Various Shenanigans

Hullo...

So I just finished doing extra work for Caprica, a spin-off of Battlestar Galactica. It was super fun but I worked 30 of the last 48 hours so I'm a bit tired (but I did touch Eric Stoltz). Also, I have a hectic sched which has already been set in motion. The highlights of which are; Cirque Du Soleil, a Can't Stop The Serenity screening, a road trip to Kamloops, 2 Matthew Good concerts and a fun evening at Playland. So, no new review this weekend (remember I did drop 2 last week) but I will return with my take on the highly anticipated Wall-E, next friday.

The Incredible Hulk

New Movie Review.

The early scenes are best, when Bruce Banner is Bruce Banner, such as in the pic here

Directed by: Louis Leterrier
Written by: Zak Penn & Edward Harrison
Starring: Edward Norton, Tim Roth, Liv Tyler, William Hurt

Marvel Studios has provided another successful film with their sophomore entry. Not nearly as good as Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk nonetheless provides quite a bit of fun just in time for the summer season. There are some problems, though.

For starters, Bruce Banner is way more interesting than The Hulk. With Iron Man, Tony Stark puts on a suit but nothing else really changes. The Hulk, is a dim-witted, mute, mini Godzilla. Every time Banner got green, I was very anxious to get back to the real man. One of the reasons for that is Edward Norton, who is excellent in this role. He brings depth to a character somewhat lacking depth. Every time, the real human is swapped for a ridiculous CG beast, I'm taken right out of the movie. In fact, the Hulkless first twenty minutes is the highlight of the movie.

The other performers are hit and miss. William Hurt is a bit dull as General Ross, the man who wants to use Bruce Banner's unique problem as a means to advance military prowess. With the power of the Hulk harnessed, I suppose he would make super soldiers or some such nonsense. Liv Tyler is the general's daughter and the love interest. Her performance is pretty average and contributes very little to the proceedings. Worse yet, she shares no on-screen chemistry with Norton (unlike Downey Jr. and Paltrow in Iron Man). Tim Roth plays the power-hungry Emil Blonsky with a welcomed fierceness. Unfortunately, he's shorted as far as lines go, but he makes superb usage out of his material.

The writing is only average, and the direction is nothing special. The action sequences are sleep-inducing. I caught my mind wandering numerous times during the final battle. We're expected to buy into the Marvel universe, and for the most part, I do. But how can I when I'm watching two lifeless cartoons duke it out. Either CGI needs to advance quickly or Marvel needs to take a cue from Guillermo Del Toro (Hellboy, Pan's Labyrinth) and go for outstanding makeup and costumes with subtle CG effects. I don't see how that's too much to ask. I'm starting to complain too much...

The fact is, this movie is very fun, more so at first than during the climax, yes, but it's a worthwhile experience. Edward Norton adds credibility, even if he doesn't blow us away like Robert Downey Jr. did oh so recently. The story is OK and a fun surprise appearance in the final scene makes things more interesting. Marvel Studios are off to a good start but they need to keep delivering, preferably at the level that Iron Man did. The Incredible Hulk is good, but if not for all the excitement surrounding Marvel right now, it might have been forgettable.

The Happening

New Movie Review.

All is forgiven, M.

Directed by: M. Night Shyamalan
Written by: M. Night Shyamalan
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Zooey Deschanel, John Leguizamo

Lets begin by addressing M. Night Shyamalan's career. I don't really understand all the hate. Yes, he has made two bad movies in a row (Two!! That's twice as many as one!). This was all the more disappointing because he made 3 great movies previous to the duds. I just don't get how people can lose faith so quickly. What's more perplexing is The Happening is, according to Rotten Tomatoes.com, his worst received film yet. Maybe, I'm missing something. I just call 'em as I see 'em, and what I see is a brilliant, original film maker who has done more good than bad with his art. Perhaps The Sixth Sense attracted too much attention. Perhaps there would be less hate if he had a smaller following. In an odd way, his movies are small and quiet. Rare is action or any Hollywood influence a part of his projects. Shyamalan makes movies about supernatural happenings, and it's effect on real people. Usually he focuses on his characters above all else. This is not the case here, yes there is character development abound, but the "world event" occurring is what's important.

One morning in Central Park, NY, people abruptly halt and begin to commit suicide. The bizarre epidemic spreads throughout the north-eastern states. When Elliot Moore (Mark Wahlberg, unconvincing as a school teacher) gets word of this, he gets his wife Alma (Zooey Deschanel), and his friend/colleague Julian (John Leguizamo) who has a daughter named Jess, and they skip town via train. The train stops in the middle of nowhere, and hope of survival becomes less and less possible.

