Underworld: Awakening (2012)

Underworld: Awakening (2012)

4/10

Starring:
Kate Beckinsale
Sandrine Holt
Theo James
Michael Ealy


Directed by: Måns Mårlind

Prior to watching this flick, I had made up my mind that this was going to be a fully loaded action-packed movie, so I should not be looking for an airtight script or plot. Well, the movie met my need. While the movie didn’t fall short of action scenes, fights, and stunts, it did fall short on the purpose of it all, with some bad pacing, very loose script and some not so fantastic acting or effects.

As all franchises go, studios have a saying, "we ain’t gonna stop milking it till all the milk is gone" (this is just me talking). Because in this movie all I saw was a serious-looking lady walking up and down, jumping here and there looking for something or someone as she is led by flashes (memory flashes).

The thing that gets me is when you put the story together, it’s just a lame excuse to leave openings for future instalments.

Awakening tells the tale of humans (us) finally realizing that werewolves and vampires aren’t just myths. The moment that truth breaks out, the government launches a full-on purge to wipe them off the face of the earth. In the chaos, Selene (Kate) gets captured, locked up, and frozen like some science experiment. Fast forward 12 years, she wakes up, confused and pissed, and tries to piece together what happened. Along the way, she finds out she has a daughter, who’s now being hunted by the Lycans. That’s when things really start to spiral, but yeah, I’ll stop there.

Underworld: Awakening is a 2012 horror movie and the fourth instalment of the Underworld series. Produced by Len Wiseman who has been with the series since its inception in 2003, and the movie has always starred his wife Kate Beckinsale as Selene, a vampire. It is the highest grossing of the Underworld series and was also a financial success on its own.

All the Underworld movies have not been able to score higher than 31% on Rotten Tomatoes, all because the movie just doesn’t play to your intellect. It’s a movie you go watch and make sure you leave your brain at home.

In this fourth instalment, the character portrayal by some of the other cast could use some work, but one thing I guarantee you is that the cinematography is excellent. The action scenes are bloody with enough stunts.

It was cool to see Selene’s (Kate) daughter go postal, that I enjoyed. 

The movie is made for Underworld fans and will only appeal to them. Other viewers are not going to have a good time watching a weak plot unfold..

The 13th Warrior (1999)

The 13th Warrior (1999)

6/10

Starring:
Antonio Banderas
Diane Venora
Omar Sharif

Directed by John McTiernan

Dark, gritty and enjoyably atmospheric.

Based on the novel Eaters of the Dead by Michael Crichton, 13th Warrior tells the tale of Ahmed Ibn Fahdlan, an Arab ambassador, as he travels to a faraway land on an errand for his king. Along the way, he encounters the men of the north, pagan warriors who are enlisted by an oracle on a quest to save a kingdom from legendary, mysterious creatures that consume every living thing in their path. Somehow, Ahmed is enlisted among them, becoming the titular 13th warrior.

The movie is arguably not as good as the book, due to the fact that the story was easier to follow in the book than on screen, but the movie is one for the movie fanatics.

McTiernan is credited as director, but in reality Disney fired him, they had different ideas on the way they wanted to movie to flow. Now if the decision is good or not, we will never know, there is no director's cut.

John McTiernan, known for his action films (Die Hard, Die Hard with a Vengeance, and Predator), made sure this movie would not be for the squeamish, as it preys on decapitation, blood, and sword fighting.

The thing that jumps out at you while watching is the score. The music and sound effects capture the tone of the adventure and blend impressively with events. The movie and production were so intense that two horses were injured during filming.

Antonio Banderas' performance in the movie dropped a little from the year before, when he played Alejandro Murrieta/Zorro alongside Anthony Hopkins in the Steven Spielberg-produced Mask of Zorro. He felt wrongly cast, with his accent not helping, and I felt his acting was not on the same level as the other cast around him.

The movie also stars Omar Sharif from Lawrence of Arabia.

With all the violence and blood that plagues the TV screen, you would expect that the movie would be a commercial success, but it was not. The main reason is that the script has no soul. It lacked some very needed depth in character and purpose to make the whole thing matter. It seemed I was watching fantastic scenes after another, with a thin plot holding them all together.

I felt the movie tried to take advantage of the violence in the book and went overboard, as there was an overload of violence, which did not add to the thrill. I felt the movie could have toned that down a bit, for more story.

Lastly, I did not like how it ended either, but that said, it is a choice to see this movie and I will say, do.

