Posts

Posted on

New in Home Entertainment – July 26, 2011

New in Home Entertainment

July 26, 2011

Limitless
Rated PG-13 for thematic material involving a drug, violence including disturbing images, sexuality and language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
When a down-on-his-luck writer happens upon a drug that allows him to use 100% of his brain, he quickly becomes a rich and powerful man with enemies that want to use him or steal his drug from him.  Before Limitless, Bradley Cooper was a celebrity, but with this performance and the ensuing box-office receipts, he has become a true star.  The movie itself is a blast to watch and provides for a very fast paced and entertaining couple of hours.  The script is smart and sexy and so are the performances by the talented cast.  Sometimes the pic moves at such a rapid pace that you feel it is trying to overcompensate for something or cover up some holes, but at the end that just doesn’t matter when you’ve had such a good time.  A-

Source Code
Rated PG-13 for some violence including disturbing images, and for language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
When a bomb goes off on a train, killing hundreds of people, a secret government agency attempts to discover who the bomber is by utilizing an agent (Jake Gyllenhaal) who can relive the last 8 minutes before the bombing, over and over, until the discovery is made.  While the premise is pretty far-fetched and truly in the world of some crazy science fiction, the movie itself is entertaining when its not mind-boggling.  The ending goes a little too far from the science they invented, but I’m sure that’s what they were going for.  Jake is at his usual very good self in his own little Groundhog Day adventure and the fast paced directing proves to be an effective tool in not allowing you to over-think the plot too much until the movie’s over.  B+

Donnie Darko: 10th Anniversary Edition
Rated R for language, some underage drug and alcohol use and violence
Available on Blu-ray
If you like Jake Gyllenhaal and Source Code isn’t far out enough for you, then definitely check out this psychological sci-fi thriller that made Jake a star.  The story revolves around a high school student and his demonic bunny advisor.  It’s like Harvey on acid.  Ranked 143 in the IMDB Top 250, the pic has definitely earned its place as a modern indie sci-fi legend.  This new set contains Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital Copy of the film as wells as a boatload of extras including the director’s cut and multiple commentaries.  A-

Posted on

New in Home Entertainment – July 19, 2011

New in Home Entertainment

July 19, 2011

Amelie
Rated R for sexual content
Available on Blu-ray
French with English Subtitles
The French are well-known for their fine food, epic museums and innovative cinema (I won’t get into their negatives).  Among the best of their movies, especially when considering their more modern films, is this gem of a picture directed by the brilliant Jean-Pierre Jeunet and starring Audrey Hepburn doppelganger Audrey Tautou.  The Oscar-nominated screenplay tells the tale of a young French girl who upon committing random acts of kindness to others is finally allowed to fall in love.  Being ranked #46 in IMDB’s Top 250, I can honestly say that I’m not alone in thinking that this is one heck of a visionary film, and certainly one of my all-time favorites.  The colors, music, and imagination all run wild in order to produce this beautiful fantasy which will have you smiling big for two straight hours.  For me, this smile is due to the happiness I feel inside each and every time I watch it.  Also being released for the first time on Blu-ray by Lionsgate are Chocolate, Bridget Jones’s Diary and The Boy in the Striped Pajamas.  A+

Peep World
Not Rated
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Personally, I am a big fan of The Office, Dexter, and The Sarah Silverman Program.  That’s why I have a tough time understanding how the stars of each of these can get together and make such a lousy film.  Rainn Wilson, Michael C. Hall and Sarah Silverman are fighting siblings who are all bitter due to a book their brother, Ben Schwartz, has written about their lives.  The basic premise isn’t horrible, but the screenplay is dreadful and the energy is non-existent.  It’s like being distracted by a boring, uneventful, meaningless family fight while you’re trying to enjoy the movie you thought you were going to watch.  D

