Chris Pine Plays A Human-Sized Hero In "The Finest Hours"
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KUNG FU PANDA 3
Grade: A-
A nominee for animated pic of the year (Ill bet!)IMDB tells me this has been the longest wait for a sequel to a Dreamworks computer-animated film thus far. But its well worth the wait. I wonder if the villain had anything to do with the time taken to create this third installment to the Kung-Fu Panda franchise. For the original, we had bad kitty Tai Lung voiced by Ian McShane, and he was a great villain, dripping with menace. But Lord Shen, the peacock from KFP2, never quite reached the same threat-level of his villainous predecessor, even though he was voiced by Gary Oldman.
Kung Fu Panda 3 Courtesy: Dreamworks
But Dreamworks brought their A-game for Kung Fu Panda 3, and also brought onboard a more intimidating villainKai, voiced by J.K. Simmons. More IMDB info reads that director Jennifer Yuh made Kai the bull a supernatural entity to make him a more distinct. Making him an old friend of Master Oogway and a peer to Master Shifu (voiced by Dustin Hoffman) make him a threat with intimate knowledge of our heroes and the skill to match. He could take them all down, as he did with the other masters of Kung Fu. And with each victory, he is strengthened by the chi (or life force) of the opponent he defeats.
So the stakes are high in KFP3, as are the laughs. Our fab 5 is back and as underutilized as ever (but then again, the franchise isnt called Furious Five -- thats a whole `nother thing completely): Tigress (Angelina Jolie), Monkey (Jackie Chan), Mantis (Seth Rogen), Viper (Lucy Liu), and Crane (David Cross). Along with Dragon Warrior Po (Jack Black), they battle the evil Kai to keep the Valley of Peace safe, and restore the life force to the Masters hes defeated.
Kung Fu Panda 3 Courtesy: Dreamworks
But theyre not alone. Already graced with an incredible voice-cast, KFP3 ups the ante with the aforementioned Oscar-winner Simmons, and Oscar-contender Bryan Cranston as Pos birth father, Li. This new relationship brings an extra dimension to Pos motivation, and also more background to his character, as does a possible love interest in the fat and furry form of fellow panda Mei Mei, voiced by Kate Hudson. Rebel Wilson was the original choice for Mei Mei, but dropped out due to scheduling conflicts; she might have been a funnier choice, but Hudson imbues Mei Mei with a sultry style.
Cranstons Li also gives the secret weapon of the franchise more to do, with the great James Hong once again reprising his role as Pos adopted father, Mr. Ping. Im so happy the filmmakers recognized Hongs talent and Pings importance, and didnt allow him to be pushed into the background even with everything else happening onscreen. Indeed, his plotline is central to the story as a whole, and resolves wonderfully, with his every line a joy to hear.
Kung Fu Panda 3 Courtesy: Dreamworks
But thats par for this advanced course, as the filmmakers get so much right in KFP3. Its rated merely PG for martial arts action, and the obligatory and very mild rude humor is kept to a minimum. Its a brisk 95 minutes for parents of fidgety kids, and the usual lessons learned are at least wholesome and entertaining. This is very much a family-oriented affair, and even some of Angelina Jolie"s own children got in on the act, as voice extras. The animation is beyond first rate, and the sore never distracts, only supports.
But the filmmakers also continue to enrich each installment with something new. Po not only grows more powerful with each movie, but his world more enriched, this time with a new, extended family, and a rich history.Who knew so much could be said about a panda who learns kung fu?---95 minutesRated PG for martial arts action and some mild rude humorDirectors: Alessandro Carloni, Jennifer YuhWriters: Jonathan Aibel, Glenn BergerStarring: Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, David Cross, James Hong, Bryan Cranston, Kate Hudson, J.K. Simmons
THE FINEST HOURS
GRADE: B
Director Craig Gillespie is a bit of a chameleon. His films run the gamut of quality and genre. Hes helmed such lowbrow stuff as 2007s Mr. Woodcock, horror like the Fright Night remake in 2011, family-friendly fare such as 2014s Million Dollar Arm, and the wonderful Lars and the Real Girl, also in 2007.
With such a mixed pedigree, you may not expect him to be able to shift back into quality family film mode, but he does so with The Finest Hours, based on the book The Finest Hours: The True Story of the U.S. Coast Guard"s Most Daring Sea Rescue by Casey Sherman and Michael J. Tougias.
Although creative license was taken to keep it well under the PG-13 bar (indeed, its so more for intense sequences of peril than salty language), the guts of the story are there, and depicted with much more gusto than you might expect from a somewhat sanitized version of what was no doubt a very severe experience.
In the winter of 1952, New England was hammered by violent weather. Two oil tankers were severely damaged in the storm, miles from shore and also miles apart. Crews were immediately dispatched to the closer and more easily reached tanker, the Fort Mercer. But a 3rd ranked crew was sent in the other direction, and on February 18, these 4 members of the Coast Guard rescued an astounding 32 of the 33 men stranded at sea in the wreckage of the Pendleton. And although the film is cleaned-up to be more presentable, care was taken to stick to the facts of story itself.
And its quite a story. Chris Pine plays Bernie Webber, a young man whos not so green, having been down the harsh road to rescue before, but sadly, has come up empty handed. There are folks in town who dont like him, since he couldnt save some of their own in previous years rescue attempts. Hes a humbled man, who cant even bring himself to ask his lady friend Miriam (Holliday Grainger) to marry him.
But hes also dedicated, and maybe wanting to prove himself in the face of his past trails. So when the storm hits and the Pendleton is in trouble, he obeys his questionable superior officer (Eric Bana), who orders him out on the 70 waves to mount a rescue. But due to Webbers past, he cant get any of the experienced shipmates to accompany him, and so he picks the least among them for a suicide attempt of rescue. Amazingly they succeed, but they probably would not have save for the efforts of the men onboard the Pendleton, led by an understated Casey Affleck playing Ray Sybert.
Syberts not too popular, either, preferring to stay below maintaining the engines, rather than on the deck forming relationships. But he convinces the men to follow through with his wild scheme to keep the beleaguered Pendleton afloat long enough for the crew to be rescued.
And so its a twin tale of redemption for two men who unknowingly team up to save the day. Pine does a great job not swaggering as a sea-swept James T. Kirk, and instead being quite convincing as an underdog whos just trying to do the right thing. And although reserved in his portrayal, such reserve ties into the introverted nature of Sybert, and Affleck nails every scene.
The action sequences are surprisingly well-done, and again really earned the -13 aspect of the PG-13 rating. Im not sure the 3D was necessary, but the might of the waves, the violent nature of the storm, and the catastrophic effect they took on the Pendleton make the peril to the crew convincing, even if they whistle and literally sing (a bit) while they work. It is a Disney film after all, but it doesnt pull its punches when it needs to hit hard. And considering the S.O.P. of films these days, I certainly didnt miss the admittedly more authentic harsh language.---117 minutesRated PG-13 for intense sequences of perilDirected by: Craig GillespieWriting Credits: Scott Silver (screenplay) and Paul Tamasy (screenplay) & Eric Johnson (screenplay), Casey Sherman (book) and Michael J. Tougias (book)Starring: Chris Pine, Holliday Grainger, Casey Affleck, Ben Foster, Eric Bana
Source: http://fox13now.com/2016/01/29/richards-reviews-kung-fu-panda-3-the-finest-hours/
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