Last weekend was a good one. I went to two different movies, 42 and Evil Dead. 42 was good, and Evil Dead wasn't. You can read my reviews for yourself but for now it's time to look forward to what is coming out this week.
1) PAIN AND GAIN: Based on a true story about two personal trainers who get caught up in a criminal enterprise gone wrong.
The Good: Mark Wahlberg is always good for a few laughs.
The Bad: Mark Wahlberg + Dwayne Johnson + Ken Jeong + Michael Bay = Disaster of the highest order.
Final Thoughts: The best actor in this whole movie is Ed Harris and he hasn't been in a good movie in about 10 years. My boycott of Ken Jeong continues. Nor will I waste my money to see a Michael Bay movie in the theaters.
2) THE BIG WEDDING: In order to please the mother of the bride, the groom's parents have to pretend to like each other.
The Good: It's an all-star cast of comedians.
The Bad: It's an all-star cast of comedians with no direction and nothing to do except act zainy.
Final Thoughts: How is it Pain and Gain isn't the worst movie coming out this week?
Everyone, save your money and go see Iron Man 3 next week.
See you at the movies.
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Evil Dead (2013) Review: Pass the barf bag
This movie is disgusting. I know from the trailers it was going to be more horror than comedy compared to the original Evil Dead movie, but this movie upped the gore factor to eleven and broke the knob.
I'm not going to complain too much about the visuals of the movie. It is actually the kind of stuff I like. Practical effects done with surprisingly high levels of competence. Very little CGI effects were used in this movie. The problem was that it was just too much. At one point it literally rained blood. And that was one of the more tame visuals.
I'd say the part that really bothered me was that this movie said it was a re-make of the original Evil Dead and it just wasn't. The characters are different, the tone is different, and the ending is different. While I don't want to complain that it's different, I think it would've benefitted from a different title. Instead of being a "re-make" have it be a sequel. Nobody calls Army of Darkness "Evil Dead 3", but it's still part of the franchise.
There are other times in the movie where it tried to have "a moment". It tries to get us to care about the characters but by the time they get to them it's just too late. It's a little hard to go from zombies vomiting concentrated evil to a 'good-bye my love' scene.
If you are going to see this movie, bring a barf bag. I'm not kidding. Blood flows like water all over the place. It's just non-stop. It really takes away from the pace of the movie because we as the audience are constantly trying to digest the latest blood soaked scene. The movie will never let you breathe and honestly it takes away from the fun of horror movies. It doesn't take the time to set up the scenes. Just as soon as one bloody scene is finished, it will flip to the next page of the Necronomicon and now we are doing that bloody scene. By the time it got to the climax, I was spent. I wasn't interested anymore. Just a little note to the director of Evil Dead: The audience can become desensitized. Pace yourself.
Bottom line: if you are an Evil Dead fan, this isn't for you.
I'm not going to complain too much about the visuals of the movie. It is actually the kind of stuff I like. Practical effects done with surprisingly high levels of competence. Very little CGI effects were used in this movie. The problem was that it was just too much. At one point it literally rained blood. And that was one of the more tame visuals.
I'd say the part that really bothered me was that this movie said it was a re-make of the original Evil Dead and it just wasn't. The characters are different, the tone is different, and the ending is different. While I don't want to complain that it's different, I think it would've benefitted from a different title. Instead of being a "re-make" have it be a sequel. Nobody calls Army of Darkness "Evil Dead 3", but it's still part of the franchise.
There are other times in the movie where it tried to have "a moment". It tries to get us to care about the characters but by the time they get to them it's just too late. It's a little hard to go from zombies vomiting concentrated evil to a 'good-bye my love' scene.
If you are going to see this movie, bring a barf bag. I'm not kidding. Blood flows like water all over the place. It's just non-stop. It really takes away from the pace of the movie because we as the audience are constantly trying to digest the latest blood soaked scene. The movie will never let you breathe and honestly it takes away from the fun of horror movies. It doesn't take the time to set up the scenes. Just as soon as one bloody scene is finished, it will flip to the next page of the Necronomicon and now we are doing that bloody scene. By the time it got to the climax, I was spent. I wasn't interested anymore. Just a little note to the director of Evil Dead: The audience can become desensitized. Pace yourself.
