MOVIE REVIEW: Skyfall (2012)

Skyfall is, in my opinion, without a doubt, the best of Daniel Craig's James Bond films. It's the perfect storm of the series' capable present roster of actors, renowned director Sam Mendes (who's responsible for one of my favorites, American Beauty), and a crew of reputable technicians with equally impressive resumes (I'm not kidding, there's at least 10 Oscar nods among the principals in the main credits). After a solid, but thematically jarring debut with Casino Royale and the underwhelmingly perfunctory Quantum of Solace, Skyfall is a welcome entry in the series that achieves something rare in James Bond films: It functions perfectly well as a stand-alone-film.

Of course, it would be a travesty not to mention Adele's exceptional eponymous title song that almost makes up for the trauma my ears endured from Alicia Keys and Jack White's "Another Way to Die." Adele, like the film itself, belts a tune that harkens back to James Bond's jazzy 1960s roots. It's a tragically romantic torch song with an incendiary beat that underlies the doom-and-gloom tone of the film, while still achieving a refined sound and infectious melody.

The film begins with Bond and his attractive female colleague Eve pursuing a terrorist in Turkey. Whilst fighting him atop a train, Bond is hit by friendly fire from Eve's sniper rifle and plummets into the ocean. Although Bond survives and lays low; taking a much-needed sabbatical filled with women and booze, his boss M starts taking heat from the British government (in the form of the Intelligence Committee Chairman, played by Ralph Fiennes) after a mysterious computer glitch outs the MI6 roster of "00 agents." Determined to unmask the culprit, M takes MI6 "underground," rehabilitates Bond, and hires a young hacker (who later beomes Q) to design new gadgetry for Bond. After identifying the culprit, the tables begin to turn as this cyberterrorist not only turns out to be crazy, but is out for revenge against MI6. 007 himself will need to get in touch with his past, in order to defeat this madman.

I thouroughly enjoyed everything about Skyfall in that it was such a fresh approach to a medium that has become long in the tooth. The best way I could describe this film can't even be with one adjective. It's a lot like The Dark Knight in that the film has a foreboding atmosphere and build-up towards very violent or tense conclusions. Since the series has reached it's 50th birthday, there are a lot of fun references thrown in to prior works; it's done in a refreshingly subtle way, and considerably less in-your-face than the last "anniversary Bond film," the over-the-top Die Another Day. Javier Bardem also gives a chilling performance as the villain, whose behavior strikingly resembles that of Heath Ledger's immortal rendition of The Joker. The rest of the main cast does well with the story, which does an interesting job of exploring more of Bond's past, all of which leads up to a gripping conclusion that opens the door to a more familiar direction for the series that Bond fans will likely be more comfortable with.

If there is any complaint to be had, it's that the film is very atypical-Bond when it comes to the more decadent aspects of the series. This is not one of those films where Bond gets to shmooze around with beautiful women and nice hotels (in fact, we only get one of those moments in Shanghai. His earlier escapades are sleazy, but not that explicit). Skyfall tones down these elements in order to put more focus on the main story. Even the main Bond girls are somewhat underplayed; Judi Dench, for the most part, is the film's "Bond girl" based on the amount of screen-time she shares with Bond, as well as her larger role in the story. It may be a bit disappointing for some fans, but more likely than not, something they will complain hinders the film, too much.

It's hard to say whether or not Skyfall is the best James Bond film ever made. To call one film in the series "the best" is arguably an objective notion when six different actors have played the same role in 23 films. Fans have their loyalties, and sentimentalities, as I have mine with GoldenEye. I would certainly argue that at this point in the canon of Daniel Craig's Bond films, Skyfall is the bloke's magnum opus. His tenure and the series will most likely take a different turn in the subsequent installment, but as the final chapter in his unofficial introductory "trilogy" as Bond, Skyfall takes chances, maintains a tense pace, and is simply an excellent spy/thriller in the vein of it's contemporaries that happens to masquerade as a "Bond film."

Until Christopher Nolan directs a James Bond film, well...this will just have to do for now.

