The Mortal Instruments: City of ......Not Quite Epic, but Still Not Bad

    Movie companies are searching for the next big thing to bring in teens and tweens. Twilight like it or not made some pretty solid coin. The Hunger Games is cleaning up movies like The Host and I am 24 failed to do the same. Now we take another series of popular young adult novels and try to create some movie magic. I have never read the books, am in my thirties, and found Mortal Instruments to be OK. Not good, not great, but there is a bigger audience than just the Twi-Hards.


   The story borrows from a lot of things. It's a little Constantine, mixed with The Vampire Diaries, and some Harry Potter thrown in. There are two worlds. The one that we live in and can see and the one that we can't. The latter is inhabited by werewolves, warlocks, vampires, and demons. A group of tattooed warriors called "Shadow Hunters." They keep the peace and protect humans or mundanes as they call them. A renegade shadow hunter is seeking an object of power hidden in our world and the balance is threatened. A young girl is caught in the middle after realizing she could see the hidden world. Her being half human and half shadow hunter has left her with special abilities that catch the eye and heart of Jace. Together they must protect the world from the forces of evil.

Lily Collins plays Clary an does well as the typical teenage girl who becomes caught up in a much bigger world. It feels like her character is a little Selene and Bella rolled into one. She is never too far beyond her limits, but I feel like she is probably better defined in the books that I've yet to read. It is a typical boy is in love with a girl who doesn't love her back story. In typical fashion, she falls for the dangerous bad boy who cannot be with her based on some very serious issues. Same story, but with a Star Wars type twist.

 Jonathan Rhys Meyers is the Valentine, the fallen shadow hunter. He is also Clary's evil father. He breaks the laws of their world to strengthen his people. The character is written from a good place, but Rhys Meyers is wasted. He never comes across as evil enough and at times looks silly. One of  my common pet peeves, if you've read my reviews, is a villain who doesn't appear terrifying enough. I think he is a good actor, but Valentine just didn't have enough bad vibes for my taste.

Jamie Campbell Bower also let me down. Little girls everywhere will disagree, but I never felt like he brought the character of Jace to life. I was into the concept of the shadow hunters and appreciated the world that they lived in, but I never felt like Bower fit into the role. Fans at one point were leaning toward Alex Petyfer and/or Garret Hedlund and I would've agreed with both. Bower would look great if cast as the lead singer of a band, but not as a tattooed, bad ass, warrior.

 The movie wasn't bad and would check out a sequel. The weapons, the creatures, ad the world of Mortal Instruments were all pretty cool. All in all the movie tried and the attempt will probably find it's audience. It won't see the financial success of Twilight or Hunger Games, but it is not nearly as bad as R.I.P.D. or After Earth. Check it out. We have all seen worse.

Paranoia......A Thriller with little thrills

 

      The title of my review would probably make you think that I hated this movie. Not at all. It was entertaining. It was mildly interesting. Decent acting. Good cast. It would seem like it has the basics of a good movie, but I just can't rave about it.

     Liam Hemsworth is down on his luck programmer. He wants the big job. He is smart enough to get the big job, but in the cut throat world of mobile phones he is lost in the shuffle. He takes care of his ailing father, has good friends and longs for the life the other side has. It is completely out of reach until he finds himself in the middle of corporate espionage courtesy of two warring mega companies.

    It is an interesting look into how much we use/need our wireless phones. It is an even more interesting look into the companies that create the newest, greatest, and most cutting edge smart phone. It is a world where companies constantly battle to out do each other, but it is accurate on how much money is thrown around.

   Harrison Ford and Gary Oldman play the heads of the two biggest rival companies and both are cast well. It took me a minute to get used to a nearly bald Ford, but his acting is top notch. He has been making much better choices as of late. I prefer this and 42 over things like Hollywood Homicide. They are both surrounded by a solid cast. Amber Beard as the love interest, Josh Holloway in a small role as an F.B.I. agent and Julian McMahon as evil enforce for Oldman's Wyatt.
Liam Hemsworth isn't bad and actually carries his first leading role fairly well. He gets help from the rest of the cast and it's not him or chemistry between actors that's the problem.

