Zero Dark Thirty
*** ½
R
157 minutes
Zero Dark Thirty is a fascinating, intense account of the decade long hunt for Osama Bin Laden and the eventual raid on a compound in Pakistan that led to his death. Kathryn Bigelow’s film uses a clinical, procedural like approach to tell this story as the viewer follows Maya, a (fictional) CIA analyst obsessed with finding Bin Laden. After years of dead ends and false hopes she finally is vindicated when she finds the house in which he is hiding and a covert military operation takes him down.
The film displays a remarkable distance from politics and tells the story in an almost unbiased way. Some of the most disturbing scenes involve the harsh interrogation methods (AKA “torture) of enemy combatants. These scenes are filmed in such a way such that people on both sides of the issue could claim their view is represented.
While quite long, I never found Zero Dark Thirty boring. The final act that shows the raid on Bin Laden’s compound is extremely intense and gives the viewer a new respect for the Navy SEALS that performed this dangerous mission.
Notes for parents: Zero Dark Thirty is rated R for the harsh interrogation scenes as well as the bloody raid on Bin Laden’s house. There is also frequent profanity. I can see how older mature teens can watch the movie and gain insight into current events.
Showing posts with label movie reviews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label movie reviews. Show all posts
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Lincoln movie review
Lincoln
** ½
PG-13
150 minutes
Director Steven Spielberg’s latest drama focuses on a very specific time in Abraham Lincoln’s second term as president showing how he convinced the House of Representatives to pass the 13th Amendment which abolished slavery. The film serves as a lesson in politics as we see Lincoln work with members of his cabinet and Congress to pass the bill before a peace treaty is signed with the South. It is fascinating to hear some of the arguments made for and against the bill. Some use logic and reason while others rely on pure rhetoric. Daniel Day-Lewis’s performance as Lincoln is outstanding as are the performances of other actors such as James Spader, David Strathairn and Tommy Lee Jones.
Unordinary, the movie is slowly paced and too long. My interest came and went at various times. I was hoping for more of a biography or character study of Lincoln and while we get some of that, most of the script is devoted to long speeches.
Notes for parents: Lincoln is suitable for most teens and adults. There are a few scenes showing the violence of war and a few profanities (including one F-bomb). The only other issue is that some people may find the movie boring.
** ½
PG-13
150 minutes
Director Steven Spielberg’s latest drama focuses on a very specific time in Abraham Lincoln’s second term as president showing how he convinced the House of Representatives to pass the 13th Amendment which abolished slavery. The film serves as a lesson in politics as we see Lincoln work with members of his cabinet and Congress to pass the bill before a peace treaty is signed with the South. It is fascinating to hear some of the arguments made for and against the bill. Some use logic and reason while others rely on pure rhetoric. Daniel Day-Lewis’s performance as Lincoln is outstanding as are the performances of other actors such as James Spader, David Strathairn and Tommy Lee Jones.
Unordinary, the movie is slowly paced and too long. My interest came and went at various times. I was hoping for more of a biography or character study of Lincoln and while we get some of that, most of the script is devoted to long speeches.
Notes for parents: Lincoln is suitable for most teens and adults. There are a few scenes showing the violence of war and a few profanities (including one F-bomb). The only other issue is that some people may find the movie boring.
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Flight movie review
Flight
**
R
138 minutes
Robert Zemeckis made a name for himself in the 1980s and 90s directing special-effects driven blockbusters like Back to the Future and Who Framed Roger Rabbit before winning an Oscar for Forrest Gump. After spending many years making motion-capture style animated films (like The Polar Express) he returns to live action with Flight. In this drama, Denzel Washington plays an airline pilot addicted to alcohol and drugs. In a spectacular crash sequence, Washington miraculously lands a plane while still intoxicated from the night before. The rest of the movie follows his attempts to stay clean during the investigation of the crash. Unfortunately, he relapses time and time again with numerous scenes of him falling off the wagon with a complete disregard for his own health and reputation.
While the plane crash is well-filmed, the rest of the movie is slowly paced. The many alcohol and drug abuse scenes become repetitive and Washington’s character is never all that likeable. Supporting characters come and go but don’t add much to the story. Since it is made clear from the start that the plane would have had mechanical problems regardless of whether or not the pilot was drunk, there is little suspense created by the investigation. Stories of redemption are fine, but this one takes its time getting there and by the time Washington finally admits his problem we don’t care.
Age Level: Flight is most definitely NOT for kids. Aside form the plane crash (which will ensure that your kids never set foot on an airplane again) the movie contains nudity, lots of profanity and frequent scenes of drug use.
