To me, I find that Hannibal Lecter is a character best used sparingly. Of the three films within the original “Hannibal Trilogy” (though I’m loathed to call it that), “Red Dragon” and “Silence of the Lambs” are my two favorite installments, both of which only feature Hannibal as a supporting player with limited screen time. I found the third installment, aptly named “Hannibal”, to be the least appealing. Well, “Hannibal Rising” is a prequel to that series, focusing completely on the title character. While that didn’t exactly appeal to my pallet, those of you who want Hannibal, Hannibal and more Hannibal will most likely enjoy this offering.
The story begins in Germany, 1941, at Castle Lecter. Young Hannibal (Aaron Thomas) and his family are forced to flee to a secluded shack in the wilderness to hide from bombarding Nazi forces. Hannibal’s parents are killed by enemy fire and he and his infant sister, Mischa (Helena Lia Tachovska) are left alone in a horrible blizzard. They are soon taken prisoner by a group of Nazi war profiteers, who go mad with hunger and eat Mischa. Fast forward 8 years, and Hannibal (Gaspard Ulliel) is now a disturbed young orphan who goes to live with his Aunt, Lady Murasaki (Li Gong). She trains him in the ways of the Samurai and Hannibal uses these skills to hunt down the men who killed his sister, gradually losing his grip on reality in the process.
I liked Hannibal better when all I knew about him was that he was an intelligent, professional man who went nuts and ate people. I found him much more chilling, believing he was relatively normal. Then this movie comes along, explaining he was once the heir to a wealthy family and then became a Samurai and turned into a serial killer, etc. As I said before, when it comes to Hannibal Lecter, less is more.
But that’s just me. I know there are plenty of people who want as much Hannibal as possible. Well, here’s your movie. And from that perspective, it honestly isn’t half bad. Hannibal’s origin is rather intriguing, if a bit over-the-top. I really could have done without that ridiculous Samurai bit, which I felt was the stupidest part of the entire film. Adding to that, the face mask of the Samurai armor just happens to look like the face mask he wears in “Silence of the Lambs” while all trust up at the asylum…ugh.
Ignoring that bit of idiocy, the main plot of Hannibal seeking vengeance upon those who ate his sister is very intriguing and fulfilling. There’s a subplot where a French detective, Inspector Popil (Dominic West), tries to find evidence to put Hannibal away, and while it adds some tension to the film, it takes a backseat to all the stuff Hannibal is doing. Also, with this being a prequel and all, you pretty much know how well Popil’s chase is going to go.
For a movie consisting mostly of unknowns, the acting is surprisingly good. Grutas (Rhys Ifans) portrays a very frightening villain, who feels no remorse for the things he did or the things he’s still doing. You find yourself rooting for Hannibal, which is strange, since you know he’s just a sick and twisted badguy-himself. Gaspard Ulliel was okay as the title character. At times, I felt he resembled Crispin Glover from “Back to the Future” more than he did Anthony Hopkins. His acting was a bit stiff and his line delivery could range from fine to cringe-worthy, but he carries the role well enough as not to ruin the movie.
Overall, “Hannibal Rising” isn’t a bad film, but from my point of view, an unnecessary one. Still, many would disagree, and for those who want to know everything there is to know about Hannibal Lecter, its right up your alley. I hope you enjoy the Samurai bits.
Grade: B-
Rocky Balboa (2006)
Way out here in the distant future of 2006, I would have sooner expected a remake of the classic 1976 film ‘Rocky’ than a sixth installment. Yet, much to the surprise of many, Sylvester Stallone shocked everyone when he announced he’d be writing, directing and starring in a new chapter in the boxing epic. I mean, for heaven’s sake, the guy is sixty years old! This couldn’t possibly end well.
…Or could it?
It’s been sixteen years since Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone), former heavy weight champion of the world, retired from the sport of boxing. Rocky has been going through life in his usual fashion, taking the good with the bad but always coming through. His wife, Adrian, passed away some years ago, which hurt Rocky deeply. His son (Milo Ventimiglia) has now grown up but seems to resent his father and the shadow his fame casts over his life. Rocky reunites with an old friend, Marie (Geraldine Hughes), and spends much of his time with her and her son, Steps (James Francis Kelly III), as well as running his own restaurant. Things suddenly change, though, when ESPN runs a computer simulation special, pitting Rocky-in-his-prime against the current heavy weight champion, Mason ‘the Line’ Dixon. The result is a victory for Rocky.
This spurs Rocky to come out of retirement, strictly on a local basis, fighting up-and-comers like Glass Joe, Piston Honda and King Hippo (or was that Nintendo’s Punch-Out?). However, two of Dixon’s agents decide to cash-in on the computer simulation and invite Rocky to take the champ in an exhibition bout for charity purposes. Rocky is once again the underdog, taking on a kid half his age in what will likely be the last match of his life. Rocky will have to train hard, especially since Dixon is a major asshole and doesn’t intend to pull all his punches.
