there was never any doubt that the narnia franchise would only get bigger. after a rather tepid debut on the big screen 3 years ago, the long-awaited sequel is superior but only at a technical level. this simply works better as a popcorn flick thanks in part to the careful writing which balances pathos, humor, gravitas and action over 2 and a half hours. a bigger budget also contributes to its slicker sheen and the director cleverly borrows grandeur from the vast expanse of the natural outdoors.
but like most film adaptations of best-selling books, there's simply never enough running time to feature everything, or even half, that is of significance. screen time is spread unevenly among multiple characters, most of whom end up as no more than paper-thin caricatures. the pace also plods needlessly in the first half although there is a measured build up for the family-friendly battle sequences, with the last being the most predictably spectacular.
a stand out moment for me was when lucy, the peace-loving and youngest of the 4 protaganists, finally meets aslan, the Christ-figure at the center of the series. throwing away all previous doubt, she races towards him with such unabashed delight that spoke deep volumes of the complete faith and hope that his presence would right all, heal all.
"you're finally here. now i know that everything will be okay."
the words were unspoken, but it gave me a tearful glimpse of what going home, truly going home, might possibly feel like.
written by john lennon and paul mccartney
performed by timothy t and carol woods in the movie across the universe
this fifth incarnation of the man with allegedly the most recognizable profile in the world feels exactly as it should. the producers should be praised for carefully retaining the style and mood of the indiana jones series which, i believe, is no easy feat to resist in this age of expensive and extensive cgi-overkill.
shame, then, about the chemistry-free cast and the tepid script involving a very bland villianess (a completely wasted cate blanchett!), a very shady best friend, a very easy-to-discover lost kingdom and a very fake-looking crystal skull from the no-holds barred title.
i can see how it could have worked in concept though. perhaps time hasn't been so kind to indy after all. he says it best in the trailer,
"it's not as easy as it used to be."
best enjoyed as a nostalgic stroll down memory lane; just don't expect to enjoy it too much.
pushing boundaries is risky and it's even harder to predict outcomes from it. the wachowski brothers, who achieved ridiculous fame and fortune from the matrix trilogy, have gambled with an old japanese cartoon from the 60's and innovatively repackaged it seemingly for audiences diagnosed with adhd.
nothing remains static in this explosively vibrant work which feels a bit like chewing a crammed mouthful of skittles, m&ms and jelly tots. the extensive and psychedelic cgi pound your senses along with the action-packed races while the storytelling blends past and present with split second transitions.
i also didn't care for some campy sequences but i thought speedracer was by and large a stylish ride; however, style, as the critics will attest to, is highly subjective. all the same, despite its obvious flaws, i left the cinema with a grin - read into that what you will.
the last time hollywood decided to make a film about the exotic far east, 3 of asia's leading actresses were paid a ton of moolah to fortune-cookie-speak their way through the very weighty and somber 'memoirs of a geisha'. this year, we get another borderline-insulting attempt although this one, thankfully, doesn't take itself seriously at all.
once you get past the inexplicability of the characters vacillating between heavily accented english and heavily accented mandarin, as well as the obviousness of the villans from their heavy eye makeup, a playful core is revealed and it becomes difficult to resist appreciating the ride on some level.
strong production values, slick choreography, hammy dialogue and a likable michael angarano as the gawky teenage lead add to the fun, but it's the energy and chemistry which veterans jackie chan and jet li bring to their roles that elevate this goofy american tribute to the classic asian martial arts genre to enjoyable heights.
despite having no background whatsoever on the iron man character from marvel, i found myself easily drawn into the logical and controlled unfolding of this summer's first superhero blockbuster. maneuvering deftly between rascally and serious, the always surprising robert downey jr leads us on a believable journey of one man's mammoth quest to right his past wrongs.
together with the lovely gwyneth paltrow in another elegant portrayal as downey's razor sharp assistant, and a nearly unrecognizable jeff bridges as the hulking and snarling friend turned foe, it feels like the genre has finally decided to respect its audience.
spanish director guillermo del toro is fast becoming one of my favorite names in moviedom. his latest masterpiece artfully displays his tremendous ability to mesmerise his audience. every scene is gripping in its presence, its purpose and leaves you breathlessly wanting more. the tale of a mother's love, equal part terrifying and poignant, is elegantly composed into an emotional vice which grips and leads you towards its devastating finale.
the verdict among my friends, after we stopped shaking, was unanimous: el orfanato is a rare class act and i recommend it unreservedly.
korean actress jeon do-yeon won the best actress accolade at the 2007 cannes film festival for her portrayal of a woman coping with senseless tragedy and immense loss. the movie employs a very factual style, infusing it with a near-documentaric flair which effortlessly lifts it beyond mere story-telling. filled to the brim with relentless realism in its portraiture of life, this movie will either draw you in, or unapologetically shut you out.