MOVIE REVIEW: SHREK FOREVER AFTER 3D

IN THEATERS

SHREK FOREVER AFTER 3D



A domesticated Shrek hatches a plan to recapture his mojo and discovers what life in Far Far Away land would have been like had he never existed in this final chapter of the popular animated film series. There used to be a time when the villagers would run in terror at the mere mention of the name Shrek, but these days the big green ogre is married to Princess Fiona and raising triplets. Maintaining your fierce public persona is no simple task when you're juggling infants and changing diapers, so when Shrek realizes that nobody is afraid of him anymore he recruits mischief-maker Rumpelstiltskin to restore his once-mighty roar. Unfortunately for Shrek, that plan hits an unexpected hitch. As a result, the morose monster takes a trip into an alternate-universe Far Far Away land where there is no Shrek, and Rumpelstiltskin reigns. There, Donkey spends his days hauling carts, and a portly Puss in Boots prefers lounging to swashbuckling. Perhaps with a little extra effort, Shrek will be able to regain his status as top ogre in town and still have his happily ever after, too. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Director: Mike Mitchell

Cast: Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, Antonio Banderas, Julie Andrews.

Release Date: May 21, 2010

Rated PG for some rude humor, mild action and brief language

Runtime: 1 hr. 33 min.

Genres: Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Review:

Shrek Forever After is a decent if mostly ho hum finale to the once impressive and fresh series. Not nearly as horrible as the dreadfully boring Shrek The Third this entry recaptures a bit of the energy of the first two entries. The 3D is used well and certain scenes are truly magical especially with witches hovering around. The script is fun if a tad bland and predictable. The satire isn’t as strong as it could have been considering the It’s a Wonderful Life slant this go around and it feels like they play it way too safe. Instead we get more pop songs and dance numbers that feel terribly forced. It not all bad there are some funny portions spread throughout the films run time. Mike Meyers does decent work and even provides some dramatic thump during some of the more tender moments. Cameron Diaz is a given a fun warrior princess angle and she clearly enjoys herself. Eddie Murphy and Antonio Banderas both give fun if paint by the number performances. New comer Walt Dohrn has an interesting nasally timber to his voice and his character could have been more interesting and better fleshed out. As the finale entry, Shrek Forever After can’t help but show the series age, fun but overly safe.

C+

MOVIE REVIEW: ROBIN HOOD

ROBIN HOOD


Director Ridley Scott and actor Russell Crowe reunite for their fifth big-screen outing, a retelling of the Robin Hood legend featuring the Gladiator star in the titular role. A bowman in the army of Richard Coeur de Lion, virtuous rogue Robin Hood rises from an unlikely background to become a hero to the impoverished people of Nottingham and lover to the beautiful Lady Marion (Cate Blanchett). Cyrus Voris, Ethan Reiff, and Brian Helgeland collaborate on the screenplay for a costume adventure produced by Brian Grazer (Frost/Nixon, American Gangster). ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Director: Ridley Scott

Cast: Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett, Max von Sydow, William Hurt, Mark Strong.

Release Date: May 14, 2010

Rated PG-13 for violence, intense sequences of warfare and some sexual content

Runtime: 2 hr. 20 min.

Genres: Drama

Review:

Ridley Scott’s oddly detached and overly serious Robin Hood is a film that should make for a thrilling experience but misses the mark. Scott’s direction feels heavy handed and while the action sequences are interesting and well executed but the political intrigue isn’t very intriguing. The script feels unfocused and seems to want to capture an epic scope with an intimate angle but it’s a choppy mix as best. Russell Crowe does well with his role but it’s almost impossible not to think of him as Maximus from Gladiator. His appearance and demeanor are all extremely similar but with a daddy issues here. Cate Blanchett is strong as a more self sufficient Lady Marion but her usual elegance comes off as detachment and the romantic subplot feels forced and lacks credibility. Max Von Sydow has fun in a supporting role and provides for an interesting if underused mentor to Crowe’s Robin. Kevin Durand, Scott Grimes and Alan Doyle should be more memorable as Robin’s merry men but they tend to blend into the background easily. Mark Strong who appears to be on a crusade to be a villain in every movie going forward isn’t asked to do much but look villainous and speak French occasionally. Him and Crowe are just destined to meet in the finale and they do during an impressive and incredibly complex medieval Saving Private Ryan-esc battle. Once the battle is over though the finale seems rushed which is odd considering the movie is nearly 2 and half hours long.

