Iron Man 3 Movie Review

Iron Man 3 had a lot of buzz when it was first announced and when it was released, it lived beyond expectation. The film delivers as a solid, fun and engaging sequel.

Iron Man 3 had a lot of work to do to live up to its predecessors. Also it had to overcome the “Third Film Curse” in which the third installment is usually the least of the three just like Spider-man 3 and Blade 3. But Iron Man 3 had to overcome two films since it was a sequel to Iron Man 2 and The Avengers. And it surpassed all expectations and delivered a great film.

The film brings us closer to Tony Stark, the man and not Iron Man. In the first film we were shown how Tony changed from being an egotistic, billionaire, playboy into a billionaire, playboy with a suit of armor. We witnessed his rebirth in the first film. Then in Iron Man 2, it was sort of the starting point for The Avengers. It wasn’t about Tony but the world he lives in in which a lot of things are changing it. But for Iron Man 3, we go back to Tony.

This is a smart move for the film makers. It is a new take on the character. We already saw Iron Man and his armor fighting bad guys. Now, we get to see Tony Stark fighting bad guys. We only get a full armor battle at the end part of the film. Director Shane Black did a great job on this installment. He made it into a character driven film when everybody was expecting a CGI driven one. He focused the film on vulnerability and deception and it worked.

Like past Shane Black films, the humor is just perfect for each character. Iron Man films have had a great blend between action and comedy and this time around, the humor delivers. We get to see hints of Black’s buddy factor like in the Lethal Weapon films. We get to see more on the dynamic partnership of Tony and Rhodey as they team up without their armors.

The villains in this film are also deep. Sir Ben Kingsley delivers a memorable and fun adaptation of the Mandarin. Though die hard Iron Man fans may not like his portrayal, the version that Black and company made is well suited to the Marvel cinematic universe. Guy Pierce delivers a chilling portray of Aldrich Killian. He first starts as a suave and romantic type gentleman but later evolves into a ruthless and intellectual nemesis to Tony Stark. Gwyneth Paltrow showcases her action side in this film as she wears the armor previously shown in the trailers. We get to see a new side to Pepper Potts and watch out nea the end of the film as she shows us an even darker side to herself.

When we talk of Iron Man or any Marvel films, special effects is always a must see. For this film, the effects are great. In the first two films, we are indulged in armor wars. For this third film, we get a lot of Iron Man armors as previewed in the trailers. Now imagine a whole lot engaged in intense action. That is what Iron Man 3 delivers. The film may have focused on Tony Stark, the man, in most part of the film, but Black and company never forgot what fans wanted to see. So as part of the climactic end, be prepared to see a massive metal rumble.

Action sequences for the film have also leveled up. We get a lot of physical action and intense sequences. Shane Black delivers new action and manages to combine it with 90 action and wit. The aerial sequence, in which Air Force One blows up and the passengers are in free fall is one of the intense sequences in the film. They pulled it off and we get a scene that will have you at the edge of your seats.

The plot for Iron Man 3 is a mix of different stories and they were able to mold it into one. It starts subtly and then develops slowly into a full blown Marvel comic book arc. That is what makes this film work. It gradually increases its intensity so the audiences will not be shocked by the turn of events.

Shane Black hasn't lost his touch. He is a story teller and he is able to reach out to audiences and capture their full attention. Iron Man 3 is an emotional, heart-pounding, funny and dark journey of Tony Stark. It delivers in all aspects and more. It dishes out the right amount of action, effects and humor that will leave audiences wanting to watch the film all over again. As for Marvel, they have prepared a good start for their Phase 2 films. Iron Man 3 has risen the bar for future comic book films.

Iron Man 3, it is more than the armor but the man inside it. I give it 9 out of 10.

Olympus Has Fallen Movie Review

For the past years, it is hard to come by an action film that really deserves to be called an action film. for Olympus Has Fallen, it lives up to genre and even more.

The film tells the taking of the White House by a North Korean paramilitary group. They capture the President and the only person who can save the day is a Secret Service agent who got pulled out from the presidential detail because of failing to save the first lady.

The film starts subtle and from the event at the bridge, tensions rise. Your heart starts rising when you see the C130 plane flying towards the White House and starts shooting civilians near the area. You will be gasping for air as the siege starts. It just keeps pushing and pushing and shows no sign of stopping. The action was well coordinated and camera movement was perfectly matched to sequence. Director Antoine Fuqua really knows his stuff coming from films like Training Day and Tears of the Sun.

Lighting was well balanced given that most of the interior shots were in the dark. Also the exterior shots at night were also crafted efficiently to showcase the firefight between the helicopters and the HYDRA 6 Weapon. When it comes to the special effects, the film kind of fell short. I didn’t like the effects during the explosion of the C130 as well as the helicopters. You know they are not real but the effects failed to make us believe they were. But I give high rates for the practical effects. The explosions and fire fights felt real and they were blended well with the area.

