Starring: Tobin Bell, Costas Mandylor, Betsy Russell, Cary Elwes, Sean Patrick Flanery
Director: Kevin Greutert (Saw VI)
Quick Thoughts: I’ll give the Saw franchise credit for keeping the story somewhat interesting and layered over the course of seven different films. No one is going to say these films are spectacularly written, but considering how fast they churn these things out and how weak the genre usually is when it comes to the script, I’m at least mildly impressed. One problem: even with the films coming out every year, it’s hard to remember the characters if you don’t watch the movies repeatedly (which I don’t). So when a new Saw shows flashbacks or references past events or characters, I often find myself saying “Who the fuck is this? And why do I care?” This is a flaw that ultimately comes down to character development; which is to say, outside of Jigsaw and some of the other major players, that development is pretty weak. Watching Saw VII and seeing Cary Elwes again–one of the stars of the original–made me think of what it must have been like to be a film connoisseur in the mid-80’s, watching as great films like Halloween and A Nightmare On Elm Street turned into corny franchises that almost made you forget how good the originals were. Does anyone remember the first Saw? It was actually a pretty damn good film. Cheap, with mediocre acting at best, yes, but pretty original for the genre and that ending was fantastic. Well, seven chapters deep, the Saw franchise has followed the same path. I don’t hate these movies by any means, the franchise is pretty much unmatched when it comes to creative death sequences and as I said before, the “epic” story arc is an admirable effort… but you pretty much know what you’re getting by now. Saw VII isn’t any different: some new character finds himself in a maze of death traps and must overcome whatever personal defects landed him there in order to survive. New traps and cool death scenes… that’s why we watch these movies.
Viewings: 1
Replay Value: In my childhood I was a horror film fanatic and probably would have had these movies on repeat, but I’ve never seen any Saw film more than once… and I can’t imagine myself attempting a marathon.
Sequel Potential: This was supposed to be the final chapter… you know who else had final chapters? Freddy Kruger in 1991 and Jason Vorhees in 1984… and again in 1993. Well, we had a Jason movie in 2009 and a new Freddy in 2010, so you see how reliable that is.
Oscar Potential: None.
Nudity: None. A fatal flaw in the series.
Grade: 4/10 (Netflix It)
Recommendation: If you made it this far, you might as well go for the finish. With that said, this installment is nothing special… except maybe the 3D effects and I skipped this in theaters.
Posts Tagged ‘movie reviews’
Saw VII a.k.a. Saw 3D (2010)
January 27, 2011Dinner For Schmucks (2010)
January 27, 2011
Starring: Steve Carell, Paul Rudd, Zack Galifianakis
Director: Jay Roach (Austin Powers, Meet The Parents)
Quick Thoughts: The premise of this movie is exactly what the title suggests: a group of businessmen make a game out of inviting morons to a dinner party and compete to see whose guest is the biggest idiot. Steve Carell really hams it up in this film… and not in a good way. It was a performance that reminded me of when Jim Carrey’s comedies started to suck. His character really has no redeeming qualities. Sure, he means well, but he’s a walking disaster and is constantly creating unforgivable catastrophes for Rudd’s character. So when the film ultimately boils down to a question of “is it okay to make fun of someone for public amusement?” the message seems to be no; but I’m saying: not only would I happily make a fool out of this dude, I’d have a hard time not kicking the shit out of him. Obviously this is supposed to be a mindless comedy, but it’s only mildly funny and the fact that it tries to send a moral message can’t be ignored. Fail.
Viewings: 1
Replay Value: I’ve heard a few people say they loved it… I’d never watch it again.
Sequel Potential: Hard to imagine… but stranger things have happened.
Oscar Potential: None.
Nudity: None.
Grade: 3.5/10 (Skip It/Netflix It)
Recommendation: While Dinner For Schmucks wasn’t exactly a painful watch, I pretty much hated it. I’ve heard people say they liked it, so it obviously has a fan base, but look at it this way: when it comes to this movie, I’m hosting the dinner party and the people that enjoyed this film are my guests.
