Tag: Cinema

REVIEW: A Minecraft Movie

Maeve Ricks Leave a comment

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD.

“CHICKEN JOCKEY!!!!!” A family with young children screams behind me. Filled with joy and elation, they celebrate the iconic moments of A Minecraft Movie starring Jack Black and Jason Momoa. When a mysterious portal pulls four misfits into the cubic world of Minecraft, they’ll soon discover that all they’ve imagined can come true with the help of a pickaxe, a crafting table, and a man named Steve.

Now, let’s be very clear: A Minecraft Movie isn’t great. It’s not even good. It’s bad… very bad. It’s so bad, you can’t stop watching. In fact, it’s so bad that I want to go back to my local Ann Arbor Cinemark and pay to see it again. And seeing movies nowadays is expensive! A Minecraft Movie may be a bad movie, but it’s a movie worth paying $20 dollars and then some to see.

I’d argue that it may be the new Rocky Horror Picture Show, or at least it should be. Every spring, gamers should come together to scream out signature movie phrases, dress up, and throw popcorn at the screen. If Rocky Horror fans can throw toast at the screen once a year, let the minecrafters do the same. (Don’t twist my words and be a jerk though while it’s still in theatres this season.)

The movie doesn’t have a lot of bad elements. It’s actually well-constructed, and incredibly designed, but, unfortunately, there are a few glaring issues that take all the attention away from the good things happening in this movie. (1) The ridiculous plot lines; the worst one that comes to mind is when a Minecraft villager enters the human realm and falls in love with Jennifer Coolidge. It’s a type of relationship that feels like it should be illegal, but then again, it’s fiction; thank goodness. (2) The female characters are poorly written. If A Minecraft Movie passes the Bechdel test, it does so on a technicality. The screenwriting team consists of 5 men, and it shows. The most prominent female characters, Natalie and Dawn, serve only to support Henry, the young boy who is the movie’s catalyst. It’s unfortunate because Minecraft has such a diverse player base, with over 40% of those players identifying as women. I wonder how the movie would be rated if it had taken the time to invest in a more complex, diverse cast of characters that better aligns with the diverse players who actually play the game. 

Still, there’s a lot to love about this movie: the random songs that come in at unexpected times (thank you, Jack Black), the playful, cubic animations, the deep-cut game references, and odes to the people that built Minecraft’s platform (for example Technoblade’s memoriam, and using Minecraft YouTubers as extras). It’s a great movie to see with your friends. You’ll laugh; you’ll cry; you might even pee your pants; or you might accidentally fall asleep like I did. No matter, it will always be a bad movie, and you’ll always have fun watching it.

So, purchase your overpriced and oversalted popcorn, slather it in butter, and eat alongside Jack Black as he makes his infamous lava chicken because he sure isn’t making a cake.

REVIEW: Paddington in Peru

Maeve Ricks Leave a comment

Gather ’round, marmalade enthusiasts and curious movie-goers: Paddington is back! This time, our favorite conscious, talking bear trades in the drizzle of London for the vibrant hues of Peru. Paddington in Peru is pretty much a fluffy, cinematic hug, and don’t we all need that every so often? 

When a mysterious letter arrives at the Brown family’s doorstep, it whisks Paddington and company off on an adventure across the Atlantic, landing them in the lush and dynamic landscapes of Peru. 

From extravagant natural vistas to the bustling streets filled with vibrant culture, Paddington in Peru offers plenty of visual delights. The cinematography expertly transports the viewer into the jungles of Peru. You’re not necessarily sweating in the Peruvian heat alongside Paddington, but you are definitely in one of those Disney World rides where they spray water and various smells to pretend you’re there. And, of course, the humor is as charming as ever. Paddington’s knack for both unwittingly causing chaos and saving the day never fails to elicit laughs, especially alongside Antonio Banderas (who looks as handsome as ever).

Now, let’s address the furry elephant in the room: the recasting of Mary Brown. Sally Hawkins played a beautiful Mary in the first two movies. It was sad to see her go. Emily Mortimer, who you may recognize from Aaron Sorkin’s The Newsroom, attempts to bring her own into the role. Although her portrayal brings a bright sharpness to the character that affirms she’s more complex than the stereotypical “mother of the house”, her Mary fails to land as sweet as the orange marmalade that Paddington eats. 

Paddington, for all his bear-related antics, continues to be a paragon of kindness and reminds us of the beauty in community and friendship. One of the most memorable quotes from the film reminds us that, “on your search to help others, you’ll find yourself.” Even if you find yourself in an unfamiliar land, you can still help others in both unprecedented and everyday ways: in marmalade sandwiches and simple acts of kindness.

It’s hard not to leave the theater with a sense of hope, even as the credits roll. In a world that sometimes feels upside down, Paddington brings solace and delivers powerful lessons wrapped in simple bear-sized packages. Muddling through life with a sense of optimism and a love for marmalade sandwiches isn’t the worst way to cope with the chaos around us.

So, as you drive to your local cinema, whether you’re 5 or 95, prepare for a bear-y good time. Just remember to pack your own marmalade sandwiches.

