Chasing Mavericks

Oh I hope this one is going to be marketed as a kids movie.  It's supposed to be that inspirational movie similar to Dolphin Tale that you get goosebumps at the end if it.  Unfortunately that was lost in cheesiness.  Many times I started laughing, but not funny laughing.  More of that oh how embarrassing for you laughter.  

It's a shame, because it is a good story.  You have a kid who learns how to surf.  He cares for his mother who has struggled through life.  Then you have a boy-father type figure relationship that develops from learning how to ride an insanely large wave.  It's one of those stories that you want to succeed.  Go in with low expectations and enjoy the surfing scenes.  

Overall lessons learned-if u are a daredevil, you might not make it out alive.

ARGO

Here's a short history lesson for you.  In 1979 in response to the US putting a leader into power in Iran who brought death and hardship to its people and then harboring him afterwards, the Iranian people captures the US embassy.  6 Americans were able to escape.  They were turned away by the British and a few other countries, but found refuge at the Canadian ambassador's house.  ARGO follows CIA operative Tony Mendez as he attempts to rescue them under the guise that they are a Canadian movie crew looking for a site.  (If you find this a bit unbelievable, well it actually happened)

Now you are up to speed.  Even if you aren't, the movie does a great job explaining all of this right upfront.  The movie is done so beautifully bringing this historical event to life by taking the audience through every aspect of the event.  This is one of those movies where you are on the edge of your seat, and still feel that way when you leave the theater.   It's already receiving Oscar buzz and rightfully so.

This is one of the must see movies of the year.  There are so many crapy movies out there, and when something like this comes along you wonder, why aren't more movies done like this.  It obviously can be done.  If you are going to spend over a million dollars, put a little effort into it.  Well done Ben Affleck, you put more than a little effort into it.  You have proven yourself as not just a great actor, but an amazing director.

I was lucky enough to get to see a screening of this that Ben Affleck spoke at afterwards.  I don't usually get too excited when I see actors in real life, but I was almost to the point of annoyingly giddy.  (Thank you TJ for putting up with me).  Yes Ben was all you would hope for and more: funny, good looking and tall.  Oh and he is a very talented actor and director, but you already knew that.  He spoke about how he wanted to portray the CIA in this movie as how it is, people's everyday jobs.  His reference of movies with Tom Cruise action scenes making the job look all sexy, isn't how it is every day.  Though Ben can make any job look sexy.  Ben Affleck also took time to talk about how he integrated comedy into the movie among the suspensful true story to help build this emotional roller coaster the audience felt.  The comedy duo of John Goodman and Alan Arkin added just the right laughter at the right moments.  It is a beautifully done movie.  

End of Watch

Now this is a f*%#ing good movie.  You have two f$*@ing bad ass cops who accidentally stumble upon the f*%$ing cartel, which gets them marked as a target.  If that's not f&*%ing bad enough they work in one of the roughest parts of the city.  Not only are you going to fall in love with these two f*%$ers, you are in for one roller coaster ride, and the f-bomb over 300 times.

This move has all of the signs of what I consider a great movie (all cursing aside).  
1. Characters you care about or have an actual opinion about at all.  This goes for lead and supporting characters.  You will love both of the leads and you take the perspective of how they feel about the other characters in their world.  You become part of their family. 
2. A plot, an actual point of the movie that isn't full of holes.  
3. Makes you feel a wide range of emotions.  Now the movie's genre, in this case action, will be the main focus.  But as we also saw wit ARGO you can't just have only action you need to break it up.  With this movie I laughed, cried, hid behind my sweater during violent scenes, and was held in suspense through out the movie.

Jake Gyllenhall and Michael Pena do a f$*%ing great job. You feel the f$*%ing brotherly love and understand how the bond becomes so strong when you have to f&^#ing ride in the car with each other all day.  They would take a f$%#ing bullet for each other.  Go see this f$*#ing movie or you'll f*$#ing regret it.

Movie Review - Pitch Perfect

Acayeah!  So I went into this movie only knowing it had something to do with singing (I know, I'm a genius).  About 2 minutes in I think, "oh shit this is the a capella version of Step Up."  Luckily I was 60% wrong.

Acafunny!  This movie had the oddest group of characters, which equaled hilarious.  There is an underlining theme to The Breakfast Club throughout the movie.  No, there was no A Capella in Breakfast Club, though it's a thought for a sequel. What both movies show are the depths of stereotypical side characters you see in everyday life.  The fat girl, the quite Asian (watch out, it's always the quite ones), the lesbian, the alternative girl, the popular girl, etc.  

SNL started the trend, and this is the era of women in comedy.  Let's talk about Rebel Wilson, who plays Fat Amy (no thats her name I'm not being mean).  You may have had your first look at her during What to Expect when You're Expecting or in Bridesmaids.  I didn't know if I would like her character by the end of the movie, but I just wanted more.  She just has awesome comedic timing.  You are going to laugh throughout the movie and it is because of her acaawesomeness.  

You should go see Pitch Perfect.  A Capella has never been so fun.  No really, it hasn't, ever.  

Movie Review - Teachers Edition

In this time of teachers strikes and union wars two movies come out that teach us what is really important, the children. The first, Won't Back Down, shows us how parents and teachers can fight back against failing schools and injustices in the union. The second, Here Comes the Boom, teaches us one teacher can make a difference by becoming a mix martial arts fighter to save the school's music program. Both very realistic possibilities.

Won't back down does bring up real problems that the school systems are facing. What do you do if your child is in a failing school? Why are teachers protected by the union if they are not doing their jobs? I'm not anti union at all, I believe that good, hard working individuals should be protected. What I don't agree with are unions protecting those that don't deserve it. My favorite line in the movie is when the teachers are arguing about compensation. Viola's character stands up and proclaims ironically about the disagreement, "because we all went into teaching for the money!" which is met by endorsing silence.

Here Comes the Boom is about a 2002 teacher of the year who 10 yrs later has lost his drive and love for teaching. When he speaks out about the school cutting the music program for budget reasons and a teacher's job he ends up volunteering to raise the 48k and getting in over his head. I was impressed by the UFC's presence in this movie (and excited that Herb Dean was in the movie-my favorite ref). TJ says that Kevin James is a huge UFC fan, so I'm sure he loved every minute of filming this. Plus he got in really good shape for the role (looking good Kevin). This movie had me laughing out loud and I do love MMA.

Both movies prove the point that teachers can and should make a difference in children's lives. So whether you are up for a good cry or laugh and want to be cheering and inspired at the end, both are good picks.

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.