May 1st, 2009

'X-Men: Origins-Wolverine' tells the story of Wolverine's epically violent and romantic past, his complex relationship with Victor Creed, and the ominous Weapon X program. Along the way, Wolverine encounters many mutants, both familiar and new, including surprise appearances by several legends of the X-Men universe.  This is the first of a series of blockbusters to grace the silver screens of the multiplexes this summer season. Star Trek willbe upon us next week and soon after Terminator Salvation will be here, then Harry Potter 6 and Disney's UP in Pixar 3-D.  Save your pennies for movie tickets! James Logan aka Wolverine ( Hugh Jackman ) and his brother Victor Creed ( Liev Schreiber ) who will later become Sabretooth, run away together as children in the mid 1850's after Logan kills their biological father who had murdered Logan's adoptive father. After serving together in The Civil War, First and Second World Wars, they are recruited by William Stryker (Danny Huston ) to serve in a special unit made up of mutants. After wiping out an African villiage, Logan quits the unit and goes off to live a life of peace in the Canadian Rockies with his girlfriend later to be known as the Silver Fox. Six years later, Stryker shows up and asks Logan to come back and be a part of a new Weapon X project. Logan refuses but Creed shows up and murders Logan's girlfriend leaving him wanting revenge against his brother. Logan accepts Strykers offer to be infused with Adamantium so that he can be indestructable and go after his revenge but is double crossed by Stryker and hears him give the order to wipe his memories. Escaping before this can happen, he goes searching for Creed killing anyone who gets in his way. After reuniting with a few members of his old team, he finds out that Stryker and Creed are actually working together to kidnap mutants and keep them in confinement working on a new project, Weapon XI .  While Logan is searching, Stryker activates Weapon XI who is a combination of all the mutants abilities with none of their weaknesses.  Can Logan save the day and defeat the master plan?  Probably.  The film is jam-packed with non-stop action and stunts and state-of-the-art CGI effects. Donald McAlpine's cinematography is top notch and the locations are almost as good as the cast and script. yes, this is a good kick-off for this series of origin films which seems to be the future of this franchise for the forseeable years to come.

The Filmmakers:
Directed by Gavin Hood
Screenplay by David Benioff and Skip Woods
Released by Twentieth Century Fox

Well, I suppose it would be best if I do a little bit of "disclosing" for the sake of fairness. As the author of "The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction Movies," I have to admit that I’ve got more than a few problems with films that get their science wrong. I know, I know, this is supposed to be a happy little morality play for children, but that’s when I get even more offended.  When I went to the screening of the much more obviously "for-the-kids" movie, "Jimmy Neutron," there was a scene where all the kids launch off into outer space in homemade ships, all of which have open cockpits. As even an idiot knows, you need oxygen to breathe in space. Next to me, a five year old starts crying because all the kids are about to die. Her mother, so stupid she didn’t understand why her daughter thought death was eminent could not figure out a way to calm her child.  I don’t like sloppy work. I don’t like movies made by people who think their "message" trumps the laws of physics.  Second, I’ve said it before, and I’m certain I’ll be provoked into saying it again, enough with the political correctness. For those of you who don’t know what I’m talking about, let’s go to the film itself.  The story: The inhabitants of Terra (the Earthling name for this alien world, we never do find out what the native life form calls it, or themselves for that matter) have got it made. They live in homes carved out of big somethings (are they odd mountains, were they once trees? Who knows? That would take someone connected to this project feeling obligated to explain things). They might have a school system. They have some sort of religion--possibly.

 Well, at this point the last humans, searching for a new world in their rapidly failing mothership, have found Terra. It’s atmosphere doesn’t contain oxygen, but that’s okay, their white, male military commander has the perfect idea. Just change their atmosphere to one humans can breathe. That will kill all the aliens and make the world perfect for people.  Of course, the black president of humanity and his female sidekick say "No." People of color and women are always wonderful in these kinds of one-sided point-makers, while the white males are always the horrible monsters they’ve always been. Predictably, the general rebels against his common sense-driven leaders, seizes command of the mothership and launches an invasion.  Luckily for the Terrians (no, not Terrans, as in English, the filmmakers have their own special spelling), one of the human invaders gets to know how wonderful those being invaded really are.

