Quick Review: The Hangover
The Hangover ©Warner Brothers
There is something I can’t pinpoint about The Hangover that I liked so much. Was it the fact that the main cast are B-Listers and all of them together made a good movie? Was it the fact that the movie went there and had no reservation about it? I don’t know, but the movie was good.
The Hangover had a lot of word of mouth going for it (Also the week of it's opening, Land of the Lost got a negative word of mouth which helped) and after the movie I would definitely suggest it to friends. It is definitely a “Unrated Version” Blu-Ray purchase when it comes out as well, because you just know that there will be funny commentary, extended scenes, and funny outtakes.
The things of note:
+ I found a very Momento-esque element to the movie. I don’t know why, but it probably was the whole working backwards that created the connection.
Quick Review – Angels & Demons
Tom Hanks as Robert Langdon on the movie poster
I have mixed feelings about Angels & Demons. I feel as though all the pieces were there and yet there was something I can’t put my finger on that I didn’t like. I think that Ron Howard knows how to make a good movie with strong shots, while Tom Hanks both understands Ron Howard and is a good actor in general. Here are some musings about the movie:
I don’t like the whole end twist – It happened in the last movie and they put it in again. Regardless of whether or not it’s in the book, the end sequence is redundant and in both cases makes Robert Langdon just a little dumber.
Quick Review: Disney/Pixar’s Up
Up's Logo. ©Pixar
I don’t get out often. I have some rewards program where I can watch movies free on Tuesdays, but I haven’t gotten the opportunity to use it. Last night I had a teleconference, and usually during the Spring/Fall I’m covering Dancing with the Stars. Anywho, I finally got out of the house to watch Up in 3D. There’s that mysterious charm that Up has that continues the Pixar legacy. A lot of recent Disney movies don’t have that charm anymore (probably Enchanted was the last one that had that charm). I had mostly praise for the movie after getting out. I felt invigorated and moved; something a movie hasn’t done in a while.
One thing that I love is that Up gives you the whole premise in the first fifteen minutes. After watching Key Largo (Oh Boogie and Bacall), I noticed that a lot of old movies will give you text to read and then jump right into the storyline. Up goes the other route and gives a vignette of Carl’s life all the way up until present. His life is like many: sometimes you can’t catch a break... or when it rains, it pours.
(You know the drill, click continue reading, well unless you're all RSS friendly)
Quick Review: Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
Normally I would go all intense on reviewing things, but truthfully his movie really only lives up to expectations. The movie is visually stunning (except for a few points which I will mention), the soundtrack is fine, and the acting is good across the bar. I’m going to instead focus on certain actors. Anyone who plays Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon (AKA The Actor/Movie Game) will love this film because this movie is a big (huge) ensemble. Try stumping a friend by using The Jonas Brothers as your launching point; they are the cherubs in the movie.
His tie will disappear halfway through the movie. Someone explain that to me. Did I go pee when he removes it dramatically? Image © Fox
Ben Stiller – HIS TIE DISAPPEARS HALFWAY THROUGH THE MOVIE. In the beginning in the locker room, you can see a tie on him; then out of nowhere, the tie disappears. Either way, Ben Stiller was doing his basic schtick.
Amy Adams – Steals the show, she keeps in character the whole time and just evokes the sense of adventure that Amelia Earhart had.
Hank Azaria – I love his voice acting skills, but couldn’t get the Blue Raja from Mystery Men out of my head. He maintains that wit that he always had as well, and the character really wasn’t a stretch.
Robin Williams – The same as before, doesn’t overact. Thank God.
Ricky Gervais – Usually I’m hit or miss with Ricky. For some reason, I was miss for him in this movie. I guess he really didn’t play a big part, so he kinda just had to say a few lines.
Mizuo Peck – I like her portrayal of Sacajawea and hope to see her in a movie where she actually has some lines.
Bill Hader – Somehow I didn’t know that it was him playing Custer (musta been the hair), so kudos to you. You won me over a little more. Oh and if anyone could tell me who the blonde comedian that I’m thinking of (for some reason I associate him with a bad fake mustache if it helps), please tell me.
Owen Wilson – Okay, I know the movie is over the top, but there are so many things wrong with Owen Wilson in this movie. Firstly, he (and Steve Coogan) had some of the worst green screening. I don’t know why, but you could see their outlines so much more than the rest of the characters. Dammit, Al Capone was black and white the whole movie and it didn’t show any poor green screening (Granted it probably was technologically similar to Plesantville, one funny aside, a still on the official movie website has Al Capone colored in). Then if you are in an hourglass there are several things you can do. How about not standing where the sand falls? Even Princess Jasmine in Aladdin struggled. Also, pacing around in the beginning would help by elevating you as the sand increased. It’s sand, not quicksand. Thirdly, if Steve Coogan’s character can break glass with a sword, why couldn’t Jedediah use the blunt end of his gun and just get out?
Overall, the movie was fun. It was a children’s movie with a few comedian nuances. Amy Adams is the bright spot in the movie providing adventure and excitement with just the look in her eye. For me the movie is like a 72%. The plotline is stupid and there are a lot of plotholes.
My Monthly Musings
Archives
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008