Rating: 6
Genre: Action
This movie stars Will Smith as Hancock, a super hero with a bad attitude. He eventually hooks up with Ray (Jason Bateman), a PR man who tries to help him clean up his image.
I liked the 1st half of this movie but the second half splits off into a weird plot involving Ray's wife (Charlize Theron) and gets away from being a comedy and becomes an action movie. I personally think it should've stayed a comedy.
Pretty good special effects and nice concept but left me a bit disappointed.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Run, Fat Boy, Run
Rating: 7
Genre: Romantic Comedy
This movie starred Simon Pegg (from Hot Fuzz & Shaun of the Dead) and Thandie Newton (Crash & Pursuit of Happyness). It's a comedy about a guy who is afraid of commitment but when he finds out his ex-fiance (and his son's mom) is dating another man, he decides to prove himself by running a marathon.
The movie had some very funny parts and, although it ends predictably, is one of the better romantic comedies I've seen in a while.
If you liked Hot Fuzz or Shaun of the Dead, don't expect the same kind of movie. Some British humor to be sure but this one is more of a 'date' movie than those were. Not recommended for kidos.
On a side note, this movie was directed by David Schwimmer (of Friends fame) - he makes a much better director than an actor!
Genre: Romantic Comedy
This movie starred Simon Pegg (from Hot Fuzz & Shaun of the Dead) and Thandie Newton (Crash & Pursuit of Happyness). It's a comedy about a guy who is afraid of commitment but when he finds out his ex-fiance (and his son's mom) is dating another man, he decides to prove himself by running a marathon.
The movie had some very funny parts and, although it ends predictably, is one of the better romantic comedies I've seen in a while.
If you liked Hot Fuzz or Shaun of the Dead, don't expect the same kind of movie. Some British humor to be sure but this one is more of a 'date' movie than those were. Not recommended for kidos.
On a side note, this movie was directed by David Schwimmer (of Friends fame) - he makes a much better director than an actor!
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Fred Claus
Rating: 5
Genre: Family
This was a Christmas movie about Santa’s brother Fred. It had some pretty quality actors (Kevin Spacey, Kathy Bates, Rachel Weisz, and Paul Giamatti) but I am not impressed with Vince Vaughn who played the lead role of Fred. He plays the same role in this movie as he does in many others: shallow yet practical instigator who ends up endearing and heart-warming. Yawn.
The only movie I really liked Vince Vaughn in was ‘Into the Wild’ because his character actually had believable depth. And I think that’s just it – he taints movies with his smarmy attempts at comedy but his sarcasm is just not that genuine or funny to me. He’s very similar to Ben Stiller that way; I can pretty much tell what their next move will be.
I don’t expect a lot from Holiday movies, and if you’ve read my other reviews you know that predictability is a huge factor in what I think makes a movie good or bad. So this one, while it had a few good moments, could’ve been much better with a less predictable actor in the lead role.
Genre: Family
This was a Christmas movie about Santa’s brother Fred. It had some pretty quality actors (Kevin Spacey, Kathy Bates, Rachel Weisz, and Paul Giamatti) but I am not impressed with Vince Vaughn who played the lead role of Fred. He plays the same role in this movie as he does in many others: shallow yet practical instigator who ends up endearing and heart-warming. Yawn.
The only movie I really liked Vince Vaughn in was ‘Into the Wild’ because his character actually had believable depth. And I think that’s just it – he taints movies with his smarmy attempts at comedy but his sarcasm is just not that genuine or funny to me. He’s very similar to Ben Stiller that way; I can pretty much tell what their next move will be.
I don’t expect a lot from Holiday movies, and if you’ve read my other reviews you know that predictability is a huge factor in what I think makes a movie good or bad. So this one, while it had a few good moments, could’ve been much better with a less predictable actor in the lead role.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
August Rush
Rating: 7
Genre: Drama
August Rush is a movie about a boy who was orphaned as a baby and grows up with constant music in his head (played by Freddie Highmore who also had the lead role in Spiderwick Chronicles). He has an instinctual belief that his parents are out there somewhere trying to find him. Well, they aren’t.
OK, just kidding – of course they are! It’s a Hollywood movie, after all. But, so I don’t ruin the story for you, I won’t go into the details. The important thing is that the music he hears guides his journey. The movie is endearing and full of wonderment and ends far better than most other movies. Like a great symphony, this movie ebbs and flows with interjecting tones chiming in at specific points of the piece to accent the mood. It hits major and minor keys, and changes pace several times, finally ending on a full-on crescendo.
Keri Russell (who played in one of my favorite movies – Waitress) plays the mom and does a great job. The dad is played by Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Terrence Howard plays the social worker.
Overall, the movie was pretty good – albeit predictable in parts. Pretty cool guitar parts. Robin Williams plays the role of a crazy street dad to homeless kids. He dresses like he raided Bono’s wardrobe. He’s pretty much a freak in the movie but does have one of its best lines:
“You know what music is? God's little reminder that there's something else besides us in this universe, a harmonic connection between all living beings, every where, even the stars.”
