Movie Review - Logan

Logan

Starring: Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Dafne Keen, Boyd Holbrook, Stephen Merchant, Elizabeth Rodriguez, Richard E. Grant, Eriq La Salle, and more.

Directed by: James Mangold Story by: James Mangold Screenplay by: Scott Frank, James Mangold, and Michael Green Cinematography by: John Mathieson Music by: Marco Beltrami 

Premise: It is the year 2029. Mutants are no longer born, the weird mutation died out. Logan and Xavier are old, and neither are in good health. Everything they've lived through seems meaningless now. So when a woman approaches Logan professing to need his help, he's not interested. He's got other things to worry about. But she's not about to let this go. (Rated R)

Review:

1) Acting - Total Thumbs Up: Hugh Jackman reprises his role as Wolverine. This is an older, more pessimistic Logan. Hugh Jackman does an incredible job. He gives an excellent performance throughout. You feel his aches and pains, he's so good! :)

Patrick Stewart also reprises his role as Charles Xavier. Though ill, Charles still does his best for his remaining student. Patrick brings all the light and comedic moments to the tale. And he does it so very well! Watching the two of them go back and forth was a lot of fun.

Dafne Keen as Laura is a treat. Not only does she have the Wolverine glare down, but she's also full of little surprises. Boyd Holbrook as Pierce is unexpectedly multifaceted. Though, his prosthetic hand kept trying to steal his spotlight. :P

2) Special Effects - Total Thumbs Up: Lots of nice and subtle special effects in this film. Two of the effects stuck with me. 

The first is the awesome work on Logan's abused body. One look at his face, his shoulders, and arms and you know this is a man who has suffered pain. When you see ooze coming from where his blades previously cut the skin, you know he's in trouble. And when you see his wounds at the clinic - eek!

The second is Pierce's mechanical hand. You would swear it was his true appendage. There's a scene where it's disconnected from the socket. Then he plugs it back in and twirls a small screwdriver. It is such a seamless move that it sells its reality to the audience, even though it truly isn't real. 

Laura's blades and Wolverine's were great. Xavier's unintended attacks, and the paralysis and other problems it invoked, made for a super cool scene in the city. 

Oh and Logan's limo? Priceless! Though it loses the fight with the fence, it makes up for that by bringing it along and using it as a weapon! Sweet!

3) Plot/Story - Total Thumbs Up: When you first realize Wolverine is not well, many fans will be wanting to know why. How could this be? Wolverine is a mutant, and his mutation is regeneration/healing. Oh, it's not a problem with the plot. There is an answer. And you'll have to wait for it! But if you're not paying attention, you might miss it. So when the scientist talks towards the end of the film in the woods, pay attention! It won't make immediate sense to connect it to Logan and what's wrong with him, but if you give it some thought, you'll see that they are. I have to say, the whole idea of it was brilliant! (High fructose corn syrup is the devil! I knew it! Bwahahaha!) 

The general plot is straightforward, with several points being obvious in their direction. But then, when you least expect it, you get a little surprise pop up here and there, throwing in some new angle, some new bit of fun. 

There are a lot of piled layers to the film as well. Regret, guilt, debts, family, reality vs. fantasy, putting one foot in front of the other out of sheer stubbornness. Living each day for a dream that's out of reach just to make it through another day. 

Tons and tons of touching moments. I did find it ironic how Canada is mentioned as a place of safety when for Logan it had been anything but. :P Callisto as a man was also a bit of a surprise. I didn't read the Laura arc in comics so I can't make any comments on that, but I did enjoy it! (I'm a sucker for well-done angst.) :P

4) Stunts - Total Thumbs Up: This is a film with Wolverine, so a ton of stunts is definitely an expectation, and you won't be disappointed. Tons of hand to hand combat. Watching Wolverine and Laura go at it together is a sight to behold. And all the people involved in Xavier's unintended attack were fab! 

5) Locations/Cinematography - Total Thumbs Up: From the neat hideaway in Mexico to the location of Eden, the farm, and more - they all looked great. The sunset behind the caravan looking for Laura was breathtaking. Some nice view of mountains, tundras, and more. Visually satisfying stuff!

