Straight away let me just say I did not hate this movie. In fact I wouldn’t even say this movie sucked, now don’t be confused this movie was not good, not at all, but it was also not all bad there were definitely a couple of things here that made me go, o.k. that didn’t suck. But they were very few and very far in between.
It would not be a difficult task to fill this review with all things wrong with Jumper, because is a sizable list to choose from, instead I will describe the few elements of this movie I did enjoy and try to avoid the temptation of just giving this movie the kick in the pants it deserves.
First you can never go wrong with casting Mr. Sam Jackson. I love Sam because he is never bad even in bad movies and Sam has been in some bad movies. I can’t really tell if I am ok with blonde haired Sam, who am I kidding, I am ok with whatever Sam does. Outside of same none of the other actors do much. I don’t really need to say anything about Christiansen so I won’t. But even Rachel Bilson, as cute as she is, added zero to this movie.
I am also a fan of the action sequences in the film, visually the “jumping” came across very strong I think, particularly in the fight scenes between the jumpers and paladins, group of hunters dedicated to killing all jumpers. The visual effects were very slick and the quick cuts did not annoy has they usually do in movies.
Lastly I have to say I did not hate the story. The script itself fell way short, way short, but the idea of a genetic anomaly or mutation that has been around for centuries and it gives a very small percentage of humans the ability to teleport back to anyplace that have been already is very cool. However as I said the script fell on its face. In the end this movie got kicked out of the summer rotation, but the studio realized they didn’t there was not much of a movie here.
GRADE - D-
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
In Bruges
Finally 2008 has given me a movie that doesn’t make me throw-up in my mouth. Not only does In Bruges not suck, but it is actually a good movie. In Bruges is the story of a promising young hit man, Ray (Colin Ferrell), who makes a costly mistake during one of his jobs and has to hide out “in Bruges”, Belgium while things calm down back in London. While in Bruges Ray with the help of his partner Ken (Brenda Gleason), a veteran of the cleaning business, tries to come to grips with what he as done amongst the beautifully yet incredibly boring back drop of a town where not much happens. Doing his best to stave off insanity from the tremendous boredom Ray ends up falling for a young woman, Chloe (Clemence Posey) working for a film company that is making a movie in Bruges. In the midst of movies, midgets and monotony Ray grapples with life, death and the purpose of existence. You know - simple stuff.
I was not sure if Collin still had anything left in his “acting” tank. After a series of mediocre performances Ferrell has once again joined the ranks of the promising young actors who paint a very nice picture for the future of film making. Ferrell does a nice job of communicating the angst that Ray feels after having done what he did, albeit accidentally, yet it does not undo what has been done. At the same time Ray is a hit man and hit men don’t cry or grapple with life and death, they kill and that’s it. Ferrell is not alone in giving a strong performance, to his right and left stand Ralf Fiennes and Brendan Gleason, both are stand-out actors who continue to deliver. There is a scene at the end between the two veterans that is the stuff of great movie making.
Regarding the guts of the movies, script, filming, sets, etc. I found myself not totally impressed by Bruges, although it is not difficult to see why a film maker would be drawn to such a place, just not my cup of tea. Regarding script, the story is very strong, I love the idea of a young hit man just starting out being confronted with something so terrible his first time on the job that he questions everything.
GRADE – A-
I was not sure if Collin still had anything left in his “acting” tank. After a series of mediocre performances Ferrell has once again joined the ranks of the promising young actors who paint a very nice picture for the future of film making. Ferrell does a nice job of communicating the angst that Ray feels after having done what he did, albeit accidentally, yet it does not undo what has been done. At the same time Ray is a hit man and hit men don’t cry or grapple with life and death, they kill and that’s it. Ferrell is not alone in giving a strong performance, to his right and left stand Ralf Fiennes and Brendan Gleason, both are stand-out actors who continue to deliver. There is a scene at the end between the two veterans that is the stuff of great movie making.
Regarding the guts of the movies, script, filming, sets, etc. I found myself not totally impressed by Bruges, although it is not difficult to see why a film maker would be drawn to such a place, just not my cup of tea. Regarding script, the story is very strong, I love the idea of a young hit man just starting out being confronted with something so terrible his first time on the job that he questions everything.
GRADE – A-
Rambo
Yeah that's right Sly made another one. He has to be done now though, right. I am he can't possibly do another one of these can he. Just when you thought a franchise was dead and buried it comes back 20 years later to remind you somethings should stay dead. Rambo, the fourth installment of the franchise stars Sly Stallone reprising his role as title character who shares the movie title’s name. After surviving Rocky’s return to the big screen Sly felt that there was a place for a little Rambo love as well. Let me tell you there really isn’t. I mean I like bodies hitting the floor as much as the next guy and I am certainly not squeamish about blood and guts, but there comes a point where it doesn’t matter how many explosions and action sequences there are if at the center of them is a guy that can’t even go shirtless anymore because he just doesn’t have the goods the way he used to.
Sly you look great bro, you really do, if I am blessed with your body at 50 I would be psyched, but know thyself my friend, you are no longer an action movie star. And Sly is not the only thing wrong with this movie, I am talk about an empty script, this is classic reluctant hero is drawn into conflict because would be love interest is in danger. A group of mercenaries need an escort into the deepest most dangerous parts of the jungle and Rambo is the only one around. It is not long before our hero is obliterating an entire battalion of Burmese soldiers.
Aside from some spectacular death sequences and a lot of shooting and stuff going boom, there is nothing else here. It didn’t suck, no it didn’t, but this has got to be it, no more reprising roles that made you famous, nostalgia is overrated.
GRADE - D
Sly you look great bro, you really do, if I am blessed with your body at 50 I would be psyched, but know thyself my friend, you are no longer an action movie star. And Sly is not the only thing wrong with this movie, I am talk about an empty script, this is classic reluctant hero is drawn into conflict because would be love interest is in danger. A group of mercenaries need an escort into the deepest most dangerous parts of the jungle and Rambo is the only one around. It is not long before our hero is obliterating an entire battalion of Burmese soldiers.
Aside from some spectacular death sequences and a lot of shooting and stuff going boom, there is nothing else here. It didn’t suck, no it didn’t, but this has got to be it, no more reprising roles that made you famous, nostalgia is overrated.
GRADE - D
Now is as a good a time as any
It has been 2008 for more than four months and yes I have seen a number of movies so far this year, but with the writer's strike and the arrival of my new 360 I have not been movtivated to put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard and start working on my reviews for this year. Well my buddy C Barone, http://www.baroneatthecinema.blogspot.com/, got cracking on his reviews and has inspired me to get going on mine. Needless to say I have to get moving becuase the summer movie season is nearly upon us and if I waited any longer I could creat a serious back-log of reviews and nobody wants that.
