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Category: Adventure

  • Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

    Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

    [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]After the blockbuster success of Jaws and Star Wars, Steven Spielberg and George Lucas became household names in the industry. Before working on his epic space opera, Lucas had conceived of a film inspired by adventure serials of the 1930s. He worked with filmmaker Philip Kaufman to further develop it, and Lucas wanted him to direct it, but he declined. While vacationing in Hawaii with Spielberg, Lucas discussed his concepts, which resonated with Spielberg wanting to make a globe-trotting adventure. Spielberg agreed to direct, and Lawrence Kasdan was hired to write the screenplay after working on The Empire Strikes Back. Unfortunately, most studios rejected their proposal to make the film for $20 million, though Paramount agreed to produce. While Tom Selleck and Sean Young were originally sought out, Harrison Ford and Karen Allen were cast in the leads. Raiders of the Lost Ark was released in the summer of 1981.

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    Synopsis

    Famed archeologist Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) is tasked by the US Government to find the Lost Ark of the Covenant. Their intelligence suggests that the Nazis had been looking for Abner Ravenwood, Indy’s mentor, who was researching the Ark’s whereabouts. Indy travels to Nepal to find Abner’s daughter Marion (Karen Allen), who has an artifact that can reveal the Ark’s location. After her bar is set ablaze following a shootout, Marion goes with Indy to Cairo to find the Lost Ark. After visiting his friend Sallah (John Rhys-Davies), Indy learns that his arch-rival Belloq (Paul Freeman) is helping the Nazis. Turns out they were able to replicate the artifact thanks to Gestapo Agent Toht (Ronald Lacey), but only partially. Indy finds the Lost Ark’s location using the full artifact, but the Nazis manage to claim it. It’s up to Indiana Jones to stop the Nazis and recover the Lost Ark.

     

    Review

    Raiders of the Lost Ark is a cinematic masterpiece in every sense of the word and I say that wholeheartedly. While it’s hard for any film to be perfect, this comes closer to being perfect than anything before or since. This is Steven Spielberg at his peak especially considering this came after the critical and financial disappointment of 1941. This is almost a transitional film for Spielberg: going from the chaotic 70s to the more economical 80s. Even with a modest budget of $18 million, this is still an impressive-looking film that still holds up today. Along with that, this is one of those great early PG films where more mature content could slip through. There’s a fair amount of swearing, blood spraying, and a rather explosive finale where the villains meet a terrible fate. It’s truly one of those films that could not be made today as is.

    The cast is outstanding, with not a single actor giving even a subpar performance and everyone having a shining moment. Harrison Ford was practically born for this part: tough, rugged, and intelligent, but sometimes going over his head. Karen Allen, on top of being stunning, makes for a strong female lead and has fantastic chemistry with Ford. Paul Freeman is charmingly nasty as Indy’s arch-rival, acting as his polar opposite while also sharing the same ambitions. Even secondary players like John Rhys-Davies, Ronald Lacey, and Denholm Elliot shine in their small but memorable roles. The action sequences are terrific, the visual effects are impressive, and John Williams’ score is simply breathtaking. Maybe there are some nitpicks you could find if you looked hard enough, but those are really minor at best. Overall, Raiders of the Lost Ark deserves its place as a defining moment in cinematic history.

     

    Buy Raiders of the Lost Ark from Amazon: https://amzn.to/40wvL9R.

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

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  • King Kong (1933)

    King Kong (1933)

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    In the 1920s, filmmaker Merian C. Cooper, alongside fellow filmmaker Ernest Schoedsack, produced several nature documentaries such as 1925’s Grass. While working on 1929’s The Four Feathers for Paramount, Cooper’s childhood fascination with gorillas was reinvigorated and an idea struck. His concept was to film a movie about a giant gorilla fighting lizards and dinosaurs with a female lead attached. He presented his pitch to Paramount in the early years of the Great Depression but was turned down. Luckily, through a connection with David O. Selznick, Head of Production at RKO, he got to make his dream project. Cooper hired Edgar Wallace to pen the script and hired stop motion animator Willis O’Brien for the special effects. Many of the cast and crew Cooper worked with before would return for what would become his magnum opus. Finally, 1933 saw the release of the eighth wonder of the world, King Kong.

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    Synopsis

    Ambitious filmmaker Carl Denham (Robert Armstrong) is about to set sail on a new project he’s been keeping under wraps. He’s been having trouble finding a female lead until he runs into the beautiful Ann Darrow (Fay Wray). Denham offers her the role and she accepts, despite not being told much about the project or where it’s filming. They finally set sail, Denham finally revealing that they’re headed for Skull Island, an uncharted island near Sumatra. Once there, they meet the natives, the chief offering to trade six women for Ann, but they decline and leave. That night, the natives sneak aboard the ship, kidnap Ann, and offer her up to the monstrous giant gorilla Kong. Kong takes off with Ann, so first mate John Driscoll (Bruce Cabot) leads a team to rescue her. Will they be able to rescue her, and what does Denham ultimately have planned for Kong?