Buried (2010)
January 21, 2011Buried (2010)
Starring: Ryan Reynolds
Director: Rodrigo Cortes
Quick Thoughts: Think Phone Booth in a coffin under the dirt. Ryan Reynolds plays an American contractor driving trucks in Iraq that finds himself tied up and buried in a coffin when the movie opens. Initially, all he has with him is a Zippo and a cell phone that’s in a European language. Honestly, in a lot of ways this was the scariest film I saw from last year. I’m claustrophobic, for one, and I really had to detach myself from the situation to keep watching. There’s a lot of horrible ways to go, but being buried alive has to rank amongst the worst. Add to that the feeling of falling asleep, which is really the only escape to bliss from your current nightmare, only to wake up again and realize you’re still there. I’ve had that experience in jail. The gadgets are the kicker though. They give Reynolds’ character a sense of hope that he wouldn’t have otherwise and turns inanimate objects into legitimate villains; it’s a race against his battery life and the gas left in the lighter. It’s remarkable that director Cortes and Reynolds make a riveting film out of something that takes place entirely in a coffin under the ground. It says a lot about Reynolds’ performance and he certainly carries this movie; no one else does anything more than voice acting. It’s 100% Ryan Reynolds. Buried is a great, unique, and scary thriller. Oh, and that poster concept kicks all sorts of ass.
Viewings: 1
Replay Value: I’d watch it again.
Sequel Potential: None.
Oscar Potential: No buzz at all, but Reynolds is great in it.
Nudity: None.
Grade: 7/10 (Must See)
Recommendation: This film has been critically praised, but mostly overlooked. It’s unsettling, but definitely worth checking out.
2009 Movies: A Serious Man & The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
January 20, 2011A Serious Man (2009)
Starring: Michael Stuhlbarg, Richard Kind
Director: The Coen Brothers (No Country For Old Men, The Big Lebowski, Miller’s Crossing, Fargo)
Quick Thoughts: You gotta give the Coen Brothers credit for branching out and taking chances. They follow up 2008’s highly acclaimed and popular No Country For Old Men with a film set in the 1960s with a focus on the Jewish religion and featuring a mostly unknown cast. Stuhlbarg stars as Larry Gopnik, a Jewish college professor whose life suddenly unravels: his kids don’t appreciate him, his brother is unemployed and leeching off him, and his wife announces she wants to be with another man. Larry seeks the advice of various rabbis in order to help him through the hard times, but finds that there’s no sage advice to combat God’s will. Stuhlburg is great as Larry and the supporting cast is solid. The story is relatively confusing at times (I still don’t understand the role of the prologue), but the script is still interesting and funny. A solid, but unspectacular film.
Viewings: 1
Replay Value: Might have some… but I’ll probably never watch it again.
Sequel Potential: None
Oscar Potential: Nominations for Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay.
Nudity: Larry’s hot neighbor is sunbathing naked at one point, but it’s a long distance shot.
Grade: 5.5/10 (Worth A Watch/Recommended)
Recommendation: This is a tough call… I’m positive this film is not for everyone, but it’s definitely enjoyable and worth watching. If you’re a fan of the Coen brothers, then yeah, I think this is a safe bet.
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (2009)
Starring: Michael Nyqvist, Noomi Rapace
Director: Niels Arden Oplev
Quick Thoughts: Based on the popular Millennium series of novels by the late Stieg Larsson, this film was originally shot as part of a TV mini-series in Sweden. I read the book right before watching this movie, so any liberties taken in the adaptation process didn’t go unnoticed. For the most part, it was a fairly faithful adaptation, but I found some of the changes to be annoying and detrimental to the original story. As is usually the case when adapting the novels, some of the character development is left behind, in this case the character of Mikael Blomkvist really takes the short end of the stick. Seen as a confident, smart, and charming ladies man in the novels, Blomkvist is kind of played as a fool in this movie. That didn’t set well with me and it makes his eventual hook up with Salander much harder to believe. Speaking of Lisbeth Salander, Noomi Rapace kills the role, in a good way. So good, she’s getting some long shot Oscar attention for Best Actress this year (how? when this movie was released in early 2009 in Sweden…) and Roger Ebert even went as far as to lobby for her to be cast in the same role for the Hollywood version of the film. As is, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo is a dark, solid mystery thriller with a great performance from Noomi Rapace, but with a script that could have easily been better.
Viewings: 1
Replay Value: I’ll pass for now.
