The Bigger They Come (Kong: Skull Island, 2017)

King Kong and variations on the Giant Ape concept are older than even Godzilla. Kong: Skull Island has opted to not re-tell the story of King Kong. Instead, this is a new story. Not new in the sense of it completely new territory. You have the mismatched band of explorers arriving on Skull Island, encountering monsters and natives.

The film opens in 1944 where an American and Japanese pilot crash land on Skull Island. They fight until they stumble on a frightening sight that changes everything for them. The film jumps to 1973, with soldiers about to leave Vietnam. They are brought in by the mysterious Monarch company as a military escort on a top secret mission to visit and explore a newly discovered island. The company has also brought along an award winning anti-war photojournalist and a tracker to help then go through the wilderness.

Of course, the mission goes very wrong. Hope that does not spoil anything.

Really, the film sets everything up at a fast pace. They give you what you need to know without giving the film a chance to get boring. And unlike previous Kong film outings, the filmmakers introduce us to Kong very quickly. No hiding him, just Kong smashing helicopters.

The characters are engaging to various degrees, though John C. Reilly is the strongest and most memorable. Samuel L. Jackson is…well, Samuel L. Jackson. I found myself liking Hiddleston’s James Conrad and Brie Larson’s Mason Weaver…but I must admit, most of what separates the characters is who is performing them. You also know which soldiers are “important” because they get a lot of set up, while most of the soldiers are just “people to die”. Of course, they also give Jackson his motive for wanting to destroy King Kong.

But the truth is, I found Kong Skull Island a lot of fun. Yes, the post credit scene confirms that Legendary has plans of a “Giant Monster-verse”…and Kong Skull Island serves the purpose, in part, to set it all up (It is supposedly connected to 2014’s Godzilla film as well, with the tie being the Monarch organization). But I did a far better job of still telling it’s own story than some other attempts to create a shared universe franchise.

Really, Kong Skull Island is no game changer, but it is a lot of fun. Visually, it is good, and the digital monsters look great. The cast is great and make for an overall very entertaining film.

March 11, 2017 0

Mythical Voyagers (Moana, 2016)

Disney’s Moana is the second time they have visited Polynesian. The first was the fun Lilo and Stitch. This time around, Moana goes for mythical adventure.

Moana is a young woman, destined to be chief of her island, like her father before her. But part of her longs to go beyond the reef at the entrance to the island’s cove. She tries to fulfill her duties, and is doing well, until she suggests going beyond the reef, as the fishermen are catching no fish. The coconuts are spoiling.

The reason is, because long ago, the Demi-God Maui stole the heart of Te Fiti…and this resulted in a malevolent force spreading across the sea. Moana’s people have not left the island for fears of what lies beyond the reef, but Moana finds no choice when the sea gives her the Heart of Te Fiti. She seeks out Maui to make him right his wrong. The two are forced to endure each other on the mission.

Mismatched heroes is nothing new, and yet, the personalities of Moana and Maui are quite charming. This is in spite of the fact that Maui is a tremendously egotistical guy who sees everything he has done as heroic. Moana is both responsible and adventurous, which is a bit more unique. Often, it seems brash and impulsive heroes have to learn the lesson of responsibility. Not Moana.

The fact is, rather than take the easy route of making impediments for Moana some brand of villain? They opted for making them likeable and relatable. The one time we see Moana’s father express anger, it is not cruel or abusive. It is out of personal fear that Moana may be to much like him. Her parents are loving. Her grandmother is gentle, wise and goofy.

The writers and Dwayne Johnson are able to imbue Maui with charm even when he is being stubborn and selfish. You want to see him turn it around.

The animation in Moana is vibrant and beautiful. It is fluid, like the ocean it crosses. The concept of Maui’s tattoos being a living part of him that act as a conscience is a terrific idea. It is also worth noting that the tattoos are hand drawn and animated. They are seamless with the digital animation.

The songs, by Hamilton’s Lin-Manuel Miranda, Opetaia Foa’i and Mark Mancina are both powerful and engaging fun. The more Polynesian influenced songs play, they swell and explode with a certain power. The more pop songs (there is one Bowie-esque songs that is truly enjoyable) make you want to move.

The story is inspiring, built on thoughtful dialog, along with a whole lot of humor. I have tried to find something not to like. But you know what? I cannot. Moana was pure joy to watch.

March 8, 2017 0

Dial-A-Danger (Dial M For Murder, 1954)

Based on a stage-play, Alfred Hitchcock’s Dial M For Murder is a tense tale of murder and deception…gone wrong.

Grace Kelly plays Margot Wendice, a rich socialite married to former tennis super-star Tony Wendice (Ray Milland). Robert Cummings is Margot’s former lover. What follows is an attempt at revenge that unfolds in ways even it’s plotter did not expect.

