Beowulf - Movie Review - 8 out of 10

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Synopsis

The warrior Beowulf must fight and defeat the monster Grendel who is terrorizing towns, and later, Grendel's mother, who begins killing out of revenge.

My Take

Animated movies have come very far since the prehistoric days of Toy Story, every year another animated movie attempts to top the previous one, not only in animation skill but credibility. I mean, honestly, how many people will raise their hand when you ask them, "Who wants to see the movie Beowulf, a story with action, bloodshed, rich folklore, and hot women?" And then how many put them down when you mention the words "animated movie"? Just about all of them. Compare the animation style with the only other one like it (Polar Express) and then you've got no hands up. People are turned off to animations in general, they think it's just kid stuff. Beowulf however is not a force to be compared with on the front of its "stereotypical" cartoon counterparts; which in turns is a good thing and a bad thing.

First back-story: CGI animated feature based on the Norse epic poem about the hero who saved a Danish kingdom from a monstrous creature, which was killing and terrifying the people: After dispatching the creature, Beowulf becomes the new king, but the creature's ruthless and seductive mother will use any means to ensure revenge. With the voices of Ray Winstone, Anthony Hopkins, John Malkovich, Robin Wright Penn, Brendan Gleeson and Angelina Jolie. Directed by Robert Zemeckis. The movie runs up an hour and fifty-three minutes.

It's a good thing in the respect that the animation is almost unholy. Unholy in the fact that at times (more often than not) it crosses realities and for moments you can't tell the differences between animation and live action. The movie takes it self seriously. The whole cartoon rigmarole is cut down within the first 15 minutes of the film when on-screen characters are tossed about like rag dolls by a hideous monster (really, Grendel is a hideous looking creature..I mean I didn't think something this ugly could by thought up of) and there bodies are ripped in half, tossed on spears/pointed objects, and no sound nor sight is spared. Yeah, all of the sudden you regret bringing your kids (and/or your girlfriend) to this one. The story is also a compelling one. Based on a real epic (I had to read it for British Literature) written hundreds of years ago, I was glad to see it stuck closely to the book. The story is never a happy one, as Beowulf's problems seem to stack upon each other until his very life hangs in balance. His desire for glory (and lust) ends up sticking a fork in his entire legacy and ruins the man very much into the ground.

The movie does serve as an allegory for the deadly consequences of sin (sounds like No Country for Old Men); and proves the Biblical verses of "Be sure your sin will find you out" and "Whatever a man sows, he reaps". Despite what you figure to be a small magnitude of sin, can always come back many years later, many times the size of its original. Chrisitanity is, however, tossed to the side as the king's advisor asks the king whether or not they should try praying to the new Christian founder Jesus Christ for protection against Grendel, to which the says no and explains that it is a problem only a man can solve (then says they need a "real" hero). Later, Beowulf curses the Christ-God for some reason or another. The film serves a grim moral depiction of lives without Christ, and the destruction it brings not only to oneself but to others as well.

I did mention a bad side. Well, be forewarned no child should watch this movie. This is the most violent animated movie I've ever seen. I could not believe the amount of bloodshed and "gross parts" featured. They were cool, but I just wasn't expecting them. Also, Angelina Jolie is nude in the movie. I don't know why this isn't "R" rated (I feel strongly as though it should have been); the scenes that feature her linger over the nudity, not just a scant second or two. Because it's animated, they probably let this slide (just like Bart's wiener in the Simpson's movie). I often felt disappointed when she was on screen, because I felt that while her beauty was to bring Beowulf's lust and temptation to life, it seemed unnecessarily long and leery. I was not expecting the amount that was featured. You have been advised. There is no cursing.

Beowulf serves to be a tragic look at the human condition. Sin bears deadly consequences, lust becomes a feeding ground for evil to come, and (of course) humans cannot save themselves. The question of "What can we put faith in" comes to play, because if the Norse gods, or any other gods of man, and most importantly man himself, cannot save them from the condition of sin, what can? This can be used for teaching purposes, or serve as a highly entertaining Friday night flick – but be cautioned about 1 (one) nude Angelina Jolie and one (1) very bloody, very gory movie.

Until the next flick,
Zachary Anderson

No Country for Old Men - Movie Review - 10 out of 10

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Synopsis

Violence and mayhem ensue after a hunter stumbles upon some dead bodies, a stash of heroin and more than $2 million in cash near the Rio Grande.

