Year: 2009
Director: Todd Phillips
Screenplay: Jon Lucas, Scott Moore
Starring: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis
Synopsis is here
It's rude, crude and full of good timing. I had a despite being somewhat underwhelmed, I found myself having more than just the odd laugh with The Hangover. Movies such as this one can easily crumble on their hook alone. The Hangover is a worth while watch due to it's on the accuracy of it's comic moments, some amusing set pieces and a cast who may not yet very recognisable to it's audience. The last point being a real winner for me as we are now given a refreshingly different group of actors to befriend. So instead of your Blacks, Farrells and Rudds, we get Cooper, Helms and Galifianakis. It's a good change. The comedy remains high but the expectation of certain pratfalls and moments disappear.
In my opinion Todd Phillips does comedies relatively well and The Hangover is no exception. Like many of his other films (Old School, Starksy and Hutch) Phillips has the film on a brisk pace. keeping the laughs coming while keeping the film from going down the wrong track. It's easy for a film like this to become overloaded with pop culture references and shock tactics but Phillips keeps his cool and the film stays on course towards it's conventional (yet amusing) ending.
Phillips commands the ship well but the kudos does go to a very dependable cast who, despite having cliched roles are extremely likable throughout. Zach Galifianakis is the the supposed "breakout" role and has some great moments but it's very easy being the "weird guy". No for me the larger applause goes to Ed Helms. He has the difficult role of being the smart guy who loses his shit....and lets be honest, there's nothing funnier at times than the smart guy who loses his shit. Bradley Cooper also gets the thumbs up from me has the incredibly smug school teacher Phil. Having seen (and loved) Cooper in the excellent (read: cancelled by fox) Kitchen Confidential playing a similar character, I knew he'd carry a movie like this with ease. Cooper shows why he's been pick to be Face in the new A team movie and I fully welcome him into the role.
The films leads really make the film gel. Their comic timing show why so many "frat" films fell apart at the seams. Those three (with added support from Heather Graham and a Mike Tyson Cameo) really got me to dig the film.
With this said. I've laughed harder at other films this year. I found Drag me to Hell and Observe and Report to be funnier films. Observe and Report was funnier from a personal standpoint, while Drag me to Hell takes it's outrageous set pieces to their peak. This doesn't make The Hangover a bad film by any means but unfortunately Todd Phillips has not directed a film with a set piece as bizarre as a possessed devil goat. Tough Beak Todd.
But this brings me to why I was underwhelmed by the film. As funny as I found the film, I was surprised at the amount of restraint it has. My favorite scenes involved a taser, a young child and Zach Galifianakis but for me nothing seemed to beat that and that's quite early within the movie. I mentioned that Todd Phillips keeps the film on the right track but like his earlier comedies he fails to take the movie off the rails. For me to describe it...it's funny, but not funny as fuck. But unlike many other films, Phillips keeps it consistently amusing until the end and personally that a good thing.
I'm not going to watch The Hangover if I can watch Ghostbusters, Airplane or otherwise instead, But in a disappointing summer season which contained Transformers 2 and Angels and Demons, it was good to see something that actually entertained me.
Thursday, 2 July 2009
Review: Public Enemies
Year: 2009
Director: Michael Mann
Screenplay: Michael Mann, Ann Biderman, Ronan Bennett
Starring: Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, Marion Cotillard, Billy Crudrup and a host of character actors you've seen in so many other things it's unreal.
I hate it when I'm sitting at my laptop trying to write a review and the words don't come to me. It's bloody annoying. It's especially irritating when it's about a film I like because what i write never does the film justice. So I'll start with this. I really disliked Miami Vice. Fans will say "I didn't get it" but I think I do. I just don't think it worked for the movie. However I listened to fans of the film and their views on the film and found them truly fascinating. The visuals I found jarring they saw as alluring. My experience of vapid performances, plodding pace are changed to performances of subtle distinction and a film with a quiet rhythm of it's own. The action set pieces however, are something both me and the fans agree on; as they are brutal, true to life and intense. It's a shame I didn't like the rest of the film really because the last act has a gunfight that can only be match by the likes of director Michael Mann's own Heat.
