1. Inception
2. The Kids are All Right
3. Cyrus
Now I know that I didnt review Cyrus but it really was an excellent dark comedy. Jonah Hill, John C. Reilly, Marisa Tomei and Catherine Keener do such a great job and even though Jonah is incredibly awkward in this movie it is so entertaining. If you missed any of these films you gotta rent them at a minimum.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Salt (PG-13) 1hr 39min
Cast:
Angelina Jolie...Evelyn Salt
Liev Schreiber...Ted Winter
Chiwetel Ejiofor...Peabody
Director:
Phillip Noyce
So in this here flick we have the striking Angelina Jolie as Evelyn Salt, a CIA agent who interrogates people and apparently just kicks ass in everything related to CIA stuff (I know surprising, right?). Then enters a Russian by the name of Orlov who says that Salt is really a Russian spy who will kill the Russia president during his visit to the US for the Vice President's funeral...whole lotta Russian stuff goin' on. In turn, Salt flees in the most absurd and unrealistic way possible; making home made missile launchers in 60 seconds, jumping off of bridges onto moving trucks, killing rooms full of soldiers without getting a scratch on her. What can I say, Salt is amazing. Then the audience questions whether she really is a Russian spy who kills the Russian president and the US President or is she too legit to quit. Hmm I guess you will just have to see it...but please dont.
I just want to give away the plot twist and the ending to save all of you who plan to spend your hard earned money on this movie, but in my heart I would feel bad and not be doing my job. This movie is so lame, preposterous, and absolutely absurd. I understand that it is suppose to be like that but, come on, it is just laughable. Jolie's films are progressively getting worse and it's because she chooses these cheesy popcorn movies. She really is a good actor but only in the films with strong direction like A Mighty Heart, Changeling, or The Good Shepard. Same goes for Liev Schreiber...I can't let him off the hook...even though he wasn't too bad in this movie it still was not his best performance. None the less I am still a fan of his. For this one I give it a D+. Save your money and email be if you want the twist and ending.
Angelina Jolie...Evelyn Salt
Liev Schreiber...Ted Winter
Chiwetel Ejiofor...Peabody
Director:
Phillip Noyce
So in this here flick we have the striking Angelina Jolie as Evelyn Salt, a CIA agent who interrogates people and apparently just kicks ass in everything related to CIA stuff (I know surprising, right?). Then enters a Russian by the name of Orlov who says that Salt is really a Russian spy who will kill the Russia president during his visit to the US for the Vice President's funeral...whole lotta Russian stuff goin' on. In turn, Salt flees in the most absurd and unrealistic way possible; making home made missile launchers in 60 seconds, jumping off of bridges onto moving trucks, killing rooms full of soldiers without getting a scratch on her. What can I say, Salt is amazing. Then the audience questions whether she really is a Russian spy who kills the Russian president and the US President or is she too legit to quit. Hmm I guess you will just have to see it...but please dont.
I just want to give away the plot twist and the ending to save all of you who plan to spend your hard earned money on this movie, but in my heart I would feel bad and not be doing my job. This movie is so lame, preposterous, and absolutely absurd. I understand that it is suppose to be like that but, come on, it is just laughable. Jolie's films are progressively getting worse and it's because she chooses these cheesy popcorn movies. She really is a good actor but only in the films with strong direction like A Mighty Heart, Changeling, or The Good Shepard. Same goes for Liev Schreiber...I can't let him off the hook...even though he wasn't too bad in this movie it still was not his best performance. None the less I am still a fan of his. For this one I give it a D+. Save your money and email be if you want the twist and ending.
The Kids are All Right (R) 1hr 44min
Cast:
Annette Benning...Nic
Julianne Moore...Jules
Mark Ruffalo...Paul
Director:
Lisa Cholodenko
This film eliminates all of the bells and whistles that clog up our screens with special effects over substance and relies solely on acting and character interaction. My last review was for Inception and when you have a scale of great movies these two exist as polar opposites of each other. Inception give the audience grandeur and a spectacle that is rarely seen when it comes to special effects but lacks slightly in the quality of acting. This film, however, is almost as good but has is reliant 100% on the 5 main characters.
In this story we have a lesbian couple, Jules and Nic, who face the trials and tribulations of marriage when their childrens' sperm donor, Mark, enters into their lives. "The Kids", Joni and Laser seek out Mark because they are interested in meeting the person that donated his little guys to their "moms" to see who the man behind the scenes is, what he is like and if they are anything like him. He slowly wins his way into their lives, initially by charm alone, and then on merit. Of course then there is the climax which may rip the family apart (which I will not give away) and the ending which brings everything together.
Let me tell you why The Kids are All Right is the hidden gem of the year. The script is witty, laugh out loud funny at times and incredibly smart. Annette Benning, Julianne Moore and Mark Ruffalo work together so harmoniously that their on screen chemistry is authentic, genuine, and something that most people (lesbian or not) can relate to. The movie hits a tone in the very beginning and never loses it throughout. The characters act as though nobody is watching them with their behind closed door crassness (you people know what I'm talking about) and language that only a married couple would dare say to each other. Wonderful wonderful movie and well worth it to see...strong A and definite recommendation.
