For those of you unaware, we recently made some big changes to the blog. Our new location is www.dimthelightsfilmblog.com. Now that classes are over, we will be working hard on producing new and exciting content for all you sensational cinema lovers. Be sure to check the link as we continue to roll out major changes on the blog. Thanks!
Kingsman: The Secret Service Review
Dapper and Deadly
Release Date: Friday 13th, 2015
‘Manner maketh the man.’
Harry ‘Galahad’ Hart touted these words as he prepared to unleash a major beating on a group of British punks in a pub. Who knew that stylish British men could be so exciting and violent? Well, James Bond is the popular British action hero in most of our minds. So, think of James Bond…wait, think of a plethora of James Bonds with a healthy injection of Kick-Ass violence. That is what you get when you watch Kingsman: The Secret Service. Continue reading
Preview: Marvel’s Ant-Man
Big Things Have Small Beginnings
Release Date: July 17, 2015
Earlier this week, Marvel released an ant-sized version of their latest comic book film, Ant-Man. After much complaining and pixelation of videos, the official trailer has finally been released and it looks fantastic. Built up similar to Guardians of the Galaxy’s first trailer, Ant-Man features a raspy monologue and intensely dramatic music. The trailer revealed some really exciting scenes that we examine below:
The Hero
Our main protagonist is Scott Lang, played by Paul Rudd. Scott is an expert in relocating objects. In other words, he is a thief. By the looks of it, he is pretty great, seeing as he was sent to a maximum security prison. Although he is no hero yet, Scott seems to be able to hold his own in a prison fight. He must be a great thief since he was bailed out rather quickly.
The Plot
The scenes from the trailer give a glimpse into the plot of the film. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) gives Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) a rousing speech encouraging Scott to be more than he ever thought possible. Hank enlists Scott as the Ant-Man, giving him a special suit capable of shrinking the user. With Scott’s help, Hank hopes to stop a corporation and save the world from whatever this company is planning. Hank is probably the one responsible for bailing Scott out of prison. He firmly believes in Scott’s ability to be the hero that he is perceived to be.
The Motivation
Scott seems more like an anti-hero (ant-hero?) comparable to Tony Stark and Peter Quill. He is a thief who may have less than ideal motives. Scott is no Captain America, but he does have a daughter. He appears to love his daughter very much and appears willing to do anything for her. Watch for her to be a primary motivation for Scott’s adventures.
The Suit
Scott Lang looks absolutely amazing in his Ant-Man suit. My one problem with it is the helmet looks so similar to Starlord’s helmet in Guardians of the Galaxy. Despite this, the suit feels like the suit from the comics. Well done costume designers!
Ant-Man
We get our first look at Ant-Man in action. It appears Scott has his first encounter with an insect in this scene. We get to see him use the insect to fly into the night in spectacular fashion.
Ant-Man has the makings of another surprise blockbuster from Marvel Studios. It has the potential. Hopefully it will deliver a Guardians of the Galaxy type punch later this year. Big things have small beginnings!
Taken 3 Review
Can’t Take It Anymore
Release Date: January 9, 2015
After leaving a trail of dead bodies in both Turkey and Istanbul, you would think we’d had enough with the “taken” formula. Sadly, Hollywood disagreed and forced upon us Taken 3, a lazily assembled film whose only goal was to gain some more green. What promised to be a change in direction for the franchise ended up being far too different. The film just didn’t feel like the films prior and it felt as though director Olivier Megaton threw this one together. Continue reading
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 Review
The Fire Has Lost Its Spa
Release Date: November 21, 2014
Last November the popular dystopian series returned with its third film, Mockingjay Part 1. As someone who is familiar with the books, I was very excited for what was to pass in the next installment. After Katniss Everdeen, “The Girl On Fire”, destroyed the Quarter Quell games and escaped with some unknown help, we find Katniss in an isolated medical facility. The facility turns out to be the long extinct District 13. Her being there was a result of the annihilation of her home, District 12. In District 13, a society of rebel fighters had been preparing to overthrow the Capital for years. Katniss’ actions in the games were the final push that they needed to declare war against the Capital. The leaders of District 13, Plutarch Heavensbee and President Alma Coin, inform Katniss that she is the symbol of the rebellion and she is needed to rally the other districts against the Capital. The fate of the war relies on Katniss’ ability to urge the districts to unify and fight for their freedom. This all sounds good and dandy, but Katniss is not the same Katniss she was in the previous films. After losing her home, losing Peeta, and suffering a traumatic experience during the Quarter Quell, Katniss is a only a shadow of her former self. She never asked to be the Mockingjay, and she realizes she is only a pawn in a much larger game, a game she didn’t know she was playing. Katniss’ only motivation to help the cause is finding a way to save Peeta, who has been held captive by the Capital. With this in mind, Katniss attempts to find her inner strength and lead the districts to victory.
Preview: Blackhat
The Hammer For The Hat
Release Date: January 16, 2015
A blackhat hacker is an individual with extensive computer knowledge whose purpose is to bypass internet security. The word “blackhat” refers to villains from Westerns who usually wore a black hat. A hacker (Chris Hemsworth), is tasked with searching for a malicious hacker who attacked a nuclear reactor. The premise seems simple enough, yet highly engaging. In an age where we regularly experience cyber attacks, this film speaks to an audience that sees the real world threat of such an attack. Just recently, Sony was attacked in an effort to bench their controversial political comedy The Interview. Blackhat makes it very clear that the character of Chris Hemsworth is not trusted by the authorities, suggesting he may be a blackhat hacker himself. This makes for an interesting dynamic where trust plays a vital role throughout the film. I am very excited to see Chris in a film that isn’t Thor. The last film I watched with Sir Hemsworth was Rush, which I absolutely loved. He is an actor who has some chops so definitely give this film a try. Watch the trailer below and let me know what you think!
At A Glance: January 2015
Here at Dim The Lights we get incredibly excited for the most-hyped films each month. We have chosen a few films we are personally looking forward to seeing. This January we chose Taken 3, Blackhat, Black Sea, Project Almanac, and The Wedding Ringer. Each of these films have some really interesting narratives and directions that have us ready to toss our money at the box office and most likely anger the attendant. Read our synopsis of each film below:
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