The Top 10 Worst Movies of 2009

1) The Goods: Jeremy Piven needs to stay on Entourage.
2) Duplicity: A beautiful movie with breathtaking hotels but who cared about the story?
3) Law Abiding Citizen: Far fetched and unbelievable. A waste of talent.
4) New Moon: When this is watched by the next generation they will wonder what the fuss was all about. Nothing happens other than a boy turns into a wolf.
5) Spread: I give Ashton Kustner credit for constantly trying things but this one does not stick to the wall.
6) Inglorious Bastards: I am a HUGE Quentin Tarantino fan and I just thought that this was not his best effort.
7) Terminator: Please let's put this franchise to rest.
8) Transformers 2: Each action scene ran on way too long.
9) Ghosts of Girlfriends Past: The title tells the whole story. This one crashed and burned.
10) Watchmen: This is one superhero flick that did not work.

My 2009 Top Ten Movies

1) Taken: Relentless action and well paced.
2) Star Trek: Everything just worked. JJ Abrams is the new Steven Spielberg.
3) The Hangover: I was waiting for Wedding Crashers 2 and this one makes you wish for Hangover 2.
4) Tyson: Comes across honest and real.
5) Up In The Air: Clooney shows a new side to his character.
6) The Informant: Not many people saw this one but it was a great performance by Matt Damon.
7) Up: Another heart wrenching Pixar movie that you can't resist.
8) District 9: I was pleasantly surprised by the story and the new talented actors in this movie.
9) Julie & Julia: Meryl Streep is the BEST LIVING actress on the planet, period.
10) I Love You Man: If you watch it and you don't get it than it's not for you.

Top Ten Movies of the Decade

Article feom the NY Post. I am a big fan of A.I. but top movie of the decade???

10 years and countless films later, the aughts produced a bumper crop of great movies. Here are Kyle Smith’s and Lou Lumenick’s top picks of the decade. Read a full discussion of the movies here.

Kyle Smith:

1. A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)

2. United 93 (2006)

3. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)

4. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (2007)

5. Batman Begins (2005)

6. Amélie (2001)

7. Once (2007)

8. Team America: World Police (2004)

9. Inglourious Basterds (2009)

10. Almost Famous (2000)

Lou Lumenick:

1. The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)

2. The 25th Hour (2002)

3. Zodiac (2007)

4. Wall-E (2008)

5. A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)

6. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

7. Almost Famous (2000)

8. United 93 (2006)

9. Up in the Air (2009)

10. LOTR Trilogy:

The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

The Two Towers (2002)

The Return of the King (2003)



Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/movies/lou_kyle_top_movies_of_the_decade_sp9UN7BWFVJVuGG4NHlzMP#ixzz0bKMD8aPw

Precious

I didn’t want to see this movie because of the depressing subject and the hype of Monqiue’s performance.
I guessed prior to seeing the movie that Mo'Nique was being Mo'Nique. In other words if you have been a fan of Mo'Nique you have seen her do the angry black woman sthick before. I was right however during my various discussions regarding this flick someone did point out to me that even though I have seen Mo'Nique do this before it does not take away the performance she gives, I agree. The movie takes place in Harlem and is about an overweight, illiterate teen who is pregnant with her second child and is invited to enroll in an alternative school in hopes that her life can head in a new direction. Newcomer Gabourey 'Gabby' Sidibe gives a breakthrough performance as Precious and even though people say there are no roles for her I bet you will see her again. The singer Lenny Kravitz shows up in the movie as a male nurse as well as Mariah Carey without makeup and Sherri Shepherd from The View without her wigs. Mariah keep the makeup on and Sherri you keep wearing those wigs.

Verdict: Don’t confuse Gabourey 'Gabby' Sidibe with the girl in the TV show Glee, I already made that embarrassing mistake. No mater what color you are see the movie when it comes out on DVD because we all have a Precious in our family.

Avatar

We have waited a long for James Cameron to do another movie epic. After Terminator, Aliens, Titanic, and even The Abyss I expected a lot. Sad to say there is not much here. The story is about a paraplegic marine dispatched to the moon Pandora on a unique mission becomes torn between following his orders and protecting the world he feels is his home. I never thought I would give kudos to Kevin Costner but Kevin already did Avatar with Dances With The Wolves. If you are a Baby Boomer you can go as far back as A Man Called Horse. In other words Avatar is not original. The movie is a bloated mess. The only new thing is new 3D technology and be careful if you plan to drive after the movie. After having 3D glasses on for over 2 hours I found it difficult. I hope studies are not done later that show this new technology ruins your eyes. Look out for Sam Worthington, he is good ala a young version of Mel Gibson.

Verdict: Disappointing. See only for the visuals and new 3D technology.

The Hurt Locker

This movie is on pretty much every critic’s Top Ten movie list of 2009. Don’t believe the hype. I pretty much watched this movie while doing my laundry and the only reason I watched it to the end is because I wanted to see who was going to get blown up next. The story is about an elite Army bomb squad unit that must come together in a city where everyone is a potential enemy and every object could be a deadly bomb. The movie comes off like a documentary and is very slow. Critics may feel this movie has to be on the list because it deals with the war and while it’s an interesting movie I would not recommend people go to the theater to see it, wait for DVD. This movie is different than the dozen or so movies that have been done about the war. It’s not a movie like Blackhawk Down with lots of action. Jeremy Renner, the star of the movie, joins the group as a hotshot expert and he does a good job of holding his own. However his character does not ring true when he gets punched in the face by a superior. Steve, Clint, and even Bruce Willis would not take a punch in the face without doing something?! Again this movie does not have a lot of action but it is engrossing and you watch it only to see how it all is going to end for the team.

Verdict: Overrated

Is Avatar Racist? Reprint of article from Essence Magazine

"Avatar" may be number one at the box office, but on the blogosphere and Twitter the buzz is growing about the film's supposed racist subtext.

The premise of the movie is simple and somewhat familiar: a White man goes and lives with the "natives", learns their ways and somehow becomes their leader. If it sounds familiar it may be because the theme has been visited in movies like Kevin Costner's "Dances with Wolves" and last summer's South African sci-fi "District 9" says writer Annalee Newitz on the sci-fi blog I09. Newitz calls the all too familiar plot "a fantasy about race told from the point of view of White people."

In films like 'Avatar' she continues, "Humans are the cause of alien oppression and distress. Then, a White man who was one of the oppressors switches sides at the last minute, assimilating into the alien culture and becoming its savior."

Will Heaven of the Telegraph questions why the Na'vi (the blue skinned "natives") wear African jewelry and dreadlocks and are voiced by Black actors like Zoe Saldana, Laz Alonso and C.C.H. Pounder. "The ethnic Na'vi," he writes, "need the White man to save them because, as a less developed race, they lack the intelligence and fortitude to overcome their adversaries by themselves."

On Twitter, where "Avatar" continues to be a trending topic, conversations are not steering clear of the race issue. "Which is more racist, avatar or HP computers?" tweets one "Dr. Cop." "Why would I go see Avatar?" tweets screen name Savage575, "If I wanted to watch a racist, badly written, poorly directed, FX masterpiece I'd just watch 'Stars Wars' again."

