Jennifer's Body

It's never easy to blend horror with comedy. Many films try and fail. This year luckily movies like Drag Me to Hell and now, Jennifer's Body have succeeded.

Director Karyn Kusama (Girlfight, Aeon Flux) and writer Diablo Cody (Juno) take us into the sad and fcked up world of high school, now with demonic possession. Megan Fox plays Jennifer, The hot girl that all the girls strive to be and all the boys want. Amanda Seyfried plays Jennifer's nerdy best friend, Needy. The girls have been best friends since childhood and its apparent how close they are, but for what reason?



We meet Needy in the opening scene at the looney bin. She's gone completely crazy after all that has happened with Jennifer and all that the town has gone through. We are taken by flashback to the very beginning to see how it all went down. Cody's writing is perfect in the scenes of day to day high school life. I mean some laugh out loud stuff which would fit in with a darker telling of Mean Girls or Jawbreaker. These two best friends are inseparable, until the bar scene where they meet the band, Low Shoulder. Here is where things change and we get into some fantastic horror. Kusama's directs this in such a deceptive way. She really ramps up the tension because unlike most horror films this one is pretty unpredictable. The more the story reveals itself we see whose really at fault for Jennifer's craving for boy meat (Settle down perverts!)



The thing that works about this movie is its creative approach to the typical scary movie. Yes you get scares but in those scares there is this offer of light. The dialogue sparks in these darkest moments. Like the sacrificial scene. Its brutal but punched with one liners which really adds to the evil of the whole situation. The movie was an R rating, thank goodness. You get all the profanity and bloody violence you can handle. Although I wish the gore level was a little higher but I can see why they pulled back. There is a great cameo by Amy Sedaris as Needy's mom. Overall, a fun horror film that I will definitely watch again. If just to hear some of the dialogue again. The final scene kicks in with the Hole song, Violet. Perfect. The end credits cap off the story with a satisfying conclusion. My Grade: B+

Inglourious Basterds

I've been a fan of Tarantino's work since I laid my teenage eyes upon Pulp Fiction. The mixture of story, quick wit dialogue and memorable characters makes for a pretty damn good movie.

Inglourious Basterds is great addition to his library of work (Pulp and Kill Bill being my favorites followed by Death Proof) Although this film is very different for Tarantino. This story has a complete narrative marked by his love of chapter titles.

There are two stories to follow:



The first, a teenage Shosanna Dreyfuss (Melanie Laurent) has escaped the wrath of Nazi Officer Col. Hans Landa (Christoph Waltz) only to come face to face with him in her later years. Shosanna runs a movie theater in Paris where she is ordered to only play films by German/Austrian directors. She meets a young war hero who is smitten with her. She denies him any real attention until she is forced to dine with him as well as meet the infamous Dr.Joseph Goebbels. After all, this is Nazi occupied France and their will is law. Eventually, her movie theater is chosen for the premier of the film version of the young war hero's exploits, produced by Goebbels. Shosanna concocts a plan to do in the Nazi high command.



The Second, Lt. Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt) enlists the help of a group young Jewish-American soldiers, "The Basterds", to land in France and take out the Nazi high command, including the fuhrer himself, Hitler. Of course, Aldo has an unconventional way of inflicting some well-deserved pain to the Nazis. Just as the Native Americans did to the settlers and soldiers of the past, they scalp the head of each kill. If you were lucky enough to be set free from the Basterds, they would leave you a mark you could never erase. Another great scare tactic at Aldo's command, The "Bear" Jew played by Eli Roth (Writer/Director of Cabin Fever and Hostel). The Bear's weapon of choice, a baseball bat. Together this group of Americans kills its way through the French countryside to reach its ultimate goal.

There is a third story involving a rogue Nazi, a British Actor and German Actress who join the Basterds cause. Their story is interesting on its own but I won't go into it here. (The Basement Bar scene is excellent) The finale has our two main stories come together for an over the top, surprising and violent end.



