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10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)
A refreshing and suspenseful white-knuckle thriller
Throughout the first 80 minutes of this movie, I was widely grinning over the fact that I had just witnessed my second serving of sheer cinematic perfection following Zootopia. 10 Cloverfield Lane is a perfectly crafted and carefully executed attempt at reviving the thriller genre, and it does so with rewarding thought and exceptional creativity. Like all the classic entries in the genre, this one is suspenseful till the point where it becomes unsettling and features a consistent and bona-fide tone of fear from the creepy atmosphere to the sense of paranoia present at every corner and the sense of claustrophobia that will stick with you weeks after seeing the movie. What you can appreciate most about it its desire to sustain the audience's momentum with intelligence and concern until the disappointing and buzz-killing finale.
The riveting screenplay, written to palpably tense perfection by a team of accomplished screenwriters serves a further reminder of how much character and dialogue development contributes to a film, and really makes you appreciate the amount of process and effort put into writing a screenplay. The enthralling and impressive direction by first time director Dan Trachtenberg and the refreshingly beautiful steady cam cinematography offers a uniquely immersive experience as the audience is thrust into the sustained and confined space that the characters are in. The musical score by TV composer Bear McCreary immediately puts you in the moment from the opening second, and contributes to the credibility of certain situations as they start to weigh in. If that wasn't enough to satisfy your cravings, we also get a surprising amount of character development on the two main characters and a pair of dynamic performances from two bona-fide actors that simply chose to give a crap and go the extra mile in contributing to the authenticity of the film.
Let's begin with analyzing the female protagonist played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead, in a role that will make her a household name. What impressed me the most is that protagonist is more than your clichéd and stereotypical damsel in distress type character, which makes root for the character and invest enough spirit in her to care about her struggle to escape. She's a thinker who will use everything in her knowledge and training to survive
think Mark Watney from The Martian meets Lara Croft Tomb Raider. Winstead is sensational in this film, and so is the character which she was born to inhabit. Her dedication to the character is evident as she vanishes into the role by displaying every range of emotion so eloquently that you instantly believe that she's in this shuddery and paralyzed state she's so desperately trying to escape from. Equally as phenomenal is John Goodman who's as bizarre, manipulative, and frightening as he's ever been on screen. Goodman's presence is so commanding here that even though his character isn't necessarily a character you'd want to root for, you leave the theater haunted, yet grateful to have seen such a dark, committed, and transcendent performance.
Sounds like the perfect movie right? It would be, if not for the disastrous final act which we'll revert back to right now. To give you a spoiler-free sense of the final act, imagine that you're a university student writing your final essay; your professor is so impressed by the sophisticated beginning and middle portion, that he's already aching to award you an "A+", and he hasn't even finished reading the entire paper. Then when you reach your final body, your talents start to descend leading to a disappointing finale due to change in tone or lack of trying, that kills all the potential displayed before the final body leading up to your conclusion. That should give you an idea of how lazy the finale is.
Until the final act though, 10 Cloverfield Lane is an adrenaline-fueled adventure anchored by exceptional direction and two legitimately credible performances. The screenwriters deserve an enormous amount of credit for crafting such a riveting, inspired, and mysterious project and depicting wit, tension, and fear through dialogue in a screenplay that reminds us of why characters and dialogue are the two most fundamental factors in writing a screenplay. The focused and devoted direction by Trachtenberg demonstrates why he's a filmmaker with a force to be reckoned with, and foreshadows a critically-acclaimed future for the first time director. Winstead hits a new career peak and her dedication to portraying her character as humanly as possible is something that instantly commands our attention and regard. Goodman further demonstrates why he's one of the most cherished actors of his generation with yet another unrestrained, bravura performance. All these factors contributed perfectly into the construction of an invigorating psychological thriller, and despite the finale being a complete mess, 10 Cloverfield Lane is smart, inspired, and solidly crafted cinema for movie-goers.
Real Steel (2011)
Predictable and formulaic, but also exceptionally entertaining and lots of fun
Imagine a futuristic version of Rocky meets Rock Em' Sock Em' Robots and you have Real Steel. It won't win points for creativity or originality and many of the plot elements feel vastly familiar, but for those willing to accept that: it can be considered good mindless entertainment.
Aussie-hunk Hugh Jackman delivers an appealing and lighthearted performance as Charlie: a bankrupted ex-boxer who lies, cheats and steals in order to avoid inconveniences. He devotes most of his time to robot boxing, even after owing everyone money and rarely cares about the people he endangers or hurts. When he's asked to take custody of his eleven year old son: Max (played with genuine affection by newcomer Dakota Goyo), Charlie is torn between having to abandon his selfish acts or loose the only real thing that's ever mattered to him.
Skillfully directed by Shawn Levy (Night at the Museum), this is an uplifting tale of a man who finds redemption after discovering the importance of family, hope and forgiveness. It's also a unique character study that demonstrates how someone with a cold and cruel personality can have a change of heart after a good natured event has the ability turn their lives around.
The fight sequences are exceedingly well choreographed and feel realistic and it was even rumored that real life boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard was brought in to portray the robots using motion capture technology. Jackman and Goyo are perfectly matched and you can believe the father and son chemistry that exists between them, but even more extraordinary is the touching connection Max has with Atom (the previously generated robot which Charlie and Max discovers and trains.)