Bottom line: if you are an Evil Dead fan, this isn't for you.
Friday, April 19, 2013
42 Review: The Times They Are A Changin'
When writing a review, one of the worst things is trying to think about what to say. I really don't have much to say about this movie. Perhaps I should first talk about the man this movie is trying to tell us about, Jackie Robinson.
Back in the 1940s, black people were not allowed to play baseball with white people. The mantra of the time was 'separate but equal' but the reality of it all was that blacks were given none of the advantages of life in the United States. It was a shameful time. Minorities played a huge role in helping to fight Hitler in World War II, but still any non-white people were looked down upon and were the subject of great hostility.
Much of the movie credits Brooklyn Dodgers' owner Branch Rickey for taking up the cause of integration in baseball. He wanted a black player to play for the Dodgers and he was fully aware the hostility and criticism he was going to get. He knew he was putting whatever player he found in personal danger and putting the hopes and dreams of an entire people upon his shoulders. It couldn't just be any player. It had to be someone of exceptional character.
That's when he found Jackie Robinson. To say Jackie Robinson was the best black baseball player in the Negro Leagues is an overstatement. There were several great players to choose from; not the least of them were Satchel Paige, Cool Papa Bell, Josh Gibson, and Roy Campanella. Robinson wasn't chosen because he was the best. He was chosen because he was a lieutenant in the army during World War II and served alongside white soldiers. He went to UCLA and went to school with white people. Most importantly, he had the fortitude and intelligence to know he can never fight back against all the hate being flung his way.
The movie focuses a lot on how Jackie Robinson through being an almost Christ-like human being was able to win over his teammates, the way he played won over the fans, and how inspirational his struggle was to other people of color.
Baseball is America. It is America's game not because it's the most popular sport, but because it reflects the best and the worst of what we are as a people. No matter the struggles America goes through, baseball has always gone on. When World War II took many of the best ballplayers in the Major Leagues to Japan and Germany, up popped the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League and helped significantly in the fight for equality for women. It was people like Roberto Clemente who proved having fame and fortune can be used to better the lives of others. And of course Jackie Robinson exposed the underlying racial inequality of segregation and by bringing it all to light, helped start the healing process that continues today.
I totally recommend this movie, as well as the 1950 movie "The Jackie Robinson Story" starring the real Jackie Robinson.
May there always be baseball.
Back in the 1940s, black people were not allowed to play baseball with white people. The mantra of the time was 'separate but equal' but the reality of it all was that blacks were given none of the advantages of life in the United States. It was a shameful time. Minorities played a huge role in helping to fight Hitler in World War II, but still any non-white people were looked down upon and were the subject of great hostility.
Much of the movie credits Brooklyn Dodgers' owner Branch Rickey for taking up the cause of integration in baseball. He wanted a black player to play for the Dodgers and he was fully aware the hostility and criticism he was going to get. He knew he was putting whatever player he found in personal danger and putting the hopes and dreams of an entire people upon his shoulders. It couldn't just be any player. It had to be someone of exceptional character.
That's when he found Jackie Robinson. To say Jackie Robinson was the best black baseball player in the Negro Leagues is an overstatement. There were several great players to choose from; not the least of them were Satchel Paige, Cool Papa Bell, Josh Gibson, and Roy Campanella. Robinson wasn't chosen because he was the best. He was chosen because he was a lieutenant in the army during World War II and served alongside white soldiers. He went to UCLA and went to school with white people. Most importantly, he had the fortitude and intelligence to know he can never fight back against all the hate being flung his way.
The movie focuses a lot on how Jackie Robinson through being an almost Christ-like human being was able to win over his teammates, the way he played won over the fans, and how inspirational his struggle was to other people of color.
