There's something I need to get off my chest. I really dislike movies shot in 1st person. There, I said it. I first found out about this preference during Doom, which had one scene shot in 1st person. Unfortunately for Doom, it was also probably the best sequence in the movie. This dislike of 1st person camera work was further enhanced when I went to see Cloverfield, which actually made me feel nauseous, but with the help of some diet coke, I persevered. Chronicle follows in their footsteps and was a bit difficult for me to watch at the beginning (when they were not only shooting through a shaky cam, but had the audacity to do it with an SD camera). The movie was hard to watch, but I'm glad I toughed it out.
Chronicle follows 3 kids as they find a glowing thingy that makes their noses bleed and gives them telekinetic powers. So far that is about all the information that you would get from the trailer. Luckily, the trailer does not ruin the movie, as it is incredibly vague. I won't give out too much about the plot, but the movie more or less follows them around as they work out their new-found "muscles".
The main character is Andrew (Dane DeHaan), who is a socially awkward, shy, and troubled high school senior. His cousin Matt (Alex Russell) is an awkward popular kid who is looking out for Andrew and plays the voice of reason in the group. Their buddy Steve (Michael B. Jordan) is the popular jock who is also running for class president. The other characters in the movie don't really matter as they don't have powers and, well, who cares?
The movie is very well done and watching the characters transform as their powers get more and more developed is pretty cool. Of course there has to be some conflict within the group and that escalates throughout the movie, which leads to a climactic flying sequence around the Seattle space needle.
This gets a solid 4/5 (could have been a 4.5/5 if not for the shaky cam). Go see it! Also, its been out for a week or so, and may be leaving theaters soon, so run and see it if you need to, but only if you don't get nauseous easily!
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Sunday, February 19, 2012
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Ghost Rider 2 (Why do I keep doing this to myself?)
I let Ghost Rider 2: Spirit of Vengeance happen to me last night. I don't feel good about it. I wish I didn't let it happen, but in the end, it was my own fault. Much like the first Ghost Rider, which was widely thought of as one of the worst comic book movies of the last decade. It turns out that Ghost Rider made just enough money to be green-lit for a sequel and that is what Colombia Pictures and Imagenation Abu Dhabi (yup), released this weekend.
If you take out Nicolas Cage (who is a wild card), the cast of the movie is actually pretty good! We have, Anthony Head (Buffy, Repo! The Genetic Opera), Christopher Lambert (Highlander, Mortal Kombat, everything on Syfy), Idris Elba (The Wire, Thor, 28 Weeks Later), plus a bunch of other folks. Then you have Nic Cage. Who is, probably one of the best-worst actors of our time. When he's good (Lord of War), he's great, but when he's bad (Season of the Witch), he's spectacularly bad! I feel bad for Nic Cage, because of his recent financial troubles, and I understand he needs to keep working in order to maintain his lifestyle, and keep some of his homes. I get it. But shouldn't quality mean more sales and income instead of quantity? Apparently not.
Anyway, Ghost Rider 2: Spirit of Vengeance is about Johnny Blaze (Nic Cage), who still has the demon rider inside of him, but wants to get him out. Some stuff happens and the anti-christ is born, and he has to save the anti-christ, or else he will become the anti-christ and then if he can do all that and stop the devil (Ciaran Hinds), then he can get rid of his demon. Or something like that, I started not to care after Johnny Blaze took over a quarry machine and made it throw fireballs.
Best part of the movie is the drunk monk, Moraeu (Idris Elba). He was funny, and liked wine, things I can relate to. Please do not see this movie only for Idris Elba's character. It is not worth it. Believe me.
I give it a 1/5. Honestly the only reason to see this is if you like Nic Cage and enjoy watching him at his most ridiculous, which I do, but even then it is very rough.
Leave comments/suggestions/whatevers.
If you take out Nicolas Cage (who is a wild card), the cast of the movie is actually pretty good! We have, Anthony Head (Buffy, Repo! The Genetic Opera), Christopher Lambert (Highlander, Mortal Kombat, everything on Syfy), Idris Elba (The Wire, Thor, 28 Weeks Later), plus a bunch of other folks. Then you have Nic Cage. Who is, probably one of the best-worst actors of our time. When he's good (Lord of War), he's great, but when he's bad (Season of the Witch), he's spectacularly bad! I feel bad for Nic Cage, because of his recent financial troubles, and I understand he needs to keep working in order to maintain his lifestyle, and keep some of his homes. I get it. But shouldn't quality mean more sales and income instead of quantity? Apparently not.
Anyway, Ghost Rider 2: Spirit of Vengeance is about Johnny Blaze (Nic Cage), who still has the demon rider inside of him, but wants to get him out. Some stuff happens and the anti-christ is born, and he has to save the anti-christ, or else he will become the anti-christ and then if he can do all that and stop the devil (Ciaran Hinds), then he can get rid of his demon. Or something like that, I started not to care after Johnny Blaze took over a quarry machine and made it throw fireballs.
Best part of the movie is the drunk monk, Moraeu (Idris Elba). He was funny, and liked wine, things I can relate to. Please do not see this movie only for Idris Elba's character. It is not worth it. Believe me.
I give it a 1/5. Honestly the only reason to see this is if you like Nic Cage and enjoy watching him at his most ridiculous, which I do, but even then it is very rough.
Leave comments/suggestions/whatevers.
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