Man of Steel

Man of Steel (2013)
Directed by: Zack Snyder
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 59%

Hello Film Fans!

Being the nerd that I am, I love superhero films. I had never been an Iron Man fan until the movie...after that, I was hooked. The hero I hold dearest to my heart is The Caped Crusader; The Dark Knight; The Batman. His lack of traditional powers is what makes him so appealing. Critics point to this as reasoning against proclaiming him as a superhero, however they couldn't be further from the truth. Batman is abnormally smart, is incredibly observant, and has a seemingly eidetic memory. Just because he can't fly doesn't mean he isn't super. On the other end of the spectrum is Superman. Supes has just about every power you can name: flight, strength, heat vision, x-ray vision, and invulnerability. He is so overpowered that the only way to effectively fight him is to have access to an element (Kryptonite) that does not occur naturally on Earth. I have despised Superman for years because of his excessive abilities. The old question of whether who would win, Batman or Superman, is a stupid question. Superman should win every time because Batman doesn't have a stockpile of Kryptonite. The question of who is a better more interesting hero is undoubtedly Batman. Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy brought the Dark Knight back to the level he deserves to be at, and his deft hand is trying to do the same with Superman. The Nolan produced/Snyder directed Man of Steel attempts to bring Superman to a gritty new level. Did they succeed? Find out!

!!!Obligatory Spoiler Warning!!!

I am going to provide a short summary of the film. Most of what I will reveal below can be gathered from the trailer and/or prior knowledge of the Superman mythos.
If you don't know the origin story of Superman, I will explain it now (also where have you been). Krypton was a planet far far away from Earth. The people of the planet were an advanced race but they had reached the tipping point of their existence. Since I have not followed the Superman comics, I can only provide the story that the film tells. The persistent expansion of the Kryptonions have forced them to harvest energy from their own planet's core. This eventually causes the planet to implode. Acting out of rage for his people, General Zod (Michael Shannon) decides to take over Krypton in an effort to preserve its people. Jor-El (Russell Crowe), realizing that those on Krypton are all doomed, decides to send his newly born son, Kal-El, to a distant planet where he can rebuild their race. He chooses Earth because an old scout ship had been sent there thousands of years earlier and it would be a suitable home for the new Krypton. He embeds all of the information about Krypton inside Kal-El's DNA and sends him off. As punishment for his betrayal, Zod and his army are sentenced to a place called The Phantom Zone. There are to remain encased in an icy substance for hundreds of years. WHen Krypton explodes, Zod is released from captivity and he begins to hunt for Kal-El. Kal-El's ship lands in Smallville, Kansas and is discovered by Jonathan (Kevin Costner) and Martha (Diane Lane) Kent. They rename Kal-El Clark and they raise him as their own son. Clark suffers through growing pains a tad different than the normal teen. The radiation from the Earth's sun provides Clark with superhuman abilities. In addition to this, the lighter gravity of Earth allows Clark to do truly extraordinary things. The first half of the film is told through flashbacks that reveal how Clark has made it to his current station in life. When a NASA satellite is pinged by a foreign object in Northern Canada, Lois Lane (Amy Adams), a Pulitzer Prize winning reporter for The Daily Planet, is sent to investigate. After some snooping, she discovers that the object is, in fact, a huge alien ship. She encounters Clark and he convinces her to stop trying to discover who he is. Clark activates the ship and moves it to a remote place at the North Pole Due to Clark activating the ship he found, General Zod is alerted to Clark's presence. Clark decides that the people of Earth must know of his existence, whether they're ready or not.

This is the most beautiful superhero film I have ever seen. There are great moments that show Clark growing up that foreshadow events that occur later in his life. Other than some of the cheesy computer imagery, the film shows a skilled director's hand throughout. Something that has been evident in several Superman stories are the religious undertones. Man of Steel is not without. First and foremost, Clark is 33 years old when he decides to reveal himself to the world. This is the same age Jesus was when he learns of His fate. Jor-El says that Kal will be a god among men. This is literally what Jesus was; a God among men. Clark's abilities come from the Sun which is located in "The Heavens". The ship that Clark finds was designed by Jor-El. When Clark inserts the "key" that was sent in his pod, the ship recognizes him as Kal-El and a "shadow" of Jor-El appears. He is able to be anywhere in the ship immediately, and he can also sense the presence of intruders. This effectively makes him Omnipotent and Omnipresent; it makes him God. There is even a point in the film where Clark must decide what he wants to do: come forward and protect Earth, or remain in hiding from Zod. He walks into a church and seeks the advice of a priest. As he sits in the pew, we see a stained glass depiction of Jesus over his right shoulder; real subtle. Perhaps the most compelling piece of the Christ analogy is the need for sacrifice. Something that Superman doesn't do is kill. He'll beat suckers into submission everyday, but when it comes to murder, he shies away. It is mentioned by one of the invading Kryptonians that Clark's sense of morality will be his downfall. During a battle, Clark pleads with an enemy that is threatening to kill a helpless family with their heat vision. During the confrontation Clark must make the decision; save the family or keep his morality. He decides to save the family and, thus, sacrifices his humanity. The story of a Superman is such a great backdrop for a Christ allegory and it makes me wonder how many will pick up on it.

