The Major argument for many who boast about how good Avatar is, is the special effects used. I do conform to the wide view that impressive they are, however what I simply cannot do is go on by saying 'they're revolutionary'. They work, so that's a plus, but one cannot help but think in 10 years time we may look back and talk about how ridiculous the effects look, quite simply this facet of the movie represents progress in CGI, but certainly not the beginning of some revolution. Now to the story and setting of the film, its simple enough, effectively a Pocahontas story which I don't imply in a bad way at all, the simple narrative gives you a rather comforting feel for the characters with their views and ambitions clear and not warped and distorted and hidden like many of this type of film go down the path of. For the first 110 minutes I was impressed with what I was seeing, all apart from the ludicrous acting of the films major 'bad guys' and how truly unbelievable those characters were. But Unfortuanately the film spirals into the old cliché major battle-group initiation-love survives ending, but not before making almost every viewer feel bad for being part of the human race, and getting the urge to rise up and stop capitalism. One has to wonder does James Cameron have any faith in human kind at all?
Reviews
7 Reviews
Donnie Darko
(2001)
One hit wonder
10 December 2009
The reasons as to why 'Donnie Darko' is so acclaimed as it explained to me via other viewers seem all in all quite relevant and understandable. Its a movie that is opting to go in a unique direction and has moments that leave you gasping. There are three major problems with this film however, and unfortunately they far outweigh any intrigue or thrills it may provide. One: Its characters are so disconnecting to viewers, its almost like watching group of characters from a Wes Anderson movie in a serious film, it dawned on me about twenty minutes into the screening that the people in the movie were so uninteresting and so lifeless that I couldn't care less what was to happen to them. Two: The story, as inventive as it is, it is really quite basic and it seems so much has been done to draw it out, by filling the film with cheap subplots about high school/ country town/ American life, not tot say that good things can't be done with the as for mentioned, but they are like the characters quite uninteresting. Three: the major one, cinema as an art should be timeless, it should be able to be revisited again and again and still in someway impact its viewers, 'Donnie Darko' is a film that needs only to be viewed once(even those who like it agree here). It is essentially a cheap present, a one hit wonder on the pop charts, and unsustainable work that cannot bring people back to it and offering something new at each showing.
2001: A Space Odyssey
(1968)
The single greatest piece of cinematic art ever achieved
10 December 2009
In 1968 the world was waiting to see what our solar system had to show. Russians and Americans alike had ventured into space but the Moon was still a working progress and as for the other planets, most remained relative mysteries. It is quite amazing that of all things, a movie, would be the first look into the rest of our solar system, but to merely say that 'space odyssey' is an adventure of the solar system would be giving it nowhere near the credit it deserves. It is so much more, its an adventure of humankind, of our souls, of our minds. Almost half a century has passed since its creation and yet its filming techniques and special effects are still the envy of sci-fi film makers the world over. Not just anyone could've made this movie, it is a piece of pure unadulterated genius and should come as no surprise that Kubrick in his almost infinite directional wisdom delivered such a massive and ambitious project to absolute perfection, perfection that knows not of the bounds and constraints of time.
Transformers
(2007)
Michael Bay cares not for anything but special effects
10 December 2009
Its always hard to convert a previous media into a film and pull of something that can be defined as excellent. There is no doubt that Bay had intentions of doing this but all he has delivered is soulless piece of work with some good special effects. The Transformers story is one of simplicity and for that Bay and his screenwriters cannot be blamed, however they can be blamed for the awful dialogue given to the characters and the cliché images of each and every character in the film. They are all so one dimensional and predictable that there is no interest to be found in any of them. The movie is at its purist sense a dummed down 'hollywood-enised' expression of the Transformers brand. Its saving grace are its action scenes where meticulous effort has been put into the effects, but even these are far too monotonous that after about the fourth one you beginning to get rather tired of the whole concept of giant robot aliens battling one another. To those who like a shallow explosion filled action flick than this is for you, but for those who like depth to a movie then certainly avoid this one.
Salt of This Sea
(2008)
One side of the coin
9 December 2009
Cinema, in my eyes, is an art. The best pieces of art in almost any medium are subjective pieces of work they allow you to understand what the artist's feelings, emotion, messages etc. are. However when inducing politics into art one should be very objective. It is impossible to set out a rational film on a political issue if the movie is made in a subjective manner. 'Salt of this Sea' is one such movie where a strive has been made to critique a very delicate situation in Isreal/Palestine, however it is done in such a narrow scope, and at times, disgustingly sentimental way. The mere fact that in the movie, the main character feels such a strong connection with a place she has never been before, is almost laughable, as is the demonising of almost all Isreali characters throughout the film. There can be no doubt that some of the plot and events in the film have merit, but there is an overwhelming bias toward one side of a very complex and challenging issue, that it does no justice to history of the story it is trying to tell.
Heartbreaking yet adorable
9 December 2009
Sometimes in life the simplest pleasures are the best, how true that statement really is. Sometimes in cinema the simplest plots are the best, in the case of 'Buddha collapsed of Shame' the latter statement is certainly true. In a part of the world renowned for its danger yet quite unknown, the very essence of the movie to portray life in the remote regions of Afghanistan through the eyes of a six year old girl is a masterstroke. It does away with the needless baggage that an adult would bring with them such as their political views, their in-purity and lack of innocence. The beautiful thing about it is the aim of our 'hero' is so very simple as are her ideals, yet because of the world she lives in she is presented with at times terrifying challenges. It truly is a ride that invigorates various emotions throughout it, and at the end of it all you leave it comforted yet troubled.
The Meetings of Anna
(1978)
A long winded, but worthwhile ride
9 December 2009
At the end of the 'French new wave' era, it seemed European directors were looking to make films more based on emotion and human interaction. This film is really a collection of stories that the viewer pieces together to understand the full story of the main character, Anna. What is wonderful is how the stories or 'meetings' are so contrasting in terms of emotion, yet all seem so natural and all are very relevant in order for us to understand just who Anna is. No doubt it is a film that requires patience, but that seems to be the very point, like Anna the viewer must be patient. It may be speckled with scenes of joy and nostalgia, but for the most part it is an alienating tale showing all to well that with success comes a price of some sort.
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