KUNG FU PANDA
Animated kids movies – be it about extinct mammoths, green trolls, fuzzy monsters or Chinese pandas – are all pretty much the same. They all stick fairly well to the same tried and true storyline: The protagonist suffers a series of setbacks as he/she struggles for a goal, they learn a life lesson, and then overcomes the antagonist in a climatic battle.
So why are some better than others? Well don’t ask the animators. Every article, behind-the-scenes, and documentary on animated films seems to focus on the quality of the animation – how many hairs on each creature, how each hair moves and flows independently, how it shines in accordance with expected light sources… YAWN. If that was a true measure of a productions appeal, then animations like The Simpsons would be a terrible flop.
The only comparable difference is that the best animated movies have the best characters; from Kimba the White Lion to Homer Simpson and now, in Kung Fu Panda; Poe.
Kung Fu Panda starts in Poe’s fantasy, a place where Poe is a supreme kung fu master, but soon we realise his reality; he is a flabby panda who waits on tables in his fathers noodle shop. Instantly Poe is likeable (possibly more so by the adults who remembers youthful daydreaming about being our own special hero) and we are quickly drawn into his world.
Jack Black is the voice of loveable Poe, and Black’s humour looses nothing in animation, even his more ‘adult’ fans will enjoy his performance. The film-makers deal with Chinese culture in a way that an audience will appreciate – without getting too lost, and there is enough comic action and dialogue to keep the little ones entertained.
Kung Fu Panda is thoroughly enjoyably with a cast of entertaining characters, but most special is the disarmingly warm appeal of a certain flabby panda.
FORGETTING SARAH MARSHAL
We’ve all had that friend who, after a break-up, becomes a miserable and depressed whiner who feels that everything is now meaningless and null. Perhaps, if we’re honest, we might admit to having been that person ourselves. In Forgetting Sarah Marshal the dumped sad sac is Peter Bretter (Jason Segal) and he’s just been left by Sarah (Kristen Bell), his TV star girlfriend, for another man.
The premise that three weeks later the two will, by chance, happen to both end up in the same Hawaii hotel – Sarah now with new love (Russel Brand) – is a bit thin, but well worth accepting for the sake of the story.
For an Apatow production Forgetting Sarah Marshal is comparatively tame on smut and rudeness. Don’t be mistaken, it’s still there so don’t take your grandmother, but the story scenarios are amusing enough so it doesn’t have to rely on cheap gags to keep things rolling.
The film also presents some great supporting characters including sex-struggling newly-weds, a geeky advice-giving step-brother, and a weed smoking surf instructor. Yet it’s Russel Brand’s performance as rock star Aldous Snow – apparently not too far from Brand’s reality – that often brings the best moments.
1/2
BE KIND REWIND
Director: Michelle Gondry
Staring: Jack Black, Mos Def.
When video shop owner (Danny Glover) goes away, shop assistant Mike (Mos Def) and his best friend, Jerry (Jack Black) accidentally wipe all the videos available for hire. They set out to re-record the movies by acting them out themselves.
The first thing fans of Gondry are going to do with this film is compare it to his other work, and the truth is, it’s quite removed from the likes of Eternal Sunshine, or Science of Sleep. For sure it has that Gondry style (it’s supposedly the characters doing the hands-on camera work and being eccentrically creative, but nothing can hide that Gondry vibe), but Be Kind Rewind has more comical tilt.
Fans of the director will probably find it more humorous than they expect, but then again, fans of Jack Black will possibly find it lacking. On a balance though, the film hits a good equilibrium and one can’t help but feel that Gondry and Black decided to make this movie together simply because it seemed like a lot of fun.
The people who are going to get the most out of this picture though is us film nerds. If you’ve ever compiled your own top 100 films of all time, imagined you were your own character participating inside the events of your favourite flick, or you’ve ever been told to shut up by bored family or friends as you’ve tried to excitedly tell them why an original is better than a remake… then this is the film for you. But, while you may enjoy comparing the life and work of Gondy to those of Mike and Jerry, as I did, it might be socially polite to think first before espousing your thoughts on all your film-indifferent friends – that is, if you want them to remain friends.
1/2
RUN FAT BOY RUN
Director: David Schwimmer
Staring: Simon Peg, Dylan Moran, Hank Azaria…
When Dennis Doyle (Simon Peg) discovers that his ex-partner, Lizzy (Thandie Newton) has started seeing new partner, Whit (Hank Azaria) he makes the rash decision to run against Whit in an upcoming marathon. Three weeks before the race Whit is fit, experienced, and well trained for the race. Dennis is lazy, fat, and has no idea what he is in for. But with training from his mate, Gordon (Dylan Moran) and his landlord, anything is possible.
