Rating: 7
Genre: Action/Adventure
This was a Super Hero movie so it was very unbelievable; however, this was different from most super hero movies. Primarily, the super hero used gadgets and electronic devices rather than super-powers so that alone made this better than most. And, Robert Downy Jr. plays the part of a filthy rich genius who is a cynical, egotistical, yet self-deprecating smart-ass to a T.
Gwyneth Paltrow did a great job playing his assistant. She has a way of portraying humility that can charm your socks off.
The plot was pretty far-fetched but at least it didn’t deal with aliens, zombies, etc. It had enough element of feasibility to it that you could place this into the fairly near future without too much of a stretch.
What really made the movie good was the acting of Robert Downy Jr. This would’ve been a much worse movie without his presence. The action shots were done well and the robot in his garage had some of the funniest lines in the movie. Overall, I enjoyed the movie.
A word of caution: don’t waste your time watching the deleted scenes, they were pretty bad. I am very glad they didn’t include them in the movie.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
The Guardian
Rating: 5
Genre: Drama
This movie starred Kevin Costner and Ashton Kutcher as Coast Guard swimmers… the guys who jump out of Helicopters into the ocean to save potential drowning victims. Overall this movie was pretty predictable and the acting was not that great.
I think a documentary movie on the subject would be better because the subject itself is pretty amazing. Guys who risk their life in treacherous oceans to save people they don’t know. They are the oceans version of firemen. The movie did a pretty good job at showing the danger level that they deal with but the story itself was too “Officer and a Gentleman” for me. I think they tried too hard to add relationships into it when the real relationship should’ve been between the swimmers and the death they face so often. What drives people to put their life on the line like that? In its better moments, the movie touched on that but spent far too much time with macho bravado crap.
Genre: Drama
This movie starred Kevin Costner and Ashton Kutcher as Coast Guard swimmers… the guys who jump out of Helicopters into the ocean to save potential drowning victims. Overall this movie was pretty predictable and the acting was not that great.
I think a documentary movie on the subject would be better because the subject itself is pretty amazing. Guys who risk their life in treacherous oceans to save people they don’t know. They are the oceans version of firemen. The movie did a pretty good job at showing the danger level that they deal with but the story itself was too “Officer and a Gentleman” for me. I think they tried too hard to add relationships into it when the real relationship should’ve been between the swimmers and the death they face so often. What drives people to put their life on the line like that? In its better moments, the movie touched on that but spent far too much time with macho bravado crap.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Kung Fu Panda
Rating: 8
Genre: Animated
This animated movie was a fun and funny take on kung fu movies. Po, the panda, is played by Jack Black. He brings a kooky level to this movie that you don’t see in most animated movies. He is great at making his voice tell a visual story. It is pretty much what I had hoped Will Ferrell would bring to the Curious George movie but didn’t.
Po is a Kung Fu fan but is stuck slopping noodles in his dad’s restaurant. He dreams of being the ultimate Kung Fu warrior someday. Then, predictably, he happens into the role of Dragon Warrior… a long foretold legend speaks of a dragon warrior how will save the entire kingdom from sure destruction.
While the outcome is predictable, the characters are done very well and the animation is good too. The other characters don’t drag the movie down either. As a side note- David Cross (who plays Tobias in Arrested Development) is the voice of the crane.
It’s not as funny as the 1st Shrek, but if you like Finding Nemo, Flushed Away, Madagascar, Hoodwinked, or even School of Rock, then you’ll probably enjoy this too.
Genre: Animated
This animated movie was a fun and funny take on kung fu movies. Po, the panda, is played by Jack Black. He brings a kooky level to this movie that you don’t see in most animated movies. He is great at making his voice tell a visual story. It is pretty much what I had hoped Will Ferrell would bring to the Curious George movie but didn’t.
Po is a Kung Fu fan but is stuck slopping noodles in his dad’s restaurant. He dreams of being the ultimate Kung Fu warrior someday. Then, predictably, he happens into the role of Dragon Warrior… a long foretold legend speaks of a dragon warrior how will save the entire kingdom from sure destruction.
While the outcome is predictable, the characters are done very well and the animation is good too. The other characters don’t drag the movie down either. As a side note- David Cross (who plays Tobias in Arrested Development) is the voice of the crane.
It’s not as funny as the 1st Shrek, but if you like Finding Nemo, Flushed Away, Madagascar, Hoodwinked, or even School of Rock, then you’ll probably enjoy this too.
