April 2013 Movie Reviews

"Hold on to your butts."

Jurassic Park - 3D IMAX

• I've honestly been looking forward to seeing this since I heard they were doing it.  Jurassic Park has always been one of my favorites, and it's back in theaters again with one helluva IMAX 3D conversion.  Many people (like me) who never saw the 1993 film on the big screen will likely to flock to see the big dinos on screen bigger than ever before.  For those who have never seen the film, I envy you - you're in for a treat.  The special effects were innovative 20 years ago and hold up today.  It was great sitting in a fully packed theater on 7:00 PM in Boston on Friday for the release.  Audience members sat back and enjoyed the journey to Isla Nublar set to John Williams' brilliant overture, lovingly chuckled at the dated technology in the film (look at that "state-of-the-art" interactive CD-ROM!), screamed during the velociraptor's big on-screen introduction, laughed at the Ian Malcolm quips, and, of course, marveled at the T-rex in 3D.  Jurassic Park is without a doubt the one film I have seen the most.  It's a classic.  Spielberg's film is a masterpiece  of sheer spectacle juxtaposed with intense sci-fi terror.  I would've still been at the theater even if it wasn't in 3D, but for fans of the film, the conversion makes it well worth the journey back to the island.
• Rating: 5 out of 5

"Spring breaaaaaak."

Spring Breakers

• Spring Breakers will likely be the most polarizing film of the year.  People will love it or hate it.  I gravitate more towards the former.  Aside from the gratuitous amount of young adult skin put on display in various obscene ways, the film is brilliantly shot and scored.  The original soundtrack (mainly by Skrillex and Cliff Martinez, who also composed the Drive soundtrack) is phenomenal.  Often, the film intentionally drifts into the realm of music video, with extended shots of partying with the soundtrack roaring away.  I've heard people call our generation (20-something and under) the "music video generation" - favoring quick cuts over long shots, immediate pleasures over long-term loves, the instant answer over the learned knowledge.  Spring Breakers seems to reflect this notion.  The main characters reject any form of structure, formal education, or "civilized" society in favor of violence (including robbery at gunpoint), promiscuity, drugs, and wearing bikinis (or less) throughout almost the entire movie - even during their inevitable court appearance.  The girls oscillate between their various dangerous pleasures until they finally latch onto the one person they feel some sense of connection to - "Alien" (whose name is no accident).  James Franco provides some of the much needed dark comic relief in a powerhouse performance that is guaranteed to be a fan favorite.  It makes for an immensely unique visual & auditory spectacle to say the least, but there's a lot more going on than sheer bikini candy.  Spring Breakers will be appreciated by two types of audience members: those looking for the aforementioned bikini candy (it delivers), and a cult following that will enjoy the film for its combination of music, cinematography, and character study of a reckless lifestyle that when mixed together results in one of the most provocative films in recent cinema.
• Rating: 4 out of 5

"You don't know much about witches, do you?"

Oz the Great & Powerful

• Here's James Franco again in a slightly different role!  The prequel-ish Oz the Great & Powerful makes for a fun, visually delicious that nicely blends elements of the classic Wizard of Oz with modern CGI and 3D technology.  My favorite moments were the old school storytelling and visual trickery techniques that director Sam Raimi adds to the film.  Without them, the film would just be another attempt to recycle a classic movie and modernize it (click here for my discussion of sequels/prequels).  Oz makes for an entertaining beyond-the-yellow-brick-road way of examining the world of Oz.  I really did not buy Mila Kunis in her 2nd/3rd act role at all; it certainly made sense for her character's development so I let it slide a bit.  Overall, it's a fun experience going back to Oz through a different lens.
• Rating: 3 out of 5

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