Category: Reviews: Movies

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But it was in 3D!

So. Very. Cool.

The Cole’s Notes version of the Reader’s Digest edition of Beowulf (aka the movie) that is. Just think of how cool it would have been on IMAX.

Oh, right, the IMAX theater shut down. Damn.

The movie itself is a condensed version of an epic tale, but enough to bump it up on my Things To Read List.

The CG is pretty cool using the same technique used for Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within. Movement is still a little artificial looking, but the detail is very good. Skin is still very hard to make look right in animation.

Grendel was pretty ugly, not entirely what I was expecting though. The dragon was very cool though. And ouch, the arm! The things a hero does to live up to his reputation. As to how faithful this movie adaptation is to the original epic, I don’t know, but I’ll find out soon.

If you’re going to see it, make sure to see the 3D version. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

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Review: Babylon 5 – The Lost Tales

Got my copy of B5 – The Lost Tales earlier this week and finally got around to watching it yesterday. I’m not entirely sure how much I like it yet. I’ll have to watch it one or two more times I think. At 72 minutes long, it’s a little bit shorter than two regular episodes and is split up into two sub-plots. It’s not entirely what I was expecting, but thinking back to what I initially heard about what Lost Tales as supposed to be, it fits pretty well.

If I recall correctly from the initial news of the Lost Tales project, it was supposed to be a series of character focused short stories. As such, I think it does a good job of further developing and refining the traits of the two main characters that make an appearance: Lochley and Sheridan. People expecting something resembling a full on B5 movie are likely to be disappointed. I liked the two stories that were told, and the endings definitely fit the characters involved. In fact, I thought the Sheridan story was predictable and had a reasonably good idea what his solution was going to be about halfway in.

The effects are pretty much all CGI with very few actual sets based on what I’ve seen in the special features on the DVD. The title ‘The Lost Tales’ gives the impression that there will be more than just the two stories, but I think the original intent was that if this one was successful, other DVDs would likely follow. It would be interesting to see the concept applied to other characters.

Lots of the usual extra stuff on the DVD (interviews, behind the scenes stuff), including a couple of nice tributes to Andreas Katsulas (G’Kar) and Richard Biggs (Dr. Franklin), both of whom are ‘out exploring beyond the rim’.

4.5 stars out of 5 for the CGI and FX.

Overall, I think I’d give it 3.5 stars out of 5.

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Really Big Spiderman

Caught Spiderman 3 at the Charleston IMAX this afternoon after my volunteer shift at the Aquarium.

I love any movie on IMAX. I love the shear size of the picture. Blows any other theater away IMO. I would love to see all three of the Lord of the Rings movies on IMAX.

Spiderman 3 is a good movie if you like lots of frenetic action interspersed with pauses that are maybe a little too slow at times. I’m not sure what’s behind this trend of comic book/movie adaptations introducing more and more villains and characters with each sequel, but I wish the screenwriters would realize that more isn’t necessarily better.

It’s an action flick, and there’s plenty of it with the background drama of Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson’s disintegrating relationship stuck into various segments almost like the editors decided there was too much action going on and needed to slow things down. The introduction of Gwen Stacey’s character, while prominent in the comic book, seemed to serve no purpose other than to introduce yet another character.

Cameo appearances by Stan Lee and Bruce Campbell were interesting and amusing distractions.

Despite the flaws, I still enjoyed the movie, although I think it would have been better had the screenwriters not tried to cram so much into it.

3.5 stars out of 5.

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Review: Night at the Museum

Last night the wife and I went to see Night at the Museum. I wasn’t expecting much and was pleasantly surprised. Funny movie, interesting story and pretty cool CGI. I couldn’t decide which character made the show most enjoyable for me: the bone-fetching T. Rex or Attilla the Hun. Ben Stiller puts his usual decent performance dealing, but if you’re expecting a slapstick funny performance from Robin Williams, you might be a little disappointed. He does put in a pretty good show as a wax Teddy Roosevelt though.

4.5 starts out of 5.

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Review: Eragon

I haven’t read the book, and have no plans to either. The story behind Eragon is a pretty standard one among the fantasy genre, and as a result isn’t terribly original. The dragon characteristics are pretty much taken from Anne McAffrey’s Dragonriders of Pern series (although I did think feathers on a dragon was a little odd), and there are other familiar elements to the story. Plot and character wise, it’s pretty cookbook. CGI work on the dragon was well done. Monsters and goons could have been done better. You get the impression that most of the FX budget went to the CGI effects, leaving not much for goon costumes and makeup. Jeremy Irons puts in a good performance, and John Malkovich is pretty good as the villain.

Kids will probably enjoy this movie more than adults, particularly if they’re fans of the book and can overlook the parts of the book that were probably left out of the movie.
3 stars out of 5.