After Earth is a movie than runs on a paper thin plot and with CGI animations that barely pass above average.
After Earth is a movie that takes place after the humans left the earth since it was deemed no longer fit for living. As the remaining of the human population venture into space, they find the planet suitable for existence and call it Nova Prime. The humans are not alone in the planet though. The humans find themselves against an alien species called the S'krell who wishes to conquer Nova Prime. The S'krell's secret weapons against the humans are beastly creatures called Ursas, blind and rabid creatures who hunt with the use of their sense of smell. They hunt by smelling their prey's fear and once they get hold of the scent, escape is almost inevitable. Enter the hero, General Cypher Raige (Will Smith) who was able to suppress his fear, a process called ghosting, which enabled him to save the world. His glory does not come free though since he loses his daughter to an Ursa after it attacked their home. A witness to his daughter's death is his son Kitai (Jaden Smith) whom his daughter chose to save and die for. Kitai, having witnessed her sister killed right before his very eyes is ridden with guilt and aims to be a Ranger like his father but fails to do so. Cypher is about to retire as a ranger and as he sets up for his last mission, his wife convinces him to take Kitai with him so they can bond like father and son. Aboard the ship, they encounter an asteroid shower which causes their ship to split into two and crash on the now evolved earth. With Cypher wounded, his son must now go to the other half of the wrecked ship to retrieve the emergency beacon. Along the way, Kitai faces danger in the unfamiliar world and to make matters worse, the Ursa they carried on board the ship is set loose and hunts down the remaining survivors.
This movie soared high but crashed and burned. Star Trek Into Darkness just came out less than a month ago and it definitely set the bar high for any upcoming sci-fi films to follow its lead. What After Earth lacked that Star Trek had was the grandeur of what a sci-fi film should look be. We expect to see futuristic gadgets, spacecrafts combined with an action pack adventure. After Earth was nothing more than just a boy running for his life in a jungle that was supposed to have evolved drastically but can be barely seen in the movie.
The story of After Earth was written by Will Smith after being inspired from a show he watched on tv about a father and son stuck on a mountain. Originally not a sci-fi, Smith thought it was a good idea to have the same concept in a movie set 1000 years into the future. Sadly this film might not even be remembered for the next five years, how much more a thousand.
The entire movie is cold. From the story to the characters. It does not have an emotional attachment to its audience the way Avatar (James Cameron) or Star Trek has. From the beginning till the end, all we see is Jaden running for his life and fighting off animals. The characterization of Kitai and Cypher is poorly executed as well since it's not given much importance. A grave mistake such as this will only make the audience apathetic and distant. The story of your life can be playing right in front of you but you will wonder if it really is your life on the screen.
Don't get me started on the acting. Jaden's acting would not exactly be something to be proud of. I don't know what his father might think but I'm certainly not convinced. Such a pity considering the name his father made in the business. I cannot help myself from wincing every once in a while whenever Jaden has a big act to deliver. Nepotism really has its price. Will was the one who personally chose Jaden to act along side him.
In terms of CGI animation, it was okay. More than satisfactory at most but not great. The newly evolved earth was promising but unexplored. It's actually fun thinking of what the earth will look like a thousand years from now and I'm sure that the writers of the script had fun thinking about it too.What I don't understand is by the time the movie is out, all I saw were bigger animals and moving plants. Lots of moments that you would actually forget that the story takes place on earth after a thousand years. A few effects were also a bit unrealistic. It was as if they were still under post-production.
Director M. Night Shyamalan is not doing well for his past few films. The Last Airbender was a complete failure and the only reason why I still watch his works are because of his previous films. The last film he made that was worth watching was probably the 2010 film 'Devil'. To be fair, After Earth can be considered as a good stepping stone. This was by far a bit...just a bit better than the others he made.
In conclusion, After Earth is a movie that fails to entertain. Cheap shocks, mediocre editing and poor characterizations is not really something to be proud of. To be clear, It wasn't a good movie but it wasn't all that bad. I've seen worst movies and After Earth can be the last on that list.
