Redux - Special Edition: The Empire Strikes Back.

Review #114: The Empire Strikes Back.

Cast
Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), Harrison Ford (Han Solo), Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia Organa), Billy Dee Williams (Lando Calrissian), Anthony Daniels (C-3PO), David Prowse (Darth Vader (voiced by James Earl Jones), Kenny Baker (R2-D2), Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca), Frank Oz (Yoda), Jeremy Bulloch (Boba Fett), Alec Guinness (Obi-Wan Kenobi), and Denis Lawson (Wedge Antilles) Directed by Irvin Kershner (#004 - Robocop 2)

Review
In my original review (#114 - March 31, 2012), I had given the movie a 10/10 rating, and while I stand by the rating, I regretted not saying more about the movie. I barely mentioned the characters and effects at all, among other aspects that I should have talked more about. Because of this, I decided to finally make a Redux - Special Edition (which I did for A Christmas Story, Halloween, Licence to Kill, and On Her Majesty's Secret Service). Enjoy.

The Empire Strikes Back is often called the best installment of the original trilogy and one of the best sequels of all time, and with good reason. It raises the stakes along with the mood and tension in a degree that makes for an entertaining movie that eclipse the excitement and depth of the original film in some aspects. It's interesting that the beginning of the movie starts not only with a large-scale battle, but one that our heroes technically lose (in that they retreat). Sure, they had destroyed the Death Star, but the story (and the war) didn't end just because you can blow up a base (or two). It has been three years since they destroyed the Empire's space station, but the Rebels has moved on from celebrating in Throne Rooms to having to deal with getting a new base and adapting to the cold and the fear the Empire would find them. The music by John Williams is once again fantastic, ranging from tense (The Battle of Hoth) to mysterious (Yoda's Theme) to one that inspires dread (The Imperial March) to one that fits for the climax (The Clash of Lightsabers), with the music fitting the movie just perfect.

Of the (now seven) films, Empire Strikes Back is the only one that introduces key characters while not having any major ones die, and the movie still manages to be emotionally satisfying. Williams is certainly a welcome addition to the band of heroes, managing to have a certain aspect of intrigue along with conflict about the decisions he has to make. Yoda is an interesting case, depending on when you see him (prequels/originals), but in this he certainly has a mystique that evolves from seeming like an strange little hermit (in our first encounter watching him first meet Luke) to a wise master that seems to have more secrets than he lets on. I love the puppetry for Yoda because it never seems fake or off-putting to watch. The way it moves around along with the voice (by Frank Oz) fits well with a character as grand as Yoda.

It's interesting how popular Boba Fett (voiced by Jason Wingreen originally, though replaced by Temuera Morrison after 2004) became even though he doesn't have many lines to say (though he does have a crucial role), though his armor is admittedly interesting to look at.  The Emperor (voiced originally by Clive Revill but replaced by Ian McDiarmid in the newer editions starting in 2004) has only one scene in the movie, but he manages to have an important presence even when he isn't seen because even though Vader seems to be more in control (as opposed to Tarkin essentially having Vader on a leash in the previous one) of the Empire's wrath, he still has a Master to look to. Of course, one can't mention the movie without saying something about the Han-Leia dynamic, and the way their romance doesn't seem to override the movie or take away from it - because it seems natural and it makes the movie more interesting than it already is. Even the line of "I know" to Leia saying "I love you" works because it doesn't bog the movie down in melodramatic form of romance (which is something the prequels, in particular Episode II failed to do).

Once again, the effects (visual and sound) are impressive, but the fight between Vader and Luke is also a key highlight, with the lighting and steam creating a subdued atmosphere, for a fight sequence that is a key improvement over the last film in terms of tension and stunt choreography. The reveal of Darth Vader being Luke's father is a moment in which the movie manages to culminate all the emotional buildup of Luke having believed that his father was killed by Vader only to find out a harrowing truth (or was it?...of course it was) into a powerful moment that still is a great scene even when you've already seen the movie or know the mythology because it still manages to be a memorable and effective scene, serving as a great climax for the film. Ultimately, The Empire Strikes Back manages to be a dark, but entertaining movie that serves a great sequel to the original Star Wars film that while not ending on a high note for the characters, still has a hopeful outlook to continue onto more adventures.

Next up on Redux - Special Edition is the film that ended the story of our heroes...for a while on a peculiar note...

Overall, I give it 10 out of 10 stars.

Redux - Special Edition: Star Wars (1977).

