Friday, May 11, 2012
[Trailer] The Campaign
The perfect film for the upcoming elections; could be a classic or a massive miss (Jay Roach is directing) either way I’ll be there opening weekend!
Sunday, May 6, 2012
MOVIE REVIEW: THE AVENGERS
IN THEATERS
MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS 3D
Marvel Studios delivers the ultimate comic-book film, which ties together such characters as Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans), The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), and Thor (Chris Hemsworth) for a big-screen franchise team-up like no other. Taking center stage this time is Nick Fury (played once again by the note-perfect Samuel L. Jackson), leader of the peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D. Fury, along with former Russian spy Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), recruits a super team to combat Thor's ever-deceptive brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) after he brainwashes ace archer Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) while stealing a cosmic cube from an underground base. Thus the heroes must learn to work together alongside outlaw scientist Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo), who can track down the artifact's gamma signals when he's not hulking out into a giant green monster. Show runner Joss Whedon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Firefly) adapted and helmed the script by Zak Penn. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi
Director: Joss Whedon
Cast: Robert Downey, Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson.
Release Date: May 04, 2012
Rated PG-13 Intense Sci-Fi Action/Violence and A Mild Drug Reference
Runtime: 2 hr. 23 min.Genres: Action/Adventure
Review:
Marvel’s huge gambit started with Iron Man’s post credit scene and went on from there. It was a terribly risky and ambitious. Once all the stand alone films were done Joss Whedon was tasked with the incredibly difficult task of putting it all together and giving each character its due while creating a story that would justify these characters coming together. Whedon, to his massive credit, delivered a spectacle which will be remembered by children for years to come. Whedon’s love of the characters and genre is readily apparent in the ever single frame of the film. Whedon knows his audience and delivers the kind of film that fans want. Massive action set pieces that give each character a time to shine as the film goes along, leading up to a an insane climatic battle that gives us more destruction than Transformers Dark of the Moon. It would have been easy for Whedon to just deliver an endless battle royale but he gives his film time and allows each character to have simpler quieter moments that let you into their head and motivations. The cast is on target throughout and while it would have been easy for Robert Downey Jr. to have run the show, he’s kept in check and gives the other actors room to breathe and shine. Mark Ruffalo’s take of Bruce Banner is impressive, so much so that I’d say we finally have a definitive film version of the character. Scarlett Johansson and Jeremy Renner do as much as they can with less screen time than the other stalwarts. Tom Hiddleston provides a great villain for the super group to fight, sadly he only lacked a long twirly mustache. 2 post credit scenes provide more fun to ease you off your high. The first sets up a sequel and latter is a wonderful moment showcasing Whedon and the cast. A perfectly fitting end to a film that’s blockbuster filmmaking at it’s finest.
A
MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS 3D
Marvel Studios delivers the ultimate comic-book film, which ties together such characters as Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans), The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), and Thor (Chris Hemsworth) for a big-screen franchise team-up like no other. Taking center stage this time is Nick Fury (played once again by the note-perfect Samuel L. Jackson), leader of the peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D. Fury, along with former Russian spy Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), recruits a super team to combat Thor's ever-deceptive brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) after he brainwashes ace archer Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) while stealing a cosmic cube from an underground base. Thus the heroes must learn to work together alongside outlaw scientist Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo), who can track down the artifact's gamma signals when he's not hulking out into a giant green monster. Show runner Joss Whedon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Firefly) adapted and helmed the script by Zak Penn. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi
Director: Joss Whedon
Cast: Robert Downey, Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson.
Release Date: May 04, 2012
Rated PG-13 Intense Sci-Fi Action/Violence and A Mild Drug Reference
Runtime: 2 hr. 23 min.Genres: Action/Adventure
Review:
Marvel’s huge gambit started with Iron Man’s post credit scene and went on from there. It was a terribly risky and ambitious. Once all the stand alone films were done Joss Whedon was tasked with the incredibly difficult task of putting it all together and giving each character its due while creating a story that would justify these characters coming together. Whedon, to his massive credit, delivered a spectacle which will be remembered by children for years to come. Whedon’s love of the characters and genre is readily apparent in the ever single frame of the film. Whedon knows his audience and delivers the kind of film that fans want. Massive action set pieces that give each character a time to shine as the film goes along, leading up to a an insane climatic battle that gives us more destruction than Transformers Dark of the Moon. It would have been easy for Whedon to just deliver an endless battle royale but he gives his film time and allows each character to have simpler quieter moments that let you into their head and motivations. The cast is on target throughout and while it would have been easy for Robert Downey Jr. to have run the show, he’s kept in check and gives the other actors room to breathe and shine. Mark Ruffalo’s take of Bruce Banner is impressive, so much so that I’d say we finally have a definitive film version of the character. Scarlett Johansson and Jeremy Renner do as much as they can with less screen time than the other stalwarts. Tom Hiddleston provides a great villain for the super group to fight, sadly he only lacked a long twirly mustache. 2 post credit scenes provide more fun to ease you off your high. The first sets up a sequel and latter is a wonderful moment showcasing Whedon and the cast. A perfectly fitting end to a film that’s blockbuster filmmaking at it’s finest.
A
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
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