The Wolverine: Don't Look a Gift Horse In The Mouth

I was surprised to find another Wolverine film hitting theaters. But as an X-Men fan I didn't complain, I just went.

If you're into Martial Arts and X-Men movies then this is for you. It's set in Japan, with plenty of Samurai action, plus extreme action sequences, like the fight on top of the bullet train. Although there are some far-fetched action moments, they manage to keep it all just far enough within the scope of believability (For the X-Men world) to be enjoyed. 

But an X-Men film will always be visually exciting. The real test is whether it emotionally connects, and The Wolverine did much better than expected there. 

Rather than the usual X-Men emotional thread of being different or outcast the theme is about purpose in life, and letting go of the past. Not surprisingly, letting go of the past (that being Jean Grey/Phoenix for Logan/Wolverine) is made much easier by the arrival of a very attractive young Japanese woman (model Tao Okamoto). Hugh Jackman brings a real "humanity" to Wolverine's struggles, and the plot keeps you guessing on who is good and who is bad. 

All told, it's solid entertainment for any Sci-Fi nerd. With the extra moral lesson of "Don't look a gift horse in the mouth", especially when the gift is immortality (even if he didn't request it)...or even the taking away of your immortality. 

Speaking of horses, I'm already champing at the bit for next year's X-Men: Days of Future Past, which I believe to be bringing together the cast of the popular prequel X-Men: First Class and some of the original X-Men cast. 

That one should be jammed packed with nerd coolness... 

My Rating 74/100

Elysium: L.A.-sium

Elysium is based in future Los Angeles. After nearly 3 years living in L.A. I feel this film's projections, although extreme, wouldn't be impossible. But most importantly it is an accurate analogy of how things really are - heavily segregated into extreme "have's" and "have-not's". To me, "Elysium" is clearly a word play on "L.A.-sium".  

The weirdest part of this future L.A. is a notable lack of black Americans - just one character. Plus the bad guys, the plutocrats, have only one white American representative in William Fichtner. Maybe this can be explained by writer/director Neill Blomkamp being Canadian/South African. It didn't work for me though. Particularly Jodie Foster's French-styled character, Delacourt. Although, Sharlto Copley ~ brilliant in Blomkamp's District 9 ~ was quite convincing as the violent South African psychopath, Kruger. 

In short, Elysium was a disappointment, compared to my lofty expectations. But is still well worth watching for any Sci-Fi fan, with solid action, stunning visuals and interesting technology. It's just a pity that the good parts of the plot were generally obvious, and those that weren't were often befuddling. 

It's a solid Sci-Fi film, but much more could've been done with the premise. It suffered from the need to make the action and the visuals the central focus, while minimizing its length. 

Ironically this approach is indicative of a Hollywood blockbuster trying to fill its investors' pockets.

My Rating 77/100

The Adjustment Bureau: Worth Changing Plans For

Elysium got me wondering when the last time was that Matt Damon did Sci-Fi? I found The Adjustment Bureau and it looked intriguing.

2011 was a crazy year for me, but I figured if this had slipped me by it couldn't be too great. It surprised me though. As much Drama as Sci-Fi or Thriller, it really pulls at your heart strings, plus gets you thinking, while keeping you gripped and entertained. 

I've wondered many times why certain things happened which substantially effected my path to now, and whether they were born more of chance or choice. And that is The Adjustment Bureau's core theme - free will and fate. 

A good part of its success is in posing the question this way. "What would you have done had you known in advance how certain decisions would effect the outcome of your life, or furthermore, the life of someone you love?" 

Would you still make the same choices, knowing your options or sacrifices?

All the "man upstairs" ideas and "choice vs. fate" debate is driven forward using the power of love. Not just in a "love conquers all" saccharin way, but in how completely dominating a feeling love can be - when you really feel it you don't just forget it. 

Love can change your life in an instant. This is the aspect that really resonated with me. 

With its great acting performances built onto a strong premise this movie succeeds despite occasionally uninspired writing. 

I think it's worth changing plans for.

