Inferno doesn't light the box office on fire

Movie Title:   Inferno

Grade:  B

Rating:  PG-13, 121 minutes

In a Nutshell:  I really enjoyed Dan Brown’s book a few years ago when I read it.  Yeah, I know…it’s not high-brow literature, but more of a guilty pleasure.  

It has been 10 years since the last Dan Brown movie and, unfortunately, this one is getting mediocre reviews like that last two action films in the series.

After the rolling credits, right before the words “Columbia Pictures,” it says in bold letters, “Be Moved.”  You might or might not.

Uplifting theme: 

• Cerca trova.   Seek and find.
• The intriguing question asked is: “If you could flip a switch, half of the population dies, or if you don’t do it, mankind will be extinct in 100 years…what would you do?”
• “Things fall apart if you don’t look after them.” – Robert
• “The darkest places in hell are reserved for those who maintain their neutrality in times of moral crisis.” – Dante Alighieri
• Create your life.  Don’t let life pull you apart from the one you love, like Dante and Beatrice and two other people in the movie (NO spoiler alert.)

Things I liked:

• Who doesn’t love Tom Hanks?  What was up with his hair in this movie though?
• I LOVE Italy.  I was in Florence and Venice just a couple of years ago. We walked right by Dante’s actual house in Florence.  One thing I love about the Dan Brown books and movies is that you get to traipse around Europe.  While bullets fly around Tom Hanks, it’s fun to do some sightseeing. The set piece in Istanbul is stunning. 
• Felicity Jones does all of the same stunts Tom Hanks does, but in high heels.  I’m excited to see her in the upcoming Star Wars movie “Rogue One.”  She’s always great in everything.

Things I didn’t like:

• If you haven’t read the book, you’ll probably be confused for the first 30 minutes.  The movie starts with a mixture of reality and visions, making it difficult for even fans of the book to know what’s going on.
• The time stamp in various scenes lends a sense of urgency, but the timing of events are pretty unrealistic.
• One of the most compelling things about the character Robert Langdon is his ability to solve complex puzzles.  Unfortunately, he spends the majority of the movie experiencing amnesia and hallucinations, so that people have to tell him what’s happening, making the unraveling of the mystery less than satisfying.
• It takes a really long time for Felicity Jones’ character to have a reason for her to be with Tom Hanks’ character.
• The script writing definitely doesn’t provide the details that the book does. There were some inconsistencies and plot holes that were frustrating.

Interesting lines:

• “Maybe pain can save us.” – Bertrand Zobrist
• “Mankind is its own cancer.” – Bertrand
• “There’s always a way out.” – Robert
• “I’m not afraid to act, but doing nothing terrifies me.” – Sienna
• “Beauty awakens the soul to act.” – Dante
• “The most interesting things happen in doorways.” – Robert
• “Genius doesn’t come with extra rights.” – Robert

Funny lines:

• “Weird kid.  Did I say that out loud?” – Robert
• “I’m sorry.  I’m not like this.” – Robert

“You kind of are.” – Sienna Brooks

• “I studied Dante when I was younger.” – Sienna

“Probably in Kindergarten.” – Robert

• “Young people are disappointing.” – Harry Sims (Irrfan Khan)

Tips for parents: 

• There is a lot of blood, violence, death, beating, stabbing, and scary images.
• 1 F-bomb and some other profanity. 
• 
  

Fun books by Dan Brown that I really got a kick out of:

   


Read Dante's original work:


 

In the Heart of the Sea offers amazing cinematography and CGI

 Movie Title:    In the Heart of the Sea

Grade:  A-

Rating:  PG-13, 2 hours 1 minute

In a Nutshell:     1820. A giant, vengeful whale.  A ship.  A determined captain.  Man vs. beast.  Imagine Entertainment and Director Ron Howard create a visual masterpiece with unbelievable cinematography, sailing you to the “edge of insanity.”

This seafaring yarn graphically illustrates how Herman Melville’s famous novel Moby-Dick came to be.  While the screen definitely captures your attention, the storytelling has movie critics disappointed.  I was entertained and intrigued, as well as disgusted and exhausted. 

