Forget the critics: 3 Reasons Jupiter Ascending is a fantastic film!

Review by T. Austin

Critics and audiences alike have not been kind to the new Sci-fi fantasy, Jupiter Ascending starring Mila Kunis and Channing Tatum.  But after seeing it this weekend I'm certain that critics fail to understand that some films are just meant for pure entertainment and at a time like this some audiences just want to escape reality.  If escaping into a crazy fantasy is what you're looking for, the film thoroughly delivers.  Here are 3 reasons you MUST see it now: 

1. The plot is pure pop-corn entertainment  

Explaining the plot might require quite a lot of time and for the record Jupiter Ascending is in no way a high-brow, intellectual thriller, but what you actually get is an engrossing action romp made purely for pop-corn entertainment.  Mila Kunis is Jupiter, who goes from cleaning toilets to being drawn into an intergalactic conflict between members of the House of Abrasax, a Royal family who just happens to share ownership of the universe.  Yes, it's that complicated and a tab silly but the execution is highly entertaining.  Jupiter is sought after by the royal siblings, including recent Oscar winner Eddy Redmayne as the devilish older sibling, Balem, who wants to murder Jupiter since she is the reincarnated version of his mother, who apparently had rights to owning the Earth. Yes it's ridiculous, but if you're tired of all the headlines screaming be-headings, terrorism and other assorted bad news that is so in your face lately, Jupiter is the perfect film for escapism.  It's the kind of Star Wars, Star Trek and Terminator mash-up that you dreamt of as a teen.  Believe me, as impossible and over-blown as the story seems, the visual effects, chemistry between the leads and amazing soundtrack make it well worth the ticket price. 

2. Kunis and Tatum turn up the chemistry

The main draw is of course the stars of the film and from the first frame Kunis exudes amazing comic timing as the klutzy, yet believable Jupiter.  When she is rescued by Channing Tatum's Caine Wise, an intergalactic soldier, we experience what seems to be genuine chemistry between the two charismatic actors and it's indeed enjoyable to watch.  While there are no real memorable one-liners, the scenes with Kunis and Tatum stand out as silly but charming.  Whether he is rescuing her from what looks like body-builder versions of the Sand People from Star Wars or soaring above skyscrapers on 'gravity boots', the romance between the two characters is one of the more believable aspects of an otherwise overblown story.

3. Phenomenal visual effects create an equally fantastic world

It's obvious that the directors, the Wachowskis Brothers, borrowed quite a lot from probably every Sci-Fi fantasy you can think of including large parts of Star Wars and huge chunks of Star Trek, but that's what makes the world they created so enjoyable to get absorbed into; whether it's the insect-like giant space ships or the Lord of the Rings inspired vistas, everything looks and sounds like the over the top space opera you wished they still showed on Saturday afternoons.  I particularly liked that some of the spacecraft had giant gold statues and colourful murals that evoke an art deco inspired alien world.  The Wachowskis Brothers, despite using bits from Sci-fi films that we already know, have created their own unique world that hints at the excess of mankind and over consumption.  It is indeed a fascinating place to spend 2 hours.   The music score by Michael Giacchino is as over the top as the storyline with huge brass statements in the vein of John Williams' Star Wars scores.

I recommended Jupiter to anyone looking for a truly thrilling adventure that requires no brain busting plot analysis.  It's just plain in your face, loud and colourful entertainment that has sadly been missing from our local multiplexes for years.  With so many serious, true to life films out now, Jupiter Ascending is the ideal cinema experience for anyone wanting to get away from reality. 

5 Reasons You'll Probably Hate 50 Shades of Grey (The Film)

Review by T.Austin 

There is no need to rehash anything about the popularity or plot behind the phenomenally popular series of books, 'Fifty Shades of Grey'.  I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who thinks that it was a greedy move by British author E.L. James and the movie studio to turn a relatively new book franchise into a film trilogy so soon, but here you have it: an elusive Billionaire, Christian Grey entraps a demure college student, Anastasia Steele, into his sadistic world of BDSM (Google it if you're not sure) including what the average person would deem truly bizarre acts of sex.