9/10

Peace,
- Jon

MOVIE REVIEW: Sinister (2012)

Due to my current, inhumanely hectic obligations to law school, it is a depressingly rare occasion for me to go out to the movies. Fortunately, such an occasion arose with a group of friends last evening to see this film: Sinister, this month's very hyped, indie-horror(?), creep-fest. It's a fun offering for serious horror fans, but only progresses so far enough as an intriguing concept to be anything but groundbreaking.

Murder-mystery novelist Ellison (Ethan Hawke) and his family move into a house, where unbeknownst to everyone in the family but him, was the site of a gruesome murder that affected the last inhabiting family. Ellison finds a box of old, super-8 home movies in the attic and discovers the footage to be that of the murders; recorded by the killer. During his research, Ellison stumbles upon the ghastly image of who he supposes is the killer. Although this discovery helps inspire him to write his newest story, he also learns after consulting with police, experts, and experiencing some paranormal activity, that what was shot on film isn't everything it appears to be.

Post-viewing, I read a review for the film on blu-ray.com, where the critic stated:

“Sinister” joins a growing trend of horror movies offering characters who don’t react appropriately to unequivocal proof of their own future doom, a bewildering screenwriting concept recently explored in the last three “Paranormal Activity” pictures.

This comment basically addresses my largest criticism with the plot, being that the story is wholly negated when taking into consideration that Ellison made some poor decisions that result in the film's plot. This is common in horror films; it's a Pandora's Box archetype. Sure, by psychoanalyzing Ellison's motives, his actions are perfectly understandable. The problem is, as a contribution to narrative, it passes off as cliche, and frustrates the viewer who knows he would have done something more logical (like turning the home movies immediately in to the police!), and perhaps made for a more compelling story.

Still, Sinister is an interesting blend of a number of horror elements: The occult, ghosts, haunted houses, serial murder, and "found footage." It's a fun ride for genre lovers who enjoy getting scared; I definitely jumped a few times. And the concept, while a hybrid, is fresh enough to appreciate. Here's hoping if money talks, that it tells the studio to produce a more fleshed-out, credible sequel. I'd be interested to see where the story keeps going...

7/10

Peace,
- Jon

MOVIE REVIEW: The Expendables 2 (2012)

In 2010, Sylvester Stallone unleashed every fanboy's testosterone-infused paradise upon the world - The Expendables: A no-holds, ensemble action tribute to the ultra-violent 80s serials, featuring many big names in the genre. It's easily a dude's answer to Sex and the City. While a fun film, I felt it needed a little extra *oomph* in the action sequences and less of the banal, double-digit IQ verbal exchanges. Two years later, Stallone somehow answered my nitpicky criticisms with The Expendables 2 a rare instance of a sequel that bests the original in every way possible. The coup de grâce (and I'm not ashamed of SPOILING this) being a trifecta shootout in the finale with the owners of Planet Hollywood themselves:

If this scene doesn't convince you to see the film, then I don't know what will. I'm convinced at least half the American male population has been waiting for this moment in film history.

And then, there's Chuck Norris (cue: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly theme):



...need I say more? The man appears in two scenes, but they're a killer (pun absolutely intended).

Now, onto the plot - Without elaborating too much (because honestly, who watches these films for plot?), Sly gets together the old gang once again to take on what is supposedly an "easy job" somewhere in the deserted mining towns of Albania. The mercenaries excursion goes fine until their newest and youngest recruit is ruthlessly whacked by Jean-Claude "The Muscles from Brussels" Van Damme, himself. Fixated on revenge (and wanting the item they came looking for, now stolen by Van Damme), the mercs go to town by doing what they do best - shooting first, and asking questions later. Ironically, violence is the answer to all their problems in this bullet-riddled fantasy.

