there's not much to say about it here. it is the same formula here as the first yet it still feels fresh and funny to me. i laughed just as much as the first one and felt satisfied at the end. cooper held the movie as the straight men as helms was very funny as the wild party man stu and zach g was still funny as alan and still got the most laughs. if you enjoyed the first one, you will enjoy this as well. if not, than don't bother. its worth the admission price for a night out at the movies. the best part again to me is the pics at the end, only i believe this time they were funnier, but definitely stay through to see them. ken jeong has more screen time in this one but i thought he was far more annoying in the first than here so its not much of a distraction. mike tyson does make another appearance as well and that scene was also very funny. so, like i said, i would recommend to anyone who enjoyed the first one and not to anyone who didn't.
Reviews
40 Reviews
Deal
(I) (2008)
A waste of time
24 April 2008
This is not in any way, shape, or form, a good film. It is your typical run of the mill story only played much worse than normal. I guess it's nice that they got a few real poker players in this, but that's all that is worth mentioning. It's already been said, but Shannon Elizabeth is in it for about 5 minutes and then they just do away with her character completely. Burt Reynolds is grabbing another paycheck and the main character is not at all convincing. If he is supposed to be that good, how come everyone knew what he had at the end. This movie is just weak, i wouldn't waste your time. Go ahead and rent Rounders or even Lucky You if you want a better poker film.
Definitely, Maybe
(2008)
great flick
16 February 2008
There are very few romantic comedies that can enter that clichéd world and come out unscathed, but this film somehow holds its head above the rest by giving you something most of these don't, a true sense of reality. The story is simple, a daughter wants her father to tell her how he met her mother, but he chooses a different approach. Instead, he gives her three different scenarios for her to figure which one is her real mother. The chemistry through the film with all the characters is very genuine and that truly helps the film gel. Ryan Reynolds was wonderful and tries to stay away from the stereotypical one liner spewing lead. Rachel Weisz, Isla Fisher, and Elizabeth Banks are also terrific as the women in his life. Also set around a real life situation which adds to the believability. The movie isn't flawless but it is a step above any other romantic comedy in the past few years. It's not overly sappy and has a satisfying and real conclusion. It is a date movie but I don't think the guys will be to terribly offended by what they are shown. I didn't believe that I would enjoy it as much as I did, but it really surprised me, and I am glad I decided to give it a shot, and I think you should to.
Strange Wilderness
(2008)
You already know
2 February 2008
Watching the preview for this movie, you already know whether you want to see it or if you will like it. In the same league as Grandma's Boy, this movie aims to appeal to that crowd. I personally really didn't like Grandma's Boy, but I found this one to be amusing. There is nothing new here, just some pretty ridiculous laughs if you are completely willing to let yourself be amused. I think with as good of a cast as they have here, they could have done better. Steve Zahn gets the most camera time and sometimes makes the most of it and sometimes falls flat. Allen Covert was his sound guy and not really used to great lengths as well as the rest of them. Kevin Heffernan was way underused, and the lines he got weren't that great. Jonah Hill almost suffered the same fate, but if you do enjoy his brand of humor, he has some good moments. The big surprise for me was Justin Long, who just keeps getting better in my opinion and who had me rollin as a goofball stoner. If you do plan on seeing it, I will warn you that it is absolutely ridiculous and if you can't enjoy this kind of humor, steer clear of it. It slows down toward the end, but at about an hour and 17 minutes complete running time, you should be able to handle it.
Untraceable
(2008)
Pretty Boring
25 January 2008
In a film like this one was promoted, the most desired effect would be some sort of tension, caring, or drama. The fact is, you are never given enough on any of the characters to really care. I honestly don't remember having ever been this bored through the first hour of a movie in a long time. It was more like a lame version of a crime show than anything. I remember when Live Free or Die Hard came out and I read a review stating how you cant make people typing on a computer that interesting. Well, that statement plays much better with this film. It was not interesting to me nor anyone in the theater the way it seemed. There isn't much mystery to the proceedings either, revealing the killer less than half way through without any twists or turns. Diane Lane has never seemed this bored to me either, now that I think about it. The few deaths that are scene are kind of brutal, but in the world of Saw and Hostel, they were pretty tame looking. The killer was terribly uninteresting. Nothing here plays for surprise. It is formulaic and predictable from start to finish, and you're not even wondering who will live or die, cause it's pretty spelled out for you. The best scenes are in the previews, and the only reason I gave it a 3 was it got a little better towards the end. It's not the worst movie you will ever see, but you won't remember it the next day either.
Cloverfield
(I) (2008)
Very Good and Thankfully not too Long.
