The Adventures Of Tin Tin

I often complain about movies that promise me one thing and deliver another. Like I order pizza and instead receive a casserole. However, this time I was given what I was promised. Not some pseudo visionary bull, but an action filled tale from Steven Spielberg that puts on the Indian Jones clothes and takes off running in them. Now, again, I have complained about other movies that blatantly rip of other movies. Tin Tin does it without trying to be more than it is. Tin Tin is a reporter who gets caught up in an adventure involving a feud going back hundreds of years, and embarks on a trek to find a long lost treasure.
After seeing this, in IMAX might I add, I never want to have to gripe about special effects ever again. Tin Tin looks good. Really good. At many parts the CGI is so good that I forget I am watching an animated feature. The only one that throws me off is Tin Tin himself.  He often looks cartoony, but seeing how that is the origin of this tale I cannot complain that much. I just really appreciate this quality when just a few weeks ago I saw Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol where the CGI was garbage and even the stable scenes were blurry. So such attention to detail goes a long way and helps me buy in to this reality I am being sold.
The voice acting is nothing to be scoffed at either. Jamie Bell a young cat, who I know basically nothing about, has actually done quite a bit of voice acting. He is the voice of Tin Tin and brings good youth and feeling to the character. Andy Serkis, who I do know, is a very good voice actor. He is Tin Tin's companion Captain Haddock. Haddock is a drunk old sailor who joins up with Tin Tin because of his love of adventure... and booze. Daniel Craig does such a good job as the villain Sakharine that I had no idea that it was him. Nick Frost and Simon Pegg also deserve a mention, if for nothing more than I enjoy the crap out of these guys.
There are plenty of action sequences and gun play to satisfy. It follows the Indy path again. It gives you a bit of research, then explosions/chases/fighting, then more story.
One thing that was super obvious to me was the John Williams score. You may know him from a few of the tiny films he has done like: Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park, E.T. His distinct and every epic sound is evident throughout the film.
The one gripe I have is in the very cartoony moments of the movie. They are few, but with this movie being so realistic and Jones like when they do happen they stick out like a sore thumb. One such scene is When Haddock get caught in a plain propeller and spun around it several times, then thrown out of it. There are a couple of those moments that kill me.
Over all Tin Tin in IMAX 3D was really enjoyable. It good looking, funny, and action filled. It is wonderful as an homage to the Indiana Jones film that we know and love so much. Nothing new just a formula that in my opinion works for my entertainment.

The Adventures Of Robin Hood (1938)

As a fan of the Disney animated version and the Prince Of Thieves versions, but not the Russell Crowe "Robin Hood" fiasco, I was told I might enjoy this version. And enjoy it I did. This is the film from which the other Robin Hoods take their  material. The acting power that is in this movie makes it worth the watch. Errol Flynn is Robin Hood. The playful and dashing hero set on keeping the government in check until the rightful king, King Richard, returns. His very cool and suave nature brings the confidence this cocky hero should have. The lovely Maid Marian is played by Olivia de Havilland. She is just as lovely as the character should be. and a huge kudos to her wardrobe designer. They really went all out to dress her in extravagance. Claude Rains is the terrible Prince John. He is as arrogant, demeaningly sophisticated, and vile a villain as you can want. His disregard for his country and self absorbance makes you hate him all the more. Last on my list, but certainly not least is Basil Rathbone. Besides being a fabulous actor he has one of my favorite names of all time. He is the violent anti-Robin Sir Guy of Gisbourne who would love nothing more than to hang our hero for his crimes.
The action in this epic tale is also very well done. The choreography of the fights is tight and doesn't feel forced. Which is an often difficult task in many older films. These action sequences take place in settings that are just as vivid as the actions that take place there. It is a very attractive movie, on a purely aesthetic point of view.
Instead of new "Robin Hood Begins" (What is should have been titled), They should have just remade this classic. That way we could have all of our favorite scenes from the others in a nice little package.

It's A Wonderful Life

A bit late, but it has been a very festive Christmas season. And I had to right a review on on of my favorite Christmas movies of all time. It isn't just a movie for the holidays. It's a movie for all seasons. James Stewart is George Baily who in my opinion is the protagonist and antagonist of this film. George has what he considers a lackluster life until he is shown how things would turn out had he never been born. He really shows the virtuous nature George who, despite his own dreams, puts the needs and welfare of others above his own. He is surrounded by a cast that is as convincing as he is. From his wife Mary (Donna Reed) to the town's crooked financial baron Mr. Potter (Lionel Barrymoore). Catchy tunes and one liners are riddled throughout the entire movie. This is a very simple setting but the heart warming message gets me every single time. One man's seeming meaningless gestures can make all the difference, if he could only see it. The message of kindness and selflessness can never be overstated. I like this movie to much to be objective about anything that may be wrong with it. I just wanted to say how awesome I think it is.

Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

This weekend I went to see The Dark Knight Rises. It was followed by a small independent film you might have heard of called Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol. To be completely honest the reason i went to see this was for the 6 minute preview for TDKR. And it was DOPE!  The only complaint I have about it is that I could not understand one word Bane says. I went to IMAX where the sound is as big as the picture, and still couldn't catch an entire phrase. Sounded important, but oh well.
The feature, I suppose, was MI:4. And it was good. Good and LONG. There are a few things I liked, and a few more that I didn't.
Like: Cast.  Tom Cruise is back again as Ethan Hunt. And is really good. I have been turned off by Cruise for a while because of the big old bag of crazy he has been waving around, but here I can let it slide because he kicks all kinds of butt. Simon Pegg, somebody that I personally enjoy, makes a really good showing as the plucky comedic relief. Jeremy Renner is a fine, if not TOTALLY unnecessary, addition to the story. Last but definitely not least is Paula Patton. Now she is a very attractive woman, but they make her SO HOT in this. She also does plenty of butt kicking herself.
Dislike: Plot. This has the most boring typical action plots of all time. Somebody has nuclear launch codes, and is trying to incite world nuclear war... snore. No twists, no turns. I was really hoping that Renner's character was going to be bad, but nope his twist is much more lame. It is just really boring there are no surprises. It serves to move the action and story, but that is about all.
Like: Action. There is plenty of action to go around. From Prison riots, to hotel brawls, to climbing on the side of a building, to car chases. It has plenty. And they are very enjoyable. And everyone gets in on the action including Pegg. What I feel like was the peak of the film was the part at Burj Kalifa. It has plenty of tension and action though out.
Dislike: CG Effects. These are some of the worst CG effects that I have seen in a while. The bombing of the Kremlin, the samdstorm, and missiles are all just blatently fake. It takes away from the action that is goig on in these sequences. Just a fail on the effects side.
Dislike: Length. This movies feels long, and it is. Too long. It peaks in the middle and then ends really lack luster. With no real story to keep you interested you get tired of the action because it peaks to soon. It just gets to be a real drag.
Like/dislike: IMAX. As far as I am concerned they should scrap 3D til they can be sure it won't almoist always suck, and do everything in IMAX. The picture is larger than life and the sound moves you to the core. Having said that this movie gets a 75% good in IMAX rating. 50% for the excellent sound. I caught myself looking around me when I would hear the noises because they were so big and vivid. And 25% for half of the movie looking great. There were scenes like the one on Burj Kalifa that looked so real I got a little dizzy, and then others like many of the just plain simple sequences that looked fuzzy and out of focus. And when it is the picture you only notice it when its wrong, because it shold be clear period.
So I went into this wanting to see Batman, and kinda enjoyed myself for at least half the time. This is a pure action movie. So if that is what you want go for it.

