The Critics Speak

Tae Guk Gi: The Brotherhood of War

Critic: Steph Lewis
On a scale of 0 to Awesome, I rate this: Solid & Thoughtful
Released: 2004
Director: Je-Kyu Kang
MPAA RATING: R, for strong graphic sequences of war violence

For a plot synopsis, check out the one at Rotten Tomatoes.

One of my students really really wanted me to watch this. He brought his Korean DVD in a cool box set with a little book and trading cards. Once I figured out that it didn't work in my DVD player, Josh rigged up the computer to play it on our widescreen TV.

This is probably my favorite war movie so far (although...hmmm...Good Morning Vietnam comes to mind...but it's not really focused on the war part...dunno). First of all, the fact that it was done outside of America gave me a non-Hollywoodized perspective of war (which is a rare perspective to see here). I think The Piano was my favorite war movie following a single character (ooo...love that one). But, this one showed a struggle much deeper than individual survival. It showed a dedication to family, to self, to country...and the carnal madness that can follow the priorities set for one's life. It also shows how hindered progress towards a goal (such as Jin-tae trying to get his brother out of the war) can drive some serious rage and madness.

I enjoyed the performances by all actors and was really fascinated by all the bloody stuff. I mean, I'm not into gore or anything, but it was a bloody war and this movie didn't hesitate to show intestines spilling out, arms getting blown off, blood oozing out...all that war-related-wound kind of stuff.

Movies like this get me thinking about good vs. evil and of the many layers that occur within war settings. It makes me think about how some wars are worth fighting because the freedom of human beings is worth it. It also makes me see some serious issues with war such as divided families, people forced to compromise for survival, rearrangement of priorites, and death without question.

Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow

Critic: Steph Lewis
On a scale of 0 to Awesome, I rate this: Fun
Released: September 17, 2004
Director: Kerry Conran
MPAA RATING: PG, sequences of stylized sci-fi violence and brief mild language

This is Kerry Conran's first film & he wrote/directed it. That being said, it's actually quite impressive. The stylistic qualities are the most impressive part. It has imaginative costume design, crazy robot & creature design, and innovative set design. The plot, however, trods along slowly with shallow characters. The show is well-cast and the actors do a pretty decent job given the shallowness in the script. There are no huge plot holes or anything and the movie moves along pretty decently...so I hope to see what bigger, better things Conran can pull off after this one. If this was a film done later in a director's career I'd be very harsh with it...but being a beginning stepping stone I'd say this is a satisfying place to start!

Jude Law plays the Sky Captain, Joe Sullivan, and joins forces with reporter (and former flame) Polly Perkins (Gwyneth Paltrow). Together they investigate some missing scientists and crazy robotic things that keep attacking stuff, only to find that some creepy German dude is trying to control the fate of the world. (Damn those Germans...always trying to take over the world). Add in Dex Dearborn (Giovanni Ribisi), the real hero of the movie, and Franky Cook (Angelina Jolie), to support the mission and you're in for a back-to-the 30's cinematic event.

Polly Perkins is supposed to be this smart (sometimes clutzy) reporter. However, I just saw her as a representative of whatever the audience must be thinking. She always asks stupid questions about how things are going to work or how they're going to get out of a situation or whatever. Thus, the entire movie is strung together by stupid questions by a stupid blonde reporter. And she's not even endearing like Reese Witherspoon or anything like that. Not that I have anything against Paltrow, she was great in The Anniversary Party and Seven and Duets. This character was just shallowly written so I don't know what any actress would really be able to pull out of this part. And, knowing how character-centered I am, one shallow character can kill a movie for me pretty quick.

The Aviator

Critic: Steph Lewis
On a scale of 0 to Awesome, I rate this: AWESOME
Released: December 25, 2004
Director: Martin Scorsese
MPAA RATING: PG-13, for thematic elements, sexual content, nudity, language and a crash sequence

This is the most satisfying movie I've seen in the past several years. Scorsese's directing tends to satisfy me, so this doesn't come as a surprise, but this baby is full of wicked cool shots, a bizarro flowing script, strange strange memorable scenes, DiCaprio in a non-irritating role, some cool Kate Blanchett performances, mental issues, some historic stuff, and a look into an extremely dedicated, hard-working, creative mind. Oh, and it has a cool texture to the film, it's created with period stylings and very specific color choices. It's good to see some intitiative taken to the quality of the actual film the movie is shot in rather than just the direction the camera is facing.

Focusing on the life of Howard Hughes (Leonardo DiCaprio), movie director, billionaire, & airplane engineer (& aviator...duh), Scorcese looks into his life, his mind, his accomplishments, and the wild ride that is his life. The wild ride that is his life. Is his life. Is his life. Show me all the blueprints. ...I don't think I can think of anyone who has done as much in his life than this dude, so he's a real interesting subject for a film.

We also get to see his playboy image as he toys with Katherine Hepburn (Kate Blanchett), Jean Harlow (Gwen Stefani), and Ava Gardner (Kate Beckinsale). Besides toying with the women, he also toys with aircrafts. He's obsessed with building them faster, bigger, better, more creatively...and invests much time and energy in this pursuit. Add this to a couple of crashes and some obsessive-compulsive mental issues and you've got one dilly of a story.

We also see the political issues of being such a weathy entrepreneur. The end of the film shows Hughes at a Senate hearing with Senator Owen Brewster, beautifully played by one of my favorites, Alan Alda.

Again, I loved this movie and want to see it again when it comes out on DVD. W00t to Scorcese!

In Good Company

Critic: Steph Lewis
On a scale of 0 to Awesome, I rate this: Fun
Released: January 14, 2005
Director: Paul Weitz
MPAA RATING: PG-13, for some sexual content and drug references

Thank you for not making this a mushy love story. That at least gave it a bit of decency.

Dan Foreman (Dennis Quaid) is a manager of advertising for a major magazine when bam! his company gets taken over by a big shot company that preaches synergy as the way to success. During this merger, lots of folks lose their jobs and Dan loses his office to the young Carter Duryea (Topher Grace). Carter is a young kid who invests everything in his job, which leaves him empty and looking for what life is really about. Dan & Carter go through a Office Space experience (albeit less funny). The lovely Scarlett Johanssen stars as Alex, daughter of Dan and dater of Carter. And then some other stuff happens.

It was a little slow moving, had some parts that made me chuckle a bit, and some more serious parts. I love Scarlett Johanssen's dead-pan, thoughtful acting and it was good to see Topher Grace in something besides That 70's Show. He's actually a pretty decent actor and I hope to see him in some other roles. Quaid had a permanent fold in-between his eyebrows during the entire movie that kind of drove me nuts. This movie didn't suck but I'll probably forget about it in a few weeks.