Category Archives: Adventure

2015 Films, Adventure, Art, Black & White, Drama, International, International Drama, Spanish

Embrace of the Serpent-2015

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Embrace of the Serpent-2015

Director Ciro Guerra

Starring Nilbio Torres, Antonio Bolívar

Scott’s Review #524

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Reviewed November 23, 2016

Grade: B+

Embrace of the Serpent (2015) is a cerebral experience of complex storytelling, weaving two parallel stories set forty years apart.

It is an immensely creative film, crafting a black-and-white cinematic expressionism into its lurid walls.

Admittedly, I found the stories tough to follow at times, and the film contains an impressionistic quality, but I knew I was watching something creative and brave.

That is worthy of a hefty thumbs up.

The setting is the Amazon jungle, along the vast Amazon River, deep in the heart of South America.

The story spans 1909 and 1940, and both feature an Amazonian shaman who is the last of his people and deeply resentful of white men.

In 1909, he traveled with a dying German scientist, and in 1940, with an American.

Both look for a sacred healing plant with magical powers.

Both parallel stories feature a Spanish Catholic mission along an Amazon tributary.

In 1909, the leading priest was sadistic and abusive towards the young boys in his charge. Years later, the young boys are now hardened and grizzled.

Both stories also reveal the plant, though in different ways and with vastly different outcomes.

The best part, and much better than the storyline, is the black-and-white visuals. This gives the film a mysterious, old-world vibe that makes it feel like a film made in the 1940s, if not earlier.

In this way, it becomes a visual spectacle, especially as countless scenes unfold along the Amazon, where the characters float by canoe and are treated to the beauty of the water and the surrounding lush mountains.

It feels otherworldly, a part of a remote continent few see or appreciate.

This is my favorite aspect of the film.

The stories are complex and sometimes don’t make complete sense, and I found myself a bit confused throughout, but this may be because of the film’s clear art-film persona, which leaves it open to interpretation.

Both white men have different experiences with the sought-after plant.

I was left with some questions even after reading the synopsis. One of the men has a dreamy, hallucinating experience with the magical plant, but what happens after?

The shaman is an interesting character, as we see him as a young man and later as an older man living a lonely, resentful life.

Embrace of the Serpent (2015) is a perplexing, interpretive film with a magical quality; if the story is muddy, you can whisk away to a fantastic experience just by watching and enjoying the cinematic treats it offers.

Oscar Nominations: Best Foreign Language Film

Independent Spirit Award Nominations: Best International Film

2013 Films, Adventure, Fantasy

Oz The Great and Powerful-2013

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Oz The Great and Powerful-2013

Director Sam Raimi

Starring James Franco

Scott’s Review #433

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Reviewed June 30, 2016

Grade: B

As a huge fan of the original The Wizard of Oz epic classic from 1939, I was interested in seeing this extension of the original.

While it has its moments of charm and good old-fashioned adventure, it is ultimately good, but nothing great.

James Franco is fantastic as the Wizard of Oz, the highest point of the film,  and has great charisma in the role. He brings a fun flair and is quite appealing.

The witch characters are okay, but not terribly interesting or deeply explored. More character depth might have helped, as I didn’t find much to root for in either of them.

On a positive note, I loved the first sequence, which was in black and white, true to the original, and the twister scene is impressively done.

The set/art design in this sequence, and once the setting was Oz, was beautifully done.

Toward the end of the film, though, the story becomes more of a silly fantasy action series that draws away from the heart of the original.

The first half of Oz the Great and Powerful (2013) excels, while the second half disappoints.

2012 Films, Adventure, Drama

Life of Pi-2012

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Life Of Pi-2012

Director Ang Lee

Starring Suraj Sharma

Scott’s Review #412

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Reviewed June 18, 2016

Grade: B

Life of Pi (2012) is a visual masterpiece. It’s a beautiful piece of filmmaking and a pleasure to watch.

Several majestic scenes, mostly in the ocean sequences, will leave you in awe.

I did not see this movie in 3-D, so I am unsure what difference, if any, it would have made. A good portion of the film is CGI-laden, which I am typically not a fan of, but in this case, it works wonders.

What an adventure the main character has!

The actual story and the acting are nothing special and have been done before, and are slightly stereotypical, if truth be told, though I did enjoy the ending.

Life of Pi (2012) is based on a novel and is a wonderful adventure tale, one made very, very well.

The main reason to see it is its Direction (Ang Lee) and the visual spectacle.

