Happy New Year!

~~~Here's looking forward to a New Year at the Movies!~~~

The Spirit

The Spirit is, pardon the pun, shot in the same "spirit" as SIN CITY was. Meaning blood is either bright red or stark white. It has the cheesy lines, the absurd over-the-top action, that defines this rather new style, or the Frank Miller style, just as you can spot a Tim Burton movie five miles away, Miller leaves his indelible and bloody thumbprint on his movies.

Well the film definitely accomplishes whatever it was that it set out to do, and knowing what I was in for, I was able to claim that I had an hour and a half of entertainment. (That's why we go to the movies right?)

There is no Oscar winning performances here, and no heart-felt or even a tree hugger message to walk away from this movie with. Perhaps that's the point. Maybe that's the point of comic books from which this film gets it source material. We buy it, we read its gritty frames, and we escaped into someone else's world for a few hours.

So if you want to escape this color filled existence and delve into some mindless black and white ogling of hot females and big guns, then by all means check out The Spirit.

YES man

There's only one question to ask. Should you go see this movie? YES!

I usually pan comedies on the big screen, thinking that I don't need the theater to see a bunch of witty one liners. But for some reason (the smell of buttered pop corn) I decided to stroll over to the Riviera and check out Jim Carrey's latest pursuit of hilarity.(He's still got it!)

Karl (Jim Carrey) is recently divorced and down in the dumps as a result. He's clammed up and shut everyone and everything out of his life. Until an old friend invites him to a motivational seminar and he decides to give the program a try. Things immediately begin to turn around for him as he goes through life saying yes to every opportunity. He even finds a new love interest (Zooey Descchanel).

So I suppose this was really a romantic comedy hidden in the packaging of a comedy, cause I didn't pick up on that in the trailer. I know i'm going overboard here, but Carrey is really charming in this movie and the film exceeded my expectations. It does drag a little at the end but quickly rebounds for the candy coated happy ending we all know and love.

This was a fun ride and makes a great date movie! So don't be a NO man and check out YES man!

The Day The Earth Stood Still

This is a remake of a classic that started the whole Sci-Fi genre along with Forbidden Planet (which they are also remaking). I was excited for this movie, because I have enjoyed sci-fi shows and films for years.

I don't remember the message of the original film, but this one carried a big green message about mother earth and what the parasites known as humans are doing to her. Aliens are ticked off that we are destroying the earth and they have come to eradicate us and save the planet which is only one of a handful capable of sustaining life in the universe.

Overall I enjoyed the movie. It had a solid story, nice effects, good actors. But I think it could have been so much more. In the end they must convince the alien to let the humans live, and I was disappointed how that developed. It could have been much more powerful , much more compelling. I also thought they went a little soft on showing the atrocities that humans are capable of. All they presented were clips of a few riots. Heck I see that in the news, and I barely notice it. Despite that, I liked the movie. I won't give it a 'must see' but check out The Day The Earth Stood Still when it's released on DVD!

Punisher: War Zone

Fighting his one man war on the world of organized crime, ruthless vigilante-hero Frank Castle (Ray Stevenson) sets his sights on over-the-top mob boss Billy Russoti (Dominic West). After Russoti is left horribly disfigured by Castle, he sets out for vengeance under his new alias--Jigsaw. With the Police "Punisher Task Force" and the FBI unable to take Jigsaw in, Frank must stand up to the formidable army that Jigsaw has recruited before more of his evil deeds go unpunished.

This movie reminded me a little of the more campy Batman movies that came out, like the George Clooney Batman, with Arnold as Mr. Freeze. I think I liked the first Punisher Movie (Thomas Jane) a little better. This film truly was a Live Action Comic Book.

It was two hours of gratuitous and graphic violence (were talking heads exploding like melons, etc.) and over the top villians and a gun blasting, knife stabbing hero. Well if that's what turns your crank then you'll be richly rewarded. If it turns your stomach, then stay away from Punisher War Zone!

Transporter 3

I really like Jason Statham (Frank Martin), his accent, his fighting, his charm. (No I don't want to date him) I loved Transporter One and Two. I thought it was a fresh type of action flick, with great fight and chase scenes, not to mention Statham's dry wit.

So of course I was excited when I saw they were making a third movie in the series. Unfortunately as most sequels do, it fell a bit short on the delivery. The plot was just so so and the lead girl (Natalya Rudakova) was a bit "scary." They tried to up the action ante by doing ridiculously impossible stunts and that just made it worse.

Still being a fan of the first two films, I had to see it and support the sequel. Hopefully they will call it a wrap and let Jason move on new projects. So I recommend checking out Transporter 3 at the rental place or Netflix it!

