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Reviews
Life of Pi (2012)
Fantastic Film
We were able to see this at an early screening but per that paper, not to say anything until after other screenings. So, now it's screened elsewhere I can pitch in my thoughts.
Life of Pi is a film that absolutely surprised me. I had not read the book, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but I knew that a film from Ang Lee would be exceptionally well done, and I wasn't wrong. This is an incredibly strong work, on par with "Crouching Tiger" .. Not through action or events but in the way the cinematography, camera movements and beautiful settings help draw a viewer in and really sell the story.
The Life of Pi is so well crafted that it moves effortlessly between a story of youth to a story of adulthood. If you have not read the book, the ending is the kind of twist that while completely understandable redefines your entire film experience in a way I hadn't been a part of since "The Sixth Sense". You immediately think back over the entirety of the film and see it in a drastically different way and it works.
No matter the perspective you chose, this is an amazingly well acted, well directed film that goes into my list of some of the best films I've seen this year.
I watched in 3D, but this is a film full of so many bright colors and scenes that I will seek out a chance to see it in 2D just for the beauty of the scenes. Strongly recommended.
King Kong (2005)
Far too long, with too many meaningless moments
This is a film that if it were presented at say, 50 minutes shorter, would be a GREAT film. But as it is, it is overly long with too many moments that just seem to be 'throw away' elements to just drag out the overall story. Special effects are good, though some are poor (Brontosaurus stampede is laughably bad). Jack Black is miscast and at times is.. Jack Black. I love the guy, but he's wrong for the role. Save your bladder the long sit, wait for the DVD.
So what about this film stands out? Without a doubt the performances of certain actors - as well as CGI characters, borders on incredible. Naomi Watts has a very solid performance that reminds you of the 1933 film, and her performance is award worthy. The soundtrack and score are impressive, and the presentation of 1930s New York City is an incredible effect, unlike anything I've seen in almost any major film. That moment alone will be worth it for many, along with the incredible CGI of Kong.
But even for it's greatness, days later, I'm still thinking of the cringe worthy moments, and the long drag in the beginning. There are plenty of opportunities for you to get up and use the restroom without missing anything of any significance, and that's a sign that this film is "too loose" and could use some tightening up. I loved the LOTR series, and the EE DVDs, but I feel as though Kong was released in the "Extended Edition" first, without a tight, well done theatrical version presented beforehand.
Chicken Little (2005)
Terrible
This movie is just.. bad. I went into this with pretty high expectations.
But let's see if we can cover the bases:
(1) Tons of lip-synching karaoke of pop tunes. (2) A gay pig, who resorts to the worst of stereotypes to hammer home his role ("Please, don't take away my Barbara Streisand collection!") (3) A girl who is very talented athletically who is "fixed" by the aliens to be a dress wearing "girly girl" because "she's better that way" in the end. (4) A long middle plot that has nothing to do with any of the rest of the film except to put some characters down for their talents (wasn't this the exact point addressed, in reverse, in "The Incredibles"??)
Yeah. This film is not only bad, it's -really- bad. Disney needs to realize it's not about the animation that makes Pixar films good, it's the fact that the storyline is intelligent and involving.. something this film didn't have.