I will be the first to admit it. I did NOT want to watch this flick. Billy insisted that I watch it and I caved. I regretted it, but added Remember Me to my queue. If you follow me, you know that I'm not a fan of Robert Pattinson. I didn't like his Cedric Diggory. I still don't think he's the right fit for Edward; and I was sure this movie would be another debauchery. However, being a man of my word...Saturday night meant a home-made french bread pizza, some cookies, Munchos, an A&W Vanilla Cream Soda and Remember Me. I thought the food would be the highlight. Wrong. Remember Me is one of the best movies I've seen this year...no doubt.
It's the story of the ebb and flow of two families in post-crisis mode and still battling demons gone by. Tyler Hawkins (Pattinson) is son, big brother, little brother and boyfriend. Tyler's Father (Charles/Pierce Brosnan) is a distant, tyrannical, power tie kinda guy who seemingly knows one mode: Push to conflict. Tyler's little sister, Caroline (Ruby Jerins) is already an accomplished but still budding artist. Caroline needs her big brother to help navigate some pretty turbulent family waters. Tyler is there, being that much needed big brother. Tyler was also a little brother, evidently worshipping his brother Michael. Michael took his life six years earlier, an event that continues to rock the family, including Tyler. Finally, is Ally (Emelie De Ravin). She's the girlfriend and daughter of Neil Craig (Chris Cooper)--the cop that happened to arrest Tyler during a street brawl. Ally and Neil have seen their share of pain, too. At the age of eleven, Ally witnessed her mother being murdered on a Brooklyn Subway platform.
There you have it. Pain abounds. Ally and Tyler start a heated relationship much to the chagrin of dad, but that's just one source of conflict in this flick. The Hawkins are battling it out--specifically Tyler and Charles.
On the surface, you might think there are just too many things going on here. Two families in post-crisis mode colliding with numerous intricate issues surfacing like a frustrated volcano. It can be a lot to tabulate over the course of two hours. It was, indeed...but, it worked. We see the Craig family move to the backseat (--well, maybe a side-car) as the movie progresses. Ally is still hurting. Still coping. But it's the Hawkins family we see take center stage and move a few steps toward healing. Don't worry. We still see Cooper pull off (to near perfection) his protective, but angry and bitter father, a performance reminiscent of October Sky. However, the Hawkins' emerge as the focal point and start seeing those storm clouds dissapate.
That happens on Tyler's second arrest, which actually brought everyone together (finally) and put them on the same page. With that arrest, the Hawkins' finally realized they were a family. They realized that they needed each other and started living like it. But wait, there's more...yadayadayada...you can manage the ending on your own.
This was a great story with great performances. I'll give it 4.0 Stars. Pattinson proved he belongs on the big screen...on screen one to four, for that matter. Brosnan and Cooper were excellent--save some 'not quite pulled off' NYC accents.
It's a movie that makes several points. The latter of which slaps you subtly in the face, but leaves quite the red mark. It taught me to be more loving. It taught me that there is always a strong need to be more loving NOW. It reinforced the idea that much good can come from situations that require a reserved judgment, such as Tyler's second arrest. On the surface this sounds like a bad thing, but in reality that arrest was the best thing that happened to a hurting family. It further reinforced that an embracing compassion is needed on every step of life's journey.
It's good. I just regret that I didn't see it sooner. Sorry, Billy. I won't doubt you again...well, I probably will, but just say, "Remember Me", and that will put me back in line.
Thanks for reading...yeah--the yard is mowed and the weeds have been munched, despite the 97 degree temps! Enjoy the rest of your weekend.
True
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Big Screen Blurb: Inception
Livin' the dream! Upon dream. Upon dream. Gee, and I thought my dreams were odd. The weirdest thing I ever came up with, was a dream of me modeling nude for my Creative Writing class in freshman English. Yeah, I know, one doesn't typically model for a writing course, right? But, that's what makes it a fascinating dream and interesting story. Both pale in comparison, however, to the tale weaved by master story-teller Christopher Nolan. Watching Inception is like landing eight layers deep in an onion. You can quickly figure out where you are, but don't really know what layer you're on or how to get out. With this in mind, before watching Inception, I have two bits of advice: Pound the Red Bull and take a Dramamine. You'll need both, alertness and your full wits about you to keep up.
This is a complex story and one that seemingly only Nolan could tell effectively. It centers around Tom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) who has been hired to plant a thought into the mind of Robert Fischer (Cillian Murphy). Yeah, sounds a bit odd, right? Not in this world. In this world, dream stealing is a rare, but possible occurrence. It's what Cobb does and does well. He needs a team to help in the process. Enter Adriana (Ellen Page) and Arthur (Joseph Gordon-Levitt). For them, the latest project is about fascination and money, respectively. Cobb has more at stake. He's on the lam--barred from the good ole USA because he's suspected of killing his wife. Pulling off this heist with Fischer, will give him clear entrance through immigration's pearly gates.
It's a wild ride, but a good one. I'll give it 3.5 stars. It's probably not my 'must-see' of the year, (Actually, I haven't seen that one yet this year and it's July 21st so I'm getting a little nervous) but it's very good. Good effects, true...but nothing mind-blowing. The zero-gravity stuff...the inverted blocks of city, etc, make for great story and cinema-scape. It's all good stuff and feeds a good story. The tale is complex. Planting a thought through dream technology requires layered dreams. In other words, taking someone who is dreaming and putting them into a dream state and then another dream state. Thus, the story deals with multiple levels of dreaming that can make for a roller-coaster ride. Nolan pulls it off. I really never felt completely lost...sure a little dazed and confused (which is normal), but not completely lost. That's Nolan's mastery.
The acting is good throughout. Of course, it would be if you've noted the cast, which certainly helped Nolan's plight. All in all, it's one to see and one to see BIG.
If your body responds well to Red Bull and you're equipped with a notebook and pencil to take plenty of notes...well, go see this one. After all, we're all just livin' the dream, aren't we?
True
This is a complex story and one that seemingly only Nolan could tell effectively. It centers around Tom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) who has been hired to plant a thought into the mind of Robert Fischer (Cillian Murphy). Yeah, sounds a bit odd, right? Not in this world. In this world, dream stealing is a rare, but possible occurrence. It's what Cobb does and does well. He needs a team to help in the process. Enter Adriana (Ellen Page) and Arthur (Joseph Gordon-Levitt). For them, the latest project is about fascination and money, respectively. Cobb has more at stake. He's on the lam--barred from the good ole USA because he's suspected of killing his wife. Pulling off this heist with Fischer, will give him clear entrance through immigration's pearly gates.
It's a wild ride, but a good one. I'll give it 3.5 stars. It's probably not my 'must-see' of the year, (Actually, I haven't seen that one yet this year and it's July 21st so I'm getting a little nervous) but it's very good. Good effects, true...but nothing mind-blowing. The zero-gravity stuff...the inverted blocks of city, etc, make for great story and cinema-scape. It's all good stuff and feeds a good story. The tale is complex. Planting a thought through dream technology requires layered dreams. In other words, taking someone who is dreaming and putting them into a dream state and then another dream state. Thus, the story deals with multiple levels of dreaming that can make for a roller-coaster ride. Nolan pulls it off. I really never felt completely lost...sure a little dazed and confused (which is normal), but not completely lost. That's Nolan's mastery.
The acting is good throughout. Of course, it would be if you've noted the cast, which certainly helped Nolan's plight. All in all, it's one to see and one to see BIG.
If your body responds well to Red Bull and you're equipped with a notebook and pencil to take plenty of notes...well, go see this one. After all, we're all just livin' the dream, aren't we?
True
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Big Screen Blurb: The Last Airbender
Rock, paper, scissors...meet the big screen. Big screen meet the first story that M. Night Shyamalan hasn't botched since Unbreakable. Then again, this wasn't really his story. With action sequences choreographed to rival Swan Lake, The Last Airbender actually, and surprisingly, scores high with me. Quite frankly, I didn't expect it to--actually, I had sworn not to see this when I saw Shyamalan's name on it during last year's trailer sneak peaks. Can you blame me? He hasn't exactly been on a hot streak lately. Yeah, Wide Awake (1998) was okay. Sixth Sense (1999) was his all-time grand slam and Unbreakable (2000) and Signs (2002) were pretty good. But...and here's a whopping load of butt...he's struck out CRAZY in the last six years with The Lady in the Water, The Village and don't get me started on The Happening. This, however (The Last Airbender) is not his story to screw up; and, it's a pretty good story.
