tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18704409233971887892024-03-05T01:37:00.034-08:00The Boxed OfficeTwo childhood buddies, separated by 2300 miles, share their passion of all movies rooted in comic books, sci-fi and fun. We’ve compiled our opinions into one decisive, ongoing discussion about the movies we love. Join us as we post our vaguely informed perspectives about the movies we’ve waited a lifetime to see brought to life.ArthV8Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425459411323956859noreply@blogger.comBlogger117125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1870440923397188789.post-51157665494334747112016-05-09T09:48:00.001-07:002016-05-09T09:48:30.810-07:00It’s Whimperin’ Time!<div style="line-height: normal; min-height: 17px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Did you want another version of the Fantastic Four from Fox? Neither did anyone else. </b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>ON CONTINUITY</b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3A-NgxDQx6ujZuLLhQ11-b0M8BGTd2vXuqMneFepXp_EorZHV7-vieU_FSayBCk1-kzNRW4u_YlixQXbu_1FvBaJ7Fxi8QCgfGwDftAJQBQeV0ud1NdBOWAK3IELaeP6hh6biLt_6IC0/s1600/fantastic-four-2015-images-dimension.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3A-NgxDQx6ujZuLLhQ11-b0M8BGTd2vXuqMneFepXp_EorZHV7-vieU_FSayBCk1-kzNRW4u_YlixQXbu_1FvBaJ7Fxi8QCgfGwDftAJQBQeV0ud1NdBOWAK3IELaeP6hh6biLt_6IC0/s320/fantastic-four-2015-images-dimension.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<b>ARTH VADER (AV): </b>This was such a detraction from the original source material, 2016’s Fantastic Four remake was the film no one asked for and even fewer enjoyed. With no connectivity to any part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). or 20th Century Fox’s piece–let’s call it the F/MCU (I know fitting, right?) it was very difficult to see why anyone would have green-lighted this movie. Did you enjoy this, uh “film” Ponty?</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 18px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<b>THE PONTIFICATOR (TP): </b>This film took from the Ultimates version of the Fantastic Four, but of course there was just no way Fox was going to stick too closely to that. The controversy over making Johnny Storm black was just the tip of the iceberg in breaking continuity. Fox has a history of diverging from the original content…and it never seems to be an improvement…or a “joy” Vader.</div>
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>CASTING, DIRECTING AND ACTING</b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQTeYWEbtHqfiXn6E1OYuZJc9rm4yRjqNmUI6t2IAcy_J9eIQEhR0ZCd0r6ZSfEdsSae8QaWCcQ9NpqJtpMKTOszzPJ_6fBlbu5n8dSnpVDXy-kwc3ZjW9Eh_FcuhejMCG9wtUVrlmSi8/s1600/Miles-Teller-Mr-Fantastic-Four-2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQTeYWEbtHqfiXn6E1OYuZJc9rm4yRjqNmUI6t2IAcy_J9eIQEhR0ZCd0r6ZSfEdsSae8QaWCcQ9NpqJtpMKTOszzPJ_6fBlbu5n8dSnpVDXy-kwc3ZjW9Eh_FcuhejMCG9wtUVrlmSi8/s320/Miles-Teller-Mr-Fantastic-Four-2015.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<b>AV:</b> For the life of me, I will NEVER understand the Director choice, the choice of cast or even the actual screenplay for this film. Josh “Chronicle” Trank is a talented upcoming director of sci-fi/hero flicks and would be a good choice for most films. But not this one. Perhaps there were too many hands in the kitchen, maybe the politics were too steep, or maybe he just isn’t a visionary Marvel director but his vision just flat didn’t work. But that was the least of this film’s problems. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpNt1wQi8i9Qd1ZTuu-qNq2IdFf0dtQ9W2IpW61BwEf5WhDyAmI22aEqAPHD1L-uFvTVJa6aJcQHQEaxDosQgHFfy5BM-oivYacvFD__p_GnmV0HHlrOFJA6AIuvPj3xFeFHusIuIE93I/s1600/690454_Film-Review-Fantastic-Fou4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpNt1wQi8i9Qd1ZTuu-qNq2IdFf0dtQ9W2IpW61BwEf5WhDyAmI22aEqAPHD1L-uFvTVJa6aJcQHQEaxDosQgHFfy5BM-oivYacvFD__p_GnmV0HHlrOFJA6AIuvPj3xFeFHusIuIE93I/s320/690454_Film-Review-Fantastic-Fou4.jpg" width="232" /></a>To say this film was a mistake is like saying the second world war was a minor disagreement. Nothing worked. The cast was all wrong. I mean, Michale B Jordan is awesome, Kate Mara stellar, Miles “Insurgent” Teller is a good actor but he is NOT Reed Richards. Lastly, Jamie “King Kong” Bell is fine actor — but, the Thing? Am I the only one who had WTH moment over this Ponty?</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 18px;">
<br /></div>
<b style="font-family: arial; font-size: 16px;">TP:</b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 16px;"> Using a young cast is a great idea Vader.…if the script and actors can deliver. </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_B._Jordan" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 16px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Michael B. Jordan</span></a><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 16px;"> (Human Torch) is the only cast member that can carry a film (“</span><a href="http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2015/11/creed.html" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 16px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">Creed</span></a><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 16px;">”), with </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamie_Bell" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 16px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Jamie Bell</span></a><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 16px;"> (Thing) running a close second being able to carry a series (“</span><a href="http://www.amc.com/shows/turn" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 16px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">TURN: Washington’s Spies</span></a><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 16px;">”) and neither were given anything substantial to carry in this film. </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miles_Teller" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 16px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Miles Teller</span></a><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 16px;"> (Mister Fantastic), </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kate_Mara" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 16px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Kate Mara</span></a><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 16px;"> (Invisible Woman), and </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toby_Kebbell" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 16px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Toby Kebbell</span></a><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 16px;"> (Doom) may very well be excellent actors, but fell flat in this film for me. The direction of the film was all over the place trying to bring to life a script that didn’t seem to care about the characters…..so neither did I.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>SPECIAL EFFECTS</b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUIdISNPvGLkylUCeHlYr6Btx8ueFRMOcKKKOJNfJULliYJ6GVoOqK2u6NTEnF2G2YGjZXijVWPdusjRFxZ4hV4MnxkOo2URMFRqWPGYkkAgbq7AT3IhyphenhyphenzCBpRntBki1D6AnBdyjFiTCQ/s1600/5-ways-2015-s-fantastic-four-was-better-than-the-2005-version-557051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUIdISNPvGLkylUCeHlYr6Btx8ueFRMOcKKKOJNfJULliYJ6GVoOqK2u6NTEnF2G2YGjZXijVWPdusjRFxZ4hV4MnxkOo2URMFRqWPGYkkAgbq7AT3IhyphenhyphenzCBpRntBki1D6AnBdyjFiTCQ/s320/5-ways-2015-s-fantastic-four-was-better-than-the-2005-version-557051.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<b>AV:</b> The visual effects in this film were so pedestrian there is nothing worth mentioning. In fact I thought the end-fight was so poorly done, I wonder if it was even fully polished in post. The effects weren’t even passable for a Pixar screen test. Honestly, just bad.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 18px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<b>TP:</b> Although there is nothing new to report with regards to the effects, they were done very well. Honestly, it would take a lot these days to really screw up in this area and while the effects were good, I found some of the costuming and effects thereof rather mundane and unoriginal, specifically concerning Doom. Thing, on the other hand, was superb and more real looking than ever.</div>
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>A CLOSER LOOK</b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeIJjZyaHL9aCLrRD6jTn3kuTnTaZ9aB84dT5Y1HO8ObjAC_MJ9YJ5rOfIGiWcNNpdsPxik27D7pV5q9w5kkNqZCvuzIG9oTAP859o73zynRs2fp1zvAz8FMEMbN77_7YyHKYkgdi8rQg/s1600/four4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeIJjZyaHL9aCLrRD6jTn3kuTnTaZ9aB84dT5Y1HO8ObjAC_MJ9YJ5rOfIGiWcNNpdsPxik27D7pV5q9w5kkNqZCvuzIG9oTAP859o73zynRs2fp1zvAz8FMEMbN77_7YyHKYkgdi8rQg/s320/four4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<b>AV:</b> Being one of Marvel’s flagship properties, I wasn’t sure what Fox was thinking. Since the agreement between Marvel and 20th Century Fox is that a new film must be in production within two years of the property’s previous theatrical release, its easy to know why this film was green lighted but did ANYONE look at the final cut? Did anyone want to? Movie reviewers ripped this film a new one, audiences hated it, podcasters had field day with it and even Kate Mara herself is rumored to have refused to watch the final edit. I mean, how bad does a movie have to be for one of the primary actors to not want to even see the film they’re in?</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 18px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgExMtAdSfm-3WuOpLaVnzqzShjmNL2zXw0yw7zczhuUsq-_OhXCrms6OQrKG6TnYu-HgYj2JKzWRrYknDzfhQH6WXXVTKPgoO0uc90uzSH-tV55StiwknxObgTatquPZTmCMljCdi_xZw/s1600/Fantastic-Four-Reed-Richards-and-Ben-Grimm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgExMtAdSfm-3WuOpLaVnzqzShjmNL2zXw0yw7zczhuUsq-_OhXCrms6OQrKG6TnYu-HgYj2JKzWRrYknDzfhQH6WXXVTKPgoO0uc90uzSH-tV55StiwknxObgTatquPZTmCMljCdi_xZw/s320/Fantastic-Four-Reed-Richards-and-Ben-Grimm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<b>TP:</b> Fox needs to release these characters back to Marvel Studios. That’s the bottom line here. To slap together a film like this just to retain the rights to the characters is a slap in the face of moviegoers and true fans everywhere. There were so many areas of this film that could have been done better and very little that was done well enough. It starts with the script and extends through casting to special effects. If any one of these is bad, there is a chance the others can carry the film….but when all of them are suffering, the film is a rout. I would have more respect for Fox if they would just put the audience first, and let Marvel do what they do best with the characters they own. Fox doesn’t have respect though…they just want money, and it seems they will not learn until the lesson reaches their pocket.</div>
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>ON SEQUELS</b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_dmEL2mCpAkfj5b-kE5fc1WcDh9lR3zuwKMDw6JFlLmApNGZsfYUj10waox9jntcX-hLCHpzHw6B-ZletJi6d4AaNTa_zdCTi69Eimk6ghCSWdGIkUpJPy8xYZEdoMb5S0MfFJ6sBS-I/s1600/Fantastic-Four-Dr-Doom-mask.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_dmEL2mCpAkfj5b-kE5fc1WcDh9lR3zuwKMDw6JFlLmApNGZsfYUj10waox9jntcX-hLCHpzHw6B-ZletJi6d4AaNTa_zdCTi69Eimk6ghCSWdGIkUpJPy8xYZEdoMb5S0MfFJ6sBS-I/s320/Fantastic-Four-Dr-Doom-mask.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<b>AV: </b>This film fails on so many levels it’s not worth anyone’s times to mention. But what happens next ought to be real interesting since no one is looking for another FF reboot and even the cast of this film said there’s no way they’re coming back. I wonder if Fox will let this property go back to Marvel (Studios) as well, like Daredevil, Ghost Rider and Blade. While I’m certain this will not be the last onscreen version of the FF, this film won’t be remembered for anything other than a train wreck. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 18px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<b>TP: </b>I dread anymore Fantastic Four films from Fox, but we all know that in their desire to make money and retain the rights to these characters, they will continue to put out lackluster films in hopes audience standards reach the lows they consistently aspire to.</div>
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>RATE IT!</b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBxXIN8TU8R8Ut_458AbvreJn1b2TQo-e4ZIUZ4stjiSvOttU5ZvYbL3SMCAkIzLU6502u3KfU7ducf1WyywcuLeP2kzzR_uyvmDR3W8-TOeTuUcg1WSUhgQDjdnym2_F2gCZyTCyPE0Q/s1600/MV5BMTk0OTMyMDA0OF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwMzY5NTkzNTE%2540._V1_SX640_SY720_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBxXIN8TU8R8Ut_458AbvreJn1b2TQo-e4ZIUZ4stjiSvOttU5ZvYbL3SMCAkIzLU6502u3KfU7ducf1WyywcuLeP2kzzR_uyvmDR3W8-TOeTuUcg1WSUhgQDjdnym2_F2gCZyTCyPE0Q/s320/MV5BMTk0OTMyMDA0OF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwMzY5NTkzNTE%2540._V1_SX640_SY720_.jpg" width="216" /></a><b>ARTH VADER Rates Fantastic Four:</b> In a right and just world this film should have never, EVER been made. It’s only redeeming qualities are that it happened and that it paves a very likely path for Marvel Studios (the real Marvel) to reacquire this IP and let the big boys take over. I don’t even have a clever way to say this, this movie gets one Busted Block. It doesn’t really even deserve that, but I respect all parties involved and wish everyone’s career a healthy rebound. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 18px;">
<br /></div>
<b style="font-family: arial; font-size: 16px;">THE PONTIFICATOR rates Fantastic Four: </b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 16px;">I’m a hero head and wanted very much for this film to be something exciting and worth my time. Instead it was uneventful, short, and altogether poorly done. The effects barely made it watchable and teleported four (4) busted blocks out of Fox and into a universe where the Fantastic Four are finally done right (that would Marvel Studios).</span><br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Fantastic 4: 2.5 / 10 Busted Blocks</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
ArthV8Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425459411323956859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1870440923397188789.post-78377825115728131642016-01-25T15:37:00.004-08:002016-01-25T15:41:49.444-08:00In Hot Pursuit of Scorching Fun<div style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>The second installment of the Maze Runner franchise that not all is lost, even during the Apocalypse </b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; min-height: 17px;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">ON CONTINUITY</span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<div style="min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha3gFxs3JPEkYD_BQzEbPDpAWoZsPivC09pBupGlS20rLipuf5bdFBLLj5EiCYaiTLEM7OI8kHVPwda4PptAkKQD5SvAYNqL0gLPYZ0Y84-Zb6m7s1dvApeh-QB9X793oynwJRjtLmTfk/s1600/scorchtrials-7-gallery-image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha3gFxs3JPEkYD_BQzEbPDpAWoZsPivC09pBupGlS20rLipuf5bdFBLLj5EiCYaiTLEM7OI8kHVPwda4PptAkKQD5SvAYNqL0gLPYZ0Y84-Zb6m7s1dvApeh-QB9X793oynwJRjtLmTfk/s320/scorchtrials-7-gallery-image.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><b>ARTH VADER (AV):</b> Faster than I would have thought, we got ourselves another Scorch Trials installment. I was surprised to have enjoyed the first film so much but I quickly forgot all about the campy ‘kids save the world’ story so when this one came out in the summer of 2015, I was like “huh–already?” The film comes hot on the heels of the first Maze Runner and as the first one was surprisingly good, my concern was simply; can the second one maintain form? Not a tall order but I had my doubts. How about you, Ponty? </span></div>
<div style="min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><b></b><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGWYhv1xmqF96y4CDEEI0N8D9GfZEMeLqCAz79a_cTPGlGU57xiiRitJtToKM3OGyDY1CP45PN0hUC2nJZ-0KlWvlIM3OrafnKMBnxxpA-Lzkc_o4DbxG6uMTggUFsMV0DtBU3033LTU0/s1600/MazeRunner1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGWYhv1xmqF96y4CDEEI0N8D9GfZEMeLqCAz79a_cTPGlGU57xiiRitJtToKM3OGyDY1CP45PN0hUC2nJZ-0KlWvlIM3OrafnKMBnxxpA-Lzkc_o4DbxG6uMTggUFsMV0DtBU3033LTU0/s320/MazeRunner1.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><b>THE PONTIFICATOR (TP):</b> This film picks up where the last one left off…and like the last one, diverges greatly from the original book it was based on. This was to be expected though since the film adaption of the entire story left the books with the first installment... and will likely continue to the end of the trilogy. At least this film lines up with the first and in that, there is perfect continuity.</span></div>
<div style="min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">CASTING, DIRECTING AND ACTING</span></b></div>
<div style="min-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><b></b><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1dxxmACmu9ZnfW-P5aJa4gNjFdAwCQIDuQntdk4wnITv-IPVhtq19PaXbXv96vqzW2QOWR3ika9j7AuUbE5v4rDkvlbgLz-DYY5BuprcfB8nJGBt2-fCMrzXPWfhex767Uigx58spkaU/s1600/635777953661720654-DF-27330.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1dxxmACmu9ZnfW-P5aJa4gNjFdAwCQIDuQntdk4wnITv-IPVhtq19PaXbXv96vqzW2QOWR3ika9j7AuUbE5v4rDkvlbgLz-DYY5BuprcfB8nJGBt2-fCMrzXPWfhex767Uigx58spkaU/s320/635777953661720654-DF-27330.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><b>AV: </b>Scorch Trials brings back an impressively talented cast of young Maze Runners, as Director Wes Ball expands his world of the and brings us new and compelling details of world that’s no longer ours but has become something else entirely. Let’s face it, Ponty, the acting is no great shakes anywhere in this flick but I don’t know if that’s the fault of the actors. The screenplay tries to involve the viewer and doesn’t fail, while not making a whole lot of linear sense. Still, the story is embraceable and we get so much more out of Scorch Trials than I would have thought, wouldn’t you say sir? </span></div>
<div style="min-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><b></b><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7muV870NrrE_q-NB2TYfpOEIL3CGK60Sxwad7Im7Wz-am2MhxYEKxbkLfwpVWSkCh3rdB4Eu13w2nF_oAKH_CF-MYeKun76MW-tn9nE1xNZj89-UgqazO0Kkiulk_xO2pGfTDEiSSL1Y/s1600/Scorch-trials-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7muV870NrrE_q-NB2TYfpOEIL3CGK60Sxwad7Im7Wz-am2MhxYEKxbkLfwpVWSkCh3rdB4Eu13w2nF_oAKH_CF-MYeKun76MW-tn9nE1xNZj89-UgqazO0Kkiulk_xO2pGfTDEiSSL1Y/s320/Scorch-trials-12.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><b>TP:</b> I wasn’t taken with any of the returning original cast Vader, even though they played their roles adequately (just barley so in some cases), I was more intrigued with the new additions to the cast. <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm5015107/"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Jacob Lofland</span></a> was particularly interesting in his role as Aris with his quiet demeanor and willingness to get involved. Although I like <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aidan_Gillen"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Aiden Gillen</span></a>, he seemed to come off as just an alternate version of “Little Finger” (his <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0944947/"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">Game of Thrones</span></a> role)… worming his way to the WY.K.D throne. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giancarlo_Esposito"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Giancarlo Esposito</span></a> was a surprise and added some spice to the cast with his role as wheeler and dealer, but ultimately a concerned parent looking for a better life. Lastly was the unexpected appearance of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_Pepper"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Barry Pepper</span></a>. Although he didn’t have a huge role, I haven’t seen him in awhile and it was good to see him return to the silver screen.</span></div>
<div style="min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">SPECIAL EFFECTS</span></b></div>
<div style="min-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-dfL6x9bX10PmDR6gcqJUiZJHQXmHGFvrUjlMTQksaHUikDGTBREJZbxObcIMurDRHahXBEDfKsrteR_pYbCsEBwH8YXR4FS8i-qrU5qmUJQHOwaIwmJ3gxXSYyajRaz208b5b3rM86Q/s1600/mazerunnerscorchtrials7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-dfL6x9bX10PmDR6gcqJUiZJHQXmHGFvrUjlMTQksaHUikDGTBREJZbxObcIMurDRHahXBEDfKsrteR_pYbCsEBwH8YXR4FS8i-qrU5qmUJQHOwaIwmJ3gxXSYyajRaz208b5b3rM86Q/s320/mazerunnerscorchtrials7.jpg" width="247" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><b>AV:</b> It was hard not to to be impressed by this film’s visual effects. Massive CGI city environments-like the rolling electrical storms and crazy weather, as well as fantastic landscapes and of course (Spoilers!), Zombies. I gotta’ admit my friend, I did NOT see that one coming! Sure I might have if I read the books, but hey, c’mon what is this a library? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">The addition of Zombies, even different types of them, was kind of low hanging fruit from a story-teller’s standpoint but I loved it all the same. Really! Seeing brainless undead hordes chase our Maze-running heroes out of a blasted out skyscraper submerged in sand is one of the most compelling single moments of 2015 effects cinema.</span></div>
<div style="min-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp_Dt-Wn9QZygL2QkWb8t7CfZ-w8MPpj7rXh3ZuAAaiC7IT99k6W6N5u9joAmUUuoXQISG9fxHBNBoFaCB7KrDWBE9NgV86w6NIIu69dd8TNAt-MAkNcXTSKpeu31K8BhMj9Jf8bpXn08/s1600/mazerunner-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp_Dt-Wn9QZygL2QkWb8t7CfZ-w8MPpj7rXh3ZuAAaiC7IT99k6W6N5u9joAmUUuoXQISG9fxHBNBoFaCB7KrDWBE9NgV86w6NIIu69dd8TNAt-MAkNcXTSKpeu31K8BhMj9Jf8bpXn08/s320/mazerunner-01.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><b>TP:</b> There was no new ground broken, but the effects were still well done and moved the story along for what it was…a giant chase film. With that, there isn’t much that need be done except having stuff pop out at various times coupled with camera play to distort the senses. It works well for what it was intended to do.</span></div>
<div style="min-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A CLOSER LOOK</span></b></div>
<div style="min-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ9UDoLwOowP6gbojzDJkmNsSHN-AlDd_nrSK5fRaWk-9-KzGnAjzTg424UBfL6k_Zsm0okH1WTdiNe4QhaFiTNo_sOGpYFBQTNBUj_eEtpOzW_WIQhY0fjayzIjRplf_CVRRJunpx5_o/s1600/635777953731144214-DF-06260.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ9UDoLwOowP6gbojzDJkmNsSHN-AlDd_nrSK5fRaWk-9-KzGnAjzTg424UBfL6k_Zsm0okH1WTdiNe4QhaFiTNo_sOGpYFBQTNBUj_eEtpOzW_WIQhY0fjayzIjRplf_CVRRJunpx5_o/s320/635777953731144214-DF-06260.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><b>AV: </b>Okay, so in the review of the first installment of the Maze Running chronicles, I was left with a number of questions like, why are they there, and who put them there and why are they being watched. Sadly, I’m not sure I have those answers. Yes, I am aware the organization that set up the whole Maze observation dynamic was revealed but, why would ANYONE dedicate such large-scale technological, human, and logistical resources to such experiments? It make no sense to me. But I guess some things just have to hold our suspended belief. It’s my least favorite storytelling component to these movies. What did you think?</span></div>
<div style="min-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSPnoPq0ADoiNvNMczGFbnAeRhQ9qvN3h9S3FqlN6CEA7xbvyY3zEKWokWRk8wM62OCGk5WFwZ1QRiTfA2-E7jvjUiZnT-WPsZd4eZYGIrjA7GXXjtTEh1EjlfDqlg1aBXmeUNzqlZvoM/s1600/maze-runner-1-1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSPnoPq0ADoiNvNMczGFbnAeRhQ9qvN3h9S3FqlN6CEA7xbvyY3zEKWokWRk8wM62OCGk5WFwZ1QRiTfA2-E7jvjUiZnT-WPsZd4eZYGIrjA7GXXjtTEh1EjlfDqlg1aBXmeUNzqlZvoM/s320/maze-runner-1-1024.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><b>TP:</b> Where do I start Vader? Perhaps I’ll start with the lunacy that in the middle of a chase, or while still being in peril, is somehow the perfect opportunity to stop and demand a detailed explanation for why you are running for your life. No? How about splitting up in dangerous and unfamiliar territory that is no doubt riddled with danger? If that wasn’t bad enough, how about leaving a perfectly functioning gun behind so one of your party can commit suicide? Uh... throwing away an empty canteen, so in the off chance you actually do come across more water in the desert, you have no place to store it? What about setting your place to blow up because you are under attack by hostile forces, and you only take ONE of the six or seven guns you have, and leave the rest. Oh… my personal favorite is coming to a fork in the road and deciding to explore the scary creepy looking tendrils on the wall and follow them back to a place of horror… and continue to explore! These are just some of the idiocy and lunacy that simply killed this film for me.</span></div>
<div style="min-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">ON SEQUELS</span></b></div>
<div style="min-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMCgeghYpr3IgeF6t_km-2K93JoTetxjDTKj8siUwIwiyTnghVLa-VqdLAaMbgMY29rHwlF9bdhMljl7vfkvFSXM1E3zN2o5IeWFgjAhqD76eetIrfAReilo3zq5yndaZDbqQRzTnxLsQ/s1600/89731.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMCgeghYpr3IgeF6t_km-2K93JoTetxjDTKj8siUwIwiyTnghVLa-VqdLAaMbgMY29rHwlF9bdhMljl7vfkvFSXM1E3zN2o5IeWFgjAhqD76eetIrfAReilo3zq5yndaZDbqQRzTnxLsQ/s320/89731.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><b>AV: </b>This film left the audience in a bit of a cliff-hanger so we are more than likely going to get another installment. I am quite interested in seeing how the story raps up in the next chapter. The culmination of robotic monsters (from the first film) and ravenous, black-blooded Zombies in film two makes me anxious to see if those two (adversaries) go to war or if there is a third terror unleashed on our heroes Runners as they head back for the final showdown.</span></div>
<div style="min-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><b>TP:</b> There is going to be a third film. In fact I have heard that the last film might even be split into two films ala “<a href="http://theboxedoffice.blogspot.com/2014/12/hard-not-to-mock-mockingjay.html"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">Hunger Games</span></a>.” All I can say is if it is more of the same, I will probably be just as annoyed watching it as I was watching this film. </span></div>
<div style="min-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">RATE IT!</span></b></div>
<div style="min-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><b></b><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbxUZb5iAtBk1LCA1j_OGux1IT8afZSzJbZpzCtaWCtbuwWDZa5Y1dtPVmkNI0btLGsNevIWVKRQm1rK87iPW9aYnFl9MoTZF6SDGTOfv-_rJR4w97gpW5KRKAPGi_24voRpUKQRcqUDA/s1600/MV5BMjE3MDU2NzQyMl5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwMzQxMDQ3NTE%2540._V1_SX640_SY720_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbxUZb5iAtBk1LCA1j_OGux1IT8afZSzJbZpzCtaWCtbuwWDZa5Y1dtPVmkNI0btLGsNevIWVKRQm1rK87iPW9aYnFl9MoTZF6SDGTOfv-_rJR4w97gpW5KRKAPGi_24voRpUKQRcqUDA/s400/MV5BMjE3MDU2NzQyMl5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwMzQxMDQ3NTE%2540._V1_SX640_SY720_.jpg" width="270" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><b>ARTH VADER Rates Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials: </b>With a great–if not predictable–final battle wrought with tears, feel-good heroics and some good, old-fashioned Hollywood explosions and gun play, you’ll enjoy Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials. I dare say even better than the first, this film does a solid job of engaging the audience and I need to re-iterate, for any Zombie-lovers out there, this film has got the goods. Well-paced, loaded with good-looking CGI and a story that’s good enough to move things along, I’d line up seven (7) Busted Blocks and drop them into a monster-laden, zombie-infested wasteland and watch the good time roll.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><b>THE PONTIFICATOR rates Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials: </b> Maybe it’s hubris when I say that I think I’m just too intelligent for this film, but when nearly every scene has me scratching my head wondering what the heck the characters are thinking when they do some of the dumb stuff they do…I have to wonder if people actually wrote this film or was it a room full of chimpanzees as part of some vile experiment. This film seems to have gotten lost in its own maze of idiocy and could only manage to find five (5) busted blocks</span></div>
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials: 6 / 10 Busted Blocks</span></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYjqNQyolHhLZDG08NFQq5Px4tE0pQnv7WOx-IbJqeCcTorVkNWCw-URLUqBxG9xtGnK9oF7ihpCtspzZg6_pYbhmMXB_zCSMT8UH9HHq2fmwmQXYr4mEiBeSBGhg0SDOO7i5y1_bG4Ws/s1600/TheBoxedOffice_6+busted+blocs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="71" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYjqNQyolHhLZDG08NFQq5Px4tE0pQnv7WOx-IbJqeCcTorVkNWCw-URLUqBxG9xtGnK9oF7ihpCtspzZg6_pYbhmMXB_zCSMT8UH9HHq2fmwmQXYr4mEiBeSBGhg0SDOO7i5y1_bG4Ws/s320/TheBoxedOffice_6+busted+blocs.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<b><span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
ArthV8Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425459411323956859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1870440923397188789.post-84216564267145225422016-01-08T12:56:00.001-08:002016-01-08T12:56:55.993-08:00San Andreas A Real Disaster <div style="min-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is literally on shaky ground in this forgettable disaster tryst</span></b></div>
<div style="font-size: 17px; min-height: 20px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b></b><br /></span></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">ON CONTINUITY</span></b><br />
<div style="font-size: 17px; min-height: 20px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b></b><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 17px;">
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcij0cAmZMiIGzy34e8XDTKfOcj_DytKO_lj5kp5zBBXBVW4Q2u0TJn-wZP-xb3-thiXWx2H1ZwLbDbPKyQ4Ylfzq02M23PHkEIE2jxUSPuubbfUnpCSMpXa5I57S0GtTyCiVL8FJZ_Hk/s1600/san-andreas-dwayne-johnson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcij0cAmZMiIGzy34e8XDTKfOcj_DytKO_lj5kp5zBBXBVW4Q2u0TJn-wZP-xb3-thiXWx2H1ZwLbDbPKyQ4Ylfzq02M23PHkEIE2jxUSPuubbfUnpCSMpXa5I57S0GtTyCiVL8FJZ_Hk/s320/san-andreas-dwayne-johnson.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>ARTH VADER (AV)</b>: In loving memory of all the great disaster flicks like Twister, Towering Inferno, Tidal Wave, Dante’s Peak, 2012, The Day After Tomorrow, and Armageddon, San Andreas is the doomsday-eque tale of “the big one.” The supposed impending mega-quake along the San Andreas Fault line that will decidedly re-shape the west coast as parts of California are believed to likely fall into the Pacific. These films are fun, fruity fiction that play on our fears while trying to move us to tears. Thoughts, oh Pontificatorious one? </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>THE PONTIFICATOR (TP)</b>: There is a formula for films like this and the producers of this film stuck to it. Now, doing so doesn’t make this a great film, but it certainly made it a predictable one. If continuity were following a specific way formula for a hero/disaster film, then this film stuck to that…to the letter.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="font-size: 17px; min-height: 20px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">CASTING, ACTING AND DIRECTION</span></b><br />
<div style="font-size: 17px; min-height: 20px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b></b><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 17px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUJ3ap3UZkcEyxbKBYGbS-D5IiVA5LXKFCeL3UZGSyEtyOc-MvybBCjDadDvSIpLB9HOsInbZn4nMYcZIeSkRfm_1XxpVNW_6RJ5MKQ5jTQaQQjoUKgbgCUtTl2TBzcjnAEI2aZtCvlfA/s1600/920x920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUJ3ap3UZkcEyxbKBYGbS-D5IiVA5LXKFCeL3UZGSyEtyOc-MvybBCjDadDvSIpLB9HOsInbZn4nMYcZIeSkRfm_1XxpVNW_6RJ5MKQ5jTQaQQjoUKgbgCUtTl2TBzcjnAEI2aZtCvlfA/s320/920x920.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>AV</b>: Paul “The Rhino” Giamatti plays a decidedly intelligent role of a geologist who has the unfortunate burden of knowing what’s about to happen and in turn loose his partner (along with about 30 million Californians) for his troubles. The lovely and talented Carla Gugino all but wastes her time in this film. Even Ioan “No-longer Mr Fantastic” Gruffudd plays an unlikely super-industrialist for no reason whatsoever. Director Brad Peyton’s epic cinematography is misplaced in such an Epic flop and well, I won’t even mention the ‘acting.’</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; min-height: 20px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2hHDHiN_WFdOmnf_76bnkzcYEA7v_Syxyqlt8GUBV3_rlwdFqAeM-AOQGwqt1al26tE19PYgaOYv8JV92_5HNvMcPT7aHfEYjGgRD5PsLI-piqex1uf1ryWNSKt0uxxt6lNyM9ifIEvY/s1600/san+andreas+movie+carla+gugino+ioan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2hHDHiN_WFdOmnf_76bnkzcYEA7v_Syxyqlt8GUBV3_rlwdFqAeM-AOQGwqt1al26tE19PYgaOYv8JV92_5HNvMcPT7aHfEYjGgRD5PsLI-piqex1uf1ryWNSKt0uxxt6lNyM9ifIEvY/s320/san+andreas+movie+carla+gugino+ioan.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>TP:</b> Make no mistake this is a film about “The Rock” (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwayne_Johnson"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Dwayne Johnson</span></a>) and he does exactly what I expected of him…bigger than life with plenty of flexing. That said, the supporting cast does well, given the material. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carla_Gugino"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Carla Gugino</span></a> (last seen by me in “<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2618986/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">Wayward Pines</span></a>”) is the estranged ex-wife. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ioan_Gruffudd"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Ioan Gruffudd</span></a> (last seen by me in “<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3487382/"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">Forever</span></a>”) is the new boyfriend with loads of cash, but very little courage. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Giamatti"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Paul Giamatti</span></a>, my favorite of the supporting cast, is the scientist that has important information, that nobody else knows. Although there was a lot of unused talent here, the direction of the film was more predictable than knowing submerging yourself in water will make you wet.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="font-size: 17px; min-height: 20px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">SPECIAL EFFECTS</span></b><br />
<div style="font-size: 17px; min-height: 20px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b></b><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 17px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCKiBhhntWp-WdsCFaGPWus4cuyhOheFZsqWYnH7LKJHRA2AxqgCCCyxFWD0GhyQoB83UUJojnDUkhMZP8pmkRMKOBBKWSBtZPSqBEw2GZFpt9fOhOti5iCsNLG-ffldQr-hd7Dh3RSW8/s1600/maxresdefault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCKiBhhntWp-WdsCFaGPWus4cuyhOheFZsqWYnH7LKJHRA2AxqgCCCyxFWD0GhyQoB83UUJojnDUkhMZP8pmkRMKOBBKWSBtZPSqBEw2GZFpt9fOhOti5iCsNLG-ffldQr-hd7Dh3RSW8/s320/maxresdefault.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>AV</b>: Nothing says big-budget summer blockbuster than a massive visual effects budget on film devoid of story, value or merit. The ridiculous Tsunami, vast scope of giant cities buckling under massive aftershocks. On-screen, the visuals keep the audience from dozing or walking out wouldn’t you say old friend? </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; min-height: 20px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial;">TP: </b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial;">With a film this predictable, effects is really all there is to it. While the effects were great, there really was nothing new presented here to make up for the lack of everything else. Wanton destruction has been done before, the trick is to do it better than anyone else ever has…and this film missed that mark.</span> </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 17px; min-height: 20px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">TAKING A DEEPER LOOK</span></b><br />
<div style="font-size: 17px; min-height: 20px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b></b><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 17px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYWWdfNB6w-KLhTJbxhXiH41VI1XJ14wRRptf7MKru6cmukExlW3m6QWRYlg2Zj0Ip5roUalkMFzgH3GnIexnuDycwsmmSpVWnNgnBow2elK6gD2VdVHs3klgJU4r7kvgWBfSOEaQJ1BU/s1600/San-Andreas-Movie-2015-Art-Parkinson-Alexandra-Daddario-Hugo-Johnstone-Burt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYWWdfNB6w-KLhTJbxhXiH41VI1XJ14wRRptf7MKru6cmukExlW3m6QWRYlg2Zj0Ip5roUalkMFzgH3GnIexnuDycwsmmSpVWnNgnBow2elK6gD2VdVHs3klgJU4r7kvgWBfSOEaQJ1BU/s320/San-Andreas-Movie-2015-Art-Parkinson-Alexandra-Daddario-Hugo-Johnstone-Burt.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>AV</b>: Its hard to consider a film like this anything other than eye-candy. Characters appear and disappear without any reason or explanation. We’re given little-to-no opportunity for character motivations (other than survival) and improbable scenarios arise that we simply take at face value (like how its ok to steal or randomly ‘borrow’ any boat plane or truck you need to get around during a giant Earthquake). </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; min-height: 20px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Look in all fairness, movies like this don’t deserve our individual or collective brain power, but that doesn’t mean bad movies get a pass for spending $150 million dollars. C’mon Hollywood, you’re better than that. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; min-height: 20px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVB1nWmkVlnqMMQqe4w88dZkNLwpPyh7WPW64zYoK-JNmisP-l10Joi5EZs_hq2UjF9JyrxjiQ8x1-dWDhIcnm7maYVyDl_bEXnfN6TvH7HxS0qPu1abbqKHDLZgrpvnVBbBklui1vyAM/s1600/san+andrea+movie+carla+gugino.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVB1nWmkVlnqMMQqe4w88dZkNLwpPyh7WPW64zYoK-JNmisP-l10Joi5EZs_hq2UjF9JyrxjiQ8x1-dWDhIcnm7maYVyDl_bEXnfN6TvH7HxS0qPu1abbqKHDLZgrpvnVBbBklui1vyAM/s320/san+andrea+movie+carla+gugino.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>TP:</b> If you are a huge fan of The Rock like I am, then you will give this film a pass regardless of all it’s shortcomings…the greatest of which is the fact you can tell exactly what is going to happen before it happens…in every…single…scene. I said earlier there is a formula for films like this. Great hero/disaster films tend to deviate from this formula in some way to give some surprise to the audience. The makers of this film didn’t even bother with that. As a result, I sat there like a precog for the entire film with the only high point being my fandom for The Rock, and all the cheesiness with which they presented his character.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="font-size: 17px; min-height: 20px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">ON SEQUELS</span></b><br />
<div style="font-size: 17px; min-height: 20px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b></b><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 17px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI6qlV_D9KRobwp98ok0QNWac3FoHOsoADm-bPQKGYI-uda4uC-xuhWNhz-qUbHeO3tDFv_YzcslipjeK4AnRQVS7ptx_7vA5Z25Is-U0ahq9sm419S4lqBbPAbwV8o3b0OHDy1attCqE/s1600/san-andreas-movie.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI6qlV_D9KRobwp98ok0QNWac3FoHOsoADm-bPQKGYI-uda4uC-xuhWNhz-qUbHeO3tDFv_YzcslipjeK4AnRQVS7ptx_7vA5Z25Is-U0ahq9sm419S4lqBbPAbwV8o3b0OHDy1attCqE/s320/san-andreas-movie.png" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>AV</b>: The big travesty is that more big budget, brainless boob movies like this are sure to follow. No one asks for them, no one wants them, but we keep going so they keep getting made. (sigh)</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>TP:</b> Nope…don’t even bother because I will predict that one too. It will go like this: The Rock goes to another area, an earthquake (or other natural disaster) happens, he saves his family (or whatever supporting characters are presented) with all the non-surprises and cliche of this film, the end.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="font-size: 17px; min-height: 20px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">RATE IT!</span></b><br />
<div style="font-size: 17px; min-height: 20px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b></b><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 17px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin5Hic8Ox6xrkS2NwGQsVQWvJxOEUVk5kNGx_L5D51_XNny_4fHwXbEWzt8hh7z7e6pFM_PpM7S1IKHMLPIU-e4LKWzvTti0gF-FqGyHTS3YihaTYiJHR6xz1ypm0F9zGiFQRoXE3L5q0/s1600/MV5BNjI4MTgyOTAxOV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwMjQwOTA4NTE%2540._V1_SX640_SY720_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin5Hic8Ox6xrkS2NwGQsVQWvJxOEUVk5kNGx_L5D51_XNny_4fHwXbEWzt8hh7z7e6pFM_PpM7S1IKHMLPIU-e4LKWzvTti0gF-FqGyHTS3YihaTYiJHR6xz1ypm0F9zGiFQRoXE3L5q0/s320/MV5BNjI4MTgyOTAxOV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwMjQwOTA4NTE%2540._V1_SX640_SY720_.jpg" width="216" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>ARTH VADER rates San Andreas</b>: The saving grace of this film is in its cornball cheesiness and the sheer ridiculousness of the screenplay and the film’s overall premise. But if you are so inclined, buy some popcorn at your local dollar store, nuke up a bowl or two, rent or stream San Andreas and get ready to get ready for well, not very much. That’s why I’m digging deep into my well of generosity and offer two (2) Busted Blocks out of ten on the Busted Block scale. One for the visuals and the other as bribe to promise these producers never to make this kind of schlock ever again. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; min-height: 20px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>THE PONTIFICATOR rates San Andreas: </b>The only thing that even remotely gives this film a decent rating (such as it is) is the fact I’m one of the biggest Dwayne Johnson fans on the planet and a sucker for gratuitous destruction. Other than that, the predictability of this film makes it just a giant two hour cliche barely able to destroy five (5) busted blocks.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="font-size: 17px; min-height: 20px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">San Andreas: 3.5 / 10 Busted Blocks</span></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgltofA5sM7V3hesH-e4zvFaMlf9mYV8Ds8Nl2DP9Fy18D9YOUPSEedcmsHBWN0SZzDA7He5AgbStRbg99c9FiDiwGfd0C9clpYfZ9r0jgafAT7KcqCVNymPY8nwr5q2FwV5V8xGsX38sg/s1600/TheBoxedOffice_3.5+busted+blocs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="55" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgltofA5sM7V3hesH-e4zvFaMlf9mYV8Ds8Nl2DP9Fy18D9YOUPSEedcmsHBWN0SZzDA7He5AgbStRbg99c9FiDiwGfd0C9clpYfZ9r0jgafAT7KcqCVNymPY8nwr5q2FwV5V8xGsX38sg/s200/TheBoxedOffice_3.5+busted+blocs.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<b><span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
ArthV8Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425459411323956859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1870440923397188789.post-47846170094773516042015-10-21T07:44:00.001-07:002015-10-21T07:44:37.894-07:00Small Hero, Big Fun<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 22px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Marvel Goes Big Time With A Little Help From A Little-Known Avenger</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 22px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">ON CONTINUITY</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 22px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJJgiUCM4WEobTJfta5KTdlLrHeTiP2iKJ8v2tio2DHYCv-RYtKW_CnfgUYBG6l_1sNzsD3FC5wO6EiB8w_MnGv2XqRztMMPA51Kr7laU06wpuzliY77zOpLm7tKUVNqUawCQLoSO6mTc/s1600/antman070115wide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJJgiUCM4WEobTJfta5KTdlLrHeTiP2iKJ8v2tio2DHYCv-RYtKW_CnfgUYBG6l_1sNzsD3FC5wO6EiB8w_MnGv2XqRztMMPA51Kr7laU06wpuzliY77zOpLm7tKUVNqUawCQLoSO6mTc/s320/antman070115wide.jpg" width="320" /></a><b>ARTH VADER (AV)</b>: As one of the founding members of the original Marvel Comics Avengers, Ant-Man’s been a big part of the Avengers since 1963. While being strangely absent from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Hank Pym (aka Ant-Man, Giant Man, Goliath and Yellow Jacket) has been a key Avenger on Numerous occasions, though hardly a character on any comic fan’s ‘top five favorite heroes’ list. So it stands to reason that Ant-Man is only just now getting rolled into the MCU fold. The continuity is loose at best wouldn’t you say, Ponty? </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">THE PONTIFICATOR (TP)</b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">: Well Vader, the Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to expand with it’s newest addition…Ant-Man. As usual the introduction is seamlessly done with the current continuity and incorporates elements from the past and present of the MCU. We left the books behind a long time ago.</span> </div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 22px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">CASTING, ACTING & DIRECTION</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 22px;">
<b></b><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpkbdfAtE8umrAKyQSAy3sKFI11HE6mawPQsdzXTry0FiZMmXkuz-7F5olwBylNi_Ie2akPfAfdhMON92-mAhPPX1DpHywTDXnjXmxgmQa05AuPSnB0mssj8eDa6_vlb5GGTMX7Mqd1Vk/s1600/Ant-Man-Hank-Pym-Michael-Douglas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpkbdfAtE8umrAKyQSAy3sKFI11HE6mawPQsdzXTry0FiZMmXkuz-7F5olwBylNi_Ie2akPfAfdhMON92-mAhPPX1DpHywTDXnjXmxgmQa05AuPSnB0mssj8eDa6_vlb5GGTMX7Mqd1Vk/s320/Ant-Man-Hank-Pym-Michael-Douglas.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<b>AV</b>: A curiously delightful cast makes this film breath with a life of its own. Comedy front-man Paul “Ant-Man” Rudd is a solid choice for the Scott Lang role. Academy Award winner Michael Douglas appears as the MCU’s original Hank Pam, and one of my favorites of the film Michael “Fury” Pena brings the now expected Marvel brevity to the screen in a very unexpected way. Director Peyton “Bring It On” Reed made this a part hero, part heist, part world-building film for Marvel and it I would think was fairly successful. Pontificator, what did you think of this movie’s casting? </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2F25psTt3UXrGwsIRzPxGNDyTt6uMPDC6kQefQ3C2YyE_FPvkei1IFW-f0C6ooUJ_NFatJpMB0Az8Ay2VoxHUDAV_nFHBGUdtzyH7HqEWfSI0w92xkrMUXue1v0L8XC2WTCAKL36WmYY/s1600/Ant-Man-Photo-Evangeline-Lilly-as-Hope-Van-Dyne.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2F25psTt3UXrGwsIRzPxGNDyTt6uMPDC6kQefQ3C2YyE_FPvkei1IFW-f0C6ooUJ_NFatJpMB0Az8Ay2VoxHUDAV_nFHBGUdtzyH7HqEWfSI0w92xkrMUXue1v0L8XC2WTCAKL36WmYY/s320/Ant-Man-Photo-Evangeline-Lilly-as-Hope-Van-Dyne.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<b>TP:</b> This film was well cast and very well acted Vader. With <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Rudd"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Paul Rudd</span></a> taking the helm, he actually held his position in the film and complimented veteran actor <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Douglas"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Michael Douglas</span></a> (Hank Pym). With both actors elevating their roles, it was that much easier for <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evangeline_Lilly"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Evangeline Lilly</span></a> (Hope Van Dyne) to play the daughter/reluctant love interest roles. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corey_Stoll"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Corey Stoll</span></a> was a great villain and unexpectedly so since he constantly plays the hero on television’s “<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2654620/"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">The Strain</span></a>.” <a href="http://www.apple.com/"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Michael Pena</span></a> was both brilliant and memorable and really put the icing on the cake of this film.</div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 22px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">ON SPECIAL EFFECTS</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 22px;">
