Wednesday, November 23, 2005
In the Mix
Alien was diverted to the SF airport so he sent some critics-in-training to this movie featuring Usher, but the critics got turned away at the door because it was overbooked, so no review for this one. Sorry.
Alien was diverted to the SF airport so he sent some critics-in-training to this movie featuring Usher, but the critics got turned away at the door because it was overbooked, so no review for this one. Sorry.
Ice Harvest
Alien was diverted to the SF airport so he sent a couple of critics-in-training to this dark comedy starring John Cusack and Billy Bob Thorton.
One of my critics was disappointed in this "Pulp Fiction" meets "Grosse Pointe Blank" movie and didn't think it was that funny, but since she was a Cusack fan, gave it 1 ½ stars out of 4.
Here are comments from another of my critics. Charlie (John Cusack) is a lawyer for a mobster and decides to rob his client of $2.2 million dollars with a help of a friend and porn peddler Vic (Billy Bob Thornton). The two split up and decide to reunite later, but the lawyer is just too excited to hide what they have done and starts to do things out of character that is getting him noticed by some people and acquaintances and soon the news of the heist is spreading. It doesn't take long for some people to put 1 and 1 together and a hit man is searching for the two. What unfolds in this Fargo-like surrounding is somewhat pointless and sometimes funny. Charlie stays in Wichita and hangs around in a strip joint and runs into Pete (Oliver Platt) the drunken husband of his ex-wife, a gold digger . The joint is run by a Lauren Bacall look-alike or sound-alike that Charlie is interested in and soon she is 'interested' in Charlie after she figures out what is going on. Charlie and Pete team up by chance and find things in their life are not what they seems. Why Fargo-like...oh comedy, crime and snow.. and there's a police officer making 'some' near miss run-in's with Charlie. Gee, I wished I could had miss this movie.
2 stars out of 4.
Alien was diverted to the SF airport so he sent a couple of critics-in-training to this dark comedy starring John Cusack and Billy Bob Thorton.
One of my critics was disappointed in this "Pulp Fiction" meets "Grosse Pointe Blank" movie and didn't think it was that funny, but since she was a Cusack fan, gave it 1 ½ stars out of 4.
Here are comments from another of my critics. Charlie (John Cusack) is a lawyer for a mobster and decides to rob his client of $2.2 million dollars with a help of a friend and porn peddler Vic (Billy Bob Thornton). The two split up and decide to reunite later, but the lawyer is just too excited to hide what they have done and starts to do things out of character that is getting him noticed by some people and acquaintances and soon the news of the heist is spreading. It doesn't take long for some people to put 1 and 1 together and a hit man is searching for the two. What unfolds in this Fargo-like surrounding is somewhat pointless and sometimes funny. Charlie stays in Wichita and hangs around in a strip joint and runs into Pete (Oliver Platt) the drunken husband of his ex-wife, a gold digger . The joint is run by a Lauren Bacall look-alike or sound-alike that Charlie is interested in and soon she is 'interested' in Charlie after she figures out what is going on. Charlie and Pete team up by chance and find things in their life are not what they seems. Why Fargo-like...oh comedy, crime and snow.. and there's a police officer making 'some' near miss run-in's with Charlie. Gee, I wished I could had miss this movie.
2 stars out of 4.
Just Friends
Alien was diverted to the SF airport so he sent 2 young female critics-in-training to review this comedy. They liked this movie and rated it 3 stars out of 4.
Alien was diverted to the SF airport so he sent 2 young female critics-in-training to review this comedy. They liked this movie and rated it 3 stars out of 4.
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
Rent
It’s “Chorus Line” meets “Friends” meets “Philadelphia” in Jonathan Larson’s rock opera about a group of young struggling artists trying to survive and pay the rent in New York’s East Village. The group finds and loses love while enduring obstacles like poverty, eviction, drugs, and AIDS amidst director Chris Columbus’ gritty and graffiti-covered backdrop. If you liked the play, you’ll probably love this movie. Alien has never seen the play, but still thoroughly enjoyed this musical for its energy, choreography, and harmonies. It is young, raw, and edgy.
Alien gives it 3 ½ “La Boheme” stars out of 4.