Even though this is one of those films where you can figure everything out before you watch it; the special effects are spectacular, the action is exhilarating and Jackman reminds us of how he became a genuinely charismatic movie star.
The Ides of March (2011)
An insightful and engaging tale of deception and political corruption
Boosted by a compelling script and a terrific ensemble cast "The Ides of March" is a profound and well-made political thriller that resourcefully addresses current political matters. It's a truthful and distinctive depiction of the cynical world of greed and betrayal.
The brilliantly intellectual George Clooney (who stars, directs, and co-wrote the script) lures the audiences in with sharp camera-work, fascinating political intrigue and breezy pacing. He also manipulates the audience with accurate and concordant points about America's suppressed and demoralized political economy, while sending out moral messages about the importance of trust and commitment. The immensely talented Ryan Gosling (who stars alongside Clooney) effortlessly immerses himself into his role as if the character were an actual human being and shows that he has the distinctive personality and bittersweet charm to become a gifted A-Lister. The supporting cast which includes: Philip Seymour Hoffman (Capote), Paul Giamatti (Sideways), and Evan Rachel Wood (Thirteen) are uniformly excellent and all serve a purpose to the storyline.
Even though it proves to be too heavy handed for some, this is a rock-solid powerhouse thriller with Oscar-Caliber performances and a provocative storyline featuring astonishing twists at every turn.
50/50 (2011)
Poignant, magnificent, and simply unmissable
Based on the personal experiences of screenwriter Will Reiser, "50/50" is an honest blend of intense, heartfelt emotion and dark, irreverent humor. It's a rare and mesmerizing film that will have you laughing one minute and crying the next. Viewers will be profoundly moved by this inspirational tale of a man coming to the grips with his morality but chooses to embrace life instead and discovers passion, friendship, love and humanity during the process.
I've always admired Joseph Gordon Levitt (Third Rock from the Sun, Inception) as an actor, and he deserves an Oscar for his performance as Adam: a man who suddenly discovers that he's diagnosed with a spinal tumor. The film benefits from Levitt's lukewarm tenderness, appealing charisma, and unmatched vulnerability in order for the storyline to be credible.
Teen sensation Seth Rogen (Knocked Up, Pineapple Express) on the other hand is crude and vulgar as usual playing Adam's best friend. But he displays a sense of sympathy, affection and earnestness while playing the average-everyday slacker character for a change and manages to deliver a sensational and fulfilling performance. The meat and potatoes of this precious gem lies beneath Levitt and Rogen's irresistible and undeniable chemistry and their ability to establish a kinetic on-screen bromance. Being able to accomplish that shows how much potential these talented individuals have.
The sharp and brainy script will have you bursting out with laughter and tears, and the influential messages about finding humor beneath pain, valuing the purposes of life and living everyday like it's your last will bring out joy to even the most careless people alive. The important life-lessons will challenge audiences-alike to go back and rethink their lives.
A few scenes should have been left in the editing room, but it's still a genuine work of art and extreme geniusness that stands out as one of the more thoughtful films in recent years. Even though I'm yet to be diagnosed with cancer, "50/50" has come to mean a great deal to me and I urge anyone who isn't moved by the time the closing credits roll to check their pulse immediately.
127 Hours (2010)
A powerful and uplifting movie about overcoming odds
As gut-wrenching as it is emotionally uplifting, 127 Hours is a triumphed and inspirational film about life's challenges and struggles, making sacrifices for the greater good, overcoming odds, and enjoying life's precious moments with the people you love. Danny Boyle continues to prove why he's one of the premier filmmakers of his generation, and James Franco's electrifying performance as Aaron Ruston has "Oscar" written all over it. From start to finish, Franco draws you in by combining all the right amounts of humor, emotion and tension that the audience is immediately captivated and convinced by the way he emerges into Aaron. He also gets you physically immersed and emotionally attached to his character that you just can't help but root and cheer for him. This isn't Boyle's best work, but by providing beautiful cinematography and using bold and elegant camera-work to bring this remarkable true story to the screen, he's able to take you along for another unforgettable journey. To top it off Franco's mesmerizing portrayal of Aaron highlights this shocking, but incredible story about the willingness to survive.
District 9 (2009)
It's original, terrifying, fascinating, and is the summer's first must see movie
From the visionary mind of Peter Jackson comes a movie so riveting, shocking, and marvelous you'll swear you've just gotten the Goosebumps when it's over.
The following takes place in Johannesburg, South Africa where years ago humans first made contact with an extraterrestrial race. Years later when they evolve into slum like creatures they become a threat to humans alike. A government agency known as MNU (Multi-National United) then came in and locked them up in a secured facility called District 9. One day on a classified mission to evict the creatures out of their homes a MNU agent named Wickus is exposed to their biotechnology making his DNA as powerful and as indestructible as one of the creatures. He quickly becomes the most dangerous man in the world after learning that MNU associates want to use him as a weapon, but the creatures believe that he is the key to their survival.
This is a unique and visually stunning masterpiece that's thought provoking, imaginative & terrifying. It also begs to ask the question "what if we aren't alone in the universe?" Director Neill Blomkamp dares us to expect the unexpected, and with the help of producer Peter Jackson (Director of Lord of the Rings trilogy & King Kong) he's able to grab the viewer's attention, and take them on a tense and realistic journey that will leave you speechless afterwards.
