Netflix Picks!

I know that most of the Western world is furious with Netflix for their ridiculous increase in rates. However, if you are a loyal Netflix customer, or are too lazy to cancel your subscription (like me), here are some goodies on Netflix Instant for your 1 a.m. viewing pleasure!

1. Memento (2000)

I saw this film several years ago during some weird pre-teen rebellious phase, and it may or may not have changed my life. Actually, it probably didn't change my life at all, but it's still a pretty amazing film. Having seen this film in the early 2000s, I had no idea who Christopher Nolan (Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, Inception, The Prestige) was, and didn't really care who directed the film. However, as this is one of Nolan's first widely released films, it deserves to be watched. The way it is filmed was pretty innovative for its time, as the story, which involves a man suffering from memory loss trying to find out who murdered his wife, is told almost in complete reverse. As you can guess, the story is pretty hard to follow, but watch it a few times and you'll probably get it. Maybe. 

2. Babel (2006)

Feeling depressed?! Watch Babel! I assure you that you will feel better about your life. Or maybe you'll be more depressed. Either way, this film is very powerful. However, when I first saw this film, I was initially disappointed in that I felt like it was riding on the coattails of the previous year's Oscar winner, Crash, in that it follows several different characters whose lives are effected by the same event. Unlike Crash, which had at least some hope in it, Babel is entirely depressing. Also, if you've seen this film, please tell me what the storyline in Japan had to do with anything. Nevertheless, I would recommend this film, as it handles some heavy issues such as illegal immigration and gun violence.

3. Sin Nombre (2009)

Best for last. Watch this film. Weep. That is all.

-S

P.S. Have any of you readers seen any good films on Netflix lately? Let us know in the comments!

A Life in a Parallel Universe: Marwencol

Marwencol

Unfortunately, I haven’t seen any new movies in the past week (I’m a college student, I don’t have that much free time!), so you’ll have to bear with me. However, I have seen a great documentary recently that I definitely think all of you should know about. I had to watch 2010 SXSW Film Festival Competition Award Winner Marwencol for a class, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Although it has a very unusual premise, it’s definitely a film for all to see.

Jeff Malmberg’s Marwencol tells the story of Mark Hogancamp, a man who suffered massive brain damage after a vicious attack outside of a bar. Mark has no recollection of his tumultuous life before the attack and is unable to pay for his medical bills, which includes therapy sessions. He decides to build the doll-figure town of Marwencol in his backyard, and creates “alter-egos” who live there. The town of Marwencol ultimately serves as a therapeutic device for Mark, who finds Marwencol to be his safe haven in the dangerous world around him. Throughout the film, the audience notices the parallels between Marwencol’s story and Mark’s real life – he’s using his imagination as a tool to get past his traumatic experience in an extremely creative way.

Mark lives vicariously through his doll-figures to find out “who he is” as a person after the attack, and ultimately tries to find his identity through his “alter-ego.” He no longer wants to be the obnoxious drunk that he was before the attack, and he takes advantage of the second chance that he’s been given. We want Mark to succeed in finding a new identity and in becoming a functional member of society. We recognize that he’s struggling to find his place in society, whether it is in his hometown of Kingston, NY or in the art world once his work begins to get recognized.

What’s striking to me is just how much Marwencol reflects Mark’s real life. Marwencol eerily imitates his struggles and life in the real world. I understand that it’s very difficult for people to confront traumatic experiences, and I was captivated by Mark’s use of Marwencol as a therapeutic device. There are several events that take place in Marwencol that seemed to directly reflect his past experiences (there’s one scene in particular at the end of the film that I don’t want to ruin for all of you, but it is extremely intense).

The film is wonderfully made as the audience sympathizes with Mark. He learns about himself through the parallel universe of Marwencol and takes advantage of the second chance given to him. Marwencol is definitely a film for all to see.

