Dark Shadows (2012): an elegant production without a central drive

I really want to watch this since I saw one of the teasers. It was a very good teaser that can make the audience “want to know more” about it. Other than that, Dark Shadows remark the eighth collaboration between Tim Burton - Johnny Depp. After dynamic collaboration such as in Edward Scissor hands, Sweeney Todd, Sleepy Hollow, or Ed Wood is really hard to resist on this one.

Special Effect, Characters and Plot

Based on the same title Daytime Soap Opera on TV from 1966-1977, this movie opens with a very promising scene about the early history of Collins family, immigrant from Liverpool in America and how they established a fishing business empire. Young Barnabas Collins (Depp) falling in love with the angelic Josette (Bella Heathcote) and spurns the love of Angelique (Eva Green). 

Angelique, who happens to be witch, forces Josette to flee in terror to a cruel stony finger pointing out from a rocky cliff. Waves dash the stones far below. He pursues her, tries to save her, but is unable to stop her from falling to her death. Barnabas, made into a vampire by Angelique, is wrapped in chains, sealed in a coffin and buried for 190 years.

The story moves forward to 1972. The wreck of the Collinwood estate now is run by the family matriarch, Elizabeth (Michelle Pfeiffer), who strains to control her brother Roger (Jonny Lee Miller), her sullen teen daughter Carolyn (Chloe Grace Moretz) and Roger's motherless 10-year-old handful, David (Gulliver McGrath). This family is so dysfunctional it employs a full-time, live-in shrink, Dr. Julia Hoffman (Helena Bonham Carter). There is an accident that make Barnabas wake-up from his coffins, now he try to resurrect their family reputation and find his happiness.

From the special effect department is very easy to identify this as one of the Burton’s movies, with his Gothic-esque tone and make up.

What I thought about this movie

After very promising opening scenes about Collins family background, I have a very high expectation that this movie will be as good as Sweeney Todd, but unfortunately it is not. Writer Seth Grahame-Smith attempts to assemble 1,225 TV episodes into a coherent, 112-minute script. He fails. And Burton is no help, following his own private fancies while the plot hits a series of dead ends. After a fierce and funny start, Dark Shadows simply spins like a snow balls, uncontrollable.

For my final thoughts, if you are a Burton-Depp fans, there is no way you will miss this and even thou everything feels half-baked, there is some scenes that shows the true collaboration between this dynamic duo and good casts, definitely will choose this over those stupid Twilights saga’s series :p

Rate :

Deception (2008)

Deception (2008)

Before I watched it, I had no idea there is a movie called Deception and is surprisingly starred by well known actors and actress such as Ewan McGregor, Hug Jackman and Michelle Williams. It all began with conversation between me and one of my friends about under exposed but good movies and “Deception” popped out. The next day when I browsed movies link database, I saw this movie link and decided to download and watch it.

Synopsis

Jonathan McQuarry(Ewan McGregor) is an auditor in Manhattan who has a very boring and monotone life, moving from office to office, checking their books. While working late, a smooth and well-dressed man named Wyatt Bose (Hugh Jackman) chatted whim Jonathan, offered him a joint, and soon they were pals. Jonathan’s life changed dramatically when their cell phones were accidentally swapped. Jonathan answered Wyatt's phone to a series of women asking if he was free that night. Jonathan discovered it was a sex club: busy powerful people meet each other anonymously in hotels. Jonathan fell for one of the club members, whom he knew only as "S” (Michelle Williams). When she went missing, Jonathan had to faces demands involving violence and lots of money. Suddenly his life changed but in a way that he would never have expected.

What I thought about this movie

Many Hollywood movies use “Small little things that can change your life” concept as their main idea. I can say that most of the audience likes it. Because people love to see and really want to believe how coincidences can affect our lives. Disney movies are excellent examples on excellent implementation of this concept. Even though most likely we already know how the movies will end after watching the first 20 minutes of the movie, we still want to continue watching until the end because with the right pace and plot, the movies can be very entertaining and meaningful. Sadly, Deception is one of those kind of movie.

