A #Nerd Reviews Legend Of The Guardians

#TalkNerdyToMeLover's Aaron Fitzgerald

With the advances of computer technology the old school days of traditional line drawn animation has gone the way of the dinosaur.  It’s a bit sad because the pioneers of that era like Walt Disney, Ralph Bashki, Chuck Jones  and Don Bluth really produced some great films with beautiful artwork.  These are the animators I grew up with and I still enjoy watching their classic films to this day.  From Fantasia to The Secret Of NIMH I’ve always been moved by excellent stories and incredible visuals.

Well, today we have seen the birth of a whole new slew of animators and story tellers who use computer animation to make their films.  Pixar is the leader of this group of producers.  Just about every single film these guys have put out has not only been extremely well done but has garnered critical acclaim and Oscar nods.  And because of them we have seen other studios jump into the rat race to compete with them, with really good results.

“Legend Of The Guardians: The Owls Of Ga’hoole”, is the latest animated film from Warner Brothers.  The visuals are by far the leading factor in the movie.  The artwork blows away just about all the animated films we’ve seen this year.  It rivals James Cameron’s, “Avatar”, with careful attention to detail and beauty.  The movie is downright gorgeous.  It seems the artists took their time on every leaf and rain drop that dances across the screen.

Based on the bestselling book series the story follows a young owl, Soren, who searches for a group of mythical owls known as The Guardians who must defend the owl kingdoms against the pure ones before they enslave all the owls and take over the world.  It’s a classic hero’s journey and a story of a boy becoming a man.  Soren not only comes of age but also becomes a guardian himself as he struggles to battle the pure ones and save his people.  I didn’t find myself emotionally involved in the story as I could have been.

Along the journey we meet a slew of characters, most of them forgettable.  The filmmakers try as hard as they can to charm us with the characters, but most of the jokes and humor fall flat.  Soren never really draws us in as a character and we don’t really sympathize with him enough to care about the outcome.  Pitting brother against brother is a good story device, but I didn’t really buy his brother’s motives for siding with the enemy.

I wouldn’t recommend this film to parents with young children.  It’s a bit too dark and violent for the young ones.  Younger teenagers might enjoy it for its visual and battle scenes and adults might appreciate it and find it appealing, but I’m not sure there really is a target audience for this film.  If you have the money to spend I would recommend seeing it on IMAX 3D.  The art is really its strongest aspect and that’s the main reason to see it.  On the other hand you might really fall in love with Soren’s journey and enjoy the ride.

Another Nerdy Review: #TheTown

#TalkNerdyToMeLover's Aaron Fitzgerald

I’ve followed Ben Affleck his whole career.  He’s made some good choices and some poor ones but there’s no denying that he’s maintained his popularity over the years.  There’s a high debate among the public about whether he’s a decent actor but, for me personally, I’ve always thought he’s good at what he does.  Say what you want but he does have an Oscar for writing, ”Good Will Hunting”, with his longtime friend Matt Damon. 

I remember reading an interview with him where he plainly stated that he grew up watching big budget commercial movies and that is where his passion lies.  I don’t know much about his personal life other than he dated Gwyneth Paltrow and Jennifer Lopez and frankly I try to stay out of celebrities private lives.  I’ll be upfront and admit that I haven’t yet seen, “Gone Baby Gone”, which won him a boatload of critical acclaim.  So, my biggest question all these years has been can he produce a good movie?   Well folks, the debate is most definitely over.  Enter, “The Town.”

An emotionally charged story, “The Town”, takes us on a journey with a bank robber who accidently falls in love with a woman he took hostage during a heist.  Rebecca Hall, who portrays the hostage Claire, does an excellent job of depicting a victim trying to overcome her fears and find peace with her emotions again.  Ben Affleck, as Doug, is torn between his lifestyle and his feelings for Claire while trying to avoid capture by the authorities.  The resulting problems and conflicts build to a thrilling climax near the end as Doug participates in one last job to hit a big score, come to terms with Claire and escape from the F.B.I.

The screenplay, written by Ben Affleck, Peter Craig and Aaron Stockard and based on the novel, “Prince Of Thieves”, by Chuck Hogan, is well thought out and has carefully placed set ups that pay off brilliantly at the end.  If there is one true ideal in any movie it’s the ability of it to illicit emotion and this film does that without question.  We care about Doug.  We care about Claire.  We sympathize with their goals and the story conveys this without resorting to melodrama.  Ben Affleck co-wrote, directed and starred in this highly quality drama with exceptional skill and execution.