Yes, the acting is, well...lame at times. Okay, awful, at times. However, the story makes up for it. The world is divided. Each nation represents one of the four elements: air, water, earth and fire. Within each nation are a few gifted individuals called benders, who can manipulate their element. The Fire Nation, who seeks to control all nations, will have none of that. Actually, they've worked to put a stop to any of those element manipulators. However, there is one fly in the Pepto Bismal. That fly is the looming presence of the Avatar, a person connected to the spirit world beyond who has the ability to manipulate all four elements.
The Avatar, Aang, has been missing for more than a century. He decided to run away from his responsibility of serving as the Avatar. Much can happen in a hundred years. Aang's absence contributed to the Fire Nation's rise and the destruction of many, including his own people. His return brings hope, but he has yet to master three of the four elements...yadayadayada...Aang begins his quest to learn those elements yet mastered, while trying to stop the Fire Nation's desire for world dominance.
I give it 4.0 stars. The story moves along quickly and I was actually disappointed to see it end. As mentioned previously, the acting comes up short at times. Maybe it's the script trying to talk down to an audience of mainly kids. Ultimately, that shortcoming didn't damage my experience. It's the story and it's various aspects that made a lasting impression on me. Despite the natural prominence of the story, there's a strong human element as well. The story speaks to self-acceptance in the wake of poor decisions gone by. It encourages us to embrace those mistakes and simply dust ourselves off to do what needs to be done in the moment. Good message for all.
It's worth a trip to the movies and, at the very least, certainly worth a rental when it hits Blockbuster in December.
Enjoy your week...
True
Yes, the acting is, well...lame at times. Okay, awful, at times. However, the story makes up for it. The world is divided. Each nation represents one of the four elements: air, water, earth and fire. Within each nation are a few gifted individuals called benders, who can manipulate their element. The Fire Nation, who seeks to control all nations, will have none of that. Actually, they've worked to put a stop to any of those element manipulators. However, there is one fly in the Pepto Bismal. That fly is the looming presence of the Avatar, a person connected to the spirit world beyond who has the ability to manipulate all four elements.
The Avatar, Aang, has been missing for more than a century. He decided to run away from his responsibility of serving as the Avatar. Much can happen in a hundred years. Aang's absence contributed to the Fire Nation's rise and the destruction of many, including his own people. His return brings hope, but he has yet to master three of the four elements...yadayadayada...Aang begins his quest to learn those elements yet mastered, while trying to stop the Fire Nation's desire for world dominance.
I give it 4.0 stars. The story moves along quickly and I was actually disappointed to see it end. As mentioned previously, the acting comes up short at times. Maybe it's the script trying to talk down to an audience of mainly kids. Ultimately, that shortcoming didn't damage my experience. It's the story and it's various aspects that made a lasting impression on me. Despite the natural prominence of the story, there's a strong human element as well. The story speaks to self-acceptance in the wake of poor decisions gone by. It encourages us to embrace those mistakes and simply dust ourselves off to do what needs to be done in the moment. Good message for all.
It's worth a trip to the movies and, at the very least, certainly worth a rental when it hits Blockbuster in December.
Enjoy your week...
True
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Big Screen Blurb: The Sorcerer's Apprentice
Just another Disney flick with fiery dragons, car chases and dancing brooms. No--it's not Sleeping Beauty meets Fantasia. It's The Sorcerer's Apprentice, starring Nicholas Cage, Alfred Molina and Jay Baruchel. It's fast-paced and fun with an interesting story that dates back to Merlin (yeah--no big surprise there). Action, magic and a little romance help fill 121 minutes, while creating a nice little escape.
The story centers around Dave (Baruchel). Unbeknownst to our hero, he's a...well...hero. Actually, Dave is a sorcerer, directly from the blood lines of Merlin. Enter Morgana, who fully expects to destroy the world as we know it (but...then again, doesn't everyone). The fabled Dave, however, is the only one that can stop her. Of course none of this has escaped the attention of fellow sorcerer Balthazar (Cage), whose charge is to find Dave and yadayadayada, good battles evil on a roller coaster ride of fun times.