With a year of reviews in the bag I am excited about my second year as a "blogger". This year you can look forward to the same great entertaining writing that you got last year. I will make more of an effort to edit before posting, but no promises. I also will try to wrap up my Van Damme project and move on to Steve Segal this year. Look for some newer enhancements to the reviews and always expect the unexpected. Thanks for checking me dear reader as we embark on one more year of Botts at the Cinema.
With a year of reviews in the bag I am excited about my second year as a "blogger". This year you can look forward to the same great entertaining writing that you got last year. I will make more of an effort to edit before posting, but no promises. I also will try to wrap up my Van Damme project and move on to Steve Segal this year. Look for some newer enhancements to the reviews and always expect the unexpected. Thanks for checking me dear reader as we embark on one more year of Botts at the Cinema.
Cloverfield
JJ Abrams, producer of two of T.V.'s biggest hits, Lost and Alias, jumps onto the big screen with a horror/sci-fi thriller, that was marketed to be 2008's first big hit. Well JJ let's be grateful that you are really good at putting the pieces together to make really good TV, because if Cloverfield is any indication of what is to come from you in the movie industry - I'll pass.
Cloverfield was an attempt to combine the hand-held camera recording style introduced in Blair Witch Project and digital recording to make the film feel more intense and authentic. From strickly a film making point of view the movie did have some success in that regard. There were at least three scenes in the movie that really worked because of the hand held affect; the train tunnel scene and the two apartment scenes (the first one at party and the second to find his girl friend). However outside of those two scenes I felt like it was limiting and prevented the audience from getting a full picture of what was happening. I am sure that was the intent and thereby add to the authencity, but I found it annoying.
Regarding the story, it was shallow and full of holes. Perhaps we have reached a place in our civilization where so many movies have been made about government conspiracies and cover ups and experiments gone wrong, etc. but I would appreciate at least some lips service being paid to try explain why a random huge monster is ravaging Manhattan. We got no explanation of where the monster came from nor did we get any clue as to who knew what about it. Again I understand that the story being told was about this group of friends and how they are simply trying to survive this encounter. So we only know what they know, which would go to my early point that is shallow story telling.
In the end the movie had a couple of moments here and there, but for the most part did not deliver and ultimately was a dissapointment.
GRADE - D
Cloverfield was an attempt to combine the hand-held camera recording style introduced in Blair Witch Project and digital recording to make the film feel more intense and authentic. From strickly a film making point of view the movie did have some success in that regard. There were at least three scenes in the movie that really worked because of the hand held affect; the train tunnel scene and the two apartment scenes (the first one at party and the second to find his girl friend). However outside of those two scenes I felt like it was limiting and prevented the audience from getting a full picture of what was happening. I am sure that was the intent and thereby add to the authencity, but I found it annoying.
Regarding the story, it was shallow and full of holes. Perhaps we have reached a place in our civilization where so many movies have been made about government conspiracies and cover ups and experiments gone wrong, etc. but I would appreciate at least some lips service being paid to try explain why a random huge monster is ravaging Manhattan. We got no explanation of where the monster came from nor did we get any clue as to who knew what about it. Again I understand that the story being told was about this group of friends and how they are simply trying to survive this encounter. So we only know what they know, which would go to my early point that is shallow story telling.
In the end the movie had a couple of moments here and there, but for the most part did not deliver and ultimately was a dissapointment.
GRADE - D
Monday, February 18, 2008
Movies from the year not seen in the theater
Alright so the goal is to see as many movies as possible during the year in the theater. Well things don't always go as planned, I have got a heck of a lot of tables and not enought hours in the day so NetFlix has become my new best friend. Below you will find a list of the movies I have seen from the year not in the theater. Each entry will be accompanied by a brief review. Perhaps with more time I will provide longer reviews, especially for the movies I really like.
Gone Baby Gone (GRADE A)
This was great, top to bottom, inside and out, great. Cudo to Ben Affleck for making a great movie and Casey Affleck for making it great. Story, script, sets, filming, acting, no weakness here. Even the ending left the audience with something to talk about days later. Aces all around.
Talk To Me (GRADE B+)
Very good movie, not great, but very good. Don Cheadle and Chiwetel Ejior are excellent, no surprises there, Cedric The Entertainer throws in some timely comedic relief, good story, strong script, very enjoyable.
Hitman (GRADE B+)
As I said earlier I am not a hard man to please. What's more I feel even better about this movie, because initially I thought Timothy Olyphant was a mistake, but he made me eat my words. Very good video game adaption, which rarely happens, but this script was helped by the fact that the game has some very cinematic elements to it. Even Desmond from Lost makes a cameo appearence.
Pride (GRADE B)
Terrance Howard is moving into that rarified air of give me a half-way decent script and I can make it my own. This movie was not Coach Carter or Lean on Me or any of its predecessors. It was its own style of movie and that is becuase Terrance has learned to be assertive without being loud or abrassive. He and Jamie Foxx are very similar in that regard, they just have presence and take up space without crowding everyone else out of the scene.
Superbad (GRADE B)
A lot of the really funny scenes were in the previews, but there were still a couple of gems. Too profane for my tastes which will keep me from ever owning this movie, but there were definately some funny scenes here. Talented group of writers and actors here.
Shooter (GRADE B-)
It doesn't take much for me to be happy. A decent story, with some good acting and a bunch of cool action sequences and consider me pig in slop. I am officially a Mark Wahlberg fan (notice how avoided calling him Marky Mark).
Next (GRADE B-)
Jessica Beil again, still hot. Nick Cage is Nick Cage, I mean you know whaat you are getting with a Nick Cage movie, but the premise was interesting enough. I have to knock the movie somewhat becuase the ending is about as weak as they come.
I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry (GRADE C)
Whatever Jessica Biel is hot and "the scene" was definately worth the netflix rental. This movies also had some pretty good physical comedy. I mean it wasn't great, but I could see Sandler and James teaming up again, they have good chemistry.
Vacancy (GRADE D)
No matter how hot Katie Beckinsale is or how much I like Luke Wilson, I can't stand horror movies, I just don't like any parts of them. This one is no exception, there were moments of intensity where it felt more like a thiller and less like a horror flick, but even in that it was weak.
Still have to see -
Disturbia
Sicko
Rescue Dawn
Rush Hour 3
War
The Assisnation of Jesse James...