Tarantino has cast some amazing actors in this film. The are two real standouts for me. Christoph Waltz as the delightfully evil Col. Landa. This actor is so beyond brilliant. He is able to speak French, German, English and Italian to perfection. His scenes are riveting. He will be nominated for best supporting actor, no question. The other, Melanie Laurent as Shosanna. She is given this story line ripe for any actress. She commands scenes and you are drawn to her story. One of my favorite scenes is the "Glam Rambo" scene heightened by Tarantino's fitting use of the David Bowie song Cat People (Putting Out the Fire). Shosanna is getting ready for the opening night of the Nazi film and it will be night no one will soon forget. I also loved the portrayals of some of histories greatest villains. Hitler is played as an over the top buffoon. Goebbels is this douchey prick who really needs Hitlers praise and approval. The one scene which just doesn't work for me involved Mike Meyers. It was just waste of casting, another actor could have easily played it better. Overall, the use of music and some amazing scenes make for a fantastic movie. Also if you are not used to subtitles, it has those too. A great film that I thoroughly enjoyed. My Grade: A-

9

Animation is so much more than a child's medium or simple form of entertainment. It can tell any kind of story and can take you anywhere.

9 plays more like an animated drama than anything else. Director Shane Acker has fleshed out this harsh post-apocalyptic landscape and detailed his characters down to the last stitch. It is directed with a cinematic scope that other traditional films rarely use to their advantage.



9, the title character voiced by Elijah Wood, is the last creation made by a recently deceased scientist. Humanity has been eradicated by the machines they created. Machines that were made specifically to destroy their human enemies during war. All that survives are these hodge-podge machines and little sack covered gear-bots. Each one with a distinct personality. 9 meets 2, voiced by Martin Landau, on the day of his birth. The first of his kind he has ever met, but not the last. As these two get to know each other, they are being hunted by a motley machine with the skull of a cat. 2 is taken and 9 enlists the help of the other, um, numbers to help get him back. We meet 1 (Christopher Plummer) who is the leader and the law maker of the little survivors. His cowardice, he believes, is keeping the survivors safe. 9 convinces 5 (John C. Reilly) to join him on his quest to retrieve 2. They arrive to the machine's home base and 9 accidentally awakens the master machine. The survivors are now forced to destroy the machines or meet their demise.



The action is crazy. I mean these scenes are impeccably choreographed and thrilling. The voice work is very well done. Especially in Elijah's case as he gets most of the dialogue. Jennifer Connelly voices 7 with a bravery and fire, she is the action star of the movie. This is a technically brilliant computer animated movie. It is full of atmosphere and tension. One scene showcases an element of heart that drives the story home. These little guys have to succeed. The future depends on them. Overall: A great dramatic sci-fi film light on humor but full of detailed imagery. My grade: A-

Coming Soon

Lets take a look at some fall releases which only means one thing, Oscar contenders anyone?


Brothers

You really can't go wrong with a strong young cast like Gyllenhal, Maguire and Portman. Looks like a very powerful story. Release Date: December 3, 2009

Amelia

Hilary Swank may be on an Oscar role with this bio-pic. The fascinating story of one of the 20th Centuries most iconic females, Amelia Earhart. Release Date: Oct 23rd, 2009

G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra

It's true, sometimes the trailers for a movie look way better than the film itself. Sadly, when I saw the first G.I Joe preview I was like WTF is this? Are you kidding me? I completely dismissed the movie from my summer viewing options. After some disappointing films like Wolverine and Transformers 2, I thought that I might as well give the Joe's a chance. I'm happy I did.

After an unnecessary opening back story scene, we are thrust into this fantastical, glossy, action packed, live action cartoon world. What works here is that they have literally brought the 80's cartoon to life. There is absolutely no basis in reality. It's not dark and gritty and it doesn't take itself too seriously. It free's your brain from being too critical or even rational. This is the G.I. Joe world.. not ours. If you are a "techy" or gadgetry freak you'll love this movie. Its full of cool stuff like sleek vehicles and high tech weapons that do cool shit. It's like being a little kid in your backyard playing with your G.I. Joes. There were no limits to what you could do.



Sadly the actors don't really matter in the movie. The characters are throw-aways if anything. Cheesy dialogue, shoe-horned sentiment and unexpected twists kind of weigh down character moments. Its simple, Sienna Miller as the Baroness is hot and delightfully cold however missing the Russian accent from her cartoon counterpart. Channing Tatum is Duke and lets face it.. he's hot and does his best to act with the material given. Marlon Wayans borders the token black character as Ripcord. I didn't find him as offensive as those two "Step n Fetch It" robots in TF2 but he was still funny. Cobra Commander isn't that menacing. Destro's evolution is kinda cool...very Fate of Anakin (for my SW geeks out there) type of deal. The two real standouts as far as actors goes are Storm Shadow and Snake Eyes. Wow these two are just awesome. They get the best fight scenes and the coolest back story (with some talented young actors/fighters).



