Pirates of the Caribbean: At Strangers Tide

Having another Pirate film is alwasy a good thing and having our favourite pirate back is even a better thing. Thats right Captain Jack Sparrow is back, and he had said good by to his old frineds, and brought some new ones along for a ride.

In entertainment value, pirates 4 did a fine job, in a funny value it was funny. However in a character driven movie, and story value, then it drops into the red. Pirates 4 felt forced in the story, trying to put to much information in and introducing to many new characters, and leaving out the back story or information on particular characters. This movie was clearly made for the money and not the audience enjoyment. If they make 5 and 6, lets hope they work out the kinks and not leave johhny Depp stuck in the mud.

Source Code

Okay I got my ticket, bought my Maltesers, drink, and sat down in my small unconfutable seat. Thankfully the movie only went for a solid 86mins. The story to me could have opened up, and not just three sets. For a film that was trying to have a realistic feel with a sci-fi kinda feel to it, I felt the train design didn’t work. Unless they are actual trains in the U.S. While I will give the film credit in keeping you in the dark and as the character works out the situation you as an audience member are brought along as well. Watching the movie and looking back at it, I did find the directors approach interesting, when telling his story, as he places key parts of the story through out the film, giving away the ending, but with sutle hints, short clips and story break down. But I felt the pause in time at the end, didn’t ad much suspense on what was going to happen next. It wasn’t until the final scene with the text message that I felt the story kicked in, on what is going to happen next. The acting was fine, and it was entertaining, but I felt it should of opened up a lot more, instead of confined.

SYdney Travelling Film Festival

Sydney travelling Film Festival
Forum 6 Wagga
Films reviewed
• Winter’s Bone
• Gasland
• Heartbreaker
• Another Year
• Wagner & Me

Opening night of the festival. We begin with “Winter’s Bone”, a film I only knew about from its trailer, a film that I figured I wasn’t going to enjoy. And it was true I didn’t enjoy sitting in the second row of the cinema having my neck so far back it hurt or having to watch the movie as if I was watching a game of tennis. Then it started, and there was no giant action scenes no love story nor was it a comedy everyone must see. It was a film about a girl keeping her family warm and feed. But to do this, she had to find her father. This film was set in the cold depths of America, where it’s bitter, dark and that the locals rule over the law and have their own justice system for doing wrong. The main character of the peace is Ree, played by Jennifer Lawrence, who plays this character wonderfully, giving her a strength and beauty at the same time, you seem unable to take your eyes of her during the film, it’s only when her uncle Teardrop played by John Hawkes enters the scene. At the beginning of the film, we get a sense of Teardrop being a mean and dark guy, on the drugs and harsh to woman. But its John Hawkes ability as an actor to bring this character around, and by the end of the film, we respect and care for the man.
The sound the lightning of the picture brings another layer into the film, which makes you react and feel the cold environment of this world; I enjoyed how the director Debra Ganik brought in the humour of this world, while all audience will see this and have different reactions to it. One particular scene would be in regards to Ree teaching her 8yr old brother and 5yr old sister how to shoot a gun, we may look at this as odd and even funny, but in the deep south of America, this is a natural occurrence. I enjoyed how this world is brought into life, and the challenges Ree faces to get out of her town, but knowing at the same time, she be there for a long, long time.

When I watch a documentary I feel it should leave me with a punch in the face, it should leave me with a sense that I need to get of my ass and go out and fix the problem. Gasland was more a flick to the ear then a punch to the gut. I felt bad for the people who have been living with their problem, becoming sick and unable to drink or use their water. Josh Fox, the writer and director of this documentary, is a first time film maker, and this is clear with the footage he has, being in and out of focus, unable to keep the camera standy. But besides his doggy film making footage, he was smart with bringing humour to the story. While he repeats things and keeps it simple, this town has fringe drilling, this town has bad water, this town has fringe drilling this town has bad water..........
This went for pretty much the film, mixed in with facts, interviews. Josh Fox didn’t keep me involved visually, but rather involved with his dialog and from time to time fire shooting out of taps.
With cutting the film up with his family home and environment with the crap that mankind is doing to itself it did give me a sense of important and that I need to do something to stop it, but outside not signing the dotted line to drill on my land, I didn’t know what I should be doing to help.

Going from a very cold and compelling story, to a realistic story, right into a fictional world of beauty, humour and romance. Even though there are subtitles it didn’t bother me at all. Because this film was entertaining to watch and I could easily fall back and watch it. You can clearly notice that this film can and could be turned into another American rom-com, which I’m pretty sure this is, just with Italian subtitles. The acting was enjoyable to watch, the lighting gave it the film a spark of beauty, while the music seemed to add to the humour more to the romance. While the main character Alex Lippi (Romain Duris) felt pushed past the real and into the unreal, which I thought added to the film. Leaving his surrounding characters to be more real adding to the balance of the film. All in all this film was very enjoyable. It had no depth or heart pounding will they won’t they moment. While the sound, music acting and environment blended well with each other.