Have you seen "Avatar"? Do you agree that it's revisiting racist themes?


Read more: http://www.essence.com/entertainment/hot_topics/does_sci-fi_blockbuster_avatar_have_a_ra.php#ixzz0aZkq28Pd

Up In The Air

This is a movie that everyone that travels for business can relate to.
George Clooney plays Ryan Bingham and has a job that has him traveling around the country firing people. Bingham leads an empty life out of a suitcase, until his company does the unexpected: ground him.
Clooney shows a new side of himself in this movie, vulnerability, and he wears it well. Director Jason Reitman (son of Ivan Reitman director of Ghostbusters) has written a screenplay that is contemporary and spot on. Vera Farmiga, who was in The Departed, does an excellent job of convincing the audience that George Clooney is the one for her. Anna Kendrick from New Moon shows that she does not need a cast of vampires to act, she is great all by herself. The movie plays on the current economy and reviews what is really important in life, Silver, Gold, Platinum access or having something to come home to once you come back from being on the road.

Verdict: MUST SEE. Clooney adds a bright new chapter to his body of work.

WOW! New Moon HISTORY!

Claiming the record for the biggest one-day gross, The Twilight Saga: New Moon raked in an estimated $72.7 million on approximately 8,500 screens at 4,024 sites. The Dark Knight was the previous title holder with $67.2 million on around 9,300 screens at 4,366 sites.
New Moon's first day more than doubled that of its predecessor Twilight, which debuted to $36 million on around 6,000 screens at 3,419 sites. Twilight's first weekend wound up at $69.6 million, which was also less than New Moon's first day. Due to fans storming theaters on its opening day, Twilight's first weekend was heavily Friday-loaded, leading to much lower grosses for Saturday ($21.3 million) and Sunday ($12.4 million). The fan fervor was even more intense for New Moon, so the picture will not maintain Friday's pace throughout the weekend.
New Moon's $72.7 million first day included an estimated $26.3 million from its midnight opening, which was also a record.

Article by Brandon Gray

This Does Not Sell Magazines!

Remember this next time you walk up to the ticket window of your local movie theater with $10 in your hand.

The Media (Accidently?) Missed this one!!!!
The troops overseas would like you to send it to everybody you know.
Denzel Washington, and Brooks Army Medical Center
Don't know whether you heard about this butDenzel Washington and his family visited the troops at Brook Army Medical Center, in San Antonio, Texas (BAMC) the other day. This is where soldiers who have been evacuated fromGermany come to be hospitalized in the United States , especially burn victims. There are some buildings there called Fisher Houses.
The Fisher House is a Hotel where soldiers' families can stay, for little or no charge, while their soldier is staying in the Hospital. BAMC has quite a few of these houses on base, but as you can imagine, they are almost filled most of the time.
While Denzel Washington was visiting BAMC, they gave him a tour of one of the Fisher Houses.
He asked how much one of them would cost to build.
He took his checkbook out and wrote a check for the full amount right there on the spot.
The soldiers overseas were amazed to hear this story
and want to get the word out to the American public,
because it warmed their hearts to hear it.
The question is :
why do:
Brad Pitt, Madonna, Tom Cruise andother Hollywood fluff
make front page news with their ridiculous antics and Denzel Washington's Patriotism
doesn't even make page 3 in the Metro section of any newspaper
except the Local newspaper in San Antonio .
A true American and friend to all in uniform!

2012

I expected another Day After Tomorrow when I heard that director Roland Emmerich was involved with this project. His best movie to date is Independence Day which was 13 years ago. Since then he has tried to match I.D. and with 2012 I feel that he is back in rare form.
Ensure that you go to the bathroom and get plenty of popcorn because 2012 is a fun, roller coaster adventure that last 2 hrs and 30+ minutes. The story is about a global cataclysm that brings an end to the world and tells of the heroic struggle of the survivors. If you are analytical, take a break and enjoy the ride. There are many holes in the story but IT'S AN END OF THE WORLD MOVIE.
The movie is perfectly cast with stars on the rise, Chiwetel Ejiofor, as well as stars that have had past success, Danny Glover and George Segal. Roland did his review of past Disaster movies such as Poseidon Adventure and included a cast of diverse characters that are very entertaining.
There are many superior visual effects that will not disappoint. I was very surprised that this disaster movie turned out to be the best one of the year. (remember Knowing & the remake of The Day The Earth Stood Still)

Verdict: A very good summer movie for the holidays. Who would have thought John Cusack could carry a hit movie?! Makes you want to rent the last hit movie he was in, 1997’s Con Air.

This Is It

He died in June and a movie comes out about him in October. I don’t think I have seen Hollywood and a major corporation (Sony) move so fast to honor a celebrity.
This Is It is not a concert movie and it is not a documentary. It is exactly what it is advertised to be, footage of preparation and rehearsals for Michael’s comeback concerts that were scheduled to take place in London.
The film begins with a scroll of what took place prior to his death this year in a Star Wars fashion. Then the words “For the Fans” comes on the screen and I beg to differ. This movie is also for the people who never had a chance to see him perform as well as the children who have adopted his music since his death. The good news is at 50 yrs old, MJ is able to keep up with outstanding dancers half his age. The bad news is that if you have never seen MJ perform in his prime then all you are seeing is a genius going through the same moves he has crafted throughout his life on stage. As you watch the amazing dancers perform behind MJ you wonder which ones will become star because they are that good. Each section of the movie reviews set up of each of MJ greatest hits. In one part of the movie Kenny Ortega, the director, is watching the stage technicians run through rehearsal of fireworks and fire that is literally running up and down the stage. MJ was burned during a Pepsi commercial during the 80’s, why he would want to deal with fire onstage again? After the dry run of fire Kenny Ortega says: Rock and Roll. The weird thing is when MJ gets on a cherry picker Kenny Ortega is so concerned with MJ s safety to the point where he is asking MJ to hold on.
It has been stated that these rehearsals captured over 100 hours of footage and Sony edited it down to 2 hours. What’s in the other footage and will it ever be released?
Now that MJ is gone you hear Beatles music (which MJ and Sony owned) in commercials frequently there is also a Beatles game. In addition you can hear MJ music everywhere. There was even a commercial for Party City that incorporated Thriller. You wonder if MJ would have approved these decisions if he were alive.
MJ fans and kids will love this movie. People who are looking for Wacko Jacko will not be satisfied because there is no footage of MJ seemingly on drugs similar to scenes from the 1981 reality documentary about Elvis called This Is Elvis. I am sure one day someone will release a Wacko Jacko film.
There is one star whose movie didn’t receive much coverage and has outlived MJ, Mick Jagger. Martin Scorsese’s 2008 Shine A Light is a documentary that you will not be able to take your eyes off because Mick is 66yrs old and he is still doing his thing. He is living proof that you can survive the blueprint that prior rock stars have perished from, sex, drugs, and now Propofol which a doctor recently told me is now called the Michael Jackson drug.
It’s ironic that MJ was at one time married to Elvis Presley’s daughter but also when Elvis died he was on a somewhat comeback tour and was headed to Nassau Coliseum to perform when he died at Graceland after a round of racquetball.

