MARVEL'S THE AVENGERS Review

MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS Review

By Darin Skaggs

     When I watch a film I look for what it did for me emotionally, what it made me think of and what were the themes and metaphors were in the film.  Rarely after seeing a film do I just say “Cool!” I rarely just have pure fun during a film.  In Joss Whedon’s The Avengers I had a ton of fun.

     The Avengers has been in the works for years; it has had several films leading up to it.  Films including The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man, Iron Man 2, Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger.  I have only seen Iron Man, Thor and Captain America.  When I went into this film I wondered how they were going to make a movie with all these characters and let all of them have a big moment and a character arc, but somehow the film pulls it off.  Literally every character has something cool, interesting and even some have emotional parts happen to them.

     The film opens with Nick Fury played by Samuel L. Jackson studying the tesseract from Captain America.  Then Loki, from Thor, comes in.  He steals the tesseract and a few S.H.I.E.D members with his staff and then destroys the area.  Then the film goes into Nick Fury assembling the force including a character only seen for a few moments in a previous film Black Widow.  The film sets her character up well.  When we meet her she is tied up being interrogated, but then with almost no effort at all she gets out of it.  The rest of the characters are also set up nicely.  It takes a little longer than I would like for the characters to get together, but there are still good moments in between.

     The film has all around great acting.  The villain, Loki, has great chemistry with all the Avengers.  The Avengers all work well together also.  You can tell they are ticking each other off at points and feel the bond they eventually form for the end battle scene.

     This film has great special effects and great action scenes.  Unlike other films with CGI action scenes where I can’t figure out what is happening to the characters fighting I can actually figure out what is going on, where the explosion is coming from, what caused it and who caused it.  This is true for the entire film especially the final battle scene where every character from the film seems to be doing something and there is none to little confusion to what is going on.

     For the films tone it is a really funny film.  It has great one liners from each character, great jokes and references.  This film stays really funny while still keeping every character true to form and taking everything seriously.  It does not make fun of The Avengers series nor its fans.  Another clever aspect of the film is that the writers realized that mostly all these characters are invincible.  During the second act many of the Avengers they are fighting each other, but they are not easily scratched. Every hit they take they fly across the room.  When Thor first appears there is a big fight between him, Iron Man and Captian America where they hit each other so hard they knock over a few trees. I’m glad the writer knew the ridiculousness of the situation at hand and took full advantage of it.

If it was even possible, the one character who steals the show is the Hulk. He is wonderfully played by Mark Ruffelo.  It takes him a while to turn into the Hulk, but it doesn’t bother you.  You’re too invested in Ruffelo’s performance.  Then when he turns into the Hulk it is terrifying and later when he transforms it is constantly cool and funny. 

     There are some flaws in this film, but the film is so entertaining they are not much of a bother.  Hawkeye is under used even though he is set up as a very important character.  The control that Hulk has with his powers during his second transformation is confusing.  Nevertheless these problems are not big and do not make the film any less fun.

     This film is a blast.  It offers everything a film could give laughs, scares, drama, and action.  It is a good way to start the summer movies and a great entry into the superhero genre.

