Archive for the ‘Review’ Tag
Here’s a great review from getthebigpicture.net:
Mmmm, what a delicious combination of cinematic ingredients! Add beautiful actors, stunningly rich production design, transcendent cinematography, glittering 1930s costumes, deceit, betrayal, love, lust, and trained animals, mix them up in an enormous circus tent, and voila! You have Francis Lawrence’s twisted little joy ride of a behind-the-big-top drama, Water For Elephants, the story of a young man beginning an unexpected, after college life.
The film begins in the somewhat cliché tradition of The Notebook and The Green Mile, but introducing us to the much aged Jocob Jankowski, (Hal Holbrook) standing in a circus parking lot long after hours. At first glance, it seems the old man may have lost a few screws over the years. As the circus’ owner, played by Paul Schneider, prods him with questions however, he soon finds that not only is the old man lucid, he has quite a story to tell, namely, the great tale of one of the greatest circus disasters in history.
Ordinarily, an introduction like this would have immediately turned me off due to it’s innate here-we-go-again quality. There is something different about this film though: the almost surreal picture quality, the sincerity with which the opening scene is directed and performed, and the few juicy dialogue lines of intrigue, excited me enough to kick off my shoes, curl up in my seat, and settle in for the two hour escape.
And what an escape it is. Nearly every single scene is richly layered with action, meaning, and a host of scenic elements for your eyes to dart to. In addition, the wide landscape scenes are grand enough to take your breath away, and it isn’t just because they are beautiful. Barreling down the tracks on a steaming locomotive beneath the vast, moon lit night sky was the perfect illustration of the feeling of a life beginning and the excitement for the journey ahead. Such is the journey of young Jacob, played by Robert Pattinson.
To tell you the truth, I really didn’t know what to expect from Hollywood’s dashing young starlet. Not to demean vampires in any way, but the artistic burden of playing a stoic, sexy, sparkling, member of the undeads has always seemed about as heavy as a few cloves of garlic. How would Mr. Pattinson fair when presented with a three dimensional, layered character who has suffered real pain, while experiencing love for the first time? Well, ladies and gentleman, I must say, I was thrilled to discover that our once pretty little blood sucker packs enough talent behind that chiseled face to truly become one of our next leading men. And thank goodness for him, or he would have been blown out of the water by the dynamicChristoph Waltz.
Waltz plays the tyrannical owner of the Benzini Brother’s traveling circus, August, who is a brutal as he is charming. What makes this character so frightening is that Waltz avoided the easy choice to make this man purely evil. By craftily layering the internal conflict, Waltz constructs a villain with the powerful combination of empathy and unpredictability. You don’t know whether this man is going to kiss you or kill you, and it works.
The one major problem with this film, most unfortunately, is the picturesque, elephant riding, ingénue, and Hollywood veteran… ring, ring! It’s Reese Witherspoon. That’s right folks, she phoned it in. The performance’s impact on the film is almost tragic. She returns Pattinson’s infatuation with boredom, and Waltz’s intimidation with half-hearted discomfort, making one wonder if she can ever return from the land of the half-wit romantic comedy.
That said, the film is not a wash because of her. If you do decide to make Water For Elephantsyour movie of choice for a night out, know that it is fairly easy to ignore Ms. Witherspoon and focus on all of the intricate production design surrounding her.
Do children still dream of running away to join the circus?
Sara Gruen’s best-selling novel, “Water for Elephants,” evokes an earlier time, when towns came to a standstill to watch the circus folk parade down Main Street, the glint of tinsel could pass for glamour and the smell of sawdust could make a boy’s heart race.
To be more precise, the novel is set in 1931, a few years after the heyday of the Big Top. The Great Depression is culling the stragglers, and the surviving outfits scavenge off the remains, picking up flea-bitten big cats and starving artistes on the cheap.
