Red Tails: A film review

 - Vancouver, British Columbia - George Lucas has been much maligned for continually finding new ways to milk his previously successful franchises a little more revenue. For example, this coming year brings the re-release of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace in 3D. Why is this necessary? Because for all the hate that Lucas receives for shamelessly trying to get some more money out of Star Wars, there are enough fanboys out there who will eat this stuff right up. But this review is not concerned with Star Wars, but instead on Lucas' first original entry into filmmaking in nearly twenty years. You see, everything previously has had in one shape or form had some connection to either Star Wars or Indiana Jones, so when George Lucas tries something new, it should make anyone sit up right up in their seat and take notice. Red Tails is that film, which deviates significantly from what has traditionally interested Lucas.

Click to read more ...

Johnny English: Reborn: A film review

 - Vancouver, British Columbia - When Rowan Atkinson created Mr. Bean, he was unknowingly and simultaneously making the best and worst career move of his life. You see, while I don't find Mr. Bean to be Atkinson's best work, for many, the entities are inseparable. The creation and the creator are one. Don't believe me? At the theatre I work at, we put up the poster to Johnny English Reborn and not long after that a preteen kid walks by and announces to his mother that there is a new Mr. Bean movie coming out. No kid... there is not. The movie is clearly called Johnny English Reborn.

Click to read more ...

The Three Musketeers: A film review

 - Vancouver, British Columbia - Growing up as a child, there was always something special about the lore around the Three Musketeers. I can't even recall what it was that I thought was cool about them, but the idea of 'one-for-all-and-all-for-one' resonated me nonetheless. They were a team of swordsmen, who were looking out for each other rather than simply being a lone hero out on a conquest involving swords, blood, women, and booty. Truthfully speaking, I've never read the original novel by Alexandre Dumas, but I've been more than familiar with the story itself through various other mediums. This latest re-interpretation is one that seeks to create a film franchise out of the story, which is hardly surprising, given that there would potentially be a number of characters for audience members to latch on to, but unfortunately, it looks as though they've failed in getting this franchise off to a running start.

Click to read more ...

Drive: A film review

 - Vancouver, British Columbia - Heist gone wrong is a theme that we see frequently in film, largely because it is exciting and often works. It allows for an entertaining conflict between the authorities and a rapscalion, who we end up cheering for. Often, there is also a woman who our masquerading bandit loves and ultimately puts at risk unknowingly. Drive, however, is not a movie that simply follows the cliché of the genre, borrowing a very much European feel throughout the film, which maybe shouldn't be surprising as it is directed by Dane, Nicolas Winding Refn.

Click to read more ...

Warrior: A film review

 - Vancouver, British Columbia - Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is not something that I particularly like, nor am I very curious about the sport. From what I have seen of it, it looks like a brutal and unforgiving physical competition, leaving permanent external scars on its competitors as if memory aids of each fight. Nor am I huge fan of boxing, but at the very least with boxing, the physical trauma is not always as obvious as it is in MMA. When the film Warrior was announced, it seemed like a film that simply wanted to capitalize on the rising popularity of the sport. A variety of films have tried this before and they generally turned out to flop, because most of the fans of the sport were more interested in the action of the sport, rather than a manipulated backstory to the action. Also, choregraphy of sports action can tend to look just like that...choregraphed.

Click to read more ...