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Archive for the ‘Movie reviews’ Category

A Defining Film

With all the buzz certain films get, it’s easy to pass on the ever-present hype and say, hey, I’ll just check it out on my big screen HD when it’s out on Blue Ray.  Avatar, however, is not one of these falsely hyped overblown Christmas blockbusters.  It’s a must see – I would even say, NEED to see.  It will forever change the way we as film lovers look at the film experience, all while being completely and utterly captivating in both scope and story.

Offered in innovative 3D – the film’s director James Cameron has used pioneering 3D cameras in all shots of the film – Avatar follows the story of an ex-Marine who travels to the distant planet of Pandora to assist the other humans there in the mining of a rare and very precious metal set to make them million.  In a desultory effort to be diplomatic, they have allowed scientists on the planet, not only to gain knowledge about their surroundings, but also to learn the ways of the native species, called the Na’vi.  The scientists have developed the ability to put the brain of a human into an alien body, which they call Avatars.  Soon, the greed and overwhelming entitlement of the human race acts as a catalyst in the attempted take-over of the planet, and hostilities between these two species comes to a head.  With a love story between Na’vi and human, action, and a not so secret political and environmental directorial subtext, it’s a modern day ‘Dances with Wolves’, but oh so much cooler.Blog - Avatar - 12.20.09

You will literally be taken to another world for three hours as the enigmatic, sweeping shots are so beautiful and so flawlessly executed that you can’t help the escape – you are taken to Pandora and don’t want to come back.  Each shot takes its time, but is perfectly paced, so you finally feel like not just character development, but also setting development, becomes wonderfully apparent.  With sweeping landscapes and an entirely new language created for the film, Cameron spared no expense – lucky us.  The 3D element only adds to the escape, as well, as you actually do feel like you are flying, running, and in fact, among the indigenous group.  With color, music, and sensory overload at every turn, it just keeps getting better and better with each passing scene – what film have you seen recently can boast that?  With Cameron working on this project for the past 15 years, though, it’s hardly surprising.

Get ready to experience where movies are headed for in the future, as Avatar indeed shows us what we were previously missing in the theater experience.  With big screen HD televisions becoming more and more ubiquitous in the modern household, this finally gives us a reason to go to the theater.  This film is epic and, like Cameron’s film Titanic, will define a period in filmmaking, I have no doubt whatsoever.  I cannot rave enough, and in fact, would go see it again in a heartbeat (probably will).  Go… just go – you will certainly not regret this slide into another world.

Peace and love Xo

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How Would We Handle the District?

I don’t do a lot of movie posts usually, but there have just been some great films out there this summer that have really made me think and feel, which therefore gives me the uncontrollable need to share them with all of you.  My latest obsession in movies is District 9.  While I went into the movie thinking it was going to be a normal alien movie, full of sci-fi moments and lots of violence, it turned out to be more of a social commentary on how we treat people we consider outsiders in our world – whether that be aliens from outer space, or the people in other lands that we think aren’t as good as the proverbial “us”.  It’s in the documentary style, which can be Blog - District 9 movie - 8.20.09overly trendy, but here is simply effective.  With actors from South Africa that are completely unknown in the United States, it gives a realistic edge that can’t be beat. 

 

The film starts off with the crash landing of a space ship directly over Johannesburg, South Africa, and the consequent habitation of a new alien species on our own planet Earth.  How they are treated and their resulting behavior is such a blaring comparison to the complete lack of funding and attention we as people give the slum towns of the world, and the almost animal-like way we treat people in these situations.  Because these are aliens, they are treated in a way we would never think to treat humans in the civilized world – but do we treat people this way?  That is the question.  I mean, look at the refugees of the world who have to build tent cities and live in squalor – the world watches it happen, lets it, with little widespread international outcry and action.  But what happens when “those people” become us, and the tables are turned?  What happens when we are treated less than human?  This movie explores this idea and more, and is fascinating in it’s special effects (thank you Mr. Producer, Peter Jackson) and almost perfect execution of the story.  I have a feeling that this will be an award season favorite, and I would have to agree with their decision.  It’s a mesmerizing ride, one that will thrill, captivate, and make you think about about society’s norms – enjoy!

 

Peace and love Xo

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A Love Story, Finally, About… Well, Love

A great date night this summer is to check out the newest indie hit ‘500 Days of Summer’.  This quirky and smart comedy, which states at the beginning that it’s not a love story, may actually be the truest love story I’ve seen in awhile.  Tom, played by Joseph Gordon- Levitt, is a greeting card writer who is immediately enthralled with the new office secretary, Summer, played by one of my favorite actresses, Zooey Deschanel.  The film, which cuts and pastes memories and pieces of their relationship together (in no particular order, mind you), spans a full 500 days – from the glorious beginning toBlog - 500 Days movie - 8.12.09 the ultimate demise.  Now it starts off with the break-up, so in truth, it isn’t a love story, it’s a love reflection.  What makes this film so special, however, is its clever weaving of feeling and emotion; the pinnacle of happiness and the lowest lows, all with acting so flawless you become utterly captivated.  This milestone – a.k.a., the break-up – in Tom’s life, leads him to transform things in his own existence in a way he couldn’t have imagined before, leading to a new perspective and ultimate hope.  It makes you feel like you have seen this somewhere before – maybe in our own whimsical and sometimes bleak love lives, perhaps.  Relationships start off being this magical thing, and love is what fills your days from morning to night, but unless each person is on the same page, the truth behind love can get a bit foggy.  The film captures this reality so well – you actually sympathize with the dumpee and the dumper, which usually isn’t the case in these types of tales.

This is definitely a great film to see at a lazy Sunday matinee.  It makes you laugh and feel, which as far as movies go, is pretty rare in my case.  It seems like every summer movie, in particular, is as far away from the intrinsic truths of our daily lives as possible, where the order of the day is visiting an alien planet or seeing machines blow up verses showing us our own lives and loves reflected back.  In the midst of all the action, this one stands out as a light and capricious work of art.

Peace and love Xo

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