Matthew R. Reis' Portal

Readers,

For the time being I will be suspending this blog.... New posts won't be published for awhile, but when I regain my passion and get free time I will again be providing you all with regular updates.

Thanks for understanding!

Also, please feel free to take a look at some of my older posts.

~ Matthew R.

Coming soon to matteayreis.blogspot.com are video reviews, rants etc. In an effect to keep up with the non-stop media world I will be filming weekly segments covering everything from classic films, new television shows, books, music and some gossip.

Check back next Monday for my first vlog.

Cheers!

My apologies for the lack of new posts. I've been busy finishing up my fall semester and preparing for the holiday season.

New posts (including reviews that I promised a long time ago) will be put up for your scorn (or enjoyment :) ) asap.

Stay tuned.

MRR

Cera is still Cera

Blog Exclusive!

"Law and Order: Special Victims Unit" Season 13 (2011) 4 Stars - Watch it on HULU or NBC

Television spin-offs rarely work. Case in point "Joey" which was the bastard child of Everybody Loves Raymond or even Law and Order: Trial by Jury." But SVU defies convention. It is not only as good as the original L&O, but it trumps it in every way. Case in point: Most of the original cast is still intact and the newcomers to the show also fit right in.

The show manages to stick by the same exact formula running on 13 years now and it still surprises me every time. Season 13 marks change in L&O: SVU with the departure of Christopher Meloni (Det. Stabler), but with Mariska Hartigay returning there is no drop-off however.

On Wednesday, January 12th the show returned from a holiday break with it's 11th episode of the season. Be sure to check out the cops busting down walls to catch pedophiles, murders and addicts SVU style or you may very well be booked for insubordination.

P.S. Hartigay is the best television actress of her generation (whom I have seen at least.)

"Pan Am" Season 1 (2011) 3 1/2 Stars - Watch it on HULU or NBC

This aviation drama is scoring well with the critics, but has been crashing and burning with American audiences all season long. I only checked it out because the entire first season (9 episodes in all) was available as an HD download on iTunes. The show may return and I hope it does because it's really, really fun and glamorous.

"Pan Am" takes place in the early 1960s (with an occasional flashback to the 1950s) and takes viewers on a nostalgic trip around the world. I find the best part of the show to be the pretty ladies of course (I am a guy), but coming in a close second is the ability to see how I would have been treated by an airline some 50 years ago. Instead of having to take my shoes off at the behest of the TSA and receiving less than 2 ounces of pretzels (peanuts are out due to allergies) I would have gotten free magazines, free coat check and a full-on dining experience.

The plot is admittedly laughable since it centers around a flight attendant who acts as a spy for the MI6 and the CIA, but for a free viewing experience "Pan Am" is worth checking out.

The fan base is more geared towards a female audience by the way so don't expect an "Air Force One" type of show.

Airport Junkie

"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication"
4 Stars
As featured in: The Carolinian

Note: This is my first review published in my new college's paper. If the review doesn't pass your 'snuff test' I personally apologize and will do my best to get back on track. Quality counts and so do my readers. Thanks!

Steve Jobs' name has been plastered everywhere over the past month, from prominent publications such as The New York Times to blogs run by faithful Macintosh users. The reason for such vast interest was the Apple co-founders untimely death at age 56. Though his passing undoubtedly rips open a giant hole in the tech industry, Walter Isaacson's definitive biography of the late icon seems to fill in the the sadness with poignant stories of Jobs' greatness, his failures, and genius. It simply could not have come out at a better time.

Isaacson's book is a definitive account of Steve Jobs. It lays out quite nicely the story of how a college dropout from Northern California became a "messiah"of the late 1970s/80s personal computer revolution. Steve Jobs in not merely referred to as a wunderkind; he is looked at as a magician whose tricks are not just a mirage. Jobs nearly single-handedly created hit products such as the iPod and iPad that transformed and created multiple industries.

For the most part, "Steve Jobs" is a thoroughly enjoyable read. Yet, in spite of the superbly written passages there is one large flaw. It's quite easy to get sidetracked by Isaacson. Isaacson asserts himself a bit too much and his voice sometimes dominates the book rather than taking a back seat to his subjects, Jobs and his friends and foes.

However, as the pages turn and the reader gets into the meat of the book, something changes. Isaacson's voice begins to take a back seat and only crops up to help the reader gain a fuller understanding of a man that can really be mistaken at face value. People who hated him still praised him and people who admired him mourned his passing.

The best part about "Steve Jobs," is that it is completely and utterly candid. Bill Gates, former Apple CEO Gil Amelio, and Apple co-founder Steve "Woz" Wozniak both embraced and took issue with Jobs. They offer up criticisms regarding his forward manner of speaking and praise his laser focus. If you strip away all the grandstanding and outright nastiness that came out of Steve Jobs' mouth, it was not that he was a bad person or an egomaniac just for the sake of being an egomaniac. Rather he was just a passionate man who fought to fill his life with purpose. That purpose was to create great products that were simple and fun to use.

It seems odd to fit a man's life, let alone technological successes, and personal life, into a 600-page book. Yet, by using an easy to follow chapter style in which the early facets of Jobs life are put first and the end of his life is talked about last does not water down his importance. In fact, the book's layout compartmentalizes his defining characteristics.

With breathtaking depth and riddle with emotional candor, Walter Isaacson captures more than just Jobs' life at Apple Computer (now Apple, Inc.); he is the only author to ever be granted permission by Jobs himself to write about his past failed relationships, volatile temper and perfectionist nature that ultimately contribute to his "legacy."

"Steve Jobs" was written by Walter Isaacson and compiled from numerous interviews with the late technology mavericks friends, foes and business partners as well as himself.

P.S. If you haven't read the book yet you may want to hold off on buying a copy. But why? Isaacson is re-releasing the book sometime in 2012. It's not the biggest update in the world, but it will include more annotations. 

Blog Exclusive!

One Sentence Synopsis and Review
"Hanna" 2011
4 Stars

Synopsis: Hanna (Ronan) is barely an adult, but her dashing father Erik (played by a looking better than ever Eric Bana) has taught her to be the ultimate killing machine in an undisclosed location in order to one day avenge the death of her mother.

