Aesthetix' Movie Journal: 2014

3/16

Synopsis: In Nazi-occupied France during World War II, a group of Jewish-American soldiers known as "The Basterds" are chosen specifically to spread fear throughout the Third Reich by scalping and brutally killing Nazis.

It's no secret that I'm not a great fan of QT, who I find vastly overrated; the fact that it's taken me almost 5 years to get around to watching this should tell you that. Yet I found myself liking this movie in spite of the fact that it's a QT vehicle but my feelings are certainly mixed.

This is very much a QT film and even were someone to go into viewing this picture without knowledge of who made it, it would become readily apparent and in very short order. People always seem to view Tarentino as some avante garde god of cinema but that couldn't be further from the truth; there is no groundbreaking and very little original thought involved in his works. QT is a reactionary filmmaker - he gets all his ideas from somebody else and tweaks them perversely.

If you've seen one of his films, you've seen them all and here is no exception to that rule. QT is, once again, ripping off the movies that he loved most in his youth and writing excruciatingly-overlong dialogue pieces, for all involved, which are liberally peppered with profanity. (You can never have enough profanity, right?)

Parts of this film are very overlong and I found myself just wanting the story to get on with it. Yet others were well done and I enjoyed them. I loved Mélanie Laurent and Diane Kruger here; Laurent was the best part of the movie actually. I found it amusing to see Pitt trying to channel Clark Gable and I was impressed with Christoph Waltz' portrayal of Landa.

So my feelings are quite mixed over this one. The Basterds of the title only appear in roughly half of the movie and it wasn't at all the action-fest that I thought it would be (from the previews). I should have known better because QT loves for his characters to prattle on incessantly. Yet it turns out that the other players in the film were my favorites and I didn't miss the Basterds so much.

The final result? It's a good film and were I ranking QT's projects, I would place this one squarely in second place behind Reservoir Dogs. Will I watch it again? Probably not...but I won't forget it either.

3/10
Rewatch

Synopsis: Vulcanologists come to a small Pacific Northwest town to investigate strange goings-on with the local mountain, which the town is named for. Natural disaster ensues.

I love a good disaster movie. Always have. I can remember watching Earthquake, The Towering Inferno and more with my dad when I was a kid and loving every minute of it. The difference here is that this movie doesn't boast an all-star, ensemble cast like the movies did in the 'old days'.

Yet it's still a decent watch. Pierce Brosnan and Linda Hamilton head a decent cast but, honestly, the two of them alone are more than enough to entice interest. As a disaster film though, this one is a bit short on thrills and it's a bit tame in most other areas, as well.

That doesn't make it a bad movie and (imo) it deserves better than the 5-star rating it has here. While it holds almost no surprises, it's still interesting and pleasing; certainly diverting for a couple of hours.

The other similar disaster movie that came out the same year, Volcano was much better though.

3/10

Synopsis: An FBI agent and an Interpol detective track a team of illusionists who pull off bank heists during their performances and reward their audiences with the money.

An ensemble cast of charismatic actors and a story that couples magic shows with a heist film makes for one entertaining movie. While I'm not familiar with Mélanie Laurent or Dave Franco, I am quite familiar with the rest of the cast, who are all excellent, and enjoy seeing them all in pretty much anything.

As with many people I found this film a bit disappointing as it didn't quite match the hype of the previews. Oh, it's good; don't get me wrong. The illusions are cool, the performances and onscreen dynamic between actors are fantastic and the story is interesting. There's even a few surprises. It just lagged in a few spots.

I would certainly watch it again (at some time or other) and might even buy it for my collection...once it's marked down in price a bit. ;)
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A few side-notes: Isla Fisher is more beautiful than mere words can do justice and I could watch her folding clothes, baking cookies or any other mundane chore you might think of. She's also a very capable actress and an asset to any movie.

Eisenberg plays a douche with perfect aplomb, which makes me wonder just what he's like off-screen.

Ruffalo is high on my watchlist these days and I hope he gets even more high-profile parts.

Morgan Freeman was perfectly cast in his part here. Absolutely perfect and he owned it.

3/6

Synopsis: In Istanbul, retired CIA operative Bryan Mills and his wife are taken hostage by the father of a kidnapper Mills killed while rescuing his daughter.

