REVIEW: Timecop

Timecop

Year: 1994
Director: Peter Hyams
Starring: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Mia Sara, Ron Silver, Bruce McGill, Gloria Reuben
Distributor: Universal Pictures
MPAA: Rated R

Timecop is considered a classic by me. I have seen the film so many times and still think its one of the better Jean-Claude Van Damme films. Timecop has been shown many times on TV and even around the world. I wouldn't go as far as to say it was a box office hit, grossing only $101 million worldwide, but it did pretty well for the size of this film. You wouldn't expect a film like this with a low budget, decent set of cast to surprisingly do great at the box office so Ill give it that. I have seen the film so many times that it kind of grew on me.

Plot Outline:
Max Walker (Jean-Claude Van Damme) is a policeman who's been offered a new job as a member of the "Time Enforcement Commission". Since time travel has now become a reality, it could be used for the wrong reasons so there needs to be people in place to stop villains from taking advantage of it. One night after receiving a phone call, his wife is killed and he almost gets killed. He thinks to himself everyday how he could have gone back and change everything before his wife gets murdered. Years later on one of his missions, he uncovers a plot by Senator McComb (Ron Silver) to become rich and get into the White House by cheating his way in.

Plot:
The story of Timecop isn't a very good one. Like I said with my past movie reviews of Click and Deja Vu, time traveling movies end up being not good except for Back to the Future. The problem we have with these types of movies are plot holes. We always seem to get them when where watching a movie about time traveling and that's the case with Timecop. The story started off interesting, but it wasn't fleshed out enough. The whole idea of there being "people" to stop criminals from taking advantage of time travel sounds kind of pointless. It kind of makes you wonder why don't they just try closing time travel instead of letting it happen, but with people in charge? It just isn't well thought out. With this said, Timecop still has many moments that are enjoyable to watch. The film can be really entertaining and is easily considered a popcorn flick. Its a mindless action movie that can be somewhat fun at times.

Cast:
The acting in Timecop is average at best. The cast doesn't feel like their really trying that hard with their performance's. I thought Jean-Claude Van Damme was just not serious enough. He seems to fit the part of being the main character in the film when you compare him to some of his other cast members, but he doesn't wow me with his performance. I thought Mia Sara was alittle too Innocent to be playing Jean-Claude Van Damme's wife, but I also thought she was pretty good looking. I think she did an average job for a small budget film like this. I thought Ron Silver gave a pretty good performance because he actually looked like he was having fun. He makes a good opponent opposite Van Damme and I enjoyed every bit of his work here.

Picture:
The visual look of Timecop is pretty good. The film was remastered awhile back by the guys at Universal and I think they did a pretty goof job here. The films source is cleaned up with only marginal film grain here and their. Colors are somewhat muted with not much vibrancy. Their is color in the film, but it just doesn't wow me like some other films have. I didn't notice any edge enhancements which is always a good thing. Detail is pretty considerable. Some close up shots reveal some clarity and detail in the characters while far away shots tend to look somewhat soft. This isn't a great looking movie, but it looks pretty good for a movie of its time.

Sound:
The music of Timecop is almost non existent. I mean sure we get the usual music that plays during the credits, but it just feels like it doesn't belong there. Their were moments where I was thinking to myself why doesn't Timecop have a better soundtrack. I was expecting a film like this that's an action thriller to really benefit from great SCI-FI music, but I was let down. What we do get is crisp dialogue that is well heard and maybe some bass rumbles here and there. The bass feels pretty flat and old. I think Universal should have also remastered the soundtrack for the film because the bass feels pretty outdated compared to other older movies.

Conclusion:
Timecop isn't a film that's going to satisfy you if your looking for a great action thriller with great story and just an all around top cast. The films story doesn't deliver, but the movie is still pretty damn fun. The cast is decent, but none of them look like their giving a 100%. The visual style of the film is pretty good and certainly fresh for a movie of its time. The soundtrack feels outdated and is in need of a remastering. Timecop isn't a great film, but its still watchable. The film is entertaining and easily makes for a popcorn flick. Id give it a rent if your looking for some mindless action fun.

