Visitors Review

meeza (2012-05-25 08:53)

Not going to be a rocky road for James Franco from now on! Franco reaches new heights!

Director Danny Boyle probably had some type of massive rock fall on hishead as a kid and is probably the main reason why he is such a maniacalauteur who does not play within the conventional rules of orchestratinga film; as depicted in his directorial work in such movies as"Trainspotting", "28 Days Later", and the Oscar-winning "SlumdogMillionaire". Danny Boy has done it again in the gripping "127 Hours",the movie based on the true story of mountain climber Aaron Ralston.While canyoneering in Utah 2003, Ralston had a boulder crash on hisarm; trapping him in an isolated canyon for (yea, you guessed it) 127hours! Ralston's remarkable survival story is what entraps viewers in"127 Hours". Boyle is definitely not a lazy director, and his energyand workmanship is shown around the clock in "127 Hours"; from Aaron'ssurvival skills, to the expeditious visuals of Aaron's adventuristicpersona, to Aaron's desperate motives of detachment; I hope I did nothave to arm wrestle with your brain in figuring that last one out.Speaking of detachment, the "arm self-amputation" scene of the movie isthe one that is stirring a buzz in movie world. It's the authenticityof the scene and not so much its graphic nature that makes it work. Andof course, the bold Boyle is responsible for its excellence. "127Hours" screenplay was mediocre at best; probably due to the nature ofthe movie, so I am not trying to take anything away from the film'sscreenwriters Simon Beaufoy and Boyle himself. Nature and itscatastrophic capabilities play an integral role in the film highlightedby the superb technical work of: Cinematographers Enrique Chediak andAnthony Dod Mantle, Art Director Christopher DeMuri, and ProductionDesigner Suttirat Anne Larlarb. They all deserve Oscar nominations! JonHarris' master cutting in editing the movie, and A.R. Rahman's mastertuning in scoring the movie are also climbing the Oscar mountain ofnominations for those applicable categories. But to be "Franco" withyou, the peak of "127 Hours" has to be James Franco's mesmerizingperformance as Aaron Ralston. I will give my right arm (I know, wrongchoice of words; Sorry Aaron!) to have James Franco be nominated for aBest Actor Oscar nomination. Wait a minute! I don't think I would haveto give my right arm since he is already a favorite for a Best ActorOscar nomination! Sorry, I guess I was arm & hammered when I wrote thatlast statement. Anyways, Franco's emotional, rawpower thespian workwill definitely make the cut as one of the most talked about actingperformance of the year. There is not much of a supporting actingensemble to "127 Hours" since it was Franco's showcase. But we did geta treat in seeing veteran actor Treat Williams appear as Aaron's dad;and there were a couple of sharp performances from Kate Mara and AmberTamblyn as mountain climbers that Aaron meets before his downfall. Iwill not proclaim "127 Hours" as the best movie of the year; it stillhas a few mountains to climb before it reaches that apex. Butnevertheless, Franco and Boyle definitely make it worth your while tospend 93 minutes with "127 Hours". It rocks! **** Good

bandw (2012-05-25 04:14)

