Jurassic Park (1993)

Jurassic Park (1993)

Starring: Sam Neil, Laura Dern, and Jeff Goldblum.

Plot: 120 miles off the coast of Costa Rica, John Hammond is in the process of creating the world's greatest biological preserve.  But instead of lions, tigers, or bears, this park contains living, breathing dinosaurs, brought back from blood found in ancient mosquitoes trapped in amber.  However, he needs experts to sign off on the park in order to maintain funding from his investors.  This includes two paleontologists and a mathematician, who predicts that the park will go horribly wrong due to a lack of respect for the power they're wielding.  When his predictions start to come true, the group must try to survive a park full of dinosaurs on the loose.

Good: This film has a great and diverse cast.  Sam Neil plays a great leading man as Dr. Alan Grant, who pulls off the scientist aspect to his character.  He also does a great job at showing the evolution of Grant from a child-hating grump to someone who legitimately cares for the kids he helps during the movie.  Jeff Goldblum as Dr. Ian Malcolm was an inspired choice, with his charm and charisma turned up to eleven.  He can be very entertaining to watch.  The rest of the cast does a good job, including Richard Attenborough as the kindly but naive John Hammond, and Bob Peck as the delightfully hammy Robert Muldoon.  The music in this film (done by John Williams) is iconic, and one of my all time favorite scores.  It can have you on the edge of your seat with suspense, sit in quiet reflection, or cheer with delight with ease.  The action is also excellent, from the T. Rex attack in the rain, to the Dilophosaurus sneaking up on Nedry, to the suspenseful Velociraptor hunt in the kitchen.  Of course, you can't talk about Jurassic Park without also mentioning its special effects.  The practical effects used on the close ups of the dinosaurs are amazing, with may of them looking like there are real dinosaurs on set.  Two scenes that show this off the best are the sick Triceratops scene and the Tyrannosaurus escape.  The computer generated dinosaurs, even though they have dated a little bit, still looks amazing, even surpassing some modern day CGI creations.  This combination of practical and computer effects makes the dinosaurs really come to life.  The dinosaurs even sound real, from the ear splitting T.Rex roar to the terrifying Velociraptor raptor scream.

Bad: Although the kid actors in the film play their parts well, their characters feel kind of superfluous to the story most of the time, and can sometimes act pretty annoying.  This especially happens to Lex, asking dumb questions and screaming when it's unnecessary.  Luckily, this doesn't happen too much in the film, but it makes an impression when it does.  Also, while the way the dinosaurs were depicted was pretty close to what science thought of them at the time, they haven't aged that well.  We now know that Velociraptors were much smaller (about the size of a turkey) and had feathers, Brachiosaurus couldn't make loud noises, and none of the dinosaurs would've made booming noises when they walked (just look at an elephant walking).  However, this is more of a minor nitpick, as the people making the film were trying to portray the dinosaurs as accurately as possible, and science just moved on.

Trivia:

• The T. Rex animatronic was not meant to break the glass on the top of the car when it attacked the kids, so it produced genuine screams from the actors.
• The Tyrannosaur's famous roar was a combination of dog, penguin, tiger, alligator, and elephant noises. 
• On one of Nedry's computer screens, you can see Jaws playing when he's arguing with Hammond.
• Universal bought the rights to Michael Crichton's novel before it was published.

Final Verdict: While it does have some very minor flaws, Jurassic Park is still an amazing movie, and one of my favorite films of all time.  It has great action, amazing music, and top notch special effects.  This is a must see for anyone who ever wanted to see dinosaurs come to life, or if you just want to appreciate all the hard work that went into it.  I highly recommend it.  

Next time, we'll once again fight against the Nazis.  However, this time, it'll be in a much more serious tone, with Schindler's List.

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Hook (1991)

Hook (1991)

Starring: Dustin Hoffman, Robin Williams, and Julia Roberts.

Plot: Peter Banning is a father who has too much time on his hands from his job to spend time with his wife and kids.  When the family takes a vacation to London to visit Granny Wendy, the woman who took of Peter when he was a boy, the children are kidnapped by a man known as Captain Hook.  As it turns out, Peter is none other than Peter Pan, who grew up after falling in love with Wendy's granddaughter.  Now he must travel to Neverland, and with the help of Tinkerbell and the Lost Boys, he will try to rescue his kids from the titular villain.

