The Wrath of Games and Fantasies

HUNGER GAMES ACTION/SCI-FI This film is set in the future where it is broken down in twelve districts and two teenagers- a boy and girl must fight to the death with 23 other teens to be played out on television. Katniss Everdeen (played very well by Jennifer Lawrence(X-Men First Class) isn’t chosen but volunteers to be in The Hunger Games instead of her sister. She is taken away from her poverty district and see The Capitol where there is an abundance of everything, woo to the crowd to get endorsements then must be trained then be killed.!!! Thats a mindf*ck to me. The film is being compared to many other movies including Twilight, The Running Man and Battle Royal. It is all of the above. It is better to read the books by Suzanne Collins because books tell more detail. I didn’t read the books but the movie is very good if you read or not read the books. It is like Twilight for it is a popular book but it has action and the heroine is not waiting to be saved she can save herself. It is like Battle Royal but not as violent. It is good for the fans of the books but if you’re not interested wait for video. WRATH OF THE TITANS ACTION/FANTASY Director Jonathan Liebesman who did Battle Los Angeles now does this movie and it is action packed. Perseus (Sam Worthington) must save his father Zeus (Liam Neeson) from Hades (Ralph Fiennes) and Aries (Edgar Ramirez) who capture him for Kronos. That’s about it for plot. Could have easily been titled Wrath of the Brothers because Zeus and Hades are brothers, Perseus, a demigod fights his godly brother Aries. Acting not really important in this kind of movie but Neeson and Fiennes are good. Special effects are amazing. Not doing very well in the US because of The Hunger Games but overseas doing extremely well. Will there be a next? I have no idea. MIRROR, MIRROR FANTASY The classic tale of Snow White gets a makeover!!! You know the story but it is sooo different. Julia Roberts is good as being the comical yet villainess Queen. Lily Collins (daughter of Phil Collins) is cute as the title character. You have to believe a lot in this lush looking film. Director Tarsem Singh (The Immortals) is more style than substance and the music by Alan Menken is wonderful. It is great for kids but for everyone else. If you are a fan of Roberts go but if not, wait for cable!!!

Movies From Mars

SAFE HOUSE
ACTION/THRILLER

Denzel don’t hurt ‘em!! I am talking extraordinary actor Denzel Washington. He can play very noble characters or at least you feel they are noble and he can play bad!! When Washington plays a bad guy look the hell out!! In the trailer you think Washington’s Tobin Frost is a intelligent agent who went rouge and Matt Weston(Ryan Reynolds) wants to move up in the CIA and luck would have they have to keep Frost in safe house where Weston’s works.

It is like the Bourne movies and in spy movies you can’t trust anyone. Reynolds is great he wasn’t as good in Green Lantern will be better in Dead Pool but here he is serious as a heart attack!!! He is determined, fierce but still wants the truth. Washington is always good as with the rest of the cast.

JOHN CARTER
ACTION/FANTASY

This film is based on Edgar Rice Burroughs, the guy who gave us Tarzan. It is a Civil War vet transported to Mars by a medallion and encounters monsters, a beautiful Martian princess and becomes a hero. Sounds great doesn’t it and the movies aren’t bad but it is not what you think. It is not for action hounds for the action doesn’t start until the end of the movie. It is not very comical but it is funny. It is hard to describe unless you see the film.

The cast is good Taylor Kitsch (Gambit from Wolverine) the star, Lynn Collins (also from Wolverine) as the exotic princess and the best villain in movies today Mark Strong (Green Lantern, Kick Ass). It is not making money for Disney didn’t market it correctly and frankly I don’t know how to market it correctly. Really in one sentence it is good but strange.

DR.SEUSS’ THE LORAX
ANIMATION/FANTASY

It is amazing how the writers took a ten minute animated short and made a full animated movie about the title character. He is The Lorax and he speaks for the trees!! It is a very good and faithful to the book about saving the environment. The kids may not get it but the adults do. It has made a lot of money and I can see why. If you have children –TAKE THEM!! It is magical!!

March Movie Madness

SHAME-2011
DRAMA

Brother, can you spare a therapist? Brandon Sullivan (Michael Fassbender) is a thirty something handsome, successful guy who has a problem: he’s a sex addict!!! He has sex-of any kind, anywhere!! He MUST be satisfied!!! He does however try to have a relationship with Marianne (Nicole Behaire, American Violet) a black employee. He tries to have sex with her but stops for he seems to like her then has sex with a white chick taking her from behind!! This sounds like great porn only he is not enjoying sex very much. He gets worst when his equally needy sister Sissy (Carey Mulligan) come to stay with him.

Director Steve McQueen (not the white actor from Bullet but the British and black) wants you to assume a lot. They are naked in front of each other and he hot for this woman on the train in the beginning of the movie and near the end he lust for her but does he act? Michael Fassbender is a great actor. He doesn’t have to talk much to show his feelings. It is sloooow to the average movie audience. If you like artist porn this is for you-if not wait for video!!

THE GREY-2012
ACTION/DRAMA

An oil-drilling team plane crashes and the survivors left including Liam Neeson have to brave the billowing snow freezing temperatures and a group of wolves. It is very dramatic but it does have comical moments. It is very good and Neeson is a great actor. I will give you a mini-spoiler if you see the poster for the movie that tells a lot and the WTF ending. Action hounds will not like it but video will be better so you can repeat.