The Lorax 3D

Now...let me just start by saying I am a complete and total sucker for 3D anything. So today, as I tried to decide what to see with my free time, I noticed that the lorax was in theaters. I had made a note to myself to see this movie months ago; the advertisement drew me in with a promise of cotton candy colors, 3D adventure, and Danny DeVito. Yea, that is right, Danny DeVito plays the Lorax himself.

Look how cute and bossy!

So, I get to the theater with a friend in tow, to have the place to ourselves. Literally, just us. Awesome! Shoes off, glasses on, popcorn out, let the credits start!

So, I sit back and go through the first ten minutes, I love it. And then the singing starts...Whoever wrote the score and theme to this film should be out of a job. Not one song was enjoyable. Also, the plot of this film, such a downer! It's about a man who ruins the world essentially, and in the last five minutes there is a slight glimmer that maybe, just maybe, it will turn around.

But, in the end, all said and done would I say go see this film? Yes, why not! The 3D was great, the little animals were adorable, it had its fun and humor for adults, and going to the movies is worth it just for the snacks!

A Spicy Pixar Classic: Ratatouille

As a picky eater growing up, it hadn't been until college that I really began to enjoy food.  I had often heard the cliche saying growing up, "You'll never know if you don't try it".  A discipline I am very thankful my mom trained me to do.  Though I have eaten my share of terrible food, it is by this philosophy one finds the edible gems our world affords us.  Likewise, even if the idea of rats in the kitchen may turn many off to seeing this film. This is what I propose all to do with Ratatouille.

Ratatouille is the story of a less than likely chef, a rat.  Remy (voice acted by Patton Oswalt), son of his fathers mice clan, has a strangely intense affinity for food.  Sneaking around in kitchens and watching the famous 5 star french chef Gusteau teach recipes on living room televisions, as a young mouse Remy was not like the other mice who took safety in dumpsters and alleys.  Fueled by his passion, and incredible heightened senses, it isn't long until Remy begins to cook Gusteau's very own restaurant with the help of a young unexperienced boy named Linguini (voice acted by Lou Ramano).

Watched this movie?  What'd you think?

Hype! Aliens! Prometheus!

Do you like aliens?!

Me neither!

However, if you asked me if I would see the upcoming, super-hyped sci-fi film Prometheus then I would definitely say yes. Check out the trailer that was released about a week ago:

Are you confused as to what this movie is about?!

Me too!

However, do I really need to know what it's about? Not really. Everything I need to know to see this movie is in the trailer. So let's go over some things that may sway your decision to see this film:

1. Ridley Scott. The director of such films as Alien, American Gangster, Blade Runner, Thelma & Louise, and Gladiator. If you saw any common theme in those films, then you're a genius. Scott's directing credits are about as varied as this film's cast, and he's done every film very well. Which brings me to the next few points: the cast.
2. Michael Fassbender. I recently came to the conclusion that Michael Fassbender can do no wrong. Every film he has been in recently has blown me away. His performance in Shame was beautiful/horrifying/amazing, and he was definitely snubbed at the Oscars this year. Aside from that film, he starred in the film Hunger (2008) which is way more painful to watch than you think it might be. You can watch him on Netflix right now in the film Fish Tank which garnered him a great amount of praise and helped him explode in the past few years. Recently, he made appearances in some less-indie films such as X-Men: First Class as Magneto, filling the big shoes of Sir Ian McKellan, and in Haywire, in which he had a pretty bomb fight scene.
3. Noomi Rapace. Did you see the original Swedish Girl with the Dragon Tattoo? If you haven't, you need to (hint: all on Netflix). I personally thought it was much better than its American counterpart, but I may be biased because I'm obsessed with Sweden. Nevertheless, Noomi Rapace killed it as Lisbeth Salander. I'm very excited to see her in an American film (because I skipped that last Sherlock Holmes movie...).
4. Charlize Theron. HELLO. It's Charlize Theron. May or may not be one of the most beautiful people on earth. Hilarious in every interview ever. South African. Monster. I also may or may not want to be her best friend.
5. Aliens. Apparently aliens are in right now. The last two years or so have seen countless alien movies (a majority of them pretty terrible) such as: Skyline, Battle: LA, Battleship, Avatar, District 9, Super 8, the Transformers trilogy, The Darkest Hour, The Thing remake, and Apollo 18. You may think Hollywood is beating aliens to death, and you would probably be right. However, if anyone can bring aliens back from the dead, it would be Ridley Scott. Or James Cameron (but that already happened). 

