Please watch the below honest trailer for Independence Day.
Enjoy! (How did this not get a sequel already?)
Wednesday, 26 June 2013
Tuesday, 25 June 2013
We now live in an age when CGI is so advanced, almost anything a movie studio wants to put on a screen can be created.
If you’re under twenty five, this might not seem like such a big thing, but it is. Watch any sci-fi film or television show from the 1970s or 1980s and you’ll see how far we’ve come. With such technological advances, TV networks and movie studios are mining the archives for stories to revamp, retell and reboot.
Is this a good thing?
The answer to this question depends on how two more are answered:
1) Are those that are mining the geek scriptures, mythos and archives being respectful to the original core principles?
2) Or are they simply taking the formof a franchise and disregarding the substance at its heart?
The most recent example of a reboot gone wrong…very, very wrong… would be Man of Steel. Many have gone “Oooooh!” and “Ahhhhh!” over the special effects sequences. But when one looks at the core of the Superman mythos, he does not kill. He just doesn’t. That fact defines the son of Krypton.
Is this a good thing?
The answer to this question depends on how two more are answered:
1) Are those that are mining the geek scriptures, mythos and archives being respectful to the original core principles?
2) Or are they simply taking the formof a franchise and disregarding the substance at its heart?
The most recent example of a reboot gone wrong…very, very wrong… would be Man of Steel. Many have gone “Oooooh!” and “Ahhhhh!” over the special effects sequences. But when one looks at the core of the Superman mythos, he does not kill. He just doesn’t. That fact defines the son of Krypton.
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| So, feeling really, really bad about killing someone is supposed to make it ok? Mmmmmmm…no. |
Having unlimited power and being physiologically superior to humans are not the only characteristics that make him “super”. He embodies truth and dignity and respect for life. And even though it may please many currently sitting in theaters, his snapping of a bad guy’s neck was a complete and utter betrayal of all for which the character has ever stood. Also, what many seem to have not noticed about MOS is that in previous incarnations, Superman would do everything possible to battle the bad guys away from areas where large populations could come to harm. Yet in MOS, hundreds of millions of dollars in property damage occurred and tens of thousands of lives had to have been lost and it appeared that the Man of Steel wasn’t even giving it a second thought.
The character of Superman has never been about stooping to the lowest common denominator. He has always been about inspiring others to be as noble as he. And that’s where the creators of MOS screwed up. They went with form, but not function. They tried to make Superman fit into a Rambo mold. It is the geek equivalent of making a ham and cheese sandwich for a Rabbi or asking a member of Occupy Wall Street if they’d like to donate to a Karl Rove CPAC.
Prometheus (2012, Dir. Ridley Scott, starring Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron) is an example of a reboot that’s somewhere in the middle-ground. When I walked out of the theater after seeing it, I was left with the feeling of “Meh. It was beautiful, but that was supposed to fall into the same paradigm of the Alien trilogy?” (note: And it is only a trilogy. That fourth one? With Winona Ryder? It doesn’t count. I said…IT DOESN’T COUNT.)
The character of Superman has never been about stooping to the lowest common denominator. He has always been about inspiring others to be as noble as he. And that’s where the creators of MOS screwed up. They went with form, but not function. They tried to make Superman fit into a Rambo mold. It is the geek equivalent of making a ham and cheese sandwich for a Rabbi or asking a member of Occupy Wall Street if they’d like to donate to a Karl Rove CPAC.
Prometheus (2012, Dir. Ridley Scott, starring Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron) is an example of a reboot that’s somewhere in the middle-ground. When I walked out of the theater after seeing it, I was left with the feeling of “Meh. It was beautiful, but that was supposed to fall into the same paradigm of the Alien trilogy?” (note: And it is only a trilogy. That fourth one? With Winona Ryder? It doesn’t count. I said…IT DOESN’T COUNT.)
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| Ok, so she’s not Ripley. It’s ok. Let it go. Life is change. |
However, being a hi-def visuals geek, I still picked up Prometheus on Bluray. Upon second viewing, I started to see things I hadn’t noticed in the theater. And by the third viewing, I realized how well done it was and what had been a major obstacle for me.
