Reviews of the Past: ‘Oblivion’

The next set of reviews we’ll be publishing are some of the ones Roger Thomas has done exclusively for The Stanly News & Press. Roger has written movie reviews for The Stanly News & Press and other outlets for years, long before starting this blog. So we decided it would be good to give readers a sample of his previous work, in addition to posts of reviews of current films. Other reviews will run daily.

Olga Kurylenko and Tom Cruise

Tom Cruise knows his way around a good sci-fi film. In 2002, he starred in Steven Spielberg’s “Minority Report,” a movie I proclaimed as the best film of that year. “Minority Report” was not just a intriguing mystery and creative story, it was about important serious ideas. In the wake of 9-11, when our whole nation was questioning how much privacy should we give up for the sake of security, “Report” raised issues that were futuristic yet somehow omnipresent.

Three years later, Cruise joined director Spielberg for another sci-fi endeavor, this one with less ideas but it did have an age old story done to near perfection. “War of the Worlds” focused on the destruction of our planet by aliens as seen through the eyes of one family and the action and suspense hardly ceased for the 116 minutes the film played. The film is not as smart and thought-provoking as “Minority Report,” but once again Cruise had ventured into sci-fi and helped create a film worthy of many viewings.

Not since “War of the Worlds” has Cruise forayed into the world of sci-fi, unless one considers the “Mission Impossible” movies to be science fiction. After two successes in the genre, one could hope that Cruise would pull out another exceptional venture. Alas, perhaps Cruise needs to make the journey with Spielberg for the film to match “Report” or “War.”

Joseph Kosinski directs “Oblivion.” His one other directing credit is “Tron: Legacy.” That should have been a sign for me. I am not a fan of the “Tron sequel,” and as you have probably already guessed, I am not proclaiming “Oblivion” to be a successor to “Minority Report” and “War of the Worlds.”

But allow me to add a world of praise. Both “Tron: Legacy” and “Oblivion” are stunning with their visuals. You could watch “Oblivion” with the sound turned off, and it would be a feast for the eyes. We have been looking at great visuals since the dinosaurs roared in “Jurassic Park.” At some point we should become immune to impressive sights on the big screen, but like a child seeing his first film in a theater, I still sit in awe of great effects-created-visuals. And “Oblivion” has those in abundance.

Unfortunately, it has little else. The problem with the story is that it seems all too familiar. I kept thinking, now this is going to happen, and it did. Or this is the secret, and it was. And that really does not mean what we have been told it means, and it did not. I do not want to give anything away, because some of you will see it in spite of my advice, but much of this film has already been done in better movies.

The biggest twist of “Oblivion” is lifted straight from a much better film, “Moon.” “Moon” opened in 2009 and stars Sam Rockwell. If you are a sci-fi fan and have not seen it, rent it. With each passing minute, “Moon” becomes more intriguing smarter and compelling. On the other hand, “Oblivion” spirals into sci-fi clichés and already played plot twists that not even stellar visuals can save.   

Even the presence of Morgan Freeman could not save this film. Enough said.

“Oblivion” is not the last apocalyptic earth we will be able to visit this year at the multi-plex. “After Earth,” starring Will Smith and Jaden Smith and directed by M. Night Shyamalan, will open in theaters the Friday after Memorial Day. Here’s hoping that the director of “The Sixth Sense,” “Signs” and “Unbreakable” can offer more surprises in his story than one will ever find in “Oblivion.”

May Tom Cruise find at least one more good, if not great, sci-fi role during his career. And is it too much to hope for that film to be directed by Spielberg as well?

Box Office results

Domestic gross: $89,107,235

Foreign gross: $197,061,337

Production budget: $120 million

Opening weekend: $37,054,485

NOTE: Information from Boxofficemojo.com

Reviews of the Past: ‘Rock of Ages’

The next set of reviews we’ll be publishing are some of the ones Roger Thomas has done exclusively for The Stanly News & Press. Roger has written movie reviews for The Stanly News & Press and other outlets for years, long before starting this blog. So we decided it would be good to give readers a sample of his previous work, in addition to posts of reviews of current films. Other reviews will run daily.

Tom Cruise

Let’s start with the best thing about “Rock of Ages”: the music is great. My toes were tapping throughout the film and yes, I was mouthing the words to most of the songs. These are familiar tunes and I appreciated that. My children often want to listen to radio stations that play songs I have never heard and I most certainly do not know the lyrics. “Rock of Ages” offers songs I have known for years and songs, for the most part, that I really, really like.

Besides knowing the songs, they are also performed well. Oh, they may not sound as good as the original artists, but these renditions are satisfying. The majority of the vocalists are worthy singers to an untrained ear. Having the characters sing the familiar tunes enhances the overall plot that weaves the songs together. Several times during the film the way a song is used is exceptionally clever and often humorous.

However, there is much more to a film than just the music, even when the film is as heavy on music as “Rock of Ages”. If the music is the film’s strength, the plot and the characters are its greatest weaknesses. The film is filled with stereotypes and clichés. Doe-eyed small-town girl going west to find fame and success in California. Boy who falls in love with small-town girl. Rock stars who live narcissistic lives. Conservatives who abhor rock and roll but also have secrets which reveal they are not as innocent as they hope to appear. Opportunistic agents. Politicians who want morals for others that they choose to ignore in their personal lives. Eager reporters out to get the scoop. All this may sound more interesting than it actually was on screen, but in the end, any seasoned film watcher knows exactly where it is going long before the final reel unspools.

The plot could have been jazzed up a little bit. There are several ways they could have taken the film in the third act. A couple of times during my viewing I contemplated how they could surprise me if they took a different path. If this did not work out, or that person responded this way. The best experience in a movie theater is not when you are creating a better film in your mind than the one on screen; the best experience is when the filmmakers surprise you and you suddenly realize this is more of a superior film than you had hoped for. I have had the latter experience several times in 2012, but “Rock of Ages” was not one of movies.

Adam Shankman directed “Rock of Ages”. He also directed the second version of “Hairspray” a few years back. I have never seen the original “Hairspray” (directed by John Waters) so I went into the remake not knowing what to expect. I remember being wowed by the opening song even though I was unfamiliar with the tune or the lyrics. I am not saying that “Hairspray” is a great film, but compared to “Rock of Ages”, it tells a powerful story and has some truly inspired moments.

In the end, if you grew up in the seventies or eighties, you will most likely enjoy the music of “Rock of Ages” and that might be enough. Go online and find a listing of the music in the soundtrack. If you know those songs, chances are you will be tapping your toes and mouthing the lyrics as I did throughout the film. For many that will be enough. For some of us however, we ultimately find ourselves hoping for a little bit more. I know I did when the final credits rolled.

Box Office results

Domestic gross: $38,518,613

Foreign gross: $20,900,000

Production budget: $75 million

Opening weekend: $14,437,269

NOTE: Information from Boxofficemojo.com