Iron Man 3

Instead of going to a free tour at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco to see The Terra Cotta Warriors, I instead indulged in going to see a blockbuster in the making: Iron Man 3. Instead of exposing myself to a little ancient culture, I enjoyed a piece of pop culture. In 3D no less.

This is only the second movie I have seen in modern 3D. The first one, was Disney Pixar’s “Up.” I wasn’t completely impressed as the technology had improved, but just fools you into thinking some of the images are physically there. I have seen a few #D movies with the red and blue lens, with a poor attempt made on TV and on video. It’s a gimmick that just physically enhances the movie. It doesn’t improve or gives me the ‘wow factor’ that some get.

I hesitated on going to the 3D show and shelling out the extra $4.50 for 3D glasses, but I did not want to wait another two hours to attend a regular screening. My wife’s impatience was boring a hole into my head, so I went ahead and purchased tickets for that showing. After finding good seats in a rapidly filling theater, we sat down and watched Tony Stark’s latest adventure.

The film takes place shortly after the events in “The Avengers.” Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) has been suffering from the past events of saving New York from the Chitauri invasion by repurposing a nuclear warhead, crossing into another dimension, and letting it loose on the enemy’s home base. He has been traumatized by those events, hindering his sleep, his relationship with Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow), and his idle time.

The story flashes back to a time in his brash self attending a Science conference in Sweden. Where he has a one night stand with Maya Hansen (Rebecca Hall) an up and coming scientist who had created ‘Extremis,’ a means of regenerating the body from severe damage by rapid growth. The process involves generating extreme heat. Tony and Maya are approached by Aldridge Killian (Guy Pearce), head of Advanced Idea Mechanics, or A.I.M., where Maya eventually accepts work, where Tony refuses and leaves with little more than a simple note and formula that would help with Extremis.

In the present, Tony is a hermit in his own home. He sleeps very little and continues his research into improving the Iron Man armor, and is on his 42^nd prototype. This one is modular and can be controlled by thought. Using sensors injected into his own body, he is able to control the suit and tests this. The work is the only thing keeping him from anxiety attacks. He still keeps tabs on Stark Industries through “Happy” Hogan (Jon Favreau), his former bodyguard who had become head of security at Stark Industries.

Pepper is approached by  Killian, this time looking much more debonair than before. She is taken aback, having worked with Aldrich in the past. He credits physical therapy and rehab for his present condition of a healthy man who was crippled before. He is offering the opportunity for Stark Industries to work with A.I.M. in developing new neurological technology that can benefit the injured or sick, just as he was. Pepper refuses the offer, noting that some of the given research can be weaponized, which is against what Stark Industries is now.

Pepper and Tony’s relationship have hit a snag, and he finally admits what has been happening to him- the insomnia, anxiety attacks, and growing paranoia. He profusely apologizes for his actions, but still causes a rift between the two of them. Pepper proposes to travel to help cope with his issues.

Suspicious of them, Happy Hogan follows Killian and his bodyguard to sniff out what may be going on. He finds the bodyguard Eric Savin (James Badge Dale) completing what appears to be a drug sale. Instead, the drugs were in fact Extremis, and the effect has catastrophic effects on the victim. Hogan barely survives the explosion, which vaporizes several people.

These explosions are being claimed by the leader of “The Ten Rings” as lessons to the President and the US. Calling himself “The Mandarin,” (Sir Ben Kingsley) he takes credit and responsibility for these attacks on US soil. In cryptic video messages that have interrupted broadcast TV, he issues statements of his continuing plans of subterfuge.

Angered by these recent events, Tony issues an ultimatum to The Mandarin; he is going to put him down personally. He throws a challenge to him and his organization to come to his home and meet him face to face.

The Mandarin, who appears to be in cahoots with A.I.M., responds to the threat by destroying Tony’s Malibu mansion, forcing it to slide into the ocean.  Maya Hansen had arrived shortly before the attack seeking Tony’s help and to warn him of this imminent attack.  Pepper is saved by the prototype Iron Man suit before it is summoned back to Tony. The suit prevents him from drowning and being buried alive by his fallen home.  The suit launches Tony into the air.

He finds himself crash-landing in a small town in Tennessee, where he was intending to go and investigate a lead. He had found some evidence that linked the explosion Happy Hogan was in to one that occurred in Tennessee with a similar profile.  Both involved explosions that vaporized its victims. They also involved disabled military veterans. Tony finds himself in the care of ten year old boy Harley (Ty Simpkins)who helps him investigate what happened.

In finding what he needs in Tennessee, and surviving an attack led by Eric Savin, Tony sets off to Miami, where he hopes to find and stop The Mandarin. He arms himself with cheaply made but very effective weapondry. He also enlists the aid of his friend, James Rhodes, who had been following the trail of The Mandarin’s broadcasts, but was captured by Killian’s people. Here, they discover The Mandarin’s secrets and what his ultimate plans are.