No Sigourney Weaver.
My mind had become so accustomed to having her involved in anything featuring the Xenomorph, that I let it hamper my enjoyment of Prometheus, which I now view as one of the best science fiction films of the past decade. A full review of it is the beyond the scope of this article, so I’ll simply put forth that if you’re ever hard up for something to watch some weekend, give it a second shot. If you keep in mind that it would be impossible to include Ripley in every flick, you’ll discover a whole new realm to appreciate.
And although some die hard Trekkies were down on J.J. Abrams’ reboots, and although many non-Trekkies didn’t dig them either, it’s fair to say that Star Trek (2009) and Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) were both amazing on many levels. Twenty years from now, when Man of Steel has fallen into obscurity, Abrams’ efforts will still be studied and enjoyed by film students and sci-fi geeks alike.
Another successful reboot? The Dark Knight Trilogy (Dir. Christopher Nolan). The Batman franchise was almost completely destroyed by Hollywood cheesiness in the 1990s. And then Christopher Nolan figured out two things. First, Batman should never be seen standing up straight. And second, he should almost never be seen in daylight. He understood that Batman was about fear and darkness and drama.
No Sigourney Weaver.
My mind had become so accustomed to having her involved in anything featuring the Xenomorph, that I let it hamper my enjoyment of Prometheus, which I now view as one of the best science fiction films of the past decade. A full review of it is the beyond the scope of this article, so I’ll simply put forth that if you’re ever hard up for something to watch some weekend, give it a second shot. If you keep in mind that it would be impossible to include Ripley in every flick, you’ll discover a whole new realm to appreciate.
And although some die hard Trekkies were down on J.J. Abrams’ reboots, and although many non-Trekkies didn’t dig them either, it’s fair to say that Star Trek (2009) and Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) were both amazing on many levels. Twenty years from now, when Man of Steel has fallen into obscurity, Abrams’ efforts will still be studied and enjoyed by film students and sci-fi geeks alike.
Another successful reboot? The Dark Knight Trilogy (Dir. Christopher Nolan). The Batman franchise was almost completely destroyed by Hollywood cheesiness in the 1990s. And then Christopher Nolan figured out two things. First, Batman should never be seen standing up straight. And second, he should almost never be seen in daylight. He understood that Batman was about fear and darkness and drama.
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| Sorry. We generally avoid graphic and disturbing imagery on Action A Go Go, but this image had to be shown. Never again. I say, never again! |
And possibly one of the best reboots ever made? Before I go into detail, watch this video. Although created for comedic purposes, it holds much truth.
The very essence of the power of the series is best summed up in the lines:
Him: One more episode?
Her: Yah!
I have watched the complete series three times and own it in its entirety on Bluray.
When Ronald D. Moore rebooted Battlestar Galactica (2004-2009) he created what many consider to be the very definition of science fiction purity. He took the basic themes of the original, expanded upon them, creating new depths of character and storyline. Camerawork and visuals constantly challenging one’s ocular range and capability. Music that was unique and compelling and haunting. Plot twists that rip one’s heart out and that give one hope.
And although the form was changed, some ways subtle, other ways major, he still stayed true to the essence of the original series. Humans figuring out what it means to be human and trying to find a new home.
So, when the topic of reboots and remakes arises in conversation with friends, my mind as of late has wanted to just block out any and all neural pathways that may be storing knowledge of the existence of Man of Steel, and I plunge into the areas that are holding onto the likes of Prometheus and The Dark Knight and that shining gem…that mother of all reboots….Battlestar Galactica.
So say we all.
Stephen Sumner is the sci-fi columnist for Action A Go Go.
Did you hate the Death Of Superman? So did the people at adjacentFILMS!
Plenty of hate (and laughs) below!
Enjoy!
It turns out that the Now You See Me soundtrack is full of surprises, just like the movie.
Composer Brian Tyler gives us an energetic album that is rounded off by a handful of electronic variations on his orchestral work. In particular, the remixes provided by Spellbound and Robert DeLong turn an already unexpectedly entertaining soundtrack into one of the better OSTs of the summer.
Seriously, it easily outshines Tyler's work on Iron Man 3.
