Review: The Extraordinary Voyages of Jules Verne

Written and Directed by Philip Gardiner
Distributed by Reality Entertainment Films (www.reality-entertainment.com)
Trailer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOKZzaTyeZY
Release Date: June 1, 2008
Running Time: 60 minutes
Format: DVD

In a world of secret societies and hidden knowledge, one man struggles against an oppressive church and his inner demons to reveal the ultimate truth of human existence. It sounds like the plot of a Dan Brown novel, but this is the incredible real-life story of legendary author Jules Verne. From Philip Gardiner (Gnosis: The Secret of Solomon's Temple) comes The Extraordinary Voyages of Jules Verne--an in-depth analysis of the life and works of one of the most influential writers of modern times.

Content

The film is split into four parts, each detailing an important facet of the enigma that is Jules Verne.

In Part 1, "Jules Verne," Verne's childhood is explored. From his troubled upbringing by a strictly religious, self-flagellating father to his teenage years and introduction to Freemasonry, Gardiner paints a portrait of a rebellious young man fascinated with esoteric--and often heretical--arts.

Having written such universally well-known novels as Journey to the Center of the Earth and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Jules Verne is a household name. The release of Walden Media and New Line Cinema's 3D movie adaptation of Journey to the Center of the Earth is further evidence of the far-reaching impact Verne's ideas have had on Western society. Still, I would venture a guess that few of us that are aware of his work are as familiar with the man's past. In the opening minutes of Extraordinary Voyages, Gardiner does an admirable job of diving into the story behind the stories, showcasing the key points in Verne's childhood that lead him down the path of Gnosticism and Freemasonry. This biography with an esoteric twist is what I feel to be the film's strongest and most interesting aspect.

The bulk of the film's content can be found in Part 2, "The Works." In these scenes, Gardiner details Verne's need to encrypt hidden messages within his writings. Although brimming with ideas about anti-materialism, Gnosticism and the meaning of human existence, Verne, Gardiner argues, was forced to include them as a subtext in his fiction to avoid the wrath of the church and various secret societies. By providing specific examples of Verne's use of Freemason values such as brotherhood and death/rebirth allegory, Gardiner lays out a convincing and unique array of evidence that goes against the grain of other Verne biographers. Without question, the hidden symbolism Gardiner reveals adds a new layer of depth to Verne's writing. For those well versed in his work, it may inspire you to go back and re-read them with new eyes.

Parts 3 and 4, titled "Hetzel" and "The Circle" respectively, felt like more of an afterthought compared to the first two. Considerably shorter, they elaborate more on the final years of Verne's life and his decent into poverty and depression. The highly speculative and rather out-there Part 4 stood out for me as the film's low point. Without providing any more evidence than the cryptic words of a madman, Gardiner puts forth the theory that Verne's nephew--who shot him at point-blank range with a pistol--did so because he was under the spell of a secret society mind control technique. Such a theory would make for a great work of fiction, but ultimately I feel it did little else but detract from the film's overall credibility.

To bring the movie to an end, Gardiner adds an epilogue as well as an "Interesting Facts" montage. The latter of these is set to the oddly memorable song, "The Next Time That I see You On The Moon" by Kenneth L. King. It's worth sitting through the credits for and serves as a wonderfully lighthearted conclusion.

DVD

Displayed prominently on the DVD case's backside is the promise of "...stunning computer generated recreations, in-depth analysis, beautiful music, and original archival footage." I would agree on all of these points but for the first one. For this kind of production, the computer generated effects are above average, but "stunning" they are not. On a whole, they look like video game cinematics circa 1999. At their best, the graphics are laughable. At their worst, they're distracting and overbearing. Though as an unintended side effect, the spiraling animations set to the film's classical score can often turn scenes into a hypnotizing collage akin to a media player visualization. Often this will help you through the film's slower parts.

Narration fidelity is top notch, coming through crisp and vibrant. Moreover, the film's eclectic mix of techno and classical score is well timed and of high quality.

Missing from the DVD is an attractive menu system and any special features. The barebones menu allows only for scene selection, lacking any kind of language or subtitle options. Also, I would have liked to at least have access to stills of the footage taken at Verne's home as a special feature. The complete absence of any extras is disappointing.

Final Thoughts

A biography with an Illuminati and Freemason twist, The Extraordinary Voyages of Joules Verne: An Odyssey from the Air to the Sea, from the Earth to the Moon is an entertaining fusion of facts and reading between the lines. For those interested in secret society studies, you'll come away with more insight into the methods employed by their members to convey ideas to the masses. And for science fiction fans, it will give you a greater understanding of the inspiration that drove the genre's father.

Ratings

Information: B+
Editing: C
Audio/Video: C
Special Features: F

Overall (not an average): B

Review: Indiana Jones in The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Rated PG-13 for action/adventure violence and language

The last time we saw professor/archaeologist/adventurer/Nazi-killer Henry "Indiana" Jones on the big screen was almost two full decades ago. Suffice it to say, quite a lot has happened since then. Writer George Lucas got to making the oft-criticized Star Wars prequels, director Steven Spielberg went on to bring us a mixed bag of science fiction and World War II-themed films, and star Harrison Ford saw success portraying Jack Ryan in a pair of Tom Clancy adaptations.

