It could be the age old question - what separates a good movie from a great movie? What's the difference between three stars and four to five stars? How do you bring a movie from "so-so" to having people rave about it to anybody who can stand to listen to them? I'm sure almost everyone has their own opinions on the what and the how. So...in my humble opinion...here are the top five things that I think take a good movie and make it a great one.
1) Character development. It sounds pretty simple. But it can make all the difference in the world. Every movie has characters in it. And granted, you can't learn everything about every single character...you just don't have enough time. But at least take the time to develop SOME of the characters. Character development works in two ways. One...it makes the characters more interesting...and it connects the audience to them more. It's easier to care about somebody you actually know something about. Two...it gives insight into some of their actions. One of the most powerful moments of "Saving Private Ryan" is where Tom Hanks' character tells the squad that he is an English teacher from Pennsylvania. It has absolutely nothing to do with the story...but it makes Hanks' character a little bit more human. You connect with him a little more. And yet so few movies take the time to do this.
2) Special effects in moderation. You've heard it your entire life. Everything in moderation. A little of something can be a wonderful thing. Too much can be horrible. The same goes for making movies. Special effects in the movies have come unbelievably far just in my lifetime. Compare the special effects from "Star Wars" to "Revenge Of The Sith". As I said in an earlier post, it's like comparing a Model T Ford to a Prius. They can do things in movies now that they wouldn't even have imagined doing twenty years ago...simply because there was no way on Earth that they could have done it. BUT...to paraphrase the immortal words of Ian Malcolm from "Jurassic Park"...moviemakers get so preoccupied with whether or not they can do something, they never stop to ask if they should. Special effects can add so much to a story. But too many just distract from the story itself. Good special effects are like sprinkles on a sundae. They shouldn't be the main attraction...they should make the end result that much more amazing.
3) Trying to do too much. Another point of moderation. I've said it before...and I'll say it again. Nothing drops a movie from great to good faster than trying to do too much. Whether it is too many new characters, too many sub-plots, too many twists...too much is NEVER a good thing. Especially in a medium where you only have two hours to tell your story, give or take. The two greatest examples on this point are "Spider-Man 3" and "X-Men: The Last Stand". Both are fine movies. But they could have been great movies...except for one minor detail: They tried to do too much.
4) Waiting for something good. I remember quite well when I went to see "The Hulk." I was so psyched about it. I had bought my ticket a week in advance. I went at eleven o'clock at night. And then...I waited an hour before I actually got to see the title character. I know...I timed it. I know that sometimes, patience is a virtue. When you have to wait sixty minutes out of a two hour and eighteen minute movie to see the main character...that's pushing it.
5) A flat ending. This has happened many times before. You have a great movie. It is astounding. It is incredible. And then...it ends. And the ending just ruins it. Suddenly, what should have been a great movie drops to an OK movie. Classic example - "Lord Of The Rings - Return Of The King." It was a great movie...and then the ending took half an hour. By the time the movie actually ended...I was glad that it had ended! I have seen movie endings where the audience stands and applauds. That is how you want a movie to end.
But, that's just my opinion...
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Friday, May 11, 2007
Review - Spider-Man 3
"Spider-Man 3" is the third installment on the classic Marvel Comics series.
Life is finally looking up for Peter Parker. His girlfriend, Mary Jane Parker, is a star on Broadway. He is planning on asking her to marry him. And Spider-Man is finally becoming popular. Little does he know how much trouble awaits him. Harry Osborn is still obsessed over the death of his father...and becomes the New Goblin to hunt down Spidey. Small-time criminal Flint Marko has an accident with a science experiment...turning into The Sandman, who is literally made of sand. Pesty photographer Eddie Brock is hounding both Spider-Man and Peter. And when Spider-Man finds himself covered in a mysterious black substance that augments his powers...but also starts to change him for the worse...can he find a way to make everything right again?
I waited a long time for this movie. And it was entertaining...don't get me wrong. But...I found myself drawing the unfortunate comparison to "Star Wars Episode III". Essentially, they tried to do too much. Too many characters...too many sub-plots...too much in too little time. You have Spider-Man battling both the New Goblin, Sandman, and towards the end of the movie, Venom (who deserved an entire movie all to himself). You have sub-plots involving Mary Jane's acting career, a possible second love interest in Gwen Stacy, the rivalry and animosity between Peter/Spidey and Harry/Goblin, the distraction of Eddie Brock. By the end of the movie, you almost need a scorecard to keep it all straight.
The inevitable comic book geek nitpick - Topher Grace as Venom?????? In the comics, Eddie Brock is a weight-lifter of near Olympic levels. Grace is only two and a half inches taller than Tobey Maguire...and let's face it, folks...he doesn't look like a weight-lifter to me. While he does capture Brock's trademark arrogance...he just doesn't have the physique to make it convincing.
