300: Rise of an Empire*

[Trigger warning: review contains reference to sexual assault]

Seven years since the release of the 2006 fantasy, action-packed film 300, audiences are presented with the prequel and sequel 300: Rise of an Empire, which tells the story of Greek general Themistokles who leads the charge against invading Persian forces that are led by mortal-turned-god Xerxes and Artemisia, vengeful commander of the Persian navy. The events in the film are happening before, concurrently, and afterwards of the previous film (300).

300: Rise of an Empire quite possibly might be better than the first. As a whole, the story is more or less the same – Persians invading Greece for an impending takeover. However, the focal point for this second film is the Persian army specifically seeking to destroy the city of Athens and its people. Unlike the men of Sparta (who are equipped with a perfect set of abs and muscle ripped body), the soldiers come in various sizes and builds and are not nearly as “exotic” in appearance.  Much like the first 300, there are the free flowing fight scenes, choreographed to be reminiscent of a flawless dance routine. Nonetheless, the difference in approach between the two films is found in the nefarious nature of the second; by comparison, the first had a far more romantic predisposition.

To some viewers, 300: Rise of an Empire might be a little different from what one might initially expect. Rather than a simple sequel, it is more of a companion movie – incorporating various viewpoints of previous events in 300 in addition to events during and after. I found the narrative/storyline to be quite compelling and provocative. For example, the Persians are still attacking Greece, but this time the audience is getting the story from the viewpoint of Athenian Themistocles, while the events of 300 unfold elsewhere. As a bonus, the film also reintroduces the backstory of some old and introduces us to several new characters that are very interesting to watch. These back-stories showcase some very stimulating and engaging battle scenes. With a plethora of fantastic battle scenes that take place on land, there are just as many extravagant naval battle scenes. Many of these awesome and entertaining battles ranged from the witnessing of explosive ships wrecks, to beheadings, and well-choreographed one-on-one sword fights. Watching Themistocles engage in naval tactics was particularly thrilling. Certain scenes of combat were actually much better than the first 300–more abrasive, rougher, and just more fun to watch.

Much like the first, 300: Rise of an Empire is visually enticing and aesthetically dark and beautiful simultaneously. Overall, the characters are definitely clothed in typical Greek beauty/fashion, everything from the glowing, chiseled and toned bodies of the male soldiers, to the supple breasts of the women, to the poignant and graphic sprays of blood and body parts, essentially showcasing the bodies and scenery that are being put on display. Herein, this is where the movie really shines in the multifarious visual elements from both of the actors as well as in the special effects. Taking it a step further, the lighting is also quite exquisite as it worked in tandem with the story, both lent very well to the way in which the 3D and CGI were utilized. Instead of certain features “popping” out they rather take the approach of going deep within the film’s soul. Cinematographer Simon Duggan does an impressive job of mapping out the landscape (dark, grimy battlefield) and its correlation between the intensity of the film and how the Persian takeover (that happens on both land and sea) shown in the film is more of an insight to the original story, going deeper than Sparta and the army of 300.

Regarding the actors/actress of the film there are a few standouts. Eva Green (who plays Artemisia) executes an excellent portrayal of one of the main villains, her performance is quite compelling and to some degree is the “Leonidas” of Rise of an Empire. At times she is very terrifying, while nonetheless amazing to watch. One might say she holds her ground and can “roll with the big boys/men.” This is not to say that Sullivan Stapelton (Themistocles) is overshadowed but it is obvious that his role was intended to be more meticulous and precise, very much like how the Queen in 300 is portrayed. Although fighting on opposite sides (but of the same Athenian heritage), the two pull the differing sides of a war story firmly together. Not to mention the chemistry between the two in and out of each other’s presence is disturbingly orgasmic. For example, the sex scene is more sadomasochistic and less love making, borderline rape porn. Without giving any spoilers, this particular scene can be described in this way due to the gender power dynamics that are exhibited. Instead of Artemisia being the victim, she is depicted more as having the upper hand as this blood-thirsty, revenge-seeking dominatrix. The climax of that particular scene becomes a semi-civil talk between two enemies (who do happen to respect each other) that quickly becomes a discussion of surrender and rough-sex. If one recalls the passion between “King Leonidas” and his queen in300 is filled with intense affection and attachment whereas the scene in 300: Rise of an Empire is permeated with force, power and control.