Verdict: A good movie that will bring up more questions in people’s minds on the strange demise of a talented Superstar.

Saw 6

This is a franchise that has been successful due to one thing; they have stuck to the formula. Formula equals: Use of same star as killer, utilize low budget, grainy film, and create new ways for people to try to escape a gory death.
I am a Saw fan and I LOVED IT! In fact I was laughing during parts because the Jigsaw puppet, after 5 movies and countless parodies, is not scary anymore. When you first see it on screen your mind harks back to Scary Movie and how they goofed on this franchise. Don’t get me wrong the opening scene is great and will keep Saw fans on the edge of their seats.
For those of you who are not fans you may not be able to handle the gore. Several couples walked out of my screening not being able to handle it.
The story picks up from Saw 5 where Special Agent Strahm is dead, and Detective Hoffman has emerged as the unchallenged successor to Jigsaw's legacy. However, when the FBI draws closer to Hoffman, he is forced to set a game into motion, and Jigsaw's grand scheme is finally understood.
In this movie Jigsaw targets the Insurance industry and you sort of cheer for the demise of the targets.

Verdict: The game continues and so does the franchise. I was surprised that I enjoyed this as much as I did. Usually after 3 movies a franchise is done (Blade, Underworld, House Party!) but this baby keeps rolling even though Jigsaw died in the 3rd installment. IMPORTANT: Must be seen in the movies on the big screen and load volume. When I watch these movies for a second time on DVD at home the effect is diminished. The Game is On!

Paranormal Activity

If ANYONE thought that this was a good movie after seeing it then I am starting a movie investment blog so please email me how much you would like to invest. JUST KIDDING!!
How dare any true horror fan say that this movie was scary? This movie was so poor that I didn’t even bother to take notes. Total rip off from Blair Witch and The Exorcist. The lead actress is annoying and so is her boyfriend. The scariest part of this brief, cheap flick was the blank screen after the end of the movie. The audience all waited for something to happen and it didn’t.
WE WERE ALL SUCKERS!

Verdict: Rent 1981's The Entity with Barbara Hershey (in color photo above). It’s a classic and scary. Watch at night with the sound turned up and then when that Paranormal Activity movie crap comes out on cable you will thank me.

The Stepfather

Where do I begin to review this puppy?
First of all this is a remake and if you saw the original 1987 version with the old dude in the wheelchair from Lost, Locke, Terry O'Quinn then you will be disappointed. Terry made the role his own to the point where he appeared in The Stepfather 2.
On the plus side I am a HUGE Nip/Tuck fan and Dylan Walsh was perfect casting for the role. Sela Ward who has not been seen for a while is pleasant as the wife and one of the best looking actresses 50+ yrs. Old. Penn Badgley who plays Sela’s son was surprisingly good. I didn’t expect much from him because watching him act on the TV show Gossip Girls is like watching the paint dry. In this movie he shows some range.
The movie is about, Guess? An evil Stepfather. That’s all you need to know. And the Hitchcock type ending does not work.

Verdict: Rent the original from Netflicks. Sneak into this movie if you must after paying to see a movie you really want to see. Also skip Nip/Tuck this year; the show has jumped the shark! They are utilizing the Michael Jackson storyline where one of the doctors can’t sleep unless he has drugs

Law Abiding Citizen

F. Gary Gray is a proven action director. His track record includes The Negotiator, Set It Off, and The Italian Job. So I was really looking forward to this movie. The story is about an average dude (Gerald Butler) who decides to take justice into his own hands after a plea bargain sets his family's killers free. Jamie Foxx plays the District Attorney who cuts a deal that does not favor Gerald.
For an action movie there is not enough action and the pacing is weak. Viola Davis, who was nominated for an Oscar for her excellent work in Doubt, is wasted here. She plays the mayor of Philadelphia in a one note performance. The story is weak and viewers will constantly ask themselves why don’t the characters do the obvious? Casting was also an issue. Regina Hall, who starred in the Scary Movie series, stars as Jamie Foxx’s wife. It was hard for me to see 2 actors known for their slap stick comedy try to play serious parents.
Verdict:
Disappointed. Rent The Negotiator.

Couples Retreat

I have been a Vince Vaughn fan since the movie Swingers and this week I needed a dose of V.V. so I looked forward to seeing Couples Retreat. I was not disappointed V.V. delivered in spades. The movie is about 4 couples that decide to go to a tropical retreat. One couple, played by Jason Bateman and Kristen Bell, is about to divorce and they convince 3 other couples to go to the retreat to try and save their marriage as well as enjoy themselves.
You can figure out what happens to the 3 other couples and there is not much substance. However I didn’t find myself laughing throughout the movie even thru the slow periods, where there are many.
This movie has been done before and it’s very predictable but Vince and Jon Favreau put together a script that will entertain couples. The film is also true in many situations, some couples will need to take notes from the film. This movie will deliver laughs for everyone similar to V.V.'s X-Mas movie last year 4 Christmases with Reese Witherspoon. Leon the Professional, Jean Reno, also shows up as the Retreat’s owner and leader.

Verdict: Don’t let the critics fool you, the movie is good (not as bad as they say it is) and is a couples flick. Vince and Jon have taken comedy noted from Abbott & Costello and Laurel & Hardy.

Zombieland

The trailers didn’t do this movie justice. The trailer sucked but the movie rocked.
To begin with it has two of my old time favorites in it Woody Harrelson and Bill Murray.
They can both do no wrong in a movie (I even sat thru that horrible elephant movie Larger Than Life just to see what Murray will do) all they have to do is show up and be themselves, which is what they end up doing. They are like the WC Fields of our time. Fielsds just showed up on the set and was the same person you have seen in his prior films, himself.
Zombieland focuses on two men who have found a way to survive a world overrun by zombies. Forget about all of the Dawn of the Dead movies. This is a very fresh take on zombies from Director Ruben Fleischer. Jesse Eisenberg stars as Woody’s buddy and he reminds you of Michael Cera from Juno. Newcomer Emma Stone from Superbad is superb as Whicita and even Little Miss Sunshine, Abigail Breslin stars as a badass.
The opening sequence shows excellent slow motion shots of zombies chasing civilians.
Also without giving away too much “Rules are Cool” in this movie. This is Woody’s biggest box office opening in his career. Goes to show you that it’s never too late.

Verdict: Fresh , original, and cool. I smell a franchise. Ghostbuster 3 has already been announced for 2012. Hopefully Ruben Fleischer directs it. Why do I bring this up? go see Zombieland.

