The Bourne Legacy Review

Rated PG-13 (Violence and Action Sequences)

Running Time: 2 Hours & 15 Minutes

Cast-

Jeremy Renner-Aaron Cross/Kenneth Kitson

Rachel Weisz-Dr. Marta Shearing

Edward Norton-Retired Colonel Eric Byer

Stacy Keach-Retired Admiral Mark Turso

Donna Murphy-Dita Mandy

Joan Allen-Deputy Director Pamela Landy

David Strathairn-Noah Vosen

Albert Finney-Dr. Albert Hirsch

Scott Glenn-Ezra Kramer

Dennis Boutsikaris-Terrence Ward

Michael Chernus-Arthur Ingram

Corey Stoll-Zev Vendel

Zeljko Ivanek-Dr. Donald Foite

Oscar Isaac-Outcome Operative #3

Louis Ozawa Changchien-LARX Operative #3

Directed by Tony Gilroy

Jeremy Renner proves that he's cooler than Matt Damon in the spin-off "The Bourne Legacy."

Based on Robert Ludlum's 1980 spy-thriller novel of the same name, 2002's "The Bourne Identity" was a mid-summer sleeper hit that grossed a solid $214 million worldwide while receiving positive reviews from critics with 83% on Rotten Tomatoes. Not only did it transform Matt Damon into an action star but it also kick-started one of the most lucrative and critically acclaimed franchises of the past ten years. Each successive installment earned more than its predecessor, culminating in a pitch-perfect conclusion with 2007's "The Bourne Ultimatum," which went on to win Best Film Editing, Sound Editing, and Sound Mixing at the 80th Academy Awards.  With a total franchise gross of $945 million (unadjusted for inflation), there was little surprise that Universal wanted to keep the money-train going for as long they're able to. A fourth installment with Damon involved did enter pre-production but this project was cancelled when director Paul Greengrass announced in 2009 that he would not be returning as he wanted a 'different challenge.' Damon dropped out as well since he didn't want to do a fourth one without Greengrass at the helm but Universal didn't let that stop them and moved ahead with "The Bourne Legacy," a spin-off written and directed by Tony Gilroy, who has been involved with the franchise from the beginning. Taking Damon's place is Jeremy Renner, whose popularity has sky-rocketed since his critically-acclaimed performance in Kathryn Bigelow's "The Hurt Locker" four years ago. "The Bourne Legacy" does not reach the heights of its predecessors due to an overlong running time and a noticeable lack of action but this 'sidequel' remains a compelling and solid entry in the franchise thanks to a magnetic Jeremy Renner. 

Due to Jason Bourne's actions in "The Bourne Ultimatum" that led to the exposure of Operation Blackbriar, the CIA is thrown into chaos with the arrests of Blackbriar director Noah Vosen (David Strathairn) and Treadstone's training program director Dr. Albert Hirsch (Albert Finney), with a criminal investigation of CIA director Ezra Kramer (Scott Glenn) pending. Putting the agency into damage control mode, retired Colonel Eric Byer (Edward Norton) and Admiral Mark Turso (Stacy Keach) begins to shut down every black ops program with ties to Treadstone and Blackbriar, leading to the deaths of numerous operatives and support staff. Meanwhile, Operation Outcome agent Aaron Cross (Jeremy Renner) has just completed a rigorous training exercise in Alaska and rendezvous with another Outcome agent known only as 'Number Three' (Oscar Isaac), who lives alone in a small cabin out in the wilderness. However, Number Three is killed by a drone sent by Byer, forcing Cross to go on the run and escape to the United States mainland to look for 'chems,' drugs that allow him to retain his enhanced abilities or risk regressing to a lower mental state. A mass shooting occurs at Sterisyn-Morlanta, a drug company that developed the performance-enhancing drugs that all Outcome operatives rely on to function properly. The only survivor of the shooting is Dr. Marta Shearing (Rachel Weisz), whom Cross seeks out in an effort to obtain the medication he desperately needs. The two travel to Manila in the Philippines while Byer and his agents relentlessly pursue them. 