6) Costuming/Makeup - Total Thumbs Up: I enjoyed the care they took with some of the clothing used in the film. Especially with regards to Laura. Mean, tough exterior, yet she showed a softer, girlier side with some of her random choices in eyewear and clothing. It was adorable and added an unexpected layer to her personality. Xavier putting on the hat he buys was such a cute moment!  

One the makeup side, all the work on Hugh Jackman was fabulous! It screams out even more so when we meet an unexpected participant. Made for a striking contrast. 

Conclusion: Logan was a fun and emotional film. Tons of action and more. Some typical moments but lots of non-typical as well. There's also a Deadpool intro before the main movie. Disturbing and too funny all at the same time. lol. 

Rating: 4 out of 5 (Hubby's Rating: Worth Full Price of Admission)

Movie Review - Chappie

Chappie

Starring: Sharlto Copley, Dev Patel, Ninja, Yo-Landi Visser, Jose Pablo Cantillo, Hugh Jackman, Sigourney Weaver, Brandon Auret, Anderson Cooper, Jason Cope, and more.

Directed by: Neill Blomkamp Written by: Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell Cinematography by: Trent Opaloch Music by: Hans Zimmer

Premise: A scientist working on artificial intelligence takes a chance and steals a broken scout robot, but is in turn kidnapped. To placate his captors, he offers them the use of scout 22 once he's implanted him with his new AI program. Desperate themselves, the kidnappers take Deon up on the offer, hoping to use the scout for a big heist to get them out of trouble with their boss. But as soon as the scout robot is rebooted, it is obvious scout 22 is more than they bargained for. (Rated R)

Review:

1) Acting - Thumbs Up: Dev Patel was perfect as the geeky Deon Wilson. His emotional fervor shone through as the lamb became the lion. Hugh Jackman easily brought home all the frustrated emasculation of his character Vincent Moore. Sigourney Weaver was once more sadly underused.

Outshining everyone, whoever, was Chappie, played by Sharlto Copley. His vocal deliveries, and even more, his captured body movements which were transferred to the CGI character, made Chappie more human than the real thing. Really amazing.

2)  Special Effects - Total Thumbs Up: The CGI work on this film is utterly fantastic. It's hard to think of Chappie as a created image, he looks so real on the screen. The physical interaction between him and those around him totally complete the illusion. Truly some incredible work.

Even the big brute Moose, when finally used in the film, was darn impressive. Add in the explosions, rivers of bullets, and damage of all kinds, and the virtuous efforts of the special effects team are everywhere you look.

3) Plot/Story - Neutral: Though the whole concept of Chappie and his evolution is quite fascinating, the overall plot sadly suffers from all sorts of inadequacies.

Chappie as a character is developed with a lot of detail. But almost everyone else are cookie cutter cutouts. Hippo, for example, is the typical power mad, trigger happy, unthinking thug, putting pressure on his underlings for failing to meet his demands.

The theme of bullies is explored from several directions, which did add some interest and color, if you caught on. Lambs turning into Lions was another motif lightly explored.

Most of the science seemed viable - aside from putting your entire consciousness in a thumb drive, that is. And how secure is your programming when you only have one viable special flash drive and it requires no password? Those issues and some other items appeared somewhat contrived. And to be honest, for most of the film, 90% of the characters involved were not in anyway likable. The effort at the whole "being made better for those you've met" theme was hard to swallow after the ferocity evidenced by one or more of the characters.

And while Chappie gets some physical satisfaction against Vincent, nothing ever comes out about what he did, and all the people he endangered and who died because of his self serving actions (not to speak of the outright attempted murders of two unarmed men). The fact that at the end of the film they mention the scout robots would never be used again made no sense whatsoever. The information and videos of who and what crime was perpetrated at the factory easily available and what made Chappie, Chappie, not having anything to do with the standard scout class programming.

The R Rating should be taken seriously for younger viewers. Not so much for the physical violence, but the emotional ones. Chappie's first night away from home was pretty brutal.

