The Sorcerer's Apprentice

Ok, I'm a little late with this one; I admit I saw 'The Sorcerer's Apprentice' last week, finished the review, and then neglected to post until now. But here it is!!
I had to see this movie, being a big Disney fan as well as an Alfred Molina and Toby Kebbell fan. Here's what I thought of it:

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice

Nicolas Cage, Jay Baruchel, Alfred Molina, Teresa Palmer, Toby Kebbell, Monica Bellucci

‘The Sorcerer’s Apprentice’ is an amazing spectacle of visual entertainment coupled with solid performances, but sadly ends up falling flat. It’s undoubtedly a fun film that is visually pleasing, and is filled with excellent actors that do their best with what they are given, but it can’t break free of an extremely predictable, bland plot.
The movie opens with an outlining of the partnership of Veronica (Monica Bellucci), Balthazar (Nicolas Cage), and Horvath (Alfred Molina), three sorcerers working under Merlin until Horvath betrays the group and joins up with evil sorceress Morgana. Long story short, Balthazar captures Morgana (who is now sharing Veronica’s body as a result of some intense spell) and traps them inside a magical doll. Balthazar then travels the world over the decades searching for a boy who will be his apprentice and have the power to destroy Morgana, capturing other Morgana supporters and Horvath himself along the way. Cut to the year 2000 and enter Dave (Jay Baruchel), a fourth grader vying for the attentions of fellow student Becky (Teresa Palmer). Through ‘coincidence’ he finds Balthazar’s shop, is revealed to be the one Balthazar has been looking for, and accidentally releases Horvath. There’s some fighting, the two sorcerers get trapped inside a magic vase, and poor Dave looks like a raving lunatic to his classmates. Ten years later Balthazar and Horvath are released and set out to find the doll and Dave, who has just met back up with his childhood crush Becky. The apprenticeship begins and Dave must balance his sorcery lessons and his love life while wrapping his head around the fact that the fate of the world may rest on him.
‘The Sorcerer’s Apprentice’, falling victim to a plot that’s slightly boring due to its extreme predictability, relies heavily on the amazing special effects and excellent action scenes, which were definitely the strong aspects of the film. Fortunately the movie was also able to use solid acting as a crutch thanks to the presentations of the key characters. Toby Kebbell was quite fun to watch in his flamboyant portrayal of sorcerer Drake Stone; his antics were done humorously without being over the top. Alfred Molina was exceptional as the refined yet icy villain Horvath, able to send chills and invoke laughs without making the character seem cartoonish or silly. Nicolas Cage was just right as sorcerer Balthazar, but there was nothing about his performance to set it apart as extraordinary. Jay Baruchel was endearing but typical as physics nerd Dave, but he did very well with the material he was given.
While the main characters were well done and entertaining, there was a definite weak point with minor characters. Dave’s roommate held promise of much humour, and the two other Morgana supporters trapped inside Balthazar’s doll built up anticipation of wonderfully nasty minor villains and subsequent action, but instead they were all barely used. The feeling left by the disregard of these characters is similar to lighting the fuse on a fantastic firework, watching it burn, and then having the firework spark pathetically and drop to the ground. Instead of a fabulous display, you get nothing but fizzle and disappointment.
When you factor everything together the most disappointing part of the film was by far its ending. A perfect ending is difficult to create, and sadly this one tried to please everyone and ended up extremely weak and unsatisfying.
When all is said and done ‘The Sorcerer’s Apprentice’ could have been better written, but it’s great fun to watch and is recommended for the special effects and action.

Despicable Me

I have returned, and I bring with me a film review! I've been excited to see 'Despicable Me' for a while, and I went to see it a few days ago. Armed with popcorn and candy I went in with nervous expectation - I was hoping it would be good, it looked just so cute; and I wasn't disappointed, thank goodness.
Here's my review:

Despicable Me

Steve Carell, Jason Segel, Russell Brand, Julie Andrews, Miranda Cosgrove, Dana Gaier, Elsie Fisher