Lastly, the special effects and cgi are killer. There are scenes so big and action packed its like visual overload. Stephen Summers directed this movie just like his previous ones (The Mummy, The Mummy Returns). Big effects shots and hyper kinetic action push the movie along without really slowing down. The movie goes by fast for being 2 hours long. The last battle is everywhere. In the air, underwater, on land.. I mean just everywhere. It makes for a satisfying popcorn flick and a fun night at the movies and I'm eagerly awaiting a sequel. My Grade: B

Coming Soon

Some love for Foreign Cinema and a new wild things trailer!!

Coco Before Chanel

I love Adrienne Tatou and this looks like a beautiful movie. Tres Chic!

Taxidermia

Twisted Russian movie. Lots of imagination at work here to tell what seems like a gruesome story.

Where the Wild Things Are - Trailer 2

Great second trailer. hurray for more Wild Things. This looks like such a special movie. OCT 16th can't come soon enough!

Rich-It Rental Bites 8/4/09

Frozen River
Melissa Leo plays Ray, a recently single mother looking to make ends meat. She meets a coarse young Native American woman who forces her into a human trafficking job. When Ray sees how good the money is, she finds herself in a moral downward spiral. This movie was fantastic. Melissa Leo's performance makes the movie. As the story unraveled, I was glued to the screen. I can't imagine what some people go through and the sacrifices they make morally to survive. A fascinating and heart wrenching story. My Grade: A-


Race to Witch Mountain
Holy crap. What a movie! Oh Disney how could you rape your own fabulous franchise from the 70's. Bette Davis must be spinning in her grave. lol Quick recap: Earth is in trouble, Aliens need their spaceship back to go home, The Rock is hot, Effects are pretty cool, queue really bad musical score. My Grade: D


Fanboys
Its 1999, 4 Friends from Ohio decide to steal the first print of Star Wars Episode 1: Phantom Menace from Skywalker Ranch in California. I know silly premise right? Well its a silly road trip movie. I think the only people able to appreciate it are star wars fans, sci-geeks, or high as hell star wars fans. Its like the geek version of Harold and Kumar. Occasionally funny if only because of the thousands of SW references. The are some great cameos by many sci-fi film veterans. The story isnt very coherent but who cares... My Grade: B-


Zona Rosa
A defunct documentary about gay clubs in Mexico City's Zona Rosa gay-borhood. However, the filmmakers get lost in there own narrative. We go from gay clubs in a conservative city to the life of straight male strippers who perform in them to one particular stripper with a heart of gold. In the end, its the full frontal nudity and hot guys that keeps your interest( well if your female or queer).. other than that. avoid it..My Grade: D

Whoa!- Anatomy of Hell

I know the title screams horror film right? Well let me say although many scenes in this film are quite terrifying, they come at the hands of two very interesting human characters.

Opening scene: one man giving another man a blow job near some Parisian alley. The best way to start a "Whoa!" film. Your probably thinking "Oh its a gay flick?" Wrong. This scene sets the tone for the rest of the movie. Director Catherine Breillat is going to take you into some graphic territory.



A very handsome gay man (Played by Rocco Siffredi, Adult Film Star) interrupts a woman (Amira Cesar) who is slitting her wrists in a bar restroom. She knows he's gay but she doesn't care, she wants him and needs him. Well being a gay man he denies her advances but when she's willing to pay, he reluctantly changes his mind. Our two leads are nameless. Its not important who they are. All that matters is what they are about to do. After another full frontal fellatio scene, this time executed by the woman to the pleasure of her new gay employee, we are taken to her home on the seaside cliffs.



She states that him being a gay man is the easy way out of ever loving a woman for all her intricacies. Now that she has employed him, he must watch her at her most fragile, natural, and repulsive state. Here we go.. If you are afraid of blood or violent sex.. look away now! She tortures him with her femininity. While on her menses, she makes him feel her vagina so that he may feel what a woman goes through. He then proceeds to have sex with her at which point.. I can't even write what happens! haha. You have to see it. Anyhow, they spend four nights together and each night a new adventure for him to tackle. One scene uses a broom handle to shocking employ. Eventually he is enlightened as to what a woman is. She is not just some hollow beautiful creature. She has layers. All women are complex and never really allow their male lovers see certain sides of them for fear of dismissal.

