Side Notes: Star Trek: Into Darkness

So Mom, my brother and I went to go to see the newest installment of the rebooted Star Trek franchise last week. I saw the first reboot film by J.J. Abrams a little after it came out on DVD and I have to say that I really enjoyed it! I had high hopes going into this second film as I had read a lot about it and since I did really enjoy the first one.

Now, I will have to say that I am going into both of these films without a bias. I can't say I've ever watched the original Star Trek movies (hmm.. sensing some additional items to add to my watch list?) so I wasn't really going to be comparing. I know the characters and understand the basic plot, but I wasn't going into either film with certain expectations.

That being said I thoroughly enjoyed the second installment. I really think they did an excellent job with the casting. I've heard a lot of things especially about Karl Urban and his fantastic casting of Bones and especially Zachary Quinto as Spock. I can say I agree. I absolutely adore Simon Pegg so to have him be more involved as Scotty in this film was really fun. I've heard a couple people disagree with that fact and with the casting, but I think it works! And.. Benedict Cumberbatch. My goodness. His level of monotone increasing to insanity as the villain was just spot on. He had the thin line of trust and creepiness that the character needed. Excellent choice and wonderful sort of breakout role for him. Those that are familiar with the BBC series "Sherlock" no doubt will confirm just how amazing he is, but I think this role helped propel him into the homes of Americans.

Couple things about the film overall that I have to knit pick -- the really unnecessary "underwear" scene with a female character and Capt Kirk. Really? Was absolutely not anything needed for the plot line and absolutely gratuitous. I think it was a stupid move and kind of made me go "really? REALLY J.J? You're stooping to this level?" Meh.  The other is the really annoying and distracting lens flares that J.J so very much loves. Reading about them and people joking about them everywhere on the internet, really made me go looking for them and distracted from the film. There were a couple that I wanted to be like "hey.. someone lower the blind please? The sun is right in my eyes!"  I don't really think they add to anything really and the film is already brightly lit in most scenes so having that is just a nuisance. Argument here: What's with the Lens Flare?

I love the action, the characters, the plot was interesting and kept me intrigued. I love Chris Pine who has some of the bluest eyes in the business, the little references to the original films and the overall feel of the film. Great time!

#167 IMDb - Casino

So spending some time with Dad a few weeks ago we were deciding which film we wanted to see, Casino, Goodfellas or Carlito's Way (sensing a theme here?) and we eventually settled on watching Casino.

Classic mob/Scorsese film! I think Scorsese has really set the tone for mobster films and this was one of the big ones that came out. DeNiro, Pesci, and the excellent Sharon Stone. This tale, based on a true story, follows the lives of Nicky and Ace 2 boyhood pals making it big in 70s Las Vegas.

One thing about this film I truly liked is how much Scorsese used the voice-over. Ace narrating scenes with Nicky and vice versa really helps to draw how much they do play off each other. Nicky is helping out Ace and Ace is allowing Nicky to do so. Ace's character is the quintessential suave, powerful and masculine role with money to throw around and a beautiful albeit shallow wife to parade on his arm.

Nicky on the other hand is wildly sadistic and out to send a message to anyone that would dare oppose Ace or the mission for the bosses in the Midwest. There is probably one of the most cringe-worthy scenes involving a vice that really does show how absolutely mad Nicky is. And don't forget the baseball bat scene! Yeouch.

This film really is an absolutely epic film showing the amount of greed, lying, corruption and just overall madness that came from Vegas at that time. Beautifully filmed, great plot and story line and character development.

#93 AFI - The French Connection

I watched this one a little while with my Dad as it was available on a streaming device. I was thinking I'd be in for a "Ronin" or "Bullitt" film but not quite something up to par with Die Hard and the glorious action movies of the 80s. I think it did fit snuggly in between the two. 

I did think this was more of a gritty police film and about the events that are laid out as opposed to heavy action and explosions a la Die Hard. But, a REALLY great car chase scene that does rival both Ronin and Bullitt which are two of the best in my opinion. I read a bit about the chase scene and there was a crash at an interesection that was unplanned - man didn't know chase scene was going to be filmed -- so they left it in because of that fact. Yes they did pay for repairs, but it did bring in some realism to the chase which is what makes it best. 

Basic plot unfolds, get wind of a drug heist with an *ahem* French connection and the events lay out as the two main cops set out to bust this event. 

I always like to read reviews by other people on IMDb or RottenTomatoes.com or elsewhere just to get an idea of what other people think of films. Usually I can agree or see their points on films, and this one was no exception. I read one review that said it was interesting to have Doyle (Gene Hackman) as sort of the "bad" character with his racism and drunkeness as the drug dealer Charnier was the dapper "European sophisticate" and I thought about that myself. We do see scenes where Charnier is dodging them through out the city and the subway and proving the cops to be not as good as they seem. Eventually they figure out the plot and attempt to take out the dealer. 