This brings me to Mann's latest feature, Public Enemies, a film based on the non-fictional book Public Enemies: America's Greatest Crime Wave and the Birth of the FBI, 1933-34 by Bryan Burrough. The film tells the tale of the brief life of John Dillinger who was a real life Robin Hood during America's great depression (great timing there!). Mann's story details the last few year of the criminals life, from his jail break in 1933 to his eventual death in 1934.
Dillinger is given life by a absolutely mesmerizing Johnny Depp who puts forth a display which remind us why he's one of the best actors of his generation. Many praise his "out there" roles because they're quite easy to highlight. The likes of Jack Sparrow, Edward Scissorhands and the like are of course great parts, but it's the parts like this (and a lesser extent Finding Neverland) which remind me why I admire him as an actor. When the eccentric ticks and outrageous costumes and quirks are removed Depp still commands a screen as well as yester year legend. I loved him in this role and so did Michael Mann's digital camera (which I'll try to explain later).
Depp's presence is key here and it dominates almost everything on the screen (except the set pieces). In fact Depp almost knocks the quietly accomplished display by Christian Bale into touch, but this only may be due to the character Bale has to portray.
While Dillinger is a slightly showy (yet deeply focused) character, Bale's character of Pervis is one of flase confidence and almost reluctance. Both actors play their roles as world weary ones, as they've lived there respective lives so quickly and so fast. Dillinger has a James Dean live young die fast streak to him while Pervis is a character so wrapped up in the beginnings of the FBI and catching these quick thieves it's almost unsurprising when we discover his fate at the end of the film.
Mann's interpretation of Dillinger isn't too far off from his fictional character of Neil McCauley (or many of his crime characters). A fast thinking and intensely focused Man. However due to the time frame of this movie. Those expecting bank Heists a la Heat may be disappointed.
While detailed, Dillingers first heists in Public Enemies are short sharp affairs with seemingly little or no planning around them. Almost as if Dillinger had been doing them for so long that he recognisedthat each bank followed the same script and utilised the same plan with little or no changes. It's amazing to see the contrast between not only the Dillinger planned bank jobs to the manic, desperate heist pulled off with help from Baby Faced Neilson (scenery delightfully chewed by Stephen Graham) but also from the point of view from Heat in which the bank heist is the jewel of the film whereas here they are many side note to the stunning hideaway shootout.
Mann's direction of his action set pieces are once again impeccable and after the flashy and colourful effects of Star Trek and the CGI overkill of Transformers there's something refreshing about Mann's brutally realistic gunfights.
In fact due to the films mixture of the digital camerawork and 30's timeline give it a completely different feel from other gangster movies. The mesh of old and new truly sets it apart from anything else that's appeared recently, but I expect nothing less from the man who brought you what many consider one of the definitive crime films of the nineties.
It doesn't end there however as while I complained about Mann's visual style in Miami Vice, I find that it totally works for me here. So much so that I may need to watch Vice again, to reassess what I saw. The film is full of Bergman-esque close ups which capture every detail and nuance of the actors. The visuals also give the film an intimate feel, a stark contrast to Heat's epic feel. In fact the pivotal scene in which Dillenger and Pervis finally meet in jail owes more to Mann's Manhunter than the coffee scene in Heat (although the scene wryly riffs on both of them).
If there's one thing I must say against the film it's that while the films screenplay is witty and economical (despite it's 140 run time) there's so much going on in within the films timeline that it doesn't fit in all the subplots that run throughout the narrative. Supporting characters such are pushed to the side (Marion Cotillard's love interest is hurt the most despite a good performance) and Dillenger hogs all the limelight. Not much is said about the beginning of the FBI, while there's a coast to coast bookies racket which is just simply underdeveloped and seemingly used to push the plot forward a little.
But I can't bitch too much. I wanted a summer film with plot and I got one. Public Enemies is the strongest film I've seen this summer while that's not saying much this summer, It does show that Michael Mann is still one of the best working filmmakers when it comes to the murky depths of crime. This film has so much going on and it hits the ground running but like it's lead character it's always in control.
