Olympus Has Fallen

Olympus Has Fallen (2013)
Directed by: Antone Fuqua
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 47%

Hello Film Fans!
I like action movies. I am a sucker for awesome shootouts, explosions, hand to hand combat, and violence. I have seen Die Hard, Die Harder, Die Hard: With a Vengeance, and Live Free or Die Hard more times than I can count (sadly, I have yet to see the latest one). Shoot 'Em Up is one of the best action movies ever made because it is all over-the-top action and it knows it. What makes an action movie even better is a good story. First Blood is a fantastic film because it has a great story AND has violence (fun fact: John Rambo killed one person in First Blood). Olympus Has Fallen provides INSANE action while also delivering a passable (albeit scary) story.

**WARNING**
I know I have said this before but I want to stress this again; my reviews contain a brief synopsis of the plot which generally contains information that can be gathered from watching the trailer for the film. If you know nothing about this film then skip this part if you don't want anything to be ruined.

In case you haven't seen the trailer...


Mike Banning (Gerard Butler) is a respected veteran of President Benjamin Asher's (Aaron Eckhart) Secret Service detail. The President confides in him and Banning would give his life for the family. President Asher's son, Connor (newcomer Finley Jacobsen), holds Banning in the highest regard. The film opens with the family getting ready for a birthday party while at Camp David. There is a nasty snow storm coming through so security tries to hurry the family out the door so they can get to their destination before the roads get too bad. Connor pleads with his father to let him ride in one of the security vehicles with Banning and President Asher allows it. The POTUS and FIrst Lady (Ashley Judd) get into the head limousine and Connor, Banning, and several other agents get into a chase car. As they head to the party Banning quizzes Connor on the details of their security work. Connor, taking great interest in the subject, rattles off the answers without hesitation. He truly impresses the agents in the car. The trip halts suddenly when a tree branch breaks and lands in front of the limousine leading the pack (the one carrying the POTUS and First Lady). The limo spins out of control and slams into the wall of a bridge. As the limo teeters on the edge, Banning rushes over to help rescue the President. Seeing that his only option is to force President Asher out of the vehicle, Banning makes the decision and frees the President. This causes the limo to careen off the edge; killing everyone inside. The film then jumps eighteen months ahead and Banning is now working in the Treasury Department because he was taken off Secret Service duty after the accident. He has become distant and longs to return to the action. Banning's wish is granted when the White House is stormed by North Korean terrorists bent on continuing their civil war with South Korea. The terrorists lock down the White House but Banning manages to get in. What follows is Die Hard in the White House and it is pretty freaking spectacular!

Olympus Has Fallen is an edge of your seat type of action/thriller. It brings back the days of good Tom Clancy film adaptations. I got knots in my stomach and I squirmed in my seat because everything seemed like it could really happen. [Side note: probably the worst thing to see in a movie to me is someone getting "brainwashed". I hate seeing someone doing something against their will and not know it.] However, for everything that it does right (intense shootout scenes, gripping moments of suspense, and fantastic fight choreography) it missteps as well. First, Olympus falls victim to so many tropes it's hard to keep track of. There is an overzealous military general that is keen on sending all the army at the enemy. When this proves ineffective he thinks it's wise to throw more soldiers at it. There is a series of codes that must be obtained to control a super secret military device. There is also the fact that Banning still has access to sensitive areas of the White House EIGHTEEN months after his termination (i.e. all his codes for things still work and his fingerprints are still accepted at security checkpoints). The next misstep is that it would be very easy to call this an über patriotic or Jingoistic film. There is a scene where an AC130 gunship wreaks havoc on Washington D.C. In its path of terror, an American flag gets tattered with bullet holes. The camera hangs on the image as the sun peers through the holes. This is a symbol of our pride being hurt; being destroyed. Later, this flag is taken down by the terrorists and thrown to the ground. The camera follows the flag as it falls (in slow motion) to the ground; twisting and writhing all the way down. This is ultimately the death of the country. Our very identity has been taken from us. There is no feeling that a "Patriot" could have except extreme distress. We give Banning a certified 007 "License to Kill" at the moment. I'm not saying this is necessarily a bad thing; just stating that seems to be going for a national pride reaction and it succeeds in spades. One of the biggest strengths, however, is its refusal to pull punches. Several women are shown being killed and/or beaten during the film (they even kill a dog at one point). This is refreshing because it adds an element of realism to the action. You feel that anybody could die; women are not safe from the wrath of the terrorists.

