Next week you will have the normal film reviews. But for now I will share an essay I did last year on the popular culture of guitars. (more…)
Predators
A group of eight individual people from a variety of different backgrounds end up on this planet, they all seem to have either woken up on the planet or fallen from a plane. A marine named Royce (Adrien Brody) falls from a plane to land on the planet. Royce slowly accompanies Edwin (Topher Grace), Isabelle (Alice Braga), Stans (Walton Goggins) and a selection of others. The group try to find a way off the planet but run into group of cyborg monsters known only as the predators. Royce proposes that they destroy them,which also puts the group in more danger that they are already in.
The film is good on terms of its hack n slash content. It shows gore at times when you are not expecting it to happen, and even in those slow-motion moments. It also takes pride in producing over the top blood, guts, and violence.
This content goes into a fair bit more detail since the original, the excessive amount blood, the refined costumes of the predators (especially the headgear). And the scenery. The scenery and landscapes are what make this film great. Like Avatar, it features some wonderful environments and landscapes of horizons, trees, forests etc.
Where the film loses its touch is with the story. It’s far from what the original was like, it takes too long for us to see any notion of the predators at all. And when we finally get interaction of the predators it left with out any action until a while later. There are jokes tossed around which are funny but distract from the main intention which is to find the predators, or at least avoid their violent interaction.
The film is not at all worth a watch if you want a fully action packed story. Although there are good things like the gore, the landscape etc There is the story element missing, and that can piss off many viewers. This obvious why it didn’t too do well at the box office, even though it came in within the top 10.
2/5 Rubber Chickens
Comedy. It makes us laugh. It makes us sigh. It brings us tears. It makes us have accidents down below. And more importantly, it’s one of those genres that we cannot forget about. From the times of Shakespeare to today, Comedy still reigns with; comedians such as Russel Brand, and Robbie Williams; TV programs like South Park, and Dlibert; and many other comedic acts. So it’s obvious that comedy will be a big part of life no matter what.
Get Him to The Greek tells us the story of Aldous Snow (Russell Brand) who is a big time rock star, loved many, and anyone would do anything to get on stage with him. However, his recent song of African Child has plummeted down the charts, and he has become the most controversial rock star; making headlines in newspapers with the paparazzi, and other famous rock stars like Pink. Having an obsession with drugs and alcohol, and dealing with the issues of his current relationship. A guy who works for a music industry, as a manager named Alan Green (Jonah Hill), pitches to the group that it get them a lot of money to have Aldous back for another concert. Alan is given 72 hours to get Aldous to the Greek Theatre for the one night only concert.
The sense of humour and comedy can be seen as a give or take thing. The sense of vulgarity, and raw jokes are shown for that comedic aspect, and that its one of those completely obvious things that can be recognized by many Russel Bran fans. This can be seen throughout the lyrics of his songs too. It is good to see such comedy, which in some aspects, is aimed at the adult audience. Then again, some things which are obviously supposed to be comedic, aren’t funny or laughable.
The theme of relationships is strong. It has educational value, even if showing average issues that couples face at some point in their lives. These range everything from arguments, to break ups, to confusion, and even the uncomfortable sexual side of things. Eeven though these situations should seem serious, this film is a comedy, and Russel Brand tries his best to make it look funny and awkward, or even embarrassing.
Yet at some points the dialogue gets messy, that being especially with the random appearances of famous British Celebrities like Tom Felton, and Pink. This is also considered some of the awkward and waste of time moments. Somewhat funny, it does seem that can be taken out and make the film run smoother. However this film is still funny in other sections and is worth a watch all in all.
3/5 Rubber Chickens
The Four Shreks
In the first Shrek (Mike Myers) loves his swamp. It’s his home after all. He does everything there from playing, to eating swamp creatures, to just lazing around. However, when the fairytale creatures are dumped at his swamp by Lord Farquad, Shrek takes a talking Donkey and sets off for the Castle to get his swamp back, encountering that lovely Princess Fiona, and a Purple Dragon along the way.
