• 29Jul 08

  Hard to believe in 'X-Files'

  If the truth really is out there, it's a cold feeling for "X-Files" fans.
  
  The truth is the franchise died six years ago when the final episode aired in 2002. Don't be fooled by the latest offering, "The X-Files: I Want to Believe," it's only a shell of its former self.
  
  I wanted to believe in Chris Carter, the film's director and series creator. I wanted to believe the movie would return the franchise to its former glory and pave the way for a final resolution to the alien invasion mythos. Instead, it's nothing more than a mystery-of-the-week story that feels like an extended episode. Only, instead of having the suspense, the terror and the appeal of the original series, "I Want to Believe" drags on to an anti-climatic ending with little resolution and ham-fisted story telling.
  
  The movie's story picks up six years after the final episode of the series. Former special agent Dana Scully is working as a doctor in a Catholic hospital while her ex-partner, Fox Mulder, has gone into hiding. The FBI is investigating the disappearance of an agent with the help of a former Catholic priest, Father Joe, a convicted pedophile who claims a psychic connection to the missing victim.
  
  Skepticism of Father Joe leads the FBI to seek out Mulder for his beliefs in the paranormal. Mulder's continued guilt over the loss of his sister compels him to join the hunt for the missing agent, even with Scully's protests.
  
  The duo's relationship is strained even more by a young patient Scully is treating. The patient has a rare brain disease that's untreatable by conventional methods. The only option is a series of painful operations with stem cells, which the hospital balks at. Scully refuses to stop believing she can save the child while Mulder refuses to stop believing he can find the missing agent and vindicate Father Joe.
  
  In a sense, the entire movie is a reflection of the title: "I Want to Believe." Both Mulder and Scully want to believe the course of action they are taking is the correct one, despite all opposition. And while it would make a compelling theme for a single hour-long episode, the viewer is hit over the head again and again.
  
  "I Want to Believe" has a few problems, but there's nothing too detrimental to the experience. However, it's greatest strength is its greatest weakness. Many people, including myself, have great expectations of quality for the "X-Files" franchise when it pairs David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson with Carter. Six years after a cliffhanger ending to one of the greatest shows to ever grace television, I expected more from an "X-Files" movie than a 105-minute soul search with commentary on faith in general, which is what "I Want to Believe" supplies.
  
  The acting and direction are both solid and the dialogue is the same quality one could expect from "The X-Files." But the mystery, the suspense and especially the supernatural are all missing. If you replaced Mulder and Scully with different characters, no one could ever tell the movie was intended to be an "X-Files" film. It lacks any of the feeling of the series. Instead, it feels like a fan-fiction piece thrown together at the last minute to satisfy those of us who have clamoring for a sequel. It's a by-the-book noir mystery without the noir or misdirection. Even the famous music theme from the television show has been replaced with an upbeat remix.
  
  Carter wanted to make a movie that was seperate from the mythos so newcomers wouldn't get confused. In fact, the movie has no connection with the series at all with the exception of Mulder and Scully and the cameo appearance of an old character from the show. There is one thing Carter succeeded at doing: he made a movie so bland that only "X-Files" fans would like because of the title and the characters, while somehow alienating many fans of the show who were wanting something with more substance.

  • Posted Jul 29, 2008 9:08 am GMT
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• 21May 08

  Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Review

  Was able to snag tickets to the press screening last night. After an hour-and-a-half of sitting and waiting, the curtains were pulled back. And when the LucasArts emblem came up on the screen, I knew I was in for something special.

  It's been nearly 20 years in the making, but the man in the fedora is back.

  An aged Harrison Ford returns to the role that made him a Hollywood icon in "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull." This time, instead of hunting for ancient religious artifacts and fighting Nazis, Indy faces a new enemy, a red enemy.

  The world has progressed 19 years since Indiana drank from the Holy Grail. World War II has come and gone and the country is in the grips of the Red Scare. Much like the Nazis of old, the Russians are looking for a supernatural source of power to help them rule the world. The plot of the "Indiana Jones" movies have never veered too far from the 1930s pulp storylines they were originally based on.

  The artifact, an in-human-shaped crystal skull, isn't as interesting as the Ark of the Covenant or the Holy Grail, but it still provides enough mystery to keep the movie progressing at a steady pace.

  
  Shia LaBeouf enters this picture as Mutt Williams, a greaser who's searching for Indy to rescue his mother from the Russians. This is LaBeouf's strongest performance yet in his career and proves that he can act in a character beyond the stereotypical teenager that he's played in movies like "Transformers" and "Disturbia." The chemistry between LaBeouf and Ford on screen is similar to the interaction between Ford and Sean Connery in "The Last Crusade."

  The globe-trotting action is still some of the best in Hollywood. And even in his twilight years, Indy can throw a mean punch. Perhaps the best thing about the movie is how he still handles himself, like on his previous adventures, but still shows his age. He feels more human than in the previous films, even when flying through the desert in a led-plated refrigerator.

