Bayonetta: Bloody Fate- Review

"You want to touch me?"

As an interactive medium videogames are (by their very nature) entirely reliant upon audience participation in order to achieve success. Translating the entirely unique sensations of playing a game into film or text is (in a lot of ways) fundamentally impossible. When the core material is no longer presented as a game, the player changes the key postion of active participant, to a passive observer for the events unfolding.

Most videogame adaptations into cinema and the like tend to be rather lacking to say the least because of this very issue. That isn't to say that all videogame adaptations out there are bad (as there are good ones) but those exceptional works are a rarity at best it seems.

Since bringing the element of gameplay to another format is out of the equation, the only thing the adaptation is left with is the story and characters. This creates a huge problem when making the game transition to another medium. Such elements as story and character usually come second to gameplay, so they don't have the polish needed for it make that smooth leap into another form. Thus the end result is almost always the same; a lackluster installment that essentially fails to capture the spirit of the game it is based on.

Thankfully I can say that Bayonetta: Bloody Fate is one of those rare occasions where the adaptation to another format (in this case an anime movie) is fairly solid. Not only is it pretty good as its own standalone piece, it's true to the spirit of the source material, and it even manages to (in some ways) improve upon its original videogame counterpart. While it does have its share of notable flaws to be sure, I find Bloody Fate to be one hell of an incredibly fun over-the-top ride while it lasts.

Two factions were once dedicated to maintaining the balance between light and darkness in the world: the Lumen Sages, followers of Paradiso, and the Umbra Witches, followers of Inferno. Each side carried a piece of the treasure called 'The Eyes of the World' (seperately named 'Left Eye' and 'Right Eye') which they used to oversee the world and secure its safety. A forbidden union between a Lumen Sage and an Umbra Witch yielded a child, eventually causing a rift to form between the once peaceful clans. The controversy over the child's birth eventually led to an all out war, resulting with both side's mutual destruction. No one knows whatever became of the child.

In the present day, the last Umbra Witch Bayonetta awakens after a five-hundred year long slumber. With only her fragmented memories to guide her, Bayonetta sets out to the city of Vigrid to uncover the mysteries of her past. The journey won't be easy though, as it seems the Angels of Paradiso are hunting Bayonetta down at every turn, claiming that the rebirth of the creator of the universe (Jubelius) is near.

To be frank, I feel that story has never been Bayonetta's focus as a franchise, let alone its strongest feature. The characters possess little to no dimension, and the overarching plot is fairly predictable. In the original videogame the story is obfuscated in its presentation, divvying out only tiny bits of context and crucial detail as the game progresses. Essentially making it feel as though the story and characters are an afterthought serving only as a means to bridge the gaps between the gameplay segments. For me, the deliberate obfuscation comes off as only being done to simply draw out the overall run time of the experience. I won't be so bold as to say that the core idea of Bayonetta is outright terrible, but I will say that as far as the game goes, there are much better narratives out there to enjoy.

"I've got a fever, and the only cure is more dead angels!"

In the case of Bloody Fate, the story has a more direct approach towards the mythology. A lot of the core details are in the front of the film via an opening monologue. Personally I think this allows the more casual viewer to have some much needed context to everything that is happening. Granted, not all the answers are thrown out at the beginning, but it does create a more straightforward and easier to digest tale that I feel has broader appeal to those just looking to get into the franchise.

Sadly though Bloody Fate doesn't take full advantage of retelling the story because the characters are just as shallow here as they are in the videogame. While none of the characterization is ever truly bad, we practically learn nothing about them except their basic motivations. By the time the film wraps we have almost exactly the same amount of information on the characters as we did at the start.

"Don't f@#K with a witch!"

Regardless of the minimal character development, I do want to emphasize how much more enjoyable the story becomes due to the writers distilling the core elements of Bayonetta. The pace of the movie is fantastic, with action beats having just enough time between them so that the audience can breath and get ready for the next menagerie of magical mayhem. Sure it's style over substance, but at least everything is clear, making for a very uncomplicated, streamlined, and enjoyable experience.

Making up for the lackluster story is the movie's over-top-action style. It opens with a kick-ass magic and gun infused brawl inside of a ridiculously ornate church that eventually spills out into the open. The gigantic battle that ensues from there goes on to set the standard and tone for the rest of the film. It introduces a fair portion of the cast right out the gate, and provides a nice helping of what some of the characters are capable of.

I'm glad the choice to make Bayonetta an animated movie was made, as I don't think the somewhat quirky character designs or the chaotic nature of the battles would transition well into live-action. Gonzo Studios has clearly put a lot of effort into bringing the core iconic staples of the Bayonetta game design over from 3-D to 2-D. Bayonetta herself looks great, with her unique physique being one of the biggest reasons as to why animation is the only real method of portraying her. All of Bayonetta's acrobatic gunplay and magic attacks take center stage, translating beautifully from the game to the animation. The supporting cast and enemies look just as good in the film as they do in the games, making this undeniably a part of the Bayonetta franchise from the opening shot all the way to the closing credits.

Unfortunately the animation isn't always spot on. Mind you, when Bloody Fate is running on all cylinders, it's truly a sight to behold, and a testament to how awesome 2-D animation can still be. It's just that there are a noticeable amount of budget saving tricks that Gonzo utilizes that detract from what would otherwise be an absolutely gorgeous film. Such things as long still shots against mostly static backdrops, or bits of rehashed animation all crop up throughout, not to mention the somewhat janky animation quality in certain scenes.

"Hello there, Cheshire!"

Now to finally address the elephant in the room. For those who are already familiar with Bayonetta, this comes as absolutely no surprise, but Bayonetta: Bloody Fate overtly leans into fanservice. I don't want to mince words here, this flick shows so much skin, it practically needs lotion, never mind our titular heroine making sexy poses all the while. There almost isn't a single scene featuring Bayonetta that doesn't have some sort of sexually-charged element to it. If Bayonetta isn't salaciously licking her lips while spouting double entendres, then you'll see Bayonetta in a teddy, in the shower, or suggestively sucking on lolipops only to store them in her robust clevage. It's so obvious that Bayonetta's breasts have been enlarged for the adaptation, only driving home ever further the somewhat pandering feel this movie provides to the audience. If you're not one for a somewhat exploitative romp of the female form, or just can't handle a lot of nudity (of a PG-13 caliber mind you, so you don't really see anything) then you may want to try avoiding Bloody Fate.

"Let's dance!"

As of the writing of this review Bayonetta: Bloody Fate has no English dub. Since the franchise's very beginnings, Bayonetta has always had an English speaking cast, so this marks the first time Japanese actors have portrayed the characters. For the most part I think the cast does a good job with their parts overall, but sadly Atsuko Tanaka just doesn't deliver when it comes to playing Bayonetta herself. Hellena Taylor (the English voice of Bayonetta) just can't be matched it seems, as Tanaka's voice feels disinterested and aloof to everything that's going on. While I do understand the cultural differences in what both languages deem as a "sexy" voice, Tanaka comes off as simply trying too hard at numerous points; especially in the scenes where Bayonetta is being flirtatious. I'm almost sure that for many viewers their mileage will vary on this topic, so I'm not going to go so far to say that her performance is bad. It's just not what I'm used to hearing for the character.            

Some of the game's original music does blare across the speakers for Bloody Fate, and when it does the movie's vibe becomes just that much more better. Fans of the game's score are bound to hear one or two of their favorite tracks during the film, but oddly enough they don't use all of the music. Instead, new pieces are littered throughout, and they're not very good. These new tracks quite frankly just don't have the same effect as the ones from the game. In some cases they actually make some scenes (regardless of what's happening on screen) feel somewhat boring. They just don't have that distinct and instantly iconic jazzy pop the Bayonetta game built its ambiance from. The song for the end credits "Night, I Stand" is a catchy tune though that does feel faithful to the spirit of the game. Yoku Shioya is given composer credits, and as far as my research has shown, he's more of a voice actor than a composer. While I can't be certain, I think Bloody Fate may be his first time composing, and tragically it shows.