For those who saw DreamWorks Animation's "Shrek" in 2001, you'll recall the titular character famously comparing ogres to onions because both have layers. Like onions, "The Bourne Legacy" features a multi-layered plot from Tony Gilroy (whose credits include 2007's "Michael Clayton") but at times it can get bogged down by too much exposition as the film does double duty by frequently making references to the previous installment while introducing a whole new set of characters. In fact the first hour comes off as muddled and slow-paced due to Gilroy awkwardly cutting back and forth between Aaron Cross completing his training exercise in Alaska and Byer trying to contain the fallout of Bourne's actions. Fortunately, the second hour picks up considerable speed as Cross struggles to deal with his dependency on his 'greens and blues' while trying to discover why he is being targeted. Gilroy expands upon the mythology by revealing that Bourne and Cross didn't just go through behavioral modification to break down their morality but were also genetically altered to make them stronger and faster. However, the operatives from later iterations of Treadstone like Operation Outcome have to rely on drugs to retain their abilities or they would regress. The only way to make these changes permanent is to be injected with a special virus. Gilroy clearly did his homework but although this adds a new wrinkle to the series, it tends to make the plot feel needlessly complicated with a number of characters functioning as little more than mouthpieces for expository plot dumps. 

At 2 hours and 15 minutes, the film is just too long and Gilroy could've tightened up the pacing by shaving off a good twenty minutes without damaging the narrative. There's also a noticeable lack of action due to its dialogue-heavy approach but what little there is manages to get the adrenaline pumping even if it does not reach the heights of its predecessors. There's the obligatory explosion but the highlights include an intense shootout at Shearing's home and Cross demonstrating his lightning fast reflexes as he takes down three security guards without breaking a sweat before capping off with an engaging (albeit long) motorcycle chase through the crowded streets of Manila as police come out of the woodwork while a stone-cold operative (Louis Ozawa Changchien) attempts to kill Cross. The editing during this scene can be too frenetic and lacks the camera-shaking finesse of Greengrass. Disappointingly Cross and this operative do not engage in any melee brawl so no everyday items like pens and magazines being used as weapons! From a cynical point-of-view, "The Bourne Legacy" is little more than a cash-grab and while it should've ended at number three, Gilroy does succeed in justifying another installment by treating the material seriously despite some stumbles with its story. 

The "Bourne" series has always delivered on some excellent performances and Jeremy Renner proves himself to be more than a capable replacement for Matt Damon as new assassin Aaron Cross. Renner handles the killer vibe with aplomb but unlike the more solitary Bourne, Cross is talkative and quite curious, asking questions and trying to glean more information about the situation he's in and the enemies he's facing. Rachel Weisz is equally as compelling as Dr. Marta Shearing, a brilliant researcher and scientist who just happens to know too much but her moments of panic do feel overacted. Cross and Shearing's relationship represents a welcome callback to "The Bourne Identity." Despite spending the entire film looking at a computer screen and barking orders, Edward Norton's Eric Byer is a menacing and unscrupulous villain and it's a shame that outside of a flashback, he and Cross never meet face-to-face. Hopefully, this is rectified in the sequel. Donna Murphy and Stacy Keach round out the rest of the cast and while their roles do not amount to much beyond assisting Byer in hunting down Cross, the two handle all the spy jargon convincingly. Despite their names being on the poster, Joan Allen, David Strathairn, and Albert Finney have what amounts to cameo roles in order to tie into the events of "The Bourne Ultimatum." 

Released on August 10, 2012, "The Bourne Legacy" has received mixed reviews with 51% on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics admitted that the 'it isn't quite as compelling as the earlier trilogy, but [the film] proves the franchise has stories left to tell—and benefits from Jeremy Renner's magnetic work in the starring role.' Although it is poised for a solid $45 million opening weekend debut at the box office, I feel that Gilroy's emphasis on dialogue over action will not be well-received by audiences as during an advance screening, people immediately bolted for the exit once Moby's Extreme Ways began playing. Yes, "The Bourne Legacy" is not as good when compared to what came before but such an expectation is unrealistic. The plot suffers from uneven pacing and too much exposition yet this fourth entry remains a solid espionage thriller with strong dialogue and performances. I dare say that the "Bourne" franchise is in good hands and I look forward to a sequel with Renner.

