8A - Monday, February 20, 2012 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com 8A - Monday, February 20, 2012 The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom FILM REViE A 'Ghost' of a story FILM REVIEW 'Arrietty' has big heart Nicolas Cage, dim script detract from effects in sequel By AKSHAY SETH DailyArts Writer There's no doubting that Nico- las Cage really is bat-shit crazy. Seriously, the guy was arrested in 2011 for pub- lic intoxication, stares at rep- tiles for fun and Ghost Rider: prepared for his latest film by Spirit of dressing up like Vengeance an "Afro-New Orleanian" voo- AtQuality 16 doo icon. Yeah, and Rave there aren't Columbia many marbles rolling around up there; but still, we can't over- look the fact that somehow, this man hasan Oscar. Cage can act. And that surpris- ing truth has further befuddled the confused people who find themselves watching the dreck he's been in during the past few years. "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Ven- geance," is no exception to this trend. It's an overblown super- hero adaptation with a few gothic touches brushed on to add a half- assed semblance of "uniqueness." Needless to say, the gimmick doesn't work. The script picks up eight years after the conclusion of the first "Ghost Rider" and follows Johnny Blaze, played by Cage, as he struggles to deal with the satanic curse that gives him his superpowers. After the events of the previous film, Blaze is in hid- ing somewhere within Eastern Europe, until he's approached by a French monk (Idris Elba, "Thor"). After subjecting us to a few of the patently shitty one-liners this film is drowning in, Elba's character tasks Blaze with find- COLUMBIA "I whip my hair back and forth." ing and protecting a young child that the Devil (Ciarin Hinds, "The Woman in Black") is trying to turn into the Antichrist. If the Ghost Rider is able to return the child in safe condition, his curse will be lifted. Also along for the ride is Nadya (Violante Placido, "The American"), the kid's moth- er: "the Devil's baby mama," in Cage's eloquent wording. Neveldine/Taylor ("Crank"), the directorial team behind this waste of a movie ticket, is known for an uncanny ability to cre- ate glossy CGI on a budget. And that's likely the only reason they were hired. Tobe fair, some of the action sequences in this film real- ly are worth watching. The large- scale fight scenes between the Ghost Rider and the Devil's min- ions are fun to watch and prob- ably couldn't have been recreated in all their glory by another team of directors. Sadly, that's only going to be enough for the audience mem- bers who care about nothing other than how cool the action is. But in the average movie-goer's mind, when there's absolutely no weight behind any of the charac- ters and the script feels unneces- sarily beaten down and forced, it's difficult to remain engaged, regardless of the action. Needless to say, the silly script doesn't help the performances, none of which are noteworthy, except for how bad they are. Cage, with his typically overblown take on character analysis, finds a way to make us chuckle every now and then - but it's always clear that we're laughing at him, not with him. When all's said and done, "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Ven- geance," ends up falling in line with the other horrible superhe- ro adaptations that have come out this year. The script falls prey to overused mechanics and a whole lot of money is wasted trying to make up for it through intricate- ly composed action sequences. Cage, with all his financial issues, has reason enough totake part in the nonsense. To the rest of the people involved - what the hell were you thinking? By SEAN CZARNECKI Daily Arts Writer Like most fantasies, "The Secret World of Arrietty" thrives on the promise of adventure and forays into dan- ger. Whether the hero is the young stable The Secret boy, the trapped princess, the World of eager prince or Aretty the noble peas- ant (e.g. Luke At Qualityl6 Skywalker, and Rave Frodo Baggins, Harry Potter, Walt disney Dorothy Gale), Studios they're all given the same choice: to either run from danger or to confront it. The titular Arrietty Clock (Bridgit Mendler, "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel") is a Borrower - a dying race of min- iature people who "borrow" small things from humans in order to survive. They lead a dangerous life, hiding from crows, cats and most of all, humans. One night, when Arrietty and her father Pod (Will Arnett, "Despicable Me") venture out from their little home underneath the floor, they are discovered by the house's newest human resident, Shawn (David Henrie, "Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie"). Shawn is a sickly boy who has come to his mother's (and the Clocks') childhood home, away from the city, seeking some tran- quility before his heart surgery. His mother would have spent some time with him, but she and her divorced husband are too busy with their work. Before his life comes to an end, as he's so con- vinced it will, he wants a friend. And Shawn finds one in Arrietty, despite her stoic father and wor- risome mother, Homily (Amy Poehler, TV's "Parks and Recre- ation"). Their friendship is built on curiosity. On one hand, Arrietty "Are you kitten me right meow?" is force human: given a thing tunity] They l Like an whethe or, in, "Arriett affirms Th cl 0 d to overcome her fear of ence to see our world from the s. On the other, Shawn is perspective of someone so small. n opportunity to do some- However, there are times that extraordinary, an oppor- such wonder falls short of deliver- he may never have again. ing something actually thrilling. earn to trust each other. It's a slower movie for people who ny good children's movie, might anticipate a more Ameri- r it's- released from Pixar canized cartoon. While its the- this case; Studio Ghibli, matic content is mature, it makes ty" rewards curiosity and no attempt to appease older view- courage. ers with subtle innuendos as "Shrek" or any number of other animated films have done. It's a le Borrower "pretty" movie, but at times, it feels more like a lullaby, the type [an is back. of old movie or informercial you throw on to put you to sleep. Still, the actors all do a solid job at voicing their characters. It's a "Arrietty" is not without thoughtful film that celebrates ver tricks. Despite being friendship, and there's enough rawn, the world of the clean humor to charm its viewers. 'ers has enough detail and Studio Ghibli tries to capture plendor to win over audi- the magic of a world just below more accustomed to the our own. Ittries to make us aware ze of the past decade. Size of what we trample on every day. eyed on a grand scale. The For the most part, "Arietty" suc- a cat's eyes, the thunder- ceeds. And maybe when the chil- unding of a crow's wings, dren go home after watching the h forests of a backyard, movie, they'll step softly, hoping possible heights of a coffee to not disturb the little people in it's a wonderful experi- their walls. But its clev hand-d Borrow visual s ences r CGI cra is conv glow of ous pot the lus the imp table - The Ride -a-t 4- D Your Public Transit.Connection 9 YMCA Camps Nissokone and Ohiyesa L Where YOU help kids discover ... Confidence, Friendship, Teamwork and more! 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