Akting Out

In Brightest Day, In Blackest Night
Please Do Not Believe The Hype
Let Those Who Watch The Lantern’s Flight
Go See This Movie
It’s Almost Right.

When you take into account that this movie has essentially failed at the box office, and it has been horribly panned by critics and fans alike, I was leery of seeing it. I might have passed it up altogether if a friend of mine hadn’t extended a last-minute invitation. I had multiple reservations about this film from the moment it was announced; foremost was Ryan Reynold’s ability to play a convincing Hal Jordan. Discussing the movie with a friend, and my hesitation to see it (he was in favor), we started discussing Ryan Reynold’s range. I asked him to give me a case where Ryan Reynold’s played the bad guy.

Being a fan of Green Lantern, it wasn’t just this story I was interested in. Of course, this movie is an origin story, telling the story of cocky pilot Hal Jordan’s acceptance of the ring of power from the dying Abin Sur, the reluctance of the long-established Green Lantern Corps accepting a human, and the inevitable first conflict that would establish Hal Jordan not only as a capable Green Lantern, but the one who would rise to become the greatest of them. Yes, most of us know that story.

A lot of us don’t know that Sinestro, once their finest warrior, would become their greatest nemesis. A lot of us don’t know that Hal Jordan would eventually be driven mad (check out the Death of Superman to see how it starts) and nearly destroy the entire corps while becoming one of the DC universe’s most tragic characters. Whoever played Hal Jordan didn’t just have to sell me on the cocky pilot; I wanted to see the seeds planted of what he would become in this film as well. I wanted to see Sinestro’s infallible arrogance.

For the most part, I wasn’t disappointed. The movie is far from perfect, in fact, it’s not even great, but it’s still a good time.

Hollywood has to walk a fine line with films like these; paying close attention to the fans, who will eviscerate something if they feel it’s done wrong, while being accessible to newcomers. Despite heavy doses of fan service, Green Lantern falls off the line occassionally. While stalwarts will recognize the hand of Geoff Johns, so much canon is ignored that it’s nearly offensive. This is especially true in the case of Parallax’s origin, which will surely cause a few “WTF?!” from fans.

Casting in this film is both hit-and-miss. I was blown away by Ryan Reynold’s portrayal of Hal Jordan, who transitions from arrogant pilot humble hero-in-training. Like most aspects of this film, his character development is often hurried, but he took the role seriously and you can tell in his performance. One can believe Ryan Reynold’s Hal Jordan will one day go nuts, if Hollywood chooses to go that route (are you reading, Hollywood? Go that route, please). Another pleasant surprise was Michael Clarke Duncan as Kilowog, drill instructor to the Green Lantern Corps. Again, when I heard this, I rolled my eyes. Big black guy playing big bad drill instructor? Seriously?

Instead, Michael Clarke Duncan brings a lot of heart to the character, turning what could’ve been a cliché performance into a role we would’ve liked to see more of. Mark Strong is another surprise as Sinestro, although there’s more talking than action from him. Sure, he can rouse the troops, but we never really get to see why he’s revered as the greatest Green Lantern. No shortage of arrogance on his part, and it’s in the lines he doesn’t speak. It’s in his eyes as he addresses the Guardians and meets Hal Jordan. The only real miss here is Tim Robbins as a Senator Hammond, a complete throw-away character, and I think he knew that.

The special effects are what they should be, but nothing jaw-dropping. A chief complaint I have with the film is that they did not use Parallax’s true form, which I think would’ve been a lot scarier than the thing they dredged up.

Top: The True Form Of Parallax

Bottom: The Film Form Of Parallax

Overall, Green Lantern isn’t nearly as bad as what you’ve been led to believe. I thoroughly enjoyed it, as both a fan of the series and a filmgoer. Most performances are surprises and the special effects are plausible, if nothing special. This is good Saturday afternoon fun, and if you don’t expect strict adherence to the canon, you’ll have a good time.