Rating: 1.5/5
Just say the magic word.
Whatever that word is and no matter how many times I say it, I just don't see the magic happen in this movie. It had an interesting premise, but it failed to deliver the final act into something magical and memorable.
The movie is about four magicians who call themselves "The Four Horsemen" who sets up a series of bank heist and give all the money they get to their audience. Not everything is as easy as it seems though since they now find themselves in a game of cat and mouse against the FBI. The Four Horsemen must now always stay one step ahead in order to complete their mission and avoid getting caught.
Although the movie did not satisfy until the very end, it was not all that bad. The movie's star-studded cast was one of the things worth praising. The different actors and actresses who made a name for themselves in Hollywood didn't fail to deliver with their acting despite having cardboard cutout characters to portray. They managed to bring life to the story of the movie and were definitely not overshadowed by the special effects which were also magical. The special effects used were extraordinary and above normal for the average tricks of your magicians. The editing were good as well and didn't disappoint. These things are actually given and expected especially from a movie with magic as its gimmick, so it was a job well done for them to have executed it nicely.
With regards to the plot of the movie, it actually showed great potential and could have been a great movie if not for its problematic ending. What makes a mystery thriller film like this one work is its buildup of clues throughout the film which encourages the audience to throw in their guesses for the big surprise. In addition to this, the surprise must not only make complete sense by the end but it should also bring conclusion to all doubts and questions by the audience. Sadly, the movie's final trick failed to mesmerize the audience. Technically speaking, the big surprise did make sense if you look back but it doesn't give justice to the story. Rather than feeling awe and wonder after this magic ride, you'll actually feel like you've been cheated. All those magic, action and story, wasted into something trivial and petty.
Now You See Me is a movie that I'm not exactly thrilled to see twice. Their famous line in the film is "The closer you look, the less you actually see." Forgive me for looking closer and trying to see depth and meaning in an otherwise shallow movie but even the farther I go, I still don't see much from it.
Rating: 3/5
Bicycle Thieves is one of the first classic films I saw and I was completely marveled by it. Reminiscing the film, it still gives me goosebumps and still manages to compel me.
The film has been considered as the greatest film of all time by Sight & Sound just four years after its' release. Though it was not able to maintain the top spot, it still managed to be one of the top ten in British Film Institute's list of films you should see by the age of 14. Sadly, I was way beyond 14 when I saw it, but it was still great nonetheless.
Bicycle Thieves or otherwise known as Ladri di biciclette was an Italian film by directed by Vittorio De Sica released on 1948. The story is very simple; it tells of a poor father in search for his stolen bicycle all over a post-World War II Rome. Without this bicycle, he would get fired from his job and would not be able to provide for his family.
"Seems lame", was my first reaction upon reading the premise of the film but if there is one thing I learned over the past few years, never be too judge mental based on a movie's premise and trailer.
What I definitely love about the film is how it presented the life after the World War II. More importantly, how the people lived after the war. How their decisions affected not only their lives but also other people as well. Throughout the film you will see how there are different people just trying to get through their day. You will see how different people are struggling with their lives hoping for something good to come.
Sadly, the film is not for everyone. What makes this film a bit tricky is the fact that on the surface, it's all about a man and his son searching in vain for his stolen bicycle. De Sica was wise enough to challenge how much a viewer would be able to understand and how much would he want to understand. He made us think outside the box. To take in more than what we see. Watching this with the goal of finding out whether the protagonist finds his bicycle or not will not help you in appreciating the film.
This masterpiece is indeed timeless. More than 50 years after its release, the film is still relevant in today's society. It mirrors it to the point of nostalgia and sadness that of all those years that passed, though not much has changed, hope still remains.
Blue Sky Studio's latest animated film is sure to bring in not only children but also adults who are kid at hearts as well. Children would most probably enjoy the fantasy animated film while the adults might mostly appreciate the animation.