And for those of you who like action, this work of cinema delivers like no other.  Every heist sequence is extremely well done.  If the majority of action films would turn down their action sequences a notch and give them more realism and tension this is what it would look and feel like.  Not only are the robbery scenes terrific in execution they are emotionally engaging as well because we care about the characters.  This is big budget commercial movie making done at its best.

The cinematography, by Robert Elswit, sizzles with energy without drawing attention to itself.  The movie flows well thanks to Dylan Tichenor’s seamless editing skills.  We never miss a beat during the action sequences or find ourselves nodding off while viewing the slow scenes.  “Inception”, is still high on my list of movies to be recognized by the Academy this year, and there are still plenty of films coming out soon that look like contenders, but I think, “The Town”, might very well prove itself this coming Oscar season.  Mr. Affleck, you are a force to be reckoned with in the movie business.

Editor's note: This is the second staff member to post a review on this film. HMMMMM!!! Guess, I have to see it then, eh? BAH!



A Nerd's #Review: Star Trek 2: Wrath Of Khan

 

#TalkNerdyToMeLover's Aaron Fitzgerald

“Ah, Kirk.  Do you know of the Klingon proverb that says revenge is a dish best served cold?  It is very cold in space.”

When Gene Roddenberry created Star Trek neither him nor the networks could imagine how incredibly huge this sci fi concept would become.  With four television show spin offs, an endless amount of film sequels and a ton of merchandising Star Trek has reached just about every corner of the Earth.  Love it, like it or hate it there is no denying that this franchise could very well be one of the biggest phenomenon’s the world has ever seen.  A completely realized universe with its own rules, worlds, aliens and technology, Star Trek, has captured the imaginations of millions of people.

For a lot of people, “Star Trek: The Motion Picture”, was a letdown.  It was too long, too slow and there wasn’t enough action to keep us interested.  In retrospect, looking at it now, I realized that the first film really did stay true to the Star Trek universe, but it lacked the excitement we had come to expect from a sci fi movie.  Well, I’m sure Mr. Roddenberry and his team of producers at Paramount knew that they had to make up for the first film by giving us something much more fun and entertaining.  In 1982 Gene and his cohorts introduced us to the second Star Trek film, “Star Trek 2: The Wrath Of Khan”, and all was forgiven.

“How we deal with death is at least as important as how we deal with life.”  Not just words, James T. Kirk.  An admiral in Starfleet, Kirk is facing his age, his yearning to command a starship again and the estranged relationship with his son.  Unfortunately, he will have to face more than that when he begins battling his arch enemy, Khan, in a cat and mouse game.   James’s good friend, Doctor McCoy, confronts him on his birthday about getting back his command before he turns into one of his antiques, before he really grows old.  Sometimes in life the things that bring us a personal satisfaction are the things that we love doing and can have a profound effect on how old we feel.  Kirk is a starship captain at heart and that’s where he belongs.  As his good friend, Spock, says, “Commanding a starship is your best destiny.  Anything else is a waste.”

I think if I were to list my top ten villains in movies Khan would definitely be on that list.  He embodies everything great about a sinister antagonist.  He has a personal vendetta, he’s intelligent, a natural born leader and he is a cunning foe.  The battle between Khan and Kirk isn’t just based on strength.  Their conflict is resolved by a game of wits.  And Kirk is in for a match.  Khan, brilliantly played by Ricardo Montalban, has a more experienced crew, a powerful starship at his disposal and a dangerous weapon, The Genesis Device, which can destroy an entire planet.

This film isn’t just an action fare with spaceships blowing up.  It’s much more.  The movie explores the relationship between scientists and the military.  The scientists, headed by Kirk’s ex-wife, Carol Marcus, have developed a machine that can create life on a lifeless planet.  Scientists always attempt to advance their science for the benefit of mankind and the military wants to take their creations and use them as weapons.  “Star Trek 2: The Wrath Of Khan”, tackles this moral dilemma subtly without resorting to vaulting up onto a soapbox about it.

