Doctor Who: The End of Time January 31, 2010
Posted by oldboy in : Science Fiction , 1 comment so far“In the last days of planet Earth everyone had bad dreams.” No this isn’t little Britain, this is/was/will be the final adventure (for now) of the tenth Doctor David Tennant. The BBC gave Tennant a right old send off putting him on a dozen other shows on the BBC over Christmas, along with the idents (program introductions), repeats, sticking his excellent three hour “Hamlet” between the first and second parts of “The End of Time”. Tennant was the face of the BBC and has been such a large part of the popularity of Doctor Who. Heck, even my parents watched it. That’s how big of an event it was. I doubt there was many people who weren’t at least curious to see the final moments of this Doctor.
It’s a bittersweet feeling to see David Tennant leave, he has served the part of the Doctor so very well and is a fine actor. He deserves to move onto a great career. I won’t say greater since I think Doctor Who is one of those great golden roles that not many can play. It is in no small part thanks to Russel T Davies also for bringing the series back to life and putting it at the top of BBC’s agenda. Also big thanks must go to Christopher Eccleston who started the new series and captured the audience that would be handed on to Tennant. It was Eccleston that really got me into this new series and Tennant that held onto me too.
The final episode here isn’t the best in the run of the new series, I was delighted to see Donna back as well as Wilf, although Donna has a very small part. The Master is back too which is rather cool. The Characters of the Doctor and The Master are like that of Holmes and Moriarty. Enemies that respect the genius of the other. The Master’s plan is a little wacky but he is not the true enemy, that is The Time Lords. Power corrupts and as Davies put it, you can’t not be that powerful without becoming a corrupt society, interesting piece of social commentary there. It’s nice to finally see the Time Lords back onscreen. I had expected from the beginning that this was an Ace Card Davies was holding up his sleeve. Although I had thought this might be a full return of the Time Lord race as to put things back in place for Moffat, but the concept of “Last of the Time Lords” adds a darker tone to the character that I think will remains a large part of ‘Who’ lore.
Tennants ending is unexpected, the Master is the first speculation as to “he will knock four times”. But Davies writing is unpredictable to say the least. My guess has always been wrong with these hints he sprinkled throughout the series. It’s interesting to see back as far as season 4 in 2008 that there is a mention that the meeting between Donna and the Doctor is not by chance, but that was left open and wasn’t answered until New Years day 2010 when Wilf had to go and get himself locked in. Bernard Cribbins, you are an emotional delight to watch.
Here too in this series is some unanswered questions. Who is the Woman who voted no on the time lord council, the same woman who talked to Wilf through his TV, who was the second person who voted against the time lords with their face in their hands. Davis says that this is left open to interpretation to the viewer. Some say it’s the Doctor’s mother. Others say it’s his grand daughter Susan since the Doctor looks at Wilf’s grand daughter Donna when Wilf asks him who that lady was. My own opinion is that it’s Susan, his grand daughter but it might be something left over for Moffat in his series. Something to come perhaps. A cute little cut scene from the script that didn’t make it to air was the Doctor mentioning that he was half Human for a few days in 1999. Nice nod to an old unanswered question. It’s all wibbly wobbly timey wimey anyway isn’t it?
The 10th Doctors death is certainly slow and milked for all it’s worth. I think it’s nice to see him get to give a nod to all his companions, the one with Jack in the Bar was hilarious. Most heartfelt was the lotto ticket to Donna from her father Geoff Noble given to her by the Doctor, Geoff Noble was played by Howard Attfield who appeared in The Runaway Bride but died during the filming of season 4.
10’s last line “I don’t want to go” is perhaps the most realistic view of the passing of the Doctor from one regeneration to the next. Since he loses that personality that was unique to him. It’s a powerful moment and we are suddenly thrown into the hands of the 11Th Doctor and the adventure begins again! “Geronimo!” which sounds like it was taken from a character in a Humphrey Bogart movie.
