Boondock Saints 2, directed by Troy Duffy and rated R (for Ridiculous...), is an attempt at reviving the action-packed original Boondock Saints from about ten years ago. It featuresSean Patrick Flanery, Norman Reedus, Billy Connolly, and Clifton Collins. You don't have to look at the extremely weak box office to know that this movie was awful.
The film consists of the same characters as the original, but they are all ten years older. In my opinion, the cast did not get any better than before. If not, their acting got worse...
The film attempts to be like the first one, but it turned out really, really cheesy. The worst part was the montage of all the characters preparing to be killers again--loading their guns and cutting their hair, etc. How lame!
Sure, there were a few good parts in the film. I just don't remember them at all!
Unless you're a die-hard fan of the original Boondock Saints, I would not recommend anyone to spend any money to watch this film. I should have went to The Road...
I give the film 1.5 stars out of 5 stars. But take your own word for it, and let me know what you think!
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
The Twilight Saga: New Moon
The Twilight Saga: New Moon is an action/adventure film, directed by Chris Weitz and rated PG-13, that stars Kristin Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, and Dakota Fanning. It is packed to the brim with vampires, romance, adventure, and a werewolf. What more could the audience ask for, right?
Dakota Fanning is a new character in the series of movies; she plays a smaller role, but she plays it very well.
This film is more about a love triangle, unlike the first Twilight movie. The plot follows a love triangle between Bella (Stewart), Edward (Pattinson, and Jacob (Lautner). Suddenly, Bella begins to like her best friend, Jacob, because he goes from geek in the first movie to a hot beefy stud in the second film!
Edward and his family left beacuse people were catching on that they were all vampires. He told Bella he didn't love her or want to be with her. Bella cannot handle this at all; she goes on adrenaline rushes just to see his face.
Jacob, becomes a werewolf that kills vampires. He is continuously protecting Bella from evil Victoria (a bad vampire) because he loves her. Victoria is hunting Bella down because her mate was killed by Edward before, and so she wants to kill his mate.
So begins the conflict of Team Edward versus Team Jacob. If you like the first movie, you'll like the second. However, I do believe you have to see the first movie to know what is going on in New Moon. Perhaps you should just see the movie yourself to decide: Are you Team Edward or Team Jacob?
I give the movie 4 stars out of 5. But let me know what you think!
Dakota Fanning is a new character in the series of movies; she plays a smaller role, but she plays it very well.
This film is more about a love triangle, unlike the first Twilight movie. The plot follows a love triangle between Bella (Stewart), Edward (Pattinson, and Jacob (Lautner). Suddenly, Bella begins to like her best friend, Jacob, because he goes from geek in the first movie to a hot beefy stud in the second film!
Edward and his family left beacuse people were catching on that they were all vampires. He told Bella he didn't love her or want to be with her. Bella cannot handle this at all; she goes on adrenaline rushes just to see his face.
Jacob, becomes a werewolf that kills vampires. He is continuously protecting Bella from evil Victoria (a bad vampire) because he loves her. Victoria is hunting Bella down because her mate was killed by Edward before, and so she wants to kill his mate.
So begins the conflict of Team Edward versus Team Jacob. If you like the first movie, you'll like the second. However, I do believe you have to see the first movie to know what is going on in New Moon. Perhaps you should just see the movie yourself to decide: Are you Team Edward or Team Jacob?
I give the movie 4 stars out of 5. But let me know what you think!
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
The Blind Side
The Blind Side, rated PG-13, is a drama based on a true story, directed by John Lee Hancock. The film stars Sandra Bullock, Kathy Bates, Tim McGraw, and Quinton Aaron. The movie follows the true story of Michael Oher, an African-American teenager with no home, who is taken in by a rich white family, the Touhys.
When the Touhys take in Michael, "Big Mike", he has an opportunity to reach his full potential. His broken lifestyle begins to get better when he makes the football team, owns his own bed for the first time, becomes part of a loving family. Although Michael is used to facing challenges on the streets, he finds new challenges when he becomes a student at a Christian school and plays for the high school football team.
This movie is an inspirational film that touches the hearts of each member in the audience. The movie was bound to be a huge success (it is number one in the box office this week) because the material is based on a true story and the cast is extremely talented.
The film was put together well. I felt empathetic to each situation that Michael (Quinton Aaron) and Mrs. Touhys (Sandra Bullock) encountered. I would rate this movie 4.5 out of 5 stars. Let me know what you think!
When the Touhys take in Michael, "Big Mike", he has an opportunity to reach his full potential. His broken lifestyle begins to get better when he makes the football team, owns his own bed for the first time, becomes part of a loving family. Although Michael is used to facing challenges on the streets, he finds new challenges when he becomes a student at a Christian school and plays for the high school football team.
This movie is an inspirational film that touches the hearts of each member in the audience. The movie was bound to be a huge success (it is number one in the box office this week) because the material is based on a true story and the cast is extremely talented.