It’s “Chorus Line” meets “Friends” meets “Philadelphia” in Jonathan Larson’s rock opera about a group of young struggling artists trying to survive and pay the rent in New York’s East Village. The group finds and loses love while enduring obstacles like poverty, eviction, drugs, and AIDS amidst director Chris Columbus’ gritty and graffiti-covered backdrop. If you liked the play, you’ll probably love this movie. Alien has never seen the play, but still thoroughly enjoyed this musical for its energy, choreography, and harmonies. It is young, raw, and edgy.
Alien gives it 3 ½ “La Boheme” stars out of 4.
Friday, November 18, 2005
Walk the Line
The man in black is back in a powerful film based on his own book. Undoubtedly, this movie will be compared to last year’s “Ray”. It’s built on the same template. Lots of people can imitate Ray Charles, but Joaquin Phoenix does an outstanding job capturing the mannerisms and the sound of Johnny Cash. Both he and Reese Witherspoon do their own singing and both are terrific. The film exposes the demons faced by Cash as he struggles to walk the line. The highlights are the musical performances. Alien thought they spent too much time on Cash's down side and could have shorten it to make room for 2 more musical numbers. Adding a polished version of "Folsom Prison Blues" near the end would have shown how far Cash had come and helped to climax the film.
Alien gives it 3 “burning ring of fire” stars out of 4.
The man in black is back in a powerful film based on his own book. Undoubtedly, this movie will be compared to last year’s “Ray”. It’s built on the same template. Lots of people can imitate Ray Charles, but Joaquin Phoenix does an outstanding job capturing the mannerisms and the sound of Johnny Cash. Both he and Reese Witherspoon do their own singing and both are terrific. The film exposes the demons faced by Cash as he struggles to walk the line. The highlights are the musical performances. Alien thought they spent too much time on Cash's down side and could have shorten it to make room for 2 more musical numbers. Adding a polished version of "Folsom Prison Blues" near the end would have shown how far Cash had come and helped to climax the film.
Alien gives it 3 “burning ring of fire” stars out of 4.
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Yours, Mine, and Ours
The number of kids in this blended family is twice the size of that “Brady Bunch”, six times “My Three Sons”, and fifty percent more than “Cheaper by the Dozen”. Based on a real family situation, this is a remake of the 1968 Henry Fonda/Lucille Ball film of the same name. His family is a tight ship run by naval regulations and hers is a free-spirited and easy-going group. Can they all be one happy family under one roof? It’s kind of “Parent Trap” in reverse, where the kids try to split the parents apart instead of getting them together. It is very sugary and predictable, but it is still good clean family fun.
Alien gives it 2 ½ “opposites attract” stars out of 4.
The number of kids in this blended family is twice the size of that “Brady Bunch”, six times “My Three Sons”, and fifty percent more than “Cheaper by the Dozen”. Based on a real family situation, this is a remake of the 1968 Henry Fonda/Lucille Ball film of the same name. His family is a tight ship run by naval regulations and hers is a free-spirited and easy-going group. Can they all be one happy family under one roof? It’s kind of “Parent Trap” in reverse, where the kids try to split the parents apart instead of getting them together. It is very sugary and predictable, but it is still good clean family fun.
Alien gives it 2 ½ “opposites attract” stars out of 4.
Friday, November 11, 2005
Derailed
Two beautiful people (Clive Owen and Jennifer Aniston) meet on a commuter train, become attracted to each other, and begin an illicit liaison. Then they get caught up in a nightmare and things start to get ugly, unpleasant, and rather mean. The plot seems to be spinning its wheels and going nowhere. Then suddenly, WHAM! Alien felt derailed. What hit me? Why didn’t I see it coming? The movie got much better after that.
Alien gives it 2 ½ “sidetracked” stars out of 4.
Two beautiful people (Clive Owen and Jennifer Aniston) meet on a commuter train, become attracted to each other, and begin an illicit liaison. Then they get caught up in a nightmare and things start to get ugly, unpleasant, and rather mean. The plot seems to be spinning its wheels and going nowhere. Then suddenly, WHAM! Alien felt derailed. What hit me? Why didn’t I see it coming? The movie got much better after that.
Alien gives it 2 ½ “sidetracked” stars out of 4.
Wednesday, November 09, 2005
Zathura
It’s “Jumanji” meets “Lost in Space” in this action adventure thriller geared towards boys, but it’s still a lot of fun for others. This movie is about two brothers who constantly annoy each other and can’t seem to get along, but a magical board game brings them back together. These two young actors are charming and are the key to making the plot work. They capture the older brother vs. younger brother relationship. It’s not made for adults, but it’s still fun to feel like a kid again. Beware of the Zargons!