Review: With beautiful visuals drummed up by director of photography Alwin Kuchler and an in grossing, bite-your-nails till they bleed pacing everything comes together for "Hanna", the most refreshing action film since "The Bourne Ultimatum" and perhaps my favorite overall since Luc Besson's "The Professional," my favorite film of all time.

Saoirse Ronan, Cate Blanchett and Eric Bana star.

One Sentence Synopsis and Review
"Paul" 2011
3 Stars

Synopsis: Two English chaps Graeme (Pegg) and Clive (Frost) decide to head to America and tour all the rumored UFO encounter locations in America; along the way they encounter a ruthless secret agent type (Bateman) and his cronies along with Paul (Rogen), a decently funny 'little green man' who likes to curse.

Review: While Pegg and Frost gel nicely (they are best buds on and off the screen) "Paul" suffers from rehashed gags and ultra-bizarre characters that dampen what could've been a truly out-of-this-world experience.

Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and Seth Rogen star.

One Sentence Synopsis and Review
"Battle Los Angeles" 2011
2 1/2 Stars

Synopsis: An almost retired career soldier (Eckhart) goes on one more unglamourous mission along the way discovering that aliens, not meteors are to blame for his unexpected deployment.

Review: Battle LA has an elementary plot and an almost non-existent story (background info., character development are both missing), but those looking for an intellectual film should go and see "The King's Speech" while those seeking testosterone pumping action will feel quite at home as should as Sgt. Michael Nantz (Eckhart) kicks alien ass with his assault riffle.

Aaron Eckhart, Michelle Rodriguez and Bridget Moynahan star.

© 2011 Matthew R. Reis, All rights reserved.

Dead to me. (Watch it Mondays 9/8c on AMC)
2 1/2 Stars
Blog Exclusive!

First a quick recap:

The opening half of the extended length premiere episode picks up right where season one left off. Deputy sheriff Rick Grimes, portrayed by British actor Andrew Lincoln, and his ragtag team of zombie hunters, survivors and a senile old man wonder what they should do next. They eventually decide that getting as far away from the zombie-infested Atlanta streets is their best option. Fort Benning, also in Georgia but over a hundred miles away is there last hope to reconnect with other humans and possibly find a cure for the terrible zombie making disease.

Just as the group thinks they will make it to the fort without incident a plethora of "walkers" searching for human flesh to feast on, come strolling down Interstate 75 (I-75). Of course Rick Grimes and Co. are stuck on that very same road due to some car trouble. Though the zombies pass on without a ton of drama Sophia (Madison Lintz) the young daughter of newly widowed Carol (Melissa McBride), goes missing in all the hoopla and winds up alone in the woods that lie directly to the right of the road.

So what exactly do I hate about this episode.... after all it sounds really exciting!

Well I was already dreading (while admittedly simoultaneously salivating) the premiere of season two. The root of my concern stemmed from AMCs brilliant idea to slice "The Walking Dead's" budget in half! Apparently consumer demand was so high that another six episode season was just out of the question. Now season two is 13 episodes long and half as good. I'm pissed because the quality that stood out in the first season seems to be missing now. Quantity seems to always beat out quality in the end.... which really sucks.

We all know that story structure, character development and gripping plot-lines are what make great TV. Sadly the first episode of season 2 forgets this and manages to decline in all three aforementioned areas. The lame plot takes place mostly on an interstate freeway in the middle of nowhere... There is absolutely nothing exciting about the location. But surely the characters must still be the same one's we've come to love. Wrong again. Each and every character minus Rick, his son Carl and Sophia become bickering, blabbering wretches. I didn't know the show was supposed to be a soap opera.

The negative chain reaction continues with Frank Darabont's ouster at the hands of AMC. Mr. Darabont, director of the critically acclaimed Oscar-winning picture "The Shawshank Redemption" created the show alongside Robert Kirkman, the creator of "The Walking Dead" series of graphic novel from which the idea for a TV program was born. Interestingly Mr. Darabont's name appeared on opening credits of season two as an executive producer. Perhaps AMC is piggybacking off his success? Mr. Darabont also directed the outstanding pilot episode. Yet the continuity that made the first season such a joy to watch is gone.

Going off on the show after just one episode may be considered dickish, but the show's pizazz is gone and the taut, nail-bitting timing is completely off. So compared with the spot-on, kickass first season that was 110% dramatic, haunting, and bloody disgusting there is a steady drop off in nearly every area of the show. However, despite my ranting there were a few bright spots that could help sustain the series. For starters, the zombie makeup is even nastier (aka better) than before. One scene has Rick and his former police partner Shane (Jon Bernthal) gutting a walker and looking for evidence that little Sophia isn't chop liver. Secondly, the music is as ghastly as before. New melodies have been combined with last seasons theme song in order to create more spine-tingling moments. The music really does set the show's tone more so than any actor or lighting technician could hope to do.

That's all for now, but when the season is released on DVD/iTunes stay tuned for more insight from me.

Unlike a fish out of water. (Now on DVD)
3 1/2 Stars
As featured in: The Ithacan

Note: This is my very first professional film review ever (it's roughly 2 years old.) I've come a long way since then and hope to improve even more.

“Ponyo,” the latest film from Academy-Award- winning director Hayao Miyazaki (“Spirited Away”), is a charming, family-friendly film. Packaged as an old-style animated movie, “Ponyo” uses the dying technique of traditional hand-drawn animation to tell its story. This process makes the film feel older than it is and adds a level of realism and humanity to the movie. The eccentric characters and larger-than-life story contribute to the magic of “Ponyo.”

“Ponyo” isn’t meant to be a massive box- office hit like “Wall-E,” “Cars” or “Toy Story.” This is apparent, thanks to its less-than-stellar box-office take of about $3.5 million. Unlike most recent animated films, which are CGI-laden and full of beautiful high-definition imagery, “Ponyo’s” visual style is much more subdued and inherently simpler. Even the colors in “Ponyo” feel muted.

