TRON: LEGACY (movie review)

Tron Legacy

Review written by: Joe Yang
Made in: USA
Language: English
Director: Joseph Koskinski
Starring: Jeff Bridges, Garrett Hedlund, Olivia Wilde, Bruce Boxleitner, Michael Sheen, Beau Garrett
Year: 2010

Synopsis: After the events of the original Tron movie, genius software engineer Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges) becomes the CEO of mega-company Encom. Then one day in 1989, he mysteriously disappears, leaving behind a son, a corporate empire, and plenty of questions.

Over twenty years later, Flynn's son, Sam (Garrett Hedlund) has grown to become just as brilliant as his father. Although well-meaning, he's essentially directionless in life and shows no desire to take control of Kevin's company. He's a bit of a computer prankster, and has regular encounters with the law.

Encom seems to be slipping back into its old ways, with another software expert named Ed Dillinger Jr (Cillian Murphy) poised to become its next rising star. (Dillinger, if you care to remember, is the son of Edward Dillinger Sr, the villain from the first film).

Then one day, Alan Bradley (Bruce Boxleitner), creator of the original Tron character and one of Flynn's closest friends (as well as an Encom board member), gets a mysterious page from Flynn's old office. The funny thing is that the number has been disconnected for over two decades.

When Sam decides to investigate, he winds up getting transported to The Grid, a computer world created by his father. It loosely resembles the neon-highlighted world from the firstTron movie, only this one is much darker, scarier, and looks more like Las Vegas (only the showgirls and hookers there can kill you in more creative ways).

Intended to be a place of infinite possibilities and wonder, The Grid has instead become a hellish, dystopian deathtrap full of machines and weirdos. The whole place is under the dictatorial reign of a malevolent individual known as CLU (also played by Jeff Bridges).

CLU was a program designed by Kevin Flynn who was originally intended to help create The Grid. But instead of making The Grid into the Digital Land of Happy, CLU turned against Flynn, created an evil empire, and forced his maker into hiding without any means of returning to the real world. So Kevin lives as a hermit in a secret hideout, and with each passing day, begins to look more and more like "The Dude" from The Big Lebowski.

Reunited with Sam, Flynn finds he must act in order to stop CLU. The best way to do so is from our world, where the entire Grid can simply be deleted by double-clicking "Empty Trash." But the only way out of the computer world is through an exit portal (that was opened when Sam arrived), which will close in a matter of hours.

Aided by Kevin Flynn's apprentice, a highly advanced (and really hot) female program named Quorra (Olivia Wilde), our heroes decide to make a mad dash for it. But the stakes increase even more once they discover that the megalomaniacal CLU has found a way to enter ourworld, with plans to remake it in his image...

The Good: Tron Legacy is a very entertaining thrill ride with amazing visuals and heart-pounding action set pieces. The electronic music duo Daft Punk provides a very fitting (and cool) soundtrack, and even have a brief cameo in the film.

For fans of the original, Tron Legacy contains a number of references and parallels (in terms of thematic content, lines of dialogue, visuals, etc.) which proves that the filmmakers did their research and put forth a sincere effort to make sci-fi geeks like me happy.

Although more hard-edged and intense than its predecessor, Tron Legacy is not an overdone, garishly "in-your-face" production that assaults your senses. The computer graphics and updated CG are gorgeous to look at, and the art direction is superb.

Tron Legacy also doesn't hit you over head to remind you that things have changed since the 80s, and the film never gets bogged down with trying to cram in all the contemporary computer terms and jargon that surround us in the modern age. There's barely any mention of the internet, and thankfully no obvious jokes about Mac vs PC. It's a very story-driven movie that avoids going off on boring tangents (which could have easily happened).

And of course, it was great to see Jeff Bridges and Bruce Boxleitner reprise their respective roles after twenty-eight years.

