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TOMB RAIDER
Right off the bat, I know there are a lot of bad reviews for this film
out there. But the movie really isn't THAT bad. Granted, it's got some
plot holes here and there, but Lara Croft's bra size seems to go with her
moods. But really, what did people out there expect? This is a
movie based on a video game character who achieved fame for partly that same
reason!
Lara Croft ( and not Laura Croft ) as many of you very well know,
has become famous over the years as a badass butt kicking character
with a couple of big guns. And frankly, that is exactly what this movie
conveyed to me. The film opens with Lara during one of her training sessions with
her pet robot, whom she proceeds to completely trash and the story then
goes into secrets her father ( played by real life father Jon Voight)
kept from her that plunge her into a plot by the Illuminati to rule the
world through the controlling of time itself.
The character is masterfully played by Angelina Jolie who makes you
believe she IS Lara. The script was what you would expect from this type
of action film and the location visuals were quite nice, considering all
the locations this was filmed in. If there are any complaints, it's that
the filmmaker seems to have a little trouble with emphasis, and the fact
that Lara saves the world and that it was a really big deal doesn't really
come across as being a major plot point.
One has to remember that this is an action film, so don't go looking for
the next Oscar Award winning movie here. But all in all, it was a "fun"
movie that didn't make my butt go numb while watching it.
ATLANTIS
This is part of Disney's experimenting with new possibilities which they
started with "The Emperor's New Groove". It's a more adventure oriented
movie, no musical numbers, no talking animals ( Well, unless you
consider the character named Mole to be one ), just a bunch of people looking for
the lost city of Atlantis.
The story features Milo (played by Michael J. Fox), trying to get
funding for an excursion to discover diaries that would lead to finding
Atlantis. After failing miserably, he is approached by an old rich
eccentric friend of his grandfathers. He offers the fund the trip and
Milo's journey to the lost city begins.
Atlantis is truly a step in the right direction for those who are tired of
seeing the same old rehashed story coming out of Disney studios, but
enjoy a good animated movie. The animation here is a little reminiscent of
TITAN A.E. in style and in story. Complete with a mix of serious and silly
characters and themes, but without getting into the completely infantile
fantastical like singing rabbits and dancing frogs ( not that there's
anything WRONG with that ). The movie offers awe inspiring backdrops
and eye popping 2D animation ( if you ask me, I'm getting fed up with all these
overrated 3D animated movies ).
A.I.: Artificial Intelligence
First off, there is definitely a take on Pinocchio here! Not the way you
think there is, either. A.I. is a movie that has been in the works in
Stanley Kubrick's mind for many years. He had storyboards out, character
bios, all kinds of stuff, but never got around to it. He confided in
Steven Spielburg a lot about his ideas and when he passed away,
Spielburg made the movie for him as a tribute to the legend.
You'll read a lot of reviews that tear this movie apart from the
perspective of a film student. Pointing out where Spielburg fails to
reproduce Kubrick and brings too much of his brand of warmness to
certain scenes. But I say, forget Kubrick's style over Spielburg's
style and just watch the damn movie with a fresh, open mind.
Right from the start, it starts playing with your emotions ( Especially if
you have kids and can relate ). Following the implanting of the basic idea
of the movie, the fact that this scientist has built a human child robot
that has the ability to love, we're brought to a couple who's son is
cryogenically frozen due to an incurable disease, and the father comes
home with a test model of the robot called "David." Things are awkward
at first, as he is very "robotic" as one would expect, but here's the catch,
the mother must activate the robot's "love" and once that's done, his love
will last forever. He will never stop loving her, and should she decide to
return him, he will be destroyed cause he cannot be reprogrammed.
This is the real start of the emotional roller coaster. You'll go
through warm fuzzy family feelings, to having your heart torn out, put on
a slab and smashed into a million pieces!
If anything, this movie is worth going to see for the amazing visual
effects that were accomplished and Haley Joel Osment's performance as
the boy robot. Jude Law is also very entertaining as Gigolo Joe, a
"love-machine" robot that David picks up as a sort of friend through his
adventure.
Without giving it away, I'll just say that the movie has a "Kubrick-y"
happy ending rather than a Spielburg-y happy ending.
DEFINITELY worth the see!
Stephane Morrell
Laurier CIM Group
MCSE,CCA
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