Taken 2 is one of the most literal sequels that I've ever seen. The storyline goes where expected, too and (really) the viewer is merely left to guess who Neeson will punch, kick or shoot first, second and so on. Now, don't get me wrong, this is a class - A film with an excellent story, direction and choreography; all the actors perform admirably, as well. It's a beautiful picture and one hell of a ride. Yet it's like going for a ride on your favorite roller coaster; you know where the turns, climbs and dips all are.

Still, a solid 8/10 stars!

2/15

Synopsis: When heroic astronaut Scorch Supernova (of the planet Baab) is sent on a mission to Earth he falls prey to waiting military and it's up to his 'little' brother (a mission control specialist) to rescue him and foil a dastardly plot of intergalactic proportions.

This is a decent animated adventure but nothing spectacular (like The Croods). It's a fairly average plotline but the characters are entertaining enough to carry the story. Still, not something I would probably watch again.

2/14

Synopsis: This prehistoric comedy adventure follows the world's first family as they embark on the journey of a lifetime when the cave that has always shielded them from danger is destroyed. Traveling across a spectacular landscape, the family discovers an incredible new world filled with fantastic creatures…

The Croods is, not only, the next great animated movie of the new millenium; it's one of the best that I've seen - period. In fact, I'd wager that it would land a secure spot in my top 10 animations of all time.

I began watching this with my granddaughter one night and became far more engrossed in it than she did. Don't get me wrong; she likes it and has watched it a few times now. Yet I flat-out loved it! It's thoroughly entertaining, surprising and delightful at every turn.

It's about time that another prehistoric family had their time in the spotlight. If you like animations and want a great family movie then don't miss this one. The Croods rocks!

2/13

Synopsis: A former DEA agent moves his family to a quiet town, where he soon tangles with a local meth druglord.

Statham is the epitomy of the action hero for the new millenium and his apex film The Transporter is one of the best action movies I've ever seen. He's gotten a bit of a rap these past few years for starring in mediocre action/dramas that have, for the most part, fallen below the radar. This film, however, isn't one of them.

Homefront surprised me by being set in Rayville, La, which is only a half-hour's drive down the I from where I, myself, live. I have my suspicions whether it was actually filmed there though and can find no corroboration to that fact. I have found it said that filming took place in New Orleans and Shreveport though.

Still, it was amusing to see yet another film set in my home state. ;)

While the film may have received mixed-to-poor reviews from critics I found myself liking it. I'm a fan of Statham's anyway. Homefront boasts a fine cast with James Franco, Wynona Ryder, Kate Bosworth and Clancy Brown joining Statham yet the story isn't anything new.

I expected a bit more from Franco and Ryder, feeling that neither really went all out here but Statham was solid and Bosworth, especially, was impressive as a trailer-trash tweaker mom.

The movie is decent and formulaic but that doesn't mean you should pass it by. It gets my vote. ;)

2/6

Synopsis: A recently blinded woman is terrorized by a trio of thugs while they search for a heroin stuffed doll they believe is in her apartment.

The lovely Lady Audrey turns in yet another stellar performance here as a blind woman preyed upon by less than savory characters. This was an impressive departure from the previous roles I've seen her in. Yet the film boasts a number of great actors who 'deliver the goods'.

Richard Crenna and Jack Weston are fantastic as con men who are coerced into joining up with Alan Arkin (in quite possibly his best role) who delivers as a devious, sadistic criminal who will let nothing come between him and what he wants. Efrem Zimbalist Jr. is also wonderful as Audrey's husband, though he appears in a diminished capacity.

I've read that this was adapted from a Broadway play and that this film by Terence Young was superior all the way around. Whether you are a fan of Audrey or not, you should check it out. It's worth a watch.

2/5

Synopsis: An aging detective, passed over for promotion, gets saddled with a strange suicide case and a rookie, female partner. Both are more than they seem.

I wondered (regarding the title) upon watching this if it was related to The Howling horror series but it is, most certainly, not. If anything it is more akin to the late 70's horror/thriller Wolfen; yet, truly, it is unrelated. Instead, this South Korean film, written and directed by Yoo Ha, is based on the 1996 novel The Hunter by Japanese writer Asa Nonami.

