Movie Phat

2012 Oscar Time Arrivals

2012-01-28T01:48:00.002-05:00

THE DESCENDANTS-2011
DRAMA

George Clooney is not only good looking but can act!!! He plays Matt King an everyday man dealing with everyday but tragic problems in of all places Hawaii!!! His wife is in a coma, he finds out she was cheating on him, he has a vast amount of beautiful land many of his family wants to sell and he is clueless how to deal with her rebellious daughters. The daughters played by Alex (Shailene Woodley ) the oldest with a foul mouth and Scottie (Amara Miller) leaning the wrong things from her sister.

The King family has many ways right or wrong to deal with death and it is truly heartbreaking. It is not like typical Lifetime movie. There are no flashbacks of how Elizabeth King (Patricia Hastie) how she was before the accident you find out about her through her husband and kids. Woodley is very good as a hellish teenager but learns her father needs help with the younger sister. If you enjoy excellent acting you should go.

THE IRON LADY -2011
BIOGRAPHY/DRAMA

This review is a tough one. I don’t know about Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. I read a little bit about her so I am only reviewing as a movie. Meryl Streep is wonderful as the character but they rushed the film about her raise and fall. The best parts are when she is not in power but just a citizen trying to ordinary. To me, it’s a better Lifetime movie with a great actress. Depending on your political views she was amazing or an amazing bitch!!! If you like incredible acting by Streep watch it the film is not very accurate.

THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO-2011
(AMERICAN VERSION) DRAMA/MYSTERY

If you like this movie you should have read all three bestselling books by Stieg Larsson and watched all three movies –the Swedish version. I haven’t done either but I have watched the English version and it is interesting once you get passed the explicit sex and violence ( the Swedish version is likely much worst) and get to the story of Mikael Blombkist (Daniel Craig) a reporter paid of a rich family to find his daughter from 40 years ago.

He gets an assistant Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara) an antisocial gothic lean chick who is a brilliant hacker and together they uncovered a hot bed of corruption. Craig is not James Bond in this movie but he is good. Actress Mara who was briefly in The Social Network is very good but I don’t know is she as good as the original Salander played by Noomi Rapace. This is not a family movie, not a date movie so they release it around Christmas. WARNING: Be prepared to see some kinky stuff!!

THE ARTIST-2011
SILENT/DRAMA/ROMANCE

Ladies and gentlemen this is a great movie but you really have to enjoy silent movies that are shown on TCM. You can enjoy the film but you will appreciate more if you like silent movies. It is about a silent movie idol George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) who doesn’t do well when talkies come in and a fan Peppy Miller (Berenice Bejo) in love with him who becomes a sensation. It is a joy to watch. The music is very important to silent films and Ludovic Bource does an excellent job. Everything about cinema silent or otherwise is great. See it if you can.

So, HOW Do you Sell Red Tails?

2012-01-19T12:33:00.001-05:00

The movie Red Tails is a true historical drama about the Tuskegee Airmen, a group of brave black fighter pilots in 1944 who had to deal with war and segregation. There was also a HBO movie Tuskegee Air Man in 1995. My question is, how do you advertise such a film to the public? Sad to say, it is a hard sell. It is not a blockbuster bit of cinema, but George (Star Wars) Lucas is producing it. It has great action sequences –some say fantastic.

It is set for release in January 2012, the dumping ground for movies. The trouble is no big name black star is in the film so how to sell it, so let's brainstorm. First, it is not a Tyler Perry movie or a black romantic comedy. Now what? How will that make it go over in Leicester Square cinema, or elsewhere? Well, it has Oscar winner Cuba Gooding Jr., and in it he's finally acting – which he hasn’t done in years. The movie also has Terrence Howard, from Hustle and Flow and Iron Man, and you know he can act.

It is male oriented, so there will be action in it. It's great to show young black men in a good light. Should they use rap in their commercials? Or a catchy dance tune? The director is Anthony Hemingway, who has done a lot of TV shows –Fringe, CSI, ER and The Closer. This is his film debut. On the cover of Ebony for February 2012 they will feature the main actors. As another marketing manuever, they could go the patriotic route, with the song Star Spangled Banner sung by Whitney Houston, or a soulful rendition of God Bless America as they show the battle sequences. A promo could fade out to say: Courage Has No Color.

The trailers must show the men being very heroic, because doggone it, black men can be heroic. I hope the movie makes money or at least break even, but I strongly doubt it. It is the old story of prestige versus popcorn movies, and usually the popcorn film wins. I do hope I am wrong, very wrong this time. Black people go to the movies more than whites, and we should demand better movies. If we don’t go, we'll have the usual urban comedies, no dramas, more maids, more gangster movies, "white folks can only raise black children" white saviors in films, when the fact is we can save ourselves. Hollywood can do better if we make them for remember the bottom line is money, so satisfy the black audience.

Early Winter 2012 Family Fare

2012-01-18T03:48:00.002-05:00

THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN
ANIMATION/FANTASY

TinTin is a really old cartoon character. Director Steven Spielberg must have really wanted to make this exciting tale and it starts with the Tintin buying a model ship. He is hunted at every turn and he meets always drunk Captain Haddock voiced by the great actor Andy Serkis (Gollum, from Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Caesar from Rise of the Planet of the Apes) and the evil Sakharine voiced by Daniel Craig, the latest James Bond. It is like Indiana Jones only animated. The young kids may love the motion caption and 3D but older people who know the comic might enjoy it. If you don’t want to pay the high price wait for video.

CHIPWRECKED
ANIMATION

The franchise is so cute you may get a cavity just by watching it. The plot is not really important by the stars Alvin and the Chipmunk and don’t forget the Chipettes are. Alvin gets them in trouble on the cruise and they are accidentally stranded on a tropical island. They have a lot of pop culture but to young kids it is very funny to adults not so much. It is a joy to watch at least for me. If you can wait see it on video if you have children that like them please go!!!

HAPPY FEET 2
ANIMATION

If you saw the first one you know Mumble couldn’t sing but could dance now his son Erik is trying to find his way and what his talent is while a threat to the entire penguin nation is in danger. It is a very well made movie-not as good as the first one but the music is pretty good. There is another story along with the penguins that blend together in the end. If you liked the first one and love music you will like this one-you should see it on video just to understand more of it.

HAPPY NEW YEAR’S EVE
ROMANCE/COMEDY/DRAMA

In 2010 a movie made named Valentine’ s Day with lots of star in it and money now they made another star studded film for the last day of the year. The people are all connected with happy to sad results. It is very romantic, very unrealistic situations too but characters are given not much time for development. Should you see it depends of what you like and if you didn’t like Valentine’s Day don’t go wait for video.

SHERLOCK HOLMES 2: GAME OF SHADOWS
ACTION/ADVENTURE

In the second installment of this movie Holmes (Robert Downey Jr) meets him nemesis Professor James Moriarty played with ego and menace by Jared Harris. Watson seems to have more common sense than his flamboyant partner. It is like the first one more action and daring situations yet Downey’s Holmes is intelligent as well as reckless and rough. If you like the first please go to this one for it is very good.

Money and Protocols

2011-12-28T09:42:00.001-05:00

MONEYBALL
SPORTS DRAMA

I can’t believe this is a true story but it is. It is about Billy Beane general manager of the Oakland A’s who tries to change old school way of the big and powerful of baseball. Brad Pitt is more than a handsome face-he is ACTING. Another surprise Jonah Hill (Superbad and the The Sitter) is very good as his partner and accountant. No melodramatic clinches thanks to the writing of Aaron Sorkin ( West Wing, The Social Network). You don’t have to know baseball to the enjoy it. It is a drama not much action so if you are into acting go to see it-if not wait for video.

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: GHOST PROTOCOL
ACTION

You think this series would slow down after the fourth movie but it is action packed. I can’t believe this was directed by Brad Bird who directed the animated feature The Incredible. If you’ve seen the trailer you know the film. Mostly all of IMF are killed and the only ones left is Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) Benji (Simon Pegg) Paula Patton (Jane Carter) and Brandt(Jeremy Renner) to stop a nuclear bomb from destroying a major city. James Bond got competition with Ethan Hunt but the difference is he can work alone and work as a team. You should see it on the big screen but if you can’t video is good. If you like lots of action this is for you.

Muppets, Vamps and Thieves

2011-12-11T23:24:00.004-05:00

TOWER HEIST
ACTION/COMEDY

The title tells you what the movie is about but the best part is Eddie Murphy being funny again!! He does well playing Slide, a low rent thief among Ben Stiller, Matthew Broderick, Casey Affleck who rob their boss Alan Alda, a Bernie Madoff type who rob them of their pensions!! It is clever but not what you expected from the trailer. If you like Eddie Murphy see it –if not wait for video.

THE MUPPETS
COMEDY/FAMILY/MUSICAL

This is a crazy, cute movie. It is about Gary (Jason Segel Bad Teacher) and Walter a muppet—they are brothers!!! Don’t ask. Walter becomes a fan of the muppets and they go to Hollywood to see them but the gang has gone their separate ways and the evil Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) wants the studio for there is oil beneath. Walter has to get the band back together. Don’t ask. Ask should you see it? Yes!!! It is amazing. If you love these cuddly creatures and they make fun of themselves and pop culture. The highlight is Chris Cooper rappin”!! If you know the actor you know why it is absurd.

IMMORTALS
FANTASY

In this movie you should know Greek mythology it will help some. There are three reasons you should like this movie 1-Henry Cavill (he will soon be Superman in Man of Steel) 2- Mickey Rourke good actor and 3-the lush visional effects by director by Tarsem Singh (The Cell, The Fall). For you action hounds it gets good at the end. Plot is simple Theseus (Cavill) is a mortal man chosen by Zeus to lead an army against King Hyperion (Rourke)who searches for a magical bow and arrow to enslave humanity. Acting not really important but good but the action is great. If you didn’t enjoy 300 you shouldn’t go but if you did –GO!

TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN
FANTASY/ROMANCE

OMG, why does this franchise make so much money!!! I did enjoy the last one a little but this one is boring. You should read the author’s books even if it is bad it does help if you are interested. I am only reviewing as a movie. The Twihards know the story Edward Cullen (Robert Patterson) the vampire is marrying Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) the human much to the objection of Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner) the werewolf who is in love with her. The odd couple goes to an uncharted island off Brazil and they have bed-wrecking sex and Bella gets pregnant and all hell breaks loose!! It shouldn’t be boring but it is. The director is Bill Condon who directed Dreamgirls and writer Melissa Rosenberg who writes Dexter. I don’t know why it is not good as the last one. I hope the final film is much better. The ONLY thing good about this franchise is young girls and women can make a blockbuster.

Fall 2011 DVD Wrap Up

2011-11-26T01:13:00.003-05:00

SOLOMON KANE-2009
ACTION/FANTASY

This is an excellent fantasy movie!!! Based on Robert E. Howard the same writer for Conan and based on a comic book of the same name. He was a mercenary then a monk then a killer again but to kill evil. He is a Puritan swordsman. It sounds corny and typical for this kind of genre but James Purefoy who plays Kane is not a one note character- he is kind one minute cut-throat the next. He is a very serious Van Hesling!!! The cast and the production are quite good. I don’t think it is on video in the United States and I don’t know why, if you see it you will enjoy it.

TACTICAL FORCE
ACTION

Nothing like a direct-to-DVD action movie!!! It is a b film all the way but it is very funny!!! Wrestler Stone Cold Steve Austin is Tate, leader of a group of wise-cracking, kick-ass SWAT team that include Michael Jai White (Black Dynamite) Lexa Doig (Andromeda) and Steve Bacic. They botch up a hostage situation at a grocery store which their captain sends them to train without live ammo and of course a real crime is being committed by two rival gangs who want what is in the suitcase. Plenty of action and vile language but at least it is comical. Michael Shanks (Stargate: SG1 ,Hawkman in Smallville) is a foul Russian. If you like action b movies you can’t go wrong!!!

RED STATE
HORROR

This film is a downer and it is not the typical horror movies you’re used to. It is about three teenage boys who want sex and finds it with grim consequences. Director Kevin Smith (Clerks, Clerk 2, Jack and Miri Make A Porn, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back) made a great movie no one will see. It has the crazy preacher Abin Cooper played very well by Michael Parks .He deserves an Oscar nomination. It is offensive, violent, and exploitative but it is the best, bizarre movie I ever seen!! Mr. Smith couldn’t find distribution for the movie and if you see it you know why. The movie didn’t make much money and it is on video. If you got a strong stomach watch it, if not it should be on IFC.

THE REUNION
ACTION/COMEDY

John Cena is a very popular wrestler in the WWE. He has been trying to be a movie star. He is good-looking but bland. He needs to be a superhero, Captain Cena perhaps? In this film he is one of four siblings who hate each other but will get three million dollars if they can work together in a business. Cena is not funny but Ethan Embry (Freaky Links, Fairly Legal) as one of the brothers. It is good but better on DVD. I really hope Cena gets to be a movie star for he is very successful in everything else.

All For One and Four for Fall

2011-10-31T23:47:00.004-04:00

REEL STEEL
ACTION/SCI-FI/DRAMA

Nothing like robot action!!! It is a boxing movie, but instead of people it is robots. So if you like the Transformers or are a big kid at heart you will love it. It has all the clichés you see in a sports movie and a father who doesn’t know his kid. The best part and stars of the movie are the 8-foot robots attacking each other!!! Hugh Jackman is in it, but the people are not really interesting (at least) to me. Action hounds, you will love this. I am surprised this didn’t come out in the summer!!!

JOHNNY ENGLISH: REBORN
ACTION/COMEDY

Rowan Atkinson is back as secret agent, but funny Johnny English. He has to save the Chinese prime minster from getting killed. This time around it is more spy stuff than silly. There are great moments but it really plays like a thriller. Everyone is good including Gillian Anderson (Scully, X Files), Dominic West (Punisher War Zone). But the show stealer is Pik Sen Lim as Killer Cleaner!! She is elderly and deadly!!! It is good if you like Atkinson but if not, wait for video.

PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 3
SUPERNATURAL THRILLER

The third installment of this film like all the others---using a hand-held camera to tell a frightening story of Katie and her sister Kristie being haunted by an entity. A lot doesn’t happen in the movie but it has jolts of scares when it does. You don’t need to see the first two movies, but it would help. This one made more money than the last, so I guess there will be another. Get ready!!!

THE THREE MUSKETEERS-2011
ACTION/ADVENTURE

Hollywood seems to make this story written by Aleixandre Dumas over and over again, and this time it has lots of special effects. You know the plot, but it’s got that Pirates of the Caribbean films feel going on. The villains are great and Mila Jovovich (Resident Evil) is devious as double agent swordsman Milady DeWinter. Orlando Bloom is very odd but good as the bad Duke of Buckingham, and Mads Mikkelsen (Casino Royale---the bad guy with the bad eye) shines as Rochefort. Once again he’s got an eye problem!!! Christopher Waltz (Inglorious Bastards, Green Hornet) is great as Cardinal Richelieu. If you like this story with the updated twist you will enjoy it, otherwise please wait for video.

From Summer Madness to Fall Sadness

2011-10-10T01:30:00.003-04:00

KILLER ELITE
ACTION/THRILLER

This movie is based on a true story about Danny (Jason Statham, Transporter) who saves his kidnapped mentor Hunter (Robert De Niro) by a sheik who wants vengeance for his sons’ death. It gets more complicated and that is what makes it good!!! The film goes to different countries and you feel you are in a spy movie as well. Before seeming the movies I was wondering why the great actor De Niro was doing in it after watching it I know why. Action hounds will love this for there are great many action sequences. I don’t think it did well in the theaters for it is not the straight forward kick-ass movies Jason Statham fans are used to. It will do MUCH better on video!!!

CONTAGION
SCI-FI/THRILLER

The film is a grim story of how a disease can cause paranoia, violence and panic!! It is not a popcorn movie; it is meticulous, scary, realistic and frightening. Gwyneth Paltrow, Matt Damon, Laurence Fishburne and Jude Law are excellent in the movie but like I said-–it is a good movie, just not a very happy one. It made money the first weekend, then took a dive, and if you’re brave enough to see the movie you’ll see why. What is so scary about it-–it could happen at any time.

ABDUCTION
ACTION/THRILLER

First, to truly enjoy this film you have to believe Taylor Lautner star of The Twilight movies as an action hero!!! If you can’t get past that you won’t enjoy it. Direction is by John Singleton, of Boys in the Hood, and is about how Taylor’s great life is lie, as he finds out the truth about his real parents. You have seen it all before but it is nice Lautner is trying to branch out before Twilight ends. The movie is action packed compared to the two Twilight films combined!!! It made more money than his co-stars of the Twilight films but not much. Girls watched the movies more than guys so I guess men don’t see the heartthrob as a badass.

DRIVE
CRIME DRAMA

The trailer you see for this film is misleading!!! It is not an action movie!!! It has action in it, but it is far from what you expect. It is not a car chase movie either. What it really is part independent film, part film noir, part crime drama. The acting is great, especially from Ryan Gosling, and even comic Albert Brooks is very good as a gangster!!! The story is simple---a stuntman also does part-time work as a driver. Nicolas Winding Refn directing is as strange as his name. This film is not for everybody, so for many, video is the only way.

Vengeance, Sharks and Human Monsters

2011-09-08T20:16:00.003-04:00

SHARK NIGHT 3D
THRILLER

The movie Jaws, the blockbuster in 1976, made us fear sharks, and since then there has been sharkploitation!!! The latest film is this one. It is not really about anything but a bunch of hot teens being lunch for the predators. The sad part the monsters are not always in the ocean. It is slightly better than a Syfy movie. Acting is not a main point of the movie, but two performances stand out. Sinqua Walls (who plays in Friday Night Lights) as a victim, and Donal Logue, who starred in the cancelled series Terriers, as the sheriff. It will be do MUCH better on video than in the theaters.

CONAN THE BARBARIAN
ACTION/FANTASY/ADVENTURE

In 1982 a genre was reborn, with a sword and sorcery yarn titled Conan the Barbarian starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, that became a hit. Now this movie was remade with the same title different actor Jason Momoa as Conan. Plot, acting not really the focus of this film but hacking, slashing impaling and slicing is what it is all about. The story is about revenge. Conan was born on the battlefield and saw his father killed by Khalar Zym, played by Avatar’s Stephen Lang who is searching for parts of a mask to make him a god, and bring his dead wife back to life.

Now grown, Conan goes to find his father’s killer and helps Tamara,(Rachel Nichols) a pretty young woman who can make Zym become immortal. Momoa looks fine as Conan--he is big and brutal however Nichols is no Sandahl Bergman, as his love interest. Bergman won a Golden Globe for her role, and her character could be malicious, but she cared for her man. Nichols, not so much. Rose McGown as Zyms’ evil daughter displays some really bizarre outfits and kinky tastes. Very good. Stephen Lang is okay as the villain, but he could have been much more. It didn’t make money, and I don’t know why. It will do better on video.

COLOMBIANA
ACTION/DRAMA

I don’t know why this movie is called Columbiana, as you think that is the name of the character Zoe Saldana plays, but her name is Cataleya (named after a flower in Colombia). It is a B movie, as Cataleya sees her parents gunned down in front of her and she becomes a slinky hit woman. She is the Latina Kill Bill!! It is typical, dumb, and it’s surely not Oscar stuff, but it is a good popcorn movie. Zoe Saldana is good having emotions despite the fact she is a stone-cold assassin. I can see why the movie was number 2 at the box office. There is room for a sequel but I really doubt it. It will do better on video.

Smurfy Times, Apes Rising, Help!

2011-08-18T07:48:00.003-04:00

SMURFS--THE MOVIE
ANIMATION/FANTASY

WARNING: If you are not a fan of this film you will think it is very silly!!! However, if you are a fan you will enjoy this cute and funny feature about the Smurfs who accidentally come to New York. Plot really not important, but the voice actors are wonderful. Jonathan Winters is Papa Smurf, Alan Cummings (X-men 2) is Gutsy, singer Katy Perry is Smurfette and tells why she is the only girl in the land.

Funny guy George Lopez is great as Grouchy and Anton Yelchin (Chekov in Star Trek 2009) is Clumsy. The humans are very good too. Hank Azaria as Gargamel is great as the evil guy but whacky. Neil Patrick Harris (on TV show How I Met Your Mother) and Jayma Mays as the couple who helps the little blue people. It is great for kids and people who really like the cartoon series.

RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES
SCI-FI/ACTION

WOW!! This film took me by surprise!!! I not too fond of “ape” movies but this is very good!!! It is a prequel to Planet of the Apes and how they became intelligent and took over from human beings. James Franco is great as a scientist who has personal problems, who genetically transforms a baby ape named Caesar to a thinking ape. Freida Pinto (Slumdog Millionaire) is very good as his girlfriend. John Lithgow is touching as his Alzheimer’s father.

David Oyelowo is evil as the black businessman who wants to sell the genetic drug; Tom Felton (Harry Potter series Draco Malfoy) playing a bad zookeeper. David Hewlett (Dr. McKay from Stargate: Atlantis) plays a small but important part. The best acting of all is Andy Serkis as the grown Caesar (via motion caption) is amazing!!! SPOILERS: Caesar speaks twice and that means two things, sequels and evolution of the apes!!! A good summer movie, and better on video with the extra features.

THE HELP
DRAMA

I love to hate this film for it is about black maids in the 60’s in Jackson, Mississippi and how one young privileged southern girl Skeeter (Emma Stone) wants to tell the side of the housekeeper. The acting by Aibileen (Viola Davis) is on her way to win an Oscar nomination along with her feisty friend Minny (Octavia Spencer). Why I hate it--so many black stories to tell they pick this one!!! This is based on the bestselling book by the same name. It was rejected 60 times, and for good reason!!!

Black women find it damn offensive showing actresses as maids in this day and age while we have a black first lady. I am truly surprised it is making money!!! To boycott this movie would make it more money (from the controversy) so I just don’t know what to say. You have to brace yourself for all the racism in the film. There are bright moments, but Hollywood seems to think black audiences love to see themselves subservient to whites, or as poor, ghetto or gangster. Black life is more than what Hollywood is showing. See this film for good acting and if you’re black, see it at your own risk.

Captains and Aliens and Pooh Bears

2011-07-31T09:54:00.003-04:00

COWBOYS & ALIENS
SCI-FI/WESTERN

The title should be called Cowboys, Indians and Outlaws vs. Aliens. Based on a graphic novel, the story is about Jake (Daniel Craig, the latest James Bond) who is out in the desert not knowing who he and has a strange cuff on his wrist. The adventure starts when he has to discover who he really is. The cast is great, as Harrison Ford (Star Wars, Indiana Jones) is great as Woodrow Dolarhyde, a powerful rich guy, and Olivia Wilde (Tron Legacy) is not just the woman in the movie. She plays an important part. It is a strange hybrid, but with loads of action. If you don’t like your westerns mixed with monsters don’t go, but it is different and good!!

WINNIE THE POOH
ANIMATION

The classic Winnie the Pooh is back and is sooo delightful, but the film is too short. The lovable bear who loves 'hunny' with his stuffed friends. The story is simply Eeyore lost his tail and Christopher Robin has a contest who finds his tail gets a reward: hunny!!! The film is lots of fun yet short, but it has musical numbers, comedy, suspense The older people who know the cute bear knows that the narrator is now John Clesse not the late Sebastian Cabot, and the film is old school animation.

ZOOKEEPER
ROMANTIC COMEDY

Griffin Keyes (Kevin James, King of Queens, Mall Cop) is the zookeeper of Franklin Park Zoo. He is good at his job but his sexy ex-girlfriend Stephanie(Leslie Bibb, Ironman) wants him back to sell hot cars and live the good life. Kate (Rosario Dawson, Men In Black 2, Unstoppable) likes Griffin too and works at the same zoo. The animals like him too and they TALK!!! The voices of the animals are Adam Sandler as Donald the monkey, Sylvester Stallone as Joe the lion, Nick Nolte as Bernie the gorilla and Cher as the lioness. It should be a fantasy with talking animals and chubby James getting attention from two beautiful women, but he is charming and romantic enough to make it work. Kids will love it, adults not so much.

CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER
ACTION/FANTASY

This character has been done in the movies so many times but this time they got it right!!! Comic book fans may disagree, for there are some changes from the comic. You know the story; Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) a sickly kid tries to go to the serve his country by going in the military. He is rejected every time until Dr. Abraham Erskine (Stanley Tucci) sees something good within him and wants to experiment on him, so Rogers agrees and turns into the superhero.

The cast is good but the film is not about acting. You can’t believe that Evans was the Human Torch in Fantastic Four!! Hugo Weaving is just evil at his best portraying Johann Schmidt/Red Skull. STAY AFTER THE CREDITS or you’ll miss a good scene. You'll have to decide for yourself if the film is patriotic or propaganda.

The Horrible and the Hallows

2011-07-22T00:18:00.002-04:00

BAD TEACHER
(COMEDY)

This film has the right title. Elizabeth Halsey is a bad teacher, but the good thing is she is played by Cameron Diaz. I think this is her best part yet!!! She drinks; she smokes, she is selfish, she is self-centered, she swears, she schemes. She should give up teaching and be a politician. Her rival Amy Squirrel (Lucy Punch) compete for Scott Delacorte (Justin Timberlake), a wealthy but nerdy substitute teacher. They fight for his affections in crazy, funny ways. The acting not important as the raunchiness!!! For the guys she washes a car like she's having sex with it!!! For the women, there is even romance believe it or not!!!

HORRIBLE BOSSES
(COMEDY)

Did you ever fantasize of killing your supervisor? Well in this movie, Jason Bateman, Charlie Day and Jason Sudeikis decide to kill their bosses with the help of “murdering consultant” Jamie Fox. Their bosses are egotistical Kevin Spacey, an unrecognizable Colin Farrell and Jennifer Aniston as a maneater!!!. It is gross and funny at the same time. The acting is good especially Aniston, who is playing waaay against type. Guest stars appear against type too, so get ready for that!! The plot is nothing new but the three leads act like real people in a stressful or drunk situation. Should you go see if only if you like the premise and comedy.

HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS –PART 2
(FANTASY/ACTION)

You know that phrase ‘save the best for last’ applies to this movie. You should read the books (I haven’t), or at least seen most of the movies because they refer to many parts in the movie. If you thought the last movie was grim, it gets worse. Harry, Ron and Emma try to stop the evil Lord Voldermort with sad and tragic results. Severus Snape, played by Alan Rickman, has important role in this film. The production is top-notch even if you are not a fan. Quality and quantity has not lowered. It is an amazing film franchise achievement. Fans of the movie will love it; people who read the book will like it--even if there are changes in the movie. It is good in 2D or 3D.

Green Grit and Summer DVDs

2011-07-13T14:18:00.002-04:00

GREEN LANTERN: EMERALD KNIGHTS
ANIMATED-2011

For those of you who need some more green after Ryan Reynolds: Finally, DC comics and movies are moving on to their other superheroes. This story is about a new recruit Arisia (Elizabeth Moss) and Hal Jordan (Nathan Fillion, Firefly, Castle) tells her stories about the famous green lanterns before them. It is very good and the animation is brilliant. It does have some disturbing parts, but it's still worth watching. It has great celebrities who offer their voices such as Jason Isaacs (Harry Potter) Kelly Hu (Hawaii 50) and Arnold Vosloo (The Mummy series).

TRUE GRIT
WESTERN/DRAMA -2010

Two things you should know before reading my review. First, I never saw the entire, original movie with iconic John Wayne in 1969 and second, I don’t like westerns--Italian westerns. This remake is very good for it feels like a real western--not a Hollywood western. Story is about a young girl named Mattie Ross (talented Hailee Steinfeld) who wants revenge on the man who killed her father played by Josh Brolin and gets help by Rooster Cogburn played by the great actor Jeff Bridges. Everyone does a fantastic job, and the cinematography by Roger Deakins is amazing. The Coen Brothers did fine jobs as with the movie “No Country for Old Men”. Remakes are usually terrible, but this one is very good.

Moony Robots, Goony Women

2011-07-01T12:40:00.002-04:00

TRANSFORMERS 3: DARK OF THE MOON
ACTION/SCI-FI

I enjoy the Transformers movies, so I won’t give a bad review. Many people think it is too loud, or inane, but that’s why I like it. To me it is fun to watch. The third movie is the same as it ever was. The story is about Sentinel Prime, Optimus Prime’s mentor, who crashes on the moon escaping Cybertron in the war, and he has to bring him back alive to stop the Desciptions. Let’s face it, plot not really important, and acting is REALLY not important. What IS important are the giant robots beating the hell out of each other in big cities!!! They do that a lot in this film.

I heard it is better in 3D, but I loved it in 2D. This film's visuals, you have to see again, or on video to catch up on what you missed, because there is a lot going on in this movie. If you are an action-hound you will LOVE it. If you saw Battle: Los Angeles, it is something like that. The things that bother me is one, so much is going on, that you can’t tell the Autobots from the Descipticons, and second, Megatron is acting like Starscream!!! He is second to another powerful robot, but he is MEGATRON!!! He is evil, but in the last two movies they don’t show it in full force!!!

Humans are afterthoughts in this film, like Shia and Rosie (a model, of whom the best can be said is that, Megan Fox was a better actress). I have read this is Michael Bay’s last Transformer movie--too bad. Critics and fans say he is a hack. I wish I made a couple of billion dollars for being a hack! Whatever director replaces him, I hope they do a better hack job.

BRIDESMAIDS
COMEDY

Didn’t think I would see this movie, uh? Well I did. Female driven films are rare, and even rarer in summer blockbuster season. It works because it is very funny. There are gross parts in it, but it is funny and romantic too. The story is about Annie (Saturday Night Live Kristen Wiig) who’s best friend Lillian (Maya Rudolph another Saturday Night Live star) is about to get engaged. She wants her to be the maid of honor and she messes up in hilarious ways.

Kristen Wiig is just great as Annie. She is funny and tragic. Maya Rudolph is fun to watch too. Jon Hamm (Mad Men) is Annie’s sometimes handsome yet total jerk boyfriend. The late great actress Jill Clayburgh is in it too. I hope this becomes a trend in the summer, because women want to have fun at the movies too.

Here Come the Summer Super Movies

2011-06-19T15:52:00.003-04:00

GREEN LANTERN
ACTION/FANTASY

I am very glad DC is expanding their superheroes besides Superman and Batman. Hal Jordan (Ryan Reynolds) is an expert pilot who is reckless and aimless is chosen by Lantern Corp after Abin Sur (Temuera Morrison, Jango Fett ,StarWars2 Attack of the Clones) plane crashes on earth after wounded by an evil force called Parallax. Hal is transported to Oa for training, and he feels he is not up to the job. We all know he is and he proves himself in the end.

The movie is expensive and it shows. Some critics say it's cheesy, but I do not see it. It is entertaining as a movie as a comic adapted to the movies, though maybe not to the diehard fanboys and fangirls. Ryan Reynolds is good as Green Lantern but I don’t think Hal Jordan was reckless in the comics. Mark Strong as Sinestro is brilliant!!! He is Green Lantern’s mentor. His voice is eerie and you just know he will be a villain very soon.

Blake Lively (Gossip Girl) is hot as his love interest. DON’T jump up as soon as the credit come on!!! Stay a few minutes for a startling scene!! Some sequels get better, and I do hope this is one of them.

X-MEN: FIRST CLASS
ACTION/ADVENTURE

Here we go again. Comic book fans may feel different about the film than just a movie fan. I am judging it as a movie. It is about the beginning of Professor Charles Xavier (James McAvoy, Wanted, King of Scotland) and Erik Lehnsherr/Magneto (Michael Fassbender 300, and the TV show Hex), and how and why they started the X-Men. This is an intelligent version of the X-Men franchise. It has action, but is not action packed!!

There a lot of subtitles like a foreign movies!!! The two actors are amazing especially Fassbender. He is very INTENSE!!! There is a reason he is that way. The guy kills in unique ways and as much as tolerable for a PG-13 movie. Sebastian Shaw (Kevin Bacon) is evil as can be, and January Jones as Emma Frost just as wicked, sexy as Shaw’s mutant assistant. Hank McCoy/Beast (Nicholas Houit) looks like a furry toy. Jennifer Lawrence is good as Mystique, a shape-shifter who wants to be “normal.”. She is sometimes when the shapely actress tries to be a teasing teenager.

SUPER 8
SCI/FI

In the summer of 1979 in Ohio, while teenagers make a movie, a train crashes with something inside that was not meant to get out. The flick is like “The Goonies meet Alien”!!! There is a lot of drama in the popcorn film--very rare indeed, and Elle Fanning (Dakota Fanning’s sister) is very good as Alice, whom two guys have a crush over. Glynn Truman as Dr. Woodward is important to the story and he was excellent, even if he was only in it briefly.

It is not as good as the hype, but it was good as a teen drama that turned into action science fiction flick. J.J. Abrams (Star Trek---the reboot) is a good director and he keeps you guessing, but the payoff was weak. I can see why it made money, but I can also see it drop box office after one week.

Pandas, Pirates, Hanging Over

2011-06-01T05:34:00.005-04:00

HANGOVER PART 2
COMEDY

If any movie advocates for staying sober, this one and the first one is it!!! Each time these guys get drunk outrageousness comedy follows. If you’ve seen “Hangover” you practically saw the sequel, only this time it is in Bangkok. The guys have misplaced someone and they have to remember what they did to find him. It is a lot more vulgar than the first but young guys love this stuff!!! There is a rendition of “Allentown” included that does not go the way singer Billy Joel intended. This movie is R-rated for a reason--not for kids!!! Some freaky situations!!! I hear there may be a third!! Guys, go to rehab!!!

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN 4: ON STRANGER TIDES
ACTION/ADVENTURE/FANTASY

I am not crazy about this franchise but it is well made and it has Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow. He is Bugs Bunny – he gets into the incredible trouble and gets out with a smile. The story is about Sparrow who has a map to find the Fountain of Youth. Blackbeard played wickedly by Ian McShane and Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) will do anything to find the treasure. Keira Nightley and Orlando Bloom are not in this movie but Penelope Cruz is and she is a sexy con-artist who may or may not be Blackbeard’s daughter. It is a popcorn film for sure.

KUNG FU PANDA 2
ANIMATED/ACTION/FANTASY

I hate sequels especially bad sequels but that is not the case with this movie. It is about Po who has to find ‘inner peace’, finds out who his real parents are and stop the evil peacock Shen. Jack Black is very good voicing Po the Panda. He can be awkward but he eventually gets it right. Gary Oldman as Shen is just perfect. I don’t know how they made such a beautiful creature as a peacock so vicious is genius. The story, the animation is just great but it is a little sadder than the first and their maybe a third!!! This great for kids, teens even adults!!!

Gods, Priests, Grooms and Unions

2011-05-19T21:17:00.005-04:00

PRIEST
ACTION/THRILLER

This movie is based on a Korean comic book. It is about vampires fighting humans and the war nearly destroyed the world. The “priests” became warriors and killed the vampires and, no longer needed, they went into seclusion. The title character finds out his niece was kidnapped by vampires, asks the church for help and they decline, so he decides to go it alone. The movie is like a supernatural western.

Paul Bettany (the voice of Jarvis in Iron Man) is humorless and intense. Karl Urban (Bones from Star Trek--2009) is a cowboy vampire/human hybrid. He is truly evil!!! It has a lot of religious symbols in the movie, and the music by Christopher Young is heroic, loud and amazing. The film was to be out since 2010. This is summer’s first flop, but it wasn’t bad. It will do much better on video.

THOR
ACTION/ADVENTURE/FANTASY

The problem when they make movies from comic books is that the true comic book fan knows all the errors--if there are any. Thor is a very good movie, but if you know this character you may find flaws. The fun part is you can read the comics, or the short-cut www.marvel.com. The story is about Thor (Chris Hemsworth), a proud but arrogant young god who is banished to earth for his doing by his father Odin (Anthony Hopkins). His half-brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) schemes to be king of Asgard.

On earth he learns to be humble and helpful thanks to the love of a good woman Jane (Natalie Portman). Hemsworth is good as the lead, and Hopkins is great as Odin. Hiddleston as Loki was too 'low key' for me. I think he’s going to get more evil in “The Avengers”. The sets of Asgard are breathtaking and 3D adds more depth to it. If you like superhero movies you will enjoy this!!!

JUMPING THE BROOM
ROMANCE/DRAMA/COMEDY

Most black films are funny--as in lots of jokes, but not this one. It is a simple story of a rich girl, Sabrina (Paula Patten) who falls for hard-working guy Jason (Laz Alonso). Neither has met each others' parents, and that’s when the drama and comedy begin. The cast is first rate. Angela Bassett is classy, intelligent and talented. Stage actor Brian Stokes Mitchell is very good as well as the two leads. The film was produced by many people, including Reverend T.D. Jakes and it shows. No profanity and too-sexy content. It was very brave for the studio to release it among summer blockbusters. It also made money, so I hope they make many more.

MADEA’S BIG HAPPY FAMILY
COMEDY/DRAMA

If you like the Madea movies you will enjoy this one. It is about Loretta Devine, the matriarch of the family who is dying and tries very hard to get her dysfunctional clan together. She does get help from Madea, and she does as always straighten them all out. It contains a lot stereotypes, especially of black women, but there is a lot of faith, as it shows big women as human beings, good black males, and family is important. Tyler Perry is just one black director and he can’t do it all. He is highly scrutinized, for he is the only black director that seems to make money. It is a funny flick but it also has heart, and that’s why his movies do well at the box office.

Furiously Fast, Screaming Girls

2011-05-01T16:28:00.005-04:00

THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS FIVE
ACTION/ADVENTURE

The movie should be called “Fantastic Five” for it is great!! It has what a summer flick should have!! Hot men, sexy women, comic relief and amazing if unbelievable action!!! If you saw the last movie, Conner (Paul Walker) and Mia (Jordana Brewster) break out Dominic (Vin Diesel) out of prison and now they are fugitives. Dominic wants to do one last job in Rio and it‘s only to rob the biggest gangster in the country!! Another problem is Hobbs (Dwayne “The Rock”Johnson) a no-nonsense, relentless federal agent after them. Plot is not the reason to see this film and the fight between Diesel and Johnson is EPIC!!! It is the best of the series, and there might be another!!

SCREAM 4
HORROR/SLASHER

You have to love Scream movies to enjoy this one. It is about Sidney (Neve Campbell) who comes back to her hometown where she is a legend, and they are celebrating the Woodsboro murders. The murders start happening all over again. It is a body count movie. There are only two things that are truly interesting, one, the writer knows horror movies, and two, the killer and the not so far-fetched reason for the brutal massacre. If you enjoy these kinds of movies you will have fun, but if not wait video or cable.

Animated Fun for Adult Kids

2011-04-22T13:55:00.003-04:00

HOP
ANIMATION

You can’t go in this movie with an adult mind!!! You have to think back as a child, and the wonderment of the Easter Bunny. This is a very funny and cute movie about the Easter Bunny. E.B. (Russell Brand) doesn’t want to be the famous rabbit but a drummer in a rock band. He escapes Easter Island to go to Hollywood and accidentally meets a human, Fred O’ Hare (James Marsden), and a slacker to fulfill his dream. I can’t forget the evil Mexican chick Carlos (Hank Azaria) who wants to take over as the Easter Bunny!! It is very vivid in color and imagination. Kids will love it, and adults would are kids at heart will love it too.

PAUL
SCIENCE FICTION /COMEDY

This movie is like ET, only the alien is cute but loves to curse and smoke!! He wants to escape Area 51 for they want to take his stem cells for more research after he has told them all the technology that he knows. Paul (Seth Rogen) wasn’t good as The Green Hornet but he was very good as the alien. He accidentally meets two English nerds Simon Peg and Nick Frost who just came from a Comic-con and their adventure begins. It is very good who love popular sci-fi movies of the past. Peg and Frost are not only actors their also wrote the screenplay and it is very good. They are a great comedy team as well which we don’t see much anymore. I don’t think it did well in the theaters but I hope it does very well on Blu-ray and DVD.