Directed by Francis Lawrence (“I Am Legend”) from a screenplay by veteran Richard LaGravenese (“PS I Love You”), the movie version does a pretty good job balancing the surface exoticism of the Benzini Brothers Circus and the shabbiness that’s fraying away at the edges.
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Here’s Variety‘s review of Water for Elephants:
In an extravagant gamble worthy of the fictional Benzini Brothers Circus itself, Fox gives Sara Gruen’s grassroots bestseller “Water for Elephants” the glossy, big-budget treatment fans crave, counting on adult women — plus a younger female contingent keen on seeing “Twilight” heartthrob Robert Pattinson paired with sweet-as-pie Reese Witherspoon — to prop up a production with a cost apparently on par with a small tentpole. Unlike the story’s colorful gang of roustabouts, who dismiss ticket buyers as “rubes,” the filmmakers clearly value their public, crafting a splendid period swooner that delivers classic romance and an indelible insider’s view of 1930s circus life.
A present-day prologue finds nursing-home escapee Jacob Jankowski (played with endearing mock surliness by Hal Holbrook) reminiscing about his tenure under the big top. Taken in by a young circus worker (Paul Schneider) and then encouraged to share his story, Jacob proceeds to explain how a family tragedy on the eve of vet-school exams spared the would-be Cornell grad a predictable life, and led to his hitching a ride with the Benzini Brothers’ traveling show instead.
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Thanks to Fox, we were lucky enough to see Water for Elephants at the Premiere in New York City last Sunday. Here’s our review of the movie.
Based on the New York Times best-selling novel penned by Sara Gruen, Water for Elephants is set during the Great Depression of the 1930s. The movie plunges you into an era where travelling circuses and big tops were all the rage. Jacob Jankowski (Pattinson,) a veterinary student at Cornell, learns rapidly how life can change with the blink of an eye when his parents die in an accident. Alone with nowhere to go and no money Jacob jumps on a train, which turns out to be owned by the Benzini Brothers, a travelling circus. First seen as an intruder by the owner of the circus, August (cleverly played by Christoph Waltz,) his veterinary skills quickly come in handy and help him find his own place in the circus. When Jacob meets August’s wife Marlena (played by Reese Witherspoon,) he falls under her charm and soon has to deal with the furious temper of a crazed husband.
Ladies and gentleman prepare to be wooed; this is Robert Pattinson like you’ve never seen him before. From laughter to extreme frustration, Pattinson displays a wide array of emotions, showing his worth as an actor. Witherspoon and Waltz also show their amazing Oscar winning capabilities in this movie. As a secondary character, Hal Holbrook plays the part of an older Jacob Jankowski marvellously well. In the fashion of great Hollywood love stories, the transition between “old Jacob” and “young Jacob” is cleverly played.
Water for Elephants is beautifully shot. Francis Lawrence manages to bring an entire era to life on the silver screen. You’ll go through a roller-coaster of emotions, from laughter to tears. For fans of the book, you will definitely not be disappointed, the screenplay written by Richard LaGravenese, stays true to the book.
Definitely a must see! Water for Elephants is simply the most spectacular show on earth…
From Roger Ebert:
There’s something endearingly old-fashioned about a love story involving a beautiful bareback rider and a kid who runs off to join the circus. What makes “Water for Elephants” more intriguing is a third character, reminding us why Christoph Waltz deserved his supporting actor Oscar for “Inglourious Basterds” (2009). He plays the circus owner, who is married to the bareback rider and keeps her and everyone else in his iron grip.
The story, based on the best-seller by Sara Gruen, is told as a flashback by an old man named Jacob (Hal Holbrook), who lost his parents in 1931, dropped out of Cornell University’s veterinary school, hit the road and hopped a train that happened, wouldn’t you know, to be a circus train. Played by Robert Pattinson as a youth, he is naive and excited, and his eyes fill with wonder as he sees the beautiful Marlena (Reese Witherspoon) on her white show horse. The owner August (Waltz) is prepared to throw him off the train until he learns young Jacob knows something about veterinary medicine.