National Lampoon’s Animal House
Rated R
Available on Blu-ray
Setting the stage for the modern day raunch-com is this classic fraternity tale starring John Belushi in his most famous role.  It’s hard to imagine my college days without Animal House as I recall we used to memorize the dialog over beer and pizza on almost a weekly basis.  Does the movie need a blu-ray edition?  Not really, but if you are into updating your collection, this isn’t a bad one to put in there.  The one new feature that I love is the popular Scene It? Animal House Edition game.  Also being re-released on blu-ray this week is The Blues Brothers, another hilarious Belushi film that proves that while he has been gone for almost 30 years, he is still one of the greatest comedians to grace the screen.  A-

Posted on

Horrible Bosses



Horrible Bosses

Starring Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, and Jason Sudeikis
Directed by Seth Gordon (Four Christmases)
Rated R for crude and sexual content, pervasive language and some drug material

    I’m sure that I am not alone in that I have had my fair share of really bad bosses.  While there are some great people out there in managerial roles, it seems that the bad far outweighs the good.  What makes a horrible boss?  That’s easy – it’s a simple disrespect for the people that work under you.  While the fantasy of killing a bad boss has never gone through my head – I wouldn’t have cared too much if one or two of them turned up missing, if you know what I mean.  

    So when I heard about this dark comedy about three guys who have such terrible bosses that they felt the need to take them out, I couldn’t help but be intrigued.  Are the bosses that bad?  At least two of them.  Kevin Spacey and Collin Farrell, in this film at least, are truly despicable jerks that shouldn’t even be allowed around other people, never mind being in a role of leadership.  Jennifer Anniston, as a sexually harassing boss, has a severe problem, but one that just needs a little correction rather than murder.  

    The script here is sharp as a tack and well acted by all.  The film does rely a little heavily on shock value, but that is understandable in this case since the whole premise is shocking.  The jokes hit hard and frequently and aside from Jason Sudeikis playing the part of the ultimate ladies man, everything seems organic.  

    Having worked in the corporate world for so long, I found a real connection with Jason Bateman’s character as he is sure that sacrificing a decade of his life will all pay off in the long run.  In this regard, the writers did an excellent job of giving their characters each something that most of the audience will find an association with.  Whether the audience has a blue or white collar job, people will find something familiar in these three lead characters.  

    Do you have to hate your boss to appreciate this film?  Not in the least.  I haven’t had a horrible boss for a few years now and yet the film still came across as funny and relevant.  In a world where the economy is in the tank and management knows that you can’t quit your job for the fear that there are so many out there without work, this movie acts as a pleasurable excursion from reality.  B+

Posted on

New in Home Entertainment – July 12, 2011

New in Home Entertainment

July 12, 2011

The Lincoln Lawyer
Rated R for some violence, sexual content and language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy Combo
During the 90s we were fortunate enough to see a string of Grisham novels on screen, and most of them were pretty good.  There has been a very noticeable gap, though, since the last good legal thriller.  Then along comes The Lincoln Lawyer based on the novel by Michael Connelly.  Here, Matthew McConaughey plays a lawyer with questionable ethics who gains a new client, played by Ryan Phillippe, whose case smells a little fishy.  The phenomenal cast, which also includes Marisa Tomei, William H. Macy, Josh Lucas, John Leguizamo, and Bryan Cranston play their parts well in this nifty little legal mystery.  While some of the plot points felt contrived, I found myself to be thoroughly entertained by the time end credits rolled.  A-

Rango
Rated PG for rude humor, language, action and smoking
Available on DVD and Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy Combo
When he gets separated from his owners during a road trip through the desert, Rango, a pet chameleon voiced by Johnny Depp, finds himself going from modern day conveniences to living in an old west town with a water deficiency.  Pretending to be a hero, he quickly becomes the town’s sheriff, bound and determined to uncover its corruption.  Last year I had three animated films in my top 10, but this year has seen a draught of great animated storytelling.  At the top of the list is this entertaining pic.  Even though many of its elements are lovingly stolen from such great films as Chinatown and Pale Rider, the film comes off as highly original.  The language is a little rough for young ears, so don’t be surprised when your youngins’ start repeating some choice new words.  B+

