Welcome Back...

Welcome back to the Adventures of Andy. It's been a while and don't ever expect an explanation for that. Life went on hold for a while and while I'm just now trying to figure out what it was all about, I am ready to move on and get back into my life.

No I wasn't in a coma or rehab, it was a woman. (and that's ABSOLUTELY all you're getting!)

There will be, however, a few changes.

First off, there will be little to no personal blogging. My dating life is no longer for public consumption. The stupid stuff, like a funny story about buying socks will still be here. You know something where, say, I go to target to buy socks, and while I'm there an army recruiter asks me to join up. I tell him that I've already got a career but fully support the mission, he then hands me a rifle and asks me to prove my marksmanship on the dairy isle.

Needless to say that would be really funny to write about if it were to really happen. But I was at Target today and that didn't happen, but I did get some low calorie fruit drinks!

As for the other changes, this is really just a temporary stop for my permanent blog. Yes I'm building my own blog site. Something a little more customized to my style than the Blogger template.

Finally there will be a more spiritual perspective in some of what I write. Yes I'm a Christian, I'm not afraid to say it and I will defend those beliefs online and in my life.

Don't worry, Action Figure Theatre is coming back!

See you online

andy!

Movie Review: Fantastic Four

What? Jessica Alba as Sue Storm… she’s too young!
Johnny Storm needs blonde hair!
Mr. Fantastic looks so dull.
Okay the rock man suit looks alright on the Thing.

Those were my criticisms upon first seeing the Fantastic Four’s publicity photo almost a year before the film hit theatres.

The truth would come soon enough when celluloid finally hit the silver screen and the movie magic was made.

Fantastic Four Works!

Marvel Comic’s latest film adaptation comes from one of its oldest franchises. These heroes have had a long road to the big screen. This is actually their second movie, the first was considered to be so bad it was never released.

But this film was worth the wait. The movie starts by introducing the five main characters. Dr. Reed Richards (Ioan Gruffudd) and his colleague Ben Grimm (Michael Chiklis) approach industrialist Victor Von Doom (Julian McMahon) about a scientific research mission using his company’s space facilities. Von Doom agrees. The catch, he wants to be part of the research. Enter his lovely assistant Sue Storm (Jessica Alba) who immediately has conflict with Richards who is his jaded ex lover and currently admired greatly by Von Doom. The final member to round out the cast is Sue’s brother Johnny (Chris Evans). The introduction of the characters is great, detailing their personalities perfectly. It is Evans, though, who easily steals the show. He is not only the comic relief, but his antic actually help to move the plot along.

There’s nothing groundbreaking here. You get to root for the good guys, boo at the bad guys and enjoy your popcorn. This is what action movies are all about. And there is plenty of action.

But if you’re looking for something deeper there is that too. Unlike the X-Men who must hide their abilities from the public, or Spider-Man who has to deal with growing up while also fighting crime as a super powered vigilante, the Fantastic Four are public with their powers, giving TV interviews and marketing themselves to the public. Their characters develop as they learn to deal with their powers. Reed and Sue are forced to resolve open romantic issues, The Thing must adapt to life as a rock monster and Johnny Storm… well let’s just say that the Human Torch can be a real hot-shot!

Thus the film works on the superficial and the interpersonal levels, with a classic plot about good versus evil and two guys fighting over a pretty girl (who happens to take her clothes off in public… did I mention her power is to turn invisible?).

Enjoy this movie’s action, comedy and romance. It makes you feel good to root for really good good guys and boo the really bad bad guy.

Movie review: War of the Worlds.

When I first heard that a new film version of H.G. Wells’ War of the Words was coming out I was concerned for two reasons given the names attached to the film. First off there’s Stephen Spielberg who has been rather preachy in some of his films lately. His left-wing politics have caused some of his later films, such as A.I. to be panned by both critics and fans. Then there is the ever-inconsistent Tom Cruise. He’s a baby-faced actor who cant’ decide weather he’s an action hero or a playboy. (Speaking of which, I swear he and Téa Leoni could be twins.)



The result of this partnership is a high quality film that ensures that both these names will be around in Hollywood for sometime to come.

Set aside the fact that Hollywood is officially out of original ideas. That’s a rant for another time. But the source material here is of good quality and the bar set by the previous film version of this story is quite high.

Spielberg returned to the fundamentals of filmmaking that made his reputation in Hollywood. Just like Jaws and E.T. this story revolves around an everyman. Our hero is New Jersey crane operator Ray Ferrier (Cruise) who is about to spend a weekend at his modest home with his kids who were left at his house by his pregnant ex wife who is about to head to Boston with her new husband. In just a few moments of his family interaction you find out exactly why the marriage ended and you see that she definitely traded up.

This exposition is quick and very poignant, never leaving you worried that there is going to be too much character development and not enough aliens.

Because the aliens arrive just two blocks away. This sequence’s intensity results in an emotional reaction by the viewer for the ordeal in which Ferrier has just survived. Gone are the triangular spark-shooting hovercrafts from 1953. Instead we have a truly menacing alien mechanized assault vehicle compete with jet turbines, lasers and blood-sucking tentacles. It’s a visual that lets you know without a doubt that these are the bad guys, the same way that you knew Darth Vader was the bad guy without an introduction.