Therefore, I hope you'll join me to see this film on June 9! See you there or see you never.

-S

p.s. Do you think you'll see Prometheus? Why or why not? Feel free to comment!

Can You Have A Kid with No Strings Attached?: Friends with Kids

Friends with Kids

Before I even knew what Friends with Kids was about (even though the title is pretty much self-explanatory), I automatically knew that I needed to see it. I recognized all of the cast members, with the exception of Jennifer Westfeldt (who wrote and directed the film as well), and found that this film was not your typical romantic comedy after watching the trailer. There are so many films that follow the same premise today – I’m talking about you, No Strings Attached and Friends with Benefits – and I was intrigued by Friends with Kids’ unusual storyline.

Friends with Kids is about, well, a group of friends and how their lives change when they have kids. After witnessing the effects that children have taken on their friends’ respective relationships – Hamm is married to Wiig’s character and O’Dowd is married to Rudolph’s – best friends Jason (Adam Scott) and Julie (Jennifer Westfeldt) realize that they want to have kids, but don’t want to fall into the “trap,” as Julie says, that their friends have. They decide to have a baby together and share custody while maintaining a platonic relationship with one another. While Jason and Julie think this is a fantastic idea, their friends are shocked: no one believes that this arrangement will actually work out. The rest of the film follows Julie’s and Jason’s lives after the birth of their son, and we witness the toll that their child takes on their friendship, as well as on their respective romantic relationships with others.

The cast of Friends with Kids alone is fantastic: Adam Scott (Parks and Recreation, Step Brothers) and Jennifer Westfeldt (Kissing Jessica Stein, 24) are supported by several Bridesmaids’ cast members including Kristen Wiig (Saturday Night Live), Maya Rudolph (Saturday Night Live, Up All Night), Jon Hamm (Mad Men), and Chris O’Dowd (The IT Crowd). The six friends have amazing chemistry, and they keep the movie moving. Megan Fox and Edward Burns are also great additions to the film. Their relationships with Scott’s and Westfeldt’s characters, respectively, bring yet another complicated element to the film.

Adam Scott, however, shines in Friends with Kids. Often known for his jerky and nerdy roles in both film and television, he portrays Jason as the perfect balance between the two. His performance of the atypical womanizer with a heart is believable, and we easily sympathize with his character. I must also give credit to Westfeldt though for writing such a remarkable character for her film.

While I was impressed overall with Friends with Kids, I was a bit disappointed in its resolution. The film started out great, and was extremely fast-paced and witty, but it began to lag towards the middle after the six friends and their respective partners (Fox and Burns) travel to a ski cabin together. From then on, unfortunately, the film devolves into a typical romantic comedy. Despite its rom-com pitfalls, I think that Friends with Kids is definitely a film that all adults would love to see.

Soon To Come: Moonrise Kingdom

Moonrise Kingdom. At first, it sounds like a bad anime cartoon but, in reality, it is Wes Anderson and Roman Coppola's newest film. Moonrise Kingdom is about two youngin's who fall in love, in what appears to be some sort of summer fling. According to IMDB, Moonrise Kingdom is "Set on an island off the coast of New England in the 1960s, as a young boy and girl fall in love they are moved to run away together. Various factions of the town mobilize to search for them and the town is turned upside down -- which might not be such a bad thing."

Now, I know what you're thinking. Really, another Wes Anderson movie? Really, how unrealistic is that plot line? Now, before you go crying about how hipster this is to all your friends at the coffee shop down the street as your french press half decaf is being prepared, let us think about how aesthetically fulfilling this movie is. Also, how about the cast?! 

