Reviews and Editing by R. Allen Leider
with CJ Henderson, Andrew Johnson and Monis Rose

December 23rd, 2011

"The Adventures of Tintin"

Reviewed by CJ Henderson

Yes, I am a comics fan. No, I never read the French comic 'Tintin' when it was hot in the 1960's. Just never came across it as a kid. So, whereas I was predisposed to like this one simply because it was a big, splashy animated feature, I had no expectations. In fact, I was apprehensive that it might be merely for children and perhaps somewhat boring.

Okay, despite my distrust of anything with the name Spielberg attached to it, and my loathing for Peter Jackson ever since he did his best to destroy the majesty of King Kong, I have to admit, this isn’t at all bad. Yes, it’s for kids, but it’s enjoyable enough for adults. And, for those adults who grew up on Tintin ... oh my goodness, I believe you folks might be in for a real treat. Here, let me tell you all about it.

The story: Young cub reporter Tintin (Jamie Bell) is strolling along when he spots the model of a man o’war he simply must have. No sooner does he make his fine purchase, however, when out of nowhere come various parties trying to buy it from him, warn him that there’s great danger in owning it, and even steal it from him. With the help of his trusted dog Snowy, he manages to get it safely home, but that’s just the beginning.

Before long Tintin learns that the ship contains a clue leading to a fabulous treasure. Determined to track down the treasure (more for the story than the wealth), he is soon tangling with an extremely dangerous band of rogues, his only ally (besides loyal Snowy, of course) is a drunken sea captain (Andy Serkis). Captain Haddock at times seems more trouble than he’s worth, but Tintin quickly learns that Haddock is a part of the secret behind the treasure. And so, with nothing but pluck on their side, the trio take off in the face of guns, goons and god-awful weather to recover the lost treasure of the Haddocks.
This plot is not only perfect for a Tintin adventure, it is one. Adapted from three of the original stories ("The Crab with the Golden Claws," "The Secret of the Unicorn" and "Red Rackham’s Treasure"), it is a fabulous, madcap whirlwind of adventure. In many ways, this film was the perfect vehicle of Spielberg. His tired, Rube Goldberg-esque antics, the kind of manic insanity which he used to ruin the Indiana Jones series (among other projects) is well-suited for animated adventure. After all, when it’s only a cartoon, one doesn’t so much mind a plot that doesn’t have the time to bother with characterization that stretches beyond one dimension.

The film’s cast is rounded out by Simon Pegg and Nick Frost as the bumbling detective team of Thompson and Thomson, and the movie’s villain, ably-voiced by Daniel Craig. Capable as Craig is as Ivan Ivanovitch Sakharine, he is upstaged by the truly amazing Serkis in the role of the captain. Those who only know Serkis as Gollum from the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy will be quite impressed by his complete change of mood, tone and range as he brings Haddock to life.

The most impressive thing about the film, however, is its attitude. Just because the original stories told by Georges Remi (Hergé) were written with quite serious, real world consequences. With a coward like Spielberg at the helm (the artistic genius who went back into "E.T.") and removed the guns from the hands of government agents because they were too scary [even though not a one was ever fired or even pointed at anyone]), it’s almost unbelievable that "Tintin" is filled with gunfire, and even death.
This is not said to scare anyone into not taking their children to this quite wonderful film. The action is fast-paced and relentless. The moral lesson taught is not done so with a heavy hand, and is also refreshingly new when one considers the tired litany of morals reserved for animated films. The special effects are endless, the choreography of the action sequences is breath-taking, and the soundtrack by John Williams is quite fitting scene for scene.

Sequels are in the works, of course. But, after the results of this initial effort are weighed, I don’t believe Spielberg and Jackson will face any difficulty rounding up an audience. Of course, their deal was that Spielberg got to direct the first one, and Jackson the second. Oh ... the horror ... Peter Jackson directing again. A classic loved around the world in the hands of the man who made the worst King Kong movie of all time. Oh well, it’s at least a year off. Spielberg remembered how to direct for Tintin. Maybe Jackson will as well.
Our final word: 4 stars out of 5.


The Players:

The Filmmakers:
Directed by Steven Spielberg
Screenplay by Steven Moffat and Edgar Wright
Released by Walt Disney Pictures

"War Horse "

Reviewed by Andrew Johnson

Director Steven Spielberg has undertaken the motion picture version of that stellar hit play, “WAR HORSE,” a deeply moving probe into that special bond between animal and human. Taking place in and around World War I, the tale tells of a young lad named Albert whose father has purchased a horse which the boy will name Joey and train. A remarkable friendship develops in this epic adventure, one that director Spielberg is always capable of filming, and the virtues of loyalty, hope, and tenacity are set against the tapestry of rural England and Europe.