Listen here for the podcast review!
Director: Michael Mann
Screenplay: Michael Mann, Ann Biderman, Ronan Bennett
Starring: Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, Marion Cotillard, Billy Crudrup and a host of character actors you've seen in so many other things it's unreal.
I hate it when I'm sitting at my laptop trying to write a review and the words don't come to me. It's bloody annoying. It's especially irritating when it's about a film I like because what i write never does the film justice. So I'll start with this. I really disliked Miami Vice. Fans will say "I didn't get it" but I think I do. I just don't think it worked for the movie. However I listened to fans of the film and their views on the film and found them truly fascinating. The visuals I found jarring they saw as alluring. My experience of vapid performances, plodding pace are changed to performances of subtle distinction and a film with a quiet rhythm of it's own. The action set pieces however, are something both me and the fans agree on; as they are brutal, true to life and intense. It's a shame I didn't like the rest of the film really because the last act has a gunfight that can only be match by the likes of director Michael Mann's own Heat.
This brings me to Mann's latest feature, Public Enemies, a film based on the non-fictional book Public Enemies: America's Greatest Crime Wave and the Birth of the FBI, 1933-34 by Bryan Burrough. The film tells the tale of the brief life of John Dillinger who was a real life Robin Hood during America's great depression (great timing there!). Mann's story details the last few year of the criminals life, from his jail break in 1933 to his eventual death in 1934.
Dillinger is given life by a absolutely mesmerizing Johnny Depp who puts forth a display which remind us why he's one of the best actors of his generation. Many praise his "out there" roles because they're quite easy to highlight. The likes of Jack Sparrow, Edward Scissorhands and the like are of course great parts, but it's the parts like this (and a lesser extent Finding Neverland) which remind me why I admire him as an actor. When the eccentric ticks and outrageous costumes and quirks are removed Depp still commands a screen as well as yester year legend. I loved him in this role and so did Michael Mann's digital camera (which I'll try to explain later).
Depp's presence is key here and it dominates almost everything on the screen (except the set pieces). In fact Depp almost knocks the quietly accomplished display by Christian Bale into touch, but this only may be due to the character Bale has to portray.
While Dillinger is a slightly showy (yet deeply focused) character, Bale's character of Pervis is one of flase confidence and almost reluctance. Both actors play their roles as world weary ones, as they've lived there respective lives so quickly and so fast. Dillinger has a James Dean live young die fast streak to him while Pervis is a character so wrapped up in the beginnings of the FBI and catching these quick thieves it's almost unsurprising when we discover his fate at the end of the film.
Mann's interpretation of Dillinger isn't too far off from his fictional character of Neil McCauley (or many of his crime characters). A fast thinking and intensely focused Man. However due to the time frame of this movie. Those expecting bank Heists a la Heat may be disappointed.
While detailed, Dillingers first heists in Public Enemies are short sharp affairs with seemingly little or no planning around them. Almost as if Dillinger had been doing them for so long that he recognisedthat each bank followed the same script and utilised the same plan with little or no changes. It's amazing to see the contrast between not only the Dillinger planned bank jobs to the manic, desperate heist pulled off with help from Baby Faced Neilson (scenery delightfully chewed by Stephen Graham) but also from the point of view from Heat in which the bank heist is the jewel of the film whereas here they are many side note to the stunning hideaway shootout.
Mann's direction of his action set pieces are once again impeccable and after the flashy and colourful effects of Star Trek and the CGI overkill of Transformers there's something refreshing about Mann's brutally realistic gunfights.
In fact due to the films mixture of the digital camerawork and 30's timeline give it a completely different feel from other gangster movies. The mesh of old and new truly sets it apart from anything else that's appeared recently, but I expect nothing less from the man who brought you what many consider one of the definitive crime films of the nineties.
It doesn't end there however as while I complained about Mann's visual style in Miami Vice, I find that it totally works for me here. So much so that I may need to watch Vice again, to reassess what I saw. The film is full of Bergman-esque close ups which capture every detail and nuance of the actors. The visuals also give the film an intimate feel, a stark contrast to Heat's epic feel. In fact the pivotal scene in which Dillenger and Pervis finally meet in jail owes more to Mann's Manhunter than the coffee scene in Heat (although the scene wryly riffs on both of them).
