Oblivion Review

Disclaimer: Contains spoilers!

Plot Summary: After a war with aliens that left Earth uninhabitable, a security drone repairman and his partner ensure the safe keeping of resources for what's left of humanity.

Review: Say what you want about Tom Cruise being crazy in real life, but he knows how to pick his films. This is one of those movies that has a little something for everyone while still bringing something new to the sci-fi genre in both visuals and presentation. Annoyingly, this is also one of those movies where the trailer spoils the major twist, although, I think most would guess it fairly early on; thankfully there is much more to the story than relying on the twists. The plot, as the main character, Jack (Tom Cruise), believes it to be is that 60 years prior, aliens came to Earth and destroyed half the moon to create natural catastrophes on the planet. Once the planet had been devastated, they invaded but were thwarted by a nuclear war which, upon its end, left Earth uninhabitable, the aliens defeated, most humans dead, and those who survived set up a base on Saturn's moon, Titan. Now, in 2077, Jack is a repairman for the security drones that guard massive reactors converting water into energy to take back to Titan as well as other resources. Besides maintenance, there is always the threat of remaining aliens nicknamed Scavs. Jack's partner and lover is named Victoria, played quite sexily by Andrea Riseborough, who works as a communicator of sorts as the two receive orders from Sally who commands from a space station in Earth's atmosphere called the Tet. Repair teams are given limited mission time before they go back to Titan as well as their memories erased to protect the mission. However, Jack has reoccurring dreams of a woman on Earth, at the Empire State Building, before the war which would be impossible. At the same time, Jack feels a strong connection to Earth and prefers it to Titan even setting up an isolated cabin with trinkets he has found in his travels. All this talk of Mr. Cruise playing a guy named Jack is giving me flashbacks of "Legend." I should address how beautiful and impressive the backgrounds look in this movie; this is how CGI should be done unless you really do have the budget to make a character look as good as Gollum! Anyway, Jack stumbles upon a Scav signal being sent from what's left of the Empire State Building to a ship in orbit and discovers it was a human vessel. As Jack goes through the wreckage, he finds humans in cryogenic life-pods including the woman he continually dreams about. To his surprise, the security drones begin executing everyone, but Jack is able to convince them to leave the woman alone as he takes her pod back to their headquarters aloft a massive, high tech tower. Jack and Victoria revive the woman who says that her name is Julia, played by the beautifully alluring Olga Kurylenko, and she had been a crew member on a NASA ship called the Odyssey in 2017. Julia reveals she knows who Jack is but does not elaborate to which Jack decides he will figure it out through the flight recorder. Along the way Jack and Julia are captured by Scavs, which, big surprise, are humans of course because you saw the trailer with Morgan Freeman, who plays Malcolm! Malcolm wants Jack to figure things out on his own by going to areas believed to be irradiated, but he reveals their agenda is to send a drone armed with explosives to the Tet in order to destroy it but they need Jack for this. Jack and Julia go back to the Empire State Building where it is revealed Julia is Jack's wife and that he proposed to her there as Jack recalls the scattered memories. I really loved Jack and Julia's romance since it felt timeless, and I'm a sucker for lost memory plotlines. The two return to the control tower only to be confronted with a heartbroken Victoria who alerts Sally to the complications forcing a security drone to kill Victoria. Sally wants Jack to return to the Tet with Julia, but he refuses leading to more drones being sent to recover the two. Amidst the scuffle with the drones, the couple crashes in one of the radiation zones only to discover another Jack, or a clone, repairing drones (hah rhymes). Julia is shot, which leads to Jack going to the clone's tower where he discovers another version of Victoria as well. After safely recovering, Julia finds herself at the cabin Jack built in which he disclose he must also be a clone. Julia tries to console him by explaining the real Jack had promised to build her a cabin in the woods for them to grow old together in. The two eventually return to Malcolm where he explains to them that there is no colony on Titan, the Tet is what destroyed the moon, the Tet is taking Earth's resources, and an army of Jack clones acted to exterminate humanity after the moon-related cataclysms. Learning the disturbing truth, Jack agrees to send the explosive drone back to the Tet but more security drones arrive, kill many humans, and destroy the rigged drone. Jack decides that since Sally wants them to return, he and Julia will deliver the bomb personally thus returning Julia to her life-pod with the bomb. The two fly up to the Tet, which has this whole "Independence Day" vibe going on, in which Jack listens to the Odyssey's flight recorder. Jack realizes that he and Victoria were the pilots, Julia was a member of the team, Sally worked for mission control, and they launched the life-pods when they were pulled into some kind of tractor beam. Along the way through the Tet, Jack sees more clones at the ready as well as being tested by Sally to make sure his intentions are honest; he is able to trick them by playing off the charade they've established. Finally, he comes face to face with the core of the Tet which is some kind of living computer or something. But instead of Julia having the bomb, Malcolm emerges as the audience realizes Jack took her to the cabin instead. Jack and Malcolm gladly sacrifice themselves to destroy the Tet once and for all. Three years later, Julia lives at the cabin, and has a daughter from Jack, when Malcolm's crew comes across her with the clone of Jack they previously encountered. The film ends with this Jack in the same mindset of the original desiring to be with Julia. Eh, it's a happy ending, but would have been fine without the clone bit tacked on. I mean, hell, what about all the other clones?! Does Julia start her own harem? We don't get enough info on the Tet. My personal theory was that it's just some probe either doing the bidding for aliens or is still performing a mission for aliens long since dead. Perhaps it once had a crew, killed them because it's an AI and needs new genetic material, thus the clones. I guess some things either don't add up or are completely left up to interpretation or your imagination. As much as I loved the Jack and Julia romance, it is so farfetched and contrived. I mean, two married astronauts whereby one becomes a clone with lost memories and the other conveniently survives for 60 years in cryo sleep? But if you can overlook a lot of lingering questions, this is a fantastic film. The visuals are stunning, it has one of the best soundtracks, the love story is moving, the action and pacing are entertaining, the acting was believable, and the film made for a great addition to the sci-fi genre. I didn't see a 3-D version so I can't say if that's worth it, but this was a highly enjoyable film and better than I thought it would be. Definitely check this one out for all it has to offer.

