"Hereafter" B
Clint Eastwood does it again. It is amazing how many movies he has starred in and has directed. I am a big fan of Clint Eastwood as a director and an actor, so I was very interested in seeing his latest recollaboration with Matt Damon, Hereafter. Is it a good movie? Yes it certainly is, even if it is quite slow at times. Yes the movie is slow, but I don't know if I would say that it is boring. The performances by each of the actors were riveting, and showed some emotional quality. The movie is three different stories: one in France about a former show host who becomes inspired to write a book; one in France with two twin boys and their estranged alcoholic mother; and in San Francisco, which is Matt Damon's story about a lonely man who wants to get away from his past. While this movie is sad and emotional at times, we do get some comic relief from the teacher of Matt Damon's cooking classes. The opening scene was very realistic and it felt like you were there during the tsunami scene. It marked Clint Eastwood's use of special effects in his movies. Overall, it is a good movie, even if you have to be in a certain mood to watch it. I do, however, think that Invictus, Eastwood's last collaboration with Matt Damon, is one of his best movies.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Due Date
"Due Date" B
Road trip movies are sometimes the funniest type of comedy that comes out these days. Not only do you get the feel that you are with the characters on their journey, but you tend to have fun laughing at them too. In Due Date, starring Robert Downey Jr. and Zack Galifinakus, you get exactly what you pay for, a buddy comedy. Basically, Galifinakus plays Ethan, an aspiring actor traveling to Hollywood because he wants to be one of the stars of the popular sitcom Two and a Half Men. Robert Downey Jr. plays Peter, an uptight kind of guy who wants to be their in time for the birth of his child. This movie is from director Todd Philips, director of Road Trip, Old School and the ever so hilarious The Hangover. While this one is not quite as funny as The Hangover, it still has the same slapstick humor and good chemistry between Downey Jr. and Galifinakus. It is certainly a fun time at the movies and it is sure to make you laugh.
Road trip movies are sometimes the funniest type of comedy that comes out these days. Not only do you get the feel that you are with the characters on their journey, but you tend to have fun laughing at them too. In Due Date, starring Robert Downey Jr. and Zack Galifinakus, you get exactly what you pay for, a buddy comedy. Basically, Galifinakus plays Ethan, an aspiring actor traveling to Hollywood because he wants to be one of the stars of the popular sitcom Two and a Half Men. Robert Downey Jr. plays Peter, an uptight kind of guy who wants to be their in time for the birth of his child. This movie is from director Todd Philips, director of Road Trip, Old School and the ever so hilarious The Hangover. While this one is not quite as funny as The Hangover, it still has the same slapstick humor and good chemistry between Downey Jr. and Galifinakus. It is certainly a fun time at the movies and it is sure to make you laugh.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Saw 3D
"Saw 3D" B-
It has been a long time since I have reviewed a movie and I have seen a few movies, so I think it is time to put some more reviews on here. On Halloween, we celebrated by seeing Saw 3D. Was it good? Yes. Was it the best Saw out of the entire thought provoking franchise? No, it was pretty much all about the 3D. In 2004, we started out with an indie like horror movie called Saw, which displayed a different side of Cary Elwes, and brought out a new horror star named Tobin Bell. The first Saw showed an in your face twist ending, along with a few grueling traps. Saw II, III and IV came out, courtesy of director Darren Lynn Bousman, Saw V from David Hackl, and Saw VI and VII from Keven Greutert. The first Saw revolutionized the horror genre in my opinion, II was a good follow up, III was thought to be the conclusion, but then IV was made and then V and VI was made, creating new layers to the story. Well, VII, named 3D, is the conclusion of the entire series. And while it does a good job of wrapping everything up, it is all about the traps it seems, and making the audience say, Wow! That trap was cool... in 3D! Let's watch a saw fly at the screen, a key fly at the screen, and lets have one of the traps be in your face. The opening trap in the movie bordered on ridiculous, but it had originality for sure, and it gave new meaning to shopping at an outlet mall. Saw 3D was a good conclusion to the series and it even answered some questions we were all wanting answers for from the first one. Overall, it was a pretty good movie, but certainly did not need to be in 3D to be enjoyed.
It has been a long time since I have reviewed a movie and I have seen a few movies, so I think it is time to put some more reviews on here. On Halloween, we celebrated by seeing Saw 3D. Was it good? Yes. Was it the best Saw out of the entire thought provoking franchise? No, it was pretty much all about the 3D. In 2004, we started out with an indie like horror movie called Saw, which displayed a different side of Cary Elwes, and brought out a new horror star named Tobin Bell. The first Saw showed an in your face twist ending, along with a few grueling traps. Saw II, III and IV came out, courtesy of director Darren Lynn Bousman, Saw V from David Hackl, and Saw VI and VII from Keven Greutert. The first Saw revolutionized the horror genre in my opinion, II was a good follow up, III was thought to be the conclusion, but then IV was made and then V and VI was made, creating new layers to the story. Well, VII, named 3D, is the conclusion of the entire series. And while it does a good job of wrapping everything up, it is all about the traps it seems, and making the audience say, Wow! That trap was cool... in 3D! Let's watch a saw fly at the screen, a key fly at the screen, and lets have one of the traps be in your face. The opening trap in the movie bordered on ridiculous, but it had originality for sure, and it gave new meaning to shopping at an outlet mall. Saw 3D was a good conclusion to the series and it even answered some questions we were all wanting answers for from the first one. Overall, it was a pretty good movie, but certainly did not need to be in 3D to be enjoyed.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Red
"Red" A-
I know one thing for sure, advanced screening are the best. I love getting the opportunity to see movies that are not only free, but are available for early viewing, way before the movie officially is released. Tonight, they had an advanced screening of the movie "Red", starring Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich, Helen Mirren, Mary Louise Parker and Karl Urban. The cast is what really drives this movie in my opinion. It is a funny movie and it has some intense and exciting action scenes, but its the cast that really sells here. The movie starts out with Frank Moses (Bruce Willis) in his spacious house just dealing with retirement. Every month, he calls Sarah 9Mary Louise Parker, in a very funny role), his love interest, at a Pension office in Kansas City. He rips up the check each month as an excuse to talk to her about popular books and their attraction to each other, whether they know it or not. This is where it starts in a rousing action scene in his house where machine guns and bombs are loud as ever. This takes place in a suberb full of Christmas decorations. I guess the neighbors were either on vacation or didn't care that there were machine guns and grenades going off at their neighbor's house. Then the layers keep coming, with each of the characters coming in for the fun. We have Morgan Freeman being his usual self, which is a good thing, and we have John Malkovich in a scene stealing role, and Helen Mirren showing once again her acting talent. Another surprise was Karl Urban. I am not usually impressed with his acting, but he was actually not too bad in this role. He was actually one of my favorite characters is the movie as CIA agent William Cooper, along with Frank Moses of course. This movie is based on a DC comic, which was the whole reason why I wanted to see it in the first place. The movie has some action packed scenes, but it slows down at times to remind us of why we care about the characters. There are some light and very funny moments too, which makes for an entertaining time at the movies.
I know one thing for sure, advanced screening are the best. I love getting the opportunity to see movies that are not only free, but are available for early viewing, way before the movie officially is released. Tonight, they had an advanced screening of the movie "Red", starring Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich, Helen Mirren, Mary Louise Parker and Karl Urban. The cast is what really drives this movie in my opinion. It is a funny movie and it has some intense and exciting action scenes, but its the cast that really sells here. The movie starts out with Frank Moses (Bruce Willis) in his spacious house just dealing with retirement. Every month, he calls Sarah 9Mary Louise Parker, in a very funny role), his love interest, at a Pension office in Kansas City. He rips up the check each month as an excuse to talk to her about popular books and their attraction to each other, whether they know it or not. This is where it starts in a rousing action scene in his house where machine guns and bombs are loud as ever. This takes place in a suberb full of Christmas decorations. I guess the neighbors were either on vacation or didn't care that there were machine guns and grenades going off at their neighbor's house. Then the layers keep coming, with each of the characters coming in for the fun. We have Morgan Freeman being his usual self, which is a good thing, and we have John Malkovich in a scene stealing role, and Helen Mirren showing once again her acting talent. Another surprise was Karl Urban. I am not usually impressed with his acting, but he was actually not too bad in this role. He was actually one of my favorite characters is the movie as CIA agent William Cooper, along with Frank Moses of course. This movie is based on a DC comic, which was the whole reason why I wanted to see it in the first place. The movie has some action packed scenes, but it slows down at times to remind us of why we care about the characters. There are some light and very funny moments too, which makes for an entertaining time at the movies.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Life As We Know It
"Life As We Know It" B+
I got the pleasure of seeing a sneak preview of "Life As We Know It" tonight for free. At first, I was not really sure as to what I would think of this movie. I will be honest, I really enjoyed it. There were some sad parts, but it was also very funny and the acting was very good too. Basically, the movie starts out with our two main stars Josh Duhamel and Katherine Heigl going on a first date that was set up by their best friends. They hate each other immediately, but are around each other a lot of their best friends and now their baby. A tragedy happens with their friends, which is sad, and the wishes for Heigl and Duhamel are to be to care for their baby, Sophie. They are skeptical at first, and they don't know anything about raising a baby, but they learn about not only that, but more about themselves and about their growing love relationship. It seems like a formulaic plot, but it is really good the way it was made. I thought the chemistry between Heigl and Duhamel was so good. You really get the impression they hate each other at first and then... Some of the lines are really funny and the supporting cast members add to the movie too. The movie is scheduled for release on October 8th, and I really think it is worth seeing.
I got the pleasure of seeing a sneak preview of "Life As We Know It" tonight for free. At first, I was not really sure as to what I would think of this movie. I will be honest, I really enjoyed it. There were some sad parts, but it was also very funny and the acting was very good too. Basically, the movie starts out with our two main stars Josh Duhamel and Katherine Heigl going on a first date that was set up by their best friends. They hate each other immediately, but are around each other a lot of their best friends and now their baby. A tragedy happens with their friends, which is sad, and the wishes for Heigl and Duhamel are to be to care for their baby, Sophie. They are skeptical at first, and they don't know anything about raising a baby, but they learn about not only that, but more about themselves and about their growing love relationship. It seems like a formulaic plot, but it is really good the way it was made. I thought the chemistry between Heigl and Duhamel was so good. You really get the impression they hate each other at first and then... Some of the lines are really funny and the supporting cast members add to the movie too. The movie is scheduled for release on October 8th, and I really think it is worth seeing.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Easy A
"Easy A" B
There are some movies that come to theatres and you think to yourself, I don't think I really want to see that movie. Then, sometimes, they keep showing previews on it on tv and the previews never stop. Gradually, with all of these previews coming on every 10 seconds, you eventually think to yourself, wow, this movie might actually have potential. That is pretty much what I was saying when I attending a sneak preview tonight for the movie "Easy A". The synopsis is actually better than it sounds. Basically, a high school girl is tired of being unpopular. She wants to be known and popular by a lot of people because "a google map would not be able to find her" as actress Emma Stone says in the movie. Emma Stone has been in a few movies, such as "Superbad" and "The House Bunny". She was also in "Zombieland", which was an action comedic turn for her. This movie not only shows that she can totally funny without even trying, but it also has some really good supporting cast members, such as Lisa Kudrow, Thomas Haden Church, Amanda Bynes, Malcom McDowell, Stanley Tucci and Patricia Clarkson. Each actor has some equal screen time and they all contribute to the story nicely with their performances. This movie has kind of a "Juno" like feel to it, with the wisecracking high school girl as the central character discovering what it is like to enter adulthood. When this movie is funny, it is really funny, with some of the best lines I have heard in a long time. When this movie wants to be serious, it is definitely serious, showing a different side of the story. Overall, this movie was a nice surprise and I am sure it will be a good surprise for everyone this friday too.
