Happy holidays!

I wish you an amazing holiday season, full of good cheer! Happy 2015! 

Trailerblazing -- Insurgent

Insurgent -- March 20, 2015 -- directed by Robert Schwentke -- starring Shailene Woodley, Ansel Elgort, Theo James, Kate Winslet, Naomi Watts 

After Divergent's huge success, the hotly anticipated sequel only looks to increase the stakes for the characters and excitement for audiences. The action now moves from Tris and Four fighting within a faction to them joining the factionless, led by a character named Evelyn (Naomi Watts). Based on this trailer, we are in for even more revelations and more strife between Tris and Jeanine, as well as some incredible visuals. I have heard the trilogy fans lament that what we see here does not exactly follow the source material, but I do not believe that the filmmakers would jeopardize the loyalty of the book fans, what with the first film having been so beloved. I do wonder if the plot point about Divergents having special powers/traits is from the book, though, since it seems like a pretty major element. I also wonder about the scene in which Tris is supposed to fight herself, which could change the dynamic for the character if it strays from the novel. As for director Schwentke, he directed last year's disaster R.I.P.D., but also has the intriguing Flightplan on his resume so, with a good screenplay, this effort could be his breakthrough. I was impressed with Divergent and have faith in the filmmakers continuing on the right path, so I am looking forward to Insurgent.

Trailerblazing -- Terminator: Genisys

Terminator: Genisys (2015) -- July 1, 2015 -- directed by Alan Taylor -- starring Emilia Clarke, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jai Courtney, Jason Clarke, Matt Smith

Okay then. This unnecessary reboot makes a mishmash of James Cameron's Terminator timeline. What exactly is happening? A Terminator had raised Sarah Connor? Seriously? Does that twist not change the character's entire reason for being? Where are they going with this? So many questions, so few answers. I am not sure about the mimetic poly-alloy Terminators either, and hope that there is a context in which they are used, rather than representing the 'see, these bad boys look even cooler in 2015' attitude (they do not, by the way). With some scenes that literally copy the original, Genisys already reminds me of the needless shot-for-shot Psycho remake. It kind of, sort of seems the same, but... no. And how young is Sarah supposed to be? She looks like a high school student here and something tells me that this is not the period of her life that the filmmakers were going for. Or maybe they were. Or maybe this film has no point whatsoever. From the silly changes to the pretentious spelling of the title, I just do not see how this whole thing can end well. Pass.

Weekly Review -- In our own image

I, Frankenstein (2014) -- With all things supernatural taking over media, it was only a matter of time before Mary Shelley's classic tale got the big screen reboot, and this Stuart Beattie effort is a mixed bag of tricks. At its worst, the film lacks a depth of narrative and a cohesive script; at its best, it is a hit-and-miss popcorn flick.

Dr. Victor Frankenstein's forsaken creation (Aaron Eckhart) has roamed the Earth in self-imposed exile for 200 years. When he is rescued from a demon attack by a group of gargoyles, their queen (Miranda Otto) explains to him that he is now caught up in a centuries-old war between the two species. At the same time, the demons are about to become aware of the creature's existence, with their prince (Bill Nighy) wishing to study him in order to discover the secret to reviving the dead...

Let us start with the positives. The film looks GORGEOUS. As a sucker for all things dark and Gothic, I pored over every sequence and appreciated the blend of ultra modern technology and Victorian influences. The sets and effects are impressive; I loved the gargoyles' cathedral and those wings. The battle scenes are stunning, particularly the first one between the gargoyles and demons, which must have looked brilliant in 3D. The concept is intriguing, offering a fresh new perspective on the original story. The problem is that it is far from having been well thought out, which brings me to...

... the not-so-good and downright bad stuff. First off, I would have loved to see more of the gargoyle order and hierarchy. Where had they come from? How did they gain such power? How did the conflict start? Their appearance is angel-like and their relationships are intriguing, but this element is brushed aside in favor of other narrative aspects and tons of action. The demons are so two-dimensional that they feel interchangeable with any other supernatural creature. Power suits and over-the-top lines do not a villain make. There is a hint of trouble brewing in their ranks but, again, the surface merely gets scratched. The screenplay feels workmanlike, with lines such as "I thought he was wounded. I wounded him." The entire thing feels as though the filmmakers had wanted to replicate the principles behind the more entertaining Underworld, without putting too much work into it.

The acting leaves a lot to be desired. Eckhart sulks his way through the role, but does get major points for mastering the art of stick fighting, while Yvonne Strahovski does not have much to do except spew out quasi-science terminology and act helpless. Nighy is the best actor in the cast and I wish that we could have seen more of his character's motivation; hell, I wish that he had got a better character to play. The same goes for the fantastic Otto, who tries to find some nuance in the bland writing. On another note, does anyone else want to see Jai Courtney playing any role but the resident hard-ass already? I am not sure if this guy has done genres other than fantasy and action, but he seems to be stuck in them for now. 

Overall, I, Frankenstein feels more like a barely mapped out and barely finished attempt than anything else. I must not be the only one who hates seeing a good idea go to waste and I must not be the only one who hates seeing (admittedly cool) visuals covering up for a half-baked screenplay. The cast deserves better, the writers can do better and we all need better films. Contrary to Frankenstein's brainchild, none of us have 200 years and our lives just happen to be too short for bad cinema.  

5/10