Oscar Nominations: 4 wins-Best Picture, Best Director-Ang Lee (won), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Score (won), Best Original Song-“Pi’s Lullaby”, Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, Best Production Design, Best Cinematography (won), Best Film Editing, Best Visual Effects (won)

2015 Films, Adventure, Blockbuster, Guy Films, Science Fiction

The Martian-2015

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The Martian-2015

Director Ridley Scott

Starring Matt Damon

Scott’s Review #379

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Reviewed February 19, 2016

Grade: C-

The latest film from heralded director Ridley Scott (notable for classics Blade Runner (1982) and Alien (1979), The Martian (2015) is a science-fiction space adventure about a presumed-dead astronaut (Matt Damon) trapped on Mars after his fellow team members believe he’s dead.

NASA and a rescue crew desperately try to save him as supplies run out.

Extremely resourceful, Mark Watney (Matt Damon) cleverly avoids death by using his wits to survive and prosper on the challenging planet.

Following several other high-profile modern science fiction offerings, such as Interstellar (2014) and Gravity (2013), The Martian features a big Hollywood star in the lead role.

Much of the action follows Watney as he tries to produce food and supplies and preserve his sanity, think Tom Hanks in Cast Away (2000), on another planet, with an indoor operations station left by his abandoned crew.

The Martian has received accolades, even winning the Golden Globe for Best Musical or Comedy Film, though that’s a poor category.

The film has snippets of humor and a few background songs, but that is it. Maybe some late-1970s disco songs make it a musical?

I found The Martian to be a Hollywood mainstream film in every sense. That may be a high compliment to some, but I expect more.

It is not that The Martian is a bad film; it is not, but it is mediocre and has all the elements of an average offering. The film aimed for an emotional experience that I didn’t get.

I had little doubt that the ending would be sweet and wrapped in a bow.

Mark Watney is the typical all-American character in a “guy film”. He hates disco and loves ketchup. The film makes him a guy’s guy so the average filmgoer can relate to him.

He is in good shape, cracks jokes, and is likable.

But that is also a problem with the character in The Martian. He lacks substance. We know little about him, except that his parents never appear on-screen.

The way the film touts him as the hero and has him cheered and praised, while it would be warranted in real life, just feels forced and contrived.

This is not a knock against Matt Damon, who does a decent job.

My beef is that the character is not fleshed out.  The well-built Damon at the beginning of the film versus the scrawny Damon at the conclusion feels like a facade, since they used a body double in the later scenes.

This lack of authenticity disappointed me.

I expected more from the supporting cast. Jessica Chastain, Jeff Daniels, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Kristen Wiig play one-note types that any actor could have played.

Why were big stars cast at all?

Chastain as a mission commander, Daniels as Director of NASA, Ejiofor as NASA mission commander, and Wiig as a Public Relations specialist.

The casting, particularly Wiig in the straight-laced, stale role, was mysterious to me, and it wasn’t a particularly good portrayal… and I am a Wiig fan.

The humorous parts in The Martian are contrived and not dissimilar to countless other films, with the smart-ass remarks all containing a bland quality.

Lines like “Eat your heart out, Neil Armstrong” seem silly and unnecessary.

I expected more wit.

Let me be fair, the visual effects (it is space, after all) are impressive, and it was fairly interesting to see what is supposed to be the planet Mars, but in this day and age of CGI effects, the film isn’t that spectacular.

 I would much rather be given a compelling story than visual treats any day of the week.

My review of The Martian may seem harsh, but I expected more from it than I got.

With several Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, I expected a top-notch film, but The Martian didn’t come close.

Mediocrity, straightforwardness, and predictability describe The Martian (2015).

I have heard the novel is fantastic, so I added it to my reading list.

Oscar Nominations: Best Picture, Best Actor-Matt Damon, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, Best Production Design, Best Visual Effects

2015 Films, Action, Adventure, Drama, Epic, Guy Films, Western

The Revenant-2015

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The Revenant-2015

Director Alejandro G. Iñárritu

Starring Leonardo DiCaprio

Scott’s Review #371

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Reviewed January 27, 2016

Grade: A

The Revenant is a fantastic 2015 film filled with intensity, great visual camera work/direction, and the acting talents of one of modern cinema’s dynamic performers, Leonardo DiCaprio.

He shines every minute he’s on screen.

Almost all the filming takes place outdoors (the American frontier period), and it is a revenge tale, which only adds to the film’s excitement and beauty.

Set in the 1820s, the film opens by introducing us to a large party of hunters and trappers in remote Wyoming.

Right off the bat, I was struck by the picturesque scenery.

We are treated to a compelling (and bloody) battle between the trappers and a tribe of Native Americans. The Louisiana Purchase has just passed, heightening tensions between various parties and spilling blood.

The hunters are decimated, so the survivors must flee on foot, hoping to reach safety hundreds of miles away.

