Review: Duncan Jones' "Moon" (2008)

The film is great. Sam Rockwell plays multiple roles in the film, with each one providing a 'Best Actor' performance. Rockwell really sells everything he has, and makes me wonder what he will be working on from now on. I don't believe in flawless anything when it comes to human beings, so I don't think flawless would be the word to describe his performance, but whatever comes next... that was Sam Rockwell in "Moon".

Kevin Spacey lends his voice for a robotic character in the film. His voice is perfectly bland for the role. I would like to believe Spacey was perfect for this role as well, but it is just a voice.

The film's story was unique yet simple. I was originally concerned at a resemblance between "Moon" and "2001 A Space Odyssey" but in the end they were vastly different. 2001 was grander in its ideas, but "Moon" was in my opinion, better executed and better performed. All these features are key elements to great films, and each has higher and lower levels of each.

Hollywood is revealing flaw after flaw in its award shows. The major award shows denied "Moon" on all the nominations. If I had a say, it would have been nominated for 'Best Picture', but more importantly 'Best Actor'. Hollywood is an hourglass running out of sand, they need to step it up.

The set design and cinematography were just amazing. Everything felt so real, so raw, so interesting. I don't think I experienced the same realness, raw feelings, or interest in the Star Wars prequels. This film is truly a great science fiction film, perhaps one of the only more modern science fictions out there.

If you haven't seen this film, really evaluate the films you watch before seeing this, because you are probably wasting your time on lesser films. Must see.

"Moon"

8.5 / 10

Review: The Pentilogy of "The Karate Kid"...

"The Karate Kid" was absolutely a classic, whether a fine film or note, it is nostalgic. There are very distinct flaws in the first film which really starts to fester. The first film had a unique story, simple, but unique. The movie is one of the best films about overcoming an adversary I had ever seen growing up. The rest of the films that tried to play with the same plots really bombed.

The cast in the main body of the series is Ralph Macchio and Noriyuki 'Pat' Morita. 'Pat' Morita portrayed one of the most iconic figures in film history in Mr. Miyagi. The portrayal, or demanded performance wasn't astounding by any feat but it did better than I think anyone could have ever asked for. On the other side of the cast, Ralph Macchio was the single biggest flaw. He constantly overacts in every scene, like each frame decides the future of his career. In the end, it did, but not benefiting it.

I think one of the most unique facts surrounding the Karate Kid series is that the director of "Rocky", John G. Avildsen, helmed the first 3 Karate Kid movies. "Rocky" is or should be in every living breathing creature's top 10 list of greatest films of all time. Then came, what feels like a cash flow.

The first Karate Kid really does stand alone in the series. I feel like the original Karate Kid is Kellogs Corn Flakes, and the second Karate kid isn't for sale in the country... perhaps its Okinawa Flakes. The third film comes back into the local market, but its store brand, and organic.

I go against the trend in caring more for the third than the second, but thats preferring a Ford Pinto vs. the Yugo.

The stories in the second and third films take a serious nose dive, and I cannot imagine the director not being taken over by alcoholism during and after filming. It seemed the actors weren't given a script but told limited facts about what was expected and really winged it, including the dialog.

Moving on, we hit the worst road block in the series, "The NEXT Karate Kid". If you've got the time, don't. Take the money you would spend on a rental or purchase, and just light it on fire.

Now... the most recent of the series, was released this year. The film stars the son of Will Smith, Jaden Smith. Jaden shows us a bit of what is to come in this film. His screen presence is already elevated, and with the help of Jackie Chan, provide a solid film. I don't think the film has succeeded more than average expectations but it did prove entertaining. Jackie Chan isn't known for his acting ability, but he reveals a sign of it's existence in the film. Chan still provides with Chan-like energy in his choreography while leaving out the Chan hour of comedy.

The film didn't finish well, in fact the ending was the most sour portion of the film. If the ending had delivered, I think it could have projected the film to eye level or higher than the original Karate Kid. At the end of the day, it was a remake, a remake to an already successful and still relevant film, expectations are higher for remakes, and this remade story wasn't presented well enough to justify itself.

"The Karate Kid"

7 / 10

"The Karate Kid II"

3.5 / 10

"Karate Kid III"

4.5 / 10

"Karate Kid" (2010)

6.5 / 10

----------------------------------

----------------------------------

"The Next Karate Kid"

----------------------------------

----------------------------------

Review: Francis Ford Coppola's "The Rainmaker" (1997)

Coppola, one of the greatest directors of all time, solely for bringing us "The Godfather", leaves most of his marks with lacking consistency. To make what many people would consider the greatest film or trilogy ever made and then have so much inconsistent films really makes me wonder.

Coppola is responsible for bringing us "Apocalypse Now", one of the greatest war movie of all time. "The Godfather", the greatest real gangster movie of all time, "The Conversation", the greatest mystery, suspense, espionage film I can conjure... and then be the maker of mediocracy in "The Outsiders", "Bram Stroker's Dracula", and so many other films no one will have ever heard of just creates curiosity. Even the films he decided to produce, they have a large range of goodness.

The cast in "The Rainmaker" is led by Matt Damon and Danny DeVito. The other actors in the movie would make it more appealing by adding their names to the cover, but really don't add to what we see on the screen. Matt Damon is one of the best actors Hollywood has ever seen who can be rock solid and consistent in portraying a mediocre character in a mediocre way. I don;t want to say more than that about him, if you have seen anything staring Damon, you have seen his performance in everything (minus "Good Will Hunting"). Danny DeVito could be summed up in the exact same words, minus Good Will, and enter "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest".

This movie is your average, very average 90's drama. You get the big bad business man who takes advantage of the little innocent people and just before the big guy can win, in comes the hero to save the day... the end. Coppola needs to stay away from Grisham novels, and stick to what has worked the best for him... or just call it quits and we can soak up the greats.

"The Rainmaker"

6 / 10