RoninDeVamas

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007)

"POTC: At World's End" is a good movie, but lacking in some areas

"At World's End" has a lot going on. A whole lot.

The most confusing part of "At World's End" is that nearly every main character has a subplot. Normally, I wouldn't see that as a bad thing in a movie, since I believe highly in character motivation and development. The problem that occurs in "At World's End" is that the subplots of the main characters overlap so many times through constant bartering and twists that it takes away from character development. Whereas "The Curse of The Black Pearl" had nice moments where characters would intermingle and development would take place, "At World's End" suffers from having too many of those moments that are too brief and convoluted to see development. It is just too complicated, and even with repeated viewings, you will have trouble making sense of things.

What "At World's End" does have going for it are the two key subplots to the overall story that work nicely into the climax of the film. Understanding what these subplots are helps to make some sense of where the film is going and actually highlights key characters. The trick to enjoying these subplots is in keeping track.

What is disappointing for me is that there isn't much time for the actors to really bring their stuff in the movie. "At World's End" continues to have a great cast, but the convoluted story doesn't allow many opportunities for them to stand on their own and play their character to their greatest potential. But there is praise to be given: Bill Nighy and Naomie Harris flesh out their characters very well, and there is a definite chemistry between them that is one of the highlights of the film. It will be something to look forward to in seeing these actors play their part in "At World's End".

Overall, this is a fairly good film. It suffers from being overly complicated, but there are nice moments between characters that can be looked forward to. I'd recommend watching it after seeing the first two films, as a lot of "At World's End" continues from them.

Rating: ** 1/2 - Fairly Good

I Am Legend (2007)

"I Am Legend" seems to hold back

For a post-apocalyptic horror film, "I Am Legend" seems to hold back from the intense drama that one would expect. It does this is several ways:

The Dark Seekers (as the monsters were named during production) aren't as developed of a threat to truly give a sense of danger and tension to the film. They are presented as one-dimensional, serving primarily as the enemy to Robert Neville without developing a firm hero/villain relationship. The Dark Seekers are simply characterized as being completely inhuman and any sign to the contrary is made void. It is shown that Robert wants to cure them, but there isn't much emphasis on the humanity that he sees in the Dark Seekers as an important plot point. Had there been greater development on the Dark Seekers as characters, "I Am Legend" would've been a better movie.

What I will compliment on is the psychological drama that Will Smith and the filmmakers have portrayed in Robert Neville and his disconnection from the rest of humanity. His interaction with the mannequins were humorous, but the lifelessness of the dolls made such moments very eerie and shows you just how close to the edge Robert really is. Again, the psychological drama would have expanded and a new level of anxiety would have been reached had the Dark Seekers been developed as more human characters and Robert Neville been driven to save what humanity was left in them.

One aspect of "I Am Legend" that I do have a discrepancy against is how quick the film ended upon the arrival of Anna and Ethan. They didn't become involved in Robert Neville's efforts and so there wasn't the development of psychological attachment that would've made Anna and Ethan truly significant characters.

The reason for Robert Neville to become a "legend" in this interpretation doesn't seem to ring in consideration with everything that he has gone through. The legacy that Robert Neville should be remembered for shouldn't necessarily be the cure itself, but the drama that he underwent to obtain it. Unfortunately, the emphasis on this major plot point seems to be lost in favor of focusing on Robert Neville as being "the last man on Earth."

Rating: *** - Good

Spider-Man 3 (2007)

Not what it seems at first glance...

I have finished watching "Spider-Man 3" for a second time after my initial viewing when it first came out. I must admit, I have a greater appreciation for this film once I watched it more intently.

Like many others, my initial impression of the film was that it was filmed half-hazard. There was too much going for there to be any development; the Peter-Harry conflict was pushed aside in favor for an appearance of Venom; the Sandman's involvement in killing Uncle Ben being a terrible subplot and made the events of the first film void; and the horrific Peter dance. All of this made me despise "Spider-Man 3" when I first watched it.

