Who's ready for some thoughts on the Summer movies? Because reviews of movies that have been out for two months is very timely. Oh well, at least I'm not making separate posts for each. I will try to avoid spoilers on some movies, but there is a spoiler coming up for one of them, although you probably already know that if you care about the movie. (Hint: The movie is Star Trek)
Iron Man 3
Iron Man is one of my favorite "comic book" movies. Iron Man 2, although enjoyable, was not nearly as good. I found Iron Man 3 to rest comfortably in the middle. I particularly enjoyed the twist that came part way through the movie, although this is not quite a consensus opinion here at Doctor Strangeblog. The movie probably could have used a bit more coherence with the whole Tony Stark suffers PTSD from the whole flying into a trans-dimensional portal to save the world thing*, but I had a good time watching it, and thought it was pretty funny. Like all Marvel movies, be sure to stick around until after the credits.
Now You See Me
This one was a big surprise at how much I enjoyed it. Yeah, it was the typical twist upon twist upon twist kind of movie, but considering it was a movie about magicians, that seems to be expected. Fortunately, they didn't play "The Final Countdown" once, or the movie probably would have lost me.
The Great Gatsby
When we are introduced to one of Gatsby's crazy parties for the first time, I'm pretty certain my body almost shut down due to an overwhelming of the senses. I'm also pretty certain that this was the whole reason Baz Luhrmann directed the movie. It's just too bad he didn't show as much enthusiasm for the rest of the movie. The actors did pretty well with what they had, but in the end perhaps this is just a story that is unfilmable. Even though directors beat on against the current, borne back ceaselessly into failure.**
Star Trek Into Darkness
KAAHHHHHNNNNN!!!
Now that is out the way, I enjoyed the movie. Even if it kind of falls apart when you think about after the fact. And it really didn't do that much to stand up against the troubling lack of strong female characters NOT in a Paul Feig directed movie (more on that in part two). Still, it has Scotty, in a trendy club, wearing a suit that is hopelessly out of date. Ever the true engineer, that one.****
After Earth
Why did I see this? I'm not sure, although I'm guessing its because it was there. I can't say the science holds up on this one too well. Although I like to think that it maybe is a sequel to The Happening. Still, I think I'll pass on the next Smith family therapy session. Even if it has killer baboon squads and tigerish animals that attack eagleish birds nests.
This Is the End
I have to say I was enjoying this as a movie even before the whole Apocalypse thing went down. In fact, I almost forgot that was going to happen, until it did happen. What followed was pretty hilarious. Emma Watson definitely stole the show in this one, although pretty much every character had their moment.
Final Verdict:
Go See, if It's Still Playing
This Is The End
Now You See Me
Iron Man 3
Star Trek Into Darkness
Rent it Once It Comes Out
The Great Gatsby
Check it Out If Its On Cable, and Nothing Else Is On
After Earth
Check back later in the week for Part Two.
*Look, I know that you can't bring The Avengers back in every movie, but what is their threshold for action? Apparently ultraviolent terrorists are not part of their mission. Perhaps the other franchises will shed some light on this. But probably not. Stupid logistics and budgets fudging up the continuity.
**Sorry***
***Not sorry
****That last one is the spoiler I was talking about. Yep, totally that one.
Showing posts with label Star Trek Into Darkness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Star Trek Into Darkness. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Friday, January 18, 2013
Erin's Look Forward: Movies
After taking a quick gander at a list of 2013 releases, I figured now is as good as any a time to list, in my not-so-subtle fangirlish way, what movies I'm most excited for. I may as well get this out of the way; I'm not exactly the type of person who actively anticipates movies. I don't normally wait with crossed fingers and high expectations for the big indie flick, that I've been following since pre-production, to make it's way through film festivals. Therefore, the majority of this list will be less Oscar-baiting and more "this has superheroes and stuff explodes". This list does not include movies already released, with the exception of today's release.