**
R
138 minutes
Robert Zemeckis made a name for himself in the 1980s and 90s directing special-effects driven blockbusters like Back to the Future and Who Framed Roger Rabbit before winning an Oscar for Forrest Gump. After spending many years making motion-capture style animated films (like The Polar Express) he returns to live action with Flight. In this drama, Denzel Washington plays an airline pilot addicted to alcohol and drugs. In a spectacular crash sequence, Washington miraculously lands a plane while still intoxicated from the night before. The rest of the movie follows his attempts to stay clean during the investigation of the crash. Unfortunately, he relapses time and time again with numerous scenes of him falling off the wagon with a complete disregard for his own health and reputation.
While the plane crash is well-filmed, the rest of the movie is slowly paced. The many alcohol and drug abuse scenes become repetitive and Washington’s character is never all that likeable. Supporting characters come and go but don’t add much to the story. Since it is made clear from the start that the plane would have had mechanical problems regardless of whether or not the pilot was drunk, there is little suspense created by the investigation. Stories of redemption are fine, but this one takes its time getting there and by the time Washington finally admits his problem we don’t care.
Age Level: Flight is most definitely NOT for kids. Aside form the plane crash (which will ensure that your kids never set foot on an airplane again) the movie contains nudity, lots of profanity and frequent scenes of drug use.
Sunday, March 10, 2013
PG Means “Pretty Good” Right?
It is becoming increasingly difficult to find family-friendly movies at the theater or on home video. Parents often turn to the MPAA rating for guidance. (Whether that’s entirely a good idea is a subject worthy of debate but for now, let’s assume that movies with a rating of “G” or “PG” are at least supposed to be suitable for both parents and children.) More and more it is animated films that make up the bulk of G and PG movies. For example, in 2012, 7 of the 10 highest grossing PG rated movies at the box office were animated films.
How appropriate are these movies? Are parents safe renting a PG movie for their kids without first pre-screening it? This column is the first in a planned series reviewing recent PG films.
Paranorman *½
Paranorman was the first of three “kiddie-horror” animated films released in late 2012. (The others are Hotel Transylvania and Frankenweenie.) The lead character is an 11 year old boy named Norman who has the ability to see and talk to ghosts. This makes him very unpopular and his only friends are similarly bullied kids. He lives in a New England town notorious for its Salem like witch trials, one of which is about to be commemorated by the town. Norman learns that before her execution, the witch cursed the town to be overrun by zombies (in this case, the resurrected corpses of the men who condemned her.) Naturally, Norman’s abilities help him and his friends to save the town.
While the stop-motion animation is outstanding, there are several aspects of Paranorman that should concern parents. First is the horror imagery seen throughout the film. Images and references (some intended to be humorous) of zombies, ghosts, witches and the undead pervade the film. While not all children will be frightened by these images, young children most likely will not understand the morbid humor. It doesn’t seem necessary for kids to see these images without the cultural context by which adults view them. In fact, the movie gets increasingly scary as it goes on with some particularly frightening scenes near the end. Christian parents should take note that the witches’ condemners who turn into zombies are Puritans at their most stereotypical. (They’re bigoted, hateful, mean, etc.) The movie also does not portray a Christian worldview of death and the afterlife.
Even more troublesome is the alarmingly inappropriate humor. Keep in mind the most of the film’s characters are eleven years old with two older siblings being no older than 16 or 17. Here are a few exemplas of the jokes.
The school bully says he wants to go the adult video store instead of the library.
One character is seen watching his mom’s aerobics DVD with the image paused so he can stare at the woman on the screen.
An older boy reveals he is gay at the end of the movie. (He mentions having a boyfriend.)
I do not think jokes about puberty, pornography and homosexuality are appropriate in a PG movie aimed at kids.
Needless to say, I do not recommend Paranorman for adults or children.
How appropriate are these movies? Are parents safe renting a PG movie for their kids without first pre-screening it? This column is the first in a planned series reviewing recent PG films.
Paranorman *½
Paranorman was the first of three “kiddie-horror” animated films released in late 2012. (The others are Hotel Transylvania and Frankenweenie.) The lead character is an 11 year old boy named Norman who has the ability to see and talk to ghosts. This makes him very unpopular and his only friends are similarly bullied kids. He lives in a New England town notorious for its Salem like witch trials, one of which is about to be commemorated by the town. Norman learns that before her execution, the witch cursed the town to be overrun by zombies (in this case, the resurrected corpses of the men who condemned her.) Naturally, Norman’s abilities help him and his friends to save the town.
While the stop-motion animation is outstanding, there are several aspects of Paranorman that should concern parents. First is the horror imagery seen throughout the film. Images and references (some intended to be humorous) of zombies, ghosts, witches and the undead pervade the film. While not all children will be frightened by these images, young children most likely will not understand the morbid humor. It doesn’t seem necessary for kids to see these images without the cultural context by which adults view them. In fact, the movie gets increasingly scary as it goes on with some particularly frightening scenes near the end. Christian parents should take note that the witches’ condemners who turn into zombies are Puritans at their most stereotypical. (They’re bigoted, hateful, mean, etc.) The movie also does not portray a Christian worldview of death and the afterlife.