  Most of the humor comes from Indy's age and his previous experiences during the war. At some parts of the movie, it feels a little too heavy-handed and too tongue-in-cheek. Mutt constantly pokes fun at Indy's age, often calling him "grandpa" and "old man." And Indy answers back, still trying to prove to himself that he hasn't gone over the hill yet.

  But in fact, "Indiana Jones" has gone over the hill. "Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" just lacked that little charm that the previous three movies had, perhaps, because it's been nearly 20 years since we've seen an "Indiana Jones" film on the big screen. It was great to see Ford don the fedora and the whip one last time. But he should hang them up and look back on the legacy that changed the adventure genre forever. There's nothing more to prove and no more adventures to go on without feeling forced and appearing to milk the franchise.

  Even so, the movie is excellent due to the breath-taking action scenes and the great performances from the entire cast, including a returning Karen Allen as Marion Ravenwood. The cinematography is beautiful and it looks just like an "Indiana Jones" film, even with the technical advances in modern film. Spielberg was able to capture the feel of the previous films and make one last great send-off for the famous archaeologist.

  • Posted May 21, 2008 9:58 am GMT
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• 6May 08

  What the hell is going on?

  I decided against better judgment and went to see Iron Man with some friends of mine on opening night. It was probably the first time I had ever seen a theater so packed. There was literally no seat available in the entire room, and that's saying a lot considering its size. People were elbow-to-elbow, crammed in like school kids on a bus. Everyone was chattering back and forth, talking about their days and what their plans were for the weekend.

  Like normal, there was a slideshow of trivia and other random blurbs on the screen with horrible "Movie Tunes" playing in the background that absolutely no one cared about or even bothered to listen to. Everything seemed like it was normal for an opening-night movie of such high anticipation.

  The movie was scheduled to start at 7 p.m. Of course, by today's standards, that's when the commercials, before the movie trailers before the actual movie, begin. Around 6:45 p.m., the slideshow stopped and Chips Ahoy commercials started playing. There were three of those back-to-back, a couple insurance commercials and a couple coke commercials. I thought my watch was wrong and the movie had started early, but I was wrong.

  The commercials lasted until 7:05 p.m. and that's when the normal commercials started playing. You know, the National Guard and Marines and the Coke fan movie. So around 7:20 p.m., the movie trailers started playing. There were only four trailers showed before the movie began at 7:35 p.m. So we have about 10 minutes of movie trailers and more than 30 minutes of commercials.

  I leaned over and looked at my friend, Chris, who was sitting two seats down and at the same time, we both said it was like watching a movie at home. It was rather ammusing, but somewhat pitiful. We didn't mind it too much at first because we were still hyped about seeing Iron Man, so as long as we got to see the movie, the commercials didn't bother us.

  But, after leaving the theater, I noticed ticket prices had jumped a dollar since I last went to the movie. The last movie I saw at the theater was Doomsday, and that was back in March. So in two months, ticket prices have jumped a dollar, popcorn prices had jumped 50 cents and it cost me four dollars to get a Dr. Pepper from the concession stand.

  I get my tickets free to the theater, so the prices don't bother me as far as my wallet goes. But the principal of the whole situation is appalling. Tickets were $10 for adults and $8 for children and seniors. I know, compared to some places, that's not a whole loto of money compared to other theaters. But it's still pretty expensive. If a family of four with two parents and two children, goes to a movie, they're looking at $36 to get into the door. Drinks for everyone would run $16 Get popcorn and you're looking at another $7. So, you might as well say you're paying $60 for a family of four to go to the movies.

  I remember seeing Jurassic Park at midnight and Dad only paid $2 for him and I to get in and $5 for a large popcorn and two large drinks. My how things have changed over the past 15 years. And the worst thing is, we didn't have commercials in front of our movies. We had the coming attractions, but that was it.

  Someone explain to me why people are paying MORE money than ever before and are still having to sit through commercials like they were watching a movie on TNT at home. I understand the movie studios get the majority of the cut and the theaters themselves have to charge outrageous prices for their refreshments to break-even and profit, but there's still no excuse for the insane amount of commercials in front of movies.

  When I can buy Cloverfield for $15 and watch it as many times as I want on a 52in HDTV with digital surround sound that rivals anything in the theater, why should I bother going to see it at the theater? I've watched Cloverfield three times since I picked it up on DVD and I enjoy it every time.

  With home theater systems becoming so affordable and home video prices staying fairly low, it's no wonder people aren't going to the movies as much as they used to. The ultimate reason people used to go to the movies was because it was cheap. Now, it's more expensive than eating a fine meal at a restaurant. A family of four can take that money and buy an Xbox 360/Playstation 3 game with it if they wanted or buy at least three DVDs.

  And now, we have television commercials pushed on us. There's no point in going to the theater anymore it seems unless you want the "theatrical experience."

  • Posted May 6, 2008 8:13 am GMT
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