Rylan's Talk

3:10 to Yuma

Some 50 years ago, audiences were introduced to the duo of impoverished rancher Dan Evans (then played by Van Heflin) and the number one outlaw of the land, Ben Wade (Glenn Ford). Even for those who have seen the original, I am glad to say that on the whole, this version ranks far superior than the original version. The earlier version, being made half century ago, will definitely need a decent update for modern audiences, and that aspect did not disappoint, with more in-depth character development, and exciting shootouts. However, the ending of the original packed far more a punch that this one, given that the ending in the 2007 version is likely to be more in line with stories these days, the cynical, non-saccharine sweet ending. The structure and development remained about the same, and even some lines from the classic were reused in this remake, in particular in the first half of the movie. Character wise, you can't get any more better than having Russell Crowe and Christian Bale flesh out their characters and giving both a sense of angst, who on a better day, could probably have been good friends. You follow them as the duo gain newfound respect for each other, and the longer running time provided ample chances for the audience to find reason to connect and understand the characters at a deeper level. 3:10 to Yuma is a perfect balance for those looking for mean gunfights, and powerful drama, and this remake delivers it all where it should matter, adopting the best bits in the original, and plugging the gaps when those portions falter.

Changeling

J. Michael Straczynski of Babylon 5 fame wrote Changeling, which is based on the true story of one woman's fight against corruption, incompetence, accusations and intimidation, all the while in searching for the truth of what happened to her beloved 9 year old son, who vanished without a trace, only for the LAPD to try and convince her that the boy they found, was indeed her son. But that's just the gist of the first hour with plenty more in store, keeping you gripped to the screen as the story develops. Clint Eastwood movies over the last few years have been nothing less than excellent, and Changeling adds to this stellar repertoire of his. There's a certain quiet confidence in the way his movies get presented, like a veteran hand masterminding all elements to fall in place perfectly. But of course the star of the show here is Angelina Jolie. She provides a very solid performance that hinged on everyone in the audience being able to connect with her plight and exasperation, of sympathizing with her, and rooting for her as she faces obstacle after obstacle as she goes about doing sensible things that the authorities frown upon. There are a number of threads running that converge nicely together, and while the movie clocks in over 140 minutes, you'll never feel time plod, as you get engaged into the story, feel for the characters, and at the same time, enjoy the excellent recreation of the 1920s. There's a little bit of everything that managed to cram itself here, from mystery to courtroom drama, showcasing a variety of story settings, dealing with themes such as justice and integrity. John Malkovich has a supporting role here as Reverend Gustav Briegleb, who has a congregation behind him as he tells it as it is in his weekly radio shows, and provides much needed intervention to assist Angelina Jolie's Christine Collins along the way.

Angels & Demons

There may be something to be said for a getting a second chance. Ron Howard's movie based on Dan Brown's first Robert Langdon offering, Angels & Demons, is a tighter better-wrought experience than the first movie, The Da Vinci Code, which is actually the second Robert Langdon novel. The plot itself is not that dissimilar to The Da Vinci Code. This movie is a nice blend of religious art history with the intensity of a political thriller that you might find in a Robert Ludlum novel. And being able to peruse the Vatican archives, arguably the greatest collection of ancient books dating from the early Middle Ages to the present time, is a scholar's dream. Simultaneously, the intensity never lets up for those who like the sensibility of an action thriller. The outstanding performance of this movie has to be Ewan McGregor as Camerlengo Patrick McKenna. In what seems a small insignificant role at first gains high import as the story unfolds. High marks for Tom Hanks, reprising his role as Robert Langdon, who seems to better understand his character than in the first movie. And Ayelet Zurer as Vittorio Vetra holds her own in a stellar cast. Angels & Demons is an incredible movie with an incredible ending that makes the entire movie.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

This movie accomplished so much through such simplicity. Everything was top notch from the elegant directing to the subtly wonderful performances down to the magical score. The movie demands you to feel not only for the death we witness, but for the incredible life we discover. It prays on the obvious morality issues we all deal with but also dangles the idea in front of us that everyone goes through the same joys and grievances, just not in the same way. This is a momentous tale that deserves nothing less than the title of brilliance. The direction in the movie is almost flawless. Hopefully, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button will garner David Fincher the recognition he deserves. He winds this clock so well and with such grace that the movie has this undeniable flow that is enjoyable from start to finish. At nearly 3 hours, there is not a minute wasted. Every shot is jaw dropping and while some will find issue with the time, it is used wisely. The acting is also a thing of wonder. This is by far Brad Pitt's best performance. He is so believable and realistic throughout. His nuances are spot on and despite the heavy use of make-up and CGI used to portray his character, it is Brad Pitt who makes Benjamin Button that much more curious. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is an extremely graceful depiction of life, love and the things we lose. This movie is probably not for everyone though. It's not your average drama that spoon feeds it's audience their emotions. It is something of awe and astonishment, an absolute gem.

