The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn - Thoughts

A few months ago I noticed an HD trailer for The Adventures of Tintin become available, and was instantly thrilled that Tintin was making a revival. The trailer was fun and between then and now, I patiently waited for the release of the movie. Having been a fan of the books, and having read every single one, the appreciation and anticipation was a given. In this episode, The Secret of the Unicorn, Tintin comes into possession of a model ship, and what begins there innocently enough involves Tintin in an adventure to find the sunken ship. During his pursuit of the story behind the model, Tintin and Snowy meet captain Haddock for the first time.

There are very few remakes and revivals that live up to the hype or stay true to the original. The Adventures of Tintin will have to be one of the few exceptions to that generalization. Not only was it great to be able to see all the old characters in a motion picture, but the mystery/humor element of the books had also been successfully transitioned to the big screen. Pace was just right, being a perfect balance between slightly slower mystery situations, and ultra fast paced adventure chase sequences. In terms of audience appeal, The Adventures of Tintin will pretty much work for all ages, with an exception of very young children perhaps. Those who have read the books will instantly relate to it, and those who are seeing it for the first time will be introduced to something that they can love and look forward o more of. In short, you just cannot go wrong with The Adventures of Tintin.

All of the characters are CGI, and the character models are pretty impressive and true to the books. Thanks to impressive motion capture techniques, all the characters look and feel very real; expressions being outstanding. Needless to say, Tintin is the lead character and the driving force in the plot. His pursuit to push on is what keeps the narrative running. I personally felt that Captain Haddock had more personality in the books, but I may have concluded that based on reading several books and not just one. So to be fair, for just the first episode, this is possibly an accurate portrayal. For large part, in The Secret of the Unicorn, Haddocks role is mostly comic, providing constant humor to the ongoing narrative. The Inspectors Thompson and Thompson are truly a treat. The first scene that I saw them brought a big smile to my face, filled with memories of the books.

Considering I wasn’t willing to wait for the DVD release, I watched The Adventures of Tintin in the theatre in 3D. The colors and visual were wonderfully done, with each of the scene seeming like it were out of the comic. Video remained clear, and even the usual dark tone associated to 3D movies was very minimal if at all noticeable. The use of 3D was good; with all the scenes having a good sense of depth and perspective. Worth mention were the funny opening credits which themselves were in 3D.  Sound was presented by means of a 5.1 surround soundtrack. Dialog was clear, and sounds effects were decent. Surround stage usage was minimal, but sufficient. 

My Recommendation: Watch It + (Bringing the book to life; Tintin better than ever!)

Surrogates - Thoughts

I saw the trailer for Surrogates and figured that it should be a decent blockbuster action flick, with a nice futuristic sci-fi premise. Though I wasn’t in a rush to see it, it was on my list of movies to watch. I finally got around to renting the DVD and watching the movie a couple of weeks ago. Surrogates proposes a future where human beings live in the safety of their homes, while they interact with the outside world by means of android surrogates. A police officer is forced to leave the comfort of his home and the security of his surrogate to investigate the mysterious murder of other surrogates. 

After a short run time of under an hour and a half, Surrogates left me with a feeling of being superficial and weak. While the narrative does indeed present a superficial plastic world, where the real people live indoors, and out of circulation, this plasticy presence transcends the plot, making the overall presentation feel wafer thin. Several of the scenes and the androids themselves reminded me of iRobot, but that similarity aside, the narratives were quite different. While there was a crime/mystery to be solved, and the process did involve some action, the potency of the plot was far from rewarding. Surrogates is worth checking out if you either absolutely love Sci-fi or Bruce Willis movies. That said, even for sci-fi action fans, I do believe that expectations are higher, especially with the bar being set as high by other movies.

Bruce Willis plays the lead role of Tom Greer, who is the police officer investigating the Surrogate murders. He suits the role well, as his age and personality come through, once his surrogate is out of the way, exposing his human flawed self. His pursuit and drive to solve the mystery is similar to that of his roles in other action crime dramas. Radha Mitchell plays his associate Peters, who for the bulk of the movie is visible to the audience only through her surrogate. While I’ve seen her in much more complex roles, her role here as Peters was quite forgettable. Rosamund Pike plays Tom Greer’s wife, Maggie Greer. Her performance is pretty good, showing us the stylish well made up surrogate face most of the time, while still exuding sufficient emotion.