Get Smart
Rating: 7
Genre: Comedy
This movie was based of the Get Smart TV series from the 1960s. It’s pretty much a spoof on spy movies… very similar (as my brilliant wife pointed out) to Pink Panther… or the Austin Powers movies. I think Steve Carell did a great job portraying Maxwell Smart (agent 86), the bumbling agent for Control who is out to save the globe from the evil terrorist group Chaos and its agents.
In the original Don Adams played agent 86 and Barbara Feldon played agent 99. In the latest movie, Anne Hathaway plays agent 99. She did a great job playing the role of the savvy, smooth part of the duo. At the beginning she was a little more smug than the Barbara Feldon character was but comes around to being a helpful, likeable partner by mid-movie.
Alan Arkin plays the chief and did a great job. He brings a touch of class to the movie… Chief is less disgusted with Max in this movie than he was in the series and is his mentor and coach… a very refreshing portrayal of modern management skills.
Dwayne Johnson (The Rock) plays another Control agent and has a few funny parts too. James Caan, Patrick Warburton, and Bill Murray have bit parts.
This isn’t a deep movie but was a fun and witty action-comedy. If you liked the original series at all, you’ll like this movie too.
Genre: Comedy
This movie was based of the Get Smart TV series from the 1960s. It’s pretty much a spoof on spy movies… very similar (as my brilliant wife pointed out) to Pink Panther… or the Austin Powers movies. I think Steve Carell did a great job portraying Maxwell Smart (agent 86), the bumbling agent for Control who is out to save the globe from the evil terrorist group Chaos and its agents.
In the original Don Adams played agent 86 and Barbara Feldon played agent 99. In the latest movie, Anne Hathaway plays agent 99. She did a great job playing the role of the savvy, smooth part of the duo. At the beginning she was a little more smug than the Barbara Feldon character was but comes around to being a helpful, likeable partner by mid-movie.
Alan Arkin plays the chief and did a great job. He brings a touch of class to the movie… Chief is less disgusted with Max in this movie than he was in the series and is his mentor and coach… a very refreshing portrayal of modern management skills.
Dwayne Johnson (The Rock) plays another Control agent and has a few funny parts too. James Caan, Patrick Warburton, and Bill Murray have bit parts.
This isn’t a deep movie but was a fun and witty action-comedy. If you liked the original series at all, you’ll like this movie too.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Lost Boys of Sudan
Rating: 10
Genre: Documentary
Lost Boys of Sudan is a documentary about teenage boys who were once part of the Dinka tribe in Sudan. They were a peaceful cattle and goat herding tribe until Muslim radicals came into Sudan and started killing anyone who wasn't Muslim; burning villages, killing entire tribes including women and children. When the Muslim radicals came to the Dinka tribe, many of the young boys who were out in the fields tending to the herds were able to flee on foot and made it to a refugee camp.
Hundreds of the boys spent ten years in the refugee camp before some were given an opportunity to go to America where they hoped to receive an education so they could one day come back to Sudan and build their war-ravaged country back up again.
The movie follows two specific boys' journey from Africa to America and gives an inside look at this transitional time in their lives. The movie gives a great look at America, both good and bad, from an outsiders perspective.
I would recommend this movie to anyone who liked Blood Diamond or Hotel Rwanda. This movie is much different than those but the theme of genocide is prevalent in all 3. This movie, however, is not just based on a true story, it is one. It adds far more feeling and emotion knowing the heart of these boys and following them through joy and hardship. Great movie!
Genre: Documentary
Lost Boys of Sudan is a documentary about teenage boys who were once part of the Dinka tribe in Sudan. They were a peaceful cattle and goat herding tribe until Muslim radicals came into Sudan and started killing anyone who wasn't Muslim; burning villages, killing entire tribes including women and children. When the Muslim radicals came to the Dinka tribe, many of the young boys who were out in the fields tending to the herds were able to flee on foot and made it to a refugee camp.
Hundreds of the boys spent ten years in the refugee camp before some were given an opportunity to go to America where they hoped to receive an education so they could one day come back to Sudan and build their war-ravaged country back up again.
The movie follows two specific boys' journey from Africa to America and gives an inside look at this transitional time in their lives. The movie gives a great look at America, both good and bad, from an outsiders perspective.
I would recommend this movie to anyone who liked Blood Diamond or Hotel Rwanda. This movie is much different than those but the theme of genocide is prevalent in all 3. This movie, however, is not just based on a true story, it is one. It adds far more feeling and emotion knowing the heart of these boys and following them through joy and hardship. Great movie!
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