No BS

Olympus Has Fallen was a hell of a lot of fun to watch. I cheered when Banning killed groups of North Koreans because I felt they deserved it. I didn't mind the cliches too much because they helped move the plot along. The movie is two hours long and I didn't check the time until an hour and a half in so that is a mark of a compelling movie (in my opinion). This movie is definitely worth a look.

My Score: 7/10

Warlock

Warlock (1989)
Directed by: Steve Miner
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 53%

Hello Film Fans! Today, I have a review for a film that I have been itching to see for over a decade! When I was younger (probably fourth or fifth grade) I bought a few used games from a local video store for my SNES. One of those games was Widget the World Watcher (which I am positive nobody ever saw the show or played the game...I did both). The other game I bought was Warlock. I had no idea what it was about but the cartridge looked cool enough...

I was easy to please?

Anyway, when I got home and fired up my SNES I put hours into Warlock. By the end of my time with the game (maybe 3 levels in) I still didn't know what the Hell I was doing. I never did finish the game and I never knew where the developer drew inspiration from. Here is a clip of some game play. Skip to about 3 minutes in because the person that recorded this gameplay just dicked around for a while before starting to play.


I am not sure you can tell but the game was incredibly fun but insanely difficult which is why I never bothered to finish it. So flash forward several years and I saw the poster art for Warlock and I immediately remembered my time with this game. I have had it on my Netflix Instant Queue for months now, and tonight I finally decided to watch it. What follows is going to be a complete overview of the film in "Hate Watch" format but know this; this film is SO worth seeing because it is SO bad!

Warlock starts (rather abruptly) with an old man shoving a cat into a picnic basket typed vessel. We then see a group of elders walking through a village that looks like it is from the colonial days. The group eventually makes its way to a tower where they are keeping a man prisoner. It is revealed by the leader that the year is 1691 and they are in Boston. The man in front of them (Julian Sands) is accused of being a Warlock and is sentenced to death by burning. They make sure the clarify that he is sentenced to burn while boxes of live cats are tossed in below him! This explains the beginning of the film. Because I don't want to continue to call him The Warlock, I will simply refer to our antagonist as Sandy. As the elders leave, a man with the best 80s metal hair, Redferne (Richard E. Grant), tells Sandy that he is going to pay for the pain he has caused. Sandy informs him that the Devil will set him free. Redferne knocks him over, rude, and leaves. A huge storms comes through and takes Sandy away in a tornado. The elders rush back up to discover that not only is Sandy MIA but so is Redferne.

The film then jumps forward almost 300 years to 1989 California. Sandy crash lands into the house of Chas (Kevin O'Brien). Kassandra (Lori Singer), Chas' roommate, rushes out to investigate. The two contemplate on what to do with the unconscious Sandy and eventually decide to put him in Kassandra's room (because everything is plastic and Chas' stuff is antique). The next day, Sandy wakes up and broods which is super sexy to Kassandra (who looks like she walked out of a fitness VHS). She leaves for work which means that Chas is left alone with Sandy. Sandy admires a ring that Chas wears but he informs him that he cannot take it off because he broke his finger and now it cannot be removed. Utilizing his warlocky powers (he chops the dude's finger off) he takes the ring. Sandy then gives Chas a kiss of death (he bites out his tongue). Chas then dies. Kassandra is taken in by the cops and questioned about Chas' death. She freaks out and heads back to the house to collect her stuff. While she's at the house, Redferne shows up and asks where Sandy has gone. After the initial shock (and a phone call to the police), Kassandra helps Redferne find the glass that Sandy cut himself on. When the police arrive, they take Redferne in for questioning. While Redferne is in captivity, Sandy comes back and hexes Kassandra by making her age rapidly. This is a real "bummer" according to Kassandra.

