SPECTRE

Dustin: 3.5 of 5 stars Nick: 3 of 5 stars Average: 3.25 of 5 stars (Woozy canary)

Warning: This review contains spoilers.

Dustin: SPECTRE finds Daniel Craig starring in a Sean Connery film. The plot, I guess, is about Bond closing in on a shadowy organization for reasons that take forever to understand, while his employer, MI6, is being shaken up at the administrative level. It’s all an excuse to bring Bond face-to-face with his mortal enemy, Blofeld (oh, was that a spoiler? I guess you’ve never seen a Bond film before/or don’t remember Blofeld has always been the head of SPECTRE).

Nick: So very disappointing is the first thing that comes to mind. Everything I loved about Skyfall is either missing or overdone. The “overdone” would be all the winks and nods to former Bond films. I read something the other day there is at least one reference to every previous Bond film in SPECTRE. The missing is engaging drama, a memorable villain, and a somewhat unique story for the Bond series. Skyfall will live long in my memory, while SPECTRE might not last the week.

Dustin: I caught many references. A lot of it was visual. It wasn’t as painful as Die Another Day where they would reuse exact props from earlier films, but in SPECTRE we see similar sets from Dr. No or On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. They also reused some situations, such as the train fight (From Russia with Love), the showdown in a funhouse (The Man with the Golden Gun), and Bond splashing a beaker of his own urine in a henchman’s face to disable him (Never Say Never Again).

The movie has actually grown on me a bit since we saw it. I appreciate what they’ve done in bringing back a lot of the fun, flamboyant elements of the original Connery films. If I had to fault this movie with something, it would be they tried too hard to backtrack and make SPECTRE the force behind all of the villains Craig has encountered. I understand for Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace, because there was an unnamed, shadowy organization behind the villains in those movies. But Silva had enough motivation on his own in Skyfall that making him an agent of SPECTRE sort of ruined it. I understand Blofeld was the best Bond villain (or a close second to Goldfinger), and the producers have worked forever to get the rights to that character back, which is why they couldn’t kill him off in this film (spoiler). But they didn’t need to backpedal so much. Or, if they wanted to backpedal, they could have made SPECTRE the secret organization behind every Bond film since 1971. The North Korean general who becomes a white person in Die Another Day? SPECTRE.

Nick: He was my favorite villain! Never saw it coming. I think it was the previous Daniel Craig Bond films (minus Quantum) which ruined this new one for me. I was enamored by Casino Royale and in awe of Skyfall. They both move slowly, build characters, have well-developed plotlines and some of my favorite action set pieces in quite some time. So many of the action sequences in this Bond involve a helicopter. So many that it felt like a Michael Bay movie at times. Why does the bad guy in spy movies always try to make a getaway in a helicopter! Even the solid comedy Spy ends with a fight scene in a helicopter. Blofield would have gotten away by car or maybe gotten further considering it’s a Bond film and he is fucking unbelievable!

Dustin: Frankly I’m surprised Blofeld didn’t have an underground monorail already in place.

This movie was good as fan service, and if it had followed Quantum of Solace, I would have seen it as a step in the right direction. As a stand alone movie or a follow-up to Skyfall, it was a bit disappointing.

Nick: Pshaw! Severely disappointing in that regard. Where would you put it on your list?

Dustin: Between The Living Daylights and Live and Let Die.

Nick: Although the action set pieces were perhaps my least favorite thing about SPECTRE, it had one great one in that train fighting sequence. The brutality unleashed by Dave Bautista upon Bond is back breaking, to of course anyone else but Bond. My favorite thing would be the cinematography. There are some very interesting shots throughout this film enough to where I feel as I left with a note of happiness. SPECTRE is truly a beautiful film when focusing on that one aspect.

Dustin: I agree. While this wasn’t a great movie, it had the look of a great one. I also liked some of the touches in the story, like the return of Mr. White, and the way Bond becomes something of a protector of his former enemy’s daughter.

What do you think will be the future of the series? Daniel Craig has hinted he may not be very interested in doing another Bond film, and I almost feel like he has outgrown the character. I kind of liked how this movie ends with Bond walking away as well. Should we leave it at that?

