Prom (2011)

2/5

Prom is a vapid, innocuous, forgettable piece of Disney Channel entertainment. The plot follows the disparate lives of random high school students in the month leading up to senior prom. There aren't really any characters so much as there are a smattering of overused, two-dimensional archetypes: the jock who cheats on his girlfriend, the straight A student who falls for the rebel punk, the nerdy guy who can't seem to ask a girl out. The writing was standard high school fare, chock-full of overdone voice-over and moments of obvious epiphanies, albeit with a few quality lines and situations that made me smile or laugh. The acting was middle-of-the-road, which is more than I expected coming into this movie. The bubblegum romance is good enough for a quickie, but not mature enough for a relationship. To put it simply, this is a mindless movie, but it was an innocent and fun waste of time.

IMDb link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1604171/

Hanna (2011)

4/5

Hanna is a terrific movie. The plot follows the daughter (Ronan) of a rogue agent (Bana) on a quest to take revenge on the person who killed her mother (Blanchett). The scenario surrounding that basic premise is fairly uninspired and recycled, borrowing heavily from action movie tropes without anything to call its own. The writing is just as dull as the plot, with characters that, while well-acted, end up flat and boring because there's nothing original or even remotely interesting about what they do or what they say.

What this movie does have, and in abundance, is style. Its visual flair makes it a delight to watch from beginning to end. The movie uses the most exotic, curious, beautiful locales to set gun fights and chase scenes. It combines refreshing cinematography with eclectic, exciting music to create something unique and memorable despite its bland storyline. Wright directs this film with ease, using some of the same techniques he used in his earlier Pride & Prejudice and Atonement to striking effect. He even cuts away from the action from time to time to focus on images or ideas that are more captivating than the fighting itself. This is not a traditional action movie, and may in fact alienate some typical action fans, but it will enthrall those who appreciate the essence of cool.

IMDb link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0993842/