Gnomeo and Juliet

Swanner: The latest offering from Disney is a new version of Romeo and Juliet called Gnomeo and Juliet, where garden gnomes come to life and and fall in love. Following the Shakespearian tragedy we have two house parted by a fence where our Gnomeo and Juliet live. The households argue so of course the gnomes in the yard carry on the same argument. It’s a sweet take off of the original Globe production that follows these star-crossed lovers

Judd: It was also voiced by some pretty serious Shakespearian heavy hitters like Michael Caine, Maggie Smith, Patrick Stewart and Hulk Hogan. The movie was produced by Elton John and his songs are being heavily promoted as a big part of the movie – which I felt like the songs were crow barred in. They didn’t advance the plot or add anything to the movie.

Swanner: I can’t believe you’re bitching about the music when there is so much more to complain about. The script is a bit messy and the character development was not the best. Maybe they figured that everyone knows the story but you’re playing to children who have no idea about the story, Shakespeare or half of the jokes they were telling. Kelly Asbury (Shrek 2) did and ok job with the direction but the script by Asbury and the eight others make it feels like their were too many cooks in the kitchen

Judd: Please, the children don’t know the story? I doubt the adults we watched the movie with were familiar with the story! They were all bussed in from Rio Linda; some of them didn’t even bother changing out of their pajamas. One lady asked us why we got to sit in a reserved area. When I told her we’re press, she asked me “Press what?” I’m sure the story was totally new to them.

Swanner: Well that is just sad then. It was an odd audience that was for sure. Look, as a kids movie it was fine. It move swiftly and there was plenty of humor to keep the kids interested. As for adults … I think they’ll be as bored as you were. With the amount of talent they had behind this movie i expected better.

Judd: The movie is a Rocket Pictures/Starz Animation/Touchstone production. Outside of Touchstone, Rocket and Starz aren’t exactly known for animated movies. We’ve been conditioned to expect Pixar and Dreamworks quality and Gnomeo misses the mark.

Swanner:
Judd:

Sanctum

Swanner: An underwater diving expedition find themselves pushed further into unexploded tunnels when sudden weather change hampers their escape. The survivors have to find another way out before their supplies run out. Produced by Academy Award winner James Cameron and directed by new comer Alister Grierson, they bring to screen an action packed film with great pacing and technically a tight film. The main problem here for me was the script.

It’s kind of funny because the script (by John Garvin and Andrew Wright) is very much in the style of other Cameron’s scripts, two-dimensional characters and a very simple plot. This on goes even further than Cameron’s scripts because the outcome was obvious and most of the characters were just set up to knock off. This is a first time script for both writers so it makes sense they might model Cameron’s past work. Past the script you do have a good little thriller. The cinematographer, Jules O’Loughlin, does a great job creating a very eerie and creepy place. The underwater scenes are really well shot and there is that 3D aspect to consider. When I think of the best movies for 3D I think of animated and special effect oriented films. The 3D worked nicely here although I’m sure the film will work fine in 2D once the film makes it to home video.

The most of the cast will be unfamiliar to American audiences with the exception to Ioan Gruffudd (Fantastic Four) but they all do a nice job with what they have to work with. I don’t want to be mean but some of the dialog is almost laughable especially between the father and son. I’m not one that enjoys tight places so I felt a bit unnerved during mean of the scenes and so some folks that will be enough. I think a bit more experience is what this film needed. As well as the movie looks it’s just the weak script that keeps coming back to mind. So if you can justify the ticket prices for some well shot 3D adventure then give it a try, if not … wait for video.