The Cinematic Truth

All Things Fall Apart Movie Review

2012-06-24T21:55:00.004-04:00

All Things Fall Apart (DVD Release)

Directed by Mario Van Peebles

Written by Curtis Jackson and Brian A. Miller

Everyone remembers 50 Cent’s Twitter picture of a sickly and frail man. We later come to find out that this man is actually Curtis Jackson himself, and he lost 100 something pounds for a movie role. The revelation shocked millions of 50 Cent fans. After seeing this true commitment to a role from the rap star, I just thought “Oscar?” and thought I’d see previews for it on the television.

I saw it on the shelf a few weeks ago, and thought “Oh, it’s a creative low budget indie film”. On Friday I decided to watch it on Netflix, and see what it’s all about. Here’s my All Things Fall Apart review.

Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson plays Deon. He’s an all-star college running back who has all the skills you see in an NFL prospect, and that’s exactly where he’s bound. He’s a charismatic playboy off the field who gets all the girls, and takes advantage of the good things he has because he knows nothing else. His younger brother is left in his shadows, while Deon’s mother and boyfriend spend all their energy on rooting Deon to an NFL career (salary). His mother’s boyfriend (played by Mario Van Peebles) puts all his efforts into pushing Deon on to a career that he never got.

It all ends when Deon finds out he has cancer, and that he’ll never play football again. His once valued existence uncovers itself as a burden, when his family is forced to work overtime to pay for his medical bills. Deon, who is now left with nothing, must find a way to right his wrongs before he loses everyone and everything he loves.

It’s a great concept for an Oscar winning formula, but the talent wasn’t there. The screenplay for the film was written by 50 Cent and Brian A. Miller (Directed nothing you’ve seen), and lacks depth. There are a lot of silent parts to fill the film, and very subpar dialogue (typical of a TV movie). 50 Cent’s haunting physical appearance of a cancer patient is superb, but he doesn’t have the necessary acting skills to carry the meat and potatoes of this 2 hour drama (besides of few scenes where he cries). I was never able to connect on personal level with his character, and never really bought the emotions they wanted me to feel.

Mario Van Peebles and the mother (Lynn Whitfield) were by far the best parts of the film. They were constantly overshadowing the main character’s issues with their own personal demons (something that really disorients the viewers). The film’s end was very typical of an inspirational film with the protagonist running in glory and it ending that way (I was hoping for him to keel over on the field. It would have been a lot more effective).

All and all it was a ok film that would have gone much further if 50 Cent stayed behind the camera, and let a more seasoned actor portray the cancer stricken Deon (Also having to listen to Wanksta, didn’t help). But for a first stab at a screenplay, it wasn’t that bad.

4 out of 10

The Avengers Movie Review

2012-05-06T23:51:00.000-04:00

The Avengers

Director: Joss Whedon

Written By: Joss Whedon

Starring: Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Samuel L Jackson, and Tom Hiddleston.

Before Nick Fury, there was Joss Whedon. Joss Whedon in the comic books is the one came up with the idea of the Avenger Initiative. No, not really but you’d think he did. In real life, Joss Whedon is the man who manages to write and direct character cluttered movies with extreme success. First it was Toy Story, and now it’s the long awaited Avengers.

Since studios started adapting comic book heroes, fans have been waiting for the day when they would release an Avengers movie. Finally it’s here and well worth the wait! If you’re a fan of the comic books, then the Avengers doesn’t disappoint. Joss Whedon stays close to home, and even looks to improve upon some past portrayals.

Who am I referring to specifically? The gamma radiation exposed Bruce Banner, which Ang Lee and Louis Leterrier failed to correctly portray in their films of the green beast (The Hulk 2003 and The Incredible Hulk 2008). Whedon instead goes back to the comics and TV Series to develop a far more source accurate super hero. Not to mention Mark Ruffalo is a great actor (which helps).

However, that’s not only part of the beauty that is the Avengers. Whedon manages to also write a witty and purely original script that invests enough time into each of our heroes’ character development (except Hawk-Eye). This allows us to see every move made by our heroes’ to be logical and tailored to their given background. The Avengers is well-built in this manner. Taking into consideration story before action (explosions, CGI, etc.).

Even with a star ensemble, Robert Downey Jr. manages to shine the brightest as playboy genius (Tony Stark). His comedic timing, and line delivery is hard to compete with. Both RDJ and Chris Evans (Captain America) share the most memorable moments in the film, as they try and come to terms with the differences that keep them from working together as a team. Tom Hiddleston is uncomfortably excellent as the exiled Asgard, Loki (Thor’s brother). Without his well executed performance, the film would have never had the balance necessary to succeed the way it did. His horrifying verbal exchange with Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) in the film is just one example of his dedicated performance.

When it’s all over, and you’ve caught both of the two extended scenes at the end of the movie (1^st is after the short credits, and 2^nd is after the extended credits) then you can truly appreciate the beautiful work done here. This by far is one of the best Super Hero flicks to be given the big screen treatment, and it gives me hope that those big budget studios still know how to make a quality film.

9 out of 10

21 Jump Street Movie Review

2012-03-14T00:41:00.000-04:00

21 Jump Street

Directors: Phil Lord and Chris Miller

Starring: Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Ice Cube, Brie Larson, and Dave Franco

When you think of Jonah Hill what comes to mind? For most it’s the crude and hilarious chubby guy who hit his first serious break in Moneyball opposite Brad Pitt this Oscar season. What about Channing Tatum? What comes to mind? Probably the model turned actor who often gets type casted as the perfect man in romantic comedies or dramas. Then why the hell would anyone want to team these two up together?

Perhaps because the two directors who did it are genius... literally.

