Movie Review

Limitless

I always intended to see this movie because I’m a huge fan of Bradley Cooper and finally here was his chance to carry a big movie by himself.  The trailers did not intrigue me.  Actually, they kind of killed my enthusiasm.   But, loyalty to actors I admire plus a general love of film won out and I went to see it and hoped for the best.  I was pleasantly surprised.  I was actually excited as I was watching it.  That’s a rare thing for me.  I wasn’t Hot Fuzz excited or Grindhouse excited (to date, the two best experiences I’ve had at the movies), but I was pumped never the less.  By the time the mobsters broke into his apartment, I was in love with this movie.

            The film is about a procrastinating writer named Eddie Morra.  He gets his hand on a drug called NZT that will unlock all of his potential.  He speeds his way to the top, gets rich, and a makeover (thank goodness).  Unfortunately, there are some nasty side effects that he didn’t count on.  What I wanted out of this was just a chance to see Cooper act, with all the focus on him and that’s what I got.  He really got a chance to show his stuff.  He wasn’t the cocky charmer or the jerky boyfriend.  He got to do some drama and he did it well.  He owned this part and I couldn’t be more pleased with the results.  Hopefully, this will open the door for him to get more leading man roles outside of comedies.  There are really no other performances to mention because the other parts are small and not particularly memorable.  This movie is completely about Eddie and I found myself wondering what Robert De Niro was doing in it.  It’s a very minor role that I wouldn’t have expected him to take.

Acting aside, I like the way the story was told.  It was a very up and down story as opposed to one build up to one climax.  Yes, there were some loose ends and I could probably write a paper on what he did wrong and what I would have done differently, but ultimately, none of that bothers me because I was enjoying it too much.  The direction was very stylized and it verged on distracting at times, specifically the first time Eddie takes the drug.  It sorted itself out though and the multiple long zoom shots through the city were like being on an amusement park ride.  It was very fun stuff.  Though, it would have been more fun if I hadn’t been fighting off a cold at the time.  There is one scene that tracks Eddie through 18 hours that he later forgets and it’s just captivating.  The changing of color tones from dull to bright depending on if he’s on the drug or not isn’t exactly subtle but the film isn’t attempting to be pretentious or deep so that kind of thing works and just adds to the fun of the story.

            I don’t want to give away the ending but it surprised me.  Usually, movies have very clear morals about drugs and I bet on there only being two possible outcomes.  Yet, the film dodged both of them and went off in a third direction.  The movie didn’t set out to teach me a lesson that I’d heard a million times before and I appreciate that.  I hesitate to put it like this, but it almost made the movie more realistic.

            Limitless is a movie I’m planning on buying and I can’t wait until it comes out on DVD/Blu-Ray.  The story itself surpassed my expectations.  Cooper got a chance to play a lead role in a relatively serious movie and he did not disappoint.  I left the theater in a great mood.  This might just be the best movie I’ve seen so far this year.  But, it is only March.

Top 10 Television Ships

#1

Luke and Lorelai

Played by Lauren Graham and Scott Patterson

            I believe that they were my second OTP ever.  One of the few will they/won’t they couples that didn’t wreck the show once they got together.  In fact, the show got better once they finally got together in season 5.  Luke was in love with Lorelai from the start but Lorelai just couldn’t see what was right in front of her.  Luke was such a gruff guy but you could always see his soft spot for Lorelai.  They were great friends before anything else and their banter was always a highlight on the show.  They would each show a little jealousy when the other was involved with someone else but they never tried to sabotage each other’s happiness.  It was so clear how they perfectly complemented each other.  Outwardly, Luke would grumble about Lorelai’s craziness but secretly he loved her for everything she was.  Luke needed someone to let him enjoy life and indulge his own quirky side and Lorelai needed someone who would support her no matter what.  They were partners through and through.  Even when Lorelai married Christopher, it was clear that her heart was always with Luke.  I’m thrilled that they ended up together; anything else would have been unacceptable. 

Best Episode to Watch: Raincoats and Recipes.  Ah, their first kiss and it was perfect.

Movie Series Review

The Indiana Jones Series

            It’s probably the greatest action/adventure series of all time.  Steven Spielberg directed all four of the globetrotting movies (Raiders of the Lost Ark, Temple of Doom, The Last Crusade, and Kingdom of the Crystal Skull) that follow archeologist Henry Jones Jr. aka Indiana Jones and his various sidekicks through his adventures.  Harrison Ford plays the iconic character.  He’s a professor by day and a BAMF by night.  He’s the only character to appear in every single film and it’s not easy to keep me interested in something relying on only one character.  I tend to prefer ensembles.  But, Indiana is such an entertaining character and the plots are always fun that I can easily watch all four of them.  He’s good but he’s not perfect.  I think that’s what makes him loveable.  He’s constantly getting in over his head but he always manages to get himself out by the skin of his teeth.  The movies have a great blend of action and comedy with a touch of drama thrown in here and there.  What I love about a good film series is that unlike most films that spawn sequels, the first isn’t necessarily the best.  All four films vary in quality, of course, but I think they are all worthy films on their own.  I’m going to talk about each one from my least favorite to my favorite.

