I feel like a kid again whenever I think of Doctor Who. I am enamored by the new doctor and I think it's just because it's a change of pace from Tennant (who I also adored, don't get me wrong). The Christmas special is coming up in a little under two weeks and I'm bouncing off the walls on the inside, waiting for it to air. I know that I really shouldn't expect greatness from the Christmas specials, (I have yet to really like any of them), but yet seeing as how this is Matt Smith's 1st special with Moffatt in charge, I'm really hoping that it'll be something spectacular. Expectations are through the roof! And yet the show teases me by not releasing new promos. I see the same one on end when I flip on BBC America. Although it is agonizing, I am uber-thrilled that finally it'll air the same day as over in the UK. Now, whether I can wait those couple of hours is another story.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Friday, July 2, 2010
What happened to The Last Airbender (spoilers ahead)
I could care less about the casting choices in terms of race that so many people complained about. I thought it was fine and in terms of finding people who look like the cartoon versions and knew their martial arts, Shyamalan did a decent job. What he failed at doing when looking for actors was checking to see if they can actually act and react with one another. The actors looked like they were uncomfortable in their roles and in just about 90% of their dialogue came off wooden and strained. There was absolutely no chemistry between the characters. This is where the cartoon is successful. You feel these guys becoming a family. From the moment Aang opens his eyes, he has a crush on Katara. The movie does not go into any development with this. And Sokka is supposed to provide unintentional comedy to the group, but instead he is a serious older brother. The best acting came only from Shaun Toub (Uncle Iroh) and it’s a shame his lines were limited to only a dozen. The fluidity in the scenes and connections between the characters were seriously missing.
And this brings me to my second point, the script. It felt like Shyamalan wanted to tell as much of the cartoon story as he could in the short time frame, so he cut and added scenes from different episodes. I’ll give him props for trying to remain true to the cartoon, even if some of the scenes were a bit backwards, such as the Northern Air Temple having the room of statues…which turned out to have little significance other than to capture Aang. That’s three episodes there, wrapped into one. But for the most part, because he was trying to incorporate as much of the cartoon in the film, the fluidity between each scene was never made. It felt incredibly static and I think adding the subtitle of where the current locations as the travelers were making their way up to the Northern Water Tribe just reinforces this. Without them and without Katara narrating what they were doing, we would have very little clue as to what was going on. The scenes needed to be fleshed out and they needed to have some serious interaction between the actors. Most of the dialogue in each scene was left to just a couple of lines before moving on. The audience had no opportunity to connect to the characters, because we were not allowed to see their personalities and watch them develop.
One thing I’m incredibly surprised didn’t make it into the film was Suki. I know they casted her and even a version of the official site showed her with her fans. I must have blinked, because I could not find her. And fans of the show know that she is a strong and important character in the later books. My only guess is that Shyamalan wants to save her for book two, which focuses on the Earth Kingdom. But at this rate, I can’t imagine studios would make a second book.
I will say the two best aspects of the film for me were the special effects of the bending and the opening sequence which mimicked part of the opening credits of the tv show. That opening sequence got me so excited for the rest of the movie, but alas, it was the best scene of the entire film and I was incredibly let down for the remainder of the film.
Overall, I’m going to have to give this film a 3/10. And I think that’s being generous.
And this brings me to my second point, the script. It felt like Shyamalan wanted to tell as much of the cartoon story as he could in the short time frame, so he cut and added scenes from different episodes. I’ll give him props for trying to remain true to the cartoon, even if some of the scenes were a bit backwards, such as the Northern Air Temple having the room of statues…which turned out to have little significance other than to capture Aang. That’s three episodes there, wrapped into one. But for the most part, because he was trying to incorporate as much of the cartoon in the film, the fluidity between each scene was never made. It felt incredibly static and I think adding the subtitle of where the current locations as the travelers were making their way up to the Northern Water Tribe just reinforces this. Without them and without Katara narrating what they were doing, we would have very little clue as to what was going on. The scenes needed to be fleshed out and they needed to have some serious interaction between the actors. Most of the dialogue in each scene was left to just a couple of lines before moving on. The audience had no opportunity to connect to the characters, because we were not allowed to see their personalities and watch them develop.
One thing I’m incredibly surprised didn’t make it into the film was Suki. I know they casted her and even a version of the official site showed her with her fans. I must have blinked, because I could not find her. And fans of the show know that she is a strong and important character in the later books. My only guess is that Shyamalan wants to save her for book two, which focuses on the Earth Kingdom. But at this rate, I can’t imagine studios would make a second book.
I will say the two best aspects of the film for me were the special effects of the bending and the opening sequence which mimicked part of the opening credits of the tv show. That opening sequence got me so excited for the rest of the movie, but alas, it was the best scene of the entire film and I was incredibly let down for the remainder of the film.
Overall, I’m going to have to give this film a 3/10. And I think that’s being generous.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Friday, February 26, 2010
The Incredible Hulk
Having just finished watching this movie for the first time. I ask myself, besides the awesome cameos, the best part of the Incredible Hulk? The last 2 minutes!
daaaaahhhhh! My brain must explode now with the awesome anticipation of what's to come.
btw, I never saw the first Hulk movie, maybe just snippits if even that, but I heard it was awful so I had steered clear. This one wasn't half bad. I'd give it 3 1/2 out of 5 stars.
daaaaahhhhh! My brain must explode now with the awesome anticipation of what's to come.
btw, I never saw the first Hulk movie, maybe just snippits if even that, but I heard it was awful so I had steered clear. This one wasn't half bad. I'd give it 3 1/2 out of 5 stars.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
The A-Team
Tell me, what late 20-something year old didn't sit around and watch the A-team with their father, hmmm? Okay, am I really the only one? And I've honestly got to admit, I'm pretty excited to see this new remake coming out June 11th (btw, that's a day after my b-day).
Just caught the trailer for it on youtube and I'm waiting now for a crisper version (and one that can be embedded) to pop up so I can stick that on this entry instead. This film is already making me quite nostalgic. I wonder if the aim of the bad guys (and good guys?) will improve and they'll actually hit something. I have a feeling it might be a bad movie, but I'm still looking forward to seeing it.
Just caught the trailer for it on youtube and I'm waiting now for a crisper version (and one that can be embedded) to pop up so I can stick that on this entry instead. This film is already making me quite nostalgic. I wonder if the aim of the bad guys (and good guys?) will improve and they'll actually hit something. I have a feeling it might be a bad movie, but I'm still looking forward to seeing it.
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