Skyfall

  Slowing down? So is James Bond...after this film he might be joining you in a retirement home while Ben Whinshaw takes out all the badies from his apartment in his pajamas.  

Directed: Sam Mendes
Released:  2012
Staring: Daniel Craig, Dame Judi Dench, Ralph Fiennes, Javier Bardem, & Ben Whinshaw.
Rating: PG-13
Times Viewed: 2

  It's Saturday night, February 23rd, 2013 and as my friend and I walk towards Coffman Memorial Student Center in the University of Minnesota campus I'm preparing myself of a night of historical, emotion drama catered by Stephen Spielsbergs Lincoln. I have yet to see the film which stars one of my favorite, as well as best actors of all time, Daniel Day-Lewis. As we enter the building and our third friend greets us she informs us that it's not Lincoln that is showing tonight but Skyfall. At first of course I was quite disappointed; I had been looking forward to crossing it off my "Need to Watch" Oscar Best Picture Nominee list. Not to be discouraged though, when my friends asked if we should stay or go back to the dorm I replied we should stay. We were already there and even though we all had seen the movie before we all enjoyed it and greatly appreciated Daniel Craig.

This is NOT Lincoln. And yes, more people did show up

  Skyfall, directed by Sam Mendes, is without a doubt my favorite Bond film. I've truly enjoyed watching the resurrection of the Bond franchise these past few years. The Bond films (to me) should be classy, suave, attractive, and just a little bit risky, just like 007 himself. The films staring Pierce Brosnan were anything but classy, suave, or attractive. They were big, loud, and dumb. Brosana himself was not bad. He was a fabulous choice for Bond, but the movies alone were almost too action packed with plots so ridiculous they were never to be believed and teetered on the edge of sci-fi. That all changed in 2006 with Casino Royale. We had a new (BLONDE) Bond who many didn't feel had the same commercial appeal that the other's had possessed. This feeling of unease among many 007 fans was quickly diminished when the viewed the movie. This was the Bond film that brought back the suave smoothness of the classic Bonds. The car chases were there, the femme fatales were there, the fights were there, and the explosions were there, but done in  a way to bring the realism of these stories to the audience. As in film all things must be exaggerated, but the new series of Bond films still read true to the clever movie goer. Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace, and Skyfall rely more on story, character development, and style rather than smoke and fire to make the film appealing to views. Not saying that the new franchise doesn't have it's fair share of excitement and impressive effects.

  I'm going to put it out there and say that Skyfall is probably the most beautiful action movie to be filmed in the past ten years. This movie is GORGEOUS. Cinematographer Roger Deakins is master of manipulation when it comes to illumincent light versus dark. He works in shadow and  silhouettes, acknowledging the script were both our hero Bond and villain Silva are said to have "come from the shadows, a place you don't believe exists." The first shot in the entire film is 007 walking through a darkened corridor and pausing for a moment to assess the situation while allowing the narrowest beam of light to pass across his brilliantly blue eyes.

Another dazzling scene featured in the first trailer is a silhouetted fight with Bond and a darkened opponent in an office building with a massive LED screen projecting a the fluid blue curvatures of a jelly fish. Beautiful and well choreographed scene. As you can tell from the teaser trailer there is a considerable amount of Back Lighting and Low Key lighting.We just talked about editing and lighting in my film class so I was ALL OVER THIS! When Deakins is not show casing his talent for shadow play, he produces stunning wide shots of London, Singapore, and the moors of Scotland.

So much...

...gorgeous...

Back Lighting!

  To bring attention some of Deakins other work, he was director of photography on True Grit, The Reader, Doubt, The Assasination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, No Country for Old Men, The Village, O' Brother Where Art Thou? and The Shawshank Redemption...just to name a FEW. Deakins is the Kate Winslet of Cinematography. This man has 10, I REAPEAT 10 Academy Award nominations without a SINGLE WIN! How? Just how? Deakins is up agains some heavy competition this year from films Life of Pie, Anna Karenina,  Django Unchained, and Lincoln. I would honestly love for Roger Deakins to finally win, but this is serious competition, I guess we'll find out come tomorrow night!

Roger Deakins on the set of Skyall. Cinematographer extraordinaire.

  Now I'd like to talk about the story for a bit. As I said, the most recent Bond films move the story along through character progression rather than a ludicrous plot to take over the world via sharks with laser beams on their freakin' heads. Every action scene is fueled by intension. The established relationship between characters 007 and M is, according the the villain, a reflection of the relationship Silva had with the head of MI6. The revenge is generated by a very warped motivation. There is reason to care about Bond, there is a reason to care about M. During his psych analysis, Bond relates "M" with bitch and honestly this may be true for many movie goers. Although we see how close Bond and his boss have become over the years we still see her as that nagging boss every one hates for being that nagging boss. This script effectively generates sympathy for M by bringing the British government into play, blaming M for many recent security breeches and agent deaths and forcing her to step down from her beloved post. By creating this side plot, when the viewer discovers who the villain is and the motivation for his actions, we aren't left thinking "Well why should we care? She's a BITCH!"

Judi Dench as M, Ralph Fiennes as Gregor Mallory and that one guy as that one guy...?

  Much of this story deals with age and experience. Wether it was her decision or not, Dame Judi Dench is not a young lady and it was written that Skyfall would be her last adventure with Bond. Dench's own retirement from the character is used in the plot by the British Government forcing her to step down, most likely in order to replace her with some younger blood. When 007 meets his new Quarter Master he is shocked to find a young pup who "still has spots." that clever spotted young man is Ben Whinshaw who's character Q, while quite the technological genius still has much to learn about a career is espionage. Still, the banter between Q and Bond does make one think how different the franchise might be if a youthful, less traditional man was to play the role of 007. Are the producers/writers setting us up for something? Judi Dench is being replaced (quite to my excitement) by Ralph Fiennes character Gareth Mallory, so does this mean we could be expecting the attractive young Ben Whinshaw to take the reins from Craig? I don't believe Whinshaw himself would be put in the role, but I do think we can expect a considerably younger Bond when Daniel Craig decides to leave the franchise.

Could Ben Whinshaw's Q be replacing Daniel Craig as the next 007?

  Bond deals with doubts about his age and physical state throughout the whole film proving to all that even 007 get's old. After an extended "holiday" aka playing dead, Bond has taken to drinking and pills, both affect his return to MI6. After numerous test Bond is returned to the program but not truly is the best of shape. Doubts from M, Mallory, and himself creep into his subconscious as well as problems from his childhood. These are mentioned and then resurface in the form of Skyfall, the home on the moors of Scotland where James Bond grew up. Now I do believe they mention in Casino Royale that this Bond is an orphan, but it was nice to have that revisited, and even play a large role in this film. We see that this persona of Bond has taken over this man's life and turned him into someone completely different. There's a moment near the end where Silva looks apon the grave of Bond's parents that read Arthur Bond and Monique Alexander Bond. Silva almost laughs to himself. As we learned earlier in the film, Silva, a former MI6 agent, is not the true name of our villain. If this can be said of Bond the fact that his parents graves bare false names is very intriguing. At one point, Bond is handed his father's old hunting rifle that bares the engraved letters AB...A coincident that his real sir name started with a B.   When one becomes 007 just how much of their past must be changed to keep their true identities safe?

