la-31 Reviews

X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)

Mixed Emotions of a female X-Men fan

[4/10 · 31 May 2006]

I wasn't going to write a review of this film - but after seeing how well it did at the box office, and seeing people rushing to heap praise on it, I felt compelled to write this.

I don't understand how anyone who has been an X-Men fan from before the first film could truly like this film. Now, that doesn't mean I'm saying don't go see it. But it doesn't necessarily mean that you will be entirely happy with what you see. I never read / bought comic books except for the rebooted X-Men in the 90s. I realize now that X-Men fans accepted and even appreciated the first two films because Bryan Singer is a talented filmmaker who didn't ignore (for the most part) the excellent writing and artistry of the X-Men phenomenon. I had a friend tell me that she's really not into superhero/science fiction films except for the X-Men. I think it can be explained by the 'team' aspect. It's because X-Men involve multiple personalities, powers, and the interplay on a "team" of superheroes. That's why the 'Superfriends' was always my favorite Saturday morning cartoon show when I was a child (yes, I know it's cheese). And hands down, the X-Men which flowed from those crazy minds at Marvel and Stan Lee are, hands down, the coolest superheroes ever. Wolverine alone, with his back story, is a legend.

This film delivers on the action, but to me the fights don't make sense (as many have pointed out on the message boards). And the scene with Jean Grey disintegrating Xavier with her mind was mindblowing (no pun intended). Well, to me those are the only two high points. If you want to see some mutants in action, and are not particular about which ones, then see the film. But I had issues with a whole host of things about this film - so Wolverine finds Cyclops' glasses, brings them back and NO ONE SAYS ANYTHING ??? The death of Cyclops deserves something more than a passing reference long after he has died!!! Why did Phoenix kill him? For the hell of it? She could have killed lots of lesser people, she tortures or plays with others, yet she kills the man who resurrects her. This was basically the most ridiculous part of the film. And no one blinks an eye.

The final assault with Magneto lobbing cars set on fire by Pyro has to be the lamest idea I can think of. That scene lacked the intensity and mass scale that a true X Men fight could entail. And other than Storm and Wolverine, we're left with no one else with whom we've connected. Iceman just seemed too 'green.' It was all about Wolverine.

The script of this film is lame, and is it me, or do the actors look like they're done with this? Of course, Halle Berry has never really been Storm - she was always "phoning in" her performance, and has always just played Halle Berry in an X-Men uniform.

This movie is definitely worse than its predecessor, so don't let ticket sales fool you. What else were people gonna see on Memorial Day weekend? People are seeing this film DESPITE the fact that Brett Ratner has completely massacred (in some cases literally) the X-Men name. They're seeing this film because of the X-Men - who shine through a crap-fest of a film. And yeah, a lot of stuff explodes and there are loud noises. Enjoy. I could have done without.

Beautiful Girls (1996)

Finding sweetness and the extraordinary in the least likely of places..

[7/10 · 15 April 2006]

I have to say that I've become a little obsessed with this film. I saw it for the first time yesterday - it's free through my on-demand digital cable. So I watched most of it again tonight, fast forwarding through the scenes I didn't want to see. I had heard about it years ago, and remembered thinking it might be entertaining. It's a mixed bag - not without its flaws, and some clichéd characters, but entertaining and an interesting story overall. What I love most are all the scenes between the 28-year-old male central character (Timothy Hutton) and 13-year-old girl (Natalie Portman)infatuated with each other. Don't be alarmed. It's strictly platonic,but the filming, acting, dialogue, even staging/choreography (what is it called for films?) associated with those scenes is just poetic. And sweetly sad.

The story is fairly standard - a young man (Timothy Hutton playing Willie) returns to his small hometown for some soul searching/guidance about his direction in life, as well as his 10-year high school reunion He has been living in New York City as a struggling pianist, and is at a crossroads with his girlfriend of 11 months, lawyer Tracy (played by Annabeth Gish). He reunites and hangs out with his old buddies, played raucously by Matt Dillon, Noah Emmerich, Michael Rapaport and Max Perlich. There is the standard hanging out and drinking, and more drinking. The loves and tribulations of his buddies propel much of the plot forward. However, the crux of the film is Willie's conflicts about how to proceed forward (should he marry Tracy? is she really the "One"? should he quit trying to make it as a pianist, and just take a sales job?). And this crisis is sort of given form (in my opinion) in this interaction which blossoms into something more between Willie and Marty (Portman's character).

