MOVIE OF THE WEEK (6/1/12): SNOW WHITE & THE HUNTSMAN

"Oooh girl ... I'm so about to slap whoever is behind me when I get done looking into this mirror!" Queen Ravenna (Charlize Theron) gazes deeply at her own reflection – and into her soul – in a scene from director Rupert Sanders' very dramatic take on the classic tale of SNOW WHITE & THE HUNTSMAN. Credit: Universal © 2012 Universal Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

KEY CAST MEMBERS: Kristen Stewart, Charlize Theron, Chris Hemsworth, Sam Claflin, Ian McShane, Sam Spruell, Bob Hoskins, Ray Winstone, Nick Frost,Toby Jones, Eddie Marsan and Brian Gleeson

WRITER(S): Evan Daugherty, John Lee Hancock and Hossein Amini

DIRECTOR: Rupert Sanders

WEB SITE: www.snowwhiteandthehuntsman.com

THE PLOT: Offering a very serious, Batman Begins-like tone on a classic childhood fair tale, Snow White & The Huntsman begins by instead introducing us to a different character: Ravenna (Charlize Theron). Once a young lady, we learn that Ravenna is cursed by her mother to be beautiful following the ravaging and destruction of her native land by a king. Ravenna's curse means she will be the fairest lass in all the land forever ... Provided she [1] Always finds a way to infuse herself with the spirit of younger women and [2] No one else alive becomes more fair than her. As long as she can stick to that script, she can use her beauty to manipulate men and overtake their thrones.

And that's exactly what happens when King Magnus (Noah Huntley) meets Ravenna.. (I'm skipping a few details not to give everything away.) There's just one problem ... King Magnus has a daughter: Snow White (Kristen Stewart), who one day might just become the fairest in all the land.

Realizing her threat, Ravenna - who's never without her faithful brother Finn (Sam Spruell) by her side - hires a Huntsman named Eric (Chris Hemsworth) to capture her. Eric the Huntsman knows the Dark Forest better than anyone else, but given the personal struggles that have led him to a dark place of his own as exhibited in his constant intoxicated state.

Now, the chase is on - will the evil Queen Ravenna get what she wants? Will the Huntsman track down the pure Snow White? What will become of William (Sam Clafin), the young duke who spent his childhood days in the kingdom with a young Snow White? And just how in the world do Muir (Bob Hoskins), Gort (Ray Winstone), Duir (Eddie Marsan), Coll (Toby Jones), Nion (Nick Frost), Beith (Ian MacShane), Quert (Johnny Harris) and Gus (Brian Gleeson) all fit into the picture?

You'll have to venture to a land far, far away to find out!

THE TAKE: During the 1980s and far too long into the 1990s, superhero/movies based on fairy tales were, for the most part, hokey. The villains were over the top, had no compelling back story, were insane, rarely had any personality yet very inept; the heroes were just do gooders who either "had been pushed too far" or "had to do the right thing."

Then in the 2000s, for some reason - call it fanboy interview - a light bulb went off and Hollywood said "Hey, would it be such a bad thing if we tried to tell these stories as if they were real people living in this world and not just kid's kitsch?" And in the case of the film with the marketing campaign of "This ain't no fairy tale," Snow White & The Huntsman proves just how good a film can be when everyone involved treats its subject matter with reverence, seriousness and respect for both the source material and the audience watching it.

First things first, Theron shows why she can take any role and make it worthy of award consideration as her depiction of Ravenna is not only everything it should be, but could be as well. The evil queen is equal parts e enchanting, threatening, menacing and yet sympathetic all at the same time under Theron's watch to the point you understand the motivation behind all of her actions, making her on screen presence an undeniable force whenever she is on the screen. Not to be outdone, while Sam Spruell may not be well known to American audiences, the British actor shows his mettle with a very strong performance that shows being a right hand man to a main evil character doesn't mean you can't shine in your role.

That's not to suggest the rest of the cast slacks; in fact, that's far from the case. Love her or hate her, you really can't complain about Stewart's job in portraying Snow White, a "pure" character who avoids becoming a caricature by smartly doing what's necessary to keep things moving, no more and no less. Likewise, Hemsworth pre-Avengers hero training serves him well as the Huntsman, for he can swing a weapon with the best of them and then make sure there's a brain to go with all of his character's brawn, too. Providing good balance are the inspired performances of the actors portraying the aforementioned dwarves, adding good natured, enjoyable humor while at the same time being completely believable assistance in the Huntsman and Snow White's quest.

