Snow White & The Huntsman: Dark Kitsch

 Snow White & The Huntsman

Directed by: Rupert Sanders

Starring: Kirsten Stewart,  Charlize Theron & Chirs Hemsworth, 

Hello!

I am here today, ready to review a film I have been looking forward to for months. Snow White & the Huntsman has finally arrived in theaters to surprisingly good reviews.

It has been a breath of fresh air the past couple years seeing kick ass action films starring girls. Some of the noteworthy films include Hanna, Sucker Punch, The Hunger Games, Salt, Coloumbiana, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,  and even the underrated hit, Haywire. I am also looking forward to Pixar's new girl power film, Brave, which will no doubt be a massive box office hit.

All these film belong to a group that is growing into a genera all its own. The best way to describe it, would be as a watered down, Americanized version of the Japanese 'girls-with-guns' genera that features young women as strong willed, fight to the death, protagonists. Snow White & the Huntsman fits comfortably in this category, and it is actually pretty good. But, be warned, it's no masterpiece.

The film is directed by freshman director Rupert Sanders, and it shows. And while I personally enjoyed the visual element,  this film fails in many other areas. The biggest problem is the story. They rely too heavily on the classical tale that we all remember and don't do enough to define their own ideas.

The film starts out with the young princess Snow White, played by Raffey Cassidy, living a happy life with her parents, the King and Queen of a magical kingdom. All is well until the death of the queen, and the king's grief stricken decision to marry Ravenna (Charlize Theron). Soon after, Ravenna shows her true colors as an evil witch. She murders the king, forcibly takes the throne and locks Snow White up in the tallest tower.

The film, up to this point is pretty solid, but I was rather underwhelmed  with Theron as the evil queen. Don't get me wrong, Charlize Throrne is one of the great actresses working today, and she certainly looks the part. But her performance was flat. I hesitate to blame her for this, as the fault rests with Sanders and his inability to inspire great acting. Most of her scenes involve her yelling at people, and I didn't find it particularly inspiring.

As the film continues, the story becomes really hard to follow, but there are some story element that are quite compelling, like the Evil Queen's obsession with beauty and youth and the way the filmmakers interpreted the magic mirror. I wont spoil the surprise, since the mirror's reveal is the single greatest moment in the film.

It is the magic mirror that sets the action of the film in motion. It tells the queen the only way she can stay young forever is if she consumes Snow White's heart. This promps the Evil Queen to send guards to the tallest tower to retrieve the now grown Snow White, played by Kirsten Stewart. However, Snow White escapes the grasp of her captors and disappears into the dark forest.

Kirsten Stewart gets a bad rap, people say she can't act and only has one facial expression. I get it. I see it. But I still like her. Luckily she chooses roles that don't necessarily require a wide range of emotions. I think the stoic, unemotional way she portrayed Snow White worked well. I don't think it was anything groundbreaking, but it's certainly watchable.


So, the Evil Queen enlists the help of local drunk and sympathetic beef cake, The Huntsman played by Chris Hemsworth, to find Snow White in the woods, in exchange for the life of his dead wife. But for a film titled Snow White and the Huntsmen, there is a real lack of emphasis on the Huntsman and makes him rather forgettable. His whole story is antiquated and lacks any sense of originality. (sarcasm) "Oh my wife is dead, I'm a drunk, but then I met this HPOA*, fell in love and changed my ways"  Ugh, spare me. From here the film slowly trudges towards a anti-climactic ending in which Snow White and the Huntsman team up to defeat the evil queen. However, at a certain point you are just waiting for the film to end.

But as I stated earlier, there is a real magical quality to the imagery in this film.When you take the poor acting, lack of plot, and hit-or-miss direction out of the equation, you are left with quite a stunning picture. The high contrast, and saturated colors really appeals to me. D.P Greig Fraser is a relative new comer to the scene, but I was very impressed. It's safe to say that this film would have been rather unwatchable with out him.

