Sunday, May 31, 2015

The Weekly Movie Watch Volume 45

This week I watched Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior, Inherent Vice, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, I Know That Voice.

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.

Mel Gibson in Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior
Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior -The precursor to Mad Max: Fury Road


Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (1982)
Watch Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior
Written by: Terry Hayes & George Miller (screenplay), Brian Hannant (screenplay with)
Directed by: George Miller
Starring: Mel Gibson, Bruce Spence, Michael Preston
Rated: R

Plot:
Max comes across a small town and agrees to help them ward off a hoard of post-apocalyptic outlaws.

Review:
It's hard not to compare it to Mad Max: Fury Road. It's very similar, this just has a much lower budget. The Mad Max films really capture a wasteland world where people struggle just to survive. With great action and great characters, it's thoroughly entertaining with a solid ending.
It depends.


Joaquin Phoenix and Josh Brolin in Inherent Vice
Inherent Vice - Much like Doc, I don't remember what happened.

Inherent Vice (2014)
Watch Inherent Vice
Written by:  Paul Thomas Anderson (written for the screen by), Thomas Pynchon (based on the novel by)
Directed by: Paul Thomas Anderson
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Josh Brolin, Owen Wilson
Rated: R

Plot: 
Doc Sportello gets involved in a sprawling mystery after a visit from an ex-girlfriend.

Review:
Incredibly well-acted, directed, and great looking, it weaves a modern film noir story. Unfortunately the ending wasn't very satisfying. This big conspiracy that would typically wrap up at the end is just a series of semi-related cases for Joaquin Phoenix's character Doc. While it was convoluted, it seems to capture the craziness of the seventies. This movie very well could be how Doc experiences the crazed world. Despite how well made this movie is, the story doesn't click. Upon a second watch, I may very well change my mind. Until then...
Skip it.


Machine Gun Wielding Monkey in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes -The monkey has a gun!
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)
Watch Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Written by: Mark Bomback and Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver (written by), Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver (characters), Pierre Boulle (novel "La Planete des Singes")
Directed by:Matt Reeves
Starring: Gary Oldman, Keri Russell, Andy Serkis
Rated: PG-13

Plot: 
Conflict arises between apes and humans, resulting in war.

Review:
Amazing CGI is the real spectacle. The decision of humans upon encountering apes, is too cliche, and thus unrealistic. They must kill them. Can the movie persuade people to suspend their disbelief long enough for  horse riding, machine gun carrying monkeys? Not for me, it just isn't compelling. Is it due to the uncanny valley quality of the apes? Humans at odds may have worked better, but it's a story we've seen far too many times.
Skip it.


John DiMaggio in I Know that Voice
I Know that Voice - By the end you'll be trying voices.
I Know That Voice (2013)
Watch I Know That Voice
Written by: Brandon Sonnier
Directed by: Lawrence Shapiro
Starring: John Dimaggio, Kevin Conroy, Jim Cummings
Rated: --

Plot: 
What do voice actors do? Find out in this documentary.

Review:
It's a informative and interesting. I like to know how people work and this provides that insight. I couldn't help but try my voices (and paling in comparison). It's a great documentary that shows the work voice actors put into their craft. While actors get to express emotion through their body and voice, voice actors have only sound.
Watch it.

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