David's space: Entertainment

National Treasure 2.0

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 12:24:19 GMT

I recently watched the newest chapter of the National Treasure series. I began watching with the apprehension of being greeted with a simple sequel. Rather, I discovered a powerful story with mind-blowing twists and deep, intriguing adventure covering areas as exotic as Paris, France and Mount Rushmore.

National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets parallels its prequel by revealing some of the events surrounding the Lincoln assassination. Two of John Booth's henchmen approach Thomas Gates (Benjamin Gates great-great granddaddy) and request his help to decipher a coded message. When Thomas discovers that the men belong to a secret Southern society, he brands them as "traitors" and almost destroys the message by throwing it into the fire. In return, he is shot by the conspirators who retrieve the blackened piece of paper.

The story then returns to the present where Thomas Gates is publicly accused of the assassination of Lincoln when the missing page from Booth's diary is revealed. This prompts Benjamin Gates (Nicolas Cage) to find the lost treasure and restore his ancestor's good name.

Opposing him is Jeb Wilkinson (Ed Harris), the descendant of a Confederate general, who is also seeking the treasure. Wilkinson appears as an atypical villain who pursues Gates before realizing that they should work together. Eventually, Wilkinson shows that he is capable of doing good and even risks everything in the face of danger.

Apart from the villain, there are many ways that this movie not only reflects but also builds upon its predecessor. The major characters from the previous movie return for equally stellar performances. Gates again makes his mark as a puzzle-solver and historical extraordinaire.

Gates' audacity continues to be a source of bold action and intrigue. In attempting to find the lost treasure, he again finds himself a wanted man with the FBI desperately attempting to capture him (and only waiting until the end of the film to do it).

Comic relief plays a large role in this film. The action scenes are often punctuated when Ben's sidekick Riley Poole (Justin Bartha) makes a funny remark or gets into an odd situation. There is one scene where security men barge into a bathroom looking for Riley and find another man instead. Also, look for a scene where Ben sticks his hand into a rock crevice and feigns injury.

National Treasure 2 contains many positive elements, which make the film even more exceptional. The theme of family values is strong in this movie as the family members must depend on each other and have faith in each other's abilities. This theme is especially brought to light as Ben's father and mother are forced to reconcile their differences. Self-sacrifice is also an important aspect of this film, appearing when one member of the expedition stays behind to allow the others to escape from an underground chamber.

In addition to these positive themes, the movie is not without negative elements. In the early parts of the film, there is the revelation Ben and Abigail (his girlfriend from the previous movie) have been living together. Also, the character of Ben's mother appears, and it is revealed that she and Ben's father are divorced. In addition, there are some intense scenes that may be inappropriate for not-intense people.

Overall, I would heartily recommend this film to anyone looking for relaxing entertainment. It is, in my opinion, a family film, although some caution should be exercised regarding young children.

Click here for the National Treasure 2 website.

Click here for the National Treasure 2 page on IMDb.

Looking Back - A Cookie, a Swordsman, And a Whack Job

Tue, 14 Aug 2007 17:37:27 GMT

One year ago, an auspicious undertaking took place: the making of a short film. While not particularly noteworthy or glamorous, it was nonetheless a great experience for all those involved.

Last May one of my friends presented me with a script, titled A Cookie, a Swordsman, And a Whack Job. I looked through it and decided that it was perfect for a short film project.

The next few months were spent deciding on the crew, revising the script, getting software and equipment, and making other preparations. My "co-conspirator" Megan suggested asking our mutual friend Will to be the camera operator, which turned out to be an excellent decision. Meanwhile, I began reading up on filmmaking and gaining experience at a nearby chapel.

Finally, we were ready and the first shoot date was set for Monday, August 14, 2006. That afternoon we began shooting the first three scenes and worked against time as the sun moved away from the east-facing windows. Even though I was directing, Megan showed ample ability to lay out the action in the script. By the end of that day, we only had 11 1/2 minutes of recorded tape to show for about 2 hours.

