This weekend it was off to the pictures--a week late, as has become my norm--for Zombieland: Double Tap.
Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers.
The makeshift family from Zombieland soldiers on in the post-zombie apocalypse world.
Ten years on from the first Zombieland, and with many a zombie offering in between, it's remarkable how fresh Double Tap manages to be. Certainly the personalities from the first film remain the same, and there are a fair few nods to the original, but there are enough new faces and new happenings that Double Tap never feels like a warmed-over cash grab.
Zombieland: Double Tap retains its predecessor's sharp sense of humor, with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments tempering gruesome kills. The terrific cast--Jessie Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone, and Abigail Breslin-- falls right back in step, and the couple new additions are a good fit, each adding something fresh to the mix. The movie is well-paced and doesn't outstay its welcome, a feat that seems a more and more pleasant surprise on the rare occasions it happens these days. Double Tap serves both as an entertaining continuation and a satisfying conclusion (if it is one?) to a fun series. Be sure to stick around for amusing mid- and post-credits stingers.
Zombieland: Double Tap clocks in at 99 minutes and is rated R for "bloody violence, language throughout, and some drug and sexual content."
Zombieland was my number-one movie of 2009, and, ten years later, Double Tap proves a worthy follow-up.
Of a possible nine Weasleys, Zombieland: Double Tap gets eight.
Zombie slayers Tallahassee, Columbus, Wichita and Little Rock square off against the newly evolved undead.
Director: Ruben Fleisher
Cast: Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Abigail Breslin, Emma Stone,
Rosario Dawson, Zoey Deutch, Luke Wilson
Release Date: October 18, 2019
Genres: Action, Comedy, Horror
Rated R for bloody violence, language throughout, some drug and sexual
content
Runtime: 1h 39min
Review:
Sometimes delayed sequels to beloved films can leave fan feeling short
changed there are plenty of examples out there from Anchorman to Zoolander
follow ups.So it’d be fair to say that
going into Zombieland: Double Tap you wouldn’t be remised if you came into this
sequel with lowered expectations. Added to the fact, zombies have kind of
peppered the cultural zeitgeist since the original premiered.Somehow Ruben Fleisher and his cast pulled
off an impressive bit of alchemy by delivering a worthy follow to the original
film.The film moves at a breakneck
speed but it still give you time to get reacquainted with the characters from
the first film before introducing a handful of new characters which work
impressively well.Woody Harrelson,
Jesse Eisenberg, Abigail Breslin and Emma Stone all fall back into their roles
with incredible ease, their love of the character are apparent in each frame of
the film.Joining the group is Zoey
Deutch who steals nearly every scene she’s in as vapid blond.Rosario Dawson is always a welcome addition
and she works well as a counter point and love interest to Woody Harrelson’s Tallahassee.More familiar faces show up before the whole
things done, don’t leave right when the credits roll, and its all so much fun
you don’t really notice or care that there’s not really much a plot in this
sequel which ultimately doesn’t matter.
Dearest Blog: With Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice opening worldwide this weekend, it's a fair bet I'll be spending most of my holiday break at Marquee Cinemas.
As goes the Bat, so go I.
Probably the biggest spoiler here is that I loved this movie, otherwise nothing you wouldn't know from the many trailers and clips making the rounds.
As the world wrestles with the pros and cons of Superman's protection versus his unchecked power, Gotham's most famous resident weighs in.
Dear Reader(s), if you have access to a computer or a tablet or a smartphone or a TV, you've probably already heard somebody say something bad about Dawn of Justice. I am here to tell you why the naysayers are wrong, and, though it may surprise you, I have more (if not better) reasons than: "Batman. Duh."
Batman v Superman is an epic tale, crafted by a fan for fans.
This picture is setting the table for what's to come, and, as such, it's got a lot of balls in the air, and plenty of appearances that earned applause from the crowd each of the three times I've seen the movie so far. Ben Affleck is not only a great Batman/Bruce Wayne, he is ideal for where the DC cinematic universe now finds itself.