The End of Time wraps up the final adventures of The 10th Doctor along with the era of Russel T Davis as head producer. It’s a shame that Tennant and new Head Producer Steven Moffat won’t be working together on a new series but with both Tennants and RTDs departure there is a clean slate for Matt Smith and Moffat to work on, creating their own look and style to the series. I’m terrible excited about what’s to come from Moffat who wrote some excellent episodes of Doctor Who so far.
Favorite Quote: “You’re a genius, you’re stone-coldbrilliant, you are, I swear, you really are. But you could be so much more. You could be beautiful. With a mind like that, we could travel the stars. It would be my honour. Because you don’t need to own the universe. Just see it. To have the privilege of seeing the whole of time and space… that’s ownership enough.” - The 10th Doctor
Sherlock Holmes December 31, 2009
Posted by oldboy in : Cinema , 2 comments
This is a great start to a franchise that is sure to be a trilogy of movies. Robert Downey Jr. is likely sitting quite happy now with Iron Man in one hand and Sherlock Holmes in the other and he plays the characters so very well. In particular Holmes, a man who can’t understand the outside world, who has no interest in it. He doesn’t even know that the sun revolves around the earth for such matters do not interest him. Only the game, the mystery, the questions and the investigation. He delights in examining and pulling it apart.
The character of Holmes is done justice here, he isn’t a nice man, he can be rude, he is messy, he takes cocaine. But he is brilliant. Intelligent in his field. I have noticed a lot of people saying that they didn’t expect the character to be so dark. In reality that is true to the character. He is a dark character. One has to only look at the books or even at the Granada series featuring Jeremy Brett to see that he character is a dark and brooding one. Certainly the film has more comedic moments and action in it but in a film set up to be a franchise in front of a wide audience i can’t see it not being done in this way. I would love a very canon Holmes story, the action was always in the investigation rather than physical acts but the action in this movie doesn’t make this any less enjoyable. Again, Holmes is an accomplished boxer and has been known to gamble when he needed rent, so there isn’t really anything in the movie that detracts from the character, it takes a lot of Holmes background and builds onto it on screen.
I had expected there might be a Brad Pitt Cameo as Moriarty at the end. I waited till the end credits to see if it were true but alas no. While it’s an interesting piece of casting I’d rather see another actor take on the role. I feel Pitt is too much of a likeable face to match the description often given to Moriarty. Downey is well cast as Holmes and brings more gravitas to the roles then previously rumored Sacha Baron Cohen might have. Dare I say that with previous dabbles in exotic medications Downey has more in common with Holmes. I would rank his interpretation as one of my favorites next to Peter Cushing and Jeremy Brett. Usually I prefer Robert Downey Jr in more serious roles but I enjoyed his performance in this a little more than I was expecting.
Jude Law is an interesting Watson and again makes Watson a little tougher taking his military background and adding a youth and energy to the character that we haven’t seen before. It’s not the first time Law has featured in a Holmes story, he did appear in “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes” dressed as a Woman! I won’t say more. I’m certainly glad he got this role over Russell Crowe.
Mark Strong as lord Blackwood was kind of a weak villain.Perhaps because Moriarty was lurking in the shadows in this movie detracted from the dangerousness of this character. It’s a bit like SPECTRE in the Bond movies, the baddie is part of a bigger organization we know there is something far worse behind him. Also having him be a practitioner of the dark arts also made the character seem a little weak when put up against Holmes since Holmes himself doesn’t accept the supernatural answer to Blackwoods powers therefore making him less of a real threat unlike the very real danger of Moriarty. I found it interesting that the beginning of the movie with the sacrificial ritual was similar to scenes from the movie “Young Sherlock Holmes” which I had seen a few days previously.
Irene Adler. I very much like that they added this character to the movie since she has always been considered Holmes true love. I like that they already have an established relationship when we see them in the film. My only nitpick is that the character has a little less class and was a bit more overtly devious against Holmes especially when I saw the friends she was keeping company with. Yikes.