18 January 2008
The reason I say thankfully not too long is that the hand-held cam is so headache inducing that it almost isn't worth having. But, without it the movie would lose what makes it so cool. Looking at the visuals like this really made it seem like it all was being destroyed. The best scenes are seen in the previews but they really are amazing to behold. It makes it all the more terrifying that it's happening in New York and it seems like another terrorist attack at first. The chaos is very cool when it is about, the running around, while necessary, very hard to keep watching. The monster is what it is. It's pretty cool I guess, but you really never get a great enough look to tell. To me it looked kinda like a oceanic praying mantis. There are some really well done intense scenes and pretty serious shocks. I really enjoyed the film and do recommend it. However, if the shaky hand-held cam makes you sick, you might want to avoid this one.
Awake
(2007)
Hitchcock lite, but not bad
1 December 2007
Warning: Spoilers
It's a shame that this movie has gotten very little publicity and probably will tank at the box office, because if you go into this with an open mind and not trying to figure out every little twist and turn, you,ve got yourself a very nice little thriller on your hands. The cast ill admit are not all top notch in the acting field, but believe it or not, work rather well. Terrence Howard is always good, Jessica Alba actually turns in a very decent performance, and Hayden Christensen is Annakin Skywalker as a billionaire. The movie is short and yet still does a pretty good job developing the characters. There are several twists and turns in this film; some easy to see coming, others surprising, and some not necessary. But you should appreciate the attempt whether or not you saw it coming. The story goes that Hayden is a billionaire who buys and sells companies and also continues to assure people work in the city. He has a heart attack at a young age so must be placed on the list for a donor heart. His father died when he was young and he now takes care of his mother who does not want to let him go. He has been dating Alba for a year and still has not told his mother for fear she will not approve. Skip some things to not give away too much plot details and they find him a donor heart. Once in surgery, they put him under for the transplant yet he can hear everything and feel everything that is happening to him while the surgery is going on. That is all I can give away. Please check this out if you can, it is a good thriller and deserves a look. Im sure some will be disappointed, but most should go into this and come out with a smile on their face.
Beowulf
(2007)
It's what I had hoped for
16 November 2007
Ill keep this short. I wanted to see this the second I had seen the previews and finally got my chance tonight. Is it perfect? No. But really, what is today? What this movie is is a visual feast, completely illuminating your senses around every turn. It is just an awesome display of animation and effects that you won't really notice much else. The battles are breathtaking. I saw in digital 3D and I bet that if I hadn't, my vote would have been lower. The story itself you probably have read. It's basically a three part poem and that's basically what the movie is as well. The performances here were fine for this story. My only beef is that they obviously had to add their own dialogue and ideas to make this into a film, I just kinda wished they delved more into his story. He is an awesome character, there is just so much skipped that I wish I knew more about the man. Anyway, see this in 3D with some friends and you should have a great time.
30 Days of Night
(2007)
I will keep this fairly simple
20 October 2007
There are few things that really stand out in this movie that I would consider a revamp (no pun intended) of the vampire horror film. However, this film would absolutely be a run of the mill horror vampire flick if not for a few contributing factors. First and foremost, the direction and cinematography were superb. It was very well shot. The Alaska backdrop just looks great on film and I commend David Slade for the atmosphere he brought into this film. Second, the acting was much better than most of these types of films. The vampires are brutal and played brutal. Josh Hartnett, in my opinion, played his part to perfection. Melissa George was great, as well as the rest of the cast. No one really hit a sour note with me. The gore in this film is awesome. I'm guessing that due to the dark setting of the film, the cgi wasn't blatantly obvious. There were some really great death scenes that are worth the price of admission. The bad is what most people have been saying. They go to quickly through the days and you would kinda like to know how they survived those days not shown. The experience isn't really much new and I definitely could have done without the vampires shrieking all the time. The ending will divide people, but im guessing that most will lean to the side of dislike. Overall a pretty good film. Id say it's worth a look.