The film’s plot centers around three characters: Ponyo, a talking goldfish who wants to become a human girl, Sosuke, an adventurous little boy who loves the ocean, and Lisa, his hard-working mother who longs for her seafaring husband. One day before school, Sosuke ventures down the cliffs surrounding his house and finds a goldfish stuck in a glass bottle — a peculiar sight. He heads into the water to rescue the fish and gets more than he bargained for. The fish he finds, which he names Ponyo, becomes his great friend right away.

Most would think that discovering a magical, talking fish would be startling, but Sosuke offers to take care of it. He shows the fish to his mother, who finds it odd that a fish can talk, but nonetheless appears unfazed by the discovery. Everyone takes a liking to Ponyo, and Sosuke’s love of the fish makes Ponyo wish to be human. Ponyo’s wish, however, throws off the balance of the world, and a giant storm begins to brew, threatening to destroy everything in sight.

“Ponyo” is one of the few recent hand-drawn films in theaters. Also, the animation isn’t super-detailed. Instead of blurring out objects in the background of the frame, the characters and scenery in “Ponyo” become less detailed and minimalist. Technically speaking, this film is not groundbreaking. The biggest surprise is that it was made in 2-D format. It is a laborious process, and the movie was in development for more than three years. However, the movie’s story fits the visual style, so it’s hard to miss the lack of CGI.

All of the characters have redeeming qualities about them. There are no villains in “Ponyo.” Even Ponyo’s misunderstood father has a soft spot in his heart and eventually lets Ponyo become a human girl. The characters are relatable and audiences feel for them through the film. The story is odd, but the movie’s main audience is children, so everything doesn’t necessarily have to add up.

The voice-overs are excellent. Familiar actors such as Matt Damon and Tina Fey voice the American version of the film, and the Japanese-themed musical score that serves as a backdrop to their voices works. The music is instrumental and helps move the film along.

Compared to big-name Pixar movies that decidedly deal with American themes, “Ponyo” is a Japanese movie re-branded for an American audience. This is surely because of its low profile and might make it unpopular with some moviegoers. Despite the fantastical plot, “Ponyo” is all that it needs to be: an entertaining and charming film that breathes new life into the animated movie genre.

“Ponyo” was written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki.

© 2011 Matthew R. Reis, All rights reserved.

10, 9, 8.... When will it be over! (Now on DVD)
2 Stars
As featured in: The Ithacan

Shane Acker’s first feature- length film, “9,” is a flawed, post- apocalyptic vision of the not-so- distant future. Based on a short film, also named “9,” the film has some thrilling moments but should have never been adapted for the big screen.

The film, set in a time of economic upheaval, depicts a dictator known only as the Chancellor who enlists the help of a team of scientists to develop technologies that will allow the state to prosper. The smartest scien- tist develops a ma- chine so ingenious, fittingly called The Brain, that it regret- tably starts think- ing for itself. Though the creator insists The Brain isn’t fully opera- tional, it is put to use anyway by the Chancellor. The machine even- tually turns its back on its creator, ensuring the inevitable destruction of the world.

“9’s” fairly simple story line prevents the film from becoming a great, dark fantasy in the vein of Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Be- fore Christmas.” Burton, the film’s producer, clearly shares a similar animation style with Acker. But Burton’s screenplay takes center stage over the arbitrary action present in “9.”

The survivors of the destruction are not human, but rag dolls official- ly known as “stitchpunks.” They live in hiding, forced to pick up the piec- es that mankind left for them. The film centers around nine stitchpunks creatively named No. 1 through No. 9. Some fighting exists between the stitchpunks, especially with the ar- rival of No. 9, the youngest of these odd but strangely cute creatures. The oldest and most conservative stitchpunk, No. 1, would rather wait and die in the stitchpunks’ hideout than fight the machines like No. 9 proposes. This tension reveals that the “punks” have their own idio- syncrasies and quirks that make for some humorous moments here and there. Collectively, these moments give the film a much-needed sense of realism, but they are few and far between. This is primarily because “9’s” short run time did not give the proper time needed for any signifi- cant character development.

Stitchpunk No. 9 (voiced by Elijah Wood) plods along way too much, particularly in the first half- hour, where the main emphasis isn’t on his plan to save the world, but rather on the film’s animated artwork. The effects are indeed Oscar-worthy, and the beautiful CGI helps bring the post-apoca- lyptic landscape to life. Pools of light collect on crumpled build- ings, smoke litters the air from a massive factory, and debris lines the street. Unfortunately, “9’s” amazing backdrop primarily serves as filler for the thin story line and mundane plot.

The film is advertised as a post-apocalyptic nightmare, but few will be scared while watching “9.” As a whole, it lacks a certain bizarre and grotesque quality and feels empty without emotional punch and maturity.

One of the unsettling things about this film is that its basic premise has already been seen. “The Matrix,” for one, deals with humanity rebelling against the machines that oppress them, like the rag dolls who find themselves at the mercy of these mechani- cal beasts. The character No. 9 is naïve and reckless, and his behav- ior results in the death of a backup character. For a supposedly strong- willed hero, No. 9’s voice cracks at any sign of danger, but yet he sud- denly develops into a mature leader capable of fighting for the survival of life on Earth.

The movie’s story matures in spite of the first 30 minutes, pav- ing the way for an exciting climax and conclusion. The film could have shed 25 minutes off of its run time and still have gotten its point across. The fast-paced, yet uneventful, beginning of “9” may annoy some people, but the upbeat ending nicely completes the movie. “9” lacks the magic to be a classic. If the film stopped trying to satisfy both preteen and adult audiences, maybe the story would have mattered. To save two and half hours of one’s time, just wait until “9” comes out on DVD.

“9” was written by Pamela Pettler and Shane Acker and directed by Shane Acker.

©2011 Matthew R. Reis, All rights reserved.

Inspired by the "Blue Man Group" (Now on DVD)
4 Stars
As featured in: The Ithacan

Apetastic? Nope. (Still playing in select theaters)
2 Stars
Blog Exclusive!

Charlton Heston's performance as Colonel George Taylor in 1968s "Planet of the Apes" was iconic. In 2001 Mark Wahlberg's turn as Captain Leo Davidson in the "Planet of the Apes" remake was ghastly. Now actor, director and Yale student James Franco has to deal with an ape infestation of his own in "Rise of the Planet of the Apes." So how does all this monkey business translate to the big screen this time around?

