Summer Review #1 -- Iron Man 3

The summer blockbuster season kicks off this year with the third entry in the successful Marvel franchise, and the film turns out to be quite the curio. While still chock-full of elements that made the first two films so popular, it also grapples with aspects that go beyond the audience's ability to suspend disbelief.   

**THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS**

Following the events of The Avengers, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) is laying low and further developing his techno empire while becoming a bit detached from girlfriend Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow). Pepper herself is approached with a business opportunity by scientist Aldrich Killian (Guy Pearce), whose company had bought Extremis, a regenerative treatment invented by researcher Maya Hansen (Rebecca Hall). At the same time, there is a new threat on the horizon in the form of the Mandarin (Ben Kingsley), a terrorist whose plan is to eventually murder the president. When someone from Stark's inner circle gets hurt in a Mandarin attack, the intrepid hero vows revenge...

The film is at its best when its dips into Stark's sardonic, self-deprecating sense of humor, as well as its bag of high-tech tricks and inside jokes. I loved all of the Avengers references; on that note, make sure you stay for the trademark post-credits scene. The entire Extremis element does work, but occasionally takes the film into Universal Soldier territory, sacrificing story for the sake of loud and flashy combat sequences. I understand that it is one of the most popular storylines from the comic books, but its raw brutality seems too violent for this type of film. Loki committing supernatural atrocities to achieve world domination and Magneto recruiting mutants for his Brotherhood is typical Marvel mayhem; the kind of intensity involving warmongering and super soldiers does not really fit the easygoing fantasy tone of these works. Still, the Extremis subplot uses its potential to the maximum, weaving its way into some good twists and raising the stakes for the characters.

Technically, the film is a superb achievement. It is one of those films that need to be seen in 3D, simply because you will not get to experience the fun fully without the added dimension. Among other spectacular moments, the Malibu mansion attack and the Air Force One sequence are going to take your breath away. The effects are excellent and often better than the story itself. The only detail I was NOT on board with is a detail ripped off from The Terminator, which made me shake my head at the screen. This entire sequence could have been executed in another manner. There is no reason to go after the classics.   

As for the cast, let us get this out of the way -- the talent overshadows the material at times. That said, Downey Jr. is the standout as always. The whole series lives and dies with him and, by now, the man truly is Iron Man. He is one of those versatile actors that make acting look easy, when it is anything but. He shares a sexy, playful chemistry with Paltrow, whose Pepper has evolved from a witty supporting player to a self-aware woman, one that is far from being a pushover. Kingsley is great as the ruthless and rather eloquent Mandarin, while Pearce simmers with megalomania as Killian and Don Cheadle is quietly reliable as Colonel Rhodes. Hall is a fantastic actress, but does not get a chance to shine here, since Maya seems to be present merely for the sake of linking certain parts of the tale together. On the other hand, James Badge Dale, who had a terrific presence in Shame, is viciously impressive as henchman Eric Savin. Finally, Ty Simpkins is a delight as Harley, a precocious whiz kid helping Stark out.

Iron Man 3 is not confused about its plot like the second film was, but it is not as cerebral as the first one was, either. It is an entertaining film that boasts clever twists and turns, but one that could have benefited from paying more attention to its human factor. If a fourth entry ever gets made, I hope that it leans more toward the brain and less toward the brawn. For now, I am looking forward to see where The Avengers 2 takes Stark and his alter ego.

7/10

Weekly Review -- Love on the run

Safe Haven (2013) -- One does not watch a film like Safe Haven, based on schmaltzmeister Nicholas Sparks' novel, for game-changing thrills. I thought I would give it a chance, since I had heard about some ingenuous story twists and because I occasionally like lighthearted fare. The verdict? Watchable, but far from captivating.

**THIS REVIEW CONTAINS HUGE SPOILERS**

Katie (Julianne Hough) settles in Southport, North Carolina after a violent incident. Soon she starts a relationship with local shop owner Ryan (Josh Duhamel) and a friendship with a neighbor (Cobie Smulders). With every second of every day, however, the past threatens to catch up. Can Katie reconcile her past with her future?

While the problem with Safe Haven is -- as expected -- its sheer predictability, the film takes it a step further. We do not expect too much innovation from a story like this one, but we do not expect a copy of a better film, either. With the exception of a few aspects, Safe Haven mirrors Sleeping with the Enemy to a T. Sure, this piece focuses more on the loved up presence than the tumultuous past, but the two are still remarkably similar. Resourceful protagonist, abusive husband, dewy-eyed lover, friendly small town -- they are all here. There were moments when I was shaking my head, knowing that I had already seen the events unfolding on screen. Even director Lasse Hallström, who gave us the wonderful Chocolat and the underrated An Unfinished Life, gets lost in the replica. As for the twists, they seem to be typical Sparks. This quality might not be so bad if they did not appear tacked on, as though they were there to remind us that we are not watching Enemy. These elements make me fail to see the point of the film. I do not know if the novel is any different, but I certainly hope so, since the 1991 thriller is also based on one.

