Prometheus

Movie Name: Prometheus

Year of Release: 2012

Director: Ridley Scott

Stars: Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron, Idris Elba, Guy Pearce, Logan Marshall Green, Sean Harris, Rafe Spall, Kate Dickie, Patrick Wilson, Emun Elliott, Benedict Wong, Lucy Hutchinson

Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Suspense

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 3

Synopsis:

Prolific director Ridley Scott is back, after his latest disappointing titles, "Body of Lies" and "Robin Hood". "Prometheus" is a prequel to the "Alien" saga, and tries to establish ties and connections to the events that occurred in the original "Alien" also directed by Ridley Scott. The film introduces us to a couple of researchers, Elizabeth Shaw and Charlie Holloway who discover ancient writings in a cave that point out to a civilization who are the creators of human life. The information gathered points out to a planet situated in a different galaxy. With a crew sponsored by the Weyland corporation, they set off to find out the birth of the human species, and end up discovering something quite different.
Ridley Scott is a master at creating environments and ambiances. "Prometheus" excels at building a futuristic landscape that is simultaneously alien, beautiful, but also vaguely menacing. The film is possessed of a beauty in terms of art direction, set design and perfect integration of special effects, however the characters and their arc/development is very limited. The screenplay has plenty of ambitions and lots of ideas, but forgets to populate it with characters that have some depth and some motivation. The actors have little to do, and Noomi Rapace never really brings the dimension and strength that Sigourney Weaver made so fully realized in the "Alien" saga. Charlize Theron is as always fantastic, but in the end, she has little to do. A high point should be made of the fantastic Michael Fassbender, who creates the unforgettable David. The film is a mixed result - for all it's connections to "Alien" (even in the design details), the screenplay is definitely not as accomplished as that classic ever was.

Snow White and The Huntsman

Movie Name: Snow White and The Huntsman

Year of Release: 2012

Director: Rupert Sanders

Stars: Kristen Stewart, Charlize Theron, Chris Hemsworth, Sam Claflin, Sam Spruell, Ian McShane, Bob Hoskins, Ray Winstone, Nick Frost, Eddie Marsan, Toby Jones, Noah Huntley, Lily Cole

Genre: Adventure, Action, Fantasy

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 5

Synopsis:

Rupert Sanders' debut feature film, following a career in commercials, is the second project of the current year to tackle the Snow White fairytale (the first one was Tarsem Singh's "Mirror, Mirror"). The film follows the story of Snow White, whose father, the beloved king of a prosperous kingdom, marries a malevolent woman, who quickly kills him in order to seize the throne. Ravenna holds magic powers in her hands and wants to gain immortality. In order to vanquish all opposition, she has most of the king's supporters killed or banished, and imprisons Snow White. Once she reaches adulthood, Ravenna decides to consume her heart, in order to gain her much sought immortality. Snow White escapes to the Dark Forest, trying to elude her grim future.
Rupert Sanders clearly has a visual style, however in this film in particular, it tries to be many films simultaneously. There are influences from Peter Jackson's "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy and also from Guillermo Del Toro's "Pan's Labyrinth". The main problem with this film is that it tries too much to be many things and go in many directions without really embracing any. The screenplay simply doesn't go anywhere with any depth - the elements of fantasy aren't really embraced, nor are the more belligerent ones. The film has an uneven rhythm also - starting out quite dynamically and then leaving the main characters without much to do or say during most of the film. Another big problem in the film is Kristen Stewart, who simply doesn't have the acting ability to carry the character, who is asked to be simultaneously innocent but also iconic and charismatic. Charlize Theron ends up being the best thing about a film that definitely had a lot more promise than it finally delivers.

Men in Black 3

Movie Name: Men in Black 3

Year of Release: 2012

Director: Barry Sonnenfeld

Stars: Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin, Emma Thompson, Jemaine Clement, Michael Stuhlbarg, Alice Eve, David Rasche, Bill Hader, Mike Colter, Michael Chernus

Genre: Comedy, Action

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 5

Synopsis:

Barry Sonnenfeld's new feature film, six years after "RV", is the third installment of the franchise he started in 1997, which was followed by a lackluster sequel in 2002, "Men in Black". The film follows the two main characters, agents J and K, who have to battle a dangerous alien who escaped a prison situated on the moon. The dangerous alien goes back in time, forty years specifically, to prevent Agent K from arresting him. It's up to J to go back in time and prevent the future from being altered and Earth from being invaded by an alien race.
"Men in Black 3" was plagued by production problems, mostly having to deal with the script, which had to be reworked around the section of the film that takes place in 1969 (which forced the production of the film to be paused for 6 weeks). That's precisely the problem with the film - the pacing in the midsection is forced and contrived, losing a lot of the wit and charm that Josh Brolin brings to the film as the younger K. The film winks an eye at the civil rights movement, but it's barely there. The actors try as much as they can to make the screenplay work, but by the time the final act appears, everything in the action is occurring by the numbers. This franchise always had a great sense of humor to it, and it does show on occasion, but unless the quality of the writing improves, this is one series that should end at this point. A sadly missed opportunity.

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Movie Name: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Year of Release: 2011

Director: John Madden

Stars: Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, Maggie Smith, Penelope Wilton, Celia Imre, Ronald Pickup, Dev Patel, Tena Desae, Sid Makkar, Jay Villiers

Genre: Comedy, Drama

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 6

Synopsis:

John Madden's career reached a peak with "Shakespeare in Love", but it has been quite irregular since then. His new film "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" follows a group of British retirees, who find themselves booking a hotel suited for seniors in India. This eclectic group have a common denominator - they are all looking to find companionship or meaning in their lives. Once they reach India they find out that the hotel is far from what the brochure and website have advertised. It's up to them to enjoy and make the best of what the situation has presented itself to be.
John Madden adapts the book from Deborah Moggach, very much like the standard view of India that fills the postcards. What the film does present of unique is the fantastic group of actors who bring all these characters to life. Each of these characters that are part of the group, are in some way looking to bring some meaning into their lives, now that they reached a certain age, where they feel left out or simply forgotten. Quite simply put, they need companionship. And that is something that though different in their personalities, it unites them and bonds them. The film and the screenplay have nothing new to say, but to see these actors bring these characters to life and interact with each other is simply fantastic. For that alone, the film is compelling and worth watching.

Bernie

Movie Name: Bernie

Year of Release: 2011

Director: Richard Linklater

Stars: Jack Black, Shirley MacLaine, Matthew McConaughey, Brandon Smith, Rick Dial, Richard Robichaux, Larry Jack Dotson, Brady Coleman

Genre: Comedy, Drama, Crime

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 8

Synopsis:

Richard Linklater's career as a director came to prominence in the early 90s with two films that since acquired a cult status: "Slacker" and "Dazed and Confused". Since then he has directed quite a few films, with different levels of success, but his point of view has always been one very distinguished and interesting. With "Bernie" he tackles the story of Bernie Tiede, a funeral director in a small town named Carthage in Texas. Bernie is introduced as a very socially active person, very well liked by everyone in the small town, and always interested in helping the people in the community. When a rich and disliked lady in town becomes a widow, Bernie starts spending more and more time with her, until she becomes utterly demanding of his time. In a spurt of a moment, Bernie kills Marjorie, and hides her body. When the reveal occurs, shock and surprise occur throughout the town's inhabitants.
Richard Linklater successfully captures the mood and the tone of a small town in Texas. His film is built very much like a documentary, that captures the impressions of real inhabitants of the small town, but also showcases how Bernie was seen and perceived by everyone else. The film is filled with great humor, and most of it rests on the fantastic performance of Jack Black, who captures the character of Bernie Tiede perfectly. He humanizes the character, without making it a cliche or a stereotype. Matthew McConaughey also surprises as Danny Buck, whereas Shirley MacLaine has little to do as Marjorie Nugent. This is a great film where all the parts are so nicely put together, from the overall tone, to the performances, including also the cinematography of Dick Pope. Worth watching.

The Avengers

Movie Name: The Avengers

Year of Release: 2012

Director: Joss Whedon

Stars: Robert Downey Jr., Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Tom Hiddleston, Clark Gregg, Samuel L. Jackson, Cobie Smulders, Stellan Skarsgaard, Gwyneth Paltrow, Paul Bettany, Alexis Denisof, Powers Boothe

Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 5

Synopsis:

