Sorry, I havent posted in awhile, I really havent seen that many movies lately. I recently got back from a trip to "Magic Mountain" down in LA, that was a blast. I also starting getting back into the writing mood. I have so many ideas coming in and out of my day to day that it seems to be getting more and more frustrating knowing there is nothing I can do with them until I get a camera. Luckily I have a job now so that dream may be closer to reality then ever before. In the meanwhile though I'll just write, kick back and hang out with the misses... and hopefully get out there and see some goddamn movies!
talk to you soon.
April 13, 2008
March 18, 2008
"Tropic Thunder" trailer!
I really think the sight of Robert Downey Jr. playing a black man is reason enough for me to want to see this. Hope its awesome. Tell me what you think:
http://www.tropicthunder.com/
March 17, 2008
The ridiculously long "Horton Hears A Who" Review.
I'm really not sure what I was expecting when walking into "Horton" on Friday night. I guess, if anything, a lot of laughs and a chance to put my brain on stand by. See, Hollywood's last few tries at Seuss weren't what you would call loyal depictions of the books. I didn't think The Grinch was total shit like some, I mean, the main twenty or so odd pages were there but they just decided to add another one hundred on top of it. I think they would've been better off taking Seuss' name off of it and just pretending that they weren't plagiarizing. It's not a terrible film as much as it was a film that took something cute and almost made it too much. Now, The Cat In The Hat we can say was just flat-out adult humored, double-entendra'd garbage that I enjoy from time to time with a nice glass of "3 Blind Moose Merlot" (Don't ask me why, but sometimes I just like shit movies cause they make me laugh). As you stand back to look, many would say that Dr. Seuss has never been successfully adapted to the big screen. Well they obviously haven't seen Horton Hears A Who.
Horton Hears A Who is a simple story with some big ideas (pun not intended). Its the story of an elephant (Jim Carrey) who stumbles upon a spec that contains a civilization of tiny people called the Who's. They live in who-ville. Who knew? Shit, didn't mean that. Anyway, Horton hears there cries, makes contact with the tiny Mayor of Whoville (Steve Carell) and makes it his civil duty to place there spec in a safe and secluded cave, up in the who mountains. The only thing stopping him is an uptight kangaroo (Carol Burnette) who believes Horton is speaking of lies and madness and its effecting the children. Its a journey through a plethora of brightly colored scenery's and stars an amazing ensemble of characters including Horton's best friend, the hyper-active, pint-sized Morton (Seth Rogen) who is amazing in it, a pudgy orange thing (Jonah Hill), and a Russian vulture named Vlad (Will Arnett) amongst others.
Under its surface, it makes you realize that Dr Seuss is no dummy. It has multiple morals but the main being that no matter the size, anyone can make a difference. Another one is "a person is a person, no matter how small" which some say closely dwells into abortion, but we wont go into that in this review. There's so much going on in this movie but it all plays on the same moral, and I really digged that. Another great thing about this film is I found it only to get funnier and funnier as the movie progressed, and all the while staying a G-rating. But the most reassuring thing is nearly everything about this movie so Dr. Seuss, its amazing. Now, unlike the Grinch, it isn't like they took the short story and added in a whole beginning and middle that no one remembers reading at all but instead expanded the story to a feature length scope and placed a lot of fillers throughout it. The result is a pretty smooth ride.
One thing I always wondered was what Dr. Seuss would think if he was still alive and saw what became of his legacy (and how pissed he would be to see The Cat In The Hat). Well, I was watching one of those premiere interview deals for 'Horton' on TV and his wife was there and did a quick interview. The reporter asked her if "Mr. Geisel" would like what's become of Horton if he saw the movie today and without hesitation she said "oh god yes. he'd love it!" It really put me at ease before seeing it and I really could figure out why throughout the movie. Its one of those films that (with exception of a couple pop culture references) really doesn't come up with something recycled; it feels very fresh considering it was based on a book written decades ago. It's thoroughly enjoying up to its heart-pounding (I shit you not), exciting, stupid-grin-on-your-face, third act where you're just awed that that small book became this, and you're totally fine with it. Well, I mean, I hope you're totally fine with it, I mean, I'm not trying to brainwash you or anything, I just hope you like it is all.
