Friday, October 29, 2004
Saw
Adam and Larry wake up chained to opposite ends of a rundown, abandoned bathroom with a body in the middle lying in a pool of blood. Thus begins the sick game set in motion by a serial killer dubbed "Jigsaw". The clues are dealt out slowly. It's a game of many twists and turns. The timer is set and a wife and child are threatened. Why were these 2 men brought together? Will they live or die? Do you think you are clever enough to identify "Jigsaw" before the end of the movie? Rated "R" for the twisted, sadistic scenes of violence and grisly torture engineered by "Jigsaw". Some scenes are hard to watch, but Alien loves a good mystery.
Alien gives it 2 ½ "who-done-it" stars out of 4.
Adam and Larry wake up chained to opposite ends of a rundown, abandoned bathroom with a body in the middle lying in a pool of blood. Thus begins the sick game set in motion by a serial killer dubbed "Jigsaw". The clues are dealt out slowly. It's a game of many twists and turns. The timer is set and a wife and child are threatened. Why were these 2 men brought together? Will they live or die? Do you think you are clever enough to identify "Jigsaw" before the end of the movie? Rated "R" for the twisted, sadistic scenes of violence and grisly torture engineered by "Jigsaw". Some scenes are hard to watch, but Alien loves a good mystery.
Alien gives it 2 ½ "who-done-it" stars out of 4.
Wednesday, October 27, 2004
Ray
Wow! Not only is Jamie Foxx outstanding as Ray Charles, but he is surrounded by an impressive cast of supporting actors. This well-crafted film pulls no punches as it depicts the colorful and extraordinary life of Ray Charles. Along with his musical success, his struggles with drug addiction and womanizing are portrayed. The memorable songs of Ray Charles are cleverly blended into the story lines. This is an engrossing film about the journey of blind man, a black man, making his way to success in the real world. This is a fantastic movie and tribute to an American music legend. Go see "Ray". Enjoy the music. Enjoy the story. Enjoy the man.
Alien gives it 4 moonlight sonata stars out of 4.
Wow! Not only is Jamie Foxx outstanding as Ray Charles, but he is surrounded by an impressive cast of supporting actors. This well-crafted film pulls no punches as it depicts the colorful and extraordinary life of Ray Charles. Along with his musical success, his struggles with drug addiction and womanizing are portrayed. The memorable songs of Ray Charles are cleverly blended into the story lines. This is an engrossing film about the journey of blind man, a black man, making his way to success in the real world. This is a fantastic movie and tribute to an American music legend. Go see "Ray". Enjoy the music. Enjoy the story. Enjoy the man.
Alien gives it 4 moonlight sonata stars out of 4.
Friday, October 22, 2004
The Grudge
"The Grudge" is an English-language remake of the Japanese horror thriller "Ju-On" with the same director, Takashi Shimizu, at the helm.
What do you get when you combine Japan, a sick old lady, her nurse, a black cat, a mysterious little boy, a journal, creaky-squeaky sounds, Sarah Michelle Gellar, and a haunted house? Just in time for Halloween, this is a creepy and scary film about a murderous supernatural curse born from a grudge held by someone who died angry. This curse passes like a virus to the victims who have entered the unlucky house. Just hang on to your seat because sometimes you will see it coming and sometimes you won't.
Alien gives it 3 jump-out-of-your-seat stars out of 4.
"The Grudge" is an English-language remake of the Japanese horror thriller "Ju-On" with the same director, Takashi Shimizu, at the helm.
What do you get when you combine Japan, a sick old lady, her nurse, a black cat, a mysterious little boy, a journal, creaky-squeaky sounds, Sarah Michelle Gellar, and a haunted house? Just in time for Halloween, this is a creepy and scary film about a murderous supernatural curse born from a grudge held by someone who died angry. This curse passes like a virus to the victims who have entered the unlucky house. Just hang on to your seat because sometimes you will see it coming and sometimes you won't.