Friday, 21 June 2013
WORLD WAR Z
Directed By Marc Forster
Starring Brad Pitt and Mareille Enos
This movie is a long time coming. Based on the celebrated novel of the same name written by Max Brooks (coincidently the son of screen legend Mel Brooks) that may have kicked off the zombie craze, this movie has had a troubled birth. Long in development, subject to script changes and an entirely new ending it has finally hit theatres to terrorize us all. But can it pass the test? Will it soar in theatres and recoup it's arguably massive budget? Or will it be the final nail in the coffin a Zombie craze that maybe, just maybe, has overstayed it's welcome.
Well, I can't answer any of those questions. I can just tell you if it's good or not.
But enough prattle! Let's dig in the WORLD WAR Z, the biggest zombie movie ever!
THE STORY AND THE PEOPLE WHO GET PAID TO TALK....
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| At it's core, this movie is about family....bwa ha ha lol jk it's about zombies. |
And it spirals out from there. I would like to definitively say what Lane did before he retired to family life but it was purposefully avoided in the movie several times and by the time it was revealed I wasn't paying attention. That's not something you want to hear from a reviewer, I know, but seriously, they just wouldn't say.
Which brings me to the characters themselves. The standouts are Daniela Kertesz, who plays an Israeli soldier named Segen who inadvertently get's wrapped up in Lane's mission and David Morse who play's "Ex CIA Agent". Some other minor players deliver the good, especially towards the end of the film.
But it ends there. The rest of the cast is relegated to play relatively thin stereotypes who exist mostly to move the plot along.
THE GOOD.....
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| You see these? Lot's and lot's of these. All over the place. Could anything else make a zombie fan happier? |
That, and some intense action scenes that have you looking all over the screen to see what is happening. The scope of these attacks and the unyielding wave of ruin the zombies bring can only be matched by the Arachnids from Paul Verhoeven's classic STARSHIP TROOPERS, and that is high praise indeed.
THE BAD.....
Sadly, once the camera is on the ground with actual people the movie starts to fall apart. For instance, it has a zombie problem. Not that there are too many, but when you actually see them you get a short series of jump cuts and then it's on to the next scene. When the zombies are finally revealed they are nearly comical in execution with popping and locking ensuing for no logical reason. Seriously, one might have just been dancing.
Worse than this is the story itself. It leaps from plot point to plot point, location after location, seemingly oblivious of things like physics, time, and common sense. Instead of focusing in to amp up the tension or lingering in a conversation to let the emotional weight of events sink in it is just onto the next scene. By the end it manages to figure itself out and turns into the smart zombie movie it want's to be....which...I hate to say this....may be attributed to Damon Lindelof's massaging of the script.
THE VERDICT...ACTION A NO NO
The biggest problem this movie has is it's identity crisis. It really wants to be a true blockbuster. And it really wants to be a zombie movie. But a rating of PG-13 (No doubt a move to increase revenue) kills both aspirations. At times this movie almost got me, but the very nature of a zombie movie is cannibalism and carnage and those things are messy. And this movies constant pulling back and lack of focus keeps it from achieving greatness.
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2 out of 5 Arnolds. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200 dollars.
Or just watch a few episodes of WALKING DEAD instead.
By Derek Scazella
Thursday, 20 June 2013
Welcome to the first installment of Under the Radar, an ongoing series of Action A Go Go that will take a closer look at movies that many may have overlooked. Films that were opening against mega summer blockbusters, were a small indie release, ahead of their time, or maybe just a classic of which a new generation needs to be made aware. If you’re looking for something to throw in the ol’ Bluray player this weekend, look no further. May we recommend….
Sunshine
2007
Directed by Danny Boyle
Starring Cillian Murphy, Chris Evans
Around the time that Bluray players stopped costing the same amount of money as the GDP of Kazakhstan, I picked one up. And then the quest began: What films fall into the “Must Have” category, especially in terms of visuals? Classics such as Blade Runner, Gladiator, The Matrix and Fight Club were easy choices.
