Archive for the ‘Reviews’ Category
Thursday, February 2nd, 2012
Chronicle was so flipping cool. It’s the story of three high school seniors who mysteriously get the same telekinetic powers. I know what you’re thinking – yet another superhero movie. Wrong! Chronicle flips the genre on its head and makes it more “genuine” and “real”. How can you make super powers real? By highlighting the way the characters act and react to the different scenarios they put themselves in. The major flaw of the movie, however, is the part where they stuck to the overused traditional shooting style – the self shot moving camera craze. I think people understand they’re watching a movie…you don’t need to have the found footage aspect to explain to audiences why a camera was there filming their every move – just make your movie!
This time, the guy with the camera fetish is Andrew Detmer (Dane DeHaan), an emo kid with no friends, an abusive father, and a dying mother. He gets beat up left and right and doesn’t know how to cope with anything. You can tell there’s something wrong with him from the very beginning. Matt Garetty (Alex Russell) is his philosophical cousin who drives him to school and tries to give him advice to help him out. But even Matt avoids Andrew when he can. The movie moves right along showing the typical high school setting where Andrew gets picked on and no one really does anything about it. Matt convinces Andrew to show up to a party where everything changes.
Andrew is emo
The best and worst decisions happen when you’re high and/or at a rave, right? Well Matt and about-to-be new best friend Steve Montgomery (Michael B. Jordan) are lit up and stumble upon something amazing. They get Andrew to film it all with his hold school bulk camera. Now it’s time for fun. What would you do if you could move stuff with your mind? Throw stuff at your friends? Play practical jokes at the mall? Feed yourself using no hands? The trio start documenting their powers and having a lot of fun. I couldn’t stop laughing or smiling – as mentioned earlier, it was genuine. Literally three kids having the time of their life exploring their new powers while having a giggle fit.
We're making the funnest movie evar....giggle fit
I could go either way with the acting in the film. The standout for me was Michael Jordan (lol, I know, right?). But, they’re high school kids…they’re supposed to act awkward at times so in that respect, all the acting was fine. The special effects were cool but the floating/flying scenes seemed a bit off – like you can tell they were hooked to wires. Some of the flying scenes where they fly through the clouds were breathtaking though. The major annoyance were the random scenes of Andrew learning how to control the camera with his mind so he could be in the shots himself. Instead of getting the jagged moving camera shots that are popular these days, you get a floating moving camera feeling instead so again, the camera is hardly still. It also was pitiful excuse to shamelessly advertise Mountain Dew, Red Vines, Pringles, and Pepsi Max with product placement.
How would you like to eat lunch up here?
The movie was really really good up until the final scenes where it fell apart. Andrew, the outcast, could never shake the fact that he was indeed a loner even after having two best friends better than anyone could ever ask for. He couldn’t handle his anxiety and couldn’t just use his powers for good – like beer pong. Therefore, the ending turns into a massive battle destroying Seattle in its wake but it felt rushed and out of place with the rest of the movie. I would have liked it a lot more if the movie continued in it’s same playful tone. The movie is definitely targeted to young boys but kids of all ages (including adults who have always wanted special powers – which is just about everyone) will enjoy this flick.
Tags: Alex Russell, Chronicle, Dane DeHaan, Michael B. Jordan, Michael Jordan
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Friday, January 27th, 2012
This Means War comes out on Valentine’s Day, February 14th, but you can find advance screenings passes here!
So this is one of those romantic comedies that try to lure couples into by having hot guys for the girls and guns and explosions for the guys. They bumped up the release date for this to February 14th, Valentine’s Day, so they definitely see this as a date movie…and it is. Even though it’s directed by McG, the action is pretty goofy and sub par but that’s ok because the movie is actually pretty funny and can be enjoyed by both sexes. It’s a chick flick guys don’t have to be ashamed to admit they saw. Starring Reese Witherspoon, Chris Pine, and Tom Hardy, This Means War is what happens when two CIA agents start dating the same girl.
I know, I know, the premise sounds terrible. I was expecting a horrible movie going in but after the opening scene, the laughs didn’t stop and I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. The movie begins with action to make sure men don’t jump to another film after buying their movie tickets. The gun fights look like kids running around moving their hands in every direction going, “pew, pew, pew, pew,” and landing every shot. It’s over the top and fallacious but remember, it’s just a trick to get the guys in the theater. It’s not til we get to the played-out, run-of-the-mill relationship problems when the movie really begins.
Ladies, meet Tom Hardy and Chris Pine
Chris Pine is FDR, a cruise ship captain who is a playboy looking for a one-night rental, if you know what I mean. Tom Hardy is Tuck, a travel agent that actually travels…Actually, they’re both “covert” CIA spies that get sent around the world to apprehend vicious international criminals like Til Schweiger. While it seems that FDR just wants to score, Tuck is the sensitive British type that already has a kid with his stunningly beautiful ex-wife played by Abigail Spencer. They are, of course, polar opposites and best friends so what’s going to happen when they coincidentally meet the same amazing woman? Crazy spy stuff, that’s what. Think date sabotage and bugs in the bedroom…is that “creepy or romantic? It’s cromantic.”
There are guns...big guns and small hand guns 
Now we enter full romantic comedy territory and guys are too invested to walk out. Girls are going gaga because the movie is so “super cute.” “I think that falling is the best part.” This really is a great date movie and neither side of the equation should be disappointed. It’s a safe, traditional romcom with a few terribly super-imposed explosions thrown in. To mix it up a bit, Lauren (Reese Witherspoon)’s best friend is Trish (Chelsea Handler). I didn’t even know Chelsea Handler was in the movie but it was a nice surprise. Chelsea comes in with her typical fast-talking raunchy dialogue while giving Lauren “advice.” Throughout the movie, everyone else takes easy shots on Handler and it’s hilarious. Lately fans won’t be let down.
watch this movie...or else
There are a couple of romcom twists in there to keep the girls on their feet and the action scenes keep getting bigger (but not better) for the guys. By the end, you’re ready for the end so luckily the movie is only about an hour and a half long. The laughs don’t stop though…they continue all the way to the very end so you leave the theater happy. I was pleasantly surprised by This Means War and can easily recommend it. It has the right amount of comedy, relationship woes and action to deliver what it’s selling without getting too boring for guys or too flashy for girls. It’s not as ridiculous as it seems but it’s ridiculous enough to be entertaining.
