Peter Jackson’s ‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey‘ was a long awaited movie for ‘Lord of the Rings’ fans and new fans alike. The first movie in the expected ‘Hobbit’ Trilogy, based on the book of the same name by J.R.R. Tolkien, may present vivid action, but the audience can get lost in the dragged-out scenes.

‘The Hobbit’ begins with Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) who is a hobbit from the Shire, meeting with Gandalf (Ian McKellen), a wizard from his childhood. Gandalf tricks Bilbo into helping him with a mysterious quest; when thirteen dwarves show up at the door, Bilbo has no option but to help. Thorin (Richard Armitage), descendant of the great Dwarven King, is on a quest to defeat the Dragon Smaug and take back the gold that is rightfully his. Gandalf has discovered a secret entrance into the hall of his ancestors, which has been sealed since Smaug attacked, but needs help reaching his destination. On the journey he encounters various enemies, while Bilbo struggles with his conflict between wanting an adventure and wanting to return home. The enemies aren’t even the dragon, they are the orcs Thorin once battled with for his homeland, led by the one-handed pale orc Azog. This starts a series of heart-pounding moments as the characters struggle to reach their goal.

‘The Hobbit’ truly lives up to its name of being a prequel. Beginning with the returning faces of Ian Holm as young Bilbo and Elijah Wood as Frodo Baggins, fans of ‘The Lord of the Rings’ are instantly drawn into the new plot. Hints are dropped throughout the movie to foreshadow ‘The Lord of the Rings,’ from Gandalf’s hatred of the wizard Saruman, to Gollum’s hatred of the Baggins family. It also adds background information that the previous movies lacked, like the history of the dwarven hall of Moria or the feud between the elves and the dwarves. There is so much background information, in fact, viewers can be sure they will have a nearly complete understanding of many unexplained things in ‘The Lord of the Rings.’

The actors portray their roles wonderfully- the dwarves embody the gruff, untrusting characters fantasy fans are accustomed to, and has Freeman the comfortable, sheltered life of a hobbit. Shining in particular was Sylvester McCoy, who played Radagast the Brown, another wizard. However small his role, the scenes are delightful to watch because of the crazy character he artfully represents.

The scene of a game of riddles between Gollum and Bilbo is is one of the most fantastic foreshadowing scenes in the movie. It is the first moment Bilbo acquires the ring, the plot of the later trilogy. It also shows insight into both of their characters, emphasizing Bilbo’s wit and Gollum’s dual nature. The creature shows signs of his Smeagol/Gollum split that fans instantly recognize and know not to trust. Jackson may have dragged out the scene a bit too long- when fans already know Bilbo lives, why do the riddles keep going?

A notorious inconsistency in the movie is the way the characters never die. Or for that matter, never get hurt. They make bold, brave decisions and manage to slay a hundred orcs at a time. It would kill anyone else, but this company doesn’t even suffer injuries. For characters that begin not as warriors, but as loyal artisans gathered under Thorin, this is an amazing and unbelievable feat. The same goes for Bilbo, who protests wholeheartedly at beginning of the movie about going on the journey, and then becomes one of the most daring characters in the group. For the amount of time Bilbo rejected the idea, he changes his mind and fighting abilities quickly.

That being said, there is a lot of walking, talking and not much else happening. Azog and another unexplained character, the Necromancer, are not in the book but do add more interest to the story of what could potentially be ‘The Lord of the Rings’ with different characters. The movie itself was enjoyable, so long as the audience doesn’t get tired of watching the company almost die, to be saved at the last moment by someone finding the courage to act.

3.5/5 stars – for a movie that helped explain ‘The Lord of the Rings,’ but tried to pack too much into a plot without much ever happening.

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‘Premium Rush,’ an action film starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt delivered to theaters Friday, August 24, 2012, had a charm of its own despite not being of traditional action caliber. Although the cast isn’t bursting with well-known actors and actresses, they pack a punch in character and witty jibes.

