Review: The Last Airbender

IMDb

Title: The Last Airbender
Distributor: Nickelodeon Movies (Paramount Pictures)
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Writer(s): M. Night Shyamalan (written by)
Staring: Noah Ringer, Dev Patel, Nicola Peltz,Jackson Rathbone, Shaun Toub, Aasif Mandvi, Cliff Curtis, Seychelle Gabriel
MPAA Rating: Rated PG for fantasy action violence.
Running Time: 103 min
Synopsis: The story follows the adventures of Aang, a young successor to a long line of Avatars, who must put his childhood ways aside and stop the Fire Nation from enslaving the Water, Earth and Air nations.

What Others Are Saying?

Rotten Tomatoes: T-Meter: 09% (Rotten), Top Critics: 07% (Rotten), RT Community: 65% (Fresh)
Metacritic: Critics: 20 out of 100, Users: 2.8 out of 10
MRQE Metric: 37: (23.0% A, 15.3% B, 15.3% C, 15.3% D, and 30.7% F)
Yahoo Movies: Critics: D+ Users: C+

My Review

Source Material: Based on Nickelodeon's Avatar: The Last Airbender.

Entertaining Value:

• Action Elements: The showcasing of the different martial arts forms was great, there could have been more, but as an action film it not too bad.
  

• Comedy Elements: Sokka character bring a lot of slap stick and physical comedy in the television version while the film had some, it was missing quite a bit.
  

• Dramatic Elements: Can you say epic fail, most of the failure comes from bad acting.

• Sci-Fi / Fantasy Elements: Elemental Bending, and other Asian culture/ folklore, descend visual effects.

Cinematic Value:

• Acting and Dialogue: C-: The acting well, wasn't that great. I think most of the bad acting comes from the fact the cast was young in there careers. Out of the "child" actors the only ones I recognized was Jackson Rathbone, known for portraying Jasper Hale in The Twilight Saga, and Dev Patel from Slumdog Millionaire. The adult actors also only did okay, the best acting came from Shaun Toub who play Iroh. To top it all off the best acting in the entire movie came from the girl who played Princess Yue, Seychelle Gabriel. So we have established the acting wasn't the greatest well neither was the dialog, exhibit A, “We need to show them that we believe in our beliefs as much as they believe in their beliefs” There were many lines like this one, were one word would get repeated.

• Art Direction: B-: Awesome location, with beautiful sites for the different nations.

• Cinematography: B-: There were some really cool scenes that capture the different martial arts showcased in this film. Some of the scene brought me back to The Matirx days.
  

• Direction: C: M. Night Shyamalan is one of the director in my top five favorites directors. I know people will raze me for liking him and his films, cause the general public started to jump ship after The Village and even more so with the Happening. Now with The Last Airbender, it seems the only people on the ship are M. Night Shyamalan and minute amount of fans. I think he did a good job directing the movie but the film didn't turn out that good.

• Editing: D+: Very slow pacing, the 103 min movie felt a lot longer. the cut between scenes seemed a bit random, and out of place. I thought there were to many montage type of scenes.
  

• Screenplay: C-: The mythology and story from the television show is great, some where along the line it was ruined. Personally I thought the story had too much childish behavior written into. Aang is spouse to be a bit childish but full grown adults, WTF. Seriously, this is one of the lines from an adult, "Those kids where earthbending and hitting us with small rocks in the head, that hurts. These words were uttered in a winy manner, just like a child. I do understand that the film was mad for kids but it doesn't have to be that extreme

• Sound and Music: C: Midorcer like everything else.
  

• VFX: B-: Probably, the best thing about this movie.

Overall: C-:Fan will be disappointed to some level cause it doesn't live to to the television show.

The Picture Box

The Picture Box

A co-worker and friend of mine is trying very hard to get his small student film to the high school section of the Heartland Film Festival, which takes place in Indianapolis, Indian. If you're a connoisseur of films and the art of filmmaking, like myself, then you may enjoy this emotional silent film that showcases how precious our memories become to us over time. As a friend and a fellow filmmaker I fully support this film, and I hope you do too.