RIO
ANIMATION

First of all Rio is not the name of the lead character, an exotic bird who cannot fly. His name is Blu, voiced by Jesse Eisenberg (Social Network), and he has to be taken to Rio with his owner to mate with Jewel (Anne Hathaway, Get Smart) for their species is almost extinct. You know there's more than that, and there is lots of adventure when the birds meets funny and dangerous characters. The best supporting cast is Pedro (will.i.aim, singer for Black Eyed Peas) and Nico (singer and actor Jamie Foxx) There are musical numbers, and don’t be surprised if it doesn’t go Broadway soon. The computer animation makes the country Rio so beautiful, you would love to go!!! It is a very cute movie.

Hobos and Codes That Need Adjusting

2011-04-15T11:28:00.003-04:00

HOBO WITH A SHOTGUN
ACTION/EXPLOITATION

We have to thank the 2007 movie Grindhouse for the double feature film was great but the fake trailers were even better, and two of the mock movies are now full-length films. One is Machete, and now this one. It is a very simple story. It is about Hobo (Rutger Hauer, Blade Runner) who gets off a train to find he's in a lawless and lustful city. He has to clean it up with what else? A shotgun!!! Movie is short on plot and characterization, but it is loaded with action and mindless, bloody violence!!!

Writers John Davies and Rob Cotterill wrote a gory cartoon movie. Director Jason Eisener, who made the fake trailer did a good job with it as an 87-minute movie. David Brunt, the original Hobo from the trailer, is in the movie as well playing a corrupt cop. This film, believe it or not, was shown at Sundance and other “classy” independent festivals. You can see the movie on VOD-Video On Demand, but it is $10.00 for 2 days before it comes to limited theaters May 6.

SOURCE CODE
ACTION/SCI-FI

This movie is too clever for your typical movie fan for it has action, real science fiction, intelligence and good acting. The story is about Colter Stevens (Jake Gyllenhaal, Prince of Persia) who is in a special time travel science program where he has 8 minutes to find out who the bomber of a train is, and he has to repeat this nightmare until he finds out who commits the crime. There is more to it, and it is great. It is not for everyone--not for my action hounds.

The acting is just great--besides Gyllenhall, from Vera Farmiga (Up In the Air) and Jeffrey Wright(Shaft). One flaw is that the villain is a wimp (Michael Arden, as Derek Forest). The director is Duncan Jones (David Bowie’s son) who also did Moon. So many people who saw it loved it, but it is not for your typical movie fan either. If you like Inception you will enjoy this--if not, please don’t go!!!

ADJUSTMENT BUREAU
ROMANCE/SCI-FI

My brother asks me didn’t this film come and go? Well watching it now, I know why. It is a weird hybrid of romance and science fiction. It is a short story written by Phillip Dick, who did Blade Runner, Minority Report and Total Recall. The question epxplored is, is there such a thing as Fate, or are we manipulated into things? David Norris (Matt Damon, Bourne movie series) wants to become Senator, and he is winning until a scandal happens.

Then he meets the love of his life, Elise Sellas (Emily Blunt, Wolfman), but there are men called The Adjustment Bureau who keep them apart. David does have an ally named Harry Mitchell (Anthony Mackie, Hurt Locker) but it gets rough. This movie is not for everyone but the acting is amazing!!! It should be a series but not on Network TV, better if it's put on cable for it is so odd!!! If you want something different here it is!!!

Girl Fantasies Lack Punch

2011-03-31T17:47:00.006-04:00

SUCKER PUNCH
FANTASY/ADVENTURE

If you see this movie, read all the reviews good and bad, so you can understand what is going on!!! Story is not important here, but the ACTION is!!! The epic battles are simply AMAZING. Director Zack Snyder, who made sense of the graphic novel Watchmen, couldn’t do it for his own screenplay. His next project is Superman: Man of Steel. This movie didn’t do well at the box-office, which has many insiders worried that he will ruin Superman. No he won’t!! He said he will have more action than most Superman films and it’s not from his screenplay. If you’re into hot chicks who kick butt it is great, but if you want more from your movies, DO NOT GO!!! Wait for video or cable.

RED RIDING HOOD
ROMANCE/FANTASY/HORROR

This movie is a re-imagining of the fairy tale. The director is Catherine Hardwicke, who the first Twilight movie, so be prepared to be bored. The cast is very attractive and the medieval village is colorful and lush, but the film as a whole is dull mush. What is so surprising is that one of the producers of this movie is Leonardo DiCaprio. How did they get him to produce this? If you’re a young girl (12-17) you may like it, but for others it’s worth waiting on video.

Anger and Other Drugs

2011-03-24T14:24:00.004-04:00

LIMITLESS
SCI-FANTASY/THRILLER

Would you take an illegal drug that would make you smarter, stronger or almost superhuman, but you must take every day or you will die? That is what this movie is about. Edward Morra (Bradley Cooper) is a writer looking terrible and has writer’s block. His ex brother-in-law Vernon (Johnny Whitworth) gives him a sample of the potent drug. He changes literally overnight into a playboy and brilliant businessman. Everything is great until he runs out.

The movie is rated PG-13 but it doesn’t feel like it. It seems like an R. Shia LaBouf was supposed to play this role but he had an accident-–thank God--and Bradley Cooper took over. He was in the A-Team as “Face.” He is attractive but he is creepy too. He seems to still be taking the drug to me. He could have had come up with cures for many diseases while on the drug, but he becomes-–what else? A politician. It is an interesting movie that is for sure. Robert De Niro is in the movie too, but I don’t know why. He is too talented to be in something like this. It is a good movie if you like the premise, otherwise wait for video.

DRIVE ANGRY-3D
ACTION FANTASY

You gotta love B-movies to like this!!! It is a story about Milton (Nicholas Cage, Ghost Rider) who escapes from hell to save his granddaughter from a cult. Sounds simple, right? Well it is. There is lots of action and it is the old 3D which means they throw things at the screen unlike Avatar new 3D that surrounds you. The 3D doesn’t help but you pay more. The supporting cast is not bad. Amber Heard (Pineapple Express) is Piper, who joins Milton but she can kick ass all by herself. She should consider being a female action star.

William Fichtner (Armageddon)is The Accountant (I don’t know why they call him that he’s Satan’s assistant to catch Milton) This actor is very good and he is always in the most popular movies. Nicholas Cage is a very talented actor, so why is doing exploitation? Maybe he likes it, I don’t know but I think if he does a remake of The World’s Greatest Sinner, he would get his second Oscar. WARNING: The World’s Greatest Sinner is not a commercial film, it is independent. It is good and STRANGE!!! It is not for everyone. If you love grind house and action movies you will like this. It didn’t do well in theaters but when it hits Blu-ray, woo-hoo!!!

UNKNOWN
ACTION/THRILLER

When Liam Neeson does action movies he can do no wrong!!! He plays Dr. Martin Harris and he is missing some luggage and that’s when the trouble begins. He gets in a cab, he gets in an accident resulting in a coma then another man claims he is him!!! He doesn’t give up finding out who is trying to be him and why which leads to startling conclusions!! The movie is exciting and intelligent, but what keeps it together is Neeson who uses his brawn and brains to figure things out. If you like action thrillers this is very good. You do see what kind of happens near the end but what a ride!!! It was the number one movie in February and I know why.

The Aliens Have (Again) Landed

2011-03-13T17:27:00.003-04:00

BATTLE: LOS ANGELES
SCIENCE FICTION/WAR/THRILLER

ACTION HOUNDS-SEE THIS MOVIE!!! The summer came early for my peeps. If you mix the beginning of Saving Private Ryan, Independence Day and a video game, you got this flick. I have never seen action like this!! It is a simple story--aliens come to take our water by any means necessary and they have torn down everything major city except LA. Sergeant Michael Nantz (Aaron Eckhart, Two-face in The Dark Knight) is about to retire and he is needed to help a group of soldiers, which include singer Ne-Yo and Michelle Rodriquez (Fast and Furious, Machete) when the invasion breaks out. It uses hand held cameras so you feel you’re in the movie!!! It is non-stop action.

“Quiet time” is less than ten minutes, if that, in a movie near two hours long!!! The Latino audience will enjoy this movie for they show them as brave people fighting to live; in fact they show most minorities in a good way. For the haters there is not much character development and you have to see the movie again to keep up what is going on, as soldiers are yelling for there are blow outs, shoot outs the entire time!!! If you like the director Jonathan Liebesman get ready: he will also do the sequel to Clash of the Titans 2!!!

I AM NUMBER FOUR
SCIENCE FICTION/THRILLER

The recent franchises are heading toward the end like Harry Potter, or Twilight, so Hollywood is scrambling for the next hot franchise, and this film has potential. It is based on a book by Pittacus Lore (real name James Frey) about a teenaged guy Four (Alex Pettyfer, Beastly) from planet Lorien trying not to be captured by the evil Mogadorians. He seeks to act human, tries to adjust to his new superpowers and find others like him. His guardian is Henri (Timothy Olyphant Hitman, Justified) is like a dad trying to guide him and protect him. You should read the book before watching the movie, but it could have easily been a graphic novel. It has a young cast and they are very good. It has an exciting ending and you want to see more of them. It is worth seeming both in the theater and Blu-Ray.

Silly New Movies, Silly Old Bear

2011-02-18T10:54:00.001-05:00

THE MECHANIC-2011
ACTION/DRAMA

Where is my action hounds at!!! For all the fans who are tired of Oscar hype this movie is for you!!! The film is a remake of the 1972 movie starring Charles Bronson. The remake has Jason Statham (The Expendables) in the Bronson role and his “apprentice” is Ben Foster (The Punisher, The Messenger, X-men3) as Jan Michael Vincent was in 1972. You think you are going to watch a psychological study of an assassin but after an hour the violence comes fast and furious!!! Jason Statham is an action star!!!! I am surprised Ben Foster did a movie like this. He is a very talented actor. If you need your B-movie fix this is the film for you. It is R for a reason-mindless killing and sex-gay and straight!!!

YOGI BEAR
ANIMATION COMEDY-2010

Silly old bear!!! This movie is so bad it’s funny in a juvenile way. They couldn’t make the film about a smarter than the average bear, so they put in it is Jellystone Park's 100 Anniversary---but the mayor wants to take it over to make money and get votes. It is up to Yogi and friends to save the park!!! The real voice of Yogi is Daws Butler, who is gone now but people who know Dan Aykroyd (Blues Brothers and Ghost Busters) knows it is him.

The real surprise is pop singer Justin Timberlake who does BooBoo, Yogi’s sidekick very well. Tom Cavanagh plays Ranger Smith. I heard Will Ferrell was first for the part but he knew a disaster so stayed away. Anna Faris (House Bunny) is pretty and funny as Ranger Smith girlfriend. You have to a fan of Yogi Bear or a little kid or a big kid who likes Yogi Bear to truly enjoy this . It didn’t make money in theaters and it shouldn’t have. Blu-ray or DVD will do better.

Award Season 2011 Roundup

2011-02-01T10:57:00.003-05:00

THE KING’S SPEECH-2010
HISTORICAL DRAMA

This film is a lavish, well done Masterpiece Theater episode. If you don’t know what Masterpiece Theater is, don’t read this review. It is a true story about King George VI (Colin Firth), who had a terrible stuttering problem, and the unorthodox speech therapist Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush). The action is all in the dialogue so this is NOT for action hounds!!!

The acting is incredible especially by the two lead actors. Both are nominated for Oscars. It is nominated also for Best Screenplay by David Seidler, and should be. The controversy was about should it receive the dreaded rated R or PG-13 and the reason is the f-word is said too many times. There is no nudity or violence in the movie.

BLUE VALENTINE-2010
ROMANTIC DRAMA

I have never seen a flick done so realistically of love gone bad!!! To me this is NOT a date movie at all!! It is about Dean (Ryan Gosling, The Notebook) and Cindy (Michelle Williams--the late, great Heath Ledger’s girlfriend, Brokeback Mountain, Shutter Island). They fall in love, something happens and they get married. The performances of the two leads are nothing short of wonderful, but Gosling wasn’t nominated for BEST ACTOR, while she was.

Cindy didn’t seem to be in love with Dean in the first place, but he cared very much about her. She‘s a mess!! Unhappy parents made her start having sex at thirteen and she had twenty-five partners!!! Not qualified for safe sex advocate, now is she? She works hard as a medical assistant but is emotionally cold. Dean is not too bright, but really cares for her and her daughter. He is immature at times but he means well.

The film is monotonous, for it's supposed to be to show that romance is not always a romantic comedy!!! It is an independent movie so it is not for everyone. Should you see it? Yes, if you want to see a good, gritty movie, but see a funny movie afterwards!!! It was given the rating NC-17 for cunnilingus scene (slang--going ‘down south’), but what is so shocking is that (SPOILER) it was done in Black Swan!!! I believe they did cut it to an R.

THE FIGHTER-2010
BOXING DRAMA

Boxing movies are usually about one guy who rises above all odds to become champion. This movie is no different, only he is trying to escape his family to make it!!! Mark Wahlberg is Irish-American working class Micky Ward, who has a brother a local legend Dicky Eklund (Christian Bale) who tries to train him despite he is a crack head and a loser. His mother Melissa Leo is his manager, who isn’t very good. Micky loses fights but he listens to his family over his own judgment until he meets a girl who works at a bar named Charlene (Amy Adams) and when he loses badly and the family laughs it off.

It is a different boxing movie I’ve ever seen. They acted very real and at times very ghetto. Christian Bale MUST be nominated as Dicky for best supporting actor. He is interesting the moment you see him on screen. The fight scenes are very realistic. It is a good sports drama but it not the Rocky-type movies many fans are used to--that are realistic too.

BLACK SWAN-2010
DRAMA

Nina Sayers (Natalie Portman, Star Wars) is a young dedicated dancer who gets to play the lead in Black Swan. She is so consumed with the part she loses her mind!!! The movie is not for the beer belly crowd. It is an art film with lesbian sex in it!!! Miss Portman is great in the film. She is fragile, determined and in so much agony. YOU feel her pain when she makes mistakes it is frightening!!! You really wish she didn’t take the part.

Mila Kunis (Family Guy and That 70’s Show) is very good as Lily who may or may not want the lead for herself. She is the total opposite of good girl Nina. Vincent Cassel (Ocean Twelve, Eastern Promises) as Thomas Leroy the work-until-you die oversexed trainer is not bad. The director Darren Aronofsky also did The Wrestler in 2008. If you look up his resume he is a unique director--no two movies are the same.

Of Hornets and Corsets

2011-01-24T20:38:00.005-05:00

BURLESQUE -2010
MUSICAL DRAMA

You have seen this plot line a thousand times--talented small time gal wants to go LA to become a star. What makes it great is the great singer Christina Aguilera. She can belt out a song in skimpy, sexy outfits when she becomes the lead singer of the club owned by Cher who won’t sell out if it kills her. It is a happy ending. The story's not original, acting's not great, but the dancing and singing are the stars. It should be a Broadway musical with Bob Fosse-type dance moves. I don’t think it did well in the movies, but YOU should see it on DVD and Blu-ray, or better yet, buy the soundtrack!!!

THE GREEN HORNET -2011
ACTION COMEDY -- TV SHOW VS MOVIE COMPARISON

Now that the movie Green Hornet is out, I must compare the series with the movie. The series was not camp like Batman in the 60’s. It was serious, as is the movie, which is an action comedy. Van Williams (series), and Seth Rogen (movie) star as the Green Hornet. Neither is particularly interesting, but Rogen is more annoying. Bruce Lee was Kato(series), reprised by Jay Cho (movie). Cho is more intelligent and has more lines than Lee -- if you can understand him, and has 'Kato-Vision,' but Bruce Lee is an icon and bought martial arts to the masses.

The car - Black Beauty (series) was limited because of budget, but the big-screen Black Beauty (movie) is AWESOME. More gadgets than a James Bond movie can ever imagine!!! Weapons - Green Hornet in the series had “The Stinger” it is like sonic taser. In the movie, no taser. Lenore Case (Wende Wagner - series) played by Cameron Diaz (movie) - is very smart, and can handle herself. The club The Pony Tail (series) is not in the movie, but Rogen had a lot of women partying and bedding him. Walter Brooke as District attorney Frank P. Scanlon was a good guy (series) David Harbour (movie), not so nice. Green Hornet (series) did not have a nemesis, but Bloodnosfsky (movie) is close.

IF I WROTE THE SCREENPLAY: One version, I would have taken an episode from the old series and made it longer. Second version, in the beginning Green Hornet would be shot and Kato would investigate the shooting and use all his skills to find out the criminals are yakuza and working for Bloodnofsky, for he was a very good villain. He would even pretend to be Green Hornet for a time to confuse the bad guys!!!

DVD Notes Mid-Winter 2011

2011-01-21T01:55:00.004-05:00

DESPICABLE ME-2010
ANIMATION

I waited to see this animation, for there is glut of them out there, but I must tell you on it is very good!!! It is about Gru (Steve Carell) who is a villain who needs to impress THE BANK OF EVIL to prove he is still bad, and decided to shrink the moon!! Vector (Jason Segal) his nemesis already created the shrink ray, so he steals from him but he needs three adorable orphan girls to get it.

The plot is rather wild to say the least, but it is cute, and in the end he realizes what really is important. Not only are the little girls cute but his "minions" are just funny. It made a lot of money when released in theaters for it is funny, suspenseful and poignant--even a villain can be a hero and a dad. It is terrible when animation has more emotion than live action films!!! It is good family entertainment.

DEATH RACE 2-2010
ACTION/SCI-FI/THRILLER

This direct-to-video movie is not a sequel to Death Race 2008 with Jason Statham, but a prequel on how “Frankenstein” is born. If you saw the first movie you know how good and gory it was. In the prequel it is non-stop car chases, bad-ass beat downs and bosomy babes. This is what action hounds live for. The cast includes Luke Gross, (Blade 2, and Hell Boy 2) and the guy is very talented. I don’t know why he does these great B-movies Danny Trejo (Machete) always delivers. Sean Bean (Lord of the Rings, National Treasure) is evil as ever!! It is worth renting and even better, buying.

A Tour of Many Questions

2011-01-02T10:53:00.002-05:00

THE TOURIST
SPY THRILLER

The question about this movie is, is Johnny Depp (Pirates of the Caribbean) Frank Tupleo or Alexander Pearce, an Englishman who robbed a gangster named Reginald Shaw (Steven Berkoff, Rambo 2) out of billions of dollars? Also enigmatic is Elise (Angelina Jolie, Wanted, Salt), is she who she claims she is? Paul Bettany (the voice of Jarvis in Iron Man 1 and 2, and the upcoming movie Priest) is Inspector John Acheson determined to capture Pearce whoever he is. It is like spy novels that are focused on who can you trust. If you don’t like the two leads you shouldn’t go to the movie, for it is basically about these two dubious characters. It really is good but not action packed. Angelina Jolie is nominated for a Golden Globe award for Actress in a comedy or a musical. People are puzzled why she was chosen for it, as it is not a musical, and to me it wasn’t funny---maybe it was to others.

Narnia & Company: Best of the Last for 2010

2010-12-24T13:29:00.004-05:00

TRON: LEGACY
SCI-FI/ACTION

If you are a true fan of Tron my review will not mean much, because to me, it is like the first one, visual arresting but dull. The sequel is about the same, but I love the music by Daft Punk. It is an amazing film for the fans. The story is about Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund) who finds out his father Kevin Flynn,(Jeff Bridges) his father might not be missing but locked in a computer game and he plays the games to find out what happened to his father.

Acting really not a major reason to see this movie, but Jeff Bridges is very good. It is beautiful eye candy and action. Should you see it? If you are a loyal fan of this franchise, yes. If you love special effects and not much else, see it. If neither of this interests you, wait for Blu Ray or DVD.

THE CHRONICLES OF NARINA: THE VOYAGE OF THE DAWN TREADER
FAMILY/FANTASY

I gotta tell you this movie is cheerful and hopeful compared to ”Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1.” Lucy (Georgie Henley) and Edmund (Skandar Keynes) are living with their annoying cousin Eustace (Will Poulter) as they are summoned back to Narnia, on a new adventure which concerns seven magical swords. The human cast is good but it is Reepicheep, voiced by Simon Pegg (Scotty from Star Trek 2009) is outstanding!!!

The special effects are wonderful and the story is very good. It is not doing well in the US, but booming overseas, and I can’t understand why. Maybe Americans were waiting for “Tron: Legacy,” but if you are into fantasy movies, this is one the one to watch!!!