The film opens rather playfully, giving no hint of the drama yet to play out. Hitchcock focuses on dialogue in this film, rather than shocks and scares. Milland is perfectly cast as the duplicitous husband. The lovely Grace Kelly is, on one hand the adulterous wife, and yet devoted. Her reason for ending her relationship with Mark was a change made by Tony in their life. But we discover Tony to have ulterior and dangerous motives.

The verbal game of cat and mouse is excellently executed even though we are given information about Tony’s goals almost with the first twenty moments. The thriller aspect comes from wondering if Tony will escape justice.

This film is a terrific and simple film that draws a viewer in.

March 6, 2017 0

Something Is Off (Get Out, 2017)

Get Out is about a young photographer named Chris meeting his girlfriend Rose’s parents for the first time. He is a bit nervous that they might be upset that their daughter is dating a black man. When they arrive, he finds that there is something a bit…off. Her parents are white progressives, who would have voted for Obama for a third term if they could. The only black people he meets seem to be in a daze.

The white people in town offer casual racism, except they seem to believe they are being positive in their objectification. I cannot really say more without ruining the film. Directed by Jordan Peele of Key & Peele. I admit, I was surprised that a skilled comic making his directorial debut has made a terrific and tense thriller.

Peele has recommended seeing this in the theaters with an audience, and he is right. This film is meant to be seen with a group. It would be incorrect to call this a horror movie, it is a excellent thriller. Peele knows how to use tropes of the genre without making them feel like tropes. The film has light moments, mainly provided by LilRel Howery as Chris’ friend (and dedicated TSA agent). Everybody turns in great performances, with the film having a creepy vibe that grows throughout the film.

Get Out is a terrific film worth checking out while it is still in theaters.

March 5, 2017 0

Breaking Down (Logan, 2017)

First things first. You might figure this is a super-hero movie and safe for kids. Logan is a hard ‘R’ and earns it in the first five minutes.

It has been known for quite some time that this was Jackman’s swan song. Seventeen years is a long time to play the same character. Just a few days ago Stewart said this was his final time playing Professor X. And Logan is, without a doubt, a way to go out on top.

Taking the approach of Unforgiven, Logan is set in the not to distant future of 2029. We meet a Wolverine who is not quite the best at what he does anymore. He is sickly, he claws don’t work quite as well and his healing abilities are significantly slower. He drinks, stumbles and is quietly hiding an even more troubled Charles Xavier. There are hints and references to a massive tragedy that Charles is guilty of causing. Logan and another mutant Caliban (who is able to sense and track other mutants) keep Charles drugged because he has seizures that could destroy a city.

Although it is believed mutant kind is essentially wiped out, a young girl named Laura falls into their lap, forcing them to run from a nefarious organization that wants to get her into their possession.

Logan is a dark film, one that feels from the start that it has only one end for our leads. It is a bloody struggle to get Laura to freedom. However, it has it’s light moments. These are primarily between Jackman and Stewart, as well as with Laura. She is a feral child in some respects and has powers very much like Wolverine’s.

This is most certainly one of the best films in the X-Men franchise. The story is compelling and the performances engaging. The quality of the Wolverine films is a rare example of going from bad to great. Logan is worth a watch.

March 4, 2017 0

Tense Swim (The Shallows, 2016)

I confess, I saw the trailers and thought this would be a pretty standard survival flick. Instead, what I discovered was a very tense thriller of woman versus nature.

Blake Lively is Nancy…a young woman grieving the loss of her mother. She has discovered a remote beach and is there to surf. Late in the day, she follows some dolphins and discovers a dead whale. After a large great white shark attack, Nancy finds herself trapped on a rock. The shark seems determined to make Nancy a meal, and she struggles to find a way to survive.

Director Jaume Collet-Serra has brought us an intense story that does not often give you time to breathe as Nancy tries to find a way to outsmart the shark. When you consider a large chunk of the film is Lively sitting on a rock, it is pretty impressive that they are able to keep the audience on their toes.

This film was a very good surprise.

February 6, 2017 0

Urban Pasta (Beware the Slenderman, 2017)

On Saturday, May 31st in 2014, two young girls stabbed their friend 19 times in Waukesha, Wisconsin. She survived after crawling from the forest and being found by a cyclist. The two girls were found walking along a road. They explained to the police that they were trying to prove their worth to “the Slender Man”. When they were found, they were on their way to the Slender Man’s mansion, hidden deep in the forest.

The police had no idea who “the Slender Man” was. The HBO documentary _Beware the Slenderman explores this question. It tries to understand what drew these young girls into believing that they had to murder their friend. And, according to the girls, if they did not kill their friend, Slender Man would hurt their families.

Slender Man is an urban legend…but unlike most urban legends, his origin is traceable. Back in 2009, a forum group called Something Awful had a Photoshop contest. Its goal was pretty simple, create paranormal photos. One user created two images of children playing. If you looked into the background, you saw a tall, thin and faceless man watching the children.