Review: The A-TEAM

IMDb

Title: The A-TEAM
Distributor: Dune Entertainment (20th Century Fox)
Director: Joe Carnahan
Writer(s): Joe Carnahan(written by), Brian Bloom(written by), Skip Woods(written by), Frank Lupo(television series "The A-Team"), Stephen J. Cannell(television series "The A-Team"))
Staring: Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, Jessica Biel, Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson, Sharlto Copley, Patrick Wilson
MPAA Rating: Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of action and violence throughout, language and smoking.
Running Time: NA
Synopsis: A group of Iraq War veterans looks to clear their name with the U.S. military, who suspect the four men of committing a crime for which they were framed.

What Others Are Saying?

Rotten Tomatoes: T-Meter: 52% (Rotten), Top Critics: 47% (Rotten), RT Community: 87% (Fresh)
Metacritic: Critics: 47 out of 100, Users: 8.0 out of 10
MRQE Metric: 57: (7.4% A, 38.5% B, 38.2% C, 13.6% D, and 0.0% F)
Yahoo Movies: Critics: C+ Users: A-

My Review

Source Material: Based on the television show with the same name.

Entertaining Value:

• Action Elements: This is very well done action movie. In place it seem a little over the top, but really by the end you fell like you had a good ride.

• Comedy Elements: Great one liners, and I'm guessing a lot of lines from the television show

• Dramatic Elements: This film is driven mainly by action and comedy.

• Sci-Fi / Fantasy Elements: No space or science type stuff, but there was a good use of fire and partial special FX.

Cinematic Value:

• Acting and Dialogue: A-: From what I have heard each character made a great effort at portraying there television counterparts. Liam Neeson was by far the best actor on screen but everyone did a good job even the UFC fighter Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson. Sharlto Copley is making a pretty good name for himself with this film and District 9.

• Art Direction: B-: It could have been a bit better. It had the right stuff for a good summer movie.

• Cinematography: B+: This was a good action movie. Usually with action movies the quality of cinematography goes down cause the whole movie is shaky cam, not in this case, well not as much anyways.

• Direction: B+: The pace was nice, I never felt board or confused. As for the directors style well, it more on the "dick-flick" side of things, which I like. For those of you who don't know, this is the same guy who did Smokin' Aces

• Editing: B+: There was take on a technique I have seen in many other film that I really like where as the character tells the plan it happens.

• Screenplay: B: There was big jumps in story, aging wise, but nobodies seems to age. From the opening scene/ introduction scene to the percent there is a 6 year 80 mission gap. Then there is another gap of 6 mouths (time spent in prison).

• Sound and Music: B: I liked the sound track, it work for that type of movie.

• VFX: B: Like I said before there was a good use of Special FX rather than Visual FX, either way it passed as a good job in my book.

Overall: B+: Its a very good guy summer movie. But I have a filling that 40-50 some will enjoy it too cause, from what I have heard the actors do a good job matching the originals.

Review: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

IMDb

Title: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Distributor: Walt Disney Pictures
Director: Mike Newell
Writer(s): Boaz Yakin(screenplay), Doug Miro ( screenplay), Carlo Bernard (screenplay) Jordan Mechner (screen story) Jordan Mechner (video game series "Prince of Persia")
Staring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Gemma Arterton, Ben Kingsley
MPAA Rating: Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action.
Running Time: 116 min
Synopsis: Based on the video game, which follows an adventurous prince who teams up with a rival princess to stop an angry ruler from unleashing a sandstorm that could destroy the world.

What Others Are Saying?

