an astonishingly good sequel to Wall Street (1987), also written and directed by Oliver Stone. In this installment for the new generation, our [somewhat] naive protagonist is played by Shia LeBeouf. Aside from that primary difference, the core story is much the same as the original: our hero is a Wall Street trader looking to make his way up in the business and finds his salvation (or damnation?) in Gordon Gekko (played once again by Michael Douglas).

The most notable difference in Money Never Sleeps is that it is written to be analogous to our actual economic collapse of 2008 on Wall Street. The whole shebang too--sub-prime mortgages, risky investments, "too big to fail" firms, and government bail-outs. Everything hits very close to home throughout the film, and is really only emphasized by the cast that is most certainly up to the task of making their characters as believeable as possible. There is even a long story arc within the film on Gordon Gekko's search for redemption that is certain to throw viewers for a loop (particularly if you saw Wall Street).

All-in-all there really isn't anything negative to say about the film other than the fact that the actual ending feels a bit... contrived. Particularly for an Oliver Stone film where his movies are typically less about traditional "happy" endings and more about realistic endings, what we end up with in Money Never Sleeps just seeems... off. However, considering how strong the analogy to our real-life economy is, I think that for 2010 a happy ending was just what this film needed.

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The Town (2010)

RATING:*** (3 stars)

As he plans another job, a long-time thief runs into a serious conflict of interest when he falls in love with the bank manager of his last heist--and the only person who could possibly give him away to the FBI.

In Ben Affleck's directoral debut, we get an edgy drama centered on Boston. For a film that has numerous opportunities to bog itself down, I was rather impressed at the pacing of the film. It's not going to keep you on the edge of your seat, but it shouldn't put you to sleep either. Some people might critique my use of the word "edgy" to describe it, but I do so because in contrast to the rest of the film, the violence that you do see is startling and almost seems out of place.

One concern that always seems to come up among the public is sympathyzing with criminals, particularly when the main character is one himself. I can safely tell you that that is not going to be an issue in this film. In fact, aside from Doug Macray (Ben Affleck) and Claire (Rebecca Hall), you probably are not going to particularly like any of the other characters in The Town. So do not go into the film with the assumption--which is safe in most films--that there will be a character for you to associate with and empathize with because even for these two characters that can be a bit of a stretch. I very much felt like a relatively impartial third-party watching events unfold than someone who felt invested in the story I was being told.

Perhaps the most influential part of the film is the way it ends, and let me explain why. As the film plays on and we begin to put together pieces and learn things about our characters and their past, the plot builds and builds to a point where as an educated audience we realize that there are only a couple of different ways that things can end. Now the ending is not a bad ending, and personally I thought rather well done, but something feels... off. I still haven't been able to put my finger on why, but I feel like there must have been some better way to approach it and I do not know what exactly that is at the time of this writing. Still, a good film that is worth a look.

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Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010)

RATING:*** (3 stars)
 
A few months after helping some survivors escape to Alaska, where there are rumors of a city untouched by the T-virus, Alice (Milla Jovovich) continues her vengeance against the Umbrella Corporation--the ones responsible for the biological weapon that turns people into zombies and has all but destroyed the human race in the process.

Resident Evil: Afterlife picks up pretty much right where Resident Evil: Extinction (2007) left off.  The film starts then with a small army of Alices assaulting an Umbrella facility in Tokyo which also leads to her being injected with a kind of T-virus antibody that strips her of the strange psychic powers she had developed in the last film.  This really pays off overall because it lets the film set the pace at a more traditional pacing for a zombie/action film instead of the incredibly fast-paced opening sequence that shows off said psychic powers.  Eventually Alice finds Claire Redfield (Ali Larter), presumably the only survivor of the survivors she helped, alone in Alaska and having lost her memory.  Together they make their way down to Los Angeles where they find some survivors who have been holed up in an abandoned prison--the main location for the story this time around.

The big buzz with RE:Afterlife has been that contrary to many 3D films this summer, this one was shot with the Fusion camera system pioneered by James Cameron in Avatar.  And it really pays off.  Just like in the sci-fi film, there is much less of random things jumping out of the screen and more of a feeling of immersion in the film--as if you were actually the person holding the camera and actually in the middle of the action.  Another way to think of it would be to take the high quality of a Blu-Ray DVD and watch it on the big screen.  It also works very well for the high-intensity action sequences peppered throughout the film, which seemed reminiscent of earlier Resident Evil films with a mix of the different but equally intense action sequences in The Matrix and Blade.  Overall a solid addition to the series and one that shouldn't disappoint.