If you’re looking for a sweet family movie with plenty of laughs for both kids and grown-ups, then you’ll definitely enjoy ‘Despicable Me’.
The movie starts off intriguingly, with super villain Gru (Steve Carell with an accent) going about his daily routine in his typical evil way; he blasts coffee shop customers with his freeze ray to get to the front of the line and heads home in his monstrous and obviously ‘home-made’ vehicle. After having a nice chat with the neighbor about his lawn-soiling dog Gru heads inside his lovely abode, which also houses his lab. Inside this lab we get our first look at Gru’s little yellow minions, which are the main source of the film’s slapstick comedy, and the evil scientist Dr. Nefario (Russell Brand), whom Gru informs of his plan to steal the moon and become the world’s #1 villain. Unfortunately his plans are thwarted when the bank refuses to give him a loan, and a new villain on the scene, Vector (Jason Segel), is anticipating and spoiling his every move. Super-genius Gru then gets a super-genius idea and adopts three girls, Margo (Miranda Cosgrove), Edith (Dana Gaier), and Agnes (Elsie Fisher) to unwittingly help carry out his sinister plot. Unfortunately poor Gru didn’t count on the bond that would form between them, throwing another monkey wrench into the mix.
By no means is ‘Despicable Me’ groundbreaking, awe-inspiring, or completely perfect; but the creators were able to take something flat and make it into something heartwarming and memorable. The characters especially were well-done, and served as a perfect base for the film. Gru was not overly outrageous or ridiculous, and he was surprisingly relatable and entertaining; his flashbacks to his childhood dream of getting to the moon and his mother’s (Julie Andrews) constant indifference were also not overdone or misplaced, and provided an appropriately short and light back story. The girls were just cute and spirited enough without being annoying in either sense, and were the perfect foil for the crusty Gru. They pulled on heartstrings and mustered laughs without it feeling contrived or overdone. The weakest link in the character chain was super villain rival Vector. Providing mild laughs, the villain with a strange obsession with sea creatures had no back story for attachment, and just didn’t have enough personality to keep up.
‘Despicable Me’ is an excellent and entertaining blend; it was able to take old yawn-worthy jokes and slapstick and somehow make them funny again (with a little help from the minions), and it is endearing enough that you actually care to see a warm and fuzzy ending for the characters, who really aren’t so despicable.

The Karate Kid

My sister wanted to go see this; I went in very skeptical, but I have to say I thought it was a cute movie and quite liked it. And Jaden Smith did waay better than I thought he would.
Here's my review:

The Karate Kid
Jaden Smith, Jackie Chan, Taraji P. Henson, Han Wenwen, Zhenwei Wang

Yes, ‘The Karate Kid’ is yet another remake in a long line of remakes that have been churned out the last little while; but if you go into the theatre objectively you’ll leave surprisingly satisfied.
This version follows twelve year old Dre Parker (Jaden Smith) to China, moving there from Detroit due to his mom Sherry’s (Taraji P. Henson) career. They settle into a small apartment where Dre soon meets the antisocial maintenance man Mr. Han (Jackie Chan). Unfortunately things turn sour quite quickly when Dre becomes smitten with classmate Mei Ying (Han Wenwen), drawing negative attention from another classmate, and martial arts student, Cheng (Zhenwei Wang). Tired of being Cheng and his buddies’ punching bag, Dre turns to Mr. Han, who revealed his own martial arts skills while putting a stop to one of Dre’s beatings. Instruction begins and Dre prepares both physically and mentally for a face-off with his tormentors, learning lessons and forming friendships along the way.
Admittedly, this movie does have some flaws; the 2hr. and 20min. time frame could have been cut down a bit, and the beginning lagged slightly and took a while to get going, but once it does the film clips along at an average pace, still a little slow but quick enough to keep the viewer interested. The imagery throughout the movie is beautiful, and the performances from each of the actors were engaging and enjoyable. The characters themselves are pleasing; they aren’t sleek or ‘movie glamorous’, they are real and emotional; Dre and his mother don’t have the ‘perfect parent-child relationship’, or the clichéd impatient parent-rebellious child relationship. They are a mother and son who love each other and are struggling with their differences and conflicting emotions.
Young Jaden Smith had the weight of a movie resting on his shoulders, and while he stumbled a bit, he didn’t let it fall. He was somewhat awkward in parts, but overall he did quite well; the emotional scenes were especially well done and didn’t seem overly forced. Taraji P. Henson was excellent as a mom struggling with a new life and the pain it’s causing her son; and Jackie Chan gave a great performance as a lonely maintenance man with a painful past who has more to him than meets the eye.
While it may not pack the same punch as the original, ‘The Karate Kid’ is a fun and satisfying film with heart.

Any other opinions?

Jonah Hex

Another review is ready for posting! I saw 'Jonah Hex' about a week ago with one of my friends; I went in without much hope, the reviews hadn't been good, and got exactly what I expected: not much.
Here's the review:

Jonah Hex
Josh Brolin, Megan Fox, John Malkovich, Michael Fassbender, Will Arnett