     

    Review

    King Kong is one of the most important films ever made and it deserves all the credit it’s received. The film was revolutionary with its visual effects, using a mixture of stop-motion animation, rear projection, and miniatures. While effects technology has advanced in the decades since its release, the effects here are still impressive given the times. Even if the stop motion models look crude by today’s standards, there’s a charm to them that CGI can’t match. Some of the biggest set pieces are Kong’s fight with the T-Rex, as well as his rampage in New York. Acting-wise, it’s about on par with standard acting seen during the 1930s, with plenty of fast-talking and exaggerated movements. Fay Wray does make for a decent damsel-in-distress, and it’s hard not to get behind Robert Armstrong’s character. Just keep in mind that this was before subtlety in acting was a common thing.

    At its core, King Kong is a very simple adventure story: exotic location, girl to be rescued, fantastical creatures, etc. However, its simplicity is what makes it enjoyable, having the spectacle at the forefront at the sacrifice of narrative complexity. It’s also important to remember that this film inspired some of the greatest filmmakers of the 20th century and beyond. People like Peter Jackson, Rick Baker, John Landis, Joe Dante, Frank Darabont, and Ray Harryhausen were just some of them. Following its success, RKO rushed out a sequel, Son of Kong, followed by its spiritual successor, 1949’s Mighty Joe Young. There have been two remakes, one in 1976 and one in 2005, cartoons, books, comics, and various other adaptations. With a legacy like that, it’s no wonder why King Kong is still remembered fondly several generations later. Overall, King Kong is a historically-significant, though somewhat dated, film everyone should watch.

     

    Buy King Kong from Amazon: https://amzn.to/38Uuxqr

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  • Sonic the Hedgehog (2020)

    Sonic the Hedgehog (2020)

    [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”]In the 1990s, video game companies Nintendo and Sega were competing for dominance with the Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis. To try and compete with Nintendo’s mascot Mario, Sega created Sonic the Hedgehog and introduced him in 1991. The first game’s success led to a successful franchise that went through many ups and downs over the years. Plans for a film were brewing in the early 90s, but Sega was nervous given the failure of other adaptations. Then in 2013, Sony acquired the rights and was moving forward with a Sonic movie scheduled for release in 2018. However, Paramount ended up buying the rights in 2017, but they retained the same crew, including first-time director Jeff Fowler. Originally scheduled for release in November 2019, it was delayed due to the negative reception of the titular character’s design. After an extensive redesign, Sonic the Hedgehog was released in February 2020.

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    Synopsis

    For the past decade, Sonic the Hedgehog (Ben Schwartz) has been in hiding since escaping from his homeworld. Things change when he accidentally releases an electromagnetic pulse with his supersonic speed that catches the US government’s attention. In response, they send the eccentric but brilliant Doctor Robotnik (Jim Carrey) to investigate and track down the creature. While trying to make his escape, Sonic catches the attention of the local sheriff, Tom Wachowski (James Marsden). The two end up running from Robotnik and his drones as they try to make their way to San Francisco. Turns out Sonic’s rings, which can create portals, ended up getting lost on top of the Transamerica Pyramid. Along the way, the two become the unlikeliest of friends, and Sonic starts to consider staying on Earth. Will Robotnik catch up to our heroes, and will Sonic be able to save the day and his friends?

     

    Review

    Before I get to the elephant in the room, I’ll start by saying Sonic the Hedgehog is a fun time. First off, Sonic looks fantastic, and Ben Schwartz’s performance is pitch-perfect, giving him the appropriate amount of cockiness and heart. James Marsden does a good job as the straight man, and his back and forths with Sonic are a highlight. Of course, Jim Carrey steals the show, giving an over-the-top performance similar to Ace Ventura: Pet Detective or The Mask. The rest of the human cast does a serviceable job, though none of them stand out that much. The action sequences are fun and exciting, though they use slow-motion sequences done better in X-Men: Days of Future Past. While many of the jokes don’t land, there are still plenty of laughs here, as well as heartwarming moments. Also, while there’s some Olive Garden product placement, it’s not all that distracting.

    When the first few trailers came out back in early 2019, many people were pretty critical of the film. I, myself, was also wary about its overall quality, especially the pretty horrifying original design of Sonic. Thankfully, the studio heard the complaints, admitted fault, and gave Sonic a complete do-over, which is a massive improvement. Sadly, the company behind the redesign, Motion Pictures Company Vancouver, ended up going bankrupt, which is a major sore spot. That being said, I hope these animators find jobs because the work they’ve done here is impressive given the circumstances. Had they gone with the original design, Sonic the Hedgehog would have been worse, but it wouldn’t have changed much. While it is an enjoyable watch, there’s not much substance and the plot is pretty predictable and unoriginal. Overall, Sonic the Hedgehog won’t set the world on fire, but it’s still worth a watch.

     

    Buy Sonic the Hedgehog on Amazon: https://amzn.to/409Ot6M.

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

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