Love the score, the old London city, the dissected fight scenes. Guy Ritchie really brought the world of Holmes and Watson to life and I can’t wait for the next instalment. My Hopes for the sequel.Well, I’d love to see Holmes and Moriarty going off reichenbach falls at the end of the next movie. I hope the character’s interact much like their first meeting in the books, each already knowing what the other would say therefore making it pointless to actually say anything. Whatever is next this is a bright beginning (ala Casino Royale and Batman Begins) with a strong future ahead.
Favorite Quote: Madame, I need you to remain calm and trust me, I’m a professional. Beneath this pillow lies the key to my release. - Sherlock Holmes
Inglourious Basterds November 30, 2009
Posted by oldboy in : Cinema , add a comment
This Movie is claimed by Tarantino to be a Homage to all those great kick ass action War Movies such as “The Dirty Dozen”, “Kelly’s Heroes”, “The Guns of Navarone” and “Where Eagles Dare”. I absolutely love these movies. They are pure adrenaline filled fun. Where Eagles Dare is perhaps my favorite of the bunch with it’s utterly relentless action and gun play coming years before the likes of John Woo.
Inglourious Basterds did not have the meat and two potato I was expecting. Yes it has beautifully visualized actions scenes but they are few and far between with large sections of this two hours and thirty five minute movie being very cerebral with Dialogue filled conversations between colorful characters sitting down at a table. Tarantino can write great dialogue and give it time to breath like a fine wine. In some ways it’s refreshing to just have two people sit at a table and talk without the need for action thrown in or the scene changing ever five minutes. But it other ways it’s exhausting to the mind especially when you’re reading the subtitles for 75% of the movie not that I mind but I think most Tarantino fans have come to expect a bit more pace after his recent offers of Kill Bill and Deathproof. Even a German friend I was sitting beside during the movie found the subtitle reading hard going.
Another problem is that this movie is called “Inglourious Basterds” with Brad Pitt plastered on the front of the Poster and featured heavily in advertisements and trailers yet this film really isn’t about the intrepid troop. They are hardly in it. They don’t take center stage, they don’t even have any great dialogue to chew through. No this movie is about Col Hans Landa, this is his movie from start to finish and the part is excellently played with glee by the highly talented Christoph Waltz who is surely deserving of some acting award here. Check out his scene with Brad Pitt and Eli Roth at their first encounter, he is riveting in his performance while the other actors literally stand still beside him.
Brad Pitt sure is fun to watch in this movie but as I said above he’s hardly in it. His main confrontation with the protagonist falls flat after building up the statures of each so well. I almost get the impression that Pitt did this as a favor to boost the movie and promote it to a wider audience but I doubt Brad Pitt fans will get there moneys worth here as he seems to haven’t had time to film many scenes, least of all, action.
What great action we do get he does not feature in. He remains tied up to a chair. You wouldn’t see that happening to Clint Eastwood in “Kelly’s Heroes”. Of the action scenes the best are the Mexican (crotch) standoff in the bar and the final piece at the Ritz cinema both done to perfection.
This Film is good. But it’s not the sandwich you were expecting to bite into and it’s a lot to chew on. It has no chance of eclipsing the great War movies it claims to stand alongside. Stick in “Kelly’s Heroes” or “Where Eagles Dare” for a true men of action film.
Favorite Quote: “You probably heard we ain’t in the prisoner-takin’ business; we in the killin’ Nazi business. And cousin, Business is a-boomin’.” - Lt. aldo Raine
Staying Alive October 30, 2009
Posted by oldboy in : DVD/Video/T.V. , add a commentI saw Saturday Night Fever a few years back for the first time and was blown away by how good it was. I had somehow expected some typical dance movie. Actually I am not sure what I was expecting, but what I got was totally different. It didn’t end on a sweet note and had a shock factor to it. The sequel Staying Alive doesn’t have this, in fact most people consider this to be a terrible movie but at the same time a guilty pleasure.
