Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters REVIEW

Uploaded August 19 2013

TRILOGY MONTH IS ON A HIATUS. BECAUSE I FINALLY SAW SEA OF MONSTERS AND IT HAPPEND TO TIME ITSELF NEAR POSTING DAY. 

ALSO SINCE I DISCUSS THE SOURCE MATERIAL AS WELL. SPOILER WARNING IS IN EFFECT. READ AHEAD AT YOUR OWN RISK.

TRILOGY MONTH WILL RESUME NEXT WEEK.

Alo Party Peoples.

I finally saw Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters. It was okay. As my dad said "it's exactly like a Disney show". And I felt that it had the tone and feeling of the fourth Harry Potter movie. 

It is a very CGI driven movie. But in it's favor, said CGI looks great. Especially the movie version of Kronos. People who, like me, have read the books, this like the first film takes a lot of liberties with the source material. So Kronos shows up here, because Luke succeeds in getting the Golden Fleece to him. And Riptide can apparently kill Titans now. Because Riptide is apparently forged by Posideon and also the cursed blade of the Prophecy. Maybe.

I do wonder if the filmmakers were adapting the CliffNotes version of this. Because it feels a bit rushed. Considering my dad's quote above I think they might have been appealing to that audience. And it does feel like Goblet of Fire, but it is assuredly a better film than That Which Must Not Be Seen. 

Overall I'm disappointed, but not crushingly so. We probably won't get a movie version of The Titans Curse. And no the Party Ponies don't show up. I do recommend the books though they are great.

Overall Rating: C-

Hats off to all and have a nice day.

   Greg.B

Coming Soon! To A Theater Near You!

Alo Party Peoples.

As I write this, I just got back from the cinema after seeing The Wolverine. Overall, B- movie. It's really good. Much better than the last Wolverine movie. A lot better than Man of Steel. Go see it, stay through the credits. 9.5/14 But that's not what I'm here to discuss. I'm here to discuss movie trailers.

I don't know about you but I love seeing the trailers. It feels nice to see what's coming up in the entertainment sphere. What to see, what to avoid, what to add to the anticipation list. So I thought it would be fun to share my opinions on the trailers that played before my showing of The Wolverine.
I will provide a link to watch the trailers. Give me your opinions in the comments.



The Hunger Games:Catching Fire
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keT5CRhhy8

The first Hunger Games movie.... Was pretty mediocre in my opinion. You could tell that they were betting the barn on fans of the book. It wasn't bad mind you, just not remarkable. This one looks, okay.



Prisoners
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kWeHtI63jc

This is different.


47 Ronin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8cKdDkkIYY

Here's something I didn't expect. An attempt to bring back the samurai movie, with a huge blockbuster loosely based off of historical events with an injection of fantasy. I'm sold.


Paranoia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snFPe1bXXyk


Looks good.


Elysium
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTjv2KNK5GY

I am excited for this. Looks awesome. I am all for original ideas at the movies. It's not based off a toy, or adapted from a comic, or a remake of some other film. Hell yeah.

Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6aYjbpBm-E

Okay. This is mostly what I wanted to talk about. I love the books. I saw the first movie. It was frustratingly average. On it's own it stands up as a pretty decent action movie. But it pales in comparison to the book. My biggest gripe was that it felt too much like an attempt to make the Harry Potter lightning strike twice. While also trying to make it look as different from Harry Potter as possible and appeal to a completely different audience. However this one looks much better. It seems that they are trying to bring back in plot elements that would be major parts of the series that were established in the first book. Which had been cut from the first movie.

The biggest surprise however is a PG rating. You almost never see a PG rating anymore. Do you ever notice that?

I am excited for this. You will probably get a review of it.



Hats off to all and see you next week.


   Greg.B

Revisiting The Grid..... (Tron:1982, Tron Legacy:2010)

Alo Party Peoples.....




Right now we are using computers. I wonder.....


Does the Internet dream? Does it think? After all the human brain is just a series of electrical signals that run through several billions of little processors. It's not that much of a stretch to imagine that a computer with enough chips might develop a sense of itself......

Because I can't come up with a segway. -->


The original Tron was a movie about a computer programmer named Kevin Flynn who designed several arcade games which his bosses stole from him and fired him. While trying to hack into their systems to get incriminating evidence he gets zapped by a laser. That transports him into the computer, an environment realized with then experimental digital animation.


It certainly looked different than anything else. And it is a good movie. But while it in my opinion it holds up, it is overall a standard fantasy adventure. Covered in computer terminology. It came out in 1982 and was essentially forgotten by everyone except animation buffs, young geeks, and computer nerds. Who fell in love with it's living arcade visual scheme....

Tron (1982)

It is good. The visuals are good, by the standards of the time it's emphasis-ing amazing. By the standards of now....

Here is a still from Tron

Tron: Legacy (2010)

And here is a shot form it's sequel/remake from 2010

Speaking of which....

