Movie Time Again
It is that time again, time for me to give you some of my movie reviews from the past week or so. While we all know my feelings toward Hollywood’s disappointing year so far, the movies that are worth seeing have turned out to be pretty good. While the number of quality films is down, there are still ones worth seeing in the theatre. This week I saw a wide ranger of movies; a drama “The Great Raid”, an action “Four Brothers, and a comedy “Wedding Crashers.” All are good films, not great, but good.
WEDDING CRASHERS 6 out of 10
“Yeah? Well, the proper girl in the hat just eye-fucked the shit out of me.”
Vince Vaughn is a funny mother-fucker; Owen Wilson is still not very funny. There is something I do not like about Wilson; maybe it’s his crooked nose. Wedding Crashers is finally as comedy we can laugh at, recently the efforts of this era of comedic actors has been very disappointing. While weddings do indeed suck, Wilson and Vaughn’s characters showed how you can turn these sappy ceremonies into laughter. I loved the fact that there were rules to their scam. The planned out everything so that there was no messing up while they were trying to score. Vaughn and Wilson set up a very good straight man funny man team. Thankfully they returned Will Ferrell back to a small hint of comic relief rather than the star of the show. Christopher Walken was in normal brilliant self in this film and the almost seeing Jane Seymour’s breasts was pretty cool. I was not sure how this movie was going to work, if they were just going to continual go to different weddings or if it where to ultimately focus on one wedding. As the movie progressed it crept eerily toward being a “Romantic Comedy” which are normally just dreadful, but it stayed mostly clear of that genre. I was slightly disappointed in the way it ended but chicks would have hated this movie if these guys ended up on their couch’s sucking down nachos. This is the best comedy so far this year; take a chance if you have not already seen it.
THE GREAT RAID 7.5 out of 10
“You’re the best trained, least proven battalion in this whole army.”
For some reason Miramax has had this movie on the shelf for almost 2 years. With the crap that has been out over those 2 years I feel like I should go to Miramax and open fire on someone in their distribution department. While this movie has not made a lot of money, it is being shown on few screens and received minimal advertising. The most famous actor in it is Benjamin Bratt, and he is not a box office draw. This movie was all about detail. It did a great job in fully explaining everything that was going on throughout the film. There were three main story lines: the soldiers inside the POW Camp, the Soldiers planning to try and rescue them, and the black marketers who helped the prisoners in camp with medical supplies. The men who went on this rescue mission were the highlight of this film, especially James Franco. His character was charged with formulating a plan on how to invade the camp with as little detection as possible. Using knowledge of the POW camps from scouts and the reliance on local Philippine troops he put together a perfect plan for storming the camp. Throughout the film you are always shown how the stories are intertwined. Each step of the way the planning of how they are going to raid the camp is mapped out for you; so when you finally get to the climax of the movie it is not just guys storming around blowing stuff up in a disorganized fashion, and then everyone is alive and well. It is a terrific story told very well on film with little hyperbole. The script and acting are good and the movie moves along a good solid pace, never is it boring or pretentious. This is what I yearn to go to the movies to see, however all to often Hollywood disappoints me; or Miramax just lets stuff like this sit on the shelf while they release winners like; (2004 releases) My Baby’s Daddy, Dirty Dancing Havana Nights, Shaolin Soccer, Ella Enchanted, I’m not Scared, Jersey Girl, Kill Bill Vol. 2, Valentin, Infernal Affairs, Shall We Dance, BRIDGET JONES: THE EDGE OF REASON, Paperclips, and the only 2 Miramax releases last year better than The Great Raid, Garden State and Finding Neverland.
Four Brothers 6.5 out of 10
“If you keep knocking on the Devil's door long enough, somebody's gonna answer you.”
Again, this is what an action movie is supposed to be like. Some action, some intrigue, an actual story line, some good acting and quality direction, and all of a sudden you have a film worth watching. Not just people running around shooting everyone and stuff blowing up like in a war zone but nobody ever dies. The story follows four adopted brothers who are trying to figure why their adopted mother was gunned down. There are some great twists and turns and eventually it looks like one of the brothers may be involved in the murder. I won’t give away how things end, but know this; Mark Wahlberg is a super bad ass in this movie. Also, Andre Benjamin (Andre 3000 from Outkast) makes his feature film debut and does a really good job. The movie is probably about 15 minutes too long, but as I said there is a solid story backing it up here. John Singleton’s trademarks are all over this movie, a bunch of slow motion drama shots and a forceful soundtrack backing the action up. It is a good solid movie and worth going to see if you are into these types of action films; good story lines and not overloaded with action.
WEDDING CRASHERS 6 out of 10
“Yeah? Well, the proper girl in the hat just eye-fucked the shit out of me.”
Vince Vaughn is a funny mother-fucker; Owen Wilson is still not very funny. There is something I do not like about Wilson; maybe it’s his crooked nose. Wedding Crashers is finally as comedy we can laugh at, recently the efforts of this era of comedic actors has been very disappointing. While weddings do indeed suck, Wilson and Vaughn’s characters showed how you can turn these sappy ceremonies into laughter. I loved the fact that there were rules to their scam. The planned out everything so that there was no messing up while they were trying to score. Vaughn and Wilson set up a very good straight man funny man team. Thankfully they returned Will Ferrell back to a small hint of comic relief rather than the star of the show. Christopher Walken was in normal brilliant self in this film and the almost seeing Jane Seymour’s breasts was pretty cool. I was not sure how this movie was going to work, if they were just going to continual go to different weddings or if it where to ultimately focus on one wedding. As the movie progressed it crept eerily toward being a “Romantic Comedy” which are normally just dreadful, but it stayed mostly clear of that genre. I was slightly disappointed in the way it ended but chicks would have hated this movie if these guys ended up on their couch’s sucking down nachos. This is the best comedy so far this year; take a chance if you have not already seen it.