Rotten Tomatoes: T-Meter: 39% (Rotten), Top Critics: 23% (Rotten), RT Community: 73% (Fresh)
Metacritic: Critics: 49 out of 100, Users: 8.4 out of 10
MRQE Metric: 52: (0.0% A, 26.4% B, 54.4% C, 16.8% D, and 0.0% F)
Yahoo Movies: Critics: C+ Users: A-

My Review

Source Material: Based on the video game.

Entertaining Value:

• Action Elements: There is a lot of action sequence most of them using the same parkour tricks, but from what I have been told its an homage to the video game.

• Comedy Elements: Cheesy factor +1, most of the joke where a bit on the cheesy side but at the same time kind of witty.

• Dramatic Elements: There were quite a few moments the film tried to take a breather from the action with a drama kiss but it was usually interrupt by the bad guys.

• Sci-Fi / Fantasy Elements: The film incorporated some bending of time aspects, hence the title of the film, The Sands of Time.

Cinematic Value:

• Acting and Dialogue: B-: Let say I have seen better from Jake Gyllenhaal, he wasn't bad there just was something missing from his performance. This is the only second time I have seen Gemma Arterton in a film, so Iam going to say, "So far so good"

• Art Direction: A-: For the most part Jerry Bruckheimer production have decent art direction this film hold up to those standards.

• Cinematography: B+: The fighting choreography was great, From what I hear shooting this isn't the easiest, so I give a small token of kudos to the filmmakers on this one.

• Direction: B: I only known Mike Newell's work from Harry Potter, so from that standpoint he has improved in my opinion.

• Editing: B+: With all the parkour stunts and fast pace action I think they asembem it in away we as an adiance didnt lose the brilliantly crafted fighting choreography. I say the same to the editing team as I did to the filmmakers, kudoes.

• Screenplay: C: In my opinion the weakest element to this film was its story, one there where some holes in the story, that I would classify as a continuity issue. I already mentioned how cheesy the dialogue was. Well, even thought it was kind of witty, not to many people laugh at the jokes sadly. That maybe to bad writing?

• Sound and Music: B: There was a decent score.

• VFX: C+: I think I would have enjoy the film if the FX were 50% better. They were go but not that good.

Overall: B-: Its one of those popcorn summer movies, that you could take most of the family to, little kids would be board, hence my use of the word "most". I say it was a fairly decent movie, yes it has some cinematic flaws but it is entertaining.

Review: Robin Hood

IMDb

Title: Robin Hood
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Director: Ridley Scott
Writer(s): Brian Helgeland (screenplay), Brian Helgeland (story), and Ethan Reiff (story)& Cyrus Voris (story)
Staring: Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett, Mark Strong, Oscar Isaac, Mark Addy, Matthew Macfadyen, Kevin Durand, Scott Grimes, and Alan Doyle
MPAA Rating: Rated PG-13 for violence including intense sequences of warfare, and some sexual content.
Running Time: 140 min
Synopsis: The story of an archer in the army of Richard Coeur de Lion who fights against the Norman invaders and becomes the legendary hero known as Robin Hood.

What Others Are Saying?

Rotten Tomatoes: T-Meter: 44% (Rotten), Top Critics: 42% (Rotten), RT Community: 65% (Fresh)
Metacritic: Critics: 53 out of 100, Users: 5.9 out of 10
MRQE Metric: 57: (7.2% A, 31.6% B, 45.6% C, 14.6% D, and 0.0% F)
Yahoo Movies: Critics: B Users: A-

My Review

Source Material: Characters based on the Robin Hood legend and folklore.

Entertaining Value:

• Action Elements: Lets just say it had action but it was very weak and a bit boring in parts.
  
• Comedy Elements: There were some cutesy line but I wasn't laughing much during the film.
• Dramatic Elements: The film main drive was drama, but again it was a bit weak
  
• Sci-Fi / Fantasy Elements: Beside the already legendary aspect of Robin Hood.
  

Cinematic Value:

• Acting and Dialogue: B+: The acting was good only because the starring roll were cast with Academy Award Winning Actors. But even the other charters did a good job.
• Art Direction: B+: I think the costuming was the best part of the art in the film. I think period films always win when come to costuming.
• Cinematography: B: The Cinematographer made some inserting choices that worked for the film.
  