This is one of the few films in which the action, though heavy, was a critical part of the plot. It does not overshadow the story. The cast was chosen very well as well. Gerard Butler returns to his action roots and he did a blast with it. Aaron Eckhart does a strong portrayal of the President, a man who is still grieving the loss of his wife and had to face tough decisions during the hostage crisis. Morgan Freeman is strong presence in the film even though he was mostly seen at the latter part. His strong and sometimes funny notions allowed him to rise at time in the movie.

Olympus Has Fallen loses the drama in which we come to expect in action films which is a good take. Just like making the president’s son escape so that he will not be made into a bargaining chip so that his father will do what the terrorists wants. But it still has flaws. A lot of questions were released in the film but not all of them were answered. Though they weren’t critical, it would have been great to know.

Olympus Has Fallen is a film which lives up to its genre. It’s fast, explosive and action packed. It delivers and is a tough act to follow given that White House Down is coming up next this year. The plot may have been simple but the delivery was excellent. I highly recommend you watch this film. I give it 8.5 out 10.

Oblivion IMAX Poster

Above you can see the recently released IMAX poster for Oblivion. The film is set for release on April 10, 2013 and stars Tom Cruise, Morgan Freeman and Olga Kurylenko.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier Concept Art

Here is a great concept art from the upcoming Captain America: The Winter Soldier which is part of Marvel's Phase 2 Project. The film stars Chris Evans as Captain America and he will be facing the Winter Soldier who is his thought to be dead best friend Bucky Barnes played by Sebastian Stan.

Oz the Great and Powerful Review

When it was announced that a prequel to The Wizard of Oz was going to be made, it seemed like a bad idea at that time. And it was an even bigger gamble for Disney. With the release of Oz the Great and Powerful, the risk and gamble paid off.

Oz the Great and Powerful is an adventure filled with colors, surprises, laughs and thrills. Director Sam Raimi manages to bring his unique way in creating a new look at the word of Oz and not just some rehash of the classic film. The film is filled with styles made famous by Raimi. Like the close ups, the lighting, and even the witches which bears the make up in Raimi’s past films like Evil Dead and Drag Me to Hell. His unique vision brings to life an Oz which is scary and fun, dark and colorful. There are even parts in the film which feels like Army of Darkness where Ash begins planning the defense of the castle.

Cinematography and camera movement works for this film. The fluid motion of the camera and the wide shots brings a Raimi-style look at things. And the 3D works for it. This film was really made to be 3D and it isn’t an eyesore. The 3D brings the already bright colors to an even brighter state and the scares will literally pop out.

One of the reasons the film works is because of the cast. James Franco brings his cool and unique take on the wizard/con-man. There may be some times that he might have been overshadowed by the rest of the cast, but Franco manages to rise up and take the wizard of Oz to a new level. As for the lovely witches, Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz and Michelle Williams brings their A game to the film. Each brings their unique take on the characters and manages to shine individually in the film. Probably one of the characters that probably got everyone’s attention is the China Girl voiced by Joey King. She first comes out to us with her fragile frame and then she begins to show her tough side. And she is funny. Aside from the flying monkey, China Girl racks up a lot of laughs in the film.

The story is simple and creative. It goes to a path where it would be easy to make more prequels before ending in the original Wizard of Oz. it may start a bit boring but it catches up fast. Joining the story is the great special effects which brought a lot of characters to life as well as brought the wonderful world of Oz come to life once again on screen.

Oz the Great and Powerful is a film that will be enjoyed by a lot of people. Especially those who would want to visit the world of Oz again. Kids and new comers to the tale will greatly appreciate the story and the way it is told. It is funny, thrilling, magical and entertaining. Oz the Great and Powerful lives up to its name. I give it 7 out of 10.

Iron Man 3 International Trailer

Here is the full length international trailer for the highly anticipated Iron Man 3.

Jack the Giant Slayer Movie Review

Jack the Giant Slayer is a re-imagining of the classic fairytale Jack and the Beanstalk. The concept is good but the film lacks the adventure power as most films like this.

The hero of the film is of course Jack, a farm boy who goes out to save the princess from the land of giants. I really enjoyed the concept about how the beans came to be and how the giants and their land were introduced. But it was the human factors of the film which got it in a bit of trouble.

The titular character Jack seems to lack the hero factor. The film doesn’t give Jack enough screen time nor should I say time to shine. He seems to play along with the rest of the cast and not making him standout. One character that stood out was the one played by Stanley Tucci. His presence alone demanded attention. He may have been one of the villains in the film, but he still managed to show that he was a force to be reckoned with.