While the movie wasn’t great it sure was fun. Directed by Sylvester Stallone, it’s a bit like a dance version of Rocky with a strong 80s “Fame” influence. John Travolta certainly looks the part after taking some body building tips from Stallone. It’s full of cheesy moments but darn it I just could not dislike this movie if I wanted to. Maybe because I am sold on Travolta’s character Tony Manero from the last movie, the character has mellowed but still has a crude and driven personality. The other characters in this movie, in particular are a bit more laughable than theatrical, for example Laura who is as predictable as she looks.
The ending is upbeat, if a little unrealistic. But it brings us right full circle again to the beginning of the first movie when the “Staying Alive” song kicks in and that was the best part of the movie that left a big grin on my face.
Favorite Quote: “I’m gonna strut“- Tony Manero
Crime and Punishment September 30, 2009
Posted by oldboy in : Books , add a commentDear Raskolnikov,
I can’t help but compare your story to that of a great number of films I have seen involving the righteousness of the ‘Good Killer’. As I read Crime and Punishment I thought of Scorsese’s “Taxi Driver”, Hitchcock’s “Rope”, Chaplin’s “Monsieur Verdoux” and Shakespear’s “Hamlet” as companion pieces to your own story.
The book is an assault on the senses, unpleasant and uncomfortable as we see the story through the eyes of a man who kills. What I found highly interesting was the change in perspective, from the author to Rashkilnov and at mid point when Raskolnikov shares his horrible truth to Razumikhin in silence changes to first person, who it is I am unsure. Dostoevsky? At the end it is “we” the audience that are the narrators of the story as we leave it.
While I realize that Dostoevsky himself had spent time in Prison with Murderers I can’t help but feel he himself might have killed someone or seriously considered it and spent time meditating on it.
Raskolnikov is too close to the reality of that dreaded feeling that he portrays when he considers murdering the pawn broker, taking the action and dealing with the psychological impact afterwards. It’s an interesting study of human behavior, but one wonders could Raskolnikov really have done it if this were reality, purely focusing and desiring to kill someone might not be enough of a tipping point to murder which Raskolnikov, himself well knows at the beginning of the novel, yet his action undertaken is rash and foolish, perhaps driven by the chance he comes across hearing that the pawnbroker would be alone. Yet in sickness and a delirious state he takes greater risk by fulfilling this act. Today we might consider it to be the act of a schizophrenic. It seems too that while trying to avoid detection by the police he is more than eager to hint at his crimes with an almost childish glee to his friend Razumikhin and Sonia, as if to prove what he is capable of. People cannot commit the act of murder alone without some desire of wanting others to know for what would be the purpose of killing without reason. Raskolnikov tries to fool himself into believing that he is doing it for a greater good while it seems that his true reasoning is that he is doing it because he simply can, he is a man without god but has the power of god by taking a life. Of course it all goes horribly wrong for him as he sloppily kills the old lady and her sister and drives himself almost mad with guilt and fear of reproach which seems to disprove his own theory that some men have the right to kill. It seems as though he doesn’t take his own conscious into account on this theory.
On the whole I felt there are three different points of the character. At first his thinking is cold, calculated, he hates the world, people and wants to remove the bad people. His character is most like that of Travis Bickle of “Taxi Driver”, they each live in their own thoughts, removed from society, with similar views of the world around them thinking how disgusting it is. They both devise ways to conceal their weapon of choice for murder. There is even further similarities when Raskolnikov is trying to help a young drunk girl with torn clothes on the street at the beginning of the story, and his desire to assist Sonia much like Travis who wants to save the young prostitute, Iris, who gets into his cab at the beginning of the film . Both Raskolnikov and Travis find the acts of these women to be beyond terribly yet feel a duty to save them. Neither character can truly cut themselves off from their humanity and compassion.
Raskolnikov’s actual act of killing and justification is like that of Chaplin’s “Monsieur Verdoux” whom also kills to support his family and at the end of the movie defends his actions in court as his right, saying “As for being a mass killer, does not the world encourage it? Is it not building weapons of destruction for the sole purpose of mass killing? Has it not blown unsuspecting women and little children to pieces? And done it very scientifically? As a mass killer, I am an amateur by comparison”
Mid way through Crime and Punishment Raskolnikov seems to take a uturn in his personality. He is much calmer like, intelligent, weaker and more disgusted with himself from his action, he can barely hold up to questioning by porfery and with what money he has he spends it trying to help Katerina Ivanovna’s family.