Twilight

I was afraid this film would be a bit too sappy. To be sure, there is a lot of mushiness to be found, but the story is strong, and the character's are interesting (if not a bit one dimensional).

Make no mistake though, this is not a scary or horror flick (what's the difference?). In fact, it almost lacks so much in action and suspense, I was afraid I would dose off and miss the epic climax.

I always like a new twist on the Vampire genre, so I was curious what this author, Stephenie Meyer brought to the table. (You knew it was based on a book right?) It's a tale about a "family" of vampires that move about the country over the years and they have come home to the always cloudy and rainy Washington state area. They are "good" vampires in that they only feed on animals, not humans. Although the temptation and desire is there.

So it's the same old story of Vampire boy meets Human girl and they fall in love. Will the rest of the family be happy? And whose feeding on the local town folk?

I talked to a fan that had read the book, (I haven't) and she said the film was a "pretty good" adaptation for a book to screen movie. I found that the human girl, Bella Swan, played by Kristen Stewart looked great for the part, but I hated the way she presented her character. She too has recently moved to Washington and is adjusting to her new life with her father. But all her lines were stuttered with confusion, uncertainty, starting and stopping in an annoying fashion. (um...like this blog!) It would have been okay for a scene or two, but she does it the whole movie. I blame the director for that. At some point, she should have evolved into a confident sure-of-herself girl, that finally accepts and knows what she wants.

Overall it was a decent movie, and you should check Twilight out especially if you are a fan of the book. Otherwise Netflix it one day on your XBOX 360!

Quantum of Solace

Bond. James Bond. Quantum of Solace continues the high octane adventures of James Bond (Daniel Craig) in Casino Royale. Betrayed by Vesper, the woman he loved, 007 fights the urge to make his latest mission personal. Pursuing his determination to uncover the truth, Bond and M (Judi Dench) interrogate Mr White (Jesper Christensen) who reveals the organization which blackmailed Vesper is far more complex and dangerous than anyone had imagined. Forensic intelligence links an Mi6 traitor to a bank account in Haiti where a case of mistaken identity introduces Bond to the beautiful but feisty Camille (Olga Kurylenko), a woman who has her own vendetta. Camille leads Bond straight to Dominic Greene (Mathieu Amalric), a business man and major force within the mysterious organization.


On a mission that leads him to Austria, Italy and South America, Bond discovers that Greene, conspiring to take total control of one of the world's most important natural resources, is forging a deal with the exiled General Medrano. Using his associates in the organization, and manipulating his powerful contacts within the CIA and the British government, Greene promises to overthrow the existing regime in a Latin American country, giving the General control of the country in exchange for a seemingly barren piece of land. In a minefield of treachery, murder and deceit, Bond allies with old friends in a battle to uncover the truth. As he gets closer to finding the man responsible for the betrayal of Vesper, 007 must keep one step ahead of the CIA, the terrorists and even M, to unravel Greene's sinister plan and stop his organization.


The critics will tell you the plot was thin, but I disagree. I thought is was as complex as every other Bond Film. This movie is action packed and won't disappoint. It's an excellent sequel to Casino Royale and I enjoyed every minute, leaving the theater wanting more!

Don't wait, get your Walther PPK, bow tie, and Aston Martin and drive unnecessarily fast to the theater to catch the latest 007 thriller, Quantum of Solace!!

Madagascar 2

Your favorite animals are back. (No not Jim Belushi) This time they escape from Madagascar with the help of the lovable and unstoppable penguins! Only to land a short distance away in Africa where Alex the lion is reunited with his family. There he must fight off the schemes of a conniving second lion that wants to dethrone his father. (Steal much from the Lion King?). Alex's father, Zuba is voiced by the late great Bernie Mac.

It was a great sequel, but they spent a lot of time in story exposition, character development, and sub plots like a love triangle with Melman and Gloria. I thought they should have had less of that and more of the laughs. There were just to many "serious" moments for a kids movie.

I mean sure through some stuff in there for the adults, but don't lose sight of your target audience. Other than that small criticism, the movie was a blast. King Louie (Sacha Baron Cohen) was hilarious as usual and the penguins need their own film!

Check out Madagascar II pronto "doll-face!"

Max Payne

I was really looking forward to this film as soon as I saw the preview. I enjoyed playing the game Max Payne which the film is based on. It was an XBOX game about a detective whose family is killed over a new drug.

The film, just like the game is dark and gritty. We find Max Payne in the basement of the police station, working the desk of the cold case unit. After three years he is still looking for his wife's killer.

