Midnight in Paris (2011)

Actors: Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Kathy Bates, Kurt Fuller, Michael Sheen, Carla Bruni etc
Director: Woody Allen

This piece of cinema is about nostalgia and exploring yourself. Perhaps not the finest piece that Allen has directed but a good effort.
Gil (Owen Wilson) is an successful Hollywood writer who is in Paris with his girlfriend Inez (Rachel McAdams) and her parents on a trip. Gil wants to become a serious author but is not having much success in this department. He is searching for himself. There is some amusing and really funny scenes when the couple spend time with some long lost friends and the pompous Paul brilliantly played by Michael Sheen drives Gil to despair. He is also reminded that perhaps it is not all that rosy in his relationship with Inez. Gil is also obsessed with the 1920's intellectual Paris.
Unexplained one night at the stroke of midnight a grand old car stops and picks Gil up. He is transported to the very era and gets a chance to meet Gertrude Stein, Salvador Dali, Pablo Picasso, Ernest Hemingway, Cole Porter to name a few. This happens night after night and he even gets critique of his novel by Gertrude Stein.
Gil is transformed and takes all his impressions in. Naturally is his girlfriend convinced that he has an affair. The aspect of time travel is never explored but just happens which is refreshing and is not needed.

Is nostalgia necessary? Would it be better to live in a different era? How can I make the most of my own time? Allen tries hard to address these issues and sadly it is mostly felt like a half bake cake. He never really manage to answer any of theses potentially interesting questions nor to show any resolve in the story.
Perhaps the answer that is indeed answered is to make the most of the time we live in now and that each era has its own merits. Our main character is faced with a dilemma when he with a girl is transported back to Moulin Rouge during "La Belle Epoque". She is from the 1920's but is longing to another era. According to her that is the best era. This makes the main character to think about his own situation and eventually break up with his most unsympathetic girlfriend. Eventually he meets a girl who shares his beliefs that Paris is at its most beautiful when it is raining.
This film have some funny moments and some interesting thoughts. However it at times become almost tedious when the main character bumps into yet another intellectual legend never seemingly learning anything. He is only impressed and shows how one dimensional he sadly is.
The outcome of the film is probably to make the most of the time we live in. It is great to have a notion of nostalgia but you only think about a fraction of the aspects of the time.

Rating: 3 out of 5

Tremors (1990)

Actors: Kevin Bacon, Fred Ward and Finn Carter

Director: Ron Underwood

What can beat an underground blind prehistoric hungry monster that responds to vibration?

Not very much. This is a fun action movie before CGI. The monster is this slimy snake like being that moves fast under the surface and likes to eat people. 

The sleepy village of Perfection gets invaded. The heroes are the two overgrown handy men of the village. They try to get out and into the big world. 

Obviously nothing is explained and in the end a happy ending. All of a sudden people start to get eaten. The scenario is a remote part of USA surrounded by mountains and only one road out. Of course the road gets blocked and the good people of Perfection is stuck. 

There is some wonderful characters in this film. The couple who have built their own fortress with a basement full of all sorts of fire arms. The elephant rifle is proving to be very useful in the end. 

The two main characters are the epitome of how americans like to see themselves. Resourceful and in the end without any external support they save the towns people. Or at least the once that survives. 

One could find so many flaws in the film but that is beside the point. It is sheer good old action. No real thought is required and one can simply rest and just enjoy the film. 

Stable one knows that in the end it will be a happy ending.

This is before CGI so the special effects is a full size monster built up. It is great fun. No trying to even remotely look realistic and one can almost see the seams in the costume. As an added bonus when the monsters get blown up it is sheer orange gunk that is splashed all over.

I hope anyone that watches this good piece of action will enjoy it as much as I do.

