<BR>Rated PG-13 for sequences of action violence, sexual content, nudity, and language<BR>Appropriate for ages 15+</STRONG><BR></FONT><BR><FONT size=3><STRONG>The Story:</STRONG> Officers Carter and Lee (Tucker and Chan) partner up again to stop a group of Chinese gangsters in Paris.<BR><BR><STRONG>The Good:</STRONG> There isn’t much here to brag about, but there is a set piece on the Eiffel Tower that could have had real potential. There’s an <EM>Abbott and Costelloesque</EM> sketch in a martial arts gym, a <EM>Monty Pythonesque</EM> sketch with a Nun in a hospital, and a strangely exaggerated sketch in a Paris night club that all could have worked were it not for the contrived set ups and the lack of continuity with the rest of the film.<BR><BR><STRONG>The Bad:</STRONG> From the opening scene this movie sets itself up as a movie that shouldn’t be taken seriously. The first two pics can be described as a comedic <EM>Lethal Weapon</EM>. This third pic, however, almost feels like a parody of the first two. Gone is the impressive stunt work by Chan and slick annoyances by Tucker, replaced instead by unimpressive fight scenes and poorly written jokes embarrassingly performed by the duo. They try so desperately hard to be funny – and fail miserably. <BR><BR>As for the story – wow is it bad! The plot is completely predictable and even Max von Sydow looks like an amateur with this horrid script. It blows my mind that this dialogue sprang from the mind of screenwriter Jeff Nathanson (<EM>Catch Me If You Can</EM>).<BR><BR><STRONG>The Summary:</STRONG> Shame on you Jackie, Chris, Brett, and Jeff – you are all better than this. </FONT></FONT></DIV></p>
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Bourne Ultimatum – Will Someone Get This Man A Steadicam?
The Bourne Ultimatum C+
Starring Matt Damon, Joan Allen, and David Strathairn
Directed by Paul Greengrass (The Bourne Supremacy)
Rated PG-13 for violence and intense sequences of action
Appropriate for ages 15+
The Story: In this third and final chapter of the Bourne chronicles, Jason Bourne (Damon) is still trying to sort out who he really is and who made him into what he has become. The U.S. government, however, has a problem with him being alive and does everything in their power to kill him.
The Good: If what you need is a two-hour-long chase film, this will cure your woes. This is a very exciting film with tons of great chase and fight sequences. Also, the cast of actors is first rate and they all turn in very good performances.
The Bad: The biggest problem with this pic is the same problem with the second film: the way it is shot. Director Paul Greengrass puts the camera right into the middle of the action where we can’t focus on anything, and then shakes the camera around in order to make it worse. I left the theater nauseated and with a headache. Either he has never heard of a steadicam, or he thinks that audiences are ADD enough to appreciate this style of film making.
Another major problem is that the plot is way too similar to the first two films. Jason has amnesia, he wants to know more about his old self, he sorta remembers a government official that might clear things up, and then he goes after them. Meanwhile, the government official wants him dead. While the story works, it’s just a retread of what came before it, told slightly different and in more exotic locales in order to freshen things up.
The Summary: If theaters had sold Dramamine at the concession stand, this might have been a better experience for me.
1408 – Stephen King Revisits the Haunted Hotel
Starring George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Al Pacino and Matt Damon Directed by Stephen Soderbergh Rated PG-13 for brief sensuality Appropriate for ages 13+ The Story: Danny Ocean (Clooney) and gang almost lose one of their mates to a heart attack brought on by the shady dealings of a major hotel builder (Pacino). In an effort to seek revenge against him, they do everything in their power to stop his new Las Vegas Strip hotel from opening. The Good: Unlike the second film, and even the first one, the film makers decided not to trick the audience, but rather to let the audience fully join in on the fun. We get to sit back and watch all of the action taking place not having to worry about an ending that hits you out of left field. These characters are so charismatic and enjoyable to watch that they make you feel part of the gang, and it creates a heck of a good time in the process. The performances are all very good and you can tell right away that they had fun making the movie. Also, while it’s not a comedy, there are some very funny moments, especially a couple involving Oprah, that add the frosting to the cake. The Bad: We know that director Soderbergh likes to do some weird montage sequences and this film is no different. Throughout the film, whenever a lot of action is taking place, it’s done in a montage, and some of these sequences are just a little too artsy and out of place for a film such as this. Also, everything falls into place a little too perfectly and the story seems a little too simple at times. Still, I’d rather have the simple story than the tricky, nonsensical plotlines found in the first two films. The Summary: They finally got it right with this third Ocean installment. , a writer of books about haunted hotels that doesn’t believe in ghosts. Upon receiving a postcard warning him about room 1408 in the Dolphin Hotel in New York City, where several dozen people mysteriously died, he decides to investigate for himself. Although adamantly discouraged by the hotel manager (Samuel L. Jackson), Enslin, positive that nothing can happen to him besides a good night’s sleep, decides that he knows best and locks himself in for the night. This turns out to be a bad decision.<BR><BR>1408 starts out really strong, providing some really good scary moments throughout the first half of the film. It’s not that the film isn’t good past the half-way point, but it’s certainly not as terrifying. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, since the second half of the film is where the majority of the character development takes place, and without it, it would have probably been just another stupid slasher flick. Instead, what we get here is a smart, thrilling, and suspenseful film that has you guessing till the end. <BR><BR>This is not the best story King wrote, and with that being said, the very short story it is based on is different from the story of the movie. But still, I got the feeling that they wanted to create here another <EM>Shining</EM>, and it just doesn’t live up to the Kubrick classic. On it’s own, it’s a much better-than-average horror flick that doesn’t rely on hardcore torture and gore to thrill it’s audience. </FONT></FONT></p>
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A Mighty Heart – Jolie Shines In Very Dificult Role
A Mighty Heart A
Rated R for language
Angelina Jolie portrays Mariane Pearl, the widow of Daniel Pearl, the reporter that was brutally killed by Islamic extremists in 2002. While the film sounds like a depressing downer of a film, it sneaks in an exciting yet gut-wrenching tale of the kidnapping and subsequent rescue efforts. Jolie gives her most powerful performance to date and really shows why she deserved her first Oscar for Girl, Interupted. While it’s still early in the race, she is sure to be the front-runner for this year’s award. I found the film to be similar in nature to United 93, and just like United 93, I am glad I saw it, but I never want to see it again.Ocean’s Thirteen – Third Time’s A Charmer
Ocean’s Thirteen A-