#6 - "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" (12/22/2012)

"The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" is certainly the most expected movie of the last 5 years. The prequel to the Lord of the Ring triology was highly anticipated. 

Although most of the (new) cast was fairly unknown it was spot on. In particular Richard Armitage manages to impress. He easily takes on the role as the "fighting hero" "Thorin" and doesn't have to fear comparison with Viggo Mortensen's Aragorn. Martin Freeman nails every scene as young Bilbo Baggins closing the gap between Ian Holm and himself. He mimics Holm's moves perfectly giving them the dynamics of a younger version of Bilbo. His facial expressions are priceless and hopefully this movie will get him the public recognition he deserves. Ian McKellen is brilliant as always and including Ian Holm and Elijah Wood in the beginning was a clever move by Peter Jackson to connect this movie even further to the original triology. 

Although we already see Gimli fighting in Lord of the Rings the constant arguing with Legolas turned it into a sort of comic relieve, a good one, don't get me wrong. In this movie we see the dwarves fighting seriously for the first time and  it is fantastic. Without loosing the charactics eastablished in Lord of the Rings they are lifted to central heroes and it works. 

The additions and alterations to the story in comparison to the novel are fitting and organic. The story is fast paced without ever being hectic. I am certain many purists will be upset with them but in my opinion this is an interpretation of the novel, that works perfectly. 

For me the only real downside it that the proportions between the dwarves, the hobbits and humans that were so carefully established in Lord of the Rings, don't always match in this movie. 

All in all the movie is awesome, although it lacks a little of the magic that made the Lord of the Rings unique, but since it is barely the exposition to new triology this can be forgiven. Peter Jackson has once more proven that he is a great director with an eye for details only few possess. 

8/10 points 

#5 - Cloud Atlas

"Cloud Atlas" is in my eyes probably the most ambitious movie of the last ten years, as it has attempted to do what has never been done before: Telling six apparantly unrelated stories in different times but yet in a very subtle way connected after all. Although the movie is not perfect is succeds.

First of all this isn't the movie you want to watch after a tough day of work just to unwind. This is the sort of movie you watch, when you want something that keeps you on your toes. Just like you wouldn't read Shakespeare, while tanning at the beach. After watching the movie a second time I even discovered more nuances and details then watching it for the first time and it amazed me. Rarerly have I seen such a clever composition in modern cinema.

The cast is superb, especially considering that they had to play many different roles incl. changes of sex and etniticity (I know this has been controversial and I will address this matter further below). Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Jim Sturgess and the amazing Jim Broadbent all nail all their parts. For me the biggest surprise was however Hugh Grant, that despite always being "just" a supporting character is charismatic and courageous when it comes to getting "ugly-fied" by the make-up.

I won't give away any of the story, as it is not essential what the story is but rather the way it is told and for me this was brilliantly done. The only thing I consider a bit of a downside is that it is a rather heavy movie. So think about what sort of movie you want to see. Just some nice popcorn flick on a saturday night or some clever movie you feel the urge to discuss after watching it.

As to the controversity the has been caused by the fact the some european actors play korean roles it frustrates me, as I think the people arguing over this have missed the whole point of this movie completely (or maybe I have).

For me one of the essential messages of the movie is that down the line we are all the same, which is why the same actors were used in all the stories. So we don't have only caucasian actors play asian roles, but also viceversa and we also have men playing women and viceversa and even a black woman playing a jewish woman. To my understanding the fact that the make-up wasn't perfect (although it was amazing) is essential to that, as otherwise it wouldn't have been possible to recongnize the actors in their various roles and this premise would have been lost completely. In my point of view the use of the same actors in different roles was a genius decision by the Wachowskis and Tom Tykwer, the three directors of this movie. And by the way: korean actress Doona Bae also plays a white woman and a mexican woman.

I find it sad people put so much energy into putting down what I consider a piece of art as racist, while there are real problems on this earth such as people being murdered for their beliefs, race or gender. Maybe we should get things in perspective and see where the real problems in the world lie and not argue about a movie  using the term "yellow face" which I find offensive despite not being asian. Otherwise we might end up finding weddings racist because brides use to wear white.

Racism is definetely a serious problem and one of the most despicable things on earth, but I think in this movie and its making none was involved. In my opinion people got upset over something that was barely an artistic idea. 

Points: 8/10