Saturday, March 22, 2008

Drillbit Taylor

2008 * PG-13 * Comedy
Owen Wilson * Leslie Mann

This movie has heart. I really enjoyed watching this one. Three nerdy kids embark on the intimidating journey into high school. After being picked on by some bullies, the boys hire a body guard (Wilson). The actors who play the three freshmen are very funny and believable too. Owen Wilson is his usual hilarious self. As a good friend of mine notes on Wilson's characters, "He only has one character--but I love it every time." I couldn't agree more! His unique delivery and comedic timing are really fun to watch. This one won't win any awards, but it will give you a good 2 hours.

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Horton Hears a Who!

2008 * G * Animated/Comedy
Jim Carrey * Steve Carell * Carol Burnett

I was never actually interested in this movie. I am not really an animation type of guy. Plus, I don't get Dr. Seuss. Why so popular? Alas, my mother, who I wanted to treat to a movie, really wanted to see this movie. That being said, during the movie, I was never quite interested. It didn't do anything to draw me in. I think it was a good movie with big stars doing solid voice over work, but I never was moved to think or feel anything during the 90 minutes it took to watch. All of this being said, there is something to be in a theatre with LOTS of little kids laughing and giggling. It was also quite something to see my mom look at the other moms who brought their "little babies" to the movie when she was so proud and glad to be doing the same thing with her 30-something baby. It was well worth my time!

Never Back Down

2008 * PG-13 * Action/Adventure
Sean Faris * Amber Heard * Cam Gigandet

This movie was poor. I know what you're thinking. 'No kidding, it was poor. We saw the preview.' I did too, and I was bored. This movie is this generation's Karate Kid. I feel sorry for this generation. The Karate Kid should have won an Oscar when compared to this movie. When I say this movie was like the Karate Kid, I mean the exact same plot points. You doubt me? (Spoiler Alert!) Listen to this: kid moves to new town, kid is soon beat up by classmates who like to fight, boy begins to train with foreign master, who by the way doesn't want him to fight outside the gym, kid likes girl even though he shouldn't stand a chance because said girl is involved or has a history with kid's main rival, there's a tournament that will finally settle the score, kid and rival fight, kid wins and get the girl. Sound familiar? As an avid mixed martial arts fan, I was also disappointed. Does Hollywood or mainstream America really believe MMA is only for crazy people with mohawks? Do they think that a MMA fight on concrete is really feasible. C'mon America. Catch up with the beauty that is MMA! Please don't judge me for seeing this movie.

Saturday, March 15, 2008

Doomsday

2008 - R - Action/Sci-Fi
Rhona Mitra * Bob Hoskins

This movie is not for the faint of heart! To say this movie is gory is a major understatement. This movie is Mad Max meets Outbreak meets punk rock! As far as evaluating this movie goes, all I can say is, it is interesting. Personally, I kind of enjoyed this bizarre, post-apocalyptic type film. I willingly admit that most people will not prefer this movie. Rhona Mitra plays an elite, combat police officer in the year 2035. A virus is destroying the city, and she has to enter a previously quarantined area in search of a vaccine. She does a pretty good job, especially considering most people only know her from the TV show Boston Legal. This movie had so much potential but didn't really deliver on that. As a good friend who was with me said, "Its like this movie was directed by two different people." I have to agree. Just when you kind of settle in to what this movie is, there is a major change that I don't think anybody is expecting. Question to ponder: When did fast moving, dizzying camera work equal good fight scenes?

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Be Kind Rewind

2008 - PG13 - Comedy
Jack Black * Mos Def

This is a very funny and quirky movie. Oh, how refreshing it is to see creativity coming out of Hollywood. This film certainly separates itself from the other tired, repeated films of the last twenty years. What happens when all the films in your video store get erased? What do you do when your customers still want their videos? You make your own versions of said movies. This is where the creativity and hilarity unfolds. Jack Black is his usual funny, over-the-top likable self. But Mos Def steals the show. He is both funny and deep. Simple yet complex. Def is certainly turning into a fine actor. This is his third, at least, truly great performance (16 Blocks, Something the Lord Has Made). So go out and see this movie (if you can find it), and tell your friends about it. This is the kind of movie that needs to do well and be celebrated, not the usual mindless drivel that our culture has gravitated towards lately.

