The Wolverine 2013 Review B+

The Wolverine is the follow up to the disappointing X-Men Origins movie.  This film takes the elements we like about the character and takes it to the next level.  What we get is a Yukuza action flick which isn't a bad thing.  The action sequences are marvelously staged and the cinematography is above average.  Director James Mangold is at the helm of this sequel spin off.  Mangold's previous work includes 3:10 to Yuma and the forgettable Knight and Day with Tom Cruse and Cameraon Diaz. 

We first see the Wolverine played by Hugh Jackman locked in a cage for some unspecified reason just before the H-Bomb is dropped on Hiroshima.  Wolverine saves a guard from the nuclear blast by using his bodies healing ability to absorb the flames.  Years later Wolverine is living like a nomad presumably still devastated by the events of X-Men 3.  In the previous film  he is forced to kill Jean Grey aka The Phoenix and becomes so traumatized by this event he chooses to live off the grid.  Conflict happens when his only friend a burly grizzly bear is severely injured by a gang of hunters and Wolverine is forced to end the bears suffering. 

Seeking retribution Wolverine tracks down the hunters and lets them now how unhappy he is about the situation.  I had a problem with this scene because it is a bit of a stretch how he randomly runs into a character named Yukio played by Rila Fukushima.  She is a deadly assassin with precognitive mutant abilities.  I would assume she used her psychic abilities to find Wolverine at that particular bar because it isn't explicitly stated in the movie.

 Yukio convinces Logan to fly to Japan to meet an old friend who we find out is the guard he saved from nuclear blast years ago and is currently on his death bed.  He summoned Wolverine because he wants his mutant healing ability.  Logan is unwilling to help him because he believes death is a natural end.

From this point on the story is about everyone trying to rob the Wolverine of his mutant powers.  I get the feeling that this film largely caters to the Asian film market with it subtle and not so subtle nods to Asian culture.  The movie is very much a Yukuza action flick where we see Wolverines use his claws as deadly weapons, slicing and dicing foes explicitly riding the line between PG-13 and R Rated violence.  I enjoyed the creative action sequences particularly one taking place on top of a 300mph bullet train.  The set design is phenomenal and the cinematography is exceptional giving the movie a particularly slick look.  

The pacing doesn't seem to slow down and stays centrally focused on the Wolverine character.  I would have liked some acknowledgment of the bigger events going on in this expanding marvel universe.  I wanted to know what The Avengers and Shield were currently up to.   My only complaint is that the computer graphics are quite obvious in certain scenes and particularly unnecessary in others.  There is one where  Jackman as Wolverine is in the woods walking along side a computer generated bear.  I don't know if it was an insurance issues but the filmmakers could have had a real bear for that shot.  I have to acknowledge the rigorous training regiment Jackman must have endeared to look the way he does on camera.  According to fit magazines Jackman is taking training advice from former professional wrestler Dwayne Johnson. 

The Wolverine is quality entertainment and a recommended travel movie.  Stay for the credits as they lead into the next instalment Bryan Singer's Days of Future Past.  See The Wolverine in theaters B+! 

The Last Fall 2013 Review B+

The Last Fall is a independent film directed by Matthew Cherry.  It is about a professional football player transitioning to life after the game.  Its allot like Love and Basketball meets Any Given Sunday.  I enjoyed the myth busting aspect of this movie with regards to a professional athletes actual salary. Unlike other professional sports football players don't get a guaranteed contract.  When Kyle Bishop (played by Lance Gross) is cut from his team the situation is very jarring for him.  He returns to his hometown embarrassed and broke, his friends are surprised to see him and they are shocked when he is asking for a job.

Directed by Matthew Cherry a former professional football player himself Cherry relocated to Los Angeles and reinvented himself as a filmmaker.  He enrolled in Streetlights a non-profit production assistant training program that teaches people of limited means to become production assistants.  Cherry began his career on the sets of The Game, Heroes and Girlfriends.  The Last Fall was his directorial debut and I find it impressive how Cherry was able to wrangle all these elements in a effective manner.  

