The William Tell Overture makes everything sound more epic, even this simple cold open
is vastly improved with some music.
Throw in a costume change, and a western-themed background, and we've got ourselves a show.
Not that I need any of those fancy gimmicks, after all this is Movie Night!
Hello and welcome to Movie Night, the only review show not afraid to critique a picture
seven months after its release.
I'm your host, Jonathan Paula.
Tonight we'll be taking our second look back at some of the bigger blockbusters from summer
2013, beginning with "World War Z".
After its June 21, 2013, this 116 minute apocalyptic thriller based on the Max Brooks novel of
the same name tripled its $190 million budget at the worldwide box office.
In a move we've seen dozens of times before - this dramatic zombie movie opens with a
montage of real world news reports hinting at the coming infection that'll wipe out the
human race - and stuck at the center of it all is our resourceful family man, Brad Pitt;
who must do whatever he can to save his family, and rescue humanity.
He's relatable, believable, and more than capable in the lead role.
Mireille Enos, Daniella Kertesz, Fana Mokoena, and David Morse deliver great, if minor performances
given their frightening surroundings - especially James Badge Dale, who is slowly making a name
for himself in key supporting in big-budget films, after beginning his career a decade
ago as Jack Bauer's sidekick on "24".
Elyes Gabel is featured briefly as a scientist, who stoically warns Pitt that "Mother Nature
is a serial killer.
No one's better.
More creative."
Scenes in this PG-13 rated film can be particularly violent, especially the gruesome transformation
process after someone becomes infected - quickly turning them into a blood-thirsty animal.
The overlying plot is a familiar and tired one... but executed here with such dark realism,
as entire cities are written-off with a single line of dialogue.
This genre, inherently always forces the viewer to wonder what they would do in a survival
situation - and that's where the emotional power and suspense for this story is derived.
From a purely action-oriented standpoint, a grippingly shot and directed sequence where
Pitt's family races through an overrun apartment building for a helicopter extraction is nerve-racking
and intense.
While groups of the zombies often look like CGI rag-dolls and much of the blood looks
decidedly fake, the close-quarters combat and visuals however are excellently handled
and edited; with the guttural growling of the infected and Marco Beltrami's tense music
underscoring every scene.
With not much in the way of writing or plot, this boils down to a well-paced, non-stop
action thrill ride... with Pitt globe trotting from one lead to the next like he's hunting
for Carmen Sandiego.
Smartly, director Marc Forster opts for a low-key and dramatic climax, rather than an
explosive action sequence, and the movie is better because of it.
Not particularly nuanced or original, there's still enough excitement here to warrant repeat
viewings.
"World War Z", a "Visceral and gruesome zombie action."
Now let's go to the comments to hear your thoughts.
We both rated "World War Z" a SEVEN.
While neither of us were really impressed with the formulaic plot, the action and tension
certainly worked well, allowing us both a good enough reason to call this a COOL movie.
Now for tonight's poll question: what's your favorite zombie film?
Leave your response as a comment below.
Tonight's second review is for "The Lone Ranger"
The latest effort from the actor, producer, director trio that brought us the massively
successful "Pirate Of The Caribbean" quadrilogy was released worldwide on July 3, 2013.
Based on the famous 1930's radio series of the same name, this hugely hyped $250 million
dollar adventure epic was unfortunately a commercial disappointment, with its $260-million
international take failing to earn back its marketing and production costs.
In easily his largest role to date, Armie Hammer stars as the title character, a recently
deputized Texas Ranger who tracks down vicious criminals to avenge his brother's death...
with the help of a curiously eccentric and bizarre native American played by the always
amusing Johnny Depp, who sternly advises, "There come a time, when good man must wear
mask."
As an on-screen duo, the Winklevoss twins and Captain Jack Sparrow make an excellent
team... their witty back-and-forth chemistry comprising most of the film's lighter moments.
I was struck however at how violent the picture was at times, especially for a Disney.
One gruesome scene has the nasty and deformed bad guy, played expertly by one of my favorite
character actors - William Fichter - gutting a man's heart out of his still-breathing body.
Tom Wilkinson, Barry Pepper, James Badge Dale, and Helena Bonham Carter round out the talented
supporting cast - with good, if under featured roles.
Set in 1869 Texas, this PG-13 rated film has all the trappings of a classic western; large
set pieces, a grandiose score from Hans Zimmer, plenty of thrills, one-liners, damsels in
distress, dastardly villains, and courageous, uncompromising heroes.
At 149-minutes long however, it's extremely drawn-out and poorly paced - each individual
scene works great; but there's just too many of them.
A particular drain on the run-time is a pointless wrap around plot involving a small child hearing
the entire story in flashback - it never amounts to anything, and could have been done away
with entirely.
Ridiculous unrealistic at times, this is escapist Hollywood cinema at its finest, which plenty
of strong emotional tension, interesting interplay between the characters, and easy to follow
action - thanks to director Gore Verbinski's attention to detail in even the most hectic
of scenes.
When an updated and extended version of the instantly iconic William Tell Overture swells
to full volume during the insanely entertaining climax, it's absolutely impossible not to
smile and enjoy the swashbuckling spectacle.
Logistically, it doesn't always make sense, but this final 15-minute sequence, which sees
two separate runaway trains racing each other on parallel tracks with all the good guys
and bad battling it out for justice and their lives - is positively incredible, seriously
one of the most inventive, well-choreographed, and entertaining scenes in recent movie history
- even throwing in a nod to "Back To The Future III" for good measure.
With sharp and beautiful visuals of Monument Valley, slick and effective editing, and immersive
sound effects - this picture is fantastically accomplished on a technical level.
Although awfully slow to get going, when it finally does - this is a wonderful experience
I'll definitely watch again.
"The Lone Ranger", "Enthralling extravaganza overcomes boring beginning."
Here's what you had to say about the film in the YouTube comments.
Now, our scores for "The Lone Ranger"... a SIX and an EIGHT.
While everyone criticized the lengthy runtime, and some poor plot elements, you enjoyed the
action and western elements, ranking the movie GOOD.
Perhaps going into the film with low-expectations helped, but despite its lackluster second
act... the rapturous finale more than saved this picture, especially when you have that
awesome music - I thought the movie was GREAT.
As we enter a new year, there's plenty of new movies to get excited about, so check
out the Movie Night Archive channel for my trailer commentaries, and an organized library
of all our past reviews.
Last up tonight, "2 Guns".
This light-hearted action film easily doubled its $61 million dollar budget after its August
2nd, 2013 release.
Following the success they shared with 2012's "Contraband" Director Baltasar Kormákur and
Mark Wahlberg have teamed again to produce this 109-minute adventure, based off the graphic
novel series of the same name.
Wahlberg has never been a particularly strong, or even believable dramatic actor... but in
the right roles, like this one here - he is undeniably entertaining and charismatic.
He stars as a cocky, Navy Intelligence Officer who finds himself on the wrong side of a botched
undercover operation after he discovers his partner, Denzel Washington is himself an agent
for the DEA.
The Academy award winning actor is, as expected - impeccable in the second lead, and what
comes as a surprise is how effortlessly he bounces off of Wahlberg.
Their almost jovial sibling-like rivalry and partnership is this picture's strongest aspect,
very reminiscent of the Gibson/Glover pairing in the "Lethal Weapon" franchise.
With a wink and a laugh, the two are immense fun to watch, as they literally wait to the
last second to make a decision, with Wahlberg confidently remarking, "I got a plan.
I mean, I'm capable of coming up with a plan."
Although adept playing opposite Washington for the second time, Paula Patton is underutilized
as the female foil, but thankfully she shows off her gorgeous body on more than one occasion.
Edward James Olmos, James Marsden, and Bill Paxton make up the film's trio of villains
- each one bringing something unique to the picture; especially Paxton as the mysterious
and uncompromising bad guy, who has no issue playing Russian Roulette as a means of interrogation.
The R-rated story has a few twists along the way, but is otherwise your average, decently-paced,
run-of-the-mill investigation plot delivered through typical and conventional cinematography.
The score from Michael Tronick is similarly forgettable, but never out of place.
The movie does exactly what it needs to, and delivers some competent thrills, laughs, and
even some suspense - like when Washington quickly ducks into a freezer after deliberately
blowing up an entire building to escape searching Naval patrols.
Despite having a plot far too complicated and convoluted for its own good, this is an
innocent, shut-your-brain off type of action film where the good guys stop the bad guys,
and becomes friends in the process.
It isn't anything special, but it's a decently realistic time I wouldn't mind watching again.
"2 Guns", "Stereotypical action with perfect casting."
Now let's read your opinions on this picture in the YouTube comments.
"2 Guns" on the rate-o-matic... a SIX and a SIX.
We all agreed that Wahlberg and Washington were the shinning element of this picture,
with the plot being its weakest.
You thought it was GOOD.
I especially some of the supporting-cast, and the fun action sequences.
I'll rate it a GOOD as well.
Plenty of other great movies in theaters recently, so let's read some of your Tweet Critiques.
If you see a new movie in theaters, Tweet your review with the #JPMN hashtag.
Next week we'll be reviewing three recently released pictures, "The Wolf Of Wall Street",
"Grudge Match", and "Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit", which opens nationwide on the 17th.
If you get a chance to see these films, share your opinions by voting in the polls below,
or by leaving a comment review.
If you'd like to watch more Movie Night reviews, check out the "related videos" on the right,
or click SUBSCRIBE to be notified of all new content, and be sure to follow me on Twitter,
Facebook, or Google+ for updates between episodes.
Once again, my name is Jonathan Paula, thank you for watching and listening.
Until next time, have a good Movie Night!