My Take

Like the Coen film of yesteryear (and a member of the ten worst in my Your Movie Sucks catalog) Fargo, No Country For Old Men will no doubt be a hard pill to swallow. Most film goers will be turned off by the film's unconventional style, and perhaps angered at the way the film takes its final scene. But unlike conventional films, No Country For Old Men confronts the viewer with mind-numbing questions and a hard, bitter look at reality in the eyes of a story whose course is not gentle, whose ways are not logical, and whose message is disturbing. Whether you find this film enlightening or not is specifically up to you; regardless of how it "treats" you, No Country For Old Men will undoubtely not leave you alone.

Josh Brolin stars as Llewelyn Moss, a hunter who stumbles upon a group of dead men, a truck filled with drugs and a suitcase filled with money. He chooses to take the money, marking him as a wanted man by cold-hearted killer Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem), and two men who hope to find Moss before Chigurh does: Sheriff Ed Tom Bell (Jones) and a slick businessman (Woody Harrelson) who fear Moss is in way over his head. Moss knows he's being pursued, so he flees town, ostensibly protecting his wife (Kelly Macdonald) from those willing to do anything to retrieve it. Bell chases after Moss, hoping that Chigurh's trail of destruction won't meet up with Moss before Bell can.

A classic ploy of good vs. evil runs amok when motives are revealed and characters are enhanced. Like Steinbeck's The Pearl, Moss seems unaware of the negative consequences upon taking the money. Like enrapturing the form of evil itself, Anton Chigurh emboldens the "perfect villain" if there was such a thing. His entrancing and calm demeanor look to steal the scene. He asks brooding questions that often cannot be answered, and always appears sly and daring: one step ahead of the game. Anton, for me, is a picture of what perhaps Satan himself may resemble should he take on a human form. His penchant for death and destruction often creates a sense of fear from not only the characters on-screen but from the audience members as well. This character (as well as the actor who played him) will be remember for years to come.

Reveling in evil, No Country For Old Men looks to convince the audience of several moral ideas (and the questions that follow). As God is absent from the film (save a line of self-examining from sheriff Bell), the film asks "Can there be a stand against evil if God is absent?" the answer being a strong 'no', but no solution is provided. For me the film stands as a grim depiction of life where things anticipated, based on good circumstances, are still often left to chance; nothing is for certain. Anton stands as an emblem of evil and the consequences that follow you in the wake of sin. And of course, life hardly ever ends well, and rarely resembles the stories in the "happily ever after" books. Regardless of the Coen brothers intention for No Country For Old Men it serves as a moral reminder of the reality and deadly consequences of sin.

Having a sick obsession with death and destruction, Anton leaves no survivors in his wake. In fact, as he says himself, if you've seen him then he has to kill you (but even he is reduced to "survive" by the end of the movie). Needless to say violence is ever-present. Anton carries with him extremely disturbing looking and altered high-powered weapons that spell gore with a single shot (his weapon of choice is a sawed-off shotgun with a large cylinder silencer that makes a high-pitched whining noise when fired). Several characters are shot, and grotesquely left for dead. A few dogs are seen killed as well. Blood is rampant, as it seems to serve a far higher purpose than just the after effects of death. To simply simply, this movie is "gross". From where I was sitting, most of the women during these scenes would make the "ugh" noises and flinch to cover their faces when the scene took longer than a few seconds to pass (often the camera lingers longer than normal for these parts). Anton often kills close range, leaving us to see the kill-shot. Sometimes his "principles" (a very strange kind indeed) kick in and looks away (as does the camera) for killing. He is no respecter of sexes, but the camera is when it comes to his killing of women. The is one of the most violent movies I've ever seen, and the nonchalance of Anton (and lack of musical score) makes the scene creepier and more crude. There is less than a handful of curse words (only one "f" word, which is a significant downsize on part of the Coen brothers) and no sex (although a man is shown naked, privates covered, nursing a wound).

