Review, thoughts, and reaction: Inception

In today's entertainment hungry society, it is very rare for a film to come along and instantly be considered a classic. But how do we define a classic? A wholly original, magnificently acted piece of cinema, with stellar soundtrack and beautifully crafted dialogue to boot? And just think how difficult this criteria is to achieve, taking into account how many plots, characters, and shots we've had come and go since the dawn of film. You'd be pretty certain this cinematic status is near impossible to achieve. Right?

Wrong.

Inception is the new film by Christopher Nolan, and his first completely original piece of work since his feature film debut, Following. The film is essentially a heist movie with a twist, in which Cobb (DiCaprio) and Arthur (Gordon-Levitt) steal people's deepest secrets by effectively invading their dreams. The film takes a U-turn though when Saito (Watanbe) offers Cobb a chance to regain his previous life, by planting an idea in someones head, instead of stealing once. Hence the title; Inception.

Everything about this film is almost flawless, but despite two viewings, I'm still finding it difficult to see whether this is the case, due to the initial awe the film inspires in the viewer. This could perhaps warrant a second reflection in a few weeks time, which might result in a slightly more neutral result, but hopefully not.

What's good?

Nolan's firm grasp on the art of story telling is very much apparant in Inception. Not only does the film pack a knockout punch of originality, and intricate detail, but it also operates on several levels, leaving the viewer to distinguish between the dream world and reality. This is what makes the film special, because as well as amazing you, it will stimulate your mind, causing you to think it over for hours, even days after you've seen it. Especially the ending. I guarantee it will drive you crazy.

Away from the script and story, the casting and performances are the best I've seen in ages. Similarly to the Godfather there isn't a bad performance, and although in most cases we may not feel as endeared towards less prominent characters as we are with Fredo and Sonny, it is impossible to ignore how convincing the performance are. I've already picked Leo for best actor this year, and possibly Ellen Page, who was robbed from best actress for Juno.

Despite the new found obession of 3-D cinema, especially after the success of James Cameron's 'Avatar', you'd have thought Inception would have followed suit. Wrong again. Nolan himself is not a fan of 3-D, and many think because of this the film will suffer visually. Trust me - this is not the case. Overflowing with amazing CGI and some really awe-inspiring photography, Inception is the years the most impressive film, especially on the big screen. Definitely worth taking a trip down to your nearest IMAX for.

The soundtrack is also something that Nolan and Zimmer have triumphed with, and when played through the cinema sound system, it really does give you goosebumps, from the sheer ferociousness of the gunfire, to the haunting music.

What's bad?

Not an awful lot to be honest.

The plot has come under scrutiny, and yes there are some holes here and there. It's not something you're going to fully understand straight away, which in a way can be frustrating, but is really aided by a second viewing, and a good explanation, several of which can be found online. The plot itself isn't that bad, but the minor details about dream levels and how it all work can be slightly dizzying at times.

And although the performances are great, and as an audience we do feel sympathy towards Cobb, the other characters appear quite shallow on the screen, in terms of their backstory and personality. This is a double edged sword though, and one could argue it helps the ambiguous and mysterious nature of the film.

Conclusion

Inception is a major triumph, not only for Nolan, but for film itself. Not once did I take my eyes off the screen, and very few films manage to command and capture that high level of attention. It will no doubt be remembered as a classic of our generation, as well in the history of film. It is by no means the best film ever made, but it is the closest we've had in years.

You have to see this film.

Rating: 5/5.

Verdict: The good.

Take... erm... what take are we on again?

It's funny how I always seem to be busier in holidays than I am in term time. There's definitelty something wrong there. But hopefully now everything is calming down a bit now, so I should get plenty of time for blogging and reviews.

So whats been keeping me? Well. Between the last time I posted and now, I've turned 20, completed the IMDb 250, restarted driving, been trying to catch up with all my Telford friends, been working, and sorting out various forms of finance. It's been a bit of a whirlwind.

But now everything seems to be sorted, I can start breathing some life into this seriously malnutrioned blog. In the next few days I'll get my review of the Godfather trilogy posted, as well as special on Inception, packed with my thoughts and reactions to it.