However, where this film really falls short is on the storytelling.  Plenty of action to keep you glued to the seat and well-shot, but there is surprisingly little in terms of explaining the various homages to the video games that the movie crowd will not understand.  This can really be broken down into two areas: characters and zombies.  In terms of characters, the most notable is Chris Redfield, brother to Claire.  We get a little of his backstory when he is first introduced, but we are given zero information on how the two of them were separated at the beginning of the crisis or why they happen to fight so surprising well together.  There are two notable zombies in this film that are given absolutely no explanation at all.  The first is one that appears to be able to burrow through the ground and whose entire face splits to reveal a huge mouth.  The other is a GIANT zombie with a massive axe.  No explanation, even suggestive by the characters, is given for how or why these two zombies exist.  Really just boils down to a script that feels a little rushed in order to focus more on the action sequences (which are quite well done).

Most certainly a fun film, but not one to worry too much about seeing in the theater unless you either (A) really want to see it in 3D, or (B) do not have the convenience of watching films on Blu-Ray at home.

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Machete (2010)

RATING:*** (3 stars)

An ex-federale who is betrayed stops at nothing to hunt down the people who set him up and uncovers a web of dirty dealings.

Machete is an action movie targeted at a very specific segment of the action film crowd--particularly those who like over-the-top violence (the kind that is just as likely to make you laugh) a la Kill Bill (2003/2004) and Grindhouse (2007).  In fact, some people might remember that Machete was originally one of the fake trailers shown during Grindhouse. 

There really is not a whole lot to say about the film.  Based on the above and the cast (Danny Trejo, Robert De Niro, Steven Seagal, Jessica Alba, Michelle Rodriguez, Don Johnson, Cheech Marin) you already have a pretty fair idea of whether you are going to see the film or not.  I can say with confidence that if you have plans to see Machete you will not be disappointed in either the amount of action or the sheer amount of hilarity present.

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The Last Exorcism (2010)

RATING: ** (2 stars)
 
The Last Exorcism is a documentary-style film (NOT BASED ON ACTUAL EVENTS) following an evangelical minister who allows his last exorcism to be filmed.

The Last Exorcism is a kind of movie that appeals to a particular niche audience that unfortunately I am not a part of.  Films in a similar vein would include The Blair Witch Project, meant to frighten and scare less from special effects or monsters but more from the way the film is shot and the way in which the actors convey their emotions of fear to the audience.  As such, the entirety of the film is shot using the jerky, sometimes out of focus lens of a hand-held camera--for better or worse.

Where I believe the film really fails is in two parts.  First, not remotely scary; as a horror movie, that is the modus operandi--scare the viewer.  The only way The Last Exorcism will scare you is if you watch The Exorcist (1973) and are still frightened by the very concept of possession.  Plenty of foreshadowing and misdirection which are great for the story, but at no point was I ever really scared.  The other failure, in my opinion, is the ending--which is also probably the only way it could actually end.  It doesn't answer any questions, and does far more to lead to a starting point for another film than it does to bring closure to this one.

Again, unless you are a fan of this particular niche of the horror genre, I would steer away from The Last Exorcism.  And even then, you can probably wait until it hits DVD.

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Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

RATING:**** (4 stars)
When Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera) sees the woman of his dreams--literally--he does everything he can to win her heart. Then he finds out that by pursuing her he also has to defeat her seven evil exes. Hilarity ensues.

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World was made with a careful eye for story and a good knowledge of just who the target audience was. While I myself have not read the graphic novel, a good friend of mine who has (and saw the movie with me) said that they did a fantastic job of cutting out the fluff and excess and really making the story pop on-screen. So if you were looking for more from Scott's friends, check out the graphic novel (as you should for any film you enjoy based on a graphic novel). The PR for the film has been buzzing all year, with a serious emphasis on one particular demographic--gamers. These folks (and yes, I am one of them) are going to understand all the jokes, recognize all the little easter eggs and subtle winks to games of yore that are woven into this action/comedy.

While understandably some of those little nuggets are going to be lost on some people in the audience, it should not in any way detract from what is a fun romp through this over-the-top film about doing whatever you have to just to get the girl. If you don't catch this one at the theater, make sure you're first in line when it hits DVD because odds of finding a rental available anytime soon are not good.

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The Other Guys

RATING:*** (3 stars)

When New York City's two famous police action heroes die in the line of duty, it falls upon the rank-and-file, the other guys, to step up to the plate.

The latest film starring Will Ferrell is in a similar comedic vein, while at the same time paying homage to the fact that it is the little guys on the police force that are usually responsible for keeping us safe instead of the ones we here about all the time on TV. Also starring Mark Wahlberg, Michael Keaton, and Steve Coogan, The Other Guys is sure to make you laugh more than once--particularly if you are old enough to have heard of a musical group from the 1990's that sang about waterfalls and scrubs.

