I finally got myself to the theater to see the latest release from Disney Pixar. Brave premiered last week and came in #1 at the box office over the weekend with $66 million. Not bad. Yet critics haven't loved this film and so I wasn't sure if I should bother.
But I'm glad I did.
Everyone and their mother can agree on one thing: this film is STUNNING. Merida's 3D animated hair alone is worth a viewing. It has the liveliness of Ariel's 2D hair in The Little Mermaid. And the scenery is lovely, especially if you're as big a fan of the British Isles as I am.
Another agreement between critics and myself: the Brave cast is phenomenal. Kelly MacDonald (Boardwalk Empire) gives Merida plenty of teenage stubbornness-- perhaps reminiscent of her own life growing up-- while Billy Connolly (Lemony Snicket's..., Boondock Saints) continues to be amazing as her brawns-over-brain yet loving father King Fergus. And of course let's not forget Emma Thompson as Queen Elinor-- she's just wonderful.
That being said, Brave is different from other Pixar films. Had it come from Dreamworks, Nickelodeon, or even Disney Animation (like Tangled), critics and audiences alike would've considered the film competition for Pixar, excited to see how this legendary studio could best such a simple story. Had Brave been an earlier released from Pixar I think it would've received much more praise. Unfortunately, after the rousing successes of the Toy Story franchise, Wall-E, Up, The Incredibles, Finding Nemo, A Bug's Life, and Monster's Inc, Brave is simpler with less of the complex humor that entertains children yet reaches adults. Oddly enough, the short cartoon before the film-- La Luna-- carries more of the Pixar charm, intelligence, and imagination than the whole of Brave.
To sum it up, Brave is a physical film. What do I mean? Slapstick comedy is the main source of humor which makes complete sense when you realize the story deals with Scottish clans people. These are physical people whose lives consist of work, battle, and celebrations. It makes sense to have physical humor. Plus having three troublesome triplet boys requires a lot of slapstick. There's nothing wrong with this especially when it's cleverly choreographed-- I laughed out loud through most of the film and thought the boys a great source of entertainment. Yet, when compared to the other films, I can see where critics would find the humor base.
In terms of story, Brave surprised me. I thought it was a film about Merida going on an adventure to change her fate, when in reality it's a film about mother/daughter bonds. This struck a cord with me as I myself used to fight with my mom, thinking she was mean when in actuality she always loved me and wanted what was best for me. We needed to understand each other and that's the exact conflict between Merida and Elinor. I think Moms and Daughters will appreciate Brave's themes, but they ring true for any parental relationship. While this story could've been done live action by any other studio, it's still interesting, sweet, and yes... I might have teared up a little at the end. And your kids will love it-- boys and girls alike. There's plenty of action and silliness to keep their attention.
Overall, I say this is worth a family trip to the theater once, and maybe even spend extra on the 3D if you like that sort of thing. For myself, I can't wait for the blu-ray as Brave will look absolutely out-of-this-world amazing on that technology.
Showing posts with label film review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label film review. Show all posts
28 June 2012
16 June 2012
Snow White and the Huntsman
**This review contains SPOILERS. Read at your own risk.**
Who doesn't love a good fairytale? Better yet, who doesn't love a good fairytale that's been turned on its head and made into a 90 minute film with three dimensional characters, interesting subplots, and gorgeous visuals?
That's exactly what you get for the first half of Snow White and the Huntsman. We're given Snow White's backstory and the tale of how her father came to marry Ravena, Charlize Theron's bitterly twisted and youth-obsessed Evil Queen. We feel the odd incestual vibe of a brother and sister eternally connected through pain and dark magic and feel the Brother's creepiness even more when he slides his hand up Snow White's dress. We learn the Huntsman is a young widower trying to drown his sorrows in alcohol and is careless about his life. And what do we learn about Snow White? She's a nice girl trapped in a tower.
Sadly, Snow White is the least dimensional or interesting character of the entire film. While I want to blame this entirely on the one-note acting wonder that is Kristen Stewart, I'm inclined to place a bit of fault on the writing as well, especially since the second half of the movie felt like an altogether different film. It's as if the original screenwriter paused the story right when the Huntsman and Snow run into the Dwarves on their way to the Duke's castle and another writer who was told by "Hollywood" to make the ending BIGGER took over.
After that, everything happens so quickly that it's rushed and careless. Suddenly, the dwarf Gus-- who represents Dopey from the Disney version-- is killed, they run into Snow's childhood boy toy, Ravena shows up and gives her a poisoned apple, Snow's alive again, there's a battle at the castle, and Snow kills the Queen. The end. There's no motivation as to why the Queen chooses an apple other than its reminiscent of a scene at the beginning with young Snow & her "prince." How would the Queen have known about that? Is she psychic? Nothing in the film suggests that she is, but of course, no one bothered to detail her powers either.
