Movie Review: “The King’s Speech”

Well, I’ve been on a role with the movie reviews, eh? I’m glad I keep hitting good ones, and I have another for y’all. Here’s a thing of interest I hope catches your attention. It’s The King’s Speech, and it is magnificent.

As always, there are spoilers ahead.

We begin with Prince Albert (played by Colin Firth) giving a speech at the Wembley Stadium at the closing of the 1925 British Empire Exhibition. He gets up onto the pulpit, looks down at the crowd… And he barely says a word, stammering out his speech until the scene shifts. I’m telling you right now, the first fifteen minutes of this film are pure torture. You can’t help but feel for him! And it’s obvious Albert is tired of this and the various doctors he goes to to help his condition. After one last humiliating appointment with an “expert” he’s decided to call it quits, but his wife Elizebeth (played by Helena Carter) persuades him to try one more time. They meet with Lionel Logue (played by Geoffrey Rush), an eccentric man who is as unorthodox in personality as he is in his therapy. Albert begins to improve under his treatment, and none too soon, for with his fathers failing health and his older brother David wrapped in a scandal, Albert has to speak in public more and more.

This is a powerful film. When I watched it, I only vaguely knew of the history behind it, but I noticed that the film managed to inform about the complexities of the culture and history in such a way that it weaved excellently with the overall flow. In fact, the flow and pacing was so good that I can’t even complain about what I usually do, length. The film is two hours long, but it doesn’t feel like it. The interactions between characters gripped me to such a degree that by the end, I was surprised that two hours had simply flown by.

You feel for the characters, can understand Albert’s discomfort in being in such a horrible position. How many of us hate public speaking? Well, how many of us have a horrible stammer and have to speak to an entire country? You can understand Albert, and you can understand all the people who want to support him. Firth does a fantastic job playing him, and Rush has always been an actor I’ve admired. He certainly doesn’t disappoint here, and you can really see the growing friendship between Albert and Lional as these two actors immerse themselves into their roles. Another piece of touching interaction is between Albert and his wife, who is always there for him. Carter does this role beautifully, and I found myself immeasurably glad that they had each other. So, if you’re looking for a movie where the acting is wondrous and the plot superb, The King’s Speech is for you.

Top Five Most Interesting Fictional Villains

Wow. It seems my previous list, my personal top five most manly fictional characters, was a rousing success. I’ve had hundreds of views for that one alone, so I thought I should make a follow up, sister post for it. When I thought about it, I realized that all those manly characters were heroes in their own ways. So I thought this might be a thing of interest for y’all. Here, for your viewing pleasure, is my personal top five list of interesting fictional villains.

NUMBER 5: THE JOKER

I think most lists would have this character appear at some point or another. The Joker is an iconic villain. In many ways, he is the epitome of chaos and madness, performing the most heinous of deeds for nothing more than his own sick amusement and to prove that everyone else is just as crazy as himself. But if you’re wondering why he’s so low on the list, its for the same reasons he’s on the list at all. He’s an interesting villain, but his motivations are simply madness. He exists to cause mayhem, he has very few driving goals beyond that. Madness, by itself, really isn’t all that interesting in a character. The Joker manages to play it in a flavorful way, but in the end he’s simply just a madman. I’ll probably get some disagreement on this, but its how I feel. But despite all this he still manages to be one of the most interesting villains, and that’s why he’s on the list.

Number 4: Palpatine

Palpatine, also called Darth Sidious, is a Dark Lord of the Sith who managed to take control of the entire galaxy. Now, he’s definitely a member of the “Evil Overlord” group, which is a tired villain type used far too often. But Palpatine is more than that. He conquered the galaxy not with his immense powers, but through his mind. He also has a presence about him. He’s first mentioned in the first movie, and everyone freaks out. When he finally shows up in the third, all he has to do is just walk and you feel a palpable menace from him. Yes, he’s an evil overlord, but he does it in an honestly interesting way, and that’s why he’s on the list.

Number 3: The Operative

The Operative comes from the movie Serenity, and is honestly one of the most interesting villains I have ever seen. He has killed people, ordered the destruction of whole communities and hunted the protagonists with a ruthless drive. But what are his reasons for doing so? He thinks he’s making the galaxy a better place. He believes what he does will ultimately lead to better lives for everyone. And the real kicker? He knows he’s a monster, he knows that this hypothetical better galaxy will have no place for one like him. He’s doing it anyway. Before I saw him, I had honestly never seen a villain with motivations like this. He’s ruthless, cunning and willing to do whatever it takes, and he’s doing it for the promise of a better world he will never be a part of. And that’s why he’s on the list.

