Mirror Mirror

Last November, that incomprehensible Greek Mythology film, Immortals, was released. Its director, Tarsem Singh, now has a new film out to make up for it. It's Mirror Mirror, the first of two Snow White films out this year.

Yes, there are two Snow White films. The similarities end there.

The Evil Queen (Julia Roberts) has run her peaceful kingdom to debt and beyond. Her stepdaughter Snow White (Lilly Collins) is supposed to be locked away in the tower. But thanks to kindly castle staff, she's able to go freely to her kingdom and see what's become of it.

And she's not happy with it.

She runs into the Seven Dwarves, who are named Half Pint, Grub, Grimm, Wolf, Chuckles, Butcher and Napoleon. They rob from the rich and give to themselves, but Snow White convinces them to give to the poor. They decide to help her get rid of the Queen, take back the Kingdom and also to win the dimwitted Prince Alcott (Armie Hammer).

As with Singh's previous films, the biggest star is...was costume designer Eiko Ishioka. She passed away in January, but her trademark extravagance at least got one more film to display it in. Together with the sets, her costumes succeed in providing eye candy for the masses.

The stars who wear that wardrobe provide capable performances for their roles. Especially with Roberts, who is both reliably humorous and nasty as the Evil Queen. Nathan Lane, as her yes-man Brighton, provided some good comic relief, as did Hammer as the Prince. And at least the story they were given was intelligible and straightforward, even if it felt too long at times.

For those seeking a good family time, this fairy tale will do just nicely. Just don't expect the same with Snow White and the Huntsman, a certainly "Grimm" film in every sense of the word.

Wrath of the Titans

Another week, another 3-D blockbuster has come to the screen. This week, it's Wrath of the Titans, sequel of my first reviewed film, Clash of the Titans. Now with an actual Titan. Amazing, isn't it?

Perseus (Sam Worthington), hero of the first film, is now a single dad ever since his wife, Io, died a probably horrific, but definitely off-screen death. He wants nothing to do with his father, the almighty Zeus (Liam Neeson). In fact, none of Greece wants anything to do with the Gods; without prayer, they die.

Meanwhile, the evil Hades (Ralph Fiennes) and his sinister nephew Ares (Edgar Ramirez) have teamed up to take over the world. To do so, they plan to release Kronos, the father of the Gods, from the depths of the Underworld. To do that, they plan to suck Zeus's energy dry. Already, their evil plan has caused monsters to come out of the Earth and kill people. So, Perseus must once again assemble a good crew to defeat Hades, save Zeus and destroy Kronos.

Unlike last year's Immortals, which was dreadfully confusing even to those familiar with the original myths, this film is pretty straightforward. By the end of the film, you'll know what the film's about, who the characters are and why they're here. It's a bare-bones story, but at least it's done right.

Its biggest drawback was the not so straightforward editing. Its action scenes would've been all impressive, except they're mostly cut so fast you can't tell what our heroes are fighting. It's a shame, really, because those were some cool monsters as their opponents.

There's one significant way this improves over the original and that's the effects. Its CGI backgrounds, monsters and Godly powers are all more extravagant this time around. Kronos, in particular, looks and feels like a purely molten nightmare once he starts moving. Still, these effects were at their best when the film was focused on them.

Come for the spectacle, if you want. It'll at least provide a serviceable matinee at the movies. But still, just don't expect too much out of it.

The Hunger Games

Since Hollywood'll run out of Twilight books this year, they've decided to go elsewhere on the book shelf for ideas. Hence, they've drawn out The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins. Even if you're not an avid fan of this franchise, you won't be disappointed with what's on screen.

Life stinks for Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence), who lives in District 12 of Panem (formerly North America). Ever since a great revolt way back ago, the Districts have each been commanded to offer up a boy and girl for an annual competition. These are the eponymous Hunger Games, and there's one winner and 23 dead losers.

Her little sis, Primrose (Willow Shields), gets called for the games unexpectedly, so Katniss immediately offers herself instead. The big wigs accept her offer, but now she has to compete against her pal Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson). And it's all going to play out live on TV.

For a 2 1/2 hour film, this surely has one of the fastest screenplays I've seen. What I've summarized is just in the first twelve or so minutes, and it is some effective exposition. It continues to keep up the audience's interest by making its characters, even the doomed ones, interesting. This helps make its action scenes some of the most suspenseful this year.

What's also memorable is how the film uses color. In the wilderness, and in the 12 Districts, it's bleak and subdued. In Panem's capitol, the buildings, the clothes and the makeup are exercises in excess. That's all thanks to some incredible production work, who ought to get called out for Oscars next year.

