The Number 23

2÷3=.666

I watched Joel Schumacher's The Number 23 a couple of nights ago (I think it was Monday night) and I figured I’d give it a couple of days until I write a review for it. Well… it has been 5 days since I saw the film and unfortunately I have pretty much forgotten that I even watched it. Well...that fact alone doesn’t really say much about the film, but let me try to recall something and piece it back together…

Plot: An animal control officer (read: dog catcher) Walter Sparrow (Jim Carrey) is given a mysterious book “The Number 23” for his birthday by his wife (Virginia Madsen). As Walter starts reading the novel, he slowly becomes obsessed with it, since it resembles him his own life from his youth to his adulthood. To make matters worse – the protagonist in this mysterious novel slaughters his own girlfriend, so the paranoid Walter begins to think that some really horrible events are about to occur, and it’s all somehow because of a number – twenty-three.

* * * WARNING: mild spoilers ahead * * *

I was actually surprised with Carrey’s performance. I think he performed well since he plays a dual role in this film. As did Virginia Madsen, who was also quite good as Walter’s (Carrey) wife, and as Fingerling’s (fictional character, also played by Carrey) very sexy love interest Fabrizia.

So what made me forget this movie so fast? I don’t really know how to explain this, but I think it was an average “popcorn flick” rather than an intense psychological thriller as it was advertised as back in 2007 when it was released. The ending was rather…weird, almost as if the twist (that’s usually at the end of every psychological thriller) wasn’t a twist at all. I think I enjoyed watching it, but toward the second half of the movie I was expecting a little more. Almost as if the screenwriter had lost his creativity half way through the script (happens a lot these days). The story itself resembled me a video game (an action-adventure type video game with Max Payne like characters). And quite frankly it would have probably been a much better game than a movie...


* * (two out of five) – forgettable and nothing special.

V.


Enjoyed The Number 23? Viira recommends: Mr. Brooks, The Butterfly Effect (Dir. cut), and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

Poster courtesy of http://www.impawards.com/
Technorati Tags: Technorati

Rambo

Just like old times...

Stallone is back and better than ever. The latest installment of the Rambo series delivers on all fronts including realism -- yes, realism! It appears that Stallone (who is also the director of the film) has taken after Mel (Gibson) and made the film filled with brutal yet realistic violence. All I can say is that blood will flow and limbs will get blown off, but according to one of my USMC buddies (who fought in Operation Phantom Fury -- the second battle of Fallujah) this is exactly what a .50 cal BMG round will do to a man. After all a .50 cal can easily penetrate commercial brick walls and concrete cinder blocks...

* * * (three out of five) -- this time there is no cheesy lines and poor acting. Just pure and extremely violent entertainment.


V.

Enjoyed Rambo? Viira recommends: Black Hawk Down, Shooter and First Blood.

Poster courtesy of http://www.impawards.com/
Technorati Tags: Technorati

Hitman

Bourne VS. Bond VS. 47

Let me start by saying that unfortunately I have never played the Eidos Interactive video game series Hitman, but I must say that the feature film Hitman wasn't half bad contrary to many other video game based films.

Despite that the plot of Hitman is incoherent and the majority of the supporting characters are unappealing and poor, I must say that Hitman is an enjoyable (at home) action movie experience. At least it is filled with decent and immensely violent action scenes, lots of guns, and semi-nude Olga Kurylenko (Quantum of Solace) who looks absolutely stunning as a reformed hooker.

I would say that the only thing I did not care for was 47's superior ability to terminate all the other "agents" with no apparent difficulty. Almost as if the "others" were some two-bit punks, rather than proficiently trained assassins from the "Agency". I mean...come on...even Jason Bourne had some considerable difficulty fighting other Blackbriar assassins in the Bourne Ultimatum. But hey...at least the film was better than the latest Bond installment.


* * * (three out of five) -- better than expected. Lots of action, violence, and nudity.


V.

Enjoyed Hitman? Viira recommends: Transporter 2, Live Free of Die Hard and all the Bourne films.

Poster courtesy of http://www.impawards.com/
Technorati Tags: Technorati

The Dark Knight on Blu-ray Disc

The Dark Knight is even better on Blu-ray Disc. For those who have not seen it yet, I strongly recommend. Perhaps one of the better films of the year.