Final Rating: 3.5 out of 5

"You think that Jason Bourne was the whole story? There's a lot more going on here!"

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The Campaign Review

Rated R (Crude Sexual Content, Language and Brief Nudity)

Running Time: 1 Hour & 25 Minutes

Cast-

Will Ferrell-Camden 'Cam' Brady

Zach Galifianakis-Martin 'Marty' Huggins

Jason Sudeikis-Mitch

Dylan McDermott-Tim Wattley

Brian Cox-Raymond Huggins

John Lithgow-Glenn Motch

Dan Aykroyd-Wade Motch

Katherine LaNasa-Rose Brady

Sarah Baker-Mitzi Huggins

Karen Maruyama-Mrs. Yao

Jack McBrayer-Mr. Mendenhall

Piers Morgan-As Himself

Bill Maher-As Himself

Chris Matthews-As Himself

Directed by Jay Roach

Cam Brady (Will Ferrell) and Marty Huggins (Zach Galifianakis) prepare to duke it out on the political arena in Jay Roach's "The Campaign."

There was such a sense of hope and optimism when Barack Obama was inaugurated three years ago in 2009 and became not just the 44th President of the United States, but the first African American to hold the office. This historic event was watched by millions of people across the country and around the world (with the exception of North Korea) but four years later, public opinion has eroded due to the perception that Obama has not done enough to spur economic recovery. The 2012 presidential election won't take place until November 6th but Obama and his Republican challenger Mitt Romney have been campaigning for the better part of the year. Although our current administration is often hamstrung by partisan politics, Romney strikes me as very arrogant and serves as proof that no matter where you stand on the issues, the way the public perceives you is just as important. This is explored in a highly exaggerated manner in director Jay Roach's R-rated political comedy "The Campaign." Roach is known for helming the "Austin Powers" trilogy and 2000's "Meet the Parents" along with its 2004 sequel "Meet the Fockers" but has since turned his attention toward politics with his two HBO films, 2008's "Recount" which dramatizes the Bush v. Gore case that resolved the dispute surrounding the 2000 presidential election and this year's "Game Change" that focuses on John McCain's disastrous 2008 campaign after selecting Governor of Alaska Sarah Palin (played by Julianne Moore) as his running mate. Politics have always been mined for comedy and "The Campaign" accomplishes this with aplomb by cleverly satirizing the mug-slinging tactics political nominees frequently employ despite failing to break any new ground but the film lacks edge due to its avoidance of any topics that might prove to be controversial for audiences. 

Camden 'Cam' Brady (Will Ferrell) is up for re-election in the (fictional) 14th Congressional District of North Carolina and victory is all but assured as he is running unopposed. However, Brady commits a major political gaffe when a sexually explicit voice message intended for his mistress leaks out to the public after he drunkenly dials a wrong number. A pair of corrupt power brokers, Glen and Wade Motch (John Lithgow and Dan Aykroyd), sees this as an opportunity to rig the election in their favor by funding a candidate who will allow them to build factories in the district and insource the labor from China, thereby saving on shipping costs! That candidate turns out to be Martin 'Marty' Huggins (Zach Galifianakis), a clueless schmuck who runs a small tourism center. Eager to improve the community and seek the approval of his wealthy father, Raymond (Brian Cox), Huggins accepts the Motch Brothers' offer without question. This surprisingly new development prompts Brady to immediately go on the attack by humiliating Huggins during a civility brunch and reducing him to tears. The Motch Brothers send in a tough-as-nails campaign manager named Tim Wattley (Dylan McDermott) to whip Huggins into shape. Brady and Huggins' political rivalry escalates as each resort to ridiculous tactics to gain the upper hand as Election Day draws near. 

