Movie Music and More #11: "Hercules" (2014)

As stated in my review of Hercules yesterday (review here), Hamlette will be highlighting some of the best parts of the Hercules soundtrack.

Hamlette here again, to discuss another enjoyable soundtrack.

I almost didn't go see Hercules (2014) in the theater last summer.  I do enjoy Dwayne Johnson's movies, but I don't know a lot about the Greek gods and goddesses, and the trailers for this didn't really grab me.  But I'm glad I did, because it turned out to be a truly fun movie, not serious, but not too cheesy either.  In fact, I went to see it twice, and ended up buying the DVD too!

The music fits it incredibly well, with lots of gutsy action stuff, bold and epic.  Hands-down, my favorite track is "Arrival at Lord Cotys' City."  It's full of swagger and bravado, and makes me want to hop in a chariot and do a victory lap around the city.

But I also really like "The Lion's Tooth" because it's a complete change of pace from most of the other tracks.  It's soft and tender, a quiet moment in the middle of all the mayhem.  I like soundtracks that don't sound all the same all the time -- variety is important!  Even a big, brawny action movie needs some quiet time, and I like the soundtrack to reflect that too.

That's all for today, friends!  I hope you're enjoying this series of guest posts as much as I am.

Hercules (2014) Review

Hercules, a fun twist on a classic tale.

Plot Summary: Hercules starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is a realistic take on the lore surrounding the legendary Hercules. Hercules and his band of mercenaries are hired by the Thracians to fight a war against the warlord Rhesus but things are not as they seem.

Directed by: Brett Ratner

Genre: Action, Adventure,

Release Date: July 25, 2014

Running Time: 98 minutes

MMPA rating: PG-13

The Good: Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is innately likable, Fun and entertaining action, Fascinating twist on a classic story, Throwback to classic adventures flicks, Great use of humor,

The Bad: Predictable, Clichés (especially towards the end), Clichéd villain,

Plot: 6.1/10- Hercules' plot is a simple adventure story of fighting the bad guys. However, its simplicity is its charm. It is like a throwback to the adventure flicks of old like the Adventures of Robin Hood. The final Act is terribly clichéd, and it is predictable, but that does not prevent the film from being fun, which is what matters most with a movie like this.

My favorite aspect of the film is the twist on the classic Hercules story. *First 5 minutes spoiler* After a sequence recounting the Twelve Labors of Hercules, the film reveals that Hercules is no demi-god, but rather just a man with a legend. He uses this legend of being the son of Zeus to strike fear in the hearts of his enemies, and the use of psychological warfare early in the film is a very intriguing idea. *End Spoiler* Unfortunately, the final Act falls into the typical clichés, but the early part of the film is inventive.

Characterization: 6.0/10- Hercules and his band of mercenaries are a likable group of misfits. They are barely developed as characters, but they work within the old school story. However, Hercules does have some depth to his character. The villain, on the other hand, is about as clichéd as they come.

Action/Direction: 6.5/10- Hercules' battle sequences are entertaining to watch. There is nothing inventive about the action, but it does not rely on CGI. Brett Ratner's direction, unfortunately, holds the film back from being something more. Visually, it has a typical Hollywood shine, which is not bad, but the film fails to make the setting believable as it could be.

Acting: 6.0/10- Dwayne Johnson is undeniably likable in the role of Hercules. He plays up the comedic side well, and his innate charm makes him perfect for the A-typical heroic type. The rest of the cast are all okay, but not memorable. 

Special effects: 5.9/10- The CGI was a little lacking in the beginning. However, the majority of the effects are practical, which is always a plus.

Soundtrack: 7.2/10- Fernando Velázquez's score compliments the film well, and you can learn more about the score in tomorrow's Movie Music and More by Hamlette.

Humor: 7.9/10- Thankfully, Hercules does not take itself too seriously, and the humor reflects its sentiment.

There are plenty of corny one-liners and genuinely good comedy throughout. However, the obligatory f-word is comically out-of-place and unnecessary. It almost felt like the movie said, "Okay, stop everything, time to drop the f-word." It was completely out of place in the period setting.

Entertainment Value: 7.4/10- Hercules is a fun movie; no question. It is a true popcorn flick that you can just sit back and enjoy without much effort, and sometimes, you need that kind of old school entertainment.

Overall: 6.3/10- A fun throwback to the adventures flicks of old, Hercules is a lighthearted new take on a classic legend. It might not be groundbreaking, but it is certainly an entertaining one-time watch.

Closing comments: Dwayne Johnson should make more of these old school action flicks. He has the perfect heroic personality for them.

Recommended for: Adventure fans, Greek myth fans, Action fans,

Click here to check out more of my movie reviews.

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Steve Jobs Trailer with Michael Fassbender

As shown by this trailer, Michael Fassbender will star in Steve Jobs as the legendary Apple innovator. Originally, Leonardo DiCaprio and Christian Bale were rumored to play Jobs, but, as you can see, Fassbender will star in the role. 

Well, this is an interesting choice. His voice is significantly different than his usual accent to the point where I did not even recognize it at first. However, Fassbender does not look like Jobs all that much, but maybe he will look better in full film, although that is a big problem. Seth Rogen as Steve Wozniak is another unique choice. He is a funny actor, so I am not sure how we will play the awkward Wozniak. The rest of the cast is excellent, so this Steve Jobs film could be something special. 

Even though I have never owned an Apple product (they are ridiculously expensive), I am studying in computers and History of Computers was a course I took, where I learned about the real history, so I am interested in that respect as well. So, what do you think of Fassbender as Jobs and the movie itself? Please comment below and let me know, and check back tomorrow for my review of Hercules.

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Avengers: Age of Ultron - Podcast Part 2

Our second part of the Avengers: Age of Ultron Spoiler podcast where we talk about more characters like Hawkeye, Nick Fury, and our thoughts on Captain America: Civil War. As before, you can listen to the podcast below or download it for mobile devices. Please let us know what you thought of the podcast in the comments, and if you missed the first part, you can click here to listen to it.

Right click and "save as" to download.

Host: James the Reviewer from J and J Productions 1809
Co-Host: Jamie from Through Two Blue Eyes

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Supergirl Trailer

Supergirl, the romantic comedy of superheroes? Supergirl is the latest TV adaptation of a DC posterity, and as the trailer explains, Supergirl is the cousin of Superman. Well, this trailer is certainly divisive. Some people absolutely hate it, while others actually kind of like it. My first thought is that it could be a fun, albeit goofy, superhero romcom, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Unfortunately, Supergirl is airing on CBS, and therefore is not connected to the spectacular CW-verse with Arrow and The Flash. If it was connected, I would be 100% onboard with this series. Despite dropping Gotham due to it being painfully mediocre (and from the reviews, I did not miss anything), I am skeptically optimistic about Supergirl because it looks like it trying to be a classic superhero story with a romcom on the side. The superhero parts look fun, but the other parts look generic. There is potential for an epic fail here, so I am curious if the creators can make it work.

Since DC is apparently incapable of getting their stuff together, Supergirl is not likely to be connected with any other DC series or movie. It uses a lot of Superman references, so I wonder if Superman can ever become a part of the series, but that is also unlikely. Even if he does, it will be an entirely different Superman than the movie version.

What do you think? Please comment below and let me know.

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.