The Bad: As focused and story-driven as it is, I will say that Tron Legacy does eschew character development in favor of moving things along. For me, it's a minor thing, but it would have been nicer to have seen a little more drama happening between all the protagonists.

The secondary characters, played by Olivia Wilde and Bruce Boxleitner, could have been utilized a bit more. Cillian Murphy's surprise role as Ed Dillinger Jr could have added more to the story as well. Some of the dialogue is stilted and awkward, and I thought Jeff Bridges could have let loose and cracked just a few more jokes.

The final action sequence is very creative but a bit too long, and a few of the others get a little confusing in places.

But my biggest complaint is near the end with the Tron character himself (I won't spoil it here). And the movie's denouement is too brief. If a third sequel ever gets made, hopefully my questions will be answered. We'll see.

Who would like this movie: First and foremost, Tron Legacy will mean more to you if you're a fan of the original. But even if you haven't seen the 1982 version, this one has enough entertainment value to stand alone. It's not perfect, but as a long-awaited sequel to a cult movie, it delivers. The story is coherent, the visuals are beautiful, and Daft Punk's music score is pretty cool. Overall, it's a lot of fun.

(3 out of 4 stars)

Foreign film review: Ivan Vassilyevich Changes Occupation (Иван Васильевич меняет профессию)

Ivan Vassilyevich Changes Occupation

(Иван Васильевич меняет профессию)

Made in: Former Soviet Union
Language: Russian
Director: Leonid Gaidai
Starring: Yuri Yakovlev, Aleksandr Demyanenko, Leonid Kuravlev, Saveliy Kramarov, Natalia Selezneva, Natalia Krachkovskaya, Vladimir Etush
Year: 1973

Review written by: Joe Yang

Synopsis: Shurik (Aleksandr Demyanenko) is a brilliant, absent-minded scientist who has built an amazingly goofy-looking time machine in his Moscow apartment. While conducting tests, he's blown the fuses in the entire building, much to the chagrin of the uptight, bureacratic superintendent, Ivan Vassilyevich Bunsha (Yuri Yakovlev).

Ignoring Bunsha's routine warnings, and barely reacting when his cheating wife Zina (Natalia Selezneva) decides to leave him, Shurik eventually gets his amazing invention to work. As a result, he accidentally transports Bunsha and a small-time thief, George Miloslavsky (Leonid Kuravlev), back in time several hundred years.

Walking through a time rift, Bunsha and George find themselves inside the private chamber of Ivan the Terrible (also played by Yuri Yakovlev). The historic Tsar, terrified at the arrival of the two, inadvertently runs through the rift into modern day Moscow.

Forced to disguise themselves, Bunsha dresses up as Ivan IV (to whom he coincidentally bears an odd resemblance) while Miloslavsky passes himself off as a prince (who incidentally has the same name as an historical figure who was executed by the Tsar).

Meanwhile, the real Ivan the Terrible must temporarily adjust to modern life in Moscow while Shurik frantically works to get his time machine working again after it is nearly destroyed by a badly aimed battle axe.

The Good: Although incredibly cheesy, Ivan Vassilyevich Changes Occupation is a very good natured, well-acted, and well-directed film. The actors are superb, the characters are all distinct and meaningful, and director Leonid Gaidai makes use of some pretty impressive camera work. The story is utterly ridiculous, but it's very well focused and develops at a good pace.

Yuri Yakovlev does a very convincing job of playing two roles and is a lot of fun to watch. And Aleksandr Demyanenko is very likable as the absent-minded Shurik. The music is hilariously catchy, there's a lot of intelligent humor despite the underlying silliness, and there's a boldness to the whole production that makes the movie fun.

The look of the film is more 60's than 70s, and if I didn't know better, this could have passed as a retro-looking comedy made in the modern age (in an Austin Powers sort of way). I wouldn't be surprised if Ivan Vassilyevich Changes Occupation becomes a cult favorite among movie fans (if it hasn't already).