<b></b><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH7AgLup1ctIJGnppWccv1w4XXfZ1meSyvaH31ETYx2f1LT3lItC6arYxC4jiJa8XZFIVIz31-5fP13s9vMlBGspnoiGUDVGjNpvC0PsbPZ0_gAS1BDnLt2fw7-pJE3azykgt5G6EZBRw/s1600/ant-man_still-401.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH7AgLup1ctIJGnppWccv1w4XXfZ1meSyvaH31ETYx2f1LT3lItC6arYxC4jiJa8XZFIVIz31-5fP13s9vMlBGspnoiGUDVGjNpvC0PsbPZ0_gAS1BDnLt2fw7-pJE3azykgt5G6EZBRw/s320/ant-man_still-401.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<b>AV</b>: As a Marvel movie, Ant-Man spared no expensive in making Ant-Man a delight to watch. Watching the Pym Particles in action was another movie milestone every comic nerd has longed for. As a kid reading about Ant-Man (and later Yellow Jacket) the eye-dizzying amazement that comes from watching Scott Lang run with a swarm of ants and then zip seamlessly back and forth from the little world to the big, was visual effects triumph that was so fluid, I couldn’t help but be awestruck over. Was it the same for you P-Man? </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgevCM1az37PV6d8RU9inSt0a3_akiQyQ_Cd4iAiwXdD3bcEMdDXMYBOWORrNh6jG5W8O3WkAexmKq-s0U9VqXesiIwT6EKi-snLPVSL01GTUOmW-mZgGc7kVN250WwABGKyD1K3BwGeEo/s1600/ant-man-trailer-2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgevCM1az37PV6d8RU9inSt0a3_akiQyQ_Cd4iAiwXdD3bcEMdDXMYBOWORrNh6jG5W8O3WkAexmKq-s0U9VqXesiIwT6EKi-snLPVSL01GTUOmW-mZgGc7kVN250WwABGKyD1K3BwGeEo/s320/ant-man-trailer-2.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<b>TP:</b> IMAX 3D. There…said it Vader. The effects were stellar and expected to be so this late in the game when it comes to a Marvel film. Usually there is nothing new to discuss, but here we have effects that give us a new perspective for a Marvel film (although not new to films in general) and they are brilliantly done, especially using…IMAX 3D. There…said it again.</div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 22px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">TAKING A CLOSER LOOK</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 22px;">
<b></b><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Jtzs7kXwH2dJQkuwmAlezWOTpWyy0HBw1OYsRADLzl1lwe1o-e8rLM3zfmAGMm2Xh13azTagYXziPEqsjZIxHpzsxFxhDnloEoSYmi5HHDmeh-maaTj5nn6-LiYu-9ApRJfYByBFiXE/s1600/Ant-Man-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Jtzs7kXwH2dJQkuwmAlezWOTpWyy0HBw1OYsRADLzl1lwe1o-e8rLM3zfmAGMm2Xh13azTagYXziPEqsjZIxHpzsxFxhDnloEoSYmi5HHDmeh-maaTj5nn6-LiYu-9ApRJfYByBFiXE/s320/Ant-Man-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<b>AV</b>: Here’s the big news, Ant-Man is fun, a bit kooky, highly MCU connected and unexpected. Marvel took the same gamble with Ant-Man as it did a year ago with Guardians of the Galaxy. As the number one movie studio on Earth, Marvel can–and MUST–experiment outside the traditional hero formula. It’s how the genre matures, moves on and lasts. In all fairness, the movie is kind of a clown romp, Scott Lang is a buffoon, as are his comedy relief, Heist cronies. The film is silly an feels very rushed at the end with a VERY odd ‘world-within-worlds’ sequence that feels almost dreamlike. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgejEGX64rk8DsqI0P2WAIhkvDVC5xXknBHQIIgYISDgNqBBnts1OfpVK_02XkobFfYFrZVnM4BkzsuDwCwaK52bO9BBXfjEmWWU69vZdjjSHiNdxnMrNbcVqRM5AEOmSVfWOu0mqCw-mc/s1600/antman55835059ba50a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgejEGX64rk8DsqI0P2WAIhkvDVC5xXknBHQIIgYISDgNqBBnts1OfpVK_02XkobFfYFrZVnM4BkzsuDwCwaK52bO9BBXfjEmWWU69vZdjjSHiNdxnMrNbcVqRM5AEOmSVfWOu0mqCw-mc/s320/antman55835059ba50a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">TP:</b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"> I guess there were a lot of low expectations for this film and understandable so since the trailers really didn’t compliment the actual film. Fortunately the film greatly exceeded those expectations and was another “win” for Marvel Studios. Despite the gaping plot holes to how the Ant-Man technology worked (think size and unchanging mass) the film still sold itself, especially if you are not into doing hard science while watching it. I have also long since stopped caring that the MCU does not follow any book or story to the letter and am therefore pretty positive that the </span><a href="http://www.comicvine.com/red-queen/4005-53152/" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">Red Queen</span></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"> will not be showing up anytime soon. The mix of drama (Scott Lang’s determination to be a father to his daughter), action, and comedy (both Rudd and Pena deliver here) was perfect for this film and gave it it’s own flavor within the greater MCU.</span> </div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 22px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">ON SEQUELS</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 22px;">
<b></b><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBr2GJcMl1bDtxzkU69io7yJzUKUvLXg2bf83Hq6RGLGlLpLu2kWVke79GBU4j7YVymaSbM7lFzxkOAratZiaQfxxeHdStHCW38M4Q6efFI1WaV50vwafZdkK9taZTR9wRtRzJump6I28/s1600/ant-man-movie-wasp-prototype-suit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBr2GJcMl1bDtxzkU69io7yJzUKUvLXg2bf83Hq6RGLGlLpLu2kWVke79GBU4j7YVymaSbM7lFzxkOAratZiaQfxxeHdStHCW38M4Q6efFI1WaV50vwafZdkK9taZTR9wRtRzJump6I28/s320/ant-man-movie-wasp-prototype-suit.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<b>AV</b>: This is a tough one to call of ram, Ponty. Ant-Man is good, make no mistake, its fun and is a great Marvel movie follow-up to the intensity of The Avengers: Age of Ultron. We are given all kinds of hints at the potential for more tiny Avengers, aka The Wasp (played by Evangeline Lily), but while this films performed at a solid $375 million (better than each of the Thor films, BTW) I wonder how vested audiences would be in an Ant-Man sequel. That remains to be seen (likely with a microscope). </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<b>TP:</b> Of course we will see Ant-Man again in his own film (Marvel said so in this one) and we will of course see him in the greater MCU as we continue the journey in Captain America: Civil War.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 22px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">RATE IT!</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 22px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBl1-Sdw-se5UC9IKBJ_8iDim8EhTGXggUPPy7urf8Dv6RrOe0Uqt-Eg5bPw1JmojOQHB8BA_q8iDfr6BdmgMIalQT5nF3f_DEEG32S5-_Yr6d_nZ2-W2zEvp3Ixj5Xds1KiUxpohZRBE/s1600/ant-man_0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBl1-Sdw-se5UC9IKBJ_8iDim8EhTGXggUPPy7urf8Dv6RrOe0Uqt-Eg5bPw1JmojOQHB8BA_q8iDfr6BdmgMIalQT5nF3f_DEEG32S5-_Yr6d_nZ2-W2zEvp3Ixj5Xds1KiUxpohZRBE/s320/ant-man_0.jpg" width="216" /></a><b>ARTH VADER rates Marvel’s Ant-Man</b>: The magic of the MCU is alive and well and live large (ahem) in Ant-Man. A light-hearted, slightly forgettable film that has some strong ties to future MCU events (can anyone say “Captain America: Winter Soldier?”). The ‘fight’ between The Falcon (Anthony Mackie) and Ant-Man is onscreen gold. While not without it’s small (sorry) shortcomings, I think Ant-Man was a big hit. That’s why Ant-Man swat’s eight (8) Busted Blocks. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">THE PONTIFICATOR rates Ant-Man: </b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">This film was better than I expected and really delivered something different from other MCU films, but still upheld the quality expected from Marvel Studios. With the perfect blend of drama, action and comedy, Ant-Man easily shrunk eight (8) busted blocks on it’s way to saving the world from nefarious machinations.</span> </div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 22px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">Marvel’s Ant-Man: 8 / 10 Busted Blocks</span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; min-height: 22px;">
<br /></div>
ArthV8Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425459411323956859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1870440923397188789.post-16613829711635606822015-09-30T14:20:00.003-07:002015-09-30T14:20:54.874-07:00Mind Games In The Big Easy <div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #7f6000; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The body-double thriller Self/Less plays with heartstrings and plays mind games with characters and audiences alike.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></b></div>
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">ON CONTIUITY </span></b><br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpni-Zyv9DtX79VB1V3zWLvBR-ECbfPZZ7xB9h9n-ImjND7gcIaqtg4Z1vXpKKY4hsmJLICcgLHBk8sbR3wDKpKRD45QJWqCgn3THp59CsW7AFgym0kjSYXM9jT0h1Y_jIRxqnv_s-VKs/s1600/Selfless2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpni-Zyv9DtX79VB1V3zWLvBR-ECbfPZZ7xB9h9n-ImjND7gcIaqtg4Z1vXpKKY4hsmJLICcgLHBk8sbR3wDKpKRD45QJWqCgn3THp59CsW7AFgym0kjSYXM9jT0h1Y_jIRxqnv_s-VKs/s320/Selfless2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>ARTH VADER (AV)</b>: Based on an original screenplay by Barcelona-born horror screen vets David “out of the dark” Pastor and Alex “Carriers” Pastor, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2140379/?ref_=nv_sr_1"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 46, 238); color: #042eee;">Self/Less</span></a> is a psychological thriller in the vain of The Andromeda strain, this film looks to spotlight immortality for the super rich. Billionaire Damian Hale has terminal cancer and turns to a radical medical procedure called "shedding," where his mind is transferred to a younger, healthier body. soon, he starts a new life in New Orleans an becomes engulfed in disturbing recurring images of the past life of his surrogate body. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>THE PONTIFICATOR (TP): </b>Body snatching is not new to the sci-fi genre, but this film does it in a way that makes it interesting and uniquely entertaining. The fact that the “snatch” can only be permanent by meeting certain conditions, kept me wondering who was going to make it to the end.</span></div>
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">CASTING, DIRECTING AND ACTING </span></b><br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW4vS0ZM_yBb-pqQBYRUciCQiQj5ycXJog8lMYhBeD80d-mDRCFNfMQEbC-oOwEz5JEY9SRZhngwMKh8LTXvvh1uuhEwRryxOrmWbvl-CePllphj9hwUyl-a2eonab0RZHOsZue7XzUtU/s1600/matthew-goode-in-selfless-movie-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW4vS0ZM_yBb-pqQBYRUciCQiQj5ycXJog8lMYhBeD80d-mDRCFNfMQEbC-oOwEz5JEY9SRZhngwMKh8LTXvvh1uuhEwRryxOrmWbvl-CePllphj9hwUyl-a2eonab0RZHOsZue7XzUtU/s320/matthew-goode-in-selfless-movie-1.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>AV</b>: The cast is a quality ensemble of A-Listers and up-and-comers. Ryan “Deadpool” Reynolds plays the role of young Damian, Ben “Mandarin” Kingsly is the terminally ill real estate mogul, Damian with Natalie “Deathrace” Martinez and perennial bad guy we love that, Matthew “Ozymandias” Goode. The competent direction of Tarsem “Immortals” Singh delivered a visually tense aura to the movie and lends itself soundly to the dramatic thriller genre. The acting was kind of expected to me, but that by no means the film showed poorly. There were other things that helped that along. How say you old friend? </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglbCx4TB6YyRZ1MHiIJ62eVWdqQ8vPp1Xdq-8b6IQU8gGmfW7APQ04ALRqvZ6hKTXCiRiTZQ94Vuxz-Gj50yjwCR8P6z9IsmCeGCbvf4BgeUQ_PDHjsrauDE3NdwoGMdJGbCc1RvKWqo8/s1600/99641826-21fc-11e5-b190-92fc6c91c749-1020x680.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglbCx4TB6YyRZ1MHiIJ62eVWdqQ8vPp1Xdq-8b6IQU8gGmfW7APQ04ALRqvZ6hKTXCiRiTZQ94Vuxz-Gj50yjwCR8P6z9IsmCeGCbvf4BgeUQ_PDHjsrauDE3NdwoGMdJGbCc1RvKWqo8/s320/99641826-21fc-11e5-b190-92fc6c91c749-1020x680.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>TP:</b> The cast was very good and it was a stroke of genius to hook the audience first with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Kingsley"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">Ben Kingsley</span></a> as his performance was stellar for the short time he graced the silver screen Vader. I’ve always liked <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_Reynolds"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">Ryan Reynolds</span></a> although he is better in some films than others depending on the material. In this film he was pretty good and it helped that he was supposed to be channeling Kingsley because his performance kept bringing me back to that. The beautiful <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natalie_Martinez"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">Natalie Martinez</span></a> was very good as was <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Goode"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">Matthew Goode</span></a> (whom I have not seen since “<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0409459/"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Watchmen</span></a>” despite his doing lots of work since then).</span></div>
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">SPECIAL EFFECTS</span></b><br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b></b><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc8LX0yzUlE8Rmoew4M6EH4zFxU5kVPDxhYqOqSkcnxJLe6G5p_vSsOWbKYHx9NtKvLIyMcbdr5_urd2apv-H2Bwex5i_wL-nM2OLYWnAz0KauzOpWli0LC_66vpC3WcV2FtZSy10-5ws/s1600/maxresdefault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc8LX0yzUlE8Rmoew4M6EH4zFxU5kVPDxhYqOqSkcnxJLe6G5p_vSsOWbKYHx9NtKvLIyMcbdr5_urd2apv-H2Bwex5i_wL-nM2OLYWnAz0KauzOpWli0LC_66vpC3WcV2FtZSy10-5ws/s320/maxresdefault.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>AV</b>: It is my grounded belief that visual effects are an integrated part of the sci-fi movie making process. What distinguishes one take on visual effects over another is part budget, part story and part director’s vision. In self/Less, there is an effort to make the flashback experience different, especially since it is a deep-seeded memories are less true flashbacks and more memory fragments. This film presented those moments expertly. Anything new here? No, however, in context, not in anyway disappointing. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihuF-6gVWJi3fE_XwLwQ8UEKmLrR9dUE7Z9TUQxtv0c0ITlEGIelisX1jO3oloo8570t11lAmIY7OE8ytrFU-whCJm1xWLVoE5bnhrr6pen2sTTVIGVXuNMGsUDCvIpODgo0QEw7xj73E/s1600/selfless-Ben-Kingsley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihuF-6gVWJi3fE_XwLwQ8UEKmLrR9dUE7Z9TUQxtv0c0ITlEGIelisX1jO3oloo8570t11lAmIY7OE8ytrFU-whCJm1xWLVoE5bnhrr6pen2sTTVIGVXuNMGsUDCvIpODgo0QEw7xj73E/s320/selfless-Ben-Kingsley.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>TP:</b> This film did not call for too much special effects leaving it to spend a lot of time developing the characters and delivering a great story. The effects that were in the film helped bring it along and complimented the story. It’s hard to mess up a few fight scenes, car chases and explosions.…and making the mind swap aspect very simplistic, this film was a sci-fi thriller that was very light on “sci" and heavy of the “fi.”</span></div>
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">TAKING A DEEPER LOOK</span></b><br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b></b><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj53kXNhO-KsgQekugTZeAjsxEm-0OJS4k_51Wd747BAODHVBjSCi9b7du8u3McHZ_AZ3Fy9O-Z4sqrXGEfVuzWg51WURLndA9UlXcznJjfcYtcGBjSTgjs-CasSsIcLak3ppaRE3sKzCw/s1600/Selfless-Movie-Pictures.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj53kXNhO-KsgQekugTZeAjsxEm-0OJS4k_51Wd747BAODHVBjSCi9b7du8u3McHZ_AZ3Fy9O-Z4sqrXGEfVuzWg51WURLndA9UlXcznJjfcYtcGBjSTgjs-CasSsIcLak3ppaRE3sKzCw/s320/Selfless-Movie-Pictures.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>AV</b>: Above/Average. This film offers little new narrative to speak of but that didn’t make it a bad movie. Its not terribly inventive, not overall clever and bores and challenges your suspension of disbelief so often you wonder why you are still along for the ride. In truth, Self/Less has its moments–a good number of them, actually–but fails to deliver a knockout blow, or enough “WOW” moments that send me over the top and riding off into the sunset. Kingsley is terrific and its hard not to love Reynolds in nearly anything, but in truth, for me, Self/Less is just sort of there. Parts are near stellar and Matthew Goode is flawless and mostly liked the film. A worthy rental and certainly worth another viewing wouldn’t you say Ponty?</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 18px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXc-JvfB4CA6huvluRVWE515LxbDtQWZjtiulC-cVpeIvL9FTdPzp0QslKhEJYC39BSgTTNph_Y1Hr_O5y2ky_-J7j769ccKgyAWBERD98jQsvlUN_Vsolcmq4fp3sJDZ1oWlhCmZ6WMM/s1600/CJWW80lVEAAZgSz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXc-JvfB4CA6huvluRVWE515LxbDtQWZjtiulC-cVpeIvL9FTdPzp0QslKhEJYC39BSgTTNph_Y1Hr_O5y2ky_-J7j769ccKgyAWBERD98jQsvlUN_Vsolcmq4fp3sJDZ1oWlhCmZ6WMM/s320/CJWW80lVEAAZgSz.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>TP:</b> Well Vader, if you blinked, this film got passed you as a science-fiction thriller that told a very well thought out story with lots of drama. The idea of immortality is not new, but this take on it was very unique. I enjoyed the fact that this was a story-driven film that told a multiple stories at the same time. The fact that the basis for the film started out as a search to live forever, but ended up as a story about love makes this one of the most engaging films I have seen this summer. It is also one of the few films where the trailer does it absolutely no justice at all and those that decided to pass on it because of the trailer have been wronged by shoddy marketing.</span></div>
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">ON SEQUELS</span></b><br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b></b><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs5KnWDYwYAeMBHYFpP61oNLn5_xVqm6LEgXeNKmhyfSSEJM9GvUu976nYLc8KOj20yCpUZzvCUtDVo1FMrPr8z-wGT3fDZtYbwnlCvYRKOiTFs7wJciFxjMnzccLSfLXKStXiEidR_XY/s1600/920x920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs5KnWDYwYAeMBHYFpP61oNLn5_xVqm6LEgXeNKmhyfSSEJM9GvUu976nYLc8KOj20yCpUZzvCUtDVo1FMrPr8z-wGT3fDZtYbwnlCvYRKOiTFs7wJciFxjMnzccLSfLXKStXiEidR_XY/s320/920x920.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>AV</b>: There are many reasons to further explore this genre of movie-making and story-telling. There are few reasons to follow up on this film, though. The mind is a fertile landscape to craft a sci-fi master piece (Please allow Chris Nolan’s Inception as exhibit ‘A’, Minority Report as exhibit “B”). Psychological thrillers are no stranger to the sci-fi genre, but I truly feel this story has been told and I don’t need any more. What were your thoughts, Pontificator? </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>TP: </b>Well Vader, I don’t think a sequel is likely as the movie wrapped up nice and neat and stands independently as a great story about two fathers that love their daughters.</span></div>
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">RATE IT!</span></b><br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b></b><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPKPIpOOtxeZNHy4nDVos7h61joCZb_wRygivrwCU_ad8AGm9_mdITiuxnAuE_WT-v_LcDNYwpAce44TJvs4k5UfZXG2Cb7mrKqZZLAhwfWPVO7S5uBNQLz532yUaS0mVP4b895Uag0wA/s1600/Selfless-poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPKPIpOOtxeZNHy4nDVos7h61joCZb_wRygivrwCU_ad8AGm9_mdITiuxnAuE_WT-v_LcDNYwpAce44TJvs4k5UfZXG2Cb7mrKqZZLAhwfWPVO7S5uBNQLz532yUaS0mVP4b895Uag0wA/s320/Selfless-poster.jpg" width="226" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>ARTH VADER rates Self/Less</b>: An intelligently positioned, near-future, cautionary tale set to some unique and original locations in New Orleans, Self/Less is a mind transfer thriller that exceeded my expectations but didn’t fully realize it's own potential. With lots of thought-provoking thrills, the intelligent, action/thriller thoughtfully transfers six (6) Busted Blocks from one host to the next. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">THE PONTIFICATOR rates Self/less: </b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With a great performance by Kingsley and good follow-ups by the rest of the cast, this film told a great story full of drama and laced with plenty of action and thrills to appeal to a broad audience. An excellent example of using a little sci-fi to tell a great story, this film shed eight (8) busted blocks to live forever on the silver screen.</span><br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Self/Less: 7:0 / 10 Busted Blocks</span></b></div>
ArthV8Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425459411323956859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1870440923397188789.post-60125850181987676062015-09-01T13:38:00.002-07:002015-09-01T13:39:13.363-07:00Welcome To Terminator’s Uncertain Future<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Alternate Timelines and Zany Franchise Twists Re-Direct Audiences To Foggy New Directions For Terminator </span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">ON CONTINUITY</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 19px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfal7kiffhRXn_Wi8OFH0FzIesx-Brg4xiE4MS9n103PMqV-00Rr0-BqNGYHxtFu08mgSqNs5Yh54u4hTY_UCAIsAVvw2dP72_zQsOFHFPhgTjFlH0IW9dzl7Zyf8d-24HAkaJC2Q2Cb8/s1600/TGtr-03658rv2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfal7kiffhRXn_Wi8OFH0FzIesx-Brg4xiE4MS9n103PMqV-00Rr0-BqNGYHxtFu08mgSqNs5Yh54u4hTY_UCAIsAVvw2dP72_zQsOFHFPhgTjFlH0IW9dzl7Zyf8d-24HAkaJC2Q2Cb8/s320/TGtr-03658rv2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<b></b><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<b>ARTH VADER (AV): </b>Time travel is a tricky thing, Ponty–and science fiction is inundated with with time travels stories. One could argue that the Terminator series is built on the concept and it would be a heart discussion. So it comes as no surprise that the core story arc of <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1340138/" target="_blank">Terminator: Genysis</a> (T:G) is about the alternative timeline that emerges form all the Terminator time traveling that occurs in the previous films and TV series (Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles was pretty darn good after all). I always have mixed emotions on the time travels in movies. I mean what parameters are there if they can just be erased because time travel occurred and changed the time stream, right? T:G puts some interesting twists into motion would you agree, Pontificator? </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<b>THE PONTIFICATOR (TP)</b>: The continuity of this film is a complete mess Vader. I won’t even attempt to explain it as it has splintered into so many different timelines with two films and the television series being completely ignored by this film, this movie creates far more questions than it answers. </div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">CASTING, DIRECTING & ACTING</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 19px;">
<b></b><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiesbn_QfrAP-Q7DVBVaIvbvnlBOtdMenCuIprVKI-vYZq91ML5S1I3k8s6DM_WyWg8WEzSxYEmhALPNAb41kJ58TrqfSf2XVdjSrxb23kZ1orzEFWgI_TMDo1a0yia5p0QM0vnHadpGUc/s1600/terminator-genisys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiesbn_QfrAP-Q7DVBVaIvbvnlBOtdMenCuIprVKI-vYZq91ML5S1I3k8s6DM_WyWg8WEzSxYEmhALPNAb41kJ58TrqfSf2XVdjSrxb23kZ1orzEFWgI_TMDo1a0yia5p0QM0vnHadpGUc/s320/terminator-genisys.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<b>AV: </b>Can you give a good Terminator flick without Arnold “I’ll Be Back” Schwarzenggar? Honestly we don’t know and this isn’t the film where we find out. Arnie is an integral part of the action and even offers some decent satire to the story. Jai “Insurgent” Courtney’s take eon Kyle Reese feels flat and disinteresting. Emilia “Daenerys Targaryen” Clarke also has a rather dry delivery as Sarah Connor. Director Alan “<a href="http://marvel.com/thor?" target="_blank">Thor: The Dark World</a>” Taylor has a grounded vision that honestly an interesting take on the John Connor spectacle. With fairly decent cast, I felt the film didn’t take itself too seriously which might have been a saving grace. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcM7AhvxENSeDwUQX2h6coSeMKMbyS3M3ndnhedx_qK5k_4kI4TGqZFQ0GvNeYIk-AQ5clphXSFmNMaIPP0A2rJePW7PUxg0dDiviuuCIXoVPobmCBC7zm9h1AgJxs01Eq7_3OV9BP4XQ/s1600/terminator-genisys-superbowl-movie-trailers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcM7AhvxENSeDwUQX2h6coSeMKMbyS3M3ndnhedx_qK5k_4kI4TGqZFQ0GvNeYIk-AQ5clphXSFmNMaIPP0A2rJePW7PUxg0dDiviuuCIXoVPobmCBC7zm9h1AgJxs01Eq7_3OV9BP4XQ/s320/terminator-genisys-superbowl-movie-trailers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">TP:</b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"> What is a Terminator film without Arnold? </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnold_Schwarzenegger" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">Schwarzenegger</span></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"> returns for another round of bullets and one liners and despite his advanced age, remains classic. </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emilia_Clarke" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">Emilia Clarke</span></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"> has swapped out her dragon for a gun and gives a fair rendition of Sarah Connor. I was never really sold on </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jai_Courtney" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">Jai Courtney</span></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"> as Reese like I was with the original, he just didn’t convey the same intensity. </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Clarke_(actor)" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">Jason Clarke</span></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"> is yet another take on John Connor…and I am no more enamored with the legend now than I was before. I was really hoping </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Smith_(actor)" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">Matt Smith</span></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"> had a larger role, but I guess he would have really messed things up (or perhaps fixed the continuity) had he been tripping through the film in a </span><a href="http://www.thedoctorwhosite.co.uk/tardis/" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">TARDIS</span></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">.</span> </div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">SPECIAL EFFECTS</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 19px;">
<b></b><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHVtaCYVkPHkTkzKBk3OvL7B8h98_qpxKP9ZaeYUA92me0wN0trXaDyh2jK31W393qHidKoJc7E7HDLSB1ah01LlCNW1feExKi10xBByVrS3Oa9izMO7-uMW-VT6r8dmzmaQUXAZ2Xv-U/s1600/terminator-genisys-4-international-tv-spots-with-more-footage.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHVtaCYVkPHkTkzKBk3OvL7B8h98_qpxKP9ZaeYUA92me0wN0trXaDyh2jK31W393qHidKoJc7E7HDLSB1ah01LlCNW1feExKi10xBByVrS3Oa9izMO7-uMW-VT6r8dmzmaQUXAZ2Xv-U/s320/terminator-genisys-4-international-tv-spots-with-more-footage.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<b>AV: </b>Visual effects shots helped make this a palatable ride, Ponty. The opening combat sequence is strong, if not a bit over-the-top and borderline frivolous. The revival of the 1980’s–style Terminator world was by far the visual effects accomplishment of this movie. With key liquid metal and robo-terminators to vibe on, T:G offers some exciting visuals for audiences looking to get their next fix on the Terminator franchise. To note, the ‘liquid Arnold’ sequence is particularly enjoyable and my favorite CGI moment by far was watching ‘young’ Arnold Terminator and ‘veteran’ Arnold go toe-to-toe. Complete with grenades, rockets and exposed Terminator exoskeletons, the scene is smile-inducing, wouldn’t you say Ponty? </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0UoJUdC-N7xI0l_jX5Dg77rQ3aboNoMmKQNQRLpU5nCYg7aaiF2Q3nlOSUre-WFFcjaa7tj54FgCR6sLPCXrMqtRWu4Ybt8x0061JM0sfGJtdd-m4z85lsScL39gp5SuUi_Eby5Q521g/s1600/terminator_genisys_t_1000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0UoJUdC-N7xI0l_jX5Dg77rQ3aboNoMmKQNQRLpU5nCYg7aaiF2Q3nlOSUre-WFFcjaa7tj54FgCR6sLPCXrMqtRWu4Ybt8x0061JM0sfGJtdd-m4z85lsScL39gp5SuUi_Eby5Q521g/s320/terminator_genisys_t_1000.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">TP:</b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"> The special effects were very good and exactly what I expected…except for the lack of really capitalizing on IMAX 3D Vader. I expected all the explosions, liquid metal, etc… but I also expected them to come off the screen if I’m plunking down my hard earned cheddar for <a href="https://www.imax.com/" target="_blank">IMAX 3D</a>. I have often complained about films showing in this medium and not using it to the fullest…. and it saddened me that an opportunity was missed here as it seems they did not use it at all!</span> </div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">TAKING A DEEPER LOOK</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 19px;">
<b></b><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLs1MvSi0a59VO7DPQKRJ7n95neDjSPz5Tey0anScLfnDe7EwFEyY3rbEJynV2agRgcAcamow8bX8qkajk5q8oc2m4I49-JbJisX2aQ8CmF_8cSwzFZUbGYSuy2D-MZrlk0qcUvOTcHpg/s1600/terminator-genisys-j-k-simmons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLs1MvSi0a59VO7DPQKRJ7n95neDjSPz5Tey0anScLfnDe7EwFEyY3rbEJynV2agRgcAcamow8bX8qkajk5q8oc2m4I49-JbJisX2aQ8CmF_8cSwzFZUbGYSuy2D-MZrlk0qcUvOTcHpg/s320/terminator-genisys-j-k-simmons.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<b>AV: </b>As Hollywood screenwriters scramble to shoe-horn new Terminator stories into a somewhat shaky franchise to begin with (c’mon, think about it), this is an arguably sound movie. It meanders, confuses and takes way too long to tell a story that could have been told better and more succinctly. It all fairness, the story holds and makes for a mostly enjoyable film. The thought that scent–now in the form of the new Genysis operating system–clearly a light-hearted jab at my beloved Apple OS–and imparts the cautionary tale of a new form of a singularity event, hellbent on mankind’s termination. As much as I tend to repel time travel stories, the Terminator franchise offers something others can’t; continuous story arc reboots within the continuum. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEicpD6E2RsXTgRzM-o1M8wJXnOWXUv0WhkgSeZU86Ojpk8qmSn31Sc-t5Nhwhai2lBol0_WNAPw6d2BVBI6db2G_nJTMXGovRdiULWZOasQ8I25wHD_uWF6PuBqp0fAfIfz1CiV0zwfI/s1600/tr-03810r-2040.0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEicpD6E2RsXTgRzM-o1M8wJXnOWXUv0WhkgSeZU86Ojpk8qmSn31Sc-t5Nhwhai2lBol0_WNAPw6d2BVBI6db2G_nJTMXGovRdiULWZOasQ8I25wHD_uWF6PuBqp0fAfIfz1CiV0zwfI/s320/tr-03810r-2040.0.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<b>TP:</b> Watching this film,I had to just take it for what it was and enjoy whatever I could out of it. Trying to figure out the continuity was pointless (as any Google search will tell you) and even though there are tons of nuggets in the film and nods to some of the others, it just seems this issue with Skynet trying to take over the world and exterminate all humans will never ever end (and why should it when Hollywood is cashing in large?) The film was two hours of more of what we have already seen in the previous films and brought nothing new to the series… just some adequate summer fun layered in explosions and one-liners.</div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">ON SEQUELS</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 19px;">
<b></b><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGbY8sjrA65SY7QrDDrzO2I6XZzL3pczyuTPigsFIlpBwMDv1CBcuIG-W7tq_uKTPGhUNycpJIiF-rgdU17tzw-nvOCe7bP3sLOHU1oqZSz2YJJqJOl8XGYwIkSwgcFngyWXwSyfaA1rw/s1600/tr-02299r.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGbY8sjrA65SY7QrDDrzO2I6XZzL3pczyuTPigsFIlpBwMDv1CBcuIG-W7tq_uKTPGhUNycpJIiF-rgdU17tzw-nvOCe7bP3sLOHU1oqZSz2YJJqJOl8XGYwIkSwgcFngyWXwSyfaA1rw/s320/tr-02299r.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<b>AV:</b> Hard to envision a Hollywood in the near-future (see what I did there?!) without some kind of Terminator film in play. We are most assuredly going to get more tales of futuristic robots traveling back to our time period to kill, maim and re-write history. The films do well, they entertain and give new insight to a franchise that continuously refreshes itself with the same threat wrapped in a new package. To be honest, if I could have more Terminator films without a robe-John Connor, I’d be fine. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">TP:</b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"> Word is that this was the first of yet </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">another</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"> trilogy (rolling my eyes) and we can look forward to more human exterminating machines in the near future. I can only hope the series gets better and they find a way to thread it all together for one cohesive story.</span> </div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">RATE IT!</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 19px;">
<b></b><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1JSecdOn9JtlFPI6qvb5hLzYierqMfRab0K35UafFsMnEIlUDKLNnfKjqN2hxwMmABNdPJcj91QB4PiJnXjMestz5oRdKWd6JXSNTPJroaRh1aFdxpmKsFKfpgpSYseLoDTbC61xQZiw/s1600/MV5BMjM1NTc0NzE4OF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNDkyNjQ1NTE%2540._V1_SX640_SY720_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1JSecdOn9JtlFPI6qvb5hLzYierqMfRab0K35UafFsMnEIlUDKLNnfKjqN2hxwMmABNdPJcj91QB4PiJnXjMestz5oRdKWd6JXSNTPJroaRh1aFdxpmKsFKfpgpSYseLoDTbC61xQZiw/s320/MV5BMjM1NTc0NzE4OF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNDkyNjQ1NTE%2540._V1_SX640_SY720_.jpg" width="204" /></a><b>ARTH VADER rates Terminator Genysis: </b>Not the summer’s biggest blockbuster, but this film does scratch your Terminator itch, if there is such a thing. While the robot-John Connor was quite nearly a deal-breaker for me, I, like most who love these films, was able to get past it and (mostly) enjoy this film. Worthy of a Saturday night rental, Terminator: Genysis offers a subdued, alternate vision of the Terminator universe that earns a skynet-defying six (6) Busted Blocks. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<b>THE PONTIFICATOR rates Terminator: Genisys:</b> This was a fun film and was just about what I expected it to be.…meaning there were plenty of missed opportunities to make this into something much better. With the technology and competitive film industry, I was very surprised that this film was “just” good… only sending back six (6) busted blocks back through time.</div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 19px;">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">Terminator: Genysis: 6 / 10 Busted Blocks</span></b></div>
ArthV8Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425459411323956859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1870440923397188789.post-88810042948492542572015-07-15T08:02:00.003-07:002016-05-29T19:27:02.252-07:00Jurassic World is Dino-Bite! <div style="min-height: 17px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Chris Pratt and His Posse of Trained Velociraptors is a Certified Bad Ass in The Overwhelmingly Fun Jurassic World</span></b></div>
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">ON CONTINUITY </span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaykPuPYhtnccq61p0PoUluTRNyiERVecgPKNqAeogcnnbiLofi-x1tCGkuWdoXyYfDFPZa7rkUsUbgx9hUui0GuczNfL-tEi9ePquaDP1gD3nGICqb6jSu_GMm3ynj7tH845mhElTUJk/s1600/1433918804-jurassic-world-super-bowl-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaykPuPYhtnccq61p0PoUluTRNyiERVecgPKNqAeogcnnbiLofi-x1tCGkuWdoXyYfDFPZa7rkUsUbgx9hUui0GuczNfL-tEi9ePquaDP1gD3nGICqb6jSu_GMm3ynj7tH845mhElTUJk/s320/1433918804-jurassic-world-super-bowl-13.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>ARTH VADER (AV):</b> The Jurassic Park series of films is one of the tried and true (and mostly successful) of Hollywood’s formulas. Inspired by Michael Crichton’s Jurassic Park series of New York Times best-selling books, the story of a park of genetically produced dinosaurs that goes way off the rails has been a hit for an entire generation. The story hits on beats that were established in earlier films while keeping a surprisingly fresh perspective.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ffBaX_VTHe-Z8gkF9lmFV82yB2DxMe0vqx0GTOI8gshI1lENt1elNh471THLh1Kj3YN7byNKccnu7yleryAZ3KzgyzrtxZq5uq5msig3nKfLUkE7h2Jwca8NaTKRBMPaZVE2IBMjq8s/s1600/velociraptor-jurassic-world-01-600x350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ffBaX_VTHe-Z8gkF9lmFV82yB2DxMe0vqx0GTOI8gshI1lENt1elNh471THLh1Kj3YN7byNKccnu7yleryAZ3KzgyzrtxZq5uq5msig3nKfLUkE7h2Jwca8NaTKRBMPaZVE2IBMjq8s/s320/velociraptor-jurassic-world-01-600x350.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>THE PONTIFICATOR (TP)</b>: A continuation from the original film, this movie takes place 22 years after the original and keeps the continuity of the cinematic world that is Jurassic Park alive and well. There is even an original cast from the first film here…still splicing together the DNA of dinosaurs…and still clueless as to why you should not do that.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<br /></div>
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">CASTING, DIRECTING & ACTING</span></b><br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b></b><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPCy758yCJcAjxX9QUmE6vCeULXD7xSQB9aonh8xISSDnnW9A5a4mOZfqtqKOKs_tDbjunvR7R99sZ4Rsvy16KP_D2tncgVsAhfKPBSw8suecGbeFbHykUzLx6-eCIlqbNIgdOAGFtLvA/s1600/chris-pratt-in-jurassic-world-movie-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPCy758yCJcAjxX9QUmE6vCeULXD7xSQB9aonh8xISSDnnW9A5a4mOZfqtqKOKs_tDbjunvR7R99sZ4Rsvy16KP_D2tncgVsAhfKPBSw8suecGbeFbHykUzLx6-eCIlqbNIgdOAGFtLvA/s320/chris-pratt-in-jurassic-world-movie-2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>AV:</b> I firmly believe that the casting of Chris “Starboard” Pratt and the on-screen chemistry he clearly has with steamy lead actress Bryce Dallas “Gwen Stacey” Howard and likable villain Vincent “Wilson Fisk” D’Onofrio, Jurassic World was doomed to succeed. Sure, sure doom isn’t the most ideal word but it is fitting seeing as the that’s where the franchise was headed. And relative newcomer director, Colin Trevorrow, brought Site A (Isla Nublar) come alive onscreen. Pratt’s raptor trainer was so fun and made was such a preposterous possibility, it was a delight. How say you my dino-watching co-host? </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_LwJq_1IdEYnV45oxSJmGyAyG4AVrB8Cg8n9GloCKwOyYxkrdGtsJ2uFRUVYyCuUxaHOYYOyQ3wcvSgQg8VNlPXxtZokEVdL1ynugftjEXLthY8vV28A5Qm6RxSVlpEyL9bfXhMD6KfU/s1600/Bryce-Dallas-Howard_612x380_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_LwJq_1IdEYnV45oxSJmGyAyG4AVrB8Cg8n9GloCKwOyYxkrdGtsJ2uFRUVYyCuUxaHOYYOyQ3wcvSgQg8VNlPXxtZokEVdL1ynugftjEXLthY8vV28A5Qm6RxSVlpEyL9bfXhMD6KfU/s320/Bryce-Dallas-Howard_612x380_1.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">TP:</b><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 16px;"> This film was well cast and well acted. </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Pratt" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Chris Pratt</span></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 16px;">’s stock continues to go up as he shows he works just as well with dinosaurs as he does with aliens and talking raccoons. </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/?title=Bryce_Dallas_Howard" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Bryce Dallas Howard</span></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 16px;"> has received the torch (as passed) as the new park director and taken her place in Jurassic history. Of course it was a real treat to see </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincent_D'Onofrio" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Vincent D’Onofrio</span></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 16px;"> slip once again into the role of the “bad” guy. The film had a steady pace and kept me engaged from the beginning as the build up to all the death and mayhem was filled with interesting characterizations of the actors and the dinosaurs.</span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">SPECIAL EFFECTS</span></b><br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b></b><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm91ziAFM5jK5QJdw5vGb8QvD-I3mBQ0bfiQiJuMZLOB5CX1-HG6-reIInYHmUk2LO5Q82f2kvvfnjOuc3Ds4cIwH4A-aDxX4BQF2zNt-QCr8QtwgxCwAq0vLd6AHHngA38MxTY0OUcFg/s1600/Indominus-Rex-Jurassic-World-Movie-Jaws.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm91ziAFM5jK5QJdw5vGb8QvD-I3mBQ0bfiQiJuMZLOB5CX1-HG6-reIInYHmUk2LO5Q82f2kvvfnjOuc3Ds4cIwH4A-aDxX4BQF2zNt-QCr8QtwgxCwAq0vLd6AHHngA38MxTY0OUcFg/s320/Indominus-Rex-Jurassic-World-Movie-Jaws.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>AV:</b> True to Jurassic form, Jurassic World was a top-notch visual spectacular. The film was chuck full of dino-tastic effects. Old friends such as the Velociraptors, the trikes (Triceratops) and Pterodactyls all returned to the story, brought to life once more by the magic of CGI-enhanced cinema. The film stimulated audiences further with he introduction of several more species but in all fairness, the effects were an integral but not ‘primal’ part of the storytelling and while the movie does rely on a great deal of content from the visual effects folks. Was the Pontificator blown away by the dino-rich visuals?</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWhyd_TZ9YQ_YasoSPydBUeCPczuzc4DvaR7nq71o3sfc-iYH9wpU7JIxg6_YL46pPv75sXEP_4GGWPXlrJjgjRsJeFCM9ez9mBVI5CPqMRes2Jy-1tuR0VQq1GRyLBFI4i-2ZStFXbfI/s1600/JurassicWorld-safari_tour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWhyd_TZ9YQ_YasoSPydBUeCPczuzc4DvaR7nq71o3sfc-iYH9wpU7JIxg6_YL46pPv75sXEP_4GGWPXlrJjgjRsJeFCM9ez9mBVI5CPqMRes2Jy-1tuR0VQq1GRyLBFI4i-2ZStFXbfI/s320/JurassicWorld-safari_tour.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>TP:</b> I keep ringing the <a href="https://www.imax.com/" target="_blank">IMAX</a> 3D bell…but don’t know if anyone is hearing me Vader. The special effects were awesome. They were in-your-face and make-you-jump and I loved every bit of it. Sometimes, new ground need not be broken if you do all the present techniques perfectly. There is a reason JW is breaking records!</span></div>
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A DEEPER LOOK</span></b><br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b></b><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV7IoTsefCA-kCgqK7uArZxL8_jf3bvMmsf68wsZvvQqgnBGJtZOG16xzVVIW1OWo40J57FinQL53mTKYWRAyw85DrNbPAdI9-3nNXs7ImFpq81j0rlvYzKIq6PRHlDsbQm2UJkl-6uvM/s1600/new-jurassicworld-movie-still-121314.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV7IoTsefCA-kCgqK7uArZxL8_jf3bvMmsf68wsZvvQqgnBGJtZOG16xzVVIW1OWo40J57FinQL53mTKYWRAyw85DrNbPAdI9-3nNXs7ImFpq81j0rlvYzKIq6PRHlDsbQm2UJkl-6uvM/s320/new-jurassicworld-movie-still-121314.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>AV:</b> How do you take a failing iconic franchise and breath new life into it? Add liberal amounts of Chris Pratt, stir and repeat. Chris is a stunning addition to the Jurassic cast of adventurers and we all but hope that he continues on to some kind of consistent appearance in the franchise. Just about everyone else is a throw-away character, so it goes. The revitalization of this great franchise is in the new synergy of the cast, new dino-dangers and some great sci-fi-a-storic writing. While the film follows the classic formula of new dino-park, something goes wrong, dins eat people, showdown and the kids survive. Did I miss anything? Likely not but Jurassic World flourishes under this all-too familiar formula wouldn’t you sap, P-Man? </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA2BxXUk10MALzVazVkdmnujYhbDJ8CcKurIgMz4N_yO1NDJ_1vrA4eSDRt3PC8X7O7hB6i5_7Q6use1sjkPcjduXSVsNkUcDQYyLOmbLpvZnqMiYUrOZGbHwI611CwZnlnouRbt2568I/s1600/Jurassic-World-Robinson-Simpkins2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA2BxXUk10MALzVazVkdmnujYhbDJ8CcKurIgMz4N_yO1NDJ_1vrA4eSDRt3PC8X7O7hB6i5_7Q6use1sjkPcjduXSVsNkUcDQYyLOmbLpvZnqMiYUrOZGbHwI611CwZnlnouRbt2568I/s320/Jurassic-World-Robinson-Simpkins2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>TP:</b> People love dinosaurs done right Vader. Really, there was nothing new here. Scientists were still splicing dino’s and tampering with forces they should not have been, leading to chaos and death, and resolved by the very creations responsible for the problem in the first place. If you take a moment to really reflect on the film, everything we saw has already been seen and easily predicted. I think it speaks volumes about the film that this is so…and it was STILL so enjoyable to watch! I could put it all on the I-Rex, but I had already guessed about that long before they revealed it’s origins. No…it has to be the total formula that is “Jurassic” that is drawing people to the theater out of love for the previous films…and hooking them with the same (but updated) formula of tried and true success.</span></div>
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">ON SEQUELS</span></b><br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b></b><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ0QDsMFGH7JvNPM8vM2XFfXQQd69Gln8cX9q-PljMtBVC6sChVpkGuQHbb840QfCcKZ9nNDNZPaKQdOLqAmvi6bCqpVcOe7JBUQKR5fZmjWZYW-6CbSZKBxqMvH-me5Zhl_MLHjb_nbs/s1600/jurassic-world-dr-wu-1500x844.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ0QDsMFGH7JvNPM8vM2XFfXQQd69Gln8cX9q-PljMtBVC6sChVpkGuQHbb840QfCcKZ9nNDNZPaKQdOLqAmvi6bCqpVcOe7JBUQKR5fZmjWZYW-6CbSZKBxqMvH-me5Zhl_MLHjb_nbs/s320/jurassic-world-dr-wu-1500x844.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>AV:</b> Where do you take a franchise struggling to find new engaging story content? Well definitely off of Isla Nublar. Several folks I have talked to have formulated a pretty sound theory; Jurassic War. It stands to reason that IN-GEN, now backed by the military, will be ready to step up its monster-warrior program. Velociraptors with rocket launchers on their shoulders… what could possibly go wrong? </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyQAaLMmmzG_DDBdgTxfCZWAfXN9-v9_pm_u7MCdrWadIc-UOrsgHB_E2OEfZdQbgezYigN7dXMohHnf7MmmbixfDKp87GNTHU79-KjHVpHSKIqHyN_wj0zpu5aaOvBml3T_YKI0Wnbys/s1600/jurassic-world.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyQAaLMmmzG_DDBdgTxfCZWAfXN9-v9_pm_u7MCdrWadIc-UOrsgHB_E2OEfZdQbgezYigN7dXMohHnf7MmmbixfDKp87GNTHU79-KjHVpHSKIqHyN_wj0zpu5aaOvBml3T_YKI0Wnbys/s320/jurassic-world.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>TP:</b> Honestly…I think as long as they make a good story that makes enough sense, they can always do a “Jurassic” film. As it turns out, some dino DNA has escaped destruction and some dino’s remain on the island, leaving the door wide open to continue the franchise.</span></div>
