Noah

 

I love to watch movies in the theatre.  The whole experience is mesmerising to me.  A giant screen showing larger than life images of every imagineable situation possible.  I am also a graphics nerd and the bigger and better the CGI the more likely I will enjoy a show.  But, there is occasion where I would rather skip the theatre and just sit down and watch the movie at home.   Those would be the more involved thought provoking movies that I can rewind to rewatch a scene, or the romantic comedies that I can curl up with wife and enjoy the night, or that I just didn't feel warranted a big screen review.  It is the main reason why I have a Netflix subscription.  Well, for the movies and it keeps my children occupied watching cartoon reruns.  I decided therefore to write a review of a movie that was released earlier this year but I was unable to watch at the theatre.  I didn't feel a strong desire to watch Noah when released but was curious as to how Hollywood would interpret a book that has possibly sold more copies than any other book known to man.  I am a fairly religious person and know the story of Noah and the Ark.  I do admit that I had to sit down and re-read the story to "fact check" some of the finer points in the movie.  I would say that Hollywood has taken a huge literal interpretive stick to this movie.  The basics of the story are there; men are wicked, Noah builds an ark, animals fill the ark, earth is flooded, everyone dies, and olive branch.  The writers of this script  took many liberties with their thoughts and may have put what I call the "Hollywood Touch" to a story.  I find it amazing that the story of Noah isn't a huge epic scrawling tome of novels, it actually covers only a few pages.  Why then does Hollywood feel the need to make things a little weird?  Only way I can explain that is... It's Hollywood.

I actually think if one is able to set aside the actual story and watch this movie with a disregard to any religious afiliation or even think of it as a good Fantasy story then the movie itself is a good watch.  Russell Crowe plays Noah and Jennifer Connely plays Naameh, Noah's Wife.  The acting is very well done and the effects are actually pretty good.  I was amazed that they were able to take CGI and make it actually look like stop motion.

I woud recommend this to anyone that is able to look past the actual story and watch a movie that has some pretty good CGI and some decent action to it.  The pace of the movie flows and keeps one engaged.  If you are easily offended by someone's interpretation of biblical stories whether wrong or right, then this one isn't for you.  I would also say it isn't for the younger children, it is dark and can be violent at times.  I would agree with the rating and keep it above the 13 year old threshold.

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

I decided that I was going to take a break from the big explosion, action adventure, CGI laden movie and watch something with a little less, and then I saw Dawn of the Planet of the Apes.  This is a continuation of the more updated Planet of the Apes and Rise of the Planet of the Apes.  This movie is set in a future in which most of the human population has been wiped off the earth and the apes are taking control. It is nice to see a more modern look on the series and with a complete and utterly needed retelling of the classic.  I was a big fan of the original shows, even with the cheesey costumes.  It is nice to see modern CGI that can make humanistic apes seem completely realistic.  The only thing that makes me excited about movies is if this is where we are at above and beyond 20 years ago, what is the next step 20 years from now.  I honestly look forward to seeing some amazing things from the film industry in the upcoming future. 

Ceasar returns in this movie as the leader of a group of isolated apes living in Northern California.  The movie takes place about five years after Rise.  The human population has been decimated by the simian flu and the apes are thriving with their new found brain power.  Although a little slow in the beginning due to story development, the pace does quickly pick up.  There is an emotional attachment not only to the humans but to the apes as well.  The human characteristics are evident throughout and helps one empathize and sympathize with a lot of the hardships they must endure. 

There is a dark tone throughout the movie and does have some strong violent scenes.  The apes are extremely realistic looking and would make anyone think twice before messing with one.  There are a few spots of comedy in the movie but the overall theme is very dramatic.  I was impressed that more of the story revolved around the apes and didn't completely center on the human issues.  There are a lot of lessons that can be gleamed from paying attention to the suttle undertones. 

I would reccomend this to anyone who enjoyed the first series.  There is a some great action scenes and the violence, though not bloody, can be intense at times.  If you enjoy movies about animals, a great plot line, and gun welding apes riding destria, the this is the movie for you.  There is even a little bit of a love story in it.  I don't reccomend this for the younger crowd because of the violence and dark tones.  Recommended age would be twelve and up and that would also depend on the childs maturity level.  This is not a dating movie, but feel free to take your spouse or long time relation to this movie.  Stay clear if you are looking for happy, romantic, feeling movies, this one is dark pretty much from the beginning to the end.

Transformers: Age of Extinction

 Long ago in a time not so distant I sat, more than likely in my He-Man underwear, eating a bowl of cereal watching one of the most amazing cartoons of all time.  My brother and I would sit mesmerised soaking in every single bit of Transformer glory that we could.  Who wouldn't love giant robots that transform into different objects.  Michael Bay is at it again with all new bots and even new actors.  Mark Wahlberg has replaced Shia Labeouf and most people think this is a good thing.  There is a new threat for the autobots and the decipticons aren't the main bad guys.   A new evil has arisen along with some human assistance in the form of a very nasty Kelsey Grammar, who can play a very nasty bad guy. Also being introduced, to my childlike giddy pleasure, are the dinobots.  Giant dinosaur robots!  The only thing I could wish would be that I was a child again so that I can see this type of movie through the mind of a hyper-imaginative child.  Most of my childhood loves all in one movie and in awesome graphics. It would be a small slice of Heaven.

This is a movie about Transformers that was made by Michael Bay. I wish that the reigns would be handed over to someone like Joss Whedon or even Christopher Nolan, but we are stuck with Bay and at least we know we will get huge explosions, of which there are plenty. Autobots are now being hunted by humans with the aid of an extraterrestrial robot that is after Optimus Prime's    Spark. The plot does take a long time to figure out and the beginning of the movie does seem to drag. When the action begins though, it doesn't slow down for long.

 

There is a tone of humor early in the movie, and splattered through out.  It is a Michael Bay type of humor and may be lost on the younger crowds.  The movie is long and does drag in a few spots which is trying to fill in some plot gaps left from the previous films.  Overall the acting was decent.  This is a movie about giant robots so there can't be too many complaints about the human element and the acting or lack thereof.

 

I would recommend this movie to those that truly love the Transformers.  To the people like me that grew up watching the Autobots battle the Decipticons on Saturday mornings.  There are a lot of explosions and amazingly some death does occur.  Despite the destruction and violent nature I would say that if you have a child that is even remotely interested in robots or dinosaurs then this is a good choice for them.  Don't go to watch this movie hoping for a great plot or superb acting.  Don't even watch it for a good story.  Go to watch this movie knowing that you will see Optimus riding a dinosaur robot like a wild horse and leave reality behind.