After the shooting was over, the long editing process began. Everything came along well, but some of the crew members had regular jobs, and it was difficult to arrange a time to finish the project. However, on October 29, the second shoot date was set. I moved the process along quickly because of the difficulty involved in arranging meetings and all the thought that went into the video since August.

Several revisions later, the final cut came into being. I had already gotten into other interests and the date of the premiere was set for January 21, 2007. Unfortunately, that day was also Super Bowl Sunday, and not everyone was willing to watch Muppet Treasure Island while the DVD finished burning. Also, Megan was off with her family out of town that day and thus not present.

My advice to aspiring filmmakers? Always prepare. Know every detail about all the scenes. Know the camera(s) used. Know if you need any other equipment. Know how competent your cast and crew is. Sometimes you just need a planning session or a walkthrough of the technical aspects of the production.

Resources:

Script (requires Adobe Reader)

CSWJ video

YouTube - cookie swordsman

Bridge to Terabithia

Mon, 30 Jul 2007 15:21:02 GMT

I recently watched a movie called Bridge to Terabithia. This was an excellent movie, showing the unique friendship of two people, the powerful way that they use their imaginations, and the contrast between their families. Also present is the way that people really react to difficulty and hardship.

Jess Aarons (played by Josh Hutcherson) is a pre-teen boy living on a farm who is constantly bullied at school; the only bright spot at school is his success as an athlete and runner. However, he is beaten when the new girl joins the all-male team at the starting line and races ahead of everyone else. Jess soon learns that the girl, Leslie Burke (AnnaSophia Robb), lives nearby, and they again race down a country road and into the woods that envelop the countryside. They come to a creek where Leslie spies an old rope and decides that it will be their gateway, or "bridge," to the wonderful and mystical land of Terabithia.

Jess and Leslie become friends when Jess helps her avoid one meanest girls in 8th grade (Janice). Leslie sees Jess' art and is one of the few people who supports his hobby. Leslie is also the one who cheers Jess' spirits when he feels down. One could say that Jess' art are what draw the two together.

The land of Terabithia provides a sort of "escape" for Jess and Leslie. Their adventures provide a means of fighting the bullies at school and giving them a sense of hope. Jess always feels encouraged when visiting the secret place in the woods and repairing the broken-down treehouse. The human need to improve one's surroundings is evinced by Leslie's idea to get bells for their secret treehouse. There is also a distinct line between the real world and the "imagined" computer-generated one, but the graphics seem to blend in perfectly without drawing attention to themselves.

There is a distinct contrast between Jess' family and Leslie's. Jess' father is portrayed as a hard man who largely ignores Jess and gives him little pity for much of the film. The only love appears to be directed towards the younger daughter, and Jess' other two sisters are found to be vain, superficial girls who are only interested in clothes and boys. Leslie's family, however, is seen as a fun-loving, happy family when Jess visits while they are re-painting their house.

When Jess encounters trouble in his life, he is realistically portrayed in the light of a touchy, emotional boy that instantly draws sympathy from the audience. His family really comes together and changes to become quieter and more thoughtful. Ultimately, though, Jess overcomes his fear and anger to become closer to those around him.

At one point in the film, Jess mentions that he goes to church, and Leslie decides to go along deciding that it will be "fun." Leslie is not disappointed, thinking the story of God's enduring love to be "beautiful." However, Maybel, Jess' sister, is quick to point out that if you don't believe the Bible "God will damn you to hell when you die." Leslie doesn't believe this, indicating the beauty of God's creation as if God were limited to just the excellent acts in the world. Neither of these viewpoints are complete views of God. Perhaps the best way to reconcile these ideas is that the beauty of God's virtue cannot abide the depravity of man's sin.

This is truly a wonderful movie, one to watch again and again. The great aspects are all there, from the great acting, the deep relationships, the breathtaking scenery, and the excellent portrayal of family life. All said, this is an excellent movie that everyone should try to watch.

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