Mini-Movie Reviews

[Iambaytor]

man, i can't believe he turned down inglorious basterds for that shit. it's shameful.

 

To be fair he actually turned it down for Funny People directed by Judd Apatow which at least sounds decent in a "cookie cutter Judd Apatow movie" kinda way. So he's not quite that stupid, but close. (Though given the fact that Tarantino hired Eli Roth for the role that Sandler was meant to play, I think he may have made the right choice. Hopefully not.)

[Reverend Jax]

Funny People looks pretty good from the long trailer:

 

[Mr. Hakujin]

 

X-Men Origins: Wolverine

B-

Really this film is a “C,” “C+” at best, but there were just enough fanboy friendly moments that made me geek out enough to overlook the film’s horrible shortcomings. It was a disappointing film for several reasons, mostly because it broke the cardinal rule of superhero films: have a villain that’s just as interesting as the hero. Sabertooth was never shown to be the truly evil monster that he is (there was a surprising lack of violence in this film). Wolverine himself is never shown being a true badass either—Logan had more exciting action scenes in X2 than he did in his own movie! Also the third act of the film is fairly anticlimactic and rather than the ultimate Wolverine vs. Sabertooth battle fans have been waiting for, we get Victor & Jimmy battling a totally new character, which while this guy has some cool powers the battle with him lacks any emotional weight at all.

 

The film was not without its highlights though. The all too brief encounter with Gambit was (aside from some ridiculous wire-fu moments) perfect. The origin of the “Blob’s” name was a surprisingly good scene, Sabertooth vs. Wraith and Wade/Deadpool vs. a room full of bad guys with guns was also pretty spectacular. Fans of the comics and X-films also get a few more cool little moments sprinkled out through the film that I won’t spoil here.

 

The bottom line is this film definitely has flashes of brilliance that are too short and too brief to keep Wolverine from being the weakest and most disappointing addition yet to the X-Men film franchise.

 

 

Paul Blart: Mall Cop

C-

This film made Observe & Report look like comedy genius. The nonsensical plot (guys on skateboards and BMX bikes take over a mall) seems aimed at the 10-18 crowd who are meant marvel at the cool yet totally ridiculous stunts and to laugh at the different ways Kevin James can make fun of the fact he’s obese. Plus there’s an over abundance of bad late 70s/early 80s rock songs. File this one under: Avoid & Evade.

 

 

The Children’s Hour

B+

This 1961 film based on a play by Lillian Hellman stars Audrey Hepburn and Shirley MacClaine as two young women who run a small all girl’s boarding school. Their lives are torn apart when a young girl (played with wicked perfection by a young actress named Karen Balkin) spreads a rumor about them being lesbians. This engaging & tight paced drama doesn’t so much focus on lesbianism as it does the crushing power of gossip and lies. This Oscar nominated film just misses that mark of “cinema classic” due to several reasons including some predictable turns for Maclaine’s character and one inexplicable “What the hell did she do that for!!?!??” scene with Hepburn’s character and co-star James Garner.

[Mr. Hakujin]

In Theaters:

 

 

Star Trek

A

I own the first 8 Star Trek films and all 7 season of Star Trek: The Next Generation on DVD. So, yes, I’m a Trekker. The other Trek TV shows never really connected with me and I pretty much gave up on the franchise after the last two films—as apparently Paramount Studio execs did because they gave director J.J. Abrams carter blanch to “re-boot” the franchise. Brilliant! This 11th film in the franchise is both a prequel (showing how Kirk and crew first come to be on the fabled Enterprise NCC-1701) and a “re-boot” (a Star Trek plot staple—time travel—plays a part in creating an alternate timeline). And the film makes good on its promise to be friendly to non-Trek fans as it’s basically a non-stop sci-fi action extravaganza. Trek fans, sci-fi fans, and action fans alike should be very pleased with this film.

 

 

Angels & Demons

B

This film doesn’t feel quite as grand as Ron Howard’s adaptation of DaVinci Code, mostly due to the subject matter. This film is more or less a big budget Hollywood murder mystery with a treatise on why science and religion should “get along” thrown in for good measure.