This sequel has a lot going for it. Aside from the new cast members, the action is easily doubled from the first film, and the one-liners are much more in-tune with the stylings of Governor Schwarzenegger's work in the late-1980s. There's even a few nods to every cast member's previous works, typically in the dialogue. Moreover, I got a better sense of adventure, and even...um...character development than the first film. Sure, Expendables 2 isn't going to win any Academy Awards (at least in the artistic categories), but I'm sure that's not why people would go see it in the first place. I'm happy to say that as an action film, it was one of my favorites of the year, and it was nice to see the summer movie season of 2012 go out with a bang, in both senses of the word.

8/10

Peace,
- Jon

Food for thought: Lean Greek Pita Chicken Wraps

Greek food is one of the healthiest cuisines in the world. (just Google that last sentence if you don't believe me) It is also among the easiest to replicate. So I tried something other-than-a-sandwich for lunch while at home the other day, and I think it worked out quite nicely:

1 pita wrap or disc (plain or baked is optional)

1 grilled chicken breast (marinade is optional)

1/2 a tomato

A handful of salad greens

2 spoonfuls of tzatziki sauce or Trader Joe's cilantro & chive yogurt dip

Any other vegetables of your choice (optional)


Slice the chicken into thin strips. Dice the tomato into cubes. Spread the sauce/dip over the pita. Add the salad greens, chicken, and tomato. Feel free to add more vegetables but be careful not to overload the wrap.

If you buy everything pre-prepared, you can have this little bit of awesome on your plate in under 10 minutes.

Mangia!
- Jon

MOVIE REVIEW: The Campaign (2012)

At a brisk 85 minutes, The Campaign feels much like an afterthought written to cash in on the upcoming presidential election. The impeccable timing is certainly an asset; it's extriniscally a safe business move for the producers and keeps the audiences interested, although years from now, the political rifts or plot context may date themselves. It's not up to me to predict the future, but looking within the moment, the film touches on (or rather, spoofs) a lot of current issues in political campaigning, and is supported by some wonderfully zany performances by Will Ferrell and Zack Galfinakis alike. While not groundbreaking and rather juvenile, The Campaign is a fun romp, and those especially with a penchant for politics will find it enjoyable.

Democratic Representative Cam Brady of North Carolina is charismatic, well-groomed, and everything limousine liberal politicians are hated for (hypocrisy, adultery, etc.). Of course, he's kept a good job of hiding the skeletons in his closet, until he finds himself challenged by Republican tour guide and devout Christian, Marty Huggins. Backed by his wealthy father, a smooth campaign manager (played wonderfully by Dylan McDermott) and two corrupt businessmen who want to use his newfound clout to bring Chinese industry to NC. But as Marty plays dirty politics, and Cam's personal life spins out of control, the Huggins' begin to suffer the effects of negative media scrutiny. Just like in real life, we don't know for long until election day rolls around, and the fates decide who ultimately gets the job.

There's a lot to like about The Campaign, and I feel like it's biggest selling point is the prodding it makes at the absurd state of politics in America right now. However, a lot of it is Ferrell and Galfinakis' usual brand of sophomoric, obnoxious humor. Some may already find it getting long in the tooth. Others, especially those who are fans of Funny or Die should feel right at home. As one who also appreciates meta-fiction, it was fun to see renowned news figures make cameos to provide their two cents on the candidates antics. Overall, it's a fun film, but realize what you're getting yourself into, should you decide to see it.

7/10

Peace,
- Jon

MOVIE REVIEW: The Dark Knight Rises (2012) + some thoughts on the shooting

This past Saturday, I walked into a packed AMC with three security guards keeping watch at the ticket booths. Perhaps relieving to some after the events of this past weekend, though it was hard sitting down and trying not to think about what happened. Ultimately, I let myself go with the film. I can attest that it fulfilled it's purpose; we go to the movies in order to escape the pressures of the day. Even though The Dark Knight Rises is a gritty, violent thriller, it's a story of good versus evil at it's core. What happened in Aurora was an unfortunate and tragic consequence, and at this stage in the game, I feel like enough has been said as far as gun control in the United States. There's still a lot of questions that need answering, but it's important that I move on.