The main character, Glass (DiCaprio), later receives a terrible injury, and the main crux of the story develops as we embark on a tale of his desperation to survive and exact revenge on the men responsible for leaving him to die.

The film is a lesson in endurance. Glass is arguably put through almost every punishment imaginable, and we wonder what more he can endure.

The film belongs to two actors. Dicaprio, and Tom Hardy as the villainous John Fitzgerald, a hunter with a major rivalry with Glass.

The film parlays into a revenge tale between the two characters.

DiCaprio is a gem in this film; not only is he compelling from a physical standpoint, but he also looks broken, battered, and bruised, and DiCaprio gives a performance that I am fond of.

He acts non-verbally.

In one crucial scene, Glass is unable to move or speak as a violent act is committed. He is desperate yet helpless.

DiCaprio’s emotional range is astounding. The pain, hurt, and frustration are evident on his face, and we sympathize greatly.

DiCaprio delivers a powerful performance.

Tom Hardy is compelling in his own right as the scoundrel he portrays. We despise this character and all his dirty deeds, and Hardy successfully pours all his energy into this grizzled role.

Hardy, quite handsome in real life, is transformed into a partially scalped, dirty man.

His fate at the end of the film is a clever touch that makes The Revenant more than a typical run-of-the-mill western.

The infamous “bear scene” is second to none. I don’t know how they shot this compelling scene, but the result is a realism I have seldom seen in film. The scene is so prolonged and violent that you wish it would end quickly.

A surprise comes that rivals any horror film.

Directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, it follows a vastly different type of film (Birdman, 2014) and does a wonderful job.

The Revenant is arguably a “guy’s movie”.

It features almost no women, and the ones who do are not treated well, which is unfortunate; sadly, that was likely true of the time.

Interesting to note, though, is that Iñárritu decided to have a female victim enact revenge on her abuser in a satisfying (though squeamish moment for the male viewer.

I found The Revenant to have definite left-wing leanings.

The age-old controversy of the white man taking the Indian’s land is explored, and the film has a way of bringing this up more than once, as well as not making the Indian tribes “bad”, but rather sympathetic.

Especially since Glass marries an Indian woman and has a son with her.

Gorgeous cinematography meets a wonderful, intriguing story, peppered with brutality.

The Revenant (2015) succeeds on every level and sets an important precedent for a film about perseverance in the face of hopelessness.

Oscar Nominations: 3 wins-Best Picture, Best Director-Alejandro G. Iñárritu (won), Best Actor-Leonardo DiCaprio (won), Best Supporting Actor-Tom Hardy, Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, Best Production Design, Best Cinematography (won), Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Costume Design, Best Film Editing, Best Visual Effects

2015 Films, Action, Adventure, Blockbuster, Science Fiction, Summer

Jurassic World-2015

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Jurassic World-2015

Director Colin Trevorrow

Starring Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard

Scott’s Review #307

Reviewed December 23, 2015

Grade: C

I expected to like Jurassic World (2015) is a film I expected to like much more than I did.

Sure, it is a summer blockbuster, popcorn flick. Based on the success of earlier franchise efforts and, if memory serves, my enjoyment of the 1993 original, Jurassic Park, I expected a fun ride.

Unfortunately, I got a formulaic escapade with uninteresting characters and mediocre writing.

The premise is standard.

A behemoth amusement park exists in Central America, on Isla Nublar, where a dinosaur theme park has run without incident for ten years.

A genetically modified dinosaur, created because a magnificent new attraction is needed, breaks loose and runs rampant.

A silly love story develops between the two leads, Owen and Claire (Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard), while two young boys (Zach and Gray) are sent by their divorcing parents to stay with their Aunt, Claire, who works as the park’s Operations Manager.

Owen is the dinosaur trainer. Predictably, “bad guys” are greedy and want to advance science at the risk of human life.

The special effects are fine, albeit completely CGI-laden, which is to be expected because the main stars are dinosaurs after all.

I expected better writing, or at least a more creative attempt at something a bit edgy.

The story was completely redundant. Where was the character development? There was none. We know very little about any of the principal characters.

One might argue that an adventure film doesn’t require this, but it’s important. We know that Claire is a workaholic and has no time for her nephews- why? What makes her tick?

Here is a slight complaint. Why kill off only extremely minor characters or villains? I could see this (and the ending) a mile away. The whole film seems forced and sloppy.

Jurassic World is also filled with clichés. Owen and Claire initially dislike each other after one unsuccessful first date.

The film tries to push the love/hate, opposites attract element, and it feels contrived. How many times have we seen this in film history?

