As I have said in many of my other reviews for several different movies, you definitely know what to expect coming in to the theatre. The trailers said it all. It is a really bloody, violent, guy movie with themes of honor and courage. You're not expecting much from the acting but Gerard Butler accomplishes a lot with his uber-manly Leonidas. The real shining point in this film will probably be the very stylized cinematography that stays faithful to Frank Miller's graphic novel and the choreographed, slo-mo fight sequences. The only reason I didn't give it five stars is because a lot of the dialogue is laughable and downright silly, but if you're feeling kind of macho, buy it and watch it.
This is one of the movies that, no matter how good you think it is, you know exactly what to expect coming in the theatre: this is a crowd-cheering movie with a great balance of comedy, drama, suspense, and romance, but none of that is wrong. It just suffers from being a bit predictable except for the twist at the end - which I will not give away. Kevin Spacey and Laurence Fishburne are the flawless veterans joining the sea of newcomers, including Jim Sturgess who shines as Ben Campbell, the M.I.T. student who wins thousands. This movie is great but that doesn't mean you won't know what's going to happen next.
The reason that I love this movie so much is that a) I love comic books, b) I love Spider-Man, c) I love explosive, computer-generated action sequences, and d) I love devoted actors, writers, producers, and a director that give a *bleep* about the original comics and pay homage to it. With that being said the film is a little lengthy and there are so many new characters, subplots, and things going on you'll probably break your neck trying to keep up with everything but I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing. It keeps things from getting stale like that other comic book movie, uh *cough* Hulk. All in all this will satisfy your inner nerd and summer blockbuster craving.
The title of my article refers to the way that the film's villian determines peoples' fates with the mere toss of a coin. Speaking of the villian (played by Javier Bardem) delivers one of the most jaw-droppingly evil performances in recent memory and his character, Anton Chigurh, will most likely be synonymous with villian. Everyone else acts extremely well and the film starts out with a bang and doesn't really let up until the end when things get a little confusing but it is definitely worth your time, your money, and the Oscar.
I still find it strange that someone as beloved as Owen Wilson would commit suicide and even stranger to see him on-screen since then. Fortunately, he makes a welcome comeback as he returns to his laid-back comedy. Unfortunately, that's about it. There are some funny scenes with Wilson and the kids but its not enough to rise above the bland story. The two star freshmen act suprisingly well, both seeming very relaxed and like they were trying hard. They both also are very similar to the Superbad partnership. This will satisfy, though.
Does Never Back Down completely rip off of The Karate Kid? Yes. Did my friend and I clearly predict five or more plot points? Yes. Does this movie follow the traditional underdog-to-champion formula with not putting too many new ideas into it? Yes. Does it actually have pretty impressive acting, not-too-shabby cinematography, and some of the most flatout awesome fighting in recent history? Absolutely. I am particularly impressed with the film's leading man (Sean Faris) as the misunderstood high schooler, Jake Tyler. He'll probably remind you a lot of a young Tom Cruise with his ever-present cockiness and sarcastic remarks. Although this movie is very, nay extremely predictable it is also extremely entertaining.
Once again those critics will diss a great movie like this but will praise an absolutely terrible movie. This movie is like a feature film adaptation of 24. It has many political conspiracies, fast action, and some, not many, continuity errors. The casting was great but you would think that veterans like William Hurt, Forest Whitaker, and Sigourney Weaver would act to their fullest potentials. Some will not like its unique storytelling but I think it's original and it's definitely a crowd-pleaser. Overall, this is a fast-paced joy ride that is original and unique.
I should have known about this stupid movie. No one feels right in this. Neither Vince Vaughn nor Paul Giamatti nor Elizabeth Banks nor Ludacris nor Kevin Spacey nor Kathy Bates nor Rachel Weisz - do you get the picture here? No one feels right in a PG-rated, kiddie flick. There are some laughs from Vaughn and Giamatti but that's about it. Everything else is trash and a waste of all that good talent. Also, the whole "Nick Claus" being a huge, fat kid is just stupid and fake-looking. Maybe, just maybe, this could be a rent when it comes out next Christmas.
This movie is probably not for everyone. Its got that ridiculous, over-the-top humor being used more and more these days, but I like that. The movie was a good way to end the summer and I think most will enjoy this silly flick. But who is this Dan Fogler? He is actually pretty funny but I have never heard of him. Christopher Walken also gets laughs as the best part of the movie. You know he is having a good time but George Lopez is awful, as always. So rent it and laugh some.
I really don't know why mostly every critic is completely dissing Jumper. Yes, Hayden Christensen is a little unenthusiastic and yes, Sam Jackson has ridiculous white hair but who really cares. I mean, the movie is fun, energetic, fast-paced, and action-packed. You will probably have questions after leaving the theatre, though, about Agent Roland (Samuel Jackson's character) and the camera moves a little too fast for my tastes during action sequences, but all in all this is a great trip to the movies during a dreary February.