The comedy works so well because, first and foremost, the story is coherent. There isn't any silliness just for silliness sake. Every sight gag, joke, and scene serves a specific purpose. And what makes the film so funny is that none of the characters find their situation laughable (even if the viewer does).

The Bad: The ending was satisfying, but I thought it could have been a little better. I won't give it away, but it came close to being an "oh, it was just a dream" cop-out.

Who would like this movie: Ivan Vassilyevich Changes Occupation is for you if you like foreign films, cheesy stuff from the 60s and 70s, and Russian cinema. Many of the jokes are based off of Russian history (particularly the time or Ivan the Terrible), so it'll be helpful to do a little studying so you'll get them. A good number of jokes are also language-based, so those who don't know Russian might not laugh as hard as those who do.

And of course, some of the songs are great (in an incredibly cheesy way that could have only existed in the 60s and 70s).

It's too bad I never saw this back while I was in film school. Neither my undergraduate nor graduate programs ever explored this side of Russian cinema, and looking back, it's kind of a disappointment. Introducing films like this to students will help dispel a lot of stereotypes about Russian filmmaking.

Instead of forcing undergrads to sit through Eisenstein's Battleship Potemkin several times a semester, it might be useful to let them know that, like anyone else, the Russians have a pretty good sense of humor too.

(3 out of 4 stars)

Horror movie review: Dead Snow

DEAD SNOW (Død Snø)

Made in: Norway
Language: Norwegian
Director: Tommy Wirkola
Starring: Charlotte Frogner, Vegar Hoel, Lasse Valdal, Stig Frode, Jeppe Laursen, Evy Kasseth Røsten, Jenny Skavlan, Ørjan Garnst, Bjørn Sundquist, Ane Dahl Torp
Year: 2009

Review written by: Joe Yang

Originally published at: www.foreign-films-for-you.com/dead-snow.html

Synopsis: Seven med school students on Easter Vacation arrive at a cozy cabin near the region of Øksfjord. The cabin is in the middle of nowhere, there's still plenty of snow on the ground, and there's no cell phone signal (gee, I wonder what's going to happen?)

The group is led by a guy named Vegard (Lasse Valdal), whose girlfriend Sara (Ane Dahl Torp) is supposed to meet them the following day. Sara owns the cabin, but instead of driving with the rest of them, she has decided to ski through the region instead...on her own...at night (gee, I wonder what'll happen to her?)

That evening, an old, grizzled hiker (Bjørn Sundquist) happens upon the cabin and warns them about the region's dark history. During the Second World War, a group of Nazis occupied the area and terrorized the local populace.

Near the end of the War, as the Russians advanced, the Nazis began plundering the towns for any valuables (gold, jewels, etc) they could get their hands on. They were driven from Øksfjord by the citizens, and fled into the woods where they presumably froze to death.

The hiker leaves, and the horny youths pretty much dismiss his ghastly tale. However, the old man was telling the truth! Before long, the group finds themselves confronted by a horde of Nazi zombies. Decapitations, mutilations, and disembowelments ensue!

Think Black Friday at Wal-Mart only with more chainsaws and Norwegian expletives.

Remarks: Dead Snow tries way too hard to be a campy cult classic. It contains just about every horror movie cliché you can think of, and attempts to cover for itself by dropping a few half-hearted self-referential jokes.

Director Tommy Wirkola obviously drew inspirations from movies such as Shaun of the Dead and Sam Raimi's Evil Dead series, and the end result is an often sloppy mess that feels embarrassingly adolescent.

Are there blood and guts? Yes. Literally. But beyond that, there isn't much else. Even the customary sex scene isn't all that interesting. I get that Dead Snow isn't meant to be taken seriously, but throwing in loads of cheesy, over-the-top gore that's just supposed to make you squirm doesn't work if that's all there is to the script.

The characters aren't all that memorable, and the plot is flawed. Again, I understand that a movie involving Nazi zombies who want to eat sexually frustrated Norwegians probably doesn't lend itself to much intellectual discourse. But within the realm of the story itself, no matter how ridiculous, there needs to be some sense of logic.