Sequel Potential: Swedish versions of the next two novels are already out. The Hollywood version of this film directed by the excellent David Fincher is due out in late 2011.
Oscar Potential: Apparently this film is eligible for this year’s Oscars and Noomi Rapace is getting buzz for her performance. I consider that a deep long shot… but if Sweden submits it as such, this has a shot at getting a Best Foreign Film nom.
Nudity: Noomi Rapace is naked a lot. I wonder if Hollywood’s Salander will be doing the same: 
Grade: 6/10 (Recommended)
Recommendation: A good starting point if you’ve read the novels, but personally, I think the Hollywood version is going to be better. David Fincher has been one of the most consistent directors over the past 15 years or so.
The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
January 20, 2011The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (2010)
Starring: Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, Taylor Lautner
Director: David Slade (Hard Candy)
Quick Thoughts: This series sucks… I don’t know why I keep watching it. The story isn’t interesting, the characters aren’t likable, the action is mediocre, the writing is bad, and the romances are nauseating. The only thing that could save this franchise for me is if Jacob got rabies and murdered everyone else.
Viewings: 1
Replay Value: None
Sequel Potential: One more movie… hopefully that’s it.
Oscar Potential: No.
Nudity: None.
Grade: 3/10 (Skip It)
Recommendation: Fans of the franchise are obviously still going to like this movie. If you’re not on board yet, Eclipse isn’t going to change your mind.
Iron Man 2, Shrek Forever After, Knight & Day
January 7, 2011Iron Man 2 (2010)
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Mickey Rourke, Don Cheadle, Scarlett Johansson
Director: Jon Favreau (Iron Man, Elf, Made)
Quick Thoughts: Continues where the first one left off with Downey Jr. hamming it up as the charming Tony Stark, a man that has just revealed himself to be the superhero known as Iron Man. While this sequel doesn’t suck–it’s actually pretty decent–it does lack the freshness and grit that made the first one so good. I felt like Mickey Rourke’s Whiplash was underused as the villain; he’s limited to two scenes of potential destruction for the entire movie. The rest of the time he’s working behind the scenes for Tony’s business rival Justin Hammer (Sam Rockford). The movie does have some dope moments: the Iron Man suitcase, War Machine, and the laser swords. A respectable sequel that’s solid on light comic moments and action, but lacks much substance to move Iron Man’s story forward in any interesting fashion.
Viewings: 2
Replay Value: Enjoyable the second time… probably won’t buy it though unless I see it ultra cheap somewhere.
Sequel Potential: I’ve heard Jon Favreau won’t be doing a third Iron Man, but Robert Downey Jr. will be back as Tony Stark for 2012’s The Avengers.
Oscar Potential: Nothing worth talking about… maybe some visual effects work.
Nudity: None.
Grade: 5.5/10 (Worth Watching/Recommended)
Recommendation: If you liked the first Iron Man, there’s no reason you shouldn’t see this; just know it’s not on nearly the same level as the first movie.
Knight and Day (2010)
Starring: Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz, Peter Sarsgaard
Director: James Mangold (3:10 To Yuma, Walk The Line, Girl, Interrupted)
Quick Thoughts: A spy thriller-comedy with an absurd and somewhat boring story and cheesing acting from the two leads. It’s actually better than I thought it would be, but only because I thought it would be atrocious.
Viewings: 1
Replay Value: Never again.
Sequel Potential: None.
Oscar Potential: None.
Nudity: None.
Grade: 3/10 (Skip It)
Recommendation: This isn’t terrible, but it’s not something anyone needs to see.
Shrek Forever After (2010)
Starring: Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy, Antonio Banderas
Director: Michael Mitchell (Sky High, Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo)
Quick Thoughts: It’s easy to forget how great and original the first Shrek film was… the first sequel was pretty good too, but Shrek 3 was absolutely painful and left me with a sour taste in my mouth. At least Shrek Forever After ends (possibly) the franchise on a positive note. Rumpelstiltskin tricks our beloved hero into signing a contract that gives Shrek a day’s worth of freedom from the constant burden of being a father and husband in exchange for… the day Shrek was born. Plunged into a world where his own wife and best friends don’t recognize him, Shrek is faced with his most formidable and emotional journey since the original film. Shrek Forever After is no Toy Story 3, but it’s a respectable close to a surprisingly successful franchise for Dreamworks.