Good: Robin Williams may have been an unconventional choice to play Pan, but he fits into the role very well.  He effortlessly shows both sides of his character, from the overworked and stick in the mud father, to the boyish and energetic hero.  It's very cool seeing his character transitioning between these two extremes.  As per usual in a Spielberg film, the kids do a good job with what they're given, especially the actor who plays Jack Banning, who has a lot of good emotional scenes.  The rest of the cast does a good job as well, but the best performance would have to be Dustin Hoffman as Hook himself.  He fits this role like a glove, bringing a sophistication and charm to the role, while also being delightfully hammy when it's necessary.  This film also has great production design.  The sets look incredibly detailed and fun to look at, especially the pirate village.  The matte paintings of Neverland are also spectacular, adding to the great visual style of that world.  The sword fights during the climax are fantastically choreographed, with great banter between Pan and Hook.  The special effects are quite good, with the flying sequences being particular stand outs.  John Williams brings one of his best scores in this movie, especially in the scene where Peter remembers how to fly.  It's surprising that it's not as well remembered as some of his more famous scores.

Bad:  While Julia Roberts's performance is good, the way Tinkerbell is written is not that great.  Tink should be spiteful and jealous, while this version is too nice.  It feels out of character and makes her kind of boring.  Also, the climax, even though it contains some great sword fights, can feel a bit too cheesy, with the pirates being defeated with eggs, vegetables, and multicolored water.  This, along with some other scenes that are smothered in cheese, can take the audience out of the movie big time.  Plus, there are some major leaps in logic throughout the movie.  The biggest plot holes would have to be how Peter could understand what his mother was saying when he was a baby and how he grew up to be a ten-year old when he was in Neverland.

Trivia:

• The actor who played young Peter Pan is Dustin Hoffman's son.
• Glenn Close plays the pirate who gets sent to the Boo Box.  It's unclear as to why.
• The Peter Pan book that Granny Wendy is reading to the children is a first edition copy from 1911.
• The word 'bangarang', which is said multiple times throughout the movie, is Jamaican slang for disorder, hubbub, or an uproar.  

Final Verdict: Despite some of it's flaws, I still recommend Hook.  It has great acting, fantastic production design, and amazing music.  If you can suspend you disbelief pretty high, and focus on the charm of the film, you can enjoy it a lot.

Next time, we'll go on a weekend inspection of John Hammond's new attraction on Isla Nublar.  Jurassic Park.

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Always (1989)

Always (1989)

Starring: Richard Dreyfuss, Holly Hunter, and John Goodman

Plot: Pete Sandich is a pilot who helps firefighters by putting out forest fires from the sky.  He regularly endangers himself by doing reckless stunts to impress his wife Dorina, much to her dismay.  After risking his life to save his flying partner and best friend, Pete tragically dies when his engine explodes.  Now he must do what all souls do once they die; help subconsciously guide another pilot to greatness.  What Pete soon realizes however, is that the pilot he's guiding is in love with his now widowed wife.  Can he learn to move on from his old life, or will he remain connected to his beloved Dorina?

Good: The last time Richard Dreyfuss was in a Spielberg movie was in Close Encounters of the Third Kind, so it was a welcome surprise to see him again.  His charisma is dialed up to eleven and is very enjoyable to watch.  His humor is hilarious, especially when he's experimenting with the fact that he can influence other peoples actions.  However, he also brings a lot of drama to the scenes that require it.  You can see the internal conflict inside him when he's deciding whether he should hold on to his past life, or let go and let Dorina live her life without him.  Speaking of Dorina, Holly Hunter is also very good, mastering a wide range of emotions in every scene she's in, from joy when the couple celebrate her birthday, to fear when Pete is doing one of his stunts.  The chemistry between these two characters is amazing, and you can really buy that these two are a couple, despite the eleven year age difference.  John Goodman, as always, brings a lot of charm and humor to his scenes, while also pulling off very emotional scenes.  Spielberg does a great job with the romance between Dorina and the pilot, while also making her connection with her past husband just as strong, which adds to the internal conflict.  This is especially notable, since this is Spielberg's first film centered mostly on the romance aspect.  John Williams's music is still great, though it's less bombastic and more subtle, which works well with the tonne of the film.  Despite not being very effects-heavy, the scenes when characters are fighting fires.  Those scenes are probably the best in the film, with suspense that will put you on the edge of your seat, and effects that look so real, you'd think that they were from a documentary if not for the amazing cinematography.