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We’ve made signs for those of you who will be attending Water for Elephants Premieres! You can print them and bring them with you to the events! They were all made by the amazing DreamySim1 and each one is different!
For Berlin signs click here
For Paris signs click here
For Barcelona signs click here
For London signs click here
For Sydney signs click here
And for those of you who want the one from the NYC premiere click here
If you want to discuss Water for Elephants the discussion post is here.
If you want to check out our review of Water for Elephants click here.
Check out ToR’s sign signed by Rob here!
Translation: Thanks to LeRPattzClub
Unbalanced talent among the lead actors and a predictable story.
With this film, we wanted to know if Robert Pattinson could play something different from his tortured vampire role in which he only displays 2 emotions througout the Twilight saga. The answer is yes: actually he can play a tortured veterinary student who only displays 2 emotions throughout this film. He is not strong enough to face Christoph Waltz who displays anger from the very first time we see him or even the sweet Reese Witherspoon who is so charming. Pattinson can’t really express anything with this love triangle set in a circus during the Great Depression. It ‘s lacking passion and sensuality to trigger off any emotions.
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From FilmActu.com :
Good news for fans of romantic movies, Water for Elephants respects the rules of the genre perfectly. A simple hero, a femme fatale trapped with a tyrannical husband, an impossible love… all the ingredients are there to make this new film directed by Francis Lawrence a success, especially due to its dream cast. Water for Elephants is a suprising turn for the director of Constantine and I Am Legend. The fears about his unfamiliarity with the romantic genre were understandable but in this movie he quickly proves that he has understood the expectations of his new audience.
Water for Elephants proportions perfectly the ingredients needed to make a traditional romantic movie without adding too much sweetness into the mix. However, one could be put off by the opening: an old man telling his story, narrating it as a voice-over – the opening is in fact the only bad thing about the film. Once the film takes us into the past of the hero, Jacob (Robert Pattinson) the story shifts without difficulty into a well constructed classic scenario based not only on romantic issues but also on the nomad universe in which the characters evolve. A universe that Lawrence chose to convey not through the prism of baroque fantasy or dreams but with realism, with all the social misery that the period of the Great Depression entailed. The metaphorical dimension of the train whose employees have become useless is inescapable. This is the context in which Robert Pattinson plays the archetypal character of an educated young man turned outcast following the death of his parents who becomes a foreigner in his own world and decides to abandon it. As you might expect, he falls in love with Marlena (Reese Witherspoon), the wife of August (Christoph Waltz), the violent and unstable boss.
With ambitious art direction, the charm of Water for Elephants obviously also rests on its cast: Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon form a very cute couple on screen. Getting away from Twilight and recently seen in Remember Me, Robert Pattinson proves in this film that his talent is not limited to portraying handsome hunks and makes a very endearing Jacob, armed with his boyish smile. However Francis Lawrence sometimes misses opportunities for sensuality in the scenes between the hero and his partner. The filmmaker manages to raise tensions at the height of the love triangle, with Christoph Waltz excelling in the role of the powerful psychopath who is both terrifying and unpredictable. This is done differently to the style of Tarantino. Yet, emotions are truly heightened through the character of Rosie the elephant who will become the object of a power struggle both within the circus and in Marlena’s heart. Animal lovers, this film is for you.
So yes, with its familiar themes and melodramatic moments (which are tastefully done and not too pronounced), this new Francis Lawrence creation is one of those romantic movies that will quickly find its way into people’s hearts. It demonstrates that classicism in a movie is not always a drawback. Water for Elephants is like one of those candies that, provided it is not eaten too often, can bring the most wonderful dream to life.
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Translation @alexandra1116 / via
BlueWater Comics sent us a copy of “Fame: Robert Pattinson” for Review. We’re a bit late doing the review, sorry for the delay. Huge thanks to our guest poster AccentonLife for writting this article for ToR.