Read my entire review here -- The Dark Knight

My rating (* * * * - four out of five) still stands, but I have to admit that I enjoyed the feature a whole lot more on Blu-ray Disc in my own livingroom with the Dolby True HD 5.1 surround sound.

We already know that Heath was nominated for a Golden Globe, let's just hope that he'll get nominated for an Oscar:)

Cheers!

V.


Poster courtesy of http://www.impawards.com/
Technorati Tags: Technorati

P2

A New Level of Fear

I have to admit – one of my weaknesses has always been the slasher film genre. More often than not they tend to be stupid, predictable and clichéish but they’re always entertaining and hardly ever disappoint. But don’t get me wrong – I would never go to a theatre and pay the regular $9.50 for one, but they’re good to rent or see on Comcast’s ON DEMAND HD.

Same goes for the Alexander Aja’s P2. It is predictable, yet very entertaining.

Plot: a corporate executive Angela (Rachel Nichols) gets stuck in her company’s parking garage (level P2) after working late on Christmas Eve because her car (3rd generation BMW 5 series) won’t start. Everything seems to be okay (at first) and she’s able to call a cab, but the parking garage attendant has other plans for her… after all, he is lonely and wants just a little companionship and love. I think everything else is quite self-explanatory…

Perhaps the noteworthy elements of the film are Rachel Nichols’ role as the protagonist Angela – the woman in captivity. She’s actually quite bright and does not seem to suffer from the stereotypical “stupid chick syndrome” so prone to the average large breasted slasher flick chick. Another one is the psychopath parking garage attendant (Wes Bentley from American Beauty) himself. This guy is so tormented and sick that at one point you may even feel a bit sorry for him. Or not.

* * * WARNING: mild spoilers ahead * * *

For those who have read Mario Puzo’s The Godfather, will remember that Al Neri, the cop-turned-hitman bodyguard of Michael Corleone got kicked off the force for using excessive force. Al Neri was convicted of manslaughter for beating a Harlem pimp and a drug dealer to death (shattering his skull) using an anodized aluminum Maglite. Does anyone remember that?

If you do, and if you’ve ever wondered how sickening the described incident would look like, then go ahead and watch P2. Wes Bentley really knows how to work a flashlight like that. It is actually so disturbing that I had to turn away from the TV for a second...


* * * (three out of five) -- Surprisingly good slasher flick with decent suspense, and some really gruesome violence.


V.

Enjoyed P2? Viira recommends: The Hills Have Eyes, Haute Tension or any other slasher film.


Poster courtesy of http://www.impawards.com/
Technorati Tags: Technorati

Quantum of Solace

...perhaps the worst Bond film of all time??

As many of you may already know this, I usually let the movie “sink in” for a few days, then recall the greatest (or worst) elements of the film, sort of piece it back together, and lastly try to write not necessarily an objective, but fairly adequate review of the feature.

Unfortunately, for the latest Bond installment – Quantum of Solace – there is not much to recall. Quite frankly there is barely anything I can remember from it. Was it really that bad? I’m afraid it was… and this critique is coming from a huge Bond fan such as myself.

* * * WARNING: mild spoilers ahead * * *

What I do remember is that Quantum of Solace starts out with a car chase on a highway that leads through mountain tunnels from Nice through Monte Carlo down to Portofino, Italy – probably the most beautiful road to travel in Europe, but Marc Forster’s (The Kite Runner) direction and Richard Pearson’s (The Bourne Supremacy) MTV style editing completely ruin it. The entire chase is cut so quick that it does not even give the viewer the edge nor the suspense one would expect from a Bond film or any other good action film. But wait…it gets worse…