Man of Steel is great. As I mentioned above, I am not a Superman fan, but I am glad I saw this film. It is definitely worth seeing in the theater. Snyder and Nolan do a fantastic job of abandoning the campiness associated with the hero, and injecting some reality. Superman doesn't feel overpowered. He has his work cut out for him with Zod and his army. They replace the neon green Kryptonite with a grayish metal, and they explain why Clark is weak around it. See Man of Steel ASAP.

My Score: 9/10

Beasts of the Southern Wild

Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012)
Directed by: Benh Zeitlin
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 86%

During this Oscar season I have heard the title Beasts of the Southern Wild tossed around by everybody and their mother. I kept telling myself that I need to see it if everyone is praising it. I kept putting it off until today. I was inspired yesterday when Judd Apatow stated on his Facebook account "Beasts of the Southern Wild is the only movie I have felt the need to watch multiple times this year...". If you know me then you know my fondness for Apatow so that was the last bit of coaxing that I needed. I rented it from RedBox (along with another film that I will review soon) and watched it. It didn't hold my attention like I hoped it would but I can certainly understand the buzz surrounding it.

Beasts of the Southern Wild is about a small community living outside the levees in New Orleans. Hushpuppy, played by Quvenzhané Wallis, lives with her father, Wink (Dwight Henry), and several animals. Her room consists of a trailer perched on a tree while Wink stays in a lean-to construction across a field from her. The start of the film shows how happy Hushpuppy is with her life in The Bathtub (their community) and the strong sense of kinship they all share. The film then transitions to a school lesson where Miss Bathsheba (Gina Montana) tells Hushpuppy and her class that the polar ice caps are melting and that when they are gone, the water is going to cover their homes. She also tells them about Aurochs (the animal that is the precursor to modern cattle) and how they were a creature to be feared. She tells the children that the cavemen would hide and draw images of them on their walls because of their fear and admiration towards them. Hushpuppy begins to have imagine chunks of ice breaking off into the ocean carrying Aurochs inside. She believes that these Aurochs are coming to get her. We learn early in the film that Hushpuppy's father is not well and that he is not as caring as it is initially thought. He proves to be short tempered and somewhat violent towards his daughter. The film explores their relationship as well as the concept of home and community.

Something that immediately caught my attention in this film is how real it all seemed. When films are done about the bayou or New Orleans it always seems like there is a certain element of fantasy involved. I will say that I cannot remember many films depicting these areas except for maybe The Waterboy. Adam Sandler's character (Bobby) lived with his momma in the swamps of Louisiana but it didn't feel like that. Treme is set in post Katrina New Orleans and I think it comes the closest to how the city and area actually feel. The community in Beasts lives in extremely poor conditions yet they don't know anything else. We see Hushpuppy trot around in dirty clothes and galoshes because that's all she owns. The people speak and behave how I imagine they would. The only element of fantasy is the occasional flash of the Aurochs that are heading to The Bathtub. Wallis' narration adds an incredible innocence to the entire film. Her naivety about the ways of the world break your heart. In one scene, she observes sick people in a hospital that are connected to IVs and monitors. She says that when animals get sick here, they plug them into the walls. We take for granted the things that we know and we never think about how foreign some of our actions and comforts might be. Beasts of the Southern Wild is a well constructed film and it is worth seeing to understand what the Oscar buzz surrounding Quvenzhané is all about.

I stated above that this film didn't hold my attention like I hoped it would. I had no idea what I was about to watch when I put the DVD in. I was immediately captivated by the story of Hushpuppy and Wink but grew tired of his Devil may care attitude. I didn't understand how these people that are living in such an abject situation; such dire straits, could so adamantly fight off any help they might receive. I also take objection with the Academy. I wonder if they considered a Best Actor nomination for Dwight Henry because he had a fantastic performance as Wink.