In my plot summary, you’ll notice that the first paragraph going over Rocky’s personal life is longer than the second one, which covers Rocky’s training and the eventual fight. Well, that same distribution of attention also pertains to the actual film. The vast bulk of the movie centers on Rocky Balboa dealing with the death of his wife, trying to connect with his son, hanging with Paulie (Burt Young), running his restaurant, buying a dog and helping out Marie and Steps get their lives on track. There are no smaller fights leading up to the climax to break-up the monotony of Rocky’s day-to-day life. Now, some people who go into Rocky Balboa expecting an hour and a half of boxing will leave disappointed. However, I went to see Stallone playing Rocky, both as a boxer and as a human being, and that’s what I got. Stallone’s natural charisma as the character, from his lovable character quirks to his down-to-Earth life lessons, really carry the film and prevent it from getting all that “boring”. It’s more a drama than an action film, no doubt about that, but if you’re more a fan of Rocky: the Character, as opposed to Rocky: the Fighter, then you’ll enjoy yourself.
I can’t say that this film’s “bad guy”, Mason ‘the Line’ Dixon, is one of the most memorable in the Rocky franchise. In fact, I’d have to say he’s one of the weakest. He’s basically portrayed as the Terrell Owens of the boxing world: a self-absorbed youngster who thinks he’s the god of his sport, and is genuinely good at it, but knows nothing of humility, modesty or even respect. Dixon’s other big characteristic is that he’s so good, he has never been presented with a real challenge in his career. He’s fought nothing but chumps since he started, leaving many to doubt his actual skill at the sport, but inflating his ego to a massive degree. While all this is interesting and makes for a decent back-story for Rocky’s opponent, Mason ‘the Line’ Dixon has nothing on Apollo Creed, Clubber Lang or Ivan Drago. He isn’t even as deep as Tommy ‘Machine’ Gunn. Dixon’s name is more memorable than his actual character.
There are also the realists out there, who know that a 60 year-old man wouldn’t last ten seconds against the contemporary heavy weight champion of the world. While perhaps that’s true in the Real World, this is Hollywoodland we’re talking about. The exhibition match is actually played off rather realistically, and once you get a look at Stallone’s physique (this guy is sixty and he has better abs then me. Curses!), you find your suspension of disbelief start to kick in.
As a fan of the Rocky franchise, I really liked this film. If you’re altogether new to the Rocky series and all you want to see is Rocky beating on guys for an hour and a half, you’ll be disappointed. However, if you’re more interested in Rocky as a character rather than just a boxer, then you’ll appreciate this movie for what it is and you’ll love Stallone’s performance. Out of the six Rocky movies, I’d actually rank this as my third favorite (with the original taking first place and Rocky IV taking second).
Grade: B
The Nativity Story – Review
There are many ways in which to watch The Nativity Story; as a religious story full of instruction to one’s life or simply as an entertaining movie. I set out to watch this age old film for the latter, but apparently someone forgot to add the entertaining part of that equation. Oops.
As a movie, the story of the nativity is a bit stale, a bit boring, a bit plodding & had a certain, unmistakable feeling of exploitation. I’m not sure if it was director Catherine Hardwicke’s intention to ride the coattails of The Passion of Christ, but it certainly emits this feeling.
Screenwriter Mike Rich was in charge of this project, and I have to admit he fell short. This religious narrative that every Christian knows like the back of their hand, falls straightforward into a very uninteresting & poorly developed film. The dialogue seems contrived, I want to go to a movie & transcend reality, not know that I’m watching 1.35 hours of terrible character development & unseemingly awkward dialogue.
I know I probably went into The Nativity with the expectations of The Passion, and that was my fault, I don’t think another religious film will be that engrossing for some time. But I did go in expecting to be entertained at least, to be held, in the Latin sense of the word, dammit!
The movie opens with teenage Mary (Keisha Castle-Hughes) working the fields & fretting about tax collectors that are worrying her father. She later learns that she has been betrothed to Joseph (Oscar Issac) who is a “good man”, though Mary does not want to marry.
Mary is shortly then visited by Archangel Gabriel (Alexander Siddig) who tells her that she will become impregnated by the Holy Spirit & give birth to the Son of God, Jesus. Wow, now that had to be a big surprise! And really, the rest of the film follows the story most everyone knows, will a little more staleness on top.
I would not recommend seeing this movie, just pick up the old story if you like & call it several bucks saved!
Grade: D
Watership Down (1978)
When I first saw this animated feature directed by Robert Mosen and based on the novel by Richard Adams, I was maybe 5 years old at the most. My Mom picked up the Beta cassette for me at Erol’s Video because it had adorable cartoon bunnies on the cover. She had no clue what the story was about, she just figured I’d like the bunnies. Watership Down remains one of the most disturbing elements of my childhood and was possibly the catalyst for my love of horror and violence. I don’t know whether to thank my Mother or hate her.