Tags: Abigail Spencer, Chelsea Handler, Chris Pine, McG, Reese Witherspoon, This Means War, Til Schweiger, Tom Hardy
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Friday, January 27th, 2012
Man on a Ledge is some of the most ridiculous fun you’ll have in a theater. It’s stupid. It’s implausible. But it’s fun. With a title like Man on a Ledge, you should know what you’re getting yourself into and by 10 minutes in, you’re there – on the ledge…with the man. The plot is dumb, the characters are foolish, and the whole scenario is played out. But it’s fun. There are laughs, there’s some action, there’s some suspense, and a bit of sex appeal thrown in there as well. You’ll get your money’s worth but you should probably save your money.
Nick Cassidy (played by Sam Worthington) is the Man on a Ledge. He checks into a nice hotel with plenty of exposure, orders breakfast, and then goes outside of his window and onto the ledge. Don’t worry, the entire movie isn’t about the ledge…there is more than meets the eye. You are given some back story, cryptic clues and then left to figure out what’s going on. But again, don’t worry, the script is made for five year olds and everything is laid out for you so you don’t have to think too hard. This is definitely a popcorn flick so actually there is no thinking involved at all. Before you know it, you’re in a totally different movie but there’s still a man on a ledge.
Sam Worthington and Elizabeth Banks on the ledge...
This is the kind of movie where you sit back and escape for a couple of hours. If you liked Tower Heist, you’ll enjoy this one too … it’s in the same vein of mindless fun and retribution for the underdog. Ed Harris is the top dog and misplaced in this movie by strides. Joining him is Anthony Mackie as Mike Ackerman, Nick’s old partner, Edward Burns as Jack Dougherty, another cop, and Elizabeth Banks as Lydia Mercer, the cop negotiator requested to talk Nick down. Jamie Bell is Nick’s brother and his girlfriend is the hot hot hot Angie (played by Génesis Rodríguez). I don’t know if this was an inside joke or just terrible casting but Kyra Sedgwick plays a somewhat Hispanic news reporter called Suzie Morales…heavy on the Morales.
Suzie Morales
No one really acts. They don’t really need to…the movie is called Man on a Ledge. The movie is straightforward and leaves you the same as you entered. They screened this movie for a full month so they’re banking on a lot of word of mouth and they will probably get it – audiences left this movie with smiles and chatter. It’s a movie for everybody and a movie for nobody as it doesn’t really teach you anything but there’s no barrier to entry either. Just a mindless story that didn’t really need to be told. There’s so much to laugh at…but, it’s fun.
Tags: Anthony Mackie, Ed Harris, Edward Burns, Elizabeth Banks, Génesis Rodríguez, Jamie Bell, Kyra Sedgwick, Man on a Ledge, Sam Worthington
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Wednesday, January 25th, 2012
“Wolves are the only animal that kill for revenge.” I’m not sure if that’s true but it doesn’t bode well for Liam Neeson and company in The Grey. The Grey is an intense, jump out of your seat thriller set in the Alaskan tundra. It follows a group of men who survived a catastrophic plane crash and are now fighting for their lives against the horrid temperatures and a pack of man-eating wolves. Lucky for them, Ottway (Liam Neeson) was paid to kill wolves in the wilderness and has trained himself to know everything about them. Did I say lucky or unlucky?
The sound of the movie in the beginning is striking. The way director Joe Carnahan uses it to bring you in and out of scenes is frightening. It’s actually more scary than most of the recent horror films that have come out. The plane crash itself is a heart-pumping experience and that takes place very early in the film. The deafening winds of winter and howling of the wolves take over as they terrify you without being seen. It almost gets to a point where it’s unbearable but then you have to realize the conditions that these guys are in and they can’t turn it off…so why should you?
Liam Neeson = badass
Only a handful of men survived the crash and their numbers dwindle as the story goes on. It’s a game of survival and these men don’t know how to play the game. Except for Ottway, that is, who takes charge and sets out a plan to live. After recent movies like Unknown, The A-Team, and Taken, Liam has cemented himself as a bad ass man’s man so it’s fitting that he’s an adventurous grizzly man that doesn’t take bullshit from anybody. He’s the alpha and everything else in the movie – including the wolves – are omegas. A couple more roles like this and Liam Neeson is going to end up in the Expendables 3.
Let's play who's gonna die first?
I loved the script. I really liked how the men interacted with each other and what they actually said. It was a great mix of movie lines and real dialogue making you think that this is how it might actually go down. The different personalities from Diaz (Frank Grillo) to Talget (Dermot Mulroney), Hendrick (Dallas Roberts), Flannery (Joe Anderson) and Burke (Nonso Anozie) make it easy to fit in with the group. There are different opinions, reactions, and stereotypes that any audience member can empathize with. The story and filming was also impressive as they took you through a lot of different scenarios. You’ll be glad to know that you won’t just be following these guys through snow for two hours.
The whole cast and crew must have been freezing the entire time of production
This isn’t another action-packed fighting movie – it’s more about perseverance and will to survive. The Grey tests your own endurance as it holds very few things back. It will scare you, it will make you think and it might piss you off in the end. You never know what can happen next and some of the twists might surprise you. I definitely recommend watching this movie but it can wait for DVD or TV. There’s nothing really gained from watching it, it’s more of a nice way to pass the time on a plane ride or night in. One thing is for sure though, if you don’t have a good sound system, you should watch The Grey in theaters, because that sound mixing will make you jump – guaranteed. Stay til the end of the credits if you’re into that kind of thing but there’s not much there.
Tags: Dallas Roberts, Dermot Mulroney, Frank Grillo, Joe Anderson, Joe Carnahan, Liam Neeson, Nonso Anozie, The Grey
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Friday, January 20th, 2012
There’s a lot of controversy surrounding the movie Red Tails but it finally hits theaters today. George Lucas has sunk millions of dollars of his own money to both produce and distribute the film since major studios wouldn’t touch a movie with an “all-black” cast and “no major white roles.” Was it worth it? Not really…the movie is a dud. Inspired by true events of the Tuskegee Airmen, a group of African American pilots who fought in World War II, Red Tails follows a subset of fighter pilots as they advance from mopping European floors with planes to succeeding in countless life-saving missions that earn them high praise and medals. From the opening scene, you can tell that something is very wrong with this one.
