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Movie Review: It

October 20, 2017

By Nicholas Bloom

 

Twenty-seven years ago a TV miniseries aired based off of one of Stephen King's most popular books, IT. The series featured Tim Curry playing the infamous, child-slaughtering clown named Pennywise. Now, much like how IT resurfaces every 27 years, a new clown has popped up, this one played by Bill Skarsgård terrorizing the streets of Derry, Maine. However, this time, he's all over the theatre screen, and for some reason he’s ripping off every silly horror movie, from Evil Dead 2, to Stranger Things, which itself is a rip off of Stephen King.

 

The plot is fairly simple. Derry, Maine is suffering from another odd string of missing persons cases (most notably children), starting with stuttering Bill's younger brother Georgie. This boy was last seen looking into a sewer drain after his paper boat fell inside. After the loss of his brother, Bill (Jaeden Lieberher), gets a group of friends together and they all get attacked by... something. All they know for sure is that a clown keeps popping up as some kind of cherry on the terror cake.

 

The group, called the loser's club, is made up of Bill, the leader; Richie, the comic; and a host of others. Together they decide to do their best to try and take down whatever is living underneath in the sewers of their hometown. All while avoiding bullies, molester parents, clowns, and trying to get Richie to shut up for five seconds.

I guess if I'm going to review this, seeing as how I'm a King fan, I should probably explain my thoughts on the book first, then the film, and compare them both to see which is better, so let's begin.

The book, while being King's most popular, is not his best work. I will say it has some of his best elements (IT itself is his second best villain in my opinion), but it also has some of his worst. One of the biggest is the fact that he tries to tie it into his larger universe, and while I didn't mind that, there is a limit to how much he can put in until he's just writing a Dark Tower spin-off (can anyone say, Giant Turtle?), and IT’s backstory is kinda ridiculous to a common book goer. I won't spoil it here but, it'll make people laugh if you try to explain it to them.

Another problem that the movie, to its credit, tries to fix, is the point of Pennywise himself. While the book says it's because the clown is both IT'’s favourite of IT's many forms and the friendly clown draws kids in easier, my question is why does the clown keep appearing when IT'’s using the kids’ worst fears to get them and clearly trying to scare them? The movie tries to fix it by saying that Richie is afraid of clowns, but Richie is never attacked by IT in the first third. So, why the clown? I'll tell you, because it was given away that the missing kids incidents were all caused by one thing. Because the first link that starts the connections is the clown. So really, IT just gave Itself away.

Another problem is that the book is the size of a cinder block, clocking in at as many pages as all three Lord of the Rings books. The reason why is because so much happens that it feels like multiple stories all trying to fit into one. I did enjoy the book, however, there was so much King could've cut out. I was with him, but I was constantly questioning why he thought to put so much stuff in.

Now onto the film, which, in my opinion fixes some of the book’s problems. For one, it's part one of a two-part story, focusing only on the parts with the children, which is a great idea, already making cuts where there needs to be. Though I do wish they ended with what happened to adult Stan (couldn't you sneak that in after the credits guys? It was tailor-made for that), but that's just me.

Pennywise himself is by far the funniest part of the movie. I know a lot of other reviews keep saying that he “isn't a real clown,” and that the actor isn't really funny. That's where I disagree. This clown is hilarious. He has that weird mix of funny, yet at times scary dialogue and every time I see him on screen I'm always kind of chuckling.

The child actors themselves are pretty darn good and enjoyable, constantly swearing and making jokes about what you find in the sewers, you know, like real kids, especially from the '80s when the film is set.

Although that is a bit of a problem. The child parts in the book were in the '50s, the adult stuff was in the '80s. Here, while it would make sense having the adult film set in modern times, the film just comes off as Stranger Things but with a clown. I personally get a kick out of it (especially when they're doing an '80s montage while cleaning blood), but with everything else in popular shows and movies doing the exact same thing, it gets a little bit predictable. Just a bit.

Really the largest problem is its tone, constantly changing from Stand by Me to Stranger Things. That’s one of the bigger problems in the book as well, so that's not entirely the director's fault.  

