Monsters is one of those rare films where the viewer is unsure of what is going to happen from the very beginning to the very end of the story.
The premise is that NASA found some alien life up there in the sky, so they went to grab some samples. Unfortunately, they messed up their re-entry (NASA: Need Another Seven Astronauts) and crash landed in Mexico, which let the samples loose. The Mexican and US governments are working together to contain the threat by cordoning off the infected zones. At the beginning of the film, a journalist reluctantly agrees to escort his boss's daughter through the infected zone and back to the safety of the States. At first glance, once would think this is a monster movie. The title doesn't detract from this impression. However, not far into the film you get a love story much more realistic than those seen in most films. It is increasingly unclear, the more the story unfolds, whether the audience should be rooting for the romance or hoping to see some aliens explode- in a good way. (Hint: you'll probably get both!) Basically, this movie is Before Sunrise set to District 9. The best part about this movie for me was the heart and soul that the cast and crew put into it. The film was basically done with a few actors, a couple of crew members, a couple of cameras, and a guerrilla filmmaking style that pays off big time. The film was reportedly shot for under $15,000, which is a producer's dream. The director did the editing and special effects in post production on his computer at home. Brilliant. If Edwards inspires just a couple of talented folks to follow in his footsteps, the film world will soon enough be a lush landscape of film experiences.
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The Expendables is the most ridiculous movie you will see all year. When I say "ridiculous" I mean "bloody, explosive, over-the-top, hilarious." Ridiculous just sums it up better. Try to picture your favorite action movie. Now double that movie's budget and put it on steroids: Ya-dah! You have the Expendables.
This movie is about a Barney Ross (Mr. Sly Stallone) who is hired to do a job by a mysterious man named Mr. Church (cameo by Bruce Willis). Ross enlists the help of his crew in order to finish the assassination of a dirty South American politician. Through a series of explosions, slow motion chases, and more gunfire than a western, the events of the film play out with little question. This film is pure eye-candy. The problems I have with this film are few and far between, but they are large. First of all, the secondary storyline was resolved far too quickly. Lee Christmas (Jason Statham) has girl problems with on-again, off-again girlfriend Lacy (Charisma Carpenter). When Christmas finds out Lacy's new boyfriend is abusive, he steps in, kicks his ass, and suddenly all of the troubles they were having before are gone. Lacy takes Christmas back and all is well. However, this happens right around the half-way mark of the film. Typically, the secondary plot is solved just before the primary plot is solved. Second of all, who wrote this hackneyed dialogue? Oh wait....that was Sly. Yes ladies and gents, the movie is written by, directed by, and starring Sly himself. Honestly, I didn't know the man could read. The names of the characters are hideous plays on words: Yin Yang? Gunner Jensen? Toll Road? Paine?! HALE CEASAR?! Come on. Finally, some of the acting was lackluster. I'm disappointed in the way the roles were executed. Was this movie good? I'd even go so far as to say it was freaking awesome. Will other women enjoy it? Probably not. It's a movie full of violence, muscle, and unnecessary gore (but not in a Saw kind of way.) Will guys enjoy it? Probably. It's a film chalked-full of stereotypes that would make the 1950's proud. I give it 7 stars overall. The plot of The Next Three Days consists of a husband and wife (Russell Crowe and Elizabeth Banks) and their young son, as well as the husband's parents, who are present throughout. The police raid their house and arrest Banks' character Lara, with their son in the room. She is tried and imprisoned for murder, with her fingerprints on the murder weapon, and is looking at life in prison. The murder victim is Lara's boss so the police see a motive there as well. Crowe's character, John, takes care of their son with the help of his parents as he continues his job teaching at a junior college, while visiting Lara in prison regularly. He is completely sure that she is innocent, no matter what the police or judge says. He begins to organize a plan to help Lara escape, while Lara, their son, and John's parents have no idea what he is planning.
I liked this movie a lot. Everyone in the film gives good performances, and although it is a familiar plotline, it comes across as an original film, worthy of being added to the genre. It is a great film about love and family, and what a person will go through to be with the one they love and reunite their family. John does all the planning and strategy in secret, and if anyone knew, they would of course not support him risking his freedom as well as potentially further negatively impacting his son's life. John would rather give up his freedom and fatherhood than raise his son by himself without Lara. Lara begins to give up on herself, believing that she is facing a life term, but John remains determined and diligent in freeing her. A compelling movie with a good mix of emotion, nail-biting tension, and intense sequences make this an enjoyable, worthwhile film. I definitely recommend you rent this film in The Next Three Days. Or, you know, whenever it suits you. Also recommended if you like this film: Law Abiding Citizen The poem Howl is the seminal work of Allen Ginsberg, one of the most famous writers of the Beat Generation. Published in 1956, Howl And Other Poems chronicles, in sprawling, breath-length form, stories of America's "best minds," relating from personal experience, stories told by friends (many of whom were also influential writers of the day), and general disenfranchised youth. The poem contains graphic depictions of sexual acts, which led to the publishers of the book being arrested and tried for disseminating obscene literature.
The film Howl focuses four distinct but tightly woven aspects of Ginsberg's life: on the trial, with especially brilliant performances by Mary-Louise Parker and Jeff Daniels as two of the witnesses used for the prosecution; on Ginsberg's actual performance of the poem; on the poem itself, retold in fluid, sepia-drenched animation; and on Ginsberg recounting the events in his life leading to writing the titular poem in the style of an interview. James Franco proves himself as one of the best actors of our time with this portrayal of Allen Ginsberg, perfectly mimicking the performance style, verbal cadence, and facial expressions of this somewhat reclusive artist. While Franco performs Howl in a cramped bar at night you feel every word as it was meant to be felt. The animated segments are simple and visceral, leaving the viewers with images to haunt them for weeks. I could not look away as Franco voiced over the " eli eli lamma lamma sabacthani saxophone cry that shivered the cities," and as Ginsberg's mother was wheeled in for the shocks and other medical treatment. David Staitharn is wonderfully convicted and uncomfortable as the prosecuting attorney. Most powerful, though, are the interview segments in which Ginsberg's life story is told. Overall, the the film "Howl" is gorgeous, thought-provoking, and well acted and directed. It flows much like Ginsberg's poetry, creating new layers of intrigue with every scene. I would recommend "Howl" to anyone interested in biopics, periods dramas, or literature. Everyone who is involved in poetry (or pretty much any art) should see this film at least once. Those of you paying attention during the fake trailers between Planet Terror and Death Proof (the Grindhouse double feature) may remember the trailer for this film, which was so awesome that Rodriguez had to make it a reality. Machete (Danny Trejo) is an illegal immigrant and former Mexican Federale, who after a tragic run-in with a brutal drug lord, Torrez (Steven Seagal), is left for dead in a very bloody/awesome scene. Three years down the line Machete is looking for work in Texas. He accepts a shady deal with Michael Benz (Jeff Fahey), which entails assassinating Senator McLaughin (Robert DeNiro), who happens to be very anti-immigration. In a bloody battle of betrayal and deceit, Machete teams up with Luz (Michelle Rodriguez), his brother Padre (Cheech Martin), April (Lindsay Lohan), and Officer Sartana Rivera (Jessica Alba) in order to get revenge on those that crossed them.
Absolutely Epic! In standard Robert Rodriguez fashion, the movie is shot in this gritty to-the-bone style, with unique angles, close-ups, and the a look of an old western. Danny Trejo, who looks like the ultimate bad ass, is perfectly cast as Machete, and Lindsay Lohan is hilariously cast as April the druggie. If you like spoof type action films awesome, you'll find Machete a gory comedic masterpiece. With all-star appearances by Robert DeNiro, Steven Seagal, and Jessica Alba, Machete is a must see. When this movie came out in theaters I was skeptical because I didn't recognize anyone in it (I somehow didn't realize Liam Neeson was in it) except the guy from The Hangover (Bradley Cooper). Also, it's a remake of an 1980s television show made popular and memorable because of Mr. T- and he's not in it. So, I passed on going to the theater to see it. I decided today to give it a shot.
It starts out in Mexico, with Faceman (Cooper) held captive by Mexican Federales, but he escapes and reunites with the rest of the A-Team. Later Faceman sees his ex-girlfriend (played by Jessica Biel) after not seeing her for three years, and she too is in the military. There are some hip-hop songs in the soundtrack which was cool to hear, and the score sounded good too. The movie is well done with nice shots and action sequences and the overall pace of the movie is good. One of, if not the, most awesome scenes is them flying in a tank down to Earth firing off rounds mid-air, then letting the parashoot go and floating the rest of the way down. The cast works well together, everyone does a fine job with their acting and there is a sufficient amount of humor throughout. The A-Team (short for Alpha Team) is sent on a top secret mission to recover metal plates used to counterfeit American currency ($100 bills) and intercept $3 billion or so dollars in counterfeit cash. The team is set up and sabotaged by one of their own who kills another of their own and takes the plates. They get court martialed and sent to prison after being stripped of rank and dishonorably discharged. They later must reunite to clear their names, recover the plates, and get revenge on the traitor that set them up. If you're in the mood for a fun and well done action comedy, I recommend The A-Team. Archer: Season 1, starring H. Jon Benjamin, Aisha Tyler, Judy Greer, Chris Parnell, and Jessica Walter.