But there was one film that fell into the category for which everyone has reserved a privileged space in their mind. A film that could be labeled as “Why The Hell Did This Film Not Win A Gazillion Oscars And Gross Hundreds Of Millions of Dollars At The Box Office And Who Are The Idiots That Gave It A Middling Review Because It’s Unquestionably The Best Film To Come Out in Years?”
That film for me?
But there was one film that fell into the category for which everyone has reserved a privileged space in their mind. A film that could be labeled as “Why The Hell Did This Film Not Win A Gazillion Oscars And Gross Hundreds Of Millions of Dollars At The Box Office And Who Are The Idiots That Gave It A Middling Review Because It’s Unquestionably The Best Film To Come Out in Years?”
That film for me?
Sunshine, directed by Danny Boyle (28 Days Later, Trainspotting, Slumdog Millionaire) and starring Cillian Murphy (28 Days Later, The Dark Knight Trilogy) and Chris Evans (Captain America, The Avengers.)
I didn’t see it in the movie theater because any poster that has the tag line “If It Dies, So Do We” just screams out “Wait for the Redbox rental!”
Once finally released on bluray, I checked it out, and realized not seeing it on the giant screen was a monumental error.
From the sci-fi geek perspective, Sunshine is one of the most visually blissful and awe inducing films….well….ever.
But the film is more than eye candy.
Superb acting. A musical score that deftly supports the mood of the film at every given moment. Complex moral and ethical dilemmas, presented in rapid succession, that make one think, “Whoa. What the hell would I do in that situation?”
And although the storyline may on the surface seem standard Hollywood fare (humans, traveling into space, to help ensure that humanity survives), I can assure you that ingratiating corporate investors and making the average movie viewer happy was the last thing on Mr. Boyle’s mind. He was more concerned with creative chances than ensuring he could generate enough income to purchase a new yacht.
Although action permeates the film, and the visuals are so intensely beautiful it’s easy to write that it’s the very type of film for which HD televisions and Bluray were invented, it is also a heavy film.
A very heavy film.
You don’t pop it in on a Friday night when friends are over for merriment and Jenga. It’s meant to be viewed alone or with friends that have attention spans and understand the importance of silence while the eyes are fixed on the screen.
It’s not a standard, formulaic film, with crowd pleasing themes and the occasional moment of substance. The entire filmis of substance.
If you enjoy films that break from the mold, characters the run the gamut of human behavior from spineless to honorable, and writing that doesn’t leave you feeling like you’re expected to have an IQ of 92, you will find immense satisfaction with Sunshine. Worth owning and worth viewing again and again.
Here’s a taste.
Stephen Sumner is the science fiction columnist for Action A Go Go. Of course he has the strength and nobility to fly directly to the sun to save humanity. Except he doesn’t do well in confined spaces. Or heat. And he needs a calculator for basic math. But, he’d still go. Aw hell. Who are we kidding? Humanity would be screwed if he were in any way connected with such a task. He’s still a nice guy though.
Wednesday, 19 June 2013
Sad, sad news. James Gandolfini has passed away today from a supposed heart attack in Rome, Italy. Mr. Gandolfini has starred in a variety of movies over the years, including True Romance(1993), In The Loop (2009), and most recently ZERO DARK THIRTY (2012). Of course his most famous role was Tony Soprano in The Sopranos. Over 9 years he won 3 Emmy's and 1 Golden Globe for his performance. The HBO show is widely regarded to the best Television show ever, and that is and has been my stance since the show ended in 2007. Regardless, he was a fantastic actor and renowned as an even better man
He will be missed. He is survived by his Wife and two children.
Monday, 17 June 2013
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| Shark Drop by Caleb Brown. Source: Here |
Today is pretty special. ACTION A GO GO has reached 500 posts. Even more impressive (according to blogger) we've been looked at more than 100,000 times.
Wow. Just wow.
I remember when I started this thing at the behest of my friend and frequent contributor to ACTION A GO GO, Troy Jeffrey Allen. I was in a rut and didn't know what to do with myself. I had lost the will to write. But he convinced me to start a blog and just talk about something I love. Of course, that was action movies. And ACTION A GO GO was born.
I wrote my own manifesto, which you can read here. The first real post was about Demolition Man, just click to see it. And it goes on from there.