Kassandra bails Redferne out and she decides to help him until she is unhexed. In the meantime, Sandy has caused a faux Medium to become possessed by an actual demon which causes her to die. Sandy plucks her eyes out and uses them to find the pages to the Grand Grimoire (a book that is like the Bible only for Satan). Sandy finds the first third of the pages back at Chas' house inside an antique piece of furniture. He then travels to a trailer park and seemingly befriends a young boy tossing a football around. Sandy hears a church choir singing and asks why the boy isn't among them. He replies that his father doesn't like "all that Jesus and the 12 apostrophes stuff". Sandy informs him that he is a witch and the boy asks where his broom is because he can't fly without it. Sandy chuckles and tells him he doesn't need a broom to fly. We discover later that Sandy murdered the boy so he could use his fat to make a flying potion (because he needed the fat of an unbaptized boy). Sandy then gains the second set of pages from a Mennonite farm. The elder farmer notices signs that point to bewitchment and paints a hex symbol on the barn. This alerts Redferne and a battle ensues. During the fight, Kassandra regains the charm bracelet that Sandy took which is the source of her hex. She reverts back to her original age and she tells Redferne that she is done with this chase. Redferne appeals to her caring nature and she tells him it would be better to fly to Boston to get the last set of pages before Sandy does. After a brief moment of shock by the planes, Redferne agrees and they arrive in Boston. We see, however, that Sandy has hitched a ride in the cargo hold of the jet and meets them in a graveyard at the church where the last pages are being held. Another battles ensues and Sandy gets all three sets of pages together and almost yells out the true name of God but is thwarted by Kassandra injecting saline into his skin with her insulin needles (I mentioned she is diabetic right?). The saline causes Sandy to burst into flames (because witches hate salt) and thus the universe is saved. Redferne then catches the next tornado back to his own time and the film ends with Kassandra burying the grimoire in the Bonneville Salt Flats.
Here is the trailer to the film that actually shows pretty much the entire film in a minute and half


Now, nobody would ever claim that Warlock is an incredible piece of cinema nor would they claim that it is even, in fact, a good piece of cinema. However, there are a few things that lead to it being considered a terrible (yet cult classic) film. First, neither Sandy nor Redferne show any real shock at the inventions around them. Redferne is a little spooked by cars but gets over that quickly. Sandy gives exactly ZERO Fs about what is going on around him. All he cares about is getting those dam-ned (how they say it in the film) pages. They could have had a really great horror/comedy if they'd added some fish-out-of-water typed humor. Perhaps have Sandy get into a cab and demand to be taken to Boston and the cabbie say "you mus' be crazy, cracka" or something similar. Secondly, the effects are laughable. Watch that clip up there and see for yourself. I could make a film with better effects with the stuff that is in immediate reach from me right now. If they had dropped maybe $13.75 more on effects then they could have had some passable CGI. Lastly, the acting. Holy freaking crap the acting. It is so bad that it almost passes as a parody of these types of films. Kassandra's vocabulary consists entirely of something resembling Valleyspeak. Julian Sands emits this aura like somebody told him that he was doing a film version of a lost Shakespearean play. The good thing about that, though, is that his performance is actually kind of terrifying and pretty much all awesome.

Warlock is not meant to be taken seriously (at least I hope not). Watch this film with the expectancy to laugh and mock. Even if you are scared of the most remotely occult related things; you can watch this and laugh hysterically. The effects are cheesy, the dialoge is unusual, and the story is trite but it is still a ton of fun.

My Score: 5/10

Paper Man

Paper Man (2009)
Directed by: Kieran & Michele Mulroney
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 29%

Hello Film Fans! First, I want to say I am sorry it has been so long since my last review! I have been travelling (driving not flying) so I have not had the opportunity to watch a film and digest it in a manner to where I could discuss it intelligently. If you read my previous post you'll know that I am also going through the process of setting up a new website and getting my YouTube channel established. This is VERY exciting but also tedious so please, bear with me. Now, on to the review!

I have asked for my readers to suggest films that they enjoyed or want to see a review of because I am always interested in what other people like. A friend of mine (a European friend in fact) suggested that I watch Paper Man. He made sure that I knew he was talking about the 2009 Jeff Daniels film; not the 2012 Disney short (which was incredible). I had never heard of it so I dove right in. I have to say, I am extremely happy that I saw this because it has made me respect Daniels and his co-star Emma Stone on new levels. I have always thought of Jeff Daniels as a too-well-known-to-be-a-"that"-guy kind of actor [*EDIT* I completely forgot about Newsroom! He is FANTASTIC in Newsroom!] but this really shows that he has the chops to be a leading man. Stone also proves that she has grown up since Superbad and that she too can hold the screen with ease.

In the opening credits (which are really well done by the way), we see Richard (Jeff Daniels) and his wife Claire (Lisa Kudrow) driving out of New York City. They are making their way to a vacation cabin that they haven't visited in years. The intent is for Claire to leave Richard there alone so that he can write the novel he is currently working on. As Claire leaves, she tells Richard her schedule at the hospital where she works (as a surgeon) and leaves a list of emergency numbers so he can reach her if need be. Richard is seemingly alone until his blonde, Hipster-haired superhero imaginary friend Captain Excellent (Ryan Reynolds) shows up. He tries his best to encourage Richard to write but his efforts prove to be futile. Richard settles in at his desk and begins to think of how he wants to start his book. It is reminiscent of Billy Crystal's character from Throw Momma From the Train.