For example, we're never told how the German soldiers became zombies in the first place. And we don't know really get to know any of the characters enough to care about what happens to them.

The actors play their roles enthusiastically and some of the cinematography is quite beautiful in places. Some of the sight gags are creative, but most of the jokes fall flat. Not even the obligatory chainsaw can liven things up.

The editing is awkward, the dialogue is pretty lame, and even though Dead Snow is just under ninety minutes, most of it is actually pretty boring.

Who would like this movie: Dead Snow seems geared towards those who like over-the-top, campy, disgusting horror movies. However, I wouldn't recommend this one because it doesn't add anything new to the zombie (or horror) genre.

I'll admit that there were enough elements in the film that could have made it into a pretty interesting tale. Unfortunately, Tommy Wirkola didn't capitalize on them and went for a few extra disembowelments instead.

Overall, this is pretty much a waste of time, and the c'mon, it's supposed to be a bad movie excuse won't fly.

Horror Movie Review: Shiver (Eskalofrío)

Shiver (Eskalofrío)
Made in: Spain
Language: Spanish
Director: Isidro Ortiz
Starring: Junio Valverde, Mar Sodupe, Blanca Suárez, Francesc Orella, Jimmy Barnatán, Roberto Enríquez, Paul Berrondo, Pau Poch
Year: 2008

Review written by: Joe Yang

Originally published at: Foreign-Films-For-You.com

Synopsis: Santi (Junio Valverde) is a lonely teenager living in Barcelona with his mom, Julia (Mar Sodupe). He suffers from a condition called Photophobia, where he's hypersensitive to sunlight. As a result, he can't really do much during the day.

Other kids his age think he's a freak, his father, Oscar (Paul Berrondo), is a compulsive gambler, and his best friend Leo (Jimmy Barantán) is a pop culture geek who's as much of an outcast as he is.

At the advice of his doctor, Santi and his mother relocate to a remote village in the north, where the days are known for being short. The house they find is a little rustic, but it has all the necessary amenities for modern life.

But as in most horror movies, it comes complete with spooky shadows, window shutters that rattle really easily, and an attic full of stuff that belonged to the previous tenants. Yup, that's right. Nothing out of the ordinary around here...

The landlord, Dimas (Francesc Orella), seems okay, and although school isn't great, it's not as bad as it was in the big city. Santi befriends Tito (Pau Poch), a kid who's small for his age, and Ángela (Blanca Suárez), the attractive daughter of the local police inspector, Antonio (Roberto Enríquez). But before Santi can settle in, he learns that there's something strange about this quiet little town.

Something scary lives in the woods, and it's known for viciously attacking livestock. When it starts killing people, Santi just always happens to be around. Naturally, he's blamed for the deaths, or at least he's suspected of being a part of them. But as the frights escalate, Santi tries solving the mystery himself with the help of his friends. And before long, he uncovers a dark secret about the small town...

The Good: Cinematically, Shiver looks great and much credit should be given to production designer Pilar Revuelta (who worked on Pan's Labyrinth).

The story moves at a good pace, and unlike horror movies done in the US, the acting here is very good. Although the storyline isn't too different from a scary movie that you'd see Stateside, the higher caliber of acting gives the film more depth and intelligence.

The bloodshed isn't over-the-top. In fact, since many of the gory scenes take place in shadows or under shaky flashlight beams, director Isidro Ortiz leaves much of the horror to your imagination. Shiver contains plenty of solid suspense, and instead of going for cheap, jump-out-at-you scares, most of the creepiness is carefully constructed and plays more upon simple fears (being home alone, thunderstorms, lost in the woods, etc).

The Bad: Shiver doesn't make full use of all its major elements. Santi's photophobia is interesting, but it never plays out in a major way. It would have been better if, for instance, his "handicap" became a strength at certain times. If he can't come out during the day, then it's only logical to assume that he's at his best during the night. But no. Here, he's as scared of the dark (and ineffective in it) as anybody.

