Film Reviews

The Soloist (Joe Wright): 35, The homeless would be better if we just befriended them? Yeah right, the issue is way more complicated then that. The flashback sequences are just painful.

Monsters vs. Aliens (Rob Letterman): 65, (saw this in 2-D) Probably being overly generous but its consistently funny, visually outstanding, and has even an ounce of subtext about personal empowerment and the efficacy of our government and law enforcement. Seth Rogen also has a future as a voice actor.

Star Trek (J.J. Abrams): 68, Having no relation to the original Trek (both shows and films) I’m kind of at a loss about what to say. Solid film and made to look even better surrounded by all the other god awful sci-fi/comic book films out there. Reminded me of the synthetic aesthetic from the firth Resident Evil with the ships interior being all white, polished, and smoove becoming this high key surface that makes all other colors just pop off the screen. Lens flare used a little too much even for my taste, but saves itself with some truly great moments like when Spock is beating up Kirk and the screen is washed over in this white haze with their faces barely visible mirroring the emotional intensity of the moment. Using the old Spock to play an aged Spock was a pretty nice touch even though it proves that it's damn near impossible to separate some actors from characters they used to play.

Adventureland (Greg Mottola): 55, Actually a 67/45 split. Greg Mottola can direct, Martin Starr is never not awesome, Ryan Reynolds for ya, and Adventureland itself is a cool location. But then again basically a guy trying to get laid movie (a virgin at that, ugh), wasted/pointless use to set it in the 80s, and Jesse Eisenberg is no Michael Cera.

Watchmen (Zack Snyder): 42, Starts with the absolute best opening title sequence I’ve seen all year, with the history of the Watchmen told in a purely visual form in the framework of living comic book frames, only to fucken waste it in the next 10mins when the characters quite literally explain everything we just saw. Insulting, yes. Pacing doesn’t work either because unlike a comic book, excuse me graphic novel, or a TV show a film doesn’t just stop and you can feel those necessary punctuations. Like when Rorschach got his mask pulled off and his identity was reveled, big moment right, kind of want a second to take it in, no not here, keep moving forward. So important moments like this are treated with the same significance as say, everything else. Also, couldn’t figure out it they all had super strength or if the violence was just hyper stylized. Did I mention the awesome opening title sequence?