Movie Review - The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Movie Title

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Year

2013

Genre

Adventure, Comedy, Drama

This is a reboot of the 1947 movie (! Yup, there was a 1947 version of this movie!) which was from an original short story with the same name from 1939. Wow - so much history in this movie.
Walter Mitty (Ben Stiller) is someone whom most would call a timid guy who leads a rather un-eventful life. So he compensates by literally zoning-out regularly and that’s where he lives out his most outrageous fantasies. The movie starts with Walter registering himself into a dating site just to get to know a female colleague that he fancies but is too timid to approach personally, Cheryl Melhoff (Kristen Wiig).

 And this is where the audiences get their fun as we can’t really predict what he’s gonna think himself into and we can’t wait for his next spacing-out episode because they all are totally unrelated and really fun to watch.

 Walter Mitty and the rest of his colleagues working in the LIFE Magazine office being told of the inevitable news that the printed version of LIFE Magazine will come to an end in a couple of months and their focus should be on producing the best cover ever for LIFE’s final issue. 

 Walter is the manager for the Negative Asset Dept (for film & photography) and coincidentally, the LIFE office receives a roll of negatives from a world renowned reclusive photographer Sean O'Connell (Sean Penn), who happens to be Walter’s close and trusted friend. And in O'Connell's message, he told Walter and the LIFE Magazine management that the picture #25 from the roll was the picture that defined what life or LIFE Magazine was all about. 

However, the picture #25 was somehow removed from the rest of the roll of negatives! So the rest of the movie was basically his personal quest to track down Sean O'Connell, wherever in the world he may be, as he's always travelling to capture the next picture, and to ask O'Connell about what happened to picture #25 and how to locate it!

There are certain parts of the movie where it reminded me or at least made me think about one of my all-time favourite movies – Forrest Gump. This was especially so when Walter was skate-boarding across Iceland. 

Acting
I admit that although I'm not a real fan of Sean Penn or Shirley Maclaine (who plays Walter's mum - Edna Mitty), but these two turned in really fantastic performances here despite having very little screen time. I'll have to say this about Madonna's ex-hubby, he's a real ugly "kid" but credit where it's due, whenever I see him in ANY role, he delivers in spades! (kinda like Edward Norton, but of course, Ed's much better looking than Sean but both are outstanding actors.)
I also thought the cinematography was very well done, capturing the beautiful panoramic vistas of the Greenland & Iceland landscapes.

Overall

Ben Stiller really looked good in this movie. I say this because Ben normally has this look about him that's not quite normal but difficult to put a finger on it. 

Yes, most of the experiences Walter goes thru' are just too fantastic to be taken seriously but then again, that's exactly what movies out to provide, a fun outlet for audiences to live out fantasies, however fantastic they may be, thru' the characters such as Walter.

I find it very relatable because in Walter, we have someone who is as ordinary as anyone can ever be and he's doing some really extraordinary stuff. It's very uplifting because it gives hope to us all

The curiousity factor from viewers trying to see what new fantasy Walter will find himself in and also what picture #25 is are enough reason to keep me hooked right to the end! I also thought the pacing was very good as there were no dull moments where I was thinking "I need some popcorn" or "I should go to the loo now".

I can't say for others but it gave me a good feeling walking out of the cinema and I would recommend this movie to anyone as it's not a typical movie but also not so strange and inaccessible as say Being John Malkovich.

Rating: 7/10

Comic Review - 47 Ronin

Title/Storyline

47 Ronin 1-5

Publish Date/Year

2012

Creative Team

Mike Richardson

Stan Sakai

Publisher

Dark Horse

Story
Some basic terminology for better enjoyment when reading this story.

Bushido - Samurai Code of Honor
Ronin - Masterless Samurai
Seppuku - Honorable Ritual Suicide
Shogun - Rulers appointed by Japanese Emperors

I had initially thought this was an original piece of work but in fact it's one of Japan’s most famous historical legends, supposedly based on a true 18th century epic tale that tells of a group of 47 loyal Samurais who sought vengeance after their master was unjustly murdered by a corrupt palace official.