 

On DVD

 

 

Seven Pounds

B

This film is deceptively “feel good,” almost like what one would expect a European arthouse version of a “feel good” film to be and not your typical Hollywood version. Wil Smith plays a tortured man in search of redemption and he plays this singular emotion well throughout the film. The motives for his mysterious actions are revealed throughout the course of the film and it has a decent enough (if not somewhat obvious) payoff in the end.

 

 

Synecdoche, New York

C+

Screenwriter Charlie Kaufman (Being John Malkovich, Adaptation, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) makes his directorial debut and once again dives into the themes of self-examination and personal identity. The story involves a man, a miserable playwright, who is granted seemingly unlimited funds to create his masterpiece. The film morphs into a play within a play within a play as time and reality begin to intertwine and become jumbled. A valiant effort, but Kaufman seems to revel in making the film unnecessarily obscure and repetitive. He’s tackled similar themes in much more engaging ways in his previous work, and it’s also been done in the play he pays homage to throughout the film: Death of A Salesman.

Edited May 18, 2009 by Mr. Hakujin

[Mr. Hakujin]

 

Terminator Salvation

C+

An adequate action film with horrible writing. Unlike this summer’s Star Trek, which manages to revive and revitalize a sci-fi franchise with clever writing and fast paced action, director McG’s take on the Terminator franchise has a script with gaping plot holes and cardboard characters that even longtime franchise fans will have difficulty caring about. There are the famous lines and other nods to the previous films (mostly T2) included along with some spectacular (yet unoriginal) action sequences that are lost among a very weak story.

 

 

 

s. Darko

D

If you loved, and I mean loved, the film Donnie Darko then this film might hold some appeal for you. However, if you’ve never seen the aforementioned “D. Darko” or were just a mild to moderate fan of the original film then you can easily skip this sad attempt to continue the “Darko Mythos” that picks 7 years after the last film with the mind numbingly lame escapades of Donnie’s youngest sister. Do yourself a favor and watch the director's cut of Donnie Darko instead of this hackey sequel.

 

 

The Ramen Girl

B

This straight to video film starring Brittany Murphy might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but this small film managed to win me over in spite of itself. This is the story of a lost 20-something trying to find herself and essentially grow up by learning the “fine art” of making ramen in Tokyo. The script has a bit of unnecessary cheese thrown in for “feel good” appeal, but the characters are engaging (an outstanding comedic Japanese cast) and the screenwriter and director both obviously have a pretty good understanding of the Japanese people and their spirit. It’d make an excellent companion piece with Lost In Translation if you want to have a “lost white-girls in Tokyo” movie night one weekend.

[Mr. Hakujin]

 

Land of the Lost

B-

This is a film that remains true to the spirit of the classic(?) cheesy Saturday morning series with a pretty ridiculous plot yet it definitely earns its PG-13 rating with a lot of sexual humor. I was a bit disappointed that Danny McBride wasn’t used to better comedic effect, but the scenes he was featured in did shine—let’s just say he gets in some “trippy” hijinks with ape-boy Chaka. If you’re a Will Ferrell fan and you check your brain at the door you shouldn’t be disappointed in this cosmic comedy and its slow moving lizard-men aliens and dinosaur chase scenes.

 

 

He’s Just Not That Into You

B+

This is a well written film that takes a look at male/female relationships at various stages through various intertwining couples and seeks to offer insight into what’s really going on in the opposite gender’s mind during these stages. Despite A-list names in the cast, it’s the B-listers that deliver the most memorable performances. This is a clever, but predictable, date flick. But be careful who you watch it with as it may end up shedding more light on your relationship than you want.

[Mr. Hakujin]

 

The Girlfriend Experience

B-

The film has received a lot of buzz for casting 21-year-old porn star Sasha Grey as the lead in this film about the life of a high priced NYC escort that takes place over a few days leading up to the 2008 Presidential election. Guys out to see Grey in a Hollywood sex scene will be sorely disappointed as there are exactly zero such scenes and the film only has a few brief moments of nudity. In fact this film as much concerned with showcasing the worries over our nation’s current economic crisis as it is in examining the life of someone who sells intimacy (not just sex) for a living.