They did move me. I'll give them that. But again, that was all Chappie and Deon for the most part.

4)  Stunts - Total Thumbs Up: Lots of action, violence, bullets, and explosions. They fill the testosterone quota quite nicely - especially the awesome fight at the beginning of the film. I wanted to see more of that!

5) Locations/Cinematography - Thumbs Up: You see enough sci-fi films and some locations start becoming somewhat familiar, even when dressed up a little. A towering building used in Judge Dredd and the shantytown used in District 9 make appearances. They did pick some rather iconic locations, and ones the director has used previously. Still, the cinematography was lovely. And the odd, childish decor in the abandoned building where Ninja and Yo-Landi lived speaked of a childhood they'd never had, even as it served as a unexpected nurturing environment for Chappie.

Conclusion: Some superb CGI work - so good you don't even realize that's what it is. On the down side are cookie cutter characters and made to fit items. You'll be moved, but not excited. Sadly, nothing new was explored in the AI theme. And while the ending was slightly surprising, it doesn't make up for the rest.

Rating: 3 out of 5 (Hubby's Rating: Better for Matinee)

Movie Review - The Wolverine

The Wolverine

Starring: Hugh Jackman, Tao Okamoto, Rila Fukushima, Hiroyuki Sanada, Svetlana Khodchenkova, Brian Tee, Hal Yamanouchi, Famke Janssen, Will Yun Lee, Ken Yamamura, and more.

Directed by: James Mangold Screenplay by: Mark Bomback and Scott Frank Based on Characters from: Marvel Comics  Cinematography by: Ross Emery Original Music by: Marco Beltrami

Premise: Hiding from humanity and living alone with his emotional demons, Logan is found by Yukio, a young Japanese swordswoman, who's spent the last year trying to track him down. She asks him to come with her to Japan, to visit Yashida, the Japanese soldier whose life Logan had saved during the bombing of Nagasaki during World War II. Yashida wishes to offer his old savior a boon for his kind act so long ago - he wants to give Logan the one thing he's longed for, but couldn't achieve on his own - an escape from the extended life that is a side effect of his mutation. (Rated PG-13)

Review:

1) Acting - Total Thumbs Up: Hugh Jackman reprises his role as the mutant Wolverine with all the attitude and aplomb the character is so well known for. Tao Okamoto did great as Mariko, showing both amazing strength of will and empathic femininity. Svetlana Khodchenkova was a lot of fun as Viper. Kudos to Famke Janssen as Jean Grey and all the creepiness and bittersweet moments she added to Logan's nightmares.

2) Special Effects - Total Thumbs Up: From Wolverine's bone claws to the exploding bomb over Nagasaki, the effects throughout the film were top notch. The bullet train sequence and its similarity to a Western topside train battle but at almost three hundred miles an hour was a 'hoot'. The effects of Viper's touch and the visuals that went with it were nicely done. The giant adamantium samurai with the flaming sword was entirely too cool.

I also totally loved Yashida's reactive bed and his body scanner. (I want them!)

3) Plot/Story - Thumbs Up: Back in the 80's I read a ton of comics and one of my favorites were the Wolverine stories of his time in Japan. While a lot of details may have changed, in general the film stays true to a lot of the original and reimagined information about Wolverine. Just the fact they put ninjas, yakuza, and a bullet train fight and did them right was more than enough to win me over.

There were several crisscrossing underlying themes of honor, responsibility, and self worth throughout the film. Emotional clashes between love, duty, and family were also abundant. The movie was paced well, and the plot convoluted and multifaceted.

The only marring point was over the final villain. I would have been better satisfied by their choice if some explanation, other than the obvious yet 'hard to swallow' reason had been given for the actions taken - a tumor, radiation, poison - anything.  It's sad when the gaijin (the foreigner) has more honor than the samurai around him. (Though I did later get the odd feeling that perhaps a subconscious part of this last villain purposely set some things into motion to defeat his own mad desires, knowing deep down he was in the wrong - but then again, this might be wishful thinking.)