Resident Evil: Extinction
(2007)
Entertaining
21 September 2007
Warning: Spoilers
Im not sure what video gamers were expecting when this series was turned into film. Just like books, comic books, and whatever else, the source material will more often than not be different from the film. However, that is not always a bad thing. Take Jurassic Park for instance. The movie was phenomenal, but nothing like the book. Anyways, the reason i'm saying this is because I myself have played the games and have enjoyed the movies quite a bit. Sure, there not masterpieces by any means, but I think they are time well spent to escape reality for a couple of hours. I think Milla plays a great heroine in distress and a serious badas s. The character development in this is non existent. You get a little speech to bring you up to speed, but if you haven't seen these before, you will be lost in the film. (A friend that I had brought asked me how Claire Redfield knew how to fly a helicopter.) But you're not in this movie for the character development. You want to see zombies die and Milla kick butt, and that is what this film delivers. There are some great scenes here and some pretty fun kills, not a whole lot that you haven't seen before, but still entertaining. The movie goes pretty quick and has some very nice things to add. Alice's telekinesis was very cool to watch, and I can see why she didn't get to use it a lot. A lot of the special effects were much better here than they were in previous films, and that was a definite plus. The bad is that it ends for another to be made, and this is supposed to be the last. A lot of main players lose their lives, and that's fine, cause the movie doesn't give you time to care for them. Nope, the main focus here is Milla and she delivers the goods. Good fights, good kills, not much logic, pretty decent special effects, and the greatest pot smoking scene in history make this worth seeing in my opinion. If you liked the first two, you should enjoy this just the same. Personally, I don't think any of them have been too bad.
P.s. why did they keep airbrushing Milla's face, she is entirely too beautiful for that.
P.s. why did they keep airbrushing Milla's face, she is entirely too beautiful for that.
Balls of Fury
(2007)
Funny in that forgettable way
29 August 2007
You know what this movie is going to offer going in. It's retarded funny and Christopher Walken is the greatest part of any movie he is in. I laughed throughout, never out loud, but all the way through. There were times when I found myself thinking about what I was going to do when it was over, but would focus back and continue laughing.
Dan Fogler is great. He looks like he was sucked straight out of the 80's. The master is a riot, Maggie Q is beautiful, and Tim Lennon is hilarious as always. The best laughs come from the cameos though. First, I never really thought Patton Oswalt was that funny, but he was cracking me up for the 5 minutes he was on screen. George Lopez was good, his best scene being in the hotel room when he wakes up in the middle of the night, hilarious. Diedrich Bader took the prize though. His portrayal of a actor thinking he was auditioning for a part and ending up a sex slave is one of the funniest things I've seen in a long time.
In the end though, it's all about the Walken. He is the man. You could easily tell he wasn't taking this seriously and he was having a blast doing so. The way the guy delivers lines just leaves you in stitches. Oh, and Aisha Tyler is so absurdly gorgeous that she should be in everything, if only for a minute.
To sum it up, it's worth a matinée one day when you have nothing else to do and a DVD rental for sure, and if you go in the right frame of mind, you should have a blast.
Oh, I forgot Jason Scott Lee. Hardly recognizable and very funny.
Dan Fogler is great. He looks like he was sucked straight out of the 80's. The master is a riot, Maggie Q is beautiful, and Tim Lennon is hilarious as always. The best laughs come from the cameos though. First, I never really thought Patton Oswalt was that funny, but he was cracking me up for the 5 minutes he was on screen. George Lopez was good, his best scene being in the hotel room when he wakes up in the middle of the night, hilarious. Diedrich Bader took the prize though. His portrayal of a actor thinking he was auditioning for a part and ending up a sex slave is one of the funniest things I've seen in a long time.
In the end though, it's all about the Walken. He is the man. You could easily tell he wasn't taking this seriously and he was having a blast doing so. The way the guy delivers lines just leaves you in stitches. Oh, and Aisha Tyler is so absurdly gorgeous that she should be in everything, if only for a minute.
To sum it up, it's worth a matinée one day when you have nothing else to do and a DVD rental for sure, and if you go in the right frame of mind, you should have a blast.
Oh, I forgot Jason Scott Lee. Hardly recognizable and very funny.
Superbad
(2007)
Expectations were too high
18 August 2007
The problem is simple. This movie has been being reviewed for a while now and everyone said the same thing, how hilarious it was. The truth is that is a funny movie, no doubt, and a lot of the humor here has not been used before, which made it fresh and original. However, as I felt it started off with a bang, it just slowed as it went along. A lot of the jokes take a huge setup and fall very flat. Its not that there bad ideas, they just don't feel like they were executed that well. I honestly believe that reading all the reviews made me not enjoy this as much and really just hyped it too hard.
But by no means is it bad. It was funnier than most movies nowadays and different. My favorite parts about these guys were how real they were. I loved it when they finally get to the party they've been trying to get to all night, and still have enough in them to have a great time. Seth is a jokester and the life of the party and Evan plays the nice guy but not a nerdy guy perfectly. These true to life moments really made this film for me and reminded me so much of my high school life. And for that I gave the movie a 7.
All in all, it's definitely worth seeing and you should enjoy, just don't overload your expectations cause you might be disappointed. In my opinion, Knocked Up was the funnier of the two.