First things first, this film went for just over 2 hours. Why? This may have been a very sad, but sweet yet depressing film, and maybe because it wasn’t really made for my generation I felt closed off by it. I couldn’t relate to any of the characters, all being married or an old lonely drunk, or a not so old depressed antic woman who needs to be loved or a son that is played just dull. Leaving the theatre it made me sad and a little depressed, I understand that’s what films are there for to make you feel something, even though this film didn’t excite me, it got down to my gut and has me thinking, that it’s not only young people who have problems. The acting was excellent, while the director Mike Leigh gives the film a steady pace, with every shot planned, so the cut gets every expression every side look every option of every character in the room. The look added to the movie in a massive way. With each and every session showing through the movie. You don’t leave the film in a happy go lucky way nor does it finish in the same way. But it has you thinking about the characters and where they all going to end up. Which was the smart move by the director, because the different generations that will see this will have a different option towards the characters and where they go from the dinner table onwards.

First of I must say, I fell asleep during this film. Just because it visually wasn’t stunning, I worked out that I could close my eyes and just listen to it. I could fob aught the CD and just listened to it. There was talking and music. Which is fine, whatever entertains you. But when you are now in a visual world, you really need to visual excite your audience. I would like to go on about this, but I hardly can remember it, all I know was it wasn’t a documentary that need 88mins, easily just been an ABC 30mintue special. Maybe If I knew more on the subject and enjoyed Wagner as much as Stephen Fry does, I could of sat there and loved watching the film.

The Mechanic

For our first film after the Sydney Film Festival we where told to see 'The Reef' but due to limited release, we had the chance to see 'The Mechanic'. An acton packed film. I must say the film was desent, but I call it a one of film. I seen it once and I wont watch it again. In regards to the acting, it was very minable. Jason statham brings nothing special to the film, he hardly speaks and uses his jaw to act with, having a touch upper lift, He is the john Wayne of Action films, same character just different costume. Ben Foster, tries to add humour to the film and give it some light. The camera work works well, sharp quick movements, going well with the action, while eveen in the slower momments, it is suttle andd doesnt seem ot get in the way. The film is entertaining, but I would of been happy to rent it out and watch it at home.

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest

Well the second week of movies kicked off. My thoughts on the matter are as follows.
I had no idea about this film, it was a conclusion to two other movies prior to this one (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and The Girl who played with fire) and I missed the first two parts, so there was a whole back story that I was not clued in on. Not much a fan of subtitle movies. Too much reading I guess. It was a long movie, which in the end was a good thing, because after a while I stopped being pissed off with having to read while at the theatre and I just sat back and took in the visuals of the movie, in which case, I thought that it was a movie of close-ups, everything being very subtle in the acting, making you work for what’s going on the characters mind. I even took notice of the light, which I thought was very natural, with hints of the whole movie covered in a realistic and fantasy world. It wasn’t an American film, which was clear, otherwise, every main character, would of been this sexy model, I felt that the characters, where real and not plastic. The story, not being very action packed, like the trailer suggests, but it didn’t seem to dull of, many stories going at the same time, keeps in the audience engaged.
I’ll be interested to see what the American film makers do to these three films.

The Adjustment Bureau

All I would like to do, is write a review towards “The Adjustment Bureau’ with easy and make my words flow. But I’m not great with the questions why, what, how; why was it enjoyable? What movie techniques where used; how did they do it and how did it make you feel.
I have moments when I watch a movie, these moments can go from start to finish, or they can be from a scene or even a line or even just a particular look the actor does when a particular event occurred. ‘The Adjustment Bureau’ made me feel, neutral. While I would rent the movie out or even buy it on DVD, it didn’t leave me with my heart pounding wanting more. The ending was simple and net, two people meet they shouldn’t have met again, but chance brings them together once again. High powered beings, try to break them up. Leaving only a few out comes they stay together, she dies or he dies. While you always knew they would be together in the end, I was hoping for more than a simple ending. The visuals wonderful, the lines dug there self into my head and soul. I would like to say what I thought it was missing, but if I knew that I would be making movies. I still think it is a wonderful film, with a mix of drama, heat and humour. I give 'The Adjustment Bureau' 4 out of 5 stars. But it’s just missing something to get it over the line for that fifth star.

aessement #3

Well, 250 - 500 words on MPI104 and what I have learnt so far. I may not be able to make 250words. But let’s give it ago.

One thing I didn’t think I would thought I would have this year, well a few things I didn’t think I would have this year; A blog, flickr account, delicious account and a website. All things I learnt how to do in MPI104.

I will be clear, if it wasn’t from the help of people in my class (Tim) I would have been shazbotted. I still have no clue to the detailed stuff, that everyone else knows, but I hope after I learn how to do this or even pay attention I should be fine, just got to play around with it a whole lot more. But that’s what holidays are for. Hope to continue on with this course and I hope MPI101 is the correct course code.

Blog, I have changed a little bit, new back ground and changed the fonts and text around, adds a bit more of me into it.

Flickr, I have how seemed to be going with a movie poster theme, and comic art theme, so that’s pretty cool I think.

Delicious, I have been put various book marks, sport, movies, uni, and cartoons. Everything and anything.

The theme of all my stuff seems to be, travel, movies and comic books/art. I like how that has shaped, even with out me noticing or doing it on prepose.

So here are my links to my accounts.

delicious
csusap
flickr
blogger