Written and directed by David Koepp, known for ‘Jurassic Park’, ‘Panic Room’, and ‘Spiderman,’ ‘Premium Rush’ is a $35 million movie that opened at $6 million. Critics were not too impressed with the underrated action film.

Wilee (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is a New York City bicycle messenger whose reckless behavior earns him the reputation as an adrenaline junkie. His bike has no brakes, allowing him to hone his abilities to imagine and execute multiple escape routes, reminiscent of Sherlock Holmes’ (Robert Downey Jr.) ability in the ‘Sherlock Holmes’ movies.

On one of his jobs, he unknowingly picks up a valuable delivery from his ex-girlfriend Vanessa’s (Dania Ramirez) roommate Nima (Jamie Chung), who sports a blatantly fake Chinese accent. This catalyzes the explosion of action as he is chased by not only what seems to be a crazed stranger in a suit demanding he hand over the delivery, but a bicycle cop who witnessed him breaking a few laws. Confused at the danger of the secret package, Wilee heads back to campus to confront Nima about what he’s carrying.

It wasn’t the plot that held intrigue—although the storyline format unfurled similarly to ‘Vantage Point’ peaked curiosity—but the characters and tone of the overall film. The dry and sometimes violent humor of the characters, circumstances, and events added a complexity to the film rare in other action movies.

It is rare when action films have time to flesh out the characters, however ‘Premium Rush’ does that with Wilee’s voice overs and interactions with other characters. Michael Shannon, the actor that plays dirty cop Bobby Monday, was particularly impressive. By including competitive, romantic, and compassionate qualities to the main characters, ‘Premium Rush’ creates a very real society that comes to life on screen.

Had it not been for David Koepp, director and writer, revealing the storyline in a way that piqued curiosity, the plot would have been predictable and redundant. The characters and their respective backgrounds were pieced together like a puzzle sporadically between gripping action scenes that left little time for the audience’s attention to wander. Combined with the dry humor the movie offered, ‘Premium Rush’ delivered high-quality entertainment.

Overall, ‘Premium Rush’ is a delightful surprise that offers much more than action. Though not bound to win awards anytime soon, it is remarkably different than other blockbusters, combining comedic wit and tragic elements that culminate in a satisfied sigh at the film’s end.

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On Friday June 8, the Belfast Film Festival hosted the second of its three Gala Screenings as the locally-produced film ‘Jump’ premiered to a packed crowd at the Dublin Road Movie House. Starring Nichola Burley (‘StreetDance 3D’), Martin McCann (“The Pacific”), Charlene McKenna (“Raw”), Richard Dormer (‘Good Vibrations’) and Lalor Roddy (“Game of Thrones”), ‘Jump’ follows several characters on New Year’s Eve in Derry, Northern Ireland, as they weave in and out of each others lives, all ultimately impacting the film’s main protagonist Greta, played beautifully by Burley. Director Kieron J. Walsh does a great job bringing effective moments of comedy to an otherwise dark, introspective tale, but ‘Jump”s main success is in painting Northern Ireland in a light rarely seen before on screen or at this festival.

Toonari Post previously reviewed ‘Good Vibrations’ and ‘Shadow Dancer’, both of which were entertaining in their own rights but which still situated their narratives in relation to the well-documented social and political conflict of Northern Ireland’s past. ‘Jump’, however, tells personal stories through themes which could translate to any city and any festival. Depression, grief, greed, hope: Walsh brings all of these to life thanks to a moving score and Steve Brookes’ well-balanced screenplay.

The film begins with Greta on the edge of a bridge, contemplating suicide until she is interrupted by Pearse, a young man unceasing in his efforts to find his younger brother who he suspects has been harmed by local gangster Frank Feeney, who just so happens to be Greta’s father. Reluctantly caught in the middle of all of these storylines is Greta’s friend Marie who, along with her other friend Dara, struggle to stay out of danger on a New Year’s Eve night which spirals more and more out of control.

