Ponyo Film Review

by The Wanderer

Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Cast: Tomoko Yamaguchi, Kazushige Nagashima, Yuki Amami
Series: Studio Ghibli
MPAA Rating: G
Length: 103 Minutes

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Under the Sea

A young goldfish named Brunhilde lives with her father Fujimoto, a wizard/mad scientist that now lives underwater, and is jaded by his years of interacting with humans. After sneaking off from her father one day, and series of chance adventures, Brunhilde ends up in the possession of a young boy Sosuke. After healing a small wound Sosuke receives in picking up Brunhilde he renames her Ponyo, and the two begin a friendship.

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter Film Review

by The Wanderer

Director: Timur Bekmambetov
Cast: Benjamin Walker, Dominic Cooper, Anthony Mackie, Mary Elizabeth Winstead
MPAA Rating: R
Length: 105 Minutes

It’s hard not to laugh at the title of this film.  The idea of the 16th President of the United States battling vampires; the American Civil War being symbolically turned into a battle by humans trying to save themselves from an undead doomsday; these are the two primary creative rewrites of American history that this film has to offer audiences.

Snow White and the Huntsman Film Review

by The Wanderer

Director: Rupert Sanders
Cast: Kristen Stewart,Chris Hemsworth, Charlize Theron
Series:The Huntsman
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Length: 127 Minutes

 

Mirror Mirror on the Wall – Kristen Stewart is Not Fairest of Them All

I’m sure when most people hear the word Snow White they immediately think of first animated movie made by Disney, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Disney didn’t originate the Snow White story, but they gave it mainstream exposure. The before mentioned film is a classic, and subsequently any future attempts of telling this story through any visual medium will have to face the scrutiny of being compared to the Disney version of the story.

Oz The Great and Powerful Film Review

by The Wanderer

Director: Sam Raimi
Cast: James Franco, Rachel Weisz, Mila Kunis, Michelle Williams
Series: The Wizard of Oz
MPAA Rating: PG
Length: 130 Minutes


Oz the Great and Powerful is Disney’s adaption of a prequel to Frank L. Baum’s Oz series.  By association it is also a prequel to the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz. Oz is a high budget risky gamble by Disney, as it attempts to go back to the land of Oz, a land that many people feel is sacred in film due to the elite status of the 1939 film.  Nevertheless, Disney had to have a lot of courage to make this film, and that is admirable.  So the question, simply put is, does Oz the Great and Powerful live up to its high expectations?

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Film Review

by The World Weary

Director: Peter Jackson

Cast: Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage, Manu Bennett, Benedict Cumberbatch

Series: The Hobbit

MPAA Rating: PG-13

Length: 161 Minutes

I am fire! I am death!

This article features spoilers for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

After a long wait, fans of J.R.R. Tolkien’s book The Hobbit finally get to see a big screen version of the classic tale that features one of the most memorable characters the author ever made, Smaug. But, does Peter Jackson’s film adaptation live up to the massive expectations from fans the world over? I think so.

Lara Croft: Tomb Raider Film Review

by The World Weary

Director: Simon West

Cast: Angelina Jolie, Jon Voigt, Iain Glen, Daniel Craig

Series: Lara Croft: Tomb Raider

MPAA Rating: PG-13

Length: 100 Minutes

Lamea Croft

As the fires of the Tomb Raider franchise burned brightest, and the frenzy for all things Lara reached a Beatlemania high, some Hollywood bigwigs in a burst of creative brilliance found something that people liked that they could turn to profit. Throw in a blossoming, beautiful American actress and a pair of shiny pistols and the Tomb Raider train was ready for it’s big screen premiere.

Princess Mononoke Film Review

by The Wanderer

Director: Hayao Miyazaki

Cast: Yōji Matsuda, Yuriko Ishida, Yūko Tanaka, Kaoru Kobayashi, Masahiko Nishimura, Tsunehiko Kamijō, Akihiro Miwa, Mitsuko Mori, Hisaya Morishige

MPAA Rating: PG-13

Length: 133 minutes

Buy on Amazon!

 

To See With Eyes Unclouded By Hate

Princess Mononoke is the result of many years of hard work by Studio Ghibli founder and director Hayao Miyazaki – and that hard work shows itself, especially with its animation.  Studio Ghibli has always set the bar high in terms of animation with their 2D films, but Princess Mononoke is the most visually astounding of the lot.

While the animation is brilliant, the plot also excels with a story that looks to find compromise between humans and nature.  At times though the film’s lack of subtlety with its ideologies starts to make it sound preachy, and that can be a nuisance.  Nevertheless, Princess Mononoke is another top notch film by one of Japan’s greatest animation studios.

Thor: The Dark World Film Review

by The World Weary

Director: Alan Taylor

Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddelston, Christopher Eccelston

MPAA Rating: PG-13

Length: 112 Minutes

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Thor is Heyah!

