Skyfall

First Hit:  Action and more action but without much thoughtfulness.

Don’t get me wrong – Daniel Craig as 007 – James Bond, is at least neck-to-neck, (if not ahead of) with Sean Connery as my favorite Bond.

Whereas Connery’s Bond was sophisticated and debonair; Craig’s Bond is more rough and movement oriented. Therefore this film is more or less strictly an action film versus a thinking man’s Bond film.

Like the immediate predecessors, this film begins with a long sequence prior to the opening credits. In this case we are led to believe that James is killed. We all know this wouldn’t be true or else why would we have another 135 minutes left of film to watch?

This sort of telegraphing happens throughout the film; we know that arch enemy Silva (played by Javier Bardem) will only be killed in the end, and no matter how many times Bond has the opportunity throughout the film it will only happen in the end.

What was surprising was M’s (played by Judi Dench) involvement in the story. And in some ways I liked this touch. I liked that we involved other characters including M’s boss Gareth Mallory (played by Ralph Fiennes), Eve (ready for it) Moneypenny (played by Naomie Harris, and a new Q (played by Ben Whishaw).

The newish versions of old characters were introduced reasonably well which bridged the old Bond to the new Bond. However, this film just seemed to be just a series of action sequences stringed together with some dialogue. However, Silva’s character created an appropriate level of disturbed presence to move Bond to the next level of action.

Although many of the action scenes were amazingly put together, I thought the subway (tube) coming through the hole in the ceiling to be incorrect. The sequence is too long and the train would have stopped moving forward long before it did and it wasn't appropriately slowing down as it hit objects in its way. This would have been different in real life and therefore it didn’t come off a real crash.

Craig is a favorite Bond of mine and he’ll do more good Bond films if his natural intelligence is developed as well. Here he is superb in the action sequences. Bardem is appropriately spooky and devilish in his actions. Dench is strong but a feeling tired in this role. Harris is nicely interesting in her role as Eve, one of Bond's paramours. Whishaw is good and appropriately nerdy as the new Q. Fiennes, works out well as M’s boss and his slow engagement into the story works very well. Neil Purvis and Robert Wade wrote an action script and not one exemplifying Bond’s intelligence. Sam Mendes, showed a strong hand at creating interesting action scenes (motorcycle chase), helicopter use (both on the island and Skyfall), and the wonderful nostalgia of first using the new Jaguar (M’s car) to the old DB5 (Austin) with ejection seat button and machine gun headlights.

Overall: If you want to watch a lot action – go see this film.

The Bourne Legacy

First Hit:  Very disappointing and I hope that this isn’t the legacy film for this franchise.

The one thing I liked about the Bourne series is that Matt Damon, although having an amazing physical prowess, came off as a normal caring guy.

In this offering, Aaron Cross (played by Jeremy Renner) uses drugs to aid in his physical and mental enhancements. We are introduced to Cross while he is submerged in semi frozen lake in what appears to be Alaska. While on his way to some other remote place, he’s popping green and blue pills. He also takes a sample of his blood. He reaches his destination and is supposed to have his blood tested.

During this opening sequence we have flashes to some poorly created urgency about the “Operation Treadstone” or “Operation Blackbriar” being found out by congress. Somehow Eric Byer (played by Edward Norton) is in charge of some unit which seems to have some juice but we never know with whom or why.

Half the time he speaks in doublespeak urgency about how these programs are going to be found out so he decides to kill all the drug induced agents. Cross, now being hunted by the government, and running out of meds/drugs, decides to find a creator of the meds Dr. Marta Shearing (played by Rachel Weisz). He hopes to continue being drug smart and drug strong.

The film tries to give us a reason why, but I didn’t buy it. Else the film is filled with chases and killings. The only time I got interested or excited was when they brought up Jason Bourne’s name, I was hoping Damon was coming to save the film – no such luck.

Renner is good at the physical stuff but unfortunately he had a poor script and story. Weisz did her best with the role and like Renner, they good with what they had but there wasn’t much of a storyline for them to work with. Scott Glenn (as Ezra Kramer) was reinstated in this film from the earlier Bourne films in a minor role and it showed. Norton tries really hard with a bad story and I’m starting to wonder about his choice in films. Stacy Keach (as Mark Turso) was mediocre in a poorly conceived role where his character's participation is questionable. Tony and Dan Gilroy wrote a poorly conceived story and script, while Tony did a fair job of directing this mess.

Overall:  It is extremely unfortunate that this film is named “Legacy” because it left a bad taste in my mouth.

Total Recall

First Hit:  I enjoyed this version more than the 1990 version.

Unlike “The Dark Knight Rises” (see previous review), the opening sequence sets up the story well.

The point of the opening sequence of a film like this is to set us up to get our buy-in, to have us suspend our reality and invite us into a story.