Baseball is America. It is America's game not because it's the most popular sport, but because it reflects the best and the worst of what we are as a people. No matter the struggles America goes through, baseball has always gone on. When World War II took many of the best ballplayers in the Major Leagues to Japan and Germany, up popped the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League and helped significantly in the fight for equality for women. It was people like Roberto Clemente who proved having fame and fortune can be used to better the lives of others. And of course Jackie Robinson exposed the underlying racial inequality of segregation and by bringing it all to light, helped start the healing process that continues today.
I totally recommend this movie, as well as the 1950 movie "The Jackie Robinson Story" starring the real Jackie Robinson.
May there always be baseball.
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Coming Soon: 4/10/13
I hope everyone's week is going well. My week so far has been fairly interesting. I've been hitting it hard at the gym and in karate class. Mostly waiting for any interesting movie to hit theaters. Will there be anything worth seeing this week?
1) 42: The story of Jackie Robinson's iconic life and his breaking of the color barrier in professional sports.
The Good: It's a biopic about one of the most influential people in American history. And it's baseball!
The Bad: I can very easily see how this movie can get too preachy and not let accomplishments speak for themselves.
Final Thoughts: I'd recommend seeing it. Especially for sports fans looking to learn about Jackie Robinson.
2) SCARY MOVIE 5: Yet another lampoon of horror movies
The Good: What the hell is wrong with you? Why would you even consider watching this?
The Bad: Were the other 4 not bad enough? They had to make another? Good luck figuring out a plot based on the trailers!
Final Thoughts: I'd rather have my nose hairs burned out of my head than be anywhere near this movie. And by the way, is anyone ever going to call out how racist these movies are?
See you at the movies
1) 42: The story of Jackie Robinson's iconic life and his breaking of the color barrier in professional sports.
The Good: It's a biopic about one of the most influential people in American history. And it's baseball!
The Bad: I can very easily see how this movie can get too preachy and not let accomplishments speak for themselves.
Final Thoughts: I'd recommend seeing it. Especially for sports fans looking to learn about Jackie Robinson.
2) SCARY MOVIE 5: Yet another lampoon of horror movies
The Good: What the hell is wrong with you? Why would you even consider watching this?
The Bad: Were the other 4 not bad enough? They had to make another? Good luck figuring out a plot based on the trailers!
Final Thoughts: I'd rather have my nose hairs burned out of my head than be anywhere near this movie. And by the way, is anyone ever going to call out how racist these movies are?
See you at the movies
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Coming Soon: 4/5/13
Surprisingly, there isn't a whole lot making it out to theaters this week. Well, here's what we can look forward to seeing:
1) JURASSIC PARK 3D: The Stephen Spielberg classic sci-fi movie about a dinosaur zoo gone horribly wrong is back in theaters.
The Good: The visuals are amazing and seeing it in IMAX and 3D will be awesome.
The Bad: The acting leaves something to be desired.
Final Thoughts: It's a great movie and everyone should see the T-Rex in 3D.
2) EVIL DEAD: The remake of the classic cult movie about a couple in the woods finding a book of pure evil.
The Good: It looks like a very scary movie.
The Bad: It doesn't seem to have the humor of the original movie.
Final Thoughts: I'd rather watch the original. If for no other reason than to watch Bruce Campbell.
See you at the movies
1) JURASSIC PARK 3D: The Stephen Spielberg classic sci-fi movie about a dinosaur zoo gone horribly wrong is back in theaters.
The Good: The visuals are amazing and seeing it in IMAX and 3D will be awesome.
The Bad: The acting leaves something to be desired.
Final Thoughts: It's a great movie and everyone should see the T-Rex in 3D.
2) EVIL DEAD: The remake of the classic cult movie about a couple in the woods finding a book of pure evil.
The Good: It looks like a very scary movie.
The Bad: It doesn't seem to have the humor of the original movie.
Final Thoughts: I'd rather watch the original. If for no other reason than to watch Bruce Campbell.
See you at the movies
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