I liked it. We'll call it 4.0 shiny stars. Probably more twinklers than expected since Cage hasn't ranked highly on my scorecard for awhile. Yes, he was his somewhat annoying self in Kick-Ass, but took a step forward. Add a couple of more steps after The Sorcerer's Apprentice. He plays the skilled mentor to Baruchel's hapless physics geek very nicely. Baruchel more than holds his own. Actually, this guy is pretty solid. It's the third major role I've seen him in the last three months after a few minor roles (Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist and Tropic Thunder) and a cameo (Night at the Museum 2) to name a few highlights. I loved him in How to Train Your Dragon, She's Out of My League and he's good here. You expect to see his character grow, moving from bungling dud to sorcerer stud. There were just times when you want to give Dave a little kick in the tail and say, "Dude--look what you can do here...a little confidence is allowed." That moment is one you wait about 113 minutes for, however. Finally, Alfred Molina plays the dastardly Horvath. Yeah--this guy pretty much nails evil, doesn't he? Hell, this guy pretty much nails anything.
All in all...see it and go ahead and see it big screen. After all, summer is just really heating up, right? My yard mowing is cut back to every other week and then some!
True
The story centers around Dave (Baruchel). Unbeknownst to our hero, he's a...well...hero. Actually, Dave is a sorcerer, directly from the blood lines of Merlin. Enter Morgana, who fully expects to destroy the world as we know it (but...then again, doesn't everyone). The fabled Dave, however, is the only one that can stop her. Of course none of this has escaped the attention of fellow sorcerer Balthazar (Cage), whose charge is to find Dave and yadayadayada, good battles evil on a roller coaster ride of fun times.
I liked it. We'll call it 4.0 shiny stars. Probably more twinklers than expected since Cage hasn't ranked highly on my scorecard for awhile. Yes, he was his somewhat annoying self in Kick-Ass, but took a step forward. Add a couple of more steps after The Sorcerer's Apprentice. He plays the skilled mentor to Baruchel's hapless physics geek very nicely. Baruchel more than holds his own. Actually, this guy is pretty solid. It's the third major role I've seen him in the last three months after a few minor roles (Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist and Tropic Thunder) and a cameo (Night at the Museum 2) to name a few highlights. I loved him in How to Train Your Dragon, She's Out of My League and he's good here. You expect to see his character grow, moving from bungling dud to sorcerer stud. There were just times when you want to give Dave a little kick in the tail and say, "Dude--look what you can do here...a little confidence is allowed." That moment is one you wait about 113 minutes for, however. Finally, Alfred Molina plays the dastardly Horvath. Yeah--this guy pretty much nails evil, doesn't he? Hell, this guy pretty much nails anything.
All in all...see it and go ahead and see it big screen. After all, summer is just really heating up, right? My yard mowing is cut back to every other week and then some!
True
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Big Screen Blurb: Hot Tub Time Machine
I don't think I've ever reflected on a botched suicide attempt and thought, "Get it right, moron!" That is, until reflecting upon the suicide attempt that opened The Hot Tub Time Machine. You see, it was that failed attempt that sent the story in motion, a tale that probably never should have been told and one that I never needed to see.
It's been more than two months since I saw this flick. So, the fact that I've put off writing a review until now speaks volumes. It gets the ole 1/2 star rating. If you've forgotten, that qualifies this flick in the "Don't ever mention this F*&%-ing movie to me again." It's humor was rarely funny. It's story was flat out retarded. What was billed as 2010's The Hangover, came absolutely nowhere close. The Hangover was probably my favorite flick last year, so I can appreciate crude humor. I saw the thing five times in the theatre and rolled every time. Hot Tub Time Machine was not crude humor. It was missing a key word in that phrase: humor. It just was not funny when it was supposed to be. It was not touching when it was supposed to be. The characters weren't even a little likable when they were supposed to be.