This is a fantastic summer blockbuster. It has a smart plot that had a few surprises in it that I won’t divulge. You have to see the movie itself to enjoy the overall spectacle. Director Shane Black crafts a smart action movie. It has some surprising twists, wit, and elements that remind me of some of the dynamics of his early work. “Lethal Weapon” comes to mind, as you have a sensible character investigating a mystery, while the half crazed character provides gravitas and impact. There is a blending of this in Tony Stark. He is suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder from his experience in “The Avengers” and in a way, from his past dealings with the Ten Rings and his own personal demons. He has his moments of clarity which allow him to find the clues that lead him to his enemies.

The cast is brilliant in this movie, from the banter that Robert Downey Jr. and Don Cheadle share, to the exchanges between Downey Jr. and Gwyneth Paltrow. Guy Pearce and Sir Ben Kingsley make a fine villainous pair. All the characters that are introduced have their own nuances, even though we are familiar with them. Some of them are given a good shake to make them fit into the situation. It is not overwrought with heavy drama or gravitas that could sink the movie. It would not match the tone set by the other “Iron Man” movies. It is Tony Stark’s swagger and flippant attitude that made those movies- it is his armor to protect himself from the threats of his enemies.

I was enthralled by the movie, only bothered by the mild headache induced by the 3D glasses that just fit my big fat head. This movie did not need the 3D to enhance the experience. It was fun and exciting as I hoped it would have been, with just the right amount of drama, action, and banter between characters. It was a great way to start off the summer movies.

Premium Rush

“I’m flying!”

I enjoy bicycling. I haven’t ridden in a while and I hope to change that, now that I am settled here in the Bay Area and am getting over my fear of biking in the area. I was looking for a little push to get back in the saddle and help shed the pounds. I remembered seeing a trailer for a Joseph Gordon Levitt movie that I thought might give a little kick.

“Premium Rush” is a thrilling chase movie involving bike messengers. It centers on Wilee and a special delivery. We follow him on a typical day where he gets to help out a friend, and the day goes completely to hell. Parts of this movie are told in flashbacks to key points of each character’s participation in the story. It’s a little jarring and can throw you off.

Wilee (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is a bike messenger for Security Couriers in New York. He was a promising law student who dropped out to pursue his passion in bicycle riding. Once a trick rider and racer, he now rides a fixed or single gear bike. The battered white bike has no brakes. He is one of the fastest bike messengers in the city; earning him the nickname ‘coyote’ as in the Warner Bros. cartoon character.

After making another satisfied delivery, he is outdone by Manny (Wole Parks) a rival messenger, who has his sights on Wilee’s ex-girlfriend Vanessa (Dania Ramirez). They trade calls and insults. Wilee also tries to get a hold of Vanessa but do not talk until they get back to home base.

Raj the dispatcher (Aasif Mandvi) receives a request from one of Wilee’s friends, Nima (Jamie Chueng). She requests that he deliver an envelope to a ‘Sister Chen’ in Chinatown. She is nervous about the delivery. With time to spare, Wilee gets a little food. As he is about to depart, he is confronted by a stranger asking for that envelope. He flatly refuses per his and company policy.

En route to his delivery, he is pursued by the stranger in a car chase while he is on a bike. They are zipping along in New York at a dangerous pace, with Wilee drawing attention to a New York bicycle cop. He escapes his pursuers and decides to report it to the police.

At the station, he learns that the man pursuing him is a detective. Bobby Monday (Michael Shannon) is pursing Wilee in order to clear a debt with a Chinese loan shark. Wilee sees him at the station and hides in the bathroom and later sneaks out of the station, only to be pursued by the same bike cop from earlier. In another flashback, we learn more about Monday’s money troubles with a large gambling debt. He is given an opportunity to clear the debt by getting a ticket stub from a young woman later to be identified as Nima. This stub is a marker that is redeemable with Mr. Leung (Henry O) who is holding Nima’s money for a specific purpose.

Angered by the unwanted attention by the police, he returns the ticket to Nima’s office and cancels the job. Meanwhile, Raj had arranged Manny to deliver the package. Nima did not receive the package and was not informed of the sudden change in delivery address. In another series of flashbacks on Nima, we learn that she had been squirreling away money and took it to Mr. Huang. The ticket stub she received was a marker that allowed someone else to claim the money that she leaves with Mr. Huang. She decides to call her friend Wilee for delivery of this stub.

It turns out Detective Monday had the delivery address changed. Manny was delivering the message unknowingly into the hands of a corrupt cop. Wilee races to catch up with Manny to retrieve the stub. They race through Central Park. Meanwhile, Vanessa is also in pursuit of the two rivals. She was roommates with Nima, who was asked to leave her apartment for personal reasons. She learns of why she did and what the ticket stub is for.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Dania Ramirez evade their pursuers.

Manny is intercepted by the Bike cop, with Detective Monday holding off Willee. Vanessa swoops in and snags Manny’s bag with the important ticket stub. Racing off, Wilee and Vanessa try to elude the cops. A brief interlude has Wilee remove the ticket stub and stuffs it into the handlebar of the bike. Their escape is short-lived as Wilee is hit by a cab.

