4 posts tagged “movie”

HP & the HBP

Here is an excerpt from my review of the latest Harry Potter movie at Fantasy Magazine:

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince has been my favorite so far. The book’s darker themes and more adult intrigues appealed to me. That said, the film is, well, lacking. While the tried and true cast performed much as expected, and the special effects, soundtrack and visual theme are phenomenal (excepting occasional editing and continuity goofs), the sixth installment in the Harry Potter chronicles was simply flat.

Read the full review at the Fantasy Magazine website.

WARNING: SPOILER AHEAD

You'd think I'd learn.  Seriously.  I have been watching adaptations of beloved comics for years, but I still haven't gotten a simple fact locked into my head.  See, there are two formulae for comic flicks:

A.  Take established characters, tweak settings and back-story, create film based on original script, written with existing materials in mind.
B.  Recreate a specific story arc.

Type A has great potential.  Reference Spiderman 1 & 2, X-Men 1 & 2, The Incredible Hulk, both FF movies, etc.  Type B is guaranteed to piss me off (the simple fact that escapes me).  See V for Vendetta and now, Watchmen.

They really had me going, too.  I mean sure, there were some omissions here and there.  After all, how are you possibly going to include all that greatness in a movie?  But they kept almost all of the really vital bits.  I had a pretty good idea that something was wrong when we never met the artist, but I let it slide.  Right up to the end.

The characters were treated fairly.  Zack did a good job of that.  Sure, Malin Akerman can't act her way into a wet paper bag, but she certainly looked like Silk Spectre II.  Sure, Patrick Wilson was a little light, but he did a helluva job with NiteOwl II.  Likewise, Rorshach (Jackie Earle Haley) was terrific!  I can't really argue with the rest of the cast' everyone looked and played their parts well.

The visuals, soundtrack, special effects were all stunning.   Dr. Manhattan was incredible, except for one interaction with a pillow and a handful of mistimed phonemes.  His aura was perfectly executed, as were his creations.  The fact that a viewer can follow the story panel for frame is pretty likable too.  I mean, generally, everything lined up perfectly.  Great care was taken to recreate this history-making graphic novel faithfully.  Except for the end.

If you haven't read the comics, but have seen the movie, don't. Seriously. Pointless.  If you've read the comics, but haven't seen the movie, go ahead and go.  It's terrible exciting to see the pages come to life like nothing before.  The soundtrack is awesome; fits right in.  The book was their storyboard, shot for shot, and that's impressive, frankly.

But dammit, Zack Snyder, what's the point of recreating everything so carefully just to change the ending?  Do you not "get it"?  Did you try to carry the iconic book that revolutionized the way comics are perceived to the masses without actually understanding it?

See, my gripe is this: with everything else so well done, from Archimedes to Rorshach's face, why the hell would you replace the alien attack with Dr. Manhattan going, apparently, insane?  Is this your pathetic attempt at a twist-ending?  It's like making Princess Leia the emperor.  It's like chocolate cake with mustard icing.  It's crap.

That's right, folks.  They kept the magical mystery in this movie frame for frame, pathos for pathos, right up to the big revelation.  Then they proved that Ozymandias, king of kings, was not the world's smartest man, but instead a drooling moron.

See, any sci-fi geek can tell you that one of the great themes of the genre is that of human unity through alien threat.  Note I didn't say "atomic scientist threat".  Atomic science is what brought on the problem in the first place!  I want my Cthulian horror, you bastards!  I want my unknowable alien menace, capable of pushing the human race to realize there are greater threats than any man could ever conceive, lurking silently overhead.

You broke the story, Zack, because your peace is so fragile that Rorshach's journal is no longer required to break it.  All it takes now is one Russian asking, "Well, couldn't the American pig-dogs just make another Dr. Manhattan?"  Where does that leave our alienated, pathos-ridden men-become-gods? 

Obviously, our world doesn't need one more real person struggling against all odds to be heroic.  It needs one less Zack Snyder.

I give Watchmen 2 of 10 points.  (The comics? A solid, undoubted 10.)

It hardly comes as a surprise, but Neil Gaiman has done it again!  With the help of screenwriter/director Henry Selick and Laika, Coraline has become a major success.

For good reason.

The star power of Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, and arguably They Might Be Giants add a lot to the film's success, as do their talents, but this is far and away a writer's movie.

Don't mistake me, the movie's a visual feast.  The modelers, "costumers" and animators at Laika are best in class.  The cinematography is astounding. The 3D can sometimes be jarring, but no more so than in any other production using the technology.  Many of those effects are just tremendous, however.  The organic pixelizations, animated gardens and looms (of all kinds) add a great deal to a feel of enchantment viewers of all ages can really enjoy.

As I said, this is a writer's movie, and that's one of the esteemed Mr. Gaiman's great talents; breaking the age barrier.  It's a tradition in animation, of course, layering adult humor into child-friendly themes, but this is a writer who doesn't need animation, or even illustration, to accomplish the feat. 

I haven't read the book.  Sorry, Neil.  But rest assured I shall!  In fact, I may just order it now.  While I was tremendously disappointed with the screen treatment of Stardust (2007), I expect less was changed here.  It would certainly make sense as Mr. Gaiman's Hollywood clout continues to grow.  It's good to see genius and persistence rewarded in such a big way.  The merit is clearly visible in Coraline.

This movie is so charming I can hardly stand it.  There are scenes that melt the heart, and few that make it skip a beat.  The imagery is eternal, as are the well-stated themes of love, disaffection and fear.  Layer into that timeless story the aforementioned visuals, an excellent musical score, great voice acting and Burton-beating production values and what do you get?  A film like the perfect layer cake.  A cake with creamy frosting, and the words "Welcome home" ringed in candles.  Or a deep forgotten well surrounded by a faerie ring.  Either is good.  Better than good: superlative.

You must not miss this film!  I give it 9 of 10 points!

RATING: 7 of 10

    What an awesome little movie!  I was much pleased by both its graphic quality and philosophical content.  Granted, it is a kid's movie, so don't run in expecting to see Aristotle's physics or Freudian breakdowns, but do expect to be pleasantly surprised by the story and it's implication for eight year old minds.
    The visuals were truly astonishing, as one has come to expect with Pixar.  The designs are terrific and well utilized for comedy.  The story itself is touching in a pre-adolescent way, and the limited dialogue is a welcome escape form the Pokemonery I had expected. 

    In short, I recommend it to anyone, including adults.
    I just wonder about the sequel.  Will it work out?  After all, he's a p.c., she's a mac; what do they really have in common?