Even more troublesome is the alarmingly inappropriate humor. Keep in mind the most of the film’s characters are eleven years old with two older siblings being no older than 16 or 17. Here are a few exemplas of the jokes.
One character is seen watching his mom’s aerobics DVD with the image paused so he can stare at the woman on the screen.
An older boy reveals he is gay at the end of the movie. (He mentions having a boyfriend.)
Needless to say, I do not recommend Paranorman for adults or children.
Monday, July 9, 2012
Movies that Start with 'A'
I love to categorize my movie watching. Whether it’s watching films by a certain director or grouping them by year, I enjoy movie themes. This usually doesn’t last long, as I grow tired of the current theme and move on to something new so we’ll see how long this current one lasts.
The current theme is classic movies I’ve never seen (or haven’t seen in a long time) including foreign language films, in alphabetical order. I figure maybe 2 or 3 movies for each letter. (X is going to be tough.)
To kick things off, over the weekend I watched one foreign and one American film that both start with the letter ‘A.’ I’m, going to try and keep these reviews brief, with a summary of the plot and my take on the film’s merits, including a Christian perspective.
Aguirre, the Wrath of God
Directed by Werner Herzog
1972
in German
Klaus Kinski plays a Spanish explorer, part of Pizarro’s expedition to Peru in the late 16th century, sent with other men and women up an Amazon tributary in search of El Dorado. The mission goes horribly wrong as both nature and hostile natives wreak havoc.
Herzog’s film is mesmerizing to look at with an almost dreamlike quality. Dialogue is often kept to a minimum which leaves the impression that most of the people are in stunned shock at the events happening around them. Kinski goes memorably, quietly insane (or perhaps he is insane to begin with) and in the film’s famous final shot ends up alone on a raft surrounded by hundreds of monkeys and rambling about getting rich from finding the cities of gold.
The biggest problem I had was the film’s portrayal of the Christian missionaries as ignorant with the stereotypical attitude of “Let’s convert the savages and kill them if they won’t listen.” (Never mind that the “noble savages” are cannibals and are out to kill them.)
Morality/Worldview: C
Filmmaking: A
The Apartment
Directed by Billy Wilder
1960
In this cynical comedy/drama, Jack Lemmon plays a low-level insurance employee who allows upper-level executives to use his apartment for their extramarital affairs. In doing so, he moves up the corporate ladder. Things go wrong when he falls in love with a fellow employee, an elevaotr operator played by Shirley MacLaine, who just happens to be the latest mistress of his boss.
I found the portrayal of adultery disturbing even though ultimately Lemmon realizes what he is doing is causing great harm. Of course, adultery ought to be disturbing and the second half of the movie shows how serious the consequences can be. The acting is terrific all around. I was especially impressed with Fred MacMurray’s role as the despicable executive who uses Lemmon to facilitate his affair. I normally associate MacMurray with comedic roles such as the many Disney films he did so it was a surprise to se him do such a good job at playing a villain.
Morality/Worldview B-
Filmmaking A
The current theme is classic movies I’ve never seen (or haven’t seen in a long time) including foreign language films, in alphabetical order. I figure maybe 2 or 3 movies for each letter. (X is going to be tough.)
To kick things off, over the weekend I watched one foreign and one American film that both start with the letter ‘A.’ I’m, going to try and keep these reviews brief, with a summary of the plot and my take on the film’s merits, including a Christian perspective.
Aguirre, the Wrath of God
Directed by Werner Herzog
1972
in German
Klaus Kinski plays a Spanish explorer, part of Pizarro’s expedition to Peru in the late 16th century, sent with other men and women up an Amazon tributary in search of El Dorado. The mission goes horribly wrong as both nature and hostile natives wreak havoc.
Herzog’s film is mesmerizing to look at with an almost dreamlike quality. Dialogue is often kept to a minimum which leaves the impression that most of the people are in stunned shock at the events happening around them. Kinski goes memorably, quietly insane (or perhaps he is insane to begin with) and in the film’s famous final shot ends up alone on a raft surrounded by hundreds of monkeys and rambling about getting rich from finding the cities of gold.
The biggest problem I had was the film’s portrayal of the Christian missionaries as ignorant with the stereotypical attitude of “Let’s convert the savages and kill them if they won’t listen.” (Never mind that the “noble savages” are cannibals and are out to kill them.)
Morality/Worldview: C
Filmmaking: A
The Apartment
Directed by Billy Wilder
1960
In this cynical comedy/drama, Jack Lemmon plays a low-level insurance employee who allows upper-level executives to use his apartment for their extramarital affairs. In doing so, he moves up the corporate ladder. Things go wrong when he falls in love with a fellow employee, an elevaotr operator played by Shirley MacLaine, who just happens to be the latest mistress of his boss.
