Harry Potter and The Chamber Of Secrets

The Chamber of Secrets is the second entry in the series and it even further illustrates the limits to Chris Columbus's work as a director. He has nothing to add to what he did in the first film, as his attempt at adaptation is to try to take the book verbatim. This leads to the film only leaving out a few bits of the book, and leads the film to an almost three hour running time. A long running time is fine if it calls for it, but by the end of the film it becomes repetitive. Columbus keeps everything excessively straight so there's a real lack of panache to the proceedings. The positive elements are still quite prevalent though, the score, the actors (now with Kenneth Branagh, and Jason Isaacs joining the troupe), and the story is there technically speaking. The impact of pivotal scenes are diminished since Columbus essentially makes everything as important in his refusal to make his own statement on the material. There is also a problem brewing (no pun intended) with this film in Steve Kloves's writing. This film begins the wrecking of Ron as a character as the street smart wizard of the group, in order to further prop up Hermione in a needless fashion by giving her pivotal lines that were Ron's in the book. Again even with these problems the source material is there, the qualities of the first film are there, and it is enough to still make it a decent film.
3/5

The Pianist

The Pianist is a story of the Holocaust through the eyes of one man, Władysław Szpilman, a piano player by trade. The film works by maintaining this singular view throughout the film aided well by Adrien Brody's excellent central performance. This structure is the power of the film as it reveals the slow steps of the process of both the horrors of the war and the holocaust. Whether it is the way the Jews are slowly downgraded into status going from second class citizens, to ghetto dwellers, to eventually sent to death camps. We all get it from this one man who is often saved only by sheer luck of the draw in one way or another. The choice to keep the perspective so close is particularly effective in terms of emphasizing with Szpilman not only in terms of heartbreak of the losses he experiences, the fear of the near death moments, the paranoia of those suspecting his place, but also the dreams of something else in the piano playing moments. One of my favorite scenes is when Szpilman witnesses an outbreak of violence, and perspective allows for such a unique and harrowing depiction of warfare. It's exceptional film about a single man's survival.
5/5

Punch-Drunk Love

Punch-Drunk Love seems like quite the odd switcheroo as he goes from his two risky endeavors of Boogie Nights and especially Magnolia to, an Adam Sandler romantic comedy? I suppose that in itself is a risk for someone trying to make a good film given that is infrequently the description used for films starring Sandler. Now in terms of Anderson his visual panache is evident as ever, but the intent of the film seems to be to be a successful romantic comedy. That isn't quite so simple, though that is the focus, in that Anderson uses this opportunity for more than that. Adam Sandler's performance has been described as against type, but it is anything but. Sandler's character keeps two of his most defining features, he's somewhat off-beat, and is quick to extreme outbursts of anger. Anderson decides to breakdown the typical Sandler type, and examine what would create such a man, and how such a man would really be like in a more realistic setting. It is fascinating to see Anderson unravel this all the while still succeeding in crafting an endearing romance, and an entertaining comedy, thanks in large part due to a Philip Seymour Hoffman as a villainous mattress salesman. It perhaps does not achieve the heights of his other films, but the end product still is one of a kind to the point that I'd love to see Anderson take on a few other "stock" film genres.
4.5/5

Insomnia

Insomnia is almost the forgotten Nolan film it seems, though that may in part be due to it being a remake, however it seems fitting in his filmography given its focus on the supernatural in the natural this one being the midnight sun due to its setting in Alaska. Now I don't think the film is perfect basically in that I don't think it's especially compelling outside the central two characters. The mystery itself is wrapped up easily, with the minor characters being pretty one dimensional, what's interesting is the examination of two men dealing with their own actions. On the side of the detective Dormer I do believe Nolan slightly overplays his own hand in visualizing the guilt, given he has a devoted Al Pacino to do it. The high point though easily is Robin Williams who creates such a disturbing portrait of a man who is so off putting because he seems so sympathetic in his ability to seemingly explain his unforgivable actions. His performance and the character of Walter Finch are both fascinating. The film as a whole, less so.
3.5/5

Star Wars: Attack of the Clones

Attack Of The Clones is the very worst that the prequels has to offer as more than anything this one is downright boring. We get our introduction to the older Anakin played by Hayden Christensen and the problem is he's no better than Jake Lloyd. Once again we see nothing of the villain he would eventually become as his evil moments sound much more like a whiny brat than anything else. I'm really glad Adam Driver's performance in the Force Awakens exists as it stands as a decent approximation of how Anakin should have been portrayed. It does not help though that he must had his romance with Padme since he and Natalie Portman have absolutely no chemistry. Though I'll admit the atrocious dialogue of those scenes does not help. There's the rest of the film though which also does not help. There is a bizarre lack of urgency in the story and the plot is extremely disjointed with random strands of assassinations, seizing of power, creation of clones, other droid attacks, the whole thing is a mess. Even the villain in this case, played as well as he probably could be by Christopher Lee, is completely wasted. It's basically a series of scenes that build to nothing. Then we have a climax that's just kind of there, which in itself are a lot of colors without weight.
1/5

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

Everything which was worth mentioning in praise of Fellowship can once again be noted. This though features the addition of Gollum of course, which is a remarkable achievement in not only making it a believable effect but also making such a character work as well as he does. Nothing falters in its sequel as each of the old characters continue their development well while the additional character of Gollum, and the underrated Kind Théoden, add nicely to the story. The story still moves along so well, and the Helms Deep centerpiece is fantastic sequence to be sure. As with all the films I am not without a few qualms here mainly in the character of Faramir who feels a bit too much like a repetitive roadblock for Frodo and Sam (which was not the case in the novel). Once again though the sheer strength of the good completely outweighs the, well not really bad just not great. Again a great film that brings such substance and power to its fantastical story.
5/5