Notable Moment: When Jack pulls the old switcheroo on the aliens as he and Malcolm blow them to hell and back.

Final Rating: 7.5/10

The lovely Ms. Kurylenko!

Hansel and Gretel (Korean 2007) Review

Check out my updated review here! http://thevagrantrises.blogspot.com/2017/03/updated-review-16-hansel-and-gretel.html

Disclaimer: Contains spoilers!

Plot Summary: After narrowly surviving a car accident, a man finds himself in a dark forest upon which he is led to a house where not all is as it seems.

Review: Let me begin by prefacing that this is not a conventional horror movie by any means. It's really more of a fantasy with light horror elements so be well aware of this fact early on or you may be disappointed. However, you could end up like me and be pleasantly surprised, and even a little blown away, by this retelling of a timeless classic that transforms into a dark fairy tale in its own right. Although, I should say there appears to be an inspiration from the famous "It's a Good Life" episode of "The Twilight Zone," but it's more of an influence than a copy. There were a few mistakes made along the way that I realize are what held this film back and why it isn't as famous as, say, "A Tale of Two Sisters." Although, personally, I feel this might be the best Korean film I've watched. Let's start with the problems, because I want to focus more on the positive and why this film is great. As I stated, the film is mislabeled as a horror movie. In fairness, the genre of this film is difficult to define because it's based on what is typically viewed as a children's story combined with the fact that it is more focused on the fantasy and, almost, dreamlike elements. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but, because the themes are so adult, it isn't reaching whatever the target audience would typically be. Another thing that I noticed, especially considering how quickly you realize the direction the plot is going in, is this film is longer than it needs to be. At almost two hours, this could have been cut down to 90 minutes and still would have been great; the themes become redundant as the same points are brought up over and over again. Finally, we aren't given a good enough explanation for why everything has transpired or how the kids can do what they can do. I'm not even joking, but it would seem Santa Claus may be a legitimate explanation! Sorry, as much as I adore this film, that is not acceptable for me. I wanted the kids to be something abstract, like living representations of the story's characters willed into existence through the sadness of children around the world, while tragically never able to have or be what they want. Maybe I'll have to get working on the sequel! There are other small gripes, like I wanted a more moving soundtrack, but most of these are just technical issues that I don't think anyone else would notice or even care about. Overall, the flaws are minor and do not come close to deterring from the story or the film as a whole.