R-rated comedies have not enjoyed much success this summer with the exception of Seth MacFarlane's "Ted" but "The Campaign" ends up being a winner because much of what it pokes fun at is unfortunately true. While their party affiliations are only vaguely defined, it's clear that Cam Brady and Marty Huggins are two incompetent buffoons who are able to rile up a crowd but ultimately stand for nothing. Hell, when Brady's campaign manager Mitch (Jason Sudeikis) asks him about the meaning of his catchphrase, 'America, Jesus, Freedom,' Brady readily admits that he does not know but remarks that citizens love hearing those three words. Much of the film is made up of a series of hilarious and increasingly over-the-top vignettes where each candidate desperately tries to out-maneuver the other. The numerous campaign ads are just one of the highlights as Brady tries to convince the public that Huggins is a Muslim due to his bushy mustache while reinforcing his womanizing image by pandering to male voters with images of attractive women. Fighting back on the advice of Wattley, Huggins goes after Brady's neglected son, leading to a crazy scene where Brady seduces Huggins' wife Mitzi (Sarah Baker) and releases the resulting sex tape as a campaign ad! Roach also illustrates Brady's hypocrisy when he badly flubs the Lord's Prayer at a political debate, with Huggins insinuating that he might be a communist by referencing 'Rainbowland' (where everything is free!) from a book he drew as a child, prompting Brady to repeatedly scream out that 'Rainbowland is not real!' While "The Campaign" goes after easy targets like outsourcing (or insourcing as the Motch Brothers call it) and avoids topics that may be too polarizing for audiences, the film exposes an ugly truth about American politics where it doesn't matter what a candidate stands for when he's little more than a mouthpiece for his corporate sponsors. The script from writers Chris Henchy and Shawn Harwell may resort to crass jokes at times like penis-licking goats and masturbating to Drew Carey but it retains a sharp focus with its political satire. The only real flaw is when the story gets in the way of the laughs near the end as Roach clumsily funnels all the characters toward a typical Hollywood happy ending. 

Will Ferrell has always been hit-and-miss for me as a comedian but as Cam Brady, he's a laugh-riot even though his performance plays it safe by borrowing heavily from his George W. Bush routine during his time at "Saturday Night Live," with a dash of Bill Clinton thrown in for good measure. With his high-pitched voice, Zach Galifianakis also falls back onto familiarity as Marty Huggins is only a slight variation of his 'twin brother' Seth Galifianakis. This may be a two-man show but some of the supporting cast provide their share of laughs as well, such as Dylan McDermott as a hard-line campaign manager that gives Huggins a makeover while inserting himself into every part of his life to the detriment of his family. Jason Sudeikis' Mitch is the straight man to Brady and rounding out the cast is Katherine LaNasa as gold-digging Rose Brady, Brian Cox as Raymond Huggins, who longs for the old days of the antebellum South (he has his Asian maid talk in a stereotypical African American accent), and John Lithgow and Dan Aykroyd as the corrupt Motch Brothers. 

To be released on August 10, 2012, there have been relatively few reviews for "The Campaign" but I have a feeling that it might garner a mixed reception as critics may find the jokes too obvious. I saw the film at an advance screening held two weeks prior to its official release and the audience clearly enjoyed it judging by all the laughter in the theater. It won't top the box office due to competition from Tony Gilroy's "The Bourne Legacy" and reigning champion "The Dark Knight Rises" so it's ultimately a tossup between third and fourth place with "Hope Springs" starring Meryl Streep. Although the comedy in "The Campaign" may come off as too softball for those looking for an edgier satire, Roach's film remains a hilariously clever take on our country's wacked-out politics.

Final Rating: 4 out of 5

"You tryin' to trash talk me? Your mama's like a vacuum cleaner…she sucks, she blows and gets laid in the closet. That's what nuts feel like!"

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Total Recall (2012) Review

Rated PG-13 (Intense Sequences of Sci-Fi Violence and Action, Some Sexual Content, Brief Nudity, and Language)

Running Time: 1 Hour & 58 Minutes

Cast-

Colin Farrell-Douglas Quaid/Carl Hauser

Kate Beckinsale-Lori Quaid

Jessica Biel-Melina

Bryan Cranston-Chancellor Vilos Cohaagen

Bill Nighy-Matthias

John Cho-Bob McClane

Bokeem Woodbine-Harry

Will Yun Lee-Marek

Dylan Scott Smith-Hammond

Kaitlyn Leeb-Three-Breasted Prostitute

Directed by Len Wiseman

Is this real? Is this recall? Should you even care about this remake?!