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">RATE IT!</span></b><br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b></b><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlsOd4Aa51RCobSeKcXwCPz_CHLDE-bd7tqIOoINpQBJBC3aBm1jvzIsrECHI2eP3g1DfL2B7dTajETdr_qsSP2BK9mQfQW1GKGKKpTsx6TmKiUOyX612pTPShSzETI2PglXtU0MOsH8g/s1600/Jurassic_World_poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlsOd4Aa51RCobSeKcXwCPz_CHLDE-bd7tqIOoINpQBJBC3aBm1jvzIsrECHI2eP3g1DfL2B7dTajETdr_qsSP2BK9mQfQW1GKGKKpTsx6TmKiUOyX612pTPShSzETI2PglXtU0MOsH8g/s320/Jurassic_World_poster.jpg" width="202" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>ARTH VADER rates Jurassic World:</b> A refreshing, fun journey through a lost world of new monsters, old problems, new technology and mayhem, Jurassic World delivers. Overcoming some downright silly moments–like when Chris Pratt is tooling through the jungle with his pack of Velociraptors, is more than ridiculously over-the-top but it somehow works. With that, this is one dino-loving fanboy who had a thoroughly good time and strapped nine (9) Busted Blocks to some Raptors and watched the fun unfold.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">THE PONTIFICATOR rates Jurassic World: </b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is truly a “summer” film and fills that need to sit back and be thoroughly entertained. There will be no acting Oscars here, but the acting was great, the story was good, and the effects were supreme…making this a whole lot of fun to watch. Adding a new dino’s to the classic (and usual) suspects paid off big and took a huge bite out of eight (8) busted blocks.</span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Jurassic World: 8.5 / 10 Busted Blocks</b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDt_Q_U2msnNWUDXlQr94kH0tc4qDYNOCQJqjj8LrsxBsAOENt9SpeZ41sSZnPMxqfRd_24H4hcHGx1wXBJSQQmDZ0MkpQU80RkRuHdya87c6UlhJWzUettwkm40ykzUO94b12HkMg2PE/s1600/TheBoxedOffice_8.5+busted+blocs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="52" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDt_Q_U2msnNWUDXlQr94kH0tc4qDYNOCQJqjj8LrsxBsAOENt9SpeZ41sSZnPMxqfRd_24H4hcHGx1wXBJSQQmDZ0MkpQU80RkRuHdya87c6UlhJWzUettwkm40ykzUO94b12HkMg2PE/s400/TheBoxedOffice_8.5+busted+blocs.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
ArthV8Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425459411323956859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1870440923397188789.post-32188744961638803952015-06-26T15:05:00.002-07:002015-06-29T06:32:35.842-07:00Tomorrowland: A Real Travesty<div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>George Clooney leads audiences on a lackluster trip to a dismal future in Disney’s <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1964418/?ref_=nv_sr_1" target="_blank">Tomorrowland</a>.</b></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">ON CONTINUITY</span></b></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYmVVZVMIKKm-k2orVx0G1BRAynGIkgl2bF433jJ2bHkKFfmIC8D_4UD3QA9FbNHwMIiHNcFDfm_5FqveAvXjKp9sTJmpL1BFsA9uC-ozQpx2ilF9li7gWukS9CyTUrozS2c4GxZ45wSg/s1600/Tomorrowland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYmVVZVMIKKm-k2orVx0G1BRAynGIkgl2bF433jJ2bHkKFfmIC8D_4UD3QA9FbNHwMIiHNcFDfm_5FqveAvXjKp9sTJmpL1BFsA9uC-ozQpx2ilF9li7gWukS9CyTUrozS2c4GxZ45wSg/s320/Tomorrowland.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>ARTH VADER (AV)</b>: Inspired by the famed Disneyland ride/attraction of the same name, Tomorrowland focuses on a dream–inspired future-topia where people are whisked away, to enjoy all the comforts of a technological paradise where they even get to fly around on personal jet packs. While many of those concepts are derived from the Disney themed ride, the movie attempts to foreshadow a pretty terrific future wouldn't you say Pontificator? </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB4aTs_ToUO3E9Xxkv4sf8rVME-JjUpz1HEywlgbX1rXIyWWBF7nwDoCqGaFU_AG08cJE8QyIB224GWX7hfatyWP23Ca2XhKPY_3rZCfK4koo_Kw03J6SaE68IYa8ZEwr7ammVvi6Lpg8/s1600/TOMORROWLAND-young-frank-walker-pointofgeeks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB4aTs_ToUO3E9Xxkv4sf8rVME-JjUpz1HEywlgbX1rXIyWWBF7nwDoCqGaFU_AG08cJE8QyIB224GWX7hfatyWP23Ca2XhKPY_3rZCfK4koo_Kw03J6SaE68IYa8ZEwr7ammVvi6Lpg8/s320/TOMORROWLAND-young-frank-walker-pointofgeeks.jpg" width="320" /></span></a>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b></b></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>THE PONTIFICATOR (TP): </b>Dunno about that Vader. Seemingly an original story wherein a boy-genius all grown up and a scientifically savvy youth must team up to solve the mystery of Tomorrowland, and save the world. Original…except for the recurring theme of the world being saved (once again) by a gifted child (sigh).</span><br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">CASTING, ACTING AND DIRECTING</span></b></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF342ENpXZ_-nKUz18GKU3oRgbYzvGJQXQXUDn42kQxajQ0BKFCkgs5topGWh8-p3t16Eipg2iiCBOZWDW9JK1PB9JBmqvm2hAJdopNzs8dyrVdKsiPET8rzIGYfvfIsZqWbBpxJ9ofQk/s1600/tomorrowland_hugh_laurie_george_clooney_h_2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF342ENpXZ_-nKUz18GKU3oRgbYzvGJQXQXUDn42kQxajQ0BKFCkgs5topGWh8-p3t16Eipg2iiCBOZWDW9JK1PB9JBmqvm2hAJdopNzs8dyrVdKsiPET8rzIGYfvfIsZqWbBpxJ9ofQk/s320/tomorrowland_hugh_laurie_george_clooney_h_2015.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>AV</b>: George “Gravity” Clooney heads up a pretty ho-hum cast that includes Hugh “House” Laurie and well. honestly it doesn’t matter. Sure, the cast was fine. But ex-Power Ranger <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1429380/?ref_=tt_cl_t3"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 46, 238); color: #042eee;">Britt Robinson</span></a> spends so time screaming at 'things that shouldn't be', her character quickly became annoying. The grizzled Clooney is a bit too young to pull off the grumpy old professor thing as he attempts to mentor a gifted young girl through her mundane life. The direction by famed family film director, Brad Bird (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0317705/?ref_=nv_sr_1"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 46, 238); color: #042eee;">The Incredibles</span></a>, Up, Ratatouille) was competent but also transparent. Pontificator, the acting was near appalling but I did manage to sit all the way through it and trust me, that was no easy task.<br />
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMnP7UdCrv2wdepvAxj6uWQ7UjFOlBsaQ8BasxlDvwl2fHNiJb7g3vLUbjrT1NiLun1D3K-_7H4r-AX5y94xkDn5SP9r3ALvvnGuYQa7ckyiDCd4czZofVdlWv-XsCcNE7z2nJADUK7cM/s1600/20150501fr-tomorrowland-disney-movie-Raffey-Cassidy-1080x675.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMnP7UdCrv2wdepvAxj6uWQ7UjFOlBsaQ8BasxlDvwl2fHNiJb7g3vLUbjrT1NiLun1D3K-_7H4r-AX5y94xkDn5SP9r3ALvvnGuYQa7ckyiDCd4czZofVdlWv-XsCcNE7z2nJADUK7cM/s320/20150501fr-tomorrowland-disney-movie-Raffey-Cassidy-1080x675.png" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span class="s1" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial;">TP:</b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial;"> I thought the cast was great and the actors presented their characters marvelously…</span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial;">for their target audience</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial;">. I’m not a huge </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/?title=George_Clooney" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">George Clooney</span></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial;"> fan, but he didn’t detract from the film. </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Britt_Robertson" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Britt Robertson</span></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial;"> didn’t get annoying for me and I enjoyed her scenes with </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raffey_Cassidy" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Raffey Cassidy</span></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial;">. </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_Laurie" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Hugh Laurie</span></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial;"> made an interesting villain although it’s just hard to see him and not think “House.” The film moved along at a steady pace which helped it since the story was just “meh.”</span> </span><br />
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">ON SPECIAL EFFECTS</span></b></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimpRENFCDoykI4NL7entERUJUHm7xa0Ka0kn4nyN_Ugi5z_kwcJ8yyk-cKiK2ZTJkwRGc_Mht5oNv-cI2aViG8z23WtN43Cne4NlXFLIPj-NipslSaEGfZbLWlGEEcOfaqCoORYsgfbCQ/s1600/maxresdefault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimpRENFCDoykI4NL7entERUJUHm7xa0Ka0kn4nyN_Ugi5z_kwcJ8yyk-cKiK2ZTJkwRGc_Mht5oNv-cI2aViG8z23WtN43Cne4NlXFLIPj-NipslSaEGfZbLWlGEEcOfaqCoORYsgfbCQ/s320/maxresdefault.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>AV</b>: The visual effects were ok. While breaking no new ground, the effects attempted to do more than they should have. A time-stopping freeze gun is a great idea that is used in a toy store and then never heard from again. A rocket ship hidden within the Eiffel Tower is a great idea, until you attempt to execute it. Then, it’s just a dumb, forgettable visual dud. The rocket jet packs had a moment but once you’ve seen the Rocketeer (1991) you’ve seen what you needed to see from that particular piece of technology. P-Man?<br />
<b style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial;">
<b style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBOotyTDYDnt9HzDtQ0KWxyIL2H_S6qPxpBjNK5nQTVI9Y5pFKfTXmS5hJXHDg4V5jr1CI6h6YjVS1UWcchguoDjyWRwr3doBFixLSQMC-kgYU64BvAqZSkhRKueLHnTWxyJ2V1VE5Jbk/s1600/Tomorrowland-Concept-Art-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBOotyTDYDnt9HzDtQ0KWxyIL2H_S6qPxpBjNK5nQTVI9Y5pFKfTXmS5hJXHDg4V5jr1CI6h6YjVS1UWcchguoDjyWRwr3doBFixLSQMC-kgYU64BvAqZSkhRKueLHnTWxyJ2V1VE5Jbk/s320/Tomorrowland-Concept-Art-2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><span style="font-size: large;">TP:</span></b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: small;"> Seeing this film in IMAX 3D was a great decision. Disney is certainly dependable when it comes to special effects and this film did not disappoint. In fact, the effects were another high point that helped it along and kept it interesting.</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<span class="s1"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">TAKING A CLOSER LOOK</span></b></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGfCm_Y9OMeN3FWrbaMn-eqdxMyvRgRL8FwiLFW-NAA1673oq-W3lgSKJcw-hHNe3JdNqDn86LEsz2jiGa-a5rfO_XecCbYVt-0iQ3dH_CmAfOwE8kSk5hqzqUyHheuteb3tcd94XKGbU/s1600/Tomorrowland_%2528film%2529_137.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGfCm_Y9OMeN3FWrbaMn-eqdxMyvRgRL8FwiLFW-NAA1673oq-W3lgSKJcw-hHNe3JdNqDn86LEsz2jiGa-a5rfO_XecCbYVt-0iQ3dH_CmAfOwE8kSk5hqzqUyHheuteb3tcd94XKGbU/s320/Tomorrowland_%2528film%2529_137.png" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>AV</b>: Why on Earth this film was ever green-lighted is far beyond this mere mortal. Things happen that aren't explained, like the distribution and use of special pins that are the key to Tomorrowland are introduced but aren't explained. So you get one that's rare and then you go places. Huh? </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGRjURKjWDXMLibPLKmGVX4yjWJuUaLuokz4bLSqultZDvmAhdsON4bebyjdaLvchfRsmN8AhRCyj5LWVw6ANCvOZJ4IhpKimT1sU7yAP5GV101Be5FZvI5OCZThopSZqqe04TpWE_P40/s1600/movie-scene2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGRjURKjWDXMLibPLKmGVX4yjWJuUaLuokz4bLSqultZDvmAhdsON4bebyjdaLvchfRsmN8AhRCyj5LWVw6ANCvOZJ4IhpKimT1sU7yAP5GV101Be5FZvI5OCZThopSZqqe04TpWE_P40/s320/movie-scene2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And while there are tons of sci-fi nods to Star Wars, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0043456/?ref_=nv_sr_2"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 46, 238); color: #042eee;">The Day The Earth Stood Still</span></a> (the classic one) and a host of others–these props do little more than complicate an already confusing string of events. A pedestrian screenplay, lack-luster cast, downright mediocre script and characters too dull to even mention (<a href="http://timmcgraw.com/"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 46, 238); color: #042eee;">Tim McGraw</span></a>, I’m looking at you m’man) I found that the most redeeming quality of this film was the end-credit graphics. Fun and engaging, they are everything the movie is not.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB1isdxvsA_tDohhX3zFZwEogyqm-XtGJqzj14lbaNqmlR5BHhYvzw0jl-J5VCf8h7SqKoojReJyNJ7wMyGiEz1_B7bTtJ8gqqK-Ve4h34YLmX2vGsdKhc38CMoanZNi1yQ2HDyLXDEic/s1600/Tomorrowland_%2528film%2529_148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB1isdxvsA_tDohhX3zFZwEogyqm-XtGJqzj14lbaNqmlR5BHhYvzw0jl-J5VCf8h7SqKoojReJyNJ7wMyGiEz1_B7bTtJ8gqqK-Ve4h34YLmX2vGsdKhc38CMoanZNi1yQ2HDyLXDEic/s320/Tomorrowland_%2528film%2529_148.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">TP: </b>Well…I could get really deep here with all the subliminal nuggets and real world foreshadowing, but instead let me just say that the commentary given in this film about the state of the best humanity has to offer is a message no child should be subjected to. I think it’s disturbing given the message Disney just sent with <a href="http://theboxedoffice.blogspot.com/2015/06/age-of-ultron-more-than-little-ambitious.html"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">Avengers: Age of Ultron</span></a> (remember Ultron was on the internet for five minutes and decided humanity had to go the way of the Dodo). In this film the commentary continues as to why Ultron would think that as the best minds of humanity have managed to screw up “paradise” and in so doing, doomed the planet whom they view as in need of destruction anyway! It all works out in the end, but that doesn’t change everything we had to go through to get there. </span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>ON SEQUELS</b></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI9kypj1Wk_otaPHmtLA-UCAfwB0OQUBUEeKskghz_76D54zjhrhB5ZjMOhAt-TeG2Vuu-KSMjzOpPPewpCZlfIDha7hrA8-2cvR_2zrYR0eDyEro4IfMa4TAeL2VZ1h2XOc4W6TBeWJg/s1600/ZZ5E9CC668.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI9kypj1Wk_otaPHmtLA-UCAfwB0OQUBUEeKskghz_76D54zjhrhB5ZjMOhAt-TeG2Vuu-KSMjzOpPPewpCZlfIDha7hrA8-2cvR_2zrYR0eDyEro4IfMa4TAeL2VZ1h2XOc4W6TBeWJg/s320/ZZ5E9CC668.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>AV: </b>No reason for that. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; min-height: 18px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>TP:</b>They could… but probably shouldn’t. This film was fine for what it was, but should stay in “yesterday” and avoid “tomorrow.”</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">RATE IT!</span></b></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj869G8QLXji6NN8BpossnZIdbSIn_YjIhMsCQ1xg8ojgWE1AzzDScf2LpBclx8CW-J-ZpLn8RKal09hHnzKEomD-QvybqtwGPrXhStUlUB1qRSz8xyNdOKrJJH5oq807r6F7BvUZichCk/s1600/tland-theatrical-00_01_51_04-still064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj869G8QLXji6NN8BpossnZIdbSIn_YjIhMsCQ1xg8ojgWE1AzzDScf2LpBclx8CW-J-ZpLn8RKal09hHnzKEomD-QvybqtwGPrXhStUlUB1qRSz8xyNdOKrJJH5oq807r6F7BvUZichCk/s320/tland-theatrical-00_01_51_04-still064.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>ARTH VADER rates Tomorrowland:</b> Swing and a miss, Disney. If you’re looking for a way to siphon 90 minutes from your life that you’ll never get back, then Tomorrowland is for you. This movie tries to matter–it really does, but in the end… it just doesn't. A huge disappointment despite the reported size of Clooney’s payday. I was barely able to strap on two (2) Busted Blocks as jet engines to jettison the sleep-inducing snooze-fest called Tomorrowland into the heavens, never to be seen or heard from again. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPeywnXpg2muen-PMIlTcQFkMuzlb91aCBJFLaVhVlWLXgLV2_BxRB2VtyYMKD5Nj0Jm9xvZXV9_JhV_bvGtUYC71i7dLvBaPmiT5mhAkVN_1AoyA5tNkIRlc2psPdTjGj4fiONAjuRcQ/s1600/MV5BMTQ4OTgzNTkwNF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwMzI3MDE3NDE%2540._V1_SX640_SY720_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPeywnXpg2muen-PMIlTcQFkMuzlb91aCBJFLaVhVlWLXgLV2_BxRB2VtyYMKD5Nj0Jm9xvZXV9_JhV_bvGtUYC71i7dLvBaPmiT5mhAkVN_1AoyA5tNkIRlc2psPdTjGj4fiONAjuRcQ/s320/MV5BMTQ4OTgzNTkwNF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwMzI3MDE3NDE%2540._V1_SX640_SY720_.jpg" width="216" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>THE PONTIFICATOR rates Tomorrowland: </b>Good performances (for the target audience) and great special effects made this a very enjoyable film to watch. The lackluster story though, prevented this film from being better than it was. In the end, this movie traveled into tomorrow and only returned to today with six (6) busted blocks.</span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="s1"><b><span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Tomorrowland – 4 Busted Blocks</span></b></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0NwhyphenhyphenyzzLa-S2QcN6zrLNXGx2lfJutGVOKv_NKgVOI44ovvyKBXqpyOIb9ATk3s2QtfBUBbMznfrvSsN38e8xageMMa3XR12A_Z_LryEKkX_Pn5daolOJSA_kl4ShNgt72KeM7hyWS9s/s1600/TheBoxedOffice_4+busted+blocs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="60" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0NwhyphenhyphenyzzLa-S2QcN6zrLNXGx2lfJutGVOKv_NKgVOI44ovvyKBXqpyOIb9ATk3s2QtfBUBbMznfrvSsN38e8xageMMa3XR12A_Z_LryEKkX_Pn5daolOJSA_kl4ShNgt72KeM7hyWS9s/s200/TheBoxedOffice_4+busted+blocs.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<span class="s1"><b><span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
ArthV8Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425459411323956859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1870440923397188789.post-38220761222776401532015-06-19T11:10:00.000-07:002015-06-19T11:10:50.118-07:00Happy To Travel Fury Road<div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="color: #990000; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Director George Miller Returns To The Franchise He Spawned Telling A New Tale of Post Apocalyptic Survival In Mad Max: Fury Road</span></b></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">ON CONTINUITY</span></b><br />
</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZYBhmDRRUGAHhngufqkLIkkpFRHXNI36fQZqnTZXjJf9eqsTgJM1i5adQPknqMRwfor48nJ3a8LTSvRh7tR3ymnspoPkqAgp3wkW0wiTnn4Si6SNHYnfWZBlyouHUVaW0hNxWRt6C9Po/s1600/mad-max-fury-road-tom-hardy-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZYBhmDRRUGAHhngufqkLIkkpFRHXNI36fQZqnTZXjJf9eqsTgJM1i5adQPknqMRwfor48nJ3a8LTSvRh7tR3ymnspoPkqAgp3wkW0wiTnn4Si6SNHYnfWZBlyouHUVaW0hNxWRt6C9Po/s320/mad-max-fury-road-tom-hardy-3.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>ARTH VADER (AV)</b>: Mad Max: Fury Road (MM:FR) takes us somewhere a Mad Max Film has never taken its audience; a place gender equality. I start with that line, Pontificator, because of all the downright chauvinistic press this film got. Hopefully, They are so turned off, those sexist idiots have clicked off and now the rest of us can have a cogent chat about this movie. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Inserted as a pseudo sequel between Mad Max and Mad Max: Beyond Thunder-dome, Fury Road is the Mad Max film the world needs. IT threads together a story and timeline reminiscent of Terminator, Star Trek and Judge Dredd.</span><br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpccb_HFTFzmLIpxROAlZtCk0ePHNF8vq-dsyzlH97N-dW_bYxmNYeDa54tMoLngoa8RzvMBmh8430eINEzq3MCTLY_TMnEgK8ZhPozI7E86g1Pqzvk-hY9xAGtqDsu9W0NTADWDKlA-A/s1600/mad-max-fury-road-wives.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpccb_HFTFzmLIpxROAlZtCk0ePHNF8vq-dsyzlH97N-dW_bYxmNYeDa54tMoLngoa8RzvMBmh8430eINEzq3MCTLY_TMnEgK8ZhPozI7E86g1Pqzvk-hY9xAGtqDsu9W0NTADWDKlA-A/s320/mad-max-fury-road-wives.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>THE PONTIFICATOR (TP)</b>: The continuity of this film has been brought into question from day one. George Miller refuses to call the film a sequel or reboot….but it clearly is just that, a reboot. Even though the film has flashbacks to the original, there is no series of events that can merge this film into the continuity of the others.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p2">
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">CASTING, ACTING AND DIRECTING</span></b></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhukRXGnjPHHqqExRifCIJvoRK8zynjHVYujeJ65REVb1UzElCM049xp9DbTiYA43dyBoBKgat_owqAVbiJPk2llTQrlR0GrhkMSRf9lBpubhxN4ErKftwdnMSLKOjeBv2Fg0jeR2xk1II/s1600/75.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhukRXGnjPHHqqExRifCIJvoRK8zynjHVYujeJ65REVb1UzElCM049xp9DbTiYA43dyBoBKgat_owqAVbiJPk2llTQrlR0GrhkMSRf9lBpubhxN4ErKftwdnMSLKOjeBv2Fg0jeR2xk1II/s320/75.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>AV</b>: A decent cast to be sure and what little true ‘acting’ there was, was good but I want to delve, face first into the direction. I mean props to the amazing onscreen presence to Charlize “Prometheus” Theron and Tom “Bane” Hardy but this films true hero was neither. It was the return of <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004306/?ref_=tt_ov_dr"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 46, 238); color: #042eee;">George Miller</span></a>, Godfather of the Mad Max franchise. You know, it’s hard to envision that the guy responsible for Babe: Pig in the city, Happy Feet and Happy Feet 2 is the mastermind behind the Mad Max franchise. His vision of a harsh wasteland world has held our collective attention for a generation being powerful and provocative. And only a handful of story arcs have been capable of that.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span class="s1" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJmdNKVTIIHrMhWX2c1RM4OCF2i0dvPGVTKS8XWRYtFX0hpTX-2CeGJ-uiMxDzlAJgT0oU9S35WU3Kv_nZdO0dfdPW-I1ZguhrYHZ6HkfA19aHYOcazgw-NN7TLU2iQdthKfP-_9OiNYQ/s1600/MadMax-FuryRoad-ImmortanJoe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJmdNKVTIIHrMhWX2c1RM4OCF2i0dvPGVTKS8XWRYtFX0hpTX-2CeGJ-uiMxDzlAJgT0oU9S35WU3Kv_nZdO0dfdPW-I1ZguhrYHZ6HkfA19aHYOcazgw-NN7TLU2iQdthKfP-_9OiNYQ/s320/MadMax-FuryRoad-ImmortanJoe.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>TP:</b> I enjoyed the first two of the original three films and think Miller did a great job directing this film. The pace was steady and engaging. The casting was also very good even though the film didn’t give Max (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Hardy"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Tom Hardy</span></a>) any real chance for depth and Furiosa (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlize_Theron"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Charlize Theron</span></a>) stole the show. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_Hoult"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Nicholas Hoult</span></a> (Nux) was a welcome addition and it was great to see <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0117412/"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Hugh Keays-Byrne</span></a> (Toecutter from the original film, Immortan Joe in this one) back again for another “Max” film.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">ON SPECIAL EFFECTS</span></b><br />
</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs2EZ5Yhdjw1_NPJ4erkIZXGiGTVlvKGpjyIueFnDnOkHAv0iDkh4-uzFGcCsi0-67OgTSGpZELX-FyT-lCRPCjHvrof_MAOu5g8m6MPm2Il9F8lVPV7VGikg6BuIT1OnsppqhpuO0H18/s1600/maxresdefault1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs2EZ5Yhdjw1_NPJ4erkIZXGiGTVlvKGpjyIueFnDnOkHAv0iDkh4-uzFGcCsi0-67OgTSGpZELX-FyT-lCRPCjHvrof_MAOu5g8m6MPm2Il9F8lVPV7VGikg6BuIT1OnsppqhpuO0H18/s320/maxresdefault1.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>AV</b>: While visual effects were quite prominent is MM:FR, we have a genuine effects mash-up here my friend. It is reported that most stunts in this movie are live action, with stunt men and actual pyrotechnics. Can’t tell you how long its been since we described a significant action film with those terms. Its real and it feels it. It works as a visual spectacular because the live-action effects elements are integrated as part of the story-telling, not as the primary storytelling device. In that way, to me, these are VERY special effects indeed, P-Man.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span class="s1" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuQ6gsy68S3XdW2hreXkH5L6jBLea0RffQG7BQ0kCWI7lmGX2ume3gRrE1MNSjr-pMpCMWjgmRU11m74nqLM64jqT-lQ8HlM7tLY6GI7Zn4glbSTR8fmbs6jQPpZGCdLRAGJC_cvcYsus/s1600/o-MAD-MAX-FURY-ROAD-facebook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuQ6gsy68S3XdW2hreXkH5L6jBLea0RffQG7BQ0kCWI7lmGX2ume3gRrE1MNSjr-pMpCMWjgmRU11m74nqLM64jqT-lQ8HlM7tLY6GI7Zn4glbSTR8fmbs6jQPpZGCdLRAGJC_cvcYsus/s320/o-MAD-MAX-FURY-ROAD-facebook.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>TP:</b> I totally agree Vader, the special effects were outstanding in this film. More than the effects in the traditional sense, was the cinematography and real stunts pulled off onscreen. Miller has always been one for really showing what you are watching and some of the stuff here was just pure excellence! Of course IMAX 3D was the only way for me to see this film…and it was, once again, a great decision.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">TAKING A CLOSER LOOK</span><br />
</span></b></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh898t1h36bU9zT_ol9jameoPpLg_sAXSAJ2M0egOZmuFePfyMafXImU_IOPTiZk0i5UcHlunEEMk2rqWRyEy9dviN8GHVnjER9rSnp-pAQ271MCcooLwYnUJ9R5GKu3e6TPRfv3r6cDpU/s1600/maxresdefault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh898t1h36bU9zT_ol9jameoPpLg_sAXSAJ2M0egOZmuFePfyMafXImU_IOPTiZk0i5UcHlunEEMk2rqWRyEy9dviN8GHVnjER9rSnp-pAQ271MCcooLwYnUJ9R5GKu3e6TPRfv3r6cDpU/s320/maxresdefault.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>AV</b>: It took a bit of time for me to sort out what I saw with this movie. What I first saw was a rambling listless film with point, little direction and some downright tired storytelling elements a la the ‘ghost girl’ sequences throughout the film where we are never actually told who she is but is the implied ;most daughter from Mad Max. But this film has far greater merit than its flaws. Set aside the jaw-dropping stunts, better-than-usual art direction and an unusual hero’s journey that saw Max in chains for almost a quarter of the film and put him to be—at best—a supporting role. I thought the minimalist dialogue and girl-power-gone-right perspective was way more than refreshing, it was badass and actually gave greater depth to the hero. A smart twist and a smarter film than most probably saw coming. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span class="s1" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG1ki6GzrAw7QqruIOrDv_TUSzbQ3p6nuuHZm3U3xNqzEMg-W8G5jZ2efC8cfzJPkyKhCyoL7FPqMaGUOHoenYJ2OS7vgVeg0cCwzYCKudicZknNmo0rcos0Swa-fMu298_YBT9VIyHtk/s1600/madmax2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG1ki6GzrAw7QqruIOrDv_TUSzbQ3p6nuuHZm3U3xNqzEMg-W8G5jZ2efC8cfzJPkyKhCyoL7FPqMaGUOHoenYJ2OS7vgVeg0cCwzYCKudicZknNmo0rcos0Swa-fMu298_YBT9VIyHtk/s320/madmax2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>TP:</b> I must admit it took me a while to warm to to this film. Having seen the three previous Max films, I was unprepared for the levels this film took me. The opening shot alone had me quickly disassociating myself from the subject as I couldn’t identify with such an existence. Further, destroying the car so quickly just made me…mad (see what I did there?). Although I didn’t get back into my own skin until halfway through the film, the sheer scope of the cinematography and awesome imagining that went into the vehicles had me hooked. I think the film could have been better by exploring Max more, but the fact that it took off from the opening and didn’t stop until the end gave new meaning to having a film take you for a… ride (heh…did it again).</span></div>
</div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>ON SEQUELS: </b></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKlxIMsO_vWVLF0hLkMzYBoy9kW59nWWYxjIUhu0iz5ZB2VT8jcZcEO-UuKG0aRuEtpp0wCx5kmGeewiEhTG9wTr0k8pRnvGh80eABaH3TP_J-Sd3guZu-0Lg2UFKagp7EHT8RzRfpFYM/s1600/mad-max-fury-road-cap.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKlxIMsO_vWVLF0hLkMzYBoy9kW59nWWYxjIUhu0iz5ZB2VT8jcZcEO-UuKG0aRuEtpp0wCx5kmGeewiEhTG9wTr0k8pRnvGh80eABaH3TP_J-Sd3guZu-0Lg2UFKagp7EHT8RzRfpFYM/s320/mad-max-fury-road-cap.png" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>AV</b>: The next 'new' Mad Max sequel is in production even as we speak. Mad Max: Wasteland will hit theaters in 2017. If we can expect more of this kind of filmmaking (I understand George Miller is Executive producing), I’m all in. The real trick will be to refine what this film did well and build on it. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span class="s1" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>TP:</b> Word is that Hardy has signed for two more films... and hopefully they will elevate Max’s story without dropping the entertainment ball.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">RATE IT!</span></b><br />
</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjG4PD06_UMeygBnlyaQhwkdBeLDrBCU8sk0yJkMfjtHKqwqZ0V88Q_KJn3_Yx5XlOloScZVEjmpymGv2FfB6sAwGTCEO9GDya6KJnpLaGXz-ZCBNs-rUXo0wv20Gvw-Ntiegd2Vno0cU/s1600/212061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjG4PD06_UMeygBnlyaQhwkdBeLDrBCU8sk0yJkMfjtHKqwqZ0V88Q_KJn3_Yx5XlOloScZVEjmpymGv2FfB6sAwGTCEO9GDya6KJnpLaGXz-ZCBNs-rUXo0wv20Gvw-Ntiegd2Vno0cU/s320/212061.jpg" width="215" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>ARTH VADER rates Mad Max: Fury Road:</b> A surprisingly entertaining film, George Miller put his passion into this next installment, and it shows. We don't need a timeline, flashbacks or silly flash-cuts of (presumed) long-dead loved ones (feel free to remove that nonsense in the Director's cut, George). While short on dialogue, this movie long on entertainment is smarter than it might seem at first watch. So I grab a warm cup of Mother's milk, jump on a 20 ft. pole to do some live-action stunts that should net eight (8) solid Busted Blocks for <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1392190/?ref_=nv_sr_1"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 46, 238); color: #042eee;">Mad Max: Fury Road</span></a>. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>THE PONTIFICATOR rates Mad Max: Fury Road:</b> This film was stunning on so many levels, but I think the highest compliment I can give it was that it was something I didn’t expect and left me feeling that I had seen something unique. That is a feeling that is very hard to come by when you watch as many films as I do. This film angrily sped off with eight (8) high octane blocks… in search of paradise.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<div class="p2" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="s1"><b><span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mad Max: Fury Road – 8.0 Busted Blocks</span></b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilqdO6dA0NzEtc3Y7lLct4Y9XRMJvxll9W5-6-WFNZuMCGH5riyiVJjwIykompaMTFodORl3Vv8gbIY-Poh3o1RuL5Y1_uwqh6ZQuLH5nzsaUuu2nM4Umx7VIbQF5smfTK5chifY7uosE/s1600/TheBoxedOffice_8+busted+blocs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="51" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilqdO6dA0NzEtc3Y7lLct4Y9XRMJvxll9W5-6-WFNZuMCGH5riyiVJjwIykompaMTFodORl3Vv8gbIY-Poh3o1RuL5Y1_uwqh6ZQuLH5nzsaUuu2nM4Umx7VIbQF5smfTK5chifY7uosE/s320/TheBoxedOffice_8+busted+blocs.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="s1"><b><span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
ArthV8Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425459411323956859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1870440923397188789.post-30934525769348511652015-06-15T07:55:00.000-07:002015-06-15T07:56:59.591-07:00Age of Ultron More Than A Little Ambitious <div style="min-height: 16px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;">The Latest Avengers Tale Is Visually Arresting But Shows Some Chinks In Marvel’s Usually Infallible Armor</span></b></span></div>
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 24px;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">ON CONTINUITY</span></b></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoMEntmhtDj8cf2yWvOggJhlEYRrDyL50ltlsH7CY7igydzDQ3BfUa-A6nVOrnHdisjrVmDlFcN-YHDMLhAix9cyQiEnuXYbMizQ7Cy6gYeWKndczZ9L9YqJEjEoor7F4aE4XhINtZgoQ/s1600/Avengers-Age-of-Ultron-trailer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoMEntmhtDj8cf2yWvOggJhlEYRrDyL50ltlsH7CY7igydzDQ3BfUa-A6nVOrnHdisjrVmDlFcN-YHDMLhAix9cyQiEnuXYbMizQ7Cy6gYeWKndczZ9L9YqJEjEoor7F4aE4XhINtZgoQ/s320/Avengers-Age-of-Ultron-trailer.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>ARTH VADER (AV): </b>For Marvel Comics geeks everywhere, the Age of Ultron is one of the more profound story arcs published in recent memory. As the Avengers most complex and pervasive villain, <a href="http://marvel.wikia.com/Ultron_(Earth-616)"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 46, 238); color: #042eee;">Ultron</span></a> represents a morbid take on the coming singularity. As an A.I. built for the greater good gone horribly wrong, Ultron becomes self–aware and endeavors to work to eradicating mankind and his first mandate is to eliminate mankind’s best line of defense—the Avengers. However, the origin in the cannon is far different than that oath film and that, I would argue, is the crux of this film’s flaws. Ponty? </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU9pk8GAWPi4Di7RJbDEHq3YaOasRIkxuSh-tvo-86UKbERrVezW2kJrwoYeMqjtKpL3kNSAX0DTCH3-zx9Xt_tUrsGTT2aCxKnq08C5jIka3cKh1PKQN1QeVHax0ujDvVcLGGLqbVi8c/s1600/Avengers-assembled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU9pk8GAWPi4Di7RJbDEHq3YaOasRIkxuSh-tvo-86UKbERrVezW2kJrwoYeMqjtKpL3kNSAX0DTCH3-zx9Xt_tUrsGTT2aCxKnq08C5jIka3cKh1PKQN1QeVHax0ujDvVcLGGLqbVi8c/s320/Avengers-assembled.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>THE PONTIFICATOR (TP)</b>: I disagree Vader. The continuity of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is excellent as it stays true to itself and not the books. Anyone watching <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2364582/"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.</span></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;"> </span>saw Director Coulson locate Loki’s scepter in the season finale and contact the Avengers to get it….which was the opening scene in the film. Continuity….flawless!</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">
<br /></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">CASTING, ACTING & DIRECTING</span></b><br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b></b><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSqVXYfUMayfvPRoEDBsblnSfABvK5prMM2UvVC6UtJphBeMdI737k_Iy7DdrHil1CrFxxw2mQfdsqi-euhpp-_7g2QMC-jarl8RunYgnvib2CKy8H4LXe-ff3vAU6Kf97Xeq0wM0tpZg/s1600/avengers-age-of-ultron-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSqVXYfUMayfvPRoEDBsblnSfABvK5prMM2UvVC6UtJphBeMdI737k_Iy7DdrHil1CrFxxw2mQfdsqi-euhpp-_7g2QMC-jarl8RunYgnvib2CKy8H4LXe-ff3vAU6Kf97Xeq0wM0tpZg/s320/avengers-age-of-ultron-3.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>AV</b>: The cast of <a href="http://marvel.com/movies/movie/193/avengers_age_of_ultron"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 46, 238); color: #042eee;">Avengers: Age of Ultron</span></a> (AoU) is so stacked with returning and new actors, the film is almost mind-numbing. With more than 15 primary actors and major supporting cast members, the movie is a massive mash-up. Joss Whedon’s complex vision of the Avengers squaring off against their ultimate foe is impressive. Voiced by the undeniable talents of James “Blacklist” Spader, Ultron has an edge unlike any A.I. ever seen onscreen. I do offer a special note about seeing Paul "Vision" Bettany onscreen as the Vision really made me shudder with delight! While the cinematography is spectacular, it's overwhelming when cobbled together with an an almost relentless amount of CGI. I also noted, Ponty, that the screenplay was a hot mess, which in-turn, affected the storytelling, the pacing and the overall quality of the story. Thoughts? </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-oHO3Ou5KUh3QRuwL0egpJ_LIIEx_Q3I41I9PAZxT_XJQmX3Ud_zg6rzomemhehDoy47-NAVAa-OYsMQYO8J2lte7FcUaW1n3NWwCiQDT9hdIDY5flnAoL2EhW7kqVMC-X7uDsnkVX1k/s1600/ultron-elizabeth-olsen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-oHO3Ou5KUh3QRuwL0egpJ_LIIEx_Q3I41I9PAZxT_XJQmX3Ud_zg6rzomemhehDoy47-NAVAa-OYsMQYO8J2lte7FcUaW1n3NWwCiQDT9hdIDY5flnAoL2EhW7kqVMC-X7uDsnkVX1k/s320/ultron-elizabeth-olsen.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;"><b>TP:</b> All the usual suspects are back and did exactly as expected, so I won’t make a spectacle about it. The real story is the new additions to the cast, namely </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aaron_Taylor-Johnson" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Aaron Taylor-Johnson</span></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;"> (Quicksilver), </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Olsen" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Elizabeth Olsen</span></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;"> (Scarlet Witch), </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Bettany" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Paul Bettany</span></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;"> (Vision), and </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Spader" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">James Spader</span></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;"> (Ultron). I was very happy with all the performances, and while Spader was fantastic, I was especially taken with the Vision. I look forward to seeing more of him in the future. I didn’t think the pace of the film was an issue and found myself engaged at all times with what was going on.</span> </span><br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">ON SPECIAL EFFECTS</span></b><br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b></b><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLE78ssYH23vXaWaoJdfJ1IraN9IPa7acfZkSngm5C6hx8n1lphZinL8gNGXp68n1rjXEQgW6gWnjKu405x0fjPSdo3cNF9VF39b3ynFTxitSnKmDzEKPsysNbLImIpfyK8Zeprinu8Rc/s1600/c7a5288a-2822-4986-8350-b3e3f20a36fb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLE78ssYH23vXaWaoJdfJ1IraN9IPa7acfZkSngm5C6hx8n1lphZinL8gNGXp68n1rjXEQgW6gWnjKu405x0fjPSdo3cNF9VF39b3ynFTxitSnKmDzEKPsysNbLImIpfyK8Zeprinu8Rc/s320/c7a5288a-2822-4986-8350-b3e3f20a36fb.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>AV: </b>While it is well known that all Marvel movies are visual spectaculars, this was the first MCU film that felt overdone. Don’t get it twisted, NO ONE was more excited to see eight (8!) Avengers onscreen battling never-ending wave of Ultron bots than I was. Its true. Since the age of seven, the Vision has been my favorite super hero. He's cool, conflicted but honest about both his nature as a synthetic being and his (eventual) love for the Scarlet Witch. Watching him deal blazing pain to Ultron with the Mind Gem onscreen was almost more than this poor little geek child from Boston could handle. However, a co-worker mentioned recently that she felt-though she liked the film–if she blinked she’d miss something. I couldn’t agree more. And that frantic soup of action in the opening sequence was purely for the fans — fun, but ultimately too much to focus on in too little time. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxN4HfkSX7LJXkfltlaDKeFz_JmBKZI1hwC4OtjM0HAWf1I9wXXPqbAmv53w8fcgvYXFYESqglN1pcCad2ZOyagACQIgCiu69-9wOToi7wbcqQSTDVY8QhE9FQQHQIe0lurqyldb7nICQ/s1600/img_13722_avengers-age-of-ultron-featurette-super-siblings-2015-marvel-movie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxN4HfkSX7LJXkfltlaDKeFz_JmBKZI1hwC4OtjM0HAWf1I9wXXPqbAmv53w8fcgvYXFYESqglN1pcCad2ZOyagACQIgCiu69-9wOToi7wbcqQSTDVY8QhE9FQQHQIe0lurqyldb7nICQ/s320/img_13722_avengers-age-of-ultron-featurette-super-siblings-2015-marvel-movie.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>TP:</b> It seems Marvel can do no wrong when it comes to special effects, and as usual, there was no other way to see this film except in IMAX 3D. I was pleased Marvel Studios did not copy Fox in doing the effects of Quicksilver. Although those effects were awesome, I enjoyed seeing it done differently and while no new ground was broken, it’s always a pleasure to see everything done flawlessly. As for too much happening…. that is a great reason to see the film more than once to take it all in.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">TAKING A CLOSER LOOK</span></b><br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b></b><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRPrOJj9MezDIXbw3S5Dk2DVzzzqOE6m2PdQ8Mq7MaEL-ZiU_jHmKfiifbV7TdVtHwFV6gz05nE5M_rsOa4ynReNmtM0SY8hWWfGGiT-5DGyPr6eo3jo8Hz340xSzYPAFnIi_-rvjNkY8/s1600/avengers253d1a1be6fdf6-2-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRPrOJj9MezDIXbw3S5Dk2DVzzzqOE6m2PdQ8Mq7MaEL-ZiU_jHmKfiifbV7TdVtHwFV6gz05nE5M_rsOa4ynReNmtM0SY8hWWfGGiT-5DGyPr6eo3jo8Hz340xSzYPAFnIi_-rvjNkY8/s320/avengers253d1a1be6fdf6-2-1.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>AV</b>: So let’s establish that on opening night (April 30th, 2015 for me–!), I was squealing like a school-girl at watching AoU. And let’s face it, The Avengers (2012) is a damn-near perfect action movie. In its genre, it has no equal. Truly. This also means it has some pretty darn big shoes to fill. But the film had some serious issues. First, too much. Too many dream sequences (3 for Thor alone!), the introduction of Hawkeye’s ‘secret family’, the re-introduction of Nick Fury, Cameo’s by War Machine and Falcon, flying cities, Wakanda, flashes of the Infinity Gems, Ulysses Klaw and… well, you see my point. AoU is the first film where I felt the movie was conscious of itself as a bridge from earlier stories to future Marvel properties. That is a very good way to loose audience members fast and that's troubling to me, P-Man.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwJK7klk-3P97OutIzaiX0YBlc8mYPc_VtSk85y5SmtbrrxOHiU1cT8icUlETjIn2YT5RRUI4kVRB9ACKD7ni9dE8QaNYIbFFXjAZhMisDMoWBC8lxtHWqH8QackSMBNnNIfcN7cGGj5A/s1600/video-avengers-age-of-ultron-uk-trailer-4-videoSixteenByNine1050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwJK7klk-3P97OutIzaiX0YBlc8mYPc_VtSk85y5SmtbrrxOHiU1cT8icUlETjIn2YT5RRUI4kVRB9ACKD7ni9dE8QaNYIbFFXjAZhMisDMoWBC8lxtHWqH8QackSMBNnNIfcN7cGGj5A/s320/video-avengers-age-of-ultron-uk-trailer-4-videoSixteenByNine1050.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>TP:</b> The mixed reviews of this film has not stopped it from being a billion dollar film…and rightly so. I have heard several complaints about a lack of story, but I think the story speaks volumes. Ultron gets on the internet for five minutes and decides that humanity must be destroyed (message!). I think it’s impossible to make this film with the same punch the first film had simply because the first film introduced us to something we have never seen before, and seeing that again just can’t have the same impact as the first time. I was not one of those people looking for that first high, I was just looking to be entertained while enjoying the continuing story of the Marvel Cinematic Universe…and this film delivered.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">ON SEQUELS</span></b></div>
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b></b><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE8Ck9SRq0Li340U-tuzSiPUwPqOBCRIJfLSSAj9KnP3ye8ILhp7G7X6Gnd2M66hG2MFji3KAAWr6rq-kwKdRHH4cvLllx2FWxdSyg96apDUHFS8OD9lVAj5HGVcL8Z-WRZegSqwMOmOo/s1600/Avengers-Age-of-Ultron-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE8Ck9SRq0Li340U-tuzSiPUwPqOBCRIJfLSSAj9KnP3ye8ILhp7G7X6Gnd2M66hG2MFji3KAAWr6rq-kwKdRHH4cvLllx2FWxdSyg96apDUHFS8OD9lVAj5HGVcL8Z-WRZegSqwMOmOo/s320/Avengers-Age-of-Ultron-2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>AV</b>: Two follow-up Avengers flicks are in production even as we speak; Avengers Infinity War 1 & 2 (a bad choice for naming if you ask me, folks–which you didn’t). I hope that Captain America: Civil War (also commonly referred to as Avengers 2.5) is due in April of 2016, will be another epic super mash-up from the directorial masters who brought us Captain America: The Winter Soldier–The Russo brothers. I am hoping Marvel doesn’t hobble them as much as they clearly did Mr. Whedon. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNWc6nYGEKYHCFg8dewFsE-_d3qGzN3liTkaSOvcL0wFpuIAH8z9EoWvYz1A4-oJWHI3B17SKuDzBfeaCG5Aq7RMCYO_QZF0wKYoZv-T-oyCo0H5kGmKtXYV7cQIW_yS1hwYfI-inEIxo/s1600/avengers-age-of-ultron-movie-screenshot-jeremy-renner-hawkeye-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNWc6nYGEKYHCFg8dewFsE-_d3qGzN3liTkaSOvcL0wFpuIAH8z9EoWvYz1A4-oJWHI3B17SKuDzBfeaCG5Aq7RMCYO_QZF0wKYoZv-T-oyCo0H5kGmKtXYV7cQIW_yS1hwYfI-inEIxo/s320/avengers-age-of-ultron-movie-screenshot-jeremy-renner-hawkeye-3.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">TP:</b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;"> Of course there will be sequels.… Avengers: Infinity War Parts 1 & 2, and they can’t get here soon enough. Aside from that, the Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to be an ever-expanding connected story that never ceases to amaze and entertain. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">RATE IT!</span></b><br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b></b><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcG8McCvaW79GdMEboxYFSKJRiaUk4-B923dX1rl1-rWY7eOFQjkDdLpZRgomTSFQ_7w1_EiuRlVBeSixrkxVj197waCEXDSuru4hQfFveiSDM8K6gLVQf09uPWl88pZVebpcA5DTQTcQ/s1600/avengers-age-of-ultron-alternate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcG8McCvaW79GdMEboxYFSKJRiaUk4-B923dX1rl1-rWY7eOFQjkDdLpZRgomTSFQ_7w1_EiuRlVBeSixrkxVj197waCEXDSuru4hQfFveiSDM8K6gLVQf09uPWl88pZVebpcA5DTQTcQ/s320/avengers-age-of-ultron-alternate.jpg" width="226" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>ARTH VADER rates Avengers: Age of Ultron</b>: When all is said and done, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1843866/"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 46, 238); color: #551a8b;">Avengers: Age of Ultron</span></a> is a fun. fast-paced visual spectacular that is a joy for the entrenched fan. It will be a fun streaming download and is highly re-watachable. My concern is the (flagrant) Marvel continuity issues, too many different story arcs and the rampant formula problems, which will hopefully die with this film. Still, I eagerly anticipate someone yelling “Avengers Assemble!” I smile and watch this visual epic assemble eight (8) Busted Blocks as we all prepare for the arrival of the Mad Titan.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>THE PONTIFICATOR rates Avengers: Age of Ultron:</b> This film was absolutely excellent and while it wasn’t as good as the very first film, it was good enough to destroy nine (9) busted blocks as it continues Marvel Studio’s dominance at the box office.</span></div>
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Avengers: Age Of Ultron – 8.5 / 10 Busted Blocks</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAKjZAGDNRcTwGSuuar5InLvUfywPiJdTjAqG_tGHHtlvVtoUzMmx99WWiKv15F5otBHCCoqDdQCBNsMEJEu-Le_DLEBFUgPJIhsa2nN46eV4yuqtsWKcwxuGSgJMV6fV11e1aD1kLKsU/s1600/TheBoxedOffice_8.5+busted+blocs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="52" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAKjZAGDNRcTwGSuuar5InLvUfywPiJdTjAqG_tGHHtlvVtoUzMmx99WWiKv15F5otBHCCoqDdQCBNsMEJEu-Le_DLEBFUgPJIhsa2nN46eV4yuqtsWKcwxuGSgJMV6fV11e1aD1kLKsU/s400/TheBoxedOffice_8.5+busted+blocs.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