While grazing out in the warren, Fiver, a rabbit, has a terrible and frightening vision of the fields turning to blood. Fiver convinces his friend, Hazel, that all the rabbits must leave the warren or they will certainly die. The head rabbit dismisses Fiver’s warnings as ludicris, and along with his enforcers, prevents the rabbits from fleeing. With the help of a rogue enforcer, Bigwig, a small band of rabbits escape the warren in the dead of night, beginning a trek that will lead them to a new home. Along the way, they are met with many challenges, including carnivorous predators, man-made traps, and enemy rabbits. Eventually, they settle in a warren called Watership Down, however, all is not well. A neighboring warren called Efrefra, run by the ugly and blood-thirsty General Woundwart, wants them out. Soon the two warrens erupt in a bloody war.
It sounds absolutely surreal, doesn’t it? That these rabbits are waging war over land, freedom and ideology, it seems so…human. Indeed, Richard Adams painstakingly maps out the hierarchy of warrens and the way “rabbit civilization” is structured. The details are mind-blowing, going so far as to create a new vocabulary used by the rabbits as well as their own religious beliefs regarding creation and death. And very little of this is done in a “cartoonish” manner. The rabbits presented in Watership Down are all very lifelike save for animated features which give them greater expression and personality. You’ll never look at rabbits the same way again.
One thing I and many others recall best about this movie is the intense amount of violence. These rabbits kill each other and the audience are rarely spared the gruesome visuals. The final battle is especially gruesome, as Bigwig and Woundwart face-off, ripping and mauling one another to pieces. And then there’s the dog. Good lord.
It’s also rather scary. You see everything from the point of view of the rabbits. From cars, to owls, to badgers, it’s all done in a manner that makes the audience feel just as small and fragile as the rabbits themselves. Everything takes on a sinister new appearance and you’ll actually find yourself jumping when the head of a badger with bloody lips pops out of a bush. The one scene which frightened me the most as a child, however, and usually resulted in me ejecting the video cassette and swearing never to watch it again, was the flashback sequence about the warren Fiver and the rest fled. A human construction crew filled in all the rabbit holes while working, causing all the rabbits to become buried alive. The visuals are haunting, as you see dozens of rabbits crowded together, scratching at the dirt, trying to dig their way out, moaning and screaming as they suffocate. It still freaks me out.
Watership Down is rated PG, much in the way that Jaws and Poltergeist are rated PG…debatably. It’s very violent and sometimes very scary, though the story and animation is strong and timeless. I’d recommend this to an older children’s audience. It’s certainly not for 5 year-olds, anyhow. There was a newer adaptation produced in 1999 which tones down the violence and mature themes, but at the same time, robs the film of its heart and depth. I’d avoid it if I were you. The original Watership Down, however, gets a solid A.
Grade: A
The Prestige
Batman vs. Wolverine? Awesome. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I went into this movie. I mostly went at the behest of my brother, who wanted to see it quite badly, telling me the fellas over at IMDB were rating it exceptionally well. Well, I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised with this film. Certainly Oscar-worthy material, without a doubt.
Rupert (Hugh Jackman) and Alfred (Christian Bale) are both up-and-coming magicians working for a showman named Cutter (Michael Cane). However, the difference between the two is that Rupert likes to keep things traditional, afraid to get his hands dirty, while Alfred thinks the magician-gig is stagnating, in desperate need of new material. After a mishap during one show, Alfred inadvertently causes the death of Rupert’s wife. And so begins a heated and ugly rivalry which goes on for years. Both magicians are constantly out to one-up each other, and at times, kill each other. It all leads to the enigma of the greatest trick in the business, “the Transporting Man”, though the truth behind the trick may be too horrible to imagine.
The Prestige, the movie, is in many ways like the illusionists it features; keeping certain things just out of sight yet within the audience’s grasp at all times if only they can manage to figure it out. The movie is set-up in a rather non-linear fashion for the most part. Christian Bale’s character is delivering a narrative from the journal of Hugh Jackman’s character, while simultaneously, Hugh Jackman is delivering a narrative from the journal of Christian Bale’s character. Each character gradually drops a piece of the puzzle in place, all leading up to a very shocking ending. This back-and-forth style of story-telling can be a bit confusing at first, and unless you’re paying attention, there’s a chance the audience might get lost. I wouldn’t recommend getting up and going to the bathroom during any part of this movie.
The lead characters are both very troubled, bitter-sweet people. There is no clear “good guy” or “bad guy” as they both do horrible things in the pursuit of their trade and their rivalry. Bale and Jackman are fantastic in the roles; Bale can get so smug-looking at times you just want to deck him in eye.
Then there is the best part of the movie, the part everyone leaving the theater is talking about: the twist. Although I managed to figure it out well before my brother, I was only able to do so because I had seen a cartoon on “Oh Canada” some many years before which had a similar plot. However, my ability to deduce the plot did not diminish its impressive power. It’s difficult to see coming, and even after you think you’ve figured it out, they’ll throw a few more curves at you.
The Prestige is one of those films you see in the theater and walk out knowing it’s going to win an Oscar. Everything necessary to earn an Academy Award is there: the acting, the direction, the script…everything. I have to give it an A. Do yourself a favor and see this movie. Then, do everyone else a favor and *don’t* spoil the ending. Please.
Grade: A