December 2011

The Adventures of Tintin

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: The Adventures of Tintin
  • IMDb: link

adventures-of-tin-tin-posterFor his first dabble in the world of animation director Steven Spielberg decided to adapt the Belgian comic of Hergé which center around a young reporter out to discover the truth by unraveling a mystery often by relying on his wits and the help of his dog, Snowy.

The film adapts the eleventh title of the series, The Secret of the Unicorn, which begins with Tintin (Jamie Bell) purchasing an old model ship which contains a clue to a mystery involving an alcholic sea captain (Andy Serkis), a mysterious collector (Daniel Craig), a pirate treasure, and an unsolved riddle in three parts.

Although the film lacks the heart you would suspect of a Spielberg project, The Adventures of Tintin does provide a distinct animated style and several impressive chase sequences. In fact, it could be argued the entire film is little more than a collection of these sequences.

The individual set pieces are beautifully done, and the film even gives a nice nod to Hergé whose art appears in the credit sequence and briefly in the movie’s opening scene.

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The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
  • IMDB: link

the-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo-poster1I’ve never read the novels by Stieg Larsson or seen the original Swedish film, so I went into David Fincher‘s version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (adapted by screenwriter Steven Zaillian) without any preconceptions or foreknowledge of how the events of the plot would unfold. I enjoyed the film as a suspense thriller but I expected more (although I’m unsure if blame should be laid at the feet of the script or the original source material).

We begin not with one tale but two. The first concerns journalist and editor of a small left wing magazine Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig). The film opens with Blomkvist losing a libel case for his pubilshed accusations against billionaire financier Hans-Erik Wennerström (Ulf Friberg). Unwilling to to stay with the magazine and hurt it, and his co-editor and part-time lover (Robin Wright) any further, he finds himself untethered and at a loss as to what to do next.

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Midnight in Paris

/ / Home Video
  • Title: Midnight in Paris
  • IMDB: link

midnight-in-paris-blu-rayThe latest from writer/director Woody Allen stars Owen Wilson as a Hollywood screenwriter and struggling novelist who takes a trip to Paris with his fiance (Rachel McAdams) and her parents (Kurt Fuller, Mimi Kennedy). Although he is in love with the city. Gil (Wilson) feels stifled by his conservative in-laws to-be and lacks patience for his fiance’s friends, most notably the pedantic Paul (Michael Sheen).

Then one night, while wandering through the city, Gil somehow finds himself transported to the Paris of the early 1900’s where he meets a collection of his artist idols including Ernest Hemingway (Corey Stoll) and his wife Zelda (Alison Pill), Gertrude Stein (Kathy Bates), Pablo Picaso (Marcial Di Fonzo Bo), T.S. Elliot (David Lowe), and Cole Porter (Yves Heck). Every night Gil sneaks away, spending time in the Paris of his dreams, discussing art with the greats, and falling more and more for the lovely Adriana (Marion Cotillard).

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Atomic Robo and the Ghost of Station X #4

/ / Comics

atomic-robo-vol-6-4-coverSomeone is playing with our robot hero. First they laid a trap for him in space and then shot him down. Only through a dangerous mid-air rescue did out metal friend survive. Robo’s pals were able to trace the communication for the attacks to a sub-station controlled by a shadowy government agency known as Majestic 12. And they’re not done yet.

Issue #4 opens with Robo and his team under an attack from an army of Majectic 12 operatives complete with helicopters, armored transports, and tanks. Severly outgunned Atomic Robo and his pals spend the first half of the issue on the run before eluding their pursuit long enough to enlist the help of a convoy of truckers – for science!

Thanks to the help of some low tech trucker know-how, Robo is able to trace the signals back to Hashima Island (where Louis and Martin are about to land). With one issue left (enclosed in a giant crate on his way to the island) Atomic Robo will have to save his friends, uncover the truth behind the conspiracy that wants him dead, and save the world. Best of the week.

[Red 5, $3.50]

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Blackthorn

/ / Home Video
  • Title: Blackthorn
  • IMDB: link

blackthorn-blu-rayWe all know that in 1908, alongside the Sundance Kid, Butch Cassidy died in Bolivia in 1908. But what if that isn’t the case? Several people believe Cassidy survived Bolivia and there are several accounts of his movements decades later.

Blackthorn centers around an elderly Butch Cassidy who has been hiding in Boliva for decades as a horse trader named James Blackthorn (Sam Shepard). As the movie opens Blackthorn has decided to return to the U.S. but an expected encounter with a thief (Eduardo Noriega) in possession of $50,000 puts Cassidy on the path for one final adventure.

The script by Miguel Barros is passable, but nothing special, relying on late twists and old adversaries to spice up a story without much to say. Blackthorn isn’t a bad film, but it’s far too close in themes and story to the immensely superior Unforgiven.

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