Theater Review: Les Misérables

It is not very often that a movie can get an emotional reaction from me. In fact, since I hit my 'older' days I don't think it has happened to me many times at all.

But, that is exactly what Les Misérables did to me on my date night with my wife - and subjected me to ridicule for the rest of the night (and most of the next day as well).

This film did not jump out at me at all with previews or announcements - not one time. But, my wife is a fan of it and really was excited to see it. So, we went.

I really had no idea what I was getting myself into. I guess my wife picked up on that very early on when I asked my first question, "Is this entire movie singing?" Now, in my defense I have seen many musicals in my day where the songs are dominant, but there is also still dialogue throughout the film. Not here - there was, at most, five lines of dialogue throughout the entire movie.

It was there that I began to get nervous.

But, my nervousness quickly subsided as I began to get more and more interested in the story. I soon realized that the lack of dialogue wasn't bothering me in the slightest - in fact, I hardly noticed anymore.

The film itself is pretty much about the life and trials of Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman). We first meet Valjean on the final day of his 19-year prison sentence. He was sent to prison for stealing bread for his sister's dying child - and later more years were added to his sentence for trying to escape.

Javert (Russell Crowe) is a prison guard, who only refers to Valjean by his prison number. Valjean is released on parole and is ordered to return every so often to check in. Not able to find work due to being a criminal - he is offered food and shelter by the Bishop of Digne (Colm Wilkinson). Despite the Bishop's generosity, Valjean steals silver from the church - but he is caught and brought back. Bishop takes pity on him and alerts the police that he had in fact given the silver to him. And, Valjean changes his ways - becoming a solid citizen, but breaking his parole in the process.

Now the mayor and a factory owner in Montreuil, Valjean is nearly discovered by Javert - who has been tracking him down for years. A skirmish in the factory gets a worker, Fantine (Anne Hathaway) fired. She is sending all of her money to a pair of Innkeepers who are taking care of her daughter, Cosette (Isabelle Allen). Not being able to make an honest living, Fantine turns to do anything and everything she can to make money for her daughter.

Found by Javert and nearly arrested, Valjean recognizes her and takes her to the hospital. He feels responsible for her condition and vows to take care of her daughter for as long as he possibly can.

The Innkeepers Tenardier (Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter) have been playing Fantine from the start - asking for more money claiming Cosette was sick. Instead, Cosette is treated like garbage, while their daughter Eponine (Natalya Angel Wallace) is treated like a princess.

Valjean, though, pays off the Tenardiers and takes Cosette into his care - but always keeping an eye behind him for Javert.

Years later, Cosette (Amanda Seyfried) becomes the object of Marius' (Eddie Redmayne) affection despite the fact that Eponine (Samantha Barks) is in love with him. Marius is part of the revolution against the government with his friend Enjolras (Aaron Tveit).

Now an old man, Valjean realizes that he can not look after Cosette forever and believes that Marius may be the perfect person to take over. So, he joins the revolution if only to look after Marius to make sure he does not die.

This movie was remarkable. The music was amazing - though I only truly loved a few of the songs, the rest were still very nice. Having the cast sing live on camera (instead of in a studio) was also a nice touch - it really brought out the emotions of the song and the story.

It also had some great laughs thanks to the Tenardiers. I had no idea that Sacha Baron Cohen was in this movie - but immediately picked him out, despite it not really looking like him. The pair added some much needed lightheartedness to an otherwise bleak film.

Finally the story, which mixed with the songs finally hit me at the conclusion of the film. Yes, Les Misérables struck a chord with me - something that very rarely happens. And, I thank my wife for taking me to see it. A beautifully shot and acted film all around.

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Theater Review: The Dark Knight Rises

I had heard a few times that Christopher Nolan was apprehensive about doing a third Batman film and I couldn't understand why. But, after seeing the film I can sort of see why he was - no matter what he put out it was always going to be compared to The Dark Knight.

The Dark Knight Rises also had another superhero film to contend with this summer that I am sure it was expecting to contend with when it was first announced - The Avengers. It's sort of odd to compare them as they are on two totally different spectrums - but you sort of have to.

Although I feel The Dark Knight Rises is the superior film, I would have to say I will probably watch The Avengers far more. It is just a more fun film - sort of like how Saving Private Ryan is a hell of a film, but I cannot watch it all of the time.

What The Dark Knight Rises was also up against was the amazing performance given by Heath Ledger as the Joker in The Dark Knight. No matter how great a villain that Nolan could cook up for the third film - no way was it going to live up to Ledger's performance.

Anyway, the final film picks up about eight years after Batman (Christian Bale) took the blame for killing Harvey 'Two-Face' Dent. All of the years as Batman has also taken a bit of a toll on Bruce Wayne - and as he stays hidden in his mansion he limps around from room-to-room.

