Aylmer to Zazzoo and Beyond: Zoe Saldana

Showing posts with label Zoe Saldana. Show all posts

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Star Trek Into Darkness - Review

Star Trek
Into Darkness
(2013 - May 16)
Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi
2 hr 12 min

Rated: PG-13 Intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence. Read more
Grade: B+

Director: J.J. Abrams
Writers: Roberto Orci (written by), Alex Kurtzman (written by), Damon Lindelof,
(written by), Gene Roddenberry (television series "Star Trek")
Stars: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, Benedict Cumberbatch, See full cast and crew

The crew of the Starship Enterprise returns home after an act of terrorism within its own organization destroys most of Starfleet and what it represents, leaving Earth in a state of crisis. With a personal score to settle, Capt. James T. Kirk (Chris Pine) leads his people (Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban, Zoë Saldana) on a mission to capture a one-man weapon of mass destruction, thereby propelling all of them into an epic game of life and death.

I reviewed the 3D version, honestly I don't feel it added all that much. There were a few good spots where its utilization was effective but otherwise many times it seemed a distraction. It is obvious that they are using this film to set up a franchise of sequels. I liked the film but I don't think it is as effective as its predecessor.

That said, I do like this franchise incarnation better than any of the others, be it TV original, The William Shatner/Leonard Nimoy or Patrick Stewart film series, or The Next Generation etc., etc. The majority of Trekkies will probably think J.J. Abrams has committed some degree of heresy but the Trekkies were never really the intended audience (loyal as they are their numbers are not enough to fund a blockbuster).

I like the energy that Chris Pine brings to the Capt. Kirk character, and he is a lot easier on the eyes than is either Shatner or Stewart. The entire young cast of the two latest J.J. Abrams films are great fun to watch, they have been cast so well to look like the youthful Shatner cast that they are supposed to be.

I found this film not quite as entertaining as the first one directed by Abrams, but enjoyable it is, and yes there is a cameo appearance from one of the original cast members. Should this franchise continue (and I understand Star Trek 3 is already in the works) I wonder how many more of the originals will be ready and willing to lend their faces and support.

There is one unnecessary scene with Kirk in bed with twin alien girls with tails, thankfully it isn't at all graphic but the whole aspect of his promiscuity is an unwelcome distraction.

There is a lot of action, perhaps a bit too much, it seem that they go from one life threatening scene to another with precious little respite in between. Is anyone's life really packed that full of adventure and excitement. They are constantly on the go.

Star Trek Into Darkness has plenty of violence, they battle Klingons, there's gunfire, fights and people being killed, falling to their deaths or being sucked into space, or shot or blown to bits, Starships shooting at each other and buildings and their inhabitants destroyed, and characters are frequently being placed in life threatening danger.

There is also a little use of profanity but generally not any worse than what you find on TV, I applaud the writers and director's restraint. This is one you can safely take your family to see.

Behind the scenes with director J.J. Abrams.

Directing a bespectacled Chris Pine

Cast

Chris Pine Zachary Quinto

Kirk Spock

Zoe Saldana Karl Urban Simon Pegg

Uhura Bones Scotty

John Cho Anton Yelchin

Sulu Chekov

Peter Weller Alice Eve

Marcus Carol

Bruce Greenwood Benedict Cumberbatch

Pike Khan

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

The Words - Review

The Words
(2012)
Drama/Romance
(1 hr, 36 min)

Rated: PG-13
for brief strong language and smoking

Directed/Written: Brian Klugman and Lee Sternthal [co-wrote "Tron Legacy" together]

Starring: Bradley Cooper, Dennis Quaid, Olivia Wilde, Zoe Saldana, Jeremy Irons, Ben Barnes, Nora Arnezeder, John Hannah, J.K. Simmons, Zeljko Ivanek, Michael McKean | See full cast and crew

Grade: B-

A writer at the peak of his literary success discovers the steep price he must pay for stealing another man’s work. Hard life lessons are learned.

You were probably not in the theaters this past weekend, not many were. So chances are you haven't yet seen The Words. It was the worst box office weekend since 2008. The Words and Cold Light of Day's opening weekend receipts both were major disappointments for their respective studios. The fast fading Possession saw its second week receipts drop off by 47% but still managed to hold on to the top spot. Promotion for Words was poor, Cold Light almost nonexistent, they debuted at a miserable 4th and 13th place. ( read more : 'Words,' 'Cold Light' Bomb on Worst Weekend in Years...)

Words is not a bad film but it's not great film either. It's plot follows four different storylines with four different sets of characteres simultaneously, a sort of play within a play within a play within a play. Kind of like the filmmakers had the idea to remake “Inception” set in the world of novels and authors. The film is not, however, quite as clever or as complex as it pretends to be. I has received some very harsh reviews from some critics. Their hatred for plagiarism and seeing themselves as 'writers/authors', the story is a little too close for comfort for them I think and therefor taints their critical perspective.

Despite the merging of four stories, first time directors Klugman and Sternthal keep it pretty clear where we are and in which level of the story. It is best to go into this movie without knowing much about it, otherwise the story will be ruined for you so I'm not going to go into details. I do recommend it though with some reservations. I was impressed (not in a positive way) by performances of Dennis Quaid and Olivia Wilde. They were the least believable of the four couples, taking themselves just a bit too seriously...listen closely to what I say because every word I say is loaded with significance. Not really an exact quote but that's the attitude they exude.

There was one curious line, at least to me, in the story of the 'young man' (Ben Barnes) in post WW II Paris, the soldiers are repairing the bombed sewers and one soldier lamenting their dismal task says, 'I miss Utah.' At least that's what I think I heard. I don't plan to go back and watch it again just to see if that is actually what he said.

It was good to see Bradley Cooper do a role where he isn't rude, lewd, crude and spewing out one profanity after another (as in The Hangover movies, #3 is on its way). The studio, investing little in promotion, placed the success of Words almost entirely on the shoulders of Cooper's name recognition (Jeremy Irons is a classic and was actually way more of a draw for me). Zoe Saldana is not only beautiful but is also believable in her performance. The end of the film is, I think, purposely muddled and vague, leaving the viewer to write his own ending. The titles of the two books from the movie's authors, 'The Words', and 'Window of Tears' are dubious choices for best sellers. As a movie experience, Words is slightly better than most of this summer's movie offerings. There is one very unnecessary F-bomb and one other unnecessary profanity of the blasphemy type, otherwise it is reasonably clean.