Like Crystal, Richard cannot get past the first sentence of his book. He then leaves to explore his new surroundings. He encounters Abby (Emma Stone) and asks her to come babysit for him. When she arrives, she quickly realizes there is no baby. Instead of freaking out, she accepts that Richard is just lonely and asks when he'll be back. While Richard is out, Abby makes soup from ingredients she finds around the house. This resonates with Richard as people do not generally do things for him for no reason. He finds it incredibly endearing and the two form a bond; a completely Platonic relationship. When the people around them start to question the relationship between Richard and Abby, accusations fly and people get hurt (especially Abby's Emo best friend, Christopher). Paper Man is, ultimately, a coming of age tale that is certainly worth checking out.

What I found most interesting about Paper Man was the notion that you can be in your late forties/early fifties and still not be an adult. Richard is, essentially, still a child. This is partially his own fault because he chooses to hold on to his imaginary friend, Captain Excellent, but is also aided by his wife, Claire. There are subtle hints throughout the film that indicate that even though she doesn't desire to have children; she still has a mother mentality. As I stated above, when Claire leaves Richard at the house for the first time she ensures that he knows that she can be reached if anything were to happen. They are never seen being intimate with each other (kissing, sleeping together, hugging). There is a scene where Claire is up visiting for the weekend and she takes him to a local seafood restaurant. Richard orders lobster but is unsure of how to eat it. Claire cuts open the shell for him as he ties a lobster bib around his neck. The camera then shows a wide shot of the two; Richard with his food cut up for him and sporting a bib and Claire eating her own food without a bib. This screams mother/son relationship. It is later revealed that even though Richard insists that Claire stated she didn't want kids; that this isn't true. If Richard had paid attention, he would have seen how desperate Claire was for motherhood. This was such a great part of the story and it really added great depth to Richard (who is already conflicted as it is) and to Claire (who is hardly present in the film).

No BS

Paper Man is a good film. It isn't particularly Oscar great but it is definitely worth a watch. Daniels gives a great performance and Stone shows that she is moving nicely into starring roles. The real surprise for me was Lisa Kudrow. No matter how hard I try, I still see Phoebe every time I see her. It is good to know that she is, indeed, an actress and that she is able to break out of that type cast, and deliver a great dramatic performance.

My Score: 7/10

Also, if you haven't seen the Disney short that won the Oscar for Best Animated Short this year then see it here!

New Website!

Hello Film Fans!

It's been a while since my last posting and for that I am sorry. I have had a lot going on recently with my day job so I had to put things on hold for a little while. Good news though! I will be getting a website in a month or so and I will also be transitioning over to WordPress. I am told they have more (and better) tools to improve my blog so it seemed like the right thing to do. A friend of mine is building the site and I have extreme confidence that she will build a fantastic site. I don't want to give too much away so here is a taste of what to expect from the new and improved Film Grad Reviews!

1) Website: So as I stated, I will have a fully functioning website where I can post my reviews and links to things/movies/whatever I like. The site will also have contact info just in case you want to get in touch with me. There will also be a little bit about me and what Film Grad Reviews is all about.

2) YouTube: I recently bought a Capture Card (Personal Video Recorder) so I can post reviews of video games and TV shows on YouTube. I want my YT channel to be an extension of my blog. There will be things on that channel that won't be in the blog and vice versa. This is so that you feel compelled to check out BOTH formats!

3) T-Shirts and stuff: I will be designing t-shirts, stickers, and whatever else I can think of to sell on my site! I really want to spread the word about Film Grad Reviews and stuff for you to wear and share is one of the best ways to do so. Everything will be fairly priced so there's no need to worry about breaking the bank!

So there it is, the top three things you can expect from me within the next few months. Is there anything you want to see that I haven't mentioned? Are there any films you want to see reviewed? I have gotten a few suggestions and they are ready in my queue on Netflix so I will be posting those very soon. Comment so I know what is on your mind! Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy what is to come!