Grade: C-

REVIEW: War of the Worlds

War of the Worlds

Year: 2005
Director: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Tom Cruise, Dakota Fanning, Justin Chatwin, Miranda Otto, Tim Robbins
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
MPAA: Rated PG-13

War of the Worlds is one of those movies that I have been waiting to get my hands on. I haven't seen the film when it hit theaters in the summer of 05 because I was mostly on vacation and wanted to spend some time with my family. While I was relaxing with the folks, the film continued to become a success making an estimated $592 million worldwide at the box office. Than the DVD release came a couple months after and to my surprise, I still didn't watch it. Its been something that I have been wanting to watch, but always forgetting. So the other day at work, a couple of my co-workers were talking about Tom Cruise and one of them mentioned this film. Since my shift was almost over and the fact that this film was still circling my head at the time, I decided to finally go check it out.

Plot Outline:
Ray Ferrier (Tom Cruise) is a dock worker who has custody of his daughter Rachel (Dakota Fanning) and his son Robbie (Justin Chatwin) for the weekend. He's not the world's best dad since he cautiously focuses on his work more than others, but that is put on the bench when aliens come and invade Earth. They have come to both destroy and harvest human beings.

Plot:
The story is based on the novel "The War of the Worlds" by H.G. Wells and is essentially a remake of the 1953 film version with the same name. Having not read the popular novel or seeing the 1953 film version, I cant compare if the new one follows those versions. I found the story for the film to be somewhat of a mixed bag. The movie opens very nicely and the first hour of the film is really interesting, but the second half just doesn't keep up. It concludes in a way that also leaves you with some un-answered questions that really tend to bother the viewer. I also felt that the film had some scenes that either could have been shorter or just simply cut from the final film. A good example of this is the basement scene in which we meet the character Harlan Ogilvy played by Tim Robbins. I'm not sure if this scene was in the book or the previous film version, but I felt it was alittle too long and deviated from the story. With this said, I still found the film to be really entertaining. We get many CGI scenes involving the aliens and these all look super cool. Theirs also a ton of shots that are wonderfully directed by Spielberg with the train scene being one of them. I also enjoyed the characters and some of their actions in the film.

Cast:
The cast of War of the Worlds is pretty good. Tom Cruise plays as the main character of the film, Ray Ferrier. He does a good job in his role and his character doesn't act as cocky as I would have believed. Hes just acting like any other person would if they were in the same situation as his character. Dakota Fanning plays as Rachel Ferrier and shes also pretty good in her role. I know alot of people complained that her character constantly screamed during the movie, but I didn't find it to be much of an issue. I thought she gave a good performance that nicely made her character effective in the movie. Justin Chatwin plays as Robbie and he too does a pretty good job in his role. His character does make some stupid decisions that I thought were kind of weird, but I still enjoyed his presence in this film. We also have Miranda Otto playing as Mary Ann. Her role is rather very short and shes hardly in the film alot so I cant really comment on her role.

Picture:
The visual look of War of the Worlds is simply fantastic. The film's budget was well over $130 million and damn was it put to good use. The film has some great looking special effects that still manage to look outstanding even in today's world. The CGI is nicely done and animates pretty well. This is also somewhat of a problem since it makes the film look like its just full of CGI shots rather than a good story. The movie does contain some film grain here and their, but I think this is just for effects rather than the disc. Colors are pretty gritty and somewhat bright at the same time. It makes the film seem alittle more real. Detail is surprisingly strong and satisfying. I wasn't expecting much in terms of detail since we have alot of CGI shots, but I was proven wrong. Close up shots show a good amount of detail. This is definitely a title I would love to see in high definition.

Sound:
The soundtrack for the film is great. Composer John Williams who also composed some of Spielberg's other films such as E.T. and Jurassic Park scores this film. He does a wonderful job composing the music for War of the Worlds and I thought it felt just right for this film. Its engaging and very effective. Sure its not as grand and powerful like the ones he made for some of his previous films, but I thought it fit the mood of the film nicely. War of the Worlds features some stunning bass work. This is a very action packed film with alot of things either blowing up or getting smashed. Dynamics are loud and spread out very evenly. This is definitely reference material and something to demo off your speakers.

Conclusion:
War of the Worlds is a pretty good film that I enjoyed to some extent. I think the films plot started off very interesting and kept me amazed half way through even though it didn't deliver during the second half. I thought their were too many questions that needed answering and some scenes that could have been shorter that really brought the film down. The cast was pretty good with most of them doing a reasonable job in their roles. I thought the film featured some stunning special effects and I enjoyed the films visual look. I also enjoyed the score that John Williams composed and thought the film had some strong bass work that definitely rocked. I think this film is worth checking out if your interested in any SCI-FI movies or movies with alien invasions. Its got problems, but its generally enjoyable for the most part.