By the end I thought the Raskolnikov that we knew at the beginning of the story seemed to have returned yet still much like shakespeare’s “Hamlet” he is psychologically tormented by his action and wonders whether it is better to kill himself rather than suffer the repercussions of his actions and the anguish that goes with them. he eIn tnd he gives himself up and goes to prison.At first he holds onto his philosophy that he still had the right to kill, gradually it gives way when his focus becomes Sonia and the desire to spend his future with her. At this point we leave the story and as the author says, the story of Raskolnikov and Sonia is for another time to be told. I often feel empty when I finish reading a book, I’m always interested to continue the journey with the character, however I think the point of Raskolnikov life which I read was the most interesting and we won’t see an interesting time like this again for that Character unless he truly is superhuman. My own reflection on it is that he doesn’t survive in Prison as he was rather sickly, he never gets to be with Sonia. However that may not be the important thing. What is important was the fact that his hope of living that future life with her was stronger than his situation and maybe that was all he really needed in the end. No longer a free desperate man alone in his room, now he is a imprisoned man but a hopeful one, a man who is free in his heart.
Favorite Quote: “There is no one, no one in the whole world now so unhappy as you” - Sonia
Ashes to Ashes August 31, 2009
Posted by oldboy in : DVD/Video/T.V., Science Fiction , add a comment
I love this series. Not only love but I like it far more than “Life on Mars”, sorry folks. “Life on Mars” is what got me into this but I think the series itself stands on it’s own. It’s less serious than “Life on Mars” and what makes it shine is the relationship between Gene Hunt and Alex Drake. The series captures the style of the 80s but the relationship between these two characters reminds me of the 80’s classic TV series “Moonlighting”. Gene and Alex hate each other yet their is an underlining respect and maybe dare I say, Love.
I got so addicted to this I watched series one and two in a week. The first season was an emotional roller coaster, the way it dealt with Alex’s relationship with her family. Her view of them as a child Vs how she sees them with her adult eyes in a less than perfect way. This arc is a bit similar to Sam’s arc in Life on Mars who had to deal with his Father dark background. But the final episode of season one’s Ashes to Ashes is far more devastating for Alex.
Series two took a different tone and dealt with 80s happenings relating to the police force more than Alex’s personal life. Ray and Chris have meatier roles and are far more fun then their 70s counterparts. The new character of Shaz went through a dramatic change between series and went from ditzy police girl to Chris’s master. Gene Hunt really shines in Ashes to Ashes. He just doesn’t give a damn about what he says to who, he speaks his mind and doesn’t regret. It’s refreshing, he’s the guy that speaks what most of us thinks. Not only does he refer to himself as the sheriff. He literally displays modern cowboy from the moment he is introduced riding in the Quattro as if riding on a horse to actually donning a cowboy costume. It’s a unique mix of sensibilities showing Genes methods as outdated, belonging to old times long gone when crime feared the police.
I guess growing up in the 80s and having an affinity with it is a part of why I like this show. Heck even my room still looks like the 80s in grey, white and red tones with striped curtains. I also love 80s music and this series has an abundance of some excellent songs from 1981 and 82.
There will be a Third and final series of Ashes to Ashes set in 1983. I am eager to see it play out. Will Sam ever return? Will Gene and Alex finally show their true feelings. But Alex belongs in the 21st Century with her daughter there so she can’t stay in the 80s with him. I think it would be funny if Gene ever ended up stuck in the 90s. It’s a shame there isn’t more dramas out there that are as fun as this.
Favorite Quote: “Fire up the Quattro! Take the seatbelt off! You’re a police officer, not a bloody vicar.” - DCI Gene Hunt
Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance July 31, 2009
Posted by oldboy in : Cinema, Science Fiction, Anime/ Manga , add a comment
At some points in our life we will watch something that connects with us at that time, that speaks to us most at that moment more than any other time in our life and stays with us.
