Sunshine

Rated: R

Director: Danny Boyle

Cast: Cillian Murphy, Chris Evans, Rose Byrne, Michelle Yeoh

What I loved: It is a thrilling movie, entropic (can I use that word, I looked it up, it's okay), good characterization.  All of these aspects are used to implicitly discuss life, philosophy, etc.  And, when I say that, they do not address these things directly.  Towards the beginning they have a decision to make about the course of the ship (Did I mention it is a Sci-Fi, Save-the-World movie?  Well, it is).  The decision is left to Cillian Murphy because of his role on the ship, and the rest of the movie moves around the decision.  BUT, in a realistic way.  Chris Evans - who is in the Fantastic Four and is very compelling in Sunshine - disagrees in all sorts of ways and often throughout the movie, but his character is more rich than dissonant.  

What I did not Love: I wished for more depth and movement of the plot.  Even as I write that it is because I want to adopt this way of writing about movies (these three categories).  I did not love the consistent fall into chaos of the movie.  But, I respected it and maybe liked the movie more for that reason (like why many are so much more impressed with Empire than any of the other Star Wars movies).

Movement: Sunshine moves at 75 MPH, but in a very nice RV where you have time look around at the people, the setting, the music (not the Soundtrack, the music).  Note: it is very dangerous to move in an RV at 75 MPH, but you don't notice.  Sunshine is very startling at times, will make you think, and it very well written.  

4.5/5 stars

Volver

Rated: R

Director: Pedro Almodovar

Cast: Penelope Cruz, Yohana Cobo

What I loved: I enjoy stories with history. Volver explores generational issues, family and loss, the supernatural (sort of), and at heart - it is simply a movie about people. The acting is tremendous, and in many ways it is nice to deal with a fun, easy-going supernatural-ism, rather than an overly dark, evil kind.

What I did not love: Volver is doing a couple of things at the same time. I am unable to fully back away from my desire to see more... Something in any direction! The ending is not even anti-climactic, I just wanted a bit more I think.

Movement: Volver moves around in strange ways for North American Viewers. It is fast, it does not apologize, and it leaves you wondering sometimes, but never about the important things. It is very clear what is important to director Almodovar. Cruz is an interesting character and well-written character: as a mother, a daughter, a sister, a wife, a woman with a blue-collar job.

3.5/5 stars

Watchmen

Rated: R

Director: Zack Snyder

Cast: Billy Crudup, Malin Akerman, Jackie Haley, Mathew Goode, Patrick Wilson

I confess that I have read the book, therefore this is a biased review.  I did, however, watch it with a friend in high school who has not read it.  If you are thinking about seeing Watchmen, I might read a summary on IMDB or Moviefone - don't read the spoilers, but you might get confused by the very strange montage of dead and dying "superheroes" from the last 40 years.  Essentially what you need to know is that the first generation (which includes Hooded Justice, the Comedian, Silk Spectre I, etc.) is set around the 40's, the movie is set in the mid-80's, and in the 70's the Super-heroes had to go under ground.

Watchmen is an enjoyable movie.  Funny when you are not expecting it, true to the book but without losing everyone by including all details.  There is a big difference between the book and movie in regards to the end of the film, but the movie's end made more sense relative to 2009 and some of the holes in the characterization.  

Did you like Sin City?  If you did, I think you will love Watchmen.  Do Super-hero movies annoy you because they don't have to deal with their collateral damage?  If so, I think will love Watchmen .  If you don't like violence...  Um...  This is not the movie for you!  My friend wants to read the graphic novel now.  

Watchmen follows a couple of superheroes who were working full time in the 70's - Silk Spectre/Lauri Jupiter, Rohrshack/Walter Kovacs (still active, name is not just a clever one, his face moves at all times), Adrian Veidt/Ozymandias, Dan Drieberg/Nite Owl, Jon Osterman/Dr. Manhattan - and are now in different places in their life.  The movie begins with the murder of one of their number.  The movie then expands in complexity until the credits roll.  This is why the graphic novel was so successful.  The story is intriguing, the characterization is robust and ever-expanding (even with characters we do not expect, i.e. all of them), and the violence and humor are enjoyable and well-timed. 

3.5/5 stars (5/5 for the book).