 

This film will not be everyone’s cup of tea; it’s definitely an indie arthouse film. It also has a jumpy narrative timeline that can make discerning what happened when and who said what to whom a bit confusing. The film also has a very distinct and bland feel about it—no showy shots of NYC skylines or glitzy nightclubs. Even when characters are zipping to Vegas on private jets or going on expensive shopping sprees it’s shown in a very ordinary, non-glamorous way. I feel director Steven Soderbergh likely cast Grey for this sort of detached blandness in her demeanor rather than her acting prowess. In fact Grey’s most dramatic scene in the film—in which she ends a committed relationship with her long-time personal trainer boyfriend—her entire body is obscured on camera by a sofa. This is another effort to show how Grey’s character isn’t really a part of her own facile life. Soderbergh also cast a real magazine writer as a journalist that interviews Grey’s character and an actual film critic as a man who runs an Internet message board that reviews high priced escorts. I believe he did all this to further emphasize the banality of the escort’s lifestyle which so many people seem to be fascinated with and our media never fails to glamorize, dramatize and exploit.

 

But capturing facileness on film doesn’t make for an especially entertaining movie going experience. Most people would much rather have their time spent watching Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman than the stark reality of Sash Grey’s recession era escort. We’d much rather pay to see a movie that let’s us escape from the truth than pay to see a film that shows us the plain truth.

 

 

Fanboys

C

This is a comedy by Star Wars fans for Star Wars fans. What it unfortunately is NOT is a particularly funny or interesting film. As for the plot, it’s basically if Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back was about a road trip to break into Skywalker Ranch circa 1998 to see Episode I six months before it was released in theaters. The film may be short on humor and weak on plot, but it does have enough cameos to keep hardcore nerds geeking throughout the film as well as the payoff of seeing Kristen Bell in a Slave Leia outfit at the end of the film.

[Mr. Hakujin]

On DVD:

 

 

Afro Samurai: Resurrection

C+

If you were a fan of the five episode mini-series then this film should satisfy you as it is basically more of the same. The titular character battles a gaggle of misfits, cyborgs, robots, and his own conscience in a seemingly never ending sequence of stylized bloody battles set to a sparse soundtrack by hip-hop producer RZA.

 

 

 

Flash of Genius

B

Greg Kinear gives a great performance in this overlooked yet uplifting indie gem that focuses on a small slice of American history with a healthy dose of legal drama thrown in for good measure.. This film is based on the true story of professor and inventor Bob Kearns who invented the intermittent windshield wiper. The story focuses on how Ford Motor Co. stole Kearns’ invention, the lawsuit he brought against them, and the toll the 12 year ordeal took and him and his family. This movie reminds us that the “American Dream” is not something easily achieved or oftentimes even earned, but rather something that must be fought for—and that fight requires tenacity and sacrifice.

 

 

 

Miller’s Crossing

A-

If you haven’t seen this 1991 Coehn Bros. film about prohibition-era gangsters then add it to your “must see” list. Gabriel Byrne stars as an advisor to an Irish crime boss (played beautifully by Albert Finney). This film is an homage to gangster noir, and definitely has the signature blend of violence and dark humor the Cohen Bros. are known for. However, this film is more than just a satire or homage to a genre—it is a worthy addition to the genre itself.

[Panch]

Do the Hangover!

[Mr. Hakujin]

^^ Your wish is my command...

 

 

The Hangover

B

If you are offended by the type of film like Tropic Thunder then this is definitely not your kind of comedy. The “R” rating is earned mostly through raunchy and shocking moments that I’m not too certain will maintain the same comedic impact upon repeat viewing. I like the premise of a comedy focusing on the day after the “crazy night in Vegas” and dealing with the repercussions of said night instead. And the scene with Mike Tyson singing Phil Collins alone makes it a movie worth seeing at least once.