One surprise is that there's no surprise. There's no trademark twist here. Shyamalan could have kept what's killing everyone a secret until the end. It would have been a larger shock, but knowing early on benefits the experience. We are able to dwell on what's happening, yes indeed, The Happening is thought-provoking. Message aside, the film truly excels at creating suspense and occasional terror. Beginning with the stellar opening credits, a suspenseful mood is created. It is sustained until even after the movie ends. Seeing people needlessly take their own lives is everything it should be; saddening, horrifying, and disturbing. It's smart, it's scary, and best of all it's plausible within the real world. The Happening is terrific entertainment.

The acting is a bit strange. Both Wahlberg and Deschanel seem a bit stiff, and their delivery is occasionally silly. It's so obvious that I find it impossible to believe they didn't notice this during filming. To be honest, it doesn't really bother me. In fact, in the case of Wahlberg, I find it appealing. The supporting cast is very solid, especially all the strangers our heroes run into.

The Happening has a strong start, a strong middle and a strong conclusion with scares along the way. James Newton Howard's score is great, and really sets the tone. The acting is questionable, but it's not too damaging. M. Night Shyamalan has had a rough streak, but it ends here. He has written and directed a thoughtful and spectacular suspense picture that also manages to be a powerful parable. Highly recommended.

Kung-Fu Panda

New Movie Review.

Of course, Kung-fu master Shifu eventually decides to properly train Po

Directed by: Mark Osborne & John Stevenson
Written by: Jonathan Aibel & Glenn Berger
Starring: Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, Seth Rogen, Ian McShane, David Cross, Lucy Liu, Jackie Chan


It's hard to dislike a movie that means well. It is also hard to like a movie that doesn't really do anything new. These two factors balance out to make Kung-Fu Panda, the latest animated hit, pretty average.

I'm getting tired of big name celebs being the main selling point for animated films. Last year's Ratatouille used some name actors but didn't exploit it like most. Also, if you've seen Ratatouille you should be able to tell that the hired players were chosen only because of their talent. Panda has been touting the blockbuster cast in a disgusting manner. After this year's Horton Hears A Who, which did the same with Jim Carrey and Steve Carell, I expected similar results. It turns out that Jack Black's personality enhances this movie and his job is likely the highlight. The rest of the cast aren't bad but the usage of famous actors (Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan) is nonetheless pointless.

The film opens up with a superb 2D (with some 3D) sequence. The animation here is fresh and exciting. The narration is entertaining and hilarious. Then it gives way to CG. Turns out our hero, a rotund panda named Po (Black), was only dreaming. Too bad. I'm not against 3D animation, I just think that it's not always the right choice. Especially when the studio in question isn't raising the bar. No film has matched the stunning visuals of Ratatouille, although Pixar's next project, "Wall-E", is poised to take a stab at it later this month.

The story is very basic. The unlikely hero Po, a big fan of Kung-Fu, is accidentally selected as the chosen one. Well, at least it seems like that, but the wise kung-fu master states "there are no accidents". The "Furious Five", which is the local quintet of Kung-Fu experts, are surprised and disappointed that one of their members was not chosen. Their master, Shifu (Hoffman), is outraged and at first attempts to subtly convince Po to quit. I assume you can see where this is going, and that's the the problem with the film. It is so familiar you probably could have the entire plot mapped out before the movie even starts. Luckily, the execution here is very good, and the movie, overall, is quite fun. The beginning and end are especially enjoyable while the middle is a little weak sauce. The head of steam gained by the excellent opening doesn't take long to run out and the flick doesn't get it back until the 3rd act.

The plot and animation are a bit tired but Jack Black propels Kung-Fu Panda past mediocrity. It is fun, and the kids will love it, but it is certainly not must-see material. There are however, worst ways to past the time until The Dark Knight arrives in just over a month. What other purpose could any piece of art or entertainment serve until July 18th, anyways?

I Will No Longer Suck.

I have not posted very many reviews as of late, or posted anything at all really. It's mostly because I haven't seen too many new movies recently, and also, find it a waste of time to post a review weeks after a movie release. For example, I still plan to see the new Indy Jones flick, but a review seems irrelevant at this juncture. However, I will be seeing Kung-Fu Panda this evening, and you can expect a review before weekend's completion. It will be the review to kick off my new promise. You see, another one of my problems is laziness and lack of motivation. So I figure if I put it in writing on the inter-web, I have to follow my promise or the inter-web-Dieties will have my critic-soul on a godlike china platter. So here is the aforementioned promise: I swear there will be at least 1 new review each week on The Bronze. Of course, if I am on vacation or dying, I may not have access to a computer. But no other excuses. I swear. So here's to a brighter, more efficient, frequently updated inter-web future.