Capitalism: A Love Story

As always with Michael Moore I always learn something from his films that the mass media chooses to not explore. Why is he so hated? I have liked all of his films and he is smart to use the same format (old commercials and footage form the 50’s, 60’s, & 70’s, confronting politicians on the street, and trying to see CEO's of major companies). Michael Moore's Capitalism: A Love Story explores a taboo question: What is the price that America pays for its love of capitalism? It’s called a love story because as with all love affairs that have gone wrong it involves lies, betrayal, and deceit. In this case Capitalism has been feeding America the propaganda that everyone has an opportunity to be rich in America but we don’t and the intent is to divide the country into 2 groups the rich and the poor.
Some of you may not agree with Moore’s movies but he did Roger & Me about General Motors 20 years ago and predicted their downfall. He was also right about Geroge Bush in Fahrenheit 9/11, most of America didn’t like the movie until America’s love affair with Bush was over.
Moore’s movie’s give his opinion without the feeling that you are being preached to. If you liked his previous films you will like Capitalism

Verdict: To be honest it was a scary movie.

Surrogates

I didn't see this movie advertised much prior to it's opening and when that happens it's usually a recipe for 2 hours of boredom. Correctamundo!! Set in a futuristic world where humans live in isolation and interact through surrogate robots, a cop (Willis) is forced to leave his home for the first time in years in order to investigate the murders of others’ surrogates. The only cool scene in the movie is when Willis's character is chasing a surrogate thru the city (studio lot, low budget movie) that the movie takes place in. This scene is near the end of the movie and will not make up for the price you will pay for the movie. The most amazing thing about this film is the makeup and how they now can make old actors look young. This will be interesting to watch in years to come while Hollywood tries to replace their Star Power brands like Tom Cruise and Denzel Washington. Interesting fact is that this is the first movie Ving Rhames and Bruce Willis have starred in since Pulp Fiction which was 15 years ago.

Verdict: This is no Pulp Fiction. Just another movie about robots taking over the world. Call it a surrogate but it's still a robot to me.

Love Happens

Jennifer Aniston has made some poor movie choices yet as soon as she makes a bad one like Management (which is now on DVD) she pops up on the silver screen again. Richard Gere had this problem a few years ago and I discovered that regardless of how many bad flicks Gere made he was still an International star and his movies made money. I don't think Jenn's movies make money, I just think she has a great agent. The story is about a widower whose book about coping with loss turns him into a best-selling self-help guru. On a business trip to Seattle, he falls for a woman who attends one of his seminars, only to learn that he hasn't yet truly confronted his wife's passing. Sometime Love Happens SNORE!! maybe one day Jenn will have a hit movie on her own rather than team up with Vince Vaughun in The Break Up and a dog in Marley and Me. I don't hate Jenn but she found fame on television where her Friends co-star is currently finding success again with Cougar Town (good show but they have to watch the racist jokes: Cox to a black bouncer "You are really black!?!")Where is the funny in that joke? Jenn please go back to television.
If you are looking to cry this is not the flick. It tries to be a tearjerker but star Aaron Eckhart was not believable.

Verdict: Wait for the Friends reunion.

The Informant

Ok this is a good movie but not for everybody, I repeat not for everybody. If are not one for waiting for a story to develop (because it takes a while to get started) and you don’t know where the movie is going) then this may not be for you. I found this part fascinating because I was rooting for the movie to be good and halfway thru it I thought it was going to be a clunker but Matt Damon and Steven Soderbergh turn out a very good movie.
The story is about an investigation on price fixing that went on for years.
Marvin Hamlish, famous from the 70’s does the soundtrack which harks back to the sounds of the seventies which can be irritating throughout the movie. Steven let’s Matt’s character narrate his thoughts throughout the movie just like a normal human being, I LOVED this part because it showed how all of us have loads of useless thoughts that run thru our minds on a daily basis. Scott Backla returns to the screen as an FBI guy who gets close to Damon's character. The antagonist from Back To the Future series stars in the movie as well which is produced by George Clooney.

Verdict: Good Sunday afternoon movie. One of the best scenes in the movie is when Matt Damon’s character shifts his wig and you don’t know if the director wanted you in on the joke that Damon was wearing a wig or if the character wears a wig in the movie. I felt like I was watching The Wendy Williams show and she was adjusting her wig to take out her Hot Topics notes.

I Can Do Bad All By Myself

Tyler Perry has been successful filming simple stories with up and coming actors.
In I can do Bad All By myself Tyler has the talented Taraji P. Henson in the starring role.
The movie also has the great voice of the Queen of Hip Hop Mary J. Blige and the distinctive voice of Gladys Knight. Both Mary and Gladys can’t act to save their lives and they are primarily there for their singing which there is a lot of throughout the story.
The movie is about “damaged people” who are trying to make it day by day. Taraji stars as April, a heavy-drinking nightclub singer. She wants nothing to do with kids or commitment but Madea (who is barely in the movie) pays her a visit with her sisters children.
As with all Perry’s movies there will be a happy ending and you will be preached to.
The problem with this movie is that we have seen it before and there is not enough of Madea. Taraji P. Henson is funny and keeps the movie interesting but you feel as if you are attending a service.

Verdict: If you have an aversion to going to church then skip this movie. You will feel as if you are attending a service.

The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard

This is truly a Jeremy Piven vehicle. In this movie Jeremy gets to use his negotiator shtick which he has crafted over the years.
The story is about a used car liquidator Don Ready who is hired by a flailing auto dealership to turn their Fourth of July sale into a majorly profitable event.
The movie is in the same vein as Talladega Nights, Walk Hard, etc.
James Brolin and Vhing Rhames star in the movie and they just collected a paycheck because the writing is very weak.
Will Ferrell makes a surprise appearance (are we surprised anymore at this point) and his persona is fading fast. He is bringing back memories of when he was up and coming and starring in stinkers such as A Night at the Roxbury. He also produced The Goods so beware.
During the week I saw this movie HBO was playing 1993 Judgement Night in which Piven stars and does his same negotiating shtick to Dennis Leary on top of a roof.

Verdict: You may think you know what you are getting when you go to see this but it is a B- movie. Piven gets thrown off the roof in Judgement Night by Dennis Leary, that’s how good his negotiating skills are in this movie. Watch Entourage and save your money.

Spread

Please stay away from this wanna be American Gigolo.
See it only if you are an Ashton Kutcher fan.
Ashton is a likable celebrity and his Punk’d series was a nice, fresh, update of Candid Camera. However he is not a good dramatic actor and he should stick to what he knows which is comedy.
The movie tires to be a sex comedy centered on a serial womanizer and his jilted lover. I didn’t find it funny nor will you. The funny thing was that when I got home “Dude, Where’s My Car” was playing which starred Ashton and that movie was barely funny.
Spread was so boring that this was the first time I played with Apps on my Iphone while watching a movie.
Ashton’s character wears a scarf in this movie and it does not work. His character's narrative throughout the movie also does not work.
Surprise: Maria Conchita Alonzo, whom you may remember from the 1988 Sean Penn movie Colors, makes a surprise visit at a pool.

Verdict: Rent American Gigolo if you want to see what living off women due to your good looks is all about. It’s a classic and it’s not dated.