The storyline showed a comedic promise. Two long-time friends coming to the rescue of another who had possibly lost his will to live. The three decide on a trip back to the place where they experienced glory days gone by: a ski resort. Adam (John Cusack), Lou (Rob Corddry) and Nick (Craig Robinson) make up the three and Adam's nephew, Jacob (Clark Duke) tags along for lack of any other place to be. There, the three are sucked literally back to the glory days and find themselves in the 80's. Wildly colored clothes meets hair gone wild as four twits try to find their way back to their hapless lives of today. Promise meet broken promise.
Yeah, I realize that it's supposed to be stupid, but I appreciate off-kilter humor. I often flaunt a stupid humor of my own. This just never materialized. You know where the story is going, but I just found myself annoyed at how they were getting there. Further, the acting was just flat. These guys seem to make up a pretty good cast, but had no real material to work with. No impactful performances. In fact, Clark Duke, who I loved in Sex Drive, even seemed lost in this one. All in all--bad flick.
It's now out on DVD and unless you need an over sized Frisbee for your daughter's Barbie collection, I wouldn't give Hot Tub Time Machine a second thought.
Enjoy your Fourth...
True
It's been more than two months since I saw this flick. So, the fact that I've put off writing a review until now speaks volumes. It gets the ole 1/2 star rating. If you've forgotten, that qualifies this flick in the "Don't ever mention this F*&%-ing movie to me again." It's humor was rarely funny. It's story was flat out retarded. What was billed as 2010's The Hangover, came absolutely nowhere close. The Hangover was probably my favorite flick last year, so I can appreciate crude humor. I saw the thing five times in the theatre and rolled every time. Hot Tub Time Machine was not crude humor. It was missing a key word in that phrase: humor. It just was not funny when it was supposed to be. It was not touching when it was supposed to be. The characters weren't even a little likable when they were supposed to be.
The storyline showed a comedic promise. Two long-time friends coming to the rescue of another who had possibly lost his will to live. The three decide on a trip back to the place where they experienced glory days gone by: a ski resort. Adam (John Cusack), Lou (Rob Corddry) and Nick (Craig Robinson) make up the three and Adam's nephew, Jacob (Clark Duke) tags along for lack of any other place to be. There, the three are sucked literally back to the glory days and find themselves in the 80's. Wildly colored clothes meets hair gone wild as four twits try to find their way back to their hapless lives of today. Promise meet broken promise.
Yeah, I realize that it's supposed to be stupid, but I appreciate off-kilter humor. I often flaunt a stupid humor of my own. This just never materialized. You know where the story is going, but I just found myself annoyed at how they were getting there. Further, the acting was just flat. These guys seem to make up a pretty good cast, but had no real material to work with. No impactful performances. In fact, Clark Duke, who I loved in Sex Drive, even seemed lost in this one. All in all--bad flick.
It's now out on DVD and unless you need an over sized Frisbee for your daughter's Barbie collection, I wouldn't give Hot Tub Time Machine a second thought.
Enjoy your Fourth...
True
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Big Screen Blurb: Eclipse
Ahh, the plot thickens. Jacob or Edward. Most know the answer already, but the debate rages. Edward's brood has mobilized and Jacob's pack is ready to make its pitch. How it's even a question, I'll never know. It's the biggest romantic no-brainer since Shakespearean audiences were screaming, "Don't do it, dumb-ass...she's not really dead!"
Yet the debate continues. Warm versus cold. A hottie versus 'Really???' Never ending death versus, well...you get the picture. Sure, one might carry in fleas, but he'll be an animal in bed, right? Yeah, I never really saw a legitimate choice here. But then again, that might be the point. Rarely does love make sense. I look back on the moron parade that I've dated and scratch my head. Even past crushes make my interior monologue sound off with a, "What the hell were you thinking!?!" So, with love truly being a fool's game, here comes Bella, turning love into a battlefield: Jacob versus Edward.
However, when you look at Bella's personality and her life in general, we can see why she would lean toward the vampy. She comes to the great Northwest from 'Zona and was still sporting the paleness of a lifelong Alaskan. She's a nice gal, but not a real people person. And the idea of replacing her clumsiness with a little flashy, debonair grace is probably quite appealing. Yadayadayada...that's love!
