Looper Review

Time travel has always been an enticing concept for filmmakers. George Pal showed us the year 802.701 in 'The Time Machine', Robert Zemeckis took us on three trips in a time machine with the 'Back to the Future' movies and on the small screen Doctor Who travels through time on a weekly basis. Popular culture is saturated with time travel and why not? How cool would it be to meet your grandparents when they were kids or to see beyond years and into the future? 

Unfortunately, the concept is rarely used intelligently. The implications of time travel are tremendous and it's high time for filmmakers to learn they can exploit them to create dense and intricate stories. 'Looper' is one of those films. Aside from being an excellent action film it is also a very smart science-fiction story. It handles the time travel paradoxes in an interesting and entertaining way. That's why it's one of the year's best movies.

In 2074 time travel will have been invented. The technology is immediately outlawed but the mob uses it to get rid of people. They are put into a time machine and blasted thirty years back in time. Upon arrival a hired gun kills them and destroys their bodies. The mercenaries are known as Loopers, they get good money for their work but it comes at a price. Sooner or later their older selves will come through that portal and the looper will have to kill him(self). It's called 'closing the loop'.

For Joe (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) the loop is about to close. However his older self (Bruce Willis) is a wily one and escapes. The mob doesn't take kindly to this and set their dogs on both Joes. Now Young Joe will have to find Old Joe in order to save himself and his future. There are some other twists and turns which I won't spoil.,what I can say is that the story moves quickly and includes some very enjoyable surprises. 

Director Rian Johnson doesn't think of time travel paradoxes as bothersome. Instead he integrates these technicalities into the plot. What we get is a movie that's totally unpredictable but when we come to the conclusion we wouldn't want it to end any other way. Sure, after some thinking, little parts of the film don't quite seem to make sense but that's part of the fun. 'Looper' is a movie that will ignite discussions about the possibilties and impossibilities of time travel.. 

Joseph Gordon-Levitt's transformation into a young Bruce Willis is also worthy to be talked about. His make-up isn't a complete success but the way Levitt copies Willis his mannerisms is uncanny. It's not the make-up but the acting that sells this very important part of the plot. Bruce Willis himself is also terrific. I can't imagine a better candidate for this particular role. It's also one of his most memorable performances in a very long time. He brings out the utter desperation of a character who only wants to return to his life.

To me 'Looper' is nothing short of genius. The story might seem gimmicky at first but it manages to convince  you before knocking you on your skeptical ass. This is a movie with a lot of smarts and enough energy to make it all seem effortless. It's not afraid to go to dark places or to have the most famous actor in its cast do some seriously despicable stuff. 'Looper' is a great film and a breath of fresh air for fans of intelligent science-fiction.

Frankenweenie Review

After 'Vincent', 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' and 'Corpse Bride' Tim Burton returns to stop-motion. Based on a live-action short film he directed in 1984, 'Frankenweenie' tells the story of young Victor who succeeds at reviving his dead dog Sparky. The movie is shot in black and white and contains many nods to old-school horror flicks from Universal and Hammer.

Burton's unique visual style has always been perfect for stop-motion animation. His production 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' is still one of best films of that kind. The surreal look of Burton's vision combined with the somewhat creepy feel of stop-motion work wonders together. And with its bizarre subject matter 'Frankenweenie' walks the line between lightweight horror and comedy.

Unlike his previous live-action movies, 'Alice In Wonderland' and 'Dark Shadows', 'Frankenweenie' feels fresh. For the first time since 'Sleepy Hollow' Burton seems to be in his element. He and his animators are having fun playing with Victor's world, which appears to be a cross between 1950's suburbia and a misty Dutch town from the late 1800's.

'Frankenweenie' is visually appealing. The sets are beautifully designed and some characters look genuinely creepy. The animation itself is noticeably crude, especially when compared to this year's 'ParaNorman' which was made in a similar fashion. The crudeness appears to be on purpose. There's little polish here, when a cat moves its head you can see its fur move as the animator make his frame per frame adjustments. This gives life to the characters and lends a great deal of authenticity to the film.