Young and healthy and invincible

This true story is simple enough. Aron Ralston sets out for a weekendtrip to a slot canyon in the Canyonlands National Park in Utah, getspinned by a boulder, and after five days frees himself and makes it outalive. The movie succeeded in dramatizing the event in a manner thatkept my attention. The introduction that has Ralston bicycling in sometwenty miles to the entry of the canyon was the highlight of the filmfor me. It captured the thrill of being alone in a spectacularlymagical and beautiful landscape and feeling truly alive. This part ofthe movie makes a great advertisement for Utah. A Canyonlandstravelogue on Blu-ray would make for great entertainment.It was dumb for Ralston not to have told anyone where he was going,which he admits, but I am willing to give him a pass on this, at leastfrom what we see of him in the movie. He was in his 20s, in the peak ofhealth, and an experienced outdoors-man--I could see how he might feelinvincible and make the mistake he did.Whereas this movie personalizes the experience, I found the NBCDateline documentary "Desperate Days in Blue John Canyon" to have agreater emotional impact. In that film Tom Brokaw accompanies Ralstonon a repeat of his fateful journey. This was only six months after theoriginal event and it astonished me that Ralston had the courage to doit. Fitted with a prosthesis he made the whole trip without aid, fromlowering himself into the canyon to the repel out. Seeing some ofRalston's actual video as well as hearing the audio of other parts hada much greater impact on me that seeing Franco duplicate it, even asgood as Franco is in the role. And we are spared seeing the graphicdetails of the main event--hearing Ralston describe it is quite enough.This documentary is available on YouTube.It's easy to be convinced of the fragility of life, but the value ofthis movie is to see the other end of that spectrum, what a body canwithstand at the outer limits of endurance.

JaysonT (2012-05-24 04:43)

An Intense Experience and Great film!

Just saw 127 Hours and this was a spectacular experience! James Francois truly remarkable, and gives a touching and triumphant performance ofa man forced to take survival to the next level. While Tom Hanks had awhole island to explore and grow on, Franco has an arm wedgedin-between a rock in a canyon. And he makes the most of it, with theinfamous "amputation" scene being just as graphic and terrifying as itshyped to be.I also want to praise the ending. I have been recently let down byendings from two other Oscar contenders (Black Swan and BlueValentine). But this one has a satisfying finish, though no movieending has ended as emotionally as The King's Speech this year. Kudosto Danny Boyle for bringing Franco's situation to other levels byinserting visions and hyper-hallucinations into the movie.The best acting I saw from Franco was actually a smaller moment. Whenhe's bidding farewell to the two pretty ladies who accompany him on amini-adventure, they tell him about a party they want him to come to.As they're talking to him about it, he intertwines some "Umm-hmmms" and"uh-huhs" into the mix. The flat and almost automated way he speaksthis dialog is extremely convincing. I have met many a guy who is sortof rushed in their way of interaction, and so the words he speaks comeacross muddled but still friendly. Franco also was a character who wassort of a loner in his own respect, and marched to his own drummer. Andthat comes across so well in Franco's interpretation.This is one of the best films of 2010, and James Franco deserved hisbest actor Oscar nod. Also the music is uplifting and pat, and the song"If I Rise" is beautiful.

stupidus (2012-05-23 23:02)

Riveting but morally questionable.

