Reviews
Review: Wreck-It-Ralph
- Details
- Written by Matthew Toomey
| Directed by: | Rich Moore |
| Written by: | Rich Moore, Phil Johnson, Jim Reardon, Jennifer Lee |
| Starring: | John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman, Jack McBrayer, Jane Lynch, Alan Tudyk, Ed O'Neill |
| Released: | December 26, 2012 |
| Grade: | A- |
If you asked people to name their favourite animated features, many will list films from the Toy Story franchise. Even I can admit shedding a tear during Toy Story 3. It’s such a simple yet beautiful idea – a world where the toys we play with come alive whenever we leave the room. The emotional element kicks in when the child grows up and the toys are no longer required.
Wreck-It-Ralph takes that same concept and applies it to the world of video games. It’s a cool idea. By day, kids flock to an amusement arcade to play their favourite games. By night, the doors are closed, the lights are switched off and the characters develop a will of their own. They can move between the games through the power cables and they often hang out in the main adaptor – known as Game Central Station.
Not all the game characters are happy however. After three decades of playing the same bad guy over-and-over, Wreck-It-Ralph (Reilly) is starting to show signs of depression and fatigue. He’s tired of destroying things while the hero of his game, Fix-It Felix Jr., (McBrayer) gets all the love and attention.
It reaches the point where starts attending a self-help group, known as Bad-Anon, where video game villains can get together and talk about their problems. Regular attendees include Clyde from Pac-Man, Bowser from Super Mario Bros and Smoke and Kano from Mortal Kombat. They lean on each other for support and recite their creed – “I am bad, and that’s good. I will never be good, and that’s not bad. There is no one I’d rather be, than me.”
Wreck-It-Ralph still isn’t satisfied though. He wants to be the good guy for once. Going rogue, he disguises himself and slips into a neighbouring video game, Hero’s Duty. He’s after the game’s top prize, a large gold medal, and thinks that wearing it around his neck will finally give him the respect and honour that he deserves.
Oops. It doesn’t quite work out that way. Ralph’s foolishness kick starts a chain reaction of events that threatens many of these characters. Because he’s no longer present in his own game, the manager of the arcade thinks that it’s “out of order” and that it’s time to permanently pull the plug. Two other games are threatened when a nasty green Cy-Bug escapes from Hero’s Duty and slips into a racing game known as Sugar Rush.
The idea of a video game movie has been floating around Disney for close to 20 years but no one was able to perfect a screenplay that fitted with the material. It took the arrival of writer-director Rich Moore (who started his career on The Simpsons) to finally pull it off and create something that is equally amusing for both children and adults.
Wreck-It-Ralph is one of the year’s best animated features (if not the best) and it’s the attention to detail in the tightly-written script that gives it such an edge. I love the way in which the intricacies of the video game world are explained including the plight of forgotten game characters and what can often lie behind a “glitch”.
The broad premise also allows the animation team to vary the look and feel of the film. Within the boundaries of the Wreck-It-Ralph game, everything is rigid and restrictive – from the movement of the characters to the design of the main building. This can be easily contrasted with the action-packed environment in the technologically advanced Hero’s Duty and the silly, colourful world that can be found inside Sugar Rush. The use of traditional computer game sound effects is also a nice touch.
While there’s plenty of fun to be had, the film follows in the same vein as other Disney releases and contains a strong underlying theme about the value of standing up for one’s self. This is explored not just through Ralph but an important subplot where he befriends Vanellope von Schweetz (Silverman), a 9-year-old girl who dreams of being a racer within Sugar Rush.
I’m sure it’ll help if you were a fan of arcade games growing up but as someone from the complete opposite background, I can vouch that Wreck-It-Ralph is still wonderfully entertaining and a perfect choice for families over the Christmas school holidays.
You can read my interview with director Rich Moore by clicking here.
Review: Rise Of The Guardians
- Details
- Written by Matthew Toomey
| Directed by: | Peter Ramsey |
| Written by: | David Lindsay-Abaire |
| Starring: | Chris Pine, Alec Baldwin, Hugh Jackman, Isla Fisher, Jude Law, Dakota Goyo |
| Released: | December 13, 2012 |
| Grade: | B+ |
The villain is Pitch Black (Law). His goal is to stop the children of the world from the believing in those who make it so special. I’m speaking of Santa Claus (Baldwin), the Easter Bunny (Jackman), the Tooth Fairy (Fisher) and the Sandman.
I guess they had to stick to the novel by William Joyce but since when was the Sandman so revered? Maybe it’s an American thing. I got presents from Santa, chocolate from the Bunny and money from the Fairy. My parents forgot to inform me about the Sandman but apparently he brings sweet dreams and a good night’s rest. He’d be useful today to be honest.