First off, Wes Anderson just loves color. He fills his films full of color, and the settings and lightings in this film make it seem so exact to the date it is set. This film is set in the 1960's. Also, his characters are always dressed in costumes. They're not just wearing clothing, their dress really clues you in to who those characters are. Take the main boy character in the trailer's uniform, the details are insane. Those patches!

Is this a photograph from the 1960's or a movie still?!

Moonrise Kingdom is set to be in theaters May 25th!

That's Dahl, folks!

Besides Crazy, Stupid, Love, I didn't get the chance to watch any movies over spring break (probably because I was too busy marathoning Buffy the Vampire Slayer...).  However, on one long car trip, I explained to my mother the plot of just about every Roald Dahl book I've ever read.  Though my captive audience didn't really appreciate my detailed descriptions of Mr. Dahl's wicked genius--in fact, she bemoaned the fact that she'd bought me such twisted stories in my youth--it got me thinking about some of the film adaptations of his books. 

Matilda is probably my favorite movie ever and certainly the one I've seen the most times.  Based on the book by the same name, it's about a preternaturally clever girl who develops superpowers.  Since I was just four years old when I first watched Matilda, it's the only Roald Dahl adaptation that I saw before reading the book; this might be why it's one of my few exceptions to the the-book-is-always-better rule. 

I've yet to watch either of the Charlie and Chocolate Factory adaptations, if only because I just find them too creepy.  The 1971 Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, starring Gene Wilder, seems to do this unintentionally, but the 2005 Tim Burton version strives to create an unsettling film.  Although Roald Dahl's books do often contain elements of the macabre, this particular book was rather upbeat and sweet (pun-intended) compared to the others, so I'm not sure why the film-makers chose to take their adaptations in the directions they did. 

I've yet to see the 1990 movie version of The Witches (which is extremely terrifying and would be well-suited for a Tim Burton take) or the animated The BFG. On the whole, though, I've a feeling that (with the exception of my beloved Matilda), Roald Dahl's genius isn't well-translated to the big screen.

What about you: are you a Roald Dahl fan? Do you like the film adaptations of his books?

Tuesday's Post!...Three days late

As many of you know, earlier this week all of Boston decided to catch on fire. And by all of Boston I mean the main transformer for all of Back Bay, Fenway, and Kenmore. So, what does that mean for me? No electricity. No Television. No internet. Spring break!...? I thought I didn’t sign up to go on an ASB for a reason, little did I know I would be roughing it in the city. So, with 5 hours and 10 minutes of battery life left, I watched a movie I already had on DVD...Clueless.

Clueless is one of the least valued movies of our time. I’m telling you. They all wear these big hats, have crazy names, live in huge mansions, and talk with Valley Girl accents. Cher and Dion change their teachers love life to get themselves a good grade, all while Cher falls in love with her step-step-step brother or whatever. How typical teenage RomCom can you get? It’s GREAT!

And, Who didn't love Brittany Murphy? RIP, brit. This is what my spring break should have been like!

Trailers/Openings this week!

So as many of you may know, the much-anticipated Hunger Games is being released next Friday, March 23rd. Most likely HG will take the number one position in the box office that weekend, but just in case you are not interested in this young adult story of forbidden love in dystopia, there are a great number of movies out in theaters (or coming out) to occupy your time! Here are three of them:

1. 21 Jump Street (March 16th)

This movie looks pretty hilarious. First of all, we've got Jonah Hill who rarely disappoints, and Channing Tatum, who is in the middle of his comeback. Plus, it's a remake of the 1980s television show of the same name, which introduced Johnny Depp to adoring females everywhere. Let's hope for a cameo.

2. Jeff, Who Lives at Home (March 16th, limited)

If you're looking for a more indie comedy, check out Jeff, Who Lives at Home. The pairing of Jason Segel and Ed Helms may be something we have seen before, but the trailer of this film makes it seem that the story is much deeper than just a buddy comedy. It has been getting great reviews in festivals, and is opening this weekend in limited release.