When I first started this thing I was happy to see 9 visits a day. Then....wait for it...16! Now we're getting more than that. Many more. And we're still growing. And it just makes me so damn proud.
But I am not even going to try and take all the credit for this. Troy Jeffrey Allen has been so instrumental to this site it is not even funny. He also runs M.O.K.A, one of the best podcasts ever, and he's a class act, and I'm glad to be working with him. I'd also like to give a big shout out to Andrew Allen, a frequent contributor of movie reviews, and Stephen Sumner, our Sci Fi guru. I'd also like to thank Chris Campbell for being our Anime connection and Justin Fennell for being contributing writer, who just happens to be an artist. John Holmes is in the mix as well for contributing.
All of these guy's I've mentioned are doing some great work and I can't wait to see what they have in store for us next.
I'd also like to thank my friends from MOKA: That_Urban_Punk (or Nik) and "Mean" Gene Green. Those two have been a hoot to hang out with these past few years and will hopefully be contributing to ACTION A GO GO as soon as I get my hooks into them. I'd also like to throw in Mark Hughes who has been a guest on M.O.K.A and writes for Forbes. Also "Keyboardsmasher", the M.O.K.A tech guru.
It's been a great ride, and we've got more in store. I want ACTION A GO GO to be a one stop shop for action news, reviews, art, and culture. It sounds crazy, I know, but I believe the image at the top of this post just about sums up the spirit of what we are trying to accomplish with this site. It's called "Shark Drop" by Caleb Brown. It's kinetic and dangerous while at the same time being incredibly beautiful and well-crafted. It's the exact opposite of boring and ordinary. It's art. And that is what we want to discuss and bring to you, because that's what Action movies are. Art that can be celebrated and discussed to no end. And we want to bring you more of it. Video games, comics, music...it's all in the works and it's all part of an action culture that we want to bring to you.
And that brings me to my final point. I want to thank you, our readers. I want to thank you for reading our articles, sharing them, and sounding off. I want to thank you for being there and helping us build something special and unique. I want to thank you for being awesome.
Signed with Big Explosions, Guns, Fast Cars, Speed, Scantily Clad Vixens, and Booze.
Sincerely,
Derek Scarzella
P.S
Follow us on twitter @ACTIONAGOGO and Tumblr at ACTIONAGOGO.Tumblr.com.
P.P.S
In case you were wondering, here are my favorite posts from the past couple years.
DOUBLE IMPACT
LAST ACTION HERO
EXPENDABLES 2 REVIEW
DUELING MOVIE: THE HUNGER GAMES VS. THE RUNNING MAN
DUELING MOVIES: JUDGE DREDD VS. DREDD 3-D
MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE REVIEW
P.P.P.S
And in case you were wondering, this post is.....
From Metropolis, (1927), directed by Fritz Lang
Since every geek, film and action site this week will be plastered with pictures of a muscular male superhero wearing blue skin-tight latex, here’s something to bring balance to the Force. Images of Artificial Intelligence that will bring stimulation to any endocrine system that is primarily driven by testosterone. Enjoy.
5. Caprica Six, portrayed by Tricia Helfer, Battlestar Galactica, (2004-2009).
Hot. Very hot. So hot her spine glows during coitus. Does it really matter that she’s a theistic Cylon intent on the destruction of all of humankind?
An Isomorphic Algorithm? I should’ve paid more attention in my computer science classes.3. 7 of 9, portrayed by Jeri Ryan, Star Trek: Voyager, (1995-2001).
Hot. Very hot. So hot her spine glows during coitus. Does it really matter that she’s a theistic Cylon intent on the destruction of all of humankind?
4. Quorra, portrayed by Olivia Wilde, Tron: Legacy, (2010).
An Isomorphic Algorithm? I should’ve paid more attention in my computer science classes.
Technically not AI, since she was born a human, but close enough. She IS a cyborg and her consciousness has interacted with a complex neural net interlinked with millions of other sentient beings.
Harry Kim VERY much has the wrong reaction in the video clip below when 7 of 9 states: “Nevertheless, I am willing to explore my humanity. Take off your clothes. Don’t be alarmed. I won’t hurt you.”
