Jack Reacher

Jack Reacher

Grade: B

Release: 12-21-2012

Rated: R

Run time: 130 minutes

Director: Christopher McQuarrie

Starring:
Tom Cruise
Rosemund Pike
Richared Jenkins
David Oyelowo
Werner Herzog

 

This movie wasn’t quite what I expected. I thought it would mostly be an action flick.

There was some action – people fought, people ran, guns were fired – but, mostly, it was a crime thriller. Actually it was a fairly decent crime thriller, not entirely unpredictable, but they did mix it up some.

If you are in the mood for a crime movie, this isn’t a bad choice. It also seemed like a movie that won’t lose much if you choose to see it at home on DVD later.

On the Road

Grade: B-

Release: 12-21-2012

Rated: R

Run time: 124 minutes

Director: Walter Salles

Starring: Garrett Hedlund
Sam Riley
Kristen Stewart
Kristen Dunst
Tom Sturridge

I’ll start with a confession – I never read the book. I was probably the only person in the theater who hadn’t and everyone had an opinion about On the Road before the first frame even hit the screen. One thing that was clear, love it or hate it, the book has made an impact on a lot of people. I’m not sure the film will do the same.

I thought the film was well done. The director (Salles – Motorcycle Diaries) really captured the look and feel of the era. The detail, the cinematography, the acting (Sam Riley and Garrett Hedlund were excellent as Sal and Dean), the costumes – were all spot on. From what I understand Jose Rivera very accurately captured the feel of Jack Kerouac’s novel.

To me, the film was a bit long. I’m not sure where I would have cut it, but I was ready for it to end about 20 minutes before it did. I’m also not sure how the film is going to resonate with today’s youth. I do think those who loved Kerouac’s novel will enjoy the movie and in some ways, that is the most you can ask for from a film.

Since the settings and time period were, to me, one of the best parts of this film, I am looking forward to the documentary about Kerouac and the story behind On the Road that Salles worked on prior to and during the making of this movie.  It is supposed to be out next year.

Parental Guidance

Parental Guidance

Grade: B

Release: 12-25-2012

Rated: PG

Run time: 104 minutes

Director: Andy Fickman

Starring: Billy Chrystal
Bette Midler
Marisa Tormei
Tom Everett Scott

I showed up for this film at 10am on a Saturday… after about 5 hours sleep. That was the most sleep I had had in days. In other words – I was tired, cranky and NOT in the mood to be there. The film had a slow warm up – although, admittedly, it may just have been me – but 30 minutes in, I was laughing.

There isn’t any special wow moment I remember, no explosions or amazing special effects. This film is just a good solid comedy. It is well written and has a solid cast of actors. Most of the humor is laugh at life type, but there is bits included for all tastes – at touch of wit, a dash of slapstick, a side of sarcasm and even a bit of potty humor (not usually my taste, but this one managed to catch me in a half wince, half laugh, omgosh I can’t believe I laughed at that moment.)

I’m not ready to run out and buy the DVD the minute it hits the stores, but I did leave the theater in a better mood than I went in and if some one were to drag me to see this movie again when it hits the theaters this Christmas, I wouldn’t be screaming. That’s good for a B – which coincidently stands for Bette, who did find a reason to sing among the chaos.

Rise of the Guardians

Grade: B+

Release: 11-21-2012

Rated: PG

Run time: 97 Minutes

Director: Peter Ramsey

Staring: (The voices of)

Chris Pine,Jude Law, Hugh Jackman, Alec Baldwin, Isla Fisher

Rise of the Guardians is based on William Joyce’s “Guardians of Childhood” series and I wish they used that title for the movie.  This isn’t an origin story for the Guardians of Childhood.  The movie makes it clear that the Guardians (Santa Claus, Sandman, Easter Bunny and Tooth Fairy) have been doing their job for quite a while.  It even indicates that there have been other battles between them and Pitch (The villain) in the past.  This story is about how Jack Frost joined the ranks of the Guardians.

The story follows the basic hero arc, but it is well done and the characters are all unique versions of fairy tales myths that are well known throughout western culture.  This story is the childhood, about belief and good triumphing over evil.  If you didn’t grow up believing in Santa or the Easter bunny, you can hopefully still relate to the idea of the Guardians wanting to protect the innocence of childhood that Pitch is trying to take away.

This story is rated PG and might be a bit scary for really young children.  The animation is well done, as I have come to expect from Dreamworks, and the 3-D adds to the overall experience.  I think this film can be enjoyed by all ages.  Even us old folks need a good reminder every now and then of what it was like to be a child – the hopes and dreams as well as the fears and loneliness — and what it was like to believe.