Review Special Edition: #113: Star Wars.

Cast

Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), Harrison Ford (Han Solo), Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia Organa), Peter Cushing (Grand Moff Tarkin), Alec Guinness (Obi-Wan Kenobi), David Prowse (Darth Vader (voiced by James Earl Jones), Anthony Daniels (C-3PO), Kenny Baker (R2-D2), Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca), Phil Brown (Owen Lars), Shelagh Fraser (Beru Lars), Jack Purvis (Chief Jawa), Denis Lawson (Wedge Antilles), and Garrick Hagon (Biggs Darklighter) Directed by George Lucas.

Review

In my original review (#113 - March 30, 2012), I had given the movie a 10/10 rating, and while I stand by the rating, I regretted not saying more about the movie. I barely mentioned the acting at all, among other aspects that I should have talked more about. Because of this, I decided to finally make a Redux Review (which I had done for A Christmas Story, Halloween, Licence to Kill, and On Her Majesty's Secret Service). Enjoy this "Special Edition" version, if you will. 

Star Wars (also referred to as A New Hope) is a mythical tale that has entertained audiences all around the world for over 40 years, and the scope of its influence on cinema (and filmmakers) can't be understated. It's interesting how a space opera like this had been influenced by other movies such as The Hidden Fortress and Flash Gordon serials, but also works by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Star Wars at its heart is a fairy tale with the mythical nature of the characters, legends in an epic that is not set in the beginning, but rather the middle. You don't have to watch the prequels before seeing this because this film s manages to introduce itself and its story extremely well, right from the opening crawl. I remember watching this when I was around 13 years old, and I can recall that I didn't know much about Star Wars at the time (aside from the name), but the Battle of Yavin (amidst other scenes) managed to stick out the most in my head, even years later. Perhaps it was the memorability of the characters, or the music (by John Williams) being so in tune to the movie, with Binary Sunset being especially memorable, but other music (Cantina Band - which sets up an atmosphere of a bar in less than three minutes, and also the Battle of Yavin - which fits with the key climax of the movie) also working to the movie's advantage.

The characters are interesting to watch interact with each other (particularly our main trio), which is more interesting than the actual acting with regards to the dialogue. While admittedly Hamill can come across as slightly whiny, the progression of his character throughout the trilogy means that it is worth it in the end. Ford is a charming rouge who (along with Chewbacca) manage to be entertaining from the first scene they are in, primarily because of the sheer magnetism of the duo. Fisher also does a fine job, alongside Cushing and Guinness (both already well established actors of film), who are both memorable in their own ways. Cushing is the perfect actor to play a role that really is the main enemy of the film (as he is the one that commands the Death Star, orders the destruction of Alderaan), even with a Sith Lord at his side. Guinness manages to seal the mysterious wise aspects of an old warrior in his first few scenes while putting Luke onto the path of adventure (even if what he says is true from a certain point of view) and realizing what he must do to play his part in trying to bring down the Empire. It's interesting how David Prowse plays the physical aspects of Darth Vader, and he sure fits the imposing frame of a villain perfectly, with James Earl Jones' voice being quintessential for the character.

Even though the movie has had fixes over the years (most notably the "Special Edition" version), the effects are still impressive to me in the sense that I love the effort it must have taken to get the look and action right, such as the TIE fighter attack and how it was based off of dog fights from World War II. The fun isn't in the themes or the dialogue, but in the adventure that ensues, and how it satisfies you by just being a charming movie that doesn't need slogs of backstory to be enjoyable. You can watch this first instead of the prequels and still not be too confused because it isn't one to try and fill background information, rather it is one that has a story of its own with a mythos that would only get expanded upon in future installments.

Next up on the Redux Review / Special Edition: The sequel that many argue is one of the best sequels of all time...

Overall, I give it 10 out of 10 stars.

Superman IV: The Quest for Peace.

Review #787: Superman IV: The Quest for Peace.

Cast
Christopher Reeve (Superman / Clark Kent), Gene Hackman (Lex Luthor / voice of Nuclear Man)
Jackie Cooper (Perry White), Margot Kidder (Lois Lane), Jon Cryer (Lenny Luthor), Mark Pillow (Nuclear Man), Sam Wanamaker (David Warfield), Marc McClure (Jimmy Olsen), Mariel Hemingway (Lacy Warfield), and Damian McLawhorn (Jeremy) Directed by Sidney J. Furie.