The plot – unfortunately I never did figure out the plot or the message of Quantum of Solace. It had elements of Bond’s personal vendetta to avenge Vesper’s…suicide…but…against whom exactly? Quite confusing, since she willingly killed herself in the previous Bond installment -- Casino Royale. Then there is some weasel looking fella (villain) named Dominic Greene, and his pathetic henchman with a medieval monk haircut, who had nothing to do with Vesper nor her suicide. Then there is Vesper’s lame ex-boyfriend, then the CIA (Jeffrey Wright’s worst performance yet), and of course Bond’s old pal Rene Mathis; about half way into the feature comes a really pretty red haired MI6 gal in a Burberry trench coat -- perhaps the only likable character, but unfortunately she gets less than 2 minutes of screen time before she gets iced (a flashback from Goldfinger, eh?); then we’re introduced to a Bolivian military general who supposedly enjoys raping women…what is this…the Schindler’s List???... and this is all topped off with Olga Kurylenko and her poor looks followed by even worse acting, as the supposed Bond girl whom Bond never sleeps with? WTF!? I think even Judy Dench' role as M. was poorly written this time.

But all the characters and B category acting aside, this film really lacks the actual story itself, and is therefore quite confusing, but not in the sense that I didn’t understand what was happening, but more like what is the point of all this? On the other hand, Quantum of Solace did have a surplus of MTV style 1-cut-per-second action that…lead nowhere. For instance: Bond chasing a double agent in Siena, Italy – plenty of action, but no resolution; then we see Bond engaged in a boat chase in Haiti, but that entire scene could have been left out since it serves no purpose what so ever; and lastly we see Bond at the opera in Lake Constance, Austria, where gunfire is overpowered by the musical score (exact replica of John Woo’s in Face/Off). Wow…that was really "original"…can it get any worse…yes, the actual ending is even worse, but I will save you the surprise and end this review right here…


* (one out of five) – Quantum of Solace is probably one the worst Bond films of all time and definitely the biggest disappointment of the year. Don’t even bother renting it; wait till it airs on cable.

Oh yes...did I mention that there is no sensible dialogue, no smart lines, or witty comments made by Bond? He is truly a blunt instrument with no charm or charisma. A complete 180 from the Casino Royale...utterly disappointing, to say the least.


V.

Enjoyed Quantum of Solace? Viira recommends: Casino Royale, The Bourne trilogy, and perhaps even psychotherapy – since there must be something seriously wrong with you if you truly enjoyed this film:)


Poster courtesy of http://www.impawards.com/
Technorati Tags: Technorati

Role Models

Danny and Wheeler were just sentenced to 150 hours mentoring kids. Worst idea ever.

Expected a lot, got a little…

Yes, this is how I would sum up the latest box office hit Role Models. Quite frankly I cannot understand why Role Models is getting such great ratings and reviews on both IMDb.com and rottentomatoes.com, 7.9 and 76% respectively.

Plot: Wheeler (Sean William Scott) and Danny (Paul Rudd – first time in a leading role) are sentenced to 150 hours of community service to avoid jail for a destructive traffic dispute. Their assignment – be a big brother for two odd-ball kids – Augie (Christopher Mintz-Plasse of Superbad) – a nerd with a fascination for medieval role play, and a foul mouthed hellrazor Ronnie (Bobb'e J. Thompson) – replica of the 7-year-old Latarian Milton who "likes to do bad things". But after their first day with the kids, jail does not look half bad...

But for me, the film was a stereotypical, clichéish, and predictable raunchy comedy that wasn’t all that original or funny. After the first half (which had quite a few raunchy but clever laugh-out-loud jokes) the film became flat out clichéish trying to deliver a message – don’t be afraid to be who you are. Point taken. I will not be afraid to be who I am – an aspiring film critic – and I will not be afraid nor ashamed to give this film a below average rating.

* * (two out of five) -- Much overrated and falls short from comparable predecessors such as Knocked up, the 40-year-old Virgin, and Superbad.


V.

Enjoyed Role Models? Viira recommends: Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, Superbad, and the YouTube clip "Latarian Milton".


Poster courtesy of http://www.impawards.com/
Technorati Tags: Technorati

Two of a kind...

Ironman & The Incredible Hulk – recession proof entertainment.

After watching both films on Blu-ray high def, I must say that they’re both equally enjoyable and very entertaining! Great action sequences, magnificent CGI, and (surprisingly) very good acting on both Edward Norton’s and Robert Downey Jr’s part. It will only get better from here on and I cannot wait till the next one (which is rumored to be either Captain America or Thor) comes out…

* * *

* * * (three out of five) – fun and entertaining. Something worth seeing if you want to take a time out from this financial gloom and economic downfall.