2. Rachel, portrayed by Sean Young, Blade Runner, (1982).
She….just….I mean…..oof. Have seen this film dozens of times. Every time I keep hoping there’s a way for her and Deckard to live happily ever after.
1. GLaDOS (Genetic Lifeform and Disc Operating System), voiced by Ellen McLain, Portal (2007).
What did you expect? After all, I am the science fiction writer for Action A Go Go.
If you haven’t played Portal then please stop everything you’re doing right now. Go out and buy The Orange Box by Valve. You will then understand the brilliance, majesty, beauty and yes, sexiness of GLaDOS. Even though she’s not in humanoid form, by the end of the game you will be completely enamored by her. She tests you, threatens you and attempts to murder you. Yet, through it all, you end up falling in love with her. And you will play again and again and again simply to be in her presence.
Stephen Sumner is the science fiction columnist for Action A Go Go. Although attracted to Artificial Intelligence, he also feels that one’s heart can be shared with all races, whether they be Klingon, Twi’Lek or Asari.
Friday, 14 June 2013
Our man Andrew Allen took a crack at reviewing Man Of Steel. What follows is his take on the film. You can get the first review by our Sci Fi Columnist Stephen Sumner here.
Superman is back and he's ready to take out the trash, Zack Snyder style!
In a movie landscape dominated by superhero flicks based off of Marvel comics, it's easy to forget that there's even another contender in the playing field. DC comics has always struggled in the film industry, their track record is filled to the brim with lackluster efforts to bring their heroes to the screen (I, personally, have never particularly liked any DC based films prior to "Batman Begins"). With Marvel only gaining box-office traction, it seemed like it may be time to call it once and for all..... That is, until "Man of Steel".
"Man of Steel" has the vision, the heart, and the torque to bring DC comics to the forefront yet again, and to make people care about one of their heroes that isn't Batman for the first time in decades. Superman is a tough one to crack, nigh impossible to make a film about him that won't have audiences rolling their eyes every ten minutes at the sheer, juvenile implausibility of the whole shebang. But Zack Snyder and Chris Nolan have set out to drag the bad-sequel weary Kal-El into the realm of the legitimate, and although they don't succeed at every turn, boy do they try, and their unrelenting dedication to their goal is well worth the price of the ticket.
The film kicks off with a lengthy introduction which takes place entirely on Krypton, a somewhat revisionist version of the history established in the most mainstream versions of Superman lore, though the basics of it stay the same. Krypton blows up, Zod expelled to the Phantom Zone and baby Kal-El launched into space.
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| Jor El, played by Russell Crowe, watching his world crumble. |
From there on out we get a narrative mainly concerned with Kal/Clark finding his identity in a world where he simply doesn't fit in. Trying to find a way to use his powers to help others, while still not really sure what his purpose is, or where he's trying to go. Then everything changes when General Zod shows up with an army of pissed off Kryptonians, threatening Kal-El and his adoptive home world. And that's when the show really gets started.
The good:
The cast is stellar, far more stellar than a franchise this tired really deserves, and they sell this movie like nobody's business. The MVP in this one is Supes himself, Henry Cavill. More than just a hulking mass of uncontrollable masculinity, Cavill brings genuine charm to the role of Kal-El. There are dimensions to this version of Superman that I had never seen before, and that credit goes largely to Cavill for bringing that to life.
Though the rest of the cast does great across the board, the runner-up for MVP will have to go to Michael Shannon for his portrayal of the fearsome General Zod. Zod is truly the result of the failures of Kryptonian civilization, he's almost a robot programmed with one goal, one reason to exist: to ensure the survival of his people at all costs. Shannon plays the role with a grim gravitas, yet also with a pitiable naïveté. Yes, he's a battle-hardened general from space, but he also seems genuinely convinced of his jingoistic life purpose that it's hard not to feel some sort of pity for such a blinded individual.
One of the film's greatest successes is the modernization of Superman as a hero. From slight costume changes, to a fleshed out backstory, to a deepened character arc, this new Superman is a story that feels thick with storytelling potential. And, for the most part, Snyder and co. make fine use of that potential. It's a fascinating experience "rediscovering" such an iconic figure, and DC made the right decision banking on the vision of established film makers instead of hawking half-baked scripts off to indifferent directors (lookin at you, "Green Lantern").