From there, other users started to build the myth of the Slender man. In some ways, this is fascinating, as they explore how Slender Man grew and became so much bigger. Especially when it was a mainstay of the Creepy Pasta community…which is where the two young women discovered him. Creepy Pasta is a web community that writes creepy stories, creates fan art and so on. Part of the inherent creepiness of the Slender Man is that he is often portrayed as a figure watching from a distance.

As the film progresses, we find there are reasons why these girls (especially one) are certain he is real. It is a truly tragic story which really has many victims. _Beware the Slenderman will both sadden and creep viewers out as it weaves it’s way through the history of the character and story of the girls as they are tried for attempted murder.

There is, admittedly a bit of an ethical controversy surrounding the film. Irene Taylor Brodsky uses other filmmakers’ footage without permission in the film, and neither she nor HBO, have given them any credit.

February 3, 2017 0

Filed Away (Hidden Figures, 2017)

Hidden Figures tells a story I suspect few Americans were aware of. The women of NASA in the sixties. Or to be more precise, the black women of NASA. Hidden Figures explores the real story of three NASA “Computers”. In the sixties, people were doing all the calculating that would eventually be taken over by computers. And this film brings to light Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson. All three were firsts in their field.

The film shows their struggles and triumphs, with terrific performances from the leads. The film is heavy, joyful, heartbreaking and of course, inspirational. This is not to say there are not some things one could take issue with. One of the recurring issues for Katherine is running across the NASA campus to find a Colored Bathroom. This does deliver an entertaining payoff towards the end of the film, as well as a great “standing up against the establishment” sequence. But in reality, Katherine simply used the only women’s room in the building. And when informed she should not use that bathroom? She shrugged and kept using it. It was Mary who had to make the run for the bathroom.

Also, the white characters (outside of John Glenn) are complete fabrications. Costner’s Al Harrison is the tough but fair white guy who seems oblivious to the color of Katherine’s skin. Jim Parson’s Paul Stafford and Kirsten Dunst’s Vivian Mitchell are there to represent specific racial attitudes of the time. However, when watching the film, it had not occurred to me, as all three characters are nicely fleshed out.

Hidden Figures is a terrific film that I recommend. It is a story that needed to be told, and both challenges and inspires.

Also, more movies with Janelle Monáe please.

February 1, 2017 0

The Process in Chaos (Patriots Day, 2017)

Peter Berg’s Patriots day is one of those films where going in, it may feel a bit like a “Rah Rah America!” exercise in propaganda. And while, to a certain extent, it may very well be, it is also one of Berg’s better efforts.

Patriots Day is the story of the Boston Marathon bombing and the manhunt that ensued for the Tsarnaev brothers. The film is most effective in how it is not about “one guy” in all of it. Mark Wahlberg’s Tommy Saunders is our eyes for much of the film, but it takes detours to give us insights into the people impacted who were not part of the manhunt. And this works very nicely, even if, at the beginning, it feels a bit like “Why are we meeting this person?”

This leads to one of the most powerful aspects of the film. It captures the absolute chaos of those couple of days. The intense search for leads o catch the brothers, the desperation of the brothers to escape, the evil that they were willing to for their “cause”. The horror of the people hurt in the bombing trying to find loved ones they have been separated. This is all extremely well done.

The one moment to take me out of the film, however, was what felt like a mini-documentary in which the actual people spoke on camera. I get that it may be a tribute…but it really felt like Berg did not trust the audience to have the “correct mindset” exiting the film. It also distracted me because there is no interview or mention of Tommy Saunders and his wife. This is because they do not exist. They are a combination of people. Had there been no “Here are the real people” moment, this would not have stood out so glaringly for men.

However, this is really a minor issue for an otherwise strong film.

January 31, 2017 0

Refueled (xXx: Return of Xander Cage, 2017)

12 years after the franchise stalled, comes an attempt to revitalize it. Director D.J. Caruso (Disturbia) takes the reigns as Vin Diesel returns to the role of Xander Cage. This time around, the idea is…”if one Bond is awesome…imagine if we had nine of them!” Xander has been presumed dead, but when the CIA is hit by some highly skilled enemy agents who steal a dangerous weapon, they find Xander hiding out.

This time around, Cage sets up his own xXx team. These are highly skilled extreme types. And they get a government agent assigned to them. A cute and plucky girl named Becky. She is also their “Q”. On their way to retrieve the weapon, Cage and friends end up discovering he is up against other xXx agents that were recruited by Samuel L. Jackson’s Gibbons. This ultimately leads to all the agents teaming up to take down the real bad guys.

The xXx films are pretty much “What if Bond was on steroids.” Except this film. The Return of Xander Cage is really “What if xXx was on steroids???” It seems like the last 40 minutes were non-stop action and a Gospel Choir.

This film does not totally rewrite the book. Instead, it is more of a blending of the Bond formula and the Fast & the Furious. It is exciting and fun, and if you enjoyed the first two films, it is unlikely you will be disappointed by this one. I would totally be in for the entire cast (those who make it out alive) to return for another round.

January 22, 2017 0