Joss Whedon's career has been mostly as a writer (for both TV series and film), though his first feature film "Serenity" was an expansion of his own TV series "Firefly". "The Avengers" is based on the comic books from Marvel Comics, that assembled different heroes, namely Captain America, Thor, Ant Man, The Wasp and also The Hulk. The comics were first published in the 60s from legendary creator Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, and throughout the years the team kept changing. The movie picks up threads from the multiple films that Marvel has released thus far, namely the "Iron Man" films, "Thor" and "Captain America". The plot concerns Thor's disgraced brother, Loki, trying to rule the Earth through a device that opens a passageway between different dimensions. All the heroes are brought together to battle this menace, but first they have to work out their own differences.
Joss Whedon's film is quite obviously meant to be an entertaining and directly focused on appealing to the largest majority of demographics possible. It's also a film that suffers from a real lack of vision or ideas of film - the fantastic special effects animate characters that are paper thin, and though the motivation between all of the main characters seems quite clear, at a certain point with all the noise going around, it oddly becomes anti-climatic. For all the fantastic (and obviously quite expensive) effects you see on screen, there are no characters you want to embark on a journey with. This is one of the films, where though you have some good actors to work with, they are obviously lost in the midst of effects that overwhelm the entire picture. What made "Iron Man" from Jon Favreau work, was the focus on Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark - he had a humanity and a dimension, something that lacks in this film and in it's characters. "The Avengers" is a well oiled product, but it's a hollow one.

Dark Shadows

Movie Name: Dark Shadows

Year of Release: 2012

Director: Tim Burton

Stars: Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Helena Bonham Carter, Eva Green, Jackie Earle Haley, Jonny Lee Miller, Bella Heathcote, Chloe Grace Moretz, Gulliver McGrath, Christopher Lee, Alice Cooper

Genre: Comedy, Fantasy

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 7

Synopsis:

Celebrated director Tim Burton is back, following the disappointing "Alice in Wonderland". His new film, "Dark Shadows" adapts a TV series from the late 60s that gained a cult following throughout the years. The film follows the story of the Collins family, in particular of Barnabas Collins, a young man who in the 18th century gains the attention of a witch. The witch upon seeing that Barnabas is in love with someone else, curses him, turns him into a vampire and buries him. 200 years later, Barnabas is unearthed, and sets out to help his living descendants and battle the witch that transformed him into what he is.
The always fantastic Tim Burton has found another suitable vehicle for his universe in the character of Barnabas Collins. Barnabas is a man at odds with the reality, in a time that has evolved beyond him, of behaviors of those who surround him that he does not recognize. The 1970s may as well be a completely different universe for the hero of this story. As usual in his more personal projects, Tim Burton's heroes are individuals of a certain singularity, possessed of an innocence that also has a darker, hidden tone. Barnabas is no exception - he longs to be reunited with his long lost love, but he is also a vampire (a monster as he describes himself) who kills when needed. The script of the film is filled with great characters, from the delicious Angelique, brought to life in a great performance by Eva Green, to Dr. Julia Hoffman, who Helena Bonham Carter portrays as usual with an ironic twist that is unforgettable. The film however belongs to Johnny Depp, who is simply superb as Barnabas - he makes the character simultaneously endearing, funny and frightening. The film is an overall treat, filled with great humor and attention to detail. A film worth watching.

Tattoo Graphics

New graphics created for tattoos.

The Pirates! Band of Misfits

Movie Name: The Pirates! Band of Misfits

Year of Release: 2012

Director: Peter Lord, Jeff Newitt

Stars: Hugh Grant, Martin Freeman, Imelda Staunton, David Tennant, Jeremy Piven, Salma Hayek, Lenny Henry, Brian Blessed, Anton Yelchin, Brendan Gleeson, Ashley Jensen

Genre: Animation, Adventure

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 7

Synopsis:

Peter Lord follows his previous hit, "Chicken Run" with another animated featured that trails in the same style that the Aardman studios have been known for (their "Wallage and Gromit" features are the most prominent ones). "The Pirates! Band of Misfits" follows a group of pirates, headed by their valiant but not bright Pirate Captain, who is trying to win the award for "Pirate of the Year". Sadly his group hasn't amassed much in terms of looting, which means he'll lose yet again, until they all find out that their pet parrot, is in fact a rare species, a dodo, something the Queen of England has a keen interest on. When Polly, the dodo, is put in a difficult situation, it's up to the motley group to come to the rescue.
Peter Lord is a veteran in the animation world, and builds a story that is filled with humor and references to cultural staples, which may elude children, but which hit the target for older audiences (the references to the Academy Awards for instance). There's a sense of fun and joy in the film, something that the fantastic animation emphasizes in the character design for instance. Unlike Steven Spielberg's "The Adventures of Tintin", where there was an overstatement of the action till there was barely any recognizable character involved (Tintin himself was completely secondary to what was occurring on the screen), "Pirates" allows for each character to have their own time and create an empathy with the audience. All the actors do a great job with their characters, particularly Imelda Staunton, who steals the show voicing Queen Victoria. A fun movie worth watching.

