Here’s the premise: Superficial couple (Witherspoon and Vaughan) sneak off to vacation each Christmas each year instead of visiting each of their divorced parents. When they get caught at the airport, they are forced to endure (you guessed it!) four Christmas parties on the same day. They quickly find their relationship is not so functional, which they manage to completely fix before the credits roll.
Things we learned from this movie? Vaughan is not a leading man, better left for supporting roles. Witherspoon is quickly becoming the next Kate Hudson, in that she can only do rom-coms. And finally – never doubt that Hollywood can take a predictable movie and take it exactly to its predictable conclusion.
Showing posts with label Movies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Movies. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Movie Review: Transporter 3
I had low expectations for this movie, really, I did. I thought it would be a halfway entertaining action flick, and I enjoyed Jason Statham in Transporters 1 and 2.
Transporter 3 blew them all out of the water. It has now become the worst move I have ever seen.
How so? Let me count the ways. In the middle of the movie for about a half hour, absolutely nothing happened. A few telephone calls were made, but no races or fights (the only thing one is looking for in a movie like this). The only other thing of note (unfortunately) was that Jason Statham did a striptease for the female lead.
Yup, that’s right – a striptease by the male lead in a movie where the target audience is 95% male. I have no idea what the director was thinking, but it was beyond terrible. And it was so bad, it wasn’t laughably bad, it was “should we walk out now because this is just so lame and boring?” bad.
We didn’t walk out, under the thought that the last fight scene MUST be halfway decent. Nope. Jason crashes his car onto a train, then straps Robert Knepper’s (better known as T-Bag from TV’s Prison Break) hand to a bomb, which blows up and they live happily ever after.
To put this movie into appropriate reference, The Marine, starring John Cena from WWE was a significantly, significantly, better movie. And it was well worse than Next, which won the award for the worst movie of 2007 in my books.
Transporter 3 blew them all out of the water. It has now become the worst move I have ever seen.
How so? Let me count the ways. In the middle of the movie for about a half hour, absolutely nothing happened. A few telephone calls were made, but no races or fights (the only thing one is looking for in a movie like this). The only other thing of note (unfortunately) was that Jason Statham did a striptease for the female lead.
Yup, that’s right – a striptease by the male lead in a movie where the target audience is 95% male. I have no idea what the director was thinking, but it was beyond terrible. And it was so bad, it wasn’t laughably bad, it was “should we walk out now because this is just so lame and boring?” bad.
We didn’t walk out, under the thought that the last fight scene MUST be halfway decent. Nope. Jason crashes his car onto a train, then straps Robert Knepper’s (better known as T-Bag from TV’s Prison Break) hand to a bomb, which blows up and they live happily ever after.
To put this movie into appropriate reference, The Marine, starring John Cena from WWE was a significantly, significantly, better movie. And it was well worse than Next, which won the award for the worst movie of 2007 in my books.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Movie Review: Dan In Real Life
Yes, I realize this came out eons ago, but it was good enough to bother posting on well after the fact.
Steve Carell has many talents - and now apparently romantic comedy is one of them as well. One of the better family movies I've seen in a long time - eminently relatable, and very enjoyable. Nice to see him do something different from the usual slapstick humour that he seems to constantly fall for.
One of the more recommendable PG-13 movies out there, and it's a real question as to why it even garnered that rating.
Steve Carell has many talents - and now apparently romantic comedy is one of them as well. One of the better family movies I've seen in a long time - eminently relatable, and very enjoyable. Nice to see him do something different from the usual slapstick humour that he seems to constantly fall for.
One of the more recommendable PG-13 movies out there, and it's a real question as to why it even garnered that rating.
Monday, March 10, 2008
The Spiderwick Chronicles
One of the better kids/fantasy movies I've seen a while, largely because they didn't try to overdo it - rather, keeping with the program they had and wrapping it up in one movie, without trying to drag it through for more movies. Sequel-free, and that's a good thing, but in no way a negative comment on the movie.
Freddie Highmore is one of the better young actors out there right now, and he strikes me as a Macaulay Culkin type that might actually make it as an adult actor. He plays both sets of twins, and does a solid job of making both characters distinct. The rest of the characters are from the "solid-but-unspectacular" mold.
The special effects were decidedly weak. Quite disappointing. It looked like cartoons in a movie and that took away from the overall impression.
Overall, an enjoyable movie, that was surprisingly dark and intense for the younger audience it was likely aimed at.
Freddie Highmore is one of the better young actors out there right now, and he strikes me as a Macaulay Culkin type that might actually make it as an adult actor. He plays both sets of twins, and does a solid job of making both characters distinct. The rest of the characters are from the "solid-but-unspectacular" mold.
