MOVIE REVIEW: 21 JUMP STREET

IN THEATERS

21 JUMP STREET



The television series that shot Johnny Depp to stardom makes the leap to the big screen in this reboot starring Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum. Schmidt (Hill) and Jenko (Tatum) have the kind of faces that could let them pass for teenagers. Eager to prove themselves as effective policemen, the pair join the Jump Street program and go undercover to investigate a high-school drug ring. Now, the only thing more daunting than the prospect of taking on violent adolescent dope slingers is the possibility of experiencing the torture of their teenage years all over again. Ice Cube, Brie Larson, and Rob Riggle co-star. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Director: Phil Lord, Christopher Miller

Cast: Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Brie Larson, Dave Franco, Rob Riggle

Release Date: Mar 16, 2012

Rated R for drug Material, Crude and Sexual Content, Pervasive Language, Some Violence and Teen Drinking

Runtime: 1 hr. 50 min.

Genres: Action/Adventure, Comedy

Review:

Lame remakes are a dime a dozen and when I first heard about this reboot I thought it’d fit nicely into that category. Impressively after the first 15 minutes it lets you know in obvious terms that it’s totally aware of itself and the genre. Once you know it’s going to have some fun with itself, it frees the audience to sit back and enjoy the palatable comedic energy brimming from its vulgar self. Directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller keep their comedy moving loosely and quickly, satirizing a handful of buddy cop comedy tropes and clichés. The strength of the film lies with the 2 leads who display some excellent chemistry together. By this point in time you know what to expect from Jonah Hill and here he’s in good form. The real surprise comes in the form of Channing Tatum, displaying some excellent comedic chops. Up until now Tatum had done a generally impressive job of underwhelming me in every role I’ve seen him in but here he’s funny, really funny. Brie Larson makes for a strong supporting female, she comes off as the most adult of the group. Ice Cube hams it up in a small role to great effect; along with some other well know actors popping here and there. All in all, it makes a nearly 2 hour comedy feel substantially shorter.

B

MOVIE REVIEW: WRATH OF THE TITANS

IN THEATERS

WRATH OF THE TITANS 3D



The epic battle between the Titans and the gods continues in this sequel set ten years after the events in Clash of the Titans, as Perseus (Sam Worthington) descends into the underworld on a mission to rescue Zeus from the clutches of Hades (Ralph Fiennes), Ares (Edgar Ramirez), and Kronos. In the wake of his decisive victory against the Kraken, Perseus has retreated to a remote fishing village to raise his young son, Helius. Meanwhile, humanity has lost faith in the gods. As a result, Zeus, Hades, and Poseidon find their power beginning to slip, a development that could spell disaster for all of humankind should their imprisoned father, Kronos, manage to break free from his underworld prison in Tartarus. When Perseus learns that Zeus' son Ares has teamed with Hades and Kronos to capture Zeus, steal his power, and create hell on earth, the time comes to take action. Now, with Andromeda (Rosamund Pike), Argenor (Toby Kebbell), and Hephaestus (Bill Nighy) by his side, brave Perseus will venture deep into the underworld on a mission to defeat the Titans, deliver Zeus from evil, and prevent the powers of darkness from consuming all of humanity. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Director: Jonathan Liebesman

Cast: Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, Edgar Ramirez, Toby Kebbell

Release Date: Mar 30, 2012

Rated PG-13 for Intense Sequences of Fantasy Action and Intense Sequences Fantasy Violence

Runtime: 1 hr. 39 min.

Genres: Action/Adventure

Review:

The sequel that nobody really asked hits the screen like a film that’s content not being the porta potty stain that the Clash of the Titans was. As a result, we get a straight up film that’s easy to follow but terribly generic with a script that has some groan inducing moments like having the hero defend himself from a fire breathing creature with a wooden board leaving him unscathed. Line are uttered, comic relief spatter out as if this were a test film created by a studio executive to function as a “how to create a blockbuster”. Jonathan Liebesman deserves a little credit for delivering some watch set pieces that are sufficiently fun to watch. Spattered throughout the film’s runtime, these action sequences keep the film moving even though none of the characters are fleshed out beyond the most superficial of terms. Sam Worthington is listed as the lead and he does some yelling, grunting and whispering all while rocking a strong mullet. Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes return as well, seemingly battling in a “who can be more somber contest”. Rosamund Pike and Toby Kebbell are tasked with being Worthington’s side kick and love interest with Kebbell trying his hardest to bring some life to a terribly underwritten character. Bill Nighy shows up briefly trying just as hard to surpass the hackneyed script. The finale is fun eye candy even though it feels more like a superhero/video game than anything else. The first film put the bar so low that any outside of 2 hours of human waste would have been an improvement, Wrath is an improvement even if nobody really asked for it.

D+

MOVIE REVIEW: THE HUNGER GAMES

IN THEATERS

THE HUNGER GAMES



Based on the best-selling young-adult novel by author Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games tells the dark tale of a 16-year-old girl named Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence), who is selected to compete in a vicious televised tournament in which 24 teenagers from a post-apocalyptic society fight to the death for the entertainment of the masses. In the future, North America is no more. In its place has risen Panem, a divided nation split into 12 districts. Every year, each district selects a teen of each gender (called "Tributes") to test their worth in a competition known as the Hunger Games, which are broadcast across the nation as entertainment, and to reinforce the government's total power. When her younger sister is selected as District 12's latest "Tribute," Katniss volunteers to take her place, and trains under hard-drinking former Hunger Games champion Haymitch Abernathy (Woody Harrelson) to sharpen her killer instincts. Now in order to survive the game and emerge the victor, this young combatant must put all of her skills to the ultimate test. Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth co-star. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Director: Gary Ross

Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Lenny Kravitz, Wes Bentley, Stanley Tucci, Toby Jones, Donald Sutherland

Release Date: Mar 23, 2012

Rated PG-13 for Intense violent thematic material and disturbing images - all
involving teens

Runtime: 2 hr. 22 min.