Burley has few, if any, light moments to play as the despondent Greta, but she never falters in her portrayal of a woman figuratively and physically driven to the edge of despair. She sparkles in her scenes with McCann, who gets to play some wittier moments as Pearse, a young man with whom Greta forms an instant bond due to their mutual loathing of Frank Feeney, played by Roddy. Roddy is perfectly menacing in the role, while Ciarán McMenamin and Packy Lee provide much of the comic relief as Feeney’s lacklustre henchmen. Charlene McKenna and Valene Kane are terrific as Marie and Dara, the two women who can’t help but to get drawn into everyone else’s problems. Rounding out the cast is Dormer who, as the haunted criminal Johnny, is a world away from Terri Hooley of ‘Good Vibrations’ in this role. Dormer grounds every single scene he is in, especially when he is paired with the ridiculous duo of Ross and Jack (McMenamim and Lee, respectively), and at times rivals Burley as the emotional hook of the film.

More than likely, ‘Jump’ will not receive the global marketing support handed out to less-deserving ensemble offerings like last year’s woeful ‘New Year’s Eve’ or the recent ‘What to Expect When You’re Expecting’, which is a shame because Walsh and Brookes have created a densely-plotted and fantastically fast-paced film which would entertain almost any cinema-goer. Still, it had the backing of Limelight Media, Northern Ireland Screen, the Irish Film Board and BBC Northern Ireland, among other investors, so there may be hope that a wider audience outside of Northern Ireland will get the chance to enjoy ‘Jump’ and see a refreshing take on life in this creatively-burgeoning country.

Visit the Belfast Film Festival Website  or Just give them a Like on Facebook

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The Florida Film Festival kicked off on Friday, April 13, with a one-film opening night event. That was just the cutting of the ribbon, so to speak, as the festival shifted into high-gear on Saturday. Saturday was the first of the next nine days to feature screenings lasting all day and spread out over multiple venues.

I started Saturday by traveling to Winter Garden, Florida to the furthest offshoot of the festival, the Garden Theater. Winter Garden had its main road shut down, as they were hosting their Garden Festival. The Garden Festival is an outdoor affair with some live music and vendors lined up all the way down the street, selling plants. In the heart of this action lies the Garden Theater, a delightful one-screen theater, lined with decor depicting an outdoor villa.

The screening began with an introduction, then a short film. The film was ‘The Gruffalo’s Child,’ an animated film based on the picture book and the sequel to ‘The Gruffalo.’ The short was done in pseudo-claymation-style and used an enjoyable rhyming scheme in the narration and dialogue. It featured voices most notably from Helena Bonham Carter, John Hurt, and Robbie Coltrane. The adventure story was quite fun and very well told, and it set us up for the feature.

The feature film was ‘A Cat In Paris,’ a film that was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2011. The premise of the film is a family cat secretly moonlighting as a cat burglar with a man named Nico. Everybody gets into some hijinks, and a fun adventure unfolds.

However, the highlight of the film is the animation. It is hand-drawn and simply exudes French art. The style is something resembling Picasso in motion, and it makes nearly every frame look like a piece of art. After the film concluded, the audience handed in their ballots, as both films were in competition for the audience award.

My day was not finished, though, and I returned to the Regal Theater to see a movie in the Midnight Feature category. The movie screening was ‘God Bless America,’ the latest film from Bobcat Goldthwait. The film starred Joel Murray as Frank, and Tara Lynne Barr as Roxy.

The movie is about Frank being diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor, and rather than killing himself, he decides to embark on a rampage against reality TV stars and other fame-mongers he considers to be ruining America. The premise itself can tell you just how blunt the message of this movie is, and if you agree with it, this movie can be hilarious. The absurdity of the story resulted in many huge laughs from the midnight crowd, and nothing but smiles on the way out.

My first full day at the Florida Film Festival 2012 was only a small sample of the wide variety of films one could come by at a festival such as this.