All in all...an entertaining movie...but it should have been so much better. "Spider-Man 3"...we can only hope "Spider-Man 4" is better.
Starring - Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco, Topher Grace, Thomas Haden Church, Bryce Dallas Howard, Rosemary Harris, J.K. Simmons, James Cromwell, and Theresa Russell. Directed by Sam Raimi.
Time - 2 hours, 20 minutes. Rated - PG-13 (Comic book violence, some language)
Life is finally looking up for Peter Parker. His girlfriend, Mary Jane Parker, is a star on Broadway. He is planning on asking her to marry him. And Spider-Man is finally becoming popular. Little does he know how much trouble awaits him. Harry Osborn is still obsessed over the death of his father...and becomes the New Goblin to hunt down Spidey. Small-time criminal Flint Marko has an accident with a science experiment...turning into The Sandman, who is literally made of sand. Pesty photographer Eddie Brock is hounding both Spider-Man and Peter. And when Spider-Man finds himself covered in a mysterious black substance that augments his powers...but also starts to change him for the worse...can he find a way to make everything right again?
I waited a long time for this movie. And it was entertaining...don't get me wrong. But...I found myself drawing the unfortunate comparison to "Star Wars Episode III". Essentially, they tried to do too much. Too many characters...too many sub-plots...too much in too little time. You have Spider-Man battling both the New Goblin, Sandman, and towards the end of the movie, Venom (who deserved an entire movie all to himself). You have sub-plots involving Mary Jane's acting career, a possible second love interest in Gwen Stacy, the rivalry and animosity between Peter/Spidey and Harry/Goblin, the distraction of Eddie Brock. By the end of the movie, you almost need a scorecard to keep it all straight.
The inevitable comic book geek nitpick - Topher Grace as Venom?????? In the comics, Eddie Brock is a weight-lifter of near Olympic levels. Grace is only two and a half inches taller than Tobey Maguire...and let's face it, folks...he doesn't look like a weight-lifter to me. While he does capture Brock's trademark arrogance...he just doesn't have the physique to make it convincing.
All in all...an entertaining movie...but it should have been so much better. "Spider-Man 3"...we can only hope "Spider-Man 4" is better.
Starring - Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco, Topher Grace, Thomas Haden Church, Bryce Dallas Howard, Rosemary Harris, J.K. Simmons, James Cromwell, and Theresa Russell. Directed by Sam Raimi.
Time - 2 hours, 20 minutes. Rated - PG-13 (Comic book violence, some language)
Review - The Condemned
"The Condemned" is an action-thriller brought to us courtesy of World Wrestling Entertainment.
Ian Breckel is a television producer with a revolutionary new concept: He will take ten death row inmates from various Third World countries. He places them all on an island covered in cameras. The sole survivor after thirty hours leaves the island with their freedom and a million dollars. Among his "contestants" are a husband and wife, a monstrous Russian, a martial artist, a psychotic ex-British Special Forces soldier...and Jack Conrad, who was sitting on death row in Central America. But Conrad isn't what he appears...and neither is the contest. Who will survive? And how many people will tune in?
In the right hands, this could have been a very interesting movie. The concept alone is unique, a commentary on our lust for violence...and the willingness to pay to watch it. In that aspect, it is ironic that the WWE produced this movie, seeing as they charge $35 for people to watch men beat each other up as "sport". And that becomes the movie's biggest problem...because it plays out almost like a WWE pay-per-view.
The acting is almost non-existant. There is a weak subplot involving Conrad and his ex-girlfriend...and even the fight scenes aren't that spectacular. In several of them, you can barely make out what is happening. One of the few highlights of the movie is Vinnie Jones, playing Ewan McStarley...and he delivers his parts with venomous relish. Unfortunately, that's about all you can really say about this movie.
"The Condemned" should be just that...to a video store bargain bin near you with all speed.
Starring - "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, Vinnie Jones, Rick Hoffman, and Dasi Ruz. Directed by Scott Wiper.
Time - 1 hour, 53 minutes. Rated - R (Language, extreme violence, a scene of suggested rape)
Ian Breckel is a television producer with a revolutionary new concept: He will take ten death row inmates from various Third World countries. He places them all on an island covered in cameras. The sole survivor after thirty hours leaves the island with their freedom and a million dollars. Among his "contestants" are a husband and wife, a monstrous Russian, a martial artist, a psychotic ex-British Special Forces soldier...and Jack Conrad, who was sitting on death row in Central America. But Conrad isn't what he appears...and neither is the contest. Who will survive? And how many people will tune in?
In the right hands, this could have been a very interesting movie. The concept alone is unique, a commentary on our lust for violence...and the willingness to pay to watch it. In that aspect, it is ironic that the WWE produced this movie, seeing as they charge $35 for people to watch men beat each other up as "sport". And that becomes the movie's biggest problem...because it plays out almost like a WWE pay-per-view.