If there's one thing I must say against the film it's that while the films screenplay is witty and economical (despite it's 140 run time) there's so much going on in within the films timeline that it doesn't fit in all the subplots that run throughout the narrative. Supporting characters such are pushed to the side (Marion Cotillard's love interest is hurt the most despite a good performance) and Dillenger hogs all the limelight. Not much is said about the beginning of the FBI, while there's a coast to coast bookies racket which is just simply underdeveloped and seemingly used to push the plot forward a little.
But I can't bitch too much. I wanted a summer film with plot and I got one. Public Enemies is the strongest film I've seen this summer while that's not saying much this summer, It does show that Michael Mann is still one of the best working filmmakers when it comes to the murky depths of crime. This film has so much going on and it hits the ground running but like it's lead character it's always in control.
Listen here for the podcast review!
Sunday, 28 June 2009
Review: Blood: The Last Vampire
Year: 2009
Director: Chris Nahon
Screenplay: Chris Chow
Starring: Gianna Jun, Allison Miller
Despite only watching the Micheal Bay's eye rape a little over a week ago. Transformers: Revenge of the fallen isn't even close to worst film I've seen this year. Hell, it isn't even the worst action/adventure film I've seen this year. Right now that dubious title falls to either The Spirit or Blood: The last Vampire.
Based on a 45 min anime about an Demon assassin who appears to be the last of her kind (a vampire). This live action "adaptation" (lengthened to average feature film running time) gives our lead character Saya (played by Jun Ji-hyun) what the screenwriter believes is a back story. From what I'm told the beginning is a cropped version of the anime before the filmmakers decided that a cliched, thinly layered, half arsed teenagers idea of a screenplay is the way to go.
I don't dabble in Anime as much as much as I could, but watching hackneyed shit like this doesn't make me wanted to venture further down that route. Blood is so full of inexplicable plot moments that questioning them became futile. How do they know this? Why is she doing that? These story holes aren't little blips that can be easily avoided, but huge gaps in logic just waiting to bitchslap the intelligent viewer. Yes the running time is longer but the screenplay does nothing to explain any rhyme or reason to the bad action sequences given to us on the screen. I should have known not to trust the trite exposition scroll at the beginning of the movie.
But it's bad narrative is only a lead up to some truly woeful action scenes. Sequences that could have been entertaining are hyper edited by what one could only suggest is a speed freak overdosing on the last of his cheap wizz. I don't understand why we are consistently force fed action scenes that are almost impossible to see. Aren't we supposed to see the stunts and the choreography? Am I missing the point? Surely not. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is full of superb fight scenes taken with stunning unbroken shots. This is supposedly by the "makers" of the former film but somehow holds none of the beauty of the earlier film. The makers look to be going for style over substance but clearly have none. So we are left with a garish, choppy movie that sets a viewer at a distance.
Acting wise the films actors are horrifically one note and dull and not worth noting in any shape or form. Although the lead actress Gianna Jun and the completely unnecessary Allison Miller are easy on the eye which make the garish look of the film bearable. God knows why Colin Salmon is in this, I believe that he has boat payments.
Chris Nahon's forgettable direction gives us a boring film which rolls from cliche to cliche at break neck speed. This is helped an insufferable script by Chris Chow which is full of stiff dialogue as well as the aforementioned basic story. A story which is cobbled together by elements of other (better) screenplays but with nothing to hold the narrative in any shape or form. Originality and freshness aren't in Blood's resume, neither is co-coherence.
I'm sure I could mention more into why I disliked Blood: The Last Vampire but I'm sure it would be as drining to read as the film as was to watch. It's clear that the film was rushed into development to try and ensnare anyone who may care about such a project. With more time and effort Blood could have been an interesting entry into the action genre, instead we get this. Ah well, Cest la vie.
