Tuesday, November 06, 2012

Recent Movie Reviews

Lana is back to work at the library and has been bringing home movies for us to watch. We saw The Grey the other day, starring Liam Neeson. A plane crashes far to the north and a small cadre of men survive, including the Neeson character, who was hired to protect the men from wolves while they worked. Now the pack come after the group and the Neeson character is without his guns and is left with only his knowledge of the ways of the wolves. Although I enjoyed the northern scenery in this one, it left me fairly flat. 

We also saw Snow White and the Huntsman, starring Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and the girl from the Twilight movies.  It also had Charlize Theron as the wicked witch, and she certainly stole the movie as far as I was concerned. I liked the special effects in this one quite a lot, and there were some very cool images that actually entered my dreams over the next couple of nights. I also thought that Twilight girl, Kristen Stewart, did a better job as Snow White than many people claimed. She certainly was not going to be the “fairest of them all” when Theron is around, though. This one had great promise but there were quite a few places where it fell flat in what it attempted. Or so I thought.

We saw The Cabin in the Woods, which also starred Thor, and had an appearance by Sigourney Weaver. I was actually fairly disappointed in this one. The way the plot turned meant that the whole movie was so self-referential that you never felt any real fear. Lots of plot holes as well, and some slightly underhanded tricks, I’d say. The special effects were cool and there were some neat scenes with monsters in them.  I think it was a bit too hip for its own good.Weaver was good.

We saw Wrath of the Titans, starring Liam Neeson as Zeus and Ralph Fiennes as Hades. They are brothers in the movie and I’ve always thought they looked enough alike to be brothers in real life. This was the most enjoyable of the movies on my list here. I actually found myself feeling some tension for the main character, Perseus, who was played by Sam Worthington. (I can’t believe it wasn’t Thor.)  Except for an ill conceived minotaur, and an Aries who had daddy issues, this one was pretty well done.
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31 comments:

nephite blood spartan heart said...

I was honestly surprised that I like Wrath of the Titans as much as I did. I went in expecting it to stink but found it enjoyable.

Jeremy Bates said...

Cool. I saw all of them as well. We also watched "The Raid" (don't waste your coins on this, trust me), "The Apparition," which we enjoyed and are off to see "Chernobyl Diaries" in about an hour.

I like the way you said "the Twilight chick" or whatever. Can't stand that actress.

Deka Black said...

Glad to hear about Lana going to work :) And about the movies... myself, after many , many years of wanting it, saw the Seven Samurai.

No dissapointed at all. In fact, i LOVE the film now. Maybe too long (3 hours and a half!), but the plot and characters... wel, i know now why is so imitated this movie!

Prashant C. Trikannad said...

Charles, I haven't seen any of these though I'd like to see both the Liam Neeson flicks, and "Taken 2" which has come to India.

BernardL said...

Thanks for the reviews. I haven't seen any of those and will keep your take on them in mind.

Charles Gramlich said...

David J., I was the same way. But it won me over.

Jeremy, I liked the previews of the Chernobyl Diaries but I think it's a risk. Let me know what you think of it.

Deka, I saw the Magnificient seven before I saw that seven Samurai.

Prashant, I want to see Taken 2 as well. I did like the first one.

Bernard, just my take, of course, but we do have similar tastes in reading. :)

Adventuresfantastic said...

Sounds like I need to catch Titans.

Snowbrush said...

Speaking of movies, I saw the one you recommended--Team America. Thanks.

Charles Gramlich said...

Keith, I thought it worth it.

Snowbrush. you don't sound completely convinced!

Golden Eagle said...

Thanks for the movie reviews!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

The Grey surprised me and I liked it. The Huntsman was a big disappointment but Wrath was better than expected. Sorry, Cabin in the Woods was my type of horror film. I laughed the whole way through it.
Just glad Lana is back to work!

Erik Donald France said...

Charlize Theron is cool. I also dig Kristen Stewart as Joan Jett in The Runaways.

Thanks for the reviews ~!

Travis Cody said...

Glad to hear Lana is back to work.

Charlize Theron...mmmmm.

laughingwolf said...

if the first is set in north america, the wolfpack attack is bullshit... there is not a single recorded account of a healthy wolf attacking a human... i have heard of it [proven?] across the pond, but they're not like our wolves :(

as for the rest of the tales, i trust your reviews :)

Greg said...

the only one of those that i've seen was Wrath of the Titans -- thought it was pretty good too.

the walking man said...

Uhhhh Ok I wish I knew what any of these movies were about then I could comment but my heuristic is that you guys did ok and it's Great Lana is working again!

Charles Gramlich said...

Golden Eagle, glad you enjoyed.

Alex, Cabin in the Woods was well done, just didn't do much for me.

Erik, I didn't know Stewart played Joan Jett. hum, I did see bits of that movie and liked it.

Travis Cody, me too!

Laughingwolf, they certainly made the wolves very human in their behaviors in The Grey

Greg, I'm seeing more movies these days because Lana is getting them from the library.

Mark, your heuristic is good!

Lisa said...

I enjoyed each review Charles because you described the actors and their effects on the movies. I have not watched any of them yet, but when they come on the tv, I'll remember what you say. And it is nice to watch movies at home together. I love that more than going to the theaters.

Charles, to follow my blog, please hover over the black bar on top right and Friends widget will appear. I miss your visits.

Cloudia said...

I'm Wrath-ed out



Aloha from Honolulu
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X. Dell said...

I guess I should start watching more films from this century, eh?

X. Dell said...

BTW, I'm really hoping that Lana's return to the library is a good sign, not only of her returning strength, but her returning health.

eric1313 said...
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eric1313 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
eric1313 said...

I'm also glad for you two that Lana is out and about.

Wrath sounded pretty good. I recently saw Ip Man, a movie about a Chinese martial arts master who stood up to an English boxing legend who had embarrassed them by killing another older master in the ring after his initial challenge and boast. Martial Arts movies are not my normal fare, for certain, but I really liked it. It was like a dead serious version of the Karate Kid.

Charles Gramlich said...

Lisa, you must have gotten somehow lost off my Google reader. I will check out the blog. Thanks for visiting.

Cloudia, lol

X. Dell, Lana is certainly getting her strength back. W've been doing some walking and a lot more moving around and she's not back to her old self yet but resembling it.

eric1313, once in a while I'll be up for a martial arts film. Not my usual cup of tea but sometimes just what the doctor ordered.

pattinase (abbott) said...

I was surprised you didn't care for CABIN IN THE WOODS. The critics and my husband just raved about it.
He didn't like THE HUNTSMEN however but did like the new horror film with Ethan Hawkes. Forget the name.
Great to hear Lana is back in action.

G. B. Miller said...

Joanne (the wife) and I saw "The Grey" earlier in the year when I had some free movie tickets to use for her b'day, and this was the best of slim pickings at the theatre that day.

We felt it was pretty decent, but if I had to spend money on it, I probably wouldn't.

ivan said...

One is in a silly frame of mind.

When I see the title Snow White and the Huntsman I somehow think of Snow White and the Hedgehog.

I worry about my admiration for Ron Jeremy. Also for South African history.
Jan Smuts?

Charles Gramlich said...

Patti, I thought Cabin was too hip and cool for it's own good. I like a few chills in my horror fiction but it short circuited those with its self awareness. At least for me.

G. B., We got it from the library so it didn't cost us anything either. That's a good thing about it.

Ivan, old Ron has become something of an institution these days.

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