V.

Enjoyed Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk? Viira recommends: Transformers, Batman Begins, The Dark Knight.


Posters courtesy of http://www.impawards.com/
Technorati Tags: Technorati

The Lookout

Whoever Has the Money Has the Power

Plot: Chris Pratt (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a once promising hotshot high school hockey player whose life is tragically altered after a devastating car wreck, gets caught up in a small town bank heist...and the heist goes terribly awry.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt who is known for his roles in teen flicks such as 10 Things I Hate About You and the TV comedy sitcom 3rd Rock proves that he is actually a really good actor (I was debating whether I should use the adjective “great” here, but decided not to). His role as Chris Pratt, a young man who is trying to cope with life while suffering from serious head injury, is so convincing and sad, that I was surprised that he did not get nominated for any (major) awards for it.

I rented The Lookout expecting a teen crime drama along the lines of Alpha Dog (which actually wasn't half bad), but to my surprise The Lookout turned out to be a very deep character driven drama. And truthfully it was probably one of the few films I’ve seen in a great while that actually really (emotionally) moved me.


* * * * (four out of five) - If you're into indie films then this one is definitely worth watching!!

V.

Enjoyed The Lookout? Viira recommends: Before the Devil Knows You're Dead, Alpha Dog.

Poster courtesy of http://www.impawards.com/
Technorati Tags: Technorati

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Indy is back… as if he never left.

Truthfully, I do not understand why is this film getting so much negative critique?? First of all, lets get something straightened out before I make an attempt to dissect the film. What we have to remember is that neither Lucas or Spielberg never had the vision of reinventing the hero nor give the trilogy a rebirth. The film was made (according to the director and the producer) merely as a fourth installment to already well-established trilogy.

Yes, Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is a fourth installment, not a remake, re-invention or rebirth of the saga or the characters. Unfortunately this is what most people don’t seem or want to understand. I would also like to point out the fact that we’ve all grown up (it has been 19 years since the last Indy installment) and perhaps what most of us expected was the film to fascinate us just as the previous ones did back when we were kids? The truth is that if you’re expecting a rebirth of the franchise (like the new Batman films, or the latest 007 films), then you will be disappointed. I will guarantee that. However, if you watch the fourth Indy installment as if it was just another Indy movie…you will enjoy it. At least I did.

Yes, there are some scenes that are (way) over the top, but that’s what Indy films are all about. Indy films have always been about action, adventure, mystique, and fun. All this considered I must say that Kingdom of the Crystal Skull delivers on all four of the previously mentioned fronts. Besides, the latest installment delivers numerous elements and references from the previous Indy films. I mean, even the punching sounds are the same old-fashioned “thumps”.

Harrison (at 66) is as good as he was when he was clinging onto the Mercedes three-point-star logo on a Nazi truck (Raiders of the Lost Ark) or confronting the Fuhrer himself (The Last Crusade). Truth is, Harrison Ford is in great shape and gives a performance just as good as in the previous films.

I think that some of the shortcomings of the film was that the Soviets were a bit too ordinary and far less evil from the Nazis (primary villains in the previous Indy films), but at least their accents were flawless. Another one would be Ray Winstone's supporting character "Mac". I think the latter was just poorly written for this script.

Conclusively, Indy films never have been and (God forbid) never will be realistic and serious. Indy films are supposed to be fun and entertaining and this one is no different.


* * * * (four out of five). Recommended for anyone who enjoys Indy films, without over analyzing Hollywood’s entertainment industry.

V.

Enjoyed Kingdom of the Crystal Skull? Viira recommends: all the previous Indiana Jones films.


Poster courtesy of http://www.impawards.com/
Technorati Tags: Technorati

Coming this Fall...

This fall/winter season's 5 most anticipated action films:

Body of Lies (Oct. 10, 2008)


















Max Payne (Oct. 17, 2008)


















Pride and Glory (Oct. 24, 2009)


















Quantum of Solace (Nov. 14, 2008)


















Transporter 3 (Nov. 26, 2008)






















Something to look forward to in this time of (economic) uncertainty...

V.



Technorati Tags: Technorati

Sex and the City

Get Carried Away.