It is a solid movie which incorporates elements of Wolfen, as well as The Enforcer. The dynamic of the female, rookie detective and the aging vet was quite similar to that of Clint Eastwood's Harry Callahan and Tyne Daly's Kate Moore; the treatment of Na-yeong Lee's character, Det. Eun-Young, in Howling was even more reminiscent of the way that women were treated in such an environment (decades ago) in the States.

The film has it's weak spots. The majority of the actors turn in performances that are decidedly lacking and the dialogue certainly leaves something to be desired. That said, it is an engaging film; yet I wonder how much of that was reflection for me in it's similarities to the two aforementioned movies (both of which I loved) and just how much was my curiosity at how it would play out.

Na-yeong Lee delivered the best performance here and impressed me to the point that I wish to see other work from her. The best supporting role though was from the killer wolf-dog. ;)

1/27

Synopsis: An AWOL Special forces assassin is hunted by his former mentor after he murders several hunters.

I should have known that I would like this simply because of Tommy Lee Jones; I can't recall a single movie of his that I've seen that I didn't like. I can't really say why I've passed this one over for the last decade...perhaps it's Del Toro (who I've never been crazy about) or maybe I was just never in the right mood. *shrug* Suffice to say that this is a movie well worth watching.

Jones plays a man who once trained hunter/killers for the military and was damned good at it. Years later, after he's had enough and moved so far north that people are scarce, his past has come back to haunt him. Someone comes knocking and asks for his help in tracking down one of his 'creations' who's gone off the grid and off his nut.

Good times for everyone! ;D

1/19

Synopsis: Astronaut Sam Bell has a quintessentially personal encounter toward the end of his three-year stint on the Moon, where he, working alongside his computer, GERTY, sends back to Earth parcels of a resource that has helped diminish our planet's power problems.

While I've never been a fan of Sam Rockwell, I will say that he impressed me greatly with his role in The Green Mile and, after watching Moon, my estimation of him and his abilities as an actor has increased dramatically. Likewise regarding director Duncan Jones, who I am not familiar with at all. This film reminds me somewhat of the 70's sci-fi cult classic Silent Running but where that film just didn't grab me, this one absolutely did.

The plot & script for Moon is interesting, in and of itself, and I believe that this movie would have been a treat were any number of talented actors have played the lead because the direction of Jones, the sets and visuals are all splendid. Few though, could have made it what it is and that is a truly mesmerizing film.

I will most certainly watch this again soon.

1/16

Synopsis: A sister and brother, the last heirs of a family of acrobats, are called upon by a Buddhist monk sect to retrieve an artifact that their ancestors have protected throughout the ages.

While there is a bit more to The Touch than the synopsis allows it still has the feel of something seen before. That said, this was still an enjoyable movie, despite the fact that Dane Cook somehow found his way into the cast.

While there are good performances put forth by Yeoh, Chaplin and Roxburgh the whole thing is tied together by an unbelievable knot of circustance. Yeoh and Chaplin play estranged lovers; estranged because she is devoted to family and he to thievery. His connections to Roxburgh's kingpin-financier character (and no, he bears no resemblance to a small French cake) as one of a band of thieves are what make the entire storyline possible.

Roxburgh has Chaplin steal a mystical artifact. Chaplin then steals it from Roxburgh to give to Yeoh. Roxburgh's goons attempt to steal it back and kidnap the two lovers along with it. Then ensues a race to find...

Just imagine that Raiders of the Lost Ark and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon were blended together with The Golden Child and then liberally watered down. That's it in a nutshell; decent, very deja-vu yet forgettable.

1/15

Synopsis: Terrorists attack and seize control of the White House with the President hostage. One, lone Secret Service agent remains loose within and is the only hope for rescue.

Well, now that I've finally watched this, I can see the resemblance to Die Hard some have made reference to. There's nothing new here, certainly, and the plot to attack and overthrow the White House presented here is ludicrous and most certainly would never come close to working. Yet this is quite enjoyable as actioners go and has a far better cast than the other one like this (the one with Tatum and Foxx) but it's hard to compare to a cast with the likes of Freeman, Butler, Eckhart and Bassett.