Detective Monday presses a heavily injured Wilee for the whereabouts of the ticket stub, while Vanessa follows the impounded bike back to the police’s impound lot to retrieve the stub. Wilee convinces Detective Monday to bring him to the impound lot to retrieve his bike and has Manny brought over as well. Manny is used as a distraction while Wilee and Vanessa plan their escape with the ticket stub. Time is running out as the ticket stub needs to be delivered to Sister Chen in order to complete Nima’s request.

I found this movie to be a thrill, even though the plot is a bit weak and uses some Chinese as stereotypes in movies. Still it grabbed my attention with the amazing chase scenes and some good acting. Director David Koepp (screenwriter for Spider-man, Mission Impossible) stitches together a compelling movie that has some good characters with a kind of ‘slice of life’ in New York.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt is easily the star of the movie, but really lets his costars shine in this work. He effortlessly becomes Wilee the thrill seeking cyclist who risks his butt on riding as a messenger day to day. According to the DVD, there were four other riders used to double for Gordon-Levitt, each one specializing in trick or race riding. The main one, Austin Horse, is the real world Wilee and is one of the fastest bike messengers in New York.

Michael Shannon’s portrayal of Detective Monday was also a highlight. I found him to be rather sleazy and annoying. He reminded me of a young Michael Keaton. I found his voice to be a bit grating, but it added flavor to his character. His Detective Monday, while not completely intimidating, is threatening and dogged enough to want him to stop following you. Like Wilee, you want him off your back.

Another highlight that it sheds light on is the camaraderie bike messengers have. It is a thankless, high risk job. They do look out for each other and other bicyclists who often get the short end of the stick even biking around town. It is a fine representation of this. I am reminded of a time when I encountered a bike messenger who thought I was one. He liked the then rare racing handlebars on my bike, even though I was simply on my way to work in Seattle’s Chinatown. He was really polite and fast, zooming off up a hill that I would easily struggle with.

This movie reminds me of both the thrills and dangers of riding a bike in the city and how to be alert. You do have to be cautious out there, even though there are bike lanes and such. Drivers do not necessarily see you. I have smacked into a few cars and pavement in my time to know what to do and to watch out for.

“Premium Rush” is not a bad yarn of a movie. It is quite the chase movie with a rather stereotypical plot device/crime in the middle tying all the pieces together. I found it to be a thrill despite of that. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is a rising star that keeps getting better in the movies I see him in. Now to hop back in the bicycle…

The New 52- Wonder Woman

Wonder Woman confronts her past and fellow Amazons.

I recently got to check out what DC Comics have been doing to their lead characters in an attempt to bring them to modern times, introduce them to another generation of readers, and allow creative teams to tell their stories. I am a fan of “Wonder Woman.” She is the one of the most recognized female characters ever created.

Created by William Mouton Marston, she has become an iconic figure in comics. She is one of the ‘big three’ characters of the DC Universe. She was born to Queen Hippolyta, who crafted the child out of clay and begged the Gods to grant her life. Diana, princess of Paradise Island (or Themyscira) grew up to become an Amazon warrior. Curiosity of the outside world and the sudden appearance of modern man prompted her to take on the challenge of becoming a representative of Themyscria. This champion would become a sort of ambassador, escorting the lost American Air Force pilot Steve Trevor back to the U.S. She would then get caught up in the matters of the world, fighting for truth and justice like her male counterpart Superman.

In this latest incarnation being part of “The New 52,” her origin story is given some extra depth and layers. Her story is part of a multiverse of stories featuring a warrior princess who fights for justice and dignity of the oppressed. Her origin story was revised, making her creation from clay more myth and fairy tale than the truth. She is the daughter of Zeus, who had an affair with Queen Hippolyta. Her extraordinary abilities are attributed to being half-god.

In the storyline of The New 52- Wonder Woman Volume One: Blood and Volume Two: Guts, we are told of her new origins and what happened to the Greek Gods of old. This new take on the classic Greek Gods made them both enigmatic and sinister. They now resemble characters that would fit in any Guillermo del Toro movie.

Wonder Woman is brought in by Hermes to protect the latest child of Zeus and a mortal woman. She fights off mercenary centaurs sent by Hera, the very jealous wife of Zeus. She is on a path to destroy the bastard children her husband has fathered. She also plots to take over the ruling of Olympus.

A wounded Hermes transports the pregnant mother Zola and Wonder Woman back to Themyscira, where she hoped that they could hide for the time being. Hermes is recuperating. Here Diana learns of a terrible secret, that she is in fact the daughter of Zeus, a product of a long affair with Queen Hyppolyta. The fable was made up to cover up that she was a member of the family of Zeus. Strife plays a part in revealing this information, sort of playing both sides of Hera and the Amazons.

Disgusted with how she was being treated and how her birth was based on a lie, she, Hermes, and Zola return to London. Hera pays a visit to Paradise Island and unleashes her anger with Queen Hippolyta and the Amazons. Wonder Woman comes to terms with her new truth only to return to Paradise Island to find what had happened after she had left, not being able to reconcile with her mother.