  Dabbling into the casting of new comers.
      No 007 film would be complete without it's circle of sexy women for Bond to playing with or by played by. Resident Bond Girls for Skyfall are the Naomie Harris as Eve Moneypenny, and Bérénice Marlohe as Severine. Harris is phenomenal. Not only is she gorgeous, but as a member of MI6 she's clever, able to kick some serious ass, and holds her own against Bond. That being said, her character is truly conflicted when ordered to take a shot even if it means killing Bond. When she does believe that she'd killed him she shows an acceptable amount of remorse to Bond before rebounded and turing the situation into an on going joke that adds some great chemistry between the characters. This character is without a doubt on the same playing level as Bond and knows it; she is in control 100% of the time. She flirts with Bond but never allows him to one up her. This is was a good supporting Bond Girl should do; be hot as well as use some of that heat to lash back.

Naomie Harris as Eve Moneypenny look hot and kicking ass.

  While the character of Eve Moneypenny is the perfect mix of charisma, sexiness, and badass, the femme fatale character of Severine is nothing but a plot device. She is honestly is only in the film to move Bond from point A to point B and she knows it the entire time. And the film doesn't try to make her into something more. That being said actress Bérénice Marlohe plays this well; fist cool, collected apparently in control...until Bond calls her out. Then like a beautiful porcelain vase she cracks, shaking hands and wondering eyes we learn that all the body guards that trail her aren't there for her protection, they're there to control her.

"I've only been waiting for you to figure out that poker chip message for 2 weeks. I'm too drunk now to NOT tell you everything...let's have sex."

  As for the boys, I mentioned Ben Whinshaw a bit so I'll stick to Ralph Fiennes and Gareth Mallory and Javier Bardem as Silva. If there was any British actor I should think would be apart of the James Bond series is Ralph Fiennes. Perhaps it's because he played a similar agent type in the atrocity that was 1998's The Avengers (No, not Mavels Avengers...different...bad....British Avengers) Suave, dashingly handsome and a bit dangerous. Is voice is smooth and rich like red wine and his profile is the most beautiful of any man his age. With all these attractive characteristics I always found it odd that Fiennes was never cast as Bond himself or even a villain...ugh he plays a bloody fantasmic villain. When I read that Fiennes would be staring is Skyfall I automatically assumed he'd be taking on the role of the villain, which would have been spectaular, but not the case. Fiennes character is almost better than the villain; working for the government we see that Fiennes, as well as his character, is the embodiment of Great Britain. Along with Judy Dench's character, he evolves throughout the film from a suspicious outsider to someone I was cheering for quite a bit. I can't tell you how thrilled I am that Fiennes is now officially a concrete part of this new Bond franchise.

WHY. Why did it take so long to get Fiennes involved in the Bond movies...He IS Bond to me.

Ralph Fiennes is secretly judging you... 

   When is Javier Bardem not good? I cannot name anything he does wrong. Bardem is one of those actors that spout such a distinct look and voice that you can't help but notice when they're featured in a film. In all of his movies when his character first arrives my mind says "Javier Bardem" but as the scene progresses I don't even remember it's him. THAT is what ACTING is. Truly becoming a completely different person; and when an actor has the face that Bardem has it can be very, very difficult. As he did in Vicky, Christina, Barcelona, Bardem turns up the charm the moment he appears on screen. His character Silva is complete in every way down to his walk, gestures, even the way he throws a hand grenade; these are specific to that character and the physiological movement of the character. Silva is a true love to hate character. The audience knows just enough but not enough about his back story to piece him together. He's a box of cats one mouse away from bursting off the top and wreaking total havoc on society. Chaos through composure...that is what Bardem brings to the table with Silva and it's with that he will become a memorable Bond villain.

Javier Bardem as disgruntled former MI6 agent Silva.
Who can do a lot...perhaps too much with his computer...and lucky timing.

The ladies aren't the only ones eager to undress Bond in this film...

Remember to ALWAYS put your psychopath in a glass prison. 

Frankenweenie

The story of a boy, his dog, and every classic horror movie reference imaginable. I loved it. 

Directed by: Tim Burton

Released: 2012

Staring: The voice talents of- Charlie Tahan, Catherine O'Hara, Martin Short, Martin Landau, & Winona Ryder.