Elf

The Christmas season kicks off with what is widely considered a Will Ferrell classic. He plays Buddy, a human raised by elves on a journey to find his human father. There are lots of things to love about this movie. One of which is the supporting cast. James Caan is Buddy's cold hearted father who finds the true meaning of Christmas. A class act as always is Bob Newhart. Who plays the elf that raises Buddy. Ed Asner and Mary Steenburgen are also welcome additions. But my favorite is Zooey Deschanel. She always has the awesomeness about her that makes her inviting and unattainable at the same time. Mix that with her quirky sense of humor and you have a win everything. But the star is of coarse Ferrell. He does one thing in every role that I have seen him in, and that is commit. He IS Buddy. He always does such a good job at making you forget who he really is and make you believe what he is doing. So I am not thinking Will is Great as Buddy. I think BUDDY is hilarious. Christmas music and spirit make you all warm a fuzzy inside like it should. With Buddy's childish ways, sight gags, and unflappable spirit adults and children will enjoy this ridiculous  Christmas story. Even though it just isn't my cup of tea.

The Sitter

This is the Jonah Hill I like. Heavier than the Moneyball Hill that I am still having to get used to, and kinda creeps me out. But this is movie just doesn't live up to the old school Hill comedies. Jonah is a college screw up who gets roped in to babysitting so his mom can go out on a date, but he has to drag the children on a wild quest to to get his object of lust in bed. It feels like a re-imagining of "Adventures in Babysitting" with more swearing. You get plenty of those funny quips and one liners that you want and need, but for some reason they fell flat with me. I did laugh , even laugh out loud. But when it was all said and done I didn't laugh as hard or as much as I had wanted to. The supporting cast are a welcome addition. Max Records is the kid with "issues". Landry Bender is the foul mouthed party girl. And Kevin Hernandez is the misunderstood kid. Jonah's character has a meaningful even with each of them where they connect. Blah! Get rid of that. This is a raunchy comedy where the children drop the F bomb. I don't need that family crap! But as characters they worked and are quite talented. The most pleasant surprise for me was one of my favorite people Sam Rockwell who is the drug dealer after Jonah for the better part of the movie. He deems Hill's character as his 8th best friend. He shoots his 3rd best friend in the feet, so what would he do to his 8th? lol. It'll make sense if you see it. Long-short Sam is awesome as always. The sound track is pretty good. Feels like a crazy random group of songs that made me chuckle when I heard them. There is this portion where he has this terrible relationship with his dad that is totally not funny and drags down the tone right when you are really getting in to everything. They also throw in another love interest who is cool rather than the terrible chick at the start, but again you are just taking up time where you could have jokes. At least make her like Emma Stone in "Superbad". It just kind of feels poorly constructed and short on laughs where I wanted them. But I did laugh, and didn't hate it. I just don't love it. Because with a crazy comedy with a bunch of swearing kids and cocaine, you can push the comedy limits more than what they did.

The Muppets

The Muppets are a nice change of pace in family film. A solid piece of nostalgia that anyone can enjoy. Now it's not gonna blow your socks off. It's not the funniest thing ever, but I sure enjoyed the quirky puppet sense of humor. The one big worry I had going in to this thing was that it was going to be the Jason Segel show. Don't get me wrong, I like Segel. But this movie should be about bringing the Muppets back to glory. And it is. A MUSICAL romp to restore Muppet glory! Amy Adams is Segel's love interest, and she is ADORABLE! She brings the fun innocents that should go along with a film like this. One thing I got a huge kick out of was 80s Robot with his Tab, New Coke, and dial up modem. Hilarious. The celebrity cameos are wonderful and non-invasive: Rashida Jones, Alan Arkin, Zach Galifianakis, Ken Jeong, Jim Parsons, Sarah Silverman, Whoopi Goldberg, Selena Gomez, The NPH, John Krasinski, Rico Rodriguez, Chris Cooper, and my favorite Mickey Rooney. It does drag at points. Mostly when they are trying to advance the story and not singing me a song or pulling and old school gag. But it doesn't do that for terribly long. This is a solid piece of family friendly film that satisfies what I want out of my Muppets. Goofy ridiculous and obvious jokes. Well I'm off to YouTube Bob Hope on the Muppet Show.

Hugo

IMDB bills this as "Set in 1930s Paris, an orphan who lives in the walls of a train station is wrapped up in a mystery involving his late father and an automaton." False. This movie is about movies. More specifically old movies. Even more specific a man who made old movies. This film starts out like it is about the title character Hugo (Asa Butterfield), but it is actually about a sad shop owner Goerges Melles (Ben Kingsley) who was, in the past, a visionary film make in the birthing days of the movies. There are good actors in this movie Ray Winstone, Christopher Lee, Jude Law, Sacha Baron Cohen. And they all do great work. The only thing is that they are totally a waste of space. You spend quite a bit of time following them to no actually advancement or relevance to the main story. They show this mechanical man like it has some big mystery and will come alive. Nope. It just draws pictures. What I really liked about this movie is that they talk about movies is the way I feel about movies. Like they are dreams. Or a physical manifestation of what we can create in our minds. An Escape. In that aspect this movie touched me. Which I guess is the point, however I really do not need all of the extra junk getting in the way of that message. It would have been better billed to me as a story about Goerges Melles. Martin Scorsese does however put 3D to excellent use. It brings a depth and a fell that really does immerse you in this world. It also brings a fabulous look to all the old movies they show. I could have sat for two hours and watched all those in 3D. This movie is not for everyone. As a matter of fact, it is for very few people. And only if they can make it through all the unnecessary stuff to get to the meat. I enjoyed it for it's message, but that's about it.

Immortals

The thing that tipped me off to no liking this movie as much as i thought is that when i left i felt like it should be much later. Which is to say that it felt long. Epic movies like this are expected to be longer, but you shouldn't notice it. You should come out feeling like it should be earlier than it is. That the movie is so engrossing that you lost track of time. Having said that there are a lot of good things about this movie. The action was real dope. Bloody and rough. Henry Cavill is Theseus. Who initially looks like the bad mama jamma that you don't want to mess with, but he seems to get bailed out by the Gods more than i would expect. Zeus' faith often seems misplaced. But he does do his fair share of good killing. Everyone does. Theseus, the gods, and King Hyperion (Mickey Rourke) all lay serious waste. Hyperion has it out for the gods who he felt let his family die. Freido Pinto is also a delight, and so is her butt. There is a part where her character Phaedra and Theseus are about to get down, and she is undressing then the next shot is her butt. Well I ASSume it's her's. It could be a double, but either way, all the men that have seen this thank you. The music was something that I noticed, but in a bad was. you would have your traditional epic score of horns, drums, and such. However on occasion i remember the noise of an electric instrument that stood out. This movie got billed to me as a 300 type movie, and it was. Just not as action packed and interesting. They gave me a story, but let it drag. They gave me great visuals, and blew it with crappy 3D. This  delivers on the action and dude stuff, and is enjoyable if you can make it through the drag which begins to be more apparent the deeper in you get. This film has a truly epic feel that reels you in, and tries its best to keep you in.