Even if sci fi or Star Trek isn’t your thing, you might enjoy this flick.  It’s a conflict on a personal level.  It’s a story of a man rediscovering his true identity and finding redemption with his family.  It’s an action filled fair.  The performances are brilliant, yes, even William Shatner is good.  “Star Trek 2: The Wrath Of Khan”, is definitely a classic in every respect.  There is a character arc.  At the end Kirk utters the three words that define who he is as a person.  He says, “I feel young.”  May we all discover our true calling and fulfill our destinies.

Click here to add this masterpiece to your netflix cue.

A Nerd's Review: #FightClub

#TalkNerdyToMeLover's Aaron Fitzgerald

Have you ever thought to yourself, what kind of dining set defines me as a person?  If you saw a coffee table shaped like a yin yang would you have to buy it?  Are we nothing more than mindless consumers buying underwear with somebody’s name on it?  If you have ever questioned your society or wondered if your identity was not in fact dual, you might enjoy the demented antics of, “Fight Club.”

When I first heard that, “Fight Club”, was coming to theaters I admit I was skeptical.  I thought to myself, “How could a movie about guys beating each other up be any good?” So, I refrained from seeing it.  But after one viewing I realized the brilliance of this work of storytelling.   Edward Norton plays an insomniac who works for a car company in order to determine if car accidents should warrant a recall on the car.  His life is a mundane routine where he mindlessly buys products for his nice condominium.  In order to cure his insomnia he begins attending support groups for various diseases and addictions.  After several visits and crying in the chest of a fat man with bit tits, Edward begins to sleep like a newborn baby.

Who is Tyler Durden?  An interesting question.  What exactly does Tyler Durden mean to you?  Is your sanity so certain that you wouldn’t notice another personality slowly infecting your mind and drawing you even further into the depths of anarchy?  Ever sit in a movie theater and wonder to yourself, “Did I just see a penis flash on the screen?”  Your children start sobbing and you know it’s not cause the talking cartoon animals on the screen just performed their Oscar worthy lines.  That’s right buddy, Tyler Durden has taken over your mind.  You are no longer a slave to society’s whims.  You aren’t just their waiter, or gas attendant or maid.  You are free, my friend.  You have been enlightened.  And now it’s time to take it all back.

If you think your relationship with your lover is messed up than you haven’t seen Marla and Tyler Durden.  “What are you doing in my house?’  “Fuck you!”  And she storms out!  “Marla, the cut on the roof of your mouth that would only heal if you would stop tonguing it.”  Why does she keep coming back to him?  Is the sex really that good?  Would you stay with a psycho just because the sex was mind blowing?  You know something, I think some of you would.   And the beauty of the whole thing is that you don’t even know you’re getting some, because it’s your alter ego that you aren’t aware of that’s tapping that bio polar ass.  Although, you can’t blame her for telling you to go fuck yourself.

Is this movie just guys beating each other up?  Well, yeah, there’s some of that.  Until Project Mayhem hits the streets.  Then we find out the genius of Tyler Durden and we actually want to see him succeed.  Society is a class system and somebody should knock us down a notch or two.  What’s that Tyler?  Yeah destroy the buildings that hold all the credit card information, we’ll be brought back to zero.  Everybody equal.  Hey, isn’t that the American dream? Equality?  Only a man with a split personality could have the balls to raise an army to knock the system on its ass.

To anyone out there who really thinks they don’t have an ego.  I’m sorry, I’m here to tell you that you are completely full of shit.  We are human.  All of us have egos.  Big huge monstrous egos.  And when an ego is bruised you search for vengeance.  Don’t bs yourselves.  That is the road to delusion.  Do I have an ego?  Well, I’m writing this review and that is a direct result of my ego thinking I can write.  Can we kill our ego and evolve further? Well, Edward Norton does, but not before his ego’s plan is fulfilled.   Your ego will haunt you until you are six feet under.  That’s guaranteed.

Let your life go is like taking your hands off the steering wheel of your car on the highway during a rain storm.  You run to the police but even they know of the plot and will try to cut your balls off.  Where do you go? Where do you turn?  Well, to your alter ego of course and battle it out with him, which indecently, is battling out with yourself.  You pathetic idiot.  You did it all yourself, well with the help of your imaginary friend, who’s rigged all the credit card buildings with explosives.  How will you explain all of this?  Oh, well, it doesn’t matter cause Marla has finally forgiven you for being such an asshole.  Yeah Tyler won but at least you got the girl.

And the penis flashes across the screen again.  You will never be safe.  

