Showing posts with label hugo weaving. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hugo weaving. Show all posts

December 22, 2012

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

Fans of The Lord of the Rings series, hold on tight and prepare to be blown away. But being blown away will require 3 hours of your day.

Following the success and critically acclaimed triology adapted from J.R.R. Tolkien, Peter Jackson has once again tackled another fantasy epic of Tolkien's. Filmed in high frame resolution, the movie is a spectacle for the eyes. At 48 frames per second (the human eyes see at a rate of 60 fps), it seems so real that you feel like you are part of the action.

The story follows Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) and the Company of Dwarves, led by Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage) who embark on a journey to reclaim the Lonely Mountain, which has been taken over by the dragon Smaug (Benedict Cumberbatch). In typically Lord of the Rings fashion, they run into a million and four orcs and goblins, which result in some epic battle scenes. 


Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins. Source: Cineplex

Along the way, Gandalf (Ian McKellen) and Co. find refuge with the Elves. Hugo Weaving, Cate Blanchett, and Christopher Lee reprise their roles as Lord Elrond, Galadriel, and Saruman the White, respectively. Gandalf explains what Radagast the Brown (Sylvester McCoy) has told him about a dark magic in the forest, the necromancer, to the the trio. Against the wishes of the Council, and with the possibility of the Dark Lord Sauron still alive looming over their heads, Gandalf, Bilbo, and the Dwarves continue on to Misty Mountains where everyone but Bilbo is captured by Goblins. It is here where Gollum (Andy Serkis) makes his appearance, and where Bilbo eventually gets hold of the One Ring. 

October 30, 2012

Cloud Atlas (2012)

As soon as I heard that this film was showing at TIFF, I knew for sure that this was one that I needed to see for myself. Walking out of the cinema, I was baffled beyond belief and not quite sure what to think of this film. An hour later, and I was sure that this is a film that everyone needs to experience for themselves. The official synopsis describes Cloud Atlas as "an epic story of humankind in which the actions and consequences of our lives impact one another throughout the past, present and future as one soul is shaped from a murderer into a savior and a single act of kindness ripples out for centuries to inspire a revolution."

Based on the book by David Mitchel, Cloud Atlas is a series of 6 ministories weaved together to tell the most magical story. Every story is connected to the next in the simplest of ways, but blink and you'll miss the connection. (Spoiler: the protagonists of each ministory share a peculiarly shaped birthmark) (Spoiler: That's not the only quirk). 



Tom Hanks (L) and Halle Berry (R) in "Sloosha's Crossin' an' Ev'rythin' After" Source: The Guardian