The Amazing Spider-Man (In Glorious 3D!)

Impressions before seeing it
I liked the first two movies in Sam Raimi's trilogy (the third was a mess), and at first I was opposed to this because it wasn't a franchise that needed a reboot. I imagine it came to be when the studios said "We want to make a Spider-Man 4 because we love money, but nobody wants to come back for it. Let's just restart the whole thing." But after seeing the trailers, I liked that it seemed to be a little darker this time, a version that took itself more seriously.

How was it?
As I said, I was satisfied with Raimi's version, but after seeing this one and reflecting back, it makes the previous incarnation look bad. I had that peculiar feeling of cinematic déjà vu that one only gets when watching remakes and reboots, as there were certain events that happened in both films, but in different ways; ultimately, they are two very different versions of Spider-Man.

Tobey Maguire's Peter Parker was a total dweeb; perhaps too dweeby to be relatable. Andrew Garfield plays him as more of an awkward, angsty, rebellious teen. He's still unpopular at school, but not for being the painfully uncool nerd that Maguire was. This time around, he's closer to being a regular kid, and that's a significant difference. I think this one may have had a slower pace because it spent a lot of time on character development and Peter's relationship with Gwen (Emma Stone). It felt like a really long time before he was finally wearing the full Spider-Man suit, but it was time well spent because I was able to care about the characters so that the climactic battle would be more meaningful. Raimi's romance subplot was too one-sided, with Peter admiring MJ from afar and always being the one who loved her more than she loved him, even after they got together; not the case this time.

One thing I will say is that The Lizard wasn't really an interesting villain, but like Batman Begins, this is only a set-up movie and there is less time for an awesome villain. The sequel, assuming there is one, could have the potential to do some cool things now that Spider-Man's origin story is out of the way. I also have to mention that the 3D was somewhat intermittent; at some places almost non-existent, even, but when it was there - mostly when Spidey was fighting or swinging on webs - it looked great. And speaking of web-swinging, I notice they made a point of actually showing that the webs attach to things as he swings through the city, rather than hang mysteriously from open sky. Bonus!

Recommendation
I think it could perhaps be summed up like this: Sam Raimi made a movie about Spider-Man; Marc Webb made a movie about Peter Parker. This one is a little more down to earth - as much as it can be given the science fiction aspects - and a little less corny in its sense of humor, but it's a lot better. In fact it kind of ruins the other trilogy. Well, Spider-Man 3 ruins the other trilogy, but you know what I mean.

Moonrise Kingdom

Impressions before seeing it
It didn't really matter what this movie was about; I've never seen a Wes Anderson film I didn't like, so I was excited for this.

How was it?
If you've seen his previous work, you know what to expect from Anderson by now: stylized settings and character looks; undertones of sadness in spite of the colourful visuals; a sense of humour that is sometimes dry, sometimes verging on cartoonish, but fits into the surreal world of the movie; and a lot of head-on tracking shots touring the lavish sets. This is Wes Anderson's style, and its uniqueness (even within his own body of work, I see no diminishing returns) is why I love his movies.

However, one thing I will say is that Anderson's characters, at least to me, sometimes have a certain methodical stiffness to them that keeps me from getting emotionally invested in them. This is not to say they're not likable; I just don't feel much warmth or chemistry in their interactions with each other. For Moonrise Kingdom in particular, the movie hinges on these two kids, Sam and Suzy, being in love, but I didn't see it. They felt more like friends to me, and I felt like I was being told they were in love rather than shown it. But then again, they're 12 years old, which is a very different understanding of love than someone who is, say, 42. There is a potentially controversial scene where the two engage in some mild sexual experimentation, which also feels awkward and emotionally empty, but is accurate because, again, 12 is that age at the horizon of puberty so how could it not be awkward? But I was rooting for the two of them throughout the movie on the grounds that they were doing what they wanted to do, not because of their relationship. I don't think this hindered my experience at all, but I suppose you could say it didn't reach maximum potential because you have to be charmed by a romance for the romance element to work. If it weren't for the cinematic treat that is everything that goes into a Wes Anderson film, I might have liked this movie less because of it.

Anyway, the telling of an uncomplicated story in a rich way made it quite an experience to watch. There are some very well coordinated shots, particularly the long tracking shots and certain shots where the narrator speaks to the camera while vehicles enter the background at the perfect time during or after his monologues. I think only true movie geeks appreciate those cinematic proficiencies. Not to mention the entire cast was excellent and there are some good laughs to be had.

Recommendation
The Life Aquatic is still my favourite Wes Anderson film, but his record remains untarnished. Moonrise Kingdom is a cinematic experience of pure escapism, thanks to a director who practically creates a parallel world in every one of his films.

The Ides of March

Impressions before seeing it
It wasn't on my list of movies I wanted to see last year, but I found it in a bargain bin and recalled the trailer marketing it as a political thriller. I'm not into politics, but political thrillers can be fun, and this one does have a good cast.