The DVD I was sampling was a Region 1 US DVD release. Video was clear and favored warm tones for most part; yellows and brown tones being obviously noticeable.  To complement the premise of the movie, the visuals look plasticy and superficial; possibly by means of post-production filters.  Sound was presented by means of a Dolby Digital 5.1 surround soundtrack. Dialog delivery was sufficient, and so were sound effects and general ambience. Surround stage usage was minimal but sufficient.

My Recommendation: Dicey (A shallow portrayal of a fake future) 

Immortals - Thoughts

I do believe that I saw the trailer for this movie recently, but amidst all the new releases it didn’t make my priority watch list. It surfaced again when a friend watched the movie and told me that it was pretty average and not worth the watch. In Immortals, the merciless king Hyperion, driven by rage embarks on a journey to recover a mythological Greek weapon of immense power. Using this weapon, he hoped to free the Titans who had been banished by the gods several centuries ago, prior to their ascension to power and dominion over mankind. The only obstacle in his path was a mere mortal man named Theseus, who knew no fear and was mankind’s only hope.

I went into Immortals with little expectations, others opinions being questionable and the trailer forgettable. But I was in for a pleasant surprise. From the get go, Immortals was relatively engaging. Though the pace wasn’t break-neck, it was sufficient, leading audiences into elements of discovery. As the plot unraveled, strong Greek Mythological essentials packaged with gratuitous quantities of hard hitting action ensured flourishing narrative and entertainment respectively. Be warned that blood and carnage are the cornerstones of every confrontation, so if ultra-violent isn’t your sorta thing, then this flick may not be best suited for you. While 3D has quite become the norm nowadays, its use in Immortals was noteworthy, adding a level of depth and realism to some of the most normal scenes. 3D being emphasized in action sequences is quite passé, but its elaborate use and the attention to detail in the very run of the mill scenes was a nice touch. If you’re in the mood for an epic period extravaganza, where the action is stylized to the point where every blood splatter is possibly choreographed like in 300, then look no further as Immortals certainly fits the bill.

Henry Cavill plays the lead role of Theseus; his character being young, fit and able, well taught in the arts of wielding a weapon, knowing no fear, and having little faith in the gods. From the early scenes, he is shown as someone who is courageous and valiant, who fights for the people, and stands for what is right. For the most part he looks and plays the role well; nothing exceedingly special though. Freida Pinto plays Phaedra, a virgin Oracle with the gift of visions of the future. Her role is not very well defined, but takes shape as the movie progresses. Worth mentioning is her neutral accent, better than those before her, including Aishwarya Rai and other Indian actresses in Hollywood movies. Mickey Rourke played King Hyperion and did so astoundingly. He was ruthless, evil and with an agenda that questioned sanity. His rugged physique and scarred visage gave a suitably grim image to his selfish cause and the plot.

Unusually (for me), I sampled this one in the theatre as part of a division wide movie outing from my organization. Video was clear with the usual darkness and dual composition of images common with 3D presentations. Picture favored deep rich reds and browns, with most daylight shots favoring warm tones; with sands being the bulk of the outdoor shots. Sound was presented by means of a 6 channel 5.1 surround soundtrack. Surround stage usage was good and especially notable in the 3D fight sequences.

My Recommendation: Watch It (Exchanging blows, Greek style, in 3D)

Twilight - Thoughts

Twilight is perhaps one movie that requires little introduction, having become today’s icon of pop culture, not to mention having brought vampires to the forefront of conversation again. The movie is based on the vampire themed fantasy romance novels written by  Stephenie Meyer; Twilight being the first, finding its way onto the big screen in 2008. The premise being very simple, a teenage girl’s discovery and love for a vampire, and the events that ensue.

