Tracks

(***1/2 out of 5)

     Not to be confused with another film called "Wild" staring Reese Witherspoon, Tracks is a film based on the true story of Robyn Davidson's 1,700 mile trek across West Australia.  In the 1970's, Robyn, nicknamed "The Camel Lady," set out on an incredible journey funded by National Geographic.  It's an inspiring tale of how lonely one can feel, but how free they can feel at the same time.
     While there isn't too much of a plot, the cinematography and score set the tone for the entire movie.  And Mia Wasikowska encompasses the character in a great portrayal.  As you follow this girl, four camels, and her dog, it's hard to decipher the reason she is doing this.  There are only a few glimpses of her past, but they are pivotal.  Is she crazy?  Is she determined?  Or is she a little bit of both?
     Another great thing the director did was show how much one person can communicate with the earth and its people, with the audience able to share.  There are parts when the language of the Aborigines is not subtitled, when the camels are being disobedient, when the dog is the friend to lean on, and yet the only characters that she has the hardest time understanding are human beings.  I did feel for her during these sequences.
     Don't expect a big adventure.  It's more of an emotional drama than it is an action film.  And if you are an animal lover, beware that animals are often killed for food and other reasons during the movie.
    A delightful film, it might be hard to find if you do not live close to any independent cinemas.  It should be available to stream or rent in a few months if you cannot make it to the theater.  This film is definitely not one to miss.

The Maze Runner

(*** out of 5)

     I don't want to lie and say I had no intention of seeing this movie, but it was definitely at the bottom of my list.  On a late night whim, and a desire to see something on the XD screen, I wound up seeing The Maze Runner.  Due to the overwhelming amount of Dystopian dramas, my first thought when I heard of this movie was that it was going to be just like all of the others, featuring a romantic, teen-drama, you-have-to-save-your-family-and-the-world, film.  To my surprise, it wasn't.
     The Maze Runner is about a colony of boys who wake up in the center of maze, with no recollection of who they are or where they came from.  The maze opens during the day, and a group of "runners" maps as much of the dangerous labyrinth as they can, before the doors close at sundown.  The main character has memories and a dire urge to make it out of the maze.  His new presence jeopardizes the colony for unknown reasons.
     After seeing the film, I read the critics reviews and I would have to agree with them one hundred percent.  This director created a sense of urgency, as well as a darker tone, making it a refreshing change from the other films out there.  At times I was scared for the characters, because without a past, they don't really have a meaning.  I have not read the books, but I enjoyed the way the story was told.  Was it worth seeing in the theaters? Definitely.  The graphics are amazing and it was a fun film. 

Mortified Nation: A Documentary that Shares the Shame

(***out of 5)

     Yet again, there was another uneventful weekend at the box office.  Thankfully, I am part of a small film critics forum that helped me find a film.  To be honest, I had never heard of the Mortified movement.  Several people get on a stage and read entries from their childhood journals.  It's embarrassing for the people on stage, but heartwarming because the audience can relate to the tough times of being a teen.  You should expect to smile, and to feel for each individual character.  After watching the documentary, you will want to go out and read all of your old journals.  In the preview, one of the directors basically tells us, that no matter who you were growing up, we all went through the similar struggles.  This movie is streaming on NETFLIX.  It's better than anything that hit theaters this weekend.
     The documentary covers parts of several different stories.  I noticed on Netflix, there is the ability to watch a separate documentary that is mostly just stories.  The documentary intrigued me, because I was thinking, "Why would someone want to get on stage and humiliate themselves like that?"  This is covered in the feature, so I won't spoil it for you.  If you have Netflix, give it a watch.  It's also available to rent on iTunes.

The Summer Sizzle Has Ended

     It's official: This summer's movie season has officially ended.  There is one movie on my list to see right now (Boyhood; running time 2hr 42min), and it's only playing in independent cinemas.  Last weekend, three movies were released: The November Man, As Above/So Below, and If I Stay, none of which peaked my interest.  So what did I do?  I went and saw Guardians of the Galaxy again.  I caught up on some of my Netflix shows, and I rented movies.  This week, I will just do a quick review of each movie I rented.

     I didn't have high expectations for The Amazing Spider-Man 2, which is why I probably ended up liking it.  I don't know the comics as well as some, and did not know that a certain character would be getting the ax, so I was somewhat shocked at the twist.  It was one of the better rentals available right now, but wasn't the most "amazing" movie I've seen lately.  Good rental.

     As a huge fan of the Muppets, I knew what to expect from The Muppets Most Wanted.  While it did not compare to it's predecessor, I still enjoyed it.  It's a little bit darker than the other films, and the celebrity appearances are still galore.  Tina Fey and Danny Trejo had me laughing.  I was also glad about closure that was given to the fans about Rizzo not being in the last film.  Fan film.  Fun film.

     About Alex is a film in the reunion genre.  After Alex attempts suicide, his friends all reunite to take care of him.  The chemistry between the actors was excellent.  While the story was not exactly original, the dynamic of the characters had me hooked.  I enjoyed this film for the aesthetics, but it's a film that you will only want to see once.

     I feel bad for this film.  I really do.  I had read the book.  The movie followed it well.  Unfortunately, the critics nailed this film.  They said that the acting and story were fine, but the director made it look like another tween film, not bringing anything new to the dystopian dramas (I have a feeling we will be hearing a lot of this with The Maze Runner and others in progress).  It's wasn't bad at all.  I recommend renting it.

     A Haunted House 2.  I'm a Marlon Wayans fan.  I laughed twice in the film.  It sucked.  Skip this one.

     I know This is 40 has been out a while, but I had never made the time to see it.  I finally got my chance to rent it this weekend.  It became available to digitally rent on September 1.  Just like most of Judd Apatow's films, it was a great story, but the film was way too long.  At one point, I took a twenty minute break.  I haven't reached 40 yet, but, to me, their relationship was believable.  If you have the time to spare (2hrs 14min), then give it a shot.

There you have it.