  The movie is based on a novel that I have never read. It feels too rushed in some places, mainly Hemsworth infiltration into the rival company. The story isn't bad. It is a little bit Eagle Eye, a little bit The Recruit, and some The Firm mixed in. The problem is that for a thriller, it has very little thrills. A movie like this should be over flowing with intensity and twists. Paranoia is safe and predictable. It isn't bad. It was decent to watch, but all in all it is definitely not must see. The only paranoia will come from wondering whether you should have sprung for Jobs or Kick Ass 2 instead.

Journies, destinations, and not always forward...

   Sometimes I wish I could just go backwards. I made a promise to myself that I would turn the page and for nearly two years I have done just that. Forward motion and strive for progress. I think all of us have the curiosity of what might have happened had we turned left and not right. Metaphorically speaking. I guess it could be the fact that I live so close to home that I have spent a lot of time living in the past as of late. It could be age. Who knows?

  My step dad and I used to have these great and in depth conversations about the person I would be and for some reason those have come rushing back. I remember him telling me that he thought he'd already left his mark on the planet and I believed him then and still believe him to this day. So I guess I have been wondering what kind of mark I left or will leave?

 I am not sure that any of us has done everything right. I know that I haven't. I remember the mistakes of my reckless youth and in a lot of ways, I am still just as reckless. I would relive those days with the knowledge I have now in a heartbeat. I wish the reckless youth of today could live the way we did. The music was better, people were happier, and life moved fast, but not the hyper speed pace of today. I challenge anyone to tell me music today is better than that of the mid to late 90's. Well maybe Blurred Lines because it is provocative and gets the people going.

 We all have moments where we realize that we are closer to older than we are younger. It's in those moments that we question if we are where we should be. Dream big is what we are told. I love dreaming big, but I love dreaming realistic too. Some people cannot dream so big that they cannot deal with the disappointment of falling short of those dreams. I would never say stop trying, but I would say make sure you are living your own dream and not someone Else's.

We are the authors of our own book. The chapters we right are ours to create. I used to say that I live life without regret, but that isn't true. So I acknowledge my regrets because I firmly believe that one must fail numerous times in order to succeed. Our failures make us who we are just as much as our success' do. I decided tonight to list my regrets not in any particular order.

I wish I would been a better brother to my sister growing up. I think sometimes I let the fact that she got more than me bother me a bit too much.

I think I could have tried to be a better person where my sister's father was concerned. I matured late and got more stubborn earlier. A better relationship might have made me a better person sooner. A son needs a father and that was a lesson I didn't learn until I was too old to realize it. My friends who are single moms, MAKE SURE YOU LET THE RIGHT PERSON INTO THE LIVES OF YOUR CHILDREN. It's not about your life anymore. You lost that option when you gave birth.

I wish I was strong enough to say "no" earlier in life. I would have saved myself a lot of heartbreak in all aspects of my life.

I regret that I didn't get to see Jennifer before she passed. I don't carry any torches, but we were reckless and a lot was left unsaid.

I wish I would have been more responsible. I was a nightmare for my mom and step dad at times. they both deserved better. I was the most materialistic person I have ever known.

I regret not getting a sandwich with my grandma the night she called. I had no good excuse on that random Tuesday evening other than being selfish and lazy. I was young and stupid and thought I would have plenty of time. I couldn't have been more wrong.

I regret the lies that have always weaved there way in and out of my family's existence.

I wish I would've gotten serious about weight gain sooner. If I could be as healthy as I am now then, look out.

I regret dating several people. I should have never gotten involved. I wasn't ready to be serious, but I didn't want to be lonely. Lies cheapened everything and what I thought was love, now feels like a waste of time.

I wish I would have valued communication with Lauren sooner than I did. Probably would have kept us from some awful drama.

I regret not always being a good friend. Selfish can be a hard habit to break.

 Live life without regrets. Hard to do. I am sure I have plenty more, but those are the ones that I have learned the most from. The ones that make me a better individual. I am not good at advice, but I will offer this. Live the best life you can. There will be times when you do things without so much as a "thank you" given. People will be glad you're gone and talk garbage about you when you aren't around. You will lie and be lied too. People will be envious and you will envy others. Set goals. Achieve a few and miss others. In the end, you will play the hand you are dealt and if it isn't what you imagined, it's completely OK. Happiness and success are different for all of us.