Alien gives it 3 ”brotherhood of the traveling house” stars out of 4.
It’s “Jumanji” meets “Lost in Space” in this action adventure thriller geared towards boys, but it’s still a lot of fun for others. This movie is about two brothers who constantly annoy each other and can’t seem to get along, but a magical board game brings them back together. These two young actors are charming and are the key to making the plot work. They capture the older brother vs. younger brother relationship. It’s not made for adults, but it’s still fun to feel like a kid again. Beware of the Zargons!
Alien gives it 3 ”brotherhood of the traveling house” stars out of 4.
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
Pride and Prejudice
The title should give you a clue to the theme of this Jane Austen novel. If you like period pieces and romance novels, you may enjoy this humorous story of love and life in the 18th century. This movie examines class-conscious England through the eyes of the Bennet family, who hope to find husbands for the five sisters and secure their futures. The Bennets are fun to watch, especially the mother (Brenda Blethyn) and her girls (Keira Knightley and company).
Alien gives it 2 ½ “battle of the sexes” stars out of 4.
The title should give you a clue to the theme of this Jane Austen novel. If you like period pieces and romance novels, you may enjoy this humorous story of love and life in the 18th century. This movie examines class-conscious England through the eyes of the Bennet family, who hope to find husbands for the five sisters and secure their futures. The Bennets are fun to watch, especially the mother (Brenda Blethyn) and her girls (Keira Knightley and company).
Alien gives it 2 ½ “battle of the sexes” stars out of 4.
Monday, November 07, 2005
Get Rich or Die Tryin’
Rapper 50 Cent asks himself the question “Who’s your daddy?” in this autobiographical story where “The Godfather” meets “Hustle and Flow”. Director Jim Sheridan paints a powerful and gripping picture about how a boy grows up, takes the wrong path in life, and then realizes he must change his ways. Sheridan creates some memorable moments; some are very shocking and violent. Terrence Howard is again terrific, 50 Cent is a natural, and the supporting cast is very good. Rated “R” for drugs, language, violence, and nudity.
Alien gives it 3 ½ “Gangsta Rap” stars out of 4.
Rapper 50 Cent asks himself the question “Who’s your daddy?” in this autobiographical story where “The Godfather” meets “Hustle and Flow”. Director Jim Sheridan paints a powerful and gripping picture about how a boy grows up, takes the wrong path in life, and then realizes he must change his ways. Sheridan creates some memorable moments; some are very shocking and violent. Terrence Howard is again terrific, 50 Cent is a natural, and the supporting cast is very good. Rated “R” for drugs, language, violence, and nudity.
Alien gives it 3 ½ “Gangsta Rap” stars out of 4.
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
Chicken Little
The classic children’s story about “the sky is falling” is cleverly retold as “ET” meets “War of the Worlds” in this animated tale from Disney. The jokes and visuals are terrific for the young and old. The creators poke fun at “Indiana Jones and the Lost Ark”, “King Kong”, “Dodge Ball”, “Star Trek”, karaoke, and Mickey Mouse. The hero, Chicken Little, uses his smarts to compensate for being vertically-challenged. Two of his very funny friends are Fish-Out-Of-Water and Runt-Of-The-Litter. This hilarious film also makes fun of those movies that are based on true stories. Along the way, a few characters get zapped by ray guns, but don’t worry, because no animals were harmed during the making of this movie.
Alien gives it 4 “you got to believe” stars out of 4.
The classic children’s story about “the sky is falling” is cleverly retold as “ET” meets “War of the Worlds” in this animated tale from Disney. The jokes and visuals are terrific for the young and old. The creators poke fun at “Indiana Jones and the Lost Ark”, “King Kong”, “Dodge Ball”, “Star Trek”, karaoke, and Mickey Mouse. The hero, Chicken Little, uses his smarts to compensate for being vertically-challenged. Two of his very funny friends are Fish-Out-Of-Water and Runt-Of-The-Litter. This hilarious film also makes fun of those movies that are based on true stories. Along the way, a few characters get zapped by ray guns, but don’t worry, because no animals were harmed during the making of this movie.
Alien gives it 4 “you got to believe” stars out of 4.
