The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Directed By Peter Jackson
Starring Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins, Sir Ian McKellen as Gandalf, Richard Armitage as Thorin, and Benedict Cumberbatch as Smaug
I went back and forth over wether to write a review of the first Hobbit film (I never did). I knew that, unlike the original Lord of The Rings trilogy, which was three films based on three books, The Hobbit trilogy was three films based on one book. I never read any of the Tolkien books, so I didn't think it fair to review An Unexpected Journey, not knowing what came from the books and what was added to the script.
I will say this, An Unexpected Journey is a fun film, but at times it does drag. The Desolation of Smaug I found to be a huge improvement on its predecessor. I have no problem writing a review for this one, because I consider it one of the best films of the year.
The film continues the journey of Bilbo (Freeman) with the company of dwarves, as they fight to reclaim their homeland from the dragon Smaug (Cumberbatch). Along the way, they face the wrath of the orcs from the first film, forces from the Elf Kingdom (featuring the return of Orlando Bloom's Legolas), and the troubles of the town of Rivendale. Meanwhile, Gandalf (McKellen) investigates a dark power's return to Middle Earth.
Smaug greatly improves on the pacing issues seen in An Unexpected Journey. The film doesn't seem to drag at all, though perhaps we spend too much time in Rivendale. That's probably just my opinion, or what Jackson wanted us to feel, as all the build to Smaug's appearance finally comes to a boil between the second and third act. Let me tell you, all that build up is worth it. Three words: Kneel. Before. Smaug.
I saw this film in IMAX 3D, and I am so glad I did. The only way to get the full effect of Benedict Cumberbatch's performance as the mighty dragon is in IMAX 3D. Easily one of the most intimidating things I've seen on screen in years. Cumberbatch's performance, matched with the amazing CGI effects, makes Smaug a true sight to be seen. The rest of the ensemble cast is on mark, but Cumberbatch steals the show as Smaug, along with Orlando Bloom as Legolas. Seriously, Legolas is as amazing as ever.
There's plenty of action and drama to keep you entertained throughout the film, including that battle in the river sequence shown in the posters and trailers. But in truth, the real meat of the film is when the company enters The Lonely Mountain, and Bilbo comes face to face with Smaug.
The subplot with Gandalf is harmless, and certainly helps to build up to the conclusion in There And Back Again, but in my mind was just a way to connect us back to The Lord of The Rings trilogy. This is again where I have a tough time reviewing these films because I never read the books, but I suppose as a moviegoer I should just focus on what's given to me as a film.
It's a pity we'll have to wait a whole other year for the conclusion of this trilogy, because The Desolation of Smaug is so incredible, and practically leaves you begging for There And Back Again. Again, a big improvement on the first film of the trilogy, and easily one of my favorite films of the year.
Kneel. Before. Smaug. Ohhhh mighty Smaug...
Saturday, December 28, 2013
Monday, December 9, 2013
Film Review- "Frozen"
Frozen
Directed By Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee
Starring Kristen Bell as Anna, Idina Menzel as Elsa, Jonathan Groff as Kristoff, and Josh Gad as Olaf
It's no secret I'm a guy who likes his animation, but Disney animation is my true bread and butter. Their animation studio may not be as dominant in the industry as it once was, now having to compete with the likes of Dreamworks, Blue Sky, and their sister studio Pixar. But their films can still pack a punch.
I love all the Disney animated films. From the classics of the fifties and sixties, such as The Jungle Book and Peter Pan, to the juggernauts of the nineties like Beauty & The Beast and The Lion King. Even their films from the past few years, such as Princess & The Frog, Tangled, and Wreck-It Ralph have wowed me. But even an avid Disney fan like myself had my eyebrows raised, when the ads for Frozen were declaring it "The greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King"
That's more than tooting your own horn. That's raising expectations to incredible heights, and betting everything that those expectations will be met by your audience. Given the gravitas of The Lion King, and the reception of more recent Disney films that preceded it like Tangled and Ralph, is Frozen that good? Is it the greatest Disney film since The Lion King…Note quite. But I'll tell you, it comes pretty damn close.
Like Tangled, it's a perfect blend of Disney's past and present, and earns a place, standing tall alongside the classics of the Disney Renaissance. The film, a loose (and I mean loose) adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's "The Snow Queen" tells the story of two sisters. Anna and Elsa, played by Kristen Bell and Idina Menzel respectively. Elsa is born with the power to create and manipulate snow and ice. As expected, her parents, the king and queen, decide to keep Elsa and her powers shut off from the rest of the kingdom. This also includes her sister, Anna, who grows up longing to be as close to her sister as they were in their youth.
