I didn’t grow up singing “GO, GO POWER RANGERS!” I didn’t have a favorite ranger. The kid’s TV show turned toy empire was a little after my time, though I did catch parts while channel surfing. At that point I was starting to watch Jackie Chan and 90s action films, so the tepid fight scenes in THE MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS didn’t quite make an impression. And it’s not like anyone watched the hit series for the character development or acting in the first place.
While POWER RANGERS borrow the same ideas and similar visuals from the 90s show, the film tries to correct the two elements I just pointed out that the original show lacked. This time around the focus is on the kids and not their stunt doubles in the suits. Five high school kids come together under convenient circumstances one night in a rock quarry. The group unearths five mysterious coins which grant superhuman strength. Through the help of Zordon (think Bruce Wayne’s Alfred) and a silly robot voiced by Bill Hader, the group trains in order to defend Earth from the evil Rita Repulsa (Elizabeth Banks, once again proving that no costume, hair or makeup is too much for her to act through).
If it sounds like your typical superhero origin story… it’s because it is. They are the outcasts turned heroes that we’ve seen time and time again. The influences are more prominent than their candy-colored suits. With everything from THE BREAKFAST CLUB, THE GOONIES, and Marvel’s cinematic universe as the most obvious influences, you would expect it to feel much drier that it actually is. Thanks to a diverse group of young talent, the teens aren’t the insufferable caricatures you would see in a high school CW show – in fact, they are actually quite likable. Since Billy’s character is much more defined than the others, the standout in the group is RJ Cyler (ME AND EARL AND THE DYING GIRL). However, they all add some gravitas to their stereotypical emotional baggage.
Accepting responsibility and being ready to protect the Earth as a team become central themes. What makes these worn out adages work is that you actually get swept up in their journey. While the film takes a little too long to get the team to suit up and into action, at least the action takes place in broad daylight, just as the final battles in the original show seemed to always be staged. The added bonus to this is that you can actually see what’s going on between these mech warriors and giant monsters – unlike the dark action sequences in something like PACIFIC RIM.
PROJECT ALMANAC director Dean Isrealite isn’t interested in just loud dumb Transformers-esque action, like a kid slamming his action figures together. He shows his commitment to the characters by not rushing the tender moments and delivering spirited and gritty direction when things get exciting. Kinetic camerawork from cinematographer Matthew J. Lloyd (who lensed the first season of DAREDEVIL) gives the film some much-needed energy even when the film indulges in the teenage angst.
POWER RANGERS strikes just the right balance of appealing to 20-somethings who watched the show (I went to the screening with one) while still appealing to pre-teens and teens – unlike similar attempts to do this, like the recent TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES films. You really get the feeling that these characters are discovering something new, even though the audience is not really watching anything new. If the inevitable sequels can continue to focus on the journey and team-building of the endearing leads, maybe the series can ditch the formulaic villain of the week TV approach and turn into a Megazord-sized franchise.
Overall rating: 3.5 out of 5 POWER RANGERS is now playing in theaters everywhere
Today’s news from the STAR WARS Galaxy comes with the announcement of a new director –
In addition to the episodes of a new Star Wars trilogy, Lucasfilm and Disney continue development of multiple stand-alone movies that will offer new stories beyond the core Saga. The newest director to come on board is Josh Trank.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Josh into the family,” says Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy. “He is such an incredible talent and has a great imagination and sense of innovation. That makes him perfectly suited to Star Wars, and for this new slate of movies that reach beyond the core characters and storylines of Episodes I through IX.”
Trank states, “The magic of the Star Wars Universe defined my entire childhood. The opportunity to expand on that experience for future generations is the most incredible dream of all time.”
Trank captured imaginations worldwide with his critically lauded directorial debut CHRONICLE, a fresh and engaging take on the superhero genre. Trank is currently at work on THE FANTASTIC FOUR for 20th Century Fox.
Secondly –
Supposed set photos from STAR WARS: EPISODE VII have been leaked and found their way online.
The film opens in theaters worldwide on December 18, 2015.
You could be in STAR WARS: EPISODE VII. Support UNICEF by entering for a chance to win a visit to the set of Episode VII in London, and be filmed in a scene in the movie. Enter here: http://www.omaze.com/experiences/starwars-episode-vii. The campaign runs until 11:59pm PST July 18th.
