Kali's Entertainment Reviews

True Blood-Current Season

2010-07-07T21:48:00.002-05:00

We’re a few episodes into the current season and after watching last night’s episode, I’m still thoroughly impressed. The series never fails to deliver shocks and plot twists that I was not even close to expecting. The characters are so likable and real (even the villains) that after watching the show, my other half and I sit around talking about them as if they were people we know…”What do you think Eric is going to do about that?” and “Oh I just can’t believe Sookie said that to her!” Tonight’s ending has me fighting mad at Bill….I hope Sookie finds out and get’s even! If you haven’t been watching True Blood, I strongly recommend it for all fans of Vampire stories. It’s everything Twilight isn’t…gritty, sexy, and realistic!

Precious

2010-07-04T08:49:00.000-05:00

"Precious" is a harsh and inspirational film based on a book called "Push". The film chronicles the troubles of a young girl who is suffering from every kind of ailment and misfortune...obesity, illiteracy, and childhood abuse just for starters. While it may seem somehow contrived that this one character is afflicted with every possible problem, the fact of it is that there really are those in Precious's shoes. I've met many people with the exact same set of problems in the course of my day job.

This is a harsh and brutal take on inner city life. The movie blends strange scenes of imaginative surrealism with unflinching honesty that will make you cringe in your seat. The movie tackles child sex abuse with a rough hand that never allows you to distance yourself from the character's emotions. The abusive mother of the tale is played by Monique in an amazing performance that is spine chilling from start to finish.

The movie is unique and touching but a bit much for some folks. This one isn't for those who can't handle sensitive subject matter. It contains extremely harsh language (and I'm not just talking cuss words, but rather cruel and vicious verbal attacks) as well as explicit sexual references.

I give it 4 stars!

Book of Eli

2010-06-29T19:17:00.001-05:00

Ok, I admit it. I’m a sucker for a post apocalyptic wasteland.Must be the optimist in me, ya know ;) So pretty much any movie dealing with the end of the world gets a view from me.

I saw Book of Eli in it’s opening weekend and was quite pleased with it. I saw some negative reviews from the so called professional critics, who of course don’t know a darned thing. That’s why you’ve got me to tell it to you straight. This is a VERY good movie!

Denzel Washington brings his normal quiet coolness to the character, and Gary Oldman is, as always, a most spectacularly evil villain. (Seriously, have you ever seen anything he played in where he wasn’t brilliant???? If you’ve never seen Immortal Beloved, The Professional, or The Fifth Element, then turn off your lap top and get thee to a Blockbuster!!!) I found the desolation of the wasteland to be palpable. You could almost taste the dry air. The level of detail in the backgrounds and costumes are just amazing…the movie is seedy, gritty, and covered in filth from start to finish. I love the dim, gray backgrounds and the absence of color which sets the mood for the entire film.

I especially enjoyed the first portion of the film where we witness Eli’s day-to-day survival routine, complete with the few little luxuries he allows himself. It was remininscient of the introductory segment of the latest “I Am Legend.” The writers seem to have put quite a lot of thought into how we would really survive if civilization as we know it were to suddenly end.

Really, there are only 3 flaws in this film as I see it. The first is Mila Kunis’s character, who seems thrown in almost as an afterthought…”Oh wait, we need a hot girl in the midst of all this filth, grab one and throw her in.” Her beauty comes across as clean in an environment where nothing could realistically be that way….I suppose the directors could be trying to make a point, ala “a single rose in the desert” sort of way, but I tend to suspect it was more just the pressure of having some eye candy included. In this environment, if they absolutely felt that he needed a female companion, she should more properly have been a plain but innocent girl who’s just as dirty and dank in appearance as everything else in the film. All in all, the character just feels contrived.

Second flaw, the characters in general are a little flat. The little old lady and man in the middle of nowhere are the most interesting side characters in the film. Mila’s mother comes across as pathetic, and even Oldman’s character is a little too “cardboard cut out villain”. I would have liked to have seen some more investigation into his motives and feelings. Eili himself is little more than a typical hero…I would like to have known more of his background.

The third and final flaw is the ending. Not the main story line’s ending…that was awesome…but the last scene, which I just found useless and frankly a bit stupid and cheesy. They should have ended the film 1 minute sooner.

All that aside, this was still quite a good film and a definite must see for anyone who is a fan of apocalyptic films. I give it 3.5 stars.