Grade: C+

REVIEW: Planes, Trains & Automobiles

Planes, Trains & Automobiles

Year: 1987
Director: John Hughes
Starring: Steve Martin, John Candy, Laila Robins, Michael McKean, Kevin Bacon
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
MPAA: Rated R

Planes, Trains & Automobiles was released in 1987 and grossed an estimated $48 million. While it wasn't a big hit in theaters, its become a classic for John Candy fans around the world. This was one of the few films I ever owned on VHS with Jurassic Park being the other one. I know this film by heart and soul because I have watched it more than 3 times. This is one of my favorite John Candy films. So knowing all of this, I knew what to expect when reviewing this film.

Plot Outline:
Neal Page (Steve Martin) is trying to get home in time to his loved ones for Thanksgiving. It starts off with his cab being stolen at the last second and then he misses his flight. Through various moments of bad luck including flight delays, train breakdowns and more, Neal tries to fight his way back home. With him is Del Griffith (John Candy), a loud mouth, quirky shower curtain ring salesman who bumps into Neal at the airport and is there to push Neal to his limits of frustration. Del promises to help Neal get home and the two of them bond together to form a friendship.

Plot:
The story for Planes, Trains & Automobiles is pretty great. The plot is simple and is to understand. We don't get distracted from the main goal here and that's to get home. The plot is interesting and entertaining. The characters that we get introduced to are lovable and easy to compare with. There were parts in the film that I thought were memorable, but there was also parts where I thought it was too predictable. Yes their are some scenes that becomes pretty predictable so If I have to mark it down for something, Ill do it for that. Being marketed as a comedy, their are jokes spread out through the film. They are really funny and fun to listen too. I had a fun time with the comedy aspect of the film and felt that it didn't disappoint. I found the story to be a heartwarming adventure that I enjoyed more than once.

Cast:
The cast for the film is also great. Steve Martin plays the main character Neal Page and he does a great job being the angry rich worker trying to get home for Thanksgiving. I thought he was spot on great for this part and he really had some good chemistry with Candy. The late John Candy plays as Del Griffith and he really impressed me. I thought he was very energetic and heartwarming in his role. Hes perfect here and is really the star of the movie. Man, do I sure miss him. Laila Robins plays Neal's wife in Chicago, but she hardly has any screen time as the main focus of the film is on Martin and Candy's character. I still thought she was pretty good in her role for the parts that she is in. She nails that simple housewife experience that we have all come to know and love.

Picture:
The visual look for Planes, Trains & Automobiles is kind of a mixed bag. The film is pretty darn old and it shows it. The films source isn't very cleaned up and has some scratches here and their. I also noticed some film grain in some of the scenes. Colors have a muted yet oversaturated look to them. They can come off vibrant at times, but also look alittle washed out. They can also be somewhat dark at times. Detail is somewhat lacking in some shots. The film can tend to look pretty good from close up, but in some of the later scenes, the detail is almost non existent. The picture is also somewhat inconsistent. This is a film in need of some remastering so Paramount please get to it.

Sound:
The film has a pretty live music soundtrack to it. I didn't expect a low budget film like this to have alot of music in it, but I was wrong. While the film doesn't have a sole score like many other films, it does have a mixture of songs that play through out the film. The songs are wonderfully picked and spread across the film. Bass is on the low side which isn't a surprise considering theirs no scenes that require heavy bass usage. Bass is pretty nice, but hardly anything special. This is another aspect of the film that needs a remastering to output full 5.1 sound.

Conclusion:
Planes, Trains & Automobiles is a pretty great film about a friendship that isn't expected, but happens anyways. I found the story to be be charming and entertaining even though it can be predictable in some areas. I thought the cast was very sold and showed alot of chemistry that is noticeable just by watching the first half of the film. The visual look of the film is inconsistent and in need of a remastering. I thought the music was wonderful and worked to its story. This is a personal favorite of mine and I always have had a fun time watching it. I would recommend this film if your looking for a nice simple story that contains some laughter in it. As for John Candy fans, this should easily satisfy you.

