Apocalypse Now (1979) Review

Film Review: Apocalypse Now 

Captain Willard, is sent on a secret mission to terminate a renegade colonel in the cambodian jungle, who now declares himself as a god among the tribe that follows him.

I finally got around to watching this film and what I walk away with after viewing it is Wow! is what I think while watching this film just wow. Apocalypse Now was released in 1979, before digital effects, before the advanced technology we have today. However while watching this film, I felt like one of the realest films I've ever seen, Martin Sheen plays captain Willard, the weathered protagonist of the film, at least the closest the film has to one, Martin sheen plays the role near to perfection, showing what the horrors of war. Especially the horrors of the Vietnam will do to a man.   

The Majority of the films takes place on a boat, with a small crow, escorting Captain Willard up the vietnamese river into the heart of the jungle of cambodia, this slow build, shows many voice over scenes of Captain Willard, speaking of Walter Kurtz, (played by Marlon Brando), reading his military classifieds, and trying to determine what drove him to his state, as they travel along the jungle river, the slow build of tension comes into play almost effortlessly, the farther they go the worse it gets, like a literal descent into madness, and the build up of fear is evident, in the crew which translate to the audience. they captures the scope of the film masterfully, and plays out like a horror film that in many ways it is. 

Despite the gloomy theme of this film, It is full of beautiful scenery, enhanced by excellent cinematography, weather it be an overview of a set of helicopters flying over a sunset or a intense action sequence, this film is beautiful shot, and everything feel so authentic and believable. apparently the production of the film was nearly as trouble as the theme of the movie so to come out with such a magnificent product is an achievement of its own. 

While the film's overall story is really somewhat small, but the scope and feel is very epic, drawing the viewer in, eager as well as dreading to see where it will take you, For those of you who haven't seen it, I won't give away the end, but I will say although Willard's character is flawed you are definitely rooting for him in the end, not so much to complete the mission, but so he doesn't succumb to the same fate of the wayward colonel who is by the way played excellently by Marlon Brando, the films climax has to be one of the most terrifying and psychologically intense scenes ever put into a film. 

While this movie is probably not for everyone as it is dark, intense, and deals with issues, of madness and the horrors of war vary realistically it is one that most film lovers should love, one of the best made films I've ever seen, with superb direction from Francis Coppola (The Godfather Trilogy). phenomenal acting, a tight development script and breathtaking cinematography, Excellent! 

5/5 

Ant-Man Review

First review Ant-Man!

I took it upon myself to see what marvel studios was cooking for the 12th time in their ever expanding marvel movie universe, and I must admit that, I was a bit sceptical about this movie, not because it was about a man who receive a special suit and can shrink down to bug size and communicate with ants, but because of all the chaos in the production, Edger Write the original director leaving the project because of creative differences, after being attached to the film for years, being replaced by a much less known and far inferior director Peyton Reed, who's best known films are midrange comedies, one titled "Yes Man" I think you get my drift. Anyways who knows what really went on behind closed doors, maybe Wright's ideas were terrible, unlikely but it happened.

The premise is as follows: Stott Lang (played by Paul Rudd (Clueless, I love You Man) former Con man must team with scientist, and former shield agent Hank Pym (played by Michael Douglas) to Stop an Evil CEO  Darren Cross (played by Corey Stoll) from releasing his yellowjacket tech suits, dawn the Ant-Man suit and save the world! 

Ant-Man to me was a pleasant surprise! while it certainly had it's shortcomings, I still enjoyed the film quite a bit, and maybe it was in part due to my deflated expectations. especially after good but ultimately disappointing Age of Ultron earlier this year. however considering all the rewrites, directors replaced and cast shuffling, it could have been a lot worse, in fact at the end of the day I'd say it's a pretty darn good film. The story I found to be tighter and smaller in scope than most of marvel's recent bombastic outings, giving the film a more personal touch, I applaud them for choosing intimacy over spectacle for once, not to say that there wasn't spectacle but I'll get into that later. 

Paul Rudd is pretty much the center and heart of the movie, pulling off the down on his look heist man turned hero with a poise and just the right amount of charm, Michael Douglas, Evangeline Lilly and Corey Stoll all add a layer to of their own to this film as well, Michael Pena as his quaky side-kick was a bit hit and miss for me as was some of the humor, but the fact the most of it work for me is saying something.

One of the aspects I really was impressed with was the visuals- not just how really they looked but the sheer inventiveness, and sometimes humorous way they were incorporated into the film. I especially love the shrinking aspect as I was a huge Honey Shrunk the Kids fan as a child. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a visual effects nom, come Oscar season. 

As I referred to Honey I Shrunk The Kids, I did get a very early nineties vibe when watching this movie, which considering my childhood was in that era I got a little nostalgic for. Yes it could have been a little deeper, and maybe Edgar's pizazz would have made the film more meaty and unique, cause the handprints of marvel were definitely all over this film, and the direction seemed show that, but all things considered this was a pretty solid entry into their ever growing universe of films, not near the heights of Winter Soldier or Guardians, but a step up from Ultron, and certainly not the dud it could have been.

vastly enjoyable film! 4/5 

Hello folks! Welcome to my new blog; The Nerf-herder a movie review blog! I had a previous film review blog, and was thinking of just reviving the blog, however I haven't posted in that blog in over a year, so I thought I shall do a new blog!

The purpose of this blog is to review as many films as I can, I may occasionally review a tv show or video game review here as well, hopefully I can be more diligent with this one than my last, I moat only review films in theaters for my last blog, I'm going to try and review any movie I watch and do write ups for some old classics, I also plan to do most anticipated lists, and a decent amount of film speculation, about future releases and various film discussions. I hope you guys enjoy!