Despite all its potential, the film takes quite a while to get moving. It starts off slow, and you'll feel as if you're watching a documentary but if you wait patiently action, suspense and originality awaits you. Another thing to be warned of is that this isn't "Independence Day." It's complex, gory, and might be too much for squeamish viewers. It's aimed towards mature teens, so leave the kids at home.
If you're willing to be acceptable of that, this is a sci-fi stunner that's so originally well done, technically brilliant and extremely good fun
Inglourious Basterds (2009)
Destined to be another cult classic from Tarantino
From the twisted but brilliantly acclaimed mind of writer/director Quentin Tarantino comes a movie so shocking but also surprisingly entertaining that it could only be described as a guilty pleasure.
Once upon a time in Nazi Occupied France Lt. Aldo Rayne (Pitt) leads a team of Jewish soldiers known as The Basterds to do dirty business and work above the law. Their job is to brutally scalp and kill every Nazi, who comes their way. The job becomes bigger when they intend on blowing up a movie theater with the German army attending. Meanwhile the theater owner (a Jewish/French refugee) has another revenge plot in mind for the Nazis.
Tarantino once said he's always dreamt of killing Nazis and glorifying it on screen. Now his dream's come true. Inglorious Basterds does what it sets out to accomplish: shock & entertain viewers with dark humor and over the top Tarantino style violence (it's comical but graphic.) For me though this is another cult classic from Tarantino. Every suspense sequence was chilling, every joke was a riot, and every line was quotable.
Brad Pitt has outdone himself again, by acing another memorable comedic performance coming from an unexpected character. The supporting cast including Eli Roth (Hostel), Diane Kruger (National Treasure), and a cameo from Mike Myers all finely turned their roles. That said the biggest surprise here is Christoph Waltz's portrayal of the clever and terrifying villain Col. Hans Landa (AKA: The Jew Hunter.) Waltz captures the dark and menacing tone of his character perfectly, and is convincing for every on screen moment. His mesmerizing performance left me speechless so therefore he has my vote for Best Supporting Actor at the Oscars next year, and he's sure to be this year's Javier Bardem of villains as well.
That aside keep in mind that this is still Tarantino so expect gory, over the top, realistic violence, along with a teaspoon of profanity. If your family has a code of conduct then this isn't something that should come on your list. A lot of this movie is also in foreign dialogue so if you hate reading subtitles wait for it on rental.
To conclude this is a bloody and intense portrayal of World War 2 but with tremendous writing, breathtaking suspense sequences, a great composing score and the right amount of dark humor, it succeeds at being an instant Tarantino classic is a great way to end the summer. All hail Lord Tarantino!
The Ugly Truth (2009)
The truth isn't pretty, but Heigel and Butler keep it far from being ugly
The battle of the sexes begins as Butler teaches Heigel The Ugly Truth. Abby is a successful TV show producer with a perfect job and body. The only problem is she can never seem to find Mr. Right. In comes Mike, a perverted and demeaning correspondent for a TV segment called "The Ugly Truth." Mike willingly helps Abby land Mr. Right, but what she doesn't know is that the guy who she really likes might be the one standing in front of her all along. Though predictability and believability are the films biggest flaws, the chemistry and wit between Katherine Heigel and her co-star Gerard Butler keep it from being another run of the mill Romantic Comedy. There were many hysterical moments I found myself laughing at from slightly crude but inventive gags to scene stealing comedy by Butler himself. His perceptions on what men and women want manage to keep you on a laugh riot but are also shockingly true and honest. Heigel on the other hand plays the same role in most of her movies, but can still manage to keep a likable balance of comedy and drama between her as well. The supporting cast also sharing the spotlight (including John Michael Higgins) too managed to make me smile no matter what the situation was. For fans of Hegel's recent movies (eg: 27 Dresses) keep in mind that this is much cruder, vulgar and might not even be on the same league. Some will find the sexist stereotyping distracting and appalling but at the end it's message is that it's being who you are that matters, and that the one who likes you for who you really are (not by your looks) is the one that's right for you. All in all despite it's clichéd and predictable plot Heigel and Butler turn it into a refreshing, entertaining and welcoming rom/com.
