Avatar wins Golden Globes

“’Avatar’ asks us to see that everything is connected, all human beings to each other, and us to the Earth. And if you have to go four and a half light years to another, made-up planet to appreciate this miracle of the world that we have right here, well, you know what, that’s the wonder of cinema right there, that’s the magic.”
James Cameron

God, I love movies.

There are many reasons for this, but like many people, I have a complete connection with movies.

The best ones get me physically, mentally and spiritually. They fill me with adrenaline from fear or excitement, or they are sensual and erotic, or they are funny and cathartic, or … you get the picture. They challenge my mind or maybe they don’t, some let me put my mind in neutral and just escape. Some are puzzles and some are philosophical. But the best ones touch my soul. They fill me with awe and joy and sadness and compassion and energy and love and anger and rage and disgust … and I feel so much. Often more than what I feel in real life.

Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel talked and wrote about this often. The movie experience is unlike any other. You sit in a dark room, while an image is projected from behind you through the darkness to the screen. A large screen filled with wonder and sound that fills your head. You are immersed in the physical and psychological experience. It works for me.

In fact I crave this experience. I want it when I fork over my money and take the time to go to the theater I want it to be this type of experience. I gladly give myself over to the great directors and cinematographers so they can tell their stories to me, for me. I share that experience with them and with all the people in the theater and with all the people who see the movie all over the world.

The movie theater experience is special, almost religious and definitely magical for me.
I don’t want it interrupted by talking patrons, crying babies, cell phones, uncomfortable seats or temperatures, bad lighting, food odors, unwelcome bathroom runs and stupidity. I respect the movie makers, the actors and the experience. It is like a contract I have with them. And if they and I are lucky, I will take that experience with me forever.

This is something you cannot fully experience at home in front of your TV, even now with these awesome screens and sound systems in the living room. It just isn’t the same. But it is getting closer. Still, I will always choose the movie theater experience for the biggest and the best movies, the ones designed to take full advantage of this experience. Most are action moves, but not all. Some are sweeping romances or period pieces. Some are simply visually stunning achievements that have to be seen to be believed.

I didn’t know too much about the movie Avatar until a month or so before it came out. I saw the big TV commercial preview during a football game and I was hooked. I would definitely be giving this movie priority when it opened on a big screen near me. Then, add in the 3D experience. Would that be good or bad? What more could I learn about this before it opened?

Well, let’s start with James Cameron, one of the best directors of all time. Most of his movies are on my Best of Lists in a number of categories.; starting with Terminator, Aliens, The Abyss, Terminator 2, True Lies, and Titanic. He always takes the effects and the movie-making techniques to new levels. So I read how much work he put in to make sure that Avatar would make those same leaps, especially with the use of 3D.

As I read more about the story, the actors and as reviews began appearing, I knew I wanted to see this movie on a great screen in 3D.

But, as with most movies I see, I didn’t want to have this experience alone. I would ask my family if they would like to attend. I knew that it might not be Sharyn’s cup of tea, but she would give it a try. And I knew she realized how much this meant to me; the possibility of having a magical move experience. [By the way, I also feel this way at plays, concerts and other performances. I want to connect with the performers and let them become real within me, even for a brief moment.]

Of course, there is always the possibility that the hope and hype won’t hold true and the entire experience is a big letdown. This can happen because of the move, the audience or just my frame of mind at the time. Sometimes you aren’t ready for a movie and need to see it again to appreciate it, and conversely, sometime the second time tells you that the first time wasn’t as good as you remembered. Oh well, you pays your ticket and takes yer chances.

Harkin’s IMAX 3D, Christmas eve, chilly night. Rush there after work and picking up the family. Get tickets, doors to open in 20 minutes, almost 45 minutes before the show. Family goes to eat. I know I have to get in line to get in the theater early enough to get good seats. Line is long already. Stand outside for 15 minutes waiting for the doors to open. Young woman in front says she saw the move a few days ago and loved it. Had to see it again in 3D. Doors open, Walk up the steps into the theater as they hand me the big goofy 3D specs. Middle of the theater already full. There! The other side, near the top. I find four seats and spread my arms, stretch my legs to let passersby know that I have these saved for my family. We would have a good perch to experience the film. Not diminished in the front row or way on the side.

20th Century Fox logo looks good in 3D, so there is hope. Sound is awesome. And it begins.
For the next two hours and 40 minutes I was transfixed, in fact, I caught myself mouth wide open, jaw dropped low in gob smacked awe several times. I even had watery eyes a few times because of the beauty and pure genius I was seeing up on screen. I fidgeted with the 3D specs a few times, and the effect took a little getting used to, but that was a minor nuisance.

The bottom line: With Avatar, I have never seen a better, more beautiful, amazing and awe inspiring piece of moviemaking.

Avatar was a great movie on many levels. The visual effects and inspired use of 3D technology made it greater. I can go on and on about specific scenes and characters, and probably will at a later date. But, I loved the story’s characters and politics, didn’t think the dialogue was as clunky as some had reported, and thought the special effects were the best ever. In short, I believed.

