Movies based on toys, theme park rides or other inanimate objects tend to be either hollow or surprisingly entertaining. Joe lies somewhere in between - it is at once hollow and surprisingly entertaining.
There's a lot if has in common with Transformers. Same producer, locations and formula.
But it is better than Revenge of the Fallen for the simple reason that it's actors are far more interesting and it doesn't waste time with filler - more than two-thirds of this movie is nothing but action sequences.
Yes, and there is the nifty weapons splattered throughout the movie. But of course, this movie is based on toys.
I enjoyed it, like a Saturday morning cartoon. A rather long one, but then that's more bang for your buck.
I Don't Understand Japanese,
But I would not rather watch this anime in English.
Here's the trailer for the english dub of Evangelion 1.0 (Gah, it should be called version 4.8.3.1). Close your eyes, and you'd remember the good old days, where Ash was voiced by a woman and Brock had his eyes closed all the time, too.
Here's the trailer for the english dub of Evangelion 1.0 (Gah, it should be called version 4.8.3.1). Close your eyes, and you'd remember the good old days, where Ash was voiced by a woman and Brock had his eyes closed all the time, too.
Star Trek
Two brave actors boldly playing infinitely parodied characters.As with Transformers, Messrs. Orci & Kurtzman churn up a screenplay that is less concerned about coherence and consistency than the need to evoke artificial energy to entertain Generation ADD. J.J. Abrams directs. Pine, Quinto et. al. are superb as their respective characters.
Not a fan of Star Trek? No matter, this is a movie with almost universal appeal to said Generation. Cue shaky space camera (someone's been watching too much Battlestar Galactica), haha jokes, planetary destruction (After Star Wars, already getting old), lasers and lens flare.
Trekkie purists will rage, your buddies will gasp in delight and if I see the same formula being repeated with Revenge of the Fallen I will flip.
Revanche
Austria's submission for the Oscars (nominated, but lost to Departures) is one of those "what could go wrong" movies, where our unfortunate character(s) formulate a fool-proof plan to get rich quick only to have it backfire spectacularly (e.g., the sublime Before the Devil Knows You're Dead).
Whereas the latter film was a thriller, this one (like all European art-house films) takes a more meditative, still tone. Shots are paced slowly, but the story (thankfully) develops efficiently. And it may not be a thriller, it is still thrilling. Despite a few contrived scenes (mandatory, I must note, to establish a deeper drama), it is a solid film that alas, only those with a taste for "foreign" films will enjoy.
Whereas the latter film was a thriller, this one (like all European art-house films) takes a more meditative, still tone. Shots are paced slowly, but the story (thankfully) develops efficiently. And it may not be a thriller, it is still thrilling. Despite a few contrived scenes (mandatory, I must note, to establish a deeper drama), it is a solid film that alas, only those with a taste for "foreign" films will enjoy.
Oscars 2009
As one movie critic commented, the Oscars occupy a small corner in the universe of movies I like. So I shall keep my "predictions" brief, and will reserve further commentary until the results are out.
So:
Bye now. =)
So:
- Slumdog Millionaire for Best Picture
- Mickey Rourke for Best Actor
- Kate Winslet for Best Actress
- Danny Boyle (or maybe, just maybe, David Fincher) for Best Director
Bye now. =)
Hymn To The Immortal Wind (Album Review)
Japanese Post-Rock band Mono presents us with this seemingly pretentious, undeniably sweeping album (with track names like "Ashes in the Snow" and "Battle to Heaven" complete with orchestra and heavy crashing guitar climaxes which I happen to have a weakness for.
Mono has had a tone downed sound in it's last few albums, but it ups one notch for this one to give us seven tracks of instrumental bliss, with little respite.
Mono has had a tone downed sound in it's last few albums, but it ups one notch for this one to give us seven tracks of instrumental bliss, with little respite.
Rachel Getting Married
Aww...let's hug the junkie.Demme's foray into the naturalistic side of filmmaking - complete with shaking, handheld photography and lingering shots - turns out decently well. Yet really, one does wonder about the motor-mouthed actors who blurt out their lines as if they were (egad!) written.
Now, fast-talking shows are enjoyable, but they are not the most authentic. Combine such a script with the natural, documentary-like tone this film attempts to be makes it seem a tad bit schizoid. Movies like Happy-Go-Lucky have a smart, fast paced script lines - but they are mostly spoken by one character in contrast to the other more "normal" people around her. In the perfect world of Rachel Getting Married, we find lots of laughter and quick retorts, a white woman marrying the singer of TV on the Radio, saying Christian prayers while dressing in saris and toasting in Jewish. All in blissful ignorance of a former drug-addict who was responsible for someone's death. Ah, the liberal happy family.
I liked it, but wasn't quite sold. If you want a movie where the camera pries and the actors no longer are actors but living a life, look at 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days (or more recently and to a lesser extent, Chop Shop) which all movies who call themselves "realist" will have to live up to.
Now, fast-talking shows are enjoyable, but they are not the most authentic. Combine such a script with the natural, documentary-like tone this film attempts to be makes it seem a tad bit schizoid. Movies like Happy-Go-Lucky have a smart, fast paced script lines - but they are mostly spoken by one character in contrast to the other more "normal" people around her. In the perfect world of Rachel Getting Married, we find lots of laughter and quick retorts, a white woman marrying the singer of TV on the Radio, saying Christian prayers while dressing in saris and toasting in Jewish. All in blissful ignorance of a former drug-addict who was responsible for someone's death. Ah, the liberal happy family.
I liked it, but wasn't quite sold. If you want a movie where the camera pries and the actors no longer are actors but living a life, look at 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days (or more recently and to a lesser extent, Chop Shop) which all movies who call themselves "realist" will have to live up to.