However, with my second viewing, I decided to watch the behind-the-scenes concept work to understand why the film was made the way it was. I watched the film afterward more objectively to see what I could interpret from the film.

Having done that, I have come up with this observation: "Spider-Man 3" completes the trilogy in that Peter Parker finally becomes a man. In the previous films, Peter is tested in upholding his motto "With great power comes great responsibility" and succeeds in doing this while winning the heart of Mary Jane Watson. In "Spider-Man 3", Peter becomes confident with his success and feels that he is ready to marry his love and be a mature, understanding husband.

However, Peter demonstrates his immaturity by letting his confidence become pride. As a result, Peter acts with ignorance and selfishness: he is ignorant of Mary Jane's need for his understanding and feels confident that he doesn't need any help to keep him on the right track. The events of the film and how it negatively affects those around him result from Peter giving in to the temptations of power and success, the evil stemming from it manifesting in the form of Venom.

There is a large amount of character development on the part of Peter Parker as he recognizes his own immaturity and decides to confront it. Harry Osborn likewise realizes the faultiness of seeking revenge. Eddie Brock becomes a victim of his own ambitions when he favors the power given as Venom in light of his personal failure, resulting in his demise. The only superhuman character acting unselfishly is Flint Marko, whose motivation for committing crimes is to save the life of his daughter. Mary Jane Watson and Aunt May act as the medium through which Peter Parker obtains maturity, albeit after his downfall.

Admittedly, there are several aspects of the film that are unnecessary. However, upon understanding the deep moral message driving the events of the film, I find that "Spider-Man 3" is a surprisingly mature film that needs multiple viewings to appreciate.

Rating: ** 1/2 - Fairly Good

The Condemned (2007)

Surprising actually

This is my first review after over a year of not writing reviews, but it feels good to be back.

Now on to "The Condemned":

I had low expectations for this movie, mainly because it was advertised as a purely action genre. The plot of televising people fighting one another for survival has been used before, and usually end up the same way.

This film wasn't so different from that formula, but it surprised me the emotion that pervaded the film. It was rough and unrelenting, and I actually felt anxious during certain scenes.

Stone Cold Steve Austin was actually impressive in this film. Although it wasn't Oscar-worthy material, he showed a surprising ability to convey a caring, yet sarcastic humanity behind his character. Austin didn't make this movie entirely, though, as several of the supporting characters also gave an impression of depression and intensity -- intensity of which must be given to Vinnie Jones.

The conclusion of the film is, surprisingly, also fulfilling. It is really intense and brings out just how faulty and violence-oriented we as human beings really are.

Although it didn't possess the deeply involving storyline and deep character relationships and development that I usually look for in a good movie, I find "The Condemned" to be a rather enjoyable and provoking film.

Rating: ** out of five

New Dinoman214 rating system:

***** - Absolutely Must-See

**** - Great

*** - Good

** - Fair

* - Poor

• Do not see for the sake of your sanity and savings account

The Batman vs. Dracula (2005)

The Batman in it's purest form.

I have to say, I was rather surprised by how dark and intense "The Batman vs. Dracula" was. I had heard that there was more blood and the fights were intense, but this was beyond words. All of the characters were terrific, and we see the evil, twisted psyche of Joker that is mostly absent from "The Batman" series; in a way, he's even more insane in this movie than any other I have ever seen.

Anyway, I really enjoyed how this movie flowed. At first it's somewhat fast paced, but to the point and it remains consistent, so the viewer doesn't really get confused at all. Then it mellows out, giving time for the story and characters to develop. Each character has their niche, some of whom will make your skin crawl (this is especially the case for Joker).

All in all, this is DEFINITELY NOT for children. Watching this will give them nightmares for nights on end. Even I have flashes of the most awe- and terror-inspiring points of the film.

Honestly, I'm at a loss of words at how well this movie played out. Normally I'd use better words, but I can't at the moment. I'll just say that this would be a perfect Batman movie for any fan or non-fan.