Final Destination 4

At the end of summer the studios usually release the “crap” movies. This is one of them.
Ten years ago a new horror franchise was born and if I could kill it off now I would.
F.D. #1 was the best, it was fresh and you had actor Tony Todd from the Candyman series that made it interesting. Now with the 4th installment instead of bringing back Tony Todd they have brought F.D. back in 3D. The studios are trying to educate everyone that 3D is new and improved. It’s not. It’s the same tired effects (things being thrown at you) that I first saw back in 1982 while watching Friday the 13th part 3 in 3D.
If the studios want audience attendance to grow, 3D is not it.
The story goes that after a teen's premonition of a deadly race-car crash helps saves the lives of his peers, Death sets out to collect those who evaded their end.
Predictable, no plot, and at only 80 minutes no time for the tension to build.

Verdict: This franchise needs to shut down however with Saw 6 and Halloween 2x2 coming out I expect F.D. to continue.

Inglourious Basterds

We had Valkyrie, Black Book, and the movie with James Bond as a Jew fighting against the Nazis?!? Defiance.
I guess the word got out in Hollywood that World War 2 movies were in Vogue. I hope not to see too many more. I.B. is just ok. The story takes place in Nazi-occupied France during World War II, a group of Jewish-American soldiers known as "The Basterds" are chosen specifically to spread fear throughout the Third Reich by scalping and brutally killing Nazis.
I expected new creative visions from the man who gave us Pulp Fiction but like Orson Welles Quentin Tarantino may have peaked too soon. I. B. is in chapters similar to Kill Bill and has very long dialogue, as always in Tarantino movies, which leads to a climatic scene ending.
Nothing fresh and nothing new except for actor Christoph Waltz as Col. Hans Landa who is amazing to watch and keeps you interested in the movie. Brad Pitt, as always, gives a great performance. Also Mélanie Laurent is striking as Shosanna Dreyfus. Some critics will love this movie because films are finally being shown with Jewish people fighting back. I expect more of these movies to come.

Verdict: Quentin Tarantino has lost his cool.

Michael Jackson's Final Days - Sunset Blvd.

Almost 60 years ago a great movie was released that was disturbing for it’s time.
It’s amazing how many parallels there are in the classic movie Sunset Boulevard and the last days of Michael Jackson.
Norma Desmond played by silent film star Gloria Swanson had a chimp, MJ had Bubbles
Norma Desmond was 50 yrs. old , so was MJ.
Norma Desmond mimics Charlie Chaplin in the film with full costume, MJ was an Icon like Charlie Chaplin.
Norma Desmond was past her prime and trying to make a comeback, so was MJ.
Norma Desmond tried to make her face look young in the movie, MJ always tried.
Norma Desmond was a white woman, MJ ended up looking like a white woman.
And finally Norma Desmond lived in a large home isolated from the world at large and had purchased expense, gaudy, weird crap to fill her home, so did MJ.

Great line from the flick :You’re Norma Desmond, you used to make silent films, you used to be big. I am big, it’s the pictures that got small”.

Verdict: Watch late at night with all the lights off to get the full creepy effect of this black and white classic. Some may find this film campy but it is one of Billy Wilder’s best movie. William Holden is also great, and this was a comeback movie for him. For film buffs this is a movie that should be studied scene by scene. It was groundbreaking for it’s time and has been copied over and over again in films and television. M.J. may have been a fan.

District 9

I am one of the few people who could not get into watching Lord of the Rings. Don’t get me wrong, I tried to watch it 2 times however I couldn’t get past the little people running in the forest in and out of trees. I think they were the Hobbits. After Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson was herald as a great director. I gave him another chance with the 2005 remake of King Kong. It was a bloated mess and it only made me want to see the original black and white masterpiece with Fay Wray.
Which brings me to Peter Jackson’s new movie District 9.
It was everything you want a summer movie to be. New ideas, great special effects (way better than P.J.s King Kong) and fresh talent. The theater I attended on Day 1 of it’s opening was packed so the word was already out that this was something worth seeing. The story is about an extraterrestrial race forced to live in slum-like conditions on Earth suddenly find a kindred spirit in a government agent that is exposed to their biotechnology.
Peter Jackson is the producer of this movie and director Neill Blomkamp does a great job of pacing and character development. There was not a slow period in the movie.
Newcomer Sharlto Copley, as the lead actor, does a great job of nailing his character and I hope to see him again. I may be stretching it here but he reminded me of a method actor in the same vein as Pacino & DeNiro. Only time will tell.
Verdict: Must See! I HIGHLY recommend this movie.

GI Joe

It’s been a horrible summer for movies however GI Joe may be a sleeper hit.
Summer movie hits are all about seeing things on screen that you have never seen before. This is where GI Joe scores. There are action scenes and special effects that are presented that you have not seen in any other movie. Also the action is non stop so there is no time to think about the story because your eyes are being entertained with action, hotties, the big dude from OZ, and that evil dude from the Mummy movies.
The story is about an elite military unit comprised of special operatives known as G.I. Joe, operating out of The Pit (their headquarters), takes on an evil organization led by a notorious arms dealer. In other words take The Fantastic Four and mix it with Star Wars and you have GI Joe. I didn’t expect much from this movie because a Waynans brother was in it. That usually spells doom, however Marlon does a decent job without becoming Jamie Foxx’s character in that poor movie Stealth.
I never knew what the big deal was about Sienna Miller. I didn’t think much of her as an actress however she is great as badass Ana in this movie. Rachel Nichols also has a breakthrough role as Shanna.

Verdict: This ain't the GI Joe puppet we grew up with. Movie is worth the wait, on a cool scale of 1-10 this movie is a 9.

Have they started on a Sapronos movie?

Cast members have stated that a screenplay is in the works.
According to Cinemablend, Sopranos star Lorraine Bracco stated, “We’ve all talked to [series creator] David [Chase] to give him a kick in the booty to get [the screenplay] right.”
In regards to rumours of Jimmy G. holding up the works, Bracco stated: “I don’t think it’s that at all…I think it’s really trying to get the right script. Without the right script, it’s really not worth doing.”
I guess Tony didn't die at the end. My guess is that the movie will be out Summer of 2011, what do you think?

Morgan Freeman to marry step-granddaughter. Story from MSN.com

Rumors are swirling that actor Morgan Freeman is romantically involved with his step-granddaughter. He's 72. She's 27. We search for more on the pair and takes a look at other infamous May-December relationships.
The background: Freeman and his second wife, Myrna Colley-Lee, are said to have raised E'Dena Hines, the biological granddaughter of Freeman's first wife. (When did the affair supposedly begin?)
The divorce: Four days after a car accident in Mississippi last year with a "female friend," Freeman and Colley-Lee confirmed they were getting a divorce. (Find out more about the split.) The woman in the car with Freeman later sued him. (Why?)
Another other woman? Freeman reportedly ended a longtime affair with a schoolteacher earlier this year. (Who was she?)
The happy couple? Freeman took Hines to the 2005 Golden Globes and to the premiere of "The Dark Knight" last year. (Bing has pictures of them.)