On a side note, the boy reminds me of myself in many ways (except for the musical genius orphan part… however, I hear music in my head all the time, I am adopted into God’s family, and will sing before God in Heaven one day - so there’s the similarity!). Also check out this link and you may be able to see why I connected with this movie: http://writingsofroyce.blogspot.com/2008/12/challenge.html
Genre: Drama
August Rush is a movie about a boy who was orphaned as a baby and grows up with constant music in his head (played by Freddie Highmore who also had the lead role in Spiderwick Chronicles). He has an instinctual belief that his parents are out there somewhere trying to find him. Well, they aren’t.
OK, just kidding – of course they are! It’s a Hollywood movie, after all. But, so I don’t ruin the story for you, I won’t go into the details. The important thing is that the music he hears guides his journey. The movie is endearing and full of wonderment and ends far better than most other movies. Like a great symphony, this movie ebbs and flows with interjecting tones chiming in at specific points of the piece to accent the mood. It hits major and minor keys, and changes pace several times, finally ending on a full-on crescendo.
Keri Russell (who played in one of my favorite movies – Waitress) plays the mom and does a great job. The dad is played by Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Terrence Howard plays the social worker.
Overall, the movie was pretty good – albeit predictable in parts. Pretty cool guitar parts. Robin Williams plays the role of a crazy street dad to homeless kids. He dresses like he raided Bono’s wardrobe. He’s pretty much a freak in the movie but does have one of its best lines:
“You know what music is? God's little reminder that there's something else besides us in this universe, a harmonic connection between all living beings, every where, even the stars.”
On a side note, the boy reminds me of myself in many ways (except for the musical genius orphan part… however, I hear music in my head all the time, I am adopted into God’s family, and will sing before God in Heaven one day - so there’s the similarity!). Also check out this link and you may be able to see why I connected with this movie: http://writingsofroyce.blogspot.com/2008/12/challenge.html
Friday, December 5, 2008
The Geat Debaters
Rating: 8
Genre: Drama
This movie was set in 1935 and based loosely on a true story about the Wiley College debate team. Wiley College was a small all-black college in Texas during a time when segregation was not just prevalent, but standard. This story shows how this group of college students and professors used their words to debate inequality and justice and opened eyes to the plight of the African American who lived in America without those rights.
Denzel Washington plays the professor who is captain of the debate team, and Forest Whitaker plays the part of Dr. James Farmer, Sr., a Wiley College professor who's 14 year old son is one of the 4 members of the team. Denzel Whitaker (who was named after Denzel Washington and no relation to Forest) plays his son, James Farmer, Jr. The role of Samantha Booke is played by Jurnee Smollett; she plays a great part on the debate team and her emotion shows on-screen as genuine passion. Henry Lowe, played by Nate Parker, is the most experienced and crafty debater on the team. He is torn between the life of debauchery he grew up in and the genius and power in his mind. Often reacting on habitual instinct instead of doing what he knows is right, he throws a few interesting twists into the story.
The story comes to peak when the debate team from Wiley College eventually finally gets a chance to challenge the debate team at Harvard University. This story made me angry when I saw the lynchings and ignorance that went on, but it also showed the piece of history that helped pave the way for human rights activists like Martin Luther King, Jr.
Overall, this was a very inspiring movie with quite good acting.
Genre: Drama
This movie was set in 1935 and based loosely on a true story about the Wiley College debate team. Wiley College was a small all-black college in Texas during a time when segregation was not just prevalent, but standard. This story shows how this group of college students and professors used their words to debate inequality and justice and opened eyes to the plight of the African American who lived in America without those rights.
Denzel Washington plays the professor who is captain of the debate team, and Forest Whitaker plays the part of Dr. James Farmer, Sr., a Wiley College professor who's 14 year old son is one of the 4 members of the team. Denzel Whitaker (who was named after Denzel Washington and no relation to Forest) plays his son, James Farmer, Jr. The role of Samantha Booke is played by Jurnee Smollett; she plays a great part on the debate team and her emotion shows on-screen as genuine passion. Henry Lowe, played by Nate Parker, is the most experienced and crafty debater on the team. He is torn between the life of debauchery he grew up in and the genius and power in his mind. Often reacting on habitual instinct instead of doing what he knows is right, he throws a few interesting twists into the story.
The story comes to peak when the debate team from Wiley College eventually finally gets a chance to challenge the debate team at Harvard University. This story made me angry when I saw the lynchings and ignorance that went on, but it also showed the piece of history that helped pave the way for human rights activists like Martin Luther King, Jr.
Overall, this was a very inspiring movie with quite good acting.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
I Am A Promise: The Children of Stanton Elementary School
Rating: 8
Genre: Documentary
This documentary was shot in Philadelphia in 1992 at an inner city grade school. It follows moments in the lives of various students, teachers, and the principal.
The crux of the movie is the clashing struggle between potential and the existing socio-economic conditions. The principal points out the inequality she faces daily; the fact that her school is allocated $4,000 per child while suburban schools are allocated up to $16,000 per child, etc. She was an extremely caring lady who went way above and beyond just to give these kids as fair of a chance at life as she possibly could.
