Tag Archives: 2007

Movie Project #8: Into the Wild [2007]

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Due to the overwhelming success of my initial Movies Project, I decided to do a second round for 2012. This time around I put a greater emphasis on directors I am not familiar with, but I also tried to compile a mix of different genres and eras. This will be an ongoing project with the finish date being sometime this year.

Into the Wild [2007]

Into the Wild [2007]
Director: Sean Penn
Genre: Adventure/Biography/Drama
Starring: Emile Hirsch, Vince Vaughn and Catherine Keener
Runtime: 148 minutes

I was skeptical upon my viewing of Into the Wild. I have friends who swear by this movie, ranking it among their favorites, but I was worried that it would be too similar to Werner Herzog’s Grizzly Man, a similarly true tale that did very little for me. While both films have similar concepts — a man giving up everything to live in the wild — I felt that I could empathize more with Into the Wild’s lead character, much to the credit of director Sean Penn’s adaptation.

Emile Hirsch stars as Christopher McCandless, a middle-class kid who promptly gives up everything after graduating from college. He donates his savings (approx. $24,000) to Oxfam, ditches his car near a beach, and proceeds to live as a vagabond, happily drifting across the continental United States. His reason? He doesn’t agree with society, and the feeling of being trapped by its expectations. His ultimate goal is to live alone in the Alaskan wilderness.

This is an admirable notion, to be sure, but his lack of care and respect for his family is appalling. He doesn’t like his parents (Marcia Gay Harden and William Hurt), a stuck-up couple that are abusive to each other, but his little sister (Jena Malone) adores him. He shuns all of them, opting to go on his own personal journey.

Into the Wild [2007]

Christopher’s selfishness is disturbing, but it’s hard to stay upset at him thanks to Hirsch’s fantastic performance. He is charming, intelligent and has a strong set of morals when dealing with stranger (i.e. passing up on the chance to fornicate with a 16-year-old Kristen Stewart).

On the road, Christopher dubs himself Alexander Supertramp, and he meets a wide variety of characters, all memorable in their own way. There’s an old hippie couple (Catherine Keener and Brian H. Dierker) that he develops a strong connection with. In South Dakota, Alexander gets a job with a harvesting company owned by Wayne Westerberg (Vince Vaughn). In California, he meets an old retired veteran (Hal Holbrook, in an amazing performance) who begins to feel as if “Supertramp” is his own grandson. In different ways, Christopher makes an impact on all of their lives, then quickly goes off on his own, seemingly never to be seen again.

Into the Wild [2007]

The film is presented in nonlinear fashion, showing us glimpses of Christopher alone in Alaska, then showing us segments from his road trip leading up to that point. This connection is masterfully created by Sean Penn, who also wrote the screenplay. The cinematography is simply stunning, beautifully showcasing the glorious splendor that can be found in a country as large as the United States, even in places that might not be expected (i.e. South Dakota).

Special mention must be made of the movie’s soundtrack, performed by Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder. I am not a big Pearl Jam guy, but damn if this score doesn’t hit all the right spots. A perfect fit for the vast, expansive nature of the movie’s central theme.

Perhaps Into the Wild runs a little long, and yes, the main character is decidedly selfish, but this film is emotionally stirring in ways that I was not expecting. I felt a connection to this young man and his idealistic beliefs. He had a great message (and could have redeemed himself), it’s just a shame that he took it to such an extreme.

8/10

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Video Game Review: Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune [Playstation 3, 2007]

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Uncharted: Drake's Fortune [PS3, 2007]

Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune
System: Playstaton 3
Publisher: SCEA
Developer: Naughty Dog
Release Date: November 16, 2007

Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune is a hybrid action/platforming game that plays out as if it were a summer blockbuster movie. High production values, top-notch voice acting, over-the-top cinematics — its got it all. The game has a similar storyline to Indiana Jones movies and Dirk Pitt novels. You play as Nathan Drake, a treasure hunter who claims to be a descendant of English explorer Sir Francis Drake. Nathan is on a quest to find the famed artifact known as El Dorado, a giant golden idol hidden somewhere deep in the jungle. As any good fortune-hunting movie would have, Drake is accompanied at times by two supporting characters: Victor Sullivan, a grizzled cigar-chomping veteran who has a penchant for telling old travel stories, and Elena Fisher, a snarky reporter trying to land her next big news story. The plotline is hardly anything groundbreaking, but it is entertaining enough, especially since it is aided by some strong fleshed-out characters.