Not well. Not well at all.

As a prequel a lot of people already know how “Rise” will end before the projector even warms up. Due to the film's lack of quality content "Rise" offers nothing worthwhile and fails to justify why a prequel was needed in the first place. Both diehard franchise fans and virgins of the series will be disappointed.

Besides above average acting and terrific visual effects this film is trash. The biggest problem stems from Rupert Wyatt's barking mad direction. For example: Wyatt's visual effects crew take full advantage of his ineptitude and throw numerous apes onto the screen. They neither advance the story nor look intimidating and just fill up the frame. Another issue is the random, uninteresting scenes scattered throughout. Thank screenwriters Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver for this complete toilet paper roll of a script.

Speaking of the soiled script, the plot goes something like this. Caesar, a pet ape, learns human traits and mannerisms via ALZ 112 injections. This revolutionary serum has the potential to cure ailments such as Alzheimer’s disease, the drug's namesake. Put in the wrong hands, or paws, ALZ is capable of ending human world order. The drug’s creator Will Rodman, played by James Franco, works for Gen Sys (pronounced "Genesis") and is the man behind the curtain. He has a chance to become a pioneer not unlike Watson and Crick (who discovered DNA's structure) and accrue limitless money, fame, and admiration. Yet medical miracles, not fat checks, interest Rodman. At the epicenter of all this excitement is Rodman's steely boss Steven Jacobs (David Oyelowo). Jacobs just wants to cash in on Rodman's intuition and even goes as far as ordering Gen Sys scientists to push the drug's newer variant, 113, through to human trials without fully knowing its effects.

A problem with the script is it's unbelievability. It's nearly impossible to imagine anything in the movie ever actually happening. Sure suspension of disbelief is normally employed to deal with such a scenario, but trying to rationalize apes destroying Northern California without military intervention is too much to ask. Other plot-lines are equally bizarre such as why Caesar, Rodman's pet, is allowed to roam around a house free of restraints when he is fully capable of ripping out a mans heart without much effort. Surely a super duper smart scientist is book smart, but apparently they don't have any common sense. Anyhow Caesar roams around suburbia causing a lot of collateral damage. He even attempts to play with a little boy. The cops only come around when Caesar bites off the finger of Rodman's neighbor Hunsiker (David Hewlett), a gruff airline pilot with a short fuse.

Technically Caesar’s the main character, but Franco gets more screen time. Luckily for the audience Caesar is "controlled" by motion capture vet Andy Serkis of "King Kong" and "The Lord of the Rings" fame. Serkis' familiarity with breathing life into inanimate objects is on full display as he utilizes every square inch of his full body motion capture suit. He elevates Caesar from a pretty looking effect to a fully realized, lifelike character infused with tremendous amounts of depth, likeability and darkness. Another performance worth noting is Tom Felton aka Draco Malfoy who brings unbridled enthusiasm to his role as a bloody disgusting, animal torturer. No wonder why the apes felt compelled to rebel after dealing with this yahoo.

So despite coming from a good pedigree "Rise" stretches it's potential too much and ends up snapping into itty, bitty slivers of ape shit. The editing, cinematography and other artsy, technical elements are magnificent yet director Rupert Wyatt fails to mold these bits into a sensible, worthwhile film. “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” favors quantity over quality throughout its 105 minute runtime. Without the fine acting gluing all of these highly polished, but unfocused pieces together “Rise” would’ve been even more of a bad joke.

At least they didn't make this one in 3D. Maybe they are saving that for the sequel.

“Rise of the Planet of the Apes” was written by Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver with a premise suggested by Pierre Boulle's 1963 novel "La planete des singes" and directed by Rupert Wyatt.

P.S. Admit it French people like Boulle are absurdly talented. They are so artistic and can even make smoking fashionable. Just don't stand behind one.

©2011 Matthew R. Reis, All rights reserved.

Don't hit this lady.
Blog Exclusive!

Leading up to the December 21st release of "The Girl with the DragonTattoo" Matthew R. Reis will offer up his insights regarding what shouldmake the final cut and what should be left for the blooper reel in the Americanadaption of the literary sensation.

Lately there has been some controversy over the depiction of LisbethSalander (played by Rooney Mara) the heroine of the Millennium Trilogy. Thecontroversy stems from a recently released poster for "Tattoo" thatincludes a nude Rooney Mara being tightly embraced by a weathered Daniel Craig. Reading about Salander's love for rough sex is quite a normal, popular thingto do. Just look at the NYT'sbestseller list over the past year or so. But depicting these thematic events visually is a no go apparently. This doesn't make sense because...

Reading about sex isn't a whole lot different then viewing a sexy imagethat simulates a sexual act or features a provocative pose! Apparently the people drumming up this controversy want you and me to believe that viewing a sexy image is something to be ashamed ofand that's only marginally tolerated in private residences. It only makes sense then to ban Maxim magazine from its pedestal, store shelves across America!

I personally believe that thehuman mind is a whole lot dirtier than people want to let on. We think dark thoughtsand have many secrets that we would never want to share. These tainted thoughts are then watered down and cultivated into more sensible ideas. Perhaps this process happened to the creators of "Tattoo's" marketing campaign (and this poster in particular)! I'd wager that they photographed even grittier, in your face picturesfor the poster that truly crossed the line and were tossed aside. The content we see here won't harm anyone. It's watered down just enough to still be relevant and prompt discussion while targeting the largest possible audience.

Most likely director David Fincher and his ego care very little about thecontroversy his poster inevitably brought. He probably doesn't even care thathis version of “Tattoo” is a remake that is being released just two years afterNiels Arden Oplev’soriginal Swedish take on things. Nor does he probably care that many of myfriends are tired of Hollywood remakes. The most ironic thing about this postis that David Fincher most definitely doesn't care about what I have to say.

So what type of nudity is shown in this ad? Buttocks? No. Breasts? Yes. Whatabout pussy?