In attempt to reboot the TV series from the late 80’s, Co-Directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller had a better idea. Re-imagine the whole damn thing, and make their own masterpiece. Channing Tatum gets a break at his first leading comedic role, and even outshines the experienced Jonah Hill in this reboot of 21 Jump Street. Who knew two actors from opposite ends of the acting spectrum could have such great on camera chemistry. This is certainly the biggest surprise comedy of the 2012, and it sits up on the shelf next to The Hangover for best “Bro Comedies”.

Hill plays Schmidt, a once bullied high school nerd who joins the police force years after high school to toughen up. Tatum plays Jenko, one of Schmidt’s bullies who later join the police force because muscle and power is all he knows. It’s during the police academy where these two meet again, and soon after become great friends who help each other graduate from the academy. Once they graduate, the now partners find that being an officer of the law wasn’t what they expected (especially when you have to chase criminals in a park on a bicycle). After a mishap during an arrest, both partners are moved to a secret precinct known as 21 Jump Street. Jump Street is run by the trash talking Chief (Ice Cube), who puts them on an undercover mission as high school students. From here this is where scenes get raunchy and laugh out loud as Schmidt and Jenko try to relive their high school years (Scenes of Jonah Hill dressed up like Peter Pan are hysterical).

Although Hill and Tatum consistently steal the scene throughout the movie, other notable performances help make this movie a well paced time-bomb comedy. Ice Cube is great as Captain Dickson, and Caroline Aaron is hilarious as Hill’s on screen mother Annie Schmidt. (SPOILER ALERT) You also get an unexpected cameo from Johnny Depp who reveals himself near the climax of the film disguised as an older biker.

I don’t think of enough can be said about 21 Jump Street. It’s a MUST SEE theater watch, and it leaves you wanting even more at the very end of the film. Lucky for you, it’s already been confirmed that there will be a sequel being made by the same directors and writers.

8 out of 10

Tower Heist Review

2011-11-12T01:30:00.000-05:00

Tower Heist

Director: Brett Ratner

Starring: Eddie Murphy, Ben Stiller, Casey Affleck, and Matthew Broderick

Finally, a Ben Stiller film that doesn’t rely on cheap laughs and awkward situations! Don’t get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed Meet the Parents and Meet the Fockers. However, Little Fockers was a clear reminder of how stale some jokes can really get and how far producers can really take any box office cash idea.

The concept behind Tower Heist doesn’t sound that original either. A group of guys want payback, so they rob from the rich. Hell, that’s sort of the concept of those 3 Ocean’s movies starring Clooney, Pitt, and Damon. The difference here is the execution. It still takes itself seriously, but with a group people who are truly nothing alike. Tower Heist is a modern day Robin Hood: Men in Tights, and I haven’t seen Eddie Murphy this funny since his RAW standup special back in the 80’s.

Eddie Murphy had me almost passing out with laughter from his crude, vile comments that he throws in thorough out the film. Eddie Murphy plays Slide, a lowlife thief who grew up in the same neighborhood as the main character, Josh Kovacs (Ben Stiller). It’s the comedic chemistry between Stiller and Murphy that really makes the movie something special, and raises it above your average comedy flick.

Stiller and Murphy lead a great line-up of stars that include: Casey Affleck (Gone Baby Gone), Matthew Broderick (Ferris Bueller’s Day Off), Alan Alda (NASH), and Gabourey Sidibe (Precious). This comedy is about hard working ex-hotel personnel who seek revenge on Arthur Shaw (Alan Alda), a Wall Street swindler who embezzled all of the hotel staff’s pensions. The film gets interesting when they bring aboard Slide (Eddie Murphy) to help with the stealing portion of the crime.

When I saw the trailers for this movie I wasn’t impressed. I knew the idea wasn’t original, and I wasn’t looking forward to another disappointing Ben Stiller or Eddie Murphy comedy. It wasn’t until I got some early movie feedback from friends and fellow critics alike, that I decided to see the movie. My opinions quickly changed as the movie progressed, and it became hard for me to hold back my laughter (just ask the girlfriend). This movie is anything but a disappointment. It may not be the Hangover, but it’s certainly much better than any Happy Madison production lately.

7.5 out of 10

50/50 Review

2011-10-04T22:15:00.001-04:00

50/50

Written by Will Reiser
Directed by Jonathan Levine

Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Anna Kendrick.

How do you face cancer? It’s no easy road. I couldn’t begin to devise a plan to deal with it if I was diagnosed myself. Adam wasn’t ready either. Nor was he ready to hear that his type of cancer gave him only a 50/50 chance of survival.

Adam (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is a 27 year old who writes pieces for AM radio, and works along side his best friend Kyle (Seth Rogen). Adam lives with his girlfriend despite the fact that his best friend hates her guts. Adam’s girlfriend (Bryce Dallas Howard), a struggling painter who looks for the constant support from him struggles to deal with everything when the tables are turned and Adam needs the support. While sick at home, Rachael cheats on Adam at her art show, and Kyle (Seth Rogen) catches her in the act. Kyle makes sure to confront Adam about it in front of Rachael, where Kyle convinces Adam to throw her out.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt does a phenomenal job playing Adam, and I was able to feel every emotion that came into his head throughout his struggle. Anna Kendrick plays Adam’s inexperience psychologist, Katherine McCay and she does a perfect job at trying to counsel him, yet she is unable to avoid getting personally involved in his life outside of the sessions. Don’t worry, this isn’t just a great drama, this is a great warm feeling comedy. For example: After Rachael moves out, Kyle gets Adam to hook up with girls at a club after explaining to them that he has cancer, so that Adam can forget about what Rachael did to him. Seth Rogen helps keep this just as much of a comedy as it is a drama that you don’t want to miss. Also notable performances by: Angelica Huston, and Phillip Baker Hall. 50/50 sounds like a coin toss, but this film offers much more than heads and tails.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and maybe some of the other actors got nominated for the Golden Globes, or the much anticipated Academy Awards this coming winter.