Zookeeper

Zookeeper... What else can I say, but, "Meh." This is another one of Kevin James cookie cutter "I'm big but lovable  movies. Griffin gets shot down by the woman he loves, and when the chance to win her back arises the animals that love him so much coach him through winning her. But he finds love somewhere he didn't expect but was there all along in Kate (Rosario Dawson). Their chemistry was fine cause she is nice and you can't help but like James. my favorite part was the animals. Nick Nolte, Adam Sandler, Sylvester Stallone, Cher, Judd Apatow, Jon Favreau, Maya Rudolph, and last but definitely not least Don Rickles. The better actors were not the focus., but it was fun to figure who they were. Another thing I liked was Ken Jeong and Joe Rogan were quite entertaining despite not being their normal over the op selves. But the thing that drug me down was for the most part it was kind of boring. If you are going to do something as wild as animals talking make it crazier and not so serious. Just a meh like a couple other of James' movies cause it had ist moments and misses. kids would like it because of the animals.

West Side Story

A best picture that truly was. A beautiful re-imagining of the old tale of Romeo and Juliet. There are so many good things about this movie. The Dance fights, the music, the love. The Jets and the Sharks are rival gangs fighting for the same turf, when one night two star crossed lovers catch each others eye across the gym. But can their love overcome their situation. Tony (Richard Beymer) and Maria (Natalie Wood) are our Romeo and Juliet, and a fine couple they are. They personify the old ways of romance in film both in song and acting and it is fantastic. When they are in the scene it becomes only them. The way they are meant to feel. A Gang war ruins their chance at happiness. Riff (Russ Tamblyn) and Bernardo (George Chakiris) are the leaders of our gangs Jets and the Sharks. Who seem to hate each other and determined to settle the score in sometimes awkward, but always delightful, dance fights. They guys and gals make you understand their hate, and yet also let you have fun eith them.  The beginnings feels like a fake fun filled romp through the city filled with laughs and jokes.It transitions to a true drama. A drama of death and loved loss that leaves you with a sad satisfaction, but also of enjoyment of earlier parts in the film. I have never been on much for Shakespeare, but this version is truly a credit to his story which I had the supreme pleasure to enjoy on the big screen like few of my generation can.

Red State

I had high hopes for Red State because I like Kevin Smith and i like the majority of his work. I also think the lunatics that he is portraying are just that lunatics, and I love him making fun of those terrible people who protest funerals.  But it just fails to satisfy me. First on acting/ There are only2 standouts: John Goodman and Michael Parks. Goodman as the man who is called to come deal with the situation at this compound. And Parks as the head of these murderous crazy people who see themselves as cleaning the earth of the wicked. His calm nature makes him very creepy. Everyone else just was meh, and forgettable. The first scene in the church is actually pretty good, where the Park character distorts and perverts the word of God for his own means, it is both irritating and disturbing. But it goes on too long. You get then point and he is still rambling. I found myself wanting everyone in that compound to take a lead implant to the face, but i do not get my wish. The end left me wanting. Sure they were locked up, but show me some punishment. And the reason they basically turn themselves over is a bit of a stretch. It was also bland. Flet like the movie had no identity. Not horror, thriller, action, or comedy. It has aspects of all, but doesn't really give me much of any. It just hit so many mosques with so few shining points it was hardly worth finishing. Want an entertaining farse about religion? watch Dogma. Very funny.

Anonymous

This movie is billed as "Was Shakespeare a Fraud?" However, it is about more than that. It is about the Earl of Oxford's (Rhys Ifans) life and relationship with Queen Elizabeth (Vanessa Redgrave). And more so about that and their crusade against free speech rather than about fraudulence. The look of this movie is excellent. This movie could be split in two it would have been better. One that was actually about William Shakespeare (Rafe Spall), and one about the private lives and politics of the nobles. There were a couple of times where I totally forgot about poor William and his art, or Oxford's art, then they would show a play and I would remember, "Oh yeah! Thats what this is supposed to be about." The acting for the most part was well done with a few exceptions where severe over acting occurred, but nothing to ruin this already confusing endeavor. Except for Shakespeare himself. He just didn't belong. He seem like he rode back in time to take advantage. His tone, speak  and overall demeanor just didn't work with the feel of everything else. (although he was enjoyable, just out of place) I feel like in trying to tell two stories here they fail to tell wither properly. After I left this movie I like it less and less the more I thought about it. It brings you in with a false pretense and then tells you a different story. At least it's focus seems different. Split them up. Re-do them. Then call me. If my words fail in their attempt to disuede the, then seek ye not this film if the fire or your heart seeks a story of Shakespearse's not.

A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas

Harold (John Cho) and Kumar (Kal Pen) jot down a another chapter in the legacy that is them. They do so with I raunchy, politically incorrect, drug laced romp to rekindle their long lost friend ship. What is great about this movie and the other two is they are jokes and they know it. nothing is take serious. It feel like everyone is there to screw around and have a good time which makes all the dumb/crazy humor acceptable. Because they are not appealing to your intelligence, they are appealing to the moron in all of us. They introduce new friends to the franchise like Danny Trejo as Harold's Father in law, and bring back old ones like the hilarious NPH as himself back from the dead. This movie delivers on many aspects of entertainment, and one that i always complain about is 3D. Except now, Again the tradition of not taking themselves seriously they go all out with the 3D. using every reason to throw things in your face. From glass, to eggs, to syrup, to smoke. And it is so good! Kudos to them for not making me hate it. There is nothing phenomenal about this movie (except the 3D). But it is a good bromance that certainly entertains and delivers on it promises.

The Rum Diary

This movie felt incomplete. I was just not sure what was accomplished when it was over because it felt like nothing. Johnny Depp was magic as always. whether he is drunk love struck, or nervous. He owns FACT. Giovanni Ribisi play this drunk/high crazy person Moberg, and is an excellent funny addition. Aaron Eckhart play the model rich tool bag to a T. And the very sexyful Amber Heard play Depps super hot love interest. The cast is wonderful is what i am getting at. Very stylized and cool, the scenery is set in gorgeous Puerto Rico as well as ugly Puerto Rico, but all are excellent. They drink rum like every two seconds which isnt a bad thing. The problem with me is that Kemp (Depp) has these adventures here there and everywhere while trying to be a writer in the semi-foreign land. He has the adventures at cockfights, at carnival, kinda grows as a person, but it doesn't end in much. or anything as far as I can tell. all I got was text that tells me how things end. So I have this movie that I technically like, but don't actually like because I felt like it left me hanging. If you like Depp I feel like you will enjoy this movie to an extent, if you don't you will feel like you tried to follow this story and spent this time for nothing.