Fincher doesn't go that far. Most likely he's reserving that big revealfor December 21st. Though I'm not a woman I strongly believethat this poster doesn't demean women. Why's that? Forcing Mara to hide underneath clothes would disrespect the character she plays. In a strictly professional sense I really hope the finishedmovie features Mara baring all, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn't excited about seeing Mara in the buff for a more obvious reason. She is a gorgeous, ravishing beauty.

The overall goal of this poster is to give prospective moviegoers a glimpse into the lives of two dynamic personalities, Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist. It’s Salander’s nature not give afuck. Why should Mara and Fincher give a fuck too?

Instead of debating the necessity of the firestorm this poster set off it is indeed very appropriate when we consider Lisbeth Salander's Wild Westlifestyle and the themes present in the "Tattoo" novel. Salander's hard-boiled persona and tech-savvy nature make her aninteresting character study. She an atypical women, but is it fair to call hera post-Feminist women? She is by no means a prude like some male-eatingfeminists out in the real word, but she doesn’t tolerate guys with drifting eyeballseither.

It is certain that Salander would despise being labeled something or other. Her goings about are sacred to her. For example she has sex with both men andwomen, but doesn’t think of herself as a bisexual. In the "Tattoo" book she has barebacksex with Blomkvist just because she wants to. She acts decidedly non-masculineduring her romp, but don’t tell her she isn’t in control. She almostalways is. Salander doesn’t even worry about getting pregnant because she’ll pop apill the next morning and go on with her life.

So when did society stop admiring female nudity? Did this appreciation fall off after theRenaissance? After all one of the most feminine and beautiful parts of awomen's body are her nipples and they were regularly painted with care by the master artists of the time. Has society become so politically correctlyoriented that a female body can’t be admired outright? It should be a women's right to showcase, celebrate and be conscious of her ownbody? I guess women now have to dress like men and pay for dinner when out on adate.

Out with the old… in with the bland.

There is a major contradiction in society that needs to be noted. Sexuallysuggestive advertising is becoming the norm while meaningful, artistic nudityis being punished. Just look at the images the hip fashion retailer American Apparel uses to promote their brand. They are WAY more sexual than the“Tattoo” poster. And yet because AA's ads don't center on something as small andas innocent as a nipple they are doing the right thing. Good grief. Who else exploits the youthful, vibrant bodies of 15 year old model more regularly?

Model age aside a lot of men and women lust over ad campaigns. After all people are drawn to the risqué. Afterseeing a certain ad you may want to sleep with a Victoria's Secret Angel or become the face of American Apparel. Yet no one is lustingover this poster. It has more of a purpose than to satisfy horny teens and lonely, middle-aged folks.

If Mara's one nipple (by the way it's pierced. Shocker!) wasn’t in plain view than I would never have sat down and written this post. All in all Lisbeth is thestrongest character I have ever had the pleasure to come across other than the conservative, yet fiery Hermione Granger of "Harry Potter" fame. Salander's legacy will surely outlive this episode and despite the controversy mentionedabove the movie poster is more appealing than appalling.

I appreciate any commentsyou may have regarding this controversial topic.

Cheers!

P.S. For more info. on "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" check outhttp://www.dragontattoo.com

©2011 Matthew R. Reis, All rights reserved. 

Not the Band from Lodi... (Now on DVD)
Star rating upcoming
Blog Exclusive!

My season 1 recap (a bit of review mixed with a bit of analysis) of the British TV import "Misfits" will be coming soon. So in the meantime check out the series premiere of "Misfits" courtesy of Hulu.



Remember to stay tuned! And as always thanks for reading!

Boom goes the dirty bomb (Now on DVD)
4 Stars
Blog Exclusive!

What if you had only minutes to live? What would you think, feel and do in that short amount of time? Well Jake Gyllenhaal (Brothers) knows he has to make every second count in order to save the city of Chicago from a terrorist attack just 8 minutes in the future. As Jake finds out in "Source Code" anything is possible except failure.

Army helicopter pilot Col. Colter Stevens (Gyllenhaal) awakens aboard a Chicago bound train with no memory of how he got there. Feeling confused Stevens rushes into a bathroom and looks in the mirror. What he sees is terrifying. He realizes that he’s inside somebody else's body, but before he digests this information a bomb rips through the train as easily as a knife cuts through butter. As everyone perishes Stevens is transported to a futuristic, metallic pod stowed away in a remote arctic wasteland. He’s tightly strapped into a seat that is surrounded by video monitors. Inside the pod he learns that he is on a secret military mission with experimental technology (the Source Code) that allows him to relive the past, but not change it, in order to find the perpetrator behind a deadly dirty bomb attack aimed at the heart of Chicago.

Director Duncan Jones helms arguably the year's most exciting film in “Source Code.” While just 93 minutes in length this action-thriller packs more twists and turns than Lombard Street. Ben Ripley’s script is smart, sophisticated and succinct. Despite the short run time, his top-notch writing isn't lacking in quality. Ripley successfully balances his style with the right amount of substance, relying on one or the other only when needed. The icing on “Source Code’s” delicious cake is Paul Hirsch’s flawless editing. Each and every moment will keep audiences biting their fingernails in anticipation and asking, “did that really just happen?”

When all of the film’s upsides are taken into account, great acting, slick pacing and deeply disturbing military secrets, it is hard to find much to complain about. However there are a few things that are not up to snuff in “Source Code.” For example: though there is always something intriguing happening onscreen the limited run time doesn't allow for some plot points to be explored. This limitation therefore leaves many questions unanswered.

Another area that needs some shoring up is the supporting cast’s purpose. These secondary characters should be vibrant, funny, memorable additions to the film. Yet they are painted in a very one-dimensional light. In essence these characters are role players without roles. Their primary function is to look pretty, fill up the frame and not impact the film negatively. Ripley’s characters should have been written with more edginess to them. These characters could either help or impede Col. Colter Stevens from completing his time sensitive mission.

The last chink in “Source Code’s” armor concerns a gaping plot hole tied to the protagonist. If Christina Warren (played by Michelle Monaghan) is still Christina Warren in this alternate version of the past what actually happens to Sean Fentress? Does Fentress cease to exist once Col. Colter Stevens begins to control his body?