No Country For Old Men is a movie that will undoubtley be a forerunner for Best Picture for 2008, with Javier Bardem a skilled shot as "Best Supporting Actor". It is a premier example for storytelling and a setup for convincing characters. In addition, the movie is a barrage of moral questions that will prove heavy on the viewer. Be forewarned, there's a good chance you will not like the course this movie takes – but the more it dwells the more sound the end becomes. It is by no means a happy tale, a conventional story but it will intrigue you and take you to places you've never been nestled in your comfy theater chair (which will probably be the most "comfortable" thing about the whole experience). A astonishingly complex and creative film that I recommend.

Until the next flick,
Zachary Anderson

Bee Movie - Movie Review - 7 out of 10

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Synopsis

Barry B. Benson, a bee who has just graduated from college, is disillusioned at his lone career choice: making honey. On a special trip outside the hive, Barry's life is saved by Vanessa, a florist in New York City. As their relationship blossoms, he discovers humans actually eat honey, and subsequently decides to sue us.

My Take

Nothing fits my bill better for a Sunday afternoon at the movies than an animated feature film. Ever since the explosion of the great saga known as Toy Story came into the marketplace in 1994 (or somewheres around there) movie studios have been at a bit of an arms race getting their animated film into the public. We have seen some huge hits like Shrek and some flops like Shrek 3. In a competing marketplace nowadays, you have to have 2 solid features if you want to gain mileage on your opponents: good animation, and a good script. Early last year, Hoodwinked proved you could have a good, clever movie without all the cool special effects of animation – and The Bee Movie looks to deposit the same feeling. While not so flashy on the animation, the movie makes up with a funny script and, did I forget to mention, Jerry Seinfield.

First of all, as reviewer John DiBiase noted, in a season (just before the December Blockbusters hit) where Oscar-headed contenders compete for an audience along with their "R" ratings – it's hard to find a good family movie. The Bee Movie should stick around for at least 4 weeks, giving families plenty of time to check this one out. Looking for something to watch as family and want to get out of the house? The Bee Movie is your answer. Although most of the humor is aimed at both age groups, those that are adult-oriented will most likely skirt over the little ones' head. Seinfeld's humor will most likely match yours, as it is a balanced order of slapstick (for the kids), random humor, and Seinfeld's remarks. Some of the things that Seinfeld utters are down-right hilarious, and adds the edge to the film that makes it suitable for all age groups.

A great family film that serves as a benchmark for humor and style, while not terribly great, The Bee Movie is definitely a quick pick for adults and kids alike.

Until the next flick,
Zachary Anderson

Hairspray - Movie Review - 10 out of 10

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Synopsis

Pleasantly plump teenager Tracy Turnblad teaches 1962 Baltimore a thing or two about integration after landing a spot on a local TV dance show.

My Take

I don't believe in musicals. I think the movies and music should be separated at the hip; a separation like state and religion. To this date I think I've seen maybe three musicals total: My Fair Lady, Singing in the Rain, and parts of West Side Story. That's about it. If someone says, "Hey, lets go see a musical!" I hesitate and run in the other direction. I don't like musicals. And then there's Hairspray. I don't know what makes this one is different. Maybe it's the great song and dance that makes up a majority of the movie's plot; maybe it's the great selection of actors and actresses that sing and talk their way through the production (10 Points for a singing Christopher Walken, 20 for John Travolta dressed up as a woman, and 30 points for Amanda Bynes); maybe it's the fact that I couldn't stop smiling the entire time. It's happy, it's musical, it's Hairspray.

Hairspray tells the story of "pleasantly plump" Tracy Turnblad and her whimsical journey from average school girl to town hero. Along the way she encounters the obvious hurdle of her physical appearance, despite the fact of her incredible high self-image. A fan of the Corny Collins (James Marsden) Show, Tracy and best friend Penny (Amanda Bynes) can't miss the show as it airs day to day. Eventually Corny announces the need for a replacement dancer and singer. Looking for her big break, Tracy auditions and although is rejected at first, enlists the help of the black community, and struts her way back into the show's lineup. Singing her way through diversity and celebrating difference, Tracy touches her friends, her parents, even her enemies as she begins to radically change her town and America forever.

Hairspray emboldens the word "fun". From start to finish you can't help but enjoy the film. If you're just like me, coming from a background of a severe case of musicalitis, Hairspray might be the antidote. It's got great music, great dances, great acting, and best of all a great message. With a PG rating, this movie screams family entertainment and reeks of enjoyment. Sometimes the best of movies, comes in the most unique packages. Give this movie a chance, and you'll find yourself head over heels in love with Hairspray. Or, close to it at least (wink, wink).