The Big Year (2011)

The Big Year (2011)

3/10

Starring:
Steve Martin
Owen Wilson
Jack Black

Directed by David Frankel

A movie cast of Steve Martin, Owen Wilson and Jack Black may seem like a sure thing for a laugh and a cool comedy for the weekend, but I have to disappoint you. Not even a smile can be gotten from this. The movie just keeps on dragging and still doesn't break a comedic sweat at all.

These three comedians were tied down to a script that just didn’t break the ice when it comes to A-movies. If this movie was a B-movie, it would have been better because much would not be expected. But with top-class actors like this, you expect nothing more than laughs all around. What you get is laughs on a lack.

Although the whole bird hunting scenery is quite captivating, the bird hunting thing itself was not.

Lacking in fun, the movie is about who will win the big year. Yes, the plot is that simple and the main cast are the chief contestants, we have Stu (Steve Martin), a CEO on the verge of retirement, Kenny (Owen Wilson), the reigning world record holder for bird-siting who is willing to risk everything, even his marriage, to defend his world record, and Brad (Jack Black), an office attendant whose obsession sparks conflict with his father.

The movie does have nice sights. As you follow the bird siting, you get to see nice views, if for one thing, the movie boasts of that. When it comes to acting, I felt the actors tried, but their performances did not matter, the script was dull and there was no form of chemistry between them that could have even helped movie things along.

Directed by David Frankel, who directed The Devil Wears Prada and Marley and Me, the movie is about a nonfiction book by Mark Obmascik and it refers to the annual bird-watching, or “birding” as the movie calls it.

I don’t know if such games really exist where people go bird-siting and you take down the birds that you have seen, and the person with the most wins. Because to me, to cheat is just so easy, but again, it's my opinion. The Big Year as of now holds a 41% approval rating from critics and audience on Rotten Tomatoes.

Well, the movie has nothing to offer but an hour of yawning. All three characters are woven around family, deceit, love and sacrifice, but what it teaches you can be learnt in a good Sunday school class. So don’t bother watching, go to church instead if you need to hear this.

We Bought A Zoo (2011)

We Bought a Zoo (2011)

5/10

Starring:
Matt Damon
Scarlett Johansson
Thomas Haden Church
Patrick Fugit

Directed by Cameron Crowe

Directed by Cameron Crowe, this comedy-drama family movie has all the fun needed to be a family movie, but lacks the chunks that would make it a must-watch.

Based on a book by Benjamin Mee, who, mind you, is British and the whole thing happened in England. Although the story is set in England, the movie got Americanized with the help of an all-American cast and set. That wasn't all that was changed. Benjamin's wife died after they bought the zoo in the book, and in the movie, she is said to have died before they bought the zoo. This changed the story direction, and created the love story in the movie. Plus, in the book, the kids were much younger.

Not that We Bought a Zoo was bad, it was just not that fascinating, it is predictable, and I could not get into it. The story is as simple as they come, the pacing is not that tight, it could not find a way to get me interested in the idea of a man who buys a zoo and now he and his family make it home.

Matt Damon’s acting may be able to fool you as a concerned father of two, but Scarlett Johansson’s acting couldn’t fool me, as a zookeeper who loved to play with the kids.

Thomas Haden Church (Sandman in Spiderman 3) pulled off a nice job playing Benjamin Mee’s brother, Duncan, who tried to urge his younger brother to move on after the death of his wife. After much persuasion, he did. The adventure seeker saddled up in his car and drove around with a realtor till he came across a large field with a big house, which happens to be a zoo, and he bought it and moved his family there. The zoo comes with staff, led by head keeper Kelly (Johansson), who becomes like a mother figure to the children.

Along with him for the ride on this adventure is Rosie Mee, his 7-year-old daughter, and 14-year-old moody and annoying son, Dylan. Benjamin is a 6-month-old widower who quit his job because everyone seemed to pity him.

Hell, his boss begged him not to quit, but to be laid off instead so he could get severance.

But he quit and, as said above, bought a zoo. But it all kinda backfired. His son was still a mess and his life wasn’t getting any better, till the end when they all lived happily ever after. (It’s a family movie.)

Cameron Crowe, who directed, wrote and produced the Academy Award movie Jerry Maguire, was the architect of this movie as he was both writer and director. 

For me, this movie's family friendly tone was not to its advantage, as it made it hard to connect with anything happening. It is not a movie that is memorable and it is not a movie I would recommend that you see at all.