Yeah, I liked it. I enjoyed the hell out of it. Is it believable? Hell no, this would never happen but it's still a damned good action movie. If Butler hadn't had the lead here, I might have skipped it (depending on who else had the role) but I love to see this guy in movies.

A solid 8!

1/12

Synopsis: After a treacherous warlord kills their master and banishes their kind, 47 leaderless samurai vow to seek vengeance and restore honor to their people.

I thoroughly enjoyed this! And for more than that...
Full review here

1/11

Synopsis: The second in a trilogy of films adapting the enduringly popular masterpiece The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien, this film continues the adventures of the title character Bilbo Baggins as he journeys with the Wizard Gandalf and thirteen Dwarves, led by Thorin Oakenshield on an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor.

The road might be different than that previously traveled but it's still one helluva ride.

(Review excerpt)
It's been years since I read The Hobbit last; yet it is a treasured, if dusty, memory which is afforded a grand place among the many adventures I was privileged to take throughout my life and, especially, my childhood. I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing, regarding how long it's been since reading it, because age and memory don't always walk the same paths. I found myself, time and again, while watching The Desolation of Smaug, raising an eyebrow and remarking, to myself, "I don't recall that being in the book."
Full review here

1/10

Synopsis: A father struggles to keep his prematurely-born daughter alive while they await rescue in an abandoned New Orleans hospital in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

Hours, which is (I assume) Walker's last movie, proves to be one hell of a swan song; it is a deep and heartfelt tale in which he gives, in my estimation, the best performance of his career. How anyone who is a parent and, especially, a father can watch this and not be touched is beyond me.

1/6

Synopsis: Thor fights to restore order across the cosmos...but an ancient race led by the vengeful Malekith returns to plunge the universe back into darkness.

While I didn't enjoy this as much as the first film, it is still a decent watch. A bit overlong in certain scenes but still...of those I favored were the ones with 'the mortals' and those w/ Loki. Can't promise that I'll ever watch this again but it was decent.

1/6
Rewatch

Synopsis: With the help of a smooth talking tomcat, a family of Parisian felines set to inherit a fortune from their owner try to make it back home after a jealous butler kidnaps them and leaves them in the country.

My granddaughter was in need of some amusement, so I found this old classic, which was a favorite of mine as a child. It was nice seeing it again after all these years and time has been quite kind to it, too.

1/4

Synopsis:In the year 2154, two classes of people exist: the very wealthy, who live on a pristine man-made space station called Elysium, and the rest, who live on an overpopulated, ruined Earth and are desperate for...well, everything.

Slightly interesting. I suppose it's a decent sci-fi thriller but it's low on thrills. Matt Damon's inclusion in the cast is a plus as is Alice Braga's and William Fichtner's. Still, it's a dystopian/utopian tale that it seems I've heard/read/seen before...

I didn't care for District 9 at all; the acting was for shit, though some of the special effects w/ the aliens were decent. This is a better effort by Neill Blomkamp but not by much and mainly it's made better by a cast of more-than-capable actors and what looks like a better budget...not to mention a better-written script.

It's not bad but it's not all that good either. I doubt I'll be watching this again.

1/2

Synopsis:As a war between humankind and monstrous sea creatures wages on, a former pilot and a trainee are paired up to drive a seemingly obsolete special weapon in a desperate effort to save the world from the apocalypse.

This is easily the best film from 2013 that I've seen yet, though I am behind on my viewing, and the best blockbuster. How I wish I could have watched this on the big screen! I just know the experience would have been that much more.

Pacific Rim also cements a place among my favorite directors for Guillermo del Toro, whose films never fail to impress me. It was rather nice seeing Idris Elba, Ron Perlman and Burn Gorman here. I must also confess that I may have fallen in love with Rinko Kikuchi a bit. ;)

(my briefly-penned review): Pacific Rim freaking rocks!!! Guillermo del Toro does it once again and in grand style. This brought back childhood memories of the Shogun Warriors for me but they were never this cool. Everything about this film was impressive and my only regret was not watching it in theatres. If ever a film deserves a sequel, it's this one!

