Movie Review - Victor Frankenstein

Victor Frankenstein

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, James McAvoy, Jessica Brown Findlay, Andrew Scott, Charles Dance, Freddie Fox , Spencer Wilding, Bronson Webb, Callum Turner, Alistair Petrie, Guillaume Delaunay, and more.

Directed by: Paul McGuigan Screenplay by: Max Landis Based on the Novel by: Mary Shelley Cinematography by: Fabian Wagner Music by: Craig Armstrong

Premise: Years before the final creation of his masterpiece, Frankenstein studied medicine in London, madly researching how to bring his dreams to fruition. It is here that he run across a mistreated clown at a circus, one who despite his misshapen body, might have the spark of genius he's been looking for. But Inspector Turpin has put some facts together and is now on Frankenstein's trail - and the more he finds the more determined he is to stop him. (Rated PG-13)

Review:

1) Acting - Total Thumbs Up: Daniel Radcliffe proves he's got what it takes with his great portrayal of Igor. His physical handling of Igor's infirmities and emotional tug of wars were nicely done! James McAvoy is manic and delicious as the mercurial Victor Frankenstein. Andrew Scott as Inspector Turpin was also a lot of fun. That lovely intensity he's used when playing bad guys are aimed at his being a good guy, yet he still ends up as an antagonist all the same. :P

2) Special Effects - Total Thumbs Up: The awesome special effects works starts almost instantly on this film. An innocent enough sight, watching a trapeze artist ply her craft, becomes so much more when suddenly we see an underlayer showing her bones and working muscles as she works through her routine. This was delicious fun especially especially during the scene where Igor and Victor meet - because they're both doing it at the same time! And Victor's treatment for Igor's hump? Ewwwww!

All the effects for the cool experiments and science equipment were marvelous. The eyes Victor shows Igor when speaking of what he's working on were especially neat, specifically because they looked like nothing much but then they change! Add in the pulsating body parts, the first successful composite animal, and later a humanoid creature and there's lots to love.

Throw in the gorgeous skies and storm clouds, exploding equipment, lighting, electricity gone wild - and you get a ton of super cool special effects all over the place. And wait till you see the lovely spanning views of CGI London and then the isolated castle in Scotland!

3) Plot/Story - Thumbs Up: "Victor Frankenstein" is a prequel of sorts. It basically fills in a lot about Igor and Victor before they get together in later years to create the monster we've seen in the book and the films. The entire thing is from Igor's point of view - which made this a refreshing take on the old tale.

A few bits will jar a little - like the fact Igor is treated like trash yet he also becomes the circus's medicine man, which should have garnered him some respect or respite from his peers, since you might someday end up needing him to treat you for an injury. Also, how Lorelei comes to find herself a patron while recuperating at the hospital is not quite clear. They are little things though and easily ignored.

Though the creature does not take the stage in this prequel, worry not, as there are two other patchwork monsters they get to play with. And it's fun watching Igor evolve while Victor seems to devolve. Two halves of a whole - the two men compliment each other, making them together more than each would be alone.

While some details don't jive as they should to fit with the later tale, you can see bits and pieces of other renditions and characters flashing by in this one. A nice ying and yang effect occurs between Victor and Inspector Turpin - both obsessive and shaped by death but pushed in totally different directions. And both somewhat mirror the very chase Victor will later have with his final creation in the novel.

As in Mary Shelley's original, the themes of religion vs. science, life vs. death, how we are perceived and acted on vs. who we truly are, are intertwined throughout the film.

4) Stunts - Total Thumbs Up: Amazingly, the film has lots of opportunities for the stuntmen. The madcap chase in the circus, another at the medical college, and even more stunts at the castle in Scotland - the stuntmen are kept quite busy.

5) Location/Cinematography - Total Thumbs Up: Lots of real and touched up locations in the film taking us to London, to Scotland, and more. Igor's first true view of the city of London was spectacular - showing both the good and the bad at once and also showing the thriving, human filled city. The old castle overlooking the sea in Scotland made for some great shots and doubly so when the storm is coming. The cinematography made good use of everything. Lovely!

Conclusion: "Victor Frankenstein" is a refreshing take on little covered areas of the old tale. Between the costumes, the cool special effects, the lovely vistas, and the great acting, seeing it is definitely worth it.