As mentioned earlier, Uncharted is a combination of an action/shooting game and a platformer. Since the game was created by Naughty Dog (Crash Bandicoot, Jak & Daxter), the platforming sections are designed rather well. While some platforming games get beyond frustrating due to touchy controls and mistimed jumps, Uncharted really excels in that department. Nathan is able to make some pretty incredible jumps, and the game is more forgiving when you are off by just a little bit since it usually allows him to desperately cling to the edge and pull himself up. The platforming areas are genuinely fun, as Nate traverses some large rooms by jumping along the walls, using vines, ledges, chandeliers and whatever else he can land on.

The combat, however, is where the game could use some work. The main enemies are pirates who are racing to get the treasure first, and they are all over the freakin’ place. The enemies themselves are not the problem, although some more variety would have been nice. I was more disappointed with the actual shooting aspects. I couldn’t tell you how many times I emptied a dozen rounds of an AK-47 into a pirate just to see him stumble around like he was drunk. Really, it should not take more than a few shots to down an enemy. Not a huge problem, but an inconvenience nonetheless.

Where Uncharted really excels is in its presentation. It is no exaggeration when I say that this game truly feels like you are playing a movie, and it is helped greatly by its impressive visuals. Even for a relatively early PS3 title, Uncharted’s graphics are stunning. The jungle comes alive with lush green colors, the animations are virtually perfect, and the attention to detail is just remarkable. One neat aspect that stood out to me: if you end up in the water, Drake will emerge with his clothes soaking wet. Cutscenes are interchangeable from the regular graphics, as the same engine is used for both. Throw in a strong musical score and high-quality voice acting and you have a memorable experience.

Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune is simply a blast from beginning to end, even with the occasional repetitive combat and agitating shooting mechanics. You are going to have to suspend disbelief with this one — which shouldn’t be a problem if you enjoy Indiana Jones at all — because Nathan Drake does a lot of things a normal guy couldn’t do. But hey, this is a video game, and playing games is all about having a good time. Uncharted is a fun ride and doesn’t require much thinking, just like a good summer blockbuster movie. I greatly enjoyed playing through the game, and I can’t wait to play its allegedly even better sequel.

8/10

God of War II [Playstation 2, 2007]

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God of War II

God of War II
System: Playstaton 2
Publisher: SCEA
Release Date: March 13, 2007

WOW, now THIS is how you do a sequel! God of War II takes everything from its predecessor and increases it tenfold. After conquering Atlas in the first game, Kratos has taken over as the new God of War. Kratos’s bloodthirsty ways have not been kindly looked upon by the other gods, and the almighty Zeus has finally had enough and strips Kratos of his power. Now a down-and-broken man, Kratos sets off on the ultimate quest: to murder Zeus. A lofty task, to be sure, and the journey along the way is nothing short of incredible.

The original God of War is a great-looking game, but GOW2 is just beautiful (well, as beautiful as gory non-stop violence can be). The textures have been cleaned up admirably, and everything looks sharper as a whole. While I was impressed with the original GOW’s visuals, this is easily one of the best-looking games ever created for the PS2.

The game’s mechanics are largely the same. This is still a prominent hack ‘n slash brawler with platforming, puzzle and RPG elements. There are a handful of new traits that Kratos can acquire, such as the ability to glide and to fly atop the famed horse Pegasus, but the same principles remain. One of my biggest concerns with God of War was its lack of boss battles. This issue has been dramatically improved in GOW2. At the very beginning of the game, you are inserted into an epic battle against the massive Colossus, a boss fight that was forever immortalized by Penny Arcade. Boss battles are everywhere in this game, and some of them rank among the most memorable fights I have ever experienced in a video game. Some people complained about the first God of War’s length (about 8-10 hours). This has also been improved in GOW2, as now a typical campaign will last closer to 12+ hours. These enhancements really show that SCE Santa Monica listened to their fanbase, and you have to respect that.

