Month: October 2018

Today’s quick review: Alien: Covenant. On its way to a distant planet, the colony ship Covenant picks up a strange signal from a nearby planet. Stopping to investigate, the crew discovers not only an inhabitable world but the remains of a previous expedition from Earth: the Prometheus. But when alien spores infect members of the crew, producing dangerous new life forms, the colonization mission turns into a desperate struggle for survival.

Alien: Covenant is a science fiction action horror movie from director Ridley Scott. Alien: Covenant continues the Alien franchise and acts as a sequel to the series prequel Prometheus. Katherine Waterston stars as Daniels, a Covenant crew member coping with the recent loss of her husband, while Michael Fassbender pulls double duty as Walter and David, identical androids attached to the Covenant and Prometheus missions.

Alien: Covenant’s main strengths are its world, its mystery, and its action. Covenant picks up plot threads started by Prometheus, and while the main focus of the movie is on survival, it does enrich the lore of the Alien universe over the course of an intriguing mystery. Michael Fassbender makes for a fascinating pair of characters that touch on the loyal, creative, and inhuman facets of artificial intelligence.

However, Alien: Covenant does not capitalize on its strengths. The structure of the plot should be familiar to sci-fi fans; it is a survival story that fits right in with the other Alien movies and their spiritual successors. Daniels makes for a lukewarm protagonist, just sensible enough to get the job done but not especially charismatic or sympathetic. The movie’s action beats are satisfying, but it handles its horror side with less delicacy than it needs to.

Give Alien: Covenant a shot when you are in the mood for competent sci-fi horror. Alien: Covenant is not the strongest movie in its genre, but its decent execution makes it a fine watch. Skip it if you are looking for deeper science fiction or something that breaks the Alien mold, or if you dislike gore or surprises. For a similar movie with a more grandiose plot, check out Prometheus.

6.5 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for a few interesting concepts, good production value, and decent action.

Today’s quick review: April and the Extraordinary World. In an alternate 1941, the disappearance of the world’s scientists has caused technology to stagnate. April, a young girl living on the streets of Paris, attempts to recreate her missing parents’ research: a serum that will render a living organism invulnerable. But as she draws nearer to the correct formula, strange forces take an interest in her work.

April and the Extraordinary World is a French animated science fiction adventure. April and the Extraordinary World presents an elaborate alternate history where the prolongation of the Steam Age and the continued supremacy of the French Empire have changed the course of human development. The style of science fiction on display is a mixture of steampunk and the pulp adventures of the early 20th century.

April and the Extraordinary World has decent overall execution. The plot has a few awkward contrivances, but it never loses its momentum. The characters never quite enchant, but they are likable enough to root for. The art style resembles a European comic book: thick lines, flat shading, and realistic but simplified human figures, plus detailed backgrounds that bring the world to life. The voice cast includes Paul Giamatti, Susan Sarandon, and J.K. Simmons.

April and the Extraordinary World resorts to heavy machinery to advance its plot. The movie make use of expository narration, time jumps, and similar devices to get its pieces into play, and the setup alone takes over half an hour. The payoff is an unusually well-crafted world, but it comes at the cost of a natural story. April’s world is the result of not just one change, but a series of them, strung together in a careful, deliberate pattern.

Watch April and the Extraordinary World if you are a fan of throwback speculative fiction. The movie is missing the charming characters and graceful plot needed to make the most of its setting, but it gets enough right to engage fans of the genre. For a stylized sci-fi set in a similar era, check out Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow. For an animated adventure with similar elements, check out Castle in the Sky.

7.4 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for an impressive world and a creative sci-fi story.

Today’s quick review: WALL-E. On a future Earth overrun with trash and abandoned by humanity, a lone robot named WALL-E toils to clean up the mess. WALL-E finally makes a new friend when an advanced robot named EVE lands on the planet in search of plant life. Eventually the two robots return to EVE’s home, an enormous spaceship where the remaining humans live a life of leisure.

WALL-E is a family science fiction adventure from Disney and Pixar. WALL-E envisions a future where consumerism has rendered the Earth uninhabitable, humanity has grown lazy and helpless, and robots perform nearly all the work. The movie follows EVE and WALL-E as they return hope to a stagnant humanity in the form of a single, living plant.