This might be nit-picky but it made no sense how Snow was able to out run the guards, slide into a sewer drain, fall a hundred or so feet into rocky waters, manage to swim to the shore through rough waves, and ride bareback on a wild horse directly after escaping a cell she lived in for the last ten or twelve years until a minute before that all happened. Physically, she wouldn't have the endurance. Plus, she gets ONE thirty second combat lesson from the Huntsman and suddenly she's a warrior princess leading men into battle?! Don't even get me started on her motivational speech to the men-- it's worth watching just for that train wreck of a monologue. Oh, and to see Snow holding a tree branch as she's inaugurated to Queen... seriously.
The biggest frustration is the irresolution of one MAJOR plot: the potential romance between Snow White and the Huntsman. I mean, it's the frickin' title of the movie!!!
However, the film isn't all bad. Like I said, the first half is great: engaging, visual, exciting, emotional-- I was hooked. Which is why the second half was such a disappointment. I love the dwarves (with a cast of amazing actors like Bob Hoskins, Ian McShane, Eddie Marsan, and Toby Jones who can blame me?) and would've loved more time with them. SW&TH is worth watching for Charlize Theron and Sam Spruell (the Evil Queen and her brother Finn) alone. It wouldn't surprise me if producers pushed for more focus on Ravena during production since she's the most interesting and sexiest female in the film.
And ladies, can I get "hell yeah!" for the casting of Chris Hemsworth and Sam Claflin?! Hell yeah!
I like the adaptation of this classic fairytale, to give it a "what would that look like outside of a cartoon" vision. The interpretation was great, the execution was subpar. Overall, if you love epic fantasies you'll probably enjoy Snow White and the Huntsman, but if not, save your pennies for June 22nd's Brave, pop some popcorn at home, and rent the film when its out on DVD.
Who doesn't love a good fairytale? Better yet, who doesn't love a good fairytale that's been turned on its head and made into a 90 minute film with three dimensional characters, interesting subplots, and gorgeous visuals?
That's exactly what you get for the first half of Snow White and the Huntsman. We're given Snow White's backstory and the tale of how her father came to marry Ravena, Charlize Theron's bitterly twisted and youth-obsessed Evil Queen. We feel the odd incestual vibe of a brother and sister eternally connected through pain and dark magic and feel the Brother's creepiness even more when he slides his hand up Snow White's dress. We learn the Huntsman is a young widower trying to drown his sorrows in alcohol and is careless about his life. And what do we learn about Snow White? She's a nice girl trapped in a tower.
Sadly, Snow White is the least dimensional or interesting character of the entire film. While I want to blame this entirely on the one-note acting wonder that is Kristen Stewart, I'm inclined to place a bit of fault on the writing as well, especially since the second half of the movie felt like an altogether different film. It's as if the original screenwriter paused the story right when the Huntsman and Snow run into the Dwarves on their way to the Duke's castle and another writer who was told by "Hollywood" to make the ending BIGGER took over.
After that, everything happens so quickly that it's rushed and careless. Suddenly, the dwarf Gus-- who represents Dopey from the Disney version-- is killed, they run into Snow's childhood boy toy, Ravena shows up and gives her a poisoned apple, Snow's alive again, there's a battle at the castle, and Snow kills the Queen. The end. There's no motivation as to why the Queen chooses an apple other than its reminiscent of a scene at the beginning with young Snow & her "prince." How would the Queen have known about that? Is she psychic? Nothing in the film suggests that she is, but of course, no one bothered to detail her powers either.
This might be nit-picky but it made no sense how Snow was able to out run the guards, slide into a sewer drain, fall a hundred or so feet into rocky waters, manage to swim to the shore through rough waves, and ride bareback on a wild horse directly after escaping a cell she lived in for the last ten or twelve years until a minute before that all happened. Physically, she wouldn't have the endurance. Plus, she gets ONE thirty second combat lesson from the Huntsman and suddenly she's a warrior princess leading men into battle?! Don't even get me started on her motivational speech to the men-- it's worth watching just for that train wreck of a monologue. Oh, and to see Snow holding a tree branch as she's inaugurated to Queen... seriously.
The biggest frustration is the irresolution of one MAJOR plot: the potential romance between Snow White and the Huntsman. I mean, it's the frickin' title of the movie!!!
However, the film isn't all bad. Like I said, the first half is great: engaging, visual, exciting, emotional-- I was hooked. Which is why the second half was such a disappointment. I love the dwarves (with a cast of amazing actors like Bob Hoskins, Ian McShane, Eddie Marsan, and Toby Jones who can blame me?) and would've loved more time with them. SW&TH is worth watching for Charlize Theron and Sam Spruell (the Evil Queen and her brother Finn) alone. It wouldn't surprise me if producers pushed for more focus on Ravena during production since she's the most interesting and sexiest female in the film.
And ladies, can I get "hell yeah!" for the casting of Chris Hemsworth and Sam Claflin?! Hell yeah!
I like the adaptation of this classic fairytale, to give it a "what would that look like outside of a cartoon" vision. The interpretation was great, the execution was subpar. Overall, if you love epic fantasies you'll probably enjoy Snow White and the Huntsman, but if not, save your pennies for June 22nd's Brave, pop some popcorn at home, and rent the film when its out on DVD.
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