21 Review
This movie has great potential, and I think for the movie watcher who hasn’t been corrupted by the necessity to scrutinize everything from sound to accent accuracy, it would be enjoyable.
It’s fairly predictable, which isn’t always a bad thing, however in this case, you pretty much see where it’s going in the first 10 minutes, or if you’ve seen the previews, you could likely pen the ending.
I enjoyed Jim Sturgess as the lead character, Ben Campbell. Sturgess was very fresh and likable, a virtual unknown to me, though I see he has a decent pedigree.
Kevin Spacey’s performance was a bit disappointing though. I am quite a Spacey fan in general, but I just couldn’t buy him in this role, and I like to think that he is very versatile. If you saw this film, didn’t you feel like everything he said was just a bit forced?
I give this movie 5.5 ‘winner, winner, chicken dinner’s out of 10.
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Pineapple Express Movie Review
Pineapple Express is the latest addition to the stoner-buddy movie hall of fame, making its way to the top of the pile for putting on a fresh satirical spin to the otherwise overplayed genre.
Seth Rogen brings on the sweet and goofy goodness to yet another Judd Apatow-produced movie as Dale Denton, the process server whose pot habits lead him down a winding path of hilarious disaster and destruction. James Franco, another Apatow vet from the Freaks and Geeks days, sheds his usual brooding heartthrob persona to play the part of flaky drug dealer Saul Silver, who is looking to make friends and enough cash to support his Bubbie’s nursing home bill.
Dale is under the firm impression that you can’t be friends with your drug dealer, but when the going gets tough, Dale runs straight to Saul for help. After purchasing a rare and potent strand of weed from Saul, Dale leaves to deliver a subpoena to one of the main drug lords in town, Ted Jones (Gary Cole). Incidentally, Jones is embroiled in a drug war with “the Asians.” While smoking a pre-work joint outside the drug lord’s home, Dale witnesses the murder of one of the Asian spies by Jones and his paid dirty cop (Rosie Perez). He flees the scene to run to Saul’s, but not before throwing out his roach full of Pineapple Express out the window. Dale accurately deduces that the bad guys will be able to trace the wasted rare doobie back to Saul, so they must go on the run.
Dale and Saul are then on the lam from Jones’s hit men, a bickering semi-unprofessional duo played by Kevin Corrigan and Craig Robinson. They try and get help from Saul’s quirky supplier Red (Danny McBride), who easily flips on them but redeems himself later on. Also, while juggling trying to survive being hunted down by dirty cops and drug lords, Dale also has to deal with meeting his girlfriend Angie’s parents for the first time. By the way, his girlfriend, played by Amber Heard, is a senior… in high school. Throw in one of the funniest car chase scenes ever produced, plenty of gunfire, big explosions, and a smattering of dead bodies, and you have a good time on your hands.
There are enough juvenile jokes, homosexual undertones, and ad-libbed dialogue to choke on, but it seems fitting considering the subject matter. Also in the movie are dozens of cameos pulled from Apatow’s cast goodie bag. And, of course, there are half-naked men carrying their BFFFs (best “effing” friends forever) out of harm’s way to save the day. Combined with the non-condescending satirical outlook on pot, and Rogen’s and Franco’s incomparable comedic partnership, Pineapple Express is elevated to a higher level of comedy; one that, instead of focusing entirely on the obvious for humour, concentrates on the connections and friendships to draw on for material.
It’s not quite just a stoner movie, and it’s not entirely an action-packed cops-and-bad-guys flick, but it is funny and, above all else, another signature “bromance” movie brought to us by Apatow’s creative team. Take a deep breath and inhale the funny.
You can visit JB’s personal blog here!
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Step Brothers Movie Review - JB strikes again
They’re not the most intelligent movies made, but sometimes you’re in the right kind of mood for a boys-will-be-boys gross-out movie full of slapstick humour and crude one-liners. When that mood strikes, go see Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly’s latest collaboration, Step Brothers. Otherwise, it’s a juvenile family union worth considering making up an excuse to miss. Something like a very important fishing trip, perhaps.
One’s mother (Mary Steenburgen) marries the other’s father (Richard Jenkins), and now Dale (Reilly) and Brennan (Ferrell) suddenly find themselves being stepbrothers. This wouldn’t be an issue at all, or a movie, if it weren’t for the fact that both forty-something year old men were still unemployed, immature, and living with their respective parents. After their parents have enabled the arrested development of their grown children for so long, both men must now share everything, including a room, and try and get along like grown ups.
As with most new stepsiblings, there are a lot of reservations and trepidation with accepting a new family member that often manifest in the form of name calling, fist fighting, and attempts to make the other one cry—some of it more funny that the rest—except in this case, throw in some chest hair and wrinkles to the teenaged angst mix and you have the relationship Dale and Brennan share.
That is, until Dale quickly develops the same distaste for Brennan’s younger, successful, bullying and confusingly musical-loving brother Derek (Adam Scott). Then, both men become fast friends and do everything they can to fight their parents attempts to get them to grow up and get out and find success. It winds up costing them their parents marriage, their home, their dependence, and even their brotherhood, and inadvertently forces them to become grown ups.
