lopcar1993

"Tron Legacy" is what you would call pure eye candy with a heavy visual twist much like "The Matrix"(1998) and "Inception"(2010) the only thing that separates these two films from Legacy is there deep rooted stories groundbreaking visuals, thought provoking premises and phenomenal scripts from there respective directors. This sequel of the 1982 cult classic is rather simple stuff the screenplay by Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis is dull with uninspired dialogue and a lack of real emotions. But what the screenplay lacks the sheer power of this visuals, action, story and the return of Jeff Bridges as Kevin Flynn greatly makes up for the lack of compelling dialogue in this film. First time director Joseph Kosinski and cinematographer Claudio Miranda do a bang up job bringing this visually lush world to life breathing life into a rather lifeless film and in the process creating a fantastical film that literally jumps out of the screen. "Tron Legacy" is a massive improvement on the original in both visuals and style what the original lacked this absorbing sequel makes up for it with a high octane, bold adventure that is ripped right from the world of TRON, this film may lack compelling dialogue but it has just enough intelligence, style, charm and just enough well written dialogue to save this from being a disaster "Tron Legacy " is a magical in the sense of its wonder and excitement, in its visuals and its at times emotional father son tale at the heart of this film. This film is not one of the years best and it is nowhere near as good as any other high gloss Science Fiction adventure such as "The Matrix" or "Inception" but "Tron Legacy" proves to be one of the years most enjoyable popcorn adventure flicks and one of the most enjoyable film of this holiday season. I loved every minute of this wildly entertaining film.

To watch this film you have to leave you inhibitions at the door, you have to leave logic at the door and just sit back and enjoy the ride, which is what I did. I just sat back and enjoyed this film for what it is flaws and all and trust me when I say this movie has a boatload of them. To save this film the embarrassment I am going to restrain from naming them. However, I will name one the plot; the plot of this film is so full of holes big enough that you could stuff the whole digital world into it. That is not the point of this film that is not why it was made. If this film was made to be "Inception," it would be but sadly, it is not. "Tron Legacy" is a great looking thrilling film that works despite the obvious flaws it has all the appeal of the 1982 supposed cult classic (which I did not like very much). What separates these two films is the upgrade in special effects and story. I know I shouldn't like this film as much as I should but I cannot help It I did this is a very enjoyable film and an excellent way to blow nearly two hours at the movies. This film is escapism at its very best a film where you can sit there and watch as your senses bombarded with visual excess and stylish execution. If you are looking for 1hr. 50 mins of pure unadulterated escapist fun than look no, further than "Tron Legacy" a summer blockbuster released in the winter.

In his day Roman Polanski was and still is one of cinema's top directors directing such revered classics such as "Nó w wodzie"( Knife in the Water) Polanski's directorial debut, "Repulsion"(1965), the noir classic "Chinatown"(1974), "Tess"(1979), "Frantic"(1988)," Cul-De- Sac"(1966), "Le Locataire" (The Tenant), "The Pianist"(2002) and "Oliver Twist"(2005). Over the last forty-eight years, Polanski has established himself as one of cinema's greatest and most controversial directors he has left an impression on Hollywood that will live on long after he has died and some will stand up and cheer when that day happens I might be one of them. There is no denying that Roman Polanski is a director of monumental skill he puts a certain flare and style to sometimes overused plot devices and stories making them viable daring pieces of filmmaking that surprisingly surpass anything Hollywood could possibly throw out of their shops. With his latest effort, "The Ghost Writer" Polanski proves to everyone that although he may be down but he is never out.

Roman Polanski's "The Ghost Writer" is a film that relies heavily on atmosphere the atmosphere is everything when it comes to a thriller of this caliber if you do not feel the tension then there truly will be no tension. You see in theses days with high gloss action thrillers like "Mission: Impossible" series, The Bourne trilogy all the thrillers are turned into high octane action pictures with wall to wall action and inane dialogue, The Bourne trilogy being the exception in this case. "The Ghost Writer" is not an action thriller it is suspenseful but not in the conventional way. It does not have huge explosions tons of armed men shooting at the hero chasing him through some small jungle country no, this film does one better it is a calm thriller, a steady thriller an intelligent and engrossing thriller that keeps you invested in what is going on with theses colorful and dark characters. What they are doing is extremely interesting how the unnamed hero goes upon solving the complex mystery he has found himself tangled up in this complex and ever-intriguing film that never lets you down even in the face of a less than riveting ending. What I like most about this film is the tense and present moody atmosphere that seems to possess every scene, this film is a conspiracy thriller but it is also part noir and the key elements of both are very visible throughout the film that makes this movie a deep and enveloping film. The dark cinematography, the electric direction and the sharp, highly intelligent script by Polanski and Robert Harris helps make this seemingly conventional conspiracy thriller a cut above the rest.

This is the kind of film that keeps you guessing all the way to the end that is hard to come by theses day where almost every thriller ends with a huge fight between the hero/heroine and the villain, a bloody shootout or the hero being killed in the end for what he/she knows. The thing with "The Ghost Writer" is that there is no villain. There is no hero, there are only real people a corrupt politician, his wife, his secretary, and the ghostwriter who is at the center of all the corruption, murder, and deceit is the focus of this tightly bound film a film that proves to be far more than it is appears.

