MOVIE REVIEW: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011)

Hello everyone! Sorry for my prolonged absence from blogging, but a lot has been going on lately between work, finalizing my law school admission, getting a lease on an apartment, and getting abused by my allergies. Since life in general has been taking such a toll on my spare time, I've decided to reduce my postings to more current events. I'll still write about something if I feel like it, or if I have the time, but since my leisure-writing time has become scant nowadays, I regret that so will my blogging frequency. No matter, though. I'm going to keep writing until compelling circumstances state otherwise. In the meantime though...

What came seemingly out of nowhere, and with less hyped fanfare than what I remember is Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, the fourth entry in the Disney/Bruckheimer cash cow, helmed by the great Johnny Depp. This is a much different, more tightly focused entry in the series. From what I understand, the purpose was to open a new chapter in the adventures of wily protagonist Jack Sparrow a la "Indiana Jones" and other serials. Gone now is the tired, overblown love story between Will Turner and Elizabeth Swan. Instead, the audience gets what they may have secretly wanted in the first place: a story owned and encompassed by Jack Sparrow, as opposed to the Will/Elizabeth/Jack trifecta that dominated the original trilogy. While it's a fun film, it lacks the epic scope that made the original three more far-out and entertaining.

Some time after the events of At World's End, Jack Sparrow finds himself in front of the King of England and Barbossa, his old nemesis, now Captain of the British Navy. They are comissioned to venture back to the Caribbean to beat the Spanish in search of the Fountain of Youth. But Sparrow is also in search of an imposter of his, who turns out to be Angelica, the feisty daughter of the rogue pirate Blackbeard, and Sparrow's jilted lover. The three reluctantly join forces in the quest to find the Fountain, and must endure a series of trials in order to unlock the Fountain's secrets. As is expected in these films, the typical cartoonish madness also ensues.

As I said before, the lack of featherweight subplots that I felt bogged down the last two films is refreshingly absent for Tides. In return, we get a few old faces, but mostly some new, interesting characters. What I felt was sorely missed from this entry though, was the lack of spectacle and over-the-top action sequences that made the series unique. Apparently, the budget for this series was slashed in half, from the $300 million special-effects-behemoth of At World's End. $150 mil isn't chump-change for a film, but it shows in the lack of epic action money-shots and more emphasis on (admittedly) some very good swordplay and stuntwork. Actually, some may appreciate the return to practicality, but I just felt the series set such a high bar for fantasy and spectacle that Tides didn't really meet it in that department. In fact, I'd argue it's even less epic than the first film, but don't consider that a deal-killer when deciding to see the film.

What Tides does have to offer is Johnny Depp returning in full form, anyone who missed his antics as Jack Sparrow will be very pleased to see him gobble scenery like a kid in a candy store. Also fun to watch is newcomer Penelope Cruz, who brings identically caustic chemistry between her and Depp that they both shared in Blow, ten years earlier. Angelica is pretty much the "Princess Leia" of the new series, and I found her very engaging as a female lead. Also, at a few minutes shy of two hours and forty minutes, it's the shortest, and most tightly-paced of all the Pirates films in my opinion.

Fans should generally enjoy Tides, and everyone else may find themselves in for a fun, harmless ride. It's a different Pirates, but a very solid standalone adventure tale. I didn't see the film in 3D, but by all accounts, I was told by many it was terrible and inconsistent. The effects only surfaced in several sequences, and the process made the film dark and grainy. 3D is becoming sadly overrated in mainstream films nowadays, anyway. But I'm sure hardcore Pirates fans won't care, either way.