Rating: 3 out of 5

Edge of seventeen (1998)

Actors: Chris Stafford, Tina Holmes, Andersen Gabrysh and Stephanine McVay
Director: David Moreton

This near perfect coming out movie is wonderful. It is set in 1984 Ohioo and it gets everything right.
The era, music, props and plot.
It is one of the most realistic and tender films. It does not offer a sweet ending and that is just one of the many strength of the film.
Confusion, sex, love, orientation, pivotal moments and wanting to please all and no-one.

Eric is a high school student who is dreaming to get to New York. He and his best friend Mag take a summer job at a restaurant at the local fair ground. The other guy is there. Amongst confusion and the shake of some whipped cream it is soon official.
Who am I this film oozes and never really answers. Some amazing acting and pivotal moments stays and one only wants to jump in and say; Hold on, do the right thing.
They do not do the right thing.
The confusion that enters everyone is so real and not to be forgotten.
Who am I, who are your, who are we?
Questions that is in all families of teenage kids growing up to fast. The thrill of finding one self is evident and so steeped in a sense of loss.
One of the strength is that it captures the mid 1980's so perfectly. Music, fashion and social attitudes all combined.
Is the main character a hero? Not sure about this. However he breaks a woman's heart so hard it will give him nightmares for a long time. He has just convinced to consummate the so call relationship. No words except him repeating "I am sorry" manifest how she has gulled both of them to think this is it. She is betrayed and he knows he has done this.
Once he has come out to his mother more hardship. He gets a hug however no love from his mother. The movie is wonderful. Full of spot on music and fashion. The storyline is with depth and integrity. A must see.
Rating 4.5 out of 5

The dark knight rises (2012)

SPOILER ALERT


Actors: Christian Bale, Gary Oldman, Michael Caine, Tom Hardy, Anne Hathaway, Marion Cottilard, Morgan Freeman, Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Director: Christopher Nolan

Hell hath no fury as a woman scorned or revenge is a dish served painfully slow and cold. That in a nutshell can summarise this cinematic even.
So far the biggest cinematic anticipation of 2012 by all means. The cinema was almost sold out despite being the earliest screening of the day. That is a good sign and this film did not disappoint. Even though it is close to three hours long it flew by and was well presented. A good balance of stunning action scenes, philosophical questions, emotions and parallels to modern day society.
Batman is buried and have disappeared from a peaceful city. Bruce Wayne is the recluse billionaire who is living in an emotional void and have retired from as it seems life itself. He lives in his massive mansion and his only interaction is with his butler who is wonderfully played by Michael Caine.
Dark times are lurking and building up. Soon enough Bruce Wayne is waking up to again protect Gotham City and its inhabitants. A rather good parallel to what a civilised society is. What do we want to protect? What is the rule of law? Do we want complete freedom which as it is showed here equates to anarchy and summary rule of the mob. A pardon is the same as the alternative the death sentence.
Batman takes more than one battering and true to the original he is seriously wounded and again almost killed. Ironically even though he eventually saves Gotham City (The world) he is saved by Selina.
So many philosophical themes is put together and if this was not a shameless action movie it would feel rather preposterous. This is not the kind of film to read to much into these matters and one should simply enjoy its magnificence. Not many good action films are made these days so relish in this one.

The twist is the villain. It is not the muscles this time even if it is the muscles that almost break Batman in an epic fight that will put him into his hell hole. One must suppose that the director have had influence from the classics and inspired by Dante. However since Batman eventually manage to save the day he manages to literally climb his way out of his Inferno. The real villain puts true the saying that one should keep ones enemy closest. Batman is betrayed by what seems to be a supporter. She is seeking revenge from wrongdoings to her mother so you can see how Freudian it is.

One should not pay too much attention to all of this. If one did the film actually do not make sense and would fail miserably. However the film is so well directed despite its flaws in story that it is a joy to watch and enjoy. Even the ending is ok and slightly nauseating. However it is on knifes edge and Batman finally saves Gotham and all is returned to normal. The only worrying aspect is the final ending. Is the Director building up to another sequel? It certainly looks that way. For a moment one wonders have Batman perished in order to save Gotham? Of course not. After a mock funeral all is revealed and even Robin is identified and is brought to the Batcave. Only time will tell if there will be a follow up and if it can pull it all off......