The Call

The Call (2013)
Directed By: Brad Anderson
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 36%

The Ides of March proved to be a lackluster film release day. The only two films of note that hit the theaters today were the Steve Carell vehicle/Jim Carrey career revival attempt, The Incredible Burt Wonderstone, and the Halle Berry thriller The Call. I typically do not see comedies in the theater because I feel you get the same experience when you spend $1 at RedBox to rent it. Why spend $11/ticket when you can stay home and save a Hamilton. That being said, we chose to see The Call. The trailer had intrigued me enough to want to see it even though the Rotten Tomatoes score is dismal. I have to say, this is actually a very well crafted thriller with one of the most terrifying villans in recent history, but it falls apart in the end.

The Call shows what it's like to be in the high stakes world of 911 Emergency Services Operators. Jordan (Berry) is a normal operator that helps everyone that calls her just like any other operator would; one leg at a time... Jordan is having a normal night until she gets a phone call from a young girl, Leah (Evie Thompson). Leah is terrified because there is someone breaking into her house and she is all alone (of course). Jordan instructs her to find a place to hide and to remain quiet. After a few minutes, Leah effectively hides from the intruder and tells Jordan so, but then the line gets disconnected. Jordan then decides that it is a wise decision to hit "Redial" on her end. This reveals Leah's location to the intruder and she is taken. Sadly, Liam Neeson is not here to save young Leah and she is found the following day; no longer among the living. This rattles Jordan and she decides to become an operator trainer. The film jumps forward six months and we see Jordan is still rattled because she is on several prescription drugs now. As she is leading a tour through "The Hive" (where the operators work) she introduces the trainees to a young operator. She is, more than likely, the person that took over Jordan's station. As Jordan is walking the group out, the young operator gets a call from Casey Welson (Abigail Breslin). She has been abducted from the mall and is currently being kept in the trunk of a vehicle. Jordan sees the rookie flailing so she takes the reigns for one more ride.

I would like to go on record and say that I am surprised at the quality of this film. It was produced by WWE Studios. If you're not familiar with their body of work then please, check this out. They have released high quality films like The Mania of Wrestlemania, Leprechaun: Origins, and The Chaperone. I had very low expectations. What was delivered, while cliched at times, felt like a taut and well thought out thriller. The scenes where Breslin is trapped in the trunk were reminiscent of Ryan Reynold's 2010 film Buried.


The audience feels trapped, claustrophobic, and helpless. The cramped feeling makes you aware of your breathing as you watch Casey struggle to find a way out. What's interesting is that when Jordan has her headset on, you feel the same way (at least I did). Jordan is trapped in her situation because she wants to help Casey escape; she wants to save her life. Berry delivers a great performance and Breslin is proving that she can still hold the screen as well as she did years ago.

I tried to find the dance scene but you get the idea.

The real star of The Call though is Michael Eklund.


"O, you mean Ethan Hawke" is surely what you just said. I don't blame you. Look.


The resemblance is spooky. It's almost like they are twins separated at birth. Enough of that though, his performance was a dash of Norman Bates, with a little bit Buffalo Bill, and a nice helping of The Thin Man from Charlie's Angels.


What? That's not creepy? How about Crispin Glover as a whole?


Yeah, so imagine that type of guy abducting teenage girls. That is what The Call's villan is like. It's intense. I really enjoyed the film until it was very near the end. It all fell apart for me. I won't go into detail about why because I sincerely believe it is worth seeing just to experience Eklund's effedupedness.

No BS

The Call, starring Halle Berry, is an enjoyable film. It is not breaking any ground and it is not necessarily original or fresh but what it delivers is a well produced thriller. Most will be on the edge of their seats as they experience Casey's abduction. Don't let the low RT score throw you off; this one is worth your money.

My Score: 7/10

Pretty In Pink

Pretty In Pink (1986)
Directed by: Howard Deutch
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 81%

In my twenty-six years on this Earth I have seen a large number of films. If I tried to name them all I would bore you and myself; plus I would forget somewhere around 90% I'm sure. John Hughes is/was a filmmaker that holds a special place in my heart. He was the voice of a generation and also provided a template for a generation to live up to (which we didn't). I remember staying home from school when I was "sick" and dreamed of doing the things that Ferris did when he took a day off. I actually considered trying to create a woman using a Barbie doll, magazine articles, pictures, and a computer. I never had Saturday school but I wondered if it truly was where people of all walks of life could come together. I knew that if I was ever forgotten at home during the holidays that I would be able to protect myself and my home from incompetent criminals. I love all his films but there are a few that have snuck by me: Curly Sue, She's Having A Baby, and several of his non-directed films. Pretty In Pink is one of the ones that has snuck by me until recently. I always lumped Pretty In Pink together with Sixteen Candles but, as it turns out, they are very different films.