Gleefully violent yet also thought provoking, Paul Verhoeven's "Total Recall," starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and loosely adapted from Philip K. Dick's 1966 short story We Can Remember It for You Wholesale, remains a science fiction classic twenty-two years after its release in 1990. A fond relic of a bygone era, it's the type of film that Hollywood rarely makes anymore so when Columbia Pictures/Sony announced that a remake was in the works in 2009 with Neal H. Moritz's Original Film (cue obligatory chuckle) producing, fans were rightfully outraged. Whoever was chosen to direct had some extremely big shoes to fill. That person turned out to be Len Wiseman but this announcement did little to quell fan skepticism that the project was little more than a cynical cash-grab. The creator of the "Underworld" franchise where his wife, Kate Beckinsale, stars as the leather-clad vampire Death Dealer Selene, Wiseman's career as director/producer stretches back nine years and since then, he's only had one film that received positive reviews: 2007's "Live Free or Die Hard." Well, "Total Recall" has finally arrived in theaters (again!) and while this new version offers plenty of flashy visuals and action scenes, it is ultimately an unnecessary remake that fails to capture the nuance of Verhoeven's classic and is nothing more than a poor pastiche of every dystopian science fiction film released in the past three decades. 

In the year 2084, a global biological war has left much of the Earth uninhabitable and the only places still capable of supporting life is the United Kingdom, now calling itself the United Federation of Britain, and The Colony, formerly Australia. Ruled by Chancellor Vilos Cohaagen (Bryan Cranston), the United Federation of Britain is a sprawling futuristic metropolis where the rich and well-to-do live while the lower classes are forced to carve out a meager existence in the rain-drenched slums of the Colony. A massive transit system dubbed 'The Fall' connects the two nations through the planet's core. Blue collar factory worker Douglas 'Doug' Quaid (Colin Farrell) lives in the Colony with his loving wife Lori (Kate Beckinsale) and spends his mornings commuting to the UFB to his job assembling synthetic police droids. Haunted by dreams of a mysterious woman and longing for a life with actual purpose, Quaid decides to make a trip to Rekall Incorporated, a company that specializes in memory implants that gives its clients experiences of fabulous vacations using alternate identities. However, during the procedure, the company representative, Bob McClane (John Cho), discovers that Quaid has already had his memory erased and demands to know who he is. Suddenly, an armed SWAT team bursts through the door and attempts to arrest Quaid but he manages to kill all of them in an explosive shootout despite having no formal training. A bewildered and confused Quaid returns home to his wife, where she reveals that she is actually a secret agent and that their marriage is a sham as a result of false memory implants. To unravel the secrets of his mind and learn his true identity, Quaid joins forces with a rebel from the Colony named Melina (Jessica Biel) while evading capture from Cohaagen's endless battalion of police droids and SWAT teams. 

In the words of Arnold Schwarzenegger, the original "Total Recall" was 'the best mind-f*ck yet' while Wiseman's remake is all flash with little, if any, of actual substance. Verhoeven's version may have been full of cheeky one-liners and overly-exaggerated violence but what made the film so memorable were its themes of unchecked corporate greed and the nature of fantasy vs. reality. Is what we're seeing on-screen really happening or does it only exists in Quaid's mind? No concrete answers are provided, leaving it up to audiences to formulate their own theories. This ambiguity is entirely absent in the remake and robs much of the suspense from the film. With the exception of its tone and the move from Mars to Earth, the script from Kurt Wimmer and Mark Bomback brings absolutely nothing new to the table. Wiseman himself only seems concerned with throwing as many visual effects at the viewer as he possibly can to keep them from focusing on its paper-thin story, although some of the future tech shown is rather clever, such as a cell phone that is embedded into your hand. Not one penny of its estimated $138 million production budget was wasted but the future looks awfully generic as it rips off of similar dystopian science fiction films, specifically 1982's "Blade Runner" and 2002's "Minority Report," which ironically had Colin Farrell in a supporting role. Hell, Cohaagen's white armored SWAT teams and synthetic police droids are so blatantly plagiarized from "Star Wars" that George Lucas could win a lawsuit against Wiseman for copyright infringement! 

