My rating: | IMDB

Notice: Spoilers are abundant.

Indiana Jones is back! A little bit older, a little bit wiser (perhaps?), but definitely not less adventurous. Harrison Ford dons the famous hat and whip once more, and this time he teams up with young greaser Mutt (Shia LaBeouf) and blast from the past Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen) to fight none other than a group of Russian communists, headed up by the rather scary Irina Spalko, excellently portrayed by the ever lovely Cate Blanchett.

We meet up with Indy in the Nevada desert, where he has been kidnapped by the Russians to help them find a mysterious artifact in a military warehouse. After some not so gentle persuasion, he leads them to a crate containing an extra-terrestrial, which seems to be strongly magnetic. Of course, Indy tries to escape, but his initial attempt is foiled by his partner Mac, who turns out to have sided with the Russians for financial purposes. However, Indy being Indy, he manages to escape.

Back home, Indy finds himself the subject of an FBI investigation, which causes him to lose his job at the university. Upon leaving, he is approached by Mutt, who urges him to help him find an old colleague, Harold Oxley (John Hurt), who has vanished after the discovery of a crystal skull in Peru. The two travel to Peru, and find clues as to where the skull might be: in the grave of Francisco de Orellana, a Spanish conquistador. What they find there is astonishing - a one-piece crystal skull, elongated, and highly magnetic. The Soviets once more catch up with Indy and Mutt, and they are taken to the Soviets camp, where they are also holding a slightly muddled Oxley, as well as Mutt’s mother, Marion, who reveals that Mutt is actually Indy’s son. Yeah, we didn’t see that one coming.

The foursome manage to escape the Soviet camp, and a fast car chase in the jungle ensues. Eventually, Indy & co get away from the Soviets with a little help from some rather fearsome ants, and, together with Mac (who is now revealed to be a double agent and not on the Soviets’ side) find their way to the lost city where the crystal skull belongs. Inside, they find thirteen crystal alien skeletons, one missing its skull. The Soviets show up again, and Mac is now revealed to be a TRIPLE agent and actually on the Soviet side. Again. Spalko places the skull on top of the last skeleton, and it starts speaking Mayan to them, using Oxley as its medium. It tells them it wants to give them a great gift. Spalko, who is a Soviet intelligence officer, tells it she wants to know everything. Big mistake, Irina. The thirteen aliens merge into one as a portal to another dimension appears over the room, and they start feeding Spalko everything they know - too much for a mere human. The overload of information causes Spalko to ignite and disintegrate, while our heroes (plus the triple agent Mac) make their way out of the crumbling temple. Safely outside, the four (Mac didn’t make it, that’s what you get for doubling and tripling, dude) witness a giant flying saucer taking off from the temple debris.

Back in the civilized world, Indy and Marion get married. The movie ends with a scene where Indy’s hat blows off the dumbwaiter, and Mutt is about to pick it up and put it on. Before he can do so, however, Indy takes it off him.

Well. Where to begin? With that last scene, it is pretty obvious that they are setting the stage for more movies. However, I read an interview with George Lucas where he said that he’d only make a new Indy movie if he came up with a really good story, and so far he hasn’t.

I’m not a big fan of the Indiana Jones movies. I’m not an un-fan either, I’m just more or less ambivalent towards them, and as such I had pretty low expectations towards this one. I was pleasantly surprised though, as I often am. The movie provided good entertainment, a few light laughs (mostly Mutt-related) and a whole lot of cheesy action scenes, all in good Indiana Jones style. The actors did pretty good as well, but then again - can it ever go horribly wrong with Harrison Ford (I’m not going to mention that movie you did with Anne Heche, Harrison. Let’s just forget about that one, ok?) and Cate Blanchett? Shia LaBeouf did quite well too - I read somewhere that he was so psyched about being asked to be in an Indiana Jones movie that he didn’t even read the script or ask which part he was to play before he signed up. That’s the kind of enthusiasm all actors should bring to a movie, it makes their performance all that much better.

All in all a good movie - I don’t think the Indiana Jones fans of the world will be disappointed, and those of us who just enjoy action/adventure movies for what they are will surely get our money’s worth.

Belief, Dr. Jones, is a gift you have yet to receive. My sympathies. - Irina Spalko

My rating: | IMDB

Heroes aren’t born - they’re built.

Iron Man is Marvel’s latest addition to the line of comic-based superhero movies we’ve seen over the past few years, and it doesn’t let the fans down. Me, I’ve never been much of a comic book kind of girl, but the movies, the movies I have to go see.

The main character, Tony Stark (portrayed by Robert Downey Jr.) is a highly successful arms manufacturer. On a marketing tour in the Middle East to show off his latest weapon to the military, his convoy is attacked by terrorists, and he is hit by shrapnel while trying to escape, while the soldiers around him are dying. The terrorists capture him, and try to force him into using his skills to make his weapons for them, the very people he is trying to battle by manufacturing weapons. He instead uses his time (and limited resources) to first make a device to put in his chest to stop the shrapnel going into his heart, after which he moves on to making a suit to aid him and his new associate in their escape from the terrorists. And thus, Iron Man is born.