(c) Avery K. Tingle for Akting Out LLC

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

The ‘Fast’ Franchise Cashes In

Ten years after the first film’s release comes (what should be) the climax. This enjoyable, albeit predictable film serves more as a thank-you to longtime fans at the expense of those who’ve never seen any of the movies.
All of the major players from the last four films are accounted for, brought together for one last run. This film is heavy on character development and fan service, eschewing fast rides and blistering races. Whether or not you enjoy this movie may depend on your familiarity with the universe.

Fast Five picks up immediately following the conclusion of the fourth film, where O’Connor (Paul Walker) and company have managed to spring series antihero Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel, who is all but typecast at this point in his career) in an exciting, yet completely implausible escape sequence.
In the time that’s passed, O’Connor and longtime girlfriend Mia Toretto (Jordana Brewster) have fallen on hard times, living as federal fugitives constantly on the run.
In the midst of an unexpected complication, the two turn to old friend Vince (Matt Schulze, the script overlooked no one) who hooks them up with a risky, but high-paying gig. Despite Dominic’s intervention on this job, things go wrong, and suddenly the group escalates to, as O’Connor puts it, “The top of the wanted list.”

With the walls closing in, Toretto plans one last job that will enable them to disappear. In order to pull it off, they need to pull in the best. And we’re off to the races. Pun intended.

Justin Lin has helmed the franchise since the dubious Tokyo Drift, and he doesn’t let up here. This film is an action flick through and through, tightly shot and expertly paced, while the action sequences themselves are frenetic, but not jarring. The result is a film that is very well put together.

Dwayne Johnson is a great, two-dimensional addition to the cast as Federal Agent Hobbs, who channels Tommy Lee Jones in his relentless, southern-spoken pursuit of Toretto. Johnson was introduced to threaten Toretto, whose ruthlessness and physical superiority has been a staple of his character. Watching Johnson and Diesel play off of each other, building to the inevitable showdown between the two, is one of the film’s highlights. The fight is worth the wait, but again, you may have to suspend your sense of belief for a bit.

Unfortunately, it looks like gorgeous rides and generous blasts of nitrous are no longer necessary at this point in the series. There is one flat-out race in the entire film, and even then, all participants drive the same car. If you’re movie to see rides shown off at top speed, you will be may be disappointed. The story is absolutely mediocre as well, even though it’s still a lot of fun. In the end, after all the planning and sophisticated trick driving, it comes down to…well, you’ll see. The climax is implausible but a blast to watch, more reminiscent of the Italian Job than The Fast and The Furious.

Fast Five’s selling points are also what works against it; the characters, the camaraderie, and the banter are enjoyable if you’re new to the series, but a lot of the inside jokes will be lost on you. Still, for an opening summer flick, this film is very much a lot of fun and worth eight bucks at the door, even more so for longtime fans. Old-schoolers and action-film fans will enjoy this, but newcomers may want to wait for Vudu.

(c) Avery K. Tingle for Akting Out LLC

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

So that person you’ve been interested in forever finally gave you the time of day. You took them out, spent time getting to know them, and enjoyed the company so much so that you saw them over and over again. Then, when it’s all said and done, and you’re so wound up that you can barely stand it, they push you away, look at you in all sincerity, and say; “I can’t do this now. But next time.”

If you can relate to this story, then you’ve seen “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1.”

That isn’t to say it’s a bad movie. It’s just that after sitting through all the films, practically growing up with this character, instead of getting the first half of an epic climax, we instead get a two-and-a-half hour trailer for the second film. In fact, some of the scenes they use in the trailer aren’t even in this film.

Although David Yates continues to demonstrate his expertise directing the Harry Potter movies, this movie feels disjointed at places. Long scenes of dialogue and tension are interspersed with such frenetic scenes that anyone with ADHD will feel right at home. It’s occasionally difficult to keep up with what’s going on, but overall, it comes together well.