Also, I can't do a review of this film with out talking about the costumes. Snow White's costumes are wonderful, but the real story here is Ravenna's costumes. They are amazingly beautiful and are true show stoppers. The hard, metallic design really compliments the character, and does more to define Ravenna as a cold, superficial woman than the story does.  Costume designer, Colleen Atwood is a giant in the industry and she was the biggest asset to this film

Overall, I liked this film. It appeals to my sensibility in many ways, but I desperately wanted it to  be better. I think the filmmakers missed too many opportunities to make this film worth seeing twice. But, if you like cool imagery, then it's definitely worth seeing once.

C+: Lovely cinematography, great costumes, but confusing story and inconsistent direction.



images off of google.

BEST MOVIE MOMENTS

Hello!

I am working on a review for Snow White & the Huntsman, but while you wait, I thought I would post something fun. Here are a few of my most favorite movie moments under 2 minutes. I don't pretend to be a connoisseur of comedic film, but I think everyone has those moments that stick with them forever. Here are a few of my favorites.

Classic moment from Mel Brooks's History of the World Part 1. It gets me every, single time.

Heavy Weights is arguably one of Ben Stiller's best characters. Heavyweights is a classic from my childhood, so this clip nostalgic for me. It was hard to pick just one moment from this film, but I love this quote.

Beerfest is one of my favorite rainy day movies. Not only does it star a home town hero of mine, it is also one of the best films celebrating alcoholism in existence.

I LOVE Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. Everything about it appeals to my sensibility. This scene is perfect on so many levels beyond the comedic effect of watching people get slapped in the face.

This is probably insensitive of me, but there is something about watching these porky humans sliding down and squishing on the window that is so satisfying. Wall-E 

Simon Pegg is a personal hero of mine. He is not only a fabulous actor and writer, he is also a genuinely funny person. The over the top gore in this Shaun of the Dead is gruesomely hilarious.

Making his second appearance on this list is Ben Stiller. There's Something About Mary is classic, and this scene is not only cringe worthy, it is also a great comedic moment.

We all know this guy with the guitar, we all hate him and we all wish we had the balls to do exactly what John Blutarsky (Jim Belush) did. Animal House

Tommy Boy is a great film, and Chris Farley is a comedy god. Man, I miss him.

I am sure I will revisit this theme sometime in the future. What are your favorite movie moments?

The Avengers: Summer at Last

Hello all. I have been away for a while. Safe to say, my life is chaos. I'm getting ready to move back across the country to New Mexico, and I have had little time to devote to my blog. That being said, I haven't forgotten about all you amazing people who take the time to read my posts. I am hoping that I can be more present from now on.

The Avengers

Directed By: Josh Whedon 

Starring: Robert Downey Jr, Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansen, Mark Ruffalo

Today, I am here to talk about The Avengers. Yes, I know I am super late, but I am still going to review it because it marks the beginning of my favorite season, both weather wise, and film wise.

Some say the summer movie season is just for teenage boys. Well, I disagree. I think summer marks the time when we discover, again, why we love movies. It is a time to be swept away into fantastic worlds and go on amazing adventures. There is no room for stuffy castles, british accents or historical dramas. Now is the time for movies designed specifically for our entertainment, and it's a great time to be an audience.

I have been anticipating The Avengers for a long time. I saw Thor, Iron Man 1 & 2, Captain America and the past few Hulk movies, so I was well prepared for this film. I think many people had high expectations (myself included), and despite suffering from the obvious flaws, this film will satisfy those with an invested interest in Marvel characters. If you have no interest in superheroes, I don't know why you would bother buying a ticket and this review is not for you. In fact, if you haven't seen this film, the rest of this review will make no sense.



It must be said, this film has an irresistible charm that makes you want to see it again and again. That charm comes, undeniably, from the great cast. The biggest stand outs are pretty predictable. Robert Downey Jr, has, and always will be, the perfect Tony Stark. Samuel L. Jackson got more screen time as Nick Fury, after cameo appearances in several of the prequels. Jackson is one of the greats, he draws the eye, and he brought a level of  intensity to this film, which suffers from a bit of juvenile humor. And, we cannot forget the always sexy, Scarlett Johansen as Black Widow. Not only is her character a knock out in that skin tight super-suit, she's also pretty bad-ass and a borderline sociopath.

