This final trailer is incredible, probably up there with the Prometheus trailer. It’s quiet, dark and full of foreboding mixed with plenty of new images to just make a fan like me go batty…..
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
[Final Trailer] THE DARK KNIGHT RISES
This final trailer is incredible, probably up there with the Prometheus trailer. It’s quiet, dark and full of foreboding mixed with plenty of new images to just make a fan like me go batty…..
Monday, April 30, 2012
[Trailer] This Is 40
Trailer for the sort of sequel to Knocked Up is out, looks cute and funny but after the dour Funny People his shine has worn off a tad. He’s produced far more than he’s directed, we’ll see if he can get back in the zone. The cast is great so cautious excitement is in place…
Saturday, April 28, 2012
MOVIE REVIEW: LOCK OUT
IN THEATERS
LOCK OUT
The U.S. government strong-arms a man accused of treason into rescuing the president's daughter from a maximum-security space prison that's been taken over by the inmates in a brutal riot. Guy Pearce, Maggie Grace, and Peter Stormare star. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
Director: James Mather
Cast: Guy Pearce, Maggie Grace, Vincent Regan, Joe Gilgun, Lennie James
Release Date: Apr 13, 2012
Rated PG-13 Language, Intense Sequences of Violence, Intense Sequences of Action and Some Sexual References
Runtime: 1 hr. 35 min.
Genres: Action/Adventure, Suspense/Thriller
Review:
There’s not an original note in Lock Out’s runtime. Every element is “borrowed” from somewhere else with the most obvious being John Carpenter’s Escape from New York. Director James Mather shoots his film with a choppy hand. Occasionally he’ll hit a fun note but it’s rarely sustained. His biggest failing is never getting much out of his actors. Guy Pearce, who I’ve always thought should have been a bigger star, does the best he can even if his dialogue comes off clunky from time to time. Maggie Grace is equally stiff and shares very little chemistry with Pearce. Peter Stormare mugs through a few scenes adding very little. Even with its obvious failings, Lock Out is extremely watch able as pulp sci-fi fun. The first 2 acts breeze easily with the film coming to a screeching halt in the final act which saps the film of any energy it had.
C-
LOCK OUT
The U.S. government strong-arms a man accused of treason into rescuing the president's daughter from a maximum-security space prison that's been taken over by the inmates in a brutal riot. Guy Pearce, Maggie Grace, and Peter Stormare star. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
Director: James Mather
Cast: Guy Pearce, Maggie Grace, Vincent Regan, Joe Gilgun, Lennie James
Release Date: Apr 13, 2012
Rated PG-13 Language, Intense Sequences of Violence, Intense Sequences of Action and Some Sexual References
Runtime: 1 hr. 35 min.
Genres: Action/Adventure, Suspense/Thriller
Review:
There’s not an original note in Lock Out’s runtime. Every element is “borrowed” from somewhere else with the most obvious being John Carpenter’s Escape from New York. Director James Mather shoots his film with a choppy hand. Occasionally he’ll hit a fun note but it’s rarely sustained. His biggest failing is never getting much out of his actors. Guy Pearce, who I’ve always thought should have been a bigger star, does the best he can even if his dialogue comes off clunky from time to time. Maggie Grace is equally stiff and shares very little chemistry with Pearce. Peter Stormare mugs through a few scenes adding very little. Even with its obvious failings, Lock Out is extremely watch able as pulp sci-fi fun. The first 2 acts breeze easily with the film coming to a screeching halt in the final act which saps the film of any energy it had.
C-
Saturday, April 7, 2012
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
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
Saturday, March 31, 2012
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+
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+
Saturday, March 24, 2012
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+
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+
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