WARRIOR’S WAY
ACTION/FANTASY/WESTERN

This movie wasn’t marketed very well. No one knows it is out there, but it is martial arts western!!! It is about Yang (Korean star Dong-gun Jang) who is an expert swordsman. He has to kill a baby girl of a rival clan, but doesn’t. Instead, he takes care of her and joins a bizarre circus, where the people have stories of their own. His clan comes to kill him. You have heard this story a gazillion times but the movie is so stylish, and the action is just amazing!!

I don’t know why Oscar winner Geoffrey Rush is in this, but he is good as a drunk but skilled shooter. Danny Huston (Edge of Darkness) is excellent as the evil Colonel. He is very good at being bad. Your best bet is to wait for Blu-Ray or DVD, unless you are an action hound and you have got to see it!!!

UNSTOPPABLE
THRILLER

It has been said that when an actor wins an Oscar bad luck follows but that is not the case with Denzel Washington. He won his Oscar for best actor in Training Day in 2001. He has been making hits every since. This movie is about a runaway train with toxic chemicals on board and it is Denzel and Chris Pine (Star Trek--2009) must save the day. The movie is short, yet very, very exciting!! It is not just action packed, but it tells a great back story about the two leads. Yes, you should see it either in the theater, on DVD and/or Blu Ray, for it is great!!!

Hair, Race & Revenge: Late Fall Film Wrap-up

2010-12-10T23:36:00.003-05:00

TANGLED
ANIMATED

Disney has done it again!!! It is a fun, entertaining spin on the fairy tale, Rapunzel. Mandy Moore (pop singer) is great as the spunky princess who is trapped in a castle and wants to see the real world. Zachary Levi (TV show Chuck) is good as the prince Flynn Rider, and Donna Murphy as the vain, creepy witch who kidnaps Rapunzel. The movie will make a fantastic Broadway musical. Should you see it? Young girls will love it!!!

NIGHT CATCHES US
DRAMA

This movie has so much going for it, but it has so much going against it as well. The film has the most talented, upcoming black actor and actress in Hollywood Anthony Mackie (Hurt Locker), and Kerry Washington (Fantastic Four, For Color Girls). The director is a black woman, Tanya Hamilton, who took ten years to make it. The rest of the cast is equally good and it is not about drug addicts, pimps or crime---it's REAL, and they are treated like real people.

What it’s got against it, it is not a big budget Hollywood movie, not a comedy, and not a subject average movie fans talks about. The story is about Marcus, who comes back to his home town in 1976. He once belonged to The Black Panthers, and the remaining people left from the group think he snitched on a fellow Panther and was killed by police. Patricia also was a member and her feelings for him complicate things. Should you see it? It is not playing at too many theaters but it is a very good drama. You can also see it on MOVIES ON DEMAND.

FASTER
CRIME DRAMA

ACTION HOUNDS REJOICE!!! Dwayne Johnson is back and bad-ass as ever in this film!!! It is a predictable revenge movie, but Johnson is no wise-cracking guy---he's just angry and ready to kill all the men who killed the brother that he loved. The rest of the cast is good but Johnson shows he can get back in the action genre with no problem. He takes no prisoners. When he gets out of prison he becomes a killing machine!!! I don’t know why this flick is not making money. Last year at Thanksgiving Hollywood gave us ‘Ninja Assassin,’ which was a good action movie but didn’t make any money. I don’t know why Hollywood puts the bloodiest stuff out around the holidays. Should you see it? If you like the Dwayne Johnson and action, yeah, but if not, wait for Blu-ray and DVD.

Sorcerers, Aliens & Villians

2010-11-30T08:45:00.004-05:00

HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS-PART 1
FANTASY/ACTION ADVENTURE

Movie franchises fade with each installment, but not this series. It seems to improve!!! Not a fan of the Harry Potter franchise, but this one is the darkest yet and best one. It is like a big budget gothic horror movie!! The wizard world and Hogwarts school is ruled by the evil witches now headed by Voldemort (played with seething creepiness by Ralph Fiennes), and Harry (cute Daniel Radcliffe), Hermione(smart Emma Watson) and his great sidekick Ron (Rupert Grint) are in peril. Ron is not so funny in this movie as in the others, but there are some laughs. Professor Minerva McGonagall (great actress Maggie Smith is missing from this movie.) I hope she is in the last one.

The lead trio are on the run, fleeing for their lives to escape Voldemort and the Deatheaters. If you are a fan of the book you know what will happen, and cannot wait but I am watching the movie having not reading any of the novels by J.K .Rowling. You should read any book before the movie so you can see what they kept in, what they left out. So, I am breaking my own law again!! The movie starts out with action, it slows down then picks back up. Action fans may be disappointed, but I hear in Part 2 there will be LOTS of action. Should you see it? If you are a fan, YES!!! If you like the other movies you should see it but be warned it is intense, sad and morbid. TEASE SPOILER: A beloved character in the movie is killed.

SKYLINE
SCI-FI ACTION THRILLER

I read the reviews for this movie and I was reluctant to watch it, but I am so glad that I still went to see it!! It is good!! It is not a great movie and to me it is waaay above a Saturday Syfy movie. It is mix of Cloverfield, War of the Worlds and Independence Day. The cast is a group of people that are unknowns, but you know a few of them Eric Balfour, ( 24, Haven) Donald Faison (Scrubs). The plot is simply a group of friends wake up from a friend’s birthday party and find out there is an alien invasion!! They run, scream and try to survive!!

I heard they are making a sequel and if you see the movie you'll know there MUST be a continuation of the movie!!! Acting is not good but it's not important, and the story, the same way. Special effects, very good. Should you see it in the movie? NO. See it on Blu Ray or DVD. It is a great thriller filler.

MEGAMIND
ANIMATED

This feature animated movie is very good but it is different. Megamind (Will Ferrell) is an inept villain who is constantly kidnapping Roxanne Ritchi (Tina Fey) for Metro Man (Brad Pitt) the hero to save the day. One day he actually takes down the superhero then he gets bored for no one can stop him so he creates a hero, Tighten (Jonah Hill) who really isn’t that good. The 3D is just great and the voices they pick for the movie are just great!!!

Will Ferrell movies I otherwise don’t like too much, but he is perfect here for he is over the top like some villains are. His partner Minion (David Cross) is good as his smarter but neglected servant. I can see why it is making so much money. It is not the typical good vs. bad superhero but it is a wonderful, funny flick.

Colored Girls, Social Nets and the Paranormal

2010-11-07T17:12:00.002-05:00

FOR COLORED GIRLS
DRAMA

The movie is based on a play by Ntozake Shang, and the full title is For Colored Girls Who Have Committed Suicide When the Rainbow is Enough. Before you see this movie please be WARNED: There is a vicious rape scene and the black actresses speak though poems--it will sound strange, but stay with it. The story is about black women struggling with jobs, men and their lives.

The actresses include Janet Jackson, (the singer) Loretta Devine(Dreamgirls, play and the movie), Thandie Newton (Mission Impossible 2, Crash), Anika Noni Rose (Dreamgirls, The Frog Prince, Lottery Ticket), Kerry Washington,(Fantastic Four, Mr.& Mrs. Smith, The Last King of Scotland) Phylicia Rashad ( The Cosby Show, Just Wright), Whoopi Goldberg (Ghost, host The View), Kimberly Elise (Diary of a Mad Black Woman, Manchurian Candidate).

ALL of these actresses a reincredible!!!! It is a touching, tragic triumph movie. Director Tyler Perry should be proud of this great work. One bad thing I didn’t like--showing black men at their worst!!! Every man is a dog in this movie, except one!!! If you can deal with that please go--it is rare to see a slew of talented black actress in a movie.

THE SOCIAL NETWORK
DRAMA

Ever wonder how Facebook got started? If so, this is the movie for you. It wasn’t started by that one guy, Harvard junior Mark Zuckerberg, played by Jessie Eisenberg (Zombieland), but by many, yet he took the credit. It began when he loses his girlfriend Erica (Rooney Mara, soon to be in the highly anticipated The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) and he is angry and vents out to others online. His only friend Eduardo Saverin (Andrew Garfield, who will be in Spider-Man Reboot) helps him become a billionaire.

The ‘many’ also include Armie Hammer who plays rich twins and Justin Timberlake as co-founder of Napster Sean Parker. The wheeling and and dealing and betrayal make this interesting, but I don’t know how factual the movie really is. The screenwriter Aaron Sorkin (TV series West Wing) is a good writer and even though the cast are young they are not drop outs, so dialogue should be intelligent and witty. Should you see this movie? Only if you are curious about the subject-–if not wait until video.

PARANOMAL ACTIVITY 2
THRILLER

If you liked the first Paranormal Activity movie you will like this one. If you didn’t see the first one you can still follow the story. It tells about how Katie (Katie Featherston) from the first PA and how evil forces surrounded her. It is a pre-quel and sequel. Her sister moves in several months before with her family and her newborn, Hunter in 2006. They think they are a victim of a break-in and they put cameras in the house. The movie is slow like the first but it has scary moments. Gore hounds this movie is not for you. People die, but not in a bloody way. The cast is very good for they are not stars yet, which gives that feeling that they are real people. Should you see it? Not if you like slasher movies, which this is not. It is scarier because you don’t see much--not a body count film.

Early Fall 2010 Wrap-up

2010-10-19T12:50:00.006-04:00

WALLSTREET 2: MONEY NEVER SLEEPS
DRAMA

The best villain in the 80’s was businessman Gordon Gekko, played Michael Douglas who won an Oscar. He is back playing Gordon, only broke. He writes a book titled “Is Greed Good?” and finds out that his only daughter Winnie (Carey Mulligan) is dating a trader Jake (Shia LaBeouf--NOT my favorite actor). There is also another villain named Bretton Jones (Josh Brolin), a fund manager. There is a lot of double dealing, love and revenge in this movie, yet I couldn’t get into it like the first one. The two bad guys Douglas and Brolin are great being ruthless, cunning and charming. The trailer was better than the movie to me. Wait until Blu-Ray and DVD.

THE TOWN
CRIME DRAMA

Bank job movies can be very typical, but this movie is NOT. It stars Ben Affleck as Doug MacRay, who was once a good hockey player, but when you are raised by robbers you eventually turn for the worst. He robs banks for a living and doesn’t want to do that last bank job, but villain Fergus (Pete Postlethwaite of Clash of The Titans) forces him to do it. In one of the robberies Claire (played by Rebecca Hall) may have seen the tattoo of friend Jem played great by Jeremy Renner (Hurt Locker) and can ID them. He romances her and then wants to leave with her.

Jon Hamm (Mad Men) is very good as Adam Frawley, a FBI agent determined to bring the criminals down!!! All the performances are good including Blake Lively (Gossip Girl) as Krista. It did great box office and if you watch you can see why. Action and acting--very rare. If you enjoy good acting go to the movies (while it's still there)--if not, video.

RED
ACTION/COMEDY

First of all, you have to believe A LOT in this movie, but that's because it is a summer movie placed in the fall. RED means Retired Extremely Dangerous, and Frank Moses (Bruce Willis) is receiving Social Security but not fulfillment. He meets a girl Sarah (Mary-Louise Parker, Weeds) who works at Social Security and is bored as hell, and wants Frank’s exciting life. The group, which included Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich (who is just fantastic as the 'Mad Murdock' of the group), and Helen Mirren. The action is very good and so is the dry humor. The cast seems to enjoy themselves in the craziest situations. It is much fun. You have to see it for the cast, who are over forty and fabulous.

The Afterlife Goes 3D

2010-10-08T20:16:00.004-04:00

RESIDENT EVIL: AFTERLIFE
ACTION/HORROR/SCI-FI

I am only basing my review on the film--not the video game, since MoviePhat doesn’t do video games. I really enjoyed Resident Evil 2: Apocalypse, but the latest addition I didn't like too much. The action sequences are fantastic!!! Milla Jovovich as Alice is a take charge, kick-butt babe. She is the best thing about the series. The villain who can’t die Shawn Roberts (Edge of Darkness) as Albert Wesker is excellent, and Boris Kodjoe, the handsome black guy in the upcoming TV show Undercovers is good as former basketball player, now leader of the survivors in Los Angeles.

The RE4 plot is simply, Alice is searching for survivors and trying to find the ‘promised land’ called Arcadia in Alaska. I just couldn’t get into it, and that is surprising. The 3D doesn’t help or hurt the franchise. If you love the movie series--watch it, but if you don’t want to pay extra for 3D, wait for Blu-ray or DVD. I hear there will be a Resident Evil 5!!!

Blood, Babes, Chopped or Chewed?

2010-09-05T20:30:00.002-04:00

MACHETE
ACTION/MEXPLOITATION

ACTIONHOUNDS I GOT ANOTHER FOR YA!!! WOLF, WOLF, WOLF!!! This movie has everything exploitation---blood, babes and action!!! Based on a fake trailer from “Grindhouse” Machete is now a great kick-ass movie. The story is about a federal agent Machete (Danny Trejo), determined to take down Torrez (Steven Segal, who is very good being bad), a gangster. But instead Torrez kills his wife and child. He tries to kill our hero, but Machete won’t stay dead.

He comes a few years later as a non-immigrant day laborer and he gets paid to kill Senator McLaughlin (Robert DeNiro) by Booth (played by Jeff Fahey), McLaughlin’s right hand man(he is greedy, power mad, and lusts for his own daughter) but he is set up!! I saw this movie because of Alex Jones (infowars.com and prisonplanet.com), who thinks it will start a race war because of the unpopular immigrant laws in Arizona. I can see why he is upset!!! They make the Mexicans look like scum yet saintly, and the evil people in power are white, just like in the blaxploitation movies. I hope they make more 'mexploitation' movies like this!!. It is very entertaining!!

Danny Trejo is UGLY, but he is a BAD-ASS!!! The ladies---sexy Jessica Alba is good, but Michelle Rodriguez steals the show as Luz aka She’. Pretty, and pretty tough. Lindsay Lohan is good playing a partying slut. For the guys' information, she goes topless, and some Latina actresses are nude!! Should you see it? If you like excessive violence yes-if not wait for Blu-Ray and DVD.

PIRANHA 3D
Horror/Suspense/SCI-FICTION

This movie is true exploitation!!! It has blood, boobs and a monster what needs killing!! Plot is not really important but here it goes. It is Spring Break (for a movie released in late summer???) and the college kids go wild!! Sand, surf and sun abound, but what they don’t know is that a small earthquake hits and opens the lake floor, it brings out small, verrry hungry piranhas. As I said, plot is not essential here. The movie is short, but if you enjoy tons of blood you can’t wait to see the flesh eating fish chomp on the oversexed college students!!

I am trying to figure out why talented stars like Elisabeth Shue, (Leaving Las Vegas, Hollow Man), Ving Rhames (Mission Impossible movie) and Richard Dreyfuss (Jaws) are in this!! Jerry O’Connell as a coked up, annoying director got what he deserves, and the piranhas have more taste than the director Alexandre Aja has. It is a funny, gross gore scene, trust me. The 3D effect doesn’t really help the flick much. James (Avatar) Cameron did a sequel to Piranha--1978 titled Piranha 2. Should you see it? Only if you like creatures in the water. It is a better-grade Saturday night 'Syfy' movie.

Cruel Summer--Salt, Predators

2010-09-05T20:16:00.004-04:00

SALT
ACTION/DRAMA/THRILLER

Simply stated story--Evelyn Salt (Angelia Jolie) is a CIA agent married to a good man, and has a dog. She is about to celebrate her anniversary when a defector tells her that she is a Russian spy and she is supposed to kill the Russian president when he comes to New York. The people she trusts don’t trust her in an instant, and she has to prove her innocence and stop the assassination. The action sequences are fantastic!!

Angelina Jolie is amazing. She can take a beating and give one as well. She is a very good actress, but when it comes to action movies--she is the BEST. Producers should pair Ms. Jolie and Michelle Rodriguez (Machete) in a female buddy action movie, because these women can pull it off. Liv Schreiber as her friend and boss Ted Winter gives a good performance. The amazing Chiwetel Ejiofor (2012, Four Brothers) is very good trying to capture Salt at all costs, but knows something is not quite right. I do hope there is a sequel and I hope Ms. Jolie keeps doing action movies.

PREDATORS
ACTION/ADVENTURE/SCI-FI

This film is more of an official sequel to the original, than the film Predator 2 made in 1990. It stars Oscar winner Adrien Brody and in this year, Slice as Royce unwillingly become leaders of a bunch of killers, mercenaries and convicts trapped on an island where they are hunted by-–you guessed it--Predators!!! That is basically the story, but it is very action packed and suspenseful. It is amazing how the aliens know the group’s weaknesses and take them out one by one.

People, it is a ‘body count’ movie, which simply means actors are there to be killed off by the monster or slasher to keep the movie going. The cast is very good--Topher Grace (70’s Show and Spiderman 3), Alice Braga (Repo Men) Laurence Fishburne (CSI, Matrix movies), and Danny Trejo (Machete). I don’t know why it didn’t make money--it was very good. Maybe it took too long to make. Watch it when it comes out on Blu-Ray and DVD.

Expend Your Cash for The Expendables!

2010-08-15T15:39:00.003-04:00

THE EXPENDABLES
ACTION

ACTION HOUNDS REJOICE!!!! The Expendables are finally here!!! It has the best all-star action guys you can name!!! A band of mercenaries lead by Barney Ross (!?)(Sylvester Stallone), and his second in command Lee Christmas (Jason Statham) take an assignment by Church (Bruce Willis) to take down a small country in South America and its dictator General Garza (David Zayas)who is really controlled by James Monroe(Eric Roberts).

Plot, dialogue and acting is not the reason to see this movie, it is the action stars of the 80’s 90’s along with wrestling and UFC. Lots of action, lots of kills and lots of big explosions!!! The big three--Schwarzenegger, Willis and Stallone is funny but too brief. The late Brittany Murphy was supposed to be in the movie, but they cut her scenes out. The two females in the movie are Charisma Carpenter (Angel) and Gisele Itie (popular novella actress in Mexico and Brazil).

My only gripe was, I couldn’t see the brutal fights (it was at night) and they needed to be longer!!! This is for guys, girls who love macho men and action and violence, period! Not for kids, not for people who hate violence not for women who like chick flicks. See it in the theaters, see it on Blu-ray and DVD--just see it!!!

Summer 2010 DVD Round Up

2010-08-07T08:51:00.001-04:00

DAMAGE
ACTION/DRAMA

I only watched this movie because wrestler Stone Cold Steve Austin was in it. He plays John Brickner, an ex-con got out of prison early because the wife of who he killed begged the parole board. She wants him to save her daughter who needs a heart transplant –the insurance bill is costly and Medicaid rejected her so he does underground fighting for a living. It is surprising for a b-movie to have such seriousness for everyone is damage or in debt!! Stone Cold Steve Austin is not the best actor in the world but he’s got a presence!!! He is much laid back compared to his wrestling persona. I can’t wait for the movie ‘Expendables’ to come out later this year-August to be exact. Everyone is very good including Reno (Walter Goggin in the series The Shield and Justified) Frankie (Smallville as Supergirl and updated series V) . They make a very odd loving pair.

PERCY JACKSON &THE OLYMPIANS: THE LIGHTING THIEF
FANTASY/ACTION/ADVENTURE

This movie is based on the books by (Rick Riodan). I didn’t know the book existed so I did not read it but you should read before you see the movie for the novel gives more insight. It is a summer blockbuster that was release in February and now release on DVD. It is very well made. I am surprised. All the special effects movies I thought it was another one. Mythology and modern world collide as Percy Jackson(new comer Logan Lerman) has just found out he is a demigod and his father is Poseidon (Kevin McKidd, Journeyman). Zeus (usual bad guy Sean Bean) wants his lightning bolt back or hell on earth as result.

At a school for demigods only he meets pretty Annabeth (Alexandra Daddario) daughter of Athena and his protector and comic relief Grover(Brandon T. Jackson). Percy goes on a quest to save his mother Sally Jackson (Catherine Keener-know for independents movies) from Hades (Steven Coogan). Uma Thurman (Kill Bill) is amazing as Medusa!!! It is delightful and it should have been release in the summer but the studio didn’t think it would do well. The cast old and new are fantastic. Director Chris Columbus who directed the first Harry Potter movies is very good at fantasy movies. He should have done “Clash of the Titans.” They will be comparing the two in the future. If you are into mythology and fantasy movies YES see this movie!!!

