MAN OF STEEL

By Marcus Ayala

I grew up watching the Christopher Reeve superman films and I love them. As much
as i am a fan of those films i am a fan of the character superman. The new film by Zack
Synder tells a familiar story of superman’s origin but with a more gritty realistic look and
tone. I've always enjoyed the different TV shows and cartoons of superman and seeing
their take on the character. I enjoyed this one as well because I've always wanted to
see a realistic take on the character.

Henry Cavill is a great superman. He carries a subtle inner and outer strength that the
character needs which was one of the many things missing from the film superman
returns but don’t get me started on that one. Cavill is portraying a Clark Kent who is on
his journey to becoming superman but is thrust into action with the arrival of general
Zod. He brings a humbleness to the character that wants to save people but isn't
looking for a thank you. His new suit looks great.

It opens with a new vision of Krypton that looks like something out of Star Wars. There
are even new kinds of creatures living on this planet. This Krypton was so creative and
colorful with it’s design and technology that has an organic feel to it that I wouldn't mind
a separate movie that just took place on Krypton.

My favorite scene is early on in the story when Clark saves people on an oil rig and
after it collapses on him you see him floating in the water with whales. This scene had
an amazing blend of action and gentleness. The story goes further into Clark’s feelings
of alienation and being unsure of his destiny. Themes we can all relate to. His earth
father played by Kevin Costner is protective of his son to the point where he sees the
world as a threat to his son. Costner is great as usual, if your a fan of his you won’t be
disappointed. In his scenes he conveys so much in his performance even when he’s
not speaking. Of course Clark’s kryptonian father is there to guide him towards being
earth’s hero. Russell Crowe as Jor el is not only a scientist but a fighter and Russell
kicks butt. Crowe’s performance is both gentle and strong. A father who cares for his
family and is ready to fight for them. Michael Shannon as Zod is a much more complex
villain than i expected. He causes much destruction but doesn't see it as evil but as the
right thing to do for his people. He is protective of krypton and its people. In the middle
of all this is Amy Adams as Lois Lane, she is believable as the smart reporter helping
superman. The plot doesn't leave room for the traditional romance between her and
superman but she becomes a confidant to him on his journey.

The action sequences are insane because superman is fighting kryptonians of equal or
greater strength. The destruction these fights cause is more than I've ever seen in a
superhero movie including the avengers. These fights also move pretty fast but are
inventive and epic. Zack Synder crafted this film so meticulously that everything from
costumes to the action sequences are aesthetically pleasing. The flying sequences are
also very smooth especially when superman is saving Lois. It is a joy to see them fly
together.

There were some themes that the film didn't cover that i wish they had like superman
not being able to save everyone from death. That he is godlike but not god. Or more of
his earth parents instilling in him strong morals but this is just the beginning I hope.
Judging by some of the reactions I've heard from critics and fans this seems to be a
movie you either love or hate. I loved it.

PACIFIC RIM

By Marcus Ayala

The idea of Guillermo del Toro making a movie about monsters versus machines was
enough to get me excited to see this movie and it delivers. Guillermo del Toro is one of
the best filmmakers working in the science fiction and fantasy genre today. His work on
Blade II, Hellboy I & II, and Pan’s Labyrinth is smart, funny, with tight action scenes and
credible drama. The creatures in his films are very creative and you can tell he gives
each one a distinct look while being part of his overall style. He brings all this to Pacific
Rim on an epic scale.

The film starts off by showing the arrival of the kaijus (monsters), the creation of the
jaegers (huge machines) to fight the kaijus, and the wars that followed over the years in
a montage sequence. I enjoyed the montage because it showed the attacks and battles
all over the earth. This film does something different with it’s story by jumping over the
origin story and beginning deep into wartime. Which is great because the story is about
the jaegers becoming obsolete and the world building huge walls to protect humanity.
The huge humanoid machines manned by two pilots are losing the fight to the kaijus. If
the montage doesn't get you into the story then the introduction to the hero Raleigh
Becket, a hotshot jaeger pilot should. Becket and his brother are defeated by a kaiju in
an intense thrilling fight that gives you a taste of things to come. After that scene, I was
hooked.