3. A Thousand Words (March 9th)

I put this movie on here solely because it has a 0% on Rotten Tomatoes right now. Also, apparently it was made about two years ago and was released now because it couldn't find a distributor. 

What a mess.

-SM

What movies will you be seeing this weekend? Comment with any other suggestions!

A Romantic Dream: Midnight in Paris

Woody Allen's most recent film, Midnight in Paris, tells of a very successful screenwriter named Gil Pender (played by Owen Wilson) who is obsessed with Paris in the twenties.  He and his attractive fiancee, Inez (played by Rachel McAdams), live a luxurious life in Hollywood, and Gil's work is highly sought after.  However, Gil feels creatively stifled having to sell movie rewrites rather than writing novels (his true passion).  Only when Gil is magically transported back to the roaring twenties to meet his artistic idols does the problems of artistic ambition and his relationship with his fiancee come to light.

 Midnight in Paris is a philosophical statement both about the human condition of nostalgia, and the dissatisfying taste living in the "here and now" often leaves us.  As human beings, we are quick to believe in that another time is better than the now.  It is easy for us to think that somehow the past was more exciting, or more enlightening then what we have now.  Given the chance to go back in to live in a different time most would take it up readily.  The question becomes what happens when the past or the future sought for becomes the present?

As a dialogue driven movie, Woody Allen once again shows why his story telling mastery is revered by movie critiques and writers alike.  Like Allen's other films, Midnight in Paris makes you think deeply about human nature.  Why is it we are never satisfied with what we have?  Why is it we always want more, even when we get what we want?  Suprisingly Owen Wilson fits the his role perfectly, surrounded by the clear brilliance of his idols and Paris intellectuals, Gils more honest, and slightly intimidated figure humors the audience in great fashion.  Not to mention Morion Cotillard's role as Adriana, the Muse of Picasso and love interest of Gil, is done perfectly.  Cotillard's performance capsulates everything a french muse would be.

If you love Woody Allen films or smart witty humor, see this movie.

-冯

Captain America: An Everyday Avenger

I absolutely love superhero movies. Whether it’s Iron Man, The Dark Knight, or The Incredibles. (how can you not love this Pixar movie?!), I automatically get lost in the amazing and unbelievable worlds that these characters live in. All of this and much more have contributed to my anticipation for this summer’s The Avengers.

But before I can see this summer blockbuster, I needed to catch up on the superhero films I missed out on the past year or so, including Captain America: The First Avenger. On one of the first nights back for spring break, my mom and I decided to engage in one of our favorite pastimes and watch an action movie. In this case, one of the few that we both hadn’t seen was Captain America.

Based on the comic books of the same name, Captain America follows Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), a young man from Brooklyn who wants to join the U.S. Military during World War II. After several failed attempts – Rogers is declared physically unfit for the military across several state lines – Dr. Abraham Erskine (Stanley Tucci) recruits Rogers as a potential candidate for a “super-soldier” experiment in which he will be transformed from a weakling into an army of one – aka Captain America.

Meanwhile, Nazi officer Johann Schmidt (Hugo Weaving) attempts to undergo the same experiment that Erskine is carrying out in the United States. Using the energy force from a mysterious cube, he hopes to power several German weapons to use against the U.S. in the war. He also builds an entire army of men armed with this amazing weapon. Rogers gets entangled in Schmidt’s endeavors, and ultimately wants to help the military defeat this powerful evil army of men.

Although I’ve seen Evans in other superhero roles such as the Human Torch in The Fantastic Four, he fit his role in Captain America very well. He embodies the humble everyday guy who everybody can relate to. Unfortunately, I was underwhelmed with Hugo Weaving’s performance – his accent was on the verge of annoying, and he could’ve been utilized better.

The action scenes in the film were extremely entertaining, especially the first scene in which Rogers has been transformed into Captain America. His chase through the streets of New York is exhilarating – the viewer feels as if they’re really chasing after the villain, and we cheer on Rogers’ new persona as he attempts to capture the villain.

