"What's the Worst Word You Can Think of?"

I fear Atonement will be one of those films destined to disappoint a large number of audience goers who are searching for the next Titanic-esque sweeping romance. However, since this was neither what I wanted or expected, I was left quite pleased with the film. Unlike any story I had ever seen, it would be hard to say exactly what happened because the answer would be a resounding “not much.” The story, however, is incredibly rupturing, told through several angles by several points of view. It begins simply, building suspense through an eclectic mix of confusing images (as seen through the eyes of a young, smitten girl) and small, but important, occurrences. As it progresses, the scope of the film opens quite literally to the Second World War and the toll it takes on the characters. The lovers are torn apart, scattered across the continent during the bloody battle, each holding on until the fighting ceases and they are able to meet again.

Visual and technically, the movie is stunning and of masterful proportions. Never does a cinema experience breathe such life into a period piece, bringing depth from the smallest costume to the grandest scenery. The editing creates a kind of fluidity to the revolving story that unveils itself as the film progresses. One shot, which tracks a soldier’s journey through an army retreat camp, last several minutes and weaves in and out of a grand scene set up on a French shore that must have included at least two- to three hundred extras. The film’s original score is in epic style but with a creative, distinct twist that gives the film a fresh and unique flavor.

Atonement contains the most magnificent art direction, cinematography, costuming, editing, original score and direction I have yet to see. It also has some terrific acting from James McAvoy and Keira Knightly and received a well-deserved Oscar nod for beginner Saoirse Ronan. For a perceived epic, period-piece this film has exceed and even blown my expectations away. It’s unique story and incredible, technical achievement has made it one of the best films of the year.

O: Wow dude have you seen ATONEMENT?

L: No dude im so far behind on award movies…how was atonement?

O: Dude its crazy unlike any other movie ive seen

L: Are you serious dude is [it] best pic?

O: Technically its stunning its so different though

L: Alright im seeing it this week

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L: Dude. atonement. wow.

O: What did you think of it?

L: I thought it was really really well made that one shot is amazing and the music is fuckin brilliant the acting, writing, directing is some of the years best

O: Yea that typewriter score kicks ass

O: the begining [sic] was so mysterious and dark

L: Dude im developing th[e] thought that the typewriter comes in when there is a fictitious scene occuring [sic]

O: Oh man like with briny and the patient

A Mixed Bag

Movies can't help but reflect the time period in which they were made and I Am Legend is a good example of this. This film, adapted apparently from a book and graphic novel by Richard Matheson, is really just a remake of Charleton Heston's 1970's thriller The Omega Man which any viewer can agree is very outdated. Every aspect of it reeks of the '70s from the music, to the cinematography, to the aesthetic style of the girl he meets who looks like she just walked out of a Black Panthers rally. But the film is a solid action-adventure foray and deserves a suitable remake for today's generation of finicky, fast-paced viewers.

The result is a much cooler, more prevalent version (which turns out to be different from Matheson's book in many key points) of this twenty-five year old idea. Will Smith, who has much more charisma then his gun-toting counterpart, plays the only survivor of a cancer-cure gone wrong; an inoculation that ends up turning the population of Manhattan into light-skinned, sunlight-fearing, rage-aholics who enjoy feasting on human flesh. The creatures were originally human, and how a disease transforms them into ultra-fast, ultra-strong zombie vampires is a little beyond me, but like every movie, the audience must be willing to suspend some disbelief.

What we get in this updated version is not much more than an entertaining two hours, but a worthwhile theatre experience. Will Smith is left alone and the writers had obviously racked their brains to come up with someone he could actually share some dialogue with. In the end, he ends up conversing with his faithful dog, several department store mannequins he assigns names and personalities, and a girl and her child that he ends up meeting later on. While it may seem like a reprisal of Tom Hanks talking to a volleyball, Smith's conversation with lifeless human figures actually helps to show his slow mental deterioration in a solitary world where every day (or night rather) is a fight for survival.

Overall, the movie is worth a view, at least in my opinion. But others may not agree.

L: Dude i saw i am legend and hated it! the butterfly thing was so laughable to me

O: there are some rough edges but i thought it was pretty entertaining

L: Man i was so bored and the writing is awful akiva goldsmith is one of the worst screenwriters

O: What else did he or she do

L: Batman and robin and a beautiful mind

O: Ouch

L: That i know of off the top of my head

L: Hes written some other winners too but i cant think of them

Best of the Worst Part II

There's bad, and then there's unintentional comedy, which might be the biggest insult a mystery director can get. Yet Chris Sivertson brings unintended humor to an embarrassing new level with I Know Who Killed Me, a sexy thriller that tries desperatly to be an art piece. Taking a page from masters of old, this picture attempts to use devices such as color and lighting and dissolves to bring subtext where words would fail. Yet his use of these "subtle" devices is so misguided that he bludgeons the audience over the head with them, so much that you can't help yelling from your chair in the theater, "We get it! We get it!" Describing the futility of this film's impact would be a waste of my time, but I wanted to at least make some small attempt, so I turned to my partner for help.

O: Whats the first [thing you] think of when your remember I KNOW WHO KILLED ME

L: Abominable!

L: Did you jurt (sic) watch it?

O: No just thinking of the years worst movies

This is one of those films that will be in movie libraries just for the sheer cult pleasure of laughing at it. If you have ninety minutes and a desire to learn what NOT to do as a filmaker, pick this one up. It dissapoints only if you expect it not to.