The film was put together well. I felt empathetic to each situation that Michael (Quinton Aaron) and Mrs. Touhys (Sandra Bullock) encountered. I would rate this movie 4.5 out of 5 stars. Let me know what you think!
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Couples Retreat
Jason Bateman, Vince Vaughn, Jon Favreau, Kristin Davis, Kristen Bell, and Malin Akerman all star in the hilarious new October 2009 comedy Couples Retreat, directed by Peter Billingsley. This film intends to show problems that couples face into a humorous light. The humorous film presents four couples from the Midwest region taking a well-deserved vacation at an elegant island resort. One couple used this opportunity to see a highly recommended therapist in order to fix their marriage. The other three couples intended to have a blast jet skiing, going to the day spas, and swimming in the beach. However, they are in for a surprise when they discover they either take part in the therapy sessions as well or leave. How bad could it be? The audience gets a chance to look at real world issues that all couples face from a comical standpoint.
Jason (Jason Bateman) and his wife Cynthia (Kristen Bell) decide that their relationship is strained when they have trouble trying to have a baby. They discover a great group rate to Eden West, a tropical island resort that specializes in couples’s skill building. In order to afford the vacation, they present a PowerPoint to their friends, three other couples, so that they’ll agree to go. The couples are skeptical at the short preparation time, so they say no. Jason Bateman, who plays the husband in distress, goes to Vince Vaughn, who plays his best friend, asking him to re-think the vacation to help him save his marriage. The movie transitions into the beautiful scenery of a tropical island. They kick off the vacation with a beautiful meal, where they must decide whether or not to accept the full couples’s skill building package or they will be sent home. With a few drinks and excellent seafood dishes, they all accept. Throughout the sessions and skill building activities, the couples realize that maybe they do have a few setbacks in their relationships. Joey (Jon Favreau) and his wife Lucy (Kristin Davis) realize that they consistently cheat on one another. Another finds out that they stopped working together and living life as a couple rather than as two strangers. Not only do the couples realize their problems, but they attempt to work them out and even offer help to their friends along the way.
The movie is based on an original idea by Vince Vaughn. Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau wrote the script together. The movie really has a lot going for it because of its likeable cast. However, one common dislike of the film is that the characters are too underdeveloped. There were too many different main characters to follow. The dialogue and the fast pace of the film makes it difficult for the audience to really find a deep connection with the characters.
Overall, the movie offers several laughs for the audience, like when Dave (Vince Vaughn) swims with sharks or when Jason (Jason Bateman) pull an imaginary gun on his therapist. revealing very serious problems that couples undergo in a fresh, comical way. This makes it easier for the audience to relate to the characters, despite the underdevelopment of the characters. You may end up putting yourself in one of the cast members’ shoes, understanding the conflicts they are trying to overcome. Although it is not one of Vaughn’s best films, this comedy offers a fresh look at how to resolve everyday problems that couples undoubtedly find themselves facing. Maybe Vaughn couldn’t get into the romantic comedy because it’s not his style. In 2001, Vaughn stated, “"I've never done a romantic comedy, because it seems they can't just tell a love story. It's always something like a radio station does a poll and decides these two people will get along, and if they do they get a million dollars. You don't need all of that to get into a love story." (www.imdb.com)
The beautiful tropical setting and the easily-relatable plot gives Couples Retreat such potential. But does the script written by Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau reach this potential completely? The script could have been wittier, most critics on rottentomatoes.com have said. The characters are too underdeveloped for the audience members to really feel like they are part of the movie, making the movie seem long and difficult to finish. However, the occasional burst of laughter and the likeable cast makes it difficult to make a quick trip to buy snacks during the movie. Two stars out of five!
Jason (Jason Bateman) and his wife Cynthia (Kristen Bell) decide that their relationship is strained when they have trouble trying to have a baby. They discover a great group rate to Eden West, a tropical island resort that specializes in couples’s skill building. In order to afford the vacation, they present a PowerPoint to their friends, three other couples, so that they’ll agree to go. The couples are skeptical at the short preparation time, so they say no. Jason Bateman, who plays the husband in distress, goes to Vince Vaughn, who plays his best friend, asking him to re-think the vacation to help him save his marriage. The movie transitions into the beautiful scenery of a tropical island. They kick off the vacation with a beautiful meal, where they must decide whether or not to accept the full couples’s skill building package or they will be sent home. With a few drinks and excellent seafood dishes, they all accept. Throughout the sessions and skill building activities, the couples realize that maybe they do have a few setbacks in their relationships. Joey (Jon Favreau) and his wife Lucy (Kristin Davis) realize that they consistently cheat on one another. Another finds out that they stopped working together and living life as a couple rather than as two strangers. Not only do the couples realize their problems, but they attempt to work them out and even offer help to their friends along the way.
