DCT Podcast Episode 27: The Old Guard

Da Couch Tomato Podcast, Episode 27, discussing Netflix's The Old Guard, the awesome action sequences, and the start of direct-to-streaming franchises.

Background music used is from The Old Guard musical score composed by Volker Bertelmann and Dustin O’Halloran.

Hosts: Sting Lacson and Rachel

Rating: 7.75/10

Young Adult

I heard some award buzz for Charlize Theron in this film, for playing Mavis Gary—a young-adult-series ghost-writer, who's recently divorced and is probably an alcoholic—very well. And it's no surprise; she was convincing playing a pathetic girl.

She still looks hot, though.

Mavis decides to go back to her hometown to snatch his former boyfriend from his wife and newborn and live happily ever after. Only, the results aren't what she hoped for, and it's not really a surprise, because she's totally disillusioned.

"This is color splash is called fashion, people!" 

Promising premise? Maybe. But there is really nothing else to it. It could have been a late coming-of-age thing. Theron was so convincing, you'll just really feel very sorry for her and that's that. Treatment is kind of a bore, and Mavis didn't really grow much. But the movie has its tagline in the bag: "Some people grow old but never grow up", or something like that.

Even her dog walked all over her. 

I couldn't believe this was written by Diablo Cody and directed by Jason Reitman—the same team behind Juno, which I think had a really great story and overall treatment. Young Adult, for me doesn't even come close. I understand it's a different material, of course, but then again...

Like a cool Mini Cooper, only a really broken one. (What?)

Young Adult gets a five out of 10, for failing capitalize on Charlize Theron's awesome acting skills and leaving the film bland in more ways than one.



*screencaps by VLC

Prometheus. 3D

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If you grew up in the 80s, then you're most likely a fan of the Alien film franchise. And why wouldn't you be, when the Xenomorph is probably the most badass film alien of that decade.

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Compared to this guy.

The layman will tend to think that Prometheus is a prequel to Alien (the first film in the Alien franchise), but director Ridley Scott vehemently denies this. While the film takes place in the same universe as Alien, Scott describes it as something more than a prequel, something that is an original film but just happened to have some similarities with Alien.

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Like the ship, for instance.

Hancock

Named after the famous signatory of the US Declaration of Independence whose flamboyant handwriting became synonymous with the word "signature" itself, the new John Hancock is a totally different character altogether---an ill-tempered, alcoholic superhero.


Now the idea itself is fresh, and it differs from Iron Man in that Iron Man is just a regular human being, without any superpowers, so his flaws are understandably human. Hancock, on the other hand, is a superhuman, and it is rather interesting to watch a superhuman with human flaws.

Will Smith tones down his acting, staying true to the character, and actually succeeds in making the audience sympathize with him. Jason Bateman plays the nice guy Ray, the PR consultant who gives Hancock an inside-out makeover. Of course, Mr. Bateman is a natural at playing nice guys, so there really is no problem there. And of course, Charlize Theron plays the hot mama, and you're going to have to watch the movie to find out what her character's really about.

The reason this movie doesn't quite make it in my book is the storyline itself. It starts out great, with a flying drunk superhero who fights crime while destroying city property at the same time. I was expecting a sort of in-depth character analysis of Hancock, showing us every facet of his otherwise depressing superhero life. But the movie takes a dramatic twist at the end, which I believe was the producers' way of creating a smooth transition to a possible sequel. Anyway, with a character-driven plot that compromises its character, no amount of brilliant directing, even from someone like the talented Peter Berg, can save it.

But again, my review is just my opinion, and my opinion is as good as yours, so I suggest you just go and watch it yourself, to keep you occupied before Christian Bale and Heath Ledger take control of the box office.


Rating: Three stars.