Review: Film: The Martian, by Julie Renee Phelan

Thumps from 1 to 5: Thumps of 4.            

          The Martian movie with Matt Damon who plays Mark Watney is entertaining, but is not an Oscar contender. The movie is based on a novel, The Martian, by Andy Weir. I am not sure if the writers of the screenplay changed the novel, but they had a lot to work with, a good looking healthy man with a comedic flare alone on Mars, but failed to deliver the sorts of meaningful human experience that should have encompassed this movie in order to put this one on the map. Rather than mark the movie as uniquely its own, the film made allusions or paid homage to a previous space movie, Apollo 13 in which one of the main actors, Jeff Daniels also made a previous appearance in that film.

            I enjoyed the disco tunes, and the comedic moments with Matt Damon, and he did deliver it well. It is true, I watched the film in 3D, and if you have motion sickness beware, this will get your stomach tipsy, nauseate it a bit, and throw your equilibrium on its side. It is unfortunate with all those possible distortions that the writers did not take the audience for a real ride. It was a film that could have been, but failed to deliver the momentous goods. Ridley Scott, the Director played it fast and loose as he is notorious for doing, but without a well written script, it did not matter who is behind the camera. Ridley Scott did an excellent job, Matt Damon and the other actors delivered polished performances, but the script was lacking in substance; by the writers paying homage to a previously successful movie, and adding the Chinese emerging aerospace program; it scapegoated and undermined an otherwise ripe screenplay full of potential possibilities, which remain undelivered. 

Review: Film: Zorba the Greek, by Julie Renee Phelan

Thumps from 1 to 5, Thumps of 4.5

“Zorba the Greek” film is based on a novel written by Nikos Kazantzakis. It is the 1964 winner of Academy Awards for Best Cinematography by Walter Lassally, Supporting Actress, played by Lila Kedrova, and Art Direction and Set Decoration. “Zorba the Greek” was also nominated for Best Picture, Actor, Anthony Quinn, Director and adapted screenplay by Michael Cacoyannis.

Walter Lassally, who was the Cinematographer for the film now lives near Chania in Crete, where he shot Zorba the Greek in 1963. Walter Lassally’s Oscar is shown in Tavern Christiana in Stavros, Greece. The name of the village Stavros, which means cross in Greek may as well act as a metaphor for the growth and transformation of the character Basil. Stavros beach is a famous location because Quinn's character, Zorba and Basil, dance the Sirtaki.

Basil, a timid English writer, played by Alan Bates, inherits a mine on Crete. Basil is half-English and half Greek, but was born and raised in England. Basil is book smart, and life dumb. When Basil hires an eccentric stranger, Zorba, to work in his mine, he finds himself drawn into a world fare more exciting and dangerous than any he has ever known. Zorba courts too many women, endures catastrophic perils in the mine that scares off other workers, and defies a group of village men seeking vengeance on a beautiful young window for thwarting their sexual advances.

Eventually, Zorba’s undying exuberance to create more and more chaos leaves Basil in a vulnerable position. Thanks to Zorba, in order to survive Basil undergoes a personality transformation into a more active participant in life. The mine on Crete … who cares about the mine … embrace the transformation of Basil and a life fulfilling story of living life to its fullest.

This film is swelling with inspiration from the story writing, acting, direction, and artful picturesque cinematography. Before you travel to Greece, watch this film. This film is a passionate introspective inspirational vision of transformation of personalities due to adverse situations and friendship. This film is a case study regarding life’s adventures and the reason each life is so precious and wonderful. Similar to a piece of art, life in the end is not always, what is important in the beginning. This film brings that message to the sand, and every now and again, we may all learn a new dance, perhaps the Sirtaki.

Review: Film: Everest, by Julie Renee Phelan

Thumps from 1 to 5: Thumps of 3.5      

The movie released, Everest is in 3D, and provides some unique cinematography that ordinarily we would never be able to see in our lifetime. For that purpose, the movie is an important viewing experience. It is partially filmed in Nepal, making some of the shots memorable, but unfortunately they only had permission for two weeks of filming at that location.

            The film is about the human disaster that occurred on Mount Everest in 1996 due to an all too familiar storyline of humans thinking that they are more omnipotent than nature, nature took them for a ride of their lives, and most of them failed to survive. The movie unfortunately delivers the story without the emotional impact that it should have had, an error in the editing and writing rooms. The performances by Jason Clarke, Josh Brolin, John Hawkes, Robin Wright, Michael Kelly, Sam Worthington, Keira Knightley, Emily Watson, and Jake Gyllenhaal were solid, but there was too much film time spent on certain events, and not enough time spent on other events. There were gaps in the writing, coupled with a lack of writing imagination for what was really going on in the minds of those characters on left on the mountains overnight. There are some moments that are moving, but the overall experience was not as memorable as it should have been.

Review: Film: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, by Julie Renee Phelan

Thumps from 1 to 5: Thumps of 4

“The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” is a film based on a novel written by Douglas Adams in 1979. Fortunately, Douglas Adams started, but after his death in 2001, Garth Jennings and Karey Kirkpatrick collaborated in completing the screenplay for the film released in 2005. This film is in honor of Douglas Adams. The film is a combination of “Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride” and “Laugh-In” to make a memorable and enlightening science fiction comedy.