Before long, our plucky hero sees the light and turns against the evil general, sacrificing himself so the Terrians may live.  Now, to be fair, much of the story is actually well told. One simply has to go in ready to disregard all the basic laws of nature. None of the alien technology makes the slightest bit of sense. The alien themselves float. Oddly enough, these legless people, who float naturally, sit in chairs and sleep in beds. Their planes have no discernable power supplies, and yet they can outfly rocket fighters. Indeed, they can escape wind tunnels a rocket fighter can not.  Oddly enough, the Terrian elders have kept all the weapons from the old days in case something like an invasion from another world ever came about. They’ve apparently kept them in good working order as well. They simply haven’t told anyone about them or allowed anyone to think self-defense is a good thing, or even kept around a secret crew who could pilot their death ships.  So, what is the message of "Battle for Terra?" As best I can figure, it’s "war is bad, but defending yourself is okay, but only if you don’t know how to defend yourself so that when you have to, you won’t be able to." Get it?  If you can ignore such things, and think this film’s message is one your children desperately need, then by all means head out to see this one. The animation is interesting, although as usual, the 3D process gave some audience members headaches. The fight sequences are fun to watch.

 But that’s about it. Now, I’ve done my best here to be up front about where I’m coming from. So, if your orientation is different than mine, head for the theater. Take the kids. Have a great time. If, however, your political leanings are a touch more advanced than those of Dr. Suess, then in all seriousness, forget this one. It isn’t for you.
 Our final word: 1 star out of 5.

The Filmmakers:
Directed by Aristomenis Tsirbas
Screenplay by Evan Spiliotopoulos (writer)  and Aristomenis Tsirbas (story)
Released by Roadside Attractions

Charles Dickens was far more interesting than most people these days know about. He spent an inordinate amount of time exposing fake spiritualists. He campaigned for the poor and the downtrodden long before it was fashionable or politically correct to do so. He was a giant among men, in his time. But now, his time is gone, and as far as most of humanity is concerned, he is a forgotten man. Except ...   That he is the author of "A Christmas Carol." Despite all his other wonderful books, or the facts of the selfless life he lived, he will be remembered until the end of time for that single accomplishment. And you know, it might just be enough. After all, there hardly seems a month that goes by that someone doesn’t steal the plot of his classic tale of Scrooge and his ghosts to render yet another bad movie or treacly sit-com holiday episode.  But then again, every once in a while, someone gets the point of his story, and their appropriating of it comes off much more like homage than theft. In fact, I saw one tonight.  The Story: Celebrity photographer Conner Mead (Matthew McConaughey) has the life every guy thinks he wants. He’s good looking, wealthy, and he sleeps with an endless parade of beautiful women. Oh sure, there was that girl back in junior high (Jennifer Garner) that broke his heart, but he got over that. With the help of his Uncle Wayne (Michael Douglas), he transformed himself from a geek into a ladies man, and he’s been that way ever since.  Conner might have stayed on the loveless hellraiser track forever, but Fate decided to intervene. At the wedding of his kid brother, Conner is visited first by the ghost of his late uncle playing the part of Marley, and then the traditional three ghosts--past, present and future. They’re there to show him where his life went wrong, and maybe help him get the girl he always wanted before it’s too late.  If you’re guessing that this is the perfect date movie, you’d be guessing correctly. Screenwriters Jon Lucas and Scott Moore didn’t do too badly a while ago with their first holiday-based romantic comedy, "Four Christmases," but this time they’ve hit the ball square out of the park.

 Yes, I choose my words correctly. Everyone seemed to have a "wonderful" time. Normally, this is the kind of film I hesitate to send people out to spend their money on. There’s nothing about it that really screams a need for being seen on the big screen. But, on the other hand, I have to admit it does scream out to be seen.  When all is said and done, "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past" is a surprisingly good movie. Filled with nicely done cameos, clever side characters, and a crisp sense of dialogue style rarely seen anymore, all I can say is, guys, if you have a gal out there you need to show you’re not as big a jerk as she thinks you are, take her to see this one. And then pay attention to what the characters are saying.  Hell, you might just find happiness.
 Our final word: 5 stars out of 5.

The Filmmakers:
Directed by Mark Waters
Screenplay by John Lucas and Scott Moore
Released by Warner Brothers