28 February 2010

Cop Out

Spanks - 4

Director - Kevin Smith

Writer - Robb Cullen & Mark Cullen

Starring - Bruce Willis, Tracy Morgan, Kevin Pollak, Adam Brody, Guillermo Díaz, Seann William Scott & Ana de la Reguera

Release Date - 26 February 2010

MPAA Rating - R

Cop Out is the latest film from New Jersey native Kevin Smith, and it is his first that he did not write himself. The only connection to Smith's View Askewniverse is that Jason Lee plays a very small roll, so don't expect to see Jay and Silent Bob anywhere.

The film is about two detectives who have been partners for nine years. Paul (Tracy Morgan) thinks his wife is cheating on him and Jimmy (Bruce Willis)has his daughter's wedding coming up. To pay for the wedding Jimmy plans on selling his mint condition 1952 baseball card of Andy Pafko. At the baseball card shop, Dave (Seann William Scott) robs the place, tasers Jimmy and steals his card. Paul and Jimmy use their knowledge from nine years on the force to get back his baseball card and find out if Paul's wife is cheating on him.

Cop Out is the second funniest cop movie of the 2000's behind Hot Fuzz. The theater was full and everyone was laughing from beginning to end. Tracy Morgan is as hysterical as always. Bruce Willis is a funny John McClain. Seann William Scott continues to make me laugh even though Stiffler was annoying and not funny at all.

The plot isn't anything original and great, but it is a fun buddy cop movie. The type that we have not seen since the 80's and early 90's. The score reminded me of the scores from all the classic '80s cop movies, and is scored by the guy who scored Beverly Hills Cop. Go see this movie to just laugh.

22 February 2010

Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief

Spanks - 4

Director - Chris Columbus

Writer - Craig Titley

Starring - Logan Lerman, Brandon T. Jackson and Alexandra Daddario

Release Date - 12 February 2010

MPAA Rating - PG

Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief is based on the book of the same name written by Rick Riordan. The story follows Percy Jackson who is a regular teenager living in New York City who finds out he is the son of Poseidon, the God of the Sea. Percy finds out who he is, because he is attacked by a fury disguised as a substitute teacher on a field trip who wants him to give her the stolen lightning bolt of Zeus. Another of his teachers is Chiron in disguise who tells him who he is and that the Gods will start a war in 14 days if the lightning bolt isn't returned to Zeus. Percy and two of his friends set out to find the stolen bolt and save humanity from the gods war.

The film is great the whole family can enjoy. There was never a time where I was bored or thought it was too childlike. It wasn't as predictable as most family movies I have seen and reviewed either. Creatures from Greek Mythology are all over the movie and could be a good way to introduce your children to these stories and gets your reacquainted with them.

There is one part of the movie that was so bad it was funny when it happened, but in the end it made a little bit of sense. This is the part in Las Vegas. The song used in this sequence is Poker Face by Lady Gaga. It is so out of context in the film, that if you hear all the lyrics of the song, which adds cheeseyness of it. This is the only complaint I have about the film. I see the books 4 sequels (so far) being made in the coming years.