I believed, and that is what I want most when I go to the movies. I was rooting for the good guys and angry at the bad guys, scared of the wildlife and thrilled at the plant life, the scenic vistas were realistic, hell, even the Na’vi were sexy beautiful. It was all stunning really.

I will be seeing this again. Alone (except for the other paying customers), I’m sure. But I will find the time very soon to see it again (at a different theater with different 3D technology this time, just to see the differences.)

Avatar is solidly in my Top 10 Films of All-Time right now, another viewing will let me digest it more fully and see where it should end up. Not sure if it can surpass the Lord of the Rings trilogy or Moulin Rouge, but if I could book a spaceship ride to Pandora right now I would.

Year in Review Pt. IV

Here is my Top 10 list of movies I saw (or remember seeing), either in theaters or on DVD, in 2008.

1. Slumdog Millionaire
   This gritty film by Trainspotting director Danny Boyle takes place in the gritty reality of a Mumbai slum and in the flashy studio of a popular television show. The story centers on two brothers who take very divergent paths. It is a love story, but comes from some dark places. I loved everything about this movie. But it is only above The Dark Knight by a hair, and I could easily flip their spots.
   
2. The Dark Knight
   Heath Ledger deserves the Oscar for Best Actor or Supporting Actor and not as a sympathy vote. He was unbelievable in this role -- chilling, funny, quirky, evil.
   
3. Iron Man
   A smart, but accessible "comic book" movie, with a great performance by Robert Downey, Jr. Even my wife loved it, which says a lot.
   
4. WALL-E
   The first have of this animated gem is far superior to the second half, but it is still a very special film. Heck, it even makes a cockroach lovable.
   
5. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
   A wonderful fable, with great makeup/special effects and beautiful scenery from New Orleans.
6. Hellboy II: The Golden Army
   The first pic was average, but Hellboy II rises far above because director Guillermo del Toro takes more chances and uses more and better special effects to create an amazing series of trolls, monsters and gods.
   
7. Bolt
   I got a kick out of this movie. It had me laughing more than any other movie I saw this year. The script was great and filled with inside-Hollywood bits.
   
8. Redbelt
   This David Mamet film should be seen for one reason -- Chiwetel Ejiofor.
   
9. Religulous
   Bill Maher takes on organized religions in this very funny, thought provoking film.
   
10. Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist
    Some New York teens have a wild night on the town.
    

Honorable mention: August Rush, Baby Mama, Charlie Wilson's War, Cloverfield, The Happening, The Invasion, Talk To Me.

And the worst ... Wanted, The Incredible Hulk.

Of course, there were many others that I wanted to see, including Tropic Thunder, Vicky Christina Barcelona, Body of Lies, Gran Torino, Milk, Quantum of Solace, Frost/Nixon, Australia, and more.

.

Wall-E 24/7

A great job by Frank Rich at the NY Times bringing the message and heart of WALL-E together with the current presidential campaign:

"Americans should see it to appreciate just how much things are out of joint on an Independence Day when a cartoon robot evokes America’s patriotic ideals with more conviction than either of the men who would be president."

Where had Peter Gabriel been?

OK. We saw WALL-E tonight and I really enjoyed it. It was spectacularly animated, the story was very good, there was sadness, humor, love and I have to place it high on this list. And we all agreed that the ending credits were as interesting as the movie. I would actually pay to see a movie based on the ending credit animations. And the amazing Peter Gabriel did this fantastic song over the end credits.

A difficult list to make.

While we're on the Movie list subject, Kos ranks his favorite Pixar movies here.

I plan on seeing WALL-E later this week, and it is getting great reviews from all areas.

Here is my Pixar list (and they are all great movies):

1. The Incredibles (2004)
2. Toy Story (1995)
3. Toy Story 2 (1999)
4. Finding Nemo (2003)
5. Ratatouille (2007)
6. A Bug's Life (1998)
7. Monsters Inc (2001)
8. Cars (2006)

What's yours?

If you talk to your plants, you better mean it!

We saw The Happening on Saturday night. This is the eighth M. Night Shyamalan's directed movie, and since I've never seen his first two movies I will say that this ranks number five out of the six I have seen. I'm a fan of his movies, and I admit that some of his recent efforts have been disappointing, but that is because expectations are so high. The Happening is not getting good reviews, but I didn't think it was a horrible movie. However, it did have some quirks that left me wondering if they were intentional or if his movie-making ability has slipped that much? I did read that M. Night said he was trying to make a great "B" movie, and if this film had been done by anyone else viewers may seen it in that light.
The Happening was creepy. From the very start the mood is set with an erie score, and the opening scenes in Central Park and vicinity make you cringe. But the problem was casting and acting, or miscasting and bad acting. Anyway, this will be received much better on DVD and it would be worth the rental.
As for other Shyamalan movies, here is how I rank them:

1. Unbreakable (2000): One of the best comic book mythology movies ever made, and Bruce Willis is great.
2. The Sixth Sense (1999): An almost-perfect movie. I just liked Unbreakable more.
3. Signs (2002): Are we alone? That's the scientific and spiritual question.
4. Lady in the Water (2006): More mythology and bad creatures, but a lot of sweetness and light.
5. The Happening (2008): How many creative ways can you think of to kill yourself?
6. The Village (2004): Still not sure about this one.

They Shoot Horses, Don't They?

Dennis Hartley over at Hullaballoo gives a nice retrospective on the career of the late, great director-producer-actor Sydney Pollack , as he says, "one of the last of the old school Hollywood filmmakers."

My favorite Sydney Pollack movies from this list are (in order):

• Jeremiah Johnson
• Out of Africa
• Three Days of the Condor
• They Shoot Horses, Don't They?
• The Electric Horseman
• Tootsie

It the integrity of the movie trailer in danger?

For all movie lovers, this is a hilarious take on the film industry and the age-old question, "What if the movie doesn't live up to the trailer?"


From the Onion.com.

God-awful!

Great article from the UK by Movie Critic Joe Queenan who tries to pick the worst movies of all time. So many to choose from. But he defines the standards and narrows the list to the movie that destroyed a studio and many Hollywood careers ... Heaven's Gate.

Why do all the big ugly monsters hate New York City?

I saw Cloverfield on Friday night. I had been following news about this movie since the mysterious ad campaign began last fall. So I had scanned a few reviews and checked out the Tomato Rating to see if it would be worth my time.
I have to say that I left the theater very impressed, with my pulse still racing, and a big headache. The turbulent handheld camera work was jolting at times (thus the spinning of my brain) and frustrating, but it was crucial to the nature and point-of-view of the film and it helped to ratchet up the tension. As the camera bounced and moved back-and-forth you weren't always sure what you were seeing.
Cloverfield is basically the best Godzilla movie I've ever seen, but instead of focusing on the monster or the hero (geeky scientist or steady soldier) it tells the story from the perspective of some of the tiny people running around the city trying to keep from getting stepped on by Godzilla.
As for the Cloverfield monster, it was creepy and terrifying ... and damn near indestructible. Its ability to take a punch (or a tank round for that matter) was a bit problematic, and there were some other plot holes, too. But the fast pacing didn't give me much time to think about them. Overall, the movie was creative and exciting. And short at less than 90 minutes.
I don't do thumbs up or down, stars are overused, and ripe or rotten tomatoes are already taken. Any ideas on what I should use as my unique movie rating icon?
for now I'll give it four out of five ripe thumbs.

See also: The Host, another creative monster flick that came out last year from South Korea.

"Chewy" to his friends.

One of my favorite "new" actors is Chiwetel Ejiofor, pronounced "chew-it-tell edge-oh-for", or "Chewy" to his friends. Everyone in the family likes him because he is in some of our favorite films from recent years (more on those later), and he has good looks and a lot of acting range, always in a supporting role. In today's NY Times, I read that he is receiving glowing reviews ("London’s newest stage luminary") for his performance in the title role in "Othello" in London, alongside Ewan McGregor as Iago. Here's a quote:

"His intensely human Othello is a major achievement. It ranks among the handful of truly great Shakespearean performances I’ve seen. ... Mr. Ejiofor takes us to a realm we too rarely visit at the theater: the innermost recesses of the human heart ... there is not a single hollow or grandiose note in Mr. Ejiofor’s performance. Handsome and charismatic, he strides the stage with an easy majesty and his voice has a lustrous, mellow beauty. But his Othello is human scale, quick with a warm laugh at his own expense, and of a tenderness that rends the heart."

Check out some of Chiwetel's best performances in these films:
Serenity, Inside Man, Children of Men, Love Actually, Kinky Boots, American Gangster, Amistad, Talk to Me, Melinda and Melinda, and Four Brothers.

Best Films of 2007

Movie lists and reviews will be regular topics on this site. I don't see nearly as many movies in the theater as I did before getting married and becoming a stepfather, but we still make time to watch DVDs together at home. I'll get things started with my ...

Top 10 Movies that I saw in 2007.

1. No Country for Old Men -- featuring the most frightening bad guy since Hannibal Lecter.
2. Juno -- filled with funny, snappy dialogue and great characters.
3. Michael Clayton -- George Clooney is getting better all the time.
4. Sicko -- After seeing this, try to keep telling yourself that America has the best healthcare system in the world.
5. Ratatouille -- great animation and a cute, well-made story.
6. Babel -- multiple characters and stories intersect in surprising ways.
7. The Queen -- another spot-on performance by Helen Mirren.
8. Pan's Labyrinth -- creepy-weird story of a young girl moving between two worlds.
9. The Bourne Ultimatum -- Not as good as the first two, but still sets a standard for action movies.
10. Into the Wild -- Sean Penn tells the true story of a troubled young man's journey to Alaska.

Honorable mention: Breach, Waitress, Amazing Grace, The Host, Shortbus, Hot Fuzz, Stardust, Sweeney Todd, and Mr. Brooks.

I recommend Rotten Tomatoes to everyone as the best movie review resource on the Web.

What films are on your list?