As the guilt begins to tear at Commissioner Gordon (Gary Oldman), he is captured and brought to the new villain that has risen under the streets of Gotham, Bane (Tom Hardy). Gordon is shot, but manages to escape  despite losing a letter he had written with the truth about Dent.

Police officer John Blake (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) finds Gordon at the end of a tunnel and gets him to the hospital for treatment. Because of his detective work, Gordon promotes Blake and tells him to answer directly to him.

Blake was also once an orphan who looked up to Wayne because of all the donations the Wayne family gave to the orphanage - but he also somehow knows Wayne's true identity and tells him the city needs him to resurface.

Batman finds a local cat burglar, Selina Kyle (Anne Hathaway), to help lead him to Bane. Kyle uses the opportunity to get a program that can help erase her identity from all databases on the planet - and free her from her thieving ways.

Kyle, however, turns on Batman and turns him over to Bane in order stay alive - and Bane breaks Batman's back and leaves him in a prison in the middle of nowhere - the only way out is to climb out.

As Bane holds the city hostage with a nuclear weapon, he promises to finish what Ra's al Ghul started and destroy Gotham. With Batman out of commission, Gordon and Blake are all that is left to help save the city.

First off, my description above doesn't give the film justice. There was so much going on and all of it was so interesting and fit the story so well - just amazing story telling.

The film returns Bale, Michael Cane, Morgan Freeman, Oldman and another special guest that have been in all three movies and they continue to shine here. Newcomers Hardy, Hathaway and Gordon-Levitt were the main stars in this film and they were amazing.

Hardy was a great villain, and won't get the acclaims that Ledger did, but he held up this movie just fine as the villain. Sure, he wasn't the Joker, but Bane was ruthless and a great equal to Batman. Hathaway was simply amazing as Catwoman - I was a bit skeptical when I first heard she had signed on, but she played both sides of the fence to perfection - and wow did she look good. Finally, Gordon-Levitt - I can't really say much else about him, he has really become one of the best actors working today and here it was no different. So talented and he really shined in this film - even if he was just a cop.

Go see this movie - I am sure you already have. It is a great finale to Nolan's trilogy. I look forward to seeing it again.

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Theater Review: Rio

I figured since I don't get out to the movie theater too often, I would mark the films I actually do get to see there with Theater Review. I know it doesn't really matter, but I figured I would do it anyway.

So, a few weekends ago my parents wanted to take my son to see Rio and I tagged along. I had heard it was actually a decent film, so off we went.

The film is about Blu (Jesse Eisbenberg) a very rare blue makaw that gets knocked off a truck and found by a little girl, Linda (Leslie Mann). As Linda grows up, Blu and her are inseparable and have created quite a life for themselves in Minnesota

One afternoon, Tulio (Rodrigo Santoro) visits Blu and Linda to inform them that he may be in fact the last male blue makaw on Earth. And tries to get them to come with him to Rio in order to mate with the last remaining female blue makaw, Jewel (Anne Hathaway).

Well, as they attempt to introduce the two 'love' birds, Tulio and Linda head out for a dinner and the aviary is broken into and the two birds are stolen. They are able to break free of their captives, but are chained together - and thanks to an issue Blu has the two of them have some huge things to overcome as she looks for her freedom and he tries to locate Linda.

The film is loaded with voice talent including, George Lopez, Jamie Foxx, Will I Am, Tracy Morgan and Jemaine Clement. A lot of excellent songs throughout the film as well that really fit with the environment.

As for the film, a pretty good story of overcoming obstacles to get what you want and finding something inside of you that you didn't know was there.

It was also very beautiful to look at with the many different colors and the scenery of Rio.

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18/50: Alice in Wonderland

I have heard a ton of horrible things about this film. I for one am not a huge fan of Tim Burton, and I absolutely hated Charlie in the Chocolate Factory - but that could be because it was a 'remake' of my absolute favorite movie.

But, you know what? I loved Alice in Wonderland. Was it crazy? Of course it was. But, that is what Alice in Wonderland is supposed to be - so honestly, it was the best vehicle for Tim Burton to just go nuts.

Alice (Mia Wasikowska) is now a 19-year old woman, who believes that Wonderland is a dream that she has been having over and over again in her head. Her mother has arranged for her to get married, but while at the engagement party (right when the man has asked her) Alice notices the white rabbit yet again - and chases him down the rabbit hole.

Once in Wonderland (or Underland that it is called here), the lovable characters we have come to know - the white rabbit, the blue caterpillar, the dormouse and Tweedledee and Tweedledum, begin discussing if this is indeed the Alice who was there before - even though she doesn't believe it. Apparently, Alice is supposed to lead the people out of the tyranny of the Queen of Hearts (Helena Bonham Carter) - and allow the White Queen (Anne Hathaway) to take over. She must, however, slay the Jabberwocky to do so.