With the trio each going their own very separate ways, I was skeptical of just how well they could once again team up and create a new installment to this venerable and fan-favorite franchise.

In short, they've still got it.

In Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, our whipcracking hero faces off against communist forces in a globetrotting trek to unlock the secret of a mysterious crystal skull. Joining him on the journey are greaser Mutt Williams (Shia LaBeouf) and Karen Allen reprising her role as strong-willed Marion Ravenwood. Together, they experience a series of paranormal events beyond their wildest imagination.

As far as the overall tone of the film is concerned, Indy 4 very much feels like its predecessors. The franchise's trademarked witty banter and action/adventure blend remains intact--proving that, despite what was delivered in the Star Wars prequels, George Lucas is still capable of writing fluent dialog.

Visually, Kingdom of the Crystal Skull achieves a retro appearance by way of CGI and high-key lighting. The effect mostly works, and helps to reinforce the film's late-50s setting by bathing the actors in a soft, warm glow reminiscent of classic cinema. At times, the computer effects can become overbearing--and often the use of greenscreen creates a disconnect between actor and set--but no one effect detracts from the film in any meaningful way.

One scene that stood out for me was a bird's eye view of a crumbling barrow that appeared to have been achieved by use of a model--perhaps enhanced by CGI. Or maybe it was just CGI designed to look like a model. Either way, the film's use of computer generated imagery to produce an effect other than photorealism worked well with the subject matter and hearkened back to the era of traditional special effects.

On the acting front, the mostly geriatric cast demonstrates that the elderly still have a place in action movies. Although Harrison Ford, Karen Allen and John Hurt have nearly 200 years of life between them, not once did it seem like they were in any way incapable of keeping up with their markedly younger co-star, Shia LaBeouf. And I must say that Shia fit in nicely, giving his best performance yet.

On the antagonist side, Cate Blanchett delivers with a scene-stealing performance as a psychic communist agent with a fascination with the Crystal Skull. One scene in particular, in which she brings the skull close to her chest like a child protecting her favorite teddy bear, gives the character a level of depth beyond the rest of her commie cut-out comrades.

My biggest gripe with Kingdom of the Crystal Skull would have to be its inconsistent plot. At times, it plays out as a mostly believable adventure story with all of the boobytraps and narrow escapes you would expect. However, there are scenes that are so outlandish and over the top, you might think you're watching the latest Pirates of the Caribbean movie. Also, a meager attempt at social commentary regarding government-sponsored paranoia is rendered useless after many of the plot's key drivers actually involve communist agents infiltrating the US.

It may start a little clunky and end on a low-note, but by the time Kingdom of the Crystal Skull gets going, you wont really care.

Rating: 4 / 5 (8/10, 80%)

The K-Files - Summer Blockbuster Preview Part 2

Welcome to Part 2 of my Summer Blockbuster Preview.

Last week I began to peel away the layers of hype surrounding this year's batch of soon-to-be-released summer blockbusters. Bringing us up to the 4th of July Weekend will be a varied mix of superhero flicks, paranormal thrillers, and the return of Indiana Jones. From July onward, the offerings will be predominantly sci-fi in nature. With titles like The Dark Knight, The X-Files, and Star Wars, it's certain to be a busy couple of months for all you fanboys out there.

Read on as I sort the rockage from the suckage for the remainder of the summer blockbusters...Full Article.

The K-Files - Summer Movie Preview Part 1

It felt like it would never come, but the summer months are finally around the corner.

The warm weather and long nights are certainly nice, but what excites me most about the summer is the lineup of blockbuster action flicks being released. This summer will see an eclectic mix from the stalwart superhero adaptation to the return of a few long-lost franchises. A Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Batman, and Hulk movie all being released within a few months of each other? Yeah, I'm stoked.

In this part 1 of my Summer Movie Preview, I will break through the buzz and tell you why these movies might rock and why they might suck. To begin, titles you'll be seeing released in the coming weeks and through the July 4th weekend...Full Article.

Review: Speed Racer - Directed by the Wachowski Brothers
Rated PG for brief violence and language

For any boy that has grown up since the 1970s, Speed Racer is likely on your list of kick ass cartoons. The way it combined action/adventure spy stories with automobile racing was so outlandish that you couldn't help but be entertained by it. In this same way, the Wachowski's highly ambitious live action adaptation is undeniably cool.

True to its source, Speed Racer follows the exploits of the titular hero as he makes a name for himself in the high-stakes world of professional automobile racing. After refusing a sponsorship offer from a greedy businessman (played brilliantly by Roger Allam), Speed finds himself the target of a variety of seedy racers--ultimately driving him to ally himself with the mysterious Racer X in order to unravel a devious plot.