THE GREAT RAID 7.5 out of 10
“You’re the best trained, least proven battalion in this whole army.”
For some reason Miramax has had this movie on the shelf for almost 2 years. With the crap that has been out over those 2 years I feel like I should go to Miramax and open fire on someone in their distribution department. While this movie has not made a lot of money, it is being shown on few screens and received minimal advertising. The most famous actor in it is Benjamin Bratt, and he is not a box office draw. This movie was all about detail. It did a great job in fully explaining everything that was going on throughout the film. There were three main story lines: the soldiers inside the POW Camp, the Soldiers planning to try and rescue them, and the black marketers who helped the prisoners in camp with medical supplies. The men who went on this rescue mission were the highlight of this film, especially James Franco. His character was charged with formulating a plan on how to invade the camp with as little detection as possible. Using knowledge of the POW camps from scouts and the reliance on local Philippine troops he put together a perfect plan for storming the camp. Throughout the film you are always shown how the stories are intertwined. Each step of the way the planning of how they are going to raid the camp is mapped out for you; so when you finally get to the climax of the movie it is not just guys storming around blowing stuff up in a disorganized fashion, and then everyone is alive and well. It is a terrific story told very well on film with little hyperbole. The script and acting are good and the movie moves along a good solid pace, never is it boring or pretentious. This is what I yearn to go to the movies to see, however all to often Hollywood disappoints me; or Miramax just lets stuff like this sit on the shelf while they release winners like; (2004 releases) My Baby’s Daddy, Dirty Dancing Havana Nights, Shaolin Soccer, Ella Enchanted, I’m not Scared, Jersey Girl, Kill Bill Vol. 2, Valentin, Infernal Affairs, Shall We Dance, BRIDGET JONES: THE EDGE OF REASON, Paperclips, and the only 2 Miramax releases last year better than The Great Raid, Garden State and Finding Neverland.
Four Brothers 6.5 out of 10
“If you keep knocking on the Devil's door long enough, somebody's gonna answer you.”
Again, this is what an action movie is supposed to be like. Some action, some intrigue, an actual story line, some good acting and quality direction, and all of a sudden you have a film worth watching. Not just people running around shooting everyone and stuff blowing up like in a war zone but nobody ever dies. The story follows four adopted brothers who are trying to figure why their adopted mother was gunned down. There are some great twists and turns and eventually it looks like one of the brothers may be involved in the murder. I won’t give away how things end, but know this; Mark Wahlberg is a super bad ass in this movie. Also, Andre Benjamin (Andre 3000 from Outkast) makes his feature film debut and does a really good job. The movie is probably about 15 minutes too long, but as I said there is a solid story backing it up here. John Singleton’s trademarks are all over this movie, a bunch of slow motion drama shots and a forceful soundtrack backing the action up. It is a good solid movie and worth going to see if you are into these types of action films; good story lines and not overloaded with action.
5 Comments:
Hey Fluff Boy...Andre 3000 made his feature film debut in Be Cool... You suck as a movie critic. Go back to what you do best, stuffing twinkies in your face 2 at a time!
Add 2 more points to wedding crashers since Rachel McAdams is in it and is both talented and gorgeous!
Dinglebrry Dann,
Andre 3000 actual filmed Four Brothers first that is why it is his debut, even though Be Cool was released a few months before. Yes I agree with you that Rachel McAdams is super hot and even more talented.
But if you have ever read any of my thoughts on films I never subscribe to the hottness theory, meaning if a hot chick is in the movie it has to be good. Otherwise I would see every Jennifer Lopez and Julia Roberts movie and think they were all Citizen Kane. Dukes of Hazard would win the academy award, Jessica Simpson is on fire in that thing, but alas they are not good films just because an attractive female is in them. Also, McAdams talent was easily wasted in Wedding Crashers, you could have easily had Ben Stiller's no talent ass clwon wife play that part and the movie would have been the same.
How the hell do you have time to see movies? You're supposed to be training for a grilled cheese sandwich eating contest. I am starting to doubt your desire to be a championship eater. Anyway, good reviews and I agree, a hot chick don't make it a good flik. As for ass clown up there asking questions about PRE-SEASON football, IT"S F-ING PRE-SEASON, IT DOESN'T F-ING COUNT!! WHO CARES ABOUT THE SEAHAWKS?
Imperial Wizard~
Huggins out in Cincy, Lance doping claims again, Herrion dies and you talk about movies. I would have figured you'd want shower your wisdom on us about FAT people in the NFL and how they should take up competitive eating rather than playing football---maybe they'd have longer careers. Seahawks suck, Bengals to Superbowl - julie roberts and jlo are ugly, and the yankees suck too.
Kyle - Kris' Brother
You need, need, need to see "The Aristocrats". The filth and such is beyond belief. It is so much fun to see people so disgusted that had to get up and leave less then half-way throught the film. I mean I know George Carlin, Jimmy Kimmel, Lewis Black, and others were filthy, but to see Bob Saget, Paul Riser, and The Smother Brothers say some of the filthiest thing you ever heard was a riot.
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