Until the next flick,
Zachary Anderson

Martian Child - Movie Reviews - 6 out of 10

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Synopsis

A single widower (John Cusack) attempts to adopt a ten year old boy who thinks he is from Mars.

My Take

With a setup for a killer tear-jerker and lovable duo, Cusack seems to pull out all his charm to win the audience over for The Martian Child. Starring alongside handsome-man John, is young first-timer Billy Coleman whose look and shyness just reek of cute. However, what is built up to be a charming flick turns out in the end to be nothing more than a slightly above average disappointment.

Science fiction author David Gordon longs for a child, even though his wife died many years before. Wanting to, in his own words, make a difference in the world David attempts to adopt a child- despite the outcries of his sister (who is literally played by John's sister Joan). The adoption agency matches him up with an odd child who, like Lars from Lars and the Real Girl, has no contact with the outside realm. His excuse? Ten-year-old Dennis thinks he's from Mars. And not just "kind of thinks it", he is sure as he is alive. Dennis has devised an elaborate system of language, science, and observation blended together to fit his 'mission' which he claims he is on from 'the Martians'. David must deal with not only Dennis' delusional fantasy of being an alien, but his lack of connectivity with humans and failure to communicate as a whole.

John Cusack, who is one of my top ten favorite actors, never ceases to amaze me on screen, playing the comedic as well as serious parts. This one finds him in more of the serious version of Big Daddy and a more kiddish version of K-Pax; in fact those two movies blended together roughly equal The Martian Child minus a majority of the laughs and crudeness. On the one hand, the movie contains little or no flags (except that Cusack's favorite word seems to be the Lord's name) making it safe for the whole family; but on the other the seemingly slow pace kind of puts all of the sentiments in slow gear, making them appear more as milestones to hit for quota than an actual free flow feel. Yes, the movie did have potential "tear-jerking" scenes but they were few and far between and often were strung together incoherently that, despite the cute kid and the great actor, it seemed boring at times.

While there truly is no harm in seeing this movie, for some it may get long and restless and others may feel right at home. Overall, I felt The Martian Child didn't connect Cusack and Coleman together as much as they would have liked us to believe, and the end result was only a half-hearted attempt at winning us over. Still, The Martian Child remains an above average flick that garners a definite "safe" in all things content-wise.

Until the next flick,
Zachary Anderson

Lars and the Real Girl - Movie Review - 9 out of 10

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Synopsis

A young man (Ryan Gosling) dealing with human interpersonal and social issues, channels his desire for human contact when he orders, befriends, and falls in love with a human-sized female doll.

My Take

Nothing spells honesty, wit, and inspiration like an independent film. Sure, some independents drag out for hours with their art-house spiel and sometimes limitless ethical boundaries, but often times (as I am coming to realize) I'll take an indie over a big-budget any day. Take the recent run of favorites like Gone, Baby, Gone, Michael Clayton, and a soon to be favorite Juno (coming in December); all hits, unfortunately the only downside being availability. Lars and the Real Girl was playing in only 1 theater in the entire Central Florida area; at the Winter Park Village – and to give you out-of-towner's an idea of relation of time to get there, from my house its about 40 minutes. To see a movie. But then again, I knew it was going to be worth it.

Ryan Gosling's performance as an interpersonal lacking slightly delusional Lars Lindstrom should be marked down in the Oscar Nominee book right now. Lars lives basically a sheltered life in his brother's house, living in the garage. And when I say living I literally mean living. He normally gets up to go to work, works, then comes home in the garage and the next day starts the day over again. Growing up without a normal relationship with people leaves Lars in limbo with dealing with the human population. He often doesn't know how to respond to people, and is deathly afraid of physical contact. However, all of that changes when Lars orders and 'dates' a life size female doll. Eventually introducing her to his brother and sister-in-law, the couple are unsure of how to take it immediately seeking help from the family's doctor. Slowly and surely Lars' delusion of his love for the doll, named Bianca, becomes apparent and serious leaving not only his family, but the whole town to play along and assist with the situation as well.

