I grew up watching the Creature Double Feature every Saturday, so I am unlikely to miss a Godzilla movie. The last attempt at a Godzilla movie was so terrible, it made me more excited about a new one. That it was being directed by the same guy who made Monsters made upped the anticipation. I fully expected that the new movie would harken back to the classic Japanese Godzilla movies where Godzilla was a force of nature battling other forces of nature. Humans were the catalyst for the crisis or just unfortunate bystanders to the conflict. They are monster movies, but they are also reflections of the anxieties of their time.
I saw Godzilla in full IMAX 3D with Dolby DTS sound. If one is going to see a movie about a giant monster, one should see it in the largest format possible. Even if the story is terrible, the spectacle can save the experience.
Godzilla didn't need the extra size. The story is solid. The first part of the movie gets you invested in the characters. You want them to make it through the coming crisis. The story also invests the monsters with a bit of character. The story also has plenty of social commentary. There is the play on conspiracy nuts, the over confident military, the questions about the safety of nuclear power, the fear of nature unleashed. I even found a little bit of reflection on climate change.
By the time the spectacle happens, the movie has earned it. The spectacle is spectacular. The monsters are HUGE. The cityscapes are gorgeous as they are being crushed. The soundscape of the movie is lush and makes the scale feel even bigger. The 3D was unobtrusive. I don't recall even noticing it.
Is this Godzilla perfect? No. The story is a little weak in places. I'm not sure I like the stoutness of the new Godzilla. Compared to the last Godzilla movie it is a masterpiece.
If you like monster movies, Godzilla is a must see. Go see it on a BIG screen for the full effect.
Showing posts with label IMAX. Show all posts
Showing posts with label IMAX. Show all posts
Friday, May 23, 2014
Monday, August 12, 2013
Pacific Rim
The first thing to know about Pacific Rim is that it exactly what it looks like: a 21st century remake of an old Japanese monster movie. It is giant robots fighting giant monsters with all of the standard tropes that goes along with the genre. The acting is over the top, the characters are archetypal, the dialog is stilted, and the plot is predictable. If you grew up, as I did, watching Godzilla, Gamara, Monster X, and Mega Man, you know what to expect. If not, it doesn't take much imagination to figure it out.
That is not a criticism. In fact, it is high praise the del Toro can make a serious block buster out of a genre that has been nearly destroyed by the likes of Transformers, Cloverfield, and re-imaginings of Godzilla.
del Toro clearly understands and loves the genre. He is also a true artisan. Pacific Rim is beautiful, exciting, and engaging. The monsters and robots have a weight and scale that is rarely seen in movies today. It is not that the robots in Transformers and the monster from Cloverfield are not big, it is that they don't have any weight. In Pacific Rim, they feel big and solid. When they hit, you feel the amount of damage being done. They also have a realism about them that adds to the sense of awe. Each robot has characteristics that align it with its country of origin. They are not just generic robots. The monster also have an organic quality and vague similarity to living creatures makes them feel alive.
The characters are archetypes, but del Toro adds just enough depth to make them interesting. You actually care about their fates. His oriental wonder girl is more than just a sexual force to guide the lost hero back to the world. She has her own issues. The stock mad scientists are goofy comic relief, but they also serve a point in the story.
That the characters are engaging is a vital strength because the plot is entirely predictable. You know how things are going to end up, but you still get caught up. The tension points work because you care enough to not want bad things to happen. Enough bad things do happen that you believe just enough that the really bad things will happen.
I saw Pacific Rim in IMAX 3-d. The 3-d was cool in some parts, but in others it was actually a distraction. There were also some spots where the projection was blotchy. If I were going to see it again, I would see it in regular IMAX. The scale of IMAX is perfect for Pacific Rim. It is a big film and makes the most out the big screen.
That is not a criticism. In fact, it is high praise the del Toro can make a serious block buster out of a genre that has been nearly destroyed by the likes of Transformers, Cloverfield, and re-imaginings of Godzilla.
del Toro clearly understands and loves the genre. He is also a true artisan. Pacific Rim is beautiful, exciting, and engaging. The monsters and robots have a weight and scale that is rarely seen in movies today. It is not that the robots in Transformers and the monster from Cloverfield are not big, it is that they don't have any weight. In Pacific Rim, they feel big and solid. When they hit, you feel the amount of damage being done. They also have a realism about them that adds to the sense of awe. Each robot has characteristics that align it with its country of origin. They are not just generic robots. The monster also have an organic quality and vague similarity to living creatures makes them feel alive.
The characters are archetypes, but del Toro adds just enough depth to make them interesting. You actually care about their fates. His oriental wonder girl is more than just a sexual force to guide the lost hero back to the world. She has her own issues. The stock mad scientists are goofy comic relief, but they also serve a point in the story.
That the characters are engaging is a vital strength because the plot is entirely predictable. You know how things are going to end up, but you still get caught up. The tension points work because you care enough to not want bad things to happen. Enough bad things do happen that you believe just enough that the really bad things will happen.
I saw Pacific Rim in IMAX 3-d. The 3-d was cool in some parts, but in others it was actually a distraction. There were also some spots where the projection was blotchy. If I were going to see it again, I would see it in regular IMAX. The scale of IMAX is perfect for Pacific Rim. It is a big film and makes the most out the big screen.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Avatar
Like the big nerd that I am, I rushed out to see Avatar on opening day. I saw it in the full glory of IMAX 3D and am glad I did. It is a movie that deserves a huge screen and a big sound system. I'm sure it would look great on a smaller screen and in 2D, but it was meant for the full treatment.