Another reviewer insisted that 127 Hours does not try to be epic ormonumental. I totally disagree. This is exactly how the movie playsout, regardless whether it was Boyle's intention or not - or whether hewill ever admit to this.The only thing we know for a fact is that Boyle wanted this storyturned into a film and that according to him it would never have beenpossible without the prestige (read: money) brought about by "SlumdogMillionaire" (And I think he's right about that).So, I'm glad this movie got to be made, and I agree with the samereviewer that 127 Hours is a remarkable filmmaking achievement.However, there is one critical underlying issue that in retrospect in asense makes this movie irrelevant. How? I'll talk about it soon.Overall, it's very flashy, but it's his movie and he can stylize itanyway he thinks is necessary. Didn't much bother me, if truth be told.I think I know what he was (is and has been) aiming for with this kindof a visual treatment, but I still feel it would have worked just finewithout all the glitz and epileptic cuts. Quite possibly better infact...While I feel 127 Hours should be an unwavering warning against selfishcare-free stupidity, I fear it's not (and neither is "Into the Wild").Rather, an invitation to infantility. Both movies tickle all the rightplaces but I feel their lesson is either missing or simplymisunderstood - maybe by the filmmakers themselves, too.In 127 Hours, by choosing to make the situation seem fast-paced andabsolutely oozing with "coolness", instead of making it much moreslower, much more silent, much more lonelier, in a word more_authentic_ and just sad, the director does everyone a moral disserviceat the end of the day. He makes it entertaining.For 127 Hours, the often used saying (I'm sure you can figure it out)rings truer than ever.Mark my words: after 127 Hours more people will be "inspired" and gocanyoneering (or anything else that counts as extreme/cool enough forthat matter) with an irresponsible, hedonic, *uck-if-I-care -attitude.Every year absolutely unnecessary dollars, time, expertise, equipmentand so on are wasted because of self-caused stupidity. It's a nationaldisease on a global level we could all but eradicate today without mucheffort on anyone's part.A lot of people have these unfounded sentiments that just because theypay some taxes, the society should cheerfully provide a miniature "SaveHaiti!" -operation every time one of us ends up in a tight squeeze ofhis own making.You'd think Ralston would be giving free talks about these kind ofissues for the rest of his remaining life, and just be thankful that heis in fact alive at all, instead of trying to conquer (honestly, whatdoes that mean?) all 20,000ft peaks in the world or whatever (again,what exactly are these people trying to prove here and why?), andlecturing to dimwits (I'm assuming) about will power (I'm guessing) for$25,000-$37,000 a pop.That's what I call a lesson learned. This is humanity at its sorriest.But I digress.I can understand why real-life Ralston could find the movie effective -because it is. But I'm both baffled and deeply worried if aprofessional mountain climber who himself went through all of thisreally doesn't see the dangerous fallacies this movie ultimatelyconveys.James Franco's performance is nothing short of stellar, though. 127Hours will launch him into superstardom. So, while the film _is_ bothdeeply engaging and touching to boot, in the end it's just awell-crafted film that lifts human stupidity and contempt for life andfor loved ones on the podium.Definitely not meant for the immature audiences _even though_ (and youdamn well know it too, Boyle) they will be the ones most drawn to itand enchanted by it - for all the wrong reasons.I call Boyle guilty as charged.

Austin Takahashi (2012-05-22 18:10)

127 Hours - 5 Stars

Aron Ralston is currently a known author, public speaker, and mountainclimber. Prior to all these achievements, he was a piece of flesh stuckbetween a rock and a canyon. "127 Hours" is the thrilling andhorrifying movie about Ralston, his ambition for adventure, his painfulaccident, his right arm, his will to live, and his cheap, Made-in-Chinamulti- tool.Before Ralston stumbles upon that loose rock, we see him always moving.On his feet, inside his car, riding his bike, the man refuses to staystill, which must have made things all the more difficult for the manwho cuts his hair. These moments are accompanied by Danny Boyle'seminent style of directing. I am not sure how to describe it, but itcan sure make the sight of James Franco riding a bike feelexhilarating. Through the right use of quick cuts and split screens,Boyle signifies the wild nature of Ralston. He keeps moving, andmoving, and moving, until he slips, and comes to a halt. Here we go.Read more here: http://localmoviereview.com/127-hours-movie-review/

Jordan Rolston (2012-05-22 01:09)

127 Hours Not Just A Movie, But A Captivating Experience

127 Hours! Excellent! I loved this movie from the first second to thelast second everything about this movie is brilliant.First off, this movie does not make you wait. It has a few minutes ofhis life before the accident then it jumps straight into the boulderlanding on his arm and pinning him in the canyon. James Francocompletely captures the emotions (I imagine) Aron Ralston was goingthrough. This movie was so captivating that I couldn't even eat thepopcorn because I was so caught up in the movie. I think thecamera-work is AMAZING (especially the panning shot of the canyon).James Franco even made me feel the emotions he was going through andeven made me cry with joy when he cried with joy after cutting his armoff and escaping the canyon! This movie is amazing! I HIGHLY recommendthis to everyone! If I could I wouldn't give it 10/10 i'd give it999,999,999.99/10! GO SEE THIS MOVIE! If you have the chance pick upthe book of this movie/true story by the real Aron Ralston it's called'Between A Rock And A Hard Place' (WARNING: This movie contains a verygraphic amputation scene by a very small pocket knife) People havefainted, walked out & vomited from that one scene.OVERALL: Great F***ing Movie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(2012-05-21 00:52)

