tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12472234651262200432024-02-08T06:27:49.608-08:00Movie reviewsMovie reviews from an armchair buff on new, upcoming great, and recommended movies with film reviews you may also love.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger107125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247223465126220043.post-668907744087860492010-12-09T11:37:00.000-08:002010-12-09T12:25:15.834-08:00She's out of my league - Movie Reviews<a href="http://moviereviews.noskram.com/"><strong>Movie reviews</strong></a> this week looks at the romantic comedy <strong>She's out of my league</strong>, it stars the charming Jay Baruchel (Tropic Thunder) as Kirk, and the very beautiful and talented Alice Eve (Crossing Over <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">with a flawless American accent, just as she was with a flawless Australian accent in Crossing Over</span>, even though she is British) as Molly.<br /><br />The movie begins as Kirk and his best friends, Stainer played by T.J. Miller (Get Him to the Greek), Jack played by Mike Vogel (Miami Medical), and Devon played by Nate Torrence, are at an airport discussing Kirk's breakup with his girlfriend Marnie played by Lindsay Sloane (Entourage), <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">one of them mentions the only way to get her back is to date other people and let her know he is dating other people so she gets jealous</span>. They all work at the airport, with the four guys as Aviation Attendants. A drop dead gorgeous girl walks by, and captures the attention of everyone, including Kirk. She leaves her phone as she boards the plane, and when she phones her number via her friend's phone, to find out where her phone is, Kirk answers, she reminds him who she is, and of course Kirk hasn't forgotten her. She then tells him to meet her at a party she is organising (as she organises parties) so he can give her back the phone. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">On meeting her she tells him she has four tickets to a hockey game, and invites him as well as a friend</span>, when Kirk gets back to his friends and tells them about her, and that she has invited him to a game, they guess this is a date, and are all amazingly surprised if not a little jealous, to which Kirk is reluctant to <span style="font-weight: bold;">believe, claiming she is way out of his league</span>. Kirk's group of friends even go on an intellectual debate about guys dating girls that are out of their league, even comparing King Kong and Naomi Watts.<br /><br />Not only does Molly know a lot about Hockey but she even knows one of the star players, after the game Kirk invites Molly to meet his family (she asked and he couldn't refuse), where a hilarious scene occurs, as some of Kirk's family members are in a pool, and are shocked at the very pretty girl Kirk has brought with him, they ask her to join them in the pool, she says she would but she didn't bring a bathing suit, they mention underwear would be fine, <span style="font-weight: bold;">but she says yes it would be if she was wearing any</span>.<br /><br />Kirk somehow has to convince his friends and more importantly himself that maybe he is good enough for her, despite her ex, Cam played by Geoff Stults trying to win her back.<br /><br />Eventually it's turn for Kirk to meet Molly's parents Mr. and Mrs. McCleish, <span style="font-weight: bold;">who surprisingly are played by Alice's real life parents Trevor Eve and Sharon Maughan</span>, there is a hilarious sequence where Kirk refuses to shake Molly's father's hand due to an embarrassing incident, which Patty, Molly's best friend, played by the lovely Krysten Ritter (What Happens in Vegas), suggests she should dump him, as she is only dating him because she sees him as safe, and someone who won't break her heart.<br /><br />She's out of my league is a nice romantic comedy with superb acting from all sides, many will enjoy.<br /><br /><img src="http://i56.tinypic.com/14lhdgh.jpg" alt="The lovely couple Kirk (Jay Baruchel) and Molly (Alice Eve)" border="0" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247223465126220043.post-78233464747602050492010-12-04T05:43:00.000-08:002010-12-04T06:38:07.580-08:00Red Movie - Movie Reviews<a href="http://moviereviews.noskram.com/"><strong>Movie reviews</strong></a> this week looks at <strong>Red the movie</strong>. A crime and action thriller with an all star cast starring Bruce Willis (the Sixth Sense) as Frank Moses, the very dependable Morgan Freeman (The Shawshank Redemption) as Joe Matheson, Helen Mirren (The Queen) as Victoria, Mary-Louise Parker (with the same funny charm in Weeds, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">something about her eyes reminds me of a deer caught in headlights</span>) as Sarah Ross, and Richard Dreyfuss ( many had to do a double take for his uncanny portrayal of Senator Cheney in W) as Alexander Dunning.<br /><br />The movie initialises with Frank talking to a Pensions Adviser (Sarah), <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">we sense from their conversations, that the two like talking to each other</span>, Frank mentions about an avocado plant that has two leaves, to which Sarah sounds elated at, we presume that this is a long distance romance that has been going on for some time, albeit via phone calls only. The two talk about a book that they have been reading, we are not quite sure who recommended the book to each other, and we see them later tuck themselves into bed, reading the same book.<br /><br />A little later in the night, Frank is attacked by a SWAT (Special Weapons And Tactics) team,<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"> we are not quite sure, if this is a dream, as Frank dispatches them with relative ease</span>, but when we next see him in Sarah's apartment telling her that she is in danger because she spoke to him, and that from their conversations it is obvious that he likes her, we realise this is real, and we also realise that this is the first time, Frank and Sarah have met, as Frank says this is not how he pictured their first meeting would be like, to which Sarah replies, "<span style="font-weight: bold;">I always pictured you with hair...now none of our dreams have come true</span>".<br /><br />It turns out Frank is a retired CIA agent, and one of their bests, responsible for toppling governments, and code named RED (<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Retired Extremely Dangerous</span>). Frank had taken part in a rescue mission in Guatemala, and for some reason all the people associated with that mission are being executed, a journalist who discovered this, and the list of the names of the people involved in the Guatemalan incident, is herself executed, when Frank and Sarah find the list of names, it is no surprise that Frank's name is on the list.<br /><br />Frank visits his old friend Joe to find out if he knows who could be behind it, Joe is a in a hospital battling cancer. They gather up some of their old comrades, with an eccentric Marvin Boggs played by the dependable John Malkovich (Con Air), and Ivan Simanov played by the stalwart Brian Cox (X Men 2). Frank visits him in his Russian Embassy stronghold, and the two get into a nostalgic chat about the good old days of the Cold War, there is a hilarious conversation where Ivan asks about a cousin he believes Frank killed, to which Frank says he didn't kill him, but flipped him (i.e. turned him to the CIA's side), <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">and that he now weighs 500 pounds</span>. Matters are made complicated as a young CIA operative William Cooper played by Karl Urban (His performance as Bones in Star Trek is simply phenomenal, had Bones' mannerisms right down to a t) <span style="font-weight: bold;">has been ordered to eliminate Moses</span>.<br /><br /><a href="http://moviereviews.noskram.com/">Red the movie</a> is a great action thriller, with plenty of romantic comedy thrown in the mix, and one many will enjoy, especially with the great cast involved, and a cameo by the much loved Ernest Borgnine as Henry, the Records Keeper.<br /><br /><a href="http://moviereviews.noskram.com/">Movie Reviews</a> is constantly updated with great reviews of good movies you don't want to miss<br /><br /><img src="http://i54.tinypic.com/rkx6xi.jpg" alt="Frank Moses (Bruce Willis) with Sarah Ross (Mary-Louise Parker) visiting Marvin Boggs (John Malkovich)" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247223465126220043.post-64683498121556214342010-12-01T04:41:00.000-08:002010-12-01T05:18:48.346-08:00Takers the Movie - Movie Reviews<a href="http://moviereviews.noskram.com/"><strong>Movie reviews</strong></a> this seek looks at the crime thriller <strong>Takers</strong>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">with an all star cast</span> starring Paul Walker (The Fast and the Furious) as John Rahway, the stalwart Idris Elba (Rock N Rolla) as Gordon Cozier, Michael Ealy (The Good Wife) as Jake Attica, Hayden Christiansen (Star Wars: The Phantom Menace) as A.J., Matt Dillion (Traffic) as Jack Welles, and an impressive performance by Chris Brown as Jesse Attica.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">We meet the cast in the middle of a bank job</span>, that goes as smooth as they planned, leaving no trace as to their identities or who could have done the job, and they even have the courtesy to wave at the security camera (masked of course) and offer a signature salute. It is left to two cops Jack Welles and Eddie Hatcher played by Jay Hernandez (The Rookie) to figure out who carried out the robbery, with basically nothing else to go on except the heights of the culprits, and their gestures to the camera.<br /><br />As with great movies we are made to sympathise with the characters early on, as we get to know a little bit about their personal struggles, especially for Cozier, as he tries to look after his sister Naomi played by Marianne Jean-Baptiste (28 Days), fresh from rehab; amidst the job they are planning, a job that they unexpectedly have been asked to do, by one of their associates, no one in the group quite trusts, Dalonte Rivers, played very convincingly by T.I., who tells them of an opportunity he learnt of while in jail, with several millions to them to obtain, if it goes smoothly.<br /><br />The background to this distrust for Rivers, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">is five years ago he was caught and the time he has just spent in prison was as a direct result of the joint job he had with them</span>, Rhaway assures him his takings from that job are in a savings account, and still good for collection, which Crozier and the others reckon, this is the only reason why he did not give them up.<br /><br />We also get to see a little bit of the problems faced by the police force as they deal with some of the criminals, Welles as he tries to make time for his daughter, and deal with the case at hand, <span style="font-weight: bold;">while Hatcher tries to explain to Welles his priorities are a little squinted</span>.<br /><br />Romantic interest for Jake is provided by the gorgeousJoe Saldana (forever in our minds as Neferti from Avatar) playing Lilly, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">this proves a little contested issue, as she was Dalonte's love interest before he went to prison</span>, and has his sights on taking her back. There is a scene where Jake and Dalonte have a little confrontation in front of Lilly as Dalonte tries to reassert that she still has feelings for him in front of Lilly.<br /><br />The acting in Takers is top notch and you will be on the edge of your seat to find out how it all onfolds.<br /><br /><img src="http://i51.tinypic.com/35himfb.jpg" alt="The cast from top left: Jesse Attica (Chris Brown), Gordon Cozier (idris Elba), Jake Attica (Michael Ealy), bottom left: John Rahway (Paul Walker), A.J. (Hayden Christiansen), and Dalores Rivers (T.I.)" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247223465126220043.post-64221840999216379372010-09-03T23:03:00.000-07:002010-09-04T00:07:10.946-07:00Movie Reviews - The Expendables<a href="http://moviereviews.noskram.com/"><strong>Movie Reviews</strong></a> this week looks at the all action drama The Expendables.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">The Expendables is billed as the greatest action stars ever assembled in one movie</span>, and you can see why. Fans have been pinching themselves from the expendables movie trailers alone, with Sylvester Stallone (Rocky, Rambo), Dolph <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Lundgren</span> (Universal Soldier), Jet Li (Hero), Arnold <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Schwarzeneggar</span> (Terminator), Bruce Willis (Die Hard), Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler), Jason <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Statham</span> (Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels) not to mention Terry Crews (Everybody Hates Chris) and Randy Couture (Red Belt), a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">MMF</span> (Mixed Martial Arts) superstar in his own right, this is a feast for action fans of the last 20 years.