Tag: Fantasy

Movie Review: 47 Ronin

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47 Ronin“47 Ronin” on IMDB

Sci-fi/Horror, 126 Minutes, 2007

The tale of the 47 Ronin is based on an actual event that took place in Japan early in the 18th century. It’s widely considered to be the most important example of the samurai’s code of Bushido. The tale describes how a feudal lord was unjustly forced to commit ritual suicide and how his former Samurai planned for almost two years to avenge him knowing that they would share, and accept, the same fate. It has come to epitomize the Japanese sense of loyalty, honor and duty and is one of the most adapted stories in Japanese culture. Some call it, the country’s “national legend”.

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Movie Review: The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

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IMDB, The Hobbit, The Desolation of SmaugThe Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” on IMDB

Fantasy/Adventure, 161 Minutes, 2013

This is the continuation of Thorin Oakenshield’s quest to reclaim the throne of his forefathers from the powerful dragon Smaug. Bilbo the Hobbit has proven his worth and courage and is a true member of the company. The movie picks up as the last ended, with the company being hunted by Azog’s orc pack.

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Movie Review: R.I.P.D

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IMDB, RIPD“R.I.P.D.” on IMDB

Action/Comedy, 96 Minutes, 2013

What if the “Men in Black” [IMDB] hunted ghosts instead of aliens?  That’s the movie in a nutshell. Not at all original, but also not a bad idea, really.  The agents, here, are dead themselves and doing community service on Earth before being allowed into Heaven.  The fugitive ghosts hiding among us need to be found and revealed so that they can be put down for good.

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Movie Review: The Croods

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IMDB, The Croods“The Croods” on IMDB

Fantasy, 98 Minutes, 2013

The Croods are cavemen.  In fact, after a series of misadventures, they are the very last cavemen in their area.  They say they survive by fearing everything, rarely leaving their cave and never doing anything new.  They actually survive via bombastic, attention-drawing action sequences that completely ignore everything they say.

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Movie Review: Jack the Giant Slayer

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IMDB, Jack the Giant Slayer“Jack the Giant Slayer” on IMDB

Adventure, 114 Minutes, 2013

A retelling of “Jack and the Beanstalk” the movie plays fast and loose with the particulars of the story but stays comfortably in the genre.  It adds a beautiful, strong-willed princess; a heroic, selfless knight; a devious royal advisor and ups the giant-ante considerably.  Instead of our hero outwitting a single giant we get a whole big bunch of giants!

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Movie Review: Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters

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IMDB, Hansel & Gretel Witch Hunters“Hansel & Gretel: With Hunters” on IMDB

Adventure, 114 Minutes, 2013

This is directly in line with other high-firepower, low-respect updates of old-world classics like 2004’s “Van Helsing” [IMDB] or 2005’s “The Brother’s Grimm” [IMDB].  The formula gets tweaked but is basically the same: a hot guy and a hotter gal take on monsters with completely unrealistic steampunk firepower.

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Movie Review: Oz the Great and Powerful

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IMDB, OZ - The Great and Powerful“Oz the Great and Powerful” on IMDB

Fantasy, 130 Minutes, 2013

The Oz-stories have charmed people for over a century and, in fact, were first put to film by Frank L. Baum himself in 1914.  The 1939 “Wizard of Oz” [IMDB] is a well-deserved and universally known classic.  The unofficial sequel in 1985,”Return to Oz”, [IMDB] was brilliantly dark but is often misunderstood or just plain forgotten.  This time director Sam Raimi [IMDB] dives into the pool with a lovingly crafted prequel.

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