Like the original Star Wars, Avatar moves the bar up for what is possible using special effects. Cameron's new world looks as real as any set I've ever seen. The creatures also look real. They don't look "sort of" real like allot of CGI creatures. They look like flesh and blood. The facial expressions, the body movements, the skin, everything. It is hard to distinguish between what is CGI and what isn't even when humans and creatures are interacting. The 3D makes it all the more engrossing. However, there were a few times when the 3D effects fuzzed things out.
The story is nothing special. It is Ferngully in space. The trailer gives the whole plot away and there are no surprises. The script is clunky in places, but not as bad as the scripts for the last three Star Wars films. The acting was top notch considering that half of the time you are watching CGI and could still feel the characters.
At nearly three hours, the movie could use a bit of trimming. A lot of screen time is taken up showing off the fancy effects and the lushness of the world. There is also a little too much exposition. Overall, though, I didn't notice the long running time because I was so engrossed in the visual spectacle.
It is not the best sci-fi movie of the year, but it is top three. I highly recommend going for the full IMAX treatment. The seating is better, the sound is better, the visuals deserve the bigger screen, and the price difference is nominal. I paid 14 bucks - the extra $2 is worth it.
Like the original Star Wars, Avatar moves the bar up for what is possible using special effects. Cameron's new world looks as real as any set I've ever seen. The creatures also look real. They don't look "sort of" real like allot of CGI creatures. They look like flesh and blood. The facial expressions, the body movements, the skin, everything. It is hard to distinguish between what is CGI and what isn't even when humans and creatures are interacting. The 3D makes it all the more engrossing. However, there were a few times when the 3D effects fuzzed things out.
The story is nothing special. It is Ferngully in space. The trailer gives the whole plot away and there are no surprises. The script is clunky in places, but not as bad as the scripts for the last three Star Wars films. The acting was top notch considering that half of the time you are watching CGI and could still feel the characters.
At nearly three hours, the movie could use a bit of trimming. A lot of screen time is taken up showing off the fancy effects and the lushness of the world. There is also a little too much exposition. Overall, though, I didn't notice the long running time because I was so engrossed in the visual spectacle.
It is not the best sci-fi movie of the year, but it is top three. I highly recommend going for the full IMAX treatment. The seating is better, the sound is better, the visuals deserve the bigger screen, and the price difference is nominal. I paid 14 bucks - the extra $2 is worth it.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Watchmen
I went to see "Watchmen" last night at the IMAX in Reading. It was worth the extra dollar to see this film on the gigantic screen. The special effects, which are good, have more punch in IMAX.
The movie itself was good, but not great. It stayed pretty faithful to the original graphic novel. Most of the changes were just to cut the length down and smooth out the story line. Of course the movie still rolls in at just shy of 3 hours, the movie is still long and could be made shorter. The love scene in Archie is needlessly drawn out. Silk Specter looks good in the buff, but it doesn't help the story at all. There are a few other spots where things could have been cut down a bit more. Maybe it could have shaved 5-10 minutes off the run time. It didn't feel overly long however.
The one major difference between the novel and the movie is how Ozymandias tricks the world into peace. While I think the story works either way, I don't see the point of the change. If there is a bigger point to be made, the ending doesn't really make that clear. The alien meme achieves the same effect as making Jon the baddy. The world would still unite to combat a new, powerful, common enemy. If the ending was turned so that humanity saw the error of relying on a single man for their safety, perhaps the altered ending makes more sense. Dan's comment to Spector at the end confuses things even more. Perhaps, I'm missing the irony in it all. Perhaps, the director wants to drill home the question "Who watches the Watchmen?"
I think the real point is not about watching anybody. It is about Rorschach's joke.
I'm not sure how people who are not Watchmen fans will like the film. It is beautiful to look at, the action is well done, and the story is good. It is a little depressing and dark. Few of the characters (OK none of the characters) are likable. (I'll admit to a grudging soft spot for Rorschach. He is the closest thing to a real hero in the story.)
Watchmen fans will likely enjoy the movie even if they don't love the movie. I'm sure a few will decry the ending, but they are little better than the characters in the story.
If you like action movies and don't have anything to do for a few hours, there are worse ways to spend your money.
The movie itself was good, but not great. It stayed pretty faithful to the original graphic novel. Most of the changes were just to cut the length down and smooth out the story line. Of course the movie still rolls in at just shy of 3 hours, the movie is still long and could be made shorter. The love scene in Archie is needlessly drawn out. Silk Specter looks good in the buff, but it doesn't help the story at all. There are a few other spots where things could have been cut down a bit more. Maybe it could have shaved 5-10 minutes off the run time. It didn't feel overly long however.
The one major difference between the novel and the movie is how Ozymandias tricks the world into peace. While I think the story works either way, I don't see the point of the change. If there is a bigger point to be made, the ending doesn't really make that clear. The alien meme achieves the same effect as making Jon the baddy. The world would still unite to combat a new, powerful, common enemy. If the ending was turned so that humanity saw the error of relying on a single man for their safety, perhaps the altered ending makes more sense. Dan's comment to Spector at the end confuses things even more. Perhaps, I'm missing the irony in it all. Perhaps, the director wants to drill home the question "Who watches the Watchmen?"
I think the real point is not about watching anybody. It is about Rorschach's joke.
I'm not sure how people who are not Watchmen fans will like the film. It is beautiful to look at, the action is well done, and the story is good. It is a little depressing and dark. Few of the characters (OK none of the characters) are likable. (I'll admit to a grudging soft spot for Rorschach. He is the closest thing to a real hero in the story.)
Watchmen fans will likely enjoy the movie even if they don't love the movie. I'm sure a few will decry the ending, but they are little better than the characters in the story.
If you like action movies and don't have anything to do for a few hours, there are worse ways to spend your money.
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