War Horse (2011)

War Horse (2011)

6/10

Starring:
Jeremy Irvine
Emily Watson
Peter Mullan

Directed by Steven Spielberg

I have seen many cool movies and War Horse is one, but as for interest and fun while watching, that may be on the shaky side, as the movie kinda drags sometimes while you eagerly wait to see what’s next, this bad pacing made it very hard for me to get fully engaged in the plot.

My opinion of this movie is that Spielberg may not have put his all into it. Having to sit through 2 hrs 15 mins, you start to get bored halfway through, and then the interest picks up again towards the end.

Based on a children’s book of the same name, War Horse has something that catches my attention, which is the set.

The set was so well detailed, you’ll actually believe this is World War 1. The idea this movie script is based on, has to be given credit, as we get to travel on both sides of the battle, feeling joy, pain, loss and tragedy. The problem is the execution of this idea, which did not land well.

The story is simple. In Devon (England), a young boy named Albert Narracott (Jeremy Irvine) befriends a horse named Joey. During the war in 1914, Albert's father, Ted (Peter Mullan), sells the animal to the cavalry.

What follows are a series of fortunate and unfortunate events in which Joey sees the war from nearly every angle. He will gallop under the noble Captain Nicholls (Tom Hiddleston), haul artillery for the Germans, brighten the days of an orphaned French girl (Celine Buckens), and end up stranded between sides in No Man's Land. Joey reflects the times and people that he met during his travels.

The movie is what you make of it, but you have to be proud of the cinematography. It was a masterpiece if I’m allowed to say so. The camera angles and some of the shots were so well done, you have to dip your hat in appreciation. It was done by Academy Award winner for best cinematographer in Schindler's List and Saving Private Ryan (also Spielberg films), Janusz Kamiński, who works with Spielberg on some of his greats including The Adventures of Tintin.

I also think the acting from the cast in this movie is one to be impressed with, each actor held their role high and delivered smashing performances.

War Horse was nominated for six Academy Awards including Best Picture. It also got two Golden Globe Awards and five BAFTA nominations, winning none. War Horse won Film of the Year in 2011 from the American Film Institute.

War Horse is a drama true and true, with all the perfection of Spielberg to make sure that you enjoy the fun of your sit through.

It is worth seeing, if you get the time to.

Batman: Year One (2011)

Batman: Year One (2011)

7/10

Starring the voices of:
Benjamin McKenzie
Bryan Cranston
Eliza Dushku
Katee Sackhoff


Directed by Sam Liu and Lauren Montgomery

Based on Batman: Year One by Frank Miller, this dark film has all the requirements that will make all Batman fans crave for more and make new ones wonder what they’ve been missing. The Bruce character was well deployed, and such deployment is still yet to be toppled, as the one pulled off by Michael Keaton still remains the best Batman/Bruce Wayne character I have seen in either a movie or cartoon.

This addition to the series of DC animations sees our hero’s first year in the crime-fighting life. We see Bruce emerge from the dark trying to discover himself, to evolve from fighting on the streets to protecting the just, then to hiding under a mask. It also introduces Gordon, as he too moves to Gotham from Chicago with his family.

We hardly see movies that depict heroes as humans. Although the Bat is human under the mask, his enemies didn’t think so. The movie has scenes that include Bat being shot and wounded with blood dripping, and him finding it hard to move about. Such scenes didn’t happen just once.

Hey! Who jumps around in a costume, fighting bad guys with guns and expects not to be stabbed, shot and hit one too many times?

Our Bat was, and we get to see him injured. (Not taking all the bullets on his chest and still finding it hard to deal with a mere human called Lex, just making a point.)

Both Gordon and Bruce run into one another at different times, with Gordon suspecting Bruce Wayne as the new vigilante named Batman. Side stories are also introduced. We see Catwoman’s character being formed, and we also get to see what made Gordon rise in the ranks to become commissioner.

What makes this movie different from the others before it is the side it takes, which is, THE DARK SIDE.

Meant for mature viewing, Year One has it all — from fights, adultery, drinking, corruption, blackmail and all that is required to make a hero stand out in a corrupt society.

One thing I felt did not work is that after a while, I felt the humanizing of Batman kind of marred the spectacle of the character, Batman. Who seems to always be thinking and be one step ahead of everyone, here he seems to bumble around more than I would like, affecting the mystique of what makes him Batman and what makes villains fear him.

