The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008)

When I first saw the trailer for this film, I honestly was not very excited about it. It looked like another attempt by Hollywood to cash in on an original idea from over fifty years ago because they cannot create anything new. In a way, it is that, but it is still quite watchable and entertaining. This is one film where its only dominant feature is the spectacle, and with its interesting use of special effects mixed with human emotion and relationships it is somewhat successful. Of course, there are several ways that the film could be greatly improved. Sadly, Kathy Bates was terrible (which I hate saying, as I love her in nearly everything she has ever done) and seemed like she was reading from a script with no emotion whatsoever. This definitely seems like a paycheck film for her. 

Keanu Reeves, Jennifer Connelly, and Jaden Smith were all quite good in their roles, particularly Connelly. Reeves was simply acting the same way he always does, which is not necessarily a bad thing, and Smith was excellent in his role as Connelly's stepson. Connelly, who is one of my favorite actresses today, turned in a solid performance, a bit below her normal standards, but quality none the less. John Cleese had a great part that he filled with all the zest and emotion that he always musters. 

For those of you who haven't seen the original film on which this one was based (myself included, sadly), the story focuses on Helen Benson and her stepson Jacob as the Earth is seemingly invaded by large galactic balls of light, and a large robot-like machine. Benson is a scientist of some sort, and is called in to assess the situation to determine if the Earth is in any danger. When she is approached by an intergalactic being, the creature is shot, and morphs into Keanu Reeve's Klaatu. Once Klaatu has escaped from the government holding facility, he seeks out Helen to inform her that he came to save the Earth. From what you might ask? Well, you'll have to see the film, as this revelation occurs late in the plot. 

Overall, this film was quite enjoyable, and with its 1 Hour and 43 minute running time, it was not overly long like some invasion films made recently. With its decent special effects, this one is just a fun night at the movies. Although it is not moving, or particularly meaningful, The Day the Earth Stood Still knows that its simply an invasion film, and it doesn't pretend to be anything that its not. 

My Grade: B-

Release Date: November 12, 2008

Running time: 1 Hour 43 Minutes

Rating: PG-13 for some sci-fi disaster images and violence

Director: Scott Derrickson

Twilight

Having finished the 1st Twilight book by Stephanie Meyer at around midnight on Monday evening, I wanted to see the movie as soon as I could. I'd heard very mixed reviews, some claiming it to be the worst thing ever (mostly my friends that were hard core in love with the book) and some saying it was awesome (mostly my friends that haven't read the book). When literary adaptations come out, its hard not to hold their book up to them and judge them critically. Since the Harry Potter films, I have become better at lowering my expectations so that I am not disappointed in the film based on my favorite book. If you are going to see this film, be sure to go in expecting that it isn't going to be the next Casablanca or Citizen Kane. I went into the theatre just to be entertained, and just to see what the characters I had been reading about would look like in real life.

I'm sure everyone and their cousin is aware about what the Twilight book series is about by now, so I'm not going to dwell on summary this whole time. But for those of you who are out of the loop, girl meets boy, boy's a vampire, you get the rest. Meyer's take on the vampire world is very interesting as it shelves most of the general "vampire rules" and creates its own. For example, a stake, garlic, sunlight, etc. are not effective killers of vampires in this series. Long gone are the days of Buffy when you had to invite a vampire in for them to be able to enter your house. Edward (Robert Pattinson) is able to sneak into Bella's (Kristen Stewart) room without any difficulty.

I was a little nervous that the filmmakers would destroy the characters that I had developed in my head by casting people that were completely wrong in their roles. In most cases, I was pleasantly surprised. Edward and Bella were cast well. Stewart was good in her role that rivals her role in In the Land of Women in its level of teen angst. Now, to analyze the Cullen family... Let's begin with the parent figures. Carlisle (Peter Fasinelli) looked like the creepiest Ken doll that you could ever find, as his face looked like it was made of plastic: rather creepy, actually. For those of you that watch Grey's Anatomy, you'll recognize the woman who plays Esme (Elizabeth Reaser) as the dreadful Grey's character Jane Doe. I didn't like her on that show, and I don't like her in this film, as she is completely inappropriate for Esme. Alice (Ashley Greene) was casted perfectly. She was my favorite Cullen sibling while reading the book, and she is certainly my favorite in the film. Kellen Lutz does a good job at playing Emmet, while Nikki Reed was effective at playing the bitchy sister Rosalie, and finally Jackson Rathbone was actually quite good at expressing Jasper's inner turmoil as he tries to abstain from drinking the blood of every human teenager that he crosses. 

