Marval Movie

Star Trek 2 was a big hit and would go on to big a big cult phenomenon, but maybe that is due to what number it is. It seems that (when it comes to Star Trek movies) the odd numbered movies are the worst of them while the even numbered are the treasures of the bunch. I've seen all six of the original movies and none of the Next Generation movies, and this theory seems to be right. Star Trek the motion picture is a stale rip off of 2001 and Final Frontier does not have as much of a lasting impression as the others, but the exception to this rule is Star Trek 3 Search for Spock. I think I might even enjoy more that Wrath of Khan.

The movie begins with a battered Enterprise going back to Star-fleet with Kirk and the whole crew morning the loss of Spock, meanwhile Dr. McCoy seems to be suffering a breakdown thinking that he's Spock. Later the crew gets their well deserved pat on the back but they learn that the Enterprise will be decommissioned being considered out of date (well it is twenty years old). Later again the crew meet up in Kirk's apartment but they have an unexpected visitor, Spock's father (Mark Lenard), who asks why he denied Spock his future. Apparently when Vulcan's are near death they can pour their soul into one who they trust so that they can be restored after their body has healed, makes scenes. So naturally Kirk wants to recover Spock's body and steals the Enterprise to do it.

One of the most interesting notes to make about Search for Spock is that it is directed by Lenard Nimoy, this is most interesting because Spock's presence can be felt throughout the movie. Along with this Nimoy can get some really good performances from his long term college's, everyone does a very good job especially Shatner, William Shatner has often been connected with cringing bad performances but here hes at the top of his game, not Oscar worthy but very enjoyable.

The villain this time is a Klingon Commander Kruge played by Christopher Lloyd, who wants the Genesis missile for its destructive capability's. Lloyd is one of those good old reliable actors who no matter what material you give him he'll produce a solid performance along with long lasting memorability. He's really good as this bad to the bone Klingon Commander who learns of this missile that can transform a barren wasteland into a vibrant oasis and all he sees is the ability to wipe out the enemies of the Klingon empire.

We then see that Kirk's son David is on Genesis monitoring his planets condition, it seems to be going through crazy climate changes as well as there seems to be a life form of the planet. They beem down to discover an infant Vulcan child, guess who this is. Yes they find a baby Spock on the plant with no memories, we then learn that David added a dangerous chemical to the Genesis missile that has made the planet unstable and is now exploding from within.

Later once the Enterprise reaches Genesis they encounter the Klingon's and have a little fight that ends with both shaken, but Kruge is holding David and the others hostage and David sacrifices himself for the others and merely minutes after they initiate the self destruct code for the Enterprise so they can take out the invading Klingon's, the destruction of the Enterprise isn't as shaking as Spock death but its heavy enough and is still memorable. Then finally Kirk and Kruge have their rough and tumble on an exploding planet, this is nice to see because Kirk and Khan never met face to face.

After Spock is brought back to Vulcan the ceremony goes through with out a hitch, Spock has his memory back and Kirk says "that the need of the one outweigh the needs of the many" clearly in denial.

Looking at it again Search for Spock is a little depressing, Wrath of Khan ended with the birth of a new planet and Kirk feeling reinvigorated, and Search for Spock shows the intentions of Genesis as a weapon and the missile not even working it seems to be taking the hopefulness that Khan ended on and Spock gives all that the slap in the face.

Star Trek 3 does however have good moments followed by solid action, story and effect as well as taking some risks.

Rating: 3 stars out of 4

"If you have nothing to say then don't write, go out and live. see the world, get your heart broken"    

-Neil Gaiman

On the Road is the story of people, places and problems that follows some that are more flawed that others and their struggles through life and the truth of their own imperfections.

The film starts in 1947 and gives us Sal a young twenty-something man living in San Fransisco who surrounds himself with aspiring writers who have Allen Ginsberg aspirations, so does Sal.  Sal is played by Sam Riley, a very good as well as an underused actor, but when Sal actually sits down to write (possibly the next great American novel) he just cant (haven't we all been there) so he hangs out with his friends who philosophies and eventually introduce him to Dean Moriarty (Garrett Hedlund), a hansom charismatic man who seems so deep and can get any girl (or guy) he wants, and does.

