Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Catching Up, Part 2

As promised, here is Part 2 in my 'Catching Up' series where I try to revitalize my blog and revisit some of the more memorable films I've watched in the last two years.

So let's get to it...

Watchmen

Graphic novels have certainly become more prevalent in recent years, particularly with the success of films like Sin City and 300. While I certainly enjoyed a comic book or two in my youth, I was never a hard-core fan and I had never heard of Sin City, 300 or Watchmen prior to their debut on the big screen. But I certainly enjoyed them all and could really appreciate the comic-book style of filmmaking. Watchmen grabbed my attention all the more when I discovered that Time magazine had listed Watchmen as one of their Top 100 Best Novels of all time. Did you get that? Best novels. Not best comic books or best graphic novels. Watchmen is right up there with Animal Farm, The Catcher in the Rye and The Grapes of Wrath. While the film itself certainly won’t be everyone’s cup of tea (parents: this is not one for the kids), the filmmaking is very impressive and the story is quite layered. It’s both a visual feast and an intellectual journey. Go in with an open mind and you might be surprised.

Once

If you are a musician, or you live with a musician, or you know a musician, then go watch this movie now. Preferably with said musician. This surprising little film, set in Dublin, Ireland, is a music-filled tale of a busker and a woman and the songs they write, sing and record. It certainly goes way beyond that meagre description but the telling of the story is beautiful and the songs are brilliant. Particularly ‘Falling Slowly’ which won Best Original Song at the Oscars in 2008. Worth seeing. And hearing. Check it out.

Terminator Salvation

Another “reboot” (they seem awfully popular these days) of the Terminator series made popular by the Governator. Set in the future, but not as far in the future as the future scenes from Terminator and Terminator 2, Salvation continues the saga of John Connor as he struggles to save the future from…er…the future. Yeah, these time travel movies can get confusing sometimes. Suffice it to say that Salvation carries on with the big explosions, killer robots and impeding Armageddon. Good stuff. Seriously though, I did enjoy this installment in the Terminator series and especially liked the way they handled the time-line of John Connor and his father-to-be, Kyle Reese. There are some great nods to the first couple films as well, for all you Terminator fans out there. And honestly, who of us are not Terminator fans? They’re unstoppable, killer robots. What’s not to like, right?

Inglourious Basterds

Those of you who know me, know that I’m a huge Tarantino fan. His films are some of the most unique and well-scripted movies I’ve seen. And while they’re certainly not the most G-rated films on the planet, they offer very unique characters in very interesting situations. It all comes down to the dialogue. Quentin loves to put these strange characters on screen with each other and then just let them hash it out for a while. At the same time he manages to weave an impressive plot web through quick-cuts, long-takes, flash-backs, flash-forwards and all manner of quirky editing styles. And it works. At least, it works for me. Inglourious Basterds is technically another “reboot” though it greatly improves on the original (in my humble opinion) and is similar in name only. Brad Pitt does an amazing job (as always) but even he is overshadowed by the brilliant and creepily entertaining Cristoph Waltz, who went on to win the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. If you enjoy Tarantino, you’ll love Inglourious Basterds. Fair warning though, this film is certainly not for everyone.

Confessions of a Superhero

Another in the documentary category, though I can’t remember how I discovered it. This brilliant study exams the lives of four “actors” who dress up as superheroes and earn a living by having their photos taken with tourists outside Mann’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood. Their sole source of income is the tips they collect and each has their own unique view on how those tips should work. Technically speaking they’re all buskers, basically trying to make ends meet by pan-handling. But after watching this documentary you might feel differently. You’ll certainly be amazed at the types of personalities displayed and the quirky lifestyles of these so-called superheroes. If you like documentaries at all, you’ll find this one an entertaining and eye-opening delight.

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