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October '08
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August '08
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Versus #1: Compass v Legend
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By Aaron 12/17/2007
Beyond the fact that the two movies both have map symbols as their names, these two flicks have absolutely NOTHING in common. But, that shall not stop me from writing a “versus” about the last two movies I have seen, The Golden Compass, and I am Legend. Both are big movies in the sci-fi/fantasy genre with big publicity and big budgets. The rules are simple, Thunderdome rules: two movies enter, one movie leaves.
The Golden Compass tells the story of Lyra Belaqua (Dakota Blue Richards), a young girl living at an orphanage who is swept off her feet and to the big city by Mrs. Coulter (Nicole Kidman). The world they inhabit is a parallel universe where our spirit animals walk by our side and for the right price, where the Magisterium (a thinly veiled allusion to the Catholic Church) seeks to rule all, witches speaking of prophecies fly to and fro, and much more. For Lyra though, all that matters is to get to the north and uncover the kidnapping of her best friend and the other missing children taken by “the gobblers,” who Lyra discovers are more than just childhood-horror-stories. While Lyra embarks on her voyage, guided by a truth-telling device banned by the Magisterium, an alethiometer, while her uncle, Lord Asriel (Daniel Craig) goes north to uncover the origins of “dust” a scientific-evolutionary type theory that questions the power of the Magisterium.
I am Legend follows Robert Neville (Will Smith), the last man in New York City, who along with his dog, Sam, tries to survive, find others, and cure the rampaging, blood thirsty ‘infected.’ K-virus, ninety percent fatal yet irrelevant to the one percent who are naturally immune, turns the remaining six hundred million or so into blood thirsty monsters. For three years Neville sends out daily radio messages for other survivors, combs the city for supplies, hunts the wild flocks of deer in central park, all before the sun sets and the infected come out to hunt. Neville races to find the cure, testing it on animals, and with high risks, the infected, before they discover his location and overwhelm him.
Challenge 1: Acting
 This challenge is dealt with pretty easily in a utilitarian sort of way: there are simply more actors in Compass than in Legend. While Legend is pretty much a one man show, Compass showcases the talents of Freddie Highmore, Ian McKellen, Eva Green, Sam Elliot and Christopher Lee along with the already mentioned Richards, Kidman, and Craig. While Highmore and McKellen just lend voices, Green stays clothed, Elliot maintains typecast, Lee is barely seen, Richards is still green, and Kidman and Craig have few scenes, that stacks up pretty well against Legend’s cast. Smith is of course great, but it’s kinda tough to give him the edge here when his best dialogue is with his dog. Move over Dakota Fanning, there's a new Dakota in town. Edge: Compass.
Compass – 1; Legend – 0
Challenge 2: Directing
Most people probably don’t know these two guys, but Chris Weitz helms Compass while Francis Lawrence is in the driver’s seat for I Am Legend. When it comes down to it, Legend simply has no flubber. Meaning there are no auxillary plot devices or even scenes that I would take out of the movie. Sure, maybe that’s an editing caveat but hey, the guy directed a great flick. You can really see his improvement since Constantine (underrated). Perhaps Weitz’s great film is already behind him (About a Boy), because while Compass is good, it just isn’t great – nothing more than an above average kids’ flick. Next time Weitz, follow Matthew Vaughn's lead. Edge: Legend.
Compass – 1; Legend – 1
Challenge 3: Writing
 Both movies are based on novels, Matheson’s for I Am Legend and Pullman’s for The Golden Compass. I Am Legend almost loses outright because of the low role dialogue plays in the film, but it hangs in there. While Compass has the feel of a briskly paced, efficient fantasy movie (short by LOTR standards with a running time under two hours), it is actually hurt by this factor, as the movie feels like it is always missing something more. Legend on the other hand tells a good story, avoids possible pitfalls (like overusing flashbacks), and capitalizes on a great asset (hello, Will Smith), among other things. So, big Willie Style. Edge: Legend.
Compass – 1; Legend – 2
Challenge 4: Action
 Either way you slice it, when you role into a theatre you want some action. And I Am Legend has adult action while The Golden Compass is shackled by it’s desire to be a family friendly kids movie. I say, no excuses! Both movies are PG13, so Legend manages to cram in plenty of zombie shootouts without pushing the R-envelop while Compass doesn’t come close to the realist levels of LOTR-style action. Maybe you’re starting to notice a pattern? M16's beat out wants most any day. Edge: Legend.
Compass – 1; Legend – 3
Challenge 5: Comedy
 They each have their own feel and their own humor. Compass has that sort of kiddie humor kids love as well as some funny scenes with some of the animals. Legend has the running gag of Neville talking to his dog as well as that swagger and attitude Will Smith takes to all of his movies that imbues almost every action with a smile. Come to think of it, I Am Legend is not that funny. And on further thought, The Golden Compass is even less humorous. Ahhh, a race to the bottom. Edge: Legend.
Compass – 1; Legend – 4
Challenge 6: Intrigue
 The Golden Compass spins a whole new world full of alethiometers, blimps, fighting bears, ad spirit animals. I Am Legend shows an unfortunate future where deer herds run roughshod over New York City. This was close, but the physical embodiment of souls as animals, in The Golden Compass, takes the cake. I just loved this, and it’s hard to explain, but I could not get past it. I wanted my own spirit animal! Not that Highmore’s ferret is really all that, and Craig’s white tiger doesn’t do much, but man, the potential there is limitless. And then there are fighting bears! Fighting polar bears! Edge: Compass.