All in all this movie is sugarcoated with every cliche thing you could say about a kids movie. Heartwarming, funny, exciting, etc, etc. My only gripes were, as I said before, a few pop culture references that really didn't need to be in there as much. There's a myspace joke, and they sing Chicago, amongst other things that felt really odd in a nearly flawless movie. Also did have its fair share of generic one liners where you're wondering where to laugh, which are mostly from Will Arnett's character, sadly. Things like "right in the beak" and such. Some of these things can easily be overlooked when you step back and realize that this movie is the closest anyone has ever come to making Seuss into 90min that's its ridiculous its taken this long. I really hope to see more adaptations that are as good as this, if not better. Just don't do The Lorax, because that would seriously make everyone cry... seriously. Now go out and take your kids and/or parents and enjoy... then buy it on Blu-ray and enjoy some more.
Other than that, keep a look out for "Katie", I literally was crying well past the movie's ending after her final appearance, John Powell's score is amazing, There's this really cool sound effect in the end with this sound wave that the major's son Jo-Jo makes, it was really badass. I think that's it.
*exhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaale* (you'll get it later)
Horton gets an 8.5/10, 'cause its my blog and I said so!
March 14, 2008
Wall-E Theatrical Trailer!
So I've been eyeballin' this little Pixar movie for a few months now and after seeing the theatrical trailer for it, I'm completely sold. I am very very excited for Wall-E. Call it another award on Pixar's mantle, I suppose, 'cause I can call this one from a mile away. Dammit, this looks adorable! Its further proof that Andrew Stanton is a bonified pimp, in every endearing meaning of the word. Keep an eye out for the character that says "Moe", nearly exploded with "aww's". I'm sensitive: http://www.apple.com/trailers/disney/walle/
So lets talk Batman...
As I look forward to the coming summer months my head is boggled; never has there been so many summer movies I was excited for. Literally, I think I counted twenty, It's ridiculous. At the top of my list is The Dark Knight, without a doubt. After seeing Batman Begins I could sleep easy knowing that Batman has finally been given his big screen due. I don't know if any of you are but I can't stand the four batman movies that came before. Let me explain:
First off, I think it goes without saying that we don't have to reminisce about Forever and Batman and Robin. Uhm, Tommy Lee Jones-why? And nipple suits (quiver). Now moving onto those two Tim Burton versions, the first two (this is of course disregarding the original Adam West serials which are pure comedic gold but alas a saga of their own): I remember watching those a couple years ago and not being able to finish them, my main gripe, as I remember was this wasn't my Batman, he wasn't breaking jaws and saying no to taking your shit. Basically, he wasn't a hardass. So later on, I hear people saying that those were the best ones and I was thrown back into my seat- whats this? Did I miss something? So, I'm at home one night and either the first or Returns comes on, I don't remember and I'm thinking "okay, lets give this another go". Right when I think that Batman whips out a Baterrang and throws it at a good while making the "woosh woosh" noise followed by a couple "boings" and "bops". Yeah, fuck it. I also remember a scene where the Batwing was trying to shoot at penguin(?) and it missed him about five times and kept having to fly by over and over again. I think Burton was trying to build suspense but it was just fucking boring, as I remember.
So here I was, completely positive these weren't good movies. Well sure enough, the people that were saying they were so good were of close those Hot Topic dwelling Tim Burton fanboys. Nothing against it if that's your lifestyle, just don't review movies... please? THEN, after that I hear a quote from Tim Burton that was along the lines of "I've never picked up a comic in my life"- it may have been "I've never picked up a Batman comic..." but I'm gonna broaden it because I don't want him making comic book movies anymore. So after that, I could bring this proposal to you, America: Those first four Batman movies never happened and lets all make a pact that Batman Begins is the greatest comic movie ever made and that its the only serious attempt at Batman ever made AND Christian Bale is the greatest Batman EVER (and (god this is such a run on sentence) Heath Ledger (R.I.P. (parenthesis attack!!!)) is probably a brilliant, if not perfect, Joker). Oh, you can watch the Adam West serials whenever, we can allow that.
Hope to see you all "The Dark Knight" IMAX midnight at The Metrion in San Fran in July :D
P.S. If you are a Tim Burton fanboy, I got nothing against the guy as long as he stays away from Batman. Sweeney Todd was bitchin' and so was Big Fish. Sleep easy, America.
First One, Here We Go...
So I'm pretty new to this whole "blogger" scene but I think I'll get the hang of things sooner than later. I used to review movies on xanga about a year and a half ago. I had some people that were actually interested in what I had to say [which was shocking] so I decided to go back to doing that, cause, well, it made me feel good. So here I am, round 2.
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