The Norwalk Web Site, Norwalk, CT - Movie Reviews


	Norwalk hosts 3 movie theaters in town - the Sono Regent 8 (tickets and showtimes), Royale 6 (tickets and showtimes) and Garden Cinema, along with the Maritime Aquarium's IMAX theater, and there are a number of other theaters within a 20 minute drive, including theaters in Stamford, New Canaan, Wilton, Bridgeport and Fairfield. The Norwalk Web Site is proud to present "Shadow Reviews", Robert Sodaro's column of selected movie reviews. Please let us know what you think, and if the reviews are helpful. We look forward to hearing from you. Current Reviews: Fast Five Bridesmaids Everything Must Go Kung Fu Panda 2 Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides Thor Water for Elephants Fast Five Rated PG-13 (130 Minutes) Starring: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Jordana Brewster, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, Tyrese Gibson Directed by: Justin Lin OK, this is a film series that needs little introduction, back story or setup. It involves powerful cars driving wicked fast, extraordinarily beautiful women wearing tight clothes, macho men all full of testosterone, bad guys and oodles of money. Yeah, it's like the perfect guy film. When last we saw these guys Brian O'Conner (Walker), now in LA working for the FBI, re-teams up with Dominic Toretto (Diesel) to infiltrate the operation of a heroin importer in order to bring him down. Well, as this film starts out, O'Conner is a disgraced ex-lawman and Toretto is being carted off to federal incarceration, only things don't quite go as planned (for the feds at least). O'Conner and the rest of the crew zoom into action and spring Toretto before he can even make it to the pen, and then hi-tail it to Rio de Janeiro.. It is there that they determine to make one last (really big) score and then beat feet to a country that doesn't have an extradition agreement with the U.S. To make this big score, Toretto calls in the best of the best which means tapping several characters from the previous four films. Including Dom's sister Mia (Brewster - The Fast and the Furious & Fast & Furious), Roman (Gibson - 2 Fast 2 Furious), Tej (Ludacris - The Fast and the Furious & 2 Fast 2 Furious) Vince (Matt Schulze - The Fast and the Furious), Han (Sung Kang - The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift & Fast & Furious), Gisele (Gal Gadot - Fast & Furious), Leo (Tego Calderon - The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift) & Santos (Don Omar - The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift & Fast & Furious). So yeah, the gang's all here. Since these films work best when the lines between cops and robbers are blurred (and it is important that Toretto and his crew have the sympathies of the audience), the individual they determine to take down is the biggest crime lord in Rio, a man named Reyes (Joaquim de Almeida). However (since we need a different sort of twist to send this one really into the stratosphere), an über élite team of Federal marshals are sicced on the team. To make matters worse, the head Marshal is a serious Old School hard-ass named Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson). Now things get really interesting, as Hobbes begins working with the local authorities (most of whom are on the take), in order to bring in Toretto and O'Conner. While these two are sparring with Reyes, Hobbes and his crew are tracking Toretto and O'Conner. Still, all of this is just a set up for what is probably the most outrageous and (quite frankly) unbelievable bank heist ever filmed. Through it all, the over-riding theme of this flick is speed, speed, and more speed. Making it - without a doubt - the best film of the lot. Oh yeah, and even as the film wraps (with a stunt pulled out of left field) there is just the wisp of a hint of...well, that would be telling. Top Bridesmaids Rated R (125 Minutes) Starring: Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Ellie Kemper Directed by: Paul Feig There are films that work simply because of the make-up of the cast or the specific audience to which it is pitched (witness the Twilight Saga - a breathy teen saga that is transparently two-dimensional nonsense when viewed by an adult, male audience, but when watched by teen girls or their lonely moms, a highly-charged, emotional drama, that speaks to their very souls - or, when viewed by their moms, gets them all hot and bothered). The same can be said about comedies. There are things that men find funny, that woman simply don't get (e.g.; The Three Stooges). Much the same thing can be said for this film. It is clearly being pitched as the female version of The Hangover (ostensibly a "Guy" film), which is unfortunate as that approach causes both the film, and the humor to miss by a wide mark. It simply doesn't work as a Gal film nor as Gal humor. Written by a pair of women (Kristen Wiig, Annie Mumolo), Bridesmaids tells the story of Annie (Wiig) and her best friend, Lillian (Rudolph) who are preparing for Lillian's wedding, the only problem, is Lillian's new BFF, Helen. Where Helen is pretty, well off, and sure of herself, Lillian is plain, unemployed, and full of self-doubt and self-loathing. Well, Lillian has just announced that she is getting married, and asked Annie to be her Maid of honor. Annie, agrees, is soon introduced to the wildly off-center group of women who are to be Lillian's bridesmaids, setting off a string of events that are supposed to be a