December

The Iron Giant - ***
I was a bit harsh on this when it came out, calling it "E.T. with a robot." However similar they may be, the animation is beautiful and must be seen in high-def on a big screen to be truly appreciated. This is probably the last of its kind since the mid-90's ushered in the Pixar era which has remained dominant to this day. If you're nostalgic for an 'animated classic' but don't feel like being down-played to by talking smart-mouthed animals (which have their place in cinema, but only when they're actually funny), this is a good family-friendly film with a 1950's sense of violence (i.e., guns and missiles, but no gore).

Carousel - *
The music is good, but wow. Maybe it presents itself better on stage. The production numbers make this a viewable experience in a MST2000 way, so gather some theater buff friends, pour a drink and sass away at the screen. Could there be a worse performance ever in Gordon McRae's "Billy"? Did people really accept this as entertainment?! Oh, it's just awful.

Murial's Wedding - ***

I screened this film back in it's original release in '95 and remember liking it and for some reason late last night while perusing Netflix, I thought I'd give it another quick peek and I am so glad I did. The script has wonderful dialogue and a very clever story. Toni Colette in the leading role is quite a revelation and it's no wonder she's found incredible success and acclimation following this performance. My favorite part about Murial as our protagonist is that she's not perfect: she steals, seems largely unambitious and has no self-worth. After meeting her family and friends, we understand why and follow her metamorphosis with great intrigue.

It must be noted here that Jeanie Drynan as Murial's mother has only a few minutes of screen time, yet gives an incredible low-keyed performance which carries throughout the film and affects our perception of most of the characters. As much as I like Rachel Griffiths, her storyline gets a bit "Lifetime-y" and I think her impact on Murial's (now "Marial") life could have been executed without such a dramatic plot twist.

This is a highly entertaining film with loads of ABBA music which is utilized quite effectively to accentuate the mood of our main character, but not too much that it becomes blatant and overused.

Burlesque - **1/2
It was really difficult to watch this film and not think of "Coyote Ugly." Other than professions and this film being a music, they're nearly identical. If you like one, you'll like the other. The cast is great but the characters are pretty one-dimensional. The real surprise for me was how natural Christina Aguilera is on camera. The second biggest surprise for me was how in the bloody hell do you have Alan Cumming in your movie and give him two lines and 5 seconds of screen time?! I'm wondering if there was a whole section cut out for running-time purposes. What a disgrace! This film is exactly what it looks like, but not nearly unwatchable as I had anticipated.


The Artist - ****
A true gem. I spent the greater part of my education studying silent films and this homage hits every mark perfectly. Jean Dujardin and Bérénice Bejo have wonderful, natural chemistry (they've worked together on a few other films) and the story, set design, music--everything--combine to make this a truly timeless and instant classic. 



The Nightmare Before Christmas - ***1/2
This became an immediate favorite upon screening on its initial release and the soundtrack has been a year-round staple since buying the CD the following day. I screened this again as I wanted to watch an anamorphic widescreen presentation on my projector. The DVD I own has a wonderful DTS mix but is very blurry as it's not enhanced for widescreen TV's and looks horrible when projected (100" diagonally).

This version also sports the "Touchstone" logo instead of the "Walt Disney Pictures" logo which was changed when the film was re-released for 3D in 2006. It's interesting to note that, as I've waited years to see a better version, the week I rented this from the library, Netflix gained access to many titles in Disney's library and this film is available to stream in HD. Hilarious, Universe, hilarious...

Wrath of the Titans - **
This film is like a cool video game--epic battles, fun effects and loud monsters--that you sit and watch while your friend has all the fun. To me, that gets old after 10 minutes. A film of this genre needs more theatricality and character, not endless battles and constant violence. 

Rosemund Pike is a standout while Ralph Fiennes and Liam Neeson seem to enjoy their limited screen time (and presumably big paychecks) while I barely understood a word Sam Worthington said. I would love to see a story-heavy origin of the Gods prequel called, "Birth of the Titans." With lots of British theatre vets.