Overall this is a return to very good action with good and bad guys. Despite flaws this cinema experience is fantastic and on so many levels flawless. Please enjoy..

Rating: 4 out of 5

My aim is not to write down movies. I love cinema and have watched a very fair number of films. It makes me distressed that a number of my reviews have been negative. It is just a reflection of the state of cinema at the moment. The last thing I want is to come across as a grumpy cinema hater. I am not.

I have decided that I will mix reviews of new movie together with my DVD collection. Hopefully this will give some balance.
Cinema is an amazing art form and gives us so much. I wish it well and want generations after next to experience the greatness of this medium of versatile and emotional art.

I hope that you will continue to follow me in my quest of giving you reviews of the art of cinema.....

Julie/Julia (2009)
Director: Nora Ephron
Actors: Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, Chris Messina and Stanley Tucci

What a joy to watch. Here I am feeling that I only review in a grumpy way. That is not true. It is just that films lately have been so bad.
This wonderful film is an exception. A reminder that even in present day good films are being made. That is a revelation, even though it should not have to be.
The film is a parallel story that is finely moved together. It is of course about the great Julia Child and her modern day counterpart who decides to recreate all the cooking during one year.
So far so easy.
Julia Child is of course the master and legend of bringing French cooking to the American audience. Julie has no purpose.
The iconic first scene of the film is a one of joy. Julia Child in a French restaurant in Rouen in 1947 and her first taste of sublime cooking; Sole meuniere.
One of the best scenes describing the joy of tasting something great for the first time. The sensual joy, pleasure and again joy of a taste sensation is marvellous to watch.
The film never reverts to sad melancholy which is a great thing. The story of the lives of Julia and Julie unfolds both as it should and showing the bond Julie has with her non present mentor. The fact that they never meet is a great fact and would have ruined this great film.
Meryl Streep as always show why she is an masterful actress. She is truly wonderful and master both the body language and voice of Julia Child to perfection. It is like one star playing each other.
The film has depth and language and speaks volume.
I feel that I have been seen as a grumpy reviewer and that is no fun. It is just a lack of good films.
This is a great way of entertain yourself and to be inspired. Everything is possible and lets go cooking.
As Julia always said: "Bon appetite"

Rating: 4 out of 5

Prometheus (2012)

Director: Ridley Scott
Actors: Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron, Guy Pearce, Sean Harris

I was very excited when booking this movie. In the cinema they said it was fully booked. I had felt a buzz for a while and perhaps this was it. A great director coming back to his original genre. 3D.
Could it get any better?
They guy in the cinema asked if I needed 3d glasses which I declined. Prudent enough I have saved my original pair of spectacles. The auditorium was close to full and the adverts closing. I was so in for a treat.
How wrong I was.
Fair enough the 3D effect was stunning. The added effect put on post production had really paid off. Stunning. Not to much and just right.
So this is the good part. The rest of the film was mediocre to say the least. Visually stunning, bravo for minimising CGI and some profound questions. It should work but sadly not. It is all about questions and no answers. However the suspense from the original never turns up. Perhaps one should never tamper with an original. It feels greatly that there is no suspense whatsoever and only weird creatures that digest humans and the others alike.
The Freudian undertone is not beneficial and adds nothing. How is it that the crew knows about the founder of the company but not as it turns out about his daughter as it later turns out??
There is no struggle and no element of fear. Just weird creatures and a strange but visually landscape. Is this about biological warfare gone wrong, civilisation or the quest of ageing? No one knows.
This film could have been so much more if Ridley Scott had committed himself. It could pose so many moral, ethical and profound philosophical questions. It fails to answer any of them.
We are left with a stunning visual feast with slimy creature and no substance. I rather would have waited for the DVD.

Rating: 2.5 of 5