In Time

Hey, can you spare a minute? This is an interesting idea. Everyone says, "Time is Money." What if it actually was money? And that is about as far as it goes, an interesting idea that is. Here is my biggest problem with this movie. You have to establish a reality. This one makes me believe it is in the future. A future where Time is the new money,everyone has clocks in their arm, all the cars look the same, pay phones make a come back, and no one ages physically past 25. WHY?! They make reference to "The clock" by saying, "I didn't start the clock." Who did? Why did they? How does that clock get in your arm? What makes you not age past 25? Why are there people clearly not 25, but are supposed to be? And why the heck did cell phones die? I don't need good reasons, just reasons. Not because it "Is". That makes it lame. It would have made more sense to have ketchup packets as money because at least they exist and I don't wonder how it came to be. But that problem in itself renders the film pretty much invalid. Do you like cliches? how about cliches about time? Then get ready because this one has ALL OF THEM. Making time, quality time, time in your hands, blah blah blah. It got to the point where you count them, and if i was doing that I have quit the movie. The action was also very lack luster. Of course this is a world where unless you have a terrible accident then you could in theory live forever as long as you have time on your clock. So, why would you engage in such risky behavior? The acting was fine Justin Timberlake was fine. Very cool and very James Bond, but he get accused of murder by being caught on camera. On camera where a man jumped off a bridge. How did you not see that dude? Anyway, Amanda Seyfried was cute in a sort of odd way. She goes from "snotty" to "naughty" and it pretty much work. Cillian Murphy is a time keeper. He makes sure that time stays as it should be and no one is doing wrong. He is wierd and tough and cool, too. The one problem i had with the cast was Olivia Wilde. There was not enough of her! she runs out of time at the start and I am left in a Wileless world :( This movie would be fine if it were from red box, then i would not expect the questions to be answered, I would still be pissed about Wilde, but sad action scenes would also make sense. Don't waste time, by making time to go see this in a theater.

Real Steel

Dispite all my friends telling me how terrible it would be, the little 5 year old me kept yelling, "nuh-uh!" And now that I have seen it little me screams, "robots are awesome!" And me now says, "Did I just watch Rocky with friggin' robots?!" Cause that's what it was, but without the thing that makes Rocky a fantastic story of triumph. The human factor. A down and out former decent boxer turned robot boxing failure has to overcome being a loser to win his son, and take a sparing bot to the top. The acting is fine. Hugh Jackman plays the degenerate dad who uses his son to feed his robot habit. He is good, rough, and entertaining nothing to complain about. Dakota Goyo is the son who digs up the robot and invest himself in it's success. He is also fine plays a tough kid who swears and dances with robots. The special effect may be like some other recent movies that work really well on the big screen, but fall short when you bring it home. Only time will tell, but in IMAX was a treat with its visuals and sound. The true short coming is the sad attempt at making it a story of triumph. The financial journey was the struggle. I would catch myself getting caught up in the fights then i would realize. THEY ARE ROBOTS! No one is hurt. You just fight til it breaks. But it was fun for what it was. Average to Good if you see it in IMAX.

Damn Yankees (1958)

Here is a story that has "got heart". As entertaining as they come. Basically a die hard baseball fan says he would give his soul for his favorite team, The Senators, to have big player so they can win some games. So the devil shows up to oblige. The music is catchy and feels hear felt in a sort of contrived way. Our hero Joe Hardy (Tab Hunter) is a all American cat as well as a newly endowed All American ball player. He becomes such through the efforts of Mr. Applegate, played by the wonderful Ray Walston, who uses his power and influence to shoot him straight to the top. Mr. Hardy is sensually assaulted buy, the supposed to be but surprisingly not so sultry to me, Lola (Gwen Verdon). Long-short it is a quite entertaining older film for anyone who like baseball, musical, or older movies. You'll get what you aim for from this adaptation.

The Wizard of Oz

I was given as an early birthday present the chance to watch one of the greatest movies of all time on the big screen. That movie of coarse is The Wizard of Oz. You can be enjoyed despite age, gender, race, or religion. It succeeds on so may different levels. The story is Dorothy (Judy Garland) gets caught up in a twista, and it send to the Land of Oz. She then must go on a trek to see the Wizard (Frank Morgan). On her journey she makes friendly with a Scarecrow (Ray Bolger), a Tim Man (Jack Haley), and a Lion (Bert Lahr). The general entertainment factor for this movie is off the charts. From the musical numbers, to drama, to comedy it delivers in a way that only those old films can. The special effects for the day had to be mind blowing. Shoot, there were parts in Thor that I thought looked worse. The use of color in Oz give a really different feel from one world to the other. And the costumes and make up stand up to anything modern. The cast OWNS. Garland plays the lost Dorothy to a T, as well as bringing her superb singing ability to the role. Bolger is the scarecrow. Brainless and floopy. He always has the movement to him that is loose and is the Scarecrow. Haley shows how soft and gentile the man made of metal is. And then there is the Lion. as entertaining as any character I can remember. The big fradey cat sells everything he does to the max, be it a joke, song, or fear.
The over the top Wicked Witch (Margaret Hamilton) and Wizard wrap this journey into your dreams nicely. Some say arguably the best movie, there can be no argument. It is one of the best. I highly recommend to anyone who love to be entertained.
p.s. this is also one of my favorite trailers I have seen

The Green Hornet

Here is a good example of a movie that is more fun than good. Fun in a goofy+action kind of way. The idea is a fatherly neglected millionaire playboy's (Seth Rogen) father dies and in an act of rebellion he and his new found friend Kato (Jay Chou) go to deface the monument and end up thwarting a criminal act, but get noticed for the vandalism not the heroics. So they decide to take to the streets as heroes posing as villains. Rogen plays this character about as good as you can play it as an action comedy. He is his normal funny self, but the situations do not fit the normal comedy that he does. So at times he feels out of place to me. A shinging point in this is Chou. Now he is a long shot from the master that was Bruce Lee, but I do feel he does the role justice. He and Rogen's actions scenes work well together where Rogen it terribly terrible and Kato swoops in to save him with his super senses. So the action (car chases, explosions, and fisticuffs) were satisfying. A quick funny addition to the beginning was James Fanco as crime boss Clear. The villain, who is racing up my bad guy charts is, Christopher Waltz. Some of you may know him from his undeniably evil role in Inglorious Bastards. He plays a goofy yet vile crime lord and again ratchets up my ranks of favorites because of his noticeably dark subtext. This movie does one thing well entertain. It does the action and serious without taking itself to serious which makes it work, and gives enough laughs satisfy.

Arthur (1981)

"How does it feel to have all that money? Feels Great." A very charming and very 80s comedy stating Dudley Moore as Arthur Bach. A multi-millionaire playboy that takes drinking to epic proportions. He falls in love with a "poor" lady, Linda (Liza Minnelli). And using the life principles taught to him by his faithful butler Hobson (John Gielgud), he learns that love is more important than money. Hobson's bluntness with Arthur is price less, and Arthur's drunken scenes (majority) are overtly funny as well as subtly funny. This is billed as a straight up comedy, and while it is funny, it often hits more serious notes from time to time that almost balance this movie out. It is a great distraction for anyone who love the 80s, Mr, Moore, or the best drunk ever.

