Monday, 22 October 2012
First Impressions: "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" + "Looper" (2012)
All right, I'm back! :D I just got home from a week-long trip to England. And I have quite a few first impressions for you – as well as an account of my visit to Madame Tussauds in London! :) I'll probably post that story in full later on. But first, obviously, I'll go through my first impression reviews in small doses. I have seven movies to get through, plus a couple of video games.
First up, my friend John and I went to the cinema on Tuesday and saw two movies.
The first was The Perks of Being a Wallflower, which, for me, was this year's biggest surprise since The Cabin in the Woods! It's about a junior in high school who's an outcast until he's taken under the wing of two seniors. Maybe it's just because I'm overly sentimental and a sucker for underdog stories, but I surprisingly really loved this movie.
In many ways, this is the polar opposite of Project X, since I genuinely liked all these characters and wanted to be part of this high school.
It may seem overly soap opera-ish to some people, but I'll admit that I loved every second of it. It's a very familiar story, but its characters are so charming that it's just irresistible.
My rating: 85%.
And the second was Looper. And my first impression is that it was a tad over-hyped. I mean, yes, it was undeniably clever and very entertaining, but it didn't blow my mind, and I didn't think it was as amazing as everybody said.
Parts of it maybe weren't quite developed enough for me to immediately get them, so my lingering confusion is probably why some later scenes fell flat.
But like I said, this is just my initial reaction. Maybe a second viewing will change my mind.
Still, many individual scenes were brilliantly written and executed, even if it didn't quite all gel together for me. What happens to the old Seth still sticks in my head; that was brutal!
So on the whole, I enjoyed it, and I look forward to seeing it again to see if I can follow everything that evaded me the first time round.
My rating: 75%.
Thursday, 11 October 2012
First Impressions: "The Dictator" + "How I Spent My Summer Vacation" (2012)
Time for this week's pair of rentals. :)
Number one: The Dictator. Now, I was a tad sceptical about this one because of the Sacha Baron Cohen formula. I fucking *hate* Borat, and I haven't seen Brüno but I have reason to believe it's even worse. But The Dictator… I'm surprised! This one was actually kind of funny! True, it has several moments that are just downright uncomfortable – and not in a funny way like I'm sure they were intended – but a lot of the rest did make me laugh. Maybe it's because it has a definitive story as opposed to just being a series of awkward encounters. Or maybe it's because the main character being an authority figure gives it more of an edge. In any case, it does have its moments, though maybe not quite enough of them. But it was a hell of a lot better than Borat.
My rating: 55%.
And number two: How I Spent My Summer Vacation (known in the US as Get the Gringo). We all know that Mel Gibson's not the most popular guy in the world right now, but he still has plenty of charm on screen. I just love his character's first few minutes of screen time. It's just a shame the rest of the movie doesn't quite live up to that.
The premise is basically an American citizen trying to survive in a Mexican prison. That alone could have filled an entire movie. But instead, the plot gets so needlessly complicated with a web of conspiracy involving the money our hero stole. By the end, I neither knew nor cared what was going on.
So, like The Dictator, my rating for this one would be, to quote Roger Ebert, a close call but a marginal thumbs-down.
My rating: 55%.
Number one: The Dictator. Now, I was a tad sceptical about this one because of the Sacha Baron Cohen formula. I fucking *hate* Borat, and I haven't seen Brüno but I have reason to believe it's even worse. But The Dictator… I'm surprised! This one was actually kind of funny! True, it has several moments that are just downright uncomfortable – and not in a funny way like I'm sure they were intended – but a lot of the rest did make me laugh. Maybe it's because it has a definitive story as opposed to just being a series of awkward encounters. Or maybe it's because the main character being an authority figure gives it more of an edge. In any case, it does have its moments, though maybe not quite enough of them. But it was a hell of a lot better than Borat.
My rating: 55%.
And number two: How I Spent My Summer Vacation (known in the US as Get the Gringo). We all know that Mel Gibson's not the most popular guy in the world right now, but he still has plenty of charm on screen. I just love his character's first few minutes of screen time. It's just a shame the rest of the movie doesn't quite live up to that.
The premise is basically an American citizen trying to survive in a Mexican prison. That alone could have filled an entire movie. But instead, the plot gets so needlessly complicated with a web of conspiracy involving the money our hero stole. By the end, I neither knew nor cared what was going on.