But for those of us who sadly run out to see the new Transformers, Box Office success doesn't mean quality.  This is quite evident with the dare I say it premature Fifty Shades film.  Here are five reasons it might not make your passing grade: 

The cliched love story doesn't hold up 

Kudos to new star Dakota Johnson (daughter of Melanie Griffith) and Jamie Dornan who exhibit natural chemistry, even during the overly hyped love making scenes, but even the stars' on-screen charisma wouldn't stop the average moviegoer from seeing through the paper thin love story.  We've seen it 100 times on Lifetime. A nerdy, not too attractive female is swept away by stunningly handsome wealthy man.  It's like Beauty and the Beast but with whips, chains and an even more psychologically damaged Beast.  The twist of course is his offer of a contract to engage in sadistic sexual acts but for anyone with a television, the trailer gives it all away so that when it actually happens there's no dramatic change in the beat of the film.  It all seems too familiar and tediously cliched.

Takes too long to get to the point 

If you've read the first book, you know that much has been removed.  That's probably the reason the entire film drags along with not much happening (except the overly advertised bondage scenes).  Every now and again we hear a very loud pop song and get a series of montages with the happy couple flying in a helicopter or some other 'Billionaire shows poor girl he's rich' cliche.  It gets very exhausting after the first hour.  I had to fight off sleep about 6 times.  

The Love Making Scenes don't exactly 'satisfy' 

For all the hype about the film's graphic depiction of sadistic sex between Anastasia and Christian, when it actually happens it's not exactly eye opening.  Yes, there are gross amounts of nudity particularly from Dakota Johnson (more about that later), but for anyone with cable and a subscription to Showtime or HBO the sex scenes are really nothing new. Yes it is surprising to see certain acts hinted at, but with all the PR and commercial hype, the scenes are actually quite tepid.  

The soundtrack does most of the work 

As I said before, the film has a huge achievement with the amazing chemistry between the two leads, however beyond that there's really not much happening.  To create some sense of excitement the film makers employ a series of upbeat pop songs including a truly catchy track from British pop singer, Ellie Goulding. All this makes the movie seem less genuine and it's hard to take it seriously when Christian brands his whip and a super slowed down version of Beyonce's 'Crazy in Love' starts playing.  It all seems very commercial like watching the latest teen drama on MTV.  

Sets Feminism back several years...

The same has been said about the books and indeed the depiction of Anastasia Steele is sometimes hard to swallow.  To avoid any spoilers I won't give details of a particular scene where I was surprised at how they treated the 'virginity issue'.  It just seemed like the female protagonist was so enamored that she barely gave a thought to sleeping with someone she barely knew.  In 2015, it's hard to accept this sort of 1930s approach to women and sex. While Johnson tries her best with the material, it's clear that Anastasia represents a stereotypical female lead that has long over stayed her welcome in the movies. 

The other glaring negative depiction of women is the fact that while we see quite a lot of Jamie Dornan, it doesn't compare to the amount of times Johnson's body is on display in overtly submissive ways.  The fact that Johnson's nudity is emphasized more than her male counterpart just plays into the typical Hollywood stereotype of excessively depicting women as sexual objects.  This will not sit well with an intelligent audience. 

Overall, Fifty Shades comes across as a way too soon book to film adaptation that needed more time to be fleshed out properly.  Everything about it seems forced and contrived, lacking any deep wit or groundbreaking plot device.  Most audiences, particularly if you haven't read the book, will be bored by the light weight plot.  Beyond the charming performances by the leads, up tempo soundtrack and enthusiastic music score by Danny Elfman, 50 Shades is a dismal snoozefest. 

Review by T.Austin    

Mariah Carey...what is more remarkable than a human being who is struggling but still SHOWS UP every time!

I find myself admiring Mariah Carey even more these last few months. She's obviously going through (if you believe the media), horrendous marital woes, plus the deterioration of her voice was a secret to NO ONE.

Either she's strained it too much hitting humanly impossible whistle notes or her emotional state has affected her ability to sing. Don't know...I'm not a doctor just a devoted fan that will stick with her throughout her current struggles.