Rated: PG

Times viewed: 1

The answer is yes. Yes I am one of those crazed, obsessed Tim Burton fans. Yes, I USUALLY love anything that has is name tied to it in any way, shape, or form...except for Dark Shadows, I'm still trying to forget Dark Shadows. That movie brings up an interesting point. Tim Burton used to be one of those Directors that did basically whatever the hell he felt like, not really concerned if it gained him commercial success or not; however, the past couple years have been, in my opinion, on and off for Burton. First of all Dark Shadows. I did, sort of, enjoy the movie (I'm just going to say, there will never be a Tim Burton film I will not enjoy, he's just ingrained too deeply in my cinematic roots), it was what Burton does well, dark macabre romance as well as comedy, then then last 20 or so minutes was complete..ugh..I don't even know...just BAD. Special effects were bad, story was bad, just BAD. Maybe it was just Chloe Moretz character turning into that sad excuse for a werewolf. Not sure, but at some point it went wrong. Then there was Alice in Wonderland. I loved Alice in Wonderland, but it felt more like a Burton imitation, or perhaps one of his produced films...not a project that was SOLEY his. Sometimes I feel like Disney has a yoke on Burton and doesn't let him express his crazy, beautiful, deadly worlds in full force. The movie I'm going to discuss in this post, Frankenweenie is a perfect example of this restrainment.
  The 2012 stop motion horror nostalgia flick, as many now know, is not the only Frankenweenie. In 1984, Tim Burton was working for Disney as an animator and had the chance to make his own short, live action film. The product, Frankenweenie resulted in the firing of Burton from Disney due to his "wasting" of their  resources. The film tested poorly with young children and was not released until after Burtons rise to fame in early/mid 90's. Typical, way to go Disney.
Come 2010/2011 Disney released Burton's hugely successful take on Alice in Wonderland. The film won 2 Ocars: Costuming (Colleen Atwood) and Art Direction (Karen O'Hera & Robert Stromberg) and is currently the 13th highest grossing film of all time. (world wide) With this HUGE commerical success as well as his cult following, I think this is when Disney decided they should stop trying to control Burton because let's face it, whatever he does will make major dollars.
At this point I envision Tim saying, "Hey Disney! Remember that short you fired me for making back in the 80's because it was too scary for kids? ...Before I was a world wide phenomenon? Yey I'm gonna make it AGAIN! And I'm gonna make it MY WAY! (more death, more monsters, more horror references, MORE MONEY!" ...and that's basically what happened...now that he's made them millions and MILLIONS of dollars Disney's removed Burton's collar and pretty much lets him do whatever the hell he wants. Even create a MONSTER!!

Sparky(Frankenweenie) Who could be afraid of that face? He is ADORABLE!

  For those of us who love the Classic Universal horror films of the 30s/40s this film is jam packed with all kinds of references, easter eggs, and the same beautiful high contrast black and white cinematography we loved from movies like Frankenstein/The Bride of Frankenstein, Dracula, The Invisible Man, The Wolfman, The Mummy, and The Creature from the Black Lagood. Having seen all of these films quite a few times, I found myself inwardly screaming "Oh my gosh! It's the same lighting they used on Boris Karloff's face! Vincent Price-like Character! Elsa Van Helsing, as in Van Helsing the vampire hunter!" ect. ect. #FilmGeekProbs There is even a GREMLINS reference in there if you're paying attention. Hint, just add water ;) 

  All the nostalgia references is without a doubt the a sizable reason I had such an exceptionally positive reaction to this film. Burton's original live action short is good, but the time limit didn't allow him to put in all those great, little details and characters that propel Frankenweenie from average animated movie to the ultimate Horror tribute film...Come to think of it, Burton should have made this film for Universal...they would have gotten a lot more out of it...especially with the re-release/restoration of 8 of their greatest Monster classics see HERE! If I had $100+ that set would be MINE...jumping trains and getting back on track now. 

