All work and just a little play makes me tired.

The last couple of weeks have been rather exhausting. I’ve concluded that it’s a universal law, if not an outright curse or vex, that every time key personnel go on leave and an office is left to run on minimal manpower, all of the work just floods in, suddenly, and with unreasonable quantity. It’s generally felt like one thing after another, with lots of unusual demands from lots of unusual customers. Managing this without the aid of a supervisor has been a challenge on both the body and the nerves.

As far as writing goes, I’ve made some progress in various projects, then stopped. I’ve been too tired lately to keep up the pace. But chances are good that the next few weeks will be more laid-back, and I can find the energy again.

I have been focusing on updating my digital music collection. After reinstalling Windows on my computer, I’ve reconfigured the Windows Media Player to rip my CDs at 320 kbs, so I can enjoy my favorite songs in higher quality. It is pretty refreshing hearing familiar songs with clearer and crisper instruments and vocals. It’s also been a good chance to standardize, reorganize, and update old files. Of course, I’m also always exploring new albums.

But after a hard day’s work, I’d rather engage in an entertaining video game or a decent movie. In fact, I will probably be posting more reviews soon, so stay tuned!

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"A weak man knows the value of strength."

“Captain America: The First Avenger.”

With the imminent “Avengers” movie coming next year, only one hero’s origin story remains untold…until now. Falling in line with “Thor,” “Iron Man,” and “The Incredible Hulk,” “Captain America” showcases the rise of Steve Rogers as the title character. Unlike the other films, which take place in modern times, this one goes way back to WWII, showing the Captain kicking Nazi butt! With a lot of “Wolfenstein” style occult mystique and a slight “Indiana Jones” sense of adventure, this movie has a number of solid action sequences, and plenty of imaginative special effects and setpieces. With its references to various characters and concepts of other Mavel movies, it fits into the franchise really well. It might take some stretch of the imagination to believe that Nazis could be this futuristic, but for a superhero movie, it’s all good fun.

The story in this case is pretty solid. The main character shows strong development, and for most of the movie, you really root for him. There’s nothing more thrilling than watching the underdog getting the upper hand. As it goes on, much of the character drama and story development gets pushed aside by the action, but it still works. By the end, voila, we have the lead-in for the “Avengers” film.

If there’s any complaint for this film, it’s that there could have been more. Whether it needs a stronger action setpiece or a more invoking sense of drama, I’m not sure, but something seems missing, and nothing really makes this film stand over any of the other superhero films that have come out so far.

The film is competently made, with decent (but never exceptional) photography. Editing is good for the most part, but I am not a fan of the montage in the middle of the film that makes the entire war campaign whiz by. A couple of action scenes seemed a little sloppily-edited, but it’s hardly noticeable. Acting is swell; Chris Evans is surprisingly strong as the main character, and I enjoyed Hayley Atwell, Sebastian Stan, Tommy Lee Jones, Stanley Tucci, and Hugo Weaving in their roles. Writing seems pretty good. Production value is high, featuring lots of good (if not overly-slick) sets, props, costumes and special effects. Music is appropriately upbeat and adventurous.

In the end, I’d say the film met my expectations, but never fully exceeded them. But it, along with an all-too-short sneak preview after the credits, provide the necessary bridge to the “Avengers” film.

Recommended.

4/5 (entertainment: 4/5, story: 4/5, film: 4/5)

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"What is the Matrix?"

"The Matrix"

There's a certain mystique to computer hacking, which is either reflected or caused by this film, showcasing hackers as a group of unruly punks in grungy places fighting the powers that be. There's also a certain coolness to cyberpunk stories (which have never really been translated to film that much, sadly enough), underscoring the symbiotic relationship between man and machine. If you've ever read (much less understand) William Gibson's novel "The Neuromancer," or seen the anime film "Ghost in the Shell," you'll see strong themes regarding the dangers and benefits of such a relationship.

Put these elements together, and you'll get the foundations for this film. It starts off as a thriller, with occasional surreal moments that help keep a sense of mystery. In the second act, the movie spends its time explaining its premise, and laying down the rules for the environments the movie introduces (there is a dense universe to this film, on the same level as "The Terminator"). Then, in the final act, we are treated to a massive helping of glorious action sequences. There are plenty of solid thrills throughout the film's middle, which keep the pacing tight and even. But toward the end, we get some of the coolest fight scenes ever filmed, one of the coolest gunfights ever filmed, and some of the most original and imaginative special effects ever developed. The action alone makes this film a must-see.