On the flipside Gyllenhaal’s performance showcases his canny ability to deal with emotionally heavy material in a realistically touching manner. His range as an actor is impressive. He technically plays two roles in the film, his real life persona Col. Stevens and his assumed identity, schoolteacher Sean Fentress.

The railway car setting of “Source Code” is a great building block for an action-thriller. Basically the entirety of the movie plays out on the commuter train. The lack of other locations does not dampen the excitement of the film since the director utilizes the train’s layout and how the characters react to their environment in order to tell the story. A large portion of the train is used to give the film a unique flavor just like the manner in which the bus is used in 1994s “Speed.”

Last but not least is the terrific characterization of Dr. Rutledge (Jeffrey Wright,) the man behind the Source Code project. Taken at face value Dr. Rutledge is a seemingly decent man, but he is actually a highly complex individual layered with both good and bad influences. His decision to basically enslave Col. Stevens in the Source Code could be viewed as a sinister act, but he is more than a fiend with no morality. Rutledge is responsible for stopping a mass murder and preventing subsequent collateral damage at all costs regardless of the ethical dilemmas present. In Rutledge’s view using Col. Stevens as his toy soldier (and denying him his freedom) is necessary to ensure the safety of America.

Who knew that a film whose premise is a marriage between “Inception” and “Groundhog Day” could turn out so well? Strong dialogue and solid technical chops mold “Source Code” into one of 2011s must see films. Do not miss it because who knows when your 8 minutes are up?

“Source Code” was written by Ben Ripley and directed by Duncan Jones.

©2011 Matthew R. Reis, All rights reserved.

Blog exclusive!

One Sentence Synopsis and Review
"The Talented Mr. Ripley" 1999
3 Stars

Synopsis: When Tom Ripley (Matt Damon) receives the offer of a lifetime -- an all expenses paid trip to Italy to retrieve Dickie Greenleaf (Jude Law), the free-spirit son of a wealthy shipbuilder -- he accepts despite knowing full well that he will never make good on the offer and instead plan's to assume Dickie's identity.

Review: Ripley's "friendship" with Greenleaf is erratic because at any moment they are either fighting or getting along just fine, yet this isn't the thing in "Ripley" that stands out because John Seale's cinematography, beautiful and devastating, makes the viewer forget about the film's meandering plot (riff with murder, music, bewilderment) a bit more tolerable.

Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow and Jude Law star.

©2011 Matthew R. Reis, All rights reserved.

Blog exclusive!

One Sentence Synopsis and Review
"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2"
4 Stars

Synopsis: When Harry Potter leaves Hogwarts after six years he doesn't find himself owling in dedication to the dead Hedwig, but rather running towards a man with no nose while carrying a magic stick.

Review: Potter's swan song is the best film in the series and of the Year due to its technical wizardry, knock your socks off acting and bone chilling revelations.

Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint star.

One Sentence Synopsis and Review
"Horrible Bosses"
2 Stars

Synopsis: Three workers with little power are shopping for a killer to alleviate their respective workplaces of horrible bosses which include the a-hole Bobby Pellit aka Colin Farrell whose abhorrent personality is matched with a greasy comb over!

Review: "Bosses" is a good idea for an epic office comedy however its terribly crafted villains overshadow a low key, high energy performance by Mr. I do everything well Jamie Foxx who guest stars.

Jason Bateman, Charlie Day and SNL cast member Jason Sudeikis star.

One Sentence Synopsis and Review
"Transformers: Dark of the Moon"
3 Stars

Synopsis: Big robots, big robot guns, and big female objects harmoniously act in tandem to save the earth from big robots, big guns and McDreamy.

Review: The groundbreaking, unobtrusive 3D cinematography features an expansive medley of shots that compliment Indiana Jones' sidekick's acting chops despite a script as ridiculous as "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" the previous entry in the series.

Shia LaBeouf, supermodel Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and male supermodel Tyrese Gibson star.

One Sentence Synopsis and Review
"Bad Teacher"
2 1/2 Stars

Synopsis: A hot T.I.L.F. accustomed to living a trivial existence chuck full of money gets dumped, is forced to work alongside a dapper Justin Timberlake and smokes pot.

Review: While "Bad Teacher" elicits charm and draws constant laughs it blatantly rips off the 90s classic "Billy Madison."

Cameron Diaz, Jason Segal and Justin Timberlake and star.

One Sentence Synopsis and Review
"The Tree of Life"
4 Stars

Synopsis: A bunch of slowly moving visual imagery consisting of solar flares, monumental buildings, the great American outdoors and... Brad Pitt as a dad, minus the adopted kids.

Review: The first twenty minutes or so of this visual mind fuck are torture, yet the familial drama hidden within is grade A, heart-wrenching entertainment.

Brad Pitt, Academy Award winner Sean Penn and Jessica Chastain star.

©2011 Matthew R. Reis, All rights reserved.

Blog Exclusive!

Leading up to the December 21st release of "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" Matthew R. Reis will offer up his insights regarding what should make the final cut and what should be left for the blooper reel in the American adaption of the literary sensation.

It's been roughly two weeks since the leaked video release (cough Sony...cough Pictures) of the now infamous "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" trailer. It's famed director David Fincher's first film since last year when his highly regarded movie "The Social Network," came out. Its a movie that I loathe. Why? 1) I take its supposed truthfulness with a very large grain of salt and 2) its one of the most pretentious movies I have ever seen. However tangent aside Fincher goes back to his bread and butter - paranoia. Taping into his dark side (after all the guy made "Se7en," "Zodiac," and "Fight Club") he has so far churned out what looks to be some awesome footage.

The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) issued the notorious red band label for this teaser trailer. "Red band-ing" a trailer is just fancy terminology given to a film that receives an R-rating. Usually studios shy away from R-rating's and force the filmmakers to tone down the picture just a tad in order too receive a PG-13 rating.

Note: PG-13 movies make way more money on average than their more violent brethren.

Yet despite the future financial hit "Tattoo" will probably endure its R-rating is a good sign that it will be a violent masterpiece. This film will also help garner more attention and respect for the Swedish original, which was directed by Niels Arden Oplev, as well.