We then continue on into the second film which leads us to Shrek and Fiona coming back from their honeymoon with an invitation to see Fiona’s parents at a wedding celebration. Only to have fight at the dinner table with the parents which leads Fiona to lock herself in her room and speak to a fairy god mother; who is actually quite evil and fossilized for a fairy god mother. Prince Charming comes to try and rescue Fiona, and we go through that whole rescue thing. These things put Shrek in jeopardy, again!
The series, which is losing it’s faith, sense of self, and is becoming more boring and lame than ever comes to a third. It calls itself Shrek the Third to most likely sum up all the lameness, and because our Script Monkeys couldn’t come up with a better title for Dreamworks. At least it’s not as lame as the final installment in the whole series. Basically, we have Shrek and Fiona offered to become the next king and queen of far, far away. And Fiona is Pregnant with Ogre babies. Prince Charming however wants to become king, and captures Fiona’s friends, then captures Fiona after Rapunzel betrays her. This, yet again, send Shrek into another bloody, disjointed and lame jeopardy.
Finally we come to what seems to be the last ever Shrek film. We hope it is the end to such a poor series, with really bad comedic appeal. The title forever after obviously rings that it may be the final installment after all. And basically it’s just Shrek signing a contract with Rumpelstiltskin which is a very bad contract and sends the whole family in jeopardy. So Shrek ventures to retrieve it and the be with one he loves most.
The films are generally catered too the family audience. There are the funny things the kids will enjoy, the whole family will enjoy, and even little inside jokes that the older audience would pick up on that the younger audience would ignore.
And the film has a slight emotional aspect to it which is interesting. But that aspect does not really fit in well with the comedy, and is often easily known as the “yawning sequence”. The in jokes aren’t really necessary considering it was originally written for a family/younger audience, and they tend to distract from the plot.
Yes the characterization does do its best to amp up the films comedic aspect with random fairytale characters doing their iconic motifs from their fairytale. Like Pinocchio growing a really long nose when he lies.
That aside, what really ruins the first film is the blatant rip-offs of well known songs in the karaoke scene at the end to send a happily ever after which is probably the most lamest thing out of the whole four. And even though it may entertain the younger audience, and even though the storyline and jokes are just poor, the animation is very influential, and can carry some emotional integrity. But do yourself a favour, and don’t waste your life watching such rubbish.
2.5/5 Rubber Chickens
Toy Story 3
Andy used to love playing with his toys, creating up epic adventures that feature Buzz Lightyear, Woody, Jessie, and Bullseye saving the world and the others from destruction b Mr. Potato Head, Hamm, and Slinky. But now Andy no longer plays with his toys, he is 17 and is going to College on Friday. The toys are worried but Woody keeps strong in belief that Andy would want them to be moved to the attic. After Andy’s mum mistakenly dumps the toys on the kerb, they all get worried that Andy thinks that they are junk and decide to head in the box to Sunnyside Day Care in hopes that they will be loved and played with again. The Sunnyside Daycare center is last place Woody wants them to be, and he tries to convince the others that they belong with Andy.
The previous two films aside, this has a stronger emotional impact. That shown from how we connect with Andy, and how we connect with the toys. And that is all centered mainly around the theme of family. As it’s emotional for Andy’s family when he goes off to College, and it’s emotional for the family of Toys being away from Andy and all. The toys at the daycare center and the kids there can also show us that theme of family, and how they play and work together. This can also be shown during many of the action type scenes, and comedic scenes.
The animation is that genius one of a kind Pixar style. It’s realistic in a way that the younger audience can relate well enough to. And it basically details the success and how far Pixar have come from the first Toy Story. It’s smooth and crisp and when viewed in 3D it does have that extra element that makes you feel more closely involved. Plus the introduction of many different characters using many different shapes, and sizes, and types show us that Pixar can animate just about everything.
The film is truely a masterpiece development in its animation, action and emotional areas. Also due to the fact that it has been over 11yrs this film would be a good choice for the best film of the year. And you could say the same for that short of Day and Night before the film.
5/5 Rubber Chickens
Last week I did a brief on Animation. I mentioned that I would have a total of 7 films reviewed. I have only two this week because I was unable to get a hold of Toy Story 3, or the 4 Shrek films. I should have them in the mail by Thursday (bloody post). For now I have the first two Toy Story films. (more…)