Over the course of thirty years....

The animation buffs took over Disney, the geeks took over Hollywood, and the computer nerds took over the planet. And thus by their decree in 2010 it was reborn as Tron Legacy. An attempt at creating another multi-sequel juggernaut like Pirates of the Caribbean (we will eventually get to that one trust me) while also being a love letter/apology to long suffering fans of the first movie. And I emphasis-ing love it. Overall it is a 10/14

Good but not quite great. Worth seeing for the amazing visuals and score. If you liked the original it's almost a must-see. Said visuals take the originals neon and black arcade aesthetic and beautifully merge it to and update it with the technical wonders of the present. I'm glad that they didn't try to change the grid to reflect the visual styles of modern video games. If they had we would be walking through an overcast grey city ruin for two hours. Of particular note is the score by French electronic musicians Daft Punk, it melds perfectly with the visuals. And the movie is worth seeing just for those.



But it isn't perfect. The characters are kind of one note. The performances, while not bad, are kind of forgettable. And it opens and closes with character introductions that land like huge reveals. That are then shoved off to the side. It is clear that they are meant to be important in the sequel. Which if they are making another one than I am most certainly interested. And the film while it is a sequel ends up being a play by play remake of the first. Disc battle, light-cycle chase, solar sail etc...

But while these problems keep it from being great, they don't keep it from being good, and certainly don't keep it from being worth seeing.

Hats off to all and have a nice day.


   Greg.B

Tron is owned by the Walt Disney Company

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Alo Party Peoples

I promised you a review of The Hobbit.

I will now give you that review.

I liked it. It's great. Don't go in expecting Lord of The Rings because it isn't. It's Peter Jackson's three movie victory dance. But it is a great movie.

Overall rating: Great.5 12.5/14

Hats off to all and have a nice day. 

Next time.....

ACHIVEMENT UNLOCKED!!

As of July 16th 2013 I have officially filled my shelf with movies.

The Avengers (2012)

Batman (1989)

Be Kind Rewind (2008)

Blades of Glory(2007)

The Breakfast Club (1985)

Casino Royale (2006)

The Corpse Bride (2005)

The Dark Knight (2008)

Doctor Strange: The Sorcerer Supreme (2007)

Dodgeball (2004)

Goldfinger(1964)

The Hangover(2009)

Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone (2001)

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2003)

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

(2004)

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 (2010)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 (2011)

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey(2012)

I Am Legend (2007)

Iron Man (2008)

Leatherheads (2008)

LOTR: The Fellowship of the Ring(2001)

LOTR: The Two Towers(2002)

LOTR: Return of the King (2003)

The Matrix (1999)

Nacho Libre(2006) 2 copies

Night at The Museum (2005)

Oceans Eleven (2001)

Pirates of the Carribean: Dead Mans Chest (2006)

Prehistoric Park (2006)

Quantum of Solace (2007)

J.K. Rowling and The Birth of Harry Potter (2004)

Spider-Man(2002) 2 copies

Spider-Man 2 (2004)

Star Wars: Episode IV (1977)

Star Wars: Episode V (1980)

Star Wars: Episode VI (1983)

Tower Heist (2011)

Tron (1982)

Tron Legacy (2010)

Tropic Thunder (2008)

Watchmen (2009)

X-2: X-Men United(2003)

You Only Live Twice(1967)

That is a picture of me. Next to my collection On that day I turned fifteen. 

Hats off to all and have a nice day.

    Greg.B

Happy Birthday To Myself Happy Birthday to WMDs, And an Apology

Alo Party Peoples.

First I would like to apologize for my last post. At best it was an incredibly awkward shift of tone and topic. At worst I have likely lost more than a few readers.  I probably should have had someone look at it before I said the things I said. I will do my best to regulate my tone. Now I am going to look for an official blog editor.


In other words. I am sorry.

Note that I still stand by my opinions. But I went overboard in expressing them and I apologize for that.


Also.....

Happy Birthday to Myself!


It's my birthday today. No I am not saying which birthday, because I would like to keep that emphasising private.

The poll has ended and The Hobbit has won.The review is coming. I will probably get that up sometime next week.

Bit of Trivia:   And it is also the birthday of the atomic bomb. On July 16th 1945 the Trinity test bomb was a sucess and the USS Indianapolis left San Fransico with parts for the bomb "Little Boy" bound for Tinian Island.


Hats off to all, and have a nice day.

     Greg.B

Collection Updated

Alo Party Peoples.

I've decided to bring you up to speed on my collecting progress.