4) Stunts - Total Thumbs Up: Ninjas! Did I mention there were ninjas in the film? A ton of ninjas! It was great watching all those men in black running around in the shadows doing what they do best. The attack on the main house was fantastic. And getting to watch a ninja and yakuza showdown? Awesome! The choreography on the fighting and chase scenes was phenomenal. I especially enjoyed the fight and chase which ensued at the funeral. It was multidimensional!  

Of some note is the scene when Logan enters the village. The actions by the group of ninja and the visuals of Logan during that determined attempt to get to Mariko were very reminiscent of a similar scene with Toshiro Mifune and of the great Akira Kurosawa's works.

5) Locations/Cinematography - Total Thumbs Up: Though many scenes in this film were done in Australia, many others were actually filmed in Japan. This was great because as part of the chases across the country, we got to see many iconic spots of Japanese daily life - pachinko parlors, themed love hotels, bullet trains, traditional and modern Japanese architecture, and more.

Add to that the multidimensional filming, especially during the fight and chase sequence from the funeral, and the whole thing was visually delectable. The images of Logan and the guards fighting the yakuza from the ground, while from the rooftops and wires and beams over them Harada used his ninja skills and his bow to kill foes around them from a distance, made for a fantastic scene.

6) Costuming/Makeup - Total Thumbs Up: Great job by the costuming department with regards to period clothing and of course outfitting our favorite Wolverine in his signature comic book clothes. Viper's outfits outside of work did well in giving her a snakelike overtone even before we find out more about her. Nice job too on how they carried over Yashida's scar over time.

7) Music - Total Thumbs Up: The talents of Marco Beltrami added so much to the film! I very much enjoyed the Japanese flare he introduced to several of his pieces, which added to the mystique and gave homage to this foreign land. (On a side note, Beltrami seemed to have some fun naming his song list. Included are "Logan's Run" and "The Hidden Fortress" - fun word play with the action occurring in the scenes they were used in and of films of the same name.)

Conclusion: "The Wolverine" is a fun thrill ride with the added bonus of an oriental feel. Definitely a must see if you love the character and have any interest in things Japanese. One of the better films I've seen this year!

Rating:  4.25 out of 5 (Hubby's Rating: Worth Paying Full Price to See Again)

Movie Review - Les Misérables

Les Misérables

Starring: Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried, Sacha Baron Cohen, Helena Bonham Carter, Eddie Redmayne, Aaron Tveit, Samantha Barks, Daniel Huttlestone, Isabelle Allen, and more.

Directed by: Tom Hooper Screenplay by: William Nicholson Based on the Novel by: Victor Hugo Lyrics by: Herbert Kretzmer Music by: Claude-Michel Schönberg Cinematography by: Danny Cohen

Premise: Javert and Jean Valjean spent nineteen years together as jailer and prisoner. Yet after Jean Valjean is given parole and a kind man turns his heart from despair, the two are fated to meet again and again as France and her citizens once more grow dissatisfied under the present king's rule. (Rated PG-13) 

Review:

1) Acting - Total Thumbs Up: The acting in this film was fabulous. Great job by Hugh Jackman and Russel Crowe. Anne Hathaway will have you in tears. Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter were delicious as the entrepreneurial and ever so lucky Monsieur and Madame Thénardier. But I was even more amazed by Eddie Redmayne. The emotion pouring from him as he sang of the friends he would never see again was breathtaking.

The kids in the film were also wonderful. Little Cosette was adorable and made you totally believe in the castle in the clouds. Daniel Huttlestone tried to steal the show with his great energy and charm in his role as Gavroche.

2) Special Effects - Total Thumbs Up: Most of the special effects in the film have to do with CGI for scene backgrounds or overhead views. Some really imaginative creations they were, too - especially the ship yards at the very beginning of the film.

3) Plot/Story - Thumbs Up: A lot of those going to see the film will already be familiar with the story line from the famous musical. For those not acquainted with "Le Misérables" or in love with the music and lyrics, the film may seem somewhat long at 157 minutes. (Some 'significant others' might be disappointed, expecting more action than is actually present in the film.)

