Movie Review - Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales

Starring: Johnny Depp, Javier Bardem, Geoffrey Rush, Brenton Thwaites, Kaya Scodelario, Kevin McNally, Golshifteh Farahani, David Wenham, Stephen Graham, and more. 

Directed by: Joachim Ronning and Espen Sandberg Screenplay by: Jeff Nathanson Story by: Jeff Nathanson and Terry Rossio Based on Characters Created by: Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio, Stuart Beattie, and Jay Wolpert

Premise: Will's son Henry has been trying to find a way to break his father's curse. He believes Poseidon's Trident has the power to do so. But to find it, he needs to find Jack Sparrow. But Henry is not the only one looking for Jack. Plus many others also want to get their hands on the Trident. The hunt for the treasure begins. (Rated PG-13)

Review:

1) Acting - Total Thumbs Up: Johnny Depp once more reprises his unique take on a pirate captain as Captain Jack Sparrow. His crazy expressions, obfuscation, and general "go with the flow" attitude are in high force. Brenton Thwaites is very reminiscent of Orlando Bloom's Will Turner, which seems apt as he is playing his son Henry. Kaya Scodelario as Carina Smyth is spunky, stubborn, and driven. Javier Bardem does a nice job as Captain Salazar. Geoffrey Rush gets to prove to everyone Captain Barbossa has got it all. Then comes to realize there is an even greater treasure to be had. Loved the expressions as the truth of things finally began to register. :)

2) Special Effects - Total Thumbs Up: Special effects tend to make up large sections of the "Pirate of the Caribbean" movies and "Dead Men Tell No Tales" is no exception. The smoky piecemeal appearance of Salazar's crew is neat and very haunting. The effect when they touch land even more so.

The whole gag with the bank robbery and running through town was great! Only Jack has this kind of weird luck. Oh, and wait until you see the guillotine gag - hilarious!

Salazar's ship was fabulous! A literal shark of the seas. I also loved what they did with the masthead later in the film. Too fun! The undead birds and sharks were a nice addition as well. The monkey is still a total ham. :P

They did save the best to show toward the end. The island holding the last clue to Poseidon's Trident was gorgeous! The area that unfolds from there was way cool as well. They did all sorts of fun things with water. And the trident itself was lovely. Something more befitting of the sea than the usual trident portrayal.

The Black Pearl's transformation was also a lot of fun. Especially when the change stalls. Later, the maneuverings with the edge of the water and the anchor looked great!

3) Story - Neutral: I wish those who give the final okay on scripts and changes would remember the devil is in the details. While they carefully kept track of some information, they totally disregarded others, so certain things made no sense. For example: Don't make a commander who is dead set on killing witches, and will hunt them relentlessly with all the soldiers at his disposal, then turn around and go pay/use one to come do magic! Also, if you have a captain say he only ever kills pirates, don't have him going around killing non-pirates! (Since Salazar is a Spaniard, adding two words to his statements would have fixed this. Just say "pirates and Inglés," and he would have been covered to kill all the Brits and pirates he wanted without anyone raising an eyebrow.)

Another bit that seemed weird is that Disney appeared to pull the same thing they did with "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" - they tried to cookie cutter the new film into a clone of the first with bits from the others. What is that about? Girl in distress, a boy about to get killed, Jack in trouble, all looking for a special treasure as they are hunted by the undead. Huh. It's like they're afraid to try new plots. :( 

One thing I did like was the undercurrent themes of obsession, drive, and what we should all truly treasure.  Pay attention to the ship names as well, there are some subtle jokes going on there. :)

Another subtle bit was Jack's descent since the events from years before when he bid his friends goodbye. His luck, his drive, his sense of purpose, all eroded by his inability to help Will. Jack's final comment as he spies upon events on the hillside at the end said it all - veiled as usual of course.

Do make sure to sit through the credits! One final scene at the very end. :)

4) Stunts - Total Thumbs Up: Much to love in the stunt department. Pratfalls, guillotines, hangings, chases, sword fighting, shark wrangling, and much more. Of particular fun was Jack's fight/chase scene between two ships jumping from canon to canon. :P 

5) Locations/Cinematography - Total Thumbs Up: Filmed in different parts of Queensland, Australia, there were plenty of gorgeous shots of the bay, the sea, and the sky. The sunrise over the map island and the blood moon are especially lovely. Add in the CGI locations like the Devil's Triangle and the resting place of Poseidon's Trident, and you're in for many visual treats. 