But it's also the story that counts. It is as deep as it is original (well, original for a film anyway). The characters show decent depth, and by the end of the movie you really come to enjoy them. The story has a solid structure and it is well-developed. Just about every moment of it explores the main premise and all of its philosophical implications; hardly a moment passes that won't make you wonder about the nature of reality, and the nature of the human mind. There are many nuances in the characters, story, writing, and even shot composition that underscore all the movie's themes. On every viewing, the movie presents something new to discover and contemplate.

The film also shows apt quality. Its photography and editing are top-notch and highly distinctive. Acting is swell all around; this is probably Keanu Reeve's best performance in his career; Lawrence Fishburne, Carrie-Ann Moss, Joe Pantiliano, and Hugo Weaving all inhabit their characters very well. Writing is exceptionally strong. Production value is strong and highly detailed; some sets look a little fake and some of the special effects show their age, but they are decent overall. Most sets, props, and costumes are cool. Music is very cool too.

Highly recommended!

5/5 (entertainment: 5/5, story: 5/5, film: 5/5)
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"The Matrix Reloaded"

Operating in the mythos and universe that the first film laid out, this sequel ramps up the action and special effects to an epic degree. Some of its highlights include a massive 1-vs-100 man fight and a fantastic 20-minute highway chase (which is still my favorite car chase scene of them all). There are loads of other fights, pursuits, and encounters scattered throughout. There's some drag just in the first hour or so, and some parts become so outlandish or campy that they won't sit well with some viewers (chief among them being the underground rave, which never really bothered me, but it is a little frivolous).

Despite these embellishments, the storytelling still doesn't really suffer much. If anything, it's become much more complicated, as the mythos is expanded, new characters and concepts are introduced, and more philosophy is explored. One integral scene toward the end is intended to place the entire saga in its proper context, but it is encumbered by one too many big words in too short a time. All of this makes the initial viewing rather confusing. It's even more stressed with a big cast of minor characters, whose importance are revealed more in the "Animatrix" and the "Enter the Matrix" video game. But if you stick with it, give it some thought, and pay close attention, it is rather sublime. Characters are as strong as they were in the first film, and there is a whole world of great new ideas that are brought up.

The film is quite slick, with quality photography and editing. Acting is as strong as the first film, with the talents of Keanu Reeves (at his most monotone), Lawrence Fishburne, Carrie-Ann Moss, Hugo Weaving, Harold Perrineau, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Monica Bellucci thoroughly dispensed here. Writing is quite strong. Production value is high, featuring plenty of quality sets, props, costumes, and elaborate special effects. Music is pretty good.

If you've enjoyed the "Matrix" at all, or if you are a die-hard fan, then this film is recommended. But for casual viewers, I can only recommend it as a rental, if you are at all interested.

4.5/5 (entertainment: 4.5/5, story: 4/5, film: 4.5/5) 
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"The Matrix Revolutions"

In most film trilogies, the third film is the grand finale, and the "Matrix" saga ends with a hell of a bang. After some brief pursuits and fights that wrap up a few loose ends from the last film, this movie goes all-out with a massive battle between men and machines; the Battle of Zion is easily one of my favorite battle scenes among sci-fi films. And then it goes on to show off the final duel between Neo and Agent Smith; this lengthy fight goes literally all over the place, with style and power that elevates it to being one of the best fights of all time.

This movie does get a bad rap for its story; the first half-hour is a bit of a frivolous subplot, and the film's conclusion is quite anticlimactic. Even more frustrating for some is that there's not as much philosophical depth as the last two films. But I've always been pleased with this story; it's linear and easy to follow, it still has quality characterization, and even though the philosophy may be gone, I believe there's a strong theological theme that emerges, thanks to the nature of the main character and his final solution. It may not make good enough sense for some, but for me, it's a sublime ending.

Like its predecessors, this movie has quality photography and editing. Acting is good all around, with the same cast as the last film. Writing is still quite good. Production value is high, with plenty of good sets, props, costumes, and excellent special effects. Music is alright.

Recommended as a rental.

4.5/5 (entertainment: 5/5, story: 4/5, film: 4.5/5) 
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"The Animatrix"

As part of the hype generated by the "Matrix Reloaded," this series of anime shorts was developed and distributed to provide more insight to the worlds in the Matrix saga (and possibly to wrangle up some more fans). With the efforts of Yoshiaki Kawajiri, Shinichiro Watanabe, Peter Chung, and other Japanese directors, it's a varied collection that offers multiple insights and a variety of styles and quality. This collection is like a sampler plate for anime (incidentally, it was the first anime I really watched and got into, and it inspired me to check out the real thing).