Resident Evil Extinction
Charlie Wilson's War
Gone Baby Gone (GRADE A)
This was great, top to bottom, inside and out, great. Cudo to Ben Affleck for making a great movie and Casey Affleck for making it great. Story, script, sets, filming, acting, no weakness here. Even the ending left the audience with something to talk about days later. Aces all around.
Talk To Me (GRADE B+)
Very good movie, not great, but very good. Don Cheadle and Chiwetel Ejior are excellent, no surprises there, Cedric The Entertainer throws in some timely comedic relief, good story, strong script, very enjoyable.
We own the Night (GRADE B+)
I had high hopes for this movie and it is not as if they were dashed or anything, dissappointed is not the right word, I guess I just didn't agree with some of the choices the director made. Joaquin is money, I don't think I need to say anything about Robert Duvall. I did not get enough Walberg, which kind of bothered me becuase the movie was billed as a co-star cast, but it was really Joaquin's movie. Which I don't have beef with, I guess that is my point is that I kept waiting for the movie to shift into 6th gear, but it never got our of 5th. Good, but not great.
Hitman (GRADE B+)
As I said earlier I am not a hard man to please. What's more I feel even better about this movie, because initially I thought Timothy Olyphant was a mistake, but he made me eat my words. Very good video game adaption, which rarely happens, but this script was helped by the fact that the game has some very cinematic elements to it. Even Desmond from Lost makes a cameo appearence.
Pride (GRADE B)
Terrance Howard is moving into that rarified air of give me a half-way decent script and I can make it my own. This movie was not Coach Carter or Lean on Me or any of its predecessors. It was its own style of movie and that is becuase Terrance has learned to be assertive without being loud or abrassive. He and Jamie Foxx are very similar in that regard, they just have presence and take up space without crowding everyone else out of the scene.
Superbad (GRADE B)
A lot of the really funny scenes were in the previews, but there were still a couple of gems. Too profane for my tastes which will keep me from ever owning this movie, but there were definately some funny scenes here. Talented group of writers and actors here.
Shooter (GRADE B-)
It doesn't take much for me to be happy. A decent story, with some good acting and a bunch of cool action sequences and consider me pig in slop. I am officially a Mark Wahlberg fan (notice how avoided calling him Marky Mark).
Next (GRADE B-)
Jessica Beil again, still hot. Nick Cage is Nick Cage, I mean you know whaat you are getting with a Nick Cage movie, but the premise was interesting enough. I have to knock the movie somewhat becuase the ending is about as weak as they come.
I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry (GRADE C)
Whatever Jessica Biel is hot and "the scene" was definately worth the netflix rental. This movies also had some pretty good physical comedy. I mean it wasn't great, but I could see Sandler and James teaming up again, they have good chemistry.
Vacancy (GRADE D)
No matter how hot Katie Beckinsale is or how much I like Luke Wilson, I can't stand horror movies, I just don't like any parts of them. This one is no exception, there were moments of intensity where it felt more like a thiller and less like a horror flick, but even in that it was weak.
Still have to see -
Disturbia
Sicko
Rescue Dawn
Rush Hour 3
War
The Assisnation of Jesse James...
Resident Evil Extinction
Charlie Wilson's War
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Final List for 2007
So I realize I am a little late in getting this list out, but better late than ever right. So here it is all the movies I saw in theater during 2007. All in all it was a pretty good year, I would not say banner, but the movies did cover the spectrum, brilliantly crafted dramas, intense action, cutting edge special effects movies, and of course comic book flicks. This year featured some of the greatest performances I had seen in a while and some I would rather forget, some all time huge dissappointments and some really nice surprises, a few standouts, but a lot of very blah movies. In the end I can't complain too much, so without any futher delay here you go...
1. American Gangster (A)
2. The Bourne Ultimatum (A)
3. No Country For Old Men (A)
4. Michael Clayton (A)
5. 300 (A)
6. Black Snake Moan (A)
7. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (A-)
8. There Will Be Blood (A-)
9. Breach (A-)
10. The Kingdom (A-)
11. I Am Legend (B+)
12. 3-10 To Yuma (B+)
13. Reign Over Me (B+)
14. The Great Debaters (B+)
15. Live Free or Die Hard (B+)
16. Zodiac (B+)
17. Mr. Brooks (B+)
18. The Grindhouse (B+)
19. Ocean’s Thirteen (B)
20. The Simpson's Movie (B)
21. The Transformers (B)
22. Hot Fuzz (B)
23. Shoot'Em Up (B)
24. The Brave One (C+)
25. Eastern Promises (C+)
26. DOA: Dead or Alive (C+)
27. Daddy’s Little Girls (C+)
28. Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (C)
29. Spiderman 3 (C)
30. Smokin’ Aces (C)
31. The Condemned (C)
32. Ghost Rider (D)
33. Shrek the Third (D)
34. National Treasure: Book of Secrets (D)
35. Pathfinder (F)
1. American Gangster (A)
2. The Bourne Ultimatum (A)
3. No Country For Old Men (A)
4. Michael Clayton (A)
5. 300 (A)
6. Black Snake Moan (A)
7. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (A-)
8. There Will Be Blood (A-)
9. Breach (A-)
10. The Kingdom (A-)
11. I Am Legend (B+)
12. 3-10 To Yuma (B+)
13. Reign Over Me (B+)
14. The Great Debaters (B+)
15. Live Free or Die Hard (B+)
16. Zodiac (B+)
17. Mr. Brooks (B+)
18. The Grindhouse (B+)
19. Ocean’s Thirteen (B)
20. The Simpson's Movie (B)
21. The Transformers (B)
22. Hot Fuzz (B)
23. Shoot'Em Up (B)
24. The Brave One (C+)
25. Eastern Promises (C+)
26. DOA: Dead or Alive (C+)
27. Daddy’s Little Girls (C+)
28. Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (C)
29. Spiderman 3 (C)
30. Smokin’ Aces (C)
31. The Condemned (C)
32. Ghost Rider (D)
33. Shrek the Third (D)
34. National Treasure: Book of Secrets (D)
35. Pathfinder (F)
No Country For Old Men
Wow, that is all I can say, wow. The Coen brothers make good movies. My boy Chris described this movie as the companion piece to Fargo, which is pretty much right on the money. In the way that Fargo gave us a sneak peak into life of North Dakota police woman trying to solve a series of violent crimes while she is six months pregnant, No Country For Old Men takes into the life of an aging sherrif, Tommy Lee Jones, trying to cope with how Texas has changed over the years and if he is still the man to do this job.
