Finding my Compass

Movie review - Avatar

 For film lovers at least Avatar has been on the radar for the last 6 months with a slow burn marketing campaign built around its director James Cameron. For everyone else Cameron’s last ‘appearance’, Titanic released in January 1998, was better known for having helmed a film that reportedly almost bankrupted Hollywood, with auctions to raise funds from the sale of film props, but going on to achieve the highest box office taking in movie making history.

With Sunday magazine editorials and movie mag features concentrating on one aspect, his return, the story was of a multi award winning, billionaire director, one of the most influential and respected men in Tinsel Town, claiming a piece of work that would change the movie going experience forever. So could this be true?

Before I answer that, is this film worth seeing and is it worth paying the extra to view it in 3D..?  Yes and yes. Avatar is indeed worth the money if only to appreciate a director’s efforts in employing two thirds of Los Angeles! If buyacredit.com and their film Clovis Dardentor is going to become the film with the most end film credits to display then for the moment Avatar currently holds the record. 

Stunning in its visual depth, colour, sound and attention to detail this is a (3D) film that for the first time truly immerses you into the film world itself and in no small part is as a result of spectacular shots and ground breaking technology.

So will Cameron have changed the landscape? Will we enjoy future films with the kind of experience delivered in Avatar? Yes again. In film making, advances in technology are greedily demanded by directors…. a reason why George Lucas is the daddy or should I say granddaddy of special effects building a multi billion dollar industry around his giant ILM.  You only need to see the name of the films attributed to Cameron for release over the next 3 years to appreciate that ‘his’ technology is about to fly. Remember how effect advances made for The Matrix were copied even parodied?  

So what is it that James has done that George hasn’t and why him after a dry spell of almost 11 years? The fact is that Cameron has invested a considerable amount of his own money in the project and owns all of the (new) technology.  And the reason he’s managed to deliver a film of this size is because he is a trusted director. This alone allowed 20^th Century Fox to feel better about releasing a few dollars – well, over $200 million. With this kind of money you either have a film that’ll eventually feature in the top 100 all time grossing movies or a new record - the most expensive pre-Christmas flop.  

Returning to what matters to a potential filmgoer I’ve already confirmed that this is a film worth a trip to your local cinema… you’d be hard pushed to find one that hasn’t reserved most of its seat capacity for the film… a sad testament to the ever growing decline of independent film distribution. So what about the story and the acting? Here I agree with others that whilst generally sound the story suffered from poor delivery, complexities that annoyed rather than enhanced the understanding of this awesome world Pandora (god forgive me for using the ‘awe’ word) and a lead character (Jake Sully played by Sam Worthington) who came across smug rather than genuinely moved. Personally, I would have preferred Ewan McGregor as Sully.  The best actor for my money was Zoe Saldana, last seen as Uhura in Star Trek, notching up a phenomenal character role as Neytiri.    

My rating, an easy 4 out 5 (IMDb rating 8.5 / 10)

Review - Where The Wild Things Are

 For my age I think I'm one of the 3 people NOT to have read Maurice Sendak's beautifully illustrated book... yes, I've just seen a copy. Apparently its sold close to 20 million copies worldwide.      

There's no doubt he'll shift a few million more thanks to the film starring the voice talents of James Gandolfini (The Sopranos) and Forest Whitaker (The Last King of Scotland). Its a simple story of a mischievous boy, Max, who goes awol from home (a side step from the book), taking a boat into his imagination, where he lands in a world filled with large menacing creatures... fearsome monsters who have some similarities to Trolls. 

Taking control of their antics by commanding them to be still Max is crowned king of the wild things and his adventure begins. 

In line with the book this is a beautifully filmed and an incredibly clever movie with creatures aptly provided by the Jim Henson's Creature Shop. Whilst I cannot comment on how it moves me from book to celluloid I can confirm that it was enchanting! A winner for young and old.   

My rating, a comfortable 4 out of 5 (IMDb 8 / 10) 

Movie Review - 2012

 I'm late to the table for this film as it ends its 2 week stint at major theatres. But it served its purpose for what was nearly 3 hours of crash bang wallop. However, let me say right away that as a popcorn disaster movie it entertained, and kept my daughter and I from looking at our watches - no mean feat for any film once passed 90 mins. That's not to say that we were riveted to our seats throughout since I suffered an sfx wearisome overload by 120 mins.