This film was gripping and shocking. If you can get through it, I commend you. If you can't, its completely understandable. If you do catch it somehow, be prepared to say .. Whoa!

Whoa!

Okay I know its not a very original title but I had to create this new feature. Whoa is about movies that push the boundaries. I mean, movies that really push the audience's buttons or comfort meter by crossing into territories some might call taboo. So be on the look out for this new feature because I've got some real doozies to review. Believe me, this is some crazy cinema!

Enjoy!

Rich-It Rental Bites 11/25/09

Gran Torino
Clint Eastwood directs and stars in this story about an elderly racist widower coming to terms with his changing neighborhood. His new neighbors are a very traditional Asian family (Hmong to be exact)with a young son defying to join the local Asian gang. When his initiation goes wrong, he becomes the target of these unruly thugs that inadvertently involves the angry old man next door. Eastwood delivers a good performance and the story is somewhat interesting. I think the relationship he builds with the young boy, Thao (Bee Vang) and his sister, Sue (Ahney Her)is the heart of the story. He lived as a man blind to real care or feeling from his own kids. It takes this Hmong family to finally find his redemption. My Grade: B-


Grey Gardens - HBO Films
Based on the documentary of the same name as well as other resources, Grey Gardens is the story of the Bouvier Beales, the reclusive relatives of Jackie Kennedy Onassis. Having seen the documentary, I was familiar with the story but this is a fresh cinematic take on a truly fascinating American socialite family. This bittersweet tale is achieved with fantastic makeup effects and profound performances from its two leading ladies. Jessica Lange and Drew Barrymore are exquisite. I've never seen Drew give so much to a character, it is incredible to watch. Brilliant and Sad, this film deserves a lot more attention from the masses. My Grade: A


Friday the 13th (2009)
Recently the remake recycle machine is running on overload in Hollywood. After some disappointing remakes(I'm looking at you Rob Zombie's Halloween) we get Friday the 13th. This is definitely more of re-imagining than anything. Jason Voorhee's doesn't lumber along at a snails pace to get his victim.. This bastard runs!! I mean he comes at you, no mercy! And it works. The movie works as a slasher film that's actually pretty scary while being entertaining. Sure its full of stupid token characters and cheesy dialogue, but its makes it all worth it when these "teens" get their just desserts. My Grade: B


Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist
The chemistry between Nick (Michael Cena) and Norah (Kat Dennings)is perfectly simple in this romantic comedy. Nick has been dumped by the pretty, popular girl at school and doesn't know that Norah has been secretly crushing on him for sometime. It takes a wild night of bar hopping and a quest to find Norah's drunk best friend, to bring Nick and Norah together. This is a sweet funny movie about the love we can't seem to get to. It's almost always in the last place you look. My Grade: B+


Taken
Liam Neeson stars in this no nonsense thriller about a Father searching for his kidnapped teenage daughter in Paris. That is pretty much the plot but its the action that drives this story home. The energy created by slick editing and some pretty violent confrontations make this a must see. You know, the story can be a bit over the top and preposterous but its done well enough for you to throw logic out the window. A satisfying movie overall. My Grade: A-

Coming Soon

This weeks trailer selection is a bit Disney-centric but none the less, damn cool and geeky delicious.

Alice in Wonderland

Visionary director Tim Burton takes us on another wild journey with his spin on the classic Lewis Carroll Alice books. I love the design work and the lighting in this trailer. Even cooler, we get to witness this in Disney Digital 3D. March 2010

Tron:Legacy

Wow, just wow. What a trailer! Well its more of a visual effects test footage that debuted at last years comic-con. If this trailer is any indication of what Disney has in store well, this is going to be huge.

Bruno

Vaz up!

Sacha Baron Cohen is back to his guerrilla mock-umentary shtick with Bruno. The tale of a flamboyant Austrian fashionista who will do anything to be famous. I think that's about all the story I got out of it. There is no real narrative to speak of. What we get are a series of vignettes, skits in which people are duped with this characters crazy antics. Some are actually quite funny if only because they are shockingly over the top and crude. However, there are too many scripted moments or scenes that didn't feel genuine to the genre so well executed by Borat 3 yrs ago.

