Mini Reviews!

March 15 -

An Education

Precious

Tron

MINI REVIEWS:

Alice In Wonderland -

I thought the story was good, it was a bit of a re-imagining and i appreciated what the were trying to do with the story. I was actually really skeptical of the film because the visuals looked too weird for me, but as usual Burton pulled them off and everything in the film looked wonderful. The pacing of the film is quick and to the point for the most part, which is fine. The 3D in it looked amazing on IMAX which was surprising because it wasn't shot in it, it gives me hope for all these films they are now converting. Depp and Bonham Carter were both great in their roles, but I thought Mia Wasikowska was the best by far, which surprised me because no one is talking about her. I thought the characters were well done, and the final battle looked good and was entertaining. The film wasn't as deep as some of Burton's other films but it's not really trying to be, It's a light entertaining film with a lot of visual flair to it.

Precious -

Precious annoyed me on most levels because it was mediocre at best in almost every aspect, Mo'Nique wasn't bad but i didn't think the writing was that good. The direction, I don't understand why Lee Daniels was nominated at all. The random flashes to her imagined life were ridiculous, they really added nothing but run time to the film. She wants to be famous, OK, she wants a boyfriend, OK... and... your point? I also found it pretty cliche when every time she gets hit or hurt it flashes back to her being raped. Also I'm assuming this was the editor, not necessarily the director, but the constant fade transitions annoyed me. I really just had trouble finding a redeeming quality, except Mo'Nique, in the film.

An Education -

This was a well done film that unfortunately I probably would never have seen if it weren't nominated for so many things. Carey Mulligan is spectacular in the film and Peter Saarsgard is also good. Saarsgard flirts with that line between being a creep in the film and being a genuine guy, which is a great set up in the film. Mulligan comes off very much like Audrey Hepburn, a classy, somewhat rebellious lead character you easily find yourself rooting for. The film doesn't stand out technically, though it is well paced and directed. I do want to note that the Paris scene was very well done though.