Happy Accidents (1999)

Vincent D’Onofrio and Marisa Tomei fall in love and you’d think everything is perfect except he’s convinced he’s from the future. She obviously doesn’t believe him and hopes she can cure him of his delusion. Then a mystery unravels when she discovers the name Chrystie Delancey written in one of his books. As quirky independent films go, this one is a big winner for me. I enjoyed this film’s twist and turns and found the ending very rewarding. If you’re looking for a fun love story with a very naturalistic feel this is the film for you.  Brad Anderson directs and does a splendid job.  Grade: A-

World War Z (2013)

While I haven’t read the book from Max Brooks, it’s my understanding that this film adapts very little from Brooks' story. Brooks wrote the book to feel like non-fiction but instead of making a documentary film Brad Pitt and Marc Forster make up their own Zombie tale, packaging it under Brooks’ wonderful title. The result is a CGI heavy spectacle with some fine visuals and strong performances. Brad Pitt is a former United Nations investigator (is there such a thing) who circles the globe trying to find the cure to a spreading and horrible zombie plague. My big issue with the film is the CGI of the mass zombies; the tidal wave of bodies looks a little fake and that threw me some. But it’s a good story if somewhat typical. It’s worth checking out. I only wish it had a slightly different ending but what I envision would have been much more devastating. Grade: B+

Game of Thrones (Season 1)

After reading the first book of The Song of Fire and Ice I rented the first season of the HBO television series. Now I see why everyone is talking about this show. It’s a really great production with a perfect cast and solid writing. The production design is beautiful and completely realized. Some portions of the story look just as I saw it in my head when reading the book. Sean Bean, Peter Dinklage and Mark Addy are excellent choices as Ned, Tyrion and King Robert. Then there is the introduction of such fine actors as Michelle Fairley, Lena Headey, Sophie Turner, Maisie Williams, Kit Harington and Emilia Clarke. Will the producers of this show be able to continue to develop this at such a high level of quality and what happens when they adapated all the books published so far? George R.R. Marin is still writing his story. Are they going to wait? All I know is I have to ask myself is it worth reading the books first, and risk someone spoiling the story. I might have to start Season 2 now. Grade: A

Star Wars Spin-offs (Commentary)

In Disney’s quest to dominate the (film) world, they plan to produce a Star Wars movie a year. Overkill? Maybe. Only time will decide if this will create Star Wars fatigue. Regardless those films that come out between Episodes 7 through 30 (don’t be shocked if Disney makes that many) will be spin-offs and the first two will be directed by Gareth Edwards (Godzilla/Monsters) and Josh Trank (Chronicle/ Fantastic Four). There’s a lot of speculation what these spin-off films will be. Nothing is official.  It’s exciting that Lucasfilm has reached out to two talented and refreshing voices. It’s not a guarantee, what is, but they’re inspiring choices.

5 Stories I’d like to See:

Obi Wan Kenobi Stand-Alone staring Ewan McGregor

Why? Because he was the best part of the prequels and I can’t believe Old Ben stayed on Tatooine for 18 years roaming the desert as a hermit. He had to leave for an adventure at least once.

Bounty Hunter Film featuring Boba Fett

This to me sounds like a really fun idea. Boba Fett deserves more screen time and I always loved the Bounty Hunters and imagined my own cool stories with their action figures as a kid.

Old Republic Pre-prequel

It’d be cool to see how the Jedi came about and the formation of the Jedi Council. Yoda could be really young in it, maybe an apprentice. This would be completely different than anything done before and a potential set up for another trilogy.

Young Han Solo Adventures

This is a no-brainer. Show how he met Chewie and Lando. Where did he find or win the Millennium Falcon? Just make sure the story is something new and not just a rehash of how he pissed off the Hutt.

The Old Skywalker

This idea would only depend on how they write the character in Episode 7 but I’d love to see a kind of prequel to Episode 7 where Luke takes on an apprentice and finds himself in an adventure all his own.

3 Horrible Ideas:

Yoda Stand Alone

I love Yoda but an entire movie with a character speaking in broken English would become annoying after a while. Plus I don’t think he could bolster an entire film on his own as the main character.

Ewoks

I love the Ewoks but we had a couple made-for-tv movies in the eighties about them and they were not that good. Basically the time for Ewoks is over.

Darth Vader Stand Alone

We don’t need any more Darth Vader. Sure he could make a cameo at some point but I’m done with him driving the narrative of the story. I’d rather we introduce new villains than rely on the center piece of the original trilogy.