The other big names rounding out this star studded cast included Chris Hemsworth, the Australian hottie who also starred in the revamped Snow White and the Huntsman. The awkwardly handsome Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner, and boy-next-door, Chris Evans as Captain America. There is also Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye, but the real stand out, for me, is Clark Gregg as Agent Coulson. Though not a superhero, Gregg has some of the most compelling scenes in the film.

The story of The Avengers takes quite a few Hollywood liberties, which means the story makes no sense at all. So, I'm not going to waste time going through the plot. But if you can set aside the glaring plot holes, you will see that the strength of the film comes from all of the great little moments. Like when Iron Man and Thor battle in the woods while throwing cheeky insults at each other, or when Agent Coulson, after being mortally wounded, urges Nick Fury to carry on the fight. But, the best moments, and the biggest crowd pleasers, are the scenes with the Hulk.

There is some debate as to the merits of Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner. Some say that Ruffalo is just an empty shell, and does nothing to make Banner an interesting character. But, Ruffalo is my favorite Bruce Banner. His unassuming nature lends itself perfectly to the way I have always pictured Banner and the softer side of the beast.

But as much as there is to love about this film there is, no doubt, a lot of room for improvement. The biggest weakness of the film comes from the fact that there are so many scenes that make no sense or are completely superfluous.

One of the stand out awkward scenes comes after Loki (Tom Hiddleston) crashes a fancy party and scares all the rich people into the streets. He then begins to lecture a group of maybe 150 old, over dressed people about freedom and servitude until an old man stands up and makes a reference to the oppressive nature of man. This might have worked, if it didn't look like the filmmakers couldn't find enough extras. It looks like Loki is lecturing random people on the street, which, given the fact that he is an all-powerful god, makes the whole scene idiotic.


Another stand out awkward scene comes right at the climax of the film. When, Bruce Banner drives up on a crappy motorcycle, in tattered clothes, in the middle of a battle field. What makes it weird is the fact that the Hulk fell out of an airplane into an abandoned building on some island over the ocean. Yet, he is some how able to commandeer a motorcycle, traverse the distance to the city, and find the other heroes just in time to save the day. It doesn't work, even in a film that defies reality at every step.

But despite some of the awkward scenes, there is no denying that it is still a lot of fun. The combination of great actors and nostalgia come together perfectly to make this one of the better Marvel films. I loved it, and I can't wait to see the inevitable sequels.

B+ : It's everything you expect, but still a good time.

(Pictures from Google) 

THE HUNGER GAMES: GIRLS RULE

The Hunger Games

Directed By: Gary Ross

Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Woody Harrelson, Josh Hutcherson

The Hunger Games has finally arrived in theaters, to my extreme excitement. I read the books very recently, and, like many fans before me, I got sucked into this incredibly addicting story immediately. I have shared my opinion on the books, in earlier posts, so I will not bore you with my criticisms of Suzanne Collins. However, what is clear, is that Lions Gate finally has a winning franchise on its hands. The Hunger Games has enjoyed 4+ weeks at the top of the box office to date, and has grossed over 500 million dollars.

Hunger Games Cast

It has taken me some time to gather my thoughts about this film. I watched it a few more times and did a bit of research on the actors, crew and production. I wanted to make sure that my review was not completely tainted by my fandom. I wanted to see if I could approach this review from a place of understanding, rather than a place of emotion.

Firstly, I am going to say, I am not going to compare this film to the Japanese blood-bath, Battle Royale, or the botched abortion that is Twilight. Just about every review I've read has mentioned one or both of these films as a way to delegitimize The Hunger Games. I reject the premise that just because a story has roots in an older idea, that it is somehow not as good.

No idea is original. The absolute hubris involved in claiming 100% originality, especially when it comes to literature, and its offspring, theater and narrative film, is mind-boggling. So repress the urge to brush something aside just because its 'been done before,' especially if you consider yourself a student of film and art.

The Hunger Games is a pretty simple concept. In a future American distopia, 12 districts are ruled by the brutal Capital. In payment for the rebellion of their forefathers, every year, each district must give up two young people between the ages of 12 to 17 to fight to the death. The entire event is broadcast on TV and is mandatory viewing for all citizens.

