Past Review--Catching Up

Movie Review—John Carter

Directed by: Andrew Stanton

Starring: Taylor Kitsch, Lynn Collins, Samantha Morton, and Willem Dafoe

Good Movie, Glad to Have Seen It (4  out of 5)

This month’s movie review belongs to the film John Carter

 An action film for adults and teens

John Carter, portrayed by Taylor Kitsch, is from Virginia. He is also a Civil War veteran who somehow miraculously finds himself transported from a gold mine in Virginia to Mars. Here, he finds himself surrounded by 12-foot green barbarians, the Tharks that he can leap over in a single bound and knock out with a single punch. Yet he gives himself up to one of their leaders, Tars Tarkas, played by Willem Dafoe, who finds this strange being’s powers useful. John Carter soon plans his escape and a princess from another part of the planet, Dejah Thoris, represented by Lynn Collins, lands in his arms, in need of immediate saving and in need of a savior. These two communities are frequently at odds and have little use for each other. The Tharks do not fly and have some of their own situations, as Tars Tarkas and his daughter Sola, performed by Samantha Morton, are at odds. Dejah and her people are from Helium, one of the last free cities on Mars, and flying vehicles are their means of travel. That is just one of the many differences in addition to the political upheaval of these and other communities of the planet. John, Dejah, and Sola end up as a team in search for a means to save Helium and along the way discover a source for John’s unique abilities. Furthermore, there is another race who time-travels and shape-shifts that are manipulating all of these beings.

Action and adventure abound in this film through the direction of Andrew Stanton. The film is also shown in the 3-D venue. The computer graphics and alien design is well done as emotions and attitudes come through clearly. The one drawback is the storyline; it is choppy and unclear in some areas, especially the significance of this manipulative race. The love story evolves on cue as John Carter fights to return from one existence to another to be with the one he loves. This was an enjoyable film and the action moved throughout each era.

Past Movie Review--Catching UP

Movie Review—One for the Money

Directed by: Julie Anne Robinson

Starring: Katherine Heigl, Jason O'Mara and Daniel Sunjata

Should Have Waited for Cable (2 popcorn boxes out of 5)

This month’s movie review belongs to the film One for the Money

 An action-comedy film for adults and teens

This film is all about the burgs of Trenton, New Jersey, and Stephanie Plum, portrayed by Katherine Heigl, and her down on her luck situation that leads her to take a new job. A new job from her cousin Vinnie as a bounty hunter, a profession she has no clue about. Her first assignment is to catch Joe Morelli, played by Jason O’Mara. Joe is a cop on the run and Stephanie’s first flame from high school, who she seems to have a grudge with as well as a continuing physical interest. Being a police officer should give him a distinct advantage, but he seems to have a similar attraction and the two keep ending up in the same places looking for clues. Unfortunately, Stephanie keeps running into danger in addition to clues, so she is directed to an agent with skills to spare, Ranger, performed by Daniel Sunjata. Ranger is the man when it comes to apprehending the dangerous bail-jumpers and fortunately, for Stephanie he is only a phone call away and sometimes even closer. She also seeks the help of local street folk, Lula, represented by Sherri Shepherd, a prostitute with information and attitude to spare. However, in the search for clues Lula gets in the middle and gets hurt forging a bond of friendship. Through deadly exploits and a few accidental apprehensions, Stephanie is able to get her man and clear his name all in one swoop.

This film simply missed the mark on many levels, and it is unclear as to which bears the most responsibility. So many films are based on novels, and even if some areas are different, the basic interpretations need to be met. Throughout these novels, there is heat between Stephanie and Joe and Ranger, and in this film the temperature was tepid at best. Was it the direction or just poor chemistry, because all of these actors have been quite steamy in other roles? The casting of grandma Mazur, played by Debbie Reynolds, should have been an excellent choice, but the comedy of this character in addition to Lula’s character were drastically underplayed, almost forgotten in translation. They are some of the funniest parts of these novels and the mother just needed to be someone else, she is Stephanie’s conscience and morals and this actress, Debra Monk, was someone else. The casting, the direction and the chemistry was just wrong in this film. There are pros and cons to seeing films based on well-enjoyed novels. Many expect the film to deliver in being true to the book, but the fact is, I would have never gone to see this film if I had not so loved the books. It tends to be a conundrum and this time disappointment was delivered.