The movie began being developed back in 1988 but after countless rewrites, it didn’t start shooting until 2009. In 2010, Lucas took over re-shoots as he wasn’t happy with director Anthony Hemingway’s work. Two years later, the film is finally ready to be seen by audiences. Sadly, the script doomed the project from the very beginning – it’s very dialogue-heavy and incredibly flat. There were numerous times where I knew I was supposed to feel some kind of emotion but the film didn’t reach that climax. There were a few scenes where some actors shined, but for the most part, they were just reciting the crappy lines they had to say. With a war movie involving high tension and big action dogfights, you would expect a lot of great one-liners and jump out of your seat moments, none of that happened.
No, it is not A-OK
I can understand that they might have tried to take the spotlight off of the killing and war and onto the strong historic and proud characters that they were honoring, but the characters were so two dimensional that you could only roll your eyes. There’s a great ensemble cast of African American talent but each can be described in a stereotypical manner. Let’s start with the pilots: Nate Parker as Martin “Easy” Julian – the self pitying alcoholic, David Oyelowo as Joe “Lightning” Little – the brash wild one who doesn’t follow orders, Tristan Wilds as Ray “Junior/Ray Gun” Gannon – the kid who wants to grow up too fast, Ne-Yo as Andrew “Smoky” Salem – the guy with the accent, and Marcus T. Paulk as David ‘Deke’ Watkins – the religious one. The two most senior actors who have actually already played Tuskegee Airmen in other movies, Terrence Howard and Cuba Gooding, Jr. play the leadership roles and thankfully offer up some acting worth watching. Lee Tergesen is the nice white officer while Bryan Cranston is the evil racist white officer and Gerald McRaney is the neutral white officer that just wants help. Then there’s Method Man, Andre Royo, and love interest Daniela Ruah for comedy and love side stories.
It could have been so bad ass...
Red Tails softly touched on the big issue of racism in the typical movie manner. First, they’re not accepted and then they are. That’s about all you’re going to get from this PG-13 movie that’s more about inspiring the younger generation with heroes than telling the real story of the Tuskegee Airmen. The basic history lesson that you’ll learn from Red Tails is that instead of going for the glory like many white fighter pilots did, the Tuskegee Airmen changed the mission and stuck with the big bombers to escort them safely. For that, they were loved by people from the front lines to back home. At first, I thought the beginning of the movie was mundane on purpose to emphasize how boring the missions the airmen were first given, but then the movie didn’t get much more exciting. Having said that, the genuine truth behind these amazing men is so profound, that you can’t help but be pulled into what they went through.
This guy, right here, saved the movie for me
If it wasn’t for the strong and powerful ending that this movie had, I wouldn’t know what to say about it. The story would have better suited for a TV mini-series than a big screen adaptation. I’m not talking about the source material of the fighter pilots, but the screenplay that was developed. They could have done a lot more with the historic group but instead they developed a dry, uninspired, and glazed-over interpretation of actual events. By trying to stick to the authenticates while combining played-out movie plot lines, Red Tails became a boring mix of fact and fiction rather than an exciting imagining of fiction backed by fact. It’s a shame because there is so much potential there.
Tags: Andre Royo, Anthony Hemingway, Bryan Cranston, Cuba Gooding, Daniela Ruah, David Oyelowo, George Lucas, Gerald McRaney, Jr., Lee Tergesen, Marcus T. Paulk, Method Man, Nate Parker, Ne-Yo, Red Tails, Terrence Howard, Tristan Wilds
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Thursday, January 19th, 2012
Haywire is about a mission gone awry…the film itself was an experiment gone awry. I really liked what they tried to do with the movie but the execution was off. They combined the directorial style of Steven Soderbergh with his trademark ensemble cast of Hollywood stars with a bombshell mixed martial arts icon. What resulted was an interesting take on black ops in an almost anti-action action film. Imagine a spy movie without the explosions and unexplainable plot twists replaced with a smart quick-thinking quick-moving spy that knows how to get out of any sticky situation. Imagine a one vs the world story where the one person doesn’t have special powers or a team of tech wizzes behind her. Oh yeah, and imagine that the bad ass no one can catch is a woman.
There’s a lot going for Haywire which makes it a decent film to watch but then the end result just doesn’t cut it. There’s not enough substance in the movie to put it over the top. The main problem, in my opinion, is that the star, Gina Carano, isn’t ready to have a leading role…her acting chops need as much work as Ewan McGregor’s fighting skills. Don’t get me wrong, she’s very convincing in her part but every time she opened her mouth, I thought I was watching a casting call and not the actual movie. Haywire was amazing fighting scenes wrapped between a bunch of movie stuff. They didn’t go hand in hand, it was like a mix of oil and water.
This could be a really good or really bad position to be in...
The impressive aspects of this movie were the sound, the keen shots from the cinematography, and the hand to hand combat. The sound was my favorite part of the movie. Soderbergh always mixes things in an unusual manner. Traditionally, you’d have loud rock music blasting in chase and fight scenes but in Haywire, you have toe-tapping jazz and curious synths. Also, silence played an important role letting the audience hear the blows and punches during fight scenes that added to the real visuals you were seeing. The hand to hand combat was the best I’ve seen in a long while. Obviously, when your star is a MMA fighter, you’re going to want to exploit that. And Carla makes your eyes pop with every move she pulls off. I applaud the fight coordinator. I was also really impressed with the fight acting of the rest of the cast – the fights with Channing Tatum and Michael Fassbender looked great. The actors could sell the fights but the fighter couldn’t sell her acting.
How beautiful is this shot?
The cinematography also blew me away – the shots were laid out so perfectly. In an era with chaotic cinema and most of the work happening in post production, it’s refreshing to see a film take the time to set up and really care about each camera angle. The way they shot the car chases and each fight scene is something to watch and learn from. I also love Soderbergh’s tradition of taking you on a ride around the world. This time we go to Barcelona, Dublin, San Diego, etc. I would say to watch the movie on mute but as I just mentioned, the sounds actually complements the visuals so well rather than being a distraction. Haywire is truly a quality film that’s just missing some key elements to make it a winner.
We've seen this shot before...but have you seen it like this?
You might be surprised to know that Michael Douglas, Antonio Banderas, and Bill Paxton are also in the movie. It’s such a weird thing when you have so many A-list quality actors in a movie that will be remembered for the subpar acting of the star. Again, she’s not a bad actress…she’s just not ready for a leading role. Everybody else, who was underutilized, is. Haywire is also a pretty short movie running only about 90 minutes and it feels shorter than it is as it pulls you into this mysterious story and you want the movie to take you to that next level of interest. I believe fans are going to be split on this one: those expecting a blockbuster action flick and those appreciating the technical style of the movie. I just wish there was a little bit more oomf to support the beautiful film making.