After a rather slow 2 hours and 2 minutes, you will realize that there is very little to the plot above and beyond what the synopsis indicates. What makes Twilight special is the detail with which its content is portrayed. Though set in a small town, with key characters being very few, the sincerity of the narrative coupled with the beautiful photography adds value to the otherwise dragged out runtime. Some scenes are particularly simple, yet take up a good deal of screen time, as the camera pans and rotates and does its thing. What most audiences will relate to is the pursuit for that which is unique and different, but yet in our everyday, and by means of Bella’s narrative, will feel one with her in her pursuit. That said, the most obvious success of Twilight being its hopelessly romantic and needless to say obviously lop-sided perspective of life, which will perhaps only work in a movie. If you are impatient and are looking for more, Twilight will most probably leave you feeling shortchanged, otherwise if teenage romance sounds like your sorta thing, give it a whirl. Personally I don’t see myself watching any of the follow-up Twilight movies.

The success of Twilight beyond its buzz I would say largely rests on the brilliance of Kristen Stewart’s extremely believable portrayal of Bella. The narrative starts out strong but is carried through in large part thanks to Bella’s drive of adolescent discovery, fuelled by curiosity that inevitably grows into love. Never confused or deterred in her journey, by fear and surrounding circumstances. This is perhaps the movies strongest success, which most female teenagers will be able to readily relate to. Robert Pattinson plays Edward Cullen, the dreamy Vampire boy, who is initially strange, and later likable. He does a good job of seeming extremely awkward, and developing with the course of the movie into the warm and caring lover.

The DVD I was sampling was a US Region 1 Release. Picture was clear, and image remained exceptional, never getting too dark or shadowy. There were several outdoor shots and the Greens of the forests looking lush, providing a wonderful sense of nature in the quiet town of Forks. The overall color palette favored cool colors, and visibility remained strong throughout. Sound was presented by means of a Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Soundtrack. Dialogue delivery was perfect, and was key considering a large part of the movie is narrated from Bella’s perspective. Ambience was pretty decent, and set the tone for the little town of Forks well. Surround usage and positional sound was limited but noticeable, fitting in well with the plot as necessary.

My Recommendation: Watch It – (A very simplistic teenage vampire romance) 

White Collar: Season 1 - Thoughts

I’d read about White Collar a couple of times, and to be fair it sounded interesting, but didn’t come across as the kinda show that I had to watch as soon as I could. In the months that followed a couple of friends mentioned it and said it was worth checking out. As part of my effort to try out new shows and not just watch follow-up seasons of existing shows I finally decided to give it a watch. In White Collar, a convicted white collar criminal Neal Caffrey, comes up with a plan to work with the FBI, and more particularly the agent responsible for his capture,  in exchange for the use of his abilities in apprehending other white collar criminals. 

While the premise sounds pretty straight forward, what makes White Collar special is the emphasis on ‘White Collar Crime’. Look up your TV guide and you’ll see a barrage of crime-drama TV serials. Amidst the existing onslaught, White Collar manages to come out seeming fresh, thanks in large part to Neal Caffrey’s energy. Add to that the standout performance of the remaining cast, and the new to television white collar crime aspect; lo and behold we have a winner! From the very first episode of Season 1, White Collar is engaging, and never does the pace slow down so much that it gets boring. Even the sub-lying family dynamic aspects are crafted well and executed to perfection, tying in fittingly into the overall plot, and the long running continuity and character development of the show. Focus is managed well, balancing the weekly plots with the long term story line. Unlike some other crime dram’s that are hard hitting, White Collar is light and largely entertaining, thus making it suitable for a larger audience spectrum, not just the serious and hardcore few. If you’re on the lookout for a fresh, fun drama, with a touch of intrigue and crime, look no further, as White Collar will certainly impress.