Burlesque

I caught this on one of the movie channels and thought I would give it a shot, and well it happened. This movie had people I like such as Kristen Bell and Stanley Tucci. But it was not enough to save this movie. I should be called  "Christina Aguilera's excuse to dance sing an look hot." Which she did. Just not enough. It always seemed like the story was just a filler for these super sexy numbers.  And Cher... well I love her, but it is hard to display emotion when you have had more work one than Chaz Bono. Just empty. Christina's character comes from a small town and is enthralled by this place, and all she want s to do is be a sexy star on the stage. Like a slutty Barbra Streisand. What evs. Little girls who want to grow up to be stripper have problems.  If all you care about is hot chicks then fast forward to those parts, other wise watch Chicago.

X:Men: First Class

Here is my second favorite super hero movie for 2011 thus far. And my second favorite in the series (to the first. not because it is worse, just because I was so excited to have an X-Men movie). I really like how they tried to hang on to a relationship with the other movies, but not so much that it held it back or brought it down. Just enough for reference. The chemistry that James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender as Charles and Erik sells it. They are friends on different sides of an argument durring the Cuban missile crisis that work together, but destined to fall apart. Jennifer Lawrence is super hot as Mystique. The only problem I have with her is that she is tight with Xavier for the better part of her life and she just bails on him when he needs her the most. Kevin Bacon is a very good energy absorbing bad guy. He sells his cool version of evil rather well. For the most part in this effects heavy prequel the effects are rather well done. Of course it has it's miscues, but that are not bad enough to rip me away from the action at hand. The only place it did get me was with Beast. When he gets all fuzzy I find myself wishing he was just in full makeup like in the latest adaptation of The Wolfman (2010). This movie also lets you get acquainted with some mutants palls that you may not know about. With cameos from Hugh Jackman and Rebecca Romijn this is easily the best of the X series. It is packed with the action, and fun for us big geeky kids. (which may skew my opinion slightly)

Bridesmaids

This a good strong attempt at a guy movie for girls... or is it a girl movie for guys. Either way it is pretty funny. The first part of the movie is filled with jokes to (in my opinion) rope in the fellas. Then it slowly drifts farther and farther to chick comedy. Which is OK because it still does things to make it work for us gents. I think this movie is funny. My wife thinks it is hilarious. Kristen Wiig and Maya Rudolph are Annie and Lillian two life long friends who's lives have gone in different directions. The Lillian gets engaged and hilarity ensues. Melissa McCarthy could be Chris Farley's sister, and she is really funny as the butch element in this female party. Of course Ellie Kemper, best know to me as Erin on The Office, is very adorable and kind of sneaky funny as a super clean cut newly wed.. This movie has a good cast and will be enjoyed by guys, and loved by the gals. Fans of Knocked Up & and The Hangover will get the idea.

Hesher

Hesher is about a boy/family whose mother has passed and are dealing with the aftermath when the boy happens across a complete lunatic that ends up somehow bringing everyone together. Joseph Gordon-Levitt (JGL) is this title character, a transient, who forcefully moves in with T.J. (Devin Brochu) and his family. Hesher swings from complete lunatic to near normalcy back to crazy town pretty much the whole movie. Rainn Wilson does a fine dramatic role as T.J.'s dad who is so overcome with grief he can barely function. And Natalie Protman continues her string of things that own as a cashier at a local grocery who helps T.J. and become a source of his affection. This movie has it moments but I feel like i spent more time wonder what the crap Hesher was doing to really enjoy anything. My chance to watch this came from a friend of mine renting it, and I am glad I didn't pay for it. The acting was fine just the story didn't work. Why does T.J. get picked on? Why let a weirdo just move into your house? How do Hesher and Nicole hook up? Why does Hesher drag this kid places then bail on him? It just missed on me as a whole. Think different comment below and change my mind.

Moneyball

Do you know anything about baseball? Played it? Watched it? Care about it at all? Then you should enjoy this movie. I don't believe you have to know that much about baseball, but it helps. Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill are great together.  Brad Pitt is a former up and comer (Billy Beane) that didn't pan out who is managing a team that cannot get over that hump. In his quest to better his team he finds Jonah's character Peter shows him a way to manipulate the system. As an entertaining feature goes I enjoyed it. Hill was funny but not too funny, and Pitt was fantastic as always. Philip Seymour Hoffman makes a good showing as the manager that will not cooperate with the new system. The struggle and near epic failure add a very good source of drama and tension. There are only two things that i had a serious problem with 1: Beane's daughter singing some stupid song at two points in the movie. I don't want it, and it adds nothing but extra time. 2: I knew how it would pan out. which in this case takes away from the drama a little. But on a whole I feel it is a real  good sports movie that anyone could love because it is also a good movie.

Thor

I haven't watched Thor since I have started my blog. So, since I watched it last night I feel as though I should give it it's dues. Thor in my most humble opinion is the best super hero movie I have seen this year. It does not reach the status of The Dark Knight or even Iron Man, but still very entertaining. I am going to do a compliment sandwich here since I feel as though there is much more good about this movie than bad.
From the first sequence where Thor rolls in and owns the frost giants, to this mortal battle with shield, to his final fight with Loki, Thor give very satisfying action. Thor is cocky cause he is awesome and he has to learn that there is more than be really really good looking... I mean awesome.
The story is good enough. It gives good reasons for things happening except Thor's transition to hero. He has a failure, then a long talk with Jane about the universe, and BAM! He is not a douche bag anymore. It just feels a but shallow, but adequate. There are also some special effects things that I noticed the second time around, but not enough to make me dislike it at all.
The cast OWNS. Portman, Hopkins, Hemsworth, Skarsgard, everybody. Everyone from shield, Asgard, hospital are very good. They do nothing but build  and sell the story which makes it as good as possible.
So in short Thor is a very entertaining Supermanish superhero story that does its job.

Zack and Miri Make a Porno

This is what Bucky Larson should have been, and by that I mean actually funny. Just a raunchy and mega sexual, but again actually funny. Complete with a good combo a smart and dumb. Basic gist is Zack and Miri are best friend roommates that are poor and need to make come cash. So they round up a merry band of misfits and decide to make some porn, but in the end find each other in their search for money. Seth Rogen is pretty much his token character which is of course funny. Elizabeth Banks is dirty, sweet, and sexy. Craig Robinson, who many may know from the office, always gets a good laugh. For good reason, cause he is hilarious. One of my favorite lines from him, "I am disturbed at how much this is turning me on."... well much funnier in context. A brief cameo by Justin Long and Brandon Routh is really really funny, and really really gay. long-short: if you like Seth Rogen and all those quick witted sex comedies  like Knocked Up, Superbad, and The 40 Year Old Virgin then you should dig this.

