3 Movies

Ok I’m back. I actually didn’t go anywhere but I just haven’t posted anything in over a week. I was just about doing what I do and time just sort of slipped away from me. Before I knew it, it was Friday again and I didn’t know what to say. I actually sat down to write something before but got distracted and never finished. So, my sabbatical, or vacation, or hiatus has now ended and I am back to spew my nonsense all over the interwebs.

Since my last post I went to my friend Sarah’s improv show “Welcome to Town”. It was really good, hilarious and entertaining. It is on at the Bad Dog Theatre every Monday night in March so there are 2 more shows (tonight and next Monday). It is improv so every show is different but you will have fun. I totally think it should be checked out. And then my jewellery collection got picked up at another store, The Purple Thumb in the beaches, so I was making some new pieces and getting that all set. And that was about it.

I also saw 2 movies since then, She’s Out of My League and Repo Men. Two movies that are vastly different from each other but both enjoyable on different levels. And Yes I do remember that I never got around to writing a review of Alice in Wonderland so I will do a short review of all the movies today.

Alice in Wonderland is a classic tale that most people know. It is fun, strange, and fantastic and that is what most people like about it. Tim Burton’s “re-imagining” of the story is visually amazing but seems to lack everywhere else.

I didn’t see this movie in 3D but I don’t think that detracted from the film’s imagery. It was colourful, vibrant, and incredibly detailed. Burton interjects his dark humour into the film managing to make an already surreal story even stranger.

The acting isn’t bad but not particularly impressive. Alice was played by the relatively unknown Mia Wasikowska. She has the look that fit the part but that was it. Her performance was bland at best. Helena Bonham Carter plays the Red Queen with no subtlety. She is either screaming or whispering loping off people’s heads all over the place. Johnny Depp does come off as crazy playing the Mad Hatter but I am not sure if that is because of the makeup or his exaggerated expressions. I have to say I am not a big fan of Anne Hathaway but I found her to be entertaining in her role as the White Queen.

Some of the best performances were by the secondary characters. Matt Lucas as Tweedledee and Tweedledum was entertaining. Even though the character was creepy looking his humour balanced it off. Stephen Fry voiced the Cheshire Cat. He was sly and wicked wrapped in charm. And Alan Rickman beautifully voiced the Blue Caterpillar.

The biggest disappointment of the film was the fact that it didn’t tell the story of “Alice in Wonderland” at all and that is what I was expecting. It tells the second Alice story “Through the Looking Glass” but without the looking glass. At the beginning of the film there are references to the first story in the real world that I thought were clever but rest of the fantasy is different. I think it should have been called something else even though technically Alice was in Wonderland but that title had me prepared for something different.

Alice in Wonderland overall is alright. Visually amazing but the rest was kind of a let down. I don’t think it would be necessary to see it in 3D but do what you will.

She’s Out of My League is the story of a dorky guy who meets a hot girl and for some reason she likes him. Jay Baruchel plays Kirk a wiry airport security guard with few aspirations and even less motivation. His family sees him as a joke and his friends aren’t much help. Molly played by Alice Eve is an attractive event planner late for a plane who forgets he phone at the security check point. Kirk finds the phone and this leads to them meeting again. To Kirk’s disbelief Molly actually likes him and finds the whole situation confusing. But the only place he gets advice is from his friends who say it will never work because he is a “5” and she’s a definite “10”.

The movie was alright. It is awkward, funny, and even sweet at times. But it is just ok. Most of the funny parts are shown in the commercials and the ones that weren’t shown was because it was littered with cussing.

The acting was alright. Jay Buruchel plays dorky and awkward perfectly. He has since “Undeclared” cuz he wasn’t acting in “Popular Mechanics for Kids”. Alice Eve just seemed to go through the motions and personally I don’t think she is that hot. And I know every guy who reads this will think I am saying that cuz I am jealous but no I think she is missing that “Oh my god” factor. She is pretty though. TJ Miller played Stainer, Kirk’s very out spoken vulgar friend. He was funny and I think if he gets better written roles he may actually turn out to be hilarious. Krysten Ritter played Patty, Molly’s best friend, and she also seemed to be going through the motions but with some humour. And Nate Torrence was pretty great as Devon. The guy is subtle but great. The rest of the cast was kind of just there.

She’s Out of My League isn’t bad but I don’t think it is necessary to watch in the theatre. It would be a good rental or wait for it to come on tv. It will give you a good chuckle and put you in a good mood.

On Friday I saw Repo Men and I was surprised at how much I liked it. I was expecting a total knock off of Repo: A Genetic Opera but I was shown something completely different.

Remy (Jude Law) works for The Union with his best friend Jake (Forest Whitaker). Their job is to repossess items from delinquent payees. The thing is what they are hired to repossess are organs. . Remy and Jake are company men who take pride and joy in their brutal job. They make good money and to them a job is just a job. They go through the motions of everyday life making the best of it. It is bloody but lucrative work. On a job Remy’s defibrillator malfunctions frying his heart and it is replaced with one from The Union. After recovering he can no longer do his job and he becomes one of the many delinquent payees and his best friend is sent after him to repossess The Union’s rightful property.

Like the poster, which is perfect for this movie, Repo Men is dark, twisted and funny. Humour is littered throughout the gruesome and bloody scenes. The thing that makes this movie work is that the film makers didn’t take themselves too seriously. Most movies like this ends up trying to drive home some mediocre message amidst all the carnage but this just stayed on pace and just let itself be. It is an action movie with a meaning in there that it didn’t try to beat you over the head with.

Jude Law is awesome as Remy. He is sly, playful, and charming. Forest Whitaker is good as Jake. The intense joy he gets from cutting a person open is present in every move he makes. Liev Schreiber is great as the smug and confident Frank. Right from the start you don’t really like him and as the movie goes on his reptilian personality only makes you dislike him more. And Alice Braga is Beth, the love interest in the movie. I have seen her in 2 other movies, I Am Legend and Red Belt, and I am not impressed with her at all. I can see why she is hired for her roles. She has a soft seductive playful look but as soon as she opens her mouth she seems to suck all the intensity out a scene.

The visuals in the movie are dark and blood soaked. There are few sprawling cityscapes, most shots are close and intense to see the expression and the pain. For any Torontonian it is clear that it is filmed around the city. They stroll through Eaton Centre, drive down the Gardiner, and spend some time in Dundas Square. Of course they, lets call it, furturize the city by adding some more lights and buildings to the skyline.

Repo Men isn’t going to win any Oscars but its macabre, violent, and humorous making for an entertaining ride.

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