Watching this movie I felt the protagonist was sympathetic enough for me to root for however I find the ending a bit of a letdown.  Spoiler alert the main character has to make a critical decision but the movie ends before he makes it.  I can appreciate an opened ended ending but I found it unsatisfying.  I would have preferred to see the main character make the tough decision to continue playing football or explore a new life with his college sweetheart.  This ending nullifies his previous struggle.  

For an independent movie it is unique in that it is largely devoid of racial stereotypes contains little if any profanity or drug use and no nudity.  As a first time director this film is a triumph of technique and cinematography.  I applaud any minority filmmaker that can get a good movie in the can.  I am grading The Last Fall a B+ I look forward to Cherry's next project. 

North Hollywood comic book shop oasis for the imagination.

North Hollywood is a transient town just behind the Hollywood sign and down the street from Universal Studios.  Everyday people with big dreams are always coming and going determined to make there mark in the city of stars.  This is a town of dreamers so its only natural that a comic book shop open in the heart of NoHo.  Located on Lankershim and down the street from Starbucks Blast Off comics is a welcomed oasis for the imagination. 

This is a play ground for the imagination complete with an owner with almost super human abilities.  When asked about a particular title he has an encyclopedic, almost rain man knowledge of all comic books.  

Name any title he can immediately zero in on the the title, writer, year and publisher.... freaky!  Blast Off also specializes in rare comics and collectibles.  I was most impressed by a display bust of Christopher Reeve as Superman from the 1978 movie. 

What I enjoy is the atmosphere the shop is clean and organized it even has a section for young people complete with age appropriate reading material.

I particularly enjoy this shop because it has one of the best graphic novel collections this side of the valley.  Every time I visit I get a good vibe unlike other comic books stores were I feel pressured to buy something as opposed to taking my time to appreciate the artwork so this is indeed a browse friendly store.  

Blast Off Comics is worth your time the owners are passionate about comic books but most importantly they provide good customer service put this place on your radar.

The Conjuring 2013 Movie Props... coming to an auction near you!

                                            

 

The Conjuring 2013 review C-

*Clap* *Clap*------- The Conjuring is currently scaring in theaters.  This is James Wan's latest foray into the horror genre.  Before I get into my review a little background on this director Wan begun his career by making a short film which would later become the Saw franchise.  He shopped it around to investors and was able to procure financing.  After Saw became a bonafide hit Wan had proven himself a bankable talent.

However multiple instalments later Saw ended up diluting the original direction of the first film.  Wan later went onto direct Insidious a creepy movie about a haunted child.  In it he continued his theme of utilizing creepy dolls and practical F/X work.  So when it comes to The Conjuring I am extremely excited.  I am familiar with the case and the people depicted therein.  Ed and Lorraine Warren are famous paranormal investigators.  They are controversial people because they have been accused of being charlatans but they welcome skeptics and present compelling paranormal evidence.

In "The Demonologist" the Warrens explain the demonic strategy for creating fear.  Infestation, oppression and possession.  Infestation is the first stage of a haunting... floor creeks, apparitions, shadows out the corner of your eye basic creepy stuff...oppression is when something happen to oppress the will of the victim to make them give up.  And possession is when one surrenders complete control of their body and mind to a demonic spirit usually ending in the victims death.

My problem with the The Conjuring is that it shows someone being possessed at the will of a demon which is incorrect because a human cannot be possessed unless permission is given.  The ending was overly dramatic for me.  Paranormal novices will find The Conjuring entertaining but I'm giving this movie a C-.

I'm giving it this grade because there are story elements that are left hanging and the computer graphics are bad.  This would have been better if it were released on Redbox.

Star Trek Into Darkness review 2013 grade A

Star Trek is about working together to advance society.  In the Abrams era of Star Trek most of this tone has been lost in favor of a more action oriented story telling.  Its brisk it's kinetic its a fresh cote paint of on an old car.  So when I get into my review of Into Darkness I'm focusing on whats under the hood.