Tags: Antonio Banderas, Bill Paxton, Channing Tatum, Ewan McGregor, Gina Carano, Haywire, Michael Douglas, Michael Fassbender, Steven Soderbergh
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Wednesday, January 11th, 2012
“Nothing’s gonna happen…alright? I promise.” Well you know when a character says that in a movie, everything is about to go wrong. Mark Wahlberg stars in yet another Hollywood remake of a recent foreign film. This time it’s a 2009 Icelandic film called Reykjavík-Rotterdam starring Baltasar Kormákur (who directed this remake). It’s about the ins and outs of smuggling on cargo ships and getting in and out of a life a crime. Chris Farraday (Wahlberg) is the Harry Houdini of smuggling but retired and went straight before he was caught. However, his younger brother-in-law followed in his footsteps and messed up. Now, Chris has to do one last run to protect his family.
The movie isn’t exactly good but it has its funny parts, thrilling parts, and it’s entertaining. It’ll be a great rental or something to catch on tv…it’s not strong enough to spend time and money watching it in a theater. I didn’t enjoy how it was made – it uses the moving camera technique way too much and kept zooming into character’s faces trying to show emotions that weren’t there. This directing style adds a lot of depth to a movie but when it’s overused like it was in Contraband, it just gets annoying. Having said that, there’s a good amount of action (although some of it being completely out of place and ridiculous) and a lot of tense sense that were suspenseful and thrilling. Mark Walberg did a decent job but I kept thinking he wanted to say hi to my mother for him.
He sure does love his lollipops
I didn’t even realize Kate Beckinsale was in the movie until her name popped up in the opening credits but then forgot she was in it again because they didn’t use her enough. She was great in her scenes but they kept the spotlight on Mark when they should have allowed her more screen time. Giovanni Ribisi is the cracked out bad guy who always takes things too far, Ben Foster is the best friend / ex-smuggling partner of Chris, and J.K. Simmons is the captain of the ship. But be warned: some things aren’t what they seem. But be warned: the twists are pretty damn obvious. The acting was pretty stale as you didn’t really care for anybody other than Chris and his family. This is one of those movies where you end up rooting for the bad guy with good intentions.
I actually liked Giovanni Ribisi's character in this
The movie is based in New Orleans and goes to Panama. They travel to the underworlds of each locale but still make the cities look pretty awesome. You also get a glimpse of ship life aboard these huge ocean carrier ships. It makes smuggling look easy as you just need to pay a bunch of people off to get stuff on the ship. The hard part is not getting caught and getting that stuff off of the ship. The movie takes an Oceans 11-esque approach where the plan is set and people do they’re tasks but then you don’t really know what’s going on unless you follow the clues. This adds to the suspense and thrill as you have to wait and see who the ultimate winner is in the cat and mouse game of smuggling.
He's gonna slow down...he's gonna slow down
Contraband was an entertaining movie and will make you laugh a few times so it passes but other than that, it’s just another Hollywood remake of a tired, worn-out story that has been told countless times. There’s nothing new or fascinating in this one so set your expectations pretty low. I haven’t seen the original so I can’t comment on whether its better or worse but I can almost guarantee that Hollywood replaces subtle character nuances with over exaggerated action and obvious metaphors. Someone should make a checklist or bingo game of Hollywood cliches like: character reassures nothing will go wrong, somebody goes off the wagon, character makes it in the nick of time…every time, etc. Or I guess they use that checklist to write the scripts…
Tags: Baltasar Kormákur, Ben Foster, Contraband, Giovanni Ribisi, J.K. Simmons, Kate Beckinsale, Mark Wahlberg, Reykjavík-Rotterdam
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Tuesday, December 27th, 2011
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is like a James Bond spy movie without the James or the Bond. It’s a meticulous espionage film depicting the true world of gentlemen in shadows hoarding and sharing information on behalf of their country’s security. It’s a grainy time piece that takes us back to the 70s with the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) in London. It’s a torturous puzzle that may put you to sleep if you can’t follow along and requires an intellect to enjoy. It did wonderfully in Britain but I can’t see its success repeating in America. It’s painfully slow and dull at times but oh so rewarding in the end if you can keep up.
The performances are paramount and Gary Oldman shines in a way in which he deserves. There is a masterfully shot monologue of his that may have been the best film making of the year. Joining him is Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, John Hurt, Toby Jones, Mark Strong, Benedict Cumberbatch and Ciarán Hinds. The entire film is character driven so their acting had the utmost importance and they all delivered. Since we’re dealing with spies and double agents, their expressions and body language had to tell the story while hiding their true intentions but still give the audience some clues to go off of.
Behind every big decision is a soundproof room full of old spies
The plot of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (TTSS) is actually pretty straight forward: find the mole. What ensues, however, is the complete opposite of straight forward. Control (the cheif of Circus – the headquarters of the SIS) and George Smiley are forced to retire after a mishandled operation in Hungary as Control believes there is a mole in their midst. After Control (John Hurt) dies, Smiley (Gary Oldman) is brought out of retirement to investigate allegations by a scalphunter, Ricki Tarr (Tom Hardy), which supports Control’s beliefs of a long-time mole in a senior position of SIS. They narrow their suspicions down to a few men: Percy Alleline (Toby Jones) “Tinker”, Bill Haydon (Colin Firth) “Tailor”, Roy Bland (Ciarán Hinds) “Soldier”, and Toby Esterhase (David Dencik) “Poorman.” Through interviews with former employees of the circus and spying on his own, Smiley must figure out who is the double agent.
Who could be the double agent!?
The story travels from London to Budapest and Istanbul with stories of Russia and America. It’s confusing, to say the least, to keep track of people, places and things but as a master spy, this is what must be done. As you slowly start figuring out the jargon of the men in suits, codewords and code names, and understanding their inner workings, you’re pulled into this immense would of paranoia and deal-making that’s so interesting but also so bland at the same time. The extent of most of these men’s actions is sitting in a soundproof room with each other discussing documents. Not much action going on in there. Instead, it’s a mind game that puts you to the test to figure out what’s going on before George Smiley himself.