On her journey, the Knave of Hearts (Crispin Glover) is out to capture her and stop her from her destiny. Along the way, she comes across the Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp), who gives himself up in order to keep her safe.

I will say no more about the film plot itself, but I thought it was great. Depp was absolutely crazy as the Mad Hatter - and despite my feeling that the look of the Queen of Hearts was a bit over the top, it may have actually been necessary to everything that she was saying.

I had not seen Wasikowski in a film before, but I thought she was brilliant in her role as Alice. And, the slew of characters were done just right, in my opinion.

I know this film is either loved or hated - but I feel it was great. Just my opinion.

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Star Wars: Clone Wars, Get Smart, The Incredible Hulk

I am not one of those people that attacks the prequal-trilogy of the legendary Star Wars saga. I actually enjoy, and can watch each of the new films.

I think that people have come to believe that the new versions are wooden - but if you check out the original trilogy - there is some pretty wooden dialogue there as well.

Episode I was probably the worst of all of the movies, but it was a necessity to move the story along - as well as introduce us to Anakin Skywalker. The second two installments were a lot better than the first, and I felt Episode III was pretty close to the original trilogy.

Anyway, I checked out Star Wars: Clone Wars on Friday, and I am a bit torn. The animation was a bit lacking - especially the look of Count Dooku, very odd. The animation of the droids and the cities, however, were very well done.

I also enjoyed the introduction of Anakin's padawan, Ahsoka. I felt she brought a lot to storyline.

Apparently, this is the bridge to what is now a television series - which I am currently not watching. Because I at the end of the film, I had a ton of unaswered questions that the television series might be answering.

This movie is supposed to be taking place between Episode II and Episode III. So, Anakin is still on the good side of the force. At the end of the movie though, I found myself wondering - what the hell happened to this Ahsoka in Episode III? Now, perhaps this will be answered in the television series. But, if Anakin has a padawan now - shouldn't she be around in the next movie?

Anyway, the movie itself was alright. Nothing too groundbreaking, or anything that really needed to be explained. This is, like I said, just an excuse to get people interested in watching the new television series.

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On Saturday, I was able to check out a couple of movies I had been wanting to see this summer.

The first of which, Get Smart, stars Steve Carell as Maxwell Smart.

Smart is a member of CONTROL, and has been trying to make the jump from intellegience to the field. However, due to his amazing work in the intellegience field, his boss (Alan Arkin) doesn't want to promote him.

A terrorist group know as KAOS hits the CONTROL offices and gains knowledge of all field agents. This propels Smart into the field, along with Agent 99 (Anne Hathaway) who has recently had plastic surgery.

So, it's up to Smart and 99 to save the country from the evil KAOS. Of course, hilarity ensues with Smart just not quite ready to be out on his own - so 99 must clean up a lot of his messes.

The movie also stars Dwayne Johnson (Agent 23), Terry Crews (Agent 91), David Koechner (Larabee), Terence Stamp (Siegfried) and James Caan (The President).

Masi Oka and Nate Torrence play a duo of science nerds at CONTROL, who help Smart out of some situations. Their characters' popularity even led to the spin-off Get Smart Bruce & Lloyd Out of Control.

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Finally, I wrapped up my movie watching weekend with The Incredible Hulk.

I was never under the impression that the original Hulk movie was that terrible, but it definitely wasn't ground breaking either.

This movie, starring Edward Norton as Bruce Banner, was a better version of the first as Marvel tried to re-introduce the character.

This is by no means The Dark Knight or even Iron Man, but it is a pretty decent film - which sets up sequels and the inclusion of The Hulk in the Avengers movie. Hopefully with Norton reprising his role.

This was probably the best movie I watched this weekend, as it definitely kept me interested throughout the film - and let me wonder what was going to happen next.

Along for the ride this time were Liv Tyler (Dr. Betty Ross), William Hurt (Gen. Thaddeus Ross) and Tim Roth (Major Emil Blonsky).

Blonsky, at the urge of Hurt's Gen. Ross, eventually becomes the enemy in the film - known as Abomination.

The battle scenes involving the Hulk were pretty fun to watch - and the obvious toll that becoming the Hulk has on Bruce is done very well by Norton.

I was also happy that they didn't make the Hulk the size of a skyscraper like they did in the previous movie - yes he is much larger than his television version, but still at a reasonable size.

I also enjoyed the little things placed into the movie from the television version, most notably Lou Ferrigno (who was not only a security guard in the film, but the Hulk's voice) and the sad walk-away music that was played. Very nice touch.

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