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:

Film Name  Production Year

Rent  (2005)

It was obvious after "Chicago" and "Moulin Rouge" that the genre of movie musical was experiencing a renaissance of some kind. This paved the way for many projects to arrive from Broadway to the big screen, but there is always one significant problem - who is the target audience? More so, are the consumer generations of the 21st century ready to buy in to singing and dancing when telling a story? God forbid a movie doesn't have a plot or a point; it is automatically labeled with the words "tedious", "boring" and the pejorative "artistic".
So, here comes "RENT". It is exactly a kind of movie musical studios would be frightened to invest in. The very slim plot is simply an excuse to present a generation of artists, some of them gay, lesbian or transgendered, and their bohemian lifestyle. As they fight AIDS, hold protests and revolutionize against selling out, you are expected to believe that they simply often burst into song when you least expect it and don't give a damn that the things they talk about may be considered controversial, sinful or wrong (especially since they perform these songs boldly, unlike the very stylized approaches of "Moulin Rouge" or "Chicago"). I am glad to say that, despite all this, the movie miraculously works on its every level.
The characters of "RENT" are based on real people and their experiences in the impoverished East Village, New York City. Among them is Roger, an HIV-infected ex-junkie musician who is liked by Mimi, a 19-year-old stripper junkie. Roger shares his flat with Mark, who is a film-maker looking for the way "to express, to communicate" which becomes particularly hard when his girlfriend Maureen dumps him for another girl, the wealthy Joanne. Add in a philosophy teacher who can't find meaning in life until he meets Angel, a man in drag, and you have a huge spectrum of characters, which can sometimes present an obstacle in some movies. The strength of "RENT" is that it treats all these characters as one, combining their different characteristics into one sample of the New York Bohemia.
Another fantastic aspect of the musical is its music - literally every number is a showstopper, from the emotional "Seasons of Love" and "I'll Cover You" to the rockin' "Rent" and "What You Own". "La Vie Boheme" is a challenge of a song, since it contains more than twenty references, and it is fun to research them and trace the influences these people grew up with - Maya Angelou, The Sex Pistols, Michael Cunningham, just to name a few. Another fun sequence is "Out Tonight" which celebrates being young and having fun, but then subtly fades into "Another Day", which explains the philosophy of living in the moment and enjoying every day like it's the last.
"RENT" never fails. Despite some slight misjudgments and some slower pace at times, it is always strong, bold and delivers its message. It is also never pretentious, because even if you have never lived this kind of life, it is inviting and seductive. More than anything, "RENT" is playful, and that is its sexiness - recognizing and understanding the philosophy of "no day but today".

Under discussion:

Film Name  Production Year

Driving Lessons  (2006)

"Driving Lessons", Rupert Grint's first important movie since "Harry Potter" is a throughly enjoyable effort. It tells a story of Ben, a 17-year old Jesus-obsessed high schooler, hired to take care of a second-rate ex-actress Evie (Julie Walters). Evie is very free-spirited, and after the initial shock (and a life-altering road trip), Ben starts questioning his values, upbringing and desires, much to the dislike of his controlling mother (Laura Liney).
The themes and the plot are masterfully thought-out, and although this movie could easily be tagged as "coming-of-age" or "disrespectful-of-Christianity", it never really falls into cliches of these categories. The very subtle execution and fantastic performances promise to make it watchable and easy to relate to. Grint is amazing as Ben, boldly venturing into much more mature material than his previous efforts, and Julie Walters is hilarious as Ben's confidante and roll model. Although there are plenty of laughs, the movie is essentially a drama, handling the conflicts these characters deal with in a very serious manner. A highly entertaining and engaging film about seizing the day and making your own choices.

Under discussion:

The Virgin Suicides  (2000)

