The Grandmaster is a delicate and deliberate work of art

Wong Kar-Wai is one of China’s most celebrated and respected directors because his aesthetic eye is unmatched, much like his the title of his latest film, The Grandmaster starring Tony Leung as Ip Man, the martial art champion of Wing Chun that has become a household name among Netflix audiences familiar with the Donnie Yen films. This interpretation easily replaces the previous versions. It chronicles his life before and after the Second Sino-Japanese war as a well-respected kung fu master selected to represent the Southern styles against the undefeated Northern Grandmaster. The film is beautifully shot and every single detail is accentuated by Wong Kar-Wai’s ability to make the familiar look strange. Tony Leung’s performance is equal to his character’s name and Zhang Ziyi’s (Gong Er) keeps the film from becoming a one-dimensional martial art film. Her presence and her character’s objective, as well as her obstacles deepens the story. The Grandmaster is a delicate and deliberate work of art.

WORD COUNT: 160

Chuck’s Grade: A

Adam’s Grade: N/A

Batman Begins an amazing franchise of films

Christopher Nolan’s interpretation of the Batman character has replaced most audiences’ perception of the caped crusader. Thank goodness because I am tired of campy television references and Tim Burton’s expressionist take on the masked vigilante. Nolan’s first installment provides the origin of Batman and Bruce Wayne’s reluctant journey back to Gotham City. Christian Bale is ideal for the part and the film’s antagonists Cillian Murphy (Scarecrow) and Liam Neeson (Henri Ducard) are equally up to the task. The Scarecrow scares audiences with his ghoulish demeanor while Ducard’s cold-blooded crusade are formidable tactics that keep the film from falling into a one-note action flick. Batman is known for his utility belt and Batmobile. Lucious Fox (Morgan Freeman) provides the eye-catching vehicles and gadgets that raise the level of action to new heights for a comic-book film. Nolan creates a realistic superhero with human flaws and weaknesses that audiences can’t get enough of. Batman Begins an amazing franchise of films.

WORD COUNT: 158

Chuck’s Grade: A

Adam’s Grade: A-

The Truman Show is the master template for popular entertainment today

The Truman Show is easily one of the most original ideas to emerge from Hollywood in the late 1990s. At the time, reality TV and manufactured amateur celebrities were in its infancy stages. Fifteen years later, the film’s subject material remains relevant because of the public’s obsession with watching this form of entertainment. Society has not degenerated to the level of The Truman Show’s unethical decision to buy the rights of a newborn child to unknowingly serve as the central character in a fake world of scripted characters and controlled events 24 hours a day. It is the perfect combination of soap opera melodrama, reality, and movie magic that will become the master template for popular entertainment today.

Writer Andrew Niccol’s brilliant multi-layered script is funny, dramatic, dark, and intelligent. Ed Harris (Christof) portrayal of a producer/director’s “ends justifies the means” position is powerful while Jim Carrey finally finds a role that allows him to demonstrate his range as an artist.

WORD COUNT: 160

Adam’s Grade: A-

Chuck’s Grade: A

Memories (short film) is unforgettable

Memories come and go and some are lost forever. This award-winning short film from Radoslaw Sienski captures a whirlwind of emotions in two minutes that balances the past with the present and an inevitable future. An old man finds a film strip on the ground and when he looks at the frames he sees himself in the past. He continue to locate these strips of film as he walks through the city. Memory after memory is put forward and his reaction to the past is like a young man experiencing the world for the first time, until he reaches his home and shuts the door. The reality of the situation interrupts the playful memories and audiences are reminded of the fragility of life. One of the more interesting shorts I have seen in some time. I will remember to revisit this one in future when I am older. At least I hope to.

WORD COUNT: 153

Chuck’s Grade: A

Adam’s Grade: B+

Young Frankenstein is a much different monster

Rarely can parodies transfer meaning from one generation to the next, but director Mel Brooks with the help of comedic actor Gene Wilder create one of the funniest films of all time. The 1974 film, Young Frankenstein balances satire with originality to transform the 1931 Universal classic horror film into a much different monster that makes audience laugh until hurts.