Also, Chris Pratt is perfect as the hunky, muscular “hero saves the day” type, and Dallas Bryce Howard running through the forest in a tight tank top is not unintentional.

This isn’t to say the film is bad.

It is a decent adventure film, and the special effects are cool. I did enjoy the homage to the original 1993 version as the boys stumble upon the original visitor station complete with the 1992 jeep from the original Jurassic Park film.

I thought this was a neat little nod to history, and I love that in a franchise film, but that is it for the positives.

Yes, this film was a blockbuster smash and made oodles of money. It, however, feels forced, clichéd, and quite formulaic.

I was hoping for much more and deeper, stronger material.

2014 Films, Adventure, Animated, Comedy, Kids

The Lego Movie-2014

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The Lego Movie-2014

Directors Phil Lord, Chris Miller

Starring Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks

Scott’s Review #284

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Reviewed October 24, 2015

Grade: D

A child’s movie in every sense of the word, The Lego Movie (2014) is silly and amateurish. It contains a hackneyed plot and a fast pace that makes the viewing experience quite unpleasant.

Computer-animated and driven by imagery, a scene featuring two human beings interspersed among the animations only makes the plot more sappy, overwrought, and predictable.

The film is a complete dud and a waste of energy, save for one lone catchy song that appears throughout. I am perplexed that this film received mostly positive reviews, as I didn’t share the same sentiment.

The premise is too complex for the target audience: in a Lego universe, where all of the characters are Lego pieces, a mysterious wizard- Vitruvius- attempts to protect a superweapon (Kragle) from the evil Lord Business.

While he fails, he prophesies that a person named “The Special” will one day find the Piece of Resistance capable of stopping the Kragle.

Kragle turns out to be superglue in the human world, as a cameo with Will Ferrell reveals he is the human version of Lord Business and refuses to let his young son play with Dad’s Lego set, thereby threatening to keep the set stationary with glue.

Inevitably, this leads to a tender scene with Dad and his son.

I didn’t find The Lego Movie engaging, story-wise or visually, and I was bored for most of the experience.

Admittedly, modern animated films are not my favorite genre- I miss the days of the classic Disney drawing-style films like Bambi or Dumbo both in the 1940s.

The major flaw is the film’s frenetic pacing. Did the powers that be think that all youngsters and parents dragged along have attention deficit disorder?

There was no time to pause and ponder what was going on in the story because it immediately moved on to the next scene.

The action is non-stop, so the film seemed like one long action sequence.

The main character, Emmett, a young Lego piece everyone thinks is dull, is voiced by Chris Pratt.

Emmet stumbles upon a young woman named Wyldstyle looking for something at his construction site- she assumes he is The Special, and they race to save the world from Lord Business.

Emmet, as far as a lead character goes, is likable enough, and predictably, a romance develops between him and Wyldstyle. We meet various creative characters like Batman and Princess Unikitty.

The film contains a sickeningly catchy song called “Everything Is Awesome” that will stick in the viewer’s head whether desired or not, and that is the strongest part.

It is not that the song is lyrically great or anything, but it is fun and easy to hum along to.

Overly high-octane and with an uninteresting plot, The Lego Movie (2014) may appeal to young kids in the seven-to-ten range, but it is a forgettable, tedious experience for this grown-up.

The film’s ending leaves room for the inevitable sequel.

Oscar Nominations: Best Original Song-“Everything Is Awesome”

2014 Films, Adventure, Super Hero

Guardians of the Galaxy-2014

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Guardians of the Galaxy-2014

Director James Gunn

Starring Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldaña

Scott’s Review #281

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Reviewed October 9, 2015

Grade: C-

The summer blockbuster hit of 2014, Guardians of the Galaxy, a Marvel Comics film popular among fans and critics alike, disappointed this viewer.

Too many superhero films are overly conventional, by-the-numbers fare, and this one has those traits.

Presumably aimed at teens (I would think), the film has cute jokes and decent special effects, but a bland, mediocre screenplay that lacks edge.

Handsome Chris Pratt plays Peter Quill, a space pilot from Earth, abducted by a pirate group named the Ravagers. Now a grown man, Peter tries to steal a mysterious, powerful Orb known for its special powers for monetary gain.

The Orb is desired by many, including the evil Ronan and his daughter Gamora (Zoe Saldaña).

Predictably, events turn into a battle of good vs. evil as Peter and Gamora (who turns good) team up with misfits Drax (a strongman), Groot (a tree), and Rocket (a raccoon) to thwart Ronan’s intentions to destroy a peaceful planet, the Nova Empire.

The meat of the story follows the team from imprisonment and escape to their efforts to save the world.