Alien gives it 3 jump-out-of-your-seat stars out of 4.
Thursday, October 21, 2004
Surviving Christmas
"Surviving Christmas" is not that bad, but it isn't that good either.
It's "Dickie Roberts" meets "Meet the Parents" trying to be a Christmas time favorite. Ben Affleck is a rich, lonely guy trying to recreate fond childhood Christmas memories by paying complete strangers (James Gandolfini, Catherine O'Hare, Christina Applegate, and Bill Macy) to be his family for the holidays. The movie is predictable like a television network sitcom. For the price of theater admission these days, Alien expected better. (I could have stayed home and seen the same quality for free, but then again, this sneak preview was for free.) Also, something just seems wrong about opening a Christmas film a week before Halloween. Alien did sense the audience enjoying the movie more than he did. Maybe they were Affleck fans.
Alien gives it 1 ½ ho-ho-ho-hum stars out of 4.
"Surviving Christmas" is not that bad, but it isn't that good either.
It's "Dickie Roberts" meets "Meet the Parents" trying to be a Christmas time favorite. Ben Affleck is a rich, lonely guy trying to recreate fond childhood Christmas memories by paying complete strangers (James Gandolfini, Catherine O'Hare, Christina Applegate, and Bill Macy) to be his family for the holidays. The movie is predictable like a television network sitcom. For the price of theater admission these days, Alien expected better. (I could have stayed home and seen the same quality for free, but then again, this sneak preview was for free.) Also, something just seems wrong about opening a Christmas film a week before Halloween. Alien did sense the audience enjoying the movie more than he did. Maybe they were Affleck fans.
Alien gives it 1 ½ ho-ho-ho-hum stars out of 4.
Thursday, October 14, 2004
Mr. 3000
(This is not a sneak preview, but a review of movie already released)
Bernie Mac is perfect as Mr. 3000, an arrogant, self-absorbed major league baseball player who quits his team before the end of the season once he achieves 3,000 hits in his career. He retires at his peak, thinking his performance will get him into the hall of fame. However, nine years later, his remarkable feat is discovered to be 3 hits short and thus begins his return to baseball. Bernie discovers how to be a better person and helps his team win games. Can you predict the outcome?
Alien gives it 3 root-root-root-for-the-home-team stars out of 4.
(This is not a sneak preview, but a review of movie already released)
Bernie Mac is perfect as Mr. 3000, an arrogant, self-absorbed major league baseball player who quits his team before the end of the season once he achieves 3,000 hits in his career. He retires at his peak, thinking his performance will get him into the hall of fame. However, nine years later, his remarkable feat is discovered to be 3 hits short and thus begins his return to baseball. Bernie discovers how to be a better person and helps his team win games. Can you predict the outcome?
Alien gives it 3 root-root-root-for-the-home-team stars out of 4.
Wednesday, October 13, 2004
Shall We Dance
A remake of a Japanese movie about a man who spontaneously takes up dance lessons starring Richard Gere, Jennifer Lopez, and Susan Sarandon.
Alien didn't actually see this movie yet, but sent representatives in my place to the sneak preview.
Chicks said it was a lot funnier than she expected and even her boyfriend liked it.
Boyfriend gives it 2 ½ stars out of 4.
Chicks gives it 3 stars out or 4.
A remake of a Japanese movie about a man who spontaneously takes up dance lessons starring Richard Gere, Jennifer Lopez, and Susan Sarandon.
Alien didn't actually see this movie yet, but sent representatives in my place to the sneak preview.
Chicks said it was a lot funnier than she expected and even her boyfriend liked it.
Boyfriend gives it 2 ½ stars out of 4.
Chicks gives it 3 stars out or 4.
Team America: World Police
An organization of special forces agents from the United States must save the world from terrorists and weapons of mass destruction.