There are so many plot holes, it is difficult to count them all. How can Kevin utilize police resources for false pretenses and not get caught immediately? Does no one notice Katie's mug shot in the police precinct until Ryan comes along? The biggest one, though, has to be a moment in a sequence toward the end. After Katie finishes talking to Kevin and before the fire starts, she does not take Ryan's daughter and run, like we logically expect her to do. Why on Earth not? What is she waiting for? It is an absurd turn, particularly considering that she is deathly afraid of Kevin and is aware of how dangerous and irrational he can be.

The performances are definitely not what makes the film. Hough does a decent job, with her stand-out scenes showing Katie left to her own devices. While her craft needs fine-tuning, she is capable of portraying vulnerability through a kind of innocence and is an appealing presence. As for Duhamel, I have never considered him to be charismatic enough to be a leading man. He is an okay performer and is likeable enough, but barely offers any substance. The pair do have a chemistry, but no fervor in their connection. David Lyons does little of worth as the husband, his performance bringing forth yet another inevitable Sleeping with the Enemy comparison. While Patrick Bergin found complex layers in a controlling monster hiding behind a charm facade, Lyons merely sulks and skulks, breaking things and whining around. His character is not menacing, but irritating, and one cannot wait for the story to get rid of him.

Safe Haven is a film that one picks out to watch on a rainy day, with no expectations and with no other cinematic choices. You will not love it, but you will not dislike it, either; you will only want to move on. Just make sure to watch Sleeping with the Enemy, if you have not seen it already. While not perfect, it is a far superior thriller, with a much more believable romance and an expertly fleshed out villain.

5/10

Trailerblazing -- Gravity

Gravity -- October 4, 2013 -- directed by Alfonso Cuarón -- starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney

While the science fiction genre has given us some incredible films in the past decade -- Children of Men, District 9, Avatar, Inception -- we have not seen this kind of stripped-down piece in a long time. Science fiction has been lacking an element of otherworldly mystery lately, so if a story consists of two people battling the infinity of space, I would say it was a welcome addition to the canon. This film also looks like it could be dipping into different terrains. The thrills and drama seem to be intertwining with the type of isolation-laden suspense that Kubrick's 2001 had boasted. Technology is one of our adversaries, but space is the ultimate one. As far as the casting goes, I am excited to see Bullock and Clooney in roles that are very different from their usual choices. On a final note, if any contemporary filmmaker can create visual and thematic calamity, it is Cuarón. Please see Children of Men for definitive proof. I am looking forward to October.

Weekly Review -- Being suckered... I mean, sequeled

Grave Encounters 2 (2012) -- The state of today's horror films seems to be in direct proportion to a steep decline in the audiences' attention span. For every Paranormal Activity and The Strangers, there pops up a decidedly less brilliant Hostel and The Collector, as well as numerous sequels that try to capitalize on any innovative original's success. In the case of the Vicious Brothers' Grave Encounters 2, the film is a repeat of the first one's shenanigans, with some meta elements thrown in for laughs.

Student Alex Wright (Richard Harmon) is obsessively poring over every sequence of Grave Encounters in order to prove to his friends that the film is far from fiction. One day he gets a message from a blogger named Death Awaits, indicating that Sean Rogerson -- the lead actor from the original -- is still stuck in the ominous tunnels of the abandoned Collingwood Psychiatric Hospital. With his friends in tow, Alex travels to the asylum, where they soon discover that you should be careful what you wish for... 

The first film was what one would possibly get if one threw The Blair Witch Project, Paranormal Activity and House on Haunted Hill into a big cinematic blender and hoped that their experiment might result in a tasty concoction. It sort of did, actually. Although slightly derivative, the first one was a fun ride, boasting some cool scares in the context of a chilling ambiance. We do not find that kind of escapist vibe here, though. The references to the previous story are quite unique and the reality-versus-fiction concept is amusing, but that is where the efforts end. First of all, the film cheats its audience by using too many cheap scares, courtesy of the original blaring through the characters' iPads. Seriously, guys? Never have I seen a sequel that borrows its scares -- quite literally at that -- from the original. Second of all, if you want plot holes, you are in the right place. If the principal character had been such a connoisseur, he and his friends would not have done the exact same things that Lance Preston's crew had done. Why not stand next to the window? Why not split into groups? Oh, look, EXIT means NO EXIT! For crying out loud, this entire quest is predicated on the fact that these characters have seen the first film. In this sense, the sequel is one gigantic plot hole in itself. I am surprised that the hospital did not swallow it whole.

There really is no point in talking about the cast and the acting. While Grave Encounters used its reality show crew as the audience's eyes, enhancing the story through the team's reactions, the second one simply uses its actors as props to show the ghosties. Anyone could have filmed the "footage" and anyone could have been stuck in those tunnels for ten years. Harmon does all right as Alex, alternating between smug hipster and smug know-it-all, but the rest of the cast is truly interchangeable.

You will like Grave Encounters 2 if you are a die-hard fan of the original. You will not like it if you are looking for a sequel that expands upon the story's mythology, which is what it should have done. Had I wanted more of the same, I would have re-watched Grave Encounters. Repetitions and cheap thrills are not the way to respect a built-in audience, just like watching a different franchise entry is not supposed to bring us back to the same old spot.

5/10