All in all, Captain America was a great predecessor for The Avengers. I can’t wait to see how Rogers interacts with Iron Man, the Hulk, Thor, Hawkeye, and the Black Widow! Captain America paved the way for the upcoming superhero movie in a great way, and made it into something that I'm really looking forward to.

Clever, Sexy, Comedy

Although I'd heard plenty of great things about last year's Crazy, Stupid, Love, which stars Steve Carell, Julianne Moore, Emma Stone, and Ryan Gosling,  I hadn't yet seen the film (it was the inflight feature on my trip home over winter break, but I fell asleep before takeoff. I repeated this mistake coming home for spring break and missed The Artist.)

Last night, though, my dad and I took advantage of a free Redbox coupon and rented this smartly written comedy.  The movie delivered its fair share of laughs and "awwww" moments; it's the rare sincere romantic comedy that (for the most part) doesn't mistake blatant slapstick or gross-out scenes for actual humor.

Since I'm the one person on the planet who doesn't watch The Office, when I see Steve Carell, all I can think of is Brick, his endearingly moronic character in Anchorman.  So, I was pleasantly surprised by his mostly subtle performance as Cal in Crazy, Stupid, Love: in the earlier scenes of the movie, he nailed Cal's emotional breakdown.  Julianne Moore, though gorgeous, didn't seem to have much to do in this film, and the scenes focusing on her character were pretty forgettable.

As Hannah, Redhead Jr. aka Emma Stone, hit a nice balance between cute, quirky, and awkward. I've yet to jump on the "Ryan-Gosling-is-Mr.-Hottieness-of-the-universe" bandwagon, but I did very much appreciate his incredible abs (I also appreciated Hannah's "It's like you're Photoshopped!" comment. And Cal's "This is so cliche," when rain inexplicably begins pouring as his life devolves into a shambles.  Movies that make fun of their own genre are a win in my eyes.)

Both my dad and I agreed, though, that the real standouts of the film were Analeigh Tipton as Jessica the babysitter, Marisa Tomei as a middle school teacher, and Liza Lapira as Hannah's friend Liz.  Tipton, of ANTM fame, was awkwardly hilarious: several of her scenes made me simultaneously laugh and squirm with second-hand embarrassment.  Oscar-winner Tomei has a small part in the plot, but clearly relishes her character's zaniness.  Lapira plays the stock rom-com sassy best friend, but did so with aplomb.  There's a serious deficit of Asian casting in Hollywood, and I'd love to see more of her. 

Overall, I thought the film was pretty well done: call me crazy or stupid, but in my opinion, so long as you don't harbor a deep-seated hatred towards lighthearted romance and mildly sarcastic comedy, there's no reason not to love (or at least like) this movie!

Silent House = Not So Silent Theater

SILENT HOUSE (2012)


Synopsis: Sarah (Elizabeth Olsen) hears noises while renovating her family's old summer home. She soon finds out she is not alone.

Wow. I was first drawn to this movie upon seeing the trailer during the mediocre film The Woman in Black starring Harry Potter. The trailer enticed me with its promise of terror and its sole star, Elizabeth Olsen. I first saw Olsen (younger sister to the Olsen twins) in 2011's Martha Marcy May Marlene. Blown away by her performance in that film, and by the fact that she's the forgotten sister of Mary-Kate & Ashley, I was intrigued by Silent House's trailer as a fan of horror films and as a new fan of Elizabeth Olsen.

Also, if that didn't get me to see this film, the fact that the film is one take definitely got me into the theater. That's right: One. Single. Take. Although I was initially dubious of this statement in the trailer, I was not disappointed upon seeing the film. According to some reviewers, the film relied too much on this "gimmick," but I found that it highlighted Olsen's acting ability (she is completely terrified for 80 minutes and makes you feel her terror) and enhanced the viewing experience.