Conclusion: Though a fun romp and filled with cool effects, "Dead Men Tell No Tales" felt too much like a retelling of the original "Pirates of the Caribbean." Some inconsistencies drew away from the fun. Stay through the credits for a final scene at the very end!

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 (Hubby's Rating: Worth Full Price of Admission) 

Movie Review - Alice Through the Looking Glass

Alice Through the Looking Glass

Starring: Mia Wasikowska, Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Anne Hathaway, Sacha Baron Cohen, Rhys Ifans, Matt Lucas, Lindsay Duncan, Leo Bill, Alan Rickman, Geraldine James, and more.

Directed by: James Bobin Screenplay by: Linda Woolverton Based on books by: Lewis Carroll Cinematography by: Stuart Dryburgh Music by: Danny Elfman

Premise: Alice comes home from China to find that things are not as she left them. Stepping through the looking glass, she learns matters aren't any better on the other side. To help the Mad Hatter, she must go back in time and find out what happened to his family. Yet there's more danger in her mission than she realizes. A lot more. (Rated PG)

Review:

1) Acting - Total Thumbs Up: Mia Wasikowska reprises her role as the spunky Alice to good effect. She appears a lot more comfortable with her role than in the first film. Johnny Depp gets to explore some unexpected sides of the Mad Hatter. Leo Bill was fun as the extreme Hamish. Sacha Baron Cohen was fascinating, and fluid, as Time. Helena Bonham Carter was fun as always as chaotic Iracebeth.

2) Special Effects - Total Thumbs Up: If you can manage it, try to see this one in 3D or IMAX if at all possible. The special effects will make it totally worth it. From the mad dash of the Wonder through shallow waters to the Chronos Orb eye popping voyage over the seas of time. Lots and lots of amazing sights await. 

Especially cool were the Grand Clock and the Chronos Orb itself. The Mad Hatters' transformations from his illness were lovely. Time was amazing! The actor moving here and there and the audience seeing the machinery sticking out from the back of his head. It truly looked like it was a piece of him. Fabulous!

The vegetable people and the clockwork people looked awesome. The upright fish people were also rather interesting.

And if you enjoy the neat, unfolding buildings in the beginning of Game of Thrones, you'll like the cute unfolding little tales during the credits.

3) Plot/Story - Thumbs Up: I enjoyed this second film a lot better than the first. The plot seemed more solid and fascinating. Life on both sides of the looking glass showed different facets of the same problems.

Friendship and family were the main recurring themes. And like the first film, it hints at how a small thing can begin a chain of events that end in unforeseen and even tragic results. Bits of darkness, than in and of themselves don't seem like much, but can fester and grow until they are out of control.

They have some rather cute after moments that run through the credits, too. Like extra bits from after Alice's visit. 

4) Stunts - Total Thumbs Up: Lots of tumbles, crashing, jumping. A few of the landings from both the Chronos Orb and Time's other machine looked like they hurt! :P

5) Costuming/Makeup - Total Thumbs Up: The period costumes were very nice. And I loved the female captain uniforms. I also thought that Alice's oriental dress was gorgeous. The makeup work on the Mad Hatter was superb, especially as it kept changing. They even used the makeup for some subtext with regards to Iracebeth as well.

Conclusion: Alice Through The Looking Glass is a fun ride with lots of gorgeous special effects. Definitely put the Wonder in Wonderland. :)

Rating: 3.75 out of 5 (Hubby's Rating: Worth Full Price to See Again!)

Movie Review - Mortdecai

Mortdecai

Starring: Johnny Depp, Gwyneth Paltrow, Paul Bettany, Ewan McGregor, Olivia Munn, Jonny Pasvolsky, Michael Culkin, Ulrich Thomsen, Alec Utgoff, Rob de Groot, Guy Burnet, Jeff Goldblum, and more.