ArthV8Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425459411323956859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1870440923397188789.post-32400355101846525842015-05-18T06:00:00.000-07:002015-05-18T12:02:39.196-07:00Is She Or Isn’t She?<div style="font-family: Helvetica; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0470752/?ref_=nv_sr_1" target="_blank">Ex Machina</a> Raises Eyebrows And Questions About The Singularity And The Nature Of Man And Machine</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 24px;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">ON CONTINUITY</span></b></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicHUZI4PUUkzGbt2jv_oyhITvGbbwKyGupDbY78wkY-bIlM2iDxn0KHc8cf3oQaoi6AoUJPqF4bU-jBThEF136hMmAUQ9QYAI9auwLSc-LG3cg1uKymHL6x5IO3h889xQBX3nq5kw7Jt0/s1600/Ex-Machina-Official-Trailer-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicHUZI4PUUkzGbt2jv_oyhITvGbbwKyGupDbY78wkY-bIlM2iDxn0KHc8cf3oQaoi6AoUJPqF4bU-jBThEF136hMmAUQ9QYAI9auwLSc-LG3cg1uKymHL6x5IO3h889xQBX3nq5kw7Jt0/s400/Ex-Machina-Official-Trailer-3.jpg" width="400" /></span></a><span style="font-size: large;"><b>ARTH VADER (AV)</b>: A mostly original screenplay from sci-fi director/writer Alex “28 Days Later” Garland, Ex Machina explores a complex world of human/AI relations. While not directly emulating any existing sci-fi story this film feeds Hollywood’s almost morbid fascination with The Singularity, Garland’s sterile, almost asylum-like portrayal of a future AI development program is eerie and compelling. Thoughts, Pontificator. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; min-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAYWiQwtjbYDEdBrkfrMwVGL5LW7uHLVF6lCiSvh3Gb1EJwWw8VmPAjCxNSFWX_HAHqx2c1pnHCFSQ1a8h327be32wP41fcVwUMWO-jP9j_NoF9b25SyowsXMdX_qooPiO7m6aM_XxVfc/s1600/Ex-Machina-Gallery-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAYWiQwtjbYDEdBrkfrMwVGL5LW7uHLVF6lCiSvh3Gb1EJwWw8VmPAjCxNSFWX_HAHqx2c1pnHCFSQ1a8h327be32wP41fcVwUMWO-jP9j_NoF9b25SyowsXMdX_qooPiO7m6aM_XxVfc/s400/Ex-Machina-Gallery-02.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>THE PONTIFICATOR (TP)</b>: Ex Machina is an original take on a very old science fiction theme of man playing God through replicating the creation of life. Although not the first film to touch on this subject, the delivery is unique, entertaining, and downright creepy at times. There is a lesson to be learned here that it seems the hubris of man will never allow to be learned.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">CASTING, ACTING AND DIRECTION</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4E3iUFrs49Dq-EQMYii1qhiHc3doqrj0DEpGpl9Falcp4GgOrExIDpdw0PHDiFgYc83ajLntwbMYyxwI1WryM01j8PE98rCiNRwaTaA0xKNdQutXoWx1US44U4W080ccONaHYKs9xhQo/s1600/ex-machina-header-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4E3iUFrs49Dq-EQMYii1qhiHc3doqrj0DEpGpl9Falcp4GgOrExIDpdw0PHDiFgYc83ajLntwbMYyxwI1WryM01j8PE98rCiNRwaTaA0xKNdQutXoWx1US44U4W080ccONaHYKs9xhQo/s400/ex-machina-header-2.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>AV: </b>With a minimalist cast that works seamlessly, led by frontman Oscar “<a href="http://www.insidellewyndavis.com/home" target="_blank">Inside Llewyn Davis</a>” Isaac (also soon to be fully sci-fi indoctrinated in the upcoming Star Wars: Episode VII), who portrays the visionary/whack-job mad scientist Nathan who is out to create the next stage in AI evolution… the perfect human-like woman. Let talk direction for a moment, though, Ponty. I was blown away but the subtlety of this film and the minimalist environment of this film. In truth, the sci-fi/fantasy genre could use a whole lot more of this kind f storytelling. P-Man? </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; min-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEGzJfhk0iCewDAv18xgGj5gc4ih5GY5MxlXaKcsGBjROuJfTxsrFBDHNOtAW9eaYS5ABw6AyDmczQrfR3ym3fP29aZNu4wRAHCQgAQvxw9qN9YzFB6XPCMTnGg6D31LsN-QT1WDaRrTc/s1600/ex-machina-2015-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEGzJfhk0iCewDAv18xgGj5gc4ih5GY5MxlXaKcsGBjROuJfTxsrFBDHNOtAW9eaYS5ABw6AyDmczQrfR3ym3fP29aZNu4wRAHCQgAQvxw9qN9YzFB6XPCMTnGg6D31LsN-QT1WDaRrTc/s320/ex-machina-2015-10.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">TP:</b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> The casting was well done here Vader. I have taken a liking to </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domhnall_Gleeson" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Domhall Glesson</span></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> ever since his performance in “</span><a href="http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2013/11/movie-review-about-time.html" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">About Time</span></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">” and he doesn’t disappoint here as Caleb, the unsuspecting patsy used to test Ava (played by</span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alicia_Vikander" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;"> Alicia Vikander</span></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">). Vikander also delivers in her role of a machine being tested for true sentience that keeps us guessing if she really does. </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscar_Isaac" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Oscar Issac</span></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> is Nathan, a genius billionaire recluse with alcohol issues and a god complex. He sells the roll convincingly and without a doubt, the unique direction of the film was pivotal in the delivery.</span> </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">SPECIAL EFFECTS</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHyjqPKjnfzgk9CHsHMN5bQ96B8Vc0ItDBgwduiTKGgkjAV3KdxS7gM3_gpYdRWOg0TeZ1uwSh9JWE-t27MkgsVCaVZKo6LiKgfw0R7zknGH2SeohyphenhyphenCYuWqjckR5QT0dBV1hgnoU7Aipc/s1600/Ex-Machina-UPI-Media3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHyjqPKjnfzgk9CHsHMN5bQ96B8Vc0ItDBgwduiTKGgkjAV3KdxS7gM3_gpYdRWOg0TeZ1uwSh9JWE-t27MkgsVCaVZKo6LiKgfw0R7zknGH2SeohyphenhyphenCYuWqjckR5QT0dBV1hgnoU7Aipc/s320/Ex-Machina-UPI-Media3.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>AV: </b>As always my friends, the best visual effects are the ones you can barely identify, if not, that are down-right invisible... as Ex Machina excels at subtlety. The subterfuge of this movie is in concealing whats in plain view, women (“fembots” if one remembers THAT obscure reference) who are manipulative because they are fighting for their place in the world that turn out to be closet (literally closeted) psychopaths. With interchangeable body parts like layered skin and removable appendages, the visual effects are top notch and are subversively threaded throughout the film. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG4pgADUBZzjtFgDp3HWbXW07-R-E62tkmyHnHBesxaf3pzz-riKGXNqjRn8nRx6tADvYOBDuKxWq7pBYgZz4SEWK5gs1ZVJWvCNjU_CX843FPdRIuB9zG6ZyGKsL350GFl45dO9wTc_8/s1600/ExMachina_trailer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG4pgADUBZzjtFgDp3HWbXW07-R-E62tkmyHnHBesxaf3pzz-riKGXNqjRn8nRx6tADvYOBDuKxWq7pBYgZz4SEWK5gs1ZVJWvCNjU_CX843FPdRIuB9zG6ZyGKsL350GFl45dO9wTc_8/s320/ExMachina_trailer.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>TP:</b> The special effects were outstanding! Without the need for big explosions or massive amounts of CGI, this film presented Ava as a real machine built on the cutting edge of technology. Although no new ground was broken, the mastery with which all the old tricks were used was absolutely breathtaking.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">TAKING A DEEPER LOOK</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3pHRWGf1Twqau4VauewlsNwqNI8pOUUT-Qnb6PEKATKt9HP_La51EtiLLn1Ii5Tf8tAzxcrD1Z6tLyyQlJnVleWS1Xmo8X27NQqbof8-9lwsD2kf4mxiim2VeuE_e7CLLbF0pxuoiYeY/s1600/dd5bhb3wo41cldr4gc66.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3pHRWGf1Twqau4VauewlsNwqNI8pOUUT-Qnb6PEKATKt9HP_La51EtiLLn1Ii5Tf8tAzxcrD1Z6tLyyQlJnVleWS1Xmo8X27NQqbof8-9lwsD2kf4mxiim2VeuE_e7CLLbF0pxuoiYeY/s400/dd5bhb3wo41cldr4gc66.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>AV:</b> I was discussing this film recently with a friend of mine and one of his statements properly sums up the overall impact of this film. Hollywood needs more films like this. Not since 2014’s ‘Her’ has a film taken such a personal approach to the relationship between man and technology. Very soon–if not all ready the case–mankind will have a profound, evolutionary convergence with his technology. This film is deeply disturbing and exhilarating all at once. Just like the subject matter. Such a smart, next-level movie has done surprisingly well at the box office which makes me think our intellect is at least partially intact. Maybe we won’t be such easy pickings for the Robo-master race we are creating. If this is the face of sci-fi for the foreseeable future—then bring it on! </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; min-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaRfBJngbgwMkVtTfEjexb-NkAMFV0j9ABuIK_Mi4Deo-ZOiCfj11bnYGUOByXRZy-RHQjno2CXD4b25i90MYRyu2trC9XroVN6O_dlJ_y0NmcTPBuA0nozzluPovwfqeZE-_dKa_3Zuk/s1600/013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaRfBJngbgwMkVtTfEjexb-NkAMFV0j9ABuIK_Mi4Deo-ZOiCfj11bnYGUOByXRZy-RHQjno2CXD4b25i90MYRyu2trC9XroVN6O_dlJ_y0NmcTPBuA0nozzluPovwfqeZE-_dKa_3Zuk/s400/013.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">TP:</b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> There was quite a bit going on in this film. I don’t know where to start… the question of what life truly is? The folly of man whenever he chooses to play God? The vulnerability of human nature when given cause and reason? The stagnating view of the role of women in society as seen through the insanely rich and eccentric? The power and drive of sexuality? The example humanity sets by the observance of such on the internet? This film has so many points of further discussion I could literally write a complete post about all the various subjects it touched upon. What I can say, with certainty, is that a film such as this that forces you to think and consider so many important aspects of our society is a rare gem worth watching intently.</span> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">ON SEQUELS</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ZfOyi5u4PsbQsXDtnbupjT8yjcWWNlIdJ2KQeFh0-hcVV2R-ovkTh0uW1ECW4A9UCFUYdzIeFCHdxjL-ljz5e5bnGZFouXSMYTCo3eSRdRgdZBeFvllDpkv3cwlm96KXXIHVxRPuAfA/s1600/75.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ZfOyi5u4PsbQsXDtnbupjT8yjcWWNlIdJ2KQeFh0-hcVV2R-ovkTh0uW1ECW4A9UCFUYdzIeFCHdxjL-ljz5e5bnGZFouXSMYTCo3eSRdRgdZBeFvllDpkv3cwlm96KXXIHVxRPuAfA/s400/75.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>AV:</b> If we are at all lucky, this movie will be a stand-alone story. As most should be. This story has been told with no need for follow-up. Its predecessor should be a film of a completely different voice, of the same calibre. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>TP:</b> There could certainly be a sequel to this film if they so desired, but like many classics.…this installment alone can stand on it’s own merit and by leaving us with some questions to Ava’s ultimate fate, we are forced to ponder the film long after the end credits finish.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">RATE IT!</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b></b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiPWh0x5R1b4K5MtE-65GXFNVdlD6NqzgIfi4qrAtCJRwOUJOobyTwNFIJKpsrsH-SfC7kE0aFisKI-GvjbBahGBRqkZ8BFwjAZHBWuNogkVUBQFnQe7qDYuXAq9y5YvJ2ATZJUHekkH8/s1600/wBUWcOK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiPWh0x5R1b4K5MtE-65GXFNVdlD6NqzgIfi4qrAtCJRwOUJOobyTwNFIJKpsrsH-SfC7kE0aFisKI-GvjbBahGBRqkZ8BFwjAZHBWuNogkVUBQFnQe7qDYuXAq9y5YvJ2ATZJUHekkH8/s400/wBUWcOK.jpg" width="270" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>ARTH VADER rates Ex Machina:</b> For those who like their sci-fi filled with explosions, lame one-liners, over-the-top CGI, laser swords and giant, galaxy-spanning spaceships, would do well to avoid this film. However, if you’re of the ilk that likes intelligent, introspective and engaging films that keep you guessing and offer simple but smart dialogue, then Ex Machina is a must-see. If you’d like a glimpse of what Sci-Fi as genre is capable of and what expert story-telling can do, put on your artificial skin cover a full ten Busted Blocks for this surprisingly intelligent movie. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<b>THE PONTIFICATOR rates Ex Machina:</b> Although a bit slow and more story–oriented than action focused, this was an excellent film filled with tension and mystery. Most of the fun in watching was spent not only trying to figure out Ava, but also Nathan and the effect their machinations were having on Caleb. In the end, this film escaped to the real world with seven (7) busted blocks.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b>Ex Machina: 8.5 / 10 Busted Blocks</b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDt_Q_U2msnNWUDXlQr94kH0tc4qDYNOCQJqjj8LrsxBsAOENt9SpeZ41sSZnPMxqfRd_24H4hcHGx1wXBJSQQmDZ0MkpQU80RkRuHdya87c6UlhJWzUettwkm40ykzUO94b12HkMg2PE/s1600/TheBoxedOffice_8.5+busted+blocs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="51" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDt_Q_U2msnNWUDXlQr94kH0tc4qDYNOCQJqjj8LrsxBsAOENt9SpeZ41sSZnPMxqfRd_24H4hcHGx1wXBJSQQmDZ0MkpQU80RkRuHdya87c6UlhJWzUettwkm40ykzUO94b12HkMg2PE/s400/TheBoxedOffice_8.5+busted+blocs.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
ArthV8Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425459411323956859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1870440923397188789.post-72521197475221482222015-04-21T16:51:00.002-07:002015-04-21T16:51:40.003-07:00Trying To Put The Surge In Insurgent <div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 17px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #7f6000; font-size: large;">Another teenage girl threatening to save us all? Say it isn’t so! </span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 17px;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 17px;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">ON CONTINUITY</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0E_Ww_evRH5eVzesZyuao4-Vq_uJDcrbwZO5mExMW1rPa5I3EpP3r7IjYQ1zA9lDSNaWUFO_pVOIZgv9fwkqyJENbiTmr_pY5rG4s8sQ7Nb9uSrTZo_nwSTEPrLTHLZroxo4jCc4_0T8/s1600/Insurgent-Trailer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0E_Ww_evRH5eVzesZyuao4-Vq_uJDcrbwZO5mExMW1rPa5I3EpP3r7IjYQ1zA9lDSNaWUFO_pVOIZgv9fwkqyJENbiTmr_pY5rG4s8sQ7Nb9uSrTZo_nwSTEPrLTHLZroxo4jCc4_0T8/s1600/Insurgent-Trailer.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a><b>ARTH VADER (AV): </b>Following in the foot-steps of the first in the series installment, Divergent, Insurgent furthers the tale of super-special super kid, Tris who’s out to save the world (wonder if her room is clean). I get the sense these days that having a successful movie means establishing a franchise then hammering the idea of the movie over and over and over until moviegoers cry ‘uncle’ and just go. This is the distribution tactic that drives Insurgent. What did you think, Ponty? </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuzkUQFsJXMRcdE_DDjx0Ye1b3e-NzkZTEoqvY79kLY0iFYdO71lCFPHobFJ_qKfXrzxUr6nfQ5GVRhIWuLIu3R0qf1GjDcQPD1wpCos4-n9kSl0Pxc2BDU0XvAOoRKx_zRamogc-Ry18/s1600/Insurgent-Movie-Review-Image-9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuzkUQFsJXMRcdE_DDjx0Ye1b3e-NzkZTEoqvY79kLY0iFYdO71lCFPHobFJ_qKfXrzxUr6nfQ5GVRhIWuLIu3R0qf1GjDcQPD1wpCos4-n9kSl0Pxc2BDU0XvAOoRKx_zRamogc-Ry18/s1600/Insurgent-Movie-Review-Image-9.jpg" height="164" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<b>THE PONTIFICATOR (TP)</b>: When talking about a film adapted from a novel, there will always seem to be continuity issues Vader. This film is no exception as it took several liberties in retelling events in the book, from making major characters minor to leaving characters from the books out of the film altogether. Despite the many changes from that page to the screen, some might even say outright departure from the literary source, this film managed to get where it was going.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 17px;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">CASTING, ACTING & DIRECTING</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 17px;">
<b></b><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO9OI252z7AXGQ2Tj3aP0cnoD5G22XDvZqQNDxiZ7t2N22oH28A7Yc0s6DgiN9F9Gu5AUk6anBoUMMygzihR8e1urttxKVAjrY6gTneoANTPzkugXJBwFp1k6hcWXWxmNEy5qlXx2EO2c/s1600/insurg-duo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO9OI252z7AXGQ2Tj3aP0cnoD5G22XDvZqQNDxiZ7t2N22oH28A7Yc0s6DgiN9F9Gu5AUk6anBoUMMygzihR8e1urttxKVAjrY6gTneoANTPzkugXJBwFp1k6hcWXWxmNEy5qlXx2EO2c/s1600/insurg-duo.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<b>AV</b>: The cast from Divergent returns to Insurgent (Duh). Shailene “Tris” Woodly and Theo “Four” James reprise their roles and B-Listers Kate Winslet, Jai Courtney, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000171/?ref_=nv_sr_2" target="_blank">Ashley Judd</a>, Mekhi Phifer and Zoe Kravitz all come back as the story blunders in a society divided by walls, mistrust and deceit based on the division of the five virtues. The idea is ok but the execution is kind of hoo-hum. Neil Burger’s direction is compelling and the film is a joy to watch cinematographically. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikB94qUA8-9CMZyZpQeGoeliqK5dcS60-_lsz5tQhzvsGJi-SxhG9VoCv1NZopikbmsSAmTsDfwuvnckNwsUYFEXllxoIfxHn_1Axd3VUQiAaGTkxq9UMfRGIe5KtkuCaGA7HyqFrDYu4/s1600/2401C6DE00000578-0-image-m-22_1418410696203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikB94qUA8-9CMZyZpQeGoeliqK5dcS60-_lsz5tQhzvsGJi-SxhG9VoCv1NZopikbmsSAmTsDfwuvnckNwsUYFEXllxoIfxHn_1Axd3VUQiAaGTkxq9UMfRGIe5KtkuCaGA7HyqFrDYu4/s1600/2401C6DE00000578-0-image-m-22_1418410696203.jpg" height="234" width="320" /></a></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">TP:</b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shailene_Woodley" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Shailene Woodley</span></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"> and </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theo_James" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Theo James</span></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"> return to their roles as Tris and Four and deliver what was expected of them as the story progresses along with their relationship. There was no surprise, or disappointment. </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kate_Winslet" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Kate Winslet</span></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"> continued to be the film’s villain and I thought she was very.…villainous, in the role. The roles of </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jai_Courtney" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Jai Courtney</span></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"> and </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mekhi_Phifer" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Mekhi Phifer</span></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #0433ff; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">were little more than cameo’s this go round and there really isn’t much to say about the few glances the film took in their direction. Overall, the film rolled right along and didn’t get bogged down with a lot of filler.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">ON SPECIAL EFFECTS</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 17px;">
<b></b><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR18pqrDp8uU38Fpp089Kszl2tdUfRUii8sLjPWX8mTQfnDSFIOWy23YBgvgO3nakqJGtsOMFMqayFySlQtvyi6M-bvdvHEUXXVqWN2dAJnIvVqsVwA5gPxx1UUufdVV6j-LBEDegikE8/s1600/insurgent-movie-shailene-woodley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR18pqrDp8uU38Fpp089Kszl2tdUfRUii8sLjPWX8mTQfnDSFIOWy23YBgvgO3nakqJGtsOMFMqayFySlQtvyi6M-bvdvHEUXXVqWN2dAJnIvVqsVwA5gPxx1UUufdVV6j-LBEDegikE8/s1600/insurgent-movie-shailene-woodley.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<b>AV: </b>With no shortage of visual effects to try and amaze the audience, Insurgent is a good looking movie that puts you in the thick of this selectively post-apocalyptic future-gone-wrong city of Chicago. Sure it looks great but nothing we haven’t seen before, Pontificator. Sci-Fi effects, as we have discussed in other reviews, has matured to an impressive standard and these flicks all look good. Really good actually, but that said, these rocking visual effects are so good, we are desensitized to their awesomeness. But what does that say about visual effects–and a movie–that is just this side of forgettable almost as soon as I leave the theater? </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFcmu2B0gDEiw0rmT43IKh_DAwU_S-4XKqK9MOMcbprQDDAvM4fbz4JaVTQ_Hx0vz15vt2prqp5UXu8zYtlOpThtgKvzC_gxDU18XSALR8Ya8UphlA_P1C39vmVcsIbEXajl5S64-rlN8/s1600/Insurgent-Movie-Tris-IMAX-3D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFcmu2B0gDEiw0rmT43IKh_DAwU_S-4XKqK9MOMcbprQDDAvM4fbz4JaVTQ_Hx0vz15vt2prqp5UXu8zYtlOpThtgKvzC_gxDU18XSALR8Ya8UphlA_P1C39vmVcsIbEXajl5S64-rlN8/s1600/Insurgent-Movie-Tris-IMAX-3D.jpg" height="160" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<b>TP:</b> The special effects were very good in this film. As is my custom, I always see a film in IMAX 3D when available and such a decision usually only enhances the special effects and moviegoing experience. This film took advantage of the medium, especially during the simulation sequences where there was a lot more latitude to use them. Overall, the effects enhanced the film and while nothing ground breaking was done, they didn’t drop the ball either.</div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">TAKING A CLOSER LOOK</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 17px;">
<b></b><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhANECKOIEmLKmlOVrMOkXNZCeDQR8jcVn_d78mSt-g1imd4af2dSHyAlkwamb0lUONji3xNMZO6zPKvLhnVT7DLZeT4TrHH-9KuVdusTgdzXQx2MdtzBXrNBaBauFsdEYviO4Ulsiqg6U/s1600/Insurgent-movie-review.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhANECKOIEmLKmlOVrMOkXNZCeDQR8jcVn_d78mSt-g1imd4af2dSHyAlkwamb0lUONji3xNMZO6zPKvLhnVT7DLZeT4TrHH-9KuVdusTgdzXQx2MdtzBXrNBaBauFsdEYviO4Ulsiqg6U/s1600/Insurgent-movie-review.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<b>AV</b>: Hard to know when us movie-goers will get to see a decent original story in our beloved sci-fi and fantasy space but until then, we have these franchise money grabs. I am not qualified to proclaim the legitimacy of this films and their place in the cultural tapestry. I am qualified to let you know if I like them or not. I don’t. While I do hold a special place in my fan boy heart for all things Sci-fi and fantasy, these do not count among them. This is not an example of the hero’s journey that is particularly interesting or inspiring in any way. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBSLVFdO22tvVycnFF7c8ThnETeXasB4RAJSj9MYjCyzRRIym7PgMpwnVEosG4zlflZXA0bXbWl9r0ezLJsfFaYNBPt0ggxjlW6k04268FMLdR4tgrTkJXnDUGHGPi-zdZs7x3QBcC9bs/s1600/new-divergent-trailer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBSLVFdO22tvVycnFF7c8ThnETeXasB4RAJSj9MYjCyzRRIym7PgMpwnVEosG4zlflZXA0bXbWl9r0ezLJsfFaYNBPt0ggxjlW6k04268FMLdR4tgrTkJXnDUGHGPi-zdZs7x3QBcC9bs/s1600/new-divergent-trailer.jpg" height="259" width="320" /></a></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">TP:</b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"> Well.…the plot of this film could have used a little more attention. It didn’t make much sense that nobody else in the Erudite faction thought to even question the motivations and decisions of Jeanine given they didn’t always seem logical or the intellectual thing to do. It also didn’t make sense that the box that was supposed to reveal the true purpose of their society killed the very people it deemed </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">most</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"> important if they failed to open it. It would have made more sense for Jeanine to simply kill the failures and anyone else that questioned her (after having someone question her) to both make sense and really drive home how villainous and driven Jeanine really was.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">ON SEQUELS</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 17px;">
<b></b><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwrKpbV37LVgvC3TBJC9m4q8eieL45XqMBpoSxz553cOZKnoZ2kDE9uvGARRuvvZzB1aBkcipap7SvQzkgl2Q1MVxv6cJ0Ua0cOyEIfwQMvy7wy4tfVFwntrKWuUuWa-xPIZnGdzD_a_o/s1600/10861035_527414247398648_3865809755183448999_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwrKpbV37LVgvC3TBJC9m4q8eieL45XqMBpoSxz553cOZKnoZ2kDE9uvGARRuvvZzB1aBkcipap7SvQzkgl2Q1MVxv6cJ0Ua0cOyEIfwQMvy7wy4tfVFwntrKWuUuWa-xPIZnGdzD_a_o/s1600/10861035_527414247398648_3865809755183448999_o.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<b>AV</b>: I am sure the story of how Tris “saves us all” needs to be wrapped up with a pretty little CGI bow and brought to conclusion. We need that, we want it and dozens of vaguely compelled teenage girls are clamoring (somewhat) for it. So by all means Hollywood, give us more. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<b>TP:</b> Well… if the box office numbers are large enough, we will likely see a film adaption of the third novel in the trilogy, Allegiant. I do, however, like how that this film ended in such a way that if a third film is not coming, the story can stand as is.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 17px;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">RATE IT!</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 17px;">
<b></b><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKSvaSTAjeTLarL7hYbnsEprLdgBRNBIRY8ERdKIWtrkaBaS1jqgcDhR4Tog1-UKuakOC2OA-bb-CjWFTaOSVDArYi2uPSEldu87p3WuDewirxLVdZOExSKpxATe3gn8HBp3gK5xivFkw/s1600/Insurgent_poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKSvaSTAjeTLarL7hYbnsEprLdgBRNBIRY8ERdKIWtrkaBaS1jqgcDhR4Tog1-UKuakOC2OA-bb-CjWFTaOSVDArYi2uPSEldu87p3WuDewirxLVdZOExSKpxATe3gn8HBp3gK5xivFkw/s1600/Insurgent_poster.jpg" height="320" width="216" /></a><b>ARTH VADER rates Insurgent</b>: In all fairness, I didn’t hate this flick (I know, its not like you’d ever know it by my crit), but the disingenuous story, grossly overacted characterizations and safe and predictable screenplay didn’t suck all the life out of what could have been an incredible story but it didn’t do anything to help it either. This franchise feels like a great CW (tv) series waiting to happen. With that, I grab my <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1840309/?ref_=nv_sr_1" target="_blank">Divergent</a> buddies and bust five (5) Busted Blocks for <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2908446/?ref_=nv_sr_1" target="_blank">Insurgent</a> in glass-shattering slow-motion. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<b>THE PONTIFICATOR rates Insurgent:</b> A good film to fill a Saturday morning, I found it entertaining and fun, even if it didn’t blow me away with it’s storytelling or effects. Everything about this film was just “good” and thus busted six (6) blocks on it’s way to remake society.<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">Divergent – 5.5 / 10 Busted Blocks</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh56hpNwUmdqjg5JUInjdEDHdxjJ-ibLF0lMSwQJ-38Mdjen7ikmwBblncTjnGEnsl1cQszgpIvqWErotTykG3dVREpSVerLAPMnoZUTW-BFLnXG6cKQiCietN84mLtEx8JFm0SUHSvY30/s1600/TheBoxedOffice_5.5+busted+blocs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh56hpNwUmdqjg5JUInjdEDHdxjJ-ibLF0lMSwQJ-38Mdjen7ikmwBblncTjnGEnsl1cQszgpIvqWErotTykG3dVREpSVerLAPMnoZUTW-BFLnXG6cKQiCietN84mLtEx8JFm0SUHSvY30/s1600/TheBoxedOffice_5.5+busted+blocs.jpg" height="52" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
ArthV8Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425459411323956859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1870440923397188789.post-74592271549015758582015-04-08T06:11:00.002-07:002015-04-08T06:12:35.981-07:00Chappie Is Choppy<div style="font-family: Helvetica; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Neill Blomkamp’s ambitious efforts to make <b>Chappie</b> an endearing A.I. falls just short of a tall order</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">ON CONTINUITY</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin_OKS16uCsJvNM97PyFs4txkie5o6WUjtTiL3n9u4ZOeoy_P4AiCjnr7BVlcG8EV4uvrDTyI2yuQyL85tasGW2q-QExm8UpdcETd4tdbn8s0iHbUnxA_f1z6fLnt1BALMD-_Fw4_H1tU/s1600/chappie-gun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin_OKS16uCsJvNM97PyFs4txkie5o6WUjtTiL3n9u4ZOeoy_P4AiCjnr7BVlcG8EV4uvrDTyI2yuQyL85tasGW2q-QExm8UpdcETd4tdbn8s0iHbUnxA_f1z6fLnt1BALMD-_Fw4_H1tU/s1600/chappie-gun.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a><b>ARTH VADER (AV): </b>Sci-fi wunderkind director <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0088955/"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 46, 238); color: #042eee;">Neil Blomkamp</span></a> brings a another A.I./Singularity/Robot Evolution storyline to the big screen in Chappie. One glaring point of continuity is Blomkamp’s love affair with South Africa. Apparently, all science-fiction; A.I. enlightenment, alien invasions, and new technologies gone wrong all occur in South Africa. In keeping with popular Singularity stories, Chappie is the story of A.I. becomes self-aware. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZBjfOGD9HEvWHSWCWfytwa0PFX0QAIeSkCzooJR9uTAjWy5o4kftA5FYxCl9mJjQyNAsSIMzgPYnyJeGfoo4sDelOHhTx6Bi2DPibOt7nBQjbdXoENEHfQGOpCyVuxKKKhgRz8cxghog/s1600/Chappie__91.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZBjfOGD9HEvWHSWCWfytwa0PFX0QAIeSkCzooJR9uTAjWy5o4kftA5FYxCl9mJjQyNAsSIMzgPYnyJeGfoo4sDelOHhTx6Bi2DPibOt7nBQjbdXoENEHfQGOpCyVuxKKKhgRz8cxghog/s1600/Chappie__91.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">THE PONTIFICATOR (TP)</b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">: Science fiction has been inundated with the story of robots becoming self-aware. Artificial intelligence has been a staple of the genre since I have been watching it. The trick these days is to make a film that presents this in a unique and moving way. I think the filmmakers understood that and actively attempted to give a unique look at an old subject.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">CASTING, ACTING & DIRECTING</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikar1KFub9MpJlpqm9yUngAoEIC5CJE0mr-0GKDrzqq9ZU7taO9eeNLwMoYm_vxlsVfWXThg6n0COt3fv6xSh6G27KlxxC69QJTQ5szB9Ehqeez5VrRZi5MkWkWFCtMrlWhGrnVw6lwUI/s1600/Chappie-Movie-2015-Hugh-Jackman-Mullet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikar1KFub9MpJlpqm9yUngAoEIC5CJE0mr-0GKDrzqq9ZU7taO9eeNLwMoYm_vxlsVfWXThg6n0COt3fv6xSh6G27KlxxC69QJTQ5szB9Ehqeez5VrRZi5MkWkWFCtMrlWhGrnVw6lwUI/s1600/Chappie-Movie-2015-Hugh-Jackman-Mullet.jpg" height="160" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<b>AV</b>: What would a Blomkamp movie be without a starring role for Sharlto “District 9 & Elysium” Copley? Copley does the V.O. for Chappie and its palatable but no great insight there. Dev “Slumdog” Patel is sub-par in his role as programmer Deon Wilson (so not the name of someone he could portray). Perhaps the weirdest casting from Chappie comes from Hugh “<a href="http://www.thestar.com.my/Lifestyle/Books/News/2013/07/19/A-brief-history-of-Snikt/"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 46, 238); color: #042eee;">Snikt!</span></a>” Jackman, who plays the role of mercenary Vincent Moore. I honestly have NO IDEA why he was in this film, P-Man. He was fine but someone of his (Hollywood) status seemed far out-of-place in the role and added close to nothing to the experience. What were your thoughts, old friend?</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXZYsAZbreI9E8UKiqQRg9DDjaUYCkw0TVVGftiPYdD8Kl7JS0U9dDFy8svwPKmv4OpsUDQdkPc_PPR8yMnZnMRB9vo6D-lKLbG9GI8YunKKOe-jiTTRlt1qbBV_kIirmlYBifd4w2Au0/s1600/chappie-movie-review.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXZYsAZbreI9E8UKiqQRg9DDjaUYCkw0TVVGftiPYdD8Kl7JS0U9dDFy8svwPKmv4OpsUDQdkPc_PPR8yMnZnMRB9vo6D-lKLbG9GI8YunKKOe-jiTTRlt1qbBV_kIirmlYBifd4w2Au0/s1600/chappie-movie-review.jpg" height="160" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<b>TP:</b> This film has the same “feel” as “<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">District 9</span>” and “<a href="http://www.apple.com/"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">Elysium</span></a>” and it’s no surprise as all of them were done by <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0088955/?ref_=tt_ov_dr"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Neill Blomkamp</span></a>. Using big names may have been a tactic to draw moviegoers in as there didn’t seem to be much depth to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigourney_Weaver"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Sigourney Weaver</span></a>’s role, but I dare say it might have worked in the case of casting <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_Jackman"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Hugh Jackman</span></a> as the villain (a role we don’t normally see him in). Big names aside, I enjoyed the performance of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dev_Patel"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Dev Patel</span></a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharlto_Copley"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Sharlto Copley</span></a> as Chappie absolutely stole the film.</div>
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 17px;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">ON SPECIAL EFFECTS</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 17px;">
<b></b><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8TXE-zdliabRb25jipRUcupgRU7o8n5Nr03QmIKzH68hFz6sIg9uWxhjaYqqRNfcsbaDMF4CBbvp8wlCQpyrKIRboM8Z16rYkcymrU1ijpng8k6uHhY22bMQiOUu-_cT-fX3Y-hbtyJQ/s1600/chappie-4.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8TXE-zdliabRb25jipRUcupgRU7o8n5Nr03QmIKzH68hFz6sIg9uWxhjaYqqRNfcsbaDMF4CBbvp8wlCQpyrKIRboM8Z16rYkcymrU1ijpng8k6uHhY22bMQiOUu-_cT-fX3Y-hbtyJQ/s1600/chappie-4.png" height="131" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<b>AV: </b>Kind of a shoulder shrug when we discuss the visual effects of Chappie. Nothing I hadn’t seen before of sure and while there was general sense of wonder watching the police bots—and later Chappie–walk around amongst people. It did become seamless but major demerits for showing Moore’s <a href="http://robocop.wikia.com/wiki/ED-209_(2014)"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 46, 238); color: #042eee;">ED-209</span></a> knock-off tooling around as a walking tank. Honestly, it seemed like it was planted there just to be the robe-antagonist. That said, while the visual effects were mediocre, the film is good–looking and the end fight scene is particularly well done–visually speaking. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh5B-Kl80vaDMaMFU29-FKRToT8-E7gaMJpTim0yJs5UDIVDGctQEIlIMWHSMndefI2T6WyMzFB54qcPqQ1gEahWbJEpld8MWc7DcX8ixuoNQu6oW512aC0OCxlBLLoBLmCdZz_aVuhTA/s1600/chappie13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh5B-Kl80vaDMaMFU29-FKRToT8-E7gaMJpTim0yJs5UDIVDGctQEIlIMWHSMndefI2T6WyMzFB54qcPqQ1gEahWbJEpld8MWc7DcX8ixuoNQu6oW512aC0OCxlBLLoBLmCdZz_aVuhTA/s1600/chappie13.jpg" height="133" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<b>TP:</b> The effects were absolutely awesome here Vader. What was CGI? What was real? I don’t know. It all meshed together seamlessly and in the final analysis, that is exactly what you want from your effects in a film. You want the effects to advance the story and become a part of the film, which will have the effect of setting the film apart from other films. The effects of this film accomplished that and the fact I saw it in IMAX was just icing on the cake.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">TAKING A CLOSER LOOK</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 17px;">
<b></b><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUnEkf4kBSUY7b_-7otdJuiMWgFuVsSTQ8xCEz0-rdvDR76asjJT2xM9OC_B34SmhZt-8hYNIDf3A4HJap8nE6GuwZzIGO_3Z5mepT-qbljLt7riQtM9Ga9EokJbfI2pI6EQ4m59TlvNc/s1600/chappie-hippo-bad-guy-stereochampions-movie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUnEkf4kBSUY7b_-7otdJuiMWgFuVsSTQ8xCEz0-rdvDR76asjJT2xM9OC_B34SmhZt-8hYNIDf3A4HJap8nE6GuwZzIGO_3Z5mepT-qbljLt7riQtM9Ga9EokJbfI2pI6EQ4m59TlvNc/s1600/chappie-hippo-bad-guy-stereochampions-movie.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<b>AV</b>: As much of a fan as I have been of Neill Blomkamp’s work (District 9, Elysium, and lest we not forget he was Spielberg’s choice for the never-saw-the-light-of-day <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BaVb2TlWb0"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 46, 238); color: #042eee;">Halo film</span></a>), I am getting quite tired of every Blomkamp sci-fi film being set in South Africa. Even though Neill and District 9/Elysium co-writer Terri Tatchell produced Chappie’s original script, his storytelling is growing stale. The bloom is definitely off the rose and we are in a place of stagnancy with his work. Neill needs to break himself out of these familiar places. His ideas are strong but the execution is waning fast. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcGhVFTUJhwEzOcU59xnUzeORKtrDCO1NcdHAPLq22xCEE85W1f9MHKofodUuVQukf6ykVm3t5OoKVJB4p9DfA4fa6K3UEPjCpEUXfGbMpG3euAHK703ZCEqhsgB7m-Nrh6MXh-RRS3Gw/s1600/Chappie-Movie-2015-Jose-Pablo-Cantillo-Dev-Patel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcGhVFTUJhwEzOcU59xnUzeORKtrDCO1NcdHAPLq22xCEE85W1f9MHKofodUuVQukf6ykVm3t5OoKVJB4p9DfA4fa6K3UEPjCpEUXfGbMpG3euAHK703ZCEqhsgB7m-Nrh6MXh-RRS3Gw/s1600/Chappie-Movie-2015-Jose-Pablo-Cantillo-Dev-Patel.jpg" height="160" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
As for Chappie, the name is bogus and sinks the film with its potential audiences. American audiences need things dumbed down to the point where the tile is either something familiar or completely descriptive. Chappie is neither of these and that accounts for a tailspin at the box office that jeopardizes future indie sci-fi flicks as well. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR8OrE0lL8TnA1c3akDvjZuq5tOsjzsaem9tDc07I6tmoYZOtOsDUZb1BhoamIoSmL0-cztmoyQK1_GXd-YNfJt8_1z-FjcgzqFSFDhwxt00eFNmvDBt7tpnVMWvym4-_6rmhsz4tsEBI/s1600/chappie-sjc_0b77-0230_comp_marketingframes_native_v001_1083_rgb-chappie-s-unique-marketing-has-captured-my-imagination.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR8OrE0lL8TnA1c3akDvjZuq5tOsjzsaem9tDc07I6tmoYZOtOsDUZb1BhoamIoSmL0-cztmoyQK1_GXd-YNfJt8_1z-FjcgzqFSFDhwxt00eFNmvDBt7tpnVMWvym4-_6rmhsz4tsEBI/s1600/chappie-sjc_0b77-0230_comp_marketingframes_native_v001_1083_rgb-chappie-s-unique-marketing-has-captured-my-imagination.jpg" height="194" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<b>TP:</b> If you don’t like that “South African” feel, then this was a tough film for you to watch. I don’t mind it at all and was able to fully enjoy and appreciate this film. As I said before, artificial intelligence has been done numerous times before, but this film has managed to make an emotional connection through the innocence and victimization of Chappie. I was amazed at this considering that when you really look at Chappie, he does not resemble a human in his features, but exudes humanity in his experiences. Seeking the acceptance of his parents, brutalized by bullies, tricked into nefarious actions, coming to terms with mortality… these are all real-life situations easily identifiable by anyone that has been a child, and I think this was the real appeal and energy of Chappie.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">ON SEQUELS</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 17px;">
<b></b><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbMpAz12cTea7PR26HSUuP_BRpsq0muUwuRMD_4jLN0cMyzF6fhjWHb2n-ipQecPjy_m6xu-AjNdSU2LP4TuJQtJSYSBnX8e_RZPbb_GQCbozd6XRlL_ylRWSVXLfs0uTv2cqjPCS_NX0/s1600/chappie-hugh-jackman-dev-patel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbMpAz12cTea7PR26HSUuP_BRpsq0muUwuRMD_4jLN0cMyzF6fhjWHb2n-ipQecPjy_m6xu-AjNdSU2LP4TuJQtJSYSBnX8e_RZPbb_GQCbozd6XRlL_ylRWSVXLfs0uTv2cqjPCS_NX0/s1600/chappie-hugh-jackman-dev-patel.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<b>AV</b>: Strictly speaking for myself here, I was tired of this film by the 3rd act and was fast moving toward being impartial to the characters and the plot. Personally I see no need for a follow-up and would be really disenchanted at the prospect of seeing another. P-Man? </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<b>TP:</b> The door has been left wide open for a sequel Vader, however this is one of those films that doesn’t need to continue as it is a masterpiece in itself. Sometimes leaving the audience to imagine their own continuation is what makes the film that much more special.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">RATE IT!</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 17px;">
<b></b><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdjseKcQFHCrZtpx4-Cu4QB7T8HxK2yImgIpuhydFPjA5t7Lw6lsD3EAIvFMCih11QNNsoVm73K8hnblH2tmlFpFlBXrS0PNvscY5CDxsex1sCeFW7GR0ksvwSl8dAGSmU5S63cNH-mwk/s1600/Chappie-movie-poster-2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdjseKcQFHCrZtpx4-Cu4QB7T8HxK2yImgIpuhydFPjA5t7Lw6lsD3EAIvFMCih11QNNsoVm73K8hnblH2tmlFpFlBXrS0PNvscY5CDxsex1sCeFW7GR0ksvwSl8dAGSmU5S63cNH-mwk/s1600/Chappie-movie-poster-2015.jpg" height="320" width="215" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<b>ARTH VADER rates Chappie</b>: Neill Blomkamp remains a science fiction visionary, merging popular sci-fi story arcs and mythos with engaging, human-driven plots and stories. Chappie comes close but doesn’t quite get us there. With a slew of visual effects and an ambitious screenplay, Chappie still falls short of impressive and ends up being a forgettable ‘swing-and-a-miss’ film. Chappie is not a bad film but its just not particularly good. A film barely worthy of the movie-going experience, Chappie fails to ignite the imagination we have come to love from Blomkamp and delivers–in my humble opinion-six (6) busted blocks. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<b>THE PONTIFICATOR rates Chappie:</b> I really enjoyed this film and thought it was truly a masterpiece to be able to tell a story of humanity through the experiences of a robot. It wasn’t just a story of artificial intelligence, but a story of the human experience and easily brought eight (8) busted blocks to life.</div>
</div>
<br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">Chappie – 7 / 10 Busted Blocks</span></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheDW4ugEpKj0e6Ls2PcPcJ6jTJPSzdxnqeq65iynhdzNu4S0y5yeaEYGzzLLZd0Lp8KUSo_q2KHgziuvlfZzDUT99PR5OsPOO1HHs3PLnw7YFBnscCONy2yHGITp2eCkun8XUe4NWlMME/s1600/TheBoxedOffice_7+busted+blocs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheDW4ugEpKj0e6Ls2PcPcJ6jTJPSzdxnqeq65iynhdzNu4S0y5yeaEYGzzLLZd0Lp8KUSo_q2KHgziuvlfZzDUT99PR5OsPOO1HHs3PLnw7YFBnscCONy2yHGITp2eCkun8XUe4NWlMME/s1600/TheBoxedOffice_7+busted+blocs.jpg" height="61" width="320" /></a></div>
<b><span style="color: orange;"><br /></span></b></div>
ArthV8Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425459411323956859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1870440923397188789.post-88236073259225870352015-03-31T11:00:00.000-07:002015-04-06T13:32:22.292-07:00This Almanac Is Hard To Read<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 17px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #45818e; font-size: large;">Time travel—and a boring screenplay–have their consequences in the painfully amateurish <b>Project Almanac.</b> </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">ON CONTINUITY</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEvMoAnc1Aey25IKXC3ZTy1QhyphenhyphenVGZN1hBxvRVobbkY1-B4bGbLK1w9oFuqQYeVpjkW_1jPnet_u0xVdFhjoDxXhvi4WBXCTjrNtMZwPvFyst5R-62VG8Y7OpztSiMlrLjXTIlxfxvZ5IY/s1600/635581337424429464-AP-FILM-REVIEW-PROJECT-ALMANAC-70381138.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEvMoAnc1Aey25IKXC3ZTy1QhyphenhyphenVGZN1hBxvRVobbkY1-B4bGbLK1w9oFuqQYeVpjkW_1jPnet_u0xVdFhjoDxXhvi4WBXCTjrNtMZwPvFyst5R-62VG8Y7OpztSiMlrLjXTIlxfxvZ5IY/s1600/635581337424429464-AP-FILM-REVIEW-PROJECT-ALMANAC-70381138.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<b>ARTH VADER (AV): </b>An original screenplay that–at least on paper—showcases the ‘what if’ prospect of time travel at the hands of some pretty smart teens. The movie did a decent job of considering not just the complications of time travel but the consequences and even implications of temporal displacement. Time travel is a huge favorite topic in sci-fi to be sure but is rarely handled well. Project Almanac has an interesting take on the topic and enters the realm of asking ’what are the consequences?’ Time travel could have massive repercussions in the lives of ourselves and our world. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigDLTX9HzFeLBMQpgxGwFmotls1D2ggX8MPSAAk-pCNO1fc1nMJKefRLeuTdfofJZErT2hpeGVTGMwwMqstJleXO47lcq-VCj9PiO1ijpeDXfpTWUXw-E72ZcdL_RLPeBEEW0g9dZPexM/s1600/project-almanac-image-allen-evangelista-jonny-weston-sam-lerner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigDLTX9HzFeLBMQpgxGwFmotls1D2ggX8MPSAAk-pCNO1fc1nMJKefRLeuTdfofJZErT2hpeGVTGMwwMqstJleXO47lcq-VCj9PiO1ijpeDXfpTWUXw-E72ZcdL_RLPeBEEW0g9dZPexM/s1600/project-almanac-image-allen-evangelista-jonny-weston-sam-lerner.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">THE PONTIFICATOR (TP)</b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">: Well… time travel is certainly not a new subject for science fiction films, so to do a really good one you have to do something different (hard to do) or have a really great story (also hard to do). Project Almanac attempts to do both, but doesn’t attain the success it was striving for… although it doesn’t completely flop either.</span><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">CASTING, ACTING & DIRECTING</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; min-height: 17px;">
<b></b><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX9Ka-BOLHV8jzHQZKJU-qetWeg-9w_D2p2EdlwdLVZ_2WB9PHmHdD4PfWOnwyAnIRTx91NANs-WYSzh4evR8rQjYon1LoO6bYCf1-w1C91Q3rg5BbvPWpi0szN3-DT_p02GJEchA1EZY/s1600/project-almanac-imagen-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX9Ka-BOLHV8jzHQZKJU-qetWeg-9w_D2p2EdlwdLVZ_2WB9PHmHdD4PfWOnwyAnIRTx91NANs-WYSzh4evR8rQjYon1LoO6bYCf1-w1C91Q3rg5BbvPWpi0szN3-DT_p02GJEchA1EZY/s1600/project-almanac-imagen-10.jpg" height="192" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<b>AV</b>: With a cast of relative acting newcomers, Project Almanac is filled with a bunch of beautiful, fresh-faced white kids. The acting was mediocre at best–thats for sure, but the camera work was particularly atrocious as the entire film was shot in that ‘Cloverfield-esque’ handy-cam stye. While it may have helped the film’s authenticity, Ponty, I did not love it. In truth there wasn’t much to love. It did fit (somewhat) with the film’s messaging and storytelling style but those weren’t great, either. Thoughts? </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkMg-EoKcREWPhFfe87anpE34DNwsS7V2VRXcY28uYNMd2-y3HMqoOHSN4INQzGs8UPhyphenhyphenRpajVturCLWoiXqd9zxlGE0GHGRIVFb6CdxutiifygEk1YlbMZQxAaIj-w0b052eGQezCGCg/s1600/project_almanac-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkMg-EoKcREWPhFfe87anpE34DNwsS7V2VRXcY28uYNMd2-y3HMqoOHSN4INQzGs8UPhyphenhyphenRpajVturCLWoiXqd9zxlGE0GHGRIVFb6CdxutiifygEk1YlbMZQxAaIj-w0b052eGQezCGCg/s1600/project_almanac-1.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<b>TP:</b> Well Vader, using a relatively unknown cast (for me anyway) was a good move and probably economically viable. I really got into the characters and applaud the acting of these kids to draw me into the story. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonny_Weston"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Jonny Weston</span></a> was believable and carried the story well. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sofia_Black_D'Elia"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Sofia Black-D’Elia</span></a> played her role well enough, but ultimately was just very pleasing to look at and added the right element to be a catalyst for the poor decision making of Weston’s character.</div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">SPECIAL EFFECTS</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; min-height: 17px;">