Viewings: 1
Replay Value: The Shrek movies have lost their luster over time… I’ll probably never own this.
Sequel Potential: Is the ogre really finished? I kind of hope so, but you don’t want to bet against these things.
Oscar Potential: Probably won’t even get a nomination for Best Animated Feature.
Nudity: N/A
Grade: 6/10 (Recommended)
Recommendation: If you’re a fan of the franchise, you’re obviously going to want to see this movie and it’s a good send off film.
2010 Movie Reviews
December 27, 2010Black Swan (2010)
Starring: Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel, Barbara Hershey, Winona Ryder
Director: Darren Aronofsky (The Wrestler, Requiem For A Dream, The Fountain)
Quick Thoughts: This movie plays like the sister film of Aronofsky’s The Wrestler. Much like that film, we get a tour-de-force performance from the film’s star and an intense look at what it’s like to be insanely passionate about something. In this case, Natalie Portman’s Nina Sayers is a technically perfect ballet dancer that lacks the free spirit and dark side required to play the dual role of The Swan Queen in Swan Lake. Mila Kunis plays a rival ballet dancer and acts as the catalyst that slowly unravels Nina’s dark side. Or does she? It’s hard to tell what’s real and imagined in this film, but the transformation of Portman’s character is clear. What were left with is a ridiculously dark and horrifying film about how far some people will go to achieve their dreams.
Viewings: 1
Replay Value: Hard to say… it’s a tough watch, but it’s something you’ll need to see more than once. I think it has potential to grow on me over time.
Sequel Potential: None.
Oscar Potential: Portman is a front-runner for the Best Actress Oscar and gave the best performance I’ve seen this year. The film is a shoo-in for a Best Picture nomination as well… and Aronofsky could get an overdo directing nomination.
Nudity: Some masturbation, some girl-on-girl action, but no nudity that I remember.
Grade: 7.5/10 (Must See/Excellent)
Recommendation: Film snobs are going to love this movie, but casual moviegoers are likely to hate it. It’s unlikely anyone watches this and says “it was okay.” I’d say it’s a must see for Natalie Portman’s performance alone, but it’s definitely not an easy film. I’d say go see it, but it’s super dark and features an unreliable narration, so be warned.
Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World (2010)
Starring: Michael Cera, Kieran Culkin, Ellen Wong
Director: Edgar Wright (Hot Fuzz, Shaun Of The Dead)
Quick Thoughts: No movie has surprised me more this year than Scott Pilgrim. What an amazingly innovative film. While the plot about a boy (man?) that must battle his girlfriend’s evil exes to the death may sound trivial, the execution is outstanding. Edgar Wright’s team brings this story to life in such a way that boredom is out of the question. The filmmaker combines comic book flair with video game stylization and a hilarious script to create one of the year’s most fun theatrical experiences. Michael Cera has been typecast ever since Superbad and this was the first performance since then where I felt he brought something new to the table. The script is sharp and funny, and the cast does a stellar job bringing that humor to life. I was using the rewind button on my remote extensively. Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World is one of the best films of the year and one of the most unique movies I’ve seen in quite some time.
Viewings: 1
Replay Value: A must own. I could watch this repeatedly.
Sequel Potential: Unsure… it’s based on a comic or a graphic novel, but I’m not sure if there’s a series.
Oscar Potential: I’d nominate this for Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Director and a ton of technical categories, but early buzz has it getting mostly snubbed by the Academy. Sad.
Nudity: None.
Grade: 8.5/10 (Excellent/Potential Classic)
Recommendation: One of my favorite movies of the year, but it’s kind of “out there,” so I can see some people not liking it. Personally, I’d consider those people uptight… or stupid. Sorry.
The Kids Are All Right (2010)
Starring: Annette Bening, Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo
Director: Lisa Cholodenko (Laurel Canyon)
Quick Thoughts: An interesting story about a sperm donor who comes into contact with his teenage children and their lesbian mothers combines with great acting from Bening and Moore to make a quick-paced, intriguing movie that focuses on its characters. I was slightly unsatisfied with the ending, but definitely enjoyed the movie as a whole.
Viewings: 1
Replay Value: I’d watch it again, but probably won’t add it to my DVD collection.
