I just came back from watching this very cool movie called Chronicle with my Kpop Dance Club folks. It's funny how I had no idea what the movie was about even until the first few minutes of it (not to mention I had to assure my friends that it wasn't anywhere near horror). However, the movie completely “killed” us. With that said, I couldn't help myself but do a little review about it in this post.
Set in Seattle, the sci/fi follows the story of a shy high school teenager, Andrew. As a geek in common, he was completely over his new video camera. He basically brought it everywhere, filming his daily life no matter where it takes place. When Andrew secluded himself during a party, he was approached by a boy, Steve, who persuaded him to film something that Steve and Andrew's cousin, Matt, just found. The discovery eventually resulted the group to develop telekinetic power – the ability of moving objects through mind.
When I said that the movie “killed”, I really meant of something simple in every aspect and even low-budget, could make a huge impression. The movie started off really simple as we were introduced to the life of a normal teenage boy to whom we felt pitiful at; he was picked on by school bullies, local muggers, and even rigorously abused by his alcoholic dad. Andrew's background and the discovery of his power allows a transition.
The movie itself transitioned slowly towards the end, from what was once a movie with simple, everyday life footage to somewhat darker, action-oriented scenes. The atmosphere also shifted as the movie itself started even with Matt singing to “Price Tag”. We really had no idea what it was about until the “discovery” scene.
The movie really changed in a whole for one-and-a-half hour simply in every way, including the protagonist's personality and even the cinematography.
Speaking of the cinematography, I had no problem with it. The movie was, well, a mockumentary. So basically we were given an impression as if we were watching videos we recorded in daily basis: shaky, the focus needed to be adjusted, and blurry. Even the angles could twist and crimp in an extreme way. If you were not getting used to seeing this kind of cinematography, you would most likely feel nauseous. But this element gives a realistic sense instead.
What really killed me the most was also the character's transition. Man, I always love transitions in the movie. The element of character's transition is what I think would move me the most in a movie, and even could make me cry at some points, but I didn't, though, on this movie. I shed tears when the emperor's life drastically shifted at the end of The Last Emperor, and also when Robin William's robot character in Bicentennial Man experienced a great change. But I never, I repeat, EVER – no matter how amazingly awesome Star Wars is – impressed by the transition of the once gentle-hearted Anakin Skywalker to becoming Darth Vader in Episode III.
Transition gives the sense of contrast and sometimes irony. It goes when a good character becomes bad and vice versa; a rich person loses all his fortune and vice versa, and so forth. The great transition at the end of the movie always makes you want to look back at the character's condition at the beginning of the movie. You kinda want to compare the character's life at the beginning of the movie and at the end, and how he underwent a change that would transform him someone different. That's when it strikes you as “that's so ironic!”.
Anyway, I won't spoil much about the specific transition I found in this movie, I just thought I'd give you some ideas from the examples I mentioned earlier. Given to the fact that the character was timid and all, *spoiler*you are likely to identify what became of him in the latter part of the movie. *spoiler*
Overall, the acting is average, but you'll find yourself falling in love with the deuteragonist, Matt. Find out why by watching the movie! Dane DeHaan, who portrayed Andrew, delivered quite a good acting. He might have the look of the boy next door but his acting really topples his image. although I think he hasn't done it to the fullest especially for a character who experienced a change.
Alex Russell who played as Andrew's cousin, Matt, deserves an appraisal as well. Matt's role was more of a guardian, brother-figure to Andrew. He was basically the wise figure of the group, the most mature, and deserved that credit for setting up the rules in using the power. Haha that's why I love him. And he's kinda cute too at some parts.
Michael B. Jordan also portrayed Steve really well. Steve had always been the “clown” in the group, the one that always came up with ideas of practical jokes and the most playful one. I think he's really adorable and audience can totally look up to him as a role model. Not only that he's sociable and a Student Body president candidate, but despite his popularity, he stays loyal with his two less popular and even secluded friends, Matt and Andrew. *spoiler* although it's sad to say that a dreadful thing came to him along the way *spoiler*.
It's a good thing the production house cast less popular actors so that they match with the format of the movie itself: a mockumentary. The casting of less popular actor in a mockumentary gives us an impression as if we were watching our friends' videos. Say, I bet it would have been awkward to see the already-famous Jake Gyllenhaal in a mockumentary.
Overall, I consider Chronicle to be the most realistic superpower-themed movie. People usually associate that kind of movie with typical “superhero vs supervillain” storyline, where the superhero, who was once a hero, retrieved a power, developed it, met the villain, and killed him the end. As the saying goes, “With big power comes big responsibility”, the bond of these boys was tested as they encountered their own enemy. That enemy was not any supervillain, but it was no other than their own superpower.
The movie might not have a strong twist. As mentioned, it emphasizes on transition. I believe, Josh Trank, the director, tries to deliver a superpower-themed story in a different way, involving an enemy that is not a visible villain, but more of an enemy within the character's selves. *spoiler*I pretty much consider the superpower itself, combined with Andrew's wish to explore his darker side, to be the antagonist. If you see the movie towards the end, you might think that there's no actual antagonist in the movie unlike stereotypical superhero movies (Andrew is just the host of the antagonist, but he isn't); the antagonist is, in short, unseen.*spoiler*
The realistic sense itself lies on the fact that we can relate the movie to us.
So basically the movie is the answer to what might be our everyday life question:
What would we do if we have a superpower? What would we do about it?