Matthew Bomer plays the pivotal role of Neal Caffrey, and after watching a season of the show, I can’t think of anyone else who could replace him. Giving it some thought, it’s not just the mere acting performance that makes Neal Caffrey, but the entire ensemble of the blue eyes, the way he wears his hat, the way he dresses, carries himself, and manages to think out of the box, finding slick solutions to talk through any situation with flamboyance and panache. As much as he’s a smooth operator, and while that comes with some diplomacy, there is a genuine and trustable side to his character. It would be hard for the audience to resent or dislike him. Tim DeKay plays FBI Agent Peter Burke, and does so phenomenally. Though all the talk thus far has been about Neal Caffrey, White Collar would fall flat without the Neal – Peter dynamic. Peter is truly the embodiment of everything good, and is smart and well accomplished in his own way. As brilliant as Caffrey is, Agent Burke is never overshadowed, giving White Collar and interesting dual lead formula. Tiffani Thiessen plays Elizabeth Burke, Agent Peter Burke’s wife. Tiffani Thiessen is perhaps better known for her several smaller appearances in movies from the 90’s, and a few leading roles in TV movies also from the 90’s. She has appeared in a good deal of TV serials, in supporting roles, and was the female lead in Fastlane in 2002-2003. After several years of seeing her play the hot young thing, it was nice to see her play an older character, and a loving wife no less. Frankly speaking, Elizabeth Burke is perhaps the best I’ve ever seen Tiffani Thiessen, and leads me to believe that she is a wonderfully capable actress. She is fun in a mature evolved way, and supporting and warm with just the right amount of emotional depth. Needless to say a perfect fit into the Neal – Peter dynamic, facilitating the duo to work even better. Without running through the entire cast list, it’s easy to realize that the success of the show rests solely on the brilliant performances of the cast, making the plot almost seem incidental.

The content I was sampling was an HD DivX, probably ripped from HD TV telecast. Though I’m not a fan of any form of lossy content, the high resolution helped keep away pixilation for most part, though color vibrancy was just below ideal. Video was good overall and was formatted for a 16:9 widescreen television set. Audio was presented by means of a 5.1, 6 channel surround. Dialog was thus very clear, and ambience was always right on the money. While there might have been some surround stage usage, it wasn’t really noticeable.

My Recommendation: Watch It + (A fresh fun entrant to an otherwise crime drama saturated television lineup)

Wild Things: Foursome - Thoughts

If you’ve been following the movie industry long enough, you probably know that certain movie franchises keep going at it, on and on and on, up until there’s no more money to make marketing the same formula. The Wild Things franchise is a perfect example of one such theme that has been mostly replicated substituting different characters/actors, in more or less similar situations. Key elements being twisted scheming plans to squander money, and sultry hot women, set in a sub-urban towns. In this installment of Wild Things, it starts with the mysterious death of a racing legend and tycoon, following which the sole heir his son, his girlfriend, and friends come under suspicion.


While some rehashes are quite enjoyable, like the Fast and Furious franchise, some others tend to deteriorate with every additional installment. The original Wild Things from 1998 was a pretty decent movie, employing a proficient cast and what was at the time a relatively intriguing plot. Sadly Wild Things: Foursome a good 12 years later, is far less noteworthy. Though the twists in the plot far outweigh the original, and up the ante, at some point it all becomes very predictable. To add to this, the amateur cast accompanied with weak portrayals of stereotype characters tend to result in a borderline cheesy movie. As all of this comes together in an almost laughable fashion, the movie fails to grip and hold audience attention. Being a made for TV movie, rest assured that if you switched channels while watching this movie, you wouldn’t miss too much. If you’re looking for something random to watch to pass the evening, or appreciate the Wild Things franchise and are looking forward to more of the same, then Wild Things: Foursome maybe worth your time; otherwise be warned that there is a lot better to watch available.

If blame was to be shared, it would be a combination of the somewhat questionable silly plot, and the extremely sub-par performances. The bulk of the cast was made up of amateurs, who were often overacting, to try and portray their extremely stereotype characters. Ashley Parker who played Carson Wheetly the male lead,  put on an extremely fake performance. The only point worth mentioning being that his character was a silly rich boy who did not really have any substance to his character. So maybe that somehow worked. His girlfriend Rachel Thomas played by Marnette Patterson rode solely on her hot body, which needless to say worked only for a few scenes. The rest of the time it feel flat and her performance seemed largely disconnected. Jillian Murray who played Brandi Cox was relatively better, but was by no means great. She managed to come of convincingly in a few scenes, and was relatively acceptable. John Schneider who played Detective Frank Walker was perhaps the one exception to the cast, who seemed on point for most part. Again, nothing stellar but sufficient per se.