Sequel Potential: None.
Oscar Potential: Bening and Moore are locks for acting nominations. The film should get a Best Picture nom; it easily cracks my top ten of the year. Outside shots at directing and writing nominations.
Nudity: Is Julianne Moore in it? Is it rated R? Then she probably gets naked.
Grade: 7/10 (Must See)
Recommendation: One of the better movies of 2010, but it focuses more on characters and acting than anything else. I don’t think the story is universally appealing, but it’s worth telling. Action junkies shouldn’t bother, but fans of good dramas will like this movie.
The Karate Kid (2010)
Starring: Jaden Smith, Jackie Chan, Taraji P. Henson
Director: Harald Zwart (The Pink Panther 2, Agent Cody Banks)
Quick Thoughts: A surprisingly solid remake of the 1984 cult classic. I never would have watched this if the word-of-mouth wasn’t so good. Jaden Smith is solid as the title character and Jackie Chan makes for a decent Mr. Miyagi substitute. I can’t say I was a huge fan of the original… I can barely remember it, so I was able to enjoy this update without any bias based on the source material. An enjoyable family movie that had me rooting for the underdog.
Viewings: 1
Replay Value: I’d be happy to watch it again… and maybe even buy it when it hits the bargain bins.
Sequel Potential: The first film spawned three sequels and this remake grossed over $175 million in the U.S., so a sequel seems likely, but the story was completely resolved and nothing has been announced so far.
Oscar Potential: None.
Nudity: None.
Grade: 6/10 (Recommended)
Recommendation: A solid family film and surprisingly good remake. Great for kids and more than watchable for adults.
Jackass 3D (2010)
Starring: The Jackass Crew
Director: Jeff Tremaine (Jackass: The Movie, Jackass Number Two)
Quick Thoughts: You pretty much know what you’re getting from a Jackass movie: crazy stunts and some serious gross-out bits. It’s more of the same here… but in 3D! With the exception of Avatar this was actually the best 3D experience I’ve had, so the novelty actually makes the movie more enjoyable. This entry is just as funny as the previous films and a couple of the scenes literally made me gag; consider that fair warning on The Sweat Suit.
Viewings: 1
Replay Value: I’ve never watched a Jackass movie more than once, but I could understand the appeal.
Sequel Potential: These guys are all getting older, but they all still seem pretty willing to take a beating.
Oscar Potential: None.
Nudity: Lots of penis.
Grade: 5.5/10 (Worth Watching/Recommended)
Recommendation: Fans of the franchise won’t be disappointed and anyone that hasn’t already been initiated into the Jackass world should probably continue to stay away.
Machete (2010)
Starring: Danny Trejo, Robert DeNiro, Steven Seagal, Michelle Rodriguez, Jessica Alba, Cheech Marin, Lindsay Lohan
Director: Robert Rodriguez (Sin City, Planet Terror, Desperado, From Dusk Til Dawn)
Quick Thoughts: A rugged revenge film with the feel of a B-movie. Danny Trejo plays a bad ass ex-federale on a mission to kill those that betrayed him and anyone stepping in his way. This is a pure action film and doesn’t have much of a plot, but it’s still impressive that Robert Rodriguez was able to piece together a decent feature film from what originated as a two-minute trailer for the Grindhouse movies (I’d rather see Eli Roth’s Thanksgiving myself). The acting is mediocre, but no one is trying too hard and there is something hilarious about Steven Seagal playing Mexicano. I liked it, but at 105 minutes, it does run a little long for something that lacks any substance.
Viewings: 1
Replay Value: I’ll definitely watch it again.
Sequel Potential: $27 million U.S. gross? I’d say no.
Oscar Potential: None.
Nudity: Tons of nudity. Lindsay Lohan’s character gets very naked, but the use of a body double is debatable. Jessica Alba and Michelle Rodriguez look sexy as fuck. Great movie for exploiting gorgeous women!
Grade: 5.5/10 (Worth Watching/Recommended)
Recommendation: A great movie for action junkies, but there’s little else to be seen here.