The Cabin in the Woods - ***

Hilarious and original and I'm not a slasher film fan at all. I screened this all because it was a Joss Whedon project and I'll watch anything which involves his input. I would hate to say more for fear of giving away spoilers, however, if you rent the DVD and/or have ever read anything about this film, you probably know the biggest spoiler already and it comes relatively early in the film. Richard Jenkins and Bradley Whitford clearly had fun with these roles.

Sherlock Holmes - ***

I am not a fan of an actor playing two very iconic roles but Robert Downey, Jr. does a decent job of finding enough variations so that it's easy to distinguish Sherlock from Tony Stark (a/k/a "Iron Man"). Mark Strong makes a terrific 'bad guy' but it's getting a bit typecasty.

Director Guy Ritchie fashions does his best to update and put his unique stamp on this character with flashy camera work, rapid edits and a slowed-down while narrated description of our hero while he's attacks/defends himself (a cinematic term known as "bullet time") against brutish villains is a unique approach to put us inside Sherlock's brilliant mind and use of deduction. 

Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows - **1/2
The gang's all back for a fantastic production which is whizzed by us with flashy contemporary cinematography (why zoom past all that detail!). Downey, Jr. and Jude Law turn in good performances (more Stephen Fry, please!) and a decent story yet it never really clicked with me as much as the first. 


Brave - **1/2
Not Pixar's best and more violent than one would expect. The story and characters are okay, but it doesn't bring anything new to the table and wasn't surprised by much. There is a good message for girls (and all kids, I suppose) to be strong-willed and independent, but a much better example is seen in "Whale Rider."




The Amazing Spider-Man - **1/2
Andrew Garfield makes a great Peter Parker! Hooray! That said, waiting an hour to see Spidey while setting up an origin story was unnecessary and this film didn't need to use all that time to repeat what pretty much anyone familiar with the character knows, be it from the comics or the *hugely* successful films done less than a decade earlier. "The Incredible Hulk" reboot did their origin story during the opening credits and the same could have easily been done here, or at least in the first 10 minutes. This film does have some nice visuals and effects but a very weak script and boring dialogue. Compared to the other work Marvel characters have been given over the past few years, this is definitely sub-standard and Spidey deserves so much better. Hopefully he'll fare far better in sequels or *crosses fingers* gets involved in other Avengers films.

Battleship - *
What a stinker. Seriously, it makes "Armageddon" seem like "Citizen Kane." Horrible and laughable dialogue and characters. I didn't think I could finish it, and it made me long for the torturous screening of "Sucker Punch."






Ted - **1/2There was some good laughs, a few clever homages and good performances (Wahlberg plays off a teddy bear as good as anyone could). For all the crude humor I hoped for, it is there but it just didn't land for me. Why in earth did they not make this a holiday movie?! It starts with a Christmas wish and then nothing. Definitely a missed opportunity for annual holiday viewings.

Dark Shadows - **
What a terrible script. The visuals and performances are there, but there is little to do for anyone other than Depp & Green. If you're a Depp fan, it's fine for a one-time screening, but it's a long two hours and quite forgettable days later. What a waste of a great cast.





Batman Returns - ***
I'm really torn with this film and could go 2 or 3 stars, depending on my mood. I've chosen 3 as I have to give Burton credit for taking some chances, not all of which worked. The film is campy yet also takes itself too seriously. DeVito gives an uneven performance as the Penguin and I blame director Burton more than DeVito. It's as if they couldn't decide between them to play him as a troubled evil genius or an idiotic buffoon and the unevenness shows, particularly in the scenes with Christopher Walken (who seems to be the only one to find the perfect balance in tone). The real standout here is Pfeiffer who really shines as Catwoman and probably a performance which will never be equalled (full disclosure: as of this writing, I've yet to see Halley Berry's interpretation, but I'm still quite confident in my assessement of Pfeiffer). Michael Keaton has very little to do and he often is buried in exquisite production design. Elfman's score is a standout and seems a close precursor to his 'Nightmare' masterpiece which arrives the following year. 

Gremlins - ***1/2
One of my favorite Christmas movies and is an annual screening during the holiday season. Imaginative story, wonderful effects and a tremendously underrated score by Jerry Goldsmith. Beautiful set design and colorful, soft-lighting make this a must-see on the big-screen. Director Joe Dante does a masterful job of balancing humor, terror, camp and sentiment and a cast that delivers on every cue.