2013 Review Blog
Europa Report
Grade: B 08/01/2014
This is a nifty little film that has been on my radar ever since it was up in our Fantasy Minidraft. It combines elements of "The Abyss" with the emergence of the "Found Footage" style of film. The first manned spaceship to Jupiter's moon in search of life is as good as a premise for this found footage plot device, and in this film, it is handled with restraint in a way that is refreshing. The actors do a great job here creating tension, wonder, excitement, and terror of the unknown and it had me riveted for most of the film. It is gorgeously shot and designed and the data feed that plays throughout the movie is very effective. When we see oxygen, radiation levels, temperature, and heart-rate displayed on the screen with a scared, lonely astronaut trying to understand this ice world they have landed on...it is extremely exciting. I don't know what I was expecting for the finale, but it continues with is tone of restraint and I felt a bit unsatisfied...but it was a delight nonetheless.
Grade: B 08/01/2014
This is a nifty little film that has been on my radar ever since it was up in our Fantasy Minidraft. It combines elements of "The Abyss" with the emergence of the "Found Footage" style of film. The first manned spaceship to Jupiter's moon in search of life is as good as a premise for this found footage plot device, and in this film, it is handled with restraint in a way that is refreshing. The actors do a great job here creating tension, wonder, excitement, and terror of the unknown and it had me riveted for most of the film. It is gorgeously shot and designed and the data feed that plays throughout the movie is very effective. When we see oxygen, radiation levels, temperature, and heart-rate displayed on the screen with a scared, lonely astronaut trying to understand this ice world they have landed on...it is extremely exciting. I don't know what I was expecting for the finale, but it continues with is tone of restraint and I felt a bit unsatisfied...but it was a delight nonetheless.
The Internship
Grade: D+ 08/11/2014
This film is so bland I can't believe it. Owen Wilson, Vince Vaughn, and Director, Shawn Levy have made funny movies in the past, and they will make funny movies in the future, but everyone just seems so uninterested in this film. The premise is ok, that two older schlubs think getting in on the ground floor with Google through their internship program is a good idea...but it is all executed without any enthusiasm, creativity, or even any fun. Everything that happens is predictable, and nothing that happens is believable. Under no circumstances will I ever believe that a company like Google would consider hiring these two bozos...especially after their "performance" during the internship. I just kind of hated the movie...and felt bad for people like Rose Byre, Aasif Mahndvi, and Josh Gad that they had to be a pat of it. Sometimes I should just go with my instincts and ignore some movies.
Grade: D+ 08/11/2014
This film is so bland I can't believe it. Owen Wilson, Vince Vaughn, and Director, Shawn Levy have made funny movies in the past, and they will make funny movies in the future, but everyone just seems so uninterested in this film. The premise is ok, that two older schlubs think getting in on the ground floor with Google through their internship program is a good idea...but it is all executed without any enthusiasm, creativity, or even any fun. Everything that happens is predictable, and nothing that happens is believable. Under no circumstances will I ever believe that a company like Google would consider hiring these two bozos...especially after their "performance" during the internship. I just kind of hated the movie...and felt bad for people like Rose Byre, Aasif Mahndvi, and Josh Gad that they had to be a pat of it. Sometimes I should just go with my instincts and ignore some movies.
Oblivion
Grade: C+ 07/28/2014
This movie isn't as mediocre as it may seem if you are familiar with the 2009 movie "Moon" directed by Duncan Jones. The plots are similar, but with Tom Cruise behind this film, studios dumped a truckload of money into the project (something Jones and Sam Rockwell did not get in "Moon"), and made a beautiful film, sometimes fun, but ultimately a disappointment. I really liked the effects with Tom Cruise's vehicles, the destroyed remnants of the planet, and the action is fairly exciting. I just felt that the whole endeavor was a bit "late to the party" after the whole thing was done so much better before. Cruise can still carry an action picture, there is no denying that, but this film was just kinda "meh".