I found the portrayal of adultery disturbing even though ultimately Lemmon realizes what he is doing is causing great harm. Of course, adultery ought to be disturbing and the second half of the movie shows how serious the consequences can be. The acting is terrific all around. I was especially impressed with Fred MacMurray’s role as the despicable executive who uses Lemmon to facilitate his affair. I normally associate MacMurray with comedic roles such as the many Disney films he did so it was a surprise to se him do such a good job at playing a villain.
Morality/Worldview B-
Filmmaking A
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Back to the 80s: Prizzi's Honor
We're now up to the second week of June 1985. At last, something for the grown-ups!
Prizzi’s Honor
A hit man for the mob falls in love with a woman, who turns out to be a hit woman. It seems like a good match until they’re ordered to kill each other.
How did it play in 1985? It did fairly well at the box-office but it was more successful at receiving multiple Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Actor, Supporting Actor and the award it won, Best Supporting Actress which went to Anjelica HustoN in a role directed by her father John Huston.
Did I see it then? No way. I saw very few R-rated movies in 1985 and probably wouldn’t have been interested in this one anyway. This is the first time I’ve seen it.
How does it play today? Summer movies are usually full of action, comedy and special effects, so it must have been refreshing for a movie aimed at adults to open up alongside the likes of The Goonies and Rambo. Prizzi’s Honor is a mob movie with lots of black comedy. It’ s similar to The Godfather and GoodFellas although it isn’t quite as good as either of those two. I’m sure if it came out today, it would be compared to The Sopranos (a show I never warmed up to).
The film’s main strength is the performances. As mentioned above, Anjelica Huston won an Oscar for her role as the manipulative outcast of the Prizzi family. She’s very good and I wish she’d had more scenes. Also good is William Hickey (better known to some of you as Uncle Lewis in Christmas Vacation) who plays the patriarch of the family. He was only 58 when he made this, but thanks to good acting and makeup he looks twice that age. Jack Nicholson and Kathleen Turner are also good in the leading roles.
I always have a difficult time with mob movies, mainly for the relative morality of the characters. Almost every person is violent and unpleasant. So what’s the attraction? I think audiences are fascinated by the family dynamics of these characters. They struggle to deal with their family, just like everyone does, except their differences are often resolved with guns and knives. The humor, as dark as it is, certainly helps. The most intriguing element of Prizzi’s Honor is the moral choices faced by Nicholson’s character. Will he uphold the Prizzi family honor, or go his own way? Will he remain loyal to his adopted family or will he kill his own wife? Without saying too much, let me once again refer to the film’s moral relativism which is the main problem. The viewer is forced to “root” for one group of immoral people against another. Making a rationally moral choice isn’t an option. The ending left me frustrated.
Next time: A science-fiction movie that was very popular and a fantasy movie that no one saw.
Prizzi’s Honor
A hit man for the mob falls in love with a woman, who turns out to be a hit woman. It seems like a good match until they’re ordered to kill each other.
How did it play in 1985? It did fairly well at the box-office but it was more successful at receiving multiple Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Actor, Supporting Actor and the award it won, Best Supporting Actress which went to Anjelica HustoN in a role directed by her father John Huston.
Did I see it then? No way. I saw very few R-rated movies in 1985 and probably wouldn’t have been interested in this one anyway. This is the first time I’ve seen it.
How does it play today? Summer movies are usually full of action, comedy and special effects, so it must have been refreshing for a movie aimed at adults to open up alongside the likes of The Goonies and Rambo. Prizzi’s Honor is a mob movie with lots of black comedy. It’ s similar to The Godfather and GoodFellas although it isn’t quite as good as either of those two. I’m sure if it came out today, it would be compared to The Sopranos (a show I never warmed up to).
The film’s main strength is the performances. As mentioned above, Anjelica Huston won an Oscar for her role as the manipulative outcast of the Prizzi family. She’s very good and I wish she’d had more scenes. Also good is William Hickey (better known to some of you as Uncle Lewis in Christmas Vacation) who plays the patriarch of the family. He was only 58 when he made this, but thanks to good acting and makeup he looks twice that age. Jack Nicholson and Kathleen Turner are also good in the leading roles.
I always have a difficult time with mob movies, mainly for the relative morality of the characters. Almost every person is violent and unpleasant. So what’s the attraction? I think audiences are fascinated by the family dynamics of these characters. They struggle to deal with their family, just like everyone does, except their differences are often resolved with guns and knives. The humor, as dark as it is, certainly helps. The most intriguing element of Prizzi’s Honor is the moral choices faced by Nicholson’s character. Will he uphold the Prizzi family honor, or go his own way? Will he remain loyal to his adopted family or will he kill his own wife? Without saying too much, let me once again refer to the film’s moral relativism which is the main problem. The viewer is forced to “root” for one group of immoral people against another. Making a rationally moral choice isn’t an option. The ending left me frustrated.