Danny Elfman is back with his unique brand of fairy tale music. Drawing heavily from earlier collaborations with Tim Burton, more than once Elfman's score reminded me of 'Edward Scissorhands'. His dark but playful music amplifies the film's gloomy atmosphere. 

The story deals with one of life's more serious and final problems: death. It's a heavy subject to handle, especially in a medium that will appeal to a lot of children. Fortunately, Burton keeps the film from getting lost in dark territory. Unlike Mary Shelley's original novel 'Frankenstein' we're not faced with the existential dilemma that arises when you bring life to what was once dead.

'Frankenweenie' is sure to be a treat for all fans of classic horror. Whether you're a Universal Horror enthusiast or a Hammer Horror lover you'll eat this up. This film's science teacher looks and sounds like Vincent Price, Christopher Lee makes an appearence in his most famous role and the finale takes place in a burning windmill. Sparky's love interest even sports the iconic hair cut from James Whale's 'The Bride of Frankenstein'. 

'Frankenweenie' feels like its Tim Burton's comeback. He's returned from the commercial direction his later movies have followed. His recent career appeared to be marred by a profound lack of interest. 'Dark Shadows' featured hints of Burton's former glory but 'Frankenweenie' sees him reaching back and recapturing that unique and entertaining spirit. 

Skyfall Review

'Skyfall' is Daniel Craig's third performance as 007; the most famous of all spies. It's also his best, after a solid introduction with 'Casino Royale' and the rather dissapointing 'Quantum of Solace', Craig finally comes into his own as James Bond. Under the direction of Sam Mendes the twenty-third Bond film belongs up there with 'Goldfinger', 'From Russia With Love' and 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service'. 

This might sound like high praise but 'Skyfall' is pure quality. Mendes' character-driven approach breathes new life into a franchise which has known many up and downs. It also gives Craig the opportunity to portray Bond as a real person instead of the cartoony gentleman spy whom we've seen in many other installments. 

The story also has weight to it. The whole thing revolves around M, whose actions as head of MI6 are called into question when the secret identities of spies all over the globe are stolen. Someone, somewhere, has it out for her. Meanwhile, 007 is presumed dead after a mission to recover the identies goes awry. He returns from the shadows in order to save M from being discharged by the British Prime-Minister and to hunt down the man behind this evil plot.

The villain, Raoul Silva, reveals himself to be an ex-MI6 agent with a grudge against M. He tries everything within his power to put an end to her career and, ultimately, her life. Javier Bardem plays Silva with a psychotic sense of humor. His twisted obsession with M is one of the film's high points and makes Bardem's antagonist truly memorable. 

Aside from Craig and the entertaining villain this movie belongs entirely to Judi Dench. She's the ultimate Bond Girl and does a great job portraying a conflicted M. She's horrified at the lengths that Silva goes to in order to harm her but somehow she feels that she might deserve everything that's coming her way. This performance is yet another reason why 'Skyfall' manages to make a huge impact. 

The action is also top notch. While 'Quantum of Solace' was made incromprehensible by the insane amount of shaky cam the action in this film is astounding. There's some spectacular scenes featuring some gorgeous cinematography. It might not be the absolute best Bond film but it's surely the most beautiful in the whole franchise. 

As is tradition in the James Bond franchise 'Skyfall' has its own theme. This time Adele's voice is heard over the opening credits and it's an impressive song. It's been a while since we've heard a good theme for one of these movies. Adele manages to convey the gloomy feel of the film perfectly, setting the tone for the entire film.

If there's one thing I'm kind of divided on it's the obvious nods to previous Bond films. In celebration of Bond's 50th anniversary 'Skyfall' is sprinkled with little references. Some are fun; like the introduction of Ms. Moneypenny and Q, while others seem a bit too on the nose. The appearance of the Ashton Martin DB5 from 'Goldfinger', complete with all the gadgets from that film, is a little distracting. It's not enough to pull you out off the movie but it seems excessive. 

As the movie ends and the credits begin to role the film assures us that Bond will be back. And I'm not complaining. With 'Skyfall' Daniel Craig has gotten the film that he deserves. He got to shine as the legendary British hero and fulfilled the promises he made with 'Casino Royale'. It's one of the most entertaining films of the year and one of the best Bond movies I've ever had the pleasure to experience.