How was it?
The Ides of March explains perfectly my personal choice to abstain from voting and politics; I refuse to vote for the lesser of two evils - because it's always two evils. Governor Morris (Clooney), a presidential candidate, is seemingly a good guy, charismatic and with worthy platforms for the masses, and is even trying to play his campaign straight, refusing to make shady deals for victories. All of that soon goes out the window when his junior campaign manager Stephen (Gosling) discovers a shameful secret of his, and the entire campaign becomes messy and dirty because of it, but only behind the scenes. To the public, Morris is still as wholesome as ever, and that's what's wrong with politics. Even if you intend to do it right, you won't, because you can't. Politics is too dirty a game to win cleanly, and sometimes we don't even see the dirt, but it's always there.

The story is not told from Morris' point of view, but Stephen's, because he's the behind the scenes guy at the center of the scandal. The film's poster is an apt one: it implies that Morris is a composite of a media image and the guy behind that image. Morris himself isn't even on the poster, because Governor Morris the human being is irrelevant in the campaign for president. If the movie were told from Morris' point of view, we would be getting more of his public image and less of what was really going on, and that would be too much like real life politics and we wouldn't get the expositional piece that is The Ides of March. It kept me interested because of this, because of all the plot twists it threw out and the very strong cast delivering the material without fault. I think this is the kind of movie I was looking for (and didn't find) when I watched Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. The writing had just enough subtlety not to be too confusing or too obvious, and I was engaged in the material. Even though I don't care about politics.

Recommendation
Whether you're into politics or not, everyone should be aware of the deception and corruption that comes with running for office. This one is a handy little edutainment package on that front. Also see Wag the Dog, or even that Family Guy episode where Lois briefly becomes Mayor of Quahog.

Breaking Bad - Season Four

A year is a long time to wait for the next season of a television series, but when that series is Breaking Bad, it's always worth it. I don't know how many times I can say this show is flawless and grippingly addictive, but I will say that season four has so far been my favourite season. Tension was just ramped up across the board as Walt and Gus made moves to get rid of each other, Walt and Jesse turned on each other, Skylar became a badass and had her own struggles in helping keep Walt clean, Hank got uncomfortably close to catching "Heisenberg", and even Saul freaked and went into hiding. Additionally, every character got an awesome monologue moment. For Walt, it was his "I am the one who knocks!" speech to Skylar, which was one of the greatest things I've heard in a long time; Jesse had his outburst in therapy where he reveals what a horrible person he is, stunning the counselor; for Skylar, it was her sales pitch to the car wash owner where she tells him exactly how much his business is worth and what its profits are; and Hank had a couple of moments in his investigation highlighting what a shrewd detective he is in spite of acting like a tool a lot of the time. Seriously, does anyone not like this show?

In all honesty, Walt has gone from a good guy to someone who is mostly a dick, but I've never hated him because his actions are usually justifiable in some way, albeit often extreme, and he's just so damned good at "the game", as it's referred to on The Wire. Conversely, Jesse was kind of a scumbag punk at the beginning of the series but has developed some better qualities over time. Still very much a flawed person, but a more likable one. Part of what makes this show so entertaining is how Walt and Jesse have completely opposite personalities, and putting two opposites together always makes for the best scenes.

Next season is supposed to be the last, but I have no idea what's in store because the ending resolved the season and didn't leave a cliffhanger. But I'm thinking there could be an epic Walt vs. Jesse showdown, because if Jesse ever finds out that Walt let his girlfriend die and poisoned that kid, he'll be feeling murderous. I don't know how he could, though, as neither incident had any witnesses. There's also the possibility that Hank will finally catch his brother in-law, so maybe it will be a Walt vs. Hank showdown. Or both. Hopefully the DVD will be out sooner this time, as there will be no new season causing a delay for purposes of promotional proximity.

Best Episode: I think I liked "Cornered" best, in which Walt delivers his aforementioned badass monologue, buys his son an unnecessarily expensive car, and pays the laundry ladies to clean the lab for him, while Jesse impresses Gus and Mike by recovering their stolen meth, a scene which includes a very cool shot from a shovel's point of view.

Manic

Impressions before seeing it
Their on-screen relationship seemed to be celebrated by fans in (500) Days of Summer, but I thought it would be interesting to take a look back at the first time Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel worked together. People generally liked this movie as well, and I was curious as to why when I knew it was about young people in an asylum.

How was it?
We usually think of asylums as being for the insane, but these kids aren't. At least not in the strait jacketed dementia sort of way. Mostly they've been institutionalized because troubled home lives have made them excessively violent and emotionally unstable. Dr. Monroe (Don Cheadle, playing it calm and soft-spoken like a good counselor should) subjects them to group therapy sessions in an attempt to rehabilitate them.