Many (great) television shows have been made into fairly decent films in Hollywood – The X Files, South Park, Miami Vice, Mission: Impossible, even The Simpsons Movie. Sex and the City (the movie), however, is not one of them.

I’m not a fan of the show, but I have seen a few episodes and can say that the show is pretty good, it’s raunchy and it’s about sex (from women’s perspective of course), but that perspective is the key element of the show, and that is what makes the show also interesting for male audiences. Almost as if someone on TV was giving us free lessons on what modern day women really want.

The film, however, is different. The film Sex and the City is about finding love rather than finding (new) partners, which ultimately made the show. The plot: Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker who looks better than ever @ 43) and the girls are back, 4 years after the TV show ended, and Carrie is finally getting married…yep…let’s leave it at that since the entire plot revolves around finding love and (finally) getting married, almost as if the producers are trying to send the audience – the people who grew up with the Sex and the City series – a message. Of course there are funny parts, and some are quite hilarious, but the majority of the film feels like an over-the-top advertisement for dozens, if not hundreds of designer labels, every which gadget made by Apple (iMac, MacBook, iPhone, iPod etc.) topped off with the brief but prominent debut of the new Mercedes-Benz SUV. Oh yes, did I mention the disturbingly poor cameo by Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson as Louise from St. Louis who loves Louis (Vuitton)? Corny, right? I can only guess that Hudson was in the film solely in response to criticism of the TV show as being too “white”, but is the best response to such criticism really inserting a character that is so obviously a token?


* * (two out of five) – a few decent jokes but is overall flat and poorly composed.



Enjoyed Sex and the City? Viira recommends: The Devil Wears Prada, Sideways, Sex and the City (HBO original series).



Poster courtesy of http://www.impawards.com/
Technorati Tags: Technorati

Summer favorites...

The poll is closed and the votes are in. By majority vote it appears that The Dark Knight was by far the #1 hit of summer 2008 (with 60% of the votes) followed by Sex and the City (20%) and Pineapple Express (13%)...

I agree with the majority vote, I gave The Dark Knight 4 out of 5 and thought Heath Ledger was phenomenal. I have rented Sex and the City on blu-ray and will watch it at my earliest convenience (check back for a review) and Pineapple Express is already saved in my Netflix queue.

Thank you all for taking the time to vote! (...and don't forget to vote on Tuesday, November 4th as well!!)

V.

All posters courtesy of http://www.impawards.com/
Technorati Tags: Technorati

Capote

"More tears are shed over answered prayers than unanswered ones" -- Truman Capote.

Plot: American author Truman Capote, while researching for his infamous non-fiction work "In Cold Blood", befriends one of the murderers, managing to postpone the execution long enough to finish his work, which will ultimately become his best and last.

I'll make this one short -- I think Bennet Miller's Capote is a very well made film, I think it adequately captures the ambience of the 1960's Kansas as well as the high society of New York City. Unfortunately, due to my lack of knowledge of the subject matter -- Truman Capote, perhaps one of the most famous American authors of the 20th century, I did not find the film as fascinating as I would have hoped. However, I must say that Philip Seymour Hoffman's was nothing but phenomenal. And since I was not interested in the plot itself, I will not be able to provide a fair opinion on the film. Sorry...


* * * (three out of five) -- outstanding acting on behalf of Philip Seymour Hoffman, but the story itself did not do it for me.


V.


Enjoyed Capote? Viira recommends: In Cold Blood, Dead Man Walking, Magnolia.


Poster courtesy of http://www.impawards.com/
Technorati Tags: Technorati

Dark Blue

1992, L.A. is at boiling point. One cop's turning up the heat.

I've always enjoyed crime dramas, especially the ones that depict police corruption -- L.A. Confidential, Training Day, Gone Baby Gone, even FX network's The Shield.

Ron Shelton's (Hollywood Homicide) 2003 cop thriller Dark Blue is nothing spectacular, but definitely enjoyable and worth watching if interested in the genre. Plot: only days before the acquittal of the 4 LAPD officers charged with the Rodney King beating, and the subsequent 1992 L.A. riots, 2 LAPD SIS detectives make an attempt to solve a quadruple homicide case which triggers a series of events that cause them to question their own tactics, methods, and morals...