Director: Chris Nahon
Screenplay: Chris Chow
Starring: Gianna Jun, Allison Miller
Despite only watching the Micheal Bay's eye rape a little over a week ago. Transformers: Revenge of the fallen isn't even close to worst film I've seen this year. Hell, it isn't even the worst action/adventure film I've seen this year. Right now that dubious title falls to either The Spirit or Blood: The last Vampire.
Based on a 45 min anime about an Demon assassin who appears to be the last of her kind (a vampire). This live action "adaptation" (lengthened to average feature film running time) gives our lead character Saya (played by Jun Ji-hyun) what the screenwriter believes is a back story. From what I'm told the beginning is a cropped version of the anime before the filmmakers decided that a cliched, thinly layered, half arsed teenagers idea of a screenplay is the way to go.
I don't dabble in Anime as much as much as I could, but watching hackneyed shit like this doesn't make me wanted to venture further down that route. Blood is so full of inexplicable plot moments that questioning them became futile. How do they know this? Why is she doing that? These story holes aren't little blips that can be easily avoided, but huge gaps in logic just waiting to bitchslap the intelligent viewer. Yes the running time is longer but the screenplay does nothing to explain any rhyme or reason to the bad action sequences given to us on the screen. I should have known not to trust the trite exposition scroll at the beginning of the movie.
But it's bad narrative is only a lead up to some truly woeful action scenes. Sequences that could have been entertaining are hyper edited by what one could only suggest is a speed freak overdosing on the last of his cheap wizz. I don't understand why we are consistently force fed action scenes that are almost impossible to see. Aren't we supposed to see the stunts and the choreography? Am I missing the point? Surely not. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is full of superb fight scenes taken with stunning unbroken shots. This is supposedly by the "makers" of the former film but somehow holds none of the beauty of the earlier film. The makers look to be going for style over substance but clearly have none. So we are left with a garish, choppy movie that sets a viewer at a distance.
Acting wise the films actors are horrifically one note and dull and not worth noting in any shape or form. Although the lead actress Gianna Jun and the completely unnecessary Allison Miller are easy on the eye which make the garish look of the film bearable. God knows why Colin Salmon is in this, I believe that he has boat payments.
Chris Nahon's forgettable direction gives us a boring film which rolls from cliche to cliche at break neck speed. This is helped an insufferable script by Chris Chow which is full of stiff dialogue as well as the aforementioned basic story. A story which is cobbled together by elements of other (better) screenplays but with nothing to hold the narrative in any shape or form. Originality and freshness aren't in Blood's resume, neither is co-coherence.
I'm sure I could mention more into why I disliked Blood: The Last Vampire but I'm sure it would be as drining to read as the film as was to watch. It's clear that the film was rushed into development to try and ensnare anyone who may care about such a project. With more time and effort Blood could have been an interesting entry into the action genre, instead we get this. Ah well, Cest la vie.
Friday, 26 June 2009
26 June 2009 - A Day of Death
In a very bizarre day I discovered very late today that my Uncle's wife had past away in the U.S.
And with this I say my thoughts are with you Uncle.
Also today that Micheal Jackson and Farrah Fawcett have also passed on.
I'm not going to say too much about these people which have been said already. There is no point.
I will say however these people were true iconic creatures who brought happiness to those who followed them. From the infamous Farrah poster to The "king of pop" breaking the MTV Race barrier.
R.I.P
And with this I say my thoughts are with you Uncle.
Also today that Micheal Jackson and Farrah Fawcett have also passed on.
I'm not going to say too much about these people which have been said already. There is no point.
I will say however these people were true iconic creatures who brought happiness to those who followed them. From the infamous Farrah poster to The "king of pop" breaking the MTV Race barrier.
R.I.P
Monday, 22 June 2009
Review: Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen
Year; 2009
Director: Micheal Bay
Screenplay: Ehren Kruger, Roberto Orc, Alex Kurtzman
Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson, John Turturro, Isabel Lucas, Rainn Wilson
I don't shit on Micheal Bay movies for the hell of it. It's easy to do that. Anyone who states he's the "worst director ever!" can't have seen many movies. In fact he's probably one of the most unpretentious directors out there. Really? Yes really. He knows his target audience and makes films for them. Also who else is making action set pieces like him? The man has an inspired flair for blowing shit up.