Greg.B's DVDs

-------------------------------------

-The Avengers (2012)

-Batman (1989

-Blades of Glory(2007)

-The Breakfast Club (1985)

-Casino Royale (2006)

-The Corpse Bride (2005)

-Doctor Strange: The Sorcerer Supreme (2007)

-Dodgeball (2004)

-Goldfinger(1964)

-The Hangover(2009)

-Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone (2001)

-Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)

-Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2003)

-Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

(2004)

-Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)

-Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)

-Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 (2010)

-Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 (2011)

-The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey(2012)

-I Am Legend (2007)

-Leatherheads (2008)

-LOTR: The Fellowship of the Ring(2001)

-LOTR: The Two Towers(2002)

-LOTR: Return of the King (2003)

-Nacho Libre(2006) 2 copies

-Night at The Museum (2005)

-Oceans Eleven (2001)

-Pirates of the Carribean: Dead Mans Chest (2006)

-Prehistoric Park (2006)

-J.K. Rowling and The Birth of Harry Potter (2004)

-Spider-Man(2002) 2 copies

-Star Wars: Episode IV (1977)

-Star Wars: Episode V (1980)

-Star Wars: Episode VI (1983)

-Tower Heist (2011)

-Tron Legacy (2010)

-Tropic Thunder (2008)

-X-2: X-Men United(2003)

-You Only Live Twice(1967)

Hats off to all. And have a nice day

   Greg.B

Let's Talk About Star Wars

THIS WAS WRITTEN IN ADVANCE BECAUSE I HAVE A TEST TO RETAKE.

IF ABRAMS HAS BEEN KICKED OFF THE PROJECT I WAS NOT AWARE WHEN I WROTE THIS.

Alo Party Peoples.

You are all probably aware that Disney bought Star Wars last year, and plan on making a sequel trilogy targeting a 2015 release. With at least the first installment being directed by J.J. Abrams. And while he isn't a bad filmmaker. He isn't an especially good one either. I liked his Star Trek, it's a pretty decent movie, but at the end of the day. It really is just so much forgettable nothing.

Not the best choice, in my opinion at least. He'll probably do a decent job, there probably won't be anything horrible about it. Then everyone but the hardcore fans will forget everything about it an hour after leaving the theater. Because there just isn't much "there" in there. So, here's what I'm going to do. I am going to give some suggestions to how Disney can make this work. On the slim chance that anyone with decision making power at Disney reads this, take notes.


1. Ditch Abrams.

I know that you guys already booked Abrams, but I also know that shooting isn't supposed to start until next year, so get some fresh talent in there. Any Star Wars movie is guaranteed to make a truckload of money off the name alone. So use that as a safety net to take some chances, do something bold or different or just fun in a new way. Let's get some new life pumped into this tired franchise. Besides the big names, there are thousands upon thousands of fresh out of film school people, with vision to spare, that would kill for this canvas to paint on. If you have to use a big name here are some suggestions: Sam Rami, Zack Snyder, Joss Whedon.....



2. Focus On The Story.

I know that big movies like this are essentially a buisness. And you think that asking the average moviegoer what they want is a good way to make a film that will get butts in seats. DON'T.

I must repeat, any Star Wars movie will make money regardless of marketing. So from a buisness perspective it doesn't matter what the test audience says, it will still make money. I point to the example of I Am Legend from 2007. It wasn't bad but a lot of critics said that the ending was underwhelming. That it didn't work with the rest of the film. That it conflicts with the tone of it. That it's too happy. And it does.

SPOILER WARNING

The vampires are closing in on Smiths house and might destroy the cure. So will decides to sacrifice himself so that the refugees he took in can take it to a stronghold and get it distributed. And he becomes a legend to the last of humanity. Hence the title.

But that wasn't the original ending Originally he realized that they didn't want to just kill him out of animalistic instinct. But they were actually staging a rescue mission for the vampire he kidnapped to test the cure on. Because to them, he is the boogeyman, he is the monster. He is their legend. Hence the title. It works as an ending, and it is much closer to the book. Why did the studio change it?

Because test audiences said that it was too sad. So they inserted a much more palatable ending to please the crowd.While I still like the movie, but I agree that the ending they shoved in doesn't work.


This is a good example of the fact that asking the average moviegoer, is not a good idea. It forces changes that might make more money but detract from the piece as a whole.





Hats off to all. And have a nice day


  Greg.B

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY

Alo Party Peoples.

As I live in the United States, I am required by tradition to celebrate July 4th. Which in the United States is recognized as Independence Day. Even though the Declaration was written on July 2nd and the pretty calligraphic version displayed in the Capitol was penned  on July 19th. And most of the signatures were penned in August. The fourth was when the text of the Declaration was approved.

We might not recognize the right day, but it doesn't matter.


Hats off to America. And have a nice holiday



   Greg.B

Some Changes And A New Project

Alo Party Peoples.

I can't decide what to review. And I have some stuff to plan for next month that is going to take a while. So I've decided to ask you. My readers. You can decide what I am going to review.


I have a poll up on the website now. I will change the poll every week. Right now it's to decide on a topic. Next week it will be a selection of questions the winner I will have to answer in that weeks post.


As for the new project.....


That's a surprise which will be revealed in a future post.






Hats off to all. And see you next time.

    Greg.B