Week 7 Film Reviews

A very consistent and even week of films, an average amount watched (7), no real highly-rated (7.5 as the highest), and no disasters (5.3 as the lowest). Subsequently, there won't be anything within the reviews that is mind-blowing or must read, but some quality information nonetheless. Another series partially completed, a theme I try to do often if I have parts of the series available. This allows for easier comparison while the films are fresh. 50 First Dates impressed me as one of the few romantic comedies that I have seen being true to reality, garnering a 7.5. Transsiberian did not impress with its Russian corruption murder and escape theme, receiving a 5.3. Here's to averageness:

The New World

Release Date: 2005

Director: Terrence Malick

Genre: Drama

Main Cast: Colin Farrell (as Captain John Smith) Q'orianka Kilcher (as Pocahontas/Rebecca) Christian Bale (as John Rolfe) and Christopher Plummer (as Captain Christopher Newport)

IMDB Rating: 6.8

My Rating: 7.0

Length: 150 minutes

Budget/Gross Revenue: $30 million/$31 million

This film was the first of two extremely different films that were viewed this past week, different in the sense of filming the scenes as well as how those scenes were presented. This popular tale of Pocahantus and the original settlers of Jamestown is portrayed by Ferrill and relative bigname picture rookie Kilcher. This film does sort of a skipping around theme within the plot, making it slightly inconstant. That coupled with the peacefulness and serenity of the film made it slightly slow and hard to follow, but also made the drama involved that much more intense and real. This very deep film had an interesting twist at the end inserting Christian Bale as a late but key character as Pocahantus' final lover. Overall a well-put together film, with some interesting fighting scenes incorporated, It also displayed the characters' performances well, but partially struggled to keep the storyline moving throughout its lengthy script.


AVP: Alient vs. Predator

 

Release Date: 2004

Director: Paul W.S. Anderson

Genre: Action

Main Cast: Sanaa Lathan (as Alexa Woods) Lance Henriksen (as Charles Bishop Weyland) and Raoul Bova (as Sebastian De Rosa)

IMDB Rating: 5.4 

My Rating: 6.5

Length: 100 minutes

Budget/Gross Revenue: $60 million/$173 million

The first of three in the Predator/Alien series's this week, AVP did a good job at presenting a good opening piece to the clash between the two science-fiction creatures. A good plot of a mysterious pyramid being found in the arctic containing living predators and aliens, with the research crew having to attempt to escape from the deadly crew. I did find the acting, however, to be rather rigid and unimaginative, resulting in poor character development and connection with the characters. Overall a decent action sci-fi, but essentially just another step in the series.

AVPR: Alien vs. Predator Requiem

Release Date: 2007

Director: Colin Strause and Greg Strause

Genre: Action

Main Cast: Steven Pasquale (as Dallas Howard) Reiko Aylesworth (as Kelly O'Brien) John Ortiz (as Sheriff Eddie Morales) and Johnny Lewis (as Ricky Howard)

IMDB Rating: 4.8

My Rating: 5.9

Length: 94 minutes

Budget/Gross Revenue: $40 million/$129 million

A very sub-par cast coupled with a storyline that attempts to use the success of former Alien and Predator instillations results in this war film between the two species that takes place in a small town in Colorado. The plot really involves nothing more than a handful of residents from different walks of life attempting to escape both the creatures as well as the government's impending destruction of the contaminated area. Incredibly rigid performance as well as a shortened time frame resulted in poor character development. The reason this film garnered such high gross was due to its predecessors.

50 First Dates

Release Date: 2004

Director: Peter Segal

Genre: Comedy

Main Cast: Adam Sandler (as Henry Roth) and Drew Barrymore (as Lucy Whitmore)

IMDB Rating: 6.8

My Rating: 7.5

Length: 99 minutes

Budget/Gross Revenue: $75 million/$197 million

One of the better romantic comedies I have seen to date, this film did a good job staying away from the typical movies in its genre by actually having a true meaning as well as giving film a sense of realism. Comedic roles were played well all-around with Sandler doing an excellent role as a womanizer turned committed husband. The storyline of the short-term memory loss by Barrymore's character was something new and worked well within the rest of the plot and character development. A quality film for a night of a couple laughs.

Predator

Release Date: 1987

Director: John McTiernan

Genre: Action

Main Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger (as Major Alan "Dutch" Schaefer) and Carl Weathers (as George Dillon)

IMDB Rating: 7.8 

My Rating: 7.1

Length: 107 minutes

Budget/Gross Revenue: $18 million/$98 million

The orginal of the long Predator Series, this film, despite its age and slight graphics issues that result from its age, does a good job of opening the series and gives a good representation of the power that the predators withhold. Schwarzenegger does his average job of being the main source of action, as he attempts to escape the South American jungle from the ambush of the predator. The film doesn't have much of a plot beyond the predator killing off most of the group of mercenaries, but that is expected from an almost pure action. I was surprised that the female hostage taken did not have a bigger role a well. When watching parts of series's that have released closer to current time, it is always a good thing to go back and watch the roots of the series, as it can give you a better representation of what the original director and produces wanted out of the film.

Repo Men

Release Date: 2010

Director: Miguel Sapochnik

Genre: Action

Main Cast: Jude Law (as Remy) Forest Whitaker (as Jake Freivald) Alice Braga (as Beth) and Liev Schreiber (as Frank Mercer)

Based On: Repossession Mambo by Eric Garcia

IMDB Rating: 6.3

My Rating: 7.0

Length: 111 minutes

Budget/Gross Revenue: $32 million/$18 million 

A pretty ridiculous action film about men assigned to retrieve artificial organs that are overdue on payments, Jude Law presents a plot that is full of themes and incredible deep. The main storyline becomes quite complex with a revelation in the end, giving the film a Vanilla Sky-feel, which I felt really hurt its quality. Repo presents a harsh futuristic reality of one greedy company and its owner creating a monopoly on organs and killing people who cannot pay their bills. A very interesting take, and some above-average performances by most of the cast, namely Law and Schreiber, but a disappointing ending that altered what could have made this deep film great.

Transsiberian

Release Date: 2008

Director: Brad Anderson

Genre: Thriller

Main Cast: Woody Harrelson (as Roy) Emily Mortimer (as Jessie) and Ben Kingsley (as Grinko)
IMDB Rating: 6.8

My Rating: 5.3

Length: 111 minutes

Budget/Gross Revenue: $15 million/Unknown

Really nothing more than a Russian drug cartel chasing two American tourists that got mixed up in drug trafficking through the trains and snow of Russia. Decent acting by Harrelson and Kingsley, per their usual works, but they were about the only bright spot of the film. Transsiberian did a poor job of keeping  interest throughout, as snow tundra landscape does not interest most viewers.

Some intriguing films within this weeks review, but the average action series of the Predator/Alien slightly taking away from the overall quality of the week. Looking for next week to be a big week of quality reviews.

-Jarid Holliday