Archer is an animated television show about a handsome, womanizing mama's boy named Sterling Archer, aka "Duchess". Archer is the top spy at ISIS, a CIA-type operative run by Malory Archer, Archer's mom. Alongside them is Archer's ex-girlfriend Lana Kane, a trigger-happy, foul-mouthed femme fatale, and a slew of unfortunate bad guys and ridiculous co-workers. Between foreign espionage gone awry and office hijinks, Archer is one show you don't want to miss. Don't let the fact that it's a cartoon fool you. It's definitely not for kids. If you're easily offended, this is not the show for you. If you're an adult who loves a little bloodshed, foul language, and offensive dialogue this is the PERFECT show for you. It's one of the funniest shows I've seen in a long time. As far as comedy goes, Archer is done well. I actually laugh out loud at some of the finer moments. The comedy is right up there with Seinfeld and 30 Rock. Al Pacino gives a great performance as Dr. Jack Kevorkian, with other solid performances from John Goodman, Brenda Vaccaro, Susan Surrandon, and Danny Huston in this real life story of Dr. Kevorkian's uphill fight for everyone's right to their own life: their right to choose assisted suicide. The movie gives you Jack's side of the story and shows you the people around him that were there along the way for the dramatic ride. The film starts out with Jack at the hospital watching his wife laying in bed on life support. He says she had the same look of pain on her face as his mother did when she was struggling to die. This was the inspiration that lead Jack on his crusade for the people's right to their own life, and death. He didn't want to let anyone else have to suffer at the very end of life, and believed it was abhorrent to let someone suffer or to starve them to death by cutting their feeding tube in a hospital. He found his way more humane. At the time assisted suicide was legal in Europe, but not in the states, so what he was doing was unprecedented in the United States and, in the film, the backlash brews as he is persecuted for his politics. HBO got it right again with this great biopic.
Prince Of Persia: The Sands Of Time is another movie based on a video game, but this time it's made by Disney and Jerry Bruckheimer, who brought you the Pirates Of The Caribbean franchise. Unfortunately, there's no Johnny Depp this time around, but the magic and the action are still present through great direction from Mike Newell (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Donnie Brasco).
For adults, this movie is going to be...well...okay. It's got the requisite heartthrob in Jake Gyllenhaal, the seasoned actor paying his mortgage in Ben Kingsley, and a smokin' hot leading lady in Gemma Arterton. Somehow, the producers were unable to find any Persians to be in the movie, and, since Ben Kingsley looks the most like he could maybe be Persian, the other actors all affect a British accent to follow his lead. It's actually kinda cute if you're not worried about the racist aspect. The action is pretty captivating, and there are pretty sparkly things in the sand. I barely remember the story, but I had fun watching the movie, and the actors did a general good job. The stunt guys deserve a commendation for the free-running stuff. The humor is more geared towards kids, but still funny. Overall, this was an enjoyable experience, but nothing to write home about. Play the video game for real thrills. For kids, this movie is going to be kind of awesome! There's good action that's not scary enough to give you nightmares, there's a love story that's never too mushy, there are exotic animals, and there's an awesome weapon that everybody's fighting over. Plus, you'll never see the twist coming! I definitely recommend it for the 15 and under crowd. Once you're done with the movie, pick up the video game for Playstation and XBox systems and be wowed. Four buddies, Adam (John Cusack), Nick (Craig Robinson), Lou (Rob Cordry), and Adam's nephew Jacob (Clark Duke), go on a vacation together to relax and get away from their depressing situations at home. The four of them reconnect when Lou is found passed out from car-exhaust poisoning and taken to the hospital. They decide to go their old party place up at a mountain resort in Kodiak Valley. The group finds that the mountain resort isn't like it used to be and now is pretty beat up and old. After a long night of drinking, the four of them take a hot tub which turns into a time portal and sends them back to 1986 to a memorable night each of the three best friends had at K-Valley. The four realize they must relive the past the same in order for young Jacob to come into existence. Hilarity ensues.
The situation they are involved in as well as what each of the characters had to say had me laughing almost the whole movie. Yes, the movie is kinda ridiculous but what were you to expect with a film title Hot Tub Time Machine. I would give this movie 4 out of 5 stars, funny, clever, and the cast was well put together. Overall, I would recommend this movie to anyone that enjoys a light, humorous film who is not to concerned with plot continuity and likes to laugh out loud. |
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January 2015
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