I chose Spinz 11 as today's fractal cookie for two reason: first--like Sherk, it's green. Second--this movie laid an egg and the imge is basically egg-shaped. (If you didn't figure that I was going to slam the movie by reading the title of this review maybe you'd better stop reading before you waste any more of your time.) Now that' we've got the intro business out of the way--on with the review!
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Shrek began life as a 38 page children's book. Having suffered through a few "Doctor Seuss " movies I wondered if there would be enough material to pad out the material enough to make it work. Much to my surprise they did--and they made it work even better. Shrek 2 was even better than the first movie but by Shrek the Third the franchise was getting a bit tired. Shrek Forever After brings the franchise to a limping close (proving once again that if any series hangs around long enough it will eventually turn to crap).
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Don't get me wrong: Shrek Forever After isn't completely awful. Sprinkled in among the tired old plots and characters, there are some truly cool bits. An early scene in a witch-infested Trailer Park is particularly inspired and crammed full of delightful little throw-away details. There are also several scenes that look like they came straight out of a video game: looks great but the rest of the movies pretty much comes out as "been there, done that". It's hard to get exitited about the movie whe you've seen it all befrrore and better ehsewhere. We didn't spend the extra money to see the 3D version and frankly I don't think I missed anything. How To Train Your Dragon did it altogether better--even if that movie wasn't made in 3D. Die-hard fans of the Shrek series will find what they have come to know and love in the series but for me the series has well and truly lost its lusterr.
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FINAL GRADE: D+
A review of Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time pretty much requires one of the many "Arabesque" series as the fractal cookie. I chose Satin Arabesque 53 mainly because the color scheme so closely matched the one used in the film. Now you know so on with the review!
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Two bits of information will tell you everything you need to know about Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time. The movie is produced by Jerry Bruckheimer (of Pirates of the Caribbean fame) and it's about a dagger that turns back time. The movie will reach it's inevitable end with non-stop action from start to finish. The movie is based on a well-known video game so you can expect minimum character development and maximum spectacle.
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All that being said, Prince of Persia isn't a bad movie: sadly, it's not all that good either. I could get past the by-the-numbers plot and less-than-awesome acting, True, there are a few (very minor) surprises but you pretty much know how the movie is going to go from the moment it starts. I could blame Jake Gyllenhall as the male lead but the script doesn't give him a lot to work with. Sir Ben Kingsley gives a phoned-in performance as Nizam. (You know he's the bad guy because he's the only main character all dressed in black.) Alfred Molina fares slightly better in his comedy-relief role of Sheik Amar. Gemma Arterton looks pretty is feisty Princess Tamina but she didn't leave a lot of impression on screen. The other characters don't leave much of an impression.
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The action scenes come thick and fast but there really isn't anything we haven't seen before (and better). The FX are plentiful but, again, it's nothing you haven't seen before. The costumes and sets are suitably "fantasy Arabic" but the whole film is overwhelmingly BROWN. Every color and shade of brown you can imagine are here and don't look for any red, blue or green 'cause it ain't here. (Yes, it's a movie set in a desert but I'd have hoped for a bit moer color here and there.)
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In the end there's really nothing WRONG with the movie--but there's just not a lot that's RIGHT either. This is a completely typical summer blockbuster but there's nothing here you haven't seen before (and better) elsewhere. Check it out if you have an afternoon or evening to waste but surely there has to be a better way to spend your time and money.
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FINAL GRADE: C+