wild ride down the road to matrimony, but is just painful to watch. Annie's life is a mess - she's lovelorn, broke, and full of self-pity. As she attempts to bluff her way through the expensive and bizarre Maid of Honor rituals, all she manages to do is continually screw things up. As can be expected, this results in the sort of uncomfortable situations and resulting "humor" typical of producer, Judd Apatow's films (Superbad, Knocked Up, Get Him to the Greek), that work so well with guys, but not so much with gals. With those films the humor worked just fine, but here, in this film, again, not so much. It was flat, forced, and just plain not funny. Ultimately, what we have is a film for women, targeted towards men, written by women, with a male sense of humor. This reviewer was 10 minutes into the film looking for his watch and wondering if he could fake a heart attack to get out of the rest of the screening. No, this wasn't a good film and it was made worse by stacking the "likable" lead female roles with plain-to-unattractive women, and making the "mean girl" character (Byrne) to be not only the only attractive female lead, but shallow, vain, and unlikable. Still, even this maneuver shows the laziness of the writers who never bothered to develop the personalities of the characters past their own physical appearances. Stay home and avoid this travesty, but if you must go to the movies this week, go see Thor again. Top Everything Must Go Rated R (100 Minutes) Starring: Rebecca Hall, Will Ferrell, Michael Peña, Laura Dern, Stephen Root Directed by: Dan Rush If you are a fan of Ferrell's Saturday Night Live, his movie roles in Old School, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy or even his bits on Funny or Die, and think that this film is going to be anything like those performances, well then you are going to be severely disappointed. However, if you want to see this normally hilariously-skewed man-child play a serious, grown-up role for a change, then you will want to catch this performance. Following in the steps of fellow funnyman Adam Sandler (who took serious turns in Reign Over Me, and Punch-Drunk Love), Ferrell turns in a stand-up performance as a falling down drunk who has finally hit rock bottom. Ferrell is Nick Halsey, who just got fired from his job as VP and comes home to find all of his stuff out on the front lawn. Seems that his wife has had enough of his drama and - in light of the incident that got him fired - has locked him out of the house and is now in hiding. Needless to say, Nick's problems are just starting, not only has his company repossessed his company car, but his wife has frozen their joint account, and, well, he's gone back to drinking. Living out on his front lawn in front of all of his neighbors is bad enough, but now he is faced with having to sell off all of his stuff, something he is very reluctant to do. In the midst of all of this, Nick meets a new neighbor Samantha (Hall) who is not only very pregnant, but (apparently) moving in all alone as her husband is missing "on his way" to the new house. Nick also happens across Kenny (Christopher Jordan Wallace), a neighborhood kid whom he befriends and helps him with his tag sale. At first Nick resists the changes that are swirling around him, wallowing in binge drinking and misplaced rage, but eventually he comes to accept his new life and attempts to adapt. This is not a happy tale, it is depressing and cause for much soul-searching as you watch it, but it is isn't without a sort of redemption at the end as well as the glimmer of the possibility of a light at the end of the tunnel. Still, having said all of that, don't pass this gem by, as it is truly a character-driven story that provides a glimpse into the human psyche. Top Kung Fu Panda 2 Rated PG (91 Minutes) Starring: Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen Directed by: Jennifer Yuh Nelson Truth in reviewing here, we never saw the first Kung Fu Panda as our kids are well past the age of taking in all the animated films just because they are animated, so when initially presented with the possibility of seeing this film we were understandably not completely enthused about the idea. Thing is, we shouldn’t have been worried, as the film is not only very enjoyable, but actually quite good (better than some "adult" films we’ve seen recently). In the first film, Po (a Panda voiced by Black) learns Kung Fu under the tutelage of Shifu (Hoffman, a mouse), and Tigress (Jolie, a tiger). In this sequel, Po must now defend his village and all of China against Lord Shen (Gary Oldman, a peacock) as he sets out to right an imagined wrong as he attempts to put all of China under his foot. What makes this film truly work is not just the excellent writing, beautifully rendered 3D animation, and the wonderfully choreographed fight sequences, but the incredibly talented cast, which also includes Jean-Claude Van Damme (Master Croc), Lucy Liu (Viper), Michelle Yeoh (The Soothsayer), Dennis Haysbert (Master Oxen), Paul Mazursky, Danny McBride, and others (remember when cartoons were voiced by Mel Blanc and a bunch of other nameless, faceless voice actors?). Anyway, in Kung Fu Panda 2, Po is now living his dream as a Dragon Warrior, who — along with his fellow kung fu masters — is protecting his friends living in the Valley of Peace. Unfortunately Po’s new life of total awesomeness is threatened by the emergence of Lord Shen, who plans to use a secret and unstoppable Kung Fu weapon