So, like The Dictator, my rating for this one would be, to quote Roger Ebert, a close call but a marginal thumbs-down.
My rating: 55%.
Thursday, 4 October 2012
First Impressions: "The Cold Light of Day" + "The Cabin in the Woods" (2012)
Two more rentals this week.
Number one: The Cold Light of Day. And man is this a lame one! I haven't come across an action thriller so bland and uninteresting in quite a while now.
Most of the movie is pretty much just one chase sequence after another, and whenever it does stop to explain the story, it's so clichéd and confusing that it's impossible to care about, which means the action falls completely flat.
Not to mention, the action itself looks really amateurish at times. The fight following the first chase scene doesn't pack any punch whatsoever.
Plus Sigourney Weaver looks like she really doesn't want to be there.
Other than that, there's not really much to say about this one. It's just uninspired and unremarkable.
My rating: 30%.
And number two: The Cabin in the Woods. Of course I was sure I was going to like this one, but wow did I underestimate it! This has to be one of the best horror movies of maybe the past decade.
It's a pitch-perfect satire of slasher movie clichés and traditions, because it comes up with a story that actually accommodates them.
And all the characters are genuinely likable; none of them are idiots. In fact, one of my favourite scenes is when one of them demonstrates that he's not even a creep.
Now, unfortunately, to talk about it too much would mean spoiling a good chunk of the story. But I will say, if you like horror movies at all, then you can't skip this one. I think it's simply fantastic. Hands down, one of the best movies of the year so far – top five easily.
My rating: 85%.
Number one: The Cold Light of Day. And man is this a lame one! I haven't come across an action thriller so bland and uninteresting in quite a while now.
Most of the movie is pretty much just one chase sequence after another, and whenever it does stop to explain the story, it's so clichéd and confusing that it's impossible to care about, which means the action falls completely flat.
Not to mention, the action itself looks really amateurish at times. The fight following the first chase scene doesn't pack any punch whatsoever.
Plus Sigourney Weaver looks like she really doesn't want to be there.
Other than that, there's not really much to say about this one. It's just uninspired and unremarkable.
My rating: 30%.
And number two: The Cabin in the Woods. Of course I was sure I was going to like this one, but wow did I underestimate it! This has to be one of the best horror movies of maybe the past decade.
It's a pitch-perfect satire of slasher movie clichés and traditions, because it comes up with a story that actually accommodates them.
And all the characters are genuinely likable; none of them are idiots. In fact, one of my favourite scenes is when one of them demonstrates that he's not even a creep.
Now, unfortunately, to talk about it too much would mean spoiling a good chunk of the story. But I will say, if you like horror movies at all, then you can't skip this one. I think it's simply fantastic. Hands down, one of the best movies of the year so far – top five easily.
My rating: 85%.
Wednesday, 3 October 2012
First Impressions: "Star Trek: Voyager"
Well, I've finished the Disney marathon. But before I start on the next load of movies I intend to watch, I've rented two more films – as I do just about every week – so I'll be watching and commenting on them tomorrow.
In the meantime, let me offer my first impressions on a TV show for once. :)
I am proud to say that I'm a Star Trek fan; it's my favourite show of all time. Though I have to admit I only got into it quite recently. So far, I've only seen the Original Series once through, plus the six movies associated with it (seven if you count the 2009 one), along with a few episodes of The Next Generation. But the overall concept of the show is right up my street.
There was an episode of Star Trek: Voyager on CBS Action tonight. I saw the first few minutes of it, and given the premise of the episode, I thought it best to avoid it for the sake of spoilers.
I did get my first taste of Voyager last week, though. The episode I saw presented one particular character with a seemingly inescapable problem, and in true Star Trek fashion, it did a fantastic job of holding my interest; I wanted to know what was happening and how the characters would overcome the obstacles.
So, based on that episode, I really look forward to seeing the rest of the series.
Also, I have to say, I love the Voyager theme music! It's just beautiful. It actually reminds me of the Sky Chase Zone theme from Sonic the Hedgehog 2.
In the meantime, let me offer my first impressions on a TV show for once. :)
I am proud to say that I'm a Star Trek fan; it's my favourite show of all time. Though I have to admit I only got into it quite recently. So far, I've only seen the Original Series once through, plus the six movies associated with it (seven if you count the 2009 one), along with a few episodes of The Next Generation. But the overall concept of the show is right up my street.