Directed by: David Koepp Screenplay by: Eric Aronson Based on the Novel by: Kyril Bonfiglioli Cinematography by: Florian Hoffmeister Music by: Mark Ronson and Geoff Zanelli

Premise: Charlie Mortdecai is an art aficionado, a semi-rogue, and owes eight million pounds in back taxes. Desperately trying to find a way to pay, he decides to help an old rival when he's asked for his assistance after the murder of an art restorer in Oxford. But his marriage becomes strained when his wife finds out he's grown a mustache. A situation that leaves his old rival, an MI-5 agent, thinking he might finally get his chance to steal away the woman he's been in love with since college. (Rated R)

Review:

1)  Acting - Total Thumbs Up: The story is told from Mortdecai's perspective, which gave Johnny Depp even more room to play than normal. And play he does...to good effect. Gwyneth Paltrow was a lot of fun as Mortdecai's mustache disapproving wife. Paul Bettany almost steals the show with his portrayal of Jock, Mortdecai's suffering but stalwart manservant. Ewan McGregor was definitely adorable as Mortdecai's rival and MI-5 operative.

2)  Special Effects - Total Thumbs Up: Lots of nice little special effect touches are woven throughout the film. The most noticeable ones are the giant block letters merged with the spanning views of the cities the action takes place in. They even find ways to have a little fun with it as things move along.

3) Plot/Story - Thumbs Up: The film is based on a book called "Don't Point That Thing at Me". I've not read it, so can't say if it is also a tongue-in-cheek story, but from the title, it might very well be. (Also found out Jock's full name is Jock Strapp. So, I'm thinking definitely yes.)

Much like the film "Austin Powers", there are a lot of jokes which British audiences will appreciate more than American audiences. (This excludes Americans in the US who love British TV, however!) There is definitely humor and fun poked at both the British aristocracy and the concept of the perfect manservant. It even brings up modern day British nobility problems of debt and the need to find new means of income to maintain their households, despite their noble lineages.

One unexpected story thread is that of "a man and his mustache." The odd thread gets play throughout the film. The bit with the elevator at the American hotel was priceless. Amusingly, the mustache itself was lovely, but the expressions created by Johnny and the attention it drew to his bad teeth, totally ruined how it looked on his face. Gwyneth Paltrow's reaction to the thing were definitely entertaining. The odd dynamics of their marriage were rather amusing as well.

Lots of innuendos, some vulgarity, and definitely some slapstick. The plot is also reminiscent of Peter Sellers' Pink Panther films, full of misunderstandings, backstabbings, bumbling, and bandying about. Add in the rumors of a lost painting not seen since WWII and the possibility it could lead to a lost Nazi fortune, and hijinks ensue.

Though the story is set in modern times, there's a very James Bond 60's feel to the film, the music even conforms to this and support the illusion.

4) Stunts - Total Thumbs Up: The stunt department deserves some well earns kudos on this one. There are several fights, with guns and without, an unusual sword fight, and one of the most bizarre car fights with musical chairs ever.

5) Locations/Cinematography - Total Thumbs Up: The story bounces around to several countries and cities, sometimes in quick succession. Some lovely and inventive camera work is used as the audience travels from place to place. This served to break up all the travel nicely, so it wasn't the same old thing every time. The two groups were freshly inventive on these sequences. They looked great!

6) Costuming/Makeup - Total Thumbs Up: Great work with the costuming and makeup. They somehow managed to make Mortdecai look respectable and worthy of his title one moment, and not so desirable or good the next. Some of the color schemes definitely looked to have come from the Austin Power's collection, which worked very well. Though of course these came with matching ascots and a lovely cane - Mortdecai is of the nobility after all.

Some truly nice makeup work on the ever suffering Jock. The scar over his eye and the twisted eye ball looked great. Made some of Jock's expressions even more poignant.

7) Music - Total Thumbs Up: The soundtrack by Mark Ronson and Geoff Zanelli does a lot to set the international intrigue vibe to the film. Has a very 60's spy/James Bond feel to it. Great for setting the mood.

Conclusion: Mortdecai's humor will not be to everyone's tastes. Some knowledge of England is needed to get some of the subtle pokes at British nobility and the serving class. Very tongue-in-cheek.

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

Movie Review - Transcendence

Transcendence

Starring: Johnny Depp, Rebecca Hall, Paul Bettany, Cillian Murphy, Kate Mara, Morgan Freeman, Cole Hauser, Clifton Collins Jr., Cory Hardrict, and more.