Entourage: The Complete Seventh Season
Rated TV-MA
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Setting up the 8th and final season of this hit HBO show finds Vince living truly on the edge while his friends and agent try to bring him under control.  With the last couple of seasons coming off as sort of wimpy, they went a whole new direction here with Vince doing tons of drugs and dating real life porn star Sasha Grey.  The turn seemed pretty contrived, but it did add a nice change-up to the happy-go-lucky lives we previously saw.  Now I can’t wait to see how they’re going to end this thing!  B-

Arthur
Rated PG-13 for alcohol use throughout, sexual content, language and some drug references
Available on DVD and Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy Combo
Of all the movies to remake, why they’d want to bring back this character is beyond me.  Russell Brand is the new Dudley Moore and here the spoiled young son of a billionaire who is informed by his mother that he must marry Jennifer Garner in order to stay rich.  The performances aren’t bad, but there is very little laughter here, just as in the original.  Sure, a stupid drunk can be charming for a few minutes, but it gets old quick, and while that might be the point of the film, that doesn’t make for good comedy.  C-  

Posted on

Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon

Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon

Starring Shia LaBeouf, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, and Patrick Dempsey
Directed by Michael Bay
Rated PG-13 for intense prolonged sequences of sci-fi action violence, mayhem and destruction, and for language, some sexuality and innuendo

    It appears that in the 1960s an Autobot space craft crashed on the moon, thus giving the Americans and Russians the need to begin the space race.  When the Autobots discover the existence of their long-lost space craft on the moon, they bring back their leader from the ship that they thought had disappeared decades ago.  Unfortunately, the Decepticons, who got quite the beat down in the last two films, have other sinister plans for the Autobots’ new acquisition.

    Being one of the few critics who actually enjoyed the second film (a fact that filled my inbox with tons of threats of physical violence from a minority of crazies who hated the film), I am hesitant to even write this review.  But hey – it’s just a movie – right?

    Just like the last film, this one is packed with huge set pieces and massive special effects sequences.  Fortunately, there is a decent central plot in this third installment that at least gives a stronger backbone for the action than was present in the second.  But while the central plot works, the subplots are just silly.  With the very noticeable and highly publicized absence of Megan Fox, LaBeouf has a new British girlfriend played by Victoria’s Secret model Huntington-Whitely who is just way too pretty and dull to be in this movie.  At least with Fox there was pretty and damaged which seemed to be a good fit.  

    When producer Steven Spielberg was brought into the first project he wanted to make sure the film had a central theme: a boy and his car.  I guess this one went into the direction of a boy and his girl, and it suffers from it.  Having a girlfriend is one thing, but making it too important makes the film drag when it should be moving.  Proof is in the 157 minute running time which is simply too long for a film like this.  When my bladder and I began analyzing it, we found many, many places where this time could have been effectively cut down.
   
    The other subplots of LaBeouf’s job search and whatever the heck happened to John Turturro were only present for an unneeded overdose of comedy relief.   

    One thing I did enjoy is watching Chicago get the snot beat out of it.  The ending battle sequence was spectacular and watching Optimus Prime kick that much butt was a lot of fun.  That being said, with this many robots fighting for that long, the metal on metal melee seemed to melt together.  I’m glad they did a better job of giving the Autobots more color this time around so you could differentiate the teams, but I’m pretty certain a cut in the fighting budget would have helped the film along.

    Just like with number two, I am on the bubble here.  I think that there are some nice aspects to the film and some that are really annoying.  This time around the annoying struck me a little harder.  C+