Ewan McGregor is another actor I am a fan of sadly I have not seen many of his films besides the Star Wars prequel trilogy, "Angels and Demons" (2009), "The Island'(2005) and now Roman Polanski's "The Ghost Writer". McGregor's gives one of, if not the best, performance of his career as the anonymous ghost writer who gets wrapped up in a dangerous web of deadly secrets and sinister truths. McGregor plays this role with a subtle yet fiery sense of duty he gives everything he got to this role and in the end it pays offs big time. Pierce Brosnan has given some great performances and then some not so great performances in this film Brosnan gives one of the very best performances of his long career as the seemingly corrupt former British Prime Minister Adam Lang(who is a thinly disguised mock up of Tony Blair). Brosnan is not as subtle as McGregor he gives a fiery and powerful performances that is steeped with anger and resentment that is neither over the top or poorly acted it is perfectly suited for this kind of film the kind of film that needs actors that are calm, cool, collected and totally in command of there said role. Brosnan is in top form in a thriller that is far superior to others. The rest of the cast including Olivia Williams, Kim Cattrall, Robert Pugh, Jim Belushi, Eli Wallach and Timothy Hutton all deliver stellar supporting in this film that proves that Polanski still has what it takes to tango with the fat cats.

"The Ghost Writer" is not a film that everyone will agree with some will call it overly political and bland. Others will find it an engaging and absorbing political/conspiracy thriller that just keeps throwing out twist after twist after twist and never lets you figure out who is lying to who, who is behind what and what is going on with theses shady people until the shocker of a finale. "The Ghost Writer" is an inspired piece of work a brilliant and enticing thriller that is neither boring nor dull and puts to mind what really goes on with theses politicians when the camera is not on them.

For the last 588 years, a legendary story has been passed from generation to generation about a man, a man who stole from the rich and gave to the poor wit not thought to his own actions. This man is the most legendary of all folklore heroes in fact the most legendary of all heroes he is the man who inspire comic book like Batman, The Spirit and most notable of them all The Green Arrow. This man is called Robin Hood a fabled hero, a legendary archer who gave up his position in the high life to help the less fortunate. However, we do not know that for sure. Many people do believe that an archer who went by the name of Robin Hood did exist while others deny the fact that the man ever did exist and believed him to be nothing more than a folklore tale meant to scare the king's soldiers and the sheriff of Nottingham. Ridley Scott (director of Black Hawk Down, Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven, Thelma and Louise and Blade Runner) takes the oft-told tale of one man and his band of merry men and how they took on the system, how they became legends. How they took the country of England by storm and made a lasting impression on the history books and time itself this film is the story of that man this film is the origin of "Robin Hood." Ridley Scott is a director know more for his epic adventure films such as "Black Hawk Down(2001), Kingdom of Heaven(2005), Gladiator(2000) he is also know for dark films such as Thelma and Louise(1991), Alien(1979) and one of the most influential Science Fiction films of all time "Blade Runner"(1982). Scott is a fantastic director he knows what he wants and he sets out to make it. With "Robin Hood" Scott returns to what truly made him famous epic adventure films "Robin Hood" is a classic medieval war movie wrapped in Scott's typical grit and violent style that has worked for him so many times before and has brought in allot of cash for him as well." Robin Hood" is so much more than just your typical adventure film; in fact, this picture is several type of films rolled into one. It is a love story, a revenge thriller and a war drama all of these different types of genres, or sub-genres as you would like to call them. Are combined effectively into one to create a daring new and original vision of the legendary figure that only the likes of Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe could deliver, "Robin Hood" proves that just because Scott is old doesn't mean he is out.

I liked the atmosphere of this film it is soaked in grit, blood and grim and it gives the legend of Robin Hood a darker and more palpable feel than the previous incarnations in the past it's a rougher and more gritty Robin Hood adventure than a mainstream audience is use to but for fans of Scott and Crowe this is movie heaven(Much like it was for me) but even though I am massive, massive fan of both Scott and Crowe it did not affect my opinion of this film at all it just gave me a reason to see this film. It is not as silly as most Robin Hood adaptations have been in the past in fact Ridley Scott's interpretation cuts out the silly (which in most films can be called the intermediary) and takes it down a more serious path. This film is not without its lighthearted moments and to me that lift the mood form the dark and macabre feel of this adventure film giving it just the right touch of comedy mixed in with the action makes this new adaptation of Robin Hood a merry old time.

Russell Crowe is an actor who is not afraid to try anything he has taken on almost all the tough roles from playing a volatile cop in " L.A. Confidential" to playing a Roman General turned Gladiator in "Gladiator", to playing a selfish stoke broker who finds love in "A Good Year". Crowe is fearless and that is why I love his movies he does not hold back on you and gives you his all that is why no matter what Crowe movie you are watching you know you are going to get far better than you would expect. With "Robin Hood" Crowe delivers a performance that is both powerful and commanding, he literally owns the screen. Moreover, if anyone else was in the title role say Orlando Bloom (Kingdom of Heaven, he was reasonably good in that one) this film would fall apart you need someone of Crowe's stature to play a role like this because only he can make it work. With Scott's sharp direction Russell Crowe and the rest of the cast including Max Von Sydow, Vanessa Redgrave, Gordon Pinsent, Cate Blanchett, William Hurt and a devious and cunning performance from Mark Strong as Sir Godfrey all deliver strong performance in a film that exceeds all expectations and puts a new, fresh, gritty and brutal spin on an old legend.

This film is not perfect and it does not pretend to be instead Ridley Scott and his team aim for near-perfection without actually coming close to being perfect. "Robin Hood" is what you would expect from Scott a brutal, vicious and dark medieval war drama with a hint of inspirational meaning thrust into the midst of all the ensuing action. What you can take away form this film is that you came out entertained and enthralled b y this sprawling epic film that may have less heart that "Gladiator" but more soul than you could ever imagine.