Not everyone is going to like this film, and it suffers from a great many flaws. But overall, I think it's enjoyable, for those of us who read the book and are fans. I don't know if the film plays as well for audience members who are not familiar with the story. I thought the book was rather predictable, and I felt the movie followed suit. The predictability is not a bad thing, and I think that is part of this story's appeal. You know Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) is chosen as tribute, and you know she is going to win, but nevertheless you want to take that journey with her.

The film is quite refreshing for those of us who love these types of films. It is a rarity for big blockbusters to have a female heroine who is strong, independent, and capable of doing more than pining over boys, talking about shoes, and suffering though high school. I think this film proves that there is a place for women and girls in this genera and that they can generate just as much buzz and box office returns as their male counterparts.

Unfortunately, this film is far from perfect and I am sure my criticisms will be shared by many. I think the number one biggest, (but understandable) mistake was the PG-13 rating. I understand that the rating was set in stone from the beginning in order to ensure teen fans would be able to see it. But it did a great disservice to the film. Part of the appeal of this story is the violence and they cut the film off at the knees, and made it watered down and soft.

The film also suffers from a lot of jarring camera movement. I personally love this style and use it quite often in my own films. But I understand that for some accustomed to a more traditional shooting style, the handheld becomes too distracting. On one hand, the shaky cam emphasizes the driving nature of the film, but on the other hand, it is relentless and there is not enough variety.

Overall though, the cinematography was one of the high points of this film, which is not surprising coming from veteran Tom Stern. The lighting was great, and the general look and feel was just right. I was afraid the film would take effects too far, especially the scenes in the Capital, and it would become cartoonish. But I think Ross and Stern showed a lot of restraint by approaching it from the reality point of view instead of the sci-fi point of view.

Our heroine, Katniss, played by Jennifer Lawrence is perfect. Lawrence is poised to be a huge star, and it's not just her girl next door appeal. She's the young starlet for a generation sick and tired of air heads, and fame whores. As Katniss, she's one of those girls who lives in the shadows, not because she isn't beautiful, not because she isn't smart, but because she has more on her mind than young love and pretty dresses. Katniss is a hunter, a caregiver, a breadwinner, a fighter, and not about to take shit from anyone. I think there is a part of all girls that wish they could be more like Katniss, which is why this franchise is going to be so massive.

The film has a decent supporting cast. It stars one of my all time favorites, Mr. Woody Harrelson as the perpetually drunk tribute mentor Haymitch, and Elizabeth Banks, as the uptight, clown faced Effie. The two play quite well off of each other and I think its safe to say that this is one of Banks's best roles to date. Too long has she suffered in B-movies and crappy TV shows. Too long I say! I am happy to see Banks in this film and she did quite well.

The film also stars Josh Hutcherson as the all too adorable and romantic Peeta Mellark and Miley Cyrus's boyfriend, as Gale, Katniss's ruggedly handsome hunting buddy, who does little more than look good. Hutcherson, is the perfect Peeta, gentle, slight, and great at looking like he's in pain. I am excited to see how the 'love triangle' plays out in the next films. It is not the most interesting part of the book, but Huterson and Lawrence have great on screen chemistry and I want to see more.

So if you want to see this movie, see it in theaters, if you don't have any interest in this franchise then go ahead and skip it. You wont be missing anything mind blowing. However, there are 2 more movies coming out over the next few years, and the word is, Gary Ross is out, and they will be bringing on a new director. So, don't put this to bed quite yet. The Hunger Games still has some surprises to come.

B- : Great cast, entertaining, but far too soft.

AVEDA INSTITUTE: CATWALK FOR WATER EVENT

On Sunday I shot an event for Aveda Institute in Minneapolis and it was quite spectacular. I am fairly happy with my photographs but I left feeling as if my reliable, but outdated D70, isn't going to cut it much longer. I am happy with the framing of the images and I stayed true to my point of view as an artist but I have bad case of camera envy as I usually do when I work with older professionals.