The story picks up where New Moon left off. Victoria is still on the prowl, looking to avenge her lost love by ripping the stuffing out of Bella. Since she, herself has had no luck getting to Bella, Victoria decides to create a "Kill-da-Bitch" army. Vamps and Wolves unite to protect our hero. Yadayadayada, close the book on the best yet in the Twilight Saga.
This third installment steps it up a notch. No doubt. It's a good combination of plot, action and, of course, romantic drama. No real story lulls. No gashing performances. Good flick from start to finish. Now, I've never read the books (tried the first one before abandoning at the halfway mark), but I have enjoyed the movies. It's good for...3.5 stars.The consistent intensity makes for a pretty entertaining ride. Kristen Stewart (Bella), Taylor Lautner (Jacob) and Robert Pattinson (Edward) are your core three. Stewart is a seasoned pro and plays her role well. Doesn't she always. This girl is pretty darn talented. Lautner plays the jilted puppy just fine and this is probably Pattinson's best job in the role. I spent most of the first two flicks wondering who in the world ever thought that Pattinson equated with Edward. I've read enough of the book to grasp Stephanie Meyer's vision for that character. Pattinson as Edward...gee, I just don't get it. In Eclipse, however, he came to play. I still think there are more suitable vampire suitors out there, but all I ever cast is commercials, so maybe I'm missing something.
If you're a fan of the books...well, I probably don't have to tell you to go see it. If you're not a fan, but intrigued by a story that flips the conventional world of legendary bad guys (like vampires and werewolves) on its ear, turning them into the good guys...then give it a shot.
Well, that's it for me. The yard is mowed and I'm off to grab a few laps in the pool.
True...out!
Yet the debate continues. Warm versus cold. A hottie versus 'Really???' Never ending death versus, well...you get the picture. Sure, one might carry in fleas, but he'll be an animal in bed, right? Yeah, I never really saw a legitimate choice here. But then again, that might be the point. Rarely does love make sense. I look back on the moron parade that I've dated and scratch my head. Even past crushes make my interior monologue sound off with a, "What the hell were you thinking!?!" So, with love truly being a fool's game, here comes Bella, turning love into a battlefield: Jacob versus Edward.
However, when you look at Bella's personality and her life in general, we can see why she would lean toward the vampy. She comes to the great Northwest from 'Zona and was still sporting the paleness of a lifelong Alaskan. She's a nice gal, but not a real people person. And the idea of replacing her clumsiness with a little flashy, debonair grace is probably quite appealing. Yadayadayada...that's love!
The story picks up where New Moon left off. Victoria is still on the prowl, looking to avenge her lost love by ripping the stuffing out of Bella. Since she, herself has had no luck getting to Bella, Victoria decides to create a "Kill-da-Bitch" army. Vamps and Wolves unite to protect our hero. Yadayadayada, close the book on the best yet in the Twilight Saga.
This third installment steps it up a notch. No doubt. It's a good combination of plot, action and, of course, romantic drama. No real story lulls. No gashing performances. Good flick from start to finish. Now, I've never read the books (tried the first one before abandoning at the halfway mark), but I have enjoyed the movies. It's good for...3.5 stars.The consistent intensity makes for a pretty entertaining ride. Kristen Stewart (Bella), Taylor Lautner (Jacob) and Robert Pattinson (Edward) are your core three. Stewart is a seasoned pro and plays her role well. Doesn't she always. This girl is pretty darn talented. Lautner plays the jilted puppy just fine and this is probably Pattinson's best job in the role. I spent most of the first two flicks wondering who in the world ever thought that Pattinson equated with Edward. I've read enough of the book to grasp Stephanie Meyer's vision for that character. Pattinson as Edward...gee, I just don't get it. In Eclipse, however, he came to play. I still think there are more suitable vampire suitors out there, but all I ever cast is commercials, so maybe I'm missing something.
If you're a fan of the books...well, I probably don't have to tell you to go see it. If you're not a fan, but intrigued by a story that flips the conventional world of legendary bad guys (like vampires and werewolves) on its ear, turning them into the good guys...then give it a shot.
Well, that's it for me. The yard is mowed and I'm off to grab a few laps in the pool.
True...out!
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