Grade: B-

REVIEW: Total Recall

Total Recall

Year: 1990
Director: Paul Verhoeven
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rachel Ticotin, Sharon Stone, Ronny Cox, Michael Ironside
Distributor: TriStar Pictures
MPAA: Rated R

Total Recall is and will always be, my favorite Arnold Schwarzenegger movie. This was one of the few Arnold films I ever saw and just loved it. I have been a big fan of this film since I first saw it. Based on the short story "We Can Remember It For You Wholesale" by Philip K. Dick, Total Recall was hyped as the next great film from legendary author Philip K. Dick after the success of Blade Runner. Grossing over $260 million worldwide on a budget of $60 million made this film a box office smash, but was it really better than Blade Runner? In short answer, no.

Plot Outline:
Douglas Quaid (Arnold Schwarzenegger) has a normal life in the future. He's happily married to a beautiful woman (Sharon Stone) and works as a construction worker. His only problem is that he has been having nightmares about Mars, a place he desperately wants to visit. He goes to Rekall Incorporated, a company that implants the memories of a far away vacation into the minds of its customers. As he goes in to receive a Mars memory trip, something goes very wrong. He is soon being chased by Richter (Michael Ironside) and his people who want him dead. He begins to realize that he cant trust anyone.

Plot:
The story of Total Recall is pretty good. It is nowhere near as grand as Blade Runner, but Its filled with plot twists and turns that will keep the audience excited. The plot starts off really well and continues to stay on that path. It tends to get intense and interesting at the same time, making you want more of the film. We also get introduced to cool characters that we tend to root for no matter what the mistake they make. While this is good and entertaining, the story doesn't give you alot of answers to this plot. In the end, it will leave you with some unanswered questions that might bug you. With that said, this is still an entertaining SCI-FI film from start to finish and one that will have you coming back for more. The action is raw and the explosions look great. I never get tired of watching this film so I guess that means something.

Cast:
The cast of Total Recall is alittle above average. Arnold portrays the main character in the film and he does an honest job as Doug Quaid, but nothing special. I enjoyed his performance, but this isn't Oscar material. Michael Ironside plays as Richter and he gives a good performance here. I really enjoyed his character and thought he made a good badass opposite Arnold. Sharon Stone plays as Lori and I think she doesn't have enough screen time. I liked her role here and thought it was cleaver, but I need to see more of her. Rachel Ticotin plays as Melina and she does a decent job here. I think someone else could have easily replaced her because she doesn't really seem like she is suppose to be in this film.

Picture:
The special effects for the film is pretty good. Having been nominated for an academy award in Best Effects and Sound Effects Editing, the film looks good. The settings and structures look like they belong their. There are parts of the film where the effects don't look as good as they could have been, but its still good overall. The blood in the film is truly fantastic. I have seen many bloody films in my life time, but Total Recall has one of the best blood effects I have ever seen. The picture itself is pretty grainy from start to finish. This is a pretty old film and it definitely shows. Detail is on the soft side with not much showing. I mean some close up shots can look pretty good, but the movie as a whole doesn't pack enough punch like some of today's DVDs.

Sound:
The music of Total Recall is great. The film has a great suspenseful score that makes this film feel big. Its used in alot of the scenes and feels just right for this movie. We also get other soundtracks that are used somewhat in the film that also sound great with the action going on. The film also consists of an average bass usage. For an action film like this, I would have expected more, but I think its the age of the films sound and not the disc itself. Dynamics don't hold up well and its seems more front heavy. Explosions don't really have that extra bump that it really needs. Still for an old film like this, the bass is enough to make the action feel real.

Conclusion:
Total Recall is really not for everyone. I have seen this film so many times and consider it a good movie, but even I have to admit its got some flaws. The story is good and keeps you thinking, but it also leaves out answers. The cast is pretty good with many of them giving out decent performance. The visual look of the film is pretty muddy while the special effects look great for a film of its time. The soundtrack is amusing and nice to listen to. I think this film is worth checking out because its still entertaining. This is one of those Schwarzenegger movies you don't get tired of watching no matter how many times you have seen it.

Grade: C+

REVIEW: The Simpsons Movie

The Simpsons Movie

Year: 2007
Director: David Silverman
Starring: Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, Hank Azaria
Distributor: Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation
MPAA: Rated PG-13

When word got out that Fox was finally bringing The Simpsons to the big screen, it got me excited, but also alittle worried. I mean it took 18 years for Fox to finally wake up and realize that after winning multiple awards and being nominated over a billion times that The Simpsons deserve the big screen treatment. So I was worried about alot of things like was it going to be in 3D? was it going to have a good story? will the entire cast return? and if the actual film would even come out. Thankfully, all of this was answered in the film and I'm glad to say that it delivered. Grossing over $520 million worldwide on a budget of $75 million, The Simpsons Movie was easily a box office success.

