Anyway, it seems as though I've watched quite a few movies lately, and I'd like to make some comments before I completely forget about them. Hopefully, you can glean some worthwhile information from my reviews, such as whether they're actually worth seeing or not. At the very least, you can get an insight on what kind of person I am, and whether or not you think I'm an idiot.
Here goes - read on, and enjoy!
************************************
Hot Tub Time Machine
A surprisingly awesome movie! My wife wanted to see this in the theatre, and I turned it down. Four guys get in a hot tub and go back in time? Come on. How good could that be? Answer: way good.
After finally seeing it on DVD, I am now a believer. Okay, it's not iconically funny like Beerfest or The Big Lebowski, but it was pretty damn funny. Basically, the plot is this: three down on their luck middle-aged guys (and a twenty something nephew) go up to a ski resort to try to have a good time after one of them fails a suicide attempt. Upon arrival, they realize that the place has just gone downhill and things are not the same as they were when they used to go there, back in 1986. In fact, their entire lives have been pretty much downhill since then. Suddenly, the hot tub on the deck outside their room (which was broken a few hours earlier) springs to life and they all get in. They are transported back to that pivotal year and get to do it all over again - the good and the bad. It's not like the use of time travel hasn't been exploited in comedy movies before, but it was done well here. There was an undertone of melancholy and inevitability to the main characters that made me want them to change stuff for the better, even if they were a bunch of idiots. I am a middle-aged man myself, so I can relate to these guys. And, of course, I recognized every single song on the soundtrack.
It was nice to see John Cusack do a ridiculous comedy so soon after witnessing the end of civilization in 2012. Actually, all of the cast is at their best - Craig Robinson is hilarious, Clarke Duke is pretty low key but worthy and Rob Corddry is totally insane - a likeable asshole, if you will.
Rent this film - especially if you're old enough to remember the mid 80's as a teenager like me.
Overall Grade : A
Story : B+
Acting : A-
Direction : A
Visuals : B
The Last Airbender
Unfortunately, I read a TON of negative reviews for this film before actually seeing it, even though I saw it on opening day (the late show). It's amazing how a movie can only be out for only one day, and it's already doomed. I was looking forward to seeing it, and I've been a huge fan of the show for the last few years, having seen it all on DVD and not as it was broadcast. I knew that it couldn't be as good as the show, and I knew there would be a lot of stuff that had to be altered or cut out entirely. It wasn't going to be the greatest movie ever, even if Avatar the series was the best show ever. I still wanted to see it, and I'm glad that I did.
There were however, a lot of things that put me off about this film, and most of those things have already been pointed out in other reviews. Overall, I'd have to say that I wasn't really expecting it to be awesome, but I guess I hoped that it would be. It turns out it's just another case of the director trying to be faithful to his source material, but focusing too much on the details and somehow forgetting about the 'heart and soul' of the original. There's some neat stuff to look at in this film (even though the bending was tediously slow at times) and the acting wasn't nearly as bad as everyone says. It was just lifeless, humorless and poorly directed - like Star Wars Episodes I-III. It was the strength of the characters in the TV show that made Avatar what it was - or more accurately, it was the interactions between those characters that made it great.
To be fair to M. Night, I respect this movie as one director's INTERPRETATION of a great TV show. I wasn't so upset about the changes, and I'm forgiving of the things that were left out. The whole "Aang ain't white" and other race-related arguments are completely irrelevant and stupid. Grow up, people. A story is just that. A story. This isn't an historical documentary, and even if it were, you'd be more forgiving. I love Avatar:The Last Airbender more than anyone else I know, but I would hardly call this 'an abomination'. I found it kind of boring and lacking in many parts, but I would like to see more sequels. A story that great deserves another chance. I can't say that they should have hired another director, because as I understand it, without M. Night, there wouldn't have been a movie or series of movies.
One question, though: Why the odd and pointless change in the pronunciation of names? Didn't any of the actors or screen writers actually WATCH the TV show? Aang may or may not have been white, but one thing is for certain - his name rhymes with 'bang'. Not 'bong'....
Overall Grade : B-
Story : B
Acting : B-
Direction : D+
Visuals : B
Toy Story 3
I don't know what I could possibly say about this movie that you haven't already heard or seen for yourself already. The characters are almost as legendary as those in Star Wars or The Godfather. Contains an amazing ensemble cast of voices as usual, with a few noteable additions as well - Michael Keaton as Ken is just downright HI-larious! Part 3 of the story compliments the series well, and in some places surpasses the previous two films. It's pretty sappy in a lot of parts, but isn't that one of the reasons Disney is what it is today? As a grown man and father of two young kids, I couldn't ask for a better movie for us to see together.