I became an instant fan of Timothy Hutton after watching this film. He actually shares excellent chemistry with Natalie Portman. A bit weird, because I think they were actually around 36 and 15 respectively when this film came out. What's funny is that usually in films, the young kid has the inappropriate crush on the adult, which then resolves itself magically somehow. Or it's just a case of straight-up pedophelia (sp?). In this case, he seems to fall first for her precocious wit and cutting, insightful banter, and is obviously disturbed by it. She also is attracted to him - as she tells him, she has an "old soul." And when she in fact declares her feelings to him in her vivacious charming way. Timothy Hutton's laugh and expression are priceless - a perfect mixture of amusement, guilt, embarrassment, surprise and of course, longing/fascination. I absolutely loved his illustration of the impossibility of their situation with the Winnie the Pooh and Christopher Robin story (the ending of which I didn't know until I saw this film). I also liked how the actors always maintained an awkward air and careful distance in the scenes. It added a great deal of impact.

I think this love story is probably the purest sort of love I've ever seen in a Hollywood film - his attraction didn't begin on the physical level, and hers was just as pure, coming from a 13-year-old, although she was not your average 13 year old. Natalie Portman played the role perfectly. This attraction remain unrealized, and was thus preserved. A bit sad.

But very watchable. Highly recommended for those scenes, if you like that sort of poignancy. The acting all around is top rate in this film, but Timothy Hutton seems to inhabit his character completely. He portrays specific mannerisms, expressions and actions which perfectly convey his characters exasperation, with a subtle angst. He usually has this slight amused smile, which seems to be Willie's little foible. I have watched this film numerous times, and usually stare at Timothy Hutton whenever he's on screen, even when he's not the center of action or dialogue. It actually made me a little envious that I'm too old to try and become an actor. He was very inspiring.

The New World (2005)

Beauty of Spirit and Nature

[7/10 · 1 February 2006]

This film, if taken on the level(s) of what it sets out to portray, is gorgeous and simply without equal. It has its flaws, but it's a film that ought to be judged by the vision which drives it. On the aesthetic level, one can hardly find flaw with it. Malick is brilliant in that he incorporates elements which mainstream Hollywood has trained itself and its unthinking audiences to avoid and/or have no taste for : long, drawn-out scenes of nature, many times of simple stillness or limited "action"; actors using their bodies and faces rather than the spoken word ; soundtrack-musicless scenes which transport the viewer into that place and time... There are countless other examples to be sure. This was the first film by Terrence Malick that I've seen, and I loved this style. There will be some who will not enjoy it, so be warned. I, however, was prepared for it, having read about the film and Malick's style beforehand. I had moderate expectations of this film, going in, and they were completely surpassed.

Malick is also walking an interesting line between myth and reality in this film. It's a unique combination which I've not seen before. Although the film has elements which are more realistic than in other portrayals of the Pocahontas story, the film's story, in the end, recounts the known 'legend' version. So people will potentially find 'holes' in that aspect of the film. I am not altogether familiar with the most historically accurate chain of events, but I found the reverential treatment of Pocahontas by the white settlers a bit extreme. Especially since she was the only female for quite some time in the colony, and was surrounded by a bunch of desperate, half-starved men.

However, it's important to note the themes which really drive this film, which I am assuming, are Malick's vision : the almost spiritual beauty of the untouched wilderness of Virginia ; the similar purity of the Native tribes, so fittingly referred a few times as "naturals," and the vile intrusion on all this by the white colonization. I believe the portrayal of the English colonists and the elements they brought with them is as close to reality as I've ever seen in a film. They were shown as not necessarily intending evil (well, at least not all the time!), just doing things as they thought fit, without regard to anything else. Malick still doesn't excuse the evil outcome of all this, and is simply contrasting the two societies. And what a stark contrast! I'm not Native American, but to me, the film portrayed the tribes with a post-modern perspective of admiration, almost envy, and the fascination of an outsider. And clearly from a point of sympathy. In the end, one can never escape the fact that people lived on this land, and strangers from afar came with expectations of usurping it. Simple as that. If one reverses the roles, ie, whites in their native land contending with strangers from afar, one can get an idea of that sympathy. At least, that's how I always imagine it, and I never understand people who feel defensive and try to justify colonialism. There is justification for respect for another in their land, and mutual trade and co-existence. There is no justification for hostility, stealing land and genocide.