Just like in the book, it takes a while to get to the action in this film. I'm not saying that the first 3/4 of the film is boring, it just focuses on the developing relationship between Bella and Edward. For some of you out there (who haven't read the book) you might want to avoid this film, as much of it is just one angty teen scene after another. Adding more to the awkwardness are the terrible angles and one liners that fill scenes that are supposed to be sensual and romantic. Perhaps the second movie could be better if a new director, one who knows how to set up a scene without making it one ridiculous extreme long shot after another. Personally, however, I enjoyed this movie as much as I could. It's not perfect (but what film is?), but its entertaining. And isn't that all one can ask for when going to the movies?

My Grade: B

Release Date: November 21, 2008

Rating: PG-13 for some violence and a scene of sensuality.

Running Time: 2 hr. 2 min.

Director: Catherine Hardwicke

Blast From the Past: In the Land of Women

Meg Ryan has always been one of my favorite actresses. I loved her in You've Got Mail, Joe Versus the Volcano, and virtually everything she has ever done. When I saw that she was coming out with a new movie, I was more than excited. In the Land of Women is an interesting look into the lives of several people who live in a small Michigan suburb.

Carter (Adam Brody), who happens to write scripts for pornos, has just been dumped by his famous actress/model girlfriend, and decides to go live with his grandmother in Michigan to get over it. His grandmother (Olympia Dukakis) is constantly thinking that she is dying, and is always trying to convince Carter that any minute could be her last. Sarah (played to absolute perfection by Meg Ryan), the woman from across the street, soon comes over to welcome Carter to the neighborhood, and the two become friends. The pair begin to take walks where Carter tells Sarah everything about his painful breakup while she tells him how her daughter resents her. 

Sarah's daughter Lucy (Kristin Stewart) is the usual angsty teen girl, who's life is filled to the brim with regular, and some not-so-regular, teenage drama. Her boyfriend, the quarterback, is a total jerk and she thinks her mother doesn't care for her at all. When it is discovered that Sarah has breast cancer, Lucy must face her issues with her mother in order to show her that she loves her. 

Overall, this movie is quite good. Meg Ryan is truly spectacular, and so is her material. The mistake that this film made, however, was shifting its focus from Sarah to Lucy. There have been so many teen movies that have dealt with the same thing, but Sarah's character (due to Meg Ryan) was incredibly original and well-developed. If the story had focused more on the friendship that developed between Carter and Sarah, the film would have been much more effective. Stewart does do a pretty good job with her material, but the applause must be given to Ryan for her exceptional performance. As usual, Adam Brody is his normal cynical and sarcastic self, but his scenes with Meg Ryan were quite good. If you are up for a dramatic film that deals with some of life's greatest challenges, then this one's for you.

My Grade: B- (A+ for Meg Ryan's scenes)

Release Date: April 20, 2007

Rating: PG-13 for sexual content, thematic elements and language.

Running Time: 1 hr. 37 min.

Director: Jon Kasdan

Australia

First of all, I would just like to say how much I love all of Baz Luhrmann's films. I have always been a fan of Moulin Rouge and Romeo and Juliet. This visionary director always puts his own personal touch on each of his films, and the finished product is always nothing short of spectacular. When I first saw the trailer for this film, I was incredibly excited to see what Luhrmann had concocted this time, and he certainly did not disappoint. 

There is one word to describe everything that this film is: Epic. It is truly epic in every sense of the word, with its vast setting, its wonderful actors, its lush costumes, and its consuming score. Coming in at just a fifteen minutes short of three hours, its also epic in length. This is truly a love letter to the grandeur of classic cinema. Luhrmann is well known for including incredible production value in each of his films, and Australia is no different. 

The film begins by telling the tale of how the white man is constantly trying to claim the land that was once owned by the indigenous aboriginal people. The young voice that is informing us of his country's history is that of Nullah, the grandson of aboriginal leader King George. After the brief history lesson, the action begins as King George is blamed for the death of a British rancher. Unbeknownst that the murdered man was her husband, Lady Sarah Ashley (played wonderfully by Nicole Kidman) travels to Australia to sell the ranch, and swiftly return to England. 