The Expendables (2010)
Starring: Every action star ever
Director: Sylvester Stallone (Rambo, Rocky Balboa)
Quick Thoughts: This movie would have been a lot cooler if it was made about 15 years ago. Basically, what’s happening here is you have every iconic action star from the 80s teaming up with a few of the past decade’s top action stars and forming a top secret tactical unit set out to take on someone somewhere for whatever reason. Honestly, who cares about a plot when you have this kind of cast? Apparently Sylvester Stallone does and that’s where this movie fails. Unlike Machete, this movie takes itself way too seriously. There’s too much down time and “plot development” in a movie that should be 98% kicking ass. The Expendables had some good scenes, but I spent a lot of time thinking about other things when I was watching this movie.
Viewings: 1
Replay Value: If I could edit this down to about 30 minutes of pure action, I’d watch it again.
Sequel Potential: The Expendables 2 has already been announced and has a tentative 2012 release date.
Oscar Potential: None.
Nudity: I can’t remember.
Grade: 4/10 (Netflix It)
Recommendation: Another action movie that lacks substance. I’d recommend it for nostalgia purposes, but even with low expectations, I was disappointed.
Batman: Under The Red Hood (2010)
Starring: Bruce Greenwood, Jensen Ackles, John Di Maggio, Neil Patrick Harris, Jason Isaacs
Director: Brandon Vietti (Batman: The Brave & The Bold, The Batman)
Quick Thoughts: A great take on the Batman/Red Hood story line that finds Batman pitted against a formidable and resourceful Red Hood, an enemy that seems to know more about Batman than he should. While Batman stalwarts Kevin Conroy (as Batman) and Mark Hammil (as The Joker) are both absent, the new voice cast does a respectable job… but it’s the story that makes this a great Batman movie. Considering it was a straight-to-DVD release, it’s still one of the better movies I’ve seen this year and probably the best Batman animated film since Mask Of The Phantasm all the way back in 1993.
Viewings: 3
Replay Value: I rented it and watched it three times before I sent it back. I’ll buy it soon enough and it’s a must have for any Batman fan.
Sequel Potential: There will always be more animated Batman movies, but this story had a pretty solid conclusion.
Oscar Potential: None.
Nudity: N/A.
Grade: 7.5/10 (Must See/Excellent)
Recommendation: A clear must own for fans of Batman and comic book films, but I’d also recommend this to just about anyone. Very good.
2010 Movie Reviews: The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Toy Story 3, more
December 7, 2010The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (2010)
”I’m a what?”
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Jay Baruchel, Alfred Molina, Teresa Palmer
Director: Jon Turteltaub
Quick Thoughts: The short from Fantasia is adapted into a full length live action feature film. Sounds like a recipe for disaster, but the trailers for this movie actually made it seem like it might be okay. I was expecting this to be some sort of sleeper hit for 2010, but I wound up feeling disappointed. Jay Baruchel has a certain level of charm to his naivety, but this movie was more over-the-top ridiculous than I was expecting it to be. This is no Harry Potter and if you’re looking for your magic fix, keep it in the J.K. Rowling world.
Viewings: 1
Replay Value: This is more kiddie fare than Harry Potter is… as an adult, I’ll pass.
Sequel Potential: It performed well at the box office which usually a recipe for a franchise.
Oscar Potential: Maybe some visual effects nominations.
Nudity: None.
Grade: 4.5/10 (Netflix It/Worth Watching)
Batman/Superman: Apocalypse (2010)
”Your cousin just torched $50,000 worth of custom hardware.”
Starring: Kevin Conroy, Tim Daly, Andre Braugher, Summer Glau
Director: Lauren Montgomery
Quick Thoughts: A solid adaptation from the Superman/Batman series of graphic novels. This entry introduces Supergirl into the mythos and highlights our two main heroes’ personalities: Superman welcomes her with open arms, excited and optimistic about his fellow Kryptonian, while Batman is forever suspicious and always prepared for the worst. Appearances from Darkseid and Wonder Woman add to the fun. Nothing spectacular here, but worth watching for fans of DC Comics.
Viewings: 1
Replay Value: Worth buying for die hard DC fans like myself.
Sequel Potential: I’ve read the whole Superman/Batman series, so there’s more where this came from.
Oscar Potential: None.
Nudity: None.
Grade: 6/10 (Worth Watching)
A Nightmare On Elm Street (2010)
A Nightmare On Elm Street (2010)
”Remember me?”
