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WALKERPERCY
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- Review count3
- Helpfulness votes0
- First reviewMay 10, 2009
- Last reviewDecember 19, 2010
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.3
WALKERPERCY's Reviews
Overall rating
5
/
5
Portrait of a Brave Man
PostedDecember 19, 2010
WALKERPERCY
from Falls Church, Virginia
The verdict on "The King's Speech"...
Superb! Excellent!! Outstanding!!!!
A little too fictionalized in places - with a little bit too much of the "what a hero the common man is" sentimentality - but it still gives you a magnificent sense of what George VI was like and how strong he was as a man. Also gives you a brilliant sense of just what an odious creature Edward VIII was. (In fact, it shows you that Edward VIII was even worse than you think. I am the last man to suggest les majestie, but you'll still want to punch him. The actor in the part plays the role to perfection.) The weak spot is the actor who portrays Churchill. He just does not come across as Churchill, though the role is small. (Also in fairness, while it does underplay Churchill's opposition to Edward VIII's abdication, if you have a little knowledge of the history, it also gives you a sense of how nuanced Churchill's position really was. He was defending the institution of monarchy, not so much Edward's peccadilloes.)
The film also has some really neat touches - such as when, when George VI becomes king, Princess Elizabeth reminds her sister, Princess Margaret, to curtsey before hugging their newly ascended father. (That gives you the sense of the duty bound queen Elizabeth would become.) There is also mention that Churchill, too, had a speech impediment, which parallels George VI beautifully. There are other little "Easter eggs" like that for the historically knowledgeable throughout the movie.
Superb movie. Be sure to see it.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
4
/
5
COMING ATTRACTIONS
PostedMay 9, 2010
WALKERPERCY
from Falls Church, Virginia
Iron Man 2 picks up where its predecessor left off and then dials it up a notch or ten. On the surface, this would seem to be a recipe for success given the critical and box office response to the original Iron Man.
However, while it must be said that Iron Man 2 is a good film, it is not a great film. Iron Man 2 feels less like a fully thought out movie than one of those hyper-visual coming attractions that come on before the main feature.
There is a bombardment of images and dialogue that flash past one another in quick succession without ever giving the viewer a chance to develop a grasp of the story or any real sympathy for the characters. The dialogue is snappy - in fact too snappy. The characters feel less like they are speaking to one another than that they are doing vaudeville schtick.
What then makes this movie a good movie? First, frankly, is that it is a summer movie. No need for Shakespear here and the main purpose is sensory stimulation and not plot. Iron Man 2 delivers.
Second, the acting is again absolutely superb. Everyone throws themselves - almost because they have no choice - into their roles. They say too much too fast to be really engaging, but they do it oh so well. (I do have to confess though that I miss the "Rhoddy" of the first film.)
Third, the end is satisfying. Like any roller coaster ride, when you land safely and realize that all is well and that you were not thrown from the car, you think to yourself, "Hey, that was actually kind of fun."
Furthermore, in this connection, the screenwriters send our hero into the climactic battle in full form. In super hero movies it has become habitual that the hero goes into the final battle nursing some weakness or injury that he must endure while fighting against the overpowering enemy.
Maybe it is just me, but that always takes away something from the climax. Instead of seeing a head on battle between the good guy and the bad guy, we end up seeing a battle that seems unfairly unequal and therefore not quite climatic. In Iron Man 2, the writers skipped the cliche and we get the hero at full power facing the bad guy at full power - and that super charges the action.
The result, when Iron man2 is over, the viewer wipes his hands and says, "Wow! That's that!!"
These three factors take what is otherwise a kaliedescopic mish mash of images and dialogue and redeems it into a satisfying summer - important qualifier - movie.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
4
/
5
SUPERB WISTFULNESS
PostedMay 10, 2009
WALKERPERCY
from Falls Church, Virginia
Compelling characters but a convoluted plot, weak villain a not a few smashed icons. That, and one gets tired of Vulcans with more emotions than a cackling hysteric. (Remember when Vulcans never showed their emotion - not this touchy-feely crowd.) This movie will give the franchise a new lease on life - but at the price of some of the old magic that made the original series so compelling. Still, the story is exciting and well acted. For those who have never seen Star Trek - this will be a superb introduction. For those who remember the old series, there is much here to enjoy, but you'll find yourself missing the good old days.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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