C+

MOVIE REVIEW: IRON MAN 2

IN THEATERS

IRON MAN 2



Robert Downey Jr. returns as Tony Stark, the wealthy playboy whose exploits as Iron Man are now public knowledge after his admission at the close of the first film. In the follow-up, Stark is pitted against his Russian arch nemesis, Whiplash (Mickey Rourke), and corporate rival Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell). Also making their Marvel debuts are Scarlett Johansson as the sexy Russian spy Black Widow, and Don Cheadle, who takes over the role of Colonel James Rhodes from Terrence Howard. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide

Director: Jon Favreau

Cast: Robert Downey, Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Scarlett Johansson, Sam Rockwell.

Release Date: May 07, 2010

Rated PG-13 for violence, some language and intense sci-fi action

Runtime: 2 hr. 4 min.

Genres: Superhero

Review:

Bloated, unfocused and kind of a bore Iron Man 2 start the summer movie season with a unexpected whimper. Jon Favreau loses focus of what made the original so much fun, Downey. Jr. charisma and smart quips, instead attempts to make everything bigger and better. Larger louder and much cheesier action sequences are the order of the day and Favreau over indulges in what he thinks will make the audience happy. The cast of characters is expanded and the story larger in scope but none of it is terribly interesting or engaging. Downey Jr. only gets a few precious moments to shine and on occasion fades into the background due to the unfocused nature of the script. Gwyneth Paltrow fares better with better story line this go around and her and Downey Jr. have a natural rapport together on screen, their interactions on some of the best parts of the film. Don Cheadle, taking over for Terrance Howard, isn’t given must to do even though the character is more prevalent and does the best he can with it. Mickey Rourke brings and an interesting sleaziness to his villainous character but feels like more of an afterthought throughout, the climatic battle between him, War Machine and Iron Man is equally uninspired. Scarlett Johansson is wooden for the better part of her screen time and it feels like she knows she’s just there to fill out a catsuit and nothing more. Sam Rockwell and Sam Jackson are under utilized much like the rest of the cast. Lack of focus and a bevy of underwritten plot lines hinder this film, draining it of most of the fun associated with the original. It’s not a terrible movie but it’s not a very good one either. It’s passable even though it feels like a place holder, a connecting bridge to another larger sequel or the much talked about Avengers team up.
C-

MOVIE REVIEWS: A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET

A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET



Platinum Dunes revives the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise with this reworking of slasher film legend Freddy Krueger, a deceased child killer who torments the dreams of the teenagers of Springwood, OH. Jackie Earle Haley picks up the killer's mantle from series veteran Robert Englund with the reboot from music-video director Samuel Bayer. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide

Director: Samuel Bayer

Cast: Jackie Earle Haley, Kyle Gallner, Rooney Mara, Katie Cassidy, Thomas Dekker.

Release Date: Apr 30, 2010 Rated R for violence, disturbing images and some sexuality

Runtime: 1 hr. 35 min.

Genres: Horror

Review:
The recent trends of remakes are very much like getting airline versions of your favorite meal. It’s got all the hallmarks of the meal but isn’t anywhere close to the real thing. This Nightmare redux doesn’t break this trend. It’s a terribly limp uninteresting chore of a film that doesn’t bring anything new to the table outside of a few interesting nightmare sequences. Video director turned movie director Samuel Bayer has glossy and occasionally interesting style but he’s far too dependant on jump scares. The script is a tedious bore. The characters are all pencil thin types who don’t have any depth to them at all. Freddy’s back story has been slightly redone throwing a minor twist to the story that could have been interesting if explored but it’s thrown in and dismissed quickly and haphazardly. Jackie Earle Haley does a decent job of taking up the reins from Robert Englund. Haley brings his general creepiness to the role and is much more forceful and direct than the original. He tries his best with what he’s given but in all honesty it isn’t much. Rooney Mara is pretty much invisible as emo Nancy and Kyle Gallner is terminally mopey throughout. Katie Caassidy, Kellan Lutz and Thomas Dekker are this film for a cup of coffee and are gone quickly. Clany Brown and Connie Britton both are saddled with underwritten characters and are wasted. The finale doesn’t offer much outside of paint by the number sequences which, if you’re still awake, leaves you feeling disappointed.

D