Searching for Our Beginning

Ridley Scott finally returns to sci-fi, and the very franchise that brought him fame. Prometheus brings forth a much-asked question, “Is this a prequel to Alien?” Well the answer is yes – and no.

Prometheus takes place within the same universe as the Alien movies, with events that predate them. That said, it isn’t technically – an ‘Alien’ movie. Without giving too much away, the film is essentially about questioning our beliefs, and discovering a truth that could possibly doom us. It also brings forth some unconventional concepts and unsettling ideas that will leave you mind-boggled.

In Prometheus, the discovery of a star map among ancient diagrams from various archaeological digs suggests a chilling possibility that perhaps aliens ‘made’ us. So a privately-funded titular trillion-dollar spaceship is dispatched to the distant moon LV-233 to ultimately solve the riddle. Upon landing, the crew uncover far more than they bargained for.



Sounds cliché? Well, the movie isn’t, really. While it is inevitable that most of the cast will serve as alien fodder, a few, like Michael Fassbender and Noomi Rapace were the clear standouts. Fassbender’s portrayal of the curious android David is truly worth mention and Noomi is essentially this generation’s Ripley with her gripping performance. 

Charlize Theron and Idris Elba also add to the international cast.



 

Fans of the Alien franchise will be quick to catch certain details that will seem familiar. The popular cult-favourite ‘Space Jockey’ is (finally) prominently featured and referred to as ‘Engineers’, but I’m not quite a fan of how they look like under their helmets. The film might lack the ferocious intensity Alien had, but once it shifts from ‘discovery’ to ‘all-out horror’, it is quick and satisfyingly relentless.



A certain scene of a crew member conducting a self-performed C-section is plain hair-raising and will have you clawing the cinema chair.

Prometheus isn’t ‘Alien: The Beginning’, but it does serve as an interesting testament to Ridley Scott’s imaginative sci-fi ideas. There is also hint of a potential sequel, however at that point you’ll be left with more questions than answers.

4 Stars out of 5

Fairest of Them All

A fairytale revival is on the rise in recent years judging from the increase of ‘re-imagined’ classic tales. This year we see not just one, but two Snow White adaptations, of which Snow White & the Huntsman is the latest to hit the silver screen.

Dark re-tellings are nothing new, but casting Charlize Theron as the evil youth-sucking Queen Ravenna and Kristen Stewart as a Joan-of-Arc-like Snow White is sure to raise a few eyebrows. And there’s also Chris Hemsworth as Thor… I mean, Eric the huntsman. In terms of screen presence, the three certainly have it in droves, but it is Theron who truly makes a mark.



She undeniably sizzles and dominates every scene she’s in, and having her utter the iconic phrase “mirror, mirror on the wall, who is fairest of them all” will bring chills down your spine.



With Stewart, it’s a different story altogether. While I am fond of the actress’ edginess seen in some of her films, there is no sign of it in Snow White. I’m not sure if it’s the screenwriter’s fault or the actress herself, but we don’t really get to know the princess much.



Hemsworth however, despite not fully shaken-off his Odinson persona, is humorous and rather likable.

Director Rupert Sanders attempts a dark, medieval fantasy setting as a backdrop to the age-old story, and it actually works.



From the fascinating creatures of the Dark Forest to the quirkiness of the evil queen, everything was done with tremendous attention to detail.



If there is one thing that the movie suffers from, it’s the lack of romance. Don’t get me wrong, the movie stays true to the classic fairytale, but there is a complete lack of love between Snow White and whoever it is she loves.



The infamous dwarves too could have been a tad more likable. 

 

Snow White and the Huntsman isn’t perfect, but it still makes for an entertaining watch (especially Theron) and trumps Mirror Mirror in many ways.

3.5 Stars out of 5

Expect the Expected

Having a child is one of those bittersweet moments often portrayed in movies in two forms – comedic, or plain horrifying. What to Expect When Expecting is both. There has been a steady growth of ensemble movies of late, each with varying success. There was New Year's Eve earlier this year, The Avengers raking up the numbers in theatres and The Expendables coming soon. What to Expect When Expecting however, falls somewhat into the 'New Year’s Eve’ category.



The film has a rather respectable cast list, which features Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Dennis Quaid, Elizabeth Banks and Chris Rock among others. The central topic here is obviously pregnancy and having a baby, and the film explores different scenarios revolving around these characters.



As a comedy it was funny at parts, though some characters more than others. Banks was one of the standouts, and was consistently funny throughout the movie. The film does however, explore very real issues, like adoption, miscarriage and having a first child.



If there is a real problem with the movie, it's consistency. Many jokes were flat-out cliché and unfunny, while the storytelling style was choppy, or might I say sitcom-ish.