If she releases a new album now, I'll run out and buy it because at the end of the day long after the horrible twitter comments and negative press, the name Mariah Carey will stand the test of time. People can easily dismiss her but while she reinvents herself and emerges a superstar once again, those 'critics' will still be flipping burgers and selling coma-inducing sodas. 

It's amazing how those who are quick to run her name through the mud will never even have a sniff of the success she's managed to maintain for over 20 years (We're looking at you Wendy Williams and your 'Lifetime' flop)

I especially admire Mariah's perseverance. Her voice obviously failed her the first night of her world tour, but while most big names would have cancelled, Mariah pushed forward and SOLD OUT every venue garnering millions in revenue and glowing reviews with her voice sounding remarkably well by the last night of the tour.

It was obvious her instrument failed again at the Rockefeller Tree Lighting...yet even though she knew she was not in good voice, she performed live with a brave face. Yes, she missed every single high note but my God I've never seen anyone so brave. She probably heard herself struggling with the notes but smiled all the way to the end. And for that I will forever and always be a devoted fan...despite her circumstances Mariah just keeps showing up and trying her best. How many people can you say that about?  What is more remarkable than a human being who is struggling but still SHOWS UP every time!

As for the future, I warn anyone who thinks she's done: any celebrity that can make it through the debacle that was 'Glitter'...can make it through anything! I await the next era of The Great Mariah Carey.

5 Reasons New X-Men 3D is a MUST-SEE!

5 Reasons New X-Men 3D is a MUST-SEE! 

Review by Timothy Austin

X-Men Days of Future Past is the latest entry in the Multi-Million Dollar X-Men franchise starring Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen and Halle Berry.  This entry finds the popular mutants in a dystopian future in which mutant life is all but obliterated by Sentinels, Government robots created to remove the mutant race from the face of the Earth.  Veteran of the series Hugh Jackman returns as the claw-wielding Wolverine, who must travel back to 1973 to prevent the horrific actions which led to the eventual near extermination of the mutants.  While the title and plot may sound complex, this entry is by far the best X-Men film and most enjoyable experience you will have in a 3D cinema in 2014.  Here are 5 reasons this New X-Men film is worth the 3D price: 

1.                   The BEST mutants are back!  It has been awhile since we last saw the original cast of the Million-dollar Trilogy including Halle Berry’s Storm, Iceman (Shawn Ashmore), and Ellen Page as Kitty Pryde.  One of the key highlights of the new film is seeing the veterans again in adrenaline-driven action scenes that are sure to satisfy long-time fans of the series.  While the veterans do not have lengthy screen times, they are given pivotal scenes especially Kitty Pryde whose special powers aid Wolverine in travelling back in time to prevent the war that ends with the decimation of the mutants.  Fans of the original films will salivate at the spectacular action sequences featuring their favorite mutants. 

2.                    Year’s Best 3D Visual Effects! Few will argue that Days of Future Past contains the best visual effects of any 2014 film thus far.   Even the CGI laden ‘Godzilla’ has no sequences that equal the jaw-dropping visuals of the scene featuring new mutant Quicksilver.  Due to his ability to run faster than the speed of light, Quicksilver is given the task to break X-Men nemesis Magneto out of a jail cell hundreds of feet below the Pentagon.  The ensuing scene in which everything is seen in slow motion but Quicksilver is the most exhilarating experience you will have in a 3D cinema all year.  Quicksilver appears to leisurely stroll as everyone around him moves in extreme slow motion while he sets traps for security guards making his rescue of Magneto and subsequent escape both amusing and breathtaking.  This is indeed one of the best action sequences ever created for a super-hero film. 