WALL-E does an excellent job of making its characters endearing. WALL-E and EVE are mostly mute, but their personalities shine through clearly, thanks to their expressive designs and their sense of wonder. The robots are cute in appearance and behavior, and the movie has a knack for finding new ways for them to interact with the world. WALL-E delivers a steady stream of thoroughly charming moments.

But for all of its charm, WALL-E is hit-or-miss. To make up for the lack of dialogue, the movie relies heavily on pantomime and sentimental moments. Viewers who are not enchanted by WALL-E and EVE will find that the movie offers them little. WALL-E also presents an overly cynical take on the future, a barbed jab at modern society that meshes oddly with its optimistic characters.

Give WALL-E a shot when you are in the mood for something cute and sentimental. WALL-E delivers charm in spades, and your enjoyment of the film will depend on how well its flavor of charm matches your tastes. Steer clear if you dislike schmaltz. For a similarly emotional Disney adventure, check out Up.

8.4 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.5 for a creative premise, cute characters, and a steady stream of sweet moments.

“You wouldn’t think it to look at me, but I’m a very important man. I’ve got a tower.” —Valentine

Today’s quick review: Mirrormask. On the night of her mother’s surgery, Helena (Stephanie Leonidas), a teenage girl who works for her father’s circus, stumbles into a bizarre world plagued by shadow. With the help of a roguish stranger named Valentine (Jason Barry), Helena sets out to find the charm that can restore balance to the world and return her to her home.

Mirrormask is a surreal fantasy movie written by Neil Gaiman. Mirrormask features stunning CGI visuals, a unique art style, and capable writing. The story is a children’s dreamland adventure in the vein of The Wizard of Oz or Alice in Wonderland: a series of challenges strung together with the logic of a dream. However, the movie’s unsettling visuals and abstract plot will be off-putting to many viewers.

Mirrormask has a unique visual style. The fantasy world fuses designs from Helena’s line drawings, the asymmetrical masks of her father’s circus, and the eclectic textures of a collage. The world is populated by a menagerie of masked people and bizarre creatures, and the aesthetic is completed by shadowy lighting, a yellow color palette, and an off-kilter, oddly upbeat soundtrack.

Give Mirrormask a shot if you are a fan of Neil Gaiman or visual surrealism. Mirrormask is a smorgasbord of imagination that will delight the right kind of viewer and repulse all others. For a similar Neil Gaiman story with a different art style and a darker tone, check out Coraline. For a surreal fantasy with more mature themes, check out The Fall or The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus.

6.9 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for astounding visuals and a dreamlike plot.

Today’s quick review: Meet the Robinsons. Lewis is an orphan boy whose dreams of being an inventor have kept him from finding a home. His life changes when he meets Wilbur Robinson, a boy from the future who has traveled back in time to prevent a villain in a bowler hat from changing the course of history. The two boys return to Wilbur’s time to track down the culprit, and in the process Lewis is introduced to Wilbur’s eccentric family.

Meet the Robinsons is a family science fiction adventure from Disney. Meet the Robinsons envisions a future packed with far-fetched inventions and colorful characters. The movie also deals with themes of family, belonging, and dealing with failure. However, its excessive creativity and loose plot keep its best ideas from shining through, and the movie ends up a notch or two below Disney’s usual quality.

Meet the Robinsons is notable for its freewheeling creativity. Wilbur’s future is a wonderland of instant buildings, bubble transportation, stretchy robots, and other technological marvels, and his own family is even more outlandish. These off-the-wall ideas give the movie its unique flavor and are a constant source of humor. They are the clay from which the movie’s slapstick, banter, and even a few of its tender moments are molded.

But Meet the Robinsons’ creativity is a double-edged sword. At some point its ideas cross over from eclectic to random. The movie lacks rules or boundaries, and its loose plot seems to be made up along the way. Meet the Robinsons does manage to plant a few early seeds that flower at the end of the movie, but key parts of the movie have arbitrary outcomes.

If you are looking for an inventive kids’ movie, Meet the Robinsons fits the bill. Whether its quirks are actual shortcomings or simply part of the kids’ genre is a question of taste, but skip it if you are looking for careful, logical writing. For a kids’ movie with a similar plot, check out Mr. Peabody and Sherman. For an equally free-spirited take on the sci-fi genre, check out Robots.

6.9 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 for good imagination and mixed execution.