The intertwining storylines could have been better woven, instead of having it seem as if someone was flipping through various television channels randomly. The ensemble cast, despite being likable, can't seem to hide this flaw.



So unless you’re a big fan of them, it’s best to wait for this flick to hit the small screen.



2 Stars out of 5

Earth's Marvel-lous Heroes

At long last, it’s finally here, the long-awaited fruit of Marvel’s grand scheme featuring the combined might of its 'Cinematic Universe' superheroes. A movie of this scale sounds like a potential disaster from the get go.



The Avengers unites Captain America (Chris Evans),



Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.),



Thor (Chris Hemsworth),



and Hulk (Mark Ruffalo)



with S.H.I.E.L.D members Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson),


 
Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner),



Agent Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg),



Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson)...



...and the pleasant addition of Agent Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders). <3



The stellar all-star cast is just the tip of the iceberg – juggling each character’s personality, screen time and not to mention cast ego is a superhuman feat in itself, yet some how Josh Whedon has done the impossible.

When Thor’s adopted brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) brings forth catastrophe to our planet with the help of the Chitauri and a stolen Tesseract, it’s up to Earth’s Mightiest Heroes to save the day.



Character interaction and banter is no doubt the highlight of The Avengers. As seen from their individual movies, each are heavyweights of their own and it shows as they fight among themselves as much as they do against baddies. However it’s when they manage to finally work together that the magic truly starts.



A huge fan-boy himself, Whedon has done a ‘Marvel’-lous job, combining four successful superhero franchises while pleasing both fans and newcomers alike. Despite the large ensemble cast, each gets their chance to shine without feeling forced.

The actors do a wonderful job in their roles, especially Rufallo who makes an excellent Bruce Banner. A surprise though, is the amount of laughs this movie presents, which will leave you in stitches.

Needless to say, the action is second to none and trust me you’ll have your jaws wide open through many scenes. From S.H.I.E.L.D’s signature Helicarrier (fan-boys rejoice!)...



...to the destruction of New York City, The Avengers will bring back memories of that unforgettable first viewing of Transformers.



The money shot I believe, would be a glorious single-take where you have the camera sweeping from one hero to another while each battle hordes of oncoming alien invaders – all in glorious 3D.

While it isn't compulsory to catch all five Marvel Cinematic Universe films prior to The Avengers, it would however, make the overall experience more satisfying as there are bits and pieces in reference to earlier events.



So go pick the cinema with the best 3D and sound, as The Avengers is truly summer entertainment at its finest!

5 out of 5 Stars

The Battle for Earth Begins at Sea

Anything can inspire a movie these days - books, comics, action figures… but honestly, a classic board game? Although I had my doubts, I went ahead and watched Battleship with an open mind. After all, there have been four movies made based on a theme park ride.

The movie centers on a certain Alex Hopper (Taylor Kitsch, minus his John Carter locks), who makes a mess out of his life doing things like getting tased attempting to get a chicken burrito for a girl he’s hitting on (who happens to be the commander's daughter). 



Concerned big brother Stone (Alexander Skarsgård) grows tired of all this and enlists him in the navy. 



Fast-forward a few years and he’s a lieutenant trying to obtain his future father-in-law Admiral Shane (Liam Neeson)'s approval to marry his daughter. But all hell breaks loose when technologically superior aliens suddenly decide to target earth for colonisation. 

While there are enough loopholes to sink a battleship, the movie is simply 45,000 tonnes of fun. Watching alien warships readying ballistics, navy destroyers getting blown up and even a WWII battleship undergo an e-brake turn (no kidding!) will have you clinging to the edge of your seat. 



All this played to Steve Jablonsky's thumping score and music of AC/DC. The talking point I believe however will be how the filmmakers integrated the board-game into the movie, which nothing short of brilliant.

While director Peter Berg might have a hint of Michael Bay's signature 'blow-em'-up' shooting style, he does pay a little more attention to characterisation. 



There isn't much action till about 45 minutes into the movie, and this allows the audience to connect to the core characters. There are also nice touches like how American and Japanese crewmen have to work together to take down an enemy. 



Actual navy sailors and veterans were used as extras – former soldier and double amputee Gregory D. Gadson even gets a sizable role as Mick. 



Another surprise would be R&B singer Rihanna, who actually wasn't bad in her debut acting role as Raikes. 



Liam Neeson on the other hand, got pretty sidelined, and is probably laughing his way to the bank.

Catch it in Digital-2D is possible and do stay behind as there is an extra scene after the credits. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to line up for my second dose of Battleship...

4 out of 5 Stars