127 Hours [Blu-ray]

This review is from: 127 Hours [Blu-ray] (Blu-ray) The Movie got here in good shape and time. We really like the Movie for it is based on a true story and gets your head to thinking about what you would do if something like this happened to you!

jimharvey87 (2012-05-20 18:24)

Going it alone

Claustrophobic film is on the rise. Rodrigo Cortes's Iraq film Buried(2010) was released to surprising acclaim last year. A trailer forSanctum (2010), the forthcoming James Cameron-produced underwatercave-exploration adventure, precedes 127 Hours: Danny Boyle's firstfeature since Slumdog Millionaire (2008). The same motif of entrapmentstemming from lone attempts at glory fills much of Boyle's work. Theresults are shown in Shallow Grave (1994), Salim's demise in Slumdog,and Richard's attempts to outfox Sal in The Beach (2000). In some ways,the surreal realities of Trainspotting (1996) and 28 Days Later...(2002) turn this on its head, with the character needing to escape,towards a civilised community.However, it isn't the setting so much that's the appeal with this themeof being trapped in small spaces, but more the character's coping withthe event. Aron Ralston (James Franco) is an adventurer. Fearless,enthusiastic and resourceful, it seems that he doesn't need anyone –it's this that becomes the premise for what's to come. How far doesbeing a loner, in spite of your own resourcefulness, really get you?It's difficult not to draw reference to the political climate. Aglimpse of Ralston's boss's t-shirt tells us "They can't lay us off ifthey can't find us". Boyle himself has maintained lifelong Laboursympathies, which can account for the focus on community (or the lackof it) that drives the film. In a life or death situation, Ralstoncomes to realise that resourcefulness and will might prevail, but thatindividualism landed him there. 'Checking in' now and then might haveavoided the whole fiasco.This is typical Boyle fare from the outset, exhibiting an MTV-stylemontage of soda, beer, and fast-food. It works as a kind of visual"Choose life..." The gore (for which a fair amount of the audience arehere primarily to see) is near-meticulous in it's attempts to qualifythis as surgery: the camera constantly returning the severing of thenerve. These fast paced cuts of close-up, which include a number ofunnecessary microscopic scenes of water, perspiration, urine leavingtheir points of origin, recall to some extent moments of terror in 28Days Later. It's visceral soundtrack (scored by A.R. Rahman of Slumdog)and (akin to Cillian Murphy's desperate hero) Franco's intensitysupports this. Not short of new, more technically demanding ways tovisually show the vastness of middle-American desert, Boyle's neverbeen one for allowing his audience time to contemplate - this is whatdistinguishes Sean Penn's understandably compared, but superior, Intothe Wild (2007).What Slumdog offered the viewer in terms of a rarely transmitted,transcultural showpiece, was marred slightly with cliché. High-octanethroughout, 127 Hours amalgamation of contemporary media phenomenons,while subtle in its assessment of the Western socio-politicallandscape, doesn't feel quite so important. Franco will quite rightlyearn praise to add to his growing repertoire for his portrayal of theall-American wanderer. Boyle on the other hand - following a churchfloor covered with the walking-dead, the brutal blinding of a slumchild, and now a severed limb left somewhere in the Utah desert –continues to struggle to reach the affect of Trainspotting.

(2012-05-17 19:56)

I am speechless. Amazing Movie

Loy Machedo's Movie Review - 127 Hours (2010)Powerful, Gripping, Edge of your seat, Real time, Well-acted, Well Presented and Well packaged movie! Absolutely great performance from James and Danny Boyle deserves a pat on his back! A movie worth keeping as part of your gold collection.Overall Rating - 9 out of 10.Loy Machedoloymachedo.com

James Matthews (2012-05-17 05:55)

