Showing posts with label kat dennings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kat dennings. Show all posts

5.10.2011

THOR.

With all the big "superhero movies" coming out this summer, I knew my reviews were going to be just one in a crowd of thousands saying the same thing. I almost thought I shouldn't even bother reviewing them, considering the near-pointlessness of it. But then something happened. I was contacted by sources that will remain undisclosed that I would have the amazing opportunity to interview important people connected to the film. However, I was also told they don't like us to refer to them as movies, but rather biopics, considering how they're giving us the close-to-true stories of their own lives. So without further ado, I'll give you my personal interview with the god of thunder himself: Thor.

NICK: Thank you for speaking with me today. I know you're known by many names at this point. Do you have a preference?

THOR: That is correct. I am The Mighty Thor. Thor Odinson. The Thunder God. Donald Blake, MD. But I suppose you may call me Thor.

NICK: Well, Thor, I know when this mo--biopic--was first announced, there was some thought that it might not be all that "Mighty," so to speak. People haven't followed your life as much as other heroes. In other words, they didn't think the film would do all that well.

THOR: Yes, I have heard such things. Ignorant mortals think that just because nobody has heard of you that your life's story will mean nothing. But I am the god of thunder, for Odin's sake! Entire populations worshiped and feared me.

NICK: No offense, but that was a long time ago. And this film is based more on your serialized biography than the events themselves.

THOR: That is true. But the point remains, human, that there should have been no worry that my story would have been any less received. Just look at my friend Tony Stark.

NICK: Yes, that's a good point. Iron Man more or less exploded at the box office. Now, you mentioned he's your friend--

THOR: Correct.

NICK: --Well, I wanted to talk about your upcoming exploit The Avengers. I noticed quite a few nods to the upcoming, um, biopic in your film.

THOR: Yes! The Avengers is by far our greatest accomplishment, and we like to build the anticipation for this particular quest in our respective biopics.

NICK: Yeah. Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, and Iron Man 2 have already given us some insight, and Captain America is the last scheduled to arrive prior to the big one itself. However, do you feel that it's beginning to be too much? For instance, a lot of people disliked Iron Man 2 because of how it was more an Avengers prequel than a proper Iron Man story. What's to stop your story from falling into that same trap?

THOR: That is a good question. While Stark's second venture might have kept its focus on the Avengers aspect, my story is merely surrounded by it without being overwhelmed. For instance, if you have a good eye, you will notice a brief cameo by Hawkeye to set up his position in S.H.I.E.L.D. And if you pay attention, you will also note a brief, though unnamed reference to a Mr. Bruce Banner. Otherwise, only Agent Coulson--a man who has appeared in the other films--is a major connection to the Avengers storyline.

NICK: Yes, I did catch those things. I actually have to say I enjoyed the fact that it wasn't overwhelmed with Avengers storylines while still being there enough to keep it grounded in that universe. And speaking of universes, I'm curious as to how you thought this film portrayed your life story, or at least this part of it.

THOR: Ah, very well. It captured the beauty of Asgard and the dreary coldness of Jotunheim fantastically. Kenneth Branaugh, while sometimes using curious angles, did give us some amazing shots. He also managed to capture both the humor of situations and the complexity of my transformation from arrogant god to a calmer, more understanding being.

NICK: Yes, I agree there was some good humor, particularly from the lovely leading ladies. And what I thought was captured even more interestingly than your own complexity was the complexity of your brother, Loki. He's not your typical villain. I found his reasons for things he did were interesting and sometimes well intended, however misguided. You could tell he wasn't pure evil or even crazy; his motives came from a logical place, and his transformation was notable.

THOR: Yes! Villainous as he might be, Loki's tragic downfall was indeed captured well. He's not just some emotionless being.

NICK: The last thing I'd like to ask you about it the action. Do you think it showed you to your full potential?

THOR: Absolutely. From start to finish, I was shown as the fantastic fighter than I am. It is a true spectacle and quite fun, if I do say so. I have heard rumblings that the ending might feel anticlimactic between my brother and I, but I must disagree. While not as epic as the fight with The Destroyer, the fight with my brother was much more emotional on multiple levels and, thus, quite satisfying.

NICK: Well, I know you're a busy god. Is there anything else you'd like to announce before I let you go?

THOR: Keep an eye out for The Avengers next year. And stay tuned after the credits for another extra scene--it might not make much sense now, but I promise it will in the future.

