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How to Train Your Dragon 3D IMAX

Submitted by ardith on Sat, 2010-03-27 21:49

To be honest, I wasn't very interested in watching How to Train Your Dragon. I'm so glad that I read the tweets of /Film's Dave Chen .

This movie is a must see. It's beautiful, moving, and so fun!

The 3D elements work well within the film and the animation is amazing. And it should be! The directors also are responsible for Lilo and Stitch. From the character (and dragon) designs to the story, everything about this animation is wonderfully executed. You really feel for the Hiccup, the main character. He is a Viking teen who is not quite part of the group because, well, he's more of a dreamer than a dragon slayer. Even though he desperately wants to please his father, he is more of a hindrance than a help.

Believe me, the movie offers a lot to both adults and children.

I went to a 11:30 AM showing today that was filled with children and the room was quiet through the film! They were totally engrossed in the story. Or I was just so engrossed in it that I didn't hear any fussing.


Since the movie may not be in 3D for too long (with Clash of the Titans coming out next week), so please go watch it while you can. It is worth the extra 3D fee.

Fanboys

Submitted by ardith on Wed, 2009-07-08 21:32
Apple iTunes Fanboys takes you back to the time before the Star Wars Prequels were released upon the world. It was a period of Star Wars drought.

During college, I recall the excitement and anticipation before The Phantom Menace was released. It was an amazing time for nerds everywhere.

And that takes us back to this film. While there are really sweet moments and the acting fine, I feel that there was something missing. But hey, there's a story arc with some character growth.

Reading the history behind the release of this film, it's not hard to feel sorry for the director and the actors. The film was butchered and then the director had just hours to put it back together again.

Honestly, I was entertained by the movie and did shed a tear or two for one of the characters. I can't say I loved the film, but I did like it. Geeks will enjoy the cameos from genre actors including Carrie Fisher.

Star Trek (2009)

Submitted by ardith on Fri, 2009-05-15 22:10
At the urging of my friend @shawnnar, I finally caught Star Trek (note: iTunes link goes to the ORIGINAL Star Trek Motion Picture Soundtrack, not the reboot). While not everyone loves Star Trek, the characters still have resonence.

I am more of a Star Trek: the Next Generation fan, but the themes of diplomacy, humanity, and diversity that are ingrained in the series has always been fascinating.

This new movie isn't focused on those characteristics.

J.J. Abram's reboot of the Star Trek saga is full of action, special effects, and... characters. There must have been quite a sense of pressure to live up to the popculture collective's expectations. And while the movie isn't about the Prime Directive, it is so freaking entertaining that I had an urge to go for seconds right after.The last time I really felt this urge was when the first Matrix was released.

While watching the movie, you forget about plot holes. I was engrossed by the movie, by the plot, and especially by the dynamic between Spock and Kirk.

The audience is NEVER bored during this movie. J.J. Abrams knows how to set the pace between action and story, seducing the audience into this world that is so very familiar to fans and yet so different.

The Fall

Submitted by ardith on Thu, 2009-02-05 19:59

Tarsem Singh may be best known for the stunning visuals of the Cell.

His amazing use of color, costume, and dramatic staging take you into a fantastical world through the eyes of an imaginative little girl.

The story is split into the real world and a fantastical one. Much like The Never Ending Story and Pan's Labyrinth, there are memorable characters and creatures.

Hellboy II: The Golden Army

Submitted by ardith on Mon, 2008-07-21 03:38
Hellboy - Hellboy 2 Promo Pic

This is about a week late. Sorry!

Last week, I went to LA to visit my friends and take in Hellboy II: The Golden Army. I happen to be one of those people who really LOVED the first movie. I have the Director's Cut DVD and a lovely Hellboy messenger bag that I lug proudly about.

And I love Guillermo del Toro's visionary work. He can make me laugh and scream and cry all in the same movie. The creatures his imagination comes up with. I shudder to think the nightmares he had as a child. Though... he probably had fun with the nightmares.

Hellboy II brings together his comic-book geekiness, the power of his artistic vision, and a fun romp of a story. Hellboy (Ron Perlman) is still charming and grumpy at the same time he is trying to find acceptance in a world that fears the Other. He is happily in a relationship with Liz (Selma Blair), though can't comprehend what gets her mad. Luckily, though she has the power to fire it up with her temper, he's fireproof, so it all works out. I thought the first movie used her instability very well, but I loved the fact that she was more confident.

Doug Jones as Abe Sapien is comfortable in his skin. I think he's more confident, especially since this movie uses his real voice and he's not dubbed over by David Hyde Pierce. Abe is vulnerable and very sweet as he finds himself in love with an elven princess.