Guillermo del Toro presents Mama (Today, 1/18)
I love supernatural horror. I can't get enough of being scared by cheesy, vengeful Asian ghosts. That aside, I also adore Guillermo del Toro and I trust his judgement when it comes to movies he writes, directs, and/or and produces. Pan's Labyrinth (El Laberinto del Fauna) and the Orphanage (El Orfanato) are two of my favorite examples of how he has a keen eye for blending horror, fantasy, and reality in ways that aren't over-the-top or trite. He has a knack for picking directors as well. In Mama, directed by Andrés Muschietti, two little girls are found in the woods (in the trailer, all covered in mud and looking generally pretty gross) and taken back to civilization. However, something, the eponymous Mama I presume, follows them there and then things happen probably (I don't want to guess at the plot, in all honesty). I doubt it'll be filled with cheap scare tactics and I really wish I had someone who loved horror as much as I do to go see it with.
Warm Bodies (2/1)
I guess I like the general premise around it - boy zombie meets girl human, falls in love, and it somehow - defying physiology and the paradigms of life and undeath - makes him more human or something. It looks like it might be a fun zombie flick but I'm not expecting anything amazing, really. I can see how the premise could fall flat, so I'll definitely wait for reviews before deciding whether or not I'll see it in theaters. I love all things zombies so I'm usually not too judgemental when it comes to the shambling corpses - I'll at least see it when it comes to DVD.
Oz: the Great and Powerful (3/8)
I don't know how I feel about this one. Aside from knowing James Franco, Mila Kunis, and Zach Braff are in the cast I honestly can't say I've bothered to look at any other details. I'm a die-hard Wizard of Oz fan - I grew up watching the 1939 classic and one of my favorite books and musicals is Wicked, which tells the story of the Wicked Witch of the West. The trailer looks as though the visuals, if nothing else, will be stunning, so if the occasion arises to see it I probably will.
Jurassic Park 3D (4/5)
One word: Diiihnasaawrs!
Iron Man 3 (5/3)
Word on the street is that this Iron Man film will be noticeably darker than the previous two. The trailer is pretty intense and I guess it got some 15 year old girls on tumblr really upset. Being an avid Marvel fan, of course I would love to see this in theaters if at all possible, but I'm wary of how "gritty" the film may be willing to go. If it moves Movie-verse Iron Man's story arc along then that's fine; if it just gets dark for the sake of being dark then I'll probably be extremely disappointed. I don't think Pepper is going to die (you see a massive explosion in the trailer at one point by Stark's enemy, the Mandarin.) and in fact we may be treated to her eventual comic superhero persona, Rescue. I'd love to see more character development involving Pepper Potts; she's one of the rare Marvel characters who has a strong presence even without superpowers (and she's a woman! *gasp!*) and I don't think enough people realize how much crap she has to put up with, how much adversity she has to stand up to, and how much ass she can kick.
Star Trek Into Darkness (5/17)
Somehow J.J. Abrams restrained himself enough to tone down the lens flare, if the trailer is any indication. Other than that the trailer doesn't really give me much in terms of plot - something bad is happening, and it's happening on a super massive scale, and Benedict Cumberbatch stands around behind a glass wall looking silently evil. I can't wait.
Much Ado About Nothing (6/7)
What do you get when Joss Whedon invites some of his pals and colleagues over to his house? You get a contemporary comedy based on the Shakespearean classic of the same name. Those of you who know me know that Whedon's involvement alone is reason enough to go see the film - but the cast is just brilliant. Whedon alums Amy Acker and Alexis Denisof (who worked together in Angel: the series as Fred Burkle and Wesley Wyndam-Pryce who were also love interests) star alongside Nathan Fillion and Sean Maher (both worked in Firefly), Fran Kanz (who was in Dollhouse), and newcomer Jillian Morgese who I guess was uncredited in the Avengers. It's definitely a labor of love and I imagine it was a joy to make - and aren't those the best films to see? Unfortunately, Much Ado About Nothing will have a limited release, but I will seriously road trip if I have to in order to see this film.