As the Marvel Cinematic Universe chugs through its “Phase Two” films, I began to wonder if anything good would come out. Iron Man 3 was an utter disappointment, and the trailer for Thor: The Dark World didn’t give me much hope. Not counting The Wolverine, which was fantastic, it seemed that the MCU had lost all its steam. Well, the good news is Thor: The Dark World is an unexpected surprise. I went in prepared to see another disaster like Iron Man 3, but instead what I got was a pretty enjoyable action film.

The Lone Ranger Film Review

by The World Weary

Director: Gore Verbinski
Cast: Armie Hammer, Johnny Depp, William Fitchner
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Length: 149 Minutes

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Hi Yo, Stupidity! Away!

Nothing is more American than the Wild West. Outlaws and cutthroats, whores and lawmen, these are some of the classic archetypes that come to mind when one thinks of that period of American history. Glamorized in the age of the radio, a new legend from that era was created. This character embodied the laws and culture of our great country, all while rounding up bad guys with his Native American sidekick. That legend was known as The Lone Ranger, and sadly, that legend was nowhere to be found on July the Fourth.

Spirited Away Film Review

by The Wanderer 

Director: Hayao Miyazaki

Cast: Rumi Hiiragi, Miyu Irino, Mari Natsuki, Takeshi Naito, Yasuko Sawaguchi, Tsunehiko Kamijō, Takehiko Ono, Bunta Sugawara

MPAA Rating: PG

Length: 124 minutes

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Sen and Chichiro are Spiriting Away

Spirited Away is another masterpiece in the long line of films made by Studio Ghibli and director Hayao Miyazaki. Chichiro a young girl works at a spirit bathhouse in order to free her parents who were turned into pigs.  Strange, yes … but run with it and you’ll find a beautiful coming of age story with some of the most engaging characters in any animated film.

This is the movie you show to people who dismiss anime as nothing more than a childish fascination with animated sex and violence.  It’s a movie that can be easily appreciated by people of all ages, cultures, and values. So if you’re looking for a great animated story not made by Pixar then check out Spirited Away, it is one of the best animated films ever made.

Poultrygeist Film Review

by The World Weary

Director: Lloyd Kaufman 

Cast: Jason Yachanin, Kate Graham, Allyson Sereboff, Lloyd Kaufman

MPAA Rating: No Rating

Length: 103 Minutes

Buy on Amazon!

 

Deep Fried Stupidity

 

I’d never seen any of Troma’s releases before Poultrygeist, however, I seem to have a fair understanding of what they’re all about. From how it seems, Troma exclusively makes low brow, horror comedies, with an emphasis on gross out humor. I’m not adverse to of the wall gore fests, one of my favorite movies is Evil Dead 2. So, as I looked for something new to review, I stumbled across Poultrygeist and decided to give it a try. I had no idea what I was getting myself into.

A Knight's Tale Film Review

by The Wanderer

Director: Brian Helgeland

Cast: Heath Ledger, Mark Addy. Rufus Sewell, Paul Bettany, Alan Tudyk

MPAA Rating: PG-13

Length: 132 minutes

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Geoffrey Chaucer’s Rolling In His Grave

 

I remember when Heath Ledger was announced to play the Joker in the Dark Knight, and I remember thinking what a terrible decision that was.  In the end, thankfully, I was wrong and Heath Ledger committed the best Joker performance to film.  But seeing A Knight’s Tale reminded me why I had dismissed Heath Ledger for the role in the first place.

Terrible would be a complement for this movie.  A Knight’s Tale isn’t funny or entertaining.  The innovations it tries to introduce don’t set any trends, and if anything, should encourage filmmakers not to try these things in the future.

I, Frankenstein Film Review

by The World Weary

Director: Stuart Beattie

Cast: Aaron Eckhart, Bill Nighy, Yvonne Strahovski, Miranda Otto

MPAA Rating: PG-13

Length: 92 Minutes

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I… Forgot What Film I was In…

Some films just have the wackiest premise. Take Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter for instance. You take one of the most renowned United States Presidents of all time and throw him into an action film with a bunch of ancient bloodsuckers as the antagonists. In Jaws: The Revenge, a unthinking, unfeeling, godless killing machine from the depths of the ocean decides to harass the widow of a man who blew up one of its distant cousins over a decade past. On paper, and in practice, these films seem so ridiculously silly, that it is hard to imagine anyone having greenlit or financed such a turd. Yet, inexplicably, these movies are still made and watched, and in some cases, even appreciated.

Now, I must admit that going into I, Frankenstein, I had already basically made up my mind about what I would think about the movie. This certainly isn’t a good approach, especially when you’re trying to write an objective analysis and review, but years of going to the movies and a brief stint in film school have left me somewhat jaded. However, within five minutes, all my preconceived notions were set aside as I beheld one of the most unexpected and ridiculous spectacles I’ve seen in some time.