No Country For Old Men is more about Sherrif Ed Tom Bell and his struggle to make sense of a world gone crazy than it is about satchel full of money and all the parties going after it. Though the story mostly is centered around the $2 million that Llewlyn Moss, James Brolin, finds and tries to get away with while Anton Chigurh, Javier Bardem, and bunch of Mexican bad guys try to track him down. Most of the action may be about this cat and mouse game, the sotry of Sherrif Bell is always apparent, his is the first and last voice we hear in the movie and his wit and demenour carries the film.
In stead of talking about all the things that are great in this movie, which are a plenty I will instead offer my one slight crytique. I would have perferred some back story on Brolin and Bardem's characters. These two did a majority of the running and gunning in this movie, asisde from Bardem being described a pschyopath and Brolin as a vietnam vet we don't get much about how they know how to do what they do. But again that is my one slight annoyance, other than that this movie was great, an excellent must see and definately top five this year.
GRADE - A
No Country For Old Men is more about Sherrif Ed Tom Bell and his struggle to make sense of a world gone crazy than it is about satchel full of money and all the parties going after it. Though the story mostly is centered around the $2 million that Llewlyn Moss, James Brolin, finds and tries to get away with while Anton Chigurh, Javier Bardem, and bunch of Mexican bad guys try to track him down. Most of the action may be about this cat and mouse game, the sotry of Sherrif Bell is always apparent, his is the first and last voice we hear in the movie and his wit and demenour carries the film.
In stead of talking about all the things that are great in this movie, which are a plenty I will instead offer my one slight crytique. I would have perferred some back story on Brolin and Bardem's characters. These two did a majority of the running and gunning in this movie, asisde from Bardem being described a pschyopath and Brolin as a vietnam vet we don't get much about how they know how to do what they do. But again that is my one slight annoyance, other than that this movie was great, an excellent must see and definately top five this year.
GRADE - A
There Will Be Blood
There Will Be Blood is the story of oil-man Daniel Plainview, played by Daniel Day-Lewis, Gangs of New York, who is so utterly consumed by being a self made success that he cannot see anything else and cares little for the collateral damage that results from his ambition. Plainview starts out as a man operation prospecting for precious metals as he begins to make money he adds to his staff and moves from silver and gold to the black gold this country has come to rely on. Plainview describes himself as a straigh talking oil-man who cares about family, he has unofficially adopted the son of one of his deceased employees, and faith. Plainview is an experts at exploiting the emmotions of small towns that are eager to reap the benefits that come with have an oil mill on their land. Plainview would not be able to do what he does if it were not some a least a small amount of greed on behalf of the towns folk, but his unapologetic tenacity steam rolls anyone that would try to stand against him or next to him for that matter.
My feelings for the story and movie at large aside, enough cannot be said for Day-Lewis' performance. It is not difficult to see why he takes so much time between movies, there is no Daniel Day-Lewis on screen there is only Daniel Plainview. There are few if any actors that are more committed to their craft. Day-Lewis becomes his roles, he eats sleeps and breaths his characters and this performance is another knotch on his belt, another example of what the highest level of acting looks and feels like.
As a movie There Will Be Blood got a little too full of itself for me. It like Anderson, writer and director, was so proud of this story he did not feel the need to explain much of anything. Like for example were the Sunday boys twins, we assume so, how did Plainview deduce his brother was a fake, did Plainview care more about oil than his son. I understand that many of these questions were probably answered and I am just too slow to pick up the sublety of the story, but did everyhing have to be cryptic and understood. However as pretencious as the movie felt at times it was not enough for me to be too harsh. This was sophisticated story telling and it is important to have this kind of varitey in the type of product Hollywood produces.
GRADE - A-
My feelings for the story and movie at large aside, enough cannot be said for Day-Lewis' performance. It is not difficult to see why he takes so much time between movies, there is no Daniel Day-Lewis on screen there is only Daniel Plainview. There are few if any actors that are more committed to their craft. Day-Lewis becomes his roles, he eats sleeps and breaths his characters and this performance is another knotch on his belt, another example of what the highest level of acting looks and feels like.
As a movie There Will Be Blood got a little too full of itself for me. It like Anderson, writer and director, was so proud of this story he did not feel the need to explain much of anything. Like for example were the Sunday boys twins, we assume so, how did Plainview deduce his brother was a fake, did Plainview care more about oil than his son. I understand that many of these questions were probably answered and I am just too slow to pick up the sublety of the story, but did everyhing have to be cryptic and understood. However as pretencious as the movie felt at times it was not enough for me to be too harsh. This was sophisticated story telling and it is important to have this kind of varitey in the type of product Hollywood produces.
GRADE - A-
National Treasure: Book of Secrets
So yeah I saw this movie, I saw the first one as well. I can't be mad at the movie, becuase shame on me for wanting anything from this movie or franchise. I guess I am a little frustrated that I saw this instead of Charlie Wilson's War, but at the time I had no idea that was movies was going to get some much love and I didn't think I would be as dissappointed in this movie as I was.
I really don't want to give a synopsis of what this movies was about becuase honestly I don't really want to expend the effort and in truth it doesn't really matter. National Treasure: Book of Secrets is less about the story and more about the outrageous escapes and puzzles throughout the movie, same as the original. I guess I was a little more lenient with the first movie becuase it was sort of new, but this movie made no effort to do anything different. Nick Cage and Justin Bartha are an amusing duo, but no terribly funny. There were a bunch of heavy weight actors, Voight, Harris, Keitel, even Helen Mirren shows up, but in the end it just wasn't enogh to save this movie from itself.
I wish I could suggest this movie as a fun pop corn flic that you can watch and turn your brain off, but honestly you will be bored 40mins in and your brain will actually fight you back. I guess if you catch in on capable you can put it in on in the background.
GRADE - D
I really don't want to give a synopsis of what this movies was about becuase honestly I don't really want to expend the effort and in truth it doesn't really matter. National Treasure: Book of Secrets is less about the story and more about the outrageous escapes and puzzles throughout the movie, same as the original. I guess I was a little more lenient with the first movie becuase it was sort of new, but this movie made no effort to do anything different. Nick Cage and Justin Bartha are an amusing duo, but no terribly funny. There were a bunch of heavy weight actors, Voight, Harris, Keitel, even Helen Mirren shows up, but in the end it just wasn't enogh to save this movie from itself.