As for the rest of the film, it's played out as an enjoyable horror film along the same lines of the Evil Dead films: good humour, good scares, good characters, and a fun flick to watch with the lights off late on Halloween night. So if that's the movie you're looking for, you'll enjoy this a lot. It does everything a good adaptation should, keeps the main plot, changes most of the scares (leaving one or two in for fan service), and most importantly, improves on the source material's flaws. So, try and watch this film when you get a chance, and come float here with us.

We all float down here.

 

You'll float too.

Movie Review: Brazil

March 23, 2017

BY NICK BLOOM

If you’re in Grade 12 then you’re probably being voluntold to read George Orwell’s classic, Nineteen Eighty-four. A cautionary tale of how privacy is slowly and surely being taken from us.

Brazil, named after the song that was used in the country’s famous Le Carnaval celebration, is based heavily off this book. (The original title apparently was 1984 and a ½). But instead of a single tyrant or image of a person like Big Brother’s looming eyes, Brazil’s world government is more or less a gigantic business (a poorly run one at that). Working for that business, is our main character Sam Lowry (Jonathan Pryce). Sam works at the boring, dry, and incredibly routine records depot of the system, and, in a rare twist that I quite like, he really wants to stay there. He has no hopes, no desire for something bigger, and never dreams of anything more.

Well, aside from these weird vivid dreams he keeps having, where he is some kind of flying man and sees a beautiful woman in the sky above the clouds. When he finds a woman in the real world who looks exactly like her (Kim Greist), he finds himself doing his best to track her down. A classic story of searching for love.

Meanwhile Lowry seems to be caught in a mix-up in the system involving a suspected terrorist who was wrongfully arrested. But by mix-up I mean there was a very clear mistake made by the Depot of Information, only it’s the Depot of Information, and they don’t make mistakes. So, the blame for the wrongful arrest of the man is tossed around constantly, with it somehow being thrown back at Sam every so often.

Now one quick thing I want to prove, is just how poorly the world is run. Example one, as I stated before in the summary, no one wants to be blamed for the mistake. Especially Information Retrieval, because they don’t make mistakes. Example two is the fact that the government charges you for your own arrest and interrogation. They need to pay the bills after all.

Next thing I want to talk about is the director, writer: Terry Gilliam. If that name sounds familiar then you probably know that he is one of the six members of the Monty Python comedy troupe. He was also the one who played King Arthur's horse with the coconuts and the main man behind the famous animations that were somewhere in each part of anything Monty Python. And if you thought those had weird imagery, then prepare yourself for this film. It is full of inventive imagery and visuals, including a Samurai who looks like a singer attending the Grammys. What’s more, Michael Palin, another Python, plays Jack, Sam’s best friend who is much higher in the food chain than him.

So yes, this film has the two of the creators of the Spanish Inquisition sketches, which depict the events of the real Spanish Inquisition. (Bet you didn’t expect that!)

To add on, the film rarely explains things with the spoken word, using clever visuals to tell the story in a way only film could do, much like the films of one of the greatest directors of all time, Stanley Kubrick.

In all honesty, I personally prefer this film over Orwell’s 1984. Mainly because, while it is an amazing book, the government acts more like a tyranny while Brazil’s acts like a business, which in my eyes, is much more believable. I guess you could label this under a ‘pick your poison’ type deal, but I just believe that’s more likely where the world is going. Still having the loss of privacy, but also having everything about you in the hands of some unpaid intern, controlled by people who don’t want the blame for a mix-up or mistake. There’s even a recurring gag of Sam constantly getting the same gift for Christmas, that being one of those YES/NO decision making toys, the ones people use when they’re too lazy to do it themselves. I don’t even need to make a Trump joke here. You’ve already made 20!

Next up to talk about is, of course, the fact of how the world resembles our own in some ways. There’s a ton of skyscrapers, factories and heavy security everywhere, along with the anti-terrorist posters that constantly remind me of the old Red Menace ones from the ‘50s. The loss of privacy is conveyed with common companies totally not selling information of their customers through those devices to other businesses (in this case, the government). And there’s even a huge jab at modern fashion (look at Sam’s mother’s hat in the restaurant scene).

A quick negative to the film though, might be the action in it, that being rather basic. I only really bring it up because it’s my role to list the good and the bad. Which for this, is in the action.

