Twelve Monkeys
Director: Terry Gilliam
Genre: Thriller
Main Cast: Bruce Willis (as James Cole) Madeleine Stowe (as Kathryn Railly) and Brad Pitt (as Jeffrey Goines)
Based On: La jetée by Chris Marker
IMDB Rating: 8.1
My Rating: 5.5
Length: 129 minutes
Budget/Gross Revenue: $30 million/$169 million
Being one of the biggest negative differences between my and IMDB's ratings, this film was a pretty big disappointment to me. Ranking in the top 250 ranked films on IMDB's ratings and grossing just under a solid $140 million, there are many critics that thought highly of the film. I was not impressed with the storyline above all. Having seen a lot of time travel films recently, I have seen some films with some above-average plots within the storyline. The plot of the story included multiple time travels going into different times that didn't really correlate with where the story was going, in my opinion. Also, the acting of both Willis and Stowe was less than superb, as their relationship seemed forced and slightly fake. One of the few positives in the film was Pitt's acting, as usual. His mentally crazed character was very off-the-wall, appropriate for the mental institute he was originally in. The flow of the film and the graphics that went with it were probably its biggest downfall. Many of the occurrences did not seem to fit, and the graphics of the futuristic world were not believable. The ending also leaves the audience on their own to decide the moral and what the film accomplished. A disappointing film to start the week, in my opinion.
Terminator
Release Date: 1984
Director: James Cameron
Genre: Action
Main Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger (as The Terminator) Michael Biehn (as Kyle Reese) and Linda Hamilton (as Sarah Connor)
IMDB Rating: 8.1
My Rating: 7.1
Length: 107 minutes
Budget/Gross Revenue: $7 million/$78 million
After watching the first 3 installments of this series in consecutive days, the progression of the series gave me a very good idea of the quality of each individual film. The timing of the releases of the films was also critical in examining the how great the content was. The pilot film was not supposed to be such a box office success, and in 1984, was considered a horror film for its themes of murder and gore. The first Terminator was thus one of the first films to utilize computer graphics for use in action-type films. Because it was one of the first of its kind in in the 80's, the computer graphics are quite a bit worse than today's, especially during the scenes of the fighting with the terminator, but this is expected due to the timing of its creation. The plot of this film does a good job of initiating the series, and stays together well through the time travels. The acting is above-average throughout the film, with no real stand-outs or poor performances. The ending also closed well for a film soon-to-be the start of a series.
Release Date: 1984
Director: James Cameron
Genre: Action
Main Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger (as The Terminator) Michael Biehn (as Kyle Reese) and Linda Hamilton (as Sarah Connor)
IMDB Rating: 8.1
My Rating: 7.1
Length: 107 minutes
Budget/Gross Revenue: $7 million/$78 million
After watching the first 3 installments of this series in consecutive days, the progression of the series gave me a very good idea of the quality of each individual film. The timing of the releases of the films was also critical in examining the how great the content was. The pilot film was not supposed to be such a box office success, and in 1984, was considered a horror film for its themes of murder and gore. The first Terminator was thus one of the first films to utilize computer graphics for use in action-type films. Because it was one of the first of its kind in in the 80's, the computer graphics are quite a bit worse than today's, especially during the scenes of the fighting with the terminator, but this is expected due to the timing of its creation. The plot of this film does a good job of initiating the series, and stays together well through the time travels. The acting is above-average throughout the film, with no real stand-outs or poor performances. The ending also closed well for a film soon-to-be the start of a series.