Compass – 2; Legend – 4
Challenge 7: Suspense
 Compass was a children’s novel going through the motions; Legend was grown up flick that could go either way. Sure, I felt for Compass’ Lyra, but she pretty much had the answer to every question at her fingertips – literally. Neville on the other hand was one man against everyone. He had gone through so much already, and so much lay ahead for him to do – alone. There was never really a worry Lyra would fail, and definitely, never that something would happen to her. Neville was on his own, and he could fail, die, or worse, become one of the infected. The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, a master of suspense, who would have thought. Edge: Legend.
Compass – 2; Legend – 5
Challenge 8: Entertainment
 What is entertainment? Is it unfair to equate entertainment with action? Maybe not the cinematical definition of shoot-em-up, but the pace and feel. And Legend wins. As the above challenges indicate, Compass was pretty predictable, and offered little in the guns blazing action category to make up for this. Legend on the other hand had plenty of plot, surprise, and action to keep the average movie-goer smiling. Popcorn and blood - a devestating combo. Edge: Legend
Compass – 2; Legend – 6
Challenge 9: Intangibles
 Despite the apparent lopsided lead of Legend, both movies, as I predicted in my Thursday column, were worth $10 (for the most part). But one was worth more than the other. What did I rate these movies independent of their relative superiority to the other? Compass got a solid 6.5/10; Legend a more impressive 7.5/10. I expected Compass to be a run of the mill, below average kids flick that I took a chance on. It was better than that. I expected Legend to be a kick-ass movie that knocked my socks off and impressed the hell out of me. It was not that. But at the end of the day, Legend was still a good flick – and better than Compass. Next time Dakota, take on zombies instead of the Church! Edge: Legend.
Compass – 2; Legend – 7
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Bob’s October Movie Preview
By Bob 10/2/2008
 Now that we have gotten through the sludge of September movies, it’s time for some Oscar contenders, and movies that think they’re good but not. Halloween is also this month so there is bound to be a lot of random horror movies going on and of course a Saw film to soak in. Whatever happens though, I’m gonna guess that at least one of the following gets some nods come Oscar time. With that, my October Movie Preview:
Cops, Robbers, and Blah
10) Pride and Glory: October 24th
From the director of Miracle comes one of the most clichéd trailers of ALL TIME. Edward Norton as A COP. Colin Farrell as HIMSELF. What more could we want from a movie? I don’t know, and I will likely never find out because this is not one flick I will be seeing.
9) Max Payne: October 17th 
As I feverishly go through my mind trying to think of a video game adaptation that has actually been a good movie, I’m also reminded of all of the bad movies Marky Mark has made over the past ever (excluding The Departed and Boogie Nights of course). I would be shocked if there is anybody who is actually excited for this, as anybody who actually played the game has probably outgrown the genre.
8) Body of Lies: October 10th
Leonardo Dicaprio. Russell Crowe. Ridley Scott. Something about spies. The trailers really tell us nothing about this film except, “How am I supposed to run an operation when you’re running a side operation.” I don’t really know what that means, but Leo says it in the trailer. This film looks like another lame attempt by Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe to win Oscars. I’m not buying it.
7) Flash of Genius: October 3rd
Greg Kinnear stars as an man who invents the intermittent windshield wiper, and then has it stolen from him buy the major auto manufacturers. This just looks like a boring film that will get a lukewarm response. For some reason, however, it has been getting a huge level of marketing with television and even radio advertisements. I doubt people will buy it.
6) RocknRolla: October 10th
Guy Ritchie is back in the genre he knows best, and this appears to be an English gangster film much in the mold of Lock Stock and Snatch. We’ll see if he still has his stuff, but for now, I’ll just pop in my DVDs of the older films that I can trust, and look to be almost identical in plot to this one.
Movies that Intrigue Me
5) Changeling: October 24th 
Angelina Jolie stars in this Clint Eastwood film about a woman whose son goes missing and is returned with something different. Any film that Eastwood directs (that’s not Flags of our Fathers of course) is worth checking out, and this looks to be no different. It got solid reviews with it premiered at Cannes, and Angelina Jolie is ready for a solid role.
4) W.: October 17th
 A film that is certain to be the years most controversial, Oliver Stone directs this biopic about our current president. While I am sure Stone will exaggerate many of the details, there is no denying that he has put together an awesome cast including Josh Broling (as Bush), Elizibeth Banks (as First Lady Laura), James Cromwell (as his father H. W.), Richard Dreyfuss (as Cheney), Thadie Newton (as Condoleezza Rice) and others as the rest of his cabinet. Whatever happens in this film, it will certainly be interesting.
3) Synecdoche, New York: October 24th
A film that I have been awaiting since last year, this is Charlie Kauffman’s directorial debut. I have loved the films he has written (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Being John Malkovich, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, and Adaptation. ) and this should prove to be equally compelling. It stars Philip Seymour Hoffman as a playwright who attempts to put on a production in a warehouse that includes a scale model of New York. It will probably boggle our minds, but that is Kauffman, isn’t it?
2) Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist: October 3rd
Michael Cera and Kat Dennings star as the eponymous Nick and Norah who meet each other one night in New York and have adventures. Something about the trailer really brought this movie to my attention, probably the indie style that I love. Cera is always great, and Dennings was really cool in Charlie Bartlett, so I might make my way to a cinema this week to check it out.
1) Zach and Miri Make a Porno: October 31st 
Seth Rogen and Elizibeth Banks star as two best friends who decide to make a porno together. This is Kevin Smith’s first film since Clerks 2, and I can only hope that it matches that film in hilarity. The only thing I don’t understand, is why are they releasing this film on Halloween? I guess there is probably a Saw film being released anyways.
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