Funny People (2009)
It's not Apatow's best work, but it's his most important one to date
Comedies like this don't come around very often. Funny People is the latest addition to Judd Apatow's (Director of Knocked Up & 40 Year Old Virgin) fine collection of films. It also features Adam Sandler and Seth Rogen at their finest. Washed up comedian George Simmons (Sandler) is faced with a terminal illness and is left to possibly die alone in his deserted Beverly Hills Mansion. He has no real family; he's out of touch with his fiancé from years back, and has no friends to help him through recovery. He then meets Ira (Rogen) a struggling stand-up comic he recruits to help him in his opening acts and to help keep his life back on track. As time passes by the two bond an unlikely friendship and decide to help each other while learning lessons of love, family, responsibility but most importantly the moral meaning of life along the way. Funny People is everything you'd expect from Judd Apatow and more. It needs a little improvisation during the third act in particular but it's still a heartwarming and important dramady about the morals of life and its challenges along the way. Sandler gives the performance of his career, and proves that he's an underrated actor whose talent sometimes gets under-appreciated. What I liked best about him was that he's mostly being himself instead of being goofy and really brings that spark of emotion, complexity and realism to his character. Rogen's character on the other hand happened to be the only character of his that I found likable and actually cared about. He portrayed his role as an innocent, sincere, sympathetic individual and does a flawlessly convincing job. The supporting cast including the always amusing Leslie Mann as the fiancé that got away, and a fully committed and comedic side of Eric Bana as her clueless Australian husband just added the icing to the cake. All that said keep in mind that it still manages to include the expected Apatow crudeness as well as enough profanity to make Quentin Tarantino jealous. None of the crassness is close to Knocked Up level, but you still might want to caution your teen Apatow lovers. In the end this is a touching & memorable melodrama with messages of friendship, forgiveness, loyalty, life's decisions, being happy of what you've accomplished and taking time to enjoy what's left of your life before it ends
Brüno (2009)
Cohen once again provides an entertaining (if not far fetched) mockumentary
3 years ago Sascha Baron Cohen introduced us to an outrageously inventive character we all knew as Borat. Now he's back with an edgier, wilder and even more sensational character Bruno. After getting kicked off his own Television Show Bruno (an Austrian Fashion Designer) travels to America seeking to become world famous. In doing so he gets himself into wild and wacky situations mostly involving celebrities and anyone who's around him. On his journey he finds that love, meaning, and the true value of friendship is more important than fame. Cohen's new mocumentary features over the top, envelope pushing jokes to draw ample laughs. Having said that the jokes are often the gross out and offensive gags rather than physical gags. If you've seen Borat you'll know that Cohen's goal is to be as offensive and as obnoxious he can by insulting everyone around him, and that just about sums up Bruno as well. Be forewarned no one is spared from being insulted. Not rednecks, not Muslims, not gays, and especially not women. After the successful this and Borat, Cohen can still prove why he's one of the smartest and bravest comedians out there. His point of offending and insulting others is to show how ignorant and small minded some be at times, and that's all showcased in this movie. Although, I'm surprised that he's still alive after making this (I'm pretty sure he'll receive a hell of a lot of lawsuits as well) he sure has a lot of balls to go out and do the impossible. Being a big fan of Borat, this was on my must see list of the summer. Even though I'm more appalled by the in your face nudity and obscene jokes rather than shocked as I was at Borat, I still think that Cohen has made another entertaining and often hilarious mockumentary. I was disappointed that there wasn't a lot of that social commentary from Borat, and some of the jokes got too far fetched and carried away at times but none the less if you liked Borat this should be able to laugh at least laugh about 4 or 5 times during this. I'd recommend this only for those who are familiar with Cohen's sense of humor and were able to tolerate all that in your face humor in Borat. If not then Transformers is still next door
The Taking of Pelham 123 (2009)
A predictable and preposterous thriller that relies on Travolta
What do you get when John Q and that once popular bad boy from Grease face off? Director Tony Scott (Man on Fire) brings you his update of the 1970's classic The Taking of Pelham 123. What starts off as a normal day for transit authority officer Walter Garber (Washington) is soon turned around when an escaped convict (Travolta, once again as the ultimate badass) takes a New York metro-train hostage. The convict only known as Ryder demands a ransom of 10 million delivered to him and his crew of criminals in an hour, or he'll start executing people every minute till New York's finest can pay the cash. Now it's up to Garber to put his life on the line and take action when no one else can. Scott's update boosts up a couple of decent action scenes but it's weighed down by its predictable and poorly executed plot. The cast including James Gandofini (The Sopranos) as a controversial mayor and John Tuttoro (Mr. Deeds) as a Hostage negotiator finely tuned their roles, but the rest of the cast including the once great Denzel (who sadly gives a wooden performance) didn't. What's disappointing is Denzel can do a great in movies (eg: The Hurricane) but lately he's been playing the same roles that it's getting old and lifeless. Travolta on the other hand takes the cake, and gives his best performance since Face/Off, but some of his lines were heterosexual and got distracting and embarrassing after a while. Scott had done movies that I quite enjoyed, but here I think he's just trying to become the next Michael Bay. The action sequences even looked like they were filmed by a Bay wannabe. Like, car crashes, a train running out of control? Come on, you can do better. Needless to say I also felt that the ending was preposterous and overdone that I guessed the ending minutes ahead of time. This update has what could have been the makings of a great movie, but there are too many coincidences, poor editing (which means jerky action sequences) and some very bad dialogue to recommend. There's nothing new here, but the movie really relies on the foul mouthed but badassed John Travolta to work. This remake just didn't translate well from the original and I expected a lot more from Tony Scott.
Up (2009)
It's not that Disney/Pixar can't make a bad movie, they don't know how to
All his life Carl Fredrickson dreamed of adventure, but today his adventure has taken off. Up is Disney/Pixar's latest adventure and their first in 3-D (which looks colorful by the way). Our story starts off with Carl Fredrickson a grumpy old man who's missed the train, and is still mourning the death of his beloved wife. Until one day he decides to travel to Paradise Falls (a jungle in South America) by tying 100 balloons to his house and exploding into thin air. Taking along a young wilderness explorer named Russell, Carl is determined to finish his journey while honoring his late wife's dream in the process. Disney/Pixar have been making nothing but Art ever since they first started and this is no exception. Up is a delightfully funny, sweet, and heartfelt dramady that will make you smile and shred a tear at the same time. It also has a good message about moving on and the chemistry between Russell and Carl is a good example of a strong friendship and true male bonding. There's nothing to complain about here as I haven't seen a single flaw but young viewers maybe frightened by the appearances of the dogs. They turn out friendly, but are creepy enough to scare the kids. That said this is a movie event you can take anyone (your parents or grandparents in particular) to. Its real like groundbreaking 3-D animation makes it far beyond its predecessor and if you thought Disney's best effort was WALL-E you'll immediately think twice after watching this.
The Hangover (2009)
A Hangover you wont soon forget
What do you get when you take the concept of "Dude Where's My Car" add Mike Tyson, a tiger, and set it in Vegas? The result is a bloody masterpiece. Director Todd Philips (Old School) has outdone himself, and brings us his latest comedy that's so rude, profane, offensive, and raunchy, you just can't help but laugh. With days before his wedding Doug (Justin Burtha AKA: Riley off National Treasure) takes his friends Phil (Bradley Cooper – He's Just Not that into you), Stu (The Daily Show's Ed Helms) and Doug's Joaquin Phoenix look alike brother Allan (Zach Galifianakis) out on a road trip to Vegas for a night they'll never forget. The next morning Phil, Stu, and Alan wake up hungover with a tiger along with a baby in hiding their hotel room, and Doug missing. With only a day left to find him, the men set out on a city wide search using CSI tactics, but the question is can they find him in time for the wedding? The Hangover is a hangover you won't forget anytime soon. It takes what could have been just your average R rated raunchfest and turn it into something that's fun, classy, and utterly outrageous (thanks to the hilarious and likable chemistry between the cast.) At moments you'll feel that the comedy is forced, and some of the crudeness felt unneeded but at the end you'll realize you've had such a fun time you won't even remember its flaws. This is sure to be an instant classic and is by far the best comedy of 2009, but it's made for a certain audience in mind so if Sex Jokes, Profanity, or partial nudity isn't for you then, you might want to sit this one out. For those that don't care about that, if you're looking for a comedy loaded with fun, heart and cameos (Mike Tyson being the most obvious one) then grab $10 sneak in a bottle of vodka, bring your friends and let this be a hangover you won't forget.
Terminator Salvation (2009)
If this is Salvation, then Terminator Terminated will be next
Christian Bale has saved Gotham City from criminal masterminds, but can he save the human race from total destruction? In Terminator Salvation he plays John Connor, the leader of the resistance and the only hope left for mankind. After Skynet has won the battle between man and machine, it's up to him to lead a group of survivors including a stranger (human/robot) who believes he has the key to saving our planet. Who will win the ultimate battle between man and machine? The fight is on. Before I go onto anything about this movie, let me say I was looking forward to seeing this, until I saw 3 things about this that made me change my mind. First off was the PG-13 rating. Once again, we have another movie that's first in the franchise not given an R rating (Live Free or Die Hard anyone?) Second off was that it was cut 20 minutes, which made me think "Oh my god this is lame." And third off, Arnie himself wasn't in it as the T-800. I know he has a state to run but can't he at least come back as T-800 and say a line or two? Now back to the movie. Despite its PG-13 rating and cut minutes I knew I was eventually going to see this (because it's Friggen Terminator dude) and I hate to say it but it was a huge letdown. It was a letdown for many reasons but mostly it's because it feels like a TV movie with all the wooden acting. The other big disappointment was the final battle against the T-800. Maybe in the previous 3 it was machine vs. machine battles and here it's human vs. machine. I know that Arnie's appearance was only in it for 60 seconds or so but even if they actually got him to star in it his role isn't very big at all. Anton Yelchin although far less annoying in here than in Star Trek still didn't do such a convincing job as Kyle Reece (John's father.) Like the guy's almost 10 years younger than John Connor, so how could he be his father? Can someone please explain that to me because, I'm still on a WTF basis about that. Terminator Salvation isn't horrible (some decent special effects, and breathless action sequences made up for some of it) but it's just very disappointing on so many levels. It didn't even have the T2 song at the end like "What the Heck?" Bottom-line if you're a Terminator newbie you'll probably enjoy if but for us fans look elsewhere because the freshness and inventiveness from the previous ones is all gone. Save your money, your time and yourselves.
Angels & Demons (2009)
True to his word, Ron Howard has definitely topped Da Vinci Code
Can Robert Langdon save the Catholic Church and prevent Vatican City from destruction? The race is on as Ron Howard's multi-million dollar blockbuster sequel finally hits the big screen. We last saw Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) 3 years ago, when he uncovered the truth behind a secret society. Now, he's called on once again. This time the stakes are higher, the case is deadlier and the mystery is unlike anything he's witnessed. Here, he's called to Rome to study a mysterious death of one of the 4 cardinals. Little does he know that he's tangled up in a war between the Catholic Church and a Secret Society known as the Illuminati (the enemy to the Catholic Church.) He soon learns that a member of Illuminati has kidnapped 3 other cardinals, threatening to kill one an hour and seizing to destroy Vatican City when the conclave begins. There on he goes on the hunt with a brilliant Scientist (Ayelet Zurer) followed by mysterious twists, turns and deaths headed their way. The only question is can they stop the attack in time? Ron Howard's Angels and Demons is better than his first outing (Da Vinci Code) in every single way possible. It's better in terms of quality, story, and entertainment. The suspense started very early (unlike the slow moving Da Vinci Code) and has enough action and great shots of the Vatican to keep you in your seat for at least 2 hours. Think of it as National Treasure meets 24 in Rome. Despite its potential, it also does has some flaws. It's still preachy, preposterous, and somewhat predictable. Did I mention it also felt like it went on for longer than it needed to be? If you're an open minded person, and often use "That can never happen" then you then you may want to take this one off your alley. For those who want mindless and heart pounding entertainment, this is a neatly crafted action thriller, with twists and turns headed every direction. Be sure to take a chill pill after this film is done because it was really that suspenseful. The supporting cast including the very underrated Ewan McGregor and Stellan Skarsgård all had deserving roles, and it was neat to see Ewan back on the screen (he's been gone far too long.) Bottom line, though it can't compare with the book, it's still terrific entertainment, and if you liked Da Vinci Code, Ron Howard has a big surprise for you.
Star Trek (2009)
Next time you want a reboot done right, call JJ Abrams right away
It's been 5 years since the last Star Trek, and now Trekkies have been waiting for a reboot of the popular franchise. Fortunately director JJ Abrams knows how to do just that, and make Star Trek enjoyable for Trekkies and non Trekkies alike. Like X-Men Origins, we go back to the beginning, and in this case we get the back story of James T. Kirk before he was captain of the enterprise. As a boy he always found himself in some sort of trouble by starting bar fights, and stealing cars. An opportunity soon comes to redeem himself when he is appointed Chief and Star ship captain of the Enterprise. There, he jumps off into space bringing along a series of mischievous situations and befriends a young captain named Spock. Together they must travel the galaxies and save the Earth from destruction. Let me start off by saying that JJ Abrams knows exactly how to reboot a franchise. He does it by adding incredible Special Effects, exciting action sequences, and casting Simon Pegg. By the time the closing credits rolled, everyone in my theater applauded including the non-Trekkies. This is a primary example of what a summer film should be like. Mostly we get movies that are out of the blue and loaded with action fare extravaganza during summer but rarely, do we get movies that have a unique story, great visual effects, and comedy. Star Trek is able to deliver all of that with a 2 hour running time. On the downside I was expecting more Simon Pegg in the movie and he didn't show up till half way. His character was the icing on the cake. But apart from that if you're looking for a feel good, action packed summer adventure then look no further.
Watchmen (2009)
Snyder has yet to disappoint us
With tickets sold out the week before it opened, Zack Snyder's visually stunning masterpiece has finally hit the big screen. This movie fought cruel lawsuits (by the Fox A-Holes), release date changes but it still managed to make it's way out of the cutting room floor. It has also already sold more tickets than 300 (which Snyder also directed.) This is based on the comic book created a few years back, which some of you might not have heard of. Now, I'm here with a full page review of it. This takes place in 1985, and the government has no other ideas than to hire a secret organization of superheroes to keep the world under peace. When one of the members is murdered, the others are on a race to find out why, and save themselves before they are all killed. This is a complex, but visually stunning and original superhero tale. I really liked how Snyder designed his own vision of what the 70's looked like, and how he makes all the CGI look real like. You've got to hand it to him, after the hugely successful 300; this will go down as one of his best works as well. However, even if this is a comic book masterpiece it is absolutely not a movie for kids or even the faint of heart. All the themes in this movie are mature, and it's meant for an adult audience. Snyder mentioned in a column for Entertainment weekly "I wanted to make sure everyone understood: This is not a kid movie. Violence has consequences," and true to his words, there's a large amount of earth shattering and realistic violence in this movie. You can count on seeing a man's arm being ripped off, a man's face being burned by hot oil, and plenty more. Like the comic book, the movie has a lot of mature materiel such as government, vigilante, corruption, poverty, and plenty of other themes you wouldn't expect a 13 year to understand. Not to mention there's a lot of mature content and a rape scene where I closed my eyes on. Actor Jeffery Dean Morgan (Grey's Anatomy) also mentioned that some of the scenes in this movie disturbed him, especially the original ending for this. The original ending was edited due to its graphic nature and how disturbing it was to some audience members. I mentioned at my school the other day if I see any kid under my age going or sneaking in to see this, I am going to kindly go out, tell the ticket manager, and pay for their way into another movie. In fact the UK has this rated at M18, which means no one under that age can get in even with a parent. I was only able to get in because I had my ID on me which clearly stated that I'm 18 (which I am.) I went to see this because I read the comic book (even if I didn't understand some of it), I both stunned visually, and plot wise by it. As for the movie, it followed the comic book, and it does a wonderful job of doing so. However the comic also contained some of the content mentioned here so I wasn't surprised by all the violence in the movie, but found it shocking. This is a visually brilliant and impressive movie, but it's not for kids. Instead rent them Iron Man which is a movie for them. work, us fans of the comic book appreciate what you're doing and, for anyone looking for a film that's 100% faithful to the graphic novel or is looking into being blown away visually, this one's for you.
I Love You, Man (2009)
A funny and heart-warming buddy comedy, that's not for everyone
Peter is a successful real estate agent (Rudd) has found the perfect fiancé. But there's only one thing missing from his life: a guy friend. He's always been a good with women, but horrible with men (and he doesn't have homophobia.) Then he meets Sydney (Segal) at his open house. Sydney puts all the fun back into Peter's life from jam sessions to eating fish tacos. Sadly when Sydney complicates thins between Peter and his fiancé, their friendship breaks apart and the bond they once had is over. However both men realize soon, that they both miss hanging out and learn that friendship is like marriage, and it takes hard work to really connect with each other. A lot of this movie actually works as a comedic and heartfelt buddy comedy. Jason Segal and Paul Rudd (who I really hope won't be a stranger soon) have perfect chemistry, and they should star in every buddy comedy together. This is raunchy, profane, and grossed out but it's actually a great movie about respect, communicating, and being true to not only yourself but to your friends as well. Not many R rated movies are as heartfelt as this anymore, so if you have a best friend and if you're over 16 go out and take a lesson from this movie apart from the content. The real reason why this movie is rated R is because of the really strong language. If they got rid of that and a bit of the sexual slangs, and jokes then it would have been more enjoyable for everyone. Some of the comedy in this movie did seem to be pretty forced and gross out, but yet it's a buddy comedy so you can expect that kind of stuff in a movie like this. I Love You Man is a delightfully funny Bromantic comedy for teenage boys or girls. It could also open up a conversation with your best friend of why Sydney is a good friend, and if you think that your friends are like him. If you aren't a fan of crude and gross out humour or hearing the F Word over 50 times, you will probably want to see another movie. If not, this is on your list.
Fast & Furious (2009)
Gets things done the Fast and Furious way
Yes, all your favorite characters from the first finally have their reunion as they are all back in this fourth installment. It takes place 30 minutes after the first (which means 2 Fast and Tokyo Drift) took place after this. Now car thief Dominic Totorro (Diesel) and FBI agent Brian O'Connor (Walker) are out to catch a drug smuggling ring whose leader is a common enemy to both. After one character is killed, Totorro and O'Connor blast muscle cars and speed through the Streets of Los Angeles and even to the Mexican Desert to catch and infiltrate the ring, before it's too late. The latest installment is by far the freshest of the four. I really didn't like Tokyo Drift, and 2 Fast 2 Furious I missed, but this made me want to check out the first one again. This movie is every teen's fantasy: fast cars, girls, explosions, shootouts, it's all in there. Something like this should come out every Friday, but I don't think that will be possible. I know that the critics are being very harsh on this, but they're old, and open minded, so I think you should go out and see this for yourself. Plus seeing that this has already made 72 Million Dollars and is by far the highest grossing movie of the year, I can see it's time to get Fast and Furious again. Apart from the well shot action scenes, and real life stunts (Walker mentioned none of it was CGI), some of the dialogue was quite bad. I don't blame the director or any of the cast members, but parts of the script felt like it was written by 10 year olds. I don't expect real acting from these types of movies but I do expect at least some good acting, and this just didn't deliver it sadly. Fans will all be happy with the latest installment. It's miles better than Tokyo Drift, and although I didn't see number 2, this one beat the original to the finish line for me. You've got great action scenes and Vin Diesel finally back to a good role (I hope this movie treated you more than Babylon A.D did.) All I have to say is if you haven't seen this yet, what are you waiting for? Drive as fast and as furiously as you can to your nearest movie theater, and prepare for pure awesomeness.
Observe and Report (2009)
R Rated Mall Cop is actually quite fresh
Ronnie Barnhart is a bi-polar mall cop, who has an alcoholic mother, has a crush on a designer store clerk (Farris), and goes above the law to get justice. Just when he thought nothing was ever go wrong, his mall is attacked by a flasher, and a person who he cares deeply about, gets sexually assaulted by him. Now it's his time for him to bring the true hero out of him and save the day without the help from police. In February (as we all know) the PG version of Mall Cop (Paul Blart) opened. 2 months later the version made for adults opens, and it was well worth the wait. Given the fact that I idolize Seth Rogen, and thinks he can do nothing wrong, I came to see this with high hopes and I got everything I expected. At first I wasn't really opened to the concept of "An R Rated version of Paul Blart" but it really paid off. Seth Rogen fits his character perfectly. He's a mean, lean fighting machine with a sense of heart inside. In one scene he almost made me cry, but a scene of comic relief came up after. The rest of the supporting cast such as Anna Farris, Ray Liotta (as the cop, and Michael Pena (As brilliant as he ever is) were also hysterically well casted. On the downside Ronnie spends most of his time being a bad role model. His tactics are violent and he plays sort of a younger version of Robert De Niro in Taxi Driver. He beats up skate borders, suspects an immigrant of stealing because of his race, and shows great respect for his alcoholic mother. These aren't really positive messages for viewers of any age, but it's a Dark R rated comedy. What could you expect from that? Observe and Report is a dark and surprisingly hilarious comedy that's not made from the Apatow group. It's raunchy, violent, offensive and off-putting at times but that's Seth Rogen humor so if you don't like it, then happily Adam Sandler is making a lot of movies for you. Rogen proves to us once again that he is the man and he could do absolutely nothing wrong. It's a different role for him because he sort of plays a more darker and dramatic character than he normally does. When it was over I and a few of the audience members applauded, and it turns out after reading so many negative reviews, many seemed to like it. Beware if you aren't looking to be offended, put down or just not into Rogen humor you're better off seeing Monsters vs. Aliens instead. For die hard fans of him like I am you'll enjoy this fresh and quirky comedy. I can't hardly wait to see Rogen's next movie Funny People when it opens this July.
Duplicity (2009)
Even Owen and Roberts couldn't save this confusing and mind boggling mess
Two corporate spies (Owen & Roberts) hook up (after knowing each other a while back) to pull off a scheme to get 40 Million dollars. The mission is to infiltrate a company that each other work in, and expose a secret product the company is releasing. Soon things get out of plan, and the two spies realize they have more feelings for each other than they recently thought. I've been a fan of Clive Owen ever since Children of Men, and I was so gratified to see Julia Roberts back on the screen. A few years ago both Clive and Julia did a movie together called "Closer", and it was satisfying to see them back together again. Their performances together are the only uplifting value of this film. Although we could have used more of Paul Giamatti and definitely more Tom Wilkinson, the entire cast was perfect for this film. This movie had too much potential in the first half, but after that it becomes a confusing and mind boggling mess of a movie. There were so many twists, and confused story telling even I heard some of the audience members yell out "Huh? What was that about?" The script was good, but the story was horribly told that it came to a very disappointing outcome. That's a shame because I was expecting to enjoy a good suspense movie that wasn't confusing. Duplicity is a often funny and well acted movie, but you'll have to find either the film's director or the screenwriter to translate the story for you, or else you won't get it. It surprisingly turns romantic in the end which makes it a fairly good date movie, but you'll be more confused than dazzled. I have to say skip this movie, and if you want to see Julia Roberts at her best rent Erin Brockovich. If you want to see Clive Owen at his best rent Inside Man. Need I say more?
Bedtime Stories (2008)
it takes someone like Sandler to make a kids movie enjoyable
If you have been to the theaters once over the past month, you have to at least seen an ad for this. The marketing for this movie is everywhere, on TV, on McDonald's ads and every time I go to the theaters I have to sit through the ads for this. Disney paid a large amount of money to promote this, and since Adam Sandler is in it. For once Sandler gives up his trademark of crudeness and makes a tame family movie. However, there's still a bit of the Sandler factor and there's some in it for kids as well, so that makes it enjoyable for kids and adults. Sandler plays Skeeter, a hotel clerk who's forced to look after his sister's kids for a week. One night Skeeter tells an imaginary bedtime story to his children, and the next day it becomes true. Every time he tells a new story, whatever the kids come up with happens to Skeeter in real life. But he must find someway to make it stop, before something really bad happens. This is one of those movies you could take the whole family to. Unlike some of Sandler's recent efforts including Zohan and Chuck & Larry, he's tamed this movie up quite a bit. On a recent episode of Letterman, he says he has a daughter now, and he's decided he wanted to make a nice movie for the children. He makes this a delightful movie for children in every way. I don't mind Adam Sandler, but when he's doing movies like Zohan, I really think his PG-13 movies really should be R rated. However, even if this one isn't particularly good, it's still a delightful family movie and Sandler himself makes it enjoyable for everyone. No matter what age you are its clean enough to enjoy, and it's one you should bring the whole family to if it's possible.
Marley & Me (2008)
I laughed, I brawled, I adored this movie
Another best selling book worldwide has taken the big screen, and is sure to draw attention from everyone. For dog lovers, couples or even people searching for the meaning of life this movie is for you. Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston (who's able to keep her top on) star as a couple with 3 children living in a suburban home. On their anniversary they adopt a pup named Marley (who's so adorable even I want a dog like him.) It turns out he might be the world's worst dog, but he brings out the best in everyone. This is a wonderful movie that practically everyone should see. It'll make you laugh, it'll make you cry, and it'll make you think about all the good in life. Anyone who's ever owned a pet will adore this movie. However if you've read the book, you'll already know that it ends tragically, and I walked out in brawling, but it's got enough humor so you'll be laughing too. Most importantly it has a splendid message: people don't care if you're rich or poor give them your heart, it will give you theirs. That's a wonderful quote, which we should remember. I don't often cry during movies, but I couldn't stop brawling at the end. This is a wonderful movie.
The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008)
Since when did big budget movies start to be crappy?
Keanu Reeves plays an alien who has come to stop a pending attack on our universe in The Day the Earth Stood Still. This is yes another remake of the 1950's original. Basically this is just the original only with color and more talented performers. Reeves plays Klattu, an alien who has been sent to Earth, to destroy the human race. To sum it up if the humans die the earth survives but if they survive the earth dies. Since humans have not been taking care of their planet, Klattu is sent to destroy it. He meets a doctor and a child on his visit who tries to get him to change his mind but by then it might be already too late. This remake starts off interesting, but soon becomes very crappy. The cast including the always terrific Jennifer Connelly (Blood Diamond), Oscar Nominee Kathy Bates and Will Smith's son Jaden Smith (who you might recognize from Pursuit of Happiness) are all well casted but even they can't save this movie. On the positive side, this does make you wonder if we are doing too much damage to the environment or not. All of that said, sadly this movie is pretty crappy. The characters weren't believable; it'll make you laugh when it's supposed to be serious, and has action we've seen in over a billion better sci-fi movies. I just couldn't relate this movie, and that's always a bad thing. However there are some near special effects and the performance from Jayden Smith actually saved me from giving this a 1/10. But apart from that save your money, save yourselves and do not go see The Day the Earth Stood Still.