I'm always fascinated on how they make these esquite period sets
I can’t recommend this movie to the average theatergoer. It’s not a popcorn movie. It’s a deep thinker with beautiful direction and acting. It’s not going to keep you on the edge of your seat but it will make the gears in our head turn faster than any other movie in theaters if you get engaged in the scenarios. There were about 20 walkouts in my screening and a few people snoring so if you’re not up to the task, don’t go. But if you are interested in the underworld and workings of true espionage, this is a delightful film that will leave you in awe at the end. Who is who, what is what, what’s going on!? Even though TTSS isn’t as flashy as other spy films, it’s still really cool… I want a codename now.
Tags: Benedict Cumberbatch and Ciarán Hinds, COlin Firth, David Dencik, Gary Oldman, John Hurt, Mark Strong, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Toby Jones, Tom Hardy
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Wednesday, December 21st, 2011
“This is exactly what we’re looking for.” Ever dream about owning your very own personal zoo? That is what Benjamin Mee and his family stumbled on while looking for a new home to live in. Loosely based on a true story comes a family drama sprinkled with a bit of comedy that’s appealing to the older and younger audiences. It’s a manufactured story with some eye-rolling story lines that resulted in a bland and boring movie. It tries to merge together a bunch of different marketable ideas but forgets to actually be wholesome and entertaining.
To cope with his passing wife and keep his family from falling apart, Benjamin Mee (Matt Damon) decided that it was time for a change. He’s an impulsive adventurer who pushes his own dream onto his family. But “it’s a good dream with cool animals and some great people too.” His 7 year-old Rosie (Maggie Elizabeth Jones) is all for it with her cute voice and adorable expressions but Dylan (Colin Ford), Benjamin’s teenage boy, is a trouble maker. Luckily, there are obvious love interests for both Dylan and Benjamin in the form of the lead zoo operator Kelly Foster (Scarlett Johansson) and her 13 year-old hippie niece Lily Miska (Elle Fanning) who makes sandwiches and smiles. Once you’re introduced to that scenario, you know you’re trapped.
are you looking at my butt? are YOU looking at my butt?
You would think that a movie about a zoo would highlight the hundreds of exotic and endangered species they claim to have but between scene transitions with only quick glimpses of animals, just three animals are really showcased. Buster the Bear, Solomon the Lion, and Spar – the 17 year-old Tiger. I mean, if you’re going to choose a couple animals animals, it might as well be a lion, a tiger, and bear, oh my! The interactions between the animals and characters are pretty limited and even those are pretty docile. You’re not going to see any Siegfried and Roy type tricks here. But if your kids are Rosie’s age, they’ll have a blast like Maggie seemed to have on set.
This is as close as Matt Damon is getting to that tiger
Matt Damon carried this soft story with his Matt Damon charm. You can’t help but root for him throughout his troubled times. He played a great father who had no idea what to do with his family or his zoo. Scarlett Johansson, Thomas Haden Church (who played Benjamin’s analytical brother), and John Michael Higgins (who was the obnoxious zoo inspector, Walter Ferris) all played their supporting roles beautifully. Director Cameron Crowe definitely knows how to pull great performances from people but apparently not animals. I also enjoyed how he mixed the music and noises of city life in contrast to the farm life as well as juggling Benjamin’s own angst with his past and learning to cope with the present and future. There are a lot of strong themes that make this a good family movie…if only it had more heart.
This image makes it look like a TV Family Movie...because it is
It seemed like there was a lot of footage left on the cutting room floor and by trying to make this movie more mass appealing and broad, it lost a lot of the heart and power. They stuck a formula to the finished product and what resulted was just another cheesy main character in too deep/out of his league movie. It had awesome animals, cute little girl, a couple of love stories, and a drunken Irishman out for revenge but it all didn’t come together as I thought it would. They’re marketing this as a comedy drama but it’s really a drama with a couple of laughs. It’ll be great for the older crowd and younger crowd but anybody in the middle will probably just get bored and realize how loosely this movie is based on the actual counterparts.
Tags: Cameron Crowe, Colin Ford, Elle Fanning, John Michael Higgins, Maggie Elizabeth Jones, Matt Damon, Scarlett Johansson, Thomas Haden Church, We Bought A Zoo
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Friday, December 16th, 2011
“Light The Fuse!” Tom Cruise is back as Ethan Hunt in the newest addition to the Mission: Impossible series. This time, they ditch the numbers and call it Ghost Protocol. What does Ghost Protocol mean? It means that the Impossible Mission Force (IMF) which assists the agents and supplies the resources has been shut down making this new mission really really impossible. Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol is the definition of a big action popcorn movie. It will blow your mind. It travels the world to the most impressive landscapes while pulling off some of the most amazing action sequences ever. I loved it.
The plot. What plot? Let’s just throw that aside into a sandstorm…this is not about the story. Once they say “Russian nuclear codes” you can shut off your brain and just appreciate the visuals. The only real twists and turns are in the back stories of the agents themselves. Basically, Ethan Hunt is pulled into an international mission to stop a madman that is trying to destroy the entire world after another IMF mission goes awry. He’s joined by Agent Carter (Paula Patton) and from Mission: Impossible III, technician turned agent, Benji Dunn (Simon Pegg). Simon Pegg is your classic funnyman and while slightly annoying in the beginning; is really hilarious in the rest of the film. Paula Patton is our eye candy and boy, did my eyes have cavities after seeing her in that green dress. Along the way, they meet William Brandt (Jeremy Renner), an IMF analyst who gets up in their mission aka mess.
Tom Cruise with Paula Patton, Simon Pegg, and Jeremy Renner in Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol
There is an international supporting cast ensuring this movie does incredibly well overseas. You have the Russian bad guy Kurt Hendricks played by Michael Nyqvist (who’s actually a Swede), his Finish right hand man Wistrom (Samuli Edelmann), Russian intelligence operative Anatoly Sidirov (Vladimir Mashkov), rich Indian playboy Brij Nath (Anil Kapoor), and French contract assassin Sabine Moreau (Léa Seydoux). The movie moves from Budapest to Moscow to Dubai, Mumbai, and Seattle. There’s even a glimpse of my city, San Francisco! I love movies that take their audiences on a geography lesson and the Mission: Impossible franchise never fails to do that. For Ghost Protocol, the director, Brad Bird, decided to use iconic structures as his backdrops and playthings such as the Kremlin and Burj Khalifa (the world’s largest building).
Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) dangling from Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world!