The best thing about the movie, however, is how well director Rupert Sanders brings everything together. With Sanders at the helm, he proves the old adage of "there are no small parts, only small actors" by incorporating each character into his story well, providing a great mix of harsh, brutal visuals with extremely pleasant ones to convey the dichotomy of the situation and realities in which the characters either thrive and/or barely stay alive. The pacing is swift, the dialogue is fairly snappy and tone is consistent from start to finish. It's nearly perfect ... But then again, considering that Snow White & The Huntsman is intended to be the start of a trilogy, Sanders has plenty of time to make sure the next installment is.

PARTING SHOT: A film that mixes in beautiful, fairy tale like visuals with strong action sequences and solid performances, Snow White & The Huntsman does what Mirror Mirror - this year's other Snow White film - failed to do: Deliver an emotional, entertaining experience that is anything but Grimm ... Except in the last name of its original creators only.

RATING (OUT OF FOUR BUCKETS OF POPCORN):

THIS WEEK'S NEW RELEASES (6/1/2012)

 "You didn't tell me I could have been in Mirror Mirror, too!" Snow White (Kristen Stewart) gets up close and personal with a very scary creature in the Dark Forest in a scene from director Rupert Sanders' non fairy-tale take of SNOW WHITE & THE HUNTSMAN. Credit: Rhythm & Hues/Universal Pictures © 2012 Universal Pictures. SNOW WHITE & THE HUNTSMAN (Universal Pictures)

 

FOR GREATER GLORY (Arc Entertainment)

*EDITOR'S NOTE: All release dates are subject to change.

MOVIE OF THE WEEK (5/25/12): MEN IN BLACK 3

"We're waiting on the third star of this scene to show up ... Who's this guy in the green jacket?!" Agent K (Josh Brolin, playing the younger version of the character also portrayed by Tommy Lee Jones), Griff (Michael Sthulbarg, center) and Agent J (Will Smith) look towards the sky in a scene from director Barry Sonnenfeld's alien-inducted family comedy MEN IN BLACK 3. Credit: Wilson Webb © 2011 Screen Columbia Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

KEY CAST MEMBERS: Will Smith, Josh Brolin, Tommy Lee Jones, Emma Thompson, Michael Stuhlbar, Jermaine Clement, Michael Chernus, Alice Eve ... And about 5 minutes of Nicole Scherzinger

WRITER(S): Ethan Cohen (screenplay); Lowell Cunningham (comic on which the film is based) 

DIRECTOR: Barry Sonnenfeld 

WEB SITE: http://www.meninblack.com/ 

THE PLOT: Not picking up where the last film left off, Men in Black 3 instead begins on the moon where the Lunar Max prison houses the biggest, baddest aliens throughout the galaxy. That's where Bruno (Jermaine Clement), "The Animal," has been living for the last 40 years and needless to say, he's not happy about it. That's why when Bruno escapes, he has one thing and one thing only on his mind: Taking out the man responsible for his incarceration and the reason his left arm is missing – Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones).

But he doesn't plan on killing K now ... Instead, he plans paying a visit to a man in New York City who can help him go back to 1969 and stop him from ever going to jail by killing K at Cape Canaveral where it all went down.

Fast forward a bit and Agent J (Will Smith) wakes up to discover no one has seen his partner in years ... 40 years, to be exact. That prompts him to take matters into his own hands and find the same man (Michael Chernus) who helped Boris go back in time and stop him before he can take out K.

Then Agent J arrives and does the one thing he's not supposed to do: Run into the younger version of his partner (Josh Brolin), then just 29. After a rocky start, J convinces the younger K that they have to stop Boris ... Who, further complicating matters, also has the younger version of himself running around. 

So the question remains – Can Agents J and K work together, defeat Boris and save the world? Only time will truly tell ...

THE TAKE: Remember what made the first two MIB movies fun? It was the chemistry between Jones and Smith, taking every single angle of the buddy cop movie and making them feel fresh, delivering good jokes and generally being likable guys.