The series starts off with an old visiting Samurai named Murakami Kiken who re-told the story to a priest serving at the shrine where the 47 samurai are buried.

In 1701, Lord Asano must travel to the Shogun's palace for official duties. Lord Asano must prepare himself with proper court etiquette by learning from the corrupt and greedy Lord Kira who expects a hefty bribe from everyone he teaches.
 Asano confronts Kira.
Lord Asano refuses to pay the bribe and this results in Lord Kira humiliating Lord Asano before all the other lords at the palace. In anger, Asano drew his sword against Lord Kira. Drawing a sword in the Shogun's palace is crime is punishable by death, either in honor (ritual suicide - seppuku) or in shame (beheading).

The Shogun ruled that Castle Ako and all of its possessions be transferred to the Shogunate & all the retainers (Samurais) are ordered to disband & leave.

Word of Lord Asano's demise finally arrives at Lord Asano’s Castle Ako. His loyal Samurais are deeply angered by the news.

Led by Lord Asano's Chief Samurai, Oishi, along with 46 other Samurais swore an oath to avenge their master's wrongful death and restore their honor against the corrupt & treacherous Lord Kira.
 Oishi and his Samurais
Lord Kira knows that Asano’s loyal Samurais, led by Oishi, will seek his head to avenge and restore their master's honor. Lord Kira, with hired bodyguards, has been fearfully hiding in his private compound for over a year.

The 47 loyal samurai, now considered by some as Ronin, as the now no longer have a master, spend over a year to execute their plan. The time taken was part of the plan to lure Lord Kira into a false sense of security.

Knowing that Kira's spies are observing them, Oishi, lives a life of debauchery. Openly turning his back on Bushido and instead took up drinking and prostitutes, even to the point of disowning his wife & children.

Kira truly believes Oishi was no longer the Samurai he thought Oishi to be, he releases the extra men he'd hired to protect him.

The night had finally come and the 47 Ronin mount their long-awaited attack ,knowing full well the fate that awaits them after their act of vengeance - death.

Artwork
Stan Sakai, best known for his work in Usagi Yojimbo (Fantagraphics). Many may not like or may take a bit of getting used to his style as it looks very cartoon-like. But once you can see beyond that, you will start to appreciate the beauty of his art style.

Many have commented that they were a little surprised by his work in 47 Ronin as there are no funny animals (read Usagi Yojimbo and you'll know exactly what everyone is saying.) Sakai’s art has been consistent and fantastic the whole way through.

The other famous character that Sakai was involved with was none other than my favorite barbarian - Groo (see B&W image below).

Overall
A tale of Honor, Loyalty & Integrity. Richardson and Sakai's phenomenal 47 Ronin is a MUST READ (especially for my fellow Malaysians as I truly believe so many of us have lost our way and need to relocate these lost but essential virtues)!
Stan SakaiGroo & Usagi
Much to my personal delight, I found out that this will be made into a movie that will be out at the end of this year! However, the bad news is that Keanu Reeves is acting in it. Looks like we'll have to wait and see.

Here are some of the movie posters:

Movie Review - The Man of Steel

Movie Title

Man of Steel

Year

2013

Genre

Action, Sequel, Comic Adaptation

Story

As this movie is still new, please be warned that there will be SPOILERS throughout the review! 

The movie begins by showing us how Krypton was in its death throes. Because of its dire scenario, Krypton's Military faction, led by General Zod (Michael Shannon), seizes control from the Ruling Council by force, just as Jor-El (Russell Crowe), representing the Science Faction, was presenting his case to the Council. 

Jor-El effectively technically becomes a fugitive after steals the genetic codes of the Kryptonian gene-pool, dubbed the Codex,and encodes it into baby Kal-El's genes before sending him off to Earth. Eventually, Zod and his crew were imprisoned in the Phantom Zone when Law Enforcers loyal to the Ruling Council retake the reigns. Not long after, Krypton implodes as Jor-El had warned.

Next we see Clark Kent (Henry Cavill, recently seen in Immortals) as a 33-year old adult. Wandering from job to job across America, using his powers to help people whenever he sees there is a need.