All of the actors in this film were outstanding. I think all the Native American actors deserve recognition for their amazing transformations. The way they moved, looked, stood, crouched, etc. It was phenomenal to watch. In all the scenes involving the tribe, I was just riveted, in awe. In all honesty, I felt the amazement, curiosity, fascination, and trepidation which those early colonists probably felt. This is probably a result of the whole style, but the Native actors deserve praise for this.

The three main actors, Q'orianka Kilcher, Colin Farrell and Christian Bale, were excellent. Kilcher was completely believable in her portrayal of the instinctual teenaged Pocahontas. She was natural in the role, though she is so young. Between Farrell and Bale, I had much higher expectations of the latter, and he didn't disappoint. He was just amazing. Bale's John Rolfe has much less screen time, and less dialogue but he was able to capture and convey the conflict and past of the character effectively. I have to admit that I am a prior fan of Bale, but Colin Farrell is the one whom I'd vote 'most improved.' His portrayal of John Smith is surprisingly nuanced, complex and rather subdued, the latter in keeping with the whole theme of the film. I think it's quite a feat for Colin Farrell, who really should be proud of his performance. I was going to make a comment about his Irish accent, which he makes no effort to disguise, but since Malick didn't have a problem with it, who am I? :) But truly, I think this has to be one of Christian Bale's best performances, though I haven't seen all his films (just three others). Part of the reason why I enjoyed his performance, and the others, is that I had read that Malick was asking the actors to ad-lib a lot. So I watched for this, and actually noted such a naturalness in many scenes, that I thought they HAD to be ad-libbed! My own favorite is when Pocahontas falls down, and she and John Rolfe dissolve into laughter. That seemed completely genuine / unscripted. It was a very sweet moment to leave in an otherwise awe-inspiring film.

If there is one complaint that I have, it's that I find the love story/triangle rather trite, but then again it has its roots in history, and that's not really a criticism of the cast or director or the others who performed their jobs beautifully on this film.

Laurel Canyon (2002)

A predictable vision that lacks force

[4/10 · 18 January 2006]

I wasn't quite sure what I thought of this film when I saw it a few months back on cable. It's one of those films that's lauded by the art house crowd (and I don't mean that to be dismissive of the art house crowd in general). It's not that bad (there are way worse movies), but it's not "all that" either. I read some of the reviews already posted, and some of them have put their finger on what it is that makes this a rather dry, un-insightful film - one person says that it lays out some momentous issues/behavior, then just falls flat without carrying them through, ie, there's no impact. That's certainly true in a number of areas of the film.

Kate Beckinsale's character is rather obvious. To me, she represented the typical Hollywood perspective of the dull, conservative, disciplined achiever now destined to be drawn to the wild side. And though she seems to truly love Sam, her coy, almost flirty follow up scene with 'rocker' Alessandro Nivola's character is mystifying to me (this is when they run into each other again on the street). Does she truly regret what she did? Or is she just ambivalent? Does she want to leave Sam for the rocker (sorry can't remember the name of the character at the moment). Maybe that's all up for interpretation, and left vague on purpose, but again it lessens the impact of that whole scenario. I thought she was being rather stupid, and I was actually annoyed with Beckinsale's performance.

One thing which has to be mentioned, which I've already read either on the message boards, or another review, is that for all the 'hard rocker' image of the band, and even Frances McDormand's character, the music is trite pop. It didn't go, and just seemed like the projection of someone not in tune with different genres of music.

The message at the end of the film is rather depressing. Sam, despite all his efforts to not become his parent, starts leaning towards that side. It seems to be an inevitable, insidious pull, this hedonism. Like the Dark Side of the Force. Except in this filmmaker's eyes, it's okay. Sam is portrayed as judgmental, disapproving of his mother, but I found the whole film rather judgmental and disapproving of not really Sam himself, but of what he represents - the opposite of hedonism, rocking out, etc. "Hey kick loose, take a swig of beer, and have a taboo sexual relation or two..." While they rock out, the conservative Harvard guy will be running the country. And I'm not saying this as an advocate of conservatives. I'm just making a very specific critique of this viewpoint, and it's downside. To be fair, I think Sam's mother doesn't have as disapproving of a tone, as the entire film seems to take, especially with the turn of events, and the ending with Sam being just flustered.

In the end, the film is a little trite for me, and rather depressing. None of the characters in the film have lives all that compelling. Maybe I was disappointed with Christian Bale and Kate Beckinsale's characters for not following their own drummers. In that type of atmosphere, they would have been the real rebels...