<br /><br />The movie begins with a group of Americans being held hostage and it is up to our heroes to put an end to it, the inevitable shoot out goes in favour of our heroes, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">except that Gunner Jensen played by Dolph </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Lundgren</span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> is a little too eager to hang one of the pirates</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Ying</span> Yang played by Jet Li attempts to stop him, but it takes Barney Ross played by Stallone to place a gun to his head to make him stop. This sets the stage for Jensen being the loose canon of the group.<br /><br />The main plot of the movie is that a rogue CIA operative James Munroe played by Eric Robers, is distributing drugs via Bolivia into the U.S. after getting a certain General Garza played by David <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Zayas</span> (Dexter) to do his bidding. One of the CIA heads Mr. Church played by Bruce Willis has hired Ross to get rid of him, albeit off the books, he also sent the same mission to Trench played by Arnold <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Schwarzeneggar</span>, and the two superstars play on their well known off-screen feud, as Trench walks away after declining the mission Church asks Ross what his problem his, to which Ross replies sarcastically "<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">He wants to be president</span>". Ross agrees with his band of men to take the mission, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">and he must now convince his men to also accept the mission regardless of the danger</span>.<br /><br />Ross and Lee Christmas played by Jason <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Statham</span> go on an initial exploration to Bolivia, <span style="font-weight: bold;">pretending to be wild life naturalists</span>, they meet their contact Sandra played by the gorgeous Giselle <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">ItiƩ</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">who happens to be the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">general's</span> daughter</span>, and inevitably the soldiers arrive for an encounter (<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Stallone mentioned he was injured during this fight scene and you can see why</span>), as always the action scenes are brutal, and fans of Jason <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Statham's</span> movies won't be disappointed.<br /><br />Ross and Christmas escape via the plane they brought in, but Sandra is taken hostage, and Munroe intends to find out from her who were these men that killed most of his men, and why she has gone against him. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Despite the fact that she is the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">general's</span> daughter the signs are looking ominous for her</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">unless Ross and his gang are willing to return to Bolivia, rescue her and put and end to Munroe's drugs campaign</span>.<br /><br />The Expendables as all action movies go is a treat for the fans, not so much for the plot <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">mainly because of the assembly of casts many wouldn't think their demands or egos would allow them to share the screen with their contemporaries</span>. Much of the melancholy of their lifestyle is envisaged by the stalwart Mickey Rourke who plays Tool, a tattoo artist and former member of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Ross's</span> gang, who has a lifetime of regret for some of the things he had to do. Already there is talk of a sequel, with Stallone asking fans what they would like to see in it.<br /><br /><a href="http://moviereviews.noskram.com/"><strong>Movie Reviews</strong></a> is constantly updated with great reviews of good movies that are a must see.<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://i53.tinypic.com/1zznktw.jpg" alt="some of the stars of The Expendables from images of their well known films Barney Ross (Sylvester Stallone), Lee Christmas (Jason Statham), Ying Yang (Jet Li), Gunner Jensen (Dolph Lundgren)" border="0">Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247223465126220043.post-67046138309941768972010-07-04T10:27:00.000-07:002010-07-04T11:52:46.773-07:00Movie Reviews - Bass Ackwards<a href="http://moviereviews.noskram.com/"><strong>Movie reviews</strong></a> this week looks at the charming road trip movie Bass Ackwards.<br />It stars Linas Philips as Linas ( <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">you realise a movie might be a tad biographical if the lead actor has his real first name</span>), it also stars John and Gema Philips, Linas's real life parents as themselves.<br /><br />We meet Linas as he videos a wedding, speaking and video the people at the wedding, <span style="font-weight: bold;">alternated with flash backs of when Linas was a kid, and his affectionate and adorable family</span>.<br /><br />Linas is currently staying at a friend's place, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">but inevitably his friend and girlfriend would like some privacy, so Linas moves out, and starts working at a Alpaca Llama farm</span>, run by a wonderful Alpaca farmer played by Bill Green, who has a classic 1976 converted Volkswagen mini, Linas falls in love with the moment he sees it; <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">that is a source of constant amusement throughout the movie, especially when Linas tries to get people to pass by him as it is way too slow</span>.<br /><br />He decides to go on a road trip, to New York and visit his parents, using the classic mini, and asks his on-off girl friend Georgia played by the gorgeous Davie-Blue if she would like to come along. <span style="font-weight: bold;">It turns out Georgia is not quite sure if she wants to continue a relationship with Linas</span>. There is an amusing scene, where Linas phones up Georgia and asks her to come over, whilst she is at home with her current boyfriend, she makes an excuse and meets up with Linas, unbeknownst to her, her current boyfriend follows her, he sees her coming out of Linas's flat, and when she leaves, attacks Linas without a word being said.<br /><br />Linas seems to be a very friendly individual, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">and even offers space on his car for someone to sleep in, Jim played by Jim Fletcher, who just happens to knock on his window whilst he is asleep and asks if he can come in</span> (it would be pretty rare for anyone to do this), and throughout the movie Linas exemplifies himself as someone willing to help anyone regardless of his own circumstance, as an example, a young boy steals a toy in a shop and runs off, but the shop keeper spots him, and he is about to call the police in front of his alarmed mother, when Linas steps in and says he was just about to pay for it, he duly pays for it, and saves the boy and his mother a lot of trouble.<br /><br />Linas and Jim continue their road trip together, with Jim going to New York in order to spend time with his daughter, as it is his turn for his daughter to stay with him, as is the agreement with him and his ex-wife. At first you wonder if Linas has made a terrible mistake, giving a lift to someone who seems anxious at best, and says he has hardly had any sleep in the last few days; if this is heading towards a disaster Linas is going to regret.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Bass Ackwards is a charming movie, and once the end credits are shown you realise it was a family endeavour</span>.<br /><br /><a href="http://moviereviews.noskram.com/"><strong>Movie reviews</strong></a> is filled with great reviews of feel good movies like these.<br /><br /><img src="http://i48.tinypic.com/2easacn.jpg" alt="Linas with the classic Volkswagen Mini the inspiration for the name of the movie and you can see why" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247223465126220043.post-44406371608093592082010-06-23T02:10:00.000-07:002010-06-25T00:31:17.377-07:00Movie Reviews - Wonderful World<a href="http://moviereviews.noskram.com/"><strong>Movie Reviews</strong></a> this week looks at the romantic drama Wonderful World. <span style="font-weight: bold;">This is a unique look at the often repeated love tale</span>. It stars Matthew Broderick (Godzilla), as Ben Singer, a Proofreader at a big firm, who is a little disillusioned at how his life is turning out so far.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">He used to be a children's entertainment singer</span>, who released an album, that is now forgotten folklore, but now he is a Copywriter, which has left him a little empty, he is also divorced, and in his regular meetings with his daughter, Sandra played by the lovely Jodelle Ferland (The Messengers) for their regular get together, you realise he is out of touch with her too.<br /><br />There is some escape and companionship for Ben, <span style="font-weight: bold;">in the form of his mesmerising flatmate</span> from Senegal, Ibu, played by Michael Kenneth Williams (The Philanthropist), through their regular fights at chess (which Ibu always win), we find out that Ibu is much more interested in helping Ben find romance, even offering to be his wing man.<br /><br />Matters come to a dramatic turn of events, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">when Ibu, who is diabetic, collapses, while Ben tries desperately to get him to the hospital</span>, only to find that his car has been towed, it turns out an angry neighbour had Ben's car towed away as he felt it blocked his access to the road.<br /><br />Although they arrive at the hospital, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Ibu slips into a diabetic coma</span>, Ben is asked if Ibu has any next of kin, Ben recalls he often talks about his sister, Khadi played by the gorgeous Sanaa Lathan (Alien Vs. Predator, with an equally impressive African accent), so Ben sends her a message that her brother is not well. She comes to America, and she is just as charming and full of sincerity as Ibu. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Ben inevitably falls for her</span>, there is a comical scene where Khadi does a custom to contact her ancestors to help Ibu get better, after doing some of the rituals, Khadi suggests they close their eyes, Ben assumes she wants a kiss, only to be fended off that the ritual is not complete, and they must leave the room.<br /><br /><a href="http://moviereviews.noskram.com/"><strong>Wonderful World</strong></a> is a love story with a modern day audience in mind, with its theme appreciating the diversity of humanity.<br /><br /><a href="http://moviereviews.noskram.com/"><strong>Movie Reviews</strong></a> is constantly updated with great reviews of good films recommended to view.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247223465126220043.post-10033608500876205392010-06-21T09:10:00.000-07:002010-06-21T09:32:05.789-07:00Movie Reviews - The Hurt Locker<strong>Movie Reviews</strong> this week looks at the Oscar-winning, hard-hitting Iraq war drama The Hurt Locker.<br /><br />It stars Jeremy Renner (28 weeks later) as Sergeant First Class William James, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) bomb disposal expert</span>, who has been sent into Bravo Company, at Camp Victory. We join the movie as Staff Sergeant Matt Thompson played by Guy Pearce (Memento) along with Sergeant JT Sanborn played by Anthony Mackie (Half Nelson), and Specialist Owen Eldrigde played by Brian Geraghty (Bobby), <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">are attempting to disarm an IED, that has been put there to kill and maim as many civilian and military personnel as possible</span>, Thompson is the bomb expert while the other two soldiers are to watch for any problems, i.e. anyone interfering and to keep the people relatively safe.<br /><br />Unfortunately things do not go as planned, and James soon joins Bravo Company. However his innovative or carefree (as his fellow soldiers regard it) <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">methods at bomb disarming don't go too well with Sanborn and Elridge</span>, there is a memorable scene where Elridge tells one of his commanding officers, after he asks how he is doing, he says that <span style="font-weight: bold;">his team leader is inspired, and mentions sarcastically that his team leader is going to get him killed</span>, the commanding officer, mentions that he shouldn't be having these kinds of thoughts, that war is a one in a lifetime opportunity, as Elridge looks distantly, the audience cannot help wondering at the indirect sarcasm in that statement, as Elridge tells asks him if he knows what it is he and the other men do every day, his commanding officer states that he has had his time on the field, to which Elridge sarcastically asks "<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Where was that...Yale</span>"?<br /><br />Matters come to a heated exchange when James attempting to disarm a bomb, that is extremely complicated, removes his bomb suit, so as to get comfortable, as he puts it "<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">If I am going to die today I might as well die comfy</span>", even going as far as to throw away his radio as Sanborn constantly tells him that there are "too many eyes" watching them and they have to move.