I realised when my Gatsby review went live yesterday that I had seen another, very different film last Thursday Star Trek Into Darkness that I hadn’t reviewed.
The fact that I didn’t run straight to the internet to post a review probably says something. Ok, we did see it with friends and went for dinner so I wasn’t missing that to post a review but there has been plenty of time since then and this is the first that I have sat down to write.
The movie is fun, there is no denying that, but it’s not a great film. The story came across to me as lazy, which I know seems harsh, but (sorry spoiler here) when I realised that it was a retake on one of the earliest Star Trek films it started to lose me. When they then gave lines that I know belonged to Kirk to Spock I started getting annoyed.
The only good bit of story, but they didn’t really explore it, was the concept that Spock makes a choice about taking the logical path rather than feeling. Sometimes when I’ve had a really rotten day the idea of not feeling it appeals to me but when it’s all over I am not sure I would choose to miss out on the awesome stuff to not feel the bad stuff. I wish they had spent more time on this and less time with random women in their underwear (totally happened, made no sense).
Richard says over and over again if there is a gun over the fireplace early in the film someone is probably going to get shot (ok he doesn’t say exactly that but its the general gist). Because I now look out for this stuff I had the ending sorted about 45 minutes into the film. When that happens all you are left with is the cool action and special effects. Clearly a lot of money has been thrown at this film. It is very slick. Space is huge, the space ships really do feel like they are incredibly huge (you get a sense that they wouldn’t fit on earth) and they toned down the lens flare.
I really enjoyed the 2009 Star Trek film. Great story, great action, lots of fun, cool bad guy and a great cameo by Chris Hemsworth (apparently he was seen in this film and that was what got him the role of Thor, I like that story). Makes this film even more disappointing.
At the end of the day save this one for at home, as part of a Star Trek marathon maybe. I really hope that the next film (they are bound to get #3) is better, focusing more on being explorers than trying to defeat the bad guy.
Baz Luhrmann is at his directing best with this film. All of the things that I loved from Romeo + Juliet, Moulin Rouge and Australia Gatsby takes to the next level. It is as gorgeous, as luxurious and as beautiful as you would hope a Gatsby film to be.
Leonardo DiCaprio was perfection as Gatsby. He is an incredibly charming man but the little boy vulnerable edge that he brought to Gatsby, well I just wanted to hug him and tell him it was going to be ok. It cannot be denied that I have a soft spot for Leo. I fell in love at 15 when I saw him as Romeo (named my dog Romeo Wilhelm after him, Wilhelm is Leo’s middle name) but this film really did remind me that he is more than just lovely to look at with his incredible blue eyes, Leo is truly is the acting treasure of my time. Really, this film plays to all of his strengths to make Gatsby perfectly real.
I saw a 3D version, which is notable as we usually miss them, but I am glad that I did. 3D was brilliantly used in this film. From the opening graphic through to be the best use I have seen with words from the book gently coming out of the screen, it was subtle and added to the story. So often 3D is just thrown in randomly but here it was used with grace and simplicity.
My subject “Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby” was on purpose and came from something Richard said. Like with Moulin Rouge the soundtrack to this film is a great twist rather than period. And that makes the film a) distinctly Baz’ film and b) hard to do a remake of. My favourite was the remake of Beyonce’s Crazy in Love, genius reinterpretation of the song perfect for the scene. I adore Lana del Ray and her song was used to create a real mood.
By now I hope you have guessed that I think you should see this movie. Seriously go get it, I would have turned around and watched it again if I didn’t want to get home to Richard. We will definitely get it on blu-ray.
Just quickly the book is about the zombie war, it tells the story of how it starts, how we fight back and how we begin to rebuild humanity. This book is clever. Its scares the hell out of me but it also inspires me to think that humanity could survive something like this. Very much written in a style you expect people to write about World War 2 but told from a very unique perspective. It’s really a lot of short stories of different people’s experience of different aspects of the zombie war.
Now the reason I needed to talk to you about World War Z is that this week the Brad Pitt movie is being released in Australia 20 June*and I have a few things I need to get off my chest. Firstly, check out the trailer.
Now I grant that it couldn’t be just like the book. The book is after all essentially a collection of short stories and the collator of the stories isn’t enough of a character to be the protagonist but this trailer has got me concerned. Firstly, unless someone tells you that its about zombies you wouldn’t know. Secondly, they seem to be runner zombies but they weren’t in the book. The slow, oncoming mass that can’t be reasoned with, can’t be frightened and could have friends/family/colleagues is what really scares me about zombies. That these guys are just going to straight for me I know I will never out run them so I wouldn’t try. Zombie stories need to be about those who survive, not people who just stand by to die.