I saw this film at midnight (as all horror movies should be seen), and proceeded to be terrified for at least 60 minutes. The trailer promises "88 minutes of terror" and it is at least half right; personally, I found the denouement to be obvious, overused, and somewhat cheap. However, the majority of the film makes up for its somewhat disappointing climax.

At many points in the film, I felt as though I was in the house with Sarah, the main character of the film. The theater's sound system allowed for creaks and noises in the house to be heard behind you, allowing for a new type of theater experience. This film did not need fancy 3-D effects to make you empathize with the main character, for the sound effects of the film and Olsen's performance make you feel as though you are as much a victim as Sarah is.

Overall, Silent House does not disappoint in regards to acting, terror, and a thoroughly intense theater experience, but the film falls short in terms of plot. However, if you are looking to get freaked out for a day or so, I highly recommend this film.

-SM

P.S. For those of you who were freaked out for weeks by Paranormal Activity 3's "let's-put-a-camera-on-an-oscillating-fan" technique, there is a scene in SH involving a Polaroid Camera... I shall say no more.

Sisterhood of the Traveling Fans?!! : Snow Flower and the Secret Fan

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, an adaptation of Lisa See's book directed by Wayne Wang, is a touching story about two best friends or 'LaoTong' sworn to be together forever.  After Sophia is hospitalized by a car accident and stuck in a comma, Nina makes up her mind to investigate what happened to Sophia that led her to misfortune.  Nina soon finds out that Sophia is writing a book about 19th Century LaoTong, and thus, the audience is transported into a world of traditional Chinese culture through the eyes of women, having to endure the pains of foot-binding, and the downfalls of a rigid patriarchal society.

I first picked up Snow Flower and the Secret Fan from my local grocery store rental based upon the assumptions my dad had given me about the movie.  When the movie first hit theaters, my dad continually pestered me to see the movie because it was Chinese (we're Chinese).  Perhaps I should've done more research on the movie before swiping my credit card.  It's not that the movie was terrible.  In fact the movie was quite enlightening.  I learned quite a lot about traditional chinese customs and culture, and for a brief few hours, I was able to step into the tiny shoes of 19th Century Chinese women.  I'll admit, I shed a tear once or twice, but the overall impact the film could have had was missing.

Wang had a unique challenge of presenting four different protagonist characters in two different time periods using only two actresses.  His goal was to show the parallel lives between LaoTong of the 19th Century and LaoTong in modern day.  As one can imagine, trying to develop four different characters simultaneously and shifting back and forth in between time periods can at times be confusing.  At times, especially in the beginning of the movie I had mixed up Sophia for Lily, Lily for Snow Flower, Snow Flower for Nina, and Nina for Nina...wait...I mean Nina for Sophia.  Furthermore, 2 hours is not enough time to fully develop the characters to the point where the audience feels they fully know the characters.  Thus, although the acting felt vibrant and organic (minus Hugh Jackman's out of place cameo appearance) , the very emotional scenes feel almost manipulative as Wang and tries to draw out certain emotional responses, and yet does not have the in depth character development written into the script for the audience to respond accordingly.  The main characters feel like strangers, and though I wanted to lament with Nina and Sophia, and Lily and Snow Flower, I often felt it wasn't my place to do so.

Overall, If you're looking to learn more about Chinese Culture, or if you hate guys and are having a girls-night-in after a hard break-up, watch this film.  Under all other circumstances, I wouldn't recommend it.

Watched it?  What'd you think?

-冯

A Silent Film to Talk About: The Artist

Once again, welcome to The Concessions Stand! I hope you’ve enjoyed our first few posts as we get into the groove of things. We have so much in store for you guys, and we can’t wait for all of you to see it!

The last film that I saw in theaters was none other than 2012’s Best Picture winner, The Artist. Before every single awards ceremony this past month, I was definitely a bit wary of seeing the film. I mean, a silent black and white film being released in 2012?! Where was the appeal in that? As the film began to gain buzz though, particularly after the New Year and its sweep of award show wins, I finally decided that I had to see it. And boy, was I glad that I did.

