Recent Movies Reviewed

May 30, 2009

It’s been a movies kind of month this May.  Thanks to the arrival of the summer blockbuster season coupled with our handy new 14 screen theater in little ol’ nearby McCalla, I’ve kept up with most of the new releases that are gracing the silver screen in recent weeks.

What’s more, with every visit I’ve run into members from New Life.  Maybe we should start a LifeGroup there or something…  Oh well.  Here are my thoughts on the movies I’ve seen recently:

Star Trek.

YEAH!  Of course Star Trek!  What did I think about it?  AWESOME!  Effects:  A+.  Story: A.  Pacing and Cinematography:  Holy Smokes!!

This movie is a fun ride that will appeal to far more than the usual cadre of Trekers.  The casting was nearly perfect, and some of the surprising turns of events in the story show that the gloves are off for future Trek films.  Yep, this isn’t your father’s Trek….  but I like it.

My one (minor) complaint is that we didn’t get to see enough of the villian.  Eric Brana’s performance was superb, with just the right amount of irreverent aplomb.  I would like to have seen his character fleshed out a little more.  But then, the point of the movie was to provide origin stories for the beloved crew of the Enterprise.  So, with that in mind, I’d say Director J.J. Abrams got it spot on.  My grade:  A+

Night at the Museum:  Battle of the Smithsonian.

Fun times.  It was a good and enjoyable movie.  What it lacked in depth and character development, it made up for in very amusing situations and gags.  Great escapist fun.  And since I’ve recently started working with a physical trainer myself, the Thinker’s catchphrase, “Firepowah!” has become somewhat of a motto for me.

The one who stands out in this movie is Amy Adams.  She portrays Amelia Earhart to perfection, adding a sense of adventure to the story line.  My grade:  A-

Pixar’s UP.

Awesome, Awesome, Awesome!  I saw this Friday evening with my daughter and some folks from the church.  This is by far the most emotional Pixar film yet.  The animation is Pixar’s usual amazing feat, once again pushing the levels of excellence in computer animation.  And the 3D beautifully enriched the landscapes of the movie without resorting to the usual visual gags that most 3D films use for shock effect.

But as I said, this is Pixar’s most emotional film yet.  And it is the relationships that drive this movie.  The first 10 or 15 minutes of the film were worth the price of admission, just to watch the montage which surveyed the years the main character spent with his wife.  Without a single word, we watch their dreams and their disappointments take shape and see just how much these two people loved each other.

This one is a little different for Pixar, but I loved every minute of it.  A+

Terminator Salvation

I saw this one today.  It was good, but not great.  Christian Bale does a great job as John Conner, and the effects were excellent.  But I think the critics got it right on this one.  The movie is sort of flat.  The tone is always very serious, and there are none of the lighter moments which made the other three films (especially the first two) such engaging stories.  I never really felt connected to any of the characters, even to the point that when one main character makes a sacrificial decision at the end of the movie, what should have been a poignant moment just sort of… well… fell flat.

Having said that, the visuals are great.  Sort of a cross between Road Warrior and Transformers.  If you want to see it, it is worth seeing on the big screen just for that.  And yes, Arnold makes a cameo via computer animation that is both convincing and well handled.

In all, it was a good ride.  Not the best in the series, but possibly a good starting point for future installments.  My grade:  B.

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Posted by Chad Payne

The Dark Knight was AWESOME!!

July 20, 2008

 

Batman and Joker in the Dark Knight

Batman and Joker in the Dark Knight

Holy Smokes!!!!!!!!

Now this is what a superhero movie is supposed to be like!

An engaging story, incredible visuals, complex twists….  the Dark Knight has it all.  It is arguably the best movie of the year so far.

Just as many of the reviews have stated, DK proves, just as Batman Begins did, that an action movie can also be a thinking person’s movie.  You definitely do not need to check your brains at the door with this one.