Some of the kids in the movie were so stinkin’ cute that you just wanted to hug them, feed them, and take them to the safety of your own home. Most of the students’ parents were single moms and many of the parents are either ex-convicts, drug addicts, or both. One girls parents were so messed up that she just started going home to a different place; the man who’s house she went to (she calls him grandpa) said she was like a hide-e-cat who just showed up at his doorstep and when we opened the door she came in and didn’t leave. This kind-hearted man took her in and raised her and kept her safe from the danger she faced from her parents crack-head lifestyle.
One of the teachers was an amazing role models for boys who had no other male role models. He taught them about overcoming racial barriers, not getting into drugs and alcohol, and how to respect themselves and others.
The movie, which won an oscar in 1994, was crushingly depressing at times… but was also charming and hope-filled. As the children’s choir sings this song at the end of the movie you can't help believe the words will come to fruition:
I am a promise
I am a possibility
I am a promise with a capital "P"
I am a great big bundle of potentiality
And I am learnin' to hear God's voice
And I am tryin' to make the right choice
I am a promise to be anything God wants me to be.
I can go anywhere that He wants me to go
I can be anything He wants me to be
I can climb the high mountains
I can cross the wide sea
I'm a great big promise you see!
Sadly, in our distracting world, much of the potentiality will be unrealized. Even the genuinly loving principal quit – she was so invested that she burned out due to the lack of internal (help from parents) and external (financial basics) support. I would’ve loved to see a ‘where are they now’ segment to find out how much these students were impacted by the people who tried so hard to build a solid foundation for them to stand upon.
Genre: Documentary
This documentary was shot in Philadelphia in 1992 at an inner city grade school. It follows moments in the lives of various students, teachers, and the principal.
The crux of the movie is the clashing struggle between potential and the existing socio-economic conditions. The principal points out the inequality she faces daily; the fact that her school is allocated $4,000 per child while suburban schools are allocated up to $16,000 per child, etc. She was an extremely caring lady who went way above and beyond just to give these kids as fair of a chance at life as she possibly could.
Some of the kids in the movie were so stinkin’ cute that you just wanted to hug them, feed them, and take them to the safety of your own home. Most of the students’ parents were single moms and many of the parents are either ex-convicts, drug addicts, or both. One girls parents were so messed up that she just started going home to a different place; the man who’s house she went to (she calls him grandpa) said she was like a hide-e-cat who just showed up at his doorstep and when we opened the door she came in and didn’t leave. This kind-hearted man took her in and raised her and kept her safe from the danger she faced from her parents crack-head lifestyle.
One of the teachers was an amazing role models for boys who had no other male role models. He taught them about overcoming racial barriers, not getting into drugs and alcohol, and how to respect themselves and others.
The movie, which won an oscar in 1994, was crushingly depressing at times… but was also charming and hope-filled. As the children’s choir sings this song at the end of the movie you can't help believe the words will come to fruition:
I am a promise
I am a possibility
I am a promise with a capital "P"
I am a great big bundle of potentiality
And I am learnin' to hear God's voice
And I am tryin' to make the right choice
I am a promise to be anything God wants me to be.
I can go anywhere that He wants me to go
I can be anything He wants me to be
I can climb the high mountains
I can cross the wide sea
I'm a great big promise you see!
Sadly, in our distracting world, much of the potentiality will be unrealized. Even the genuinly loving principal quit – she was so invested that she burned out due to the lack of internal (help from parents) and external (financial basics) support. I would’ve loved to see a ‘where are they now’ segment to find out how much these students were impacted by the people who tried so hard to build a solid foundation for them to stand upon.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Leatherheads
Rating: 7
Genre: Comedy
This movie was about Pro Football in the mid-1920s, so while it was a comedy it also had an historical note to it that I really loved - especially since I'm a huge football fan.
George Clooney is at his best when he plays a character who has an overtly faulty, everyday man quality, while at the same time is extremely sharp-witted and clever as he did in O Brother Where Art Thou. Such was the case in this movie too. Renee Zellweger plays the female lead, a newspaper journalist who shoots fiery quips right back at Dodge (Clooney). The two have a great on-screen chemistry that made this movie much better than it should've been. John Krasinski (Jim Halpert on The Office) played the other lead part and does a much much better job than he did in License To Wed.
The story was pretty fun and only slightly predictable. It reminded me of A League of Their Own with more wit and a bit deeper story.
Genre: Comedy
This movie was about Pro Football in the mid-1920s, so while it was a comedy it also had an historical note to it that I really loved - especially since I'm a huge football fan.
George Clooney is at his best when he plays a character who has an overtly faulty, everyday man quality, while at the same time is extremely sharp-witted and clever as he did in O Brother Where Art Thou. Such was the case in this movie too. Renee Zellweger plays the female lead, a newspaper journalist who shoots fiery quips right back at Dodge (Clooney). The two have a great on-screen chemistry that made this movie much better than it should've been. John Krasinski (Jim Halpert on The Office) played the other lead part and does a much much better job than he did in License To Wed.
The story was pretty fun and only slightly predictable. It reminded me of A League of Their Own with more wit and a bit deeper story.
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