Status Report

I'm not one to complain about the absolute mess my home country is in, but today I have finally reached a breaking point. My parents just called again, in a state of shock, since they have been robbed yet again. My parents live in a small town, called Quinta do Anjo, near Palmela, mostly agrarian, and until recently, fairly safe to live. Lately the country, and sadly to say, the people in it, have all gone downhill, morals included. Things have reached a point where my father's tractor components have been robbed (this was preceded by watering equipment, chains, breaking entering in storage units). I've always believed Portugal to be a decent country to live in, filled with a goodness that far surpassed the difficulties it always experienced. But once you stop being able to provide safety for the people who try to make an honest living, what else is there to protect?

The Raven

Movie Name: The Raven

Year of Release: 2012

Director: James McTeigue

Stars: John Cusack, Luke Evans, Alice Eve, Brendan Gleeson, Kevin MacNally, Sam Hazeldine, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Pam Ferris

Genre: Mystery, Thriller

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 6

Synopsis:

The new film from James McTeigue following "V for Vendetta" and "Ninja Assassin" tackles author Edgar Allen Poe and his involvement with ritualistic murders in Baltimore in the middle of the 19th century, right before the author's passing. The film introduces us to Allen Poe, who is financially broken, trying to re-ignite is writing career, and simultaneously marry the lovely Emily. A series of grisly murders, executed according to Poe's writings start occurring, which leads Detective Fields to seek out the author's help in finding the homicidal maniac. The case becomes increasingly dramatic when the murderer takes Emily, in an attempt to challenge Poe. It's up to the author to battle his demons and claim his future bride's life.
James McTeigue's film uses the smart screenplay from Ben Livingston and Hannah Shakespeare, one that mixes the gruesome nature of the murders, with the literary works from Edgar Allen Poe. The film manages to create a mood of darkness and unease, and though it falls prey to some cliches (the author who's an alcoholic and who can't get past his own demons), it's an overall interesting (if slightly superficial) probing into the mind of a great author. Aside from James McTeigue's taste for the depiction of the gorier side of the murders, this is a solid and entertaining film that uses an interesting hook to tell a smartly written story. John Cusack and Brendan Gleeson are as usual, reliable in their performances, being well supported by Luke Evans and Alice Eve. A film worth watching.

The Hunger Games

Movie Name: The Hunger Games

Year of Release: 2012

Director: Gary Ross

Stars: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Wes Bentley, Lenny Kravitz, Donald Sutherland, Willow Shields, Toby Jones, Alexander Ludwig, Jack Quaid

Genre: Action, Drama, Sci-Fi

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 5

Synopsis:

Gary Ross' new film, his third feature, is an adaptation of the immensely popular book by Suzanne Collins, "The Hunger Games". The film follows the story of Katniss Everdeen, a young girl from a poor district, that is part of an assembly of several districts ruled by a totalitarian regime. The regime demands every year the sacrifice of a young man and young girl, for their games, where they all battle each other and only one comes out alive. Katniss is a young and resourceful young woman who allies with Peeta Mellark, the young man from her district, in order for both of them to stay alive.
Suzanne Collins' book is a bleak vision of a future, where children kill each other for the entertainment of the crowds, in a massive show that is televised for everyone to see. Gary Ross directs the film trying to walk a thin line between the gruesome killings of the young kids, while maintaining the film viewable to that same age group. The film is at points brutal, but always feels underwhelming, mostly because the director is aware that he can only depict and show so much of what effectively occurs in the games. There's strangely a lack of depth to most of the characters displayed on screen, save for Katniss Everdeen, who is portrayed with a strong emotional resolution by Jennifer Lawrence. She brings the young heroine to life, more than any of the other actors, who have little to work with. This is a film that feels contrived and ultimately not as satisfactory as it could have been.