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Release Date: 1991
Director: James Cameron
Genre: Action
Main Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger (as The Terminator) Linda Hamilton (as Sarah Connor) Edward Furlong (as John Connor)
IMDB Rating: 8.5
My Rating: 7.7
Length: 137 minutes
Budget/Gross Revenue: $102 million/$520 million
The second part of the series, T2 combined superb action with 7 years of improved graphics to put out the highest-rated film of the series, as well as one of the best grossing films of all time. The first Terminator had opened the door for the series, and T2 benefited heavily from this by having near-unheard of box-office success. The Terminator returns in this film as an antagonist, helping the Conners escape from more advance technology. The acting in this film is a little more distinct, with Linda Hamilton's character turning somewhat crazy from her time in the mental hospital. The stress involved with character slightly hurt the ability of her performance. Young Edward Furlong played a very solid role making a connection with the robotic Terminator. That connection actually seemed heartfelt, especially in the end were the Terminators were destroyed. The plot stayed very similar to the first part, protecting the Conners for their roles in the future.
Director: James Cameron
Genre: Action
Main Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger (as The Terminator) Linda Hamilton (as Sarah Connor) Edward Furlong (as John Connor)
IMDB Rating: 8.5
My Rating: 7.7
Length: 137 minutes
Budget/Gross Revenue: $102 million/$520 million
The second part of the series, T2 combined superb action with 7 years of improved graphics to put out the highest-rated film of the series, as well as one of the best grossing films of all time. The first Terminator had opened the door for the series, and T2 benefited heavily from this by having near-unheard of box-office success. The Terminator returns in this film as an antagonist, helping the Conners escape from more advance technology. The acting in this film is a little more distinct, with Linda Hamilton's character turning somewhat crazy from her time in the mental hospital. The stress involved with character slightly hurt the ability of her performance. Young Edward Furlong played a very solid role making a connection with the robotic Terminator. That connection actually seemed heartfelt, especially in the end were the Terminators were destroyed. The plot stayed very similar to the first part, protecting the Conners for their roles in the future.
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines
Release Date: 2003
Director: Jonathon Mostow
Genre: Action
Main Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger (as The Terminator) Nick Stahl (as John Connor) and Claire Danes (as Kate Brewster)
IMDB Rating: 6.6
My Rating: 7.2
Length: 107 minutes
Budget/Gross Revenue: $170-200 million/$433 million
The third part of the series and the lowest rated of the quadrilogy, Terminator 3 still held the attention of audiences with a solid box office and above-average gross. It has the worst of the 4 acting in my opinion, as Stahl and Danes did not do much to add to their characters roles. Schwarzenegger continued to perform a consistent mechanical robot as the Terminator T-800 that is hard to critique as bad. I did feel like the plot of this film might have been the best of the first three, as there was more than just running away to protect the Conners for the future. I really like some of the final scenes in the underground nuclear attack facility, and I felt like they left the ending open enough to allow the series to end or continue with the recent Terminator: Salvation. Overall the series is one of the best action series in history, shown by its induction into the National Film Registry for preservation.
Director: Jonathon Mostow
Genre: Action
Main Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger (as The Terminator) Nick Stahl (as John Connor) and Claire Danes (as Kate Brewster)
IMDB Rating: 6.6
My Rating: 7.2
Length: 107 minutes
Budget/Gross Revenue: $170-200 million/$433 million
The third part of the series and the lowest rated of the quadrilogy, Terminator 3 still held the attention of audiences with a solid box office and above-average gross. It has the worst of the 4 acting in my opinion, as Stahl and Danes did not do much to add to their characters roles. Schwarzenegger continued to perform a consistent mechanical robot as the Terminator T-800 that is hard to critique as bad. I did feel like the plot of this film might have been the best of the first three, as there was more than just running away to protect the Conners for the future. I really like some of the final scenes in the underground nuclear attack facility, and I felt like they left the ending open enough to allow the series to end or continue with the recent Terminator: Salvation. Overall the series is one of the best action series in history, shown by its induction into the National Film Registry for preservation.