He's older and more jaded, but no less strong or purposeful (some might say pig-headed!). I was a little stunned by the vitriol directed at Affleck's casting--the guy's always seemed a bit benign to inspire such passion--but I confess, seeing him in the Batsuit gave me a mad crush that went from zero to Renner in exactly two hours and 31 minutes.
Most of the supporting cast is equally terrific, with Jesse Eisenberg unsurprisingly the standout as super-villain Lex Luthor. Gal Gadot makes a fantastic Wonder Woman, and from the young men's reactions at Thursday night's sneak-peek...well...let's just say I'm glad I don't have to clean that theatre. Jeremy Irons, Amy Adams, Diane Lane, and Laurence Fishburne all contribute more than their fair share towards elevating the movie from good to great. Batman v Superman boasts sweet fight choreography, nice effects, some intense battles between good and good as well as good and evil, and a fair few chuckles, too.
Dawn of Justice does have some flaws, and, lest I be accused of too much fangirling, it's only fair I mention those. Like so many movies these days, this one could have used a trim. Coming in at two hours or even two-fifteen wouldn't have cost the picture any massive cuts, just an edit here and there on those lengthy battles, chases, and flashbacks/dream sequences.
The titular faceoff, in particular, though any fanboy's dream, strays a bit into overkill. Holly Hunter is a great actress, but listening to her speak is like nails on a blackboard; by her third line I'd have given anything to have ANY other actress in her role (except maybe Carey Mulligan, because we all know how I feel about that one).
And then there's Henry Cavill, bless his perfect, perfect self. Cavill attempting to cob together memorized dialogue with the appropriate facial expression is nearly as difficult to watch as Charlie Hunnam desperately trying to cling to an accent for more than five minutes.
I adore Cavill, and I think he's about as perfect a Superman as a person could want, but his acting chops could use some work. Truly, those are the only problems I had with Batman v. Superman.
My bottom line on Dawn of Justice is this: Many people were determined to hate this movie before they ever saw it; that is the unfortunate reality of the Internet age.
Many people are determined to compare the movie to Marvel in general, and to the upcoming Captain America movie in particular, but DC is DC; it is not trying to be Marvel (nor should it), and I'd rather enjoy each for what it is than pick either apart for what it isn't.
At last check, there was about a fifty-percentage-point difference between critics' and fans' ratings of Batman v Superman over at Rotten Tomatoes, so I guess, you, dear Reader(s), can let somebody else tell you what to think about this movie, or you can go and see for yourself. If you go with an open mind, I think you'll enjoy what you see.
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice clocks in at a whopping 151 minutes and is rated PG13 for "intense sequences of violence and action throughout, and some sensuality."
While it's not *quite* as magnificent as The Dark Knight or Watchmen (each of which holds a spot in my top ten movies of all time), Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice is an entertaining epic and a perfect launchpad for DC's next phase.
Of a possible nine Weasleys, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice gets eight and a half.
Oh, and, for the record, I've got a milestone birthday coming up this year, so somebody be a dear and get me Affleck in that Batsuit, won't you?
Batman (Ben Affleck) and Superman (Henry Cavill) share
the screen in this Warner Bros./DC Entertainment co-production penned by David
S. Goyer and Chris Terrio, and directed by Zack Snyder. Amy Adams and Diane
Lane return as Lois Lane
and Martha Kent, respectively. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
Director: Zack Snyder
Cast: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Jesse
Eisenberg, Gal Gadot, Diane Lane,
Laurence Fishburne
Release Date: Mar
25, 2016
Rated: Rated pg-13 Intense sequences of violence and
action throughout, and some sensuality.
Runtime: 2 hr. 31 min.