Number 2: Magneto

X-Men comics have been around since before I was born, so they’ve always been there for me. And through the comic’s long, twisting history one villain has always stood out to me. Eric Lensherr, known as the mutant Magneto. Like with the Operative, it’s Magneto’s motivations that make him so interesting. He lived through the Holocaust as a child, and he vowed it would never happen again. Mutant kind will not suffer the same fate. And you know, when you read the comics you see he does have a point. His goals are noble, but often his methods are not. He’s currently one of the good guys right now, but for his history and ideals Magneto is on the list.

And my number one most interesting villain is…

 

ISHAMAEL

Ishamael comes from the book series The Wheel of Time. If you’ve all read some of my previous posts, you know I love this series. I grew up with it, and Ishamael was one of my very first villains. At first, he didn’t seem like much, but then as the books progressed and the history of the world became clearer, so did Ishamael’s motivations. It was what his conversations with Rand in in the latest books that really solidified him for me. Before he betrayed his allies to the Shadow, he learned that everything that has happened has happened before since the beginning of time, and it will happen again. The cycle of battles with the Dark One will never end. Ishamael is tired of the struggles, of all the wars and bloodshed needed to keep the Dark One at bay for millennia upon millennia. He’s tired of the thought that he will be reincarnated again and again to fight these battles, and all he wants is for it to end. He wants to break the cycle so he can finally fall into nothingness, let go of his weariness. I have never seen a villain with such motivations before, and that is why he’s number one on my list.

A Disturbing Phenomenon: Why is Male Abuse Okay?

I have noticed something very peculiar in media for the past few years. It’s been on my mind a while, but now it’s got itself stuck in there and won’t let go. It’s a sign of something that, I feel, is very wrong in today’s entertainment. I don’t know if this will be a thing of interest for you all, and it may likely be something many of you disagree with, but I’ll say it anyway. In popular media, it appears that abuse is okay when it’s a woman abusing a man.

Films, television shows and other such things commonly show men abusing women as horrible people. This is good, because abuse is a terrible thing. The kicker is that the opposite quite often does not appear to be true. It’s played up for laughs. Like in Pirates of the Carribean, Jack Sparrow is slapped repeatedly by various different women.

Or what about Raymond and Debra’s relationship in Everybody Loves Raymond? The man is constantly abused verbally, and sometimes physically, for the most minor of mistakes. In one episode (Bad Moon Rising) he called her out on this. She responded by pushing him into a bookshelf. It also occurs quite often in Desperate Housewives. The pinnacle here, in my opinion, is when Carlos tricks Gabby into revealing that she’s trying to manipulate him out of his money after she discovers he is about to land a high paying job. She then pushes him out the upstairs window. The closing narration paints Carlos as the one at fault, and that he is regrets tricking her.

It’s not just Western entertainment, either. Here is an excellent example. In Japan there is a popular graphic novel and anime called Ranma 1/2. The main character, Ranma Saotome, is admittedly a man without tact or social graces. He is constantly being hounded and abused by several of the female cast for this and for a situation beyond his control his father placed him in.

For more examples, please go here: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/AbuseIsOkayWhenItIsFemaleOnMale

If a man was seen doing stuff like this, it would be to show that he’s an asshole at best and a monster at worst. But when a woman does it to a man, it’s done for comedy. You’re supposed to laugh. Why? Why is there this, rather blatant, double standard? It’s often played that the man deserves it somehow. Perhaps sometimes he does, like when Jack was slapped because he stole a ship, but men cannot possibly be deserving of such abuse all the time. And it isn’t just in entertainment. A report run by ABC shows that many people honestly do not find verbal and physical attacks on a man to be abusive.

Perhaps the reason for all this is because, on average, men are stronger than women. Perhaps because of this there is an idea that men cannot be seriously hurt by women. This might lead to the assumption that all abuse is directed from male to female. This is a very dangerous, and false, line of thought. What do you all think?

Movie Review: “True Grit”

I have seen one of the best movies of last year, and its name is “True Grit.” I consider this a thing of interest for everyone. This movie is a must see! But enough of my gushing, let’s get on to the actual review of this fantastic piece of cinema. As always, there be spoilers ahead.