Genres: Action/Adventure, Drama

Review:

As with most of the literally sensations, a shame on me I know, I’ve missed the book
series this film incarnation is based on. A massive amalgam of Shirley Jackson’s The Lottery, Stephen King’s The Running Man, the Japanese film Battle Royale blended with American Idol and Survivor shoots onto the screen in the form of The Hunger Games. Gary Jones directs this film with a wonderfully direct hand, bringing and elegance and brutality to the screen. The result is a film that feels fresh but retro at the same time. Its visuals harkens back to some of the wonderful Sci-Fi films from the 70’s and 80’s. Jones moves his film at a determined pace, never letting it drag too much, making it feel much brisker than it’s 2 and a half hour runtime. Jennifer Lawrence, continuing an impressive run of films, makes for an effectively stone faced heroine. Lawrence lets us into Katniss emotions just enough without overdoing it. After the first third of the film which is populated with excellent supporting roles from established name actors, its Lawrence’s show and she shines throughout. Josh Hutcherson suffers slightly from an underwritten role and shoehorned romance. Regardless, it’s a teen franchise the truly impresses with its heft and ability to envelope the uninitiated with its fully realized world and characters.

B+

MOVIE REVIEW: CASA DE MI PADRE

IN THEATERS

CASA DE MI PADRE

The son (Will Ferrell) of a dead rancher unwittingly gets into a war with a local drug lord (Gael Garcia Bernal) after trying to settle his family's estate in this Spanish-language comedy from Gary Sanchez Productions. Frequent Ferrell collaborator Adam McKay (Step Brothers, The Other Guys) produces, with Funny or Die's Matt Piedmont handling direction duties. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi

Director: Matt Piedmont

Cast: Will Ferrell, Diego Luna, Pedro Armendariz, Jr., Efren Ramirez, Gael Garcia
Bernal, Diego Luna, Adrian Martinez, Genesis Rodriguez

Release Date: Mar 16, 2012

Rated R for language, Drug Use, Bloody Violence and Some Sexual Content

Runtime: 1 hr. 24 min.

Genres: Comedy

Review:

The joke is simple here and if you enjoy Will Ferrell, you’ll find plenty to find. A cross between Grindhouse and telenovela, Casa De Mi Padre is a very funny if uneven film. Matt Piedmont, SNL and Funny or Die writer turned director, shoots his film with a good sense of fun. The jokes are obvious and overstated each time but then again that’s the joke. Will Ferrell is front and center, his Spanish awkwardly uneven and hilarious. He’s allowed to run wild here and you can almost sense his glee anytime he’s onscreen. The collection of Hispanic actors and actresses, mostly from dramatic background, is quite impressive. Gael Garica Bernal leaves the biggest impression, displaying some impressive comedic chops. The rest of the cast is hamming it up and having just as much fun as Ferrell. There are a few noticeable dead spots that kind of kill it’s momentum but when it hits the right cord it’s a gut busting experience.

B

[Full Trailer] Prometheus

The full trailer for Prometheus has been released and it’s quite simply amazing.





Additionally we got the Prometheus International Trailer from the UK, a different approach but both equally effective.



and a bit more of the viral marketing being used to sell one of the characters in the film...

MOVIE REVIEW: SILENT HOUSE

IN THEATERS

SILENT HOUSE



Chris Kentis and Laura Lau (Open Water) return to terra firma for this remake of the "real time" Uruguayan thriller La Casa Muda. Their summer cottage vandalized by squatters during the off-season, Sarah (Elizabeth Olsen), her father, and her uncle begin the laborious process of cleaning the place up when noises from within hint they are not alone. Now the deeper Sarah ventures into the derelict building, the further the secrets of her dark past are dragged out into the light. As with La Casa Muda, Silent House was shot in one continuous take, a production style that allows the viewer to experience the swelling tension of Sarah's horror firsthand as she unlocks a diabolical mystery. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Director: Laura Lau, Chris Kentis

Cast: Elizabeth Olsen, Adam Trese, Eric Sheffer Stevens

Release Date: Mar 09, 2012

Rated R for disturbing Violent Content and Terror

Runtime: 1 hr. 28 min.

Genres: Art House/Foreign, Horror, Suspense/Thriller

Review:

Silent House is a gimmick film, 2 in fact and they both do a solid job of making a mostly taut thriller that engages only to unravel in its final reel. Visually it’s edited to appear as if it’s one continuous shot following the story in real time. In reality these gimmicks make it feel a lot like a “found footage” film without the need to explain the ever present camera man. Regardless, it feels very similar and serves its purpose for the better part of the film. Directors Laura Lau and Chris Kentis, who directed the wonderfully effective low budget shocker Open Water, keep the tension high and wind the audience up like a top in the first 2 acts. Elizabeth Olsen is pretty much alone here and she delivers a frantic fragile and frazzled performance which is effective and believable. She’s strong enough to elevate some of the weaker portions of the film. Sadly, the script provides such obvious road markers about the coming turn that you are left hoping for an unambiguous ending. Instead, it heads into very some well worn territory which would have served the film and story better had they been left open to interpretation. It falls into the same pitfalls that The Last Exorcism and Insidious feel into, taking a strange and unnecessary turn in it’s finale, nearly destroying what it’d done so well beforehand.

C