<br /><br />We get a little glimpse at the difficult problems facing the military in Iraq, <span style="font-weight: bold;">attempting to liaison with the local population</span> (there is a charming boy who sells DVDs that has made friends with some of the soldiers; nicknamed Becks; who James gets friendly with over a game of soccer, and the ice is broken over his namesake, Beckham, but the boy states he is much better than Beckham), <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">often meeting language barriers</span>, and at the same time not trying to seem dictatorial, but requiring them to keep at a safe distance while they try and do their job.<br /><br />The acting in the Hurt Locker is top-notch all the way, and the movie is shot almost documentary style, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">with close-ups of the soldiers and the mass of emotions they go through during many tense moments</span>. You can see why this is the first movie to have a woman, Kathryn Bigelow winning the Best Director Oscar.<br /><br /><strong>Movie Reviews</strong> is constantly updated with good reviews of great movies that are a must see.<br /><br /><img src="http://i45.tinypic.com/ehc36g.jpg" alt="Seargeant First Class William James (Jeremy Renner) in his bomb suit" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247223465126220043.post-91249770590872984212010-04-20T07:43:00.000-07:002010-04-20T08:14:26.039-07:00Movie Reviews - Black and Blue<strong>Movie Reviews</strong> this week looks at the beautiful drama <strong>Black and Blue</strong>.<br /><br />It tells the story of Amber, a teen having troubles at home with her mother, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">a meth addict, and her mother's boyfriend a violent drunk</span>. We meet Amber at a music class, where she seem oblivious to the class, amidst the troubles she is having at home.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Soon afterwards she finds her mother unconscious from taking meth</span>, and while her mother is recuperating in hospital, she is sent to stay with one of her relatives, <span style="font-weight: bold;">but not before her teacher says goodbye to her with the gift of a lovely 1930's classic guitar</span>. It turns out the life her relative leads is no different from the life Amber was having with her mother, and in the middle of the night she takes her sole belonging, t<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">he 1930's guitar and runs away</span>.<br /><br />Living on the streets Amber faces some of the dangers prevalent for anyone just made homeless, <span style="font-weight: bold;">from the homeless people adamant she doesn't take any of their sleeping spaces</span>, to <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">the dangers often faced by single teens on the streets</span>, fortunately for her she is protected from a terrible attack from some homeless vagrants, by a couple of street musicians she saw early on in the day, one of them notices her guitar and asks her if she can play, she says she can't and walks away. As fate would have it <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">she soon befriends the street singers that helped her and their lead singer</span>, namely Ryan played by Dennis Denicola, Teresa the lead singer of the group, played by another beautiful singer Carolina Hoyos, and Marco, played by Daniel Galo, Teresa notices the guitar she is carrying and asks her to play, she mentions she doesn't really know how to play it, but Teresa insists that this is the condition if she wants to hang around with them; she must play, and as if on cue, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">she plays a beautiful melody and sings too, to the amazement of all, and no doubt the audience too</span>. Amber is played by the gorgeous and very talented Christine Evans (<span style="font-weight: bold;">she has one of those dreamy voices, that is reminiscent of Alanis Morisette</span>).<br /><br />Amber befriends a local blues singer Billy, played magnificently by Zach Harmon, who she first meets wanting to sell the 1930's classic guitar to him to raise some money, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Billy asks why on earth anybody would want to sell such a beautiful instrument</span>, he fixes the loose strings on the guitar and plays a lovely song, and soon afterwards Amber asks him to teach her, which he is only too happy to do, it turns out Amber is looking for that father figure she has missed all her life, and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Billy sees her as someone who needs guidance</span>, which he is very happy to give.<br /><br /><strong>Black and Blue</strong> is a beautiful tale of hope when all seems lost, both for Amber and her newly found companions. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">The songs and guitar melodies in Black and Blue are what makes this movie enchanting, and Christine Evans is a very talented singer and guitarist</span>.<br /><br /><strong>Movie Reviews</strong> is constantly updated with good <strong>reviews</strong> of great <strong>movies</strong> that are a must see.<br /><br /><img src="http://i43.tinypic.com/voqt09.jpg" alt="The street musicians, from left Teresa (Carolina Hoyos), Amber (Christine Evans), Ryan (Dennis Denicola) and Marco (Daniel Galo)" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247223465126220043.post-13843868820494052112010-04-15T04:43:00.000-07:002010-04-15T05:17:35.716-07:00Movie Reviews - War Eagle Arkansas<strong>Movie reviews</strong> this week looks at the biographical drama <strong>War Eagle Arkansas</strong>.<br /><br />This is a fairly recent biographical tale made for the big screen, <span style="font-weight: bold;">that tells the story of two boys living in a rural community</span>, War Eagle, Arkansas. The title might elude to it being a war story but it is far from it.<br /><br />It is a story of a charming disabled boy known affectionately as "Wheels" <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">played brilliantly by Dan McCabe</span> (The Cake Eaters), and his best friend Enoch who has a speech impediment (<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">played impressively well by Luke Grimes</span> [Ryan in Brothers and Sisters]). Enoch lives with his grandfather better known as "Pop", played by the stalwart Brian Dennehy (Gladiator).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Pop is trying to get Enoch a baseball scholarship into one of the best sporting universities around their area</span>, and it soon becomes obvious to the audience that Pop seems to have regretted giving up his dreams of being a major baseball star and staying in War Eagle, and he doesn't want that for Enoch, <span style="font-weight: bold;">but you are not quite sure if Enoch dreams are to leave War Eagle</span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">The friendship of the two boys is so close, that at the first few scenes you automatically assume that they are siblings</span>, spending as much time in each other's company as possible, and Enoch even gets to say the last word to Wheels, after his mother Jessie played by the ever brilliant Mary Kay Place (Adalene Grant in Big Love) gets him ready for bed.<br /><br />Pop is in charge of the local baseball team, and in his attempt to get Enoch a baseball scholarship, pushes him as best as he can, <span style="font-weight: bold;">as he sees it there is nothing in this town, to keep him there</span>. Apart from baseball, there is an allusion to watching wrestling on TV, and one can't miss the obvious focus on Jerry "The King" Lawler, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">and can see the symbolism he represents as someone who made it out of war Eagle, Arkansas</span>. There is the usual romantic interest as Enoch has the hots for a lovely girl, Abby <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">played by the surprisingly young looking</span> Misti Traya, and there are a few embarrassing moments for Enoch as he summons the courage to ask Abby out, but of course his speech impediment gets in the way, <span style="font-weight: bold;">unless Wheels is by his side to speak for him</span>, and in one painful scene, where Enoch tries to do it alone without Wheels, he leaves in a rush, as the words cannot come out <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-weight: bold;">and a few of Abby's friends can't help but giggle at his attempt</span>. When he does eventually ask her out, the audience will feel the loneliness and pain Wheels feels, on a life he aspires for but is not realistic of seeing come true.<br /><br /><strong>War Eagle Arkansas</strong>, is an endearing <strong>movie</strong> of two boys, and their friendship as they decide what path their lives are going to take, and they seek advice from the sole preacher at this close knit community, Jack played by James McDaniel (Lt. Arthur Fancy in NYPD Blue).<br /><br /><strong>Movie Reviews</strong> is constantly updated with good reviews of great <strong>movies</strong> that are a must see.<br /><br /><img src="http://i41.tinypic.com/2hzmkk4.jpg" alt="Enoch (Luke Grimes), with his friend Wheels (Dan McCabe)" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247223465126220043.post-63720166690418226672010-04-11T02:14:00.000-07:002010-04-11T04:03:49.893-07:00Movie Reviews - The Slammin' Salmon<strong>Movie Reviews</strong> this week looks at the comedy <strong>The Slammin' Salmon</strong>. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><br /><strong>The Slammin' Salmon</strong> is one of the most craziest comedy movies you will see all year</span>, absolutely hilarious from beginning to end.<br /><br />It stars Michael Duncan Clarke (The Big Mile) as Cleon "Slammin'" Salmon also known as "The Champ", a retired former heavy weight boxing champion, who has opened a restaurant The Slamming Salmond, <span style="font-weight: bold;">where customers are waited on by a very competitive crew of waiters</span>.<br /><br />The fun begins when Cleon tells the restaurant's manager Rich Ferrente played by Kevin Heffernan (Beerfest), that he owes 20,000 dollars to a Yakuza friend, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">and Rich must make 20,000 dollars tonight from the restaurant's takings or he will be in for a rollicking</span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Rich in his panic conveys to the staff that there will be a prize for the waiter that generates the most cash that night</span>, and competition begins amongst the waiters, Nuts played by the hilarious Jay Chandrasekhar (Beerfest, The Dukes of Hazzard), <span style="font-weight: bold;">who normally takes his medication or else he turns into his alter-ego Zongo</span> (<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">and you just know somehow he is going to forget to take his medication</span>), there is an absolute classic scene, where Nuts/Zongo is trying to serve a salmon to one of the customers, but in his mind all the customers at that particular table are cats, he thinks he is lovingly holding the salmon while the cats all feed on it, while he asks "what does it taste like"? <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">But in reality he is forcefully shoving the salmond down the throat of an unfortunate customer</span>.<br /><br />One of the waiters Connor played by Steve Lemme (Beerfest), used to be the main lead on a TV show CFI Hot Lanta (an obvious parody of CSI: Las Vegas and its spin offs), but he lost his job, and embarrassingly has to go back to waiting tables at The Slamming Salmond, <span style="font-weight: bold;">but ofcourse his colleagues especially Guy</span> played by Erik Stolhanske (Beerfest), can't wait for tidbits on others stars in the show, such as Morgan Fairchild who makes a guest appearance as herself.<br /><br />Mia played by the gorgeous April Bowlby (Two and a half men), is in ballerina school, and aims to win the prize as the waiter able to bring in the most cash, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">but she is about to get involved in an accident that might ruin her chances entirely</span>. The chef Dave played by Paul Soter (Beerfest), has got his socially awkward twin brother Donnie (also played by Paul Soter) a job as a waiter, and he is also thrust into the competition, but is soon corrupted by Connor, who equally has eyes on the prize, as well as Tara, played by the gorgeous Cobie Smulders (The L Word), a medical student, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">who along with trying to fight for the prize, has to prevent Nuts from turning into Zongo, by making sure he takes his medication</span>.<br /><br /><strong>The Slammin' Salmond</strong> has superb acting, with all the cast in the <strong>movie</strong> having excellent comedy timing especially Michael Duncan Clarke as the ominous boss, and the <strong>movie</strong> has great cameos, notably from Sendhil Ramamurty (Dr. Suresh in Heroes) as Marlon Spencer who has brought his girlfriend Samara Dubois played by the gorgeous Oliva Munn; to propose to her, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">but is about to get into a spot of bother with the engagement ring</span>.