Once again, I was pleasantly surprised by a movie that I really had no high expectations for. Robert Downey Jr did a very good job as Tony Stark, being all snarky and self-obsessed for larger parts of the movie. Gwyneth Paltrow has to be mentioned as well, for her part as his administrative assistant, Pepper Potts.
The action is good, but not too overdone, the comedy is good as well, and you just walk out of the theatre feeling like you did NOT just waste a couple of hours of your life. Win!

“I’m sorry. This is the fun-vee. The hum-drum-vee is back there.” - Tony Stark

Originally published at Merilin.

My rating: | IMDB

Some thing has found us.

Ok, critics be damned, this was a pretty good movie. Yes, sure, it has caused me a rather nasty headache which I assume will be staying with me tomorrow as well, but still. Good movie.

The movie begins with a going away party for one of the main characters, Rob, who is moving to Japan. One of his friends, Hud, is in charge of taping the entire party so that Rob can watch his friends on video whenever he wants to. During the party, Rob has a falling out with his friend with a one-time benefit whom he actually kinda loves, Beth, and she leaves while they are both mad at each other.
Suddenly there is an earthquake, or so they believe to begin with. After a while it becomes “clear” that a monster has arrived in New York and is rampaging through Manhattan. While trying to leave the area and get to someplace safe, Rob gets a call from Beth, saying she is trapped in her apartment and badly injured. He and his friends go on a rescue mission, despite the fact that they will be heading towards the chaos, not away from it.

The entire movie is shot with a hand-held camera - we see everything through the eyes of Hud as he documents the happenings. I think this is why the movie is so intense - there are no awesome panoramic sweeps, no teary closeups. It focuses solely on what goes on around the group of friends. It had me thinking a lot about what I would do in such a situation. Would I be able to leave my family and loved ones? Would I run, or would I stay and help, however little I would be able to help?

It is not the most amazing of movies, but it is definitely worth the watch. If you get headaches easily, closing your eyes every now and then might help, it did for me. It is also interesting to note that there is no music during the entire movie, no soundtrack at all. I didn’t notice this during the movie at all, but it makes the end credits theme hit you harder. The ending was pretty open, leaving room for the sequel that I understand is planned for release in 2009. I know I’ll be going to see it!

Also, how many times have I not told people that there are monsters in the deep trenches of the ocean? THEY ARE THERE.

“Look, all I’m saying is that this thing coulda have come from anywhere! It could have come from outer space!” - Hud

Originally published at Merilin.

My rating: | IMDB

A comedy about growing up… and the bumps along the way.

Juno, Juno, Juno. What can I say about this movie? Well, I would start with saying that it is awesome. Fo shiz! I was hooked from the very first minute (well, after the intro was done anyway). Gripping AND hilarious, Juno actually made me laugh out loud, something I hardly ever do when I’m at the cinema. Actually I can’t even remember the last time, if there ever was one.

It all started with a chair… The story revolves around 17 year old Juno, who gets pregnant after having sex with her very good friend, Bleeker. She decides to give the baby up for adoption, and finds a suitable couple in a magazine/newspaper called The Penny Saver. She meets with them and immediately connects with the man of the couple, the musician Mark.
The movie is mostly just about how Juno deals with her life as a pregnant teenager, a “cautionary whale” among her fellow high school students. It is filled to the brim with great lines and gives a rather different view of teenage pregnancy than the one we usually get from movies.

Highly recommended! My only regret is that the movie started showing here this late - what is up with that, Norwegian movie distributors??

“I’m just gonna go ahead and nip this thing in the bud. Cuz you know, they say pregnancy often leads to, you know… …infants.” - Juno MacGuff

Originally published at Merilin.

My rating: | IMDB

Mankind has an expiration date.

A lethal virus dubbed the reaper virus has hit Scotland. In an attempt to contain the death and misery, a wall is built where the wall of Hadrian used to run, a wall so high that none can get out of Scotland, and none can get in, should they want to. A woman tries to save herself and her little girl, but it is too late for one of them - the little girl (who gets shot in the eye during the rioting) is finally taken out on a helicopter, as one of the soldiers trades his place for hers.
25 years later, the reaper virus resurfaces in London. Having spotted living humans in Scotland via their satellite surveillance, UK government decides to send in a team to try and obtain a cure from a scientist who was shut inside during the initial virus disaster. The team is led by the now not so little girl, Eden Sinclair (Rhona Mitra). What they find behind the wall is complete mayhem, a new order, led by a man named Sol. The people they find are brutal, savage, even cannibals - and they do not want the London team to find a cure, if such a thing even exists…

My first thought after watching the movie? Uhm. The movie can said to be a blend of 28 Days Later and Mad Max 2, and it also reminds me somewhat of John Carpenter’s Ghosts of Mars. If you’ve seen those three movies, now try picturing them mixed together. Add in some knights, pretty women and an insane stage show, and you’ve got Doomsday, more or less.