As an overall package Bayonetta: Bloody Fate is a solid hopping on point for potential new fans. It distills the core elements of the game down, and presents them in a straightforward manner that's easy for pretty much anyone to swallow. Prior knowledge of the game is completely unnecessary to enjoy this outing, so even if you never play the game, you've at least got a fun movie. If you can look past the lackluster character development, the semi-predictable plot, or the copious amounts of fanservice then you'll probably have a great (albeit shallow) time. It isn't the pinnacle of modern animation, but the action scenes are robust with plenty of style to boot. In a lot of ways this film is exemplary of how a videogame adaptation can actually be pretty good. The spirit of the game is there, while it presents itself with a certain bit of that old-school 90's anime sort of charm, and that's just fine by me.

Positive Factors

• Distills the essentials of the Bayonetta story down into an easy to follow and enjoyable plot.
• A well paced style over substance romp.
• Character designs translate beautifully from the 3-D game to the 2-D animation. This is undeniably Bayonetta!
• At its best when it is capturing the essence of the games through great over-the-top action.
• Solid Japanese dub overall.
• Use of the game's original score help add to the "This is Bayonetta!" vibe.
• If you're into the fanservice from the game, or just like fanservice, you'll like what you see.

Negative Factors

• Characters are still shallow with very little development.
• Some cost cutting measures are taken on the animation. Long shots and stilted bits throughout the experience. 
• New music is lacking in the "This is Bayonetta!" vibe.
• If you're not into fanservice you may want to look elsewhere.

Final Rating: Splenderiffic!

Gravity- Review

"Life in space is impossible."

The thought of being left alone to die is frightening for most people. As a social species mankind thrives on contact with itself. If one faces a situation where their connection to humanity (both physical and metaphorical) is in danger of being permanently severed, it's scary to say the least. What could happen to you if you lost that bridge? Would you fight to endure and reclaim it? Is it possible to reclaim it once it's lost?

It is my personal belief that tales of survival are intrinsically part of human civilization/culture. Some of our oldest stories on record center around the topic of survival in some capacity or another. Considering our fundamental roots as a species, it's only natural that scenarios focusing on how to survive as well as people managing to persist against the odds would be so fascinating to us. Since the days of our early ancestors, we humans use stories as a means to explain/explore/better understand the world around us. Whether the story be fact or fiction, there is always some thread of "truth" one can find in almost any yarn.

In the case of Alfonso Cuaron's latest film Gravity, the story is fiction, but tells a very real human tale. I'll be completely honest, Gravity may be one of the best movies from 2013. Although I do love some of the other !!!AWESOMESAUCE!!! movies of that year, Gravity is perhaps the most visually and emotionally captivating of them all. While I do feel the movie falls onto some very familiar storytelling cliches' I think the picture provides a much more human and (no pun intended) down to earth perspective on them.

Medical engineer Dr. Ryan Stone is on her first space shuttle mission aboard the shuttle Explorer. Veteran astronaut Matt Kowalski commands the mission, as the duo perform maintenance checks on the Hubble Telescope. During their spacewalk Mission Control in Houston warns the Explorer team of a Russian missile strike on a defunct satellite, creating a massive debris field that is heading their way. The team aborts the mission and starts procedure for reentry to Earth, but they are too late. High-speed wreckage pummels the Explorer, detaching Dr. Stone, and sending her tumbling through space. With almost nothing to aid her, Dr. Stone's struggle to survive begins.

In a lot of ways Gravity doesn't really tell its story through conventional methods. To me, it more so details a very nasty "What if?" situation., albeit with some civil liberties taken on scientific accuracy. In essence the best way to describe Gravity is to say that it's Murphy's Law the movie. It's because of this aspect of the storytelling that Gravity feels somewhat fresh in its presentation and provides an interesting perspective on its characters and the conflicts they face. There is a very real and tangible quality to everything Gravity presents to the viewer that is both fascinating and frightening at the same time. For instance, during the opening segment, space is seen as this vast ocean of stars that is awe-inspiring and breathtaking to behold. Once things go pear-shaped though, space suddenly becomes this claustrophobic death trap bent on destroying the very essence of your soul.