4) Locations/Cinematography - Thumbs Up: Some truly nice spanning shots, especially in the first ten minutes or so. The shipyards, the barren hills, the monastery, different sections of Paris, all were shown to great effect. I wished they'd done a lot more of it.

When a musical is made into a film, one would hope it is with the thought of making the size of the stage even wider. But while this film definitely does that at several points, there was also an amazingly and disturbing amount of long drawn out closeups. And they were so close they cut the top off the actors' heads. While this might be a technique that could be used to add emphasis to a scene, it doesn't work well when it's done all the time. With the great backdrops and sets, it was a pity we are denied seeing more of them due to the rash of long closeup scenes. It made the grandeur we glimpsed now and then in the medium seem a waste, it was used so little.

5) Costuming/Makeup - Total Thumbs Up: Some great makeup work in the movie. The film spans several decades, so the touches to Hugh Jackman and Russel Crow to show their progressing years was decently done. Their makeup for Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway for their last few hours of life, however, came out even better. They truly did not look to be feeling well. Nice job!

Even more surprising was the amount of trouble they went to to show the unwashed masses. The dirt on Éponine as she changed into the boy's clothes was a very nice touch.

Conclusion: Fans of Hugh Jackman, Russel Crowe, and Anne Hathaway will totally enjoy their performances. Fans of "Les Misérables" will be pleased with the music though they'll also note that a little of the grandeur that should have come from the musical being converted to a film didn't entirely make it through. Those new to the story might wish the director had snipped off a few minutes here and there.

Rating: 4 out of 5 (Hubby's Rating: Better For Matinee)

Movie Review - Real Steel

Real Steel

Starring: Hugh Jackman, Dakota Goyo, Evangeline Lilly, Anthony Mackie, Kevin Durand, Hope Davis, Karl Yune, Olga Fonda, and more...

Directed by: Shawn Levy, Screenplay by: John Gatins, Story by: Dan Gilroy and Jeremy Leven, Partly based on a short story. Original Music by: Danny Elfman

Premise: A washed up boxer who's been eking a living on fights using the very robots that drove humans out of the sport, gets saddled up with his estranged kid for the summer after he's hit rock bottom. When looking for replacement parts to cobble another robot together, they come across an out of date training/sparring robot named Atom that might just bring them together. (Rated PG-13)

Review: I'm a total sucker for robots. The first time I saw the preview for this film I was pumped. Rock-em-Sock-em Robots life sized - oh yeah! Then throw in Hugh Jackman, some great CGI, and Steven Spieldberg/Dreamworks, and I knew I was in for a fun ride. And it did not disappoint.

Jackman and Goyo have a great rapport which only deepens as the film goes on. The extra layer of both story and character added in by Evangeline Lilly was well done. And though silent, Atom, adds layers all his own.

The films shows kids that you reap what you sow, especially the bad stuff, but also to cling to your dreams even when you think there's no way to make them possible again.

Some really wonderful and subdued visuals. Lots of play with reflections, which I really liked. With boxing as a sport and the robots themselves, the whole production team had fun and it shows. Flashy players, battered players, players with personality. And an underdog story with multiple layers. 

The fights themselves were fun, going from just punches and destruction to the art that is boxing and just the stubbornness to stay your course. By the last fight, you'll be just as pumped as the audience in the film.

Since it's a near future in the film, I loved all the little technological touches, quite believable while still showing a world we're quite familiar with. The cell phones were rad with their crystal circuitry and batteries had definitely come a long way.

Very subtle nods here and there to the rock-em-sock-em robots and other robots from Japanese anime and manga. Beautiful integration of the CGI with Real Life as well, almost seamless. And since there was that much CGI, it makes the IMAX well worth it for extra eye popping detail.

Overall it was a fun and heartwarming film about redemption and reaching your dreams, even if not in a way you ever expected. Kid friendly, though there will be a few points that may not be too clear for them, so expect some possible questions. Definitely worth seeing.

Rating: 4 out of 5 (Hubby's Rating: Worth Full Price of Admission in IMAX)