Partially thought-provoking and somewhat inspiring, but overrated

After 'Inception' and 'The Social Network' I've stepped on anotheroverrated 2010 bomb, this one didn't explode as much as the other twodid though, 'Inception' 6/10, same grade but look at the user ratingand reviews, 'The Social Network' 5/10.'127 Hours' is a situational adventure-drama with thought-provokingelements through lead character's flashbacks and his overall psyche.I'm sure some people were thoroughly inspired by the fact that thismovie is based on true story, but that doesn't make this whole pictureprofound in my book. I wasn't the biggest fan of Danny Boyle's take onstyle and how to realize certain events in this movie, I'm talking ofcourse about two or three-way split picture and on rare occasionsslide-show-like video-lag that seems to be more and more "artsy" touse. I also thought that the soundtrack could be better and moreintense rather than generic and lame, I did however like the Scooby Dooreference and song, and the song on closing credits was also decent.Although movie wasn't as good as I thought it could be, James Franco'sperformance was nothing less than excellent, which was pivotal sincehe's basically the only character in this movie. In the end, when allwas said and done, this movie did leave me thinking for a short periodof time, it is somewhat inspiring, but it's just not that good. It'sdefinitely not gonna change my take on life or anything like that, butI guess it did for people that have given it a 10 or a 9 or an 8. Andyou know what, that's good, if this movie's story can inspire you likethat then it's more than worth watching, but people that have giventhis movie an 8 or more for its supposed technical superiority andcinematographic excellence, "a true art" etc, oh brother... that's allI'll say.

Sarah269 (2012-05-16 16:35)

This is what Hollywood movies should be like....

This is what I love about films like these. 127 Hours and Buried arenot all that different but they definitely have one thing in common:the fact that there is only 1 actor or few actors at all in the movie.If people haven't seen this movie but have only heard of it they willprobably be asking themselves, "How can one actor keep me awakethroughout this movie"? Films like 127 Hours have a lot of room forcharacter development. A LOT. But how can that keep us viewersentertained for 1 hour and a half? Well....First of all, the fact that this is a true story makes us moreemotional and sympathetic towards Aron. This movie tells us the crazythings that life can do to us and the sacrifices we need to make. Nowthat is a good moral.The memories also help with explaining what happened before theaccident. The fact that Aron realises throughout the movie how much thepeople around him care for him and that you can't always be alone inlife. The end bit also make me cry because you could just feel howhappy he was.OK, so loads of people have said that they don't want to see the filmbecause of the bit where he cuts his arm off. What I have to say isthat had to be put in the film! It was relevant to put it in becauseyou need to see it to know how he felt! The setting is great. There aresome beautiful shots in this movie.And finally, James Franco. This is the movie that really got himrecognised. He was nominated for an Oscar for Christ's sake! I haveseen some annoying James Franco films like "Whatever It Takes" but theSpiderman movies and James Dean were mostly the ones that got him kindanoticed. I know people say he is really good-looking and hot (which hedefinitely is!) but that is not what he should only be known for. Thisis pure acting genius.Great movie. One of my favourites.:)

Dillon Harris (2012-05-16 09:53)

Fantastic.You wouldn't think a movie with James Franco hand stuck on a boulder for the whole thing would be so entertaining.

127 Hours is a fantastic movie,a true winner and inspirational storybased on the true story of Aron Rolston who cut of his arm to save hisown life.Thed movie keeps you on the edge of your seat the moment hisarm gets stuck on the boulder and you can barely look when he starts tocut his hand.Some scenes in this movie made me laugh,unexpectedlybecause I though it was going to be a very serious movie,the funniestpart I felt,was when Aron starts fantasizing about Scooby Doo and whenhe has an interview with himself.James Franco is brilliant as AronRolston.Based on a true story,a hiker named Aron Rolston goes on a hike nearMoab,gets his hand stuck under a boulder,he could hope to get savedalthough he didn't tell anyone where he was going,and he is so low downfrom the mountain that no matter how loud he screams no one will hearhim.With a very little amount of water left and presumably will be deadsoon,he makes a camera talking about his last few days,but he comes upwith a plan,risk cutting off his own hand with his pocket knife to savehimself.