More infamous twosomes
The director and the daughter: Woody Allen was 62 and Soon-Yi Previn was 27 when they married in 1997. The two got together when Allen was still with Previn's mom, actress Mia Farrow. (See pictures of the couple.)

"Goodness gracious!" Jerry Lee Lewis caused an uproar when he married his much younger cousin in 1957. (How old was she?)

Great review on Comic Con

By Scott Bowles and Bill Keveney, USA TODAY
Comic-Con 2009, which ended Sunday in San Diego, drew 125,000 fans, who traveled many miles and waited in line for hours just for glimpses of favorite stars and sneak peeks at movies, TV series and, of course, comics. USA TODAY hits a few highlights:
All the faces of 'Iron Man 2'
A raucous crowd of 6,500 filled Hall H of the Convention Center for Iron Man 2, which unofficially closed the movie portion of Comic-Con on Saturday. The trailer for the original film two years ago helped make Iron Man a blockbuster and put Comic-Con on the map.
The new four-minute preview showed Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark refusing to turn over his suit to the government, Scarlett Johansson making mincemeat of a foe as Black Widow, Sam Rockwell dealing weapons as Justin Hammer, and Don Cheadle suiting up as War Machine. "This is the most important time for me," director Jon Favreau said of Comic-Con, "more important than the premiere, the screenings. This is when we show them the gist of the movie, what we've got. If we don't get them now, I'm not sure how you get them back."
Then there's Gary Oldman. The British actor, making his first visit to Comic-Con, is a beloved presence for his work in The Dark Knight, BatmanBegins, The Fifth Element and two Harry Potters. Here to promote his apocalyptic thriller The Book of Eli, Oldman understands the popularity of the films.

But he can't quite get his head around the adulation he receives for his roles. "People especially remember you as a villain," says Oldman, who has played some larger-than-life bad guys in movies including Element, Eli and The Professional. "I'm not sure how I ever got those parts," he says. "I'm a pretty small guy. Naked, I look like a bald chicken."

For Jackson, a chance to be 'daring'

Peter Jackson, architect of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, isn't known for going small. But the Oscar-winning director is looking pretty comfortable hawking District 9, which he produced.

Making the low-budget sci-fi thriller "reminded me how much I enjoyed doing small films," says Jackson, who started out directing cheap horror flicks. "You can be so much more daring. It feels good to be involved in guerrilla filmmaking."

Guerrilla is right. District 9, which became a talker after its debut here Friday, is not your typical alien movie. Directed by newcomer Neill Blomkamp, the film is shot documentary-style, and the aliens aren't the blow-up-the-White-House type. Instead, they're forced into South African ghettos. "I told Neill to enjoy this," Jackson says. "It doesn't get more fun than this. When you do bigger movies, you can't take as many chances."

Cameron climbs back into driver's seat

Making a movie, James Cameron says, is a lot like riding a bike. "You never really forget," says Cameron, whose 3-D extravaganza Avatar is the director's first feature in 12 years. "It felt very natural, even though the technology has changed. I couldn't wait to get started shooting."

Cameron has spent four years creating the technology behind his film, about a war between mankind and the indigenous population of the planet Pandora. The Comic-Con crowd rose to its feet after the 25-minute reel and was buzzing about the improved 3-D effects. But Cameron hopes the film isn't buzzed about more for its toys than its script. "If I'm doing my job right, all of that technology will slowly disappear, and people will forget everything but the story."

New level of fame with 'New Moon'

Twilight heartthrob Robert Pattinson ought to be used to fame by now. But there's a big difference between Hollywood fame and Comic-Con fame. He and co-stars Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner found that out as they took the stage in front of 6,500 screaming fans to show footage from The Twilight Saga: New Moon, out Nov. 20.

"This year, I have something to say," he cracked, joking about last year's Comic-Con, which left him nearly speechless. "It's much more terrifying."

The crowd, made up largely of young girls (some camped out for two days), lost it when Lautner removed his shirt in one scene to tend to Stewart's blood-dappled forehead. "The energy in there is almost physical," Stewart says. "You can literally feel it. It was amazing to see that many fans in one place."

Director Chris Weitz says it drove home just how much is at stake. "I've inherited some very big, ladylike shoes," says Weitz, who is taking over the franchise after Catherine Hardwicke directed the 2008 original. "But I've inherited a great story, great fans."

'True' love heats up

As HBO's True Blood enters the second half of Season 2, expect the romantic triangle between mind reader Sookie (Anna Paquin) and vampires Bill (Stephen Moyer) and Eric (Alexander Skarsgard) to heat up.

Skarsgard says Sookie "comes along, and there's something different about her. For the first time in a really long time, (Eric is) curious." He told the Comic-Con crowd he'd personally like to see the relationship intensify: "Just look at her," he said, referring to Paquin on the panel. But he quickly followed with an apology: "I'm sorry, Stephen." (Moyer and Paquin are an item in real life.)

Series creator Alan Ball said that viewers can expect a third season: "It's not officially announced, but I think it will be pretty soon."

Deeper stories for 'Heroes'

The new fall volume for NBC's Heroes, "Redemption," places the super-folk back in their ordinary lives after a season as fugitives. "But what does ordinary life look like when you have powers? Do you hide? Do you try to fit in?" creator Tim Kring asked.

Though the low-rated third season was panned by critics, there was no evidence of lost enthusiasm in the packed audience, and neither cast nor fans raised any concerns about Season 3. The new volume includes new people with abilities, hiding in plain sight by working at a carnival. New cast members include Prison Break's Robert Knepper, whose character is an earthmover, and Ray Park, whose character has super speed.

Kring said there will be fewer stories per episode this season, with the goal of "going deeper, not wider." And Claire (Hayden Panettiere) will be headed to college, where she makes friends with another student (Madeline Zima). "I think you guys are going to like us together," Panettiere said, before cooling down the crowd. "Not in that way."

Learn a little about 'Lost' happenings

Did Jack's plan to detonate an atomic bomb succeed in undoing Lost's plane crash? A couple of fake commercials during Lost's session hinted the explosion that closed Season 5 may have averted the crash that started the ABC series. One featured an Oceanic Airlines ad promoting 30 years of "perfect safety" since 1979, which would seem to preclude the crash in 2004. Other tidbits dropped by executive producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse:

•A back story will explain the non-aging Richard Alpert (Nestor Carbonell).

•Juliet (Elizabeth Mitchell), who was next to the bomb when it detonated, will return, as will Faraday (Jeremy Davies), who appeared to have been shot and killed earlier last season.

•Characters whom viewers haven't seen since Season 1 will return for the sixth and final season.

Ex-Lostie Dominic Monaghan (who'll star in ABC's FlashForward) made a surprise appearance.

Happier times at '24,' but not for long

Season 8 of 24 opens to a glitzier, shinier CTU — and a brighter life for hero Jack Bauer. Fortunately for fans, the clouds roll in quickly.