Genres: Action/Adventure, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Review:
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is a movie that’s got
a lot going on both on screen and behind it.Setting up an expanded DC movieverse along with being accessible to the
general public and pleasing fans is an incredibly tricky thing to
accomplish.Needless to say, this film
is an undertaking in every sense of the word and according to the professional
critics it fails.I went in expecting
the worst and left scratching my head.Not because the movie was awful, I was preparing for Sucker Punch level
of Snyder bombast, but because I really don’t understand where most of the
critics are coming from.It’s a massive sprawling story appropriate
for the icons on hand.It isn’t perfect
but it’s an impressive film that’s got some heft to it.Since Snyder is a comic book fan so some of
the fan service, particularly the dream sequences, will leave the uninitiated a
tad lost.It’s far from overkill but I
can see how the complaint would be lodged against the story’s structure since
some of the sequences feel abrupt.As
for the story itself, it feels like a traditional comic book narrative with
nefarious plans at work to get our heroes to the titular battle.There’s not a ton of surprises since the big
turns are telegraphed in a fairly obvious manner along with all the oversharing
via the prerelease trailers spoiling some of better reveals.The cast does make the entire thing enjoyable
even if the lofty themes can be a bit overbearing at times.Henry Cavill seems far more comfortable in his
role this time around.Cavill gives the
character some much need layers even though there is only so much room to
maneuver given the characters traits.Ben Affleck though has much more room to deliver a much more vicious,
exacting and world weary Batman.I had
my doubts about Affleck when he was cast but he delivers the goods.The biggest question mark, for me at least,
was Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor.On
the surface his Luthor feels different that past iterations, especially on
film, but once you get past all the ticks and speed talking, you’re left with
an amalgam of the comic versions of Lex Luthor, the businessman and mad
scientist. Jeremy Irons and Holly Hunter both have interesting supporting roles
with each begging for more screen time, Irons in particular.Gal Gadot leaves the biggest impression in
her supporting role as Diana Prince aka Wonder Woman.Gadot fits the role much better than expected
and plays the character with a perfect mix of mystery, strength and
confidence.It’s impressive enough that
it’ll leave you anticipating the solo Wonder Woman film even more.Aside, some of the quibbles mentioned
previously, there is a sense that the story needs some wrangling in.A good 20 to 30 minutes could have been
trimmed to make it a sleeker more effective film.Its lack of focus is felt most in the final
act where the film has built a massive head of steam leading to a massive
showdown only to be bogged down by other secondary story threads.It’s not fatal but noticeable.As is, I find it hard to believe that comic
fans especially DC fans wouldn’t find a lot to like here.Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice doesn’t
quite hit it out of the park but its pretty damn close.
Dearest Blog: Yesterday it was off to the pictures for a pair of shoot-em-up flicks, American Ultra and Hitman: Agent 47.
Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers.
This
week's first kudos go not to either movie, but to the schedule maker(s)
at Marquee Cinemas, who receive a full nine Weasleys for two 90-minute
films with 30 minutes in between. Perfection!
First up on that ideal schedule: American Ultra.
All is not as it seems with a pair of stoners in a (made-up) little West Virginia town.
American
Ultra is one of those movies that has the potential to be accidentally
awesome. It doesn't look like anything special, but all the pieces are
there so it *could* be, you know? It isn't quite awesome, but it's still
pretty solid.
Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart share
an awkward chemistry that serves them well as a couple pretty awkward
people. Eisenberg moves effortlessly from mellow to panicked to deadpan
to badass, always believable and sympathetic.
Stewart is often accused
of being expressionless, but she's solid here as well. The supporting
cast is uniformly decent, for as much as they need to be (what a waste
of Bill Pullman!), but basically, if you don't like Eisenberg and/or
Stewart, that's going to be an almost insurmountable hurdle with this
movie. American Ultra has plenty of twists and turns, with fast, brutal,
bloody action, and a dry wit that holds it all together.
American
Ultra clocks in at 95 minutes and is rated R for "strong bloody
violence, language throughout, drug use, and some sexual content."
American
Ultra is missing that *something* that would have made it exceptional,
but I still found it smart, exciting, and entertaining.
Of a possible
nine Weasleys, American Ultra gets six and a half.
Next on the agenda, Hitman: Agent 47.
A woman reluctantly teams with a super assassin to unravel the mysteries of her past.