There was an episode of Star Trek: Voyager on CBS Action tonight. I saw the first few minutes of it, and given the premise of the episode, I thought it best to avoid it for the sake of spoilers.
I did get my first taste of Voyager last week, though. The episode I saw presented one particular character with a seemingly inescapable problem, and in true Star Trek fashion, it did a fantastic job of holding my interest; I wanted to know what was happening and how the characters would overcome the obstacles.
So, based on that episode, I really look forward to seeing the rest of the series.
Also, I have to say, I love the Voyager theme music! It's just beautiful. It actually reminds me of the Sky Chase Zone theme from Sonic the Hedgehog 2.
Tuesday, 2 October 2012
Looking Forward to "Wreck-It Ralph"
Well, I'm just a hair away from the end of my Disney marathon now. There's only one movie left to watch: Winnie the Pooh.
I guess it was a near-perfect time for me to have this marathon, because Disney's fifty-second animated feature, Wreck-It Ralph, is coming out on November 2nd. In the US, at least. So if you want to hear my thoughts on it, you'll be waiting quite a while, since it doesn't come out here until February.
That unfortunately means I won't be able to include it on my best movies list at the end of the year – because I'm sure it would be a contender. The story sounds cool – like Monsters, Inc. with video game characters, in a sense – but what really sold me was one particular scene in the trailer. It's so surreal to see characters like Bowser, Zangief, M Bison, Dr Robotnik and a ghost from Pac-Man in the same room together! That image alone is worth the price of admission! :D
One more thing. Once the Disney marathon is over, coming next is a whole bunch of movies I've downloaded – mostly ones that I want to watch so I can complete the Movie Compatibility Test on Flixster. Rather pointless, I know, but I might as well.
And in between those movies, I think I'll have another run through the James Bond series to prepare for the release of Skyfall.
I guess it was a near-perfect time for me to have this marathon, because Disney's fifty-second animated feature, Wreck-It Ralph, is coming out on November 2nd. In the US, at least. So if you want to hear my thoughts on it, you'll be waiting quite a while, since it doesn't come out here until February.
That unfortunately means I won't be able to include it on my best movies list at the end of the year – because I'm sure it would be a contender. The story sounds cool – like Monsters, Inc. with video game characters, in a sense – but what really sold me was one particular scene in the trailer. It's so surreal to see characters like Bowser, Zangief, M Bison, Dr Robotnik and a ghost from Pac-Man in the same room together! That image alone is worth the price of admission! :D
One more thing. Once the Disney marathon is over, coming next is a whole bunch of movies I've downloaded – mostly ones that I want to watch so I can complete the Movie Compatibility Test on Flixster. Rather pointless, I know, but I might as well.
And in between those movies, I think I'll have another run through the James Bond series to prepare for the release of Skyfall.
First Impressions: "Bolt" (2008)
All right, this'll be my last "first impressions" comment from the Disney marathon, because… well, this is the last one that's new to me. There are only three to go after this – The Princess and the Frog, Tangled and Winnie the Pooh – and I've seen them all before.
Anyway, here are my comments on Bolt.
Well, this one defied my expectations twice in the first half-hour! It begins with an excessive action sequence, making you think the dog's a secret agent. But then it turns out it was just a movie being shot, but the dog thinks it's all real. That's a brilliant idea! But it becomes an ongoing gimmick that lasts for the first half of the movie, and it does get kind of annoying.
The movie does have a number of good jokes and impressive action scenes, but I probably would have enjoyed it a lot more if the second half's emotional content had been just a bit more potent.
One thing I have to say: the animation is just frigging fantastic – almost as good as Pixar.
Overall, this one's pretty good. Very clever and highly entertaining, but it does fall a bit flat emotionally.
My rating: 65%.
Anyway, here are my comments on Bolt.
Well, this one defied my expectations twice in the first half-hour! It begins with an excessive action sequence, making you think the dog's a secret agent. But then it turns out it was just a movie being shot, but the dog thinks it's all real. That's a brilliant idea! But it becomes an ongoing gimmick that lasts for the first half of the movie, and it does get kind of annoying.
The movie does have a number of good jokes and impressive action scenes, but I probably would have enjoyed it a lot more if the second half's emotional content had been just a bit more potent.
One thing I have to say: the animation is just frigging fantastic – almost as good as Pixar.
Overall, this one's pretty good. Very clever and highly entertaining, but it does fall a bit flat emotionally.