(2012-05-15 19:45)

The will to live.

This is a journey in to man's mind and his perseverance to escape from the clutches of sure death. Aron Ralston sets out to explore Utah's Canyonland without telling anyone. While exploring here he is trapped by a boulder, without a way to freedom. Clearly everyone knows the outcome of the movie but the movie's strength is in the journey of taking you there to that end. Danny Boyle and the camera team have done some amazing camera work because most of the work takes place in the confines of a narrow space. The camera is very intimate and only one actor. The one thing that I thought worked in making this movie a worth watch was the reality of this harrowing experience that the real Aron faced. James Franco acts superbly and looks the part of the mountaineer Aron Ralston. During the 127 hour ordeal, he reflects on his life and we get a few glimpses of his family and lost love, all packing an emotional punch. The final few minutes have many people grimacing in their seats especially because they knew all this happened. I was too, but amazed at the hikers will to survive. Beautiful locations and music complement this amazing human drama. 4 stars. 4/19/2011

awmurshedkar (2012-05-15 13:41)

127 Hours

127 HOURS – 9.3/10 Director: Danny Boyle Writer: Danny Boyle, Simon BeaufoyThe first film I saw of Danny Boyle's was Slumdog Millionaire and histhird was 127 hours. From an ordinary, mainstream and clichéd director,he rose to the status of an extraordinary genius, ring master and aleader in his style of work. It was the brilliance of 127 hours andTrainspotting that led me to understand the master at work in Slumdog.It's a film worthy of discussion, and probably can teach you as muchabout direction as you would learn from a month long workshop.The story deals with the real life incident of trekker Aron Ralston ,played exceptionally well by James Franco, who fell into a crevice in aremote canyon in Utah as a lose boulder came off and trapped his handin the process. In my opinion, the subject the film deals with is thehardest to recreate as you are dealing with almost one subject for theentire length of the film, and here is the hardest part – your subjectis stuck in one place. Boyle manages to do what no other director hasdared or achieved to do thus far. Many survival stories have been made,but I remember none being so enigmatic and captivating for the entireduration of the film.Boyle uses several techniques from triptychs, zooming and split-screensto mash-ups and other beautiful original and inventive techniques. Thechallenge was to ensure that at no point, the film becomes static asthe story had forced the subject to be. Audience attention span islimited and you can often lose them very quickly if nothing muchtranspires on screen for more than a few minutes. In this case, Boyleabsolutely conscious of this fact, at all times, keeps the cameraalive. There is almost a sense of desperation in the camera work, whichin reality is actually conveying the trapped trekker's desperation. The film reflects what one could call Boyle's vivid and childlikeimagination. In the hands of a serious story teller, this film couldbecome another survival tale meant to pluck at those emotional strings,more suited for a Discovery Channel documentary than an hour and a halfcommercial relay. Boyle paints the film colorful, capturing everylittle detail one could possibly capture in a cramped crevice. JamesFranco, who has managed to raise standards for acting in survival filmsto a new high, is as much part of the charisma that Boyle creates withhis breath-taking camera work. It is to be observed how Franco switchesfrom a tormented trapped trekker unsure of what will happen in the nextfew hours to a mature, controlled and calm individual in control of thesituation. Franco jokes around as though he was on television, and youcan see the pain and realization, and the hopefulness lingering on hisface and in his voice. Boyle does an excellent job of using, memories,flash-backs and hallucinations to build character and move the filmforward.127 Hours is an achievement, a feat in itself. The very fact that sucha difficult story was chosen shows extreme boldness and appetite fornew challenges on part of the director. The film is arguably the bestsurvival film I have seen. This proves so much that we don't need a lotof special effects and large budgets or exotic locations to makesomething worth your money. Three cheers for Danny Boyle!

Norbert Shand (2012-05-15 04:19)

Check what else is on...

