Spotlight - Movie Love

Something short and sweet for a monday morning. Maybe not that short. Sometimes not that sweet. Probably not sfw (there is some cussing. Though I suppose it's naive to say that would really bother any of you that much).

Review - Captain America: The First Avenger (Warning: Spoilers)

Beware: the following review contains spoilers.

Captain America: The First Avenger succeeds more as a two-hour prequel for things to come than it does as a standalone film. It features an abundance of over-the-top action sequences, a series of convoluted plans that test the limits of your disbelief suspension, and a tacked-on romance that very much feels like it was added just so the producers of the film could claim to potential female movie-goers "hey, we have smoochies along with the punches!"

Review - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2

Ostensibly, a movie review is supposed to provide some input to its readers about whether or not to go see a particular movie. Considering Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 is the finale to a ten-year film franchise, I think I can safely say that most everybody has already decided whether they're going to watch this film or not. I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say it's doubtful that any review would be able to persuade you to or dissuade you from seeing this film at this point.

Spotlight: Coming Soon to a Media Outlet Near You - July 2011

We're already halfway through 2011 folks ( can you believe it? ) but there doesn't seem to be any shortage of cool new media to entertain yourselves with - at least not in July. We list a few reasons to be look forward to enjoying life this month, after the jump.

On a side note, did you like the blog's background image for June? If so, I've included a 1920 x 1080 wallpaper below - just click on the image and you should get a full-resolution version. I really liked this background because it suggested a lot of action, but still had enough open space so that it wasn't distracting. Find more wallpapers like this one at www.dizorb.com.

WTWOF: Captain America - The First Avenger (2011)

Oh Jessica Alba. If only you could have
more than one expression on your face
at a time, maybe Fantastic Four would
have survived.

Followup Edition! To round out this summer's multitude of comic-based superhero movies (including Thor, X-Men, & Green Lantern all in the last two months) comes Captain America: The First Avenger. The film stars Chris Evans as the titular hero, though you might also remember him as the Human Torch, from the widely panned Fantastic Four movies. Considering both Captain America and the Fantastic Four belong to the Marvel universe, I'm guessing this will preclude any Captain America/Fantastic Four crossovers.

In case you were wondering why the movie boasts "the First Avenger" as its subtitle, I might point to the subtle hints that Marvel Studios has been dropping since Iron Man in 2008. You know how each film kinda has subtle hints about what's coming up in the next film? And how there are quite a few characters that crossover between movies? Yes folks, Marvel Studios is planning an Avengers film - directed by Joss Whedon - and to be released in 2012.

Captain America follows Steve Rogers, a man who attempts to join the army during World War II, only to be deemed physically unfit for service. Opting instead to volunteer for an unconventional and secret military operation, he is transformed into super soldier. Together with his sidekick, they combat a Nazi plot to take over the world.

The film is actually the last of the standalone movies to air before the team formally unites on the silver screen next year. Though I'm personally not exactly a big fan of the Captain, I'll probably see the film anyway. Can I just say though, doesn't it seem like Chris Evans goes from being a man with a head that's too big for his body, to a man whose body is too big for his head?

F for fudge.

Catch Captain America: The First Avenger in theaters, July 22, 2011. See the latest trailer below.

What to Watch Out For: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2

Voldemort ponders how best to start eating Harry's face off.

Via traileraddict.com comes the final trailer for the second part of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. An epic journey spanning 7 years of Hogwarts time and almost 10 years of real life time culminates in what appears to be a frenetic and action-packed finale July 15 2011.

Think about this - the first Harry Potter movie came out in late 2001.

Boy, I feel old.

Review - Green Lantern (2011)

WARNING: Minor Spoilers Follow

So ... lucky me, I have a friend who works at WB, and she graciously invited me to attend an early screening of Green Lantern. If you're like me and have been cautiously scanning rottentomatoes.com for early reviews, you'll know it hasn't exactly been impressing people as the best comic book movie adaptation. The general consensus is that it's quote "noisy, overly produced, and thinly written, squandering an impressive budget and decades of comics mythology."

