Tangled

"Tangled" is loosely based on the story of Rapunzel, the imprisoned maiden with the long, golden locks.  Voiced by pop princess Mandy Moore, Rapunzel is born to a loving queen and king who rule benevolently over their kingdom.  But when the magical healing properties of her hair are discovered, Rapunzel is snatched away from her family and kept locked in a tower by a vain old woman who desires to stay young forever.  One fateful day, a rakish thief named Flynn Ryder stumbles upon Rapunzel's tower, and the two form an unlikely bond that leads them on exciting adventures and an unexpected romance.  Disney puts its own fresh spin on the classic fairy tale by taking the focus solely from the female hero and pairing her up with a debonair male lead who is more of Rapunzel's equal instead of a generic afterthought (as in most of Disney's princess-centered movies).  Mandy Moore does a good job of imbuing Rapunzel with her own sweet and slightly goofy charm.  Flynn Ryder - voiced with perfect comedic timing by Zachary Levi (TV's "Chuck") - is a fun and charismatic rogue who more than holds his own against our endearing princess.  And Donna Murphy (a Tony-award winning Broadway actress) is the film's highlight as Rapunzel's manipulative caretaker, who lets the poor girl believe that she is locked away for her own good.  My only complaint (and it is kind of a big one) is that this is a musical fairy tale, yet the tunes are easily forgettable; you won't find yourself singing any "Hakuna Matata" or "Under the Sea" type numbers after leaving the theater.  Even still, the movie is entertaining for the little ones and has a tenderness to it, with a few chuckles for the grown-ups thrown in for good measure.  "Tangled" may not have you running out to buy the soundtrack afterwards, but its perfectly cast voices, likeable characters, and adventurous story will keep you smiling throughout.


3 out of 5 stars

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1

The penultimate installment in the Harry Potter saga starts out with a grisly scene that expertly sets the dark tone for the rest of the film.  With his mentor and dear friend, Dumbledore, brutally killed at the conclusion of the sixth film, Harry is left to take on a nearly impossible mission: find and destroy the last of the Horcruxes - pieces of Voldemort's black soul preserving his immortality.  Carrying out this task will not be easy, even with Harry's best friends, Ron and Hermione, there to help him.  And as they face grave peril, their mettle and friendships are put to the test as the race against the clock to defeat Voldemort once and for all nears its end.  As the series draws to a close, the awe and magnitude of our beloved hero's journey is that much more palpable.  I found myself barely breathing at times, so enraptured was I at the scenes unfolding before me on screen.  The stakes are that much higher now for our magical trio, so we are that much more committed to these characters that we've watched grow up in front of our very eyes.  Harry - duly played with resolute loyalty and valor by Daniel Radcliffe - must become a man and abandon his life at Hogwarts, the only place where he ever felt truly happy.  The childish reverie of goofing off in potions class or celebrating a Quidditch match victory are now a thing of the past, and Harry, Ron, and Hermione must tighten their jaws as they leave their friends, family, and studies behind.  Hermione - played by the beautiful and graceful Emma Watson - is a powerful witch who can solve almost any problem, except for telling the boy she loves how she feels.  And Ron - played with just the right blend of teenage boy angst and cheekiness by Rupert Grint - is torn by his loyalty for his best mate and his feelings for Hermione, which are buried so deep that they are apparent to everyone except himself.  The cinematography of the film also perfectly encompasses the tone of the story: desolate landscapes shot in gray hues mirror the troubled melancholy and uncertainty that our heroes are feeling.  While the journey into adulthood and unknown danger weighs heavily on Harry, Ron, and Hermione, one thing is certain: these friends have an unbreakable bond that gives them the strength and courage to overcome any obstacle.  That is a magic that no spell can break.  So to Voldemort and his Death Eaters, as we approach the final end of this amazing story, I say to you: Bring. It. On.


5 out of 5 stars

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World

Michael Cera stars as the titular character, a nerdy Canadian slacker who plays bass in a rock band called Sex Bob-omb (which I can only assume is a super-cool reference to a Super Mario Brothers character).  When Scott meets the beautiful and aloof Ramona Flowers, he's smitten and convinced he's found the girl of his dreams.  But if Scott wants to win Ramona's heart, he must first battle her seven evil exes in a fight to the death.  After watching this movie, I knew exactly what it would feel like to play videogames while completely hopped up on Red Bull.  The manic action sequences - straight out of classic arcade game battles - were simultaneously retro yet refreshingly original.  Cera plays Scott like it was the role he was born to play, and while the actor is sometimes accused of portraying the same character over and over again, his characteristic awkward hipster charm totally works here.  The pace is quick, the one-liners zing, and the artful and colorful visuals are inspiring, if a little bit on the silly side (but that's what makes it so hilarious).  I imagine there is a certain age limit past which the style and humor of this movie will go unappreciated; I'm just glad that I don't fall into that age group.  "Scott Pilgrim vs. The World" is a smart, funny, and tremendously enjoyable film, with a hero worth cheering for and deliciously devious villains that you'll be sad to see defeated.