Diana continues to protect Zola as agents of Hera continue their pursuit of her. She also meets with the other Olympians who could be considered taking over the throne of Olympus with Zeus’ absence. Poseidon and Hades don’t seem to have much interest in taking over the throne. Other players are also involved, including Lennox, another child of Zeus, Strife, Apollo, Hephaestus, and Eros. Zola is kidnapped by Hades in a plot that would bait Diana to convince Hera to become Hades’ Queen.

With Hephaestus and Eros’ help, Diana is transported to Hades’ realm to barter for Zola’s freedom. She uses Eros’ guns in trade for Zola. As she and the others are about to leave, Diana is shot by Hades. The guns of Eros, the modern version of the bow and arrow associated with Cupid, are designed to make a person fall in love with a chosen person. Diana finds herself a captive of Hades.

Lennox, Hermes, and the others plot a way to free Wonder Woman from Hades’ clutches. Diana is showing loyalty and love to Hermes, influenced by the gunshot from Eros’ gun. She agrees to marry Hades. Does she become the bride of Hades? What happens with Zola’s baby? Who takes over the throne of Olympus? The story unfolds in rapid fire fashion with a rather surprising results.

This collection of the first dozen or so issues of Wonder Woman under the New 52 banner is quite a head-turner. It gives Wonder Woman gravitas, dealing with her ‘true’ origin and the soap opera/ family feud that is going on between Olympians. It kind of gives a more realistic and modern twist to Wonder Woman’s classic origin.

The story by Brian Azzarello is complex and dizzying. It is fantastic giving a different take on the Olympians. Aries is an old man, often covered in blood. Hades is a creepy candle covered man child who has a weird way of showing love and affection. All the Olympians are rather complex with characterization that matches our modern world. Some of the characters still reflect their classic origins in mythology. I enjoyed Cliff Chiang’s art which gives it the right amount of grit to the story.

DC is continuing its rejuvenation of its many characters. While others seem to still follow their classic story and origins, this version of Wonder Woman is thrust into the modern world and is fighting her way back to protect her friends, redemption, and to take her place in this brave new world. It is a fantastic tale that continues the great stories of this great heroine.

The Pretender

Jarod (Michael T. Weiss)  confronts a wrongdoer in “The Pretender.”

During the 1990’s there were many TV shows that had a conspiracy of some kind that was at the heart of the show. It was the driving force that shaped the tone and stories behind the series. “The X-Files” is a prime example of such a show, with a rich and rather disturbing conspiracy that haunts Agent Fox Mulder. Many of these kinds of shows were hit at miss, but if you get swept up by the conspiracy, it proves to be a charming program.

One of my favorite shows that I feel is underrated is “The Pretender,” created by Steven Long Mitchell and Craig W. Van Sickle starring Michael T. Weiss, Andrea Parker, and Patrick Bauchau. This series was part of the “Thrillology” on NBC airing from 1996 to 2000, which included the TV series “Profiler.” This show has a sublime conspiracy that drives the main character Jarod (Michael T. Weiss) who seeks out his past while helping others with his unique gifts and talent.

Jarod is a Pretender, a genius child prodigy who can learn and assume any identity or role that he wants. He was taken by a sinister organization called “The Centre” as a child, where he was used in their research. He was given different scenarios and situations that he would find solutions for. He used his prodigious skills by assuming a role within the scenario, like a test pilot, soldier, or doctor to find the better solutions. These solutions would be the architecture used to influence many national and global events for The Centre’s own  dark purposes.

Jarod finally escaped The Centre after being their captive for most of his life. He goes on a quest to help people from all walks of life, as well as put a halt to some of The Centre’s machinations.  He is pursued by The Centre, who treats him as an asset rather than a human being. Jarod also pursues clues to his mysterious past, trying to find the connections to his abduction and any surviving family.

Ms. Parker (Andrea Parker) and Broots (Jon Gries) face another part of the conspiracy of The Centre.

The pursuit is led by Ms. Parker (Andrea Parker) daughter of the director of The Centre, located in Blue Cove Delaware. She and Jarod had grown up together in The Centre, where she knew of him but did not know exactly why he was there. She is part of security for The Centre and a well trained ‘sweeper.’ She allies herself with Sydney (Patrick Bauchau), the psychiatrist who raised and mentored Jarod. Along with computer analyst Broots (Jon Gries) they try to track down the elusive Jarod.

The character of Jarod is a bit of a man-child. He did not get to experience any form of freedom or a normal childhood and was deprived of many things. Now free, he is able to experience the many things he did not have or seen before. From candy to comic books to toys and other pop culture references, he gets to see and experience things for the first time.

In helping people, he carefully researches the situation and helps the victims, their family and friends. He keeps his notes in red covered journals with newspaper clippings, photos, and copies pertaining to the situation. He becomes a person that matches the scenario and gives him the best vantage point in finding the culprits. This includes an FBI agent, Naval officer, photographer, movie special effects man, stunt man, skydiver, mental patient, doctor- you name it. He metes out retribution in an elaborate web of deceit and chicanery, often conning the villains and exposing their foul deeds, many times under extreme duress. Here Jarod can be at his most frightening, as he unleashes anger upon the perpetrators for the crimes they are guilty of. It is anger from his being used, powerless, and bullied as a lab rat and for what was done to the victims he is helping.

