Binary Perspectives

Archive for the ‘Movies’ Category

As the title implies, this is a movie that can probably be watched multiple times. Not that I found it difficult to follow, just that I am sure I missed bits and pieces. Which brings me to the question, why do I care enough to want to go back and fill in the details? Well the answer is that it is a pretty good movie compared to the some of the other stuff thrown our way. However, I do think this movie fell short of the great movie mark. A pity.

The good parts first. Visually amazing. A great way to use effects to tell a story. Nothing felt out of place or over the top. Come to think of it, there were instances when I felt I was watching scenes from ‘2012’ or ‘The day after tomorrow’. Given the plot, these visual déjà vus can be given a pass.

As for the acting… strong performances by Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Ellen Page. In that order imo. Joseph Gordon-Levitt was particularly impressive in what I think is his first major adult role. We are probably seeing the first glimpses of a promising thespian career. Ken Watanabe did not shine as much as he would have in any of his typically flamboyant roles. Still, a decent supporting performance. The rest of the cast were tight too.

In a movie like this, the plot is the star, and that is a good thing in the era of predictable plot lines. I cannot help feeling that the dialogues did not have to be so wordy and offer a play by play unraveling of the story. If these were handled more subtly, it would have probably helped with character development. I would have preferred to see more fleshed out and motivated characters à la ‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’ (Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet), one of my favourites which shares some plot elements. In my opinionated world, the folk behind ‘Inception’ lost out on the opportunity at making a good movie great by sacrificing in the character development department.

Then again, with ‘Inception’ the plot is the star. Not the characters. Nevertheless, the ending was a tad predictable.

Maybe the director Christopher Nolan made the conscious decision to opt for a more easily digestible commercial fare. Judging by the buzz, he succeeded.

So yeah, it’s worth a watch at the theater and you may feel the need to watch it again to flesh out some of the details you missed the first time around. A good sign.

Go for it!

My nine-year-old son knows he can get away with almost any request on his birthday…and that’s how our family ended up watching ‘Clash of the Titans’ the past Tuesday. Of course, the discounted ticket price did help play a part in the decision…even though I was skeptical, having read some unflattering reviews. Sam Worthington (Perseus), was cast yet again in the role of the outsider trying to fit in with the ‘good-guys’(?)… part human/part E.T à la avatar. Gemma Arterton, poorly scripted as the ageless female lead Io, flirted aimlessly with screen time, albeit playing a pivotal part in the plot. She did manage to stay impeccably coiffed through all the action. Liam Neeson’s Zeus looked like a cross between a goth, a hippy (maybe the hair stylist’s budget was blown on Gemma) and a white knight from a child’s fairytale B-flick. Hades, with a bad case of dry scalp, was well played by the psyche-menacing abilities of Ralph Fiennes. Perhaps the character role of the movie was Mads Mikkelsens Draco, which really…isn’t saying much. Draco and the rest of the warrior dudes sported well-braided hairdo’s, perhaps as compensation for the failings of the character development process. The hair stylist was definitely anti-god.

I guess the script was focused on showing off the special effects, which did not disappoint. The non-stop action sequences anchored by effects on steroids did its part in keeping it all together and interesting. A perfect example of how digital wizardry can sometimes compensate for shallow characters and script, making for some very decent entertainment.

Plan to give the DVD a pass. If you can, watch it on the big screen…preferably on a Tuesday.