Seven Days in Utopia

Here is a movie I really wanted to like. A good message + Robert Duvall should be a win. It wasn't. just when you think the acting is passable they would have a scene or a big of dialogue that feels just wrong. What was right was Deborah Ann Wall. A fine performance and love interest to ouR "hero".  Well they flirt a little, but you have no idea if the end up together. He tries to kiss her once, gets shut down and told it doesn't mean never, then leaves her in Utopia. Strike 1. And there are a few story things that irk me, but one in particular. There is a part in the movie where Luke (hero) must learn to properly visualize his shot and then paint it. Well the says that it will take this really complicated bull crap shot, but it clearly doesn't. They act like it is behind the tree and he will have to curve it. When he takes the shot he hits it straight by the tree. No curve, just pops it by the tree. And the painting he draws... well, maybe he should be painting instead of drawing. Strike 2. And he has this big turn around where he realizes that life is not about the game. It's about family, love, faith. Which is great. Because in my opinion it is. He takes his new mind frame and plays some awesome golf. All the way to a play off with the #1 golfer in the world Tea Kwan Ho (Choi) and when he takes  putt that would make him the victor, it stops. Then Duvall voices over, "Does he make the putt? Does it really matter?" then they tell you to go to some website to see if he made it. STRIKE 3. I haven't checked, because that is crap. OF COURSE IT MATTERS, YOU IDIOTS! You want him to make the putt. You want him to be enlightened AND be awesome. This whole thing was a huge waste of time because of that garbage. They appear to have had a budget, plugs (from Callaway, to Odyssey, to the Golf channel), and a decent cast. and they screwed it up. which is not something you can afford to do when you alienate people because you are about golf. Watch Bagger Vance or Tin Cup and then we'll talk. btw don't you love the strike thing for a movie about golf? OUT

this should have happened

Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star

Bucky is funny... for like 2 minutes then you get used to him. Usually really crass humor does it for me, but not this time. Everyone in the porn industry has funny names, and you see all the movie posters with the really good names. But it is really kinda boring. Nick Swardson commits to Bucky and plays it innocent which is good. . It's really nice to see Christina Ricci who is a waitress afraid of injuring someone else in the line of duty.. Don Johnson is pretty funny as the director Miles Deep. The thing that made me laugh the most was Bucky's roommate Gary played by Kevin Nealon. He was totally insane and wonderful. The best scene was when Bucky is at an audition for mac and cheese and flicks it out and commences to masturbate. You know what didn't even get a giggle out of me? All the jokes about his teeth. No clue why just weren't funny. Over all rather boring for as movie about a goofy kid in the pron industry I'm sad to say.

Contagion

Here is a movie that makes a mad dash for paranoia, and might get you to bite. From all the statistic of how may times you touch your face a day to all the shots of multiple people touching the same object they show how often you come into contact with other people indirectly. What it definitely does is show how quickly they believe the world would fall apart, and how the self preservation instinct would bring down society in the face of an epidemic. It also shows those who could profit and those who rise above, and how much the government protocols can help and hinder progress in such extremes.  It just misses for me. Matt Damon comes out strong. He put on a little weight, and plays the husband, father, detainee really well. But he get's lost to me later on partly I feel because the scope of the movie is global. Laurence Fishburne if fine. he doesn't do anything spectacular with his character. He gets the job done. Jude Law coasts. Oh, and Gwyneth Paltrow makes a brief appearance also. The best thing I can say for this movie is that it is more interesting than entertaining.

Friday September 9, 2011... on Saturday

Well sorry I missed Friday, but here is everything IGN had to offer on Friday on Saturday.

• Chuck Norris & Jean-Claude Van Damme in Expendables 2!? YES PLEASE!
• Arnold Schwarzenegger & Bruce Willis in Expendables 2?! OOPS! I'll Clean that.
• We liked Beetlejuice. You are going to ruin it. I Promise.
• Better get a Monopoly in the theaters. Because that is the only way I am watching.
• A total reinvention of Bloodsport. I submit they should compete in Pogs.
• The Great Gatsby. Read the book? Now see them try and make the movie.
• Can The Gangster Squad blow your brains out with awesome?
• Michael Shanon talks about Zod... like I care.
• Human Centipede was not nearly as gross and shocking as I had hoped. Maybe 2 will blow me away
• Russell Crowe is in for Les Miserables.
• Mel Gibson and Jewish warrior flick. Not a crazy as it sounds.
• And Denzel does... who cares! Denzel does it, and we love it!

Thanks again to IGN, and once again you know what I know

The Debt

This is kind of a Good, Bad, and Ugly situation.

The Good: The acting. Every one form "Old Rachael" (Helen Mirren) to "Young David" (Sam Worthington) did a bang up job for what they had to work with. But the standouts were  Jessica Chastain as "Young Rachael" and  Jesper Christensen as "Dieter Vogel". Jessica is lovely and tough. when I catch her profile she reminds me of Geena Davis. She brings good emotion and feeling to her role. From sparing with the boys to her gynecological exam with the teams target she bring it. She only falls short of our villain. He is a wolf in sheep's clothing. a mass murdering psycho who after WW2 has assumed a new life. As the doctor he is professional, and as a captive he his manipulative and dark. The cast really doesn't let you down at all though.

The Bad: The action. Being there isn't any. Well, very little. For a spy/espionage film there are very few stealthy kills and even less gun play. This movie a a DRAMA.  When it happens it gets a 4/10. a little disappointing. And without further ruing the story (which i will get to in a moment) i cannot elaborate, so you will have to take my word for it.

The Ugly: The Story. There are hole in this thing bigger than my... well they are pretty big. Here is where I am going to ruin some things for you. (1) They tie this guy down with rope. Seriously? He gets a shard of glass and cuts though this bindings. Handcuff are #1 on the captive check list. I know you are Soviet controlled East Berlin, but if you can get fake papers you can get handcuffs which would have solved many problems and saved one leading character a scar on her face. (2) This old Nazi doctor gets the drop on Rachael TWICE! The first SURPRISE is acceptable, but the beat down she receives is not. She is a trained spy and should waste that old turd, but he slaps her around and kicks her in the face. WHATEVER! And where did the two guys run off to?  And the second time she is older, but so is he. He is like 1,000 years old and you let him stab you MORE THAN once with scissors?! It's a joke. (3) Spending so much time on the love story of Rachael and David. I would have it but they spend so much time developing something that ultimately has no real bearing because they never get together. The only affect it has on the story is that they cannot escape when they first capture their target because David won't leave her. Why? I have no idea. I am pretty sure again that the government could arrange something to get her our because if they don't start shooting she is just a nobody. You need them to be involved to drive this portion, but spending so much time just drags out this already drug story even further. (4) The take too good of care of their prisoner. They hold him down to feel him. LET HIM STARVE. They shave him. Why does it matter if he has a beard? And THEY LET HIM SPEAK! if you don's want him to talk to you beat the crap out of him. Punish!

It's just a whole list of should have, could have, would have. that end up a big  dull waste of coin. This would be a good buy for $1.

Friday September 2, 2011

360 and The Deep Blue Sea... I only care about 360 because of Mr. Hopkins

Who wants to watch Ronald Reagan? A bunch of people. Probably

Tired of Bond yet? Not Me. More Bond, James Bond

With this rumored cast(Russel Crowe, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter) how Miserable can it be?

I love that Johnny Depp does movies that are good. Thin Man

Will The Avengers kick you in the Skrull?

Not new Batman, but entertaining none the less.

Go Joe!

David and Goliath... with The Rock... really?

Die Hard 5

Sell me Superman better! I need IT!