Nick: I think so, this film seems to not try as hard in terms of originality, which is what I was so enjoying about the new Bond era and with the way it is left with the obvious fork in the road I would be happy if they recast. Sam Mendes stated he is definitely not coming back, and Craig said he would rather slit his wrists then make another one at the moment.

Dustin: So now for the fun part of discussing who will be next. If I had to put money in Vegas on who I think will be cast, it would be Henry Cavill. But if I could choose the next Bond, it would be Michael Fassbender, even though he’s from Germany.

Nick: I will gamble with you, my friend. In no terms will they cast Cavill--they tend to cast relatively unknowns, and he has been in many big budget films including two as Superman, be cast as the next James Bond. Fassbender would be an amazing choice, and perhaps Richard Madden (of Game of Thrones) would be another one, but I like the idea of Idris Elba, but only if they call him 007 and not James Bond. Since it’s not an alias, but his actual name.

Dustin: I wouldn’t be surprised if Fassbender was a villain at some point. I also wouldn’t be surprised if Craig’s statement was really his way of holding out for more money, knowing he won’t be able to play the role much longer, trying to get a big payday for his final film.

The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

Dustin: 4 of 5 stars Nick: 4 of 5 stars Average: 4 of 5 stars (Live canary)

Dustin: The Man from U.N.C.L.E. brings the silly 1960s TV series to the big screen as a silly movie. It stars British actor Henry Cavill as CIA agent Napoleon Solo, American actor Armie Hammer as KGB agent Illya Kuryakin and Swedish actress Alicia Vikander (Ex Machina) as German mechanic Gaby.

Nick: Do you think Henry Cavill impressed enough to get that future Bond role?

Dustin: Yeah, I cynically mentioned before this movie this was “Henry Cavill’s James Bond audition.” But after seeing it, I wouldn’t say that. He looked every bit like Bond, but his character reminded me a lot of Roger Moore, with the cool, affected delivery and tongue-in-cheek attitude throughout. I think he played Napoleon Solo, not James Bond-wannabe.

The movie is about Solo and Illya, agents of opposite forces tasked with finding a female mechanic named Gaby. Solo has to get Gaby out of East Germany so she can help the CIA find her nuke-building Nazi father. Illya has to stop Solo, using lethal force if necessary. Once the CIA and KGB learn the nuke is near completion, they force Solo and Illya to team up and work with Gaby to find her father.

Nick: The movie was well paced and every scene at least had a modicum of action or comedy, which helped set the tone throughout. The audience seemed to laugh at every joke, and the action was shot in some unique ways that gave this cinephile a cinerection! Guy Ritchie hasn’t made a film I have liked since Snatch (which I love) but he did The Man From U.N.C.L.E. proud.

Dustin: I haven’t seen the old TV series, but I’d like to so I can compare Cavill’s performance to the character played by Robert Vaughn. I was a little taken out of the movie by Cavill’s approach, but I can’t deny it wasn’t unique, and I think I’d appreciate it more if I knew he was being true to the source material.

I really liked Ritchie’s writing and direction here. The style, substance, lighting and framing all resembled 1960s psychedelic films. But the movie is a little too self-aware and the production is too amped up to be a ‘60s film. I’d call it a ‘60s-style movie with a postmodern sensibility.

Nick: While Cavill’s portrayal of Solo took me out of the film as well, he just happened to be my favorite part. Every remark and smirk made me think of an homage to classic spy films where the American is always just so goddamn cool, like the scene where he hops on a truck after falling off a boat Illya is driving and he finds red wine and a sandwich in a basket. While his temporary ally is being chased around he enjoys that fine random meal that some Italian henchman is going to regret leaving in his car later. (I wish that was an after-credits scene.)

Dustin: That was one of my favorite scenes as well, and when I finally warmed up to Cavill. That’s pretty much exactly what I would have done in that situation, so I was able to relate then.

We both talked about the early scene in Blaul Part: Mall Cop 2 where his grandma gets hit by a truck and it is supposed to be funny. I gave an objective reason why it wasn’t funny. You said it would have been funny in a dark comedy. Here we both laughed pretty hard when a man gets electrocuted to death. This movie establishes its tone effectively and delivers some good dark humor.

Nick: Another thing that caught my attention was how sexuality was suggested rather than shown. There is quite a bit of sex going on behind the scenes, and there is a nice side-boob shot, but there is no sex scene and none of the main characters end up sleeping together (a spy staple). Though it did come pretty close when Solo and Illya argue about what is considered high fashion for a woman. I really thought they were going to be gay after that scene. They both argued so vehemently over the topic. I guess they just really know their stuff.

