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