I had quite a time picking a "fractal cookie" for my review of Rise of the Planet of the Apes and had just about decided to pick a random image when I came across an old image called Monster Spiral. Yes, the connection is tangential at best but I couldn't really find anything better. Check out the review of the movie.
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I'm sad to admit that I'm old enough to have seen the FIRST Planet of the Apes movie (way back in the 1960s). I didn't see it in the theater (the folks wouldn't let me go) but I caught it on television. Several sequels followed (getting progressively worse) and a few a few years ago there was a pretty awful remake of the original (starring "Marky" Mark Wahlberg). Robyn tells me that somewhere in there was a story that told how the Apes rebelled and eventually took over the world--but I don't remember that. Now we finally get a story that (almost) makes sense.
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Dr Will Rodman (played by James Franco) is researching a cure of Alzheimer's because of his father's dementia. He has developed a drug that shows amazing promise in his ape subjects and is ready to present his results when something goes horribly (and fatally) wrong. It turns out the female test subject was trying to protect her newborn baby. Still, the project is ordered shut down by the big boss (David Ovelowo). Thanks to one of those "only in the movies" moment the baby chimp is taken in by Will who is surprised to learn that the enhancements he gave to the mother has been passed on the baby Caesar. Still, as we know from the real world (the lady who's pet chimp ripped her face off for example) we know that things are bound to end badly. And end badly they do when Caesar (played by Andy Serkis in a Motion-Capture Suit) gets sentenced to a "Sanctuary" (read prison) for apes. Then the real fun begins. If you want the rest of the story go see the movie--but know it doesn't end well for humanity...
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There are a few holes in the plot you can drop a planet through but the story is well-enough acted and fast-paced enough that you don't really notice them until well after you've left the theater. Andy Serkis deserves an Oscar nomination (but won't get one) for his portrayal of Caesar. He says only a few words but his physicality and facial expression convey more emotion than anyone else in the movie. The rest of the actors do the best with what the script gives them but most of them are one-note characters put in to advance the story. Still, I should probably let "Harry Potter" fans know that Tom Felton--who played Draco Malfoy has a role in the movie (he's just as rotten as the "Potter" character he played--just not as classy.)
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While I was watching the movie I really enjoyed it but I found I enjoyed it less after I left the theater: too many small details leaped out and bothered me. Still, you don't go to a movie like this for deep characters and high philosophy. Rise of the Planet of the Apes shows surprising heart (due mainly to Andy Serkis' performance). That being said, Rise of the Planet of the Apes has a certain emotional honesty and a verisimilitude that makes you think this is an all-too-possible future. This movie may not be for the ages but it certainly is one of the better this summer.
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FINAL GRADE: B+
I chose Nightfire as today's fractal cookie because it reflects something that happens in the movie Cowboys and Aliens. Enjoy today's review (unless of course you've made other plans--in which case what are you doing reading this post!)
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I think I saw the first trailer for Cowboys and Aliens on Christmas Day 2010: it made Tron Legacy almost bearable. I looked at Robyn and said something like "oooh--we gotta go see that!" (In fact, after the last "Harry Potter" film this was the movie I most looked forward to of the summer.) She agreed and, one week after it's release we finally did. So was it worth the wait--read on and decide for yourself.
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Cowboys and Aliens reminds me a lot of a somewhat less-good True Grit mixed with a healthy dash of Independence Day (the alien invaders even have a decided resemblance to the ones). I can't help but feel like I've seen all the elements of this movie before: yes, they are well done here but I kept waiting and hoping to be surprised and I never was. This movie was populated by cardboard characters that move around on a well-oiled track that takes you right where you expect to go.
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Daniel Craig leaves behind his James Bond smoothness to play Jake Lonnergan as Shane Part Deux: he does stoic really well but without a touch of subtlety or nuance (and few changes in facial expression). Still, he's supposed to be the stranger in town: that's how he starts and that's how he leaves. Harrison Ford gets the largely-thankless part of Woodrow Dolarhyde, the richest man in these parts who ain't afraid to throw his weight and power around. At least he has a mildly-interesting character bit involving one of his hired hands (which I won't spoil here). Olivia Wilde looks pretty and is suitably mysterious as Ella, a young lady who knows more than she should about the strange goings-on in town. Sam Rockwell plays Doc, a milquetoast man-of peace (right out of Coward of the County) who must discover his inner badass to save his woman.
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The movie is shot in washed-out tones (a la True Grit) when it isn't done in blue and gray shades for the interior scenes. Costumes are of the grunge school that seems common to most Westerns these days. The effects are adequate and the few shots of alien craft look cool. The script leaves a lot of questions unanswered (and the myriad of plot holes here are hardly worth mentioning). The score is suitably epic: I don't know who wrote the music but it reminds me of John Williams. The violence is strictly PG13 (a lot of fighting but no graphic bloodbaths) and there are two separate scenes involve Jake and Ella being unclad. Profanity is often but nobody drops the "F-Bomb" so I'm guessing the movie is suitable for all but very young children and those of delicate sensibilities.
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In spite of the tone of this review Cowboys and Aliens isn't a BAD movie--it's just not all that good. It's a fun "check your brain at the door" romp but don't expect any grand revelations. I think I was disappointed because I was hoping for more from the movie and just didn't get it. Go see it only if you don't have anything better to do--otherwise wait until it come out on DVD.
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FINAL GRADE: B
Captain America would never be caught in paisley--unless maybe it was Patriotic Paisley (today's fractal cookie). And obviously, I'll be reviewing Captain America The First Avenger--so on with the review!
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I've never been a big fan of Captain America in the comics: didn't hate him--but didn't love him either. Honestly, that's pretty much what I expected from the movie as well: imagine my surprise when I found that Captain America the First Avenger had both grit and heart. Of course, it doesn't hurt that the movie has a can't-miss plot where the hero finds the strength to do great deeds that ends in the ultimate sacrifice. (Want to know more? Go see the movie!)
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Chris Evans (in the title role) was made for this role: he has the look (and the CGI that transforms him into a 98 pound weakling is nothing short of spectacular). He walks the fine line between cheesy overacting and stoically underplaying the character and always makes the right decision for the scene. Haley Atwell (Peggy Carter) doesn't fare quite as well. Still, that's more the fault of the script that requires her to go from icy badass to lovestruck damsel. Hugo Weaving is everything you could ask for in a scene-chewing Nazi but his Red Skull makeup could have been a bit more gruesome and frightening. (Still, they kept the look consistent with the comic character so I suppose I shouldn't complain. The rest of the supporting cast does a fine job and I can't find fault with the sets, costumes or special effects.
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If you like superhero movies you are sure to love Captain America, the First Avenger. There's plenty of action to keep the adrenaline junkie happy and even war movie fans can find a lot to enjoy here. The movie has a retro-quality that appeals to older folks but isn't so dated that it'll turn off the younger generation. Yeah, there are a few points that make some serious-minded folk wine, but hey, it's a summer blockbuster. That's expected. Captain America will transfer to the small screen but it deserves to be seen in a theater. As with most movies there's no need to pay the extra money to see it in 3D.
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Still, I couldn't end this review in good conscience without mentioning the "credit cookie" at the end of the movie. Cap gets transformed into a moody, angst-filled character that, for me at least, didn't quite mesh with the rest of the movie. I worry that next year's Avengers movie will be so bloated by the many characters feeding in from other movies that he won't a chance to redeem the character. Still, I guess I'll have to wait until May 2012 to find out how it all turns out. Meanwhile, there's nothing left but to give this movie a final grade.
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FINAL GRADE: A