"Frankenstein" is the name of the doctor who creates The Monster...the monster itself is not Frankenstein...it's just The Monster....incase you didn't know. Basic plot, Victor Frankenstein is a shy, quiet boy who lacks many friends, but possesses a fantasmic imagination and a passion for directing monster movies...huh, who does that sound like? His only real friend is his loyal dog Sparky, who is horribly killed after chasing a home run baseball into the street. *Note to all fathers, never force your child into joining a baseball team in return for your signature allowing him to participate in the science fair.* Asshole. Your child is a scientific protégée and you want him swinging at balls (he clearly does not want to) when he could be curing cancer, just to make friends? He has a dog, leave him alone!

Victor Frankenstein voiced by Charlie Tahan

.......Anyway......after the death of his best friend Victor receives a jolt of inspiration via his Vincent Price-like science teacher, and plans to bring Sparky back through means of electricity and SCIENCE!

Victor's "lab" set up is truly wonderful! In order to conduct the massive amounts of lightening generated by New Hollands nearly constant night storms, Victor utilizes his mothers pots and pans, the christmas reindeer, hair driers, bicycles, every appliance in the kitchen (including the toaster and blender)  and a swing set. These tools radiating with electricity and the resounding snaps and zaps illuminate the same Frankenstein we saw in James Whale's 1931 version. This scene is truly fantastic and heartbreaking as much of the film proves to be. Losing any pet is hard, especially when that pet is your best friend; I think so many people now a days forget how strong a bond between a human and a pet can become over the years. Frankenweenie reminds us, weather we want to or not, the pain of loosing that best friend as well as the desperation of wanting, needing them back. Kenneth Branagh portrayed this beautifully in his 1994 adaption of the classic, a plot line emitted from the 1931 production. The Monster in lonely despair, kills Frankenstein's new bride in order for the doctor to bring her back for himself (The Monster). In 2012, ABC's hit fantasy show "Once Upon A Time" also took on the theme of lost love and resurrection with it's own interpretation of Frankenstein. In the episode The Doctor, Frankenstein does not reanimate any old corpse, The Monster turns out to be that of his recently deceased brother. 

Not magic, but science. David Anders portrays Victor Frankenstein on this season's Halloween episode of Once Upon A Time 

Inevitably, Victor's secret is discovered and everyone wants a piece of his project. The things these children are will to do to win a science fair is quite terrifying....or perhaps it's just the children themselves who are (hilariously) terrifying. First to try to steal the secret is Edgar 'E' Gore. A hunchback little creep with an infinity for wringing his disproportioned, skeleton-like hands. You'd think that he (being Egore in a sense) and Victor would be friends right? Not really the case.

Edgar 'E' Gore voiced by Atticus Shepard

  As in any Tim Burton film, there must always be one fat boy in a stripped shirt. In Frankenweenie that boy is Bob, faithful friend but more like experimental subject of Toshiaki. The creepy asian who rivals Victor in scientific study and throws a mean curve ball. Not racist at all...

Bob. Voiced by Robert Capron

Toshiaki. Voiced by James Hiroyuki Liao

Next in the group of Victors..."Friends" is Nassor. Who basically IS Frankenstein's Monster. Quite obviously. I was a bit surprised they used this design for a competing character when it's very clear from the title and story that Victor is ...Victor Frankenstein and Sparky is "The Monster." Having a character inspired by another horror monster, say Dracula, would have added to the diversity of the characters and references. In the end it proved not to be a very big deal and the character was still very Monster-like.

Huge applause to Martin Short for voicing 3 different characters, Nessor included.

The ghostly "Weird Girl" and her cat Mr. Whiskers, to me, are the scariest things in Frankenweenie. Not only scary but quite funny. The girl reading Mr. Whiskers poop is hilarious and her freaked out face is reminiscent of The White Zombie or perhaps The Daughter of Dracula. Another great reference character. 

