Immortals (2011)

4/5

Tarsem's Immortals took me by surprise. I was initially excited to see it, after enjoying Tarsem's previous film The Fall, but my desire waned after countless negative reviews piled up. I almost entirely gave up on it until I found it on Netflix the other day. I must have watched it at the last possible moment because the next day it was no longer available for streaming. And I'm glad I did.

The plot is straightforward and seems to be made entirely for people who want nothing more than an action movie: King Hyperion (Rourke) steals the Epirus Bow so that he can use it to release the Titans from their prison beneath Mount Tartarus. Theseus (Cavill), a peasant who witnesses his mother's death, is the only one courageous enough to fight back. Zeus (Evans) believes so much in the humans' ability to combat evil that he threatens all the other gods on Olympus with death if they attempt to come to the aid of the humans.

As I said: simple, uninspired. But something about it stirs up excitement and emotion, and I'm betting it's all that Greek mythology. Tarsem gives us a striking visual oasis, with eye-catching costumes, luscious landscapes, and seamless computer graphics. Add in some of the coolest fighting I've seen, and who cares about the story anymore? Tarsem defies the current trend in crappy modern action flicks of fast cuts and shaky camera movements. Instead he uses "bullet time" photography, and he uses it wonderfully, pausing on sweet moves before speeding up for some fast action. The editing is tight and keeps the film lean and tense.

As for the negatives, the acting is passable (although that is honestly better than what I was expecting) and the unnecessary voice-over doesn't detract too much from the film (but that's probably because there isn't much of it). For what it aims to be, it's pretty close to perfection. I highly recommend this movie for anyone who wants a cleanly-shot and strikingly beautiful mindless action film.

IMDb link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1600195/

Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)

4/5

Rise of the Planet of the Apes is a prequel to the original Planet of the Apes. It tells the affecting story of young scientist Will Rodman (Franco), who is researching a novel medication to cure his father (Lithgow) from Alzheimer's. They start testing the brain booster on lab monkeys, but the operation is shut down after one monkey escapes and shows signs of aggression. Rodman is forced to take care of that monkey's baby, Caesar, which he manages to accomplish with the help of veterinarian Aranha (Pinto). As Caesar ages, the newly-formed family grows quite close, in heartwarming, Disney-esque montages. But Caesar quickly learns that not all humans are fond of apes or Disney montages.

The story has considerable range for what I'm sure everybody was expecting to be a simple action flick. The action itself comes in spurts, giving the overall movie a realistically tense and unpredictable atmosphere. The CGI was pretty close to perfect--it was so good that I actually had no idea it was CGI and kept wondering how they filmed the movie. But the picture is not all rosy. The acting was mediocre at best, forgettable at worst. The dialogue was equally bland and unremarkable. The characters were flat archetypes, and Pinto's veterinarian character was the worst offender. She was worthless, serving as nothing more than a pretty face in an otherwise drab, hairy film. But these niggles are minor complaints in the grand scheme of things, especially in the vanishingly rare genre of action movies that are actually good.

IMDb link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1318514/

Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

5/5

Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire was a completely unexpected triumph in cinema. Every aspect of this film works harmoniously with the other parts. From the inventive writing to the fast shutter speed cinematography, this movie provides an experience you are not likely to soon forget. Not only is it memorable and creative, but it's also a feel-good piece of entertainment.

Set in present-day India as Jamal Malik is about to win 20 million rupees on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, the movie goes back in time to reveal how his life story has served as a precursor to give him all the answers he needs to win. This framework could be the downfall of a lesser film, but in this one it fits perfectly. The cinematography resembles Christopher Doyle/Wong Kar Wai on methamphetamines. It is exhilarating, breathtaking, and reinvigorating. The music keeps your blood pumping while maintaining the mood and vibrancy of the locale and time period. The editing is tight, the pacing flawless.

The story itself, the dialogue, the characters, and the acting are all spellbinding. Everything is heartfelt, enriching, and filled with empathy. Everything was purposely chosen for its effect, and chosen correctly. Nothing happened by chance, nothing was left to mediocrity. Boyle wasn't even content to let the subtitles be average; he elevated them across the screen, colored their backgrounds. This gangster drama romance is one of the best of each of its individual genres, and without a doubt the most successful at incorporating and unifying each distinct genre into a brand-new, profound, and moving experience.

IMDb link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1010048/