I don't agree.

Yes, the background is laid on a bit thick; the opening narration bombards you with exposition meant to quickly catch non-comic book fans up to the setting. Sure, the story is befuddling at some points. There were 2 or 3 moments in the plot where I thought flat-out "this does not make sense." No, I can't deny that some of the characterization is a little weak and some of the plots are a bit derivative. Hal Jordan (played by Ryan Reynolds), for example, doesn't seem to know if he wants to be a wisecracking jackass or a soldier of honor and duty, fluctuating between the two just a little too quickly to be believable.



But who are we kidding? You're not going to a movie about a man who can create "hardlight" green energy with an alien ring for a thoughtful plot and deep characters. Green Lantern doesn't try to be anything other than what it is: a fun, action-packed and exciting adventure. And for the most part it succeeds.

Green Lantern is the story of Hal Jordan, a jet pilot whose prone to giving up for fear of failing (sorry, had to do it). When an alien spacecraft crashes onto earth and its occupant informs him that he has been chosen to be part of what is essentially an intergalactic police force, Hal rolls with the punches and joins up quickly. What he soon learns is that the personification of Fear, named Parallax, has escaped from its ancient prison and now threatens the universe. What follows is Hal's journey to discover the strength inside himself to overcome Fear, and save the cosmos.

Yes, it's corny. Yes it's sometimes hard to swallow. No, it's not completely faithful to the comic book origins. But is it fun to watch? Fosho.

Ryan Reynolds serves as a capable Hal Jordan. Mark Strong is absolutely what I envisioned Sinestro to look like in real life. I couldn't shake Blake Lively from her role on Gossip Girl though. Isn't she in high school? Why is she romantically involved with a 30+ year old Hal? Squick factor level increased.


I'll admit the plot is essentially a thin narrative device for us to see the action, but I have to say the action was pretty spectacular. As a Green Lantern, Hal Jordan is able to conjure up emerald energy into whatever shape or form he wishes, limited only by his imagination. He does so with spectacular bravado in the film, conjuring swords, machine guns, fighter jets, race cars and energy balls, all to different - but useful - effect. The visual and special effects are breathtaking; Oa, in particular, is a vibrant world rendered beautifully - simultaneous alien and still entrancing. Parallax is similarly animated.

I suspect had the film been released before Thor and X-Men: First Class, it might have garnered more forgiving reviews. I can't deny that Green Lantern doesn't quite capture the human and emotional aspect of cinematography as well as the two Marvel Comics blockbusters did earlier this year. Still, for what it was trying to be - a light-hearted action adventure sprinkled with just the right amount of humor - Green Lantern does a fine job.


Finally, I'll go ahead and admit right now that I may have gone into the screening with very low expectations. Do yourself a favor and do the same. Don't go in expecting the next entry in a deep, emotional film filled with social and political commentary. Go in expecting an easy-to-watch action-flick and you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Recommended For:
+ Green Lantern Fans open to a few mythology changes
+ People who don't mind suspending disbelief
+ Like Stunning CG and Visual Effects? Watch it just for that.
+ Scifi/Fantasy Action Adventure Fans
+ Ryan Reynolds. Blake Lively. Need I say more?

Not Recommended For:
- Green Lantern Loyalists
- People expecting X-men: Second Class or for lord knows why, Schindler's List 2
- People who don't like Scifi, fantasy, comic books, or action movies - what are you even doing here?
- People without suspension. Suspension of disbelief, that is.
- Ryan Reynolds. Blake Lively. Need I say more?

Movie-goers be warned. The screening I attended was for 3D, but I hardly noticed any 3D effects at all. Save yourself a few dollars and go to a regular showing.


Green Lantern Feature Trailer From Trailerpulse