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Reviews and Editing by R. Allen Leider
with CJ Henderson, Andrew Johnson and Monis Rose
July 16th, 2010 |
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 "The Sorcerer's
Apprentice"
In the days of Camelot the struggle was between Merlin and King Arthur's half-sister, the evil sorceress Morgana leFey (Alice Krige).
Morgana was defeated and locked in a small container. As the ages passed many evil magicians tried to free heronly to be themselves locked in the increasing layers of the container, which looks like a Russian nesting doll. It has been predicted that the only magician who can destroy Morgana is the descendent of Merlin - the Prime Merlinian and the job of finding this magician has fallen to one of Merlin's surviving apprentices - Balthazar Blake ( Nicholas Cage ) whose girlfriend Veronica ( Monica Bellucci) is also trapped in the doll, her- self intermingled with Morgana's spirit.
In modern day Manhattan, Balthazar is still searching and also has to protect the city from his arch-nemesis, Maxim Horvath (Alfred Molina), an evil wizard with nefarious plans. Horvath is determined to free Morgana and get her rewards. Balthazar finally locates the Prime Merlinian as a 10 year old boy named Dave Stutler ( Jake Cherry ), who on his first outing as a magician screws up and frees Horvath from the container, then loses it and embarasses himself in front of his would-be-girlfriend Becky.
Ten years later, Dave ( Jay Baruchel ) is a physics teacher, Becky is a memory and Balthazar is still searching for him. Dave is a seemingly average guy who demonstrates hidden potential, as areluctant protégé. The sorcerer gives his unwilling accomplice a crash course in the art and science of magic, and together, these unlikely partners work to stop the forces of darkness. An added enticement to succeed as a sorcerer is the reappearance of a grown up Becky ( Teresa Palmer ) in one of Dave's classes. Naturally Horvath finds out Dave is back in the game and is also seekingthe lost contgainer. He enlists a dark wizard turned show biz illusionist (Tony Kebbell) to help him toward that end. Given the formidable forces working against him, Daveis initially skeptical, and reluctant to get involved, but eventually is convinced by Balthazar to help in this cause. Together, Balthazar and Dave ( and eventually Becky ) take on Horvath and Morgana in a classic good versus evil struggle in the Big Apple.
OK, looks good, sounds like fun, but hard core fantasy film buffs will carp about many things like familiar and cliched plot elements, too may effects for the sake of effects etc. But...it Is fun!!
The Players: Nicolas Cage, Jay Baruchel, Alfred Molina, Jake Cherry, Teresa Palmer, Toby Kebbell, and Monica Bellucci
The Filmmakers
Directed by John Turteltaub
Screenplay by Lawrence Conner and Mike Rosenthal
Released by Walt Disney Pictures |
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 ''Inception"
Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a skilled thief, the absolute best in the dangerous art of extraction, stealing valuable secrets from deep within the subconscious during the dream state, when the mind is at its most vulnerable. Cobb's rare ability has made him a coveted player in this treacherous new world of corporate espionage, but it has also made him an international fugitive and cost him everything he has ever loved. His wife Moll ( Marion Cotillard ) committed suicide when she lost trackof what realy she was in and now Cobb's running from muder charges and a vengeful ex-client while trying to figure out how to getback hoem to his kids.
But, Cobb is being offered a chance at redemption. One last job from b illonaire enegery mogul Saito ( Ken Watanabe ) could gethim home and rich and could give him his life back but only if he can accomplish the impossible: INCEPTION. Instead of the perfect heist, Cobb and his team of specialists ( Joseph Godon Levitt, Ellen Page, Tom Hardy, and Dileep Rao )have to pull off the reverse: their task is not to steal an idea but to plant one in the mid of the heir to an energy empire, Robert Fischer Jr ( Cillian Murphy ).But no amount of careful planning or expertise can prepare the team for the dangerous enemy that seems to predict their every move.
This is a 2hour and 25 minute film filled with multiple dream levels, convoluted plotlines and tons of action. It's a real thinking man's sci-fi action adventure and you mUST see it at least twice to get 100% from it.
The Players: Leonardo DiCaprio, Ken Watanabe, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard, Ellen Page, Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy,
Tom Berenger, Michael Caine, Dileep Rao, and Pete Postlethwaite
The Filmmakers
Directed by Christopher Nolan
Screenplay by Christopher Nolan
Released by Warner Brothers |
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 ''Valhalla Rising"
Reviewed by CJ Henderson
Last time around I covered yet another of the remarkably well-made foreign films being brought to our shores by IFC, the Independent Film Channel. I said that they had done it again, and that I thought I would sit down and watch another one just to see if they could actually chalk up another win. mean, think about it. When was the last time any studio released four movies in a row, all of which were of high quality? I can tell you when that time was. It’s right now, and the name of that company, as if you have to guess, is IFC.This time, I will be covering one of the strangest new films I have seen in ages. "Valhalla Rising" is Danish, but is presented in English, so those who pride themselves on the stirring accomplishment of forgetting how to translate simple lines of text into thought are safe. But, those filmmakers who are interested in doing movies about brutal barbarian times ... you boys have got some serious competition.
The Story: Things just explode. With no set-up or explanation, the audience is shown a caged, one-eyed man. He is a prisoner kept alive because he is useful. Every so often, he is forced from his cage and taken to a clearing with a large pole in its center. There he is collared and tethered, has his hands unbound, and is forced to fight for his life. No matter who the opponent, how many he fights in a row, or at the same time, he never loses. Eventually he is sold or traded or given to someone else (many things are terribly clear in this film). The young boy who has had the task of feeding him while in captivity goes with him into slavery, or whatever. Along the way, One-Eye vanquishes his new owners. The boy follows along with him again.