The movie starts with exposition in the form of Mattie Ross (played by newcomer Hailee Steinfeld) explaining that her father has been murdered by one of his hirelings, Tom Chaney (played by Josh Brolin). She wishes to see justice done for her fallen parent, and to that end she inquires into the hiring of a U.S. Marshall. She is directed toward Reuben J. “Rooster” Cogburn (played by the still incredibly manly Jeff Bridges), a surly old man with a bad temper and gruff manners. She convinces him to take the job, though he desists in bringing her along until she follows after him and refuses to leave. The two are joined by Texas Ranger LaBoeuf (played by the less manly Matt Damon, though he’s certainly trying), who has been hunting Chaney for months over a murder committed back down in Texas.

I’m gonna say right off that this movie is incredibly gritty and has more than it’s fair share of violence. But it is more than just a dumb action flick. Gunplay is done realistically, actions have consequences and travel in the wild is harsh. All characters have motivation for what they’re doing, there’s no stupidity for the sake of plot here. To me, this movie struck me as the revival of the Western spirit. There’s been a decline of Western movies in recent years, most likely because so many of the tropes involved in the genre have been done to death. But this movie, despite being a remake of the 1969 film, is not derivative. Yes, there are some classic elements, but these are portrayed well instead of coming off as cliche. Really, this movie is a breath of fresh air in what had been a steadily falling genre.

All seriousness aside, I do have one complaint about the movie. It’s pacing in the beginning is a little slow. I know I’ve complained about pacing before, but I really think that five to ten minutes shaved off when Ross is seeking help in her quest would have tightened up an already fantastic film. But that’s really my only issue. I love this movie so much, and not just because it has Jeff Bridges in it. That’s a big reason, for sure, because the man is awesome, but it isn’t the only reason. Another is because Matt Damon’s character has facial hair. Look at him! It’s Matt Damon with facial hair! I didn’t think such a thing was even possible! I didn’t recognize him when he first showed up, and my mind was blown when I realized who he was.

All in all, this movie was fantastic. Aside from that little bit in the beginning, the pacing was good and the acting is phenomenal. Jeff Bridges is a wonderful actor, and he plays Rooster Cogburn like he was born for it. Matt Damon is typically a pretty good actor, but he does his role very well here as well. Hailee Steinfeld, despite having no previous roles in film, manages to hold her own even while playing next to big names like Bridges and Damon. So, in the end, if you like gritty movies and interesting characters, this is your film. Go see it. I’m sure you’ll be satisfied.

Movie Review: “Tron Legacy”

Howdy. I hope ya’ll had a good Christmas and New Years. I know I did, but now I’m back to give another possible thing of interest. Over my vacation I saw Tron: Legacy, because I am still a huge sci-fi/fantasy nerd, and I have to say I enjoyed it. So, without further ado, let me give you my review of this entertaining movie. As always, beware, for there be spoilers ahead.

Legacy starts off in 1989 with the main character of the previous movie, Kevin Flynn (played by the very manly Jeff Bridges), as he enjoys time with his son, Sam (played as an adult by the less manly Garrett Hedlund). Kevin regales Sam with tales of his adventures in the first movie before going off to do some “very important work.” He says he’ll be back soon, and then promptly goes missing for the next twenty years. Sam, now a very surly adult, then proceeds to pull something out of Mission Impossible. He breaks into the office of ENCOM, his father’s company, and proceeds to give away their latest product for free online. He makes a daring escape off the top of the building via parachute before the police arrive and arrest him. After getting out, he is visited by ENCOM executive and long time family friend Alan Bradley (played by Bruce Boxleitner), who comes with a mysterious page from Kevin, coming from the old arcade. And thus the adventure begins in earnest.

First off, this movie is visually gorgeous. I highly recommend watching it in 3D to fully appreciate it. This is one of the movie’s greatest strengths, but it is also its greatest weakness. The scenery and graphics are so damn pretty that it takes away from the human element. You’re bombarded with so much stuff that it’s hard to focus on what the characters are doing sometimes.

Now, aside from this one big issue, I did enjoy this movie immensely. Firstly, Jeff Bridges is fantastic and I love him. He really sells this thing for me. Garret Hudland and Olivia Wilde, who plays the program Quorra, are good as well. Over all, the acting in this movie was well done. And lets not forget the music. A treat for the ears as well as the eyes.

There are some plot holes and pacing issues, I personally feel the whole thing could have been about twenty to thirty minutes shorter, but over all I have to say it’s a pretty good movie. It’s just so damn fun, and have I mentioned how much I love Jeff Bridges? I really do. So to anyone wanting a visually stunning movie with good acting and nostalgic value, this is the movie for you.