Cruise portrays the father fearful for his children passable enough to be believable in the role. However it is Dakota Fanning as his daughter Rachel who subtly steals her secenes. She is sharp and intelligent with perfect dramatic timing. Not only is she a fear filled ten-year-old she also convincingly conveys an anxiety disorder.

The film’s action is intense. With alien walking creatures zapping people and destroying entire city blocks in mere moments. However, we do get a slight taste of the realism of war seen in Saving Private Ryan when the Army mounts a vein offensive against the invaders. This was really the biggest change in updating the film: Army guys shooting at aliens, though Will Smith had better one-liners. Unfortunately some of the fighting scenes were done at the cost of filmmaking inconsistencies and a less dramatic turn of events for the humans. Why is it that the aliens can disable every piece of technology on the planet except that which could be used to attack them.

Giving credit where credit is due goes to Spielberg who did a great service to the movie going public by NOT screwing with the ending. The 1953 version featured much more a dramatic turn of events in literally the last minute of film, but it was the narration that properly wraps up the film. Yes that is Morgan Freeman’s voice reciting the opening and closing passages of Wells’ tome. With those narrations and the general premise of the 1953 film in tact War of the Worlds is a high quality film.

Movie Review: Batman Begins

Take note. Before we begin think about some great entertainment. Think about what it means to be so focused on a character you feel what he feels. Think about a plot so involved that even if the twist is somewhat predictable, it’s so well done that its really the only thing that could have happened o fit the movie. Think about the type of movie where even if you’ve had a bad day watching it gets you so deeply involved that your day becomes the conflict of the movie.

This is Batman Begins. This is not only how Batman movies should be done, this is how James Bond movies should be done. Hell, this is how a lot of movies should be done!

Forge everything you know about Batman. Forget that Michael Keaton threw the Joker off the hundredth floor of a gothic cathedral. Forget Val Kilmer’s silly sidekick Robin and how I wish I could forget the batsuit with nipples.

Batman Begins is a complete re-launch of the Batman story (hence the title). Though this has previously been done on film in the first Batman movie from 1989, the depth to which the character of Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) is explored is remarkable. From his youth as the heir to the Wayne family fortune, his life is suddenly changed when his parents are murdered. The twist is that in an economically depressed town it is the Wayne family who is striving to help the masses as philanthropists.

Several years pass as the now college-aged Bruce attempts to take revenge on his parents’ murderer. This is stopped by a mafia hitman who wants to shut up a pigeon. When Bruce confronts the mob boss he realizes that as a rich kid he will never be able to stop the rampant crime in Gotham City.

So he disappears. He travels across the globe as a vagabond, and learns the intricate nature of crime. His travels bring him to a mountain enclave where he studies martial arts and becomes a member of an elite Ninja clan. However the philosophical differences between him and his mentor cause him to leave the order and return to Gotham City, not to condemn it but to save it.

That is the essential philosophical plot of this film, salvation vs. condemnation.

In his ascent to becoming Batman, Bruce is aided by his butler Alfred (Michael Caine). Unlike many other instances of the Batman story this one gives much depth to the Alfred character. Not only does he clean the mansion, he also is a friend, companion and mentor to Bruce.

Also aiding Batman is his equipment supplier Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman) who serves in a role reminiscent of Q from the James Bond series.

But this movie isn’t all setup. The pacing is done quite well mixing exposition with action quite well using the vehicle of flashbacks. That leads into a plot that could come right out of a high quality episode of CSI (but with better car chases).

Batman Begins shows that when Hollywood really wants to do something right they can. It’s almost like old-time movie making in a modern setting. Just like the old James Bond movies and as visually stunning as any effects film of the 21st century, Batman Begins gets 4/5 stars.

“Sith” Saves the Franchise

After fan panned episodes I and II a lot was left to be desired in the final installment of the 6-part Star Wars saga.

The franchise starts with the timeless classic trilogy. It was then reprised in 1999 with "The Phantom Menace" The film was a disappointment among fans because it does not answer the question, "How does Anakin Skywalker become Darth Vader"

Three years later Episode II, while doing more to satisfy the fans percent for action and light saber battles also failed to answer the question all star wars fans wanted to know.

That brings us to 2005 and the answer we've all been waiting for. Anakin becomes Darth Vader exactly as you think.

Revenge of the Sith also delivers a darker Star Wars Universe with plenty of lightaber-enduced dismemberment. This is what warranted the PG-13 rating. Children who watch the series as a wholesome adventure epic will be disappointed when their parents won't let them see this film. It is much more adult than any of the previous Five.

The film is a great overall product. The pacing is great with edge-of-your-seat action from the opening star fighter battle all the way to the climactic lightsaber battle (fear not there are plenty of lightsaber battles in between these two events). However the very end does seem a little rushed as there are several loose ends tied up in the final 5 minutes of film.

What makes this movie great is that it seamlessly ties itself with Episode IV: A New Hope (the very first Star Wars move from 1977). By the time this film completes you are ready for that opening sequence in A New Hope when Darth Vader boards the Alderan Diplomatic ship looking for the stolen Death Star Plans.

This film gets 4.5 stars because it delivers what the fans have wanted since we heard there would be more Star Wars films! This intense climactic event of a film ensures that the Star Wars franchise will not fade away with a whimper the way Star Trek did earlier this year.