At just one minute, 36 seconds "Tattoo" doesn't just tease you with its adrenaline pumping, awesome inducing mayhem - it tortures you so successfully that your eyes are branded with its content. That the teaser leaves even a fleeting impression which is no small feat in the age of YouTube. The visceral, hyper fast editing style employed in the trailer basically causes you, the viewer, to pry your eyes open for the entire run-time or, GOD FORBID, miss out on the juicy bits of undress, distress and intensity within. And for those of you who haven't read the books shame on you - the Millennium Trilogy is seedy, intrigue filled fun. Steamy sex scenes are just the tip of the iceberg (cliche!, but come-on now, it was more than appropriate.)

The stunning Rooney Mara replaces the stunning(er?) Noomi Rapace. Mara had a bit part playing Mark Zuckerberg's soon-to-be ex-girlfriend Erica Albright in the opening scene of "The Social Network," but will be the main focus in "Tattoo" (unless people like myself are to busy starring at Daniel Craig's ridiculously sexy body...) Mara's talent, and lack of clothing (how many sexy bodies are in said film!?) in "Tattoo," coupled with a scene credit next to Mr. 007 himself will certainly get the actress a large amount of exposure. The popularity of the books, and the widespread love for cyberpunk-esque, international criminal and photographic memory laden Lisbeth Salander won't hurt either.

Stay tuned: More to come on Salander's Goth/Punk deliciousness. God she would hate me for saying that.

Cheers.

P.S. For more info. on "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" check out http://www.dragontattoo.com

©2011 Matthew R. Reis, All rights reserved.

Note: Due to a copyright claim Sony Pictures requested that the original red band trailer to be taken off of youtube. Here is the first official US trailer instead.

Seasick to the fourth power (Now on DVD)
4 Stars
Blog exclusive!

The previous two Pirates sequels, "Dead Man's Chest" and "At World's End," were less than stellar. "On Stranger Tides," producer Jerry Bruckheimer's latest extravaganza get's the series back on track. Returning the tongue-in-cheek humor that made "The Curse of the Black Pearl" so great and combining it with the darker thematic elements of the latter two installments "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" is simply the best Pirates yet.

The biggest difference between the last installment "At World's End" and "On Stranger Tides" is the cast and crew. Trading in Keira Knightley for Oscar winning actress Penelope Cruz doesn't hurt the film one bit. In fact it's a substantial upgrade. Both women are extremely beautiful, and have exotic European flair, but Cruz is simply the better actress. While Keira Knightley fit in nicely with the likes of Geoffrey Rush, Orlando Bloom and Johnny Deppp in the original trilogy she never really overcame their collective star power. As Angelica Malon, Penelope Cruz acts with pizazz, toughness and is extremely sensual at times. Cruz never holds and this is reflected in her character's personality. Angelica (Cruz) asserts herself more than Knightley's Elizabeth Swan. But it's not Knightley's fault that Cruz's character was written with a more action-oriented approach. What they both do equally well is torment Captain Jack (Depp) 24/7.

"Tides" is directed by Rob Marshall, not Gore Verbinski who directed the previous three installments. Yet there is little stylistic drop-off between the two directors. If audiences don't know any better there would have no reason to think that "On Stranger Tides" fate was placed in the hands of another man. Both directors use a lot of sets and locations to create a collective vision of a rampantly unregulated world. The 1700s is populated with scallywags and an infinite number of rum bottles in these films and both directors are successful in making the sets look the part. Yet I prefer Marshall's vision of the caribbean because he utilizes a constantly moving camera in order to keep the audience engrossed. Everything that happens onscreen is masterfully sporadic, organic and unforced.

The visual effects in "Tides" are really breathtaking to watch. In one sequence a sultry group of mermaids seduce a rowboat filled with scuffy men. The men immediately become lovestruck at the site of the angelic creatures complete with cherubic faces and shimmery scales. Through the appropriate use of 3D techniques the movies effects are really given a boost. Though "Pirates" wasn't shot in 3D like "Avatar" was (for the most part) the immaculate 2D to 3D conversion job deserves a bucket full of booty. This is no "Clash of the Titans" or "Alice in Wonderland" conversion hack job which the films were maligned for over and over again. Gone are the pop up book style visuals that were widely scorned in film released just a year ago. Though I personally liked "Alice in Wonderland 3D" I really had no other film besides "Avatar" to compare it with. I can honestly say that the picture was decidedly darker and less robust than "On Stranger Tides" and my eyes didn't bother me one bit. Dariusz Wolski's cinematography was also very naturalistic.

When "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" burst onto the scene in 2003 an instant classic was born. Though the franchise faded in recent years with the addition of two bloated sequels this new "Pirates" trimmed the unnecessary fat and went back to basics. For the first time in eight long years the fun has returned to Buena Vista Pictures' prized possession. Go see "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" set sail in a theater near you today! "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" was written by Ted Elliot and Terry Rosario and directed by Rob Marshall.

©2011 Matthew R. Reis, All rights reserved.

You've never gotten this wasted (Now on DVD)
3 1/2 Stars
Blog exclusive!

Summer 2009. Just another action packed movie season right? Wrong. The summer of 2009 belonged to "The Wolfpack" who proved that comedies have bite. 277 million dollars worth of bite. So what would "The Hangover's" Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and Zach Galifianakis show America next? Plenty of nudity, profanity and downright hilarity resulting in "The Hangover Part II."

Director Todd Phillips likened "The Hangover Part II" to "Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back" arguably the best sequel ever made. I wouldn't praise the second "Hangover" movie that much, but believe it or not, this incarnation offers a wilder ride than its predecessor. Though the framework of "Part II's" plot is little more than a carbon copy of the original the film improves upon an already exquisite amalgam of sex, debauchery and memory loss.

Reviews of "The Hangover Part II" have been mostly negative. Some reviewers have even thrown the sequel under a bus and then ripped out the guts. The main issue is that the plot is the same, which in turn makes the new, raunchy jokes automatically stale. This is absolute bull. The Hangovers' ending was predictable, but everyone with a depraved sense of humor still laughed. Yet the film gets trashed despite the dirtier jokes, the darker tone and doubly epic adventures.