But here's where I take issue with his rabid fans. The ones who say IGNORE THE CRITICS! IT'S JUST A MINDLESS ACTION FILM! I can't switch my brain off for movies, not because I don't want to or because I'm stuck up or anything. But because it doesn't make sense to switch your brain off and stare at a screen like a lobotomized monkey. I don't want to "mindlessly" clap like a seal at naff humor or gaze vapidly at things that go boom. Why pay money to "switch your brain off?" Some people do it. That's cool, but for me that doesn't make sense. The very best action films don't require "effort", but they're not stupid.
This brings me to Transformers 2: Revenge of the fallen. A film I didn't find engaging or fun in the slightest. I found it overlong, dull, lacks tension and empty. To say a Micheal Bay movie is like a video game is a something usually said by elitist film critics who don't play video games. However to me I felt like I was watching someone else play a video game. If I put on my Xbox (and soon a PS3) the game I'll play will entertain me because I feel part of it. Revenge however, isn't involving in the slightest. People/Robots do things and say things but none of it is very interesting. This is why story and character is needed, because usually an audience are entertained by a person with character. Unless of course you can "turn off your brain" which makes you an amazing human being worth filming yourself due to your defiance of logic.
The film becomes uneven because the actors with charisma and charm (John T and Shia LaBeouf being the strongest) are still vaguely appealing because they can do a bit with very little. Watching Lebouf riffing shows his talent despite have such a flat character. The same goes for the unnecessary part played by Turturro, a brilliant character actor who again takes up his odd little role as the (now fired) secret agent. There is no reason to bring this character up again but hey, a guy like Turturro must have boat payments or something. I would have enjoyed the film even more if the voice talents of Peter Cullen and Hugo Weaving were utilized more but the film is all about the titular Fallen. Now when you hear that this Robot is the master of Megatron I was thinking "Shit! This motherfucker is badass!" Unfortunately he's not, and for all the time spent talking about him...his presence is more vapid than a Megan "serious actress" Fox GQ interview.
But story and character is not important (Nor is acting if your a certain M Fox) so what about the action, action, action! The reason why you would watch something like this. Well this is another bane of contention with me as Bay's action is nothing particularity special. None of the set pieces have the ballsy bravura that was seen in parts of Bad Boys 2 or The Island. Am I the biggest fan of those two movies? Not at all, but there's moments within those two movies which are quite simply jaw dropping. Revenge of the fallen has a lot of action but none worth noting. Bay isn't a storyteller, therefore, these moments have nothing at stake, so I don't care. Watching a Transformers 2 action sequence is like premature ejaculation. All climax and no build up. But hey, you get this from the man who believes that spinning the camera violently around the main characters during a "quieter" moment is the best way to display tenderness on screen.
To add even more injury, the films screenplay (two of the writers wrote Star Trek!!?!?) is not only full of tinned eared dialogue but breaks almost what little amount of tension and atmosphere that was around with irritating comic relief. usually stemming from some of the dubiously voiced "lesser bots". If your not an ignorant "hip hop" (read: Black) robot with gold teeth who can't read, then your a sell out Italian gangster wannabe who humps the white goddess. But then maybe I should switch my brain off and stop taking it so seriously it's just a mindless action flick (wasn't the black robot in the first film the only one that died?)
I re-watched the first film yesterday after 2 years of avoiding it and found that although I softened to it more than when I first saw it. I was still disappointed at it it's uneven pacing, bland story and uninteresting action. This is even more of the same but worse because I've seen it all before.
This is merely one mans opinion, and this critic proof movie will blast it's way to the top of the box office and reap in a ton of money and as much as that's cool for everyone involved, it has a piece of me dying a little inside. Jaws was summer entertainment too, but it also had a story.
Director: Micheal Bay
Screenplay: Ehren Kruger, Roberto Orc, Alex Kurtzman
Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson, John Turturro, Isabel Lucas, Rainn Wilson
I don't shit on Micheal Bay movies for the hell of it. It's easy to do that. Anyone who states he's the "worst director ever!" can't have seen many movies. In fact he's probably one of the most unpretentious directors out there. Really? Yes really. He knows his target audience and makes films for them. Also who else is making action set pieces like him? The man has an inspired flair for blowing shit up.