As is traditional with these types of films, there is inevitable romantic chemistry between Peter and Gamora, who are rivals at first but slowly develop a fondness for each other when it is revealed that she is plotting against Ronan and his valiant efforts.

The strengths are the 1970s soundtrack a cassette player and the Walkman, unheard of in today’s modern world, to the story.

I love that this isn’t simply background music; it’s referenced throughout the film in various situations.

For example, Peter comically explains to a clueless bad guy what his treasured cassette tape consists of and how he cannot bear to part with it.

The creative sets and bright colors are other positives of Guardians of the Galaxy. Xandar is portrayed as clean and progressive, which counterbalances the dark, dreary world Ronan and his entourage live in.

However, the film is too conventional and not edgy or out of the ordinary story-wise.

Let’s take the hero, for example. He is clean-cut, all-American, and is humorous. But why exactly is he the hero? He inevitably saves the world, but it turns him from a pirate who is a thief into a golden boy leading a team to save a relatively unknown planet.

There is, of course, a scene involving a backstory of his mother dying of cancer and his regret over not taking her hand one final time. This is assumed to make him kind-hearted and one of the good guys.

This feels forced to me, and it’s what we have seen time and again in superhero films. The message I got from the film was basic: the powerful, strong, masculine guy with a sense of humor mixed in for good measure saves the world from the bad guys while bringing along a bunch of tag-alongs.

This is fine, albeit predictable.

I was left with some questions. What were Ronan’s and Tharos’s motivations? They were simply evil, with not much explanation as to why. What led them down this path? Did they each want theirs to be the only planet remaining in the galaxy?

A tender moment towards the end of the film, when one of the team members dies, is done in a rushed way that was a missed opportunity for more emotion.

Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) is a mediocre superhero/action film that might have been better if it had been fleshed out more. This film left me forgetting about it soon after the credits rolled.

Oscar Nominations: Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Visual Effects

2014 Films, Adventure, Biography, Drama

Wild-2014

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Wild-2014

Director Jean-Marc Vallee

Starring Reese Witherspoon

Scott’s Review #249

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Reviewed June 21, 2015

Grade: B+

Wild (2014) is a personal story of a young woman’s 1995 challenge to hike the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail as a form of therapy for her divorce and her recovery from drug addiction.

The film stars Reese Witherspoon in a thoughtful biography of a real-life figure, Cheryl Strayed, and is adapted from a novel entitled Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Trail.

The film depicts Cheryl’s struggles to survive in remote northern California through harsh weather and her encounters with strangers.

The film is a showcase for Witherspoon as she takes center stage, appearing in almost every frame of the film.

Her producing the project undoubtedly contributes to this. Regardless, it is a winning turn for Witherspoon as she is excellent.

She portrays the role with vigor, emotional rawness, and vulnerability, which comes across on-screen.

She deserved her Oscar nomination for this part.

What sets her apart from other actresses who may have played this role is that Witherspoon is a small, which makes her physical struggle to navigate trails and wilderness while hauling a large backpack of necessities believable.

Through flashbacks of Cheryl’s life before the enormous hike, we are introduced to her and the challenges she faced. We know that she is a recovering addict, but we do not know what led to these events.

Living in Minneapolis, she is very close to her mother, Bobbi, played by Laura Dern, who tragically dies.

This leads Cheryl down a path of destructive behavior and ultimately to her divorce from her husband, Paul, who periodically sends her care packages along the way.

Cheryl’s bond with her mother, a struggling woman herself, is deep. Bobbi struggles to raise a family and improve her education and life, which the flashback scenes featuring Cheryl as a teenager explore.

I love the encounters Cheryl faces along the trail, and I feel they add depth to the film.

Few and far between are these gems of interchange since she is mostly alone with nature, and the characters are interesting. Alone in the dark and desperate for a meal, she flags down a farmer named Frank.

At first, Frank seems dangerous and wields a gun, so Cheryl is wary as she goes home with him for dinner. Happily, Frank is married to a kindhearted woman named Annette, and the three of them enjoy a lovely feast.

Later, she encounters a young boy whose mother has died. They bond as the boy sings a song his mother used to sing to him, and when he leaves, Cheryl sobs with emotion for her mother.

These small snippets of real-life conversations and togetherness make the film feel happy, and we root for Cheryl to accomplish her enormous feat.

Thanks to a bravura performance by Witherspoon, Wild (2014) is much more than a woman surviving on her own in the wilderness. It is encased in quiet emotion and understated supporting performances that give layers to a human story.