Directed by: Wally Pfister Written by: Jack Paglen Cinematography by: Jess Hall Music by: Mychael Danna

Premise: A terrorist group executes simultaneous terrorist acts on scientific labs and scientists working on artificial intelligence. Recent breakthroughs by one of the killed men, however, gives hope to Evelyn Caster as her own husband lays dying from a bullet laced with radioactive material. But the terrorists are still out there and want to stop them, no matter the cost. (Rated PG-13)

Review:

1) Acting - Total Thumbs Up: It was a lot of fun watching Johnny Depp as the brainy scientist later turned computer. Rebecca Hall did well as his passionate wife and scientist in her own right, despite the bad writing which pretty much left her with nothing in the second half. Paul Bettany's emotions on both sides of the issues presented were definite bright spots - well done. Kate Mara was very convincing, and even creepy, as the young terrorist leader.

2) Special Effects - Thumbs Up: Special effects were very good, though sadly most of them were nothing we've not seen before. Really nice job with the explosions and the nano repair sequences. The lab scene where we see what Will has been working on came out nicely. Best work though was with the repair work done on Martin. The little machine tubes on the med table moving about on their own was cool and creepy all at once.

3) Plot/Story - Thumbs Down: Sadly, as my husband put it, the plot of the film was "Beautifully Bad". The movie's premise was interesting, but the bad science and the shortcuts, as well as the turning of Evelyn's character into a passive lump, blackened what good was in there.

Some science fallacy is usually expected in movies, but the glaring holes in this one were too large to ignore. A virus made to destroy specific code infecting most systems might bring the internet and other systems down when it first hits, but reloading the original untainted software and rebooting/repairing other systems would allow us to have technology again - not send us into a new dark age. But sadly, this is the status of the world at the point where they begin the film and eventually circle back to.

With the computing power they claim Will has, and which he continues to exponentially increase, there's no way the terrorists would have figured out where they'd gone, as he could clean up/erase transaction trails even as he made them. And since Will put the FBI onto where many of the terrorists were located so they could be apprehended, he would have known, and taken steps, to help out his friend Max. Yet he never even knew his friend had been taken.

If a bullet is so radioactive it can poison someone to death from just a graze (I'd thought from the commercials he'd taken it in the gut) half the people there with him, and especially the cops handling evidence, would have died too.

The biggest error in my opinion, however, was the character assassination of Evelyn. She was the dreamer, the one who wanted to change the world - but after Will is transferred and comes back, she soon becomes an emotionless lump. When she first discovers what else was done to Martin, all she does is say she can't deal with it. Never once mentions to Will the fact (as the woman with the determination and intelligence we were introduced to would have) that he's bypassing people's freewill. There should have been raging arguments over this alone. But sadly, much like was done to Amidala from the "Star Wars" films - a strong willed woman is presented and then turned into a turnip because her strength and intelligence was no longer convenient to the plot.

And let's not forget the fact the terrorists pretty much brought their own fears to life due to their actions - a fact no one mentions or seem to notice. As Will said, the irony that they would take life to achieve their goals of stopping the creation of artificial life was quite ironic. The fact the main instigator never paid for her crimes? Even more so.


4) Stunts - Total Thumbs Up: Some quick fights as well as explosions dot the film, so some adrenaline gets pumped into the audience here and there. Car flipping and even machine throwing thanks to the nanites livened up a few other scenes as well.

5) Locations/Cinematography - Thumbs Up: There are several gorgeous shots of nature, rivers, mountains, and some lovely CGI representations as well. The town Will picks to 'lay low' at definitely looked to need saving. But though Evelyn spoke of Will buying most of the property of the town, and the amount of work they brought to the place, I was surprised at the lack of improvement of the impoverished town. Worse, the town itself became a sore point in the bad plot when those opposed to the machine decide that's a good place to set up operations. As if Will wouldn't have put surveillance equipment on his properties? (It's even worse due to other reasons I'll leave you to discover on your own.)

Conclusion: Cool premise, horrible execution. Between the bad science and miraculous intelligence gathering efforts of the terrorists after they've ditched their electronic equipment, there sadly wasn't much to love.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 (Hubby's Rating: Catch it on Cable)

Movie Review - The Lone Ranger

The Lone Ranger

Starring: Johnny Depp, Armie Hammer, William Fichtner, Tom Wilkinson, Ruth Wilson, Helena Bonham Carter, James Badge Dale, Bryant Prince, Barry Pepper, Mason Elston Cook, Saginaw Grant, and more.

