Summer Action

I'm talking about movies, get your mind out of the gutter.  The last three weeks we've had three major action movies come out: Iron Man 3, Star Trek 2 and Fast and the Furious 17 - I mean 6.  Here's your guide to them all.

Iron Man 3:  Loved it.  Out of the these three movies it was my favorite, a must see.  Most people have said it was definitely better than the 2nd movie, a few - including me- think it was right up there with the first one.  I think the whole series was well done - awesome writing and great acting.  This one had a great mix of action and Tony Stark comedy.  

Star Trek 2:  Even if you are not a Trekkie you will enjoy this movie.  Anne has only seen the new one and she really liked it, even though the connections to the original series were lost on her.  I was really appreciative that the previews didn't give away the story line.  I won't ruin it for those who have not seen it, but if you are a fan of Star Trek, you will experience a moment where the entire theater goes, "oh!"  Overall you should see this movie.

Fast and the Furious 6:  If you liked the last 5 then you will enjoy the 6th (well except Tokyo Drift...I mean, really that one shouldn't count in the series).  It was cheesy in parts, unbelievably unrealistic in almost all the action scenes (I think a few went against the law of physics), but that's what you expect with this movie.  My favorite comment was follow one such action scene where Anne said, "How is he (Vin Diesel) even walking?"  In the real world he would have died three times by now.  Girls - It's the biggest eye candy movie since GI Joe.  If you are a die hard fan of the series see it now, otherwise this one can wait for that $5 movie special.  

I hope everyone gets enough action this summer...there's more to come.

Movie Review: Now You See Me

Caper movie and magicians I'm in!  That's what Maryellen said to me when we got to the theater.  If you are intrigued by this as Maryellen then you are going to like this movie.  Actually that was similar to my first thought, so I did enjoy it.    

You have 4 bank robbing magicians, the Four Horsemen, who set up amazing heists while keeping 1 step ahead of the FBI.  It has an amazing cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franko... the list goes on.  As you watch the movie more and more of the illusion is revealed. I think the best part of the movie is summed up in the movie.  "Look closely, because the closer you think you are, the less you will actually see." 

"First rule of magic, always be the smartest guy in the room."  Are you the smartest guy in the room?  Just when you think you figured it out, they are one step ahead of you.

Year in Review - Awesome Movies Not Nominated for an Oscar

2012-2013 was an awesome year for movies.  Much better than last year (I mean War Horse received a nomination for best movie, enough said).  As we approach the Oscars lets take a look back and appreciate those awesome movies of the year that did not receive nominations.

The comedies:

Often comedies are snubbed for Oscars, but as awesome as these movies are I don't think these would be up for nominations:

Ted:  As kids we always wondered what it would be like if our teddy bear came to life, but this movie explores this concept 21 years later.  So wrong, yet awesomely funny. 

Award:  best use of CGI technology to date.

21 Jump Street:  The most awesome police program brought back for a second chance.  Loved how it showed the differences of growing up in high school today in awesome comedy. 

Award: Best sequel to a TV show.

Action:

Impossible odds and kicking ass.  Sometimes you just need to see a good action movie.  They are not often taken as serious enough movies for an Oscar, but maybe they should be.

The Raid: Redemption:  Kick ass!

Award: Movie that kicked ass.

End if Watch:  Awesome action and overall awesome movie.  Takes you through a roller coaster of emotions. Most realistic cop movie in a long time.

Award: Best movie to not receive an Oscar nomination.

Other awesome movies:

The Perks of Being a Wallflower:  Oh how I've missed this type of movie.  If you grew up watching 80s-90s teen-angst movies you will love this one.  If you are younger than 24 and don't know what kind of movies I'm talking about, you will love this one.

Award: Best teen movie (Twilight fans, watch and see how a teen movie should be)

Bully:  If you have a child between 10-18 you and your child need to watch this movie. 

Award:  Most impactful documentary.

So what were the best movies of the year?  Let’s ask the movie club.

Me:  All of the above plus Argo, Zero Dark Thirty and Skyfall.

Anne: Zero Dark Thirty, Argo, Silver Linings Playbook, Jesse and Celeste Forever, Your Sisters Sister, Perks of Being a Wallflower, Hunger Games, Skyfall, Lawless and For a Good Time Call.

Maryellen: Silver Linings Play Book, Argo and Brave (Brave most of all).

Juan:  Rock of Ages, The Vow, The Avengers, John Carter, Battleship, Ted, Prometheus, Argo, The Dark Knight, Looper and Skyfall,

TJ: Argo, Lincoln

Feel free to post your favorite movies of the year.