9 out of 10

Let Me In Review

2011-08-07T18:12:00.000-04:00

Let Me In (DVD Release)

Directed & Written by Matt Reeves
Starring: Kodi Smi-McPhee, Chloe Grace Moretz, and Richard Jenkins

I don’t usually watch horror films. Why? The reason is that most of them are predictable, or not horrifying at all. Ever since the 80’s, the horror film genre has been going down the drain. Yes, we’ve had Hostel, but that’s merely shock value horror. The days of meaningful horror films with some sort of heart behind it have been few and far in between. Horror films nowadays have been simplified down to shallow plot lines, and extensive death scenes. Mind games have gone out the window, and character development never stayed around (exception: Silence of the Lambs).

Especially vampire horror flicks. It used to be John Carpenter’s Vampires and today its Edward Cullen, the vampire who glitters in the light. After being dragged to the last three Twilights, I gave up on vampire films. The genre was dead, and I bought a rose for it’s grave. Until Let Me In caught my eye. After seeing Kickass, Chloe Moretz became the new Dakota Fanning to me. Although I failed to catch it in theaters, I made the first step toward queuing it on my Netflix.

Based off a remake of a 2008 Swedish film, Let Me In delivered all that of its predecessor, and much more. It tells the story of a bullied 12 year old boy, Owen who befriends a Vampire child in a New Mexico town in the 1980’s. What gives it away? The Los Alamos Memorial Hospital, and the reflection of Reagan speaking on a television after a man falls several stories out of a hospital window (you pick up the setting within 8 minutes of the movie). Anyways, I must say that the dialogue, and the chemistry that Owen (Kodi Smi-McPhee) and Abby (Chloe Moretz) have is great. Let Me In removes all of the impersonal interactions of horror norms, and instead we get to see the depth of both main characters. In the movie, Owen suffers with life between his parents getting a divorce, and kids at school maliciously beating him up (to the point of sever harm).

Abby serves the story as a reinforcer, who helps Owen overcome his everyday realities. Chloe Moretz’s quiet but yet insightful character provides chilling reminders that at times you have to do whatever’s necessary to survive (whether it be seeking your meal, or defending yourself against the elements that try to destroy you). At the beginning of the movie, Owen plays with an Rubix Cube and he struggles to solve it. Abby on the other hand solves it within a night. This maybe symbolizes the problems (or puzzles) that Owen has yet to figure out a solution for (but solves by the films end).

Let Me In proposed itself as a childhood romance horror film, and it fit it’s label to a T. It was probably best horror film that I’ve seen in the last couple of years. I recommend you open your eyes, and door to Let Me In. You won’t be disappointed at what shows up.

7.5 out of 10

Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Review

2011-07-30T09:58:00.000-04:00

Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows - Part 1 / Part 2

Directed by: David Yates
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rubert Grint, Ralph Fiennes, Helena Bonham Carter, and Michael Gambon

Doby? Doby. Doby! “Yes Sir?” Let me give you a recently worn sock for your freedom. First, I ask only that you wash it with Tide, because I flew around all day as black mass of energy, and they rank of something terrible. “Aye, Sir”.

Okay, so that never happened in any of the 8 films, but I needed some way of leading myself into this movie review, and what better way than product plugging. Now on with the show. I will be first to tell you, that I was never really sold on the Harry Potter bandwagon. Never read a single J.K Rowling book, and never uttered “Winguardian Leviosa” with a plastic wand from Walmart. When the first film came out it was interesting but appealed more to my younger brother’s age group (he’s 2 ½ years younger than me). After that, I didn’t stay too in tuned with rest of the following films as they were released. It wasn’t until 2007, when I started to catch up to more recent films. I saw Chamber of Secrets, Prisoner of Azkaban, and The Goblet of Fire. Still, the dark and emotionally in depth complex that you would expect from a transitioning group of magic bound friends from children to adults wasn’t there (Besides the death of Robert Pattinson character at the end of the Triwizard Tournament.)

Then finally, came The Deathly Hallows Part 1 and Part 2. Both films are focused around the idea that Harry Potter needs to find all of these Horcruxes. The Horcruxes are seven objects in which Lord Voldemort split his soul into. As long as the Horcruxes survive, so does Lord Voldemort. These last two movies, a split from the final book are emotional wrenching, and filled with moral dilemmas that leave Harry, Ron, Hermoine, and even Severus Snape at the crossroads. In the last movie we learn the motivation behind Snape’s betrayal on Dumbledore. Something that Harry never could of imagined. All I will say is that for the last 7 films I always believed Snape was a sleeping villain. Someone who constantly convinces us that he is on the side that counts, but still holds this poker face that you can’t help but question every step of the way.

The last two movies bring about jealously, envy, and most of all coming to terms with death. Martyring yourself for the sake of the ones you love. Knowing that cards have been dealt in your favor long enough, and that its time to ante up. Let’s not forget after all of the awkward tension, we finally get to see Ron and Hermoine kiss after destroying one of the Horcruxes in the snake’s chamber. We also get to see Neville Long Bottom (Yes, the kid who used to get potions blown up in his face) ultimately saving Ron and Hermoine but decapitating Nagini (Voldemort’s snake and Horecrux). Through out the vicious attack that falls upon Hogwarts Castle that leaves it ruins, Harry manages to trick Voldemort (who is now mortal) into a duel in which Harry destroys Voldemort forever. Part 2 leaves a triumphant end to such a long running story, but also brings ends to some of the audiences favorite characters. I’d say that these last two movies were a whole different level for Harry Potter movies to come before.

For the first time, I was able to feel the character’s tears, joys, and losses as I watched their comfort world torn to ruin. The most heart wrenching scene was in Part 1 when you watch Hermoine put a spell on her parents to erase any memory of her from their lives. It was that scene alone that set the tone for the best two Harry Potter of the series. I won’t spoil too much more of the plot, but I’ll just say that I highly recommend ANYONE to see the Deathly Hallows Part 1 and Part 2.

7 out of 10 for Deathly Hallows: Part 1

8.5 out of 10 for Deathly Hallows: Part 2

Captain America: The First Avenger Review

2011-07-28T23:27:00.000-04:00

Captain America: The First Avenger

Director: Joe Johnston
Stars: Chris Evans, Hugo Weaving, and Tommy Lee Jones

The Human Torch, a Marvel hero, is cast as another Marvel hero. COMIC BOOK Violation. You can’t have the same actor play two heroes that are in the same universe. You might say well Ryan Reynolds played Green Lantern, and played Deadpool in Wolverine. This is correct but each character is a from a different universe. One being DC and the other, Marvel. So when I heard that Chris Evans, who played the Human Torch was going to play another Marvel hero in this summer’s Captain America, I was scared. Well, more doubtful of the movie’s success. The Human Torch fit Chris Evan’s personality to a T, and Captain America was a lot different. Captain America was a simple, subtle, and emotionally strong hero.

12:00 am hit, and the movie began. Now was my chance to judge whether not Captain America: The First Avenger was a Comic Book Violation or an exception to the rule. First, it was quite odd what they did to Chris Evan’s physique to make him a foot shorter, and 75 pounds smaller. However, it wasn’t done terribly and never distracted me from the storyboard of the film. As the film went on, you become empathetic to Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) and his situation. Always wanting to be the man that any other could be, but always falling short to difference. Until he’s given the chance to be in the army, but Stanley Tucci’s character. After that, our zero is used in an experiment that terms him into our hero. It’s then when we get to see all the work that Chris Evans put into his body as he was preparing for this role.

Captain America is born!

The film kept us with plenty of storyline to leave us feeling like we are a part of some grand story unraveling. Great lines from Tommy Lee Jones gives the movie that slight comedic edge that any winning formula needs. Especially the line about giving a kiss when Captain is about to jump onto a large plane starting to take off for New York City. Plus, let’s not forget about Hugo Weaving who plays Red Skull. Without a great actor to portray the villain we wouldn’t have a movie (think of Heath Ledger in “The Dark Knight”).

By the film’s closing, when Captain America leaves his leading lady with a promise for a dinner. You realize just how much of actor Chris Evans has become. From “Not Another Teen Movie” to Captain America. Captain America did what it needed. After two failed attempts from Hulk movie launches, Marvel needed to start building the momentum toward the Avengers movie that comes out next summer. With Iron Man, Iron Man 2, Thor, and now Captain America they have a whole lot of steam. The preview they have of a The Avenger at the end of the credits keeps you assured too.

7.5 out of 10

Transformers - Dark of the Moon Review

2011-07-10T22:54:00.000-04:00

Transformers - Dark of the Moon

Directed by: Michael Bay
Starring: Shia LaBeouf, John Turturro, Rosie Huntington-Whitely, Patrick Dempsey, and John Malkovich

Michael Bay. People call him the dictator. The director with a high list of demands. Megan Fox parted ways with him before the filming of Transformers 3 because of his high demands. However, these demands do equal results in his movies, and Transformers: Dark of the Moon is no different. You need to be in great shape to survive the long drawn out action scenes that are sprinkled through out the movie. The action scenes that add an extra hour or more to the run time of all his films. But it makes the perfect summer blockbuster.

It takes place 3 months after Sam graduates from his Ivy League college. Sam struggles to find a job having no experience besides saving the world twice. Shia LaBeouf is great as always as Sam Witwicky, personal friend of the Autobots. Sam lives with his new beau, Carly Spencer who replaces Megan Fox’s character (In the script it’s said that Makayla breaks up with Sam and leaves him). Carly is played by Victoria Secret model Rosie Huntington-Whitely (She’s even given some slow motion scenes that could be worthy of a lingerie commercial). As the movie continues you on, Sam is once again faced with saving the world and salvaging his romantic relationship. You watch as some of your favorite Autobots are destroyed, and not brought back to life. You get some great supporting performances from John Malkovich, and Patrick Dempsey who pull Transformers 3 out of the same path as its predecessor.

Transformers 3 is a great 2 hr and 34 minute action packed adventure. With enough explosions, and swinging robots to keep any adrenaline junky happy. The downside is that script is very empty, and at times not even there. Character development is good for the first 45 minutes but begins to fizzle out into just action sequences by the end of the movie and then a Linkin Park song hits the theatre speakers as you would come to expect.

In hindsight they should of incorporated Bumblebee more. Not so much with saving Sam, because that was the one part of Bumblebee’s role that stayed. But more as a character to help develop Sam. Instead, Optimus had most of the screen time. He did however, offer his famous lines of advice that opened, drove, and ended the movie. All in all, it still a movie to see. The first Transformers movie in 3D, and something that can keep your eyes occupied.

5.5 out of 10

Bridesmaids Review

2011-05-15T02:27:00.000-04:00

Bridesmaids

Directed by: Paul Feig
Starring: Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Ellie Kemper, and Melissa McCarthy

When you see from the guy who brought you “40 Year Old Virgin”, “Knocked Up”, and “Superbad”, what do you think? That it has a lot to live up to? I think so. Bridesmaids is a Judd Apatow comedy. So that means you’ll see: witty dialogue, physical comedy, and many sexual references. However now, all of these things are being delivered by a line-up of leading ladies instead of Seth Rogen, Steve Carrell, and Jonah Hill. And with that let me give you the gist of the film (SPOILER ALERT!)

Annie (Kristen Wiig) is love rejected woman with no self esteem. No scene shows it better than the opening segment between her and a hilarious Jon Hamm (Madmen, The Town) that showcases an awkward sex scene which ends in the morning with Annie having to climb over his front gate to leave. As the beginning of the movie progresses we are shown just why she is at this stage of her life, and how the tough economy killed the dream that she had followed of owning her own bakery. But nothing hits Annie closer to home then when her best friend of 20+ years tells Annie that she’s getting married.

Kristen Wiig is the perfect cast for this role, using her much acquired improvisational skills from Saturday Night Live to benefit every scene. And for once, Hollywood does a movie that doesn’t have an unrealistically beautiful star playing an everyday Jane like Annie. It gave it a more realistic feel, and made the scenes with Annie just that much more sad, and comedic.

The movie progresses around the months leading up to the wedding. The other bridesmaids really remind you how important it is to have a complete ensemble cast, even in comedy film. And like most happy endings, Annie is able to find herself and a man who loves her for who she is. But its discovered in a quirky and unbalanced manner much like a good time at a bar on college night.

There are many different scenes throughout the film that had me spitting out my drink, and choking on my popcorn (By the way, you have to love the random inclusion of “Hold On” by Wilson Phillips as such a key memory in the movie). With this being the first movie screening I’ve seen, I wasn’t disappointed at all. Bridesmaids delivered anything that it may have promised, and truly exceeded the expectations that any of its trailers set. I had no idea how funny this was going to be, and was planning it being a cute chick flick. It’s not that at all, it’s the next produced classic to add to Judd Apatow’s resume.

7.5 out of 10

Thor Review

2011-05-10T23:55:00.001-04:00

Thor

Directed by: Kenneth Branagh
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Hopkins, and Natalie Portman

Grab your hammers and helmets for this comic tale of about the God of Thunder! A powerful but arrogant warrior who is cast out of his world of Asgard by his father and banished to earth. While on earth, he learns what takes to be a true leader, and hero.

Okay, so Thor isn’t one of the most believable superhero tales that Marvel has created but every fan takes it for what it is. Knowing this, you have to go into the theatre with your taste for realism on a vacation. Thor doesn’t possess much of it. However, that doesn’t stop it from delivering a +1 on the right side for Marvel movie adaptations. Daredevil was crap, the first Hulk was crap, the second Hulk was reasonably good, but besides X-Men and Iron Man, that was it…until now.

Thor needed to be quality, otherwise the Avenger Movie coming out next summer wouldn’t be worth a matinee ticket (and still may not, I have my doubts). So how did Thor do? Very well actually. Marvel is beginning to find their formula for success and it consists of the right balance of humor, plot, and action much like that of Iron Man. Several times during the movie I found myself smirking at witty dialogue or choking on a funny situation. Not to mention how great Chris Hemsworth does as the mighty Thor, son of Oden. Natalie Portman plays a safe but enjoyable role as the muse of Thor who offers to help him because of the mystery that lies behind him. Anthony Hopkins is an honorable and wise, Oden. In this movie we also get a nice cameo of Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye who is tempted to almost take out our hammer wielding hero in one part of the movie not too long after Thor arrives on earth.

Throughout the movie, action is a constant, and at times it got a little busy but it always seemed to remain true to an underlying plot, and direction. For comic book fans, much of Thor almost seems like a large preview for the Avengers movie, constantly connecting the dots that intertwine the heroes in the graphic novels. Yet in the end, you don’t leave confused, but satisfied that the Avengers Movie is one step closer to be the epic movie that its suppose to be.

7 out of 10

Paul Review

2011-03-23T20:52:00.001-04:00

Paul

Directed by: Nick Frost, Simon Pegg
Starring: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Seth Rogen, Kristen Wiig, and Jason Bateman.

Have you loved seeing Seth Rogen as your friendly neighborhood stoner? The actor who will not disappoint you when it comes to at least toking up once in every movie that stars him (besides Funny People, but lets be honest it was his first movie after dropping like 30 pounds). Well then meet Seth Rogen as a rude, foul mouthed alien who smokes a little bud in Paul. I personally love Seth Rogen’s movies, so I was going to see this eventually one way or another, but I decided to check it out on the big screen instead of Red Box.

The movie is about two nerds from the UK, who decided to take an American road trip to visit all the famous alien landing sites, but before that it was a quick stop to Comic Con. And that’s where our story begins. Along the way while driving to all their destinations, they come encounter with Paul (Seth Rogen) who is escaping from Area 51, when he finds out that he was going to be killed and used for stem cell research. After much reluctance and pant pissing, the two nerds played by Simon Pegg and Nick Frost (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz) eventually agree to help out a desperate alien in need. Through this crazy ride, they meet Kristen Wiig, Bill Hader, and Jason Bateman.

This movie is the perfect movie for nerds and geeks. Star Trek, Star Wars, ET, Men In Black, and just about any other sci-fi movie you can think of. However its hard to grip if you aren’t big into any of these movies, or can’t really grasp British humor. And for those people, Seth Rogen’s performance will carry you to the very end as he delivers that American comedic touch that keeps you familiar with the movie. By the way you have to love the Jesus Girl gone Dirty played by Kristen Wiig, and the want to be FBI agent performance by Bill Hader.

The movie was strong in many aspects, but lacked a strong story line. Also the comedy was strong but inconsistent at times, and lagged through parts of the movie. Comedy is never perfection, and this movie isn’t any different. But you will have a great time regardless! Paul is worth the money for the movie, and if not, definitely a Red Box rental.

6 out of 10

Limitless Review

2011-03-19T00:09:00.000-04:00

Limitless

Starring: Bradley Cooper, Robert DeNiro, and Abbie Cornish

Director: Neil Burger

Usually when you talk movies, you are talking performances, whether good or bad from an actor or actress. I have yet to see a movie where I am not talking about that exact thing, until now. That wasn’t to say that Bradley Cooper’s or Robert DeNiro’s performance wasn’t admirable, but the idea behind LIMITLESS was much more appealing. In a movie where Bradley Cooper was the main character, the concept was actually the leading role and it carried the movie to the very satisfying end.

Bradley Cooper is Eddie Morra, a stagnant writer who struggles to find a way out of rut that he’s got his life into. Until he meets his ex brother in law who opens his world to a drug that allows him to access 100% of his brainpower rather than just 20. Through many twists, and turns in the story as well as an excellent supporting performance from DeNiro as Carl Van Loon, Eddie Morra realizes that he can’t keep living until the next fix (SPOILER ALERT: Even getting so desperate that he drinks a dead man’s blood to get the drug into his system).

People could say that this movie aligns directly with drug addiction and they’d be right. But the visual effects make this one hit that you want to stay on again and again. I’m not promoting drugs, but I am promoting this visual ride that you won’t regret as we head into the summer movie line-ups. LIMITLESS is just that, a no holds bar on anything you thought about action, and intelligence. Plus who knew that Bradley Cooper could hold his own so well as a leading man.

6.5 out of 10

Rango Review

2011-03-16T20:47:00.000-04:00

Rango

Starring: Johnny Deep, Isla Fisher, Ned Beatty, and Bill Nighy

Directed by: Gore Verbinski (Pirates of the Caribbean)

Alright, so first off. Nickelodeon teams up with Paramount for a movie. Sounds like crap without even hesitating. Any Nickelodeon movies that were made in the past were usually straight to DVD or made for TV, because they didn’t have the caliper to survive box office numbers. Yet Rango is NOT at all what I was expecting. In fact in many ways the visual effects were even more effective than that of any Pixar movie (including names such as Toy Story, Finding Nemo, and Wall-E).

Rango was visually stunning, down to the very last scale of a lizard. Throughout the movie, Rango constantly tested your eyes to make sure they were in fine tuning for the trees, to the textures of the characters’ faces, to the colors and the images in the sky. Rango takes advantage of every color in the palette to tell a story about a lonely lizard who struggles to find an identity after much time being spent by himself in an aquarium with a dead bug, a sexy doll with a missing head, and a windup goldfish. Rango is an actor of sorts, but once he’s force to live in civilization, he’s not sure what role he’s suppose to play.

The movie is strongly based around western movie clichés but with that, finds ways to parody them or cleverly alter what made them cliché to begin with. The dialogue in the film is very witty, and creative. Like a line that Rango (Johnny Depp) says, “I think your metaphor just ruptured by spleen”. At times the dialogue and themes even ride the line of Family movie and PG-13 down to very last chapter of this self-proclaimed hero’s tale. Themes of self meaning, and contemplation of life are sprinkled in right before the climax of the movie. We even see subtle hints at suicide that aren’t obvious enough for a young audience, but easy to pick up for an adult.

Regardless of its small bits of darkness, Rango is a fun and enjoyable ride through the mid-west. You may even need to put on your spurs, or in Rango’s case find a gun belt that fits. A great round of supporting voices such as: Isla Fisher (as Beans), Ned Beatty (Mayor), and Bill Nighy (Rattlesnake Jack) that help Johnny Depp carry along this beautiful tale about identity and belonging. And for those who are fans of the movie Unforgiven, then you’ll love the CGI cameo before the climax. Amazing! All in all this movie was something that anyone could enjoy, with slapstick humor and fantastic dialogue.

8 out of 10

Hall Pass Movie Review

2011-03-13T20:42:00.003-04:00

Hall Pass

Directed by Bobby & Peter Farrelly (Something About Mary, Me Myself & Irene)

Starring: Owen Wilson, Jason Sudeikis, Cristina Applegate, Jenna Fischer

A dating movie, a singles movie. Almost anyone allowed to be admitted to it’s R content will enjoy it. This is probably one of the best comedies that I’ve seen since the Hangover. What movie am I talking about? Hall Pass. Hall Pass is about Rick and Fred, two married men who are granted a week free of marriage. During this week, their wives give them the opportunity to have an affair in the hopes of improving their marriage after the week’s over. By the end of the movie, it’s the wives who realize that this “hall pass” was actually for them and at the same time the husband’s realize just how good they had it all along. Even good enough for one of them to pass up a bare-chested Nicky Whelan (Scrubs, Halloween II) who speaks a sexy Australian accent.

For those who are tired of Owen Wilson’s quirky single man role, this could be considered his breakthrough as he plays Rick who is married to Maggie (Jenna Fischer). Owen Wilson plays the 30 suttin father of two, who struggles with reality of not being able to be another woman ever again. Of course he’s not as bad off as his buddy Fred (Jason Sudeikis) who is forced to publicly expose himself in the driver seat of car because his wife won’t have sex with him. One line in the movie summed it up best, “No one ever told me when I was a teenager that I’d still be jerking off even after marriage.” Hall Pass is effective not only because of Jason Sudeikis witty lines but because it’s supporting cast. Stephen Merchant (The Tooth Fairy), Larry Joe Campbell (Killers), and Richard Jenkins (Fun with Dick and Jane) who help make almost every moment laugh out loud. I don’t want to give away the meat of the movie but Hall Pass is a must see movie, and as cliché as the movie announcer guy makes it…this is certainly one of the best comedies of the year to date.

7 out of 10 stars

The Dark Knight Rises - Catwoman is the Villain

2011-01-19T23:04:00.001-05:00

Warner Bros revealed today who the villains will be in the sequel to the highly successful Dark Knight…..Catwoman and Bane. This was released after Nolan cast the role of the feline favoring villain from a list of auditioning actresses that included Jessica Biel and Keira Knightley. So who did they cast to play Catwoman? None other than the Academy Award nominated Anne Hathaway. According to Warner Bros, Nolan was very impressed with Hathaway’s audition and is looking forward to the shooting of The Dark Knight Rises which is expected in theaters on July 20, 2012. Anne Hathaway will be playing Selina Kyle (Catwoman), however the studio never mentioned the word “Catwoman” as to try and avoid association with the 2004 movie starring Halle Berry. There is good implication that Nolan could be following the story before she transforms into Catwoman.

Anne Hathaway appeared in several large movies in the last couple years such as: Love and Other Drugs, Alice in Wonderland, Rachel Getting Married, and the Devil Wears Prada. Oddly enough, Anne Hathaway co-starred along The Dark Knight’s Heath Ledger in Brokeback Mountain as Jake Gylennhaal’s love interest. Maggie, Jake’s sister happened to play Rachel Dawes in The Dark Knight to confuse things a little more. On top of the news for Anne Hathaway, it was announced what role Tom Hardy (Inception) was decided. Tom Hardy will playing the role of the villain, Bane in The Dark Knight Rises. They will be going with the DC Universe Bane, that sees him born and raised in a South American prison. Many wonder if Nolan will use CGI to embrace the 8 ft height that Bane is supposed to be. If not, you can expect Tom Hardy to be at the gym to prepare for this role. Stay tuned for more updates on The Dark Knight Rises.

The Dark Knight Rises - What To Expect

2011-01-15T23:50:00.000-05:00

What can be said about The Dark Knight that hasn’t been said already? It’s the most successful comic book derived movie in history. It turned Heath Ledger into a DC legend. Christopher Nolan is probably one of the most innovative directors in the last ten years, and The Dark Knight has set the bar for every other superhero movie made before and after it. Like I’ve mentioned in the previous blog regarding the Spiderman reboot, Dark Knight is far more relatable than its flashy Tim Burton counterparts. Nolan found a way to separate Batman Begins and The Dark Knight so that they could operate completely autonomous of each other. Their titles, their stories, and their plots are fully understandable without dependence of each other. But the reason you are probably reading this is because you’re expecting to read something you didn’t know, so I hope to offer you an estimated guess into the elements of the Dark Knight Rises.

First of all, I am not crazy about the name. The most obvious contrast between Dark Knight and Batman Begins were their varying names. Hell, a lot of people didn’t even know that the two movies were written and directed by the same people. So I feel like the Dark Knight Rises plays more like a sequel rather than a new chapter or story. I feel like its going to correlate a lot closer to The Dark Knight than everyone may of hoped. In fact Christopher Nolan was quoted saying “We use many of the same characters as we have all along, and we’ll be introducing some new ones”. In comparison with BB (Batman Begins) to Dark Knight, you only saw a cameo of the first film’s villain Scarecrow, and he didn’t play much of a role at all.

Next, is new casting. Tom Hardy was the only confirmed new talent added to the project as of now. Tom Hardy was recently seen in Christopher Nolan’s last blockbuster hit “Inception” which is currently nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Director. Christopher Nolan is known for carrying over his talent from one movie to the next. Michael Caine was used in Batman Begins, The Prestige, The Dark Knight, and Inception. And the same goes for Christian Bale minus Inception. With that being said, I wouldn’t be surprised if he favored bringing in previous actors/actresses including Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Inception, 500 Days of Summer).

News has hit that several actresses were trying out for unknown roles in the movie. The actresses were Katie Mara, Anne Hathaway, Keira Knightley, Kate Mara, Charlotte Riley, and Jessica Biel. Why mention of these female actresses? It has strongly confirmed that the Dark Knight Rises villain is going to be a female. No one knows the roles that are being cast but when you eliminate male villains the list becomes shorter. Here are the most likely villains and the reason for them.

Harley Quinn: A mental patient, who without the Joker is kind of a hard villain angle to run with because she normally accepted as a secondary villain rather than the primary. However, it would certainly tie this movie to the last, and seeing as I’ve heard that Nolan had filmed extra scenes with Ledger before he died it’s a strong possibility.

Talia al-Ghul: The daughter of Ra’s al-Ghul (played by Liam Neeson in the first movie). This would make sense because it would bring the trilogy to a full 360, and it would bring Bruce Wayne back to the beginning where he started. It also leaves a lot of room for Christopher Nolan to storytell which he loves to do in all of his films.

Dark Knight Rises is set to be released in July 2012. With it approaching closer and closer to the date, more information is being revealed, and I will keep you updated on the latest news regarding the movie. One hope is that this third and final movie done by Nolan doesn’t fall to the same fate as Spiderman 3, where the movie plot is terrible, and its overcrowded with character development.

Golden Globe 2011 Predictions

2011-01-15T17:38:00.000-05:00

Golden Globe Predictions
Tomorrow at 8pm on NBC

The Golden Globes. Second fiddle to the Academy Awards, but a lot more personal for the average viewer. The problem that the Academy often suffers is the arrogance that comes along with them. They don’t really transfer well across different social backgrounds, although with recent years they have made great attempts (Hugh Jackman, Alec Baldwin/Steve Martin). Anyways here we are, and tomorrow the Golden Globes will air. Below I’ve given a list of who should win the award, and who will win the award. Feel Free to post your predictions, and opinions below as well.

Best Motion Picture – Drama
Who Should Win: The Social Network
Who Will Win: The King’s Speech

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama
Who Should Win: Natalie Portman (Black Swan)
Who Will Win: Natalie Portman (Black Swan)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama
Who Should Win: Ryan Gosling (Blue Valentine)
Who Will Win: Colin Firth (The King’s Speech)

Best Motion Picture - Comedy Or Musical
Who Should Win: The Kids Are All Right
Who Will Win: The Kids Are All Right

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy Or Musical
Who Should Win: Anne Hathaway (Love and Other Drugs)
Who Will Win: Annette Bening (The Kids Are All Right)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy Or Musical
Who Should Win: Johnny Depp (Alice in Wonderland)
Who Will Win: Paul Giamatti (Barney’s Version)

Best Performance by an Actress In A Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Who Should Win: Amy Adams (The Fighter)
Who Will Win: Helen Bonham Carter (The King’s Speech)

Best Performance by an Actor In A Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Who Should Win: Christian Bale (The Fighter)
Who Will Win: Christian Bale (The Fighter)

Best Animated Feature Film
Who Should Win: Toy Story 3
Who Will Win: Toy Story 3

Best Director - Motion Picture
Who Should Win: David Fincher (The Social Network)
Who Will Win: David Fincher (The Social Network)

Best Television Series - Drama
Who Should Win: The Boardwalk Empire
Who Will Win: The Boardwalk Empire

Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series - Drama
Who Should Win: Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men)
Who Will Win: Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men)

Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series - Drama
Who Should Win: Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad)
Who Will Win: Steve Buscemi (The Boardwalk Empire)

Best Television Series - Comedy Or Musical
Who Should Win: Glee
Who Will Win: Modern Family

Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series - Comedy Or Musical
Who Should Win: Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie)
Who Will Win: Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie)

Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series - Comedy Or Musical
Who Should Win: Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory)
Who Will Win: Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Who Should Win: Jane Lynch (Glee)
Who Will Win: Sofia Vergara (Modern Family)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Who Should Win: Chris Colfer (Glee)
Who Will Win: Chris Colfer (Glee)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Who Should Win: Al Pacino (You Don’t Know Jack)
Who Will Win: Al Pacino (You Don’t Know Jack)

Andrew Garfield as Spiderman in 2012 Reboot

2011-01-13T20:32:00.000-05:00

Movie Reboots: Andrew Garfield as Spiderman

First Look at Andrew Garfield as Spiderman

I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not crazy about the usual remake or reboot. We’re in a generation where the current high school student hasn't known a world without a computer. The internet has integrated into the lives of even some of our oldest members of society. I feel like the idea of remake is just lazy. But with the changing times, comes more qualified workers and with that, higher expectations. We expect bigger, better, and have it all at a more convenient pace. So in a lot of ways, remakes are perfect.

Not only does it give a chance to retell a story that the current generation may never know, but it also forces directors, actors, and actresses to reinvent, to bring something new to a familiar tale. The first example of this that I can recall in the recent years is the Nolan brother’s reboot of the Batman franchise. I’m not frowning upon Tim Burton’s take, they were great films for their time but with evolving world, Batman Begins and The Dark Knight are more fitting. They are gritty, and less flashy. They revolve closer to reality than their counterparts, and they are more relatable to the average viewer.

That’s how I feel about this new Spiderman reboot. Granted the last set of movies aren’t even ten years old, but the world is ready for that more gritty take on the web slinging superhero that Spiderman 3 failed to deliver, when it introduced us to a My Chemical Romance version of Spiderman. Toby Maguire sported hair in the face, emotional issues, and arrogance.

Emma Stone is set to play Mary Jane Watson, and is a far better talent than Kristen Dunst. Though I admit I’ll miss the presence of James Franco, I feel much more comfortable with this retelling of this comic book legend. The world will now know see Andrew Garfield as the new Peter Parker.

I can’t predict this reboot’s success but if his performance is anything like is role in The Social Network then I could only imagine the caliber of Spiderman. Andrew Garfield is nominated for Golden Globe for his portrayal of Facebook’s co-founder, Eduardo Saverin and most likely going to be nominated for the Academy Awards as well. Like I said, with the times comes higher expectations, and this untitled Spiderman reboot is sure to meet them.

Its release date is sometime in the Summer of 2012.

Below is a list of the best remakes or reboots of the last five years. Feel free to post your comments, and opinions.

1. The Dark Knight

2. The Departed

3. True Grit
4. 3:10 to Yuma

Black Swan Review

2011-01-12T18:26:00.000-05:00

Black Swan (2010)

Black Swan (2010)

Director: Darren Aronofsky

Starring: Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel, and Winona Ryder

Possibly the best psychological thriller of 2010, Black Swan delivers along every edge of reality that it reaches. Black Swan is undoubtedly the best work that Natalie Portman has delivered thus far, and I’m a huge fan of her role in the movie adaption of V for Vendetta. Backed by a stellar cast, Portman finds a way to progressively distort your view of reality down to last minutes of the film.

Nina Sayers (Natalie Portman) is a professional ballet dancer that wins the lead in the famous “Swan Lake”. Thomas Leroy (Vincent Cassel) is absolutely convinced that Nina can perform the role of the White Swan, but feels that her role as the Black Swan won’t deliver. While pushing her emotional and mental limits, Nina begins to lose her mind in the hopes of perfecting her performance. Reality becomes hallucination, and hallucination become reality as Nina fails to separate the two in her quest to master the role of the Black Swan. Inevitably, like the White Swan’s fate in the final act, Nina manages to kill herself as well in her obsession to finish with perfection.

Performances are strong from Mila Kunis (Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Max Payne) who plays a rival dancer Lily, who befriends Natalie Portman’s character and delivers an intense sexual scene in one of the film’s major highlights. Also a strong performance from Winona Ryder, who plays famous dancer Beth Macintyre that is replaced by Natalie Portman’s character and falls to a destructive demise. All in all the movie exceeded my expectations, and it left me dumbfounded when I left the theater. If you have the chance, don’t miss the opportunity to see Natalie Portman at her best.

Rating: 9 out 10

Purchase V for Vendetta with Natalie Portman and Hugo Weaving