This movie is horribly cliched. And not in an enjoyable way either. I was sitting in the theatre and I could practically recite the movie…and I’ve never seen it before. Everybody knows the story of the liar with a heart of gold. The diamond in the rough. The little fish that could. Which makes the story re-used without any innovation…in other words: crap. They once again tried to create a movie for kids with adult humor (aka the Dreamworks success formula) but it didn’t work this time. And I laughed out loud. Several times. It’s a funny movie…but not a GOOD funny movie. Every single individual aspect of the film was great. The voice acting was superb and it was visually stunning. But like I said, Dreamworks was just churning out another film according to formula and that is never good for business. Or maybe it is…it just makes me … Continue reading →

This movie was wonderful, frightening, emotionally provocative and politically charged … and I loved every minute of it*. It not only has the knockout lead talent of Denzel Washington, Meryl Streep, Jon Voight and Liev Schrieber, but includes an ensemble cast that will have you going “Hey it’s that guy” every ten minutes (at least when you’re not trying to figure out the next plot twist). The individual performances are the big highlight of the film. Washington delivers his usual brilliance in the unusual package of the paranoid-driven Captain Ben Marco, ex-Army Ranger who has one dream, one nightmare of what really happened. Schrieber delivers the performance of his life as lifeless political puppet Raymond Shaw. Jon Voight plays one of the straighter men of the movie, but there is a lot of internal work going on and I applaud him for making the character as complex as it was. … Continue reading →

  Funny, funny stuff all over this movie. That would be the best description of this film. Only one joke wasn’t very funny because it was a Bush-bash, but I forgive them because it was such a funny, funny movie. The movie tells the story of one reporter’s discovery that men are no longer the dominant species…and the ensuing chaos. It’s the best of the 70’s and the revolution of the ladies. (If this is sounding really stupid, that’s because it is.) Brick Tamland: I’m Brick Tamland. People seem to like me because I am polite and I am rarely late. I enjoy ice cream and a nice pair of slacks. Years later, a doctor will tell me I have an I.Q. of 48 and that I am considered mentally retarded. Steve Carell is a funny, funny man. The usual gang is all here: Vince Vaughn, Luke Wilson and Ben … Continue reading →

This movie was fun. Almost as fun as Riddick. I really enjoyed the futuristic look and all the high tech equipment (parking garage and the freaking ROBOTS…they were awesome). People have complained about the cookie cutter plot, and how it’s really simplistic. I think they enhanced a simple plot (just like they did with Dodgeball) with elements of a mystery story. What I mean is the movie felt (especially through the music) like a mystery. The music, by the way, was great fun. Our hero has to figure out who killed Dr. Lanning (James Cromwell) but then there’s a twist, kind of thing. Will Smith and Bridget Moynahan were wonderful. Especially Will’s monologue about his robot paranoia. The special effects? Get out of here! They were awesome. Sonny’s performance rivals Gollum/Smeagol’s (they used the same technique, guy in a blue suit, with facial imitation). I really liked Sonny (he’s the … Continue reading →

Everybody knows that the underdog wins in the end and this movie is no exception. What sets it apart from the others is it’s comedy. They had me in the first 30 seconds. “We at Globo Gym know that fatness is genetic … like balding or necrophilia.” But that was just the beginning…the movie only got funnier. The tournament is hosted by the ADAA-The American Dodgeball Association…of America Stephen Root and Gary Cole back together again (Office Space), even if they never have a scene together, it’s a note-worthy affair Cameos included – Hank Azaria, Lance Armstrong, Chuck Norris, William Shatner, David Hasselhoff, and Lori Beth Denberg (the kid from All That) Vince Vaughn’s deadpan everyman played well against Ben Stiller’s psychotic exercise freak Pepper Brooks and Cotton McKnight – Gary Cole’s firm charm stands up well under Jason Bateman’s bouncy insanity The tournament is broadcast on ESPN 8, “The … Continue reading →

  This movie was really good. I kind of got lost in the details of the whole scenario (i.e. who’s what breed, who’s related to who), but the movie moved along fine without all those details (I just get stuck on details). One distinction that needs to be made now is that the movie is not an adaptation of T. H. White’s “The Once and Future King”, nor a re-telling of the Arthur legend, but the “real story” behind the legend. It’s the story of a half-Roman, half-British general named Arthur leading a group of Russian (Sarmatian) mercenaries in an epic battle against time and the unstoppable Germans (Saxons) who are invading Britain (for the first and only time). He does get help in the final battle from the Woads, who are basically all the ancient Celtic tribes mushed together for movie-goers sake (according to a Keira Knightley interview). Speaking … Continue reading →