This will be the last time I leave my blog for so long. Scouts honour!

Dean

Reviews: The Godfather Trilogy

Me and one of my friends had planned to do a Godfather marathon for quite a while, but never really got round to it. We then decided what better to celebrate essay hand in with , than watching one of the most iconic trilogies in film history from start to finish. For anyone who hasn't already, I'd highly recommend it. Get together with a mate, or a bunch of mates, get some beverages in, order a pizza, and you've got one heck of a day lined up!

But what can be said about the Godfather trilogy (more specifically parts I & II), that hasn't already been said? Not a lot is the answer, but I'll do my best.

The Godfather: Part I
Many people, including myself, will argue that this is the greatest film of all time, and is the closest thing we've got to cinematic perfection. It is the finest story, the best collection of characters, and really needs no introduction.

Whereas the story, cinematography, and soundtrack are all superb, what really stands out is the cast. The film served as career defining performances for Brando and Pacino as Vito and Michael Corleone, despite the uncertainty of the studio to cast them in their respective roles. But in addition to these; John Cazale, James Caan, and Robert Duvall put on three of the best supporting roles of all time as the hapless Fredo, hot-headed Sonny, and Irish/German lawyer; Tom Hagen.

I could go on for days about the triumphs of this film, but I think I'll leave it for those who haven't seen it to find out about it for themselves, as part of the beauty of this film is watching the story progress, and the characters develop. For those who have seen it, it will hopefully be recognized as the film that defined not only a genre but cinema itself, and the must see film of all time.

I very much doubt for as long as we live, we will never seen anything better The Godfather.

Rating: 5/5.

Verdict: The good.

The Godfather: Part II
I once read somewhere that the Godfather II has something its earlier counterpart does not: De Niro. The beauty of Coppola and Puzo's sequel to their masterpiece from 2 years previous, is that it not only chronicles Michael's reign of fear atop the Corleone family, but also Vito's rise to power, starting from when he was a young boy in Sicily. And who better to play the role, than the best actor of all time, Robert De Niro.

The use of nonlinear narrative is perfect, and unlike other films which use the technique, the backstory is in no way irrelevant, and just as much of a part of the film as the main story is. Again I won't reveal too much about the story for those who have not been fortunate enough to see this masterpiece, but once again, it is completely flawless.

Something else I particularly love about this film, is the larger part John Cazale plays a Fredo, which is one of my all time favourite performances. Watching his relationship with Michael develop and decline, is like poetry in motion, and leads to some of the most emotional and beautifully acted scenes of all time.

I still maintain my view that The Godfather: Part I is the greatest film of all time, but The Godfather: Part II comes extremely close. And although Coppola had brilliant core material to work with in Puzo's original novel, the ability to helm two films as good as this in the space of two years, is extraordinary.

Rating: 5/5.

Verdict: The good.

The Godfather: Part III
Now this is where it gets interesting. Many critics, particularly the guys over at Empire (who gave it 2/5), have absolutely slated the final part of the trilogy, The Godfather: Part III. Most of the negativity revolves around poor performances, and the lack of the beautifully constructed narrative we were accustomed to in the previous masterpieces. Whilst I partially agree with some of these complaints, I think a lot of the criticism is unfair and in some cases unjustified.

I'll start off with what constrains the film from being as good as the first two parts in the trilogy. Whereas the addition of Andy Garcia as Vincent Mancini is a welcome addition to the cast, the lack of Brando, De Niro, and Duvall does pull the standard of acting down. This isn't aided by Sofia Coppola as Mary Corleone, who does not conform to the Oscar winning acting in the previous entries.

The other aspect which seems to cause unsettle amongst film fans is the incestuous romance between Vincent and Mary, as well Michael's rekindled affection towards Kay. I believe however that this is a matter of perspective. The nay-sayers will argue that the contempt ridden character Michael, which has been so well constructed over the last few films, has been unravelled. The argument itself if logical. If you were Michael Corleone, who shot his own brother, would you forgive your wife who tried to take your kids away, and aborted your third without permission? As Michael himself so elegantly put, 'No'.