Spider-Man 2 (2004)

Experience the unbelievable!

Spider-Man 2: The Movie Game is by far the best super-hero game ever!

In the sequel to its predecessor, Spider-Man 2 gives the player the opportunity to actually live the life of a super-hero, with the abilities to interact with people and objects. The layout for the game is very similar to that of the Grand Theft Auto series, so you can do what you want, when you want, and how you want to -- an experience that Spider-Man: The Movie Game lacked. Being more open-ended, you have a choice of which assigned mission you would like to do first in special layouts called 'chapters'. Accomplishing each mission grants you Hero Points (the modern currency for all tight-wearing heroes), which you can use to buy special combos or locomotion upgrades. Accomplishing each mission makes you one step closer to entering the next chapter.

In this game, locomotion and combat tactics are completely advanced. Instead of sticking to the clouds, Spider-Man's web connects to any building that it is pointed to, allowing Spider-Man to swing and gain momentum for the next thread. You can swing the corner of a building to make a turn, or swing from a skyscraper to gain tremendous speed.

If you don't want to swing around, then you can do what was well-needed in the previous game: Sprinting. This makes you move far faster than a run and can help you reach a destination far faster than wall-crawling. Aside from wall-crawling, you can also sprint on the walls (called Wall-Sprinting) or Hyper Crawl (a far faster mode of wall-crawling). Instead of the annoying Zip-Line technique, you can charge up your jump for a Hyper Spring. This leap uses Spidey's strength to leap tremendous distances, allowing you to leap from building to building.

Combat has changed with new combos and dodging enhancements. New combos can sometimes be accomplished by executing a four-button combo or by executing a three-button combo and rapidly pressing an extra button. The Spider-Sense is now triggered whenever Spidey is about to be attacked, and precise timing will allow Spidey to dodge the attack with ease and execute a counter-attack. If you are having trouble, Spidey can also enter into Spider-Reflexes Mode -- a special combat mode that allows Spidey to move far faster than his enemies for a limited time. This mode can change the way Spidey attacks and can sometimes allow Spidey to execute special combos. Fortunately, you have unlimited -- yet harmless -- webbing that can give you an advantage over well-armed foes or over a group of enemies.

Classic characters have entered into the game and some are making a come-back. The mighty Rhino robs a bank; the previously captured Shocker escapes; the master of illusion Mysterio causes havoc by causing an apparent alien take-over; and Doc Ock threatens the lives of your friends and family.

Also, the well-known Black Cat makes her premiere in this game as an ally for some of your many missions, especially those involving the Shocker. As usual, the game will eventually go along with the movie, but the game still possesses its open-ended layout.

In fact, combating these foes is also completely different. Instead of blindly pummeling the foe in the previous game, Spidey's villains have many tricks up their sleeves that may turn the tide on Spidey. Some will unfortunately get away, but you will be prepared for them next time.

This game actually possesses more of the legendary Spider-Man comedy than its predecessor. Many of them are wisecracks against his enemies, while others are self-criticizing. Either way, you may just belly-laugh at most of his funny moments.

Overall: well-built game-play; tremendous amount of opportunities to 'do whatever a spider can'; includes classic Spidey villains and allies; terrific graphics and special effects; excels in providing both direct and tactical combat; and amazing movies.

Rating: 10 out of 10. Highly recommended.

Shadow of the Vampire (2000)

Disturbing...

This movie was truly disturbing... ...but not in graphics and horror. This movie was disturbing in how it captured the true evil of the legendary vampire and the unsettledness of a set that has been portrayed by a perfectionist. A movie that captures such evil and psychosis possesses the true, dark, nightmarish atmosphere that even the best of horror films lack.

Willem Dafoe has given his best in this film. His dark aura that gave life to another villain he would later play -- the Green Goblin -- was perfect for the part of a deranged vampire who yearns from loneliness and hatred of his decomposing body. A being who is haunted by the loss of his past. Of his inability to make others like him, and be lonely no more. And yet, he is also a being that is always one step ahead of his demise, and manages to evade death and prevent his victims from escape with the same cunningness that would give him the part of one of the most evil of comic-book villains.