One of the girls is Marylou played by Nasrani Stewart, she is a shaky, misguided girl who follows her heart and instincts more than her brain, for better or worse. I never had  a duduk kasus with Nasrani Stewart but here I admire her, she has to do some pretty extreme stuff that pushes her beyond the bad reputation from the Twilight Saga and gives her a position to a brave daring actor.

The movie is shot very lovingly like something that you imagine a John Steinbeck novel translation into film would be like, there are a lot of wide country areas, that span from weather, to season to city and they are all captured very well. On the Road is nothing but a hansom movie to look at.

The movie is adapted from the book, by the same name, by Jack Kerouac.  The book is on the list of 100 greatest English language novels of the 20th century so naturally a movie adaptation is a big deal. I haven't read the book but from what I understand I would enjoy it, the screenplay was written by Jose Rivera who has a lot of work under his belt (mostly plays) and he delivers a very unique script that is both colorful and somber and focuses on the characters and all their complexities.

One of the biggest merits I give the movie is that it has A) assembled an all star cast that also makes each star memorable, not just a simple walk by cameo that you instantly forget about when there gone B) Every actor has to do some pretty gutsy stuff that most actors I would think would shy away from whether it be reveling themselves, doing or even saying some pretty intense material that left me feeling satisfied.

One of the celebrity cameos that stick out to me the most is Viggo Mortensen as Old Bull Lee, he plays a more mature poet-like character that, unlike Dean could be the real deal and who seems to have reached a William Burroughs state in his existence with a comfortable house and a gun at the ready whenever he needs it.

On the Road captures a sense about experiences and life in one neatly wrapped package that will stick with you, the characters may be a little pretentious but the movie is self aware of that and it also has guts, I spoke about The Rum Diary and how that movie didn't have the guts to really show the material that was more necessary to the story well this does, this is one of the most daring films Ive seen in the theaters and will most likely see all year.

Rating: 3 1/2 stars out of 4

While watching Blue Valentine there was one key thought in my mind, "why aren't there more movies like this". How can there be so many movies about big dumb robots or serial killers and there aren't more movies about the little but important things like family and the problems of marriage. There are only two other movies I could think of that are made like this and at this caliber (Nil by Mouth and Rachel getting married).

There's a boy and a girl, so simple. The boys name is Dean (Ryan Gosling) a charming, talented  blue collar boy who lives for the moment. The girls name is Cindy, a hardworking student who looks toward the future.

Eventually we learn that Cindy is pregnent and it may or maynot be Deans, but to him it doesnt matter, when the baby comes it is unexpected and they have to get shotgun married but it is a welcomed marrige that these two would have probably ended up doing anyway.

Blue Valentine intertwines its plot between the present and the past of the young hopeful couple that seemed would last forever and the now worn out with their married life.

Both Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams convey their roles with startling elegance.  They both move and look the parts of each end of the equation that their meant to display, from the glowing hopefull young couple, to the worn out tried older couple whos romantic spark has gone out maybe about three years ago (maybe more).

The clash in their relashionship comes with time because ultimateley they want two completely different things. Dean wants things to live a fairy tale, always happy, always the same. Cindy wants growth and for their relationship to develop, Dean's jokes and playful attitude that once brought a smile to Cindy's face now just seem like she has to take care of an overgrown child.

One scene that has grown in appreciation over the times that Ive watched Blue Valentine is the scene where Dean and Cindy go out for their first date, where they walk through the street and come across a wedding shop and in a moment of sweetness Dean suggests that he plays a song on his Ukelele while Cindy dances to it. In the moment the playing and the dancing (along with Deans "goofy"singing) is a truly sweet moment but after watching it again and listening more closely to the lyrics its really a dark prophecy of the times to come.

"YOU ALWAYS HURT THE ONES YOU LOVE, THE ONES YOU SHOULDN'T HURT AT ALL".

Blue Valentine shows the whole cycle of a relationship between two people that it seems that it just wasn't meant to be and that love that may start sweet can end very bitterly.

Rating: 3 1/2 stars out of 4