Grade: C+ 07/28/2014
This movie isn't as mediocre as it may seem if you are familiar with the 2009 movie "Moon" directed by Duncan Jones. The plots are similar, but with Tom Cruise behind this film, studios dumped a truckload of money into the project (something Jones and Sam Rockwell did not get in "Moon"), and made a beautiful film, sometimes fun, but ultimately a disappointment. I really liked the effects with Tom Cruise's vehicles, the destroyed remnants of the planet, and the action is fairly exciting. I just felt that the whole endeavor was a bit "late to the party" after the whole thing was done so much better before. Cruise can still carry an action picture, there is no denying that, but this film was just kinda "meh".
Oldboy
Grade: C- 07/21/2014
I am a lover of the original 2013 Korean film of the same name. I was excited for this SPike Lee adaptation but it is mediocre in almost every way. I consider the original one of the most difficult movies to watch simply because of the psychological torture the viewer is exposed to. Somehow, the stakes of Josh Brolin being held captive for 20 years seems inconsequential. Also, Sharlito Copley is extremely corny. There is definitely some intrigue here, and Brolin performs adequately...but I just didn't feel that punch of terror and disbelief I think the subject matter requires.
Grade: C- 07/21/2014
I am a lover of the original 2013 Korean film of the same name. I was excited for this SPike Lee adaptation but it is mediocre in almost every way. I consider the original one of the most difficult movies to watch simply because of the psychological torture the viewer is exposed to. Somehow, the stakes of Josh Brolin being held captive for 20 years seems inconsequential. Also, Sharlito Copley is extremely corny. There is definitely some intrigue here, and Brolin performs adequately...but I just didn't feel that punch of terror and disbelief I think the subject matter requires.
Pain & Gain
Grade: B 08/06/2014
There is something oddly meta going on in Michael Bay's hyperactive kidnapping movie. All of Michael Bay's movies are overblown & ridiculous...but they all take themselves so seriously and it is usually their downfall. This film, is equally overblown and ridiculous, but the undeniable comic flairs in it suggest that Bay is kind of making fun of himself...holding up a mirror to his own movies and satirizing it a bit. I don't know if it was intentional in this film...but it makes it that much more entertaining. Wahlberg is very funny here, overshadowing Dwayne Johnson and Anthony Mackie, and the absurdity ratchets up and up until the movie plays out like a kinetically hilarious version of "Very Bad Things". There is no reason this movie should have been acceptable, but there is a bit of a glimmer of cleverness hidden underneath its bombastic Michael Bay-ness. Kind of embarrassed by this grade...but I can't deny that there was something to this one.
Grade: B 08/06/2014
There is something oddly meta going on in Michael Bay's hyperactive kidnapping movie. All of Michael Bay's movies are overblown & ridiculous...but they all take themselves so seriously and it is usually their downfall. This film, is equally overblown and ridiculous, but the undeniable comic flairs in it suggest that Bay is kind of making fun of himself...holding up a mirror to his own movies and satirizing it a bit. I don't know if it was intentional in this film...but it makes it that much more entertaining. Wahlberg is very funny here, overshadowing Dwayne Johnson and Anthony Mackie, and the absurdity ratchets up and up until the movie plays out like a kinetically hilarious version of "Very Bad Things". There is no reason this movie should have been acceptable, but there is a bit of a glimmer of cleverness hidden underneath its bombastic Michael Bay-ness. Kind of embarrassed by this grade...but I can't deny that there was something to this one.
The World's End
Grade: B 07/22/2014
I really love Edgar Wright's movies. This film is probably the weekend of his "Coronado Trilogy", but it is still a great romp. Simon Pegg and Nick Frost actually find some serious depths of emotion as they try to complete the Golden Mile from when they were children. On the surface, this is an apocalyptic sci-fi comedy. If you look a bit more closely, you'll find a fun allegory that involves growing up, looking back to your heyday, growing apart from your friends. The end inevitably gets thoroughly absurd...but Wright is used to that.
Grade: B 07/22/2014
I really love Edgar Wright's movies. This film is probably the weekend of his "Coronado Trilogy", but it is still a great romp. Simon Pegg and Nick Frost actually find some serious depths of emotion as they try to complete the Golden Mile from when they were children. On the surface, this is an apocalyptic sci-fi comedy. If you look a bit more closely, you'll find a fun allegory that involves growing up, looking back to your heyday, growing apart from your friends. The end inevitably gets thoroughly absurd...but Wright is used to that.