Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Friday, November 4, 2011
Puss in Boots Review
Plot: Lacking a better description, it's The Mask of Zorro for a younger audience.
I tend to get really annoyed with production companies when they announce another meaningless sequel to a dead franchise or, in this case, another spin-off. This one was no different, I spent a small amount of time griping and grumbling about it and I wasn't too impressed with the trailers and commercials. I wandered in to unwind after my shift, thinking maybe I'll see a trailer for a movie I'm looking forward to and nap for an hour and a half. I was surprised when I realized I was still awake after the opening scenes and actually enjoyed the movie all the way to the closing credits.
Quickly establishing itself as its own film, there are no references to Shrek or its setting. The story and its cast, (featuring Antonio Banderas in the title role, Selma Hayek as thief Kitty Softpaws and Zach Galifanankis as on-agan, off-again antagonist Humpty Dumpty with Billy Bob Thornton and Amy Sedaris as the movies 'Bonnie and Clyde', Jack and Jill) channel a whimsical sense of adventure and humor much like The Mask of Zorro while toning down any violence that would be too much for children.
Galifanakis' performance has a few missteps and seems a little awkward and the films 'monster', while completely understandable' is a little underwhelming to me, but they're small complaints.
In the end: this is a charming and funny movie that should be entertaining for the entire family.
Grade B+
I tend to get really annoyed with production companies when they announce another meaningless sequel to a dead franchise or, in this case, another spin-off. This one was no different, I spent a small amount of time griping and grumbling about it and I wasn't too impressed with the trailers and commercials. I wandered in to unwind after my shift, thinking maybe I'll see a trailer for a movie I'm looking forward to and nap for an hour and a half. I was surprised when I realized I was still awake after the opening scenes and actually enjoyed the movie all the way to the closing credits.
Quickly establishing itself as its own film, there are no references to Shrek or its setting. The story and its cast, (featuring Antonio Banderas in the title role, Selma Hayek as thief Kitty Softpaws and Zach Galifanankis as on-agan, off-again antagonist Humpty Dumpty with Billy Bob Thornton and Amy Sedaris as the movies 'Bonnie and Clyde', Jack and Jill) channel a whimsical sense of adventure and humor much like The Mask of Zorro while toning down any violence that would be too much for children.
Galifanakis' performance has a few missteps and seems a little awkward and the films 'monster', while completely understandable' is a little underwhelming to me, but they're small complaints.
In the end: this is a charming and funny movie that should be entertaining for the entire family.
Grade B+
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Write about things that broke their routine...
That's something you hear a lot (or at least I have) about writing characters in stories, novels and movies. That always leaves me completely braindead with writers block. It occured to me, literally within moments of waking up during my usual routine sleeping in on my days off from work, wouldn't it be more practical to write about things that broke my daily routine and evolve those experiences into my struggling writing? Maybe. I have had some interesting interruptions in the last few months, I went to the Phoenix Comicon for the first time this year, somebody flew off the handle at work about something that may or may not have been my fault and had my wisdom teeth pulled a few days ago, just to name two this year. Some were more exciting than others, but they were different and exciting in their own way to me, because they were different. A change in my routine. A virtual goldmine of things I've never written down could still be relevant.
Monday, October 31, 2011
In Time Review
Plot: When time literally becomes the ultimate currency, the 'rich' live forever without aging a day while everyone else struggles to live day to day.
Review: Going into this movie I honestly didn't think it would work. I'm very happy to say I was extremely surprised!!! This is a vaguely familiar, yet unnervingly original take on a nightmare world. There are no bill extensions, no loans giving you a very different perspective on the day-to-day grind. If you haven't earned more time you drop dead looking like a 25 year old. And the cast members are happy to take you along for the ride. Justin Timberlake creates a fantastic down to earth hero to root for. The story fleshes out the supporting characters flawlessly, giving the audience plenty of time to gain an emotional connection with each character keeping the movie from becoming a one man show. This is one of the few times a cast full of Hollywood's most attractive actually serves the story better. While the tone takes itself seriously, there are some great moments that made me laugh out loud and even had the audience cheering! A thin backstory setting up the film is the only complaint I have about this one, but it's a small one.
In the end: With a disturbiling convincing story and a great cast lead by Justin Timberlake this movie is one hell of a ride!
Grade: A-
Review: Going into this movie I honestly didn't think it would work. I'm very happy to say I was extremely surprised!!! This is a vaguely familiar, yet unnervingly original take on a nightmare world. There are no bill extensions, no loans giving you a very different perspective on the day-to-day grind. If you haven't earned more time you drop dead looking like a 25 year old. And the cast members are happy to take you along for the ride. Justin Timberlake creates a fantastic down to earth hero to root for. The story fleshes out the supporting characters flawlessly, giving the audience plenty of time to gain an emotional connection with each character keeping the movie from becoming a one man show. This is one of the few times a cast full of Hollywood's most attractive actually serves the story better. While the tone takes itself seriously, there are some great moments that made me laugh out loud and even had the audience cheering! A thin backstory setting up the film is the only complaint I have about this one, but it's a small one.
In the end: With a disturbiling convincing story and a great cast lead by Justin Timberlake this movie is one hell of a ride!
Grade: A-
Contagion Review
Synopsis: When a new virus outbreak spreads across the globe searches for cure while an increasingly desperate population and media want answers.
Review: This is the most blatantly unoriginal movie I've seen in at least 5 years. If you've seen the movie 'Outbreak', this is the same exact storyline. The differences being, it has to juggle too many plotlines and characters, giving the story no time to flesh out the people involved or anything resembling a linear storyline. The dialogue is so dull and lifeless I caught my mind wandering occasionally. With such a fantastic cast I felt a little embarrassed, but I couldn't help it.
In the end: at the risk of repeating myself, see everything above.
Grade: F
Review: This is the most blatantly unoriginal movie I've seen in at least 5 years. If you've seen the movie 'Outbreak', this is the same exact storyline. The differences being, it has to juggle too many plotlines and characters, giving the story no time to flesh out the people involved or anything resembling a linear storyline. The dialogue is so dull and lifeless I caught my mind wandering occasionally. With such a fantastic cast I felt a little embarrassed, but I couldn't help it.
In the end: at the risk of repeating myself, see everything above.
Grade: F
Thursday, October 20, 2011
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