But by no means is it bad. It was funnier than most movies nowadays and different. My favorite parts about these guys were how real they were. I loved it when they finally get to the party they've been trying to get to all night, and still have enough in them to have a great time. Seth is a jokester and the life of the party and Evan plays the nice guy but not a nerdy guy perfectly. These true to life moments really made this film for me and reminded me so much of my high school life. And for that I gave the movie a 7.
All in all, it's definitely worth seeing and you should enjoy, just don't overload your expectations cause you might be disappointed. In my opinion, Knocked Up was the funnier of the two.
Rush Hour 3
(2007)
More of the Same, but still not bad
9 August 2007
With all the complexities of the final installments of this years trilogies, this should be a welcome change of pace. Probably the worst of the series, but really not bad. Highly predictable were as I told the people I was sitting with who was behind it all and who the accomplices were. The movie in a whole is about an hour and twenty minutes. It has pretty humorous parts throughout and some good action scenes, but in all honesty, they could have been better. The chemistry between the two leads is still there which makes these movies fun in the first place. This was an unneeded yet entertaining entry into the series, but it is basically the love child of the first two. The outtakes as usual are the best part of the film. To wrap it up, if you enjoyed the first two, you will probably enjoy this one as well. Sure, you can see everything coming from a mile away but it still makes you laugh and still entertains. Take this for what it is and you will have a good time.
The Bourne Ultimatum
(2007)
Amazing Ending To A Great Trilogy
2 August 2007
Warning: Spoilers
Im going to keep this fairly brief as to not spoil anything for you. This movie is awesome. From beginning to end, it is filled with genuine thrills. The fight scenes are fantastic, the chase scenes are enthralling, and it moves at such a pace that it really only felt slow toward the end when things are explained, but that is only because everything that preceded it. Damon shines and really has proved a very solid actor, daring you not to believe him in this role. He is this role. A welcome addition to the series in David Straithrain (hope i spelled that close to right) as a seedy CIA agent out to kill Bourne. This is non stop and will truly leave you on the edge of your seat for most of the way. Some things toward the end are just a smidgeon preposterous, thus negating a 10 rating. The ending is left open for sequels and I sure hope that they consider doing more of these, for none have been bad. Excellent film all in all and a fantastic ending to an amazing trilogy.
P.S. The shaky cam did not hurt any of the action, but I still think we could do without it. The good news is, you only really notice it when people are talking and not so much the action.
P.S. The shaky cam did not hurt any of the action, but I still think we could do without it. The good news is, you only really notice it when people are talking and not so much the action.
The Simpsons Movie
(2007)
Utterly Hilarious
26 July 2007
I went into this film with the same skepticism as everyone else. Don't get me wrong, I love the Simpsons, but the show, as like any other would, has lost some steam throughout it's many years. So, obviously I as many others were wondering how would they pull of a feature film. Now, all I can say is WoW! This movie comes at you like a freight train. Yes, we did have a good fan crowd which always helps, but I did not see this one coming. I thought it would have random funny parts, but this was just wall to wall hilarity. I haven't laughed this hard in a long time. It's easily up there with knocked up as the funniest film this year, although it is two totally different kinds of humor.
The plot goes as this; Springfield's lake is being polluted by it's citizens and Lisa finally gets the message to the town so they clean it up. Unfortunately, Homer steps in and screws everything up, so Springfield is locked in a dome by the environmental protection agency. The townspeople come after Homer, The Simpsons escape, town gets threatened to be destroyed, simpsons return to save the day.
I'm not going to throw in the spoilers. This movie is utterly hilarious and only slightly lets up in the third act, which is saying a lot for comedies these days. The jokes fly fast that you find yourself laughing through most of the dialogue, and they are up to date and genuinely funny.
I didn't expect this movie to be this good and put it on my top ten for the year. Please see this, I don't see how you could be disappointed. Thanks to all involved for making this one of the best times I've had at the movies in quite a while.
The plot goes as this; Springfield's lake is being polluted by it's citizens and Lisa finally gets the message to the town so they clean it up. Unfortunately, Homer steps in and screws everything up, so Springfield is locked in a dome by the environmental protection agency. The townspeople come after Homer, The Simpsons escape, town gets threatened to be destroyed, simpsons return to save the day.
I'm not going to throw in the spoilers. This movie is utterly hilarious and only slightly lets up in the third act, which is saying a lot for comedies these days. The jokes fly fast that you find yourself laughing through most of the dialogue, and they are up to date and genuinely funny.
I didn't expect this movie to be this good and put it on my top ten for the year. Please see this, I don't see how you could be disappointed. Thanks to all involved for making this one of the best times I've had at the movies in quite a while.