NICK: Excellent.

THOR: This was a fantastic interview. You are a very charming human. I will make sure you do not die in any future battle.

NICK: Well... thanks!

THOR: Of course.

[Immediately after this interview, Thor was hit by a car. But he's OK. Promise.]


A Keanu 'Whoa'

4.09.2009

Short Review: Nick And Norah's Infinite Playlist.

Premise: After his girlfriend dumps him, Nick goes out with his mostly gay punk rock band for a show. There, he meets Norah, who, in an attempt to prove to Nick's ex that she does indeed have a boyfriend, unwittingly asks Nick to be her boyfriend for five minutes (not realizing who he is at the time). This all ends up leading to a night in New York chasing after Norah's drunken best friend who got away from Nick's friends that were supposed to take care of her, as well as trying to find the secret and ever-elusive band "Where's Fluffy?".

Starring: Michael Cera, Kat Dennings, Ari Graynor, Alexis Dziena, Aaron Yoo, Rafi Gavron, Jonathan Wright, and Jay Baruchel.

My Reaction: How can a movie with such a great cast of mostly underrated actors go wrong? I'm still trying to figure that out, actually. Like I said, the cast is brilliant, including a couple fun cameos from John Cho and Kevin Corrigan, so the acting chops are there. The charisma and chemistry are abound. I'm in love with Kat Dennings, though Alexis Dziena reminded me way too much of Miley Cyrus in this movie for my liking. And Rafi Gavron reminded me of a buffer Anton Yelchin, and without the annoying voice. And I always love Aaron Yoo. There's nothing really wrong with the story either (and it has some great metaphors). The music is okay, but nothing to come home screaming about... though that might not be a good thing in a movie that strongly relies on music, as shown via its own title. There just wasn't anything about the movie that blew my shirt up, so to speak. There were some good moment, some disgusting moments, and even some great moments (I particularly thought the last 15 or so minutes of the movie was the best, starting at the recording studio up through to the end). Otherwise, it was just... alright. Kat Denning's puppet show version of the film on the DVD extras, however... freakin' awesome.

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(P.S. I'm starting to wonder if Judd Apatow is like the American Harry Potter. It's like every comedy/dramedy these days has at least 2-3 actors that have been in at least one of his films).

2.29.2008

CHARLIE BARTLETT.

Charlie Bartlett is a pretty simple movie: Charlie Bartlett (Anton Yelchin) has gotten kicked out of every private school, so his mother (Hope Davis) enrolls him in public school. It starts off bad for Charlie Bartlett, as he’s plagued by a bully, Murphy (Tyler Hilton). But soon, Charlie Bartlett becomes the most popular kid in school, acting as a psychiatrist to the students and prescribing them medications. Unfortunately, he’s also started seeing Susan (Kat Dennings), who happens to be the daughter of the troubled alcoholic principal (Robert Downey Jr.).

First, I might as well get it out of the way… there can be two different drinking games played during this movie: First, anytime somebody uses the full name of “Charlie Bartlett” instead of just “Charlie.” Second, anytime Robert Downey Jr. downs some liquor himself.

Okay, so on to the review. The movie is rather predictable, and you can pretty much figure out what’s gonna happen by the end of the movie. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t a good movie. Honestly, I really enjoyed it. It started off rather slow, as it feels it takes ages to get to the psychiatric stuff. But overall, it was really good and entertaining. And it had heart.

The acting was actually really good. Anton Yelchin (you might recognize him from Alpha Dog) does rather well, really, except for the really forced closing line of the movie. Kat Dennings (you might recognize her as the daughter in 40-Year-Old-Virgin) is the movie’s eye candy (and plays it well), but she acts her part out nicely, too. The props go to Robert Downey Jr., though, who was really able to pull off that whole down-on-his-luck drunk really well (…hmm…*cough*).

There were some really funny scenes, some really heartfelt scenes, and some really sad scenes (and it’s pretty easy to figure out which characters those might emit from very early on in the movie). I really don’t see the comparison people have been making to Ferris Bueller (granted, those are typically the people who have yet to see the movie). Oh, and I probably would have really rolled my eyes at the whole Ritalin segments had I not actually known people who have been on it and heard some Ritalin-induced horror stories. Anyway, it’s a great movie all on its own. I’d recommend it to anybody that doesn’t get easily annoyed by Anton Yelchin’s voice.

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I Am McLovin!