Why I liked Pandorum

I usually don't read reviews of movies before I watch them. I find that reviews tend to bias my watching of a film, and I'd rather make up my own mind. It's after I watch the film that I like to casually browse some reviews and just see what others think.

Avatar was interesting because it is so popular and so huge that there seems to be a big chunk of people out there that hate the film just because it is popular. (See my previous blog about the story originality complaints as well...) I had seen the previews, and since I try to keep abreast of upcoming movie news, I had known about Avatar for a while. But I didn't read any of the press before going to see the movie, because I only wanted my own prejudices to effect my viewing. Therefore, unsurprisingly, I loved Avatar. I figured that I would like it just because I like pretty much everything James Cameron has ever done. Reading the reviews after seeing it, I was shocked at the number of people that cannot seem to get past the "lack of originality" or who just seem to hate it because it is popular.

Pandorum was different because I have only seen previews of the movie. Sci-fi? Check. Looks interesting? Check. OK, I want to see this. I have never heard of the director. I like Dennis Quaid, but - let's face it - he's been in some pretty shitty movies in the past. I vaguely remembered seeing Ben Foster in something, but I couldn't recall what it was or if he was any good, so that added no baggage. I watched Pandorum with only the hope that it would be a decent sci-fi movie. I loved it. Reading the reviews after watching Pandorum, I had to laugh. Still a high percentage of people who think it is unoriginal - GASP! OH EMM GEE! The plot has been done before? No way! Surely not in our thousands of years of history! - but there were a lot of people who didn't like other things. Things - for the most part - that were reasons I loved the movie.

Thing number one: The movie doesn't explain everything!

You have no idea how much I like this. This is probably the one thing that absolutely sold me on this movie. I love when a film assumes that the audience is smart enough to make the connections on their own and doesn't need to be hand-held through long exposition scenes just to know what is going on. Pandorum gives you exactly as much information as you need to put together what is going on in the main plot, and leaves hints and clues all over for you to pick up on about why this is all happening and how. Why does the agricultural crew member not speak English? Where do the monsters come from, how does the Corporal figure out who was who at the end, and where did the crew go? The film never directly answers these questions, but they give you enough bits of information to figure out an explanation on your own.

Thing two: Originality.

I know, I discuss this ad-nauseum. Here's the thing with unoriginality: EVERYTHING is unoriginal if you want to look at it that way. Yes, everything is derivative. Somebody already used all the elements separately in something else. Great, have a field day hating anything and everything because it has all been done before.

To me, the B (and sometimes even A) movies that pretty much copy every element from another movie and think that you won't notice if they add a twist or two are unoriginal. Hey, let's make Aliens, but we'll make our beasts look different. And, instead of a reactor going critical, it'll be the planet is going to explode because the core is unstable! And they won't be space marines, they'll be, uh... space paratroopers! Yeah!

I liked the story behind Pandorum. I liked that although they may have borrowed elements from many different places - and everybody does this, so no complaints there - they put them together in a way that made sense and pushed the story along.

Thing three: The acting.

I'm going to keep this short. I thought the acting was good. Dennis Quaid and Ben Foster were totally believable as crew members who woke up to a nightmare and had to figure out a way to fix it. The rest of the cast was spot on as well.

Thing 4: The special and visual effects.

A lot of people complained about these, but I thought they were well done and not overused. Actually, if I had to use one word to describe them, it would be reserved. Enough to convey what needed to be conveyed, but not overblown and ridiculous. Nothing exploded for the sake of a cool explosion, nothing threw lens flare all over the screen in every other scene. In fact, I think the filmmakers should give Michael Bay some lessons.

So aside from being well done sci-fi (something that is rare enough to be a treat when it comes along), Pandorum was also just a good movie. I'm not sure how well it did in the theater, but hopefully - like Pitch Black - this will find a big audience now that it is out on DVD and BD. I know I would love to see more stories in this setting.

Story Originality

I saw Avatar for the first time last night. I went in expecting to enjoy it, and I did. I am a big James Cameron fan, so I pretty much knew I would like it, but I didn't know how much I would like it. I REALLY liked it.

So, after seeing the movie, I came home and looked up what critics were saying. For the most part, professional film critics like it. Film students and internet film buffs seem to despise it, wishing it to fail just because.

The biggest complaint I have read? The story is unoriginal. Newsflash for the uneducated, young, and ignorant people: NOTHING UNDER THE SUN IS NEW. Yes, Avatar has a plot that is similar to Dances With Wolves and at least a dozen other movies. There are no new plots out there, people. Read some books and you will find that everybody reuses the same plots. Why? Because there are only so many stories to tell.