The dichotomy of the beauties and the dangers of space translate flawlessly into Gravity's visuals. Make no mistake this is where Gravity is truly at its best. The camera moves with such fluidity and grace as it tracks the action that it really does feel like you're almost there with the characters as they try to survive. The atmosphere of being inside of an astronaut's suit, the sensation of weightlessness, and the physics of floating in zero g all have amazing conveyance. The special effects are topnotch throughout and portray every detail with painstakingly minute care. Even something as simple as Dr. Stone traversing the corridors of the International Space Station becomes this incredible spectacle of cinematography that is sure to set standards for future films. Special mention I feel must also go to the 3-D. Gravity pushes the illusion of depth and the level of scale 3-D can create to new heights here, and one must simply witness it in order to appreciate it.

Believe me when I say that Gravity gets intense.

Of course, great visuals are not the only thing responsible for making Gravity such an impressive movie. The casting on Gravity's lead protagonists is essentially flawless. Sandra Bullock's performance as Dr. Stone is perhaps her best work yet and she sits as one of the most integral parts to the whole experience. Bullock brings such a human quality to her character that it is almost profound. We see her go through such a huge (but always believable) gamut of emotions that Dr. Ryan Stone may be one of the most human characters in cinema to date. Even with the likes of George Clooney (as Matt Kowalski) and his impeccable acting chops, Bullock still shines above everything else. If Dr. Stone had been played by another actress I don't know if this movie would've have worked as well as it does.

Sadly there are some old film cliches' that Gravity oddly enough does rely upon. From the outset we see three astronauts performing the spacewalk to work on the Hubble. Two of the characters are Caucasian, while the third is Indian. I won't go into spoilers, but I think you all know which character ultimately bites the bullet first once the debris field hits the Explorer team. Also Dr. Stone does sadly fall into the scarred women trope once things turn south while Kowalski is the level-headed guy with all the right answers for the situation. Now mind you, none of this is so egregious that it's outright noticeable from the start. In fact the movie does an impressive job of distracting the viewer from these cliches', but it doesn't change the fact that these tired tropes are still in use for such a groundbreaking film.        

Composer Steven Price does a fantastic job bringing the score of Gravity to life. If anything else the biggest shame is that there isn't a whole lot of music for Gravity. A pretty generous portion of Gravity is silent, with only the voices of the characters there to populate the audible spectrum. This isn't a bad thing mind you, as the silence is something that really helps to drive home the empty void that is space. Thankfully the music that we do have is more than appropriate when it finally kicks in. The track that plays during the climax is hands down the best piece of the score and compliments the action on the screen beautifully.

Gravity earns its accolades due to being an all around great experience in both its visuals and its characters. Even with its use of exhausted tropes, it still manages to feel fresh and exhilarating. At no point does Gravity let up on the audience, and I mean that in the best way possible. This is one of those rare few survival stories that keeps you on the edge of your seat from the opening shot, to the closing credits. I do have to agree with my peers when they say that Gravity is a surefire winner that has without a doubt set a standard for the medium.

Positive Factors

• Presents a situation more so than tells a story, making for a fresh feeling and perspective.
• Topnotch visuals that perfectly convey the beauty and the danger of being in space.
• Perfect casting for the protagonist. Hands down one of Sandra Bullock's best films.
• Great use of sounds and silence, with a fantastic score that kicks in during the climax.

Negative Factors

• Use of old character cliches' that thankfully only become noticeable upon pondering the film.

Final Rating: !!!AWESOMESAUCE!!! 

The Lego Movie- Review

Everything is awesome!

"Logic will get you from A to Z; imagination will get you everywhere."

-Albert Einstein

Our imagination is what allows us to see beyond any horizon, to envision new worlds, and to fly among the birds without wings. If you were to ask me "Do I believe in the power of imagination?" my answer would be a resounding "Yes!" It is through embracing imagination, ingenuity, and creativity that humankind has been able to remake the world as it is. Imagination is what makes each and every one of us special or unique in some way.