Epic is about a young teenage girl named M.K. (short for Mary Katherine) who reluctantly spends time with his estranged father who is obsessed with the existence of tiny creatures in the forest. Things between the two of them don't go smoothly as planned which causes M.K. to try leaving him for good, but that plan doesn't go smoothly either since she soon finds herself in the secret world of the leafmen, protectors of the forest. She must now go on an adventure to save the forest from those who try to destroy it while learning valuable lessons along the way.
One aspect of the film worth praising is its great animation. The design and the intricate details make the movie vibrant and pleasing to the eyes without crossing the point of exaggeration and headaches. The setting of the movie would make your imagination go wild of how much possibilities and adventures can be done in a vast forest despite being very tiny.
As for the characters, they are actually quite amusing. Each character has his/her own distinct personality that would make them memorable. However, the characterization is not as perfect as it seems. What makes an animated film successful to both children and adults is how well the character develops. A very common factor in animated films is a protagonist who is barely desirable at the start but would develop throughout the film and come out stronger, more memorable and someone that the kids can actually look up to. The protagonist must grow and must be able to inspire his/her viewers, especially the children. Sadly, the film wasn't able to do so. Two of the protagonist in the movie had very fast transition form their old self to their new one. By the end of the movie, it was as if a change did not happen at all. Other supporting characters were no different and suffered the same fate of the mediocre characterization.
Another miss for the film is the fact that there's too much going on to the point of complexity and plot holes. Not to mention, the fact that you would remind yourself that what you just watched was only a children's movie makes it more frustrating. There are too many ideas floating around that it's a pity that they were ignored and weren't explored further. They should have been better left out or better yet, simplified.
Nonetheless, the film did bring out good laughs from the audience but it could have been funnier. A few lines were a miss but most of them are worth a laugh. The voice acting was well done and mostly believable. There are plenty of famous names who contributed their voice for the movie like Amanda Seyfried, Josh Hutcherson, and even Beyonce that sometimes, I couldn't take it seriously knowing it's them speaking, but they all did a good job and that's all that matters.
Basically Epic is worth watching but don't expect to be blown away like you would be when watching a Pixar film. If ever they do make a sequel, which I think they will, they should improve on their characters and need to put more inspiration to gain the approval of both children and adults alike.
Rating: 2.5/5
The life of a lover of the arts and film cannot be guaranteed complete unless he has seen Orson Welles' masterpiece Citizen Kane. Citizen Kane has been considered as the best film for five consecutive times (1962-2002) based on Sight & Sound's poll of critics until 2012 wherein it was replaced by Hitchcock's Vertigo.
Citizen Kane tells the story of a man named Charles Foster Kane whose who rose from rugs to riches and how his life was turned upside down for his search for power. The story is told in a flashback where a reporter is trying to figure out what the last words of Charles Kane, "Rosebud", meant.
What I truly love about Citizen Kane is the characterization of Charles Foster Kane. There is emotional attachment to the viewer and Kane. You would feel and sympathize as you literally watch him grow. This emotional attachment and the mystery of 'Rosebud' would not only keep the viewers guessing and expectant but also caring of the situation that will happen soon to the protagonist.
There is are also great morals to the movie. Simple morals such as 'money can't buy us happiness' is explored and as the story goes deeper, so do the morals as we see them branch out to different lessons and aspects of life. We see how man can be manipulative and crude for the sake of power, we see man's transformation from being the mighty hero to the pitiful villain. And only in our darkest and final moments that we look back and ask ourselves if it was a life well-lived.
For these reasons, I believe that Citizen Kane is indeed a work of art that left a huge impact in the movie industry. Personally, what I find really remarkable about it is its storytelling. But aside from that, its use of cinematography, special effects, and music served as a great inspiration for other classic films released during its time.
Despite the technological advancements in the field of film today, Citizen Kane has left a legacy that will never be forgotten for many more years to come.
One of America's finest piece of literature has yet again witnessed a movie adaptation for the fifth time under the direction of Baz Luhrmann. This time it soared high and unfortunately got lost.