While he helps people, he taunts The Centre with his exploits, knowing they are not far behind him. He leaves elaborate clues and puzzles for Sydney, Ms. Parker, and Broots to decipher, most alluding to Ms. Parker’s past, The Centre’s raison d’être, and the means to throw them all off of his trail. Here is where the conspiracy lies. It is a massive web of lies and deceit with how Jarod was kidnapped by The Centre, how his family and Ms. Parker’s family were involved, and what The Centre is.

I find this show to be a fantastic adventure, with Michael T. Weiss perfectly able to be that chameleon. He brings just the right amount of childlike wonder, spy-like skills, and is able to be the same character in different roles. In a way, he is a little like Caine from “Kung Fu,” where Caine is a fugitive who helps dispense a form of justice upon wrongdoers using his skills and philosophy to make up for his past failures.

Andrea Parker plays the dark and hostile Ms. Parker with power and confidence. Her character is in charge and is not afraid to show it, but there is also a vulnerable side to the stone-faced Ms. Parker. She is a strong female lead that is confident and aware of what’s going on around her most of the time.

The best part of the show is how Jarod dispenses justice to the villains of the story. The elaborate scheme that he concocts makes the villains cringe in fear. They are broken by the end, confessing to their crimes, publicly humiliated, and/ or caught red-handed.

The show concluded with two features broadcasted on TNT that did not quite close out the series. Many of the episodes can be watched out of order, although to follow some of the ongoing conspiracy, it is better to watch them in order. There is lots of action, adventure, some romance, and many ‘stings’ at the end that put the bad guys in their place. It is certainly a good show to watch and get caught up in the conspiracy.

Skyfall

Bond (Daniel Craig) cautiously enters the room in “Skyfall.”

I am a fan of James bond movies. I enjoy the adventures of the suave and sophisticated British spy who has saved the world from the likes of SPECTRE and villains like Dr. No or Goldfinger. I had the chance to read some of the Ian Fleming novels which were very much a product of their time.

The cinema version of James Bond has been made 23 times in 50 years (25 if you count the ones produced outside of the franchise, I think) with each one being a decent thriller of some kind. The most modern take of Bond, starring Daniel Craig as the titular spy, brings the character to the modern world. The villains are not scheming, grandiose; figures who have world domination on their hands. These villains are terrorists, splinter cells, dictators; they mirror our world closely. The modern cinema Bond is edgy, dogged, troubled, and a “blunt instrument” for uncertain times.

“Skyfall” is the latest in the series that deals with not Bond’s past so much as it deals with his superior, M (played by the wonderful Judi Dench.) Here Bond is shown as a failure, redeeming himself as a member of Her Majesty’s Secret Service. It brings many of the classic Bond elements back that were missing from the other movies featuring Craig. This movie has a plot a bit similar to “GoldenEye,” the feature starring Pierce Brosnan as his first shot as Bond. What it does that is wildly different is that the focus is not on Bond’s desire for revenge, but on being used in a plot for revenge.

The film opens with Bond sweeping a room, where several men lay shot, a computer missing its hard drive lay on a table nearby. One of Bond’s fellow agents is seated with a gunshot wound to the chest. Bond tries to help, but is ordered to pursue the target, a mercenary who has stolen a list of deep cover agents. Thus begins a high speed and thrilling chase through the streets and rooftops of Istanbul (or Morrocco, I’m not sure which). Bond is assisted by a woman named Eve, who drives their truck. Bond’s pursuit leads to a fight on a speeding passenger train, where Eve (Naomie Harris) is ordered to shoot this mercenary. She misses and hits Bond instead, throwing him off the bridge to his apparent death.

The list is now out in the wind. Bond miraculously survives his injuries and ends up a drifter somewhere in the Mediterranean. He is declared dead by MI-6 British Intelligence. M continues her pursuit of the list, when MI-6 is cyber-attacked by an unknown group. The office is bombed, killing six. M is taunted by the hacker who wants her to remember her sins.

Bond comes out of hiding to pursue the case. He is put through a battery of physical and psychological tests in order to be able to go back to active duty. He is angry for M’s lack of trust in letting him get the job done. M is under the scrutiny of the chair of the Intelligence and Security Committee, Gareth Mallory (Ralph Finnes). He pressures M to retire from her post. M is allowed to continue her pursuit of the list. Q (Ben Whishaw) is introduced rearming Bond with a special Wather PPK.

Bond is able to track the mercenary Patrice using the shrapnel from a gunshot wound inflicted in his pursuit. He is led to Macau where Patrice is hired to assassinate someone. Bond does not interfere in his work, but takes him down. He finds a clue with Patrice’s gear, leading him to a casino. Here he meets Sévérine (Bérénice Marlohe) whom he saw with the intended target. She invites him to meet her employer, whom she wishes Bond to kill. Bond fights off her body guards, backed by Eve, to then join Sévérine.

Silva (Javier Bardem) interrogates James Bond.

