Page 7 - The University Star
TRENDS
Wednesday, September 7, 2005
Thunder fails to strike
an interest with moviegoers A Sound of Thunder is a blunder of a i m e - t r ave l ✯✯✯✯✯ tmovie and A Sound of should be Thunder avoided by all Dir.: Peter Hyams moviegoers. Stars: Edward Based on Burns, Catherine McCormack, Ben a short story by Ray BradKingsley bury, the Rated: PG-13 movie offers a glimpse at the city of Chicago in the year 2055. In this future, time travel has been invented by the company Time Safari Inc. In order to generate revenue, the company’s wealthy owner, Charles Hatton (Kingsley), offers people the chance to travel to prehistoric times and hunt dinosaurs for a high price. On one of these expeditions, led by Dr. Travis Ryer (Burns) and his experienced team, the past is altered. So Ryer needs to find out what went wrong with the help of the inventor of time travel, Dr. Sonia Rand (McCormack). There are no new developments in this time-travel story. It follows the same premise we’ve seen for years: When characters go into the past and change something, the future is affected, and they must fix the problem in order to keep the world from being altered forever. One of the biggest problems with the movie is the visual effects, which look as though more than half the movie was
film review
filmed in front of a green screen with the background added in later. The poorly generated computerized graphics are apparent right from the first hunting expedition that opens the film. The dinosaurs look inauthentic, preventing viewers from being frawn into the movie. The visuals suffer not only in the distant past but also on the streets of futuristic Chicago, which feature sidewalks and cars that look more like low-grade videogame graphics than the real thing. The dialogue also does nothing to help the audience believe in the movie. Filled with halfwitted, snappy one-liners and unneeded battles of ego between
characters, the dialogue pushes viewers further away from the story. None of the big-name actors appearing in this movie have much to work with, and the movie suffers because of it. Then, once the future is filled with creatures wreaking havoc on Chicago, dialogue is replaced altogether by mind-numbing violence as the characters try to survive. Unless you wish to sit through almost two hours of uninspired banter and battles between humans and computerized images, you should stay far away from this sad excuse for a movie. — Nick Gilmore
Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Ben Kingsley and Ed Burns go back in time to hunt dinosaurs in A Sound of Thunder.
Transporter 2 fails to stand out in genre With summer blockb u s t e r s out ✯ clearing of movie Transporter 2 houses, the Dir.: Louis Leterbeginning of rier Stars: Jason Sta- the fall movie thus tham, Alessandro lineup Gassman, Amber far has been filled with Valletta, Kate dribble that Nauta should be reRated: PG-13 leased straight to video. The stereotypical nonstop action film Transporter 2 falls in this category. Although the first film was considered a worldwide hit, the sequel is not worth scrambling to theaters to see. Directed by Louis Leterrier (Unleashed), Transporter 2 stars Jason Statham (The One, The Italian Job) as mercenary transporter Frank Martin. It also stars Italian actor Alessandro Gassman, Amber Valletta (Hitch), and supermodel Kate Nauta.
film review
Martin has relocated from the French Mediterranean to Miami since the first film. As a favor to a friend, Martin is taking 6-yearold Jack Billings (Hunter Clay), the son of a wealthy and powerful politician, with him. The two unexpectedly bond, despite Martin’s lack of experience with children. As with any other action film, Martin has a love interest, namely Jack’s mother Audrey (Valletta). The two share an interest for one another, as Audrey is estranged from her husband and likes the bond Martin and her son share. However, this romance is left in the cold as the movie progresses. The film’s plot centers on Jack’s kidnapping, led by the mercenary thug Gianni (Gassman), who has injected the boy with a deadly virus that has the potential to kill anyone he breathes on, aimed specifically at his father. Martin goes on the hunt for Jack’s kidnappers while being hunted himself by the mer-
ciless, lingerie-clad murderess, Lola (Nauta). Although the film attempts to create the new prototype for James Bond-like action films, Transporter 2 does nothing to separate itself from the multitude. It features the same uberexpensive ad placements, such as Martin’s Audi A8 and Apple iPods, sexy scenes and plenty of sprays of gun fire. Most of the dialogue is dry and predictable, almost to the point that if the volume were turned off, one could easily fill in the words. Despite the film’s run-of-themill plot and dialogue, it has its moments. There are some amazing stunts and martial arts sequences done by Statham himself. Not to mention a few instances of genuine comedy. Overall, Transporter 2 is nothing to flock to, but if all you want is an hour and a half of brainless fighting and face kicking, then it may be worth watching. — Maira Garcia
Courtesy of 20th Century Fox Jason Statham reprises his role as ex-special forces operative Frank Martin in Transporter 2.
A.W.A.R.E. Always Wanted A Riding Experience Volunteer Training Session Dates: • Sat., Aug. 27 from 11:00 am-1:00 pm • Mon., Aug. 29 from 6:30-8:30 pm • Tues., Aug. 30 from 6:30-8:30 pm • Thurs., Sept. 1 from 6:30-8:30 pm • Wed., Sept. 7 from 6:30-8:30 pm • Sat., Sept. 10 from 11:00 am-1:00 pm
WANTED!
Therapeutic Riding Center needs volunteers to work with horses and special people. No experience necessary.
You need to attend only one training session.
For more information or to sign up for a training session, contact: Always Wanted A Riding Experience
at
75-HORSE
1708 Centerpoint Rd. San Marcos East on Centerpoint Rd. 1/2 mile past Outlet Malls