Be still my beating heart; Christian Slater (Interview With The Vampire)! *fans self* He's looking mighty fine for an old man! I'm glad to see him in a few films lately and the fact that he kicks some major ass in this one is a freaking funtastic thing!
The whole idea of this film confused me. When I watched the preview above, I thought it was going to be rich people hunting down military people on some island, don't ask me how it was supposed to work.... then when they explained it in the actual film, it made even less sense. A guerilla group gets money off rich people for the tourist-like attraction of real war games, then uses that money to buy guns to supply to the guerilla faction and to pay an elite few mitilary peoples to escort the rich people through the guerillas territory... see, confused much?
Of course, things go wrong. Twenty-three special operations and not a single soldier dead under his - Slater's - command... at least, until the very beginning of this mission! Boom! There goes the whole team before they even land on the island.
How are they watching fireworks at the end and not flinching from the bangs? After going through live fire like that, that's what happens to people! Eh, I'm sick of watching American power military movies, someone give me something different please! I do want a pair of those gaming glasses though!
3 out of 5 moneybags...
[Quote]
"Wait a second let me get this straight, so you and Ernesto are pimping out your revolution as some kind of tourist attraction to a bunch of millionaires and you expect me to be your guide?" - Slater
I watched this movie in a bit of a blah mood after a tad too much wine at the art gallery the night before. It was pretty darn perfect for my mood; a light funny fairy tale.
Then, of course, there's Prince Charming - Armie Hammer (The Social Network, Reaper) - who really does look like Disney's typical Prince Charming, blinding white smile and all. I also recognised Nathan Lane (The Birdcage, The Lion King) as the Queen's right hand man. Well done to whoever was in charge of casting; brilliant!
There is always a danger with fairy tale movies, that they will be just like the billion other versions of the story. This one is no exception. Snow White; beautiful, innocent, good. The Queen; spoilt, conniving, evil. Prince Charming to the rescue... wait, no... the Seven Dwarves to the rescue?
It's kind of refreshing to see Julia Roberts playing a bad guy, and she does it so well. That snarky, sarcastic voiceover at the very beginning made me giggle and she does snobby upper class so well. The Dwarves made me laugh with their springy legs. I had no idea what was going on when they first emerged. It reminded me of the Wheelers in Return to Oz - they always freaked me out! (Watch vid of them here)
How weird is the mirror?! Another dimension styles... and the reflection, good idea.
It was entertaining. Lots of bright colours, funny one liners and a little twist in the tale, a good all round family film. Might watch again on another hung over day.... Keep an eye out for Sean Bean (Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones) in the brief role of the King!
3 out 5 cute wittle puppies...
[Movie Quotes]
"Snow's gone. Did you check the kitchen?"
"No, there's I'm-in-the-same-room-as-a-prince crazy, then there's just good old fashioned plain traditional psycho crazy....I think she's the latter..."
