Catch and Release, a movie that I didn’t expect too much from, especially considering that I didn’t even hear about it, when it came out in 2007. Plus I’m not a fan of romantic comedies, because it’s just always the same story only with different actors. And let’s just say that I was pleasantly surprised with this one.
It’s not your typical comedy, it has a bit of drama right at the beginning. Gray (Jennifer Garner) loses her fiancée in an accident, right before their wedding. Trying to cope with her loss, she and three of her fiancée’s best mates (Dennis, Sam and Fritz) stay together in a small house, helping each other out with their grief. Each of them deals with it in a different manner. Dennis (Sam Jaeger) who had been in love with Gray for a long time, finally gets to show her, how much he cares. Sam (Kevin Smith) who is more like a big baby, just constantly eats or sleeps trying not to show that he blames himself for the accident. And then there’s Fritz (Timothy Olyphant). It’s even difficult to describe his character. He doesn’t talk much, but observes a lot. He gives the impression of being a stupid jerk and that’s exactly what Gray thinks of him. But then he starts getting to her. When everyone around just talks he is the one who listens. And that’s what Gray needs because emotionally she is very lost. And that feeling only deepens when she finds out about a child her fiancée might have. The world as she knew it is crushing down and only Fritz seems to understand her. Obviously that’s only until she learns that he (Fritz) knew about the child. Everything complicates the fact that Maureen (Juliette Lewis), the boy’s mother shows up with the little boy at their door, not knowing about the death.
It sounds complicated, but overall it’s a story about love and friendship and about how much a death of a person can bring people closer together. People that under normal circumstances wouldn’t even like each other. And I found this story really heartwarming and just very real. The actors gave a great performance. Especially Garner and Olyphant have such an on-screen chemistry that turned something that might have been boring into a sweet and touching movie. I was surprised he pulled it off so well, having only seen him in Die Hard or The Hitman before, I didn’t know he even had a soft side. And where I always liked Garner, I never thought much of her as an actress. But after this I would actually go and watch her next movie.
The dialogues are also funny and not so predictable which is always nice. There are no cheesy moments like usually with movies like that. It balances everything from happy to sad and from love to hate nicely. It shows that life is not about the outcome, but about the journey itself. And that we never really know someone no matter how long we’ve known them and that sometimes being a good person can help you overcome your weaknesses.
I really wish I convinced some people of giving Catch and Release a try. For those who like feel good movies but with bitter/sweet endings I really recommend it. I hope you won’t be disappointed.
oldzia999's Reviews
Displaying Review 6 - 10 of 11 in total
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Legion is one of those movies whose trailer and poster look impressive, and then after watching it you can’t believe you’ve fallen for that again. But to be completely fair to this movie I guess I have to split it into categories, and judge each of them separately. So I will look at: the story, acting, the visuals, and the directing.