to conquer all of China and destroy the art of kung fu. Po must now look to his past and uncover the secrets of his mysterious origins (apparently he was left to his father in a basket of radishes). Only after Po unravels this secret, and masters the art of inner peace, will he be able to unlock his strength which he needs to succeed. Needless to say, this film is not just for kids and offers up snappy dialogue, funny jokes, and real insights along with wildly hyper-kinetic, and supremely syncopated fight sequences that support (rather than overpower) the story of the film itself. Yes, this silly, entertaining "kiddie" film has an actual plot, a real story, and numerous well-developed characters that move it all along in a highly watchable, and well-produced film. Top Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides Rated PG-13 (137 Minutes) Starring: Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz, Ian McShane, Kevin R. McNally, Astrid Berges-Frisbey Directed by: Rob Marshall We wanted to like this film, we really did, unfortunately, that simply wasn't the case. To be fair, we are fans of big-budget-over-the-top, action/adventure, check-your-brains-at-the-door summer blockbuster films. Still, as stated, we just couldn't get into this film, as the franchise has become bloated, over-blown, and, well, an unholy mess. There is no character development, no story advancement, and only the merest bare bones of a plot (Captain Jack Sparrow searches for the Fountain of Youth). That's it, in fact, save for that (truly minor) adjustment and the absence of Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom (who have been "swapped out" for Cruz and Sam Claflin - proving that it really doesn't matter who else is in the film), there is essentially nothing different between this and the previous three films. It is all Sturm und Drang signifying nothing. There are no soft moments of character development, no real exposition to drive the story forward, nothing except loud music driving the action from one fight sequence to another, with only the barest pretense of anything resembling story. There is no Joseph Campbell heroic arc, no rising and advancing of the spirit. Nothing but Hollywood's version of Shock & Awe intended to dazzle the mindless rubes in the darkened theater into shelling out their hard-earned money as they are lulled into a zombie-like existence where they will not only buy over-priced popcorn, drinks and candy, but Pirates of the Caribbean-themed crap and come back in 2013 for yet another installment of nothing more than they have already seen. This is not a movie; this is spectacle on steroids gone sub-orbital and hyper-kinetic. Whatever actual story possibilities that were present in the (admittedly) entertaining first film, are long gone, replaced by focus-group-contrived formula and rote. Sorry people, but the producers of this series have long since not only run out of ideas worth mentioning, but anything worth saying, and they are going to endlessly spin out the same pabulum until people stop lining up to buy tickets. Folks like taking swipes at films based on comic books, but - for the most part - they at least offer interesting stories and watchable characters that develop and grow. The Pirates of the Caribbean franchise is based on a three minute amusement park ride stretched out into over two hours for the fourth time, and anyone who has spent more than that same three minutes inside a theater while this film is playing should be able to figure that out. If you are looking to be entertained, skip this, and go see Thor. Top Thor Rated PG-13 (130 Minutes) Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Hopkins, Rene Russo Directed by: Kenneth Branagh To many, the mythology, and legends of the Norsemen are less familiar than their Greco-Roman counterparts, which is clearly due to the dominance of Rome and it's whorish ability to endorse, engulf, enhance, absorb, and ultimately supplant any culture that it came into contact with (and, well, conquer). So the Vikings from the far north have been given short shrift for years, as the rich, and convoluted history of their gods has been relegated to a secondary status. All of that has changed with the release of Thor, based on the eponymous Marvel Comicbook. The character first appeared in Journey into Mystery #83 (Aug. 1962) and was created by editor-plotter Stan Lee, scripter Larry Lieber, and penciler Jack Kirby. Having already successfully re-introduced Superheroes to its line of comics with the Fantastic Four, The Hulk, and Spider-Man, Stan turned to the Norse mythology to bring these lesser-known gods into the spotlight. Still, even though Thor was one of the original Silver Age mainstays of the Marvel Universe, he has never really risen to the level of fan fervor as Spider-man of the X-Men - with the release of this film, all that is about to change. Sticking close to the essence of the Thor mythology crafted by Lee, Leiber, and Kirby, the center of this tale revolves around the Mighty Thor (Hemsworth), a very powerful extremely arrogant warrior whose reckless actions reignite an ancient war between his peoples and a race of Frost Giants. In spite of the fact that his father Odin (Hopkins), has forbidden any reprisals against Jotunheim (the world of the Frost Giants), after a group of them have broken the long-standing truce between the two worlds, Thor and his friends invade Jotunheim. When this is discovered, Odin strips Thor of his