Posts Tagged ‘epic’

Short Take: An epic that pushes the boundaries of cinematic storytelling

Directors: Lana and Andy Wachowski, Tom Tykwer

Screenwriters: Lana and Andy Wachowski, Tom Tykwer; David Mitchell (novel)

Cast: Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Jim Broadbent, Hugo Weaving, Jim Sturgess, Doona Bae, Ben Whishaw, Keith David, Hugh Grant, Susan Sarandon, David Gyasi

Length: 2h 52m

Synopsis: Set across several centuries, six different stories about human souls drifting through time are told: A dying man (Jim Sturgess) on a voyage back home to America helps a stowaway slave (David Gyasi) escape from bondage. A brash, young composer (Ben Whishaw) forces his way under the wing of a brilliant, elderly composer (Jim Broadbent). An intrepid reporter (Halle Berry) investigates the corporate crimes of a nuclear energy company and finds herself in danger. A cowardly publisher (Jim Broadbent) finds himself trapped in a retirement home after getting in trouble with the wrong crowd. A human clone (Doona Bae), created simply to serve, rebels against her oppressors and attempts to bring down their regime. A hunter from a post-apocalyptic village (Tom Hanks) is faced with the truth of humanity’s future when he is visited by a prescient being (Halle Berry).

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Short Take: For its style alone it is worth watching, but the story fails in several key areas

Director: Rupert Sanders (debut)

Screenwriters: Evan Daugherty, John Lee Hancock

Cast: Charlize Theron, Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth

Length: 2h 7m

Synopsis: In a land far away, a princess was born that had lips as red as roses, raven-black hair, and skin as fair as snow. Her name was Snow White, and she was destined to become the purist of all creatures. Tragically, when Snow White was just a little girl, her mother passed away. Her father, vulnerable and overcome with grief, remarries a lost woman named Ravenna (Theron) and makes her the new Queen. On their wedding night she slays the King and assumes control of the kingdom, turning it into ruins. Though revered for her beauty, the Queen is nevertheless jealous of her stepdaughter’s fairness. For several long years Snow White (Stewart) remains locked up in the castle. The Queen, whose beauty and youthfulness we find comes from the consumption of young girls, seeks to consume Snow White when told by her magic mirror that doing so would allow her to live in youth forever. Luckily, Snow White manages to escape the castle, but is chased by a Huntsman (Hemsworth) hired by the Queen to fetch her. He eventually catches up to the princess but cannot bring himself to carry out his mission. In fact he falls in love with the fateful girl, and together they look for a way to defeat the evil Queen and reclaim the kingdom.

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Short Take: Flawed but fun. A perfectly acceptable bit of entertainment

Director: Andrew Stanton

Screenwriters: Andrew Stanton, Mark Andrews, Michael Chabon; Edgar Rice Burroughs (novel) A Princess of Mars, 1917

Cast: Taylor Kitsch, Lynn Collins, Mark Strong, Willem Dafoe, Dominic West

Length: 2h 12m

Synopsis: John Carter (Kitsch) is a Civil War vet who by accident finds himself transported to Mars where he discovers races of people and intelligent creatures, as well as, just as surprisingly, enhanced physical abilities. Soon John finds himself in the middle of a war between two humanoid peoples, the Red and the Blue, with a beautiful princess named Dejah (Collins) belonging to the former and a corrupt general named Sab Than (West) of the latter leading a war for her hand in marriage. Than is seduced by power given to him by the sage-like Therns; immortals who influence all types of beings to steer historical events all over the galaxy. In order to end the war John must enlist the help of the normally neutral but violent Tharks, led by Tars Tarkas (Dafoe), and find a way to foil the Therns’ plans. If he does, Dejah will show him the way back to Earth. But if he succeeds, will he want to go back?

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Short Take: As entertaining and well-crafted as anything out this year, short of "Inception"

Director: Edgar Wright (Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead)

Screenwriters: Michael Bacall (Manic), Edgar Wright (Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead)

Cast: Michael Cera (Youth in Revolt, Superbad), Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Live Free or Die Hard), Chris Evans (The Losers, Sunshine), Jason Schwartzman (TV’s Bored to Death, Fantastic Mr. Fox), Alison Pill (Milk), Anna Kendrick (Up in the Air), Kieran Culkin (The Cider House Rules), Ellen Wong, Brandon Routh (Superman Returns), Mark Webber, Johnny Simmons

Length: 1h 52m

Synopsis: Scott Pilgrim (Cera) is a 23 year old who shares a small apartment with his gay roommate Wallace (Culkin) and is the bassist for the garage band Sex Bob-omb. Also in this band are his friends Stephen (Webber) and Neil (Simmons), and one ex-girlfriend named Kim (Pill), all of whom don’t really approve of the fact that Scott has begun dating a 17 year old girl named Knives Chau (Wong) (though they have yet to even hold hands). One day Scott sees a girl at the library that he only saw previously in his dreams – Ramona Flowers (Winstead). After meeting her face to face at a party and working what charm he has, Scott and Ramona start becoming a couple. Upon this development, however, Scott proceeds to be challenged by each of Ramona’s Seven Evil Exes. In order for the two to keep dating Scott must defeat each evil ex he encounters, all of whom combat him in an arcade-like manner. Will Scott survive the tremendous onslaught of enemies? And more importantly, will he eventually be able to date the girl of his dreams? Read the rest of this entry »