23 November 2008

Role Models

Spanks - 3.5

Director - David Wain

Writers - Paul Rudd, David Wain, Ken Marino & Timothy Dowling

Starring - Seann William Scott, Paul Rudd, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Bobb'e J. Thompson, Jane Lynch & Elizabeth Banks

Release Date - 7 November 2008

MPAA Rating - R

The Role Models trailer is not an accurate portrayal of the film. The trailer made the film look dumb. That is completely wrong. It is a prime example of bad marketing. The film was very funny. I was laughing the whole entire movie. The film is about two guys, Danny and Wheeler, who work for an energy drink company who drive around promoting it at schools. They get arrested and are given the choice of 30 days in jail or 150 hours working in a Big Brother program called Sturdy Wings. They are given the two worst kids in the program and if they can not complete the hours they go to jail.

Bobb'e J. Thompson who plays Ronnie steals the show whenever he is on screen. Jane Lynch, who played the store manager in The 40 Year Old Virgin, is the ex-con who runs the Big Brother program is one of the strangest (but hysterical) characters in a film in a long time.

To warn you, there is lots of bad language in the film, more than Zack and Miri. That does not take away from all the laughs. Role Models is a movie to watch when you just want to laugh and laugh a lot.

17 November 2008

Quantum of Solace

Spanks - 4

Director - Marc Forster

Writers - Paul Haggis, Neal Purvis & Robert Wade

Starring - Daniel Craig, Olga Kurylenko, Mathieu Amalric, Judi Dench & Giancarlo Giannini

Release Date - 14 November 2008

MPAA Rating - PG

Quantum of Solace is the 22nd official James Bond film. It takes place immediately following the events in Casino Royale. Bond captures Mr. White and during his interrogation he escapes with the help of a traitor (who was M's bodyguard). Bond and M learn very little of the organization Quantum and using forensics from the traitor starts Bond's hunt to find out more about Quantum and to bring them down.

The film runs like a Bond film. He has no regard to public property, he doesn't give up, he doesn't follow orders, he uses his license to kill often and he gets the girls. I heard people saying that it didn't feel like a Bond film and it was just a spy thriller, but it felt very Bond to me.

The visual effects are still real and not 100 percent CGI. Some of the action sequences were similar to each other, which I didn't like and the one in Haiti was cut to quickly to tell what was happening, but those were the only 2 small problems I had with the action.

The film has nothing new and groundbreaking in the film making techniques, but who cares, not all movies need to be. It is a very fun film to watch, and very much worth seeing. It made me wish I was as awesome as James Bond. It is the best action film since Hellboy 2 and The Dark Knight and I can't think of any that will be this good until next summer.

16 November 2008

Bolt

Spanks - 4

Director - Chris Williams and Byron Howard

Writers - Dan Fogelman and Chris Williams

Voices - John Travolta, Miley Cyrus, Susie Essman, Mark Walton & Malcolm McDowell

Release Date - 21 November 2008

MPAA Rating - PG

I saw the sneak preview of Bolt, and Disney Animation is getting back to what they used to be. They have had a lot of unmemorable animated films since the Lion King in 1994, but Bolt and 2007's Meet the Robinsons have given me faith in them once again. Bolt is being released in traditional theaters and in Digital Real D stereoscopic 3D. I saw it in 3D, and it you have a theater with a digital projector you should see it in 3D as well. I am sure it will be just as good in a regular theater unlike Journey to the Center of the Earth.

The film is about a television show dog named Bolt who has lived on set his whole life and believes he has the superpowers from the show. Bolt's world gets turned around when he accidentally gets shipped to New York City. He doesn't understand what is happening and kidnaps a cat called Mittens because he believes she is working with Dr. Calico (Bolt's nemeses) and she can lead him back to Penny (Bolt's human) in Hollywood.