The best parts of the remake are the little nods to the original, such as the three-breasted prostitute played by Kaitlyn Leeb this time around and the obese woman visiting for 'two weeks' yet it also serves as a stark reminder of how much fun Verhoeven's film is. The only element that I can praise is the action but even these scenes end up being dull and repetitive. Wiseman relies on it so much that it leaves all the characters as little more than punching bags as they run from one location to another, occasionally stopping for the briefest moments of exposition. The hand-to-hand combat is well-choreographed, especially during an elevator brawl between Lori and Melina but the editing is often too choppy and frenetic. Some of the action is staged like a platform video game, such as a chase sequence that has Quaid and Melina hopping through a maze of vertical and horizontal elevators. "Total Recall" may deliver on visual spectacle but Wiseman fails to take advantage of its intriguing premise, thereby wasting his opportunity to craft a unique film. 

The performances from the cast aren't terrible, although that's not saying much. Colin Farrell is likable as Douglas Quaid but his character's confused state is all on the surface and the script unfortunately leaves him so bland and devoid of personality that it's hard to feel any sympathy. The same problem applies to Jessica Biel's Melina, who bats her eyes at Farrell and little else. Kate Beckinsale however, appears to be having fun and is in full ice queen bitch mode as Quaid's 'wife' Lori. Michael Ironside's character of Richter has been combined with hers to give Beckinsale more screen-time. Finally, there's Bryan Cranston as Vilos Cohaagen, who is the chancellor of the United Federation of Britain instead of a greedy corporate executive. Cranston is actually quite charismatic but unfortunately, the actor is completely wasted in the role. 

"Total Recall" was released on August 3, 2012 to largely negative reviews with 32% on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics noted that 'it boasts some impressive action sequences [but] lacks the intricate plotting, wry humor, and fleshed out characters that made the original a sci-fi classic.' Audience reaction was enthusiastic when I saw the film at an advanced screening this past Thursday and there was even applause. I find that moviegoers nowadays are like children as they are easily dazzled by a couple of flashy visual effects. "The Dark Knight Rises" should remain at the top of the box office with ease while Wiseman's remake should earn a respectable $25 to $30 million in second place. The only competition is "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days," based on Jeff Kinney's books of the same name but with little interest from audiences, it'll end up with $15 to $20 million behind "Total Recall," although the production budget is incredibly low anyway. "Total Recall" may be packed with action and copious amounts of visual effects but this remake fails to update upon the original in any meaningful way, leaving the film a dull and monotonous affair, much like Quaid's life. You're better off re-watching Verhoeven's version and wiping this one from your memory.

Final Rating: 2 out of 5

"This is going to be hard for you to believe. Whatever you think you remember…is not real. This person you think you are now, it's all a lie."

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Total Recall (1990) Mind-Bending Edition Blu-Ray Review

Rated R

Running Time: 1 Hour & 53 Minutes

Cast-

Arnold Schwarzenegger-Douglas Quaid/Hauser

Sharon Stone-Lori Quaid

Rachel Ticotin-Melina

Ronny Cox-Vilos Cohaagen

Michael Ironside-Richter

Roy Brocksmith-Dr. Edgemar

Mel Johnson Jr.-Benny

Marshall Bell-George/Kuato (voice)

Ray Baker-Bob McClane

Rosemary Dunsmore-Dr. Renata Lull

Michael Champion-Helm

Robert Costanzo-Harry

Debbie Lee Carrington-Thumbelina

Lycia Naff-Mary/Three-Breasted Prostitute

Directed by Paul Verhoeven

Arnold Schwarzenegger stars in 1990's "Total Recall," one of the best science fiction/action films of the last twenty years.