Eight years after the death of Harvey Dent and Joker's reign of terror, a new villain surfaces in the form of Bane, and Commissioner Gordon struggles to keep crime under control. After the previous film's events, Bruce Wayne is reduced to a near-recluse with a limp, until he encounters a new adversary in the form of "cat burglar," Selina Kyle. Eventually, while pursuing Kyle, Wayne crosses paths with Bane and learns that he has an even grander scheme to destroy Gotham than ever before. However, conflicts both personal and formidable prove daunting to Wayne, even for this installment.

This is perhaps the darkest of the Dark Knight Trilogy, second sequels usually are. And with strong film sagas, this film had a tough act to follow with it's predecessor's first-class production. The story had some strong twists and continued Christopher Nolan's excellent tradition of bringing great character development to the series. Action sequences are not as plentiful as in the previous film, but come in short, exciting bursts. Production values were absolutely strong across the board.

Acting was solid; the reprising characters continued their roles in fine form. Bane is one of the more interesting villains I've seen in a film; he's a dangerous combination of brains and brawn, looks like Darth Vader crossed with Steve Austin, and sounds like Patrick Stewart doing a bad, garbled impersonation of Albert Einstein. Anne Hathaway stole the show for me as Catwoman, sure, I probably have a thing for her, but it's the restrained sexiness and cunning wit that won me over. She's one of the best things about the show.

Ultimately, I can't say if Rises is going to be a standalone classic, but it's a fitting conclusion to arguably the best comic-book superhero trilogy in film history. And in case you were wondering, I personally think it may be slightly better than this year's box-office behemoth The Avengers, because of the more dramatic tone of the story.

9/10

Peace, and God bless the families in Aurora, Colorado.
- Jon

MOVIE REVIEW: Ted (2012)

Some of my friends have grown weary of Seth MacFarlane, saying "Family Guy" is no longer funny and several of his other TV exploits are equally perfunctory. Thankfully, the man had the good sense to transition into film this year; with a concept I was instantly sold on - a foul-mouthed teddy bear who gets stoned, drinks, and picks up women. What could a guy not possibly love? It's a unique twist on the "bromance vs. romance"-type of story that doesn't quite escape the cliche'd trappings, but is fresh and enjoyable take on what happens when the characters of an innocent, childhood fable grow up. This, ladies and gentleman, is Ted.

On Christmas Day, 1985, a young, lonely Boston boy named John is given a teddy bear by his parents. Having no friends to call his own, he names the bear "Ted" and makes a wish that his bear could talk. His wish is granted and the now-inexplicably anthropomorphic Ted becomes an overnight celebrity, making rounds on the talk-show circuit but remaining a consistent source of companionship to John, and the two become best friends. Flash forward to 27 years later, John works as a clerk for a rental car company, is in a four-year relationship with an advertising exec named Lori, and still lives with Ted. Over the years, Ted has picked up a penchant for partying, smoking a bong, watching bad movies, and bringing hookers back to the apartment, much to Lori's chagrin. She gives John an ultimatum: Kick Ted out, or she'll kick herself out; something the two best buds have difficulty dealing with.

As earlier stated, Ted is a typical story of "bromance vs. romance" wrapped in a fluffy, fuzzy package (...that sounded odd...). This gives the film an unfortunate sense of predictability that it doesn't shake throughout the entire run, but that doesn't stop it from being entertaining. Seth MacFarlane's crude, oddball humor thankfully outweighs the cliches. Some jokes fall flat, but most of them work. It's the concept that I'm really enamored with, and the performances from the cast are strong enough to carry the story through the bumps. There's an interesting twist/subplot towards the end that involves Ted getting himself into serious danger. It made me kind of wish the film based it's story more around that sort of structure, but for the most part, I was happy with the result (and the fact I only spent $5 for a ticket).

I had a difficult time rating Ted, because the more I dwelled upon the film, the more I felt better about it. I think it's just that I'm so enamored by the concept, that I'm allowing it to let me forgive some of it's more glaring flaws. Could Ted have been better? Sure. Is it enjoyable and entertaining? Absolutely!

...And how can I forget the Thunder Song:

8/10

Peace,
- Jon