100 FAVORTIE FILMS - JUNE 15, 2012

100 FAVORITE FILMS AS OF 6/15/12

1. APOCALYPSE NOW (1979)
2. SUNSET BOULEVARD (1950)
3. PSYCHO (1960)
4. THE CONVERSATION (1974)
5. JAWS (1975)
6. VERTIGO (1958)
7. NETWORK (1976)
8. DR. STRANGELOVE OR HOW I LEARNED TO STOP WORRYING AND LOVE THE BOMB (1964)
9. LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962)
10. 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (1968)
11. THE WIZARD OF OZ (1939)
12. BICYCLE THIEVES (1948)
13. THERE WILL BE BLOOD (2007)
14. THE GODFATHER (1972)
15. WALL-E (2008)
16. BAMBI (1942)
17. THE KING OF COMEDY (1983)
18. ALIEN (1979)
19. THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (1980)
20. CITIZEN KANE (1941)
21. YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN (1974)
22. CITY LIGHTS (1931)
23. TOY STORY (1995)
24. M (1931)
25. RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (1981)
26. THE TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE (1948)
27. PUNCH-DRUNK LOVE (2002)
28. NORTH BY NORTHWEST (1959)
29. TAXI DRIVER (1976)
30. THAT OBSCURE OBJECT OF DESIRE (1977)
31. BEING THERE (1979)
32. DUCK SOUP (1933)
33. IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946)
34. THE GODFATHER PART II (1974)
35. STAR WARS (1977)
36. IKIRU (1952)
37. GROUNDHOG DAY (1993)
38. REAR WINDOW (1954)
39. BONNIE AND CLYDE (1967)
40. FACES (1968)
41. THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY (1966)
42. THE THIRD MAN (1949)
43. BLADE RUNNER (1982)
44. AMERICAN GRAFFITI (1973)
45. THE GOODBYE GIRL (1977)
46. HAROLD AND MAUDE (1971)
47. UP (2009)
48. THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER (1955)
49. THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES (1946)
50. FARGO (1996)
51. ANNIE HALL (1977)
52. THE LORD OF THE RINGS (2001)
53. CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND (1977)
54. ONCE (2006)
55. MONTY PYTHON’S LIFE OF BRAIN (1979)
56. THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI (1957)
57. FINDING NEMO (2003)
58. THE APARTMENT (1960)
59. THE FRENCH CONNECTION (1971)
60. SCHINDLER’S LIST (1993)
61. DOUBLE INDEMNITY (1944)
62. PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES (1987)
63. ZODIAC (2007)
64. SPIRITED AWAY (2001)
65. THE LAST LAUGH (1924)
66. LAST YEAR AT MARIENBAD (1961)
67. 8 ½ (1963)
68. ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST (1968)
69. TOUCH OF EVIL (1958)
70. THE BREAKFAST CLUB (1985)
71. LOST IN TRANSLATION (2003)
72. WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE (2009)
73. SEVEN SAMURAI (1954)
74. IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT (1967)
75. HARVEY (1950)
76. FANTASTIC MR. FOX (2009)
77. THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE (1974)
78. MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO (1988)
79. OUR HOSPITALITY (1926)
80. THE WILD BUNCH (1968)
81. INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS (1956)
82. BACK TO THE FUTURE (1985)
83. BRIEF ENCOUNTER (1945)
84. THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1935)
85. MODERN TIMES (1936)
86. MILLION DOLLAR BABY (2004)
87. THE GENERAL (1926)
88. LEAVE HER TO HEAVEN (1945)
89. AMADEUS (1984)
90. MAGNOLIA (1999)
91. STRANGERS ON A TRAIN (1951)
92. NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN (2007)
93. THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS (2001)
94. BLACK SWAN (2010)
95. DEAR ZACHARY: A LETTER TO A SON ABOUT HIS FATHER (2008)
96. INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS (2009)
97. HOOSIERS (1986)
98. SOLARIS (1972)
99. PLANET OF THE APES (1968)
100. DOG DAY AFTERNOON (1975)

THE CABIN IN THE WOODS Review

 

THE CABIN IN THE WOODS Review

By Darin Skaggs

     I’m not a big fan of horror films.  The popular ones are just basically the same thing over and over again.  If I search to watch a horror film, I search for a film that is trying something different.  Drew Goddard’s The Cabin in the Woods does just that.

     This story is the normal way that many horror films start.  A girl with some irrelevant problem is packing for a trip to a cabin in the woods.  She meets up with her friend and her boyfriend.  Then another friend of the boyfriends comes too.  This is normally the love interest for the main girl and then of course the “stoner” character or the comic relief through most horror films.  These are the normal characters that are in the popular horror films.

     The first scene of the film however starts as what looks like two scientists talking about something vague that comes into place later.  They start driving away on a cart and one of them says “Are you even listening to me?” Then the title comes up in surprising way and that’s when I realized I was in for a treat.  I don’t want to spoil the film, but I will say we follow two stories: the cabin story and these “scientist” story.  The scientist story is very interesting and it has some of my favorite parts in the film.

     Your basic horror film scenarios happen throughout this film.  The kids meet an old man that warns them not to go any farther and even just the setting being in a cabin is part of the horror film cliché.  This part of the story sticks to the cliché way that horror stories work, but it adds a reason why they are always the same type of characters (jock, “blonde” chick, virgin, nerd, comic relief) and it gives a reason of why they’re always making bad decisions and letting the “killers” get the upper hand.  Without getting into spoilers this film explains why there are many different monster films and why the monsters are attacking these people.

     Another thing about the film, it’s hilarious which should not be a surprise because it is co-written by Josh Whedon who wrote Buffy, Firefly and recently The Avengers.  He is always a very funny writer and it shows in this film.  The writing is not the only thing that makes the film funny, the acting helps it out as well.  The second story plot actors were some of the best performances of the film.  Also the main characters are really good at playing the clichés of the horror genre.

The second story plays out very well and takes the horror cliché to a whole new level.  The third act of this film, for me at least, was just pure fun. The film left me wanting more of that particular scene.  The ending of the film was a very satisfying conclusion to this very fun, hilarious and interesting ride.

I went into this film knowing almost nothing about it and that was the right way to see it.  I enjoyed it very much and was glad to see a “meta” kind of approach to the horror genre. 