I wish I could suggest this movie as a fun pop corn flic that you can watch and turn your brain off, but honestly you will be bored 40mins in and your brain will actually fight you back. I guess if you catch in on capable you can put it in on in the background.
GRADE - D
Monday, January 7, 2008
The Great Debaters
It seems like a couple of movies get made ever year with the specific purpose of being melodramtic enough to warrant award recognigtion. I often resent these movies and avoid them or watch them just so I can bash them. Last year I thought Pursuit of Happiness was going to be that kind of movie and this year I was certain The Great Debaters would also fit into that category. Well I was wrong about Pursuit of Happiness last year, it turned out to be a really good movie that was held together, by the strength of a great performance by Will Smith who kept the movie from being too melodramatic. I am happy to say that The Great Debaters also avoided being too melodramtic and in fact turned out to be a really good movie, not based solely on the acting, which actually did get a little melodramatic, but rather, on strength of Denzel Washington's directing, I know I am kind of surprised too.
This is Denzel's first movie, Antwain Fisher get that honor, but this movies does help to pad his resume and move him in the direction of being a really good director. Set in the Jim Crow south, The Great Debaters is the story of the Wiley College's debates team's history journey to wining a match against Harvard University. Denzel Washington is Professor Melving Tolson, professor and debate coach by day and union organizer by night. Professor Tolson tries to instill in his students and team members that power of words and a disciple over one's emmotions. The Wiley College debate team's journey to Harvard is by no means a smooth journey. There are many obstacles that hinder their progess, but in the end Wiley College proves to the nation there is much more to the American Negro than the rage associated with living in a country that considers you sub-human.
In the end Denzel crafts a vivid work full of emmotion and gripping speeches, it teeters on melodramatic at times and for this most part pulls back at just the right time, although there were occassion where the movie slipped. All in all this was a passionate film, with a lot heart and the brains to match.
GRADE - B+
Sunday, December 16, 2007
I Am Legend
As the draws to a close there are a couple of movies out there I would still like to catch before I bid 2007 a dieu. However one of the movies I knew there was no way I was going to miss was Will Smith latest, potential blockbuster, if such a thing is possible in December, I Am Legend. This movie along with American Ganster were a must for me before the close of the year. Both feature two of my favorite actors, Mr. Washington and Mr. Smith, and both had all the makings of greatness in the design. American Gangster did not disappoint and delivered everywhere it was supposed to, I Am Legend was in no way a disappointment, but did fall a little short. Please don't mistake what I am saying, and I will get to this later, the movie is definitely worth seeing, I highly recommend it, but when you are Will Smith I expect greatness every single time, and this fell just short of greatness.
The premise of the movie was an interesting idea; supposed cure for cancer turns out to be infectious disease that turns all those that come into contact with it into "mindless" super zombies that are faster, stronger, and more agile than humans. However they feed on flesh and blood and are extremely sensitive to ultra violet light. Dr. Neville, Will Smith, is immune to the disease and spends several years alone in New York as the only apparent human survivor trying to develop a cure. Along with his dog Will spends his days, trying to contact any other potential survivors, working on a cure and trying to stay alive.
I Am Legend features a couple of very cool action sequences and a handful of very poignant moments, in particular one between Will and a mannequin. I cannot say anything negative about Will's acting, once again he is exceptional. While Will did not bulk-up to Muhammad Ali size, he definitely toned up and got really fit for this flick, in addition to the look Will had absolutely no problem pulling off the role of genius, super soldier, trying to save the world. Both acting and visually the movie was tops, the movie fell a little short on the story side of things. I can't say the ending sucked, but I don't know it fell a little short. If you haven't seen it I won't ruin, but there was this big build up and in the end the story cheated itself. I will however disagree with many of the critics that felt the infected humans were not scary enough. I don't think the point was for them to be scary, the movie was unaffected by the design of the infected humans.
I really enjoyed this movie, a lot of fun, exciting, suspenseful, emotional, I want to say it was great, but it fell just short of great, but no excuse to not see this movie or even own it.
GRADE - B+
The premise of the movie was an interesting idea; supposed cure for cancer turns out to be infectious disease that turns all those that come into contact with it into "mindless" super zombies that are faster, stronger, and more agile than humans. However they feed on flesh and blood and are extremely sensitive to ultra violet light. Dr. Neville, Will Smith, is immune to the disease and spends several years alone in New York as the only apparent human survivor trying to develop a cure. Along with his dog Will spends his days, trying to contact any other potential survivors, working on a cure and trying to stay alive.
I Am Legend features a couple of very cool action sequences and a handful of very poignant moments, in particular one between Will and a mannequin. I cannot say anything negative about Will's acting, once again he is exceptional. While Will did not bulk-up to Muhammad Ali size, he definitely toned up and got really fit for this flick, in addition to the look Will had absolutely no problem pulling off the role of genius, super soldier, trying to save the world. Both acting and visually the movie was tops, the movie fell a little short on the story side of things. I can't say the ending sucked, but I don't know it fell a little short. If you haven't seen it I won't ruin, but there was this big build up and in the end the story cheated itself. I will however disagree with many of the critics that felt the infected humans were not scary enough. I don't think the point was for them to be scary, the movie was unaffected by the design of the infected humans.
I really enjoyed this movie, a lot of fun, exciting, suspenseful, emotional, I want to say it was great, but it fell just short of great, but no excuse to not see this movie or even own it.
GRADE - B+
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
American Gangster
I am not sure how this movie was not going to be great, I mean I guess it was possible for this movie to not deliver in every aspect, it has happened before, but in no way was this movie not freakin awesome. I mean I really don't want to say much more because it will all sound so cliche, but man this was a really good movie. I can sum this movie up in one scene. Russ and Denzel face off near the end, it is just the two of them sitting down at table across form one another from one another, each trying to get the other to give up more than they are willing to give up. Normally Denzel crushes the other actor, not in any ill inteded way, but he is just that good and his personality is just that strong and it is hard to hold your own with Denzel and not look like you are literally trying to out do him, but Russ man, Russ stood toe to toe, nose to nose, to one of Hollywood's biggest giants and he did not blink. That is American Gangster, Ridely Scott telling the story of two giants from opposite sides of the law finding enough common ground to work together.
Nuff said
GRADE - A
Nuff said
GRADE - A
Michael Clayton
George, George, George, when did you get so good at this whole acting thing. George Clooney is one of those guys that your like, man how long as he been acting, then you look at his filmography and your like wow, this dude has been acting for a while. And not only that, but the man makes pretty good movies. This was not exception, in fact this was definately near the top of his list, if not his best work, which it very well maybe.