• Direction: C+: For The most part I like most if not all of Ridley Scott's work. Film likes Gladiator usually squeak into my top ten all time favorites. Ridley Scott slightly missed the mark on this one, mainly because their was major pacing issues.
• Editing: C+: I can see how most of the people I talk to say the film was hard to follow and kind of boring, cause it somewhat a bad editing job. There's quite a few times it switches back in forth.
  
• Screenplay: B: I enjoined the fact the story was "historically" based but at the same time holds up the legend aspect of it. I also like how it was more of a story of how Robin Hood became Robin Hood rather than the classic story of a man stealing from the rich and giving from the poor.
• Sound and Music: B: It was one of the better scores I have heard in awhile.
  
• VFX: B: I think the partial effect were great and the stunt teams did a good job.

Overall: B: The true defection of a film with mixed reviews, your either going to like it like myself but there also going quite a few who lean toward, "its boring" I can't recommend it as a must go see but fanboys of that time period, should like the film. Just because I liked it dosent mean you will.

Review: Kick-Ass

IMDb

Title: Kick-Ass
Distributor: Lionsgate
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Writer(s): Jane Goldman(screenplay) & Matthew Vaughn(screenplay)
Staring: Aaron Johnson, Evan Peters, Clark Duke, Lyndsy Fonseca, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Mark Strong, Chloe Moretz, Nicolas Cage
MPAA Rating: Rated R for strong brutal violence throughout, pervasive language, sexual content, nudity and some drug use - some involving children
Running Time: 117 min
Synopsis: Dave Lizewski is an unnoticed high school student and comic book fan who one day decides to become a super-hero, even though he has no powers, training or meaningful reason to do so.

What Others Are Saying?

Rotten Tomatoes: T-Meter: 78% (Fresh), Top Critics: 76% (Fresh), RT Community: 92% (Fresh)
Metacritic: Critics: 67 out of 100, Users: 8.6 out of 10
MRQE Metric: 72: (29.6% A, 43.8% B, 20.6% C, 5.0% D, and 0.0% F)
Yahoo Movies: Critics: B Users: A-

My Review

Source Material: Based on comic book series written by Mark Millar and illustrated by John Romita, Jr

Entertaining Value:

• Action Elements: A lot of stylized fighting aka kicking ass.
  
• Comedy Elements: There are a good amount of reference to comic books and pop culture. The brutality of the fights were funny to the guys in the crowed.
• Dramatic Elements: Just high school drama.
  
• Sci-Fi / Fantasy Elements: Anything that would fit into a comic book realm.
  

Cinematic Value:

• Acting and Dialogue: B+: The line deliverance was great. As far as performance there were not to bad since most of the cast are all newish to the business
• Art Direction: B+: I think the costuming was the best part of the art in the film.
• Cinematography: A-: Action sequence were great. The film makers experimented with cool techniques and they worked beautifully
  
• Direction: A: Were looking at a fairly new director here, who has some pretty awesome producing credits with films like Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch. I liking Matthew Vaughn more and more. How did he do on this film, well Kick Ass (some pun attended).
• Editing: A: The transitions in the film were sweet. I liked how the editing paired very nicely with the cinematography.
  
• Screenplay: B: The story seem to be pretty solid, from what I have heard from my friends who read the comic is its fairly close to the book.
• Sound and Music: A: The sound track was great, it to fit the on screen action.
  
• VFX: A: I personally want to say kudos to all who did there own stunts on this film, it was one of the better action movies with real kick ass fighting in, that I liked. Therefore, I also have to give props to the stunt guys also case they made everyone else look bad ass.

Moral and Ethical Value:

• Themes: Superheros
  
• Moral of the Story: Standing up form someone could pay off in the end.
  
