The Wolfman

The Wolfman (2010) C+
 
Directed by: Joe Johnston
 
Cast includes: Benecio Del Toro, Emily Blunt, Anthony Hopkins, Hugo Weaving
 
Color, Horror
 
This was definitely not the worst movie I’ve ever seen. I’ll leave that distinction to Nicholas Cage’s Knowing. I must say that I did not go into The Wolfman expecting to like the movie at all because of what I had heard about it from the critics, so I was pleasantly surprised in that respect. Lawrence Talbot (Del Toro) is summoned back to Blackmoor, his family’s manor and place of a childhood trauma, by his brother’s fiancé Gwen, played by Emily Blunt. His brother is missing but by the time he arrives at Blackmoor, his brother’s body has already been found, along with two others, ripped to shreds. While attempting to find the cause of his brother’s death, Lawrence himself gets bit by the beast and survives. What happens next is no surprise. During a full moon he himself becomes a werewolf. But who is the original beast and how will Lawrence’s own condition be resolved? Will the Scotland Yard detective (Weaving) investigating the case catch him?
 
The Wolfman is a throwback to the original horror movies, only with much more gore and CGI. Trust me, lots more gore! If seeing blood on the screen makes you sick, then I do not recommend you see this movie. The story was predictable with no major plot twists. I had already figured out what I think was intended to be the main twist from all the previews I had seen. While the storyline about Lawrence Talbot’s past helped support the story, there was not as much depth to it as I had hoped. There was very little background to Lawrence’s father (Hopkins), Sir John Talbot, and absolutely no characterization of Gwen. I must say the cinematography deserves an A+ for some stunning shots. I enjoyed the elements of the classic horror film present in the movie. I almost jumped out of my seat several times, but with better developed characters The Wolfman would have been a much better movie.

Solaris

Solaris (2002) B+

Directed by: Steven Soderbergh
Cast includes: George Clooney, Natascha McElhone, Jeremy Davies, Viola Davis, and Ulrich Tukur
Color, Sci-Fi, Romance
 
This version is based on a novel and film from the Soviet Union of the same name about cosmonauts’ strange experiences on another planet. In this film a psychologist (Clooney) is contacted by a friend (Tukur) to join him on a mission due to strange happenings on their spaceship. When he arrives the silence and blood that greet him create an anxious atmosphere that pervades the screen. Clooney finds that his friend has committed suicide and the two remaining crew members are plagued by bizarre fears. As it turns out, the planet the ship is orbiting, Solaris, creates a “visitor” created by their memories of that “visitor” for each person on board. Clooney’s is his dead wife, McElhone, who we find out through flashbacks committed suicide when Clooney left their marriage.
 
These flashbacks are emotional and powerful; the visuals of the planet and inside the ship are pleasing. Jeremy Davies, before he spent time on “the island” on Lost, provides comic relief with something strange lurking under the surface. Soderbergh does a great job of telling a story without overloading us with dialogue. Slightly reminiscent of 2001: A Space Odyssey, Solaris is a troubling examination of emotions and memory.

Any good movies lately?

It's been awhile since I've posted here.  Job and family obligations have kept me quite busy for the last month.  Last week my husband and I went to see Shutter Island.  We both liked it.  The previews make the movie seem much "scarier" than it really is.  The movie is really much more of a psychological thriller.  Despite the fact that I could see the ending coming, I still found it a great way to spend a Friday morning.

Speaking of mornings, Movie Tavern here in Denton has $3 movies for the first showing of each movie Monday-Friday including new releases.  So, if you live in Denton, and find yourself needing something to do mid-morning on a weekday, head to Movie Tavern!

And now my question to you is, Seen any good movies lately?