This is a great film. It has a heart-warming story line, a relatable underdog, a love interest, a slimy antagonist, and a brilliant comic side-kick. It makes for a really enjoyable movie.
However. If you take Simon Peg (Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead), mix with sidekick Dylan Moran (Black Books), and add in Hank Azaria (The Simpsons), then this film shouldn’t be great… it should be awesome.
Sadly, it isn’t. Standing alone, it is worthy of a great review, but burdened with the great work that had gone before, it struggled under high-expectations.
And yet, what makes this film so good is not the overall film, but some great character driven moments throughout. The Peg and Moran fight scene is an instant classic. Young Jake’s antics with the bed remote is wonderful. And when a special romantic moment is interrupted by Moran in a bath robe, well, it is a must see.
1/2
DAN IN REAL LIFE
Single dad Dan (Steve Carell) and his three daughters join the rest of his extended family for time away on Rode Island. While in the local town he meets a woman and forms a connection – only to later find out it’s the girlfriend of his brother, also on her way to join in on the family vacation.
Steve Carell’s performance in movies such as Little Miss Sunshine demonstrated that he is a well skilled actor, capable of far more than his extensive work as a comic. In Dan In Real Life he again goes for a drama role as single dad of three, but somehow he just doesn’t quite hit the mark.
Perhaps it is a case of ‘Never work with children or animals’ as the three daughters deliver touching performances, leaving Dan looking like a miserable fool, struggling to gain sympathy from the audience.
Dan In Real Life is a nice story, with some entertaining quirks, but over all struggles to build the connection between the lead roles – both with each other, and with the audience.
CLOVERFIELD
Director: Matt Reeves
A friend is capturing a farewell party on video when the city is attacked. He, with a small group of friends, attempts to rescue loved ones and escape, while still recording it all on camera.
The first people out the doors of the cinema, only seconds after the first credits appear, usually make statements like; “That’s the worst s**t I’ve ever seen” and “I don’t know why you put on movies like that!” However, the feelings slowly change as the later leavers make their way out, and finally the ‘credit watchers’ give comments like “That was so awesome! I loved it!”
The best way to describe Cloverfield is to simply think of The Blair Witch Project but switched genres. Imagine Godzilla, but from the acting extra’s point of view and experience; all the confusion, non-understanding, and frightening bewilderment. In Cloverfield you don’t really know what’s going on, or why, or what precedes or follows the story, but neither do the characters and it is their story the movie is following.
It is this intended reality that makes it a hard movie to enjoy. It’s frustrating not knowing, or ever finding out, much about what else is going on. And, for me, I wanted to grab the guy shooting the video, punch him repeatedly in the face and scream “For F**k sake hold the bloody thing straight!”
This film, however, is not intended to be enjoyable. Watch it more for the mystery, the experience, or the great visual FX, but don’t expect to come out feeling delightfully merry for the happy ending. I loved it, but it drove me nuts at the same time.
1/2
I AM LEGEND
Director: Francis Lawrence
Staring: Will Smith
Dr. Robert Neville (Smith) is alone in what was once the thriving metropolis of NY City. A virus, a once supposed cure for cancer, has turned some humans into flesh hungry monsters who have killed off all who are immune – Except Dr Neville, who lives an isolated life of research in the heart of ‘ground zero’ as he attempts to find a cure.
The most commonly uttered words of people leaving this movie seems to be “28 Days Later” and for good reason. Yeah, it’s based on a book. Yeah, Robert Neville (Smith) is all alone. And yeah, there’s some quirky twists and events, but when it comes down to it, it bares remarkable parallels to any number of apocalyptic monster movie.
However, apart from the excellent visuals of a deserted and decrepit NY, it is Smith who makes this film stand out. It must be big ask of any actor to carry a solo performance for the bulk of a feature film, especially one such as this which extends from emotional heartbreak through to rampant action, but Smith manages a standout performance, proving once more he’s a long way removed from the Fresh Prince of Bel Air.
A well paced and exciting film.
EPIC MOVIE
As some might know, I work as a cinema projectionist and I like to go watch people’s responses to a film as they leave the cinema. In the case of Epic Movie, as I see all the disappointed and dissatisfied faces, I’m embarrassed to have been the person who has put the film on. I can only hope that the film-makers have some morality and feel even worse for this sludge.
Epic Movie is a spoof, similar to Scary Movie, Date Movie and the like, with one major flaw; it’s not funny.
While watching the movie in the cinema, it can be so tedious it’s more interesting to look around at everyone else and observe the sea of bland and bored expressions. So far I am yet to see anyone even slightly amused at this film.
It is an insult to the film industry that this film was ever put out to distribution. If I’d paid for a ticket, I’d have definitely demanded my money back.
Epic Movie deserves no points out of five. In fact deserves a negative for wasting peoples time and money, plus the taking of cinemas session which could be used for showing something decent.