 

 

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

B

Sometimes less is more, and such is the case with this disappointing sequel. This film has more robots, more battles, more explosions, and more shots of Megan Fox in slow-mo. All are good things in theory, but somehow director Michael Bay managed to combine them in a way that is meandering and downright dull in some areas. But the onus of inadequacy rests not on directing alone as the plot itself is riddled with holes and seriously flawed “movie logic.” The good news for fans of the first film is that this movie does have: a good bit of comic relief (I’m not talking about “The Twins”— they’re this franchise’s Jar-Jar), Soundwave done right, and Optimus Prime kicking all sorts of robot ass throughout. For me the latter alone was enough to justify the price of an IMAX theater ticket.

 

 

On DVD:

 

Get Carter (1971)

B+

Michael Caine stars as a London mob enforcer out to investigate the death of his brother. This film unfolds a bit too slowly for my tastes in the first act, but picks up nicely in the last two acts. The action is a bit to “70s” for me to really get excited about, but it definitely had an original story and protagonist in Carter. I can see where Scorsesse and Tarantino likely drew influence from this film in their careers as well. Recommended rental for fans of the crime/gangster genre.

 

 

 

My Best Friend’s Girl

Employee of the Month

C+

I’m not a huge fan of Ryan Reynolds Dane Cook, but I’m no hater either. Both films are his forays into rom-com territory. Employee has him working opposite Jessica Simpson—a blackhole of personality—but he’s got a great supporting cast to even it out. Girl on the other hand is mostly all on Cook’s shoulders. Alec Baldwin makes a one-joke pony cameo as his playboy daddy, Jason Biggs is the best friend in question and Kate Hudson—who can definitely hold her own in a scene but isn’t half as funny as she thins she is—is the girl they’re both after. Both films are uneven, but they did offer more than one laugh out loud moment.

Edited June 27, 2009 by Mr. Hakujin

[Panch]

Thanks.

[Mr. Hakujin]

 

CHE: Part One

B

At the end of the film the credits reveal this film was based on Ernesto “Che” Guevara’s own memoirs, so to say this film’s perspective is slanted is an understatement. However, as a filmgoer my greatest complaint about the film isn’t its historical accuracy or omissions, but rather the lack of characterization for such a long film. CHE: Part One covers everything from Che’s first meeting with Fidel Castro to his victory in Santa Clara that led to Fulgencio Batista fleeing Cuba. The film starts off when Che and Castro first meet, and the scene is heavy in talk of political ideology. However, neither the scene nor the film ever truly explores or attempts to show the motivations behind these revolutionaries. What force(s) drive them to lead this revolt in Cuba? This is attempted to some degree in footage later on in the film where Che speaks at the United Nations and decries the US government for supporting Batista.

 

The film does an excellent job of showing how these guerrilla squads were formed and led. It’s also an entertaining enough crash course on the Cuban revolution that culminates in some truly great action scenes with the battle of Santa Clara. However, the film is entitled CHE and not “How Che Helped Win The Cuban Revolution,” which would’ve been more accurate. The movie faults itself by focusing too much on the guerrilla warfare of the revolution and not giving a well rounded view of the titular character. This film is technically only the first half of director Steven Soderbergh’s four-hour plus film, so perhaps “Part Two” of the film reveals more about the man as a whole. “Part One” was just good enough to make me curious enough to find out.

 

 

50 Dead Men Walking

B+

Much like Steven Soderbergh’s CHE, this is a film based on real people in a real revolution. However, this film not only explains the character’s motivations for fighting, but examines them in an interesting way. Also, this is a story told from the point of view of a man caught in the middle of a revolution and not one who is leading it. Martin McGartland was a young Catholic man in Northern Ireland who was recruited by the IRA and then by British intelligence as an informant in 1988. Ben Kingsley masterfully plays Martin’s “handler” with the right mix of badass and heart to become Martin’s pseudo-father figure. The movie does an admirable job of balancing both sides of the fighting, although the film is as much about the fighting as it is about showing what it was like growing up as a young person in Northern Ireland 20 years ago.