Although the film had some good things going for it: the humanexperience of surviving harrowing conditions; the thought processes onemust go through in those circumstances, it's mostly unbearable, bothfor its length and the sense of claustrophobia. Furthermore it reallyseems as though film wasn't the right medium for this true story, as itseverely limits what you can do in terms of plot and drama. On the matter of music, it seems to want to make up for a lack ofaction at times, and it's rather obtrusive when coupled with those fastcamera shots (I didn't enjoy the opening).Furthermore, the dreams and hallucinations seemed more like filler. So I wouldn't recommend this one (unless you can tolerate watchingpain, and don't mind the constraints of a fairly linear storyline, andthe irritating use of music).

(2012-05-14 16:40)

A Decent Movie

I have to admit off the bat that I'm not part of a big fan base when itcomes to Danny Boyle. He's made movies that were valuable to mycollection, but he never seemed to give me any emotional resonance oreven that much extensive thought after his movies were over; you hitplay and then subsequently when it's over you press off and don't evenhave a second's thought.Here, I rented this with not a lot of tentativeness, even though Iwasn't a disciple of Boyle beforehand; but James Franco gave a betterthan expected performance (I have to admit from "Milk" (2008) he neverreally impressed me and I didn't really have any empathy for him; Ifound him dull and one dimensional; that's not saying he didn't dowell, but he didn't do AS well as I would have thought).The movie is on a true story, and I was then hooked to the idea ofwatching it; the beginning is already giving you catalysts of the needfor water; it was moderately interesting how the three sights on screenwere sometimes edited together in a sinew of images, like Franco (AronRalsto in the movie) going past a McDonalds joint and drinking on theway; initially, you notice a tap dripping, dripping and dripping... theonly place left where he could fetch water.However, he still has the teenager and reckless life style, and yet isstill extremely lively as a human being. He meets these two girls, andhe shows them the sites of Utah.Boyles' cinematographer gives the landscape great width, predictablyand uninhibited crane moves into the field of it; however, it does notadd much to the story, but it is still immensely enticing to gaze at.We get a full glance at the area that Aron climbs regularly.And of course, Franco falls into the cave, and his hand is stuckunderneath a rock; I would have thought that the whole thing would beboring after that, and then I was immersed into the common, yetfascinating back story of his life, and how he copes in the whereaboutswith such little advantage; it grinds on the visceral and nostalgic andhopeful future that compels one man without any help to go way andbeyond. It does have some shocking bits, but all in all, it can bedampened with the chopping and pretenses that he is about to do it, andthen stopping. Also, I feel it is heavily inspired by Aronofsky'sediting style, where the water is involved (the only thing he candrink) and then it may shoot a trivial and important thing at the sametime, like the juice from his car. However, my favorite bits weredefinitely when he exchanged his sorrows so that he could replenish hishope, like telling his Mum he's sorry he didn't answer her or how hewas unable to attend her Sister's Wedding and so on; he does this in ahumorous and moving way. I also love how his camera is constantly being used; however that wasrather mind boggling because you're wondering "Why is this guy usinghis camera within such a limited time of survival?"... at least hewanted to document his last times, but he doesn't even take the camerawith him when he escapes... However, the camera is there for hiscomfort as well; it's his only tool that could have been his last meansof communication - there was also a scene where his face is in threeframes concurrently through the camera, however this is not important.The charm to it is that everything he sees and feels in his statebecomes his only instinct - he yearns for the open area just like anyman would and yet he does it with some pretty savage consequences. Themovie even beguiles you at one point with how he gets out in asequence! It is important to note that the story doesn't have a moraland in fact the ending is possibly not going to gel with everyone andthat was it really.So my last thoughts on the movie are that Boyle has set up a surfaceand a peregrination for the viewer; he may then take it away for thecharacter to be developed but I am certain that the most powerfulelements are definitely the cautionary thought and carefulconsideration of one man forsaken and then impelled to the edge. Themovie does run its course eventually, though, but it's safe to say thescene where he saves himself was worth the wait in the way it was shotwith sufficiently mind altering effects... we are then free and so ishe! That's the brilliant thing about the movie despite minor flaws withits timing and the characters bold and unidentifiable way... and thenyou see him develop and you're moved by it.

