But that's the last review in this post, because I do them alphabetically.
2010
It’s been 12 hours since my request for information. All hell is breaking loose down here, I need a reply. I have enough problems without you pulling some kind of a stunt. I only hope that there’s a world left for you to return to. Report to ground as to what is going on and make that report immediately!
Based on the incredibly awesome holy tome that is Arthur C. Clarke's 2010: Odyssey Two, I never expected this film, which isn't directed by Stanley Kubrick, to match up to its fantastic greatness. Words cannot describe the great beauty that is the book, but words can easily describe this film.
Firstly, everyone knows I have a raging hard-on for the Space Odyssey series. Ever since I saw the first film and read the second book, it's quickly risen to the top of my best SF list. The film of 2010 tries hard to match the epic of the book, and it can be congratulated for that. It falls flat (OF COURSE) but is still not a bad watch.
The book of 2010 had a lot of scenes which required some interesting effects, especially the ending scene where Jupiter explodes and becomes the second Sun, Lucifer. Where Kubrick needed little computer imagery for his masterpiece, whoever directed this film had to use some. This film was made about 40 years after the 2001 film, but its computer effects are lacklustre and glaringly obvious, especially to a 21st-century audience. Thankfully, it's not too bad until the final scene, which is pretty lulzy in regards to how Jupiter's rendered. As this film was made in the 80s, this is understandable, but still awkward.
Computer effects aside, the film's not that accurate. It would have been much better to keep in the Tsien scenes instead of removing them altogether, as it is relevant to the plot and would be much better than the weird shit they put in involving no alien seaweed whatsoever. There're some nice homages to the first film in regards to some shots and the soundtrack, which isn't so bad considering it's not classical. Dr Chandra is also American, which is annoying. No Translation Convention, however, which gets a nod of approval from me: the Russian is clearly painstakingly researched.
The Anvilicious Cold War theme is annoying, and although it does create some interesting plot points and WAFF, it shouldn't be there. Stop sticking your 1980s political themes into my twenty-first century alternate future. Besides, the Cold War is over in Space Odyssey-verse.
Nonetheless, a respectable adaptation of a difficult film to adapt, and worth watching, although don't expect another 2001.
7/10
Image via Wikipedia
Gattaca
For someone who was never meant for this world, I must confess I'm suddenly having a hard time leaving it. Of course, they say every atom in our bodies was once part of a star. Maybe I'm not leaving... maybe I'm going home.
A few years ago, I attended a lecture at a university which discussed themes [I don't remember which] in a few films, primarily Gattaca, of which I had never heard of at the time. Just recently I was able to watch the film, and I must say it is very good.
The underlying theme, to be wary of becoming over-obsessed with genetics and cloning, is very anvilicious, but can be forgiven.
The film revolves around some guy, who always wanted to be an astronaut, but is a 'godchild', someone who was concieved naturally, as opposed to the genetically created babies of the future. This means that not only is his body not fit for the job, but he has several conditions which make him unfit for anything in the elitist world: a 99% chance of developing a heart condition, and myopia (short-sightedness). He's an invalid, meaning that the only job suitable for him is cleaning. Discrimination is, of course, illegal...but nobody cares about that.
Determined, he assumes the identity of another guy in a wheelchair, who is genetically perfect, and frequently borrows samples of blood, urine and other stuff from him in order to pass the routine physicals. It's good. Jude Law steals the show as Guy in a Wheelchair.
8.5/10
Image via Wikipedia
Valkyrie
Do you know how this war will end, lieutenant? The portrait will be unhung, and the man will be hung.
I did not expect much from this film. That's probably why I liked it. Oh, also yummy guys in nazi uniforms. Terence Stamp is awesome as always.
Everyone knows what this is about, so I'll cut to the chase. It was good. Anvilicious, but good. Most of the actors being British, I didn't like, but it turned out well.
Except for the actors playing the Big Four: Hitler, Himmler, Goebbels and Göring (Heß, for some reason, was not in this movie), who looked nothing like the people they were supposed to be imitating, except for Himmler. The only reason I could tell that they were them was that Goebbels was thin and wearing an SA uniform, Göring was fat, and Hitler had the toothbrush moustache. They should have made it a foreign film...
I had to live with my granny, who was confused throughout the entire thing and asked I'm Confused Are These People Germans and SS Stands For Secret Service Doesn't It, and my grandpa, who is a massive conservative/wannabe WWII nut ("Yes, SS stands for Secret Service" [it doesn't]) and thoroughly approved of goddamn everything in this film especially the part about killing Hitler, while watching this movie. So the suspension of disbelief was not there, and I could silently nitpick everything.
This film tries to make an action movie about something that is not action. This was annoying. However, the film wasn't bad, and although bits of it were irritating, I still don't see why everyone hates Tom Cruise. But that's probably only because I've seen about 3 films with him in it, and I liked all of them.
If you want to see hot guys in nazi uniforms, watch this film. Terence Stamp is awesome.
If you want to see a historically-accurate romp through Operation Walküre, watch the other movie, Operation Valkyrie, which came before it.
8/10