The story is good, the premise is fantastic. (Hey that's why they made a movie!) But I found the film was definitely lacking something. The writing and acting was sub-par. Mark Wahlberg was underwhelming. The scenes were disjointed and forced. I wanted to like the movie, I really wanted to be on board, but it fell a bit flat. I think Beau Bridges was miscast as well.

The sex scenes were not. Max Payne was not bad-a** enough, and the movie therefore was not up to par. I seem to be on a roll here for Netflix recommendations! I say pass on Max Payne for now.

City of Ember

You are kinda just along for the ride on this movie. Based on a book (children's?) it's the tale of an underground city created by scientists during a nuclear holocaust taking place on the surface. They fill the city with babies and a few guardians that will grow up underground for generations over the next 200 years.

It's illegal for anyone to venture out into the darkness surrounding the city, but as the city's generator begins to fail, and food supplies dwindle, two young kids decide to find an exit from the City of Ember.

It's not a bad tale, and they try hard to create suspense, they try hard to develop the characters, but it was lacking overall in drawing me into the world that they have created. I was constantly aware that I was in a movie theater, just watching a story unfold. I never felt a part of it, never felt drawn in.

I enjoyed the performances by Tim Robbins, Martin Landau (I thought he was dead), and even Bill Murray as the mayor, but it wasn't enough for me to recommend rushing to the theater for this one. Check City of Ember out on video or Netflix!

Body of Lies

If you like watching Russell Crowe take his kids to soccer and look over the top of his glasses for two hours, then you'll love Body of Lies. Actually it wasn't that bad. But they would have had a much better film without Crowe's character. Don't get me wrong, I have huge respect for Russell Crowe and he is an amazing actor. But I feel he was miscast for the part.

Dicaprio did a decent job, making me believe he is a hard core CIA field agent, he almost over sold it. But I thought he did a solid job. The film carries the message that the Iraq War was a bad idea, but it doesn't cram that message down your throat, it's more subtle.

The film seems to lose a little steam toward the end, but it picks back up for the grand finish. There's a little cross-cultureal love story thrown which we could have done without but they needed it for the big finish.

Overall the movie accomplished what it set out to do, but you'd be just as satisfied Netflixing this one at home, check out Body of Lies by putting it in your queue in a few months.

Eagle Eye

Shia LaBeouf has been rolling out the hits lately; Transformers, Indy Jones Four, and now Eagle Eye.

Jerry (LaBeouf) and Rachel (Michelle Monaghan) are two strangers thrown together by a mysterious phone call from a woman they have never met. Threatening their lives and family, she pushes Jerry and Rachel into a series of increasingly dangerous situations, using the technology of everyday life to track and control their every move. (IMDB)

There's no Oscar material here, but the story and acting is solid enough. It never seems to drag and builds enough suspense to keep it interesting. It's slim pickens if you are movie goer coming off the summer blockbusters.

So if you're in the mood for a decent "popcorn" flick, then there is a Porsche Cayenne waiting for you outside. Get in and drive to the nearest theater. You have 15 minutes. Desertion is not an option.

Burn After Reading

I was so excited to see this movie. I mean it's the insanity of the Coen Brothers! I loved Oh Brother Where Art Thou?

This film was a HUGE disappointment! After exactly one hour into the movie, I finally laughed. I was rolling on the floor in the first 3-5 minutes of Oh Brother and I never stopped. I think I only laughed out loud once during this entire weak sauce of a Coen Brother presentation.

It's about a CIA analyst quitting his job, meanwhile his wife and every other person in the movie is having an affair, a couple of not-to-bright fitness trainers find a CD they think has top secret info on it and try to turn it into money, meanwhile the CIA, and private eyes are watching everyone, and through a series of wrong place at the wrong time, and avid paranoia, the story unfolds.

It's not that the story wasn't interesting, or that the character's weren't colorful or not doing a terrific acting job. Heck Brad Pitt was awesome as usual; he played a moron perfectly. So what was wrong with this flick? It was not funny. Not at all. I would have put money on this one as the top comedy of 2008. But you would be much better off going to see Pineapple Express or Tropic Thunder.

At the End of Burn After Reading, the CIA director says, "What have we learned? Heck if I know! But let's not do it again." I hope the Coen Brothers have learned something as well and don't do this again! Catch it on cable one day peeps!

Bangkok Dangerous

Did you see No Country for Old Men? I liked the movie till the ending. Why? Because it did not have the typical "Hollywood" ending that I was expecting, or wanting for that matter since I have been trained or brain-washed over the years to expect a happily ever after ending. Sure the film makers have the right to buck the trend and give us the unexpected, just so long as I can't tell they are doing it just for the sake of bucking the trend. Confused yet?