7/10

Peace,
- Jon

SPECIAL POST: Osama Bin Laden (1957 - 2011)

I am writing this as I watch this historic news event unfold before my eyes: "Osama Bin Laden Is Dead". It's a very surreal moment, as many people and myself can recall the scathing memory of where we were on 9/11, when terrorists attacked the World Trade Center in New York City. We would later learn that Bin Laden, the leader of Islamist Terrorist group Al Qaida was responsible for helming the attack. Now, he lies dead in a Pakistan mansion at the hands of American troops. As I write this, people are massing outside the White House in D.C., in a public display of patriotism and celebration. I'm reading on Facebook about undergraduates at my alma mater celebrating and singing on the quad. I wish I was there with them. Admittedly, it is a barbaric thing to act so hedonistically over the death of an individual, even one so evil as Bin Laden. But realistically, it's one less terrorist in the world that we need to worry and fear about.

These past ten years have been subconsciously riddled with fear for me, the amplification of security in every avenue of transportation and public gathering. The constant micromanaging from educational institutions to working specific jobs. Not to mention the dismal perspective other events in the world at large have brought upon us. I'm in awe of seeing people gathering now at Ground Zero, I visited the site a year after the attack. It was a very eerie place; the last time I had seen the WTC was the summer before, from across the Hudson Bay in Jersey City. It is an incredible feeling of justice after learning what has happened. I almost feel as though I'm writing my feelings as a stream of consciousness, but this is the best way I can express myself in my current state of mind (The moderate amount of alcohol I've had, notwithstanding).

What makes this event so significant, is how much it feels upon first glance as a turning point for our political climate. We still do not know the full details of what happened, aside from President Obama's speech about how the attack operation was executed. My first thought was: "This is going to be as important to Obama's presidency as was the fall of the Berlin Wall was to Reagan's" (even though the USSR fell during Bush Sr., pundits still attribute that event to the Gipper). Does it spell re-election for Obama? So many will hold their breath baited in anticipation. I do anticipate heightened security in the interim; Bin Laden may be gone, but there's always going to be another upstart in the works. It is imperative that we keep our guard up for the best interests of our country.

Does this spell the end of the "War on Terror"? Probably not, as terrorism is unfortunately perpetual. But it is notable that a major force in the Al Qaida movement is now gone. And what of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq? I have friends who have served. One of whom I currently work with insists that things have been "over and done, long enough". It would seem ideal that we could terminate operations and bring the troops home. I don't expect the wars to be over as soon as possible, but I do think we should see a reduction in combat of some kind. It may still be too early to predict a lot of the impact that this event will result in. It is incredible though, that for all the mudslinging, caustic debate over political rhetoric, and ire over Democratic/Repubican schisms that have been among the biggest divisive social issues in this country, that the death of Bin Laden becomes the one to unite us, once again.

God Bless America,
- Jon

MOVIE REVIEW: Sophie's Choice (1982)

It took me long enough, but I've truly begun to appreciate what an amazing actress Meryl Streep is. I don't need to go into paragraphs on how adroit she is at her craft, that's all been said and done. What I find amazing is how every film I've seen of hers, she's managed to captivate and hold my attention no matter what the subject matter. She easily outshines the quality of any film she's in, and I could almost watch anything pretty much for the sake of her acting. So strangely enough, I resisted seeing her Best Actress Academy Award-winning performance in Sophie's Choice because the film never really appealed to me; long, melodramatic, and depressing. But it turned out to be that, and then some.

Sophie is a Polish-Catholic immigrant to the United States, living with her mercurial and abusive partner; the Jewish-American lab assistant Nathan. When a young writer named Stingo moves into their boarding house, he becomes captivated by the couple's capricious lifestyle, but moreso by Sophie's past. She resists disclosing any details, but Stingo ultimately figures out for himself that she was a Holocaust survivor. Among her horror stories, is one that led her to make a choice that changed her life forever.

The said "choice" scene is easily the most emotionally scarring scene I've ever seen on film. It also goes without saying that Streep's performance is impeccable in this film, she comes off so chameleon-like in her role you almost cannot recognize her, save for her familiar facial features. The other performances are good as well, and the production design is excellent. While the film does feature the characteristics of melodrama that I've grown ineffectually accustomed to, I can honestly say, the main reason anyone would really watch this is for Meryl Streep. Like most of her other films, everything surrounding her is simply "good", yet she manages to steal the entire show.

