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2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
Literally breathtaking
If you're one who searches best movies of all time on your browser then you must have found this one on every list available on the web, Most probably you've seen it already. It would also be likely that you haven't. Well, if I may say, you've are missing out a great movie experience my friend.
Deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant", 2001: A Space Odyssey was selected for preservation in the National Film registry by the US Library of Congress in 1991.
Considered to be his magnum opus, 2001 surely is the best film to start with if you haven't seen any Stanley Kubrick film yet.
In a nutshell, it is about a US space mission lead by scientists Dr. David Bowman and Dr. Frank Poole, with three other scientists in crypto sleep, aboard the spaceship Discovery bound for Jupiter. Discovery was programmed to be operated mainly by Hal, a sentient HAL 9000 supercomputer. When Hal alerted the scientists about an antenna control devise failure, Bowman and Poole - after launching an EVA (extravehicular activity) - found nothing wrong and began suspecting Hal. This raised a great concern especially because Hal claims he is "foolproof and incapable of error". Afraid that this might cause mission failure, both scientists decided that if Hal is indeed malfunctioning they will disconnect him and go on manual control. When Hal found out about this plan, the mission started to go awry and everything that followed went out of plan. (Also, there are these mysterious monoliths of various sizes scattered around the outer space. What these black slabs are nobody knows but they trigger most of the action in the film.)
Prior to watching the film, I have not expected anything other than it must it turning out to be a great film. I only intended to watch this film because I bought the book 2010: odyssey two by Arthur C. Clark which is the sequel of the book which this film was based on.
Author Arthur C. Clark shares the credit for the conception of this film. Kubrick asked Clarke to write for him a story about space exploration and both later started thinking about the "proverbial good science-fiction movie". The novel 2001: A Space Odyssey was written during the years 1964-1968 and was published shortly after the release of the film in July 1968. Kubrick and Clarke later won an Oscar for the screenplay of this film.
It would be no exaggeration if I say that everything about this film is remarkable considering that it was made in the late 1960's. The film explored possibilities in film that no one before 1968 has ever tried. The conceptualization to production to execution is nothing short of impressive. Even the sound design and scoring is a feat in cinematic history.
There are certain elements that fascinated me while, and even after, watching the film. Aspects of the film that are very distinct had I watched it earlier would have been the basis of my science fiction cinematic standards. These can be narrowed down into five aspects:
The scoring and sound design - for about two minutes or so, I thought I'm watching a busted copy of the film because as the music progresses into a crescendo of eerie sounds that resonates horror all I'm seeing is black on the screen. In hindsight, this opening technique helped build up the tension I was about to feel throughout the film. I don't know if it was intended that way but it established the mysterious mood of film.
A minor element I like about this film is the sound the characters make when breathing. Hearing the inhale and exhale of the characters in their space suits gives the audience an immersive experience. This was a minor detail I noticed and liked in the movie Interstellar, which I thought was original having seen Interstellar first.
Production design -There is something about the quality of each frame that makes if pleasing with the eyes, probably because the whole production wasn't cluttered with faux futuristic props. Even the strategic use of lighting in every scene gives off an aesthetic appeal as if every frame is a work of art. I don't know if you're supposed to feel it but everything from the costumes to props to vehicles and models and the sets are incredibly believable (for a 1968 film).
Visual effects - again, this was made in the late 1960's and way before the first Star Wars film but it's unarguably still better than the latter. The seamless visual effects will make you scrutinize every scene to find lapses but it still manages to leave you wondering if they really didn't actually film it in space.
That scene where Frank Poole runs around the circular track of giant centrifuge still confuses the hell out of me. I mean, sure, they could have made it look more believable these days but in 1968? That's impressive. Also, about weightlessness effect in zero gee? I know, impressive.
The camera angles and actors' movements - I haven't seen any other film by Kubrick yet to prove this impression but in 2001 Kubrick masterfully projects a sense of balance and symmetry in every frame, as well as an eye for details which can only be products of discipline. The subtle movements of the characters and the camera pacing allow you to take in everything on the screen; from the set design to the view of the outer space on the background.
Less dialogue - why would you ask for more dialogue when you're already served too much on the screen? I think what Kubrick and the film in general wants to present is a possibility of what it would be like if one journeys out in space that is still a great mystery to the human mind, a visual experience - enthralling, vague, one that is beyond words.
I can't stress it enough but for a film that was made in 1968, 2001: A Space Odyssey is a milestone in science fiction and deserves to be experienced. No wonder why it is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential films ever made.
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017)
It doesn't have to be politically correct to be sensible
There is something about this film that I really love but I can't point out.
The acting? Frances McDormand is a wonderful and a compelling actress and man I got won over by Sam Rockwell's convincing acting which got me love-hate him. And poor me, I didn't even know who they were before this one.