Some of moments of note: Paula Abdul being interviewed on illegal immigrant human furniture, The Seduction of Ron Paul and a very interesting focus group. There are times when the movie works but that can't save it from being all together kinda lame. The gay "gags" work, pardon my pun but gets tired toward the end. My Grade C-

Harry Potter & The Half-Blood Prince

Note: I've not read any of the books in the series and I hope to actually visit them after the films are completed. I don't want to know what happens next because I will not be able to handle the cinematic let down that this film has become for some fans.

So, We finally come to our 6th film in the Harry Potter series and things are developing quite nicely as we prepare for the next two movies, The Deathly Hallows PT1 and Pt2. Here in the Half Blood Prince, Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) faces a difficult road ahead. Prof. Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) needs Harry more than ever in the effort to finally, eradicate the torment of Voldemort and his Death-Eaters.



From the opening sequence of Death Eaters run a muck in modern day London, the tone is set. This is going to be a treacherous journey for these characters.
I can't detail the story too much because, well lets face it, if you haven't been watching these films all along, its a little difficult to jump right in. I think the revelation I had during the film was the connection between the characters. The theme of unrequited, young love. The bonds between mentor and pupil. These are at the overall core of The Half Blood Prince. There are plenty of little wondrous surprises thrown in but this is truly a character tale. A dark, detailed and lusciously filmed character tale.



The cinematography is gorgeous. The lighting and the bluish hue throughout deliver a cold magical world. One shot was so perfect and effective that I could not let it out of my mind. Its rare that movies give you little gems like that anymore and I'm glad this one did. The score was dramatic and well suited for the action. The effects were outstanding as always. However, its really the performances by our three young leads and honorable mentions to Michael Gambon and Prof. Snape (Alan Rickman. They deliver a touching story as well as the keys to our next two cinematic chapters. I have one small gripe with the editing. It was very choppy at times from scene to scene. A fine addition to the series. My Grade A-

Rich-It Rental Bites 7/13/09

Knowing
Nicholas Cage stars in this apocalyptic thriller directed by Alex Proyas (I,Robot, Dark City) An elementary schools time capsule is unearthed after 50 years. Contained within is a sheet full of numbers with dates for every deadly disaster from the past 50 yrs including 3 which have yet to occur. The movie has some weak points like Cage's relationship with his son. However the shocking scenes of destruction will turn your stomach. One particular scene was very intense. The ending has some spectacular visuals and the allegories presented are very interesting. My Grade: C



Paul Blart:Mall Cop
When I heard about what a huge hit this movie was, I just had to see it for myself! I like Kevin James as a comedian. He has a physicality that delivers the punchline. The movie is very silly and groan inducing. However there is a sweetness that bring it together. Forget about the shoe-horned plot lines or the "parkour" bandits. In the end its James' prat falls and charisma that works. My Grade: B-



The Bridge
In 2004, Filmmaker Eric Steel recorded the Golden Gate Bridge for an entire year. He and his crew captured 23 out of 24 known suicides from the Bridge that year. This upsetting and graphic documentary profiles some of the "jumpers" and their families to better understand ones decision to kill themselves and the people they affect by doing so. It is a morbidly fascinating film that sheds light on those who lost their way. My Grade: A

Coming Soon

Daybreakers

A nice spin to the Vampire movie genre. Looks pretty cool.


The Box

Talk about a moral dilemma. What would you do?

Rich-It Rental Bites 6/29/09

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Director David Fincher brings the short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald to life. The first thing I'd heard of the film was the run time which is 2hr 45mins. I can say without a doubt that this a beautiful and emotional movie. Its technological achievements are a marvel. The CGI used here is to tell a sweeping story of an extraordinary man. Overall a good film but be sure to make some time to watch it. My Grade: A


The Reader
Hannah (Kate Winslet) has a summer long love affair with a 15 yr old boy named Michael. Beyond there intimate relationship, Hannah loves to hear Michael read to her. Years later Hannah is on trial for Nazi war crimes. Michael is a young law student witnessing this trial that will change each others lives forever. Fantastic performances push you through this sometimes dire subject matter. My Grade: A



Religulous
Bill Maher searches for the truths behind the origins of Religion and the validity of faith. The documentary examines several religions and the consequences of the actions by humans behind the veil of faith. Although rich with satire, the film ventures into frightening territory of how misguided mankind can be. Also its very clear that Maher's atheistic views propel the narrative of this documentary. My Grade: C+



Were the World Mine
A rock movie musical based on Shakespeare Midsummer Night's Dream. Timothy (Tanner Cohen), a gay teen, is constantly teased by the jocks at school, except one. Timothy decides to create a love potion to win over his jock crush. However in the process takes it upon himself to turn his town upside down and cast his spell over everyone in the community. This is a charming indie film with some great music. It can get a little disjointed at times but worth it for the musical sequences alone. My Grade: B-

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

The first Transformers movie made my favorite films list of 2007. It was great to see the cartoons from my childhood finally realized in a big summer action film. I liked it so much that I saw it 3 times in the theater! I know its not a "critics" film but it was so much fun.

