So the story goes a little something like this: Three guys find a strange structure underground. Three guys start to develop telekinesis powers. Three guys learn how to control their powers. This is one of the things I enjoyed the most of the movie, the story. It's not a superhero movie, its not science heavy movie, its not a fantasy movie, its just a movie about how cool it would be to suddenly get powers. Half the movie is just the three guys hanging out seeing how awesome their powers are, and messing with people and just having fun. I think that is perfect, have all that character interaction, it feels like you are actually discovering the powers with them, and you are! I think that was a good move, it might make the movie kind of slow, but it works. The other part of the story is when everything hits the fan, and that's when you get rewarded for all the time you spent hanging out with the characters. You react more because you have been with them the entire time. I thought the story and characters were really well done, very raw. When you see Andrew take that turn you really understand him. There is a real connection to the characters, that I feel many movies dismiss.The story is great, character development is great, so what problems do I have with this movie? The decision to have it be like a "home movie" Why!? It makes no sense! At the beginning I went with it, I thought "oh here we go, prepare for shaky camera movement" but there was no shaky camera, in fact some scenes i forgot it was supposed to be a handheld camera, and you know what? They forgot too! I did like that they used the telekinesis to move the camera around, but beside that it was just to much. Towards the end they seemed to have forgotten about the camera at all, and had to make up an excuse for there to be film of the events! Getting the iPads and cellphones and cameras from the people and have them revolve around the characters just so you could get that close up of the action? I mean its too much. It also a lot to imply! I mean, am I to believe that someone found all those files somewhere? that the camera did not get blown to pieces, or that all the tapes had been out of it before it got blown up? Did someone go through the phones and cameras of all the people? did they not break upon impact with the ground? And did someone travel all that way to get the camera for that last shot?? I mean its just to much. I think the movie would had work as well without that element, there really was no need for it. It just bothered me, thought the whole movie I kept thinking about it, and it just distracted me from actually enjoying the movie! This style of shooting has to stop, it worked great for Blair Witch, it did well for Paranormal Activity; but it does not work when you want to have wide cinematic shots in your movie, its just not possible. If you made the conscious decision to have the characters filming the whole thing stick to it! Don't make up excuses to have the shots you want, its to much. Some people might be able to ignore all this, I just couldn't. Also: spring for better special effects, the baseball looked so fake that it just took me out of the entire experience! and its only that one scene that I have a problem with the effects, it just so noticeable.
Overall, Chronicle is a very interesting movie. Somethings where done really well, others could had been better. If you are looking for action, but presented in a different, more plausible manner, then this movie is for you. If you wish you had telekinesis powers, this movie is definitely for you!
MOVIE SCORE:
- 7/10
- A (O.W.L.)
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