The Downfall of Cinematic Tragedy

2010-06-21T20:06:00.002-05:00

My recent viewing of the film “Princess” and its subsequent viewer reviews has brought this debate to mind. The number one criticism of the film is that “the ending is too sad.” I’ve seen this same criticism occur in the reviews of several other high quality films, and it leads to me to question whether modern movie goers, especially Americans, have lost sight of the concept of a dramatic Tragedy.

Definition of Tragedy: A drama or literary work in which the main character is brought to ruin or suffers extreme sorrow, especially as a consequence of a tragic flaw, moral weakness, or inability to cope with unfavorable circumstances.

In the days before film, Tragedies were quite popular. In fact, Shakespeare’s most popular works were tragedies, including Macbeth, Hamlet, and Romeo and Juliet. Yet today it seems the very act of being a tragedy constitutes poor film-making. Over and over I see the phrase, “This would have been a good movie if it had just had a happier ending…” I find this frustrating. Since when is a good movie ruined just because the ending isn’t happy? It’s one thing if the ending is stupid or illogical…that would be a valid reason to change your opinion of the film. But just because it’s unhappy??? I’m astounded by that line of thinking.

Have we become so warped and brainwashed by the big slick Hollywood machine that we can no longer enjoy a sadder, and dare I say more realistic, type of ending? Hamlet would have been a flop if it had been written in 2010. “Wow, this would have been a great movie if only everyone hadn’t keeled over at the end, but seeing as how they did, I now declare this movie rubbish.” Seriously, that’s the type of reviews I read these days.

I’ve had it suggested to me that most people don’t go to movies to think or be moved or have their curiosity peaked about some philosophical question, but rather merely to be entertained and forget real life for a short while. Well, is it really so hard to be entertained by a tragedy? Is a tragedy any less engrossing than yet another of the umpteen vacuous romantic comedies that are released every year and just as quickly forgotten?

So then, the response is usually, “But real life is so depressing…I want a movie to be uplifting, to give me hope, to let me walk out of the theater feeling more cheerful than I did when I walked in!” Again, is a tragedy not able to accomplish this? I personally feel euphoria upon the viewing of a cinematic masterpiece, no matter the ending. If nothing else, the viewing of a tragedy should serve to put our own problems into perspective. When you’re depressed because you’ve taken a demotion and little Susie won’t get to play soccer this summer, just remember how much worse it could be…Your father could be murdered, your mother sharing a bed with his killer, and you trying to solve the whole ordeal while slowly descending into an ever deepening pit of insanity that ends with your death. Kind of makes you think, now doesn’t it?

Now let me not be mistaken…A good film can have a happy ending, most certainly (“Ink” comes immediately to mind) but the ending itself does not define a film in its entirety, unless of course such resolution completely changes the entire storyline and its meaning, in which case the previously conceived quality of the film could certainly be nullified (“Really, he dreamed it all? How original.”) Likewise a less than cheerful ending certainly doesn’t make a movie any better than it would otherwise be. The recent adaption of “Bad Lieutenant” had a rather depressing ending, which just fit in with the rather depressing experience of sitting through the movie, which was filled with unlikeable characters thrust into unlikely situations with unrealistic outcomes and which was doubtlessly written by an individual who’s entire body of knowledge on law enforcement was attained from watching cheesy 1980’s action flicks.

So the next time you watch a movie, try to view it holistically and with an appreciation for its quality and not just as an entertainment venue. There’s no reason why the two must be mutually exclusive, and just as in real life, not every ending need be a happily ever after.

Princess

2010-06-21T20:05:00.000-05:00

This is an unusual gem of a film. It is, effectively, a Dutch anime. The animation style is a little simple compared to its Japanese contemporaries but I personally found the starkness of the backgrounds and simple lines of the characters to be in keeping with the general feel of the film. I felt it used color in a very effective manner, allowing the bland, washed out backgrounds to mirror the desolation of the protagonist’s frame of mind. Fans of traditional anime may be put off by the live action flash backs scattered throughout the film. I happened to find them quite effective, as they served to make the titular female lead feel like the only “real” character in the film, bringing life and vibrancy to a character who is dead before the opening credits role.

