Forgetting Sarah Marshall

Forgetting Sarah Marshall
June 1, 2008

From the writer of Superbad, and some other movies.. Comes... a really good movie. Once again, with the predictable? YES... But, it was really good, and that chick from Heroes is in it, so it's all good!

5 out of 5 stars -- Really good actually. I recommend!

-Row

What Happens in Vegas

What Happens in Vegas
June 1, 2008

Ashton + Cameron = good times at the movies. What a funny movie that you don't have to think about ... AT ALL... You should go and see "WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS," then... ha. It has some funny parts, but if you at all any good at calling what will happen in a movie, then this one you should be able to call from the title alone.

5 out of 5 stars for a fun night out with a movie that involved no thinking! YAY!

-Row

Iron Man

Iron Man
June 8, 2008

WOW! What a great movie. Seeing as how I don't really care for the alcoholic, Robert Downey Jr. I have to say, he did a really good job portraying "himself?" HA Seriously though, the graphics, dialogue, everything was in it's place. The studios finally got a really good superhero movie down. A +++++

5 out of 5 stars! YOU HAVE TO SEE IT!

-Row

Indy 4

Indy 4
June 1, 2008

Indy 4 "Blah Crystal Skull." Too many words. So, the first three Indiana Jones were amazing, right? They were somewhat corky, and had a young Harrison Ford. This one has a way older one, and stepped over the "Corky" line... WAY OVER. It wasn't Shia's performance that ruined the movie for me. It wasn't Ford's either. It wasn't the story line, even though the end was a bit "Out of this World." (JOKE! HA!) What ruined it for me? Could it have been the first twenty minutes, when they jump onto a moving vehicle thing, that has 30 seconds to blast off? Could it have been the Atomic Bomb that goes off? Could it have been the set designs that a movie having way too much money could have done so much more? PERHAPS! I honestly felt like Spielberg was trying so hard to please me, to go over the top with the movie that he lost focus of it. . .

3 out of 5 stars EH

-Row

Baby Mama

Baby Mama
June 1, 2008


When I heard Tina Fey and Amy Poheler were teaming up for this movie, I had to see it. Then after seeing it, I was a little bit disappointed. It had its moments. But, overall, I guess I was just hoping for a "Mean Girls 2." Don't get me wrong, I'm glad I saw it, but it was a droopy-chick-flick. And I love chick-flicks, but when they are boring... Sigh...

3 out of 5 stars

-Row

Chronicles of Narnia - Prince Caspian

Chronicles of Narnia - Prince Caspian
June 1, 2008

When the first movie came out I was blown away! If you loved the first one, you are truly going to love this one! It has so much more of a story it's crazy. If anything, you might feel the graphics aren't as impressive, because you've seen it, but the story really does the sequel justice. Everything was dead on about this movie. I won't ruin it, but... My favorite part is when the White Witch makes an appearance, that it was such a good twist to introduce her back! CHECK IT OUT!

5 out of 5 stars

-Row

Get Smart

Get Smart
June 1, 2008

So, I got to see the "MTV PRESENTS..." GET SMART, yes, 21 days early! And the best part? Q & A with Steve Carell! He is so funny! Very witty, and just an overall nice guy! So what did I think about the movie? Well, not seeing the T.V. show, I must say it was very good! Hilarious! I would pay to see it again, and when you do get to see it on June 20th, my favorite part is when Anne Hathaway tells Steve, his "servant," to go and get himself a drink... You'll understand what I mean when you see it ;) (Below is my MTV CAMERA MOMENT!, When they go over the crowd, at the arclight, outside, I'm wearing a White/Red stripped shirt, giving two thumbs up!)

5 out of 5 stars!

http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1588384/20080530/story.jhtml

-Row

Sex and the City

Sex and the City
June 1, 2008

Sex. Sex. Sex. . . And the City... Yes, this movie had a lot of sexual content in it. Hence, the "SEX" part. However, not being a fan of the show, and seeing only an episode on TBS (and quickly flipping the channel, no joke), I love the movie! The opening credits alone set the tone for the movie. They tell you everything you need to know, and do it with the help of a new Fergie song, that I really enjoyed. The one drawback to the movie, as I did love it, it was a bit long. Yes, seeing it opening night, at 1 a.m. was not the smartest idea, and we were all really tired, but it definitely needed a re-write! 2.5 hours is a bit too long for a movie, in my opinion. Good Plot/Story, and of course, good characters! Had some amazingly funny parts as well! Which is why I gave it 4/5 stars - If it was 30-60 minutes shorter, I would have given it 5.

-Row.