Chronicle visualizes what most of us normal people living in a modern world would think about having a superpower. Ideally, we'll use it for good, but most people or even ourselves, would prefer to do it for fun, playing pranks because we were invincible with that power. The movie basically gave you the realistic idea about how it felt like having a superpower and whether we were responsible towards it.
Chronicle gives you a chilling, tense sensation that won't make you move a muscle. Call me exaggerating, but whenever I sat on the theatre with jaw dropped, eyes widened, then I knew I was totally absorbed into the movie. This doesn't happen to movies like, strangely, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. If you're looking for an easy movie without having to interpret anything, Chronicle's storyline totally fulfills this criteria, as it's so simple and easy to understand.
Okay, so go on and see this movie. Being mindblown is guaranteed :)
It's not just another superhero/scifi flick
Btw, Elda has done a rich analysis on The Artist, which we came to see last night. Check her review!
I gotta say Part 1 was a little disappointing. Maybe that's because I'm not getting used to seeing movies that are cut off in the middle of the complication, thus we all have to wait for the latter portion of the movie several months ahead. I was a little nervous to see if the latter part of the movie will be as promising as most people say. Like everyone else, I wanted the final movie of the most intriguing saga of the decade to be brilliant. But in the end, all of my anxiety was answered positively.
Part 2 was absolutely, definitely intricate. I couldn't get more satisfied. All Potter fans are surely aware that Potter movies have got darker and darker each movie. As the final installment, you can guess that this movie is the darkest among the whole saga.
I read the novel, it's just that I forgot some parts of it because I only read it once and it was back the time when it was newly published. I'm pretty sure everything matches with the book, with some tiny parts that are cut off in the movie. The producers somehow try to fit all important details in the book to the movie that they want audience not to miss out (which leads to the movie being split up into two parts), and that's a good attempt. The several months of wait for the latter portion of the movie isn't wasteful.
The Battle of Hogwarts was also one of the tensest moments during the movie. The sense of unity among the wizards is strongly felt during the time where Hogwarts staff and Order of the Phoenix collaborated their power to create a shield to protect Hogwarts castle from Death Eaters' attack.
The latter portion of the movie resembles a war/disaster movie than the previous Harry Potter movies I knew before, seeing wizards and witches who were dying and injured due to the battle, lay on the stretchers in a Great turn-to-barrack Hall. The scene where Fred Weasley died as he was surrounded by his family, wasn't depicted to the fullest. Fred is one of the most important and loved Potter character and I guess, the director needs to include the scene how he died to add more emotional effect on the audience. But anyway, I definitely love the part where Molly Weasley bravely duelled with Bellatrix Lestrange and eventually killed her by dissolving into pieces.
Not to mention, one of the most awaited scenes in the whole Part 2 movie is, of course, the 19 Years Later scene. Audience have surely anticipated whether Warner Bros decided to replace the current actors with older ones. However, much to our surprise, the 30-something-year-old Potter and friends are still portrayed by Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Tom Felton, Bonnie Wright, and Rupert Grint!
You might wonder how could the teenage cast of Potter and friends portray the much older ones. Well, the make-up artists did all the job. They attempted to make Potter and friends as adult looking as possible.
Apparently, the make-up and appearance effect work out to all Daniel, Tom, Bonnie, and Rupert, except for Emma. Despite donning a mature trench coat, hand bag, and a hairstyle that hardly changes. No matter how they're trying to make Emma look out, it just doesn't work on her. She still looks slightly older than her age, and even everyone seems to agree that she acts more like a sister to "her" daughter, Rose.
Overall, the 19 Years Later scene is a scene where all Potter fans can reminisce back to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer Stone scene where Harry first boarded the train to Hogwarts. When I saw the scene, I felt dejavu and I felt like rewatching the Sorcerer Stone except the fact that it wasn't Harry who boarded the train, but his children instead.
Wow that's long...
The most impressive aspect of this part 2 is, it features a lot of flashbacks from the previous movies, especially the movie makes a lot of references to the very first movie. We all remember Harry Potter and the Sorcerer Stone (the first installment) as heart-lightening without any dark elements. It's simply a movie for children and family.
But along the time, Harry Potter movies just got darker and more serious as the stories were altering and the characters were growing up. Watching Part 2 would be a great opportunity for Potter fans to reminisce to the very first movie. In Part 2 movie, we can all catch a few glimpses of elements featured in the first movie, such as the original Harry Potter theme song that gradually ceased in each movie, but in most of Part 2 movie, you'll get to hear lots of Harry Potter original theme song that most Potter fans have longed to hear since the early movies.
Visual Effects are no doubt anymore. Harry Potter series are popularly known for the amazing effects and gigantic set. The effect producers really pull it off in the last installment.
Overall, Part 2 is the most emotional Potter movie that successfully paralyzed me on my seat. It successfully captured all audience's emotion too, I believe. Thus, I give it rating:
Shortly after the movie was done, Eileena, Jennifer, Bella, and I took some pictures in the...well...you know where girls these days like to take pictures while hanging out right? ^^
From left to right: Bella, Eileena, me, and Jennifer
We're not posing Glee's sign. But it's "7" instead, as in the Harry Potter 7.
Anyway, I'm so satisfied and sad at the same time. Satisfied because the final movie was beyond awesome, and sad because it concludes the whole chapters of Harry Potter movie series. I didn't go all emotional, sad, shedding tears after the movie finished, like some of people I heard. But you know the feeling when the saga you grow up with finally has to come to its end.
Here's a bit of not-really-an-artwork collage of mine dedicated to Harry Potter saga.