BATMAN: UNDER THE RED HOOD
ANIMATION

First, let me say this is not for kids!!! It is very, very violent!!! It is about Batman with a new villain named Red Hood who is taking over crime by killing one crime boss at a time. Batman is not voiced by Kevin Conroy but Bruce Greenwood (seen in Star Trek-2009) all the voice actors are good but Wade Williams and John Di Maggio Black Mask and Joker are outstanding!! Both are power mad, funny criminals. It is not that long but it says quite a lot. You should see when it arrives on Blu-ray and DVD. Warner Brother’s animation movies are getting better with each film.

Brilliant and Baffling Summer Blockbusters

2010-07-31T11:52:00.004-04:00

TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE
SUPERNATURAL/ ROMANCE/DRAMA

The Twilight series is brilliant and baffling. Based on the novels by Stephenie Meyer’s young, white tweens go gaga over the movie!! It is a female 'tween' Star Wars!! I am basing my review on the movie alone. You should read the novels ( to compare) but I heard they are terrible but I doubt that. The other two movies in short were too slooow!!! It is the continuing story of Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) in love with vampire boyfriend Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) and Jacob Black, (Taylor Lautner) who can change into a wolf.

Things gets ugly for Victoria (Bryce Dallas Howard) makes ‘newborns,’ ruthless vampires who wants revenge on Edward for killing her lover James and wants to kill Bella. The two unearthly males have some of the best romantic and bickering dialogue ever in the entire series!! Screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg who writes for Dexter finally wrote some interesting dialogue!!! It is well written soap opera. Director David Slade (‘30 Days into Night’) got some very good action in the movie, and that’s why guys are going as well!!

Kristen Stewart is a pretty girl but she can be so bland. Robert Pattinson, I don’t see the attraction at all!!! Taylor Lautner is great when he is topless!!! The rest of the cast is good, but who stands out is Rosalie Hale (Niki Reed) they give her a back-story as she tells Bella why she shouldn’t ‘turn’. In short, this is the best of the series. Should you see it? You don’t have to be a fan for this one--it does drag but not a lot!!

THE SORCERER’S APPRENTICE
FANTASY/ADVENTURE/ACTION

This movie is based on a segment of Disney’s classic Fantasia!!! The writers took that segment and made a movie. The film is about a wizard Balthazar Blake (Nicolas Cage) finding another wizard Dave Stutler(Jay Baruchel) to destroy the evil witch Morgana (Alice Krige from Borg Queen from Star Trek)but she has an evil assistant Maxim Hovarth (Alfred Molina, Dr. Ock from Spiderman 2). Are you with me so far? Sounds complicated? It is not, it is really fun and dumb at the same time.

Jay Baruchel has had some year. He was in ‘She’s Out Of My League’ ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ and now this. He is very funny but he is sooo NASAL!!! Nicolas Cage is very good as the mentor and Alfred Molina is GREAT as Maxim. He is witty, angry, arrogant, power mad--good traits of a bad guy!! It is not doing well at the box office, so maybe a lot of people think it shouldn’t have been made!!! It is a good summer movie if you have nothing to do--if not, go DVD or Blu-ray.

INCEPTION
SCIENCE FICTION/ACTION

Let me just say before you see this movie please DO two things: 1-Read as much as you can about the movie and 2-BE ALERT!!! The movie is about dreaming and sleeping and if you’re tired YOU will fall asleep!!! The movie is not bad or boring if you use your brain. You will not understand this movie on the first viewing. Great for the lucky ones that do. The movie is action-packed and thought-provoking. In short--not a typical summer blockbuster. Christopher Nolan, the director of Batman, knows how to keep your attention with action sequences but also keep the intelligence high. All the actors Leonard DiCaprio, underrated Joseph Gordon-Levitt Ellen Page and all the rest of the cast are brilliant. Should you see it in the theaters? Yes, those who are movie lovers and want to see something different, but others should wait to see on Blu-ray and DVD so you can see it repeatedly, in order to 'get it.'

Knights, Days, Toys and Hex

2010-07-05T11:42:00.006-04:00

KNIGHT AND DAY
ACTION/COMEDY/ ROMANCE

Superstar Tom Cruise stars as a super agent Roy Miller, who has to slip a very important device through the airport, and pretty June Havens (Cameron Diaz) is the mule. The movie is very exciting and Cruise and Diaz are the reason you should see the movie. Cruise seems to have a great time saving Diaz. She seems to have a great time even screaming!! The villain Peter Sarsgaard is okay but they could have a better bad guy. The action is VERY GOOD. It’s a shame it is not doing well in the US, but I think it will do well overseas.

TOY STORY 3
ANIMATED

Suspense, romance and drama it is all in this movie!!! Pixar makes the greatest animated studio there is!! The story: Andy is going to college and by accident his toys are given to Sunnyside Daycare. The evil Lotso is cute cuddy bear with a dark side and in charge. Woody and Buzz Lightyear and the other toys must escape!! It is the best movie of 2010 so far!! It should be nominated not only for BEST animation but for BEST PICTURE because that’s how good it is!! It is as terrific as “Up”. This franchise gets better with each film. It is truly amazing how an animated series can be this good. It is for children and children at heart!! SEE IT ON THE BIG SCREEN!!!

JONAH HEX
WESTERN/ACTION/FANTASY

This flick is good in a B-movie way. It is based on a DC comic book of the same name, but read the comic because the origin has changed. Jonah Hex (Josh Brolin) is a Confederate soldier and dislikes the horrors some troops do to other men. He kills the son of Quentin Turnbull (John Malkovich), so Turnbull is out for revenge---and gets it by killing Hex’s wife, son, and burns one side of Hex's face. Hex becomes a mean bounty hunter who can talk to the dead (don’t ask me why). He thinks that Turnbull is dead, but he is not so, he still goes to get his revenge.

It sounds real good until you see the movie. Josh Brolin is a very good actor and he is good in this movie. Malkovich’s Turnbull is an okay villain, and Megan Fox as Lilah Black a hooker who wants a better life. She is not in the movie very much and she isn’t nude but she poses sexy in a corset. The good thing is DC is trying to branch out with their movie superheroes besides Superman and Batman. Actually, there are only three words for this movie: BluRay or DVD.

Summer 2010--Attack of the Kicking Remakes

2010-06-24T09:40:00.005-04:00

KARATE KID-2010
ACTION/DRAMA---REMAKE

I did not see the original movie (yes, I know I should have seen it) so I am just writing about the current film. It is about Dre Parker (Jaden Smith) and his mom (Taraji P. Henson) who gets a job in China and has to move there. At school he is bullied and he ask Mr. Han (Jackie Chan) to help him learn kung-fu to defend himself, and gets involved with a martial arts tournament. It is good and Jackie Chan is great. He plays it straight, and it shows!!! Jaden Smith is Will Smith’s son!! He is charming and has star quality. It is refreshing to see a young black actor in movie not involving drugs or ghetto life. Should you see it? If you like these kinds of movies--yes, but if you can wait--wait.

A-TEAM
ACTION COMEDY---REMAKE
WOLF,WOLF ACTION HOUNDS REJOICE!!!

I really dislike Hollywood with remakes, reboots and reimagings, but sometimes they actually work, and the 80’s remake of The A-Team is one of them. The story is about the best Special Forces squad there is, but they get framed and have to clear themselves. Plot is not really important here, but action and BIG explosions are!!! The cast is very good. Liam Neeson( Zeus in Clash of Titans)is outstanding as Hannibal Smith, the leader. He is a good replacement for the late George Peppard. Bradley Cooper (Hangover) as “Face” is not only good looking but smart too!! That wasn’t in the series!!

Sharlto Copley (District 9) is an excellent ‘Howling Mad’ Murdock and UFC champion Quntion “Rampage” Jackson is pretty good as B.A. Baracus, but he's nothing like Mr. T. He swears a lot to show his attitude. Jessica Biel is not bad as Captain Charissa Sossa. She is just there to provide a pretty female in the macho movie. The villains are okay. Patrick Wilson (The Owl in Watchman) as Agent Lynch, Brian Bloom (As The World Turns, and co-wrote the movie) as Pike and Gerald McRaney (Simon and Simon) appears as General Morrison. Director Joe Carnahan (Smoking Aces) did an excellent job. I know people and critics say this movie isn’t good. For me it IS a popcorn movie.

SPLICE
SCI-FI/THRILLER---SPECIES REMAKE?

This movie is not good as a thriller, because you have seen this before. A science couple (Adrien Brody and Sarah Polley) mix different DNA to help fight disease, then they create a creature that evolves very quickly with bad results. As humanity tale, it's better because it shows man should be feared more than what it creates. When Dren is small she is cute like a baby, when it grows they treat it like a child, when it becomes a teen and rebels, they cage it, when it becomes sexual the male doctor screws it, and when it becomes dangerous they try to kill it!! It all sounds very good, until you watch it!!! The film reviews have been mixed because (depending on taste, or what you're concentrating on) it is very bad as an executed drama, but too very good (as a concept). This is a movie that is best reserved for DVD or Blu-ray. Why? Because you'll think it is very good, or you wasted your eyes for 90 minutes.

Sands of the First Summer Round Up

2010-06-02T10:33:00.008-04:00

PRINCE OF PERSIA
FANTASY/ADVENTURE

This movie is based on a video game. I don’t play video games so I think the game is better than the movie, and I'm basing my review on the movie ONLY. It is about a homeless boy who is adopted by a king, takes over a city that has a magical dagger that can turn back time. Plot is otherwise not important for these kinds of movies, but action there is, and there is plenty. It also shows you beautiful, imaginative worlds.

The Prince Jake Gyllehaal is hot as the hero!! He buffed up for the role, and does it show! He could have been topless the entire movie for me. Gemma Arterton is Tamina, a strong-willed princess out to protect the dagger. Guys think she is hot too (but not to me) but she is talented. Sir Ben Kingsley as the evil Nizam is very good, and for comic relief Alfred Molina (Doc Oct in Spider Man 2) shines as Sheik Amar.

Steve Toussaint is great as Amar’s partner Seso. I would like to see more of that actor. I wished they put Arab actors in the major roles, but it is all about money. All the actors seemed to have gotten a tan in the movie. So should you see this movie? If you like action and adventure. YES if not please wait!!

ROBIN HOOD
ACTION ADVENTURE

The collaboration of Russell Crowe and Ridley Scott are always interesting. The latest movie is this one. This story is about how Robin Longstride (Crowe) became Robin Hood. There is action, but it is not for action hounds. It is very realistic, authentic at times very slow. It is two hours and twenty minutes. Talented people are in the film besides Crowe. Oscar winner Cate Blanchett (Lord of the Rings, Aviator), Max Von Sydow (The Exorcist, Rush Hour 3), William Hurt (The Hulk--2008).

The villain should have been Matthew Macfayden (TV show MI5) as Sheriff of Nottingham but Mark Strong (Sherlock Holmes, Kick Ass) as his henchman steals the show as Godrey. You should see this movie, if you like Russell Crowe the actor and director Ridley Scott, if not rent it on Blu-Ray. The film is not doing well in the United States, but very well overseas. Americans are not used to thoughtful entertainment in the summer but mindless, popcorn fluff.

JUST WRIGHT
ROMANTIC COMEDY

It Is Alright! Tyler Perry is not the only one who makes black romance. Director Sanaa Hamri (Something New, Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants 2) has directed a fairy tale urban romance. It is about Queen Latifah (Leslie Wright) who is a physical therapist who cannot find love. Guys like her for she loves sports--especially basketball, but don’t find her a hottie. Rapper Common is Scott McKnight who she helps him recover from his injury.

Long live the Queen!! This former rapper acts like a real woman! She said she produced this film because no roles for her size and her color were being made. She was right and she did it right!! Common is okay. Pretty actress Paula Patton (Precious) is good as a gold digging female. Pam Grier (Foxy Brown, Coffy, Jackie Brown) is good as Latifah’s mom and James Pickens Jr. is great as her dad. The story you have seen a thousand times before---just not black version---but it is very well made. Should you see it? Yes, you should see it with your partner or girls night out. It is worth seeing on the big screen, and DVD.

More Iron, No Rust!!

2010-05-09T14:20:00.006-04:00

Summer movies are officially here today, and it starts with IronMan 2!!! The plot is Tony (Robert Downey Jr., who is great) Stark is dying, and rival Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell, Moon) wants to be a pop-idol genius like Tony, but is not able to make an army of super robots. He's helped by a Russian Ivan Vanko (Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler) who is out for revenge. Rourke is appropriately evil as the villain but his accent was too thick. His best buddy is Rhodey/War Machine (Don Cheadle, Hotel Rwanda, Ocean 11).

Mr. Cheadle does a great job replacing Terrence Howard. The females are Pepper Potts (Gweyneth Paltrow) his witty, smart personal assistant and hot body, kick ass Natalie Rushman/Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) Director Jon Favreau does an excellent job, and the ending is worth the price of admission!!! It is amazing!!! The two Iron Man movies and the Hulk keep hinting at The Avengers. I hope Favreau does The Avengers as well as Iron Man 3!!!

You Can't Lose with Raunchy Losers

2010-05-03T15:51:00.006-04:00

Let me say this movie is totally insane. It has the best cast I have ever seen!!! The movie is based on the graphic novel. You shouldn't read the comics before watching the movie (I broke my own law---I read a few issues), as the movie stands alone by itself. I don’t why it didn’t make a lot of money. The cast is well known to those who know movies. Jeffrey Dean Morgan (Watchmen) is the cool level-headed guy except when it comes to women. He is a scruffy version of Robert Downey Jr. Zoe Saldana (Avatar) is one bad-ass chick as Aisha.

Can’t tell much more about her and her vendetta as that would give the some of the plot away. Chris Evans (Fantastic Four) is hilarious as Jenson, the best comic relief I have ever seen!!! Idris Elba (Obsessed) is Rouge who is tough as hell. Columbus Short as Pooch is funny. The villain Max is the most funny, annoying evil guy EVER!! Some people on line say in the graphic novel he is nothing like the Max in the movies but you must judge for yourself.

The movie is rated PG-13, but it sure looks like a R movie cut back!!! SPOILER: There might be a sequel, but I doubt it unless it goes directly to DVD. Should you see it? If you like loads of action and humor, yes; if not, you can always go Blu-ray or DVD.

Kick Your Dragon

2010-04-30T11:24:00.001-04:00

KICK-ASS
FANTASY/DARK COMEDY

You are going to here this phase until you are sick of it but the movie Kick –Ass truly kicks ass!!! KA is about Dave Lizewski (played great by Aaron Johnson) as an ordinary guy who loves comic book superheroes and decides he wants to be one. There is good and bad to his decision but what a ride you will have!!! The movie is based on the comic book by Mark Miller, who also wrote Wanted, so you know his comics are VERY violent!!! Director Matthew Vaughn did an excellent job. The cast is just great!!!

Chole Moretz as Mindy Macredy aka Hit Girl is girl power to the extreme!!! She is a pint-size Punisher with a face of an angel. She uses knives, guns and weapons little girls shouldn’t use. She is just GREAT!!! Nicholas Cage as Mindy’s father Big Daddy is like an insane Mr. Rogers and his low-rent Batman suit!!! Mark Strong (the villain in Sherlock Holmes) is sick as Mafia leader Frank D’Amico. Strong was just born to play bad guys!!! Christopher Mintz-Plasse (McLovin’ in Super Bad) is not too bad as D’Amico’s son. So, should you see this movie? Yes!!! It is like teenage Watchmen but it failed at the box office probably the kids who wanted to view it couldn’t. Be patient to wait for video for it is worth the wait!!!!

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON
ANIMATION

This movie has been out for awhile, and you know why? It is very good!! The movie is also in 3D which makes it even better. The story is about Vikings killing dragons but the story really is about acceptance and father and son relationships. The voices match the characters which includes Gerald Butler (300) Craig Ferguson (Late, Late Show), America Ferrera (Ugly Betty). The characters in animation recently display more emotion than today’s actors!!! It is just as good as Up!!

It is scary in spots for small children, but some parts of the movie are just breathtakingly beautiful. I don’t remember it being heavily advertised well--and it doesn’t need to. Should you see it? Yes!! Should you see it in 3D? Oh yes!!

Repos, Green Days and Clash

2010-04-06T21:18:00.004-04:00

REPO MEN--SCI-FI/THRILLER

This movie was hated by a lot of people. I think because of the subject matter. In the distant future The Union has developed, a hi-tech body parts firm The parts don’t come cheap and if you don’t pay, they rip it out of you and you bleed to death whereever you are. It came out at a time when health care reform talk is at a high pitch and carries a lot of mistrust. Jude Law and Forest Whitaker are the Repo Men and they love what they do---until Law gets into an accident, and they put a hi-tech part in him and he can’t pay!!!

What I liked about the movie was Jude Law!!! He is a bad ass action star!!! I never would have guessed. It's got a lot of black humor also. Forest Whitaker, the Oscar winner in ‘Last King of Scotland’ is good but I don’t know why he decided to be in it. Live Schreiber (the brother in Wolverine) is great as the evil CEO of the Union. Alice Braga Law’s love interest character is very tough and very good. The ending is a little strange. Should you see this in theaters? Absolutely not!! Watch this on video so you can try to understand the ending!!! A wild guilty pleasure!!!

GREEN ZONE--ACTION THRILLER

To the American public, movies about war are just too “real” for them. I saw the movie and it is very gritty yet action packed. Matt Damon is very good as an officer who is trying to find out why there are no weapons of mass destruction(WMD), and wants to know why he is on this foolish mission. He gets blocked by many people while searching for the truth and then he wants the reporter Amy Ryan to get it right this time. All the acting was very intense and good. It is up there with Hurt Locker, but not quite and it bombed as well for the same reason---war to Americans is not entertaining!! Should you see it? If you like drama and Matt Damon--if not, wait!!

CLASH OF THE TITANS--FANTASY/ACTION

People, this is a popcorn movie!! I have read people talk on websites about how terrible it is, or how short it is. It is a popcorn movie in April! It is Greek mythology, and it's better than the 1981 version in special affects. The story is changed a bit but, it is about Perseus (played by Sam Worthington, a rugged action star) who is a demi-god going against the gods and saving gods and man. Did you follow all that?!! Plot is not that important, but the action and special effects are great!!! Ralph Fiennes is creepy as Hades, god of the underworld. Liam Neeson is great as Zeus. Mads Mikkelsen (the guy with the scarred bleeding eye in Casino Royale) as Draco, who distrusts Perseus at first then respect him, is also good. I found the movie VERY entertaining filler until the summer movies come out.

Valentines, Crazies and Wonderland

2010-03-18T09:41:00.002-04:00

VALENTINE’S DAY---ROMANTIC COMEDY

I am a romantic, but I don’t like romantic comedies very much. So when this movie came out, I said "yet another one?"---but I was very surprised. It is like Love Actually (2003), which is to say it's about people falling in and out of love on Valentine’s Day. The cast has Julia Roberts, Queen Latifah, Jessica Alba, Jessica Biel, Jamie Foxx, George Lopez and many others. It is like a box of chocolates---you never know what you are going to get!! It is sweet and a guilty pleasure. I don’t think guys will like it for the male actors in the film are very passionate for the women they love. The movie came out along with The Wolfman and Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief and it was number one at the box office. Why? Women love this stuff including myself. Should you see it---yes for the ladies--–video for the couples.

THE CRAZIES(2010)---HORROR/SCI-FI

Fright director George Romero once said the scariest people are your neighbors. Well this update version of his movie Crazies-1973 shows just that. You know the story---toxins in the water, people go nuts, military has to control the town and blow up the town!! The acting is good-Timothy Olyphant (Hit Man) as David the sheriff, his wife Judy Rada Mitchell (Pitch Black), but the one who stands out is an actor I have never seen. His name is Joe Anderson (Ruins, Across The Universe) as Russell, the deputy. He is outstanding!!! Bad-ass one minute, compassionate the next---amazing! The director Breck Esiner is very good setting up suspense. You are not suppose to think in a horror movie, but who are really the ‘crazies’---the victims or the military who mindlessly follow orders? You decide. If you like these kind of movies this is your movie---if not, well there is always video.