Well, MIB3 has the exact same thing, except this time it's Brolin taking the majority of the camera time ... And the chemistry he shares with Smith is just as good if not better.  

Owning a resume most actors would kill for, Smith is fairly smart when it comes to picking his projects. Likewise, he knows when to lead a movie and when to defer to another actor just as well as he knows how to be the suave, in control star he usually is in just about every role. But Smith isn't the actor you'll likely be talking about the most as Brolin does a great job so that his portrayal of Agent K isn't just an imitation, but instead becomes his own. 

The film's lesser known stars aren't to be outdone, however. While Thompson really isn't given too much to do – save for one very funny scene I would love to known how many takes it took her to get through without busting out laughing given its ridiculous nature – Clement does a solid job as Boris. A villain with a cartoonish nature but deadly serious about his self-appointed task, Boris is everything the film needs him to be. Likewise, the relatively unknown Michael Sthulbarg (Boardwalk Empire) does a great job as the film's subtle heart Griffin a.k.a. Griff, providing the childlike yet sincere sensibility that ties everything together in regards to Agent K and Agent Js relationship. Throw in some well done, creative alien special effects and you get a film that, while it likely won't hit Avengers level fandom (or box office receipts), is a solid film longstanding fans of the series will enjoy just as much as new ones.

PARTING SHOT: A rare sequel that helps move its characters' forward – by going back in time nonetheless – Men in Black 3 is a near four star film ... Or in this case, nearly four buckets of popcorn.

RATING (OUT OF FOUR BUCKETS OF POPCORN):

THIS WEEK'S NEW RELEASES (5/25/12)

 "Smile ... We all might die soon!" Natalie (Olivia Taylor Dudley), Chris (Jesse McCartney), Paul (Jonathan Sadowski), Amanda (Devin Kelley), Uri (Dimitri Diatchenko), Michael (Nathan Phillips) and Zoe (Ingrid Bolsø Berdal) smile during happier times in a scene from director Bradley Parker's CHERNOBYL DIARIES. Credit: Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures © 2012 Warner Bros. Pictures.

MEN IN BLACK III (Columbia Pictures)

THE CHERNOBYL DIARIES (Warner Bros.)

SOUND OF MY VOICE (Fox Searchlight)

*EDITOR'S NOTE: All release dates are subject to change.

MOVIE OF THE WEEK #2 (5/18/12): BATTLESHIP

"Quit making Transformers and Independence Day in the water jokes or else we'll REALLY start blowing stuff up!" Alien invaders make their deadly presence known against earth's naval forces in a scene form  BATTLESHIP. Credit: ILM/Universal Pictures © 2012 Universal Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

KEY CAST MEMBERS: Taylor Kitsch, Alexander Skarsgård, Brooklyn Decker, Rihanna, Tadanobu Asano, Liam Neeson, Gregory D. Gadson, Hamish Linklater ... And a whole lotta CGI and special effects

WRITER(S): Jon and Erich Hoeber (screenplay); Hasbro (you know, the company that created the board game this movie is based)

DIRECTOR: Peter Berg

WEB SITE: http://www.battleshipmovie.com/

THE PLOT: Based on the famous (or could that now be infamous) Hasbro board game of the same name, Battleship stars the former John Carter, Taylor Kitsch, as Alex Hopper. Your classic screw-up with tons of potential for greatness, Alex is a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy, where his brother Stone – yes, Stone (Alexander Skarsgård) – is a well-respected commander of the USS Sampson.

That would be fine if Sam (Mrs. Andy Roddick herself, model-turned-actress Brooklyn Decker), a physical therapist currently helping wounded soldiers, were dating Stone. But she’s not. She’s dating Alex, which means if he wants to ask for her hand in marriage, he’s going to have to eventually muster up the courage to talk to her dad, Admiral Shane (Liam Neeson). And of course, Shane just so happens to be the man who has the ability to determine whether or not Alex will still be in the Navy if he keeps screwing up.

Alex does have a chance to prove he’s worthy of both staying in the Navy and Sam’s love at RIMPAC – the Rim of the Pacific Exercise – the world’s largest international maritime exercise. There’s just one little complication …
You see, back in the mid-2000s, scientists discovered a planet very similar to earth – “Planet-G” – that looked as if it could sustain life and water. Thus, they sent out a signal via a base in Hawaii to see if anyone was out there, even though Cal Zapata (Hamish Linklater) has a feeling if there is anyone out there, the result could be like “Cowboys vs. the Native Americans … And we’re the Native Americans.”

