by "Bodoque the Grump" not Mikaela.... (Mikaelas soon to be posted)
My faith in Hollywood films have decreased ever since the lack of imagination both stories lacking imagination and the overt use of CG technology in films. I'm probably not the only one that believes this but I find it quite amusing and in a way important to write about films and discuss them from a picky and average person's point of view. I had the opportunity to view "The Lovely Bones," but before I begin my review, I completely forgot how much I like the sneak previews of upcoming films, so I'll start with that:
"Shutter Island"
So, I have to say, I used to HATE Leonardo DiCaprio, but I have to say, that now, I have a lot respect for the man. He has done an awesome job choosing and playing his roles, so yes, I have to say he is one of my favorite actors. Ben Kingsley, any movie with Ben Kingsley is a guaranteed success. I can't wait to see Scorsese's direction in this suspenseful thriller. This one will definitely be reviewed.
"Remember Me"
After watching this preview, I was curious and at the same time very intrigued by a comment someone told me last night. I was intrigued after it was brought to my attention that Robert Pattinson is perhaps trying too hard to be James Dean. I can definitely see that. I do think that James Dean though (an important icon of Hollywood and rebellious identity) was a bit overrated for what he had done in his career. I'll give him the credit that he did die young and couldn't really demonstrate his full potential. I am a huge sentimentalist when it comes to love films. I think I have not seen a well made love story in a LONG time. Nevertheless I am sure Pattinson is talented, I mean he is in Hollywood films for a reason. But at the same time, the reason why I say I am curious (No, I am not Gay FYI), is because I wonder and I hope that Pattinson leaves aside his James Dean wannabe image and creates his own. I am sure he is talented, but I really hope that this young actor is able to follow a similar path that DiCaprio, Depp, and Bale have followed, from young "cutie" heartrobs to talented and creative and RESPECTED actors.
"Our Family Wedding"
Forest Whitaker, WHAT HAPPENED?!?!?!?! siding with Carlos Mencia, enough said........... No more Comment.....
Now the feature presentation: I have to say, that when I first heard, Peter Jackson, I immediately thought about films like "King Kong" and "Lord of the Rings," I immediatelly thought, "great, I expect crappy CG quality." But I must admit, I was wrong. To begin, the cast was amazing, Mark Walhberg, Rachael Weisz and one of my favorite actresses of all time Susan Sarandon. The film takes place in the 1970's, I must admit that i love to watch films where the story line takes place in that era, I say, it's about the cars! I wish I had an Oldsmobile station wagon and the 66 Mustang convertible (my dream car), One of the reasons why I enjoy this particular kind of film. Moving on to the film (seriously this time), what were the early 1970's about? It was a time that many who lived in that era considered to be the "good-old days." Although it may be that perhaps, American society was much calmer and more "innocent" than now a days. A young teen, Susie Salmon, is the average teen who has ambitions and goals in life like becoming a wildlife photographer who falls in love with an upper classman, who is sorrounded by a loving, intellectual, and talented tight knit family. Jack (Wahlberg) and Abigail (Weisz) show their love towards their family, such as providing tools to enhanace a better life for their kids while showing the important aspect of unity with little things such as eating together on the table and spending quality time doing hobbies (ie building model ships inside bottles). This type of love is an important factor in the development of the story, as Jack tells Susie that life is like a hobby. It teaches hope, patience, persistance and most important to never give up and finish what has been started.
So the film begins with a peguin inside a water globe. When Susie is only 2, she thinks that the Penguin lives in a vlonely cold world. But Jack, tells Susie that the penguin lives in a very nice perfect world safe from the outside. Interesting perspective since the cold harsh world took place in Susies life after she is murdered by one of her neighbors, Harvey. Harvey destroys not just Susie's life but also her beloved ones. She is seen by Ruth, (the "weird" classmate who becomes friends with Susie's crush). The Salmon's have to endure an odyssey, similar to Susies in the middle world. The family does not want to give up searching for her and her killer and Susie wants to help her family figure this out since she feels she still has unfinished business in this world. This business is finished once her father figures out that Harvey is the killer through a "sixth sense" given by clues given to him by Susie such as photographs and dead flowers. Susie's sister discovers that Harvey killed Susie and now she is in his sight. Harvey flees after disposing Susies body inside a safe in a "hole." Harvey of course would meet his fate with an icicle thatwould lead him to his death. Finally, Susie's family is able to cope and move on.
What I loved about this film is the use of imagery. The kiosk , where Susie was to meet her beloved became her shelter in the middle world. This kiosk would become her protector but also her downfall after she depicts hatred towards the man who killed her. The bottled model ships are ways to connect her back home, once Jack shatters most of them, in Susies perfect world, she is losing her ways back home as the ships crash on the rocky shore. The lighthouse on this shore leads the ships to the shore, but unfortunately the ships get there but cannot return since they are damaged, but it is this lighthouse that she fears to enter, but in reality it is her way back home and her key to heaven. One of the bottles that is left is the one that she helps her father with before she was murdered. Her father places a candle on this bottle as an image of hope. During the darkest hours, the ship will follow the light back home. The tree where Susie and the rest of Harvey's victims meet, it is a new hope in the new tree of life. In the "real" world, Susie's body is literally swallowed by the earth never to be recovered. Her family finds closere once Harvey is identfied as her killer and they move on with their lives. The use of CG was beautiful, the story itself is great, I could say that people can wait and rent it, but in reality, to get the full experience of the story, it needs to be seen in the theater to experience a well made and beautiful CG effects that give us a perspective and makes one ask, is this how a young person's heaven would be like? so colorful and immense? Beautiful imagery and effects.
My only criticism is that the story, even in its novel form became a misture of Pan's Labyrinth meets Ghost Whisperer which also meets The Sixth Sense. The movie is very slow to develop and somewhat predictable, with the exception that one would think that Susie's unfinished business would be for her to lead her parents to her killer. Instead, her unfinished business is the first kiss she never experienced with her beloved before moving on to heaven. That was cute, I thought.
The ending, well, talk about poetic justice, an icicle leads to the death of Harvey. Talk about a tortorous death! But in the end I guess the message is, never give up hope since there will always be a light at the end leading the way, a family's love is the strongest bond uniting people wheteher dead or alive, Karma's a real bitch and to all people out there NEVER TALK TO STRANGERS!!!!!!!!!!! I really enjoyed this film, it was well written, kinda confusing at times (then again what suspenseful thriller is not confusing?) and finally I wish Susan Sarandon would've been my grandmother! On a range of 5 trash cans, 5 being the worse movie ever and 1 being the best, I'll throw 2 trash cans......
