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.