You’d think that these four gifted leaders would be able to stop the bogeyman Pitch but they’re going to need a new addition to their team to get the job done. I’m speaking of Jack Frost (Pine) – the man who brings us winter with its fresh snow and cold winds. He’s been chosen by the mysterious Man in the Moon to join the ensemble.
Jack Frost has been around for hundreds of years but he’s never been able to understand his true purpose. Further, he can’t comprehend why children don’t believe in him. He brings them so much joy through snow days (where school is cancelled) as well as the fun of bobsledding through the snow or building a huge snowman.
Rise Of The Guardians is targeted at young audiences and whilst I liked the story, I have a few doubts as to whether kids will be able to follow the intricacies of the storyline. There’s a lot to explain including how the tooth fairy has the ability to keep memories and how Pitch has the power to stop others from believing. A friend’s young son was also puzzled as to why the Easter Bunny has an Australian accent. We can blame Hugh Jackman for that!
That said, I still think this is another strong effort from the team DreamWorks Animation. The imagery is superb. From the wind rustling through Jack Frost’s white hair to the panoramic vistas as they fly through the sky, it all looks amazing. Those prepared to pay an extra few dollars can experience it with the benefit of 3D.
What got me over the line with Rise Of The Guardians was the intriguing character of Jack Frost. We see from the very opening scene that he has a long-forgotten past and I enjoyed following his journey of self-discovery. Chris Pine is a good fit for the role of Jack Frost and through his voice, you sense the doubt and insecurity that clouds his mind.
Some have described the film as at the children’s equivalent of The Avengers. Instead of characters from comic books, our action heroes are the legendary folk who our parents told us about growing up. It’s a worthy analogy but it hasn’t been able to put bums on seats. The film has battled in its opening two weeks in the United States and won’t match the box-office of more successful animated features this year such as Brave and Wreck-It-Ralph.
Review: Skyfall
- Details
- Written by Matthew Toomey
| Directed by: | Sam Mendes |
| Written by: | Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, John Logan |
| Starring: | Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Ben Wishaw |
| Released: | November 22, 2012 |
| Grade: | A- |
A key aspect of any movie is how quickly it can reel you in. In the case of Skyfall, this box is ticked in the opening few minutes. The film begins with an elaborate action piece that is both exhilarating and suspenseful. It surpasses the foot chase sequence (complete with the use of cranes) that I remember so vividly from 2006’s Casino Royale. Coupled with the traditional opening credits, to the backdrop of a new song from Adele, you’ll realise early on that this is a very good Bond movie.
The premise is somewhat darker than we might expect. A hard drive that contains the identity of every undercover operative within MI6 has been stolen by an unknown adversary. M (Dench) isn’t sure who is responsible and what they plan to do with this incredibly valuable information. Things get even worse when a bomb is detonated within MI6 that kills 6 civilians.
These incidents have left the British Government questioning the security within MI6 and whether the aging M is still the right person to sit at the top. Is it time to bring in some fresh blood with some fresh ideas? That seems to be the opinion of the Chairman of the Intelligence and Security Committee (Fiennes) who has told M that it’s time to retire.
I’m sure she’d pick up a nice redundancy package but M has no plans of giving up her title just yet. She’s called upon her most loyal agent, James Bond (Craig), to discover who is behind the attacks on MI6 so that she can restore the public’s credibility in the organisation she has long helmed.
Sam Mendes is a gifted filmmaker but he was a curious choice to director Skyfall given his background has been in critically acclaimed dramas such as Road To Perdition, Revolutionary Road and American Beauty (which won him an Oscar in 2000). Burned with the weight of public expectation and the pressure of $150m budget, Mendes has delivered! There’s a “style” about this film that elevates it above a traditional Bond flick.
It feels odd saying this about a James Bond movie but what impressed me most was the cinematography from 9-time Academy Award nominee Roger Deakins (The Shawshank Redemption, No Country For Old Men). His work is highlighted by a beautifully shot action scene atop a Shanghai office building that uses reflected light to great effect. Can someone please give this guy an Oscar before it’s too late?
Daniel Craig is again superb with his portrayal of Bond as a man who looks cool, calm and collected on outside but does have a few insecurities on the inside. Judi Dench gets a lot more screen time than you might expect and is also terrific. The playful banter between Dench and Craig is great and credit belongs with the screenwriting team.
Ben Wishaw (Bright Star) deserves a mention as stylishly dressed Q, the man within MI6 who provides Bond with his firepower and necessary gadgets. The moment where he meets Bond for the first time will leave you smiling. The character you’re most likely to remember though is the villain. We don’t meet him until about half-way through the film but Javier Bardem (No Country For The Old Men) brings a camp-ness to the role that will surprise.