Posted on

New in Home Entertainment – July 5, 2011

New in Home Entertainment

July 5, 2011

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy: Extended Edition
Rated PG-13
Available on Blu-ray with Digital Copy
Although The Lord of the Rings Trilogy is one of the most popular cinematic events of our lifetime, you would never know it from the previous blu-ray release.  While many of the folks who wanted a blu-ray edition of the film were completely satisfied with the theatrical editions released last year, the Amazon.com score was a mere 1 star.  It’s not that the fans didn’t love the film, but rather that once you’ve seen the extended editions (which were released several years ago on DVD), the original pales in comparison.  These new editions boast a huge amount of new material, and unlike most films where the added material was simply put back in due to cuts made to appease the MPAA, these new films contain about two hours of missing storytelling, new music and great special effects.  And with Blu-ray, the presentation has never looked or sounded better.  In all, the set contains 15 discs, with all of the great special features seen on the DVDs as well as the Costa Botes documentaries that provide a very special behind-the-scenes look at the making of the three films.  So if you are satisfied with the CliffsNotes version of the film that came out last year, you can safely skip this new release; but if you are a big fan, this set will most likely have you salivating.  A+

Sucker Punch: Extended Cut
Rated R for sexual content, some violence and brief language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy Combo
If you were one of the few that went to see Sucker Punch in theaters, you were probably like me and left the movie scratching your head in confusion.  Afterall, this latest Zach Snyder release about a young girl who is is locked away in a mental hospital unjustly, and attempts to fight her way out with her imagination (that supposedly takes place while she is sexy dancing) is about as confounding as you can get.  This new extended edition sheds some additional light to the story, as well as some decent enough effects and fight sequences, but the dazzle just isn’t enough to come away with anything meaningful or entertaining.  C-

People on Sunday: The Criterion Collection
Not Rated
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
A lot of love was put into restoring this 1930 silent film about ordinary people enjoying their weekend in and around Berlin.  With the original film negative destroyed, a huge international effort was put forth to bring this film back to life; and for being 80 years old – it looks great.  Perhaps the most meaningful attributes are that it was one of the first screenplays written by Billy Wilder (Some Like It Hot) and it is a fascinating portrait of the simple life that would be completely changed in just a few years time when Hitler would come on the scene and National Socialism would take over these simpler times, changing the country forever.  B+

Das Boot
Rated R for some violence and brief language
Available on Blu-ray
Towards the top of my list of favorite war films is this 1981 film by Wolfgang Peterson (Air Force 1) that follows the crew of a German submarine crew ordered to patrol the Atlantic during WWII and severely harass allied ships.  The film is a claustrophobic masterpiece that will have you biting your nails for almost three and half hours (unless you wimp out and watch the theatrical cut which will only have you biting for two and a half).  The pic not only explores the war from the German point of view, but also portrays well the tension between the German navy and the Nazi party.  Nominated for six Academy Awards (and not in the Best Foreign Film category), Das Boot also holds the #63 ranking in the Top 250 films of all time on IMDB.com.  A+

Posted on

Green Lantern

Green Lantern

Starring Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively and Peter Sarsgaard
Directed by Martin Campbell (Casino Royale)
Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence
Appropriate for ages 13+

    In this summer’s newest super hero introduction, DC and Warner Brothers show us the world of Green Lantern.  Ryan Reynolds is just your average air force pilot, but when a dying warrior from an alien planet crashes on earth, he is recruited to join an intergalactic peace keeping force.  

    With all of the heroes to choose from that lack a movie, Green Lantern is not the first of them to come to mind for a huge adaptation.  After all, he is a very unconventional superhero.  He works for a police force to keep his quadrant of the universe free from fear.  He is virtually unstoppable from any force on earth.  His whole world is, for lack of a better word, weird.  So it will come as no surprise that from the very beginning, this movie fails to take itself seriously, but yet still chugs along at a decent clip, keeping the audience at the very least curious.

    As far as actors go, Ryan Reynolds is pretty fantastic in the leading role.  He is full of charisma and charm and is simply likable.  Peter Sarsgaard, who really goes out of his way to be the opposite of Reynolds here, presents a villain who you can’t help but feel empathy for.  The supporting cast is not the greatest, but I fear its more for their scripts rather than their talent.  