The Ultimate Gift

Great film,A feel good movie everyone should see this!

Coraline

Henry Selick's latest movie, and his first in 8 years is a true treat. It was excellent in every way, except for the emotional punch, which wasn't even really necessary. The 3-D is very good and without the 3-D, though the movie would lack the depth, it still would stand out. It is the visuals that make this movie so great, but the characters, plot and music are all top notch too, which add up to a fantastic movie. Coraline is just as good looking as any of Henry Selick past works and the animation has gotten better and crisper. Every little set, and every character is bizarrely designed to fit into this surreal movie. The main critique for this movie seems to be that it has no emotion in it. Though emotions aren't a prominent aspect of Coraline, there is emotion. Coraline as a character has enough emotion to be the lead to a movie like this. This wasn't meant to be a tear jerker animation. It was clearly made to bring Neil Gaiman's strange plot to life with dazzling animation. Doing the music is Bruno Coulais and his score is beautiful, strange and most importantly, fitting. This was an excellent animated movie and is one that can actually be qualified as a family movie, in that all members of the family can and probably will enjoy this.

Valkyrie

The pace at which Bryan Singer puts this movie through that's what, at breakneck speed rarely slowing down to take a breather. And that's quite the winning formula actually, keeping things tight and moving with clockwork military precision. Providence played a huge role in the movie, with changing of key locations and the ease with which certain key elements of the plan get arranged and completed. Improvisation without hesitation in execution, especially without thorough, objective and robust planning devoid of emotion, becomes an Achilles heel, with wanting to strike fast an overbearing condition in the plan proving to add complexity for everyone. The cast is a mouth watering one. The cast is nothing but spectacular on paper, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, Terence Stamp, Eddie Izzard, Jamie Parker who played excellently the loyal Lieutenant under Tom Cruise's Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg and with what I deem as cameos by Kenneth Branagh, as well as the grossly underused Carice van Houten who was also in another WWII-set movie in Paul Verhoeven's Black Book. Save for the initial one-sided battle at the African front in the first few minutes of the movie, the rest became a battle of the minds and resolve of its participants in a fierce power struggle.

Gone With the Wind

This movie shows the best of the American cinema. Gone with the Wind represents a monumental leap, as well as a departure, for the movies, as they were done prior to this movie. The vision of David O. Selznick, the power behind bringing Margaret Mitchell's massive account about the South, before and after the Civil War, pays handsomely with the movie that Victor Fleming directed. This movie brought together the best people in Hollywood. The end result is the stunning movie that for about four hours keep us interested in the story unfolding in the screen. Of course, credit must be due to the director, Victor Fleming and his vision, as well as the adaptation by Sydney Howard, who gave the right tone to the movie. The gorgeous cinematography created by Ernest Haller gives us a vision of the gentle South before the war, and the Phoenix raising from the ashes of a burned Atlanta. The music of Max Steiner puts the right touch behind all that is seen in the movie. One can't conceive another Scarlett O'Hara played by no one, but Vivien Leigh. Her beauty, her sense of timing, her intelligent approach to this role, makes this a hallmark performance. The same thing applies to the Rhett Butler of Clark Gable. No one else comes to mind for playing him with the passion he projects throughout the movie. The other two principals, Olivia de Havilland and Leslie Howard, give performances that are amazing to watch. The rest of the cast is too numerous to make justice to all the actors one sees on the screen, but omitting the contribution of Hattie McDaniel to the movie would be sinful. This movie speaks about the not too distant past where all kinds of atrocities, such as the slavery, were the norm of the land. While those things are repugnant to acknowledge, in the movie, they are kept at a minimum. After all, this movie is based on a book by one of the daughters of that South, Margaret Mitchell, who is presenting the story as she saw it in her mind, no doubt told to her from relatives that lived in that period of a horrible page in the American history.