ALICE IN WONDERLAND---FANTASY

Let me say before going to see this movie, forget the book by Lewis Carroll and Disney’s earlier version. This movie is very imaginative and you see the beloved characters in a way different light!! In this version Alice is older (19) and her mother wants her to wed. Confused, she runs and falls in the rabbit hole and the adventure begins. At first she thinks she is dreaming then she has to become an action hero!! Does it make sense? No, but it is Tim Burton’s flick and he makes the most of nonsense!! Is it for little kids? Maybe, but it is better for teens and up!!! Johnny Depp is very good as The Mad Hatter. He is not only crazy, he’s clever too. Helena Bonham Carter is excellent as Red Queen. She is mean and controlling!! Ann Hathaway is the White Queen. and she reminds me of the Witch of the North in ‘The Wizard of Oz.’ Mia Wasikowska as Alice was very good as a sweet but strong heroine.

Mid-Winter New Release Round-up

2010-02-25T02:52:00.003-05:00

UP IN THE AIR

Boy, were those trailers misleading!!! The movie is about Ryan Bringham (George Clooney) who makes a living laying off people!!! In these economic times, it is really difficult to watch but he is very charming, but he’s a dog! He does acquire human qualities during the movie and audiences might enjoy that he does get his in the end. The female co-stars Vera Farmiga (his bedroom buddy) and Anna Kendrick (an ambitious, overachiever employee) are very good and at times it is like a romantic comedy. It has good elements going for it. Should you see it? Yes, if you like George Clooney and the non-Hollywood plot. The director Jason Reitman has a track record for making odd subjects likable (such as Juno, Thank You For Not Smoking). At least he is original.

EDGE OF DARKNESS --- MEL GIBSON RETURNS TO THE BIG SCREEN

It has been seven years since actor Mel Gibson been the star of a movie. He probably could have done Lethal Weapon 5 but he chose this picture. It is not a fun action movie, but very serious stuff for his daughter is killed by a shot gun blast in front of him. He thinks they wanted to kill him but he finds out more, that leads to people in power. You feel sorry for him for he truly loved and misses his daughter. There is action, but it is not for action hounds. Should you see it? If you like Mel Gibson, yes---if not, wait for video.

THE WOLFMAN --- GORY GOOD!!

This is the remake of the 1941 classic that made Lon Chaney Jr. famous. It is creepy with lots of bloodshed, and a plot twist at the end. Benicio Del Toro as the hairy beast is good but when he transforms into the monster he is even better!! Anthony Hopkins plays his distant father and you can see why he left him. Should you see it? It is great they made a film about this supernatural creature rather than another vampire movie. It’s bloody, short and sweet. If you do not like werewolves---wait until video.

CRAZY HEART

Jeff Bridges (the villain in Iron Man) proves he is a great actor as Otis “Bad” Blake in Crazy Heart. He plays a very lovable loser-drinking, screwing and smoking country singer. He is like this for most of the movie until he meets a woman with a young child and tries to change his life. In the movies you have seen this a thousand times, but it is Jeff Bridges who gives life to this person you should hate. His supporting cast isn’t bad either, as Maggie Gynenhaal as the woman acts like a real working woman and the problems she faces. Colin Ferrell as Tommy Sweet (a country singer) is actually even good. The cinematography is excellent by Barry Markowitz. Should you see it? If you like good acting: YES!! If you don’t like country---wait.

DVD Roundup: Michael, Hulk and Willis

2010-02-02T20:19:00.002-05:00

MICHAEL JACKSON’S THIS IS IT
THE GREATEST CONCERT THAT WASN’T

I just saw ‘This is it,’ and I must say it is so good!!! If Michael Jackson had lived I think it would the most successful, spectacular concert of 2009. The rehearsal footage is fantastic. You see him practice his old songs with special effects, and it is great! My favorite is ‘Billie Jean’ were it’s just him on stage and drums--nothing else is needed. It shows the talent this man had!!! He is the King of Pop!!! I honestly wish I had seen it in the theater, for it is wonderful. In the extras it shows how hi-tech even his designer costumes were, and how they picked the dancers. It is a treat for people who are fans of Michael Jackson--if you’re not a fan rent it to see what a great performer we have lost. The only reason you shouldn’t see if you don’t like Michael Jackson at all!!

PLANET HULK
ANIMATED
BLU RAY/DVD

Marvel has done it again!!! If you love 2D animation, action and the Hulk-–where he never turns into Bruce Banner--you will like this movie!!! It is based on the comics. The story is about the other superheroes trick Hulk into a spaceship to rid Earth of him. He lands on a planet that makes him a slave but you can’t keep the green man down! It is very action packed and violent for an animated feature, but very good.

SURROGATES
SCI-FI/FANTASY
BLU RAY/DVD

If you could be perfect but your mind has to live through a robot, would you? That is the question in the film Surrogates. It is a little confusing because you don’t know whether is Bruce Willis a robot or the real person. After a slow start, all of the sudden it becomes action packed. The movie is only 90 minutes. The premise is interesting and the special effects are not bad but it could have been better, and Bruce Willis did the best he could. It is a better as a DVD movie to me.

Jolly Good, Grim But Interesting

2010-01-22T18:02:00.003-05:00

SHERLOCK HOLMES:
JOLLY GOOD!!!

Let me say I am used to the old school Sherlock Holmes in the 40’s with Basil Rathbone, but this re-imagining of Sherlock Holmes is just as entertaining. This Holmes is played by Ironman himself, Robert Downey Jr. He is intelligent, good at deduction but he likes to get in fights, look a mess and be an action hero in the 1880s!!! Jude Law is very good as Dr. John Watson. He is more than a side kick; he’s more like his nanny!!! Both of the stars seem to enjoy themselves. The villain is Lord Blackwood, played menacingly by Mark Strong (soon to be in Green Lantern). He is very creepy, but where is Moriarty? In the sequel I heard. If you like Indiana Jones, Wild, Wild West and MacGyver, you will enjoy this movie.

THE BOOK OF ELI:
GRIM BUT INTERESTING

The end of the world movies are always depressing this movie is not different because it has religious implications. Eli (Denzel Washington) is excellent as the protector of the only Bible in existence after doomsday. He walks west killing people who want his prize possession. Gary Oldman (Dark Knight) is very evil and very good at it as he and his henchmen do anything to get the book. A lot of people didn’t like the ending, for it is not the slam-bang finish people are accustomed to. There is action in the movie and the music by Atticus Ross is either amazing or annoying.

Should You See It? If you are an action hound-–wait for video. If you are religious, it is hard to sit through the violence, but it is a sad yet satisfying ending.

Chipmunks, Messengers and Frogs

2010-01-22T17:41:00.004-05:00

Here are some flicks I just got around to:

ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS 2: THE SQUEAKQUEL
This movie is so sweet you could get a cavity!!! The movie makes NO SENSE but it is fun to watch. Dave (Jason Lee) wants the chipmunks to live a normal life and that means go to high school!!! He is injured from Alvin’s antics and charges his brother, Tom (Zachary Levi, the guy from NBC series Chuck) to take care of the boys (chipmunks)!! Then there are the Chipettes!! Highlight: ‘Single Ladies’!! It is a kid’s movie but it is a delightful kid’s movie.

THE MESSENGER: DISTURBING JOB
If you decide to see this film, prepare to cry. The Messenger is about soldiers that tell loved ones that they have died in war. The touching moments are in the reactions that the families have. It is just tragic!! The two men are Ben Foster (X-Men 3 and Punisher 2004) and Woody Harrelson (Zombieland). It is hard for them as well, and they let it out in drinking, crying, screwing and telling their stories about their war experiences. Samantha Morton is the love interest in the film. She is not a hot chick, but average women dealing with the death of her husband. This movie is not easy to sit through---that’s why it is not a hit with audiences. All the actors are very good. If there was a sequel to Hurt Locker, this would be it.

THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG: BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL
Disney went back to doing 2D animation with this movie and it is wonderful. It also introduces their first black princess, who is voiced by Anika Noni Rose (of Dreamgirls--the Movie). She is a hard working woman who longs to open her own restaurant. She does turn into a princess. The cast is great, but for Disney I love the supporting cast like Ray, a Cajun firefly and Louis and alligator that plays the trumpet and Mama Odie, who is 197 year voodoo witch. It is an excellent movie for kids--especially girls, or for adults who want to feel like a kid again.

Avatar is Amazing

2010-01-08T12:53:00.004-05:00

AVATAR---AMAZING!!!
Let me say I heard about this movie then I saw the trailer and I wasn’t impressed then I saw the movie! You have to enjoy three things--Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Action. This film is a MOVIE EXPERIENCE!!! You have to see it on IMAX and 3D glasses. The MOVIE EXPERIENCE is costly. IMAX (where I live) is $18.50 +3D Glasses = EXPENSIVE!! Even if you can’t do IMAX, see it on the big screen for if you don’t you're doing your eyes and ears an injustice!!!

Plot is not really important, but the themes are: Mankind always dominating another species. The acting is good. Sam Worthington (T4, soon to be in Clash of Titans) as Jake is an action hero!! Rugged, tough and compassionate. Zoe Salanda (Uhura in Star Trek) as Neytiri is great. She is a talented actress. I hope she gets a lot of work. Stephen Lang as Colonel Miles Quaritch is the villain but he should be called Colonel Bad-Ass!! He is your stereotypical military person--take charge, take down, and take over!!! If he was in charge of the Iraq war we would win!!

James Cameron is a wonderful director. It took him twelve years to make this movie and it was well worth the wait!!! It is the best Christmas gift a director can give to his audience--hi-tech and humanity!!

BOTTOM LINE: This is a beautiful film to see but if you’re not interested in 12-feet blue people don’t bother but if you are you won’t be disappointed.

Best/Worst of 2009

2010-01-04T03:42:00.003-05:00

MOVIEPHAT: END OF THE YEAR-=2009

It is that time of year when people say what is the best of the year, what is the worst. I am not a critic but a movie fan. I put my movies in two sections prestigious and popcorn films. Here we go:

Prestigious
Hurt Locker
Precious
500 Days of Summer

Popcorn
Star Trek
Transformers 2
GI Joe
Wolverine (Yeah I Know)
Terminator Salvation (T4)
Obsessed
Ninja Assassin

Notable Mentions: Watchmen--never have I seen a movie so closely to the graphic novel.

District 9 and Paranormal Activity--low budget but well done movies. A MUST see!!

I haven’t seen ‘Avatar’ yet but I will. I haven’t really seen a really bad movie, some I didn’t like but a movie that really sucked. I hope 2010 is even better.

Hollywood, Enough With White Saviors

2009-12-23T13:42:00.003-05:00

MOVIE PHAT RANT:
HOLLYWOOD MUST CURE ITSELF OF WSS!!

What is WSS? It is White Savior Syndrome. In movies-–especially sports movies there is a poor black male and white person saves them. Examples are ‘Against The Ropes' with Meg Ryan, 'Glory Road' with Josh Lucas and the latest is ‘Blindside’ with Sandra Bullock. All these movies mean well but as a black person I get tired of seeing this. Are there no rich black families to help disadvantaged black kids?

Now before you go hating on me, I know the Hollywood game. They want that almighty box-office weekend, and they need blacks and whites buying tickets, but it is working on my nerves!!!

Contrast this with Tyler Perry, while many whites don’t know him, black audiences do. You see in his fims what you otherwise NEVER see in a Hollywood movie--a middle class black couple!! If a popular black actor is in mainstream commercial movie he or she MUST be paired up with a white or Latina. We always see a white couple. What’s up with that---or even better, I am tired of that!! Hollywood must realize niche audiences always come back if they like what they see. Not all movies have to make 100 million in a weekend. Enough already!!

Ninjas and the Blind: Year End Wrap

2009-12-23T13:30:00.003-05:00

NINJA ASSASSIN: BLOODY GOOD!!!

It is hard to believe that director James McTeigue made ‘V For Vendetta’ for it was intense and very intelligent. ‘Ninja Assassin’ well, that’s another story. It is about Raizo starring Rain, as one of the best killers in the world taught by the Ozunu Clan. He rebels when a friend is senselessly killed by the clan and tries to save an agent the beautiful, black Naomie Harris from them. Lets face it, this is not about plot. This is about stylized slashing!!! It is done very well too---you can’t beat that opening!! I don’t understand why the studio released it around Thanksgiving with all the blood-letting, but do see it--–in theaters or on video, whichever---if you like action movies, THIS IS for you!!!

BLINDSIDE: A GOOD TIME!!

This movie is based on a true story, and it is about a homeless black kid with a body of linebacker who is helped by a white woman named Leigh Ann Tuohy. Through her he learns to read, have a family and become a football player. Sandra Bullock is very good as a tough, loving mom. Newcomer Quinton Aaron is great as Michael Oher, the black teen who is taken under Leigh’s wing. Who I liked the best is Leigh’s son’s SJ played by Jae Head. He is cute, cheerful and confident with Michael. It is a feel good drama. The director John Lee Hancock made “The Rookie” in 2002 with Dennis Quaid and it shows. Should you see it? Yes, if you want to feel good about being a human being. Why shouldn’t you see it? It's a better woman-of-the week TV movie if you want to wait, and if you don’t like Sandra Bullock.

Precious Indeed

2009-12-08T18:55:00.004-05:00

‘PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL PUSH BY SAPPHIRE’ is stunning. WARNING: This movie is NOT a popcorn movie!!! It is raw and horrific because of subject matter (incest) abuse of all kinds and skin color. Knowing that you know it is an independent film and there are happy moments. The story is about an obese, black (dark skinned) 16 year old girl named Claireece “Precious” Jones is abused by both parents--–her father sexually and her mother verbally and physically.

She fantasizes about being white, being thin and being loved by a light-skinned black man. In reality she is poor and can’t read, and is pregnant with her second child. She decides to go to an alternative school despite her mother’s objections. There, she begins to love herself and learns to read and write. She doesn’t lose weight, but gains knowledge as to why her mother was such a be-itch.

THE ACTING: Gabourey Sidible, is a newcomer who is just fantastic!! Lots of people know this story from the book or from their own life experience, but she shows every emotion and you have to cheer for her. If she is at least not nominated –--there should be no Oscars!!! Mo’Nique---yes, that plus-size pretty comic talk show host plays her always attacking mother. She too deserves an Oscar nomination. Others to mention who you would or couldn’t think could act, did an excellent job. Like Mariah Carey downplaying her good looks to be a good social worker, and Lenny Kravitz as a male nurse who showed Precious not all black men are brutal and uncaring.

BOTTOM LINE: This movie is really hard to watch, but if you want good acting and good directing this is the movie for you. You should always read the books before the movie, but I am ordering the novel as I write this!

2012---Fall Becomes Summer Again

2009-12-08T18:51:00.001-05:00

Bottom line: A Serious Subject Turned Into A Mindless Summer Movie

I enjoy summer movies because they don’t try to do anything but entertain but this movie, ‘2012,’ is about the end of the world!! It is action packed, special effects are great, but people, that’s not how our world is going to go out!! The star of the movie isn’t really Jon Cusack but Chiwetel Ejiofor, a scientist who finds out the word is crumbling. It’s just a fun summer movie that came out in November. You know what to expect from Roland Emmerich(‘Independence Day’) Big explosions, vice-presidents dead, heroic presidents and animals being saved.

Twilight: New Moon, No Sense

2009-12-08T18:14:00.006-05:00

WHY IS THIS MOVIE MAKING SOOOO MUCH MONEY???!!!

I don’t get it. I finally saw it the other night and I am saying bad words about it, for it seems every female on the planet saw this movie!! It made history for one day box office and the weekend. It has made over 200 million dollars and for what? Only one person dies in the movie, so it’s not for gore hounds; not much action---if you see the trailer you have seen most of it. I have never read any of the novels and I hear they are awful, but the books no matter how bad are better than the movie. I am baffled.

The story is about Bella (Kristen Stewart) who is distraught about her vampire-lover leaving her? Her best friend is hunky Taylor Lautner who is a werewolf, as she finds out the hard way. She finds out she loves them both but chooses her vampire-lover Edward (Robert Pattinson). This movie is 2 hours and 10 minutes folks.

The Good: The Wolf-Pack---topless mostly through the movie!! That is one of the pluses!! Taylor Lautner is topless too. Alice (Ashley Greene) Edward’s bubbly sister. Michael Sheen (Aro) and Dakota Fanning (Jane) the leaders of the vampire clan Volturi. Those two are very creepy. They could make a movie about the Volturi and it would probably be better. Mr. Sheen has done full circle. He was the werewolf leader in ‘Underworld’ and now leader of the vampire in this movie. He is good in both.

The Bad: Everything else!! I do understand Bella’s torment being dumped by her boyfriend, but he did do it for a reason. As for the rest of the film: It is sooo slooow. It is like a flat-line machine that spikes every forty-five minutes.

Bottom Line: This movie is critic-proof, but the only thing (and it is a good thing) it signifies is that teen girls and females can bring in box office. Hollywood, are you listening? To all other people, see the cheaper version---‘The Vampire Diaries’ on CW, then decide for yourself.

Paranormal Activity, the Trailer

2009-11-20T01:17:00.001-05:00

On Paranormals and Zombies

2009-11-20T01:10:00.002-05:00

ZOMBIELAND---It’s A Great Ride!!

“Zombieland” is a fun summer movie which was in October. Only 4 survivors (so far) after the plague: Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin, while everyone else is a (what else) a zombie! Simple story, but what makes it wonderful is Woody Harrelson as Tallahassee. He is a funny, fearless badass!! Jesse Eisenberg is okay as Columbus. His fear of everything and his rules keep him alive. The females Emma Stone and young Abigail Breslin are pretty good as con artists. There is a guest star but you have to see the movie to see who it is. I hear they made to a sequel. I do hope they make it.

PARANORMAL ACTIVITY---A GOOD EPISODE OF “GHOST HUNTERS”

Gore hounds and people who love lots of blood and guts-this movie is not for you!!! This movie is very sloooow, but when it gets good it really good!! The movie is a huge success and the budget was only $11,000!!! The movie is about a couple---Katie Featherstone (she is very good) and Micah Sloat. The boyfriend loves his camera equipment and films everything and the woman has a ghost that is haunting her, thus the title. What makes it interesting that most of the time nothing really happens –like in real life but it builds to a shocking ending!!! Entertainment Weekly magazine said there was 3 different endings-all terrifying!!!

Bottom Line: It is like a good episode of “Ghost Hunters.” Gore hounds, wait for video or cable.

Locker Trailer

2009-09-26T00:15:00.003-04:00

Two Extremes

2009-09-25T23:54:00.002-04:00

Some curious films I belatedly got to see:

The Hurt Locker

“The Hurt Locker” is one of the best movies about war since “Saving Private Ryan”!!! A brave statement because it IS! This film is about a bomb disposal specialist played by newcomer Jeremy Renner. He is good at what he does, and loves what he is doing. What makes the movie so terrifying is that you’re in the center of the action and (hostile?) people are around you, and you don’t know if they are friend or foe? It is very suspenseful.

Director by Kathryn Bigelow (Point Break, K-19 The Widow Maker) does an excellent job showing how taxing, thrilling and dangerous the job is. Screenwriter who is also a journalist Mark Boal keeps the dialogue very real. It is an intelligent movie overlooked for the studio decided to place it among blockbusters!!! This is not a blockbuster movie-it is a great movie. I hope it is nominated for BEST PICTURE at the Oscars.

Crank 2: High Voltage

“Crank 2” (on DVD) can be described as one crazy-ass ride!!! If you saw the first film the mob injected him with a Beling Cocktail and he can’t slow down or die. This time the mob takes his heart and replaces it with an artificial heart and he has to keep pumping himself with electricity!! Does he really need his heart back? He is Superman without it! Plot is not important but the action is!!! There is plenty of action, sex, bad behavior for about several movies. The film is an upgraded exploitation movie. If you are easily offended my advice---see it on DVD or Blu-ray. I did. I was told when I went to see another movie, a complete stranger told me don’t see the movie for people booed at the screen!! This movie is not for everyone but if you like action, comedy and pure madness this movie is for you.