Guess what? He was right.

Now, Alex, Stone, Shane, Nogrady – as well as Chief Petty Officer Walter “The Beast” Lynch (John Tui), Petty Officer Cora “Weps” Raikes (Rihanna), Japanese RIMPAC participant Captain Yugi Nagata (Tadanobu Asano), Boatswain Mate Seaman Jimmy “Ordy” Ord (Jesse Plemons) – to try to save the world.

Forget training exercises. They have all set sail on the battle that will determine the fate of mankind as we know it.

THE TAKE: Now, there’s a lot – a LOT – that can be said about Battleship, a.k.a. the film that will likely be nominated for several Razzieswhen the next batch of nominations are announced. But before I bog you down with a detailed analysis of the film, I’m going to tell you the two ways in which I would describe the movie to anyone who truly cares about my opinion and in turn likely help you determine whether or not you wish to still see it.

Battleship can best be described – in terms I’m sure many others have or will have said come this weekend – as [1] Independence Day in the Pacific Ocean or, in a bit more graphic (but no less accurate sense) as a phallus in the form of big, testosterone-filled, nearly uncomfortable-in-its-patriotism boats in search of a orifice to penetrate repeatedly amid a cacophony of AC/DC-style rock songs and explosions.

Quite a description – I know, I wrote it – but that is Battleship in all of its director-Peter-Berg-does-Michael-Bay glory in a nutshell WITHOUT completely insulting your intelligence … And that last part is what salvages the film to a somewhat enjoyable level.

Now, don’t get me wrong. Battleshipis NOT a quote-unquote good movie. Save for the impressive work real-life U.S. Army Colonel Gregory D. Gadson, a battalion leader who lost both legs in Iraq in 2007 making his acting debut as of Lt. Colonel Mick Canales, the acting in Battleship breaks down into one of two categories: [1] Passable/acceptable (Rihanna, Asano, Tui and to a lesser but still acceptable degree, Decker and Kitsch) and [2] Overtly strong-jawed boring or corny (everyone else).

Likewise, the been there, done that plot – aliens discover Earth, Earth gets attacked, humans discover a possible way to defeat them – has been done to death. In fact, I really can’t think of a compelling argument for anyone to see Battleship … Except one.

If you like mindless entertainment – or enjoy how ridiculous watching mindless something that is supposed to be entertaining as I did as long as it doesn’t cross the line into completely insanely stupid (or at least not for more than a few minutes) – Battleshipis enjoyable.

If you expect anything more than what I described above, you’re either crazy or have unrealistic expectations. Then again, who’s to say it can’t be both.

PARTING SHOT: A film that might do for the Navy what Top Gun did for the Air Force, Battleship doesn’t sink … But it is as childhsh as the board game on which it is based.

RATING (OUT OF FOUR BUCKETS OF POPCORN):

THIS WEEK'S NEW RELEASES (5/16-18/12)

"You've seen my stand-up act, man ... You better do your best to keep that baby off 'tha pole when it grows up!" Vic (Chris Rock) offers Alex (Rodrigo Santoro) some encouragement as he handles a newborn as Patel (Amir Talai) and Gale (Rob Huebel, center, behind baby) look on in a scene from director Kirk Jones' comedic take on the longstanding parent book WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU'RE EXPECTING. Credit: Melissa Moseley © 2012 Lionsgate Pictures.

BATTLESHIP (Universal)

THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL (Fox Searchlight)

THE DICTATOR (Paramount Pictures)

MANSOME (Paladin)

WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU'RE EXPECTING (Lionsgate)

DARLING COMPANION (Sony Classics)

*EDITOR'S NOTE: All release dates are subject to change.