<b></b><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvAXzYs2Jk8JwJWofCSTV_czavBw76KCJ9pe2co-iUU4YQ-SBj-BquLgf9xMRyE-2zNAoBHa3FLuUEiSlen1xKxdDKqyFRvKmDA-7BAIPMJtx-89COrVkiq_Uy054S7Llw-YdD33VHAN4/s1600/projectalmanac0005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvAXzYs2Jk8JwJWofCSTV_czavBw76KCJ9pe2co-iUU4YQ-SBj-BquLgf9xMRyE-2zNAoBHa3FLuUEiSlen1xKxdDKqyFRvKmDA-7BAIPMJtx-89COrVkiq_Uy054S7Llw-YdD33VHAN4/s1600/projectalmanac0005.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<b>AV: </b>Any second-semester computer graphics student at <a href="https://learn.fullsail.edu/full_sail_4a?mncid=9651&mnckeyword=Full%20Sail%20University&affiliatecode=FS&utm_medium=INS&utm_source=INS%20Google%20WEB&utm_content=full_sail_4a&utm_term=Full%20Sail%20University&utm_campaign=BRAND&step=input" target="_blank">Full-Sail University</a> can generate lightening effects and swirling leaves. Nothing knocked my socks off in the effects realm in Project Almanac. The film’s visual effects weren’t terrible, just mundane. P-Man? </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<b>TP:</b> The “camcorder” effect of the film, although not original, was done well and added to the tension of the action. There was not any new ground broken here and the effects were done well enough not to bomb, but at the end of the day, a film like this has to be driven by the story, not the effects. That said, the effects need to compliment the story and I think that was done here.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">TAKING A CLOSER LOOK</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 17px;">
<b></b><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigpou_r8o3jmf3mqisCUA1Y6XXhNLKJdNGhAeDU2V9mY14EBtno3jPxO-b_BHn5i0hT0mOS6iXyL_txJeHwwjulOqRyn-8Zo7yX_yYlpwHeNjjlqZoLh3mXSHApoLXz5xJ_IX75-mIORM/s1600/project-almanac-whysoblu-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigpou_r8o3jmf3mqisCUA1Y6XXhNLKJdNGhAeDU2V9mY14EBtno3jPxO-b_BHn5i0hT0mOS6iXyL_txJeHwwjulOqRyn-8Zo7yX_yYlpwHeNjjlqZoLh3mXSHApoLXz5xJ_IX75-mIORM/s1600/project-almanac-whysoblu-3.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<b>AV</b>: I think I am getting to the point in my movie-going journey that trailers are becoming an easy way to decipher a film’s quality or experience. I rolled my eyes like <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/bobby-flay/pizza-dough-recipe.html" target="_blank">pizza dough</a> when I first watched this film’s trailer. The movie’s choppy, particularly uninteresting storytelling style didn’t help. While all the ‘kids’ were portraying their respective roles to their best capacity, I couldn’t help but keep looking at my watch wondering when this all would start wrapping up. As early as 20 minutes in! The film offered an interesting take on Time Travel but not 106 minutes worth of interesting. (sigh). So Pontificator, how’d you really feel about Project Almanac? </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA8CpMxsEH4yfuzxUbB6-pkf7TVseRJsGnvE9ASd5n8EadlqM51yQpAi8ZHUjP5G4JghfK6AnxfJEj0Q5a6crTSKz6WRxJuZ-YDJk2zoDQygg3JTMdz8kvzWxRa_tqZJjA6IedGhU6fZQ/s1600/project-almanac-image-sofia-black-delia-jonny-weston.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA8CpMxsEH4yfuzxUbB6-pkf7TVseRJsGnvE9ASd5n8EadlqM51yQpAi8ZHUjP5G4JghfK6AnxfJEj0Q5a6crTSKz6WRxJuZ-YDJk2zoDQygg3JTMdz8kvzWxRa_tqZJjA6IedGhU6fZQ/s1600/project-almanac-image-sofia-black-delia-jonny-weston.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">TP:</b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"> Time travel has been done in almost every way possible Vader, so I wasn’t looking for some new and unheard of take on the subject (although that would have been wonderful!) I was looking for a bit more consistency though. I could write an entirely separate review on all the gaping plot holes this film left open…all due to nobody taking a serious look into the effects and consequences of time travel, specifically the alteration of the timeline. It’s not an exact science (I don’t think it’s science at all really), but at least sell something that makes sense. It would not have hurt to have gone over the script meticulously and closed the holes before filming began… just saying.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">ON SEQUELS</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 17px;">
<b></b><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEjH0odDIFNM_5Y5IY4HVcnImvbkYQbLmJa4spAHQfe7j2nyYdGa0Ai-ofARM39XvF1Fxndl_wsulGeVGgVoEIUnr1Z-L6LkB62t4bbBlWF-N9Iu-YsoOVZNGS98B8H2VzbgH3pbZ67xA/s1600/project-almanac-movie-screenshot-jonny-weston-david-raskin-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEjH0odDIFNM_5Y5IY4HVcnImvbkYQbLmJa4spAHQfe7j2nyYdGa0Ai-ofARM39XvF1Fxndl_wsulGeVGgVoEIUnr1Z-L6LkB62t4bbBlWF-N9Iu-YsoOVZNGS98B8H2VzbgH3pbZ67xA/s1600/project-almanac-movie-screenshot-jonny-weston-david-raskin-10.jpg" height="135" width="320" /></a><b>AV</b>: This film had little story to tell and while the ending was compelling, I don’t EVER need to see anymore of this tom-foolery. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">TP:</b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"> The film left itself wide open to continue the story…but with all the plot holes in this one, it might be a good idea not to add fuel to the fire, and leave any future thoughts of a sequel rest in the imaginations of the audience.</span> </div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">RATE IT!</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 17px;">
<b></b><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuwCB_aPGa1Z3EYH0TYlJ_br2FF8kseWJKHsRmF6WerC2mpwuFcdeprr9inzTe4GyiGwTh8ul-aZeGbJwlLTVL7hr43GOhP8agyV5oxMkxn9gAzdMN5rsmcHMqolSE7cwvMQH89Zod2mo/s1600/MV5BMTUxMjQ2NjI4OV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwODc2NjUwNDE@._V1_SX640_SY720_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuwCB_aPGa1Z3EYH0TYlJ_br2FF8kseWJKHsRmF6WerC2mpwuFcdeprr9inzTe4GyiGwTh8ul-aZeGbJwlLTVL7hr43GOhP8agyV5oxMkxn9gAzdMN5rsmcHMqolSE7cwvMQH89Zod2mo/s1600/MV5BMTUxMjQ2NjI4OV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwODc2NjUwNDE@._V1_SX640_SY720_.jpg" height="320" width="204" /></a><b>ARTH VADER rates Project Almanac</b>: Lacking the polish and storytelling finesse of most Hollywood flicks, this movie is significantly under-imagined, especially for an original property. No viable plot, vapid, empty-headed characters and cinematography that is almost painful to watch, Project Almanac gives me very little to talk about positively, so I won’t. Suffice it to say, Project Almanac is a film that offers a great idea, but no points for grit, style or story integrity. It’s best to put away your Dad’s schematics and head back to class with no more than two (2) busted blocks. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>THE PONTIFICATOR rates Project Almanac:</b> Although the subject of time travel has been done... time and time again (I couldn’t resist), this film was still interesting from the point of view of wondering how the characters would untangle themselves from the massive mess time traveling teenagers create. Using the camcorder effect added some punch, but in the end, this film could only travel back far enough to displace five (5) busted blocks.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 17px;">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">Project Almanac – 3.5 / 10 Busted Blocks</span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; min-height: 17px; text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbHlwUYz7r0UROaPfYDtHq1Vcrs-sCrwZsLx6bc6gwakIaSWvIXuwxsYhyphenhyphenQZjxLN-gBQOxh2CwdAeiJJq4GJquRZhgfjew1fGnHEGuQbWJ8gljFaYplh4HmV0CAfOxWxhJZf7rtlE1z4c/s1600/TheBoxedOffice_3.5+busted+blocs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbHlwUYz7r0UROaPfYDtHq1Vcrs-sCrwZsLx6bc6gwakIaSWvIXuwxsYhyphenhyphenQZjxLN-gBQOxh2CwdAeiJJq4GJquRZhgfjew1fGnHEGuQbWJ8gljFaYplh4HmV0CAfOxWxhJZf7rtlE1z4c/s1600/TheBoxedOffice_3.5+busted+blocs.jpg" height="50" width="200" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
ArthV8Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425459411323956859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1870440923397188789.post-69344031470338065702015-03-30T10:39:00.001-07:002015-03-30T22:20:20.850-07:00Say Good Knight!<div style="font-family: Helvetica; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">Parkour, Evil Babes On Blade Stilts, Secret Gadgets and Even Samuel Jackson With A Lisp, The New-Age Comic Spy Flick Kingsman: The Secret Service Has Everything.</span> </b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">ON CONTINUITY</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho2nkGrzT1Ka6_O1I8GbnYPAe6ggpe20prtRe4RZaT8si8Us98IVOAWYybhqtVeQvEWXp090xUGiOn-gSYc8BKhEaVf8OilKSdKjbtkp4x-dsHQtBYexHeBKbhYVeaE8MH4V2dXCvqUO0/s1600/Kingsman-The-Secret-Service-thumb-1601x1067-24987.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho2nkGrzT1Ka6_O1I8GbnYPAe6ggpe20prtRe4RZaT8si8Us98IVOAWYybhqtVeQvEWXp090xUGiOn-gSYc8BKhEaVf8OilKSdKjbtkp4x-dsHQtBYexHeBKbhYVeaE8MH4V2dXCvqUO0/s1600/Kingsman-The-Secret-Service-thumb-1601x1067-24987.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a><b>ARTH VADER (AV): </b>Based heavily on the comic book series, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2802144/" target="_blank">Kingsman: The Secret Service</a> is officially listed as a “spy/action/comedy/film”. A film with a sense of humor and sense of itself, the movie ingrains itself to the audience as a smart, almost self-aware film. At more than one point in the film, actors in the film proclaim how “this ain’t that kind of film.” A spawn of the new age of comic-inspired story-telling in cinema, Kingman is fast, fun, and clever, quite like the comics published by Icon. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRVYUkZKuQ4qaIjKRrR7u2HS3Gl-vq2zF_k0rR9F0AIdK1QnOrkdpcdolUpWhXFqkb100c3VxlxEa_0pP-A7tzTQ9TSEkvuwx_DSu6Ot8c4HscBG8lTJTL0wMEOkUUfTLAxGJK_-A-3xM/s1600/kingsman-hollywood-film-6-14-6-movies-you-need-to-watch-before-you-watch-kingsman-the-secret-service.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRVYUkZKuQ4qaIjKRrR7u2HS3Gl-vq2zF_k0rR9F0AIdK1QnOrkdpcdolUpWhXFqkb100c3VxlxEa_0pP-A7tzTQ9TSEkvuwx_DSu6Ot8c4HscBG8lTJTL0wMEOkUUfTLAxGJK_-A-3xM/s1600/kingsman-hollywood-film-6-14-6-movies-you-need-to-watch-before-you-watch-kingsman-the-secret-service.jpg" height="193" width="320" /></a></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">THE PONTIFICATOR (TP)</b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">: This film is based of the comic series “Secret Service” which I collected and very much enjoyed. There have been some subtle changes made from the series to the film, but I can honestly say that when I watched the trailer for the first time, I recognized it as a screen adaption of the comics immediately, which speaks volumes to how closely the filmmakers tried to stay true to the comic representation.</span><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">CASTING, ACTING & DIRECTING</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; min-height: 17px;">
<b></b><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7b8d5iPrbGNH2iAioxIQ-stXYcMY-k73p9uS_H29Lr0GjL9hQDi70T9y56zpycHLpN2RAYb78XIR-j5TbI39twsFtAWJlBzMRnIgrjgIIHuzhQHtU5UAB3kJ0G9sqvnxlG877GfaVr3E/s1600/kingsman-the-secret-service-mark-strong.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7b8d5iPrbGNH2iAioxIQ-stXYcMY-k73p9uS_H29Lr0GjL9hQDi70T9y56zpycHLpN2RAYb78XIR-j5TbI39twsFtAWJlBzMRnIgrjgIIHuzhQHtU5UAB3kJ0G9sqvnxlG877GfaVr3E/s1600/kingsman-the-secret-service-mark-strong.jpg" height="228" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<b>AV</b>: With a strong, veteran cast, Kingsman is solid entertainment. Colin Firth as Galahad is just stellar and Mark Strong as Merlin was terrific. And mad props to sci-fi super-fan-boy favorite, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000434/?ref_=nv_sr_3" target="_blank">Mark “I am a Jedi, like my father before me” Hamill</a> as Professor Arnold. These three gentlemen came together to deliver a solid performance and brought the caliber of a well-crafted film and a superb screenplay to a level of awesome few films get to enjoy. Director Matthew “X-Men: First Class” Vaughn’s visual storytelling compliments the film’s try and genre magnificently. Excellent cinematic endeavor wouldn’t you say, Pontificator? </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiITr4qKZMMU1v186TPlhfbmCObuESsVrbnhZG_42idJXUu7VaOR4mFDz89pWI9uV4KZBoNOd0BxYmkHO0fTl1Asmr59XGdV3Fp0YWxM2UdKI3v2gS4gbcaaTFRNeitnwFn8NTO_Op4_2w/s1600/KIngsman_screenshot_3.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiITr4qKZMMU1v186TPlhfbmCObuESsVrbnhZG_42idJXUu7VaOR4mFDz89pWI9uV4KZBoNOd0BxYmkHO0fTl1Asmr59XGdV3Fp0YWxM2UdKI3v2gS4gbcaaTFRNeitnwFn8NTO_Op4_2w/s1600/KIngsman_screenshot_3.png" height="235" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<b>TP:</b> This film was well cast and well acted for what it was meant to represent Vader…namely a comic adaption of a spoof on the <a href="http://theboxedoffice.blogspot.com/2012/12/building-deeper-bond.html"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">James Bond</span></a> genre. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colin_Firth"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Colin Firth</span></a> played an excellent role as the emotionally invested mentor of Lee (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm5956650/"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Jonno Davies</span></a> in his first major film role). <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Strong"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Mark Strong</span></a> was great in his supporting role as was the well established <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Caine"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Michael Caine</span></a> and beautiful <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sofia_Boutella"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Sofia Boutella</span></a>. I think <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_L._Jackson"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Samuel L. Jackson</span></a> was just added for star power, but you really can’t go wrong with him…despite the shallowness of his role.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; min-height: 17px;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">ON SPECIAL EFFECTS</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 17px;">
<b></b><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_6hHeUmrkk-tVA_DLVTGdRB6tFSe2TI9HQE0XI1Qu2Wn4BVG0p7u8tev1PIZxyOA6kUHN5rTC3392wy5vOoyAKkKabVUsdO6kwqRCs4xhn3uCFKXtMhOSN80iI1aS49M3il47oIWljWw/s1600/screen-shot-2015-02-13-at-8-29-32-am.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_6hHeUmrkk-tVA_DLVTGdRB6tFSe2TI9HQE0XI1Qu2Wn4BVG0p7u8tev1PIZxyOA6kUHN5rTC3392wy5vOoyAKkKabVUsdO6kwqRCs4xhn3uCFKXtMhOSN80iI1aS49M3il47oIWljWw/s1600/screen-shot-2015-02-13-at-8-29-32-am.jpg" height="182" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<b>AV: </b>A very smart array of visual effects helps make this movie even cooler than it’s idea. This movie did something I have NEVER seen before, and to me, that is the earmark of greatness—success or failure. The in-church fight scene is so action-packed, so infused with choreographed fighting with mind-bending cinematography, you have to take a deep breath after the scene ends. Really. It is that good. When visual effects make me say “…wow that was cool” to myself, well… thats the definition of good effects. To put the cherry on top, it is possible to watch this whole film and not truly even notice the effects they are so seamlessly integrated into the storytelling. That, my friend, is the right stuff. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnCPF48CXw3Y9ooKZAaXbtavMfOKPRAL0USJFKmkfXBcCE7z6d5cGdECazT357khHMKA738U7z2m6wEIjQDu41LizFaRwcqdNg5AS5cfdjX2rg96c7rL6U5hLCTINnKgWQQf8h5Z_EZTY/s1600/Kingsman-The-Secret-Service_Sofia-Boutella.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnCPF48CXw3Y9ooKZAaXbtavMfOKPRAL0USJFKmkfXBcCE7z6d5cGdECazT357khHMKA738U7z2m6wEIjQDu41LizFaRwcqdNg5AS5cfdjX2rg96c7rL6U5hLCTINnKgWQQf8h5Z_EZTY/s1600/Kingsman-The-Secret-Service_Sofia-Boutella.jpg" height="168" width="320" /></a></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">TP:</b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"> If “over-the-top” was an official classification of effects, this film had that ad nauseam. Although I enjoyed the film and effects, I was literally sitting in the theater saying to myself…”no” as I could not believe how absolutely extreme some of the scenes were (as noted by the Dark One above). There is certainly something to be said for the similarity in the graphic comic presentation, and the duplication of that presentation in film. The 3D was used well, but it is getting to be a habit for me to feel like more could be made of using 3D in films.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">TAKING A CLOSER LOOK</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 17px;">
<b></b><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8v4PGz-7SW2VLlKVGl6VOt1AXLI0nQ2RW9GkaWwOD2FIEr9t9It-u22hvGbwclRJ-qlPGTpncu6U1zJRyRokIWELLZfgLfaHMJZDWD6xqyjkC2t6qErF3S0SRXkn45b5Z0-986xV-LiU/s1600/kingsman-secret-service-jackson-firth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8v4PGz-7SW2VLlKVGl6VOt1AXLI0nQ2RW9GkaWwOD2FIEr9t9It-u22hvGbwclRJ-qlPGTpncu6U1zJRyRokIWELLZfgLfaHMJZDWD6xqyjkC2t6qErF3S0SRXkn45b5Z0-986xV-LiU/s1600/kingsman-secret-service-jackson-firth.jpg" height="224" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<b>AV</b>: Graphic novel adaptations have a checkered past in hollywood. Whether we’re talking the Men in Black franchise, Watchmen, Kick Ass or R.I.P.D., the graphic novel/comic book adaptation is a money making prospect for studios but hit-or-miss for content. Kingsman is a breed apart and can be considered as good as one of the best graphic novel adaptations. It shows how an action/comedy/adventure/spy thriller can entertain, delight and leave us wanting more. Gritty, senses-gripping action makes this film exciting. The characters and screenplay make it a must-watch. My only pause was the mousey or subservient nature of every single female character in the film. This of course, gives us the opportunity to do a more engaging female arc in coming films. Regardless, Kingsman is by far the best film I have seen so far this year. Ponty? </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrMLEHYFlEgOikWf_38j-P6WttQsHlrMwzqYa3cYEodgNLh-Pw4U-DgdTb4Nd1Enz9LtDnp0Ybw-qsZsdyZGsItl5CxM-3nV4RrVhSqEkq1b4phGr95ZDih1kiHb9oJnl2Z76uQnBrNEA/s1600/kingsman-the-secret-service-035-1200x675.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrMLEHYFlEgOikWf_38j-P6WttQsHlrMwzqYa3cYEodgNLh-Pw4U-DgdTb4Nd1Enz9LtDnp0Ybw-qsZsdyZGsItl5CxM-3nV4RrVhSqEkq1b4phGr95ZDih1kiHb9oJnl2Z76uQnBrNEA/s1600/kingsman-the-secret-service-035-1200x675.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<b>TP:</b> Heh… the year is still young Vader. This film was an obvious spoof on the James Bond series of films although the comic books never felt like that when reading them. Despite the insanely over-the-top gore in the effects, I found myself having extreme fun while watching it. I imagine many people that saw this film were not accustomed to the thick British accents throughout the film, but being an avid watcher of BBC America…I was right at home. I think if there was a template for a super spy spoof film that didn’t take itself too seriously, but still delivered some serious fun, this film fits that mold perfectly.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 17px;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">ON SEQUELS</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 17px;">
<b></b><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV19Q5ysJLQS7evzzN5Oo53uSqI0_2p09jUPne2CFzpsYJMnVhuMd3A1dSJF1MYJN_2TNIicylfOoLMsWnmoOUYbwuzswcdyfM8YYOwpn1b0cQMIIQUdsYtuarG76JFxYh3G81wmOwfTc/s1600/Kingsman+The+Secret+Service+Movie+Film+2014+-+Sinopsis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV19Q5ysJLQS7evzzN5Oo53uSqI0_2p09jUPne2CFzpsYJMnVhuMd3A1dSJF1MYJN_2TNIicylfOoLMsWnmoOUYbwuzswcdyfM8YYOwpn1b0cQMIIQUdsYtuarG76JFxYh3G81wmOwfTc/s1600/Kingsman+The+Secret+Service+Movie+Film+2014+-+Sinopsis.jpg" height="177" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<b>AV</b>: If there’s more in the store for Kingsman, I’m buying. This movie was solid entertainment, with a screenplay as smart as it was quirky. I could sit through a new Kingsman film every 20-24 months and enjoy it MUCH more than a Fast & Furious flick. Seriously. Action, adventure, comedy, social commentary and visual effects like a boss? Hell’s yeah, sign this brother up for 10 more just like it. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8xBmJVJtWJV6iE94Xodqqdhvqtl8kcf1P2tybOakrm_jkItYGqQ4QTvZgSY6Qi7BkXSX-2qLOJZUKdhjUf3WpmFD0dlgkfcl9FKNYc6z7gMbd2tNt5NLi25bD1yGgpUm6ENW0jGuXK3o/s1600/t07jy8xuaal3j437og6s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8xBmJVJtWJV6iE94Xodqqdhvqtl8kcf1P2tybOakrm_jkItYGqQ4QTvZgSY6Qi7BkXSX-2qLOJZUKdhjUf3WpmFD0dlgkfcl9FKNYc6z7gMbd2tNt5NLi25bD1yGgpUm6ENW0jGuXK3o/s1600/t07jy8xuaal3j437og6s.jpg" height="175" width="320" /></a></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">TP:</b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"> Of course they could continue the story beyond the books and make entertaining spy spoof films from now until whenever…but there is something to be said for doing a story just right, and leaving it to stand on it’s own merits.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">RATE IT!</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 17px;">
<b></b><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS66jp_Mbe5NI0_3WTjK6DMOzVvnyIpLoVfFl8K_cz_3WKZ9JSDlcVSfVVBr1_s-PhOd2chjo1-qVedZ2xE077KaN2Lkq9pEJ5GZvmnA3GNfZPEvSEmF0FtOf19wZ0fxhK_-9j6UHxb7k/s1600/MV5BMTkxMjgwMDM4Ml5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwMTk3NTIwNDE@._V1_SX640_SY720_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS66jp_Mbe5NI0_3WTjK6DMOzVvnyIpLoVfFl8K_cz_3WKZ9JSDlcVSfVVBr1_s-PhOd2chjo1-qVedZ2xE077KaN2Lkq9pEJ5GZvmnA3GNfZPEvSEmF0FtOf19wZ0fxhK_-9j6UHxb7k/s1600/MV5BMTkxMjgwMDM4Ml5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwMTk3NTIwNDE@._V1_SX640_SY720_.jpg" height="320" width="216" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<b>ARTH VADER rates Kingsman: The Secret Service</b>: Truly a great film for action and spy flick lovers. If you like your films fun, your script witty and your action non-stop then I have no idea why you are still in your seat. Kingsman: The Secret Service is the type of movie Hollywood–and audiences–desperately need more of. It sets the pace for the genre and delivers an experience we have all too little of in films these days… a good one. So Kingsman: The Secret Service suits up with nine (9) very well-groomed and deviously-outfitted busted blocks.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<b>THE PONTIFICATOR rates Kingsman: The Secret Service:</b> Knowing the source material well, I was happy to see how successfully it transitioned to the silver screen. I think the effects being extremely graphic while the acting being a bit campy was the perfect blend of fun and entertainment... killing eight (8) busted blocks for King and country.</div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b>Kingsman: The Secret Service – 8.5 / 10 Busted Blocks</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; min-height: 17px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAKjZAGDNRcTwGSuuar5InLvUfywPiJdTjAqG_tGHHtlvVtoUzMmx99WWiKv15F5otBHCCoqDdQCBNsMEJEu-Le_DLEBFUgPJIhsa2nN46eV4yuqtsWKcwxuGSgJMV6fV11e1aD1kLKsU/s1600/TheBoxedOffice_8.5+busted+blocs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAKjZAGDNRcTwGSuuar5InLvUfywPiJdTjAqG_tGHHtlvVtoUzMmx99WWiKv15F5otBHCCoqDdQCBNsMEJEu-Le_DLEBFUgPJIhsa2nN46eV4yuqtsWKcwxuGSgJMV6fV11e1aD1kLKsU/s1600/TheBoxedOffice_8.5+busted+blocs.jpg" height="52" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
ArthV8Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425459411323956859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1870440923397188789.post-55103661441156885072015-03-12T15:29:00.001-07:002015-03-12T15:29:36.743-07:00Jupiter Ascending Descends Into Mediocrity<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 17px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #7f6000; font-size: large;">Elf ears, hyper–fantastic alien technology and even Sean Bean can’t deliver the Wachowski’s latest flick from the planet ‘meh’.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<b><span style="color: #7f6000; font-size: large;">ON CONTINUITY</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdJbPjx_2h94ua6O2iRcCNcJ0ViwNL6fJijszRkUHLExbo3KNlwL0zAeu0K_YIBteLTYOdvUTq2_-LqU8ZgMaNu05Ho-lit3s_qPDKZecaIp2j_37l9ITi6Zw13ynV3KzDSrxoPQwSsa4/s1600/jupiter-ascending1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdJbPjx_2h94ua6O2iRcCNcJ0ViwNL6fJijszRkUHLExbo3KNlwL0zAeu0K_YIBteLTYOdvUTq2_-LqU8ZgMaNu05Ho-lit3s_qPDKZecaIp2j_37l9ITi6Zw13ynV3KzDSrxoPQwSsa4/s1600/jupiter-ascending1.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a><b>ARTH VADER (AV)</b>: Jupiter Ascending is an original IP (Intellectual Property) crafted by Lana and Andy Wachowski. One their first original collaborations. The Wachowskis certainly know how to make decent films though they can’t seem to develop a proper screenplay to save their lives. Even the Matrix was someone else’s idea and the first one was stellar. Wikipedia identifies this flick as a “Space Opera” and I am at a real loss as to why, Pontificator. What were your thoughts? </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4jWPeGNJo39tAr6dpUwoG-UR2grIbLtp8KWizZ59DmHqViuo2A7SUIuWtttuT03PIxQsjj_rgLd5tmAevl-l8GEY1RsBVQs0Ix35GnV4EHr8-AB6HNK5_XCvPO6W-WP2AQXBXV1gMq8A/s1600/jupiter-ascending-makeup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4jWPeGNJo39tAr6dpUwoG-UR2grIbLtp8KWizZ59DmHqViuo2A7SUIuWtttuT03PIxQsjj_rgLd5tmAevl-l8GEY1RsBVQs0Ix35GnV4EHr8-AB6HNK5_XCvPO6W-WP2AQXBXV1gMq8A/s1600/jupiter-ascending-makeup.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<b>THE PONTIFICATOR (TP)</b>: An “original” film, I am not aware of any previous renditions of this story, which either says it is really an original piece of work, or not really worth the time to think up. I must confess that it actually may be a mixture of both. I thought the plot that the Earth was seeded purely as a future resource was interesting, but the execution of the plot was severely lacking. If by “Opera” you mean it nearly put me to sleep Vader… then yeah, pretty much.</div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="color: #7f6000; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<b><span style="color: #7f6000; font-size: large;">CASTING, ACTING & DIRECTING</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 17px;">
<b></b><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiECH0JILCIIHieGSchS7XUCPzjW6Uq2qizNLXw7afpGhG5iDJl0VGQEgPhl8YbyVYiv1_gnlcizeuAcoUKBOU_aZAi2didVGwLd-3eTr3-ZytvC9B2-l_QFjpa8nH87-MvbLH8lsxm-ng/s1600/AP_jupiter_ascending_02_jef_150206_16x9_992.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiECH0JILCIIHieGSchS7XUCPzjW6Uq2qizNLXw7afpGhG5iDJl0VGQEgPhl8YbyVYiv1_gnlcizeuAcoUKBOU_aZAi2didVGwLd-3eTr3-ZytvC9B2-l_QFjpa8nH87-MvbLH8lsxm-ng/s1600/AP_jupiter_ascending_02_jef_150206_16x9_992.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<b>AV</b>: I tried Ponty, I really did. I searched high, I looked low I just couldn’t find any evidence of acting anywhere in this flick. It’s like it just wasn’t there. No emotion, no emoting, no magic, no panache and certainly no vested motivation of any kind… anywhere. Someone also fell asleep at the wheel on the casting as Mila “Remember me from TED” Kunis dialed in her performance as 'Jupiter' from a satellite phone. Channing “21 Jump Street” Tatum was so busy posing and trying to look intimidating he forgot to bring any depth whatsoever to the role of the wolf-like Caine Wise (Wise Canine? Really). The saving grace for the category is certainly the direction which chose to use effects to tell the story then characters. But more on that in a moment, P-Man. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjugwKxJGS70QCKpIykECHy16rlZYnbjUcaJmgDvSDhlzRnYJW81MHBLfphL35s247FKALaWlaGg6awfnkpYY47XkI0xYVnoQBAkP-oslnY2HLVpvUCEkJkKYhHibSGrRvGS5m9936QAdc/s1600/141830.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjugwKxJGS70QCKpIykECHy16rlZYnbjUcaJmgDvSDhlzRnYJW81MHBLfphL35s247FKALaWlaGg6awfnkpYY47XkI0xYVnoQBAkP-oslnY2HLVpvUCEkJkKYhHibSGrRvGS5m9936QAdc/s1600/141830.jpg" height="162" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<b>TP:</b> There is really only so much a cast, any cast, can do… given the material they are tasked with bringing to the silver screen. In this case, with the plot and script being what it was, I have to extend some slack to the cast for doing the best they could. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Channing_Tatum"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Channing Tatum</span></a> is a capable enough actor and having him constantly in motion was probably the best he could hope for in this film. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mila_Kunis"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Mila Kunis</span></a> was actually a bit refreshing given the script as was <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Redmayne"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Eddie Redmayne</span></a>'s over-the-top performance. I am a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sean_Bean"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Sean Bean</span></a> fan and was disappointed there was nothing of substance for him to sink his acting chops into.</div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="color: #7f6000; font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<b><span style="color: #7f6000; font-size: large;">ON SPECIAL EFFECTS</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 17px;">
<b></b><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgndIELmVh7LXoqt8XJUTl09tc3epniZnNaW_pSMZ1kKa5eRX1InsME5VsfMzSa533L3eFfv9xPy2R5T-oMY0PuXG1H7osjFy_27yKqtg3CCd5rGveMWkj4tdVna96T60Iz99aZPd4lBuI/s1600/jupiter-ascending-ship.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgndIELmVh7LXoqt8XJUTl09tc3epniZnNaW_pSMZ1kKa5eRX1InsME5VsfMzSa533L3eFfv9xPy2R5T-oMY0PuXG1H7osjFy_27yKqtg3CCd5rGveMWkj4tdVna96T60Iz99aZPd4lBuI/s1600/jupiter-ascending-ship.jpg" height="160" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<b>AV: </b>Ah, now on to the tune value-added element(s) of Jupiter Ascending. The visual effects are other-worldly (see what I did there?). Fantastic technology and stunningly arresting visual and sound effects really are the stuff that help make Jupiter Ascending shine. I can truly say that the intergalactic sailing ships were breathtaking and the sound effects, ships and battle scenes were all top notch. Well done visual effects in Hollywood are the stuff of dreams which is perfect since this movie damn-near puts the viewer to sleep so at least the visual effects are the stuff of dreams. Ponty? </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFNAgsLjb9MNW0mTIHWMXEfwv2GQrueJi2I7FRGo19_QvtViZwfCtIb9OkaTPlWs5CjmQQi-kDpZUjIIjzWTgr-kkcp_7Xh6A4T_k4lCSZvF7gV0DTs_9-NV_PvTZAR03uROxIGNHYW_Y/s1600/jupiter-ascending.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFNAgsLjb9MNW0mTIHWMXEfwv2GQrueJi2I7FRGo19_QvtViZwfCtIb9OkaTPlWs5CjmQQi-kDpZUjIIjzWTgr-kkcp_7Xh6A4T_k4lCSZvF7gV0DTs_9-NV_PvTZAR03uROxIGNHYW_Y/s1600/jupiter-ascending.jpg" height="182" width="320" /></a></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">TP:</b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"> The special effects were done very well, and if a film could stand alone by effects, this would certainly be a winner Vader. Although there was no new ground broken, the application of some of them had me thinking about how they could be applied to other films. The gliding boot sequences had me thinking how easy it would be to do </span><a href="http://dc.wikia.com/wiki/Scott_Free_(Prime_Earth)" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">Mister Miracle</span></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"> onscreen (pay attention WB). Overall, the effects were very well done although more advantage could've been taken with the IMAX 3D application (as usual).</span> </div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="color: #7f6000;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<b><span style="color: #7f6000; font-size: large;">TAKING A CLOSER LOOK</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 17px;">
<b></b><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9LxVN8OXX0BzzsJ566d-vo7zYfhv4-ySfE-RnXmvUqQDPEuHGMIPaZXkVnTCEX4JpBVhhX8PN47Xbhv68M2rXts-DMYFMMIEUetZq9MoUdyx5JdpblTLyNcwTSltDsZx316m4TABLgdA/s1600/732b9dd9cb10071242d3eb65114d0592.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9LxVN8OXX0BzzsJ566d-vo7zYfhv4-ySfE-RnXmvUqQDPEuHGMIPaZXkVnTCEX4JpBVhhX8PN47Xbhv68M2rXts-DMYFMMIEUetZq9MoUdyx5JdpblTLyNcwTSltDsZx316m4TABLgdA/s1600/732b9dd9cb10071242d3eb65114d0592.jpg" height="160" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<b>AV</b>: The Wachowskis somehow get their hands on really terrific screenplays in Hollywood and do (it seems) everything they can to make them sub par. Now, I know, that is not deliberate, but it is the end result. The Matrix, V for Vendetta, Speed Racer, and Cloud Atlas to name just a few are all properties they get their hands on and flub up. Jupiter Ascending is just one more but when will Hollywood wise up and not give them screenplays that do not give them a massive visual effects budget? This film suffers from a lot of things and one of the glaring ones is a lack of vision. Show me all the pretty graphics you like, but this film is a two hour and seven minute yawner that breaks your will to watch way more than it breaks new ground. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcbF2VXa_8ag_Jmh1yNWe6HXMLGcerq3_pjkzAuo2ah6ohQoAGc6PnLkVdSWtkTipZUaOsX_INnuKTydeUb0qSq6m50LtINEDD82UZj4CesUHslmQ32Z2eImUB8czTdqn5XlZilV_Aiac/s1600/622x350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcbF2VXa_8ag_Jmh1yNWe6HXMLGcerq3_pjkzAuo2ah6ohQoAGc6PnLkVdSWtkTipZUaOsX_INnuKTydeUb0qSq6m50LtINEDD82UZj4CesUHslmQ32Z2eImUB8czTdqn5XlZilV_Aiac/s1600/622x350.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<b>TP: </b>This film had a great idea and somewhere along the way, went mindless with it. The idea that the Earth was really seeded to be harvested later to keep other people immortal is some great science-fiction. Not getting more in-depth with the larger community where all this seems to be normal left me lost. Constantly showing a different alien (or not so alien) species with every new camera shot didn’t help advance the story. It was like watching four years worth of “<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Trek:_Voyager"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">Star Trek</span></a>” episodes in two hours….cramming every alien you can make up, but never explaining who or what they are…and expecting me to buy into it. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the necessary funds.</div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #7f6000;">ON SEQUELS</span></span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo8OLldXf5I0jHs91WZDVS42qfz5F-_HTsDG9BiuiU_SbTlkAv3jZpFBalPi-bAtz4cfnzP3P8RVgm_z_QK8-ogxt1o1oI1Hk1iOphbXxZYxMLvj5O7UQyHnoRzyVxDlfx1-cD_X5clM8/s1600/ja-09751r.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo8OLldXf5I0jHs91WZDVS42qfz5F-_HTsDG9BiuiU_SbTlkAv3jZpFBalPi-bAtz4cfnzP3P8RVgm_z_QK8-ogxt1o1oI1Hk1iOphbXxZYxMLvj5O7UQyHnoRzyVxDlfx1-cD_X5clM8/s1600/ja-09751r.jpg" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<b>AV: </b>No thank you. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">TP:</b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"> I’m not really interested in a sequel either, but unfortunately the door has been left slightly ajar. Hopefully this oversight is ignored.</span> </div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="color: #7f6000; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #7f6000; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #7f6000; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<b><span style="color: #7f6000; font-size: large;">RATE IT!</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 17px;">
<br /><b></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzMppesF9iUKEllnDm3rNcYvOqfuNEJpxG5pdqUSR24FzibvGdIA9re0We_57yM64H19L-wx581ZjQJboNCdaHLvwg_OIIPL70oO3JwvoV5BEacOKY1HwHQMycMVRWTAG858RiQt9gWyw/s1600/MV5BMTQyNzk2MjA2NF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwMjEwNzk3MjE@._V1_SX640_SY720_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzMppesF9iUKEllnDm3rNcYvOqfuNEJpxG5pdqUSR24FzibvGdIA9re0We_57yM64H19L-wx581ZjQJboNCdaHLvwg_OIIPL70oO3JwvoV5BEacOKY1HwHQMycMVRWTAG858RiQt9gWyw/s1600/MV5BMTQyNzk2MjA2NF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwMjEwNzk3MjE@._V1_SX640_SY720_.jpg" height="320" width="216" /></a><b>ARTH VADER Rates Jupiter Ascending</b>: The New York Post stated it best; "<a href="http://nypost.com/2015/02/05/mila-kunis-channing-tatums-jupiter-ascending-is-so-bad-its-almost-good/"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 46, 238); color: #042eee;">Jupiter Ascending is so bad it's almost good</span></a>'. As much as I have kicked this film in the shins, this is by far NOT the worst movie I have seen, That said, with the high levels of bile used to make this film and the fact that this film just doesn’t matter, means you can likely rent, buy on video or altogether blow off. Let’s face it, if you miss this one, no points lost. Regardless, I slapped on a pair of elf ears, tossed on my air-glider boots ascended to give Jupiter Ascending three (3) out of 10 Busted Blocks. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<b>THE PONTIFICATOR rates Jupiter Ascending:</b> With a great idea and great special effects, this film could have been a lot better than what it was… if it also had a great script and something tangible for good actors to work with. Unfortunately it didn’t have that and was only able to ascend five (5) busted blocks… and got nowhere near Jupiter.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: orange;">Jupiter Ascending 4 / 10 Busted Blocks</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0NwhyphenhyphenyzzLa-S2QcN6zrLNXGx2lfJutGVOKv_NKgVOI44ovvyKBXqpyOIb9ATk3s2QtfBUBbMznfrvSsN38e8xageMMa3XR12A_Z_LryEKkX_Pn5daolOJSA_kl4ShNgt72KeM7hyWS9s/s1600/TheBoxedOffice_4+busted+blocs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0NwhyphenhyphenyzzLa-S2QcN6zrLNXGx2lfJutGVOKv_NKgVOI44ovvyKBXqpyOIb9ATk3s2QtfBUBbMznfrvSsN38e8xageMMa3XR12A_Z_LryEKkX_Pn5daolOJSA_kl4ShNgt72KeM7hyWS9s/s1600/TheBoxedOffice_4+busted+blocs.jpg" height="60" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: orange;"><br /></span></b></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
ArthV8Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425459411323956859noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1870440923397188789.post-52948280764723555232015-03-02T13:52:00.000-08:002015-03-03T14:44:39.240-08:00Only A Sixth Sense Can Decipher ‘The Seventh Son.’<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><b>Once again, a mystical youngster is poised to save the world in the perplexing fantasy romp, The Seventh Son. </b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">ON CONTINUITY</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; min-height: 18px;">
<b></b><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;">
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaG28M6X8jpuzLBnf93GbbrA9_XejRP9GoQwb0cZx98GY33mq_hpbv6legiVfUNH2hKIaSsT_VuH9XSOEImLMQOc8CQmMW3rayALSGNUsFBrA1_DEEXZx6Q934rXsDiCrmGXP_4QxL9e4/s1600/8879seventh_son-510x286.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaG28M6X8jpuzLBnf93GbbrA9_XejRP9GoQwb0cZx98GY33mq_hpbv6legiVfUNH2hKIaSsT_VuH9XSOEImLMQOc8CQmMW3rayALSGNUsFBrA1_DEEXZx6Q934rXsDiCrmGXP_4QxL9e4/s1600/8879seventh_son-510x286.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: 15px;"><b>ARTH VADER (AV)</b>: </span>While this oddly named fantasy film owes its original story arc to a book called “The Spooks Apprentice” by author Joseph Delaney (an equally off-putting title if you ask me), the story chronicles the coming-of-age tale of the seventh son of the seventh son (whatever that’s supposed to mean) and quickly morphs into a poor man’s Van Helsing–type ride through the lore of monsters, witches-turned-dragons and all kind of other super-natural thingies. Mind you, dear reader, I have not read the book but the premise, from the other reading I have done to validate it, is that the screenplay is pretty darn close to the source material. Did you read the book, Pontificator?</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; min-height: 18px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn68-LJudIt4yYsuTteitMAVzBcXqnnhCCs3fyj1rdHtedjP-dzthm1zBxIbaPr1oqTZNfeXCnJKlHQXu1vyTXymIh5TCanXpyg6IJcQWIDUkQpo46LeegjiTFW6YhuCQZQjNvu1h2qYU/s1600/SeventhSon_17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn68-LJudIt4yYsuTteitMAVzBcXqnnhCCs3fyj1rdHtedjP-dzthm1zBxIbaPr1oqTZNfeXCnJKlHQXu1vyTXymIh5TCanXpyg6IJcQWIDUkQpo46LeegjiTFW6YhuCQZQjNvu1h2qYU/s1600/SeventhSon_17.jpg" height="133" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<b>THE PONTIFICATOR (TP)</b>: I did not read the book Vader, but the idea is as old as time…the world (being represented by a very small actually area) is besieged by witches and demons and the aging lone hero must train a successor to take his place and keep the world safe. Been there, done that…so the only thing that really makes this unique are the actor’s approach to the material.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">CASTING, DIRECTING AND ACTING</span></b></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; min-height: 18px;">
<b></b><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyN45R3n9_A2YMsD2aTjxT0y9nlCAW2NXp9WR9L4JG6H7rchUktnEdiEwOXPpNswHB0VI4px1Ge_XhvfCi4JKTZw6GeSNdg2izoRolIilPBAyh9IzI42naJuTyxA6yLvi2cX7_tnuzoFE/s1600/Seventh-Son-Movie-HD-2015-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyN45R3n9_A2YMsD2aTjxT0y9nlCAW2NXp9WR9L4JG6H7rchUktnEdiEwOXPpNswHB0VI4px1Ge_XhvfCi4JKTZw6GeSNdg2izoRolIilPBAyh9IzI42naJuTyxA6yLvi2cX7_tnuzoFE/s1600/Seventh-Son-Movie-HD-2015-2.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-size: 15px;"><b>AV</b>: </span>The household Hollywood names like Julianne “I just won an Oscar” Moore and Jeff “Anything’s Better than R.I.P.D.” Bridges, delivers that much sought-after star power bump to a film that might otherwise succumb to its own mediocrity. The direction–for me–was all over the place, camera work was deliberately methodical. Talking heads, to side angle, to (unnecessary) helicopter shots the story-telling and the imagery was a hot mess. The acting was a solid “meh” save for the performances from Moore and Bridges. There won’t be any Oscar noms for this one unfortunately, Pontificator. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; min-height: 18px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAVz3vyGn4CpXu_7wl7vNMpjCVU-y2OfVJcVf1yClEVGG5BZSJN7xjN9QuYpXAcs_Rp4ZRu6_AA-RyFZOs1qubhOTlWHUv0AeBHyNGNxQ2_AImZc-IjVzjFkYaGBa0Iik4x8i4ioY9Gvg/s1600/Seventh-Son-Poster-2015-www.cinema9ja.com_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAVz3vyGn4CpXu_7wl7vNMpjCVU-y2OfVJcVf1yClEVGG5BZSJN7xjN9QuYpXAcs_Rp4ZRu6_AA-RyFZOs1qubhOTlWHUv0AeBHyNGNxQ2_AImZc-IjVzjFkYaGBa0Iik4x8i4ioY9Gvg/s1600/Seventh-Son-Poster-2015-www.cinema9ja.com_.jpg" height="145" width="320" /></a></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">TP:</b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"> Indeed not Vader. There were a lot of stars in this film, but the script did not allow them to actually use their talent. I think </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Bridges" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">Jeff Bridges</span></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"> really made the most of his part and it was a pleasure to see him really get into his character, I absolutely loved his delivery. </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julianne_Moore" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">Julianne Moore</span></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"> was adequate at being evil, as was </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Djimon_Hounsou" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">Djimon Hounsou</span></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"> and </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Scott_Lee" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">Jason Scott Lee</span></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"> (I hope this isn’t his attempt at a comeback). </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antje_Traue" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">Antje Traue</span></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"> is always a pleasure to look at, but I liked her better in “</span><a href="http://theboxedoffice.blogspot.com/2013/06/steel-vision.html" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Man of Steel</span></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">.” </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Barnes_(actor)" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">Ben Barnes</span></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">…being the main character, really did nothing for me and just added to my wanting to see more of Bridges.</span><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; min-height: 18px;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">SPECIAL EFFECTS </span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; min-height: 18px;">
<b></b><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV5pozlIKeY5aYxumDJH_FTS0B7ets6_3h5C4P02N9Y1IDL1_Kh2w2Ln5ZVituxWQmv4szPhCuofSfJj8xmGv93h3nUhY6hpag6jufCslu8hkxrfUT9onmNP9NPMfPmrHhezCrtEyZsVk/s1600/maxresdefault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV5pozlIKeY5aYxumDJH_FTS0B7ets6_3h5C4P02N9Y1IDL1_Kh2w2Ln5ZVituxWQmv4szPhCuofSfJj8xmGv93h3nUhY6hpag6jufCslu8hkxrfUT9onmNP9NPMfPmrHhezCrtEyZsVk/s1600/maxresdefault.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-size: 15px;"><b>AV</b>: </span>The effects in the Seventh Son are ‘Ok’ at best. Mostly clean, the effects are good at first but the sky shots of the city were clearly hurried CGI work and the monsters appear onscreen in varying levels of polish. Its hard to create a fantasy film these days without serving up a healthy dose of visual effects but movies these days need more. The visual effects need to help tell the story, not carry it. Unfortunately, films like The 7th Son are not about telling a quality story, regardless of the source material, but rather it hopes to wow us away from the fact that all too often, the story is FUBAR. Thoughts, P-Man? </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; min-height: 18px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJTy4_5Y2Axn8Xo9I2q8dvA3b3yWOnlM3001SJpUSdN7J3Qs-th77PDZ7DTBYjOHouewoJ8ggwowmRpPrFWXQAXkcWruFQz_XagKaeIrrakXxKfXkv_vMFp-4OAZujKEr9zIM0s-XIljw/s1600/maxresdefault2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJTy4_5Y2Axn8Xo9I2q8dvA3b3yWOnlM3001SJpUSdN7J3Qs-th77PDZ7DTBYjOHouewoJ8ggwowmRpPrFWXQAXkcWruFQz_XagKaeIrrakXxKfXkv_vMFp-4OAZujKEr9zIM0s-XIljw/s1600/maxresdefault2.jpg" height="182" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<b>TP: </b>There was no new ground broken here, although it was very fun to watch this film in IMAX 3D. I don’t think the film utilized the medium to the fullest, even though there were moments when the action seemed to pop off the screen. With such a sparse script and acting, more effects could have certainly been used to help elevate the film.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; min-height: 18px;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">TAKING A CLOSER LOOK</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; min-height: 18px;">
