2012 Summer Movie Season - Brave: Review & Analysis

Back on Target!!! Pixar's First Heroine Brings Studio Back To Critical Prowess
   By: Brandon Porter



"If You Had the Power to Change Your Fate...Would You?" - Merida

Introducing Pixar's First Female Heroine...Merida
of Clan DunBroch!!!!

The Story

In the highlands of 10th Century Scotland lives the DunBroch family. Ruled by King Fergus (Billy Connolly), his beloved wife Queen Elinor (Emma Thompson) along with their three sons Harris, Hubert, and Hamish and their free spirited daughter Princess Merida (Kelly Macdonald). For years, Merida has become her own person and has tried to shape her own destiny. But her mother seems to be down her throat about every little thing she does. Queen Elinor constantly bombards her daughter with never ending lectures and seminars on how to become a "true" princess. Fearing her destiny is being shaped for her, Merida journeys to change her fate and take back control of her life. Little does she know, her escapades will reawaken an ancient curse that threatens not only her family, but the future of the entire kingdom. Merida must now take a life changing journey to set things right and truly discover what it means to be brave.

             

The DunBroch Family at Dinner inside their Castle

Analysis

After the critical failure of Cars 2 last year, Pixar Studios was, for the first time, was on the negative end of critical acclaim. The studios next project, Brave, would be the studios chance to show critics they are still the same magical company that brought the world some of cinemas greatest animated stories. With a strong female heroine, a dark tone, and a family themed plot, Pixar was looking to make a strong comeback as a cinema powerhouse. In the end, they did just that. Brave prove to be a great success receiving a 75 % Certified Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and earning the #1 spot at the box office its opening weekend with $66.3 million dollars. Roger Ebert gave the film 3 out of 4 stars stating even though the kids will ultimately love it, the adults will be underwhelmed at considering this a Pixar masterpiece. He stated the films message of mother/daughter communication was a wonderful addition to the storytelling. To some critics, Brave may not be Pixar's best work, but it is a solid film that has great depth, heartfelt comedy, and fun enjoyable moments.

With sword in hand, Merida stands ready for anything, that
threatens her or her family

Review

I have been watching the development of Brave ever since leaning of its existence a year ago. Though I thoroughly enjoyed Cars 2, I felt that the studio should come back strong the next year and bring that great magic with them. I saw Brave a few days back on Saturday and was very satisfied with the results. The film was a huge improvement from Cars 2 a year ago. The film carried a much darker and serious tone that I felt the studio handled very well without shunning its core audience…the kids.

One of the things that pleased me about the film was the trials it take its heroine through. Both Merida and her mother both have flaws. Whether it is selfishness or the inability to listen to each other, the spiritual journey the two of them take together strengthens their bond and brings them closer together. Another thing that surprised me the most was the action in the film. The action was very exciting especially for a Pixar film. The climactic battle between Mor' Du and Elinor as a bear was very intense and thrilling to the end. There hasn't been a film by the studio this action packed since The Incredibles. As for the characters, Merida is a tremendous protagonist in the film. Her strength and bravery are exactly what young girls need in a female heroine. With Katniss Everdeen of The Hunger Games becoming a beacon of empowerment for pre-teen girls, it's good to know young girls at ages of 10 and below have their own on screen heroine. However, despite Merida being a solid main character, its her brothers, Harris, Hubert, and Hamish, who really steal the show. Their antics and acts of mischief had audiences laughing throughout the film. Overall, this was a very enjoyable film that had me satisfied in every way and assured me that Pixar still has some magic left in them.

Rating and Final Thoughs

88% 8+

Mixing the action of The Incredibles with the parent to child journey of Finding Nemo, Brave is another example why Pixar is good at what they do and that's making great family films that inspire as well as entertain.

  

Pixar has created a great symbol of enpowerment for young girls everywhere.
Someone who is strong, good willed, independent, and just plain BRAVE.

 

2012 Summer Movie Season - Snow White and the Huntsman: Review & Analysis

Retelling the Legend!!! Universal Gives Darker Take on Classic Childhood Fairy Tale
  By: Brandon Porter



"Lips Red as Blood..Hair Black as Night...Bring Me Your Heart...My Dear Dear Snow White." - Queen Raveena

"Mirror, Mirror On the Wall..

Who is The Fairest of them All?"

"You Are the Fairest...But there is

Another destined..

To Surpass You..."

The Story

Once upon a time, a kingdom lived and prospered under King Magnus and Queen Eleanor. While admiring a red rose that bloomed bright in the coldest winter, she wished for a child who could match the beauty of that rose. Thus, Snow White was born. Years later, the Queen tragically passed away leaving Snow White and her father in charge of the kingdom. But soon, the King becomes marries a seemingly innocent and frightened woman named Ravenna (Charlize Theron) only to discover she is a powerful sorceress who destroys kingdoms and lives. Once in control, the newly christened Queen Ravenna seizes control of the entire kingdom and looks poor Snow White in a dungeon in the north tower. Now a young adult, Snow White (Kristen Stewart) has discovered that Queen Ravenna requires her heart to gain immortality. Upon hearing this, she flees into the Dark Forest, only to be tracked down by Eric, (Chris Hemsworth) a drunken huntsman with a broken heart. The two encounter many friends and enemies including the mysterious dwarves and Prince William (Sam Claflin). Together, they must rise up and against the Queen's evil reign and restore peace and prosperity throughout the land. The Legend Retold Anew and rest assure...its No Fairy Tale!!!

Analysis 

Charlize Theron Gives a commanding
presence as the Sinister Queen Raveena

   


Eric The Huntsman (Chris Hemsworth)
stands before the Queen and her gaurds
awaiting an important assignment.

Snow White and the Huntsman was the second of two Snow White films to be released in 2012. The first film, Mirror, Mirror starring Julia Roberts and Lily Collins, was more of a light hearted take on the fairy tale similar to the Disney version people know so well. After a subpar box office performance and a 50% on Rotten Tomatoes, people were eager to see what the darker and grittier version offered. With a disappointing 46% on Rotten Tomatoes, it seemed some audiences and critics found the film somewhat underwhelming. Rotten Tomatoes stated that the film suffered from uneven acting, problematic pacing, and a confused script. However, Roger Ebert gave the film a strong 3.5 out of 4 stating, "The movie tries to recapture some of the menace of the stories that used to be told to scare children rather than console them." Most of the film's praise went to Charlize Theron's performance as Queen Ravenna as well as Kristen Stewart's performance as Snow White. Negative reviews stated that the film was boring and lacked depth and character development. Mick LaSalle from the San Francisco Chronicle states that Snow White and the Huntsman is a slow, boring film that has no charm and is highlighted only by a handful of special effects and Charlize Theron's truly evil queen." Financially, the film did admirably well. Snow White and the Huntsman garnered $56 Million dollars on its opening weekend knocking off Men in Black 3 as the number 1 movie at the box office in addition to a worldwide total of $95 Million. Though it isn't a surprise that Snow White and the Huntsman is not the best movie of the year, it still managed to please a large majority of moviegoers. Everyone has their own opinion, but the end result is a mixed bag.

 

Review
 


Snow White (Above) and
 Eric (Below) lead an attack on
Queen Ravenna's Castle.

  In the begining, Snow White and the Huntsman was nowhere on
 my Summer Movie radar. But after a few trailers, I decided to give it a shot. I knew I was taking a rather huge risk being that the film was outside of my preferred genre which is Intense Sci-Fi Action, but I wanted to give it a chance. In the end, I'm pretty satisfied with the results. The film was decent and had good action. The visual effects were what really won me over. The amount of detail and work that went in creating these amazing settings and creatures was a spectacle itself. Action was pretty well done in the film. But like I said before, my preferred action is Sci-Fi, so I kind of came in with low expectations from the start. The action sequences I enjoyed the most were the ones that featured Sam Claflin's character William. I felt his action scences were the best in the film. Acting was solid from all members of the cast. Kristen Stewart gave a really good performance as Snow White. She really had a convincing british accent and brought as much life to the character as she could. On top of that, Stewart in some moments looked stunningly gorgeous on screen. She has the innocence and kind hearted persona needed for the character. Chris Hemsworth I felt had the easiest time getting his character down. All he had to do was take instances from Thor and incorporate them into the character. Charlize Theron however, gave the best performance as Queen Ravenna. Her character was also the only one who got a significant amount of depth. Theron really played the character well and was a very convincing villain. In short, part of me expected more from the film while the other part was iffy from the get go. It was a good film but more of a onetime thing rather than a traditional trip back.

Rating and Final Thoughs

81% B-

Though not the best film of the summer, Snow White and the Huntsman still manages to impress with a twist and turn plot, great special effects, good acting, and solid action. Evaluations of this film and Mirror, Mirror should be made to make sure other Snow White adaptions bulid on the good and do away with the bad.

2012 Summer Movie Season - Men In Black 3: Review & Analysis

Back in Black, Time, & Style!!! Third Men in Black Installment Dilivers Great Fun and Even Greater Surprises
   By: Brandon Porter



   "K?"
   "How Do You Know My Name?"- Agent J and Young Agent K

The Dynamic Duo of Agent J & K

The Story

 

14 years ago, Agent J (Will Smith) and Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones) became partners in the Men in Black, the extraterrestrial peacekeeping organization of Earth. Now, it seems that their partnership has become somewhat strained after so many years fighting alien baddies. When K's old nemesis Boris the Animal (Jemaine Clement) escapes from the prison on the moon, K becomes increasingly hostile and J discovers there is a secret that is being kept from him even with him being a high class ranked agent. But suddenly K mysteriously disappears and J discovers that K has been dead for forty years. Puzzled by the strange turn of events, J concludes that Boris went back in time and killed K which in turn resulted in present day New York falling under attack from an alien invasion. J must now travel back in time to the year 1969 where he will meet up with a younger version of K (Josh Brolin) and attempt to save his life and prevent the inevitable alien siege. The Men in Black are Back...In Time!!!

Agent J and Young Angent K (Josh Brolin)
with Griffin (Michael Stuhlbarg).

Analysis 
Men in Black 3 marks the first time since 2002 that the Sci-Fi comedy series has been in theaters. You would think that after ten years, the Men in Black series would have died out and been forgotten. But there are still fans out there who remember the classic original in 1997 and after a lackluster second installment, longed to see the franchise return to form. The end result was actually better than anticipated. Men in Black 3 was of course not as good as the original, but light years better than the second. In addition to a very solid 68% on Rotten Tomatoes, Men in Black 3 also became the first film in the Summer Movie Season to take down Marvel's The Avengers and claim the top spot at the box office on Memorial Day weekend. Movie Critic Roger Ebert gave the film 3 out of 4 stars praising Josh Brolin's performance as K and for the film's plot, bizarre monsters, and climactic sequence. Men in Black 3 earned a total of $54 million dollars on opening weekend and a worldwide gross of $212 Million. Overall, Men In Black 3 performed well in its overall state. Though it didn't best the original it is good to know the film crew learned and fixed the mistakes of the second.

J & K chase down Boris in their fast and reliable high speed
Motorcycles

Review


When Men in Black 3 was announced, I found myself with some skepticism brewing inside of me. With the original being a childhood favorite and being less than impressed with the second installment, finding out that another film was being made after ten years left me a little bit iffy. I'm happy to say, it was a pleasant trip to the movies. Men in Black 3 is a tremendous step forward for the franchise. One of the brightest spots was Will Smith. Will brought the great charm and wise cracking attitude that made him famous in the first film and in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Aire. Even in dull moments, Smith would say something to get me through the brief boredom. Although Will Smith was a huge bright spot, Josh Brolin really steals the show as young Agent K. Brolin brought the same type of demeanor as Tommy Lee Jones while giving the character a fresher and more likeable persona. In addition, Smith and Brolin's chemistry really shined in the film, it was almost like they had worked together many times prior to this film. Michael Stuhlbarg and Jemaine Clement give good performances as Griffin and Boris, who is possibly the creepiest villain in the franchise. As far as negatives, the amount of action kind of lacked in this film. The bike chase was fast and fun and the climactic battle was satisfying, but I would have liked to see maybe one or two more action sequences in the mix. The great news is what the film lacks in action, it makes up for in substance. The film's plot was the biggest surprise to me. When reading the synopsis, I knew there was a secret and I knew J would eventually find out. But when the secret was revealed, it took me completely by surprise, knowing that J was actually destined to be part of the Men in Black in his father's place after being killed by Boris and that K had been watching over him for years was brilliant. The writer's did a very good job at throwing a curve ball and giving audiences the unexpected. All in all, this was definitely a great summer film with good humor, solid performances, and decent action. I feel that the frachise is back on track to improve and build on the success of this latest installment.

Rating and Final Thoughs

84% B-

The best Men in Black film to date. Still not as good as the first but a huge step up from the second. With mostly everyone coming back from the director to the actors, they have clearly taken the nessasry steps to keep the franchise going. 

Josh Brolin and Will Smith make a great team on screen. Thanks
to that, They have possibly saved this series of films from slipping
into another one of Hollywood's underachieving accomplishments.