#4 Temple of Doom

            Written by Willard Huyck and Gloria Katz, this is the second film in the series.  It stars Kate Capeshaw as the token Indy girl named Willie Scott and Ke Huy Quan as the sidekick, a young kid named Short Round.  This is also a prequel to the first film.  It’s not bad, as I said I’ll watch any of them, but I find it a bit dull.  My biggest gripe is that they spent a good 40 minutes down in the temple.  I like Indiana Jones best when he’s travelling all over the world.  40 minutes in one location got boring for me and I just wanted them to go somewhere else, anywhere else.  Short Round alternated between kind of cute to really obnoxious.  I deal with him because he played Data in The Goonies and I have much love for that character.  The Willie Scott character gets a lot of hate and I understand why, but I kind of like her.  Yes, she screamed and whined through the whole movie, but for some reason that amused me.  I found Marion Ravenwood in Raiders to be far more annoying.  The only time Willie really bothers me is when she’s taking her sweet time saving Indy and Short Round from a certain death.  That was frustrating.  This movie did break the formula of racing toward a coveted object like the other films revolve around, but you know what, sometimes formulas work.  Temple of Doom is supposed to be dark, but I didn’t find it dark enough to be moved by it.  I guess they wanted kids to be able to watch it.  There are some great bits in the movie though.  The mine cart ride was a blast.  Overall, the story could have used more excitement, the sidekicks could have toned it down, but it still had a solid plot and Indy was still Indy.

#3 Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

            This film was written by David Koepp.  The most recent film in the franchise and boy was it a long time in the making.  The Last Crusade came out in 1989 and Kingdom of the Crystal Skull came out in 2008.  Harrison Ford has aged.  That can’t be helped, but he’s still in good enough shape that I had no trouble buying the character pulling off the action.  He’s still got it.  He’s still Indy.  This time, Indy is reunited with Karen Allen’s Marion Ravenwood, his love interest from Raiders.  She’s much more tolerable here than she was the last time we saw the character.  She’s mellowed a bit without losing her core characterization and she, thankfully, doesn’t spend the whole movie shrieking “IIIINNNNDDDYYYY!!!!” at the top of her lungs.  Cate Blanchett plays the villain in this one and it’s nice to see more than one female character play a significant role in this series.  Shia LeBeouf plays Indy and Marion’s son, Mutt (I know, the name, it’s dumb).  He also gets a lot of hate for this movie but I liked him in it.  I’m not sure what people’s issue with him in it is, unless it’s just general dislike for the actor himself.  He’s fine for the role he was given.  This one differs greatly from the other three because they added an alien plot.  The previous three have been grounded in religion and superstition.  I’ll admit that when I realized aliens were taking part in this, I wasn’t pleased.  It’s not enough to make me hate the movie, but I kind of wish they had kept more in theme with the previous films instead of taking an alien route.  But, people have brought up that this movie, unlike the others, takes place in the 1950s where B science fiction movies were popular so perhaps it was homage to that.  The first hour drags a bit but once Marion shows up, it becomes a lot of fun.  I love the jungle chase and the dry sand scene.  Also, while I think the father/son plot is kind of weak and underdeveloped I did like the little nods that Indy was getting more and more like his own father through the process.  I’m good with Indy marrying Marion because I will admit she’s the only one of the girls who really makes sense to be the love of his life.  I liked that the sidekicks this time were his (future) wife and son.  The odd family dynamic worked for me.  I think it’s a good movie and it moves faster than Temple of Doom and there isn’t as much cringe worthy “humor” thrown in.  If there is a fifth one, I’ll go see it.  Why not? 

#2 Raiders of the Lost Ark

            The original Indiana Jones film written by Lawrence Kasdan.  Great story, great action, a great score, and great characters.  I get why many people think it’s the best.  I think this one handles a more serious side better than Temple of Doom does.  There isn’t as much comedy in this one.  It still has some hilarious moments though.  I think the scene where Indy shoots the swordsman is brilliant.  As much as I warmed to Marion in Crystal Skull, I am reminded of how much I disliked her in Raiders.  Gosh, she just shouted nearly every line she had.  I liked her personality; I just did not like Allen’s over the top delivery.  I get it.  She’s feisty, but did she have to yell so much?  Other than her we have John Rhys-Davies playing Sallah, one of the series best sidekicks and Denholm Elliot as Marcus Brody.  Paul Freeman’s villain is probably the best villain they’ve had.  He’s supposed to be the dark side of Indy and I think that makes him interesting.  I’m not sure why I don’t like this one more than I do.  I suppose that as good as the plot is and the individual characters are, I find it a little bit cold.  I don’t connect with it on an emotional level as much as I do with some of the others.  Still, it’s great.  From the opening action sequence all the way to the melting Nazis, it’s a fun film to watch.  In particular, I love the scene with the fire in Marion’s bar and the scene with Indy fighting the Nazis on the trucks.  The scene where they open the Ark is powerful as well.  I just love nearly everything about this movie.  Ford at the center really grounds it.