Bad: While there is a lot of great acting in this film, there are some notable exceptions.  The main one being the pilot that Pete has to help.  He's not a bad actor, he's just kind of bland, and doesn't quite hold up to the acting chops of Dreyfuss, Hunter, or Goodman.  The pacing is also very puzzling.  While the movie is about two hours long, it feels like it's moving too fast.  I'm not sure how it managed to do this or if it's just me, but it would've been nice if the pacing slowed down just a bit, so that the audience could see the romance grow in a less speedy way.

Trivia:

• This was Audrey Hepburn's final movie before she died.
• The scene when Dorina and the pilot are doing John Wayne impressions was added after a similar interaction happened between the actors during filming.
• This film is a remake of A Guy Named Joe, which can be seen playing on the television during a scene in Poltergeist.  
• During production, Spielberg told John Goodman that he would make a great Fred Flintstone.  In 1994, Goodman starred in The Flintstones as that character.

Final Verdict: Despite its flaws, this is a very solid movie.  It has great characters, amazing action, and a memorable story.  I would recommend it to people who love romance in general, or people who live Spielberg's lighter work.

Next time, we'll travel to Neverland, and find out what would happen if Peter Pan grew up, in Hook.

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Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)

Starring: Harrison Ford, Sean Connery, and Alison Doody.

Plot: Indiana Jones is back once again, this time in a search for the holy grail (insert Monty Python joke here), but he's not the only one.  The Nazis have also returned, and this time they've captured Indy's father, who has dedicated his life to finding the grail.  With the help of Sallah, Marcus Brody, and the lovely Dr. Elsa Schneider, he will attempt to save his father while also searching for the grail before the Nazis do.

Good: The biggest difference between this film and the last two instalments is that it has a noticeably lighter tone.  This ends up working in the favor of the film, making it more like the somewhat cheesy serials it's based on.  There's a lot more comedic moments, such as when the Jones's are trying to escape the burning castle.  Harrison Ford once again returns as the titular hero, and he still does a great job after taking a five year break from the role.  His wit and charm really bring the character to life, as it did in the last two movies.  Due to the lighter tone, he really gets to show off his comedic prowess.  However, his best scenes are when he interacts with Sean Connery, who plays Indy's father.  Their banter is great fun to watch, and is the heart of the film. While it might seem kind of gimmicky to bring the main character's father along for the ride, but through a mixture of the way the character is written and Connery's charm, the addition is a welcome presence.  The returning cast does a good job as well, especially Denholm Elliot as Marcus Brody, whose role has been expanded upon in this instalment.  John Williams's score brings back the Raiders March again, while also adding some new pieces.  The music during the bike chase sequence manages to leave a memorable tune stuck in your head, and it's one of Williams's best.  The action is excellent, with action scenes being frequent and well placed and staged.  Finally, there are some great visual effects in this film.  The two that stand out are the invisible bridge and the rapidly aging villain. 

Bad: While the lighter tone may work for the most part, at some points, it comes off as too cheesy, with the actors sometimes playing their roles in a tongue-in-cheek manner.  At some points it feels like the movie is more of a comedy than an action/adventure flick.  One of the best parts of the original was how despite the cheesy moments, all of the actors played it straight.  Another issue is that while some of the effects are top notch, there are also some that don't look quite as great.  This is especially true with the green screen that they used for when they were either flying or in a boat.  The shot when the Nazi commander is yelling at the blimp probably looks the most fake.

Trivia:

• During the book burning scene, Spielberg had the extras cross their fingers whenever they did the Nazi salute and said "Sieg Heil".
• Neither Sean Connery nor Harrison Ford wore pants during the plane sequence, since the set was too hot.
• For his scenes as young Indy, River Phoenix based his performance off of Harrison Ford off screen, not the titular character.  Also, Ford had recommended Phoenix for the role.
• Speilberg has always wanted to direct a Bond movie, so having Sean Connery (the first James Bond) in his movie is the closest he's come so far.

Final Verdict: I would say this film is probably the most forgetable of the Indiana Jones franchise.  It's not as iconic as Raiders of the Lost Ark and it's not as infamous as Temple of Doom or Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.  However, it's still an enjoyable watch, with its great action, excellent music, and fantastic banter between Ford and Connery.  I definently recommend this film for anyone who is a fan of the Indiana Jones franchise, or who just wants a light action/adventure movie.

Next time, we'll see take a look at one of Spielberg's lesser known films, Always.

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Empire of the Sun (1987)

Empire of the Sun (1987)

Starring: Christian Bale, John Malkovich, and Miranda Richardson.

