DVD Review: Birdman

Courtesy: Fox Searchlight

Starring Michael Keaton, Zach Galifinakis, Emma Stone, and Edward Norton

Written and Directed by Alejandro Inatirru

Rated R

My Rating: *****/5

There have been many diverse offerings since the Oscars opted to reintroduce the

10 best picture nominees. While there is talk of turning them back to 5; I submit that such a precedent

would end up shutting out many of the more unique entries that have been winners in past years. The

newest entry into that elite club is “Birdman,” which is definitely not your typical piece of Oscar bait.

The film concerns the director and star of a play known as Riggle Thompson (Keaton);

who is attempting to rekindle his career after playing the titular superhero became his most notable

role; but strained his career and relationship with his daughter (Stone) in the process.

If this sounds familiar; the film is essentially a parody of Keaton's role in Tim Burton's

1989 version of “Batman” and the 1992 sequel “Batman Returns”, as well as his life after that role.

In essence, this is a role that is tailor-made for Keaton. Not only is it handled with surprising tact

and bittersweet drama; it also shows how he's often at his best when pushing his craft to his limits.

As such, the film also has great satire on the industry; making light of how the more

personal films about people and their relationships are often overshadowed by big-budget, triple-A;

billion-dollar blockbusters (watch for a scene where Spider-Man, Iron Man, Bumblebee and other stars

of tentpole franchises duke it out onstage; as well as ones where Thompson's costumed alter-ego gives

maniacal advice).

The film is also shot with an innovative technique of editing long takes together; giving

the effect of a backstage view as Thompson clashes with a younger understudy played by Edward

Norton, whose own performance is also worthy of standing alongside the likes of “Fight Club” and

“American History X” in his filmography. Seeing Emma Stone play against type is also not only a riot;

but a key moment for her as she plays Thompson's daughter; who wants no part of her father's attempts

to regain his glory and her love.

With all this on the table; “Birdman” is definitely worthy of the pedigree of not only its

lead actor; but also shows what director Alejandro Inatirru can do with a medium that has endless

applications for expressing oneself. It will be remembered as the best picture winner that thrives

on skewering both sides of the industry and providing insight on both through “the unexpected

 virtue of ignorance.”

DVD Review: Big Hero 6

Courtesy: Walt Disney Pictures/Marvel

Starring the Voices of Scott Adsit, Ryan Potter, and Daniel Henney

Directed by Don Hall and Chris Williams

Rated PG

My Rating: ****/5

When I first saw “Big Hero 6” being promoted this past November; I honestly didn't

know what to make of it. I personally expressed more interest in the type of “intelligent

blockbusters” that studios are more willing to offer; such as young adult book adaptation

“The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part One” and Christopher Nolan's “Interstellar.”

By all means, it should have been an easy sell. An animated Marvel film from the same

talented animators that produced the likes of “Wreck-It Ralph” and “Frozen?” One that draws

heavy influence from anime at that? Yet, I remained reluctant until I found out the film won

Best Animated Feature at the Oscars. Because of this, my interest was finally piqued enough

to rent the film.

The story concerns a young robotics prodigy named Hiro Hamada (Potter) and his

brother Tadashi (Henney) living in the fictional metropolis of San Fransokyo (an amalgam of

Tokyo and San Francisco in more than just name). Tadashi is not impressed with the fact that

Hiro spends time in back-alley robot fights instead of using his intelligence and skill more.

He encourages Hiro to pursue higher education, but an accident occurs during a campus

demonstration; and he's killed.

Learning to cope with his brother's absence; Hiro has been left a rubbery “health care

companion” known as Baymax (Adsit). He also latches onto an eclectic group of friends such

as extreme sports nut Go Go Tomago (Jamie Chung); gentle giant Wasabi (Damon Wayons Jr.),

eccentric scientist Honey Lemon (Genesis Rodriguez) and genre-savvy fanboy Fred (TJ Miller).

As the first animated entry in the multi-billion dollar Marvel Cinematic Universe; there

are clear strains of the Avengers within the team. Hiro's rebellious tinkerer persona often recalls

Tony Stark. Go Go's no-nonsense attitude and little to no need to be rescued can easily parallel

Natasha “Black Widow” Romanov. Wasabi displays a sense of intelligence mixed with fighting

prowess that is all too familiar to Bruce Banner. Honey's idealistic spirit would definitely not be

lost on Captain Steve “America” Rogers. Even Fred gets a piece of the action not too dissimilar

from Clint “Hawkeye” Barton. The villain Yokai (whose identity I will not be spoiling) is

every bit as frightening as Marvel's rogues gallery in live-action as well as the line of Japanese

beasts that give its name.

There is a clear amount of anime influence in the character designs; both looks and

personality. It also has influence from the Japanese genre of “tokusatsu” (literally “special

effects”); to the point where late “Kamen Rider” and “Super Sentai” (the series that would

become the basis for “Power Rangers,” itself being rebooted in 2016) creator Shotaro

Ishinomori is honored in the credits.

As befitting a movie a health care robot is kitbashed into a superhero in a garage; the

film also borrows many elements from other animated films of its kind, notably “The Iron

Giant” and “The Incredibles” (the latter having the honor of being my favorite Pixar film). Yet,

while no “Wreck-It Ralph” or “Frozen;” I can honestly say I was pleasantly surprised in a

similar manner to when I saw the first “Iron Man” and “Guardians of the Galaxy” for the first

time.

Are the concepts familiar? Yes. Do the superhero tropes and action stand out more than

the laughs? They do. Are there elements from works that have come before it? Definitely. Does

it also contain the flaws of its lineage but lack the tongue-in-cheek sendups Disney offered

in “Wreck-It Ralph” and “Frozen?” It does. Yet, “Big Hero 6” still manages to be an

entertaining and spectacular animated film that never stops surprising you. I can say that I'm

satisfied with my treatment.

