20130506:
I've heard the book is a classic, but this movie - the second movie based on the book - isn't worth recommending. There were some scenes which I enjoyed watching due to the range of emotions and variety of events which had taken place, but there were other scenes which confused me and led me to wonder how the story would resolve. The movie benefited from having a strong ending, but I wouldn't watch it again.
Remark: I was lucky enough to see this movie from beginning to end. Though I'm not sure whether or not it was edited; sometimes the television version of a movie is censored.
[20130508][20170530 Edit]
Watched on television 20130506.
Lolita (1997) Adrian Lyne. 137 min [botnotsn (1955)
Relevant Links:
Lolita (IMDb.com)
Lolita (RottenTomatoes.com)
Lolita (1997 film) (Wikipedia.org)
Lolita (Wikipedia.org)
A branch of my blog series for movies and other screen media (e.g., series, shorts, and comedy specials).
Topics
▼
Monday, May 6, 2013
Saturday, May 4, 2013
Rise of the Guardians (2012)
This movie centers around Jack Frost, who emerges at the beginning of the film from an ice-covered lake with no memory of who he was, no idea why he has powers, and no understanding of why nobody can see or feel him. Several hundred years later, a team of Guardians consisting of Nicholas St. North (Santa Claus), Toothiana (Tooth Fairy), Bunnymund (Easter Bunny), and Sandman find themselves up against an old enemy, Pitch Black (Boogeyman). It is the Guardians' job to keep children around the world believing in them, while Pitch desires the opposite. The less children believe in the Guardians, the more they have to fear, and consequently the more they believe in the Boogeyman, i.e., Pitch. Pitch has grown stronger and the Man in the Moon has choosen Jack Frost to become a Guardian and join the team. Reluctant to join, North convinces Frost to help the team out anyways.
20130503, 20130601:
The story plays in a fairly typical standard as far as animated children's movies go. We get some fast-paced scenes through tunnels and some visually exciting battle scenes.
While there were a couple minor plot points I didn't quite understand, perhaps they would have made sense to someone who has read the book series. For example, at the end of the movie, Jack says something about believing in the moon. While the moon played an important role in the film, it was not heavily emphasized. To end the story on it was surprising. On that note, I was also alarmed by the excessively high rate at which children around the world stopped or resumed believing in the Guardians. Ultimately, this movie had some fun and exciting scenes to watch. I'd imagine children would enjoy watching it.
[20130606]
Instant Comments:
1a: Ha! The Sandman raises his arms while riding the sleigh, as if he's on a roller coaster. Of course, it's doubly funny since he can fly. Perhaps the sleigh is a faster ride.
1a: Hehe. So the plot develops.
1a: Recover stolen teeth...
1a: The competition is funny, but it seems they'd be much more efficient if they split up instead of going after the same teeth.
1b: I last stopped watching (because the plane was landing and I had to stow away the video screen) when the Easter Bunny said the group could no longer trust Jack.
1b: Ha! Baby tooth sits unenthusiastically after Jack awakens from from seeing his memories.
1b: The one kid says, "I know what we have to do," but its not clear to me what the kids ended up doing.
1b: Strange choice of song for the end credits.
1b: I enjoyed the final confrontation.
Credits:
1b: After the song, but still during the credits, the helpers (fairies, elves, and yeti) are shown helping the kids who are fast asleep to return home.
1a=20130503, 1b=20130601
Watched 1st half 20130503 (British Airways In-flight Entertainment)
Watched 2nd half 20130601 (British Airways In-flight Entertainment)
Rise of the Guardians (2012) Peter Ramsey. 97 min [bot series The Guardians of Childhood by William Joyce]
Relevant Links:
Rise of the Guardians (IMDb.com)
Rise of the Guardians (RottenTomatoes.com)
Rise of the Guardians (Wikipedia.org)
Trailers:
You can find a bunch more official videos on the DreamworksAnimation YouTube channel. Videos include character biographies, official film clips, and drawing tutorials.
20130503, 20130601:
The story plays in a fairly typical standard as far as animated children's movies go. We get some fast-paced scenes through tunnels and some visually exciting battle scenes.
While there were a couple minor plot points I didn't quite understand, perhaps they would have made sense to someone who has read the book series. For example, at the end of the movie, Jack says something about believing in the moon. While the moon played an important role in the film, it was not heavily emphasized. To end the story on it was surprising. On that note, I was also alarmed by the excessively high rate at which children around the world stopped or resumed believing in the Guardians. Ultimately, this movie had some fun and exciting scenes to watch. I'd imagine children would enjoy watching it.