Against her original plan, however, Sarah becomes attached to the people that live on the ranch, young Nullah in particular. Nullah's mother is killed early on, and Sarah feels that she must take care of the boy, and protect him from the police of the region who set out to arrest children of his kind. He is the son of a white man and an aboriginal woman, which was an illegal act at the time. Race relations play a big part of this film, and the selfless acts of certain individuals help to prove that race is unimportant, and that every one is equal. 

When the ranch is in danger of being bought by the corrupt businessman that owns all of the ranches except Sarah's, she seeks out Drover (Hugh Jackman) to help her save her land. In order to do so, Drover, Sarah, and the inhabitants of the ranch must drive 2,000 cattle over hundreds of miles of treacherous and merciless land to Darwin. This all leads up to the imminent bombing of Darwin by the Japanese that helped initiate WWII. 

This film provides a very interesting look at the early beginnings of WWII without being a typical war movie. It is first and foremost a tale of love and compassion, with war-like violence taking the back burner. With its impressive scope and incredible detail, Australia is a wonderful film that should not be missed.

My Grade: B+

Release Date: November 26, 2008

Rating: PG-13 for some violence, a scene of sensuality, and brief strong language.

Running Time: 2 hr. 45 min.

Director: Baz Luhrmann

Blast From the Past: Love Actually

It's that time of year again. Christmas is just around the corner. So, I've already begun to bust out my favorite holiday movies that I watch every year. It's just like my horror movie cycles that happen every Halloween, but without the blood and gore. That being said, of course, there are an equal amount of made-for-TV Christmas movies that have become a Holiday staple in my household. Love Actually is one that my friends got me started on a couple of years ago, and it has become one of my favorite films to watch any time of year. In essence, it really isn't a "Christmas" movie, but several love stories that occur at Christmas time. In my opiniong, it has certainly upstaged and overpowered the other films by its writer (Notting Hill, Bridget Jones' Diary, etc.). 

It's Christmas in 2003, and love is all around. Through its series of love stories that are all somehow connected, writer and director Richard Curtis creates a truly special film that will be around for ages. There are too many characters and plots to discuss here, but they add up to make the film all the more enjoyable and interesting. As the DVD case says, this is "The Ultimate Romantic Comedy." That does not mean that it is a sappy mess. It is hilarious throughout, and will entertain anyone who watches it. Personally, my favorite character is Billy Mack, played to hilarious perfection by Bill Nighy). Nighy plays an aged rock star who is trying to recapture his once-popular image in a world of hip boy bands. 

The phenomenal ensemble cast that populates this spectacular film includes a legendary cast: Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, Keira Knightly, Laura Linney, Rowan Atkinson, and Billy Bob Thorton (who plays a very humorous spoof of President George W. Bush). The cast work extremely well together and develop a highly complex plot which utilizes their individual talents and skills as actors. Another highly effective tactic used by the filmmakers is the interesting soundtrack. The tracks range from Christmas songs to classics from Motown. 

Whether you like romantic comedies or not, Love Actually is definitely a must-see as it provides a hilarious look at relationships. The great cast and script make for a film which will be remembered for a long time. This heart-felt story deserves its place among the Christmas classics that have preceded it.

My Grade: A

Release Date: November 14, 2003

Rating: R for sexuality, nudity and language.

Running Time: 135 min.

Director: Richard Curtis

Blast From the Past: The Triplets of Belleville

I've passed by this interesting looking film at the video store several times in the past few years, picked it up, and put it back down. I am very glad that I finally did watch it. It is unlike any animated film I have ever seen before. Leave all of your Disney expectation at the door, as it breaks away from nearly all Disney narrative devices to present a truly unique and visionary story. 

The film starts out with a flashback of the Triplets' popular vaudeville act. After this, the story switches to that of a young boy and his mother as she buys him his first bike. The young boy then turns into the professional cyclist who is kidnapped by two incredibly square-shouldered mafia henchmen. The story then really gets going as the mother follows her son across the sea to the metropolis of Belleville, where her son is being used by the mafia in a dangerous gambling race. With the help of her faithful dog, and the Triplets of Belleville, the mother is able to sneak into the Mafia underground to attempt to rescue her son. 

This film, with its incredibly innovative and unique animation and its glorious soundtrack, is very entertaining and often very humorous. This, however, is not a cartoon for children, as it contains scenes of nudity and violence. But for the adult viewer, you would be hard pressed to find a more entertaining animated film. Definitely recommended.

My Grade: A-

Release Date: June 11, 2003

Rating: PG-13 for images involving sensuality, violence and crude humor

Running Time: 80 min.

