“MAN OF STEEL” Movie Review. Will this NEW SUPERMAN fare any BETTER?

“MAN OF STEEL” PRESS PREVIEW

We are talking about a welcome blast from the past.

The latest MAN of STEEL alias SUPERMAN is portrayed by British actor HENRY CAVILL.

He is zooming back again, larger than life, into our hearts and minds, taking us through every detail the magical spendor of the gigantic 3D IMAX screen can ever capture.

For a fact, beefcake HENRY CAVILL is awesome.

But he ain’t any CHRISTOPHER REEVE.

REEVE is irreplaceable.

 HENRY CAVILL now adorns the famous trademark suit and cape of the perennial super hero.

In a nutshell, you are treated to a prolonged “cat-and-mouse dance” from Earth to Outer Space, to witness all forms unspeakable destruction.

Non-stop action, fallen buildings and dead bodies are a dime a dozen, from start to end, but the movie storyline remains cliche and predictable.

Even the leading protagonists are struggling for depth of character, no thanks to an insipid script.

Superman is an established folk lore that everyone knows, people from all ages and walks of life.

We know, that as an infant, he was sent hurling through space from the dying planet Krypton heading for Earth in order to survive and save mankind in the near future.  The baby was found bawling in a Kansas cornfield by Jonathan and Martha Kent who raised him as their very own, in the fictional town of Smallville.

 In this latest version, the arch-enemy General Zod (MICHAEL SHANNON) pursues him to earth to try to regain the mysterious Codex, which Kal-El (the baby) has carried from Krypton. The Codex contains the key to power.

This is where our story begins (or ends).

“MAN OF STEEL” film director is ZACK SNYDER who glorifies us with his Spartan all-men line-up epic 300.

In the Producer’s chair is CHRISTOPER NOLAN, the man responsible for the Batman mythology as in the Dark Knight trilogy.

“MAN OF STEEL” takes us through a vivid retelling of an apocalyptic clash between the super beings fighting for the future of a fragile Earth.

It’s absolute hell and mayhem throughout.

In any case, our new Super Hero and his love interest Lois Lane played by AMY ADAMS do not seem to project any ounce of chemistry. The sparkless casting seemed mismatched.

If you can sieve through all the din and clutter and still utter “Holy Moses!”, then this one’s for you.

Naturally “MAN OF STEEL” is a commendably good film.

But it could have fared a lot better with a focused direction.

Enjoy, dear friend.

“LES MISERABLES 2012″ Movie Review. LOVE EMPOWERS EVERYTHING.

“LES MISERABLES (2012)” PRESS PREVIEW

 (A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE)

This CHRISTMAS, go watch LES MISERABLES the MUSICAL MOVIE.

It is a striking film with a haunting score that will tug at your heartstrings.

 Oscar-winning director TOM HOOPER (“The King’s Speech”) leads his cast of stars to perform the songs “live” on-camera instead of having them lip-synch to pre-recorded tracks.

Set against the backdrop of 19th-century France, LES MISERABLES takes us through a heart-wrenching parable of angst, forgiveness and redemption, in a world shackled by injustice and the lack of compassion.

HUGH JACKMAN plays ex-prisoner Jean Valjean, hunted for decades by the ruthless policeman Javert (RUSSELL CROWE) after he breaks parole. When Valjean agrees to care for factory worker Fantine’s (ANNE HATTAWAY) young daughter, Cosette, their lives change forever.

This movie is a fitting tribute on the subject of the timeless resilience of the human spirit.

Yuletide season maybe, but go feel, watch and cry your heart out with the film’s characters, all in the spirit of love.

Love is universal, among other things.

Hope gears you up but it is love that keeps you going.

If you dare stand up in the spirit of  love and fight for whatever you believe in,

Then you dare dream,

Because in eventuality, love empowers everything.

But only if you believe.

Feel the  emotional anguish by the character Fantine as she sings:

“I dreamed a dream in time gone by
When hope was high
And life worth living

I dreamed that love would never die
I dreamed that God would be forgiving
Then I was young and unafraid
And dreams were made and used and wasted

There was no ransom to be paid
No song unsung, no wine untasted …”

There is grandeur in its scope and scale that will make you sit up.

 LES MISERABLES is a musical that’s both stylish and gritty, with rousing performances from an all star ensemble cast under director Tom Hooper’s relentless direction. Be mesmerized by the exuberant and biting performances of HUGH JACKMAN and ANNE HATHAWAY.

At 2 hour-and-38-minute long, it’s a beautiful and inspiring movie that will linger on your mind long after you leave the cinema, a true musical that must be seen more than once.

Don’t miss it!

To all my readers, a MERRY CHRISTMAS 2012!