A clip showed the headquarters of the Counter Terrorist Unit, back after being disbanded at the end of Season 6, all chrome and glass and cool lights. And Jack's not only still alive, but in a happy place, spending time with his daughter and granddaughter, executive producer Manny Coto said.

Trouble appears at a U.N. peace conference with President Taylor (Cherry Jones) and the president of Iran (Anil Kapoor). A possible assassination attempt draws Jack out of "retirement," said star Kiefer Sutherland. "This season is more grounded in what possibly could happen. There's a sense of reality that almost brings it back to Season 1," he said.

Freddie Prinze Jr. joins the cast as CTU agent Cole Ortiz, and Katee Sackhoff plays his fiancée, Dana Walsh, a CTU data analyst.

Public Enemies

This has to be the WORST summer for movies and entertainment. I find myself finding zero movies that are coming out that I want to see, no new DVD releases that I am interested in seeing (I just rented Cuba Gooding in The Devil's Tomb to play in the background while I answer email), and nothing on TV (I am watching Wipeout and Superstars and falling asleep while they are on). What is going on? Sad to say that the Michael Jackson 24/7 coverage has been the only interesting thing to watch.
With that lets get into Public Enemies. In 2 words, “it’s weak”. Michael Mann has been a favorite of mine since Miami Vice and his film Collateral with Tom Cruise was a cool urban drama. With Public Enemies you get the attention to detail in the shootouts that Mann is known for but you really don’t care about the characters. Why? Because when we first see Dillinger (Johnny Depp) on the screen he is already a gangster and the audience has no idea why he became one or why he pursued a life of crime.
The movie covers Dillinger’s life similar to the (2) previous John Dillinger movies (Dillinger, 1945 starred then Pretty Boy Lawrence Tierney. Check him out in 1992's Reservoir Dogs and see how time destroyed his looks. The other Dillinger movie was made in 1973 and made a star of Warren Oates). Nothing-new here. Depp does a good job with what he is given which isn’t much. I ended up renting the old Dillinger movies and guess what? They were dated but better.
During this 3rd remake I started thinking about why prior gangster movies like the Untouchables were so much better than this. The reason: The Untouchables had heart, this doesn’t.
Now look at this cast: James Russo, who was a great bad guy in the 80’s, Channing Tatum (per People magazine the new Bruce Willis), Stephen Dorff, Christian Bale (Batman), Giovanni Ribisi (from Boiler Room), Billy Crudup (the one time new James Dean), and Academy Award winner for Best Actress Marion Cotillard are in this movie. You would expect a cool movie right, wrong. Their talents are all wasted here. In fact I forgot most of them were in it.

Verdict: I saw this movie when it came out and I just now decided to write about it. That should tell you something. The trailer was WAY better than the movie. If you are a die-hard Depp fan, and you need to see him, wait for Alice In Wonderland coming this fall.

Transformers 2

Yesterday I survived 2 ½ hours of Transformers.
I think there was a mix-up in distribution. If this is not the Director’s Cut then I am afraid to see what scenes were cut out. Prep for movie: No need to worry about walking away to go to the bathroom or get popcorn. I left to get a soda during one scene. I was gone for a full 15 minutes and they were still in the same scene I had left.
I had hope for this movie because it started out good with the original characters returning and Shia heading off to college. The story is about Deception forces that return to Earth on a mission to take Sam Witwicky, Shia LaBeouf prisoner, after the young hero learns the truth about the ancient origins of the Transformers. That was a mouthful, and do you care? Not much. Most of the buzz from the guys waiting online to get in to see the show was about Megan Fox. Michael Bay does an excellent job of showcasing her assets. She does not have that many lines but in every scene her makeup I perfect and her lips are slightly parted, even when see is running in the desert. Bay also brings in a competitor for Megan so that there is enough eye candy during this poor edited mess.
The problem with this movie is that it takes itself too seriously. This is a summer movie and it should go down easy, be fun, and make you forget about the heat outside. But it doesn’t, I kept daydreaming about everything but the movie. Julie White was excellent as Shia’s mom in the first Transformers but in Fallen her act wear thin.

Verdict: If you have 2+ hrs. to waste and there is ABSOLUTELY nothing else in the theaters you want to see, then still don’t go see this movie.

Is the Hangover Really That Funny?

Thursday, June 18, 2009
From OC Register
Barry Koltnow

You're probably losing sleep over concerns about how you're going to pay the rent, put your kids through school and survive your retirement years.

But, in Hollywood, all they're talking about is "The Hangover."

They're spending sleepless nights trying to figure out how this bachelor-party-in-Vegas comedy became the surprise hit of the summer.

This is even a bigger topic of conversation than the David Letterman-Sarah Palin controversy.

I, too, have wondered about "The Hangover," but I'm certainly not staring at my bedroom ceiling trying to come up with an answer.

But I don't own a movie studio. Those who do can talk about nothing else these days. And I have a pretty good idea of how these conversations might sound.

I should warn you that I have no proof that the following conversation ever took place. But, if I had any money left after my recent work furlough, I'd bet that it did.

STUDIO EXECUTIVE NUMBER ONE: Do you have the answer?

STUDIO EXECUTIVE NUMBER TWO: What answer?

ONE: The answer to the question that all of Hollywood is asking.

TWO: Why Eddie Murphy keeps getting jobs?

ONE: No, not that one.

TWO: How did two movies about mall cops get released at the same time?

ONE: No, not that one.

TWO : Why William Shatner didn't get a cameo in the new "Star Trek" movie?

ONE: No, not that one. The other one.

TWO: Oh, "The Hangover" question.

ONE: Of course. It's the only question that matters. We must find out the secret to its success because it's easier to copy other people's successes than to come up with our own original ideas.

TWO: It's how Hollywood works.

ONE: Exactly. So, do you have the answer?

TWO: I've watched the movie 132 times, and I can't pin it down. There are no bankable stars in it, and the funniest part of the movie happens during the final credits when people are walking out of the theater. It doesn't make sense. I'm so confused.

ONE: Any possible answers?

TWO: At first, I thought it might be Mike Tyson. He was pretty funny in the movie, although he does sucker punch one of the main characters. That was kind of thuggish, and I don't think we want to start sucker-punching our stars for the sake of comedy.

ONE: I agree. And I don't think it was Tyson. His documentary has made less money than I've got in my wallet right now, so I don't think people are clamoring to the multiplex to see Mike Tyson.

TWO: Then I thought it might be the blue tuxedoes. Everybody thinks blue tuxedoes are funny.

ONE: Sure, but are blue tuxedoes alone worth a $10 movie ticket? I don't think so.

TWO: I know you're right. I was desperate. I also thought it might be the tiger.

ONE: Trust me, it's not the tiger. Chimpanzees and orangutans are box-office gold, not tigers. Study your Hollywood history.

TWO: Sorry about that. What about Heather Graham? What guy doesn't love Roller Girl? And she exposes her breast.

ONE: A very sexy image, but not really funny. Naked isn't funny. What else have you got?