Director: Sylvain Chomet

Zack and Miri Make a Porno

Like the red band trailer above displays, this film is full of sexual humor and foul language from beginning to end. But, I have not laughed this hard at the movies in a long time. The newest work from Kevin Smith, best known for Clerks, Chasing Amy, and Dogma, has had the public's eye on it since the title was released. Controversy has surrounded this film, and it was even banned in some towns. What can you expect from an R-rated sex comedy with the word porn in the title? Unlike some of Hollywood's recent comedies, Zack and Miri has a heart beneath its obscene surface. 

For followers of Smith's work, Zack and Miri makes a welcome addition to the foul-mouthed but big hearted films that have preceded it. That's not to say that it is a better film than his previous, but it is equal in the laugh arena. Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks star in the title roles of Zack and Miri, while the supporting characters are filled with hilarious cast members that almost surpass the main pair comedically. Craig Robinson (Darryl from The Office), Jason Mewes (Jay from Jay and Silent Bob), Jeff Anderson (Randal from Clerks), Justin Long (Accepted, Waiting...), and a ton of others are absolutely hilarious in their small roles. 

So, what is this movie about, you might ask? Well, the title practically sums it all up. Zack and Miri have a ton of bills to pay, and no money to do it with, so they set out to make a porno. With the help of their friends, and a small cast, the pair start out to film Star Whores, a "re-imagining" of Star Wars. Disaster soon strikes, however, as their set, along with all of the costumes and equipment. 

With all of their hard work wasted, the group decide to film their movie in the coffeehouse where Zack works. This plot twist may quite possibly even be funnier than the Star Wars-themed porno plot. As the filming progresses, the scene where Zack and Miri are supposed to have sex nears. Will the pair be able to set aside over twenty years of friendship in order to have sex on camera for money? 

This film is absolutely hilarious! That being said, however, the title obviously suggests that it contains highly offensive material that will make even the most raunchiest individual blush. So, if you find yourself to be on the more conservative side, avoid this film at all costs, as it will just upset you and may even cause you to riot. For those viewers that are uninhibited in their moviegoing, or just love a good raunchy laugh, then this one is for you. 

My Grade: B+

Release Date: October 31, 2008

Rating: R for strong crude sexual content including dialogue, graphic nudity, and pervasive language

Running Time: 101 min.

Director: Kevin Smith

Saw V

Over the past five years, Halloween has become synonymous with the release of the newest Saw film. The incredibly violent films started out as an incredibly suspenseful, well-written, and authentically terrifying experience that was not to be missed. The first Saw introduced us to Jigsaw, and showed us his warped sense of morality and how he taught his "lessons." Since that excellent film, and the exceptional sequel that followed, the series, since its third release, has continued to dwindle and spiral downwards towards the pointless and utterly disgusting.

Saw V, although not all together horrible, was obviously released just to cash in on the series' target audience that have shelled out the cash to see their favorite "non-killer" traumatize his victims in vicious traps. After the end of the third film, it was difficult to imagine how the series could possibly continue, but through the use of flashback and the introduction of a new accomplice, Jigsaw's work was able to continue for another two movies. In this film, the last living detective that was assigned to the original Jigsaw Case, Agent Strahm, is captured and put into one of the traps. Through great luck and ingenuity Strahm is able to escape from the trap, to tell that, although Jigsaw is dead, someone is continuing his work. He also believes that it is an inside job. The audience is fully aware of the newcomer's identity at the end of the fourth film, so there really is no mystery surrounding the detective's search. 

Also, the traps in this film are rather lackluster, and are not as clever as those from the past. Personally, my standards were set higher with the hair trap from the fourth film. These traps seem rather basic. You may recall the slogan from the trailer or poster, "You won't believe how it ends." That may have been true for films one and two, but this ending, although a tad unexpected, was nothing out of the ordinary, especially for a series that is well known for its plot twists. For fans of the series, this will obviously be a must-see. For everyone else, just re-watch Saw 1 and 2. 

My Grade: C-

Release Date: October 24, 2008

Rating: R for sequences of grisly bloody violence and torture, language and brief nudity.

Running Time: 92 min.