Next time: A science-fiction movie that was very popular and a fantasy movie that no one saw.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Back to the 80s: The Goonies
Continuing my series on the summer movies of 1985.
The Goonies
A group of kids try to save their homes from being turned into a country club and have the adventure of a lifetime involving escaped convicts and a pirate treasure in this movie directed by Richard Donner that has become a cult classic.
How did it play in 1985? Very well. It opened in second place behind Rambo and became the ninth highest grossing movie of 1985. It’s continued popularity has led to numerous rumors of a sequel involving the original cast.
Did I see it then? Yes, and I loved it.
How does it play today? This is tough. A large part of my enjoyment of the movie today depends on nostalgia, which makes it difficult to be objective. It’s fun to see actors like Sean Astin and Josh Brolin looking so young. The sense of adventure so critical to the story survives (the many booby-traps are fun in an Indiana Jones sort of way and the pirate ship is still pretty cool) but some of the flaws are more apparent now. It’s much too long and the kids (and some of the adults) yell and talk over each other throughout the film. I doubt an adult who never saw the movie as a kid would get much out of The Goonies and I wonder if today’s kids would enjoy it. I guess it would be fine for kids too young to see the Pirates of the Caribbean movies.
The other movie that opened up in the first week of June 1985 was the box-office bomb Perfect starring John Travolta and Jamie Lee Curtis. I’m not opposed to seeing bad movies, but this sounds so awful it’s not worth it.
Next week: An Oscar nominee for Best Picture.
The Goonies
A group of kids try to save their homes from being turned into a country club and have the adventure of a lifetime involving escaped convicts and a pirate treasure in this movie directed by Richard Donner that has become a cult classic.
How did it play in 1985? Very well. It opened in second place behind Rambo and became the ninth highest grossing movie of 1985. It’s continued popularity has led to numerous rumors of a sequel involving the original cast.
Did I see it then? Yes, and I loved it.
How does it play today? This is tough. A large part of my enjoyment of the movie today depends on nostalgia, which makes it difficult to be objective. It’s fun to see actors like Sean Astin and Josh Brolin looking so young. The sense of adventure so critical to the story survives (the many booby-traps are fun in an Indiana Jones sort of way and the pirate ship is still pretty cool) but some of the flaws are more apparent now. It’s much too long and the kids (and some of the adults) yell and talk over each other throughout the film. I doubt an adult who never saw the movie as a kid would get much out of The Goonies and I wonder if today’s kids would enjoy it. I guess it would be fine for kids too young to see the Pirates of the Caribbean movies.
The other movie that opened up in the first week of June 1985 was the box-office bomb Perfect starring John Travolta and Jamie Lee Curtis. I’m not opposed to seeing bad movies, but this sounds so awful it’s not worth it.
Next week: An Oscar nominee for Best Picture.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Back to the 80s: Memorial Day Weekend 1985
It's time for the first segment of Back to the 80s. If you went to a movie theater on Memorial Day Weekend 1985, what could you have seen?
A View to a Kill
Super-spy James Bond attempts to keep super-villain Max Zorin from creating a massive earthquake that will flood Silicon Valley, thus leaving him with complete control f the world’s microchip market.
How did it play in 1985? Fairly well. It was the 13th highest grossing movie of the year and the 14th (out of 23) in the Bond series. It was the last Bond with Roger Moore in the lead. The critics didn’t think much of it and now it has a reputation as one of the worst Bond films.
Did I see it then? Yes. I don’t recall much about it though.
How does it play today? It’s passable entertainment, more so if you are a fan of the Bond movies. I liked the widescreen cinematography and the John Barry score provides the perfect sonic mood for a Bond film. Unfortunately, most everything else is sub-par. The plot is a retread of previous Bond films and Max Zorin is no Goldfinger. Tanya Roberts is terrible as the leading lady. Only Grace Jones, who plays the requisite villain’s henchmen (henchwoman?) has an impact, although her character is just as underwritten as everyone else‘s. The action scenes are OK, except for a ridiculous chase involving a stolen fire truck and lots of police cars that seems more appropriate to The Blues Brothers.
Rambo: First Blood Part II
The big hit of Memorial Day 1985 was Rambo: First Blood Part II, the action-packed, ultra-violent sequel to the 1982 film First Blood. The plot, such as it is, has Sylvester Stallone’s title character sent into Vietnam on a covert mission to find out if American POWs are still there. He is soon betrayed and must use every weapon in existence to fight his way out and blow as much stuff up as (in)humanly possible.
How did it play in 1985? Huge. It was the number one movie at the box office for 4 weeks in a row and was the second highest grossing movie of he year.
Did I see it then? No. I wanted to, but my parents were pretty strict about letting me see R-rated movies. I didn’t see it until much later.