• Take Home: The most Kick Ass movie ever.
  

Overall: A-: Its deferentially a good guys movie Comic book nerd should also like it. But its also a pretty funny movie, but it rated R so its not for everyone, duh.

Review: Clash of the Titans

IMDb

Title: Clash of the Titans
Distributor: Legendary Pictures (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Director: Louis Leterrier
Writer(s): Travis Beacham (screenplay), Phil Hay (screenplay), Matt Manfredi (screenplay), and Beverley Cross (1981 screenplay)
Staring: Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes
MPAA Rating: Rated PG-13 for fantasy action violence, some frightening images and brief sensuality.
Running Time: 118 min
Synopsis: The mortal son of the god Zeus embarks on a perilous journey to stop the underworld and its minions from spreading their evil to Earth as well as the heavens.

What Others Are Saying?

Rotten Tomatoes: T-Meter: 31% (Rotten), Top Critics: 33% (Rotten), RT Community: 53% (rotten)
Metacritic: Critics: 40 out of 100, Users: 5.4 out of 10
MRQE Metric: 44: (0.0% A, 29.3% B, 28.1% C, 34.6% D, and 7.8% F)
Yahoo Movies: Critics: C+ Users: B

My Review

Source Material: Based on the 1981 film Clash of the Titans written by Beverley Cross. The original film is based off a Greek mythological story about Perseus and Andromeda.

Entertaining Value:

• Action Elements: There a lot of "Fantasy Action" so sword play and what not, but it wasn't as epic as I wanted it to be / expected it to be.
  
• Comedy Elements: I think I could count the "jokes" of the film on one hand.
• Dramatic Elements: There are a lot of daddy issues, but no highly dramatic scenes.
  
• Sci-Fi / Fantasy Elements: It's Greek Mythology so its chalk full of VFX
  

Cinematic Value:

• Acting and Dialogue: B-: A friend / co-worker told me, "I cant get over the fact Liam Neeson is playing Zeus" I replied with, "But Liam Neeson is a god." It sad but true the best acting comes from the main gods from the film Liam Neeson as Zeus and Ralph Fiennes as Hades. Everyone else was decent the only person I think was a bit off when it comes to acting chops is Sam Worthington. He maybe on the up rise right now with Avatar but he is mediocre at best. When he gave the "let get ready for battle men" speech I wasn't convinced to fight, like I would have been in another movie.
• Art Direction: B+: I did like the authentic feel of the film. Greece during the Golden Ages
• Cinematography: B-: It could have been better. There were a lot of shots I liked very much so, mainly the action ones. Also bad use of 3-D there could have been really cool parts but there wasn't...i guess nothing will ever live up to Avatar for a while.
  
• Direction: A: We have seen Louis Leterrier work before in the films Unleashed, Transporter 2, The Incredible Hulk. I personally liked both Transporter 2 and The Incredible Hulk. Clash of the Titans seem to me that it didn't do his name justice.
• Editing: B-: There were some scene that confused me.
• Screenplay: C: It veered to far from the original story. There where some parts I was like, "you could have left that out completely but fans of the old movie will hate you for it" Big key element I would have liked to seen but were cut: Better use of Acrisius/Calibos character, use Andromeda as the love interest and not Io, and the use of Bubo.
• Sound and Music: A: The score was good all around, some piece of the music fit beautifully with the action happening on screen.
  
• VFX: A: The open story about the gods over throwing of the titans was the best use of graphics and visual effect to tell a story via stars, cause most of our constellations do tell of stories from Greek mythology including this one. Very nice touch. The film carries this greatness of VFX in other parts of the film also like the Kraken

Moral and Ethical Value:

• Themes: Men vs Beast and Men vs God
  
• Moral of the Story: Good defeats evil.
  
• Take Home: Greek mythology is close to my heart
  

Overall: B: Its a good guy movie. its a decent action movie, it an okay sword and sandal movie, so maybe consider seeing it at least once.