Dustin: We don’t see the sex scene between Solo and the bad chick, but we sort of hear it. It was more of a comedic bit than a character-developing plot point. That was another scene I really enjoyed.

Anything else to add?

Nick: Tupac is alive and in witness protection!

Dustin: In that case, I’ll just say The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is a stylish, comedic and entertaining throw-back to Cold War-era spy films. I recommend seeing it when it opens this Friday.

Man of Steel

Dustin: 4 of 5 stars Nick: 2 of 5 stars Average: 3 of 5 stars (Woozy canary)

Dustin: Superman is the latest action hero to get a Hollywood gritty reboot. Man of Steel stars British actor Henry Cavill defending “truth, justice and the American way.”

What did you think of Man o’ Steel, Nick?

Nick: I felt that this movie suffered the most through its nonlinear method of storytelling. There were constant jumps through time from when Clark was young to the present.

Dustin: I didn't think the nonlinear story detracted from the movie. The flashbacks seemed to be in the right places and dramatically matched the present-day storyline. Dramatically, I thought it was the best Superman movie to date.

Nick: “That’s heresy!” 

Dustin: Have you seen the 1978 Superman recently? Gene Hackman's Lex Luthor is an underwhelming villain whose two henchmen are a bimbo and a bumbling idiot. Superman can fly around the world really fast to turn back time, which subtracts an element of suspense knowing anything bad can be undone. And at the end (SPOILER!) he just flies Lex Luthor and his henchman, Otis, to jail. I’m sure they will be able to walk free once word gets out they weren't legally charged with a crime.

Nick: Yes, it’s very silly, but it was a big deal in its day. First time a man could fly! But I believe that Superman Returns is a better film mostly because Clark Kent as the bumbling reporter is just as important as his Kryptonian side of Kal-El. This Clark Kent is just Kal-El before he is Superman, and it’s not very endearing.

Dustin: The ‘78 film had a lot of iconic movie imagery. There is General Zod and his gang getting expelled from Krypton in a 2D square, the fortress of solitude, Superman’s external undies. Those are images that will stick with you your whole life. This movie suffers compared to that film in that regard.

Nick: You combined the first two films. Zod was in Superman II, son! Which is my favorite.

Dustin: But you see him get expelled from Krypton in the first one.

Nick: Oh, that’s funny. That’s what I wanted to happen in Man of Steel. I wanted the writers to set him up as a future bad guy.

Dustin: I agree 100 percent. I thought this was a little too overblown for the first film in a series or trilogy. As a stand-alone film it was fine, but the sequel will need to be bigger and better, and I don’t think they could get bigger without being silly.

If this was a trilogy, I would have liked to see General Zod expelled from Krypton in the first film, then have a young Superman who wasn't quite sure of his limitations go up against a minor villain. In the second film, a full-fledged Superman could fight Lex Luthor, who forces ethical dilemmas on our hero that he can’t solve by strength alone. Then wrap up the trilogy with General Zod. I have a hard time picturing Clark Kent going to work at the Daily Planet after everything that happened in this film.

Nick: I disagree. I think as a standalone film it suffers, but I think it will become better after the next films in the series are released. DC developed this film as the starter of its Justice League series.

Dustin: What did you think of this movie visually?

Nick: The one brilliant thing about this movie was its action directing. I loved the fight scenes, especially when there wasn't advertising in the background. But even though I loved the fight scenes they didn't hold true to the values of Superman. He used to be all about giving his body so as to not destroy things like buildings in order for less humans to become casualties. In this film he takes down skyscrapers and blows up tankers without a single thought.

Dustin: I agree that wasn't very Christ-like of a hero who was 33 years old and juxtaposed next to images of Christ.

I thought the film looked great, especially the scenes on Krypton. It was developed well as an alien world. Some of the imagery was a little too overblown. Sometimes I couldn't tell where I was supposed to look. I blame that on George Lucas/Star Wars prequels influence. I also didn't like the shaky cam. There’s a dramatic scene between Kevin Costner and young Clark Kent that looks like the cameraman is having a seizure. Hold the camera still and let the acting carry the scene! But then Lois Lane is watching video she shot of Clark Kent sneaking into the Fortress of Solitude on her Nikon camera and the image is perfectly still. If any shot should have been shaky, it should have been that.