The blending of life action and animation is seamless and never feels forced or gimmicky, which is a real accomplishment in itself. The film is subtitled, making it difficult to judge the quality of the acting, but on every other score this movie succeeds. The story itself is one of vengeance and of a good man’s fall into righteous damnation. The main character is a priest who has become the guardian of his now-orphaned niece, the daughter of his sister who was an enormously popular adult film star. This gripping story keeps you on the edge of your seat with a fast moving plot and likable characters. It has the depth of emotion and feeling that is rarely seen in anything that comes out of America these days, but the average moviegoer may find the style too surreal and strange for their tastes.

A few warnings are in order here as well. This is an EXCELLENT film, but it is no-holds-barred. It is extremely explicit, containing a fair amount of nudity and sex. If it were rated, it would easily warrant an NC-17. However, the sex and blood never feel gratuitous or meaningless, as so often is the case in mainstream American films. The nudity and violence are here to add to the harshness and grit of the story and they always feel well-placed. The film deals with themes of female exploitation, prostitution, adult film-making and child-abuse, so it isn’t for the faint of heart or those easily upset by such subjects. Its treatment of these controversial matters is blunt, harsh, and incredibly real. You will squirm in your seat and feel uncomfortable throughout the movie. As a matter of fact, the last time I felt this uncomfortable during a movie was when watching the film “The Girl Next Door” which also deals with child abuse.

Unfortunately, some people allow this discomfort to prevent them from completing the film, or are inspired to write negative reviews about the film due to it. It is not a bad thing that a film about this issue makes you feel uncomfortable… It should. It film that can discuss these things without making you discomforted is, quite simple, not tackling the issue straight on. This is not, by any means, a feel-good film. It is a Tragedy in the purest sense of the word, and one of the darkest pieces I’ve seen in a long time, so if you’re looking for a fairy tale, look elsewhere. If you’re looking for something compelling, full of grit and ingenuity, this film may be for you. I give it 4.5 stars.

Shrek 4: Dying with Dignity

2010-06-18T20:54:00.001-05:00

I can't say that this Shrek film wasn't enjoyable (especially in light of the opportunity I was given to draw comparisons between my boyfriend and Shrek...Really, honey, it's not my fault your head is shaped that way...I love you anyway!)

The film is fast paced and contains enough humor of varying levels to satisfy audiences both young and old. However, the Shrek franchise is suffering from the all-too-common practice of running a good film into the ground. Why can't a film just be A GOOD FILM?? Why does it need to spawn 50,000 sequels of subsequent lesser value? Well, my friends, that would have something to do with money. If Shrek made money, let's make 3 more Shrek films and make MORE money! To hell with the idea of actually doing something fun and original.

This movie operates under a cliched "It's a Wonderful Life" type plot. Shrek, disgruntled with family life, makes an ill advised deal to be free of it....and spends the rest of the movie trying to deal with the consequences and trying to set right the chaos he induced.

The movie has plenty of humorous moments....but overall, just lacks the originality and pizazz of the first movie or even the second. Donkey isn't given nearly enough lines, and the characters are stale at this point. I have to admit to enjoying an obese Puss though....reminds me of my co-blogger, Diva-the-Alternative-Lifestyle-Kitty who sits in my lap assisting me and dreaming of the days when he could lick his nether regions without pulling a muscle.

If you've got kids just dying to go see this one, go ahead...or if you're bored and can catch a manatee....err, matinee rather. I wouldn't personally advise seeing it in theaters otherwise. (And on a side note, if you actually can catch a manatee, you've probably got better things to do with your time than reading my blog, lol....)The 3d isn't put to particularly spectacular affect, and you won't be missing much if you wait for the DVD release.

Allow me to introduce myself...

2010-06-18T20:43:00.000-05:00

Hello fellow entertainment buffs! My name is Kali...well actually it's not...Kali is my dog's name..but she watches movies too, and her paws are too big to type on my laptop, so I'm stealing her name for nefarious purposes.

I have been a movie buff for as long as I can recall. Unfortunately, I find most mainstream critics are absolutely out of touch with average people, and therefore their opinions are of questionable value. You'd be much better served by a random gal on a couch with an overloaded Netflix queue.

What I strive to do is rate new movies and television programs while also bringing attention to older or obscure films that are worthy of attention. My favorite genres are horror, fantasy, sci-fi, and anime, but I will strive to include some other genres for variety. Please enjoy the blog!