Heath Ledger’s performance as the Joker was amazing.  Sure, it is punctuated by the actor’s death shortly after filming wrapped, but I believe that he truly deserves a posthumous Oscar for this role.  Wow.  He transformed a caricature out of a comic book into a chilling, unpredictable sadist.  What is amazing is that his character is funny and horrifying at the same time.  A very convincing portrait of evil.

Case in point…  the first good look we get at the Joker is when he steps into a meeting of mob leaders.  He seems a little unsure of himself and nervous, but just when you think he is caving in, he does something so unexpected that our entire sold out theater GASPED in shock!  That set the tone for his character for the rest of the movie.

This movie effectively demonstrates the moral dilemmas that emerge when we struggle to figure out how to do what is right.  It involves sacrifice and difficult choices, and it often takes a toll on our own hearts.  Not only is this portrayed clearly through Batman himself, but it is also demonstrated in a shockingly effective manner through another character in the movie, who, in his own way, ends up almost as terrifying as the Joker.

The Dark Knight is not your typical popcorn faire.  It is a very dark movie.  But it grabs your attention from the beginning and takes you for an incredible ride with amazing characters, great effects and visuals, and a unique plot.  For a summer movie to have a plot that is unique and new is itself a major accomplishment in current filmmaking.  A+

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Posted by Chad Payne

It’s all part of the plan…

July 17, 2008

Having a good day today. It’s my older daughter’s birthday – she is eleven! Holy birthday candles, Batman!

Speaking of the Dark Knight, Darrin and I are going to the midnight showing of the new movie tonight.

More tomorrow…

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Posted by Chad Payne

My Wall-E Review

July 15, 2008

I took my older daughter out to see Wall-E this weekend.

I’ve been looking forward to this movie for three reasons.  One, it’s Pixar.  ’Nuff said.  Two, it’s science fiction.  ’Nuff said again.  Three, I’ve been reading about the controversy surrounding this picture.

Have you heard all of this stuff?  The idea is that the movie is some sort of left-wing environmentalist propaganda.  Uh……  don’t think so.  Granted, there are those out there who put the “mental” in environmental, but I think it is our responsibility, especially as followers of Christ, to be good stewards of the earth.  I don’t like it when people trash my property, and I don’t imagine that God does, either!

But I digress.  I didn’t see that as being the point of this movie.  I won’t go into the plot details for the sake of time, but I saw the bigger issue as consumerism gone amok.  This is what happens when we get so focused on “getting” that we lose sight of moderation and responsibility.

Did you watch the VeggieTales video “Madame Blueberry”?  Same thing, only robots instead of talking vegetables.  And on a global scale rather than a treehouse.

Then I read that some folks got all offended because they said it was suggesting that those who are obese are all lazy, selfish, indulgent slobs.  Uh….. no again.  It is simply suggesting that if we become so self indulgent and lazy, we will end up completely dependent on the systems we create and lose our ability to take control of our lives.  How else are we going to portray that?  By making them look like Johnny Depp?  C’mon!

I’m fat.  I admit I’m fat.  I could be fatter, but I wish was skinnier.  And this movie did not offend me.  For crying out loud.  The propensity for people in our culture to get offended over nothing…. well, it offends me.

So, my review of Wall-E?  Loved it.  It was great and thought-provoking science fiction.  It was amazing digital animation.  It was a lot of fun for the kid in us.  It was a great movie.  Different from other Pixar movies in many ways, but a great movie nonetheless.

Oh, and the short film they played before the main attraction was side-splitting hilarious.  It was one of the best short films Pixar has done.

And now…  if I can just hold on until The Dark Knight is released this weekend….  That will “put a smile on my face!”

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Posted by Chad Payne

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal DULL

May 22, 2008

Vacation continues to go well.  We're back home now and are looking forward to having a few days at home to finish getting things together after the move…  six months ago.

Darrin and I had a great time hanging out yesterday evening.  He was preaching at Faith Church, so I went to the service and got to see some old friends.  After church and a quick dinner at the Olive Garden (YUM!), we went to the midnight showing of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

Is it worth seeing?  Sure… it's Indiana Jones (though he's referred to as Henry more than Indy in this one)!  Does it hold its own against the other three?  No, not really.  The action is pretty straightforward and even tame compared to the other movies, and the story is somewhat difficult to follow at some points.  Furthermore, the pace of the movie actually made much of it a little dull, in my opinion.