When their parents die (It's a Disney film what did you expect?) Elsa, being the older sister, is crowned queen. As a result of an argument with Anna, Elsa's powers are exposed. Instantly feared by her subjects, Elsa flees the kingdom, and builds herself a fortress of ice in the mountains, while at the same time sending the kingdom into an eternal winter. Anna sets out to bring her sister home and set things right, with help of a mountain man named Kristoff (Groff), a summer loving snowman named Olaf (Gad), and a reindeer named Sven.
Frozen is a very unique Disney film. The central relationship is not "the prince and the princess" or "the guy and the girl" it's the relationship between the two sisters. It's a beautiful story. The way Anna and Elsa are written, in the script and the songs, is a breathe of fresh air and brings something new to the Disney formula. All of the characters bring both laughs and heart to the film in their own way. I have to say, I was ready to hate Olaf. He came off as so annoying in the trailers, but he steals the freaking show.
The animation is stunning. The animators clearly took full advantage of the winter setting of the film, and the technology at their disposal, to make a film that is more than pleasing to look at. The voice cast is not filled with huge names, but that's just fine. Kristen Bell did so well as Anna I forgot it was her. Idina Menzel as Elsa is amazing, and her solo song "Let It Go" is absolutely the stand-out number from the film. Josh Gad is perfect casting as Olaf. Jonathan Groff as Kristoff does a fine job, but you'd think a guy that was on "Glee" would sing more than fifty seconds in the film!
The songs in this film are a mixed bag. Again "Let It Go" is the film's stand-out song, and the only one that really stuck with me after I left the theater. After finding the other songs on Youtube, I can say Olaf's "In Summer" is upbeat and quite fun. Anna's song "Do You Want To Build A Snowman" is a very cute, and surprisingly emotional opening number. "For The First Time In Forever" and "Fixer Upper" are catchy, but don't leave a lasting impression like the previously mentioned songs.
I consider Frozen to be Tangled's sister film in some aspects, such as the tone and style (Keep your eyes open for some cameos, too). But a solid script (with maybe a twist that'll surprise you), more than enjoyable performances, and stunning animation gives Frozen enough to stand on its own. It's an instant Disney classic and truly one of their more unique outings. Hopefully Frozen can do what Tangled didn't, and earn an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature next year. It certainly deserves it. Again…maybe not the best Disney animated film since The Lion King, but pretty damn close.
Directed By Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee
Starring Kristen Bell as Anna, Idina Menzel as Elsa, Jonathan Groff as Kristoff, and Josh Gad as Olaf
It's no secret I'm a guy who likes his animation, but Disney animation is my true bread and butter. Their animation studio may not be as dominant in the industry as it once was, now having to compete with the likes of Dreamworks, Blue Sky, and their sister studio Pixar. But their films can still pack a punch.
I love all the Disney animated films. From the classics of the fifties and sixties, such as The Jungle Book and Peter Pan, to the juggernauts of the nineties like Beauty & The Beast and The Lion King. Even their films from the past few years, such as Princess & The Frog, Tangled, and Wreck-It Ralph have wowed me. But even an avid Disney fan like myself had my eyebrows raised, when the ads for Frozen were declaring it "The greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King"
That's more than tooting your own horn. That's raising expectations to incredible heights, and betting everything that those expectations will be met by your audience. Given the gravitas of The Lion King, and the reception of more recent Disney films that preceded it like Tangled and Ralph, is Frozen that good? Is it the greatest Disney film since The Lion King…Note quite. But I'll tell you, it comes pretty damn close.
Like Tangled, it's a perfect blend of Disney's past and present, and earns a place, standing tall alongside the classics of the Disney Renaissance. The film, a loose (and I mean loose) adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's "The Snow Queen" tells the story of two sisters. Anna and Elsa, played by Kristen Bell and Idina Menzel respectively. Elsa is born with the power to create and manipulate snow and ice. As expected, her parents, the king and queen, decide to keep Elsa and her powers shut off from the rest of the kingdom. This also includes her sister, Anna, who grows up longing to be as close to her sister as they were in their youth.
When their parents die (It's a Disney film what did you expect?) Elsa, being the older sister, is crowned queen. As a result of an argument with Anna, Elsa's powers are exposed. Instantly feared by her subjects, Elsa flees the kingdom, and builds herself a fortress of ice in the mountains, while at the same time sending the kingdom into an eternal winter. Anna sets out to bring her sister home and set things right, with help of a mountain man named Kristoff (Groff), a summer loving snowman named Olaf (Gad), and a reindeer named Sven.