The Bank Job Review

The Bank Job
March 14,2008

The Bank Job is a movie about... "robbing a bank." You've heard the story, you've seen the movies! So, you may ask yourself "What makes this one different?" The answer: NOTHING! Save your money! It was good, I personally just feel like I've seen this 100 times! Someone double-crosses someone else, etc. etc. Why did I personally have a problem with this movie? I'm a pretty diverse person, however, when I can't understand what the "bloody-wanker" is going on... I don't care to know. When the language is so caught up in itself, it makes it unwatchable. One minute you understand them, the next your asking the person next to you WHAT DID HE SAY?....Then.... WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? Save your money! 2 out of 5 stars. - Row.

Definitely, Maybe Review

Definitely, Maybe Review
March 12, 2008

Ryan Reynolds is at it again. In this latest edition to his acting roles, he plays a character that we haven't "really" seen yet... He got away with it in "Amityville Horror." His character in that movie really differed from "Van Wilder." However, in this movie, he plays a very laid-back, man who just wants to marry someone, anyone... The first person he meets? (So to speak) The movie was really good, and I enjoyed it. It's just as it's described in the trailer a "Love Story Mystery." There's someone he's still in love with, someone he loved, and someone who just kind of happened. I loved the book in the story, and you'll know right away, as it ties in the movie's ending -- trust me, I'm not ruining anything here -- They set you up for it, from the beginning. I almost thought they'd forgot about it at the end. That's why I'm giving this movie 4 out of 5 Stars.

Atonement - 5 stars

This movie is very unique. When you think of a war movie, you think of the typical love story. Which, this is. However, it's told from a constantly evolving child's perspective. It has some really key features that makes the film stand apart from other war films. The coolest thing to me, was the score/beat. You hear a typwritier with the key's pounding. This dynamically different tone sets the picture. It sounds like the musical group "STOMP" had an impact in the film. Another stunning feature, is how you see one perspective of what's going on, and the movie stops, and rolls back to the same spot, only told from someone else's shoes. I know, I know, we've all seen this before! The difference with this movie, is finally! Someone got it right! It's not the same cutting back and forth, from scene to scene, that we've seen. Other than that, who doesn't love Kiera Knightly? ARGH!

Side Note: If you've heard my adaptation of a World War "2" movie, this is so similar, that's probably why I gave it 5 out of 5 stars. "This year's must see!"

-Row

3:10 to Yuma - 4 stars

I haven't seen the original film this movie was based on, so I can't really compare the two. This review will only talk about the current 2007 version with Russell Crowe and Christian Bale.

If I didn't see the last 10 minutes of this film, I would declare this the best Western since "Unforgiven" and the best movie of 2007. Now, unfortunately, I did see the last ten minutes and it's so far out there...I was left speechless and in awe. To tell you about the ending would ruin the movie for you and that's not what I want to do. I do want you to see the movie and when the two main characters leave the hotel and make a dash for the train...leave! Trust me, leave.

What happens next is so absurd and asinine, you won't believe its the same movie. I had the same feeling when I saw Good Will Hunting but we won't get into that. I'll write a review of that movie if enough of you folks bug me, but let me say this...James Mangold did a hell of a job directing 90% of "3:10 to Yuma". If you don't remember him, he also directed "Walk the Line", "Heavy", "Cop Land with Sly Stallone" and "Identity".

"Identity" was another film where the ending comes out of left field and kicks you in the nuts.

Another thing about James Mangold...he surprises you with his work on this film. Based on his resume, I was taken back by what he did here. The handling of the two leads, and a scene stealing turn by Ben Foster as Russell Crowe's second in command bought a richness to the film that's not seldom seen in Westerns. The look and feel of the film was brilliant...award winning stuff. The acting was superb, picture looked great and I believed...if only for all of 10 minutes but I believed. 4 out of 5 stars.

American Gangster - 4 1/2 stars

Two Oscar winners - one, Russell Crowe, playing a Detective Richie Roberts with a personal life that's in shambles. Another, Denzel Washington, portraying a drug lord Frank Lucas who takes care of his people, family and his city. Who are you going to root for? You'll be surprise in this riveting crime drama that sets the bar for all crime dramas to follow. It is that good.

The beginning starts out a little slow but as Denzel Washington's drug empire builds and builds, so does the tension and the pressure of being on top. Crowe's the Detective that heads a narcotics division set on bringing in the big guys, not the street pushers. That is how the two cross paths and what follows is poetic waxing on the American dream where the line blurs between good and evil.

I want to say more but the more I say, the less you get to enjoy. Did I mention that it's based on a true story? Did I also mention that American Gangster got the biggest opening weekend for both actors? It's that good.