Remarkably enough while it does sound like something you might hear on a BBC comedy, Lars and the Real Girl is not at all that. While the reality of a man loving a doll does sound like a storyline driven over the top, and probably laden with cheesy jokes and pointless one-liners; this story takes a sweeter, more serious side. Eventually, the accommodations the townspeople make for Lars and Bianca, while potentially light-hearted, don't seem so far-out. The point of Lars having the relationship with the doll, is finding a toll to channel his want, his desire to connect with another human. Unfortunately, an unstable childhood left Lars with pretty much no "equipment" to deal with the outside world (though he does manage to support himself with a moderate job). The new girl at work piques his interest, but Lars responds in the only way he knows how; subtly. Wanting to fight the urge, but avoid human confrontation – Lars creates the delusion of Bianca, one that his brother and sister wait to wash over him like a fad, yet it doesn't come. Through Bianca, Lars begins to develop more outside of his box and extend to the potential labeled on the movie poster itself, "The search for true love begins outside the box".

With a touching, sweet, loving depiction of devotion, loyalty, and the human condition Lars and the Real Girl comes off as a truly moving film. Also laced in is a clever story emboldened by witty dialog and almost no flags (some sexual innuendo referring to the fact that Bianca came with female parts; but Lars never talks about it, and it only lingers for a scene very discreetly). While you probably wont have the chance to catch this one in theaters, it makes for a very worthy rental and an even better romantic-mood-setting flick.

Until the next silver screen production,
Zachary Anderson

Dan in Real Life - Movie Review - 9 out of 10

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Synopsis

Dan Burns (Steve Carell), a successful newspaper self-help columnist and single father of three girls, falls in love with a woman, later turning out to be his brother's girlfriend.

My Take

I think of Dan in Real Life as an experiment. Steve Carell a bouncy, lovable comedian known for his off-color role as Michael Scott from The Office, decides a change of pace and settle for a more down-tempo film. Much more down tempo. Much like Will Ferrell's venture to the serious side in last Fall's Stranger Than Fiction, we find Carell switching to that same ploy. Dan in Real Life is a risk, a bigger risk than I think anyone will admit. You take a successful comedian, who stars in movies, and a television show weekly (in season), and you put him in a more melodramatic setting, and change his specialty genre from "comedy" to "romance/drama"...and can't expect a major setback here? Thankfully, for Carell and the whole Dan in Real Life project they pull it off with ease, and instead set the bar higher for the capabilities of comedians like Carell who continues to climb the ladder, in my opinion.

Dan in Real Life is a funny story amongst blatant tragedy. We see Dan Burns living it up as a newspaper columnist on one hand..but as the movie evolves we learn that his wife passed away years before, and he appears to be losing his grip on his three daughters, two of which are teenagers and seem to be mentally drifting apart from him. A trip to his parents house for an annual family get-together, appears as a Mecca for what the struggling Burn's family needs. However, things take an interesting turn when Dan meets a woman named Marie in a local bookstore, only a day after arriving at his parent's house in Rhode Island. Instantly whisked away mentally, Dan prepares to foster perhaps much more than a friendship – all based on one conversation with Marie. However, Dan comes home to find out that his brother Mitch (Dane Cook) has a girlfriend coming to visit – who turns out to be Marie, the same woman from the bookstore. Dan and Marie try to play cool, hiding their secret while slowly growing more and more despondent and irritable until the family attempts to intervene.

While not technically in the "family film" department, it wont hurt to be shown for a family night. Values and morales are brought to the table without being propagated or showy. The movie also gets away with almost 0 flags. Minimal language, minimal nudity and sex, and no violence (save one punch), leave it to be fairly clean. The more adult topics (an exercise scene which features Marie doing the salsa in front of a envious Dan, and Dan's brother talking about when the last time Dan "unpopped his cork was", much to his family's dismay) are given with more subtle tones, so the obvious isn't drug out. It goes in step with the movies tempo, which is mostly slow (but not boring) and soft-spoken, and an almost folksy feel to it.

In the end viewers will learn about the truth behind love, whether seen from a 40-year old man's point of view or a 14 year old girl. Love seems to be on the same plain for everyone, including people within a family. Putting family first, always lets you accomplish your goals at a steady pace and leaves time to cherish the ones you love. This wrapped up in a charming love story (really charming) presents a beautiful and delightful package that is Dan in Real Life. Without a doubt, I highly recommend it. You will lose out if you miss this film.

Until the next flick,
Zachary Anderson