I have fond memories staying up late to watch Speed Racer reruns. But even with my nostalgia glasses on, the Speed Racer movie caught me completely off guard with its light heart and bold style. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that the film surpasses the original show in such a way that it makes it now seem almost unwatchably bland.

Speed Racer is unquestionably the most ambitious, risky, and unique movie the Wachowski brothers have attempted. It's avant-garde filmmaking in a genre accustomed to the status quo. With a plasticy, almost wax-like finish to the actors and sets, the brothers have created an intermediary dimension that lies somewhere between live action and animation--a dimension free from the constraints of physics, gravity, and how audiences expect a children's movie should be.

The opening sequence, for example, is an almost impossibly complex montage of jaw-dropping racing scenes and flashbacks to Speed's childhood. The editing and storyboarding required for such a sequence is so beyond anything else in the genre.

As made evident by the Matrix trilogy, the Wachowskis are admirers of Japanese animation and culture. With Speed Racer, they take this fascination to an entirely new level. At several times throughout the film, the last remaining threads of reality give way to a hyper-kinetic backdrop of flashing colors and shapes that any anime fan will recognize as a genre trademark.

Suffice it to say, Speed Racer is a visual assault that will be borderline unnerving for traditional or closed minded viewers.

Suitable for all ages, Speed Racer's campy plot combines thrilling adventure and a heartwarming look at family values. With its 135 minute runtime, it probably could have taken a few more passes through the editing process, but the brain-meltingly beautiful finale is well worth your time.

For fans of the cartoon or not, do yourself a favor and experience Speed Racer on the big screen. It's not something you will soon forget.

Rating: 4 / 5 (8/10, 80%)

Review: Iron Man - Directed by Jon Favreau
Rated PG-13 for sci-fi action.

Robert Downey Jr. as a millionaire playboy turned superhero? I could see that first part for sure, but if you told me ten years ago that Downey would be staring in a kid-friendly blockbuster, I would have scoffed. But let me say this: Whoever was in charge of casting deserves a raise.

In Iron Man, prodigal weapons manufacturer Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) is taken hostage by Afghani terrorists and forced to build them a powerful missile system. In between getting tortured, Stark finds the time to build a giant suit of titanium armour and blasts his way to safety. Returning home, he decides to start protecting the people his weapons have put in harm's way--donning a new and improved suit as Iron Man.

Compared to other superhero origins movies, Iron Man isn't all that different. It features a revenge-driven protagonist, his likable buddy, a hot love interest, and a brooding villain to beat up at the end. So what puts Iron Man ahead of Fantastic 4 and Elektra's of the world? It's all about the Downey.

With his fast mouth, witty retorts, and arrogant charm, Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark is unlike any other superhero lead out there. Sure he's a jerk, but his heart-warming charm brings a sense of likable humanity to the potentially stale Iron Man character. Even when no sign of the actor is visible under the suit, he's still easy to root for because you will genuinely grow to love the man in the box.

Special effects are such an important element to these summer blockbusters, and Iron Man will not disappoint. With Stan Winston's legendary effects team behind the miniature work and Industrial Light and Magic handling the digital effects, Iron Man is a real treat for the eye (and I'm sure all set for the Blu-ray home video market).

Markedly less dramatic than, say, Batman Begins, this origins piece is equal parts actioner and comedy. Downey Jr. and crew are a refreshingly lighthearted bunch--with several expertly timed and perfectly delivered jokes sure to get an audience reaction.

The only thing detracting from this mostly enjoyable experience is the often underutilized cast. Gwyneth Paltrow's useless Pepper Pots character does little else but nag, get in trouble, and spend the movie's explosive finale talking on the phone. Moreover, Terrence Howard's biggest contribution was a fourth wall breaking line to set up the sequel.

But with an excellent lead performance, an enjoyably over the top plot, and a pitch-perfect ending, Iron Man is the perfect start to the blockbuster season. Oh, and be sure to stay until the end of the credits...it's worth the wait.

Rating: 4.5 / 5 (9/10, 90%)

The K-Files - Phoenix Hoax

It's just bad news after bad news...

I can't seem to catch a break lately. In March, my dream of seeing a UFO was crushed after only a week. Now, it seems my hope for a major new UFO event to sink my investigative teeth into has similarly been destroyed. As I stated in last week's column, I was totally prepared to follow this latest Phoenix Lights Redux story through whatever twists and turns of government disinformation and cover-up shenanigans might have developed. As it turns out, the one thing I wasn't prepared for was how quickly it would be revealed as a hoax.

No corny government explanations, no additional footage, and no linkage to hyperdimensional physics...heck, there wasn't even enough time for any of the go-to skeptics and believers to come out in support or against it. Shame on you, Mr. Hoaxer. You are a sick, lonely man-child that nobody could possibly love.

What drives someone to perpetrate a hoax such as this? And what kind of effect will it have on the field of Ufology? Let's dig in...Full Article.