With J.J. Abrams as director becoming a household name, expectations were high for STID. Abrams had already been tapped to direct the next 3 Star Wars. Some have been concerned that two American icons were too much for one person *. But this time, it was the right man for the job.
Kirk and Spock return (2009 Star Trek style) fresh out of the academy and on their first ship with Kirk in command. While exporing a new planet, Spock gets left behind. Kirk (Mr. Emotion) must not leave Spock (Mr. Logical) behind. While leaving they expose the USS Enterprise to the natives which is a breach of protocol. Kirk is stripped of his command and is upset that Spock had thought that Kirk did violate protocol and should have left him behind.
With help from a mentor, Kirk gets back into the game to go search for Khan who has committed a 9/11 style explosion. A special torpedo is loaded on the new Enterprise which is supposed to be used to destroy. Khan surrenders however and comes on board as a prisoner to go back to the home base.
If I've told more of the plot than normal, its because there is a lot going on here and it is a challenge to keep up with all of it.
There a lots of visual references to Star Wars (1977) and The Empire Strikes Back. Keep an eye out for the bar scenes, the hallway running, shooting the gap while flying, and so on. The Vulcan/Human aspect is another nice contrast.
* * * * (highest)
Hangover Part III
Fear of Missing Out: that's what drove me to Hangover Part III. You liked the first one, gave #2 a chance, why not see #3?
No need to recall the cast... everyone is here again. This time Alan is starting to wig out, so the gang is drafted to drive him to a rehab facility in Arizona. Detours ensue, and they wind up in Mexico. The star has morphed from Zach Galifianikis to Ken Jeong. Amazing how he took a bit part and made the most of it.
One good thing about Part III is that it falls into parody of itself as well as other movies: Midnight Cowboy, as well as every Mexico movie you've ever seen. Even a nice dead body in the pool a la Sunset Boulevard.
Interestingly, the original Hangover was on TV tonight, and it was amazing how fresh it still seemed.
* * 1/2
No need to recall the cast... everyone is here again. This time Alan is starting to wig out, so the gang is drafted to drive him to a rehab facility in Arizona. Detours ensue, and they wind up in Mexico. The star has morphed from Zach Galifianikis to Ken Jeong. Amazing how he took a bit part and made the most of it.
One good thing about Part III is that it falls into parody of itself as well as other movies: Midnight Cowboy, as well as every Mexico movie you've ever seen. Even a nice dead body in the pool a la Sunset Boulevard.
Interestingly, the original Hangover was on TV tonight, and it was amazing how fresh it still seemed.
* * 1/2
Midnight Now Starts at 10 p.m.
Just like a million dollars ain't what it used to be, a midnight movie is not the same either. Checking my local screenings, I have been seeing and wondering why a movie set to open on Friday, May 24 (e.g. Fast and Furious 6) starts at 10 p.m.
Here's the answer: Dark Knight Rises midnight movie shooting. People don't want to be out so late. Plus as the article states, theaters like it because of reduced operating costs. Studios like it because it juices the opening weekend numbers. Win/Win
Here's the answer: Dark Knight Rises midnight movie shooting. People don't want to be out so late. Plus as the article states, theaters like it because of reduced operating costs. Studios like it because it juices the opening weekend numbers. Win/Win
The Great Gatsby
Start with a book considered to be one of the best American novels ever. Try and make a great movie. Use all resources necessary. Don't screw it up.
With that criteria, the 2013 version of the Great Gatsby is a success. Thanks in part to the resources throw at it: Leonard Di Caprio as the leading man, Jay Z as executive producer, Industrial Light & Magic for the CGI. I can hear the studio exec: This better be good....
Tobey Maguire plays Nick Carraway, the young stuggling bond salesman, who leases a house for the summer next to the mysterious Gatsby in West Egg. No one has seen Gatsby, but he does throw a heck of a party. When the reveal comes, the two match up and Gatsby of course reveals his interest in Daisy Buchanan (Tom's cousin) who lives right across the bay in East Egg.
Suffice to say, I shouldn't have to tell the entire story: read the Cliff Notes. The visual aspects makes the movie come alive. The party scenes look like they were choreographed by Cirque du Soleil. With a bit of hip-hop thrown in. The CGI comes through in the dreamy scenes of the beacon across the bay and the driving fast back and forth to New York. The "valley of ashes" is nearly comical with the soot-faced denizens but it works in CGI.
In the spirit of "don't screw it up" there are many passage narrated straight out of the book, which is what should happen. No need to reinvent the Great American Novel, Old Sport.
Like the book it is a somewhat sad story. One thing not included is my favorite part: Gatsby's unfinished To-Do list.
* * * 1/2 of 4
With that criteria, the 2013 version of the Great Gatsby is a success. Thanks in part to the resources throw at it: Leonard Di Caprio as the leading man, Jay Z as executive producer, Industrial Light & Magic for the CGI. I can hear the studio exec: This better be good....