No BS

Beasts of the Southern Wild is a film about the relationship between a girl and her father as they survive in the lowlands outside of New Orleans. There are some lighthearted moments in the film but they are sparse. At heart, this film is a drama about growing up and facing what the world throws at you. If you have asked why Wallis has been nominated for a Best Actress Oscar then definitely see this because you'll see why immediately.

My Score: 7/10

Season of the Witch

Season of the Witch (2011)
Directed by: Dominic Sena and Brett Ratner
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 10%

I had the urge tonight to do another Hate Watch Review and Nic Cage immediately entered my brain. I heard his voice question "But which bitchin' movie of mine will you watch, Heath!?" "Well, Nic, that is a valid question. With so many God-awful movies under your belt how does one choose" I replied. I thought it would be wise to search Netflix for the worst movie I could find. I settled on one of his SEVEN films from 2011; Season of the Witch. Yes, you read that last sentence correctly. Seven films in 2011. There are some actors that pledge to never make another movie ever again after seven films (Hugh Grant et al.) but Cage says, "What other crazy sh*t can I do!?" Well Mr. Cage, this truly is a testament to your willingness to do anything. Be aware, I am going to go into detail about the movie in its entirety. Unlike my other films where I discuss parts; I plan on telling you exactly why this is held in such low regard across all of humanity. Enjoy!

Season of the Witch opens with a "trial" on a bridge in which several women are being accused of consorting with Lucifer. I put those quotation marks around the word trial because there is no way on Earth these women are going to live through this ordeal. Of the three women, one confesses to witchcraft. It is obvious that she is just trying to save her skin because she doesn't possess the hallmarks that all witches possess (shadowy eyes, gnarled teeth, bluish grey skin, a crazy crooked nose) like her companions. When the priest has condemned them all he signals his fellow priests to toss them over the bridge; effectively breaking their necks. They double up the murder by dunking them underwater and leaving them. As the crowd disperses, the head priest objects to his brother's haste to leave. They say that they believe they are as dead as they can be and that they have no concern for the sacrements that must be performed for their souls. The head priest decides to do the task alone and suffers for it when, surprise, the witches are not dead.

Fast forward some time to what appears to be The Crusades. Ron Perlman and Nicolas Cage are on top of a hill taking wagers on who will kill the most baddies. Violence ensues. Fast forward more time. A similar scene occurs. This is the filmmakers way of telling us that "Nic Cage and Ron Perlman are bad dudes in this movie" and I can appreciate the shorthand. Fast forward again to another massacre only this time Cage (his character's name is unimportant) sees women and children have been slain. This is not glorious to Cage. When he expresses his distaste for the scene the head knight calls him insolent. Feeling thoroughly unrighteous, Vincent from the Beauty and the Beast TV series leans over and says "Let's get the Hell out of here" (which is definitely how Crusaders talked). Cage realizes that that is a terrific idea and the two head off aimlessly; destined to star in a buddy cop movie set in the Crusades era.

Cage and Dieter from Blade II walk for a while and they happen upon a house filled with corpses. They set the house on fire (because that's what you did in those days) and continue on. Their next stop is a castle racked by plague. Apparently Cage is a celebrity even during the Crusades because he hides his face as they ride through the streets. Koulikov from Enemy at the Gates, on the other hand, couldn't care less who sees him (much like in the Present). The two are discovered to be Crusaders when a stableboy sees the emblem on Cage's sword. The two are confronted by guards and an epic sword fight breaks out (which ends in 33 seconds). The two are taken to see the Cardinal by the guards and they are commissioned to escort a witch, that is believed to be the cause of the Plague, to a Monastery. When Cage refuses, they are thrown in prison. After a dream, Cage decides to accept the Cardinal's condition if he agrees that the alleged witch will receive a trial (no quotations) and the desertion charges are lifted from Hellboy and himself. The Cardinal agrees.

The crew find a snake oil peddler that knows the way to the Monastery and hire him to lead their crew. When the group goes to retrieve the witch, they find that she is a young girl. After they are attacked by the not quite sedated witch, Cage backhands her and ensures that she is, in fact, unconscious. They then set out for the monastery.

