Movie Rental Finds » Fantasy

Stranger Than Fiction

wallruss — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 05:28:48 +0000

Stranger Than Fiction is the story of Harold Crick, an IRS auditor, played by Will Ferrell. While this film is a bit of a comedy, it’s not Will Ferrell’s standard fare. In fact, he plays this role fairly straight. In the movie he’s living a predictable life of his own choosing when suddenly he hears a voice, one no one else can hear, that begins to annoyingly narrate his life. That being challenging enough to bear, the always accurate narrative voice one day predicts his death which changes everything. The ‘voice’ is that of Karen Eiffel, played by Emma Thompson, who is currently writing a novel that is indeed telling the story of Harold Crick and having trouble figuring out how to kill him. A certain amount of this movie is about her character. Dustin Hoffman plays the role of literary advisor to Harold and Maggie Gyllenhaal plays the woman who makes him want something more in life.

Thought it was a little slow at times, I found this movie intriguing. Part of the time I was waiting for Will Ferrell to do some outrageously, comedic, stupid bit which amazingly didn’t happen though much of his more subtle funny stuff made it through. The other part had me wondering where it was all going as, over time, it seemed to become less and less of a comedy and more of a romantic drama. I’ve never been much of a fan of Will Ferrell and tend to pass on films he stars in but I’m moved to say I liked him in this. In fact it was such a surprise that I give it a 4 out of 5 marks. It’s one of very few films that I’ve sit through more than once.

Highlander: The Search for Vengeance

wallruss — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 22:07:01 +0000

Highlander: The Search for Vengeance tells a story of Colin MacLeod, an immortal on a quest for vengeance as the title suggests. Like most movies in the long running series, the story takes place over hundreds of years and includes many flashbacks. One of the first things you notice on seeing this film are the amazing visuals. There’s plenty of sci-fi action including post-apocalyptic weapons and robots. The pace of the story is good and if you’re already a fan of the waining series, this is a special treat. You don’t need to have seen any other installment of the many movies or series however, as the movie works well on its own.

After having been disappointed with everything that has come out of the Highlander storyline of late, I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by this film. Already an Anime fan, I appreciate the visual quality and overall look of the film. It is an untold story of the Highlander mythos and fits well into that franchise, paving the way for new stories to be told. That I am already a fan of the Highlander conversation is what got me to check out this film and I am happy I did. I found it to be pleasing on many levels and easily recommend it, giving it a 4 out of 5 marks.

The Cat Piano

wallruss — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 09:22:37 +0000

This Animated Short has been nominated for an Oscar this year but has already received numerous awards. The Cat Piano is a noir sort of film and is described as follows, “A city of singing cats is preyed upon by a shadowy figure intent on performing a twisted feline symphony.” Want to find out more about it? Check out the official site. In the meantime watch it now while it’s still on YouTube before they lock it in a vault somewhere for posterity’s sake. Enjoy!

Inkheart

wallruss — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:32:19 +0000

Inkheart is the story of a man who finds he has the power to bring characters from stories he reads aloud out of the book and into the world of the living. His discovery, however is tragic as it brings storybook villains into the real world and leads to the loss of his wife. Brendan Fraser plays the role of the ‘Silvertongue’ who searches desperately for the possibility of bringing his wife back but the villains he has freed like it here in the real world and have no intention of returning to the book. Paul Bettany plays the hero of the book Inkeart, trying to find a way back into the book. The main villain of this piece is played by Andy Serkis, (you remember Gollum?).

It was a pleasant surprise to see Brendan Fraser in a role that’s not some silly over the top action movie. He’s quite likable in this film. In fact the entire film is quite likable. This is a family movie so it has something for the young ones as well as the chaperoning adults including appearances by classic characters and creatures of literature. It’s a fantasy adventure so you suspend your belief going into it and while at some times it is quite predictable, the journey is still fun. Brendan Fraser kindly moves aside for the villain and hero of the Inkheart book to shine a little brighter than him in this movie, another departure from what we have seem from him lately. While it may never achieve the status of the classic family fantasy adventure, it is enjoyable and worth renting for family night. I give it 4 out of 5 marks.