Starring: Jackie Earle Haley, Kyle Gallner, Rooney Mara
Director: Samuel Bayer
Quick Thoughts: Who is this Freddy Krueger? He looks more like Lord Voldemort dressed up in a Krueger Halloween costume. Jackie Earle Haley does an okay job, but he’s no Robert Englund. The movie itself tries to bring the franchise back to its scary roots, but forgets to bring a plot or characters we care about along with it. The script bounces around focusing on victim to victim before finally revealing its heroes in the closing act. Yawn. Yeah, I’m getting a little sleepy and this movie isn’t going to keep me awake at night.
Viewings: 2
Replay Value: Thought it was solid the first time I saw it… all its flaws became unforgivable the second time through.
Sequel Potential: I would imagine there will be more sequels and I’d be happy about it, but there’s a ton of room for improvement.
Oscar Potential: None
Nudity: I can’t remember any… not a good look for a Freddy movie.
Grade: 4/10 (Netflix It)
Toy Story 3 (2010)
”If you guys were the inventors of Facebook, you would have invented Facebook.”
Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Ned Beatty
Director: Lee Unkrich
Quick Thoughts: This is probably my second favorite film of 2010 (after Inception). As usual, the Pixar team comes through with a genius and hilarious script that finds our beloved toys from a decade ago dealing with the emotional trauma of Andy moving on to college without them. After Andy’s mom nearly sends the garbage bag full of toys to the dump, they find themselves hostage at a local daycare center run by a plush, purple teddy bear named Lotso. What ensues is one of the best escape movies of recent memory and a film that brought tears to my eyes on a couple different occasions. Definitely a movie that tugs at your heart strings and reminds you what it was like to be a kid and how much it sucks to grow up.
Viewings: 2
Replay Value: Definitely the kind of movie I could watch several times a year and probably the best Pixar movie ever.
Sequel Potential: Even though this is a great close to a fantastic trilogy of films, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Woody and Buzz facing new adventures in the future.
Oscar Potential: I’d be shocked if it doesn’t get a Best Picture nomination. It’d be highway robbery for it to lose in the Best Animated Feature category. Toy Story movies are always good for some of the sound categories too, especially Best Original Song.
Nudity: None.
Grade: 10/10 (Instant Classic)
Greenberg (2010)
”You like me so much more than you think you do.”
Starring: Ben Stiller, Greta Gerwig, Rhys Ifans
Director: Noah Baumbach
Quick Thoughts: Ben Stiller does something a little different in this movie. Instead of his usually high energy comic self, we get a somewhat reserved and introverted version. The movie is about a 40-something loner that kind of lives life to his own beat. He befriends his brother’s housesitter and develops an awkward, maybe harmful sexual relationship with each other. It’s cool to see Ben Stiller switching things up in this movie, and it does provide for some laughs we’re not used to getting from him, but the movie as a whole, is just a step above forgettable.
Viewings: 1
Replay Value: I’d probably watch this movie two times, maximum.
Sequel Potential: None
Oscar Potential: Ben Stiller probably thinks he has a shot an acting nomination, but it’s not going to happen.
Nudity: Greta Gerwig has a lot of sex in this movie.
Grade: 5/10 (Worth Watching)
Movie Reviews: How To Train Your Dragon, Harry Potter, The Social Network
December 5, 2010How To Train Your Dragon (2010)
”We’re Vikings. It’s an occupational hazard.”
Starring: Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, Jonah Hill, America Ferrera
Director: Dean Deblois, Chris Sanders
Quick Thoughts: A solid, underdog-becomes-a-hero family film that might be a little bit overrated. It’s very good, but its current standing amongst the top 250 films of all-time is probably being a bit absurd.
Viewings: 1
Replay Value: Great Christmas present for kids and I wouldn’t be mad about owning this film either, but I’m not rushing out to buy it.
Sequel Potential: I just read a release from Dreamworks saying there are going to be at least two more movies in this franchise and maybe as many as eight. Yikes.
Oscar Potential: Toy Story 3, Tangled, and this movie should be battling it out for Best Animated Movie. Unlike TS3, however, I don’t see Dragons getting a Best Picture nom.
Nudity: None.