Largest building in the world you say? Let’s have Tom Cruise dangle off of that! I can not believe Cruise is still alive after this movie. It is literally breathtaking with death defying stuns. I, for one, love doing things that might kill me like skydiving, canyoning, and bungee jumping hundreds of stories and even I was blown away by the stunts they pulled off. If you can, do yourself a favor and watch this movie in an IMAX theater so you can feel like you’re a part of the action. Along with the amazing explosions, shootouts, and hand to hand combat is great sound amping you up in every scene…and in the IMAX, you feel it the audio. There are some parts where the movie trails off or gets a bit wordy but then before you can blink, action comes out of nowhere and makes you jump in your seat! Another great tradition of Mission Impossible are the gadgets. Even though their using recognizable devices like iPhones and iPads, they’re doing unbelievable things with them. There are super powered magnets, super adhesive gloves, a super sweet concept BMW car, and don’t worry – the mask machine is back!
bad. ass.
Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol is a superb action flick. It’s a great time and is adrenaline pumping from start to finish. Brad Bird is an incredible director and his transition from animation to live action seemed seamless (he directed The Iron Giant, The Incredibles and Ratatouille). He was able to take his imagination and apply it to the real world creating captivating action shots and a quick paced film that kept surprising the audience. Tom Cruise once again proves himself to be the top notch action star that he is by looking practically perfect in every single shot. I’m still trying to figure out how they did some of the scenes because they really shot them and it’s really him – can’t wait for the behind the scenes bonus features. M:I – GP is an easy to follow, easy to love action film with lavish scenery and epic stunts. It’s what Mission: Impossible is all about. Mission Accomplished.
Tags: Anil Kapoor, Brad Bird, Jeremy Renner, Léa Seydoux, Michael Nyqvist, Mission Impossible, Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol, Paula Patton, Samuli Edelmann, Simon Pegg, Tom Cruise, Vladimir Mashkov
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Tuesday, December 13th, 2011
“It’s a game dear man, it’s a shadowy game.” Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows is superior to the original in almost every way. If you liked the first one, you’ll love the sequel but if you didn’t, then it’s more of the same. It’s almost as if the first one was a weird experiment that just worked and audiences loved and this one is taking that end result and refining it into a smart, well thought-out action flick. I think it’s the smartest blockbuster movie we’ve seen all year with a villain that’s actually a good match for the hero and dialogue that challenges the audience to follow along. It’s definitely more eloquent than the first and I applaud it for that.
Everybody from the original is back: Robert Downey Jr. as Sherlock Holmes, Jude Law as Dr. John Watson, and Rachel McAdams as Irene Adler; but not everybody makes it passed the opening credits. Rachel McAdams is replaced by Noomi Rapace who is the gypsy sister of a puzzle piece in this new mystery and we are introduced to Jared Harris as Professor James Moriarty who is the man pulling all the strings…or should I say moving all the pieces because like every other film, chess is used as the sophisticated game metaphor. It’s great how this movie doesn’t take the mystery too seriously and puts most of the cards on the table. Yet, it was still fun to watch everything unravel through the eyes of Holmes and Watson.
Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson
The game is pretty obvious but still shrouded in mystery for those who don’t figure out things quite as fast. In typical Sherlock Holmes style, a lot of the scenes are played out in Holmes’ mind for us before he does them and key observations are zoomed in on and highlighted throughout the movie. If you like that style of directing, Guy Ritchie made this movie just for you. But along with that are some amazing action scenes. There is one devastating slow motion sequence that I much watch again. It’s better than any war film I’ve seen recently and uses a lot of great camera tricks. They did a beautiful job of balancing the comedy with the action and mixing the two at some points.
BOOM. Action.
Robert Downey Jr. no doubtingly holds up this franchise and again shows why he’s such an amazing actor. The way he plays with the words on the page are uncanny and he never ceases to surprise audiences with the way he moves. The same slightly homo-relationship between him and Watson is still very evident even with the side storyline of Mrs. Watson (Kelly Reilly) and Sherly’s (Sherlock’s) brother, Mycroft Holmes – full frontally played by Stephen Fry. This side story was beautifully used to break up the pace of the action sequences and delivered on a few laughs as well. Holmes’ ridiculous disguises are also back which he claims are “so overt, it’s covert.”
"Which one of us is the fisherman and which the trout"
The mystery is not the important part of the game…the game itself is. As it plays out, the explanations of what’s going on get more and more ridiculous. I like to call this kind of storytelling feasible unbelievable. It’s outrageous but the dots connect so eh, just go with it. Again, if you’re a fan of the series, you’ll love this movie. If you haven’t seen the first or indifferent about it, try this one out…it’s a lot smarter and more gripping. It has all the great elements of the first one and tightens up the lacking parts. It’s fun, it’s fast, it’s action, it’s adventure – it’s elementary my dear.
Tags: Guy Ritchie, Jared Harris, Jude Law, Noomi Rapace, Rachel McAdams, Robert Downey Jr., Sherlock Holmes, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, Stephen Fry
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Monday, December 12th, 2011
I grew up with the Chipmunks so I tend to enjoy anything they put out. It’s been four years since they started this new string of movies and because of their financial success, they have been churning them out like clockwork every two years. But sadly, they have been getting progressively worse and I think I’ve reached my limit – Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked was terrible. The other two movies were pretty bad as well, but at least they were somewhat enjoyable. This one was just cringe worth. If you don’t know, the Chipmunks are three little critter brothers who can sing their hearts out: Alvin, Simon, Theodore.
The Chipmunks have become a huge musical hit alongside their female counterparts, the Chipettes, and while on their way to the International Music Awards their “dad,” Dave Seville takes them on a family vacation cruise. Alvin is already wreaking havoc and getting into trouble as they board the biggest product placement of the year: Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Dream. While on the ship, there is no lack of showing the Carnival logo in as many shots as possible while the Chimpunks and Chipettes try to have fun. Theodore steals the show with his cute, cuddly, shy, and scared personality. The Chipettes rock it as usual with their girl power and flashy moves…especially their rendition of Willow Smith’s “Whip My Tail.” There are plenty of cute songs and dances in the beginning but one thing leads to another and we’re stranded on a remote island with the six singing chipmunks.
