Comic Books ahoy.
Greetings, and welcome to my film reviews:
The Prestige (Christopher Nolan; 2006) [U.S.A.]
My previous post last week wasn't much of a review, so I thought I'd expand on my incoherent praise. Christopher Nolan's "The Prestige" is adapted from Christopher Priest's novel of the same, adapted for the screen by Nolan and his brother, Jonathon. We last saw them team up for "Memento". The film follows the careers of two rival stage magicians at the turn of the 19th century: the theatrical Angier, Hugh Jackman, and the more talented but less flamboyant Borden, Christian Bale. The film tracks the magicians' obsessions over a single trick: a transportation trick. But what started as a rivalry soon turns evil, and both magicians pay heavy prices to outdo the other.
I've been looking forward to this movie for months, ever since I saw the trailer earlier in the year, and I have to say that I wasn't let down at all. To start with, I thought the casting was excellent, with Jackman portraying the obsessive, almost borderline psychotic Angier with enough intensity, but also the traces of an emotional scar after losing his wife. Christian Bale, of course, can just do about anything in my eyes, and portrayed the cocky Borden with a tough arrogance and...charm...to pull it off. Michael Caine supported them well, as a trick designer/builder, whatever you call it, who observes the magicians' obsessions. Scarlett Johansen pulled off an English accent nicely as a stage assistant, and David Bowie was a very nice surprise as Tesla, a scientist whom Jackman's character seeks out in America.
The script, of course, was tight and concise, with crisp dialogue delivered well. The intensity of the subject matter was well observed, and as the obsessions grew, the script observed that, and the sacrifices became greater. The themes of the film were very well defined.
With a plot that jumps across time, it's very easy to get lost, but the editing kept the plot moving along quite nicely, and the act breaks were blended together quite well. The second half of the second act did drag for me, as it does in every film, but it recovered nicely and delivered a final "prestige" worth hanging around for.
Really, the only faults I'd have with the film are that it could have been a little shorter, with some trimming around the latter part of the second act. I would have liked to have seen how talented the characters really were in illusions, but that's just me. I felt that part of the script wasn't explored enough.
All in all, I thoroughly recommend it, and class it as one of my favorite films.
X-Men: The Last Stand (Brett Ratner; 2006) [U.S.A.]
After a drug has been produced that "cures" mutants of their mutation gene, lines are drawn between humans and the mutant community. Professor Xavier, leader of the X-Men, believes a diplomatic approach should be undertaken, but Magneto, leader of "The Brotherhood", wish to take the cure by force and destroy whoever is in their way. Meanwhile, Jean Grey has been found alive, but an evil subconscious force within her, "The Phoenix", runs rampant, and Magneto utilises her to her fullest potential in his war against humans.
Deviation from the comic books notwithstanding, my problems with this film were not with the plot. The mutant "cure" was enough premise for a third sequel, and I was looking forward to seeing it achieved.
The script, however, let md won. After a wonderful first sequel, "X2", (Which I purchased today on DVD, incidentally), the screenplay for this film felt sloppy. Act breaks were easily picked, dialogue was corny, scenes that should have had my heart racing kept me bored. Sure, the massive fight scene at the end was cool, but it lacked *heart*. I was looking forward to a face-off between Pyro and Iceman, as predictable as it may be. I wanted to see them spewing forth their powers in a rage, trying to outdo each other as the tension grows higher...but instead I got a headbutt. What the heck was that?! It was like they ran out of money at the last second.
Casting was fine, but I don't particularly enjoy Halle Berry as Storm.
I don't have a *lot* to say about the film, because the film doesn't have a lot to say itself. I enjoyed it, sure, but definitely the worst of the series.
2.5/5 for me.
The Prestige (Christopher Nolan; 2006) [U.S.A.]
My previous post last week wasn't much of a review, so I thought I'd expand on my incoherent praise. Christopher Nolan's "The Prestige" is adapted from Christopher Priest's novel of the same, adapted for the screen by Nolan and his brother, Jonathon. We last saw them team up for "Memento". The film follows the careers of two rival stage magicians at the turn of the 19th century: the theatrical Angier, Hugh Jackman, and the more talented but less flamboyant Borden, Christian Bale. The film tracks the magicians' obsessions over a single trick: a transportation trick. But what started as a rivalry soon turns evil, and both magicians pay heavy prices to outdo the other.
I've been looking forward to this movie for months, ever since I saw the trailer earlier in the year, and I have to say that I wasn't let down at all. To start with, I thought the casting was excellent, with Jackman portraying the obsessive, almost borderline psychotic Angier with enough intensity, but also the traces of an emotional scar after losing his wife. Christian Bale, of course, can just do about anything in my eyes, and portrayed the cocky Borden with a tough arrogance and...charm...to pull it off. Michael Caine supported them well, as a trick designer/builder, whatever you call it, who observes the magicians' obsessions. Scarlett Johansen pulled off an English accent nicely as a stage assistant, and David Bowie was a very nice surprise as Tesla, a scientist whom Jackman's character seeks out in America.
The script, of course, was tight and concise, with crisp dialogue delivered well. The intensity of the subject matter was well observed, and as the obsessions grew, the script observed that, and the sacrifices became greater. The themes of the film were very well defined.
With a plot that jumps across time, it's very easy to get lost, but the editing kept the plot moving along quite nicely, and the act breaks were blended together quite well. The second half of the second act did drag for me, as it does in every film, but it recovered nicely and delivered a final "prestige" worth hanging around for.
Really, the only faults I'd have with the film are that it could have been a little shorter, with some trimming around the latter part of the second act. I would have liked to have seen how talented the characters really were in illusions, but that's just me. I felt that part of the script wasn't explored enough.
All in all, I thoroughly recommend it, and class it as one of my favorite films.
X-Men: The Last Stand (Brett Ratner; 2006) [U.S.A.]
After a drug has been produced that "cures" mutants of their mutation gene, lines are drawn between humans and the mutant community. Professor Xavier, leader of the X-Men, believes a diplomatic approach should be undertaken, but Magneto, leader of "The Brotherhood", wish to take the cure by force and destroy whoever is in their way. Meanwhile, Jean Grey has been found alive, but an evil subconscious force within her, "The Phoenix", runs rampant, and Magneto utilises her to her fullest potential in his war against humans.
Deviation from the comic books notwithstanding, my problems with this film were not with the plot. The mutant "cure" was enough premise for a third sequel, and I was looking forward to seeing it achieved.
The script, however, let md won. After a wonderful first sequel, "X2", (Which I purchased today on DVD, incidentally), the screenplay for this film felt sloppy. Act breaks were easily picked, dialogue was corny, scenes that should have had my heart racing kept me bored. Sure, the massive fight scene at the end was cool, but it lacked *heart*. I was looking forward to a face-off between Pyro and Iceman, as predictable as it may be. I wanted to see them spewing forth their powers in a rage, trying to outdo each other as the tension grows higher...but instead I got a headbutt. What the heck was that?! It was like they ran out of money at the last second.
Casting was fine, but I don't particularly enjoy Halle Berry as Storm.
I don't have a *lot* to say about the film, because the film doesn't have a lot to say itself. I enjoyed it, sure, but definitely the worst of the series.
2.5/5 for me.
posted by CelestialScribe | 10:12 PM
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