Considering the historical acts that the movie is [loosely] based on, and the personality and writing of the creator [Frank Miller][1] of which the yet to be released graphic novel [“Xerxes”] is based upon the film is bound to includes acts of machoism, sexism, misogyny, etc. And although, the intention of the filmmaker is to entertain the audience, this entertainment is still simultaneously complicated and problematic. What is also unique and interesting about the gender dynamics is the fact the male performances are more at the bottom of “totem pole” and in some ways fall flat, whereas the two main female actresses dominate the film from numerous angles of power. Artemis (Green) is truly the one to watch in that without being over-sexualized she controls the screen with her skillful, graceful and strategic violence and sexuality. In a sense, she owns and advocates for her own body. All in all, on a few occasions, I as a viewer would be willing to die for her on the battlefield.

Furthermore, without delving too deep, but at least acknowledging it, the lack of historical accuracy may annoy or turn off some viewers. However, if you’re looking for that, this was not the movie for you. In many cases, movies that are based on comic books and/or graphic novels are not entirely accurate, nor do the creators aim to accomplish that goal. As a matter of fact, the first 300 was not 100% accurate, but still engaged and entertained the audience (their primary goal). By allowing the film to be an interpretation, this gives the writers and directors to have some sort of creative liberty.

All in all, the 300: Rise of an Empire was very enjoyable and satisfying. One could liken this viewing experience to an intricate, highflying roller coaster ride. In particular, the ending of the movie is very climatic and awe-inspiring as we are presented with the final battle scenes. When it is all said and done, 300 was ground breaking at the time of release in 2006, and300: Rise of an Empire fosters that first step into a world of a distinctive, and possibly more mysterious, way of storytelling.

Rating: 8/10

[1] In previous films such as “300”, Sin City, The Watchmen, Frank Miller is notoriously known for his misogynistic and hyper-sexualized treatment of women.

*As posted in the The Berkeley Graduate

Pacific Rim...Man-Machine vs. Beast

With a war between mankind and these monstrous creatures of the sea waging in the mist, a former pilot and his crew suit to save the world from the apocalypse. Using out-of-date special weapons, this crew embarks on a mission to reclaim what is rightfully their own. Director Guillermo del Toro presents a story of survival by any means necessary, even when others have given up in this sci-fi, action thriller.

"Rule #1 - Do Not Touch Me...Rule #2 - Do Not Touch Me!" 

Pacific Rim, brings to the screen how one can bring various raw elements together to create these piloted, giant robotic creatures. There is a simple concept of piloted robots called Jaegers that fight against Kaijus, but the catch is why do they keep coming back? What's unique about these robots is how they function. Without telling to much of the story, these robots require you to share your innermost thoughts, literally, with someone else. Knowing that can be troubling for some and encouraging for others. I will let you be the judge of that. That's an important element to digest, I'm still processing that even after watching the movie. Essentially, this film is more than just about robots fighting monsters, it's about humankind and what will you do to protect it. Even in the midst of all the robots, there is a story to tell.

Now visually this movie is clearly showcasing the robots, but we gotta stop and acknowledge the characters behind the machine. First up is the character Marshall Stacker Pentecost (played by Idris Elba) who truly puts his heart and soul into his character. Now officially he may not be deemed as the films main character, but for me I think he can share the role with Charlie Hunnam. Pentecost brings the fatherly/mentor type role to Pacific Rim, as he must take lead of what robots he has left before the world is taken by the apocalypse. As for Hunnam (who plays Raleigh Becket), he offers the idea of what it means to get a second chance. After a tremendous loss in battle, he gets another opportunity to fight the battle, and eventual war, again. In his role as Becket, he genuinely puts his whole self into fighting for the world, considering he came back to fight willingly. On several occasions, he puts all his cards (emotions) on the table, and manages to still come out on top. When it is all said and done, both characters and their roles are a great match for this graphic novel based movie.