The movie is based on an original idea by Vince Vaughn. Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau wrote the script together. The movie really has a lot going for it because of its likeable cast. However, one common dislike of the film is that the characters are too underdeveloped. There were too many different main characters to follow. The dialogue and the fast pace of the film makes it difficult for the audience to really find a deep connection with the characters.
Overall, the movie offers several laughs for the audience, like when Dave (Vince Vaughn) swims with sharks or when Jason (Jason Bateman) pull an imaginary gun on his therapist. revealing very serious problems that couples undergo in a fresh, comical way. This makes it easier for the audience to relate to the characters, despite the underdevelopment of the characters. You may end up putting yourself in one of the cast members’ shoes, understanding the conflicts they are trying to overcome. Although it is not one of Vaughn’s best films, this comedy offers a fresh look at how to resolve everyday problems that couples undoubtedly find themselves facing. Maybe Vaughn couldn’t get into the romantic comedy because it’s not his style. In 2001, Vaughn stated, “"I've never done a romantic comedy, because it seems they can't just tell a love story. It's always something like a radio station does a poll and decides these two people will get along, and if they do they get a million dollars. You don't need all of that to get into a love story." (www.imdb.com)
The beautiful tropical setting and the easily-relatable plot gives Couples Retreat such potential. But does the script written by Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau reach this potential completely? The script could have been wittier, most critics on rottentomatoes.com have said. The characters are too underdeveloped for the audience members to really feel like they are part of the movie, making the movie seem long and difficult to finish. However, the occasional burst of laughter and the likeable cast makes it difficult to make a quick trip to buy snacks during the movie. Two stars out of five!
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Zombieland: Hilarious!
What to expect when heading to the theater to view the new hit film Zombieland? Well, don't expect your girlfriend to hold onto your arm out of fear. But I still think this fi lm is the perfect date movie! The film is hilarious, it's clever, but it's not scary. The film found a way to turn blood-thirsty zombies into something surprisingly comical. Woody Harrelson's role as Tallahassee was entertaining and witty. My favorite part about the film was his obsession over Twinkies. Ahh, enjoying the little things in life. The film was filled with playful banter and great actors. Movie critic Phil Guie said, The cast is uniformly terrific, especially Harrelson and Breslin." (http://www.cinemaspy.com/article.php?id=3174)
The camera showed a lot of close-ups of the gross zombies eating human bodies and spitting up blood, which totally grossed me out. But this movie was still ten times better than Shaun of the Dead. I was surprised to notice it didn't spend much time focusing on the zombies attacking them. The main plot line focused more on the relationship between Columbus and Wichita.
Bill Murray's cameo appearance was classic. I just wanted to scream at the screen, "Don't shoot him, Columbus! It's just a prank!" But, then I realized this was a comedy film, and I laughed it off when Columbus offered the group Purell. I was still sad to see him go though!
The climax took place at an amusement park that Wichita and Little Rock wanted to visit. This setting also contributed to making the film more of a comedy rather than a horror film. the friendly park setting made me feel like I was helping them fight the zombies! They turned zombie killing into a sport. To be honest, I actually thought one of them would die at the climax. But, I kept forgetting it was a comedy...and they all just kicked major zombie butt!
This is my new favorite zombie movie, absolutely. I give this film 4 stars out of 5. I took one star off because I still miss Murray. Plus, those zombies were so gross! I wasn't planning on seeing any "cute" zombies, but wow. Let me know what you think!
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
"The Gamer" with Gerard Butler
The 2009 movie "The Gamer" has received a lot of attention, especially from the youth. I was initially attracted to it because Gerard Butler was a great actor in P.S. I Love You, The Ugly Truth, and 300. I went to the movie a few nights ago and was disappointed, overall. The idea that the most individuals in the nation were being controlled reminded me a lot of George Orwell's book "1984". But the movie plot moved too quickly. I figured Gerard Butler's character, Kable, would be in the videogame phase of the majority of the movie, considering the genre is a Suspense/Thriller. But he escapes the videogame early on, making the significance of that part of the movie minimal. The images portraying the videogame "Society" were disturbing, which turned me off to the entire movie. I feel like they could have added something to make the movie better, maybe something about how the government felt about all this videogame nonsense to make the story more realistic. I mean, the movie was only an hour and a half or so anyway. I didn't feel as if the plot was used to educate the viewers as well as it could have been. The trailer seemed a little misleading, even though it did win best trailer. When I saw the trailer, I thought Ludacris, the Humanz dude, played a major role, but I was disappointed when he only appeared a few short times. The Sci-Fi parts of the movies, like when it showed the "Society" game, appeared a little cheesy to me. It wasn't so much the graphics as it was the idea behind the videogame that just annoyed me. I was excited to see the movie, but now that I have, I would take my eight bucks back. I give the movie 2 stars out of 5.But let me know what you thought of it!
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