Oceans 13 - 2 1/2 stars

You have to be a fan of the actors in Oceans 13 to like the film...that's the only way you're going to enjoy this film. I'm sorry. It's not a bad film. In fact the film is well made, well shot, well directed and well acted but the story sucks. It does. There's no way around it. One of the Ocean's boys gets taken by Al Pacino in a casino deal, so Ocean and the whole gang gets together to even the score. What do they do? They decide to rig every game in the casino in the players' favor. Impossible? Not for George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Matt Damon.

Watching the movie the other night, I realized that Ocean's gang are a bunch of super-heroes. Nothing bad can happen to them, they perform amazing feats, get out of ridiculous jams and always wins in the end. What's the fun in that?

Maybe I'm just not a fan of this genre? It's not a huge genre to begin with. The actors seem to be too much into themselves. Clooney and Pitt are not interesting enough as actors to pull it off.

The only interesting thing about the film is the style. Director Steven Soderbergh uses split screens, bright primary colors and the zoom lens to give us a 70s style of film making that's rarely seen these days. The guy's quite an expert with the camera but maybe he should get a better script in place before getting the gang together for Oceans 14 - lets hope not.

Casino Royale - 3 1/2 Stars

The big question was can Daniel Craig fill the shoes of Sean Connery and Pierce Bronson? Well, Sean Connery is the first and original, so you can't really replace that. Pierce Bronson was a smooth guy but you can't ever imagine him fighting anyone - for real at least. Especially with the way he runs. If you don't remember, check out the films and his arm action...it's worth the rental.

Daniel Craig is one bad Mofo. He was one bad Mofo in the "Layer Cake", where he plays a mafia guy caught in the middle of a double cross between another mafia head and the police. Craig is pretty much the same character here. After seeing the movie, it becomes apparent that Daniel Craig was a very good choice for the role cause he's done it already. The trick is what he's going to do with the character in future films.

The movie has plenty of action and plenty of babes and plenty of No-Limit poker. My one gripe about the action is in the beginning. While it was awesome, it wasn't really necessity. Action is great when it comes out of the story and the characters. Action is stupid and boring when it's for action sake. When you're running away from someone, the last thing you do is go up...cause going up traps you. Well, that's what the villain does in the opening sequence.

Otherwise, the movie's a nice romp through the deconstruction of the bond character and paints a nice picture of how Bond, James Bond came to be. A very enjoyable movie worth seeing in the theaters.

3 1/2 Stars

Borat - 4 stars

Borat is a very funny movie. Not the greatest movie ever or even the best movie of the year or even the funniest movie of the year. It's a very good movie. If you liked the Ali G Show, you'll love this.

I compare it to "Jackass" but for your mind. Where "Jackass" does crazy physical stunts, Borat does crazy mental stunts. Now anyone with very little IQ can pull off Jackass style stunts but to do what Sacha Cohen does in Borat takes alot of balls, concentration, and training.

If you're a man, you'll like this movie. If you're a woman, you'll like this movie but hate yourself for it. Regardless, be prepared to laugh...alot.

Very Nice.

4 Stars

The Illusionist - 3 Stars

The Illusionist is like the last ten minutes at the bar, right when bartender screams, "Last Call!" You're talking to a chick, so you think, you're chatting it up and doing great and floating on air...than the house lights come up. No. Cover your eyes, she's not so hot, not even a woman!

A good movie starring Edward Norton, Paul Giamatti, Jessica Biel and Rufus Sewell in a story about a magician that challenges the Prince of Austria for the love of a woman. Norton plays a celebrated illusionist Eisenheim, who's in love with a Duchess, Jessica Biel, but she's about to wed the prince, Rufus Sewell. The two lovers plan to deceive everyone and run off forever.

The first half sets everything up and the second half shows us the con of the prince unfolding before us. If you like magic, than this is the film for you...well, for the first half of the film. Norton starts conjuring up ghosts and the city of Vienna rallies behind him because they think he's a spiritual leader. All the while, Sewell wants him shut down because the people like him.

Two things I have against this film. Eisenheim seems to be such a good magician/illusionist that he doesn't fail at all...ever. The movie becomes a showcase of Eisenheim's skills and we're left with watching him pull off this con of making his love, the Duchess, disappear. Which you figure out if you had a half of a brain. Which brings me back to why I compare this to the last the minutes at the bar. You think it's great but once you start thinking back and breaking it down, the movie doesn't look good under the house lights...too much smoke and mirrors for me.

A good film if you like period pieces, magic, mystery, strong performances by Ed Norton and Paul Giamatti and a good con. Better than most.

3 stars