As for the supporting cast, there is a nice mix of femininity, calmness, testosterone, aggressiveness, and pure smarts. The first two features describe the Raleigh's co-pilot Mako Mori (Rinko Kikuchi), she provides the element of innocence, but at the same time a fighter. Her character allows the audience to see the true human side of the co-pilots who are running these robots. Also her relationship with Pentecost is quite father-daughter like (this is both unique and interesting considering the two different races). And for our comic relief, we have Dr. Newton Geiszler (Charlie Day) and Gottlieb (Burn Gorman), who serve up the audience with brains, wit, and energy to spare. In their own special way they show when you don't listen to the guy with the shot nerves but serious brain power, things can go awry. These two guys are the definition "Nerdom", and I love it!! Now in the case of Ron Perlman (who plays the role of Hannibal Chau...interesting name for a Jewish guy from Brooklyn) he may have had limited time on the screen, but the time that he did have was effective and refreshing. When you watch the film make sure you catch how he got that name, rather interesting. As a whole, each of the characters give a larger than life performance, so much so that no one person dominates the movie, more than they should considering their role in the film. The total package was presented with each character from beginning to end.

Thankfully, Pacific Rim provides a sufficient backstory to the origins of the Kaijus as well as how the Jaegers work, so that you are not just thrown into the movie wondering who, what, when, and where? In addition, there are various themes that can be seen from watching this film to, which include slight reference to issues of immigration, the father-child relationship, gender and race dynamics, human life, sacrifice, and stepping out of your comfort zone.

Here is a movie that will definitely have its own fans, and probably add some new ones. Pacific Rim can simply be defined as an "extraordinary, self-indulged summer blockbuster." If nothing else this movie is pure entertainment. These shiny, eccentric, colorful, and marvelous robots are a sight to behold. Trust me when I say, it does not require you to think much (unless you are just that type of critical person), there is plenty of action, the CGI is clear and in your face, and it even has a pretty good storyline. For me this movie was like watching Transformers on steroids, but in a good way. All in all, Pacific Rim does not disappoint!!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars

Snow White and the Huntsman

Check out my fellow blog/website Medium Rare's review on Snow White and the Huntsman....

Fairy tales have a peculiar function in our society. They are some of the earliest stories we hear as children, and the morals bestowed upon us by those stories take hold sooner than whatever our parents may have tried to impart. No wonder Disney filled their early catalog with imaginings of fairy tales, to tremendous success. But it’s a struggle to formulate a clear moral for Snow White, a story that centers on the question “Who is the fairest of them all?”  Snow White and the Huntsman, a live-action film that applies a layer of grit and grim seriousness to the classic story, attempts to deal with the question, but it bails out when it should’ve prodded.

Early on, the evil Ravenna (Young Adult Charlize Theron) pulls off a coup against a king and imprisons his daughter, the young Snow White (Kirsten Stewart). This act is punctuated by a speech about the frailty of womanhood and the currency of beauty. It turns out that Ravenna has been cursed and she needs to stay beautiful to hold on to her powers. 

The film takes this concept to its logical extreme, with Ravenna taking fair young maidens from her realm and literally sucking the beauty and vitality out of them. When it comes time to do the same to the king’s imprisoned daughter, Snow White manages to escape into the Dark Forest. Ravenna orders the Huntsman (Thor’s Chris Hemsworth) to retrieve her, but he reneges on the queen’s request and instead helps Snow White to reclaim her kingdom.

It’s unfortunate that the film does not further expound on Ravenna’s point about beauty. It seemed to hint at making a statement about society’s obsession with beauty, but ultimately it holds back. There are no great revelations; the beauty angle merely allows for copious effects shots of people’s faces rapidly aging or reverse-aging, an effect that becomes tiresome by the fourth time it occurs. Theron gives a commanding performance as the Evil Queen. She yells and booms throughout the film, while also displaying the softness of a woman who’s desperately hanging on to her beauty. To contrast, Stewart (Twilight saga) pales as the emotional core of the film, as she spends much of her screen time with a woebegone expression. It’s far easier to root for Ravenna’s quest for vanity than for Snow White’s retaking of the throne.

Rupert Sanders makes his directorial debut, and he makes a visually appealing film in his first effort. Much of that can be attributed to Colleen Atwood’s superior costume design, which is by turns ornate and grimy. The cinematography by Greig Fraser is also praise-worthy, showcasing the majesty of the Irish countryside and it’s coast. However, the natural beauty of the landscapes is often obscured by excessive CGI. The film is effects-laden to the point of distraction. Some scenes occur solely to show off another visual trick.

