Bryan Singer could probably retire from making X-Men films, cause I don't know if he will be able to top his latest film. Not only is X-Men: Days of Future Past his best film, but it's at par with First Class as the best X-Men film to date.
It doesn't really try to fix the continuity so as to synch with the timelines of all the other films, but at this point it didn't really matter anymore. The movie is entertaining and doesn't have any dull moments, but at the same time it isn't an all out CGI action fest either.
Wolverine is obviously a central character to the story, yet his role didn't take precedence over other characters; in fact he comparatively has lesser big action scenes than the rest, while still binding the narrative with some great emotional resonance along with the rest of the cast..
I was glad to hear John Ottman's X2 theme playing during the opening credits. Lot of great mutant action sequences especially in the future, which are not only very cool but quite brutal as well. Yet, just like First Class what was lacking for me was the rest of the core X-Men team.
After X-Men: Apocalypse, they should definitely consider rebooting the franchise after about 5 years or so.
I enjoyed Godzilla. The movie isn't over the top monster action all the way through, as it has a more grounded and serious approach. There is mayhem and destruction early on but there is lot of tease and anticipation on the monster end, which makes it more effective when Godzilla comes into play.
The more human story elements of the movie might disappoint some viewers, but I think it works and is in line with the original Japanese film. Also really liked Alexandre Desplat's bombastic musical score.
Got my District 9 Christopher Johnson statue today. I missed out on this unique piece when it went up for sale in 2011 and it's been one of my holy grails ever since.
I am now so happy to finally have this in my collection and even more relieved that it arrived in one piece, without any damages due to customs.
The statue is 1:6 scale and measures 14.2 inches in height along with the base. It's numbered #291 of 600.
Update (April 27):
I had also uploaded my District 9 statue
image on Instagram two weeks ago. And now I am little ecstatic knowing
that director Neill Blomkamp also "liked" the image yesterday :D
Captain America: The Winter Soldier was fantastic. In midst of all the exhilarating action, mystery and humor, the movie is also infused with emotional moments.
It was such a well crafted story, along with some terrific fight sequences and great visuals. Many of the supporting characters including the villains get their moments to shine.
It's the best Marvel Phase Two film so far and probably my favourite Marvel film right above Avengers. I plan to see it again soon.
Update:
Saw the movie again yesterday (Apr 05) and it was even better during the second time.
And I just can't get enough of the score by Henry Jackman, which is so energetic and at times eerie.
I love the main Captain America theme which runs through the score right from the opening track 'Lemurian Star' and especially in the ending credits 9 mins track titled Captain America.
The Captain America theme almost makes me want to start exercising and working out. Almost.
I saw only 23 movies of 2013 and I saw 17 of them in the theater. There are some movies which have yet to get released here in India, including The Wolf Of Wall Street, Inside Llewyn Davis, 12 Years a Slave, American Hustle and Her. They are releasing in January and February of 2014.
So my favourite movies of 2013 list feels largely incomplete and probably isn't quite final, as I have also missed quite a number of films which I intended to see, but couldn't due to different circumstances.
But the one film that undoubtedly belongs on the top of my list is Gravity. I don't know how much of repeat value it will have for me on home video, but it remains one of my best theatrical movie experiences in a long time.
It delivered obviously on the awe front, while giving ample instances to resonate with the character moments as well. Gravity is a great example of what going to the cinemas should be about, which is the experience of being transported to a different world.
My top favourite movies of this year are as follows.
1. Gravity 2. Pacific Rim 3. The World's End 4. Frances Ha 5. This Is The End
Honorable Mention: Upstream Color, Iron Man 3, Rush, Thor: The Dark World, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
Other movies I liked though it had its share of shortcomings (release date order): Oblivion, Star Trek Into Darkness, The Wolverine, Elysium, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.
Also check out these two great mashup videos showcasing clips from
various 2013 films. Good choice of music too. (I recommend wearing headphones while watching them). The second video is a tad
longer but has a more wider selection of movies from 2013.
Gravity was stunning and gripping as I had hoped for. I made the 16 hours round trip to Bangalore to see it at PVR IMAX in 3D, not true IMAX but still the best picture quality I have seen.
Sandra Bullock gives a great and endearing performance, while George Clooney is charming as he balances out some of the tension. Plotwise the film is akin to a bottle episode but high on visual spectacle and the short 90 minutes duration of the film helps with its pacing.
Most of the film is CGI blending with live action, which was seamless including some stellar transition between different perspective shots.
Thanks to director Alfonso Cuaron, cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki and the rest of the Gravity cast and crew who have delivered one of the most immersive cinema experiences of 2013.
The Wolverine was good and surprisingly so grounded with its approach to the story and characters for a major portion of the film. Though it's not exactly an faithful adaptation, the movie gives nods to the 1982 Wolverine comic by Chris Claremont and Frank Miller, while borrowing certain elements from it and expands on them.
This is Hugh Jackman's 6th time (5 movies and a cameo) portraying the character of Logan and he still brings something fresh to the character along with his badass charm to it. Both Mariko and Yukio played by Tao Okamoto and Rila Fukushima were good supporting characters, especially with Mariko I was secretly hoping they would go with the comic ending panel.
The story is pretty straightforward but still manages to bring in some intrigue and moments of suspense in midst of the action. For most parts at least until the end, director James Mangold made sure that it doesn't feel like the action is driving the story, thus the action played out quite organic to the story.
The Wolverine is a solid and worthy entry into the X-Men saga and the mid credits scene just builds up the excitement for the next chapter.
Here are some of the Twitter reactions from the Amazing Spider-Man panel at Comic-Con.
EricVespe: Amazing Spider-Man 2 is up next. Stands a good chance of being the biggest and best thing in the Hall today.
devincf: Sony is doing the multi screen thing for SPIDER-MAN, a la HOBBIT and PACIFIC RIM.
ErikDavis: Andrew Garfield sitting on the SPIDER-MAN panel as Spidey #ComicCon
devincf: Garfield is on stage in his Spidey suit. He's staying in character.
ErikDavis: Andrew Garfield is in character as Spider-Man & he's
stealing the show. Geeking out on Jamie Foxx movies. "I loved Django!"
devincf: "I got these powers and I have to do something with them and I don't like assholes." - Spider-Man. #SDCC
eruditechick: Garfield, full costume, doing panel in character. "who is Andrew? I thought Eduardo Saverin played me."
empiremagazine: They're really going for this Spider-Man-is-real schtick. Garfield sells it. #ComicCon
EricVespe: I can't get over how sweet it is to have Spider-Man actually on this panel.
EricVespe: Foxx said he really wanted Electro to be someone who is the
opposite of the jokey Spider-Man. "I want to burn the city to the
ground."
EricVespe: Really impressed with the Amazing Spider-Man 2 footage. Fully away from the Raimi films now with no origin story.
devincf: Electro gets his powers from eels at oscorp. He flies. His
power level is enormous - he seems to blow up a bunch of buildings.
#SDCC
EricVespe: Electro's origin involves electrocution and electric eels in an Oscorp lab.
empiremagazine: Spider-footage: much bigger in scale than the first.
Spidey catches a flying cop car like a pro. Quip level upped.
EricVespe: Also, Paul Giamatti screaming in a pissed off Russian accent is awesome. Hope he's more than a footnote in the film.
EricVespe: Harry Osborne seems to start out as angry and bad guy, Chris Cooper's Norman looks very sickly.
ErikDavis: Monster AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 trailer teases a silly start that quickly escalates to all-out mayhem. Ends w/ Electro destroying Times Square
ErikDavis: The only thing I wanted more of in that Spidey 2 trailer was
Dane Dehaan. Only shot of Chris Cooper as Osborn, he seemed to be near
death
EricVespe: Yep, Andrew was back after the footage ended, apologizing profusely for being late.
devincf: Nerd in UCB shirt confronts Garfield about being too sexy for
Peter Parker. Garfield handled it well, said Maguire is always
Spider-Man.
EricVespe: A gay Asian American attendee applauded Garfield for his recent statements about how Spider-Man could be gay
EricVespe: Garfield says that Spider-Man is supposed to stand for
everybody, black, white, hispanic, gay, straight, transgendered, etc.
EricVespe: Because of the suit anybody can project what they want
underneath, that's the beauty of Spider-Man, no matter what skin color
or orientation
devincf: Garfield is one of the best panel personalities in the history of SDCC. He's so natural and funny and personable.
EricVespe: Said it wouldn't make sense for Peter to suddenly be with a
black guy in the third film storywise... to which Jamie was all "I'm
right here"
ErikDavis: The thing I love most about these new SPIDER-MAN movies is
the tone. It's playful and silly, but still really fun & thrilling
Blake Wright: Foxx is humming the Superman theme to a kid dressed as Superman getting ready to ask a question.
EricVespe: High school kid dressed up as Superman strikes poses as Jamie Foxx sings the John Williams theme. #comicconisawesome
EricVespe: I love this panel! This sort of funny energy has been missing from Hall H today.
EricVespe: Webb says he's not tied down to one particular comic series, pulls from both the Ultimates and Ditko/Lee years.
EricVespe: Big Spider-Man fan asks Webb if it's too much having Rhino,
Electro, the Osborns, etc. "I don't want another Spider-Man 3."
devincf: Audience applauds guy who is worried that AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 has too many characters and villains. #SDCC
EricVespe: Webb says Electro is by far the main villain. Rhino is a minor thing to add flavor. Calls Electro "God-like."
EricVespe: "How does Spider-Man touch someone who if you touch him is like touching a thousand third rails?"
ErikDavis: Fan: "What kind of Spider-Man storyline would you like to see
in a movie?" Garfield: "I'd like to see him with the Avengers."
EricVespe: Garfield says he really wants to see Spider-Man with The Avengers. "You're not allowed to say that!"
devincf : "I want to see [Spider-Man] in The Avengers," - Andrew Garfield plays to the crowd at #SDCC
EricVespe: Garfield said that meeting Stan Lee for the first time was
like meeting Mickey Mouse. "Is it you, O creator of everything great and
holy!"
Pacific Rim isn't short on action and visual treats. The scenes where the awe inducing scale of the mighty Jagers fighting the nasty Kaijus are indeed the main highlights of the film. But I was quite pleased how the rest of the film managed to keep me entertained with the story.
Though there are some hokey dialogues during few parts of the movie, it didn't put me off in any way. The human characters in Pacific Rim aren't iconic, but their acts are heroic and they serve the story well. We know their past, their prior battles, so everytime they are out fighting while being inside the mecha, it brings the sense of real danger and anticipation as we are quite emotionally vested in those characters; while marveling at the beauty of the Jagers kicking serious Kaiju ass.
Many seem to have been irked by the characters of the scientists, I for one really liked the character of Newton played by Charlie Day, (maybe cause he plays my favourite character on the hilarious series It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia). Also I really enjoyed the scenes and banter between Newton and Hannibal Chau played by Ron Perlman. Idris Elba manages to express his role with great gravitas and authority.
While most seem to identify the lead actor Charlie Hunnam from Sons of Anarchy, I only knew him as Lloyd, the charming British guy on Undeclared and now quite enjoyed his performance as Raleigh Becket. Rinko Kikuchi (who was great in both Babel and The Brothers Bloom) as Mako Mori was bit awkward during the initial scenes or are atleast they seem to have been written her character that way, but quickly becomes an admirable character as the story continues. Both made a good team. Mako Mori's younger self played by Mana Ashida gives a remarkable performance in a quite a memorable sequence.
As wonderful as the Jagers vs Kaijus fight scenes were, I wanted to see more in the daylight. Cause there is so much detailed work that went into those designs of creatures and suits, that most of it would go unnoticed. Some of the footage of Kaiju attacking cities were shown in daylight and looked great, but were short in duration. But since many of the creatures had that glowing effect from their bodies, it's understandable that they would look better in the dark.
I liked the score by Ramin Djawadi especially the fantastic main theme of Pacific Rim which also featured music by Tom Morello, the track "Go Big or Go Extinct" which is a variation of the main theme is another one of my favourites.
I will be buying the NECA figures for sure, at least the Gipsy Danger
ones in both 7" and the upcoming 18" version. I really want to own a
human scale head bust or helmet mask of Gipsy Danger, hope NECA or
somebody else makes them.
Warner Bros. and Legendary took a chance with this film and I hope it really pays off for them.
Thanks to Guillermo del Toro and all the artists involved for crafting this gorgeous chapter in entertainment and thanks to screenwriter Travis Beacham for birthing this story and world of Pacific Rim to fruition.
Pacific Rim is the most fun I had at the theatre in 2013 and is my favourite movie of this summer so far. I can't wait to see it again.