The special effects were decidedly weak. Quite disappointing. It looked like cartoons in a movie and that took away from the overall impression.
Overall, an enjoyable movie, that was surprisingly dark and intense for the younger audience it was likely aimed at.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Jumper
Imagine if the director from The Bourne Identity decided to do an action/sci-fi movie about teleporters. You'd probably think it was not only going to be entertaining, but probably pretty decent too.
You'd be wrong.
Jumper was entertaining - actually, quite entertaining, but had so many plot holes and bizarre lines and ideas that it pretty much just completely fell apart. Also, when they use actors that have been completely typecast for me that doesn't help either. I couldn't get away from the impression that I was watching Anakin Skywalker run around the globe with Summer Roberts, all the while running away from Shaft.
They also decided to throw in a weird subplot involving Diane Lane, which didn't really make an awful lot of sense.
Actually, the movie didn't make an awful lot of sense period, but at least it had some cool visuals, a bit of decent action, and some humorous lines. The best character was easily Jamie Bell's character, a "more-experienced" 'jumper' who helps out Anakin along the way.
The weirdest part of the whole movie was that by the end of the movie it was fairly difficult to like Anakin. He just wasn't that likable of a character. For example, in most superhero movies, when a TV broadcast says "There are still people trapped by the flood and nobody will be able to get to them in time", that's generally the part where Superman/Spiderman/X-men/etc. will fly/swing/claw/etc. into action to rescue the people. Here? Anakin ignores the TV, goes gets some of his money, and teleports to Britain for the day.
Just a strange movie. Entertaining and fun, yes. But what I'll really remember it for was the lost potential.
You'd be wrong.
Jumper was entertaining - actually, quite entertaining, but had so many plot holes and bizarre lines and ideas that it pretty much just completely fell apart. Also, when they use actors that have been completely typecast for me that doesn't help either. I couldn't get away from the impression that I was watching Anakin Skywalker run around the globe with Summer Roberts, all the while running away from Shaft.
They also decided to throw in a weird subplot involving Diane Lane, which didn't really make an awful lot of sense.
Actually, the movie didn't make an awful lot of sense period, but at least it had some cool visuals, a bit of decent action, and some humorous lines. The best character was easily Jamie Bell's character, a "more-experienced" 'jumper' who helps out Anakin along the way.
The weirdest part of the whole movie was that by the end of the movie it was fairly difficult to like Anakin. He just wasn't that likable of a character. For example, in most superhero movies, when a TV broadcast says "There are still people trapped by the flood and nobody will be able to get to them in time", that's generally the part where Superman/Spiderman/X-men/etc. will fly/swing/claw/etc. into action to rescue the people. Here? Anakin ignores the TV, goes gets some of his money, and teleports to Britain for the day.
Just a strange movie. Entertaining and fun, yes. But what I'll really remember it for was the lost potential.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Michael Clayton
Watched this yesterday afternoon, as an unintentional prelude to the Oscars. And I was left wondering why it got the reviews it did. An entertaining movie, sure, and well done, but nominated for 7 Oscars, including essentially all the big ones? Not so much.
If you're looking for a good legal thriller, Fracture is far better. Not sure why it missed out on the Oscar love...there was really nothing special about Michael Clayton.
If you're looking for a good legal thriller, Fracture is far better. Not sure why it missed out on the Oscar love...there was really nothing special about Michael Clayton.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Quantum of Solace
Is apparently the new title for the new Bond movie, apparently out this November (7th, to be precise).
3 movie posts in a row. At a weird time of year too.
I'm surprised they already have another one, and it'll be interesting to see how this one does, since Casino Royale went over so well.
3 movie posts in a row. At a weird time of year too.
I'm surprised they already have another one, and it'll be interesting to see how this one does, since Casino Royale went over so well.
2 Movie Reviews
I've seen two movies in theatres over the past 5 days or so, and both were entertaining and a good start to 2008.
Juno
Friday night, with my fiancee. Very funny, fast moving...as one friend pointed out "it's kinda like Napoleon Dynamite", which is sort of true, except for the fact that Juno was really good and Napoleon Dynamite was really awful.
But it's kinda like the same sort of stuff that if Napoleon was updated for the year 2008, it would be closerish to Juno. Ellen Page is a million-word-per-minute talking machine, and any time you have not one, but two actors from Arrested Development, you know you're off to a good start.
The Bucket List
This one really didn't need to be seen in theatres, unless you like seeing lots of closeups of Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson on a movie screen, but it was a well-done movie, if it was exactly what you would expect. One thing it is nice to see is older actors playing older people, as opposed to certain actors trying to recreate the magic by pretending that they're capable of pulling off Rambo again. Not that I'm pointing any fingers, Stallone.