God of War 2 has accomplished what sequels should do in the first place, and that is to improve upon as many aspects as possible. While I hesitate to say the game is “perfect” (there are still occasional camera issues, and some of the puzzles are absolutely frustrating), I would still consider GOW2 one of the best action/adventure games I have ever played, and it is easily among the best in the PS2′s gigantic library. Highly, highly recommended!

9/10

Planet Terror [2007]

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Planet Terror [2007]

Planet Terror [2007]
Director: Robert Rodriguez
Genre: Action/Horror/Sci-Fi
Language: English
Country: USA

Planet Terror is part of the Grindhouse double feature created by Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino. As an homage/tribute to old exploitation films, Rodriguez’s effort is extremely faithful to its inspirations. The movie is purposefully given a grainy feel, complete with scratches in the picture, and there is even a “missing reel” moment at the most inopportune time. Rodriguez really went all out here, even including a fake trailer at the beginning for the badass Danny Trejo-led Machete (which was recently made into a movie that I can’t wait to see). Planet Terror is set in a town that has been infected with a biochemical weapon which has thereby caused its inhabitants to be turned into zombies. The movie follows a ragtag group of survivors who have banded together to try to survive the onslaught.

The cast here is absolutely terrific, and I couldn’t have thought of a better one myself. Rose McGowan stars as a go-go dancer who loses her right leg due to the virus, and eventually replaces it with a machine gun in one of the most memorable scenes in the movie. Freddy Rodriguez (aka “Rico” of Six Feet Under) is her ex-boyfriend, a man who knows how to use a gun. Josh Brolin and Marley Shelton appear as a doctor-and-anestheliologist husband/wife combo with relationship problems. Two actors from LOST also have significant roles in the movie, Jeff Fahey (aka “Lapidus”) is hilarious as a Texan BBQ shop owner, and Naveen Andrews (Sayid) is a scientist who likes to cut off the balls of his enemies. Even Quentin Tarantino himself has a small role as a creepy rapist soldier.

Naturally, as this is a Robert Rodriguez movie, there is a LOT of over-the-top violence and gore. There are several moments meant to shock viewers, and that’s part of what makes Planet Terror so great. Big explosions, gratuitous blood, campy dialogue and hilarious characters all add to the grindhouse experience. Grab some beers, have some friends over and come along for the ride! Planet Terror is loads of fun — one of the more enjoyable films to come out in recent years.

8/10

Chop Shop [2007]

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Chop Shop [2007]

Chop Shop [2007]
Director: Ramin Bahrani
Genre: Drama
Language: English
Country: USA

Chop Shop is a low-budget indie movie about Alejandro aka “Ale” (played by Alejandro Polanco), a Latino street orphan who works in an auto-body repair shop outside of Shea Stadium in New York City. Aside from working at the “chop shop,” Ale spends his time hustling by panhandling on the subway, selling bootleg DVDs and jacking hubcaps. The latter is not one of the most respectable things to do, but in his eyes it’s okay since he is just trying to make things better for himself and his 16-year-old sister, Isamar (Isamar Gonzales).

As a work of “neorealism,” Chop Shop easily succeeds. There is a certain sense of authenticity here, and at times it almost feels as if you are watching a documentary. Unfortunately, the setting does not make for the most enthralling source of entertainment. It is certainly interesting to take a look into this rough section of Queens, but the mundane day-to-day activities do not necessarily translate well into movie form. Very little happens in Chop Shop; it seems most of the movie is comprised of watching Ale walk around the junkyard and look for work. There is little in the way of conflict here, and nothing ever really changes. Everything is just kind of…there.

I get what director Ramin Bahrani is going for here, but Chop Shop just didn’t do much for me. There is definitely an issue when an 84-minute movie feels twice as long as it really is. The potential for a good movie was there, but ultimately this film felt like a waste of time, especially with such a weak ending. Chop Shop will only appeal to a certain audience, and unfortunately that is not me.

5/10