Annette Benning...Nic
Julianne Moore...Jules
Mark Ruffalo...Paul
Director:
Lisa Cholodenko
This film eliminates all of the bells and whistles that clog up our screens with special effects over substance and relies solely on acting and character interaction. My last review was for Inception and when you have a scale of great movies these two exist as polar opposites of each other. Inception give the audience grandeur and a spectacle that is rarely seen when it comes to special effects but lacks slightly in the quality of acting. This film, however, is almost as good but has is reliant 100% on the 5 main characters.
In this story we have a lesbian couple, Jules and Nic, who face the trials and tribulations of marriage when their childrens' sperm donor, Mark, enters into their lives. "The Kids", Joni and Laser seek out Mark because they are interested in meeting the person that donated his little guys to their "moms" to see who the man behind the scenes is, what he is like and if they are anything like him. He slowly wins his way into their lives, initially by charm alone, and then on merit. Of course then there is the climax which may rip the family apart (which I will not give away) and the ending which brings everything together.
Let me tell you why The Kids are All Right is the hidden gem of the year. The script is witty, laugh out loud funny at times and incredibly smart. Annette Benning, Julianne Moore and Mark Ruffalo work together so harmoniously that their on screen chemistry is authentic, genuine, and something that most people (lesbian or not) can relate to. The movie hits a tone in the very beginning and never loses it throughout. The characters act as though nobody is watching them with their behind closed door crassness (you people know what I'm talking about) and language that only a married couple would dare say to each other. Wonderful wonderful movie and well worth it to see...strong A and definite recommendation.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Inception (PG-13) 2hr 28min
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Ken Watanabe, Ellen Page, Marion Cotillard, Joseph Gordon-Levitt & Cillian Murphy
Director: Christopher Nolan
What a wonderful movie to re-"incept" my blog! Inception is an incredibly innovative and thought-provoking movie which draws the viewer into the world of the dream and all of the complexities of the human mind. Now if you read this post and think to yourself "huh?" do not be alarmed because the movie truly does make sense even if the critics, bloggers, and trailers don't.
Inception stars, Leo, as Dom Cobb, a master thief whose specialty is stealing peoples' deepest and darkest secrets through a process called "extraction". This is done through a shared dream-space in which Cobb and his team have built and designed to trap their target and steal those secrets. They may be easy to obtain or difficult depending on the training of the mind they are entering so they just might have to go into a dream within a dream within a dream depending on how hard the information is to extract. Still with me? The individuals that are targeted are usually those of importance, so all you normal law abiding citizens are safe, please don't worry.
Just as the plot starts to get confusing (maybe the first 10 minutes or so), strong dialogue between characters clears everything up...so please refrain from using the bathroom pretty much throughout the entire movie. Further along, the crux of the movie presents itself; the idea of "inception". Cobb is challenged with the task of planting a idea into the mind of Robert Fisher (Cillian Murphy), the heir to a multi-billion dollar oil company, instead of stealing one. This idea has to feel so authentic and self-made so it will blossom and come to fruition. In order to achieve this impossible feat Cobb must go through 3 levels of dreams (a dream within a dream within a dream) so it appears to Robert that the idea was self generated and each level of dream they enter poses a different set of hurdles that must be overcome. The last remaining question of the movie is did it work? Well you MUST see this movie to find out...
Christopher Nolan has given audiences such wonderful movies in the past (Dark Knight, Batman Begins, Memento, etc) but this movie is on a whole different level and the best part is, it doesn't treat the viewer like an idiot only in the theater for entertainment purposes. Inception is layered with a complex plot, incredible visual effects, an excellent script, strong acting (sometimes a tinge over acted but no big deal), and just an amazingly unique concept for a plot. This is by far the most innovative movie since The Matrix and easily the best film of the year (and probably for the rest of the year). A+, no contest...and a must see.
Director: Christopher Nolan
What a wonderful movie to re-"incept" my blog! Inception is an incredibly innovative and thought-provoking movie which draws the viewer into the world of the dream and all of the complexities of the human mind. Now if you read this post and think to yourself "huh?" do not be alarmed because the movie truly does make sense even if the critics, bloggers, and trailers don't.
Inception stars, Leo, as Dom Cobb, a master thief whose specialty is stealing peoples' deepest and darkest secrets through a process called "extraction". This is done through a shared dream-space in which Cobb and his team have built and designed to trap their target and steal those secrets. They may be easy to obtain or difficult depending on the training of the mind they are entering so they just might have to go into a dream within a dream within a dream depending on how hard the information is to extract. Still with me? The individuals that are targeted are usually those of importance, so all you normal law abiding citizens are safe, please don't worry.