2/9

Synopsis: A young martial artist's unparalleled Tai Chi skills land him in a highly lucrative underworld fight club.

A promising directorial debut for Keanu Reeves that bodes well for future projects. His love for martial arts movies is readily apparent here and I was pleased to see that, though he pulled double-duty as actor and director, neither effort suffered in the slightest.

Here he plays a powerful shadow manipulator who operates an underground fight operation for a very wealthy audience. Yet his motives go far beyond a mere hefty payday; his true desires are much darker.

Tiger Hu Chen is the real star here though as Chen Lin-Hu, the last student of a centuries old Tai Chi school. While his excellence at the art brings him success in a tournament he enters and catches the eye of Donaka Mark (Reeves), it is his restless spirit which drives him on. Mark, seeing the possibilities that lie within Chen, entices him to fight for him; all the while orchestrating events which will spur Chen onward toward a goal with grim consequences.

The fight scenes here are fantastic and the story itself is interesting, as well. While I thought that a bit more depth could have been added to the story itself and the characters, it's still quite entertaining and I can't wait to see just what's next for Reeves on the directorial horizon.

2/1
Recommended by moviewatcher122

Synopsis: A pair of aging con men try to get the old gang back together for one last hurrah before one of the guys takes his last assignment -- to kill his comrade.

No, I don't enjoy Mob Movies or Gangster Guignol but the cast intrigued me so I thought I'd give it a go. Luckily, this isn't one of those movies. ;)

It is about a few 'retired' con men though and it's a comedy but, for a change, it's not a ridiculously-stupid comedy. Actually dramedy would be a more precise term of description because there are really no ROTF laughs here; just some moments that will make you smile and even grin.

It's about reconnecting and friendships that stand the test of time. It's about all the things a guy wants to do after spending 28 years in prison and just being released. It's about doing what's right and being... a stand up guy.

Pacino, Walken and Arkin have amazing chemistry here and their timing is impeccable. There are some really good scenes here, as well and if you don't go into this expecting it to be some Godfather derivative, you should enjoy it. It's not fantastic but it is pretty good.

1/20
Recommended by VierasTalo

Synopsis: A group of high schoolers invite Mandy Lane (Amber Heard), a good girl who became quite hot over the summer, to a weekend party on a secluded ranch. While the festivities rage on, the number of revelers begins to drop quite mysteriously.

Yeah, I listed this one in my 365 Nights of Horror Movie Journal as well but it is a horror movie. ;)

I pretty much summed up my feelings there but this was a letdown for me. The only person in the entire movie that I didn't want to die was the ranch hand.

1/14
Recommended by Vieras Talo

Synopsis: A flying saucer orbits the 1950s Earth. An alien lands and tells the people of Earth that they must live peacefully or be destroyed as a danger to other planets.

Now I understand why this is a classic and, perhaps, the best sci-fi movie to come out of the atomic age of cinema. It's easily the best I've seen so far from the 50's and, unlike some others of the era, possesses a sound story, realistic dialogue and great acting.

While I like Reeves and Connelly as actors, this is far superior to the remake that they took part in. Recognizing Patricia Neal was a treat for me as I've always enjoyed her work. It brought a smile to my face, too, when I heard the classic phrase that was used in Raimi's Evil Dead flicks, "Klaatu barada nikto".

I would recommend this to anyone who is a fan of sci-fi or not. Quite a solid movie all around.

1/6
Recommended by Portlander

Synopsis:A neurotic film critic tries to get over his wife leaving him by dating again, much by the help of a married couple and his alter ego, Humphrey Bogart.

I hate to admit it but, despite the fact that he's basically a legend in American cinema, I'm not that familiar with Woody Allen's work. I've seen one or two of his films but I was so young that I can't recall what they were or even how I felt about them.

I can say that I thoroughly enjoyed this and I've developed a newfound respect for the man and his craft. Likewise I plan to see more of his films in the near future.

I realize that it's a bit odd that someone else directed this film because Allen made a habit of directing all his own written work. Still, the fact that he wrote this and starred in it combined with the fact that he plays the most believable neurotic I've ever seen on film makes this a must-see (in my book) for any fan of film.