THE HUNGER GAMES Review

THE HUNGER GAMES Review

By Darin Skaggs

     “…And may the odds be ever in your favor.”  Yes, I know what an original way to start this review.  Anyway, this is my review of Gary Ross’ The Hunger Games.  This film is based on Suzanne Collins book series which, I have not read any of them yet.

     The film is about a country that has games in which they take two kids, one male one female, between the ages of 12 and 18 is forced to join a competition where the goal is to fight to the death.  The last one standing in this competition wins.  The lead in the film Katniss Everdeen, played wonderfully by Jennifer Lawrence, who lives in the 12^th and lowest district in the country volunteers in the Hunger Games after her sister’s name is drawn.  The film continues with Katniss’ journey to and during the games.

     If you have ever seen the film Winter’s Bone (also starring Lawrence) you would notice that this film starts out very similar.  She is poor, with a mother not doing everything she could do for her kids, no father figure present and then both of Lawrence’s characters end up making a sacrifice for her siblings.  This part of the film is well done such as the camera angles, the acting and story.  The film unfortunately goes downhill from there.

     As the story progresses the characters, including Peeta who is the male contender for District 12 start training for the games.  Along with that they are told that they need to suck up to the people in charge because this will get them bonus items during the game.  The entire game is a televised event.  The contestants are interviewed so people can get to know them and have a contestant to root for, much like reality shows of today like Survivor and The Amazing Race.  This game though is more heightened version of a reality show, but the audience doesn’t seem to treat it any different.  I would like a take the reality show world, but this movie has too many structure problems to get me on board with this idea of the dangers of reality TV.

     The biggest problem the film has is it seems to only be trying to satisfy the fans of the book series.  The director seemed to have researched what parts of the book the fans loved and focused heavily on filming those shots.  From what I’ve heard the people who read the book love the movie, but to people like me who have not read the books do not enjoy it as much.  The people who read the book have the whole story, but the people who haven’t don’t know all the points and themes of the book.  Gary Ross made a film to satisfy the book’s fans and not a film on its own.

     Another thing about the film that bothered me was the lack of character development.  I’m not sure how much we get to know all the contestants in the book but mostly all of them besides Katniss and Peeta have no or little character development in the movie.  This would not bother me if later when they die we suddenly have to care about them or be glad they’re dead because they were a threat to our protagonist.

     For a more positive note, all the acting is great.  As I said Jennifer Lawrence is great as well as all the other younger actors.  The older actors are great as well.  Other things are good about the film such as the special effects.  They look good for the most part as well do the sets look good.

     The Hunger Games is not a terrible film; it’s not even a bad film.  It is just not a fully realized film.  With this being said I am very optimistic to see where this series goes.  Despite the problems I have with the film I enjoy the story and the possibilities of where it can go.

Favorite Films of 2011

My favorite films of 2011

By Darin Skaggs

The year 2011 was many different things for me. It was a good year, but it was also a hard year. I learned stuff about myself. I learned to do stuff by myself and I learned to do stuff with others. It was a beautiful yet a messy year. This is also reflected the year’s film for me as well. For a while I did not know if it was a good or bad year in film, until one day I looked over my list of films and realized it was a great year in film. This year taught me who I should and shouldn’t be. The year taught me how to laugh and how to love. This year taught me who I was and who I will be. So with that here is my list for the 10 greatest films of 2011.

10. THE MUPPETS

One of my favorite memories as child is when I used to watch my VHS copy of Muppet Treasure Island and man did I watch it a lot. I also remember the first time I watched the 1979 film The Muppet Movie I was totally blown away how funny it was. So with my love for the older Muppet films I was very excited to see the new Muppet film. I was a bit nervous though, as I am about any remake/reboot film, but I was wrong. The film was hilarious. It is the funniest film of the year. The film is also surprisingly touching. It pulls at your heart strings and hits many warm nostalgic beats. I was surprised how much I loved The Muppets and how much I still love it. Waka Waka!

9. 50/50

In 2007 my Grandfather, who I called Poppa, died of cancer, so I have a soft spot for people diagnosed with cancer. I also was diagnosed with diabetes when I was 17, so I have a soft spot for young people who are diagnosed with diseases. So hypothetically 50/50 would work for me. I was a little worried about it because tales about cancer usually seem to be cheesy and try a little too hard to tug on your heart strings, but not 50/50. The film is sincere, touching, funny and relatable for me at least. It shows the struggle, heartache and awkwardness of having a deadly disease. An amazing performance by Joseph Gordon Levitt and Seth Rogan (Who I usually don’t like). The ending of this film, I found myself being surprised at how much I was getting teary eyed. This film works on so many levels and one of the most emotional films I’ve seen this year and still does this without beating you over the head with it.