Perhaps what really pulls down this film is the pacing.  While there is no shortage of both smart and outrageous humor, the film has a number of spots where it just really seems to drag on and on.  In the long run this is incredibly counter-productive because then you're waiting on the next big joke to bring you back into the action.  In all honesty, some of the characters (notably Terry Hoitz) are very static and do not contribute all that much to either the story or the jokes to be particularly noteworthy.

The Other Guys is a fun summer comedy that will make you laugh at least a few times, but for some people it probably is not a film that you will choose to see in the theaters.  Definitely one to look for in a couple months when it hits DVD.

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Dinner for Schmucks (2010)

RATING:** (2 stars)
 
Tim (Paul Rudd) is an executive at a firm that is just barely treading water and looking for the next big money maker. He finds it, but before his promotion becomes official he has to attend a dinner held by the owner of the firm.  At this special dinner each of the members is supposed to bring along an idiot.  Tim is ready to call of the whole thing until he meets Barry (Steve Carrell).

Dinner for Schmucks is a comedy looking to give you some laughs and little more.  The story is pretty simple when you break it down and not very thought-provoking by itself.  Really, the concept itself is even a little off-putting.  Thankfully the presentation works well enough, perhaps in part to the cast being so chock-full of comedians that it's hard to gauge how much of the hilarity was written and how much was improvised on set.

From beginning to end the film is stuffed with one-liners and tongue-in-cheek jokes that are sure to catch on and get tossed around in conversation over the next few weeks.  I wasn't lying about the cast either, aside from Paul Rudd and Steve Carrell, you can expect to see Jemaine Clement, Zack Galifianakis, Jeff Dunham, Ron Livingston, and Larry Wilmore.  Hands down the show-stealer is Jemaine Clement, of "Flight of the Conchords" fame, portraying the wildly outrageous artists Kieran.

Beyond the one-liners however, there really isn't much to Dinner for Schmucks.  It is very much a film that you can see once and then forget about, though some of those one-liners might stick with you for a little while.  Nothing spectacular here, and really a film better saved for a movie rental on a slow weekend... if you can't find something better.

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Salt (2010)

RATING: *** (3 stars)
Evelyn Salt (Angelina Jolie) is a CIA officer who has served her country faithfully for years. When a Russian intelligence officer defects and names her as a Russian spy, it becomes a race against time to prove her innocence.

In a summer loaded to the brim with action movies, Salt adds another one to the mix. Really nothing fancy or noteworthy about it save for a few choice bits that really make it stand out--the first of which is the story itself.  Reminiscent of a Cold War-era spy movie, the film captures that element of suspense in not knowing for certain which side each of the players is on until the grand reveal at the end.  You will get hints along the way and savvy movie-goers might pick up on clues along the way, but most people will enjoy the ride.

The other particularly noteworthy element about the film is the lack of gratuitous violence.  Particularly of interest for parents and other concerned with the amount of blood in Hollywood these days, there is surprising little in Salt.  Hand-to-hand combat and gunfights, yes.  Blood... not so much.  Something to keep in mind if that worries you, but mostly noteworthy because that obviously is not the norm in a Hollywood action movie nowadays.

Overall Salt is a fun little action movie that moves along at a brisk pace so you shouldn't ever feel like the movie is dragging.  I would call this a straight-up "popcorn flick", one that you may or may not go to see in theaters, but certainly worth a look when it hits DVD.

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Inception (2010)

RATING:***** (5 stars)
In a future where technology allows people to enter other's dreams, Dom Cobb has made a mercenary living all over the world doing extraction--using this shared dreaming to steal information. When a potential employer offers Dom the opportunity to return to the children he has not seen in years, he is eager to hear what the job is. It is a job assumed to be impossible--planting an idea in someone else and making them believe it to be their own.

Everything you've heard about Inception so far is true. It has an all-star cast in Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Page, Tom Hardy, Ken Watanabe and more. The acting is top-notch from a group that you would expect nothing less from, and they deliver outstandingly. Definitely keep this in mind when Oscar season starts up again; we will likely see at least one or two acting nods coming this way.

The special effects are equally well done. Particularly during one action sequence, I felt like I did the first time I saw The Matrix. It was exhilirating watching it all, even when you know the behind-the-scenes details of how they did it. Beautifully rendered backgrounds and striking scenes help to make the many layers of the film stand out and make the rather complex story a little easier to follow. Nothing particularly exceptional about the soundtrack, but it helps to move the story along and does much more for emotional cues and one notable story element than it does to stand out by itself.

Considering how deep and complex the story is, Christopher Nolan did a good job of directing on Inception. Particularly during the third act--when you are literally bouncing between four different dream worlds--things are about as visually distict as they could possibly be. As some people have already been saying, you may need to see this film twice (or more) just to wrap your head completely around everything that is going on on-screen. Plain and simple, Inception should be considered a must-see film for summer 2010.

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