"Here Comes the Boom" Review

When one thinks of Kevin James, you get the image of a comically overweight mall cop with a goofy mustache riding around on a segway, or a lowly oaf taking dating advice from zoo animals. I personally have not liked anything the man has touched since "The King of Queens" was cancellled. Yet Here Comes the Boom, while not particularly funny, was surprisingly touching.

James plays Scott Voss, a lazy out-of-his-prime Biology teacher. When his school is forced to make budget cuts, they threaten to rid the school of it's music program and teacher (Henry Winkler). Not wanting to see his friend out of work, Scott does everything he can to raise the necessary funds. When he runs out of ideas, he is inspired to step into the MMA ring using his college wrestling skills.

The jokes aren't very numerous, yet the film has remarkable physical humor. When Kevin James gets layed out flat in his first match, I admit that I found it hard to not to giggle. The writing was nothing special, but it is considerably better than anything out of "Team Sandler" in the past few years. The characters are not exactly well developed when you get to the end, however, the overall touching nature of the plot makes up for it.

Kevin James isn't anyones Marlon Brando, yet he brings a certain amount of charm to the film. He isn't over the top ridiculous, but his comedic talents blend well with the physically demanding challenge of this role.

Salma Hayek is as lovely and passionate as always. She brings a good amount of common sense to absurd situations. However, she never really feels like the right romantic match for Kevin James. Their chemistry is very imbalanced.

Andrew's Standout for this film would be Henry Winkler. As with most of his recent roles, there is a certain amount of goofiness to his character. However, there are moments when he is fully focused and spouts the "Fonzie-esque" wisdom that we all love and grew up with.

All in all, I would redbox this movie. While it's the worst thing you'll see, there are better movies to pay full price for.

B-

"Taken 2" Review

It has been said before that Liam Neeson is the "thinking man's" Chuck Norris. I agree with that in the sense that movies starring Neeson tend to be deeper, emotional, and contain actual acting. However, Taken 2 has all the elements of a Chuck Norris film.

Taken 2 picks up where the original movie left off. Bryan Mills is keeping closer watch on his daughter Kim than ever, and getting closer to his wife ex-wife. However, a trip to Istanbul goes awry when the families of those Bryan killed enact revenge. They kidnap or "Take" Bryan and his ex-wife and make a move for Kim. This doesn't bode well as Mills does "what he does best."

The plot is nothing more than a rehashed version of the first film set in a different country, or as I like to call it "The Hangover Syndrome." It brings Liam Neeson to Stallone territory. The film has little more to offer besides impressive choreography. There is little to no character development or growth. It is almost as though the characters learn nothing from their experiences, and will go on in a cycle of similar events in the future. Even Bryan Mills acknowledges this in the film, and seems to dread the inevitable Taken 3.

What they did impove upon this time around is choosing to have a central antagonist, rather than choosing brigades of Albanians to attack throughout the film. It adds a sense of accomplishment and brings round full circle.

I can't blame Liam Neeson for the films shortcomings, for the same reason you can't blame Ahmed Best for the poor quality of Jar Jar Binks. When an actor is given poor writing, they can only do so much to make a film worth while. Neeson lays all of his cards on the table and brings a certain amount of emotion to the character. However, like most shooting gallery films, there is very little acting required. Neeson is a good example of an action star with true dramatic talent, like Bruce Willis. Unfortunately, it is wasted here.

All in all, Taken 2 is what you can expect it to be. If you're looking for a good time to just relax your brain and just watch, by all means, go. Just be willing to overlook te flaws of the film.

C+

"The Master" Review

Well, it comes every year, and I enjoy every minute of it. Awards season. The films that make us put away our soda-helmets we wore while cheering on The Avengers and Batman, and have us put on our thinking caps.

Am I saying that all Oscar bait is boring? Absolutely not. Quite the opposite. If anything, these films make us re-evaluate our own lives and better ourselves. They are often the more memorable films from a year. They are so well crafted, and full of sub-text, that you grow as a person for understanding it.

The Master is no exception, it stars Joaquin Phoenix (For the life of me I have no idea how to pronounce his first name. No judging me, please.) as Freddie Quell, a violent World War II veteran who uses his alcoholism as an escape for his troubles when trying to resume his after the war. He soon meets L. Ron Hubbard Lancaster Dodd, (Philip Seymour Hoffman) the founder of a new, unconventional religon known as Scientology "The Cause." Dodd sees potential for growth in Freddie, and takes him under his wing as his protege, despite protests from his wife (Amy Adams) and the rest of the cause.


The film is surely to receive Oscar nominations for its superior cast. Philip Seymour Hoffman takes the writing of Paul Thomas Anderson, and turns it into a performance he can call his own. His thinly veiled cariacture of L. Ron Hubbard is remarkably well embodied. At times he seems to be a charismatic fellow, who wants nothing more than to help people. Yet conversely, at other times the sense of self-doubt and possble fraud comes to the surface and conveys it's dark and unsettling nature. He shows a wonderful range from all ends of the spectrum.

