Australian Solace 3

nice glasses

Australia ****

Directed by Baz Lurhmann

Director Lurhmann continues his tradition of making films that defy reality and immerse you in surreal dreamscapes. Like Romeo & Juliet, and Moulin Rouge before it, Australia borders on camp at times with its syrupy melodrama and countless movie clichés, but I think that was part of Lurhmann’s intent. The movie is full of green screen shots that seem to have no other purpose but to create the feel of a film from the 1950s.

The movie is narrated by a young boy whose story happens to intertwine with that of Nicole Kidman’s Lady Ashley and Hugh Jackman’s Drover, and the young actor Brandon Walters virtually steals the show. Australia the continent is merely a pretty backdrop here, and although historical elements are touched on don’t go into this one expecting a history lesson. The film actually has elements of fantasy in several scenes.

I enjoyed the film, but it does go on about 15 minutes too long, and could’ve been edited a little tighter, but there are splendid visuals galore and much for romantic adventure lovers to swoon over. For older movie goers who say they don’t make them like they used to I give you Australia which was made darn near exactly how they used to.

Transporter 3 **

Directed by Olivier Megaton

The first Transporter was loads of fun. The second Transporter was so over-the-top ridiculous I use it as an adjective to describe over-the-top ridiculous films. The third Transporter harkens back to the first film with one major setback. The female lead, Natalya Rudakova, is sorely lacking in appeal. Her Valentina is, in my opinion, the most annoying film character since Jar Jar Binks.

The action here is just okay, nothing that hasn’t been done better in other films, and Statham’s Frank character is still the only thing this series has going for it. All this character needs is a good story and bigger budget and….ahh just wait and watch it on cable.

Bourne who?

Quantum of Solace ***1/2

Directed by Marc Forster

It’s no coincidence that James Bond and Jason Bourne have the same initials. The producers of the Bond series are acutely aware of the Bourne films success and have steered Bond down the same path of quick cut editing, and brutal hand-to-hand combat.

Daniel Craig continues to carve out his own unique version Bond, a version that has grown on me with repeated viewings of Casino Royale. Solace is the first Bond film that works as a direct sequel, and honestly without Royale, Solace makes very little sense. The plot hints at a larger villainous conspiracy (a la Spectre), but no clear answers are given.

There is much to entertain in this film, despite some impressionistic (bordering on incoherent) action sequences, Craig demands attention and his eye-catching leading lady Olga Kurylenko holds her own in an underwritten role. It’s nowhere near as great as Casino Royale, but as a direct continuation of that story it is a well-made actioner and worth watching.

Spotlight

Trying out the NewBlue FX I just purchased for Sony Vegas.

Atypical REVIEW_episode one

Trying something a little different this time…