Monthly Archives: June 2008

Movie Reviews

Movie Review – Wall-E

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Wall-E

Directed by Andrew Stanton

Starring the voices of Ben Burtt, Elissa Knight, Fred Willard, Jeff Garlin, Sigourney Weaver, Kathy Najimy, and it’s just not a Pixar film without John Ratzenburger.

Backstory

It’s quite well-known now that I’m a Pixar junkie. I love just about every film they’ve put out. So, I was intrigued with trailers for Wall-E. It was the next one from Andrew Stanton, who previously gave us Finding Nemo. Aside from just being an animated film, it looked as though it were trying to be science-fiction. Plus, it’s about robots. Who doesn’t like robots? I went into the theatre expecting Pixar to dazzle me again.

Plot

Some time in the future, Earth has become so overrun with garbage that Buy n Large, the company that owns everything, comes up with a plan: have everyone leave the Earth on a super-luxurious cruise ship call the Axiom, and leave robots behind to clean up the planet. 700 years later, there’s only one robot left, Wall-E, and he’s still doing his duty. Wall-E has developed a quirky personality over the years, collecting odd bits of garbage, watching Hello, Dolly! over and over, and longing for companionship. Then, one day, a second robot arrives, designation EVE, and Wall-E is instantly smitten. Wall-E shows EVE around his planet, but soon, EVE accomplishes her mission, and returns home. Wall-E pursues, and before long, the two are having an adventure on the Axiom that may lead to the redemption of humankind.

What I Liked

The animation, as always, is spectacular. Pixar comes awfully close to delivering something photo-realistic on this one. Wall-E is just such a darn cute character, as is EVE, once she warms up to Wall-E. It’s got a fantastic story, great music, everything about this film is just great. I also liked the end credits sequence…very Miyazaki.

What I Didn’t Like

Most other critics are saying that the film’s message is remarkably subtle. I found it to be incredibly blunt.

Final Assessment

Pixar has made two films in a row now where I cried at the end. Spectacular.

4 Nibs

Movie Reviews

Movie Review – The Incredible Hulk

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The Incredible Hulk

Directed by Louis Leterrier

Starring Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, William Hurt, Tim Roth, Tim Blake Nelson, Ty Burrell, and special guest cameo Lou Ferigno.

Backstory

I liked the 2003 original Hulk film. It was a little ambitious, however, I agree with those who say it took itself too seriously. I was curious when I heard that they’d be doing a re-boot after one picture. We were promised that this one would have more “Hulk Smash!” action and be more what the fans were expecting. Since I’m a sucker for this comic book stuff, I was there on opening day.

Plot

Bruce Banner has successfully evaded General Ross and his Hulkbusters for five years. When we catch up with him, Banner is hiding out in Brazil, still trying to find a cure for his condition and trying to control his anger, lest the Hulk get out again. But soon, fate and circumstance intervene and General Ross is kicking down his door. On the run once again, Banner returns home to enlist the aid of his one true love, Betty Ross, and a former colleague that’s been helping him out in secret. General Ross soon calls in some help too…a mercenary by the name of Emil Blonsky. Wanting to be able to go toe-to-toe with the Hulk, Blonsky starts pumping his body full of experimental, strength-enhancing chemicals. Will Bruce Banner finally find a cure, or will he be able to find a way to control the beast within? Will Emil Blonsky be able to handle all the chemicals in his body, or will he become an abomination?

What I Liked

Wow. For those who thought that most Marvel comics films didn’t feel like they existed in one universe, they will be very satisfied with this. The terms “SHIELD,” “Stark Industries,” and “Super-soldier program” are thrown around in very casual conversation. Not to mention, there is a very fan-freakin’-tastic set-up for a certain Hulk villain in the sequel. Norton does a solid job as Bruce Banner, and William Hurt is nice and obsessive as General Ross. And yes, there is a heck of a lot “Hulk Smash” action. (In fact, that classic catchphrase even gets uttered.)

What I Didn’t Like

Just the same complaint I’ve had with a lot of superhero films lately. The formula is starting to become firmly entrenched in our minds, and The Incredible Hulk sticks to the formula pretty closely.

Final Assessment

Hits all the right fanboy notes, but still falls victim to several superhero cliches. All in all, very satisfying.

3 Nibs

U62: The Targ

Episode 100: Mr. Worf, Fire!

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Well, gang we have reached an era!

For this week’s episode of The Targ, I hit you with Episode 100: Mr. Worf, Fire! Who would have thought that this would have lasted 100 episodes? I take some time in this one to reflect on the past 100 and wonder exactly how I got to this point.

And I also thought that this would be the best time to take a break. So this week’s episode also serves as a season finale. That’s right, The Targ is taking a summer vacation. Time to reflect and ponder the future course of this here show. Will I stop playing music and make it 15 minutes worth of talk? Will I change the name and completely re-launch it as something new? I don’t know yet…these things need to be decided.

But I do know that we’ll be back and big as life this fall! We’ll be officially re-launching on September 8…Star Trek Day.

So have yourself a great summer, and see you in the fall!

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Movie Reviews

Movie Review – Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

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Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Directed by Steven Spielberg

Starring Harrison Ford, Shia LeBeouf, Cate Blanchett, Karen Allen, Ray Winstone, John Hurt, Igor Jijikine, and in a nerd-tacular small role, Neil Flynn, aka the Janitor from Scrubs.

Backstory

Indiana Jones. It’s whispered in reverence as one of the defining movie franchises of the 1980s. It, too, is a franchise I have fond memories of. My first exposure to Indy was reading the comic book adaptation of Temple of Doom. That led to begging Mom and Dad to rent Raiders of the Lost Ark one night, and the rest is history. Talk of a fourth film had been brewing since I first got online, and when George Lucas started making his prequel Star Wars trilogy, people figured it was a matter of time. And that time…is now. Does it hold up to those fond childhood memories? Or would the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull be another Phantom Menace?

Plot

The year is 1957. It’s been 19 years since the Last Crusade, and we’re in the height of the Cold War, the Red Menace, and the Communist witch hunts. After a spectacular opening sequence through Area 51 battling Russian spies, Indiana Jones is accused of being a Communist and given the boot from his university. With a lot of free time now on his hands, Indy is approached by a greaser by the name of Mutt Williams. It seems that Mutt was very close to an old friend of Indy’s, and now that old friend has been abducted by those same Russian spies and is now being held some where in South America. the Russians, you see, want to learn the secrets of the mythical crystal skull and use it to rule the world. Indy and Mutt are then off to the rainforests, to reunite with friends old and new, uncover the secret of the Crystal Skull, battle the Russians, and search for the kingdom from which the crystal skull comes from.

What I Liked

First and foremost, it hits all the right fanboy notes. From music cues, to certain artifacts scattered in the background, and they even remember to give props to the Young Indiana Jones Chronicles. (And there’s even appropriate use of a Star Wars catchphrase at a certain point.) There’s some truly spectacular action sequences, and Harrison Ford is still Indy. He hasn’t changed at all. And Mutt is a nice addition, and I’m looking forward to more of his adventures if that’s where this leads.

What I Didn’t Like

The whole premise behind the crystal skulls seemed a little too…science fiction for Indiana Jones. Some of the comic relief came across as too cheesy rather than funny, and it just didn’t feel as epic as the original trilogy.

Final Assessment

A lot of fun…a worthy addition to the Indiana Jones canon.

3.5 Nibs