As I go through the movies of 2012 that I didn’t manage to see while in theaters, I’m starting to realize that there’s probably a reason that I chose to skip out on some. Because once they’re seen, things like Dark Shadows and Rock of Ages can’t be unseen. [Read more...]
For Your Renting Pleasure
02/06/2013 by Leave a Comment
Film Review: Rock of Ages
06/15/2012 by 5 Comments
Rock of Ages is a travesty of a musical whose jukebox musical numbers never even comes close to topping their original counterparts and I would deem at least 50% of the film unwatchable. [Read more...]
For Your Renting Pleasure
11/15/2011 by 2 Comments
In this week of rentals I found myself disappointed with many of this years “better” comedies, where two other films ending up where I expected them to be. If you’re considering renting The Alphabet Killer, Horrible Bosses, Your Highness, or Win Win then read my thoughts before making your choice this coming weekend. [Read more...]
Film Review: The Ides of March
10/08/2011 by 4 Comments
George Clooney’s latest directorial effort, The Ides of March, is sharp, timely, and impeccably executed by his actors and team behind the camera. [Read more...]
Film Review: The Ides of March
10/07/2011 by 1 Comment
It’s very hard for me to get into anything involving politics: the news, debates, conversations, etc. Yes, I am one of those people. Just try to get me involved; I will give myself 5 minutes tops before the blank stare completely takes over my face as the droning noise of speech is washed away by thoughts of something more appealing to me, like food. Every once in a while I might throw out some thoughts on my moral standings, but it will be up to the other individual to connect it to the party in charge, the policies running the country, etc. I try, but I just wasn’t built for politics. [Read more...]
Still Playing Review – The Hangover Part II
06/02/2011 by Leave a Comment
The Hangover Part II could have easily been one of the best comedies of the summer, but instead of embracing the challenge of besting the first film, it hides behind the popularity of its predecessor, becoming nothing more than an uninspired copy.
The film opens up on Phil exclaiming that “it happened again,” and these words could only be truer had he said, “All this has happened before, and all this will happen again.” But I don’t really take him to be a Battlestar Galactica fan. Point is, the writers are obviously a fan of Mad Libs and draw from this passion to create this sequel: While celebrating [name]’s impending wedding in [location], Phil, Stu, and Alan wake up in a hotel room having no recollection of the night before. While looking around the room they realize that [name] is missing, Stu has [alteration to face], and they have somehow come into possession of a [animal]. At some point they believe that they have found the missing person, but when they go to the [location] to retrieve him they realize it is not the same person. Mr. Chow jumps out of the [container] to attack them, [no-no bits] are all around, and when all leads have been explored something clicks and they realize the missing person was on/in the [location] the whole time. The end. [Read more...]
Review: The Hangover Part II
05/26/2011 by Leave a Comment
The Hangover Part II is a lazy, uncreative, and terrible film that improves nothing upon the first film and in fact it copies the original almost note for note to painful affect.
You know the story, (no, literally, it’s exactly the same) Stu, Phil, and Alan go out and get so messed up that they can’t remember what happened the night before. A fourth party is involved, is lost and missing a finger, and the group must track down their whereabouts the night before. The problem is it takes what feels like an eternity to get to this point and I feel like the film would have been better off just picking up right with everyone waking up. We are introduced to quite a few new characters, Stu’s soon to be in-laws to be exact, get reacquainted with the gang, endure an awful rehearsal dinner scene, all among some rather pointless attempts at character building. People are signing up for this film to see the debauchery and it takes a very long time to get there.
And when it does get to the crazy stuff, it fails to be all that crazy. The first film was fresh, surprising, and original and repeating the exact same format beat for beat does not make this film any of those adjectives. In fact it makes things feel tiresome, extremely repetitive, and stale from frame one.
Review: Duplicity
04/10/2009 by Leave a Comment
The latest from Tony Gilroy is not quite as good as his previous effort, but it is still a fun and fairly unconventional con game/spy/thriller that will have you scratching your head here and there as the plot unravels to the end.
Ray Koval is former MI6, Claire Stenwick is former CIA, and after a not so chance encounter and later retribution for the original act on Ray’s end, the two decide to go into business and get in on the inside of two rival companies with hopes of beating them both to the coveted prize they are fighting over. Ray gets a position at Equikrom as a consultant on an espionage team the companies CEO, Dick Garsik, has assembled with hopes of stealing the next big thing from Burkett & Randle and their head Howard Tully. Claire has acquired a position at Burkett & Randle as a chief security advisor and the two plan on playing both companies from both sides hoping to get to the end game first and cash in on prize. Both companies are in pharmaceuticals, among other things, and Garsik’s team catches wind of Burkett & Randle getting ready to launch a new revolutionary product that will put them on top for good. The game for Ray and Claire begins when Garsik orders his team to find out what Tully is planning and steal it before he can go public. The two untrusting lovers begin to spin their web and hope to come out 40 million dollars richer on the other end. [Read more...]