And last, but not least, the action is awesome. A little CGI-heavy, but tons of fun none the less.
The bad:
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| "What's going n here?" |
As much as it pains me to say this, the narrative structure of the film deeply hinders the story's development. Which is really unfortunate because I really liked what they were shooting for, in theory. Most of Clark's childhood is told through flashbacks placed strategically throughout the film, which allows for the story to jump directly into his adulthood after the prologue and for relevant information to come to light as the movie chugs along. Unfortunately, our understanding of Clark as a person is very shallow without those flashbacks. Some of the key elements of his childhood are withheld until later in the film, so a lot of the earlier events in the movie ring hollow as they don't have enough narrative structure supporting them. By the end, the story does form a cohesive whole, I just wish I could've been as engaged toward the beginning as I was toward the the final acts.
Another rough patch is when the story turns it's focus towards General Zod's invasion of Earth. His appearance is somewhat unceremonious and therefor doesn't make much of an impact. An oddly paced sequence with Lois and Clark on Zod's ship serves as a poor reintroduction to his character and prevents the film from gaining the momentum it needs to propel itself into it's final act. The actual contents of that final act are just great enough to overcome a lack of proper set-up, but I can only hypothesize how much better they would have been had they gotten their proper intro.
So is "Man of Steel" ACTION A GO GO approved? By my standards, most definitely. Even when the story becomes clunky in places, the charisma of it's stars and the interesting twists on age-old characters keeps the film well-above sea-level. Also, this is the perfect film to show those people who have a grudge against Superman. A friend of mine who had been convinced from the very first trailer that it simply wasn't possible to make an interesting narrative out of Superman became a convert after this movie.
Personally, I'm already excited to see the sequel. Bring on Lex Luthor!
4/5 Arnolds
By Andrew Allen
By Andrew Allen
Man of Steel
Directed by Zack Snyder
Starring Henry Cavill and Russell Crowe
Just left a midnight viewing of Man of Steel not more than 20 minutes ago. The worst villain turns out not to be General Zod, but Christopher Nolan (writer/producer) and Zack Snyder (Director).
The movie is bloated with CGI and special effects. Since this review is on Action A Go Go, one would think that’s a good thing. But it’s like getting a cake that’s 99% icing. My gut tells me that at some point in time on the studio lot, someone with creative control had to utter the words, “You know, if we inundate the masses with explosions and space ships, they may not notice the script actually sucks.”
The movie is a vehicle for one-dimensional character development that left me with a complete absence of feeling for anyone in the film.
Directed by Zack Snyder
Starring Henry Cavill and Russell Crowe
Just left a midnight viewing of Man of Steel not more than 20 minutes ago. The worst villain turns out not to be General Zod, but Christopher Nolan (writer/producer) and Zack Snyder (Director).
The movie is bloated with CGI and special effects. Since this review is on Action A Go Go, one would think that’s a good thing. But it’s like getting a cake that’s 99% icing. My gut tells me that at some point in time on the studio lot, someone with creative control had to utter the words, “You know, if we inundate the masses with explosions and space ships, they may not notice the script actually sucks.”
The movie is a vehicle for one-dimensional character development that left me with a complete absence of feeling for anyone in the film.
And although a handful attempts were made (emphasis on attempts), there is almost a complete lack of any humor.
Since this is to be a spoiler free review, all I can say is that towards the end, something occurs that is essentially Nolan and Snyder taking an easy out and pissing on 70 years of Superman canon.
Therefore, instead of going to see this insult to Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster (the original creators of Superman), I would recommend taking your hard-earned money and buying the Blu Ray of this:
Since this is to be a spoiler free review, all I can say is that towards the end, something occurs that is essentially Nolan and Snyder taking an easy out and pissing on 70 years of Superman canon.
Therefore, instead of going to see this insult to Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster (the original creators of Superman), I would recommend taking your hard-earned money and buying the Blu Ray of this:
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Superman (1978, Christopher Reeve) |
Then anytime you ever think about watching Man of Steel, you can watch something that adds to your life, instead of wasting precious hours of breathing instead.