DVD Review: Godzilla (2014)

Courtesy: Warner Bros. Pictures/Legendary Pictures/Toho Studios

Starring Bryan Cranston, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Ken Watanabe

Directed by Gareth Edwards

Rated PG-13

My Rating: ****/5

The latest entry in the 60-year-long “Godzilla” franchise has arrived. Since the series

was first released in Japan in 1954; it has since spawned 27 sequels in its native country as well

as an odious 1998 remake. For this new film; Toho not only got directly involved with

production to make sure the details were correct, but they and director Gareth Edwards decided

to take influence from the dark tone of the original 1954 “Gojira” (which is available to mark

the occasion, without Raymond Burr's narration in the film's 1956 US release) and position

the film as less of the “monster vs. monster” action that most audiences are familiar with and go

back to a haunting allegory about the dangers of nuclear power going awry.

As a result, the film has indeed succeeded in updating the character and setting for a

post-Fukushima age while also staying true to its original design. Every scene that builds up

to the climactic final battle in New York City is on par with ones in the classic nuclear disaster

films “The China Syndrome” and “The Day After.”

As such; the film makes sure that the human elements that were conspicuously absent

from the 1998 remake are more carefully handled. Bryan Cranston's performance as one of

the scientists determined to find out the secret behind the monster is on par with his multiple

Emmy-winning performance as Walter White on “Breaking Bad.” His son, played by Aaron

Taylor-Johnson; is a military EOD technician that is not above making every effort he can to

protect those around him, whether it's his wife, young son; or the many civilians caught in the

crossfire in some of the most realistic action scenes of the year. Dr. Serizawa (Watanabe) does

everything he can to provide information that is vital to humanity's survival.

The few flaws I found were some instances of inconsistent pacing. There are instances

where the film lingers on awkward sendups of scenes from previous entries (do we really need

more instances of civilians ignoring news about Godzilla until they actually see him?); and

there is also a notable lack of female characters that have any significant impact on the story.

Yet, above it all, the latest revival of “Godzilla” is a highly satisfying take on its iconic

namesake as well as a character-driven nuclear disaster film. The direction; special effects,

and action scenes are every bit as memorable as the first time the beast rose from the Pacific

Ocean in 1954. I certainly hope that the planned sequels (the first of which is slated for summer

2018) can capture the same deft blend of spectacular action and haunting atmosphere that this

film did. With Edwards at the helm; I think they will. “Let them fight.”

DVD Review: Transformers: Age of Extinction

Courtesy: Paramount Pictures/Hasbro

Starring Mark Wahlberg, Nicola Peltz, Kelsey Grammer, and Stanley Tucci

Directed by Michael Bay

Rated PG-13

My Rating: ****1/2:4

The latest entry in the live-action “Transformers” film series debuted this past summer;

yet again, to highly divisive critical and audience reaction; but another massive box office take

(over $1 billion worldwide as of this writing) and a continued push of the accompanying

action figure line of the same name. By this point; it has become inherently clear that, along

with fellow blockbuster property “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles;” those not familiar with

the 1980s-onward media franchise or Michael Bay's style of filmmaking need not apply, and

everyone else knows exactly what they're in for.

While still keeping the continuity of the 2007 film; 2009's “Transformers: Revenge of

The Fallen”, and 2011's “Transformers: Dark of the Moon;” the film is also a backdoor start

to a planned new trilogy. Widowed scrapper Cade Yaeger (Wahlberg) and his daughter Tessa

(Peltz) are just barely making ends meet when Cade makes a discovery: He bought a mere

banged-up old truck? I think not! He has stumbled upon Autobot commander Optimus Prime

(voice of Peter Cullen); weathered from his many battles against the Decepticons in a new form

paying homage to his design from the 1984 animated TV series and its accompanying toyline.  

This gains the attention of a corrupt government agent played by Kelsey Grammer; who

has declared all Transformers enemies of the state, not merely the Decepticons. As such, Cade

and Tessa must travel with Optimus; as well as the similarly hardened Bumblebee. Other

characters joining the fray are aged Autobot soldier Hound (voice of John Goodman); snide

Autobot marksman Crosshairs (voice of John DiMaggio); pensive Autobot warrior Drift (voice

of Ken Watanabe), and jury-rigged Decepticon Galvatron (voice of Frank Welker). While

some knowledge is required of the events of prior films; it does make a solid launching-on point

for almost 30 years of prior mythology of previous cartoons, comic books; video games, and

other toys.

What follows is surely the most consistent encapsulation of Bay's filmmaking: what he

lacks as a storyteller, he more than makes up for in spectacle. It is highly counterproductive

to apply real-world logic in a movie where Stanley Tucci plays a scientist who reverse-

engineers technology from the corpses of Transformers (including, oddly, a Rainbow Dash toy

that turns into a firearm); and subsequently gets caught in the crossfire as things go awry.

The film is not all that different from a situation a child would imagine playing with the action

figures: in this 165-minute, $210 million blockbuster; colorful robots once again do battle with

otherworldly weapons in set pieces as big as the locales where they are filmed. The action goes

from Texas, to Chicago; to Hong Kong for the final battle that again takes up the bulk of the

film's final act. This time, it involves another mainstay from previous iterations of the franchise:

the Dinobots, led by the massive Tyrannosaurus Grimlock.

By the time Optimus rides Grimlock into battle through the streets of Hong Kong; it has

become clear that the reception the “Transformers” films have received, both good and bad; has

begun to blur together. For the reasons I have outlined, “Transformers: Age of Extinction,” by

that proxy; will be perceived wherever you stand once you finish.