The story gets 4/10. I know it might be harsh, but that’s just my opinion. So what’s the movie about? Well apparently God isn’t the merciful and loving Father anymore. He runs out of patience for the sins and for the evil that plagues the world. And so He sends the angels to destroy us. They don’t come in their own form though, but possess the bodies of people (but don’t worry, only the weak ones). Once possessed your eyes change to black and you get tiny, sharp teeth (what’s the purpose of this I’ve no idea) and you speak with this deep, hoarse voice. Also they bring flies with them wherever they go, walk on walls and just swear a lot. But don’t despair because not all is lost. And that’s because the archangel Michael (Paul Bettany, The Da Vinci Code) still believes mankind only needs to be shown the way. To help us, Michael disobeys the direct orders from God, and goes off to find Charlie (Adrianne Palicki) an eight months pregnant girl whose child (for unknown reasons) is mankind’s only hope of survival. Why that particular child is so important or how it is going to save the world, Michael doesn’t say. He just finds Charlie along with a group of other people working at a diner, somewhere in the Mojave Desert. Obviously the bad angels quickly find them too, and the people, along with their savior try to stay alive. Once they manage to fight those off, there’s still Gabriel. Another archangel who just doesn’t share Michael’s views and is the only one that will be able to kill the child once it’s born (confusing? Wait till you watch it)
I think the screen writers wanted to create something original, that would send a message to all who see Legion. Unfortunately it seems they must have had a deadline or something, because what they came up with to me really doesn’t make any sense. It’s even difficult to explain. Michael loves people, because like he says: “God always only told us to love them”. But other angels don’t seem to have any second thoughts when it comes to killing them and say things like (I quote):”I said your fucking baby is going to burn. You’re all gonna burn!” And the possessed people are always they ones you would least expect to be violent like old ladies, children or the ice-cream man. Yet another attempt to be different. There’s also a fight sequence between the two archangels, where Gabriel pulls a John McClane and stabs himself to get Michael, and somehow manages to get less injured than him. Just ridiculous!The acting gets 6/10. I was pleasantly surprised with the acting. At least Paul Bettany’s Michael was quite convincing. And when I wasn’t paying much attention to one particular actor, they all seemed to play their part well. Maybe except for Gabriel (Kevin Durand) who just wasn’t as mighty and scary as he was made out to be. I could elaborate on this, but there’s only so much one can say about a few people, since the possessed people weren’t acting, they just were.
The visuals get 7/10. With the exception of the possessed whose concept I found just boring, the visuals were really nice. Had I switched off the sound (which was tempting because the dialogues weren’t that interesting) I would have got the feel of the movie. It was meant to be dark and mysterious and maybe even a little scary. And the wings of the angels were very impressive, all big and black. It all had a nice touch, unfortunately just wasn’t enough to save the entire movie.
The directing just like the movie gets 4/10, and that’s because the director Scott Stewart is also the co-writer of the script. That means I can partially blame him for inflicting this movie on our population. I guess it would have been worse if God told us to watch it over and over again along with the last of the Pirates of the Caribbean movie trilogy rather than sending angels to kill us. What I don’t understand is why Stewart would even take this upon himself, since he was only part of the visual effects team in a few movies. Just because you witness movies being shot does not mean you can do it yourself. I can only say that he proves that “beautifully” with Legion.
So to sum up (although I don’t think that’s even necessary) do watch Legion if: you have absolutely nothing to do and you feel like you’re going to kill yourself out of boredom otherwise or if you have lost your job, your girlfriend/boyfriend is sleeping with someone else, and you need reassurance that there are still people that screw something up more than you.
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This was a highly anticipated movie for me. Two reasons. First of all because I enjoyed the X-men saga as a child and I enjoyed watching the three previous movies. Although they weren’t always spot on with the story, they were entertaining. And I must say sometimes there is nothing more I need, to like a movie. The second reason is of course the cast. I guess it’s any woman’s heaven. And for the guys there are quite enough fights to keep them interested. Hell, looking at them it made me wanna join the gym!
For those who don’t follow the story, here’s a quick plot description.
So the movie starts off in 1845 with two boys talking in a room. One of them, clearly younger than the other, about 8 years old is in bed sick. Then the boy’s father appears to check up on him. But soon the conversation is interrupted by loud shouts from downstairs. Someone’s knocking on the front door trying to get in. The father leaves to deal with the situation, but then we hear some more screaming and a shot. Both boys go to check what happened. The boy sees his father’s body and rushes to his side. When it turns out he’s dead the shock (as we know from previous movies the mutant gene reveals itself under emotional stress) causes the claws in the boy’s hands to come out. It is clearly the first time anyone sees them, including the man who killed his father, and what we can assume is the boy’s mother. Angry and frightened the boy Logan runs and with his claws kills the intruder. With his dying breath the man tells him he was his real father.