Nick: It pleases me that you noticed how much they were comparing Superman to Christ. It started to irk me after awhile. I am shocked though that you didn't mention the lens flares. Everyone seemed to be annoyed by them in Star Trek Into Darkness, where I thought they were used well, but in Man of Steel I guess it’s OK to have lens flares in practically every shot.

Dustin: I guess I didn't notice the lens flares because my eyes were drawn to the product placements. Sears, U-Haul, Nikon, Nokia, LexCorp, Chevrolet, Budweiser, all paid for product placement in this film. About 25 minutes took place in an IHOP. Even through the gloom and explosions, you can still make out the 7-Eleven sign.

Nick: Before I saw this film I read an article about how Man of Steel recouped three-fourths of its budget just through advertising. So even if the film bombed it still would have made its money back just by how much it whored itself out. Christ-like indeed!

THE FOLLOWING SECTION CONTAINS SPOILERS

Nick: The film was very incompetent in many ways, especially in the way the story randomly carried itself. For example, Superman gave himself up to Zod and then Faora-Ul demanded Lois come on the ship as well, but they do absolutely nothing with her. She was brought on the ship purely so the story could carry on. Superman handed her the device that for some reason could be put into another device that just happened to be in the room they threw Lois into unguarded so that Jor-El’s ghost would then corrupt their system. It’s ridiculous.

Dustin: Exactly. How did Superman, who’d never been to Krypton and presumably didn't understand its technology, know that there would be a drive for his “Hope” USB in General Zod’s ship? And what if Jor-El had a PC while General Zod had a Mac? Like you said, they just needed to advance to the next plot point.

Nick: None of the humans were developed well until the last 10 minutes of the film, where there was finely some light-heartedness. Even Jonathan Clark’s (Kevin Costner) eventual death was ineffective. He died by tornado in Kansas (of course) to save their dog trapped in a car so that Clark wouldn't have to show his powers to other onlookers by running mildly faster than most people could and by using his strength to keep on the ground longer than most near a tornado. Really, Jonathan? Really?

Dustin: And everyone in Kansas knows that tornadoes can just come out of nowhere like that. And there are usually tons of people driving on them country highways to become potential onlookers.

END OF SPOILERS

Nick: I was not convinced of Superman’s trust and eventually love of Lois Lane. He first meets her after he catches her spying on him and he tells her, “I can do things other people can’t.” What a line! Then she writes an article about him and tells the whole world. Then she tracks him down to his Dad’s grave. Why does he trust her so much? Because the script tells him too?

Dustin: Because Amy Adams is cute, that’s why.

Nick: Good reasoning! I’m sold.

Dustin: I don’t think the things we mentioned detracted too much from what was an enjoyable summer blockbuster. They just prevented a good film from being a great one. Would you recommend it?

Nick: No. The film needed a co-director to slow the film down at some points. I think if Bryan Singer and Zach Snyder directed the next one together it could be a masterpiece. Singer understands the soul, and Snyder showed the impact.

The Purge EXTRAS + Man of Steel PREVIEW

Nick: I’m excited for This Is the End.

Dustin: I am cautiously optimistic. I laughed in the trailer, but I’m afraid it’ll be too improvised, too self-indulgent, and too loosely plotted.

Nick: I thought you were about to say “too loosely based on a true story”!

Dustin: Like Pain & Gain?

I have high hopes for Man of Steel.

Nick: Can’t wait. I already have my plans to go see it. I pray it’s the first review in which I can say many flattering things.

Dustin: A part of me wants the movie to flop in a big way. I have $2000 in Vegas on Henry Cavill succeeding Daniel Craig as James Bond, and that will never happen if audiences associate him too strongly with Superman. If the movie flops, five to 10 years later he can play 007, and to most people he’ll simply be that guy who played Superman in that one movie no one cared about. And the preppy kid from The Purge can play the villain. But I equally want to see a good Superman movie, so...

Nick: You’re as mean-spirited as The Purge. I kind of want to kill you right now.

Dustin: Luckily murder is still illegal 365 for the next nine years, my friend.

Nick: I’ll bide my time...