As with any Ferrell, or even Apatow-related, movie the end goal is achieved after a series of clumsy mishaps, gross-out fight sequences, an attempt at a heartfelt montage, awkward relationships, and a dragged-on ending. But, whether you’re mature enough to admit it, it does bring on some of the funny.
You can visit JB’s blog here.
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X-Files: I want to believe - Review by JB!
The X-Files: I Want to Believe is the latest installment in the Mulder and Scully paranormal adventure. The X-Files began as a television show built around the outcast FBI agent Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and his skeptical partner Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) as each week they investigate a new unexplained phenomena. Mulder is a man desperate to prove the possibility of the impossible to satisfy his personal demons, and his near-paranoia is balanced by Scully’s caution as she applies science and faith when attempting to solve each case. The show aired for nine years, and also produced its first full-feature, The X-Files: .
However, if you’re really looking for those engaging conspiracy theories that keep you up at night, you’re better off renting the first few seasons on DVD and watching them while you craft tin-foil hats.
You can visit JB’s website here
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I Was Saved By Hancock!
Sometimes, when you least expect it, a miracle happens. No, I don’t mean turning water into wine, or walking on water. I’m referring to those times in our lives when we are forced to do something (when we would rather eat rusty nails), and then from within the darkened clouds a ray of light emits. Hancock was my ray of light, sparing me from my preconceived notion that I would hate Mamma Mia. My dear friend perked up when she realized there was a new Will Smith movie out (we’re both moms to wee ones and therefore get excited over little to nothing when it’s from the adult world).
Scratch out another one of my nine lives, I must be down to about 3 or 4 left now, but who’s counting.
Hancock.
What a pleasant surprise it was to watch this movie unfold. While I was tickled that it wasn’t Mamma Mia, I did peg it for another superhero movie with just the slant that he was a lazy-ass. Although far fetched, even I was willing to buy into Superman being from Krypton, it’s a decent story, with great acting by Will Smith and Charlize Theron. Jason Bateman, though I love him from his tv personas, always seems to play the same character, with very little difference.
SPOILER:SPOILER:SPOILER:
This movie comes complete with a love story, and nothing at all like that dribble from Spiderman. It’s sweet, honest and catches you completely off guard. Hats of to the writers on this little twist as it really did it’s part in making the movie enjoyable, rounding out the special effects and action sequences.
While I don’t see this puppy lapping up much Oscar attention, I do think that it’s a fun flick, worth taking in on the big screen.
I give this movie, 7 “meatballs” out of 10.
–RNW
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Mamma Mia - Great Musical or Big Pile of Muck?
Admittedly, I am not a fan of musicals… perhaps at the theatre with a true stage presence, yes, but on the big screen, a resounding no.
Moulin Rouge, Chicago… I didn’t bother to see either of those movies, though they were touted as “big hits”. There is just something about throwing a song and dance number into a movie ever 15-20 mins that discourages me from any interest. This can also be said for Bollywood films… now those are musicals! The challenge in those is being able to determine the dialogue based on the poorly translated subtitles. As the Reel Ninja tells me, some of the beautiful Hindi phrases just don’t carry the same emotional message in English.
But I digress.
I am off to see Mamma Mia this evening with a dear friend, one who was aghast when I explained that I had not seen the other two afore mentioned movies because of their genre. Fingers crossed that I will make it out alive, and not cursing the $9.00 wasted. Truthfully, the $9.00 spent will be pennies for a couple of hours as RNW as opposed to cherished Mommy. Reel Ninja Baby (RNB) and Reel Ninja Dog (RND) are really making me earn my keep during maternity leave! “Hello Big Screen, I’ve missed you my darling”, I shall exclaim upon my entrance to the Empire Cinema!
If you’ve seen Mamma Mia, do tell of your praise or reverence for the film.
If you’ve not seen it, share why you’re keeping your distance.
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What I have learned from the movies - Written by JB!
I may not be a cinephile, but I love movies. I’m the type of person who collects her movie stubs and pretends to be a somewhat knowledgeable film critic when I tell my blog readers why I think Rambo had nuance. I’ve skipped school to see the very first showing of each of the Lord of the Rings installments, with my best friend, (and our parents we were that cool.) Heck, I even faked sick at work so I could catch the midnight showing of Spiderman 3, (let’s forget about that disappointment and try and move on.)
Basically, I’ve loved movies ever since my mom plopped me down in front of the TV when I was four to watch The Wizard of Oz for its cinematic importance. I’ve since discovered that there are more than three movies in the world (The Last Unicorn, Labyrinth, and The Land Before Time seemed to be the only movies I watched between the ages of 4 and 6). At the risk of being a one-trick pony, I’ve compiled a list of things I’ve learned from movies.
10. Martial arts are the most important skills you can learn. Every bad person in the world knows martial arts, so it’s important you’re able to out-kick them. Plus, you can fly.
9. Never lock your doors. The only time you do use the locks, a chainsaw-wielding serial killer happens to be outside your home. Of course, by the time you do begin locking your doors, you’re too late because he’s already managed to sneak in through the back door.
