Switch (2011)

When it’s over, there are some good laughs and touching moments in this film about mistaken sperm identities.  Best friends, Kassie and Wally (Jennifer Aniston, Jason Bateman), are in disagreement when Kassie decides to proceed with artificial insemination.  Seven years later, they are reunited along with Kassie’s son, Sebastian (Thomas Robinson) in tow.  Upon seeing the similarities he shares with Sebastian, Wally comes to the realization that he was the sperm donor for Sebastian.  Aniston may be the star of the film, but her character’s forgettable, and it’s Bateman and Robinson that bring emotional value to this comedy about a father and son finding each other.  Surprisingly, I really liked Bateman as the overnight father who realizes he needed Sebastian just as much as the boy needed him.  The scenes between the two were sweet, especially the scene when Sebastian described his imaginary family through pictures of strangers from store bought photo frames.  This scene captured Sebastian’s strong desire to understand where he came from and who his family are.  By using his imagination, he tried to fill the gaps his mother could not.  At first quirky, this film evolved into an endearing portrait of a man who finds his voice and a child who finds a way to belong.


My rating:  3.5 out of 5

The Thing (2011)

When it’s over, same story, just a different approach.  A group of scientists discover an alien spaceship buried deep within the ice of Antarctica.  Upon excavating the creature they believe to be the navigator of the ship, they unleash a deadly life form that can mimic any living tissue it touches, including humans.  This film marks the second remake based on John W. Campbell’s 1938 novella, “Who Goes There.”  The first was The Thing From Another World (1951), then 30 years later with The Thing (1982).  Three times a charm, making this third instalment a worthy companion to John Carpenter’s 1982 version.  The film is suppose to be technically a prequel to Carpenter’s film, but I felt it complimented the film more than it preceded it.  I liked the incorporation of multiple creatures as opposed to just one at a time, as was in the 1982 version.  This heightened the whole “guessing” factor as to who was infected and who was still human.  The spaceship scenes offered the audience a new level of understanding about the alien’s origin, helping to bridge the 1982 film with the 2011.  Originally, I wasn’t keen on seeing Carpenter’s vision redone or updated, but Dutch filmmaker, Matthijs van Heijningen Jr., surprised me with the introduction of new scenes that expanded the story and mystery behind this creature, this Thing.  Finally, after almost another 30 years later, a female lead, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, has been casted to outsmart the creature, filling the role Kurt Russell made memorable in 1982, when the film was strictly defined by a male cast. 


My rating 3.5 out of 5

Hunger Games (2012)

 When it’s over, “May the odds be ever in your favor.”  So goes the quote that pulsates through The Hunger Games.  The games is an annual event that pits 24 chosen males and females to fight to the death with one victor in the end.  Jennifer Lawrence is Katniss Everdeen, who volunteers to enter the games on her sister's behalf after her young sister is chosen to fight in the games.  She leaves her family behind to face an unknown fate with much of the odds against her.  However, Katniss’s bravery and compassion helps to tip the scale in her favour by winning the support of the viewers.  Part reality show, part fashion show, and part media propaganda, Hunger Games uses all three aspects to create a society governed by the privileged and a nation on the verge of collapse.  Adapted from Suzanne Collins’s bestselling book, the film does a faithful job in bringing to life the characters and the world Collins envisioned, and this has much to do with the fact that Collins chose to be one of the film’s executive producers, giving her some control over how the film would play out on screen.  Smart lady.  Two reasons why I think The Hunger Games works - One, the filmmakers took the time to lay down the foundation – the setting, the characters, the circumstances.  The first 45 - 60  minutes were devoted to setting up the story, and after that, it was all about weaving those elements into the action.  The pacing was fantastic, never a dull moment; and Two, Lawrence truly carries the film.  Without Lawrence, the film would have gone in a very different direction.  I first saw Lawrence in A Winter's Bone.  She was amazing, unflinching and tough to the very end, and when I heard she would be casted as Katniss, I knew she would bring good things to the film, and she certainly does.  Lawrence is followed by a strong supporting cast including, Woody Harrelson, Stanley Tucci, Wes Bentley, Lenny Kravitz, and Elizabeth Banks.  Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth would not have been my ideal choice for Peeta and Gale, but they fared decent enough.  Let’s see how they sum up in the second film, Catching Fire.


My rating:  4 out of 5

 

Minority Report (2002)

When it’s over, Steven Spielberg’s sci-fi thriller about seeing into the future brings up moral questions about crime and punishment. The film takes place in 2054, where a new law enforcement called “Precrime” has eliminated crime in Washington D.C. by predicting crimes before it happens. To do this, the organization uses three gifted humans,called PreCogs, who have the ability to see into the future.  John Anderton (Tom Cruise) is the head of operations, and believes Precrime to be flawless, until he is accused of a murder on an individual he doesn’t know.  Perspective is the key theme in this film and constantly shifts throughout.  Spielberg probes the idea that we can’t believe everything we see, because perception can be manipulated and how we see the same event can be different for each individual.  Ultimately, Anderton’s own perception is compromised and he must question the ethics behind Precrime.  Is the act of contemplation breaking the law?  Is justice being served when we punish someone for premeditating a crime?  What do you think? 


My rating:  3 out of 5

SWAT (2003)

When it’s over, with a cast of pumped up guys to include Colin Farrell, L.L. Cool J, and Jeremy Renner, it was nice to have Michelle Rodriguez add a bit of femininity.  Based on the original 1970’s cop show, the film follows a team of Los Angeles police officers who are recruited into the Special Weapons and Tactics  team (SWAT) by head recruiter, Hondo (Samuel Jackson).  When a drug lord (Olivier Martinez) offers $100 million dollars to whoever can spring him out of jail, pandemonium erupts and SWAT is sent in to handle the situation.  Without much of a story, I still liked this film for its entertainment value, and nothing more.  It was like a speeding locomotive without an engineer.   Fun ride.  Best parts of the film were the tactical training scenes.   Even though some of it was stylized, much of how the individuals are tested and trained were interesting to watch.  

My rating:  3 out of 5