Loved it
11 July 2007
I have not yet read any of these books but find myself very much engaged in the films. That being said, im not the best judge to the faithfulness of movie to book. However, I can say this, I loved this film. In my opinion it did go with less of the magic, which really made you feel what the kids were going through. The pacing is very good, slow in some parts, but overall good. The performances are much better this time around and it has quite a few stand up and clap moments. It is much better written and directed than the previous efforts, although azkaban is still my favorite, this would have to be second. The ending felt a little rushed and I wish there was more voldemort, but these are very little gripes for a great film truly pushing the limitations of children's story. It really makes you drool for the next picture, especially if you do not read the books. I really hope harry becomes this amazing wizard like it keeps promising and the final battle is full fledged amazing. We will see. Anyway, it's a beautiful film with great performances and dazzling special effects. This one really steers toward an older crowd and I feel younger children might get bored with it, but not us older kids. I don't want to spoil this for everyone, so ill just sum it up by saying that I don't feel this series is losing steam, just gearing up for an amazing finale, and if this transitional film has anything to say about it, I can't wait to see where it goes.
Knocked Up
(2007)
Thank You once again
2 June 2007
The 40 year old virgin was an instant classic and easily one of the funniest movies I had ever seen. It had a real life feel as well as great humor and a cast that gelled like they were truly friends their whole life. So I wondered how Judd Apatow could ever follow that. Well he has, and he has done it quite well.
Knocked Up is a great follow up to his earlier success. In my opinion, it is not as solidly funny as the virgin, but it does come close. Once again, the cast is just so good together that it just seems like you are watching someone's home movie, just filming their friends running around doing goofy things. The chemistry is amazing.
The jokes come fast and often work. There are a few misfires, but way more work than not. The ladies in this film are hilarious. Katherine Heigl does an amazing job as a level headed but semi wild working girl turned hormonally imbalanced pregnant rage of emotions. Leslie Mann practically steals the show, especially the great scene where she gets into it with a doorman at a nightclub.
The support that Rogen and Heigl get is also amazing. All Rogen's roommates play off each other so well, you almost wish they had more screen time. Paul Rudd and Seth Rogen together is comedy gold, especially when they go to vegas.
I could say a million praises to the film, but it's probably not anything you haven't heard already. The movie is over two hours long and never feels that way. It's a great date film with superb acting, a stretched yet believable story, and just loads of fun. Highly recommended.
Knocked Up is a great follow up to his earlier success. In my opinion, it is not as solidly funny as the virgin, but it does come close. Once again, the cast is just so good together that it just seems like you are watching someone's home movie, just filming their friends running around doing goofy things. The chemistry is amazing.
The jokes come fast and often work. There are a few misfires, but way more work than not. The ladies in this film are hilarious. Katherine Heigl does an amazing job as a level headed but semi wild working girl turned hormonally imbalanced pregnant rage of emotions. Leslie Mann practically steals the show, especially the great scene where she gets into it with a doorman at a nightclub.
The support that Rogen and Heigl get is also amazing. All Rogen's roommates play off each other so well, you almost wish they had more screen time. Paul Rudd and Seth Rogen together is comedy gold, especially when they go to vegas.
I could say a million praises to the film, but it's probably not anything you haven't heard already. The movie is over two hours long and never feels that way. It's a great date film with superb acting, a stretched yet believable story, and just loads of fun. Highly recommended.
Excellent
25 May 2007
Don't listen to anyone on this film prior to seeing it if you can. All I read about before going into this was how confusing it was, how long it was, and how slow it was. There is nothing confusing about this plot and this movie if you just pay attention. Their are double crosses abound and twists and turns aplenty, and they are all just part of the fun.
The film starts out with a clear and vivid explanation of why the pirates must fight. Every known pirate; man, woman, and child, are being hung for the acts. The only way to live as a pirate would be to fight back. As explained in the first two films, pirates are not trustworthy people, therefore double crosses and backstabs are bound to come up, and boy do they ever. You can't trust anyone, even those who you wouldn't suspect.
In my opinion the first hour is so much fun that it doesn't even feel drawn out or long. The second hour drags a tad, but not bad. The third hour, (yes, it's 3 hours long) is so remarkable it feels like it's ten minutes long. An amazing special effects sequence of two ships in a whirlpool that will leave you breathless.
Overall I thought the movie was wonderful and was left open for plenty more sequels. All previous loose ends were tied up but now more have been created. The fates of these peoples lives were very surprising and you are wanting to know after this one, what will happen next.
If you enjoyed the first two, you will enjoy this the same. I highly recommend seeing it. And there is plenty of humor in this one, a welcome return if you ask me. Enjoy.
