Thursday, October 16, 2008

Superman Returns Blu-Ray Review

Rated PG-13 (Some Intense Action Violence)

Running Time: 2 Hours & 34 Minutes

Cast-
Brandon Routh-Clark Kent/Kal-El/Superman
Kate Bosworth-Lois Lane
Kevin Spacey-Lex Luthor
James Marsden-Richard White
Parker Posey-Kitty Kowalski
Sam Huntington-Jimmy Olsen
Frank Langella-Perry White
Eva Marie Saint-Martha Kent
Kal Penn-Stanford
Tristan Lake Leabu-Jason White
Marlon Brando-Jor-El (archival footage used)

Directed Bryan Singer

Superman returns to Earth after a five-year absence to find that Lois Lane has moved on in "Superman Returns."
Note: Part of the "Superman Motion Picture Anthology" Blu-Ray set.

Superman is without a doubt one of the world's most iconic comic book superheroes. Created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster in 1938, Superman has thrilled readers ever since as the flagship character for DC Comics, alongside Batman. Many films were based upon the character but none stood out until 1978's "Superman" directed by Richard Donner and starring then-unknown Christopher Reeve. Reeve became famous as the character, in fact I consider him to be a real-life Superman, and starred in three more films, though each one proved to be of lesser quality which prompted Warner Brothers to put the franchise on hiatus in 1987. As the years went by, numerous directors, screenwriters, and actors became attached to a fifth Superman film, but nothing came out of it. That is, until Bryan Singer signed on to direct, targeting a release date of summer 2006. However, this created a few problems, as he was working on pre-production work on the third X-Men film at the time but seeing this as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Singer couldn’t pass up a chance to direct a Superman film. Although he fully intended to return to the X-Men franchise after, 20th Century Fox was impatient and moved ahead anyway, replacing Singer with Brett Ratner and resulting in the underwhelming “X-Men The Last Stand,” also released in summer 2006. Although highly underrated, “Superman Returns” ranks up there as one of the best superhero films ever made, focusing not only just the conflict of good and evil but of love, proving once and again that Lois and Clark will always be one of the most beloved couples ever in comics. 

Five years have passed since the events of “Superman II” and Superman (Brandon Routh) himself has disappeared in a futile hope to see if Krypton is truly destroyed. The world has moved on without him. When he finally makes his triumphant return, he finds that Lois Lane (Kate Bosworth) now has a son and is engaged to Richard White (James Marsden). Superman realizes that everything he has known, everything his has loved, has changed. How will he readjust himself in a world that has learned to survive without him? To make matters worse, Lex Luthor (Kevin Spacey) has stolen technology from the Fortress of Solitude in an attempt to finally kill his nemesis once and for all. 

When you’re watching “Superman Returns,” you’ll have to forget everything you know about comic book movies as Singer has crafted a sweeping romance more than an action film. A large amount of time is spent with Superman pining for Lois, invoking ancient mythologies of God-like beings falling in love with mortals. Although there is no doubt that Superman is powerful, he is just as human as anyone else and Singer drives home that fact, particularly when he has a heart-to-heart with Lois on the roof of the Daily Planet. If it weren’t for his responsibilities, his duty to protect, Superman would spend an eternity with Lois, and that is fantasy romance done right in a way that can provoke an emotional response. I found that “Superman Returns” often touches upon similar themes seen in “The Dark Knight” but at two different extremes. Batman is dark and faces enemies that are insane and cruel, calling into question whether he is just as insane as the villains he fights. Gotham’s citizens look upon Batman as everything that is wrong in their city, saying to themselves whether we even need a ‘hero’ who acts more like a vigilante. For Superman, Singer has opted for a messianic approach. Lois bluntly points out that ‘the world doesn’t need a savior.’ Yet Superman believes otherwise; he has to believe because then his life would have no purpose. The world may have moved on and look upon Superman as a relic, but even if they do not realize it now, Superman knows it in his heart that they ‘cry out for a savior.’ With many comic book films going the ‘tortured hero’ route, it’s refreshing to see a character so earnest and so honest in his purpose that all we can do is stand up and cheer for him. That is the essence of Superman. 

