The long gap between Toy Stories 2 and 3 doesn't seem to have put a dent into the overall effect of the new release; some people seemed genuinely concerned about that. Put your fears to rest. In what appears to be the final entry in the franchise, we are treated to some new characters, some plot twists, and some moments of pathos & sentiment that will bring a smile & maybe a tear or two to those of all ages. There are a few moments of imminent danger that could possibly be frightening for very young children. Overall, of the 3, I think this installment ended up giving the best payoff. And wait 'til you see the scenes where Buzz Lightyear goes Spanish.....hysterical!
Giving this movie the benefit of any doubt (will it be another SPECIES?) was a colossal waste of effort on my part. This is a solid-gold example of what COULD have been a great sci-fi cautionary tale about cloning; sadly for all of us, it was dumped into the hands of rank amateurs who should have had the intelligence to know what an absolute stinkbomb they were churning out. The film actually starts out promising & eventually degenerates into unintentional howls of laughter from the audience. Adrien Brody must be a whore for movie roles these days. Do NOT waste your time/money on this fiasco.
What a pleasant surprise this turned out to be: a film that I seriously thought was going to be dumb as all get-out turns out to be a hysterically funny, for-the-most-part-well-written & at times even a deep & sensitive exploration of fame & the rock star persona. Jonah Hill's & Russell Brand's characters are unforgettable, but watch for Sean Combs' role--easily THE funniest acting job I've ever seen him do. As far as total numbers of LOL moments go, I'd put this film right up there with DEATH AT A FUNERAL; sight-gags & 1-liners that will have you falling out of your chair. Couldn't have loved it more.
Good news/bad news. BAD: Occasionally moronic dialog (were the script writers on drugs?), & WTF's the deal with them making Carrie look like a dog through half the film (hair styles/dresses/that Godawful "hat" she wears on the sheik's private jet)? GOOD: True SATC fans (like me) will forgive these glaring flaws for the inclusion of John Corbett, the touching scenes between Carrie & her butler Garau (as well as the bar scene with Miranda & Charlotte when they talk about motherhood), & Samantha's HYSTERICAL moment in the Abu Dhabi marketplace toward the end of the film. Recommended.
This movie could have received 5 stars if it weren't for one glaring factor: a more revealing & appropriate title would have been IT'S SHREK'S WONDERFUL LIFE. All the elements for an enjoyable Shrek film are here, make no mistake; but for the filmmakers to shamelessly rip off Jimmy Stewart's 1946 classic seems more like an act of desperation than anything else...I couldn't help feeling a little cheated in spite of the film's high entertainment factor. Bottom line: The kids will love it, and so will adults...who aren't too critical about plagiarized storylines. The IMAX 3-D experience, as always, was top-notch.
We now have a trifecta of great fantasy films for 2010: AVATAR, ALICE & DRAGON!!! This movie tells a great, humorous & ultimately very touching tale of how mortal enemies, through the power of Love, can learn to live as the closest of friends. FANTASTIC special effects (SEE IT IN IMAX 3-D!), beautiful story, memorable characters--satisfying in every possible way! The only caveat I would give is it could be very frightening for young children. Do NOT allow yourself to miss this incredible film!!!!!
This IMAX 3-D experience was nothing short of PERFECT. Everything about the film was a home-run: Acting (Mia is someone to keep an eye on; Johnny was tremendous), SPECIAL EFFECTS (OMG), script, humor & pathos, cintematography, THE WORKS. Lewis Carroll should be proud. This jewel deserves to take its place alongside THE WIZARD OF OZ. BRAVISSIMO!!!!!
I really thought this was going to be sappy & lame (not to mention run of the mill), but with the exception of a few moments of what I felt to be lapses in overall intelligence, this film told a very moving, engrossing story overall. Love stories can very easily slip into cornball territory; this one avoids it with a good deal of class & storyline originality. Tips of the hat to Richard Jenkins (Six Feet Under) & Henry Thomas (Elliott from "E.T.") for great supporting roles. See this one!
Travolta & Jonathan Rhys Meyers turn in some impressive performances in a high-octane suspense thriller that keeps the action going full-tilt and peppers it with some great moments of comic relief. Some may think Travolta's character is over the top; perhaps. I didn't find it offensive, though, & the unexpected plot twists spiced the storyline up nicely. Great action film; highly recommended.
Yet another example of an utterly pathetic movie made to look potentially good in its previews. The film is rancid with bad acting (made THE MIST look like Shakespeare), embarrassingly bad dialog (entire theater laughing) & plot & continuity holes big enough to drive a truck through. Right up there with Matthew Broderick's GODZILLA and BATTLEFIELD EARTH. Makes me wonder how actors like Paul Bettany & Kate Walsh could have sold out to be a part of this turkey. Trust me--don't even watch it on HBO or rent it.