Plot: During World War II, a spoiled British boy named Jamie Graham lives in the Shanghai International Settlement with his parents.  Everything seems to be going well for the family, when the Japanese forces suddenly take over the settlement.  In the ensuing chaos, Jaime is quickly separated from his parents, eventually ending up in an internment camp with other former residents of the settlement.  For the next few years, he must learn how to survive in this harsh new world, with the help of an American Sailor named Basie.  Will he survive until the end of the war and reunite with his parents, or will he become one of the many casualties of  the Second World War?

Good: Like The Color Purple, this film focuses on an element of a well known part of history that isn't as famous as some of the other elements.  In this case, it focuses on the Japanese internment camps.  That is, the internment camps in Japan that held British prisoners of war.  This unique perspective makes the film much more interesting than if it covered territory the majority of the population knows about, such as the European side of the conflict.  I found it interesting how Japan was putting Westerners in internment camps while the reverse was happening in the U.S. at the same point.  However, unlike The Color Purple, all of the acting in this movie is great, especially young Christian Bale as Jamie.  He does an excellent job of portraying the evolution of his character from a spoiled brat to a mature young adult.  When you compare how Jamie acts in the begining of the movie to how he acts in the end, you can barely tell that what you're watching is the same character.  If you're familiar with Bale as an adult, it might be a bit distracting to see him as a child, like it was for me.  However I quickly got over it.  John Malkovich also does a great job as the smooth talking Basie.  At first his presence was a bit distracting, with his calmness and charisma in some situations being unrealistic, but his character grew on me as the film went on.  The rest of the cast does a great job as well, with particularly memorable performances from Nigel Havers as the doctor in the camp and Miranda Richardson as a motherly figure toward Jaime in the camp.  The production values are great, with sets and locations that look and feel like 1940s Japan.  The music is once again done by John Williams, and while it might not be as memorable as some of his other works, it's still sounds great.  It helps show the innocent wonder of a child while also adding some darker notes that show the despair of the prisoners.  Also, it seems that Spielberg has learned his lesson about portraying Japanese people since 1941, with the people of Japan being portrayed in shades of grey, and not just as either the victims or the evil captors, but rather as just people.

Bad: While this film may have better pacing than The Color Purple, it still drags at points, especially during the middle of the film.  The fact that these scenes all happen in the same brown, dull landscape doesn't help.  Also, the movie ends fairly abruptly, so we don't get to see Jaime adjusting to life after all these experiences, which was a missed opportunity.

Trivia: 

• Ben Stiller has a small role as one of the American prisoners, and he apparently came up with the idea for Tropic Thunder while on the set.
• The scenes in the internment camp were severely cut down, with some roles being reduced to minor characters.
• Eric Flynn, who played one of the prisoners in the camp, was an actual prisoner in a Japanese camp as a child.

Final Verdict: This film is absolutely amazing.  Even thought it does have a few hiccups here and there, it still has great production, writing, and most of all, acting.  If you're into history, especially World War II, and you want to see a different side of this interesting conflict, then this is the perfect movie for you.  I also recommend this to anyone who's looking for a great historical drama, or if you enjoy Spielberg's dramas.

Next time, we'll see Indy once again battle Nazis, but this time he's after something a bit more closer to home.  It's Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

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The Color Purple (1985)

The Color Purple (1985)

Starring: Danny Glover, Whoopi Goldberg, and Oprah Winfrey

Plot: Celie is an African American girl in the early 20th century, and has had two children by the age of 14.  When she is married off to a much older man after she has her second child, she must spend most of her life in an abusive and threatening world, and separated from her beloved sister.  But along the way, she meets many friends, including the feisty Sofia and the lovely Shug Avery.  With the help of her friends, she will try to survive in a harsh world of racism and patriarchy. 

Good: One of the things that stands out in this film is the fact that it shines a light on a part of history that isn't focused on today, which is the gender roles within the African American culture in the early 20th century.  If you were a black woman around this time, you were considered to be the lowest class a human could be.  The struggle of these women is portrayed excellently by Whoopi Goldberg in her first role on screen.  She does a great job showing a wide range of emotions without many lines.  Many of the other actors do a great job as well, including Danny Glover as Albert and Margret Avery as Shug.  But the performance that I was most surprised by was Oprah Winfrey as Sofia.  Usually the celebrity cast member is the weakest link in the cast, but Winfrey does a superb job at portraying this strong woman who is broken by society, and she disappears in the role, especially during the dinner scene.  The production design is  very good, and you really feel like you're looking at what life was like in the early 20th century.  The music was done by Quincy Jones, and he does a good job at portraying the emotions of the scenes.