    Speaking of the script, it’s not a great genesis story, but it’s not horrible either.  There are a tremendous amount of holes throughout the story that I’m sure the plethora of writers were hoping the audience won’t ask about.  Some of that probably stems from the original comic, and some of it is simply sloppy and uncreative.  I don’t want to spoil anything for you, but the entire third act, which involves stopping the super-evil Parallax, makes zero sense.  The reactions of the leaders of the intergalactic squadron to the threat is slightly insane and while that major plot point moves the story ahead the way I’m sure they wanted, it should have been rearranged.  

    That being said, I did like the look of the film quite a bit.  It might be a tad too green, but it certainly comes off as unique and true to the comic in a big way.  The special effects were in top form and one of the few things that made the film watchable.  

    So while I can’t give the movie my whole-hearted endorsement like I do X-Men First Class, I can say that it is a decent enough improvement upon Thor and not a horrible way to spend two hours escaping the summer heat.  C+

Posted on

New in Home Entertainment – June 21, 2011

New in Home Entertainment

June 21, 2011

The Adjustment Bureau
Rated PG-13 for brief strong language, some sexuality and a violent image
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Matt Damon is a New York politician who, upon losing the Senate election, discovers that there are men behind the scenes making sure everything goes “to plan.”  When these men attempt to keep him from the woman he is in love with (Emily Blunt), he fights back against the plan, even though it could cost him everything.  You need look no further than the source material, “The Adjustment Team” by sci-fi idol Phillip K. Dick (Minority Report, Blade Runner), to understand that this is going to be a trippy story.  While it’s not as crazy as some of his other work, the religious twist will keep the tale somewhat familiar to most audiences.  It’s no theological breakthrough, but it is a lot of fun to watch and the chemistry between Damon and Blunt is remarkable.  A-

The Eagle
Rated PG-13 for battle sequences and some disturbing images
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Channing Tatum is the son of an infamous Roman soldier who gained his notoriety for taking his army into Northern England, never to be heard from again.  With the help of his slave, played by Jamie Bell, Tatum travels to the North to discover what happened so many years ago and to reclaim the  lost eagle, the golden emblem of the Roman Army.  Tatum and Bell give a fine enough show, but between the bad acting from the likes of Donald Sutherland and the larger part of the cast, as well as the overall lack of excitement bring this film down.  It doesn’t help that the PG-13 rating severely hurts the film.  This new version comes with an unrated cut, but it still lacks the integrity of its peers Gladiator and HBO’s Rome.  C

Posted on

Super 8

Super 8

Starring Joel Courtney, Kyle Chandler, and Elle Fanning
Directed by J.J. Abrams (Star Trek)
Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence, language and drug use
Appropriate for ages 15+

    In the summer of 1979, a young group of friends witnesses a train derailing, which leads to the start of strange happenings in their small Ohio town.

    This is a tough review to write simply because much of the discussion of the film can revolve around potential plot spoilers.  With that in mind, I’ll try to give a more broad account.  Just like he did with Cloverfield, J.J. Abrams went out of his way to not let audiences see what his film was really about.  In this day and age when the trailer usually shows the entire film, I can really appreciate his wanting to keep it secret for us.  

    In this case, the lack of knowledge of upcoming scenes leads to a suspenseful reveal that doesn’t really take place until the third act.  This is both good and bad.  It’s good in the sense that you are really on the edge of your seat and getting to know your characters.  The bad is that  by the time you know what’s actually going on, the build up has to be worth the wait.  For me, the reveal was a bit of let down, especially because it happened so late and came off as unoriginal.  

    For the first hour of the film though, I was truly engrossed.  The film brings  a huge amount of nostalgia with it, reminding you of your days spent with E.T., Close Encounters, and even the Goonies.  And because it reminded me so much of those films, I expected a strong emotional pay off at the end, which just wasn’t provided.  It’s almost like Spielberg began the film and Abrams finished it in the most emotionally unattached way possible.  

    I was also disappointed in the language of the film.  Even though this is a horror film, it is still marketed as a kid-friendly horror film.  Most movies I grew up with had a bit of bad language, but at the moment Abrams threw an F-bomb into the mix, the film became an adult picture, rather than what could have been a great fantasy pic for kids.  While my son is much too young for a film like this, I would be upset if I was watching it with a young teenager.  The language is just plain inappropriate for the target audience.