Monsters University (6/21)
Prequel to one of my most favorite Pixar movies, Monsters, Inc., we find out how Mike and Sully met in college. Pretty basic premise, but one that could be a good template for a great story. My only misgiving is that I would have liked to see a story in Post-Fear Monstropolis, but I'd see the film anyway...as long as it wasn't another Cars film.
Pacific Rim (7/12)
At first I thought this was going to be a Voltron reboot...but then I realized it wasn't and I still didn't care because I love mecha fighting giant monsters. It looks like classic Kaiju dressed up with fancy visuals - and I am 100% okay with that.
The World's End (10/25)
Edgar Wright fans rejoice! The long awaited final film of the Cornetto Trilogy (the other two being Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz) is finally here. By which I mean it'll be here in October. Simon Pegg and Nick Frost return to relive a pub-crawl to end all pub-crawls. Stuff happens, the world is at stake, and ice cream treats are eaten. Guaranteed to have some great moments, I can't wait for some new quotes to throw around. Also, if you don't understand my love for Wright, Pegg, and Frost, do yourself a favor and watch the series Spaced right now.
Thor: the Dark Worlds (11/8)
You guys. I am so excited for this film. And no, not just because I am an unashamed Marvel fangirl. Not because I rather enjoyed the first film (despite protests from a certain friend who will not be named that it is not that good). And not because Tom Hiddleston is omg so hot (although I prefer him without greasy black hair IMO). Well, actually, yeah, it's more like all those reasons rolled up into one with the added bonus of Christopher Eccleston (you probably know him best as the Ninth Doctor from the series Doctor Who) joining the cast to play Malekith the Accursed...who...you know...if the name didn't give it away...is a bad guy. The movie is set to take place after the events of the Avengers, which means we may find out how Asgard is dealing with Loki going insane. Oh yeah, almost forgot, the universe gets plunged into darkness too.
The Hobbit: the Desolation of Smaug (12/13)
If you haven't read the book I feel bad for you son; I got 99 problems but Erebor ain't one. Actually, that's a lie. There's going to be a lot of problems, and the introduction of Bard the Bowman who I always confuse as being named either Bard the Bardman or Bard Barderston. But no, really. Go read the book and then you'll understand why my review of An Unexpected Journey was so positive.
and finally, rounding off what looks like a promising year of movies:
Anchorman: the Legend Continues (12/20)
Stay classy, Ron Burgundy. You know what I said about looking forward to new quotes to throw around?
...
...
I can't resist. "Oh Baxter, you know I don't speak Spanish!"
Stray Notes:
Well folks, there you have it. What films are you looking forward to in the upcoming year?
Guillermo del Toro presents Mama (Today, 1/18)
I love supernatural horror. I can't get enough of being scared by cheesy, vengeful Asian ghosts. That aside, I also adore Guillermo del Toro and I trust his judgement when it comes to movies he writes, directs, and/or and produces. Pan's Labyrinth (El Laberinto del Fauna) and the Orphanage (El Orfanato) are two of my favorite examples of how he has a keen eye for blending horror, fantasy, and reality in ways that aren't over-the-top or trite. He has a knack for picking directors as well. In Mama, directed by Andrés Muschietti, two little girls are found in the woods (in the trailer, all covered in mud and looking generally pretty gross) and taken back to civilization. However, something, the eponymous Mama I presume, follows them there and then things happen probably (I don't want to guess at the plot, in all honesty). I doubt it'll be filled with cheap scare tactics and I really wish I had someone who loved horror as much as I do to go see it with.
Warm Bodies (2/1)
I guess I like the general premise around it - boy zombie meets girl human, falls in love, and it somehow - defying physiology and the paradigms of life and undeath - makes him more human or something. It looks like it might be a fun zombie flick but I'm not expecting anything amazing, really. I can see how the premise could fall flat, so I'll definitely wait for reviews before deciding whether or not I'll see it in theaters. I love all things zombies so I'm usually not too judgemental when it comes to the shambling corpses - I'll at least see it when it comes to DVD.