Oscar Nominations: Best Actress-Reese Witherspoon, Best Supporting Actress-Laura Dern

2014 Films, Action, Adventure, Blockbuster, Science Fiction

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes-2014

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Dawn of the Planet of the Apes-2014

Director Matt Reeves

Starring Andy Serkis

Scott’s Review #232

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Reviewed March 29, 2015

Grade: C+

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014) is a summer blockbuster hit that knocks it out of the park visually; it is magnificent to look at, with creative sets and realistic images, but the story is mediocre and predictable.

I think the filmmaker’s true intent was to focus on the look of this film, and succeeds. The film is a slightly better-than-average big-screen adventure with more style than substance.

Set in San Francisco, or what was once San Francisco, the film takes place in a futuristic world. Apes have forged a new civilization after a deadly virus has eliminated 90% of the human population.

The apes are highly intelligent and manage a happy, unified existence. Then, one day, a human is encountered and, scared, shoots an ape.

This leads to a peaceful resolution between Caesar, the leader of the apes, and the humans: they each stay in their respective territories.

However, humans need access to a dam in the apes’ area to generate electricity. Mutual distrust leads to tension, but the civilized apes and humans reach a truce.

Naturally, conflict escalates as sinister humans and apes vow revenge on each other. This leads to a war while the peaceful apes and humans strive to work things out.

A further angle of the story is the hunger for power within the ranks of the Apes, reminiscent of Lord of the Flies.

The human protagonists, Malcolm and Ellie, played by Jason Clarke and Keri Russell, are a wholesome, decent couple.

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes pales in comparison to the original 1968 masterpiece, Planet of the Apes, starring Charlton Heston. Comparing the two is unfair, since, sadly, this one has nothing to do with the original.

It is simply the same franchise tag.

However, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is weaker than its predecessor, Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2010). We had a charismatic star, James Franco, and an interesting story.

The apes are experimented on, and their intelligence is a strong angle.

The sequel is rather one-note and leans on a machismo, us-against-them angle that isn’t unique.

The main drawback of this film is its limited scope. The characters are portrayed as a) the good and sympathetic humans, b) the evil and destructive humans, c) the good and heroic apes, or d) the evil, bad apes.

The film defines everyone for the audience, with no ambiguity or complexity in the characters. This is a bit limiting. The evil ape Koba is purely bad, and the drunken, gun-happy humans are bad.

This is not to say that Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is not enjoyable; it is. It’s a fun, entertaining flick. For what it is, the film has a message: there is a way to find peace and love between different species and types of people.

Hopefully, the audience gets that message.

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014) is a summer blockbuster action/sci-fi flick many will enjoy; however, it is a plot-driven extravaganza that could have been better with more layers to the story and more shape to some of the characters.

It is worth seeing as a visual cinema treat, but scarcely more than that.

Oscar Nominations: Best Visual Effects

1961 Films, Adventure, Animated, Comedy, Disney, Kids

101 Dalmatians-1961

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101 Dalmatians-1961

Directors Wolfgang Reitherman, Hamilton Luske, Clyde Geronimi

Voices Rod Taylor

Scott’s Review #226

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Reviewed March 8, 2015

Grade: A-

101 Dalmatians (1961) is a darling Walt Disney film that encompasses wholesomeness, love, and devotion.

Set in London, which adds a level of sophistication to the film, it tells the story of a lonely songwriter named Roger Radcliffe, who lives in a flat with his faithful and devoted Dalmatian, Pongo. Theirs is a happy existence, but something is missing.

Pongo, voiced by Rod Taylor (of The Birds-1963, fame), is determined to find a mate for himself and Roger and sets about to do just that by watching ladies and their dogs walk the streets in front of their homes.

He finds the perfect match for both (Anita for Roger and Perdita for him). The four of them look forward to years of happiness together until a sinister friend of Anita’s, Cruella De Vil, enters the story.

Cruella sees profit in the Dalmatians and attempts to steal and destroy them.

Cruella De Vil is a delicious villain and certainly one of the most entertaining in animated film history, but more than that, she is comically devious. Her maniacal laugh and witty language make her a perfect foil for a wholesome couple and wonderful, cute little pups.

The audience does not root for her, but there is something wicked and fun about her over-the-top character.

The 1961 film has an incredible artistic direction that animation today lacks —the scenes look like beautiful drawings.

There is a Mad Men quality to the design.

The “look” differs from current animation in that it is sleek and constructed skillfully, not loud, fast, and bombastic.

I love that the film is told from the perspective of the Dalmatian Pongo and Perdita, not from the perspective of human beings. The central characters, Pongo and Perdita, tell the story about their dogs, which adds to their empathy for the animals. We see their attempts to rescue all of the stolen dogs.

Also outstanding is how all of London’s dogs (and various other species of animals) band together in rescue. They work as a team to save and protect their own, who are being mistreated and sent to slaughter.