I think the best thing way to describe Deception is a lame copy of The Fight Club. You will see many scenes that remind you of The Fight Club but sadly not as classy or stylish as The Fight Club. There are many scenes that I think are little bit “off” and raise my eyebrows because they feel out of place with the plot. Like how McQuarry wanted to risk his life for a girl that he just met, S, it lacks strong background history. The plot just forces us to accept that suddenly the existence of S is much more important for McQuarry rather than his own life. If you think McQuarry is some kind of super hero like the well known Jackman’s character, The Wolverine, then I’m sorry to disappoint you; He is not.

In the acting department I do not feel any good chemistry between the actors. If we compared McQuarry-Bose with Narator-Durden from The Fight Club, then McQuarry-Bose are like real strangers. Michelle Williams’ acting is also unconvincing.

For my final words, I do believe that with better execution this movie has a lot of potential. There are many aspects that have not been explored deep enough to enrich the story lines. I think you can skip this one and watch similar movies with the same concept (i.e. The Fight Club). For curiosity sakes you may consider watching this movie but I suggest just do it if you have much free time to spent, a lot of free time.

Rating

2 Stars

The Worst Movie Poster I Ever Saw

Selama sekitar 15 tahunan menyukai dan menonton film, saya juga telah melihat banyak poster film. Ada yang bagus dan ada pula yang sangat buruk. Ini beberapa diantara yang terburuk yang pernah saya liat:

Note: I don’t include all Indonesian Movie Poster since most of Indonesian movie poster is hundred levels beyond worst, or maybe I will make another post for that.

1. No Country for Old Man

No Country for Old man merupakan filem BAGUS. Tapi sayangnya tidak demikian dengan posternya. Posternya terlihat sangat aneh dengan siluet Javier Bardem sebagai background dan ditambah efek matahari terbit di belakang tommy lee Jones, sehingga terkesan Mulut Javier Bardem memancarkan sinar atau bola api.

2. Avatar

Poster ini jelek karena gagal menyampaikan pesan yang tepat untuk para penonton. Suku Na'vi seharusnya digambarkan sebagai suku yang bersahabat, tapi editan setengah wajah suku Na'vi ini malah menimbulkan kesan seram dan tidak bersahabat. Beside that for $237M Budget Movie is that the best you got?

3. Star Wars Episode IV : New Hope

I'm a Star wars Fanboy. But when I saw this poster it's really hard to like it. In my opinion,it's more like Poster for Porn wars rather than Star wars and really hard to believe this is a poster for one of movies that should be considered as best movie ever...

4. Final Destination III

Seperti sekawanan orang bodoh masuk ke rumah hantu murahan di pasar malam..tasteless

5. The Haunting in Connecticut

Konsep nya tidak jelas hanya terkesan asal-asalan dan hanya mengambil satu adegan dari film dan apapun yang keluar atau masuk mulut anak itu terlihat sangat menjijikan

6. Norbit

Speechless. Sulit untuk menangkap apapun yang bagus dari poster ini, menggelikan dan tampak bodoh

7. A Dirty Shame

I think the tittle is a perfect recap for this movie it self and also the movie poster

8. Good Luck Chuck

Photo Shop Failure. Editan gambar yang kasar dan ekspresi yang aneh dari Jesica Alba dan Dane Cook membuat gambar ini sama sekali tidak enak di lihat dan jauh dari konsep awalnya yang terinspirasi (kalau tidak mau disebut meniru) foto John Lennon dan Yoko ono untuk majalah RollingStone

9. Hercules in New York

Its more like Brainless Gay with over steroid body rather than Hercules for me

10. Glen or Glenda

The worst movie poster for one of the worst movie ever on the Planet

11. baby geniuses

I don't know what's on this poster designer mind when he/she/it (There's possibility the designer is not even a human), the baby is far from cute, far from look smart and looks very very annoying. fail

12. The Hottie and The Nottie

okay, the only word left to this poster is (...) means i'm too speechless to create a new level of awfulness.