A frequent complaint of mine about CG animated movies is that they are chock full of jokes that I feel are inappropriate for the younger audiences. I can't really think of any jokes in Toy Story 3 that stood out in this regard. Maybe all of us parents are so used to these things now that we just assume that anything in a cartoon must be okay for our kids to watch.... That being said, there are some hugely comedic moments in the film, such as the Mission Impossible- style plan to escape from the day care centre or the Mr. Tortilla Head scene. The scenes with Ken are just plain funny if you ever played with Barbie dolls as a kid or have young daughters who do. (I for one fall into the latter category, so keep the comments to yourself on this.)
The sad parts are I think what makes movies like this most memorable and make the comedic moments really sparkle in sharp contrast. I liked the way the characters have developed since the last movie. They seem almost like real people in that they have a sense of growing older and having been through so many trials and tribulations. One of my favorite scenes was at the very beginning when all the toys are trying to trick Andy (now a high school grad) into playing with them by hiding his cell phone in their toybox and making it ring. Of course it doesn't really work and yet another sad Disney movie moment is born. Of course, as a Disney movie, everything works out in the end and everyone lives happily ever after. Wouldn't have it any other way.
Go see it! Better yet, take your kids to see it! Make sure they watch the other two first. Overall, I'd say that # 3 was as good or better than the previous two films, but they're all great. Definitely the best movie I've seen in the theatre so far this year.
Go Disney!
Overall Grade : A+
Story : A
Acting : A
Direction : A+
Visuals : A+
A frequent complaint of mine about CG animated movies is that they are chock full of jokes that I feel are inappropriate for the younger audiences. I can't really think of any jokes in Toy Story 3 that stood out in this regard. Maybe all of us parents are so used to these things now that we just assume that anything in a cartoon must be okay for our kids to watch.... That being said, there are some hugely comedic moments in the film, such as the Mission Impossible- style plan to escape from the day care centre or the Mr. Tortilla Head scene. The scenes with Ken are just plain funny if you ever played with Barbie dolls as a kid or have young daughters who do. (I for one fall into the latter category, so keep the comments to yourself on this.)
The sad parts are I think what makes movies like this most memorable and make the comedic moments really sparkle in sharp contrast. I liked the way the characters have developed since the last movie. They seem almost like real people in that they have a sense of growing older and having been through so many trials and tribulations. One of my favorite scenes was at the very beginning when all the toys are trying to trick Andy (now a high school grad) into playing with them by hiding his cell phone in their toybox and making it ring. Of course it doesn't really work and yet another sad Disney movie moment is born. Of course, as a Disney movie, everything works out in the end and everyone lives happily ever after. Wouldn't have it any other way.
Go see it! Better yet, take your kids to see it! Make sure they watch the other two first. Overall, I'd say that # 3 was as good or better than the previous two films, but they're all great. Definitely the best movie I've seen in the theatre so far this year.
Go Disney!
Overall Grade : A+
Story : A
Acting : A
Direction : A+
Visuals : A+
Zombieland
I don't care for zombie movies. That's not to say that I've never seen a good one, but there are just so many out there that it's hard to distinguish one from another. 28 Days Later, Resident Evil, Dawn of the Dead, Land of the Dead, etc, etc. For the most part, I didn't dislike these movies, but I wouldn't call myself a Zombie Movie Fan. When I first heard about this movie, I immediately thought of an American version of Shaun of the Dead - what some have called the 'Zom-Com'. Turns out it's just as funny, but somehow very different in the delivery. For some reason, I actually found it a little more 'believeable'. It's really less about Zombies and more about people. I know that's probably exactly what the producers used as a buzz-line for the film, but hey - it's true. And it's good because of that.
Jesse Eisenberg is Columbus, a quirky, anal retentive teenager who has managed to survive the zombie apocalypse by being extremely paranoid and sticking to his list of 30 or so Rules of Zombieland. His performance isn't stellar, but the part seems custom tailored for his neo-Woody Allen style delivery. And speaking of Woody, Mr. Harrelson plays the role of Talllahassee, a likeable redneck turned pro zombie hunter. The chemistry between the two leads is quite good, even though it takes the end of the world to bring these two polar opposites together. The two actresses that round out the cast are perfect as well. It was sort of amusing to see the little girl from Little Miss Sunshine blasting away at the living dead with a 12 guage shotgun. Is there anything this 12 year-old can't do?
Although I wasn't expecting a lot, Zombieland turned out to be a fun diversion with more than a few genuine laughs. I highly recommend it to zombie movie fans everywhere. Even normal people might actually like it too.
Overall Grade : B+
Story : B+
Acting : A-
Direction : B+
Visuals : B
****************************************
There are a few other movies I'd like to review very soon - I'll have to get back to you when I've got a little more time on my hands, when I don't have a million other things to write about.
Did I mention my photography website, Rebel Alliance Photo ? Yeah, I'm pretty sure I did mention it, but I'm doing so again. I'll keep beating you over the head with it until you actually visit the site....and maybe hire me for a job.
Tune in next time for some more random weirdness. Until then...
May the Force be with you...
No comments:
Post a Comment