After setting out on his own with the lad still following, he encounters a group of Viking Christian converts headed for the Holy Land for one of the Crusades. After some convincing, he joins them."Valhalla Rising" is an incredibly unique movie. It plays by nobody’s rules but its own. For one thing, it is split into titled segments. It does not bother with letting the audience know where the film is taking place. When the year is exactly - around 1,000 BC. What the names of the characters are. Nothing. When the Vikings get lost on the way to the Holy Land and end up in some savage region populated by very early North American natives who dislike Eurpean intruders. Good luck figuring out where they are, but it appears to be some part of Canada. Not that it matters. Nothing about the story here is being told in a traditional way. It’s not even being filmed in a traditional way. Fans of fantasy art will most likely enjoy this movie more than anyone else. Nearly every shot seems to have been lifted from a Jeff Jones or Michael Kaluta or Frank Frazetta painting. No, I’m not accusing anyone of even unconscious theft. Classic pieces of art aren’t being recreated on the screen as homages. The cinematographer has simply made it their job to grace almost every shot in the film with an unbelievable artistic depth that is somewhat startling to behold.
Direction, editing and cinematography this one has. The locations are brilliantly evocative, and the costuming is perfect. Despite the fact that we don’t when and where these characters are, their manner of dress gives the story enough cohesion for us to continue watching without worries.The soundtrack is uniquely intense as well. Although, I did not note a typically arranged theme, I also never found a moment when the music was not there in the background (and sometimes booming in the foreground) doing its job.
Yes, "Valhalla Rising" is beautiful to look at and powerful in its execution. But, it is not perfect.Those who like answers will receive none. What is going on? Who is One-Eye? How was he captured and held if he’s so tough? Why does he want to go to the Holy Land?
Et cetera. Nothing is explained. This film is an experience, a roller-coaster ride. It hits hard, moves fast, and explains nothing. And sometimes, that’s not actually such a bad thing. Like the other IFC films I’ve reviewed lately, although the movie does not suffer on the small screen, one can see that it would be overwhelming on the big screen. If you are interested in this one, and the on-line preview has you wanting to see it, don’t wait for it to finally get to the IFC, go out and see it in the theater. If that’s not an option for you these days (it is still 2010 in America), then see it on the tube. Just see it.
Our final word: 4 stars out of 5.
The Players: Mads Mikkelsen, Maarten Stevenson, Andrew Flanagan, Gary Lewis, and Gordon Brown
The Filmmakers
Directed by Nicholas Winding Refn
Screenplay by Roy Jacobsen and Nicholas Winding Refn
Released by IFC Films
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''To Age of Not to Age"
Reviewed by CJ Henderson
Well, after quite some a few weeks, it’s once more documentary time. To get the ball rolling on telling you about this one, let’s start with a quote from Dr. Thomas Kirkwood:"A lot of people think we’re biologically programmed to die, but the truth is that we’re biologically programmed for survival. There is no mechanism inside us that turns on us to kill us when a certain period of time has elapsed."
The good doctor is part of a new movement in biological research based around the abolition of aging. Think of it, this study asks of you--can you imagine a person of a hundred-and-twenty, living as healthy and active as one of today’s fifty year olds? That’s the notion that is sweeping through the scientific community these days, and it’s stirring up all manner of hornets from their nests. Now, I’m not going to try and get across the science of this all to you. That’s what the film is for. I’m here to let you know whether or not you should bother with seeing it. And my answer is, if the subject matter is of interest to you, then indeed you should, because I can’t imagine a much better job being done any time soon by anyone else.
Filmmaker Robert Kane Pappas comes out right at the beginning and explains that he is not a scientist. When a notion catches his attention, he researches it, and if after some study he’s still interested, he makes a film out of it. That’s what he’s done here, and he’s done a good job.All of the major players doing research into postponing and/or possibly mitigating the effects of those diseases connecting to the aging process are here to present their cases. Their interviews are as concisely and clearly edited into a cohesive whole that covers all the right bases.Some, for instance, think we’re going to be able to add ten years to our life expectancy. Some see it doubling. Some have no trouble seeing hundreds or thousands of years. And one thinks immortality is not beyond our grasp.What is interesting is that fact that Pappas also covers the moral, religious, practical and economic implications of a world-wide population that ceases to age. Many ideas common to the science fiction fan will strike others as unexpectedly novel.
There isn’t much to say when talking documentaries. Either the filmmaker does a good job--delivers the facts, makes them entertaining, gets the deal across, or they don’t. Pappas has done so. The problem is, I’m just not certain anyone is going to need to see this one in a movie theater.Yes, the film is interesting, but it really is nothing more than a longer-than-usual episode of some Discovery Channel show. Far too much of what is being discussed is on the esoteric level. In other words, it’s like programs about men traveling to Mars. Yes, it might quite possibly happen, but the chances of it happening during a period where it’s going to do most of us here and now any good are limited.In other words, it’s a good documentary, and once it’s been sold to the History Channel, or one of their fine fellows, then it will be worth catching. But, a special trip to the theater to see something that in essence is not much more than a compelling article for Scientific American ... I don’t know anyone with both that much money and free time these days.
Our final word: 3 stars out of 5.
The Players: Dr. Lenny Guarente, Dr. Christoph Westphal, David Sinclair Ph.D., Stephen Austad Ph.D., Cynthia Kenyon, Ph.D., Rev. Nicanor Pier Giorgio Austriaco, Aubrey de Grey, Ph.D., Dr. Thomas Kirkwood, Gordon Lithgow, Ph.D.
The Filmmakers
Directed by Robert Kane Pappas
Screenplay by Robert Kane pappas
Released by Sag harbor Basement Pictures
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