While watching ‘Jonah Hex’ one consistent thought runs through the viewer’s mind – ‘What the heck is going on?’
The film begins with narrative from Jonah Hex (Josh Brolin) about how tight he was with his best buddy during their military days, and how they thought they were doing the right thing; then, it seemed Jonah changed his values, and it appeared as though he turned on his friends from the South in the next confusing scene. Cut to Jonah tied to a big wooden ‘X’ outside his house. Through some dialogue we learn that his captors are his now-dead best friend’s father Quentin Turnbull (John Malkovich) and his band of ruffians. Looking to avenge his son’s death, which was apparently Jonah’s fault, Quentin has his lackey Burke (Michael Fassbender with a face tattoo) set fire to Jonah’s house with his wife and son trapped inside. After branding Hex with his initials, Turnbull leaves him on the ‘X’ to die, but Jonah is saved by a native medicine man days later. We then learn through more narrative and accompanying comic frames how Jonah hunts Turnbull until the chase ends unexpectedly when Quentin dies in a hotel fire; Hex then becomes a bounty hunter to satisfy his unfulfilled lust for blood. It also seems he can now talk to the dead thanks to his own near-death experience. Just barely into the movie we are already introduced to one-dimensional characters with no satisfactory background, very little personality, and clichéd revenge-fueled rage. Enter underwhelming minor parts from Megan Fox as a typical no-nonsense tough-girl love interest (who appears with no explanation for how she came into Hex’s life), and Will Arnett as a barely-seen military officer who needs Hex to hunt down Turnbull (who’s actually not dead, and has stolen a weapon capable of mass murder), and you’ve got more bland added to an already flavourless mix. And it doesn’t get much better.
Josh Brolin grits and shoots his way through the movie, trying his very best, and John Malkovich and Michael Fassbender add the only slight personality, but their performances just aren’t enough for redemption.
When you factor in choppy writing with a thin unifying thread, characters with little or no background and personality, and cram it together into a small hour and a half frame, the result is a messy, confusing film that fails to leave an impression.

The A-Team

Post number two is up already! I've seen The A-Team already a couple of times, so I have a review all ready.
I have to say, I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. The way some of the fight scenes were filmed was very shaky and confusing, but other than that it was completely hilarious and great fun to watch.
And here's my review:

The A-Team
Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson, Sharlto Copley, Jessica Biel, Patrick Wilson, Gerald McRaney

Loud, action-packed, in-your-face, and hilarious; these are the main words to describe ‘The A-Team’, and it’s the perfect mix.
The film begins by dropping the viewers somewhere in Mexico and treating them to fabulous character introduction right off the bat: Colonel Hannibal Smith (Liam Neeson) makes a seemingly impossible escape from becoming dog kibble and celebrates with a cigar; Corporal B.A. Baracus (Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson) gets to show off his skills behind a wheel and with his fists; Lieutenant Templeton ‘Faceman’ Peck (Bradley Cooper) is out of the gate as a fast-talking lady-loving charmer; and Captain H.M. ‘Howling Mad’ Murdock (Sharlto Copley) plays doctor before showing off his expertise in one hell of a chopper ride that pulls the plan together. And I love it when a plan comes together (Sorry Hannibal).
With those thrilling opening credits we’re whisked to Iraq eight years and eighty successful missions later where the team carries out one last plan to obtain stolen engraving plates. But this time something goes wrong; a general is killed and the plates are stolen, they’re set up, and the four find themselves incarcerated in separate maximum-security prisons. Of course the only logical thing to do is escape, find the plates, and clear their names.
What really brings the movie together and makes it enjoyable is the A-Team itself; the characters and the actors portraying them are excellent together, and are fantastic to watch. Liam Neeson is stellar as Hannibal, delivering his lines (both new and old) and chomping that cigar like a champ. Bradley Cooper does not disappoint as the ladies man Face with an ego so big it could be split comfortably between three people. Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson stepped into Mr. T’s big shoes, and while he was a little stiff in delivering his lines, he was still enjoyable to watch as B.A. with a conscience issue. Sharlto Copley by far stole the show as Murdock; his performance as the chopper-flipping pilot whose sanity is constantly in question was entertaining and spot on. Aside from the team, Patrick Wilson gives an excellent performance as a CIA agent who acts like a frat boy and has a dark agenda, and Gerald McRaney has a small but well-played role as General Morrison. Jessica Biel does her best as Captain, no Lieutenant, Charisa Sosa, but unfortunately the character is slightly forgettable next to the other colourful characters sharing the screen.
From the individual escapes of the team to the final explosive scenes, everything in this movie is full-throttle – and it works. You go in expecting action, unbelievable plans, and insane humour, and you get it all. By no means is it an Oscar-worthy type film, but ‘The A-Team’ is true to its origins, and is just plain fun.

And there's my first review; feel free to comment and add your opinion!

Debut

Post #1 - we're officially up and running!
Film Talk is a blog that combines two of my passions: movies and writing. A movie is not just a form of entertainment for me, it's also an art; I love to look at writing, acting, cinematography, camera work - everything. And writing is something I've always loved; from poetry to books I write each and every day. I've begun to merge those two passions and put down on paper what I've always verbally done - movie reviews. I'm up for watching a movie of any genre, and I'm always up for offering my opinion; this blog is a place that allows me to share my written work with other movie enthusiasts, and even gain feedback and start conversation! Feel free to get involved, and don't be afraid to comment!