[20130606]
Instant Comments:
1a: Ha! The Sandman raises his arms while riding the sleigh, as if he's on a roller coaster. Of course, it's doubly funny since he can fly. Perhaps the sleigh is a faster ride.
1a: Hehe. So the plot develops.
1a: Recover stolen teeth...
1a: The competition is funny, but it seems they'd be much more efficient if they split up instead of going after the same teeth.
1b: I last stopped watching (because the plane was landing and I had to stow away the video screen) when the Easter Bunny said the group could no longer trust Jack.
1b: Ha! Baby tooth sits unenthusiastically after Jack awakens from from seeing his memories.
1b: The one kid says, "I know what we have to do," but its not clear to me what the kids ended up doing.
1b: Strange choice of song for the end credits.
1b: I enjoyed the final confrontation.
Credits:
1b: After the song, but still during the credits, the helpers (fairies, elves, and yeti) are shown helping the kids who are fast asleep to return home.
1a=20130503, 1b=20130601
Watched 1st half 20130503 (British Airways In-flight Entertainment)
Watched 2nd half 20130601 (British Airways In-flight Entertainment)
Rise of the Guardians (2012) Peter Ramsey. 97 min [bot series The Guardians of Childhood by William Joyce]
Relevant Links:
Rise of the Guardians (IMDb.com)
Rise of the Guardians (RottenTomatoes.com)
Rise of the Guardians (Wikipedia.org)
Trailers:
You can find a bunch more official videos on the DreamworksAnimation YouTube channel. Videos include character biographies, official film clips, and drawing tutorials.
Friday, May 3, 2013
Argo (2012)
20130503:
Based on true events, this movie starts with the Iranians storming the U.S. embassy in response to the U.S. giving the Shah asylum. In the fray, many were taken hostage, but six manage to escape and hide in the home of a Canadian ambassador (Victor Garber). Meanwhile, discussions are made on how to exfiltrate them out of Iran. Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck) comes up with a plan to disguise the six as a film crew scouting for an exotic location for a sci-fi film. With the help of some people in Hollywood (Alan Arkin and John Goodman), a fictitious movie called Argo is produced. At this point, Mendez, at the risk of his own life, enters Iran to meet up with the six escapees and help them review their roles as part of the film crew.
I found I could really sense the gravity of the situation throughout this movie. The feeling that something could go wrong at any moment and that the smallest mistake could lead to death. It's especially helpful that I didn't know how the situation would end, and you won't know either until you watch the movie. With that being said, the resolution was just a bit over the top and I sat there thinking, "That couldn't possibly have been how the real story happened."
[20130605]
Instant Comments:
We have intelligence. They can ride bicycles. Otherwise we can send someone in to teach them.
Argo fuck yourself. Haha.
Watched 20130503 (British Airways In-flight Entertainment)
Argo (2012) Ben Affleck. 120 min
Relevant Links:
Argo (IMDb.com)
Argo (RottenTomatoes.com)
Argo (2012 film) (Wikipedia.org)
Based on true events, this movie starts with the Iranians storming the U.S. embassy in response to the U.S. giving the Shah asylum. In the fray, many were taken hostage, but six manage to escape and hide in the home of a Canadian ambassador (Victor Garber). Meanwhile, discussions are made on how to exfiltrate them out of Iran. Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck) comes up with a plan to disguise the six as a film crew scouting for an exotic location for a sci-fi film. With the help of some people in Hollywood (Alan Arkin and John Goodman), a fictitious movie called Argo is produced. At this point, Mendez, at the risk of his own life, enters Iran to meet up with the six escapees and help them review their roles as part of the film crew.
I found I could really sense the gravity of the situation throughout this movie. The feeling that something could go wrong at any moment and that the smallest mistake could lead to death. It's especially helpful that I didn't know how the situation would end, and you won't know either until you watch the movie. With that being said, the resolution was just a bit over the top and I sat there thinking, "That couldn't possibly have been how the real story happened."
[20130605]
Instant Comments:
We have intelligence. They can ride bicycles. Otherwise we can send someone in to teach them.
Argo fuck yourself. Haha.
Watched 20130503 (British Airways In-flight Entertainment)
Argo (2012) Ben Affleck. 120 min
Relevant Links:
Argo (IMDb.com)
Argo (RottenTomatoes.com)
Argo (2012 film) (Wikipedia.org)