The final thing to discuss is the music. Now in this film, they constantly use the same type of track. Which is, in fact, the beat of the song the film was named after. They even make their own version of the whole song, which I still find myself humming. Heck, they even use a part of the song in one of the old teaser trailers for Wall-e, which is most likely where you’ll recognize the tune. And to make it come full circle, in the real ending of the film (that being the one that mirrors the ending to 1984), the original song is used in the end credits.

Now don’t get me wrong, I could talk about this film for hours detailing my beliefs and thoughts, talking about how many commentaries it makes about the world, most of which are even more relevant today. But sadly, I’m assuming that I’ve already overused my limit for these reviews. So, if you see this and want to have a discussion with me about it, you better have a 27B-6 on you.

Movie Review: Dr. Strange

January 18, 2017

By Nick Bloom

Much like how “Guardians of the Galaxy” was the Marvel cinematic Universe intro to the world of space, “Doctor Strange” is its intro to the world of magic and sorcery. And, just like “Guardians”, it succeeds in doing just that by mixing great humor and character into it.

 

Doctor Stephen Strange is a New York neurosurgeon played by Benedict Cumberbatch doing a Tony Stark impression. No really, he starts out doing all things Stark- shows off at work, taps his foot to music while screwing with someone’s brain, lives in a rich apartment, and even has a odd American accent (I don’t know why they didn’t just make him a Brit;it’s a bit weird hearing Cumberbatch in that accent). That is until he is caught up in a rather cartoony car crash and somehow, the worst thing happens to him -- the nerves in his hands destroyed and ultimately his career as a surgeon. After spending all his wealth on failed operations, he finally gets a lead to an ancient place somewhere in Nepal to learn magic. But, while training to master the art, a evil rebel and his gang of disciples attempt to bring the dark dimension’s ruler, Dormammu, to their world, and, of course, only Strange can stop them.

 

Now onto the best part, the visuals. See this film in 3d. You will not regret it. This film really uses the idea of CGI to its advantage, unlike other films (looking at you Michael Bay). It creates images that would be impossible to do otherwise. The cool stuff you saw in the trailer was only the tip of the iceberg. The sight of a whole city being turned over looks like “Inception” after spending weeks at the gym. There are also some awesome fight scenes.

 

The characters are also interesting.  Strange as a Tony Stark knock-off is, it is really cool to see others like a magic user played by Chiwetel Ejiofor, who learned the error of his ways through being taught the ways of the Ancient one (the wise teacher) played by Tilda Swinton. As for Mads Mikkelsen as the Villain well, like most Marvel films he is kinda forgettable unless he has a reindeer hat or does nothing but sit on a chair. He is one of the better ones, having a bit of a good comedic side to help out.

 

Another thing to love about this film is its smart humor that mixes in modern humor that probably won’t become dated, along with just Strange’s reaction to the stuff going on as he slowly drifts from being a Stark wannabe to his own character, which is also really good.

 

But, if I did have to nitpick the film (which I do), it would be once you start to think about how the magicians operate. They’re pretty bad at guarding the really important stuff that may decide the fate of the world. For example, there is only one guy in charge of protecting this place that CANNOT be destroyed, and he is defeated in two seconds. Every single important thing that they need to protect only has one guard each. Not even any security cams either.

 

Although, it still holds up as a good film with a ton of easter eggs (even a Sherlock one), and still building  on the rest of the Marvel films *Cough* infinity stone *Cough* . My final thoughts would be that this film is pretty much like  all the other Marvel films lately. Although I mean that in the best way possible, and it has slowly become one of my favourite of them all. Mainly because of those AMAZING visuals. If you haven’t seen it, do it right now! Till next time!

Technology Review: Tick Tick Boom by Samsung

January 18, 2017

By Emily Kuehn

 

No this is not an article on a bomb planted at Samsung, but an article on their Galaxy Note 7. This phone has caught the attention of many over its time in the spotlight, but it’s not the kind of interest and publicity Samsung has wanted.

 

The Note 7 was released by Samsung Industries on August 19, 2016, supposedly being the best phone since Samsung's latest. Since then over 85% of the Galaxy Note 7 phones have been replaced in the United States of America.

 

The Galaxy Note 7 has a 5.7-inch screen with a resolution of 1,440 x 2,560 pixels. The biggest problem with these phones is the batteries! “Samsung can only point a finger at itself when it comes to taking responsibility for its exploding Note 7 nightmare,” says Tech Times.