<b></b><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wENopSCT6x-v3FvEhvhBpTmejFADvKoC6a2ktHoUo6STKlmHsMAK8oA7zL03B0n-Oztfmn-nn89ayQGsCtjQ9Mj5ZPDqRTeLCorofgSwFMuiUoJ6miOHa1kfCtqKK1LRe5pqo2kGg2w/s1600/seventh-son.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wENopSCT6x-v3FvEhvhBpTmejFADvKoC6a2ktHoUo6STKlmHsMAK8oA7zL03B0n-Oztfmn-nn89ayQGsCtjQ9Mj5ZPDqRTeLCorofgSwFMuiUoJ6miOHa1kfCtqKK1LRe5pqo2kGg2w/s1600/seventh-son.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-size: 15px;"><b>AV</b>: </span>To be fair, I didn’t hate this movie (makes you want to run right out and see it now, right?). I went in with the lowest of low expectations, and was mildly entertained. This movie makes little connection and even less sense. Even its title is barely addressed in the film. While the dragons, witches and other supernatural adversaries look great, they fail to elevate the story or the experience. There was a reason this movie was supposed to debut over a year ago and didn’t. Whatever the problem they identified either wasn’t fixed or was so big it trumped other issues like poor acting and shoddy storytelling. And poor storytelling should be the cardinal sin of any film. Seventh Son simply rambles on in a world of McGuffins that are so uninteresting, we simply accept it and move on.<span style="font-size: 15px;"> </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; min-height: 18px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXYCaTuhXQxleauzXjLlgxbvGjcUuHZDc79yFcuaLqZvfhWpBE0M8XcwMJUhcZ8ym-W_2dJeYGgYTuWcVHLvQDTaqaOLjSD3qGbPAZAeYBpDyV4614VS5pKiWHB1Z8jwQkhElfE_6MNsI/s1600/seventh-son-679x350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXYCaTuhXQxleauzXjLlgxbvGjcUuHZDc79yFcuaLqZvfhWpBE0M8XcwMJUhcZ8ym-W_2dJeYGgYTuWcVHLvQDTaqaOLjSD3qGbPAZAeYBpDyV4614VS5pKiWHB1Z8jwQkhElfE_6MNsI/s1600/seventh-son-679x350.jpg" height="164" width="320" /></a></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">TP: </b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">There isn't much more to look at in this film. The story was something very familiar in that good has to overcome impossible odds to defeat evil and the torch must be passed so that this responsibility is always met. I didn’t see any deeper insights besides that, and “love can overcome anything”….yawn. I suppose attaching big names was an effective tactic to get people to come to the theater (have to check the box office results to see how effective), but such a tactic falls short when you only deliver and alright film with a subpar story. Yes, there was some decent action in the film, and Bridges is looking and moving well as he gets older, but in the end, I’m looking for more.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; min-height: 18px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">ON SEQUELS</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; min-height: 18px;">
<b></b><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDkBaG2OVrh5V_wMOSkocjULcxFPKC51E-iL-YjfH4V-xuz_UmKIOOPodf56k9G_aAtRLbCvPOKp2lkifP7wEVW7V018jMElKtccminI_Xhoy7V-re4aCvl8mtfLFHOluEssY2igKMLHM/s1600/seventh-son-comic-con-2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDkBaG2OVrh5V_wMOSkocjULcxFPKC51E-iL-YjfH4V-xuz_UmKIOOPodf56k9G_aAtRLbCvPOKp2lkifP7wEVW7V018jMElKtccminI_Xhoy7V-re4aCvl8mtfLFHOluEssY2igKMLHM/s1600/seventh-son-comic-con-2013.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-size: 15px;"><b>AV</b>: </span>This movie ended with the pretense ‘this is just the beginning’. The narrative pretends like this is all just getting started and to that I say… whatever. The film’s climax left me totally indifferent and while I would entertain returning to another installment, if this film or series is never heard from again, well, let’s just say there won’t be a whole lot of tears shed. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; min-height: 18px;">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9U62d_0vgEyHoy4kxV_KIhzK7D4mjDDffrWqz45PjChNT7b1Nk5ko_QokjTU_hhYYUY7p23S5xKR9aID9AlxITXGRXKgynFYGDOXQj-VRAa36hsCNa1p5DOIcjnWGkl7xvTaYdqUav9w/s1600/seventh-son-12178-large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9U62d_0vgEyHoy4kxV_KIhzK7D4mjDDffrWqz45PjChNT7b1Nk5ko_QokjTU_hhYYUY7p23S5xKR9aID9AlxITXGRXKgynFYGDOXQj-VRAa36hsCNa1p5DOIcjnWGkl7xvTaYdqUav9w/s1600/seventh-son-12178-large.jpg" height="170" width="400" /></a><br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<b>TP:</b> They could certainly do another film…but Ben Barnes is not capable of carrying it. Having Bridge’s character ride off into retirement pretty much spells the end of this story for me…unless they bring him back, and then we are right back where we started…and there is really no need for that.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; min-height: 18px;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">RATE IT!</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; min-height: 18px;">
<b></b><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW77E0PhO-pnd4mcv5Xsc5RWWk0n52XNRqqeDDIREA_9BJ6BRRwCx0ubLG0up_77THbF7r7SyL-PrQ8igKJRHOR6U958NrS46fI6qYpBqUf-8-OjT9CMOyMz5P7GZxQd2NSNZaASrC1uQ/s1600/Seventh-Son-2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW77E0PhO-pnd4mcv5Xsc5RWWk0n52XNRqqeDDIREA_9BJ6BRRwCx0ubLG0up_77THbF7r7SyL-PrQ8igKJRHOR6U958NrS46fI6qYpBqUf-8-OjT9CMOyMz5P7GZxQd2NSNZaASrC1uQ/s1600/Seventh-Son-2014.jpg" height="320" width="215" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-size: 15px;"><b>ARTH VADER rates The Seventh Son</b>: </span>Given the breadth of films due to release in the coming months, this film is, at best, small potatoes. Even blockbuster A-Listers can’t save this dull fantasy romp from itself. The non-sensical story, thin plot, plastic characters and yawn-inducing acting make this movie ideal for a lazy Sunday afternoon watch when you simply don’t want to get up from the couch. That said, Seventh Son is granted only three (3) busted blocks in the grand old ‘swing-and-a-miss’ Hollywood money-grab style<span style="font-size: 15px;">. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; min-height: 18px;">
<br /></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">THE PONTIFICATOR rates Seventh Son:</b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"> If you have nothing better to do with your day, then go see this film…it’s certainly better than doing nothing at all. I enjoyed the effects, the action, and Bridges. I didn’t fall asleep even though the cliche’s in the film are to yawn for. In the end, this film eradicated five (5) evil busted blocks in it’s attempt</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">to entertain me, and save the world.</span> </div>
<br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;">The Seventh Son: 4 / 10 Busted Block</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0NwhyphenhyphenyzzLa-S2QcN6zrLNXGx2lfJutGVOKv_NKgVOI44ovvyKBXqpyOIb9ATk3s2QtfBUBbMznfrvSsN38e8xageMMa3XR12A_Z_LryEKkX_Pn5daolOJSA_kl4ShNgt72KeM7hyWS9s/s1600/TheBoxedOffice_4+busted+blocs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0NwhyphenhyphenyzzLa-S2QcN6zrLNXGx2lfJutGVOKv_NKgVOI44ovvyKBXqpyOIb9ATk3s2QtfBUBbMznfrvSsN38e8xageMMa3XR12A_Z_LryEKkX_Pn5daolOJSA_kl4ShNgt72KeM7hyWS9s/s1600/TheBoxedOffice_4+busted+blocs.jpg" height="60" width="200" /></a></div>
<b><span style="color: orange;"><br /></span></b></div>
ArthV8Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425459411323956859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1870440923397188789.post-19998424400060365372015-02-03T14:23:00.000-08:002015-02-03T14:23:08.487-08:0015 for 2015: Our Year-Ahead Preview<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Geek Peek 2015: </span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">The Boxed Office helps you geek-out on your movie going for the year ahead</span></b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Happy 2015! </b>It’s time once again for all of us here at the Boxed Office take our annual crystal ball session concerning our most anticipated films of 2014. We look ahead at some of the biggest sci-fi, super hero and fantasy and CGI films coming soon to a theater near you: </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCoCywVuRak_-dhwfQtlz2LyevkV2am1OjvpBLrwvfszHkJXhrkQS9qr3NUsBynXuKS8Kz1X3BjREdBCvLhFD6g65xWdzmXVs_Yhas9vGi2bPsdeFYVgJ0OTimoGjfV0jUy6RMKtP9RgU/s1600/Jeff-Bridges-and-Ben-Barnes-in-The-Seventh-Son.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCoCywVuRak_-dhwfQtlz2LyevkV2am1OjvpBLrwvfszHkJXhrkQS9qr3NUsBynXuKS8Kz1X3BjREdBCvLhFD6g65xWdzmXVs_Yhas9vGi2bPsdeFYVgJ0OTimoGjfV0jUy6RMKtP9RgU/s1600/Jeff-Bridges-and-Ben-Barnes-in-The-Seventh-Son.jpg" height="168" width="320" /></span></a><br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>(ARTH VADER AV) The Seventh Son</b> (2/6) The lone remaining warrior of an ancient mystical order travels to find a foretold hero born with incredible powers, the last Seventh Son. Having watched this initial trailer for an 2014 release over a year ago, I am not sure what to make of this one, Pontificator. Generally, its never a good sign when a film is pulled and re-tooled or has a significant amount of new, re-shot material. Here's to hoping. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 16px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl8pGMeGQKCibjSC15_h5jmERKslUzL3JIKzgmOCF-1tc4SQvNaVYw0HnlGabasu-DNf9FyvaIvOqB7Uh2eD-4TvaTfNYUDWkxMpOWt_KGoonqwomstP2jvfa-pYkovezdB9PSo9Cpxa8/s1600/640_jupiter_ascending.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl8pGMeGQKCibjSC15_h5jmERKslUzL3JIKzgmOCF-1tc4SQvNaVYw0HnlGabasu-DNf9FyvaIvOqB7Uh2eD-4TvaTfNYUDWkxMpOWt_KGoonqwomstP2jvfa-pYkovezdB9PSo9Cpxa8/s1600/640_jupiter_ascending.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-kerning: none; text-shadow: 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>(AV) Jupiter Ascending</b> (2/6) Who's ready for an original Wachowski Brothers screenplay? Apparently no one was a year ago. The original 2013 release of this film was halted when initial audience pools tracked so poor, executive pulled the film and completely re-tooled the film. In February 2015, we’ll see how that effort turned out. I will say, though, P-Man, the new trailers kind of have me a little giddy. Here’s to hoping Mila “TED” Kunis and Channing “Jump Street” Tatum can do something they have yet to do prove so far… that they can act. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-kerning: none; text-shadow: 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 16px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5rAywcQBwI2cTOKD6o0vhyphenhyphenBaxIt8t5O7uZsC2DwtZZuIV-9PmKbHsoug67ZBpfqghBygPrYt0HSiW_etdGOb9pzYw6kfrx-t-Sf1KPjPP4Pr1W3GYdyNHOWwu9S4leqHH20DntXxQTTI/s1600/Chappie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5rAywcQBwI2cTOKD6o0vhyphenhyphenBaxIt8t5O7uZsC2DwtZZuIV-9PmKbHsoug67ZBpfqghBygPrYt0HSiW_etdGOb9pzYw6kfrx-t-Sf1KPjPP4Pr1W3GYdyNHOWwu9S4leqHH20DntXxQTTI/s1600/Chappie.jpg" height="224" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-kerning: none; text-shadow: 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>(AV) </b><b>Chappie</b> (3/6) One the most talented directors in Sci-fi today is Neil “District 9” Blomkamp who’s latest film, Chappie, premieres March 6th. While initial reports are panning the film, I am excited to see what comes of this latest film. Another precursor to the ‘countdown to the singularity’, Chappie is the story of an AI / Robot who learns of the human world through the actions of his creator(s) and those that fear and mistrust him. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-kerning: none; text-shadow: 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="font-kerning: none; text-shadow: 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-kerning: none; text-shadow: 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(50, 51, 51); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #323333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEdjcBgpt4i6_tsXnfjPpqGkJ6EhsOrE-pbKIq24dqgEMh6GhFRkhB4rcKMMcATQ60oK0otzDGyeUVnpsPAGyx2edxVNSfHwkdpPKdMVTKkD3j5Y34i2HhmPNEAD7VUgymbCNf59VzMcA/s1600/Ex-Machina-Gallery-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEdjcBgpt4i6_tsXnfjPpqGkJ6EhsOrE-pbKIq24dqgEMh6GhFRkhB4rcKMMcATQ60oK0otzDGyeUVnpsPAGyx2edxVNSfHwkdpPKdMVTKkD3j5Y34i2HhmPNEAD7VUgymbCNf59VzMcA/s1600/Ex-Machina-Gallery-01.jpg" height="145" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>(AV) Ex Machina</b> (4/10) It’s time for another Singularity story arc, Ponty. This one features the story of Caleb, a 20-nothing programmer employed at a large internet company, who wins a week at a private mountain retreat. But, when Caleb arrives at the isolated retreat he finds that himself swept up into a a strange and frightening experiment in which he must interact with the world's first true artificial intelligence, who takes on the form of a beautiful woman. Directed by horror pro Alex “28 Days” Garland, the movie chronicles an interesting inter-species coupling thats both telling and frightening. </span></div>
</div>
<div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 16px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0L2DTQaYScBR5Rls4D3xOgnwF8fxWDGgaPFF4fWfJLbfTX87EIUSfFcKo1OihNvwSISDgy2cZOiiYndM1120nxpmrR_jhkCrQ7lphELYA4gvSrQwAdwEe6okeI2jglWJsG7A7E571rvs/s1600/Avengers-Age-of-Ultron-Official-Trailer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0L2DTQaYScBR5Rls4D3xOgnwF8fxWDGgaPFF4fWfJLbfTX87EIUSfFcKo1OihNvwSISDgy2cZOiiYndM1120nxpmrR_jhkCrQ7lphELYA4gvSrQwAdwEe6okeI2jglWJsG7A7E571rvs/s1600/Avengers-Age-of-Ultron-Official-Trailer.jpg" height="165" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>(AV) Avengers: Age of Utron</b> (5/1) When it comes right down to it, there really are only two big flicks to look forward to in 2015, Star Wars and Avengers: Age of Ultron. Marvel Studio’s follow-up to their colossal 2012 hit, pits our heroes against the Avenger’s greatest adversary, the twisted AI construct, Ultron. With new foes, new allies and new costumes for Marvel’s most colorful band of brothers, Age of Ultron has every potential to exceed the $1.4 billion payday that accompanied the 1st movie.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; min-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; min-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfPajtRinbkMiV8N7i01NWskbVCR0KUbIF3zeYdEDSzzYhMbqM3qOiGirkWGw_SukWlSrwpNCcWGJY7CW-S8JFV40Q7DBWPnnN2ZfjrcTCgg4fGZQtqmNpcEuUoWjXk-Jd2YF9YQ9ZS2A/s1600/Tom-Hardy-as-Max-in-Mad-Max-Fury-Road.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfPajtRinbkMiV8N7i01NWskbVCR0KUbIF3zeYdEDSzzYhMbqM3qOiGirkWGw_SukWlSrwpNCcWGJY7CW-S8JFV40Q7DBWPnnN2ZfjrcTCgg4fGZQtqmNpcEuUoWjXk-Jd2YF9YQ9ZS2A/s1600/Tom-Hardy-as-Max-in-Mad-Max-Fury-Road.jpg" height="165" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>(THE PONTIFICATOR TP) Mad Max: Fury Road</b> (5/15) : Being a big fan of the original Max films (“<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079501/"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Mad Max</span></a>” and “<a href="http://madmax.wikia.com/wiki/Mad_Max_2"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">The Road Warrior</span></a>,” not so much “<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089530/"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome</span></a>”) I was happy to hear that director George Miller was attached to this project Vader. It means most of what made those films great will be returning for this reboot/reimagining although I was sad to see Max’s car get destroyed in the trailer (love that car). <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Hardy"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">Tom Hardy</span></a> is an excellent actor and the perfect choice to reprise the role of Max. This film looks as though it’s gonna be huge and the fact that they are offering it in 3D just tells me to expect some serious special effects! I hoping it’s everything the first two films were…and more.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-kerning: none; text-shadow: 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 16px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNRokAcHD9Gbr8KVEXMW1shX9TakqWuPIhtpF_Fi5tjQIOJOUL95T70HdySOawYJpTdjCG75MLBr8N5V4A7qUU3ftPq9imUHctuhLFN0RKY2S_vFYtCFov8pGcKuUdHOrwMyg0vJ9i344/s1600/trailer-prattbryce-genetically-modified-hybrid-dinosaurs-are-unleashed-jurassic-world-trailer-details-and-more.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNRokAcHD9Gbr8KVEXMW1shX9TakqWuPIhtpF_Fi5tjQIOJOUL95T70HdySOawYJpTdjCG75MLBr8N5V4A7qUU3ftPq9imUHctuhLFN0RKY2S_vFYtCFov8pGcKuUdHOrwMyg0vJ9i344/s1600/trailer-prattbryce-genetically-modified-hybrid-dinosaurs-are-unleashed-jurassic-world-trailer-details-and-more.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>(TP) Jurassic World</b> (6/12): I’m a huge fan of all the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jurassic_Park"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Jurassic Park</span></a> films and so I’m very excited about this latest installment, the fourth in the series, set twenty-two years after the original. Although director Colin Trevorrow hasn’t done anything thus far to impress me, I’m hopeful that Spielberg as executive producer and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Pratt"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">Chris Pratt</span></a> as the lead can pull this off regardless of any shortcomings, anywhere. The premiss of the film has some cheese potential, I mean, in addition to the regular dinosaurs posing a threat (as usual) we now have a genetically modified dinosaur to deal with, but this type of film is not meant to be thought-provoking, just a wild ride. From what I have seen so far, it looks to be just that, a wild ride for the summer and I’m looking forward to it Vader.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3s8H74_HnuvemZvRHf1f3KnqzK2Dl0sJMNG5rxrOGAMGFKdivywSP4pcSGskqEsRrfASUeGE3Qlz7ki5EwmKwEtDG4vVCuEMeUZi7iPUofdlqQ7_QPr1RzKnFev6Tq2CyifPgkf4UHxs/s1600/Ant-Man-Trailer-1-Photo-The-Costume-1024x552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3s8H74_HnuvemZvRHf1f3KnqzK2Dl0sJMNG5rxrOGAMGFKdivywSP4pcSGskqEsRrfASUeGE3Qlz7ki5EwmKwEtDG4vVCuEMeUZi7iPUofdlqQ7_QPr1RzKnFev6Tq2CyifPgkf4UHxs/s1600/Ant-Man-Trailer-1-Photo-The-Costume-1024x552.jpg" height="172" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>(AV) Ant Man</b> (7/17) Who’s psyched to see a grown man shrink down to be 1/4” tall? I know I am! The littlest big Marvel flick stars Paul “Ant Man” Rudd, Evangeline “I’m Lost as an Elf” Lilly and Michael “Henry Pym” Douglas. Shrouded in controversy, due namely to the hiring and 8-years-later firing of wunderkind director Edgar Wright, this film has almost everyone in a quandary about this film’s ability to resonate with audiences. As for me, I say this; if Marvel made The Guardians Of The Galaxy the top film of 2014, they can do anything. The trailer is fun and has CGI that will likely make the world of the Ant Man a giant success.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(50, 51, 51); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh_nvP08qdj0JNtkyZJBb-To5eP-5wHrSy0Siel2e6Jm6YKHtWyPKfAiKzD9G4l201eKRLjNFEtDnyc2QIIMgcng1ypnYI6DjUz5TdEDnikWWChB0_-UKXWmgaGPNxT1Z43d1S6w3lWZg/s1600/Ultimate-Fantastic-Four_article_story_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh_nvP08qdj0JNtkyZJBb-To5eP-5wHrSy0Siel2e6Jm6YKHtWyPKfAiKzD9G4l201eKRLjNFEtDnyc2QIIMgcng1ypnYI6DjUz5TdEDnikWWChB0_-UKXWmgaGPNxT1Z43d1S6w3lWZg/s1600/Ultimate-Fantastic-Four_article_story_large.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>(TP) The Fantastic Four</b> (8/7): I gotta say that even though I was gracious in my opinion of the first two films (being a comic geek and all), I have not been thrilled by what I have been hearing about this film. There has been much controversy over the cast, specifically <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_B._Jordan"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">Michael B. Jordan</span></a> as the Human Torch, but reading the latest synopsis for the film, I might be willing to throw everything I know about the Fantastic Four out the window and come at this film with an open mind. I generally have not been happy with how Fox has treated Marvel characters, but it seems they might be taking some notes from Marvel Studios as it has been confirmed that the Fantastic Four takes place in the same cinematic universe as the X-Men. Despite the negative rumblings, I will remain optimistic.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUryT9b8zPzXEVD24_gwsqHjp5ngH8w7H51J55Bx_-FakcP7RuoH9TEYsRfO9gMyvEXXtBlkiBacKWow_IEvVgTiJoLvYm5woa_D-n6lsNtfKA40NhS2VklsxtpLKpDcaYKQmTosvx-jg/s1600/llHjGNd.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUryT9b8zPzXEVD24_gwsqHjp5ngH8w7H51J55Bx_-FakcP7RuoH9TEYsRfO9gMyvEXXtBlkiBacKWow_IEvVgTiJoLvYm5woa_D-n6lsNtfKA40NhS2VklsxtpLKpDcaYKQmTosvx-jg/s1600/llHjGNd.png" height="179" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>(TP) The Maze Runner: Scorch Trials</b> (9/18): I wasn’t a very big fan of the first film, it just didn’t make sense to me on many levels (see the review <a href="http://theboxedoffice.blogspot.com/2014/11/scatterbrained-maze-runner-entertains.html"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">here</span></a>) so a continuation of the story doesn’t have me particularly excited. That said, the very fact that it takes place in the most scorched part of the Earth with new dangers and challenges does have me intrigued. I’m hoping this film makes more sense than the first, or at the very least can add more sense to the first. At any rate, great directing and awesome special effects can do much to salvage a film, so I’m hoping this film encompasses all of the above and leaves us with something interesting to review later Vader.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTh8Nn9lvMD6TNJRUkA1ik0pJ2APuoBc-3ndHxNbiipozUXBzEfGusr8dLhTsxFppg48lbzUKrWeu6EFMyI0vsnWzTrMiTetgRszYQ0VubTXu88lqXA2It31mH68NZkmPVOJ6rcyCX_X8/s1600/tumblr_n1mmxdpf9Q1s54chlo4_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTh8Nn9lvMD6TNJRUkA1ik0pJ2APuoBc-3ndHxNbiipozUXBzEfGusr8dLhTsxFppg48lbzUKrWeu6EFMyI0vsnWzTrMiTetgRszYQ0VubTXu88lqXA2It31mH68NZkmPVOJ6rcyCX_X8/s1600/tumblr_n1mmxdpf9Q1s54chlo4_500.jpg" height="200" width="145" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>(AV) Victor Frankenstein</b> (10/2) This unique take on Mary Shelley’s classic tale of the original plastic surgeon, is the tale of Dr. Frankenstein’s monster as told from the prospective of Igor, the film is told from the troubled young assistant's dark origins-likely his cameo in 2014’s Dracula untold–or his redemptive friendship with the a young Viktor Von Frankenstein. Igor becomes an eyewitnesses to the emergence of how Frankenstein–and his infamous abomination–become the legends we all know. We can be cautiously optimistic that this film will be an entertaining–if not certifiable–train wreck. Heres to hoping, P-Man. </span></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(50, 51, 51); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 16px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhibXyFZ2KepTmC3oLsviJr2QC7Ej088Ra86P359Jv0-7_xksqJPZSabek1ifxKQ_-REC05C6OfCOCVHXQAUqlSGo4_Fj_36gICY8tU2Z27nsMevpCnHrU5W65TKrsV5RmWkQFtg7CblzY/s1600/spectre-poster-fb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhibXyFZ2KepTmC3oLsviJr2QC7Ej088Ra86P359Jv0-7_xksqJPZSabek1ifxKQ_-REC05C6OfCOCVHXQAUqlSGo4_Fj_36gICY8tU2Z27nsMevpCnHrU5W65TKrsV5RmWkQFtg7CblzY/s1600/spectre-poster-fb.jpg" height="160" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>(TP) Spectre</b> (11/6): I’ve been watching <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Bond_filmography"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">James Bond films</span></a> since I was a kid (they actually predate me) and I have enjoyed all of them (some more than others). I have certainly enjoyed <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Craig"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">Daniel Craig</span></a> as Bond and look forward to seeing more of him in this film, his fourth installment as 007. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monica_Bellucci"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">Monica Bellucci</span></a> will be the “Bond Girl” of this film and at fifty years old, the oldest to ever do so. Although this film will not be based on any of Ian Fleming’s original work, the idea of a worldwide secret criminal organization (Spectre) seems to fit right in with what has come to be expected from a Bond film. Also expected is plenty of action, some gadgets…and a new Aston Martin. As with the previous Bond films by Craig, this one should be a lot of fun O’Dark One.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3SPTxYoak2fVSSP9qxQ9lShz2zBk1T-DVjOCrR5to4OXPvla13r66D0B7mJ1D0MV_hy5lSFKculo31NOiRgsaC2MYdsU9sDjvQ7FAgLn5xXTWGQXWJMjDgStEZnd0BVKRbSBRn9lfvKI/s1600/Mockingjay2_1419011809.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3SPTxYoak2fVSSP9qxQ9lShz2zBk1T-DVjOCrR5to4OXPvla13r66D0B7mJ1D0MV_hy5lSFKculo31NOiRgsaC2MYdsU9sDjvQ7FAgLn5xXTWGQXWJMjDgStEZnd0BVKRbSBRn9lfvKI/s1600/Mockingjay2_1419011809.jpg" height="200" width="129" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>(AV) The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2</b> (11/20) Pontificator, if I may, do you know why I am just this side of giddy over the release of this film? It’s because it means a certain and definitive END to this franchise that has quite frankly… overstayed its welcome. Let hit the finale button on this series and wrap this all up. I am fatigued over the amount and volume of HG comments, fandom, and movie chatter. This story has run its course for me and I will be happy to watch the final installment–and equally happy for the end of the franchise.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUFREF5qxGiAuaJkuucsSz2Eozb-ipdXdptpja3qyrMg24964Y1uDcdADBeK5qdCakyz6hOhOG8gDL13lKVlCgYil2MjFKzqnnNypZa0UqD1zt0C1iT6xg84cmZz6r-0gBXDrjljR3O6I/s1600/Matt-Damon-Eyes-The-Martian.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUFREF5qxGiAuaJkuucsSz2Eozb-ipdXdptpja3qyrMg24964Y1uDcdADBeK5qdCakyz6hOhOG8gDL13lKVlCgYil2MjFKzqnnNypZa0UqD1zt0C1iT6xg84cmZz6r-0gBXDrjljR3O6I/s1600/Matt-Damon-Eyes-The-Martian.jpg" height="165" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>(TP) The Martian</b> (11/25): This film seems like it will be a very interesting movie, although not as original as it appears to be. Based on a novel by Andy Weir, it looks to be a mix of “<a href="http://theboxedoffice.blogspot.com/2013/10/gravity-keeps-you-on-edge-of-your-seat.html"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Gravity</span></a>” meets “<a href="http://theboxedoffice.blogspot.com/2014/12/interstellar-is-somewhat-stellar.html"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Interstellar</span></a>.” <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Damon"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">Matt Damon</span></a> plays an astronaut stranded on Mars (remember he was also stranded in Interstellar) with little hope of rescue, but a determination to live in hopes of just that. With <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ridley_Scott"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">Ridley Scott</span></a> directing, I have high hopes that this film will keep me on the edge of my seat and completely entangle me in the plight of Damon’s character. If this film even hints at the desperation and emotional angst <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000113/"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">Sandra Bullock</span></a> displayed in “Gravity,” I’m predicting a winner here with a deep impact and lasting impression. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHJCAnyEoRUZ-3yjOIH-CGGIo0mytqVNzzLxIOupBkCxqVFHZ6EiMZ6bd3FJpUgcFozBoJpCRAy7wEcs3m7nofsW-7dTExlkHv2MOSo7ShCBqdkdrKWLcHjsgB3s_CP7nGXvZvnMBRdmc/s1600/x1626IMAX_tea0050_PUB_IMAX_noMB_16int_870ae77d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHJCAnyEoRUZ-3yjOIH-CGGIo0mytqVNzzLxIOupBkCxqVFHZ6EiMZ6bd3FJpUgcFozBoJpCRAy7wEcs3m7nofsW-7dTExlkHv2MOSo7ShCBqdkdrKWLcHjsgB3s_CP7nGXvZvnMBRdmc/s1600/x1626IMAX_tea0050_PUB_IMAX_noMB_16int_870ae77d.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">(TP) Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens</b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;"> (12/18): Oh my… one can only hope this film is actually as big as it’s expected to be. This will be Disney’s first Star Wars film since acquiring the rights from Lucas and having </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._J._Abrams" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">J.J. Abram’s</span></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;"> directing is just the tip of the iceberg. Set thirty years after the events of “</span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Return_of_the_Jedi" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Return of the Jedi</span></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">”, not only is the film headed in a new direction (this movie will ignore the expanded universe of the novels, games, etc), with much of the old cast returning, but rumors are Disney has completely ignored any input from Lucas! Now this can be a good thing (no Jar-Jar shenanigans) or a bad thing (everything we have ever loved about Star Wars). Personally, I think Disney is smart enough to make this film as big, if not bigger, than the </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Star Wars films</span></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;"> that have come before and this has me salivating in anticipation for a BIG December opening, Vader.</span> </span></div>
<div>
<br />
<br /></div>
ArthV8Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425459411323956859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1870440923397188789.post-33762539849493026282015-01-25T15:50:00.002-08:002015-01-25T15:50:43.913-08:00No Salvation In Sight<div style="min-height: 17px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.exodusgodsandkings.com/#home" target="_blank">Exodus Gods & Kings</a> makes two lost hours feel like wandering the desert for 40 years.</b></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 14px; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>ON CONTINUITY </b></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVRqz5cMcnZEgZdjTfvFT6gJnp-lj3Xg0KSm53HO0AmM6T5oKcXlzMlzHiihiclWD2EfNsegQEusNE56BogOOdaNaE0l2hURlVh17yHQRSLHBc-dZGAuGapwz2LUdVx0pHSNFUVM6WaIE/s1600/exodus-gods-and-kings-christian-bale-joel-edgerton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVRqz5cMcnZEgZdjTfvFT6gJnp-lj3Xg0KSm53HO0AmM6T5oKcXlzMlzHiihiclWD2EfNsegQEusNE56BogOOdaNaE0l2hURlVh17yHQRSLHBc-dZGAuGapwz2LUdVx0pHSNFUVM6WaIE/s1600/exodus-gods-and-kings-christian-bale-joel-edgerton.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a><b>ARTH VADER (AV):</b> I guess to be completely forthcoming, the epic biblical tale of Moses, the Egyptian prince who learns of (and eventually embraces) his hebrew heritage to herald God’s word to lead the Jewish slaves out of captivity and on a path to the promised land is the framework of this film. While the Christian Bible can be (in some circles) grounds for controversy and interpretation, the story follows the book of Exodus rather loosely. As is the case with all film adaptations, this movie takes some ‘creative liberties’ with the screenplay. But this, as the saying goes, is just the beginning. How did this movie hold up for you, old friend? </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3T375S7MMQeFSSssU-RrgKdhFg3QzfyhXWGLE3Ue3_v6Q-2N6SghW_TwW117QiN4GdnYUbIbQuBDgV9k8wQW16PSb3fH3P92BPwWq6rRz7-slV29RpAu70TcuZnjYAbb3TUVC71WmLg/s1600/exodus-gods-and-kings-001_t1_0480_v0260_left-1098_R2_rgb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3T375S7MMQeFSSssU-RrgKdhFg3QzfyhXWGLE3Ue3_v6Q-2N6SghW_TwW117QiN4GdnYUbIbQuBDgV9k8wQW16PSb3fH3P92BPwWq6rRz7-slV29RpAu70TcuZnjYAbb3TUVC71WmLg/s1600/exodus-gods-and-kings-001_t1_0480_v0260_left-1098_R2_rgb.jpg" height="160" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">THE PONTIFICATOR (TP)</b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">: Well Vader, as far as continuity goes, anyone that has really read the scriptures knows that there is little by way of continuity with this film beyond the fact we have a man named Moses and the story takes place in Egypt. It is rare when we have a film so far from the source material that it should just be presented as something totally new with no connection to it’s given title.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>CASTING DIRECTING & ACTING</b></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvBV2YZieY-u87aDxPHZKWfGMqJnzR65xWbj2UpAPV0Sl_UQoWWbGAhg9a3lLITUxoJMjoJt6cUEmde41ERs2ZoyftvAziimH5gRkf5R7w8OfmUYVtfUVvNo8Zn83MKD1_ZG885Y-gOEw/s1600/latest-2014-movie-exodus-gods-and-kings-images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvBV2YZieY-u87aDxPHZKWfGMqJnzR65xWbj2UpAPV0Sl_UQoWWbGAhg9a3lLITUxoJMjoJt6cUEmde41ERs2ZoyftvAziimH5gRkf5R7w8OfmUYVtfUVvNo8Zn83MKD1_ZG885Y-gOEw/s1600/latest-2014-movie-exodus-gods-and-kings-images.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>AV:</b> Christian “Batman” Bale plays the leading role of Moses, Prince of Egypt (and not very well I might say). The casting is in short, a hot mess. John “Is there another Transformers movie coming?” Turturro is cast as the Pharaoh Seti and Aaron “Jesie” Paul is cast as Joshua. If those sound like baffling casting calls (and they ALL are) try Sigourney “Ripley” Weaver who shifts in for a hot minute as Tuya. Director Ridley “Please stick to Aliens” Scott does share a stunning vision of ancient Egypt that is curiously not offensive and is a cinematic spectacle. That is to say it looks incredible. As for the acting… in a word; “meh”. What’d you think, Pontificator? </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivn8I5oDH0mWaG2O5RG5VDdkPhVYfVBg7jUGJdfA4MhKGrO77NXBEFKdg55llJLDnFiqRRdEu2MWWoB1kOD5pymxTbWKZ0xRb1OIZG2OAXqr3qmrdGE6OJBui_59PpmeIeSi8oyAScEQI/s1600/exodus_movie_2-exodus-gains-a-new-title-and-even-more-of-my-excitement.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivn8I5oDH0mWaG2O5RG5VDdkPhVYfVBg7jUGJdfA4MhKGrO77NXBEFKdg55llJLDnFiqRRdEu2MWWoB1kOD5pymxTbWKZ0xRb1OIZG2OAXqr3qmrdGE6OJBui_59PpmeIeSi8oyAScEQI/s1600/exodus_movie_2-exodus-gains-a-new-title-and-even-more-of-my-excitement.jpg" height="209" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">TP:</b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;"> The casting of this film has been something of a controversy from the beginning Vader. Yes I acknowledge the talent of </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Bale" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Christian (how ironic is his name given the material) Bale</span></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joel_Edgerton" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Joel Edgerton</span></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">, and </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Turturro" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">John Turturro</span></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">, but it should also be noted that all the Egyptian royalty in the film were cast with people of European descent while the underclass and places were cast with people of African descent. Not only was this historically inaccurate, but just plain ridiculous.</span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>SPECIAL EFFECTS</b></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7s_5_YMMcPryf-GRyexiIFw_hfkC5U3jSlA_7LNWkS3R8z66HuhQ5OO_BUDHnxTRKRWEv55WgJIUwOdsFDNMd7MhHaye0cUwYMVqxCfFidC4srT17m8bp3S7MrRoC7Cc0kondrkxMgUQ/s1600/Hw82J.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7s_5_YMMcPryf-GRyexiIFw_hfkC5U3jSlA_7LNWkS3R8z66HuhQ5OO_BUDHnxTRKRWEv55WgJIUwOdsFDNMd7MhHaye0cUwYMVqxCfFidC4srT17m8bp3S7MrRoC7Cc0kondrkxMgUQ/s1600/Hw82J.jpg" height="136" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>AV:</b> Though I did leave the theater with my socks on, the visual effects were quite impressive. From the CGI armies in the opening conflict to the parting of the Red Sea in the film’s finale, the VFX are a spectacle to behold and gives the viewer a grand sense of scope and impressive vision. Most notable were the seven plagues that are unleashed upon the Nile and Egypt; one does a get a sense that these plagues and natural disasters are indeed overwhelming. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYO_AY0Guy1Z1t9blrzmvQtmDE10Zi91tW3dw9l1a4IVpw6IbKLxOeCZD4ckHC6TAvi4QKjaVKbBKY3LgqOXpjzrt_9zianaAiYM9Q-FLa6VWOJ9KKBnamLrBoi27RPzwF_xRLMSXDRRw/s1600/exodo-deuses-e-reis-capa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYO_AY0Guy1Z1t9blrzmvQtmDE10Zi91tW3dw9l1a4IVpw6IbKLxOeCZD4ckHC6TAvi4QKjaVKbBKY3LgqOXpjzrt_9zianaAiYM9Q-FLa6VWOJ9KKBnamLrBoi27RPzwF_xRLMSXDRRw/s1600/exodo-deuses-e-reis-capa.jpg" height="128" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>TP:</b> The special effects were done well, but I think by leaving the source material (the <a href="http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">Bible</span></a>) so far behind, it was a missed opportunity to really do some wonderful things onscreen. I really enjoyed the costuming and while no new ground was broken with the effects, there was certainly an opportunity to do much better than was done.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>A DEEPER LOOK</b></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2YsEIG3zUbwh7IKKncSIXXv0UEuSWpAM5lZRipHBm82OmYrmT-koqdObm3KceqHpU9dmBJ-FE1eq8DtelZrgjoJBhOAMmxFg7SLD012UBSgrP89UpSZ10BE9267Ozanq6AtA6YApeDT8/s1600/375.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2YsEIG3zUbwh7IKKncSIXXv0UEuSWpAM5lZRipHBm82OmYrmT-koqdObm3KceqHpU9dmBJ-FE1eq8DtelZrgjoJBhOAMmxFg7SLD012UBSgrP89UpSZ10BE9267Ozanq6AtA6YApeDT8/s1600/375.jpg" height="200" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>AV:</b> Soapbox time here kiddies! Honestly, how many more movies must we wade through of prominent Black roles being portrayed by White actors? Christian Bale as Moses? C’mon Hollywood! Does it strike anyone as whacko that there are no prominent actors of color in movie that takes place in Africa? Whats next, redoing the Godfather with all Asian actors speaking in an Italian-American brogue? It’s getting ridiculous. And that is the word I would use to describe this whole film. Even deeper–because this is the deeper part of the review–the film seems to go out of its way to portray Moses as a crazy person and not a biblical character of historical importance. In short, the film seems to take a very neutral stance on the subjects of God, Miracles and the character of Moses himself. Spirituality aside, it’s hard to enjoy a film that has no sense of self conviction. Thoughts, P-Man? </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 18px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3QyCeb25Wwsf0163Qi6y4hO4smLtx4m4dfbzwJN6ADikT7F-Ec52COTCp6Xz6X-watmkg0zETBzvb8QeaBe9LUT5RBLOrwlpEc_YNDg-v-N4916ZCMAXfy0rzBp5_o9gtMmo-K0SVElo/s1600/Moses-Ten-Commandments-Movie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3QyCeb25Wwsf0163Qi6y4hO4smLtx4m4dfbzwJN6ADikT7F-Ec52COTCp6Xz6X-watmkg0zETBzvb8QeaBe9LUT5RBLOrwlpEc_YNDg-v-N4916ZCMAXfy0rzBp5_o9gtMmo-K0SVElo/s1600/Moses-Ten-Commandments-Movie.jpg" height="160" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>TP:</b> Look... the fact that Moses and Ramses II were separated historically by 200 years is just the tip-off the iceberg for me Vader. This presentation of Moses being some schizophrenic that apparently sees children that aren’t really there was absolutely idiotic. The presentation of the plagues as some kind of explainable natural occurrences that happened by happenstance was equally idiotic. I absolutely lost it when they showed Moses chiseling the ten commandments… I mean what??? The Bible says God wrote them with his finger, but the message here is a crazy old guy that sees imaginary people somehow came up with the moral backbone of civilized society. Ridley Scott took out the very thing that makes this story so alluring and exciting… God. I honestly would have gotten more enjoyment out of watching a remastered presentation of “<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049833/"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">The Ten Commandments!</span></a>”</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>ON SEQUELS</b></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHb8W8TWDSsgZY63PqGSF6F7JyUK12iGTU8mOiEvY38QXmQvxTaLGfzM2ig3evfM-mdSQ1RmLuDa4QJApcN-_WiFderlNgMZ6qjQB52a_ft6_OLUA5p5cxVt50mVoGWlzLTUkF5yXen4o/s1600/Exodus-Gods-and-Kings-Movie-Official-Trailer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHb8W8TWDSsgZY63PqGSF6F7JyUK12iGTU8mOiEvY38QXmQvxTaLGfzM2ig3evfM-mdSQ1RmLuDa4QJApcN-_WiFderlNgMZ6qjQB52a_ft6_OLUA5p5cxVt50mVoGWlzLTUkF5yXen4o/s1600/Exodus-Gods-and-Kings-Movie-Official-Trailer.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>AV:</b> Biblical spectaculars are an emerging genre in Hollywood but I don’t know if they should. This film was like a warm cup of tap water. Bland, hard to swallow, does the job but with no flavor or flair of any kind, and as you’re taking it in, you just know it could be so much better. With any luck, this will be Ridley Scott’s only biblical endeavor, seeing as how it was dedicated to his deceased brother. I will respectfully not offer any more negative feedback. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">TP:</b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;"> I pray (literally) that Scott stay far away from any other biblical material and they let this travesty of a film fade away in the annals of crappy interpretation and missed opportunities.</span> </span><br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>RATE IT!</b></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-jEeMXvJZJhopeqpvY8XtqPuUyx4ST0UZkCNo8saKn9aoVQugvImPpJGqUl1CAe3hDx_mnBZwz_U2Y7M2YKuVjrJVVqBuBxvMG_B5igM7XnbJuED6mooajUEk2nUGxkzDRXPdDEL1O4Y/s1600/MV5BMjI3MDY0NjkxNl5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNTM3NTA0MzE@._V1_SX640_SY720_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-jEeMXvJZJhopeqpvY8XtqPuUyx4ST0UZkCNo8saKn9aoVQugvImPpJGqUl1CAe3hDx_mnBZwz_U2Y7M2YKuVjrJVVqBuBxvMG_B5igM7XnbJuED6mooajUEk2nUGxkzDRXPdDEL1O4Y/s1600/MV5BMjI3MDY0NjkxNl5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNTM3NTA0MzE@._V1_SX640_SY720_.jpg" height="320" width="215" /></a><b>ARTH VADER rates Exodus: Gods & Kings:</b> So if you like biblical spectaculars (plus or minus the spectacular) than you give this flick a go. A forgettable experience to be sure but not without some merit. Also, if you like watching movies that depict horrific scenes of horse violence, then you have a winner here. I swear, Ponty more horses are killed in this film than a little bit. Still, if you’re in the mood to watch a batch of A-Listers dial-in some mediocre performances, then Exodus:God & Kings is waiting. Afterward, you’ll see why I parted with only three (3) busted blocks and was all too happy to find the promised land—namely the theater exit.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">THE PONTIFICATOR rates Exodus: Gods and Kings:</b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;"> Knowing the source material well, there was very little I enjoyed about this film aside from the costuming. It was inaccurate both biblically and historically and omitted the one element that would have made it something special…God. With that, this film only freed two (2) busted blocks and drowned the others in the Red Sea</span> </span><br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b>Exodus: Gods And Kings 2.5 / 10 Busted Blocks</b></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi8-7XOcdD6Qom6HHR8zsyGE5I3udgrPubVrrivXzOGVXGUJm4P_xTfE_PnfBtSNpsvMq2nuRTcvamsfQqtqJWN6Ru5VUcGVchq1Bckk6IpXuc_XtdxnA1_Y5c1g0CxZ0RB8pYrY3_ndc/s1600/TheBoxedOffice_2.5+busted+blocs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi8-7XOcdD6Qom6HHR8zsyGE5I3udgrPubVrrivXzOGVXGUJm4P_xTfE_PnfBtSNpsvMq2nuRTcvamsfQqtqJWN6Ru5VUcGVchq1Bckk6IpXuc_XtdxnA1_Y5c1g0CxZ0RB8pYrY3_ndc/s1600/TheBoxedOffice_2.5+busted+blocs.jpg" height="70" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: orange;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
ArthV8Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425459411323956859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1870440923397188789.post-75156686118634493682015-01-09T14:41:00.001-08:002015-01-09T14:42:28.245-08:00One Hobbit To End Them All<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit: The Battle of The Five Armies Is A Surprisingly Exciting Finale </b></span></div>
<div style="min-height: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">ON CONTINUITY</span></b><br />
<div style="min-height: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b></b><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEBRmL62K6sBqmscOW__tVROv7WJtnHbcMB4gPZ2TgkhVzSSdaojFhLZxIslu116H9CqUWRVa_O8cW4WX-zy7RroP1Z3stAzGY3v2tE4vAaexQ0sWdOrvty_klO16U6aQhqQ_afpkGIiM/s1600/tumblr_nchxribRGC1sgxceqo6_400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEBRmL62K6sBqmscOW__tVROv7WJtnHbcMB4gPZ2TgkhVzSSdaojFhLZxIslu116H9CqUWRVa_O8cW4WX-zy7RroP1Z3stAzGY3v2tE4vAaexQ0sWdOrvty_klO16U6aQhqQ_afpkGIiM/s1600/tumblr_nchxribRGC1sgxceqo6_400.jpg" height="200" width="136" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>ARTH VADER (AV):</b> In what has likely been described as a horrific re-interpretation of <a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/" target="_blank">J.R.R. Tolkien</a>’s classic novel that chronicles gentle Bilbo’s discovery of Sauron’s ring of power, The hobbit films have been a mish–mash of too much CGI, over-inflated plot and drawn-out story telling. Tolkien’s grand prequel to the great ‘war of the ring’ has been studied in middle-schools and high schools all over the world for nearly 40 years. The continuity of this film with it’s two predecessors is in alignment, though they have scant little to do with the original content but lets face it, these days that just doesn’t matter anymore, does it Pontificator? </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 18px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwF5ehD2kDPWpufGTTp2uZZpJCPkBJAtf1Yth3lniyCB7fwCEbIQ4y_IEHR0U6H87PN21Zwayi2MTm0p9d5rKLXyfAaVvBn5TIGJWfGM9Hl6JKBUil3N_bLtjvA3SzUgZjcw-Zp-_IzxU/s1600/the-hobbit-the-battle-of-the-five-armies-wallpaper-7931.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwF5ehD2kDPWpufGTTp2uZZpJCPkBJAtf1Yth3lniyCB7fwCEbIQ4y_IEHR0U6H87PN21Zwayi2MTm0p9d5rKLXyfAaVvBn5TIGJWfGM9Hl6JKBUil3N_bLtjvA3SzUgZjcw-Zp-_IzxU/s1600/the-hobbit-the-battle-of-the-five-armies-wallpaper-7931.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>THE PONTIFICATOR (TP)</b>: There is little to discuss here with regards to continuity Vader, since the films left the books a long time ago. <a href="http://lotr.wikia.com/wiki/Legolas" target="_blank">Legolas</a> is not even in the Hobbit, nor is Tauriel…but it was still entertaining to see them in this film. If it’s about accuracy to the book…we’ll have to read the book. This film was not made for accuracy, but to deliver entertainment and rake in dollars, and it does a modicum both.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="min-height: 16px;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">CASTING, DIRECTION & ACTING </span></b></div>