Onwards to why this film is so awesome. The story is creative, imaginative, and even clever with a nice role reversal that you can kind of predict but it's slight. First, we quickly meet our main character, Eun-soo, played well by Jung-myung Chun, who is a regular guy heading to his sick mom while dealing with drama with his pregnant girlfriend. I suppose there is a contrast between him possibly not ready for kids and learning to appreciate them by the end of the film. He somehow crashes his car which is a bit of a stretch, but I understand they needed this plot device to get the show on the road. Almost immediately, you become immersed in the whimsical atmosphere as Eun-soo is suddenly in an impossibly dark forest. I should note the set designs are amazing with such subtle nuances to truly immerse you in this realm. Eun-soo sees a lone light emanating from a lantern belonging to a young girl named Young-hee, played flawlessly by Eun-kyung Shim. There is such captivating imagery as Young-hee and Eun-soo first meet; it simply glows with this dreamy sense to the setting as if the shots are pictures right out of a storybook. Also, Ms. Shim is simply amazing! Her look, presence, and ability to bring her character to life easily outshines anyone else in the film. She invokes a strong emotional bond to the audience, as do all the kids, but there is a reason Eun-soo connects most with her and so did I. The other two kids were both remarkable actors as well: the boy, Man-bok, and the younger girl, Jung-soon. Even with the subtitles, I could feel their emotions, longing, pain, and moments of happiness. All the actors were very good in this film, but the kids were noticeably better. Anyway, Eun-soo is taken to their home which is meant to be reminiscent of iconic fairy tale homes although this one is not made of candy. Eun-soo sees that the house is full of endless toys and all the food is desserts all the while the parents are on edge. Big shock, they aren't the parents and the Hansel and Gretel story takes a reversal as adults are lured into the home and the kids are more like the witch. No matter how much you try to escape, you become lost in the darkened forest, and, even if it's daylight, if you go too far out it will turn to night (an awesome concept!). As we see other adults die and disappear, new ones take their place alarming Eun-soo as to what his fate may be. The kids aren't evil knowingly as they are simply acting like kids but somehow gifted with the power to have their every desire come true. They keep hoping someone will come and be their parents permanently, but they have become jaded to the way adults try to control, manipulate, and abuse them. In all honesty, I probably would have tried to or succeeded in killing the kids, but that's just me! As time passes, Eun-soo grows closer to the kids even understanding the things they do because he empathizes with how sad, alone, abandoned, and unloved they feel. Right from the beginning, Eun-soo had made a connection with Young-hee, but this is expressed best when he tells the kids a story indirectly explaining to them his predicament; however, only Young-hee realizes that their happiness is costing Eun-soo his. Eventually, the most recent adult to find his way to the house is some religious zealot who has his own nefarious plans for the kids. Eun-soo learns that the kids were born in the late '50s and early '60s and were raised at an orphanage where they were raped, neglected, abused, starved, and tortured by some guy. With it being Christmas time, they wish for things to be better until they are visited by Santa Claus (that I mentioned) who gives them the Hansel and Gretel book. Inspired by the book and newfound psychic or magic powers (it's not entirely clear) they kill their abuser, who runs the orphanage, and throw him into an oven much like the fairy tale. This same process becomes recreated as the zealot tries to kill Jung-soon but he is instead killed. Fully understanding the children, Eun-soo tries to plead to them that they should go back to the real world and let go of this false sense of happiness. Man-bok refuses to relent and that Eun-soo is meant to be the hero of their story and be with them forever. The kids stress that everyone hates them and thinks they're evil, but they just want someone to love and be with them. Eun-soo resolves that he cannot escape and weeps while calling out his girlfriend's name. Seeing the pain they are causing, Young-hee, tells Eun-soo the only way to escape is to burn the drawings they've made of him that bind him to their world. Eun-soo does this and finds himself returned to the scene of his car accident where the police are cleaning up. He is unsure if it was all a dream and continues on with his life having his child and becoming a good father. The film ends a Christmas or two later with the children leaving Eun-soo a drawing under his Christmas tree of just the children happy. This could imply multiple notions like that the kids are finally happy, or happy for Eun-soo, or that they miss him or whatever. But damn it, I just want a regular happy ending! Why can't the kids just come and live with Eun-soo? We know they want to and they obviously touched each other's lives considering how teary-eyed everyone keeps getting! Ugh, it's those longing stares! If you've read enough of my reviews you will notice I'm easily moved by the concept of longing stares. Small confession, when I'm watching characters long desperately for someone or something, the music during the final scene of the 2004 "Phantom of the Opera" plays in my head. That music just sets the tone better for me. When I become invested like this, I feel like the story still needs to keep going until everything is resolved. It doesn't have to be wrapped up in a nice bow, but I need closure! Okay, I'm losing my mind. The acting is top rate, the story is creative with many original concepts, the effects and imagery create a perfect backdrop, the attention to detail and subtle references enhances the storybook vibe, and the movie fully engages you in every respect. This is most certainly an overlooked gem that needs much more attention. I strongly recommend watching this one if you're a fan of Asian cinema, like fantasy films, or just love great stories as I do.