 

On DVD:

 

Knowing

C

Nicolas Cage plays a man who comes across a set of numbers that predict “major” disasters. Who (or what) is truly behind the prophetic numbers is a question the film leaves open, somewhat, for debate in the final act. Director Alex Proyas tries to make a film that on the surface seems to pit religion and science against each other, but his final message is, “Yes, Virginia, there is a purpose to everything.” That message comes in a bold and cinematicaly pleasing way in the last 20 minutes of the film, unfortunately it is almost lost amidst a muddled mess for the first hour and twenty minutes with poor pacing and a surprising lack of suspense.

 

 

Prizzi’s Honor

C

This gangster flick with a heavy leaning on the dark humor won Angelica Huston a best supporting actress Oscar and was directed by her father, the legendary John Huston. It stars Jack Nicholson and Kathleen Turner as mob assassins that fall in love. Despite the film’s awards and high praise I found it a bit dated, and the film’s satirical basis for its humor to be forceful in many places. It screams, “Look, this powerful Don is a frail old guy that talks funny—how ironic! How funny!” Not so much.

 

 

 

The Man Who Knew Too Much

B+

Directed by Alfred Hitchcock (this is actually a remake of one of his own films), stars Jimmy Stewart & Doris Day as tourists in Morocco that are mistakenly entangled in a mysterious international spy game that unfolds through the course of the film. Hitchcock requires the audience to suspend disbelief in some areas for the sake of plot, but the end result is worth it.

[Mr. Hakujin]

ON DVD:

 

The Skeleton Key

C+

A suspense film starring Kate Hudson as a hospice nurse who uncovers dark secrets of voodoo in an old Louisiana plantation house. It has a lot of filler, but a great ending.

 

 

Tampopo

B+

This film is a Japanese version of a Mel Brooks comedy about food. There are short single scenes or sketches throughout the film relating to food (including a sex scene where food is almost the third partner) held together by a charming main storyline about a trucker who leads the widowed owner of a failing ramen shop on a quest to learn how to make the best ramen in Japan. This main storyline was also the inspiration for the equally charming 2009 US film Ramen Girl.

[Mr. Hakujin]

 

Red Cliff

Red Cliff II

B+

These two films tell a singular tale of two smaller armies uniting to battle a corrupt Prime Minister who seeks to rule all of China, and are basically director John Woo’s version of Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy minus the fantasy and set in third century China. A brilliant tactician and adviser clad all in white and highly in touch with nature, a reluctant ruler that must find his warrior spirit, three seemingly invincible warrior generals, a royal maiden that fights as fierce as most warriors, and a singular love story between the films’ main protagonist and his wife are all similarities any LotR fan would recognize.

 

Although these films have their own style apart from LotR and focus as much on the strategy and timing of the battles as they do the battles themselves. The battle scenes are long, but well shot so as to never quite become too tedious. Wire-fu is used sparsely as brief highlights for dramatic emphasis and is never the focus of a fight scene. Red Cliff I & II are near perfect examples of epic battle films, but they lack the character drama of Braveheart or Gladiator, have some weak CGI moments (most notably in the naval scenes in part II), and finishes a bit too open ended. Despite their few faults and however historically inaccurate these films may be, John Woo nevertheless manages to serve up over fours hours worth of well paced and engaging cinema.

 

 

Cashback

C+

I’d give this indie comedy a higher grade if all of its attempts to seem original didn’t come off as so familiar. This film is Clerks trying to disguise itself as American Beauty via a half lifted premise from Fight Club--insomniac art student and IKEA shopper who sees beauty in the everyday “stillness,” and naked women, takes on a nightshift as a supermarket flunky to put use to his new found free time. The director has an almost wafting approach to his style, but the film suffers mostly from the plodding pace and predictably dull progression of the plot.

Edited July 18, 2009 by Mr. Hakujin

[Mr. Hakujin]

 

Halloween (Unrated Director’s Cut - 2007)

A-

I’m not much of a horror genre fan (which explains why it took me so long getting around to seeing this one) and only saw the original film once ages ago, so I’m a bit fuzzy on just how much was “lifted” from the original. Regardless of the fact it’s a re-make—this origin story behind the seemingly unstoppable killing machine that is Michael Meyers was suspenseful, bloody, and, memorable. It does everything a good horror movie should do. In short: this film will #!*@ your $#!% up proper!