Bad: While many of the performances are good, there are some that can be pretty cringe worthy.  The actors who play Celie's children and step father feel very wooden in their line deliveries.  The worst performance in my opinion is done by the actress who played young Celie.  She is so dry and boring to listen to, that she makes the first 30 minutes of the film drag on, and the film only picks up when Whoopi replaces her.  The movie also feels way too long at points, and comes to a slow crawl near the end.  Some of the humor, while it can be funny, also feels out of place at times, and can give the viewers emotional whiplash.  For example, just after a very tense scene with Celie contemplating murdering her husband, Albert, we get a comedic scene with Albert looking for his clothes to wear for Shug Avery.

Trivia:

• This was Whoopi Goldberg's and Oprah Winfrey's first feature film.
• Tina Turner was initially chosen to play Shug Avery, but she turned it down.
•  This was Spielberg's first "serious" film, and it put him on the path to making movies like Schindler's List and Saving Private Ryan.
• Oprah Winfrey ad-libbed her speech at the dinner table at Spielberg's request.

Final Verdict: To me, this film is a mixed bag.  It has some amazing acting, and some not-so-great acting.  Some of the scenes will captivate you, while others will have you checking your watch.  I would recommend this film to people who find the subject matter interesting, or if you're just a die hard Spielberg fan.

Next time, we'll go to Japan during WWII, and see if Spielberg has learned his lesson about racism since 1941, with Empire of the Sun.

Stay Tuned   

      

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)

Starring: Harrison Ford, Kate Capshaw, and Jonathan Ke Quan.

Plot: It's 1935, and Indiana Jones is in Shanghai attempting to make a deal with a local crime boss.  But when the deal goes south, he has to leave town with his sidekick Short Round and a famous singer Willie Scott.  But when their plane crash lands, they arrive in a struggling Indian village.  Their spiritual rock has been taken by a nearby palace, along with the children of the village.  When Indy decides to go check out the place, he discovers that it holds many secrets, including cults, sacrifices, and mind control.  Will he be able to save the village, or even himself?

Good: Harrison Ford is back, and once again does an amazing job as the titular character.  He manages to bring the humor, the charm, and the action for a second time, and seems to have fun doing it.  Jonathan Ke Quan does a good job as Short Round.  A lot of Indiana Jones fans find him to be annoying, but I enjoyed his performance.  I especially like the paternal relationship between Indy and Shorty that is present throughout the film.  You can see it when they escape traps, fight bad guys, and even play cards.  John Williams also returns, and while his main theme remains the best music in the movie, there are great new pieces.  For example, "Slave Children's Crusade" is very entertaining to listen to, with its slow build up and its bombastic climax.  The action is well choreographed and exciting, with varied set pieces.  The special effects are very good, especially during the infamous sacrifice scene.  It uses a great mix of sets and practical effects so that you really believe that a man has been sacrificed to Kali.

Bad: One big problem with this film is its pacing, especially with the action scenes.  The action is few and far between for the first two acts, then switches into mostly action for the last 30 minutes.  While the action is well made during this last act, it gets tiring after a while.  Another issue that I have is the character Willie.  Kate Capshaw's performance isn't the problem per say, but rather it's the way the character's written.  Willie's a huge step down from Raiders's Marion, the latter being a stronger and more interesting female role than the former.  She can get very annoying with her constant screaming and her unnecessary commentary on the situations she's in.  As Indy says in one scene, "The biggest trouble with her is the noise".  One final problem is the somewhat racist portrayal of Indian culture.  I may not be an expert, but I don't think that real Indian people eat chilled monkey brains or worship devil gods.  It's not as bad as it is in 1941, since that movie was targeting a more specific group of people more offensively, but it can get uncomfortable at some points.

Trivia:

• Kate Capshaw needed screaming lessons for this role.
• Capshaw is now married to Spielberg.  This film was were they first met, and they now have five children together.
• The giant vampire bats were actually fruit bats.
• This film is a prequel to Raiders of the Lost Ark, because that movie took place in 1936, and this one takes place in 1935.

Final Verdict: To me, this film is a mixed bag.  It has great action, but it's poorly paced.  Many of the characters are great, but some are annoying.  I would recommend that you check it out if you liked the first one, or if your just a fan of action/adventure movies.  Otherwise, I wouldn't bother.

Next time, we'll take a look at Whoopi Goldberg's film debut in The Color Purple.

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