So two years roll by and we come to number 2 in the saga, Revenge of the Fallen. Sad to say, this movie is not as great as the first. Don't get me wrong, you have some amazing action sequences (The fight in the woods, incredible!). The problem is the story has so many plot holes and idiotic characters, its hard to care about the story. Shia Lebouf and Megan Fox are always running. Lots of danger with them bots around!



I'm glad they included more scenes of the Decepticons interacting with each other. Megatron conversing with Starscream is what a lot of us remember from the cartoon. Also, We get to see our heroes, the Autobots in some upsetting predicaments. I know, I'm geeking out a bit here but its the only way I'm going to justify my grade for this one. So, what did I absolutely hate? Two words: Skids and Mudflap. Wow some of the most racist characters I've ever seen. This Autobot duo is so un-appealing and not funny! There are so many ridiculous moments its crazy. Also the movie is 20-30min too long. So much we don't need to see. How many times can I watch military mobilize to try to defeat the robots? Its like c'mon. Anyway, I had fun watching but 1 time was enough for me, at least for a while. My Grade: B-

Coming Soon

Couple of cool sci-fi trailers to share... take a look.

Surrogates

Love the premise and the look of the film. reminds me of the Matrix meets Total Recall. I am a sucker for stuff like this. Sadly no one has really done this kind of movie justice like Dark City and The Matrix

District 9

Movies like Alien Nation really brought the idea of immigration and integration to light using Fiction. Love this gritty documentary feel and some great ideas at play in this teaser. Looks interesting.

Drag Me to Hell

Horror movies need to keep changing the game to stay interesting. Something like The Descent which relies on darkness and claustrophobia or recently My Bloody Valentine in 3D. Its not that its harder to terrify the audience but it is difficult to do it well. Director Sam Raimi's beginnings were in the world of horror. Evil Dead has become a cult classic as has Evil Dead 2. The reason these movies worked well in the 80's is because they were distinctly different from the schlock being produced at the time. He was able to bring this element of goofiness and accidental humor to some pretty gory and nasty visuals.

After many years of directing in different genres, namely comic book films (yes he directed the terrible sequel, Spiderman 3 but it was also the studios fault) he returns to scare the hell out of people. Did he succeed? Well, almost.
I wasn't sure what I was getting into watching this movie. I have seen the bad reviews by the common man (you know us little people who don't get paid for our opinions) and the adoration bestowed by so many critics. I can see where and what both were witness too. The beginning is shocking and pretty effective. Overall the movie has some interesting and shocking gross out scenes. Definitely gag inducing. There are some just crazy moments that are like OMG. All of this is more of the first hour of the film. Towards the last act things get a little too wacky and silly to really care. One word comes to mind: Goat. I like the lead actress, Alison Lohman. She handles this material with a sincerity and motivation that works well within the confines of a surreal, demonic movie.

The effects are well done and the visual gags work. One Word: Gums. I can't say I didn't like the movie because I found it to be entertaining and hilarious. It did make me feel uneasy at times and some of the imagery was pretty frightening. Its supposed to be a horror-comedy but I think most won't be able to take it as such. My Grade: B-
Note: The movie is very LOUD, you've been warned.