Again, cheers to Catherine O' Hara for voicing "Weird Girl" as well as 2 other characters. 

 The Final counterpart and possibly Victors only real friend not to mention possible love interest is Elsa Van Helsing. Not only is she VAN HELSING, Elsa is voiced by Winona freakin' Rider who hasn't worked with Burton since Edward Scissorhands. What's up with that!? Get back together! Elsa's poodle is fabulous not only because she, later in the film, sports some hot Bride of Frankenstein hair, but is also named Persephone. Greek demi godess wife of Hades lord of the underworld. Mythology spasm!

Elsa Van Helsing and Sparky's love Persephone.

  After discovering his secret to creating life beyond the grave, Victor's science fair competitors plan to electrify their own deceased pets and take first prize. This is were more classic horror monster madness ensues! All but Elsa resurect the likes of Shelly (a nod to Mary Shelly) the Godzilla like turtle, Nessor's dead hamster turned into the creeping incarnation of The Mummy...poor thing doesn't get far, The furry werewolf from Nightmare Before Christmas makes an appearance as Edgar's Wererat, and Bob creates an uncontrollable army of sea monkeys (Think Creature from the Black Lagoon meets Gremlins) Annnd the weird girl...well Mr. Whiskers is simultaniously incineracted and conjointed with the likes of a vampire bat. Creating......The emaciated version of Richard Roxburgh's Dracula from the 2004 film Van Helsing.

Well that's uncanny!

  Destroying these monsters one at a time leads to the 3rd tear inducing scene where, mirroring the 1931 flim, Victor is almost killed in a fiery windmill death. Sparky rescues him at his own cost. I'm NOT going to tell you weather the folks of New Holland find it in their hearts to save Sparky or if they choose to let him die; teaching Victor a lesson on life, death, loss, and love. Let me just tell you this scene had me BAWLING! Not just tear, tear, I mean rivers of salt water pouring onto my chest.

 I lost my own best friend when I was in 9th grade and let me tell you that was not easy. Indy had been there basically my whole life. We got her when she was a pup and I was two; we grew up together. She was beautiful, a black lab-huskey mix. She loved to be outside, hunting, running around on my neighbors porch when she wasn't suppose to, and being a ham! Just like Victor, I loved playing scenes with my dog. I would dress Indy up in the most ridiculous costumes and that poor dog put up with it! I wish I was at home because I have a whole album of photo shoots I did with her. I thought she would always be there, so when she got sick and had to be put down my freshman year I didn't take it very well. As I've said in previous posts, I didn't have many friends 5th-8th grade so I'd go home and talked to my dog. Sounds dumb but honesty, she was my best friend in my pre-teen years. Here are some pictures of Indy...I think should would have made a good Frankenweenie. She's got the color scheme and a bit of the creepy look.

Queen of the castle! Always watchful

Look at that face! What a beauty! 

Well, maybe not always...but she had personality! 

This was about a month or two before she died :( Even when she got really fat, and turned orange she was my favorite.

  Tim Burton has expressed in interviews that he wrote this story was because he himself lost a dog when he was younger and had problems coping. I believe this to be a big reason why the movie works so well emotionally. I mean let's face it, this basically IS Tim Burton loosing his dog and doing what couldn't be done. Heartbreaking and glorious.