Directed by: Gore Verbinski Screenplay & Screen Story by: Justin Haythe, Ted Elliott, and Terry Rossio Cinematography by: Bojan Bazelli Original Music by: Hans Zimmer

Premise: When a young lawyer and a Comanche brave cross paths during a criminal's escape from a train, the spirits strive to tie them together to bring justice for past and present wrongs - whether the two want to work together or not. (Rated PG-13)

Review:

1) Acting - Total Thumbs Up: I'd been pretty excited about seeing this film since I first heard about it. There was a lot of controversy about Johnny Depp playing Tonto, but it never truly concerned me. His bird hat did have me raising a brow, but once seen in context, it was an awesome idea. What did worry me a little was one of the later preview trailers which showed that a comedy aspect had been introduced into the movie. I am happy to say, I worried for nothing.

As Johnny Depp always does, he made the role of Tonto entirely his own. With the way the film begins in a carny in San Francisco, the setup is perfect, not only to introduce the audience to the story, but to set up other things that follow. This Tonto and Lone Ranger are in their raw states, before they became the true legends told of in the stories. As such, Mr. Depp and Mr. Hammer play Tonto and John Reid as the imperfect men they were when their partnership began, and we watch as they are shaped into the legendary partners they become.

Armie Hammer did a great job as the naive, pure and stubbornly principled John Reid. Better were the hints of the man who always felt lacking when compared to his older brother, yet determined to make his own way. Slowly, but surely, John is tempered by experience into a force to be reckoned with. Major kudos too to Mason Elston Cook as the young carny goer Will. William Fichtner was super creepy as the flesh eating Butch (Wendigo) Cavendish.

Kudos to the Horse Spirit and the Crow - alive or dead, they almost stole the show!

2) Special Effects - Total Thumbs Up: "The Lone Ranger" doesn't rely on a lot of CGI. Most of the special effects are 'old school' - as in done with real materials. Railroad tracks, bridges, trains, horses, guns, all the mainstay items of the old Westerns were there. And the actors used them, rode them, and more. A few big explosions were thrown in as well.

3) Plot/Story - Total Thumbs Up: In the tradition of "The Princess Bride", "The Lone Ranger" is told in the manner of a story, though not one from a book. While in a lot of other films this type of setup would be intrusive, in the manner the story of John Reid and Tonto was handled, it worked superbly.

Family, brothers, and belonging are big themes in the film as well as sticking to your convictions, justice, the fact not all things are possible, and facing one's mistakes. A bit of mysticism is thrown in, most of it left to be believed or not by the audience. Yet by its use, they've left the franchise open, because while they do solve one set of problems, nature's imbalance was not, so there are more adventures waiting out there.

The poor treatment of Chinese immigrants and Indians alike wasn't sugarcoated. They also never pretend that two men alone can change that facet of history, but they can and did what they could. The extra scene during the end credits was poignant in a quiet, understated way - pressing the point that while they may have stopped one evil, all things were not within the duos power to resolve.

4) Stunts - Total Thumbs Up: The stunt department did an outstanding job. Horse riding, gun shooting, fist fights, train robbing, barn burning, they pulled off all the classic Western stunts with great aplomb. That self assurance made several gags look even more awesome than expected. Johnny Depp pulled several of those and they were made all the more outstanding due to the ease in which they seemed to be carried out.

5) Locations/Cinematography - Total Thumbs Up: The locations for the film were iconic. Between Utah and New Mexico you couldn't have hoped to get more of a Western feel than these locations will invoke on viewers. Monument Valley has been a favorite Western filming spot for a couple of generations. So seeing all these awesome backdrops will take you back to all the Westerns you'd ever seen before. And the excellent spanning shots of all these nostalgic places made the visuals an absolute treat.

6) Costuming/Makeup - Total Thumbs Up: For the work they did with Johnny Depp alone, the makeup department should get an oscar. (You'll know what I am talking about when you see the film.) The costumes too looked great and in period.

Johnny Depp's look for Tonto has been said to come from a painting named "I am Crow" by Kirby Sattler in 1991. In many ways, it truly was very apt and totally fit once put in context.