 I have lived a colorful life. I have seen dark times, been beat up, fallen down, gotten back up, fought harder, fell short, made a lot of money, lost a lot of money, made a lot of money back. I've kicked others, been kicked, seen people overcome horrible odds, loved, lost, been at an all time high, swallowed pride, and in the end make no apologies for who I am.

I would still love to go back and see if I end up in the same place. I think that I would. I will see many more failures. Hopefully with some luck and work, I'll see a few success' too! I have plenty of chapters left to write. I hope my mark will be a good one. It doesn't have to be world renown, I hope I remembered for making people smile, helping a few kids here and there, and constantly trying to get better. I have plenty of regrets. I know who my true friends are. I have had an interesting ride still haven't reached my final destination.

In the end, I am still just a reckless kid from Cincinnati.

Elysium.....When Sci Fi Meets Political Undertones....

   Elysium has peaked curiosity from it's first trailer. Matt Damon has moved away from drama and family oriented movies to being a bad ass again. Jodie Foster takes on a role we wouldn't expect and we are given what looks like another big budget summer movie....in August. The month can be a scary thing where summer movies are concerned. Very hit or miss. Does Elysium hit or join the list of summer disappointments?

 

  The story begins on a polluted and overpopulated earth. People are poor, sick, and in some cases dying. The wealthy and elite have left earth to live on a giant space station called Elysium. The place cures disease, houses elite from all nations, and doesn't care much for illegal immigrants. Matt Damon is Max and orphan turned criminal turned factory worker. He is in love with Frey and dreams of living with her on Elysium. He is poisoned by radiation at his job and realizes he must get to Elysium to live. He gets caught up in a political conspiracy, tries to help a sick kid, and plans to make everyone citizens of the space station. He hooks up with the guy he went to prison for and gets fitted for this weird cybernetic exoskeleton.

 The movie is filled with political undertones. It makes you think about what would happen if the government controlled health care. It slightly addresses the immigration problem. Metaphorically.
The movie hints that only the rich could live in such a place and that the wealthy really don't care for the poor. Metaphors for sure, but some would probably find truth in those metaphors.

 The cast is strong, but it felt like Jodie Foster was a bit wasted. Matt Damon is very believable in his role and comes across solid. He has done well play vulnerable bad asses. Sharlto Copley as Kruger steals the show. He does a good bad guy and we have seen him do crazy before. It works. The movie is a bit far fetched at times, but it has a big budget feel even though it's a modest budget. It has the look and feel of District 9, but it is certainly it's own film. It has it's flaws, but overall my trip to Elysium was an entertaining one.

The Wolverine or The Let Down?

      Hugh Jackman is back in his sixth outing as every one's favorite Canadian X-Man. Wolverine's first solo adventure on the big screen left much to be desired. If you think about it, all of Fox's X-Men projects are filled with flaws. The Wolverine is no exception, but it is much easier to overlook the flaws in this film than in any previous one. Is it the Wolverine that we all want? NO. It is however a good take on the character and an all around decent film.

  After surviving Hiroshima, we fast forward to a mentally broken Logan living alone in the Canadian wilderness. He is scarred by the events of X-Men:The Last Stand. He is sought our by Yukio and brought to the orient to say good by to a dying man whom he saved many years prior.
In modern day Japan, Wolverine is out of his depth in an unknown world as he faces ninja, samurai, and yakuza all while feeling a little more mortal than he's used to.Vulnerable for the first time and pushed to his physical and emotional limits, he confronts not only lethal samurai steel but also his inner demons all while finding love along the way.

   Anyone familiar with Logan's story knows that one of the great loves of his life is Mariko Yashida. In the movie she is played very well by Tao Oakomoto. Mariko is tough yet vulnerable and the movie does a good job of showing Logan's human side when he's around her. They don't stray too far from the source material where she is concerned and the film is better for it.

    Yuiko (Rila Fukoshima) might have been my favorite character in the film. She is hinted at being a mutant, but in the comic she isn't. They give her this kind of premonition power, but never come right out and say she is a mutant. She does have the same epic martial arts skill as her comic counterpart and again they keep the basic essence of the character intact.