The film is great for any age. The theater had people from as little kids to grandparents. It is very funny, everyone in the theater was laughing. Rhino, the hamster who joins the adventure, steals the show. As any animated feature it is easily predictable, but that does not take away from the entertainment or ruin the film.

03 November 2008

My Name Is Bruce

Spanks - 4.5

Director - Bruce Campbell

Writers - Mark Verheiden

Starring - Bruce Campbell, Grace Thorsen, Taylor Sharpe and Ted Raimi

Release Date - 31 October 2008 (Limited Release)

MPAA Rating - R

My Name is Bruce a horror film starring Bruce Campbell as Bruce Campbell, but a loser/alcoholic version of himself. In the town of Gold Luck Oregon, the Chinese god of war Guan-Di (who is also the protector of the dead) is accidentally released by the local teenagers. Guan-Di starts killing the residents and to stop him Jeff (the one who releases Guan-Di) kidnaps Bruce Campbell thinking he can really stop and kill demons like in the Evil Dead movies. Campbell thinks its his birthday present from his agent so he plays along until he realizes Guan-Di is not a guy in a rubber suit.

The film is cheesy in every way to give it the B movie feel. Since Bruce Campbell is "the greatest actor of his generation" and the king of B movies this works. It isn't full of inside jokes that only people who have seen all of Campbell's movies would get, there are a couple. The film will not come close to winning an Academy Award, but its tremendously entertaining and the funniest film to come out since Tropic Thunder. If Army of Darkness is on your list of favorite movies you will love this film. If it isn't, get the DVD's of both films, because they are awesome.



This film is playing at a very limited release. It is playing the Ritz at the Bourse in Philadelphia and Sunshine Cinema in New York City at the time of publication.

RocknRolla

Spanks - 4

Director - Guy Ritchie

Writers - Guy Ritchie

Starring - Gerard Butler, Tom Wilkinson, Thandie Newton, Jeremy Piven & Chris Bridges

Release Date - 31 October 2008

MPAA Rating - R

Rocknrolla is similar to other Guy Richie films. Its characters are gangsters or criminals. It involves drugs, double crosses, heist, guns, torture, and sex. The film is very complex, like Snatch and Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels, but it all comes together at the end and makes sense. It is set in London is about buying real estate to sell for more. All is going well for criminals who are scamming to get rich in real estate, until a "lucky" painting is stolen.

Being very a very complex movie, it is hard to follow at times. Its one of those movies you have to get on DVD when release to watch again, because you are sure to miss something. Don't let this discourage you from seeing it, as it is a well made film and you will enjoy it.

02 November 2008

Zack and Miri Make a Porno

Spanks - 3.5

Director - Kevin Smith

Writers - Kevin Smith

Starring - Seth Rogen, Elizabeth Banks, Craig Robinson, Jason Mewes, Traci Lords, Jeff Anderson and Katie Morgan

Release Date - 31 October 2008

MPAA Rating - R

Zack and Miri Make a Porno is the second film by Kevin Smith that takes place out of the Jay and Silent Bob universe (known as the View Askewniverse). Zack and Miri are high school friend who share an apartment, but do not make enough money to pay the bills. After their electricity and water gets shut off and a conversation with someone at the 10 year high school reunion, they decide that if they make a porno they could make enough money to catch up on the bills and not get evicted from the apartment. Do they succeed, I won't tell.

The film follows the rules of a Chick Flick, but with the Kevin Smith twist too it. It isn't nearly as funny as Clerks or Dogma, but way funnier than Jersey Girl (although I would much rather make a porno with Liv Tyler than Elizabeth Banks). The closest comparison would be Chasing Amy.

The film is full of foul language so I wouldn't bring a kid or a grandmom to see this. Just come with your girlfriend or wife, and you will have a good time. The film is hysterical. I did laugh the whole time, as did the everyone in the full theater. There are great cameos from Justin Long, Jim Norton, and Brandon Routh. Stay for the credits, there is a very funny scene put in there.