<br /><br /><img src="http://i42.tinypic.com/30usajc.jpg" alt="The hlarious cast of Slammin' Salmon from left: Nuts (Jay Chandrasekhar), Guy (Erik Stolhanske), Mia (April Bowlby), Donnie also as Dave (Paul Soter), Tara (Cobie Smulders),Connor (Steve Lemme), Cleon (Michael Duncan Clarke), and Rich Ferrente (Kevin Heffernam) " />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247223465126220043.post-84439148844329329352010-04-09T00:37:00.000-07:002010-04-09T00:55:32.127-07:00Movie Reviews - Uncertainty<strong>Movie reviews</strong> this week looks at the thriller <strong>Uncertainty</strong>.<br /><br />It stars the gorgeous Lynn Collins (X-Men Origins: Wolverine) as Kate and Joseph Gordon-Levitt (3rd Rock from the Sun) as Bobby, two young couple, going about their normal day who <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">decide on the toss of a coin whether to spend 4th of July at the home of one of their parents or together</span>, the <strong>movie</strong> follows them as they spend it together, when they happen to find a mobile phone at the back of a taxi, against suggestions from Kate to hand the phone over to the driver of the taxi, Bobby refuses, and tries to be the good Samaritan, by calling random numbers on the phone, telling them he happens to have found the phone at the back of a taxi <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">giving his name and personal mobile number, as well as his address, to contact him so he can return the phone.</span><br /><br />Soon afterwards someone calls saying they will arrange to pick up the phone from Bobby's location, and that they will be identified in a red shirt, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">while Bobby says they can identify him as he is wearing a yellow shirt</span>.<br /><br />It turns out that some shady characters are dead set on getting the phone, and much to Kate, and Bobby's horror, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">the fellow who came in the red shirt is shot in broad day light</span>, while someone else phones Bobby on the same phone telling them his name is <span style="font-weight: bold;">Dmitri claiming that the phone is his and he wants it back</span>.<br /><br />The young couple flee for their lives, as the assassin scans around looking for who the man in the red shirt came to meet. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The first instinct of the couple is to rush over to the nearest police station and report what has happened</span>, and to mention that it has something to do with the phone they found at the back of a taxi. Whilst at the police station they begin searching on the Internet with the names the know in connection with the phone so far, and happen to come upon some information that the <span style="font-weight: bold;">phone might contain some financial figures to do with the lottery</span>, and it could be worth several millions in the right hands.<br /><br />The couple begin to wonder what on earth is so vitally important on the phone that someone is prepared to kill for it, and they decide to send a text message to Dmitri (switching on the phone for a short time as they are worried they may be some kind of trace on it) with an anonymous email account to email them on (so they can check it publicly), w<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">here they ask for $500,000 to give back the phone</span>.<br /><br />At first the man calling himself Dmitri, refuses stating this is his phone, and threatening them, Bobby calmly tells Kate he will pay, while Kate says it doesn't look as if he is prepared to pay, however the last email sent from Dmitri says he will pay, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">and the young couple set about trying to find a safe location for them to meet</span>.<br /><br />What sets this <strong>movie</strong> apart is that it follows two different alternate scenarios, which the viewer sees simultaneously, instead of Kate and Bobby happening to find the phone at the back of a taxi, they alternate scenario is that they visit Kate's parents home to celebrate the 4th of July, where Kate's mother Sylvia played by Assumpta Serna (Henry the VIII) is trying to talk some sense into Kate's sister Sophie played by the gorgeous Olivia Thirlby (Juno), <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">and Bobby tries to impress Kate's mother, father and very close knit family</span>, amidst some interesting news the couple haven't yet found the strength to let Kate's parents know about.<br /><br /><strong>Uncertainty</strong> is a very interesting movie of cat and mouse, with superb and energetic performances from the brilliant cast.<br /><strong>Movie Reviews</strong> is constantly updated with great reviews of good movies that are a must see.<br /><br /><img src="http://i43.tinypic.com/1085z6t.jpg" alt="Lynn Collins (Kate) and Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Bobby) about to toss a coin" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247223465126220043.post-71204051274381203042010-03-11T07:07:00.000-08:002010-03-11T07:33:51.083-08:00Movie Reviews - The Blind Side<strong>Movie Reviews</strong> this week looks <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">at the Oscar winning biographical drama</span> <strong>The Blind Side</strong>.<br />It is an absolutely charming story, of Leigh Anne Tuohy played by the lovely Sandra Bullock (Speed), and the story of her adopted son, and you can see immediately why she won the best actress Oscar.<br /><br />She plays <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">a conservative mother in a very nice and well-off neighbourhood</span>, who sees Michael Oher played very convincingly by Quinton Aaron, <span style="font-weight: bold;">one rainy night walking aimlessly</span>, she asks her husband Sean played by Tim McGraw (Four Christmases), to stop the car, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">she asks him where he is heading seeing he is just in a t-shirt in the pouring rain</span>, he says he is going to the gym, she asks him again why he is going to the gym, and tells him the gym closed a while back, and for him not to lie to her, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">he says he is simply going there because it is warm</span>.<br /><br />Prior to this, we are told the story of how Mike got into the school in the first place. The coach at this Christian school, Burt Cotton played charmingly as always by Ray McKinnon (Randy and the Mob) had been approached by a fellow to allow his son into the school, as well as Mike, the coach sees Mike and the man's son playing basketball <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">and sees the potential of Mike making them famous on a sporting arena</span>, so convinces the board that <span style="font-weight: bold;">it is their Christian duty to let him in</span>. However in class Mike seems distant minded, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">and all the teachers are worried as he seems the slowest in the class</span>, except for one particular teacher Mrs. Bower played the lovely Kim Dickens (Hollow Man) <span style="font-weight: bold;">who notices Mike remembers the majority of what the teachers are saying, as he is able to describe in his own words the grasp of what it is they are saying, but may not necessarily write it down as eloquently as they wanted</span>. As all the teachers are discussing Mike's ability one day, wondering if he can write, Mrs. Bower shows them a note that Mike had written that had been thrown in the trash, speaking of his sadness and what the teachers expect of him, <span style="font-weight: bold;">to do all the work alone</span>.<br /><br />Leigh asks where he lives, his parents, or grandparents, Mike shakes his head nonchalantly, and Leigh amazingly takes him to her home, with a mild confrontation with her husband as to how long Mike is going to stay, he asks "<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">This is just for the one night</span>"? Where Leigh nods absentmindedly, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">but the expression on her face is already thinking of much longer term</span>.<br /><br />Mike gets along with Leigh's two children, her son S.J. played <span style="font-weight: bold;">very impressively</span> by Jae Head, and her daughter Collins played by the adorable Lily Collins, Leigh <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">asks her how she would feel if Mike moved in with them permanently, she nonchalantly agrees</span>, and when Mike is asked how he would feel moving having Leigh and Sean as his legal guardians, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">he smiles and thought he was already part of the family</span>.<br /><br /><strong>The Blind Side</strong> turns out is a very beautiful <strong>movie</strong>, of acceptance and love that a young man needs, and the struggle one woman faces with social services, her social circles, and the community i<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">n trying to make one boy's life better</span>, and what makes this <strong>movie</strong> even more amazing is this is a true story.<br /><br /><strong>Movie Reviews</strong> is constantly updated with good <strong>reviews</strong> of great <strong>movies</strong> that are a must see.<br /><br /><img src="http://i39.tinypic.com/11tvits.jpg" alt="Leigh Anne Tuohy (Sandra Bullock) sitting with her adopted son, Mike (Quinon Aaron)" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247223465126220043.post-21777416706490883552010-03-07T04:12:00.000-08:002010-03-07T04:45:09.771-08:00Movie Reviews - An Education<strong>Movie Reviews</strong> this week looks at the <span style="font-weight: bold;">charming biographical drama</span> <strong>An Education</strong>.<br />It stars the lovely Carey Mulligan (Bleak House) as Jenny, a very bright sixth former, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">on her way to studying English at Oxford</span>, currently studying her A levels during 1961.<br />She is pushed by her well meaning father Jack, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">played with a great deal of melancholy</span> by Alfred Molina (Dr. Octavius in Spider-man 2), and her supportive mother Marjorie, played by Cara Seymour (Hotel Rwanda), <span style="font-weight: bold;">you can tell immediately from his demeanor that this is a little biographical if not the entire <strong>movie</strong></span>, there is a scene that gives an idea of how far things have changed where Jenny's boyfriend drives up to a black family waiting on the pavement playfully picks up one of the kids and takes them into an apartment, on returning Jenny asks how he knows those "<span style="font-weight: bold;">Negroes</span>"?.<br /><br />As Jenny goes home one day after a cello lesson, a mysterious stranger David played by Peter Saarsgard (Jarhead), offers her a lift, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">well in fact he offers her cello a lift</span>, saying he is worried such a lovely instrument would be damaged in the rain, and he wouldn't want her to jump in the car with a complete stranger, so she can walk while he drives. As a flirtatious teenager surprised at the attention she agrees, <span style="font-weight: bold;">and after a short while walking and talking she enters the car and is dropped promptly at her front door</span>.<br /><br />He is charming enough, and soon he starts to stop outside of her school, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">and the inevitable romance commences</span>, at first viewers may be a little perturbed why an older man would want to date a young school girl, but after sometime you do realise David does genuinely care for her. Surprisingly seeing he so well cultured, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Jenny's father agrees to the liaison</span>, then of course it is 1961, and he sees his daughter's options are either excelling academically and going to Oxford, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">or meeting a very wealthy and cultured individual</span>, and being looked after, as he puts it "<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">He wouldn't want you if you were thick</span>".<br /><br />David somehow manages to convince Jack to allow him to take his daughter on weekend trips, along with his friend Danny played by Dominic Cooper (The History Boys), and his girlfriend Helen played the gorgeous Rosamund Pike (Surrogates, <span style="font-weight: bold;">there is a sarcastic scene where all four of them are in Oxford, and Danny mentions the dread of having to suffer for three years here, where Helen agrees, when in actuality Rosamund Pike did go to Oxford</span>), and even to Paris.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Jenny after sometime sees the rigmarole of going to school and studying hard only to find a boring job and be in it for the rest of her life</span>, as too depressing and she confronts her headmistress played by Emma Thompson (I am Legend), <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">after it is found that she is dating an older man</span>; that could interfere with her education. She states during this confrontation that her stance of leading a studious and boring life to get into Oxford only to enter into a studious and boring job for the rest of her life has to be justified, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">for future students who may have the same questions</span>.