Before Christopher Nolan's "Inception" toyed with audiences' minds and made them wonder whether it was all a dream, there was Paul Verhoeven's "Total Recall." The first time I saw a Paul Verhoeven film was 1987's "RoboCop" and even though it was clearly inappropriate for my age due to the extreme graphic violence, I remember enjoying every minute of it. Watching the titular character bust up a cocaine operation and gunning down dozens of armed men with his modified Beretta 93R while Basil Poledouris' bombastic score blared in the background left a smile on my five-year-old face. It's a cinematic memory that I will always fondly look back to so thank you for that, Mr. Verhoeven! Unfortunately, Verhoeven's career took a sizable hit when his NC-17 rated film "Showgirls" was released in 1995 and received overwhelmingly negative reviews with 12% on Rotten Tomatoes. Filled with gratuitous full-frontal nudity and numerous simulated sex scenes, "Showgirls" was the epitome of 'so-bad-it's good' and went on to achieve cult status on home video despite being heralded as one cinema's worst. Since then, Verhoeven has tried to recover from his critical misfire but 1996's "Starship Troopers" and 2000's "Hollow Man" are pale imitations of his best work, although 2006's "Black Book" managed to garner positive reviews, the best the director has had since "Basic Instinct" in 1992. Loosely based upon the 1966 Philip K. Dick short story We Can Remember It for You Wholesale, 1990's "Total Recall" contains all of Verhoeven's trademarks and combined with the star-power of Arnold Schwarzenegger, this gleefully violent and thought-provoking film remains a wildly entertaining science fiction classic twenty-two years after its release. 

Taking place in the year 2084, Douglas Quaid (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is a lowly construction worker living a humdrum existence with his beautiful wife Lori (Sharon Stone). However, he is constantly troubled by dreams of Mars and a mysterious woman living there. Under the control of Governor Vilos Cohaagen (Ronny Cox), the colony on Mars is currently embroiled in a conflict between his corporate security forces and a group of mutant freedom fighters led by a man named 'Kuato' (Marshall Bell). There are also rumors that an alien artifact has been found deep within the turbinium ore mines. Despite the warnings of his co-worker and friend Harry (Robert Costanzo), Quaid decides to pay a visit to Rekall Incorporated, a company that specializes in memory implants that gives its clients experiences of fabulous vacations. He opts for the two-week 'Mars Package' with an optional espionage component but before the technicians can implant the memories, Quaid violently reacts while being sedated and claims that they have blown his cover. One of the technicians reveals that there are signs of his memory having been erased. After re-sedating Quaid, the company salesperson decides to destroy his file and wipe his memory of his visit to Rekall before sending him home in an automated taxi. Waking up disoriented and confused, Quaid runs into a group of co-workers, including Harry, but they suddenly corner and attack him. After killing them all, he returns home to find Lori pulling a gun on him and claiming that their marriage is a sham as a result of false memory implants. Quaid manages to knock her out and escapes into the city while evading a group of armed thugs under the command of Richter (Michael Ironside), a subordinate of Cohaagen and the true lover of Lori. Staying at a dingy motel, Quaid is contacted by a strange man who leaves a suitcase by a phone booth for him. Escaping to an abandoned building, he investigates the suitcase and finds a video of himself under the name of 'Hauser.' Formerly in the employ of Cohaagen, Hauser discloses to Quaid that he wiped his own memory in order to protect his knowledge about the alien artifact located deep in the mines. The video also tells Quaid to get to Mars if he wants to learn the truth about who he is. Arriving on Mars, Quaid soon falls in with the freedom fighters and meets Melina (Rachel Ticotin), Hauser's former lover. He battles Cohaagen to free the colony from his iron grip but at the back of his mind, Quaid wonders whether what he is experiencing is real…or an elaborate delusion of his own making. 

While being held captive by Cohaagen with Melina, an impressed Quaid remarks to the governor that his plan was 'the best mind-f*ck yet'; I can think of no better way to describe "Total Recall." Although the script from writers Ronald Shusett and Dan O'Bannon (with Gary Goldman and Jon Povill also contributing) is relatively straightforward as it chronicles one man's search for his identity, what really makes this film the sci-fi classic it is today is Verhoeven's mixture of sardonic social satire with a dash of ambiguity. It's themes of class warfare and extreme capitalism help turn this special effects-driven blockbuster into a surprisingly thought-provoking experience.  Like "RoboCop," the future depicted in "Total Recall" is a corporate dystopia where the very air you breathe is restricted unless you pay up. The Mars colony is a self-contained dome due to the hospitable atmosphere but because Cohaagen's only concern is on reaping the profits of turbinium ore mining, he does not care about the populace suffering horrible mutations and deformities from inadequate radiation shielding, resulting in open rebellion as Kuato's freedom fighters wage a guerilla war against the governor's corporate security forces. However, is all this really happening or does it only exists in Quaid's mind? This is the central question that the film asks but no concrete answers are provided. There are clues littered in every scene but the joy in unraveling this mystery comes from the viewer being allowed to form their own conclusions on what is or isn't real. This dichotomy of fantasy and reality is what gives "Total Recall" near-infinite replay value and the film's enormous success lies not in its intriguing concepts but in the fact that it dares to be ambiguous. 