But this leads onto my view of the film, which is that it is simply, misunderstood. Obviously incestuous romance was not top of our list of 'things we wanted to see in the final part of the greatest trilogy ever', but it did keep it in the family (pardon the pun). The Romeo and Juliet style romance, creates a strong undercurrent of forbidden attraction, and allows tension to slowly seep into the cracks of the story, which comes to a head at the end of the film. Michael's reunion with Kay also allows Coppola to convey one of the major themes of the film, which is forgiveness and reflection, that is also aided by the more religious aspects the film endows.

So what are the high points of the film? The closing 40 minutes almost make any other complaints irrelevant. Again the theme of reflection is brought up, as the finale closely mirrors that of the first film, and if you have any sense of emotion or compassion, you will find yourself balanced on the edge of your seat, with much shorter nails. The soundtrack is also something that stands out, especially with the vocalized rendition of Brucia La Terra, which is used in another of the stand out scenes. And finally although the older prequels are easily preferred, which orchestrated a more poetic portrayal of violence, the more modernized violenced fits in well with the time period, creating a chronologically accurate feel.

The Godfather part III is not as good as its predecesors, but then again, when compared with arguarbly the two greatest films of all time, it is hard to achieve this feat. Although the film does have it's downfalls, there are several prevelant elements in the film which I feel still make it a worthy candidate of the trilogy, despite it being widely misunderstood.

Rating: 4/5.

Verdict: The good.

Hope you've enjoyed reading the reviews, sorry for the delay, and more to follow soon.

Dean

Reviews: Kick-Ass, How to Train Your Dragon, Top Gun, Enter the Dragon

Kick-Ass
Originality is something that is hard to come by. Not necessarily because people can’t be bothered to come up with new ideas, but because there have been so many different films released, it’s extremely difficult to produce something that wholly original. But every now and then, you get one that stands out from the rest. Kick-Ass is that film.

An extremely potent blend of violence, comedy, and action, Kick-Ass does exactly what it says on the tin. The story revolves around Dave Lizewski (Aaron Johnson), a comic reading high school reject, who decides he’s going to make a difference. He dons some green spandex, and becomes the superhero the community desperately needs; Kick-Ass. He soon finds out he’s not alone though, and is joined by father/daughter team of Hit Girl (Chloe Moretz) and Big Daddy (Nicholas Cage), as well as Red Mist (Christopher Mintz-Plasse).

Not only does the film succeed in being one of the most violent and funniest main stream productions of the last few years, it also packs an overwhelmingly original story, some amazing performances, and some brilliant cinematography.

It’s easiest to think about like this. The base of the film could be described as a teen comedy, revolving around discovering your identity, and overcoming social constraints in order to make the girl of your dreams recognize you for who you are. The ultra-violent super hero overlay is what makes the film stand out though. In an unprecedented mix, we are given a monumental achievement in writing and cinematography, which will humour, shock, and delight you, making Kick-Ass the number one film to see in 2010.

Miss it at your peril!

Rating: 5/5.

Verdict: The good.

How to Train Your Dragon
With 3D cinema proving to be the next big innovation for the film industry, everyone is jumping on the band wagon. How to Train Your Dragon is the latest animated outing from DreamWorks, and by far their best yet, blowing previous title holder Shrek out of the water.

The film is based on the novel of the same name, and set on the imaginary Viking island of Berk, where (to paraphrase the opening few lines), the pests aren’t mice or mosquitoes; but dragons.

The hero of the story is Hiccup, another hapless protagonist with a thirst for success, but unfortunately lacking the necessary tools to get there. Upon shooting down an elusive Night Fury dragon during an attack, he learns that everyone has dragons all wrong, and they just want to be loved. Aww.

The script is beautifully written, providing light hearted comedy for all ages, and an extremely enjoyable story. Whereas the 2D version doesn't take anything away for the film, the 3D version is absolutely stunning, which coupled with the big screen, creates a visually stunning experience. How to Train Your Dragon is something for all the family, and with an intelligent story, and as well as some colourful characters, it is one of the most pleasing animated films of all time.