"The Final Flight of the Osiris" is the first of the lot, and of all computer-animated films I know of, this one still shows superior quality. Characters look incredibly life-like at times; by modern standards, it resembles a video game clip more than anything, but considering that there aren't a whole lot of CGI movies with human characters, this film is quite impressive. It's a short, action-packed, and fairly invoking. Above all, it helps bridge the gap between the first two Matrix movies.

"The Second Renaissance" Parts I and II serve as the Matrix prequel, chronicling the war between man and machine. It's extremely bleak and quite violent. With its portrayal of nuclear devastation, environmental warfare, and the eventual enslavement of the human race, these two episodes really get to me. The animation is quite smooth and slick, with lots of memorable imagery. It is fast-paced, almost erratically so, but the biblical-style narrative keeps it entrancing. In a proper Matrix marathon, I place these before the three main movies, and it is worthwhile seeing for all Matrix fans.

"Kid's Story" doesn't have the same momentum as the last few episodes, but it is a nice little story that shows how the Kid character comes into being in the Matrix sequels. Its slower pacing and sketchy graphics don't really appeal to me, but it is another requisite bridge between the first and second movies.

"Program" has always been my favorite of the lot, featuring fantastic visuals and fast-paced action. The duel between two lovers is quite intense, and their actions really underscore the philosophical issue of whether or not it's better to live a lie or suffer the truth. The animation quality here is strong and the character designs are excellent.

"World Record" is one of my least favorites in this collection. It does have a really funky style and quality, with interesting visuals. It is a pretty good story, but it is lacking in action.

"Beyond" strikes me more as a Miyazaki-style story, with its emphasis on child-like whimsy and wonder. It has a cast of likable kids, some wonderful visuals, and it is a cute little story overall. Once again, it doesn't offer much action, but it isn't totally dull either.

"A Detective's Story" is my least favorite of the lot. It does have some nice film-noir style visuals and characters. I'm just disappointed in the story, which is a little too short to serve as an effective mystery, and by its conclusion it doesn't really resonate.

"Matriculated" is something very weird and trippy, almost dream-like at spots. It's a solid and original story with a profound conclusion and some interesting implications. Its visuals are fantastic, and it's the one other story here that I consider most worthwhile.

All of these stories show quality animation style and quality; some of the digitally-animated backgrounds may show some anomalies, but it holds up for the most part. Voice-acting can be a little cheesy, but is still decent. Production designs are strong, with plenty of cool settings, vehicles, weapons, robots, and objects that correlate to the Matrix movies well. The feature also has one of the coolest soundtracks.

I highly recommend at least the first three stories to Matrix fans; the feature as a whole I'd recommend as a rental to anybody who's interested. But if you're getting this as part of the Ultimate Collection DVD or Blu-Ray package, why not check it out?

5/5 (entertainment: 4.5/5, stories: 5/5, films: 4.5/5)

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It (finally) ended!

I must first apologize for not posting this sooner.  Half a month has passed since I saw this, but I've been too busy to properly edit and post this review.  By now, the hype has undoubtedly died.  But anyway...

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II"

Ever since Harry Potter’s introduction some ten years ago, I’ve always been eager to see how this finale would turn out (I am a big sucker for grand finales). After ten or so somber minutes of recapping the last film, this last hurrah starts off strong as the characters infiltrate a magical vault, before moving along to the ultimate Battle of Hogwarts. As far as finales go, I wouldn’t dare rank the Hogwarts battle over my other favorite scenes. Even though it takes up over twenty minutes of screen time, something about the final battle didn’t really strike me as exceptional; I suspect it’s because the actual fighting is subdued to the background, with no real sense of progression, variety, or true peril. But after some sporadic bursts of fighting and mystery, the film finally gets into the final duel between Potter and Voldemort, which is pretty damn cool. There are also a number of other epic moments in the film that’ll keep it lively, and will enthrall most diehard fans. I felt there could have been a bigger punch, and there are just a few scenes that drag, but what we get is satisfying.

The story is ultimately tied together quite well, combing up all the elements, characters, and events of the last several films for some final revelations and a decent conclusion. Some scenes may not make sense to casual fans or those who are unfamiliar with the books. The characters are as strong as ever, and with an overt theme of duality, I have found most of it very intriguing.

The film shows fine photography and editing. Some scenes look made for 3D, but are never overly-gimmicky. Acting is as strong as ever, save for maybe one or two cheesy moments, but I was quite impressed with Emma Watson’s mad ability to mirror Helen Bonham Carter so well! I have no complaints about the writing. Production value looks strong, with plenty of solid sets, props, costumes, and wonderful special effects. Music is pretty decent (and often echoes John Williams’ original theme from the first couple of films).

Recommended, especially for fans of the series.

4/5 (entertainment: 4/5, story: 4.5/5, film: 4/5)

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