#1 Last Crusade

            Maybe I’m biased because this is the first Indiana Jones movie I remember seeing.  I only saw about the last 20 minutes and I don’t think I even knew what I was watching but I never forgot it.  The third installment was written by Jeffrey Boam.  But, I must also add that Tom Stoppard did a lot of the dialogue for the film which explains why it's so quotable.  It’s easily the funniest and most charming of the films.  It mainly works because of Sean Connery (and that is the only time I will ever say that).  He is so good in it and he has surprisingly wonderful chemistry with Ford.  This is a father/son tale and it’s told much better than in Crystal Skull.  Indy loses much of his BAMFness (yes, it’s a word) around his father because don’t we all feel somehow inadequate next to our parents?  He still gets things done though and of course, he saves the day.  It’s an old story.  The father and the son were never close and they barely speak because they don’t understand each other.  But, added with so much action and humor, I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed this particular cliché more.  The scene where they are tied back to back to chairs is hilarious.  Even when they are at their most distant at the beginning, you can feel that they love each other and know each other as only family can.  It’s lovely to see.  Adding to the comedy, Sallah and Marcus return and they are largely used for comic relief.  I know a lot of people didn’t like that, but I thought it was great.  This is the only time we got to see Marcus in the field, so who is to say he wouldn’t be that goofy and out of his depth?  The Indy girl in this one is a different take.  She turns out to be a villain.  She isn’t all bad.  She clearly cares about the Jones men, but she has no problem betraying them or whoever else to get the Holy Grail for herself.  I suspect that this was done to get her out of the way so that the father/son story could properly develop.  The final act is flawless, in my opinion.  When Indy’s dad finally shows his son how much he loves him by telling him to let the grail go, oh that’s some powerful stuff.  As the four guys ride off into the sunset, I would have been more than happy to have that be the final chapter.  I don’t think I could ever grow tired of this movie.

Top 10 Television Ships

#2

Mark/Callie

Played by Eric Dane and Sara Ramirez

Oh, these two drive me crazy.  I’ve been shipping them since Callie was married to George.  That’s a long time for me to hang on to a ship.  I don’t hold out any hope that they’ll ever really be together, but I have adored watching them get closer and closer to the best friends they are today.  Callie Torres is one of my favorite television characters of all time.  I am captivated whenever she’s onscreen.  I’ve watched her suffer season after season and through it all Mark is the only person in her life who has never abandoned her or let her down (that includes her own father, by the way).  Mark and Callie’s relationship started from scratch and the evolution has been wonderful.  They know they can lean on each other no matter what.  They have meaningful and dramatic scenes but they also have light and funny scenes.  Dane and Ramirez have so much chemistry that the very idea of putting them with other people is just crazy talk.  But, sadly Shonda is quite fluent in crazy talk.  Now, Callie is pregnant with Mark’s baby and I’m holding out hope that this baby will survive.  I’d like Arizona to go away, but as that won’t be happening at least I can tell myself that Mark and Callie will always be tied to each other, not only because of their love for each other but because of the child they will soon share.  That’s going to be one beautiful baby.  Plus, Ramirez makes Dane a better actor.  The best time to watch Mark is when he’s with Callie.  I’m very nervous about where their current storyline is headed, but I’m trying to be optimistic.

Best episode to watch:  I like you so much better when you’re naked.  (I think this episode perfectly shows their intimacy, their love, and their humor.) 

Top 10 Television Ships

#3

Jack/Ianto

Played by: John Barrowman and Gareth David-Lloyd

            I think I like the idea of this pairing more than the actual pairing.  A sci-fi show with an openly bisexual hero and his only onscreen relationship has been with a man.  That’s great.  We need more characters like Jack and Ianto.  That said, I do like them specifically as well.  Jack is gorgeous and he presses on even after he’s lost everything.  He tries so hard to be a good man.  Ianto has been through far too much for a guy so young.  He’s a mystery but he’s got a wonderfully dry sense of humor and he loves Jack.  Jack’s feelings for Ianto have always been way too vague to pin down and that’s what holds them back from being number one.  I don’t know how Jack saw Ianto.  Was it just sex?  Did he love him?  I don’t know.  The show apparently never thought that it was important that we know.  Still, I think these two were a step in the right direction and I hope television history is able to look back on them as pioneers for the sci-fi genre.  Also, they were hot together.  I cannot stress that enough.  It’s really too bad that they didn’t have more time together.  Wasted potential.

Episode to watch: Adam.  Even thought they’ll never remember it, that episode demonstrates Jack’s unwavering belief in Ianto and that’s about as much feeling as we ever got onscreen.