Of all the actors, Frances McDormand probably gave the best performance. Christian Bale is in yet another film that squanders his talent. Despite all the hype and his rabid fan-base, he has not been in that many great films. The man definitely is a great talent, though. Here, I found his performance a little forced. His accent was not southern Californian to me (I grew up in southern California, and live in West LA). Kate Beckinsale was alright, Allesandro Nivola was average, and Natascha McElhone was predictable.

Pitch Black (2000)

A unique pleasant surprise - highly recommended

[7/10 · 12 January 2006]

I saw this on video - and was pleasantly surprised. The sci-fi/horror genre is very tired and trite - but this film managed to take a pretty standard premise and give it some interesting and creative twists. I also like the fact that the actors are not big stars (which obviously changed for Vin Diesel). Unique to have some Muslims in the future - what a concept. As a Muslim, I thought that was dope! This movie is far better than the sequel, the Chronicles of Riddick, which is visually more stunning and complicated, but absolutely lame in the plot department.

What really makes this film unique is the alien/monster. Highly recommended.

I Heart Huckabees (2004)

A one-of-a-kind gem!

[8/10 · 7 November 2005]

I went to see the Chinese film 'Hero' randomly in the theatre (I rarely see movies in the cinema), and watched a trailer at the beginning for a mystifying movie called 'I Heart Huckabees.' I have to admit, I became a little obsessed. I couldn't wait for the film to open. And then of course, I never saw it. In the theatre. Soon after it came out on DVD, I began visiting Blockbuster to rent it. About three times, I went and they were out of copies! I finally managed to rent it.

This is one of the most original and genuinely funny films I have ever seen. I absolutely love philosophy, and goofy, intelligent comedy, and this film combines the two genres beautifully. So much so, that I begrudgingly began to concede that Jude Law might actually have some talent after all. His scenes with Naomi Watts are stellar. Now, I can never hear Shania Twain without thinking of tuna fish sandwiches and Jude Law. And Watts is hysterical. The rest of the main actors - Lily Tomlin, Mark Wahlberg, and Jason Schwartzman (even annoying Dustin Hoffman) do an excellent job with this script. The scene with Wahlberg's character arriving at the fire had me crying from laughing.

You MUST watch this movie. It would help if you knew a little about existentialism and nihilism (especially the former). But if you don't, I guarantee this film will still make you both laugh and think.

Hart to Hart (1979–1984)

A sweet, entertaining show in its time

[29 October 2005]

I was in elementary school in the late 70s when this show debuted, but my mother loved watching it, and so it has a soft spot in my heart. It will seem dated now, but the chemistry between Robert Wagner and Stephanie Powers as well as the glamorous settings made for fun viewing. As a jet set couple very much in love, the show has a nostalgic positive vibe that is sadly missing these days. I really like the fact that they are very happily MARRIED. Very 70s-Sidney Sheldon chic. I would love to see an intelligent, non-goofy remake of Hart to Hart. It would require intelligence as well as good looks in the two leads. And obviously great chemistry! Both of these original actors are very classy, and it would be hard to top them. I highly recommend this to anyone who likes romance and mystery, 70s style.

Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place (1998–2001)

One of the funniest sit-coms ever

[25 September 2005]

This was one of the funniest sit-coms ever, and it's a shame that it had low ratings. Both the writing and acting were top rate. I usually hate TV sit coms. The actors tend to over do it, and most stories are trite, ie, been there, done that. But Two Guys, A Girl and a Pizza Place was always innovatively funny, and, I think, very genuine for the age group it was portraying. This show is much better than 'Friends' because TGAGPP was so over the top, but it still had this sweetness to it. It's difficult to explain unless you've seen it. The key to its success are the three main characters, especially Berg and Pete, who were so wacky, but not overdone. But even Johnny, Sharon's boyfriend was a great element in the whole mix. And all the actors were perfect. I truly miss this show. I highly recommend it.

Thunderheart (1992)

Excellent-highly recommended

[7/10 · 11 September 2005]

This is one of those films which you remember years later. I think the acting is excellent, and the backdrop of the massacre at Wounded Knee was just haunting. It's an overlooked movie I always tell friends about. The plot may seem standard, but I thought that it had enough twists to be interesting. The film opened my eyes to the sad chapter of history that was the colonizing of the West. As an American, I've been enamored of Native American history and culture since watching this film. I've heard that Val Kilmer has some Native blood in him, not sure which tribe. For some reason, his acting was really convincing, as the 'mixed' blood struggling with his own ambivalence and personal issues with his father.