#Brazil - Greatest film of all time??

#TalkNerdyToMeLover's Aaron Fitzgerald

1984 took LSD, warped itself with satire and morphed with Monty Python.   Brazil could very well be one of the greatest movies of all time.  A story of a man chasing the woman he loves, dreams of clouds and safe havens, while falling uncontrollably into the depths of red tape and paperwork.  An everyman, Jonathan Pryce, plays Sam Lowry, a low level clerk in a dead end job who doesn’t want a promotion.   It isn’t until he becomes obsessed with a woman that he decides to climb the corporate ladder to find her.  Along the way he illegally fixes his air conditioning in his apartment, fights the law enforcement, helps a suspected terrorist escape and ends up being tortured for information.  Okay, not the most uplifting tale ever spun, but God it’s awesome.

Sometimes the world’s most complex horrors can begin with the simplest incident.  An anal retentive clerk keeps his desk immaculate.  The tiniest speck of dirt doesn’t go unnoticed.  Then he spots an annoying fly buzzing around his office.   Not letting this pest ruin his day he climbs up on his desk and kills the fly with a stack of papers.  A moment later the dead bug drops from the ceiling and falls into a printer, changing one letter in one name, thus setting the entire story in motion.

Ian Holm plays Sam’s boss, a pathetic weasel who tricks Sam into doing paperwork for him.  Holm plays the incompetent employer who can’t tie his shoes without Sam with a brilliant flare.  Fearing that Sam might accept a promotion and leave him to fend for himself in his job he signs a letter for his subordinate rejecting a promotion to Information Retrieval.   But that will all change when Sam realizes that by accepting a promotion he will get closer to the woman of his dreams.  Unfortunately, his boss, corrupt law enforcement and red tape will force him down in into the depths of bureaucratic hell.

 Whoever would think that an air conditioner repair man could be a criminal?  Well, in a world run by paperwork a man who decides to operate outside the system will be hunted by the law, no matter how absurd the crime might seem.  Robert DeNiro plays Harry Tuttle, a rogue repair man, who has left the system and roams the city at night searching for broken air conditioners to fix.  When Sam’s air conditioner breaks and he is unable to contact Central Services to get a repair man to fix it dependable Harry Tuttle arrives in the middle of the night, dressed in black, to lend him a hand.   It’s only fitting that Harry will be destroyed by the very same paperwork that he avoids.

In any good satire the villain is always on the so called good side.  Michael Palin, from the Monty Python troupe, plays Jack, a sadistic officer who tortures suspects based on thin evidence.  Michael Palin is charming and delightfully creepy at the same time.  When we are introduced to him we don’t think he’s such a bad guy until the end when he tortures Sam to get him to talk.  Can we trust our law enforcement?  We create a system to help us live our lives, but can that same system end up running us?

The only motivation for Sam wanting to accept promotion is to find a woman he’s been dreaming about.  In his dreams she is a timid, beautiful, damsel in distress, but in real life she is a cigarette smoking, truck driving badass who doesn’t take crap from anyone, including Sam.  The closer Sam gets to having her the more the system begins to swallow him up.  When we chase our dreams do we lose touch with reality?  If we don’t tend to our responsibilities and just fantasize about where we’d like to be we will end up living in delusion.

The last ten minutes of the movie can really be confusing if you don’t pay attention.  If you care about Sam and want him to get the girl you might really believe that what’s happening is real.  He escapes the torture chamber, blows up the Information Retrieval building and ends up with his woman in a trailer in the woods.  Just when you believe that everything has worked out the camera pulls back and we realize he’s still sitting in the torture chamber.  Jack wasn’t able to extract any information from him and now Sam is a vegetable living in his own dream world.  The look on Sam’s face at the end seems like a state of Nirvana.  Did he lose?  Did he win?  The end is truly an ironic twist.  You can be happy and sad for him simultaneously.  So remember, chase your dreams without losing touch with reality.

Brazil is more than a satire.  It’s more than a sci fi film or a comedy.  Brazil is a commentary on modern society.  It’s a mixture of the future, the past and encompasses everything that is ridiculous about the twentieth century.  From women’s obsession with plastic surgery to faceless terrorists this film reflects our system and how we live our lives.  If we could just stop for a moment and think about how we create our own hell maybe we could rise above the system and ultimately live our dreams.