R.I.P.D.

TAKE 1: One Man’s Opinion

…because film is largely subjective

 

by Frederick William Springer III

 

R.I.P.D.

Release Date:  19 July 2013                                                                   Runtime:  96 Minutes              

Review Date:  25 August 2013                                                               Rating:  3 (of 6)

     The trailer looked as though, while a little silly, R.I.P.D. might just be entertaining.  It was no such thing.

     The movie opened up on an overly fake CGI character which just set a negative tone right out of the gate--a lot of the CGI characters could have been modeled with good old special effects make-up, only resorting to CGI when outlandish stunts came into play, which would have made the finished product look a lot better.

     Furthermore, the one main character says he's been with the department for 500 years (these officers are recruited once they die), yet elsewhere he says he fought with the North and elsewhere still that he was out West when that frontier was being explored, all anachronisms--the age of the cowboy and the Civil War would have transpired long after his death and so he wouldn't have been involved.  (Now, it is possible I misunderstood him, as he was speaking with an accent, but 150 doesn't sound anything like 500.  Nor does 380.)

     Even a cast with the likes of Ryan Reynolds, Jeff Bridges, Kevin Bacon and Mary-Louise Parker couldn't salvage this film that was DOA and should have been allowed to RIP.  I saw in the credits that this is based on a comic book, making it the only comic book movie this summer that you SHOULDN'T go see.  Let it be relegated to background noise and nothing more.

Now You See Me

TAKE 1: One Man’s Opinion

…because film is largely subjective

 

by Frederick William Springer III

 

 

Now You See Me

Release Date:   31 May 2013                                                               Runtime:  115 Minutes              

Review Date:  25 August 2013                                                             Rating:  5 (of 6)

 

     It should come as no surprise that sleight of hand and misdirection are among the elements that help keep Now You See Me interesting as the viewer tries to figure out the mystery at hand.

     The movie opens with us becoming acquainted with solo magicians (Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, and Dave Franco) and their foray into becoming the group act The Four Horsemen.  But no sooner do we get to know them that the perspective then changes to that of the FBI agent (Mark Ruffalo) and his team pursuing them, where it stays for the majority of the film, occasionally shifting back to the magicians.  But even that perspective shifts, sometimes from their point of view and other times relayed by an Illusion Exposer (Morgan Freeman) dispensing how he thinks they're carrying out their escapades.

     There are many components in play but remember, "the closer you look, the less you'll see."

Man of Steel

TAKE 1: One Man’s Opinion

…because film is largely subjective

        

by Frederick William Springer III

 

Man of Steel

Release Date:  14 June 2013                                                                Runtime:  143 Minutes              

Review Date:  18 August 2013                                                             Rating:  5 (of 6)

 

     Man of Steel doesn't feel like a comic book movie--it plays like a drama--and that's probably a good thing for a franchise that needed a shot in the arm.  The only thing is that there is absolutely no reference or inference to "Man of Steel" during the entire course of the film, making it seem as though the only reason it was selected as a title was to distance itself from its predecessors.

     This take provides a more substantial backstory and motivation for enemy General Zod (well played by Michael Shannon), making him and the situation he presents more real and relevant.  They also found a likeable Clark Kent in Henry Cavill, though finding the right actor to portray Superman hasn't ever really been an issue in any of the past incarnations.

     The only thing that left me stupefied was how, when he becomes the newspaper man we all knew he was destined to be, Clark's new co-workers and boss don't recognize him when he had appeared before them as Superman earlier.  Granted, it wasn't a formal handshake meeting they had had with Superman, he had been 50 or so feet away at the time, but still.  Also, in this day and age of the cell phone camera and internet, pictures are bound to surface of Superman in the act and it's hard to believe that no one will be connecting the dots, that a pair of glasses somehow conceal his identity, especially in a newspaper office.  But perhaps this will be addressed in the sequel.

     Which provides the perfect segue:  While this was a good movie, I would like to take a moment to gripe about the disservice the planned sequel is.  For those not following along with reports, it has been announced that the follow-up movie will be Superman vs. Batman.  You've just resuscitated Superman, let the guy breathe a little!  Why not let Superman have a little fun on his own before making him share the spotlight?  I mean, Batman did just have his very own TRILOGY.  I think Superman deserves the same treatment before you start doing mash ups.  Think about it, you haven't even introduced Lex Luthor yet.  Is he, Superman's arch-nemesis, going to make his first appearance in a Batman movie?  Or the Justice League movie after that?  And, if not, then you're waiting way too long to bring him into the picture.

The Internship

TAKE 1: One Man’s Opinion

…because film is largely subjective

           

by Frederick William Springer III

 

The Internship

Release Date:  7 June 2013                                                                   Runtime:  119 Minutes              

Review Date:  11 August 2013                                                              Rating:  5 (of 6)

 

     While not as good as Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson's previous collaboration (Wedding Crashers), The Internship is fun.  If it counts for anything, I left the theater with a smile on my face (which is why I'm giving it a 5 rather than the 4.5 I originally intended to bestow).

     Still not recovered from a crashing economy, I thought the basic concept would resonate more than it did, the story a little slow to suck you in.   To paraphrase a character that was called cynical, college grads of today don't really have the "American Dream" to aspire to because even with fancy diplomas no one is hiring when you graduate.  I can certainly relate and attest to that--I immediately got my MBA after my BA so I'd have the tools to obtain a job in which I'd be able to support myself and a future family comfortably.  That was 2005 and I've still yet to be hired other than for sporadic, part-time, dead-end, minimum wage jobs with no viable income.

     Even with a bunch of slightly oddball characters, including dinosaurs Vaughn (who also wrote and produced) and Wilson themselves, the audience begins to root and cheer them on because they have heart.  And they all need jobs.  Vaughn and Wilson have been sacked from their sales job they've had for as long as most of their teammates are old, their teammates finishing up college and needing a place to work when they do.  Only the winning team will find themselves with job offers when the internship is complete.

 

     How true to the Google internship experience this is, I don't know (I suppose I could Google it) but it's good to see a giant such as Google can poke fun at itself.  As for the work environment, I'd say that it's pretty on the ball since I had read an article about it years ago (not to mention that there was a whole list for the "Google Support Team" in the end credits, probably fact checking every little detail), which had made me want to apply myself.   Unfortunately, it's mostly tech jobs.  I took Computer Science in high school and it wasn't something I excelled in or enjoyed.  But that's okay, while I haven't been to Mountain View, I did visit San Francisco and it's not a place I'd want to live anyway.

     Jobs outside the tech realm and in an area lining up with my own background are few and far between at Google, unless I want to move to Africa, Europe, Russia, India or South America where they are apparently available in abundance.  Go cynicism!

 

     But, to its credit, The Internship made me forget all about the cynicism and just go with the flow, following their adventure as the unlikely underdogs who succeed.  Because, who doesn't want that in this job market?



Iron Man 3

TAKE 1: One Man’s Opinion

…because film is largely subjective

by Frederick William Springer III

Iron Man 3

Release Date:  3 May 2013                                                                      Runtime:  130 Minutes

Review Date:  5 August 2013                                                                   Rating:  5 (of 6)

     Iron Man 3 returned the franchise (and Marvel) to the quality level it should be, surpassing the misfire that was Iron Man 2 (as well as The Avengers--I didn't get on that bandwagon, thought it was pretty bad--and Captain America for that matter, too--the worst in the whole series).  This may be solely due to Mr. Lethal Weapon himself, writer/director Shane Black, reuniting with his Kiss Kiss Bang Bang cohort Robert Downey, Jr.

 

     The story was satisfying with the right mix of humor and heart.  I loved the storyline with the kid.  And what we learn The Mandarin is all about is great as well, Ben Kingsley delivering a fine performance!  The end cameo was fun, including the only thing I actually did like about The Avengers.