Kurt Russell (as the antagonist crooked cop Eldon Perry) gives one of his strongest performances since Backdraft, but the rest of the cast is merely moderate. Scott Speedman's (Det. Bobby Keough) performance is far from convincing, and Rhames' character seems promising in the beginning, but barely gets any screen time in the second half of the film. I guess I expected a bit more from him. Especially since his character reminded me of Forest Whitaker's IAD Lieutenant Jon Kavanaugh from season 5 of The Shield.


* * * (three out of five) -- decent crime drama with an accurate snapshot of the 1992 L.A. riots. Enjoyable, but nothing spectacular.


V.

Enjoyed Dark Blue? Viira recommends: Training Day, L.A. Confidental, The Shield (FX orginal series).


Poster courtesy of Google Image Search.
Technorati Tags: Technorati

Before the Devil Knows You're Dead

No one was supposed to get hurt.

Less than 60 seconds into the film, I already knew I was going to love it. And it did not disappoint. Sidney Lumet’s (Dog Day Afternoon) latest (and probably last) work starts out with a bang and it only gets better.

Plot? Well...Before the Devil Knows You're Dead is one of those films where the plot is fairly simple (a robbery gone wrong) yet very thick and layered at the same time, something that (in my opinion) is best enjoyed with having little if any prior knowledge of what events are about to unfold. And without giving any spoilers I should only mention that the story revolves around a dysfunctional family, their problems, and how their actions and reactions lead them to a path of moral, spiritual, and physical destruction...

Having not heard much about this film I went into it with no expectations, and once again I was not only pleasantly surprised, but astounded how an ensemble of great actors (Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ethan Hawke, Albert Finney, Marisa Tomei) and Sidney Lumet’s “attention-to-detail” directing can turn even a simple plot into a great and truly enjoyable movie experience.

As far as the title goes...well the complete title of the film is "May you be in heaven a half hour before the devil knows you're dead". Quite complicated and rather vague, but I think I finally got it figured out:) Did you?

* * * * * (five out of five) -- probably one of the better character driven dramas I have seen in years. I definitely recommend!!


V.


Enjoyed Before the Devil Knows You're Dead? Viira recommends: In the Bedroom, Gone Baby Gone



Poster courtesy of http://www.impawards.com/
Technorati Tags: Technorati

The Shield

The Final Act

The last season has finally started...and (so far) it is better than ever...


Episode #1 "Coefficient of Drag" started out with a bang...there was plenty of bloodshed, drama, action, and humor. All I have to say is that Vic is back and this time (since he will be out of a job in 30 days anyway) he just doesn't give a shit. Whatever happens, happens and as long as he's got a badge he will (ab)use it.

Great season opener -- more feet get chopped off, bodies are dragged down the streets of Farmington, and Vic totals his LAPD issued Dodge Charger while serving a high risk warrant. Let's hope the rest of the season is as intense...

V.


Image courtesy of http://www.fxnetworks.com

Technorati Tags: Technorati

Cloverfield

Some Thing Has Found Us

Last Friday I popped in the Cloverfield blu-ray disc with no expectations what so ever, and to my surprise, for what it was (a fictional documentary/sci-fi/monster flick) it was quite good and very enjoyable.

I think the plot is best described as one of those “end of the world” movies shot through the camera of a twenty-something-year-old. I know, first thing that comes to your mind is probably War of the Worlds or the Blairwitch Project (which was terrible), but no, Cloverfield was actually very entertaining and fun to watch. It is short (a mere 85 min.) and therefore does not drag or get boring, in fact, the feature is quite suspense throughout. I especially enjoyed the realism aspect of the film as well as the sincerity of the characters (people my age) in the "situation" they’re in.

Long story short, get some friends together, grab your favorite beverage and enjoy the film. It’s nothing spectacular, but it is a lot of fun!!


* * * (three out of five) – I recommend. Nothing like anything else I've seen this year.


V.

Enjoyed Cloverfield? Viira recommends: War of the Worlds, I Am Legend.


Poster courtesy of http://www.impawards.com/

Technorati Profile

10,000 B.C.