Today’s quick review: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. Walter Mitty (Ben Stiller), an ordinary man who dreams of travel and adventure, works as a photo processor for Life Magazine. When a mix-up leaves him without a cover photograph for the magazine’s last issue, Walter must embark on an adventure of his own to track down Sean O’Connell (Sean Penn), the globe-trotting freelance photographer who submitted the missing photo.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is a heartfelt comedy adventure about following your dreams. Walter Mitty is an inveterate daydreamer with a crush on Cheryl (Kristen Wiig), his new coworker. A mishap at work forces him out of his ordinary routine and onto an unpredictable journey to track down an elusive photographer. The movie offers a likable protagonist, an endearing story, and a dusting of light comedy.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty’s most distinctive feature is its daydream sequences. Walter frequently zones out and dreams of a more exciting life. These moments are imaginative but peculiar: the knowledge that they are just fantasies takes away from their impact, while their presence casts doubt on the reality of other events in the film. Taken on their own terms, they are enjoyable diversions, but they are there for flavor rather than content.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty has a bittersweet tone. Walter’s daydreams compensate for a life of compromise, from a job he loves and a boss he doesn’t to his wistful, tentative romance with Cheryl. The movie is ultimately an optimistic one, but it is tinged with a sense of regret that sets it apart from more purely feel-good comedies. The story itself is a personal adventure that has a few nice twists and a touch of romance.

Watch The Secret Life of Walter Mitty when you are in the mood for a poignant comedy with a healthy sense of imagination. Skip it if you are looking for a more hilarious comedy or more meaningful elements of fantasy. For another comedy with a similarly mixed tone, check out The Bucket List or The Truman Show.

7.3 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for a sweet story and entertaining adventure.

Today’s quick review: King Arthur: Legend of the Sword. Arthur (Charlie Hunnam), the true heir to the throne of England, learns of his heritage when Vortigern (Jude Law), the usurper king, locates Arthur and attempts to have him killed. With no other options left, Arthur takes up his father’s sword Excalibur and leads a desperate revolution to reclaim his kindgom.

King Arthur: Legend of the Sword is a stylized fantasy action movie from director Guy Ritchie. The movie reimagines King Arthur as a streetwise rogue who must be dragged into his role as a revolutionary. Taking a few liberties with its source material, Legend of the Sword injects the traditional myth with special effects-laden fantasy action and the cocky, tenacious attitude of the British underclass.

King Arthur features the punchy style of direction Guy Ritchie is known for. Fast cuts, snappy banter, and nonlinear storytelling give the movie a remarkable sense of momentum. But King Arthur is almost too stylish for its own good. The movie blazes through its exposition at an alarming rate, and following what is going on takes an unusual amount of concentration for an action movie.

Beyond its quirky presentation, King Arthur: Legend of the Sword is a solid but unexceptional action movie. The plot hits all the beats it needs to, although it feels like it’s missing a twist somewhere. The characters have the humor and determination to get the job done, but they are not as memorable as Guy Ritchie’s best. The action sequences are slick, imaginative affairs that put the movie’s fantasy elements to good use, although they are widely spaced.

Watch King Arthur: Legend of the Sword when you are in the mood for some stylish fantasy action. The movie’s fast pacing and unconventional presentation make it hard to follow, but those willing to invest the effort will have fun. Skip it if you are looking for a straightforward action movie or a faithful adaptation of the myth. For a more realistic but somewhat less interesting take on the legend, check out King Arthur.

6.9 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for slick action, inventive writing, and flawed presentation.

Today’s quick review: The Statement. Pierre Brossard (Michael Caine), a Nazi collaborator, has been living in hiding around France for the last fifty years, aided by a faction within the Catholic Church. His case falls to Annemarie Livi (Tilda Swinton), a dogged judge who soon learns that Pierre has friends in high places. To uncover his fellow collaborators, Annemarie must take Pierre alive, a task complicated by a cabal of Jewish assassins on the man’s trail.

The Statement is a crime drama that deals with the lingering scars of World War II. The movie follows one of the Nazi collaborators who escaped prosecution after the end of World War II. The Statement offers decent craftsmanship, fine dramatic acting, and a couple of good plot twists. However, its unusual main character, suboptimal plot, and limited emotional payoff keep it from realizing its full potential.

The Statement’s most distinctive feature is the troubled figure of Pierre Brossard. Michael Caine plays the aged but crafty ex-collaborator, whose quiet life is upended by assassins and a renewed police investigation. Pierre strikes a peculiar stance between genuine contrition and lingering malice. He is both sympathetic and craven, and the contrast makes him difficult to peg as either a hero or a villain.