Tobey Maguire plays Nick Carraway, the young stuggling bond salesman, who leases a house for the summer next to the mysterious Gatsby in West Egg. No one has seen Gatsby, but he does throw a heck of a party. When the reveal comes, the two match up and Gatsby of course reveals his interest in Daisy Buchanan (Tom's cousin) who lives right across the bay in East Egg.
Suffice to say, I shouldn't have to tell the entire story: read the Cliff Notes. The visual aspects makes the movie come alive. The party scenes look like they were choreographed by Cirque du Soleil. With a bit of hip-hop thrown in. The CGI comes through in the dreamy scenes of the beacon across the bay and the driving fast back and forth to New York. The "valley of ashes" is nearly comical with the soot-faced denizens but it works in CGI.
In the spirit of "don't screw it up" there are many passage narrated straight out of the book, which is what should happen. No need to reinvent the Great American Novel, Old Sport.
Like the book it is a somewhat sad story. One thing not included is my favorite part: Gatsby's unfinished To-Do list.
* * * 1/2 of 4
Iron Man 3
"Is there a climatic fight scene with two Iron Mans?" asked another review of Iron Man 3? No [ *]. But otherwise, if you liked IM or IM2 you won't be surprised at Iron Man 3. Same cast, same characters, same Bat Cave. But there is a new villain!
Ben Kingsley is a nice villain addition to IM 3 as [da dum]... The Mandarin! He intercepts the airways to deliver his terroristic message, Osama-style, . He'll remind you of anther famous movie villain before its over.
Robert Downey, Jr. plays the Tony Stark wisecracker and with the Christmas setting (?) you'll think of Die Hard 2 all over again. Gweneth Paltrow is the leading lady, Don Cheadle the Robin to Downey's Batman. Or maybe the Captain America to Iron Man. Shameless Captain America plug as to the Iron Patriot.
Not a lot of new ground to break here. But when you make $175MM the first weekend, why change anything?
* * 1/2 of 4
Ben Kingsley is a nice villain addition to IM 3 as [da dum]... The Mandarin! He intercepts the airways to deliver his terroristic message, Osama-style, . He'll remind you of anther famous movie villain before its over.
Robert Downey, Jr. plays the Tony Stark wisecracker and with the Christmas setting (?) you'll think of Die Hard 2 all over again. Gweneth Paltrow is the leading lady, Don Cheadle the Robin to Downey's Batman. Or maybe the Captain America to Iron Man. Shameless Captain America plug as to the Iron Patriot.
Not a lot of new ground to break here. But when you make $175MM the first weekend, why change anything?
* * 1/2 of 4
A Top 10 List
I saw a tweet @ryancatherwood that Silver Linings Playbook was in his top 10 movies.
His response:
The Shawshank Redemption, Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas, Trainspotting, Boogie Nights, The Usual Suspects,The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Dumb & Dumber, Silver Linings Playbook, Heat, The Departed
I'd have to say these are a bit darker that I might choose. Of course, I'm embarrassed to say that I have not see all of them (only 6!)
So here's a list - I tried to not group everything into the 80s when I came of age:
Alphabetical: - a cop-out I know
American Beauty
American Graffiti
All The President's Men
Back to the Future
The Big Lebowski
Casablanca
Dark Knight
Double Indemnity
No Country for Old Men
Social Network
Silver Linings Playbook enters my top 10 favorite movies all-time... the #Philly angle helped but great movieWhat are the other 9 I asked?
— Ryan Catherwood (@RyanCatherwood) May 6, 2013
His response:
The Shawshank Redemption, Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas, Trainspotting, Boogie Nights, The Usual Suspects,The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Dumb & Dumber, Silver Linings Playbook, Heat, The Departed
I'd have to say these are a bit darker that I might choose. Of course, I'm embarrassed to say that I have not see all of them (only 6!)
So here's a list - I tried to not group everything into the 80s when I came of age:
Alphabetical: - a cop-out I know
American Beauty
American Graffiti
All The President's Men
Back to the Future
The Big Lebowski
Casablanca
Dark Knight
Double Indemnity
No Country for Old Men
Social Network
1987 - A very good year
I was tellling the story today of the scene in The Untouchables where Robert DeNiro was Al Capone, walking around the table of mobsters, holding a baseball bat. I think you recall that iconic scene
It got me thinking that 1987 was a good year for movies. Looking at a timeline, there were some classics:
Dirty Dancing,
Full Metal Jacket,
Fatal Attraction
and so on.
What's your favorite movie from 1987?
It got me thinking that 1987 was a good year for movies. Looking at a timeline, there were some classics:
Dirty Dancing,
Full Metal Jacket,
Fatal Attraction
and so on.
What's your favorite movie from 1987?
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