The Cabin in the Woods

Movie Name: The Cabin in the Woods

Year of Release: 2012

Director: Drew Goddard

Stars: Kristen Connolly, Fran Kranz, Jesse Williams, Chris Hemsworth, Anna Hutchison, Richard Jenkins, Bradley Whitford, Brian White, Amy Acker, Sigourney Weaver

Genre: Horror, Thriller

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 6

Synopsis:

"The Cabin in the Woods" is Drew Goddard's first feature film after a career as a writer for shows such as "Lost" and "Alias", to name but a few. The film was written with Joss Whedon, responsible for writing films such as "Toy Story", "Alien Resurrection" and creator of tv shows such as "Buffy, The Vampire Slayer" and "Dollhouse". "The Cabin in the Woods" follows the story of 5 college friends who go to a cabin for the weekend, to relax and enjoy the outdoors. While there, they start experiencing all sorts of horrors, which they then realize have been staged. The few surviving ones discover all sorts of horrors as they investigate what's behind everything they have experienced.
Drew Goddard's film experienced some problems coming to the screens, after the studio behind it collapsed. Luckily Lionsgate came along and has released what is an intelligent and different take on the traditional horror film and genre. The film smartly plays with cliches that have been established by other horror films (the college kids who get killed in a remote cabin), but takes it further, with a surprising twist that is both inventive and that brings humor to the whole premise. The film also benefits from a very good cast with established actors such as Richard Jenkins and in a surprising cameo Sigourney Weaver, who add further irreverence and a needed touch of irony to the whole concept. A good film worth checking out!

The Deep Blue Sea

Movie Name: The Deep Blue Sea

Year of Release: 2012

Director: Terence Davies

Stars: Rachel Weisz, Tom Hiddleston, Simon Russell Beale, Harry Hadden-Patton, Sarah Kants, Karl Johnson, Ann Mitchell

Genre: Drama

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 7

Synopsis:

Acclaimed director Terence Davies returns after 12 years, when his last feature film premiered, the fantastic "The House of Mirth". "The Deep Blue Sea" is the adaptation of Terence Rattigan's play, and it follows the life of Hesther Collyer and her tribulations in the London of the 1950s. Hesther is married to an older man, a magistrate who adores her, but falls in love with a younger man, a former soldier who fought WW2. Their relationship is volatile, but Hesther is overwhelmed by the feelings she has never experienced before. Once Freddie finds work, things change for the both of them.
Terence Davies films echo a lot of his own experiences growing up in London after WW2, as can be seen in his remarkable feature "Distance Voices, Still Lives". "The Deep Blue Sea" goes back to that particular time frame, and follows the unraveling of a woman who finds love with the wrong person. Hesther who never felt so rapture in a feeling that overwhelms her, simply can't turn away from a situation that she knows is simply wrong. The film lives from the delicate balances of the three main leads, who all create fully realized characters, in particular Rachel Weisz, who with her looks, silences and gestures, creates a woman that is tender, but also strong enough to know what she wants. The cinematography and music also add a beautiful part to a film that is another strong statement to the body of work of Terence Davies.

Wrath of the Titans

Movie Name: Wrath of the Titans

Year of Release: 2012

Director: Jonathan Liebesman

Stars: Sam Worthington, Rosamund Pike, Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, Toby Kebbell, Edgar Ramirez, Bill Nighy, Danny Huston, John Bell, Lily James

Genre: Action, Adventure

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 1

Synopsis:

Director Jonathan Liebesman is back, following his mediocre film "Battle Los Angeles". "Wrath of the Titans" is a sequel to Louis Letterier's "Clash of Titans" from 2010. The film follows the story of Perseus, whose wife has passed away recently and who is raising a young son by himself. Perseus is a fisherman and the son of Zeus. Zeus appeals to his son for his help, since he fears there is a conspiracy taking place to destroy all of the Greek Gods. Perseus resists his father, but later is forced to battle in order to save him and the world from the brink of destruction.
"Wrath of the Titans" is a big special effects spectacle, that tries to be entertaining, however it's a film that ultimately falls prey of many cliches. Amongst the cliches, there is the reluctant main hero having to deal with the legacy of his father, the funny sidekick, the strong resourceful female figure. The film is terminally badly written - there isn't a cliche that this film doesn't touch, and it's painful to watch actors such as Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes, having to deal with such inane dialogue. The special effects feel at certain points poorly executed - this is without a doubt a film that doesn't work in any department. For all the noise that it creates, it's certainly sad to see that it offers no substance and no entertainment. A terrible film to be avoided at all costs.