The DVD I sampled was a region 1 US DVD; that said video quality was still just okay. Considering this was a 2010 release it was surprising, as nowadays most video releases are stunningly crisp and clear. While there was no pixilation or obvious issues, the video was dull and slightly lacked vibrancy. Warm tones such as skin colors and sunsets were favored, but again just slightly. Being a TV movie, picture was formatted to perfectly fit a 16:9 widescreen home television set with no letterboxing. Sound was presented by means of a Dolby Digital 5.1 surround soundtrack, which resulted in good dialog delivery from the center channel. Surround stage usage was pretty average, but scene ambience was decent. 

My Recommendation: Dicey (Younger women, putting on poorer performances, in a sillier plot!)

Fast Five - Thoughts

After 4 Fast & Furious movies, it’s safe to say that anyone who loves fast cars and action will love the franchise. While some have complained over the years of lackluster storylines, general audiences worldwide have enjoyed everything the franchise has thrown at them so far. Fast Five premiered in Brazil on April 15th, 2011, and subsequently released in theatres worldwide. Starting-off exactly where the 4th movie ended, Vin Diesel and Paul Walker are again on the run from the law. While in hiding in Rio, a seemingly simple job goes wrong, and they need to get back into action to thwart a drug lord named Reyes, while evading federal agent and tracker played by Dwayne Johnson (aka The Rock).


Being a fan of the franchise and having seen the trailer, I was pretty sure that I was gonna enjoy Fast Five. To that end, Fast Five not only managed to impress, but to be fair took it up a few notches and outshined the 4th installment from 2009. In true Fast & Furious fashion, there was action and impressive car stunt sequences from the get go. Vin Diesel, Paul Walker and the rest of the team kept things entertaining, and fun. Though there were a few slower story/drama moments, never was there a dull moment. The Rock proved to be a very welcome addition to the plot; his clash with Vin Diesel’s character Dominic Toretto being iconic. In Fast Five there was very little focus on street racing, with the plot and its serious elements being at the core. The action sequences were hard hitting and intense, and enjoyed with the right theatre surround sound setup, it was amazing. While the overall narrative was in keeping with the usual design of Fast & Furious plots, it didn’t come across as boring or repetitive. If you love fast cars and action (aka the Fast & Furious franchise), you’ll probably love Fast Five. Only avoid it if action movies are totally not your thing.

While Paul Walker has been in more Fast & Furious movies than Vin Diesel, his character Brian O'Conner is at best an evolved sidekick of Dominic Toretto. Vin Diesel is perfectly at home in his anti-hero role as Dominic Toretto. Owing to his larger than life presence, it’s not surprising that Paul Walker is easily overshadowed. For the first time there is a seemingly challenging adversary in Luke Hobbs played by Dwayne Johnson (aka The Rock). The Rock performs admirably as the massive Hobbs. His relentless nature added to his solid brick wall sorta image makes him a perfect fit in Fast Five. Jordana Brewster plays Mia Toretto, who is a little less hardcore in this installment. With the exception of the first few minutes wherein she gets her hands dirty, she mostly acts as a coordinator/control station. This works well in keeping with the plot.

Owing to various circumstances I never got to see this movie in the theatre, though I’d originally planned to. So I patiently waited for the original DVD to be released, and then sampled it. As always it was a Region 1 US DVD, which has just under 8 GB of data including extras and trailers. Video was clear and favored warm tones; having a dark yellowish color to it. Due to this, the color vibrancy of primary colors were subdued. Sound was presented by means of a Dolby Digital 5.1 surround soundtrack and was amazing. The cars roared as they passed by, and there were resonating thuds during the high impact action sequences. Surround sound stage usage was ample, and the positional audio added to the realism of Fast Five. Anyone who either succumbed to watching a poor DivX rip, or watched this movie with a stereo soundtrack on an old school TV or portable media device, certainly missed out on the best parts of Fast Five.

My Recommendation: Watch It + (Turning on the cool in Rio de Janeiro)