Director Jordan Melamed applies a gung-ho documentary style that is highly effective here, as it makes the characters and events feel very real. I don't even think the actors were wearing makeup, which is very rare, but then this is an indie movie and not a Hollywood blockbuster. Watching these characters, it was sometimes hard to like them because they're so damaged, but it was also hard to hate them because it's not their fault they turned out that way. This puts you in a neutral territory that pushes you toward rooting for Dr. Monroe, because he genuinely wants to help these kids but is starting to doubt himself. I like how he would ease into the group therapy, my favourite example being one where he started off with everyone discussing whether Batman could defeat Wolverine, and then when one kid complained that it was a stupid argument because they're both fictional, he transitioned into having them talk about real fights they've been in. Smooth, Doc.

Recommendation
Ultimately, what Manic reminds me of is One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, but for Generation X. There's even a quiet Native American kid and some basketball scenes. I enjoy movies like this that take an intimate look at something I'm not personally familiar with, like asylums, so I found it to be fascinating and sometimes even funny. It has a certain charm to it in spite of a cast of characters I wouldn't necessarily want to be in the same room with. For a low budget movie that is 11 years old (actually, it feels older), it holds up well.

My Top 10 Movies of 2011

I watched nearly 30 films last year and liked almost all of them, so this was a difficult list to narrow down. You'll find some honourable mentions at the end, but here are the ones that made the cut... (Note: click on a movie title to see the full review.)

10. 30 Minutes or Less

I know this one bombed and people seem to have already forgotten about it, but I thought it was a lot of fun and the comedic cast made all of the jokes work.

9. Hanna

A very cool action thriller led by a talented young actress and  an experienced veteran. I think it does more for feminism when you have two female leads in an action movie and neither of them dress in skimpy clothing (I'm referring to you,  Sucker Punch.)

8. The Muppets
People of all ages can enjoy this movie thanks to a blend of heartfelt nostalgia and the wonder and silliness of childhood. Probably the warmest and sunniest movie of the year.

7. Moneyball
I'm not a sports fan, but I do enjoy the occasional sports movie, and I found this behind the scenes look at baseball drafting to be both fascinating and inspirational, and it almost made me appreciate baseball. Still not about to watch an actual game, though.

6. Midnight in Paris
Woody Allen is good at romanticizing a city, but here he also romanticizes a time period in this charming little time travel romance. It is a foible of human memory that many of us will always long for the past rather than appreciate where we are now.

5. A Separation
This gripping Iranian drama puts you right in the center of a conflict and challenges you to choose a side when it knows neither is more right than the other. Very thought-provoking and ripe for discussion.








4. Super 8
Mixing The Goonies with filmmaking, alien adventure, and a bunch of Spielberg films makes for a highly entertaining and enjoyable ride. I like movies where a group of kids goes on an adventure, because they don't have the capability of adults but they have twice the imagination and sense of excitement.

3. Melancholia
As the title suggests, it's not exactly a happy film, but it is a well executed and beautifully shot end of the world epic with great naturalistic performances from the cast. Too bad an unfortunate comment from the director ensured that it was snubbed at the Oscars.






2. Attack the Block
One of those insanely fun movies where, as you watch, you just keep thinking to yourself, "This is awesome." I really like the idea of a gang of thugs becoming heroes when they have to defend the city block from predatory aliens. From the trailer, I wasn't sure whether I would like it and almost didn't watch it; that would have been an enormous mistake.






1. Carnage
Unbelievably, I had even more fun watching this than Attack the Block. The cast is fantastic, the writing is strong and funny, and the final shot works as a hilarious punchline that undercuts the entire movie. And all shot in one apartment. Nice work, Polanski.



Honourable mentions: The Descendants, Another Earth, 50/50, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, The Rum Diary, Hugo

Click here for my 2010 list.

A Separation

Impressions before seeing it
Heard a lot of good things, it won the Best Foreign Film Oscar, and the trailer was intriguing. This was the last film on my list of movies from 2011 I wanted to see (top 10 list coming very soon!).

How was it?
As a result of this Iranian couple's separation, an altercation occurs that spirals into a serious legal matter that continues to escalate. Needless to say, it was intense and gripping in a way that has your full attention as you anticipate the next development in the conflict. The camera work is very unseemly, done in a handheld documentary style so that you can focus on the performances without being reminded that you're watching a movie. I always liked that about that style of shooting; it makes you feel like you're there.

The most interesting thing about A Separation is the way it plays with viewer sympathies. As the court case unfolded, I found it continuously difficult to choose a side; neither party was entirely right or wrong, because everyone was a bit of both. This conveniently puts us into a head space similar to that of Termeh, the couple's daughter who doesn't want to choose between her parents (though I should clarify, for those who haven't seen it, that the legal battle is not between husband and wife). Like Doubt, it is a film situated in a grey area that offers no solution; that's for you, the viewer, to decide. Not every moviegoer appreciates a movie with no closure, but I say those are the best films to discuss with others, because the answers are always up for debate.

Recommendation
No complaints; it was entirely entertaining and thought-provoking, and I learned a little about Iranian culture, too. If you don't hate subtitles or open endings, I definitely recommend it.