Oz: the Great and Powerful (3/8)
I don't know how I feel about this one. Aside from knowing James Franco, Mila Kunis, and Zach Braff are in the cast I honestly can't say I've bothered to look at any other details. I'm a die-hard Wizard of Oz fan - I grew up watching the 1939 classic and one of my favorite books and musicals is Wicked, which tells the story of the Wicked Witch of the West. The trailer looks as though the visuals, if nothing else, will be stunning, so if the occasion arises to see it I probably will.
Jurassic Park 3D (4/5)
One word: Diiihnasaawrs!
Iron Man 3 (5/3)
Word on the street is that this Iron Man film will be noticeably darker than the previous two. The trailer is pretty intense and I guess it got some 15 year old girls on tumblr really upset. Being an avid Marvel fan, of course I would love to see this in theaters if at all possible, but I'm wary of how "gritty" the film may be willing to go. If it moves Movie-verse Iron Man's story arc along then that's fine; if it just gets dark for the sake of being dark then I'll probably be extremely disappointed. I don't think Pepper is going to die (you see a massive explosion in the trailer at one point by Stark's enemy, the Mandarin.) and in fact we may be treated to her eventual comic superhero persona, Rescue. I'd love to see more character development involving Pepper Potts; she's one of the rare Marvel characters who has a strong presence even without superpowers (and she's a woman! *gasp!*) and I don't think enough people realize how much crap she has to put up with, how much adversity she has to stand up to, and how much ass she can kick.
Star Trek Into Darkness (5/17)
Somehow J.J. Abrams restrained himself enough to tone down the lens flare, if the trailer is any indication. Other than that the trailer doesn't really give me much in terms of plot - something bad is happening, and it's happening on a super massive scale, and Benedict Cumberbatch stands around behind a glass wall looking silently evil. I can't wait.
Much Ado About Nothing (6/7)
What do you get when Joss Whedon invites some of his pals and colleagues over to his house? You get a contemporary comedy based on the Shakespearean classic of the same name. Those of you who know me know that Whedon's involvement alone is reason enough to go see the film - but the cast is just brilliant. Whedon alums Amy Acker and Alexis Denisof (who worked together in Angel: the series as Fred Burkle and Wesley Wyndam-Pryce who were also love interests) star alongside Nathan Fillion and Sean Maher (both worked in Firefly), Fran Kanz (who was in Dollhouse), and newcomer Jillian Morgese who I guess was uncredited in the Avengers. It's definitely a labor of love and I imagine it was a joy to make - and aren't those the best films to see? Unfortunately, Much Ado About Nothing will have a limited release, but I will seriously road trip if I have to in order to see this film.
Monsters University (6/21)
Prequel to one of my most favorite Pixar movies, Monsters, Inc., we find out how Mike and Sully met in college. Pretty basic premise, but one that could be a good template for a great story. My only misgiving is that I would have liked to see a story in Post-Fear Monstropolis, but I'd see the film anyway...as long as it wasn't another Cars film.
Pacific Rim (7/12)
At first I thought this was going to be a Voltron reboot...but then I realized it wasn't and I still didn't care because I love mecha fighting giant monsters. It looks like classic Kaiju dressed up with fancy visuals - and I am 100% okay with that.
The World's End (10/25)
Edgar Wright fans rejoice! The long awaited final film of the Cornetto Trilogy (the other two being Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz) is finally here. By which I mean it'll be here in October. Simon Pegg and Nick Frost return to relive a pub-crawl to end all pub-crawls. Stuff happens, the world is at stake, and ice cream treats are eaten. Guaranteed to have some great moments, I can't wait for some new quotes to throw around. Also, if you don't understand my love for Wright, Pegg, and Frost, do yourself a favor and watch the series Spaced right now.