Obviously it being the 19th century the genetics causing the mutation weren’t known, so the boy runs away clearly distressed by all that happened. The other boy catches up with him and tells him they are brothers now and they have to watch out for each other because no one else will. That is the start to the story for Logan (Hugh Jackman) and Victor (Liev Schreiber) half-brothers and mutants.
The next few scenes are more like a slide-show of both already grown-up men taking part in all the possible wars. I think the director Gavin Hood and screenwriters David Benioff and Skip Woods chose well to shorten and show the beginning of their life this way. Otherwise it would be way too long and just boring. But although we see both brothers killing, only Victor seems to really enjoy himself. They made a point of showing him shooting when it wasn’t necessary, constantly grinning and Logan looking suspiciously at him and trying to stop him whenever he could. In the end they both take it too far. Victor kills one of his own and Logan stands by him when the Americans try to kill him. They end up being sentenced to death, but obviously both having immense regenerative power, they’re only kept in prison. And that’s where William Striker (Danny Huston) finds them, offering a second chance and a place among people. Of course he feeds them a lot of bullshit about how they will serve the society by killing only the bad guys.
And here’s where the proper movie and all the ass-kicking starts. Striker found and created a special unit consisting only of mutants and those with useful killing skills at that. We have John Wraith (Will.I.Am) who is a teleport, Fred Dukes (Kevin Durand) with skin that can withstand any attack, Chris Bradley (Dominic Monaghan) who can manipulate electricity, Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) incredibly fast mutant very skilled with Japanese katana and Agent Zero (Daniel Henney) who is fast with guns. Logan is made their captain which is probably when he starts to be a competition for his brother. It is never said, but one can tell Victor doesn’t like being told what to do. And especially not by his younger brother he used to look after. When Logan realizes the assignments aren’t done for the good of mankind, but rather for Striker to find sources of Adamantium (the alloy found in meteorites) he leaves the unit. And that scene when he walks away from Victor and the team is where they fall out with each other. I must say that Liev Schreiber was the one that stole the movie for me. As much as I love Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, what with his dark humor and sarcasm, Liev was perfect as the villain and the hero of the story. Because he must have loved his brother very much to be that angry at him for leaving. It’s always the people we love the most that can trigger the most emotional outbreaks in us. That’s why I enjoyed this movie so much. Because they didn’t just make it about the fighting and CGI and explosions. I mean yes, it was full of those too, but in the end it’s the characters that matter. And what motivated them to do what they did. It was the competition between siblings, their love/hate relationship after what Victor does to Logan later in the story. I am pretty sure, as we can see at the end, that in a way they both still care about each other. Maybe not enough to forgive all the evil, but the bond’s still there.
Other characters weren’t as greatly developed. But no surprise there since the movie had to end somewhere. All the actors were pretty good, but they weren’t on screen enough to make a great impression. But they were funny, and I liked the dialogue. There are some one-liners that had me laughing long after the movie. I was a bit disappointed with Reynolds. Not that he is *that* superb as an actor, but I thought he could give an edge to his character. To me something was missing in his performance. Wade wasn’t devious enough in my opinion. Hopefully he will make Deadpool better in the next movie.
The only important female character of Kayla Silverfox (Lynn Collins) I thought was lovely and a great choice for Logan’s love interest. She was the Yang to his Yin, because although he was great at killing and perceived this way by Striker, she brought out the protective and soft side in him. Something I think he didn’t realize he even had. After all it was the grief after losing her that prompted him to become the ultimate Wolverine. I really enjoyed watching them both together. I like how this movie saved us from many cliché moments, and instead let the actors perform with gestures and looks rather than only words. A lot of things had to be seen and experienced and not just heard. That’s why I am giving this movie an 8/10.
In my opinion this movie deserves to be seen. I can’t say you will be missing out on an amazing cinematographic experience if you don’t watch it. But you will miss out on 107 minutes of fun in front of television. For those who enjoy X-men movies, and for those who just enjoy movies this is a great option for a Saturday afternoon. -
Watch out - SPOILERS! (Although anyone with half a brain could predict the outcome of this movie anyway, but just in case don’t say I didn’t warn you).
