Spanks - 3
Director - Roland Emmerich
Writer - Roland Emmerich & Harald Kloser
Starring - John Cusack, Amanda Peet, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Thandie Newton & Oliver Platt
Release Date - 13 November 09
MPAA Rating - PG-13
Roland Emmerich's latest disaster film, 2012, is full of plot holes, bad dialog, impossible situations, and some out of order editing; but damn is it a fun movie! Instead of giant flying saucers, a nuclear mutated lizard, or an ice age the cause or the disaster is solar flares and shifting in the Earth's tectonic plates.
The film has the luckiest character ever created in Hollywood. John Cusack plays a poor divorced writer/limo driver who survives earthquakes, fires, and any "red shirt" doesn't; not once, or twice. I lost count half way through. Each time it gets more comical (I don't think that was the filmmakers intent). I am not going to say how, but some will entertain you and others will just make you want to jump ship. The dialog is equally as comical. With Cusack saying things like "When they tell you not to panic... that's when you run!" or his son says "Woah, big plane." and the Russian billionaire who owns it replys "It's Russian." The entire two and a half hour movie is written in this manner.
The film is all about showing off computer special effects technology. Most of the movie is CGI and the filmmakers have even said that it is more of an animated film because of how much isn't real. The effects do look better (and more real) then they did in the trailers but like the Star Wars prequel trilogy they just showed off and made it way to busy. Because of this, it takes away the realness of the disaster and destruction. All the modern digital special effects in the world will never beat the simple but very awesome destruction created with practical effects in Independence Day.
The only reason to watch this film is because you like disaster movies. That is the best part of the movie. The only way to watch it is in a theater or on a big HDTV with a kick ass home theater system. Any other way would be pointless.
16 November 2009
12 November 2009
The Men Who Stare at Goats
Spanks - 4
Director - Grant Heslov
Writer - Peter Straughan and Jon Ronson
Starring - George Clooney, Ewan McGregor, Jeff Bridges, Kevin Spacey & Stephen Lang
Release Date - 6 November 09
MPAA Rating - R
The Men Who Stare at Goats is inspired by the top secret true story of the United States military and its attempts to use psychic powers in a group of soldiers as told in the book by Jon Ronson.
The film follows reporter Bob Wilton, who meets Lyn Cassady in Kuwait. Bob knows about Lyn's involvement as a psychic spy from one of his previous articles After the two men meet, Lyn invites him to write a story about his new mission, that brought him out of retirement, in Iraq. The film also tells about the creation of the New Earth Army that Lyn was an original member of.
The humor in the movie is very dark and weird. It is definitely not your typical comedy. It is funny, but only if you are interested in off beat comedy. Jeff Bridge's Bill Django character is his funniest since The Dude. George Clooney can play a wacko and should continue to stick with these kind of roles and refrain from playing the action hero.
Director - Grant Heslov
Writer - Peter Straughan and Jon Ronson
Starring - George Clooney, Ewan McGregor, Jeff Bridges, Kevin Spacey & Stephen Lang
Release Date - 6 November 09
MPAA Rating - R
The Men Who Stare at Goats is inspired by the top secret true story of the United States military and its attempts to use psychic powers in a group of soldiers as told in the book by Jon Ronson.
The film follows reporter Bob Wilton, who meets Lyn Cassady in Kuwait. Bob knows about Lyn's involvement as a psychic spy from one of his previous articles After the two men meet, Lyn invites him to write a story about his new mission, that brought him out of retirement, in Iraq. The film also tells about the creation of the New Earth Army that Lyn was an original member of.
The humor in the movie is very dark and weird. It is definitely not your typical comedy. It is funny, but only if you are interested in off beat comedy. Jeff Bridge's Bill Django character is his funniest since The Dude. George Clooney can play a wacko and should continue to stick with these kind of roles and refrain from playing the action hero.
27 October 2009
Where the Wild Things Are
Spanks - 4
Director - Spike Jonze
Writer - Spike Jonze & Dave Eggers
Starring - Max Records & Catherine Keener
Voices - Catherine O'Hara, Forest Whitaker, Lauren Ambrose & James Gandolfini
Release Date - 16 October 09
MPAA Rating - PG
It took 46 years for Where the Wild Things Are to be adapted into a motion picture. After many failed attempts at making it a computer animated film, director Spike Jonze, who Maurice Sendak said "was young, interesting and had a spark that none of the others had", was hired to make it with actors and puppets and it couldn't have been done better.
The story is of Max. Max is a ten year old boy who has a very creative imagination and acts like your regular New Jersey ten year old would. His rambunctious mindset gets the best of him one evening which causes alarm for his mother. After his mother yells at him he runs out of the house. He then finds a boat and sails to an island. On the island he befriends a character named Carol and his group of friends.
The visuals used to create this world are what makes this movie great. The fact that the Wild Things where made and actually exist is even more exciting. They could have easily made seven Jar Jar Binks in the computer, but they took the time and craftsmanship to build all seven costumes, and you can tell.
The film is childish at times, but it is an adventure taken from the point of view a ten year old boy. The dialog isn't great, but think of the book and how the story is told more through the pictures then the words. If you go expecting a typical Disney film, you will be greatly disappointed. Remember how the book is, and watch the film as if the book is being projected onto the screen.
Director - Spike Jonze
Writer - Spike Jonze & Dave Eggers
Starring - Max Records & Catherine Keener
Voices - Catherine O'Hara, Forest Whitaker, Lauren Ambrose & James Gandolfini
Release Date - 16 October 09
MPAA Rating - PG
It took 46 years for Where the Wild Things Are to be adapted into a motion picture. After many failed attempts at making it a computer animated film, director Spike Jonze, who Maurice Sendak said "was young, interesting and had a spark that none of the others had", was hired to make it with actors and puppets and it couldn't have been done better.