Well Bangkok Dangerous, starring Nicolas Cage as an assassin (Joe) has an ending that I didn't expect either. But was it a good movie? I'd have to say that I liked it. Except for Nic Cage's hair! What is up with that? It's like the make-up department doesn't know what to do with it. So they dye it jet black and leave it a stringy tangled mess. He had the exact same hair in NEXT, it is awful looking.

Okay, enough about the bad hair. In this film the assassin, Joe leads a lonely life (go figure). He starts thinking about retirement and finding someone special to spend his days with. He just has a few more kills and then he can be out for good. He has four simple rules he lives by, and trouble begins when he starts breaking them.

Overall the acting and actions scenes fall a little flat (like his hair), but the plot moves along well enough to keep you interested. No need to check out Bangkok Dangerous at the theater, I'd add it to your Netflix queue. Cheers!

Babylon AD

I really wanted this movie to be great. The trailer of course got me excited for it. And while it wasn't a bad movie overall it still had its flaws.

Veteran-turned-mercenary Thoorop (Vin Diesel) takes the high-risk job of escorting a woman (Melanie Thierry) and her mentor (Michelle Yeoh) from Russia to America in a near post apocalyptic war-torn future. Little does he know that she is host to an organism that a cult wants to harvest in order to produce a genetically modified Messiah.

I will say that the settings were well done, you really get the feeling that Russia is in tatters from territorial fighting and corruption (art imitating life?), and the future gadgets, cars, and buildings were a nice touch to create a near-future atmosphere.

The film moves along pretty well with a balanced mix of action and exposition, but begins to unravel when they finally reach their destination and the plot becomes a little confusing and convoluted. (Note to Robert Downey Jr.: Don't go see this movie..you won't get it.)


Not much character development other than Thoorop (what a freakin name?) transforms from a hard-core mercenary to a... (well I can't say what he becomes that would spoil the movie) Let's just say he goes soft. And as for the girl he is protecting, we learn her life's story, but it had little effect on me and I did not care what happened to her character. I cared more about Michelle Yeoh's character than any of them.

I'm struggling between two stars (didn't like it) and three stars (liked it). I think I will lean towards liked it, just because I like Vin Diesel, and the settings were nice. But I would recommend Netflix or renting Babylon AD rather than spending your gas money going to the movies.

Deathrace

A remake of the awesome classic 1975 movie Deathrace 2000 starring David Carradine. This time Jason Statham is the star. It's a simple, violent over the top film that does what it is supposed to. Make us cheer for more!

In the year 2012, in response to the collapsing American economy, shady corporations have taken over the prison system and reap huge profits by staging gladiatorial pay-per-view contests among the prisoners. They can win five races and be set free.

Their star racer, Frankenstein is killed after winning four races and the psychotic warden, an ice-queen named Hennessey (Joan Allen), decides to secretly replace him with Jensen Ames (Statham), a former race car driver, so she can keep her ratings up. She promises him freedom, but has no plans to let him escape.

So naturally with help from his "team" he makes his own plans and B-Movie mayhem explodes onto the screen. I loved this thrill ride remake! It's rated R so leave the kiddies at home and buckle up for car flippin fun. Check out Deathrace!

Star Wars: The Clone Wars

This animated feature film was better than I expected. The action was furious, almost too much action! How many times can we see a droid sliced in half by a light saber? How many times can we see a Jedi use the force to retrieve a dropped saber and turn it on in the last second to block an incoming strike?

But you can't say the movie was boring. However I did not like the movie's premise. And by that I mean the mission Anakin and his new padawan are sent on. I won't spoil it but I thought the story was weak and a bit silly. Not Jar-Jar silly, but still...maybe I am getting to old for Star Wars. *gasp*


The animation was a bit "blocky" and a different style, but I didn't mind that. The soundtrack was the most surprising! I loved it. Even the familiar opening music seemed to have an edge to it and there were new beats and rhythms I have not heard in the previous films. I'll have to get the score.


Overall if you are a Star Wars fan boy, you'll go see this, and if the kids are dying to see it, then by all means pick up the plactic red/green/blue/purple light saber off the playroom floor and check out THE CLONE WARS!

PS- From what I hear, this is a pre-lude to a new animated series coming to Cartoon Network.

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor

This is the third installment of the Mummy series. Hey if it's making money why stop? Brendon Fraser reprises his roll as Rick O'Connell, but Rachel Weisz is AWOL. Instead Maria Bello replaces her as Evelyn "EV" O'Connell. They mix things up a bit this time around with the O'Connell's having a boring life and a grown up son, Alex O'Connel (Luke Ford).

But they keep the same formula as the previous films. Ancient mummy comes to life, tries to kill them, Insert comic relief by John Carnahan (John Hannah) and add a crazy pilot (Liam Cunningham) named Mad Dog Maguire. Luke Ford plays O'Connell's son pretty well but he is no Brendon Fraser. I liked Maria Bello better than Weisz for the Role of O'Connell's wife.

The film starts out as Alex O'Connell follows in his father's footsteps in discovering ancient trap filled tombs. Meanwhile back at home Mom and Dad are living a boring, dull life. And I don't know if it was intentional, but the first half of the movie was rather dull and boring as well. A far cry from the relentless action packed trailers that have filled the TV screen nightly for the past four months! Could they over-promote a movie anymore than this one? There is even an Olympic/China tie-in trailer.

Things don't get interesting until of course they awaken the mummy and the action finally begins. But as I said before, nothing new here. Jet Li as the Emperor was a nice choice but he was not as charismatic as the previous mummy, Imhotep played by Arnold Vosloo. They tried to add a new twist with a love interest for Alex O'Connell but it felt forced and you really didn't care for the character's too much.

But Overall, if you are a fan of the previous two mummys (well same mummy TWICE), then you'll have to see this one. This film seems to herald the end of the summer block busters. It has been a fabulous year for movies!

PS- You may not know or care, but a prequel film, The Scorpion King starring The Rock was created from the first Mummy movie. Well in the theater they showed a trailer for the prequel to the prequel if you can believe that! The Scorpion King 2 goes straight to DVD 8/19!

X-Files 2

Mulder and Scully are together again in this decade-too-late second movie. And boy are they together! Were they able to recapture that fantastic chemistry they had back in the day?

Yes they did. It was just like watching an extended episode of the X-files. Loved it! Chris Carter decided to stay away from the alien-conspiracy theme from the series. Some people were disappointed by that, but not me. I could barely follow the convoluted plot line when I was watching the show, much less remember any of the details after so many years. I was worried about Billy Connolly's role as Father Joe, but he pulled it off well.

If you're a die hard X-Files fan, you've probably already grabbed your sunflower seeds and headed to the theater. If you've never seen the X-Files, you'll miss a few subtle throwbacks to the series, but the movie stands alone as a good murder-mystery thriller. So cue the eerie music and check out the latest X-Files!

Meet Dave

I thought this movie would be silly, corny, goofy, and absurd. What I discovered was that i was right! It was silly, corny, goofy, and absurd. But you know what? It was fun to watch. I had a great time! I guess since I knew it was silly and that was the their goal, it was a success. I just sat back and enjoyed the ride.

There were plenty of laughs, the film was the right length, and kept my interest so I never felt bored. The website is surprisingly fun as well MeetDaveMovie.

So if your looking for a way to spend a few hours on a lazy Saturday or Sunday afternoon, check out Meet Dave!

The Dark Knight

BEST BATMAN MOVIE EVER. (nuff said)

Hellboy II: Golden Army

Hmmm. Hellboy 2. What can I say? More of the same? Maybe not. I think the characters seemed more developed, the story was good with interesting characters, monsters, and villains, and it was written and directed by Guillermo del Toro (Pan's Labyrinth).

So overall I'd have to say that this sequel bucks the trend (that most sequels suck) and was actually a decent continuation of the first film. I had fun watching it and I thought the visual effects were top shelf!

So if you are a Hellboy fan, or a "We made a movie out of this comic book" genre lover, then by all means, wake the baby and check out Hellboy II.

Hancock

Obviously this was not your typical superhero movie. It comes with a couple of nice twists. One you already know, Hancock is an uncouth, rude, and belligerent superguy with anger issues. The other twist, is you'll have to see the movie to find out.

The film was not without it's problems, in my always correct opinion. The dialogue or really the fact that everyone in the movie happens to use the same curse word when referring to Hancock (that would be A-Hole), which also happens to be the word that triggers his anger, was annoying and distracted from the story I thought.

The other problem was the villains in the film. While I think they were mainly used as background to the true story, it was still weak. There is no super villain to fight against or even a natural suspenseful disaster that Hancock has to overcome as is typical in most super movies. But again this was not the typical "Save the Earth" film anyway. So I guess we couldn't expect that. But the few bad guys in it were pretty lame.

Despite those minor issues you couldn't help but like Hancock, just like his friend played by Jason Bateman, and even his wife (Charlize Theron) ends up liking him. but with Will Smith playing Hancock how could you not like his character?

So if you are looking for something a little different and a break from the typical super-hero movies that are rolling out this summer (Ironman, Hulk, Batdood, and Hellboy Deuce), then take a wobbly flight over to the theater and check out HANCOCK!

Wanted

I did not have high expectations for this movie, even with the star power of Morgan Freeman (Sloan) and Angelina Jolie (Fox). It looked like it could really be silly and ridiculously over the top. And at times it certainly was, but it kept me along for the ride anyways. I was on board, and ready for a popcorn flick with plenty of stunts and cgi.

James McAvoy (Wesley Gibson) did a decent job and overall I enjoyed the film up until the big finish. That's where it went off the rails, literally. The end was so silly and over-the-top that I was sad for it. If they had just carried through and not gotten so crazy, it would have been a fun flick all the way, but this was a case where I hope the DVD has an alternate ending!

By the way, kudos to Trojan for their product placement, I am sure sales will sore, especially watermelon flavor. With Blockbusters still rolling out like WALL"E and THE DARK KNIGHT, I would catch Wanted on NetFlix or Cable!

Get Smart

I watched this show religiously when I was a kid. As Star Trek was the beginning of my love for all things Sci-Fi, Get Smart was the beginning of my love for all things spy. From The Saint, to James Bond, to Bourne. I love a good spy flick. Of course Get Smart is all in it for laughs and you really can't compare him to Bond. (Or can you?) He gets cool cars, cool gadgets, and Agent 99.

I was afraid they would get "Will Farrell" stupid and over the top with Get Smart, but they did an excellent job of keeping everything on an even keel and things were funny enough to have your rolling in the floor and not rolling your eyes at the ceiling! Steve Carell does a great job with his role in The Office and he is no less superb here. And Anne Hathaway makes a feisty Agent 99. They surprisingly give the characters amazing depth for a comedy.

This re-make of the series was a fun ride and I can highly recommend it! Find the nearest phone booth and check out Get Smart!

The Incredible HULK

Two Liv Tyler movies back to back. WooT! Well I am a week late with this review!! Sorry, been busy. Kid broke his arm and stuff :(

Let's just cut to the chase on this one shall we? THIS HULK was better than the last Hulk or the First hulk movie. (Even though I didn't think the first one was too bad.)

But having said that, it was still not as good as IRONMAN. So if you haven't seen Ironman, see it first! But if you are a marvel fan then you have already seen Ironman and by now Hulk. It is a must see for the superhero movie fan.

Norton did a good Bruce Banner. It was nice to see them give a nod to Bill Bixby at the start of the movie, and of course Stan Lee makes a customary appearance. (Maybe that Hulk Juice finally did him in!) And the surprise cameo at the end was cool, like the one at the end of Ironman. At least they didn't make you sit through the credits this time.

Hey go see this movie or .... HULK SMASH!!!!!

The Strangers

The trailer seemed very intriguing and I was excited to see Liv Tyler (Kristen McKay) as the leading lady. The premise of the film was very similar to the 2007 film, Vacancy, that starred Kate Beckinsale and Luke Wilson. In both films the couple has relationship issues and they are trapped in a secluded area, and attacked by sadistic psychopaths.

However, The Strangers is just another slasher movie and brings nothing new to the genre. I hated the way the movie ended. I thought is was uncreative, unimaginative and disgusting. The movie uses old tricks to illicit the few scares and thrills that is does have.

There are several better movies out right now and more summer blockbusters coming, so save your movie bucks for those and pass on The Strangers!

Indiana Jones: KOTCS

Spielberg and Lucas just couldn't leave those extraterrestrials out of it could they? Indy is back along with his old flame, Marrion (Karen Allen), and newcomer Henry Jones III (Shia Leboeuf).
Hey it's an Indy movie--It's got creepy tombs, crawling bugs, natives with blow darts, and long fight scenes with evil foreign powers. (And boy are the russkies pissed about it).

Cate Blanchett (Irina Spalko) plays the evil villian. She was more amusing than evil. But I loved seeing Indy in action one more time! Go check out Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull!

Speed Racer

Hurtling down the track, careening around, over and through the competition, Speed Racer (Emile Hirsch) is a natural behind the wheel. Born to race cars, Speed is aggressive, instinctive and, most of all, fearless. His only real competition is the memory of the brother he idolized-the legendary Rex Racer - whose death in a race has left behind a legacy that Speed is driven to fulfill. Speed is loyal to the family racing business, led by his father, Pops Racer (John Goodman), the designer of Speed's thundering Mach 5. When Speed turns down a lucrative and tempting offer from Royalton Industries, he not only infuriates the company's maniacal owner but uncovers a terrible secret-some of the biggest races are being fixed by a handful of ruthless moguls who manipulate the top drivers to boost profits. If Speed won't drive for Royalton, Royalton will see to it that the Mach 5 never crosses another finish line. The only way for Speed to save his family's business and the sport he loves is to beat Royalton at his own game. With the support of his family and his loyal girlfriend, Trixie (Christina Ricci), Speed teams with his one-time rival-the mysterious Racer X (Matthew Fox) - to win the race that had taken his brother's life: the death-defying, cross-country rally known as The Crucible. Written by Warner Bros. Pictures

WHEW, that was a mouthful and that's why I didn't write it! I grew up watching Speed Racer, loved it. The live action film nearly mimics that anime cartoon, maybe they should have just done an animated feature film?

I was excited to take my kids to see this, and they were excited to see it. After all McDonald's was shoving Speed Racers cars down our throats through the Happy Meals and the boys begged for cereal boxes containing them. I was very disappointed while watching the movie that there were "Simpson-Like" jokes in the dialogue, along with adult words that you would never have heard on Saturday morning cartoons.

There's no way the kids could even begin to follow the convoluted plot lines, heck I had trouble myself. But maybe they didn't have to, as with the cartoon, we just wanted to see the races and cool cars. Overall the film matches the over the top style of the cartoon, and it was fun to see them brought to life, so if you are nostalgic about having the hots for Trixie, check out Speed Racer!

Narnia: Prince Caspian

The four kings of Narnia are summoned back to the magical land after being home for a year. (Or 1000 years in Narnia) I thought this sequel was much less magical that the first. The characters, new and old were not as interesting as in the first one. Once again Narnia is threatened with a massive battle and the war drums beat, and armies are assembled and marched. Not nearly as dramatic as the first film, this second take had something missing.

The lion, Aslan (Liam Neeson) was not in the movie till the end and only played a small role which was disappointing. And Prince Caspian, the film's namesake did not do or say anything very interesting. He was just sort of there. I mean the film wasn't horrible, but definitely lacked the magic needed to bring it up to the level of the first film. It was almost like the film makers and actors made the movie as if is was a chore, something they just had to do and get it done. Rather than a labor of love, like Lord of the Rings.

I still recommend checking this out at the theater, just do a matinee. It's good to see a return to that magical place that is Narnia and I believe a third film is in the works, let's hope they do a better job next time!

Street Kings

My friend asked me if I had seen this movie. I told him I had not even heard of it. Until recently, I finally saw a "First Look" on G4TV. So having nothing better to do one afternoon, I popped into the theater for a view. It was the middle of the week, but still I was the only one in the theater. If fact, I had to tell the manager to start the film, otherwise I'd still be sitting there. That shoulda told me something.

Tom Ludlow (Keanu Reeves) is a veteran LAPD cop who finds life difficult to navigate after the death of his wife. When evidence implicates him in the execution of a fellow officer, he is forced to go up against the cop culture he's been a part of his entire career, ultimately leading him to question the loyalties of everyone around him.

The movie was a little flat over all, just like Reeves character. They tried to build a little depth, with a tiny back story, you get snippets of later in the film. Even Forest Whitaker (Capt. Jack Wander) couldn't lift this Training Day wannabe. There is a scene where Tom Ludlow is assigned to the complaint department. I think the movie studio needs to open one!

Wait until this film has Departed the theaters and check out Street Kings along with Point Break during a future Keanu Reeves double feature weekend on cable!

Ironman

If your reading this, you probably have already seen Ironman. It's the first summer blockbuster and I don't know anyone that is not rushing to the movies this opening weekend to see it. And if you're not then you probably don't care what I think about the film. (But I'll tell ya anyway)

I was a hugh Batman and Spiderman fan growing up. I collected everyone of those comics I could get my hands on. So I never really followed Ironman. Sure I'd see the comics on the stands. I was like, "Big Deal, a man in a robot suit! Who cares?" After seeing the movie, I wish I had at least picked up a few of the comics to see what he was all about.

I loved the movie! It's a must see at the theater! I am now an Ironman fan. At first I was a little leery of Robert Downy Jr. (Tony Stark/Ironman) playing the lead role. (Not as freaked out as I was when I learned Michael Keaton (Beetlejuice) was going to play my hero Batman) but Keaton did a great job and Robert Downy nailed the Tony Stark role. (At least in my superior opinion).

The movie follows a super rich and super smart inventor of the highest tech weapons on the planet. A bad guy even tells Tony Stark that once he has enough stark weapons, he will rule the world. Tony revels in selling his shock and awe weapons to the military and living a playboy life-style with the proceeds. Until one day his eyes are opened when his convoy is attacked and people are killed with his own weapons, plus he learns his company is selling weapons to both sides of the conflicts in the world.

So to fight this injustice, he literally has a change of heart and builds his greatest weapon ever; Ironman.

The film had a lot of humor mixed in with it, which was just the right amount, no over the top love stories aka Spiderman. (Hey I'm not knocking Mary Jane!), and plenty of robot action.

I liked that they took the time to show the testing and development process Tony went through to create Ironman in this formative first film. That's right folks, stay tuned to the end after the credits to see a peek of what's coming in Ironman 2. Plus maybe catch a cameo appearance of Tony Stark in the upcoming Incredible Hulk sequel.

Jeff Bridges (Obadiah Stane) plays Tony Stark's mentor, and father figure. He had a very different look! I liked it. And Gwyneth Paltrow (Pepper Potts) is his assistant/love interest. So if you like the super hero movies, heck if you don't like super hero movies, go check out Ironman!

The Forbidden Kingdom

Jackie Chan (Lu Yan) and Jet Li (Monkey King/Silent Monk) team up for this exciting Kung-Fu movie. (now Fu doesn't stand for that). Hey who doesn't like a good Kung-Fu movie?? I was a little worried at first. The Story and premise was starting out like the Karate Kid Movies. At least Michael Angarano (Jason Tripitikas) wasn't played by Shia LaBeouf. Although Angarano reminded me of Shia, but thankfully a "toned down" version.

The movie is about an American teenager who gets to live his dream and become a great Kung-Fu warrior. He is obsessed with Hong Kong cinema and kung-fu classics, he finds a magical staff in a Chinatown pawnshop: the legendary stick weapon of the Chinese sage and warrior, the Monkey King. With the lost weapon in hand, the teenager finds himself traveling back to ancient China to join a crew of Kung-Fu warriors from martial arts lore on a dangerous quest to free the imprisoned Monkey King.

If you love Kung-Fu fight scenes like I do, then hop over to your local theater and check out The Forbidden Kingdom!

21

This was a fun movie! The characters were interesting, although the main character, Jim Sturgess who plays Ben Campbell, the card counting genius tended to nearly mumble and stumble through his lines. I mean I get that he is this shy, nerdy, MIT geek and his social skills are somewhat lacking, but I was sitting there saying to my self; "Self...I could play this role better than him!"

Not that he did a bad job, in fact it was outstanding, I just wish that I could have been there. You definitely get caught up in the excitement, the glitz, and the thrill that is Vegas. Of course Kevin Spacey was excellent as usual in his role as the ring leader of the card counting posse. Kate Bosworth plays the love interest, Jill.

So cash your chips in for a chicken dinner and check out 21.

The Bank Job

In September 1971, thieves tunneled into the vault of a bank in London's Baker Street and looted safe deposit boxes of cash and jewelry worth over three million pounds. None of it was recovered. Nobody was ever arrested. The robbery made headlines for a few days and then disappeared - the government ordered a press gag. This film reveals what was hidden for the first time. The story involves murder, corruption and a sex scandal with links to the Royal Family - a story in which the thieves were the most innocent people involved.

Martine (Saffron Burrows) offers Terry (Jason Statham), owner of a local chop-shop, a lead on a foolproof bank hit on London's Baker Street. She targets a roomful of safe deposit boxes worth millions in cash and jewelry. But Terry and his crew don't realize the boxes also contain a treasure trove of dirty secrets - secrets that will thrust them into a deadly web of corruption and illicit scandal.

I thought the premise of this film would be rather simple, but it soon became hard to follow who was who. Who were the good cops? Who were the corrupt cops? Who were the M5 or M6? It's a twisted tale with many blokes involved, but none the less I really enjoyed the film! It's a great bank heist flick and best of all based on a true story. Check out The Bank Job!

HAPPY EASTER!!!

Doomsday

Maybe it was my low expectations, but this movie turned out to be...not so bad! I had fun watching it. The acting wasn't so bad, and it had a post-apocalyptic theme much like the Mel Gibson's Mad Max and Road Warrior films. There was also a splash of Escape from New York.

In fact, I wonder if the main protagonist Katherine Sinclair's (Emma Cleasby), loss of her eye was a nod to Kurt Russell's Snake Pliskin. At least everyone in the movie didn't keep saying, "I heard you were dead!" Sinclair's only tick was that she regularly bummed a cigarette.

The movie starts out with a super "Reaper" virus killing thousands of people around Glasgow. So they build a steel wall and separate Great Britain in half, leaving everyone north of the wall to die. But several survive the virus and create their own societies. One of them led by Kane (Malcolm McDowell).

Several years later the virus breaks out again and they send in Sinclair to find a survivor in the original containment zone. She leads a team of commandos and they battle with the cannibalistic warriors that live there. They only have 48 hours. Emma Cleasby reminds me a lot of Kate Beckinsale and her Underworld character, Selene.

So if you are a fan of the Road Warrior movies, post-apocalyptic films, or human barbeque, then by all means dye your hair purple and check out Doomsday!