10s Movie Review - Maleficent

Director: Robert Stromberg
Genre: Action/ Adventure/ Fantasy/ Family
Runtime: 97 minutes
Year: 2014
Starring: Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning, Sharlto Copley, Lesley Manville, Imelda Staunton, Juno Temple, Sam Riley, Brenton Thwaites, Michael Higgins

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2021 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 26: A MOVIE WITH AN ANTI-HERO
 
Description: A vengeful fairy (Angelina Jolie) is driven to curse an infant princess, only to discover that the child may be the one person who can restore peace to their troubled land.

Review: “Sleeping Beauty” is a classic Disney animation that was screaming for a new interpretation. The classic may be beloved worldwide; there are also a few things to be said about it. The story is very thin and the characters are hardly given any depth. However, with  the evil witch Maleficent it does have one of the scariest Disney villains of all time. Memorably terrifying because there was no glimmer of compassion or humanity in this mistress of evil.  
So, with “Maleficent” the infamous shrew is given her own full movie. And Disney could have gone either way: work out the creepy cold-bloodedness even more or add more nuance. Debuting director Robert Stromberg goes full for the nuance, making “Maleficent” primarily a breezy family film.
It is the safer choice of the two, but also the dullest. Maleficent is transformed from a terrifying demoness into a nature-loving fairy who fights to preserve her magical forest, while people from the surrounding areas want to destroy it. She becomes the victim of deep betrayal and is not the same from that point on. Revenge she wants, and she gets it.
But soon she regrets it when it turns out that the baby she cursed grows up to be a very sweet girl. Perhaps even a little too sweet for the sober observer. Princess Aurora is played by Elle Fanning, one of the most talented actresses of her age, but her puzzled look and cheerful giggles quickly get on your nerves. Maleficent’s elaboration is better. The creators have given her a background that, for the most part, fits nicely with the 1959 classis. But otherwise, it’s all fat from original and surprising.
Fortunately, there are also plenty of things to enjoy. In the first place, the leading rol of Angelina Jolie, who plays her character with visible pleasure. She is at her best in the famous scene of the christening party: delightfully diabolical. And then there is the visual aspect of the film, which isn’t bad. Only he three fairies look pretty horrible.
I would have wanted a more dark version of the tale, but “Maleficent” is, mostly thanks to Jolie, still an entertaining film.

Rating: 3/ 5

10s Movie Review - The Hollars

Director: John Krasinski
Genre: Drama/ Comedy
Runtime: 85 minutes
Year: 2016
Starring: John Krasinski, Anna Kendrick, Margo Martindale, Sharlto Copley, Richard Jenkins, Randall Park, Josh Groban, Charlie Day, Mary Elizabeth Winstead

Description: John (John Krasinski) returns to his small hometown after learning that his mother has fallen ill and is about to undergo surgery.

Review: In “The Hollars” we meet John Hollar, who returns to his family home after his mother was diagnosed with a brain tumor. His pregnant girlfriend stays ack in New York. When he comes home, he walks into his ex-girlfriend and has to face the trouble he has with his brother and father.
The film shows the life of an everyday family, each member with their own problems. Because the family isn’t extremely rich and maybe even closer to being poor, people can easily identify with them. The problems the Hollar family is dealing with, are ones that we can have and it makes the film realistic.
Although the film touches a very heavy theme, the humor is still there. Very dry humor, just how I like it. In the 80 minute runtime, we see a lot of different emotions. It’s not a lame comedy, it is in balance with the drama. But never gets to sobby (even though I cried).
The acting is great. John Krasinksi, who also directs this film, takes on the lead and does a wonderful job. I’ve always loved Krasinski and roles like this are perfect for him. The same goes for Anna Kendrick. Richard Jenkins and Sharlto Copley are fantastic as well, ad John father and brother. But it’s Margo Martindale that steals the show. She is so amazing. And with all this star power, I don’t understand why this film was so overlooked.
The story doesn’t follow the standard paths and it has some surprising moments. The storyline of John’s ex-girlfriend is added, but it could have been left out. At least the moments between John and her. The ones between John and Gwen’s new husband are fun.
This is the genre I love the most, a good mix of drama and comedy. And it was very well executed. I really loved “The Hollars”.

Rating: 4 / 5

100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 133: Oldboy

Director: Spike Lee

Genre: Drama/ Thriller/ Action

Runtime: 104 minutes

Year: 2013

Starring: Josh Brolin, Elizabeth Olsen, Sharlto Copley, Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Imperioli, Max Casella

Description: Obsessed with vengeance, Joe Doucett (Josh Brolin) sets out to find out why he was kidnapped and locked into solitary confinement for twenty years without reason.

Review: In the same year that South Korean director Chan-Wook Park makes his Hollywood debut with the movie “Stoker”, the remake to his successful “Oldeuboi” is released. Spike Lee got the tough task to direct this movie. It’s 1993. Joe Doucett is divorced and an alcoholic. The more you get to know Joe, the more you dislike him. He’s all arrogance and he doesn’t have time for his young daughter. To make a long story short: he’s an asshole.

After he blew a meeting with an important client, he decides to get drunk. The next day he wakes up in a strange motel room. A room that he can’t get out of and he will be held captive for twenty years. When he is finally released, his journey to find out who and why starts.

“Oldeuboi” is a modern classic and people where skeptic about the American version. According to Spike Lee, this is his interpretation of the original. “Oldboy” is in general the same as its original, but Lee did change things here and there. Josh Brolin and Elizabeth Olsen show they were the right choices for the lead roles. Sharlto Copley, known for his excellent roles in “District 9” and “Elysium”, disappoints. His antagonist role is a bit cartoonish.

It also bothered me a bit that in “Oldboy” there are more questions asked then answered. The moment where Joe meets the man responsible for his captivity, the plot collapses.

It’s not a bad remake, something the fans where afraid of. It’s probably not to their liking, but for the neutral viewer it’s an okay thriller. Not one of Spike Lee’s best movies, but very accessible.

Rating: 3/ 5

Movie Battle: District 9 Vs. Elysium

Today I’m comparing two movie by director Neill Blomkamp. He hasn’t directed many movies, but these are his two most well-known and successful ones: District 9 Vs. Elysium.

CAST

District 9: There is only one actor in this movie worth mentioning, Sharlto Copley. Untill then an unknown South African actor. Copley’s performance is solid and believable.

Elysium: Matt Damon is the star and as always he does a great job. Since the Bourne-trilogy he’s a respectable action hero as well as the solid actor he already was. Jodie Foster is a convincing bitch, but her accent is a bit weird. I don’t know what it is, but it sound like something she made up herself. But again, like in “District 9”, Sharlto Copley steals the show. What a badass he is in this movie.

STORY

District 9: It’s a very original story, also written by Neill Blomkamp. I think it’s one of the better realistically looking sci-fi movies of the decade.

Elysium: Again a pretty original plot. Off course there are other versions of this, the poor world versus the rich world, but they way it was executed was very well done.

EFFECTS

District 9: The prawns look very realistic, though the effects are very subtle. I think that’s what’s so great about “District 9”, it’s never over the top.
Elysium: Bigger material used here, a lot of special effects, but it still has that gritty look. Blomkamp used the ‘shaky cam’ which is always a nice thing in action movies. It feels more real, like you’re really there. Again, it never looks like too much.

WINNER

They are both great, but I choose “District 9”. I think it’s the more original one of the two and this is a movie I could watch more than once.