Grade: 7/10 (Must See)
Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows: Pt. 1 (2010)
”I must be the one to kill Harry Potter.”
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Ralph Fiennes
Director: David Yates
Quick Thoughts: There are pros and cons to breaking HP7 into two parts. It’s good because the source material will be valiantly represented and kids won’t have to sit through a four or five hour movie. It’s bad because the first film doesn’t work that well as a stand alone project. The first half of J.K. Rowling’s book finds Harry, Ron, and Hermione doing a lot of walking around and minimal action. Almost everything exciting in the last book is going to happen in the second part. It is a very faithful adaptation, however, and I’m sure when the two movies can be viewed back-to-back the first film won’t seem so incomplete and boring. HP&TDHP1 doesn’t suck; it’s a beautiful film and a solid build up for the next movie, it’s just a little underwhelming. However you want to put it, the finale–coming next summer–is going to be EPIC and second part should garner the Harry Potter franchise its first Best Picture nomination. I’m just guessing.
Viewings: 1
Replay Value: I’d like to see it again before it leaves theaters and then I’m reading books 6 and 7 again before watching the finale.
Sequel Potential: Part 2 comes out July 2011… and for those that don’t know already, Rowling is toying with the idea of more Harry Potter books.
Oscar Potential: I don’t see HP getting any major nominations, but it should pick up some nods in some of the technical departments (art direction, costumes, score, etc.).
Nudity: We actually get dangerously close to seeing a topless Emma Watson. Crazy.
Grade: 7/10 (Must See)
The Social Network (2010)
”If you guys were the inventors of Facebook, you would have invented Facebook.”
Starring: Jessie Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake
Director: David Fincher
Quick Thoughts: A movie about the creation of a social networking website sounds dull as hell, but the great script from Aaron Sorkin, great performances from the surprisingly talented cast, and David Fincher’s usually solid direction makes this one of the best movies of 2010. Also, Andrew Garfield showed he has serious acting chops and should have everyone excited about the Spider-Man reboot.
Viewings: 1
Replay Value: This movie was great the first time and I’ll definitely watch it again when it releases on DVD, but I’m guessing it’s replay value doesn’t extend much beyond that.
Sequel Potential: None.
Oscar Potential: Should be a cinch for Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay nominations and my current favorite to win the Oscar the for the screenplay. This isn’t Fincher’s best directing job, but he always has an outside shot at an nomination. Jessie Eisenberg and maybe Andrew Garfield deserve mention as longshots for acting nominations.
Nudity: None.
Grade: 8/10 (Must See)
Revisiting 1990: Misery
September 26, 2010
“I am your number one fan.”
Considered For: Top 5, Top Horror Film
Plot: Successful author Paul Sheldon (James Caan) traps himself in his car after getting in an accident during a blizzard. He is saved when Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates) pulls him out and lets him recover in her home. As Sheldon lies crippled in a bed, Annie slowly starts to unravel and show her true colors, especially after she discovers that Paul plans to kill off his famed heroine Misery in his latest novel, and the author realizes that his life might be in danger.
I can’t think of a Stephen King adaptation I like more than Misery, but that is because none of those films had a performance as strong as Kathy Bates was in this movie. Kathy Bates is this movie. Outside of James Caan, who is pretty limited considering he’s confined to a bed for most of the film, and the sheriff and his wife, there aren’t many characters in Misery to speak of, so Bates really had a lot riding on her performance and she carries that burden like a badge of honor. Deserving of an easy Oscar win, Bates channels her inner psychopath as her character Annie Wilkes goes from happy-go-lucky hick to deranged, violent batterer in sheer seconds. I saw this movie when I was a kid and the only thing I remembered about it was Wilkes taking a sledgehammer to Sheldon’s legs, a testament to how iconic and powerful that scene was. This movie is the epitome of suspense and will have you on edge the whole time. I’m considering it for my top horror movie of 1990, but I’m not really sure if fits my definition of a horror movie. I’d place Misery in the suspense/thriller category and it’s a top notch effort. Highly recommended and a must see for Kathy Bates going completely insane.
Grade: B+
Viewings: 2
Replay Value: Worth revisiting every several years or so.
Sequel Potential: None
Oscars?: A win for Bates
Nudity?: None
The Bat Cave 