Chronicle (2012)

Title: Chronicle

Director: Josh Trank

Starring: Dane DeHaan, Alex Russell, and Michael B. Jordan

Rated: PG-13

Released: 2012

Personal Rating: 4.5/5

Oscars: N/A

Basic Plot: Three high school friends gain superpowers after making an incredible discovery. Soon, though, they find their lives spinning out of control and their bond tested as they embrace their darker sides.

Compared to Other Found Footage Movies
I am not a big found footage movie sort of person. I tend to not see them that often. The one I can remember the most is The Blair Witch Project which sucked major ass. But that is a rant for another day. So when I found out that it was a found footage movie I was a little nervous. However, the many positive reviews calmed any fears I had. I agree with the reviewers who said that Chronicle is a found footage movie that people who don't like the sub-genre will like.

A New Look at the "Super Hero" Genre
Many super hero movies are about a person getting a super power(s) and then deciding to do good. That is not the case in Chronicle, however. And it works! These are three teenagers and, of course, their minds wouldn't go towards saving the world. Steve is going to be a politician, Matt is just a guy, and Andrew is abused by his father. So each one handles his own powers differently.

The Apex Streetlight
The final fight scene is great. However, there is one part that made me go: WTF?! Earlier in the film Andrew called himself the apex predator (apex predator is at the top of the food chain) and believes he's the strongest of the three. So in the final fight scene there is a point where Andrew crashes into a streetlight and then falls down. He then doesn't move for a minute or so.

Final Thoughts
Near the end of this movie I was squeezing revrezner's hand because I was so into the movie. People who want to see a good super villain movie should see this. You pity Andrew and yet know he is wrong. I fully agreed with Andrew throughout the movie but not the extremes he went to. So what happens at the end made me sad for hours afterwards. This is just my personal theater experience: one guy started saying rude comments during the epilogue so I wasn't able to fully hear what was said then.

Valentine's Day (2012)

For Valentine's Day this year I talk about one of my favorite non-canon pairings: Camerah!


Note
Changed to blip.tv version from YouTube since blip.tv finally decided to upload the video.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)

Title: Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Director: Rupert Wyatt

Starring: James Franco, Andy Serkis, and Freida Pinto

Rated: PG-13

Released: 2011

Personal Rating: 4.5/5

Oscars: Nominated for 1

Basic Plot: Eight years of being raised by humans and now left behind in an abusive sanctuary, a hyper-intelligent chimpanzee will lead a revolution of apes towards freedom from man's torturous exploitation.

What Makes One Human
I guess I should've said: What Makes One Deserving of Freedom and Respect? Through Caesar, we get to see a "human's" view of being in a world where the dominant species (humans) have full control over you and don't respect you. I think a good portion of this movie being shown through Caesar's was a big help. Without Caesar you wouldn't have the theme of the movie being as clear.

The CGI
The CGI (especially the apes) were done fantastically. The apes looked very realistic and you would swear they were real. Andy Serkis' acting added life to Caesar. But without the CGI being so good it wouldn't have mattered.

The Cure
James Franco's character starts making The Cure (which is the same title of a YA science fiction novel, which I'm probably the only one who noticed) which makes apes smarter but is deadly to humans. The way The Cure is spread over the world is HIGHLY believable. And scarily plausible.

Final Thoughts
I have not seen any of the previous films in the series (though I have viewed parts of the original). So, with that in mind, this is a very well done film. Tom Felton's death was a little creepy but deserved. It also shows a believable way of how apes could take over the Earth. It was very enjoyable to sit through.


See! It does exist!

Sushi, Sake, and Tanuki: A Lost Gem and Shinto

Anniversary 2012 (Part 4)

revrezner and I spend our one year anniversary at Disney World!

Anniversary 2012 (Parts 1-3)

revrezner and I spend our one year anniversary at Disney World!

The Green: Remnants 1

I was driving and Plague was asleep beside me. I was new to driving, or at least I didn't have any memories about it from before the lab, and so I was concentrating very hard on the road. Plague had already driven a lot on our mission and so I had decided to practice while he slept. I liked that he trusted me with his life.


I had trusted him with something much more valuable last night. I had come out of the shower when I saw Plague lying on the bed. It wasn't a fancy bed by any means, just a cheap motel one. I wasn't surprised, though, our relationship had been growing. He was taking things at my speed, which was faster than it was slow.


Nodding my agreement, Plague took me through my first sexual experience. Well, my first that I could remember. The enjoyment I got to being so close to Plague was exhilarating. However, the physical feelings that I experienced were not as enjoyable. He was kind enough not to do anything too rough or extreme.


By the end of the night I had grown comfortable with gay sex. It was enjoyable but, somehow, lacking in an area I couldn't figure out. Plague and I had a conversation afterwards and he reassured me that it wasn't unusual for virgins to be frightened. I then realized I would have much more time to grow closer to my lover. And I wanted to grow as close to Plague as I could in every area.


I shook my head and concentrated on the road. I, Matthias, didn't have time to think about Plague right now. Making sure I didn't crash was much more of a concern. Finally the gas station was in sight and I pulled up.


The only one that paid any attention to me was a bum. I got out of the car and started to pump gas. All throughout this the bum just continued to look at me. It was uncomfortable to have such a gaze thrown at me. While Plague did sometimes stare at me, it was full of adoration. The bum's gaze, however, was judgmental and ready for a fight.


After I filled the car up I walked to the bum. I was scared for my life and didn't know if Plague could wake up in time to save me. But, on the other hand, he had trained me to fight. I was a beginner, but could hold my ground.


When I approached the bum I gave him a signal. It was made up of sounds and gestures. The combinations wouldn't make sense to a random person watching. It would just seem like I was yelling at the bum.


The bum looked at me closely and nodded. He told me a location in Sante Kol, New Mexico where the people we were looking for were located.


I walked to the car, got in, and started to drive to the location that the agent had given me. Though I'd always think of him as a bum.

The Green Blog