Although the movie is highly entertaining, recommended reading of the book “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,” a mere two hundred pages of easy reading, prior to viewing the film is suggested in order to familiarize yourself with the characters. Familiarization with the characters will be beneficial for your viewing because the movie pace is quick and bizarre. It may be hard to digest unless the viewer has been previously disposed to such an outlandish plot and characters. However, the plot of the film adaptation of Hitchhiker's Guide differs from the book. The romantic triangle between Arthur, Zaphod, and Trillian is more prominent in the film; and visits to Vogsphere, the home world of the Vogons in the book, were already abandoned, and Viltvodle VI is inserted. Both the film and book ends with the characters en route to the Restaurant at the End of the Universe, the sequel.

The film begins with a narrative that the dolphins, the second most-intelligent creatures on earth, has attempted to warn mankind about the planet's impending destruction, but humans had interpreted the dolphins' communications as tricks. The dolphins considered their mission a failure and left the planet, leaving their message as "So long, and thanks for all the fish."

The film follows an earthling Arthur Dent, played by Martin Freeman. His best friend, an alien from Betelgeuse who is editing the Guide, Ford Prefect, played by Mos Def. Ford explains to Arthur in a pub that in ten minutes the earth will be demolished. They hitch a ride on a Vogon ship. As punishment, they must listen to Vogon poetry. They are thrown out of the air lock, and picked up by the starship “Heart of Gold.” On board the starship, there is Ford’s “semi-half brother, Zaphod Beeblebrox, played by Sam Rockwell. Zaphod is the President of the galaxy who swiped the starship. Accompanying Zahod is an earthwomen Tricia McMillan, played by Zooey Deschanel. There is an unforgettable performance by Marvin the Paranoid Android, voiced by Alan Rickman, and played by Warwick Davis. Zaphod must visit Humma Kavula, played by John Malkovich, his opponent in the election. Zaphod’s campaign is described as "slanderous 'don't vote for stupid' campaign.”

The movie appears to be a reenactment of a European trip on $10 per day in 1993 each spaceship representing a different youth hostel. The towel is an important necessity both in the movie and at youth hostel for there are none, and everyone needs a towel. The intergalactic excursions represent traversing the countries. Traversing the continent and knowing what the foreigners are saying is a harrowing experience. However, the most important thing to keep in mind, Don’t Panic!

Review: Film: The Good Dinosaur, by Julie Renee Phelan

Thumps from 1 to 5: Thumps of 4.

The film, The Good Dinosaur, a tearjerker, is a partial animation coupled with real images by Pixar. The film appeared to be rushed to release for this holiday season. The animation with real images is nothing to write about. The story takes place about 65 million years ago—the dinosaurs are personified; they speak and behave similar to humans, while the human like character behaves like a dog. It is an interesting exercise in humility, and understanding that there are different points of view. The viewpoint was similar to the Planet of the Apes, but I was a bit confused as to the purpose of the transposition. From what I was able to gather, it is a story about overcoming fears and coping with natural loses, while still making your mark.

I thought the message was positive, but for the younger audience, the message was lost in the movies length. The movie is one hour, and forty minutes. The children as children often do during a lengthy sitting became restless. I believe Pixar should have tested the film on an audience composed of children rather than releasing a film that takes an adult mind that can pay attention long enough to follow. There were a great many scenes that could have easily been deleted, which would have kept the continuity, and left the children in the audience with some understanding of the story.

Review: Film: The Revenant, by Julie Renee Phelan

Thumps from 1 to 5: Thumps of 4.

            The film, The Revenant is not as sweeping as its predecessor that it obviously tries to emulate, which is Lawrence of Arabia, nor is it a sweeping rendition of the second waltz by Dmitri Shostakovich. It maybe a fledgling attempt by the Director, Alejandro Gonzálex Iñárritu to pay homage to a character, Sir Lawrence of Arabia, played by Peter O’Toole that had few ties to the character Hugh Glass, played by Leonardo DiCaprio. Although they both wander through the vast wilderness, be it hills of sand or mountains of snow, the two stories are not the same; while in the former film, Sir Lawrence was already a unique individual that continues to be, much to the amazement of the other characters and the audience. In the case of the latter film, Hugh Glass has an ordinary desire for revenge because his son is unjustly murdered, and learns through the process of comradeship that vengeance is best left up to the creator. I however cannot help but wonder as I am watching where paying homage stops and copying starts. I left the movie knowing the characters are different; they both did however take an epic journey, but my gut instinct tells me the direction and cinematography are too similar to Sir Lawrence of Arabia.
            I believe in order to be considered for an Oscar the director must do something new; provide an additional insight into the art of film-making which I feel that Alejandro Gonzálex Iñárritu or his film just did not do.  In this manner, this production does not deserve the honor by the Academy of Best Director or Best Picture. Although Leonardo DiCaprio has given us many fine movie performances in other movies, I sincerely hope this is not the film that finally provides him with an Oscar for Best Actor. I believe DiCaprio deserves to be granted with an Oscar from a truly magnificent movie.