Review
Simply put, this movie is terrible. Any which way you look at it, the movie fails at every level, from failing as a superhero movie to failing to make a plot or direction that works to failing be a movie of spectacle or excitement. To make a long review of this movie would be redundant, but a basic criticism will suffice for such a basic movie. The first (and easiest) flaw to notice is the opening credits, which are representative of both the cheapness of the production studio (Cannon Films) and the harbinger of a movie that goes downhill from there. As usual, Reeve (who contributed to the story for the film) does a fine job, and Hackman returns to make for an entertaining Luthor once again, but neither can save a movie bogged down by terrible, terrible film-making not just from directing, but from a (chopped-down) budget that can't support what the movie wanted to be. The effects are the ultimate final blow, with easily visible strings, a shot of Reeve "flying" towards the camera being repeated numerous times, and numerous other examples of futile attempts at penny pinching. At least Cooper, Kidder and McClure are back, though they don't really very interested in the movie, much like the rest of us. The less said about Cryer, the better. Nuclear Man is certainly a strange villain, looking like he was time-warped from the early 80's, especially with the silver nails, and the fact that he is voiced by Hackman is somewhat off-putting. The fights between him and Superman are downright laughable, and the solution to defeating him via moving the moon in front of the sun is the only perfect way to end such a silly climax.

What is interesting in all of this is the amount of footage that was cut from the movie. Originally, the movie was over 2 hours long, but due to a bad test screening, Furie cut over 30 minutes out of the movie, with a good portion of those scenes (but apparently not all of them) later resurfacing on DVD many years later. Almost all of them have a bit of degradation to them, and scenes meant to show special effects (such as one scene where Superman rescues a child from a tornado) are unfinished, and even the final intended scene, with Superman and Jeremy (a child who wrote him a letter wanting him to intervene in possible war) flying over the Earth isn't finished, with a red glow effect on them.

In the end, the movie has no hope, no substance, no luck, and most of all no budget, proving to be the death knell of the movie franchise for 19 years. I'd recommend the movie as a guide on what not to do with regards to budgeting, editing, and most importantly, presentation.

Overall, I give it 4 out of 10 stars.

Superman III.

Review #786: Superman III.

Cast
Christopher Reeve (Clark Kent / Superman), Richard Pryor (Gus Gorman), Robert Vaughn (Ross Webster), Annette O'Toole (Lana Lang), Annie Ross (Vera Webster), Pamela Stephenson (Lorelei Ambrosia), Jackie Cooper (Perry White), Margot Kidder (Lois Lane), Marc McClure as (Jimmy Olsen), and Gavan O'Herlihy (Brad Wilson) Directed by Richard Lester (#541 - A Hard Day's Night, #594 - A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and #785 - Superman II)

Review
There is nothing wrong with a bit of humor and/or slapstick. Some comic book movies even excel at moments of lightness in otherwise good films. Superman III is not one of those movies. It's a sad, desperate attempt of trying so hard to be both that it manages to fail at every turn. It's hard to tell when the first cracks appear, but it could be argued that it's either when Richard Pryor first appears, or when the title sequence is shamelessly put on the bottom of the screen so we can all see some slapstick immediately after Pryor shows up. Afterwards, the movie goes up and down from there. Reeve is the best part of the movie, carrying the movie even when you know it's already past the point of no return. He even gets to play a Superman who (briefly) becomes weakened by synthetic kryptonite (just go with it) and becomes...a Superman who fixes the Tower of Pisa and even drinks some alcohol (while flicking peanuts at beer bottles). It's a ridiculous aspect of the movie, but it gives Reeve something to do amidst the Pryor parts that really take up nearly 45% of the film. There's even a scene where the two "Supermans" fight each other, which while being ridiculous (especially in how it ends), is actually pretty interesting to watch.

The new villain this time around is played by Robert Vaughn, but he doesn't really stick out too much, coming off as a Lex Luthor stand-in. O'Toole is the new leading lady (by that I mean for only this film), and while she is relatively decent, she isn't given much to do, as compared to Kidder...who is essentially put on a bus early on. And then of course there's Richard Pryor. He's not inherently terrible, and he is somewhat funny, but he doesn't really feel like he should be in a Superman film. For most of the movie he is on the side of the villain(s), but the second that Superman is in actual danger, he switches sides, and it comes off as a dull surprise. The only thing that surprised me is the computer "robotizing" one of the characters near the end, but of course it's not permanent, so whatever (by the way, how does a computer who is supposed to know Superman's weaknesses not realize how a certain acid gets volatile under intense heat? Actually, forget it, the movie still stinks). The movie's biggest flaw is that there really is no spectacle to any of it. You never really care about anything that goes on, and nothing sticks out in this movie that you truly remember as a good thing. The main idea behind the movie isn't terrible, but the execution falls flat on its face.