Anyways, Bucket List was solid, entertaining and emotional enough to ensure that I left the theatre feeling satisfied, which is really all you can ask for.
Juno
Friday night, with my fiancee. Very funny, fast moving...as one friend pointed out "it's kinda like Napoleon Dynamite", which is sort of true, except for the fact that Juno was really good and Napoleon Dynamite was really awful.
But it's kinda like the same sort of stuff that if Napoleon was updated for the year 2008, it would be closerish to Juno. Ellen Page is a million-word-per-minute talking machine, and any time you have not one, but two actors from Arrested Development, you know you're off to a good start.
The Bucket List
This one really didn't need to be seen in theatres, unless you like seeing lots of closeups of Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson on a movie screen, but it was a well-done movie, if it was exactly what you would expect. One thing it is nice to see is older actors playing older people, as opposed to certain actors trying to recreate the magic by pretending that they're capable of pulling off Rambo again. Not that I'm pointing any fingers, Stallone.
Anyways, Bucket List was solid, entertaining and emotional enough to ensure that I left the theatre feeling satisfied, which is really all you can ask for.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Movies of 2007
Well, it takes a sick day to get me back blogging again, but whatever works, I suppose.
Here's the official list of my favourite movies of 2007:
Top 5
Reign Over Me
Transformers
The Bourne Ultimatum
Fracture
The Condemned
These were all good, all for different reasons. The best summer blockbuster of the year (Transformers), the best drama of the year (Reign Over Me), the best action movie of the year (The Bourne Ultimatum), the best WWE movie of the year (The Condemned) and the most underrated movie of the year (Fracture).
Movies I Will Buy
Spider-Man 3
Ocean's Thirteen
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer
Basically, these were all entertaining movies that I would watch more than once again, and enjoy them enough to purchase them. None were exceptional, but they were all entertaining and fully worth the money spent.
Movies I Would Watch Again
Ratatouille
Bee Movie
Evan Almighty
Shooter
Disturbia
3:10 to Yuma
Charlie Wilson's War
National Treasure: Book of Secrets
Blades of Glory
This is the "glad I saw it, would watch it again, but only once". Ratatouille was actually really good, as was Charlie Wilson's War and 3:10 to Yuma, it's just they didn't do it for me like some other ones did. The rest were all entertaining, but nothing special.
Movies I Would Not Recommend
Alpha Dog
TMNT
Pirates of the Carribbean: At World's End
300
I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry
Shrek the Third
These are not recommended for a variety of reasons: really vulgar (Alpha Dog), really boring (Shrek, Pirates), really cliche (TMNT, Chuck and Larry) and all-around disappointing (300).
Movie That Was So Stupid It Deserves It's Own Category Of The Most-Wasted 2 Hours Of My Movie-Watching Life This Year
Next
I seriously can't remember much about this movie, but I remember walking out of the theatre and turning to my sister who I had watched it with and said "That is going to be the worst movie of the year." And sure enough - it was.
Here's the official list of my favourite movies of 2007:
Top 5
Reign Over Me
Transformers
The Bourne Ultimatum
Fracture
The Condemned
These were all good, all for different reasons. The best summer blockbuster of the year (Transformers), the best drama of the year (Reign Over Me), the best action movie of the year (The Bourne Ultimatum), the best WWE movie of the year (The Condemned) and the most underrated movie of the year (Fracture).
Movies I Will Buy
Spider-Man 3
Ocean's Thirteen
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer
Basically, these were all entertaining movies that I would watch more than once again, and enjoy them enough to purchase them. None were exceptional, but they were all entertaining and fully worth the money spent.
Movies I Would Watch Again
Ratatouille
Bee Movie
Evan Almighty
Shooter
Disturbia
3:10 to Yuma
Charlie Wilson's War
National Treasure: Book of Secrets
Blades of Glory
This is the "glad I saw it, would watch it again, but only once". Ratatouille was actually really good, as was Charlie Wilson's War and 3:10 to Yuma, it's just they didn't do it for me like some other ones did. The rest were all entertaining, but nothing special.
Movies I Would Not Recommend
Alpha Dog
TMNT
Pirates of the Carribbean: At World's End
300
I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry
Shrek the Third
These are not recommended for a variety of reasons: really vulgar (Alpha Dog), really boring (Shrek, Pirates), really cliche (TMNT, Chuck and Larry) and all-around disappointing (300).
Movie That Was So Stupid It Deserves It's Own Category Of The Most-Wasted 2 Hours Of My Movie-Watching Life This Year
Next
I seriously can't remember much about this movie, but I remember walking out of the theatre and turning to my sister who I had watched it with and said "That is going to be the worst movie of the year." And sure enough - it was.
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