Tito has the potential to be an interesting character, but he sort of just disappears halfway through the story. And the love interest, Ángela, is underdeveloped as well. Without spoiling the ending, there are also some minor questions of logic that'll bother you if you think about them too much.

Who would like this movie: You should watch Shiver if you're fan of foreign films, and horror movies (particularly Spanish ones) that are focused more on scares than gore. Parts of the movie will make you think of movies such as Sleepy Hollow, Lost Boys, and maybe even the Blair Witch Project.

The overall premise is pretty familiar, but it's told very well. I suppose this counts as a teen movie in some ways, but it doesn't look cheesy nor does it insult anyone's intelligence.

There are no boob shots (which may be a disappointment to some), and since it's made in a country with no drinking age, I was mildly surprised to see that none of the main characters (or victims) got trashed. Perhaps that a cultural thing, which proves that foreign films are indeed educational.

For the most part, Shiver is an engaging thriller. It's not perfect, but it easily surpasses a lot of Hollywood stuff aimed at a similar demographic.

(3 out of 4 stars)

Cheerios...a drug?

Here's something scary.

Everyone's heard of the cereal Cheerios, right? And if you pick up a box, you'll see some sort of label claiming that it's good for your heart and lowers cholesterol. I'm not sure if that's actually true or not, because personally, I don't eat Cheerios. I think it tastes like cardboard.

But the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sent General Mills, the company that makes Cheerios, a stern letter that states: "Based on claims made on your product's label, we have determined Cheerios is promoted for conditions that cause it to be a drug because the product is intended for use in the prevention, mitigation, and treatment of disease."

I'm not joking. The federal government, in all of its infinite wisdom, wants to classify Cheerios as a drug! So if Big Brother has his way, we might not be allowed to buy healthy cereals without a doctor's prescription. And if you buy a box of Cheerios in Holland, for instance, and try to bring it back to the US, maybe the DEA will raid your home.

Some groups, such as the Center for Science in the Public Interest, actually welcome the fact that the FDA will be investigating every minute health claim made by food manufacturers....interfering with free commerce all in the name of keeping us poor, dumb consumers safe.

Now, I'm not sure if Cheerios is the miracle food that it claims to be. All I know is that if it isn't, some private, 3rd Party watchdog group will let us know. Or consumers like you and I will do our own research. In other words, the free market will ensure that word gets around if some health claim (or any product) turns out to be bogus.

Do companies that make false claims and cheat consumers deserve to lose money or go under? Absolutely! But the government shouldn't intervene unless the companies are actively hurting us. Corporations that lie about their products will be punished by the market, because we consumers, who aren't nearly as stupid as the government thinks we are, will weed them out.

And we will weed them out far more efficiently than any bloated bureaucracy ever could.

If Cheerios is classified as a drug because it's "intended for use in the prevention, mitigation, and treatment of disease," then what's stopping the government from classifying ALL healthy foods as drugs? Apples? Whole wheat bread? Orange juice? Yes, I'm being ridiculous here, but if things keep going the way they're going, who's to say if we'll end up needing prescriptions just to go grocery shopping?

Hopefully, common sense will prevail in this case and the government will leave us the hell alone.

End of May...

I'm feeling better about the second draft of It Follows, but right now I'm essentially rewriting much of the story. It'll be more psychological and character-based, and even though it's a long process, I think it'll be a better book because of the changes.

My goal is to get this thing done in June. Wish me luck!

IT FOLLOWS - 1st draft complete

A few days ago, I finished the first draft of my 2nd novel. Now I'm in the revision/editing stage. And as it is with most revisions I make, much of the central storyline has totally changed. So suffice it to say, the plot description of It Follows, as seen on my website, is no longer accurate. But fear not, the story is much more focused and probably works better now.