The story pulls us in with an Indiana Jones style action sequence where Kirk and Dr McCoy are running from a prehistoric extraterrestrial culture.  The dialogue is snappy and traded via banter in the middle of an action scene.  It seems like these new films are obsessed with entertaining you.   I have no problem with that but I do have an issue with invoking 9/11 like imagery to give the movie modern gravitas.

My issue with 9/11 imagery is that it is beginning to become cliche' with themes of smoking buildings, hunting terrorists, quick retribution this cheapens the events of  that horrible day by using it as an entertainment context.  The antagonist is Khan played marvelously by Benedict Cumberbatch.  Khan is a genetically engineered super human fighting for his people.  After blowing up a Star Fleet building the Enterprise is dispatched to terminate him without trial.  Raising moral and ethical conflicts among the crew.  After Kirk makes the choice not to kill Khan we later learn of a bigger Star Fleet conspiracy.

I love the action and where the story seems to be going and if this is any indication of what the new Star Wars sequels could be then this is a galaxy I want to continue to explore.

Movie grade A.

Man of Steel 2013 review B-

Superman has always been a difficult comic book character to write for because he is impervious to everything.  To hurt Kal-El (Superman's kryptonian name) you needed a plot device like Kryptonite a rock that could kill him or a threat to someone he loves to heighten the drama.  When I first heard Zach Snider was directing the next cinematic outing for Kal-El I was ecstatic I suffered through allot of lackluster films. 

Snider is a director who seemingly came from nowhere. His wife is a famous producer which helps in the business but he really is a good director.   He takes on risky projects and makes them incredibly entertaining and profitable at the box office.  This is the director of Watchmen a graphic novel adaptation and 300 another graphic novel written by Frank Miller.   He doesn't necessarily have a visual style but all of his films feature some type of action element with an incredible amount of computer graphics.  

So his role as director of Man of Steel had me pumped and reminiscing on the previous films.  Anyone remember Superman 3 co-starring Richard Pryor where we literally see a drunken superman?  Followed up by that god-awful Supergirl movie and my least favorite Quest for Peace with Nuclear Man.  Superman Returns directed by Bryan Singer was a missed opportunity to take the story in new direction.  Instead what we got was a continuation of the Donnor films with a hint of dead beat father thrown into the mix. 

In Man of Steel we get an origin story focusing on Clark Kent learning who he really is and where he came from.  He learns to accept his role as the symbol for hope.  Its interesting that he doesn't actually call himself Superman in the movie.  I loved this because what we get is more like a Superman Begins movie.  The script was penned by Michigan native David Goyer who gives us a story that explores the pivotal moment where Clark Kent accepts his unique abilities and assumes his role as protector of humanity.

Krypton plays a significant role in Man of Steel, heavily inspired by the matrix.  Apparently on this world people are bio engineered to fulfil a specific societal need.  Kal-El's birth is significant because he was naturally conceived and given the choice to grow up and be who he wants to be.   The enivitable destruction of Krypton is realized through cutting edge computer graphics however the movie ventures into sensory overload because most of the violence has little consequence. 

I have a problem with endless punching between two super powered beings with no indication of fatigue.  The antagonist Zod is a good villain but I would have preferred someone who hasn't been in a Superman movie before… Lobo… Darkseid maybe?  This movie grade is a solid B- because the final battle reminded me of that battle from Matrix revolutions which was way too long.  And I did not like Superman’s lack of concern for human life.  Why didn’t he take the battle to the moon away from populated cities? 

 It is good to see the S on the big screen again but I think they should find a way to show us Superman’s physical limitations to make the conflict mean something.