Beginning in 1929, The Artist follows silent movie star George Valentin’s (Best Actor winner Jean Dujardin) relationship with aspiring actress, Peppy Miller (Bérénice Bejo) as the silent film industry is clearing the way for “talking pictures.” Valentin is loyal to the silent films that made him a star, and vehemently opposes “talking pictures,” while Miller wholeheartedly accepts them. For the duration of the film, we learn how Valentin’s and Miller’s lives change due to this new form of entertainment. The audience follows the film predominantly from Valentin's point of view as he realizes that he must make the choice to accept this new trend or fall behind it as an old movie star.

The Artist is a film that is so simple, yet extremely fascinating. As I walked out of the theater, I noticed the posters for films such as Battleship and John Carter – two of the many similar large budget blockbuster movies that are being released constantly today. The fact that a movie like The Artist, which was made with less of a budget than most of the films made in the years past, is probably a much more well-done film than these two is something that the movie industry should bear in mind. Several moviegoers, like myself, are looking for quality over much else. If a simple film like The Artist can achieve that, then that’s something that should be taken note of.

The Artist’s attention to detail is remarkable and fits the time period, including the sets, costumes and score that plays throughout the film. Even Valentin’s scene stealing dog captures the audience’s attention. And if you’re worried about the fact that it’s a silent black and white film, I can tell you that I was barely aware of it and the only times I noticed was when the intertitles flashed across the screen. All in all, The Artist is one of the best films I’ve seen this year, and I believe that it deserves all of its award wins.

If you've seen the film, what did you think? Were you as charmed as I was?

A Series of Unfortunate Sequels: Star Wars 3d

Welcome to the Concession Stand. A blog for film in all of its aspects, from plot to producers. Between the five writers of this site, all varieties and ages of films will be examined and explored.

I would like to start my first post with talking about my experience of seeing Star Wars: Episode One- The Phantom Menace 3D! I have been looking forward for the release of this film, released originally in 1999. I can remember seeing it then, and couldn't wait for the in theater 3d experience. And I don't know if you guys remember the pod race, but I know that was what I was most looking forward to.

So, one tuesday night, I purchased tickets and went to see the film with a friend. Got there, picked up my glasses, headed to the theater, popped those shades of 3d glory on, sat back, and waited. And waited. And waited. Soon...it started! It STARTED!! From the opening credits, I was a 3d Star Wars devotee. And the pod race...I'm telling you, this movie is worth spending the money on seeing.

So, a fortunate turn on Star Wars: Episode One; but it still is not the most exciting of all Star Wars movies. For some reason, I just always want that one to end a little sooner, always seems so dragged out. But now, with 3d, you don't mind. It's just more awesome 3d action time.

I say Go! for this re-edit of Star Wars, what do you say?

Let's go to the movies!

Welcome to The Concessions Stand! We're a blog dedicated to anything and everything about movies!

Today, let's talk about the simple action of going to the movie theater.  Along with watching baseball, eating apple pie, and filing frivolous lawsuits, going to the movies is definitely high up on the list of America's favorite pastimes.  What is it that fascinates us so much about the cinema? After all, you could just as easily sit at home and watch Avatar on your couch for free instead of paying $14 for a ticket. 

Besides the fact that seeing a movie in an IMAX theater allows me to see Chris Pine's bare chest in hugely magnified glory, I think that a lot of the allure of the movie theater lies in its cultural implications.  Every middle school romantic knows that going to the movies is perfect first date fodder.  And besides Texas county fairs, where else can you devour a trough-sized tub of butter-drenched popcorn and not be judged?

Still though, movie theater attendance is steadily declining, both due to rising ticket prices and advanced home viewing systems.  Personally, I still love the whole movie-going experience: the dimmed lights, the previews, the plush seats, the booming surround sound, even the loud nacho-crunching from neighboring viewers.  What do you think? Is it worth it to go the movies or is the dough better spent on a Netflix account?

~S