Wall-e: A Slightly Bias Review

Submitted by ardith on Sat, 2008-07-05 20:08
Wall-e

I finally had a bit of time to catch Wall-e yesterday. I have to say that I feared that I over-hyped the movie. To be honest, I didn't really care all that much for Cars, though I have watched it again on DVD.

I however totally loved Finding Nemo. I started crying in the theater in the first opening minutes and had a great time with the rest of the film. I think Finding Nemo and The Incredibles are tied as my favorite PIXAR film.... Well, until this.

I love many things about PIXAR, Their storytelling is really solid. They don't stuntcast for voices. Their animation is... amazing.

With Wall-e, you get all of that and more. Wall-e is one of thousands and thousands of robots left to clean up a decimated Earth. Humans have totally trashed the home undefinedworld. B&L, a gigantic conglomerate, seems to own/run everything, and Earth is a junkyard.

So humans leave on a 5 year cruise in space and let the robots clean up. (As an aside, after finally taking a cruise, I was greatly amused by the AXIOM. It's the ultimate space fun ship.)

700 years later, the humans are still away and all of the other WALL-E robots have ceased to function. The last remaining one has is malfunctioning in the best way ever. Like a kind of robot madness, he's broken through and develops a personality.

Wall-e is kind. He's romantic. He's lonely. He's funny. And he's amazing.

Stardust

Submitted by ardith on Sun, 2007-08-12 21:40

I actually refrained from reading the Neil Gaiman's novella because I wanted to be happy with the movie. In my experience, books are usually much better than the movie and the trailer looked so fun that I didn't want to spoil it with - Why did they leave THAT out? ect.

And I'm very happy I did go in without expectations. The movie is charming and fun. I quite enjoyed it, though some plot twists I did see coming a mile away -- but then it *IS* a fairytale, so some devices are just like that.

The acting was fun, though Robert De Niro seems to stand out the most. I think it might be his American accent. Most of the other actors tried their hand at British'ing. Or, it could be the hilarious situations his character just endears himself to.

All the actors seem to have great fun with this movie. Michelle Pfeiffer truly kicks up the wickedness. I haven't had a chance to watch her in Hairspray yet, but if she has as much fun with that role as she did with this, then it will be a joyful bit of wickedness indeed.

I highly recommend you watch this movie. It's PG-13. Has a bit of action and some gruesome deaths plus a bit of naughtiness that is hinted at. It is really a fun afternoon romp for fans of fantasy, fairy tales, and magic.

Pan's Labyrinth

Submitted by ardith on Fri, 2007-01-05 00:41

Guillermo del Toro

makes beautiful films. Even the gruesome bits are filmed in such a way that you can't help but be fascinated even as you cringe.

I just got back from watching Pan's Labyrinth. It's playing in limited release in LA. The theater was sold out for the 8pm showing. Luckily we got there early and found some excellent center row seats.

This movie is beautiful. Ofelia, the main character, is a child in the middle of a war. She is fascinated by fairy tales and stories. And...she is the reincarnation of a lost fairy princess.

The movie is by turns horribly realistic and breathtakingly fantastic. The war that raged through Spain during World War II is bloody, with people shooting to kill and ensuring that there are no survivors with bullets to the head.

Ofelia must complete 3 tasks to prove that she is the true princess and the director does not pull any punches. The tasks are gruesome and dangerous. You cannot help but love Ofelia who is a bit lost in the dangerous world. Her mother is frail and heavily pregnant. Her step-father a monster.

I loved this movie. It's beautiful and dark. The characters are complex. It is not for children and has graphic depictions of, um..., let's just say flesh gets cut.

If you get a chance to watch this movie, do. At the end, the theater was silent. It was that good.

Serenity

Submitted by ardith on Mon, 2005-10-03 06:40

After getting back from San Diego, I dragged my friend Erika to go watch Serenity. The movie was set for 730pm. Um, I got to her house at 7:30.

Of course, I used my driving skillz to get to the movie theater in less than 10 minutes. We got there in the middle of trailers (no big loss!).

And then.... the movie started.

Serenity is truely action packed, funny, and touching. Of course, I came in a big fan of the show, but my friend had not watched the series. With the combination of genres (sci-fi, western, ect.), the film never stands still.

Ah, I love me the Joss Whedon. His skills with language, characterization, and story are without par.
Several loose ends from the series are tied and several quotable lines were uttered. This movie is something sci-fi fans will enjoy. The characters and humor surely cross all sorts of demographics.

So anyway, WATCH it!

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