For all its potential as a morally nuanced mystery, The Statement has little real impact. The investigation leads to a few interesting places but has a dull resolution. Pierre comes across as pathetic rather than complex, compelling, or tragic. The movie also misses opportunities to sharpen up its plot or get the viewer to invest emotionally.

What The Statement boils down to is a passable but unremarkable drama. The movie has enough in the way of plot and character to be a decent watch, but it has no strong draws. Give it a shot if you are a fan of serious, realistic thrillers. Skip it if you are looking for action, pathos, or a gripping mystery. For a dry drama in a similar vein, check out The American.

6.2 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.0 to 6.5 for mediocre drama with mixed appeal and little reward.

Today’s quick review: My Man Godfrey. As part of a scavenger hunt, Irene Bullock (Carole Lombard), a flighty socialite, convinces Godfrey (William Powell), a sarcastic hobo, to join her at an upper-crust party. Delighted by his behavior there, she invites him to become her family’s new butler. But to keep his new job, Godfrey must put up with the family’s eccentricities, Irene’s amorous advances, and her sister Cornelia’s (Gail Patrick) antagonism.

My Man Godfrey is a classic comedy that matches an irresponsible, wealthy family with the one man capable of taming them. My Man Godfrey features clever dialogue, a strong main character, and a light, endearing plot. The movie takes pointed shots at the sheltered lives of the elite during the Great Depression, but its breezy tone and redeemable characters make it a comedy first and foremost.

My Man Godfrey has an able lead in William Powell. Godfrey has just the right blend of dry wit, selfless loyalty, and raw competence to hold the movie together, acting as its heart, sense of humor, and voice of reason all in one. The Bullocks are enjoyable characters as well, although they are exaggerated enough caricatures that the movie turns hectic whenever two of them are in the same room.

My Man Godfrey moves to shakier ground with its plot. The individual components of the plot, from Godfrey’s recruitment to Irene’s infatuation, all work well on their own. But they tend to move forward under their own power without the need for a central plot. As such, My Man Godfrey ends rather abruptly, tying up a storyline that feels only partially developed.

Give My Man Godfrey a watch if you are a fan of classic comedies. The movie’s sharp dialogue and moment-to-moment charm make it a worthwhile watch. Those looking for a tight, cohesive plot should look elsewhere, as should anyone who prefers more modern comedies. For a frenetic comedy from the same era, check out His Girl Friday.

8.1 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for good dialogue, amusing characters, and a loose but workable plot.

Today’s quick review: The Omega Man. After germ warfare wipes out almost the entire human race, Dr. Robert Neville (Charlton Heston) is the only man left unaffected. He spends his days scavenging through a deserted city and his nights holding out against the Family, a cult of technology-fearing survivors rendered painfully photosensitive by the disease.

The Omega Man is a post-apocalyptic science fiction movie about the last normal man on Earth. The Omega Man shows off what daily life would be like for a man with a city to himself: his systematic search for supplies, his attempts to keep his spirits up, and the constant threat posed by the Family. Charlton Heston makes for an interesting protagonist, a steely survivor who still keeps his sense of humor.

The Omega Man shares the same source material as I Am Legend, a novel by Richard Matheson. Where I Am Legend is a zombie action movie with modern CGI and a bleak tone, The Omega Man is a science fiction movie in the classic vein. The actual plot varies between the two films, but they do share some of their best ideas. I Am Legend is emotionally richer, but The Omega Man manages to paint a similar picture with simpler strokes.

The Omega Man does have its quirks. The Family make for cartoonish antagonists, with Halloween-quality makeup, black robes, and sunglasses. The action sequences are generally satisfying, but unconvincing blood effects and the cultists’ flailing keep them from being gripping. The tone strikes a nice balance between optimism and despair, but the combination may seem strange to those used to modern storytelling.

Give The Omega Man a shot if you are a fan of classic science fiction. Its strong concepts and effective storytelling make it a worthwhile watch for anyone willing to embrace its idiosyncrasies. Skip it if you are looking for flashy action or high drama. For a modern take on the same premise, check out I Am Legend. For dystopian sci-fi with a similar style, check out Logan’s Run.

6.6 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for compelling ideas and decent execution marred by a few missteps.