As the crew (or crüe) travels they discuss things like: fighting, witches, STDs, etc. Cage then uses his Cage sense to catch someone that has been following them. It is revealed that an altar boy (escaping the Church) wishes to accompany them on their journey. Cage pits Johner from Alien Resurrection and the altar boy against each other in a fit. When the Kay (the altar boy) proves his worth, Cage accepts him into the fold. The group continues to walk for a while...I missed some of the details because I was looking for more names to call Ron Perlman. As the group is resting for the night they agree to take turns watching over the witch. When it is the priests turn to watch her, she grows hysterical (insert joke here about kids and priests). She attacks him, steals his key, and escapes. The crüe follows her to a nearby village and a man(witch)hunt begins. They all break apart to cover more ground and one of the knights begins to hallucinate. He believes the witch is his daughter so he begins to aimlessly runabout. He is run through by Kay on accident because he thought the figure rushing crazily towards him was the witch. They find the witch and she apologizes for running. She explains that she couldn't stand being touched by the priest again (...). They bury the knight and go on their way.

After more walking and an ambush by wolves, where their guide is killed, the group arrives at the Monastery. They go inside and find that all the monks have been killed by the Plague. It is at this point where the true nature of the witches affliction reveals itself. She is not a witch at all but is possessed by a demon. The priest starts to perform an exorcism but the demon easily quiets him. The demon then possesses nearby dead monks to combat the knights. In the battle, most of the group is slain (including the guy that provided the voice of Clayface in Batman: The Animated Series). Nic Cage fights fights off the demon as Kay finishes the ritual in which the demon is vanquished from the Earth. Cage has Kay promise to look after the witch (no longer a witch). He agrees and buries all the dead folks.

Wow. That is all I can really say about this movie. It is a great film to watch for the joy that hating it brings. Nic Cage proves once again that he, is limited by nothing. Now, enjoy the wonderful song "Season of the Witch" by Donovan


No BS

Season of the Witch showcases Nic Cage being Nic Cage beautifully! It is a terrible film and has almost no redeeming qualities (Christopher Lee is in it for 3 minutes total) but if you are drunk it could provide some great laughs!

My Score: 4/10

House of Cards

House of Cards (2013)
Directed by: David Fincher (Pilot)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: n/a

My blog is dedicated to the reviewing of films however I feel that I must discuss House of Cards. The main reason for this is because the pilot felt like a movie. High production values, premium talent, tight and interesting writing, and a supremely engaging plot make this show worth talking about. I am only going to discuss the pilot for two reasons: one, it is the only episode I have watched (as of now) and two, I do not want to spoil anything for myself or anyone else. For those reasons I will review based on what can be inferred from episode one only.

House of Cards centers around South Carolina Congressman Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) and his ploy to oust the newly elected President from office. Underwood is bitter after the promise of the seat of Secretary of State is abruptly taken away by the new Cabinet. His bitterness is justified however because without Underwood's support, Garret Walker (Michael Gill) would never have been elected. Underwood's plan is to start tearing down everyone involved with the new administration; starting with the newly elected Secretary of State, Michael Kern (Kevin Kilner). He plans to do so with the help of his wife, trusted aids, and a driven reporter at the Washington Herald, Zoe Barnes (Kate Mara).

House of Cards does so much right that I cannot see anything wrong. Kevin Spacey is terrific in his role as Frank Underwood. The line between antagonist and protagonist is blurred to the point you'd believe is the the villan and the victim in this story. Underwood routinely breaks the fourth wall to let the audience in on his thoughts. In this trailer, you can get a brief example of how fluidly Spacey delivers his aside.

House of Lies is another show that employs the same tactic. It is used for the same reason but is done in a more flamboyant style. Again, this is an example and can be understood more if you see the whole episode.

Adding to the terrific casting (Robin Wright does her best role in years) the cinematography is spot on for a Fincher film. If you view them carefully, you will see similarities in all of Fincher's movies. The Social Network, Fight Club, Se7en, Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, etc all utilize a specific color palette. There is a great article hereif you want to know more. Essentially, Fincher utilizes a number of different greens and blues to get the feel of his movies just right. When you discuss the colors within the parameters of their given films, their significance is striking. Fight Club is grimy and bloody. The sickly greens and muted blues that he uses add to the dirty feeling you get as you watch it. Pay attention to the actual fight scenes in this clip. Notice how they feel different than the others.


Coloration is such an important aspect of film but it is rarely discussed in detail outside of film classes. House of Cards employs a lot of blues. This, I feel, adds coldness to the scenes. You get sold on the fact that D.C. is not a nice place. It's not warm; it's not friendly; it's hostile. I cannot wait to watch the rest of the season!

No BS
House of Cards is a tightly written, wonderfully acted, and brilliantly shot political thriller. If you've enjoyed the numerous John Grisham adaptations then you will easily sink right into the world that has been crafted. There are plenty of blogs out there to binge watching the whole season. Keep in mind there are thirteen episodes, each one is an hour, and it came out five days ago. That's how addicting this show is.

My Score: 9.5/10