The Bank Job

Sporting complex consequences for a relatively straightforward plot, The Bank Job remains intriguing throughout as each set-up leads to ever more suspenseful twists for the likable group of ragtag antiheroes. Over-thorough character introductions cause a slower build in the early stages of the heist, but such complications likely arise from fewer liberties taken with the "based on a true story" events, and the result is a fascinating look at criminals, the corrupt, and those least guilty. The language of the movie is genuinely intriguing, as it captures wonderfully wry British slang. Cheeky sod, 12-inch mutton dagger, a bit of bother, usual skullduggery and things turning a-custard are but a few of the verbal jousts that occur between the main characters. Devoid of euphuisms, these apparently authentic words make the dialogue a particularly potent piece of the puzzle. They say truth is stranger than fiction and The Bank Job definitely falls into that category. Pimps, thieves, spies, and government officials all collide in a robbery gone right and then terribly wrong, lending the inquisitive to ponder over how much (or little) is fabricated in this thriller. The robbery itself is merely the setup to an intricate conclusion, even though the movie takes time to create plenty of suspense throughout the not-so-carefully planned heist. Though the people making demands continually change, our attention is always seated with Jason Statham's unusually intense performance.

Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back

Following Star Wars was never going to be easy but this is actually better. Empire retains the same characters and the same sense of fun that the first had. However what gets added to that is a much darker strand. The Empire is not beaten by the destruction of one ship, it's power is barely dented in fact. This sees some startling revelations but also sees significant blows to the rebellion. In fact the ending of this movie could not be more different from the end of Star Wars. Like the recent episode two this follows two strands, the more pedestrian scenes with Luke Skywalker and Yoda and the more action based scenes with Han Solo and company. The scenes with Yoda add depth to the movie and hint at the truth. Meanwhile the other half is a lot more action orientated and has comedy and good new characters such as Bobba Fett. The two work well together and come together well for a great finale. The addition of a dark strand to the movie makes it all the better as it can be enjoyed as a story and not just a fun sci-fi movie with good effects. The characters are better here than the first. The strong characters from the first are all still good here. However we also get a much more interesting version of Luke Skywalker as he continues his journey into becoming a full Jedi. Yoda is a good addition and Darth Vader becomes a lot more than just a good villain. Overall this is as good as Star Wars at it's heart, but the darker nature of the movie makes it much better. All the music, characters and things that make Star Wars are here and it's simply one of the best of the series to date.

Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back

Following Star Wars was never going to be easy but this is actually better. Empire retains the same characters and the same sense of fun that the first had. However what gets added to that is a much darker strand. The Empire is not beaten by the destruction of one ship, it's power is barely dented in fact. This sees some startling revelations but also sees significant blows to the rebellion. In fact the ending of this movie could not be more different from the end of Star Wars. Like the recent episode two this follows two strands, the more pedestrian scenes with Luke Skywalker and Yoda and the more action based scenes with Han Solo and company. The scenes with Yoda add depth to the movie and hint at the truth. Meanwhile the other half is a lot more action orientated and has comedy and good new characters such as Bobba Fett. The two work well together and come together well for a great finale. The addition of a dark strand to the movie makes it all the better as it can be enjoyed as a story and not just a fun sci-fi movie with good effects. The characters are better here than the first. The strong characters from the first are all still good here. However we also get a much more interesting version of Luke Skywalker as he continues his journey into becoming a full Jedi. Yoda is a good addition and Darth Vader becomes a lot more than just a good villain. Overall this is as good as Star Wars at it's heart, but the darker nature of the movie makes it much better. All the music, characters and things that make Star Wars are here and it's simply one of the best of the series to date.

August Rush

Freddie Highmore could be the current hot property as far as male child actors go. The story is told in two tracks, both of which will probably wring at your heart for the many missed chances and opportunities that would have made this a short movie. The first track which is August Rush centric, as mentioned, is Oliver Twist, plain simple and obvious. Freddie Highmore alone is charismatic enough to hook, line and sinker your attention as he goes about his heartwarming quest to locate his folks, while at the same time his vulnerability allows him to be exploited since he's quite condescending. The second part of the story I thought was the more touching part, with two lovers not being granted the opportunity to spend more than one night together, and must separate because of parental insistence that "it's for your own good", though probably the cynic in us could have said, it's the age of technology, and obviously Louis Connelly could have every chance to track her down, but just didn't. August Rush boasts and excellent soundtrack, some of which merged classical and rock ballads in an almost seemingly perfect fusion.

Whiteout

Predictable but good

Jennifer's Body

Pretty good,Not Horrible,Not super fantastic either.But fairly entertaining and watchable.Your Call my friends. =)

(500) Days of Summer

Great movie!! Original and fresh,Recommending this if you are looking for the non-traditional romantic comedy.