 

3.                   Jennifer Lawrence is even MORE spectacular!  Jennifer Lawrence as the villainous Mystique was a highlight of the last X-Men film, ‘First Class’. In ‘Days of Future Past’ Lawrence’s role is intensified with grand action sequences which showcase the Oscar-winning actress’ ability to handle complex stunt work.  Lawrence is at her best in her ‘almost nude’, blue body paint as she plots to murder a diabolical scientist Bolivar Trask who plans to wipe out the mutant race and frequently conducts fatal experiments on non-humans.  What Mystique does not know is that her assassination of Trask results in the forced roll out of his giant robots engineered to eliminate all mutant life.   Trask is played by popular Game of Thrones actor Peter Dinklage which should make many fans of the HBO series very happy since he is convincing as the obsessed scientist. 

4.                   New Mutants are visually impressive!  As in the previous entries, we are introduced to a barrage of new mutants with peculiar powers.  The movie opens with new faces including popular comic book character Bishop (Omar Sy), who has the ability to absorb energy and redirect it at will.  He is aided well by other new faces including Asian beauty Blink (Fan Bingbing) with the ability to create portals for teleportation and Sunspot, a mutant whose super strength is powered by the sun.  While these heroes have little or no lines I found them quite entertaining as Director Bryan Singer gives them pivotal action sequences to showcase their powers which result in some truly spectacular visual effects moments.  I particularly liked the always silent Blink whose teleportation power provides stunning splashes of colour and awe-inspiring moments as she aids her fellow mutants to escape imminent death  by using her portals.  Though she is given no lines, popular Chinese actress Fan Bingbing is stunning to look at and brings a sense of urgency to the role of Blink.  Definitely one of my favourites.

 

5.        Wolverine still rules and Halle finally gets Storm right.  Despite all the new impressive mutants including Bishop and Quicksilver, Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine is the highlight of the film.  Once again Jackson’s brutish mutant gets the best laughs and most intense action sequences; the actor gets it right every time.  Sent back in time to stop Mystique from unknowingly instigating the war to end the mutants, Wolverine claws his way through Government bad guys, giant mutant hungry robots and even has time for a hilarious nude scene which Jackman himself wanted to remain in the final cut of the film.  Wolverine fans will not be disappointed since he practically takes over the entire film and does so in grand style.  It really is hard to imagine another actor in the role; Jackman is truly tour-de-force.  

Unlike Wolverine, X-Men fans have not always been pleased with the interpretation of weather-controlling mutant Storm.  While Oscar-winner Halle Berry tries her best, and no one blames her for the problem with the character, in the previous films Storm has little to do and disappears for long periods perhaps because the writers are not quite sure how to fit such a domineering comic book character into the overall plot.  I was worried about her appearance in this new entry since Berry admitted that she could not do the high intense stunts required due to her pregnancy which might make her appearances even shorter than previous films.  However, this is not exactly true.  Thanks to a genius move by Director Singer and a spectacular performance by Berry, Storm is given a vital scene in which she is finally allowed to display her full powers.  Fans of the comic book version of Storm will be fully satiated as the character does not have many scenes but plays a key role in a particularly intense action sequence. Storm soars again and this time Berry and the writers get it just right! 

Ratings: ***** out of 5  

Review by Timothy Austin

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5 Reasons Godzilla 3D is a Modern Classic!

5 Reasons Godzilla 3D is a Modern Classic! 

Review by Timothy Austin

I was not expecting much from the 2014 remake of Godzilla based on the original Japanese films about a giant reptile threatening the existence of humanity.  The 1998 remake starring a talent-deficient Matthew Broderick left a bitter taste in my mouth as it was written for the brain dead.  I was hesitant about this new take on the story, but thankfully I was proven wrong.  Thanks to awe-inspiring 3D visual effects, an ingenious script and clever direction, this Godzilla will in later years be seen as a truly modern classic.  Here are 5 reasons why you should ABSOLUTELY see this film NOW:   

1. Breaking Bad Actor brings A-Game – It’s no secret that what these remakes of popular science fiction films require is an amazing actor to ground the film with a solid performance.  Immensely popular actor, Brian Cranston from ‘Breaking Bad,’ does this for the 2014 remake of Godzilla.  Cranston gives a heart-breaking performance as a scientist destroyed by the death of his wife after a nuclear plant disaster.  I won’t say what caused the disaster to avoid any spoilers but Cranston is very good in these scenes.  He gives Godzilla the sort of emotional performance that balances the fantastic supernatural events that come later in the film.  It’s a remarkable performance and Cranston deserves more credit for giving this film exactly what it needed.