Albert’s father has sacrificed every penny (or rather pence) and risking everything including his farm, which is due a payment to the landlord, because there was something in his stubborn mind that made him bid very high for the animal. Parted forcefully by war that ensnares the continent, an extraordinary journey of this horse through the battlefield conflicts takes place. This animal is able to change as well as inspire all those he encounters: British cavalry, German soldiers, and a French farmer with his granddaughter. All are touched in a positive way by this creature, culminating in an emotional climax taking place in the middle of “no man’s land” on the battlefield, the area between the two warring factions. Joy and sorrow, adventure and friendship are interwoven in this emotional odyssey.

A successful book turned into a hugely successful international theatrical endeavor still on Broadway, it now becomes a towering achievement as a motion picture, well worthy of Oscar consideration. The screen manages to open the drama up realistically, with a real horse as opposed to the created Joey on stage.

The cast is a good one with many familiar faces (and some not familiar ones) from British films and the PBS “Masterpiece” TV dramas. These include Emily Watson, David Thewlis, Peter Mullin, Eddie Marsden, and Benedict Cumberbatch (British modern day TVs Sherlock Holmes on “Masterpiece Mystery.”

As mentioned, Spielberg’s direction is masterful with John Williams supplying a usually great musical score. The scenery and sets realistically recreate the period in and around “The Great War” with the battle scenes superbly accomplished, cinematography by Janusz Kaminski outstanding. And the horse is such a wonderfully trained animal with which you can truly empathize.
“WAR HORSE” is sheer brilliance before your eyes, filmmaking at its very zenith. A heartwarming film and very touching. Don’t miss it!

The Players: Emily Watson, David Thewlis, Peter Mullin, Niels Arestrup,
Tom Hiddleston, Jeremy Irvine, Benedict Cumberbatch,
Toby Kebbell, Eddie Marsten

The Filmmakers:
Directed by Steven Spielberg
Screenplay by Lee Hall and Richard Curtis
based on the book by Michael Morpurgo and the stage play by Nick Stafford
Cinematography by Janusz Kaminski
Music by John Williams
A DreamWorks Picture distributed by Touchstone Pictures

"The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo"

Reviewed by CJ Henderson

I was going to skip this one. Didn’t know much about it. Heard some buzz about the original Swedish film. Had heard that the 3 novels in the series were interesting. Decided to go to the screening "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" at pretty much the last minute. Let me say right now, I’m glad I did. Every year at least one major film gets released at Christmas time which is in no uncertain terms not a holiday film. Trust me, gang, this is it. There is no comedy here. No romance to speak of. No warm and fuzzy message. Indeed, there is no warmth whatsoever. But, there is a hell of a lot of other stuff that more than makes up for these missing seasonal standards. And, so saying, why don’t I get on with telling you all about what just may be the best film of the year.

The story starts with investigative reporter Mikael Blomqvist (Daniel Craig) losing his job, assets and reputation. It seems he tried to do an expose on a tycoon industrialist named Wennerström (Ulf Friberg), got some facts, but not enough facts to win the case and ended up sued, broke and disgraced. To his rescue, however, comes another rich guy, Henrik Vanger (Christopher Plummer) who has been trying to solve a mystery for forty years. Seems his niece Harriet went missing back in the sixties. Because they lived on an island, and the only way off the island happened to be blocked when she disappeared, she’s been presumed dead ever since. But, Hendrik advises he is certain one of the family murdered Harriet. Mikael is regarded as a terrific investigator. Our rich uncle’s offer to him: try to find out what happened to the niece, and whether he gets results or not, for simply trying his reward will be the information needed to bring down the rich type who ruined his life. Mikael accepts and soon he is onto mot only Harriet's disappearance, but a serial killer of many women over the years. Mikael not only wants the killer brought to justice,but Hendrik has told him that he himself has enough hard facts on Wennerström to turn the legal tide for Mikael. Yummy - revenge!!

A t the same time, another storyline is running on a parallel track. To get hired, Mikael was investigated for hendrick Vanger by the film’s title character, a quirky, young woman named Lisabeth Salander (Rooney Mara). She's a punky bi-sexual with a photographic memory and a genius for computers. Lisabeth has been under the thumb of the system since she was ten and for a good reason ( no spoilers here). She's a ward of the court and has to beg for every dollar she spends and everything she needs because her money is tied to a very unethical lawyer who controls her. Meanwhile, Mikael recognizes that whoever did the background check on him for Hendrik is the kind of assistant he needs if he’s going to have a chance of unraveling a forty year old murder mystery. Mikael tracks down Lisabethl and hires her to help him. She needs the cash and wants to avenge the women so she takes the case. Before you know it, the two are neck deep in blood, dismemberment, death and deceit.