As always, the book is better than the movie, but these special effects are innovative and effective.

Uplifting theme: 

• “Can man bend nature to our will? – Captain Pollard  (Benjamin Walker)
• Persistence and tenacity will see you through.
• Integrity is worth more than reputation or money.

Things I liked:

·         THOR!  If you’re not in awe of the giant whale, then you have handsome and studly Chris Hemsworth to stare at.

·         Believe it or not, I actually like it when there are water spots on the camera lens.  That tells me there was real water in the scene and not just CGI.  Then again, some of the scenes made me wonder if the water spots were CGI!  If so, nice detail!  The water scenes are so well done that sometimes you even feel like you’re going to get splashed on.

·         The scene with the blood raining from above was disgusting and extremely powerful.

·         I liked learning more about Melville, the author of Moby-Dick, and played by Ben Whishaw.

·         How did they get some of those amazing scenes?  Drones? 

·         Interesting camera angles.  I also love how the camera goes under the water and back above the water seamlessly.  Great underwater scenes.  You might feel like holding your breath.

·         I thought the whale pins were cool.  In order to earn one, young Tom Nickerson (Tom Holland) is told that “you have to thrust a killing lance into one of the largest beasts to grace this earth.”

·         I love the mention of Nathaniel Hawthorne.  Tom Nickerson asks “Have you read Hawthorne, Mr. Melville?  There’s a writer, great writer.”  Apparently, Herman Melville was quite taken with Hawthorne and even dedicated Moby-Dick to Hawthorne whom he compared to Shakespeare and called a genius.

·         Great sound effects, although sometimes a bit too loud.

·         I’ve always liked Charlotte Riley and wonder why we don’t see her more often.  She was really great in Ridley Scott’s medieval drama “World Without End.”

·         I’m always impressed with characters who rise above their temptations, like Cillian Murphy’s character, Matthew Joy. His resolve to not drink alcohol, even when things got tough, was inspiring and not seen often enough in movies.

·         I love that they included a quick shot of the words “Call me Ishmael” on the screen, which is the first sentence in the book Moby-Dick.

Things I didn’t like:

·         See it in 3D if you can, unless you get motion sickness.  You might get sea sick watching some of the scenes.  Just close your eyes for a few seconds and you’ll be fine.

·         Some scenes have so many loud noises between people yelling and waves crashing and boats creaking that you can’t quite understand what anyone is saying.

·         Animal activists will find many of the scenes unnerving.

·         I’ve never understood how all those sails and ropes work, but it’s always fascinating to watch sailors work it.

·         The scene that shows the ocean view from Owen’s house looks terribly artificial, but all of the other CGI scenes were very believable.

Interesting lines:

·         “Sometimes, the fewer questions one asks, the better.”   - Matthew

·         “I’ll come back as quick as a summer’s eve.” – Owen

“Just come back.” – Peggy

·         “Without you, the world plunges into darkness.” – Pollard senior

·         “Monsters, are they real or do the stories exist to respect the sea’s dark secrets?  The question both vexes and excites me.” – Herman Melville

·         “The whale?  So, it’s true?” – Melville

“Yes.  Too much is true.” – Nickerson

·         “The devil loves unspoken secrets.” –  Melville

·         “No right-minded sailor discards what might save him.” – Owen Chase
*    "We will surely perish out there." - Captain Pollard
       "We might also survive."  - Mr. Chase

Tips for parents:   

• The sailors draw a picture of a topless woman.
• Some profanity.
• Several intense scenes with lots of blood and guts. 
• Skeletons of dead guys might frighten young children.
• Explain to your kids that a “greenhorn” is the old-fashioned way of saying “newbie”.

Sailing definitions:

Doldrums: an equatorial region of the Atlantic Ocean with unpredictable and often no winds

Port side:  left-hand side of a ship

Squall:  a sudden violent storm

I always do all the “talking” in these reviews, but I want to hear what YOU liked and didn’t like!  Please comment below!