Rich-it Rental Bites 6/5/09

Writer-Director Kevin Smith spins this raunchy tale of two thirty-something’s (Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks) struggling to make the rent. Their plan?, Make a porno of course. With the help of their misfit cast and crew they set out to create a sex filled spoof of a well-known sci-fi classic. The movie starts out profanely funny with rapid fire vulgarity. However, the movie takes a turn that felt rushed. It finishes on a romantic note that pretty much kills the fun I was having in the first two thirds. Never the less, performances are good and the comedy is strong. My Grade: C-



Pineapple Express
Seth Rogen and James Franco star in this mary jane laced buddy comedy. The film has great over the top action scenes and hilarious bits. Franco is good at playing the high-as-a-kite pot dealer. Seth can deliver the most insane dialogue with ease. Even though the movie has this unbelievable story, it makes everything happening on screen more ridiculously funny. It reminded me of watching Harold and Kumar go to White Castle. That movie was so ridiculous, so in your face WTF That it sold me. You get the same thing here with punched up action. My Grade: B


Valkyrie
Bryan Singer directs this film based on the true story about one of the many assassination attempts on Adolf Hitler. A fascinating thriller that remains effective even though we all know the attempts were not successful. The cast is full of stellar actors such as Kenneth Branagh, Tom Cruise, and Eddie Izzard. It interesting, the Nazi military considered Hitler to be the menace that the rest of the world did. If only they had succeeded. What then? How different would history have turned out? The direction is also fantastic. The way Singer moves the camera is simple and effective. Overall a great story and well done film. My Grade: B

UP

Pixar is one of my favorite animation houses, right behind its parent company Disney. It might sound like I am a bit biased but believe me that I critique every film on its merit. A lot of other animation companies have some great films in their libraries i.e Dreamworks Shrek and Kung Fu Panda or Blue Sky Studios' Horton Hears a Who and Ice Age.


That said, UP is a phenomenal achievement in filmmaking. This is Pixars first 3-D film and unlike this year’s big Dreamworks hit, Monsters vs Aliens, Up doesn’t exploit the 3D effects. What Pixar did was enhance the scope of the movie. It was like looking out your window as opposed to things jumping out of the screen. It allowed depth to take over, so when you are viewing the jungles of Venezuela, you are immersed in them.

Beyond the technical achievements, it’s the story that really delivers. Carl is a widowed old man who has disconnected himself from society. The world has grown around him and his only constant is the home he built with his late wife, Ellie. This part of the film is heavy for some people. We get to see how Carl and Ellie lived their lives up until her quiet end. I was in tears and the theater was silent during this part. Many animated films have shown death and loss of life in different ways but none so deeply emotional as this one (except maybe Bambi’s mother or Simbaa asking Mufasa to wake up after the stampede). Once we see who Carl is, he sets out for a wild adventure that includes Russell, the young wilderness explorer whose enthusiasm grows on Carl’s grumpy nature.


The story is involving with colorful characters. There is a lot of laugh out loud moments for me. The introduction of the dogs is hilarious. The humor is executed with perfect timing and balance nicely to heartfelt scenes. Ed Asner’s voice work is tangible and sincere. Newcomer, Jordan Nagai voices Russell and does it very well. He gets some of the best lines in the movie. Director Pete Docter (Monsters Inc.) and Co-director Bob Peterson do a great job of keeping the story moving and still allowing the audience to take in its grandeur. Pixar movies prove to be the best in the industry and they have maintained that reputation with UP. Next year, Toy Story 3! Can’t wait. My Grade: A

Rich-it Rental Bites

So I’ve decided to shorten my rental reviews to allow more detailed gibberish about movies currently in theaters. I watch too many rentals to flesh them out completely. So here is the new category. Short n Sweet. Enjoy

Rich

Terminator Salvation

“Are you ready for Salvation!?”
Our Arclight Cinema usher shouts to pump up the crowd. Cheers follow and the movie rolls.

The Terminator introduced us to this universe in 1984. In 1992, T2 pushed the limits of action and VFX. It also fleshed out the grim future that lies ahead for humanity. In 2003, Arnold and company returned for T3: Rise of the Machines. The film moved the story along somewhat but it was mostly about the action. (i.e. the Crane sequence, amazing!) So what does T4, I mean Salvation, bring to the mix? I’m sorry to say, not much.

The story of John Connor (Christian Bale) has been elaborated so much over the years, most recently with the TV series, The Sarah Connor Chronicles. I think it’s that reason that he isn’t really the main character of this movie. Although they are trying to give more info on his journey as the Leader of the Resistance, it falls short. The real draw here is Marcus Wright (Sam Worthington). This character’s story adds nice undercurrent to this dull plot. Sam is going on to some pretty big things this coming year and he deserves it. He is a great actor and I can’t wait to see more from him. Other notable performances are from Kyle Reese (Anton Yelchin) and Blair Williams (Moon Bloodgood). Sorry Christian Bale you bored me. His performance was just so forced and just not good overall.

