How Transformers Could have Been Better

Okay, I pretty much based Transformers in my past post. Now I will say how I feel it could have been better:

1. Better Structure - The movie jumped around too much, too many "match cuts". not even a Christopher Nolan movie jumps this drastically.
2. Better Character Development -- Unfortunately, I just didn't care for any of the characters, not even the robots.
3. A Better Role for Megan Fox -- I wish her character was more interesting and useful in the story, she was just eye candy for the guys.
4. Better Personalities for the Robots -- Optimus was the only one that was good.

What do you think? Do you think Transformers could have been better, or was it fine the way it was? Comment about it.

 

Movie Review: The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)

Genre: Horror Year: 1920 Rated: Unrated My Opinion: View Poster Watch it Now Download it Now IMDB Page Wikipedia Page

Talk about a golden oldie :) This is one of the first horror movies ever created and is also one of my favorites. It was made in Germany 1920, and is a black and white silent film.

A young man named Francis tells the story about when a stranger named Dr. Caligari came to Holstenwall during a carnival, bringing with him is somnambulist (aka 'sleepwalker') as a sideshow act. The story only gets stranger, making you question the sanity of the storyteller.

This movie is very visually appealing, making up for its lack of dialog and audio. The only word I can think of using to describe it is "surreal". The story itself is 'Frankenstein'-like, mainly about the doctor and his "monster".

The best part is that because it is public domain, it can be freely downloaded or watched on YouTube. There are two versions that I've seen: the black and white version, and the lightly colored version. The "color" isn't like most colorized versions of movies, the coloring reflects the overall mood of the movie rather than just making it look like real-life color.

There was a remake created in 2005, with English audio and modern actors superimposed in some of the original footage. I haven't seen it but I don't think I'd want to. There's something about adding dialog it a silent movie that takes away from the integrity of it. If you are going to superimpose actors and add an language audio track to a silent film, you might as well do a full blown remake rather than this patch-up version.

Have you seen this movie? What's your opinion? Comment about it.

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The Nutcracker in 3D: The Worst Movie Ever Made? OR A Gutsy Undertaking?

The Nutcracker in 3D is bearly in theaters and its already being condemed by critics.

I admit that I had mixed feelings myself after initially viewing the trailer , its a dark retelling of the classic ballet. The 'Rats' look too similar to the Whos from the Grinch in my opinion. And the 'Nucracker prince' doesn't really look like a Nutcracker, more like a wooden marionette.

Besides this, is this twist on a Christmas classic a good movie? Depends on your taste. When people went to see this, they probably expected a sweet sugar-plum-fairy of a story and were disturbed by what they saw. Art is in the eye of the eye of the beholder. I personally like the style of filming and the feel of the atmosphere.

I also like that the writer didn't care whether anyone liked this film or not. I think it took a lot of guts to create a movie like this. It shows that there are some people are still willing to be daring and creative and not worry about the opinions of others. Kudos to you Konchalovskiy!

Did you see The Nutcracker in 3d? What was your take on it? Comment about it!

Movie Review: The Borrowers (1997)

Genre: Comedy Year: 1997 Rated: PG My Opinion: View Poster IMDB Page Wikipedia Page

When I first picked this movie up, I didn't have very high hopes for it. I thought it would be mildly cute with mostly dull and stupid humor. But I was pleasantly surprised.

The movie is based on a series of books by the same name. It's about a family of Borrowers, little humanoid creatures who live within the walls of human houses and occasionally 'borrow' items for their livelihood, and the human family who owns the house. The human boy discovers the existence of the Borrowers while he and his parents are forced to move from the house, unbeknownst that their lawyer is a greedy man who wants them out so he could search the house for the deceased grandmother's hidden millions.

The special effects used in the movie are fantastic, seamless, and scaled perfectly. The humor is also executed effectively, even the one 'dog poop' scene was hilarious (and not even gross).

One interesting aspect of this movie is that even though this movie has the atmosphere of a modern-yet-retro America, there are a number of British actors staring in this film (accents and all). Some of them include Hugh Laurie (whom we all know from House) and even a very young Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy ring a bell?).

Overall, this a great family movie that both kids and adults will enjoy. I'm surprised this movie didn't do better that it did. If not for a family, watch it as a study of special effects and how they don't have to be overwhelming and overdone to be effective.

What do you think? What are some of your favorite movies that have great special effects? Comment below!

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Movie Review: Eraserhead (1976)

Genre: Horror Year: 1976 Rated: Unrated My Opinion: View Poster Official Site IMDB Page Wikipedia Page

One of the greatest horror movies ever made (in my opinion at least). It doesn't try to scare you with cheap jumps and steamy shower scenes, instead it goes for the 'creep' factor. In other words, it will make you squirm.

The basic synopsis: Henry, a printer on vacation, is forced into marriage after his girlfriend gives birth to a deformed infant. Although the story seems simplistic, what makes this movie really worth watching is the visuals and the soundtrack.

Visuals: The dark dystopian atmosphere and setting really set the tone for the movie. Its never explained as to how or why the world is the way it is, or even if this world truly exists (in other words, is this Henry's interpretation of the world?). The portrayal of the characters are often unsettling and disturbing, as well as the manifestations of madness that plague Henry's life.

Soundtrack: There is no real 'music' in Eraserhead (save for one song), the score is generally 'industrial noise' which seems to fall into an eerie rhythm, giving you chills and goosebumps.

There are two versions of Eraserhead: the original cut and the re-release titled 'Eraserhead 2000'. The later version is 20 minutes longer. I personally have only seen the original.

Whichever version you choose, I highly recommend this if you are looking for a 'different' kind of horror movie. But be warned, this film will disturb sensitive viewers.

Have you seen Eraserhead? Which version do you think is better? Leave a comment below!

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