Hellboy II: The Golden Army

Category: Film
Genre: Action / Sci-fi / Fantasy / Comic Adaptation
Directed By: Guillermo del Toro
Running Time: 120 min.

The second installment in the Hellboy film adaptations takes a different tone than the original. Hellboy II focuses on heart and comedy now that we have a family of characters the viewers have invested in. This makes for a different feel to the film, less hard edge attitude, with the action driven equally by the character development and the MacGuffin elements.

There are some novel solutions to the storytelling, I especially enjoyed the toy army treatment in the opening exposition in lieu of revealing the big visual payoff of the golden army and related characters. While at some points the driving force behind the progression of the film felt sloppy of uneven, the added freedom for comedy and exploring character dynamics yields some real gems. One of these moments in when Abe and HB, after sharing quite a few drinks, burst into song to Barry Manilow’s “Can’t Smile Without You.”

All told this was an entertaining second effort, if a bit weak overall. While it lacked the feeling of great things being afoot of the fist film, the added heart and warmth nearly make up for it.

Rating: 6/10

Wanted

Category: Film
Genre: Action / Outlaw / Comic Adaptation
Directed By: Timur Bekmambetov
Running Time: 110 min.

From the trailers I’d seen prior to the movie, Wanted appeared to be very much a file for the MySpace generation. As comic adaptations go, Wanted has a pretty loose relationship to the original material, largely by virtue that the tone and content of the original run would be unpalatable to most folks conditioned by the standard storytelling formula.

I went in not really sure what to expect, but as always, with an open mind. I have to say Wanted managed to surprise me on several levels. The main character has a visceral quality that is very hard to balance with his workday, hangdog wage-slave persona, but between the writing and McAvoy’s performance, it works. While still somewhat predictable, the film bends the usual formulas just enough to be interesting, and disbelief remains suspended on most levels. On other fronts there were moment that can only be described as satisfyingly vicious, a s certain quick shock guilty brutality that caught me off guard, though in a positive way (much like Fight Club in it’s day).

I walked away from the film feeling like I was somehow in the slightly wrong viewing demographic, but found it enjoyable nonetheless. Not required theater viewing, but it may loose something on the small screen if you wait to rent it.

Rating:6/10

The Incredible Hulk

Category: Film
Genre: Action / Sci-Fi / Comic Adaptation
Directed By: Louis Leterrier
Running Time: 144 min.

I saw The Incredible Hulk at the Clairemont Town Square 14 on Sunday June 15th. After the problems that beset the first Hulk (2003), and the mass rumor mill circling the new effort, I was curious to see the reboot/sequel. I must say, I was pleased with the results.

I was concerned with the casting of the new film, with reservations as to Norton and Tyler’s appropriateness for the roles (moreso Tyler), especially since I felt that while Jennifer Conelly had been largely wasted on the forst film, she still sets a high bar fopr follow on performance. Luckily I need not have worried, both roles were well cast, with Norton’s ability to inject humor into the Banner character, and Tim Roth as Emil Blonsky/Abomination being unexpected pluses.

The plot and pacing were tru to comic book style. The true success of the movie I think comes from keeping a reasonable scale and scope to the visuals and the range of the story. The South American sequences were a clever way to reintroduce the Banner character and update his situation, before bringing the action home.

I tried to watch with an eye for story more so than technicalities. Looking too closely at special effects in a movie is a bit like picking apart the typography in a novel. That being said, the visual effects in the new Hulk were well done with a few minor odd moment exceptions. One of the hardest hurdles in doing graphic work for the hulk I’ve realized is that none of us has ever seen a nine foot tall grotesquely muscle-bound man creature in real life, so the mind is left reaching for points of comparison for achieving a “realistic” look.

As part of the building Avengers cabal, The Incredible Hulk measures up well.

Rating: 6/10

Tin Man

Category: Television Miniseries (on DVD)
Genre: Fantasy / Adventure / Reboot
Directed By: Nick Willing
Presented By: Sci-Fi Channel
Running Time: 264 min. (3 episodes)

Tin Man, is essentially a modern steampunk-influenced retelling of “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz”. Originally aired on Sci-fi in three parts, I recently watched the mini-series on dvd in one sitting.

The plot and story were pleasantly unexpected treatments of the original Oz, which is only loosely alluded to in the course of the new telling. Through the first two acts, the pacing was reasonably maintained, but did start to get bouncy in the third act.

I was surprised and impressed with the production values and casting choices in this production. Neal McDonough (Minority Report, First Contact) as Cain (ie. the Tin Man) took a more subtle approach to his character than is usually seen, and avoids becoming “that sci-fi guy”. Alan Cummings (X2’s Nightcrawler) as Glitch/Ambrose (ie. the Scarecrow), presents a wonderful character, and brings a great deal of accesibility and heart to the role. Zooey Deschanel (Eulogy) as DG (ie. Dorthy Gale) is refreshingly real and off kilter as she interacts with the world of th O.Z.; in grappling with her past and emotional repercussions however, something is left to be desired. The writers dumbed down Raoul Trujillo’s/Raw’s (ie. Cowardly Lion) lines to the extent that he really never gets a chance to shine and that’s really a shame as so much could be done in context of his character’s treatment. Kathleen Robertson as Azkadellia delivers what we’ve come to expect in an attractive conflicted villianness character. Surprisingly, though he provides an interesting performance, Richard Dreyfuss as the Miracle Man (ie. the Wizard) makes a rather early exit from the story.

Unfortunately even Tin Man didn’t dodge the bullet of end sequence difficulties; after developing what is largely a character driven story, the ending sequence became mechanical and failed to capitalize or maintain the viewers investment in the characters. This was the appropriate place to recover from the stumbles of the third act, but goes for an almost canned ending (happily someone does melt; sadly no houses are dropped), and neglects to wrap up many of the characters we’ve come to care about.

All in all, for a Sci-fi mini-sereis, this far exceeded any expectations I had coming to it, and as a work of creative fiction I enjoyed this treatment of the original Oz story. There are some great gems in here, so I recommend checking it out, warts and all.

Rating: 6/10

Kimbo Hawthorn Berry Drink

Category: Beverage
Type: Canned Drink (500 ml)
Made by: Walong Marketing Inc.
Bought at: 99 Ranch

Ingredients include hawthorn berry, plum, hibiscus, and licorice. These combine to create a unique, complex flavor. Perfect balance of sweet/bitter, has a dark, woodsy, but not herbal, taste. Slight after bite, but its really more of a nibble; this one is for sipping and enjoying, not chugging.

Rating: 6/10