The Final Take with Parker Mott

The Gandalf (Ian McKellen) awaits Bilbo, heavenly sun shining in, in "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey".

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey unfolds in blithe fashion, in that Howard Hawks tradition where a small band of characters banter and indulge themselves, while occasionally taking a breather to participate in the plot. There is an objective that drives this unexpected journey – a trip to the Lonely Mountain to obtain a treasure guarded by the sinister dragon Smaug – but at 170 minutes it barely seems like a bother at all. The Hobbit is all journey, little destination. (continue reading…)

“If we make it through this, I’ll follow you anywhere.”

Love is preserved and united in the teen turkey epic "Breaking Dawn Part 2".

There is a key shot at the climax of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2, the final fake-epic of the Stephenie Meyer series, that defines this abysmal movie franchise. The Cullens, including a resolute Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart), Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson), and third-wheel Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner) line up in a snowy flatland preparing to battle the Volturi, comprising the cloaks of Aro (Michael Sheen), Jane (Dakota Fanning), and Irina (Maggie Grace). We then cut to a birds-eye view shot of the two regiments and, boy, do they look puny and scantily numbered. (continue reading…)

Frankenweenie.

Frankenweenie may be a return to Tim Burton’s past, but it’s not quite a return to form. This is an example of a filmmaker who employs all his tools and tricks, but can’t find a way to twist out the awe – or, what might be more accurate for Burton, morbidity. His latest film, a 3D stop-motion monster romp, is not at the mediocrity of Burton’s last two efforts Alice in Wonderland and Dark Shadows, but it feels for too much of its 87 minutes unremarkably Burton-lite. (continue reading…)

Rating: 14A – Coarse Language
Run Time: 104 minutes 

Paul Dano and Zoe Kazan in "Ruby Sparks".

Writers can be so fickle. One day they are in a flow, the next their favourite computer key is ‘backspace’. Often, their insecurities dominate the creativity, with them thinking most of the time they are not capable of their passion and life pursuit. I admire writers like Stephen King and John Grisham, who seem to have novels published every week. But truth be told: creativity is like sun in autumn – it comes in and out. Some writers deny the existence of writer’s block. They’re liars. (continue reading…)

Run Time: 93 minutes

Proud and wild Hushpuppy (Wallis) in the company of her father, Wink (Henry) in "Beasts of the Southern Wild".

If “Beasts of the Southern Wild” deserves any acclaim it should be for its bold creation of new and outlandish images. This is the goal Werner Herzog has pursued ever since he entered the Amazon to film “Aguirre: The Wrath of God”. Recall that great film’s first shot of the Spanish conquistadors marching down the Andes mountain in an ethereal fog? Incredible. (continue reading…)

Rating: PG – Language May Offend
Run Time: 94 minutes

On an adventure in "Moonrise Kingdom".

We all know, and hopefully have seen, Wes Anderson’s indie classic Rushmore. It’s about a cocksure and overachieving (and, in many ways, underachieving) boy named Max Fischer who communicates his fears and desires through extravagant high school stage plays. The whole movie we feel like front-row-centre viewers of his own life, as he deals with love and characters one fry short of a happy meal. Anderson admits this feeling came with a purpose: Rushmore’s art imitated his life. (continue reading…)

2 Stars out of 4
(117 minutes)

Edward (Pattinson) and Bela (Stewart) on their honeymoon in "Breaking Dawn Part 1."

Calling Twilight a “saga” is like calling Jersey Shore a human drama. I’m sure when Twilight: New Moon ended with Edward whispering “marry me” to Bela, the Old Norse poets would have rolled around in their graves. A “saga” I’m sure is what this series wants to evoke, but Breaking Dawn Part 1 is cold-hard evidence this series, originally written by Stephenie Meyer, is now sucking on the vein of soap opera. (continue reading…)

3.5 Stars out of 4
(127 minutes)

Hugo (Butterfield) and Georges Méliès (Kingsley) share grins in Martin Scorsese's glorious 3D feat "Hugo".

Hugo is a remarkable feat of celebrating the history and power of cinema while flying across a seemingly sweet kid’s adventure. It will absorb film lovers, and probably dazzle young children as they enter the fully realized and alive visual world of a master – Martin Scorsese. While its story might not reach the heights of a great Pixar film, Hugo – regardless – feels like an experience. An escape into a world that is its own visual splendour. (continue reading…)

2.5 Stars out of 4
(91 minutes)

Miranda July and Hamish Linklater are convincing in "The Future".

Miranda July looks like a character who would live in The Future – a film unlike any others about its title. She does. In the film – a drama of magic realism, not sci-fi – she plays Sophie, a dancer living a life of listlessness, where time and space are hence at a standstill. She sits in her cluttered apartment with boyfriend Jason (Hamish Linklater), where they pretend that they can control time. That’s easy to do when there’s no time to handle. (continue reading…)

3 Stars out of 4
(130 minutes)

Harry and Voldemort face off.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II marks the end of an era, the vanishing of an empire, and the departure of a family. It’s almost distracting watching this final Potter film because of realizing the poignancy that this is the last time we will see Harry and his friends, Hogwarts, the odd creatures, and its magical world in general. Gosh, Daniel Radcliffe was just 11 when he first played the heroic wizard, and Emma Watson as Hermione Granger and Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley both so young and plucky when we first met them on the Hogwarts Express. Oh the memories. (continue reading…)