8. THE FUTURE

I first like to say this film is narrated by a cat that dies half way through the film goes to Heaven and still continues to narrate. This film is weird! I could see someone not liking this film because it is not a normal film. At first it seems normal. A newly married couple takes in a cat that only has a few months to live. That is what the film starts out to be. The couple doing this forces one of them to stay at home all the time. The wife ends up staying and it starts to drive her crazy bored. The film later gets weird and sometimes confusing. There are fantasy and sci-fi elements later that come into play while still telling a story about the struggle of love.

7. KUNG FU PANDA 2

When you listen to the plot of this next film, it does not seem like it would be in any ones top ten. It is a sequel about a clumsy panda that learns kung fu, but it is great. It is even better than the first. It is a very funny movie as well. I might be able to count this is film as one of my favorite films and also one my favorite memories of 2011. I saw this film around a time of transition from a sad place to the happy place I’m at now. If I saw this film two years ago I would not have thought it was funny. I would have just shot this film down and not seen it at all. For me this film represents the change in my heart and the new love I can feel. It let me sit back and just laugh again. It let me have a good time again. Oh, and it also has cool action scenes and has good emotional moments too.

6. THE ARTIST

It’s a silent movie made in 2011. And it’s great! That’s all I need to say, but I won’t. I haven’t seen many silent films, but I do love them. For example, Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton and Harold Lloyd. This film does a great job at keeping the attention of the audience with a silent, black and white film. Both these things I feel is a hard thing to keep the attention of the modern day audience. It’s almost poison when someone hears the words silent or black and white. I love this film and hope everyone sees it.

5. HUGO

Art can be beautiful. Art can be bad. Art is more than just a painting or a drawing. Art can be almost anything such as paintings, statues, drawings, books, plays and also movies. Martin Scorsese’s Hugo is a love letter to the art of film (and I feel all art in general). The film is about a boy named Hugo who lives in a clock tower and meets a grumpy old man. The films’ beginning is a tribute to how older films were made and then as the story progresses we learn more about film and the magic of it. I sometimes doubt my love of film, until I see something like this it revamps me to continue to watch and love the art of film.

4. TAKE SHELTER

Some of my favorite movies include Apocalypse Now, Black Swan or Vertigo. In these films, one or more of the characters ends up going crazy. Just like in the next film Take Shelter. The film is about a construction worker with a family that starts having these apocalyptic dreams. Eventually he starts to build an underground shelter and this becomes his focus, he becomes obsessed. This film’s plot is about the storm to come, but in a way it’s really about love and support when it’s hard to give that. This is referring to the struggle of knowing someone with this problem like his wife does, but still being there and showing support. This is a wonderful, deep, emotional film and a great disaster thriller.

3. THE TREE OF LIFE

One thing I like to say about The Tree of Life is that it’s like 2001: A Space Odyssey just less atheist. This is one of those well made films that doesn’t really have a plot or any structure much like 2001. If it’s about anything it’s about a family from the 50’s. The mom is caring, the dad is tough and the kids are kids. It follows the oldest boy as he grows up. The film is somewhat of a flashback to this time in the boy’s life. The flashback is Sean Penn’s. I don’t want to say much more about this film because you have to see it for yourself to have your own opinion about it, which is a reason I love this film.

2. THE DESCENDANTS

The next film on my list is Alexander Paine’s return to directing since 2004’s Sideways. It is a great film and may be his best. It tells the story of a husband that doesn’t have a healthy marriage, and then his wife hits her head and goes into a coma. The movie is him dealing with that and later in the film other information about his wife comes up. It is handled very well. Also like always Paine mixes dramatic and funny very well. This film kept me laughing and a few moments made me tear up. There is also a great performance by George Clooney.

1. YOUNG ADULT

When I saw Young Adult I didn’t know anything about it. If I did I might not have watched it. It is made by the same director/writer team as Juno a movie in which I despise. During the opening of the credits I saw both these names and asked “What did I get myself into?” Then I met one of the most interesting, hard to watch characters I’ve ever watched on film. She is a Young Adult book writing, writing the last book of her series. She has writers block and can’t find any inspiration. Then one day she gets a baby picture from her old High School sweetheart. She ends up becoming so angry she drives to her old town to win him back. She has seen one to many romantic movies and been treated so well her whole life there is no doubt in her mind that he will leave his wife and come with her. Her character is sad, in denial and very spoiled. This film also has an amazing performance by Patton Oswald as a man that was beaten in High School and now permanently paralyzed by it. He holds a grudge for what happen to him ever since. The film has two main characters that can’t let go or grow up. It made me realize how much I’ve grown up this year and how I will continue to grow up.

Honorable Mentions:

MONEYBALL

Great sports film about taking chances and going outside the normal way of doing things.

RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES

It has great action, visual effects and great references to the Planet of the Apes franchise.

HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 2

An amazing franchise with a very good closure too.

ATTACK THE BLOCK

It’s a great alien attack film with great characters.

DRIVE

Love it mostly for the elevator scene…and the great performances of Gosling and Brooks.