Though I've seen little of Malkovich, I thought that he played perfectly the part of the perfectionist. A perfectionist that is possessed by the desire of the perfect film that captures great evil and makes it's audience actually experience the feeling of a great dark presence. A film that 'doesn't make people say 'You should have been there', but that 'We have been there.'" A director whose desire of perfection puts the lives of even his most loyal of crew in the path of Death itself. A Death that has desires nowhere near as dark as the being that called upon it.

Such a film is nightmarish and heart-throbbing just by Shrek stepping from the hallow hallway and into the moonlight to welcome his 'guest'.

Overall: perfection...

Rating: 9 out of 10. A truly disturbing film with atmosphere that remains dark, even during the day...

The Big O (1999)

Sweet...

I am a fan of the Cartoon Network anime lineup, and by far this is the best show out of them all.

Unlike the other, more 'famous' anime shows (hence the Dragonball series), this show actually has realism in it. It isn't all action-packed. The show mostly surrounds negotiator Roger Smith uncovering information related to the jobs that his clients often give him or uncovering deep secrets about the forgotten past, in which an event forty years ago erased everyones' memory. It's pretty much talk, but it's interesting talk, because the talk that goes on throughout the show really relates to real-life situations--political corruption, the love for lost ones, and the desire to know the truth. Though this would bore an adrenaline-junkie, it would catch interest to those that I'd like to call 'down-to-Earthers', especially with the most wonderful music that is just too good to be put in a cartoon series.

But that doesn't mean that there isn't action. The battles that premiere in the series have enough action to supply that adrenaline junkie with all the sweat he needs (and all within just about five minutes, too).

Big O is by far the most successful amongst the dying robot-themed shows. Though the Transformers series seems to be long-lasting, it too is dying out as animators grow tired of constantly putting in the details of machinery and head to using computers as a way to 'build' the robots and give them movement. This type of animation doesn't blend in with the rest of the animation, thus fails (as seen in Transformers Energon).

Which brings up another point. Notice how the animation throughout the entire series remains constant. Sure the lighting changed, but the animation overall has remained the same. It shows that the people who drew up the series were determined to have the animation remain constant and nearly flawless (unlike in the Dragonball series when different animators draw separate episodes). This (especially when having giant robots battling) requires a lot of patience and loyalty.

And let me assure you that they have not gone unappreciated for their loyalty to the animation. Kudos, animators!

Overall: life-like characters that grow throughout the series; life-like situations; incredible animation; dazzling battles; and (most importantly), the most wonderful music for a cartoon ever.

Rating: 10 out of 10. The battle music still makes my neck hair stand up...

Samurai Jack (2001)

The Age of the Samurai has returned...

Samurai Jack is the definition of an action cartoon series.

It shows a magnificent samurai, dubbed the name Jack, on a journey to return to the past after he is sent to a dark and unwelcome future run by his archnemesis, the dark shape-shifting wizard Aku.

Along the way, he helps restore order to the forsaken wasteland run by evil controllers in often incredibly action-packed, or otherwise hilarious, ways (in one episode, Jack is turned into a rooster and is forced to take part in cock fighting--which is actually legal during that time).

Genndy Tartakouvsky is an animation genius, coming out with ideas such as Dexter's Laboratory, The Powerpuff Girls, and the micro-series Star Wars: Clone Wars, which has a second season coming up. The artwork for Samurai Jack is beautiful and the battle scenes are well-thought and brilliantly drawn. The adventures that Jack goes through can be sometimes funny, but still are always action packed. The ideas for Jack's adventures are brilliant as well.

Overall: solid storyline, brilliant characters, well-thought adventures, beautiful artwork, and even more brilliant action.

Rating: 10 out of 10. This series rocks period.