Having seen "Marie Antoinette" and the first half of "Lost In Translation" (I wasn't able to get through the entire thing), I admit I am no fan of Sofia Coppola. I believe she is an over-rated director whose films are looked upon as deep and meaningful, while they are in fact quite shallow and pointless. Such was the case with "The Virgin Suicides".
The film revolves around four (or was it five?) good-looking sisters, who live in a very religious household and see suicide as their only escape from the shelter they've been put into. The story is told through the eyes of the neighborhood boys, who lust after these girls, but feel as if they don't know anything about these mysterious creatures.
The problem is, neither do we. The fact that I can't even remember how many of the sisters there were tells something - except for Lux, played by Kirsten Dunst, these girls are just there to fill the frame, and they have no characteristics or background stories. The first half hour of the film starts promising, with the death of the youngest sister, but after that, there is another hour or so of nothing. There is this guy, played by Josh Hartnett, who is in love with Lux, and then the movie is filled with tedious scenes that seem to go on forever... It is clear from the start that these girls are depressed because of the repressing environment they are growing up in, but the movie doesn't go anywhere from there.
I honestly do not understand why anyone would like this movie. What offended me the most was how pretentious it was. The only good thing about this film is Kirsten Dunst, who is gorgeous and exploited to the maximum - there are countless scenes of her in slow motion, waving, shaking her hair, winking, etc. It is a pleasure to see just how much the camera love sher - but you might as well just look at the DVD cover for hours and feel the same thing. You won't miss out on a good story, I promise you!

Under discussion:

Atonement  (2007)

"Atonement" is an epic, wildly romantic period drama. It is a project with fantastic actors, a great screenplay, an innovative director and pitch-perfect photography.
The story starts in an English country house one hot summer. Briony Tallis (Saoirse Ronan), an imaginative 12 year-old is busy finishing her first play and trying desperately to get someone to act it out or even listen to her. Her older sister Cecilia is walking through the house not noticing anyone, especially not Briony, busy thinking about the housekeeper's son Robbie Turner (James McAvoy), who is obviously in love with her. A series of unfortunate events leads Briony to jealously tell a lie - a lie that will bring utter unhappiness to all three characters. Once separated, we follow these three through World War II, and watch as the story unfolds into unexpected directions.
There is no real star of "Atonement" - everyone, absolutely everyone involved in the project is pitch-perfect. Be it young Briony, played with perfection by the newcomer Ronan - her performance is so natural, yet complex, she single-handedly draws you into the movie during the first few minutes. Knightley and McAvoy are a couple perfect for this kind of movie ("Atonement" is, after all, the most romantic film of the year), sharing that old Hollywood glamour that has recently been forgotten - Knightley's Cecilia is your regular romantic heroine, especially during the intense, early scenes at the mansion, when she slides around in a silky green dress, detached from the environment by her own beauty and attitude. McAvoy, on the other hand, brings an emotional performance that we like to see in our romantic heroes.
The movie features one strong, emotional scene after another. Everything is backed up by an amazing soundtrack - rarely do I remember them, but this one was so original and powerful, with the typewriter beating differently in different scenes... "Atonement" is an old-fashioned, flat out romance, and it's pretty spectacular!

Under discussion:

The Other Boleyn Girl  (2008)

"The Other Boleyn Girl" is one of those movies everyone will like one way or another. It has the historical appeal, lush sets and costumes, an all-star cast and a wonderfully evil plot. What strikes me most about this movie is how the conflicts and plights of these characters still exist today, and to a great extent. It is a very watchable, yet moody film, the one I am sure I will watch again.
The semi-true story centers on two sisters, Anne and Mary Boleyn. Mary (Scarlett Johansson), although she is younger, gets married first and settles into the country lifestyle she is fond of. This leaves Anne (Natalie Portman) eligible to become King Henry's (Eric Bana) mistress, but once he arrives to the country, he falls for Mary rather than Anne. Much to the disapproval of their mother (Kristin Scott Thomas), their father and uncle ship them off to the court of England, where Mary is to become King's mistress, despite her marriage. However, Anne is the head-strong sister who won't be happy until she has made a life for herself, and from then on, the sisters combat each other, the King's wife and fatal ambitions.
Although Bana and Johansson give satisfactory performances, it is Portman who is the heart and soul of this movie. Her portrayal of the woman who is responsible for the English Reformation is both seductive and profound. Also, Kieran McGuigan's cinematography is wonderful, and kudos to Peter Morgan, whose screenplay captures the time and place wonderfully. "The Other Boleyn Girl" is a wonderful, engaging movie you will love.

Under discussion:

Across the Universe  (2007)

If it wasn't for a half an hour in the middle of 'Across the Universe' where the whole cast of the movie (plus Bono) is on drugs and tripping, which makes the movie a tad too long and the visuals a bit too much, it would be perfect. Propelling vehicle for Jim Sturgess and Evan Rachel Wood, with amazing new Beatles' arrangements and performances. And if you haven't seen Julie Taymor's 'Frida', shame on you.