MOVIE OF THE WEEK #1 (5/16/12): THE DICTATOR

"This is STILL easier than finding a parking space if you drive through New York City!" Admiral General Aladeen (Sacha Baron Cohen) shows he knows how to make an entrance in a scene from THE DICTATOR. Credit: Melinda Sue Goron © 2012 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

KEY CAST MEMBERS: Sacha Baron Cohen, Anna Faris, Ben Kingsley and Jason Mantzoukas 

WRITER(S): Sacha Baron Cohen, Alec Berg, David Mandel and Jeff Schaffer (screenplay) 

DIRECTOR: Larry Charles

WEB SITE: http://www.republicofwadiya.com/

THE PLOT: Sacha Baron Cohen's first non-documentary style character-based film, The Dictator stars the former Ali G/Borat/Brüno as Admiral General Aladeen, the supreme leader of the fictional northeastern nation of Wadiya. 

Ruthless as he is well, not smart, Aladeen gets summoned to New York City to appear before the United Nations to speak about the nuclear weapons of mass destruction he has refused to let them investigate. But once he's in the Big Apple, Aladeen discovers the reason his trusted second in command, Tamir (Ben Kingsley), really wanted him to go to New York: To assassinate him, replace him with a completely controllable imbecile of a double (also played by Cohen) and sign a new constitution declaring Wadiya a democracy ... And as it just so happens, that democracy will allow Tamir to open petroleum-rich Wadiya up to "Big Oil" for a nice 30 percent finder's fee.

As it so happens, though, Aladeen escapes but finds himself wandering the streets of New York City and inadvertently wanders into a crowd ... That just so happens to be protesting all of the atrocities he holds so dear. That's also where he first meets Zoey, a "love all, peace for all" Earth-loving Whole Foods-style business owning complete with the unshaven physique to match. And as you might expect,  her presence and opinions (like the fact she has any) are quite a shock to the system for our dear dictator.

Luckily for Aladeen, a former employee of his – Nadal (Jason Mantzoukas) – just so happens to be in New York, too. So can he and Aladeen formulate a plan to save his dictatorship and his beloved homeland before they both fall victim to Tamir's scheming? You know where I'm going with this ...

THE TAKE: Up to this point in his career – save for his turn as a French Formula One turned NASCAR driver in Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby and animated work in the Madagascar films – Cohen's TV/film career has consisted of the same thing: Playing an outrageous character who, using his improvisational talents, brings out humor by punking unsuspecting, unaware victims. Be it Ali G. embarrassing politicians, Borat embarrassing unsuspecting Americans and Brüno embarrassing well, just about everyone who crosses his path, Cohen's character assault has rarely been about laughing at himself.

The Dictator, however, proves that while it may not be just as funny as watching him use his talents to make others uncomfortable, Cohen is still humorous when most of the jokes are on him.

Now, fear not, longstanding Cohen fans. You'll still get your occasional hits of political satire throughout The Dictator, they just won't be as frequent. The same can be said for jokes pertaining to sex, cultural fears and out and out general silliness. Unlike most of Cohen's previous works, however, The Dictator spreads the spotlight around a little bit as Mantzoukas does a great job in his role as Smithers to Aladeen's Montgomery Burns-esque out of touch leader. (If you don't watch The Simpsons, I realize that reference is lost on you, but it's really a great comparison.)

Likewise, Farris is great at filling a Zooey Deschanel-like need as the free-spirited Zoey, managing to play the willing straight (wo)man to Aladeen as he makes his way from man child to ... A man child that is a little less juvenile. Of course, some effective cameos (there are a bunch) help keep the comedy-per-minute ratio high and the awkward-on-purpose chemistry between Faris and Cohen's characters works very efficiently.

While nowhere as outlandish as Borat was, the film is also not as "in your face" story-wise or politically as Brüno. One would hate to reduce conversation of The Dictator as the debut of a kinder, gentler Cohen (don't worry – it's not); instead, it might be best to think of it a nice bridge between those who love outrageous, in your face Cohen and watching him stick to a script where the whole experience isn't about making others uncomfortable. Without question, however, it's definitely a different change of pace, but one that may ultimately serve Cohen well since he's a bit too recognizable now to go around making fun of the average American citizen (despite how much he loves it). 

PARTING SHOT: A film that finds Baron Cohen toned down but far from muted in terms of outrageous comedy, The Dictator should appeal to most of the American comedy public, regardless of political affiliation. 