I will update this post with more images as they become available to me. Nu Vu Media LLC did the video production of the event and they were a great group of people to work with. I am sure they will have lots of success in Minneapolis and beyond.

Video Produced by NU VU Media Group LLC
Photographs by: Nicole Davis

Business Cards

When it comes to self-promotion, I get kinda lost. I recognize that selling yourself is the most important aspect of a creative persons professional life, but it isn't as easy as some would make it out to be. There are the self-promotion gurus, like the people who infest reality TV, and there are the narcissists who are born salesmen. Then there are people like me. I am very confident in myself and my work, but my art is, and always has been, very personal. So when it comes to talking about it, I tend to struggle.  

A business card can say a lot, but I am not really willing to spend a bunch of money on a design. So that didn't really leave me with a lot of options as I finally got around to designing my very first business card.

Check them out. Let me know which one you like best.

I HAVE AN AMAZING JOB!

I may have shared that I am now an elementary animation teacher. It is the best job I've ever had. I get the chance to teach kids about something that is very, very important to me. Animation, unlike any other medium, is the work of dreamers. Especially stop-motion.

What makes stop-motion so special is how it brings the micro to life. There are so many small, beautiful, things around us all the time, from toys, and knick-knacks, to stones and other natural objects. Something as small as a leaf and a tooth pick can become a towering tree. Play-Dough can become the landscape of an alien planet. Anything you can dream, you can create.

While adults tend to think all kids are eager to paint, draw, and scribble, I have found that many do not feel confident in their own creativity. But stop-motion is an incredibly simple concept that any kid can wrap their head around. With camera and video editing technology cheaper than ever, it is the perfect medium for encouraging shy kids to create.

I am working on a project for the kids in my class. Below is a sample of what I plan to do. The video will act as a jumping off point to get the kids excited about the possibilities. I want the video to get the kids thinking about detail, depth, setting, story and character.

DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS ON WAYS TO INSPIRE KIDS TO BE ARTISTIC?

THE HUNGER GAMES

  

I just finished reading The Hunger Games and Catching Fire, and I will be starting the 3 book in the trilogy, Mockingjay, tonight. These books by Suzanne Collins are my new obsession, but not for the reasons one might think. I actually don't particularly like these books. I find the writing style woefully bland, and lacking in detail. I find the first person perspective really irritating. The staccato use of periods and the overuse of one or two word sentences drives me crazy.

I am in no way, a literary scholar, I'm not even a member of the grammar police, but even I can recognize the awkward writing style in this book. The story itself is also incredibly predictable, but, for some reason, it is as addicting as frosted animal crackers. You know what is going to happen on the next page, but you just have to read it for yourself.

(IFC)

What I like about this book is that it reads like a script. The lack of detail about the landscape, about the way people look, clothing, ect, is done in the exact style a good writer would use if she was trying to sell her script. There is enough detail to satisfy the reader, but not enough to over power the vision of a production designer.

This book was written to be a movie, end of story. While that irritates a lot of people, I think some writers, with good ideas can get away with it, and I think Suzanne Collins is a great example. I do not think this book works on every level, while reading I find myself saying, "I would phrase that differently," and "I want to know more about that character, or this landscape." On the other hand, I think a director with a clear vision for this story might be able to fill in the holes Collins didn't fill herself.

I even hesitate to call this film an adaptation, because I am not sure any adapting will be necessary. It's a script packaged and sold like a book. Clever.

Gary Ross, director of Pleasantville and Seabiscuit has taken on this film and from the trailers, I think it has a lot of potential. We will see how he does with the graphics, this being his first effects heavy film. I think Ross will benefit greatly from veteran DP Tom Stern, best known for his partnership with Clint Eastwood.

The film stars the young, lovely, Jennifer Lawrence, who flies under the radar, but is probably one of the most talented actresses working today. With films like Winter's Bone, X-Men: First Class and cult favorite Garden Party on her resume, there is no arguing that this girl has talent.

Rounding out the cast are stars like Elizabeth Banks, Woody Harrelson, Lenny Kravitz, Donald Sutherland and Stanley Tucci.

Watch the Trailer Here

(The pictures are off of google/video from youtube)