The film starts out with a clear and vivid explanation of why the pirates must fight. Every known pirate; man, woman, and child, are being hung for the acts. The only way to live as a pirate would be to fight back. As explained in the first two films, pirates are not trustworthy people, therefore double crosses and backstabs are bound to come up, and boy do they ever. You can't trust anyone, even those who you wouldn't suspect.
In my opinion the first hour is so much fun that it doesn't even feel drawn out or long. The second hour drags a tad, but not bad. The third hour, (yes, it's 3 hours long) is so remarkable it feels like it's ten minutes long. An amazing special effects sequence of two ships in a whirlpool that will leave you breathless.
Overall I thought the movie was wonderful and was left open for plenty more sequels. All previous loose ends were tied up but now more have been created. The fates of these peoples lives were very surprising and you are wanting to know after this one, what will happen next.
If you enjoyed the first two, you will enjoy this the same. I highly recommend seeing it. And there is plenty of humor in this one, a welcome return if you ask me. Enjoy.
28 Weeks Later
(2007)
Not too bad
13 May 2007
Unfortunately for me there was nothing exceptional that really stood out for me, but there were some good moments in this sequel to 28 days later. Most of the action in this film is so hyper and it is just like the director stood right next to it and shook the camera around to make it seem insane. Im very tired of this type of filming. It really ruins movies for me nowadays. The setup dragged on a bit long and truthfully you don't see much of the infected except for a lot of running around. That being said however, there are some very killer moments in the last half that make up for all this.
POSSIBLE SPOILERS
The bombing and chemical weapon scenes were very cool. Their was a true intensity not seen in most horror movies today in these parts, and you really were not sure who would live and die. The nightvision gunscope scene was awesome. Very reminiscent of Blair Witch and The Descent, with a very serious tension I haven't felt in a while. And last but not least, the helicopter mutilation. The best death scene in any movie ever, period.
END POSSIBLE SPOILERS All in all it is worth the time and money to check this one out in the theater, but if there is a third, I truly hope they get rid of this shaky camera nonsense. I am aware it gives viewers the illusion if being straight in the mess, but i'd rather just be able to tell what was going on. Good flick, check it out.
POSSIBLE SPOILERS
The bombing and chemical weapon scenes were very cool. Their was a true intensity not seen in most horror movies today in these parts, and you really were not sure who would live and die. The nightvision gunscope scene was awesome. Very reminiscent of Blair Witch and The Descent, with a very serious tension I haven't felt in a while. And last but not least, the helicopter mutilation. The best death scene in any movie ever, period.
END POSSIBLE SPOILERS All in all it is worth the time and money to check this one out in the theater, but if there is a third, I truly hope they get rid of this shaky camera nonsense. I am aware it gives viewers the illusion if being straight in the mess, but i'd rather just be able to tell what was going on. Good flick, check it out.
Hot Fuzz
(2007)
Hot Fuzz Review
21 April 2007
There is a problem in my mind for someone like me when it comes to movies. I read into them a lot before I see them, especially reviews. Having that in mind, I have been all over this site as well as aintitcoolnews.com and rottentomatoes reading several reviews of this film before seeing it and realizing most to all of them were glowing.
In my opinion, I believe Shaun of the Dead to be one of the top ten funniest movies I have ever seen. It hit all the right notes with me, even when it turned into a real zombie movie toward the end. It was flawless in my eyes. So obviously it would be tough to have a follow up be that good. Kind of what happened with broken lizard. I saw super troopers first along with most people and thought it was hilarious, but what followed from those guys wasn't quite up to par with it, although I am one of the few that enjoyed club dread and really enjoyed beerfest, they just weren't super troopers.
So apparently going into this movie, I had high hopes. I wasn't completely disappointed, but I was a little. I felt the film drug on in spots and never was outright hilarious. There was a lot of fun to be had here, I just don't feel that it was taken full advantage of.
That's pretty much all the bad I have for it.
As for the good, there was plenty. These guys obviously have seen the movies they satire quite a few times. They are spot on with action clichés, anywhere from the bad boys circle cam to riding in on a horse, the gunfights and way over the top deaths. The pointing out one character who HAS to be the villain, It is all very clever. These two fellas work well together and obviously have a great sense of humor. I love the enthusiasm that they bring to the table, this one just did not work as well for me as Shaun of the Dead. Not saying it's bad, just saying if I loved Shaun of the Dead, I really enjoyed Hot Fuzz.
I do hope Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg pick out some more categories to poke fun at and I hope it stays fresh and fun. I do recommend this movie to anyone who thinks the trailer looks funny or enjoyed Shaun of the Dead. It definitely has it's moments, but I don't feel the jokes work quite as well as before. But go see it, cause there is fun to be had.
