A trip.
My trip to Queensland was relaxing, enjoyable, and most of all, fun. I took a lot of pictures and I'm sure I'll upload a few sometime. I thought about entering some details about what happened, but we really didn't do that much. Lounged about, swam, went shopping, etc. We hit a kangaroo on the way back, though. Does that count as something?
We also went to the cinema. Which brings me to my next point:
Casino Royale
Casino Royale is a prequel to all the Bond films in existence, but also takes place in present day. A fact which annoyed some of my friends, but for whatever reason, I didn't have a problem with it. James Bond, who has only just recently acquired a 007 status, is on a mission to stop a terrorist banker from funding various terror groups. To do this, he must win a high stakes poker game at the casino royale. There, that's the short version.
Ever since Daniel Craig was appointed as the new Bond several months ago, there was a massive hysteria that spread through the internet. Criticism arose from all corners of fan sites and nerds from across the globe. Though I thought Craig was an odd choice, I wanted to reserve judgement until I saw the film. Though I can't help but admit that a 95% Fresh reading on the rottentomatoes.com meter encouraged me.
Quite simply, Craig is excellent. Even from the opening scene, he captures the audience's interest with his cocky way about him, and his deep blue eyes that seem to penetrate through the celluloid. He is Bond, and he captures the character and molds it into his own style. The way he delivers dialogue is so crisp and real, I doubt even Connery could pull off lines like Craig could. He has a cheek and almost arrogance that is certainly attractive. So, really, the fear that he would suck was an unsubstantiated one indeed. He has an aura that few actors could pull off, even with practice.
SPOILER
A scene I particularly thought captured Craig's way of doing things was at the poker game. The villian, Cherife, (excuse the spelling, I cannot be bothered checking imdb.com)), has laced Bond's drink with a poison. It starts to take it's toll, and Bond has to leave. He struggled towards his car, panting, gasping for breath. He attaches a device to his chest that will kick start his heart, but passes out. He begins to flatline, when Eva Green comes and kick starts the machine. He revives, cleans himself up, and heads back to the game. He sits back down, looks at Chreife square in the eyes and says, "Sorry about that. That last hand almost killed me."
It was such a cool moment, and one that defines the new Bond.
END SPOILER.
I don't want to focus too much on the casting, because for the most part it was pretty spot on. Eva Green I particularly liked, and everyone else suited their parts just fine.
What I really want to focus on, however, is the screenplay and cinematography. This is not a typical Bond film. There are no gadgets, there are no wink-wink nudge-nudge jokes, and thank God, there are no ridiculous villains who want to TAKE OVER TEH WOLRDD!111. Sure, it's a Bond-flick, so one's perception of reality is a little jolted about, but this is the first Bond film I've seen that has actually used emotion to fuel the characters and their actions. You get a sense of "Hey, some of these things could actually happen." Bond gets hurt. You see him covered in blood and staggering along. He nearly dies. He is flawed, and it is good that we see him this way. Bond is human; he is not a superhero that will save the day every time. Occasionally, he fails. And it is his trust of people that makes him fail this time; a mistake that turns him into the agent that literally trusts no one.
The script is clear and crisp, with scenes never too long or too short. And we actually delve into Bond's emotions - we see him fall in love. Like I said, he is not a piece of stone. He is a human being, beneath the agent.
But of course, what is a Bond film with cars and action scenes, and they are both present in CR. The action felt real and up close and personal, and you could almost taste the blood.
All in all, this film was excellent. Re-watchable, with a screenplay that stripped away the crap, and added what needed to be added to a Bond film: Realism.
4/5
Eragon
There are moments in a man's life that he remembers for his entire existence. A first kiss, perhaps. Maybe even the first film he saw with his parents. The stories he read as a child.
Another one of those things has happened to me recently. I saw Eragon.
It's an event that is carved upon the memories of my heart.
Oh, but no, it isn't an event that is cause for joy. No, not at all. The memory of this film is painted upon my nightmares. I weep for the celluloid this film has wasted.
This film is terrible.
That's it, quite simply. I mean, there is so much wrong with this film I don't even know where to start. Editing is the most outstanding problem. Too quick. The scenes didn't have enough time to breathe, and you never got settled. The script was full of cliches, and there was no character development whatsoever. There were totally unnecessary scenes. Eragon's cousin leaves home. Um...okay? Why did we have to spend 5 minutes of screen time on that, when we could have seen a more interesting prologue, or some more development between Brom and Eragon? Props looked cheap, sets even cheaper.
That said, the CG was good, and Jeremy Irons was entirely under-used.
This is such a shame, because the storyline is just so rich, and remnants of it are quite original. Plus there are dragons.
Dragons.