<br /><br /><strong>An Education</strong> is a brilliant and well made <strong>movie</strong>, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">and you can see immediately why it has Oscar nominations protruding throughout</span>, especially for it's main character Jenny played by Carey Mulligan.<br /><strong>Movie Reviews</strong> is constantly updated with excellent reviews of great <strong>movies</strong> that are a must see.<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://i47.tinypic.com/ajox7s.jpg" alt="Jenny (Carey Mulligan) in Paris with David (Peter Saarsgard)" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247223465126220043.post-33954802857940220382010-02-22T06:32:00.000-08:002010-02-22T07:31:36.025-08:00Movie Reviews - Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant<strong>Movie Reviews</strong> this week looks at the enjoyable teen fantasy Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant. Regardless of the strange title of this <strong>movie</strong>, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">it follows in the vein of Twilight, as a few teen fantasy movies have tried to emulate since the massive success of Twilight and it's sequel New Moon</span>.<br /><br /><strong>Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant </strong>stars Chris Massoglia as Darren Shan, a well meaning, high achieving teenager, pleasing his parents, and doing well at school, however his best friend Steve played by Josh Hutcherson (Robin William's son in RV) <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">is regarded as bad company for Darren notably by his parents, and he is given an ultimatum after getting in trouble on account of Steve, to never see him again</span>. As with any typical teenager feeling the need to rebel (there is a funny sequence where his father tells him, what is expected of him, college, job, family, repeatedly in that order, until Darren sees himself repeating those words to his own child).<br /><br />While the two friends are hanging out, a mysterious limo drives by and <span style="font-weight: bold;">out of it comes a flyer for a circus show</span>, entitled <strong>Cirque Du Freak</strong>, hence the title of the movie, Steve as typical as the antagonist in a movie challenges Darren to come with him and attend it. It turns out Steve has a fascination for vampires, while Darren on the other hand has a fascination for spiders. On attending the <strong>Cirque Du Freak</strong> show, <span style="font-weight: bold;">where a parade of circus freaks are shown for the audience's amusement</span>, notably a woman who can regenerate limbs, Corma Limbs played by Jane Krakowski (absolutely hilarious in 30 Rock), and Evra the snake boy, played amusingly by Patrick Fugit, as well as a monkey girl, Rebecca played by the adorable Jessica Carlson, there is a lovely scene where Darren asks her what her "freakishness" is, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">and she states bluntly she is a monkey girl, pauses for effect and states she has a tail, and stares at him for any hint at ridicule</span>.<br /><br />While watching one of the performances of a certain Larten Crepsley played <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">charmingly by John C. Reilley</span> (Step Brothers), Steve recognises him from one of his vampire books, <span style="font-weight: bold;">and assures Darren he is a vampire</span>, interestingly Larten overhears the two boys and gives them a warning not to spread mindless gossip. Darren on the other hand is fascinated by Larten's spider, and after the show, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">breaks into his room and steals it</span>; but not before finding Steve pleading with Larten to make him a vampire whilst hidden in the same room. Larten and his friend Gavner Purl played by Willem Dafoe (Spiderman) refuses, and after Larten tests his blood, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">he quickly spits it out and says Steve has bad blood</span>. It turns out that there are two types of vampires, that have chosen different paths, <span style="font-weight: bold;">the Vampaneze who prefer feeding and killing humans, and the others who do not, but prefer to hypnotize them, then feed on them</span>.<br /><br />Darren takes Larten's spider, and the next day at school, while Steve assumes he is talking to his locker, Steve opens Darren's bag and reveals the spider, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">which eventually bites Steve</span>. With Steve facing imminent death, Darren goes back to the Cirque Du Freak and asks Larten if he has an antidote for the spider's bite.<br /><br />A mysterious character called Mr Tiny played by Michael Cerveris (he has one of those faces that seem strangely familiar but not quite sure where), who has the power to bring people back to life, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">has been looking forward for a conflict between the Vampaneze and the others for sometime</span>, and he sees it in the destiny of the two boys, he would like Darren to join the Vampaneze, but Larten on finding about this, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">realises that there might be more to the boy than meets the eye, he tests his blood</span>, and agrees to make him a half-vampire, i.e. being able to go out in the sun, and do his errands for him, however Larten's girlfriend Madame Truska played by Salma Hayek (From Dusk Till Dawn [for a second recalling From Dusk Till Dawn one would expect her to be one of the vampires, but here she is a member of the Cirque Du Freak as a fortune-telling bearded lady]), urges Larten not to turn Darren into a vampire, after having a premonition. Darren initially reluctant<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> finally agrees to this in order to save his friend's life</span>. Larten then tells him he can no longer stay with his family and so he must die (or at least give the impression he is dead).<br /><br /><strong>Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant</strong> is an enjoyable fantasy <strong>movie</strong> with numerous characters that should be developed even more in a sequel or two, and even though the name might emit tales of horror it is a more a teen romantic fantasy than anything else.<br /><br /><strong>Movie Reviews</strong> is constantly updated with outstanding reviews of good movies that are a must see.<br /><br /><img src="http://i45.tinypic.com/2ile9tg.jpg" alt="Larten Crepsley (John C. Reilly) with Darren (Chris Massoglia)" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247223465126220043.post-19563747304137210522010-02-18T05:40:00.000-08:002010-02-18T06:16:10.771-08:00Movie Reviews - Veronica Decides to Die<strong>Movie Reviews</strong> this week looks at the romantic drama <strong>Veronica Decides to Die</strong>. <span style="font-weight: bold;">This is a very well made <strong>movie</strong></span>, starring the lovely Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) as a young woman Veronica Deklava, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">in an excellent job, with a great family behind her, who simply decides she wants to commit suicide</span>, she is tired of the route her life is going towards, and is expecting to continue in her job until she meets a man, they get married, later on he has an affair, they have an argument, she forgives him, it happens again, but this time she is too tired to bother to confront him about it -<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"> this is how she sees how her life will pan out</span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">She types a suicide letter for her parents</span>, and takes an overdose of several pills, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">fortunately for her she doesn't die</span>, but as expected is taken to a psychiatric treatment centre, paid for by her parents, which is headed by Dr. Blake played by David Thewlis (The Big Lebowski, <span style="font-weight: bold;">he looks surprisingly similar to David Wenham, Dillios in 300</span>).<br /><br />When she awakes, Veronika is disappointed her attempt to commit suicide did not succeed, and is dreading having to see her parents and having to explain to them the possible motives behind this suicide attempt; or indeed to deal with the world at large (she works at a bank that is well known in her local community, and an investigative journalist finds out she made a suicide attempt and tracks her down to the treatment centre in order to make a scoop), <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">when she still has the same feelings towards her existence</span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Matters are further complicated when she is told the dosage of pills she has taken has caused her to have a heart attack, that resulted in an aneurysm that is getting bigger, and even though her suicide attempt failed, she doesn't have long to live</span>, and there is no way of treating it.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Veronika begins to contemplate on what she would like to do seeing she has a very short time left</span>, at first she is nonchalant on the idea of doing anything while she waits to die, until she meets a fellow psychiatric patient Edward played by Jonathan Tucker (The Black Donnellys), who Blake has been trying for some time to get him to communicate with the people around him (<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">he simply does not talk, and seems to live in a dream world existence, watching nature, insects, and just spending time alone</span>), Blake would consider this his crowning achievement if he can break through Edward's problem.<br /><br />It turns out that Blake finds out Veronica used to play the piano when she was a child, and strategically places a piano in a place where she cannot miss it. One day she walks past it, possibly feeling bored, she at first tries out the keys of the piano with some random taps, then plays a lovely classical tune, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">which enchants Edward</span> (who was listening nearby), she notices him watching her playing the piano, and the attraction builds (still with Edward not speaking a word).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">As Veronica begins to fall for Edward, it then begins to dawn on her the enormity of what she is going to miss</span>.<br /><br /><strong>Veronica Decides to Die</strong> is a very interesting drama, and this <strong>movie</strong> has solid acting throughout.<br /><br /><strong>Movie Reviews</strong> is constantly updated with outstanding reviews of good <strong>movies</strong> that are a must see.<br /><br /><img src="http://i48.tinypic.com/35lu3qc.jpg" alt="Veronica (Sarah Michelle Gellar) enjoys her surroundings" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247223465126220043.post-15399366442607257032010-02-07T06:13:00.000-08:002010-02-07T06:38:26.560-08:00Movie Reviews - As Good As Dead<strong>Movie Reviews</strong> this week looks at the dark drama <strong>As Good As Dead</strong>. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">This is a very surreal</span> <strong>movie</strong> starring Cary Elwes (Liar Liar) and the much loved Andie Macdowell (Four Weddings and a Funeral) as Ethan Belfrage and Helen Kalahan respectively, it also stars the stalwart Brian Cox (X-Men 2) as Reverend Kalahan.<br /><br />We join the <strong>movie</strong> as Reverend Kalahan <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">preaches to his congregation</span>, at first glance it seems just like a normal church service, with the preacher speaking to his congregation about becoming shepherds, but as the camera pans across the audience and the surroundings in the church, <span style="font-weight: bold;">you notice Swastikas, and Nazi symbols, not to mention some of the congregation could easily be taken for Neo-Nazis</span>. As Kalahan continues to preach, it pans to his wife, who is looking on admirably, as Kalahan speaks; a member of the congregation gets up, as if the words of Kalahan had triggered something in him, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">we find out later that he went off and killed several immigrants in a bus</span>, in an unprovoked rampage before shooting himself.<br /><br />We move forward several years, to Ethan who is entertaining his lovely daughter Sarah played by the adorable Emma Kantor; before being whisked away by her mother Kate, played by Nicole Ansari-Cox. Ethan is facing some problems with his landlord <span style="font-weight: bold;">who is trying to evict him</span>, so he can build a new lucrative residential property, but Ethan is determined not to move, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">and he is prepared for any tactic his landlord will try</span>. Soon after the initial confrontation with his landlord he is paid a visit by two men, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">he assumes they are with his landlord and doesn't open the door</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">they come back later and trap Ethan in his flat</span>. They proceed to torture him, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">while asking him to confess</span>, he desperately tells them he doesn't know what they are talking about, all the while he assumes that his landlord had sent them to force him to relinquish his flat, but it turns out Kalahan, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">the preacher at the beginning had been killed</span>, soon after the unprovoked rampage by a member of his flock, and these two men; one Jake played by Matt Dallas (The Indian) and the other Aaron (<span style="font-weight: bold;">played brilliantly even down to the Southern accent</span>) by Frank Whaley (Swimming with Sharks); are out for revenge, ordered so by Helen, who joins all of them later on.