White House Down 2013 review C+

What started out as a well thought out political thriller ended on a low note for me.  Roland Emmerich's latest foray into the destruction genre has yielded a pretty standard piece of entertainment.  " White House Down" was viewed by MC at North Hollywood's Laemmle theater a nice venue for movies, small intimate definitely getting the MC stamp of approval.  Unfortunately the same cannot be given to this movie's main character Carl played by Channing Tatum.        

 He is the typical working parent unable to maintain a good relationship with his daughter.  Carl is interviewing for a positing in the President's secret service detail he is denied because he has a record of not finishing anything he starts.  This theme is the set up to why Carl is committed to getting his daughter back at the end.

The White House is taken over by a ruthless gang of mercenaries eager to start World War 3.  The movie reveals the President's hired help to be a bunch of bad shots and woefully unprepared for a surprise attack.  I doubt such disorganization would exist in reality but it fun to see how such an attack would play out.  It was fun seeing what all the hi-tech White House gadgetry can do.  Jamie Foxx plays a nerdy President derivative of our current Commander and Chief President Obama.

 He does a good job without getting overly political and staying inspirational but I don't think I'm going to vote Jamie Foxx for President anytime soon because he's best when he's laying flawed and broken characters not politicians.   I 'm giving this movie a C+ because of the annoying daughter Tatum is figuratively going through hell trying to rescue.  I found her antics insufferable along with the armature visual effects work dollar show this movie.

Star Wars Episode 7: Ten things it needs to do right.

 Click link to my podcast where I discuss 10 things Star Wars 7 needs to get right.

Enough with the rumors! As if re-igniting the Star Trek franchise wasn’t enough, JJ Abrams has landed the biggest job in genre cinema of the moment: he’ll direct Star Wars: Episode VII for Disney and Lucasfilm.
Despite playing coy back in November when asked directly by Hollywood Life about the gig (“I am looking forward more than anyone to the next iterations of Star Wars, but I believe I will be going as a paying moviegoer!”) and telling our own Mark Dinning he couldn't possibly do it, Abrams has made a deal to sit in the captain’s chair for the film, as first reported by The Wrap's sources and now confirmed by Lucasfilm and Disney.
Though Ben Affleck had apparently been in the running, Abrams’ sci-fi credentials made him the natural choice for the gig.
Star Wars: Episode VII will boast a script from Little Miss Sunshine and Toy Story 3 writer Michael Arndt, a lifelong Wars fan who lectures about the script for the 1977 original as a model of great storytelling.
So what will happen in the film itself? What a question to ask! With Abrams now at the helm, things will be wrapped in more layers of secrecy than before.
The official announcement arrived Friday night in a statement from Lucasfilm, Disney and Abrams. "It's very exciting to have JJ aboard leading the charge as we set off to make a new Star Wars movie," said executive producer Kathleen Kennedy. "JJ is the perfect director to helm this. Beyond having such great instincts as a filmmaker, he has an intuitive understanding of this franchise. He understands the essence of the Star Wars experience, and will bring that talent to create an unforgettable motion picture."
George Lucas went on to say, "I've consistently been impressed with JJ as a filmmaker and storyteller. He's an ideal choice to direct the new Star Wars film and the legacy couldn't be in better hands."
"To be a part of the next chapter of the Star Wars saga, to collaborate with Kathy Kennedy and this remarkable group of people, is an absolute honour,” JJ Abrams said. “I may be even more grateful to George Lucas now than I was as a kid."
Abrams is already showing some power in the negotiations: according to the Hollywood Reporter, he has not committed to the 2015 release date Disney had planned and will see where things stand once he's finished developing the script with Arndt.

Lessons from Teaching in South Korea 01/01 by rmctyre | Blog Talk Radio

Lessons from Teaching in South Korea 01/01 by rmctyre | Blog Talk Radio

Michelle McTyre, a student teacher of Eastern Michigan University studying special education, recently returned from teaching in South Korea. She shares insights about the international experience, both in the classroom and as novice in international travel. The interview with Michelle is part of a larger discussion about how immersing ourselves in new and different cultures is a powerful way to accelerate learning and thinking abilitie