Pretty In Pink is about a social outcast, Andie (Molly Ringwald), that has eyes for a Richie, which is what she calls the wealthy kids. Blane (Andrew McCarthy) is the popular and well-off object of Andie's affection. He just so happens to like her but catches Hell form his friends, especially Steff (James Spader). Andie's best friend, Duckie (Jon Cryer), loves Andie but it is unrequited. During the film, the bond between Andie and Blane grows but is eventually tested when Steff begins to mock Blane for slumming with Andie. The tension becomes too great and Blane decides to brush Andie aside. Not one to let herself get down, Andie creates a pink dress and attends the prom with Duckie. She successfully shows the stuck up kids at school that she is confident with who she is and that she doesn't care what anybody thinks. Blane, realizing his foolishness, apologizes to Andie and the two get back together. The soundtrack is as great as the story and the acting. It gave us this incredibly catchy song...


First off, John Hughes didn't direct Pretty In Pink. That was the biggest shocker to me. I knew that he had written/produced a lot of films but I figured that this was one of the ones that he actually directed. I'm not sure that changes a lot about the film but I thought it was interesting. Now, let's get into the discussion. My favorite character is, obviously, Duckie. Cryer brought incredible depth to a character that could of just been comedic relief.


That is EASILY my favorite part of the entire film. It touches on the emotions that Duckie harbors for Andie but doesn't know how to express. He lip syncs Try A Little Tenderness because that's what he longs for with Andie. He is the lovable dork at school that everyone knows of but nobody actually knows. Cryer's scenes break up the drama of social status warfare within the film.


AGH! He's SO great! Cryer then delivers this heart wrenching speech to Andie about her recent decision to date Blane.


The pain that Duckie feels is palpable. "I live to like you". Any girl would love to hear that but Andie decides to let it go and go out with a person whose name is synonymous with douchebag frat bros that occasionally play tennis with their girlfriend Bambi. What is even more interesting about the character, other than he was a hipster before hipsters were hipsters (look at those clothes and tell me I'm wrong), is that Molly Ringwald recently stated that Duckie was a closeted homosexual. I definitely thought that about his character as well. Andie was to serve as his tester relationship; the one that a gay man has to see if he likes women or not. Ringwald also said that she believes that Hughes wrote a lot of gay characters. Brian from the Breakfast Club? Perhaps one of the two leads from Weird Science? Cameron from Ferris Bueller's Day Off (which would be the second most interesting thing going on in the subtext). Whatever the case may be, Cryer made the film for me. On the other end of the spectrum is Steff. He serves as a perfect foil to Duckie. He is the main antagonist but he does everything in a kind of subtle and devilish way.


He's just so good at being a supreme bag of sh*t.

No BS

Pretty In Pink is an iconic 80's flick that everyone should see. You'll be forever enriched because you have seen one more of John Hughes' classics. It's not as good as Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, or Weird Science (in my opinion) but it definitely is worth a watch. Don't get hung up on the tropes that exist within the film because remember, John Hughes created a lot of the shortcuts and stereotypes we know so well.

My Score: 7/10

Oz the Great and Powerful

Oz the Great and Powerful (2013)
Directed by: Sam Raimi
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 60%

Tonight, I saw Oz the Great and Powerful. I am going to preface everything I am about to write with a few things. Thing the first: I consider myself more of a Dark Side of the Rainbow fan as opposed to a Wizard of Oz fan. Sure, I have seen the film (numerous times) and know the story inside and out ,but I don't seek it out on a rainy Saturday because it's one of my favorites (It's A Wonderful Life falls into the same category). Thing the second: I have never seen (nor do I really care to see) Wicked. I am not a big musical person and Wicked just doesn't appeal to me. Sure, I can see why some flock to it. The original Broadway cast features two of the most amazing voices in the world (Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel) but I stick with a few classics and I move on (I'm a sucker for RENT). Thing the last: I enjoy me some Sam Raimi. The Evil Dead series, the first two Spider-Man movies (he made a third??), and his collaborations with the Coen Brothers are all examples of why he has a flourishing career. With all that being said, let us move into why I feel that this one is simply too good to pass up.

Oz the Great and Powerful refers to Oscar Diggs; played by the always great James Franco.

