The second chapter of Peter Jackson and Company’s three-part adaptation of The Hobbit opened this weekend to praise, criticism, and a significant if not overwhelming box office. Second acts in trilogies are notoriously problematic, given the joining nature of their story structure, and this second act was already slated to be particularly problematic because of the filmmakers’ acknowledgment that they were straying far afield of the source material with this one. Add to that the fact that the source material is weaker in breadth and content than the much larger source material for Peter Jackson’s wildly successful adaptation of The Lord of the Rings a decade ago and The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug was bound to be a risky undertaking. I was not one who was disappointed when it was announced that The Hobbit would be stretched out to a trilogy. This will undoubtedly be the last time we’ll see this group bringing Tolkien’s world to life and I prefer more rather than less.

But enough with the preamble. The reason you are reading this is to determine what I thought about the film, compare it to your thoughts, and engage in dialogue. Thus I will no longer keep you in suspense. Though I felt the film lacked some of the heart-string-tugging emotion of An Unexpected Journey, the chance to visit multiple Middle-earth locales, the action that made two hours and forty minutes rush by, and a better than hoped for realization of the dragon Smaug made this another highly enjoyable exploration of Tolkien’s creation. I liked the film very much. Though none of The Hobbit film trilogy will, or frankly should, hold a candle to the film adaptation of The Lord of the Rings, the passion and creativity of the filmmakers is evident in every frame.

See it on the biggest screen possible, Smaug is a wonder to behold.

Continue reading The Desolation of Smaug: A Film Review →

The film adaptation of Markus Zusak’s 2007 bestselling novel is now in wide release and the trailer looked compelling enough to pull us out on a frigid December day to go to the matinee at a local theater.  I am one of the few remaining passionate readers who has not read The Book Thief, and so I went into the film knowing little about the overall story.  Coming into it cold I have to say that I felt the film was quite impressive.

A few talented known actors combined with a large cast of relative  unknowns to present an emotional look at a chapter in our history that should never be forgotten.   The Book Thief is a richly texture reminder of humanity at its worst and a glimpse of what we can be at our very best.

Downton Abbey director Brian Percival worked with a deft touch, subtly painting the picture of a small family set against the backdrop of the Holocaust.  Young Liesel arrives in a small village to be adopted by a German couple, an act of attempted salvation by her communist mother.  What might normally seem like an idyllic place soon pales as the cloud of the Nazi ideal settles upon the town.  As the move towards purification begins, an unexpected guest arrives and Liesel’s new home is thrown into turmoil.  The Book Thief examines life inside Nazi Germany through the eyes of seemingly inconsequential people and in so doing demonstrates both the power of the printed word and of the difference one life can make to lives of those around it.

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Ah, the good Doctor. It may be impossible to describe the intense pleasure of Doctor Who to anyone who hasn’t fallen head over heels for the series since its reboot in 2005 with Christopher Eccleston in the titular role of the alien Time Lord and his companion Rose Tyler, played charmingly by Billie Piper up through its current iteration played by Matt Smith with the equally charming companion Clara (Jenna Coleman).  The seven seasons (and assorted specials) that make up Doctor Who‘s current run have managed to keep the same goofy sensibility and cheesy effects as the beloved earlier outings while building up a devoted following with characters and story lines that play across the spectrum of human emotion.

2013 marks the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who and perhaps the biggest celebration of that milestone has been this long-anticipated 50th Anniversary special, The Day of the Doctor.   Season 7 ended with its own teaser/cliffhanger, a glimpse into what would be the central focus of the 50th Anniversary episode, and the final swan song (minus one) for Matt Smith’s run as the Doctor.  Mary and I watched the final season seven episode, The Name of the Doctor, last night in anticipation for a trip to one of our local theaters to watch The Day of the Doctor on the big screen.  Though the show aired Saturday on BBC and I purchased it on Amazon Prime on Sunday, we decided to experience for the first time this way.  Let me tell you, it was worth the wait.

I can no longer count how many times the writers and cast have wrung emotion from me over the last several seasons…but I can tell you when it happened most recently.  Any guesses?

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This weekend saw the opening of Catching Fire, the second film (of four) adapting author Suzanne Collins’ bestselling Hunger Games trilogy.   The novels became a topic of conversation between my wife and daughter over the last year as they both enjoyed reading them and partook of that special pleasure that all readers have of interacting over a beloved book.  I have not read them and knew little about the plot beyond that which had been revealed in the media promotion for the first novel adaptation, The Hunger Games.  My wife and daughter had seen the film and enjoyed it, expressing understanding of the nature of adapting a book to film: changes will be made.

Something about the trailer for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire sparked (pun intended) an interest in the series I hadn’t previously felt and earlier this week I sat down and watched the first film.  I thought it was good.  Not great.  It felt like an opening film with a lot of necessary setup.  I thought the actor/actresses choices were good and although it contained some of the issues common to most science fiction films I would be the last to complain about those.  Catching Fire, on the other hand, was a rush.  I felt engaged from the opening scene and repeatedly throughout the film the focus of my internal dialogue was the way in which the story did not suffer from second-film-itis as many in a (sort of) trilogy can.  While The Hunger Games left me interested in seeing this film, Catching Fire has left me with anticipation for the films that will encompass the final book in the trilogy, Mockingjay.

My rating: 8.5/10  See it!

Continue reading Catching Fire: A non-spoiler film review →

Back in the mid-80’s Orson Scott Card wrote a book about a six-year-old boy named Andrew Ender Wiggin, an extraneous child in a population-controlled future Earth who would go on to be drafted into an elite militaristic program, trained to be a part of Earth’s last hope to prevent a second invasion of an alien force known as the Formics. Ender’s Game, largely focused on the social and psychological struggles of this young genius trying to find his place in a new world, went on to win two of science fiction’s most prestigious awards: the Nebula Award and the Hugo Award. Card then did the unthinkable, he won them both again with the indirect sequel, Speaker for the Dead.

I first read Ender’s Game in December of 2007, followed by a January 2008 reading of Speaker for the Dead. At the close of Ender’s Game I was an emotional wreck, and Speaker for the Dead surprised me by eliciting an even stronger response. My times with each book remain among my most cherished reading experiences.

Orson Scott Card once said that he considered Ender’s Game unfilmable. He later changed his mind and is reportedly impressed with the newly released film adaptation. I agree with him, both then and now. Ender’s Game, the film, is certainly not a perfect adaptation. If it suffers in any way it is because of the fact that it is impossible to condense the nuances of the novel down to a two-hour film. However, the acting throughout is laudable, the special effects are impressive but do not detract from the story, and the filmmaker’s managed to fit in a great deal of the novel in the time that they were allowed.

8/10 stars. Well worth seeing on the big screen.

Continue reading Ender’s Game: A non-spoiler film review →