July 5th: Hobo with a Shotgun, 13 Assassins, Of Gods and Men, Das Boot, Gettysburg/Gods and Generals, The Cape (series), Eureka season 4, Boy Meets World season 6
July 12th: The Lincoln Lawyer, Insidious, Brother's Justice, Miral, Brazil, Naked, Entourage season 7, ER season 15, Damages season 3, Battle Beyond the Stars, Dinocroc vs Supergator, Damnation Alley
July 15th: Rango, Arthur
July 19th: Limitless, Take Me Home Tonight, Tekken, Beauty and the Beast, The Music Room, Amelie, Boys in the Hood, Chocolat, Bridget Jones's Diary, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, Doctor Who Season 6 part I, Hey Dude season 1, Young Justice, The Reef, House of the Rising Sun
July 26th: Source Code, Trust, Dylan Dog, Life During Wartime, Leon Morin Priest, High and Low, Animal House, Blues Brothers, Torso, Stargate Atlantis
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Review: Bridesmaids
Plot: Annie (Kristen Wiig) is a woman in her mid-thirties selling rings at a local jewelry store after failing in a bakery shop venture. Lonely, broke, and finding occasional comfort in sex buddy Ted (Jon Hamm) Annie suddenly is asked to be the maid of honor at her best friend Lillian's wedding. However, her rivalry with Lillian's friend Helen (Rose Byrne) causes unexpected and sometimes funny complications.
Review: Many critics have touted director Paul Feig's Bridesmaids as a hilarious anti-chick flick comedy. I unfortunately am not one of those people. Considering the impressive cast going in I was severely underwhelmed by the cheap gross out jokes, incredibly predictable plot, and a running time that was too long by at least a half an hour.
Kriten Wiig's Annie evokes little if no empathy and I found it very difficult to care about her plight. She laments everything from her broke down car, her fading relationship with Lillian, and her dismal love life. Make no mistake though Annie is no victim of circumstance. She chooses all of the bad decisions she makes managing somehow to even ruin her budding relationship with local police officer Nathan Rhodes (The I.T. Crowd's Chris O'Dowd). When Lillian (temporarily) kicks Annie out of her wedding it's not only deserved but a relief.
Meanwhile director Paul Feig should have enacted more creative control over Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo's script. Rather than attempting at least a modicum of wit, Feig instead capitalizes almost exclusively on gross out humor like the bridesmaids' disastrous trip to a Brazilian restaurant or future sister in law Megan's (Melissa McCarthy) raunchy come on to a airplane passenger. Somehow Bridesmaids even managed to work in an appearance by musical group Wilson Phillips just to make the travesty complete.
Bridesmaids by no means is a completely awful film. Melissa McCarthy (who you may recognize from television's Mike and Molly) provides several very needed laughs throughout the film as Megan. Her Fight Club suggestion for a bachelorette party is particularly hilarious. Rose Byrne is strong as the uber rich Helen who tries to outdo Annie at every turn. However, the Damages television star seems more suited to drama than she does for comedy.
Bridesmaids masquerades itself as a raunchy guy comedy without the guys. Unfortunately it just doesn't work on screen. Guys don't let your women fool you, this is a chick flick all the way. You won't want to show up for the engagement party let alone the wedding in Bridesmaids.
My rating: 4/10
Review: Many critics have touted director Paul Feig's Bridesmaids as a hilarious anti-chick flick comedy. I unfortunately am not one of those people. Considering the impressive cast going in I was severely underwhelmed by the cheap gross out jokes, incredibly predictable plot, and a running time that was too long by at least a half an hour.
Kriten Wiig's Annie evokes little if no empathy and I found it very difficult to care about her plight. She laments everything from her broke down car, her fading relationship with Lillian, and her dismal love life. Make no mistake though Annie is no victim of circumstance. She chooses all of the bad decisions she makes managing somehow to even ruin her budding relationship with local police officer Nathan Rhodes (The I.T. Crowd's Chris O'Dowd). When Lillian (temporarily) kicks Annie out of her wedding it's not only deserved but a relief.
Meanwhile director Paul Feig should have enacted more creative control over Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo's script. Rather than attempting at least a modicum of wit, Feig instead capitalizes almost exclusively on gross out humor like the bridesmaids' disastrous trip to a Brazilian restaurant or future sister in law Megan's (Melissa McCarthy) raunchy come on to a airplane passenger. Somehow Bridesmaids even managed to work in an appearance by musical group Wilson Phillips just to make the travesty complete.
Bridesmaids by no means is a completely awful film. Melissa McCarthy (who you may recognize from television's Mike and Molly) provides several very needed laughs throughout the film as Megan. Her Fight Club suggestion for a bachelorette party is particularly hilarious. Rose Byrne is strong as the uber rich Helen who tries to outdo Annie at every turn. However, the Damages television star seems more suited to drama than she does for comedy.
Bridesmaids masquerades itself as a raunchy guy comedy without the guys. Unfortunately it just doesn't work on screen. Guys don't let your women fool you, this is a chick flick all the way. You won't want to show up for the engagement party let alone the wedding in Bridesmaids.
My rating: 4/10
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Review: Thor
Plot: God of Thunder Thor (Chris Hemsworth), heir to the Asgardian throne is young, brash and arrogant. When he defies his father Odin (Anthony Hopkins) and attacks the home of the frost giants, Odin strips Thor of his magic hammer Mjolnir and thus his power. Odin also banishes Thor to Earth hoping to teach him humility and the value of leadership. However, with Thor absent his brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) plots to steal the throne from Odin. It's up to Thor, with the help of physicist Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) to reclaim his birthright and the throne of Asgard.