Rating: 4/5.

Verdict: The good.

Top Gun
If you look at ‘guilty pleasure’ in the dictionary, I’m sure Top Gun will be under there somewhere. This film has it all. Cheesy music, cheesy lines, cheesy story; what is there not to love? Cruise comprises the role of Maverick, a fighter pilot with disregard for authority and rules, living in the shadow of his old man. He and his buddy Goose (Anthony Edwards) are sent to Top Gun, a school for the top fighter pilots in the world, in which they learn to lost art of aerial combat.

But we’re not in the 80s anymore. A lot of the elements in the film don’t hold constant, and not surprisingly there are several cringe inducing moments, namely a topless greased up volley ball game with Cruise and Kilmer. But at the risk of contradicting myself, it’s these moments that make the film so likable.

As a film, it’s nowhere near perfect, but as a bit of light hearted entertainment for a Saturday night, to provide you and some mates with a few laughs and a slice of 80’s cool, you can’t really go wrong.

Rating: 3/5.

Verdict: The average.

Enter the Dragon
If you only ever see one martial arts film in your life, make sure it’s this one. Bruce tragically passed away before the film was released, but it still stands as a monumental bridge between Eastern and Western cultures, along with one of finest showcases of his legendary ability. The acting is poor in places, and the script has its moments, but sometimes these factors are just irrelevant, due to the sheer magnitude behind what the film has done.

The fight scenes are the clear highlight of the movie, and show just how phenomenal a martial artist Lee was. His talent was unparalleled, and even with the rise of Jackie Chan in the 80s, and now Donnie Yen, he will always be remembered as the best, despite his mere 5 title filmography. The choreography is superb, and there is great use of visual disorientation, particularly in the final show down with Han, which acts as a thrilling conclusion to the film.

So whereas Enter the Dragon isn’t a cinematic masterpiece by any stretch of the imagination, it has some of the finest choreographed fight scenes of all time, as well as some of Lee’s fabled philosophical views, which combine to make it the flagship for the martial arts genre.

Rating: 4/5.

Verdict: The good.

Back to Business!

I can safely say this has been the busiest and most stressful few weeks of my life. Way too many things have gone wrong recently, but they’re starting to look up again now. I won’t go into all of them, but your laptop dying 3 days before a deadline date, taking one of your 3000 word essays with it, is not a situation I would advise getting yourself into.

On the flip side I doubt I’ll ever have motivation issues again.

But now it’s all over, I’ve got everything handed in, had a great night out with the Newcastle University English society, and only have one exam on June 1st to deal with. Result.

The coming week is going to see plenty of film watching, with a Godfather marathon planned (with subsequent reviews of all 3 films) planned for Wednesday, and a trip to the Tyneside Cinema to see a free screening of Run Lola Run.

I was going to review a bunch of films I watched a while ago, but so much stuff has passed through my head since then, I’m going to do a bunch of others instead. So yeah, sorry for all the delays, but everything is back on track now.

Dean

No blog posts until May 14th.

Sorry guys - really busy with uni work. Waaaay to many essays. Normal blogging service shall be resumed on the 16th. Got a whole bunch of reviews and a 20 top list lined up too.

Hopefully after that it should be back to normal until the next set of deadlines!

Dean

iCheckMovies.com

Gonna post some reviews later on tonight, but I though I'd just highlight the site I'm using to go through the various movie lists.

www.icheckmovies.com.

It's a great little site, and has all the essential lists you'll ever need, from IMDB, to Academy Award Winners, to Best at the Box Office, it's safe to say the coverage is pretty comprehensive. The site operates like a checklist, and you tick movies off as you go once you've created your free account. From there you can browse through the various lists, search by film, and interact with other users, which you can be matched to in accordance to film compatibility.

What's more is you get awarded with trophies for seeing a certain percentage of each list, ranging from bronze to platinum, giving you that extra feeling of satisfaction for reaching various milestones. The interface is very simple, and although it can run a little slow at times, for film geeks, it really is the ideal site.

Dean