7) Music - Total Thumbs Up: Hans Zimmer brought several lovely tracks to the film for background music, but as anyone who grew up seeing the original "Lone Ranger" series will know, there's only one real theme they're waiting to hear - the final section of the William Tell Overture. The audience gets a taste of it close to the beginning, but it's full use is reserved for the climax. And to be honest, I couldn't have been happier!

Conclusion: Though bits of it seem a little like something out of an Abbot and Costello movie, all the pieces are there to make "The Lone Ranger" a fun, Western epic in the tradition of the original series. The way it was told, this story will be a great introduction to younger generations to the old legend. Most of the audience was applauding by the end.

Rating: 4.25 out of 5 (Hubby's Rating: Was Worth Full Price of Admission)

Movie Review - Dark Shadows

Dark Shadows

Starring: Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Helena Bohnam Carter, Eva Green, Jackie Earle Haley, Jonny Lee Miller, Bella Heathcote, Chloë Grace Moretz, Gulliver McGrath, Ray Shirley, Christopher Lee, Alice Cooper, Jonathan Frid, and more.

Directed by: Tim Burton Based on the Original TV Series by: Dan Curtis Story by: John August and Seth Graham-Smith Screenplay by: Seth Graham-Smith Original Music by: Danny Elfman

Premise: After being cursed by a witch and then trapped in a metal coffin for almost two hundred years, Barnabas Collins returns to Collinwood. He wants to bring the family back to its old prosperity while also acclimating himself to life in 1972. Unfortunately, the witch that cursed him is still around and has other plans for him. (Rated PG-13)

Review:

1) Acting - Total Thumbs Up: As actor Johnny Depp does in all things, he puts his own spin into his version of Barnabas Collins. Eva Green was a delicious Angelique. The love/hate/lust relationship between the two main characters was a lot of fun to watch. Michelle Pfeiffer was both the strong head of the Collins family and a little crazy with her huge macramé collection. All the supporting cast did a great job as well. The little touches from Ray Shirley as Mrs. Johnson were hilarious.

2) Special Effects - Total Thumbs Up: The special effects in this film were superb! Those used for the interior of Collinwood Manor towards the end of the film were utterly fantastic. Between the animated wood carvings and Angelique's skin cracking and her interior void, that whole set of scenes was mesmerizing.

3) Plot/Story - Thumbs Up: Though the script is slanted towards comedy, John August and Seth Graham-Smith are obviously fans of the original TV series. Not only are just about all the characters from the first season of Dark Shadows represented in the film, but most also closely resemble their original counterparts. Several lines used in the film even came straight from the TV show. There are plenty of 'in-jokes' for the fans of the series to enjoy.

The largest changes in the story are to the character of Barnabas himself. Unlike the original, the film's Barnabas doesn't assimilate information on the 20th century over a days' time from his thrall Loomis. Instead, the film's Barnabas must contend and realize the differences between his way of life in the 1800's and the technologically and socially advanced lifestyle of the 1970's. The majority of the humor sprinkled through the film ties to this change.

Barnabas was also made to look like a vampire regardless of whether it was day or night. His claws and the dark circles around his eyes were a giveaway that he wasn't exactly normal. The Barnabas of the TV series had a less difficult time hiding his true nature and could easily pass as a normal human.

And while some of the small details were changed (for example the film's Barnabas didn't get cursed until after his parents' death, while in the TV series his father had been aware of his vampirism and hated him for it), the overall arcs from the original remain the same. Several plot arcs used in the TV series are thrown into this much shorter venue, so there are ghosts, witches, vampires, and werewolves in the mix.

4) Locations/Cinematography - Total Thumbs Up: Though the actual filming location were all in the UK, the creation of a Maine like locale was excellent. Collinsport not only looked like a Maine fishing town, but looked like a 1970's Maine fishing town. 

Collinwood Manor itself was amazing. The secret rooms and compartments were fun and ingenious. The manor entrance and main rooms were fabulous with gorgeous wood decorations. And the little touches of real life touching these rooms and the contrast to the bedrooms which were styled to the tastes of those using them were genius. 

5) Costuming/Makeup - Total Thumbs Up: The clothes and makeup for the 1970's were excellently done. The back story segments also looked correct for the period. 