Joaquin Phoenix gives his all with his portrayal of the disturbed loner who everyone can relate to at one point in their life. He has the little ticks and quirks that make him unique, and fully engrossed in his acting. Whether its the way he holds his arms on his waist or the subtle squint in his eyes when talking to someone, you never feel like you're watching an actor in a movie, you feel taken into his world. His emotion rages from his body when he is upset, and the intensity of his conditions are presented in full technicolor. Nothing held back.

What really took me through a loop with this movie was the performance of Amy Adams. Normally, the good girl, soft-spoken, here she is somewhat terrifying. At the beginning, you get the normal vibe from her, yet as the film goes on, you realize she is not one to be taken lightly. I shall say no more, other than it is a superb step in her career.

The story could have tackled scientology head-on and been a biography, yet the dramatization is a much more creative touch. If all you know about the religion is from the controversial "South Park" episode, you will still be able to get a sense of what it is all about. The film doesn't boast it's religous undertones like a logo in the corner of the screen, and it is for the better. You become entranced in story of one man's struggle rather than a pamphlet of someone elses beliefs.

I highly recomend this movie to anyone who wishes to do some higher thinking, yet at the same time, I would wait until it comes to a theater closer to you.


A-

Looper Review

Looper tells the story of a young man named Joe who works as a hitman for the mafia in the future. Targets from the even further future are sent to him to kill and despose of all traces that they existed. When the mafia chooses to end the contract with a Looper, they "close the loop" send back the target's future self to kill along with a payment of gold, and knowledge that they only have 30 years to live. When Joe is sent his future-self to kill, he hesitates, the target escapes, and both are now in trouble.

If I told you that I went into Looper with high hopes, I would be lying. From first glance, it appeared to nothing more than your run of the mill, September release, interesting concept, poor delivery, science fiction movie. Like last years stinker In Time Sure it has not one, but TWO of my favorite actors, but I thought it would be a confusing let down.

I was wrong.

Not only does Looper deliver high intensity action and phenomenal special effects, it also has substance. It answers the questions that I had about the trailers, and showcases new ideas that aren't explored as often as they should. It may ring familiar with certain tropes that are too common to you, but it makes up for it by introducing a moral dilema that causes you to think about what you would do if you were put in the same situation. It contains some rather violent, graphic images, so be advised.

Most science fiction movies don't really strike the right note with acting and heart. But when they do, you get hits like Star Wars, Logan's Run, Blade Runner, etc. While it's not anything I would expect to see pop up around awards time, Bruce Willis and Joseph Gordon-Levitt both deliver powerful, heartfelt performances. Rather than relying on the script, they make the roles, or should I say role, their own with acting that really lets you into their world. That's why I declare them both Andrew's Standout for this movie.

If you're looking for just a regular run of the mill movie, look else where. This movie will make you use your brain, but it is worth it. I absolutely say go for it.

B+

"Dredd" Review

In 1995 the movie "Judge Dredd" starring Sylvester Stallone came out based on the comic book of the same name. It revolves around a futuristic wasteland where the cops are "Judges" who arrest criminals, pass judgement, and sentence them on the spot. Often including execution. Judge Dredd is the most well known of the judges who is known never to take off his helmet.

Why did the concept fail the first time? Because of Sylvester Stallone. Given his star power, the studio was under the belief that he would bring automatic success. Wrong. After the first five minutes, he took off his helmet. And from that point, it became just another Stallone shooting gallery.


"Dredd" stars Karl Urban as the title judge assigned to assess a rookie pyschic as they investigate 3 homicides in the most dangerous part of Metro One. All the while, the drug kingpin Ma-Ma has her goons hunt them down in order to protect her new synthetic narcotic "Slo-Mo" which slows down the perception of reality.

Why does this version work? Because the filmmakers are making a movie based on the comic, not on the profit projections of their star. Karl Urban is no stranger to comic/sci-fi/fantasy films. You may know him best as Éomer from The Lord of The Rings Trilogy or as Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy from the new Star Trek films. He gives his all because he doesn't care about appearances. He devotes his skills to crafting the character that we all know and love from the comics. He remains truthful, given the outlandish circumstances of his environment. He is not concerned with vain notions about his image, he is concerned with bringing Dredd to life. He does it for the love of the character and not the paycheck.

The plot is sound with ample character development. It not only introduces you to the characters, but shows you how they grow in such a little amount of time. Even the ones with no apparent emotions.

When I saw this movie, I saw it in 3D. I highly recommend that you do the same. The special effects make ample use of this technology, and create a visual experience unlike any other I have seen in 3D so far.

A-

In Light of Recent Events...

Today I had planned to return to the film review world with my take on "The Dark Knight Rises". However given the recent tragedy that had occurred in Aurora, Colorado, I shall be postponing my review as a symbol of respect. (Rest assured, it will be posted tomorrow).

This has really hit home with me, considering that I also was in attendance at a Midnight showing of the film, and something like that could have happened anywhere....

I am not a politician, so I will not give you some Charlton Heston/Al Gore debate on Gun Control.