An enjoyable scene involves the climactic car chase between Cruella’s gaudy luxury car and a furniture van. As the pups use the van to escape, a cat-and-mouse game ensues, providing comedy and dramatic flair.

The scene is among the most suspenseful in the film, as the vehicles weave along dirt and back roads toward London.

In addition to this riveting scene are others involving the dogs tiptoeing past their captives as we cross our fingers they will not be heard and subsequently caught, and an adorable scene showcasing the dogs’ cleverness at covering their spots with soot to escape.

A heartwarming, inspirational film for the entire family to enjoy many times over, 101 Dalmatians (1961) will leave you smiling and humming.

It is a truthful, fantastic film about love for animals.

2013 Films, Adventure, Fantasy, Kids

Jack the Giant Slayer-2013

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Jack the Giant Slayer-2013

Director Bryan Singer

Starring Nicholas Hoult

Scott’s Review #93

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Reviewed July 4, 2014

Grade: C

Jack the Giant Slayer (2013) is a fantasy, CGI-laden film most likely targeted at a young audience.

It tells the story of Jack (Nicholas Hoult), a farmhand who must rescue a beautiful princess from the world of giants after an accident opens a gateway to their world.

The film is loosely based on the fairy tale “Jack and the Beanstalk”.

The special effects in the Land of the Giants are the most impressive aspect.

Otherwise, it is a love story mixed with adventure and is not very engaging. It is also very predictable.

Heavyweights Ewan McGregor and Stanley Tucci appear in over-the-top performances, and the acting of the princess (Eleanor Tomlinson) is shockingly wooden.

The finale is mildly entertaining as a chase through the castle, but the film is so weighed down by the effects and the lack of a good story that it feels like a middle-of-the-road film.

2012 Films, Adventure, Drama, Historical Drama, International, International Adventure, International Drama, Norwegian

Kon-Tiki-2012

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Kon-Tiki-2012

Directors Joachim Rønning, Espen Sandberg

Starring Pål Sverre Hagen

Scott’s Review #78

Reviewed June 28, 2014

Grade: C+

I don’t know what’s happened to the nominating process for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar (it’s been controversial for years). Still, you used to be able to count on any of the five nominated films to be interesting, edgy, and even controversial.

These days, a few of the nominated films barely squeak through, rise above mediocrity, and are such mainstream stories.

Kon-Tiki (2012) is one such film.

It tells the tale of a Norwegian scientist determined to sail, via raft, from Peru to the Polynesian islands to prove a Sun God, centuries ago, made the same voyage.

He forms a team and off they go.

Supposedly based on a true story, the team faces the typical challenges in an oceanic adventure: bad weather, sharks, the raft in peril, and dissent among the ranks.

These high-sea clichés have gotten to me recently. The film is similar in context to Life of Pi, also made in 2012.

It’s not a bad film, but there is nothing special about it either, and it has glossy and safe written all over it- the score is Spielberg to the nines, who has nothing to do with this film.

The five adventurers are bronzed with buff bodies when nobody was buff in the 1940s when this film is set, and the scruffy beards, after months of sailing, look perfectly phony.

For the top-tier foreign language group, I expected something more cutting-edge and with more substance.

Oscar Nominations: Best Foreign Language Film

1951 Films, Adventure, Drama

The African Queen-1951

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The African Queen-1951

Director John Huston

Starring Humphrey Bogart, Katharine Hepburn

Scott’s Review #76

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Reviewed June 28, 2014

Grade: B-

The African Queen (1951) is a difficult film to review.

Revered and appearing on many of the greatest films of all time lists, this film is disappointing.

Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn star as a couple who despise each other, stranded together on a tugboat in Africa on the eve of World War I.

Sure, the chemistry between Bogart and Hepburn (Hollywood royalty in their day) is there, and the opposite attraction has a definite rooting value as their passion oozes off the screen.

He is a grizzled alcoholic American. She is a repressed, puritanical British woman. The locales of Africa, as the couple traverses on a makeshift boat, are gorgeous.

That is it for me, though- nothing else about the film is spectacular.

The plot is silly and unrealistic, and the two are thrown together purely for plot purposes. The adventure seems quite secondary to the love story at hand.

How far-fetched is that an “old maid” and a sailor could build torpedoes and blow up an enormous German warship?

The film is a decent, old-fashioned romantic adventure but not much more, which disappoints me because, given its accolades, I was expecting much more.

Bogart won the 1951 Best Actor Oscar for this performance.