Overall, I give it 5 out of 10 stars.

Superman II.

Review #785: Superman II.

Cast
Christopher Reeve (Clark Kent / Superman), Gene Hackman (Lex Luthor), Margot Kidder (Lois Lane), Terence Stamp (General Zod), Jackie Cooper (Perry White), Sarah Douglas (Ursa), Jack O'Halloran (Non), Ned Beatty (Otis), Valerie Perrine (Eve Teschmacher), Marc McClure (Jimmy Olsen), Susannah York (Lara), Clifton James (Sheriff), and E.G. Marshall (The President) Directed by Richard Lester (#541 - A Hard Day's Night and #594 - A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum)

Review
If you're interested in the review, skip this paragraph, as it does not pertain to the review, merely serving as a little bit of background...

If you remember my review from two years ago of the original Superman movie (#547), I had said that it was a fine epic that succeeded in nearly every way possible, with the most important being that it was entertaining. Naturally, the movie was a success, and Superman II (which had been filmed simultaneously with the first film) would soon follow...but not with Richard Donner, who was "replaced" from the film by the Salkinds producers a few months after the first film's release. Richard Lester was tasked to finish the film. The dispute over what footage of the movie is Donner's and so on continued for years, with a "Richard Donner Cut" made in 2006 that tried to restore (as much as possible) footage that Donner had shot, though he was not involved with that cut.

With all that in mind, Superman II still manages to be a decent sequel. While it isn't up to the same craft as the first film, Superman II is as least entertaining enough to work. The movie has elements of humor that veer into slapstick (no doubt added by Lester), which admittedly gets in the way of enjoying my favorite part of the movie: The climatic fight with Superman and Zod, Ursa & Non. While it is a good fight that takes up the last 30 (or so) minutes of the movie, it is marred by random aspects. One example is Superman throwing his emblem shield at Non, which mystifies me on the level of practicality. Reeve and Kidder do have good chemistry together once again, and the romance is at least watchable, even despite the fact that Superman can just erase memories with a kiss (if he chooses to, I suppose), which makes for a peculiar (if not extremely inevitable) reset. The movie takes time to get going in the sense that it is more fun with Zod and the others around. The effects, while a bit peculiar at times, fit the movie well enough. Stamp certainly makes for a standout villain in the sense that there finally is a villain who can match to the physical strength of Superman, alongside the fact that Stamp is entertaining to watch, especially when asking someone to kneel. I wish that the idea of Superman taking his powers away in favor of being with Lois could have been more than just a five minute blip that just passes through and is nearly forgotten, right up to the end, anyway. I do find it interesting that at the end of the movie, Superman beats up a trucker (the one who had beaten him up while he was temporarily human), because...I guess Superman really felt that he needed to get some sort of retribution. Superman II is a sequel that has its bogging flaws, but it shines just enough with charm and a little bit of magic to work.

As for the sequel...next time.

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

10 Cloverfield Lane.

Review #784: 10 Cloverfield Lane.

Cast
Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Michelle), John Goodman (Howard Stambler), and John Gallagher, Jr. (Emmett DeWitt) Directed by Dan Trachtenberg.

Review
Once again, I'm back at the theater, and it figures I do it on the one day with a discount for tickets. The end credits for the movie lists eight people for the cast, with three of them being our main cast and the other five being (very) minor roles. The movie mostly takes place within a bunker, and the enclosed nature of the movie works really well, with the biggest strength being its cast, and for good reason. Winstead is interesting to watch interact with everything that happens around her, but she also is a capable heroine, which is nice. Gallagher is certainly not a bad part of this cast, and he does contribute to making the movie bit of humor without being annoying. The big highlight is John Goodman, mainly because of how effective he is in a thriller that relies on tension and fear, which all the cast succeeds at doing. It can be fun to watch at one moment and then turn dark another moment, with the movie getting better and better as it progresses. None of the characters are annoying in their motivations, nor inherently unlikable, which is also a plus. Even without the Cloverfield labeling (I'll get to the other Cloverfield soon), it works well on its own. The climax of the movie is a bit of a departure from the thriller aspects, but it does manage to make the movie keep its good footing going. Admittedly, the ending does leave room for a sequel, which I wouldn't mind because I'd like to see what other stories could be told, and that is the last sign a movie did its job.