This film’s storytelling is just like a fairytale. It starts subtle then erupts into thrills and adventure. Director Bryan Singer knows how to deliver this type of film to a younger audience. He managed to showcase not just the actors playing the humans, but the voice actors and motion capture actors as well. Bill Nighy just has that voice that fits in a giant body. Even though he was CGI, he still manages to show that his character is to be feared and respected.

Jack the Giant Slayer is a film focused more on the giants than Jack. Still, it is quite a ride. I can imagine kids and parents shouting while watching this film in 3D. It may have some dull moments but it makes up for the fun parts. And I really liked the end part of the film.

Jack the Giant Slayer is a film that will not be liked by everyone. It is CGI heavy but it works for the film. Acting may not be that good but it still works for the film’s benefit. It is a classic tale retrofitted for the 3D audience. it is a movie for the kids and the kids at heart and it delivers on the giants getting slayed by Jack but don’t quite deliver a Jack worth remembering. I give it 7 out of 10.

Oblivion

Check out the third trailer for the highly anticipated Tom Cruise film Oblivion. Also in the film are Morgan Freeman and Olga Kurylenko.

A Good Day to Die Hard Movie Review

Detective John McClane is one of cinema’s iconic characters. After a successful four-film run, a fifth installment was made. But this time, it isn’t Die Hard though they are trying to pass it off as a Die Hard Film.

A good Day to Die Hard is the latest installment of the franchise. This time around, McClane goes to Russia to save his son Jack who seems to have gotten himself into a lot of trouble. What John doesn’t know is that his son is a CIA spy. Things go wrong fast like in a Die Hard film but it stops right there.

A Good Day to Die Hard is an action film not worthy of the Die Hard name. It is an action film which happens to have John McClane in it. Don’t get me wrong, the action is exciting especially the car chases but it just didn’t feel like a Die Hard movie. Even John McClane is a little less than John McClane. You can see on screen. In this film, it appears his son has the spotlight even though a Die Hard film is about the dad.

For me, one thing that went wrong with this movie is the story. It has no solid back bone and the villains are not that intimidating of crafty. If you look at the past Die Hard films, the bad guys are smart and ruthless and there main goals are always carried out. McClane then saves the day by stopping them right before they succeed which is what makes Die Hard Die Hard. In this movie, the main villain is not directly introduced. There are twists in who the main villain is which doesn’t work in the Die Hard series. As we all know, McClane always has a chat with the main villains. He exchanges wit and the occasional jokes which add to the excitement of the film. And he gets to kill them personally. But in this film, there is no chat and he doesn’t kill the main villain directly.

The location of the film is also a reason why the film is bad. In the Die Hard films, McClane gets help from authority figures like the LAPD, LAX Police, NYPD and the FBI. And he can easily work the areas because it is in the US. But in this movie, he is on his own. And it appears he already know how Russia works even though he just arrived a couple of hours before the explosions started. He gets no help aside from his son who doesn’t have those partner characteristics that we saw in the previous Die Hard movies.

A Good Day to Die Hard does not live up to the Die Hard Name. It is an action film which has John McClane but it is not Die Hard. It is just a forgettable action film. I give it 5.5 out of 10.

Warm Bodies Movie Review

When it comes to zombies, Warm Bodies brings a new take on the lore. It is an enjoyable film which brings a mix of romance, bromance and death.

The film is based on a book of the same name and is quite fun to watch. The film brings romance to the world of the undead. I know the undead falling in love is not new. But unlike vampires, zombies don’t look so charming and they smell bad. This film plays with the idea that a walking dead falling for the living.

One of the key factors of what makes Warm Bodies a good film is the humor it brings to the table. The narrator is a zombie and he is talking about his experiences as a zombie. Nicholas Hoult brings a new face of the undead as R. He delivers a new kind of zombie which transitions from being a flesh eater into lover boy. And he delivers the transition well. And he has a unique chemistry Teresa Palmer who plays his love interest. Palmer stands out in a role we are not new to seeing. This time around, she is playing the tough girl with a soft side that his friends rarely see.

Warm Bodies is a romantic film during the “apocalypse” between a zombie and a human. Now that alone should spark some curiosity. It is not like Twilight where the relationship is known to a small group of people while the rest of the world remains oblivious of their existence. In Warm Bodies, the rest of the world is a community hiding behind huge walls while the zombies try to eat their brains. So what romance could blossom in this environment? Even if it is very unlikely to ever happen in zombie lore, it’s what makes the movie work. The romances between the two are sort of like the Twilight romance but with less talk and more on the mushy and eye-talk kind. Though some might find it a bit dragging, the flow is just right for the film. One thing missing from this zombie film is the gore. I know it’s a romance film but they should have at least shot a scene where there are some bloody encounters with the undead just to give homage to the zombie lore.

Warm Bodies is not a film for all ages. Some may like it, like the teens, while some may not. Still, it is a film which is well developed and delivered. It is a zombie film with a huge twist. It is a love story that really breaks borders. I give it 7 out of 10.