Bond and Sévérine are taken to a private island where he meets the man behind the cyber-attack, Raoul Silva (an oily Javier Bardem who makes one hell of a scary villain) who takes a keen interest in Bond. He was a former MI-6 operative who worked for M, now out for revenge against her for abandoning him during a mission. Silva kills Sévérine in testing Bond’s resolve. Silva is soon captured by British Intelligence.

Silva is held in a security facility that was once part of Churchill’s wartime bunker. Here he confesses to M what had happened and why he has such disdain for her, showing the scars that he bares for the failed mission that he was a part of. He now believes that he is alive in order to take M down. Silva’s capture is proven to be a ruse, where he used MI-6’s systems to orchestrate his escape. The chase leads through London’s subway system, where he nearly drops a train on Bond. He pursues M like a rabid dog, who is now appearing before the Intelligence and Security Committee for review. Bond manages to catch up to Silva, who starts shooting the attendees. M leaves the building and taken into care by Bond. He switches cars to his Astin Martin DB5, the one he won in a card game in Casino Royale. He has Q leave a trail for Silva to find, leading him to Bond’s childhood home of Skyfall. The manor of his family home is rundown, with no one living in the area, except for Kincade (Albert Finney) the former ground and gameskeeper of Skyfall.

Boobytrapping  the dilapidated home, they prepare for Silva’s inevitable attack. M and Bond seem to settle their differences and form their alliance to put a stop to Silva once and for all.  Outmanned and outgunned, the finale plays out like a western with the heroes holed up at a ranch.

“Skyfall” shares a lot of characteristics and plot points with its predecessors. What makes it stand out is the villain Silva, who is not boisterous like the other classy Bond villains, but driven like Sean Bean’s Alec Trevelyan from “GoldenEye.” He has many resources and wealth, but is not driven to steal money or dominate the world. He is simply out for revenge. Daniel Craig  plays the world weary Bond very well, adding the right amount of charm and bluntness to the character. He does not quip as much as the other Bonds of the past, but he makes for a tough and cold character who shoulders deep personal wounds.

The film also reintroduces the classic elements back into the film in surprising and creative ways. This includes the Astin Martin DB5, Q, and Moneypenny. It is almost in a way bringing things back into full circle. What the movie lacks in a few thrills and a predictable ending, it brings in a lot of drama, character development, and going back to some of the basic Bond themes.

I found “Skyfall” to be a good Bond movie. Sam Mendes does an exemplary job directing this film with its plot. He brings back character to the Bond films and gives them real life. While not the taut action thrill ride I was hoping for, it does give us another brilliant chapter in the modern Bond movie experience.

Naruto the Movie: Guardians of the Crescent Moon Kingdom

Rock Lee, Sakura, Naruto, and Kakashi are introduced to Prince Michiru.

Regular readers of this blog know of my immense love for anime and manga. For an Asian American kid to learn that there are other Asians out there making a living creating comics in an industry that isn’t well received in the US is rather inspiring. I have been soaking in the hundreds of manga and anime titles for years, becoming quite the aficionado of all things otaku. Most anime and manga titles that I come across and read, I generally like and enjoy them.

Naruto is one of these titles. Shunned by most of the populace of Konohagakure (The Hidden Leaf Village), Naruto was cursed with carrying one of the most dangerous creatures inside his body, the nine tailed fox. Placed inside him when only an infant, the orphan struggled to fit in and make friends. Inspired by one of his teachers, he sets out to be the greatest ninja he can be- the Hokage of Konohagakure. Instead of feeling sad and lonely for himself, he seeks to improve upon himself, make friends and allies, and show others that he has what it takes to be the best.

Many of his manga adventures prove to be very emotional as well as action packed. We see Naruto’s desolate life before finding the right path for him. We see how he and his friends and peers struggle to overcome many difficult challenges. It is a wonderful coming of age story that is still ongoing.

Anime allows the expansion of this universe by creating new and extended stories from the original source material. Some of these give new and exciting stories in the hands of talented writers and animators. Many of these movies are well conceived. This one is not, in my humble opinion.

I think the production was rushed, with questionable animation here and there. I think this was rushed as the manga and eventually the anime would do a ‘time jump,’ where the characters would have been out in the world training for several years. They wanted to capitalize on the jump and make features taking place in that time frame before the series resumes. I think the rushed production weakened the integrity of the overall story. It is a good story, but it just falls a little flat for me.

This time, Naruto and his teammates are hired to protect a wealthy prince and his son while they are on a journey. Instead of the usual team of Team leader and mentor Kakashi Hatake, Sakura Haruno, and Sasuke Uchida, Sasuke has been replaced by fan favorite Rock Lee. Sasuke at this time abandoned the Konohagakure (Hidden Leaf Village) for his own purposes.

Meanwhile the team has been carrying out their bodyguard assignment, providing secure escort for Prince Michiru and his son Hikaru. Both come from the wealthy Crescent Moon Kingdom, a popular destination for tourists. There are many casinos, restaurants, and hotels that support the wealth of this kingdom.

While out traveling, the group comes across a traveling circus. Taking a break from the extensive route back to the Crescent Moon Kingdom, they take in the rather impressive show. Hikaru proves to be a talented archer, shooting an apple out of a monkey’s hand. The wager that started this won Hikaru his choice in prize, in which he claims Chamu, the circus’ star attraction, a rare saber tooth tiger.