7/10

Peace,
- Jon

MOVIE REVIEW: Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)

So I'm sure you're all wondering: "What the heck am I doing reviewing Memoirs of a Geisha?" especially when I haven't even read the book. I don't know if that's a bad move on my part, but the trailer drew me in. And once again, this film proved how much of a sucker for well-edited trailers I am. I wish I could say the same for the film itself, as I simply found it nowhere near half as exciting as the trailer had promised. The actual film itself covers an interesting piece of Japanese culture, but Memoirs is pretty much a protracted tale of style over substance.

In the early 20th century, young Chiyo is sent away by her poor farming family to be sold for slavery. She is taken in by the mistress of a geisha house. She makes repeated escape attempts in order to reunite and run away with her sister, but continually fails. One day, she captures the attention of an affluent man with an affinity for geishas. As she grows up, Chiyo is taken under the wing of geisha guru Mameha, and learns the way of the geisha. The adjustment period is particularly difficult for the beautiful, blue-eyed Chiyo, as men and the promise of freedom constantly tempt her.

I remember this film causing a huge controversy when it came out, due to the female leads being played by Chinese actresses. Whatever ire spurned between the Asian parties responsible is ridiculous to me, as the women in the film give great performances, in my opinion. The production design is very beautiful, and it shows from the three artistic design Oscars the film eventually garnered. For all the film's fine trimmings and the interesting view it gave behind geisha culture, it was extremely dull at times. The drama and pace seems to bounce around in a slipshod fashion; events come and go with very little establishment. I basically felt like I watched something that dragged on and on with loads of pretty pictures. The producers had a fine piece of work here, all they needed to do was find a competent screenwriter.

5/10

Peace,
- Jon

MOVIE REVIEW: The Killing Fields (1984)

The Cambodian genocide was a harrowing event in history that I became fully aware of in my freshman year of high school. Thanks to an amazing English class, I ate, drank, and breathed the wonderful book First They Killed My Father by genocide survivor Loung Ung (she even visited my school!). Around this time, it was brought to my attention that there existed this film called The Killing Fields that dealt with two angles of the story as the genocide broke out. Only recently, did I actually get a chance to watch it.

American journalist for the New York Times Sidney Schanberg is covering the Cambodian civil conflict between the National Army and the Khmer Rouge. It is during this time, he collaborates with Cambodian journalist Dith Pran, who serves as his interpreter. In the name of journalism, they clandestinely venture into the village of Neak Leung, where they are captured by Khmer Rouge forces and subjected to witness the genocide, firsthand. When an attempt to evacuate Pran with the help of British forces fails, Schanberg returns alone, remorsefully recounting his experiences, while Pran stays behind, and makes an effort to survive the regime. But little does Pran know the effort that Schanberg is making to try and track him down.

Killing Fields is excellent in that it doesn't require star power or excellent filmmaking techniques to effectively convey it's message. The affecting story is driven mostly through the images of disturbing brutality and violence that make the film seem almost documentary-like at times. Is there a down side to any of this? Well, it can be a little slow at times, but not that it hinders the pace of the story at any point in time. This authenticity is only made more tangible with the casting of genocide survivor Dr. Haing S. Ngor as Pran. Ngor's own story is equally as harrowing as Pran's, and although he won Best Supporting Actor at the Oscars, Ngor met a tragic end; murdered in his L.A. apartment by Asian gang members. The film does end with a sliver of hope for the ravaged Cambodians, and even though John Lennon's "Imagine" has become somewhat of a cliche in anti-war films, it's used here in wonderfully poignant and ironic effect.

