Prometheus (2012)

So this was the big prequel. Or maybe that should be a question? Prequel, sequel, schmequel. I don't think it really matters. With the possibility that a few names may have been used throughout the saga, and the fact that the dates are set before Alien in this film, it could be a sequel.
That's the problem with doing prequels in this genre - the movie tech today is so far beyond what it was when the original was created that it can't help but look more recent, regardless of when it was set.
This film was not as gritty or as scary as Alien. In and of themselves this does not make Prometheus either better or worse, just different. This film was iconic in its portrayal of the aliens and horrible tings happening to people in space suits, but other than that, it was much more straight up sci-fi, as opposed to the suspense sci-fi of the original.
The big stars of the film did as one would expect big stars to do and with the exception of Guy Pearce as Weyland, they were a pleasure to watch. Of course Noomi and Charlize were a pleasure to watch, I guess that probably went without saying. My problem with Weyland isn't really anything Pearce did or didn't do, it's the fact that he looks like a young or middle-aged man in old man make-up. Very old man make-up. It's funny but of all the things one could have a problem with in this movie, that' this is what gets me.
What does the ending of the movie mean? Are there going to be another set of movies that stand beside the Alien quadrilogy? One could easily follow the Shaw character through several more films. Personally, I would watch them.
While I was watching, I kept thinking of something Scott said not too long ago, that Alien (and Prometheus) take place in the same universe as Blade Runner. When I saw the way that Theron was playing the Vickers character I entertained the idea that she might be a replicant, especially when the captain asks if she's a robot. What if she is and just doesn't know it? That could mean that the outcome to the film is not quite what it seemed for her character. Or was Scott just saying this as a matter of world building that will really have no effect on the film franchises. Maybe he's setting something up for the new Blade Runner film he's working on.
Okay, you thought I was going to end without bringing up something very important to the film, but I'm not. What does Prometheus do to the whole Alien Vs. Predator story arc. I realize those take place several hundred years before Prometheus, and that's okay. What isn't okay is that they're explanation for the Aliens differ from what was put forward in this film. Though, you might be able to reconcile them. Scott didn't mention anything about those films, so I'm just going to pretend that they don't exist in the same universe. It's my blog, I can do that if I want to.

Prometheus on IMDb

Snow White and the Huntsman (2012)

Now that's what I'm talkin' 'bout!
I don't even like Kristen Stewart and I thought this film was awesome. Like totally. For sure. Okay, I don't really dislike Ms. Stewart either, I just never got into those vampire movies she was in. Maybe if I had been younger when I saw them, like twenty years younger. Or maybe if I had been more goth, like twenty years more goth. Based upon this film, she seems to be a decent enough actor. Now before y'all start filling up my inbox with emails pointing out that I probably meant actress, I assure you I did not. I am not trying to make some subtle, or not so subtle comment on her sexuality. From what I could see she is very definitely a young woman. I've just decided that using actress is ridiculous. I never would think to call my doctor (another person who based on what I've seen is also very definitely a young woman) a doctress. I'm making a stand on the English language right here, right now. No longer will I be a slave to the small minority of genderfied nouns - it's all or nothing. Besides, I'm pretty sure that the femine form of actor would be actrix. So, all actors are actors until Nancy Pelosi is a legislatrix and my doctor is a doctrix and my dominatrix is a, er, um, uh...real and not make believe. You totally thought I had backed myself into a corner there didn't you?
You know what I really like about this movie? Okay, you could say a lot of different things, but let me tell you it's a given that I loved the look. I really liked that there was good magic as well as evil magic. It seems that so often in the Snow White fairy tale that the evil queen has all the magic. There is a scenario where the evil queen having all the magic works, but I haven't seen it in a film yet, though that other Snow White movie - the one with Sigourney Weaver - tried and failed. If the magic is only on one side, it needs to seem more like some ancient, mystical rite, not just some simple waving of the hands crap. So I thought the faeries and elves and white hart were a really nice touch. The other thing I appreciated was that this movie was Romantic, but not a romance. The first type inspire me, while the latter ultimately just point out my failings as a human being. Just let me make a quick not here to mention that to my therapist.
The only thing about this movie that I found odd were the dwarves. They were almost Jacksonian dwarves. Almost. Maybe it's the hair-dos that are throwing me off, but it seems that they just didn't adjust their stature, that through cgi they made their heads large in proportion to their bodies. Were they going for the look of Disney's dwarves or just trying to set themselves apart from Gimli and his brethren? Their hair styles seem for comic value to the untrained eye, but any of you who are gamers that read or looked at the pictures at least of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons late 2nd edition and 3rd edition books will recognize them. Did I just answer my own question? Maybe they were going for that AD&D look. Maybe they went the Jacksonian route so they could get those heavy hitters into their movie - Ian McShane, Bob Hoskins, Nick Frost, Ray Winstone. Alright, Frost might not be a heavy hitter, but he's a personal fave and if you are a regular enough reader you even know why *cough* Simon Pegg movies *cough*.
And finally, we can't leave this topic without thinking about Charlize Theron. I'm not going to say anything about her or her role. I just want us all to think about her.

Snow White and the Huntsman at IMDb

Young Adult (2011)

I loved that in the opening scene I recognized the city based on the bridges in the background. It made me feel nostalgic for Minneapolis. And then the talking starts and Mayvis kind of creeps me out - in a slow motion train wreck kind of way. You like her in spite of herself. Everyone else is so nice and straight forward. And she is a devious and deluded drunk.
Mayvis goes home to Mercury to try and hook up with her old high school beau. The problem, well not as far as she is concerned, is that Buddy is happily married and a new father. Somehow Mayvis ends up spending most of her time with Matt, the kid who had the locker next to hers in high school - the same kid who was brutally beaten for being gay, even though he wasn't really gay. Matt is the only one who knows what's going on and the only one who will tell her that she's full of shit.
Mayvis is home for three days before her mother tracks her down. During their lunch together she tells them that she has an alcohol problem and they laugh and tell her to be serious.
When Mayvis finally has her big breakdown at the naming party everyone finally comes clean that they knew something was going on with her, but that they were humoring her because they felt sorry for her.
Mavis turns to the only friend she has in Mercury, Matt. He is supportive, especially when it becomes clear that the way Mavis wants to deal with this is to sleep with him.
Talk about a depressing fucking movie. In earlier posts I had written how one should be dubious of DVD cases that proclaim films to be the funniest ever or calls someone a comic force to be reckoned with. They lie. The bigger and more grandiose the claim, the more opposite the truth is. Now, don't get me wrong, this is a good movie. Charlize Theron is absolutely convincing as Mavis, actually everyone is very good in this movie. But, it's not a goddamned comedy. Hmm, am I projecting too much of myself into the film? God, I hope not.
I am fascinated by movies that portray the lives of writers, whether they be fictional authors like this movie, or whether they portray real author. It's like getting a peek behind the curtain, because while the author in the film may be different from the writer of the screenplay, nobody knows writing as well as a writer. This film is especially delicious in this aspect because we get to hear what Mavis is writing and compare and contrast with how it resembles her life, but even more so we get a look at her interpretation of her life. Actually, if Castle had a little more about his process of writing the mystery novels (just to bring up another show along these lines that I adore), instead of the research and then the finished product. I know that writing can be boring to watch, but if it's handled like it was in this film, it can really add a lot to the film, giving some very unique insights into the characters.

Young Adult at IMDB