Perhaps the senseless direction of the plot and the underdeveloped characters? If you really think about it, the story was going nowhere. All you got a bunch of characters who never seem to get what they want. We got characters that fight their own battles. A mother who seeks justice for her child, a cop who still lives with his domineering mother, a chief who is pressured to finish an unresolved case knowing that he is dying, and bunch of other ideas of a character that seem to show up and disappear.
Maybe everything about this film fit perfectly for me. The screenplay, the direction and cinematography, the overall production.
Should I get mad that the film failed to highlight the struggles of minorities? That there are misogynistic and racist characters? Am I stupid if I say no?
Reality is, people are racist, the justice system is flawed, grief makes people do crazy things, hate is everywhere, love always gives and doesn't demand, some families are dysfunctional, forgiveness is not everything, and answers aren't always available no matter how we demand it. This movie is a reflection of these things. People are flawed and we all go through hard times and we fight different battles and despite this, there is a glimmer of goodness within us.
Not everything has to be politically correct to be sensible. At the very least, shoving political correctness up on everybody's asses is preposterous at a time like this in my honest opinion.
Maze Runner: The Death Cure (2018)
The best conclusion fans of the series could ever have
There is something about endings that I loathe. The feeling is doubled when I actually know how and when it ends. With The Death Cure as the conclusion to The Maze Runner series, that is exactly what I felt - as if there's a countdown that licks every second in front of my face.
If you haven't watched the two previous films then there is no chance that you'd get a grasp of what's happening. They didn't waste time to get catch you up, or remind you if you forget, that the movie was set in a world that is a wasteland and that the whole human race is at the brink of extinction because of a virus called The Flare.
In a nutshell, as you may remember from The Scorch Trials, Thomas and the Gladers successfully escaped the Maze but ended up being followed by WCKD at the last part with aide of Teresa. We saw that Minho and most of the remaining teens were taken on a plane by armed men that work for WCKD. They were supposed to be transported to the Last City to be experimented for a Flare cure.
This is where The Death Cure continues the story. The film opens with an action packed sequence where Thomas, Minho, and Frypan, along with Jorge and Brenda, try to hijack the train that will bring Minho and the others to WCKD's headquarters in the Last City. Determined to start over again without WCKD's experimenting, the group would face off several challenges along the way including running away with Cranks and getting inside the heavily guarded wall of the Last City. Along the way, they would find and lost friends; a long lost Glader thought to be dead that would end up helping them and people dear to them, respectively. What lies ahead will either bring the immunes a new hope or the only cure the dying world will get: death.
I don't know about those unfamiliar with the films but fans of the book and series will get the conclusion they deserved. The producers have been generous enough to give fans 142 minutes for an ending after a 28-month hold.
Wes Ball's approach and direction with the three films has evidently developed over the years. However, there is something missing about his vision for The Maze Runner Saga that I am realizing just now - attachment with audience. The films weren't strong enough to claw on the viewers. Character buildup wasn't really given focus on the entire series which makes it hard to form attachments if one haven't already established on the previous films.
I like how T.S. Nowlin's screenplay closely followed the book but this last one was good but not good enough to leave a lasting impact even to a fan like me. This is not to say that I hate the film because personally think this is better than The Scorch Trials in many ways and Scorch was already an okay film for me. It's like a parting gift from a lover you won't even beg to stay.
Nevertheless, there are many good things I liked about the film that I want to point out.
First, the quirky dialogue. I liked how they sprinkled quirky lines on some critical parts of the film to serve as a comic relief. My personal favorite was Minho's "Is this real?" comment.
Second, the production design and VFX. Props to the team for such good production design complemented with impressive visual effects. (However, I'm not quite satisfied with the sound design during intense scenes because it did not complement the intensity of the visuals.)
Third, the good sequences. Although I have to admit that there were parts during the film that I zoned out because of the slow pacing on certain parts, they made several good sequences to compensate: the opening salvo with dangerous stunts on a moving train; the tunnel full of Cranks sequence; a bus full of teens suspended in the air by a crane. My favorite, though, was that emotional Tommy and Newt sequence that I knew was coming. The way they executed that sequence gave justice to that monumental part of the story.
Fourth, the Acting. Dylan O'Brien has really matured as an actor. You can see that he's grown out of that goofy acting he's known for in Teen Wolf and that's what I quickly noticed at the beginning. Kaya Scodelario wasn't given much highlight this time, making her a mere eye candy on the background. Sangster and Lee were good actors giving life to such a good support team. Four years with this series made these actors grow with their character. Rosa Salazar was such a surprise to me. She pulled off her character very well and it's no surprise if she'll get roles on action films in the future.
Fifth and what really got into me, the farewell letter at the end. I feel like that letter was the best send off they could give the fans. I mean, man I was thankful I got a VIP couch all on my own while I try to wipe my tears. That was a good cookie, I must say.
Over all, The Death Cure was such an emotional action film fitting for an end to The Maze Runner series.
P. S. could there be a TV series in stored in the future? James Dashner seems to be teasing on his tweet, though.