RATING (OUT OF FOUR BUCKETS OF POPCORN):

MOVIE OF THE WEEK (5/11/12): DARK SHADOWS

"I may be dead and over 200 years old ... But I'm still more fashionable than everyone in the 1970s!" Barnabas Collins (Johnny Depp, center, in sunglasses) steps out with the rest of his newfound clan - Victoria Winters (Bella Heathcote), Elizabeth Collins Stoddard (Michelle Pfeiffer), Willie Loomis (Jackie Earle Haley), Carolyn Stoddard (Chloë Grace Moretz), Roger Collins (Jonny Lee Miller) and David Collins (Gully McGrath) - for an afternoon stroll in a scene from director Tim Burton's horror comedy DARK SHADOWS. Credit: Photo Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.

KEY CAST MEMBERS: Johnny Depp, Eva Green, Michelle Pfeiffer, Helena Bonham Carter, Gulliver McGrath, Jonny Lee Miller, Jackie Earle Haley, Bella Heathcote and Chloë Grace Moretz

WRITER(S): Seth-Grahame-Smith (screenplay); John August and Seth-Grahame-Smith (story); Dan Curtis (TV series)

DIRECTOR: Tim Burton

WEB SITE: http://darkshadowsmovie.warnerbros.com/index.html

THE PLOT: Based upon the 1960s British TV show of the same name, Dark Shadows stars Johnny Depp in the lead role of Barnabas Collins. The son of English immigrants Joshua and Naomi Collins living in 1750s America, the young Barnabas lives in a Maine town that comes to carry his family's name: Collinsport. Growing up a young man of affluence (and influence), Barnabas falls for a young woman named Josette DuPres (Bella Heathcote).

Problem is, Barnabas' love for Josette causes heartbreak for Angelique Bouchard (Eva Green) ... Who in addition to working as a servant in the Collins household is also a witch. Like, a real witch, complete with the ability to enact curses and spells - which she uses to alter Barnabas' life forever when he attempts to kill himself following the death of Josette. For Angelique has cursed him to be a vampire, turned the town against him and buried him in a casket wrapped in chains 6 feet deep for all eternity.

Well, that is until Barnabas' is inadvertently freed and awakens to find himself in the very different world that is America in 1972. His once prominent family has been reduced to a shell of its former self, as his modern-day descendants - Elizabeth Collins Stoddard (Michelle Pfeiffer), Carolyn Stoddard (Chloë Grace Moretz), Roger Collins (Jonny Lee Miller) and David Collins (Gully McGrath) and family assistant Willie Loomis (Jackie Earle Haley) - rarely leave their home, Collinwood Manor. 

In addition to Willie, there are two other non-family members now occupying
Collinwood: Young David's live-in psychiatrist Dr. Julia Hoffman (Helena Bonham Carter) and his new nanny, Victoria Winters (Bella Heathcote in dual-duty), the mirror image of Barnabas' true love who - like many members of the Collins clan - has more than a few secrets of her own.


So .. What happens when a 200+ year-old vampire comes home? You'll have to watch the movie to find out ...

THE TAKE: Ever since friends of mine found out I was seeing Dark Shadows, I was asked the same question - "How do you think it will be?" - to which I would muster out the same reply: "It's a Tim Burton movie." Upon seeing the film, I have come to the conclusion that saying "It's a Tim Burton movie" is the equivalent of saying "It tasted like Wendy's" when someone asks how your lunch was at the burger chain founded by the late Dave Thomas.

Now, that's not a knock on Dave Thomas or Wendy's, mind you. It's just that when it comes to certain restaurants, while there will occasionally be a slight variance in the experience, you more or less know what exactly to expect walking into it ahead of time ... And the same can now be said about most Tim Burton movies, especially when his two favorite stalwarts (Depp and Bonham Carter) are in just about everything he releases. Yes, the same can be said for many prominent directors with enough work to make their peers jealous of their IMDb page; in Burton's case, however, his formula is growing a tad, well, predictable (for lack of a better word).

Does Depp do a wonderful job with Barnabas? Of course he does. With the exception of The Tourist, Depp is usually great even when the movie itself isn't (yes, I'm looking at you, Rum Diary), making you sympathetic to his misunderstood, funny and charming character. (To be fair, that's pretty much his standard issue role in a Burton movie.) Does Eva Green look stunning and act in an equally compelling fashion? But of course. And does Chloë Grace Moretz keep gunning for the position of top actress in Hollywood under 18, even in a sadly limited role? You better believe it. 


But ...