OK, let’s be honest here. If you’re a fan of Robert Pattinson (or even a regular visitor to this site), you already know the information in Fame: Robert Pattinson. But, for $3.99, it’s a worthwhile investment.
In this comic, you learn briefly about Pattinson’s early life. (The illustrations of his parents and of his two sisters dressing him up are easily two of the most amusing in the comic.) It then takes readers through his early film roles up to his part as Georges Duroy in Bel Ami. Pattinson’s story is told through an intriguing blend of narrative bits, illustrations and quotes from the actor himself.
The storytelling relates in some way back to the movies Pattinson has been in, but the authors find a way to stretch discussion of movie roles into discussions about his life in general. For example, part of the discussion about The Haunted Airman deals with Pattinson smoking and how many times he is photographed with a cigarette, relating it back to how many times his character lights up in that film. The authors also talk about Pattinson’s musical abilities as part of a discussion about the Twilight soundtrack.
The illustrations themselves are, in an odd way, rather interesting. The cover is the closest likeness. The inside illustrations, while portraying him in memorable poses and pieces of clothing, certainly are of that comic book/anime variety. Pattinson is often portrayed, particularly for professional photoshoots such as the one he did for GQ, in a suave, sophisticated manner. It’s interesting to see him portrayed in the slightly less perfect light of comic drawing – more angular, additional lines, harsher scruff. Nevertheless, fans will be satisfied with just how realistic these images are.
The collages are also fun. There is one that pieces together the book covers of the Twilight saga and another that illustrates some of his early roles. It’s not quite a “Where’s Waldo,” but it’s entertaining to see what you spot in them.
Perhaps the best thing about this comic is the use of quotes from Pattinson. They are scattered throughout the comic and provide a bit of insight into his thoughts on fame and the movies he’s done. One such quote is particularly perceptive: “I didn’t do anything out of the ordinary to be so famous. It all comes down to those 5 minutes of emotions that you give to people and that’s nice to feel. It’s part of the magic and everything that comes from making movies. The expectations, the dreams, the fantasies; it’s all an illusion. I’m a very normal guy, I can promise you that.”
Perhaps that sums up both Pattinson and this comic best. For fans, this will be another piece to add to the collection.
You can purchase Fame here on Amazon.
Written: May 06 ‘10
Product Rating: 4.0
Pros: Decent acting, character development, special effects, Sense that story is going somewhere
Cons: A lot feels very familiar.
The Bottom Line: The next installment in “The Twilight Saga,” “Eclipse” progresses the stories and relationships from the earlier films and is entertaining for viewers from teenagers up.
The Twilight Saga: Eclipse Series’ become tougher and tougher for non-fans the longer the series persists. Those who are not embedded in a phenomenon tend to be looking for something that builds on the prior installments while still giving viewers something that feels new, if not entirely familiar. So, for example, with “Twilight” the pressure on filmmakers was to please fans and get an audience who had not read any of the books intrigued in the story and characters. With “New Moon” the pressure was to retain the audience and not simply repeat the teen melodrama aspects and allow the audience to feel like the story was actually going somewhere. They largely succeeded. With “Eclipse,” the third installment in the “Twilight Saga,” the stakes are raised, especially for those who are not already glued to the series.
For that audience, the fear has to be that “Eclipse” will simply be a repetition of the two prior installments and will be more teen melodrama than anything else. After all, in “The Twilight Saga,” there is a romance to vampires and werewolves and much of Kristen Stewart’s acting involves alternately looking moon-eyed and falling down. With “Eclipse,” the formula is broken and the film fearlessly illustrates what it only implied in “New Moon,” that most vampires are actually angry and quite evil. While “New Moon” had the carnage off-screen, “Eclipse” illustrates it and the conflict becomes more than just a teenage “I love him,” “no, I love the other guy,” “no, I love the first guy more” story. And it is bound to be well-received by the fans. It was well-received by this non-fan.
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Thinking of Rob 