There are some issues but they’re relatively minor compared to the scope of the film. Singer does go for the nostalgia factor of Donner’s films too hard and it gets to the point where he’s emulating the previous films without providing this one with a proper identity. The acting is overall good, especially Brandon Routh. His resemblance to Reeve is uncanny and he captures the bumbling aspects of Clark Kent and the confidence and vulnerability of Superman perfectly. There is a slight nervousness to his performance but who wouldn’t, stepping in the shoes of an iconic character played equally by an iconic actor. Kate Bosworth is definitely the weakest link out of the cast as we never actually feel she’s a newspaper journalist, partially due to her young age. Nonetheless, she does her best with Lois’ conflicting feelings between Superman and Richard. Kevin Spacey’s Lex Luthor is cut from the same cloth as Gene Hackman, something that has never really sat well with me because it tended to skew toward cheesy comedy. If a sequel is ever made, it would best to follow Michael Rosenbaum’s portrayal from TV’s “Smallville.” Luthor is still obsessed with real estate and ‘beach front property’ but there’s also a bitterness, possibly sadistic side to him. This is apparent when he and his cohorts begin to torture Superman. There’s also a hint of jealousy in his demeanor and wants to set out to prove to others, but most importantly himself, that a mortal can destroy a god. The rest of the cast includes James Marsden as Richard White, who has the impossible task of vying for Lois’ affection against Superman, Parker Posey as Kitty Kowalski, playing a role similar to Miss Teschmacher from the first film, Eva Marie Saint as Clark’s adoptive mother and conscious and finally Marlon Brando, courtesy of today’s cutting edge technology. 

“Superman Returns” doesn’t feature any action scenes but there are several breathtaking set-pieces. Superman goes through much trouble saving a space shuttle and a Boeing 777, marking his triumphant return. Finally, there’s the endgame where he uses all his abilities at his disposal to prevent the destruction of Metropolis. However, the climax invoked the same mixed feelings I had when Superman turns back time by flying around the Earth backwards in the first film. You’ll know it when you see it as it involves a massive amount of kryptonite. Some will complain that he never punches anybody but really, that’s not even a complaint worth bringing up. 

The Blu-Ray is impressive though the video quality can look too clean and sterile since the film was shot using HD cameras. This gives it somewhat dull looking palette that focuses on primary colors, like those on Superman’s costume. Darker scenes also tend to be fuzzy but nonetheless, you’ll have no problem enjoying this film on your plasma screen. Audio is reference quality material and the set-pieces really come alive from the shrieking metal of the Boeing 777 to the flapping of Superman’s cape against the wind. This is an aural experience like no other. Looking at the back cover, you’ll find the special features are quite bare but appearances can be deceiving. What you get is a 2 hour and 53 minute documentary on the making-of the film that goes into detail about every aspect from pre-production to the final day of shooting. Finally, there’s 16 minutes of deleted scenes and a look at integrating Marlon Brando’s archival footage into the film. 

Released on June 28, 2006, “Superman Returns” received a mostly positive reception with 76% on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics called ‘Singer's reverent and visually decadent adaptation gives the Man of Steel welcome emotional complexity.’ With a whopping budget of $270 million due to marketing and false starts, there was much pressure for the film to do well like “Batman Begins.” Unfortunately, while it had a solid, though unimpressive, opening weekend, “Superman Returns” barely limped to $200 million domestic and $391 million worldwide. Sure, this is by no means a disaster but after lying dormant for close to nineteen years, most people were just skeptical if another Superman film was even necessary. The larger question remains if Singer will return for a sequel and despite the fans mixed response, I hold he does, as he truly does care about the character and Routh certainly has the capacity to become this generation’s Man of Steel. “Superman Returns” may lack action but it makes it up for emotional complexity; this film is ‘beyond Super. It's superb’ (Richard Corliss, TIME Magazine).

Final Rating: 4 out of 5

"You will be different, sometimes you'll feel like an outcast, but you'll never be alone. You will make my strength your own. You will see my life through your eyes, as your life will be seen through mine. The son becomes the father and the father becomes the son."

Saturday, October 11, 2008

The Incredible Hulk Blu-Ray Review

Rated PG-13 (Sequences of Intense Action Violence, Some Frightening Sci-Fi Images, and Brief Suggestive Content)

Running Time: 1 Hour & 52 Minutes

Cast-
Edward Norton-Dr. Bruce Banner/The Hulk
Liv Tyler-Dr. Elizabeth 'Betty' Ross
Tim Roth-Major Emil Blonsky/The Abomination
William Hurt-General Thaddeus 'Thunderbolt' Ross
Tim Blake Nelson-Samuel Sterns
Ty Burrell-Leonard Samson
Christina Cabot-Major Kathleen Sparr
Peter Mensah-General Joe Greller
Paul Soles-Stanley
Débora Nascimento-Martina
Robert Downey Jr.-Tony Stark

Directed by Louis Leterrier

Incredible, indeed.
Second chances are very rare in Hollywood, but Marvel’s famous antihero, the Hulk, has been given the reboot treatment à la “Batman Begins” with “The Incredible Hulk.” The first film, simply titled “Hulk,” was directed by Ang Lee, one of the most critically-acclaimed directors working today. “Hulk” received massive amounts of hype when it was released five years ago during the summer of 2003 but trouble brewed when fans reacted negatively to the CGI that was used to bring the titular character to life. Although Lee's film had an excellent opening weekend debut with $62.1 million, it unfortunately dropped by 70% in its second week of release. Many felt that the director's introspective interpretation of the character was banal and that there just wasn’t enough smashing. After reacquiring the rights to the character, Marvel decided to wipe the slate clean and “The Incredible Hulk” was born. Director Louis Leterrier’s take on the not-so-jolly green giant is less-nuanced than Lee’s but the action is definitely better and delivers on what we expect out of a Hulk film.

After the opening credits—which recount Bruce Banner’s (Edward Norton) origin of how he became the Hulk—we find Banner hiding out in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in an effort to try to cure himself of his affliction. After a small mishap at the factory he works at, General Thaddeus 'Thunderbolt' Ross (William Hurt) manages to track down Banner and sends Russian-born British Special Forces Agent Emil Blonsky (Tim Roth) after him. The attempt is unsuccessful as Banner escapes by transforming into the Hulk. Ross decides to authorize the use of a discontinued ‘super-soldier’ serum in order to give Blonsky the edge he needs but the soldier quickly becomes addicted to it. As Banner becomes close to finding a cure after reuniting with his estranged lover, Betty Ross (Liv Tyler), he discovers that he must unleash the monster within once more and battle Blonsky, who has become an ‘Abomination.’

The story in Leterrier’s "The Incredible Hulk" is a lot more straight-forward this time around, shedding most of the Greek tragedy aspects of Lee’s version and drawing its inspiration from the 1970’s Bill Bixby/Lou Ferrigno-led television series of the same name. Zak Penn's script treats Banner's transformations like a disease while the previous film—which Marvel Studios likened to a parallel universe one-shot comic book—tried to psychologically explore why the gamma radiation triggered such a reaction. Much of the first hour resembles a Bourne film as Banner is chased through the streets of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to a college campus in Virginia. After that, “The Incredible Hulk” remains in action mode with a few pauses along the way, leading up to an explosive battle of epic proportions. There are some issues with the film, largely stemming from the pacing and the way it was edited as it makes certain character beats feel truncated. Although the story doesn’t spend too much time on it, we do get a sense of the toll it takes on Banner every time he transforms. For one thing, he always wakes up with nothing but a pair of ripped pants and has to go searching for clothes. This also prevents him from having sex as seen in a funny scene where he tells Betty that he can’t get too excited. Poor Betty for not getting any because her boyfriend could spontaneously change to a green-skinned, muscle bound creature! Fans will also get a kick out of several references that include Doc Samson and the Leader, as well as several elements lifted from Bruce Jones’ five-year stint on the comic.

The reason Leterrier’s film works better compared to Lee's version is largely due to the smart casting of Edward Norton. He even looks the part as Banner is often depicted as a thin, unassuming man. His portrayal bears some similarities to Eric Bana’s since both see their character as a tortured soul whom fate had dealt a bad hand. Norton also had a hand in writing the script, although he’s uncredited. The rest of the cast deliver performances of varying degrees of quality. Tim Roth chews the scenery as amoral Special Forces soldier Emil Blonsky but his descent into madness isn’t handled all too well and feels rushed. Liv Tyler is rather flat as Banner's estranged girlfriend Betty Ross. I just didn’t quite feel the ‘spark’ between her and Norton. While William Hurt comes closest to being on par with Norton as the obsessive General Thaddeus 'Thunderbolt' Ross, I have to say, I preferred Sam Elliot's performance.

The CGI is definitely much better, given the amount of time that has passed since Lee's film. The Hulk himself has been shrunk down to a more realistic size with a wider range of expressions. Hell, every time he flexes his muscles you can see all the veins just popping out! However, some fans might take issue with the Abomination as the villain bears little resemblance to his comic book counterpart. Instead of being dark blue-green, he's now pale yellow. There are several action scenes, one taking place mainly in shadow as the Hulk makes short work of Blonsky and his troops while another is set on a college campus with the U.S. military bringing out all the stops. Finally, there's the climactic brawl between the Hulk and the Abomination. They trade giant blows throughout the streets of Harlem but the CGI used here can get a little excessive. Of course, the Hulk has always been one of the harder comic book characters to bring to life on the big screen. It’s either CG or paint some muscleman green like in the television show.

The Blu-Ray release doesn’t disappoint, with stunning detail on the Hulk that reveals every individual pore. Blacks are solid and CGI-heavy scenes fortunately don't look flat or obvious. As for the audio quality, it features a brute force soundtrack with plenty of smashing. However, the supplements included are rather disappointing. There’s an informative audio commentary with Roth and Leterrier but Norton is noticeably absent. Also included is a making-of featurette that doesn’t really offer anything substantial as it runs only thirty minutes long. The real meat of the extras is the deleted scenes—forty-two minutes worth!—that includes an alternate opening set in the Arctic. It's notable for featuring a blink-or-you'll-miss cameo from a certain Star-Spangled Avenger incased in ice. Perhaps they may be interwoven back into the film as a potential director’s cut but most of the scenes don't add to the story all that much.

Released on June 13, 2008, reception to “The Incredible Hulk” wasn’t all that different from the 2003 version, with a 67% on Rotten Tomatoes. Still, critics agreed that it 'provides the action and excitement to please comic book fans and re-ignite this fledgling franchise.' The film has grossed $134.8 million domestic and $263.4 million worldwide, which is only slightly higher than the original. There’s been no word on a possible sequel but “The Incredible Hulk,” while not as nuanced as Lee’s version, provides ample entertainment and delivers on what the fans want. Marvel Studios is certainly on a roll after "Iron Man" so I hope they can keep this up.

Final Rating: 4 out of 5

Bruce Banner: I'm sorry, I can't get too excited.
Betty Ross: Not even a little excited?

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Daredevil Director's Cut Blu-Ray Review

Rated R (Violence and Language)

Running Time: 2 Hours & 13 Minutes

Cast:
Ben Affleck-Matt Murdock/Daredevil
Jennifer Garner-Elektra Natchios
Michael Clarke Duncan-Wilson Fisk/The Kingpin
Colin Farrell-Bullseye
Jon Favreau-Franklin 'Foggy' Nelson
Joe Pantoliano-Ben Urich
Ellen Pompeo-Karen Page
Erick Avari-Nikolas Natchios
Artis Leon Ivey Jr./Coolio-Dante Jackson
Derrick O'Connor-Father Everett
David Keith-Jack Murdock

Directed by Mark Steven Johnson

Have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight?
After the critical and commercial success of "X-Men" and "Spider-Man," Marvel let loose in 2003 with three films based upon their popular characters. One of them was "Daredevil," created by writer Stan Lee and illustrator Bill Everett in 1964. The character has a status somewhat similar to Iron Man as he’s not well-known outside of comic book fans. Released on February 14, 2003, the film received a mixed reception from critics and was derided by fans. Nonetheless, it proved to be a modest box office success. A year after its release, director Mark Steven Johnson released an R-rated director’s cut which restored almost 30 minutes cut from the theatrical version, which is the subject of this Blu-Ray review. While the original version of "Daredevil" was entertaining if largely forgettable, this new edition is vastly superior but is still bogged down by an uninspired script and some cheesy elements.

Twelve-year-old Matt Murdock lives in New York City's Hell’s Kitchen with his father Jack (David Keith), a washed-up boxer who also works as an enforcer for the local mob. Matt is always pushed to excel in school but one day, he comes upon his father beating another man. Horrified, he runs away and is exposed to radioactive waste that blinds him. However, his other four senses have been heightened to near superhuman levels and he develops a radar sense that allows him to ‘see.’ When Jack is murdered for refusing to throw a fight, Matt vows to avenge his father's death. He grows up to become a lawyer with his best friend, Franklin 'Foggy' Nelson (Jon Favreau) but at night, he prowls the rooftops of New York City as the costumed vigilante Daredevil (Ben Affleck). While pursuing a case involving a murdered prostitute, Murdock comes face to face with the leader of the criminal underworld, Wilson Fisk, aka the Kingpin (Michael Clarke Duncan) and his assassin-for-hire, Bullseye (Colin Farrell). In addition, Murdock also has to contend with Elektra (Jennifer Garner), who believes Daredevil had murdered her father.

"Daredevil" features a standard superhero origin that often recalls Spider-Man and a tone similar to Batman. The theatrical cut moved at a very brisk pace with a heavy emphasis on action and 'there [were] times when important nuggets of information are missing–not because they have been intentionally withheld but because the scene(s) in which they were revealed are not in the final cut' (James Berardinelli, ReelViews). The director's cut adds in an entirely new subplot to the film which fleshes out the story. It illuminates Murdock’s activities as a lawyer, where he tries to defend a drug addict played by rapper Coolio. This helps tie into how he proved that Wilson Fisk was not the honest business man that most people believe him to be. Less emphasis is placed upon the romance between Murdock and Elektra, which I feel is a good thing because the film should be focused more on Daredevil and his journey alone. There are still flaws, such as the origin being too rushed. It’s a mystery as to how Murdock managed to become so acrobatic without being trained by someone and some of the moves he does almost border on being superhuman, which is true in relation to his radar sense but not in terms of physicality, which is on par with Olympian athletes. Johnson also tends to over-compensate since he's not that good of a writer. What’s really puzzling is why this version wasn’t released in the first place and the answer was studio interference: 20th Century Fox wanted a brisk, faster paced version. Well, at least the director’s cut managed to make it although one can’t help wondering how much better the film would’ve done if this version was released in the first place.

Ben Affleck never really feels comfortable as Daredevil. It’s not a bad performance per se but it’s not very good either. The leather costume he wears doesn’t look all that great since the DD symbol is so tiny you can hardly make it out. While we do learn more about Murdock here, I believe that Johnson could’ve gone deeper with what he deals with psychologically and the toll it takes on him. There are also other changes such as the casting of Michael Clarke Duncan as the Kingpin, who was Caucasian in the comics. That's not big deal but Duncan just doesn't come across as very menacing and feels more like a cartoon villain. Colin Farrell brings a mixed performance to Bullseye as well and fails to capture the character’s sadistic nature, coming off as second-rate Joker. Only Jennifer Garner seems to nails down her part as Elektra despite her costume being black instead of red like in the comics. Too bad the spin-off movie turned out so horrible.

The action scenes are well-choreographed but the CGI comes off as too obvious in certain parts. None of the fights ever stand out with the exception of Murdock and Elektra playing basketball while flirting with each other. It's one of the cheesier scenes that somehow manage to work despite how ridiculous it looks at first glance. There's also too much music and it feels like it was made and edited by MTV. The cinematography from Ericson Core goes for an appropriately dark look that recalls Batman with its gothic architecture. Although there were talks of a sequel after its release, five years later and there’s been nothing, no script, no actors committed or anything. The best thing 20th Century Fox should do is just go the Batman route where they reboot the whole thing and hopefully give us comic fans a superior movie.

As for the Blu-Ray release, the transfer is excellent and there is a slight film grain filter that keeps the style dark and gritty, just like how Alex Maleev did it in the comics. Audio is also strong, particularly the use of ambient sound in relation to Daredevil’s powers. Special features include an audio commentary from Johnson and producer Avi Arad where they talk about the differences between the two versions and how they were forced by the studio to drastically alter the film. In addition, there are two one-hour documentaries on the making of the film and the evolution of the comic character, a series of production featurettes, music videos, still galleries and trailers.

"Daredevil" was originally released on February 14, 2003 to mixed reviews with a 44% on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics found it to be 'passable if derivative as entertainment…but the film is not up to par with recent superhero films.' The film grossed $179 million worldwide, a modest success considering it was made for only $78 million and released during a slow season. There’s no way to gauge how many people liked the director’s cut of "Daredevil" but it’s safe to assume that most people will find it vastly superior to the original theatrical version. Unfortunately, there are still issues with the script and the dodgy acting with hit-or-miss special effects brings a mediocre film up to a merely average superhero flick.

Final Rating: 3 out of 5

"Hell's Kitchen is my neighborhood. I prowl the rooftops and alleyways at night, watching from the darkness. Forever in darkness. A guardian devil."