Alvin, Simon, Theodore...and Brittany...and Jeanette...and Eleanor
Stranded. This is where the movie turns from bad to awful. The Chipmunks are supposed to sing, right? They stop singing for the entire middle of the movie! Instead, they steal punchlines and memes from the movie, “Cast Away” and the Internet. They meet a loony character named Zoe (Jenny Slate) who has a collection of Wilsons, Spaldings and Callaways (talking sports balls). You’ll hear Charlie Sheen’s “winning,” meet a honey badger who takes what he wants and doesn’t give a –, and see a double rainbow. The writers of this movie were literally watching YouTube while making this script. David Cross is back as the cruel Ian as well as Jason Lee as Dave. They must be paying them boatloads because they have far past lost their dignity working on this series. They’re joined by the same voices from the previous movies: Justin Long (Alvin), Matthew Gray Gubler (Simon), Jesse McCartney (Theodore), Amy Poehler (Eleanor), Anna Faris (Jeanette), and Christina Applegate (Brittany).
Don't worry...I still love you guys
I am quite surprised that they didn’t try and make this movie 3D especially since it’s the third installment. I am grateful, just surprised. If they stuck to the sing-along formula of the previous movies, maybe this could have been championed for sticking to its 2D roots but instead, it was just crap. There are a few hit songs from the likes of Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and Rihanna – just think of pop radio sped up to the chipmunks voices. If that gimmick still makes you laugh, then you’ll enjoy the beginning and end of this movie. Go for a walk during the middle. They even had LMFAO’s “Party Rock Anthem” but the Chipmunks didn’t even shuttle! Therefore, the Kia commercial with the hamsters is one hundred times better than Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked.
Tags: Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked, Amy Poehler, Anna Faris, Chipettes, Chipmunks, Christina Applegate, David Cross, Jason Lee, Jesse McCartney, Justin Long, Matthew Gray Gubler
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Thursday, December 8th, 2011
“Babysitting sucks…adult men don’t babysit things.” The Sitter was hilarious and definitely the kind of comedy for my generation. It’s a little less stoner comedy and a lot more black comedy from the director who brought you Pineapple Express, David Gordon Green. Starring Jonah Hill before he lost weight (so he’s still funny), The Sitter is a ridiculous night out with very random events that never seem to stop. Joined by three kids who steal the show, the movie has nonstop laughs and crazy/weird scenarios.
Jonah Hill is Noah Griffith, a slacker/nerd who only thinks about himself. He’s forced to babysit three kids so his hard-working divorced mom can go on a date and maybe actually have fun for once. The kids are the movie. You have Slater (Max Records) – a highly medicated kid with anxiety issues, Blithe (Landry Bender) – a little princess who watches way too much TV and wants to be a grown up rich girl who’s famous for doing absolutely nothing, and Rodrigo (Kevin Hernandez) – an adopted El Salvadorian who likes to cause mischief and blow things up. They. Were. Awesome.
The kids are the movie.
The plot is pretty run of the mill; but, for some reason the sum of all the parts in this one just seem to work. Noah has a “girlfriend” who just uses him to get things for herself. So when Noah is left in charge and gets a call from Marisa (Ari Graynor) to have sex if he can score her some coke, you know the babysitting gig is going on a road trip and antics will ensue. What you don’t know is all of the crazy stuff that will come their way: Bodybuilding drug lair? Random run ins with girls from high school? Best friend drug dealer? Exploding toilets? It’s all pretty over the top but that doesn’t mean it’s not funny…you can’t help but laugh!
"I came for the motherf*cking keys to my motherf*cking minivan!"
This is rated R and the jokes are pretty obscene. They’re executed wonderfully by most members of the cast, especially the kids. Blithe will by far be the audience’s favorite as she sings along and dances to every rap song that’s inappropriate for her. Great casting includes people like Sam Rockwell, J.B. Smoove, Reggie Alvin Green and Method Man which ensure even more laughs from the different tangents that unfold through the night. As expected, Noah turns into a badass, has realizations of his own as well as heart to hearts with the kids adding a bit of closure into this otherwise runaway train/car crash of a movie. If the script wasn’t so genuine and funny, this movie could have been a real mess. There was even a random segue…with a random segway.
Jonah Hill with Max Records, Landry Bender, and Kevin Hernandez
I wasn’t expecting The Sitter to be as good as it was but with the onslaught of laughs, outrageous turns in the story, and adorable kids you can’t help but get attached to…this movie won me over. Also, Kylie Bunbury might be the cutest girl I’ve seen on screen all year. The soundtrack was really impressive with some classic hip hop choices that fit perfectly in the storyline. Again, this is just another crazy night out kind of movie but it’s really really funny and holds nothing back. I honestly want to see a sequel or a weekly sitcom involving the kids…their characters are just too good and work really well together. “Double punch in the nut sac!”
Tags: Ari Graynor, David Gordon Green, J.B. Smoove, Jonah Hill, Kevin Hernandez, Kylie Bunbury, Landry Bender, Max Records, Method Man, Reggie Alvin Green, Sam Rockwell, The Sitter
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Tuesday, December 6th, 2011
From the same writer (Katherine Fugate), director (Garry Marshall) and even starring some of the same exact actors as Valentine’s Day comes New Year’s Eve. This is another ridiculously huge ensemble cast movie about a single holiday day. It begins the morning of New Year’s Eve and ends exactly how you think it’s going to end…with an alien invasion and nuclear kamikaze – kidding kidding, this isn’t Independence Day 2! If you’re into these cutesy tangled relationship movies, you won’t be disappointed – they pretty much stick to the same formula. I’m not going to lie, I have a tiny guilty pleasure for these things and New Year’s Eve has all the laughs and corny scenes that you can’t help but smile during.
There are probably half a dozen different stories going on so I won’t list them all. The start of the movie is your typical introduction to the rolodex of characters and what they have planned for New Year’s Eve. If you aren’t interested in at least one of the stories, you should leave right away because it’s not going to get any better. It’s pretty bland until Russell Peters and Sofía Vergara appear on screen. They instantly make you laugh and steal whatever scene they’re in – I just wish they had larger roles in the movie. You start to figure out that the movie is centered around two major events and most of the characters are somehow attached one way or another. Event #1: The ball drop at Times Square (obviously). Event #2: A fictitious record company’s NYE party. Unlike other movies like this, they didn’t force all of the characters to meet or have as many serendipitous stories intertwine with each other.