Is the film a little weird for the sake of weird at times? Have you ever seen a Tim Burton movie? Is some of the pacing a little plodding at times? Have you ever SEEN a Tim Burton movie? Is the climax of the film a little less satisfying than the scenes leading up to it and are there a few plot holes, even in the universe in which the characters' live? HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A TIM BURTON MOVIE?!


Now, before you get it twisted and think I'm sort of Burton hater, let me stop you right there. I am not. However, am I getting a tad weary of watching a trailer for one of his films and then being able to pretty much deduce the next 95 minutes before I ever set foot in the theater? I admit that I am. It's not that his movies aren't at the least interesting, it's just that they are getting a bit too - oh, I don't know - Burton-y for his own good.

 If he focused on making the film a comedy, maybe he could have succeeded. Maybe if Burton would just decide to go completely into a horror realm, he could have created a memorable triumph. Instead, what you get is a film that seems to never really find its center, which in turn makes it one of those classic "Well, that was different" films that people will either really love or shrug their shoulders at upon leaving the theater. It's not that Burton seems like he's trying to please every audience possible; it's that it seems he's trying to please all facets of himself: The satirist, the comedian, the dark goth, the creative free-spirit and the lover of all things cinema and sadly, they all can't be pleased at the same time. Whether or not you can, however, remains to be seen.

PARTING SHOT:A movie best-suited for die-hard fans of Depp and Burton and/or those who love the Goth lifestyle, Dark Shadows shines in more spots than it fails, but not quite bright enough to achieve the cinematic prominence to which its main character aspires.

RATING (OUT OF FOUR BUCKETS OF POPCORN):

THIS WEEK'S NEW RELEASES (5/11/12)

  "'Why are we trapped in a scene straight out of I Love Lucy?!" Amale (Nadine Labaki) and Saydeh (Antoinette Noufaily) try to figure out WHERE DO WE GO NOW?. Credit:  Rudy Bou Chebel © 2012 Sony Pictures Classics.

DARK SHADOWS (Warner Bros.)

GIRL IN PROGRESS (Pantelion Films)

WHERE DO WE GO NOW? (Sony Classics)

*EDITOR'S NOTE: All release dates are subject to change.

MOVIE OF THE WEEK (5/4/2012): THE AVENGERS

"You can't tell how determined we are? We're walking in stride!" Steve Rogers a.k.a. Captain America (Chris Evans, center), Agent Clint Barton a.k.a. Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) and Natasha Romanoff a.k.a. the Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) get ready to head into battle in a scene from director Joss Whedon's  THE AVENGERS. Credit: Zade Rosenthal © 2011 MVLFFLLC. TM & © 2011 Marvel. All Rights Reserved.

KEY CAST MEMBERS: Robert Downey, Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Chris Evans, Samuel L. Jackson, Chris Hemsworth, Cobie Smulders, Mark Ruffalo, Clark Gregg and Tom Hiddleston

WRITER(S): Zak Penn & Joss Whedon (screenplay); Stan Lee (characters)

DIRECTOR: Joss Whedon

WEB SITE: http://www.marvel.com/avengers

THE PLOT: The film that Iron Man I and II, The Incredible Hulk, Captain America: The First Avenger and Thor have all been leading up to, The Avengers stars Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury. Fury, the eye-patch wearing, trench coat loving man in charge of the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division (or S.H.I.E.L.D. for short), has been working on a project involving the Tesseract, an energy source of unknown potential.

There's just one little problem ... S.H.I.E.L.D. isn't the only one after it.

Loki (Tom Hiddleston), the half-brother of the demigod superhero Thor (Chris Hemsworth), is also after the glowing cube. (Don't call it an "AllSpark" ... That's ANOTHER comic book movie's name for it!) And not only is he after it, he's willing to kidnap/brainwash Thor's friend Dr. Erik Selvig (Stellan Skarsgard) and S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner) to help him carry out his dastardly plan to use it to rule the earth.

Luckily for us, Fury has a plan ready for just this sort of incident – and the name of the plan is The Avengers.