Frozen is a very unique Disney film. The central relationship is not "the prince and the princess" or "the guy and the girl" it's the relationship between the two sisters. It's a beautiful story. The way Anna and Elsa are written, in the script and the songs, is a breathe of fresh air and brings something new to the Disney formula. All of the characters bring both laughs and heart to the film in their own way. I have to say, I was ready to hate Olaf. He came off as so annoying in the trailers, but he steals the freaking show.
The animation is stunning. The animators clearly took full advantage of the winter setting of the film, and the technology at their disposal, to make a film that is more than pleasing to look at. The voice cast is not filled with huge names, but that's just fine. Kristen Bell did so well as Anna I forgot it was her. Idina Menzel as Elsa is amazing, and her solo song "Let It Go" is absolutely the stand-out number from the film. Josh Gad is perfect casting as Olaf. Jonathan Groff as Kristoff does a fine job, but you'd think a guy that was on "Glee" would sing more than fifty seconds in the film!
The songs in this film are a mixed bag. Again "Let It Go" is the film's stand-out song, and the only one that really stuck with me after I left the theater. After finding the other songs on Youtube, I can say Olaf's "In Summer" is upbeat and quite fun. Anna's song "Do You Want To Build A Snowman" is a very cute, and surprisingly emotional opening number. "For The First Time In Forever" and "Fixer Upper" are catchy, but don't leave a lasting impression like the previously mentioned songs.
I consider Frozen to be Tangled's sister film in some aspects, such as the tone and style (Keep your eyes open for some cameos, too). But a solid script (with maybe a twist that'll surprise you), more than enjoyable performances, and stunning animation gives Frozen enough to stand on its own. It's an instant Disney classic and truly one of their more unique outings. Hopefully Frozen can do what Tangled didn't, and earn an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature next year. It certainly deserves it. Again…maybe not the best Disney animated film since The Lion King, but pretty damn close.
Film Review- "12 Years A Slave"
12 Years A Slave
Directed By Steve McQueen
Starring Chiwetel Ejiofor as Solomon Northup, Michael Fassbender as Edwin Epps, Nupita Nyong'o as Patsy, and Benedict Cumberbatch as Master Ford
This is that time of year when all the, as I like to call them, soon-to-be award nominated/winning films are released. You might think that's a pretty premature way of thinking, but look on the past few award seasons, and most of the nominees/winners had their theatrical releases in the late fall or winter. 12 Years A Slave is one of those films.
Yes, there are loopholes in my way of thinking. Films get overlooked by the academy all the time, even if they are released at this time of the year. I can honestly say though, 12 Years A Slave will not be overlooked, and it will be taking quite a few awards home in the coming months, Oscar and Golden Globe alike.
The film follows the life of Solomon Northup (Ejiofor), a free African American man living in the Northern United States. One night he is tricked and drugged by a pair of men posing as traveling entertainers (One of them played by SNL's Taran Kiliam. Go figure.), and is sold into slavery. The film follows his struggle to preserve and survive his time as a slave (Which I guess as the title suggests, is twelve years. Though it hardly feels like twelve years, but maybe that's not a bad thing). Through the film, he comes across folks kind and cruel, played by the likes of Michael Fassbender, Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Giamati, and Brad Pitt.
This is a very raw film. Nothing is sugar coated, and it pulls at your emotions from the moment Solomon is kidnapped and sold into slavery, to the final moments of the film. It's a strong script brought to life by strong performances. Ejiofor as our leading man is a powerhouse. Solomon's struggle is real, and you feel it. He's a surefire Best Actor contender. Nupita Nyong'o as Patsy, a slave that Fassbender's Edwin Epps lusts for, gives an equally strong performance that could pull off some surprise victories come awards time. Michael Fassbender is chilling as the malicious slave owner Edwin Epps. I hate to sound repetitive, but he's probably another major contender come awards time.
Everyone else, in their limited roles hit their marks just right. Brad Pitt as the kind, country carpenter. Paul Giamati as the (for a lack of better term) slave vendor. Benedict Cumberbatch, as expected, is a joy to watch every second he's on screen. Taran Kiliam, I didn't even know it was him until the end of his scenes so credit to him. Even Paul Dano, who I really don't care for, does his usual "good job".
The film's only flaw, in my opinion, is the film really starts to slow down as we transition from the second act and into the third. Some might get a bit restless in their seats during this part of the film. That and, to me at least, the climax of the film, is a tad anticlimactic. I know it's based on a true story, but given the intensity of the rest of the film, I guess I expected more.
12 Years A Slave is not an easy film to watch, but it's a film that has to be watched. Full of top-notch performances, it's as a friend of mine on Twitter said "Brutal but beautiful". Keep your eye on this one, as you'll soon see members of its cast and crew on your television screens, accepting awards for their tremendous work.
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