Don't really know why but before its release this movie was kind of
giving me a bad vibe. I wasn't really looking forward to it and wasn't
expecting much good from it either. But there was no need for any that
though, as it later turned out. This simply is one enjoyable and also
rather good, old fashioned, adventure movie.
It's actually kind of refreshing to see a fairytale, that's actually
set in ancient times. Unlike most other recent genre attempts, this
movie doesn't feel the need to update or even urbanize its classic tale
and all of its characters. Sure it has plenty of additions to its story
but it's at least not done to update it for modern times, or to reach a
different sort of audience with it.
It still obviously remains a far from perfect movie though. In some
ways it still disappointing, such as most notably with its earlier
mentioned story. It's a bit of a shame that all of the additions don't
really add enough and the movie actually sort of feels overwritten. I
can understand why film-makers would feel the need to overcomplicated
things with its story and throw in a bunch of side-plots and multiple
different characters but I feel that in this case the movie truly would
had benefited from a more simplistic approach and story. A princess
goes missing in the land of the giants. A group of men brave goes after
her. The group of men battle the giants. The group of men rescue the
princess and go home...the end! Or well, that's how the story should
have been in my opinion. There really was no need to throw in all of
the power struggles, betrayal and war elements in my opinion, since it
only distracts from its main story and the core of it. It would have
felt right for the movie to have revolved around Jack and the giants
but above half way through it starts to become apparent that the movie
is trying to do way more than just that, which was all quite
unnecessary in my opinion. I was enjoying the movie good enough as it
was already and the story developments only took away some of the fun
of it.
Nevertheless, this remains one perfectly watchable and also enjoyable
adventure movie, with some of the classic genre ingredients in it.
There is plenty of action to enjoy and also plenty of fun with its
story and characters. All of the characters actually work out quite
well, even though some of them were still unnecessary for the movie in
my opinion.
Probably the foremost reason why most of the characters still work out
so well is because they are being played by some fine and likable
actors. I was especially fond of Ewan McGregor and Stanley Tucci in
this, maybe all the more so because they were playing some roles you
don't often see- or expect to, see them play.
It's also a good looking movie. I was kind of afraid that the CGI would
distract from the movie but the movie actually benefits well from its
visuals and computer effects. Still it's kind of disappointing and
ineffective to see a bunch of CG creatures battling a bunch of human
characters. I don't know, it's sort of killer for the tension, since
it's all obviously something fake that you are watching on the screen.
I kind of wish they would have used some more practical effects at
times, also to more 'humanize' all of the giant characters. Sure, they
are voiced by some great actors but they still really never come to
live as characters as well.
But even so, this movie was much better than expected and I also still
had plenty of fun with it as well, despite of all of my criticism
toward it.
It's probably still true lots of people are somewhat reluctant to go
and see this movie. A horror-comedy-romance with a bunch of teenage
characters (OK, OK, they are maybe in the twenties but you know what I
mean) in it? This should set off a couple of alarm-bells, at least with
certain demographics. But the movie in fact is a surprisingly good and
watchable one, for basically everybody out there! There is something to
enjoy for everyone in this.
I believe the key to why this movie works out is because it's not
necessarily focusing on being a horror-comedy or a romantic one, purely
aimed toward young teenagers but it's way more focuses on simply being
a good movie instead. It's not like the horror, comedy or romance ever
takes the upper-hand and it's more focused on bringing the different
genre elements together and to let it all work out effectively as a
whole.
It's also why this movie is perfectly watchable, for just about
everybody. There is some cute romance to enjoy for those looking for
it, which mostly likable will be teenage girls, or persons looking to
go on a date. But really everything else, such as its horror and
comedy, is something that could be enjoyed by just about everybody and
also makes this movie a worthwhile experience, even while you
beforehand still might think this movie won't be for you.
It's also true the movie works out due to its originality. OK, the
movie itself might be kind of simple and straightforward with its story
but it of course still features an original main concept, in which a
living girl and a zombie boy start to fall in love and start to look at
each other's worlds differently. It's kind of like a modern Romeo &
Juliet (sometimes not even subtle), with a special twist to it.
But yes, at the same time its simplicity is also what's still keeping
the movie somewhat down. Even though the movie is an original one, it
still progresses in a very predictable way and its cute and effective
all but it's also still lacking any true surprises in it.
It still felt like it was missing something. Perhaps it was a villain
that was more present throughout the entire movie and was a more evil
one, perhaps some more zombie action, or perhaps just a better conflict
and resolution of it. But whatever it was, it felt like the movie could
had done more with its concept at times. Of course it's not like the
movie is a bad one but it still had far more potential in it, in my
opinion.
But really, this remains one fine and surprisingly watchable movie, that
basically everyone should be able to enjoy and appreciate, on different
levels.
A modern day fairy tale in which the long-standing peace between men and giants is threatened, as a young farmer leads an expedition into the giants' kingdom in hopes of rescuing a kidnapped princess. From: IMDb.com
Directed by: Bryan Singer
Starring: Nicholas Hoult, Stanley Tucci, Ewan McGregor and others
After a zombie becomes involved with the girlfriend of one of his victims, their romance sets in motion a sequence of events that might transform the entire lifeless world. From: IMDb.com
Directed by: Jonathan Levine
Starring: Nicholas Hoult, Teresa Palmer, John Malkovich and others
A modern day fairy tale in which the long-standing peace between men and giants is threatened, as a young farmer leads an expedition into the giants' kingdom in hopes of rescuing a kidnapped princess. From: IMDb.com
Directed by: Bryan Singer
Starring: Nicholas Hoult, Stanley Tucci, Ewan McGregor and others
After a zombie becomes involved with the girlfriend of one of his victims, their romance sets in motion a sequence of events that might transform the entire lifeless world. From: IMDb.com
Directed by: Jonathan Levine
Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Helen Mirren, Scarlett Johansson and others
