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Reviews
Man of Steel (2013)
There's a Reason the "S" Means Hope
They said it couldn't be done, then again they also said man couldn't fly. DC has achieved a goal that when first announced, made audiences cringe at the habitualness of it all: they managed to reintroduce Superman as a new movie franchise. Man of Steel, directed by Zach Snyder and produced by the Dark Knight's director Christopher Nolan, retells the forever popular tale of Clark Kent, the last son of Krypton, and his journey of discovering who he is and who he will become: the red caped Superman.
What this movie does, which 2006's Superman Returns failed to do, is establish a modern version of the famed hero. While the first film attempted to be a somewhat fifth sequel to the first four from the late seventies and eighties, Warner Brothers dared to start from the very beginning, with Kal-El's origin. This was a major risk for the company to do, especially after many complaints from fans about ANOTHER origin story, and it being about the hero of all heroes. However, just like there was an outcry then acceptance over The Amazing Spider-Man, Man of Steel has gained the general approval rapidly within its opening weekend.
The success of this movie lies in many aspects; you can't just choose anyone to be a part of something as massive as the United States' most popular myth. Choosing a new face to don the cape (Henry Cavill) was a wise choice, and mixing him in with movie pros (Russell Crowe, Amy Adams, Laurence Fishburne, Diane Lane . . . just to name a few) was an even better choice; combining the old with the new. This strategy, likewise, works miraculously with the story almost everyone in the world knows. While the expectation of the average Man of Steel attendee is to fall asleep during the first thirty or so minutes of the movie where they explain how Clark came to Earth, that said attendee will be very surprised as they're proved completely wrong. From details about Krypton (in this film it is more of a dessert landscape than a white tundra as shown in the '78 movie) to new facts about Clark's early work (who knew he was a fisherman?), these new bits of information that though seem minuscule, add up to give more of an explanation as to why Superman is the way he is.
Even though Christopher Nolan was not the director, his presence was very evident in the Man of Steel. The use of a non-linear timeline, much like what is seen in Batman Begins, causes the feeling of being on a roller coaster, one which you do not recover from until the first hour of the movie is done. After this confusing backward and forward motion, drawn-out scenes of extreme destruction (ten times worse than all three Transformers movies combined) to Smallville and Metropolis becomes tedious and wearisome. The time that was used to show this could have been used in a more beneficial way, for example, establishing the adult Clark Kent better.
Even with the changes to the story and the unnecessary excess of violence, the traditional tale stays true to what we all are so familiar with while also answering a few questions that have plagued fans for years. This healthy balance makes the film enjoyable, while also bringing a fresh take to the Superman mythos.
Now You See Me (2013)
You'll Believe
Magic has returned to the silver screen, and it comes in the form of the original (NOT based off of a book; when was the last time that happened?) movie Now You See Me. In this new thriller, four former street magicians (Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco) are brought together to pull off the heist of a lifetime, all while putting on a performance that no one will ever forget. When a level-headed woman from Interpol (Mélanie Laurent), a frazzled FBI agent (Mark Ruffalo), and a former entertainer turned magic buster (Morgan Freeman) start to hunt them down, the Four Horsemen must pull out all their tricks in order to elude them, and to be able to perform their greatest spectacle of all.
Not only is this film extremely entertaining, it keeps you on the edge of your seat. What is amazing about this movie, is that it perfectly reflects the feelings experienced at a true magic show; the feeling of awe, the questioning of how it is done, the expectation of what will happen next, and the thrill of not being denied the enjoyment of a good, quality, show.
There are multiple twists in this movie, yet none of them cause the audience to despise the surprises (unlike the recent disappointment of a good number of movie goers when they met Trevor from Iron Man 3). The story line has an impeccable balance of thrill and comedy, where one moment the atmosphere will be tense during an interrogation, and the next the mind reading member of the group (Harrelson) will start giving a therapy session to the two agents about their relationship, although they just met.
There have been many complaints about unanswered questions left by the movie, though perhaps that is the point. Who hasn't left a magic show with a question or two buzzing around in their mind? And can we say . . . sequel? Taking a break from wizards and spells (looking at you, Harry) Now You See Me reintroduces the art of the true magician, and their amazing ability to enchant us with their clever tricks and performances. With a spellbinding cast and mesmerizing storyline, Now You See Me will make you believe in magic once again.
Epic (2013)
Not as Epic as it Could Have Been, But . . .
The creators of Ice Age's new release, Epic, invites the viewer to experience a new world hidden within our own. Blue Sky Studios delves in and expands on a rather simple topic-what happens in the forest that we cannot see-and creates an enchanting story of the minuscule warrior race called the Leafmen, and the teenage MK (Amanda Seyfried) who becomes part of their world and is charged to take care of the Pod, which will determine the future of the Leafmen and the entire forest. The animation and camera angles are exquisite, making everything appear to be new and not just your typical back yard woods. The characters are entertaining and varied from Nod (Josh Hutcherson) the wayward warrior to Mub (Aziz Ansari) and Grub (Chris O'Dowd), the joking care takers of the Pod.
Though overall the movie is unique, it lacks an important plot element that makes the hero story: the fall of the hero. MK follows the role of the hero in this story, she faces troubling times, she is offered the chance of a quest which will change her circumstances, she takes it, and things change the way she wants them to. What usually follows the acceptance of the quest, however, is the fall of the hero into disgrace with those around her, which she will then overcome and rise again, this time stronger; MK does not experience this. Although the plot is enjoyable, the lack of the fall cannot put Epic into the same level as past animated hits have done, such as the recent success Rise of the Guardians.
Although this is missing from the film, Epic is an enjoyable picture filled with action, beauty, friendship, and bravery that is sure to enchant children and families alike.