  The character that they truly screw up royally is the Silver Samurai. Screwed up, but not nearly as bad as you might think. The Samurai is NOT a robot. This was the big fear seeing the trailer. This films version of the Samurai works, but they totally ruin the character of Harada. While he is school to watch, he is little more than the token best ninja of the group. The charged swords are there, but not via mutant ability. I am not sure if the general population will mind this version of the samurai and I looked at it is a way to possibly start the character and fix him later. He is wrong, but not even close to how wrong Deadpool was in the first Wolverine.

  Spoilers begin here so skip ahead if you want to remain in the dark. OK. I am lost and irritated over his loss of adamantium claws. I feel like Fox wanted to show his bone claws, which I can understand in a movie about Logan's vulnerability. I get it, but I don't like it. My biggest flaw with Fox controlling the mutant franchise is the way the mess with all of the characters. Silver Samurai does not have a sword that can cut Wolverine's claws. One of the most epic moments in Wolverine lore is when Magneto gets pissed at Logan and rips his adamantium through his pores. The movie only has him lose his claws, but if I were to call shenanigans during the film it would be here.  Spoiler over.

 The Jean Grey stuff was good and more than originally thought. The Viper was done well and for the most part they stick to what was loved about the comics Japanese arc. Hugh Jackman still is Wolverine. He might be a little tall, but he gets the character and still looks great as Logan. The movie has flaws, but not enough to ruin it. The story doesn't pace as fast as origins, but it is far more serious in tones. The romance isn't forced and the stunts and C.G.I. are on par. There is an EPIC after credit scene that sets up Days of Future Past! I wish personally that the wouldn't have even referenced the horrific third X-Men, but what's done is done. It's not perfect, but it is a step in the right direction. Jackman is great and Wolverine is still the best at what he does.

Pacific Rim ...A Cartoon Come to Life

  It's summer and it wouldn't be complete without giant robots going head to head with equally giant monsters. In a nut shell, it's all you really need to know about Pacific Rim. Any one who likes anime or has seen an episode of Voltron will check this out, but what about plot? Does Pacific Rim deliver or is it just eye candy or two hours of sensory overload. It is a combination of a lot of things.

Giant aliens that are comparable to Godzilla have come to earth through a dimensional portal. Our military takes out the first but it levels cities. Time passes more come and we are in a war with big alien monsters that is wiping out human life. The countries of the world unite and we fight back. Jets and tanks are not enough. Kaiju (Japanese for big monster) are too powerful so we build our own monsters. Jaegers (German for hunter) are giant robots created to stop the threat. After a horrible battle, a former pilot is brought back to fly one of four remaining Jaegers in one final stand against the alien beasts.

 The film combines several different elements. Del Toro admits to being influenced by a specific anime film, but Pacific Rim borrows from several things. It is a little Robotech, Voltron, and Godzilla all rolled into one. The pilots wear a special body suit that looks nearly identical to the Cyclone Armor in Robotech: The New Generation (Mospeda). The Jaegers are controlled by two pilots who are joined together in a mind meld. In the movie it's called drifting. They share each others memories and each represents a hemisphere of the brain. They control the machines in a very X Box connect kind of way, but much more advanced. The movie opens and drops you right into the action and the process of how all of this works. Very well done and very attention grabbing.

  The Jaegers are cool, but outside of Gypsy Danger you don't get to see much of them. Gypsy isn't bad, but it would have been cool to see more of the others in action. The dialogue can be cheesy at times and the film is fairly predictable. My biggest problem was all of the dark and water makes it hard to really see what is going on most of the time. The 3D and C.G.I. makes for a lot of sensory overload and if I had one major flaw of the movie it would be that. Visual overload aside, the film does have a lot going for it.

 The cast is full of characters with really cool names like Raliegh Becket, Hercules Hanson, and Stryker Pentecost. Charlie Hunnam and Idris Elba are the most recognizable outside of Ron Perlman who I found to be annoying. Fan boys will disagree because they love him from Hell Boy. Charlie Day is the comic relief and for mostly unknowns they all gel together. The dialogue is forced at times, but you don't see a film like this and not expect to see cheese. There is even a nice nod to Star Wars.