Social Network
Release Date: 2010
Director: David Fincher
Genre: Drama
Main Cast: Jesse Eisenberg (as Mark Zuckerberg) and Andrew Garfield (as Eduardo Saverin)
IMDB Rating: 8.2
My Rating: 7.4
Length: 120 minutes
Budget/Gross Revenue: $40 million/$203 million
Facebook being an integral part of my life, just like the majority of the rest of the world, made the storyline of this film not a big surprise, as most of us know the current status of the social monstrosity. However, I did think that this film did a very good job at portraying the early days of the company and the issues that it had, particularly Zuckerberg's relationships with his fellow founders and the ensuing lawsuits. I also thought that this film did an excellent job of getting good acting out of lesser-known names that played the characters. There were really no blemishes in the individual acting, and Eisenberg played a good ass-hole type person that Zuckerberg supposedly is. Hence the reason why he was a millionaire at 19. Again, a good overall production, but not something that is going to blow you off your feet, mainly due to Facebook's major relevance in society today.
Director: David Fincher
Genre: Drama
Main Cast: Jesse Eisenberg (as Mark Zuckerberg) and Andrew Garfield (as Eduardo Saverin)
IMDB Rating: 8.2
My Rating: 7.4
Length: 120 minutes
Budget/Gross Revenue: $40 million/$203 million
Facebook being an integral part of my life, just like the majority of the rest of the world, made the storyline of this film not a big surprise, as most of us know the current status of the social monstrosity. However, I did think that this film did a very good job at portraying the early days of the company and the issues that it had, particularly Zuckerberg's relationships with his fellow founders and the ensuing lawsuits. I also thought that this film did an excellent job of getting good acting out of lesser-known names that played the characters. There were really no blemishes in the individual acting, and Eisenberg played a good ass-hole type person that Zuckerberg supposedly is. Hence the reason why he was a millionaire at 19. Again, a good overall production, but not something that is going to blow you off your feet, mainly due to Facebook's major relevance in society today.
The A-Team
Release Date: 2010
Director: Joe Carnahan
Genre: Action
Main Cast: Liam Neeson (as John "Hannibal" Smith) Bradley Cooper (as Templeton "Face" Peck) Quinton "Rampage" Jackson (as Bosco Albert "B.A." (Bad Attitude) Baracus)
Based On: The A-Team television series
IMDB Rating: 7.0
My Rating: 8.4
Length: 107 minutes
Budget/Gross Revenue: $110 million/$177 million
This film lived up to the hype of the top action film of 2010, very similar to its counterpart The Expendables. I thought that it had more of a plot than The Expendables but was less of a shoot-'em-up. The actions sequences in this film were some of the best I have seen, namely the tank-drop out of the airplane, the helicopter doing insane maneuvering, and the final fight scene with the container ship explosions. The plot is very good for the most part throughout, with some minor straying towards too much government conspiracy/corruption in the middle. I thought that possibly another member to the team could have helped out the character development some, and I would have like to have seen scenes in the 8 year stretch of completed missions that they skipped. Beyond those additions I thought the acting was nearly flawless on all ends. Neeson and Biele were both their usual excellent, while Rampage Jackson impressed me in his first major film gig. I will be excited to see if they decide to put out a sequel or even a prequel for this film, as it would certainly add to the continuing storyline.
Director: Joe Carnahan
Genre: Action
Main Cast: Liam Neeson (as John "Hannibal" Smith) Bradley Cooper (as Templeton "Face" Peck) Quinton "Rampage" Jackson (as Bosco Albert "B.A." (Bad Attitude) Baracus)
Based On: The A-Team television series
IMDB Rating: 7.0
My Rating: 8.4
Length: 107 minutes
Budget/Gross Revenue: $110 million/$177 million
This film lived up to the hype of the top action film of 2010, very similar to its counterpart The Expendables. I thought that it had more of a plot than The Expendables but was less of a shoot-'em-up. The actions sequences in this film were some of the best I have seen, namely the tank-drop out of the airplane, the helicopter doing insane maneuvering, and the final fight scene with the container ship explosions. The plot is very good for the most part throughout, with some minor straying towards too much government conspiracy/corruption in the middle. I thought that possibly another member to the team could have helped out the character development some, and I would have like to have seen scenes in the 8 year stretch of completed missions that they skipped. Beyond those additions I thought the acting was nearly flawless on all ends. Neeson and Biele were both their usual excellent, while Rampage Jackson impressed me in his first major film gig. I will be excited to see if they decide to put out a sequel or even a prequel for this film, as it would certainly add to the continuing storyline.