My rating: 65%.
Monday, 1 October 2012
First Impressions: "Home on the Range" (2004), "Chicken Little" (2005) + "Meet the Robinsons" (2007)
Well, I got through three more Disney animated features today.
First, Home on the Range. Disney's 2D animation studio was shut down for a while after this, and I wouldn't be surprised if it was exactly because of this movie! This is so unlike the Disney you'd expect that it actually goes beyond belief! It's definitely geared almost exclusively to preschool kids. It tries to throw in some jokes to keep the parents satisfied as well, but they just aren't funny. Honestly, this wouldn't be out of place alongside Barney the Dinosaur!
The only good thing I can say about it is when the villain first bursts into song, you're so taken aback that it's actually kind of funny.
Still, on the whole, it's not absolutely detestable, but this is undoubtedly the worst of all the 2D Disney features by far. Unless you're about four years old or less, I'd say this is a definite skip.
My rating: 20%.
Second, Chicken Little. The first CG-animated movie in the Disney theatrical line-up. This one just completely floored me, leaving me wondering, "What the hell did I just see?!"
First of all, none of the jokes are funny, it gets pretty grim for a kids' movie at times, and I'm honestly against the idea of animals having a human-like world like this.
But what really made my jaw drop is the direction the story ends up taking. Aliens?! Fucking aliens?! I don't know what I expected of a movie called Chicken Little, but it certainly didn't involve fucking aliens!
I don't know what else to say. Just… wow is this one bad! The twists on the original story are nice, but it all boils down to one of the most ridiculous movies I've ever seen. It's another one that screams of nothing but little kids in mind.
My rating: 20%.
And third, Meet the Robinsons. This one was really, really damn good! I was surprised. After sitting through Disney's two absolute worst earlier today, you could say this was my reward!
I'm a sucker for time travel movies, and this one has one of the best spins on the concept that I could possibly have asked for. But to reveal exactly why would mean spoiling the ending.
Let's just say the first fifteen minutes got me really excited with the promise of where the story was going, then it kind of sagged a little when it seemed like it was just throwing as much weirdness as possible at us, and then the second half accelerated to a brilliant climax.
It may seem like a weird thing for Disney to release, but it's definitely my kind of movie! You can colour me a fan of this one.
My rating: 85%.
First, Home on the Range. Disney's 2D animation studio was shut down for a while after this, and I wouldn't be surprised if it was exactly because of this movie! This is so unlike the Disney you'd expect that it actually goes beyond belief! It's definitely geared almost exclusively to preschool kids. It tries to throw in some jokes to keep the parents satisfied as well, but they just aren't funny. Honestly, this wouldn't be out of place alongside Barney the Dinosaur!
The only good thing I can say about it is when the villain first bursts into song, you're so taken aback that it's actually kind of funny.
Still, on the whole, it's not absolutely detestable, but this is undoubtedly the worst of all the 2D Disney features by far. Unless you're about four years old or less, I'd say this is a definite skip.
My rating: 20%.
Second, Chicken Little. The first CG-animated movie in the Disney theatrical line-up. This one just completely floored me, leaving me wondering, "What the hell did I just see?!"
First of all, none of the jokes are funny, it gets pretty grim for a kids' movie at times, and I'm honestly against the idea of animals having a human-like world like this.
But what really made my jaw drop is the direction the story ends up taking. Aliens?! Fucking aliens?! I don't know what I expected of a movie called Chicken Little, but it certainly didn't involve fucking aliens!
I don't know what else to say. Just… wow is this one bad! The twists on the original story are nice, but it all boils down to one of the most ridiculous movies I've ever seen. It's another one that screams of nothing but little kids in mind.
My rating: 20%.
And third, Meet the Robinsons. This one was really, really damn good! I was surprised. After sitting through Disney's two absolute worst earlier today, you could say this was my reward!
I'm a sucker for time travel movies, and this one has one of the best spins on the concept that I could possibly have asked for. But to reveal exactly why would mean spoiling the ending.
Let's just say the first fifteen minutes got me really excited with the promise of where the story was going, then it kind of sagged a little when it seemed like it was just throwing as much weirdness as possible at us, and then the second half accelerated to a brilliant climax.
It may seem like a weird thing for Disney to release, but it's definitely my kind of movie! You can colour me a fan of this one.
My rating: 85%.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)