Notable Moment: When Young-hee first appears before Eun-soo after the accident. There is something so whimsical about her and the situation. The close-up of her face was clearly meant to resonate with the audience as if she were some fairy or guardian angel. It is such a powerful shot--no wonder they used it for the movie poster.

Final Rating: 8/10

Hostel: Part III Review

Disclaimer: Contains spoilers!

Plot Summary: The Elite Hunting Club is back with a setup in Las Vegas ready to lure in more unsuspecting tourists.

Review: I usually don't review random entries in a franchise unless I catch a sequel but have no intention of watching the other entries any time in the foreseeable future. Such was the case with "Hostel: Part III," and you know what, this may come as a surprise, but this is probably the best film in the franchise. Well, it's at least as good or better than the first one. I could not stand the idiocy of the second movie; it was like, okay, the first story worked with guys so let's change nothing except swap the genders! Nice try. Unexpectedly, this film works hard to throw the audience for a loop and it toys with their expectations effectively. Even I thought, surely, a direct to DVD part three will be the same old shit in a different location. Thankfully they approached things much differently to the point I wonder if this started out as a different script and was shoehorned into being a "Hostel" movie at some point? The story is nothing we haven't seen before with a group of four young guys going to Vegas for the main guy, Scott's, bachelor party. Think of it as the slasher version of "The Hangover." Well, before this, you think the film begins like the first two, with some lost tourist at a European hostel about to get killed, but in actuality, the American is the one working with the Elite Hunting Club capturing a touring Ukrainian couple. Hmm, can't say I blame him as Ukrainian women are extremely beautiful. It's really funny because the guy working for the EHC, Travis, keeps checking out the girl, Anka, and instead of the guy, Victor, getting mad he's all understanding. The way they play with your expectation of Victor, trying to make him look suspicious, he actually comes off as like the most laid back guy alive. Anyway, Scott and his crew, Mike, Justin, and Carter, run into two hot chicks that entice them to go to a rare party on the outskirts of the city. Even during the taxi ride, the driver appears to be beyond shady, but of course this all turns out to be more of a ruse by the writers. The girls are, in fact, escorts hired by Carter, the party is real, and the taxi driver turns out to be quite the upstanding citizen. The reason why screwing with the audience's mentality works so well is because we don't know what will come next which is hard to do by the third entry of a franchise that's whole premise is nothing but rich people paying to murder tourists. Eventually, people do start to get killed by the EHC, but we are unsure of how or why they are being chosen since Mike and one of the escorts both get taken. The EHC has also been restructured this time around to reflect the Vegas feel. For one, the victims are given cosplay-esque clothing to enhance the mood which was a nice touch. Likewise, the kills are not personalized but viewed by other members of the EHC who place various bets regarding the kills; for example, when Justin dies by some weird archer, they place bets on how many arrows he can take before dying. Furthermore, the kills have a weirder vibe to them, even if not entirely original, than the mere torturing the other two films provided. Toward the end, everyone who is left gets captured when it is revealed Carter is, in fact, a member of the EHC. This was a great twist that pulls a lot of the story together that you might have overlooked from the start. You learn that Carter had once dated Scott's fiance and, out of jealousy, has been sabotaging their relationship for awhile hoping to get back with her. At the same time, Carter is a rich bitch who is running out of things to keep his life interesting so he joined the EHC and to up the ante by killing his best friend. Carter further explains that he hadn't intended their friends to get killed so it really emphasizes how personal it was meant to be. As an added bonus, right when Scott is about to die and, Carter is trying to pander to the crowd, the EHC decides to free Scott to increase to entertainment value of the show. While all of this happening, you've got Victor going on a vengeful rampage, people dying, the police on their way, and the EHC activating the infamously comical self-destruct button. When the dust has settled, it appears Carter was the only one to make it out alive as he attempts to continue his plan to comfort Scott's fiance. The ending did suck because it was beyond predictable as Scott is very much alive and he and the fiance plan to torture Carter to death. Well, despite the lackluster ending, this was a tremendous improvement over part two. All the changes were definitely for the better and helped to keep the tired concept driving this franchise more refreshing. Obviously I loved the twists and turns the most since the direction the story took was unconventional and the writers understood this. It's not perfect as many ideas felt rushed, the production value was noticeably cheaper, and, given how unpredictable the film had been, the ending is a huge letdown. If you're a fan of the franchise you should enjoy this one considerably, and you might even like this one if you hate this franchise.

Notable Moment: When you realize that Carter is the one that set everything up as a scheme to simply kill Scott. Pretty messed up.

Final Rating: 6.5/10