Plot Outline:
While Green Day performs in Lake Springfield, they begin to talk about the environment, but receive a negative response from the people of Springfield. Garbage is thrown at the band causing them to sink to their death. After this incident, Lisa (Yeardley Smith) tries to warn other Springfield residents about pollution and nobody listens until she meets an Irish boy named Colin (Tress MacNeille). Together, the two manage to convince the town that the lake should be cleaned up. Meanwhile, Homer (Dan Castellaneta) adopts a pig and decides to depose the pig's waste in the lake, causing pollution. After President Arnold Schwarzenegger is informed about this by Russ Cargill (Albert Brooks) who is the head of the EPA, a giant dome is placed over Springfield. Homer finds himself in a lot of trouble when the town learns that he is responsible for the lake's pollution.

Plot:
The story of the movie feels exactly like an episode of the show only stretched out to fit the 1 hour and 27 minutes of the film which kind of feels short. While the story is much better than the recent episodes that have been airing on TV, it doesn't come close to some of the earlier episodes of the show. To me it feels more like a regular 30 minute episode, but stretched out instead of an actual story built from scrap. The Simpsons have always been about jokes and its targeted at people looking for comedy. That same formula is present here and we get many jokes that are plain hilarious. At the same time, it makes you wonder "Didn't I hear this joke already"? The many jokes the film has have been used in various seasons of the show and are recycled in the movie. While this does make the film alittle more dull for huge fans around the world, it does make the newer audiences happy since the jokes are pretty funny. So I guess its kind of like a trade off.

Cast:
The cast of The Simpsons Movie is outstanding. I'm very happy to see that the entire cast is back for the long awaited movie. Dan Castellaneta does his Homer thing and I'm so glad he does it great because literally no one can play Homer Simpson better than Dan Castellaneta. Julie Kavner is also back as Marge Simpson and sounds good, but for some scenes, her voice does sound alittle deep, but maybe that's just me. Nancy Cartwright and Yeardley Smith return as Bart and Lisa Simpson with both sounding great with longer lines than they usually get in the TV show. Its also nice to see Albert Brooks return and sounding great as usual. I thought the cast was overall very solid and they well projected their voices.

Picture:
The visual effects for the film are fantastic. Considering The Simpsons have always been about 2D sketch animation, its nice to see the film still keep that look of the TV show instead of going 3D. The movie is shown in widescreen and looks better than it did on TV. The pixels are in higher resolution with everything else looking crystal clear and razor sharp. There is absolutely no film grain and everything is silky smooth. Colors are eye popping with vibrancy. The color yellow has never looked this good. Detail is also impressive with every little thing looking wonderfully detailed. This is one good looking disc from the guys at Fox.

Sound:
While the music of the film sounds good, its kind of sad to see that mastermind composer Danny Elfman not return to score this film. It really would have made this film so much better, but what we do get is from composer Hans Zimmer who composed many other hits such as Batman Begins, The Da Vinci Code and etc. While Elfman would have been great, what we get from Hans Zimmer isn't all that bad. The movie has sound in parts where they are needed and also gives the film some tension when its needed. The movie also features some good bass work. Its loud and full of rumble. This doesn't look like a movie that would need much bass, but what we get here is more than enough.

Conclusion:
When The Simpsons movie finally came out in theaters, I was alittle scared to see it because I didn't want a huge TV series like The Simpsons getting criticized over a bad movie. This movie was definitely going to make or break The Simpsons in general and I'm happy to say it didn't disappoint for the most part. The story is better than any of the recent episodes with the entire cast still their. The music although not used enough still sounds good with the visual look of the film looking better than it ever has. The Simpsons Movie might feel like another good episode to many of the fans, but to newer audiences, its a great film. I only wish the movie itself was alittle longer.

Grade: B

REVIEW: The Kingdom

The Kingdom

Year: 2007
Director: Peter Berg
Starring: Jamie Foxx, Jason Bateman, Jennifer Garner, Chris Cooper, Ashraf Barhom
Distributor: Universal Pictures
MPAA: Rated R

When I first heard of The Kingdom, I wasn't really impressed. I thought the first trailer looked alright, but nothing too amazing. It was the second trailer, Universal released that got me excited to see this film. I thought the story looked cool and the actors looked pretty solid. Still, I opted for the DVD release because of the films mixed reviews. They weren't bad, but just not great as I would have hoped for.