There are some movies that come to theatres and you think to yourself, I don't think I really want to see that movie. Then, sometimes, they keep showing previews on it on tv and the previews never stop. Gradually, with all of these previews coming on every 10 seconds, you eventually think to yourself, wow, this movie might actually have potential. That is pretty much what I was saying when I attending a sneak preview tonight for the movie "Easy A". The synopsis is actually better than it sounds. Basically, a high school girl is tired of being unpopular. She wants to be known and popular by a lot of people because "a google map would not be able to find her" as actress Emma Stone says in the movie. Emma Stone has been in a few movies, such as "Superbad" and "The House Bunny". She was also in "Zombieland", which was an action comedic turn for her. This movie not only shows that she can totally funny without even trying, but it also has some really good supporting cast members, such as Lisa Kudrow, Thomas Haden Church, Amanda Bynes, Malcom McDowell, Stanley Tucci and Patricia Clarkson. Each actor has some equal screen time and they all contribute to the story nicely with their performances. This movie has kind of a "Juno" like feel to it, with the wisecracking high school girl as the central character discovering what it is like to enter adulthood. When this movie is funny, it is really funny, with some of the best lines I have heard in a long time. When this movie wants to be serious, it is definitely serious, showing a different side of the story. Overall, this movie was a nice surprise and I am sure it will be a good surprise for everyone this friday too.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Machete
"Machete" B+
I remember in 2007 when "Grindhouse" came out. It was the Robert Rodriguez/Quentin Tarantino double feature that was an homage to the old 80s horror movies and cinema. It contained an 80s like horror movie and an old fashioned 80s action movie. It even included some fake commercials and fake movie trailers that added to the 80s feel and experience. I remember the fake trailers were my favorite part of this three and a half hour experience. The main favorite trailer being "Machete", the fake trailer that got the audiences wishing it was a real movie. The good news is, it was actually made into a movie and it was directed by Robert Rodriguez (Sin City, Desperado, Once Upon a Time in Mexico). He directs this the way he always directs his movies, non stop action with old fashioned one liners and some over the top scenes (in this case mainly having to do with Lindsay Lohan). The prologue starts out with Machete as a federale and trying to save a girl from Torrez (Steven Seagal in villain mode). He gets double crossed and his family is murdered by Torrez. After the flashy, awesome opening credits, we see Machete three years later as a laborer in Texas, where he gets another job offer, and another double cross. He is asked to assassinate the Senator (Robert DeNiro) who is trying to build a giant electric fence in order to keep immigrants out (I know, cartoonish). Basically, after that, it is all about revenge and Machete, while kicking major butt, manages to find time to get the girls. Jessica Alba is Jessica Alba in this movie, and Michelle Rodriguez has delivered her best performance in this movie as She'. Lindsay Lohan was out of place in this movie, but basically showed her true self I suppose. Steven Seagal was his usual tough guy, donning a Mexican accent and doing some cool fight scenes with Machete with a samarai sword. I guess he was busy working on this movie, since he was not in Stallone's The Expendables. The other supporting actors, Jeff Fahey (you might remember him from The Lawnmower Man) and Cheech Merin as Machete's brother who is a Priest. Everyone was good in this movie and the action just kept on coming. Warning though, this movie does not sugar coat anything, meaning, there are some of the goriest scenes. In one scene, let's just say you will never look at intestines the same way again. Overall, its a good old fashion man's action movie, and who knows, they might make sequels!
I remember in 2007 when "Grindhouse" came out. It was the Robert Rodriguez/Quentin Tarantino double feature that was an homage to the old 80s horror movies and cinema. It contained an 80s like horror movie and an old fashioned 80s action movie. It even included some fake commercials and fake movie trailers that added to the 80s feel and experience. I remember the fake trailers were my favorite part of this three and a half hour experience. The main favorite trailer being "Machete", the fake trailer that got the audiences wishing it was a real movie. The good news is, it was actually made into a movie and it was directed by Robert Rodriguez (Sin City, Desperado, Once Upon a Time in Mexico). He directs this the way he always directs his movies, non stop action with old fashioned one liners and some over the top scenes (in this case mainly having to do with Lindsay Lohan). The prologue starts out with Machete as a federale and trying to save a girl from Torrez (Steven Seagal in villain mode). He gets double crossed and his family is murdered by Torrez. After the flashy, awesome opening credits, we see Machete three years later as a laborer in Texas, where he gets another job offer, and another double cross. He is asked to assassinate the Senator (Robert DeNiro) who is trying to build a giant electric fence in order to keep immigrants out (I know, cartoonish). Basically, after that, it is all about revenge and Machete, while kicking major butt, manages to find time to get the girls. Jessica Alba is Jessica Alba in this movie, and Michelle Rodriguez has delivered her best performance in this movie as She'. Lindsay Lohan was out of place in this movie, but basically showed her true self I suppose. Steven Seagal was his usual tough guy, donning a Mexican accent and doing some cool fight scenes with Machete with a samarai sword. I guess he was busy working on this movie, since he was not in Stallone's The Expendables. The other supporting actors, Jeff Fahey (you might remember him from The Lawnmower Man) and Cheech Merin as Machete's brother who is a Priest. Everyone was good in this movie and the action just kept on coming. Warning though, this movie does not sugar coat anything, meaning, there are some of the goriest scenes. In one scene, let's just say you will never look at intestines the same way again. Overall, its a good old fashion man's action movie, and who knows, they might make sequels!
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