Oh boy...I really don’t know where to begin…but I can say this: 10,000 B.C. is probably the worst film I have seen this year, and since I don’t enjoy writing critiques for films I absolutely dislike, I figured I’d make it as short as possible…

Not only that the film was filled with factual errors and anachronisms such as metal working (not mastered before 5,500 B.C.), exploitation of horses for human transportation (started around 4,000 B.C.), pyramids (earliest one erected in Egypt around 2,600 B.C.), and the use of mammoths as domesticated animals (WTF??), the plot (if we can call it that) was just terrible and the acting and the dialogue even worse.

But all the goofs and errors, bad acting, a weak plot and terrible accents (yes, all the characters spoke with really….appaling accents) and computer-game-like CGI effects aside, what this film lacked the most was “suspense”. 10,000 B.C., which was advertised as a pre-historic epic adventure, lacked the suspense we expect from other epics such as Gladiator, Apocalypto, or 300 (10,000 B.C. includes some familiar elements from the three). In fact 10,000 B.C. was so boring that I watched the first half of the film last Saturday, and then took a break for a couple of days, and finally finished it off last night (hoping that it will get better…no, I think the second half was even worse).


* (one out of five) – I’d give it 0 if I could. They ought to ban Ronald Emmerich from making anything new.


V.

Oh yes, you can forget about the saber tooth tiger. That thing gets no more than 60 seconds of screen time, and for the record, there is no man VS. tiger duel. Disappointing, to say the least...

Enjoyed 10,000 B.C.? Viira recommends: Apocalypto, Gladiator, 300.


Poster courtesy of http://www.impawards.com/

Top 10 greatest movie villains of all time...

A few weeks ago a colleague of mine asked who would I rate as the best movie villains of all time, or if I had ever put any thought toward that. I had not. Yet her question intrigued me so I took my time and analyzed several different characters (based on different criteria) and came up with my top 10...

Here it is...(in no particular order)

• Anthony Hopkins as Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Silence of the Lambs).

• Denzel Washington as Det. Alonzo Harris (Training Day).

• Kevin Spacey as John Doe (Se7en).

• Louise Fletcher as nurse Ratched (One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest).

• Heath Ledger as The Joker (The Dark Knight).

• Joe Pesci as the hot blooded mob enforcer Nicky Santoro (Casino).

• Kevin Bacon as the pedophile prison guard Sean Nokes (Sleepers).

• Ralph Fiennes as SS Commandant Amon Göth (Schindler’s List).

• Robert Patrick as T-1000 (T2: Judgment Day).

• Bob Gunton as warden Norton (Shawshank Redemption).
  

Some of the runner ups include: Patrick McGoohan as King Edward the “Longshanks” (Braveheart), Gary Oldman as Det. Norman Stansfield (Léon: The Professional), Javier Bardem as Anton Chigurh, the emotionless, compassionless killing machine (No Country for Old Men) and Jack Nicholson as the mob boss Frank Costello (The Departed).

V.


Did I miss anything? Go ahead and your thoughts to the comments section!


All photos courtesy of Google Image Search.

Juno

“It started with a chair…”

So I finally saw it. And…I liked it, and I thought Ellen Page once again delivered. Excellent acting, although I think she was much better in Hard Candy, which, according to the director of Juno, earned her the leading role of Juno (I watched the DVD extras). Other notable roles would include Juno’s “destined to be an HVAC guy” father, J.K. Simmons (perhaps more famed for his role as J. Jonah Jameson, the editor-in-chief for the Daily Bugle in the Spider-Man films), and a surprisingly decent cameo by Jennifer Garner as the wannabe surrogate mom.

So this is what I thought: I think it’s fair to say that I liked the film. It was cute, and yes, cute would perhaps be the best word to describe Juno, since it wasn’t really a great (indie)film but merely cute flick. In my opinion Juno lacked the eminent teen dialogue. Jargons like “honest to blog?”, “Phuket, Thailand” or “pork swords”, are not as common as the movie makes it to be. Not common at all actually. Another thing that kind of threw me off was the vocabulary used by Juno. I understand that she was a bright kid for her age (16), yet if she was really that bright, then how come she got knocked up to begin with? Contradicting, I thought. And lastly, the ultimate nerd Paulie Bleeker (Michael Cera) did not seem to have anything in common with our protagonist Juno, other than their “band” of course. When Juno was witty, funny, and assertive (to say the least), then Bleeker was...just a nerd. Nothing more, nothing less. Make matters worse, I did not see any sparks or affection between the two teenagers. None at all. So how on earth am I supposed to believe that those two even hooked up?