Do yourself a favor and read a half dozen Shakespeare plays. Now you know the plots to 90% of movies ever made. The Taming Of The Shrew? Othello? Romeo and Juliet? Even movies that are not direct copies of the plot use large chunks of it. Why? Because Shakespeare himself didn't invent these issues and plots. They are stories from when men started to tell stories, passed on down the time line.

Common plot themes that tons of movies use:

Industrialized, "civilized" men attempt to bring "civilization" to the "backwards" indigenous people. They may be the good guys, but usually are portrayed as the aggressors who are exploiting the natives and destroying the environment. (Avatar, Dances With Wolves, Fern Gully)

Man and woman marry/fall in love/have a child/become friends... Man or woman is from a race/species/sex/family that others in society do not approve of. Strife follows. (Othello, Enemy Mine, Romeo and Juliet)

And the list goes on.

A plot cannot be original. The way you tell the story can, and I think Cameron did an excellent job with Avatar.

A Capella tribute to John Williams

Just...awesome.


via videosift.com

Warners Responds To "Potter" Complaints

LINK

With Warner Bros. Pictures having delayed "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood
Prince" eight months from November 21st to July 17th 2009, it's understandable
that many 'Potter' fans are upset.

In fact they've been so vocal in expressing that resentment that Warner
Bros. President and Chief Operating Officer Alan Horn has released an official
response to all those complaints and here it is below:

"Many of you have written to me to express your disappointment in our
moving "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" to Summer 2009.Please be assured
that we share your love for Harry Potter and would certainly never do anything
to hurt any of the films. Over the past 10 years, we have nurtured and protected
each film, and the integrity of the books upon which they are based, to the best
of our ability.The decision to move "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" was
not taken lightly, and was never intended to upset our Harry Potter fans. We
know you have built this series into what it is, and we thank you for your
ongoing enthusiasm and support.

If I may offer a silver lining: there would have been a two-year gap
between "Half-Blood Prince" and the much-anticipated first part of "Harry Potter
and the Deathly Hallows," which opens in November 2010.So although we have to
wait a little longer for "Half-Blood Prince," the wait from that film until
"Deathly Hallows" will be less than 18 months. I am sorry to have disappointed
you now, but if you hold on a little longer, I believe it will be worth the
wait.

Alan Horn
President, Chief Operating Officer
Warner Bros."

Dear Alan,

You can take your "silver lining" and shove it directly up your ass. Please do not stop until you find your head up there somewhere. Leave the silver lining, and remove your head.

Please, Warner delays a highly anticipated movie to make themselves more money and they ask for understanding? Fuck you, Warner Brothers.

Max Payne

Cool. I loved the game, and I like Mark Wahlberg, so hopefully this will turn out good. Or at the least it won't be complete flaming turd.

Stargate: Continuum

Let me start by offering up my review in a quick, easy to read format:

Best. Movie. This. Summer. Period.

Sure, it's direct to DVD. Sure, it's not a $100 million budget movie. It doesn't matter. If you are into Stargate at all, this movie rocks your summer.

I'll probably write more about it later, but I have to let it sink in right now. The sheer awesomeness of this movie is frying my brain right now.

I will say this, though; Ben Browder is the MAN!

Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog

Joss Whedon strikes again.

El-Oh-El funny.

R.I.P. Don S. Davis

STORY

Stargate's Don S. Davis (Maj. General Hammond) passed away Sunday, June 29th. He was only 65.

Man, I'm going to miss seeing this guy. I remember him from way back in MacGyver. He was Dana Elcar's stunt double, but he used to show up in minor speaking roles a lot.

Third actor from the movie Predator now entering the political arena.

STORY

Sonny Landham, who played Billy in the movie Predator, is running for a seat in the Senate. Sonny joins fellow Predator actors Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jesse Ventura in the political arena.

BILLY! Get to da choppa!

Stan Winston dies at 62

Oscar winning special effects guru Stan Winston died Tuesday, June 17th at the age of 62, after a seven year battle with myeloma.

How I did not hear about this until today is beyond my ability to comprehend. You may recognize Stan from, oh, EVERY big SFx movie made in the 80s and 90s. (Terminator 2, Jurassic Park, Aliens - all of which he won Oscars for - among numerous others) Sadly we will never experience his work again.

Rest in peace, Stan.

STORY

Comrades cry like little girl over Indy 4

STORY

Aw, did da wittle movie huwt yow wittle feewings?

Fuck off, ya commie bastards!

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Fan-fucking-tastic! Best movie I've seen since the Lord of the Rings finished.

Warning - Spoilers ahead!

I can't even describe how great I thought this movie was. Some nice references to the other movies (The warehouse from the end of Raiders, the Ark), references to old Indy games, to the Young Indiana Jones Chronicles and nice period references. (The fight between the jocks and the greasers.) I loved Indy's son, and I think it's great that Lucas and Spielberg are considering moving the franchise forward with him in the lead. (The fedora blowing up against his legs, he almost puts it on and Indy sweeps it away and puts it on his own head, that was cool.)

