rebelprince89 Blog

Under discussion:

Casino Royale  (2006)

"Casino Royale" blew me away. It is a fantastic movie in every way, and also the best Bond so far! I have always liked Pierce Brosnan (for some reason, other people didn't) in this prestigious role, and now that he has retired as a 00 agent, it is great to see someone even better replace him.
"Casino Royale" revisits the beginnings of the well-known British secret agent, and it does so in a very stylish manner. Every second of the movie is carefully thought out, and it really is perfect. James Bond is now played by Daniel Craig ("Elizabeth", "Sylvia", "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider"), who adds an interesting twist to this well-known character. Apparently, in the beginning, Bond couldn't care less if his martini was shaken or stirred, his first kill was pretty rough and not at all elegant, and he was also a little kinky. Of course, he has always been very cool, with the latest gadgets, fast cars and beautiful women.
Speaking of women, "Casino Royale" doesn't disappoint. The latest Bond girl is Eva Green. As every good Bond girl should be, she is not both beautiful AND brainy, and is very believable in her role. Also, she is one of few 007 love interests to not be interested in Mr. Bond... until she is, of course.
And of course, there is action involved, and lots of it. However, the movie is very smart - not all action consists of explosions, guns and foreign assassins (although, it's not like these elements aren't there!). In order for Bond to successfully accomplish his mission, this time he doesn't need to kill anybody... he needs to win a game of poker. Although this may sound like a major turn-off, it is magnificently executed - the scenes around the table are awesome, exciting and full of drama. Also, there is a sub-plot involved, because you don't just become 007: there is something for Bond, James Bond to do before he gains his title.
"Casino Royale" is one of the most satisfying movies to come out in 2006. It is everything a James Bond movie should be, and then some. Judi Dench is at her usual super-self, Eva Green is mesmerizing, and Daniel Craig... let's just say he might as well be the ultimate James Bond!

Under discussion:

Marie Antoinette  (2006)

Marie Antoinette is one of history's most (in)famous monarchs. It's not like she did anything special for her people, considering that after her reign, France was faced with many debts to settle. However, she certainly had that je-ne-sais-quoi about her, and so does Sofia Coppola's movie. It is not a perfect movie in any way (it's not even a well-done movie), but it will surely amuse for its two hour length.
Every single shot of "Marie Antoinette" is a pleasure to look at, beautiful and full of rich colors. However, this cannot be due to wonderful filmmaking - we're talking about Kirsten Dunst and Versailles. Dunst is gorgeous, and the role suits her perfectly. No matter how many myths have been told about the queen's vanity, and no matter how many shoes Copolla fits into a shot (there is even a pair of blue Converse All-Stars), she rises above these shallow approaches to acting, and makes Marie a vulnerable, observant woman. As for Versailles, the castle is a character of its own, and one of the most important aspects of this movie. As the curtain drops, on her way to the guillotine, Marie Antoinette looks sadly through the window of her carriage onto the wonderful Versailles scenery, the last words are "I'm saying good-bye", and so are we.
The problems with this movie are not its stars, the direction, and not even the script. The problem is that it's preposterously egoistical. The first and the last half-hour are interesting-enough, with character development and interesting portrayal of the era. However, there is an hour in between that drags along most boringly. It is such a shame that Copolla blew her chance to make a great movie, and it would've been great. Instead, "Marie Antoinette" feels like a Versailles slumber party, hosted by wonderful people, rich and shallow.

Under discussion:

Transamerica  (2005)

"Transamerica" is worth watching solely because of Felicity Huffman's performance. The terrific actress plays Bree, a not-quite-yet woman waiting for the final sex-reassignment operation. However, a couple of days before the operation, Bree gets a phone call from NYPD, informing her she has a son and that she needs to get there and bail him out. Bree reluctantly does that, but instead of telling her hustler son she is his mother, she tells him she is a missionary and offers to drive him to California, where he wants to become a porn actor.
This is a movie with real people and real problems. On the way to the East Coast, there are many twists and turns awaiting Bree and her son, and it adds to the humanity of these two, well, unique people. A very admirable aspect of this movie is that it never treats transsexuals as jokes - and Felicity Huffman always plays her character with respect. It is truly an Oscar-worthy performance. Another outstanding performance here is by Kevin Zegers, playing Bree's problematic son - and just you wait 'till you see the background story. All in all, a movie to watch at least once, and an actress to cherish.