How does it play today? It’s quite ridiculous and a little offensive. I know this is the kind of movie you’re not supposed to analyze but it’s hard not to roll your eyes at it. The action gets increasingly improbable as the movie goes on as Rambo becomes an unstoppable one-man killing machine.
The script was co-written by Stallone and none other than James Cameron, who had directed The Terminator a year earlier. There are certainly parts of the movie that are quite exciting if you can suspend your disbelief. Perhaps the best thing about Rambo II is the score by Jerry Goldsmith. Using ostinato, odd-metered rhythms, the score pulsates with kinetic energy. The elegiac theme “It’s a Long Road” from the same composer’s score to First Blood, makes several appearances and is masterfully transformed into an action fanfare.
Two other movies opened up in late May 1985. First, was the Richard Pryor/John Candy comedy Brewster’s Millions about a baseball player who must spend $30 million in 30 days without telling anyone why. If he succeeds, he gets $300 million. I remember my sister and I watching this a lot when it was on HBO, but I’m not interested in seeing it again. The Chevy Chase comedy Fletch was a popular movie about an investigative journalist who used multiple disguises to catch the bad guys. It spawned a sequel and there have been several attempts to remake it. I saw it in the theaters and several times thereafter but haven’t seen it recently.
Next week: An infamous bomb and a popular kid's movie.
A View to a Kill
Super-spy James Bond attempts to keep super-villain Max Zorin from creating a massive earthquake that will flood Silicon Valley, thus leaving him with complete control f the world’s microchip market.
How did it play in 1985? Fairly well. It was the 13th highest grossing movie of the year and the 14th (out of 23) in the Bond series. It was the last Bond with Roger Moore in the lead. The critics didn’t think much of it and now it has a reputation as one of the worst Bond films.
Did I see it then? Yes. I don’t recall much about it though.
How does it play today? It’s passable entertainment, more so if you are a fan of the Bond movies. I liked the widescreen cinematography and the John Barry score provides the perfect sonic mood for a Bond film. Unfortunately, most everything else is sub-par. The plot is a retread of previous Bond films and Max Zorin is no Goldfinger. Tanya Roberts is terrible as the leading lady. Only Grace Jones, who plays the requisite villain’s henchmen (henchwoman?) has an impact, although her character is just as underwritten as everyone else‘s. The action scenes are OK, except for a ridiculous chase involving a stolen fire truck and lots of police cars that seems more appropriate to The Blues Brothers.
Rambo: First Blood Part II
The big hit of Memorial Day 1985 was Rambo: First Blood Part II, the action-packed, ultra-violent sequel to the 1982 film First Blood. The plot, such as it is, has Sylvester Stallone’s title character sent into Vietnam on a covert mission to find out if American POWs are still there. He is soon betrayed and must use every weapon in existence to fight his way out and blow as much stuff up as (in)humanly possible.
How did it play in 1985? Huge. It was the number one movie at the box office for 4 weeks in a row and was the second highest grossing movie of he year.
Did I see it then? No. I wanted to, but my parents were pretty strict about letting me see R-rated movies. I didn’t see it until much later.
How does it play today? It’s quite ridiculous and a little offensive. I know this is the kind of movie you’re not supposed to analyze but it’s hard not to roll your eyes at it. The action gets increasingly improbable as the movie goes on as Rambo becomes an unstoppable one-man killing machine.
The script was co-written by Stallone and none other than James Cameron, who had directed The Terminator a year earlier. There are certainly parts of the movie that are quite exciting if you can suspend your disbelief. Perhaps the best thing about Rambo II is the score by Jerry Goldsmith. Using ostinato, odd-metered rhythms, the score pulsates with kinetic energy. The elegiac theme “It’s a Long Road” from the same composer’s score to First Blood, makes several appearances and is masterfully transformed into an action fanfare.
Two other movies opened up in late May 1985. First, was the Richard Pryor/John Candy comedy Brewster’s Millions about a baseball player who must spend $30 million in 30 days without telling anyone why. If he succeeds, he gets $300 million. I remember my sister and I watching this a lot when it was on HBO, but I’m not interested in seeing it again. The Chevy Chase comedy Fletch was a popular movie about an investigative journalist who used multiple disguises to catch the bad guys. It spawned a sequel and there have been several attempts to remake it. I saw it in the theaters and several times thereafter but haven’t seen it recently.
Next week: An infamous bomb and a popular kid's movie.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Back to the 80s: Introduction
Are you a child of the 1980s? Do you love going to the movies but find you don’t enjoy the summer movies as much as you used to? Were movies really better back then, or is it more a matter of maturity that makes today’s movies, especially those released in the summer, look bad in comparison? I’m sure it’s a little bit of both. As an experiment, I plan to recreate a summer movie season from my childhood and see how the movies stack up today. What effect does nostalgia have on my reaction to certain movies? And what about the more mature movies I never saw?