As this is still a summer blockbuster, Verhoeven does what he does best by going over-the-top with the violence. You can almost picture the director with a big smile on his face as he gleefully relishes in all the exaggerated blood and gore. Hell, just look at the giant bullet holes riddled across Quaid's unlucky human shield when he finds himself trapped by Richter's thugs on an escalator. Even Thumbelina (Debbie Lee Carrington), the midget prostitute, gets to join in on the fun when she jumps on top of a bar table and begins blasting away at Cohaagen's men with a submachine gun! I was grinning ear-to-ear at all the sheer mayhem, the type that only Verhoeven excels in. The visuals are incredibly striking even though it was accomplished without the aid of CG, with the exception of the X-Ray scene. A year later, James Cameron's "Terminator 2: Judgment Day" would revolutionize the way movies were made by pushing the use of CG by leaps and bounds. Many of the effects relied on miniatures and good old-fashion make-up from Rob Bottin, whose work became famous in John Carpenter's "The Thing" from 1982. Who could forget Quaid's trip to Venusville and his encounter with Mary (Lycia Naff), the three-breasted prostitute? Sure, it looks dated now but that's exactly what lends "Total Recall" its charm; it just wouldn't be the same if the effects were replaced with the high-tech gloss of modern CG. Jerry Goldsmith also does an amazing job composing the score by perfectly evoking a sense of adventure, action, and mystery. 

The performances are actually quite good for an action film with such a cheeky sense of humor. Arnold Schwarzenegger was never all that great of an actor but he makes up for it with an irresistible screen presence and charisma. Despite being built like an ox for a blue-collar worker, Schwarzenegger's Douglas Quaid is surprisingly sympathetic as he grapples with the dilemma of who he really is while throwing cheesy one-liners like 'Consider that a divorce!' Ronny Cox and Michael Ironside are suitably despicable as the main villains while Sharon Stone exudes sex appeal as Quaid's faux wife Lori. As the main love interest to Quaid, Rachel Ticotin is fine but she pales in comparison to Stone. The film may take place in the future but it's ironic to see these two actresses dress in 80's style clothing. 

Previously released on Blu-Ray back in 2006, "Total Recall" is being re-released in an all-new 'Mind-Bending' edition that features a superior high definition transfer approved by Verhoeven. It's not exactly demo material but I was impressed with the amount of detail, especially in close-ups. The opening dream sequence on Mars is a stunner, although there are some scenes which look ill-defined such as the drilling machines that pop up from time to time. Some of the effects may sound hollow but the energetic audio track allows the film to come alive with an abundance of gunfire and explosions. Even amidst Goldsmith's bombastic score, dialogue remains sharp. Special features include an audio commentary with Verhoeven and Schwarzenegger, a half-hour documentary on the making of the film, plus a number of exclusives such as a retrospective with Verhoeven and a look at the extensive visual effects utilized by the crew. 

"Total Recall" was released on June 1, 1990 to largely positive reviews with a current score of 83% on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics hailed it as 'a fast-paced rush of violence, gore, and humor that never slacks.' Roger Ebert even went so far as to call the film 'one of the most complex and visually interesting science fiction movies in a long time.' "Total Recall" was one of the most expensive films made at the time with an estimated $65 million production budget but it went on to become a box office success, grossing $261 million worldwide or $459 million when adjusted for inflation. With its blend of violent thrills and smart story-telling, "Total Recall" is the type of action film that Hollywood sadly does not make anymore. This isn't just a Schwarzenegger classic but a classic through and through!

Final Rating: 4.5 out of 5

"A man is defined by his actions, not his memory."

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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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