Sofia Vergara with Kathrine Heigl
Let’s go through the top-billed cast, shall we? Halle Berry, Jessica Biel, Jon Bon Jovi, Abigail Breslin, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Robert De Niro, Josh Duhamel, Zac Efron, Hector Elizondo, Kathrine Heigl, Ashton Kutcher, Seth Meyers, Lea Michele, Sarah Jessica Parker, Michelle Pfeiffer, Til Schweiger, Hilary Swank, Sofia Vergara and Mr. New Year’s Eve himself, Ryan Seacrest. Didn’t see your favorite actor? Don’t worry, there are still plenty of cameos by even more famous people. Most of the movie’s surprises were obvious to me although I could tell they amazed many members of my audience by the gasps and loud “what!?”s but there is at least one twist that you will not guess. This is a happy feel good movie so every story is wrapped up in a nice bow so everybody can leave the theater smiling and singing Auld Lang Syne.
Seth Meyers and Jessica Biel
It’s what you’d expect. There’s a monologue speech, there’s a musical montage (I bet you can guess who sings), and there are tons of great one-liners like, “nobody wins when pregnant women fight” and “we’re more memorial day people.” Funny enough, both of those came from Seth Meyers and his storyline with Jessica Biel, Til Schweiger, Sarah Paulson and Carla Gugino which, I think, was the only storyline that didn’t intersect with all the other stories. It did, however, crossover with Valentine’s Day (stay for the bloopers during the credits for that one). To my surprise, Zac Efron had the best performance in the movie with Michelle Pfeiffer who I thought was suicidal. Don’t worry though, this is a very PG-13 movie even though they did drop the f- and b-bombs near the end.
Zac Efron with Michelle Pfeiffer
You get what you pay for with New Year’s Eve. You should know what you’re getting yourself into especially if you’ve seen Valentine’s Day. I’m going to say New Year’s Eve was a little less cheesy than Valentine’s Day but NYE had its fair share of awkward and lame parts. I could have done without the whole kids storyline though I guess that pulls in the whole grade school demographic. The movie could have been about 20 to 30 minutes shorter and still hit all the key plot points they were going for. There’s no higher realization or takeaway that will make you celebrate New Year’s Eve any different but there is something for everybody…except for people who actually want to watch a film that might win an award other than a razzie. What will they think of next? I can’t wait for Labor Day!
Tags: Abigail Breslin, Ashton Kutcher, Carla Gugino, Chris 'Ludacris' Bridges, Garry Marshall, Halle Berry, Hector Elizondo, Hilary Swank, Jessica Beil, Jessica Biel, Jon Bon Jovi, Josh Duhamel, Katherine Fugate, Kathrine Heigl, Lea Michele, Michelle Pfeiffer, New Year's Eve, Robert De Niro, Ryan Seacrest, Sarah Jessica Parker, Sarah Paulso, Seth Meyers, Sofia Vergara, Til Schweiger, Zac Efron
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Monday, December 5th, 2011
How’s your thirst for adventure? Steven Spielberg takes us back in time not only for a film inspired by one of the most popular comics of the 20th century but back to a time of a true action and adventure experience wrapped in a thrilling mystery. Produced by Peter Jackson, written by Steven Moffat, Edgar Wright and Joe Cornish and animated by Weta Digital, The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn had a dream team working on it from top to bottom. It mainly mixed three of the original comic books: The Crab with the Golden Claws (1941), Red Rackham’s Treasure (1944), and of course, The Secret of the Unicorn (1943). While the precise motion-capture couldn’t compare to Hergé’s original execution of his characters, it delivered a new fascination for the current generation to enjoy. So don’t expect as much nostalgia but do expect a great viewing experience.
The script does a wonderful job introducing the audience to Tintin and the whole premise quickly. Even if you have no idea what the source material is about, you will get it within the first 10 minutes where you see the new animated Tintin get a caricature of himself which shows the original inked boy journalist. You meet his amazing dog Snowy and get swept right into the mystery of the Unicorn. From here, the story never stops and you’re taken on a whirlwind adventure by sea, air, and everything in between. By mixing many different plots in one, the filmmakers were able to explore more of the Tintin universe and splice together various story lines to keep the momentum and the pace quick. However, you never forgot the main story at hand.
Tintin with Captain Haddock
The cast was as impressive as the men behind the scenes. The motion capture and voices were provided by the likes of Daniel Craig, Jamie Bell, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, and motion capture legend/guru Andy Serkis. With every mocap film, Weta Digital somehow tops itself and delivers a more seamless experience letting you forget your even watching an animated feature. It was a weird mix…even though it looked extremely lifelike, The Adventures of Tintin still had it’s cartoony feel. That is, except for Thompson and Thomson (whose slapstick I thoroughly enjoyed) who looked like they still belonged in the comics. Captain Haddock is also on board as the alcoholic that doesn’t remember anything about anything. Along with him comes overbearing themes of alcoholism, responsibility and self-empowerment making the movie a lesson for kids.
Thompson and Thomson or is it Thomson and Thompson
The 3D was used well but again, not drastically enough. The best implementations were the particle effects that were unlike any other movie. They added a strong feeling of depth in their scenes that can’t be duplicated using 2D cameras. Even with the fast moving action scenes, the 3D didn’t get too crazy or give headaches so in the end it just made the visuals pop that much more. I would actually recommend watching this one in 3D because animated films do gain the most from the 3D technology. The score was very ominous and orchestral making it seem like you were watching something more epic than it actually was. It did create a great mood though and when the big action scenes took place, it was the perfect match.
Blistering Barnacles!
The biggest win for this production, however, was a chaotic sequence which never seemed to end. It was very reminiscent of the Indiana Jones days where everything fell into place and the characters had to pull off stunts just at the nick of time. Of course, this is a lot easier to accomplish when every movement is animated by a computer rather than a stunt double. In the end though, the action scene came out so well that it makes you want to watch the entire film again just to watch that portion. If it was on DVD or DVR, you would instantly rewind it back to see again. The whole movie is ok up until that point but then Tintin blasts into full force and dazzles you with the unbelievable. It was really fun and that alone made the movie enjoyable for me. If you’re ready for a big dose of action adventure, The Adventures of Tintin is an amusement ride in the form of a movie and you should probably watch it because the sequel is already in the works. Great Snakes!
Tags: Andy Serkis, Daniel Craig, Edgar Wright, Jamie Bell, Joe Cornish, Nick Frost, Peter Jackson, Simon Pegg, Steven Moffat, Steven Spielberg, The Adventures of Tintin, The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn, Weta Digital
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