Haven't done much of anything lately and that includes playing handball or videogames. The only thing that I've actually gotten around to doing is finally watching some movies. So I thought I'd finally update this blog with my thoughts on the movies I've recently seen.
On the big screen:
- Hancock Will Smith stars as a superhero with amnesia and serious character flaws. Also stars Charlize Theron and Jason Bateman (who's great in just about everything he's in). 1st act of the movie was great while the 2nd and 3rd acts go in totally different directions. Comedy was great while action sequences including the special effects were hit and miss. These problems notwithstanding, I quite enjoyed Hancock as I'm a huge Will Smith fan and the dialogue in the 1st act were golden. Not his best film but far from his worst (Wild Wild West and Bad Boys franchise). Looking forward to his next film titled Seven Pounds with Rosario Dawson and Woody Harrelson scheduled for December 12, 2008.
- WALL•E What can I say about Pixar that hasn't already been said? These guys keep bringing out exceptional movie entertainment with every release. Won't get into the story only to say that it's not toddlers since there is practically no dialogue for the first 30 minutes. I'm a big fan of the Pixar films and have to go way back to A Bug's Life in 1998 for the last time I thought one of their movies was just ok. Since then, Toy Story 2, Monster's Inc., Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Cars and Ratatouille have all gone to huge commercial success and become some of my favorite animated films. Even their animated shorts that play in front of the feature films are great. Looking forward to their next projects, Up releasing in 2009 and Toy Story 3 scheduled for 2010.
- Wanted James McAvoy and Angelina Jolie star in this over-the-top action film with elements of The Matrix sprinkled in. Morgan Freeman and Terance Stamp (in his 2nd "bad guy" role this summer behind Get Smart) co-star in this hugely entertaining film loosely based on the comic book miniseries by Mark Miller.
- Get Smart Although I haven't watched all the episodes of the TV show, I was always a fan of the show when I was fortunate enough to catch them on reruns. So, I was pleasantly surprised to hear that a big screen version was being readied and that Steve Carell would play the bumbling secret agent Maxwell Smart. Also starring Anne Hathaway, Dwayne Johnson and Alan Arkin, Get Smart is a very enjoyable summer movie.
- The Incredible Hulk Following the disappointing box-office of Ang Lee's Hulk in 2003, Marvel Studios decided that Hulk was too big of an IP (intellectual property) to just die under the bad reviews of that film. So, a reboot was in order and out comes this summer's 2nd (behind the awesome Iron Man) excellent superhero flick. Starring Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, Tim Roth and William Hurt, this iteration of the Hulk does right what the previous version fails at. Where the 2003 version was basically a drama with action sequences sprinkled about, this one is action with drama sequences mixed in.
On the small screen:
- Juno A charming movie about a teen (played by Ellen Page best known for Hard Candy), who gets pregnant after her first sexual experience, decides to give the baby up for adoption to a couple (Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman) who have been having problems conceiving children of their own. Film also stars Michael Cera (SuperBad) as her boyfriend and J.K. Simmons (Spider-Man, Oz) as her father. Rainn Wilson (The Office) has a small amusing part as a store clerk during the opening scene in the movie.
- The Girl Next Door Not to be confused with 2004 comedy of the same name which starred Elisha Cuthbert of 24 fame, this documentary (filmed over the course of 2 years) chronicles the life of Oklahoma housewife Stacy Baker and how, on a dare from her then-husband, submitted a topless photo to Hustler magazine. The photo won her top honors and helped launch her career in the adult industry as Stacy Valentine. An interesting look into how working in the "porn" industry has affected and changed her personal life.
- 28 Weeks Later Sequel to the very popular 28 Days Later about a virus that turns the population in the UK into blood-crazed psychopaths bent on destroying the uninfected. I enjoyed this very much but wished that filmmakers would abandon the "MTV-style" camera work where they think getting an intense scene to work means the need to film up close and with nauseating abandon. Makes me wonder if the director himself was infected with the "rage" virus.
- Michael Clayton George Clooney headlines an excellent cast of actors in this boring thriller about a "fixer" who must retrieve a colleague that has suffered a mental breakdown after getting off his meds and comes to realize that he may have vital information that can jeopardize the firms 3-billion dollar, 6 year class-action lawsuit that he's been working on. Also stars Tom Wilkinson, Tilda Swinton and the late Sydney Pollack.
- Untraceable Diane Lane stars in this thriller as an FBI agent within the cybercrime division that is tasked with trying to find a killer that is using his website to display live executions where the number of visitors to his site factors in the amount of time the victim has left to live. The murders are quite imaginative ala Saw. Although a bit predictable, hard for me not to like a movie with Ms. Lane involved. Also stars Tom Hanks son, Colin Hanks of Roswell fame.
- Rambo After the very successful and entertaining Rocky Balboa, Sylvester Stallone reprises his role as one of the 80s most iconic characters, Vietnam veteran John Rambo. Living in Thailand, Rambo joins up with mercenaries to rescue a group of Christian aid workers kidnapped by a ruthless local infantry unit. Very violent yet enjoyable. Also stars Julie Benz (of Dexter fame) and long-time TV actor Paul Schulze (of 24 fame).
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