  This movie was FANTASTIC! It was what Tim Burton does best. BEING TIM BURTON. By drawing inspiration from Hollywood's past, he creates a league of lovable misfits and their monsters. As there must be in all Disney movies, there are life lessons about love, loss, parents accepting their children, misunderstanding science and so on, but no to the point where it's overly cheesy and ridiculous. What else can I say? This is a MUST watch for children and adults of all ages. The older generation will love it for is humorous, accurate reference of the classics, and kids will love it because of it's ADORABLE leading dog and goofy characters. I can say some smaller children might be a bit off put by some of the monsters and the kids, but nothing a good rewatch can't solve.
  I truly PRAY this film ignites a whole new generation's interest and passion for those classic movies that have shaped horror movies, monsters, heroes, and villains into what they are today. Men like Burton, who hold true to the classics and attempt to bring them to light in darkly unoriginal days like this, continue to inspire me. And if that can be done through a "children's film, then bravo. Bravo sir. The greatest original creates spawn from somewhere, an ever evolving chain that links our present to our past. Corporations like Disney must be careful about the talents they choose to support or not support. A missed window of opportunity can change not only the future of cinema, but culture as a whole. Don't believe me? Think of Hot Topic, now imagine Hot Topic WITHOUT any Tim Burton merchandise. This is a small trivial example but to think that an entire sub group of pop culture has been created by ONE man's work is extraordinary.

Enjoying some Valentines chocolate with my own Sparky! ...And Johnny Depp? Well this is a Tim Burton post!

Warm Bodies

An original screen play? About Zombies? INCONCEIVABLE! 

Directed by: Jonathan Levine
Released: 2013
Staring: Nicholas Hoult, & Teresa Palmer featuring Analeigh Tipton, John Malkovich, Dave Franco, and Rob Corddry.
Rated: PG-13
Times Viewed: 1

  If we were to take all the zombie movies produced in the past 10 years and turned those movies into real zombies, there'd be enough to conquer the entire human race in about two hours. If we were to take all those zombie movies with predictable, reacurring plots and turned each of those movies into two zombies, there'd be enough to conquer the entire human race in about a half an hour. I'm not quite set on the mathematics of that, but what I'm trying to say is, I've come to not expect anything original coming from Hollywood these days, especially if it has the word "Zombie" attached to it. Recently released Warm Bodies has proved to be the pleasent exception. 

Based on the Novel of the same name the book "Warm Bodies" opens with this poem by Herbert Mason...

You have known, O Gilgamesh 

What interest me,

To drink from the well of Immortality.

Which means to make the dead

rise from their graves

And prisoners from their cells

The sinners from their sins.

I think love's kiss kills our heart of flesh.

It is the only way to eternal life,

Which should be unbearable if we lived.

Among the dying flowers 

and shrieking farewells.

Of the overstretched arms of our spoiled hearts.

-Gilgamesh, A Verse Narrative. 

Nice cover art.

I haven't read the book, but after seeing the film and reading the first couple pages online I'll have to check it out.

Back to the film, it's witty (I seem to by typing that word a lot) and original. Zombie apocalypse, kill ALL the zombies. ALL the zombies are evil right? Negative. The story begins at an airport, among the monotone grays, browns and blacks of shuffle zombie figures, a pop of red ambles through the crowd. This is R, our hero. Not the battling zombie killer you'd expect to open the film, mowing down his opponents in hails of gunfire and bloody savage cries; but a zombie himself. R narrates most of the film, dealing with his...situation with good spirit. Considering he's dead. Here's nice clip of the first four minutes. 

     

  The first four minutes definitely has one of the funniest opening monologs that I've seen in a while. And do you know why? Because they have good material to work with. I don't really see why hollywood hasn't figured this out yet. Find a good, funny book and that book with undoubtedly make a good funny film! Just don't tamper with it too much. Now as I said before, I haven't read the book so I can't tell you all for sure if the director stayed true to the book, but from the audiences perspective, people where laughing through a good 3/4 of the movie. The rest of the time was skeleton shooting action. I'd say that's a job well done. Having a movie from the zombies perspective was honestly hilarious, especially when R picks up a warm blooded living human, Julie, and brings her back to his ultimate bachelor pad; an abandoned passenger airplane filled with his favorite vinyl and other random objects that speak to his lifeless zombie sensibilities.