    Language aside, though, the film definitely starts out of the gate strong, but lacks the kind of finish that most audiences will desire.  It’s not that the story is bad, it’s just that sticking to the formula would have helped the movie tremendously.  B

Posted on

New in Home Entertainment – June 14, 2011

New in Home Entertainment

June 14, 2011

Battle: Los Angeles
Rated PG-13 for sustained and intense sequences of war violence and destruction, and for language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Easily the best alien invasion film of the year, and yes there have been a few, Battle: Los Angeles follows a group of soldiers sent in to do battle with an encroaching alien invasion that is taking over the world.  Led by Aaron Eckhart, the group must not only survive, but curtail the invasion as well.  There’s not a lot of comedy relief here in this brash and intense movie that is more like a war film than a sci-fi pic.  This is a serious nail-biter wrapped up in some amazing special effects.  As for the bad reviews this film got, I don’t understand them.  I think there was definitely a piling-on by critics from the beginning.  While its not an Academy-worthy movie, it certainly is entertaining and a strong representative of the genre.  B+

Kill the Irishman
Rated R for strong violence, language, and some sexual content/nudity
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Based on a true story, Ray Stevenson is Danny Greene, an infamous Irish thug that stood up to the the Cleveland mob in the 1970s, which led to the collapse of mafia syndicates across the country.  While its not a bad addition to the mafia genre, its not the greatest rep either.  The acting by Stevenson, Vincent D’Onofrio and Christopher Walken is pretty good, but much of the supporting cast come off as merely cliched Italian mobsters with no depth.  Also, the film’s pacing suffers from the director’s inability to move the non-violent scenes along with a rapid enough clip.  That being said, I rather liked the story and found myself researching it afterward.  Check out the documentary Danny Greene: The Rise and Fall of the Irishman for a more in-depth look at the titular character.  B-

Legend of the First: The Return of Chen Zhen
Rated R for strong violence, martial arts action and some language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
There have been many films based on the legendary fictional character of Chen Zhen, including my favorite martial arts film Fist of Legend with Jet Li and Fist of Fury with Bruce Lee, but never before has he been portrayed as a chinese pseudo-superhero, attempting to take down the Japanese as they prepare to invade before WWII.  Just as you would expect from martial artist Donnie Yen, the fighting sequences are spectacular.  Andrew Lau, the director whose film Infernal Affairs was remade into the multi-Oscar winning The Departed, has a way with filming action that is unique and exhilarating.  The problem lies in the scenes without action.  These scenes plod along in such a manner that the film just stalls.  There is some huge potential here for not only a hit, but a franchise.  Unfortunately, its hard to get past the ridiculously boring plot points.  B-

Hall Pass
Rated R for crude and sexual humor throughout, language, some graphic nudity and drug use
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
From the Farrelly Brothers (There’s Something About Mary) comes this adult comedy about two friends (Owen Wilson and Jason Sudeikis) who are given a one week “hall pass” from marriage in order to get over their respective mid-life crises.  This may not be the best Farrelly comedy, but it’s actually a darn funny movie with some good shock value.  Many of the jokes are tired and cliched, but many of them will make you laugh out loud as well.  The movie is predictable, but the jokes and sight gags move it along to the point where its much more than just bearable.  B-

The Boondock Saints: Truth and Justice Edition
Rated R for strong violence, language and sexual content 

Available on Blu-ray
I’m not a big fan of this cult classic about a couple of Irish vigilantes who make a pact to take on Boston’s criminal element, but I seem to be in the minority of those who don’t love it.  In fact, according to IMDB, many in the twenty-something demo consider this film to be one of the greatest movies of all time.  While I do appreciate the unique style of the film, I just couldn’t find myself getting into it.  The film might be over ten years old, but it still has a huge fan base and this new set contains loads of features just for them, as well as both the R-rated and unrated versions of the film.  C