  It's a giant cartoon brought to life and at times I was ready for someone to scream, "form blazing sword!" Pacific Rim was a lot of fun. Not the best movie. In my opinion, not as good as Transformers. Sorry Bay haters. The concept was decent and the story simple. I feel like after 911 and The Boston Bombing, I am having difficulty watching cities be leveled. It is, however, impossible to unleash giant monsters and not destroy a building or four hundred. It's not the best movie of the summer, but far from the worst. My advice, suspend disbelief, grab some pop corn, be a kid again, and have a good time. When it comes to Pacific Rim, that's what I did.

The Lone Ranger or Captain Jack Sparrow Goes West.....

   Westerns are a tough sell to the movie  goer in this generation. Young Guns worked for those of us who grew up in the late 80s and 90s, Unforgiven and True Grit won academy awards, but there are countless others who aren't very memorable. It's a genre for a different generation. Disney is making the attempt now. They have gambled and lost on things like John Carter, but with the team that brought you Pirates of the Caribbean we are saddling up for a ride through the old west.

   I am admittedly not very familiar with the characters. I know the television series was extremely popular and so was it's star Clayton Moore. I have some memory of my late grandfather being a fan and even taken a VERY young me to see the 1981 version of this movie, but I have never revisited the film. The Lone Ranger is a hero of a different time. A time when westerns were much cooler than today and the world was a much simpler place.

   Jon Reid is a lawyer returning to Colby, Texas in a very lawless time. Outlaws are everywhere and Butch Cavendish is one of the most dangerous. An early encounter with an Indian prisoner, a train prison break, and typical drama is how we begin. Reid and his brother are reunited and venture out to bring the outlaw Cavendish to justice. Jon and his brother are among a team of Texas Rangers who are betrayed and killed by Butch. Tonto is shocked to find Jon among the living and convinces him to avenge his brother and hunt down Cavendish. Throw in some gunfights, horse play, political scheming and you have a Disney western.

  The movie is a big production. It was plagued inflated budget rumors. There were also rumors of a battle with werewolves and other things supernatural. Disney is believed to have eliminated this part of the story after John Carter failed to find audiences. If you pay attention you can see signs of this part of the story. Like they did in Pirates, the world around John and Tonto is created very well. The trains and gunfights are fun to watch and the movie seems vaguely familiar, but still fun to follow.

  The supporting cast is where The Lone Ranger is weakest. The romance between Hammer and Wilson never feels right. We never really get enough back story. There are elements of family and tension, but they are barely addressed. You will probably recognize some of the outlaws from their time as part of a pirate crew, but it still plays well. Tom Wilkenson is a great villain, but not nearly ruthless enough. His character is the one that is probably the most predictable. The film has a few villains, but only one is done justice.

 
William Fichtner is great as Cavendish. The look is amazing and he is evil as much as a Disney Outlaw can be. He is a bit gross at times and comical as well. He plays Cavendish as a loose cannon and you know right away that he is a bad guy and one you shouldn't mess with. His character looks like he was meant to be more supernatural, but had that cut. What's left is still very entertaining and one of the movies highlights. He isn't quite as good as the Pirate's villains, but he pulls his weight none the less.

  This movie is about the leads. Depp and Hammer really hold the film together. They have great chemistry and it really works well throughout the film. Hammer's Reid is naive and honorable and holds his ideals very close. He spends the majority of the movie in conflict with Depp's Tonto. This is what I am told is very different from the original. Different can work and it does here.  Hammer looks the part even despite people disliking the color change of his suit. The film is called The Lone Ranger, but it is all about Tonto. Johnny Depp owns this movie. He plays a Tonto that you never really know whether is crazy or not. His Tonto is quirky much like Captain Jack Sparrow, but he is definitely Tonto and not Captain Jack goes west.

   It is a film that was plagued with negative rumors. One of the leads is virtual unknown. Westerns are not typically popular choices these days. All of those are reasons to doom a film. I am happy to say that it's not the case here. The Lone Ranger is fun, witty, and packed with a decent amount of action. Depp and Hammer have done a good job of reinventing old characters for a new generation.
I hope it does enough to merit a sequel. In a movie world full of super heroes, space ships, and zombies, I would have no problem saddling up for another ride into the old west.