Oscar Nominations: 1 win-Best Director-John Huston, Best Actor-Humphrey Bogart (won), Best Actress-Katharine Hepburn, Best Screenplay

2013 Films, Adventure, Drama, Independent, Independent Adventure, Independent Drama

All is Lost-2013

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All is Lost-2013

Director J.C. Chandor

Starring Robert Redford

Scott’s Review #4

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Reviewed June 16, 2014

Grade: D

The accolades heaped on All Is Lost from 2013 escape me.

Some felt that this was Robert Redford’s late-in-life masterpiece.

I’ve never found him a great actor, and while he’s not horrible in this film, it is not the Oscar-worthy performance being bandied about.

Many actors would play this role better- Tom Hanks and Sean Penn come to mind.

Beyond the performance, the film leaves facets unexplained. How did he become shipwrecked? Why did ships pass by not noticing him? Who is he?

Much of the movie drags, and a feeling of having seen this film many times before kept gnawing at me. I do give the film credit for containing only one cast member.

But castaway and shipwreck movies have been around since the beginning. They all have the standard plot developments- broken equipment, sharks, and storms- which makes it quite contrived.

Fail.

Independent Spirit Award Nominations: Best Feature, Best Director-J.C. Chandor, Best Male Lead-Robert Redford, Best Cinematography

2014 Films, Adventure, Drama, Epic, Religious

Noah-2014

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Noah-2014

Director Darren Aronofsky

Starring Russell Crowe

Scott’s Review #3

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Reviewed June 16, 2014

Grade: B+

Learning that Darren Aronofsky, a very dark director (Black Swan-2011, Requiem for a Dream-2000, and The Wrestler-2008), would be tackling a religious film piqued my curiosity.

Those expecting an uplifting, happy film about “god” will be disappointed.

This film is generating controversy from the religious folks, which I find interesting, but nobody wants me to go off on a tangent.

The film tells the story of the biblical figure Noah and his quest to do God’s will through the signs he is given.

It takes incredible talent to make a film like this not seem silly, and Aronofsky, Russell Crowe, and Jennifer Connelly pull it off.

The film is quite dark, and at times Noah comes off as more of a madman than a savior.

The visual effects and the musical score are wonderfully effective.

Noah (2014) has a few plot holes but is a nice fantasy/apocalypse-type film.

2014 Films, Action, Adventure, Blockbuster, Super Hero

The Amazing Spider-Man 2-2014

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The Amazing Spider-Man 2-2014

Director Marc Webb

Starring Andrew Garfield

Scott’s Review #2

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Reviewed June 16, 2014

Grade: B+

Superhero movies aren’t my top genre (though, admittedly, I see many of them).

They are fun, popcorn-type films not to be over-analyzed or taken too seriously.

One thing that confuses me is the seemingly constant rebooting of the Spider-Man franchise and the forgetting of previous installments.

Wasn’t this series just made with Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst not too long ago?

That said, the strongest part of this film is the undeniable chemistry between Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone, which is great to watch.

Sally Field adds life to anything she appears in.

The film’s most “human” parts are the best.

The special effects/CGI are admirable. I enjoyed how one “villain” is a close friend of Peter Parker’s, wonderfully played by Dane DeHaan. His character has many nuances.

The other villain, Electro, played by Jamie Foxx, is silly, and his story almost seems botched. His motivations are weak.

He hates Spider-Man and wants to destroy the city because of a contrived misunderstanding.

I don’t want to overanalyze The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014); it’s a fun, enjoyable summer film.

2013 Films, Action, Adventure

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire-2013

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The Hunger Games: Catching Fire-2013

Director Francis Lawrence

Starring Jennifer Lawrence

Scott’s Review #1

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Reviewed June 16, 2014

Grade: B-

I confess I haven’t read any of the Hunger Games books, so I am critiquing the film on its own merits only, with no knowledge of the books.

Interestingly, I graded the first Hunger Games (2012) film a B-, and I am giving this one almost the same grade for the same reason.

The first hour sets up the second hour, but it drags on unnecessarily. At times it’s slightly dull.

The meat of the film then takes off, and it’s quite good, though it still doesn’t completely hold my attention throughout.

First and foremost, Jennifer Lawrence is the best part. She has the charisma and likability to carry it off.

The chemistry between the two leads (Lawrence and Hutcherson) is there, so the couple is worth rooting for.

The third part of the triangle is weak (Liam Hemsworth has far too little screen time to make him a viable rooting factor).

Donald Sutherland is wonderful as the evil President, but Philip Seymour Hoffman seems to phone it in, and the character isn’t all that intriguing.

The mood of the film and visuals (fog, train sequences) are great because there is modern darkness, and the premise and wondering who will die next during the games are interesting.

The somewhat twist at the end was effective.

To summarize: nice characters/acting, great-looking film, mediocre story, and slow pacing in the first act.