Phantom (Exclusive interview with myself)

How did you like the movie?

It started out a little cheesy, but it turned into a decent movie.  It was good, but I feel something was missing.  I think it needed a little more suspense.

I hear it was based on an actual event.  Is that true?

It was a good fictional story was sparked by the finding of a missing submarine.  I think this is how rumors spread.  I always love these types of movies.  (Except for Moth Man Prophecies, it still gives me nightmares).

What did you know about the movie before you watched it?

That it was about a submarine and Ed Harris was haunted by demons from his past.  Enough so I knew it wasn't a horror movie.  You never know with a name like Phantom.  What would have been good to know was that this was a Russian sub.

You didn't know the story was about a Russian sub and crew?

No.

Couldn't you tell by their uniforms?

No.  I just thought they were an old style from 1968.  I don't have a military background. Also it didn't help that Ed Harris and everyone else acted and spoke like Americans.   A little accent or singing of a Russian song at the beginning would be a good clue. 

How long until you figured it out?

About a quarter way through the movie I got suspicious when they were saying how vodka was a more patriotic drink. 

Overall would you recommend this movie to others?

Yes.  If you are a history buff or love war/naval movies this one is for you.  

Movie Review - Safe Haven

If you like romantic comedies that’s not enough to save this one.  Went to see this with Anne, Maryellen (2 romantic comedy fans), Marie and TJ.  The best moments of the movie was hearing Anne and Maryellen’s comments to each other. 

The premise of this movie: a girl runs away from someone (you don’t know who exactly at first and I’m not going to spoil this awesome plot).  She lands in a small town, her safe haven.  She meets a man, Josh Duhmel, and falls in love.  Of course her past catches up to her and it becomes the not so safe haven, with Josh Duhmel promising he will keep her safe.  It’s every romantic comedy lover’s dream….except it didn’t deliver.

Could it be TJ’s observation that Josh Duhmel looked about 20 years older than Julianne Hough, or was it just because it was boring?  I think Maryellen put it best: What kind of movie was that supposed to be, anyway? Romance from her developing relationship?  Feel good for her making a family brought down whole again? Thriller because of her potential getaway/chase? Supernatural/sci-fi? [you have to watch it to understand that last part]. 

Now what were the best parts of the movie? 

1.   Anne and Maryellen’s continuous comments about her hair transformations, which lead to a 20 minute discussion after the movie.  I mean it was impossible for her to leave, change her hair from black to blond with perfect highlights and cut perfectly and then get on a bus. 

2.   Anne freaking out each time the man chasing her was getting near.  I wanted to turn to her and say, if he doesn’t get there this movie is going to be super boring. 

3.   The junior mints I had as a snack during the movie. 

All in all, skip the movie, you can get junior mints at Walgreens.  

Movie Review - 21 and Over

Did you like The Hangovers, project X, Harold and Kumar, well then you will like this one.  Let's see if we can find some similarities.  This one is set in college.  (Very original setting there, hasn’t been done).  2 guys surprise their best friend from high school, Jeff Chang, for his 21st birthday.  They walk in on Jeff Chang and his dad, who hates the boys. His dad warns them that Jeff has a very important med school interview tomorrow (just like Harold). 

Of course the guys go out and get drunk (all of the above movies).  Jeff Chang passes out and the guys don't remember where he lives.  They then find themselves traveling around campus getting into different funny and awkward situations (The Hangover and Harold and Kumar).  At one point they lose Jeff Chang (The Hangover) and everything keeps escalating to get him back to his house on time (all of the above movies).  These are just a few of the similarities; I'll let you find the rest.

All in all this was a laugh out loud and overall fun movie.  I was laughing hysterically at times, while trying not to throw up at others.  If you are in the mood for this type of movie, you won't be disappointed.  

Bullet to the Head

Ok, I'm going to keep this one short.  A good subtitle for this movie would be Captain Obvious.  If you like everything you see on screen, and the conclusions in the plot that you reached easily on your own, spoken out loud to you, then you will like this movie.  And if you want to guess how almost everyone dies...yep, they were shot in the head.     

Now some of you will go see this movie despite my warning. I mean it does promise a Stallone action movie.  It does have a few funny spots now and then.   Like when they cycle through Stallone's mug shots and they're pictures of him from his younger years.  See if you can pick out the one from Rocky.  Christian Slaytor's (yes he's in this movie) interrogation was entertaining.  It may even lead to a new drinking game...take a shot when someone gets shot in the head.

Skip this one.