Sunday, February 1, 2015

The Weekly Movie Watch Volume 28

This week I watched The Zero Theorem, 300: Rise of an Empire, Elite Squad, Non-stop.

I watch movies every week and then write down my thoughts. Read my previous reviews!
My rating is simple, Watch It, It Depends, Skip it.

movie The Zeor Theorem
The Zero Theorem - The depth is only matched by the bizarre.
The Zero Theorem (2013)
Watch The Zero Theorem
Written by: Pat Rushin (screenplay), Terry Gilliam (additional dialog)
Directed by: Terry Gilliam
Starring: Christoph Waltz, Lucas Hedges, Melanie Thierry
Rated: R

Plot: 
A man afraid of everything wants to work from home, while trying to determine his purpose in life.

Review:
A man lives in a secluded, burned down church amidst futuristic buildings. He is afraid of everything and experiences nothing, wondering why he exists. He is focused on his work, not caring what he does or why, but working to pass the time hoping the meaning of life will come to him. His faith is so acute he ignores distractions. He believes one phone call he missed in his youth, will call again and provide him with his purpose. In the end he realizes that work or a phone call cannot make him happy, it will not provide meaning.
For most people this movie is too bizarre and the plot is too far removed from normal.
It depends, but only if you like the bizarre. It's not easy to grasp.




movie 300: Rise of an Empire
300: Rise of an Empire - It's like 300, but unnecessary.
300: Rise of an Empire (2014)
Watch 300: Rise of an Empire
Written by: Zach Snyder & Kurt Johnstad (screenplay), Frank Miller (graphic novel "Xerxes)
Directed by: Noam Murro
Starring: Sullivan Stapleton, Eva Green, Lena Headey, Rodrigo Santoro
Rated: R

Plot:
Themistokles must repel Artemisia and the Persian forces led by mortal-turned-god Xerxes.

Review:
Another unnecessary sequel. While the original 300 pushed style over substance, this movie has less style and substance. The creators tried so hard to recapture the first movie that they set this during the exact same time period. Despite the eye candy ploy of Eva Green there is little of interest. The first movie while stylistically unique had a compelling story, and this simply isn't and doesn't.
Skip it.


movie Elite Squad
Elite Squad - Stopping criminals and corrupt cops in the war zone of Brazil.
Elite Squad aka Tropa de Elite (2007)
Watch Elite Squad
Written by: André Batista, Rodrigo Pimentel, Luiz Eduardo Soares (book), Bráulio Mantovani, José Padilha, Rodrigo Pimentel

Directed by: José Padilha
Starring: Wagner Moura , André Ramiro , Caio Junqueira
Rated: R

Plot: 
It's difficult to distinguish cops from criminals in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. When the violence in the slums becomes too much for the police, they call in the Elite Squad.

Review:
The movie does a thorough job of detailing what is wrong with the police force, and at the same time the problems faced. This causes it to drag a bit, at least for an action movie. Though, through this characters are developed. It's a harsh movie. Cops have to be more ruthless than the drug dealers they hunt, and it is a hunt. It's a culture shock compared to America. It's very raw and doesn't feel far removed from documenting what actual conditions may be. Corruption runs rampant and the police force is outnumbered, so cops can't stop crime. They instead make peace. The Elite Squad are the type of cops needed to halt the proliferation of crime.
It depends.


movie Non-stop
Non-stop - The terrorists prepared for everything, everything except Liam Neeson.
Non-stop (2014)
Watch Non-stop
Written by: John W. Richardson & Christopher Reach and Ryan Engle (screenplay), John W. Richardson & Christopher Reach (story)
Directed by: Jaume Collet-Serra
Starring: Liam Neeson, Julianne Moore, Michelle Dockery, Corey Stoll, Lupita Nyong'o, Anson Mount
Rated: PG-13

Plot:
When threatened by terrorists, Liam Neeson, an air marshal, must save the lives of everyone on the plane.

Review:
Liam Neeson has a particular set of skills, and he's nearly created his own genre. It's a thrilling movie, with a few twists and mysteries. Forgiving the unrealistic aspects, it falls apart at the end with flimsy villains.
Skip it.

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