As it goes it was said that Evangelion was first conceived as a somewhat normal weekly Mecha TV series until the mid point where it took a drastic turn due to the creator Hideaki Anno suffering from depression. He put this event of his life into the series as things began to fall apart with it’s budget and used the character of Shinji Ikari to represent what he was going through. “I mustn’t run away, I mustn’t run away”.
The series ended over budget, unable to fully depict it’s ending with animation and became more of an analyses of Shinji through flash backs and unfinished animation with Shinji’s eventual redemption of self by claiming he wanted to live in the real world. Most people were unhappy that a series that was building to so much ended on such an uneventful two part episode. No action, no depiction of third impact (except through Shinji’s mind). I personally liked it, I found it quite a powerful piece and very effecting, particularly this piece of dialogue “A person who truly hates himself cannot love others”.
In the Movies I get the sense that Shinji is a stronger character this time around. The Shinji of the TV series was a product of it’s time. This time round it’s Evangelion but different. As Mentioned, Shinji is stronger. Not only that but he is closer to Rei and Asuka. Asuka is likeable, Gendo seems actually nicer in this movie and almost has dinner with Shinji, Rei too is a more emotional person. I wonder why characters are nicer towards Shinji this time? Could it be related to the previous third impact?
The animation is beautiful and looks amazing on the big screen. We get to see Tokyo 3 (Hakone) a little more active with bustling streets. I don’t know how the heck they can clean up the mess left after battles with Angels each time though.
It appears that Lilith has been moved to a Moon base with another Evangelion, Unit 6 and Kaworu, who sits upon Unit 06’s finger tips in the vacuum of space and says “Hello Father” to Gendo as he flies by in a shuttle. Adam is where Lilith originally was on the cross and wears the mask of an Angel.
There is a new character too called Mari who looks like a female version of Gendo. Sorry for putting that thought out there to those of you who had a thing for her. She’s crazy and an excellent Eva pilot. She even goes berserker in some kind of beast mode in her Eva.
The big events such as the Unit 03 being infected by an Angel are almost the same except for the emotional whammy of Asuka being it’s pilot instead of Toji which was pretty horrifying to watch as Shinji’s Unit 01’s dummy plug kicks in and tears the angel apart, finally crushing the pilot plug of Asuka with it’s teeth. This time Shinji knows who’s inside, however when the dummy plug activates he is completely oblivious to what’s happening.
The final battle with the angel Zeruel is excellent and the epic music (The Final Decision We All Must Take) that was heard in the trailer kicks into gear here. Rei is eaten by the angel but Shinji defeats Zeruel and takes Rei back which starts Third impact. The end.
Kaworu appears after the credits at the end of 2.0 and stops Third impact from happening. He floats down from the sky with the Eva Unit 06, controlling it much like he controlled unit 02 in the series. Does this now mean they know he is an Angel? He tells Shinji that he will make him happy this time. This could mean that movie 3 and 4 are going to be radically different.
There is a brief preview of the next movie which I can’t wait for. We see Asuka back too in Pirate fashion. Usually Japanese Cinema audience is usually silent as it leaves the theatre but the crowd was a buzz with talk after this movie. I too was pretty hyped leaving and couldn’t help smiling. Of all the summer movies I saw this was the best one and the one that actually gave you something to think about, to chew on while leaving the Threatre and the anticipation of the next sequel.
I consider Neon Gensis Evangelion to be one of the greatest Animations ever made. As I see it this is leading to the fourth incarnation of the events of the series ending. These include the original TV series, The End of Evangelion, the Manga and Rebuild. It seems to be rehashing the same popular series each time and I do hope it would go outside the boundaries more, showing events after the end. But I think “Rebuild of Evangelion” is going to radically change what’s going to come. I can’t wait.
Favorite Quote: “This time it will be different, I’ll make you experience paradise” - Kaworu
Michael Jackson June 26, 2009
Posted by oldboy in : Uncategorized , add a commentI feel shock and disbelief. It’s hard to believe someone bigger than life is gone.
