Film Review: Thor (2011)

Don’t be fooled by the absurd looking previews or pictures; Thor is fantastic, in both senses of the word though.  I, too, had low expectations for it after seeing the initial trailers, which makes it look as tacky as the rest of this year’s superhero flicks, but given the talented cast and director I should’ve known better than to doubt or completely cast it aside.  In fact, some consider it to be Marvel Studios best movie since Iron Man (2008) or even Spiderman 2 (2004).  Still, despite its parallels to Shakespeare, thanks to director Kenneth Branagh’s knowledge and experience in bringing the famous poet’s writings to the big screen, this film isn’t the deepest or most complex; it is definitely a summer blockbuster meant to entertain, but it does have certain elements that elevate it beyond simple amusement.  In sum, Thor is marvelous (pun intended) entertainment and fun fueled by its charismatic lead actor, Chris Hemsworth, sumptuous action and a bit of humor.  Moreover, it is not simply “an extended teaser” for the upcoming The Avengers (2012) movie, despite numerous S.H.I.E.L.D. appearances and references, as it stands on its own as a solid comic-book/fantasy tale.

83rd Annual Academy Awards Nominations, Predictions, Polls, and Pre-Ceremony Analysis (UPDATED WITH RESULTS)

The 83^rd annual Academy Awards ceremony will be broadcast live on Sunday, February 27, 2011 at 8 PM EST; James Franco and Anne Hathaway will host the presentation. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), largely comprised of filmmaking professionals and executives who vote on the Oscars, announced this year’s nominations on January 25, 2011. To view previous years’ nominees, winners, and analysis, click here.

Included below is the list of Oscar nominees. I ranked the nominees in order of how likely they are to win in their respective categories, NOT in order of my preferences. Nonetheless, I have written some thoughts, notes, and perspectives (under some categories) regarding the nominees’ chances, histories, and which are my favorites.

Also, DON’T FORGET TO VOTE! – Please vote as if you were an AMPAS member and casting your own ballot, regardless of my predictions and what you think will win. Vote for what/who you think is the best in each category.

* I shall update this post after the presentation on February 27, 2011 to highlight the winners (in red). *

The 68th Annual Golden Globe Awards – Nominees & Pre-Ceremony Analysis (UPDATED with results)

Another year has passed, and the awards season is upon us. It is a time to recognize and honor the year’s best films, filmmakers and productions. The Academy Awards (or informally known as the Oscars) are the premier awards, which will presented by the Academy of Motion-Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) on February 27, 2011. The Golden Globes, though, are probably the second most distinguished (For a list of all film awards, including festivals, click HERE). Most of them include a set of similar prizes but each one also contains unique rewards or titles. The Golden Globes involve awards regarding both motion pictures and television (TV) series. However, just because a film or filmmaker wins the Golden Globe does not necessarily mean that it or he/she will win the Oscar too; for example, in 2009 James Cameron’s Avatar won the GG but lost to his ex-wife’s, Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker at the Academy Awards and Mickey Rourke won the GG Best Actor for The Wrestler in 2008 but lost to Sean Penn (Milk) at the Oscars. Remember that dynamic as you read through my predictions and see/hear about the actual results.

The 68^th annual Golden Globe awards ceremony will be broadcast live on Sunday, January 16, 2011 at 8 PM EST and hosted by British comedian-actor Ricky Gervais. (If you would like to know more about the 68^th Golden Globe Awards timeline, including various balloting and announcement dates, click HERE). The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), or those responsible for voting for the Golden Globes, announced this year’s nominations on December 14, 2010.

Included below is a list of nominations for all of the motion-picture categories (with the exception of the Best Original Song category). For a full list of all the Golden Globe categories and nominees (including TV series), click HERE. I ranked the nominees in order of how likely they are to win in their respective categories, NOT in order of my preferences. Nonetheless, I have written some thoughts, notes, and perspectives (under some categories) regarding the nominees’ chances, histories, and which are my favorites. Enjoy!

* The winners in each category are followed by an asterisk and appear red.

 

Film Review: Black Swan

Darren Aronofsky has done it again. Watching any of his films is a totally draining experience. Furthermore, they polarize audiences. However, whether or not one ends up loving or hating an Aronofsky film, one cannot deny the fact that they affect the viewer. I was fortunate enough to be within driving distance of one of the 18 theaters that opened his latest film Black Swan (2010). It is a great tale about a self-destructive and insane devotion to one’s art. It is a wildly intense ride to Hell and back.