Star Trek (2009)
Bottomline: Go see this movie. Now.
Pros: You don't have to be a "Trekker" to enjoy this movie. It is a terrifically-made science fiction film that freshens the Trek genre with appropriate nods to the original series. Leonard Nimoy is in it.
Cons: They actually use time travel as a plot device, something that was fairly worn out in the original series. Trekkers will find Spock's emoting to be disconcerting. It's amazing that Kirk doesn't have an STD.
Where Can I See It? It opened nationwide in theaters on May 8.
QMR Opinion: Let's cut through the stuff here and get to it -- I don't care if you're a Trekker, a Trekkie or if you've never even seen a single Star Trek movie or episode, this is simply a terrific movie. It's well written. Solidly directed. Has plenty of action. Is well acted. The effects are beyond the pale. Oh. . .and it's tons of fun. We all want our money's worth when we go to the movies, and this one gives you that and then some. Couple of caveats: My 11-year-old was unnerved by the beginning. And people die. One Trek tradition that continues in this film -- if you're wearing a red shirt (or spacesuit), you're probably going to die.
Trek Trivia: Majel Barrett Roddenberry (yes, Gene's wife) provided the voice of the Starfleet Computer for the series and the Trek movies. She provides the voice here of the Starfleet Computer. She died of leukemia two weeks after finishing her part (Dec. 18, 2008). She also played Nurse (and eventual Doctor) Christine Chapel.
The Wrestler (2008)
Bottomline: Weak movie carried entirely by Mickey Rourke's acting.
Pros: Mickey Rourke at the top of his game.
Cons: The pacing of this movie borders on the tedious. You know how it's going to end. Evan Rachel Wood trots our her "angry teen" acting method.
Where Can I See It? It is available now on DVD.
QMR Opinion: This movie has been hailed over and over again as Mickey Rourke's comeback. I would argue that Rourke actually "came back" in Sin City (2005) as Marv. Rourke absolutely owns this movie and director Darren Aronofsky owes any good publicity this movie has had to Rourke. Marisa Tomei plays a stripper and is good in the role. But there is no question that this is Rourke's vehicle. I can't imagine anyone else playing the role given Rourke's own history. This movie tells the tale of a professional wrestler who was hot in the '80s and is now living off the past and working for chump change in armories and other small arenas. The movie is a good narrative of a man who gave up everything (family, friends, health) for his career and now finds himself alone. And is now trying to find redemption. The problem is that if you don't care for professional wrestling, you may not care about any of this and have little to no sympathy for Rourke's character. Caveat: The fight scenes are disturbing.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment