The Mechanic Plenty of good action scenes with a plot that actually wasn't too bad. Ending was excellent. I haven't seen the original so I can't speak to how it compares, but this one was quite enjoyable. 8/10
The Kids Are All Right Well Ive been trying to catch up on the best picture noms this week. Today I watched this "drama." Really there is no real drama in this film at all. The first 40 minutes is 100% Hollywood political masturbation. I think in their mind they were hoping that that the first act could set up the movies drama by beating you over the head that alternate lifestyles can be completely tolerant, accepting, and can handle any and all adversity or hardship. When the hardships and drama actually kick in it's almost meaningless to the viewer as no connection to the audience was ever made. They deal with their problems in the easiest most self righteous way applicable. Nothing happened in this movie. I think simply because its subject matter is a cause celbre it would have shoe horned it's way into best picture category even if there were still 5. Which is too bad because either way a more deserving film lost its chance. 4/10
In a strange turn of events I happened to catch Sanctum yesterday. What can I say... The dialogue was horrendous, the suspense was absent, and every character was a complete caricature (especially the women, in incredibly hilarious fashion). The main theme of the movie rests on the progression of the relationship between a father and son, and it is executed quite poorly. The film appropriates the poem "Kubla Kahn" by Samuel Coleridge to try to manufacture some depth, which really irked me for awhile. But as the movie progresses, those things stopped bothering me so much. It was the first movie that I've actually enjoyed the 3D, and it looked pretty badass in a few shots. They tried pretty hard to enforce this "cave as thyself" mentality, throwing in a few euthanasia's to go along with a Nietzschean will to power ubermensch, and ended up fairly puddle deep as far as philosophy goes. All the same though, it wasn't so bad, and looking back now I might have even enjoyed it (though the entire film is readily "guess-able" from about ten minutes in). I'll give it a generous 55/100, because even though they failed at what they were going for, I was able to find humor in a lot of their fuck ups, and on the whole it wasn't so bad of a movie going experience. I would, however, never watch it again.
Tomorrow, When The War Began Aussie version of “Red Dawn” with fairly pedestrian, plot, dialogue & character development. That said, I didn’t mind it for a Saturday night on the couch popcorn movie. Interestingly the GF said she enjoyed it and I was being too picky when I bagged it out afterwards. However she is currently watching “Gossip Girl” so can be quite fairly categorised as a functional mongaliod. 55/100 <a class="postlink" href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1456941/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1456941/</a>
Went to see I Am Number 4 last night for my daughter's birthday. Meh. It was too slow for my taste, but an interesting (but watery) storyline that sets up numerous sequels. My kids really enjoyed it, though.
Just saw it. It was mediocre and juvenile. Yeah, every guy wishes that he could get all sorts of random superpowers and some hot chick who just completely falls for him. And every girl wishes that some perfect guy would come out of the blue and sweep her off her feet. The whole thing felt completely artificial and stupid. And when the whole point of the movie is "alien kid trying to be a human being," it doesn't work very well when the dialogue is that crappy. It had potential, but it was just stupid.
I have no intentions of seeing it...but am I the only one who is strongly reminded of Cyborg 009? (It's an old Jap cartoon I watched as a 4 year old in Moscow) Considering that one of the authors of the screenplay, James Frey, is the famous liar behind "A Million Little Pieces", I wouldn't put it past him to rip off of something, with minor changes in setting and character.
Can someone please compare this to X-men? Just think about it, a bunch of teens get some super powers that control metal, can move shit with their minds, and can heal fast...doesn't this bare a striking resemblance to Xmen? I've only seen the preview on tv, but all it seems to me is that this movie is some goddamn teenage xmen ripoff, like every fucking vampire movie ripping off of Bram Stoker and forming their own story. So anyone who has seen it, please, compare the two so I don't have to waste my money seeing this movie.
The only "similarity" (and I'm using that very loosely) is, the protagonists in both movies have some differing "superpowers." That's it. Unless you're a teenager, or taking one to the movies, skip it and save your money. Like Omegaham said, it had potential, but they blew it.
Certainly has a lot of similarities to Cyborg 009 though, right down to the 9 different teenage characters, each with unique powers, being chased by an evil organization, and even the specific characters. Anyways, is it really a surprise that James Frey wrote a derivative piece of crap? Instant read flag right there.
The only reason I wanted to see Number Four in the first place was Tomthy Olyphant's awesomeness, and Dianna Agron's sweet sweet hotness. This review erased any desire to see it. They rated it lower than Big Mommas 17.
I never saw Cyborg 009, so I can't compare. This was just a movie slapped together for a teen audience to turn a quick buck, and the teens in the theatre seemed to be eating it up. Even the trailers we previewed, "Cowboys & Aliens" and that Rock Em' Sock Em' Robots send-up (Steel something or other) were laughable.
Unknown My wife and I braved the wilds of New Jersey to go see this on Saturday. I had high hopes because I like Liam Neeson ("Taken" was just a great ride, though a bit slow at the start). Overall, I never really got the feel of the film. It became very predictable, and the 'twist' you could see coming from a mile away. Without giving too much away, it was a rehash of a recent movie with Matt Damon. I don't know, maybe it just wasn't a very good movie, or maybe I'm just pissed it took 20 minutes to get my shitty movie-theater hot dog. Wait for it on HBO or Net Flix. 5/10.
Hall Pass Surprisingly funny and not exactly what I was expecting, which was another stupid comedy about getting laid. It was pretty good actually and had some memorable one liners, a few good twists, and a couple really hot chicks. It didn't really end like you expected it to, which was good. The movie moved as a Day 1, day 2...day 6 kind of thing that built up towards the end for a great ending. Some pretty decent acting that you have to take with a grain because it's Owen Wilson, but The Office's Jenna Fischer in it, who is pretty good looking, and a hot babysitter, whose name escapes me. There's a HUGE bonus too, you get to see Spoiler Nicky Whelan topless!!! She has a spectacular body and is hot as a mother fucker.
Just Go With It I have a cache ofmovie passes, so the wife and I killed the afternoon at this film. Is it possible for Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston to hit a new low? Not after this. Their WORST MOVIE TO DATE, written in 30 seconds and filmed in a week apparently. Don't believe me? This is the most utterly laughless film since Eurotrip. Even Brooklyn Decker (as a teacher than get this: reads Seventeen magazine and is heartbroken about NSYNC breaking up) being hot very often is no match for this movies utter failures. There is better film on teeth in this world. Don't see this or I'll kill your whole family. 1/10
Rango: I was dragged into this and I enjoyed it. A Western, about a desert town losing it's water supply featuring animals instead of people. It was actually kind of long for an animated feature, but it didn't drag. The animation was spectacular, the voice talents were exceptional (Bill Nighy as a fucking rattlesnake and Timothy Olyphant as Clint Eastwood's hallucination) and it had little easter eggs like a tribute to "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" that kept adults interested. All in all, it was worth the matinee price for a rainy day.
Battle: Los Angeles Got to see an early viewing of this one. The character story is cliched as hell as its about Sgt. Nantz (Aaron Eckhart) who's a few days away from retirement and wouldn't ya know it? Aliens invade. The movie takes a note from many crappy action movies nowadays and goes all out with the shaky cam. It's incredibly frustrating and half the time you don't know what you're looking at. I guess the director was going for the realistic war movie look? It's a lame technique that's been beaten to fucking death. The dialogue was so-so, but Eckhart played his role pretty well. Oh, and Michele Rodriguez plays a sassy Latina soldier (of course). The ending of the movie was similar to Independence Day, but it's not nearly as retarded as uploading a virus to a mothership. It does has some redeeming qualities suh as are some of the effects, which were admittedly very good. You never really see the aliens or know why they are there, which You never really care about, shot starts hitting the fan pretty quick. Verdict: It wasn't great and I'd wait for it on Netflix or On-Demand if I knew how it was going to be. 4.5/10
I was going to do a quick write-up, but this already exactly describes what I would say. Exactly. Little to no character development, cliche story, and actually great CGI.
Rango Like someone else mentioned, the movie was pretty fantastic as far as the graphics. I laughed out loud even, which is unusual for me at kiddie flicks. It got a little boring for the kids briefly about halfway through. Once the rattlesnake came to town they were entertained again. If you are overprotective, there was a bit of swearing and a few violent statements. Things like"I will cut your face off!" The Fear and Loathing reference was gold.
Battle: Los Angeles This is one of the times I really disagree with the movie critics, Ill just say it I liked this movie. It puts you in the midst of a full scale alien invasion and portrays the fill in a first person point of view. Your watching it the whole time going what the fuck is that? While trying to think what would you do in the same situation. The shaky camera bugged me for the first 5 - 10 minutes, after that I didn't even notice. Eckhart was flawless in this film in my opinion he nailed his character and was definitely the biggest badass. I thought I was going to get annoyed by Michele Rodriguez but with minimal camera time and dialogue she was tolerable. The filmmakers tried to take time to introduce the characters in the beginning then throw these guys into combat. No diplomacy nothing we are just suddenly attacked and forced to react. Once all the cities around them start to fall LA is the last stand. I enjoyed the special effects in the movie, the aliens ships were pretty sick. I just wish you could have really seen the aliens up close but like i said its from the view of the soldiers. If you want to see a Black hawk down / War of the worlds action type movie this is it. All and all it was a pretty good movie and I think well worth paying for in theaters. 7/10