GHOST RIDER 2: SPIRIT OF VENGEANCE-2012
SUPERNATURAL/ACTION/THRILLER

Nicolas Cage is back as Johnny Blaze in Eastern Europe trying to cope with the Ghost Rider inside him and then Moreau (Idris Elba) a priest who will help him if he can save a boy from Satan. Look, if you didn’t like the first movie woo-hoo this one is more insane than the last one. The action is great and Cage is funnier than the last flick. Elba’s Moreau seems to have fun playing this French character. Video is recommended unless you like Cage and the character he is playing.

JOURNEY 2: MYSTERIOUS ISLAND
ADVENTURE/ACTION

Sean (Josh Hutcherson Journey to the Center of the Earth 2008) is searching for his grandfather (Michael Caine Alfred in The Dark Knight) and with the help of his stepdad Hank (Dwayne The Rock Johnson Faster), a pilot Gabato (Luis Guzman) and his beautiful daughter Kailani (Vanessa Hudgens Sucker Punch) they find him in a mythical island. It is nothing you haven’t seen before only it is in 3D and it is lovely to look at. The three male leads, Caine, Johnson and Guzman are having a great time in the film. The young people Hutcherson and Hudgens act like the adults. It is family oriented but it is cute. See it if you like Johnson, the 3D experience and the action if not wait for video.

Winter 2012 Movies Go Action

UNDERWORLD 4: AWAKENING-2012
HORROR/ACTION

Selene (Kate Beckinsale) is back from being frozen for twelve years to find out humans are now the enemy along with mutated lycans (werewolves). She doesn’t take much time kicking anyone who stands in her way. Acting not really important but it is great that Kate has returned. There is a lot of action. If you don’t like the Underworld series you probably won’t like this one but if you do and it is in 3D by all means GO!!!

HAYWIRE-2012
ACTION/DRAMA

Mallory Kane (Gina Carano) is a black op who gets double crossed. Bad idea. This lady can kick MAJOR ASS!! Her story is told in flashback. She is co-starring with the top people in Hollywood such Michael Douglass , Channing Tatum, Michael Fassbender, Ewan McGregor and Antonio Banderas. She is not a good actress nor does she have to be. She knows how to fight for real for she is a MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) and it shows when she defends herself mostly by men!! Lovely and lethal-best kind of female action hero!! It is better to see for video so you can replay a lot!!!

CHRONICLE-2012
ACTION/DRAMA

Three guys in high school get superpowers from a rock and all hell breaks loose. It sounds like a routine comic book story-it is but this film is so realistic it is scary!!! When they first get their powers it is fun then slowly it becomes frightening especially for Andrew (Dane DeHaan) whose father abuses him and his mother is sickly. The movie is low-budget but it is well made. New director Josh Trank will have a future in cinema. It is making money and once you see it you will see why. If you can wait see it on video but it is worth a look.

More Oscar 2012 Heads & Tails

WAR HORSE--2011
DRAMA

This is an epic film based on the novel by Michael Morpurgo as well as the stage play. The story is about a young man who loves his horse like a dog and his father had to auction him (Joey) to keep his farm to help the solders. It is farfetched, sentimental yet is brilliantly done. If you love animals especially horses you will adore this movie. I didn’t mention any stars of the movie because the horse is the star. The film is slow and it shows war is hell for both man and horses. The lush photography should win an Oscar alone!!! If you don’t cry at some point you are not human!!! It is very good and should be seen on the big screen if you can.

HUGO--2011
DRAMA/FAMILY

First of all this is another movie where you have to know the history of beginning of film to truly enjoy it. It is about the title character Hugo who lives in a giant clock and after his father dies in a fire the uncle makes him work as a clockmaker and the boy wants to fix a broken automation that leads him to an incredible adventure. It is beautiful to look at and very well acted. The most bizarre is Sacha Baron Cohen (Borat himself) as a handicapped French police officer!! It shows what film really is and it is not about box office, Oscars but how movies can change the world.

A BETTER LIFE--2011
DRAMA

An updated, Mexican version of The Bicycle Thief is about an illegal immigrant Carlos (Demian Bichir) who works hard every day to give his son a better life. Things do get better when he gets a trunk but then stolen. The two search for the trunk to discovery they love and respect each other. Bichir deserves his Oscar nomination. There is a scene close to the end that if you don’t cry you have no heart!! Cast and crew deserve praise of a well made movie. It is getting limited release. You will probably have to watch it when it comes on video but it is worth it.

RED TAILS--2012
HISTRORICAL DRAMA

It took director George (Star Wars) Lucas twenty-three years to make this movie and then he had to use his own money (like he is broke) for Hollywood felt they couldn’t sell the film. What Hollywood really means how to you sell an all black cast in a drama that whites want to see? Well he did a very good job as producer. He hired writers John Ridley and Aaron McGruder yes the same guy who writes the raunchy cartoon Boondocks. He hired Anthony Hemingway to direct which is his film debut.

In the beginning of the film an American War College study in 1925 and I quote “Black men are mentally inferior to the white man.” The movie shows black men as being brave, daring and HERORIC. It is very inspiring. The sky battles are nothing short of AMAZING!!! It drags a little only because they are developing characters. Terrance Howard who plays Colonel A.J. Bullard is good but corny for he always says something very important with the soundtrack booming patriotic. There is one woman in the movie Sofia (Daniela Ruah) a white woman that marries one of the pilots.

Black women won’t like that but the fighters were not in America but in Italy. All the mistakes I still give Mr. Lucas all the praise in the world for trying to show black men in a positive light. I do hope black directors take a hint from Lucas and show black people in general as good, intelligent hard working people.