REVIEW: Decision to Leave

copelano 3 Comments

 

Park Chan-wook’s latest project is a masterclass in Hitchcockian suspense, weaving strands of  psychological thriller and seductive romance into a fully realized cinematic experience.

Park Chan-wook’s newest theatrical release, Decision to Leave, marks the end of his six year directorial hiatus, following his critically acclaimed film, The Handmaiden, an examination of colonial trauma under the Japanese occupation of the Korean Peninsula. With this recent outing, Park Chan-wook trades in his narrative lens for a more contemporary study of immigration policies; particularly, in regard to 21st century illegal immigration to South Korea. This is exemplified by the female protagonist, Song Seo-rae (Tang Wei), an illegal Chinese immigrant who is suspected of murdering her husband in the opening half of the film. I found her character to be reminiscent of Kim Novak’s portrayal of Madeleine Elster and Judy Barton in Alfred Hitchcock’s thriller, Vertigo. Wei commands the screen, her emotions simmering behind her invasive eyes. 

However, we primarily follow the character of Det. Jang Hae-jun (Park Hae-il), who leads the main investigation into the murder of Song Seo-rae’s husband. Hae-il plays him with a conservative fortitude, which is made all the more apparent with the comedic relief of his police sidekicks Yeon-su (Kim Shin-Young) and Soo-wan (Go Kyung-pyo). I found Kyung-pyo, in particular, to be a screen stealer; his comedic timing was never a second off. I can’t say much beyond this point, but their relationship mutates and evolves in ways I found truly unexpected; as well as the chemistry between Wei and Hae-il.

Park Chan-wook’s cinematography is also a revelation, using rapid successions of shots to create feelings of suspense and uneasiness, which culminates in sweeping tracking shots of fight scenes within the streets and rooftops of Busan. Not to mention an extremely visceral action scene involving a chain mail glove, which I have just learned is utilized in real life by the South Korean police force; a consequence of the outlawing of firearms within the country. Regardless, if you’re a cinephile or an admirer of South Korean culture, Decision to Leave is worth all the critical acclaim that it has garnered this award season. 

Now playing at The State Theatre. 

 

 

Review: Cyrus @ Sundance USA

Bennett

Usually I’m running ten minutes late and only hoping to find a seat before the film starts – trying to find a red velvety chair rather than the lap of a stranger.  Thursday night at the Michigan Theater, however, was an event.  There are 1700 seats in the main theater because film going used to be an event – a night out at the cinema.  Unfortunately, Ann Arbor rarely packs the Michigan Theater full these days (recent sell outs have included Michael Moore’s Slacker Uprising and Fahrenheit 9/11 as well as a Lord of the Rings showing).  Thursday night held a sold out crowd, full of excitement.

Honored to be a part of the Sundance USA inaugural series, the crowd cheered Michigan Theater Executive Director, Russ Collins, announcement that we were making history as well as the pre-taped thank you message from Robert Redford.  Unfortunately, once the film started, the crowd’s energy quickly faded.

‘Cyrus’, a new movie from the Duplass Brothers (The Puffy Chair, Baghead), tells the story of Cyrus (Jonah Hill- Superbad, Funny People), Molly (Marisa Tomei- My Cousin Vinny, The Wrestler), and John (John C. Reilly- Chicago, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story).  Cyrus is the 21-year-old son and life partner of Molly while John is Molly’s first boyfriend since Cyrus was born.  ‘Cyrus’ tells the struggles of this love triangle.  It is only about this relationship as it takes place.  We never receive information about Molly’s past or Cyrus’ childhood- we never even know what city we are in, just a generic American suburb.  ‘Cyrus’ is, at its core, an in-depth analysis of the power struggles between the three.  It makes us question the Oedipal suggestions of Cyrus and Molly’s relationship, the honesty of a divorced and depressed John, and the nature of innocence.  The movie, however, is about a power struggle that has been played out and examined in culture too many times to count.

The Duplass Brothers did not want to make another crass, vulgar humor movie – Jonah Hill’s specialty.  In the mostly-failed attempt to appeal to a wider, more mature audience, the opportunities to laugh with the whole theater were few. Instead of full on laughs, the movie tried to feed us awkward chuckles.  When the movie finally finished, I felt drenched in the soppy relationship humor that plagued the movie.

Jonah Hill saved himself a few points when he came on stage wearing the traditional, maize & blue, block M fitted cap.  His girlfriend, a Michigan student, gave it to him- he told the curious crowd.  The Duplass Brothers saved themselves a few points as they introduced their editor and friend, Jay Doobie- a Northville native.  Sundance USA, the idea, seemed to thrive in the Michigan Theater setting- ‘Cyrus’, the movie, failed to match the hype.

A ridiculous week of arts events awaits us- The Bad Plus on Thursday night, University Dance Company’s (Re)Visionary Dance on Friday Night, and Só Percussion on Saturday Night. That is truly absurd.
When will I do econ, Bennett

‘Cyrus’ Trailer:

Sort of weird, Sesame St. mustache video: