Fantasy

Genevieve Reviews Thor: The Dark World (2013)

Posted on by cinephilesanonymousblog

Thor: The Dark World (2013)

 

Rated PG-13

Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy

 

Directed by Alan Taylor

Starring Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman and Tom Hiddleston

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Plot: When Jane Foster gets cursed with a powerful object, Thor must protect it before an army and it’s ruthless leader try to get their hands on it to take over the remains of Earth.

 

Movie Trivia: This is the last film written by Don Payne (who also wrote the first Thor movie in this series). He died of bone cancer before the film was released.

 

IMDb: 7.1

Rotten Tomatoes: 66%

Genevieve: 🔥🔥🔥

 

This movie continued with the campy feel of Thor’s world, which again is not necessarily bad. Tom Hiddleston was, by far, the best part of this film. His performance as Loki was at its peak in this film after having two other films as this character to practice. The peaks and falls this go around are much more strongly felt as Loki plays the system better than ever before. He was the saving grace of this film to keep the story interesting. And again, this is coming from someone who is not part of the “Hiddleston-can-do-no-wrong-isnt-he-pretty” club. Purely from a novice critics perspective, every scene with him was better than the last.
In regards to Hemsworth and Portman, it is not that they were bad, but they didn’t really have much arc or development. Everything was focused more on Loki until a certain point. The effects were as good as ever and the humor was spot on for the type of movie Thor brings. All in all, it wasn’t a great movie but again, to complete the entire Marvel Studios plot, it is something you need to see.

 

 

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Genevieve Reviews The Avengers (2013)

Posted on by cinephilesanonymousblog

The Avengers (2013)

 

Rated PG-13

Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

 

Directed by Joss Whedon

Starring Robert Downey Jr, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston and Samuel L. Jackson

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Plot: Earth’s mightiest heroes must come together and learn to fight as a team if they are to stop the mischievous Loki and his alien army from enslaving humanity.

 

Movie Trivia: Robert Downey Jr kept food hidden all over the lab set and apparently nobody could find where it was, so they just let him continue doing it. In the movie, that’s his own food he is offering to fellow cast members and eating. He would just grab a bite during takes whenever he was hungry.

 

IMDb: 8.1

Rotten Tomatoes: 92%

Genevieve: 🔥🔥🔥🔥.5

 

What a fantastic climax to what basically amounts to the first checkpoint of our superhero movie marathon. All of the backstories and development we got along the way from the individual movies payed off in a big way with the first movie of The Avengers. Joss Whedon does a great job in making this bunch feel like a dysfunctional family that is just learning how to work together. The humor mixed with stress makes for a very entertaining, high tension ride throughout.

 

Robert Downey Jr is perfect as ever as Tony, making it look so natural that you forget this is a character. Chris Evans delivers an adorable, patriotic performance that you can’t help but root for even as you chuckle at him indulgently at his naivete. Chris Hemsworth returns with his signature pomp and grandeur that we associate with the God of Thunder. Scarlett Johansson is sexy as hell and twice as badass in every scene she is in. And last, but not least, Mark Ruffalo. While I adore Norton and the weight he brought to the role of Banner, this version brought to us by Ruffalo feels like a much better fit for this group. Norton would have been too dark, I believe.

 

But, every superhero is only as good as his villain, and Loki was able to hold his own against the entire team to help carry his side of the plot. Hiddleston yet again embodies the person we love to hate. His plan (plot wise) might not be too great, but with the combination of oily actions and snappy dialogue you are going to find it just as entertaining a performance as he delivered in Thor, if not more so since now we know exactly who he is.
Overall, this movie is just fantastic. It doesn’t earn that full extra flame to make it a favorite film of mine, but it comes very close. This is a film you won’t regret watching in the least. It is a great closing point in a series of setups, while still giving the audience those last two “hidden scenes” to tease of the heroism to come.

 

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Genevieve Reviews Thor (2011)

Posted on by cinephilesanonymousblog

Thor (2011)

 

Rated PG-13

Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy

 

Directed by Kenneth Branagh

Starring Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Hopkins and Natalie Portman
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Plot: The powerful but arrogant god Thor is cast out of Asgard to live amongst humans in Midgard (Earth), where he soon becomes one of their finest defenders.

 

Movie Trivia: When Hemsworth and Hopkins saw each other in full armor for the first time, Hopkins said “God, there’s no acting required here, is there?”

 

IMDb: 7

Rotten Tomatoes: 77%

Genevieve: 🔥🔥🔥.5

 

This film almost borders on kitschy and laughable if it were not for the grand scheme at work by the entire Marvel franchise. As usual, the visual effects were well done, and in 3D this film is gorgeous. They might have relied a little too heavily on CGI, but at the same time there is really no other way to tell this story the way it is meant to be told. Thor is already a little cheesy, but in such a great way. It works for him so well, and his fan base loves him because of it, not in spite of it. The handling of this film shows that very well, I feel.

 

From a critic’s perspective, I was much more entertained by the scenes with Loki than with Thor. And to fend off any arguments of this nature and to “clear the record”, I am actually more of a Thor fangirl than I am of Loki. So while my visual man meat was just so wonderful to look at, Tom Hiddleston delivered a performance as Loki that earned him larger roles in the subsequent Avengers movies. Between the cut scenes of Asgard and Earth, the film critic within me liked watching Loki work the system so much more than watching Thor manage his new found humanity.

 

Thor’s adventures on Midgard with Dr. Jane Foster and her band of scientist was fun, though, despite it lacking the chemistry of the other films in this line up. The comedy was cute and delivered very well in Hemsworth old english accent. He was a little stiff, but again that feels appropriate for this character. Anthony Hopkins is perfect in every role, so this was no different to me. It may not stand out as a best performance when viewed next to his other films, but he added well to the plot and feel of this movie.
Overall, this feels like an appropriate addition to the Marvel Universe, offering you much lighter option with beautiful visuals. It doesn’t have the darkness of The Incredible Hulk, or the sharp wit of Iron Man, but you get a good feel for what is to come by the addition of this particular Avenger.

 

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Wine Pairing Review: The Secret of Roan Inish (1994) and Antico Castello Irpinia Fiano (2013)

Posted on by cinephilesanonymousblog

The Secret of the Roan Inish (1994)

 

Rated PG

Genre: Drama, Family, Fantasy

 

Directed by John Sayles

Starring Jeni Courtney, Eileen Colgan and Mick Lally

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Plot: Ten-year-old Fiona is sent to live with her grandparents in a small fishing village in Dongal, Ireland. She soon learns a local legend that ma have more truth to it than it seems.

 

Movie Fact: Usually, movies use sea lions during filming because they are less shy and can be easier to train. This film, however, to remain true to the lore, used a combination of trained Harbor Seals and animatronic puppets.

 

IMDB: 7.5

Rotten Tomatoes: 98%

Genevieve: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Phillip: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Jessica: 🔥🔥🔥🔥

 

Phillip: Okay, I am really excited for this week. This has always been one of my favorite movies and I can’t wait to share it with more people!

 

Genevieve: Yeah, you showed me this movie right when we met and I fell in love immediately. It is actually based on a book that I really want to read now. You are the resident librarian, Jessica. Have you ever read this book?

 

Jessica: Not yet, but when you were watching could you recognize the grandfather’s voice? It is the same actor that voiced Brother Aiden from Secret of Kells.

 

Genevieve: Wow! Now that you say that, I do hear it! I don’t know why I didn’t connect that sooner! I love this movie. From the very beginning, it takes the entire film from Fiona’s perspective. The scene at the bar where the camera is right at her level is such a beautiful introduction.

 

Phillip: Also, it is just a happy coincidence that the wine I paired with this is called Fiano and her name is Fiona. I thought it was ironic, though. I love Fiona. Her character design was done really well. All the characters and the sets were well done. It truly felt realistic for the time it is meant to take place in. Plus, being the father of two girls, I can attest that her hair throughout the film is spot on. Even when it is done, it is still windswept and loose.

 

Genevieve: Every does work very well together to give you a certain feeling. My favorite aspect is the absolute way that they tell the story. Everyone phrases it in a way that they don’t want to sound crazy, but in their heart they believe it. It doesn’t sound like a fairytale, it sounds like history when it is being told. The character’s make it so real, and the script reads like poetry.

 

Jessica: Yeah, like the grandfather just shutting down toward the end of the plot. Legally, there are aspects of the plot that could no longer happen. But this did happen to many families during the time.

 

Genevieve: One this I believe is a major theme of this movie is the relationship between the land and sea. They are opposing elements, but they work in a beautiful harmony when respected. It does a great job in showing how water and earth can fight each other fiercely, but also help each other. The sea almost drowns one of fiona’s ancestors, and later the earth (cows) bring him back to life. The love of another ancestor’s life was given to him by the sea, but her love of the sea took her away. The sea provides life and protection to the subsequent generations, but when they abandon their home on the island, the sea “reclaims” it’s toll by taking Jamie.

 

Phillip: It’s actually a lot like our wine choice for this movie. I chose this wine because it has a certain element to it that is almost briny. It has heavy floral notes on the nose, and you get a bite of brine when you drink it. It feels like that same balance that they are going for in the movie of the sea and the earth.

 

Genevieve: I can see that, for sure. It is delicious. It almost smells like a field of flowers, with maybe some green house dirt? I get the brine on the tongue for sure. And it is not dry at all, but not sweet either. I can taste that balance for sure. I want this with some alfredo pasta next time.

 

Phillip: Agreed. But back to this lovely film. I picked it for a reason: it is one of my favorite films ever. No matter how many times I watch this film, it always makes me tear up at the end. The instant belief of the grandmother and her jump to action, the loving actions of the seals. I really don’t know which emotion it is but I feel so hopeful and happy when it is all said and done. This will always be a favorite movie for me.

 

Genevieve: I cannot agree more. It just feels like a big warm hug in all the right ways.
Jessica: I liked it, but I haven’t watched it as much.

 

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