It's Alive! Alive!

Wanna see Red State! (explicit)

and last but not least. Give me this Captain Planet, and I will give you my heart.

A Bunch this week, but now you know what I know.
Thanks again to IGN

Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure

Ah Nostalgia... Nothing like a good romp though the junk of my youth. But it sure is fun. This movie is the cookie cutter for over acting. Bill S. Preston, Esq (Alex Winter) & Ted Theodore Logan (Keanu Reeves) just ham it up through history. Here is your plot: These 2 dudes go through a most triumphant trip through time because the future has been made excellent by their band's (Wyld Stallyns) music, and to stay together and save the totally awesome future they must pass their oral history report. After you have seen this then you will know what just happened.  George Carlin makes a brief shot as their time traveling mentor Rufus. They Bring back these overly comical figures from history to talk in their report. Just super goofy and fun. I watched it and thought you should too.

Conan the Barbarian (2011)

There are 3 things i should have gotten from this movie. I received 4, but should have only gotten 3.

1. 3D. Grade: F-. Lets's just get this out of the way. 3D for the vast majority of movies BLOWS! And this movie would have been just as entertaining without it. I didn't want or need this, but it was forced upon be by a theater that only has one non-3D showing. Just in case anyone wants to know, if you show me a crappy 3D mess I destroy the glasses. I'll recycle them when you warrant me wanting to use them again, or if you quit charging me for them. Until them they are mine and I shall do away with them. (sorry that's my little 3D rant)
2. Violence. Grade: A. Bashing heads in, cutting things off, blood everywhere. (Man Grunt) This is not Saw gore, but plenty violent for the manliest of men. From tiny Conan doin' work to grown Conan choppin' ho's arms off. They do action right.
3. Effects. Grade: B. There really wasn't anything that jumped out as bad until Conan fights this big water monster and that gets kinda crappy. But he fights some sand demon things that pop in and out of the ground like hardcore parkour guys, and with a few exception look good.
4. Story. Grade C. And a C isn't a terrible thing. It, for me, is the middle grade. Here is a broad overview. Conan & friends must avenge the slaughter of his village from an old dude and Princess Amidala's evil sister who wants to power up a crazy squid mask to bring the wife/mother back from the dead . And me thinks Conan dosth spake too much. I would have like a more Arnoldish Conan.(side note: No man's, especially a barbarian's, butt is that hairless, just saying. Conan needs to be hairier) Granted Arnold barely spoke English, but it worked. He is a Barbarian after all, noble or not. It's and acceptable vehicle for everything else.

This is not an "acting" movie, or a really good movie. It's a dude movie. Talk crap, kill, screw, repeat. But it entertained, and that is what its all about. Knock yourselves out Bros leave the women at the house.

Red Band Version
Conan: The Musical

Our Idiot Brother

Well I liked Paul Rudd's character "Ned" more than I actually like the movie. He is so freaking likable. The movie has it moments, and actors to perform them. Thank you Zoey Deschanel and Elizabeth Banks and "Karen" you were delightful. But this movie feels like a joke Rudd made in Knocked Up, paraphrasing: Marriage is like Everyone Loves Raymond, but not funny. And this movie feels like that. Life and not that funny. The family dynamic plays pretty well. Everyone has chemistry. There is also the standard scene in Rudd's newer comedies where they describe things/people in a funny way like: "You look like Babe Ruth's Gay Brother. Gaybe Ruth." One highlight for me was a reference to Major Lazer. But story wise Ned is simple and kind, and gets taken by a cop. After he gets out of jail he makes the rounds with his family where they think he ruins everything, but they learn a lesson in the end. Pretty standard really. All in all you might be disappointed paying $9 to see this, but not if you Red Box or Netflix it later. I would skip it unless you are a die hard fan of one of the stars. It's just kinda funny.

And if you wanna know who Major Lazer is click HERE (caution rather suggestive dancing, daggering, and use of a ladder)

Friday August 26, 2011

If anyone cares the Ouija Board movie goes where you ouija board should go... in the trash. Ouija Dies
Romancing the Stone may have a terrible remake. Might suck, but I like the old ones so I thought it warranted mentioning. Stoned Enough to Remake
I loved the Wolf Man so Frankenstein  could be good. It's Alive!
More Bond! Bond, James Bond.
Superman forgot to look good.... It's a.... whatever
Who you gonna call? Ghostbusters!
How long can you hold a Grudge?
Warp 2! Star Trek
And last, and probably least the "Amazing" Spiderman... I just thought you might care because i cannot make myself. Amazing lack of give a crap
Now you know what I know.

thanks again to IGN for my info

Clay Pigeons

Man Overboard! Alarm! This movie is a new twist on an old classic Strangers on a train. Clay (Joaquin Phoenix) finds himself in less than favorable situations was hen he is befriend by the super cool and super creepy Lester (Vince Vaughn). Vaughn really shows off in this being super entertaining, Similar to him now, only better if that makes any sense. Lester likes the way Clay handles himself, and all Clay wants to do is not get screwed. Because everything keeps implicating him and making him look like a wanted serial killer.  Janeane Garofalo even shows her mug and adds her comic styling to the mix as an agent trying to catch said killer.. Over all this is a fun semi-thriller that entertained that sure entertained. 

Enter the Void

I had decided not to review this one because I am ashamed I watched the entire thing. Ashamed in that I feel as though my eyes have been forcibly penetrated. It is bad, so bad it made me angry. It is void of any goodness. The IMDB synopsis is: "A drug-dealing teen is killed in Japan, after which he reappears as a ghost to watch over his sister." Sure i guess, or not. what this movie feels to me is that this man hates me because I want to be entertained, and he created this "Void" to torture me. "Well, why not just stop?", you ask. I cannot critique if i have not seen the whole thing. It reminds me of another move called Trash Humpers, For it is also void of any purpose. I feel like I watched a punch of people screw for like 45 min,. and was bored. It shows the same car crash like 4 times. and there is literally a scene that is hotel with a bunch of people bangin' It out for what seems like forever FOR NO PURPOSE. If there is a purpose then it shouldn't be so hard to understand. If she was the one he kept watching why? what can you do? You are not Patrick Swayze. This movie goes out of its was to be wild and trippy with colors and scenes that go on far too long. Far far too long. It lacks decent structure, story telling, and entertainment value as a hole. The actors were fine aside from the fact they they had to participate in this... thing. Just a huge waste of time that blows my mind how someone allowed this to be created.  Don't waste any time on this. The trailer below makes a million times more sense than the actual movie

The Help

Here is one I went to see on purpose, and glad I did. I opted out of Conan on this particular evening and went to see this little jewel of a chick flick. I haven't done a drama like this yet so I went for that purpose and stayed for a good flick. Well enough of that mess. Apparently Mississippi was the racism center of the world, or apparently they were a bunch of the most ignorant, unfit parent, racist butt holes EVER. The Help does everything for these people, and they treat them like absolute garbage. They are good enough to cook the food, but not eat with them. To clean the bathroom, but not use it. To raise the children, but not use the front door. It does a really good job of showing how fear and ignorance fueled so much garbage, and though understanding changes get made. Emma Stone is wonderful and lovely. She is black sheep of this particular society that through honesty and perseverance gains trust and understanding. There are other side stories, but for the most part they fall under the main one as part of the story she is trying to write. This movie is not about her, its about the women she writes about. The "help" in the movie are all fabulous. There is also a good scene in church where the pastor talks about love. All in all, I am surprised and glad I changed my plans for what i am sure is the better of my options. Through its tough subject matter it brings lots of smiles and left me with a warm fuzzy feeling and a tear in my eye. It is marketed as a movie for women, but I got the feeling that the men in the room enjoyed it quite a bit as well.