Oz is making a living as a circus "magician" performing amazing feats for those that give him their hard earned money, which isn't much (this is Kansas in the early 1900's after all). He takes everybody he knows for granted. He treats his assistant (played by Zach Braff) like a servant and he has a knack for womanizing. When Oz is finally confronted by an ornery circus performer he takes to the sky in his hot air balloon. He is swept up in a tornado and is taken to the land of Oz. He is discovered by Theodora,

and she takes him to the Emerald City where he meets Evanora,

who tells him that he must kill the Wicked Witch...

I love this cast. The film is a lot of fun and is most definitely worth seeing. It is also incredibly well filmed.

If you're not familiar with Sam Raimi's work then shame on you. This video explains one of his most well know trademarks: The Danger Follow Shot (I just made that name up but you'll see what I mean).

The above video goes into detail why this technique is so beneficial to a director like Raimi. He started in horror films. Evil Dead was made on a budget of...(I actually think they had a negative budget) BUT it went down as one of the best horror films of all time because of the atmosphere. What this following shot portrays is an otherworldly danger. Watch this clip

and this clip

and this clip

to see examples of Raimi's technique (that last one is actually a Coen Brothers film but it utilizes Raimi's techniques because they borrowed from him). Oz is such a vibrant and fantastical setting that it feels different from anything Raimi has ever done (Spider-Man included) but there are Raimi marks. For instance, when Oz is being swept away in his hot air balloon, wooden fence pickets are hurled at him by the storm. The camera follows the pickets as they pierce through the balloon basket and narrowly miss impaling him. His deft directing hand really makes the world of Oz come to life and his casting director chose some fantastic people to fill the roles of the film.

One of the most unique parts of the film is touched on in the trailer. Oz the Great and Powerful starts off as a black and white film utilizing a rather small screen aspect ratio. The world feels like a stage and the actors are putting on a show for the audience. The background looks like a cloth draped down behind the set pieces. When Oz jumps into his balloon to escape, the world still feels like there is a finite area; there is a ceiling. It isn't until Oz is transported to Oz that the environment changes; it opens up. The screen grows and the color floods back with vengeance. Raimi populates his world with vibrant and energetic characters and colors. This, juxtaposed with the opening scenes, creates an incredible contrast. It seems as if the colors are brighter than they should be because we associate Oz with a drab, dreary setting. The difference is amazing. I really enjoyed Oz the Great and Powerful.

No BS

Oz the Great and Powerful tells the story of Oz before Dorothy arrived. It is wonderfully directed by Sam Raimi and the cast does a great job of bringing the world of Oz to life. The flying monkeys (which terrified me as a child) are even scarier in this version as well as the witches guards. I think that this film can be enjoyed by anybody and should be seen as the true canon in the Oz mythology (not Wicked). I saw it in 2D but I would recommend 3D if possible because Raimi really filmed it to be enjoyed that way.

My Score: 7.5/10

Tucker & Dale vs Evil

Tucker & Dale vs Evil (2010)
Directed by: Eli Craig
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 85%

I have seen this film on Netflix for a good while now. It was recommended for me to watch but I had no idea why. I don't like horror movies so I figured it was based on the viewing preferences of the people I share my subscription with. When a Facebook friend suggested I review it I figured that there must be something to the film. I watched it tonight and absolutely loved it!

Tucker (Alan Tudyk) and Dale (Tyler Labine) are two well meaning "hillbillies" that are excited about their new Summer Home (a dilapidated cabin in the West Virginia mountains). While stocking up on supplies at a local gas station, a group of frat boys and sorostitutes arrive because they, unfortunately, forgot to bring BEER! To the college kids, the people in the gas station are terrifying hill folks. As Tucker and Dale are loading their truck with their purchases, Dale confides in Tucker about wanting to speak to the girls. Tucker tells him that he just needs to be confident and that women like talking to normal guys. Dale approches the girls (with a large scythe for some reason) and babbles incoherently. This terrifies the group and they drive away. What follows is a series of misunderstandings between the two sets of characters that makes an incredibly fun flick.

