If you’re anything like us, you’ve probably thought that movies in Aberdeen have been a little less than worthwhile as of late.  No movies have come out in the past month, that Carmike actually showed, that have met many peoples’ expectations.  “Alien vs Predator” was about as good as “Catwoman,” which is to say that both of them were super-hyped, and super-lame.  “The Village” came out…and that’s about all there was to that.  That movie was supposed to be the most thrilling, scary movie this year, but it was about as scary as a saltine cracker. Oh sure, there was a good movie sprinkled here and there throughout the weeks, but Aberdeen never got the ones people really wanted to see.  Movies like “Hero,” and “Fahrenheit 9/11” were the ones that were most asked about.  As the weeks went by, they never came…until now.

Hero

“Hero,” directed by Yimou Zhang, stars Jet Li and Donnie Yen. It was nominated for a Best Foreign Language Film Oscar last year. This movie is a fictitious story based on true historical events surrounding the Qin Emperor who first united China in third century B.C. The emperor is a target for three assassins known as Broken Sword, Flying Snow, and Sky. Qin offers large rewards and a close meeting to anyone who is able to defeat the killers.  It’s not until a warrior known only as Nameless (Jet Li) approaches him several years later with proof that he has accomplished such a task.  His proof is undeniable, and his stories are well crafted.  Of course, not everything is as it seems.

Bill: “Hero” is one of the best movies I have seen in a long time.  It does an unbelievable job of presenting its culture through Chinese philosophy and tradition.  It also doesn’t take an art major to realize that this movie, plain and simple, is a work of art.  Through its symbolism of swordplay as calligraphy, lush environments, and magical martial arts fighting, this movie is non-stop jaw-dropping awesome.  It seems that this style of movie martial arts is China’s “Bullet-Time” in comparison to American movies.  The movie’s dialogue is in Mandarin, with English subtitles.  The first time I screened this movie, Carmike had received the wrong version, a version with Spanish subtitles.  Not understanding Spanish at all, I watched it anyway and was nevertheless blown away.  Then, watching it in English made the movie even more amazing, duh. 

If there was one thing I didn’t like it is that the subtitles moved rather quick at times, but it was hardly a set back at all.  This movie evokes emotions, amazes viewers with its beauty, and makes people feel good about spending seven dollars.  However, it is likely this movie will not be here long so make sure to see this one right away.  It is a must see for anyone who has a pulse.  “Hero” is the best we’ve got in Aberdeen. 

Rachael: Quentin Tarantino certainly knew what he was doing when he urged Miramax to import “Hero.”  Filmmaker Yimou Zhang has created an amazing film that is not only dazzling to watch but is quite poignant as well. The fighting sequences are absolutely breathtaking; the cinematography is stunning. Even the costumes in this film are gorgeous.

The way in which the story is presented is quite interesting, although the plot can be confusing at times and the flashbacks do slow down the pace. Ultimately though, I don’t consider this to be much of a drawback. The only other complaint I had about this movie is that it seems a little heavy-handed at times, but not unbearably so. In the end, the beauty of this film overcomes whatever slight flaws it may have and it is definitely a must-see film.

Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow

"Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow,” directed by Kerry Conran, stars Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow and Angelina Jolie.  It is about a group of scientists who are mysteriously disappearing while gigantic robots cause mass destruction all over the planet.  The person responsible is a mad scientist who goes by the name Dr. Totenkopf. He is set on global domination, and it’s up to a courageous pilot known as Sky Captain and a nosy reporter named Polly Perkins to save the world. They’ll need the help of a few friends along the way.  This includes a female commander on an air-mobile refueling base known as Franky, and a super-smart techno-geek named Dex who loves Buck Rogers and crazy machines.  The question is, can they all put a stop to the maniacal Dr. Totenhopf before it’s too late? 

Rachael: I’m almost ashamed to admit it, but for once I actually enjoyed a movie that emphasized style instead of substance. The plot in this movie is pure froth and the acting is not always as good as it should be (particularly as far as Gwyneth Paltrow is concerned), but that hardly seems to matter. What works in this film is the way it captures the “future” in 1939; it’s an art-deco science fiction delight that stirs the imagination. The CGI is particularly impressive given the fact that the movie was filmed entirely on a green screen. If you’re looking for a fairly fast-paced and enjoyable popcorn flick, “Sky Captain” is definitely the way to go. However, I should warn all those who are going simply to see Angelina Jolie: her screen time is extremely limited.

Bill: "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow" was a really spiffy, neato movie.  I use the words “spiffy” and “neato” because anything more would be a real exaggeration.  This movie was a lot of fun, but it didn’t give me an adrenaline rush that made me want to jump out of my seat scream, and punch someone in the face. 

I couldn’t help but feel like I was watching a crossover between “Star Wars” and “Indiana Jones” at times.  Elias Rostad had a good remark which was, “It was like nothing I had seen before.”  I definitely agree.  Sky Captain is a tribute to old 30’s and 40’s sci-fi movies that could never be fully conceptually brought to screen.  It accomplishes this by using some of the best and original digital animation I’ve seen for quite some time.  It kind of has the feel of an old 1930’s photograph.  The music is very dynamic and sets the mood of the movie perfectly. 

The acting is also good in this movie, with the exception of Gwyneth Paltrow, who needs to be slapped…twice.  Her performance was so annoying that it might almost distract viewers from having a good time.  However, all I had to do was tell myself that she was acting really cheesy on purpose, and then it didn’t seem so bad. 

The movie makes a lot of references to late 30’s material like “The Wizard of Oz,” “War of the Worlds,” Golden Age “Superman,” “Buck Rogers,” and pretty much any bad black and white sci-fi movie you can think of.  I could go on and on about this movie, but the fact of the matter is, “Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow” doesn’t offer the most complex plot or dramatic acting of a great movie, but nevertheless is one of the most entertaining and interesting movies you’ll see this year.

Well, that should be enough to get you pumped up to see these movies.  Nothing like a good hero flick to make you feel like you got your money’s worth. 

As I hinted before, “Fahrenheit 9/11” opened on Fri., Sept. 24 at Carmike.  Good thing Carmike got this movie a few weeks before it comes out on DVD, huh?  This movie will either open your eyes, or piss you off.  In any case, it’s going to evoke an emotion or two, and get a person thinking, which is what a good movie should do. 

Other current movies include “First Daughter,” and “The Forgotten.”  Do yourself a favor and forget to see “The Forgotten.”  I wish I would have.  Other than that, hope to see all of you at the movie theater.