For me he was and always will be a big slice of 80’s culture. Growing up in the 80s when Michael was a solo artist and releasing hits was truly an Honor. I feel so fortunate that I grew up during that time where I could hear his music so often and where his fame was limiteless. He was my favorite Music artist.
I remember watching “Thriiler” for the first time. My family had recorded the first original Irish broadcast of it on TV. A video Tape that I still have at home I believe. I watched it constantly and even though I was a little scared viewing it I couldn’t help but be hypnotised by Michael’s outstanding talent, from his voice to his dancing. I even had a little badge with Michael’s picture on it that I wore from time to time given to me by my Mother.
Unfortunately I never got to see Michael live in concert. My Brother did though when Michael held a concert in Ireland. I had hoped that after his British tour that he might do one more world tour.
Anytime a Michael Jackson Music video was released it was an “event”. People at home or in Pubs and Bars would switch on “Top of the Pops” for the premiere of his new video. There’ll never be days like that again. His Album “Thriller” is the highest selling Album of all time and thanks to the internet it always will be.
His looks changed as he wanted them to be. Whether you remember him for the excitment of the 80s or some of the troubles of the 90s I doubt there will be anyone quite like him. He has inspired many. His friends and family remember him as a gentle, kind and innocent man and so do I.
50 is too young.
Transformers Revenge of the Fallen June 20, 2009
Posted by oldboy in : Cinema , 1 comment so far
This was a pretty kick ass Movie. It’s not perfect, but so far, of the summers movies which I have been disappointed in, Transformers Revenge Of The Fallen is not that bad and at times quite fun!
In my review of “Transformers” 2 years ago I thought one of the problem was that the Transformers, in particular the Decepticons were charactures rather than characters, full of one liners from the original Generation 1 TV series and not much else. Revenge of the Fallen rectifies this greatly. I practically smiled with glee every moment Starscream and Megatron were on screen together. The characters are very close to their G1 counterparts and Hugo Weaving is sounds a lot like Frank Welker, I don’t know if he took tips from Welker or studied the animated series but he is definitely channeling some old school Megatron in voice and personality.
Optimus Prime has turned bad ass since the last movie. The Autobot leader who is respectful of all living things practically blows Decepticons away by shooting them in the face head or ripping their head apart. In the previous movie he got owned by Megatron, he does so here too but gives some major payback. There is a classic scene in this movie that relates heavily to a scene in the animated movie where he turns grey.
The action will still make your eyes bleed, I sat further back this time and granted it isn’t as bad as the last movie but I still think there are too many up close shots in this. why not something from a bit more distance to appreciate the scale in it. There are Autobot twins in this that are basically two stereotypical black guys ripping on each other for comic effect.
The movie opens with some amazing action scenes set in Shanghai and a heroic entrance by the man himself, Optimus (Peter Cullen) Prime. I enjoyed the heck out of the first 30 minutes, even with all the crude humping jokes and action. It’s a hoot! However the middle section of the film drags heavily and the transformers take a back seat for a larger section of that film. The final half of the movie they come back with some F’ing amazing action sequences, but that’s all they are, big holy crap action scenes with big big explosions. But I’m not complaining. Those big explosions are impressive but not all that relevant to moving the story forward. I think the film is too long. I think a shorter middle section would be better. I still want even more transformers interaction even though I’m pretty happy with what I got in this.
Joygasms are as follows. Soundwave, voiced by Frank Welker although he stays in space in throughout the movie, Ravage (very cool) coming from Soundwave’s chest, I thought Ravage was very reminiscent of G1. The Matrix of Leadership! I thought we’d never see this since producer Don Murphy had say way back in 2006 that they didn’t want to confuse it with the Matrix Movies.
On a totally unrelated note, the promotional image of Optimus Prime above reminds me of a nightmare I had when I was very young, I dreamed that his head rose out from between two beds. The image above looks just like my dream all those years ago which I still remember.