4 out of 5 stars

Splice

Elsa and Clive are superstar geneticists on the verge of a major breakthrough.  They have successfully spliced genes together from different animal species and are poised to share their research with the world - and make millions for the pharmaceutical company they work for.  The next logical step is to create a human/animal hybrid, but their employer puts a halt on further experiments until they can be sure the public is ready to accept such radical science.  When Elsa and Clive decide to test their theories in secret, they successfully produce a viable organism - nicknamed Dren - which has dire consequences for their career and their relationship.  Elsa and Clive are played by Sarah Polley and Adrien Brody; once you get past the fact that this couple is way too young and attractive to play such pioneers in their field, you realize that these are two great actors who can pull off almost any story.  Unfortunately, the film is less of the smart sci-fi/thriller type and veers more towards the monster horror flick route.  Instead of being a thought-provoking thriller that makes you ponder on the ethical and moral questions it poses, the film resorts to putting these two interesting characters in generic situations where they are being chased by their own creation.  The story hints at an interesting back story for Elsa, but never delves deep enough into her childhood history with her mother to see what makes her tick.  Maybe if it did, the decision Elsa makes at the end of the movie would make more sense; instead, we are left perplexed that someone so intelligent would take such a crazy and irrational turn.  For what it is, the film is entertaining enough, and the special effects for Dren were pretty impressive.  There's some fun fluff here, but I was really hoping for something with a bit more substance.


3 out of 5 stars

Nurse Jackie: Season 2

The life and times of Jackie Peyton, head nurse at All Saint's Memorial Hospital in NYC, are on naked display in the second season of this excellent drama starring Edie Falco.  Jackie continues on her downward spiral of drug abuse, while still trying to keep her work life and family life separate and intact.  Jackie thinks she can have it all: a loving family, a fulfilling job, and an affair on the side with her ex-coworker Eddie.  But when Eddie starts an unexpected relationship with her husband, it may be too much for Jackie to handle.  Soon, Jackie's actions and decisions start having negative effects on her family and friends (Jackie's doting husband starts to lose trust in her and her oldest daughter starts exhibiting major psychological problems), and one by one her well-kept secrets start to unravel.  Jackie is the opposite of a protagonist you can root for: she's selfish, she's deceptive, and she's toxic.  Yet her character is so well-written and well-acted by the magnificent Falco (who won an Emmy for her portrayal of the caustic nurse), that you cannot help but sympathize with her.  She is as flawed and complicated a human being as you will ever see on TV and that is what draws the viewer in.  The story lines this season also did wonders for fleshing out the supporting cast.  Jackie's best friend, Dr. O'Hara (played by the hilariously sarcastic Eve Best) gets a couple of her own story arcs - one involving the death of her mother and another involving an unfaithful lover who comes back into town - that really show the cracks in Dr. O'Hara's breezy, upbeat facade.  Jackie's protégé, Zoey (played in the most endearingly weird way by Merritt Wever), continues to grow into her own as a nurse and gets a boyfriend.  And lastly, the ferocious bulldog, hospital administrator Gloria Akalitus (the exquisite Anna Deavere Smith) - who comes off as a mean, joyless bitch in season 1 - finally gets to show off her softer side.  The only character who doesn't get a chance to grow is Dr. Cooper (Peter Facinelli), who saunters through the hospital in his own little bubble of narcissism.  I guess it's not surprising that nothing much changes for the deluded Dr. Cooper, who is so arrogant and self-involved that he can't see past his own nose.  All in all, a nearly perfect season where the story lines are engaging and are only surpassed by the suberb character development.  "Nurse Jackie" may not be the nicest person on television, but she sure is one of the most interesting to watch.


5 out of 5 stars

Severance

A group of coworkers, employed by an international weapons corporation, embarks on a team-building company retreat in remote Hungary.  When the employees get lost on the way to their lodge, they end up at an abandoned inn with no food or way of finding their way back to civilization.  Trying to make the most of their trip, the team decides to continue with their planned activites.  But soon they start to suspect that they may not be alone in these woods, and it may be more than just their jobs they are fighting for.  "Severance" is not your average horror film, as there is plenty of smart black comedy thrown in which keeps the mood simultaneously light yet suspenseful.  The characters work well together, despite all fitting into somewhat stereotypical roles (the company moron, the company cut-up, and the token hottie, to name a few).  Luckily, the story is clever enough to not completely pigeonhole the characters so that they are still able to step outside their given boundaries and surprise the audience (even when you think you have it all figured out as to who will live and who will die).  The film fulfills all the prerequisites of a standard-issue slasher movie: suspense, gore, and gratuitous female nudity.  But the witty humor, taut story, and eerie Eastern European location make "Severance" a memorable stand-out.


3 out of 5 stars