8. You don’t need to wear seatbelts, even if you’re in a high speed chase in crowded city streets with lots of traffic. In fact, moments after you put on a seatbelt will be the time your car will suffer an accident, usually involving lots of rolling around and, if you’re a bad guy, an explosion.
7. You don’t actually need to take driving courses or get a pilot’s license. You will instantly know how to drive any transportation vehicle the second you get behind the wheel, be it a helicopter or a standard Lamborghini, or a yacht. Also, when driving any mode of transportation, you don’t actually need to look at where you’re going. Feel free to carry on an engrossing conversation with your passengers.
6. It is perfectly acceptable to break out into song and dance. In fact, even if you’re making up the lyrics and choreography on the fly, everyone around you is following your cues in perfect sync and pitch.
5. It doesn’t matter what kind of building you’re in or your body size; every building is equipped with sound proof and very sturdy ventilation systems. Every ventilation system is easily accessible and conveniently has an opening over the evildoer’s office. The only time the ductwork cannot support your weight is when an evil minion is about to enter or has just left the room you’re spying on.
4. You can kidnap just about anyone in public without incident or being reported. The only witnesses are either geriatrics too weak to do anything about it, or too apathetic to stop you. However, you’re almost guaranteed to wind up with a bullet to the head or heart once the hero and his sharpshooters find you, especially if you’ve kidnapped a woman or child.
3. Your lipstick will never wear off, even overnight. Even if you’ve been in a comatose in a hospital bed for a week, you’ll wake up with luscious red lips and not a single mascara smear.
2. You’ll always get the boy or girl in the end, no matter how much of a jerk you’ve been. If the boy/girl is married, his/her spouse will always gladly step aside or sign the divorce papers amicably if it makes his or her ex happy with the person they were supposedly meant to be with. Of course, if there are kids involved, there is no husband or wife, only long-time exes who are best friends, or dead husbands or wives. The only exception is if you’re a superhero who has to forgo relationships for the wellness of humanity.
1. The person of the opposite sex that you hate the most and cannot fathom ever getting along with will, without fail, wind up being your soulmate. Especially true if you’ve already married him or her in a drunken frenzy before you woke up to find out just how much you loathe him or her.
This article has been written by JB, You can view her blog here.
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Quentin Tarantino gets ready for Inglorious Bastards
Quentin Tarantino, during the Provincetown International Film Festival 2008, announced that he had finished writing the script for Inglorious Bastards and will now start looking for actors. Tarantino is reteaming with the Weinstein Co. for his World War II action tale about a Dirty Dozen-like group of soldiers behind enemy lines.
Quentin Tarantino started writing this movie before Kill Bill: Vol. 1 but could not decide on a good ending and decide to put it on hold to do Kill Bill with Uma Thurman, a project he had been mentally preparing since Pulp Fiction.
Set in World War 2, Tarantino’s story revolves around a band of US soldiers facing death by firing squad for their misdeeds, who are given a chance to save themselves - by heading into the perilous no-man’s lands of Nazi-occupied France on a suicide mission for the Allies.
I hope Taratino had read up on WW2 before he started work on his script. We would not want Michael Madsen talking about Madonna’s music videos during WW2 and shooting Nazis. On that note, did you know that Madonna refuted Quentin Tarantino’s interpretation of her song ‘Like a Virgin’. She gave him a copy of her ‘Erotica‘ album, signed “To Quentin. It’s not about d***, it’s about love. Madonna.”?
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Darjeeling Limited Review
Darjeeling Limited, starring Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody and Jason Schwartzman, is a movie that follows the tradition of being weird like The Royal Tenenbaums, Lost in Translation and The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou.
Directed by Wes Anderson, Darjeeling Limited is a movie about three brothers who have not spoken to each other for a year. To help them get past their troubled relationship, they take a trip to India to find spiritual guidance. The attractiveness of the movie stops there.
Adrien Brody and Jason Schwartzman are the stars of this movie in my opnion although you dont see them doing anything different compared to their earlier perfomances. Even if you are in a mood for a weird movie, be prepared to turn this movie off halfway as this movie is for die-hard Anderson fans.
This movie gets 5 “sweet limes” out of 10
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Reel Babies
Perhaps in the place you call home there is something similar. Here in our little piece of Canada, Empire Theatres, offers a program driven to new moms called Reel Babies. A fabulous concept really; a first run movie shown to an audience of new moms and teary-eyed babies, during daylight hours. It comes complete with changing tables, bottle warmers, and floor toys. What a bang up idea for moms who love movies, don’t you think?
Reel Babies has been offered here in Halifax for a couple of years now, and is becoming rather popular. Perspective movie-going moms subscribe their email address to Empire and a week before the bi-monthly movie date, they are offered three titles to vote for as the upcoming film choice.
The one negative… even after the couple of years that this program has been in existance, is that every time the wee one and I have gone to see a movie, the volume is never adjusted and every baby in the place bawls until one of the moms goes out and asks the tools running the movie to turn the freakin’ volume down! Holy frustrating Batman. Seriously, how many times does this have to happen before you catch on and turn the volume down BEFORE you flick the switch and roll the tape?!
End Rant.
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