 

 

 

Hard Boiled

B

The epitome of video game violence on screen. The plot centers on two cops trying to take down a triad arms dealer, but mostly it’s just two hours of said cops looking cool while shooting guns and blowing stuff up.

 

 

 

Son of Rambow

B+

This film, set in the mid-1980s, is about two misfit boys forming a powerful friendship out of necessity (due to them both having dysfunctional home lives) and the desire to make a film based on the 1982 Sly Stallone film First Blood. The film falls apart a bit in the third act and other than the two protagonists the characters in this film were rather one dimensional. However, they were eclectic enough to keep you interested and ultimately added more than they took away from this near-perfect heartwarming, funny, and imaginative film.

[The NZA]

Hard Boiled

B

 

He’s Just Not That Into You

B+

 

[Mr. Hakujin]

^^Judgment Cat can cast its silent mocking stare at its plate of uneaten gyoza all it wants, but I stand by those grades. I grade by the system I posted on page one and by comparisons to other films in its genre. Granted, I don't see half as many rom-coms as I do action films, so I've perhaps higher standards when it comes to the action genre. I know others (spiffytee forgive me!) won't like that grade for Hard Boiled either, but for all these years I've heard fanboys say how innovative it was yet it felt like an amped up, HK version of a Lethal Weapon film.

[The NZA]

Hard Boiled

B

epitome of video game violence

two hours of cops looking cool while shooting guns and blowing stuff up.

 

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

B

disappointing sequel.

meandering and downright dull

inadequacy rests not on directing alone as the plot itself is riddled with holes and seriously flawed “movie logic.

Jar-Jar

 

[Mr. Hakujin]

 

The reference to video game violence wasn't necessarily meant as a compliment. By minute ten of a guy walking out of a room and Chow Yun Fat shooting him in the hospital scene I was ready to press ffw.

 

I gave the first Transformers an A; you go to Transformers to see giant robots fighting, but the first film brought so much more than that. The sequel brought more giant fighting robots and a weaker plot. Maybe I was kinder to it in my grading b/c all the fanboy h8 lowered my expectations. Anyway, compared to the previous film T:ROTF balanced out to a B in my book.

[MetalHeart]

 

Sup, Muse!

[HypnotizinChikns]

 

Son of Rambow

B+

This film, set in the mid-1980s, is about two misfit boys forming a powerful friendship out of necessity (due to them both having dysfunctional home lives) and the desire to make a film based on the 1982 Sly Stallone film First Blood. The film falls apart a bit in the third act and other than the two protagonists the characters in this film were rather one dimensional. However, they were eclectic enough to keep you interested and ultimately added more than they took away from this near-perfect heartwarming, funny, and imaginative film.

 

I am beyond uber happy that you found this worth the watch- MH! i think you'd enjoy it as well.

I can't listen to Depeche Mode without thinking of this movie anymore haha.

Edited July 24, 2009 by Dr.Girlfriend

[MetalHeart]

I've really been wanting to watch it! I need to get this soon.

[The NZA]

it felt like an amped up, HK version of a Lethal Weapon film.

 

By minute ten of a guy walking out of a room and Chow Yun Fat shooting him in the hospital scene I was ready to press ffw.

 

[Mr. Hakujin]

Nick:

 

 

I am beyond uber happy that you found this worth the watch- MH! i think you'd enjoy it as well.

I can't listen to Depeche Mode without thinking of this movie anymore haha.

Thanks for the recommendation. And MH, let us know what you think when after you see it. It's quirky, and cute, and funny.

[Mr. Hakujin]

 

G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra

B-

To be fair, I’ve two conflicting viewpoints on this film. One is that of the adult film-goer who’s seen more than his fair share of cinema and can look at this film as a summer action film. The other viewpoint is that of the nine-year-old boy who had a room full of G.I. Joe toys and watched the cartoon show everyday after school back in the 80s. I’ll give reviews for both viewpoints.