Ever wondered what would happen if Harry Potter met The Brothers Grimm? Probably not. But if now you want an answer to that question then go and see Sorcerer’s Apprentice.
Every time I watch another movie from Disney these days I wonder where the hell are all those good screenwriters that used to make such beautiful stories?! I mean is it all only about the money, don’t they care to make good movies anymore?
Don’t get me wrong, the idea was there. It just reminded me of the time when I was watching Transformers II Revenge of the Fallen and got lost in all the subplots of it. Here it was similar. They could have just made the movie about a Sorcerer and his Apprentice. But no, they had to add a few old enemies, one powerful one, a girl or in fact two girls, one for each of our heroes, plus the difficult relationship between the main characters and all that wrapped in a 1000 year old legend of Merlin.
At the beginning we learn some history. Centuries ago Merlin, the most powerful of Sorcerers had three apprentices Balthazar (Nicolas Cage), Horvath (Alfred Molina) and Veronica (Monica Bellucci). But when Veronica chooses Balthazar over Horvath, the latter betrays them and Merlin to their greatest enemy Morgana (Alice Krige). Together with Morgana they kill Merlin and when they try to kill Balthazar as well, Veronica performs a spell that binds Morgana’s soul into her own body. Obviously Morgana starts to possess Veronica, so to save her Balthazar closes them in a doll called Grimhold. With his dying breath Merlin gives Balthazar his dragon ring and sends him on a quest to find the Prime Merlinian, a boy who would possess the same strength in him to use magic without using the ring like other sorcerers do, and would be they only one capable of killing Morgana. Balthazar’s shown looking all over the world, showing the ring to countless boys, but never succeeding. In the meantime he traps more and more bad magicians in the Grimhold which always adds another layer to the doll. The last one being Horvath himself. Then in the year 2000 we meet 10-year old Dave (Jay Baruchel) who trying to get a girl of his dreams Becky ( Teresa Palmer) coincidentally enters an antique shop that now belongs to Balthazar. Obviously the dragon ring fixes itself on his finger and Balthazar’s quest ends. Unfortunately being clumsy Dave manages to open one layer of the Grimhold and release Horvath. Balthazar and Horvath battle and in the end they both get sucked into a Chinese Urn that if opened keeps anyone prisoner for 10 years. And that’s where the movie properly starts. Dave is twenty, and studying at the NYU. He is a great physicist and your typical geek when he meets Becky again. Sparks fly but only on his part. In the meantime the urn lets Bathazar and Horvath go, and they both go looking for Dave. Horvath gets there first and Balthazar saves the boy’s life. Then he tells him the story about the Prime Merlinian and they go off looking for the Grimhold that Dave lost 10 years earlier. They do, but so does their enemy and their fight for the doll starts all throughout the movie while Dave learns (or tries to learn) the Arcana of Magic from Balthazar. He is also trying to get Becky. And so we go through all Dave’s ups and downs. He tries to quit being the apprentice, tries to throw his ring away, but always keeps coming back. In the end it all comes down to a very predictable battle and the “they all lived happily ever after” as expected from Disney.If after reading the plot you still ask why I think the movie wasn’t exactly good, let me explain in more detail.
First of all the dialogues weren’t great. They explain everything, almost spelling it out as if they movie was directed only at 8-year olds. Sure, it was funny as always when Nic Cage is around. I can’t say I didn’t enjoy it at times. But the only time when I laughed out loud was during pre-movie trailers for Despicable Me. So that’s not a good sign especially that when it comes to humour I am really easily pleased. I don't go to the movies always expecting high flying jokes or the great one-liners or quick dialogues we get from directors like Guy Ritchie. On the contrary, I can find my inner Peter Pan and find laughter everywhere.