Thor: the Dark Worlds (11/8)
You guys. I am so excited for this film. And no, not just because I am an unashamed Marvel fangirl. Not because I rather enjoyed the first film (despite protests from a certain friend who will not be named that it is not that good). And not because Tom Hiddleston is omg so hot (although I prefer him without greasy black hair IMO). Well, actually, yeah, it's more like all those reasons rolled up into one with the added bonus of Christopher Eccleston (you probably know him best as the Ninth Doctor from the series Doctor Who) joining the cast to play Malekith the Accursed...who...you know...if the name didn't give it away...is a bad guy. The movie is set to take place after the events of the Avengers, which means we may find out how Asgard is dealing with Loki going insane. Oh yeah, almost forgot, the universe gets plunged into darkness too.
The Hobbit: the Desolation of Smaug (12/13)
If you haven't read the book I feel bad for you son; I got 99 problems but Erebor ain't one. Actually, that's a lie. There's going to be a lot of problems, and the introduction of Bard the Bowman who I always confuse as being named either Bard the Bardman or Bard Barderston. But no, really. Go read the book and then you'll understand why my review of An Unexpected Journey was so positive.
and finally, rounding off what looks like a promising year of movies:
Anchorman: the Legend Continues (12/20)
Stay classy, Ron Burgundy. You know what I said about looking forward to new quotes to throw around?
...
...
I can't resist. "Oh Baxter, you know I don't speak Spanish!"
Stray Notes:
- Is it just me or is that poster freaking awesome? ^ Yeah, I know...OMG ORANGE AND BLUE IN THE POSTER IT MEANS THE MOVIE IS CRAP AND THEY JUST WANT YOU TO GO SEE IT BY SUBLIMINALLY APPEASING OUR BRAINS WITH COLORS. Well, dammit, it works. I want that hanging on my wall.
- Being an avid Cracked.com junkie, I should probably go see John Dies at the End, which is based on a book of the same name written by editor David Wong. However, I personally don't find Wong that amusing (in fact, I find him downright condescending and flat-out wrong on several issues - he tends to only publish an article when it involves berating people for something). So yeah, I'll probably skip it.
- There's an Evil Dead remake, because apparently someone decided that needed to be done I guess. The original Raimi version is good enough for me, so I'll pass.
- I'm a Baz Luhrmann fan, unashamedly, but I'm not sure where I stand on the Great Gatsby. As of this writing I have no interest in seeing it, but as my mood changes my opinion may change as well.
- You may be wondering why World War Z isn't on the list. After all, the book of the same name is one of my favorite books of all time, and it's about zombies...how bad could it be? Remember when I said I wasn't too judgemental about zombie flicks? Meet the exception. My problem with the adaptation is that it is one in name only. The book is divided so that each individual chapter tells a different story from survivors all around the world, gathered together by one man. The movie looks like standard "focusing on one guy as he runs around trying to survive with his family" stuff. The book was an excellent allegory for modern global politics - the movie looks like Brad Pitt does hero stuff. Perhaps it would have worked better as a mini-series in order to maintain the style and tone of the book. I may be pleasantly surprised when reviews come out for it, but I'm not holding my breath.
- How is Johnny Depp dressed up as a stereotypical non-descript Indian (including speaking in broken English) not considered really, really, racist? That alone is making me utter the dreaded "meh" in terms of the Lone Ranger.
- Ever since X-Men: the Last Stand I haven't been able to watch an X-Men film that follows without disgust. X-Men Origins was pretty rage-inducing (BONE CLAWS? ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME? The war/time progression sequence was pretty cool though) and First Class looked hokey as all get out. I'm going to pass for now on the Wolverine and just watch X-Men and X2 over and over.
- For a brief moment I read the title for Closed Circuit and confused it as a remake of Short Circuit. It is not.
- Really? An American Oldboy remake? Is nothing sacred? The popular Korean film gets mediocre-d.
Well folks, there you have it. What films are you looking forward to in the upcoming year?
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