Stalker

Stalker
(1979) [Trailer]
Director: Andrei Tarkovsky [IMDB]

This is considered a classic in Russian cinema and now that we're out of the Cold War you can watch it and not have to worry about being labeled a communist. I really admire Tarkovsky's Solaris and in my opinion it's groundbreaking in terms of science fiction. So needless to say I was pretty excited to sit down with this and check it out.

Synopsis: In a weird run down dystopian future, two men hire a stalker to take them into a secret area called the zone.

This film is extremely slow and pretty uneventful, I don't necessarily know if that's bad or not. Stalker is not really sci-fi in terms of special effects, but more in its story; actually, there are zero special effects and in their place are some of the most captivating landscapes and locations I've seen filmed. In fact, that's Stalkers greatest strength: the visuals, especially the cinematography. It's filmed in all these dilapidated sites which look like they were hit with an A Bomb and then left for ruin... it's extremely interesting. Unfortunately for me, the rest of the film tends to drag on and the story isn't very fulfilling. I would still recommend it just for the experience, a lot of it was like watching pieces of art on a canvas... except the canvas was my 52 inch TV.

The Master

The Master
(2012) [Trailer]
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson [IMDB]

I will start off quickly by saying this was one of my most anticipated films of 2012. I truly enjoy the work of PT Anderson and based off the limited info I allowed myself to see about this... I knew it was going to be a pleaser.

Synopsis: Joaquin Phoenix is a young impressionable man who falls into a new religion called The Cause led by Phillip Seymour Hoffman.

My wife and I had a nice little discussion about this film on the way home from seeing it tonight. She says, "I felt like I was expecting something that never happened." I smacked her across face because I didn't agree and she needed to be taught a lesson. No... I didn't do that, because I'm not an asshole and respect people, even if I don't agree with them. Honestly, I could see how she would think that.

The Master takes a very non-traditional route in term of story telling. It doesn't have a climax really and it doesn't have a huge ending, but I don't think that matters and I think that was the director's intent... at least I hope. I will tell you now, if you're looking for a straight forward narrative and an easy to follow story... you're gonna have a bad time.

I think The Master does a wonderful job at looking at religion and where it begins and who decides to follow it... and why they do. Some people "drink the Kool-Aid" and some do not I guess. The Master is also a character study on a man who comes in and out of that experience... that experience being religion.

The Master excels primarily in a few areas. Mainly the acting, it's about as good as it gets. Hoffman, Phoenix, and Adams all deserve some award that will make them feel good about themselves. The cinematography is also top notch and the score by Johnny Greenwood is fantastic.

I was really happy with the outcome here and while it's not for everyone, it's for me.

Die Hard Anthology

Yippie kay yay motherfucker.

Die Hard

(1988) [Trailer]

Director: John McTiernan [IMDB]

Synopsis: John McClane is a cop on vacation in LA and trying to patch shit up with his wife. Terrorist decide to take over her office building and McClane is the only thing standing between them and 72 virgins.... I'm kidding they're not those kind of terrorist... they are the kind that want money.

This film is wonderful and about as easy to watch as you can get. If you sit through this and don't think Bruce Willis is the coolest, you're an idiot and I hate your stupid face... okay I don't hate your face, you're entitled to your opinions and I respect that. It's well paced and the action is superb without being too over the top (well maybe with the exception of the rooftop explosion scene.) It's also really funny, even though I wouldn't categorize it as a comedy, but I find myself laughing a lot throughout it's run time. I love this film and would say it's up there as one of my favorite action films ever.

Die Hard 2
(1990) [Trailer]
Director: Renny Harlin [IMDB]

Synopsis: This time McClane has to try and stop terrorists from taking over Dulles International Airport.

Leave it to Renny Harlin to take a perfectly good franchise and run it into the ground. This movie sucks. I can't put it any other way. It just misfires for me in so many places and feels wrong. It's like me trying to fit into an old t-shirt I wore back in highschool when I skinny, it's just awkward. Okay, so I'm exaggerating... I'm not fat... but just imagine I am. Everything that worked in the first movie is gone here. The claustrophobia and tension are out the door, and now you get McClane running around an airport while planes are trying to land... dont they realize BWI and Reagan National Airport aren't too far away. I think Bruce Willis is the only saving grace of this movie for me, he owns the role and at least that came through a little. Very disappointed in this.

Die Hard: With a Vengeance
(1995) [Trailer]
Director: John McTiernan [IMDB]

Synopsis: Bruce Willis is joined by Samuel L Jackson to stop terrorists from blowing up different parts of NYC.

McTiernan is back to save the day and bring this Die Hard train back  onto the rails. I really enjoy the addition of Samuel L Jackson, I think most people are either gonna like him or hate him in this. I think their chemistry works and that's why this film is successful for me. The action and suspense are much more ramped up then part 2 as well, so it's a nice return to form. The only down side for me is the ending seemed a bit stretched out and overly involved. Still, it's a good time and comes in at number two for me.

Live Free or Die Hard
(2007) [Trailer]
Director: Len Wiseman [IMDB]

Synopsis: Bruce Willis and the Mac guy take on a team of super hackers looking to overthrow the government.

This is a bit of a snooze fest for me. The story line was uninteresting and seemed like the wrong fit for a Die Hard movie. My co-worker brought up a great point... if this was just released as a normal Bruce Willis action film, it would have probably been better received. Regardless, it's still a bit absurd, unbelievable and I'd totally pass on it if I were you.

  

John Badham Double Feature - WarGames and Short Circuit

I feel like I start off a lot of reviews like this, but WarGames and Short Circuit were some of my favorite films as a youth. In a lot of ways Williams Film Review is a reflection back to my childhood more than anything. Steven Spielberg and Joe Dante are like uncles and I'm going back and recalling fond memories with them. If I take that approach with this blog, then John Badham would be like that drunken friend of the family that you remembered as a kid, but then your parents stop inviting over because he got belligerent and broke shit all the time. He had a few hits in the 80's but after that... nothing.

WarGames
(1983) [Trailer]
Director: John Badham (IMDB)

Synopsis: A computer nerd hacks into a secret government super computer and accidentally starts up a game of global thermonuclear war.

WarGames is pretty entertaining and I get that same feeling watching this that I get when I pop on movies like Gremlins or E.T. I really liked Matthew Broderick in this and in my opinion it's one of his best performances, he just seems very realistic and fitted the role perfectly. The pacing in this film is smooth and I never felt bored at any moment.

It just got it's blu-ray release this week and I gotta say it looks fantastic... go ahead and give it a watch... You'll thank me later.

Short Circuit
(1986) [Trailer]
Director: John Badham (IMDB)

Synopsis: Number 5 is a robot that comes to life after getting struck by lighting.

This movie is exactly as I remember it. One thing I didn't remember is how bad everyones acting is, especially Ally Sheedy. I don't know if it was her character or not but she seemed borderline retarded. If I were Indian I would imagine the sidekick of Steve Guttenberg would be pretty annoying. Number 5 is the best thing about this film obviously, he still looks cool and is lovable I suppose.

Just like WarGames this looks great on blu and is fun to watch... so do that.