All in all, it's pretty good escapist fare, and it's nice to visit these characters again.  Nonetheless, it doesn't really make a significant contribution to the franchise other than to bring some closure to Indy's family life.

So, so far for the action blockbusters, we are one for three.  Iron Man rocked, Prince Caspian and Indy 4 are good but not great.  Now, if only The Dark Knight lives up my expectations, it will be a good cinematic summer.

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Posted by Chad Payne

Dune – via 1984

February 20, 2008

I just came across the 1984 version of Dune on television.

Man.  I actually thought that was a cool movie at the time.  When it first came out on home video, I watched it three times in one day.

But times change.

Wowzers…

I think I’ll have to watch my DVDs of the Dune trilogy that the Scifi Channel did a few years ago just to get that out of my head!

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Posted by Chad Payne

Christmas and Movie Reviews

December 24, 2007

Well, it’s that time of year again. Merry Christmas! I trust that this will be a very special Christmas, full of family interaction and creating a lot of new memories.

Hey, I just remembered… I guess TBS is showing A Christmas Story all day… That is one of my Christmas rituals. I have to watch this movie at least once during the holidays. All time classic. Dude, I was Ralphie growing up.

Speaking of movies, I had the opportunity to catch up on a couple last week while we were visiting family in Florence. Here are my thoughts:

I Am Legend. I think Will Smith is a pretty amazing actor, and he really plays this character well. It’s not a flick you just sit back and enjoy. Most of it engages you and get you thinking. What would you do if you were the last person in the world? What I loved most, though, was the underlying theme woven throughout the movie that suggested that God has a plan, and that we must learn to be quiet and listen to His voice.

This movie received mixed reviews, but I enjoyed it and was moved by it. Without giving anything away, the ending especially got me to thinking about legacy.

National Treasure: Book of Secrets. Typical action movie fare. If you liked the first movie (which I did), you’ll like this one. It’s more of the same, and as good (or at least almost as good) as the first entry. Remarkably clean, as I recall, and an enjoyable adventure, a la Indiana Jones lite.

This one is definitely not a thinker. It is smartly written, but it is written to be a theater ride. At this, it succeeds.

Enchanted. Last week I took my older daughter to see this Disney flick. I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised at this one! It was a very enjoyable movie with surprisingly good acting and a strong (if satirical) story. The right characters were overplayed at just the right intensity, and the jabs and nods at Disney’s and other fairy tales were intelligently staged. The musical numbers are hilarious, and you find yourself caring deeply for the main character. This is a completely satisfying movie that stays strong all the way until its excellent ending.

By the way, you’ll never look at housecleaning the same way after watching this flick.

What movies have you watched lately? Any recommendations?

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Posted by Chad Payne

Vacation – Day 2

July 6, 2007

Well, I am into the second day of my vacation, and I’m having a blast. Not only is it a vacation day, but it is more importantly Kim’s and my sixteenth wedding anniversary! Sixteen years of being married to the most amazing woman on the planet!

So how did we celebrate? Well, we’re staying with my parents, so we have babysitters. So here is how we took advantage of the opportunity:

1. We slept in until 11:30 a.m. First time we’ve done that in years.

2. We ate at Ricatoni’s, our favorite Italian restaurant in Florence, Alabama.

3. We went to see Transformers, which was a pretty awesome and spectacular movie with great effects.

4. We went to Books-A-Million for couple of lattes (there are no Starbucks in Florence).

I also picked up Mark Batterson’s latest book, In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day: How to Survive and Thrive When Opportunity Roars.

Finally, although I’m on vacation, I did get a return call regarding something I’ve been trying to set up for our church for a while.

Exciting news!

What is it?? Well, I’ll tell you after I share it with the church.

2 Comments | Books, Movies, My Life, Science Fiction | Permalink
Posted by Chad Payne