Movie Review - Just Dredding This

Why?  Why, why, why, why, why, why, why?  Why?  I know we are in a comic book, super hero craze.  I know that they are destined to make money.  But I think we all agree that Judge Dredd is the exception to the: If at first you don't succeed... rule.  I remember the first Judge Dredd.  I was about 12 years old.  It was so bad my friend and I started laughing a third of the way through and couldn't stop the entire movie.   If Stallone can't make an action movie work, then that should tell you something.

There were these weird slow motion drug induced scenes.  A cool at first-turned annoying after the third time cinematography choice.  They added some interesting fighting scene effects at moments.  I mean slow-motion, 3D blood splatter is something each person should see once in their life.  Halfway through the movie TJ and I just looked at each other with a look that asked, “really?  Is the whole movie like this?”  Yes, yes it is.  Maybe if you were high it would take on some deeper meaning. 

In this Judge Dredd, Dredd is evaluating a rookie and responds to a triple death.  The apartment complex they enter is under gang rule.  Soon they find their selves under lockdown trying to fight their way through in order to survive.  Hmmm... I feel like I already saw a very similar situation earlier this year, and Raid Redemption was far superior. 

At the end of the day, if you saw the first one, just leave it at that.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

I grew up in the height of teen coming of age movies. Movie teens of today just don't seem to have the same passion or angst that we had growing up. There's no internal, high school revolution to be had. It's all parties and girl/boy troubles with a little bit of bullying thrown in. There's no breakfast club, dancing to prove yourself, risky businesses to run or Heathers drama to overcome.

Fortunately for this generation seeing The Perks of Being a Wallflower will give them a taste of the teen worlds we were a part of growing up. It has an amazing cast including Emma Watson breaking away from Harry Potter. It was semi based on the writer/director's life during his sophomore year in high school. The entire audience, which was about 10 years younger than me, had read the book which the movie was adapted from. Let's just say that after seeing this I had to read the book, it was that good.

After the screening I was privileges to hear the director, Stephen Chbosky, talk about the film and his book. (TJ was super excited, because he the director created Jericho as well). He spoke of this feeling of being infinite, and how he was surprised that it was never used before. He also spoke about how teens often feel infinite, there's so many possibilities ahead for them. As adults we don't often feel infinite anymore. For me this movie rekindled this feeling that with a few good friends and a place that you belong, I can do anything and I'm already standing on top of the world. Like every teen should.

Magic Mike - Review

Ok ladies, it's time for a little magic in your life.  If you saw the trailer and thought, I want to see this movie, then go see this movie you won't be disappointed.  


Anne and I decided to see this at the Landmark theater, since the audience would probably be as entertaining as the movie.   When TJ met us at the theater he looked around puzzled.  "Aren't we seeing A Friend for the End of the World.""Nope, Magic Mike.""Great, I'm the only straight man here.""Yep."

I learned a few things during this movie.  If you wonder how costume shops stay open year round, the male stripper community keeps them in business.  Channing Tatum can dance.  I never saw him in Step Up, but my money is on him for a dance off.  Matthew McConaughey was made for this role.  I don't know if that is a good or bad thing, but once you see it you will understand.  For other educational elements you will have to derive them from your own viewing pleasure.

My favorite part of the entire movie was when I went to get a refill on my drink.  No I wasn't thirsty from screaming/cheering at the screen.  What I saw was a woman run from the bathroom back into the theater.  Didn't want to miss a thing.

After the movie we were of course all very giddy and happy, well I dont know if TJ was.  I did wonder if I would find him practicing his dance moves at home one night.  (Hasn't happened yet).  Anne's only disappointment with the movie was that she wanted more character background and development for the brother.  To really understand why he was who he was.   My reply, "I'm sorry, you wanted this movie to have more substance?"

Ladies, Channing Tatum, Matthew McConaughey, Alex Pettyfer, Joe Manganiello, Matt Bomer, Adam Rodriguez and Kevin Nash give you all the substance that you need.

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter

If you are a vampire slayer loving history buff, this movie is for you.  

For those of you who have no idea of what this movie is about, the title kind of explains it all.  Still confused, well let's break it down.  Abraham Lincoln is a vampire hunter.  He moves to Spingfield to find and kill vampires.  The civil war was really about saving America from vampires taking over the country.

Could Abraham Lincoln have saved America from being under vampire rule?  This movie shows that it's possible.  The UN can also be keeping the entire underworld at bay.  President Bush may have saved the world by secretly getting rid of the true weapons of mass destruction-vampire cells in the middle east.  It's all plausible.

The movie does show how the history and the historical characters of Abraham Lincoln's time fit into this new look at this great time period, which shaped our nation.  Which in lies the problem, no matter how good the fight scenes are, no matter how good the actors are, you can't get over the fact that it is Abraham Lincoln fighting vampires.  For those of you who think the title is ridiculous, it is, but it is still entertaining.

TED - Movie Review

TED answers the question of what would happen if children's wishes everywhere came true and their teddy bear came to life.  They would he best buds who enjoy the same activities and they would grow up together.  In adulthood you would have your teddy bear living with you, your drinking/getting high buddy who occasionally brings home hookers.  It's every child's dream. 

Seth MacFarlane's movie debut is hilarious.  Seth, you had the entire theater laughing out loud.  Well done, well done.  Mark Wahlberg is great in this role.  Many of my friends think he's better in comedies, though his action skills are put to use in the teddy bear fight scene that leaves him and Ted trashing a hotel room.

There's been a lot of great comedies this year and TED is towards the top of the list.  Put this movie on your week's to do list. Leave the kids at home and go to see a movie about a teddy bear.

Rock of Ages - Review

I didn't know much about this movie before I saw it.  I saw a preview with Alec Baldwin and Russell Brand and said, "I'm in."  Imagine being in the same room as those two during the taping, must have been hilarious.  Too bad this duo wasn't enough to carry the movie.

The good:

Tom Cruise - Amazing in this role.  (There's no role he can't turn into gold, well except for Mission: Impossible 2, Tom you were set up to fail on that one).

Alec Baldwin and Russell Brand - all I wanted and more.

Catherine Zeta-Jones - great musical numbers, your Broadway experience shows through.

Paul Giamatti - you play a scumbag too well.

Best movie soundtrack ever.

The not so good:

The transitions - I'm a fan of musicals, but the transitions from speaking to singing were horrible about 70% of the time.  I expected it to be more like Grease or Moulin Rouge.  I guess it was too much to ask for.

The really bad:

If you have a rock movie, you need rock leads with strong rock voices.  TJ put it best, if they wanted a young Britney Spears look alike for the lead role they should have just cast Britney Spears.  It was too much pop and not enough rock.

Overall: it has a good story line and has great potential.  I recommend seeing the live musical production, because the movie just didn't deliver.

Men In Black 3 - Review

Now this is how you do a trilogy.  MIB 3 is one of the top movies this year so far.  If you haven't seen the first two you will understand it, but you won't love it. 

In this third installment Agent J travels back in time (because where else do you go after saving the world from aliens twice) to save the world from an alien attack (well how original.  Even more importantly he must save Agent K's younger self from being killed.

Let's talk about Josh Brolin.  I have loved him since the Goonies.  In MIB 3 he plays young Agent K so amazingly that you forget the part is being played by two different actors.  I can only imagine the Tommy Lee Jones impression he did in his audition.

The movie will give you a whole other level of understanding to the story and the characters.  I laughed, I even almost cried.  More importantly to the franchise I look forward to a MIB 4.  The only thing that could of made this movie better is if they played the original MIB music video during the credits.