The best scene though, for me anyway, was the first part of the movie. The throw his fedora on the ground, then drag him out of the trunk and toss him after his hat. Then you don't even see him, you just see his shadow as he puts the fedora on, and his theme plays quietly in the background. Chills, man, chills.

What the fuck are you still reading this for? Go see it! NOW!

Experts: Indiana Jones pure fiction

STORY

Public to experts: No shit.


Gee, you mean archaeologists don't get to pack pistols and bullwhips and fight Nazis?

Ironman

We went to see Ironman last weekend. Yeah, yeah, I'm behind. Sue me.

I'm not normally huge on superhero movies. I liked some of the Batmans, but not enough to own them, I didn't really like Daredevil, never bothered seeing Ghost Rider or Elektra. I did, however, really like the Spiderman movies.

Anyway, Ironman surprised me. I only read a little bit of the Ironman comic when I was a child, mostly when he had some other superhero I liked in his comic. (Mostly Spiderman.) Having said that, the movie was fantastic! The acting was superb, the plot was good, and the effects were great.

Ironman was so good that I'm actually going to buy this superhero movie when it comes out on DVD.

Movies I've been watching

Recently I picked up I Am Legend and The Mist on DVD.

I Am Legend is a pretty decent end of the world type movie, sort of in the same vein as 28 Days Later or Dawn of the Dead. I have to say, however, that it would have been much better if they had gone with the alternate ending as opposed to the theatrical one. It just made more sense. Will Smith is pretty good, as usual, but some of the effects are lame, and the movie seemed a bit rushed. Those of you expecting a story close to the original book will be disappointed, but if you watch with an open mind it's very entertaining.

The Mist, on the other hand, is a fucking brilliant bit of film-making. It's scary, tense, intelligent, and the ending will haunt you. Thomas Jane leads a wonderful cast of actors through this Stephen King adaptation. I cannot say enough good things about this movie, it's just that cool.

Deathly Hallows - 2 movies

STORY

It's nice to hear that they plan on keeping the story butchers away from the last film. Apparently somebody figured out that they could make more money by cutting the last film in half, and they decided to market it as a "story" decision.

Stargate: The Ark of Truth

The DVD movie Stargate: The Ark of Truth was released yesterday in North America. The 101 minute film brings closure to the story arc of the 9th and 10th seasons of Stargate: SG-1.

Without writing up a full review, I'd just like to say I really enjoyed the movie. I'm a hug Stargate fan, and this was a nice way to wrap things up for people like me. The story was akin to a 3 episode arc, but with bigger and better effects. If you liked seasons 9 and 10 (some didn't) then you will probably enjoy this.

Now I'm even more stoked for the next DVD movie, Stargate: Continuum. And hey, Richard Dean Anderson is in the next one!

Uwe Boll: Gigantic idiot!

Yeah, I know, that's not really news.


Uwe Boll, master of the disastrous video game to movie conversion, is gracing us with another pile of stomped shit this spring in the form of a Postal movie. As if that weren't bad enough, as if he hasn't given us enough reasons to want to see him tried and imprisoned for torturing people with his "movies", he is now releasing Postal on the same weekend as Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull.

Now, in and of itself, that's a pretty fucking boneheaded move. In the movie business, releasing against an anticipated blockbuster is akin to financial suicide unless your movie is in a completely different genre. (Say, Indy is action/adventure, releasing a mushy romance movie might appeal to people that like romance and not action/adventure.) I guess Uwe figures complete shit is a genre, so he can release that weekend with no issue.

On top of this blatant stupidity, Uwe actually regales us with fantasies that Postal will out-perform Indiana Jones at the box office. Mr. Boll, I guarantee you that the only category any of your movies will ever outperform any other movie in is the Suck category.

Uwe also goes on to claim he is a better actor that Sir Ben Kingsley, a better director that Steven Speilberg, and that Harrison Ford is too old to draw crowds at the box office. Clearly he is heavily medicated, or he lives in a complete fantasy world.

STORY

McConaughey movie idea.

I know the writers have all been on strike for a while, and even though the strike is over, the studios may be desperately looking for new material.

Thus, I present you with my rock solid idea for a movie that chicks are sure to dig. (And drag their men to, thereby ensuring box office success.)

Matthew McConaughey is Shirtless!

Starring Matthew McConaughey as a man who is compelled by the urge to remove his shirt time and time again.

It's brilliant. It's guaranteed to make a bazillion dollars! Call me!

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

At long last, Dr. Jones returns to the silver screen!

Check out the world premeire of the trailer HERE!

I've got to go buy myself a bullwhip and a fedora.

EDIT: Yahoo has a whol site up dedicated to the trailer. See it in HD!

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull