The Watch Review

Rated R (Some Strong Sexual Content including References, Pervasive Language and Violent Images)

Running Time: 1 Hour & 42 Minutes

Cast-

Ben Stiller-Evan Trautwig

Vince Vaughn-Bob Finnerty

Jonah Hill-Franklin

Richard Ayoade-Jamarcus

Rosemarie DeWitt-Abby Trautwig

Will Forte-Sergeant Bressman

Erin Moriarty-Chelsea

Mel Rodriguez-Chucho

Nicholas Braun-Jason

R. Lee Ermey-Manfred

Joe Nunez-Antonio Guzman

Doug Jones-Hero Alien

Billy Crudup-Creepy Neighbor (uncredited)

Directed by Akiva Schaffer

Alien invasion about to take place? Just call the neighborhood watch to handle it for you!

On his Tumblr, actor Wil Wheaton posted the following: 'Only in America would there be a massacre in a movie theater followed by a national discussion not about assault weapons and extended magazines, but about violent movies and whether or not people should be allowed to wear costumes when they watch them.' Last Friday's tragedy in Aurora, Colorado, where a lone gunman wearing full-body protective gear burst through the emergency exit at a Century 16 movie theater during a midnight screening of Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight Rises" and opened fire on the audience using multiple weapons provoked a flurry of reactions but many of them have been for all the wrong reasons. Instead of focusing on stricter gun control, some have put the blame on Hollywood, with Warner Brothers taking the drastic measure of delaying the release of Ruben Fleischer's late-1940s crime drama "Gangster Squad" to early next year due to a climactic scene where the main characters engage in a mass shooting at Grauman's Chinese Theatre using Thompson submachine guns. This scene will either be removed or be placed in a different setting, necessitating re-shoots to accommodate these changes. No one will dispute that what happened in Aurora, Colorado was terrible but to sacrifice a film's integrity just because some people might be offended sets a dangerous precedent because it begs the question: Where do you draw the line between art and censorship? In a similar but unrelated matter, 20th Century Fox opted to rename its R-rated science fiction comedy "Neighborhood Watch" to the rather bland "The Watch" in the aftermath of the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin back in late February by George Zimmerman, who was a neighborhood watch coordinator in Florida. With the exception of its marketing campaign and title, the film is being released unchanged and yes, a minority will complain of its tastelessness but regardless of the content in today's films, James Eagan Holmes was a ticking time bomb waiting to happen. As for "The Watch" itself, there are some laughs to be had thanks to the silly chemistry of its four leads but the film never utilizes its sci-fi premise to its full potential and it soon becomes clear that the comedy has nothing new to offer besides a barrage of repetitive sex jokes. 

Evan Trautwig (Ben Stiller) is a good-natured suburbanite living in a whitewashed neighborhood in Glenview, Ohio with his beautiful wife, Abby (Rosemarie DeWitt), who longs to have children and start a family. Desperate to make new friends, Evan often forms clubs around the community but when the night security guard at Costco, where he serves as senior manager, is found brutally murdered with his skin missing one morning, he immediately announces the creation of a neighborhood watch in order to catch the killer due to the incompetence of the local police, led by Sergeant Bressman (Will Forte) and his partner Chucho (Mel Rodriguez). However, his endeavor inspires little attention and only three people show up at the first meeting. Bob Finnerty (Vince Vaughn) is a blue-collar businessman working in construction who views the watch as an opportunity to take a break from his parental responsibilities in order to hang out in his man-cave with his new friends while Franklin (Jonah Hill) is a clearly disturbed individual who just wants a place to belong after being rejected from the police force. Finally, recent divorcee Jamarcus (Richard Ayoade) sees this as an excellent opportunity to get laid, with a particular fantasy involving a sexy Asian housewife. However, the quartet's nightly patrols bring them face-to-face with a close encounter of the third kind when they discover that Glenview is ground zero for an alien invasion! With the aliens being able to disguise themselves as anyone, the neighborhood watch find themselves in one ridiculous situation after another as they desperately try to prevent the destruction of their planet while dealing with their own personal problems. 

With the death of Trayvon Martin and the recent mass shooting in Aurora, Colorado, "The Watch" couldn't have picked a worse release date but this is just a case of unfortunate timing and it is not fair for some reviewers to pan the film because of the aforementioned incidents. No, the fault lies with the lazy script from Jared Stern, Seth Rogen, and Evan Goldberg. A mash-up of 1984's "Ghostbusters," 2011's "Attack the Block," with a dash of John Carpenter's "The Thing" from 1982, the film was originally a PG-13 endeavor under the direction of producer Shawn Levy but after close to four years in development hell, Rogen and Goldberg were hired to completely re-write Stern's script into an R-rated comedy. All they've down is lace the dialogue with a barrage of F-bombs and sex jokes involving semen and while there are some laughs to be had thanks to the comedic timing of its four leads, none of it is inspired and the constant sexual references end up feeling repetitive and tiresome. Another problem is that the film suffers from an identity crisis where the alien-invasion premise never entirely gels with its buddy movie angle. The subplots involving Evan struggling to tell his wife why they cannot have children (he's sterile) and Bob trying to rein in his rebellious teenage daughter Chelsea (Erin Moriarty) are nothing but filler material that has little to do with the alien invasion itself. Surely, these issues can be resolved after they prevent the imminent destruction of the Earth. I understand that it's to make the characters sympathetic so the audience can root for them but not only does it come off as insincere, it feels forced and tacked on in order to fill the running time. A full-blown orgy scene is also thrown in and serves no purpose other than for some unnecessary nudity, although the cutaway to a group of men mutually masturbating each other comes so out of left field that you cannot help but laugh out loud. The trajectory of the story is largely predictable with the neighborhood watch breaking up due to Evan being a control freak before banding together again to stop the aliens in a big, obligatory action scene, complete with loud explosions and egregious product placement ads that include Tide laundry detergent and Magnum condoms from Trojan. "The Watch" had the potential to be a great comedy but the film spreads itself too thin by wanting to be a raunchy comedy, a buddy movie, and a parody of sci-fi flicks like "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" all at the same time. Spending four years in development hell certainly took their toll. 

The cast do actually manage to work well together and exhibit enough energy to elevate some of the material but their roles aren't particularly challenging, nor do the actors' step outside their comfort zones. Ben Stiller is once again the straight man of the group while Vince Vaughn falls back on his usual shtick where he makes wild gestures and yells all his dialogue as if it was the last thing he'll ever say. Jonah Hill's character feels like it was recycled from leftovers from March's "21 Jump Street" with some subtle variations. Richard Ayoade is a new face to American audiences but he is well-known in his native UK where he stars in the British sitcom "The IT Crowd." He also made his directorial debut with the well-received coming-of-age comedy-drama "Submarine" in 2010, adapted from the 2008 novel of the same name by Joe Dunthorne. Ayoade is unfortunately underused but he makes the most of what he's given with his natural charisma and winning smile. The rest of the cast includes Rosemarie DeWitt as Evan's wife Abby, Will Forte as the clueless Sergeant Bressman, and an uncredited Billy Crudup as a creepy neighbor who manages to steal quite a few scenes from Stiller. 

Released on July 27, 2012, "The Watch" has received overwhelmingly negative reviews with 13% on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics found that it 'uneasily mixes sci-fi elements with gross-out gags and strands its talented cast with a script that favors vulgarity over wit at nearly every turn.' I saw the film at an advanced screening on Tuesday and the audience enjoyed it but the laughs weren't as consistent compared to last month's "Ted." I cannot say whether the Aurora, Colorado tragedy will affect this weekend's box office but it should come as no surprise that "The Dark Knight Rises" will continue to dominate. Still, "The Watch" should turn in a decent $20 to $25 million in second place despite such low ratings from critics. The only competition comes from "Step Up: Revolution," a series that should've been put out to pasture long ago. While I wouldn't call "The Watch" one of the worst R-rated comedies of the year since there are some genuinely funny bits, Akiva Schaffer's film is still a below-average effort that lacks inspiration and suffers from an identity crisis. The cast try their best but are unable to overcome its problematic script despite the strong rapport they share.

Final Rating: 2.5 out of 5

"Motherf*cker, that's the kid that's all over Chelsea's Facebook page! Magnums? There's no way your dick is that big!"

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The Dark Knight Rises - The IMAX Experience Review

Rated PG-13 (Intense Sequences of Violence and Action, Some Sensuality and Language)

Running Time: 2 Hours & 44 Minutes

Cast-

Christian Bale-Bruce Wayne/Batman

Tom Hardy-Bane

Michael Caine-Alfred Pennyworth

Gary Oldman-Commissioner James Gordon

Anne Hathaway-Selina Kyle/Catwoman

Joseph Gordon-Levitt-John Blake

Marion Cotillard-Miranda Tate

Morgan Freeman-Lucius Fox

Liam Neeson-Ra's Al Ghul

Nestor Carbonell-Mayor Anthony Garcia

Matthew Modine-Deputy Commissioner Peter Foley

Alon Moni Aboutboul-Dr. Leonid Pavel

Juno Temple-Jen

Ben Mendelsohn-John Daggett

Burn Gorman-Stryver

Cillian Murphy-Dr. Jonathan Crane/Scarecrow

Aaron Eckhart-Harvey Dent/Two-Face (archive footage only)

Directed by Christopher Nolan

Batman (Christian Bale) locked in combat with Bane (Tom Hardy) while all-out war breaks out in Gotham in Christopher Nolan's stunning conclusion to the Batman saga, "The Dark Knight Rises."

If Bob Kane were still alive today, I imagine he would be beaming with pride right about now. The minute the end credits rolled for "The Dark Knight" during the summer of 2008, rampant speculation on how the trilogy would conclude spread like wildfire among comic book fans. What would the story be? Who would be the villain? Christopher Nolan also voiced his reluctance to return to the director's chair since he feared that a 'on a more superficial level, I have to ask the question: How many good third movies in a franchise can people name?' A third film in a series is always a tricky proposition as many directors have fallen into the common trap that bigger is somehow better. This happened with both 2006's "X-Men: The Last Stand" and 2007's "Spider-Man 3." Nolan is also venturing into new territory by being allowed to conclude his own story, which is unheard of given how Hollywood likes to milk franchises until there's nothing but a husk left behind. Outside of Peter Jackson's "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy and George Lucas' "Star Wars" saga, such instances are very rare. Now, "The Dark Knight Rises" finally arrives into theaters after three long years of pent-up anticipation but this cinematic event has unfortunately been marred by tragedy due to the shooting in Aurora, Colorado. Will this keep people away from seeing the film? I certainly hope not because like Batman, we should not let fear rule our lives. Concluding the story that began with "Batman Begins" in 2005, director Christopher Nolan has pulled out all the stops in order to give the Caped Crusader the ending that he deserves. Ambitious and emotionally engaging, "The Dark Knight Rises" is an epic blockbuster spectacle that once again transcends its comic book origins and serves as a reminder that films can go beyond being mere entertainment to thought-provoking experiences that touch your very soul. Masterpiece is not even adequate enough to describe THE best film of 2012 so far, by far. 

Eight years have passed since the death of Harvey Dent and in order to keep him as a symbol of hope for Gotham City, Batman (Christian Bale) took the fall for his crimes as Two-Face and subsequently disappeared, his current whereabouts unknown. Mayor Anthony Garcia (Nestor Carbonell) passes an ultra-tough, anti-crime bill known as the Dent Act which has resulted in thousands of criminals off the streets and imprisoned in Blackgate Penitentiary. With Batman no longer needed, Bruce Wayne has become a bearded recluse, locking himself inside Wayne Manor while tended to by his faithful butler, Alfred Pennyworth (Michael Caine). Meanwhile, Commissioner James Gordon (Gary Oldman) continues to feel guilty about the cover-up and almost reveals the truth during a dinner party held in Dent's honor but decides at the last minute that the city is not yet ready. After a thief named Selina Kyle (Anne Hathaway) steals his deceased mother's necklace from his safe, Bruce discovers that his fingerprints have been duplicated for unknown reasons. A confrontation in the sewers with the cunning and brutal terrorist leader Bane (Tom Hardy) puts Gordon in the hospital, forcing Bruce to don the cape and cowl once more despite being a wanted fugitive. A former member of the League of Shadows, Bane has come to Gotham to complete Ra's al Ghul's (Liam Neeson) work by breaking Batman both physically and mentally. Working with Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman), rookie police officer John Blake (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), Selina Kyle, and Wayne Enterprises board member Miranda Tate (Marion Cotillard), Batman is locked in a race against time to stop Bane and save his beloved Gotham from total destruction. 

"The Dark Knight Rises"…where to even begin? Honestly, I was left totally speechless, even emotional, as the end credits rolled. Grossing over $1 billion at the worldwide box office in 2008 despite the tragic death of actor Heath Ledger, who gave a brilliant performance as Batman's perennial foe the Joker and was posthumously awarded Best Supporting Actor at the 81st Academy Awards, the hype for the third film began the minute "The Dark Knight" ended. Director Christopher Nolan has never been one to simply entertain as many of his films often deal with complex and thought-provoking ideas. 2005's "Batman Begins" was a standard superhero origin story but one that stood out from the rest of the genre with its emphasis on exploring the psychology of Bruce Wayne and how he confronts his fears to become Gotham's savior. The sequel dealt with more topical themes such as terrorism and the increased surveillance that ordinary citizens have to endure in the name of safety. Batman and his allies also face several moral quandaries that force them to examine their own ethics while challenging the conception that people are innately good and will succumb to their chaotic instincts if there was no law to prevent them from doing so. Taking inspiration from numerous Batman stories such as Knightfall, No Man's Land, and even Frank Miller's seminal 1986 graphic novel The Dark Knight Returns, Nolan's "The Dark Knight Rises" once again parallels current events with a socio-political subtext that includes shades from of Charles Dickens' 1859 novel A Tale of Two Cities, which is set before and during the French Revolution in 1789, and the Occupy Wall Street protest movement that is currently ongoing. Bane leads in insurrection on Gotham by attacking the wealthy, crashing the stock market and bankrupting them while the city descends into lawlessness, cut off from the rest of the country. However, his rationale of social equalization is a smokescreen to justify murder, as citizens are put on trial without due process in a kangaroo court and sentenced to death by exile. Even Selina Kyle is used a symbol of retaliation against the 1% as she menacingly whispers into Bruce's ear: 'You think this can last? There's a storm coming, Mr. Wayne. You and your friends better batten down the hatches, because when it hits, you're all gonna wonder how you ever thought you could live so large and leave so little for the rest of us.' This leads into the film's overarching theme of what Batman symbolizes to the people of Gotham and why he is needed. 

With Nolan tackling so many big ideas and making the saga come full circle with "Batman Begins," the film had a strong chance of derailing due to being overly ambitious but he always keeps an intimate focus on his characters. This is as much a drama as it is an action film and there were several moments where I was literally moved to tears. One scene that stood out is when Alfred tells Bruce that he cannot bear to see him die and throw his life away. The ending is quite emotional as well and while bittersweet, there's still a sense of optimism. It's certainly Nolan's least ambiguous ending compared to 2010's "Inception" and 2000's "Memento." Of course, nothing is perfect but the film's flaws are ultimately very minor. The first act can get bogged down by too much exposition as it introduces all the new characters, leaving audiences scratching their heads at how all the seemingly disparate subplots are connected. Narrative transitions between acts also come off as somewhat clumsy with time jumps feeling rushed. Finally, this is less a fault of the film and more a victim of hype as an important plot twist was spoiled due to people snapping pictures while Nolan was shooting in Pittsburgh. Still, if you're a diehard Batman fan like I am, it shouldn't come as a real surprise. 

Rich themes and characterization are not enough as this is still a comic book film. Thankfully, it does not disappoint in the action department and the final forty-five minutes are so gripping that I could feel my heart pounding. Nolan shot over an hour of the film in glorious IMAX and I urge everyone to pay the extra surcharge as the experience is simply not the same if you see it in a regular theater. There are elaborate shootouts (including an ingenious plane hijacking during the prologue) that wouldn't feel out of place in a crime film like 1995's "Heat" but it is the massive set-pieces (several involving the Batwing) that leave an impression because it's all so incredibly well-done and tightly edited. Batman and Bane's one-on-one brawl in Gotham's sewers is suitably brutal and ferocious as expected. I know you're wondering if Bane does indeed 'break' Batman like in Knightfall but you'll have to find out for yourselves by seeing it in theaters. I dare say that the action in this film rivals that of "The Avengers!" Hans Zimmer's bombastic score gets the blood pumping but outside of new themes for Bane and Catwoman, much of the music is recycled from the previous films. 

Nolan has always brought out the best performances with every cast he's worked with and it's no different here. Christian Bale delivers his most nuanced portrayal of Bruce Wayne yet while Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, and Gary Oldman hit all the right emotional notes in their respective roles despite their reduced screen-time. A reminder of the excess that plagued comic books during the 1990's, Bane was never all that interesting but Tom Hardy turns the villain into an animalistic force of nature even though the actor has to rely on only his eyes and body language due to wearing a mask that covers most of his face. The volume for his dialogue has definitely been increased in post-production but some of his monologues unfortunately still come off as muffled. He's not as charismatic as Heath Ledger's Joker yet his imposing physicality and intellect make him more than a match for Batman. Given her penchant for romantic comedies, there were doubts among fans when Anne Hathaway was cast as Selina Kyle and I admit that I was skeptical as well. Thankfully, she absolutely nails the role and embodies all of the character's traits perfectly, displaying a sexy, sardonic wit while she grapples with her feelings of serving her own selfish needs and taking the moral high ground. Kyle is by far Nolan's best written female character. However, Hathaway still pales in comparison to Michelle Pfeiffer's Catwoman from Tim Burton's "Batman Returns" in 1992. Joseph Gordon-Levitt lends the film a human touch as the idealistic rookie police officer John Blake while Marion Cotillard is fine but Miranda Tate is largely a one-note romance interest for Bruce with very little to do, though this is more a fault of the script rather than the actress. 

Released on July 20, 2012, "The Dark Knight Rises" has received largely positive reviews with 87% on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics hailed it as 'an ambitious, thoughtful, and potent action film that concludes Christopher Nolan's franchise in spectacular fashion, even if it doesn't quite meet the high standard set by its predecessor.' The anticipation for this film was at an all-time high but what should have been an exciting experience for audiences has now turned into a morbid affair due to the tragic shooting at a midnight screening in Aurora, Colorado.  Now Warner Brothers is pulling the trailers for "Gangster Squad," whose release is set for September, and there are rumors that the theater shooting scene might be cut entirely. I certainly hope not because films are a work of art and directors shouldn't be forced to censor themselves due to an isolated incident like the one in Colorado. Will the shooting hurt the box office prospects for "The Dark Knight Rises"? I do not believe so, not in any significant way as the film is still on track to earn at least $180 to $190 million over the weekend after grossing $30.6 million at midnight screenings, which is second best behind last year's "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2." People came out in droves and there were numerous lines at the AMC Theater in Lincoln Square, with some arriving close to six hours before their designated showing. Audience reaction was enthusiastic and many applauded once the end credits began rolling. The conclusion to the Batman saga does not disappoint as Christopher Nolan has crafted an action-packed spectacle that is both deeply moving and thematically engaging. "The Dark Knight Rises" is the kind of summer blockbuster that is all too rare in Hollywood. Joshua Starnes of ComingSoon.net concludes in his review that 'this should be the blueprint for summer spectacle. You can keep your Transformers; I'll take The Dark Knight Rises.' I couldn't have said it better myself!

Final Rating: 5 out of 5

"When Gotham is in ashes, you have my permission to die."

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The Lost Bladesman (關雲長) Review

Not Rated

Running Time: 1 Hour & 49 Minutes

Cast-

Donnie Yen-Guan Yun-Chang

Jiang Wen-Cao Cao

Betty Sun-Qi Lan

Alex Fong-Liu Bei

Wang Po-Chieh-Emperor Liu Xie of Han

Chin Siu-Ho-General Yan Liang

Shao Bing-Zhang Liao

Andy On-Kong Xiu

Nie Yuan-Han Fu

Yu Ailei-Bian Xi

Wang Xue-Bing as Wang Zhi

Calvin Li-Qin Qi

Zhou Bo-Pujing

Dong Yong-Xun You

Sang Ping-Xu Chu

Chen Hong-Lady Gan/Liu Bei's First Wife

Zhao Ke-Lady Mi/Liu Bei's Second Wife

Directed by Alan Mak and Felix Chong

Donnie Yen as the legendary historical figure Guan Yun-Chang in "The Lost Bladesman," which takes place some years before the Three Kingdoms era in China.

Note: In Mandarin with English subtitles.

If you're Chinese like me, you've often heard the phrase that 'China has 5000 years of history.' However, that statement is nothing more than a misnomer as the earliest ancient writings only date back to approximately 3300 years. One time period that has received considerable attention in folk stories, novels, films and even video games is the Three Kingdoms period, which lasted roughly sixty years from 220 AD to 280 AD. One of the bloodiest chapters in Chinese history, the Three Kingdoms era was part of a long period of disunity that began with the collapse of the Han dynasty and lasted for over 300 years, until 589 AD when the Sui dynasty briefly took control. Among the dynasties that formed during this turbulent era were three competing states: Cao Wei, Shu Han, and Eastern Wu, each led by an emperor claiming to be the legitimate successor of the Han dynasty. Hundreds of years later in the fourteenth century, author Luo Guan-Zhong released his historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese Literature (a list that includes Journey to the West by Wu Cheng'en from the sixteenth century), which greatly romanticized the Three Kingdoms period by mixing facts with legend. Not only is it one of the most beloved works of literature in East Asia whose influence has been compared to that of Shakespeare, it is also the most widely read historical novel in late imperial and modern China. Romance of the Three Kingdoms has inspired numerous adaptations that include John Woo's "Red Cliff," which was released in two parts in 2008 and 2009 with a total running time of four hours and forty-eight minutes to a series of action video games titled "Dynasty Warriors," published by Tecmo Koei. The latest film to explore the Three Kingdoms period is Alan Mak and Felix Chong's "關雲長," known as "The Lost Bladesman" in North America and starring Donnie Yen, who is currently one of the most popular and highest paid actors in Asia. Despite Yen's star-power and his brilliant action choreography, "The Lost Bladesman" represents one of the actor's lesser efforts due to a plodding, emotionally hollow storyline whose nuance will be lost on those not familiar with Chinese history.

Beginning in medias res at the funeral of Guan Yun-Chang (Donnie Yen), the film flashbacks to twenty years ago to 200 AD during the Battle of Baima (the first of a series of battles that preceded the Three Kingdoms era), where Guan Yu was a prisoner of Cao Cao (Jiang Wen), a warlord and chancellor to Emperor Liu Xie (Wang Po-Chieh) of Han. In the name of peace, Guan Yu agrees to fight under Cao Cao's banner and leads thirty cavalry men against Yuan Shao's general, Yan Liang (Chin Siu-Ho), and kills him with his Guan Dao. For his decisive part in lifting the siege on Baima, Emperor Liu Xie grants Guan Yu the title of 'Marquis of Han Shou' and promotes him to the rank of lieutenant general. During this time, Liu Bei's (Alex Fong) family and his concubine/soon-to-be third wife Qi Lan (Betty Sun) were staying in Cao Cao's territory with Guan Yu. Cao Cao constantly presented Guan Yu with gifts in the hopes that he would remain by his side but the general refused to renounce his loyalty to Liu Bei, who is his sworn brother. Guan Yu negotiates the release of Liu Bei's family when he learns that the warlord had sought refuge under Yuan Shao. Qi Lan stays with Guan Yu (who is secretly in love with her) but upon receiving the whereabouts of Liu Bei from a messenger, he leaves the service of Cao Cao. The decision is strongly opposed by Cao Cao's advisors, who fear that by letting him go, Guan Yu would become a threat to their lord in the future. Despite their concerns, Cao Cao is adamant that no one is to stop him from leaving. However, the advisors secretly inform the six generals guarding the five passes to apprehend and slay Guan Yu, forcing the great warrior to shed more blood in order to protect Qi Lan.

A popular figure in Chinese folk religion, Guan Yu's true life stories have largely been replaced with heavily fictionalized ones, mostly found in Luo Guan-Zhong's Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Many Chinese shops and restaurants have a small shrine dedicated to Guan Yu as he is revered for his loyalty and righteousness. "Infernal Affairs" trilogy writers Alan Mak and Felix Chong adapts chapters 25 and 26 of Luo Guan-Zhong's historical novel in "The Lost Bladesman," where Guan Yu set out on his famous journey known as 'Crossing Five Passes and Slaying Six Generals.' Unfortunately, the restrictions of the source material lead to a hamstrung narrative that saps much of the drama in the film, making for an emotionally hollow experience. While the opening Battle of Baima is suitably exciting, that momentum isn't carried through and leads to a rather plodding first half as Cao Cao unsuccessfully tries to manipulate Guan Yu into fighting for his side. Numerous names are dropped by the characters but those unfamiliar with the Three Kingdoms period or Luo Guan-Zhong's novel will be left scratching their heads as to who they are and what role they play in the context of the film's story. The love triangle between Guan Yu, Liu Bei, and Qi Lan is also underdeveloped because Bei himself only makes a cursory appearance in a flashback scene. Guan Yu frequently refers to Liu Bei as his sworn brother but there is no attempt to provide any background on their relationship or explain why he is so fiercely loyal to him. Part of the problem is that the film assumes audiences will be familiar with the source material and while this may be true for viewers living in China, those in the U.S. won't be. The overall plot in "The Lost Bladesman" can still be followed but the deeper motivations of the characters, the 'why,' are sadly lost in translation.

Not helping matters is the fact that Guan Yu is a relatively bland character since the script makes him out to be this heroic figure that can do no wrong. If you're flawless, there's no drama. Thankfully, Jiang Wen's Cao Cao makes up for this issue. Presenting a friendly exterior, Cao Cao is extremely manipulative and employs unethical means to get what he wants, such as drugging Guan Yu's food with an aphrodisiac so that he will rape a paralyzed Qi Lan but the general manages to keep his composure through sheer force of will. However, Cao Cao is ironically a man of his word who orders his subordinates to let Guan Yu leave despite the threat he poses to them. Cao Cao is a pragmatist and therein lies the main theme of the film—idealism vs. pragmatism. Guan Yu is so bound by honor and duty that he is unable to do what it takes to reunite China while Cao Cao understands that it will take bloodshed to bring the other two factions under control. This is all well and good but "The Lost Bladesman" never gives you a reason to care about what's happening, leaving the action scenes to pick up the slack. As Yen serves as the film's action director, you can expect a number of rousing sword battles that get the blood pumping. The standout (and most ambitious) is during a horseback chase between Guan Yu and Andy On's Kong Xiu in a narrow, circular alleyway. The two end up engaging in a furious one-on-one battle that will leave action fans on the edge of their seats. There's also an extended sequence at a water mill that has Guan Yu taking on numerous opponents despite being poisoned. A major battle also takes place behind closed doors, which is a bold move but it ends with a wonderfully executed moment as a stoic Guan Yu slowly walks away from a pile of bodies. The second half definitely proves to be more exciting thanks to its heavy emphasis on action and elevates what would've been a mediocre film to a passable one.

Donnie Yen may be one of the highest paid actors in Asia but he gives a rather cold and emotionally distant performance as Guan Yu. His excellent action choreography makes up for his lack of nuance and limited emotional range. Jiang Wen fares better with his charismatic turn as Cao Cao but his dialogue is often reduced to waxing political treatises. Playing Guan Yu's love interest Qi Lan, Betty Sun unfortunately has little to do besides scream and bat her pretty eyes at Yen. The rest of the supporting cast are little more than cannon fodder under Guan Yu's Green Dragon Crescent Blade.

"The Lost Bladesman" was released on April 28, 2011 in China and Hong Kong but it wasn't until this year's New York Asian Film Festival that it was finally shown theatrically in North America. Reviews have been mixed with 57% on Rotten Tomatoes but the film managed to become a box office hit in China with a total gross of ¥158.5 million or $24.4 million. Audience response at NYAFF 2012 was largely enthusiastic and Donnie Yen himself even made a special guest appearance to talk about his role as Guan Yun-Chang. Surprisingly, he admitted that he wasn't all that familiar with the Three Kingdoms era before signing on and had to do some initial research. Yen also revealed that he ate five meals a day, putting on some extra body weight to portray the famous historical and legendary figure. Currently out on Blu-Ray in Hong Kong, "The Lost Bladesman" offers up some rousing action scenes but the script from Alan Mak and Felix Chong proves to be too obtuse for those unfamiliar with Luo Guan-Zhong's novel or the Three Kingdoms period in Chinese history. Nevertheless, it remains a passable film thanks to Donnie Yen's presence and his top-notch action choreography.

Final Rating: 3 out of 5

"As transient as dreams and shadows, as erratic as dew and lightning, such is life."

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Ice Age: Continental Drift 3D Review

Rated PG (Mild Rude Humor and Action/Peril)

Running Time: 1 Hour & 34 Minutes

Cast (voice)-

Ray Romano-Manny

John Leguizamo-Sid

Denis Leary-Diego

Dana Elaine Owens/Queen Latifah-Ellie

Keke Palmer-Peaches

Josh Gad-Louis

Wanda Sykes-Granny

Aubrey Drake Graham/Drake-Ethan

Onika Tanya Maraj/Nicki Minaj-Steffie

Heather Morris-Katie

Seann William Scott-Crash

Josh Peck-Eddie

Joy Behar-Eunice

Alan Tudyk-Milton

Peter Dinklage-Captain Gutt

Jennifer Lopez-Shira

Aziz Ansari-Squint

Nick Frost-Flynn

Rebel Wilson-Raz

Chris Wedge-Scrat

Patrick Stewart-Ariscratle

Directed by Steve Martino and Michael Thurmeier

Manny (Ray Romano), Sid (John Leguizamo), and Diego (Denis Leary) find themselves on the run from pirates in "Ice Age: Continental Drift."

Like Marvel and DC, the world of CG animation in Hollywood is dominated by two studios: Pixar and DreamWorks Animation. Of course, there are a number of smaller studios that also exist in the industry, one of which is Blue Sky, a subsidiary of 20th Century Fox. Founded in February 1987 by Chris Wedge, Carl Ludwig, and four others who had previously worked on Disney's groundbreaking "Tron," Blue Sky mainly concentrated on the production of television commercials and visual effects for film throughout the late 1980's and 1990's until they were acquired by Los Angeles-based VIFX in August 1997. Known collectively as Blue Sky | VIFX, the newly formed company contributed visual effects for a number of films such as 1997's "Alien Resurrection" and 1998's "Blade" but the f/x market crash led to VIFX being sold to Rhythm and Hues Studios in 1999. 20th Century Fox was considering selling Blue Sky as well until the studio got their hands on the script for a little film titled "Ice Age," courtesy of producer Lori Forte. Released on March 15, 2002, "Ice Age" received positive reviews from critics (77% on Rotten Tomatoes) and earned $383 million worldwide, over six times its production budget of $59 million. The film had the third best opening weekend debut behind Pixar's "Monsters Inc." and "Toy Story 2," establishing Blue Sky as the third studio to launch a successful CG animated franchise. However, Blue Sky has yet to achieve the critical acclaim of Pixar as none of its features have won an Academy Award and the studio has increasingly relied on the "Ice Age" series as its sole moneymaker. Personally, I've only seen the original and while it certainly paled in comparison to the works of Pixar and even DreamWorks Animation, the film benefitted from its likable characters (especially the acorn-obsessed squirrel Scrat) and strong voice acting. I skipped the sequels but 2006's "Ice Age: The Meltdown" and 2009's "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs" earned big bucks at the box office despite mixed reviews with $655 and $887 million worldwide each, so the release of another sequel did not come as a total surprise. Although Blue Sky's CG visuals have improved by leaps and bounds, "Ice Age: Continental Drift" fails to break any new ground with its one-dimensional, formulaic script but there are enough solid laughs, combined with some enthusiastic voice acting, that prevents this sequel from completely sinking.  

The film is preceded by an amusing four-and-a-half minute short titled "The Simpsons: The Longest Daycare." Continuing his obsessive hunt for acorns, the squirrel known as Scrat (Chris Wedge) finds himself plummeting down to the Earth's core, where his manic attempts to escape causes the supercontinent Pangaea to break up into the continents we know today. Meanwhile, wooly mammoths Manny (Ray Romano) and his wife Ellie (Queen Latifah) are trying to manage their nineteen-year-old daughter Peaches (Keke Palmer), who has a crush on a popular mammoth named Ethan (Aubrey 'Drake' Graham). Unbeknownst to Peaches, her mole-hog best friend Louis (Josh Gad) also has feelings for her. Sid's (John Leguizamo) family of sloths arrive for an impromptu visit after abandoning him back in the first film but they quickly leave after dropping off his loud-mouthed, obnoxious grandmother (Wanda Sykes), who suffers from dementia and often speaks to an imaginary pet named Precious. Due to Scrat's actions, the break-up of the continent separates Manny from his wife and daughter. He ends up being swept away by a massive hurricane while trapped on a floating iceberg with Sid, his saber-tooth tiger friend Diego (Denis Leary), and Granny. A large moving landmass forces Ellie to lead the surviving herd of animals toward a land bridge, where she hopes to reunite with her husband. Lost at sea, Manny and his friends are captured by a pirate gang, led by a giant ape named Captain Gutt (Peter Dinklage). His second-in-command is the beautiful Shira (Jennifer Lopez), who Diego immediately becomes smitten with. Captain Gutt tries to persuade Manny to forsake his family life and join his crew but he refuses. The ape takes this as a personal insult and forces an oblivious Granny to walk the plank as punishment. However, Manny and Diego manage to save Sid's grandmother while also destroying Captain Gutt's ship in the process. The quartet continues on their odyssey toward home but not far behind is Captain Gutt and his vengeful crew. Together, they vow to take away everything Manny holds dear, starting with his family. 

The "Ice Age" films have held up surprisingly well since its debut ten years ago but it's clear that the series is fast running out of steam as "Ice Age: Continental Drift" offers more of the same, just with higher production values. Predictable and not to mention formulaic to a fault, the script from Michael Berg and Jason Fuchs is overstuffed with new characters to make up for the lack of new ideas and their inclusion seems to be little more than an excuse to have as many celebrity voices as possible. These characters are one-note, with only a few lines of dialogue and are utilized as little more than gags. Granted, the slapstick humor does provide some laughs even if the material stays firmly in the realm of a Saturday Morning Cartoon. However, it's telling when the four-and-a-half minute short that precedes the film proves to be funnier, showing that the "Ice Age" series is fast approaching its expiration date, although it's clear that Blue Sky has no intention of stopping at number four. The relaxed interplay between Manny, Sid, and Diego keeps the film moving at a comfortable pace but it is Granny who provides the most laughs as she has all the best lines and benefits from Wanda Sykes' hyperactive voice acting. The subplot involving Scrat, the series' breakout character, is hilarious and finds the squirrel searching for a legendary isle rumored to be full of acorns. There's also a memorable encounter with a group of Sirens and an island full of squeaking chipmunk-like creatures called hyraxes. Amusingly, Sid communicates with them by flailing around and speaking in nonsensical gibberish. While Manny and his friends struggle to get home, "Ice Age: Continental Drift" pads its running time with Ellie leading a herd of animals toward a land bridge but this parallel story feels tacked on with its half-baked themes of staying true to who you are and the importance of familial compromise. Despite the paper-thin plot, the film offers plenty of colorful action and set-pieces, including a fun song-and-dance number from Captain Gutt and his crew. 

It's impressive to see how much Blue Sky has improved with their use of CG animation, which is on par with the works of DreamWorks Animation but still a cut below Pixar. Although lacking the visual splendor of "Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted," the characters still exhibit amazing detail, right down to their fur, and the water approaches photorealism. As for the 3D, it's certainly better than "Brave" but it does not add to the experience in any significant way. The brightness issue has largely been solved by this point and yet 3D films still struggle with creating a sense of depth even though it should be easier for a CG animated film. There's nothing inherently wrong with the 3D in "Ice Age: Continental Drift" but it’s ultimately a perfunctory extra that you can avoid. 

By far the strongest element in the film is the voice acting and it's obvious that everyone had fun judging from the end credits. Reprising the roles of Manny, Sid, and Diego are Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, and Denis Leary, who all turn in solid work but they are upstaged by Wanda Sykes and Peter Dinklage from HBO's "Game of Thrones." Dinklage's voice is virtually unrecognizable as Captain Gutt and his enthusiasm shines through in every scene he's in thanks to his lively performance while Sykes is her usual acerbic self as Sid's annoying grandmother. The voice cast includes a lot of celebrities but many of them, such as Aziz Ansari, Rebel Wilson, and Heather Morris, have only two or three lines of dialogue. Nicki Minaj and Drake are wasted despite their names being displayed so prominently on the poster. Jennifer Lopez fares the best as Diego's love interest Shira and represents one of her better roles, even if she is just providing her voice. The end credits have most of the cast singing We Are by Keke Palmer. 

"Ice Age: Continental Drift" was released on July 13, 2012 and has received mixed reviews with 45% on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics noted that it 'has moments of charm and witty slapstick, but it often seems content to recycle ideas from the previous films.' I saw the film at a morning screening last Saturday and the children in the audience definitely loved it so the fact that it has received a less than warm reception means little to its intended demographic. With a production budget that is significantly less compared to Pixar, the film should have no problem topping the weekend box office since it is the only major release. It has already earned $238 million internationally, making a fifth installment all but guaranteed. "Ice Age: Continental Drift" brings absolutely nothing new to the table but it remains a passable animated film thanks to some solid laughs and excellent voice acting. However, it would be wise for Blue Sky to diversify itself and not stick with one franchise as its sole bread-and-butter.

Final Rating: 3 out of 5

"My mother once told me that bad news was just good news in disguise."

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Katy Perry: Part of Me 3D Review

Rated PG (Some Suggestive Content, Language, Thematic Elements and Brief Smoking)

Running Time: 1 Hour & 37 Minutes

Cast-

Katy Perry

Russell Brand

Shannon Woodward

Glen Ballard

Adele Laurie Blue Adkins/Adele (cameo)

Robyn 'Rihanna' Fenty (cameo)

Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta/Lady Gaga (cameo)

Justin Bieber (cameo)

Jessica Cornish/Jessie J (cameo)

Keith Hudson

Mary Hudson

Angela Hudson

David Daniel Hudson

Directed by Dan Cutforth and Jane Lipsitz 

Katy Perry with her mascot, Kitty Purry, in her new documentary/concert film, "Katy Perry: Part of Me."

'Do you ever feel like a plastic bag / Drifting through the wind, wanting to start again? / Do you ever feel, feel so paper thin / Like a house of cards, one blow from caving in? / Do you ever feel already buried deep? / Six feet under screams, but no one seems to hear a thing / Do you know that there's still a chance for you / 'Cause there's a spark in you? / You just gotta ignite the light and let it shine / Just own the night like the Fourth of July / 'Cause baby, you're a firework / Come on, show 'em what you're worth / Make 'em go, oh, oh, oh / As you shoot across the sky-y-y…' This is an excerpt from Katy Perry's Firework, which was released as a single on October 26, 2010 by Capitol Records and went on to sell over 6.6 million copies worldwide. The first time I heard Katy Perry's music was during the trailer for 2009's "The Proposal," which featured her 2008 song Hot n Cold but at the time, I was unaware that the singer was Katy Perry. When it comes to pop music, I'm hopelessly out of the loop because honestly, it's not my cup of tea as I prefer the orchestral sounds of Hans Zimmer or John Williams. The only band that I actively listen to is Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward's She & Him, which leans more toward indie pop/folk music. Of course, I was aware of Katy Perry peripherally due to the whole "Sesame Street" scandal (which is a load of hooey by the way) and her much-publicized marriage to comedian Russell Brand but as for her music, I've only heard it in passing. Although I wasn't planning on seeing Perry's documentary/concert film "Katy Perry: Part of Me," its shockingly positive reviews convinced me otherwise. It may come off as a PR fluff piece at times but "Katy Perry: Part of Me" is a surprisingly enjoyable experience thanks to its bombastic 3D concert scenes and poignant look at a woman determined to put on the best show on earth while not shying away from the fact that fame is a double-edged sword.  

The film is preceded by a 3D sing-a-long to You're the One That I Want from 1978's "Grease," starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. Shot during her year-long, 124 show California Dreams Tour in 2011, "Katy Perry: Part of Me" chronicles the meteoric rise of bubblegum pop singer Katy Perry (real name Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson) from a child growing up in a strict Pentecostal Christian household in Santa Barbara, California to becoming a seemingly overnight sensation with the release of her mainstream album debut One of the Boys in 2008 from Capitol Records. Interspersed with concert footage is a behind-the-scenes look at the logistics of handling such a tour that is so huge in scope, along with interviews with the professional team that works for Perry as well as her family and friends. Her marriage to comedian Russell Brand and the devastating effect their subsequent divorce had on her is also explored. 

Edward Douglas of ComingSoon.net writes in his review that 'it's with that cynical mentality I went into the highly-touted 3D concert doc Katy Perry: Part of Me, [where I was] prepared to be bombarded with all those songs I hated and have my feelings confirmed that there's nothing beyond Perry's shallow and superficial surface. Boy was I wrong.' This statement perfectly encapsulates my feelings about the film as what initially seems like a blatant cash-in to sell more albums is actually an informative and often dazzling look at how Katy Perry came to be what she is today. The girl who would go on to become the first woman in music history to have five number one singles, a feat that only Michael Jackson achieved, was born on October 25, 1984 in Santa Barbara, California to Mary and Keith Hudson, who were Pentecostal preachers who forbade their daughter from listening to 'secular music.' Her parents wouldn't even let their children (Perry has one older sister, Angela Hudson, and one younger brother, David Hudson) eat Lucky Charms cereal because they believed the concept of luck was the work of the Devil. Although frequently mistaken as an overnight sensation after her first single, I Kissed a Girl, became an instant hit when it was released on April 28, 2008, Perry had already been struggling in the music industry for quite some time since the age of seventeen when she heard Alanis Morissette sing Jagged Little Pill on VH1, which was her first exposure to mainstream music. Prior to that, Perry had a short-lived career as a gospel singer and even released an album titled Katy Hudson but it was a commercial flop, selling only 100 copies despite some positive reviews. During her time with Columbia Records, the record label tried to turn her into the next Avril Lavigne and there's a humorous scene in the film where she attempts to come off as angry while playfully throwing a stool. She was later paired with production team The Matrix as its female vocalist but the project fell through and Columbia ended up dropping her from their label. It wasn't until her publicist stole Perry's files from Columbia and brought her to the attention of Capitol Records that she finally achieved mainstream success and the film hammers home its themes of perseverance and self-confidence, of staying true to who you are. 

I was impressed to learn that Perry takes an active role in writing her own songs, a fact that many of her detractors ignore. "Katy Perry: Part of Me" is ultimately a rags-to-riches tale but even with all the interviews and fan testimonials that predictably talk up how great Perry is—there's a genuine sincerity to it because the film does not shy away from showing the singer at her most vulnerable. Perry describes her marriage to Russell Brand as something of a fairy tale but reality soon gives her a wake-up call when the comedian filed for divorce in December, 2011 while she was doing her California Dreams Tour. We see her sans make-up sobbing uncontrollably while her screaming fans in São Paulo, Brazil eagerly wait for her to appear. This is the moment where Perry earns my respect because even though her personal life is in shambles, she really does care about her fans and puts on a smile before finally emerging on-stage. The failure of her marriage is not for lack of trying as Perry is shown flying from one show and then back to the UK to spend time with Brand despite the toll it takes on her. Although he shows up in a couple of scenes, Brand is never painted as the 'bad-guy.' People may complain about her but underneath Perry's candy-coated exterior is a professional who takes her work and her fans seriously. The film candidly serves as a reminder that she is just a human being like us despite her worldwide fame. 

As for the concert aspect of the film, I came away both impressed and slightly disappointed as the songs are never played in its entirety due to being interspersed with interviews and behind-the-scenes footage. With its vibrant Candyland-like theme, the show is definitely well-put together and a feast for the eyes. Perry even goes through seven costume changes using some sleight of hand techniques while singing Hot n Cold. Most of her more popular songs such as the aforementioned I Kissed a Girl, Teenage Dream, Peacock, Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.), California Gurls, and of course, Firework, make an appearance. In fact, the film really packs a lot of content despite its ninety-seven minute running time. I wonder if her fans notice how sexually suggestive some of her music is, although I admit that her lyrics are definitely catchy. The 3D is only used for the concert footage but it certainly adds to the immersive factor of the film. 

"Katy Perry: Part of Me" was released on June 5, 2012 to positive reviews with 75% on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics found that it 'succeeds on the strengths of the pop star's genuine likability, inspiring work ethic, and dazzling stage show, even if it plays somewhat like a PR puff piece at times.' However, if you look on IMDB, the film has an astonishingly low rating of 3.7. Pay absolutely no attention to this because I doubt any of the people who are rating it a one has even seen the film. Honestly, I do not understand what satisfaction they could derive from down-rating a film or vice versa. Despite an aggressive marketing campaign, "Katy Perry: Part of Me" flopped at the box office with an opening weekend debut of only $7.1 million and a four-day total of $11.2 million, less than 2009's "Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience," which is viewed as a notorious flop that received overwhelmingly negative reviews from critics. There were approximately fifteen people when I saw the film during a late afternoon screening, mostly comprised of women and teenage girls—plus a grand total of two men (including me) in the theater. While I won't be running out to buy all her music, I came away with a newfound respect for the pop singer after seeing "Katy Perry: Part of Me" and I will admit to being shot with an arrow of what fans call 'Katy Perry-ness.' Those who are already hardcore Katy Cats will love her even more after seeing this film but others who are simply curious will find it hard not to get swept up in her candy-coated world that involves being shot with whip cream from a bazooka.

Final Rating: 4 out of 5

"Thank you for believing in my weirdness!"

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