Review: “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows”

Well, here we go. Like “Lord of the Rings” before it, we’re approaching the end of the great book movies of Harry Potter. I saw “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” over Thanksgiving, I hope you all had a good one, and I decided to give a few of my thoughts on it as a possible thing of interest for you all.

First off, I’m praising the acting. Daniel Radcliffe continues to play Harry Potter well, though I do have a small fear that he’ll be typecast. I hope not, since I think he’s a good actor. Rupert Grint and Emma Watson also play Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger with the same skill that they have since they began the roles. The acting in the movie was very good, in my opinion.

Now, I really don’t have to worry too much about spoilers, do I? Still, to keep from upsetting someone, I’m telling you now. There be spoilers ahead.

The movie starts off with good old Voldemort in all of his creepy baldness. I really have to praise Ralph Fiennes for his portrayal of our favorite reptilian psychopath. Every time he’s on screen I just get chills, almost like Hannibel Lector but with magic. Well, Voldy is naturally still interested in releasing Harry from his mortal coil, but is having a bit of an issue in finding him. But like a trooper, The Dark Lord doesn’t let a few little setbacks keep him down! He solves his problem like any logical person would, by kidnapping a Hogwarts teacher and torturing her for information.

Wait, what?

Yep, we start off the movie with a tense scene of cruelty and death. It’s always a good way to show off that your local villain is completely off his rocker. Well, the teacher gives Voldy nothing, so when Severus Snape walks in and hands the man what he’s looking for, he proceeds to remind everyone at the table why he’s the top dog and curses her dead. Now, with an opening like that you’d expect that the rest of the movie would be pretty fast paced, but…

I do have some issues with the film. One is minor and understandable. They split the movie into two parts, but considering just how large the book was this makes sense. Translating that whole thing into a movie would probably make it six hours long. Fans will probably be fine with this, but I fear the casual movie goer may feel cheated getting only half the story.

Now, my other gripe is pacing. After a great opening scene, I was all set and ready to go. It seemed like they were going to continue that with Harry’s escape from his uncle’s house. But after that we get almost fifty minutes of hiding out and camping. Now, I know that they were trying to give the feeling that our heroes are lost and desperately seeking answers they don’t have, but it really slowed the whole movie down. Personally, I would cut that to about thirty minutes to keep the pacing fairly constant. Things speed up again, but all the camping really makes the first half of the movie just plod along.

So, all in all, I found the movie enjoyable. If you’re a Potter fan, go for it. But if you’re not, I think you might want to wait till the second half comes out so you can see everything all together at your leisure.

“Towers of Midnight”

The world is dying.

All across the Westlands, food spoils within hours and the land is covered in sickness. The Dark One’s touch is everywhere, and where he strikes reality bleeds. Tarmon Gai’don, The Last Battle, is swiftly approaching as the seals that hold back the Dark One weaken. But with the nations of the Westlands and the Seanchan Empire moving against each other, is there any chance to prevent everything that was, is and could be from falling to the Shadow?

Perrin Aybarra finds himself haunted by specters from his past. On his journey north he is confronted by the entirety of The Children of the Light, a distraction he does not need as he struggles with the wolf within him. His choices will determine his, and their, fate even as the plots of the Forsaken surround him like an ever tightening noose.

Mat Cauthon prepares for his journey to the Tower of Ghenjei to free Moiraine from the clutches of its otherworldy denizens, but as he does he is confronted once more by the Gholam. He will have to use all his wits in order to defeat this deadly foe, but it may not be enough in the face of its inhuman strength.

Rand al’Thor, The Dragon Reborn, finally in touch with his humanity after so long, confronts Egwene al’Vere, the Amyrlin Seat, at her place of power. Seemingly sane once more, he proposes madness. He will break the remaining seals that hold the Dark One to confront him directly. Egwene rushes to gather the support of as many monarchs possible in order to stop him, but is Rand truly mad, or does he some other plan up his sleeve? As the Third Age approaches its twilight hour, let the Dragon ride once more upon the winds of time!

I have recently finished “Towers of Midnight,” the latest book of the Wheel of Time, and I loved it. For me, Brandon Sanderson hit damn near dead on with “The Gathering Storm,” and he only continues to do so with this latest chapter of my favorite series. “The Gathering Storm” was the insertion of the key, and “Towers of Midnight” is the turning of that key. The pacing is fast and gripping, and the interaction between the characters is fantastic. You really get the feel that everything is coming together here in preparation for the end. It’s fantastic, and I assure you it will not disappoint. It’s all coming together, folks. Pull up a chair and get ready to ride the storm. The finale’s almost here, and it’s gonna be one hell of a show.