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Ethan is adamant he doesn't know what they are talking about and despite their torture he doesn't deviate from his story</span>, the audience will no doubt feel this is a case of mistaken identity that is about to go horribly wrong, especially when Ethan's lovely next door neighbour Amy played by Jess Weixler<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> is equally bundled in to the shenanigans</span>, and is used as a guinea pig to get Ethan to confess to all that his torturers would like him to confess to, while frighteningly for Ethan his wife and daughter are <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">wondering why he hasn't showed up and may just come to his flat to investigate</span>.<br /><br /><strong>As Good As Dead</strong> is a very dark <strong>movie</strong>, and many will be impressed by the acting abilities of all involved.<br /><br /><strong>Movie Reviews</strong> is constantly updated with outstanding <strong>reviews</strong> of good <strong>movies</strong> you don't want to miss.<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://i45.tinypic.com/5khtvl.jpg" alt="Ethan (Cary Elwes) contemplates what to write as Helen (Andie Macdowell) Aaron (Frank Whaley) and her son Jake (Matt Dallas) look on" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247223465126220043.post-61017473167278839202010-01-30T03:29:00.000-08:002010-01-30T03:54:26.712-08:00Movie Reviews - A Dog Named Christmas<strong>Movie Reviews</strong> this week looks at the <span style="font-weight: bold;">wonderful festive</span> movie a Dog named Christmas.<br /><br />It stars an endearing young man with special needs, Todd played wonderfully by Noel Fisher (Final Destination 2), <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">he has a thing for helping injured animals</span>, and we join the movie as Todd helps a wounded mammal, while being looked upon by a certain dog, who we shall soon get to know a little bit about later on.<br /><br />Todd goes home to his farm, run by his parents George and Mary Ann McCray, played by the stalwart Bruce Greenwood (Star Trek 2009), and Linda Emond (Law and Order: Special Victims Unit) respectively. They run a farm, where George tends to the cows, and Mary tends to the horses, all their children except Todd have left home, <span style="font-weight: bold;">but since Todd is special in more ways than one, the parents are extremely protective of Todd</span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Todd happens to find out about a local dog shelter that is offering their dogs to a home till Christmas</span>, where upon they can return the dog, Todd excitedly tells his parents about it, only for George to dismiss it, despite Todd's protests. It turns out George has some issues he hasn't quite got round to dealing with yet. He is a veteran of the Vietnam War, and he is still heart broken over losing his beloved dog; he found and took a liking too while in Vietnam. He is aware that the dog shelter run by Hailey, played by the lovely Carrie Ruscheinsky, <span style="font-weight: bold;">really would like the adopters, to not just have the dog over Christmas but permanently adopt them too</span>, he want to show Todd that the world isn't as easy going as the warm and affectionate manner the family treats him and he is used to at home (<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">and you can tell the family is affectionate when they all get together for a Christmas meal, and delivering of presents</span>), and he tells Mary that it is about time he starts to learn this.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Eventually after much persuading by Mary he gives in</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">but is adamant that Todd returns the dog on December the 26th</span>, which he constantly reminds him of, a lesson he hopes to teach Todd about sticking to his word. Todd goes to the dog shelter and after browsing through most of the dogs, <span style="font-weight: bold;">he settles on a dog that has just been brought in the previous day, as luck would have it, it turns out it was the same dog watching him while he looked after the injured mammal</span>, Hailey tells him the dog hasn't been named yet, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">so Todd names him Christmas</span>. Christmas is already trained and Todd can't wait to show the rest of his family the interesting tricks it can do. However there is the inevitable confrontation that faces Todd on having to let go of Christmas after December 25th, <span style="font-weight: bold;">or can he possibly convince his immovable father otherwise</span>?<br /><br />A Dog named Christmas is a lovely family movie, that is endearing and charming at all angles, <span style="font-weight: bold;">not just for dog lovers</span>.<br /><br /><strong>Movie Reviews</strong> is constantly updated with reviews of great movies, and latest releases that are a must see.<br /><br /><img src="http://i49.tinypic.com/2vtquc1.jpg" alt="Todd (Carrie Fisher) shows his family shome of the tricks Christmas can perform" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247223465126220043.post-42396263820704139412010-01-24T10:32:00.000-08:002010-01-24T11:21:06.353-08:00Movie Reviews - The Men Who Stare At Goats<strong>Movie Reviews</strong> this week looks at the drama The Men Who Stare At Goats. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The title of this movie itself is intriguing as it doesn't give a clue what the movie is about</span>.<br /><br />It stars Ewan McGregor (the younger Obi Wan Kenobi in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace) as Bob Wilton, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">a journalist whose wife has just left him for his boss, he is feeling sorry for himself, and contemplates going to Iraq on a hunch after finding out about some psychic division of the U.S. military</span>, he hopes to write about this that will get him recognition, and that doing this will stand him in good stead with his wife, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">and maybe she can see that he is doing something of major importance, so he can initiate a reconciliation with her</span>. Whilst in Iraq he comes across Lyn Cassady played by the stalwart George Clooney (Ocean's Eleven, Up In The Air). <span style="font-weight: bold;">At first glance with the stories Lyn tells Bob, the audience just as Bob, begins to wonder about the mental well being of Lyn</span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Lyn constantly refers to himself as being a Jedi</span>, while Bob dismisses it as absurd (<span style="font-weight: bold;">I am sure the irony of Ewan McGregor playing a Jedi in the last three Star Wars movies is not lost on the audience</span>). After a while you realise Lyn did indeed work for a special branch of the U.S. military called <span style="font-weight: bold;">New Earth Army</span>, led by the charismatic Bill Django played by the legendary Jeff Bridges (Star Man), Bill soon after the Vietnam war tried various aspects of the hippy lifestyle, and is recruited to lead the New Earth Army, where amongst other things the students were taught remote viewing: <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Being able to tell the exact location of where someone is just by thinking about them</span>, Lyn reveals the military kept goats in an abandoned medical centre, which were used to train soldiers on how to dress a wound, <span style="font-weight: bold;">he also reveals his psychic ability was tested on goats</span>, hence the name of the movie.<br /><br />The New Earth Army had Lyn as its star pupil, and one of Bill's ingenuous techniques was to get his pupils to dance, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">and even say a little prayer to the Earth for eating its produce</span>, these new age techniques, were found to be a little irritating to one of the other recruits Larry Hooper played by the dependable Kevin Spacey (The Usual Suspects), <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">who has plans to launch a coup to take over the New Earth Army</span>, not to mention being a little jealous of Lyn for his impressive psychic abilities.<br /><br />Whilst in Iraq there is a little bit of reality for Bob, when on a journey with Lyn, their car breaks down in the desert, and as luck would have it someone comes along to pick them up,<span style="font-weight: bold;"> but they are taken as hostages instead</span>, while Lyn calmly states nothing is going to happen to them, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">at this point the audience will no doubt be wondering just as Bob is, if Lyn has blurred the line between reality and fantasy</span>.<br /><br />This is an intriguing movie, and you are left wondering just how much of this story does the author himself believe as true. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The opening credits does state most of the story in the movie is truer than you would believe</span>, it is an interesting point of view, and regardless of its veracity it is compelling to watch.<br /><br /><strong>Movie Reviews</strong> is constantly updated with reviews of great movies you do not want to miss.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://i49.tinypic.com/242u0rk.jpg" alt="Lyn Cassady (George Clooney) staring at a goat" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247223465126220043.post-31914520943454183052010-01-20T01:22:00.000-08:002010-01-20T02:25:27.725-08:00Movie Reviews - Star Trek (2009)<span style="font-weight: bold;"><strong>Movie Reviews</strong> this week looks at the sci-fi blockbuster Star Trek</span>.<br />Not a lot of information had been released about this <strong>movie</strong> except that it tells the story when Spock and Captain James T. Kirk first meet.<br /><br />At first many assumed this <strong>movie</strong> laid the background story for the Star Trek series, but after a while you realise this is not quite straight forward, as with the Star Trek universe, with worm holes, black holes, and time travel, anything is possible.<br /><br />We join the movie when the U.S.S (United Star Ship) Kelvin is attacked by a ruthless Romulan, Captain Nero (at first his features look distinctly like that of Eric Bana [Troy] even with the heavy makeup and surprise surprise, it is him), <span style="font-weight: bold;">he demands the captain of the U.S.S Kelvin comes aboard</span>, the Captain Robau played by Faran Tahir (24, the patient with the inoperable brain tumor in Grey's Anatomy) duly complies in the hope of saving his crew, seeing that whatever weapon Nero has on this Romulan ship is more advanced than anything he has seen before.<br /><br />When his shuttle arrives, he is asked if he knows Ambassador Spock (with a 3D holographic image of Leonard Nimoy circling), he says he is unfamiliar with that name, <span style="font-weight: bold;">despite his protests he doesn't stop Nero from his attack</span>.<br /><br />We next see our young protagonist on an amazing joy ride with a vintage car he has stolen, while being chased by a cop, the cop eventually catches up with him and when asked his name, he states boldly "<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">My name is James Tiberius Kirk</span>".<br /><br />Several years later the young Kirk is now a young man played by Chris Pine (Smoking Aces) but still a rebel, he comes into a bar containing many Starfleet cadets, and hits on one lovely cadet, Uhura played by the gorgeous Zoe Saldana, a fight ensues, until Captain Pike played by Bruce Greenwood (National Treasure: Book of secrets) puts a stop to it, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">he encourages Kirk to join Starfleet based on his impressive academic scores</span>, you are not sure if Kirk is in the frame of mind to take his advice, but inevitably he does.<br /><br />While at Starfleet he makes friends with Dr. McCoy aka Bones played by Karl Urban (The Chronicles of Riddick, with an uncanny mannerism with the original Dr. McCoy played by DeForest Kelly), and Kirk eventually meets a young Spock played by the very talented Zachary Quinto (much better known as Sylar, and who strangely looks eerily like a young Leonard Nimoy), after Kirk breaks Spock's simulated test which no one had even beaten; a Starship being attacked by a number Klingons' birds of prey and the Captain must decide on a course of action when facing certain death, Spock cites Kirk in front of the Starfleet command for cheating, and that the purpose of the test Kirk passed was to accept death and learn fear, however Kirk is adamant that he did not cheat but since he saved the crew he states he duly passed the test. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">This first altercation sets the scene for the relationship between Kirk and Spock for the rest of the movie</span>, while the ruthless Romulan Nero seeks revenge on a young Spock.