In my opinion, I believe Shaun of the Dead to be one of the top ten funniest movies I have ever seen. It hit all the right notes with me, even when it turned into a real zombie movie toward the end. It was flawless in my eyes. So obviously it would be tough to have a follow up be that good. Kind of what happened with broken lizard. I saw super troopers first along with most people and thought it was hilarious, but what followed from those guys wasn't quite up to par with it, although I am one of the few that enjoyed club dread and really enjoyed beerfest, they just weren't super troopers.
So apparently going into this movie, I had high hopes. I wasn't completely disappointed, but I was a little. I felt the film drug on in spots and never was outright hilarious. There was a lot of fun to be had here, I just don't feel that it was taken full advantage of.
That's pretty much all the bad I have for it.
As for the good, there was plenty. These guys obviously have seen the movies they satire quite a few times. They are spot on with action clichés, anywhere from the bad boys circle cam to riding in on a horse, the gunfights and way over the top deaths. The pointing out one character who HAS to be the villain, It is all very clever. These two fellas work well together and obviously have a great sense of humor. I love the enthusiasm that they bring to the table, this one just did not work as well for me as Shaun of the Dead. Not saying it's bad, just saying if I loved Shaun of the Dead, I really enjoyed Hot Fuzz.
I do hope Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg pick out some more categories to poke fun at and I hope it stays fresh and fun. I do recommend this movie to anyone who thinks the trailer looks funny or enjoyed Shaun of the Dead. It definitely has it's moments, but I don't feel the jokes work quite as well as before. But go see it, cause there is fun to be had.
300
(2006)
300 wow
9 March 2007
Ever since I saw King Leonidas scream this in the previews for this film, I have been foaming at the mouth for the chance to catch this movie. I was not disappointed. I sat in a stifling hot theater for two hours surrounded by a bunch of obnoxious high school kids and wished it would never end. This is not just a film, but truly an experience.
First off, the movie is beautiful. Every inch of every scene just radiates with beauty and magic, and it really made the movie that much better.
Gerard Butler shines as King Leonidas. The man obviously trained seriously to make the film and he brings so much to the table, I can't imagine him ever being able to top himself. It's too bad this kind of performance wont be remembered come awards time, because he truly had me ready to stand by his side and do battle. Not just him mind you, but everyone in this film were truly great.
The battle scenes were breathtaking and bold. They are not realistic like saving private ryan, but the way they are shot, slow motion to speed up, and the way the armies rip through each other is just a sight to behold. The blood splattering was definitely reminiscent of sin city, but that really does not effect it one bit.
My very limited negatives toward the movie are the xerxes character, whom I just thought looked like dennis rodman, and a couple of the creatures, which were not on screen for long enough to bother.
This movie is everything I wanted out of it and I can't wait to see it again.
First off, the movie is beautiful. Every inch of every scene just radiates with beauty and magic, and it really made the movie that much better.
Gerard Butler shines as King Leonidas. The man obviously trained seriously to make the film and he brings so much to the table, I can't imagine him ever being able to top himself. It's too bad this kind of performance wont be remembered come awards time, because he truly had me ready to stand by his side and do battle. Not just him mind you, but everyone in this film were truly great.
The battle scenes were breathtaking and bold. They are not realistic like saving private ryan, but the way they are shot, slow motion to speed up, and the way the armies rip through each other is just a sight to behold. The blood splattering was definitely reminiscent of sin city, but that really does not effect it one bit.
My very limited negatives toward the movie are the xerxes character, whom I just thought looked like dennis rodman, and a couple of the creatures, which were not on screen for long enough to bother.
This movie is everything I wanted out of it and I can't wait to see it again.
Black Christmas
(2006)
don't expect a lot and you won't be disappointed
25 December 2006
I have never seen the original, but I can still almost guarantee this is not a good homage to that film. As a matter of fact, it's not a good homage to horror films in general. It lacks any true scares or surprises because it is truly too short to set anything up. This is a good thing. The movie is poorly acted, but not near as bad as it could have been. So let me separate this into a couple of categories.
The Bad 1. Not Scary- there aren't really too many GOOD jump out scares and not even any real tension, which spells trouble for a horror movie.
2. No surprises- everything is truly spelled out for you in this film. No surprises, no twists, it's just there for you to watch.
3. Bad death scenes- most of the time they just showed blood splatter, and a couple of them were not a chance in hell possible.
4. Bad killer- just wasn't scary, had no emotion, especially after what had happened to him. He was there, that's it.
There is more than this, but those were the main problems for me. And now......
The Good 1. Run time- It was short and to the point, kinda like the Walking Tall for horror movies.