power, and casts him down to Earth, forcing him to live powerless, among humans as punishment. Once here, Thor must learn what it takes to shed his arrogant nature and brash attitude, and to become a true hero when the Earth is attacked by a powerful, unloving creature which is sent against him. The film manages to not only successfully mix the other-worldy majesty of Asgard with its gleaming towers, with the sameness of a small town in Nevada on Midgard (Earth), but it side-steps the whole "godhood" of the Asgardians by hinting that they were a race of aliens who were worshipped as gods by ancient Norsemen. In Legend (as well as the comic), Loki (Hiddleston) - Thor's half brother - is portrayed as an evil trickster, who is always at odds with his more powerful, and respected brother, but in this film he comes across as a more sympathetic character, which actually better serves the storyline. Here he is unaware of his true past and (while still something of a self-serving deceiver), comes across as a product of his feelings of being slighted by his father, and constantly living in the shadow of his brother. Ultimately, what makes this film (as have many of the previous Marvel films), is the willingness of its director (Branagh), writers Ashley Miller and Zack Stentz, and producers to treat the source material with respect rather than simply as disposable kiddie fare. That respect, as well as the foresight to integrate the continuity with that of other Marvel films (nods are given to both next year's Avenger film as well as the Iron Man films, the appearance of SHIELD's Agent Chuck Coulson (Clark Gregg), as well as references to Tony Stark) give this film the kinds of references for which fans of the comics long. (Keep your eyes peeled for the ubiquitous appearance of Stan Lee, as well as the now-expected "Easter Egg" film clip that follows the credits that provides the kick-start for 2012's highly-anticipated Avengers film.) Top Water for Elephants Rated PG-13 (120 Minutes) Starring: Robert Pattinson, Reese Witherspoon, James Frain, Christoph Waltz, Hal Holbrook Directed by: Francis Lawrence Based on the best-selling 2006 novel by Sara Gruen, the film takes place during the height of the Great Depression and follows the story of Jacob (Pattinson), a recently-orphaned veterinary school student, who is now also penniless due to his father's lack of business acumen. Shocked that a cruel twist of fate has taken away his happy home life and family, Jacob leaves Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine, and heads out on the road, and winds up on a circus train. Befriended by one of the roustabouts, Jacob is accepted into the "family" of circus folk, eventually parlaying his veterinary training into caring for the circus' animals. He also takes an (unhealthy) shine to Marlena (Witherspoon), one of the show's star performers (who does tricks on horseback). The problem (and unhealthy part) is that Marlena is not just married, but married to the charismatic but somewhat unbalanced circus boss, Augustus (Waltz), who understandably isn't happy about the attraction of his wife to "the new guy." Another complication is that the Benzini Brothers circus is just barely getting by. Between the costs associated with running the circus, the lack of a big drawing act, and the Depression itself, Augustus has taking to "Red Lining" crew when funds run low (that is to say, pitching them off the train while it is traveling between stops). Well, at one stop, it seems that fortune seems to shine on them, as Augustus manages to acquire Rosie, an elephant that was abandoned by another broken-down circus. Augustus believes that Rosie will be the turning point that the Circus needs, unfortunately, initial attempts to train Rosie result in some problems, and due to both Augustus' temper, and the burgeoning romance between his lovely young wife and Jacob, things simply skew out of control. The film itself is engrossing to watch, offering an insight into what life in this country was like nearly a century ago, when life seemed so grim and there were far less restrictions on people and the way things were done. Particularly notable is the performance of Pattenson, who - with this performance - has proven himself a notable actor, rising far above his breathy role in the teen-angst (and highly dismissible) Twilight franchise. He turns in a very nuanced performance that was well worth watching. Needless to say, Witherspoon and Frain also do fine jobs in their respective roles, doing justice to the Gruen's book. While not as splashy a film as the up-coming crop of tent-pole, blockbuster, CGI, Action/adventure films that are making their way to the box office, Water for Elephants is the kind of old-fashion story-driven film that delivers memorable characters instead of simply trying to wow its audience with Hollywood's equivalent of cinematic Shock & Awe. Go see Water for Elephants, and enjoy what movies are supposed to be. Top All Shadow movie reviews are copyright © 2011 Freelance Ink, All rights reserved. Reviews cannot be reprinted without specific, written permission from the author. Robert J. Sodaro has been writing professionally for over 30 years. During that time, his movie reviews and articles have appeared in numerous publications; currently his reviews appear on the Web here, at Popthought.com, and in print in MoreSugar. The opinions expressed in these reviews are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Norwalk Web Site.