Here’s how it will work. Each weekend, I’ll post a new entry summarizing the movies that came out the same weekend in the past. Due to time constraints, I won’t be able to re-watch every single movie. Plus, there are some I don’t feel all that inclined to revisit. (Do I really need to watch European Vacation again?)
I’m going to begin with the summer of 1985. I was 14 years old, the perfect age for spending way too much time at the movie theater watching special-effects laden movies and enjoying my usual large popcorn, cherry Coke and a bag of Skittles. A wide variety of movies were released that year. There were blockbusters like Rambo 2 and Back to the Future, box-office bombs like The Black Cauldron and Return to Oz (both Disney films) and movies aimed at adults like Prizzi’s Honor and Pale Rider.
Memorial Day Weekend is coming soon. Are you ready to go Back to the 80s?
Here’s how it will work. Each weekend, I’ll post a new entry summarizing the movies that came out the same weekend in the past. Due to time constraints, I won’t be able to re-watch every single movie. Plus, there are some I don’t feel all that inclined to revisit. (Do I really need to watch European Vacation again?)
I’m going to begin with the summer of 1985. I was 14 years old, the perfect age for spending way too much time at the movie theater watching special-effects laden movies and enjoying my usual large popcorn, cherry Coke and a bag of Skittles. A wide variety of movies were released that year. There were blockbusters like Rambo 2 and Back to the Future, box-office bombs like The Black Cauldron and Return to Oz (both Disney films) and movies aimed at adults like Prizzi’s Honor and Pale Rider.
Memorial Day Weekend is coming soon. Are you ready to go Back to the 80s?
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Ugetsu
“For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.”
James 3:16
“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils.”
I Timothy 6:10
My previous post was about the 1953 movie Tokyo Story. Next is another Japanese movie from the same year. Ugetsu is set in 16th century Japan during a time of civil war. Two brothers and their families want to avoid the horrors of war but their greed and ambition get in the way and tragedy results.
Genjuro, one of the brothers, makes pottery using a homemade kiln. He’s fairly good at it and is excited when he is able to bring home money from selling his wares. His brother Tobei wants nothing more than to become a great warrior, even a samurai, although he is hardly qualified to be either. Both men’s wives would rather stay home and try to be safe from the approaching war, but the men leave, insisting they will return soon. While selling his pottery, Genjuro is approached by a mysterious woman and her lady-in-waiting. He is enchanted by her and for good reason. We soon learn that she is a ghost. Enticed by her, he forgets all about his wife and even agrees to marry the woman! Back home, his wife and son are forced from their home and can barely find food while avoiding marauding soldiers.
Meanwhile, Tobei’s wife is soon forgotten by him and ends up turning to prostitution to earn money. Despite his incompetence, he does in fact become a samurai. Both brothers seem to have achieved their goals of money and power but at the cost of their own families. The men are eventually reunited with their wives, but in unusual ways, which I won’t spoil here.
Ugetsu may not be a Christian film, but the Bible verses quoted above are aptly demonstrated. The love of money and selfish ambition both cause great harm to the film’s characters.
I don’t usually listen to DVD commentary tracks but I often make an exception for foreign films. The commentary for Ugetsu is full of interesting details that I missed while watching the movie, especially regarding Japanese history and culture.
James 3:16
“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils.”
I Timothy 6:10
My previous post was about the 1953 movie Tokyo Story. Next is another Japanese movie from the same year. Ugetsu is set in 16th century Japan during a time of civil war. Two brothers and their families want to avoid the horrors of war but their greed and ambition get in the way and tragedy results.
Genjuro, one of the brothers, makes pottery using a homemade kiln. He’s fairly good at it and is excited when he is able to bring home money from selling his wares. His brother Tobei wants nothing more than to become a great warrior, even a samurai, although he is hardly qualified to be either. Both men’s wives would rather stay home and try to be safe from the approaching war, but the men leave, insisting they will return soon. While selling his pottery, Genjuro is approached by a mysterious woman and her lady-in-waiting. He is enchanted by her and for good reason. We soon learn that she is a ghost. Enticed by her, he forgets all about his wife and even agrees to marry the woman! Back home, his wife and son are forced from their home and can barely find food while avoiding marauding soldiers.
Meanwhile, Tobei’s wife is soon forgotten by him and ends up turning to prostitution to earn money. Despite his incompetence, he does in fact become a samurai. Both brothers seem to have achieved their goals of money and power but at the cost of their own families. The men are eventually reunited with their wives, but in unusual ways, which I won’t spoil here.
Ugetsu may not be a Christian film, but the Bible verses quoted above are aptly demonstrated. The love of money and selfish ambition both cause great harm to the film’s characters.
I don’t usually listen to DVD commentary tracks but I often make an exception for foreign films. The commentary for Ugetsu is full of interesting details that I missed while watching the movie, especially regarding Japanese history and culture.