It’s a long, long outing, too; I overheard one patron say “I felt like I just sat through a six hour movie.” I’m not a fan of this trend that calls for extensively long films, no matter how good they are. And honestly, as a fan of the series, I can’t say this movie was worth sitting three hours in a theater for.

I expect the final film to be epic; the first installment of Deathly Hallows was the pre-game before the Super Bowl. It’s what you’ll sit through for the main event. Hardcore fans will find something to love, but casual fans may find their money better spent elsewhere.

(c) Avery K. Tingle for Akting Out LLC

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

Clash of the Titans (4/10)

I’ve enjoyed Sam Worthington since his scene-stealing performance in Terminator: Salvation. I expected the cast he was surrounded with to bolster the Clash of the Titans remake. It did, but not beyond mediocrity. The film also breaks the number one rule of the action/fantasy GENRE; it’s BORING.
Louis Leterrier gets excellent performances out of his actors; Ralph Fiennes is a little creepier here than in his outing as Voldemort, and with Sam Worthington, all one has to say is “be intense.”
In 3D, the special effects are gorgeous and the monsters are truly something to behold (Medusa scared the hell out of me), but the film spends too much time winding up and then not paying off. The few action scenes are trite and predictable, and then it’s back to the long windup. The 3D outing isn’t worth the price of admission, and not even the special features can justify a thirty dollar price tag when the inevitable special edition comes out. Save your money.

Why Did I Get Married Too (7/10)

I loved the first movie because it was hilarious; it was hilarious because it was real. There was also a strong undercurrent of hope throughout the film that resonated in a very satisfying conclusion. The sequel isn’t quite as funny, lacks the same undertone, and is a lot more visceral, but it’s still a good movie. All of the actors from the first film return, including an enhanced Janet Jackson.  The couples retreat has been moved from Colorado to the Bahamas. Of all the couples, Troy (Lamman Rucker) and Sheila (Jill Scott) have come the furthest, but are arguably on the hardest times. This made them the best couple to watch, the ones you want to see work out. Marcus (Michael Jai White, who again showcases his acting talent) and Angela (Tasha Smith) still provide most of the film’s laughs. You learn in the previews that one couple does not make it, and this is where the film falls short. The breakup is ugly, friends are divided, and a couple of brutal scenes make this film much darker than the first one. The inevitable ending isn’t quite as satisfying as the first film, feeling rushed and hackneyed. One scene in the film showcases two great actors but felt more like a deleted scene than anything else. Still, the darker tone of the film isn’t enough to make it unwatchable, and it’s still an enjoyable, relatable experience.

Death at a Funeral (7/10)

I may never understand how you can cast Chris Rock, Martin Lawrence, and Tracy Morgan in the same film and then give James Marsden the best scenes. In a nutshell, this is a good movie, funny, but nowhere near as funny as it should’ve been, considering the talent showcased.
This is a remake of the 2007 British film directed by Frank Oz; Chris Rock (who also produced) is the harried, underappreciated head of household who takes on the enormous responsibility of assembling (and paying for) his father’s funeral. Martin Lawrence is the family favorite, Chris Rock’s older brother who is also a published author (something Chris Rock’s character is not allowed to forget), Danny Glover is awesome as mean-ass Uncle Russell, and Columbus Short of Stomp the Yard fame is Jeffery, the shady pharmacology student.
Don’t get me wrong, the movie is funny, and well worth the price of admission, it’s just nowhere near as funny as it was supposed to be. A lot of this movie is spent on little laughs waiting for the big one that never comes. It may depend on your sense of humor, but one scene is so far beyond nasty that it nearly ruins the film. James Marsden easily gets the funniest scenes in the movie.
Still, this is a pretty good way to see some of the best comedians of our generation slowly begin to fade into the sunset. Good, but nowhere near a great movie.
Thanks for reading.

(c) Avery K. Tingle for Akting Out LLC

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.