Michael Clayton is a janitor at one of largest most powerful law firms in the world. And by janitor I mean attorney that legally cleans up all the messses other attorneys and their really, really, really wealthly clients make. Michael has made a living out of being able to undo what other dumber more carless attorneys do. This is a niche that Michael has carved out for himself and in the world of corporate law, this niche is as close to tenure as you can get in a law firm.
This film features Michael setting out to clean up the mess of one of his long time friends and a giant at the law firm, Arthur Edens, played by the uber talented Tom Wilkinson. Michael sets out to clean up Arthur's mess, but when Arthur seemingly kills himself Michael sets out to finish the work that his friend Arthur started. Which is taking down one of their major clients for really grimy business practices.
The story is strong, lots of twists and turns and u-turns and suspense and just really good things happening on screen, but I can't say enough about how well acted this peice was. Everyone, I mean just everyone was gold, Tilda Swinton, playing lead council for the grimmy argicultural company that has poisoned people, Sydney Pollack, playing one of the partners at the firm, Tom Wilkinson I already mentioned and of course Mr. Clooney. I don't know if he is getting Oscar buzz and really that doesn't matter all that much to me, but he should, the dude was just money, for two hours he was on, he never missed not once.
You would be crazy if you don't stop reading this right now and go get this movie... ok if you have just come back from wherever you get movies get ready to enjoy one of the best movies of the year. If you haven't left yet let me make it easy for you.
GRADE - A
Michael Clayton is a janitor at one of largest most powerful law firms in the world. And by janitor I mean attorney that legally cleans up all the messses other attorneys and their really, really, really wealthly clients make. Michael has made a living out of being able to undo what other dumber more carless attorneys do. This is a niche that Michael has carved out for himself and in the world of corporate law, this niche is as close to tenure as you can get in a law firm.
This film features Michael setting out to clean up the mess of one of his long time friends and a giant at the law firm, Arthur Edens, played by the uber talented Tom Wilkinson. Michael sets out to clean up Arthur's mess, but when Arthur seemingly kills himself Michael sets out to finish the work that his friend Arthur started. Which is taking down one of their major clients for really grimy business practices.
The story is strong, lots of twists and turns and u-turns and suspense and just really good things happening on screen, but I can't say enough about how well acted this peice was. Everyone, I mean just everyone was gold, Tilda Swinton, playing lead council for the grimmy argicultural company that has poisoned people, Sydney Pollack, playing one of the partners at the firm, Tom Wilkinson I already mentioned and of course Mr. Clooney. I don't know if he is getting Oscar buzz and really that doesn't matter all that much to me, but he should, the dude was just money, for two hours he was on, he never missed not once.
You would be crazy if you don't stop reading this right now and go get this movie... ok if you have just come back from wherever you get movies get ready to enjoy one of the best movies of the year. If you haven't left yet let me make it easy for you.
GRADE - A
The Kingdom
What do you get when you combine, Jaime Foxx, Jason Bateman, Jen Garner, Chris Cooper, Peter Berg, the middle east, terrorism and the most intense 3o minutes of climatic action you will ever see, give up The Kingdom. This movie is about what goes on in Saudi Arabia that most Americans have no clue about. I cannot vouch for how accurate the film is, I studied Latin America college not the Middle East, but I can tell you that felt like it was accurate.
Peter Berg is like my favoritest director that I never think about. This dude just makes solid, fun to watch movies that are never boring. Now the marketing of this movie would lead you to believe it was going to be more than a simply action movie, so don't believe the hype, but than again what is wrong with being a simple action movie. For an action movie this one was a little slow, the begining was good, the middle dragged in parts, but the ending more than made up for it. In fact I am comfortable saying the movie was built around the last 3o minutes and in that regard it did not fail. It delivered several times over.
The story was believable in the sense that stuff goes down in Saudi Arabia, Americans get killed and the last thing the Saudi government wants is American involvment so everything it took to get the FBI over there is believable. It is also not difficult to imagine that once over there they would not be welcomed with open arms. So the initial investigation was slow going, but stuff happens a common ground is found and the investigation is off and runing.
I should say a word about the acting, GREAT. I don't need to say much about the aforementioned cast, however I want to spend a special shout out to Ashraf Barhom, who played the Saudi Colonel that aided the FBI's investigation. This guys was awesome, I mean really really good he along with Ali Suliman money all the way. It is nice that western film has gotten to the place where we put in the effort to cast people from the region to play these roles as opposed to casting a westerner with a tan and learning an accent. This way the acting is much more authentic and pays huge dividens on screen.
Whats not to like about this movie, it was not perfect, but most movies aren't. The Kingdom is a good time at the flix, definately a must see.
GRADE - A-
Peter Berg is like my favoritest director that I never think about. This dude just makes solid, fun to watch movies that are never boring. Now the marketing of this movie would lead you to believe it was going to be more than a simply action movie, so don't believe the hype, but than again what is wrong with being a simple action movie. For an action movie this one was a little slow, the begining was good, the middle dragged in parts, but the ending more than made up for it. In fact I am comfortable saying the movie was built around the last 3o minutes and in that regard it did not fail. It delivered several times over.
The story was believable in the sense that stuff goes down in Saudi Arabia, Americans get killed and the last thing the Saudi government wants is American involvment so everything it took to get the FBI over there is believable. It is also not difficult to imagine that once over there they would not be welcomed with open arms. So the initial investigation was slow going, but stuff happens a common ground is found and the investigation is off and runing.
I should say a word about the acting, GREAT. I don't need to say much about the aforementioned cast, however I want to spend a special shout out to Ashraf Barhom, who played the Saudi Colonel that aided the FBI's investigation. This guys was awesome, I mean really really good he along with Ali Suliman money all the way. It is nice that western film has gotten to the place where we put in the effort to cast people from the region to play these roles as opposed to casting a westerner with a tan and learning an accent. This way the acting is much more authentic and pays huge dividens on screen.
Whats not to like about this movie, it was not perfect, but most movies aren't. The Kingdom is a good time at the flix, definately a must see.
GRADE - A-
The Brave One
Is it possible to be tough and vulnerable at the same time, if you are Jodie Foster it is. This is just another one of those films that Jodie has added to growing list of Jodie Foster movies. There are a handful of actors/actresses that have become so good at developing a character composite that it becomes their role, their movie; Jodie Foster, Denzel Washington, Julia Roberts, Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino. These folks have become so good that movies are written for them to do their schtick. This is not a knock in anyway, there personalities are so strong that they define the roles they take and it becomes them. It is hard for me to think of anyone else playing this role, Jodie is the best at it.