A Small Note
Changeling

Angelina Jolie is a very good actress, but the tabloids make her out to be a controlling man-eater. She can do action and she can act---very rare for actresses today. In the movie “Changeling” she's is a mother in the 1920’s who loses her son and the police replace him with another boy. It is not her son, but when she complains they put her in a sanitarium and she is abused there!! This is not for people who groove on 18-34 demographic movies. It is depressing, sad and at the end hopeful. The acting is nothing short of amazing and Jolie deserves her Oscar nomination. I saw it on Cinemax but I wish I saw it the theater.

District 9 is a Good Find

2009-08-26T21:01:00.003-04:00

Usually, near the end of summer studios put out odd, or just plain bad movies, but “District 9” is not one of them. The sci-fi movie is very good and made dirt cheap---$30 million (compare that to today’s blockbusters).

It is about an alien ship over Johannesburg, and the aliens are treated as badly as some nations treat people on earth. They keep them in a ghetto section titled District 9. The good ole government wants to know more about their technology so they get a lackey (Sharlto Copley) to invade their territory. Bad idea! The movie is great for its having no big name stars---though it does have the talented “Lord of the Rings” director Peter Jackson as the producer. The director Neill Blomkamp made a great film on a limited budget.

The movie is rated R for a reason---it is very violent, and proves once again big names, big budget doesn’t always mean big hit!!! It is worth watching in the theater, worth watching again on Blu-Ray or DVD. It is worth watching, period!!!

YO JOE!!!!! So Stupid, Yet So Good

2009-08-14T10:51:00.002-04:00

Action Hounds, wolf, wolf this is movie for you!!! This action is wack, mindless fun entertainment!!!

The story is how two guys Duke (Channing Tatum) and Ripcord (Marlon Wayans) join the elite team of G.I. Joe. Story for this kind of film is not important but the action is!!! I have been reading online about some people say it is the worst movie ever!! They go into great detail why it sucks!! I don’t know what movie they saw but I thought the live-action flick was great!! It is a summer movie- and it is in August!! What do they want Oscar nominations!!!

My main problem is they scrambled characters origins. If you see the movie and then goggle about the characters you mouth will drop!!! I don’t know why Hollywood changes original origins but as a movie it gets to the action and it gets to it right away!!!

Channing Tatum and Ripcord are good for a summer movie. The sexy Sienna Miller is great as the evil Baroness-–guys will love her rack!! She is also sweet as Ana. Ray Park stole the show as the silent Snake Eyes and Byung-hun Lee is great as bad guy Storm Shadow. Dennis Quaid, sadly wasn’t it the movie very much but when he was gave the cheesiest lines ever!! Joseph Gordon-Lewis as The Doctor and Cobra Commander is a low-rent Darth Vader but he wasn’t bad. It made a lot of money this weekend so I hope there is a sequel-if you see the movie it has part 2 all over it!!

Bottom Line: I have to tell you to me--it was the best popcorn movie I have seen in awhile. I have seen ‘Transformers 2!’ It is a guilty pleasure in the highest!!!

Half Blood Prince: Good If You Like Harry Potter

2009-08-04T10:42:00.001-04:00

Let me just say I am not crazy about the Harry Potter movies. Never read the books and the movies are wonderfully made but they don’t interest me. The latest installment is like all the others very good and you must have some idea about the last five to understand HP6!!

The Good: The cast!! All are great and they are growing. The teenagers are very good actors. The plot is confusing to me yet exciting with all the intrigue. The special effects are exceptional!!!

The Bad: The creepiest opening of a film that I have ever seen and the ending anti-climatic (to the action hounds-nothing happens) and someone that you admires dies. If you read the book you know what they took out left in and was the ending like the book.

Bottom Line: If you love Harry Potter this is a great movie--if you don’t care too much for it, please don’t go!!!

I LOVED PUBLIC ENEMIES (NOT THE RAP GROUP)

2009-07-29T22:10:00.005-04:00

Director Michael Mann is a good director but what a mess he can make of adaptations---e.g., he screwed up his own TV creation ‘Miami Vice’ in 2006. So I hesitate on pushing his movies, but ‘Public Enemies’ was nothing short of great!!! Set in the 1930’s, John Dillinger was given more press than the cops!! He broke out of jail and could rob banks less in 2 minutes. He had to be stopped, and the man who did it was agent Melvin Purvis. Typical crime story if it wasn’t true.

Johnny Depp as Dillinger was good--he can act. Mr. Intensity himself Christian Bale is always good. I wish he would do a romantic-comedy to lighten up a bit. French actress Marion Cotillard who won an Oscar for ‘La Vie Rose’ as “Lady In Red” was good as well. To be honest all the actors were very good.

The bad is glorifying the criminal. It is exciting but either they are killed or go into a witness protection program--both a sad end for a charismatic, egoistical set of criminals who swear they can’t be caught. I hate to say it, but I can’t wait for what Michael Mann does next.

Transformers 2---I Have 'Fallen' in Love!!

2009-07-03T11:19:00.009-04:00

I saw the movie Thursday and I must tell you the movie was great!!! I have been reading on websites about the racial overtones and bathroom humor which I didn’t care for but this is for teens.

All the money this movie is making I am sure he won’t have it in ‘TF3’.

The action is totally awesome, and you know in this movie why Optimus Prime is the leader of the Autobots for he kicks MAJOR BUTT!!! The action is the only thing worth seeing. But, Megatron as a follower? I don’t buy that either. with all its faults, it is still worth to watch.

Plot not really worth explaining but here goes Sam (Shia Labeouf) is going to college but a shared on the Allspark he touched and he sees crazy symbols and trying to figure it out. His roommate played by Ramon Rodriguez is cute and crazed for he believes there are aliens on earth-he is in for a ride!! His sexy girl friend Mikela (Megan Fox) ends up with him in another wild adventure.

I didn’t like Shia and Megan in the first movie but I did this time around and I hate to admit I finally believed he is a hero. The military gets tries to take down the Deceptioncons as they to destroy the earth. Director Michael Bay makes the military very heroic too. Even John Turturro and the “black-sounding robots” help saving the day.

‘TF3’ is coming-I can’t wait!!!!

Bottom Line: The movie is an expensive dumb flick with the best action sequences I have ever seen. You MUST get DVD or Blu-ray when it comes out to figure out all the fast and furious scenes you missed in the theater!!!

Gotta See ‘UP’

2009-06-22T10:51:00.001-04:00

Animation movies have come a long way!! Pixar has to be praised for making great animation movies but ‘Up’ is very good. What makes this movie good besides animation is great story telling. It is about an elderly man who had big dreams of going to place he always dreamed about but life got in his way. Finally he gets his wish and finds out what he really wants. It is very creative, funny and sad. You care about these characters! They are better than real actors! They are selling it like a kid’s movie but it’s not kid stuff. It is quite poignant. It is a hit at the box office and if you watch it you will know why.

This ‘HANGOVER’ You Will Like!

2009-06-22T10:49:00.002-04:00

Summer of 2009 is very strange. Blockbusters like ‘Wolverine’, ‘Termination Salvation’ and ‘Star Trek’ are doing well but not great. Then a small budget comedy (30 million!!) comes along and racks it in!! The story is simple - four guys go to Las Vegas to give one of their friends a great time before he gets married. The adventures they get into are funny but raunchy. The shocking part is that women are going to watch the movie!! It is very funny and my guess how far they went to save a friend. It is rated R for a reason!!! If you enjoy this kind of bathroom humor by all means go if not-- wait!

‘DRAG ME TO HELL’ To The Movie –Not The Real Thing!

2009-06-22T10:46:00.001-04:00

When you have a horror movie coming out in the summer, rated PG-13 and no gore you have to be very creative and yet Sam Raimi who did ‘Evil Dead’ series and ‘Spider-Man’ series does just that!

The story is very simple Alison Lohman is a loan officer who wants so badly that promotion as assistant manager she doesn’t give an old gypsy woman a renewal on her mortgage to prove she is a tough player. Big mistake!! The old woman puts a curse on her and before she is drag to hell-it is hell on earth for Lohman! Now in the trailer our loan officer is just ambitious-she is not as sweet as you think!

Alison Lohman is good but the star of the show is Lorna Raver as Mrs. Ganrush, the old gypsy woman-she is sympathetic one minute, scary most of the movie! There is no gore but there is gross-lots and I mean LOTS OF REGURITATION (look it up!) I do hope we see more of her in the future. The movie didn’t do so well maybe it was PG-13. I do hope it does well on video for it is good without the gore!! If Sam Raimi wasn’t involved at all this movie would have probably not been of interest at all.

Movie Phat RANT #1

2009-05-30T04:34:00.004-04:00

More Originality Please!!!!!

Is it me or is Hollywood playing it so safe that all we get is reboots, remakes, sequels and prequels? I understand the budgets are rocketed sky-high but come on!! I am writing this article because when I saw in one of my favorite web sites comingsoon.net that they are making a movie about Bazooka Joe, that was it! That was a kid with a patch over his eye to sell bubble gum!!!

Can Hollywood make something new that the public likes? Millions of screenwriters are rejected for they have an original idea but Hollywood is too busy trying to make a quick buck with our money. I do enjoy remakes, sequels, and reboots but sometimes you gotta be creative!!! To make a sequel you have to make something fresh first! Fans should protest or boycott to Hollywood to come up with new ideas. If you want repetition watch television!! I thought movies were a “higher art.”

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The Lost in the Headlights Look---Fans on T4

2009-05-25T18:24:00.001-04:00

TERMINATOR: SALVATION OR T4

2009-05-25T18:13:00.002-04:00

A BIG Summer Movie in May

Action hounds (woof, woof) this is the movie for you!!! Lots of things blowing up, great CGI effects and “the revitalizer” himself Christian Bale steps in as John Connor trying to save the world from Skynet and the machines. Plot not really important if the you know the series but here goes.

In 2018 humans fight against the robots and Connor has to free Kyle Reese--Anton Yelchin (Chekov in Star Trek) from prison in Los Angeles. Along the way they meet a guy named Marcus played by Sam Worthington who is very important to the survival of Connor. The acting is good especially by the always intense Christian Bale and newcomer Sam Worthington is quiet good. A lot of critics and fans don’t like the rapper Common in the movie. I think he did okay. It is not his movie.

The child actress Jadagrace as Star Kyle’s assistant is great!!! She doesn’t talk but she speaks volumes!!! I think there will be a T5 if this movie is a success which I think it is for the ending leaves you wanting more. What else I like was John Connor asked the question: “What makes us human?” It is pretty thoughtful for an action movie considering what is going on in the world today.

Bottom Line: If you like action-go! If you like Terminator movies-you GOTTA GO!!

Note: “Terminator 4: Salvation is not box office; “Night of The Museum 2: Battle Of The Smithsonian” can’t beat a family film I guess.

Fans Speak Out on New Star Trek

2009-05-10T16:16:00.000-04:00

BEAM ME UP, SCOTTY!!!!! Star Trek Fever

2009-05-10T15:57:00.005-04:00

I saw “Star Trek” and it is very good. The story is about time travel and an evil guy named Nero. The plot isn’t as interesting as the younger actors who play the classic “Star Trek”characters.

ROLL CALL:

Chris Pine as James T. Kirk---not bad as the handsome cowboy and playboy captain.

Zachary Quinto as Spock---logical choice.

Karl Urban as Leonard “Bones” McCoy---he was excellent as the scruffy doctor. It is like DeForest Kelly is alive again it’s creepy. Best casting I ever seen!!!

Simon Pegg as Montgomery Scott (Scotty)---great choice. The actor seem to enjoy his role very much.

John Cho as Hikaru Sulu---not bad but I liked the old Sulu George Takei.

Anton Yelchin as Pavel Chekov---his accent is very thick. He was just okay.

Zoe Saldana---as Noyta Uhura-beautiful black woman. She does the best she can do with the role.

Eric Bana as Nero---the villain and I was disappointed. He was intense and had promise as a bad guy but lets face it he is no Khan played by the late, great Ricardo Montalban-not even close!!!

Bottom Line: You don’t have to be a fan to enjoy it but it’s better if you are a fan and if you don’t like change please don’t go!!!

Wolverine Trailer (4 Claws for this too!!!)

2009-05-03T10:26:00.003-04:00

X-Men Origins: Wolverine---4 CLAWS!!!!!

2009-05-02T05:21:00.009-04:00

Comic books that turn into movies can be very difficult but some directors try hard, while some don’t. “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” to me as a movie is pure entertainment. When going deeper into the real origins of the characters, that’s when the problems arise. Continue to read the comics books if you want the full, real story about their beginnings. I am not sure this film is exactly the origin of Wolverine, but it is close (I haven’t read the origin myself). He was always a mutant, and because of love and vengeance (and an assist by "Dr. Military") he becomes an improved mutant!! If you see the movie you will understand why other characters like a young Cyclops are there. A special guest X-Men star is in there too!

What is Good---HUGH JACKMAN!!! That guy is toned and tanned!!! Not only that he is a bad-ass!!! I know that producers want the teen audience, and the movie should be rated R to really show what Wolverine can do, but he does fine for what PG-13 can offer. The action is terrific even if it is mindless. Ryan Reynolds is great as DeadPool, but he isn’t in it long enough!! I hope they do a movie about him. (I don’t know anything about this character, but I will read up!) Liev Schreiber as Sabertooth would not be my first choice but what he lacks in size, he makes up in his performance, as he shows how creepy and evil he is!! Danny Houston (30 Days of Night) is great as Stryker. He's devious, cunning--- that is, a perfect government official!!

What Is Bad---A movie that cost 150 million big ones, with all the special effects, should have been good---and some wasn’t. Mutants come in and out without even a little back-story provided.

Bottom Line---Action hounds, this movie is for you. If you know nothing of X-Men or the trilogy you will still enjoy this movie. If you read comics and know your comics---beware!!

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Get Obsessed!!!

2009-05-02T04:52:00.005-04:00

Thank goodness Glenn Close from “Fatal Attraction” gave actresses a new part to play besides The Wife, The Girlfriend, The Mother---now, The Psycho Bitch! In “Obsessed,” Ali Larter plays a crazed white chick stalking a successful, loving married black man. Let’s face it, this is a Lifetime movie for black women. It is a great guilty pleasure.

Beyonce plays the wife and she is one tough female. Bad-ass Beyonce wears the pants and the panties, and when you watch the movie “Obsessed” you will know exactly what I mean! Honestly I don’t know if Idris Elba (as the husband) is either p----y whipped or he loves his wife. Beyonce is a big star and in her countless interviews, she clearly indicatws she wants to win an Oscar. Well America, she is gonna get it but not right now.

So few parts for women of color exist, that when a simplistic movie like this does come around black women flock to it!!! That’s very sad. Idris Elba is a good actor. He was in “American Gangster” and “The Wire.” Ali Larter who is in “Heroes” is a pretty girl, I do think she is a good actress and I hope she receives better parts other than psycho bad-girl.

What's Good---Beyonce and Idris are ideal black upper-class couple. He resists the white girl’s advances and tries very hard to be a gentleman. The n-word is not used and of course the catfight!!

What’s Bad---Ali Larter’s Lisa. To ask a cliched question, just what is her motivation? No back-story of why she is nuts and stalking men. She's is just an evil white woman driven to get somebody’s husband. No sympathy for her. Her only reason for being seems to be she is in the movie is to make Beyonce look good, and even better when she kicks her ass!

Bottom Line---If you like these kinds of movies, naturally you will like this one. If you don’t, wait for video, but is it great fun if you're with a group of females praising the brother for not being seduced by the white girl. and cheering on the catfight!! The movie was going to be called “Oh No She Didn’t,” but I guess it sounded too ghetto. So get "Obsessed," but don't get too carried away about it!

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A Movie I Wish I Saw In Theaters---Yes Yes, to No- No “Notorious”

2009-04-19T01:16:00.003-04:00

Notorious is about the short life of rapper Christopher (Biggie Smalls) Wallace . I like rap music, but bios about rappers is another story. I saw “Notorious” on DVD and I must say it was very good. When they make movies about real people you should read about them before you see the movie, for they add or take out things that didn’t happen in their lives. He grew up poor, became a drug dealer, then a rapper. Jamal Woolard as Biggie is fantastic---he gained weight for the role and did a very good job. Always talented Angela Bassett is even better as the mother of Biggie. She could have her own biopic made of what she went through besides raising her son.

Newcomer Naturi Naughton plays Lil Kim. She got the skank part right, but the relationship with Biggie was a little bit more complex---that’s why the real Lil Kim didn’t like the movie and the way she was portrayed. The entire cast was fantastic. In a comment about Biggie one person said he got what he deserved. Well, every rapper, rock star and most actors would be dead then. It is rated R so there is nudity and very foul language-be prepared. If you saw it in the theaters good for you. The DVD has the extended version which I saw, but no extras.

Jonny Quest News

2009-04-19T01:14:00.001-04:00

My sources say that Zac Efron (“High School Music”) is going to play Jonny Quest---yeah, I know, but at least it will probably be made now. They hope to get Dwayne Johnson to play Race Bannon. To play Dr. Benton Quest my choice is Bruce Harwood (“Lone Gunmen”) and for Hadji, Dev Patel (“Slumdog Millionaire”).

Fast and Furious---Just The Way I Like It!

2009-04-12T01:28:00.003-04:00

The gang is back together in “FF-4”. It feels more like the sequel to “The Fast and Furious”in 2001. Plot is not the main ingredient in these kinds of movies, what is are hot cars, hot women and two hunks: Vin Diesel---one cool badass dude---and Paul Walker. The women Michelle Rodriguez and Jordana Brewster are good but eye candy. All four were in the original. The opening sequence lets you know what fun you are going to have for the rest of the movie. I do hope there is a “Fast and Furious 5”!

P.S.: YEAH--Here Comes Fast and Furious 5!!!--- If your on the PC a lot you already know that they are going to make FF5 with Vin Diesel and Paul Walker. It is set in Brazil---no release date yet.

Knowing---Know That It Will Be At Your Video Store Soon!

2009-04-12T01:24:00.001-04:00

Nicolas Cage stars in “Knowing” end of the world picture. If you saw the trailer a young girl in the fifties writes a page full of numbers and Cage’s son gets after 50 years. It tells about disasters that will be coming. Parts of the movie are very suspenseful---especially the airplane crash---much more graphic in the movie. The special effects are great and the music is impressive but the plot you have seen in other movies. In short if you like Nicolas Cage and disaster movies you will like this---if not, please don’t bother.

Punisher War Zone 2008, and More Punishment

2009-03-22T16:13:00.001-04:00

I got the DVD of “Punisher-War Zone.” I saw the movie in theaters and I am one of the few folks who loved it. I bought the two discs and usually I don’t but this time it was good just too short. There has been 3 movies and I enjoyed them all. Each actor brings a different feel to the character Frank Castle.

Punisher-1989 starring Dolph Lundgren, directed by Mark Goldblatt. He was imposing and intense at times. Not a good actor but acting is not a requirement in an action B-movie.
Punisher-2004 starring Thomas Jane, directed by Jonathan Hensleigh. In this movie Jane’s Punisher was thinking man and compassionate person. It tells how he became a DEA agent to vigilante. John Travolta was good as the villain Howard Saint but he was invented-not in the comic book. (at least to my knowledge)

Punisher: War Zone-2008 starring Ray Stevenson directed by Lexi Alexander. Stevenson version is amazing. He looks like he stepped out of the comic book! He is tall, menacing, intense, non-talking killing machine!! The villain is Jigsaw ( Dominic West) and he is from the comic book and his brother Looney Bin Jim (Doug Hutchison). West and Hutchison over acts which is good to silent assassin Stevenson. Director Lexi Alexander( it is a woman!) does a great job. There is a lot of neon color. Maybe she has seen a lot of anime-beauty before bloodshed!! I wish they would make more movies on DVD. I sure would buy them.

Who Would Win? Punisher Vs. Rambo

Who Would Win? Three–way dance---Dolph Lungren Vs. Thomas Jane Vs. Ray Stevenson

Who Would YOU Cast?

2009-03-22T16:07:00.002-04:00

This is a part of my blog of casting for upcoming movies. It can be outrageous, it can be fun!!