Dr. Frankenstein’s grandson (Wilder) inherits his grandfather’s castle begins conducting experiments with the help of his lab assistants Igor (Marty Feldman) and Inga (Teri Garr). The next thing you know, Dr. Frankenstein is screaming, “It’s alive!” and the creature (Peter Boyle) with the abnormal brain escapes.

Brooks and Wilder understand how to bring a good story back from the dead. Their attention to detail and their passion for the project separates them from the long list of ordinary comedic artists. Brook’s characters become part of pop culture and the film remains relevant to audiences forty years later.

WORD COUNT: 155

Adam’s Grade: A+

Chuck’s Grade: A

Toy Story 2 is kept near and dear

Toy Story 2 is one of those rare films where the sequel is equal to or better than the original. Pixar develops the Woody (Tom Hanks) character into Gary Cooper like hero that resonates with young and old audiences. They also expand Buzz Lightyear’s role (Tim Allen) turn him into a larger than life hero.  Toy Story 2 is more than a visual exploration of computer animation. It is a film that entertains a set of serious ideas rooted in the importance of loyalty and friendship. The second installment brings back all of the original characters, as well as some new ones that will expand upon the film’s humor in a way that balances its sharp wit with physical humor. Audiences are treated to Pixar’s toy box and leave feeling good about those special toys that everyone kept near and dear as a child.

WORD COUNT: 142

Adam’s Grade: A

Chuck’s Grade: A

Nuit Blanche (short film) breaks through

Director Arev Manoukian captures a moment in time that all hopeless romantics can appreciate. His black and white homage to finding love on the streets in Paris at night is a beautifully put together short film. The combination of slow-motion computer generated images and a powerful instrumental ballad smash the conventional approach to a love story with an amazing sequence between two strangers caught up in a special moment. Manoukian does not need words to communicate the power of attraction. His visual metaphors are long-lasting even though his film is over in four minutes.

WORD COUNT: 94

Chuck’s Grade: A

Adam’s Grade: A

Life of Pi

Ang Lee has done something most directors are incapable of doing. He took one of the popular and beloved books and turned it into an amazing film. The film, Life of Pi does the original source justice. Lee, similar to the story, makes the impossible believable with the use of adept computer effects that create the most life like beasts ever seen on the big screen while at the same time making sure the story stays at the forefront of the drama. He is simply the most diverse directer working today. Every project is another challenge he conquers. Lee is a tiger among young men and his film, Life of Pi makes everyone a believer in his Oscar award winning talent. If you are not, then you will be by the end of the film.

WORD COUNT: 135

Chuck’s Grade: A

Adam’s Grade: B+

Chasing Mavericks rides a positive wave

Rarely does a Hollywood “Based on a True Story” movie get it right, but the film about surf legends Jay Moriarity (Jonny Weston) and Frosty Hesson (Gerard Butler) rides the perfect wave into people’s hearts. It does not matter if you have never surfed or have never heard of them. Chasing Mavericks is more than your average surfer movie. It is a story filled with meaningful relationships that support a young man’s quest to achieve the improbable. Moriarity looks to Hesson as a father figure and dedicates himself to a strict regimen that most kids his age would give up after the first day. His passion for surfing and his love for his mother (Elisabeth Shue), his best friend (Devin Crittenden) and the girl of his dreams (Leven Rambin) make the perfect script for audiences to get behind. The surfing is amazing, but Butler’s performance serves as the pillar holding this film up as one the best of 2012.

WORD COUNT: 159

Chuck’s Grade: A

Adam’s Grade: N/A

Ronan’s Escape (short film) forces audiences to think about change

Bullying is a hot-topic issue that has received considerable attention from the film community in the last couple of years. A. J. Carter writes and directs one of the most powerful short films on the subject by allowing the actions to speak for itself. He does not pull any punches and presents an accurate depiction of young people targeting one of their classmate, as well as the potential impact it can have on its victim.

Ronan is a 14 year-old boy who has been labeled a “loser” by his peers. He attempts to persevere through the physical and mental abuse, but finds himself frustrated, embarrassed, hurt, and alone. Carter storytelling is more complex than the sparse words he uses throughout the film. He allows audiences to witness the behavior and to think about their potential role and responsibility when it comes to treating others with respect. Ronan’s Escape is a thought provoking short that forces audiences to think about change.

WORD COUNT: 159

Chuck’s Grade: A

Adam’s Grade: N/A