There’s a running theme throughout Skyfall about old versus new. This is the longest running movie franchise in history (with 23 films over 50 years) and it’s a nice touch to see this added to the screenplay. I don’t want to spoil too much but you’ll get the picture once you see the weaponry and cars that are used. The plot involving M being replaced and Bond being past his prime also fits suitably within this message.
My excitement and enthusiasm started to wear off a little in the film’s second half and more could have been made of the finale but this is still one of the best Bond films ever made. I can’t wait to see what they come up with next!
Review: Pitch Perfect
- Details
- Written by Matthew Toomey
| Directed by: | Jason Moore |
| Written by: | Kay Cannon |
| Starring: | Anna Kendrick, Brittany Snow, Rebel Wilson, Skylar Astin, Ben Platt, Anna Camp |
| Released: | December 6, 2012 |
| Grade: | A- |
We’ve seen teen films that revolve around dance contests (Step Up) and cheerleading contests (Bring It On). Pitch Perfect uses the same formula and applies it to the world of a cappella. For those unfamiliar with the term, I’m speaking of a group of singers who perform a song without using background instruments.
There are many players in this ensemble but most subplots seems to revolve around Beca (Kendrick) – a freshman who is about to start college. After being overheard singing in the dormitory shower, she is strongly pursued by an all-female a cappella group known as the Bellas. They’re in desperate need for fresh blood and to avenge their defeat in last year’s collegiate titles.
It’s something the introverted Beca would rather not be involved in. She loves music… but singing isn’t her thing. She dreams of being a DJ and spends her spare hours mixing songs together on her laptop. Her father doesn’t approve however (as is often the case in such movies). This forces Beca to join the Bellas and prove to her father that she can commit to a project and interact with others.
I’ll cut to the crunch and say that the broader story isn’t that important here. What you need to know is that Pitch Perfect has a fun, likeable spirit. It’s not a game-changer within the genre but I know plenty of people, myself included, who will have a great time watching this. It’s like an episode of Glee in hyperdrive.
What makes the film work is the huge assortment of well-crafted characters. Kay Cannon, a writer on the 30 Rock television series, has come up with a screenplay that seems to give the right amount of time to each individual.
There’s the bossy, insecure leader of the Bellas. There’s the cocky, arrogant leader of a rival group known as the Treble Makers. There’s the singer who seemingly has no voice. There are the two crazy commentators who pop up at each a cappella competition. They’ve all got their idiosyncrasies and they’ve all got their fair share of witty one-liners. It’s the kind of movie where the whole cast deserves credit as opposed to just one or two standouts.
The premise allows the characters to sing a variety of songs which contribute to the film’s terrific soundtrack. The list includes Kelly Clarkson’s “Since You’ve Been Gone”, Flo Rider’s “Right Round” and Rhianna’s “Don’t Stop The Music”. It’s not all modern stuff though. A reference in the film to The Breakfast Club allows for the use of the Simple Minds song “Don’t You (Forget About Me)”.
With a surprising number of laugh-out-loud moments, Pitch Perfect is one of the year’s most entertaining releases.
Review: The Sessions
- Details
- Written by Matthew Toomey
| Directed by: | Ben Lewin |
| Written by: | Ben Lewin |
| Starring: | John Hawkes, Helen Hunt, William H. Macy, Adam Arkin, Rhea Perlman, Moon Bloodgood |
| Released: | November 8, 2012 |
| Grade: | B+ |
The Sessions takes us inside a world that only a small few would be familiar with. It’s based on the true story of Mark O’Brien (Hawkes) – a 38-year-old man who has been paralysed from the neck down, due to the effects of polio, since he was a young child. He relies heavily on an iron lung to survive and requires constant care.
The premise centres on Mark’s hopes to lose his virginity. He’s never had a girlfriend and he’s never had an intimate contact with a woman. That’s about to change. Thanks to the advice from a good friend, Mark has been given the details of woman who can help. Her name is Cheryl (Hunt) and she’s a professional sex surrogate.
It’s a job that I was previously aware of. Cheryl isn’t a prostitute – a point she makes clear at the very start of their sessions together. Her role is to teach Mark the “basics” and to help him explore his sexual potential. He will then the confidence and experience to increase his sexual activity in the future.
Writer-director Ben Lewin has made the decision to position the film somewhere between the comedic and dramatic genres.... and it works. If you were to hear Mark’s story from a complete stranger, you might think of it as a terrible tragedy. This is a guy who has almost no quality of life. He spends every moment confined to a bed and struggling to breathe. Not once has he experienced the sensation of an orgasm.