2012 marked a phenomenal year at the cinemas. ARGO, SKYFALL, LINCOLN, ZERO DARK THIRTY, DJANGO UNCHAINED, WRECK-IT RALPH, AMOUR, SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN. The list goes on and on. Every genre stepped up to the plate to whet theater audiences’ appetite. Check out our “2012 Best of” list HERE.
As we wade through the 2013 awards season celebrating the best films, you can’t have the greats without the clunkers. After much thought, the Geeks came together and decided to have one last look at 2012 with our list of the 10 Worst Films. Our list kicks off with the “dishonorable mention” – PROJECT X.
Found footage: it’s not just for cheap horror flicks anymore! This celebration of binge drinking and property damage is supposedly all shot by a member of the film’s junior “wolfpack”. When his parents leave him home alone for his 21st birthday (they’re off on an anniversary/second honeymoon trip..the dopes!), Thomas decides to throw a party with the help of his incredibly obnoxious pal Costa (I guess Jonah Hill is past these roles). Revelers dive into the pool from the roof of the house (what could go wrong?). A crazed pot dealer torches the neighbors with a flame-thrower (harmless hijinks!). There’s even an Archie comics romantic subplot tossed in (will Thomas/Arch go with the snobby, raven-haired bombshell Alexis/Veronica or go with the sweet blonde next door Kirby/Betty?). When Dad returns, he grounds his son, but then gives him a proud wink (“Didn’t know you had it in you!”). RISKY BUSINESS covered some similar territory (can it really be 30 years old?!) is CITIZEN KANE compared to this course, crude ode to irresponsibility.
10. RED DAWN
In many ways, this is actually a perfect remake. The original film is unpleasant but delightfully goofy and improbable, and this one is, while not as unpleasant, even more goofy and improbable. It begins by setting up Kim Jong-Un as a scary threat, and only escalates in silliness from there.
9. WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU’RE EXPECTING
Cliche, agonizing, and just plain painful… That sums up WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU’RE EXPECTING. Elizabeth Banks and Anna Kendrick couldn’t even save this dull sitcom of a film. There is no real character development, and with so many characters and stories going on the whole thing is just one big mess!
8.ONE FOR THE MONEY
Katherine Heigl was featured as Stephanie Plum in this anything but hilarious film that was supposedly for the whole family. Based on Janet Evanovich’s best seller about an incredibly average yet heroic woman who finds a new start in the bail bond business. Fans of the books were looking forward to this movie and with some great source material, it makes you wonder how it could’ve been messed up so badly. Across the board this movie failed.
7. DARK SHADOWS
DARK SHADOWS was a film many greatly anticipated, hoped would be a perfect vehicle to welcome Tim Burton back into the fold of filmmaker’s appreciated by the more critical audience, but ultimately fell flat. Burton’s take on the classic TV saga failed to truly capture the darkness, the morbid and the drama. Burton’s attempts at humor were only occasionally successful, but more often fell on a silent crowd and the ending was, well… to put it simply, straight out of left field, pointless and, in general, somewhat of an ill-concocted cop out for mere shock value.
6. FOR A GOOD TIME CALL
The “sex comedy” FOR A GOOD TIME CALL was neither sexy nor funny but did prove the adage that sex is funny when it’s taken seriously, but boring when it’s treated as funny. It obviously targeted the Sex and the City/BRIDESMAIDS demographic but the writing was lazy and the jokes simply weren’t funny. Any movie whose idea of a hilarious gag is to name a phone sex business 1-800-MMM-HMMM is the sort of film so eager to depict people in cutesy-naughty situations that it never bothers to figure out what they’re doing there in the first place. FOR A GOOD TIME CALL had the cruddy over-bright lighting, the stop-and-go pace, and the patchwork structure of bad TV. The lifeless charades presided over by the two lead actresses was just embarrassing as they bickered and shouted their lines like Lucy and Ethel. Lauren Anne Miller was cute but bland while Ari Graynor gave a performance tone-deaf abrasive, channeling Bette Midler at her loudest. For a good time…….choose a different movie if this one’s tempting you at Red Box.
5. ALEX CROSS
A scowl and a black trench coat do not an action hero make. Tyler Perry looks less foolish in a dress than he did in the action scenes of ALEX CROSS. Without the pendulous bosom, glossy fright wig, and sass, Perry was adrift. He’s a big guy at 6’4″ but he has that big black Baby Huey face that he used in ALEX CROSS to sneer and growl and squint like he was trying so hard to shed Medea’s skin right before our eyes and reveal his inner Bruce Willis. There were so many close-ups of him failing to emote, such as the scene where he cradled his dying wife and couldn’t muster more than an unconvincing pout, that you just felt bad that he was so out of his league. Some of the action scenes were in slo-mo to disguise the fact Perry is more convincing swinging a purse than throwing a punch. ALEX CROSS was rated PG-13 so Mr. Perry’s fan base could take the whole family to see a movie that opened with a serial killer tying a negligee-clad beauty to a bed and torturing her to death by slicing her fingers off one by one. ALEX CROSS was almost, but not quite, fun-bad enough to recommend.