Monday, May 2, 2011
Tokyo Story
I don’t expect every movie I see to be great. I’m not hoping to see the next Citizen Kane with every new movie. And most of the time, I don’t see the next Citizen Kane but rather see some decent movies, some not so decent ones and occasionally, some really outstanding ones. But every now and then, I see something, usually an older film, that is truly a great movie. Such was the case when I finally got around to watching the 1953 Japanese film Tokyo Story.
I had been thinking about Japan and Japanese culture recently. I read Laura Hillenbrand’s excellent book Unbroken which portrayed a dark moment in Japanese history, the cruel treatment of POWs during World War II. Then there was the recent earthquake and tsunami. I’ve always enjoyed Japanese movies. Akira Kurosawa is one of my favorite directors for movies like Throne of Blood, Yojimbo and Ran.
Tokyo Story was directed by Yasujiro Ozu, considered one of Japan’s greatest directors. It tells the story of an old couple who decide to visit their grown children, most of whom live far away from them. (Their youngest daughter Kyoko still lives with them.) One son lives in Osaka, midway on the train journey to Tokyo. Their oldest son and oldest daughter live in Tokyo. Another son was killed during the war, but his widow Noriko keeps in contact with the family. She too lives in Tokyo.
The trip goes quite poorly. The children basically ignore the parents and treat them disrespectfully. At one point, they send the parents to a spa. The parents initially treat this as a polite gesture but their experience there is horrible. Soon, the parents themselves begin to speak of their disappointment in their children. Only Noriko treats them kindly and goes out of her way to try and make their trip pleasant. Only when the mother dies, do the children all get together to mourn her. Even then, their behavior still seems hollow and selfish.
The storytelling in Tokyo Story is remarkably understated. The camera doesn’t move and allows the viewer to watch the drama unfold without distraction. Despite the foreign setting, this story could have been set almost anywhere. The emotional impact is devastating. You get angry at the family members but can’t help but see some of yourself. The film forces you to ask how well you treat your own parents and children. Near the end of the film, the youngest daughter Kyoko says goodbye to the Noriko after the funeral. She is angry with her sibling’s selfish attitude toward their parents. How could they act like this? We expect Noriko, the most sympathetic character in the movie, to empathize. Instead, she answers her (and the viewer too, for she looks directly at the camera) with a defense of the other children. People change, she says. You may not like it but that’s what happens. We are taken aback by her response. We don’t want her to be right but unfortunately, we suspect she is.
As a Christian, I was reminded of the Fourth Commandment. “Honor your father and your mother.” It’s easy to think that this commandment only applies to children. But of course, our parents never cease to be our parents and we should always honor them. Tokyo Story is a good reminder why.
I had been thinking about Japan and Japanese culture recently. I read Laura Hillenbrand’s excellent book Unbroken which portrayed a dark moment in Japanese history, the cruel treatment of POWs during World War II. Then there was the recent earthquake and tsunami. I’ve always enjoyed Japanese movies. Akira Kurosawa is one of my favorite directors for movies like Throne of Blood, Yojimbo and Ran.
Tokyo Story was directed by Yasujiro Ozu, considered one of Japan’s greatest directors. It tells the story of an old couple who decide to visit their grown children, most of whom live far away from them. (Their youngest daughter Kyoko still lives with them.) One son lives in Osaka, midway on the train journey to Tokyo. Their oldest son and oldest daughter live in Tokyo. Another son was killed during the war, but his widow Noriko keeps in contact with the family. She too lives in Tokyo.
The trip goes quite poorly. The children basically ignore the parents and treat them disrespectfully. At one point, they send the parents to a spa. The parents initially treat this as a polite gesture but their experience there is horrible. Soon, the parents themselves begin to speak of their disappointment in their children. Only Noriko treats them kindly and goes out of her way to try and make their trip pleasant. Only when the mother dies, do the children all get together to mourn her. Even then, their behavior still seems hollow and selfish.
The storytelling in Tokyo Story is remarkably understated. The camera doesn’t move and allows the viewer to watch the drama unfold without distraction. Despite the foreign setting, this story could have been set almost anywhere. The emotional impact is devastating. You get angry at the family members but can’t help but see some of yourself. The film forces you to ask how well you treat your own parents and children. Near the end of the film, the youngest daughter Kyoko says goodbye to the Noriko after the funeral. She is angry with her sibling’s selfish attitude toward their parents. How could they act like this? We expect Noriko, the most sympathetic character in the movie, to empathize. Instead, she answers her (and the viewer too, for she looks directly at the camera) with a defense of the other children. People change, she says. You may not like it but that’s what happens. We are taken aback by her response. We don’t want her to be right but unfortunately, we suspect she is.
As a Christian, I was reminded of the Fourth Commandment. “Honor your father and your mother.” It’s easy to think that this commandment only applies to children. But of course, our parents never cease to be our parents and we should always honor them. Tokyo Story is a good reminder why.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)