<div style="min-height: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b></b><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8nVMXu9y5DHbYc8-jNh0ICNKR-6AAVMCntOdi7ckzK5OKcMsFy_-HlqPuJOMOPyLYP73K8bM3Z4q3WJHZykyjjTr-JXyWeEGxy2cVmJAr587XpEv9mL5TzkqFWfvkYfPbT8CUJ8xNvY0/s1600/apphoto_film-review-the-hobbit-the-battle-of-the-five-armies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8nVMXu9y5DHbYc8-jNh0ICNKR-6AAVMCntOdi7ckzK5OKcMsFy_-HlqPuJOMOPyLYP73K8bM3Z4q3WJHZykyjjTr-JXyWeEGxy2cVmJAr587XpEv9mL5TzkqFWfvkYfPbT8CUJ8xNvY0/s1600/apphoto_film-review-the-hobbit-the-battle-of-the-five-armies.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>AV: </b>Nothing really new on the casting front for this film, old friend. The acting was solid, as each character reprises their roles from the previous films with some interesting introspection from Richard (Thorin Oakenshield) Armitage and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1212722/" target="_blank">Benedict (Dr. Strange) Cumberbach</a>; as both the dragon Smaug and the frightening Necromancer. In his portrayal of the Dwarf lord struggling with his own inner turmoil, Armitage puts on a somewhat cardboard but nonetheless convincing tortured soul, adding to the old adage ‘heavy is the head that wears the crown.’ </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One thing that must be reiterated is how much of a master Peter Jackson is at depicting epic battles where massive armies collide, pan in, bring us into the battle up close and personal and then back out, is breathtaking. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 18px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfjcmqCdFy4eIy21ggqi25kBqpeSrWnn1GghLOWajjsFihV5Hs0JK2jj2suZzPaAU_ZJTItcvKFiLcZ9MqKZnuTGmucKV6F0vQDiPJQ5wo-ZHfdUR0hEblspDGuQ4e9aHvcTG9EMX767M/s1600/legolas-battle-of-the-five-armies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfjcmqCdFy4eIy21ggqi25kBqpeSrWnn1GghLOWajjsFihV5Hs0JK2jj2suZzPaAU_ZJTItcvKFiLcZ9MqKZnuTGmucKV6F0vQDiPJQ5wo-ZHfdUR0hEblspDGuQ4e9aHvcTG9EMX767M/s1600/legolas-battle-of-the-five-armies.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>TP:</b> There is really nothing to say concerning the casting and acting in this film–both were superb. I was especially pleased with Thorin (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Armitage_(actor)"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Richard Armitage</span></a>) and Bard (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luke_Evans_(actor)"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Luke Evans</span></a>). The directing could have been better though as I had some issues with the way the battle unfolded but I’ll get into that later.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">
<br /></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">SPECIAL EFFECTS</span></b><br />
<div style="min-height: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b></b><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbg8yX9M3DilqAotUp1qAGeUuxsN3eOH7n-QSspYG_Rn9K5ifVcwXyVnMQBdEZKcxDzFjtweBzw6gkFSiojwYrAnEye7oOZWGpvs4e6y37BCK8arRB6Hf5PyPmZPT2YqKfu21XU-8CHqc/s1600/thehobbitthebattleofthefivearmies0006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbg8yX9M3DilqAotUp1qAGeUuxsN3eOH7n-QSspYG_Rn9K5ifVcwXyVnMQBdEZKcxDzFjtweBzw6gkFSiojwYrAnEye7oOZWGpvs4e6y37BCK8arRB6Hf5PyPmZPT2YqKfu21XU-8CHqc/s1600/thehobbitthebattleofthefivearmies0006.jpg" height="134" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>AV: </b>Here is where every Lord of The Rings film excels, P-Man. The opening engagement with Smaug The Terrible is CGI at its finest. While not breaking any new ground in the digital visual effects arena, the entire film is as impressive as ever. Say what you want about Jackson’s film making but these films are a wonder to behold. From the fantastic beasts to the grotesque monsters, movie-goers will be astounded at how good these films look. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgATChTizFCAVUWjOaC4uP8X266aOEPQYWyMtyDETIl_pt-EGol5R-IDQwOaFi_mtaw1akqeSt_nVdGyoJwJ3UY_V4MLZfkA-UTe4eHJdEAkwm0dscJ0sOWOw34Y-0FseWm2v64uY5QT-E/s1600/the-hobbit-the-battle-of-the-five-armies-4k-trailer-and-ultra-hi-res-stills-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgATChTizFCAVUWjOaC4uP8X266aOEPQYWyMtyDETIl_pt-EGol5R-IDQwOaFi_mtaw1akqeSt_nVdGyoJwJ3UY_V4MLZfkA-UTe4eHJdEAkwm0dscJ0sOWOw34Y-0FseWm2v64uY5QT-E/s1600/the-hobbit-the-battle-of-the-five-armies-4k-trailer-and-ultra-hi-res-stills-2.jpg" height="134" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">TP:</b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;"> We all should be very familiar with what to expect for effects in these Middle-Earth films…and this film delivers, although because of the subject of the the film, I had higher expectations than normal. The CGI was superb and the costuming was second to none, however, with that said… there is so much more that could have been done given we had an </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">army</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;"> of <a href="http://lotr.wikia.com/wiki/Elves" target="_blank">Elves</a> that should have been doing all the things we have come to expect from watching Legolas (although Legolas is exceptional, regular Elves are also extremely impressive).</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="min-height: 16px;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">TAKING A DEEPER LOOK</span></b></div>
<div style="min-height: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b></b><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP6VSkQveuNbfKdZbnIfQN3WY3gJ_1dMalEeVQVNi5RB7Ot5AzPFI15l1dCYCpYUUOuLl9LFtqZ4LCvpML4KNzKhfq_PN14OHqlDYQst-9nAdTJEe06nUOoWB6y4mN6vjyJMaSf3l7nKs/s1600/the-hobbit-bofa-3-the-hobbit-3-battle-of-five-armies-trailer-analysis-concluding-middle-earth-with-a-bang.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP6VSkQveuNbfKdZbnIfQN3WY3gJ_1dMalEeVQVNi5RB7Ot5AzPFI15l1dCYCpYUUOuLl9LFtqZ4LCvpML4KNzKhfq_PN14OHqlDYQst-9nAdTJEe06nUOoWB6y4mN6vjyJMaSf3l7nKs/s1600/the-hobbit-bofa-3-the-hobbit-3-battle-of-five-armies-trailer-analysis-concluding-middle-earth-with-a-bang.jpg" height="135" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>AV:</b> I must confess, that after the last film (The Desolation of Smaug) I was very much expecting another visually compelling flop. What we got was a pretty good action flick, but one devoid of story, dialogue, and ultimately merit. What this says to me is we got exactly what many thought we were going to get—a long, drawn-out over-indulgent, over-blown and over-the-top series of films that told in nearly eight hours what should have taken about half that time. The Hollywood self-inflicted formula of three-film trilogy franchises makes great sense to investors, producers and the studios, Not so much for film integrity. Fantasy film giants like George Lucas (prequel trilogy) or Peter Jackson (LOTR) seem to take truly landmark works and destroy their own legacies. It’s very literally snatching defeat form the jaws of victory. And Pontificator, it is so demoralizing. How say you? </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibVRAGUDkurpYGWM2aqJ9vYDd56B9_aT99GMp6FqUSFtp_7G7bfDCO6QlVcLXk0ofPa4ik7qSTXW8j7b5mhO_ibMlJMSRaS7ayviTZ-0lV7m_xTuH7RsN3f5BXDqaLngoZ-tIzsh77cWI/s1600/hobbit-battle-five-armies-gandalf-galadriel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibVRAGUDkurpYGWM2aqJ9vYDd56B9_aT99GMp6FqUSFtp_7G7bfDCO6QlVcLXk0ofPa4ik7qSTXW8j7b5mhO_ibMlJMSRaS7ayviTZ-0lV7m_xTuH7RsN3f5BXDqaLngoZ-tIzsh77cWI/s1600/hobbit-battle-five-armies-gandalf-galadriel.jpg" height="225" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>TP:</b> Battle of the Five Armies had me expecting to see the most epic fight scenes… ever. I mean, <a href="http://theboxedoffice.blogspot.com/2014/04/new-300-raises-eyebrows-lowers.html"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">both</span></a> “<a href="http://www.apple.com/"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">300</span></a>” films and “<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0332452/"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Troy</span></a>” stand out for the fights and battles. Now I’m not suggesting that there be more blood and gore, that would have detracted from the film, but I am suggesting that Jackson should have taken FULL advantage of presenting an ARMY of Elves. Why didn’t we see wave upon wave of Orcs being obliterated by the more agile and skilled Elves? Look at all the Elves armed with bows and realize there is not a single arrow shot from them during the entire forty-five minutes of battle. Although there was a great showing for the Dwarven King, there should have been incredible showings for <i>any</i> Elf on screen. I just didn’t get the sense that the Elves were the absolute elite and most feared combatants on Middle-Earth, and that’s exactly what anyone watching the film should have gotten…from the <i>battle, </i>not the formation displays<i> before </i>the battle<i>.</i></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNKQF8MqMCNqhqvBhzu-7slEVJt-RuwxDldt4eHPFmTknaC5u7K661u2rSFB9r5zOhkl-AEW3z8IMqTXqcVYY02n2-EeeI78JimCj6nXJaSGs7NxuWxzEJJcXkdW6Y-JnXFsNrVaj-Los/s1600/The_Hobbit_The_Battle_the_Five_Armies_14182481833551.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNKQF8MqMCNqhqvBhzu-7slEVJt-RuwxDldt4eHPFmTknaC5u7K661u2rSFB9r5zOhkl-AEW3z8IMqTXqcVYY02n2-EeeI78JimCj6nXJaSGs7NxuWxzEJJcXkdW6Y-JnXFsNrVaj-Los/s1600/The_Hobbit_The_Battle_the_Five_Armies_14182481833551.jpg" height="134" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Also, where was the resolution at the end? Did the Elves get what they came to mountain for? Did the men get what was promised? Why did the battle end when the good guys were so clearly outnumbered…even with the introduction if the Eagles? There were just too many open questions the battle created instead of resolutions to the problems at hand. Am I also the only one that noticed the premier Orcs were played by indigenous New Zealanders’ <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manu_Bennett"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Manu Bennet</span></a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Tui"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">John Tui</span></a> (message?)?</span></div>
<div style="min-height: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">ON SEQUELS </span></b><br />
<div style="min-height: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b></b><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCEFm8_Mmh5sMylfP4hy8RvDUC1zuPqrfq3UO_hOTGZCEcmOa2dDm9rSn7kXQl9VURaeUzJVvg7FtP38BWueC9rIFGmBVONwcT6W15X_K7x2XRtpS1M1Wc0Vdzoya6P3OmKcPcJ1T8Ilg/s1600/Battle-of-the-Five-Armies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCEFm8_Mmh5sMylfP4hy8RvDUC1zuPqrfq3UO_hOTGZCEcmOa2dDm9rSn7kXQl9VURaeUzJVvg7FtP38BWueC9rIFGmBVONwcT6W15X_K7x2XRtpS1M1Wc0Vdzoya6P3OmKcPcJ1T8Ilg/s1600/Battle-of-the-Five-Armies.jpg" height="198" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>AV:</b> While I have (mostly) enjoyed each LOTR film installment, I don’t need anymore. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Seriously.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you for the wonderful experiences Mr. Jackson, I'm happy we went there and back again with you. Now lets just move on shall we? I’m sure Mr. Jackson has more tales to spin and this Tolkien world / franchise has been tapped out. That said, I vote ‘no’ to further Hobbit-flavored sequels. P-Man? </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc79X_Vi0qWmp4Pbze2tUNMLlo1Me_mB9bZm_4JIgs1AiReCF6tTS21tUJrW_t-yANY-hIk_SoRst3YB-mws38jpcdaT8NtzjJWLY7-MEQnPu0r1OhrSZAZB4E_8rTj49Ih4-spyV2_dY/s1600/the-hobbit-the-battle-of-the-five-armies-4k-trailer-and-ultra-hi-res-stills-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc79X_Vi0qWmp4Pbze2tUNMLlo1Me_mB9bZm_4JIgs1AiReCF6tTS21tUJrW_t-yANY-hIk_SoRst3YB-mws38jpcdaT8NtzjJWLY7-MEQnPu0r1OhrSZAZB4E_8rTj49Ih4-spyV2_dY/s1600/the-hobbit-the-battle-of-the-five-armies-4k-trailer-and-ultra-hi-res-stills-3.jpg" height="132" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">TP:</b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;"> I second that vote Vader! It seems the Tolkien family has the rights to the Silmarillion so we won’t be seeing any film adaption to that any time soon. Given the way the Elves were treated in this film, that’s probably a good thing. I’m against any notion to start making up Middle-Earth stories just for films (although that works fine for video games).</span> </span><br />
<div style="min-height: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">RATE IT!</span></b></div>
<div style="min-height: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b></b><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguTNzKSCRA4mqF0TQMN5U2Lc9LcIStoo0gYK4PJCehP2SuiOwHTDyxwyi8xlqSeqNiNJYc9i4U0YdXFKK_tO08cO6fmccFSmXBtWfhyphenhyphenpoK8UbfhUdEiSwgnYCETsfgueVrjqXDvAHwEuI/s1600/Hobbit_BOTFA_Intl_poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguTNzKSCRA4mqF0TQMN5U2Lc9LcIStoo0gYK4PJCehP2SuiOwHTDyxwyi8xlqSeqNiNJYc9i4U0YdXFKK_tO08cO6fmccFSmXBtWfhyphenhyphenpoK8UbfhUdEiSwgnYCETsfgueVrjqXDvAHwEuI/s1600/Hobbit_BOTFA_Intl_poster.jpg" height="320" width="216" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>ARTH VADER rates <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2310332/?ref_=nv_sr_1" target="_blank">The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies</a>: </b>The best thing I can (probably) say about this film – and hopefully the franchise – is that its over. This last film was a fun watch from a visual effects standpoint but it was a hot mess, no story and even less reason for being. I'm happy to have seen them all and I’m done. Still, the movie could have been worse (hardly a selling point) so for that, I give Battle of the Five Armies a fitting five (5) Busted Blocks.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">THE PONTIFICATOR rates The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies:</b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;"> A good film with superb acting and great effects. Out of all the Hobbit films, this should have been the one to blow the doors off the hinges. Instead I came away with a sense of unfulfilled opportunity and thoughts how it could have been better. That alone has this film cleaving only seven (7) busted blocks as the rest escape in battle.</span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies 6 /10 Busted Blocks</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYjqNQyolHhLZDG08NFQq5Px4tE0pQnv7WOx-IbJqeCcTorVkNWCw-URLUqBxG9xtGnK9oF7ihpCtspzZg6_pYbhmMXB_zCSMT8UH9HHq2fmwmQXYr4mEiBeSBGhg0SDOO7i5y1_bG4Ws/s1600/TheBoxedOffice_6+busted+blocs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYjqNQyolHhLZDG08NFQq5Px4tE0pQnv7WOx-IbJqeCcTorVkNWCw-URLUqBxG9xtGnK9oF7ihpCtspzZg6_pYbhmMXB_zCSMT8UH9HHq2fmwmQXYr4mEiBeSBGhg0SDOO7i5y1_bG4Ws/s1600/TheBoxedOffice_6+busted+blocs.jpg" height="71" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
ArthV8Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425459411323956859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1870440923397188789.post-37614459577735103942014-12-22T10:42:00.002-08:002014-12-22T11:27:01.067-08:00Hard Not To Mock The Mockingjay<div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With the next installment of The Hunger Games franchise, Katniss & company try really hard to keep audiences engaged.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></b></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">ON CONTINUITY</span></b></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b></b><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJrVhQ4b2VsDuf69mJ7dNVAYTKQb0O9iPslT7aGstd9Bgyv_ndhwK3yykS0YuikFLkGWNc31WMglWbs1KoMGWMmGMdQmEUdBMB8HvFUo1v5bvOJGBgVlLUqJH0Qq29wBN9oKZDzoVRZuc/s1600/hunger-games-mockingjay-movie-review-11192014-085001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJrVhQ4b2VsDuf69mJ7dNVAYTKQb0O9iPslT7aGstd9Bgyv_ndhwK3yykS0YuikFLkGWNc31WMglWbs1KoMGWMmGMdQmEUdBMB8HvFUo1v5bvOJGBgVlLUqJH0Qq29wBN9oKZDzoVRZuc/s1600/hunger-games-mockingjay-movie-review-11192014-085001.jpg" height="200" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>ARTH VADER (AV):</b> The numbers are in and The Hunger Games will go down as one of the most beloved movie franchises in Hollywood history. Jennifer Lawrence’s Katniss Everdeen–heroine of the downtrodden–takes on political corruption and societal oppression in this landmark series of fiction books–and now films. As installment three in what is (presently) a four-film story arc, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 is clearly the set-up for the ‘beginning of the end’ of the terror-riddled reign of the Capitol over the 13 enslaved districts. The story picks up some time after the end of THG: Catching Fire. Speaking of fire, were you burning with desire to see this flick Mr. Pontificator? </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgXuk-_itKa80TZL_W-U4chNZcZwKt8voXNXlS__k4jwd4N-_4_ktIL0JfbJ2CWr8fS90dfJOxRa5pPLrUvgBBeg5NPhJWfcuccSx-PIyYw8zmTHkFNMKOws21z-G2Hu7thbQvaO5j-4Y/s1600/effie+trinket+mockingjay+trailer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgXuk-_itKa80TZL_W-U4chNZcZwKt8voXNXlS__k4jwd4N-_4_ktIL0JfbJ2CWr8fS90dfJOxRa5pPLrUvgBBeg5NPhJWfcuccSx-PIyYw8zmTHkFNMKOws21z-G2Hu7thbQvaO5j-4Y/s1600/effie+trinket+mockingjay+trailer.jpg" height="132" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">THE PONTIFICATOR (TP):</b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;"> I was indeed sitting in fiery anticipation of this film, Vader. The third installment of Hunger Games picks right up where the second film left off. In the continuing story of Katniss Everdeen, we are closing in on the final curtain and it will either be the freedom of the oppressed, or their continued subjugation. Personally I’m hoping for the freedom, but wouldn’t the latter be one heck of a plot twist?</span> </span></div>
<div class="p1">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">CASTING, DIRECTING & ACTING</span></b></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b></b><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpRnKMoG0Xu2f-czAD6B0fYCkCsML8bfWinNwPpW_h8PIlThDLzv97qcvi-KPX1XBZkNGnKcnjdEJ2yMejWRmDbeLdhrWIWimGHYwJze7fGVPSSUm1obJ5Q0kn6aIeqHXKwDqxq7lvXnk/s1600/Coin_+_Heavensbee_in_Mockingjay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpRnKMoG0Xu2f-czAD6B0fYCkCsML8bfWinNwPpW_h8PIlThDLzv97qcvi-KPX1XBZkNGnKcnjdEJ2yMejWRmDbeLdhrWIWimGHYwJze7fGVPSSUm1obJ5Q0kn6aIeqHXKwDqxq7lvXnk/s1600/Coin_+_Heavensbee_in_Mockingjay.jpg" height="192" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>AV:</b> You know, it would, Pontificator. It might even make the franchise more compelling. Like all modern futuristic fantasy flicks of late, the cinematography of the Hunger Games movies is terrific. The visual effects are very good. And the cast is, well, all the usual suspects. J-Law brings her normal well-presented intensity to her Heroine. Woody (I still can’t jump) Harrelson joins all the pretty young faces to reprise their classic roles. The great Donald (President Snow) Sutherland and the late (and also great) <a href="http://goo.gl/aPhSxD" target="_blank">Phillip Seymour Hoffman</a> round out the super cast of Mockingjay, part 1. Surprisingly, Vienna-born Director <a href="http://goo.gl/j3UgHQ" target="_blank">Francis Lawrence</a> (no relation to Jennifer) who has directed such sci-fi hits such as I Am Legend, Constantine and Catching Fire, tries like heck to bring a rather boring, calculated screenplay to a better place but to no avail. Thoughts Mr. P? </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwsHuyehQgtpD6NYK73-hpHQYE4UD72nSYrVrnR1Gt33-304liJfqls8KYrLPK2Su2evE18_5_cMhDJoHGGT1QLcrp9tWzsq4BYjMl81slvtyS9TQj3t_8i1JYPspLoSKTIh8h1ZhuDDY/s1600/5419d95a2e32fc85609d3fd4_the-hunger-games-mockingjay-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwsHuyehQgtpD6NYK73-hpHQYE4UD72nSYrVrnR1Gt33-304liJfqls8KYrLPK2Su2evE18_5_cMhDJoHGGT1QLcrp9tWzsq4BYjMl81slvtyS9TQj3t_8i1JYPspLoSKTIh8h1ZhuDDY/s1600/5419d95a2e32fc85609d3fd4_the-hunger-games-mockingjay-6.jpg" height="192" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">TP:</b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;"> All the usual suspects are back (as you have covered)… with some new faces added to the mix. </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julianne_Moore" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Julianne Moore</span></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #0433ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">debuts as President Coin and delivers the role of a leader that doesn’t have all the answers, but seemingly knows when to take guidance in those times of ignorance. </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahershala_Ali" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Mahershala Ali</span></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;"> (from one of my all-time favorite television series, </span><a href="http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2013/10/network-nitwits-when-will-they-learn.html" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">4400</span></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">) also debuts as the premier military man on the side of the people. </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natalie_Dormer" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Natalie Dormer</span></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;"> (of Game of Thrones fame) introduces us to Cressida, a defector from the Capitol with a singular talent for film. Admittedly this film takes a different tone than the first two in the series, but the pace is still steady and the buildup to the final film is definitely palatable.</span> </span></div>
<div class="p1">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">SPECIAL EFFECTS</span></b></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b></b><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT4PamP1puJTtEZQGpPInzFWyvlbEkiCA8Dbg7PKa2vcrA6MKvJQtXDtqfRgb6HXEiIuS2rRoMVUAnAM55cDEAXUbvpQoyUfrZHBbrtkWe66f9JIEBTZymBSKHhG1UVcj67MIDoTqwsW8/s1600/hunger-peta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT4PamP1puJTtEZQGpPInzFWyvlbEkiCA8Dbg7PKa2vcrA6MKvJQtXDtqfRgb6HXEiIuS2rRoMVUAnAM55cDEAXUbvpQoyUfrZHBbrtkWe66f9JIEBTZymBSKHhG1UVcj67MIDoTqwsW8/s1600/hunger-peta.jpg" height="236" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>AV: </b>Oh I wish I could agree, sir. Perhaps you are a more insightful movie watcher than I am. When it comes to SFX, the visual effects in this film are decent but the story is so muddled, I found it hard to simply sit-still and try to endure the onset of wrist-watching, yawning and the fluttering ever-heavier eyelids, For me, Mockingjay just never really took off. There is frighteningly little that can be called a visual effects in this film as everything simply feels like something I've seen in the past. Would you agree P-Man?</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTZ93i9YvSeS0V0NqTmAOAR1ZC_gRvekxBlzMix-Xwt2h1S8GqQuSU4D7pFHwIk8kW7u5cfcIn-C0KvnFAD4IFuxEhJFiBOQQpDXWrH9EYLay5gp9RbvOlWVxsXvDZ86GUU6MO6kflUpk/s1600/The-Hunger-Games-Mockingjay-Part-1-Beetee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTZ93i9YvSeS0V0NqTmAOAR1ZC_gRvekxBlzMix-Xwt2h1S8GqQuSU4D7pFHwIk8kW7u5cfcIn-C0KvnFAD4IFuxEhJFiBOQQpDXWrH9EYLay5gp9RbvOlWVxsXvDZ86GUU6MO6kflUpk/s1600/The-Hunger-Games-Mockingjay-Part-1-Beetee.jpg" height="192" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>TP:</b> I would have to disagree, oh Dark One, about the sentiments in the beginning of your paragraph, but agree on the latter. Great special effects is what I expected, and that’s exactly what I got. There was no new ground broken here, just everything we have seen before done the same way as before. That in itself might be a detraction since with every new film we hope to find better effects than the last, but I submit that it is also a blessing to not be subjected to worse effects than previous films. There isn’t too much to say about explosions and the plethora of aircraft shots except that they were consistent to expectations…as was the set designs and costuming.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">TAKING A DEEPER LOOK</span></b></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b></b><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIp97W03it_aZi_F6Jrddjo32UXEhaQ0zKfv84VYmcFoo4XKOUEcBF7g1ctwXEqgoRjp7XgaKAAcjD5xLLKoyI4sJEumkZOEHrGvdTLoIknww-2UmGYTlI88amAK18cbrqSl4DQu8faN8/s1600/District8-Battle1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIp97W03it_aZi_F6Jrddjo32UXEhaQ0zKfv84VYmcFoo4XKOUEcBF7g1ctwXEqgoRjp7XgaKAAcjD5xLLKoyI4sJEumkZOEHrGvdTLoIknww-2UmGYTlI88amAK18cbrqSl4DQu8faN8/s1600/District8-Battle1.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>AV: </b>What surprised me the most was how downright boring this film was. I watch a good number of films over the course off a year and they range from blockbusters to indie films and beyond. The film seemed to only set the stage for the next one. It served no viable storytelling purpose as the characters sort of saunter from scene to scene. Whats more, I have a ton of additional concerns that were left unanswered that leave this film hanging for me. First, no one else has called it out so I will; it is IMPOSSIBLE to bring down two advanced, state-of-the-art fighter jets with an explosive tip arrow. Could you do this to an F-35 or an F-22 Raptor? No. In one of the film’s three (yes, 3) action scenes, Katniss brings down two jet fighters with an arrow. Wha–!? </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOhsFIhi6_2wQ2JfpDo-Ua3KBOSjupO4iu88Yzq30gu1nRQ1ymMGOQ-p4zzJE53S-42XNCi2AugSfmd2kfMPCpFCTKvXZSu47XJwMY-K177Gz1g1G7EA1CTZMjwcTkkq9om_lAq27MtWM/s1600/the-hunger-games-mockingjay-part-1-lawrence-moore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOhsFIhi6_2wQ2JfpDo-Ua3KBOSjupO4iu88Yzq30gu1nRQ1ymMGOQ-p4zzJE53S-42XNCi2AugSfmd2kfMPCpFCTKvXZSu47XJwMY-K177Gz1g1G7EA1CTZMjwcTkkq9om_lAq27MtWM/s1600/the-hunger-games-mockingjay-part-1-lawrence-moore.jpg" height="224" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is the deeper issue for me. This film is targeted to young people (mostly young girls), tweens to early 20’s. This franchise speaks to political unfairness. The injustices the elite visit upon the downtrodden and social inequities of a violent caste system that forces young people to eviscerate each other for sport because the government “says so.” Are any of these young women even ‘getting’ this? Do they even care? Or is this just more “cool warrior chick” stuff like a Ripley, Sarah Connor or that dopey Twilight girl that has already faded from memory? And if not, why does this film series even bother? </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYDSt39mbSFfrpqOdoJk4ZIAP1-ZJQXhZg0BXxDtY9Zc9YjtRnfEnsY-MEvSN1Ty1dbxLq1hqUrAtxC2Spjre0RYee0koq4IAgtQRAIUt-h9tL4nZ3csPNcP9x7L979bJJScJowfD3wsI/s1600/Mockingjay-Part-1-Woody-Harrelson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYDSt39mbSFfrpqOdoJk4ZIAP1-ZJQXhZg0BXxDtY9Zc9YjtRnfEnsY-MEvSN1Ty1dbxLq1hqUrAtxC2Spjre0RYee0koq4IAgtQRAIUt-h9tL4nZ3csPNcP9x7L979bJJScJowfD3wsI/s1600/Mockingjay-Part-1-Woody-Harrelson.jpg" height="182" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And the dialogue, oh God. Listen old friend, I struggle as it is with many of this year’s films in this genre. The two Hercules films, Transformers 4, The Giver and Sin City 2. This has NOT been a stellar year for the spoken word onscreen for sci-fi flicks. This movie is no different. Katniss goes from refusing to be the voice/face of the rebellion to essentially “ok I’ll do it” inside of 20 just minutes. Here’s a hint Hollywood, we already knew she would agree. Please stop wasting our time. Help me out here, Pontificator, please tell me I'm on the wrong track. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGIXHhcOSOeo5ULh917_TqekaDGFGYx1Mk-tznWqsilGuYmTlP-ucxp0F8LvHt3-MlTzII3IA7fKCITWxOu18940cGhUYQz_dHQjEjnVI8ATeIh8lqfai7oCMIpIloIEcI9SYyLQQ5HIc/s1600/The-Hunger-Games-Mockingjay-Part-1-Group-Shot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGIXHhcOSOeo5ULh917_TqekaDGFGYx1Mk-tznWqsilGuYmTlP-ucxp0F8LvHt3-MlTzII3IA7fKCITWxOu18940cGhUYQz_dHQjEjnVI8ATeIh8lqfai7oCMIpIloIEcI9SYyLQQ5HIc/s1600/The-Hunger-Games-Mockingjay-Part-1-Group-Shot.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>TP:</b> Well… clearly I wasn’t nearly as displeased as you were old friend, so I don’t think I’m going to be much help. This film departs from the disturbing subject matter of children killing children and instead gets grounded in the more palatable struggle of an oppressed society seeking to break free of their oppressors. This is a familiar story that has been seen in reality many times…and it’s just eerie how the film parallels much of the current climate of out of control law enforcement. Just as profound as that is the use of the media in the film (and similarly in reality) to paint carefully crafted pictures of what special interests want others to believe as truth. This was the draw of the film for me as watching it simply highlighted the state of the world today, although not yet to the degree that Panem is. Yes the film had less violence and action as the previous ones, but the reflection it gave was so much more interesting… and relevant.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">ON SEQUELS</span></b></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b></b><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpJ3-dhtnXpzk7dO2vgYAxn2QcYfk2YQbsCvUqn5KBUn-KXrGId9adQL9i-MAM8LEF_mwXT6VJHjZybjk2xsqH-mTp3m0qbTF5emhfkXX2ETHwYvqBUt70TFe9yDtQ860CEeY3FpjRmnU/s1600/Mockingjay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpJ3-dhtnXpzk7dO2vgYAxn2QcYfk2YQbsCvUqn5KBUn-KXrGId9adQL9i-MAM8LEF_mwXT6VJHjZybjk2xsqH-mTp3m0qbTF5emhfkXX2ETHwYvqBUt70TFe9yDtQ860CEeY3FpjRmnU/s1600/Mockingjay.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>AV:</b> Unfortunately, the inane use of the term “Part 1” right in the title implies their are subsequent follow-up “parts.” (Sigh) That means we all have to sit through another 2+ hours of J-Law making more uninteresting speeches about rising up against the capitol, something no one in the world should even need to have to hear. The real depressing news is that we can likely expect more of the same in “Part 2.” </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">TP:</b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;"> We all know there is one more film set to drop to complete the series… in 2015, and I’m looking forward to it.</span> </span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">RATE IT!</span></b></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE_GgQ2xv0SWj-SHhUnBpgt3skUWUGEcnZwjkhZVB_95Jy691qAbmGzPYYDJfXBxUV4USoaswGsIilaIhhtAthrU1kFqPRWn8NB4RpImA4m_kXz6k7Onj5BqJqF621LbuxmgXEX4e7-es/s1600/the-hunger-games-mockingjay-part-1-poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE_GgQ2xv0SWj-SHhUnBpgt3skUWUGEcnZwjkhZVB_95Jy691qAbmGzPYYDJfXBxUV4USoaswGsIilaIhhtAthrU1kFqPRWn8NB4RpImA4m_kXz6k7Onj5BqJqF621LbuxmgXEX4e7-es/s1600/the-hunger-games-mockingjay-part-1-poster.jpg" height="320" width="207" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>ARTH VADER rates The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1: </b>Audiences have already spoken with their wallets and their attendance so my review may be moot. However, if you haven’t seen this film, I would encourage waiting for it to come to HBO/NetFlix/Red Box or whatever post-theater viewing venue you prefer. For me, this film is NOT good. Its’ boring with a paper-thin plot, amateurish dialogue, and woefully poor story pacing. And while I freely admit I’m outside the demographic of this film–or even this franchise–I couldn’t stomach giving this installment of Hunger Games more than three (3) Busted Blocks.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">THE PONTIFICATOR rates Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1: </b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">With the film moving out of the arena and pulling up alongside real life, it had a different, but no less interesting, tone. The ideologies of right and wrong meet in the middle when the same tactics are used by both sides to advance their narrative, whatever it might be… which is why this film shoots down seven (7) busted blocks in the name of freedom.</span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>The Hunger Games: Mockingjay: 5 / 10 Busted Blocks</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXW7D21rR9RbbXbpu57KEknrVnSSFrRYvEMlQhxSpXkVoSLH9TnaEMLXUd3X5Wa7zILcrwMbXmCK-Ij5bSu_H9y_K2AAf44GWAkVWFxeN0WDwJUlzLweXjVznuKOuB7EF49VF4hyphenhyphenCqvgM/s1600/TheBoxedOffice_5+busted+blocs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXW7D21rR9RbbXbpu57KEknrVnSSFrRYvEMlQhxSpXkVoSLH9TnaEMLXUd3X5Wa7zILcrwMbXmCK-Ij5bSu_H9y_K2AAf44GWAkVWFxeN0WDwJUlzLweXjVznuKOuB7EF49VF4hyphenhyphenCqvgM/s1600/TheBoxedOffice_5+busted+blocs.jpg" height="71" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
</div>
ArthV8Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425459411323956859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1870440923397188789.post-32410772828357988182014-12-17T19:18:00.001-08:002014-12-17T19:33:16.796-08:00Disney Goes Big With Big Hero 6 <div style="font-family: Helvetica; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Disney delights us again with another animated spectacular, this time with a little–known Marvel</span><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"> tale about a boy and his robot.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">ON CONTINUITY </span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 14px;">
<b></b><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYCjYs1UQFpSmNh_SjSUyvcGZUimYwMFxF4VB5ajvG5-bhyZrqMaO0B9sdQ0O0TfR8yvCPlc3deXGUjtNCKiEj9SRegR2Vh-AkJSfnGMlgqeurjdvIQaTm-6tNlKsu8jttnluvvcYGi4I/s1600/big-hero-6-trailer2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYCjYs1UQFpSmNh_SjSUyvcGZUimYwMFxF4VB5ajvG5-bhyZrqMaO0B9sdQ0O0TfR8yvCPlc3deXGUjtNCKiEj9SRegR2Vh-AkJSfnGMlgqeurjdvIQaTm-6tNlKsu8jttnluvvcYGi4I/s1600/big-hero-6-trailer2.jpg" height="206" width="400" /></a><b>ARTH VADER (AV): </b>Based on the the short-run Marvel Comic of the same name, Big Hero 6 (BH6) is about a haphazard collection of reluctant, would-be heroes and their quest to do right with skills and powers they newly acquire. Once wrung through the Disney filter of family-centric storytelling, BH6 quickly detracts from it’s original source material but does in such a way as to give the film a unique charm all it’s own. Though stacked with Marvel talent on the consultant and writing side (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Quesada" target="_blank">Joe Quesada</a> & <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeph_Loeb" target="_blank">Jeff Loeb</a> we’re looking at you guys) the film feels uniquely Disney and truth be told, there is no Marvel co-branding in the identity and marketing of this movie. An interesting move wouldn’t you say, Pontificator? </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeIRosXSYAr8qxioG3gKNe5LaOS2WOogMNRLAek1TFFbmeSJXTd11F59f2a7fJg9WdnpjgJpQx25R0tQ7OFLF03GUAz1BGAu_ND1xlMD9_HvbwkoBj5tMbNn1FevMLSls0VG0LEYAMrhU/s1600/maxresdefault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeIRosXSYAr8qxioG3gKNe5LaOS2WOogMNRLAek1TFFbmeSJXTd11F59f2a7fJg9WdnpjgJpQx25R0tQ7OFLF03GUAz1BGAu_ND1xlMD9_HvbwkoBj5tMbNn1FevMLSls0VG0LEYAMrhU/s1600/maxresdefault.jpg" height="134" width="320" /></a></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">THE PONTIFICATOR (TP):</b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"> Disney </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">owns</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"> Marvel Vader, and they want us to know it. Big Hero 6 is a fun and arguably better departure from the source material. The film differs from both comic iterations with many character details, but the truth is that a straight comic adaption would have been just as lost and ignored as the comic itself. The biggest change, Beymax, is what actually made the film a hit from the miss it was as a comic</span> </div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 14px;">
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">CASTING, DIRECTION & ACTING</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 14px;">
<b></b><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTlLXEZPQzHT8c0uhwdhQT-MthFMDBQq3IJeQcLEg1gl7EdqC8ZVrqFpB5LZz33IYWl7ykP2BS0PK5_CAZcT2VHmgJjkqlcJI3pcbIBLRIE1-98HsllF0qya9tKW4c0WBGhr5RXZftnvo/s1600/wasabi-big-hero-6-movie.0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTlLXEZPQzHT8c0uhwdhQT-MthFMDBQq3IJeQcLEg1gl7EdqC8ZVrqFpB5LZz33IYWl7ykP2BS0PK5_CAZcT2VHmgJjkqlcJI3pcbIBLRIE1-98HsllF0qya9tKW4c0WBGhr5RXZftnvo/s1600/wasabi-big-hero-6-movie.0.jpg" height="188" width="320" /></a></div>
<b>AV: </b>With some decent voice characterization work from some A-List talent, BH6 is a seamless family-friendly story that does not insult the intellect of the adult-minded viewers. The story-centric camera-work of directors Don Hall and Chris Williams do a masterful job of pacing the audience through a new CGI-powered take on the Hero’s journey. The acting was bit campy but we gotta remember it’s a kid’s flick / family film–and ultimately I’m alright with it. V/O performances from <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0915458/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1" target="_blank">Damon (The Other Guys) Wayans Jr</a>., Comedian TJ Miller and Ryan (Hiro) Potter were all great but it was the flat out brilliant voice work of Scott (We’re The Millers) Adsit that was the runaway hit. Portraying the sensible, sublime and low-key robo-oaf <a href="http://disney.wikia.com/wiki/Baymax" target="_blank">Baymax</a>. He was certainly my fav, P-Man. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9VOsxP-NJsugD4y4izVYuT9SbUrQFELjY-ZaHs5NLm2r9KKuMHRAAEwszLakPGADeSC1P4gvxuKorJAQBAG72RFmcg2W5dCsBeWbEQgg4y1Y2SPbb13Kd8Bsr0BOAjS9WYk0clOwqfys/s1600/lead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9VOsxP-NJsugD4y4izVYuT9SbUrQFELjY-ZaHs5NLm2r9KKuMHRAAEwszLakPGADeSC1P4gvxuKorJAQBAG72RFmcg2W5dCsBeWbEQgg4y1Y2SPbb13Kd8Bsr0BOAjS9WYk0clOwqfys/s1600/lead.jpg" height="187" width="320" /></a></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">TP:</b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"> The “acting” is really the brainchild of the animators in bringing these characters to life…but more about that in the next section. The actors voicing the characters were excellent choices, despite the biggest name in the cast being </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Cromwell" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">James Cromwell</span></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"> (</span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Trek:_First_Contact" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">Star Trek: First Contact</span></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">). Other recognizable names for me were </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Henney" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Daniel Henney</span></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"> (</span><a href="http://theboxedoffice.blogspot.com/2011/09/wolverinemakes-cut.html" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">X-Men Origins: Wolverine</span></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">), and </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamie_Chung" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Jamie Chung</span></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"> (</span><a href="http://theboxedoffice.blogspot.com/2014/09/sinfully-obtuse.html" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 45, 34); color: #ff2d22;">Sin City: A Dame to Kill for</span></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">) and I had absolutely no complaints with the delivery of their talent. The pace of the film was certainly engaging and displayed everything at the right moment for a solid film.</span> </div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 14px;">
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">SPECIAL EFFECTS </span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 14px;">
<b></b><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLudyaHtb54JAQlZLCUiok6-Dg0_UgcOa-PGNuSpl1iYeqG5UEpbbAHJxnsRY9beNG_7kYnJhpCkVqMEq1yCwvpfQiIlpz0RaakkcP0WSxocdHhtz1zioVpgYJmQN5PQF39QHEmo0T5aI/s1600/go-go-big-hero-6-movie.0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLudyaHtb54JAQlZLCUiok6-Dg0_UgcOa-PGNuSpl1iYeqG5UEpbbAHJxnsRY9beNG_7kYnJhpCkVqMEq1yCwvpfQiIlpz0RaakkcP0WSxocdHhtz1zioVpgYJmQN5PQF39QHEmo0T5aI/s1600/go-go-big-hero-6-movie.0.jpg" height="188" width="320" /></a></div>
<b>AV: </b>The visual effects are quite familiar so I won’t spend much time commenting there. The art direction however (the visual style of the film) is refreshingly original and bundled together with the right amount of style, attention to detail, and originality. I thought the film did an expert job of depicting different ethnicities, genders and personalities. I didn’t feel the animation was particularly landmark but it was a good looking product. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQifgrjRZoAQlUBxm256EPZGySVtdLOHoPFl07WHxNljx1kmNbITQRKKZrTXJ4hvhk9AKX4Evydn801eRqO7_3DD5z1Y1Nk4FkAgaWdGUMzJBdG-jlX1DM1ATCFLvc6V-YkeJKe4vDiNY/s1600/ssknxxjjhxhlbddgz5cd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQifgrjRZoAQlUBxm256EPZGySVtdLOHoPFl07WHxNljx1kmNbITQRKKZrTXJ4hvhk9AKX4Evydn801eRqO7_3DD5z1Y1Nk4FkAgaWdGUMzJBdG-jlX1DM1ATCFLvc6V-YkeJKe4vDiNY/s1600/ssknxxjjhxhlbddgz5cd.jpg" height="134" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"><b>TP:</b> After BH6 in regular format, I wish I had taken the initiative to see it in 3D.The special effects were great and exactly in line with what I was expecting from a Disney film. Animation is a serious medium and few do it as well as Disney does.</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">TAKING A CLOSER LOOK</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 14px;">
<b></b><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv12lF4X4hyMmrVDkT5lj9o8KWhjbF9ZtcNQcFX_LsH5aQGFyq5OC-9KTSRTUY8K6mv7Agdnu-1YamdbOvekuRTE2kaZlhiK7gIy9cAxHaVvI-piDG-_jAOqEpE5lpH3eayDqNmVRn81E/s1600/noxSquare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv12lF4X4hyMmrVDkT5lj9o8KWhjbF9ZtcNQcFX_LsH5aQGFyq5OC-9KTSRTUY8K6mv7Agdnu-1YamdbOvekuRTE2kaZlhiK7gIy9cAxHaVvI-piDG-_jAOqEpE5lpH3eayDqNmVRn81E/s1600/noxSquare.jpg" /></a></div>
<b>AV:</b> BH6 fires (and hits!) on all cylinders for me. It taps directly into the current insatiable hunger Hollywood and the movie-going public seem to have presently for super hero. Its fun enough for the uninitiated, dopey enough for little kids and delightful even to the hardcore Marvel/DC/Comic industry fan base. The film hit on all the right beats at all the right times; a sense of loss (first w/parents, then w/the brother), the mysterious villain, the bond that develops among warriors, the ‘rainbow coalition’ of characters who band together to overcome an adversary too intense for any one of them to overcome. Modern humor blended with an almost sickening balance ethnicity, BH6 delivers on every front. What did you think,old friend? </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie0ywLOzAcYZ6UrlHMwsy1LXG2SkfHIxg683u9EMS_vl5MwPoAuBfIciJkO3O5D9lM1OyQCVF6Oi8QBeovolGuOcFGny7UerKlu0PoxYIvjZEt2hzDmU4k4pIRsEOQhKo0kZlkVRgXVRU/s1600/yokai-bh6.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie0ywLOzAcYZ6UrlHMwsy1LXG2SkfHIxg683u9EMS_vl5MwPoAuBfIciJkO3O5D9lM1OyQCVF6Oi8QBeovolGuOcFGny7UerKlu0PoxYIvjZEt2hzDmU4k4pIRsEOQhKo0kZlkVRgXVRU/s1600/yokai-bh6.png" height="167" width="400" /></a></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">TP:</b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"> For a children’s film, this movie really takes a profound look at the human condition. My son (he’s 19), after seeing the film, asked me if I thought the villain was evil. It’s an interesting query as I didn’t see the villain as truly evil as I did broken by grief and anger. These emotions don’t prompt evil in a sense of aspirations of world domination, but a specific and simplistic goal of revenge. Is revenge evil…or is it extremely human? If we label revenge evil, then how do we also label the motivations for it…namely sadness and anger? I think “evil” is <a href="http://dc.wikia.com/wiki/Lex_Luthor" target="_blank">Lex Luthor</a> deriving pleasure from causing the deaths of millions of people, but losing some perspective while dealing with grief is something else entirely different. Even the hero of the film showed the same humanity as the “villain” whereas true evil to me, is a lack of humanity. I’d be very interested in how the young children in the theater with me viewed all this.</span> </div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 14px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">ON SEQUELS</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 14px;">
<b></b><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz6gicnula7gMyUMp4teQd3r5qeu9OtX-amcfn-X5jnO0liR1WlLCnnDcj4enTpqSSfxAEZ_wwifA5q0W2hckOTXfK9oUeOcPvuHiDSs50SvkuXEOfAE-cWiXkPpVZ9hraQ9CcN4r95c0/s1600/Big-Hero-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz6gicnula7gMyUMp4teQd3r5qeu9OtX-amcfn-X5jnO0liR1WlLCnnDcj4enTpqSSfxAEZ_wwifA5q0W2hckOTXfK9oUeOcPvuHiDSs50SvkuXEOfAE-cWiXkPpVZ9hraQ9CcN4r95c0/s1600/Big-Hero-6.jpg" height="198" width="320" /></a></div>
<b>AV:</b> While the Disney movie-deployment model tends not to favor direct sequels, I can see either a direct-to-DVD release or even possibly a weekly-installment cartoons series. I did leave the theater with a favorable take on wanting to see more BH6 in the future. And if the post-credit cut scene is any indication, there is loads more storytelling that can come from this world. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs5Vz9TwXMZ441RM9eB_dLPYQN982iN5E6pUi4QVakaS_Ypm4zIcT6x-K5-1rJAgxSQ1D0RHCzN2H2KS8ISA8B8SAyDa9AAELo37SLg2ti_X9rZKgJshgW-kbtgboMI74GcbaD6gqwnVM/s1600/Disneys-Big-Hero-6-Official-Trailer-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs5Vz9TwXMZ441RM9eB_dLPYQN982iN5E6pUi4QVakaS_Ypm4zIcT6x-K5-1rJAgxSQ1D0RHCzN2H2KS8ISA8B8SAyDa9AAELo37SLg2ti_X9rZKgJshgW-kbtgboMI74GcbaD6gqwnVM/s1600/Disneys-Big-Hero-6-Official-Trailer-5.jpg" height="133" width="320" /></a></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">TP:</b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"> Of course they should go to this well again and get another bucket of success. The challenge will be to have a story as engaging and connective as the first since the very foundation of the team was the driving force behind the film’s relevance.</span> </div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 14px;">
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">RATE IT!</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 14px;">
<br />
<b></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtcaZ5JWewz-nMhERXG3NL-fV582KOY57ROsikc2n-gDUSiSAW14xsiF9r5GiV5ds5xGjj3jkou5TvM2CdKP-AnVXlNibNxrymL1LRxJgm_CAiJKIjOd73NPIokC4xi_4FjsAOiXcWQTE/s1600/big-hero-6-movie-poster-disney.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtcaZ5JWewz-nMhERXG3NL-fV582KOY57ROsikc2n-gDUSiSAW14xsiF9r5GiV5ds5xGjj3jkou5TvM2CdKP-AnVXlNibNxrymL1LRxJgm_CAiJKIjOd73NPIokC4xi_4FjsAOiXcWQTE/s1600/big-hero-6-movie-poster-disney.png" height="320" width="228" /></a></div>
<b>ARTH VADER rates <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2245084/" target="_blank">Big Hero 6</a>:</b> In case it’s not clear at this point, I really enjoyed this movie. Doing what it does best, Disney has carefully crafted another winner that is a clear modern story that is richly diverse in culture and character that makes a strong case for making more films with this kind of formula. Colorful, fun and insightfully glib, Big Hero 6 is a solid film for everyone. So with a handful of Nano-bots, I toss nine (9) Busted Blocks right through the portal and watch for more films like this in the future.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">THE PONTIFICATOR rates Big Hero 6:</b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"> With great animation, effects, and acting, this film was a lot of fun to watch and was extremely entertaining. Our humanity was captured, not only in the animated acting, but also displayed in the motivations of both the hero and the villain. Disney has taken an irrelevant team, and given them new life, busting eight (8) super big blocks.</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">Big Hero 6: 8.5 / 10 Busted Blocks</span></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaBIBKF-QjUeEilC10Cb-CZA3qQi8l7e8weC_Ap66eYpxewdTJOb26s6-_2p29EwULh5cJq5ljJUJLt3zvgidyyw-EXGBMyEUJtQFXIQZ3UpHWLMZkdIfWVi3GivyHDph3XELERA714h4/s1600/TheBoxedOffice_8.5+busted+blocs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaBIBKF-QjUeEilC10Cb-CZA3qQi8l7e8weC_Ap66eYpxewdTJOb26s6-_2p29EwULh5cJq5ljJUJLt3zvgidyyw-EXGBMyEUJtQFXIQZ3UpHWLMZkdIfWVi3GivyHDph3XELERA714h4/s1600/TheBoxedOffice_8.5+busted+blocs.jpg" height="52" width="400" /></a></div>