In addition to Thor, the Avengers team also includes philanthropist/scientist/environmentalist/weapons maker and all around playboy Tony Stark a.k.a. Iron Man (Robert Downey, Jr.), World War II frozen-in-time super soldier Steve Rogers a.k.a. Captain America (Chris Evans), Russian spy extraordinaire Natasha Romanoff a.k.a. the "Black Widow" (Scarlett Johansson) and Dr. Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) ... Who has a bit of an anger management problem due to gamma radiation poisoning that turns him into a green giant hulk that is anything but jolly.

But as Fury, Captain America, the Black Widow, Iron Man, Thor and the Incredible Hulk are about to find out, all of their individual battles have been nothing compared to the epic one they are all about to face ... If they can keep from going to war with each other first.

THE TAKE: Having spent the better part of the last 24+ hours trying to figure out what to say about The Avengers, many thoughts have come to mind. Should I go into deep analysis of the storyline as it relates to war, our own inner fears and/or our desire to believe in/possible need for heroes? In order to truly understand the film, is it important to discuss the history of each character, how their respective personalities create conflicts with one another yet must utilize those conflicts if they are going to triumph  ... Eh, screw all that – let's just get to the point. Is The Avengers, one of the most anticipated comic book movies of all time, any good?

In a word, yes. It's good. It's very, very, very good – and we all have the talents of the cast, co-writer Zak Penn and co-writer/director Joss Whedon to thank for it.

Following the wake of the films that preceded it, The Avengers lives up to its substantial expectations as a result of [1] A well-thought out yet easy to follow plot by Penn and Whedon; [2] Strong performances by its cast – be it Hiddleton giving Loki a depth where you understand why he is so committed to what he's doing (even if what he's trying to do is destroy life as we know it), Evans as a soldier trying to make sense of a new world or Downey as a narcissist learning he can't always do things his way and [3] Special effects that really enhance the movie as opposed to detracting from it. be it a 3D moment or an intense action sequence, rarely (if ever) is motion wasted on screen as each moment continues the build to the film's eventual (and satisfying climax).

While it might be overstating the fact to praise how well all of the characters are used to create such a satisfying experience, one really has to give Whedon credit. For not only did he create a movie that shows a great reverence to its source material, it remains accessible to a wider audience without pandering to either extreme. While fanboys (and fangirls, for that matter) will love the clever use of catchphrases and homages to various elements of the Marvel Universe, others will love the action (you'll love what happens when the Incredible Hulk enters the fray as this is the best he's been used in any of his cinematic appearances), the comedy and the clever script that leads to moments that, even when you know they're coming, are still thoroughly enjoyable.

Don't get it confused, however – whereas Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy is a deep, dark drama that explores the concept of what a "hero" is, The Avengers is an old school, call to action tale about extraordinary people doing extraordinary things when placed in extraordinary circumstances. Luckily, the film's cast and crew gives it just a little extra push given their commitment to the project so that "good" becomes "great."

Ruffalo portrays Banner as the emotional wreck he is so well that when he the Hulk is unleashed, he's really unleashed. Likewise, Evans gives Captain America a sentiment where you truly do feel for him, not unlike soldiers who have returned home from active duty and then had trouble adjusting following their service. Thor's relationship with both Earth and Aasgard (his home planet for those who missed his self-titled cinematic debut last summer) is also well-detailed and Iron Man ... C'mon, you should be able to figure that one out!

It's really hard to not give away too much without saying too much more, so let's just end their ... I don't want to have to have anyone avenge my death at the hands of a fan who thought I said too much!

PARTING SHOT: A perfect exercise in how to satisfy diehard comic book fans as well as those who without any knowledge of the source material, The Avengers is as big a smash as those caused by the Incredible Hulk. (And trust me, as anyone who's seen the movie can tell you, that's a REALLY big statement!)

RATING (OUT OF FOUR BUCKETS OF POPCORN):

THIS WEEK'S NEW RELEASES (5/4/2012)

  "'We're opening against The Avengers?! Maybe all the girlfriends of the nerds at that movie will come see ours .... Right? Right?!"From left: Rose (Megalyn Echikunwoke), Heather (Carrie MacLemore), Violet (Greta Gerwig) and Lily (Analeigh Tipton) realize they are apparently DAMSELS IN DISTRESS. Credit: Sabrian Lantos © 2012 Sony Pictures Classics.

THE AVENGERS (Marvel/Paramount)

DAMSELS IN DISTRESS (Sony Classics)

*EDITOR'S NOTE: All release dates are subject to change.