Just as the plot starts to get confusing (maybe the first 10 minutes or so), strong dialogue between characters clears everything up...so please refrain from using the bathroom pretty much throughout the entire movie. Further along, the crux of the movie presents itself; the idea of "inception". Cobb is challenged with the task of planting a idea into the mind of Robert Fisher (Cillian Murphy), the heir to a multi-billion dollar oil company, instead of stealing one. This idea has to feel so authentic and self-made so it will blossom and come to fruition. In order to achieve this impossible feat Cobb must go through 3 levels of dreams (a dream within a dream within a dream) so it appears to Robert that the idea was self generated and each level of dream they enter poses a different set of hurdles that must be overcome. The last remaining question of the movie is did it work? Well you MUST see this movie to find out...
Christopher Nolan has given audiences such wonderful movies in the past (Dark Knight, Batman Begins, Memento, etc) but this movie is on a whole different level and the best part is, it doesn't treat the viewer like an idiot only in the theater for entertainment purposes. Inception is layered with a complex plot, incredible visual effects, an excellent script, strong acting (sometimes a tinge over acted but no big deal), and just an amazingly unique concept for a plot. This is by far the most innovative movie since The Matrix and easily the best film of the year (and probably for the rest of the year). A+, no contest...and a must see.
OK OK OK
I know I have been away for awhile but I am back and in full force. With nothing holding me back I am dedicated to delivering several movies critiques weekly and will also highlight the top 3 movies at your local theaters as well as must see DVD's. I hope you enjoy...oh and please send me your thoughts or movies requests that you may have.
Cheers,
James
Cheers,
James
Thursday, October 1, 2009
The Informant!
Finally, after weeks of watching nothing but crappy movies we have a diamond in the rough. It could just be my bias towards Matt Damon movies but he really delivers in everything he puts on the big screen. Or maybe it's because it was helmed by Steven Soderbergh, only one of the best directors in life (i.e. Che, Traffic, Erin Brockovich).
The Informant! is about a very eccentric executive, Mark Whitacre, of a large Illinois based Agri-business, ADM, who witnesses the corruption of the global price fixing of Lysine, a food additive. He volunteers this information to the FBI and, there you have it, he is now a spy. He spends the next 4 years amassing hundreds of tapes that prove the corruption that is going on only to find that he is screwing things up in every way possible. After investing all this time spying for the feds he is now the focus of the investigation and is willing to go to any lengths to escape a jail sentence. He starts the movie on a foundation of lies only to have them escalate at every turn in the movie and at the end it's almost impossible to decifer what is true and what is a lie.
Matt Damon nailed his role as Mark Whitacre and made his impersonation extremely convincing, dim witted, and remarkably funny. I enjoyed every second of this movie and strongly encourage you all to see it as soon as possible. The writing was fantastic, the acting even better, and the overall story, while a stretch from the truth, was refreshing. I give The Informant! a very strong A.
The Informant! is about a very eccentric executive, Mark Whitacre, of a large Illinois based Agri-business, ADM, who witnesses the corruption of the global price fixing of Lysine, a food additive. He volunteers this information to the FBI and, there you have it, he is now a spy. He spends the next 4 years amassing hundreds of tapes that prove the corruption that is going on only to find that he is screwing things up in every way possible. After investing all this time spying for the feds he is now the focus of the investigation and is willing to go to any lengths to escape a jail sentence. He starts the movie on a foundation of lies only to have them escalate at every turn in the movie and at the end it's almost impossible to decifer what is true and what is a lie.
Matt Damon nailed his role as Mark Whitacre and made his impersonation extremely convincing, dim witted, and remarkably funny. I enjoyed every second of this movie and strongly encourage you all to see it as soon as possible. The writing was fantastic, the acting even better, and the overall story, while a stretch from the truth, was refreshing. I give The Informant! a very strong A.
Jennifer's Body
I should have guessed that the director of Aeon Flux would make another really stupid, horrible, poorly made movie...at least it wasn't as bad as Uwe Boll, probably the worst director to ever live. Jennifer's Body wasn't too far behind it though. Sure it has every guy's fantasy girl, Megan Fox, in it but she really sucks in a leading role. She should drop acting about as much as her crappy attitude.
That being said, this movie is about a beautiful and very stupid girl who likes to flirt with boys and get into trouble. She goes out to a run down bar to see this really awesome band (sarcasim), more specifically the hunky lead singer, played by Adam Brody, only to have the bar burn to the ground during the middle of his set. Boo Hoo. So she gets in his van only to find out that she is going to be a sacrifice to Satan so Adam's band can be famous. Winning plot I know but wait there's more. She ends up becoming a flesh eating bitch possessed by a demon and the only way she can remain herself is to rip people open with her razor sharp teeth. She does this by seducing the boys in her class and luring them to secluded areas so she feast. Then her best friend discovers her secret and decides to stop her because her boyfriend is the next victim. Plot spoiler, boyfriend dies in the most dramatic and cliche kinda way.
Please, I beg you do not go see this movie. Because I loved Juno I will forgive Ms. Cody for writing this real piece of shit (oops did I just say that?) and wish her luck on the next gig. Megan Fox is not a lead actress and should probably stick to a more supporting role or porno. I can't give Jennifer's Body anything higher than a F.