1 OUT OF 5 ARNOLDS
This film gets one Arnold on the Action A Go Go Arnold Meter because the special effects were pretty amazing. But in 2013, more than good CGI is needed to carry a movie. Other things, like, oh, I dunno….decent acting, character chemistry, talented script writing and respect for origins are expected as well.
Stephen Sumner is the science fiction columnist for Action A Go Go. If you want to understand why he has classified Nolan and Snyder as super villains, please refer to an earlier piece he wrote, entitled Untouched by the Abyss: The Essence of Superman.
Thursday, 13 June 2013
Directed by Richard Donner
Starring Christopher Reeves and Terence Stamp
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If Superman: The Movie was a blueprint for the superhero film, Superman II stands as a shining example of how to make a sequel.
To this date, the second film is my all-time favorite Superman movie. Everything that made the first movie awesome is expanded on here. It doesn't take the plot of the first film and re-hash it with a flimsy, new disguise. We get a completely different story, raising the stakes and offering villains that can go toe to toe with our hero.
To this date, the second film is my all-time favorite Superman movie. Everything that made the first movie awesome is expanded on here. It doesn't take the plot of the first film and re-hash it with a flimsy, new disguise. We get a completely different story, raising the stakes and offering villains that can go toe to toe with our hero.
By all accounts Superman II should have been a complete disaster; there was a lot of behind the scene drama that led to a change in directors during the filming of the movie. Richard Donner had completed 75% of the movie in 1977 before being taken off the project and replaced by Richard Lester. Lester would continue on the franchise and is ultimately responsible for its decline in quality. He can be considered the Joel Schumacher of the Superman movies. Lester's Superman went for simple camp, destroying the epic potential of the franchise. Luckily, in 2006, a re-cut of Superman II was released titled Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut. Much of Donner’s original vision is here and makes the viewing of the first two films a delight.
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| The greatest collection of movie villains ever? It would not be a stretch... |
Superman IIonce again stars Christopher Reeves as Superman, Margot Kidder as Lois Lane, Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor, and Terrence Stamp as General Zod. Before Krypton was destroyed, three criminals General Zod, Ursa, and Non were banished to the Phantom Zone by Jor-El for insurrection. After years of floating through space the Phantom Zone is shattered and they are granted freedom. They head to earth and discover they have super powers given to them by Earth's yellow sun. It doesn't take long for the trio to use their new abilities to terrorize the world in an attempt to become our new leaders. Meanwhile, Clark reveals his secret identity to Lois, forcing him to decide whether he will remain Superman or become a normal human to be with the woman he loves.
Once again the performances are top notch. Reeve’s proves he’s the definitive Superman and he definitely plays the vulnerable side of the character as he attempts to further his relationship with Margot Kidder’s Lois. However it’s Terrence Stamp’s Zod that steals the show. He’s cold, menacing, and arrogant, the polar opposite of Superman and a perfect foil. As in Superman: The Movie, Lex is once again the jester, but his funny moments outshine those from the first film.
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| Gene Hackman's best scene stealing ever? |
Superman II is jam packed with amazing moments, one of which includes Supes getting into a brawl with a drunkard at a diner. Also, there is a great scene involving Superman battling his fellow Kryptonian in the streets of Metropolis.
It isn't much of a stretch to say that Superman II has certainly been embraced by popular culture. With the new Zack Snyder film attempting to revisit Zod (this time played by Michael Shannon), Man of Steel will have to do a lot to surpass this film's greatness. When it's all said in done, will Man of Steel be as fondly remembered as Superman II was by the previous generation? Or will Snyder and Shannon be forced to kneel before Superman II and its greatness? Only time will tell.
It isn't much of a stretch to say that Superman II has certainly been embraced by popular culture. With the new Zack Snyder film attempting to revisit Zod (this time played by Michael Shannon), Man of Steel will have to do a lot to surpass this film's greatness. When it's all said in done, will Man of Steel be as fondly remembered as Superman II was by the previous generation? Or will Snyder and Shannon be forced to kneel before Superman II and its greatness? Only time will tell.
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