He is aided well by Aaron Taylor-Johnson who plays his son and a Lieutenant who comes face to face with the creature.  Taylor-Johnson also provides a stalwart performance and is quite effective as the film’s main hero along with Elizabeth Olsen who provides emotional heft as his wife.  If you do a double take thinking she looks like a younger version of the Olsen Twins, it’s for good reason since she is their younger sister and a fine actor who avoids over-the-top emotions.     

2. Extraordinary direction – What I particularly liked about this film is that it surprises you at every turn.  Godzilla is not your usual ‘monster trashes city’ film and this is mostly due to the brilliant direction of Gareth Edwards, best known for his critically acclaimed film ‘Monsters’. There are moments when there is no music or distinctive sound, just jaw-dropping visuals in slow motion which gives the scene an operatic grandeur that few science fiction films can achieve.  The stylized on-screen violence is remarkable and more impressive than anything seen on film in recent memory. Gareth deserves more recognition for a truly visually stunning film, brilliant new take on the creature’s story-line and overall fantastic production.

3. Godzilla is handsome!  The film that is; the new incarnation of the creature is in fact more foreboding than any previous versions and is far superior to the lacklustre 1998 remake.  Everything in this film looks and sounds amazing especially the 3D visual effects which have some stand out moments during the ferocious battles with the creature.  It’s hard to describe how incredible the visuals are without spoilers since one of the key visual effects moments involves a surprise story-line that should not be revealed until you see the film.  Close ups of the creature reveal a wet, scaly texture created by some truly astonishing effects that are made even more vivid by the 3D visuals.  I particularly liked the stunning vistas of Japan and the effects employed to create the San Francisco Bridge as well as the amazing skyline shots of the city.  As the city is levelled during the climactic battle scenes the 3D visual effects go into overdrive with some truly jaw-dropping moments of awe.  

Film music composer Alexandre Desplat also deserves credit for a truly terrifying orchestral score that avoids the overused Hans Zimmer inspired soundtrack and instead utilizes brassy bombast that harkens back to the days of John William’s ‘Jaws’ and Bernard Hermann’s most foreboding music for Alfred Hitchcock films. I particularly liked the solo French horn that accompanied Godzilla’s reptilian-like movements.  You can actually close your eyes, listen to the music, and see the terrifying actions of the creature.

4. Absolutely brilliant script!  Indeed I walked into Godzilla not expecting much and got quite a lot.  This is mostly due to a well written script that unleashes a barrage of surprises.  I must emphasize again that this is not your usual ‘monster vs. humans’ story-line.  There are many jaw-dropping story twists that occur particularly in the first hour that fans of science fiction and action/horror will enjoy.  There are also sprinkles of light comedy including a hilarious line by veteran actor Ken Watanabe that is nostalgic of the original films.  I will not lead into any spoilers but with much enthusiasm I recommend this film particularly for its cleverly written script. The stunning climatic battle alone is worth the 3D ticket price!

5. Stays true to the original! Even if you have never seen the original Japanese film by the Toho film company, Godzilla is an indelible pop culture phenomenon that every film fan is familiar with and this film pays homage to the original.  While much is done to make Godzilla look strikingly realistic, you can see where the filmmakers attempted to make the creature look like the Japanese original especially in the face and with the creature’s gestures.   Fans of the franchise will relish this; although it’s a far cry from ‘the man in the rubber suit’, you hear the distinct Godzilla battle cry and many of the ‘skyscraper destruction’ scenes are reminiscent of the original.  However, without a doubt this is the best incarnation of the popular monster and is easily recommended for any movie fan seeking giant-sized enjoyment at the movies.

Ratings: ****1/2 out of 5  

Review by Timothy Austin

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5 Reasons Amazing Spiderman 2 is a MUST-SEE!