Soon he crosses path with Lois Lane (Amy Adams, recently seen in the Muppets) when the US Military was investigating an object buried within the ice in the Arctic Wasteland. Clark finds an ancient Kryptonian Probe Ship and learns of his Kryptonian heritage while saving Lois at the same time.

Unknown to Kal, his actions in the Kryptonian Probe Ship had betrayed his presence to Zod and his crew who had been searching for him (since their escape from the Phantom Zone when Krypton was destroyed) with the objective to retrieve the Codex in order to fulfill his plans to revive Krypton by terra-forming the Earth.

The rest of the movie was a major slug-fest between Zod's forces and Superman (with a little help from the US Military, Transformers-style.)

Of course, no Superman movie would be complete without Jonathan (Kevin Costner, best known for Water World...? >>snicker<<) & Martha Kent (Diane Lane), who were instrumental in Clark's upbringing and good ol' American values - Truth, Justice and the American Way.

Acting

Well, I noticed something I had not before, which was Henry Cavill has really bad (as in jagged) teeth in his lower jaw!

Amy Adams' Lois is also my favourite from among all the other screen Lois Lane portrayals. She's spunky, fearless, headstrong & tenacious! The only thing that's different here is that she's blonde.

Other than that, I really thought the main players had all done a good job. The only character that seemed to be hammed up a little too much was Michael Shannon's portrayal of General Zod. Yeah, I understand that Zod was a fanatical zealot, but he was also a highly disciplined militant who is not given to fits of rage...

Overall

I was lucky enough to be able to watch MOS in a premiere screening at the newly refurbished TGV Cinemas in 1-Utama. Unfortunately, I was seated at the very 1st row of the hall. What made the whole experience more painful than extracting your wisdom tooth was that the screen was less than 15 feet in front of me. So it was a miracle my neck is not in a cast this morning!

C'mon Malaysia, have a little pride and have some standards! I can't imagine anyone having to pay hard earned $$$ to sit 15 feet away from the big screen and having to strain one's neck for over 2 hours! That's just insane! If it wasn't the Man of Steel, I would've walked out.

Anyway, on to the movie. I thought it was the best Superman movie so far. I don't mean to take credit from Richard Donner's Classic Superman from 1978, which was a great movie, for its time! It was slightly campy and Lex Luthor was not very menacing.

Here, Snyder has made the threat of General Zod and his crew truly menacing, a planetary level threat that is worthy of a hero like Superman!

The fight scenes were intense & power-packed, as they should be. Many of the action scenes were a blur (I'm not sure if this was because I was seated right at the 1st row and the screen was simply too big to for me to see it completely or if it was meant to show the speed of Kryptonians in a fight.) 

The physics of the action sequences were also flawless, unlike many of the action movies that employ wire-work for their action scenes.

I really liked the pacing & editing. The flashbacks, which were necessary for general audiences to understand the back-story, were inserted at places where the questions in the minds of viewers would arise. Kudos to Snyder.

My beef was more Superman's new costume, which is of course in congruence with his new duds in DC's New 52 books. Despite that, I think it looks bad. To me, it looks like scuba gear with a big "S" in front & red boots. I also didn't like the latticed look on costumes - made popular by the Spiderman movies (which worked, in Spidey's case). To me, Superman without his red shorts, just doesn't seem right. I'm predicting it right now, that DC WILL eventually bring back the red shorts in about 3 years from now. Just wait and see!

My other gripe was the Kryptonian scenes in the beginning of the film. It reminded me too much of Avatar, but not in a good way... =(

There is 1 complaint which to me is most serious, that is as far as I know, Superman (and Marvel's Captain America) NEVER kills, but in he does in this movie. =(

However, there were a lot of things done right despite the fact that I thought Zod and his crew might have escaped from Kandor the Bottled City (because I had forgotten all about the Phantom Zone). 

Fans and Non-Fans alike MUST watch this movie! Hopefully, the success of this movie would lead to a Justice League movie soon!

Rating: 7/10