Tuesday, November 27, 2012

The Twilight Saga - Breaking Dawn Part II (2012)

Rated: PG-13 - Runtime: 116 min
tesg's Rating: Two and one half stars (out of four)

I watched the first Twilight movie (review quote: "had all the production values of Highlander: The Series") and none of the sequels.  Until this one.  Might as well see how it all ends.

So basically the leads got married and had a kid.  There's some misunderstanding about the kid's origins which leads to a threat of war, which leads to a lot of brooding around the house, which leads to a war that doesn't actually happen, but we get to watch anyway because the movie would be too short otherwise.  Right?  Yes, that about sums it up.

Really beautiful opening and closing title sequences though.  That's the whole reason to go.

Monday, November 26, 2012

Life of Pi (2012)

Rated: PG - Runtime: 125 min
tesg's Rating: Two and one half stars (out of four)

This was my first experience with Dolby's new 'ATMOS' sound.  Instead of 5.1 or 7.1 channels, Atmos could have up to 128 discreet audio tracks with up to 64 unique speaker feeds.

The most obvious think you'll notice is there's speakers hanging from the ceiling.  A couple dozen in two rows in this room.  The idea is to envelope you with a more natural sound.  Initially, the sound of rain coming from directly overhead was a bit freaky.

The movie is beautifully shot and is pretty freaking great for a "stuck out in the middle of the ocean" plot.  A solid three stars right up to the ending.  But the end was infuriating.  Like "I can't believe I just wasted two hours of my life for THAT" infuriating.

Friday, November 23, 2012

Lincoln (2012)

Rated: PG-13 - Runtime: 249 min
tesg's Rating: Three stars (out of four)

The movie isn't a historical piece about Lincoln's life, but about Lincoln working to get 13th Amendment through the House of Representatives.  It should have ended that way too, but they tacked on something to acknowledge his assassination at the end.  It didn't need to be there.

I'd love to think of Lincoln as he's portrayed in this film.  A great storyteller and a great speaker who knew what to say to get the job done.  I've long believed that's the key to a great President.

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Skyfall (2012)

Rated: PG13 - Runtime: 143 min
tesg's Rating: Two and one half stars (out of four)

I really haven't found any of Daniel Craig's Bond movies all that interesting.  I guess I'm not into the broody pouting Bond.  This one is the best of his three, but aside from the awesome action sequence at the beginning, was largely boring and forgettable.

Not even throwing in the gimmicky references to classic Bond movies served to entertain me.  Craig just isn't that Bond.

Saturday, November 3, 2012

Argo (2012)

Rated: R - Runtime: 120 min
tesg's Rating: Three stars (out of four)

Based on a true story, six hostages attempt to escape Iran by posing as a Canadian film crew.  It's really good, even though I fell asleep in the middle of it.  But I felt loads better after the gunshot woke me up.

Friday, November 2, 2012

Wreck-It Ralph (2012)

Rated: PG - Runtime: 101 min
tesg's Rating: Two and one half stars (out of four)

I realize this is a kids movie, okay?  I get that.

But considering it's marketing largely revolves around the idea of an 8-bit video game from the eighties, a game that would have been played by people now in their forties, did it have to be SUCH a kids movie?  A LITTLE kids movie???

The movie actually takes place largely in a game called "Sugar Rush", a girly version of Mario Kart.  It may set the record for product placement of food items in a single film.  And Jane Lynch's character ends up married to Jack McBrayer's character at the end.  Imagine the irony.

But the little kids in the audience (and there were a LOT of them) really seemed to enjoy it.

Flight (2012)

Rated: R - Runtime: 138 min
tesg's Rating: Two and one half stars (out of four)

This is a movie about alcoholism and substance abuse.  Sure there's a cool plane crash, but after that it's all Denzel Washington and his addict girlfriend moping and drinking and moping and drinking and moping and drinking and moping and drinking.  We don't even get to experience the crash investigation...just lots of moping and drinking.

Watch the crash, then go home.  You'll have a far higher opinion of the movie that way.