Also the negative reviews, which are aggregated on Rotten Tomatoes, seem to portray "The Hangover Part II" as a lifeless, soulless piece of crud. But Phil, Stu and Alan aka "The Wolfpack" are clearly good guys who just happened to lose their pal Teddy in Bangkok, Thailand. In fact they nearly die on multiple occasions trying to find him and happen to run into a transsexual hooker who doesn't catch, a smoking monkey and a whole lot of guns. So much for lifeless right?

If you like "The Hangover" and re-watch it you would probably still like. So what's the big deal with watching a similar second film? Just switch out the second viewing of the first Hangover with a viewing of "Part II" and expect more raunch, more frequently. This second incarnation fails at being as heartwarming as the first flick. Yet djavascript:void(0)espite it's minimal shortcomings "The Hangover's" younger sibling is one wild child. Simply put: Bangkok is a lot grittier than Las Vegas, the site of the first flick and is the perfect compliment to "The Wolfpack's" hedonistic adventures.

"The Hangover Part II" Craig Mazin, Scott Armstrong and Todd Phillips and directed by Todd Phillips.

©2011 Matthew R. Reis, All rights reserved.

Blog exclusive!

One Sentence Synopsis and Review
"Thor"
3 Stars

Synopsis: The fate of both Earth and Asgard hang in the balance as Thor fights his nemesis and brother Loki, in an attempt to restore balance to a fragile Universe.

Review: This movie could have sucked badly because Thor is more God than Superhero, but director Kenneth Branagh brings a sense of humanity to the story despite its ridiculous concept by blending in witty comedic timing with awesome battle sequences.

Natalie Portman and Chris Hemsworth star.

One Sentence Synopsis and Review
"Insidious"
3 Stars

Synopsis: The Lambert's seem to be the perfect all-American family, but that couldn't be further than the truth.

Review: "Insidious" starts out as a truly horrible movie filled with comatose acting and shoddy production values until a truly terrifying third act that not only redeems the picture, but has you believing that your soul might actually be snatched.

Patrick Wilson and a breakout performance by Rose Byrne star.

©2011 Matthew R. Reis, All rights reserved.

Stars’ beauty no match for bad story
1 Star
As featured in: The Ithacan

Director Zach Snyder’s latest visual extravaganza, “Sucker Punch,” is an experiment in overindulgent style gone wrong. While memorable characters such as the dapper, mustachioed villain Blue Jones (Oscar Isaac) lend a fun energy to the film too many elements don’t fit well together.

Emily Browning plays Baby Doll, a petite, feisty 20-year-old who’s imprisoned in a brothel fronting as a mental institution by her ruthless stepfather. Baby Doll, along with four other big-breasted heroines, including the opinionated, no bull Sweet Pea (Abbie Cornish), Rocket, Blondie and Amber plan an ambitious escape in order to avoid being harmed by their pimp Blue. Baby constructs a dream world in order to gain the confidence she needs to lead the other gals to freedom.

This premise obviously caters to a largely male audience with an appetite for scantily clad women parading around. “Punch” needs more sizzling entertainment to be successful with its target audience. The tame, restrictive PG-13 rating was probably used for financial concerns, but the studios should’ve let Snyder make an R rated film that properly reflects his vision. Yet no matter the amount of skin shown the easiest way “Sucker Punch” could’ve been successful is if the audience’s attention wasn’t focused on the actresses figures, but on their acting.

Bad acting aside it’s impossible to get over Steve Shibuya and Snyder’s idiotically paced script. There are too many instances in the picture where scenes start and end with no motivation. Hyperactive children at least have a reason for their short attention spans, but Shibuya and Snyder have no excuse for their random ideas.

This filmmaking disaster even extends to the stale musical score. Instead of creating new material music directors Tyler Bates and Marius de Vries are overly reliant on commercialized tunes such as Queen’s “I Want It All” and Lords of Acid’s “The Crablouse.” All the songs are rearranged into headache inducing nonsense. It’s never clear if what the audience is watching is a narrative film or a really long music video.

For 109-minutes a good premise is continually wasted on a disorganized plot. Fast cuts and slow motion photography are well utilized, but there isn’t enough substance to warrant this movies existence. Hopefully enough people will avoid being sucker punched into viewing this “work of art.”

“Sucker Punch” was written by Zach Snyder and Steve Shibuya and directed by Zach Snyder.

©2011 Matthew R. Reis, All rights reserved.

h2oh NO!
3 1/2 stars
Blog exclusive!

There's a new sheriff in town and it's Johnny Depp! As the title character Rango Depp must bull-shit his way through a old western town run by lizards and other scaly life-forms. But dastardly, viscous "vermin" are out to make sure Rango doesn't fulfill his destiny.

This is a must see movie. But why's that?

Sadly, I didn't watch it in 3D (and no that isn't sarcasm; I am a big proponent of the technology), but nevertheless Depp's performance, the animation style and the "adult" humor cleverly slipped into this children's movie make this one a winner. Also go see "Rango" because it is similar to "Fear and Loathing..." another Depp flick in that it is structured in a much more experimental fashion than other animated movies I have seen as of late.

This experimental style coupled with the desert locale brings to mind "Beavis and Butt-Head Do America." The makers of "Do America" incorporated wildly diverse visual imagery into the plot (which dealt with two guys, Beavis and Butt-Head, trying to get their television back) 15 years ago. One scene in particular has the protagonist hallucinating in the desert. "Rango" on the other hand has some far out scenes in which we see Rango day-dreaming (without the drug, sex and alcoholic undertones Do America and Fear and Loathing bank on.)

Another reason I recommend getting off your couch to go and see "Rango" is its animation style. The team of animators at Industrial Light & Magic make it exceedingly hard to blink when watching film. Each and every frame is rendered with TLC. Therefore every character and object is painstakingly detailed. The dusty, dry and cracked visuals further pop due to the high definition projection.

Check out Rango and tell 'em the sheriff sent you.

And trust me, the theater I saw it in wasn't no ghost town.

“Rango” was written by John Logan from a story by John Logan, Gore Verbinski and James Ward Byrkit and directed by Gore Verbinski.

©2011 Matthew R. Reis, All rights reserved.