2. Background- after you see what the killer went through as a child, you understand why he is so messed up.
3. Humor- some of the death scenes were good, and it had a kinda satire feel to it. That can be taken as good or bad. But there was some times in this film that they were trying to make you laugh and succeeded.
4. Cheese entertainment- being in this movie was like being on a roller coaster, lots of 17 year old girls screaming. It had some moments that were fun, it was short, and a little bit entertaining. It's definitely a nothing else to do that afternoon kind of film, but it was absolutely made to scare a younger crowd and that's all.
In closing, if you have seen the original, don't see this, im sure you will be disappointed. If you like cheesy, goofy horror movies the likes of slither or maybe even dead alive, although that was much better, than you should enjoy this. If you are a teenage boy and want to take some girl to a movie, this is it. Im sure it will dismissed rather quickly and on DVD very fast.
The Bad 1. Not Scary- there aren't really too many GOOD jump out scares and not even any real tension, which spells trouble for a horror movie.
2. No surprises- everything is truly spelled out for you in this film. No surprises, no twists, it's just there for you to watch.
3. Bad death scenes- most of the time they just showed blood splatter, and a couple of them were not a chance in hell possible.
4. Bad killer- just wasn't scary, had no emotion, especially after what had happened to him. He was there, that's it.
There is more than this, but those were the main problems for me. And now......
The Good 1. Run time- It was short and to the point, kinda like the Walking Tall for horror movies.
2. Background- after you see what the killer went through as a child, you understand why he is so messed up.
3. Humor- some of the death scenes were good, and it had a kinda satire feel to it. That can be taken as good or bad. But there was some times in this film that they were trying to make you laugh and succeeded.
4. Cheese entertainment- being in this movie was like being on a roller coaster, lots of 17 year old girls screaming. It had some moments that were fun, it was short, and a little bit entertaining. It's definitely a nothing else to do that afternoon kind of film, but it was absolutely made to scare a younger crowd and that's all.
In closing, if you have seen the original, don't see this, im sure you will be disappointed. If you like cheesy, goofy horror movies the likes of slither or maybe even dead alive, although that was much better, than you should enjoy this. If you are a teenage boy and want to take some girl to a movie, this is it. Im sure it will dismissed rather quickly and on DVD very fast.
Crank
(2006)
go see this movie
5 September 2006
ill keep this simple. this movie is everything you are looking for. it is easily the most entertaining movie I've seen in a long time, maybe ever. why it didn't get more attention is beyond me. it is truly non stop from beginning to end, hilarious and action packed, it shocked me with how good it was. go see this movie. You could tell the cast was having a blast with this one. i have never been in a movie where everyone unanimously laughed and clapped at all the same parts. it was the best movie of the summer and will be well liked by women and men the same. i give it an 11 out of 10. i don't want to spoil anything for anyone, just see it.
Beerfest
(2006)
fun, with quite a few laughs
26 August 2006
Its not brilliant and it doesn't try to be. If you go into this movie knowing you are watching a movie called beerfest, you should have a good time. A lot of jokes flying fast and does not take itself seriously, which is a good thing sometimes. I mean, there was a lot of hyped movies this summer that really let down and took themselves too seriously, so sometimes its great to get a movie that knows it's dumb and revels in it. Lots of gratuitous nudity, cursing, and stupidity make this one a lot of fun. It may not have the great jokes like super troopers did, but it's just as funny. Perfect type of movie when you just need to let go for a couple hours. So, if you like broken lizard, watch this movie. If you don't, stop watching their movies and complaining that they're not funny. I give it a 7 just cause it took my mind off reality for a while and I laughed quite a bit.
Survives the Hype
7 July 2006
It is almost impossible in the age of cinema today to live up to the hype that is brought upon blockbuster movies. It is even harder to make a sequel to the ones that actually do, and still make it a great movie. Sequel are much harder because you working with something that isn't original, and still trying to capture what made the first one so great. Well POTC 2 delivers what we have been hoping for. It is the first time in a long time where a sequel has felt original to me, like it was its own movie without the first. Granted, it is a direct continuation, but still feels new. Johnny Depp reprises his Jack Sparrow role with as much fun as he did the first time around and once again steals the show. The action scenes are excellent, although I do feel they used the beast a little too much toward the end. The other players all have their moments and it all comes together quite nicely. The effects this time around, mainly of Davy Jones and his crew, are quite good. I really don't want to give too much away toward plot and what not so Ill close it like this. The sequel is not quite as good as the original, but still excellent. The running time is very long, but it goes by fairly well, and the returning members from the original really make this worth seeing. Its true what you've heard, this does end on a cliffhanger, but a great one that is worth cheering for, and definitely makes you want more. I cant wait for part 3.
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