In the end this looks like every other end of the world movie. So I will see it (probably not with Richard but my friend Casey who originally introduced us to the book might come with me) but I am going in with very low expectations, happy to just enjoy Brad Pitt and the effort that has been put into making it an epic film. I do enjoy that Brad said in a recent interview part of his reasoning to make a zombie film was because his boys were into zombies. At least I know, should I ever meet Brad, we would have something to chat about. I wonder if he and Angelina have a zombie plan, I bet you anything it’s a lot different to ours (his probably has helicopters).
On the official page check out the iPhone app. Scan your friends to see if they are infected and be sure to tell everyone!
*once again Australians get the movie the day before the USA, starting to happen with the big global releases like with The Hunger Games.
Looking for a movie recently while I was home alone I grabbed Katy Perry: Part of Me and was surprised to find myself enjoying it as much as I did.
Disclosure I love her music so since she is pretty much singing in every scene I was in. If you don’t like Katy Perry music I really would suggest you walk away fast, it’s safer. There is a reason I watched it without Richard. He is patient man but even he has a limit for pop music.
This film is definitely the story of one incredibly ambitious woman who shows us all that if you really want something you have to work your butt off and make incredible sacrifices to get it.
When I first heard I kissed a girl I couldn’t help but assume that this was another pop singer that a studio executive thought was cute and could sing, gave her a song and here we are. Never knowing that she had been working to get an album out for 5 years with at least 3 different studios.
To me Katy is the next generation of empowering women. In the ranks of Madonna, Kylie and Britney with music that inspires us to believe in ourselves. I think her music will always hold a special place for women coming of age in the noughties (myself included).
This film comes across as very honest. Of course there is a filter (some of the bits in the trailer didn’t make the final film for example) but I felt that nothing during the filming period was off limits. Though if you are watching this to find out exactly what happened between Katy and Russel don’t bother, nothing is disclosed. In fact I think she was incredible respectful in how that handled. She was honest that it was hard to keep performing with personal things happening but she kept going and you have to admire her for that.
When I was a kid I used to sing (loudly) into my hairbrush microphone and dreamed of being a pop star. After watching this film I found myself back on that “stage” of my imagination. Again another reason it was good to watch this film without Richard. He would definitely have killed someone by now.
All in all I think this is a good pop-umentary. I really enjoyed it and will probably see it again just for a little taste of motivation when its needed to keep towards my goal.
Recommendations
My parents: Probably not I don’t think they know who Katy Perry is so there probably isn’t the appeal.
Richard: Nope. As I said before he is a patient man but its not for him.
Girlfriends: any one who loves her music will enjoy the film. I love the backstage peaks (its part of why I got into events) and its a bit of fun.
Had to end with a song. I love the lyric version below much more than the official trailer. Clever to do it like a Facebook timeline.
PS: I hired the movie from iTunes. Very surprised at how easy it was to do that and watch something on my computer. I am lucky that I have two monitors so I could but is something I would consider doing again.
I enjoyed it. There I said it, I enjoyed this film. This was my favourite book of the series so I was bound to like the film but I liked even more than expected.
Be aware, the special effects they use to be able to rapidly age Renesmee is …. strange. There is no other word for it. I understand why they did what they did but it was so distracting there were points I just couldn’t focus on anything else.
I now have a theory about Kristen Stewarts acting. I think that there was a plan. Act like you are repressing all emotion so that when, in the final film, you are vampire Bella you can come to life. I felt her character came to life a bit in this film. She was genuinely mad at Jacob when he admitted to imprinting on Renesmee. Since there was talk of Bella finally feeling she had begun it seems right somehow that she would finally be less wooden.
The big twist. I was listening to an interview with Taylor Lautner on Fitzy & Wippa where he said that since Stephenie Myer approved the twist fans should be fine with it. Made me so cross hearing that! I firmly believe that once you put something out into the world that becomes beloved by many it is no longer solely yours to change (I’m talking to you George Lucas). That said, I do understand after seeing the film that the changes they made actually made the series, to me, feel more complete.
Recommendations
Lets be honest you either want to go see Twilight movies or you don’t. No one would ever listen to my recommending the film and I probably wouldn’t. You really will only enjoy it if you are interested in it. Hence the reason I went on my own. The only person I know who might have come is my sister-in-laws partner. But that proves my point, already seen the others before we met so not based on my recommendation at all.
All told this was a good ending to the series. I always thought the last book should have been two and seeing it on screen that way made perfect sense. Twilight marathon at my place when the last one is out on DVD.
Richard found this and thought of me, very wise and this is exactly my experience of the film. I love books and hope you have a good book to curl up with this weekend. Actually, lets be honest curling up with a book is such a treat as an adult. I used to spend days on school holidays in a comfy chair by the window reading but now the only reading I get to do is on the bus.