From a film making perspective this movie did not do much to move me or impress me in anyway. The story was sort of perdictable and in the end the lesson learned is being a vigilante is acceptiable as long as you have a really good reason. Having said that the cast is strong enough to make the movie watchable. I really don't need to say anything about Jodie. Terrance Howard is very quietly turning himself into a big time actor that demands respect. He was strong, on time and did not shrink into the background in his scenes with Jodie, but also did not try to steal them either. Naveen Andrews wins the award for luckiest guy ever because he as like two lines in the whole movie. All he had to do was show up and make out with smokin hot Jodie. Granted his character also got beat to death in maybe the most brutal fashion possible, but hey making out with Jodie might be worth it.
Good acting, weak story, weaker ending, not a must see, but worth a Netflix selection.
GRADE - C+
From a film making perspective this movie did not do much to move me or impress me in anyway. The story was sort of perdictable and in the end the lesson learned is being a vigilante is acceptiable as long as you have a really good reason. Having said that the cast is strong enough to make the movie watchable. I really don't need to say anything about Jodie. Terrance Howard is very quietly turning himself into a big time actor that demands respect. He was strong, on time and did not shrink into the background in his scenes with Jodie, but also did not try to steal them either. Naveen Andrews wins the award for luckiest guy ever because he as like two lines in the whole movie. All he had to do was show up and make out with smokin hot Jodie. Granted his character also got beat to death in maybe the most brutal fashion possible, but hey making out with Jodie might be worth it.
Good acting, weak story, weaker ending, not a must see, but worth a Netflix selection.
GRADE - C+
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Eastern Promises
Cronenberg is a twisted individual, but I will give him credit for one thing, he definately takes the movie out of movie violence. I have never been in a brutal knife while steaming in suana, but I imagine it would go a little something like what happened during this movie. There is not sensationalism with Cronenberg he depicts violence as it might actually go down. The violence is brutal and uncontrolled and bloody. His fight scenes are not ten minute choreographed dance numbers, they are knock down drag out, bloody messes that makes the audience cringe and squirm at what they are watching. He does what he does and he does it really well. Cronenberg's graphically violent tendencies aside, which is in now way a knock, Eastern Promises shows western audiences a side to the Russian mafia they have never seen before.
Eastern Promises is the story of a baby, a baby whose mother, a teen-aged prostitute who is raped by the head of the Russian mafia, and than beaten, she later dies at the hospital during child birth. The mother leaves behind a diary that reveals all the terrors she suffered at the hands of the Russian Mafia. The nurse that delivered the baby, Naomi Watts finds the diary and tries to get it translated by taking it back to the very same people that killed the girl. At this restaurant she meets and falls for an undercover agent for Scotland Yard, Viggo Mortensen, posing as a driver trying to make his way up the crime ladder. What follows is a story of how this nurse intent on finding locating this dead girl's family comes to adopt this little child, but getting her father, one of the mafia heads, killed.
It is hard to describe this movie in a few words. There are romantic elements amid splashes of suspense and violence. This movie is a slice out of the lives of the characters we meet on screen. This does not tell a whole story, but rather the turbulent begining of child's life through the lense of her mother's death. We are not entirely sur of what happened before this moment or after all we are given is this breif view into their lives.
In the end it is a good movie, not great because frankly not enough happens for me and I can really do without the naked guy on guy on guy bloody suana brawl. To his credit Viggo does whatever is asked of him and David C. makes movie violence look as close to real thing as possible. Not a must see, but worth a watch for sure.
GRADE - C+
Eastern Promises is the story of a baby, a baby whose mother, a teen-aged prostitute who is raped by the head of the Russian mafia, and than beaten, she later dies at the hospital during child birth. The mother leaves behind a diary that reveals all the terrors she suffered at the hands of the Russian Mafia. The nurse that delivered the baby, Naomi Watts finds the diary and tries to get it translated by taking it back to the very same people that killed the girl. At this restaurant she meets and falls for an undercover agent for Scotland Yard, Viggo Mortensen, posing as a driver trying to make his way up the crime ladder. What follows is a story of how this nurse intent on finding locating this dead girl's family comes to adopt this little child, but getting her father, one of the mafia heads, killed.
It is hard to describe this movie in a few words. There are romantic elements amid splashes of suspense and violence. This movie is a slice out of the lives of the characters we meet on screen. This does not tell a whole story, but rather the turbulent begining of child's life through the lense of her mother's death. We are not entirely sur of what happened before this moment or after all we are given is this breif view into their lives.
In the end it is a good movie, not great because frankly not enough happens for me and I can really do without the naked guy on guy on guy bloody suana brawl. To his credit Viggo does whatever is asked of him and David C. makes movie violence look as close to real thing as possible. Not a must see, but worth a watch for sure.
GRADE - C+
Shoot'Em up
I am skipping the pleasantries and getting right down to business. I am not exactly how I feel about this movie, I am not even sure I can give an effective recap. Clive Owen is Smith, an off the grid former British super soldier that is just trying to stay out of trouble, Paul Giamatti is Hertz, the kind of trouble Smith is trying to avoid and Monic Bellucci is Donna Quintano a lactating prostitute that specializes in... special kind of fetish. The characters are strange enough and the cast is talented enough to make it work, sort of.
The movie is about a baby, a special baby bred for a special purpose, Owen doesn't know the baby is special when he saves the baby's life, but he does and that puts him in Giamatti's cross hairs. Owen goes to Bellucci for help with tacking care of the baby, Giamatti tracks them both down and with a name like Shoot'Em Up, you can imagine what happens.
It is clear that director, Michael Davis was making a tongue and cheek action movie with ridiculous action sequences and spectacular special effects. That is was cool and the cast was cool, but the movie the story, well I guess I should not have expected much. I am guessing that it was written to be ironic and more of a satire, thus the really ridiculous actions scenes, for example a gun fight while sky diving. Either that or Owen and Giamatti read the script and figured this would be a good chance for them to make a movie without having to break a sweat. Owen's character was really a montange of a bunch of other characters he has already played and Giamatti, well I think he so this as his chance to just be rediculous and no one would notice. As for Bellucci, she talented no doubt, this movie doesn't do her much justice, but it definately played up her hotness and yeah she is blazin. That is the sound of Diane Lane getting bumped of the list and replace by Bellucci.