Instead of giving up the tiger, the whole circus is purchased and hired to become a leading attraction at the Crescent Moon Kingdom. They travel further near the outskirts of the Crescent Moon Kingdom. Here they stop to see Amayo, Hikaru’s mother. She left Michiru due to his shortsightedness on what was important in life. Because she left him, Michiru developed a bad eating habit. They leave with Michiru unsuccessful in winning her back.

As they prepare to cross the sea to the kingdom, Hikaru tries to befriend the tiger Chamu. He is unsuccessful in it. Hikaru becomes distant and uncaring towards Chamu and the others. Naruto is disgusted by his attitude.

During the voyage home, the ship runs into a storm. The crew struggle with securing the circus animals in the hold. Naruto and the other chip in to help. Naruto chastises Hikaru for his lack of care for other lives and treating things like property. Hikaru rushes in to save Chamu, but is swept overboard with the tiger. Naruto uses his shadow clone jutsu to save the animals by pulling them back onboard.

After these turn of events, Hikaru starts to change his ways and becomes friends with Naruto and the others. Chamu also befriends Hikaru, a first as he does not generally like any humans. Upon arriving at the kingdom, we learn that there was a coup etat orchestrated by Shabadaba, a noble of the country. He had Michiru’s father Kakeru forcefully removed from the throne using hired ninjas and his own private army. Naruto and the other narrowly escape from Shabadaba’s clutches thanks to the royal guards that protected Kakeru.

The dying Kakeru imparts final words of wisdom to his son and grandson while in hiding. Michiru begins to realize what the value of family and lives are, and his responsibility to providing for his kingdom. They decide to flee the country in order to regroup and come up with a plan to take back the country. In the attempt, Michiru is captured.

In order to save Michiru’s life, Naruto and the others use the circus as a distraction in order to infiltrate the palace and put a stop to Shabadaba’s  reign. They would have to face-off with the three hired ninja to retake the kingdom. Hikaru steps up to help save his father and the kingdom with Chamu’s help.

While the story isn’t that bad, the way it was told seemed rushed and a little forced. They use a child that is rather aloof to drive in the values and morals that are present in many of the Naruto stories. The theme was handed over to you heavy-handed. The new characters did not engage me as in some of the other anime and manga that I have read. While there was plenty of action, and some sinister baddies involved, the ending was rather predictable with the bad guys getting the comeuppance they deserved.

The animation in this looked a little cheap, with a mishmash of styles that didn’t quite match here and there. I think this hurt the quality of the story by distracting you with the visuals. There was plenty of action to be had, but if given more time and bigger budget, I think this movie would shine a lot.

This is at best something to watch in the afternoon to go along with the many Naruto episodes that are available out there to watch. It’s another nugget of adventure for Naruto before things began to change for him. It is not one of their better efforts.

Summer Wars

Welcome to OZ

Ever wonder what would happen if the internet as we know it went completely haywire? Would we lose control over everything? Would we regress back into ‘the wild west?’ Would governments collapse? Who knows?

In the anime “Summer Wars” directed by Mamoru Hosoda, it gives a very big glimpse at what could happen. Part family drama, part cyberspace adventure, it combines the future web with a family uniting behind a common problem during one hot summer. Less than an adventure and more of a family drama and romantic comedy, there is enough action and humor to match the dramatic scenes.

I found this anime to be both uplifting, original, and enjoyed the action and the mix of drama. It’s a summer movie of sorts, where there are some wacky antics, funny moments, and family bonding. It’s a family adventure movie.

The story begins with Kenji Koiso and his friend Takashi Sakuma working on campus at their high school. They are working part time debugging the “OZ” System, a global social networking site that combines public, social, business, and leisure sites under one big domain. The system has dimensionality, with avatars for users and fantastic landscapes that users can access for work, pleasure, shop, and socialize. It is not far off from the web we have. It is protected by a very secure protection system that no one is supposedly able to break.

Kenji is asked by a senior classmate and friend Natsuki Shinohara to travel with her to her family’s home in Ueda. Thinking it is some sort of ‘job,’ Kenji agrees. They travel by bullet train to Ueda, where Kenji learns a little more about Natsuki and her family. Kenji is a little shy around her. He also demonstrates his mathematical skills, which later proves to be phenomenal.

At the estate of her great-grandmother, she introduces him as his boyfriend. She introduces him to her aunt, and great-grandmother Sakae Jinnouchi. Great-grandmother Sakae is rather accepting of Kenji right off the bat, as she dotes on her great grandaughter. In private, Natsuki explains her situation and makes a bold request of Kenji- to pretend he is her boyfriend, a young university student who comes from a good family, who had studied abroad. He reluctantly agrees.

Soon the family gathers for a big family meal where Kenji is introduced to her large family. They come from all walks of life, being successful in many areas. One cousin is a police officer, another uncle is a doctor, several more are firefighters and are expert in search and rescue. There is one member of the family who appears and is not really welcome, and that is Wabisuke Jinnouchi. The whole family are descendants of a samurai clan that challenged and defeated the Tokugawa clan, and have been in their own way been protecting their home town for centuries.