The Hunger Games opened today in Australia. Before I even get in to that I would like to acknowledge that according to the poster it opens in the USA March 23 – which means we got it first. People, that just doesn’t happen!! Australia is usually last and sometimes the same time (like with Harry Potter) but rarely earlier than the US.
I haven’t read the book but I want to now. I thought the film was brilliant. From the first moment I was sucked into the story, cheering for Katniss and Peeta and hoping Cato and his gang meet a timely end. If you don’t know the story basically there are 12 districts in a distant future and because of a past rebellion each district must offer one boy and one girl as tributes to play in the Hunger Games (essentially everyone’s worse nightmare of what Big Brother could be). Only one tribute leaves alive. Katniss’ little sister Primrose is selected and Katniss volunteers to take her place. The plot makes a strong social statement about where “entertainment” is headed.
Jennifer Lawrence! Not only is she unconventionally beautiful but she is an incredible actress. I really think she nailed this part! My heart went out to Katniss again and again and I was so proud of her in the end (if I tell you why I ruin it). I just cannot say enough good things about her performance and the level of subtly she brought to it. You know the joke about Kristen Stewart only having one expression in Twilight? Well there weren’t a lot more in this film but her eyes, her eyes told you everything she was feeling but struggled to say. Brilliant!!!!
Sorry Richard but Lenny Kravitz is hot! I think his appearance in the film is a shout out for mums. Here is this man who was so cool when I was a teenager appearing in this film which sadly is aimed at the oldest among us’ daughters. He does a fantastic job playing the “dad” figure in this film, completely believable that he was impressed by Katniss volunteering to go in her sisters place and wanted her to do well. That scene before she is sent in broke my heart.
Finally the sound guy (scroll down to read who the team was)! The incredibly clever use of sound in this film made it truly haunting at times. When the children were lining up to find out who the tributes were to be the only sounds were what you would hear in a crowd like that – tears, footsteps, people passing instructions and general nervous chatter – which added a layer of authenticity to the emotions of the characters. Later when there is an explosion the sound rings, just like you would imagine your ears would after hearing that. The way sound is used, I think, makes this film more than just a kids book but something to be taken seriously.
I definitely recommend this film. Check out what MetaCritic has to say too!
This movie is pretty (very pretty). I loved the amount of detail they put into the whole film. Little things like the the wag of Snowy’s tail, the waves in the ocean and “extras” in the background. I struggle with 3D sometimes
Thinking about it I am really not sure whether having an amazing team of writers and actors would matter, it does feel like that side was secondary to how it all looked. Don’t get me wrong the team worked incredibly hard to make this film and they should be very proud of it. Still, if you are going to put in that much effort on how something looks you should do the same for story and not sacrifice story for the opportunity to through in another cool action sequence.
I am glad I saw it on the big screen though. A lot of daring do that would have been so much less impressive on the small screen.
I went and saw the brand new Twilight Saga Breaking Dawn this morning. I’ve read the books a few times and have enjoyed the previous films though this was the first I saw one I got to see on the big screen^.
If you haven’t seen it/read the book be aware spoilers are coming!
Overall a good film, there are some charming moments and if all else fails Jacob does get his shirt off though significantly less than the last films (an obvious sign that we are dealing with serious, adult concepts now).
Part 1 of Breaking Dawn the book was by far my favourite of all of them and I would say the same of the film.
Bella’s wedding dress blew me away!Kristen Stewart has an amazing figure and the dress is my favourite kind of wedding gown – simple, elegant, classy and I am a sucker for lace.
What sold it for me was that this was the meatiest Edward story. Sorry Team Edward but I often felt before he was too perfect and therefore not a perfect match for Bella. He gets some balls when he finally refuses to give in to Bella on the whole turning her into a vampire thing. Then in this film we actually see him disagree and criticise her. It was so good to see him yell at her, before he always seemed to indulge her. Could make an argument that it takes getting married for him to stand up for himself but I disagree, I think this is just the first time Bella went too far. Who can blame him, I would be furious if Richard willingly put himself in harms way as Bella does.
I’d read that the birth scene was full on and perhaps if you were 12 it would be, but I thought it was pretty close to the book so what I had expected. What I did find troubling was how convincingly they showed Bella slowly but surely fade away, I mean the girl looks like she really is that sick.
I was impressed with how they handled imprinting and Bella turning. Not too much of a cliff hanger but enough to get a taste of what is to come.
Pro tip: just because the credits start doesn’t mean the film is over, stay patiently for a few more minutes for a sneak into the next film.
^Coming back to this, I believe there are some films that you have to see on the big screen to really appreciate them, this wasn’t one of them. Personally, having seen it it can wait until DVD!