5 Reasons Amazing Spiderman 2 is a MUST-SEE! 

By Timothy Austin

1.      Stone and Garfield are pure gold!  As in the original film, Andrew Garfield (Peter Parker/Spiderman) and Emma Stone (Gwen Stacy) have an amazing chemistry that translates well on screen.  In this sequel the real-life couple cranks up their amazing quirky appeal and audiences will surely notice how genuine their attraction seems.  It’s hard to believe that the couple is following a script as their dialogue seems all too real.  The film makers seem to relish their on screen chemistry as long portions of the film are dedicated to the struggle Peter has with fighting crime and putting Gwen at risk of his enemies discovering their relationship.  Indeed, what this new Spiderman franchise will long be remembered for is the amazing romantic appeal of Garfield and Stone.  

2.       Jamie Fox makes a good bad guy.  Of course most fans of the series and of Oscar winner Jamie Fox were eager to see his performance as popular comic book villain, Electro.  While I expected the villain’s motivation to become evil to be more substantial, Fox delivers an amazing performance as a nerd obsessed with Spiderman who, through an accident involving exposure to massive amounts of electricity, becomes a super villain capable of frying those who oppose him with a single electrical bolt.  Fox is quirky and amusing as the nerd and following the transformation becomes foreboding and menacing speaking in a deep, darker tone aided well by stunning visual effects.  Fox is truly captivating as Electro. 

3.       Special effects extravaganza. The true mark of a super hero/comic book film is its special effects and Amazing Spiderman 2 does not disappoint.  From the sweeping vistas of Spiderman swinging from skyscrapers to Electro’s colourful bursts of electrical energy, the film makers seemed to have spared no expense to ensure that the film looks, sounds and feels extraordinary.  What I particularly liked about this sequel is the new camera angles used as Spidie swings into action and the audience is able to see the streets below and gigantic buildings from the hero’s point of view.  It creates an amusement park –like experience and allows the audience to feel the rush and excitement of the scene.  Though the battle scenes between Electro and Spiderman have a video game-like appearance with fast, kinetic movements that can be dizzying at times, overall the action sequences are visually stunning.  

4.       Garfield is still better than MacGuire -  Few will argue that Andrew Garfield is the best Spiderman to date and his winning streak continues in this sequel with his suave, yet quirky take on the ‘web slinger’.  While Tobey MacGuire offered a nerdy, boy-next-door quality, Garfield is heroic, yet relatable with zany one-liners used to insult the many villains he faces in this sequel.  I was hesitant about the number of villains in this entry overwhelming the story line and taking the attention away from the hero.  After all, the last Super hero film which featured three villains was the gigantic flop Batman and Robin in which over-the-top villains stole the spotlight.  However, thanks to a truly well written script, Peter Parker remains at the forefront of the story with Electro being his main challenge while other villains The Rhino (an hilarious Paul Giamatti) and the Green Goblin  (Dane DeHaan from the Sci-fi film Chronicle) merely make brief cameos and appear just to set up the plot for the evitable third sequel.  Garfield is allowed to soar and takes full advantage of his poignant moments with Emma Stone and Sally Field returning as his aunt May. 

5.       Shocking climax that will leave audiences floored (no spoilers).  While I will not say what happens in the final climatic battle between Electro, Spiderman and another villain who makes a surprise appearance, I will warn that what happens at the end of this sequel is something few super hero movies would attempt.  I was completely floored by the sudden turn of events and even heard audible gasps from the other audience members as few expected the writers to go for such a shocking end.  I will say that the final battle is spectacular with a large scale showdown between Fox and Garfield executed brilliantly with amazing special effects aided well by a pulsating soundtrack by Hans Zimmer.  What I particularly like about this sequel is the strong writing which creates a perfect balance between the super human battles and poignant relationships between Peter Parker, Gwen Stacy and Aunt May.  Sally Field is memorable as Peter’s main confidant and grounds the film with emotional heft.  While I felt some of the emotional scenes seemed a bit too long, the overall mix of spectacular action, romance and poignant story –telling makes this sequel one of the best super hero films in recent memory with a memorable ending that audiences will be talking about for years.  

Review by Timothy Austin

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