For those unaware of the synopsis of The Great Gatsby, it all takes place during the roaring twenties at the fictional town of West Egg. Narrated by Nick Carraway, he tells the story of a mysterious millionaire named Jay Gatsby and his love for Nick's cousin, Daisy Buchanan. Seems simple enough, but the novel and the film itself discuss various themes like self-indulgence, excess, resistance to change, and so much more. It basically reflects the lives of the Americans living the American Dream.
Sadly, I wasn't able to read the novel before going to the cinemas but on the bright side, I had a clean slate in my mind and was unbiased, not knowing what to expect from the movie.
Basically, we have Jay Gatsby who lives the life that any man would want to live. He seems to have everything that man desires except for one: the woman. He is madly in love to Daisy Buchanan for the past five years and he has a wild dream that he wants to put into a reality with woman he loves. Sadly, not everything goes exactly into what he hopes for.
The film seems to stay faithful to the novel, (I say 'seems' since I've only read the summary in wiki), but it did not leave any lasting effect that the novel would have. It keeps you waiting for two hours of CGI only to bring you something not worth having. The movie did explore the themes present in the book but sadly, it wouldn't make you care until the last few minutes of the movie and by the time you do start caring, the movie ends.
The movie was not all that bad though, the effects and editing are marvelous and breathtaking as expected for a 3D movie, but it wouldn't exactly be that bad in 2D either.
The Great Gatsby is an extravagant and lavish mansion on the exterior but lacks the essence of what would make you call it a home.
Rating: 2/5
Evil Dead serves as the reboot of the Evil Dead series back in 1980s and a loose continuation of it. The movie is about five teenagers who venture into the woods with one goal: to help their drug junkie friend to live a better life, and what better way to do it than a rehab in the middle of the forest.
Mia (Jane Levy), the druggie, is forced to spend a getaway in a cabin in the woods in order to clean herself after almost dying due to overdose. With her are her two friends and brother David (Shiloh Fernandez) and his girlfriend. Mia has not seen his brother for a long time already so they have a rough start at first. Unbeknownst to them is the Book of the Dead waiting to be opened which would give life to their most terrifying nightmares ever.
Before going to the cinemas and watching this movie, I made sure to watch the original series at first to know what changes they brought to the table. Thankfully, I'm not disappointed.
The best thing I loved about this movie is how it pays great homage to the original series. (geek mode for a bit) If you've watched the trilogy beforehand, you would see this reboot in an entirely different light. In the entire length of the film, there would always be a reference to the old films which makes it a success as a reboot. There are many reboots and remakes right now that don't give good regard to the original film at all. There were lots of moments in the movie wherein I smile not because it's funny, but because I recognize in which film from the original they took it from. But say you didn't watch the original series and don't plan to do so, there is no need to fear of being lost while watching the film. Its goal is to entertain the original fans and to attract new ones.
Another thing that I love in the movie is how the two main actors of the movie was given a deeper character background and not just mere puppets forced to act inside a box. This helped very much in the development of the story in the movie. Sadly, the other characters fall short in establishing a persona of their own.
Evil Dead this time decided to fully go on horror mode unlike its predecessors that were a combination of horror and comedy. It didn't have much humor like the first film but I leave that for you guys to decide whether that's good or bad.
Director Alvarez did a good job in making this film and one of the things that I liked was the use of the classic horror scares. He made use of very cliche horror scares that one may have seen too many for his lifetime but it surprisingly works in Evil Dead. Why? He took all those horror cliches you know and puts a twist on them. I have to say it's very risky choosing to use such scares in a new audience who is harder to please. Weirdly enough, what made the original Evil Dead scary was the very unexpected screams it would give you. Moments where you think everything is safe then boom, you're dead :) I was looking for it in the reboot but sadly it didn't give any. Lots of moments where you would expect and actually want something to pop up but there's none.
Though this movie is based on something old, I think it would fare well with the audience today since this might actually be new to them. Yes, a group of teenagers in a cabin in the woods may be overused but what I mean by new is how it is presented. (The trailer itself had too much blood already) Overall, the Evil Dead is Good.
Rating: 4/5