All of this I tell you is the merest of set-up. This is a complicated, extremely well-layered story populated with some of the most hardboiled, unsympathetic characters put on the screen in recent history. First and foremost, at least half the characters in the film smoke cigarettes. Oh, My God! Smoking on screen. Like it was something normal people did. With no lectures on second-hand death or cancer or anything. To some, this might seem like a little thing, but I have to point out, we live in a world where Popeye the Sailor was forced to give up his pipe because the character’s owners didn’t want to "send the wrong message." This movie splashes the cold water of reality on its audience by having Mikael buy cigarettes and start smoking in its opening minutes, and then never turns back. There is violence in this film, a motorized chase, gunfire, near-hard core sex scenes ... and not a bit of it is presented in a manner most people will expect. This film is a bold, raw statement about the way things work. It’s been a while since David Fincher has made anything worth seeing. This is a movie worthy to follow "Fight Club." Oh, yes..and there are Nazis.

"The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" does everything right. The setting is Sweden where everything is suitably gray and cold. Everything feels cold. Frozen. Uninviting. The cinematography works to keep everything feeling enclosed. The soundtrack never intrudes to the point where one notices it. It stays in the background, helping things build. And, build they do. What makes this one movie such a delight is the fact that it’s completely real. Our computer expert actually has to work. She doesn’t just type for three seconds and get all the answers. Car chases aren’t endless. Violent encounters unfold as they do in the real world--quickly. There is a brutal intelligence at work here, one that keeps the story on track by never surrendering to the laws of Hollywood which state that an intelligent book filled with realism must be dumbed down because the audience is stupid.

This movie does not think the audience to be stupid. It expects you to pay attention, and to be able to handle life shown to you as honestly as it can be. Thieving bankers, lying politicians, perverted government employees, disgusting weasel bastards of all types crawl out of the woodwork in this one. It’s not a film for the kids, or for grandma - unless she's a Nazi or sadist. And, if you haven’t read a book in the last year, it’s probably not for you, either. This is an intense, taunt, magnificent film. It was not made with the Hollywood formula. It does not care when you think it should end and, actually, it has two endings. It doesn’t give a damn about how much anyone wants a happy ending. It is what it is and that just might be the best film of the year.

Note: This is the true breakthrough film for (Patricia) Rooney Mara who was born into professional football royalty as the granddaughter of Art Rooney, Sr., the founder of the Pittsburgh Steelers football franchise. Rooney's older sister is actress Kate Mara. She could easily get an Oscar for this film.

Our final word: 5 stars out of 5.

The Players: Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara, Christopher Plummer, Stellan Skarsgård, Steven Berkoff, Robin Wright, Yorick Van Wageningen

The Film Makers:
Directed by David Fincher
Screenplay by Steven Zaillian
Released by Columbia Pictures

"We Bought a Zoo"

Set in Southern California rather than England, and based on a true story and the best selling book by Benjamin Mee, with a few plot alterations. The film is one of those feel-good pictures for the whole family that is better rented in view of the other offerings at the box office this holiday season and ticket prices.

Los Angeles journalist Benjamin Mee (Matt Damon) decides to make a fresh start following the death of his wife by quitting his job and moving his children Dylan and Rosie (Colin Ford, Maggie Elizabeth Jones) to an 18-acre property containing the remains of the Rosemoor Wildlife Park complete with decaying buildings. Though closed for years, dilapidated Rosemoor is still home to more than 200 exotic wild animals, cared for by Kelly Foster (Scarlett Johansson) and her small staff. Mee opens his heart and his checkbook as he, Kelly and the others work to renovate and reopen the zoo.

It wasn't easy....tigers broke loose, money ran low, the staff grew skeptical, and family tensions ran high. He had to deal with Code Red emergencies (when a dangerous animal escapes its confines), hiring staff, learning about his new two- and four-footed charges, but inspired by his wife's memory and the healing power of the incredible family of animals they had grown to love, Benjamin and his kids resovled to move forward. The Mee family opened the gates of the revitalized zoo in July 2007 as a sanctuary for breeding and raising endangered animals..

The Players: Matt Damon, Scarlett Johansson, Elle Fanning, Patrick Fugit and Thomas Haden Church

The Filmmakers:
Directed by Cameron Crowe
Screenplay by Aline Brosh McKenna and Cameron Crowe
Released by 20th Century Fox Pictures