Review: Get read to feel the thunder! In an era where comic movies have flooded the local cinema, director Kenneth Branaugh's Thor stands out as a welcome edition to the Marvel family. Full of pulse pounding action, riveting special effects, and a plot that draws heavily from Norse mythology, Thor went far and above my expectations.
Little known Aussie actor Chris Hemsworth, whose previous movie credits include playing George Kirk in 2009's Star Trek, and a small part in the thriller A Perfect Getaway, proves definitively in Thor that he is more than capable of carrying a film. Sporting long blond hair, a beard, and a physique that looks like it was carved by Michelangelo, Hemsworth is every bit the physical presence you'd expect the God of Thunder to be. Moreover he's a good actor! In my opinion it is easy to play an arrogant, entitled brat and make no mistake Hemsworth was fantastic at portraying the cocky, almost jock like character. But to see the transformation that Hemsworth goes through to become a humble and wise leader is impressive. This is a breakout role that will surely catapult Hemsworth beyond next year's Avengers. Similarly Tom Hiddleston also undergoes a transformation from a loving if jealous brother to a scheming and covetous villain. He is the perfect foil to Hemsworth's Thor. Speaking of perfect I don't know if Branaugh could have cast anyone better to play Odin than Oscar winner Anthony Hopkins. He exudes royalty and his scenes with Hemsworth have a powerful emotional impact. Natalie Portman however comes across as extremely bland in the role of Thor's love interest. There was little if any chemistry between the two and after a dramatic turn in Black Swan she really seemed out of place as a physicist let alone a Marvel superhero movie.
Yet Thor bares little resemblance to any Marvel superhero movie I've every seen. English actor/director Kenneth Branaugh sets a good pace in Thor and balances action with emotional scenes. His choice to stick with the Norse mythology was inspired. It works in the film and proves a nice counterbalance to the scenes on Earth. Much of the plot's success can also be contributed to screenwriters Ashley Edward Miller, Zack Stenz, and Don Payne. Their development of the first major action scene on the frost giants' home world is epic.
Speaking of epic, you can't mention a superhero movie without the special effects. Asgard is a breathtaking rich and golden sight to behold. The frost giants' home world however is dark, cold, and brimming with ghoulish CGI monsters. None of the CGI effects come across as campy or dull but instead are bright, vibrant, and realistic. (The Blu-ray edition of Thor should be quite interesting.) You might want to skip the 3D version however as it is not really worth the price of admission. (As are most 3D movies today but that's a topic for another article and another day.)
In a season full of puffed up big budge garbage factories, Thor rises above the competition and cracks through the theaters like a peal of Thunder. Here's to the next lightening strike in Thor 2.
My rating: 8/10
Review: Get read to feel the thunder! In an era where comic movies have flooded the local cinema, director Kenneth Branaugh's Thor stands out as a welcome edition to the Marvel family. Full of pulse pounding action, riveting special effects, and a plot that draws heavily from Norse mythology, Thor went far and above my expectations.
Little known Aussie actor Chris Hemsworth, whose previous movie credits include playing George Kirk in 2009's Star Trek, and a small part in the thriller A Perfect Getaway, proves definitively in Thor that he is more than capable of carrying a film. Sporting long blond hair, a beard, and a physique that looks like it was carved by Michelangelo, Hemsworth is every bit the physical presence you'd expect the God of Thunder to be. Moreover he's a good actor! In my opinion it is easy to play an arrogant, entitled brat and make no mistake Hemsworth was fantastic at portraying the cocky, almost jock like character. But to see the transformation that Hemsworth goes through to become a humble and wise leader is impressive. This is a breakout role that will surely catapult Hemsworth beyond next year's Avengers. Similarly Tom Hiddleston also undergoes a transformation from a loving if jealous brother to a scheming and covetous villain. He is the perfect foil to Hemsworth's Thor. Speaking of perfect I don't know if Branaugh could have cast anyone better to play Odin than Oscar winner Anthony Hopkins. He exudes royalty and his scenes with Hemsworth have a powerful emotional impact. Natalie Portman however comes across as extremely bland in the role of Thor's love interest. There was little if any chemistry between the two and after a dramatic turn in Black Swan she really seemed out of place as a physicist let alone a Marvel superhero movie.
Yet Thor bares little resemblance to any Marvel superhero movie I've every seen. English actor/director Kenneth Branaugh sets a good pace in Thor and balances action with emotional scenes. His choice to stick with the Norse mythology was inspired. It works in the film and proves a nice counterbalance to the scenes on Earth. Much of the plot's success can also be contributed to screenwriters Ashley Edward Miller, Zack Stenz, and Don Payne. Their development of the first major action scene on the frost giants' home world is epic.
Speaking of epic, you can't mention a superhero movie without the special effects. Asgard is a breathtaking rich and golden sight to behold. The frost giants' home world however is dark, cold, and brimming with ghoulish CGI monsters. None of the CGI effects come across as campy or dull but instead are bright, vibrant, and realistic. (The Blu-ray edition of Thor should be quite interesting.) You might want to skip the 3D version however as it is not really worth the price of admission. (As are most 3D movies today but that's a topic for another article and another day.)
In a season full of puffed up big budge garbage factories, Thor rises above the competition and cracks through the theaters like a peal of Thunder. Here's to the next lightening strike in Thor 2.
My rating: 8/10
I'M BACK IN THE SADDLE AGAIN!!!!
Hello all! Sorry it's been so long but I've been quite busy over the last two months what with new job. Don't fret however. Over the next few weeks I have plenty of reviews coming your way starting with Thor. After all this is summer! There's plenty of movie blockbusters to go around.
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