Mark has found a way to deal with the situation as best he can – by having a sense of humour about it. He’s not afraid to make a joke and he seems to take great pleasure in stirring a local priest (Macy) with whom he has become friends. Mark enjoys putting him to the test by asking what God would think of his use of a sex surrogate.
There’s another side to this story however. We also see things from Cheryl’s perspective and it gives us an insight into this tricky profession. She needs to establish trust with her clients and help them deal with problems that they’ve long suppressed. At the same time, she has to be careful not to get too close from an emotional perspective. It’s not easy.
The Sessions premiered at the Sundance Film Festival back in January and the performances have been talked up as “awards worthy” ever since. John Hawkes (Winter’s Bone) is excellent in the leading role and deftly illustrates his character’s deep insecurities. Hunt is also very good with her soothing voice and comforting disposition. The scenes they share in bed together are both awkward and humorous.
The film skirts around a few issues and its look into Cheryl’s home life is a good example. We see small glimpses of her interacting with her husband and son but they don’t offer as much as you’d expect. As the priest, William H. Macy’s character could have also used a little more depth. He pops in and out of the story for the sole purpose of proving a few laughs.
It can’t match the emotive power of films such as The Sea Inside and The Diving Bell & The Butterfly but The Sessions is still a nicely told story that makes you appreciate the things we take for granted.
Review: The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2
- Details
- Written by Matthew Toomey
| Directed by: | Bill Condon |
| Written by: | Melissa Rosenberg |
| Starring: | Kirsten Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Bill Burke, Michael Sheen, Dakota Fanning |
| Released: | November 15, 2012 |
| Grade: | C+ (or 2 out of 5) |
Since cinema began, we’ve been able to take one book and turn it into one movie. It’s not easy but it has been done time and time again. Then, someone inside Hollywood came up with a revolutionary idea. Let’s take the last novel in the Harry Potter series and turn it into two movies! We can put out a press release and tell everyone that it’s because “the story is incredibly complex and to condense it into one film would not do it justice.”
I hope this person earned a promotion and a healthy bonus. They found a way of doubling a film’s box-office without taking any risks at all. The sixth film in the Harry Potter series made $934 million at the international box-office. The last two films, which were based on the final novel, made a combined total of $2.284 billion (also thanks to the higher 3D ticket prices).
It’s clear to everyone that the real motivation in splitting a book into multiple films is to make more money. I’d do the same thing in their position. My problem is that from the point of view of a moviegoer, it feels like we’re being cheated. Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows – Part 1 was a tiring affair and it wasn’t until Part 2 that the action and the excitement began.
Sadly, it appears this trend is going to become far more frequent. It’s been announced that the final book in the Hunger Games series (Mockingjay) will be split into two movies. Director Peter Jackson has gone one step further and adapted The Hobbit into three movies! Instead of looking for new ideas, Hollywood is grasping onto anything profitable and milking it for all its worth.
This leads us to… drum-roll please… The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2. As for my thoughts on Part 1, the word “dull” appeared in my original review. I also described the plot using just nine words – “Bella gets married, Bella has sex, Bella gets pregnant.” Despite my disappointment, I did hope that it would follow in a similar vein to the Harry Potter series and finish with an enthralling second part.
I was wrong. This is a weak movie. The plot moves at a glacial pace and just when you think it’s starting to get interesting, you discover that it’s going nowhere. The characters, developed no further than in prior films, emit almost no emotion and speak as if they have a gun to their heads while reading a ransom note. They’re talking because they have to, not because they want to.
The music from the usually reliable Carter Burwell (Fargo, Being John Malkovich) doesn’t suit the film’s tone. I’m also puzzled by the very obvious special effects. Are the scenes where characters are running through the forest supposed to look like a computer game? Given that the first four films have reeled in more than $2.5 billion at the box-office, you’d have thought they’d have some cash to splash around on something better. Was all the money wasted on helicopter flyovers?
My criticisms mean nothing though. Fans of Stephenie Meyer’s novels and the earlier movies will love this. They’re invested in the series and will be thrilled to see the final instalment in all its glory on the big screen. I honestly hope they enjoy it. I mean that. As for everyone else, well, they’ll have no desire to go near it. Even if I described this film as “amazing”, why would you go along if you haven’t seen any of the earlier parts (which are necessary viewing)?
As a joke, I often say that the best part of a bad movie is the closing credits. The reason is obvious – the pain is over and you get to leave the theatre. The joke is back on me because the closing credits in Breaking Dawn – Part 2 are the best part of the movie… but for a different reason. They serve as a nice tribute to all the characters we have followed throughout the series.
With this book opened, closed, opened and closed again… I’m very, very keen to move on.