Plot Outline:
An FBI team arrives to investigate the bombings that recently happened in Saudi Arabia, but find themselves limited to what they can do, due to the relationship between the US and Saudi Arabia. As a bond develops between special agent Fleury (Jamie Foxx) and Col. Ghazi (Ashraf Barhom) the investigation leads towards a terrorist called Abu Hamza. It is up to agent Fleury plus his team and Col. Ghazi to find Abu Hamza and stop him.

Plot:
The story starts out with these cool artwork of images that basically set up the movie. As we continue forward, the story gets really interesting and intense. We get wonderful views of Saudi Arabia that really just add to the intensity of the films story. The plot of the film isn't really knew and has been done before. Their are parts where we get some introduction words on the bottom right that kind of tell us who this person is and what there doing, but they aren't needed because they don't really help. The action is nice and spread out pretty evenly so you don't really get bored. I didn't find director Peter Berg's style of camera shooting to be all that great. At times, it can be really effective and really immersing. Than their are times where it kind of gets annoying because of its constant shaking. If their is one thing about the film's story that I found to be somewhat problematic, its the alternative. The film never really explains the other (Saudi) side of the story. It would have helped if we knew what the other (Saudi) side was thinking about or what their plans were. With that said, the film is still pretty damn entertaining. Everything blows up the way it should and we never get any moments to stop breathing.

Cast:
The acting in The Kingdom is nicely solid. Jamie Foxx plays as Ronald Fleury and he does a good job here. I really enjoyed his character and thought he was a great choice to be playing this part. Jason Bateman plays as Adam Leavitt and he too does a good job here. His character wasn't annoying or distracting. I thought he fit well with everyone else and he gave an enjoyable performance. Jennifer Garner plays as Janet Mayes and she does alright. I'm not particularly sure if she was the ideal choice to be playing this part, but I think she does an OK job in her role. Chris Cooper plays as Grant Sykes and he also does a great job. Hes second to Fox in terms of performance. I think he was a great addition to this story. We also have Ashraf Barhom playing as Colonel Faris Al Ghazi. I think he does a good job in this role even though his character is mostly some kind of balance to the films story.

Picture:
The visual look of the film is pretty great. The film was released late last year so its film source is in good shape. Film grain is mostly condensed to a minimum and hardly gets in the way of things. Colors are somewhat oversaturated and kind of dull. They aren't as vibrant as I would have liked them to be and not really flashy. Even though the explosions look wonderful, most of the film was filmed outside in the hot weather and it doesn't result in a good eye popping experience. Black levels are generally strong and hold up well. Flesh tones are spot on and have that warm feeling to them. Detail is pretty great and shows alot of clarity. Close up shots reveal a good amount of detail and everything looks the way it should.

Sound:
The music in The Kingdom is pretty much none existent. Theirs hardly a score for the film and generally it feels somewhat quite. This comes as a disappointment seeing as how the trailers all had good music in them. I mean wheres that music by U2 that played during the recent trailer for the film? I know this is a dialogue driven film, but it would have been great to have some music during the action scenes. The Kingdom features a good bass mix. A film like this is bound to have some killer bass and it somewhat does. The bass goes nicely well with the films great explosions. Gun shots are easily heard and deliver a good amount of intensity to them.

Conclusion:
I really thought The Kingdom was going to be another boring movie about war, but I was really surprised to find another good popcorn flick. The story is very entertaining and pretty engaging. The cast is very solid and most of them deliver some good performances. The visual look of the film is pretty great and consist of good amount of detail. The soundtrack is lacking music which definitely would have been better, but it makes up for it in its bass. I enjoyed The Kingdom and can recommend it to those seeking a fun movie. Its action packed and filled with many parts that should keep you interested and strapped to your seat.

Grade: B-

REVIEW: A Scanner Darkly

A Scanner Darkly

Year: 2006
Director: Richard Linklater
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Robert Downey Jr., Winona Ryder, Woody Harrelson, Rory Cochrane
Distributor: Warner Independent Pictures
MPAA: Rated R

When I first saw the trailer for A Scanner Darkly, I really wanted to see it. I thought the visual look of the film and interesting plot looked really cool. It was also another movie adaptation from a novel by legendary SCI-FI whizz, Philip K. Dick. A Scanner Darkly only had a limited release so it wasn't big at the box office, but people slowly knew about it when it finally came to DVD. It was only than when people truly appreciated this great piece of art.