Dear
reader(s), there's no sugar-coating it: Agent 47 is a real snooze-fest,
and, if not for my mad crush on Zachary Quinto, I might have nodded
off. There's not a hint of genuine emotion or excitement to be found
anywhere in Agent 47. Nicely-designed stunts are blandly executed, and
the leads are as dry as my lawn invariably is 'round about this time of
the year. Hannah Ware has all the expression of the freshly-Botoxed, and
Rupert Friend looks like a perpetually-annoyed Orlando Bloom. Ciaran
Hinds gets the job done, but he doesn't turn up until it's far too late
to salvage anything. It's quite a feat for a movie this short to wear
out its welcome, but that seems to be the one area where Hitman: Agent
47 actually succeeds.
Hitman: Agent 47 runs 96 minutes and is rated R for "sequences of strong violence, and some language."
Agent
47 is so dull I was hardly even annoyed when the guy next to me played
on his iPad the whole time.
Of a possible nine Weasleys, Hitman: Agent
47 gets two.
Until next time...
Curiously, this is also how my homecooked Sunday dinners usually turn out!
Dearest Blog, yesterday it was off for what I hoped would be a quiet
afternoon at the cinema. On the docket: The Grand Budapest Hotel and Rio
2.
Spoiler level here will be mild-ish, almost nothing you
haven't seen in the trailers. I do have to mention one specific thing
from Grand Budapest Hotel, which, while not a plot spoiler, might be
more than some want to know before seeing it.
The Grand Budapest Hotel was first on my agenda.
A former lobby boy recounts his adventures with his mentor, a concierge at the Grand Budapest Hotel.
I
guess it's first and foremost important to point out that I'm neither
an expert nor the number-one fan of Wes Anderson. I've seen a couple of
his previous films and liked them, but none ranks among my favorites.
Still, I loved the Grand Budapest Hotel trailer and expected great
things.
The Grand Budapest Hotel is quirky and clever, full of
humorous little twists and great dialogue. It boasts a fine cast,
including Ralph Fiennes, who is phenomenal in the lead. The scenery and
set pieces are so glorious they almost deserve top billing themselves.
Why, then, did the movie leave me a little flat? I really couldn't say.
Other than pointlessly playing a dead cat for laughs (an automatic
deduction of one-half Weasley on the final grade), there wasn't anything
specific I didn't like; on the contrary, I liked all of it very
much...yet I didn't walk out of the theatre with that feeling I get when
I've seen a really great movie. Due to my unusually high expectations,
maybe that feels more disappointing than it should.
The Grand Budapest Hotel runs 100 minutes and is rated R for "language, some sexual content, and violence."
Smart
and funny, well written and well acted, somehow The Grand Budapest
Hotel is still less than inspiring. Of a possible nine Weasleys, The
Grand Budapest Hotel gets six and a half.
Closing yesterday's double-bill was the animated sequel Rio 2.
Blu
and family leave their comfortable Rio home to fly to the aid of Linda
and Tulio in the Amazon jungle, but the jungle, they find, is full of
surprises.
Rio is one of my all-time favorite animated films.
It's not special, like How to Train Your Dragon, but it's so pretty and
lively you can't help but be happy while watching it. I had high hopes
for Rio 2, but, alas, it falls very far short of the bar set by its
predecesser.
Rio 2 is as beautifully drawn, colored, and
animated as the original. It throws in a bouncy tune here and there to
keep the kids' attention, though, as an adult, it feels more like
uncomfortable, contrived attempts to show off the alleged singing
talents of certain cast members. Jesse Eisenberg is a delight as Blu,
and would easily stand out even if the rest of the cast weren't
so...meh. It was no surprise to me that a cartoon Kristin Chenoweth is
just as annoying as a live-action one, but Rio 2's chief problem goes
beyond petty annoyances; the sad truth is it's just plain boring. It's
not an overly long movie, yet it seems to go on forever, and a few good
laughs and some nice-looking artwork are by no means enough to recommend
it. If I had to say one good thing, it'd be that a Friday afternoon
screening spared me the eight-year-olds' birthday parties with which
I've been cursed at my other recent animation outings.