Friday, March 7, 2008

The Bank Job

2008 - R - Drama/Adventure
Jason Statham * Saffron Burrows

This movie took awhile to draw me in. Be patient. After an average to slow start, it really picks up. This movie, based on a true story, is filled with the seedy underbelly of crime and corrupt government officials. It is also filled with a good bit of drama and suspense. Its a realistic thriller. You're constantly trying to figure out who are the bad guys and who are the good guys. Occasionally, they're both at the same time. There are lots of interesting characters that do a sufficient job at getting you to care for them. This movie is not for the faint of heart for sure. Saying it's dark is an understatement. But I really enjoyed it.

10,000 B.C.

2008 - PG-13 - Drama
Steven Strait * Camilla Belle

This movie under delivered. I still think it can be somewhat enjoyed as leave-your-brain-at-the-door popcorn theater. The upside of this film: a time frame rarely portrayed in the movies. The downsides are mechanical acting, poor dialogue, and flawed plot points. The story line does follow the ever so familiar plot line of man falls for woman that he cannot have, tension ensues, man pursues woman, etc. So, see this one at your own risk. At best, its a renter.

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Unknown White Male

2005 - Documentary
Doug Bruce
This documentary features a man named Doug. Picture a man who "awakens" on a New York subway realizing that he has no idea who he is. He is not old, or sick, or poor. He has no form of identification. What do you do? Where do you go? Who do you turn too? Doug faces this unreal journey into trying to regain his memory and by that his old self. During this journey he develops and forms a "new" Doug - a new personality. This extremely well made, short film focuses on the big questions like, who are we? What makes us who we are? Are we better off without our negative, life-changing memories in our past even though by losing them, we lose who we were? As this journey is chronicled experts and friends of Doug alike all speculate on the why behind the story. Also, it is quite interesting to see his old friends try to navigate where they stand with this new Doug in his new life. Doug also discovers many of life's normal offerings for the first time--snow, fireworks, and the ocean. Its a great little film, and you should watch it. And besides, we all need more documentaries in our life that make us think!

The Other Boleyn Girl

2008 - PG-13 - Drama
Natalie Portman * Scarlett Johansson
This was a spectacularly acted movie. It was a very compelling story that really allowed you to feel what each character in particular was going through. I typically enjoy period pieces, and this was no different. This movie was highlighted by two spectacular acting jobs by Scarlett Johanssen and Natalie Portman. But they are not alone in their tremendous performances. There are many powerful roles played by very capable actors, famous or not.

Vantage Point

2007 - PG-13 - Drama
Dennis Quaid * Matthew Fox * Forest Whitaker
This was a fairly creative movie. Taking one series of events and showing it through several different sets of eyes. The theater I was in was beginning to lose patience midway through the film. There were many loud sighs. I feel like this was due to the fact that the American movie audience has been trained to have everything spelled out for them instead of rather thinking and going through a bit of a process or discovery during the film.

Semi-Pro

2008 - R - Comedy
Will Ferrell * Woody Harrelson * Andre Benjamin
This movie is going to do quite well at the box office, but is quite ordinary. I really didn't enjoy it even though I really wanted to like it. It was a mish mash of bizarre characters and events, but little else tying them together neatly. I think they may have filmed it in 2 weeks. Unfortunately for movie goers, the deodorant ads using main character Jackie Moon are much more amusing. Don't get me wrong, there are a few good laughs, but a lot of lulls are present too. Woody Harrelson, Andre Benjamin and Will Arnett definitely have their moments alongside Will Ferrell. Alas, overacting and a way too common movie theme (especially for Ferrell) just didn't hit the mark.