Movie Review: Red Dawn & Life of Pi

GayRVA Staff
November 28, 2012

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Life of Pi

Director: Ang Lee

Writers: David Magee (screenplay), Yann Martel (novel)

You’ve probably seen the incredible footage of a young man and a tiger trapped on a lifeboat. That’ the crux of this magical, magnificent film brilliantly brought to the screen by Ang Lee. The philosophy-laden run up and the mystical follow up must be endured to get the whole story, but it’s worth the effort. The struggle for survival is spellbinding and Lee has created some imagery that’s astoundingly beautiful. Where the real animals end and the CGI begins is seamless. The 3D doesn’t really add that much, but most theaters don’t give many alternatives. Whether or not you appreciate the metaphysical aspects, Lee again demonstrates that he’s one of the great modern masters of cinema. (The 3D looked out of calibration in Movieland #3, which makes the images look transparent and weird.)

GAY ANGLE: It’s just so pretty!

RED DAWN: 

Director: Dan Bradley

Writers: Carl Ellsworth (screenplay), Jeremy Passmore (screenplay)

This remake of the 1984 film has shifted the villains from Russia to North Korea. (It was shot several years ago with Chinese villains, but times have changed and so did the flags and uniforms in post production.). Pre-Thor Chris Hensworth and pre-Hunger Games Josh Hutcherson lead the cast of young people who take on the hostile foreign invaders. Their pluck and guerilla tactics are amazingly slick and successful for such an untrained group, but there’s not much about this film that’s realistic. Some of the action is good, but much of it is blurred and choppy…impossible to follow. The plot is painfully predictable and the only thing to recommend it is Hensworth’s assured performance.

GAY ANGLE: Lots of cute guys, but they stay clothed.

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