I think Juno is a teen movie made for adults. Come on, I doubt anyone under the age of 21 would even understand the remark “ten-thousand leagues under the sea”. Clearly an adult cutesy flick with vocabulary for a mature audience.


* * * (three out of five) – recommended for adults, but not for kids. Decent and enjoyable, but nothing as spectacular as it was made up to be.


V.

Enjoyed Juno? Viira recommends: Thirteen, Hard Candy, Little Miss Sunshine.


Poster courtesy of http://www.impawards.com/

The Dark Knight

Welcome to a world without rules

It’s been almost 2 weeks since I went to see this summer’s long awaited (and much hyped) sequel – The Dark Knight.

Here’s something about me…I usually give a film a couple of days to sort of sink in and then I make an attempt to recall my memories (if there are any), piece them back together, and try to come up with a an adequate review of the feature.

First of all, let’s get something out of the way before we start dissecting this film. The late Heath Ledger did a phenomenal job as the deranged and psychotic Joker. I’ve got nothing but praise for him. I had heard that he was great, but his performance exceeded my expectations in every which way, earning him a place in my top 10 ultimate movie villains list. Truly an Oscar worthy performance!!

But did the film (Heath Ledger’s Joker aside) live up to its hype? After contemplating over this for quite some time, I would conclude that yes it did, however, it wasn’t as great as I had hoped it would be (I think the hype got the best of me). Why do I say that? I say this because I truly believe that without Heath Ledger’s Joker, this movie would have been merely another summer-blockbuster-comic-book-flick. This is why…

Gotham City. This time I didn’t enjoy Gotham as much I enjoyed it in Batman Begins. Gotham City, which was filmed in Chicago, Illinois, was just too much…Chicago for me. The feel of a dark and gritty metropolis infested with crime was…gone. No vaulted arches, no gargoyles, no rain. Instead we got plenty (and perhaps too much) daylight to make Gotham look like a beautiful place. Just like the good ol’ Chicago with all its glory.

152 min. I did not care for the 2 and a half hour length of the feature. It could have easily been edited into 2 hours. Just take out the over the top (and unnecessary) Hong Kong sequences, and the brief Scarecrow cameo, which led us nowhere.

Two-face. Not only that his face looked a little cheesy and computer animated (I was hoping for something more "real", something along the lines of a napalm victim from We Were Soldiers), but the real bummer is that Two-face is in the film for no more than 20 minutes which after he gets what I call the “Venom treatment” (those who have seen Spider-Man 3 will understand). WTF?

Sal Maroni. I also didn’t care for Eric Roberts as the mob boss Sal “The Boss” Maroni, please, the guy looks more like an abusive husband rather than a mafia don. Roberts’ performance is incomparable with Tom Wilkinson’s Carmine Falcone from Batman Begins.

Batman. Yes…the Batman…well…let me put it this way – where in Batman Begins our hero is portrayed more like a ninja who appears from the dark, kicks some serious ass and then all of a sudden disappears, leaving everyone (including the audience) a little frightened, then in the Dark Knight he isn’t as frightening (whatever happened to the comic book Batman who intimidated his enemies?) as I would have liked to see him. He was solid, but not as great as I had expected him to be.

All this considered I must say that Heath Ledger stole the show and made the Dark Knight truly enjoyable . He basically made up for every shortcoming of this film. This time the joke was on the knight…




* * * * (four out of five) – a must see not only of this summer but of this entire year. And if you don’t care for the genre, you should see it for Ledger’s performance.

V.


Enjoyed The Dark Knight? Viira recommends: Batman Begins, The Prestige, Sin City


Poster courtesy of http://www.impawards.com/

Welcome to my all new movie blog...

Bookmark this site and keep checking back for more reviews and other movie buzz. This is going to be fun!!

Thank you,

V.