<b><span style="color: orange;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: orange;"><br /></span></b></div>
<br /></div>
ArthV8Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425459411323956859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1870440923397188789.post-26448302984832000392014-12-08T20:15:00.000-08:002014-12-08T20:15:31.488-08:00Interstellar is (somewhat) stellar<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;">With no shortage of quirky speed bumps, Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar takes mankind (and audiences) on a trip that is literally out of this world.</span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ON CONTINUITY</span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(35, 35, 35); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #232323; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqkAlQZCyiucWsgTekW1Up9jI0G7OFDqfsZ-FfabN-MZFJM1836T7WsFS8jMA_LeHfWfnAkh_Kd_24v-Iry6n0bKjqjl7az_VNEIA3vDrqW3NdYaCJRtH46HmExmucN4-nRq2dWC-_YZI/s1600/interstellar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqkAlQZCyiucWsgTekW1Up9jI0G7OFDqfsZ-FfabN-MZFJM1836T7WsFS8jMA_LeHfWfnAkh_Kd_24v-Iry6n0bKjqjl7az_VNEIA3vDrqW3NdYaCJRtH46HmExmucN4-nRq2dWC-_YZI/s1600/interstellar.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>ARTH VADER (AV): </b>The big day arrives and interstellar opens to a $50 million (domestic) weekend. Christopher (Dark Knight) Nolan delivers an original but all-too-familiar plot of an Earth dying out and withering natural planetary resources, Interstellar offers a new twist on an old science fiction story, would you agree Pontificator? </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(35, 35, 35); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #232323; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 18px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9PCMEaygH0qSRd6UqoO8Jvo-zTSb93dS10Kkvrk6zNK72VQwr-GHAQHLzmY3ThbAjxDRbGxQvEkbTnKM7p8w_AuCqWlteE_a7XKe3RBh5zPL_GtPEKfvPhtK19tvdcnrJufEoa4oxm4I/s1600/Interstellar-Movie-Review-464422-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9PCMEaygH0qSRd6UqoO8Jvo-zTSb93dS10Kkvrk6zNK72VQwr-GHAQHLzmY3ThbAjxDRbGxQvEkbTnKM7p8w_AuCqWlteE_a7XKe3RBh5zPL_GtPEKfvPhtK19tvdcnrJufEoa4oxm4I/s1600/Interstellar-Movie-Review-464422-4.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>THE PONTIFICATOR (TP)</b>: Interstellar is a human driven story about extraordinary circumstances Vader. It grounds us with situations we can understand and relate to…like family, but also bombards us with things we can’t quite wrap our heads around…like time paradoxes. That said, the continuity of the film is great, until you try to figure out the “how” of it all…then you’re just lost cause the film never finds this either. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">CASTING, DIRECTION AND ACTING</span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(35, 35, 35); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #232323; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-5aBQSRgrgVeFl7q9wuAzIgQUX0A7ISYZkGVLH34e2O7-71VfklrtLjSCbUeDo4cml4hHE0ArJdEdVnycMW4Fi84de6GQyLzfQehx7VFVPR1GdXX-wH2zGTOKKjMLGeYbSQQihRIWBOY/s1600/Michael-Caine-Interstellar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-5aBQSRgrgVeFl7q9wuAzIgQUX0A7ISYZkGVLH34e2O7-71VfklrtLjSCbUeDo4cml4hHE0ArJdEdVnycMW4Fi84de6GQyLzfQehx7VFVPR1GdXX-wH2zGTOKKjMLGeYbSQQihRIWBOY/s1600/Michael-Caine-Interstellar.jpg" height="165" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>AV: </b>With an oscar-worthy cast flitting across the screen like so many… (ahem) stars, I had higher hopes for this film’s story. The quality of the screenplay is middle-of-the-road, with enough holes in the plot to foment and entire year’s worth of swiss cheese. The cast is first rate (I will leave the casting call inhale very capable hands of my co-blogger) but the acting was–at best–dialed. The forced ‘your-line-is-read-here’ dialogue is mostly flat and predictable. The story pacing is good and Nolan’s now-famous cinematography does not disappoint. P-Man, tell us more about this (Inter)stellar cast. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHJGp4Gq2RVeMGgRUJjNHHS0mfbIGXP64GqxOqg-xhA6hEYEM8aopt8r0MWEe89F6DTEUTcqEeYFwlqCPC1RjkMpGBDeJdBJQZjQTaXyotCyyYd7mK7lGh8xbyI1fhImuD8g0051SHSvc/s1600/matt+damon+interstellar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHJGp4Gq2RVeMGgRUJjNHHS0mfbIGXP64GqxOqg-xhA6hEYEM8aopt8r0MWEe89F6DTEUTcqEeYFwlqCPC1RjkMpGBDeJdBJQZjQTaXyotCyyYd7mK7lGh8xbyI1fhImuD8g0051SHSvc/s1600/matt+damon+interstellar.jpg" height="125" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>TP:</b> The casting of this film was excellent as was the acting. There was a tremendous amount of talent in this film (<a href="http://www.michaelcaine.com/"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Michael Caine</span></a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Hathaway"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Anne Hathaway</span></a>, even a surprise appearance of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Damon"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Matt Damon</span></a>) but don’t fool yourself for a moment into thinking this film wasn’t carried by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_McConaughey"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Matthew McConaughey</span></a>. He absolutely set the tone of the film and the directing gave it a pace that complimented his style and allowed everyone else to present their talent.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SPECIAL EFFECTS</span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(35, 35, 35); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #232323; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0VdAvQ25KFCwrY1bQuzsgFdDlFBoTkBDpRrGKPjxfh93L8kacOO4U-aXoccf5R73W2HEkR7iJdWlvzJjp1-ug3PqIPcCXW0C7K9t5jhG1l-4ScwAr-uD3r9yWQUBVGdTGEKzkaO5qw_g/s1600/Tars3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0VdAvQ25KFCwrY1bQuzsgFdDlFBoTkBDpRrGKPjxfh93L8kacOO4U-aXoccf5R73W2HEkR7iJdWlvzJjp1-ug3PqIPcCXW0C7K9t5jhG1l-4ScwAr-uD3r9yWQUBVGdTGEKzkaO5qw_g/s1600/Tars3.jpg" height="181" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>AV: </b>If you’re going to journey to the stars, your movie has got to look good. This movie, looks good. What I struggled with was the old Star Wars-esque vision of worlds defined by one geographic feature (Jungle planets, Ice planets, etc,) At first, the explores touchdown on a gravity-dense world defined by 1000-foot tides that sweep across the planet. While that science is horribly flawed, the visual effect is astounding. But all this planet stuff pales next to this film’s biggest visual effect – the robots! Hot damn, if I could have a robot like CASE or TARS I dare say my life would be pretty darn sweet! Well-written and even better imagined, Nolan’s vision of super-funny, supper-enabled ‘bots is a definite film highlight. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(35, 35, 35); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #232323; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyHpk5Hs-tCtboon0V3i2zWW-qDTXBxIc6pqKdwJL5ngJXWp5AytHI_ma3mQ45mc5CX5_fk5hMuZb05-mGfoCytKr31KDki0nrL-0srvGGk9qajOjoGgvpTppfdhZAUTjjNSh675P6PlM/s1600/o-INTERSTELLAR-TRAILER-facebook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyHpk5Hs-tCtboon0V3i2zWW-qDTXBxIc6pqKdwJL5ngJXWp5AytHI_ma3mQ45mc5CX5_fk5hMuZb05-mGfoCytKr31KDki0nrL-0srvGGk9qajOjoGgvpTppfdhZAUTjjNSh675P6PlM/s1600/o-INTERSTELLAR-TRAILER-facebook.jpg" height="200" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">TP:</b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;"> Visually stunning is the only way to describe the effects of this film. From the scenes on a slowly dying Earth to the awesome sequences of deep space, seeing this film in IMAX was the only way to see it. We often talk about how the best CGI is the kind you never think about while watching it. Well, this film delivers that type of quality as everything looks very real giving you a sense of being wherever the film takes you.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">TAKING A CLOSER LOOK</span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(35, 35, 35); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #232323; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj06vcSPZlfzX99PTB6U9mxVQPZV2GiftLczH8stWJ2VfBEidsQ6Y7PARTl4Dd-Wu7ypOxr0XmKddcje-fROOXOzkITHaFgclij00Bv45dlNbzOQ3KGPvgOpQd9w3UgPAiRHC1_wWYSRPA/s1600/interstellar-movie-still-009-1500x1000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj06vcSPZlfzX99PTB6U9mxVQPZV2GiftLczH8stWJ2VfBEidsQ6Y7PARTl4Dd-Wu7ypOxr0XmKddcje-fROOXOzkITHaFgclij00Bv45dlNbzOQ3KGPvgOpQd9w3UgPAiRHC1_wWYSRPA/s1600/interstellar-movie-still-009-1500x1000.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>AV:</b> There is a lot not right with Interstellar. Too many plot holes, time gaps, implausible science and downright confusing character motivations. For one, I struggle with trying to determine some hard dot ignore points. First, Why would you send so many humans out when you had such sophisticated robots to do the hard stuff better and faster? How did Cooper to stumble across a secret NASA facility just down the road? Why was he then the single most important person for the mission? Do you mean to tell me that after spending nearly 80 (Earth) years struggling to get back in touch with each other that 98-year-old Murph and 124 year-old Coop spend just 3 minutes together before he decides to shoot off into space to find a stranded Anne Hathaway? </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(35, 35, 35); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #232323; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(35, 35, 35); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #232323; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghITDU8aggrk3qlRrNLWsUEMEy_-eJ40-nlqA2mee68D06hnCoH5UDNuPqRpk1IycIwxahPr39LodNbFQSC73WLPq9gFOKxfe3xG0D-ZEWILcelcnKOpwzGPVHDdSQFOMtM0GtbTc3kVo/s1600/Christopher-Nolans-interstellar-six-movie-images-Madhole.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghITDU8aggrk3qlRrNLWsUEMEy_-eJ40-nlqA2mee68D06hnCoH5UDNuPqRpk1IycIwxahPr39LodNbFQSC73WLPq9gFOKxfe3xG0D-ZEWILcelcnKOpwzGPVHDdSQFOMtM0GtbTc3kVo/s1600/Christopher-Nolans-interstellar-six-movie-images-Madhole.jpg" height="153" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Too many things that don’t come together (which we can expect in Nolan films, remember: Inception, Dark Knight Rises) but there does come a point when I can no longer gorge myself on a steady diet of unexplainable plot points and non-sensical science. I did truly enjoy the film but this one goes onto the shelf for me. Ponty? </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(35, 35, 35); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #232323; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnzLayue7wd5mRGPX07yi76jzgq8IgAJ-kOT9Bi9_j_HDnRmhd3lw3PRQWQQo5ECy5ljwS8Zkr0p-2sHuv2_fPYA0iYNw-T-MRq-n9MSIczHqnah6daxB8D4QofAMQwePSzexjRCSNdOM/s1600/interstellar-movie-wallpaper-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnzLayue7wd5mRGPX07yi76jzgq8IgAJ-kOT9Bi9_j_HDnRmhd3lw3PRQWQQo5ECy5ljwS8Zkr0p-2sHuv2_fPYA0iYNw-T-MRq-n9MSIczHqnah6daxB8D4QofAMQwePSzexjRCSNdOM/s1600/interstellar-movie-wallpaper-7.jpg" height="210" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">TP:</b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;"> Great points Vader! This was a long film topping out at almost three hours and given that it wasn’t constant action, it’s a testament to the quality of the script an the actors that it was so engrossing that it never felt like a three hour film. The film kept the pressure on as it constantly flowed with an “all is lost” feel even though McConaughey was the constant beacon of hope. The science of the film could have been much heavier than it was and I was glad when they decided to simplify some of it for the audience by simply telling us things like “every hour there is seven years here.” This made for some hefty heart dropping moments when they showed just how the effects of time relativity really works. The only gripe I had was that I really did not need to be treated to another time paradox plot. In the end you are left to question the “how” of it all and the only answer given leads you in a never-ending loop of impossible.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ON SEQUELS</span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(35, 35, 35); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #232323; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoOlTXrM7PLRAmfouyru_Ccn4Gid5w8-jkCEnH7guGVexLbBanpYbMWtmHpazcMmyUdWU-iEF_gxbOlFIEhFn65qA4IsQPaovvu5W0PPSJuCcLjscSFymQspG8Th7ib3FnAR_DIJhdo8s/s1600/21321.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoOlTXrM7PLRAmfouyru_Ccn4Gid5w8-jkCEnH7guGVexLbBanpYbMWtmHpazcMmyUdWU-iEF_gxbOlFIEhFn65qA4IsQPaovvu5W0PPSJuCcLjscSFymQspG8Th7ib3FnAR_DIJhdo8s/s1600/21321.jpg" height="134" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>AV:</b> Umm, no. This is a stand-alone film. One that will do particularly well at the box office but I don’t ever need to relive any part of this film or story again. Good film, one and done.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYFOM2NPmwmPZZAsLSDfoKf6gmqB3bQ1NpYbZeAvTPYK6J8Z-OoO_fGcnYlrdQo0-K4scA60ylCVGA4zR_UEfLKrumPtY7cvWF79ss6kWmSTaBh3IDxLZyQuL3oI3GTEIlQ6j8lxHwU54/s1600/Interstellar-Movie-Jessica-Chastain-Casey-Affleck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYFOM2NPmwmPZZAsLSDfoKf6gmqB3bQ1NpYbZeAvTPYK6J8Z-OoO_fGcnYlrdQo0-K4scA60ylCVGA4zR_UEfLKrumPtY7cvWF79ss6kWmSTaBh3IDxLZyQuL3oI3GTEIlQ6j8lxHwU54/s1600/Interstellar-Movie-Jessica-Chastain-Casey-Affleck.jpg" height="165" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>TP:</b> A great film that could certainly stand alone…I can certainly see how a sequel could be made, given the unanswered (or should I say unsatisfactorily answer) of how it all came about and the leaving off of where it all goes from here. That said, given one of the main points of the film was to save humanity, I’d say accomplishing that closes the door on a sequel.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">RATE IT!</span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(35, 35, 35); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #232323; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9UAl5TL5DseQR_o3OKPzjcoP_YxC56TundJ03oGt648-pA4RMmMGaxETQPP8wRhmmjkgqhtcifcejbC6sxFHbMcatX3DhahX2TM_y8VHhpGGEHCU3K8hM3-P3cYAbMDNmDQzhsBFVbb8/s1600/interstellar-photos-pictures-stills.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9UAl5TL5DseQR_o3OKPzjcoP_YxC56TundJ03oGt648-pA4RMmMGaxETQPP8wRhmmjkgqhtcifcejbC6sxFHbMcatX3DhahX2TM_y8VHhpGGEHCU3K8hM3-P3cYAbMDNmDQzhsBFVbb8/s1600/interstellar-photos-pictures-stills.jpg" height="320" width="224" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>ARTH VADER rates Interstellar:</b> Interstellar is truly an epic, big budget Hollywood juggernaut. Whats more, it will likely be on the lips of the Hollywood in-crowd when oscar season rolls around (Though I am doubtful of its chances). The film is fun, big and kinda dumb (as C Nolan films go). Still, there is solid entertainment and the very 2001: A Space Odessy-like ending is a bit tough to swallow. Still, it is a solid event (enhanced by IMAX) and one that entertains, in spite of its sited flaws. I will venture out into the stars with seven (7) Busted Blocks and move on to the next great sci-fi epic. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(35, 35, 35); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #232323; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">THE PONTIFICATOR rates Interstellar:</b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;"> A fine film filled with heavy drama and great acting, then accented with killer special effects, there isn’t too that can be said about it that isn’t positive. It takes you on a journey not only into space, but into our own humanity as well… and delivers eight (8) busted blocks just in time to save us all. </span> </span></div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Interstellar: 7.5 / 10 Busted Blocks</b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-864e8906mTIIxzvs2YPTeb0DmOy-Pt4DmviZUQ6yNxNAdSIoSCr348z0FZxO_jJqdBuywRui05uOs5_XLSl3xiV48Qk_kKCz_MhxxuyvZb5mlg_16jusyva_AxNcLlro93JoN21XEjk/s1600/TheBoxedOffice_7.5+busted+blocs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-864e8906mTIIxzvs2YPTeb0DmOy-Pt4DmviZUQ6yNxNAdSIoSCr348z0FZxO_jJqdBuywRui05uOs5_XLSl3xiV48Qk_kKCz_MhxxuyvZb5mlg_16jusyva_AxNcLlro93JoN21XEjk/s1600/TheBoxedOffice_7.5+busted+blocs.jpg" height="39" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
ArthV8Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425459411323956859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1870440923397188789.post-28468069792296329532014-12-05T10:18:00.000-08:002014-12-05T10:19:06.478-08:00Birdman soars high<div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span class="s1" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Arguably the first true ‘film’ of the super hero genre, </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Alejandro González Iñárritu’s Birdman looks at the triumph, tragedy and awkward redemption of a man who would be hero. </span></b></span></div>
<div class="p4" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="s2"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ON CONTINUITY</span></b></span></div>
<div class="p4">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="s2"><b></b></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0tYxIwSvf_hlaOhHIz8UY8_VlolO-mHW3ygOGo0bnzIqZoQRK2WekrnIEMpeoDQ3DH08Z7zFPbcK6adg2ksC-OEt5ZOsGuAiPkBZQSqVeprGLU6_fl131Bo3HtnAb76Pn4ujtAcF9qdk/s1600/Birdman2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0tYxIwSvf_hlaOhHIz8UY8_VlolO-mHW3ygOGo0bnzIqZoQRK2WekrnIEMpeoDQ3DH08Z7zFPbcK6adg2ksC-OEt5ZOsGuAiPkBZQSqVeprGLU6_fl131Bo3HtnAb76Pn4ujtAcF9qdk/s1600/Birdman2.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>ARTH VADER (AV):</b> In today’s world, the term hero seems to take many meanings. Hollywood continues to look for new angles to our beloved super-hero genre. In Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtues of Ignorance) [full title], Riggan, a has-been actor who once played an iconic superhero onscreen works to overcome his own inner voices fueled by an emotionally unstable ego while side-stepping dysfunctional family turmoil as he angles to make a big theatrical comeback with a critically acclaimed Broadway play in hopes to reclaim the past fame and notoriety he sorely misses. The film boasts an original screenplay that spins a super-charged original screenplay. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 18px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfkiXFerZ_u42HTV8b_7yXbty4ceqF28p_G7MkvK__RPZarSrmc_oH5qBZUbFyeQahtVzfuiBjLGjuoMaimcHpK5HaGFZ4Mqy907mvLqjgfAh6QNxuUrcpdCvBI9rLoJ0QG4iayAPYlDw/s1600/020-bm-sg-00413.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfkiXFerZ_u42HTV8b_7yXbty4ceqF28p_G7MkvK__RPZarSrmc_oH5qBZUbFyeQahtVzfuiBjLGjuoMaimcHpK5HaGFZ4Mqy907mvLqjgfAh6QNxuUrcpdCvBI9rLoJ0QG4iayAPYlDw/s1600/020-bm-sg-00413.jpg" height="173" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>THE PONTIFICATOR (TP)</b>: Birdman is an original and offbeat story of a superhero actor trying to gain relevance by making it on Broadway. His journey to discover his place in the world of acting, after being a celebrity, is dogged by his troubled relationship with his daughter, rocky interactions with the other actors, and resistance to the ever present voice within himself screaming to be a hero once again… for real (or not).</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p4">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">CASTING, DIRECTING & ACTING </span></b></div>
<div class="p4">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="s2"><b></b></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVChnqs8Ys-nlWXBfi2P8hGT-kLCwu3EoRvUsu0IR8mwD0xe_jX2TxFld3fTpttlZpAm4vTv9M8zwvE_yqkatLWqZvGp44JqqhQia6jEy2vdOjHpCrxbH939PFnNqUFexnlTwJWUbnIH4/s1600/birdman-still.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVChnqs8Ys-nlWXBfi2P8hGT-kLCwu3EoRvUsu0IR8mwD0xe_jX2TxFld3fTpttlZpAm4vTv9M8zwvE_yqkatLWqZvGp44JqqhQia6jEy2vdOjHpCrxbH939PFnNqUFexnlTwJWUbnIH4/s1600/birdman-still.jpg" height="173" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>AV: </b>Pontificator, I can’t think of a better actor to portray the trails of a used-to-be super hero film great than Michael (“I’m Batman”) Keaton. The beauty of this film is the plethora of acting talent that reads like a who’s who of superhero film acting talent. Talent like, Naomi (King Kong) Watts, Emma (Mary Jane) Watson, and of course Ed (Hulk) Norton. Damian (Unbreakable) young with Zack (Hangover) Galafinakis. The director’s vision was potent, so unique so incredible, it is I would argue, the most important storytelling component of Birdman, wouldn’t you say Pontificator? </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTHAb3W7mQoSlF9PMzI8LZpJvRFreOpHuUAGida0CTgE1i9hvbqe1Y5IYVSxB3-0EwZ_FLRxtqRa1BlZ5tKIDZhSkSxgCzPhsoDmxCrWqIbz-jKUVENbItK6H_5hi-Jd8RSdges0SKxJ0/s1600/Emma-Stone-In-Birdman-Stills-Wallpapers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTHAb3W7mQoSlF9PMzI8LZpJvRFreOpHuUAGida0CTgE1i9hvbqe1Y5IYVSxB3-0EwZ_FLRxtqRa1BlZ5tKIDZhSkSxgCzPhsoDmxCrWqIbz-jKUVENbItK6H_5hi-Jd8RSdges0SKxJ0/s1600/Emma-Stone-In-Birdman-Stills-Wallpapers.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>TP:</b> The tone of this film being one long gigantic take was refreshing and kept the story rolling along at a steady pace Vader. The acting was tremendous with stellar performances by the lead <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Keaton"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Michael Keaton</span></a>, and supporting cast, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Norton"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Edward Norton</span></a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zach_Galifianakis"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Zach Galifianakis</span></a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emma_Stone"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Emma Stone</span></a>. Actors playing actors is always fun (especially when it’s Ed Norton playing the kind of actor he is known for being like in real life), but the delusion of Keaton (or not) is superb… as is the dysfunction of Stone (while recovering from, but getting, stoned).</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p4">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SPECIAL EFFECTS</span></b></div>
<div class="p4">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="s2"><b></b></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzMxthixFYTYg4gC8jOFzCy21OZxTqpDMrrCGzGdPoU-1-dwS1ae7a44DuL000vrxbOXqLueacEsAt_O148m3_KdWTDnKI6JlAQzerpr8BLAIbDSMEhHItS6p68sY02o2i4hl4hO2r6x4/s1600/birdman-1resize-cd7db05b4df1f65214edda519363243bebd71451.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzMxthixFYTYg4gC8jOFzCy21OZxTqpDMrrCGzGdPoU-1-dwS1ae7a44DuL000vrxbOXqLueacEsAt_O148m3_KdWTDnKI6JlAQzerpr8BLAIbDSMEhHItS6p68sY02o2i4hl4hO2r6x4/s1600/birdman-1resize-cd7db05b4df1f65214edda519363243bebd71451.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>AV: </b>The real ‘hero’ of Birdman is no actor though, Ponty. It is–by far–the visual direction and cinematography of the film. As the entire film presents itself as one continuous moving shot, I can honestly say I have not seen a movie like this before. The camera work is so flawless, there were times I actually caught myself looking for scene transitions where the editor’s could make cuts form one shot to the next. This is some the most inspired filmmaking I’ve ever witnessed. While this movie came in–reportedly–at a modest $22 million budget, it feels like it cost so much more. The end sequence features some stunning CGI and flying effects that are so seamlessly integrated, the viewer is immersed without knowing it. A real triumph of modern moviemaking, would you agree P-Man? </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCAJmND7z5HYLd1dY7dynruNdUGUMnmd0ww4aTQeUD2H3WfavkdETsLH_tPRzYVkECmbITyzxyrNKWMWkthg1IMmJVx5zXiQvJ_mkHmARe0wxIHDLvp_Ek5tUbblZgZWG1R6mvBYgIsNM/s1600/birdman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCAJmND7z5HYLd1dY7dynruNdUGUMnmd0ww4aTQeUD2H3WfavkdETsLH_tPRzYVkECmbITyzxyrNKWMWkthg1IMmJVx5zXiQvJ_mkHmARe0wxIHDLvp_Ek5tUbblZgZWG1R6mvBYgIsNM/s1600/birdman.jpg" height="191" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">TP:</b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;"> I’ll tell you Vader, this wasn’t a big budget special effects summer blockbuster film…but the little bit of effects it did have were absolutely awesome! The brief scene of Birdman and the giant bird destroying the city easily stands with other summer film effects and although the story was great with superb acting, I could’t help wishing there were more Birdman scenes in the film…purely from an effects point of view.</span></span></div>
<div class="p4">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="s2"></span><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">TAKING A DEEPER LOOK</span></b></span></div>
<div class="p4">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="s2"><b></b></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO7izQlOhk_KTXjaP3wUfeGZUA5tastSiz5c89UKb8k5x6bnht6m39q0SHZztIzDYRgitoByAUoa0DRvfh6PoIY3wt6cJYkIGVcV8qokonDed-hx8BJSvqUGTDBlt0gZWYdaQOWSbVYHU/s1600/birdman-movie-wallpaper-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO7izQlOhk_KTXjaP3wUfeGZUA5tastSiz5c89UKb8k5x6bnht6m39q0SHZztIzDYRgitoByAUoa0DRvfh6PoIY3wt6cJYkIGVcV8qokonDed-hx8BJSvqUGTDBlt0gZWYdaQOWSbVYHU/s1600/birdman-movie-wallpaper-2.jpg" height="172" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>AV:</b> It was a stroke of genius to have Michael Keaton in the starring role of Birdman. For the obvious reasons of his status in Batman and Beetlejuice, but also because he is an amazing actor. His comedy typecasting and family-movie roles from the 1990’s may have shrouded his real acting chops from the majority of movie-goers but Keaton’s portrayal of the lost Riggan cuts to the core of Keaton’s iconic standing. In truth, this movie–if we’re lucky–is the beginning of a whole new take on where movies take audiences in the super-hero arena. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #ff2600; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">***</span>SPOILER ALERT<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">***</span></b></span></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_d28gpztoUS1-kdxbOfaDD50Fdqe2loLjkKwTdUkgA1C0rif48J5b84w0I7nNoQ9D0N6Lc7I-ldd9ULsBygR90CVmO0867Wt49zQlP_lygo7zd3AF8qVdM0AyvL4cRrQ2xoJ77NsYx3I/s1600/birdman-levitation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_d28gpztoUS1-kdxbOfaDD50Fdqe2loLjkKwTdUkgA1C0rif48J5b84w0I7nNoQ9D0N6Lc7I-ldd9ULsBygR90CVmO0867Wt49zQlP_lygo7zd3AF8qVdM0AyvL4cRrQ2xoJ77NsYx3I/s1600/birdman-levitation.jpg" height="172" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">TP:</b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;"> From the very beginning this film has you questioning what is real and what is not. Riggan (Keaton) starts the film off levitating in is dressing room and continues with small and private displays of telekinetic power. This was fantastic.… except if you really pay attention, there are a plethora of clues to suggest he really doesn’t have any power at all, except the power to see and experience things and events that are not there or going on. This makes the story that much more interesting as Riggan’s struggle for relevance and self actuation through the desire to put on a broadway play, is really a struggle with his ego and coming to terms with how he has been defined by Birdman. The demise of Riggan has led to many theories, specifically at what point did he actually pass (assuming you are of the opinion that he did, and really didn’t suddenly gain real powers) and I have yet to settle on what exactly I believe… giving this film even more value as it continues to tantalize long after the screen goes dark.</span></span></div>
<div class="p4">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="s2"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ON SEQUELS</span></b></span></div>
<div class="p4">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="s2"><b></b></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFtqQqusIJa_lPTutiTTmSQsPCfyngJF313FTAY8Xw08C0JDlZ2i375Pu9kt_t30DLZxG9OUX5ZBDmVQ4yyOAnAlhHo0joQOXtzmboHBKLJ-Qh7ueGef27p3G2m_l8Z964BUjwy4ul6Q/s1600/birdman-emma+stone-movie+review-theater+whore-2014-dante+ross-danterants-blogspot-com.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFtqQqusIJa_lPTutiTTmSQsPCfyngJF313FTAY8Xw08C0JDlZ2i375Pu9kt_t30DLZxG9OUX5ZBDmVQ4yyOAnAlhHo0joQOXtzmboHBKLJ-Qh7ueGef27p3G2m_l8Z964BUjwy4ul6Q/s1600/birdman-emma+stone-movie+review-theater+whore-2014-dante+ross-danterants-blogspot-com.jpg" height="200" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>AV:</b> To put it bluntly, this movie would be destroyed by a sequel though I for one do hope it is the beginning of a deeper exploration of the super-hero genre as a serious, viable realm of more serious super storytelling. Kick Ass, Watchmen and Sin City have all been (solidly successful) franchises that go there–with an honorable mention to Chronicle. We can have stories of super powered people that aren’t simply re-visited comic book content but tales that offer fresh new perspective on the modern vision of the hero’s journey. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">TP:</b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;"> I can’t see a sequel to this film… simply because the film doesn’t really leave any room to continue the story, just loads of room to ponder what was already given.</span></span></div>
<div class="p4">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="s2"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">RATE IT!</span></b></span></div>
<div class="p4">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="s2"><b></b></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdeyqV_z5ql4F8MZRvXWOUoWa1hPWPc62YVqZUh0F4q5KPQdTXrrpF3_CPWVcUq7BIIQSxcyXL0XzZLfn-oxEH2vcfFpGDkZTk7-JEfEmddHB6LWCiuO8Jn2x8IOjKMj7UocCBudH4Esw/s1600/a_900x0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdeyqV_z5ql4F8MZRvXWOUoWa1hPWPc62YVqZUh0F4q5KPQdTXrrpF3_CPWVcUq7BIIQSxcyXL0XzZLfn-oxEH2vcfFpGDkZTk7-JEfEmddHB6LWCiuO8Jn2x8IOjKMj7UocCBudH4Esw/s1600/a_900x0.jpg" height="320" width="216" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>ARTH VADER rates Birdman:</b> A surprisingly charming film with a spot-on cast that would make any geek proud, Birdman will delight every movie goer. With some of the best original cinematography I’ve seen since District 9, this movie is an instant favorite of yours truly as it shares a very human perspective on the effects of stardom, fame, the fallibility of man and the road to redemption, no matter how awkward or unorthodox that everyone of us can relate to. Gripping, gritty and unpretentious, Birdman with delight anyone with half a brain and full love of experiencing the human condition. For that, Birdman hatches a solid nine (9) Busted Blocks and I cross my fingers at the hopes of more films like this in the near future.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">THE PONTIFICATOR rates Birdman:</b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> A great film with superb acting and plenty of material to have you discussing it into the wee hours of the night, this film is profound as it is entertaining and delivers seven (7) feathery delusional blocks to take us soaring.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="s2"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Birdman: 8 / 10 Busted Blocks</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="s2"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="s2"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP7f4wTkJf-_XjmwXLZpYGWjnQ1eGmPojYVSe55V1ltMN-_KcadA86SofemDcnWNbC1TpPSkXJ22__jKU_xdjXGMbuStRS_KQBK4MUDJXRt5wcw3HIeesWMcu7asMkUS_6qTQ9gunBMtQ/s1600/TheBoxedOffice_8+busted+blocs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP7f4wTkJf-_XjmwXLZpYGWjnQ1eGmPojYVSe55V1ltMN-_KcadA86SofemDcnWNbC1TpPSkXJ22__jKU_xdjXGMbuStRS_KQBK4MUDJXRt5wcw3HIeesWMcu7asMkUS_6qTQ9gunBMtQ/s1600/TheBoxedOffice_8+busted+blocs.jpg" height="47" title="" width="400" /></a></span></div>
</div>
ArthV8Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425459411323956859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1870440923397188789.post-45027030321865547562014-11-13T13:11:00.000-08:002014-11-13T13:27:42.686-08:00This Dracula Doesn’t Suck<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 14px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><b>The gritty vampire re-boot drives audiences batty in the surprisingly entertaining Dracula Untold. </b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<b>ON CONTINUITY</b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 14px;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div style="font-size: 16px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix0ByKX2s-07w1Z7Hf2AT8ePhPEFqirA1_cOgrnPYdRr7qjCVHj7H2l_PQFypBwPBL97nrpCtjjE2c4_vsjGlCwsvuo6PF4WFhiauTKPpELQV42a7NjZToHVV74Jw0Mqn1b4yeVIiEZbs/s1600/wd486ogb5sadn7rlahfh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix0ByKX2s-07w1Z7Hf2AT8ePhPEFqirA1_cOgrnPYdRr7qjCVHj7H2l_PQFypBwPBL97nrpCtjjE2c4_vsjGlCwsvuo6PF4WFhiauTKPpELQV42a7NjZToHVV74Jw0Mqn1b4yeVIiEZbs/s1600/wd486ogb5sadn7rlahfh.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>ARTH VADER (AV):</b> For a character that bears no introduction, the re-imagined origin of the infamous Vlad the Impaler–more commonly known as Count Dracula–menaces his enemies and delights us, somehow, in this latest vamp en fuego film. All the story elements are in place to make for what could have been an epic origin tale. Keeping line with Dracula's mythos, the film takes place in Transylvania and spins the tale of a desperate Vlad eager to save his people from invading Turks while holed up in Castle Dracula. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXy3x0M2-wddDq_knX9mgji2ZRvr7rzM0V7IkawFTKkv0cofPvq78mMYshygYaIXCQ23vozwgd1nZa05hwFf8Fs_mjDoqZc6Zrwv28gcvUzjUKI2ikiTOx9gW90hw5fSGivsW6JAFl5nA/s1600/Dracula-Untold-Mirena-Sarah-Gadon-850x560.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXy3x0M2-wddDq_knX9mgji2ZRvr7rzM0V7IkawFTKkv0cofPvq78mMYshygYaIXCQ23vozwgd1nZa05hwFf8Fs_mjDoqZc6Zrwv28gcvUzjUKI2ikiTOx9gW90hw5fSGivsW6JAFl5nA/s1600/Dracula-Untold-Mirena-Sarah-Gadon-850x560.jpg" height="210" width="320" /></a></div>
<b style="font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0px;">THE PONTIFICATOR (TP):</b><span style="font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0px;"> The story of Dracula has probably been one of the most told stories on the silver screen. We have certainly had our fair share of vampire films in recent years. For me it was refreshing to have this “untold” tale told. The attempt to incorporate history was well intentioned, if not at all accurate. With a little more effort and attention to historic detail, it would have been much more enjoyable, at least for me.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 14px;">
<br />
<b>CASTING, DIRECTING & ACTING</b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 14px;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div style="font-size: 16px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizqU4-wXHN4q7O2HQrAIXNp8uuCYJEpLsEkAEK7WOTD_HuPvnQhKNEyX7OJYlPeZhtASCG55yxuuDXSUWj1yP5xo7KqvcyJ1joGWep3DaFSRB2LhbfPtP_QYhs6Z41nXCpUxyzIujKlBM/s1600/dracula-untold-master-vampire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizqU4-wXHN4q7O2HQrAIXNp8uuCYJEpLsEkAEK7WOTD_HuPvnQhKNEyX7OJYlPeZhtASCG55yxuuDXSUWj1yP5xo7KqvcyJ1joGWep3DaFSRB2LhbfPtP_QYhs6Z41nXCpUxyzIujKlBM/s1600/dracula-untold-master-vampire.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>AV:</b> Director Gary Shore pulls no punches in this latest vampire epic with a story of ‘super-Drac’. Luke Evans plays Transylvania’s original pain in the neck as an insanely handsome and brooding Vlad. To me, Ponty, there are only a couple of roles that even matter in this film. Other than Vlad, is the role of The Master Vampire played by Charles “Lord Tyrell” Dance. He is over-the-top ominous, creepy, frightening and oddly compelling as ‘Vampire Zero’. The only other role that has any (AHEM) tooth, is the role of the twisted Turk overlord, Mehmed, played by Dominic “Howard Stark” Cooper. While hardly in a league to stop the Prince of the Undead, Cooper’s portrayal is cardboard clone but that seems somehow strangely fitting. Thought’s P–Man? </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 16px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN7LNzM47mQ6ZL28Dfx31ytUdo1YwsMCWS-Tx6Ui8tnAe1YMVdUf05ywh9CRggHOgt3CcXwo_pk5xMwPFJjlxwKTgEtQ3JfxrlpeTkvQA-iP-Vv8hyphenhyphengKQkOxtdDEVnU99OHrvVu0D1Lok/s1600/Dracula-Untold-Dominic-Cooper-as-Sultan-Mehmed-II-1024x437.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN7LNzM47mQ6ZL28Dfx31ytUdo1YwsMCWS-Tx6Ui8tnAe1YMVdUf05ywh9CRggHOgt3CcXwo_pk5xMwPFJjlxwKTgEtQ3JfxrlpeTkvQA-iP-Vv8hyphenhyphengKQkOxtdDEVnU99OHrvVu0D1Lok/s1600/Dracula-Untold-Dominic-Cooper-as-Sultan-Mehmed-II-1024x437.jpg" height="136" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>TP:</b> The performance of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luke_Evans_(actor)"><span style="color: #ff2600; letter-spacing: 0px;">Luke Evans</span></a> carries this film Vader. He brings Vlad the Impaler to life in a way that diverges from what I expected. As the antagonist, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominic_Cooper"><span style="color: #ff2600; letter-spacing: 0px;">Dominic Cooper</span></a> had very little to do and the script did not allow much breathing room to expand his character. In fact, at just 90 minutes, there wasn’t too much that could be done except to focus on the progression of Dracula. The film moved along steadily and never really gave me time to ponder all the plot holes while it fed me candy.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 16px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<b>SPECIAL EFFECTS</b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 14px;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div style="font-size: 16px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlWuSflIxp6Q4utq_aACU5B_BtbkRecB3jZAJGRAveWhrb-1UnZfkeRsgnSxUAD-9p7NykB4QAmP9GULjTU9hv3joh_pg_mBsulc8Jdi5l5SoG_6cov9t50Yiwdbhtz71h1Vg84lPLkhk/s1600/Bq6FiXZCEAESWpL.png-large.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlWuSflIxp6Q4utq_aACU5B_BtbkRecB3jZAJGRAveWhrb-1UnZfkeRsgnSxUAD-9p7NykB4QAmP9GULjTU9hv3joh_pg_mBsulc8Jdi5l5SoG_6cov9t50Yiwdbhtz71h1Vg84lPLkhk/s1600/Bq6FiXZCEAESWpL.png-large.png" height="224" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>AV:</b> Oh boy, were there ever visual effects in this movie, Pontificator! There were so many bats in this film, I thought the title character was Bruce Wayne (insert crickets here). Seriously, are there this many bats on Earth? Vlad is able to summon an obscene number of flying rodents in to–literally–crush his enemies. We aren’t talking a few hundred thousand here, folks, its millions and millions of the little flying rats. Drac not only turns into one himself, but apparently he can summon a seemingly endless number of them and the film does a beautiful job of portraying this onscreen. Other notable effects are the over-the-top but enjoyable combat scenes and effects in the cave are disturbingly authentic. Ponts? </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcFop1S7plaFWOg0v7-pOp-4pxjs_GGSWN4tFyXjwGNBJDeXPzSi3UKGRDZskt5Km-np9xDbodKveG1aBPhefMZojOPzYUMxviJd3oqTldknFOIQPgeF1ZkzUMIk7Vc85fpZZ5y1bWw6o/s1600/Dracula-Untold-TV-Spot-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcFop1S7plaFWOg0v7-pOp-4pxjs_GGSWN4tFyXjwGNBJDeXPzSi3UKGRDZskt5Km-np9xDbodKveG1aBPhefMZojOPzYUMxviJd3oqTldknFOIQPgeF1ZkzUMIk7Vc85fpZZ5y1bWw6o/s1600/Dracula-Untold-TV-Spot-4.jpg" height="133" width="320" /></a></div>
<b style="font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0px;">TP:</b><span style="font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0px;"> IMAX is the preferred medium for…everything, and this film was visually pleasing. There was no new ground broken for special effects, but there were also no mistakes with them. The scenes with the sunlight searing vampire flesh looked genuine, the landscapes were enthralling, and the costuming was done well… if not entirely accurate historically.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<b>TAKING A CLOSER LOOK</b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 14px;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div style="font-size: 16px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaCFYKj20vuE1s_itymzwzkv04G10nUha4R6yw3ZI7Y-epNmKuBJL_dY5is5ExLoM7RcmwNsSDfUASmrKPrDvXDqaPzjPMAVqiZZdmT4KjQZHof3hySzqyjysWhq08bamAQjzM7Z3mBVs/s1600/Dracula+Untold+Movie+Stills+Wallpaper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaCFYKj20vuE1s_itymzwzkv04G10nUha4R6yw3ZI7Y-epNmKuBJL_dY5is5ExLoM7RcmwNsSDfUASmrKPrDvXDqaPzjPMAVqiZZdmT4KjQZHof3hySzqyjysWhq08bamAQjzM7Z3mBVs/s1600/Dracula+Untold+Movie+Stills+Wallpaper.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>AV:</b> As the first installment of the Dracula trilogy and the vanguard (film) of Universal Studio’s new ‘monster cinematic universe’ (MCU), you can read more on that <a href="http://goo.gl/tFhBx9" target="_blank">here</a> , Dracula Untold shows promise in the visual effects department but lacks in quality storytelling. As part of this new universe of monsters, Dracula delivers a good-looking, empty-headed film devoid of character connectivity but still, strangely enough, holds promise for future installments. Many of the characters in this film are mis-cast or phone-in their often dopey, poorly-delivered or dodgy performances. Hopefully this less-than-spectacular opening salvo for this new MCU will help universal build on its new ‘universe’ the right way; with quality screenplays, a focus on meaningful writing and proper casting. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqmXQSwKKXZs4sSfIN_OkGU0-Uxub8CKyxVI0uPPDFEveHxOQvilZnYoUxHgZRHf4u-62dGdtG_qijutvKYQaNTsj9kdckHSgmOPURog3LzD10FDeY-WGxHYPsVcraLMmxpZL-5KPbfMU/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqmXQSwKKXZs4sSfIN_OkGU0-Uxub8CKyxVI0uPPDFEveHxOQvilZnYoUxHgZRHf4u-62dGdtG_qijutvKYQaNTsj9kdckHSgmOPURog3LzD10FDeY-WGxHYPsVcraLMmxpZL-5KPbfMU/s1600/images.jpg" height="135" width="320" /></a></div>
<b style="font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0px;">TP:</b><span style="font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0px;"> This film wasn’t the best film ever made, but it also was not the worst. I enjoyed it very much, but not because of the special effects and gore (or should I say lack of gore as it could have been much bloodier). What intrigued me most about the film was the story of Dracula being the “hero.” I have never seen him told in such a way, so the title of the film turned out to be very accurate to what it delivered. The characterization of Dracula as a family man willing to sacrifice his humanity to protect his family and people made him someone worth watching and made me actually care about his circumstances. This film turned a monster into a hero…and if that isn’t a story that has never been told before about Dracula, I don’t know what is.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<b>ON SEQUELS</b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 14px;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div style="font-size: 16px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlICLqJm7THYFEjqOdjiiwoanphnzCp5y3FlGU_pwq6Vip8IgQdT6xcMSYYdGgrVFpIrXIJQarxg_2Ge4Jwz8l1V22ihmSYaPyAlqbswkigxDxnVmDxCMCeVOVyAriK6gTog80kXGz_g0/s1600/9XnZlZ.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlICLqJm7THYFEjqOdjiiwoanphnzCp5y3FlGU_pwq6Vip8IgQdT6xcMSYYdGgrVFpIrXIJQarxg_2Ge4Jwz8l1V22ihmSYaPyAlqbswkigxDxnVmDxCMCeVOVyAriK6gTog80kXGz_g0/s1600/9XnZlZ.png" height="199" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>AV: </b>This one’s in the bag already, oh Pontificatorious one. Universal is all-in with a three-Dracula film trilogy and that is just the start. With a whole phalanx of movies streaming at us filled with werewolves, mummies, Frankenstein’s Monster(s?) and the like, we will soon see theaters filled with more monsters than we can shake a pitchfork at. Lets hope for Universal’s sake, those theaters won’t be empty. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<b style="font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0px;">TP:</b><span style="font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0px;"> Usually the box office bottom line determines the future fate sequels, but it seems Universal is “all in” and the film certainly set itself up to continue the story… and the next chapter will most assuredly be very different than the first.</span> </div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<b>RATE IT!</b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 14px;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj1fDYKZrS8hQJ1_-zlMOFjIraucYU-1uXOHXGbUMfPmnryGtoMcFNb3YAawmQWoL1h5r3URFBp0qs9it_sdzaR_80h68nvze7mF3CASFwhMwFRUOYsqiKCALxkS2UMDYpLs6NNjg3wHI/s1600/racu_1412369344.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj1fDYKZrS8hQJ1_-zlMOFjIraucYU-1uXOHXGbUMfPmnryGtoMcFNb3YAawmQWoL1h5r3URFBp0qs9it_sdzaR_80h68nvze7mF3CASFwhMwFRUOYsqiKCALxkS2UMDYpLs6NNjg3wHI/s1600/racu_1412369344.jpg" height="320" width="202" /></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>ARTH VADER rates Dracula Untold:</b> From its dopey name to the downright non-sensical story, Dracula Untold is bleeding opportunities (see what I did there?) trying to tell a good story with a lot of holes. If this new ‘universe’ is to move forward in the right direction, Universal has to do better. With sparks of promise in the performances of the two primary Vamps and strong visual effects, this Dracula reboot (now that its been told and stuff) has potential but still has a long, long way to go. Still, as entertaining as it is ridiculous, I grab my garlic and my holy cross and jam wooden stakes into the hearts of 6 busted blocks in the hopes that Dracula Untold will rise again, better than ever. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<b style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0px;">THE PONTIFICATOR rates Dracula Untold:</b><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0px;"> Love, sacrifice, revenge and hope are what carried this film for me. Yes, I loved the action. Yes I loved the effects. What got me most was the underlying theme of all the entirety of the film happening for a love so strong, it trumped the thirst for blood. With a story truly “untold” this film drained seven (7) busted and bloody blocks.</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Helvetica;"><b>Dracula Untold: 6.5 Busted Blocks</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZWIBRAki2ujax2bOdpAWOKSoUL4LKDmIGzakeuSpgka_QYJZSNVFneLJVwerrtxvR_pel_CV381AV7L710A6Ad5zmQ9jn0azzCUGDFpX4EJL5AdIEy7_99o6_4OIggsoGetil29UN9RM/s1600/TheBoxedOffice_6.5+busted+blocs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZWIBRAki2ujax2bOdpAWOKSoUL4LKDmIGzakeuSpgka_QYJZSNVFneLJVwerrtxvR_pel_CV381AV7L710A6Ad5zmQ9jn0azzCUGDFpX4EJL5AdIEy7_99o6_4OIggsoGetil29UN9RM/s1600/TheBoxedOffice_6.5+busted+blocs.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Helvetica;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />ArthV8Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425459411323956859noreply@blogger.com0