Conclusion: This was a fun film with a lot for new and old fans to enjoy. For older viewers it will be an awesome trip down memory lane, whether they ever saw the original series or not. Also, listen for the original theme, it's there - and so are shots of waves crashing into the rocks, a Dark Shadows' trademark.

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

Movie Review - The Rum Diary

(Can't got see Puss-n-Boots or In Time since hubby is at a cutover! So went to see this instead. (Hey, since I ask him not to see stuff I want to see when I'm at cons, I can only do the same for when he has to work, no?) :)

The Rum Diary

Starring: Johnny Depp, Aaron Eckhart, Michael Rispoli, Amber Head, Richard Jenkins, Giovanni Ribisi, Amaury Molasco, Marshall Bell, Bill Smitrovich, Julian Holloway, and more.

Directed by: Bruce Robinson  Screenplay by: Bruce Robinson Based on the Novel by: Hunter S Thompson Original Music by: Christopher Young.

Premise: In 1960, Paul Kemp, a failed novelist/freelance reporter lies to get a job at an end of the line newspaper in Puerto Rico, The San Juan Star. On a path of self destruction, he inconveniently meets the woman of his dreams. But she belongs to another, a man interested in using Paul's fiction making skills to squeeze all the money he can from the tourist boon on the Emerald Isle, burying the natural beauty and the natives in his way while he's at it. (Rated R)

Review: I was interested in seeing this movie for two reasons - 1) Johnny Depp 2) Puerto Rico.  I got decent amounts of both.

Happily they actually filmed on location, so you see bits and pieces of the island (not enough!), but even better a lot of the sounds. (If you're in the country or mountains, the sounds of roosters are super common. And the coqui, a small frog indigenous to the island, has a very particular sound you'll get to hear.) CGI was used to turn back the clock here and there as open, untouched pieces of beach front property are rare in this day and age.  But the CGI was virtually seamless, which was totally awesome for setting up the past.

Strangely, though, you get extreme views of the people living on the island itself. The super rich and the super poor. The reporters themselves falling into the pretty poor category.  Of middle class life there was very little, if any, seen.  But I suppose it aligned things better for the points being made in the film. And places like the shanty town shown in the movie still exist today, like everywhere.

The acting was superb and there are several laugh out loud moments. Mr. Depp makes a great fish out of water, and he makes the slide into deeper destruction easy to believe. And he's not alone, befriending Sala and Moburg, two other journalists spiraling into darkness as greed and corruption deepen.

Yet it is in this darkness with little hope that Kemp finally finds himself and his voice. But all is not happily ever after as you'll see. Though the film ends on a bitter note, you're given an uplift by text to take the sting out. Not sure it quite worked as intended though. Or even enough.

Did love the LSD scene and a quote from it "You're high! (As in it was a bad thing) Have some rum!" (As in it would help - NOT). Better in context. lol.

To Boricua's and jouralists/authors this movie will resonate because of the subject matter and pieces of the journey. Though they did try to explain and throw in subliminally as much as they could about the time period and the island, not sure what regular audiences will get from it. But it is a nice piece of history not often covered, even if set in a fictional venue.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Mind Sieve 10/10/11

Shake all the stuff I collected over the week and see what I can filter out for sharing goodness.

Chad Bourn shared a cool article from the BBC called - Ready for the Robot Revolution? Cool stuff! Even has a couple of videos.

DelReySpectra shared this video showing Quadrocopter Ball Juggling. How neat!!!

Jenny Hansen did an entry called Do I Have a Dirty Mind? Awesome examples of bad names people give to restaurants, hotels, and stores.

From Total Film - The Dark Knight Rises: Batcave Details and Police Chase Video.

Nathan Bransford asks - Don't Be A Jerk. Behavior on the internet. Very much rings with Yard Dog Press's Church of DBAA - Don't be an Asshole. Heh heh.

From Felicia Day - The Dragon Age Redemption Trailer. Series launch October 11th!

From Gene Lempp - Zoo Arcane - Slayer Spirits and the Unredeemed. Creatures from Japanese, Jewish, and Turkish culture. (Don't confuse these shikigami with those in Bleach. Heh heh)

From NASA - Space Observatory Provides Clues to Creation of Earth's Oceans. (Actually what they mean is how a forming Earth got water to have oceans, but never mind - interesting article.)