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

Hot Pursuit.

Review #783: Hot Pursuit.

Cast
Reese Witherspoon (Cooper), Sofía Vergara (Daniella Riva), Matthew Del Negro (Detective Hauser), Michael Mosley (Detective Dixon), Robert Kazinsky (Randy), Richard T. Jones (Detective Jackson), Joaquín Cosio (Vicente Cortez), John Carroll Lynch (Captain Emmett), and Jim Gaffigan (Red) Directed by Anne Fletcher.

Review
Watching this movie is like microwaving a dried out hot pocket near its expiration date: it will either make for a modestly enjoyable experience that you'll forget about conveniently later...or it'll just come off as a stale experience that you'll forget about conveniently later. In my case, this falls in the latter, but what was I expecting? It's difficult to come up with elements to get aggravated about, mostly because there are far better (or worse) movies to talk about. The movie is as cookie-cutter as it gets, with jokes that would be funny if they made sense. The characters/acting are nothing special, feeling like cliches of established cliches, and of course the duo is all bickering at first, but not as much at the end...I suppose. Witherspoon and Vegara never seem at all comfortable together, and any chemistry they could've had is weighed down by tedious plot device that make the movie seem more detailed than it really is. The comedy is not entirely obnoxious, but it just feels so bland that nearly any pairing could be in this "buddy film" without any changes to the plot. Near the end, I wonder if this would've worked better (or at least not as bland) as a drama...probably not. Let's do a little game:
I wish my mind could convince me that my friends care about me and not just merely tolerate me.
If you think there's a joke about Witherspoon looking like a little kid (because 5'1 people are so short), collect 10 points.
If you think there's a joke about Vergara being described as 45-50 years old on TV bullitens, collect 10 points.
If you think the movie is less than 90 minutes, collect 10 points.
If you think this game is an unnecessary exercise in trying to escape having to describe the movie in detail, collect 1,000 points.
While I like doing these reviews, I have a lack of energy to actually review, especially now. Sorry.
If you have 30 points, you either watched one trailer for it, or you flat out used conventional sense.
If you have 1,030 points...you are beyond correct. If you want to see a buddy film, literally google to see if there are other picks. If after exhausting all your options and stuck with no one around to watch it with (or stop you)...go to sleep. Or fix your film shelf. Or try and reach out to friends.
Yea, like that last one will ever happen. Seriously, I watch most of these films alone.
Overall, I give it 4 out of 10 stars.

Zootopia.

Review #782: Zootopia.

Cast
Ginnifer Goodwin (Officer Judy Hopps), Jason Bateman (Nick Wilde), Idris Elba (Chief Bogo), J.K. Simmons (Leodore Lionheart), Tommy Chong (Yax), Octavia Spencer (Mrs. Otterton), Jenny Slate (Dawn Bellwether), Shakira (Gazelle), Nate Torrence (Officer Benjamin Clawhauser), Bonnie Hunt (Bonnie Hopps), Don Lake (Stu Hopps), Alan Tudyk (Duke Weaselton), Mark Smith (Officer McHorn), Raymond S. Persi (Flash), and Maurice LaMarche (Mr. Big) Directed by Byron Howard, Rich Moore (#386 - Wreck it Ralph) and Jared Bush.

Review
Honestly, the movie exceeded my expectations. And it only makes sense that it comes from a movie ultimately all about how we perceive types of people...and the fact that it came at a time like this with regards to prejudice and stereotypes. It's not merely a buddy film, or a movie just with animals in a city, or even just a silly comedy, it's a clever movie on many levels that could appeal to anyone. Of course it helps the cast is enjoyable as well. Goodwin and Bateman have good chemistry together, being enjoyable to watch not just exchanging remarks, but actually in solving the case. The rest of the cast is also pretty enjoyable, making these characters (and animals) stand out. It's also a wonderfully animated movie, especially with shots of the city, but also the look of the animals. It's a movie that also doesn't hesitate to take risks with plot and characters, and it always kept me interested in what would go on next. The way the movie talks about prejudice and stereotyping is also well done, being neither over done nor underplayed, being utilized neatly. More importantly, this is a movie that works for both kids and adults, being a movie full of creativity and enjoyment that anyone can like.

Overall, I give it 9 out of 10 stars.