Unlike the classic takes on the story, Snow White and the Huntsman is unabashedly an action film. Fight sequences are ably shot, but the lack of danger towards the protagonists takes away from the visceral quality of the action. It all leads up to a conclusion that is more Joan of Arc than Snow White. Stewart is unbelievable in rallying her troops, and the climax suffers because of it. With a finale reminiscent of (yet nowhere near approaching) the Battle of Helms Deep, the film solidifies itself as a lobotomized swords and sorcery flick, never mind how good it looks.

The film benefits from the viewer’s familiarity with the fairy tale. It allows for a possibility of emotional resonance that the film does not earn on its own. As a child, you cared about Snow White’s fate. Here, you can barely muster the slightest concern. For all its attempts at being a darker take on a fairy tale, Snow White and the Huntsman is exceedingly light fare.

Rating: 5.5 out of 10

The Disappearance of the Black Female Action Heroine

After watching the 2011 mystery thriller The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, I left the theater with a plethora of emotions. Excited, empowered, proud, somber, a bit in confused, and somewhat in limbo. This idea of the female action heroine reincarnated just kept calling out to me. But then I would take it a step further and ask what about the black female action heroine? Well…uhhhh…She’s nowhere to be found…"MIA"

Don’t get me wrong The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo is a remarkable film (that you should still see) that provides a foundation for audiences to see that the female actress can do more than just cry, sit behind a desk, stand by her man, and take care of her family. She exemplifies a female force to be "reckoned with" and someone who can stand on her own two feet. 

Breakout star 26-year old Rooney Mara who plays Lisbeth Salander in TGWTDT re-introduces a character that has been somewhat dormant . Yes recently we have had similar personalities or “sister-cousins” come to the big screen like Saoirse Ronan in Hanna and Chloe Grace Moretz in Kick-Ass (this one could be debatable,) but the last closely-related action heroine like Salander would be Anne Parillaud in the 1990 film La Femme Nikita. Both tell these bizarre, psychological  stories of a troubled, unsocialized and vulnerable young woman who climbs her way through her own personal horrific trenches and transform into a “female killing machine”. 

But back to my dilemma...While this is all well and good…YAY FEMALE POWER!! nevertheless, my problem with this picture is the lack of diversity with the female action heroine. If someone were to ask me name 5 female action heroine who had leading roles in Hollywood, I could easily spit out Angelina Jolie (Wanted, Tomb Raider), Kate Beckinsale (Underworld), Milla Jovovich (Resident Evil), Linda Hamilton (Terminator) and of course we can’t forget who some say got the “action heroine” ball rolling Sigourney Weaver (Aliens) and that's just round one. However, what’s wrong with this list…"the woman of color"…Even if I did a Google or Bing search it would struggle to just to even pull out two women of color (No Joke...Trust me I tried). 

Speaking as an African American/Black women I am constantly searching for those images that present heroine that looks like me, and finding that female action heroine of color is a further daunting task. Now please note it is not an anomaly that a female action heroine of color existed, it’s just the gap of how long another one will present itself to the forefront. Hmmmm…the last true female action heroine of color that was able to break ground in mainstream Hollywood would be that of Pam Grier’s character Foxy Brown and the late Tamara Dobson's portrayal of Cleopatra Jones from the 1970s Blaxploitation film era….notice the date 30+ years ago….Problemmatic!! 

It becomes somewhat of concern when there are numerous actresses of color that seem to be overlooked, downplayed, or selected on rare occasions for action hero roles. I guess I should be thankful that Halle Berry played a Black/African superhero X-Men’s Storm, or that Jada Pinkett-Smith plays a rebel martial artist in The Matrix Reloaded…mmmmm try again. Or maybe Hollywood wants me to be satisfied with one film every so many years like the 2011 summer action flick Columbiana starring Dominican/Puerto Rican bred Zoe Saldana. Alas, this is the most recent flick to have a female of color play the lead action heroine. Fortunately and unfortunately she has been the only “go-to” female of color to play an action heroine. 

Please make no mistake Saldana has skills, but this wealth could be shared. There are numerous women who have more than proved their skills and talents, like newbie/indie star Nicole Beharie, Jurnee Smollett, Tariji P. Henson, British born Naomie Harris, True Blood star Rutina Wesley, Sanaa Lathan, and I would even suggest Kerry Washington step out from her traditional drama roles and position her self in an action role, shoot even Jada Pinkett-Smith still has great potential. So my question now is, "Hollywood who and when will the next one be?"