Total Recall does this and that is why I enjoyed it. Douglass Quaid, aka Houser, (played by Colin Farrell) is stuck in a life he doesn’t understand. He goes to work making robot enforcers in Great Britain from Australia by getting on and riding the “Fall”.

The Fall is what people call the vehicle which transports people through the only two habitable places on earth, Great Britain and Australia. Its path is through the middle of the earth and when it reaches the core there is a few minutes of gravity suspension because gravity switches its pull.

Australia is called the colony and everyone there is poor. It is ruled by Great Britain and Chancellor Cohaagen (played by Bryan Cranston) and they suppress everything for control. There, of course, is an underground group fighting the rule and Matthias (played by Bill Nighy) is their leader. Quaid’s wife Lori (played by Kate Beckinsale) is a cop and works a lot of nights investigating and killing the rebels.

We learn quickly, she’s one of the best and toughest investigators. Douglas, in his frustration with his life, goes to “Total Recall” which promises dreams that make you feel good. His visit takes us into a new story of what is reality and what is truth.

Although an unbelievable story, it works because the actors, script and direction allows us to believe it.

Farrell is very good and strong in both the physical challenges of the role but by also giving us a true sense of being lost and wanting to find the truth. Cranston is great as the Chancellor. Beckinsale is so strong in her physical role and was fun to watch. Jessica Biel (as Melina) was very good and shows strength in this physical role. Nighy is good in a limited but pivotal role. Kurt Wimmer and Mark Bomback wrote this effective screenplay while Len Wiseman gave this film believability, fun and action.

Overall: Enjoyable version of this story and worth the price of admission.

The Amazing Spider-Man

First Hit:  This was a fun-filled action fantasy film.

Sometimes a franchise film finds new legs and sets a new mark on what might become a new base for a new set of movies. This film does this.

Not taking away from Tobey Maguire and Kristen Dunst but Andrew Garfield (as Peter Parker, aka Spider-Man) and Emma Stone (as Gwen Stone) have a great start on creating a new set of adventures with the Spider-Man franchise.

In this film we go back to the beginning and discover the more about how Peter’s father and mother died, how he was raised by his Aunt May and Uncle Ben (played by Sally Field and Martin Sheen respectively). We learn how Peter’s father Richard (played by Campbell Scott) worked with Dr. Curt Connors (played by Rhys Ifans) to discover how to mix species for the betterment of humankind.

Parker in his curiosity of Connors’ lab gets bitten by a spider and we all know what happens from here. It is the way Parker discovers his talents that make this film fresh and fun; and this film is fun.

Even in the darkness of what will happen; while Parker is being hunted by the police or the Lizard (Connors’ alter ego) this film is enjoyable in all ways.

Garfield is very good as Parker/Spider-Man, my only criticism is that he’s just a little old to be playing a high school student. Outside of this small criticism, he’s great in this role and I know he’ll be wonderful for this franchise. Stone is very good and this film is about Spider-Man. Ifans is creepy enough to carry the transition between Connors and the Lizard. Field is good as the mostly fretting Aunt. Sheen is excellent as Parker’s caring uncle. James Vanderbilt and Alvin Sargent wrote a great script. Marc Webb did an excellent job of bringing new life to this wonderful story.

Overall:  This was a very well made and enjoyable film.

Snow White and the Huntsman

First Hit:  Mostly slow and uninteresting with a few moments of brightness.

Why this film took so long from beginning to end is because the scriptwriter and director thought they had a great story to tell.

Reality is that yes this is a great story, just not the way they told it. Although Kristen Stewart is a much better actress than her partner in the Twilight film series, here she doesn’t get to do a whole lot.

The age old story where the evil queen Ravenna (played by Charlize Theron) has banned the beautiful Snow White (played by Stewart) from living free. She has her locked up in the north tower of the castle. But Snow White escapes and with the help of the Huntsman (played by Chris Hemsworth), the dwarfs, and her cousin William (played by Sam Claflin) she’s able to mount a challenge to Ravenna’s hold on the kingdom.

The highlights of the film are most all the scenes with Ravenna as Theron keeps her part of the film alive, with intensity. Also the scenes when Snow White are with the fairies and the leader of the fairy kingdom.

The rest of it was slow, boring and without the level of energy required to keep a 2 hour and 7 minute interesting.

Stewart is OK at times and looked great in her Joan de arc metal outfit. She does show some abilities to be believable in strong female physical role, which is good. Theron is the very best thing about this film. I loved the shot of her in the white (milk) liquid bath and thought that this was an amazing shot. Claflin was soft in his role and almost unnecessary. Hemsworth gave it his all in a familiar role as a fighting hero. Evan Daugherty and John Lee Hancock wrote a mediocre and long screenplay from an age old tale. Rupert Sanders directed this too long unfocused film.

Overall:  Not worthy of a paid seat but one can while away the time having it on in the background at home someday.