The Lego toy brand has endured for sixty five years, and it is with good reason. Few franchises have ever managed to tap into that ever so sweet spot of being appealing to not only children, but also adults. As an example, I still mess around with Lego to this very day, and I'm almost thirty years old. My theory as to why it's like this is because Lego is one of the only toys out there that encourages everyone (regardless of age) who plays with it to be creative; to look deep down into their imagination and build something incredible.

The Lego Movie marks the first film of 2014 for me, and I've gotta say that it doesn't disappoint. Not only does this picture meet my expectations, it totally surpasses any that I could have. Even after two more consecutive viewings, and taking a good deal of time to ponder over it, I still can't bring myself to think of The Lego Movie any less than how I did on my first go. This may very well be one of the best family films to hit theaters in a long time, and I'm not being hyperbolic when I write these words either. I truly do feel that this is a great piece of cinema that will endure the test of time, much like its parent brand.

On the surface it may seem like The Lego Movie is nothing more than a blatant cash-in on a notable franchise (and no one could blame you for that cynicism honestly) but this film is so much more than that. What could have so easily come off as a bloated two hour long toy commercial instead stands as a testament to what it means to be a kid at heart. With its bright colors, high energy, constant humor, and optimistic narrative, The Lego Movie makes it almost impossible to not feel like a ten year old again by the time the credits roll.

The story focuses on Emmet Brickowski, a lowly construction worker who lives his everyday life by the rules, but ultimately in obscurity. No one seems to know that Emmet even exists until the day he comes into contact with an ancient relic prophesied to prevent the coming apocalypse of the Lego universe. Suddenly this utter nobody finds himself thrust into a journey of epic proportions. With the aid of the Master Builders (special individuals who can create anything from the Lego around them) Emmet sets out with a motely crew of heroes to save the universe from the tyrannical machinations of the evil Lord Business.

While the plot may seem a bit on the derivative side at first, it quickly turns itself into a loving parody of the big summer blockbusters we've all come to know. Make no mistake, this is perhaps one of the most genuinely funny films that has come out in years. The Lego Movie is littered with word plays, references, and visual gags (both in the foreground and background) that viewers both young and old will likely get. Directors Phil Lord and Chris Miler prove that they have the comedic chops needed to keep the audience laughing to nearly no end with the greatest of ease.

Much like the toy-line itself, there is a clear and strong emphasis on not just the act of, but the very nature of creativity and imaginative thinking. Speaking for myself, its something I really admire as an artist (and even just as a movie-goer) as it's nice to see a major Hollywood flick imbibe an often overlooked message. It gets enforced many times throughout the narrative, as characters find themselves having to think outside of the box in order to succeed over the conflicts presented, and even the essence of this theme gets turned on its ear come the top of the third act. The purity of imagination is the backbone that makes The Lego Movie stand as a fun, yet inspirational piece.

A special mention I feel must also be made of The Lego Movie's legitimately touching ending. I won't go into spoilers, but I will say that the finale is one of the best love letters to a fandom ever. Even with multiple viewings I still find myself tearing up at the ending speech.      

Due to this being a Lego product, there are tons of iconic characters from Lego's numerous licenses, but thankfully none of them ever eclipse the original characters that are central to the plot. All of the new characters are instantly enjoyable, with the actors doing a spectacular job at bringing them to life. Chris Pratt's performance as main character Emmet is hilarious from his introduction all the way to the final act. Pratt makes Emmet a lovable, but also very fallible hero that you can't help but want to root for. Elizebeth Banks plays the female lead Wyldstyle, and while she isn't quite as funny as Pratt's Emmet, she's easily one the most badass characters in the cast. Morgan Freeman brings his A-game to the table with Vitruvius, who much like Pratt has unbelievable comedic timing with his lines. Usually I'm not a Will Ferrell fan by any stretch, but here he brings the villain Lord Business to life with a quirkyness that only someone like Ferrell can provide.