That being said, this movie is about a beautiful and very stupid girl who likes to flirt with boys and get into trouble. She goes out to a run down bar to see this really awesome band (sarcasim), more specifically the hunky lead singer, played by Adam Brody, only to have the bar burn to the ground during the middle of his set. Boo Hoo. So she gets in his van only to find out that she is going to be a sacrifice to Satan so Adam's band can be famous. Winning plot I know but wait there's more. She ends up becoming a flesh eating bitch possessed by a demon and the only way she can remain herself is to rip people open with her razor sharp teeth. She does this by seducing the boys in her class and luring them to secluded areas so she feast. Then her best friend discovers her secret and decides to stop her because her boyfriend is the next victim. Plot spoiler, boyfriend dies in the most dramatic and cliche kinda way.
Please, I beg you do not go see this movie. Because I loved Juno I will forgive Ms. Cody for writing this real piece of shit (oops did I just say that?) and wish her luck on the next gig. Megan Fox is not a lead actress and should probably stick to a more supporting role or porno. I can't give Jennifer's Body anything higher than a F.
Whiteout
What is cold, lame, and has a weak plot? You guessed it, Whiteout. The ravishing Kate Beckinsale again stars in another snoozer and is slowly losing a place in my heart as a good actress. I can't really blame her, although she did only have a PG-13 shower scene, the writing and supporting cast really bit the big one here.
This dud takes place in Antarctica right before the big "whiteout", or huge ass snow storm, occurs and everybody on the icy mass has to leave for the next 6 months. Of course, somebody dies and only Kate and a few of her crew can save the day. It just so happens that they miss the last plane out so they are stuck with the killer for the remainder of the time but who is the guilty one? I'm biting my tongue because I want to save you the 90 minutes that you waste watching this movie but I won't. If you do go see it, I will give you one spoiler, the plot is not about weapons it's about something so much more cliche.
Bottom line: don't go see it. The ending really isn't that great at all, come to think about it neither is the beginning or middle. Huh. Anyways, there really is nothing good about this movie and I probably should have listened to Rottentomoatoes when they gave this movie a 7%. I'll give it higher but not much...Whiteout earns a feeble F+. Ouch.
This dud takes place in Antarctica right before the big "whiteout", or huge ass snow storm, occurs and everybody on the icy mass has to leave for the next 6 months. Of course, somebody dies and only Kate and a few of her crew can save the day. It just so happens that they miss the last plane out so they are stuck with the killer for the remainder of the time but who is the guilty one? I'm biting my tongue because I want to save you the 90 minutes that you waste watching this movie but I won't. If you do go see it, I will give you one spoiler, the plot is not about weapons it's about something so much more cliche.
Bottom line: don't go see it. The ending really isn't that great at all, come to think about it neither is the beginning or middle. Huh. Anyways, there really is nothing good about this movie and I probably should have listened to Rottentomoatoes when they gave this movie a 7%. I'll give it higher but not much...Whiteout earns a feeble F+. Ouch.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Halloween II
If you like gore, graphic violence, and some wicked death scenes you will love this movie. Halloween was everything I thought it was going to be and more given the fact that it was directed by Rob Zombie, who is slowly winning a place in my heart by creating films that are intense by nature yet satisfying in the end. And if you have ever seen House of 1,000 Corpses or the Devil's Rejects you will know exactly what I am talking about. In his second installment of Halloween Michael Myers returns and this time there is no holding back. It picks up right were it left off in the 1st film with Laurie Strode surviving the latest Halloween massacre only to find that she is mentally and emotionally tramatized by the incident. Night after night she experiences extremely vivid and horrifying dreams about Michael Myers and his return for her in the most brutal of ways. The culmination of this film resides in the learning of Laurie's relationship with Michael Myers through a book that was written by his childhood psychologist Dr. Samuel Loomis (Malcolm McDowell). This drives Laurie to the breaking point as she tries to find a way to cope with her new found role in life.
This movie was so much better than I had originally thought. Rob Zombie did such a wonderful job developing his characters and showing just how terrifying Michael Myers really is. I found myself saying "holy shit" during this movie many times over and I loved every second of it. There were a couple of plot points that missed the mark just a bit but overall this film is a must see for those of you who can handle extreme violence. I emphatically give Halloween II an A and hope that the story ends with this one (you'll see why at the end).
This movie was so much better than I had originally thought. Rob Zombie did such a wonderful job developing his characters and showing just how terrifying Michael Myers really is. I found myself saying "holy shit" during this movie many times over and I loved every second of it. There were a couple of plot points that missed the mark just a bit but overall this film is a must see for those of you who can handle extreme violence. I emphatically give Halloween II an A and hope that the story ends with this one (you'll see why at the end).