It’s not there are not any women of color to choose from to fill these roles it’s just a matter of them being selected. Hello they are there and available!! Some might say we should satisfied that women of color are beginning to have lead roles or be more visible in drama and comedy films, unfortunately that is unsatisfactory.Or maybe Hollywood should expand its thought process to consider and thus eventually include Black female actress in these action-heroine roles. Historically, Black women have been fighting just to get quality roles and top billing (in general) and even in 2012 Black actresses are still trying to get to that mountain peak. We have made strides, slowly but surely, but not nearly enough as it should be. Black women should be able to represent all across the board not just in certain genres/areas. I mean for real are white woman the only ones capable of “kicking some ass” in the movies, and Black women just kind of fall off the map and worse the radar?

I guess the question that should be addressed is, “Can Hollywood Handle A Female Action Hero of Color?”

Guess Who's Back.... Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

J.J. Abrams returns for the fourth installment of the Mission Impossible series with the newest edition, Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol. I must admit I was definitely looking forward to this coming out especially during the holiday season, considering our options for movies have been pretty slim as of lately. So its been five years since we last saw Ethan Hunt and his team take on a mission, one that they chose to accept…and the wait was worth it!

Now I will not divulge too much of the story so as to not ruin it for you, just wet your palette enough to make sure you go an purchase a ticket. So in essence the basic plot is that a terrorist group bombs the Kremlin in Russia and IMF has been framed for it. As a result of these actions, the POTUS decides to initiate Operation Ghost Protocol, which primarily means that the entire IMF organization is disavowed, in other words Ethan and his team are on their own, "No Plan, No Backup, No Choice".

Now the story is not necessarily anything new or out of this world, but it doesn’t have to be as long as it keeps the action going and the story make sense that works for me! As far as it relates to the characters this was a pretty cohesive unit. This was a good mix of actors and actresses bringing that much needed holiday action. Each one should be commended for all around good performances. Simon Pegg was delightful as Benji and even had the nerve to “grow some balls” and show off more than just his “techy” skills. Jeremy Renner provides us with a debonair performance, and Paula Patton lets us know she's not just a "good girl". And of course, Tom Cruise is always great as Ethan Hunt (we expect nothing less) even as he gets older he doesn’t seem to miss a beat. And what’s a spy film without a great villain a female one at that, although she is not the lone villain, she definitely stands out, there is truly a presence and sense of danger from the female assassin, Sabine Moreau (Lea Seydoux), striking yet cold and heartless, completely devoid of compassion.

Now I will admit in one of the fight scenes, it would have been nice if the fight between Paula Patton and Lea Seydoux was just a little bit more engaging. I feel like they watered it down just a little considering they indirectly hyped it up. After what this woman did to the man that you loved you would have expected a little bit more “kick-ass”, but I digress. However don’t sleep on Ms. Patton as Carter she is as sexy as she is deadly. 

  

Now the action sequences themselves are imaginative, unyielding, exciting and tense all combined in one basket. Pretty decent CGI, mind blowing sound, and you definitely get the feeling that you not only see but feel every punch and kick as well as the explosions. Hands down one of the greatest scenes is with Ethan and world’s tallest building in Dubai (and that’s all I’m going to say on that one). Put it like this it’s shot in IMAX, and you will get the feeling that you are right there with him! Even at the ripe age of 49, Cruise can still manage to pull off some of his own stunts including the one mentioned above. Kudos!!

Lest we not forget, no 'Mission Impossible' film would be complete without the exotic on-site locations, fancy gadgets and big explosions- but there is a certain luster that shines by which director Brad Bird amasses all these elements into one package. As we the viewer take the journey with Ethan and the team moving from Russia to Dubai to Mumbai we are in second heaven! Next time take me with you Bird I can get your coffee and run your errands (just kidding…lol).

As a whole, MI:GP was an excellent and gratifying film, one that I might have to check out again. This fourth installment definitely beats the 2^nd and 3^rd one, but nothing will top the first one. This film came close to perfect but unfortunately there were some water down and far-fetched scenes that took away those points. From the beginning to the end, the film blasts off into overdrive this is a ride that you will not want to get off of too quickly!! With all the action, gadgets, sharp suits/fly dresses, and blazing hot rides it is sure to convince you into becoming a spy film fan if you are not already!! 

Rating: 3.5 out 5 stars