Just Go with It

February 19th, 2011

Directed by Dennis Dugan
Starring Adam Sandler, Jennifer Aniston and introducing Brooklyn Decker

Don't ask me why but I'm a sucker for Adam Sandler movies. I guess it is the way he effortlessly couples low-brow, 3rd grade bathroom humor with a story with heart. Cynical and bitter after a sour engagement, Adam's character has grown a hard heart towards love and it takes falling for the wrong woman to help him heal his heart and find that the right woman has been by his side all along. Sort of an adult John Hughes movie a la Some Kind of Wonderful. Adam captures that man-child spirit that resonates with his audience so well and this movie doesn't disappoint. Also of note, the movie is full of cameo appearances including Dave Matthews who manages to steal every scene he's in.

IMDB Link

I Am Number 4

February 18th, 2011

It is what it is ... again I enjoyed it but I think that's because I've seen it a dozen times before. This move pulls heavily from all manner of science fiction/cult classics from Buffy the Vampire slayer (aliens turning to dust as they die) to Star Wars (each alien has a mentor like the jedi/padawan, also the bad guys have red color tones and the good guys have blue). There's really no new twist here just a retread but they'll keep making movies like this because people like me will keep seeing them. I just wish they could have come up with a better title.

The King's Speech

February 8th, 2011

See It ... I say, bloody splendid movie, old boy. That was my best proper British accent. What do you think? Although this isn't an action movie with cars exploding and spies trying to kill one another, I was riveted, on-the-edge-of-my-seat thrilled by this movie. The tension created by the marvelous performances of these brilliant actors was truly inspiring. Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush made this material come alive. The back drop of this movie is also a very compelling moment in history. And a not so well known behind-the-curtain peek at the history of the royal family. "It's pronounce Ma'am like ham not Ma'am like balm" as the Queen would say to everyone she met. Any actor that wins an award for their performance in this movie should stand proud. I would even be alright with it winning best movie of the year ... but don't tell Christopher Nolan I said that.

Odds and ends ... when I watch an ensemble piece like this I can't help but pigeon hole each actor into the first character I saw them play or the performance where I first became of aware of them by name. What I mean by that is every time I see Colin Firth, no matter what role he is playing, he is indelibly connected to his role as Mark Darcy in the movieBridget Jones's Diary for that is the first performance where he managed to make an impression on me. For Geoffrey Rush it's Shine. For Helena Bonham Carter it's Fight Club. For Derek Jacobi it's The Odessa File. For Michael Gambon it's Gosford Park. And for Timothy Spall it's Wormtail from the Harry Potter movies. Which brings me to another interesting note, Gambon, Spall and Bonham Carter have all starred together in the Harry Potter movies. It's a small world.

The Green Hornet

January 14th, 2011

See It - Suspension of disbelief - is a formula for justifying the use of fantastic or non-realistic elements in literature. Learn it, Know it, Live it. This movie will require that and more but it is worth it. It's funny and charming and full of great action sequences. The movie lives or dies by how much you like Seth Rogen who is a very Will Ferrell-ish comedic actor. On some levels, it is a much more realistic take on the Batman superhero complex and it certainly doesn't take itself as serious.

Similar movies: From Paris with Love (2010), Batman (1989),

Little Fockers

December 22nd, 2010

Rent it - This is purely a movie for the fans only in that it is only funny in the context of the other movies.

How Do You Know

December 17th, 2010

Rent It - Definitely a James L Brooks romcom. Very unconventional, enjoyable character driven comedy. Similar movies: As Good as It Gets (1997), Spanglish (2004)

True Grit

December 22nd, 2010

Rent It - Coen Brothers directing & Steven Spielberg producing! Hooray! Can't wait! That's what I was thinking before I saw the movie. As I was walking out of the theater my enthusiasm had diminished. I enjoyed the movie but I'm not sure their updates warranted a remake. Jeff Bridges won't be winning an Oscar but this movie will make a star out of Hailee Steinfeld for her performance as Mattie Ross.

Tron: Legacy

December 17th, 2010

Rent It - Dude, it's the Dude but he's in the grid. I found it funny having watched True Grit and Tron how both Jeff Bridges performances seems to just be the Dude in difference contexts. One of the problems with a sequel 25 years after the original is that you now become a derivative instead of a pathfinder. The original influenced so many movies and now the sequel just seems like a summary of all the movies it influenced. Movies like the Matrix and Virtuosity are just a few that come to mind.

The Fighter

December 10th, 2010

See It - I was doubtful going into this movie that it would be worth my time. I mean it seemed cliché ... another boxing movie? Really? Really! This is an amazing story and well worth viewing. Christian Bale gives an oscar award winning performance as a crack head x-boxer that's not to be missed. Such a departure from his Batman/John Connor roles of recent memory.

Black Swan

December 17th, 2010

See It - Darren Aronofsky's latest movie starring Natalie Portman is brilliant. Natalie Portman's character, Nina, is an aspiring ballerina obsessed with reaching perfection ... Obsession being the key ingredient. This movie is an intense character study on obsession and the decent into madness that obsession can bring. Like Aronofsky's other movies such as Pi, Requiem for a Dream, and The Wrestler, he is able to show the maddening decent of the character with surgical precision. Nina is driven to perfection by the instructions of Vincent Cassel's character ... instructions such as “Your homework assignment is to go home and touch yourself", "lose yourself" and "That was me seducing you. It needs to be the other way around." Aronofsky also adds elements of horror to build the tension while showing the maddening decent which just intensifies the experience of this movie and makes it a must see. I can't wait to see what he does with his next movie The Wolverine. Other similar movies are The Red Shoes and All About Eve.

The Tourist

December 10th, 2010

Skip It - I was expecting an action movie something just short of the Borne Identity and what I got instead was something more like Tuesdays with Morrie. The pacing was slow and by the time they reveal the twist you’re too bored to care. Paul Bettany is terrible as the Interpol agent on the trail of the Tourist. There is a much better movie on the same subject that I would recommend watching instead starring Tom Hanks called The Man With One Red Shoe.

Test mobile post from Droid

Hello World!
Watching The Freebie which seems to be an indy version of the Hall Pass.