GeekChicDaily shared the The Adventures of Tintin Trailer 2.  Looks like fun!

Martyn Chamberlin shares The Johnny Depp Guide to Mesmerizing Marketing. Interesting take on things and how it applies to us. :)

Phyllis Zimble Miller asks If Your Book Is Available on Amazon Do You Have an Author Page? (Yes, yes indeed I do. :P)

From The Savvy Book Marketer - What's The Most Important Thing on an Author Site. (One of the things I did last weekend was make mine even more accessible.:P)

The Write Stuff shares 9 Essentials for Aspiring Authors. Nice list! (I have peeps that shiver when asking me for brutal honesty. They know I may just deliver. Eek! (Gives me guilt, it does!))

Chris Voss and his take on Why You HAVE To Be on Google + And Why Leaving Facebook ISN'T Smart.  Definitely food for thought.

From Kristen Lamb - Dr Twuth - Friends Don't Make Friends Eat Spam.  (Not even fried?) :P

The Right Way, the Wrong Way, and the Smart Way from Kristen Lamb. Why's and wherefores of Author Branding.

From Kidlit.com Social Networking Abuse - things not to do to Editors or Agents on Social Networks. (Wow, some of that stuff is truly crass. Eek!)

From SWFA and Victoria Strauss - Bad Publishing Contract Clauses pt 1. Ack! A nasty one too!

Are All Writers Delusional? by Jami Gold. (What? There's different levels?)

From Chuck (NSFW) Wendig - 25 Things You Should Know About NANORIMO. I know a lot of people swear by it, but I just can't see it for me. Good luck to those of you who do participate, however!

Stupendous post by Chuck (NSFW) Wendig (And it's pretty clean too!) on The Publishing Cart Before the Story Telling Horse. Huzzah! Go Wendig!

All righty then! That's it for this week's Mind Sieve. Hope you find something to enjoy! See ya next time.

Movie Review - Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

Starring: Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz, Geoffrey Rush, Ian McShane, Kevin McNally, Stephen Graham, Keith Richards, and more... Directed by: Rob Marshall Screenplay by: Ted Elliot and Terry Rossio Based on the novel: Stranger Tides by Tim Powers.

Premise: Jack Sparrow returns to London to help a friend and finds out someone is impersonating him and gathering a crew. He finds the culprit, but instead of fixing things, he finds himself shanghaied and in a whole heap of trouble.

Review: On Strager Tides is the fourth installment in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. And it gives us all we've come to expect from the adventures of Captain Jack Sparrow. He even meet several old friends again as three groups race off to find the elusive Fountain of Youth.

The supernatural plays a hand again in this installment as Black Beard has some unexpected talents, including voodoo and zombie making. And what he can do with the rigging is pretty spiffy too! we also meet mermaids and they rule!  The whole sequence at White Cape was awesome. Add in the IMAX 3D for the underwater bits and it looked pretty darn cool! (Wait till you see their whip seaweed. Nasty!)

Loads of fun fight scenes - the one in the bar was the best as basically no surface was left untouched,  or got fought on or was used in the fight.  Good chase and escape scenes in London as well.  (The actual Hampton Court Palace for a couple of scenes!)

Penelope Cruz and Johnny Depp have a great love/hate relationship thing going.  Ian McShane does his bad guy best as always. Geoffrey Rush was also a lot of fun. Sam Caflin's character Philip was an obvious replacement for Orlando Bloom's, but wasn't given enough screen time to develop his character to any great depth, which was a pity.

There were a couple of nice surprises, which I won't spoil.

The only weak areas were in the lore used to make the quest more complicated. Since a lot more people than you'd suspect seemed to know the basic location of the Fountain, they added in the need of a ritual. Yet part of the ritual itself didn't make sense. It's possible the bowls of the cups were made from stones that had been used in long ago times at the fountain, but if so, the information was not given and set the whole thing as suspect. The other bit that seemed to come from nowhere and was never touched on again was about Jack's Father, Captain Teague. He pops in, gives info, pops out and is never seen or heard from again.

Make sure to stay through the credits. There's just a bit more at the end and it is totally worth it!

So for fun, excitement, and daring do, this film is all that and more. Just don't look at things too closely - just ride along.  :)

Rating: 4 out of 5 (Hubby's Rating: Worth full price of admission IMAX 3D)