Director: David Hackl

Role Models

It seems like a few times a month, there are new comedies that are released to capitalize on the success of prior films. These films re-use all of the jokes in a way that takes all of the original flair and humor out of them. These films, like College and Disaster Movie, should be avoided at all costs, and should never have been made in the first place. Upon seeing the trailer for Role Models what seems like over a year ago, I felt that this film would be fresh and entertaining. It was all of that and more. It is often the case that the trailer will show all of the funny parts of a film, leaving the audience with nothing new to enjoy when actually watching the movie, but Role Models is filled to the brim with jokes, albeit sometimes overtly sexual in nature, that will leave you crying because you're laughing so hard.

The two main characters Danny and Wheeler, played by Paul Rudd (who co-wrote the screenplay) and Seann William Scott respectively,  make their livings selling energy drinks to students in a say no to drugs (but drink obscene amounts of caffeine) campaign. The hijinks begin when the pair end up crashing their Minotaur energy drink truck into a school statue of a horse. The charges pile up one after another and, when combined, are enough to send them to jail. Luckily, Danny's girlfriend (played by Zack and Miri Make a Porno's Elizabeth Banks) is a lawyer, and she's able to get them just a month of community service. The task that lies ahead of them is not simply cleaning garbage off the side of the road, but being a "big brother"-like mentor to a young boy. Gayle Sweeney (played to hilarious perfection by Jane Lynch), the head of the program, assigns Danny and Wheeler two of the more difficult boys that she has. Augie Farks (played by Christopher Mintz-Plasse aka McLovin) is assigned to Danny while Ronnie Shields (the hilarious, but extremely foul-mouthed Bobb'e J. Thompson) is assigned to Wheeler.

Over the course of the film, Wheeler develops a fatherly/brotherly relationship with Ronnie by teaching him about sex and how to talk to women. Danny on the other hand embraces his geek side and joins Augie on the Dungeons and Dragons-esque battlefield. 

The film, which seems to be just one sexual joke and reference after another, is much more in that the two discover parts of themselves that they never knew existed, and develop friendships with the boys. This film, with its inclusion of highly emotional yet incredibly funny dialogue and plot, delivered all of the laughs while bringing home the message.

My Grade: B

Release Date: November 7, 2008

Rating: R for crude and sexual content, strong language and nudity.

Running Time: 99 min.

Director: David Wain

Quantum of Solace

I have always enjoyed James Bond movies, whether they are the Sean Connery films or those featuring Pierce Brosnan. The character of 007 has always been an interesting one, and the franchise has yet to get old. After viewing 2002's Die Another Day, however, I was beginning to feel that it might the end of our favorite secret agent. Luckily, the filmmakers took a break for a little while, and released 2006's Casino Royale. This breath of fresh air was all the series needed. Daniel Craig created a character that was so much more realistic and 3-dimensional, with great complexities and flaws, that he placed himself equal to or even above Sean Connery as the famous character. At the conclusion of that amazing film, I was incredibly eager to see where MGM would take the character next. And the recent release of Quantum of Solace did not disappoint. It may not be quite as amazing as its predecessor, but Quantum stands up to any Bond film of the past.

Beginning just a few hours after Royale ended, the first scene is one of the most intense car chases I have seen in a long time. Daniel Craig returns as the heartbroken 007, a man who was betrayed by the love of his life in the previous film and is seeking revenge on the people responsible. Dame Judi Dench is also back as M. Dench is given some of the best dialogue in the entire film, and, as always, is a treat to watch as she scolds 007 for his recklessly violent behavior. That being said, this is perhaps the most violent of all the Bond films, with incredible action sequences that make the Bourne series look like nothing.  The remarkable lack of gadgets sets the film in a more realistic world of global espionage. 

The audience at the midnight showing that I attended all were cheering their favorite spy on as he attempted to thwart the plans of the films antagonist, Dominic Greene, an environmentalist who wants to seize control of much of the water supply in South America. As Bond travels around the world to stop Greene, he is trailed by the CIA, and is joined by the equally vengeful Camille, who has her own score to settle. 

Coming in at at just 1 hour and 50 minutes, Quantum is one of the shortest Bond films ever. That's not to say that every scene doesn't pack a punch. This action-packed thriller is a great conclusion to the questions left unanswered at the end of Royale, but also poses it's own. The one drawback to this film is it's song. The song, Another Way to Die, performed by Alicia Keyes and David White, is weak and inappropriate for a spectacle like this film. Other than that, I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this film. For anyone seeking a good time at the movies this time of year, Quantum of Solace is a must-see.

My Grade: A-

Release Date: November 14, 2008

Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, and some sexual content.

Running Time: 1 hr. 50 min.

Director: Marc Forster