STARGATE: THE ARK OF TRUTH -- Robert C. Cooper, dir

©2008
studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
production company: MGM, Kawoosh! Productions DTV I
director: Robert C. Cooper
cast: Ben Browder, Amanda Tapping, Christopher Judge, Michael Shanks, Claudia Black
screenplay: Robert C. Cooper

A television movie, based on the popular series.

SG-1 search for an Ancient Artifact to finally defeat the Ori. But the Artifact is in the Ori Galaxy.

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I've been aware that the Stargate franchise has continued and seemed to be thriving, but I haven't paid much attention to it. Even with Farscape's Ben Browder and Claudia Black aboard, I just haven't made time to watch it. I saw this movie on the shelf in the local library and decided I'd check it out.

And, wow.

It was exciting. Lots of action, and a straight-forward plot that was the classic 'Deus Ex Machina' theme. And, let's face it...Browder is a great sci-fi hero character actor. Nobody takes getting beat up better than Browder (and he does a great job here).

I was reminded, while watching this, that sometimes what makes a plot exciting is taking ordinary people into places so extraordinary that we can't really comprehend. When the decisions of five ordinary non-heroes affects the cosmos. That's simplifying things, but goals should be lofty, efforts Herculean, people identifiable.

This movie could make me look for the series on television.

Cool.

DR. NO -- Terence Young, dir

©1963
studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
production company: Eon Productions
director: Terence Young
cast: Sean Connery, Ursula Andress, Joseph Wiseman, Jack Lord, Bernard Lee
screenplay: Johanna Harwood & Richard Maibaum & Berkely Mather; Ian Fleming novel

James Bond's investigation of a missing colleague in Jamaica leads him to the island of the mysterious Dr. No and a scheme to end the US space program.

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The first in the popular James Bond series.

The wife and I decided that we could introduce the kids to the famous James Bond and thought it might be nice to start at the beginning. As I picked this movie up from the local library, I realized that I had never actually seen this particular movie. I thought, perhaps, that I'd seen bits and pieces of it, but really, nothing in it looked familiar to me.

I was surprised at the lack of gadgets and spy-ware. This was the famous spy, on his own, using his own wits and skill to solve the puzzle. Imagine!

It was interesting. The script was simple, but effective. Some things happened which weren't quite clear -- only suggested or indicated, and we often had to talk with the kids about it ("Yes, I think he probably died, even though we didn't see it." "No, I'm not sure why they are being taken away." "No, I don't know how he knew she was a spy.").

The kids were interested enough to want to see more, but I do think they'll enjoy it more when he starts getting cool spy stuff.

Interesting. Glad to have seen it.

ONCE -- John Carney, dir

©2007
studio: 20th Century Fox
production company: Bórd Scannán na hÉireann, Radio Telefís Éireann (RTE), Samson Films, Summit Entertainment
director: John Carney
cast: Glen Hansard, Markéta Irglová, Senan Haugh, Leslie Murphy (II), Danuse Ktrestova
screenplay: John Carney

A modern-day musical about a busker and an immigrant and their eventful week in Dublin, as they write, rehearse and record songs that tell their love story. [imdb.com]

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I do like the way foreign films tell stories, rather than relying on pizzazz and star power to sell the movie. It's so much nicer to get caught up in a story. To fall in love with the characters.

This modern musical is a pretty good film. It did leave two negative impressions on me, though. First was the song that the man sang. Over and over and over. Neither his voice nor the song was so great that I needed to hear it so much (maybe it wasn't really as much as I'm recalling, but it was enough that it stuck with me). I understand the reason for it ... it's his song. His signature song. It's the song that he can return to and be comfortable with. But it was a bit grating.

The other problem I had was the romance. Not between the two main characters -- that was wonderfully written and played -- but between the two main characters and their 'others.' What was going on there? What was the point? I never felt he was truly in love with anyone other than his music muse.

Not a bad film, certainly recommendable, but not outstanding either.

LOVE HAPPY -- David Miller, dir

©1950
studio: Republic Pictures
production company: Artists Alliance
director: David Miller (Leo McCarey, uncredited)
cast: Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx, Chico Marx, Ilona Massey, Vera Ellen, Raymond Burr, Marilyn Monroe
screenplay: Harpo Marx (story "Kleptomaniacs"), Frank Tashlin (screenplay) and Mac Benoff (screenplay), Ben Hecht (uncredited)


The Marx Brothers help young Broadway hopefuls while thwarting diamond thieves. [imdb.com]



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How many people out there, who are familiar with the Marx Brothers, know of this movie? Hands, please.


I thought so.

This film hasn't received the acclaim and staus that so many of the Marx Brothers films has, and there are probably many reasons, but certainly not because it isn't any good. It's a fine film. Better than many comedies of the era. But it's not a typical Marx Brothers film. Groucho is really a leading catalyst of the Marx Brothers and here he seems almost like an extra. As narrator he is involved, but not so directly. His painted-on mustache and eyebrows are gone, and it's the Groucho that we become familiar with through YOU BET YOUR LIFE, rather than the Groucho from ANIMAL CRACKERS or DUCK SOUP.

I would still recommend this film, and it's too bad that it is so unkown.

ACROSS THE UNIVERSE -- Julie Taymor, dir

©2007
studio: Sony Pictures
production company: Revolution Studios, Team Todd, Gross Entertainment, Prologue Films
director: Julie Taymor
cast: Evan Rachel Wood, Jim Sturgess, Joe Anderson (VI), Dana Fuchs, Martin Luther (II), T.V. Carpio, Bill Irwin, Joe Cocker, Bono, Eddie Izzard, Salma Hayek
screenplay: Dick Clement (screenplay) & Ian La Frenais (screenplay), Julie Taymor (story) & Dick Clement (story) & Ian La Frenais (story)


The music of the Beatles and the Vietnam War form the backdrop for the romance between an upper-class American girl and a poor Liverpudlian artist. [imdb.com]

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I knew that creating plays based on a series of music by an artist or group was quite the rage, but I wasn't familiar with the same being done for films. When I heard about this, I was rather excited. Beatles music. Love it! Julie Taymor direction. Love it!

Unfortunately, this film fails to succeed. I don't mind the variations on the music. Although jarring at times due to their uniqueness, it tends to work. The problem here is 1) trying to create a cohesive story around the music of the Beatles. Cohesive being the key word. And 2) combining the allegorical and very creative direction with the cohesive story.

Some of Taymor's images are absolutely outstanding! Nearly every aspect of the Army induction scene works so well. from the Plastic-looking soldiers, the great choreography of the dance, to the wild, almost Monty Python/Terry Gilliam-like imagery. But then it goes on a tad too long. And while Eddie Izzard is fantastic and the Blue Apple Pickers dance is a whole lot of fun, the scene doesn't blend in well with the rest of the movie.

On an individual basis, all works well, but mixed together, it is flat, wandering, obtuse.