Everything I hoped for and more than I expected. I went in thinking, "They can't do it. They can't possibly match the first one." But they did, and possibly even topped it.
All the actors are much better at their craft this time around. I thought they were very good for teen/child actors the first time around, but they're even better here, probably even capable of holding their own with the industry giants. The visual effects were great, in most cases better than in the first film. In the first film some of the animal characters looked a little cartoonish, like obvious CGI, but I didn't see that problem in this film. The script was well-written and the score was great, and the directing was top-notch. The plot is changed slightly from the book, but only the most hardcore of fans will be put out, and the spirit of the book is intact.
Skandar Keynes and Georgie Henley have both matured immensely as actors. They were good in the first film but they were child actors, and I found flaws in their performances. The only child actor I've ever seen have basically no flaws in their performance was Rhiannon Leigh Wryn in The Last Mimzy, out of all the child actors I've ever seen, so obviously all child actors will be less than perfect, and they can still be very good and it's an accomplishment for a child under maybe 16 to be anything better than mediocre. Well, Skandar and Gerogie were under 16 during the making of the film, and they're great. I really can't find anything wrong with their performances, and Georgie manages nuances of character that I don't expect from anyone short of Meryl Streep.
Also, someone please tell me Anna Popplewell is a lesbian, because she is smoking hot. She gives and amazing performance as Susan, reprising her role perfectly. Her performance was excellent the first time around, so it should be taken as a compliment when I say she's copied it perfectly, and then deftly advanced it one year. William Moseley's done the same thing with Peter, copied his performance and added in the effects of being a High King for some fifteen years, no longer as willing to put up with small indignities, but possibly a better person for it.
I really can't think of a serious flaw. The movie is absorbing, well-acted, well-shot, and sure to be as well-loved as the first.
Best line: I'm actually having trouble thinking of one good line that carried the film or scene.
Best performance: Georgie Henley
Best moment: Edmund: "If they're smart they'll starve us out." Squirrel: "Ooh! We can collect nuts!" Mouse: "Oh yes! And then throw them at the Telmarines! Shut up."
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
"Iron Man" -- Robert Downey, Jr., Terrence Howard, Gwyneth Paltrow
The thing I heard about this before seeing it that I remember most is that Iron Man is "two hours of gadget porn." That's pretty accurate, and your inner eight-year-old will be positively horny the entire time. There's a long stretch of the film where there's little or no plot, but I really didn't care, because I was so wrapped up in the technology.
The best thing about it was if you have the money, pretty much everything depicted in this movie is probably possible and in use somewhere right now, and the things that aren't, probably will be within five years. Only two things stuck out to me as impossible, improbable, or impractical, and most things, such as Tony's terminally clumsy all-purpose robot (we see it with a claw to pick things up, holding a magnifying glass for Tony, and with a fire extinguisher in the testing of the suit), have the sense of reality to them like this really is happening somewhere, and if you only had enough money, you could have all these toys too.
I heard much debate and despair that Robert "Coke-boy" Downey, Jr. wouldn't be able to pull off the intense genius, but fans of the comic book will actually wish he would have gone more over the top on the playboy side of the character. He does, however, avoid the trap of the character that drinks heavily with no consequences or changes to his behavior, and as a movie character Downey's Stark works well (not to mention being quite fit and looking smoking hot in a sweaty wifebeater). Jeff Bridges as Obadiah Stane was an astute cast, as Bridges manages to be lovable and benevolent through the first half, then make us hate him when we need to. Gwyneth Paltrow is great as Pepper Potts, Tony's long-suffering and bitingly witty personal assistant. Terrence Howard, however, rises above as "Roadie," inhabiting the character completely. The character's thoughts and feelings are palpable without ever being overdone, and a scene comes to mind where you can see him physically shaking with relief, a great turn for any actor. The rest of the smaller roles range from great to adequate to, in a few cases, bad stereotype, but the larger actors make up for it.
Some of the movie is improbable or stupid, but these parts are easily forgivable because the rest of the movie is so awesome. A triumph for Marvel's first movie, and I expect it to keep grossing at a good clip until it leaves theaters. Definitely see it in the theater for the full effect, maybe even twice, then buy it on DVD when it comes out.
Best line: "If you douse me again when I'm not on fire, I will donate you to the city college."
Best performance: Terrence Howard
Best moment: Pepper walks in on Tony trying to get out of the suit. There's a moment of silence and he says "okay, let's face it, this is not the worst thing you've caught me doing."
The best thing about it was if you have the money, pretty much everything depicted in this movie is probably possible and in use somewhere right now, and the things that aren't, probably will be within five years. Only two things stuck out to me as impossible, improbable, or impractical, and most things, such as Tony's terminally clumsy all-purpose robot (we see it with a claw to pick things up, holding a magnifying glass for Tony, and with a fire extinguisher in the testing of the suit), have the sense of reality to them like this really is happening somewhere, and if you only had enough money, you could have all these toys too.
I heard much debate and despair that Robert "Coke-boy" Downey, Jr. wouldn't be able to pull off the intense genius, but fans of the comic book will actually wish he would have gone more over the top on the playboy side of the character. He does, however, avoid the trap of the character that drinks heavily with no consequences or changes to his behavior, and as a movie character Downey's Stark works well (not to mention being quite fit and looking smoking hot in a sweaty wifebeater). Jeff Bridges as Obadiah Stane was an astute cast, as Bridges manages to be lovable and benevolent through the first half, then make us hate him when we need to. Gwyneth Paltrow is great as Pepper Potts, Tony's long-suffering and bitingly witty personal assistant. Terrence Howard, however, rises above as "Roadie," inhabiting the character completely. The character's thoughts and feelings are palpable without ever being overdone, and a scene comes to mind where you can see him physically shaking with relief, a great turn for any actor. The rest of the smaller roles range from great to adequate to, in a few cases, bad stereotype, but the larger actors make up for it.
Some of the movie is improbable or stupid, but these parts are easily forgivable because the rest of the movie is so awesome. A triumph for Marvel's first movie, and I expect it to keep grossing at a good clip until it leaves theaters. Definitely see it in the theater for the full effect, maybe even twice, then buy it on DVD when it comes out.
Best line: "If you douse me again when I'm not on fire, I will donate you to the city college."
Best performance: Terrence Howard
Best moment: Pepper walks in on Tony trying to get out of the suit. There's a moment of silence and he says "okay, let's face it, this is not the worst thing you've caught me doing."
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