<br /><br />Star Trek is a superb science fiction action movie, and fans of the series will be impressed by the depth of character portrayed in the cast re-enacting characteristics of the beloved original series, from Hikaru Sulu played by John Cho (Harold and Kumar escape from Guantanamo Bay), and a very impressive Anton Yelchin (Terminator: Salvation) who plays Chekov complete with his Russian accent, the well loved Scotty is played by Simon Pegg (How to make friends and alienate people, Shaun of the dead) with an equally impressive Scottish accent, not to forget that the legendary Leonard Nimoy himself is also in this <strong>movie</strong>.<br /><br /><strong>Movie Reviews</strong> is constantly updated with carefully selected reviews of great <strong>movies</strong> that are a must see.<br /><br /><img style="width: 632px; height: 262px;" src="http://i45.tinypic.com/1zg6fsz.jpg" alt="Spock (Zachary Quinto) and Capt. James T. Kirk (Chris Pine) ponder what to do against Capt. Nero" /><br /><br /><img src="http://i50.tinypic.com/28hgbwi.jpg" alt="From left to right stars of the original with their current counterparts, Leonard Nimoy and Zachary Quinto as Spock, Walter Koenig and Anton Yelchin as Chekov, Nichelle Nichols and Zoe Saldana as Uhura, William Shatner and Chris Pine as James T. Kirk, James Doohan and Simon Pegg as Scott, George Takei and John Cho as Hikaru Sulu, and Deforest kelly and Karl Urban as Dr. McCoy " />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247223465126220043.post-64949984983754160002010-01-13T07:28:00.000-08:002010-01-13T07:46:47.651-08:00Movie - Terminator SalvationThis the fourth installment of this well loved science fiction drama.<br />We join the movie finding Marcus Wright played by Sam Worthington (Hart's war) <span style="font-weight: bold;">about to be put to death in a Federal penitentiary</span>, but not before he signs his body over to Cybernet (the precursor to Skynet) headed by Dr. Serena Kogan played by Helena Bonham Carter (Fight Club).<br /><br />We next see him in the year 2013 where he wakes up as if from a long dream, and happens to come across Kyle Reese played by Anton Yelchin (Star Trek), who lets him know that there is serious danger about in the form of various types of machines, terminators, special machine bikes, as well as harvesters, taking humans to some kind of prison, and even underwater machines. This is where we also meet John Connor with the war with the machines well underway. He is already a highly ranked commander in "The Resistance", and the pockets of humanity listening to his broadcasts are already slowing turning their allegiance to him, especially when one of the generals of the Resistance General Ashdown played by the veteran Michael Ironside (Total Recall) has found a new weapon that could turn the war for humanity; by disabling a machine by some kind of electromagnetic pulse <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">however he is bent on winning the war regardless of the human cost</span>. He has given use of the weapon to John Connor and a test outing seems to show that the weapon works.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Unfortunately Kyle Reese is captured</span> along with his quiet associate Star played pretty well by the adorable Jadagrace, and they are placed in a harvester headed to one of Skynet's headquarters, but Marcus escapes. He runs into a female Resistance fighter, Blair Williams who eventually takes him to John Connor, but not before he saves her from some savages, there is a lovely scene where she says she is cold and would like to lie down next to him, she lays her head on his chest and says she hasn't heard a heartbeat in a while, and says his heartbeat is strong really strong, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">however something very strange is revealed that makes for edge of the seat excitement</span>. Marcus tells John that Kyle Reese has been captured and is headed to Skynet's headquarters, knowing what John already knows of the future, he is adamant to save Kyle regardless of the commands of his superiors which is going to lead to the inevitable confrontation that could divide the entire Resistance.<br /><br />It stars Christian Bale (Batman Begins) as our eponymous hero, and the gorgeous Moon Bloodgood (that name alone just sounds like she belongs in science fiction [<span style="font-weight: bold;">it wouldn't be out of place in one of the Twilight saga</span>], however the name isn't American Indian but Dutch and Korean) as Blair Williams, her character is very similar to that of Jessie Flores played by Stephanie Jacobsen in Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.<br /><br />We also get to see a terminator that looks frightening just like Arnold Schwarzenegger, <span style="font-weight: bold;">the audience may do a double take if it is really him</span>. Schwarzenegger's trademark phrase is repeated by none other than John Connor in a scene that is nostalgic for the fans.<br /><br />The movie is as exciting as the previous sequels, with some great scenes and hopefully more sequels are in the pipeline.<br /><br /><img src="http://i45.tinypic.com/16huexx.jpg" alt="John Connor (Christian Bale" snures="" a="" terminator="" has="" been="" terminated="" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247223465126220043.post-8576412309415305742010-01-11T03:39:00.000-08:002010-01-11T04:13:54.330-08:00Movie - Four ChristmasesThis is a lovely holiday season movie, starring the lovely <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Resse</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Witherspoon</span> (<span style="font-weight: bold;">playing a far different character these days than the affectionate and effervescing young lady in Legally <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Blonde</span></span>) as Kate and the hyperactive Vince Vaughn (The Wedding Crashers) as Brad, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">a couple who would rather spend Christmas vacationing in Fiji than with their families</span>, in fact they make it a ritual during the holidays to go on vacation but to lie to their families that they are involved in a worthy cause (usually charity) <span style="font-weight: bold;">that can justify their exclusion during any holiday event</span>.<br /><br />Over the years their lies about <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">inoculating babies in Burma</span>, or doing some other charity work has always helped them avoid their families for Christmas, but on this particular time as they are waiting at the airport, it turns out all flights have been cancelled because of a bad fog, and a TV crew happens to be interviewing passengers on how they feel about their flights being cancelled during the holiday period, they so happen to come upon Brad and Kate, much to their embarrassment as their phones soon afterwards start ringing; <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">with their respected families saying they have seen them on TV</span>.<br /><br />Brad and Kate now see they have no choice but to visit all four of their families (Brad's mum and dad played by the stalwart Robert <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Duvall</span> [The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">GodFather</span>] as Howard and Sissy <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Spacek</span> [JFK] as Paula, since they are divorced) and Kate's families (her mum and dad, played by the dependable Jon <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Voight</span> [Midnight Cowboy] as Creighton and Mary <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Steenburgen</span> [In The Electric Mist] as Marilyn, who are equally divorced) hence the name <span style="font-weight: bold;">Four Christmases</span>.<br /><br />The first visit is to the home of Brad's father, it turns out his brothers Denver and Dallas played by Jon <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Favreau</span> (The Break-Up) and Tim <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">McGraw</span>, are <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">UFC</span> (Ultimate Fighting Championship) type cage fighters (<span style="font-weight: bold;">except there are not professional but only upload their fights on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">youtube</span></span>), and no sooner are they re-acquainted does Brad finds himself in some bone crunching wrestling moves, it turns out this is the norm, and that Brad's real name is Orlando, which Kate didn't know, she takes him to one side to ask why he didn't feel comfortable with her after three years of a relationship, to reveal this bit about himself, h<span style="font-weight: bold;">e says he changed his name because he didn't like it, and didn't see a problem</span>. It also turns out that there is a $10 limit to the presents that should be bought for the children, however Brad was unaware of this and bought an <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Xbox</span> for one of his nephews, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">while the other nephew has to make do with a torch light, much to the father's embarrassment</span>.<br /><br />The visit to Kate's family also reveals some of her fears, that for some time the kids around the neighbourhood avoided her because they thought she had cooties, calling her "<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Cootie Kate</span>", and her passive aggressive older sister Courtney played by the endearing Kristin <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Chenoweth</span> (RV) reveals these embarrassing secrets.<br /><br />The visits amongst Brad's and Kate's respective families shows that the couple are not as close to each other as they thought, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">especially during a game where the partner has to guess what card the other half is holding, without giving out the name</span>, and this prompts Kate especially to reconsider if they are true and comfortable with each other to spend the rest of their lives together.<br /><br />It is a warm festive movie, the whole family will enjoy.<br /><br /><img src="http://i46.tinypic.com/2zox6rr.jpg" alt="Brad (Vince Vaughn) and Kate (Reese Witherspoon) visiting one of their relatives" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247223465126220043.post-38915762246063044772010-01-09T03:03:00.000-08:002010-01-09T03:25:12.476-08:00Movie - BrothersThis is a very powerful war related drama detailing<span style="font-weight: bold;"> some of the emotional turmoil that are not touched on</span> when dealing with war, starring Jake Gyllenhaal (Donnie Darko) and Tobey Maguire (Spiderman) as Tommy and Capt. Sam Cahill respectively, two brothers with Sam a respected member of the army and about to be deployed to Afghanistan, while Tommy is the brother frequently involved with clashes with the law.<br /><br />We join the movie as Sam leaves for Afghanistan, but not before collecting his brother Tommy <span style="font-weight: bold;">from his most recent stint in prison</span>. It turns out Sam is the pride and joy of their father Hank (played by the veteran Sam Shepard [Stealth]) unlike Tommy, who their father regards as a constant disappointment. The relationship between Tommy and their father is elaborated during a birthday meal at Sam's place, prepared by his wife Grace, played by the gorgeous Natalie Portman (still the wonderful actress that first graced our screens in Leon), Tommy tells Grace that the meal is very good, to which his father says "<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Compared to what...jail</span>"?<br /><br />Soon after being deployed to Afghanistan, Sam's helicopter is shot down, <span style="font-weight: bold;">and the dreaded news is brought to Grace</span>. That same night, Tommy true to form so far, comes to the house drunk, having brought back the keys of Sam's car, as Sam told him to use it whenever he wanted before he left for Afghanistan, only to be told the sad news.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">The news of Sam's death brings a change to Tommy</span>, and he tries to make up the gap of a father figure Sam's daughters Maggie and Isabelle, played by Taylor Geare and the <span style="font-weight: bold;">wonderfully talented</span> Bailee Madison (Phoebe in Wonderland), when Tommy first came to the house before Sam was deployed to Afghanistan, Isabelle opens the door and tells him that their mother doesn't like him (which she can overhear, and gently scolds her not to say such things, but to be fair Tommy takes it in his stride), <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">but after a while the two girls cannot get enough of their uncle</span>, as he does all the things they like, ice skating, snowball fights, much to the delight of Grace, and it becomes apparent that there is an attraction between Tommy and Grace, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">but the morality of taking such a relationship further seeing Sam has just been lost in Afghanistan is a stumbling block that neither Grace nor Tommy may be willing to confront</span>, but this is one of the interesting parts of the movie.