Rio 2 clocks in at 101 minutes and is rated G.
An unworthy sequel to its delightful predecessor, of a possible nine Weasleys, Rio 2 gets four.
Until next time...
If I play my cards right, there might be room for me in that dragon movie!
Small-town pizza delivery driver Nick (Jesse Eisenberg) stumbles into an elaborate crime scheme when he's abducted by a pair of ambitious criminals (Danny McBride and Nick Swardson) who coerce him into robbing a bank on a strict timeline. Desperate, Nick implores his former best friend Chet (Aziz Ansari) to help him out of the predicament. But with each attempt to thwart the would-be criminal geniuses, Nick and Chet find their dire situation spinning faster out of control. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
Director: Ruben Fleischer
Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Danny McBride, Aziz Ansari, Nick Swardson, Dilshad Vadsaria, Michael Pena
Release Date: Aug 12, 2011
Rated R for crude and sexual content, pervasive language, nudit and some violence
Genres: Action/Adventure, Comedy
Review:
30 Minutes or Less is breezy easily digestible comedy that speeds by provides a handful of laughs and doesn’t over stay its welcome. To say the plot is simplistic is an understatement, it’s about as barebones as you can get. Director Ruben Fleischer uses that to his advantage and crafts a lean film that focuses on his assembled talent and lets them shine. Jessie Eisenberg and Aziz Ansari make up an over caffeinated and manic pair. Both work well together and share a similar comedic energy. Danny McBride and Nick Swardson work just as well as a pair. Both pairs of actors fit so perfectly that it’s easy to overlook some of the more obvious flaws of the plot. Michael Pena is always fun in small roles and he’s his usual scene stealing self here as well. 30 Minutes or Less is the kind of movie that has a singular mind, it aims to bring some crude laughs your way then head out as quickly as it came and all in under 90 minutes.
Sunday, October 04, 2009
Movie Reviews: ZOMBIELAND
IN THEATERS
ZOMBIELAND
A cowardly shut-in named Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg) is forced to join up with a seasoned zombie slayer named Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson) in order to survive the zombie apocalypse. As Tallahassee sets out on a mission to find the last Twinkie on Earth, the duo meets up with Wichita (Emma Stone) and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin), two young girls who have resorted to some rather unorthodox methods to survive amidst the chaos. Reluctant partners in the battle against the undead, all four soon begin to wonder if it might be better to simply take their chances alone. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Cast: Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, Abigail Breslin
Director: Ruben Fleischer
Opened ..October 2, 2009..
Runtime: 1 hr. 21 min.
Rated R for horror violence/gore and language
Genres: Horror Comedy, Horror
Review:
Zombieland is very much like a rollercoaster ride, filled with frights and fun which is only occasionally marked with slow or choppy moments and over way too quickly. First time director Ruben Fleischer makes an impressive debut never lingering too long on any moment or situation. Fleisher makes some fun stylistic choices throughout, the opening sequence and rule breakdown are good fun, and keeps the pacing brisk. Plotting is straight forward and it doesn’t bother itself with extraneous details. It’s a road movie and while most will compare it to Shaun of the Dead because of the zombie comedy aspect but in actuality it feels more like a zombie filled National Lampoon’s Vacation with a motley crew of characters. Leading this crew is Woody Harrelson in full ham mode is hilarious throughout and somehow manages to makes us believe the connection he makes with the characters towards the end of the film. Jesse Eisenbern is great as the straight man to Harrelson manic energy and gives Michael Cera a run for his money in the awkward 20 something category. Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin play con artist sisters and they do decently but aren’t given much to do outside of shooting guns and stealing SUV’s. An inspired celebrity cameo give the film’s middle section a much needed boost as the film starts to lag. The finale in the amusement park will make you long for a rollercoaster where you can shoot zombies as you speed along the tracks. Zombieland is the type of film that hard not enjoy in its entire gooey zombie bashing goodness.
