Summer 2012 has been an interesting year, with the release of two major superhero films, both the products of mainstream hype. Plus Wes Anderson returned after almost 3 years, the 16th president battled the undead and Pixar introduced a female protagonist. I'm compiling a blog series about the best and worst of Summer 2012.
I've devised a new ratings system for the occasion and I hope it helps you out:
1. Buy it on Blu-Ray (must see ASAP)
2. Redbox the DVD (highly recommended)
3. Save it for HBO (deserves commercial-free viewing)
4. Catch it on TBS (doesn't deserve commercial-free viewing)
5. Don't touch it with a 10 foot pole (speaks for itself)
In Part 2, I'll be discussing Brave, Snow White and the Huntsman, Prometheus, Savages and People Like Us.
1. Brave (Mark Andrews, Brenda Chapman)
with the voices of Kelly MacDonald, Emma Thompson, Billy Connolly and Julie Walters
Pixar made major headlines by introducing Princess Merida, its first female protagonist! Woo-hoo! Finally!! I mean, cowboys, cars, superheroes and bugs are all well and good but the time had come. But Brave is no different from other Pixar releases; it has a strong emotional core exploring complex relationships but balances it out with a very funny and exciting script. The movie reminded me of Finding Nemo and The Incredibles in that regard. The animation, depicting medieval Scotland, is impeccable (Merida's wild red hair itself deserves the Best Animated Feature Oscar) and the voice cast is just fantastic (special props to Thompson and MacDonald).
My rating: Buy it on Blu-Ray
2. Snow White and the Huntsman (Rupert Sanders)
with Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth, Sam Claflin, Ian McShane and Charlize Theron
Imagine an action/adventure/fantasy/romance movie with a little action, no sense of adventure, fantasy that doesn't really work and a romance so bland it's icy. Who knows why they chose Kristen Stewart to headline an action/adventure/fantasy/romance? Stewart has nothing that draws you to her character and the minimal character development don't help much. Hemsworth and Theron ham it up and try to liven up the proceedings but even they can't help much. The movie has a neat visual look but it's all so dull and grey. This movie did make a lot of money but it's easily forgettable.
My rating: Catch it on TBS during a house-cleaning day.
3. Prometheus (Ridley Scott)
with Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron, Logan Marshall-Green, Idris Elba and Guy Pearce
Theron fares much better in Prometheus, a sci-fi/horror/space thriller that asks a lot of big questions and asks the viewer to answer it on his or her own. The movie, set in the same universe as the massive Alien franchise, is very scary and disturbing. The movie mixes body horror with maddening suspense; it's a movie that offers visceral scares and attempts more philosophical questions. The cast is great; Rapace and Fassbender especially offer nuanced portrayals. The music is erie and grand and the visuals are out of this world.
My rating: Buy it on Blu-Ray
4. Savages (Oliver Stone)
with Blake Lively, Aaron Johnson, Taylor Kitsch, Salma Hayek, Benicio Del Toro and John Travolta
This pulpy crime noir has a nasty sense of humor and a thirst for violence. It's as zany as it is ludicrous but it packs a powerful punch. That is in no doubt due to the cast. Everyone seems committed to the part. The story has some nice twists and turns and the tension builds up and people start acting more recklessly. Savages has a sleek, colorful look to it. The editing is crisp and the soundtrack is outstanding. Blake Lively is really building up a solid resume (her performance in The Town was sadly overlooked) and her male leads are pretty good as well. But Hayek, Del Toro and Travolta are really great, playing with their screen personas and just having a blast. If this movie has one flaw, it's that the ending is kind of a letdown in a very unusual way. While it doesn't ruin the entire film, it doesn't really make the watcher beg for repeat viewings.
My rating: Redbox the DVD
5. People Like Us (Alex Kurtzman)
with Chris Pine, Elizabeth Banks, Olivia Wilde and Michelle Pfeiffer
This sensitive family drama is a very nice film, one that offers some laughs to go with the tears. The cast is exceptional; I've never been much of a Chris Pine fan (he can sometimes be too smug or slick) but he does some solid work here. Elizabeth Banks emerges at the best performer. Her character has so many layers and she really nails all the complexities. Pfeiffer does really well also and Wilde offers some decent support. While the script is mature and very human, it does rely on the tired trope of "person with secret delays telling it" and one wishes the filmmakers had found a more natural way for the story to progress. But that ends up being a minor complaint when the movie does so many things well. The cinematography is quite splendid to look at, the score hits all the right notes and I have to mention Banks' performance again. She's the real reason to watch this movie.
My rating: Redbox the DVD
Look out for Part 3! Feel free to leave your comments below!
with Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron, Logan Marshall-Green, Idris Elba and Guy Pearce
Theron fares much better in Prometheus, a sci-fi/horror/space thriller that asks a lot of big questions and asks the viewer to answer it on his or her own. The movie, set in the same universe as the massive Alien franchise, is very scary and disturbing. The movie mixes body horror with maddening suspense; it's a movie that offers visceral scares and attempts more philosophical questions. The cast is great; Rapace and Fassbender especially offer nuanced portrayals. The music is erie and grand and the visuals are out of this world.
My rating: Buy it on Blu-Ray
with Blake Lively, Aaron Johnson, Taylor Kitsch, Salma Hayek, Benicio Del Toro and John Travolta
This pulpy crime noir has a nasty sense of humor and a thirst for violence. It's as zany as it is ludicrous but it packs a powerful punch. That is in no doubt due to the cast. Everyone seems committed to the part. The story has some nice twists and turns and the tension builds up and people start acting more recklessly. Savages has a sleek, colorful look to it. The editing is crisp and the soundtrack is outstanding. Blake Lively is really building up a solid resume (her performance in The Town was sadly overlooked) and her male leads are pretty good as well. But Hayek, Del Toro and Travolta are really great, playing with their screen personas and just having a blast. If this movie has one flaw, it's that the ending is kind of a letdown in a very unusual way. While it doesn't ruin the entire film, it doesn't really make the watcher beg for repeat viewings.
My rating: Redbox the DVD
with Chris Pine, Elizabeth Banks, Olivia Wilde and Michelle Pfeiffer
This sensitive family drama is a very nice film, one that offers some laughs to go with the tears. The cast is exceptional; I've never been much of a Chris Pine fan (he can sometimes be too smug or slick) but he does some solid work here. Elizabeth Banks emerges at the best performer. Her character has so many layers and she really nails all the complexities. Pfeiffer does really well also and Wilde offers some decent support. While the script is mature and very human, it does rely on the tired trope of "person with secret delays telling it" and one wishes the filmmakers had found a more natural way for the story to progress. But that ends up being a minor complaint when the movie does so many things well. The cinematography is quite splendid to look at, the score hits all the right notes and I have to mention Banks' performance again. She's the real reason to watch this movie.
My rating: Redbox the DVD
Look out for Part 3! Feel free to leave your comments below!
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