Unless you have a good sense of humor or are able to enjoy a really superficial action movie I would not recommend this. I enjoyed myself, but I was not jumping out of my seat. Some cool visuals, but nothing to go nuts over, well maybe the scene from the hotel, yea good stuff.
GRADE - B-
The movie is about a baby, a special baby bred for a special purpose, Owen doesn't know the baby is special when he saves the baby's life, but he does and that puts him in Giamatti's cross hairs. Owen goes to Bellucci for help with tacking care of the baby, Giamatti tracks them both down and with a name like Shoot'Em Up, you can imagine what happens.
It is clear that director, Michael Davis was making a tongue and cheek action movie with ridiculous action sequences and spectacular special effects. That is was cool and the cast was cool, but the movie the story, well I guess I should not have expected much. I am guessing that it was written to be ironic and more of a satire, thus the really ridiculous actions scenes, for example a gun fight while sky diving. Either that or Owen and Giamatti read the script and figured this would be a good chance for them to make a movie without having to break a sweat. Owen's character was really a montange of a bunch of other characters he has already played and Giamatti, well I think he so this as his chance to just be rediculous and no one would notice. As for Bellucci, she talented no doubt, this movie doesn't do her much justice, but it definately played up her hotness and yeah she is blazin. That is the sound of Diane Lane getting bumped of the list and replace by Bellucci.
Unless you have a good sense of humor or are able to enjoy a really superficial action movie I would not recommend this. I enjoyed myself, but I was not jumping out of my seat. Some cool visuals, but nothing to go nuts over, well maybe the scene from the hotel, yea good stuff.
GRADE - B-
3:10 to Yuma
Alright, alright, so I am a little behind. Things have been crazy this month and well, well anyway I am back on track and ready to spit some knowledge about this Fall's flicks. And what a way to kick off the fall than with a good ole fashion Western chaulk full of six shooters, stage coaches, a gang of mean cusses, and indians (i know the correct term is native americans, but I am working on a theme, anyway) hard to ask for much more than that. 3:10 to Yuma is the story of a wounded Revolutionary War veteran who establishes a small ranch in Arizona only to have it threatened by a wealthy land owner who wants him off his land so that he can clear it for the rail road. Christian Bale plays the role of Dan Evans, the small rancher trying to support his family. Just as things seems beyond saving Bale is given the opportunity to save his land and home by escorting one of the west's most notorius theieves, Ben Wade played by Russell Crowe, to a train station where he will board the 3:10 train headed to Yuma where Wade will be imprisoned and eventually executed. During thier journey to the train station Wade and Evans learn that there is more to the other than can be seen on the outside and eventually come to respect and appreciate one another.
Given the story and strength of the cast it is hard to imagine that this wouldn't be a great movie and other than a rather peculiar ending, which didn't hurt the movie it was just weird, this was a great movie. Christian Bale can pull of the pensive, introspective character as well as anyone in teh business and for a change Russell Crowe did not cry in one of his movies, not that there is anything wrong with that. In addition to a great cast, the movie was very well done. The director, James Mangold, did a great job making the film look like it was shot entirely on location and included some great enviornments.
I don't really consider myself a western type of guy. I am definately a bigger fan of the modern western more than the John Wayne of even early Clint Eastwood films, but this was really a solid flick, from begining to end it did not drag and fall off in the middle, but maintained momentum through the entire movie. I definately recommend it to anyone old enough to get in. This is a good time.
GRADE - B+
Given the story and strength of the cast it is hard to imagine that this wouldn't be a great movie and other than a rather peculiar ending, which didn't hurt the movie it was just weird, this was a great movie. Christian Bale can pull of the pensive, introspective character as well as anyone in teh business and for a change Russell Crowe did not cry in one of his movies, not that there is anything wrong with that. In addition to a great cast, the movie was very well done. The director, James Mangold, did a great job making the film look like it was shot entirely on location and included some great enviornments.
I don't really consider myself a western type of guy. I am definately a bigger fan of the modern western more than the John Wayne of even early Clint Eastwood films, but this was really a solid flick, from begining to end it did not drag and fall off in the middle, but maintained momentum through the entire movie. I definately recommend it to anyone old enough to get in. This is a good time.
GRADE - B+
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
The Simpsons Movie
Well it was a decade in the making, or something like that, but this summer we finally got The Simpsons Movie and I have to say it was pretty good. Now ten/twelve years pretty good would have been totally unacceptable for the great television of all time, but since the show has been on a ten to twelve year skid pretty good is actually really good for this franchise.
Since I went into this movie not expecting a whole heck of a lot, when got a bunch of great one liners, "more than two shakes is playing with yourself" and hand full of memorable scence, full frontal Bart nudity may never leave my head, I was pleasantly surprised. Regarding the story, the writes pretty much stuck to form, we got really selfish Homer doing everything possible to make a bad situation worse, we got trouble making Bart getting into trouble, Marge and Lisa in the virtually meaningless C story line and then everything coming together and working itself out in the end. I mean the show has been on for 80 consecutive seasons for a reason so I have no problem with them sticking to the formula.
I appreciate the resistance of randomingly struting out non-stop celebrity cameos. Tom Hanks was perfect in that spot and Albert Brooks might as well be on the cast, so that was one land mine they avoided. Having said that the only real knock I have on the movie is the same critism I have had of the show the last several years, they are running out of really fresh, innovative jokes. It is expected after almost twenty years, having said that I can't give the movie credit for what the show was like at its best.
All in all a funny movie that probably ended up being about as good as it could be given everything else. I definatey keeper.
GRADE - B
Since I went into this movie not expecting a whole heck of a lot, when got a bunch of great one liners, "more than two shakes is playing with yourself" and hand full of memorable scence, full frontal Bart nudity may never leave my head, I was pleasantly surprised. Regarding the story, the writes pretty much stuck to form, we got really selfish Homer doing everything possible to make a bad situation worse, we got trouble making Bart getting into trouble, Marge and Lisa in the virtually meaningless C story line and then everything coming together and working itself out in the end. I mean the show has been on for 80 consecutive seasons for a reason so I have no problem with them sticking to the formula.
I appreciate the resistance of randomingly struting out non-stop celebrity cameos. Tom Hanks was perfect in that spot and Albert Brooks might as well be on the cast, so that was one land mine they avoided. Having said that the only real knock I have on the movie is the same critism I have had of the show the last several years, they are running out of really fresh, innovative jokes. It is expected after almost twenty years, having said that I can't give the movie credit for what the show was like at its best.
All in all a funny movie that probably ended up being about as good as it could be given everything else. I definatey keeper.
GRADE - B
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