My Rating 72/100

Another Earth: Want Sci-Fi? Watch Another Film

I watched Another Earth this week after it came up on a number of "Best of Independent Sci-Fi" lists.

It's Sci-Fi/Drama, and I'm OK with that. I'll gobble up Sci-Fi with a side order of anything. The Sci-Fi was there purely as tool in the drama plot, and although a very interesting concept, the way it weaved the two together at the end didn't work. 

[Spoiler Alert] What was going to be achieved by her grand gesture of letting the "boyfriend/widowed husband" take the trip to Earth 2 instead of her? It's not like he could tell his other self to shove off and then take his place back in his "old life". Weak. Period. To the writer's credit, the closing image presented an intriguing idea - the chance for a conversation with someone who has lived the life you would have if not for one terrible occurrence.

I must add a tip of the hat to Brit Marling for a solid performance, but the quite twisted Drama story tripped over its Sci-Fi premise as much as benefited from it. 

A great Sci-Fi idea is not just great on its own - it has to work with the plot in an inspired way. The Sci-Fi concept did create tension, but this movie is for Psychological-Drama lovers, not Sci-Fi geeks, and even the former could be disappointed. 

My Rating 46/100

Europa Report: Incredible Science-Faction

After waiting expectantly for a film about a space mission to Europa, I never expected the first to be such a realistic depiction. 

For someone interested in what it would really be like to be on such a mission Europa Report will be satisfying and riveting. For someone more intrigued with extrapolation on the possibilities this could be a disappointment. [I fit in with the latter group.] 

To the film maker's credit this is incredible Science-Faction, not typical, outlandish Sci-Fi - but it proved to me how much I live for the imaginative, even unbelievable, side of Sci-Fi. The tense and suspenseful situations [Spoiler Alert - that often end in the death of a crew member] went by too quickly and simply for me, even if that is likely how it would really happen. 

 So watch Europa Report for it's stunningly accurate visuals and facts, not for mind-blowing imagination. It's more a report on the difficulties facing a mission to Europa, than on the planet itself. 

 Mark Twain said “Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; Truth isn't.” And in this case fiction may have stuck too closely to the real possibilities - and maybe the truth will be much stranger...? 

My Rating 62/100

The Conjuring: Don't Watch The Trailers (And Don't Buy An Old House In New England)

Note - this one is not true SciFi/Fantasy, but I personally put anything supernatural into the Fantasy area - that is "things that are based on, or exist because of, MYTH". How true the "True Case Files of the Warrens" are is up to you really. 

Too often with horror movies the trailer can be the best of it. In the case of The Conjuring I watched 3 trailers, and there was still some great scares left, but I wished they were all first time. So - DON'T WATCH THE TRAILERS! (Hence no trailer above in this case.)

The Conjuring ticks every box for a classic haunted house/exorcism story, particularly as it puts the two together well. "No! Don't go down there?!" moments are a-plenty of course, (this is horror afterall) and James Wan's classic direction style carries it nicely.

The family is told by Ed Warren that they can't just move out, because coming into contact with a spirit can be like stepping on gum - there's still some left on your shoe after you walk away. And this is how it is walking away from this movie. As good horror should, it haunts you for a good while afterwards. I'm still trying to scrape the last of the gum off my shoe a day later...

While avoiding spoilers I'll criticize that it wraps up a little too easily and too quickly, particularly in relation to the Warren's daughter. They may have been out of time, more likely out of ideas, or maybe simply sticking to "the truth" [Ha! Sure.] 

As Sci-Fi geeks say, "the truth is out there". But my advice - don't go buying an old house in New England to find out...

My Rating 81/100

Looper: Why You Don't Listen To Your Parent's Advice

I'm going to continue in the past and cover another time-travel movie.

My favorite thing about Looper is this concept: coming back from the future to give yourself advice, to realise you never listened to advice, which is why you've learnt the hard lessons that are prompting your great advice.

A concept to make any parent smile. Or any young guy like me even, who knows they often don't follow what could be viewed in hindsight as good advice. 