   Julie and her gang were on a recon mission for her father, Colonel Grigo played by John Malkovich, collecting medical supplies outside the massive wall that protects the city from the corpses and skeletons (bonies) At the same time, R and his pack travel towards the city in search of some dinner. The two sides meet inside a medical clinic and, as in all zombie movies, gun fire and grunts ensue. During the scrim, R sees Julie for the first and falls bloodless head over heels. However, Julie's sour boyfriend Perry interrupts, and in attempts to shot R is killed himself. In order for him not to come back as a zombie, R eats his brains thus consuming his emotions and memories. This part was actually quite heartbreaking as we see flashbacks of Perry's childhood and later the death of his father. After the zombie horde had eaten their fill in human flesh they head back to the airport. R, so taken with Julie wipes some....umm...liquidly brown stuff on her cheek so she'll be able to come with him unnoticed. I'm guessing this was the equivalent of zombie blood since the zombies don't bleed. 

  R and Julie's first interactions are hilarious as he tried to communicate with his zombie grunts and moans as well as awkwardly staring for long periods as the terrified girl. "Don't be creepy, don't be creepy, don't be creepy." 

Nicholas Hoult as R, a zombie with heart, connects with Julie, played by Teresa Palmer.

  Overall this movie was a treat. I was entertained the entire time, laughing for most of it. The zombies attempting to communicate with each other and with the humans were the best parts. R's friend M, once he learns to talk, is a highlight of the film, running over Bonies with a airport cart and translating the other zombies groans of agreement to "Fuck Yeah."

Nicholas Hoult as R and Rob Corddry as his best bud in death M

  Speaking of swearing, other than "Bitches" and the blood and violence of course, this was a fairly, dare I say, family friendly movie and I think it work's to they films advantage. Many movies today that are aimed at a teenage audience think the have to be crude, overly sexual, and excess in gore. Warm bodies does have the violence I enjoy in any zombie movie, but it doesn't consume the entire picture as some do. This movie also had the opportunity to have more than it's share of creepy zombie on human sex jokes but it stays back from that area, letting the awkwardness of the zombies communication be the real joke. This kept the credibility of the film in check. Now I'm definitely no prude when it comes to the movies, especially zombie ones, but it was kind of nice not to be showered in blood and sex for once; it opens the film to a considerably larger audience. In the screening I went to, there was quite a large number of children younger than 10 in attendance. And they all enjoyed the movie immensely.

  The film was quite well acted, lead zombie turing human R was played with great shrugging awkwardness by Nicholas Hoult who, with his spiky emo hair, brooding eyebrows and sharp features looks like he should be a regular on The Vampire Diaries (although I can't know for sure, I don't watch it) I loved seeing Analeigh Tipton who I will ALWAYS recognize from from cycle 11 of Americas Next Top Model, back when that show was actually good. After seeing her in last years Crazy Stupid Love, I was pumped when I saw she would be in Warm Bodies, yes she does more or less play the same, gangly, quirky best friend but I think she's a breath of fresh air. So distinct and goofy. I hope she continues acting even if it is only in Rom-Com supporting roles. John Malkovich was John Malkovich as he is in all movies, wonder where he has been hiding these past couple years? And as I said earlier, R's friend M is like Nick Frost to Simmon Pegg a la Shaun of the Dead. 

 The only problem I had with this movie was that the make-up was sometimes inconsistent. I do appreciate that they chose to use mostly make-up and not special effects on the zombies, however the amount of make-up on R varied throughout the film. Sometimes he had black circles under his eyes then they were gone, then they were back. Some scenes he had prominent blue purple veins creeping up his next and in the next shot they were gone. But honestly I'm not going to give them big fault on things like that; for the majority of the film the make-up was quite good. 

  Warm Bodies features some great tunes as well...apparently one man leaving the theater did not appreciate it but I liked the "crappy 80's music."  

  I would request this film to EVERYONE! I really did have a good time watching it. Plenty of laughs and many "aww" moments. Humorous, cute, but with enough zombie action and blood to interest all parties.