This may be a monster action film but this story has heart and that heart comes from
it’s characters. The three leads are Becket, Stacker Pentecost and Mako Mori.
Pentecost is the commanding officer of the jaegers who wants to save humanity and
Mori is the young woman who lost her family to the kaijus and wants to fight them.
These characters seem to genuinely care about each other and about saving the world.
You grow to care about these people and when they go into battle you want to see them
crush the monsters. The humor comes from the two scientists who study the kaijus,
one is played by the very funny Charlie Day. Charlie day is the more modern geek who
likes to take risks while the other scientist is all about the facts and the way these guys
clash is great stuff. These two annoy each other but look out for each other too. The
great Ron Perlman is funny too as a black marketeer selling Kaiju body parts.

The kaijus are mostly seen in the battle sequences in the ocean and they look like a
cross between a shark and a rhinoceros with glowing mouths. This design is fitting for
monsters who travel by water and crush cities. The kaijus arrive into this world by a
portal on the ocean floor. The best parts are when the jaegers and kaijus attack each
other head on with losses on both sides. One epic fight takes place in the city of Hong
Kong with a jaeger swinging a cargo ship like it was a baseball bat and a kaiju
spreading it’s wings and turning it into an aerial battle. Buildings are destroyed and
jaegers are thrown into the air like a rag doll. There are many battles but i enjoyed how
after each one the stakes would get higher because the kaijus would get smarter.
These fights are spectacular and Guillermo del Toro gives us a slick smart monster
movie without the camp.

WORLD WAR Z

By Marcus Ayala

There is a zombie craze going around now thanks to the show the walking dead and
I’m loving it. Zombie films have been around since the original night of the living dead
came out in 1968. While the films got more silly in the 80s, the 2000s made them scary
again. World War Z is a big budget Hollywood film with a story on a global scale.

What sets this apart from other zombie films is that it does not take place in one
central location like a particular city or house. The world wide effect of this zombie
outbreak is shown in America, Israel, and southern Wales. At the center of this is Brad
Pitt’s character Gerry who used to work for the UN and is called to help find a cure by
finding the origin of the outbreak . Even if you aren't a fan of Brad Pitt you can still
appreciate his performance for such a well written role. A character who is a good
family man and will risk venturing into the zombie apocalypse to keep them safe. The
film dives right into the action with Gerry and his family running for dear life as their city
is overcome with zombies. This opening and all of the following action sequences are
incredibly intense and thrilling. These zombies are fast and strong. One bite from them
turns you into zombie under a minute. Every time Gerry sets down somewhere, chaos
ensues and he uses his wits to get out of it. Along for his journey is an Israeli soldier
named Segen and she is one tough young woman. Her character doesn't say much but
the actress is a natural. What surprised me most about her is that story allowed her to
survive so many thrills. The performances of the minor and supporting characters are
believable and really engage you into the gravitas of the story.

Two of my favorite scenes are those that take place in Israel and on a plane. Israel
has built huge walls to protect itself from zombies but ends up being engulfed in
zombies. I love seeing a city fall apart under zombies and helicopters futilely shooting
at zombies as explosions go off in the distance. It’s a sad sight but intense and epic.
Gerry ends up on a plane with one zombie that quickly spreads to the other passengers
and I was surprised at his solution to use a grenade. This scene was wild and even
though you know he will survive, you still are in suspense.

The visual style to this film is gritty and realistic like that of a spy action movie. The CG
effects in the film are mostly of the zombies hordes and they look real enough to make
you frightful for the human characters. The amount of zombies seen in this film is
impressive. There are scenes of zombies running in such large amounts that they look
like massive waves hitting rocks on the beach. The conclusion of the film doesn’t give
into mindless violence but gives us a clever defense against the zombies. Gerry tests
this defense at a research facility by risking his own life. This scene builds up so much
tension that once it’s resolved you’re happy you can breathe again. The movie really
works cause you grow to care about Gerry’s fate and his mission.

The film sets itself up as the first chapter in an ongoing story and I can see the next
chapter being even more interesting especially if they explore the origin of the zombie
outbreak. This film is unrelenting from beginning to end and if you aren’t into zombie
films, you can enjoy this film as an action thrill ride.