I still want a more Transformer character based movie directed by someone other than Michael (Damn you) Bay, but I honestly don’t see how anyone else is going to top the amount of action and large set pieces in this. It would be a mountain to climb. They’d need something like a Giant Transforming planet or something *nudge nudge*.
Favorite Quote: “If God made us in his image then who made him?” - Sergeant Epps
I come with the Rain June 16, 2009
Posted by oldboy in : Cinema, Asian Cinema , 11 comments
Josh Hartnett plays ex LA cop Kline who goes to Hong Kong in search of a Billionaire’s Son named Shitao (Takuya Kimura). Helped by a ex colleague, Shawn Yue the two search for Shita and cross paths with gangster Dongpo (Byung Hung Lee) as each become entangled in the search while Shitao himself displays extraordinary healing powers to homeless people.
Directed by one of my favorite Directors whose films have a highly effecting nature on me I was excited to see his first English movie on the big screen. Tran Anh Hung had conceived the idea for “I come with the Rain” years ago when he was filming Cyclo.
This isn’t your typical Thriller of the ex cop finding someone lost. It’s a heavy film, visually, it depends heavily on what it shows more than dialogue and the imagery can be brutal in that regard. The first 30 minutes play out pretty normal but as we delve deeper into each character psych the film too becomes more and more erratic. The film jumps back and forth through different events in the characters lives, sometimes a bit confusing as to what is actually taking place in the present, but it gives the film a timeless almost dreamlike quality with no beginning or end. You could say the story is split over three character and their anguish. Hartnett, Kimura and Byung-Hung Lee. The City of Hong Kong is a beautiful setting for a film like this and has a realistic feel since the movie was shot on video.
Hartnett is quite good as the tormented ex Detective as we see his past and present are intertwined. As he gets deeper into his case and search for Shitao he becomes obsessed. Leaving behind his 5 star Hotel for a shabby murder scene apartment in order to get inside the mind of Shita and lose himself in the heart of the City. He adorns his walls with the photographs of Shita’s body with cuts all over it, trying to understand.
Byung-hung Lee perhaps had the most interesting role as the Hong Kong gangster whose love runs so deep he would do anything to keep the woman he loves (Played by the Directors beautiful Wife, Tran Nu Yên-Khê). yet for all his love he is still a vicious brute who’s willing to put a bullet in anyone who slander’s his girls name. It’s not mentioned at all in the movie but it might be worth noting that the characters Lili and Dongpo grew up together in the same orphanage and Lili witnessed Dongpo comit murder in his teens.
Some scenes of Takuya don’t work too well. At one stage there is a scene that resembles Passion of the Christ a little too closely, so much so that one might think it was a parody given the film’s setting. I couldn’t watch that scene without immediately thinking of that other movie and it felt a little embarrassing. It doesn’t help that Kimura under plays it. He’s really great in those Gatsby ads though.
In a Tokyo interview Tran said that the casting took a long time but I’m not quite sure I buy that since he cast some well handsome men in this movie who are popular across asia maybe more for their good looks than anything else.
As for the Film’s title Tran had this to say
Q: Regarding the title “I Come With the Rain”,
why is it “Come” ” with the Rain?”
A: Tran Anh Hung
When I wrote the script for the first time ,I had an image that when
Jesus appears, it’s always raining. However, while revising the script,
the rain slipped off some time or other. (laugh) So “the Rain” can be
found only in the title. But for me, rain’s motif inspired me a lot.
For all the symbolism you might come out of the theatre scratching your head as Tran literally nails it to a cross and if this is your first Tran Anh Hung film you might be throwing yourself in the deep end here. For those faint of heart you might get squamish in some scenes that borrow heavily from the works of Irish Painter Francis Bacon.
Tran Anh Hung’s next Film is an adaptation of Haruki Murakami’s novel Norwegian Wood. I ‘m rather looking forward this as I am a fan of Murakami. I had imagined maybe someone like Wong Kar Wai directing this but I think Tran Anh Hung is a director very capable of doing the material justice. It took 5 years to get permission from Murakami to finally make this movie, lets hope it was worth the wait.