...Dragons.
Look, I'm so dissapointed with this film, I can only give it:
1/5
Do NOT go and see it.
And with that, have a good day.
We also went to the cinema. Which brings me to my next point:
Casino Royale
Casino Royale is a prequel to all the Bond films in existence, but also takes place in present day. A fact which annoyed some of my friends, but for whatever reason, I didn't have a problem with it. James Bond, who has only just recently acquired a 007 status, is on a mission to stop a terrorist banker from funding various terror groups. To do this, he must win a high stakes poker game at the casino royale. There, that's the short version.
Ever since Daniel Craig was appointed as the new Bond several months ago, there was a massive hysteria that spread through the internet. Criticism arose from all corners of fan sites and nerds from across the globe. Though I thought Craig was an odd choice, I wanted to reserve judgement until I saw the film. Though I can't help but admit that a 95% Fresh reading on the rottentomatoes.com meter encouraged me.
Quite simply, Craig is excellent. Even from the opening scene, he captures the audience's interest with his cocky way about him, and his deep blue eyes that seem to penetrate through the celluloid. He is Bond, and he captures the character and molds it into his own style. The way he delivers dialogue is so crisp and real, I doubt even Connery could pull off lines like Craig could. He has a cheek and almost arrogance that is certainly attractive. So, really, the fear that he would suck was an unsubstantiated one indeed. He has an aura that few actors could pull off, even with practice.
SPOILER
A scene I particularly thought captured Craig's way of doing things was at the poker game. The villian, Cherife, (excuse the spelling, I cannot be bothered checking imdb.com)), has laced Bond's drink with a poison. It starts to take it's toll, and Bond has to leave. He struggled towards his car, panting, gasping for breath. He attaches a device to his chest that will kick start his heart, but passes out. He begins to flatline, when Eva Green comes and kick starts the machine. He revives, cleans himself up, and heads back to the game. He sits back down, looks at Chreife square in the eyes and says, "Sorry about that. That last hand almost killed me."
It was such a cool moment, and one that defines the new Bond.
END SPOILER.
I don't want to focus too much on the casting, because for the most part it was pretty spot on. Eva Green I particularly liked, and everyone else suited their parts just fine.
What I really want to focus on, however, is the screenplay and cinematography. This is not a typical Bond film. There are no gadgets, there are no wink-wink nudge-nudge jokes, and thank God, there are no ridiculous villains who want to TAKE OVER TEH WOLRDD!111. Sure, it's a Bond-flick, so one's perception of reality is a little jolted about, but this is the first Bond film I've seen that has actually used emotion to fuel the characters and their actions. You get a sense of "Hey, some of these things could actually happen." Bond gets hurt. You see him covered in blood and staggering along. He nearly dies. He is flawed, and it is good that we see him this way. Bond is human; he is not a superhero that will save the day every time. Occasionally, he fails. And it is his trust of people that makes him fail this time; a mistake that turns him into the agent that literally trusts no one.
The script is clear and crisp, with scenes never too long or too short. And we actually delve into Bond's emotions - we see him fall in love. Like I said, he is not a piece of stone. He is a human being, beneath the agent.
But of course, what is a Bond film with cars and action scenes, and they are both present in CR. The action felt real and up close and personal, and you could almost taste the blood.
All in all, this film was excellent. Re-watchable, with a screenplay that stripped away the crap, and added what needed to be added to a Bond film: Realism.
4/5
Eragon
There are moments in a man's life that he remembers for his entire existence. A first kiss, perhaps. Maybe even the first film he saw with his parents. The stories he read as a child.
Another one of those things has happened to me recently. I saw Eragon.
It's an event that is carved upon the memories of my heart.
Oh, but no, it isn't an event that is cause for joy. No, not at all. The memory of this film is painted upon my nightmares. I weep for the celluloid this film has wasted.
This film is terrible.
That's it, quite simply. I mean, there is so much wrong with this film I don't even know where to start. Editing is the most outstanding problem. Too quick. The scenes didn't have enough time to breathe, and you never got settled. The script was full of cliches, and there was no character development whatsoever. There were totally unnecessary scenes. Eragon's cousin leaves home. Um...okay? Why did we have to spend 5 minutes of screen time on that, when we could have seen a more interesting prologue, or some more development between Brom and Eragon? Props looked cheap, sets even cheaper.
That said, the CG was good, and Jeremy Irons was entirely under-used.
This is such a shame, because the storyline is just so rich, and remnants of it are quite original. Plus there are dragons.
Dragons.
...Dragons.
Look, I'm so dissapointed with this film, I can only give it:
1/5
Do NOT go and see it.
And with that, have a good day.
posted by CelestialScribe | 1:35 PM
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