My personal favorite characters though go to none other than Will Arnett's narcissisticly jerkish portrayal of DC's Batman, Liam Neeson's Bad Cop, and Allison Brie's Princess Unikitty. Almost every line Batman states is overtly self-aggrandizing, while simultaneously standing as a parody of everything the character has become over the decades. In regards of comedic effect, his role is only somewhat matched by the wondrously funny Liam Neeson as Good Cop-Bad Cop. Hearing Neeson switch between two cartoonishly over-the-top personas is something I honestly didn't think him to be capable of, but yet here we are, with perhaps the only other character people are likely to remember the most after coming out of this film. Allison Brie's portrayal of the semi-bipolar Princess Unikitty is equally as hilariously hyperbolic as Neeson's, and is put to great use, making for some of The Lego Movie's most outrageous spots whenever she's on screen.

From left to right: Princess Unikitty, Benny The Spaceman, Emmet, Batman, Vitruvius, Wyldstyle

Not only does the hard work of the voice cast bring The Lego Movie to life, but so do its phenomenal visuals. Everything in this films is built entirely out of Lego, and frankly I wouldn't have it any other way. Through a combination of CG animation and Stop-Motion animation, The Lego Movie has a unique (albeit slightly janky, but still lovable) quality to itself once the characters start moving and the action kicks into high gear. A scene as simple as seeing the ocean waves roll suddenly becomes this spectacular display of what someone with enough dedication could really do with enough Lego at their disposal. Sequences where the Master Builder characters are constructing vehicles and weapons from the world around them is impressive due in part to their speed and sheer creative designs. At almost no point during The Lego Movie is there a moment where "nothing" is happening. The motions never stop, and each character always has something fun to do. 

Even the soundtrack hits a high mark with me. Mark Mothersbaugh composes the original score to The Lego Movie with so much fervor and energy that it's practically contagious. One of the main tracks in the front of the film "Everything is Awesome" is an outright hilarious song that takes on a slightly more ominous tone when you delve into the nooks and crannies of the plot. Never mind the fact that it will probably be stuck in your head for days after watching the film. My personal favorite track though yet again goes to Batman, with the gut busting song (he writes himself) that he calls "Untitled Self Portrait." Just the very thought of this song's lyrical content puts a smile on my face. All of the other tracks are just as equally fun and catchy, with every piece working flawlessly to accompany what's happening on the screen.

It's actually been pretty hard for me to find any real fault with The Lego Movie. On so many fundamental points this flick simply knocks it out of the park. If I had to find something though it would be that the story does slow down a bit by the second act. Since the first act has a great deal of action and comedy to it some may feel that this is a very front-loaded movie, which in a way it is. Personally I feel the second act almost needs to bring the audience down a little bit so that they can have a breather from all the zaniness of the opening. Once the third act begins, everything ramps back up into an ultimately satisfying conclusion. Perhaps some will find the speech at the finale to be a tad on the heavy-handed side with its moral and whatnot, but personally I find it to be essentially perfect for what the story is about.

Overall, if you still find yourself to be a kid at heart, than you owe it to your inner child to watch The Lego Movie. I feel absolutely comfortable in saying that this film is the first true hit of 2014. With an incredibly fun story, fantastic jokes, a lovable cast of characters, spectacular animation, and a hilarious soundtrack you can't really go wrong. I'm so happy that this picture exists. Now the Lego brand has something else under its belt that will definitely weather the years to come. Not only do I view The Lego Movie as a timeless and enjoyable family film, but I see it as perhaps one of the greatest family films to possibly ever be made!  

Positive Factors

• Incredibly fun story that keeps the jokes coming and parodies so much, yet manages to keep itself timeless at its core.
• A legitimately touching ending that speaks to the child in all of us. 
• Rock solid performances from the entire cast. No one voice feels out of place. Even Will Ferrell is good!
• Spectacular visuals. A combination of CG and Stop-Motion animation gives this film a distinct flare.
• Fantastic scoring that is at the same time hilarious and appropriate for everything that happens on screen.

Negative Factors

• After the bombastic first act, some may find the second act noticeably slower.
• The speech at the finale could be taken as being a bit heavy-handed.

Final Rating: !!!AWESOMESAUCE!!! (Rejoice Lego fans because everything is in fact AWESOME!)