But there's no real resolution to this film. We see in the epilogue that Charnier does escape and most of the people involved either skated charges or just served a bit in prison. It's a tale more about the grittiness of police work and not something to show that everyone gets caught when doing something criminal so to speak. 

 

#240 IMDb - Shutter Island

I watched this one a little while ago just after it came out on video. I was instantly drawn to this film because 1) Scorsese directed and  2) Leo and Mark. 

I don't necessarily want to spoil the plot and outcome of this film, but I do have to say it's something you have to sit down and WATCH, not just casually have the movie on. There are some certain points in the film where you begin to question what's going on. Scorsese will give clues and eventually the "truth" comes out. I don't think it's necessarily an "a-ha!" moment but it's a turning point in the film that makes you think about the events that led up to that point and why exactly is this happening. Do you trust those that have warned the main character or are they all part of it. I do like the resolution at the end, but it really is all about the journey in this film. 

We see Leo's character struggling with a reality he doesn't want to accept via flashbacks and some hallucinations during the course of the film. This was my first question about the overall sanity of the character. We do eventually get a reason as to why, and I think it's interesting how everything is eventually explained. 

Overall it's an interesting tale. It's not really to me something as a mystery to figure out, but just witnessing a journey of someone trying to make sense of it all. Wonderfully acted and put together and a good film to watch if you like Scorsese and the depths of his films. 

#179 IMDb - How to Train Your Dragon

What an absolutely amazing movie. I saw this a while ago on the IMDb list and I really had wanted to see it when it came out because I had heard a lot of good things about it. I finally watched it and instantly fell in love.

It's insanely witty, a wonderful story about friendship and first love and Toothless is adorable for a dragon. I personally love Sottish accents so having Gerard Butler and Craig Ferguson in a full length movie just made it that much better for me!

The story follows the "outcast" son of the village leader and how much he wants to prove himself worthy. He finds his way to bring a resolution to the dragon problem of the village but in a way that isn't the norm. The plot is of course one we've seen, but hey, what ain't broke, don't fix. It's got a loveable cast (even if they are animated) and we see the bonds of father and son strengthen, the hardship of a first love returning the sentiment and some silliness.

I watched this film again later and everything was just even better. I picked up a few one liners by the kids in the dragon training and focused on some of the relationships a bit more after knowing the plot. It's a great film for kids since it does teach you that even if you are "different" you can still achieve, you can build great friendships in the most unusual places and if you believe in something enough you can accomplish it and have it work out in the end. Adults can love it too because who wouldn't want a dragon as cute as Toothless? :)

# 92 IMDb/ #80 AFI - The Apartment

My mom gave me the number to pick for this one so I asked if she wanted to watch it as well. I will have to say I found it to be interesting on a couple of levels. First impression was that it was a bit dark. The overall theme was scandal, adultery, betrayal and even suicide. Not very many films that I have seen around that era would tackle these items. It did surprise me a bit that a film made in 1960 could absolutely be done (and probably has) now and not much would have to change. There were some humorous bits and sometimes ironic humor, but after watching the romp of Some Like It Hot, it was very interesting to see Jack Lemmon in that role. He pulled it off in a loveable yet, "want to just shake him" manner. You do empathize the situation he's in and root for him to put up a stand.

I was happy the way everything "worked out" in the end though. Nice resolution. I was totally expecting it though, because that's the element from the 60s that followed so many films. The happy-go-lucky, everything resolves and works out how it should in the end. I think it would be interesting to have a different ending if someone were to remake it now, but that's me wanting to break away from the standard plot lines we see so much of.

Shirley MacLaine was absolutely adorable in this film. She had a spunky, no holds barred attitude at the beginning and then we see her fall from grace. She played the shift quite believable in my eyes and I think many can related to her situation right along with her.

This movie is again all about the dialogue and the interactions. The game of gin rummy with Fran and their conversation about her always falling for the wrong man, Jack's character using the tennis racket to strain the pasta, trying to get Fran to awake after taking the pills, it's wonderful to see how these events help shape the story and the characters as they come to their realizations.

#82 IMDb / #22 AFI - Some Like It Hot

My first Marilyn film and my gosh was she utterly gorgeous. Well this is a great 'buddy' film starring the handsome and debonair Tony Curtis and his counterpart Jack Lemmon.

Escaping Chicago after witnessing the St. Valentine's Day Massacre, the boys find themselves stowing away with an all female band down to Florida. This where they meet Sugar and all of the craziness sets in. It is a great lighthearted film and showcases the beauty and attraction the world had with Marilyn. I love Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis together. Jack's goofiness to the suave Tony Curtis makes for a delightful pair. Tony's male character trying to woo Sugar and then Jack's female character taking in the affection of a millionaire just has some great lines and silly antic dotes.