Elizabeth

This movie covers the early years of Elizabeth I's reign, from her harsh upbringing to the decision to call herself "The Virgin Queen". Conspiracies and unhappy romances are two unusual ingredients for a period drama and that is exactly why the movie succeeds. Good-looking technique and strong storytelling would, however, be useless if the title role wasn't played by an equally great actress, and Shekhar Kapur found the perfect Elizabeth I in Cate Blanchett. The performance she delivers is nothing short of astonishing. Doubtful, determined, passionate, naive, heartbroken, firm and charismatic, she is quite simply the best on-screen incarnation of Elizabeth I in the long history of biopics. The supporting cast such as Joseph Fiennes, Geoffrey Rush, Christopher Eccleston and Richard Attenborough is also excellent, as expected from British and Australian thespians, but it is Cate Blanchett who dominates the entire picture.

Catch Me If You Can

Based on a true story, although it doesn't rely on 'and it really happened' to be a good movie. The plot starts at the end and jumps back to see the whys and the hows of the tale. It is told with a slick energy that keeps the story moving and never really lingers on any scene longer than it has to. It is for this reason that the two hours goes by relatively quickly. The presentation is good. John Williams' score is not as memorable as his usual work but it is what the film needs it to be - unobtrusive and slick. Just like the opening credits, this movie is very much a chase movie with a nice sense of period. The only downside of this slickness is that it feels like eating a sweet - it is very nice while it lasts but it doesn't fill you up. The cast is good even if they aren't all used well. Leonardo DiCaprio is very good, he was engaging here and looked about the right age to play the part. Tom Hanks does good work in support. Because his character is quite drab it is easy to forget him. Christopher Walken is good in support and Martin Sheen adds another famous name to the end credits but it is very much a two hander with Tom Hanks and Leonardo DiCaprio more than able. Overall this movie is a slick, stylish chase movie which should be enjoyed as such and is slightly more enjoyable for being a true story.

Catch Me If You Can

Based on a true story, although it doesn't rely on 'and it really happened' to be a good movie. The plot starts at the end and jumps back to see the whys and the hows of the tale. It is told with a slick energy that keeps the story moving and never really lingers on any scene longer than it has to. It is for this reason that the two hours goes by relatively quickly. The presentation is good. John Williams' score is not as memorable as his usual work but it is what the film needs it to be - unobtrusive and slick. Just like the opening credits, this movie is very much a chase movie with a nice sense of period. The only downside of this slickness is that it feels like eating a sweet - it is very nice while it lasts but it doesn't fill you up. The cast is good even if they aren't all used well. Leonardo DiCaprio is very good, he was engaging here and looked about the right age to play the part. Tom Hanks does good work in support. Because his character is quite drab it is easy to forget him. Christopher Walken is good in support and Martin Sheen adds another famous name to the end credits but it is very much a two hander with Tom Hanks and Leonardo DiCaprio more than able. Overall this movie is a slick, stylish chase movie which should be enjoyed as such and is slightly more enjoyable for being a true story.

Sorority Row

Pretty good flick! For the horror fans there are some good and gruesome death scenes for ya!

Spectacular!

The thing with movies characterized by music and performing arts is that its essence depends largely on the relevance and the timing of its performances in relation to a particular issue in the story. Spectacular! may be underrated and under-appreciated but a deeper analysis of the movie may reveal quite a degree of sense and heart in it lying behind its seeming superficiality. The movie can be summarized through its four songs strategically performed in different parts of the story. For the first song, we are practically introduced to the band singer, Nikko Alexander. Conflicting perspective somehow made it quite a deal for Nikko Alexander. Nothing natural, however, can be hidden for long. Soon, his outlook was discovered and surprisingly appreciated by the choir members. In fact, he started teaching the choir members new dance steps for a change. The second song, we are drawn to the idea that Nikko Alexander finally and officially got hooked into the performing choir as he started introducing new Spectacular traditions. The third song, as in any other group endeavoring to soar, unpleasant things sometimes happen, test of character, difficult choices to be made, truth uncovered during the worst of circumstances, break ups. Good thing is that people are almost always drawn to where their heart is. Realizing that he taught the group something new to believe in and that it's heartless to just abandon and fail them after what they've been through, Nikko Alexander made the most risky decision in his lifetime. The last song is the end credits song. It's practically a good summary and I guess everything that happened in the story already speak for themselves.