I am not a psychiatrist, so I will not try to make sense out of why James Holmes entered that theater and committed what is now being called the "largest peacetime shooting massacre in U.S. history".

I will just say that life is precious. It is a miracle of creation, if not the most profound phenomenon that occurs in nature. It can be taken from you in the blink of an eye. If this tragedy has done anything, it has opened my eyes to how delicate life can be. Don't take it for granted, but at the same time, don't seal yourself in a theoretical plastic bubble because things may be frightening at the time.

Don't be afraid. Live life to the fullest.

And I encourage all of my readers to help support the victims and family members of those lost in the massacre. Even if it is as simple as signing the petition for Christian Bale to visit those hospitalized whilst dressed in the Batman costume.

The Avengers Review, 7 Grades, and I'm Back

After a 2 month hiatus due to the SUNY Ulster Production of "The Importance of Being Earnest" (The most fun I have ever had), the end of the Spring Semester, and other things, I am back. In my brief hours of free time, I was able to see a few movies but did not have time to review them. I will give you a quick rating on them:

The Lorax: B-

John Carter: C+

21 Jump Street: A-

The Hunger Games: B+

Wrath of The Titans: C+

The Three Stooges: B

The Cabin in the Woods: A-

Now on to the big picture. Literally.

I have been a comic book fan since before I could talk, and a movie fan since I was a fetus. The times when the two meet together are things that I look forward to for years on end. Given the unique premise and development behind The Avengers, it goes without saying that I have been giddy with anticipation. The amount of hype for this film gave me expectations that one would believe completely out of reach. However, Joss Whedon is not only able to meet those expectations, but also hurdled 4 feet above them by crafting not only the greatest comic book movie ever made, but one of the greatest cinematic experiences I have ever had in my life.

The Avengers picks up where the Marvel Solo movies left off. Loki comes to Earth in order to seize the Tesseract and assert control over the planet. Nick Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D. assembles a team of superheroes to save the Earth from extraterrestrial subjagation.

The film answers questions from the previous films, and gives an equal amount of screentime to all the heroes, giving both character development and conflict between the super egos that are assembled for the first time as a group. One can imagine how the script would lean towards giving Robert Downey Jr. the film as his own to create "Iron Man and Friends", but luckily Whedon is smarter than that. While Downey does dominate the screen when he is present, his ego does not overplay anyone elses character. The emotion that results when Joss does exactly what he is known for, is a pivotal point that finally blends the characters together into a team. It feels like you are truly watching a comic book, while at the same time experiencing a film that corresponds to almost every genre you can think of. Chris Evans and Chris Hemsworth share a certain level of comradery that makes you realize that Captain America and Thor should be working together much more often.

Back in 2003, Marvel asked specific permission of Samuel L. Jackson to use his likeness for a new version of Nick Fury in the comic books. He agreed. The fact that he plays the character is no accident, and thankfully a great gift. The anger, wit, and dominion that Samuel L. Jackson is known for, and is often criticized for doing so often, is present in this film as well. Yet, it works to his advantage in this case and asserts his control over the largest peacekeeping organization in the world.

There is not a single bad performance in this film. However, there is one person who stands above the rest. And that person.... is Mark Ruffalo. Like most people, I was angry when the news broke that Edward Norton would not be reprising his role as Bruce Banner. The lack of continuity between films is something that I usually hate. However, the anger quickly dispells once you see Ruffalo's performance. Mark brings a level of empathy and calmness that has not been brought to the character since the days of Bill Bixby. His quick tongue and emotional range is something that has been missing from the temper ridden/whining loner interpretations seen from Eric Bana and Norton. You feel a sense of intelligence and repressed anger that leaves you wondering if he is ever going to go green. The level of control that Banner has over his emotions is a drastic improvement that makes you realize that the Hulk is not just a emotionally displaced monster, he's just a normal human with a unique ability.

For the first time ever, the same actor who plays Bruce Banner also plays The Hulk. Thanks to the motion capture technology developed for the movie Avatar, Mark Ruffalo actually plays the Hulk (with Lou Ferrigno once again providing the voice of course). You can see his face in the performance, something that makes him so much more real. While the Hulk's actions are often played for humorous reasons, it is impossible not to laugh. When he is fully unleashed, the badassery of the character is apparent to the level that you find yourself leaning back in the chair when he roars.

The special effects are vibrant and at the same time, grounded in reality. The aliens in the film hold a visual quality that take a generic race of creatures and turn them into a terrifying spectacle of advanced technology and extraterrestrial individuality. The visual dynamics of the Helicarrier are breathtaking and beyond imagination. When it lifts out of the water for the first time, your jaw will drop and your mind will tell you "Wow. This is happening".

See this film. See it twice. See it twice on the same day, then go see it again. It is that good. It is a roller coaster ride that starts with the production logos and doesn't stop until the end credits are finished. *(HINT) STAY AFTER THE CREDITS, ALL THE WAY, NOT JUST THE MIDDLE. You will not be dissappointed in the slightest. 

A+