The Final Destination
This may be the shortest review of my life because The Final Destination was one of the worst movies I have ever seen. In the 4th instalment of this series we have a group of teens who survive a freak Nascar-like disaster leading to the death of 50+ people. Since the lead character, Nick O'Bannon played by Bobby Campo, receives a glimpse into the future and sees the events unfold he is able to lead this group to safety only to find that they were meant to die in that accident and now death is coming for them one by one. Nick must find a way to thwart death's plan and save as many of his friends as possible before they fall victim to a horrific fate.
The first movie in this series was rather good but as they kept making them they got worse and worse with this one being exponentially shoddier that its predecessors. The acting was a complete disaster, the script was a joke, the plot was a failure, and the special effects were cheesy as hell. I actually feel bad for the actors in this movie because it may have just killed their careers or shortened them severely. There was absolutely nothing good in this movie and for the longest time I was wondering if it was meant to be a comedy rather than a horror. Don't see it, don't rent it, in fact don't even look at it. The Final Destination receives a well deserved F.
The first movie in this series was rather good but as they kept making them they got worse and worse with this one being exponentially shoddier that its predecessors. The acting was a complete disaster, the script was a joke, the plot was a failure, and the special effects were cheesy as hell. I actually feel bad for the actors in this movie because it may have just killed their careers or shortened them severely. There was absolutely nothing good in this movie and for the longest time I was wondering if it was meant to be a comedy rather than a horror. Don't see it, don't rent it, in fact don't even look at it. The Final Destination receives a well deserved F.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Inglourious Basterds
I'll start by saying that this movie kicked ass. It was graphic, vulgar, but most importantly well scripted and well acted. Here we have a couple of plot lines that are intertwined and ultimately leading to the same place...the destruction of Hitler and his Nazi regime. First there are the Basterds, led by the fearless Lt. Aldo Raine, played astonishing well by Brad Pitt. He leads his group of Jewish-American soldiers into enemy territory for one reason and one reason only "killin' nazis". This band of soldiers brutally murder and scalp the packs of German soldiers throughout the country with a goal of 100 per person.
The second plot line revolves around Shosanna Dreyfus, a French Jew, whose family was ruthlessly murdered by Col. Hans Landa when she was a teenager. After 4 years she grows out of being a little girl, inherits a movie theater, and plots the assassination of Hitler and his cronies while they are attending a pro-German film at her theater. The two plots converge towards the end of the film in this little theater and here all havoc lets loose for a rather satisfying climax.
Aside from being a Quentin Tarantino movie (and I am a big fan), this movie is success on every level but I would specifically like to point out the acting of Christopher Waltz and his portrayal of Col. Hans Landa. He is remarkable in this film and if there were no other films being released he would be a guarantee victor for the Best Supporting Actor in every award ceremony including the Academy Awards. On top of that, everybody else in the film had stellar acting supported by a wonderful script. If this isn't the best movie of the year I don't know what is. Inglourious Basterds receives a well earned A+.
The second plot line revolves around Shosanna Dreyfus, a French Jew, whose family was ruthlessly murdered by Col. Hans Landa when she was a teenager. After 4 years she grows out of being a little girl, inherits a movie theater, and plots the assassination of Hitler and his cronies while they are attending a pro-German film at her theater. The two plots converge towards the end of the film in this little theater and here all havoc lets loose for a rather satisfying climax.
Aside from being a Quentin Tarantino movie (and I am a big fan), this movie is success on every level but I would specifically like to point out the acting of Christopher Waltz and his portrayal of Col. Hans Landa. He is remarkable in this film and if there were no other films being released he would be a guarantee victor for the Best Supporting Actor in every award ceremony including the Academy Awards. On top of that, everybody else in the film had stellar acting supported by a wonderful script. If this isn't the best movie of the year I don't know what is. Inglourious Basterds receives a well earned A+.
District 9
Imagine waking up one to find a massive extra terrestrial spaceship hovering above your city. Kinda freaky right? Well that is the tone set up in District 9. The opening of the movie begins with a series of documentary-like interviews to establish the premise of the movie; alien ship over Johannesburg - South Africa, aliens (aka Prawns) appear to be malnourished, and they are relocated to a government camp on Earth called District 9. Ok that's the beginning. As the movie progresses we begin to see that the Prawns are wearing out there welcome in Johannesburg, as they have been on Earth for 20 years, and are being ushered outside of the city to District 10 by the MNU, Multi-National United. This company, aside from being charged with the relocation, has a hidden agenda and that is to learn how to use the advanced weaponry brought to Earth by these aliens.
The MNU is being led by Wikus Van Der Merwe and during the relocation process he is also charged with inspecting suspicious activity and behavior. During one of his inspections he finds an out of sorts container which sprays him in the face with a dark nasty liquid. After a bit he begins to experience, shall we say, a transformation and its for the worse...he is slowly becoming one of them. This unlocks a world of possibility into the use of all the collected alien weaponry that MNU has been dying to understand. Wikus becomes a valuable and targeted individual and is forced to join the ranks of the Prawns not just for their survival but his own.
This was a rather interesting film that was shot very well and had an extremely unique plot, one that I had never seen before. Since Peter Jackson had his hands in the production you know that the effects will be top notch. After all that something was still missing for me and I can't quite put my finger on it. The story was complete, the acting was pretty good, the special effects were right on, and I really enjoyed how they did the quasi-documentary but something still lacked. And because I didnt quite feel that this movie was completely well-rounded I give Disctrict 9 a B.
The MNU is being led by Wikus Van Der Merwe and during the relocation process he is also charged with inspecting suspicious activity and behavior. During one of his inspections he finds an out of sorts container which sprays him in the face with a dark nasty liquid. After a bit he begins to experience, shall we say, a transformation and its for the worse...he is slowly becoming one of them. This unlocks a world of possibility into the use of all the collected alien weaponry that MNU has been dying to understand. Wikus becomes a valuable and targeted individual and is forced to join the ranks of the Prawns not just for their survival but his own.
This was a rather interesting film that was shot very well and had an extremely unique plot, one that I had never seen before. Since Peter Jackson had his hands in the production you know that the effects will be top notch. After all that something was still missing for me and I can't quite put my finger on it. The story was complete, the acting was pretty good, the special effects were right on, and I really enjoyed how they did the quasi-documentary but something still lacked. And because I didnt quite feel that this movie was completely well-rounded I give Disctrict 9 a B.
50 Dead Men Walking
This relatively unknown movie was a real jem and one of the best movies to come out this year. Think about Leonardo DiCaprio's role in "The Departed" and then give it an Irish twist and that is exactly what 50 Dead Men Walking was about. Here we have Martin McGartland, played astonishing well by Jim Sturgess, born an Irish lad, and living in his early 20's during the 1980's conflict between the Irish Republican Army and British Police. Martin is a street criminal who is receiving more recognition from the IRA by rebelling against the British Police but come to realize that their cruel tactics do not sit well with him. Because of this he decides to become a secret mole for the British Police as he moves his way up the ranks in the IRA. All the while, he increasingly worries for the safety of his family and fears that his covert identity will become known which will inevitably lead to his death and the death of all his loved ones.
This film works on a few different levels; first the acting. Jim Sturgess and Ben Kingsley nail their roles which really adds to the emotion this movie was trying to evoke with the climax of the plot benefiting the most. And second, since this was a true story, it gave me a true, and what felt to be very accurate, portrayal of what happened during that 1980's conflict between opposing forces. I can't say enough how tremendous this movie was so 50 Dead Men Walking rightfully earns a solid A.
This film works on a few different levels; first the acting. Jim Sturgess and Ben Kingsley nail their roles which really adds to the emotion this movie was trying to evoke with the climax of the plot benefiting the most. And second, since this was a true story, it gave me a true, and what felt to be very accurate, portrayal of what happened during that 1980's conflict between opposing forces. I can't say enough how tremendous this movie was so 50 Dead Men Walking rightfully earns a solid A.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Julie & Julia
They say that the quickest way to a man's heart is through his stomach...well that is absolutely true and after watching this movie it's even more so. I guess the best way to describe Julie & Julia is that it was cute. We have the always amazing Meryl Streep playing the obnoxious real life cook, Julia Child and Amy Adams playing a woman by the name of Julie Powell. Julia Child wrote a book "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" and Julie Powell cooked every receipt in that book...and there lies the premise of the movie. We got to see how Julia Child's rise to fame as a popular chef and how her book came to fruition and we saw from Julie Powell the rigor of cooking those 524 receipts in 365 days. The 2 stories were going on concurrently, one with each character, and they flipped back and forth for the two hour run time but something was ultimately missing for me.
I don't know if I just didn't get the movie or if I didn't understand the character of Julia Child but I found myself becoming very annoyed with Meryl Streep's portrayal of Julia Child. I know in real life she was a rather eccentric lady but man o man was she annoying. The supporting characters were very lackluster, the ending was extremely anticlimactic, and the movie seemed to go on for days and days and days. I love food so in that respect the movie was great but I don't think I would subject myself to seeing it again and for that reason I would give Julie & Julia a C.
I don't know if I just didn't get the movie or if I didn't understand the character of Julia Child but I found myself becoming very annoyed with Meryl Streep's portrayal of Julia Child. I know in real life she was a rather eccentric lady but man o man was she annoying. The supporting characters were very lackluster, the ending was extremely anticlimactic, and the movie seemed to go on for days and days and days. I love food so in that respect the movie was great but I don't think I would subject myself to seeing it again and for that reason I would give Julie & Julia a C.
GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra
Hasbro brings their Real American Heroes to the big screen in GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra. I remember back when I was a child; I had the entire lineup on my dresser and put little parachutes on them and threw them out of my bedroom window. If I had this movie on DVD I would do the same thing except without the parachute.
In this story we have a group of special operatives, known as Joes, who, of course, try and take down the villians who are planning to destroy the planet by using a super sophisticated futuristic weapon involving nanotechnology. This weapon is a liquid looking substance that needs to be activated and consist of teeny tiny little nanorobots. These little buggers devour and destroy everything in their path until nothing exists. Believe it or not they are being launched towards a few major cities across the world, one of which is Washington DC so Cobra can take over the planet...could they be anymore original. The Joes get to use their nifty toys and fly jets that move faster than mach 1000 or whatever they say and save the day like the heroes they are.
Bottom line, this movie was stupid. The plot was lame, the acting was worse, and one of the main stars was Marlon Wayans (need I say more?). There was a lot of grandier, explosions, and special effects but at the end of the day this movie was really bad. I could not in good faith recommend this movie unless you are really just looking for some cheesy entertainment and a way to pass the time. Even though it was a crappy movie there was some entertainment value so with that said I would give it a D+.
In this story we have a group of special operatives, known as Joes, who, of course, try and take down the villians who are planning to destroy the planet by using a super sophisticated futuristic weapon involving nanotechnology. This weapon is a liquid looking substance that needs to be activated and consist of teeny tiny little nanorobots. These little buggers devour and destroy everything in their path until nothing exists. Believe it or not they are being launched towards a few major cities across the world, one of which is Washington DC so Cobra can take over the planet...could they be anymore original. The Joes get to use their nifty toys and fly jets that move faster than mach 1000 or whatever they say and save the day like the heroes they are.
Bottom line, this movie was stupid. The plot was lame, the acting was worse, and one of the main stars was Marlon Wayans (need I say more?). There was a lot of grandier, explosions, and special effects but at the end of the day this movie was really bad. I could not in good faith recommend this movie unless you are really just looking for some cheesy entertainment and a way to pass the time. Even though it was a crappy movie there was some entertainment value so with that said I would give it a D+.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
The Hurt Locker
If I had to describe this movie in one word it would be intense. We have an Army bomb squad of 3 men who are in the heart of Iraq during the peak of the conflict defusing some pretty complex bombs. Not only are they taking apart bombs that are designed to kill them but everybody around them are potential terrorists looking to do the same thing. There is only one thing that keeps these guys together and in one piece and that is eachother...and even that become difficult at times.
Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie and Brian Geraghty possess three different and clearly distinct personalities; a gun-ho pro army badass, the everyday soldier and a guy who can't handle the affects of war. All 3 delivered performances that were impecable and, more importantly, memorable. I truly felt as though I was witnessing first hand what happens on the battlefield in an Iraqi city. Not only was this the best film of the year and one of my personal favorites but this movie was a success in every respect; acting, direction, script, plot, etc. It is incredibly hard to put into words how tremendous this film was so I give The Hurt Locker the highest possible A just barely missing an A+.
Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie and Brian Geraghty possess three different and clearly distinct personalities; a gun-ho pro army badass, the everyday soldier and a guy who can't handle the affects of war. All 3 delivered performances that were impecable and, more importantly, memorable. I truly felt as though I was witnessing first hand what happens on the battlefield in an Iraqi city. Not only was this the best film of the year and one of my personal favorites but this movie was a success in every respect; acting, direction, script, plot, etc. It is incredibly hard to put into words how tremendous this film was so I give The Hurt Locker the highest possible A just barely missing an A+.
(500) Days of Summer
Opening Line: "This is not a love story." When I hear those words I immediately think it is going to be just that, a love story, but the ending wasn't what I thought it would be. This is a story of boy meets girl and falls in love but what Tom Hansen doesn't realize is that feelings aren't always reciprocated. He will soon be introduced to Summer Finn and the roller coaster of emotions that commonly follow most relationships for the duration of...you guessed it...500 days.
There were a few aspects of this movie that I absolutely loved. First, the acting. Joesph Gordon-Levitt delivered in every scene he was in and really connected with the audience. When he was depressed my heart ached and when he was happy I couldn't help but smile. I think any person who has been in some form of relationship could relate to him (some more than others). Second, the timeline. We may have opened with day 1 but five minutes into the the movie we may have seen day 488 or day 241. The entire movie bounced around, usually with a change in emotional state each time, but it flowed very well and always kept me guessing. Third, the script. Not only was this film well acted but also well written. It had such a great balance of comedy and drama, there were times I almost died of laughter and there were times when I wanted to weep like a baby.
At the end of the day I was, of course, rooting for Tom and Summer to live happily ever after (you'll have to see it to know if that happens) but found myself pleasantly surprised with how the story ended. If a sequel was made, and I can see that happening, it would be a definate must see. For that reason I give 500 Days of Summer a B+.
There were a few aspects of this movie that I absolutely loved. First, the acting. Joesph Gordon-Levitt delivered in every scene he was in and really connected with the audience. When he was depressed my heart ached and when he was happy I couldn't help but smile. I think any person who has been in some form of relationship could relate to him (some more than others). Second, the timeline. We may have opened with day 1 but five minutes into the the movie we may have seen day 488 or day 241. The entire movie bounced around, usually with a change in emotional state each time, but it flowed very well and always kept me guessing. Third, the script. Not only was this film well acted but also well written. It had such a great balance of comedy and drama, there were times I almost died of laughter and there were times when I wanted to weep like a baby.
At the end of the day I was, of course, rooting for Tom and Summer to live happily ever after (you'll have to see it to know if that happens) but found myself pleasantly surprised with how the story ended. If a sequel was made, and I can see that happening, it would be a definate must see. For that reason I give 500 Days of Summer a B+.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince
Well Harry and his friends are at it again and this time the dark forces are more prevalent than ever. The evil Lord Voldemort is building his forces by recruiting some unlikely foes in attempts to infilitrate the grounds of Hogwarts and destroy all hope for the triumph of good. In this episode Harry uses a potions book that was previously held by the Half Blood Prince which allows him to excel in his most dreaded subject gain acceptance his new teacher's, Professor Slughorn, inner circle. This relationship is critical to the plot of the story because of Slughorn's past relationship with Tom Riddle, better known as Lord Voldemort, and how he may have impacted the Dark Lord's success towards immortality. There are also blossoming relationships that are being developed between a few central characters which will segue into the final chapter of the Harry Potter saga and beyond. Hold your breath because you will witness the loss of a main character (may be good or bad) at the end of Prince...
This movie is a success on many fronts. The visuals are wonderful (with the backing of a $250 million budget) and Potter newcomer, Professor Slughorn, played by veteran Jim Broadbent, stole every scene he was in. This film kept me interested throughout but was not in the same league as the book. They did not satisfactorily link the importance of the Half Blood Prince to the plot of the story and the relationships between the main characters became annoying and overbearing towards the end. However, this is by far the best Potter film of all, and my favorite book in the series. Even though there were a couple weaknesses this film definitely earns an A.
This movie is a success on many fronts. The visuals are wonderful (with the backing of a $250 million budget) and Potter newcomer, Professor Slughorn, played by veteran Jim Broadbent, stole every scene he was in. This film kept me interested throughout but was not in the same league as the book. They did not satisfactorily link the importance of the Half Blood Prince to the plot of the story and the relationships between the main characters became annoying and overbearing towards the end. However, this is by far the best Potter film of all, and my favorite book in the series. Even though there were a couple weaknesses this film definitely earns an A.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Bruno
Well Sasha Baron Cohen has done it again but this time with his ultra flamboyant, homosexual, fashionista persona, Bruno. After being discarded from the European fashion industry for his dramatic use of a velcro jumpsuit he heads to America with his former assistant's assistant. Here Bruno is going to restake his claim to fame by any means necessary, and if you have seen Borat you know just how far he will go. He will not only shock, offend, and quite possibly, disgust you to achieve his goal but he'll do that to anybody and everybody. But one thing is certain, if you liked Borat, you will love Bruno.
How Bruno did not receive a NC-17 rating is beyond me so please take caution when seeing this movie. It has graphic nudity (of the male persuasion), sexual perversion, and vulgar language so if you can tolerate all of that then you are good to go. Parts of the movie were mediocore and not as funny as I hoped but when I laughed it was to a point were I couldn't breathe. The things Bruno did not just to celebrities but also politicians, rednecks and your everyday people were just priceless. I'll give Bruno a well deserved B.
How Bruno did not receive a NC-17 rating is beyond me so please take caution when seeing this movie. It has graphic nudity (of the male persuasion), sexual perversion, and vulgar language so if you can tolerate all of that then you are good to go. Parts of the movie were mediocore and not as funny as I hoped but when I laughed it was to a point were I couldn't breathe. The things Bruno did not just to celebrities but also politicians, rednecks and your everyday people were just priceless. I'll give Bruno a well deserved B.
Moon
Nothing satisfies the moviegoing experience more than a good low budget movie with strong performances by its actors. In Moon we have Sam Bell, played by the always talented Sam Rockwell, playing multiple roles of himself as he is gathering alternative energy sources for Earth's consumption on, you guessed it, the moon. Nearing the end of his 3 year contract, Sam begins to lose his grip on his own personal sanity and begins seeing some pretty weird things which can't possibly be real, or can they? During a routine trip on the moon's surface Sam has a near fatal accident and wakes up to find that these strange occurences are going to become far stranger. He starts asking the question, who is this company I work for and what are they doing to me?
Even though I spotted the main plot twist in the first 15 minuts of the movie I was curious how they would play out. I was especially curious because a vast majority of the movie was reliant only on Rockwell's performance and it's a tall order to hold a movie on one person's shoulders. After I was done watching it I thought it was pretty good but after reflecting for a couple of days I think I really liked it. He did a solid job acting and the story was relatively interesting, one of the better low budget films I've seen in awhile. I give this movie a B.
Even though I spotted the main plot twist in the first 15 minuts of the movie I was curious how they would play out. I was especially curious because a vast majority of the movie was reliant only on Rockwell's performance and it's a tall order to hold a movie on one person's shoulders. After I was done watching it I thought it was pretty good but after reflecting for a couple of days I think I really liked it. He did a solid job acting and the story was relatively interesting, one of the better low budget films I've seen in awhile. I give this movie a B.
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