4. TIM AND ERIC’S BILLION DOLLAR MOVIE
Not since Tom Green has a supposed funnyman (or in this case, funnymen) been so self-indulgently persistent in testing a moviegoer’s patience. TIM AND ERIC’S BILLION DOLLAR MOVIE, which made last year’s BUCKY LARSON BORN TO BE A STAR look like Oscar bait, was made as terrible as possible by the hapless direction and writing of stars Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim, the “talent” behind the cable show Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! Perhaps their kind comedy works better in short sketches but their feature was one of the most annoying and uncomfortable films I’d seen in a long time. All the intended-to-be-funny moments just came off as desperate attempts by the pair to shock the crowd with gags about pedophilia, being covered in various fluids, and getting their genitals pierced. There was a lengthy sequence involving four prepubescent boys squirting diarrhea onto Wareheim in a bathtub, a scene that initially elicited groans from the audience that soon dissolve into bored silence, but to dismiss this movie for being ‘offensive’ would be to offer it high praise. Pudgy, pasty and homely, Neidecker and Wareheim had a distinctly repellent anti-charisma that sucked any joy out of the room the moment they appeared on-screen and I hope to never lay eyes on either of them again.
3. PIRANHA 3DD
This sequel to Alexandre Aja’s gruesomely fun Piranha remake showed a lot of early promise. The trailer looked fun. But then The Weinstein Company opted to release the film in only a handful of theaters while simultaneously playing it on VOD platforms. And it quickly became apparent why. This film was a disaster. The Piranhas get loose into the water supply and soon make their way into a waterpark where they go on a feeding frenzy. Director John Gulager bungles everything that worked in the first film–the humor falls flat, and even David Hasselhoff comes off looking bad as he plays….David Hasselhoff. Not even 3D boobies could redeem this mess.
2. MIRROR, MIRROR
Mirror, Mirror on the wall… Who went too campy and lost them all? The audience that is. Tarsem Singh failed miserably at attempting to blend the classic Brothers Grimm fairy tale with modern humor. What’s left is a kid-friendly, strange mess of a film. Julia Roberts was great as usual, but even she couldn’t make up for her co-star Lily Collins bad acting. I’d rather eat a poisoned apple then ever watch this again!
1. THAT’S MY BOY
Don’t confuse this with the vastly superior 1951 film starring Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis (yeah, I said superior!). I had found Adam Sandler amusing in Judd Apatow’s FUNNY PEOPLE years ago, but this wasn’t truly a Sandler flick. THAT’S MY BOY is the full deal, from Happy Madison Films which has often aimed for family friendly fare like JACK AND JILL. With BOY they’re going after the R-rated raunchy Apatow audience, and they miserably fail (or should I use the current phrase ‘epic fail’?). The film begins with a celebration of statutory rape! A teacher seduces a student half her age! How wonderful and hilarious!. Said student grows up to be Sandler complete with shaggy black wig, grating Baaa-stin accent, and chronic alcoholism. As he drives, he guzzles from a (label to the camera) Budweiser “tall-boy” (and they were angry about having their products shown in FLIGHT?). Oh, that rascal, that scamp! The result of the illegal tryst in the opening scenes is Andy Samberg. Let’s hope the SNL video short star escapes before being trapped in the Sandler posse (it may be too late for Kevin James..he’s assimilated). Gags (in the truest sense of the word) involving obese strippers, octogenarian sex, masturbation, and incest top off 2012’s most vile, unpleasant two hours (?!!) at the multiplex! Time to hit the showers!
For many, the “superhero” genre is as worn out as an old sock, with so many comic book movies proving they are bigger on their budgets than their concepts. I am, of course speaking of the average movie-goer, not the clutch of comic book fans that frequent the film adaptations, for better or worse. On the other hand, there’s the rare film that takes the superhero genre and turns it upside-down, delivering a fresh new concept or unique spin on the oft over-blown orgies of CGI and miscast megastars we are accustomed to seeing.