The acting is almost non-existant. There is a weak subplot involving Conrad and his ex-girlfriend...and even the fight scenes aren't that spectacular. In several of them, you can barely make out what is happening. One of the few highlights of the movie is Vinnie Jones, playing Ewan McStarley...and he delivers his parts with venomous relish. Unfortunately, that's about all you can really say about this movie.
"The Condemned" should be just that...to a video store bargain bin near you with all speed.
Starring - "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, Vinnie Jones, Rick Hoffman, and Dasi Ruz. Directed by Scott Wiper.
Time - 1 hour, 53 minutes. Rated - R (Language, extreme violence, a scene of suggested rape)
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
Review - Spider-Man 2
"Spider-Man 2" is the sequel to the popular comic book movie, "Spider-Man."
We once again join up with our old friend Peter Parker...who now struggles through his complicated double life. He tries the usual things...holding down a job, taking care of his Aunt May, making time for Mary Jane Watson...but when you're also trying to save the world as Spider-Man...it gets a little hectic. Peter gets a chance to meet one of the great scientists of the world, Doctor Otto Octavius. Dr. Octavius is about to experiment with a highly unstable element...and has four metallic arms to assist him. Unfortunately, an accident leaves his wife dead...and the arms permanently fused to his body. Going mad from the input from the arms, Octavius transforms into the evil Dr. Octopus. As if that isn't enough for Spider-Man to deal with...he must also contend with Harry Osborn, his best friend who blames Spider-Man for the death of his father (who we all know was the Green Goblin...except Harry does not know this). It all becomes too much for Spider-Man...who hangs up his costume and turns his back on his life as a super-hero. Will he unretire in time to save the city from Dr. Octopus?
Many people consider "Spider-Man 2" to be better than the original. There is a deeper storyline, which focuses on Peter's dual existance...and the toll it takes on his life. One can only imagine what that must be like...to live with such amazing abilities...but to have to pay such a high price for having them. Tobey Maguire gives an outstanding performance as the ever-conflicted Peter/Spider-Man...to the point where you can feel for him wanting to go back to his "normal life" as a college science geek. Alfred Molina also gives a great performance as Octavius/Doc Ock...a classic case of a man who isn't truly a bad guy...but extraordinary circumstances have driven him to do things he ordinarily would not do.
As with the first movie, the special effects are fantastic and the action sequences are top-notch. But again, it is the performances that set this one apart from the original.
For a web-slinging good time, "Spider-Man 2" is second to none.
Starring - Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, Alfred Molina, James Franco, Rosemary Harris, J.K. Simmons, and Donna Murphy. Directed by Sam Raimi.
Time - 2 hours, 7 minutes. Rated - PG-13 (Action movie violence, some language)
We once again join up with our old friend Peter Parker...who now struggles through his complicated double life. He tries the usual things...holding down a job, taking care of his Aunt May, making time for Mary Jane Watson...but when you're also trying to save the world as Spider-Man...it gets a little hectic. Peter gets a chance to meet one of the great scientists of the world, Doctor Otto Octavius. Dr. Octavius is about to experiment with a highly unstable element...and has four metallic arms to assist him. Unfortunately, an accident leaves his wife dead...and the arms permanently fused to his body. Going mad from the input from the arms, Octavius transforms into the evil Dr. Octopus. As if that isn't enough for Spider-Man to deal with...he must also contend with Harry Osborn, his best friend who blames Spider-Man for the death of his father (who we all know was the Green Goblin...except Harry does not know this). It all becomes too much for Spider-Man...who hangs up his costume and turns his back on his life as a super-hero. Will he unretire in time to save the city from Dr. Octopus?
Many people consider "Spider-Man 2" to be better than the original. There is a deeper storyline, which focuses on Peter's dual existance...and the toll it takes on his life. One can only imagine what that must be like...to live with such amazing abilities...but to have to pay such a high price for having them. Tobey Maguire gives an outstanding performance as the ever-conflicted Peter/Spider-Man...to the point where you can feel for him wanting to go back to his "normal life" as a college science geek. Alfred Molina also gives a great performance as Octavius/Doc Ock...a classic case of a man who isn't truly a bad guy...but extraordinary circumstances have driven him to do things he ordinarily would not do.
As with the first movie, the special effects are fantastic and the action sequences are top-notch. But again, it is the performances that set this one apart from the original.
For a web-slinging good time, "Spider-Man 2" is second to none.
Starring - Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, Alfred Molina, James Franco, Rosemary Harris, J.K. Simmons, and Donna Murphy. Directed by Sam Raimi.
Time - 2 hours, 7 minutes. Rated - PG-13 (Action movie violence, some language)
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