Green Lantern- wrestler John Cena, Matt Damon,(“Bourne Identity”) Terrance Howard(“IronMan”)

Captain America- wrester John Cena, Paul Walker (“Fast and Furious”) Matt Damon

Thor-Karl Urban (“Doom”), wrestler Triple H

Black Panther- Morris Chestnut (“Boys In The Hood”)

Luke Cage- rapper 50 Cents

Wonder Woman- Malin Akerman (Silk Spectre “Watchmen”) Eliza Dushku (“Dollhouse”)

Megan Fox (“The Transformers”) if they put 20 pounds of muscle on her!

P.S.: “Wonder Woman” Animated
I just saw the“Wonder Woman” animated movie, and it is just fantastic!!! It is very violent for DC but nothing short of excellent. In summer of this year----get ready for “Green Lantern.”

Watching the Watchmen

2009-03-10T01:15:00.001-04:00

I saw the “Watchmen.” Before I continue Please read the graphic novel first. Second, don’t expect the action-packed ending that Hollywood gives for it is not in this movie!!!

The Good: Never have I seen a director (Zack Synder) make a movie so close to the graphic novel. He deserves an A for effort just for that. The ending is different from the graphic novel for good reason. Jackie Earle Haley as Rorschach- just brilliant. Clint Eastwood sounding Punisher-type guy is great. Most of the actors are very good. The special effects are very good.
The Bad: If you don’t read the graphic novel you will be bored to death for the movie is very long and very little action-mostly talking. It’s a thinking man’s superhero movie if there is such a thing. “Watchmen” is a different kind of superhero movie I ever seen. I cannot stress this enough if you like action, action, action WRONG movie get the dvd which the movie is even longer. You will thank me.

Movie Phat here!!! Been gone for awhile but I am back!!!

2009-03-10T01:10:00.000-04:00

Bits and Pieces, post Oscar time:

• “Slumdog Millionaire”is a great movie, the commercials make it like a feel-good movie and it is but it is very unpleasant in spots.
• “The Wrestler” starring Mickey Rourke is good. He deserves his Oscar nomination. I don’t like him that much but he was excellent .
• Oscar time-I DO HOPE HEATH LEDGER WINS!!! He deserves it and not because he’s dead either.
• “Friday The 13th”-the update. Don’t like remakes much-watch on DVD.
• 2/24/2009 HEATH LEDGER WON!!! I am so glad. Only reason why I watched.

WARNING!!! This is for only people who are REALLY into bad movies. I read about “The Room” by Entertainment Weekly. It’s not a horror movie but a tragic love story. It has more holes in it than Swiss cheese. Tommy Wiseau wrote directed and stars in it. He has been called gay, retarded and weird but (to me) he is just a bad actor. He raised 6 million dollars on his movie but it doesn’t look it. Watch this movie like said if you enjoy so bad it’s funny. It has a cult following and when you watch the movie you will know why. You will either thank me or insult me. You can see “The Room” March 20 at Midnight at Village Cinema East 22 E. 12 Street Phone Number 212-924-3363. You can also buy it at Amazon under $14.00 dollars.

GODZILLA FANS ONLY-Do you want to see “King Kong VS. Godzilla” 2008 screenplay. Please write to the following address:
MARY PARENT, Chairman, Worldwide Motion Picture Group
MGM Studios
10250 Constellation Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90067

Please write to her I would like to see Godzilla again on the big screen.

I saw two good movies “Soul Men” and “Miracle At St. Anna”

“Soul Men” starred my two favorite actors Samuel L. Jackson and the late, great Bernie Mac. One of the singers of the Real Deal dies and they go cross-country to pay tribute and to start their careers again. It’s a road movie and a teen sex comedy. They use the N-word a lot but it is a lot of fun.

“Miracle at St. Anna” is an epic movie about black soldiers in World War 2. The performances are nothing short of fantastic. Derek Luke as Stamps is brilliant. I believe he will be the next Denzel Washington. Director Spike Lee is best black director in my opinion. He makes movies that make you think!! The movie is very long and lots of subtitles. Prepare to read a lot!!

Movie Phat - Privacy Policy

2008-11-15T01:31:00.000-05:00

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A "cookie" is a small data text file that is placed in your browser and allows Movie Phat to recognize you each time you visit this site(customisation etc). Cookies themselves do not contain any personal information, and Movie Phat does not use cookies to collect personal information. Cookies may also be used by 3rd party content providers such as newsfeeds.

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While we do our best to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee the security of any information that you transmit to Movie Phat and you are solely responsible for maintaining the secrecy of any passwords or other account information. In addition other Internet sites or services that may be accessible through Movie Phat have separate data and privacy practices independent of us, and therefore we disclaim any responsibility or liability for their policies or actions.

Please contact those vendors and others directly if you have any questions about their privacy policies.

Who Will Win the Online Movie Rental War

2008-11-07T03:34:00.003-05:00

Online DVD rentals are becoming more and more popular with consumers as people move away from VHS, become more comfortable generally with buying online, get sick and tired of paying for higher and higher movie ticket prices.

Online DVD rentals are both a fast and convenient way to rent movies. Online DVD film rental companies allow a person to rent and buy DVD movies online through the mail. Normally, a customer interacts with the DVD rental company via the Internet and receives the films ordered via regular mail.

How DVD film rental works

DVD film rental companies operate on the following model: A new customer joins the DVD rental service and creates a list of good movies they will like to rent, This is called there Q or Queue, and next the DVD rental company sends movies from the customers list by regular mail, finally the customer receives the films, views them and sends them back and receives another film from list.

The two top companies right now are Blockbuster & Netflix. Both of them have there avenges and offer basically the same thing. But in my option I love Blockbuster, just for the mere sake that after I watch the online rentals I can go to the Blockbuster right across the street and exchange them for more movies or games.

But for more details you should check out both of them and decide which one is will meet your needs better.
Both Blockbuster & Netflix offer a free DVD film rental trail, but at the end of this article I’m show you how to try the free trial.

Blockbuster DVD Film Rental

Although the first online rental company has to be Netfilx. Netflix quickly became popular with the renting movies by mail, but when Blockbuster start there movies by mail service, they quickly over took Netflix. By offering an easy to use, quick and affordable solution to Netflix.

My 3 Reasons Why

The reason I don't use Netflix and won't advice anyone to use its service is because their service is expensive, DVD delivery is slow and they don't provide coupons as often as Blockbuster does.

Another reason I use Blockbuster to rent and buy DVD movies on-line is because they provide free movie and game rental coupons to users each month.

The last reason I love Blockbuster's service is their fast and efficient delivery of DVD rentals, they have an arrangement with USPS that enables Blockbuster to electronically register DVD's refund before they actually arrive their office. This saves time for both Blockbuster and their users benefit from greater turn-around time for their next DVD rental.

If you are looking for an efficient, reliable and affordable Online DVD film rental service, I highly recommend Blockbuster online DVD rental.

What Are the Best Movie Sites for Downloading Movies? It Depends on What You Are Looking For

2008-11-07T03:34:00.002-05:00

It all started with music. Early on, sites like Napster made it possible to download songs without purchasing an album. The problem was that these services – at the time – did not take copyright into consideration. People shared songs they liked and built their music collection. And, as time went on, this started to change. Subscription services came about; so did the opportunity to pay to download one song at a time.

Film lovers have started to see that this service should not be limited to music. In some cases, they recognize this because services like Apple's iTunes offer film in addition to music downloads. In other cases, people have gotten tired of trips to the video store or of waiting for films to arrive from a mail-based subscription service.

And, from Amazon.com to CinemaNow and Vongo, it's becoming increasingly easy to find sites for downloading movies. But which are the best movie sites for downloading movies? That depends on what you are looking for.

To begin with, are you looking for the best movie site for downloading recently released movies? If so, consider downloading movies from iTunes or from Amazon.com's Unbox service. With iTunes, you will have to purchase the movie in order to download it, but will be able to watch the movie on a Mac or Windows operation platform; downloading movies form Unbox will limit you to watching films on a computer operating Windows XP, but you will also have the opportunity to rent movie downloads.

Other movie sites that will allow rental as an option when you are downloading movies include Cinema Now, which is among the best movie sites for downloading movies if you want to be able to burn the movie to a DVD to watch on players other than your computer.

Aside from rentals and the ability to burn the movies that you've downloaded to a DVD, what other characteristics help to make a movie site the best?

One characteristic is the variety of movies that the site makes available for downloading. If you will be downloading foreign films, you will want to make sure that the movie site has a wide variety of options available for you. Similarly, if you want to be able to access new releases, the best movie sites for you will have a number of current films available.

In addition to having the films that you are looking for available to you, the best movie sites for downloading movies will offer you the ability to watch those movies on portable devices or with a player that you already have rather than requiring you to download their player.

Not only will the best movie sites make watching movies a convenient experience, but also they will provide you with movies that have been sampled at a high bitrate so that you will be able to watch a film with a high quality picture. And, because you are downloading movies because you want to watch them, the best movie sites will also provide high quality downloads that don't take all day.

In other words, there are a number of things to take into consideration when it comes to downloading movies. The first thing is the ability to download the movies rather than watching them as streaming content. The next is to be sure that you are downloading movies that you will be able to watch with the computer operating system that you have and that they will be of a high quality.

When you find the best movie site for downloading movies, you'll know it: the site will provide you with everything that you're looking for.

The Best Chick Flicks For Friday Night Movie Dates

2008-11-07T03:34:00.001-05:00

If you are short on the funds for your Friday night date with your girl, all you need to do is to get creative. One good idea for a fun date on a Friday night is to go on a movie marathon of your girl’s favorite chick flicks.

In case you have been living under a rock for most of your life, you would know that a chick flick is a movie with a storyline that appeals to women and deals with issues and relationships that women often relate to. A chick flick can either be a comedy or a tearjerker. Some have a bit of action in it, but the action stuff that is typical of guy movies is rare in chick flicks.

Are you sold on the idea of going on a marathon of chick flicks with your chick, but you do not have a clue on what movies to put together for the marathon? Here are a few suggested titles of good chick flicks.

Breakfast at Tiffany's

This Audrey Hepburn movie, widely acclaimed and widely considered to be one of the classics of 20th century cinema, simply appeals to women on many different levels. On one level is the stylish elegance of Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly in her little black dress, jewels and reed-thin cigarette holder. On another level is the complicated attraction and relationship between Holly Golightly and her author neighbor Paul Varjak. On yet another level is the haunting song Moon River, composed by Henri Mancini and sung by Audrey Hepburn herself. What about this movie does not scream “chick flick”?

Bridget Jones' Diary

Bridget Jones' Diary puts a hilarious spin to the woe of some women who have reached the age of thirty-something with a lot of hang-ups, including having yet to find someone to have a stable relationship with that can become a long-term one. The heroine in this funny British chick flick is the frustrated Bridget Jones, played by Renee Zellweger, who had a highly sexual relationship with her boss Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant), which ended in heartbreak. Into her life comes Mark Darcy (Colin Firth), a human-rights barrister who is Bridget’s mother’s choice to be Bridget’s husband. At the center of it all is the diary into which Bridget pours all her anger, irritations, insults and frustrations.

Pretty Woman
A modern take on the classic Cinderella story, this movie tells the tale of a golden-hearted, street-smart Hollywood hooker named Vivian Ward, who is actually a diamond in the rough. She meets a lonely but extremely wealthy businessman Edward Lewis, who hires her to be his arm candy for the various social functions he needed to attend while he was in town. They discover each other, fall in love and act as each other’s savior. Starring the chick flick staple Julia Roberts and the delicious Richard Gere, this movie is a top favorite for chick flick marathons.

Sense and Sensibility

Any movie made out of a Jane Austen book almost always gets the chick flick label. A prime example is the 1995 film adaptation of Sense and Sensibility, starring Emma Thompson as Elinor Dashwood and Kate Winslet as Elinor’s sister Marianne. The hopes, dreams and struggles that these two Dashwood sisters went through as dramatized in this movie is something that all women can relate to.

Something’s Gotta Give

This movie is quite unusual in the sense that the protagonists are both sagging middle-aged people when most chick flick couples are often young, firm and beautiful. Nonetheless, Something’s Gotta Give is a very endearing movie. This film stars Diane Keaton and Jack Nicholson as two aging people who had to deal with relationship insecurities in order to finally be together.

Thelma and Louise

Who could best help a girl get out of her fun other than her girlfriends? Who else would stick with her through the best of times and the worst of times, regardless of whatever circumstances they may be in? The answer: her girlfriends. Thelma and Louise is the chick flick that celebrates female friendship come hell or high water. It stars Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon, and is popular for being Brad Pitt’s first major Hollywood role.

When Harry Met Sally

Whoever said that men and women can never be great friends? Whoever said that this friendship always has to end when sex comes into the picture? When Harry Met Sally is one of the best chick flicks ever made. It is a romantic comedy starring Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal, and it is probably known best for the deli scene where Meg Ryan’s character demonstrated a fake orgasm.

Guys, you do not have to worry about lack of cash just to score a great date with your girl on Friday night. You can just buy or rent copies of these chick flicks, prepare tubs of popcorn and packs of tissue, and enjoy the movies.

How To Watch Movies Online Fast & Easy

2008-11-07T03:34:00.000-05:00

The revolution that the Internet has brought opened up an entire new method of watching movies from your chair at home. Nowadays, not only you have the possibility to rent your favorite movies but you have the ability to watch them in a streaming format right onto your personal computer. There are plenty of sites on the Internet that offer links to online movies while other sites allow visitors to rent them and watch them directly on that site.

The major advantage a streaming movie has to offer is that you don’t have to download the movie so you don’t have to worry about viruses and other malicious issues that might occur when downloading a file from the Internet. On the above mentioned sites that offer links to sites on which you can view movies, most of them allow the visitor to search by movie title or by type which is a great tool to find your favorite movie very fast. It is important not to forget that you have the possibility to view other things besides movies, like: television shows, sporting events and others as well.

The major downside a site like this has is that from time to time it can be very hard if not impossible to access it due to the overwhelming traffic. This issue will probably resolve in a few minutes so having patience is the wise thing to do. Quality sites are updated on a daily basis with the latest offers of online movies. If you are looking for a certain movie online it is advisable to search for the Divx format as it offers the best quality from all video formats. On the Internet, there are several sites that list only movies in Divx format so if you are looking for top quality image, these sites offer what you need.

In order to view a movie or a television show in a Divx format you need to download either a Divx player or a web player. This download deserves the space it will occupy on your hard drive for the main reason because such a player is the fastest and easiest way to enjoy a movie online. Some sites that offer online movies allow memberships which allow users to elect to watch some of the movie selections directly from the site without having to wait for the site to mail them. One issue that might occur is that these sites don’t always have the exact same selection that they offer for mailing but the list is still rich.

Watching movies online is probably the next best thing on the Internet and sites that provide the latest links to online movies and television shows will surely become a huge hit very soon. If you find this method interesting it is advisable to search for those sites that offer lots of links and also they update the site regularly so that you can find for example, the latest episode from your favorite television show.

All things considered, by visiting a site like this you will enjoy watching your favorite movie or television show from your chair right at home without having to worry about viruses, spam and other things like this. It is quick, easy, safe and it will probably become very popular among movie enthusiasts.

How to Legally Download Movies on the Internet

2008-11-07T03:33:00.001-05:00

With more and more people using broadband we are seeing and increase in options for content from the internet. One of these is movies. Due to the large file size of video content, it was not practical for this type of content for dial up users. This is all changing as broadband becomes the standard method to use the internet.

Early adopters of this new approach have gone so far as to cancel their cable TV subscriptions but not all content can be downloaded on the internet at this point. Still, this trend will likely continue as more content becomes available. Let's look at some of the top five latest sources for online movies.

CinemaNow.com offers downloadable movies that can be played for up to 24 hours after you start watching them. There are no membership fees and you pay $2.99 to $3.99 per rental. The current selection includes over 7500 films as well as a selection of free movie downloads.

Movielink.com has movie downloads starting at $1.99. They have a decent and growing selection of new releases and classics. Unlimited viewings per download for 24 hours. Nice selection of free downloads also. They offer student discounts and weekly half off specials.

Stars.real.com offers a monthly subscription plan that allows unlimited monthly downloads for $12.95. Like the cable version of Starz channel, you won't find the latest releases, but there are over 300 movies each month to choose from. They offer a 14 day free trial, so it's worth checking out.

Vongo.com contains over 1000 titles with new titles weekly. This service is also related to the Starz cable channel. Unlimited downloads and unlimited view times for standard titles. The monthly subscription is $9.99. They also have a pay per view fee for latest releases.

There are a number of other sites that offer legal movie downloads of non-mainstream theater movies, and of course TV programs. For more sources see www.new-free-movie-downloads.info

How to Get Free Movie Downloads

2008-11-07T03:33:00.000-05:00

Movies are a big business and the internet is helping them along quite well. Thanks to the new technology that allows movies to be played on the computer you are easily capable of having an entire movie collection right on your desktop providing you have the right type of computer. The free movie download is something that entices a good many people to make the change to the internet format of movies and all that comes with it. Barring any unforeseen circumstances in the near future, people will spend a fair amount of time downloading their favorite films right onto their computers and then playing them on the DVD players and such that grace their entertainment centers. But there is the matter of copyright and piracy laws that you should be aware of. There is not always the legal right to be downloading a movie and you should be very careful of the people who offer them for nothing.

A free movie download can be gotten legally through a good many channels. That means that the download of the movie is free but not the site in general. Most often you will see that many of the sites that offer the free movie download do so by offering unlimited downloading for a flat monthly fee. This is opposed to the sites that charge per download and allow for you to rack up quite the large bill in the meantime. This is truly the only legal way to get a free movie download because the sites are required to pay a certain percentage of the money they take in to royalties. So that way they do not violate the many copyright laws that govern the whole movie industry.

There is a set fee for the free movie download sites and you can manage to get some of the sites for free if you know what you are doing. Many of these places will offer the first month for free and then require you to pay from there on out. So if you can manage to get all of the movies that you want in the first month then cancel the subscription then you will actually have gotten a free movie download. Not all of the sites allow for this though. Many of them have minimum times that you must be a member to get the free month. You should read all of the fine print before signing up for anything.

DVD Online Rentals! Rent Movies In Your Pyjamas, And Watch Them In Your Jammy's Too

2008-11-07T03:30:00.000-05:00

When it comes to convenience, DVD online rentals have to be the most convenient way to rent your favorite movie releases without having to leave your comfy couch in your home!

Since the Internet opened the DVD rental service market, many individuals and families quickly took advantage of the valuable features they offered, such as free trial periods, and also the low introductory membership fees that lets you rent unlimited movies per month, and you never have to experience late fees ever again.

If you haven’t taken advantage of the rental services through many online movie companies including Blockbuster, Intelliflix, and DVD Avenue, and for the Canadians the Zip.ca rental site, than you don’t know what your missing.

With a monthly membership, you can choose and rent as many movies as you like, however, many online rental companies will allow 3 out at a time. That’s not bad, considering once you get the shipping system down, you can have a load of movies and games coming to your door just as fast as you ship them back!

Top Entertainment Titles From Classics, Comedy, To Adult Videos Are Delivered Directly To Your Door!

Having delivery to your door is the future, and many movie and game rental enthusiasts are taking advantage of this feature, and eliminating frustrating line-ups for good! The rental process is simple, and when you go to Blockbuster’s or the online video store of your choice, all you have to do is visit the your interested categories. Find your choice of film or game, and click the computer mouse and that’s all it takes.

Online movies are sent to you within days, and most online rental companies will let you know the average time it will take to arrive. Then all you have to do is wait until they arrive, and you’re ready to watch them as many times as you like.

Late Fees Are The Thing Of The Past! For The Renters Who Forget To Return Their Movies, No More Worries!

You may remember the times you were charged nasty late fees that ended-up being more than the actual DVD movie you only planned to rent for a day or two. I recall the local movie rental store being so rude and inflexible with the fees, and it made me very angry.

I considered myself responsible, and when the odd occasion I would forget to take a movie back, or I just got too busy and couldn’t make it to the store on time. I would sneak the movie into the drop box, but the next time I went in to rent a flick, it almost seemed that they waited for day to push the fee in my face.

When many of the top online rental companies expressed there were no online fee charges, I was extremely excited, and looked forward to going to my local store to tell them that they would not be getting anymore of my excess late fees, because I was not going to rent from them anymore! I was about to venture in renting my movies from this day forward via the Internet, and the rest was history.