The Hateful Eight Film Review

by The Wanderer

Director: Quentin Tarantino
Cast: Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Channing Tatum, Bruce Dern, Walter Goggins, Tim Roth, Demian Bichir, Michael Madsen
MPAA Rating: R
Length: 187 Minutes (Roadshow Version) 167 Minutes General Release

Somebody Still Cares!

The Hateful Eight is classic Tarantino: bountiful amounts of slowly building tension, intense and oftentimes politically incorrect dialogue, a twisted sense of humor, and graphically violent resolutions. The nods to old films are there, especially with the cinematography, while the use of post-modern storytelling techniques still give this film a modern feel that should satisfy most of who've come to love the director's filmmaking.

Kick-Ass 2 Film Review

by The Wanderer

Director: Jeff Wadlow
Cast: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Chloe Grace Moretz, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Jim Carrey
Series: Kick-Ass
MPAA Rating: R
Length: 103 Minutes

Buy on Amazon!

 

Attention Deficit Superheroes

The first Kick-Ass was a unique addition to superhero surge out of Hollywood, in that it portrayed the effects of a masked hero without powers rising up in a very real New York City. The film didn’t shy away from violence and tried to show how truly hard and twisted the life of a hero could become. This new film, an adaptation of both of Mark Millar’s follow ups to Kick-Ass, Kick-Ass 2 and Hit Girl, isn’t nearly as smart as its predecessor, but it still manages to capture the gleefully violent fun of the original.

The Lego Movie Film Review

by The World Weary

Directors: Chris Miller, Phil Lord

Cast: Will Ferrell, Morgan Freeman, Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, Will Arnett, Liam Neeson
MPAA Rating: PG

Length: 100 Minutes

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Sugar Rush

For those of you that don’t know, there’s a series of Lego themed video games based off famous franchises. Whether it’s Marvel Super Heroes, Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings, or Batman, Lego has “brick-ified” almost every hot property you can think of. The games typically take you through the events of a few films, allowing you to build, smash, and jump your way through blockbuster cinema’s most memorable moments. The stories remain fundamentally the same, but an emphasis is added on sprucing up the events of darker moments with Lego themed humor.

47 Ronin Film Review

by The World Weary

Director: Carl Rinsch
Cast: Keanu Reeves
MPAA Rating: R
Length: 118 Minutes 

Buy on Amazon!
 

I Always Like to Keep My Audience Riveted!

So, in lieu of an actual review today (since there were no advance screenings of I, Frankenstein and I couldn’t bring myself to see The Legend of Hercules) I’ll be taking a trip back in time to a little over three weeks ago. It was another Thursday night and I was off to the local cinema to catch the early screening of the new Keanu Reeves action flick 47 Ronin. I wasn’t too excited about it, but I had a friend coming with me to ease some of the expected horribleness, and I’d come to accept that seeing bad movies is just a part of the job here at ATG. What I wasn’t expecting was a sudden wave of exhaustion to sweep over me mid-film.

Coraline Film Review

by The Wanderer

Director: Henry Selick

Cast: Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French, John Hodgman, Ian McShane, Kieth David.

MPAA Rating: PG

Length: 100 minutes

Buy on Amazon!

 

Pretty Stop Motion

Coraline is stop motion movie eye candy.  Unfortunately it’s story doesn’t match the high standards set by Coraline’s graphic designers.  The chief problem is there simply isn’t enough story in Neil Gaiman’s novella to fully support a full length feature film.

Director Henry Selick’s attempts to add filler serves as nothing more, and as a result the story starts to lose its sentimentality. The story is by no means bad, but it could have been better. More than anything, Coraline gets a high score because of the way it looks.

R.I.P.D. Film Review

by The World Weary

Director: Robert Schwentke
Cast: Ryan Renolds, Jeff Bridges, Mary Louise Parker
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Length: 96 minutes

Buy on Amazon!  

 

Soul Too Stinky

Let me begin this by saying I know next to nothing about Peter M. Lenkov’s Rest In Peace Department comics. Maybe they’re funny. Maybe they’re interesting. Maybe there’s some heart and geniunely good storytelling within those panels. I couldn’t say. What I can say is, clearly, Hollywood is so desperate to cash in on the death throes of the comic book movie fad that they greenlit this piece of garbage without even looking at the script.

Brave Film Review

by The Wanderer

Director: Mark Andrews
Cast: Kelly Macdonald, Emma Thompson, Billy Connolly, Julie Walters, Kevin McKidd, Craig Ferguson, Robbie Coltrane.

MPAA Rating: PG

Length: 93 minutes

Buy on Amazon!


Brave

 

It’s been a long time coming … and finally it’s here: a Disney film with a princess that is independent.  Merida, the latest, in a long line of Disney princesses finally breaks the myriad of tropes that Disney has placed on its female characters.  She doesn’t exclusively worry about getting married, she doesn’t worry about impressing an imposing male figure, and she is more than a pretty accessory to some prince or other male character.