But here's the real heart of it. You're not living your parent's life - or in this case, your own previously-lived life - you're living your life, as directed by your choices. Plus in the character of the young boy it goes deeper still, considering how you live with those terrible occurrences that were not your choice, but for which you may still feel somehow responsible.

It's deep stuff, but tied into a brilliant screenplay about time-travel it hits you harder, as it's not expected. Looper is Sci-Fi at its most meaningful and personal. 

Sci-Fi writers too often use humanity-ending scenarios (plus one typical "rouse the troops" monologue) to create emotion, with minimal success. Despite being futuristic Looper has people and situations we can relate to - and that is powerful film making.

My Rating 94/100

Primer: Believable Time Travel, Unbelievable Confusion

OK - this isn't recent, but media coverage of Shane Carruth's long awaited return with Upstream Color brought his older cult classic to my attention.

Primer is independent film at it's best, and time travel film at its most confusing, but to dislike this film because you don't get it all (which I still don't entirely) would be a massive injustice. 

It is "real and present day" Sci-Fi. Nothing about it is special effects or mind-blowing visuals - it's simply good independent film making. (Less than $10k?! That's seriously independent.) 

The time travel box looks like something you could make yourself, yet manages to be believable. The lead characters are true guys next door (though very brainy ones), adding to the real life feel. The dialogue is written as real conversations, not orchestrated story exposition, there to help the viewer follow along. In fact, it's hard work following the story at all at times. But it's refreshingly un-Hollywood.  

If the equation [Success = I Want To Watch That Again] is true Primer is a huge success. I watched it again almost immediately, and again not long after, then again...(luckily it's only 70 minutes long)...but it must be noted that this was largely to ease that feeling of complete confusion following the first viewing. 

My Rating 83/100

Oblivion: Spectacular Views - And I Don't Mean Tom Cruise

There was a time when views of Tom Cruise alone would be enough to pack a theater. But the visual world Joseph Kosinski creates in Oblivion is the true star of this film. It's an earth ravaged by the years, yet still alluring and captivating. (As could be said of Cruise - but Earth manages it with humility.)

Modern design and real landscape footage is connected seamlessly with incredible CGI art, creating a breathtaking world...or so it should...

But, ho-hum it seems? 

Not that long ago these visuals would have brought acclaim and packed theaters.

Are we numb to visually stunning scenery, and even visually stunning people? Must movie makers pack in even bigger explosions, even bigger cleavage, increasingly epic wars, and increasingly epic biceps to break new box office records? (BTW - Oblivion does try much of that.) 

I would like to believe the answer is NO! [Hollywood screams YES in the background]

Behind Oblivion's visually amazing landscape is some pretty un-amazing writing. Things just...well...happen. And keep just happening. They were trying to make me feel real suspense and real emotion, but I only felt real trying. 

Still - the landscape looked very real.

But if we're going to talk about keeping it real Kosinski - did you really need to force the Statue of Liberty flame into a shot?! [forehead slap]

My Rating 59/100

Star Trek: Into Darkness - To Beam Or Not To Beam

As a hardcore Star Trek fan it's hard not to get swept away in geeky glee by all the déjà vu moments and references to the original TV series and films that the 2009 Star Trek reboot and its followup, Into Darkness, deliver. 

The plan: satisfy the "old" fans with this, then use incredible CGI to get "young" bums on seats also. In that sense Into Darkness is solid entertainment. The problem is their laws of beaming couldn't stand up against even the most inept Vulcan's logic. A small fact maybe, but when it becomes merely a tool to drive the plot, open to any manner of manipulation, my suspension of disbelief soon shatters. 

A little handheld device can accurately beam a person to a planet in another galaxy, but at a comparatively arm's-length distance where there's a little smoke and heat...oh no, can't do it. Why? Because it would kill the suspense of the scene. 

And what about moving objects? You can beam to them, but not from them. Why? Um...well...yeah...just needed to be that way. 

So it is that beaming, one of Star Trek's original bastions, is reduced to its bitch. Still - it won't leave a sour enough taste in this Trekkie's mouth for me not to be itching for the next installment. 

My Rating 74/100