The Dark Knight Rises

TAKE 1: One Man’s Opinion

…because film is largely subjective

 

by Frederick William Springer III

 

The Dark Knight Rises

Release Date:  20 July 2012                                                                 Runtime:  164 Minutes              

Review Date:  27 July 2012                                                                   Rating:  6 (of 6)

 

     The Dark Knight Rises delivers where Avengers did not--story.  And though it clocks in at nearly 3 hours, the fast pace of the editing keeps things moving, never leaving one fatigued or looking at their watch.

     I didn't know how I felt about Anne Hathaway cast as Catwoman or her costume when pictures were first released but she owned the role and I never gave much thought to the costume while watching it on the screen.

     The only real issue I had, as did my viewing companion and other patrons sitting around us, was with Bane.  I thought I had read long ago that his synthetic voice tested poorly and they were going back to fix it in post.  Well, I can only imagine how bad it was before since, much of the time, you still can't understand what he is saying.  I get that you want him to have a creepy Darth Vader voice but you always clearly heard what Darth Vader said when he spoke.

     The fact that characters can jump into multiple new high-tech military grade vehicles and instantaneously operate them is a case of suspended disbelief (as in the other films) that the pacing of the story helps you to forgive or at least not allow for time to dwell on such things.

     I found that the The Dark Knight Rises was a very satisfying conclusion to the trilogy.

The Dictator

TAKE 1: One Man’s Opinion

…because film is largely subjective

 

by Frederick William Springer III

 

The Dictator

Release Date:  16 May 2012                                                                 Runtime:  83 Minutes              

Review Date:  15 July 2012                                                                   Rating:  (4 of 6)

     The Dictator goes for the shocking "are they really saying/doing that?" moments that garner hardy laughs but that probably won't hold on second viewing (as was my experience with Borat, which was a superior film).

     I have nothing else to say.

The Pirates: Band of Misfits

TAKE 1: One Man’s Opinion

…because film is largely subjective

by Frederick William Springer III

The Pirates! Band of Misfits

Release Date:  27 April 2012                                                                Runtime:  88 Minutes              

Review Date:  15 July 2012                                                                   Rating:  2 (of 6)

     "The best thing about being a Pirate is Ham Night."  OKAY, you lost me before the title even came on the screen.  I don't think I need say more.

Battleship

TAKE 1: One Man’s Opinion

…because film is largely subjective

by Frederick William Springer III

 



 

Battleship

Release Date:  18 May 2012                                                                 Runtime:  131 Minutes              

Review Date:  15 July 2012                                                                    Rating:  2 (of 6)

     For generations that have played the game, the move will leave them saying indignantly, "You've sunk my battleship!"  When in development, the concept had me rolling my eyes.  But at least there was an opportunity to create a classic war movie.  Then when I saw the trailer, all that came to mind was, "What the fuck?  Really?  Alien Transformers?"

     Going in with that mindset, the movie wasn't a total bomb.  It was watchable, albeit I wouldn't actively seek it out to do so.

     For the most part, the special effects were pretty good, only one scene in which looked blatantly CGI.  And I did like how the movie paid homage to veterans of a bygone era.

     However, our "hero," if you will--his journey/outcome was pretty predictable from the start.  I bet you can, too--the cut-up that normally causes nothing but trouble and can't in good faith ask permission for his lover's hand in marriage from her father (and his boss) winds up...

     I did find it highly unrealistic that a museum would readily have armaments onboard.  The movie did, though, at least manage to reference the game play itself, finding a way to tie in the classic with this dud.

Snow White and the Huntsman

TAKE 1: One Man’s Opinion

…because film is largely subjective

by Frederick William Springer III

 

Snow White and the Huntsman

Release Date:  1 June 2012                                                                  Runtime:  127 Minutes              

Review Date:  8 July 2012                                                                    Rating:  4 (of 6)

     A new variation on the tale, Snow White and the Huntsman is poorly named as I didn't get the impression that the Huntsman was anything other than a secondary character that joins/aids Snow White on her journey.  A more appropriate title would have been Snow White and Ravenna­­­­, the Queen, as the story skewed more towards the power struggle between the two.

     Here, CGI is used well--nothing looked overly fake and some things actually looked pretty cool.

     I only have 3 minor gripes, presented in order of irritation.  While not unattractive, I have a hard time believing Kristen Stewart would be "fairest of them all" in any land.  The Growing trend (as in Once Upon a Time) to alter the number of the SEVEN dwarfs is also a tad bothersome.  Society gets up in arms when white guys in makeup play the parts of African, Asian or Indian characters, so shouldn't this sentiment carry over here when men of average size are shrunken down to play dwarves?  Parts for little people are scarce as it is, even more so than people of varying ethnicities, so to give those few parts away to those that are taller than 5 foot seems like a slight.  Don't get me wrong, I'm usually anti-P.C. and the performances were well done.  I'm just saying.

     The film, overall was alright, but the ending was weak.  There are already murmurings of a sequel but I don't really see where they'd go, the traditional story of Snow White concluded.

The Hunger Games

TAKE 1: One Man’s Opinion

…because film is largely subjective

by Frederick William Springer III

 

The Hunger Games

Release Date:  23 March 2012                                                              Runtime:  142 Minutes              

Review Date:  8 July 2012                                                                     Rating:  5 (of 6)

     Seeing the weirdo hairdos of the elite in the opening scenes, I wondered what I had gotten myself into.  But after the world was established, I quickly found myself immersed in it.

     Whittled away to its core, the story is that of youngsters pitted against each other in a fight to the death.  That is essentially all I knew going in, not having read or heard much else, never having watched the trailer.  So I was surprised when familiar faces started popping up--Stanley Tucci, Lenny Kravitz, Woody Harrelson.  I immediately discerned Donald Sutherland's voice and was delighted when I learned he was a character as well.

     Set design and wardrobe did a great job transporting us to this society, the disparities between the districts and the Capitol and the almost flamboyant appearance of the upper echelons.

     I haven't read the book upon which this is based but it definitely made me interested in doing so.  On that note, I was happy to see the original author had a hand in the screenplay as well as production.

     The Hunger Games is an entertaining film that I have no hesitation recommending.

Chernobyl Diaries

TAKE 1: One Man’s Opinion

…because film is largely subjective

by Frederick William Springer III

 

Chernobyl Diaries

Release Date:  24 May 2012                                                                   Runtime:  86 Minutes              

Review Date:  8 July 2012                                                                       Rating:  2 (of 6)

     I think "boring" would sum it up.  While the concept is okay, as is the acting, the movie did nothing for me.  The choice to not show the antagonists lurking in the shadows (except for split second flashes maybe 3 times) was probably an attempt to instill terror of the unknown but it just left me wanting to know what they looked like.

     I also found it very annoying that the only member of the group that spoke and understood Russian suddenly seemingly no longer understood it when it mattered most, blatantly ignoring a warning--I won't spoil anything but, if you're smart, you can probably draw a conclusion in the right ball park.  Equally, the ending was lame.