The story is of Max. Max is a ten year old boy who has a very creative imagination and acts like your regular New Jersey ten year old would. His rambunctious mindset gets the best of him one evening which causes alarm for his mother. After his mother yells at him he runs out of the house. He then finds a boat and sails to an island. On the island he befriends a character named Carol and his group of friends.
The visuals used to create this world are what makes this movie great. The fact that the Wild Things where made and actually exist is even more exciting. They could have easily made seven Jar Jar Binks in the computer, but they took the time and craftsmanship to build all seven costumes, and you can tell.
The film is childish at times, but it is an adventure taken from the point of view a ten year old boy. The dialog isn't great, but think of the book and how the story is told more through the pictures then the words. If you go expecting a typical Disney film, you will be greatly disappointed. Remember how the book is, and watch the film as if the book is being projected onto the screen.
16 October 2009
Zombieland
Spanks - 4
Director - Ruben Fleischer
Writer - Rhett Reese & Paul Wernick
Starring - Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone & Abigail Breslin
Release Date - 2 October 09
MPAA Rating - R
Zombieland is a comedy about a group of human survivors that come together after the world is destroyed from most of the population being turned into zombies. The four of them are in search of completely different things until they are all brought together. Wichita and Little Rock are on their way to Pacific Playland, an amusement park in California, that is rumored to be zombie free. Tallahassee and Columbus decide to go there too after the girls attempt to steal their car.
Throughout the film Columbus tells us his rules for staying alive in Zombieland. Some of them are what you would expect, but the ones that you don't expect are funny. The way they are described and shown is an added comedic treat.
The movie is hysterical. I laughed the whole time. It has an awesome cameo and Tallahassee's original search is brilliant and unexpected (both I won't ruin for you). It also has a few scenes that can be scary, but when you are closing your eyes or hiding behind your neighbor in the next seat you will be laughing your ass off. How many movies do you know that can do that to you?
Director - Ruben Fleischer
Writer - Rhett Reese & Paul Wernick
Starring - Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone & Abigail Breslin
Release Date - 2 October 09
MPAA Rating - R
Zombieland is a comedy about a group of human survivors that come together after the world is destroyed from most of the population being turned into zombies. The four of them are in search of completely different things until they are all brought together. Wichita and Little Rock are on their way to Pacific Playland, an amusement park in California, that is rumored to be zombie free. Tallahassee and Columbus decide to go there too after the girls attempt to steal their car.
Throughout the film Columbus tells us his rules for staying alive in Zombieland. Some of them are what you would expect, but the ones that you don't expect are funny. The way they are described and shown is an added comedic treat.
The movie is hysterical. I laughed the whole time. It has an awesome cameo and Tallahassee's original search is brilliant and unexpected (both I won't ruin for you). It also has a few scenes that can be scary, but when you are closing your eyes or hiding behind your neighbor in the next seat you will be laughing your ass off. How many movies do you know that can do that to you?
30 September 2009
9
Spanks - 4
Director - Shane Acker
Writer - Pamela Pettler & Shane Acker
Voices - Christopher Plummer, Martin Landau, John C. Reilly, Crispin Glover, Jennifer Connelly, Fred Tatasciore & Elijah Wood
Release Date - 9 September 2009
MPAA Rating - PG-13
9 is the first full length animated film from director Shane Acker and it is based off the original short film he made in 2005. The film takes place just after the fall of humanity when the 9th of a scientist "stitchpunks" comes to life. He finds a talisman next to him and picks it up then sets out to find out what this object is and why he was created. He quickly finds another like him who says there are more stitchpunks before he gets attacked and taken away. And the mystery of this world continues to unfold.
9 has a very unique look created by Acker and his animators. The world they created looks a lot more real than the animated features by Pixar, Dreamworks, etc. The "camera" work also has the fell of a live action movie with the use of zooms and focuses. The world is steampunk like in that it looks like it is set in the first half of the 20th century, but the technology is similar to today. Its very different than any other animated film.
The film moves along fast and it doesn't slow down for one second. Most films have few scenes that are slow and mess up its pacing, but not 9. The stitchpunks face some kind of danger the whole way through and it keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole film, I can't wait to watch it again.
Director - Shane Acker
Writer - Pamela Pettler & Shane Acker
Voices - Christopher Plummer, Martin Landau, John C. Reilly, Crispin Glover, Jennifer Connelly, Fred Tatasciore & Elijah Wood
Release Date - 9 September 2009
MPAA Rating - PG-13
9 is the first full length animated film from director Shane Acker and it is based off the original short film he made in 2005. The film takes place just after the fall of humanity when the 9th of a scientist "stitchpunks" comes to life. He finds a talisman next to him and picks it up then sets out to find out what this object is and why he was created. He quickly finds another like him who says there are more stitchpunks before he gets attacked and taken away. And the mystery of this world continues to unfold.
9 has a very unique look created by Acker and his animators. The world they created looks a lot more real than the animated features by Pixar, Dreamworks, etc. The "camera" work also has the fell of a live action movie with the use of zooms and focuses. The world is steampunk like in that it looks like it is set in the first half of the 20th century, but the technology is similar to today. Its very different than any other animated film.
The film moves along fast and it doesn't slow down for one second. Most films have few scenes that are slow and mess up its pacing, but not 9. The stitchpunks face some kind of danger the whole way through and it keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole film, I can't wait to watch it again.
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