Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters (2013)

When it's over, Sea of Monsters is a monster disappointment. I tried to give this series a chance, I really did, but this sequel is even worse than the first film. Percy Jackson (Logan Lerman) and his friends travel to the Sea of Monsters, aka The Bermuda Triangle, to find the magical golden fleece. Their perilous journey is met with evil forces, as other half-bloods turned bad also want the fleece in order to unleash the powerful Kronos from his slumber. There are five books in the original Percy Jackson series written by Rick Riordan. The first film, The Lightning Thief, is decent and introduces the characters, and I was hoping this sequel would continue the characters’ and story’s development, but it fails on all levels. How is it possible to have a weak story when there is such good source material? The filmmakers only have to follow the story as it unfolds in the books. The seed of the problem is that the story is becoming more “loosely” based on the books, which hurts the film in a major way. Poor performances do little to engage the viewer or strengthen the story development. Lerman is a good actor, as demonstrated in The Perks of Being a Wallflower. He just makes a lousy Percy Jackson. The action sequences lack the tight choreography needed to make them look believable. Plus, I am surprised a film that relies heavily on CGI fails to take advantage of the possibilities technology has to offer. Perhaps, for budgetary reasons? To be completely honest, the whole Percy Jackson series would work better as a television series, giving it the time it needs to develop. For young audiences, this film may be a fun adventure, because it has plenty of action, but all of it is low key. It will also incite an interest in mythology, which educationally speaking, is always a bonus. But for older children, the lack of thrills will be a complete turnoff.

My rating: 2 out of 5

The World's End (2013)

When it's over, the title has a double meaning, but that's as deep as this film gets. After 20 years, five friends (Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Martin Freeman, Paddy Considine and Eddie Marsang), revisit their hometown to fulfill a failed pub crawl – drinking at 12 pubs in one night – which ends at a fabled bar called The World’s End. The task is not as easy as it seems, when they realize their old stomping grounds are inhabited by robots in human form.  What follows is a lot of decapitations, severed limbs, and blue blood.  There are some funny moments, mostly derived from silly behavior and dark British humor. If you are a fan of Shaun of the Dead (2004) and Hot Fuzz (2007), this film is a must-see, as the actors re-unite in their third screen outing to fight for the future of mankind. The World’s End is a departure from the previous two films with the inclusion of more special effects, blending a mixture of science fiction and the post-apocalyptic world. The fight choreography delivers the comical edge as it is meant to do. There is even romance to hook in the female audience. Alas, it cannot compete with Shaun, and I don’t think it tries to. It does stand decently well on its own, though. If you want a fun film to pass the time without too much depth, Pegg and his mates will keep you smiling to the world’s end.

My rating: 3.5 out of 5

The Butler (2013)

When it's over, what I remember most about the film is Forest Whitaker’s meaningful performance as Cecil Gaines, an African American butler who serves eight presidents during his tenure at the White House. The story spans several decades, including the tumultuous times of racial segregation and the Civil Rights movement. There has been much controversy to the film’s accuracy, since it is inspired by the true story of Eugene Allen’s life. The key word is “inspired.” I am not familiar with Allen’s life, so I went into this film as a fictitious story, without any preconceptions. I am glad I did. The story has a lot of emotional texture, and for this, I really enjoyed the film. Perhaps this is where the lack of accuracy falls into play. Perhaps, there is a need to alter facts to strengthen the story. At every stage in Gaines’s life, he encounters conflict and inner struggle, which is at the core of the story, which keeps the story interesting. I do not see this film as merely a story about a man who goes through turbulent times and of how he deals with those challenges, but rather, a story about a man who takes great pride in his occupation, while serving white employers, somewhat ironic to the time period. The fact that Cecil chooses to spend more time at the White House than he does at home supports this idea. Cecil is not an angry man. He is not hateful or resentful. He does not hold a grudge against his white employers, even when his son is treated with cruelty on camera by order of the government. However, his older son, Louis (David Oyelowo) believes the complete opposite. Louis joins the Black Panthers, a revolutionary socialist party, and demonstrates his opposition to segregation openly at protests, landing him in jail on several occasions. Louis’s actions are emotional triggers for Cecil, who has to nod obediently when the presidents question him about his son in the headlines. On the home front, Cecil’s relationship with his wife (Oprah Winfrey) crumble through the years, adding another layer of personal struggle. Cecil’s journey is filled with twists and plummets, and what is interesting is that Cecil’s demeanor remains unchanged. Is this a sign of perseverance, strength, indifference, conformity? I cannot be sure, but watching the man's life unfold is an emotional experience almost parallel to Forrest Gump (1994). Like many of his previous films, Director Lee Daniels leaves the window open for interpretation and much food for thought, even controversial debate.

My rating: 4 out of 5

Before Midnight (2013)

When it's over, much like some roles find its actors, some films find its audience. Watching this film in a time of personal unrest, I find the communication and dialogue between the lead actors extremely relevant to society's domestic life and spilling into some of my own experiences. Almost twenty years after the fateful meeting of Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Delpy) on a train bound for Vienna, the couple is now married with two children. On a family vacation in Greece, their relationship takes a dark turn. Before Midnight is another chapter in the characters' lives. Therefore, this is not a stand alone film, and the viewer needs to have seen the previous two films – Before Sunrise (1995) and Before Sunset (2004) – in order to understand the depth of the characters and from where they stem. Watching Jesse and Celine interact onscreen is still amazing, because they have grown older, wiser, and less idealistic. Hawke and Delpy have that “thing” together that when I watch them, either happy or angry, they are incredibly real and they suspend me with their relay of intelligent and biting dialogue.  And it is the rich dialogue that has been consistent through all three films that make the whole Before series a worthwhile journey. Before Midnight is the most gritty of the three, because it deals with the issues of resentment and blame, which the previous two films had not touched on. Again, this is very real, as couples do go through these “bitter moments” at some point in their relationships. The script is written by Director Richard Linkwater, Hawke, and Delpy. It is a fantastic piece of writing. The lead up to the argument and verbal abuse is incredibly raw, honest, and unexpected, and I have to wonder, how much of it is adlib, since there are hardly any cuts within the long extended scene. Regardless, the “fight” in the final act is the best part of the film. With each film taking place and filmed nine years apart, viewers can expect another installment in 2022, at which time, the audience will find out whether things really do end happily ever after for Jesse and Celine. 

My rating: 4.5 out of 5

Breakout (2013)

When it's over, awful, just awful. I have not seen a film this bad since The Roommate (2011). The film is a complete disappointment. Poor acting accompanied by a weak story and even weaker characters make Breakout hard to believe and even harder to like. When two children witness a murder in the woods, they become the pursued. Their only chance of survival is their father, who is an inmate in a nearby prison. Brendan Fraser is the father, and after a film career of highs and lows, Fraser hits the lows with this film. The story is not impossible; it is just impractical. Every decision made by the characters lacks common sense, and if the story is about unintelligent people, then their stupidity would work, but unfortunately, this is not the case in Breakout. For example, there is a scene when a wounded man is rescued. Instead of getting into the truck and driving for help, he follows Fraser's character, limping all the way, to save the children and gets himself killed in the process. The story takes place in the woods, in a conservation site, so it is not far from people, towns, rangers, etc. The likelihood of getting help is almost certain. The sound of gunshots would definitely be heard by other visitors. Plus, with all the gunfire happening at close range, there should be no reason for missing, especially if the villain is a hunter who has a scope on his rifle. Truly, there is nothing about this film worth recommending.

My rating: 1 out of 5