Where Tucker & Dale vs Evil really excels is their obvious homages to the horror genre. Joss Wheadon's The Cabin in the Woods had a similar premise. Throughout the film, references are made to: Friday the 13th, Donnie Darko, Evil Dead, Fargo (not a horror but a black comedy/thriller), The Blair Witch Project, and others. **WARNING I AM ABOUT TO DISCUSS A PARTICULAR SCENE. SPOILERS ARE TO FOLLOW. SKIP IF THAT SORT OF THING UPSETS YOU!** One of my favorite scenes involves Tucker cutting lumber with a chainsaw. As Tucker is hard at work, the college kids are plotting to attack him because they believe Tucker and Dale have kidnapped and are keeping one of their friends, Allison (Katrina Bowden), against her will. This, of course, is not the case. Allison was rendered unconscious earlier and they are trying to help her heal. As Tucker cuts through a log; he hits a bee hive. This, for some reason, upsets the bees. They become ornery and attack Tucker. He panics and begins to run around while flailing his chainsaw around. To the kids waiting to ambush, Tucker appears to be trying to attack them while in reality he is just trying to swat at the stinging bees. This scene, I believe, is an homage to The Texas Chainsaw Massacre movies. There is also a woodchipper involved in one of the many gruesome deaths (an homage to Fargo) and it is amazing! The horror film tropes make Tucker & Dale vs Evil a really fun film!

No BS

Tucker & Dale vs Evil is a well constructed parody but can stand alone if you are not familiar with the films it is referencing. The story, while cliched, is fun. It has a freshness to it because it puts the "killer" shoe on the other foot. The film is incredibly violent but it's violent like a Tarantino film; over the top. Alan Tudyk is great (as always) and I now want to see more of Tyler Labine's work. This one shouldn't be missed.

My Score: 7/10

Celeste and Jesse Forever

Celeste and Jesse Forever (2012)
Directed by: Lee Toland Kreiger
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 69%

I had a flight up to Ohio this week so I was in need of inflight entertainment. As I browsed through iTunes several titles jumped out at me. I eventually settled on Celeste and Jesse Forever. I love Rashida Jones and Andy Samburg makes me laugh so I took a chance on a movie I had never seen advertisements for. The script was penned by Rashida Jones and Will McCormack (who plays a supporting role in the film). I believe that this was Jones' first turn at writing and she pulled off an incredibly likable film.

Celeste (Jones) and Jesse (Samburg) were high school sweethearts. They fell in love and married young. The opening credits take us through their life up until now. They are happy; they are in love. The film starts with Celeste and Jesse singing along to the radio while driving in downtown Los Angeles. As they sing in obnoxious voices, Celeste's phone rings. She asks Jesse to be quiet and quickly shifts to business mode. As she discusses work with the person on the phone, Jesse starts to fidget and takes out a cigarette to smoke. Celeste asks for a drag, puts down her window, and tosses the cigarette out the window. She hangs up and complains that Jesse refuses to grow up. The two arrive at home and everything is peachy. The next day the two are having dinner with their friends Beth (Ari Graynor) and Tucker (Eric Christian Olsen). Everything seems to be going well until Beth flips out about how the relationship that Celeste and Jesse have. It is at this point the audience is told that Celeste and Jesse are actually separated and are getting a divorce, but they continue to share a car, home, and life together. Until this point, neither Celeste nor Jesse saw a problem with their living situation. It isn't until their friends start making comments about the unusual situation that the two decide to really set their divorce in stone. Celeste's business partner, Scott (Elijah Wood), tells her that she needs to start seeing other people while Jesse's friend, Skillz (McCormack), sets Jesse up with a yogurt shop girl. Celeste is hesitant at first but changes her tune when she realizes that Jesse has begun to date. The film explores what love means and how different people react to it. It questions what we know as proper break up etiquette and it also flips the Rom-Com genre on its head. Also, at one point, Jesse and Skillz go to a Biz Markie concert (because he's still completely relevant)



What I like so much about Celeste and Jesse Forever is that it is an unusual story. Typically, the male is the one pining for his lost love. He is the one that is going through lengths to prove that they belong together. The roles are reversed in this film. Celeste wants to be over Jesse but she can't. He evened her out. Celeste's intense A Type personality puts a lot of people off. She is a detriment to her own relationships. Jesse was able to counteract that. With out him, she doesn't know when to reign herself in. Jesse, on the other hand, has found someone that makes him better. Someone that challenges him without ridicule. Jesse feels a love for Veronica (Rebecca Dayan), his new fiancé, but knows that he'll always have an emotional connection with Celeste. This was a great venture into drama for Samburg and I hope he continues to venture into this uncharted territory, because he does a great job with it.

No BS

Celeste and Jesse Forever is a film about love and love lost. Your emotions will run the gamut during the course of the film. There is quite a bit of foul language but I don't feel it detracts from the story. It also provides a rare chance to see Andy Samburg actually act. Rashida Jones and Will McCormack have written a great story and I think it is worth checking out.

My Score: 7/10