Yeah, I know it's early, but as the past few years have shown, Oscar has a good memory.

Overall, it's greatest strength is that it's not excessively melodramatic or brutal. Instead, it finds the right balance with both and the result'll satisfy fans and non-fans alike. At least, until the sequel, Catching Fire, comes out around next year.

21 Jump Street

Best known as the breakout role of a young Johnny Depp, the 80s cop show 21 Jump Street has now been reborn into a Hollywood movie. What results on screen is a two-hour exercise of the best kind of stupidity this year.

When they were in High School, Morton Schmidt (Jonah Hill, also the co-writer) was the awkward nerd and Greg Jenko (Channing Tatum) was the dumb jock. Years later, when they join the police force, they still are. Because of their youthful good looks and their amazing incompetence, the higher brass transfers them to the titular address.

Their mission, that they quickly accept, is to go back to their old High School and locate the source of a new super drug. They have to stay out of trouble and resist the urge to go too undercover for it to work. But eventually, their polar opposite personalities are gonna give them much trouble.

It's a quite family unfriendly film from the directing duo (Phil Lord and Chris Miller) of the family friendly Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. It takes the absurdities of its source material, and the culture from which it emerged, and runs with them like mad. From a Peter Pan performance that goes awry, to a non-explosive running gag and the surprise reveal of a long advertised cameo, it's consistently amusing even when it gets crude and violent.

As the main mismatched duo, Hill and Tatum are amusing and appealing both together and apart. It's their chemistry together that helps make the silliness work so well. Amongst their co-stars, Ice Cube also stands out as their captain on Jump Street.

Overall, this big screen rehash is good that it's worth any number of viewings. You won't be disappointed, unless you're already not into this sort of thing.

John Carter

One Hundred years after his first literary appearance in A Princess of Mars, and some eighty years after his film rights were first acquired, Edgar Rice Burrough's pre-superman John Carter is now on movie screens.

During the Civil War, John Carter (Taylor Kitsch) served the Confederate Army. Years later, he's just mining his own business in Arizona when the army tries to recruit him. He turns down the offer and goes to his cave, where a mysterious man transports him to Barsoom, the planet also known as Mars.

On Mars, the gravity gives John super strength and jumping ability. He joins up with the warrior tribe of Green Martians, the Thark, and the Red Martian Princess Dejah Thoris (Lynn Collins). The Bad Guys are the eerie White Martians, the Thern, and the evil Prince Sab Than (Dominic West), who wants to marry Dejah.

It's the live-action debut of Pixar alumnus Andrew Stanton (Finding Nemo, Wall-E), who also co-wrote with Michael Chabon and Mark Andrews. It's a big, sprawling 3-D movie that will also wow its flatscreen audience. It's also terribly convoluted and tends to drag on more than it needs to. It maybe around 137 minutes, but it sure felt like a year or so.

But still, there were quite a few moments that made the film worth it. It has plenty of comedy from John's interactions with the Martians, including the giant lizard dog Woola. There's plenty of spectacular scenery to behold as John battles numerous villains and creatures. Those moments were when the film was most focused and help smooth John's silver screen landing.

If you have the patience, then the film is worth the trip to the multiplex. If not, then there's always DVD or Blu-Ray or whatever they come up with next.

The Lorax

Need a family film to see sometime this week or next?

Then go see The Lorax, a 3-D take on Dr. Seuss's text.

In the plastic town of Thneedville, there's Ted who likes Audrey.

All Audrey would like is to see just one living tree.

The only one who can help that happen is named Once-ler.

So Ted goes to visit his wasteland home with one tiny scooter.

It was the Once-ler whose Thneed killed the trees.

It was so good, it brought the eco-system on its knees.

Not even The Lorax could change his greedy ways.

Now he'll regret it for the rest of his days.

But in Thneedville, there's the evil O'Hare.

He rules the town with his monopoly on air.

And for Ted to see reality is something he can't stand.

And he'll go so low to keep everything so bland.

That's all the story that's told in so little time.

To express my opinions, I'll switch out of rhyme.

Anyway, this Seussical extravaganza is light and fun. It has plenty of comical relief from its animal background characters and from The Lorax himself. Its 3-D imagery provides plenty of splendor even in flatscreen. Unfortunately, its musical numbers are mostly forgettable. In fact, they're forgettable even after they're just finished. Its a shame really, because I still like animated musicals.

As it's only under ninety minutes long, The Lorax gets to its points rather well. It doesn't rely on immature humor, so it should provide an easy matinee at the movies for all ages. If you want to see it beyond that matinee, or even on flatscreen or 3-D, then it's up to you.