After having a huge family dinner, Kenji is tired and goes to bed. He is awoken in the middle of the night by his smart phone with a message that had a mathematical equation added. Thinking it might be work related, or just a game puzzle sent by Takashi, he spends part of the night trying to solve it. After what seems like a few minutes (but most likely an hour or two) he solves the problem and sends the answer back in reply. He falls back asleep after getting what seems like a positive result.

Nasuki, Kenji, Shota, and Kazuma look on the computer.

The next day, there seems to be issues with everyone’s online accounts, most of them being tied to the OZ system. Natsuki’s young cousins start taunting Kenji, showing him the news on the TV and accusing him of being a bad guy hacker. Kenji discovers that he can’t access his OZ account. He manages to see what is going on by accessing Natsuki’s young cousin Kazuma Ikezawa’s computer. He learns that Kazuma is the OZ gaming champ King Kazama.

Someone or something had hi-jacked Kenji’s access and avatar to wreck havoc in OZ. Kazuma challenges  this rogue avatar to a fight. Kazuma is nearly victorious when he is distracted by his young cousins. They learn that the avatar is called Love Machine, and is absorbing the other avatars and other site information for its own use. It starts to grow exponentially as it devours avatars.

Soon  the family discovers that Kenji is not who he says he is and is arrested by cousin Shota. Natsuki confesses to the rest of the family of her deceit, and was only doing it so she wouldn’t disappoint Great-Grandmother Sakae. Kenji is soon returned to the family estate as it was nearly impossible to get into town. Kenji then helps restore some order by helping the system engineers and moderators. The family, who has ties to the community go help out with the community and make aware of the national issue that this cyber attack holds.

During another family meal, Wabisuke confesses to Great Grandmother Sakae that he created Love Machine as a powerful hacking tool. He used funds that he embezzled off of Great Grandmother Sakae to develop this program, and spent the last ten years working on in the US. Angered by the sudden betrayal, Great Grandmother Sakae ousts Wabisuke from her home.

Wabisuke leaves in disgust. He vows never to return. Kenji and the others clean the house while Natsuki sulks. Great Grandmother Sakae asks to join her in a conversation over a game of Hanafuda cards. She apologizes for all the family drama that Kenji got involved in and asks that he watch out for Natsuki. Reluctant, he tries to find the right answer, as they have only been friends.

The next morning Great Grandmother Sakae passes away of apparent heart failure; her heart monitor affected by the Love Machine virus and did not alert her son. The family is in shock by the turn of events. Natsuki reaches out to Kenji in her grief.

OZ is still under the influence of the Love Machine program. The family continues to help the community with their skills and normal jobs of firefighting, search and rescue, and being part of the self defense force. Kenji and the others decide to fight Love Machine on their own, gathering resources from different parts of the family, including getting a super computer, a power source, and lots of ice. Kazuma is set on fighting Love Machine once again.

Part of an elaborate trap, Kazuma fights Love Machine once again, this time using their fight as a ruse to trap the rogue program in a secured area. The plan is short-lived, as Love Machine overpowers the system and overheats the supercomputer. Love Machine decides to set a trap itself, taking out a satellite and planning to drop it on one of the nuclear power plants somewhere around the world. The countdown begins.

Love Machine has taken over millions of accounts and turns into one huge avatar, ruling the internet. King Kazama is absorbed into the Love Machine. Kenji still does not want to give up without a fight. Natsuki contacts Wabisuke and summons him home with the news of Great Grandmother’s death and how they are now fighting Love Machine.

Great Grandmother Sakae’s final words are read, noting to go on with their normal lives and to welcome back Wabisuke, even though he caused so many problems for the family. Her words encourage the family to carry on as a family and to continue to support the community. It also serves as a form of rallying cry to fight Love Machine.

Kenji devises a new plan to fight Love Machine, using a game of Hanafuda cards to set the stage. The card game is used to win back the accounts of all the OZ citizens. Like a high stakes poker match, Natsuki challenges Love Machine to Hanafuda to win back enough accounts to weaken Love Machine so that they can terminate the program. The global community also supports her in this endeavor. With a satellite strike looming over their heads and time running out, Kenji and the others are ready to lay out all their cards on the table to take control back of the OZ system.

This is more family oriented material, with enough drama to make it rather heartfelt. It also contains some “Matrix-esque” action and interaction in the OZ web service. It has a balance between the two that make it entertaining and exciting. Love Machine is the “War Games” program that is self aware and truly frightening. It’s part cautionary tale about what could happen if someone created such a program, and a reminder that things that happen in the real world are more important. It also shows that living in different worlds can be done with the right balance. There is also a morality play with family values and coming together as a family both locally and globally. It’s a little cheesy, but it is a good reminder to be part of a family.

“Summer Wars” is not for everyone. It’s not a spy thriller, or superhero movie, or a spectacular ninja battle. It’s about  family. It packs a lot of action and heart in it, and I find it enjoyable.