Image Courtesy of   Florida Film Festival – Official

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For someone like myself, who thoroughly enjoys horror flicks, I have high expectations for such movies. I am usually afraid to spend my money, however, on scary movies in theaters. This is not because I find them too frightening, but because I almost always end up laughing more than screaming.

Hollywood horror flicks can tend to feature more nudity, sex and laughable attempts at scares then horror. Typically I prefer old-school horror films, with more chills than gore. Also, something with an interesting storyline that keeps you guessing as the movie goes on. Luckily, ‘The Woman in Black’ was just that.

*WARNING: Spoilers*

The film features a young father whose wife has recently passed away. Holding onto his job by a thread he must venture out to a small English village and sort through the legal paperwork of a recently passed away resident. From there a series of connected events begin to unfold, and a mystery about the town is revealed.

It stars Daniel Radcliffe in his first film since the Harry Potter series. I must admit at first it was slightly odd seeing him in such a different role; during the beginning I kept expecting to see a glimpse of his scar behind his shaggy head of hair. However, he does a good job of convincing you of his character, and after the first 5 minutes I was able to forget about Harry.

The other actors played their parts well, and I didn’t find anything to be too over the top or cheesy. Interestingly enough, IMDB states that Radcliffe actually casted his godson in the role of his son, so that the two would have more of an emotional connection on screen.

The way they shot the film also added to the character of the movie, and they used a more washed-out coloring when filming, steering clear of bright colors. It also features a large array of toy props, these are used to add to the creepy element, and IMDB also mentions that they were borrowed from a collector and are indeed original 19th century toys for children. These just make it clear that the film makers went to some lengths in order to produce a realistic setting, and visually intriguing film.

Yes, the movie does contain some typical ‘ghost story’ elements, and it has received bad reviews for that. However, they are placed at points in the movie in a way that keeps you guessing and intrigued in the developing plotline. Overall, ‘The Woman in Black’ was well worth the cost of the theater, and came with plenty of scares. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys horror movies.

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Written, directed and starred by Xavier Dolan, I Killed My Mother (J’ai Tué Ma Mère, 2009), is the story of 16 year-old Hubert’s delicate relationship with his mother, that has nothing to do with the usual teenager-parent issues. As the child of a divorced couple, Hubert lives with his mother, and barely sees his father. He is a sophisticated, intelligent homosexual guy, contrary to his mother, portrayed as a tasteless, shallow, semi-neurotic, unstabled woman dwelling far from her son’s world.

Hubert does not accept or relate to anything about his mother, but the story has nothing to do with ordinary, usual problems of a teenager. The audience gets the story from Hubert’s point of view, since the film is partially based on Xavier Dolan’s autobiography.

“I wasn’t made to have a mother”, says Hubert, but on the other hand, you sense a subtle emotion of envy towards his boyfriend’s relationship with his mother, and also how he somehow substitute his teacher for his mother. The movie tells about more than a troubled relationship — it also questions the essential bond between a mother and son. Hubert has nothing in common with his mother, he despises his mother’s taste, her daily life habits and even the sounds she makes when she’s eating.

But more importantly, he feels that the gap between them is impassable, even during the times when he really wants to communicate with her. We sense a deep seperation, and Hubert confirms this by saying that he loves hundred people more than he loves his mother.

After being sent to a Catholic boarding school, Hubert is dragged into a more isolated realm away from his mother, as well as faced with other troubles.

Dolan rather focuses on the issues between the mother and the son that go beyond the issue of Huberts sexuality. The problem is rather the impossiblity of the communication between two completely different existences, as if they live in totally opposite worlds where their differences can not be overcomed. This movie shows how the closest can actually be the farthest.

Being the son of the ‘wrong’ mother, Hubert falls into a deep paradox which he needs desperately to confront. I Killed My Mother drags the audience into the very core of this paradox: the love and hate Hubert has for his mother.

I Killed My Mother is a sensitive and brilliant movie that has won several awards including three at the Cannes Film Festival, 2009. This delicate story told by young, talented Xavier Dolan is definitely a must-see film.

Watch the trailer of I Killed My Mother

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