On one hand, you have filmmakers like James Gunn who take the superhero genre into an extremist, even exploitative (these are compliments, folks) realm of parody and violence like with SUPER, and smaller comic books of higher quality adapted into quality films such as KICK-ASS. On the other hand, you have filmmakers who take the superhero genre and break it down into its essential parts, with only the core premise remaining, and build something new, something conceptual and less grandiose. One of the best examples is M. Night Shyamalan’s UNBREAKABLE, which gets at the core of what makes a superhero, and their super villains tick on a human level.
CHRONICLE is the newest example of such a film, written by Max Landis (the son of director John Landis) and is the feature film debut of director Josh Trank, who worked as an editor on BIG FAN, starring Patton Oswalt. The story follows three teenagers — Steve (Michael B. Jordan), Matt (Alex Russell), and Andrew (Dane DeHaan) — as they learn to adapt to life with newly acquired abilities as a result of a mysterious discovery during a late night barn rave.
The film presents itself as a found footage project, with the awkwardly anti-social Andrew choosing to record everything on a recently purchased camcorder. This approach works well enough for about the first half of the film, even though most of it is clearly of a higher production quality than would be expected from amateur found footage. This is fine, alleviating concerns that arose from THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT and CLOVERFIELD regarding countless reports of motion sickness.
The problem, and really the only criticism I have of CHRONICLE, is that the film doesn’t fully commit to the found footage concept. The theme is inconsistent, primarily in the third act. In hindsight, this is understandable, as the third act contains most of the large scale action and special effects, which would have been more difficult to capture as found footage. There are attempts to convey and remind the audience of this notion, but there are also ways that this could have been done better, maintaining the perspective throughout the film.
I am purposefully being vague, as not to ruin anything about the ending of CHRONICLE. If you read between the lines, you’ll no doubt figure it out, but to explain how this could have been done better would not do the viewer justice prior to seeing it themselves.
As the three teenagers secretly learn and develop their abilities together, the group dynamics between them evolves and changes, which is where CHRONICLE shines. The characters are well developed, especially Andrew, who is clearly modeled along the lines of the DONNIE DARKO personality type. The film is told from Andrew’s point of view, not just because he is usually the one recording the found footage, but also because this is primarily his story. This in turn also presents another twist in the film’s approach, as Andrew becomes what you might call the film’s antagonist. Again, read into that what you will, but this is as far as I go with explaining Andrew’s involvement.
The special effects in CHRONICLE are achieved successfully, presenting the events on screen in a believable but frugal fashion, never overdoing the scale or flashiness of the effects. One of the most enjoyable scenes involved Steve helping Andrew make an impression during the school talent show, a scene where Andrew’s abilities are put to an impressively ingenious and playful use. The tone of CHRONICLE is very much in the high school “class struggle” vein, with elements of BREAKFAST CLUB and CARRIE mixed in with the previously mentioned DONNIE DARKO, and of course wrapped up in what is essentially a superhero origin story without all the pretentious back story and excess explanations of why and how. Instead, CHRONICLE focuses on how this development affects the three teenagers in their daily lives, and in whom they become.
Recently 20th Century Fox teamed up with Thinkmodo for an unusual viral promotion for the upcoming superhero flick CHRONICLE. Using three custom RC planes shaped like people, they launched them over NYC to create the illusion of human flight. “Since the three main characters of the movie have the ability to fly, we came up with the idea of staging a few “flying people” sightings around NYC. We achieved that illusion by having 3 custom-made aircraft (which were shaped like human beings) fly above designated areas in NYC and NJ,” says Michael Krivicka from Thinkmodo.
In CHRONICLE three high school students make an incredible discovery, leading to their developing uncanny powers beyond their understanding. As they learn to control their abilities and use them to their advantage, their lives start to spin out of control, and their darker sides begin to take over.
CHRONICLE flies in theaters everywhere Friday, February 3rd.
Check out the new teaser & exciting clips from CHRONICLE.
Synopsis:
Three high school students make an incredible discovery, leading to their developing uncanny powers beyond their understanding. As they learn to control their abilities and use them to their advantage, their lives start to spin out of control, and their darker sides begin to take over.
Find out what you are capable of on February 3, 2012!
Check out the bizarre-o 1st trailer for CHRONICLE.
Synopsis:
Three high school students make an incredible discovery, leading to their developing uncanny powers beyond their understanding. As they learn to control their abilities and use them to their advantage, their lives start to spin out of control, and their darker sides begin to take over.
Find out what you are capable of on February 3, 2012!
