OCR Text |
Show HILLTOP TIMES TIMES Jan. 17, 2013 11 See 'Cloud Atlas so you can discuss it BY STEVE SALLES Standard-Examiner movie critic mbitious. Trippy. Unusual. Those were the words I wrote down while watching the nearly threehour extravaganza "Cloud Atlas." It spans hundreds of years, featuring a number of recognizable actors in a number of unrecognizable costumes and nose fittings, with overlapping stories and grand, philosophical ideas. And yet, I'm not sure if I liked it because it tried to do so much, or if I was put off by its underlying tone and message. Let's just say if you're a big fan of the idea of reincarnation, you'll probably enjoy this movie. If not, you might still appreciate the aesthetics of this grand opus, but perhaps not its sentiments. I will try desperately to set up this film, but fear I will fail miserably, because it's so tough to nail down. It features stories from the Pacific Islands in the 1840s, London in the 19305, an American coast in the 1970s, present-day London and New York City, New Seoul in the not-too-distant future, and some apocalyptic locale in a much more distant time. Told you it was trippy. Then you have Tom Hanks playing six different characters, the most unrecognizable one as an international thug/ author named Dermot Hoggins. Halle Berry has six roles, Jim Broadbent plays five, Hugo Weaving six, Jim Stun gess seven, and it goes on and on. The stories go back and forth without much rhyme, but with serious reason as lives are altered for the better or worse through the course of time. Albert Brooks made fun of this concept in "Defending 'Hotel Transylvania' needs livening up Warner Brothers Tom Hanks as Zachry and Halle Berry as Meronym in the epic drama "Cloud Atlas," which is playing at the Base Theater at 6 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 19. Your Life" as he and his afterlife girlfriend, Meryl Streep, paid a visit to the past lives pavilion. There they could see who they were in previous incarnations. She discovers she was Prince Valiant in an earlier life. Brooks discovers he was a native, running from a lion, otherwise known as "dinner." However, there's nothing HOTEL funny about the feel of "Cloud Atlas," as many characters meet violent deaths or suffer through difficult circumstances. OK, Jim Broadbent is funny a couple of times, but that was it. In retrospect, I'd have to say I'm glad I saw it. It's like no other film in recent memory and manages the time leaps with skill and purpose. But I'd con••• . TRilliSYLVillilk' aurain 11011110, ;' BY STEVE SALLES Standard-Examiner movie critic I can just hear Hollywood saying, "We need more vampires!" So they come up with "Hotel Transylvania," an animated tale of an overprotective bloodsucker father who doesn't want his little girl to grow up too soon and run off with the wrong boy, especially if he's a mere mortal. Count Dracula (voiced by Adam Sandler) will invite his favorite monster pals to come out of the shadows to stay at his ghoulish sanctuary, the Hotel Transylvania, for some much needed R&R (rest & rabies), plus celebrate his little Mavis's 118th birthday (Selena Gomez). The guest list includes Frankenstein (Kevin James) and his lovely bride Eunice (Fran Drescher), Wayne the werewolf (Steve Buscemi) and his wife Wanda (Molly Shannon) and their pack of miscreant wolflings, Griffin also have to say I'm not looking forward to seeing it again, as the three-hour length does not lead to some spectacular realization or jaw-dropping conclusion. It just is. And if you're OK with that, you might want to give "Cloud Atlas" a chance — if for no other reason than you want to be part of the conversation that surely will follow. Sony Pictures Animation Inc. Murray the Mummy (Ceelo Green), Frankenstein (Kevin James), Wayne (Steve Buscemi) and his wife Wanda (Molly Shannon) and other guests check into "Hotel Transylvania." the Invisible Man (David Spade) and Murray the Mummy (CeeLo Green), among others. The Count has been promising Mavis that he will let her visit the village of humans for years, but worries they will harm her, so he sets up a little ruse to frighten her back to the safety and comfort of the castle. In the meantime, a freedom-loving goofball human named Jonathan (Andy Samberg) stumbles onto the festivities by accident. Dracula is mortified that he's allowed a "human" to breach his security, so he passes him off as a distant cousin of Franken- stein's, brought in to liven up Mavis' birthday celebration. Mavis and Jonathan catch sight of each other and have a "zing" moment, that special occurrence where love finds a way. But the Count will have nothing to do with his precious daughter becoming attached to a dangerous human. The film is filled with zany party scenes and flying table chases, to the point where I was starting to tune the whole thing out. Then, it would return to a thoughtful moment between father and daughter, or a romantic perch on the roof where Mavis and Jonathan gaze at the moon and get to know each other. But I think the filmmakers were more fearful that children would get bored, so they ramped up the action once again to keep things moving. Instead of trusting the story or the audience, "Hotel Transylvania" feels compelled to fill every cinematic nook and cranny with wacky distractions. Religious Servicesr; Lutheran United Methodist FIRST UNITED METHODISTCHURCH Sunday Worship 10:00 am & 6:00 pm Nursery care provided during warship - (WELS) M 15 minutcs north of HAFB on 1-15. Exit 346 801-393-5662- v..wwfumcogdenut.org Serving the Ogden Area since 1870 Community United Methodist Church Join us for Worship 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m. Childcare, Sunday School, and Youth Group every Sunday. 163 West 4800 South Washington Terrace 479-7430 www.community-umc.net Church of Ogden Sunday Worship stoned Sunday Nursery Visitors Expected! 10:30 a.m. Church Caffeinated 1974 IC Fairfield, Layton (Across from Post Office) Way Call Pastor Doug Lance at 444-1591 PAIOW101474 www_lluhialthevallev-wels U nitarian Universal'l L--13- apisM UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST LIGHT OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH Sunday Sdlool for all ages - Youth Group Eva). Sunday 1339 West 400 North, Marriott-Slaterville 71‘ig-penominatior al, ore OUR SAVIOR'S LUTHERAN CHURCH Sunday School: 9:00 am Worship Service 10:20 am alpinechurch.org 1801.392.8000 January 20, 10:30 a.m. The Covenant Bill Hackett Dan Arnow Worship Associate UUCO, 705 23rd Street Inlo.3S14338 www.ouco.otg You are Invited to an exciting Church Clearfield Community Church OnleWailid L-tuttg IAA Classic Sunday Worship..9 am Contemporary Sunday Worship..11:30am Adult and Youth Bible Study offered 5560 S. 2300 W. Roy, Utah 84067 (801)825-6552 www.osicroy.com Sunday School-all ages..10:30am 200 South 500 East, Clearfield, Ut 84015 Office: 801-825-1115 mw.dearfieldcommunitychurch.org Twitter: Oclearrieldcc please contact Mitzi at 801-625-4371 Sunday Worship: 10:30 am Sunday School: 9:00 am 2585 E. 3000 N., Layton " (8011771-3204 [just W of Hwy 89 on Hwy 193) mountainviewbc.org North entral Ha lta.Chureh 10 am Bible Class -I- 1 I am Morning Service 6 pm Evening Service Thursday 7 pm Prayer & Bible Study 5800 S. 1900 W. Roy, Ut (so or AutoZon: 801 -51 3-6072 n orthcentralhaptistchurch.coln sbyteill Westminster Worship 9:00 AM To publish your Church Announcement in the Church Directory, Mountain View I Baptist Church MC) A community of faith for the community around us wpcutah.com 796 S. Mountain Rd, Fruit Heights |