Salt
Release Date: 2010
Director: Phillip Noyce
Genre: Action
Main Cast: Angelina Jolie (as Evelyn Salt) and Liev Schreiber (as Ted Winter)
IMDB Rating: 6.5
My Rating: 7.3
Length: 100 minutes
Budget/Gross Revenue: $110 million/$294 million
Being a huge fan of Jolie's action films, I was expecting a lot before I viewed this film. Although it didn't end up being quite the high quality of action film as Wanted and Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Salt did do a good job at presenting action along with a complex plot of Russian conspiracy. How the whole second half of the film's plot revolved around that conspiracy kind of started to get old, and didn't seem terribly realistic with modern day storyline. The plot would have been a little more believable had it occur closer to the Cold War era. Jolie also saved the film with her per-usual athleticism in her action sequences. A lot of her evasion and hitwomen-type killing was very well done. Another good film for Jolie to add to her action-domination resume.
Bounty Hunter
Release Date: 2010
Director: Andy Tennant
Genre: Comedy
Main Cast: Jennifer Aniston (as Nicole Hurley) and Gerard Butler (as Milo Boyd)
IMDB Rating: 5.3
My Rating: 4.9
Length: 111 minutes
Budget/Gross Revenue: $40 million/$156 million
Similar to a last week's romantic comedy How Do You Know, this film was hardly worth watching. Very few laughable parts, a plot that jumped around and had little-to-no purpose, and an ending resolution that hardly made any impression, much less a good one. I have never been impressed with Butler's acting in romantic comedies, I always thought he was a much better action performer. This film's terrible acting by him reminded me of Twelve Monkeys earlier in the week, little meaningfulness and a forced effort. Aniston's character was the usual for her, using her attractive figure to give a false impression of good acting. Not much good to say about this film. I sometimes question producers and directors motives when they put out a similar below-average film such as this. Granted they are probably still going to make money, but if they want to make the big money like the very successful directors and producers out there, they have to, and I repeat have to make an impression in the minds of the audience. Causing the audience to be moved is going to result in more box-office success as well as higher gross when the film hits the shelves. They should be spending more time making a film an audience can be in awe of instead of throwing a film that will be forgotten days after the viewing.
Until next week, watch films informed, not oblivious.
-Jarid Holliday
Release Date: 2010
Director: Andy Tennant
Genre: Comedy
Main Cast: Jennifer Aniston (as Nicole Hurley) and Gerard Butler (as Milo Boyd)
IMDB Rating: 5.3
My Rating: 4.9
Length: 111 minutes
Budget/Gross Revenue: $40 million/$156 million
Similar to a last week's romantic comedy How Do You Know, this film was hardly worth watching. Very few laughable parts, a plot that jumped around and had little-to-no purpose, and an ending resolution that hardly made any impression, much less a good one. I have never been impressed with Butler's acting in romantic comedies, I always thought he was a much better action performer. This film's terrible acting by him reminded me of Twelve Monkeys earlier in the week, little meaningfulness and a forced effort. Aniston's character was the usual for her, using her attractive figure to give a false impression of good acting. Not much good to say about this film. I sometimes question producers and directors motives when they put out a similar below-average film such as this. Granted they are probably still going to make money, but if they want to make the big money like the very successful directors and producers out there, they have to, and I repeat have to make an impression in the minds of the audience. Causing the audience to be moved is going to result in more box-office success as well as higher gross when the film hits the shelves. They should be spending more time making a film an audience can be in awe of instead of throwing a film that will be forgotten days after the viewing.
Until next week, watch films informed, not oblivious.
-Jarid Holliday
No comments:
Post a Comment