The movie is meant to be a prelude to the game Arkham City, which was one of the best games of 2011.

Directed by Animation Director Sam Liu, and the scenes and the animation are a little different from the shading you may be used to. Which for me I did not like, but it did not affect the explosive scenes that have action and fights drawing in from all around.

This is a better movie than Under the Red Hood and as interesting as Public Enemies, but different from both in the all-out action and fight scenes that were introduced.

I recommend it.

Transit (2012)

Transit (2012)

                               

6/10

Starring:
James Caviezel
Elisabeth Röhm
Diora Baird
James Frain

Directed by Antonio Negret

Hey!!! Go watch this movie.

It is a B-movie by all rights, but it is so much fun. The main point about the movie is the fact that Caviezel gets to play an action role in a movie where the character’s background is not military or some special forces. He was just a plain bank loan criminal, trying to get his life back together.

I have learnt from time to time not to judge a movie by the first 15 mins, although 15 mins is long. But when this movie kicks off in the first minute, it kicks off, throwing caution into the wind and pulling all the stops to make the viewers enjoy their money’s worth. After the brief introduction of who is who, it all started to go down.

The script is well crafted and the storyline plain and simple. Some guys rob a bank (easily, I may add), and during the getaway they hear over the radio that a roadblock has been set. So they decide to stash the money.

Here comes Nate (Jim Caviezel) and his family going on a vacation. The robbers stash the money in their car and allow them to pass the roadblock with it, then chase them.

Here is the twist. Nate was just released from prison for bank fraud. Wife sees a bag with too much money in the jeep. She panics, thinking Nate is up to no good, and leaves him there on the road with the robbers/killers coming behind (making sure that she wins the Wife of the Year award).

Acting-wise, I think Caviezel was ok, and so were the rest of the cast. Not that I would give them awards for their acting, but they did what was needed to carry this movie through to the finish line.

I do not know the production time of this movie, but it is coming between Person of Interest Season 1 and Season 2.

Now, as much as I like this movie, I have to warn you, not everything was great about it. The lines needed some work. Some of the dialogues were just awful. Then there is the cinematography, which was not that good. The movie had some shots done with bad camera angles.

At a time in the movie, I just believed the cameraman was getting carried away by the action and forgot the work he was supposed to do.

The movie is a nice B-movie and a good one to catch with your pals. I recommend it.

Young Adult (2011)

 
Young Adult (2011)

3/10

Starring:
Charlize Theron
Patton Oswalt
Patrick Wilson
Elizabeth Reaser

Directed by Jason Reitman

Directed by the Juno director Jason Reitman, this movie is all you see in the poster and that’s all folks…!!! Nothing more. The movie doesn’t have anything more to offer. The trailer and poster are all you need.

This movie does not look like it went through a proper production timeline because it comes off as something, that was done in like a week. As usual, Charlize Theron gave a good acting performance playing the character Mavis, who in another light was like a deranged stalker who just wanted to have Buddy Slade for herself. Her actions in the movie are of someone suffering with a mix of delusion and midlife crisis.

So what is the problem with the movie?

Let’s start with the dullness. As the movie progresses, you’d expect the dullness to just fade, but it keeps on going till the movie ends.

The same way it started, with the character back in Minneapolis with nothing in her life but her dog Dolce, the movie ends with her back in Minneapolis with her dog.

The storyline is about a recently divorced lady called Mavis, who went back to her fictional old town Mercury where she used to be the prom queen and the lady to be.

While there she meets Matt (Oswalt), who was crippled in school for being gay, which he wasn’t.

Mavis and Matt strike up a funny friendship where she gets to tell him about her plan to ruin Buddy’s (Patrick Wilson) marriage and be the new girl on the block since her and Buddy used to be old-time lovers.

Matt tells her she is crazy and that the idea won’t work. But she carries on.

This movie is supposed to be fun to watch, but the fun is just over-rated, as the movie will not even let you break a sweat laughing.

This flick is directed by Jason, although he made sure you won’t forget his style of direction. The same way Juno went is just the same way Young Adult goes, steady from the beginning to the end. While Juno had a fun storyline to carry you on, and the reality of it made it easy to key into it, Young Adult remained dull and the fictional events made it worse.

The ending, where we get to see Charlize Theron for the crazy lady she is, was the only part my eyebrow went up and an emotion was let out.

So if you have a few bucks to spare and feel like seeing a movie…?

Go see another movie. This one is just a waste.