But here's where I take issue with his rabid fans. The ones who say IGNORE THE CRITICS! IT'S JUST A MINDLESS ACTION FILM! I can't switch my brain off for movies, not because I don't want to or because I'm stuck up or anything. But because it doesn't make sense to switch your brain off and stare at a screen like a lobotomized monkey. I don't want to "mindlessly" clap like a seal at naff humor or gaze vapidly at things that go boom. Why pay money to "switch your brain off?" Some people do it. That's cool, but for me that doesn't make sense. The very best action films don't require "effort", but they're not stupid.
This brings me to Transformers 2: Revenge of the fallen. A film I didn't find engaging or fun in the slightest. I found it overlong, dull, lacks tension and empty. To say a Micheal Bay movie is like a video game is a something usually said by elitist film critics who don't play video games. However to me I felt like I was watching someone else play a video game. If I put on my Xbox (and soon a PS3) the game I'll play will entertain me because I feel part of it. Revenge however, isn't involving in the slightest. People/Robots do things and say things but none of it is very interesting. This is why story and character is needed, because usually an audience are entertained by a person with character. Unless of course you can "turn off your brain" which makes you an amazing human being worth filming yourself due to your defiance of logic.
The film becomes uneven because the actors with charisma and charm (John T and Shia LaBeouf being the strongest) are still vaguely appealing because they can do a bit with very little. Watching Lebouf riffing shows his talent despite have such a flat character. The same goes for the unnecessary part played by Turturro, a brilliant character actor who again takes up his odd little role as the (now fired) secret agent. There is no reason to bring this character up again but hey, a guy like Turturro must have boat payments or something. I would have enjoyed the film even more if the voice talents of Peter Cullen and Hugo Weaving were utilized more but the film is all about the titular Fallen. Now when you hear that this Robot is the master of Megatron I was thinking "Shit! This motherfucker is badass!" Unfortunately he's not, and for all the time spent talking about him...his presence is more vapid than a Megan "serious actress" Fox GQ interview.
But story and character is not important (Nor is acting if your a certain M Fox) so what about the action, action, action! The reason why you would watch something like this. Well this is another bane of contention with me as Bay's action is nothing particularity special. None of the set pieces have the ballsy bravura that was seen in parts of Bad Boys 2 or The Island. Am I the biggest fan of those two movies? Not at all, but there's moments within those two movies which are quite simply jaw dropping. Revenge of the fallen has a lot of action but none worth noting. Bay isn't a storyteller, therefore, these moments have nothing at stake, so I don't care. Watching a Transformers 2 action sequence is like premature ejaculation. All climax and no build up. But hey, you get this from the man who believes that spinning the camera violently around the main characters during a "quieter" moment is the best way to display tenderness on screen.
To add even more injury, the films screenplay (two of the writers wrote Star Trek!!?!?) is not only full of tinned eared dialogue but breaks almost what little amount of tension and atmosphere that was around with irritating comic relief. usually stemming from some of the dubiously voiced "lesser bots". If your not an ignorant "hip hop" (read: Black) robot with gold teeth who can't read, then your a sell out Italian gangster wannabe who humps the white goddess. But then maybe I should switch my brain off and stop taking it so seriously it's just a mindless action flick (wasn't the black robot in the first film the only one that died?)
An accurate representation of how Micheal Bay views all black people
I re-watched the first film yesterday after 2 years of avoiding it and found that although I softened to it more than when I first saw it. I was still disappointed at it it's uneven pacing, bland story and uninteresting action. This is even more of the same but worse because I've seen it all before.
This is merely one mans opinion, and this critic proof movie will blast it's way to the top of the box office and reap in a ton of money and as much as that's cool for everyone involved, it has a piece of me dying a little inside. Jaws was summer entertainment too, but it also had a story.
An accurate representation of how Micheal Bay views some black people after meeting me.
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