<br /><br />For whatever reason Tommy does enjoy coming to pay Grace a visit (and his father does seem to have taken a change towards him, seeing his most treasured son is lost), and uses the opportunity to fix the kitchen, and play with his nieces, <span style="font-weight: bold;">but the audience wonders if some spark may happen between the two</span>.<br /><br />The stellar cast bring out the conflicting emotions well on screen, from the torn brother, and lonely wife, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">the movie is exciting on how the various conflicting emotions all pans out</span>, as well as the subject matter that is hardly given any preferential treatment when dealing with the war genre.<br /><br /><img style="width: 471px; height: 353px;" src="http://i46.tinypic.com/28178qr.jpg" alt="Tommy Cahill (Jake Gyllenhaal) with Grace (Natalie Portman) and her daughters Maggie and Isabelle (Taylor Geare and Bailee Madison)" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247223465126220043.post-89019540358330679582010-01-07T04:57:00.000-08:002010-01-07T05:09:33.228-08:00Up In The Air - MovieThis is an interesting drama starring the stalwart George Clooney (Ocean's eleven) as Ryan Bingham, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">whose job is to fire individuals from organisations who have designated Ryan and his company to do this on their behalf</span>. As Ryan gets to travel all over the world he has accumulated a lot of air miles to the point that <span style="font-weight: bold;">he gets special reservations, and an assortment of cards entitling him to various incentives due to his air miles accumulatio</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">n</span>.<br /><br />Ryan tries to be as sympathetic but yet firm as he tells employees that they have been let go, but his boss Craig Gregory played by Jason Bateman (The Break-up) has brought in Natalie Keener played by the lovely Anna Kendrick (Twilight) a recent Cornell graduate <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">with an interesting software that could mean that staff no longer have to be given the personal touch when they let people know that they have been fired</span>. Ryan is not happy that his personal touch is being replaced by software, but his boss Craig convinces him to take Natalie with him on his visits, <span style="font-weight: bold;">to show her the ropes so to speak</span>.<br /><br />Ryan is also aiming to accumulate enough air miles to get a much sought after gold card, that would mean he had accumulated ten million miles,<span style="font-weight: bold;"> and will have his name on an airplane wing for his loyalty</span>. While at a bar he comes across Alex Goran played by the lovely Vera Farmiga (Running Scared), who is equally fascinated with loyalty cards. They spend the night, and agree to keep in touch when next they need each other.<br /><br />Ryan has been away in chasing his dream, that he has neglected his family, where his youngest sister Julie played by the lovely Melanie Lynskey (Coyote Ugly) is getting married, her elder sister Kara played by Amy Morton asks Ryan <span style="font-weight: bold;">to take pictures at famous destinations he visits, with a cardboard cut-out of Julie and her groom</span> to be Jim Miller, played by Danny McBride (Tropic Thunder, absolutely hilarious in Pineapple Express), it turns out due to the economic crisis, the couple have suspended any plans for a honeymoon and instead have asked various friends and family who are travelling to <span style="font-weight: bold;">take pictures of idyllic destinations with their cardboard cut-out</span>.<br /><br />During their rounds Ryan's boss Craig, encourages Ryan to let Natalie fire a few people to see how she gets on, and Craig is so impressed by her performance he gives the go ahead for the software to go live, much to Ryan's disapproval.<br /><br />Ryan sees Natalie as someone who has a lot of growing up to do, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">while she on the other hand wonders why he is not married, has no children and has no intention of settling down</span>, Ryan calmly explains that this is the life he has chosen and he is OK with it. His philosophy so far will soon come into conflict with his personal desires, as he believes all relationships, belongings, including homes, cars, accessories are all baggage that should be put in a rucksack and discarded, as they weigh an individual down, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">in fact he gives motivational speeches based on this theory</span>, but during their trip, and visiting his sister who is about to be married he begins some reflections on how his life has panned out, and begins to open up to the possibility that he is lonely, and would like to find someone to spend that loneliness with.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">It is an interesting romantic drama, and at the end you realise the early documentary style footage were from genuine reactions from people who had been fired</span>.<br /><br /><img src="http://i47.tinypic.com/db9rc.jpg" alt="Natalie Keener (Anna Kendrick) with Ryan Bingham (George Clooney) as they let an employee know they are no longer required" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247223465126220043.post-78718192409579102482010-01-06T22:12:00.000-08:002010-01-06T22:28:19.560-08:00Amreeka - MovieThis is a fascinating drama, shot in a documentary style with excellent performances from the largely unknown cast.<br /><br />It stars Nisreen Faour as Muna Farah<span style="font-weight: bold;">,</span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"> a single mother living in the Palestinian Territories</span>, working in a bank, and recently divorced from her husband, we meet her as she goes shopping for groceries. She sees a well dressed woman, and she immediately hides from her, we find out later that the well dressed woman is the new woman in the life of her husband, <span style="font-weight: bold;">and hence the reason for the furtiveness</span>.<br /><br />We get to see and commiserate with her life, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">as she deals with the hours of road checks</span>, to get to and from work, as well as pick up her son Fadi played by Melkar Muallem (he reminds me of Lou Ferrigno of the Incredible Hulk) from his private school, as well as looking after her mother.<br /><br />Muna's life is about to change, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">she receives a letter because a visa application to the U.S. when she was still with her husband has been approved</span>, and although Muna is reluctant to go, leaving her elderly mother with her brother, on showing the letter to her son, he encourages her, and she sees this as a new lease of life especially for him, <span style="font-weight: bold;">to get away from the hardship of life in the Palestinian Territories</span>.<br /><br />We get a glimpse of the problems faced by many Palestinians at customs in airports all over the world, because when she arrives, she is asked which country she is a citizen of,<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> she replies that she has no citizenship</span>, the clerk asks her which country she is from, she says she has no country, which the clerk seems amazed, and asks if she is a Palestinian or an Israeli, she says she is from the Palestinian Territories. Prior to this there is a slightly humorous scene when he asks her occupation, and although she speaks English, as well as French and Arabic, she says "<span style="font-weight: bold;">Yes we are occupied</span>".<br /><br />On arriving she is met by her sister Raghda Halaby (played by Hiam Abbass) and her husband Nabeel who has a medical practice, played by Yussuf Abu-Warda.<br />Unfortunately customs had seized several belongings including a cookie box, <span style="font-weight: bold;">which had her entire savings in it</span>, so she arrives with nothing but the two hundred dollars Fadi's uncle gave him as a going away present.<br /><br />She enrols Fadi at a local high school, and goes about looking for a job, but is soon downcast, as <span style="font-weight: bold;">even with a degree she is unable to find suitable work</span>. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Fadi on the other hand is having to deal with the usual taunts that he is a suicide bomber from his classmates</span>, while his cousin Salma played by the lovely Alia Shawkat tries her best to get him to fit in.<br /><br />The movie is set soon after the invasion of Iraq in 2003, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">and the audience will feel for the plight of Muna and her sister's family</span>, with undeserved animosity being shown towards them in many areas of their life for simply being Arabs.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">It is a lovely movie with superb performances from the stellar cast, that at the end resounds hope</span>.<br /><br /><img src="http://i50.tinypic.com/34ry7h0.jpg" alt="Muna Farah (Nisreen Faour) with her son Fadi (Melkar Muallem)" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247223465126220043.post-29943113178089914602009-12-26T04:53:00.000-08:002009-12-26T05:46:49.174-08:00Movie Reviews - Humble Pie<span style="font-weight: bold;">This is a very entertaining comedy drama</span>, focusing on Tracy Orbison played by Hubbel Palmer, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">a very talented poet</span> working at a Walmart type store, but feeling very low on confidence because of his weight.<br /><br />His weight has brought some friction between him and his mother Agnes, played by Kathleen Quinlan (Scofield's mother in Prison Break). His sister Peggy played by the lovely Mary Lynn Rajskub (24), tries to keep the peace between them,<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> while Tracy just takes whatever his mother says as deserved punishment</span>.<br /><br /><br />As Tracy day dreams with his poetry, he comes upon a chance meeting to visit a theatre show, where Truman Hope played by William Baldwin (Forgetting Sarah Marshall), plays the lead, Tracy is so mesmerised by Truman's performance, when he finds out that Truman is undertaking an acting class locally, <span style="font-weight: bold;">he is eager to sign up, and hopeful for a meeting at the end with Truman</span>.<br /><br />At work Tracy is promoted to assistant manager by his well meaning boss Mr. Grigoratus, played amicably by Bruce McGil (Time Cop). We get a feeling of the relationship between the two, in the beginning when Mr. Grigoratus tries to set Tracy on a double date with him and his wife, he notes down on a piece of paper to ask his wife if she has any "<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">fat friends</span>". Tracy is also in charge of looking after the new recruit Kendis Coley, played by Vincent Calo (The Guild), Kendis asks Tracy to help him out by pretending to be his father in order to meet the Principal at his school, as he is in trouble, he says the Principal has never met his father and he is from Laos, at first Tracy refuses, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">but sees that this would be an impressive stunt to pull for his acting credentials</span>, and that it would also get him the friends he craves, so he agrees to do the favour by pretending to be Kendis's father in order to get the Principal at his school to go easy on him. After the stunt, Tracy is so impressed that he stays in character a little longer, <span style="font-weight: bold;">equally Kendis's friends are impressed that Tracy was willing to do this for Kendis and pulled it off, and soon become friends with him</span>. Tracy sees this as a window to blossom his acting, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">and a door into the minds and hearts of the misguided youths</span>, however the leader of the teenage gang Shawn played by Nick Lashaway (The 40 Year Old Virgin), has some ominous plans for Tracy, h<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">e indicates this by having Tracy go into the local store and get them some alcohol</span>, when he comes out with the alcohol the teenagers all take it and disperse from him, while Tracy naively asks "<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">I thought this was for your parents</span>"?<br /><br />It turns out that there is a painful lesson on life for Tracy to learn, and although he is well meaning at most times, he finds out that people are not to be trusted not even Truman, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">who he idolises at first but finds out he is being used</span>, when he gets tickets to a play for himself and Truman, but on the day Truman turns up with another student from the acting class, and asks Tracy to relinquish his ticket to her. He eventually finds out Truman also has eyes on his sister, much to his despair. The movie also delves into his weight problem, and the possible issues that might have contributed to it, especially from his mother's side.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">It is a very well acted drama, and viewers will be impressed by how the issues are tackled</span>.<br /><br /><img src="http://i49.tinypic.com/2czug7o.jpg" alt="Tracy Orbison (Hubbel Palmer), and his mother Agnes (Kathleen Quinlan), get introduced to Truman Hope (William Baldwin), Peggy 's(Mary Lynn Rajskub) date" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0