Plot Outline:
Bob Arctor (Keanu Reeves) is an undercover cop who is trying to find the ultimate source of a drug called Substance D by converting his house into a drug house and making friends with local junkies Freck (Rory Cochrane), Barris (Robert Downey Jr.) and Luckman (Woody Harrelson) as well as dealer Donna (Winona Rider). Arctor is in such deep cover that his own co-workers don't know his true identity and only know him as "Special Agent Fred". When he's at the office, he wears a scramble suit that alters his voice and gives him a constantly shifting appearance. But in order to maintain his cover, Arctor has to take Substance D, which is so addictive that if you try it just once, you're hooked. Substance D also has fairly serious side effects including hallucinations, paranoid fantasies and brain damage.

Plot:
The story of the film is based on Philip K. Dick's original novel "A Scanner Darkly". In fact, this is the only movie that stayed almost 100% faithful to the novel with only a few minor adjustments. I found the plot of the film to be very interesting and enticing. Its filled with suspense moments that just come at you and make you think alittle. The film has a story that isn't really clear the first time you see it, but it becomes more and more understandable the more you watch it. The film can also be somewhat trippy because of its creative story and visual aspect. We get introduced to these characters that we learn to coup with because there just living there ordinary lives. Director Richard Linklater really does a nice job of keeping the viewers interested in what their watching. Hes very creative and his directing really shows this. The only thing that kind of bugged me about this film was its length. I really wanted to see it go on alittle longer because I wanted to see the story continue. I'm not sure if author Philip K. Dick wrote a sequel to this movie, but I for one would easily pay to see one happen. I know the ending was pretty conclusive, but I would really pay to see maybe a longer cut of this film simply because I really was sucked into the story.

Cast:
Keanu Reeves plays as Bob Arctor and he does a really good job here. I think this was a smart decision by the studio to go with someone like Reeves for this part because Reeves really brings out the Bob Arctor that we all want. He does a nice job of portraying the character and I really liked his presence here. Robert Downey Jr. plays as James Barris and he too is great. He gives a very entertaining performance that's easily enjoyable. I think this was a part that was specifically lined towards him. Winona Ryder plays as Donna Hawthorne and shes pretty good. I thought she was another good choice by the studio and she does a good job here too. Woody Harrelson plays as Ernie Luckman and hes just funny. His character is also very entertaining and fun to watch. Rory Cochrane plays as Charles Freck and hes great. He gives a nice performance that I thought looked right for this movie.

Picture:
The visual look of the film is simply amazing. The film is made using a new animation process called interpolated rotoscoping. This makes the film feel and look like a comic strip come to life. Its not new and has been done before in 2001's Waking Life which director Richard Linklater also directed. There are some who argue that the film's visual style makes the movie seem unreal. They are somewhat right, but I think the film looks great this way.I personally think more movies should look like this. The film itself is free of any film grain. Colors seem somewhat washed out and slightly dark. They aren't vibrant, but they are dam sure pretty to look at. Black levels are strong and the darker scenes easily hold up well. Detail is pretty great with alot of clarity. You cant notice much in terms of detail in a film like this, but it does make the films outline alot sharper.

Sound:
The soundtrack in A Scanner Darkly is also great. The film has a lively score that's composed by Graham Reynolds. It goes very well with the film's visuals and is used very effectively. It really creates a sense of emotion in the films story. The film also has other music that simply plays during the credits. Even thought they aren't used much during the actual film itself, they are still great to listen to. A Scanner Darkly isn't the type of film that you would expect to have a strong bass and that's true. The film is heavily dialogue driven kind of like a film noire so their isn't much bass. What we do have here is perfectly fine on its own especially for an animated film like this. Its definitely not something Id use to demo off my new surround sound, but its not bad on its own.

Conclusion:
A Scanner Darkly is a great film that stays faithful to author Philip K. Dick's novel with the same name. Its got a interesting story that really sucks you in, I just wish it was longer because I didn't want it to end. The cast is great and everyone feels just right in their roles. The visual look of the film is simply amazing and wonderful to look at. I wish more films were made like this. The soundtrack is lively and nice to listen to. I recommend this film to Philip K. Dick fans and to those seeking a great film experience. You might not get it the first time you see it, but it gets better and better with each viewing. Watch it when your high or sober, It doesnt matter because you will enjoy it either way. This is easily my favorite film of all time.

Grade: B