The actors were just ok. I didn’t find them particularly boring, but neither were they especially convincing. Somehow Jay Baruchel even though he looks and talks like a geek didn’t quite suit the role of Dave. And the bad guy Alfred Molina seemed anything but bad. I just couldn’t get the evil vibe. I only really wished Monica Bellucci was onscreen more than just during the first and the final battle, because not only did she look beautiful but managed to play Veronica with nothing but the expressions she made ( I don’t remember her saying as much as a few words).
The visulas of the movie were really stunning though. And I was amazed at all the details with which the props and costumes and magical artifacts were made. The CGI was really well done too. When something was happening onscreen, the action was fast-paced and well thought-out. With Cage and Molina casting spells left, right and center. There were dragons, iron eagles, lightning bolts, old cars, new cars (great advertising for Ferrari and Mercedes btw) a lot of fire and energy-balls and all somewhat explained by physics. Like I said before – the idea was there. It was just too packed for one movie. If it had been a book I am sure I would have enjoyed it much, much more.
Also the music composed by Trevor Rabin was fun to listen to, always reflecting the mood and adding speed to the action when needed. But then again he never disappoints me.
So to sum up, the movie wasn’t bad, but like Sherlock Holmes said:” My mind rebels at stagnation!” Well so does mine, and unfortunately I didn’t have to use it for the entire 111 minutes. Nothing was really surprising and that is why I’m marking it as average and giving it the overall rating of 5/10.
On your good day you will probably enjoy it, on your bad day you might fall asleep watching it. If you’re really into fantasy and completely mindless entertainment go ahead though. I don’t think I could watch it again, but might buy the DVD because the snaps from it will be worth it. -
Me: So, have you seen How To Train Your Dragon yet?
Pala: Why would you ask something like that?! Of course I have! I am the god in the movie universe! I see the movies before the director! Producer! Damn, I see them before they see themselves!
I took Asmodai with me to the cinema because that dragon looked suspiciously like a bat..
Me: The dragon was sooo cute! And it looked more like a cat or a dog when it moved.
Pala: Specifics. Why do you bring this up anyway?
Me: Wanted to know your opinion so that our fellows at wtm know what to expect!
Did you see it in 3D?
Pala: Baby! I saw it in 4D! I felt the wind when the boy and his dragon flew! I choked on the smoke when that Godzilla dragon was chasing them! My eyebrows still haven’t grown back after the Night Fury saved the day!
Me: Brilliant! Loved the action sequences! So fast paced! Dragons flying right, left and center!
And wasn’t it amazing how they made the characters so real and deep?
Pala: Do you mean the boy’s unusual skinniness? His emotional approach to life? His peculiar relationship with his father or mother’s breastplate? The connection between Hiccup and Toothless? His lack of friends at the beginning due to being different? How he saves the day and conquers everyone’s heart and changes their view at the end?! What?! Baby, you have got to help me here. I need more information!
Me: Um… I only meant it story wise, but what you’d noticed works too.
Would you take your kids to see it?
Pala: Of course! They should learn that being unique doesn’t mean worse! Or that you may have to pay a high price for experience, but in the end it’s all worth it! Not that any kid under the age of 10 would get that’s what the movie was about, but sure I would still like them to watch it!
Me: True, my 6 year old nephew told me the movie was about a dragon which loses its leg and that’s why they called him Toothless. Also that the Night Fury was naughty and he liked to draw. But he enjoyed it nonetheless!
The movie has a lot of funny moments too! I love the scenes with Hiccup and Toothless and how they grow to love each other! And also Gerard Butler’s voice…
Pala: Wait! What?! Gerard Butler.. what?! Baby, you seriously need to see a doctor about that. Now you’re not only seeing, but hearing Gerard Butler everywhere?!
Me: But he is the voice of…
Pala: I don’t want to hear it! We’re going to have you checked up right now!
Me:But..but..
Pala: This review might continue once she is well again!
In the meantime whoever haven’t seen How to train your dragon is missing out!
Go! Go! Go!