 

For the non Joe fans:

If you’re not a fan or have no prior knowledge of the 1980s G.I. Joe franchise, chances are this is a movie you can skip in the theaters. A few great action sequences aside, it’ll likely be a film that has more cons than pros for you. If you're going into this film for just a straight up good action flick you'll likely be disappointed with the horrible acting, spastic editing, overly clichéd moments, and mediocre directing. A “C” grade film at best.

For the Joe Fans:

As a longtime fan I walked out of G.I. Joe feeling like the film had some really great parts, but as a whole it didn't reach its full potential. The main element that turned me off as a long time Joe fan was the way Storm Shadow & Snake Eyes were handled. They had what I'm sure were pretty spectacular sword fights, but I couldn't tell because of all the ridiculous close ups and jump cuts! Plus the two brief flashbacks handling their history together were just plain awful.

 

Surprisingly the Baroness character turned out to be the most interesting part of the film. She was a much more fully realized character than her animated counterpart and she was perhaps the most sympathetic and well rounded character in the entire film. I thought the plot of the film was actually pretty good. They made a really plausible prequel for the 80s cartoon show. Well, as plausible as one can get for an 80s cartoon show. As the title implies, this film is all about how Cobra is formed. And it does a fairly decent job of explaining why so many capable people followed the weak and almost inept leader of Cobra in the cartoon show as well as how the iconic characters of Destro, Zartan, Baroness, Storm Shadow, Dr. Mindbender, and Cobra Commander all came together. Also for fanboys wondering about the absent Cobra logo, towards the very end of the film we get a brief underwater glimpse of it.

 

Speaking of the ending, this will likely be a BIG controversy for Joe fans and geeks in general. I won’t go into spoiler territory here, but I will say it’s basically a combination of the endings of Star Wars Episodes I & IV. No, seriously. My friends and I were having a blast pointing out all the “lifted” shots and similar moments between the films. Personally I thought it was fun and meant to be kind of obvious (because it really is obvious), a geeky bit of cross-pollinating cinema if you will. However, I can understand how some fans will take this as a “rip-off” and be angered they paid to see a G.I. Joe movie but got a bootlegged version of a Star Wars ending instead.

 

The film was obviously set up as the first in a franchise and there is room for improvement as they add some more classic Joe characters and hopefully get a better director to helm the franchise. The 80s nostalgia driven fan in me gives this flawed yet fun attempt at realizing a beloved childhood cartoon as live-action cinema a grade of B+.

 

 

 

Funny People

C+

Director Judd Apatow seems to be slowly trying to make a niche for himself as a guy who can masterfully mesh the heartfelt and emotionally poignant comedy of a “chick flick” with the raunchiness and acerbically tinged comedy of a “guy movie.” This film is not so much a step forward in that direction as it is an excuse for him to get his family and friends in a movie that tries, emphasis on “tries,” to point out the importance of family. Adam Sandler co-stars w/ Seth Rogen in “what-if” scenarios of their own lives. Sandler plays a version of himself that never got married and had kids, but instead went the route of movie-star bachelor. Rogen plays a version of himself that went out to Hollywood and started as a stand-up rather than a comedic actor. Both characters are flawed and in some cases downright unlikable, but neither is ever fully developed and shown as a whole person. The film seems to want to point out that most, if not all, comedians (funny people) are somehow deeply flawed, but it doesn’t do so in a way that the audience can really connect with the characters and rarely in a way in which they can laugh with or at them—not such a good thing in a movie with “funny” in the title.

 

 

 

Harry Potter & the Half Blood Prince

B-

Hogwarts has become Snogwarts. The screenwriter & director chose to put way too much emphasis on the fact all of the beloved characters we met as children are now hormonally active teenagers and as a result the action and suspense from the book has been almost completely gutted from the film, especially in the ending. This is the weakest of the HP films so far, but for hardcore fans, as always, any HP film is one worth seeing. And for the casual fans my advice to you on this film is that a better use of your time (The film is 2 ½ hours long!) & money would be to buy the book and start reading.