Clayton Davis (2012-05-13 20:13)

Franco is the star, not the film

Danny Boyle blazed on to the awards circuit two years ago with his BestPicture winner "Slumdog Millionaire." Boyle took no prisoners tearingthrough the awards season taking gold after gold. There was lots ofanticipation for his follow up film "127 Hours," based on the truestory of Aron Ralston, a young man who gets his arm caught under aboulder in Utah. The premise and promise made it sound like a sure-firewinner. Unfortunately, the films falters and falls a bit flat inexecution. Boyle walks a fine line between artistic choices andcinematic overkill; he crosses the line a time or two. What saves thefilm is the undeniable remarkable work of James Franco. This is thebest solo principal casted work since Tom Hanks in "Cast Away" back in2000. What Franco achieves here is an uplifting of the human spirit andan utter submerge into a character of epic proportions.Though Danny Boyle's direction and Simon Beaufoy's script are not thebrightest things the two has placed on the screen, the story itself isworth the admiration and enough to place itself on this year's"must-see" list.***/***

(2012-05-13 14:14)

Thoughtful and Eerie

Most of us have heard the story of Aron Ralston cutting off his own arm to survive, after getting it caught by a falling boulder in a narrow canyon. This is the draw of "127 Hours," and of course it's the drawback, since we know the end of the story. I suppose that explains some reviewers' thoughts about this being a slow-moving film. If you know the end, you just want to get to that anticipated arm-cutting moment.It's a sad way to approach this film, really. The director takes great pains to be accurate to the original story, while keeping things moving with suspense, emotion, and heart. James Franco does a superb job of acting, allowing us into the excitement, shock, and slow mental breakdown that occurs while his character deals with solitude, pain, and nutritional deprivation. The cinematography is beautiful, the soundtrack a mix of eerie and majestic, and the screenplay stark yet effective.My wife, daughter, and I all enjoyed it--even if my sixteen-year-old closed her eyes during the "gross" part. While never quite as engaging as "Touching the Void," another true-life survival story, this movie captures the well-known story, adds some details for us, and makes sure to voice a warning about the dangers of braving the elements with inflated self-assurance.

wtup (2012-05-11 02:00)

Pleasant

My friends and i were planning on watching a movie on a weekend and wedecided to go for 127 hours. We had no idea what the movie was about,who made it, the actors and other stuff. None of spoke during the moviebecause it was that good. We didn't even go to buy snacks during theintermission to avoid missing the movie, every minute of it was worthit.I won't go into the details and if you're planning to watch this movieneither should you, don't even read the synopsis. Just go and watch itand you'll be pleasantly surprised. For me one of the most amazingmovies of 2010. If you are an adventurer definitely watch it, if you'renot an adventurer, you would definitely want to be one after watchingthis movie. Even after being an amazing movie, most people who havewatched this movie would agree that it's a one time watch, but eventhat one time is enough to appreciate all that the movie isabout(*avoiding spoilers*).

maloned (2012-05-11 00:25)

The Will To Live!!

127 Hours!! WOW!! A thrill seeker searching to experience life to thefullest, does the extreme and his motivation to live is family, theultimate in life.James Franco did a great job. I couldn't help but fall for hischaracter right away, just like the likable Aron Ralston did yearsbefore when I first saw his story while working in the news televisionhistory.I couldn't help but try to compare his performance with Tom Hank's inCast Away. Could just watching this guy stock under a rock for 90minutes hold my attention? Well, this movie was a bit different. Therewere flashbacks and other movie trickery used to fill time and get usinto the mind of Ralston instead of just letting Franco let us inthrough his performance. But I don't want to take away from Franco'sgreat job.The heart behind the movie is something real and you can't help but bemoved by his courage and will to live.