9/10

Peace,
- Jon

MOVIE REVIEW: Idiocracy (2006)

Sitting at the bar with one of my friends, he turns to me and goes "Have you seen Idiocracy?" I shake my head "No". "You should, because I'm convinced this is what our world will ultimately turn into, the way things are going". So I did. Obviously, or else I wouldn't be writing this. In any case, any comedy with a socio-political bent must immediately go up on my queue. But why, did this film become so little-known, despite having been directed by Mike Judge of Office Space and starring people like Luke Wilson and Maya Rudolph? Perhaps the studio got cold feet after seeing all the jabs taken at consumerism, with the use of actual companies (upon further research, this turned out to be pretty much the case, and I am ever the wiser). But hey, for all it's bleakness, Idiocracy is pretty funny, too.

After a brief lecture on the topic of dysgenics (out-breeding the intelligent, due to a lack of consequential hindsight on unprotected sex for stupid people, and a lack of sexual initiative on the smart people), a group of government agents elaborate on a plan to put an "average Joe" military worker (named Joe, ha ha) and a prostitute named Rita in an experiment on human hibernation. When they are accidentally neglected after a SNAFU, the two emerge in the year 2505 and find the world totally changed. Society has regressed into a tasteless, classless, lawless, and even brainless atmosphere while consumerism has apparently taken control. Needing to find a way home, Joe, Rita, and their new friend Frito look for a way to locate a supposed "time-machine" that had been invented, recently.

What I enjoyed about Idiocracy was the fact it took a clever idea about the regression of modern society into something so dystopic yet possible, given the conditions, and combined it with the traditional Mike Judge sophomoric humor that I know and love. Some of the supporting performances were a little obnoxious, but many of them do shine, thanks to the script. I had trouble accepting the fact that things were rather bleak for the main characters, and that the film didn't do a whole lot to have the main characters make any effort to have the future society try and think for themselves. Perhaps that was deemed a futile idea, as many of the new society's denizens are pretty incorrigible as it is, I just thought there could have been more possibilities explored in the alloted time the film had. Still, I enjoyed Idiocracy for all it's dumb humor and strangely thought-provoking story.

7/10

Peace,
- Jon

MOVIE REVIEW: Boogie Nights (1997)

Boogie Nights, "it's about porn" is what I'm told by anyone who brings up this film in conversation. You'd think a film about the pornographic film industry would be relatively sleazy. But leave it to someone like Paul Thomas Anderson to take that sleaze to a whole other level. The characters of the porn industry in Boogie Nights are fascinating figures; this is how they lived, and I'll be damned if losing my public dignity meant such a pleasurably hedonistic life of decadence. Boogie Nights takes us into this world, drawing us in a la Scorsese with the long cuts and strongly written character exchanges. Oh, and it's late 70s/early 80s trappings are pretty awesome.

In 1977, a young runaway dropout stumbles upon Jack Horner, one of the most reputable directors in adult entertainment, while working in a Southern California disco. Intrigued by his star appeal, Horner courts the lad into his world of sex, drugs, and smut, where he takes upon the name "Dirk Diggler" and makes a smash in the pornographic mainstream, thanks to being well-endowed "down-there". As time goes on, and the money rolls in, greed runs rampant within the circle of friends as their excesses spin out of control. Needing to stay afloat in a world where he must live fast, Diggler tries to take matters into his own hands.

The great thing about a film like Boogie Nights is that the atmosphere is so strong, I found myself so entertained by the action (...other than the sex, geez!), that it made me easily forgive the greater story flaws the film had. In other words, when you think about it, there really isn't much new to the story that Boogie Nights presents, other than what I felt was your typical "rise-and-fall-from-greatness". Not to mention, with such a great ensemble cast, we're rarely given a glimpse into what their own lives are like. Sure, the film is centered around Diggler, but I thought it would have been interesting to have explored some of the supporting characters more in better detail. Still, with a film like this which excells at keeping me interested with it's strong acting and sharp dialogue, I doubt anyone will be bored with Boogie Nights, even with it's two-and-a-half-hour length.

8/10

Peace,
- Jon