 

Something that has challenged the common mind about this fiasco is that manufacturers have to test their batteries in a lab that is certified by the CTIA in order to make sure they meet the standards made by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.

 

In Samsung's defense, its testing facility didn't find any problems with the batteries that came with the original Note 7 phones or the replacements. But the Note 7 phones were recalled after over 92 reports of the phone overheating and then the battery exploding, which then led to the phone officially being discontinued in all countries. Samsung is still unsure how and why some of their Galaxy Note 7’s were overheating and exploding.

 

Fun Fact: Samsung has given all of its Galaxy Note 7 owners a full refund and has sent them all special boxes to return the phones in. These boxes are able to withstand extreme heat so that they’re ready in case the phones explode. The Verge has said these return boxes include three boxes and a static shielding bag. The Note 7 is supposed to be slipped into the bag and then enclosed in box after box.

 

It's the outermost box that's most interesting: it's lined with ceramic fiber paper, which is capable of handling extreme heat. Samsung hasn't precisely detailed what the box is capable of withstanding, but presumably the box is meant to contain a Note 7 that catches fire in transit. Ceramic fiber is often used for insulating furnaces, so withholding a small fire doesn't seem out of the question. The box also includes specific instructions to only transport it by ground and sea; it is "forbidden" from being taken on an aircraft. Gloves are included in the return kit as well, as Samsung says that some people may be irritated by direct contact with the ceramic fiber lining.

 

If you have a Galaxy Note 7 phone by Samsung, you are urged to contact them and send the phone back to Samsung using one of the pre-delivered boxes for your own safety.

Hallween viewing: Stephen King's The Shining still haunts

November 06, 2016

By Nick Bloom

Ever watch a movie or TV show that has a scene with two little girls standing in a hallway saying “come play with us”? Well, turns out that was a reference to the 1980 film, The Shining based off the Stephen King book of the same name and directed by Stanley Kubrick. He was a director who was on par with greats like Steven Spielberg and was the man behind 2001: A Space Odyssey.  

The plot is as simple as a thriller can get. A man named Jack (Jack Nicholson) is struggling to write his new novel, sadly faces writer’s block (I know that feeling). So to  get away, he takes a job as a caretaker at a hotel way up in the mountains while it’s closed down for the winter, with his wife Wendy and young son Danny along for the ride. But due to cabin fever, (and a couple hundred ghosts) Jack slowly loses his mind and thinks killing his family is the best option. And you can guess the rest.

 

Let me just say this now, this is not the kind of horror story you would see today. There are rarely any jump scares; the entirety of the scares come from three things: the imagery, Jack Nicholson’s performance, and most importantly, the atmosphere.

The visuals range from an elevator of blood, to the aforementioned creepy twins, to a lot of memorable faces from good old Jack (who is not too scary). You can see in his eyes that Nicholson is just having so much fun in this role. As for the last part, the music, the camera shots and all of the performances create this incredibly off tone that just rubs me the wrong way, like a good horror/thriller should.

 

Now to list the one not-so-good thing about it, and fun fact, it’s the thing Stephen King himself hates, which is why he can’t stand the film -- and that would be the transition of normal Jack to crazy Jack.

Now granted this is a film, not a book, so I guess that it really is more of a nitpick to say that there isn’t much of one. But while the book is supposedly all about the transition and has plenty of time, the movie is more for scares and creative imagery. Now

I can’t confirm that as I’ve never read the book, so don’t quote me on that.

 

Another thing to note: when you watch it, you might notice that more than just the creepy twins have been referenced before. The entire movie is incredibly memorable, all the visuals, and lines, from “HERE’S JOHNNY!” to the line that even the Simpsons parodied in one of their Halloween specials: “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.”

 

The music is a mix of 1920s ballroom tunes and the shower scene from Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho. The latter is only used for the intense moments. So don’t tense up when it gets quiet; usually when it’s like that it’s so you can hear what the characters are saying.

 

Last thing to note is that fact that this film is, of course, rated R. And no, it’s not just for gore; there is some nudity in this film. So if it wasn’t clear enough, this is not a family film.

 

Other than that, if you are looking for a scary film and are sick and tired of jump scares, I’d highly recommend this film. ‘Cause I’ve been quoting this film like mad.

 

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to ask some of my friends to “Come play with me.”

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