Now I’m not saying this is a shitty movie. It’s not. I actually found it quite entertaining. If you’re after a quick bit of crazy action, and you don’t mind the cannibalism (the scene where they barbecued reminded me of Silent Hill), then you might like it too.

“These walls around you; they were built to last, and so shall we. What we’ve built here, from the ashes, is pure blood. Uninfected by the outside world… until now.” - Kane

Originally published at Merilin.

My rating: | IMDB

This February true love takes a dive.

It’s no secret that I am a sucker for the combination McConaughey/Hudson. After seeing How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days I fell completely in love with the pair. However, not knowing anything about this movie at all, I went into the movie with no expectations at all.

I came out feeling good. This is a feel-good movie - it provides light, easy and unpretentious entertainment, just the way I like it. Save your social commentary for someone else, movie makers. I’m in it for the cheap thrills. And for Matthew McConaughey’s bare chest. As I predicted, his shirt was off for most of the time. Kate Hudson was also her usual gorgeous self, making me feel bad for not going to the gym these past few weeks.

The movie, in short, is about treasure hunting in the Caribbean sea. McConaughey plays the head treasure seeker, Finn, while Hudson plays his disgruntled (ex-)wife Tess, who eventually hooks up with him yet again to go on a hunt for the presumed lost treasure of the Spanish royal family, the Queen’s Dowry. The two team up with millionaire Nigel Honeycutt (Sutherland) and his airhead of a daughter, Gemma (Alexis Dziena). As is to be expected, they are of course not alone in seeking this treasure.

If you’ve previously enjoyed movies such as Sahara, National Treasure and Indiana Jones, then I suggest checking out Fool’s Gold. If you’re after a bit of lighthearted fun with a dash of romance on the side, you won’t be disappointed!

Originally published at Merilin.

My rating: | IMDB

There are worlds beyond our own - the compass will show the way.

The Golden Compass is based on the book by the same name (or some places known as Northern Lights) by author Philip Pullman. It is the first in a trilogy, and it is said that if the first movie earns enough, the next two books will also be made into movies. One can only hope… Even though the first book and movie are good enough stand-alone stories, they do not feel complete - there are loose threads and unanswered questions in abundance.

As with all book to movie adaptions, things have had to be cut from the movie version. However, as with The Lord of the Rings, the things that are cut and/or altered to fit the movie, it doesn’t subtract too much from the story - as a fan of the book, I still enjoyed the movie a lot (more so than I thought I would), and the changes didn’t bother me much. The story still seemed a little chopped here and there, as it lacks most of the background info you get from the book. Still, Tor had not read the book and he felt he was able to follow the story well enough to enjoy the movie.
The one scene that really stood out as, well, outstanding, was the intercision scene. I could really feel the desperation of Lyra and Pan, it actually made me hold my breath throughout the entire scene, even though I knew the outcome.

The primary strength of the movie does not lie in the story at all, nor really in the acting, but in the special effects and the sceneries. The special effects are impeccable - the panserbjørne and the daemons are fantastic. The shots from Svalbard were beautiful, enough to make any Norwegian heart swell with pride (not that I have any connections with Svalbard at all, besides it belonging to the Norwegian kingdom…), and the Oxford surroundings were just as I had imagined - grand and scholarly, for lack of a better word.

When I say that the acting isn’t one of the primary strengths of the movie, that’s not saying that the acting is bad. Especially Dakota Blue Richards does a great job as Lyra, and Nicole Kidman is perfectly cold and creepy in a dazzling way in her role as Mrs Coulter, the head Gobbler. I had looked forward to seeing Daniel Craig again (he’s the only Bond who’s made me want to watch a 007 movie more than one time), but I’m not really sure about his performance here - to his defense though, he hardly got any screen time at all. He did however fit his character, exactly the way I’d pictured Lord Asriel to be. Had the ending not been cut, we would have gotten to see more of him, and in a scene where he would have the possibility to shine, and not merely be present.
In a movie such as this, the voice acting is just as important as the on-screen acting, and I really think they were spot on with the casting here. I was a little put off by Pantalaimon’s voice at first - he sounded whiny and annoying - but it grew on me and in the end I found that I actually liked it, it fit his character. Also, Ian McKellen as Iorek - fabulous! But really, can one ever go wrong with McKellen? I don’t think so.

All in all, I was pleasantly surprised by how this movie turned out. Tickets, time and money well spent. I’ve already recommended it to everyone I know, and now I recommend it to you. And if you haven’t already, read the book(s) as well. Even though the first book is by far the best, the other two are worth the time it takes to read them.

Originally posted at Merilin.