However, this spoof on American patriotism and America's role as a world leader is brought to you by the creators of "South Park" and performed by marionettes. It pokes fun of Bruckheimer-blow-them-up style action movies, the United Nations, actors who are political activists, "Star Wars", James Bond, "Star Trek", and more. See Paris, Cairo, New York City, Mount Rushmore, India, and North Korea, all, in miniature. See puppets fight, dance, cry, and perform various sex acts. This cheesy puppet show is not for kids. It is rated "R" for over-the-top gross puppet violence as well as extreme sexual content and language that only puppets could get away with. This rude, crude satire is not for the easily offended, but it is very funny in a sick, demented way. A guilty pleasure for adults only.
Alien gives it 2 ½ Howdy-Doody-For-Adults stars out of 4.
An organization of special forces agents from the United States must save the world from terrorists and weapons of mass destruction.
However, this spoof on American patriotism and America's role as a world leader is brought to you by the creators of "South Park" and performed by marionettes. It pokes fun of Bruckheimer-blow-them-up style action movies, the United Nations, actors who are political activists, "Star Wars", James Bond, "Star Trek", and more. See Paris, Cairo, New York City, Mount Rushmore, India, and North Korea, all, in miniature. See puppets fight, dance, cry, and perform various sex acts. This cheesy puppet show is not for kids. It is rated "R" for over-the-top gross puppet violence as well as extreme sexual content and language that only puppets could get away with. This rude, crude satire is not for the easily offended, but it is very funny in a sick, demented way. A guilty pleasure for adults only.
Alien gives it 2 ½ Howdy-Doody-For-Adults stars out of 4.
Thursday, October 07, 2004
Taxi
Lighten up Roger, "Taxi" is a cartoon! It is played for cheap laughs. Nothing is supposed to be really plausible in the script, just fun to watch. Queen Latifah is a New York City cabbie/wantabe NASCAR driver. Her souped up cab puts Bond's Aston Martin to shame. Jimmy Fallon is the bumbling cop who can't drive. It is "Collateral" all over again. Buckle up for this crazy thrill ride with chase and crash scenes ala Roadrunner and Wiley Coyote. Oh yeah... and toss in four gorgeous super model bank robbers. Fallon and Latifah look like they are having fun during the movie; too bad Roger didn't. Check you mind in at the door and enjoy. That's all folks.
Alien gives it 2 ½ catch-a-Fallon stars out of 4.
Lighten up Roger, "Taxi" is a cartoon! It is played for cheap laughs. Nothing is supposed to be really plausible in the script, just fun to watch. Queen Latifah is a New York City cabbie/wantabe NASCAR driver. Her souped up cab puts Bond's Aston Martin to shame. Jimmy Fallon is the bumbling cop who can't drive. It is "Collateral" all over again. Buckle up for this crazy thrill ride with chase and crash scenes ala Roadrunner and Wiley Coyote. Oh yeah... and toss in four gorgeous super model bank robbers. Fallon and Latifah look like they are having fun during the movie; too bad Roger didn't. Check you mind in at the door and enjoy. That's all folks.
Alien gives it 2 ½ catch-a-Fallon stars out of 4.
Wednesday, October 06, 2004
Friday Night Lights
The time is 1988. The place is Odessa, Texas, where high school football is king from September to December. The team is the Permian Panthers. This movie is filled with hard-hitting, bone-crushing scenes of thrilling football footage. However, it is more than that. It is also about a small dusty west Texas town and its people who support the local team in its struggle to compete for a state championship. The final game has a nail biting ending. This film is not only inspirational, but also based on a true story.
Alien gives it 3 All American football stars out of 4.
The time is 1988. The place is Odessa, Texas, where high school football is king from September to December. The team is the Permian Panthers. This movie is filled with hard-hitting, bone-crushing scenes of thrilling football footage. However, it is more than that. It is also about a small dusty west Texas town and its people who support the local team in its struggle to compete for a state championship. The final game has a nail biting ending. This film is not only inspirational, but also based on a true story.
Alien gives it 3 All American football stars out of 4.
