Category: Reviews (Page 117 of 120)

One retard, two crooks, three geishas and a room full of gays

December 22, 2005 / Jason Zingale

With the holiday weekend fast approaching, movie studios are releasing their last batch of this year’s films. Among this week’s releases are Oscar hopefuls “Memoirs of a Geisha” and “The Producers,” the lighthearted comedy “The Ringer,” and the Jim Carrey/Tea Leoni comedy “Fun With Dick and Jane.” All four of these films are excellent holiday additions, but I wouldn’t expect anything more than a good time from any of them. Both “Memoirs” and “Producers” have grabbed a combined six Golden Globe nominations, but not nearly as many as most had anticipated, while “Brokeback Mountain,” which slowly opens wide over the next ten days, secured seven nominations.

Also in wide release (and opening Christmas Day) is the “The Graduate”-themed comedy “Rumor Has It…” and the Aussie horror flick “Wolf Creek.” Both the Steven Spielberg film “Munich” and the Heath Ledger STRAIGHT romance “Casanova” open in limited release, while Terrence Malick’s “The New World” debuts as a special extended cut of the film – the real version won’t be released for another two weeks while the director wraps up editing on the final product.

Movies, Reviews

“Serenity” is worth a look

December 22, 2005 / John Paulsen

I’ll admit, I was one of the few who watched “Firefly” when it was on, but I was lukewarm about the idea of the show moving to the big screen. How often does that happen, anyway? Cancelled shows just do not get made into movies. Hats off to creator Joss Whedon (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Angel”) and the show’s fans (called “browncoats”) for keeping the dream alive.

I just watched “Serenity” and it is a nice piece of sci-fi storytelling. For those that are worried about not having seen the TV show, stop…it really doesn’t matter. Whedon does a nice job of summarizing the situation and getting everyone up to speed. The bottom line is: if you like sci-fi, you’ll probably like this movie.

Action Movies, Movie DVDs, Movies, Reviews

DVD shuffle: 12/20/05

December 20, 2005 / Jason Zingale

Out on DVD this week:

1) Serenity – BUY: The best space movie since the original “Star Wars” trilogy, “Serenity” gave fans of the since-cancelled “Firefly” television series a chance to revisit their favorite stop in the Whedoneverse. It’s a real shame that no one else jumped on the train, because I would have like to have seen a TV rebirth, or at least a film sequel.

2) Four Brothers – BUY: John Singleton’s best film since his directorial debut, “Four Brothers” is very much an urban western. The film is certainly worth watching, but because of sub-par DVD special features, it’s hard to recommend buying this movie to just anyone. Proceed with caution.

3) Cry_Wolf – PASS: I don’t know if any slasher film victims have deserved dying more than the prep school students that make up the cast of “Cry_Wolf.” They’re all sadistic, bratty little high schoolers who think they’re better than everyone else, and they should have all died by the hands of their make-believe killer.

4) The Brothers Grimm – PASS: Terry Gilliam’s snorefest will have you sleeping within the hour, guaranteed!

Also new in stores is “The Exorcism of Emily Rose,” the Razzle-Dazzle Special Edition of “Chicago,” “The Great Raid,” and the frst half to season two of “Battlestar Galactica.”

Movie DVDs, Movies, Reviews

Plot Hole Police: “The Island”

December 19, 2005 / John Paulsen

I watched “The Island” this weekend and while I was pleasantly surprised by how compelling this Michael Bay-directed thriller was, there were a few glaring plot holes I’d like to discuss:

1. GPS: Lincoln (Ewan McGregor) leaves his room in the middle of the night. Considering how advanced the facility is, wouldn’t they have a GPS device inserted into each “product” for tracking purposes? This plot hole has a simple solution – have a scene where Lincoln digs the chip out of his shoulder.

2. The Key: To leave the facility, he uses the key that his supervisor gave him earlier that day. Wouldn’t the supervisor ask for that back? Would a supervisor in that environment really even loan a key like that to one of the products?

3. Contamination: When he left the facility earlier in the day to meet McCord (Buscemi) he had a contamination suit on. As he walks along, he just decides to take off the headpiece. At this point, he still thinks there is contamination outside, so what is he thinking?

4. Oblivious Truck Driver: During the impressive chase scene – where Lincoln and Jordan (Scarlett Johansson) jumped on the trailer of a semi – the giant dumbbells started to fall off the truck. Wouldn’t the driver of the truck notice that he is losing his whole load? We didn’t even get the requisite shot of the driver in the cab, barely paying attention as he drove.

5. Convenient Netting: Jordan and Lincoln fall off the building and are caught by some very convenient netting. The screenwriter missed an opportunity for a great line as the construction guy pulled the two out of the netting. He said “Jesus really loves you” (or something to that effect, indicating that the two were very lucky to survive the fall) – Jordan should have said, “Who’s Jesus?”

6. The Gun: After she was captured, how would Jordan be able to sneak a gun into the facility and why wouldn’t they have her restrained on the operating table?

7. The Doctor: Lincoln’s nemesis, Merrick (played by Sean Bean), is somehow the first to arrive in the turbine room where Lincoln is trying to shut down the hologram. I understand why he’s the first to arrive (so Lincoln and Merrick can square off, mono y mono) but there is no explanation whatsoever. This could have been remedied by having the tech (who notifies Merrick of Lincoln’s location) say, “He’s right by you – in the turbine room.”

Plot holes are generally an easy fix compared to how much enjoyment they suck out of the movie-going experience. You don’t want your audience rolling their eyes, or in my case pausing the DVD to ask their significant other about an oblivious truck driver. I’m always amazed that these plot holes exist in multi-million dollar movies. Couldn’t they pay someone (me) a hundred grand a year to make sure these movies make sense? I know my wife would appreciate it – I would stop pausing DVDs all the time.

Action Movies, Movies, Reviews

One giant-sized gorilla? Check. One dysfunctional family? Check. One very uneventful weekend? Check.

December 15, 2005 / Jason Zingale

With “King Kong” tearing up the box office as we speak, the only other new release this weekend is the comedy “The Family Stone,” and since most people will probably be out watching Jack Black and Naomi Watts tame the 8000-lbs. beast, those waiting for a better variety of holiday movies will have to wait one more weekend. Of course, both “Brokeback Mountain” and “The Producers” open in limited release tomorrow, but good luck finding a theater in your area that’s actually playing either one. Instead, locate a red marker and circle December 23rd on your calendar. That’s when you’ll get to see your movie, and NOT until then.

Movies, Reviews