The Great Hunt by Robert Jordan (Novel)

The second book of the Wheel of Time is a great example of how to improve upon the first novel and further develop the characters in a rewarding and expanding way. Rand al’Thor, Mat Cauthon and Perrin Aybara pursue the Darkfriend Padan Fain to take back the Horn of Valere and more importantly the Dagger of Shadar Logoth so to save Mat from its evil taint. Meanwhile Nynaeve and Egwene arrive in Tar Valon to learn to become Aes Sedai in the White Tower. There they befriend Elayne Trakand and Min Farshaw (introduced in book one in encounters with Rand). Rand is still trying to accept his destiny as the Dragon Reborn and it’s great to see his struggle and reluctant acceptance. What’s exceptional about this book is how it builds to the climax in the sea town of Tanchico and the introduction of the mysterious Seanchan. The Seanchan might be one of the more original creations I know of in fantasy fiction. If you read this much of the story and aren’t convinced this is a new classic of the genre than you might as well stop reading. I personally consider this a near perfect novel of the serial form. Grade: A

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (Novel)

The conclusion to the Hunger Games trilogy is a bit of a mixed-bag. Thankfully the weaker parts of the book are at the beginning and not the end. The end of the book is riveting and unpredictable. It left me greatly satisfied because Collins proves to be more interested in making a statement on war and its lack of glory than a celebration of violence and victory. The weakness of the beginning part of the book has more to do with the writing tempo than what is actually happening in the narrative. It seems rushed as if Collins is just trying to get to the good part, telling more than showing at times. What I love though thematically is Katniss’ drive toward vengeance. It helps develop the character into areas that one would not expect a hero to go. The love triangle becomes less important but the game, the true-game of politics and image, continues to push Katniss to a great and sad realization. I do wish Collins would have developed the book a bit more, but maybe it would have doubled the book’s length and that wasn’t something she wanted to do. Regardless it’s a fine ending to one of the more successful young adult post-apocalyptic stories out there, if it’s even fair or accurate to call such a dark and thrilling tale a young adult story at all. Grade: B+

The Unnamed by Joshua Harris (Novel)

This beautifully written love story is a tragic obstacle course meant to take our leads and test them to the brink.  Tim Farnsworth is a man with a problem.  He walks, without warning or cause.  He suddenly must walk, walking for miles out of his way until he final collapses.  His wife, Jane, must deal with this unexplained phenomenon by driving around looking for him.  This puts a strain on their marriage, especially when it affects his ability to work as a lawyer and be a father to their daughter Becka.  The book follows them through the years as they deal with this mysterious, off-and-on again issue.  I love odd stories like this and especially when they're this well-done.  It'll break your heart while also making you think about what love is and how you should live the life you have.  Grade: A

X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)

In the film world, the X-Men Franchise is one of the more inconsistent works of comic book film making out there (okay, maybe that’s not the case anymore with The Amazing Spider-Man 2).  The first two films, X-Men and X-Men United, are brilliant examples of multiple superhero storytelling.  Director Bryan Singer pretty much defined how to do it.  Then Singer left to make his awful Superman film at Warner Bros. to let Brett Ratner come along and lay an egg.  X-Men: The Last Stand pretty much “almost” killed the franchise.  X-Men Origins: Wolverine didn’t help matters either.  Thankfully Matthew Vaughn (and Singer as Producer) rebooted the series with X-Men: First Class.  In fact I liked the prequel more than the first X-Men film.  Now Singer is back to start where he left off and do something that has never been done.  Combine the casts of both series with a time travel story line that accomplishes a celebratory result; nullify the events of The Last Stand.  For this reason alone I love this film.  Seeing Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen on screen again as Professor X and Magneto is enough to make me do back flips (hyperbole enough for you?).  Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine must go back to the ‘70s to prevent the destruction of humanity.  To do this he’ll need the young Professor X and Magneto to find the ever-rogue beauty Mystique and keep her from committing a crime that causes a chain reaction leading to the creation of the Sentinels (massive death robots that hunt down and kill mutants).  The cast of this film is superb.  It’s a joy to see actors like James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jennifer Lawrence return improving upon their characterizations while at the same time watching our favorites from the first X-Men films give one last bow.  Of course being that this comes from a damaged and flawed franchise there are some mysterious omissions and inconsistencies but I can forgive these because of the highly entertaining outcome.  Examples?  Professor X was killed in The Last Stand.  How did he come back?  Do the events of X-Men: Origins ever happen?  (To read more see spoilers).  In the end I’m happy that this franchise is back on its feet again but still wish it had never faltered to begin with.  Even if re-casting the mutants such as Cyclops, Jane Grey, Nightcrawler and Kitty Pride in future installments, I wonder if we’ll ever get to experience The Dark Phoenix story and if the time line will ever catch up to the present (and so contradicting the first films stories).  Is paradox forever doomed to curse this super group?  All I know is I had a great time in the theater and can smile with hope that another great X-Men film will come out soon to expand on this wonderful, messy story.  Grade: A-

Spoilers:  Other questions:  if Mystique was killed in 1970 how is it that she’s in the original X-men.  Why are Wolverine’s claws metal in the future after they were cut off in the last Wolverine film?  (And how is it he can even grow bone claws?  That’s not really his power, is it?)  Will Wolverine still get the carbonadium in his body?  Why did they need Magneto’s help?  It seems he only ended up agitating the situation.  I better stop or I’ll question my rating.