So what’s the real reason to see this movie? The action, effects and sound are outstanding! There are so many great action scenes. If anything, these are the film’s saving grace. The sound was booming and the bass shook the theater. They really spent the money on these effects. Also, a great cameo from the governator via CGI that looks amazing! Danny Elfman scores the movie and although I am huge fan of his, the music here is lackluster. There is nothing new thematically and nothing memorable. If you’re looking for a mindless effects driven movie, that’s not as awful as Wolverine but not as Fantastic as Star Trek, Go see it. Its popcorn time! My Grade: C+

Angels & Demons

In 2006, We were introduced to the film version of the Da Vinci Code. At the time, lovers of the bestselling book it was based upon were eagerly awaiting the release. Well as often happens, the movie was not nearly as good as the book. I did not
read the book so I could see the movie for what it was. A few days before seeing the movie, I watched a documentary about the book and its secrets on the History channel. I was fascinated by the story and it was a good prelude to the actual movie. Imagine my surprise when the film bored me to tears! Ron Howard's direction was excruciating at times. The pace was very slow and the mystery not so amazing after a while.

I am happy to say that Angels & Demons is a much better film but not a great one. Tom Hanks returns as Prof. Robert Langdon, this time to assist the Vatican in a plot against them by an old enemy, the Illuminati. The movie does a good job of filling us in to understand how this volatile relationship came about. The pacing works well but of course as with the previous movie, we begin to get bogged down with what the audience already knows. A good example of this is a monologue scene with a certain character that feels heavy handed.

The acting was pretty good even though Tom Hanks loves to ham it up a bit. Ayelet Zurer plays Vittoria, the scientist assisting Dr. Langdon. Vittoria belongs to another section of the movie I take issue with. The opening scene is overwhelming in terms of scientific information. A lot of moments are very over the top. The film leaves the realm of reality in a story about murder and conspiracy. Also the score comes in at the worst times. You shouldn't have the drums thumping while you are still in a dialogue scene. The audience is trying to stay with story yet you are musically pushing us into the next scene.

Overall it's an effective thriller more so than the Da Vinci Code. I was entertained but not eager to watch it again. Its occasional moments of awe and sweeping views of Rome are worth seeing on the big screen. My Grade: C

Star Trek

There are many who will say, “Well I’m not a fan of Star Trek, so this movie isn’t for me”. I’m happy to say this movie is definitely for you. I will add that any fan can and will appreciate what has been done to this dying series.

I’m going to dissect my review a little more than usual just so I can get across why I loved this film so much.

The Cast
Zachary Quinto will own Spock’s character for years to come. He has embodied the quiet strength and subtle humor that Leonard Nimoy created. Chris Pine is a fantastic Kirk with his handsome, cocky and clever nature. This is a Kirk/Spock film depicting the growth of their loyal friendship. The rest of the cast is really great. Zoe Saldana plays Uhura with tenderness and intelligence. Karl Urban makes McCoy “Bones” his own.
Anton Yelchin as Chekov, John Cho as Zulu and Simon Pegg as Scotty round out this brilliant casting.

The Director
J.J. Abrams is mostly known for his TV work. He created Alias, LOST, and Fringe. He accepted the challenge of resurrecting Star Trek for a new audience and has succeeded. At 2 hrs and 7 minutes, the movie feels like a half hour. It goes by fast and full of energy. You can’t wait to see what happens next. At the end of the movie, after the applause, people were yelling out to roll it again. You want to see more and thankfully sequels are coming.

The Story and Effects
The story kicks off with something poignant. The audience can and will connect to what’s happening here. We are witness to the birth of our two heroes, Kirk and Spock.
We are dealt with longing, loss, humanity, and compassion. However, this movie isn’t a downer. It has comedy, romance, and heart throughout. All of this resonates beyond the overwhelming spectacle that is the effects. Wow the effects are downright amazing! We’ve never seen space so vibrant and alive as we do here. I have to make the following side note: Wolverine was made for $140mil and it looked Cheesy and cheap. Star Trek was made for $150 million and it looks super expensive. You can see that money used to create something spectacular.

If you love SCI Fi, go see this movie. If you are looking for a good summer action movie with a great story and characters see this movie. If you only have $12 bucks for one movie this weekend, DON’T SPEND IT ON WOLVERINE, see Star Trek, a satisfying movie from start to finish and one that I can’t wait to see again and again. My Grade: A