30 Minutes or Less

Here is a fun romp through swearing and fake gun play. Jesse Eisenberg, aka the less awesome Michael Cera, was good although very forgettable. They gave all the good stuff to Aziz Ansari, who really lit it up. He had the best lines, and was generally funnier. Danny McBride was the same type of character he always is, Kenny Powers, but again funny. and Nick Swardson was a welcome addition as support. This movie is fine for dates, cause the girls will laugh at things the think they shouldn't (but please don't be like the idiot girl who sat behind me to SCREAM laughed at all the least funny things) and guys will take the good lines and say them for a good zinger to their buds. It's a decent middle of the road comedy, but worth the watch. one my favorite parts was the car chase scene where they played the song "The Heat is On" it added a needed something.having said that there was some old school music and die hard references which I also dug.

Friday August 19, 2011

This weekend... is kinda slow. New Conan is out, which I will probably see. But I can already taste the suck in my eye holes. What I would like to see, that I failed to last week, is 30 Min. or Less. We have some new footage leaked from the set of The Dark Knight Rises, and The Avengers. An Austin Powers 4 is possibly in the works. Ghost Rider 2 trailer leaves me perpetually underwhelmed. Kate Beckinsale returns for another Underworld aka. "I want everyone to remember I'm Hot." And finally some Bond, And Freaking Sin City 2! News Links Below so you know what I know.

The Dark Knight, The Avengers, Austin Powers, Ghost Rider, Underworld 4, Bond, James Bond, Sin City 2

thanks ign for the info.

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

Whew! Well if you are not tired by the time you get done saying it you will be by the time you get done watching it (2.5hrs). However, a good tired. For the better part of the movie it felt like the village (the colors music and such), but it morphs into its own skin. Really excellent shots and views. Visually the movie is pretty nice to look at. Sam Rockwell is here again, owning.Casey Affleck showing up his brother again. And some guy named Brad Pitt plays Jesse James. Jesse made me nervous the whole film like he was about to go totally nuts. And he kinda was, just not the way I expected. Everyone hates on ole Bobby Ford for killing him, but I'm not sure why. He (Jesse) wasn't all that pleasant to begin with. For me this is a There Will Be Blood type of movie. Some will love it, and others just hate it. There are parts of narration breaking up different sequences in the movie and it gives it a feeling like you are reading it.(which I liked). A bit of action, but mostly drama and heavy story. I liked that it made me pay attention and kind of be involved. Much better movie than it got press for. Not for everyone so be warned.

Tangled

Following in the traditions of Disney cartoon musical. Tangled is cute, and moderately funny for grown ups. plenty of slap stick and animals for the kids. Good new old fashion cartoon movie. and Mandy Moore can actually sing her own songs which is nice. Disney generally does a good job tweaking a story and making it theirs.... FOREVER, Nothing spectacular. It's no Snow White or anything, but the kids will like it.

American History X

Here is a truly artistic piece of American film. From its black and white sequences to the painfully awkward and realistic scenes in and out of prison. Norton and company do a wonderful portrayal in this anti-hate (more anti-ignorance) film. Showing the insanity of racism and the road to redemption. A must watch. It just wins.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Here is a big ole suck fest. Here is a tip: IF THE APES ARE IMPORTANT MAKE THEM LOOK REAL!. Planet of the Fakes. God, the Apes looked like crap. And the story... Well to not ruin it more, for you people who done heed my warning, the apes take over my default. They don't conquer. Lame sauce non stop. Such a waste.

Cowboys and Aliens

Jon Favreau is really starting to grown on me. Making a bunch of movies I like, and Cowboys and Aliens is another. Sadly the worst part was Harrison Ford, but only for the first little bit of the movie. It was like he was trying to hard or something, but he evens out and the whole thing works. Daniel Craig CHECK, Olivia Wilde CHECK CHECK, and Sam Rockwell CHECK CHECK CHECK. It was a decent western mixed with a decent sifi to create a beautiful child. Rooting' toting' gun play actually worked with the super advanced aliens. A win for me.

The Change Up

Not exactly a date movie like I thought I would be. Way more boobs. And ,Olivia Wilde, you drive me wild. Bateman and Reynolds did good doing the other. It's more of a two dudes movie, like married bud & single bud see it together and get all "that's so you" , "you are so". Not to mention Bateman get poop IN HIS MOUTH like 2 seconds in which kills 90% of our female viewers. Dudes go see.

Captain America: The First Avenger

Good movie, not as good as Iron Man or Thor, but real entertaining. I feel that in 3D (which really has almost no purpose here) that some of the effects look worse than they would normally in 2D, but over all entertaining. 2 big things 1: Captain America the character for me is almost perfect. He is decent, honorable, just all those super good person qualities so I love him. And 2: the good I Love America feeling you get after.

And this should have been the trailer (Explicit Lyrics some Fs)---> http://youtu.be/S3TKCeGc2Ao

The Fighter

Wow. Christian Bale acted the crap outta that movie. The tv style boxing shots were dope, and the story is too good to be true. Marky Mark and Amy Adams were also impressive. A really feel good flick for everybody. Rather impressed. The shot at the end with the actual brothers will getcha.

And if you have seen it then you'll like this---> http://youtu.be/w_kGWWHwUXs

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2

Well to say i am to close to this one to be objective is an understatement. I read the books, watched the movies, and even played some of the terribly awful games. But I really enjoyed it. My eyes may have gotten something in them a couple of times causing them to make water but i never cried.But on a few technical notes writing was acceptable. I had drama when i needed drama, and comic relief when I needed it. It was as drastic and serious as it needed to be unlike the Half Blood which missed the point entirely. And the special effects were really good for the most part. there were a few instances where the fakeness jumped out at me, but nothing consistent. again i am to close to be really objective or pay to much attention because i love it so much. LIKE

Larry Crowne

I really wanted to like this movie, but it kinda feels like somebody's first movie. Tom Hanks is an extremely likable and charming down on his luck ex-navy cook who loses his job because of his lack of education. And decided to go to school and get some... Education that is. He has a few mini adventures some of which include the less charming, but very lovely Julia Roberts. Banks and Robert form this relationship that is almost out of no where which is like Thor, but less explosions to cover it up so less ok. Just really didn't do it for me.

Horrible Bosses

no Hangover 2, but still very funny. Kevin Spacey and the bad guys were wonderfully evil and obnoxious. The 3 heroes, if you will, were very entertaining with the exception of the very whiny to the point to irritating Charlie Day. And Jamie Foxx was not in it as much as i had expected which is also a good thing. Over all though pretty funny.