The extraordinary luck that keeps our protagonist from a fate worse than... let me pick a few, giant cracks, exploding crashing buildings, a billion tonnes of Yellow Stone Park landing on his head, molten lava fireballs, fuel starvation, drowning etc etc, leads me to ask, do we have to suspend our belief or is it that we must suspend disbelief?

Too often enough there are dramatic special effect developments clearly too ludicrous to believe... earthquakes that open up huge cracks in the road with no apparent effect on the car as it drives furiously through a disintegrating LA, building debris and thick smoke that have no effect on the twin engined aircraft as it flies through toppling skyscrappers. But hey, this isn’t a documentary, we are here to be entertained. 

With some gaud awful one liners 'The world, as we know, will come to an end soon' - spoken by a dreary US President (Danny Glover) - the film danced between those who knew the big secret and those who didn’t know jack sh*t, other than when the moment arrived and the world boiled. You'll recognise the latter bunch as they're the ones falling out of buildings, being crushed by buildings or simply falling into the earth's crust.   

A believable part played out by Chewitel Ejiofor (Love Actually) but with no other outstanding performances - what on earth is Woody Harrelson doing - and by a whisker only, I rate this film 3 out of 5 (IMDb 6.5 / 10)  

Review - Harry Brown

I’m always interested at how my expectations of a film measure up to the marketing hype. Usually the worst offending films are the sequels that understandably ride off the back of their predecessor – especially if it’s enjoyed any success. With Harry Brown it appeared from under the radar, centre stage, with critics wowing Caine’s outstanding performance and the film’s dark and disturbing tale. It was too compelling to miss - hopes therefore were high. 

In my last review I spoke about timing. The November release with its dark, damp and seemingly oppressive days of winter matched the mood of the film and its despairing reality of a London council estate ruled by armed thugs and drug dealers. Better to stay in than go out.

Seeped in a tide of low esteem, misery and routine Harry, an ex-serviceman, has no stomach for violence, at least no desire to return to a former life which he promised to himself and his wife. Losing his family, although not to any street crime, he is a man unable to do anything, until his friend is murdered on the streets by local youths.

Screenwriter Gary Young has Harry Brown slow burn as a vigilante with an apparent but fatal miss direction of anger. This is not a selfless act for the community but a deep routed sense of loss with frustrations menacingly focused at the estate’s social degradation of decency, law and order. 

A master class from Michael Caine with notable performances from Liam Cunningham and Emily Mortimer.  My rating 4 (out of 5). IMdB 8.5/10 

Review - The Men Who Stare At Goats

A funny, in a weird kind of way, film that was entertaining but absurd.  Coming in at a well timed and paced 93 mins this is director Grant Heslov’s fourth outing with Clooney although another is already in the pipeline (The American).

Finding laughs from the shear nonsense of the plot and its whacky association with Jedi’s – yes, the Star Wars masters of the ‘good’ force – this hippy,  punch drunk, drug induced movie with an impressive A-list cast will entertain and have you laughing, but not bent over.  

Now is it me or are we seeing a film role trait in Clooney? Playing whimsical, sometimes moronic, but nearly always the lost idiot?   

And I have another question. Why is it necessary for directors to cast Brits (or here a Scot) to play Americans. And, although not in this film, casting Americans to play Brits? Ewan is one of our finest actors, talented and believable, except when he is required to employ foreign accents. To give him credit though his voice playing Bob Wilton, the mild mannered reporter, didn’t sound forced but his narration was heavily over Americanized (note the ‘z’ – as I now try to appease our American cousins).

So, can I recommend this film? Yes, in an instant. With little to admire in the story and characters you quite frankly don’t care too much about you will enjoy the acting and the outrageous absurdity that was America during the cold war… ‘Sir, as the Ruskies are doing it we can’t let them beat us to it first.’  

Of particular note is Jeff Bridges, an actor who just gets better and better.  

My rating: 3 (out of 5)  Or if you follow IMDB I’d give it a 7/10