Author Archives: NDO

About NDO

Age:26 , Father, Graphic Artist, Huge Basketball Fan, Likes most genres of music, Avid Movie Fan.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Theaters)

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As I’ve gotten older, I’ve noticed that my taste in movies has dramatically changed. Gone are the days when I only pursued movies with high octane action scenes and/or sophomoric toilet humor. Don’t get me wrong, there are many movies that contain those things that I would consider to be good movies. It just now seems that actual quality in the content, story, acting and overall effectiveness of a movie is what I look for now. I’ve grown to become picky when choosing a movie to watch on the big screen. The rising prices of cinema tickets have played a big role as well.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is quite simple even within the complexities that the characters face in their lives. Benjamin Button was born unlike any other person. He may have been a baby in mind and heart, but he had the physical characteristics of an old man with a body that is failing him. By now, most people know what the general story is about. Button’s predicament is that he ages backwards physically. He was an old man during his childhood and a child during his senior years. It’s safe to say that the movie is about Benjamin Button. Of course it is. But it is also about the people he meets and involves himself with that shape his outlook on life. His relationships, especially with Daisy and his “mama”, are what makes the movie truly shine. It’s a movie about love, but more importantly, it’s a movie about life itself.

David Fincher is one of those exceptional directors with a great eye not just for detail, but for getting the appropriate emotions out of his actors. I believe that this is his third time working with Brad Pitt and you can see that there’s a comfort level that Pitt has with Fincher at the helm. Fight Club and Se7en were exceptional movies, and it seems that the third time is a charm as well. Fincher paces the movie with ease, allowing the audience to get wrapped up in the environment that Benjamin Button finds himself living in.

The acting was superb. Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett have great chemistry together. Cate shows great versatility showcasing a young woman still finding her way and later aging into a woman that is comfortable in her own skin. Brad Pitt does a fantastic job without having to chew scenery with over the top acting. He finds ways to emote what Benjamin is feeling with subtle facial expressions and perfect timing. I used to think that Brad Pitt was in the same category as Tom Cruise. A decent actor with a pretty face and big box office draw. As each movie passes, he proves me wrong. He’s a fine actor. This film, along with Babel and The Assassination of Jesse James prove that. The casting was pretty much near perfect. The supporting cast may even be stronger than the main characters. That’s saying a lot.

With that said, the movie is not perfect. There are a few awkward scenes that could have either been shot differently or scrapped altogether. At this point, that really is just nitpicking. Overall, this is definitely a film worth watching. Personally, it was one of those movies that has stuck with me even days after viewing it. It has potential to affect people in that manner and possibly have them think about their own lives. They aimed for a more mature audience whose attention spans aren’t bound by a leash. I truly believe that the only ones who will be disappointed in this movie are those that are seeking out high octane action scenes and/or sophomoric toilet humor.

Twilight (Theaters)

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When I first saw the previews for Twilight, there was a part of me that really wanted to watch it. I’m a huge fan of vampire and zombie movies, especially when they are done right. I had no idea that it was based on a very popular series of books that mainly catered to the teeny bopper and tween set. When I was told of this, I decided to wait for the DVD release. I asked many of my friends who have seen the film to give me their review and they were split into two extremes. They either loved it or they hated it. I thought it was funny that there were no gray areas with how they felt about the movie. So, I decided to see it for myself.

At it’s most basic point, Twilight is a teen love story with vampires sprinkled in for good measure. That’s it.

Right away, it was painfully obvious that this was a teeny bopper movie. The dialogue not only required you to leave your brain at home, but it was cheesy and filled with cliches. The performances by the actors were decent…as long as they did not have to talk! The acting was so bad that there were unintentional laughs created because of the way the actors delivered their lines. At least they look good.

It’s quite easy to see why the tween and teen set would enjoy this movie. It was built specifically for their age group the same way “She’s All That” catered to mine when I was in high school. You can probably view Twilight as this generation’s Romeo & Juliet. And oh yes, Robert Pattinson [one of the main characters], will have young girls claiming he is the greatest actor ever. He reminds me of the female version of Jessica Alba. Good looks. No talent.

Since this is based on a book series, and the movie has already made a bucket load of money, we can expect more sequels. Hopefully the story matures. Even though the movie was pretty bad, it was easy to see that the series does have potential to be good. There is a bit of a charm to be found. There were times where Twilight entertained me, too bad those moments were unintentional.

The Strangers (DVD)

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First of all, I would like to mention that the horror genre has been quite stagnant for some time. Of course, some of that blame falls on the shoulders of movie makers who have not found new water to tread. Most of the blame falls on our overexposure to everything. We’re exposed to so many explicit and graphic things because of the internet and the material that cable TV can now get away with. Quite frankly, we’re a generation that is very hard to shock.

It seems that most horror movies these days fall into 2 categories. There are many films that seem to follow the rule that the more graphic and gory, the better. Then there are the Asian horror remakes that have been flooding the theaters in recent years. The Strangers is neither. It’s a simple slasher film that feels like a throwback to the late 70′s and 80′s films. I know so many people that thought it sucked. I thought it was pretty good watch.

While most scary movies try to throw twists and turns with hopes that the “mystery” can add to the feel of the film, The Strangers is as simple as it gets. There are 2 lovers on a getaway in a remote part of town. 3 masked strangers terrorize them over the course of one night. That’s the entire plot. But it’s in that simplicity that the film excels. You always know what is going on but you just don’t know why. The fact that the strangers have no apparent motive for doing what they’re doing creates most of the tension.

The director does a pretty decent job pacing the film. It’s not too slow where you got so bored and it doesn’t move to fast so there’s no room for suspense. The greatest asset that it has going for it is the atmosphere. The usage of music, silence, lighting, and the actors’ facial expressions create a thick atmosphere that can make your skin crawl. It’s subtle, but quite effective. There always seems to be a sense of dread as each minute passes.

The actors do a great job of showing fear, confusion and panic. I like that the script allowed the characters to be smart for the most part. Let’s face it, characters in horror flicks are usually dumber than rocks. For about 85% of the time, they act logically and don’t resort to any of the cliches that get most characters killed. Scott Speedman and Liv Tyler did well considering that the plot does not allow for much development of character analysis.

Now I can understand why many viewers wouldn’t enjoy this movie as much as I did. It’s got many flaws, but none so glaring that I really have to mention. I don’t recommend watching this with a group of people. It is not that type of horror flick. The Strangers requires your complete attention for it to be worth it. You won’t have nightmares and it won’t make you feel afraid to be home alone after watching it. It could just be me, but there was something really creepy about it…

Synopsis:

After returning from a wedding reception, a couple staying in an isolated vacation house receive a knock on the door in the mid-hours of the night. What ensues is a violent invasion by three strangers, their faces hidden behind masks. The couple find themselves in a violent struggle, in which they go beyond what either of them thought capable in order to survive. Written by Anonymous