Rating: 3.75 out of 5 (Hubby's Rating: Worth Full Price of Admission)

Movie Review - Trance

Trance

Starring: James McAvoy, Vincent Cassel, Rosario Dawson, Danny Sapani, Matt Cross, Wahab Sheikh, Mark Poltimore, Tuppence Middleton

Directed by: Danny Boyle Written by: Joe Ahearne and John Hodge Cinematography by: Anthony Dod Mantle Original Music by: Rick Smith

Premise: A London auctioneer acting as the inside man for a major art theft goes 'off script' and takes a blow to the head, which gives him amnesia as to where he hid the painting he stole when he double crossed the theft team. When tearing his apartment and car apart avails them nothing, they turn to torture. This only ends up proving that he really doesn't remember what he did with it. Desperate, the thieves realize their only hope of getting Simon's memory back might be through the use of a hypnotist. Things start getting very weird after that. (Rated R)

Review:

1) Acting - Total Thumbs Up: James McAvoy gave a great performance as Simon. The personality shifts during the dreams and visualized hypnosis sessions were amazing. He's almost unrecognizable by the end of the film as the man we began the voyage with. Vincent Cassel also did a great job. He too went through some transformations of his own as matters played out. Rosario Dawson was fantastic. She sneaked in many of the little cues the audience would need here and there flawlessly.

2) Special Effects - Total Thumbs Up: There aren't a lot of major ones in this film, but the few there were are done expertly. The finger torture and another bit closer to the end will make you cringe. (Guys will feel a lot of empathy for the second one.) The body during one of the scenes was as gross as anything you'd find in "Bones" - and that's hard to do.

3) Plot/Story - Total Thumbs Up: I can't say too much, as I don't want to give the plot away and ruin it for you. Just be vigilant, lots of little clues are doled out throughout the film. Like the characters, you'll start doubting what is real and what is not. Even the time of the "reveal" is not the real story. If anything, the audience is left to sift the full truth out on their own - to pick the version of reality they can live with. But if you've paid attention, you should be able to tell. As the saying goes - the lamb is but a wolf in sheep's clothing.

The truth is parcelled here and there, but it's really hard to know which bits are it.

I totally loved the whole intro sequence with Simon speaking about the auction trade and paintings. Really sets up the scenario as things suddenly go a different way. If anything seems off at any time, it's a clue! So keep them in mind - trust me.

4) Locations/Cinematography - Total Thumbs Up: A lot of symbolism is used in the film and some of it bleeds over into the locations chosen for certain scenes. Some great shots of different locals in England give it a lot of flavor.

5) Costuming/Makeup - Total Thumbs Up: Major kudos for the makeup job on Simon after he's hit his head and he's outside. The swelling on his forehead looked amazing and totally agonizing. From the drilling we saw them do in the hospital, it was pretty bad.

Conclusion: Major mind bender of a film. Reality is but a veil. Great performances on a fun thriller. I'd suggest going see it with several friends and see who comes out with what for what was really going on. Should be fun!

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

Movie Review - Arthur Christmas

Arthur Christmas

Starring: James McAvoy, Hugh Laurie, Bill Nighy, Jim Broadbent, Imelda Staunton, Ashley Jensen, Marc Wooton, Laura Linney and more.

Directed by: Sarah Smith Screenplay by: Sarah Smith and Peter Baynham Original Music by: Harry Gregson-Williams

Premise: An accident knocks a gift out of the conveyor belt during the Christmas deliveries. As it is but a couple of hours until dawn, the child left behind is considered an acceptable loss, except by Arthur, Santa's second son, who tries to do something about it. (Rated PG)

Review: This movie is a blast! It's also a lot deeper than one might think from seeing the previews.

I totally cracked up when the first thing they do is basically list all the reasons (and scientific ones!) as to why Santa can't exist as Arthur reads a letter sent to the north pole. Then they show us how it's done in the modern world.

I wanted a pause button desperately. There are a ton of little jokes and bits of info seeded everywhere (buttons, levers, scan screens), but they go by too fast! A lot of in-jokes too, and strangely they're mainly from SF movies and TV shows. Too fun!

The animation and CGI work was excellent. The character expressions and the voice acting superb. Grandsanta was a hoot, but Bryony, one of the wrapping elves, slayed me. Once you see Mrs Santa at work, you'll see where Steve's efficiency came from. Arthur must take after his Dad. :P

If you cried at UP, I suggest dragging a hanky or two along, just in case. There were many touching moments. Several were quite poignant. All is not perfect at the North Pole and generational issues abound. Some of the tales they tell of problems during other Christmas runs were a hoot.

A definite must see! If this doesn't get you into the Christmas spirit, nothing will. :)

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (Hubby's Rating: Worth Full Price of Admission AGAIN!)

P.S. There's a music video as a bonus before the beginning of the film. Justin Beiber sings Santa Clause Is Coming To Town. And it disturbed me. It wasn't the song or the singing, and loved the steampunk look, but... Mr Beiber had a steampunk glove on his right hand and a ton of his moves were straight Michael Jackson moves. It was weird...even creepy. It may have been homage of some sort, but to me it was just disturbing. Hmmm.