TWO: What about the setting? Who doesn't like to look at Las Vegas in a movie?

ONE: I'd go along with that theory, but people are staying away from Vegas. I don't think they miss it so much that they need to look at it nostalgically in a movie.

TWO: Some people are still going to Las Vegas.

ONE: They're gamblers. They don't go to the movies. What else?

TWO: What about the bachelor party theme?

ONE: Two words – Tom Hanks.

TWO: You didn't like "Bachelor Party?"

ONE: It doesn't matter whether I liked it. It wasn't funny. We're trying to find out why "The Hangover" was funny.

TWO: Maybe it wasn't really funny.

ONE: What do you mean?

TWO: Maybe it wasn't the story or the setting or the stars. Maybe it was the idea of "The Hangover."

ONE: Have you been taking philosophy courses at the Learning Annex?

TWO: No, hear me out. What if "The Hangover" wasn't funny at all, but its success could be tied to a brilliant promotional campaign that tricked people into thinking it was funny?

ONE: You've got my attention. Please go on.

TWO: What if the marketing guys at the studio came up with a brilliant plan to make people believe they were going to laugh. So when people walked into the theater, they were already primed to laugh.

ONE: Those marketing guys must be geniuses.

TWO: That's what I'm thinking.

ONE: So our movies don't have to be funny; we just need to fool people into thinking they're funny.

TWO: This is so much easier than making a funny movie.

ONE: I'm laughing all the way to the bank.

The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3

Denzel does it again and proves why he is a 2 time Oscar winner.
Taking of Pelham not only showcases Denzel’s talents but John Travolta’s as well.
Denzel stars as New York City subway dispatcher Walter Garber, whose ordinary day is thrown into chaos by the hijacking of a subway train
The original 1974 movie was not a big box office success but the acting was top notch with Walter Matthau and Robert Shaw and the ending was one of the most memorable ones of all the movies made during the 70s.
No need to see the original to enjoy this new version. Tony Scott pairs well with Denzel and action (see 2004 Man on Fire). It was great to see Tony Soprano on the screen again (James Gandolfini) playing the mayor of NYC. He is missed and I pray that HBO makes a Sapronos movie to tie up loose ends (like the Russian that escaped in the snow in the Pine Needles episode).
Back to Pelham. I love when Travolta says the MotherF word throughout the movie with such relish. John Travolta was nominated early in his career for Saturday Night Fever. When he lost his mother told him it was a good thing because he wouldn’t have anything to look forward to. Well John does an awesome job and during the movie you forget that he is Travolta.

Verdict: Solid remake. Definitely go see it and rent the original and watch it on a rainy day.

The Hangover

Take the Wedding Crashers and and Old School and you have The Hangover.
My teenage daughter told me she laughed throughout the movie, I didn’t. Don’t get me wrong there are plenty of laughs in this movie but my expectations were very high due to the excellent trailer that was shown in theaters months before the movie opened.
You have seen this movie before in various versions. The story is about three groomsmen who lose their about-to-be-wed buddy during their drunken misadventures in Vegas.
Bradley Cooper, the crazy fiance from Wedding Crashers, takes on the Vince Vaughn leading man role and does an ok job. There is a baby in the movie that has the cooliest expressions. I was wondering if some of the expressions were CGI. Also Mike Tyson makes a great appearance, but it is Zach Galifianakis as “Fat Jesus” who steals the movie. Every few years there is a fat comedian that comes on the scene and makes millions, John Belushi, John Candy, Chris Farley, and Artie Lang from the Howard Stern show. Look for big things from Zach. The teenagers sitting behind me in the theater had already seen the movie so I expect this movie to make tons of scratch.

Verdict: Good movie, you will laugh however the editing could have been crisper. Lots of slow periods to go to the bathroom and get food. Best creative part was how they ended the movie.

UP

I didn’t want to go and see UP because I felt that there would not be much of a story of an old man that goes up in the sky in his house via balloons.
I was wrong. There is a story and you will find it heart warming even though these are fictional characters.
The story is about, 78-year-old Carl Fredricksen (played by Ed Asner from the old Mary Tyler Moore show) and how he sets out to fulfill his lifelong dream to see the wilds of South America. A young boy named Russell joins him on his adventure.
The music used in the telling of Carl’s early life with his wife is reminiscent of a Charlie Chaplin silent movie and it works in making you feel for Carl as he goes off on his adventure.
Ed Asner surprisingly still has some acting chops left in him.
No need to bring kids to this one, in fact I was the only one in the theater that brought kids and I was trying to make them keep quiet due to all the adults at a children's movie. It’s a very good movie.

Verdict: Pixar gives you your money's worth.

Drag Me To Hell

I am a HUGE fan of Evil Dead and Sam Raimi and that is why I couldn’t wait to see this movie.
HUGE Disappointment!

Raimi lost his touch for horror, he has done an AWESOME job with all the Spiderman movies (I loved 3 even though many people didn’t) but he does nothing new here with horror.
This movie is about a loan officer ordered to evict an old woman from her home and finds herself the recipient of a curse, which turns her life into a living hell. She turns to a seer to try and save her soul. Alison Lohman as the loan officer is perfectly cast and Justin Long (the guy from all the Apple commercials) plays himself, again. This guy seems to do a movie every month. Why does he still do Apple commercials? His ass is probably tied to an iron clad contract. Anyway the movie could have been a Creepshow or Twilight Zone episode. It reminded me of The Stephen King 1996 movie Thinner, where a gypsy curses a fat guy to lose weight regardless of how much he eats.

Verdict: The scariest thing about this movie for me was seeing it in an empty theater. I was the only one in attendance?!? Wait for the midnight showings in order to goof on the flick. I laughed at many scenes. Great title, weak movie. Rent Thinner instead if you have not seen it.

Terminator Salvation

Many many years ago there was a television show called Time Tunnel on ABC and it was a huge hit for it's time. That was the 60's. We now have every other movie and television show trying to tell stories with time travel. It's a crutch for creativity and without revealing too much this is one of the reasons why Terminator 4: Salvation is rubbish.

McG, the Director who gave us the Charlies Angels movies, took on more than he could chew. There was no way he was going to top James Cameron's masterpiece T2. One of the reasons why T2 was great for it's time was that you saw things on the screen that you have never seen in any other movie. New special effects, that is what makes a great summer movie. That does not happen during Salvation, in fact the Terminator robots are now tired looking since the Transformers came out. Also the story is weak, maybe this is why Christian Bale lost it during the shoot, he probably knew that the movie was not going to be any better than T3.

Whoopi Goldberg was right. After seeing this movie she said that there is no room for ugly people in the future. Pretty much everyone in the movie is good looking. Sam Worthington and Moon Bloodgood are the only stars that come out of this mess unscathed. They are stars of our future.

Verdict: Plenty of action that goes no where, weak story, and no heart. Bad news: T5 is already in development. Good News: James Cameron is finally coming out with a new movie, Avatar. Let's hope he has not lost his touch.

PASSAGE OF TIME LEAVES OUT NO ONE !!!