Category Archives: movies

Film Review: Up In the Air

Starring: George Clooney, Anna Kendrick, Vera Farmiga, and Jason Bateman

Directed by: Jason Reitman

Today, I just saw the movie, “Up In the Air” and here is my review.

Plot/synopsis: George Clooney, plays a businessman named, Ryan Bingham. He has no life outside of his business. The only thing he has is his job where he flies around the world, firing people off of jobs. He loves his job so much, that it’s basically all he wants to do in his life. He meets a young woman named, Natalie (Anna Kendrick), who has the same job he has. After Ryan noticing she doesn’t do a good job firing people, Ryan teaches her. As Ryan partners with Natalie in the job, he starts a friendship with her. Later, Ryan falls in love with a woman named, Alex Goran (Vera Farmiga). Ryan wants a relationship with her and tries to turn it serious. He was so in love with Alex Goran that he tries to get out of his job to try to spend his life with her. Ryan hates the idea of marriage and relationships, he was all about his profesional work. Ryan begins to understand marriage and relationships after learning about his sister getting married. He wasn’t sure if he should spend his life with women or traveling on airplanes with his work. Which will he choose?

This film was directed by Jason Reitman, who I believe is the real life son of “Ghostbusters” director, Ivan Reitman. This guy also directed, “Juno” and “Thank You For Smoking”. I believe that “Up In the Air” was truly his best directed film. The film was thoroughly entertaining and enjoyable. I wasn’t bored one bit. My eyes didn’t close at all and didn’t yawn. A very very very good movie.

As usual, George Clooney is always an amazing actor. He did it again by pulling off his great acting chops like he always had. Anna Kendrick surprisingly was very good and I think she’s definitely going to win an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for this role. The story was funny but it got serious most of the film. The acting of the entire cast all around was great. Jason Bateman, the former child star was also very good. There is also a huge surprise cameo appearance by legend, Sam Elliot, he has a tiny role in the film. I won’t say what Sam Elliot plays, but he still has the acting chops as well.

The script did a great job keeping things very unpredictable, as you never knew what was going to happen next. There were some shocking scenes, especially the surprise ending of the film. It’s a short film about an hour and a half long, but still an excellent movie. This film is definitely better than most of George Clooney’s new works. Films like “Leatherheads”, “Burn After Reading” and “The Men Who Stare At Goats” were all shit movies that I thought were crap. “Up In the Air” was amazing and I hope George keeps choosing good roles like this. George is one of my favorite actors and I’ve seen most of his movies in his filmography. Some of my other favorite movies George has starred in are: “From Dusk Til Dawn”, “Michael Clayton”, “O Brother Where Art Thou”, “Three Kings”, “The Perfect Storm”, “The Oceans Trilogy”, and “Syriana”. Add “Up In the Air” to that list.

After seeing this film, I think “Up In the Air” will definitely be a big Oscar winner. It’s a tie up along with “Inglourious Basterds”. I would seriously suggest you to check this movie out. I loved it!

I will next be seeing “Sherlock Holmes” this week and I will review that one as well.

Score for “Up In the Air” = **** (4 stars as in “excellent”)

Kev

Not A Cool Video: James Cameron gets into a verbal dispute at LAX airport…

TMZ just posted an incredible video of James Cameron at LAX airport in Los Angeles. A fan somehow knew that James Cameron was getting off a plane at LAX so he decided to wait for him with an “Avatar” poster for him to sign. As Cameron walks by the fan, the fan simply asks him for an autograph in a polite tone, but Cameron refused.

Cameron started swearing at the fan, so the fan stuck up for himself by saying he works hard for his day job to see his film, making a clear point that fans help make celebrities rich.

See the video here:

http://www.tmz.com/2009/12/24/james-cameron-in-major-a-hole-dispute/

If anybody finds Cameron being an asshole a surprise, then why are you surprised? This is Hollywood. Every movie star or director are different people. Not every famous person is going to be nice.

Why do celebrities act very nice and polite on TV interviews and yet they are mean pricks in public? It’s because it’s the celebs job to keep their profesionalism on public TV. Just because famous people are an icon and so famous, doesn’t mean they’ll be nice and friendly.

Do you think Steven Spielberg is always a nice guy? No, definitely not. Steven Spielberg is also difficult with autographs and photos with fans. What about Clint Eastwood? I’m sure Eastwood doesn’t fuck around with anybody on the director’s chair and he can be mean on the job too.

Every famous person is different. Some can be very nice and friendly, some can be assholes.

So if you’re a big fan of a famous person’s work and idolize them as a huge die hard fan, if you’re dying to meet your hero in person, don’t always expect them to be nice.

Hell, I’ll admit that Sylvester Stallone just might be an asshole, but I know he’s not. I know he’s very good with his fans. As he actually replies to his fans through fan websites such as Stallonezone and Aint It Cool News. Plus, Sly is very good with autographs and photos with fans. I’ve never met Sly in person yet but from the looks of him on the internet, he seems like a very nice guy. What about Arnold? Do you think Arnold is a nice guy? The Governator may seem like it, but he can be a very difficult person too. Every hollywood celebrity is different. They’re humans just like us. They all have different emotions and feelings.

So if you meet a celebrity and if they turn out to be a huge DICK to you over an autograph or a photo, don’t take it personal. I personally think it would be awesome to get yelled at by a famous person.

I give the fan kudos for sticking up for himself against James Cameron. James tried to make the fan look like he was a little kid, but the fan stepped up and made James look like an idiot in front of everyone. Merry Christmas, James. NOT. You’re the king of the nobodies.

Kev

Not A Cool Video: I wouldn’t touch, “The Karate Kid” remake with a ten foot pole…

“The Karate Kid” remake that stars Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith has hit the internets, the trailer that is. Like I predicted, the film looks like a pile of shit. I love Jackie Chan. He’s one of my favorite action stars but sometimes he can pick some bad roles…. and this is one of them. Why, Jackie, Why? This movie looks horrible and I won’t be seeing it at all. Not even on DVD. Maybe I will wait to see it when it hits HBO on the small screen. Put Jaden in a bodybag, bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahaahaha….

Kev

Report: Will Sir Patrick Stewart return as Professor Xavier in Singer’s “X-Men: First Class”?

So Bryan Singer has officially signed on to direct the next installment of X-Men which the  next one will be titled, “X-Men: First Class”. This one sounds like more of a prequel because this will focus on a young Professor Xavier and a young Magneto.

The question is, will Patrick Stewart agree to return to the next, “X-Men” movie? We all know Patrick won’t play the young Xavier since he is too old obviously. I imagine that the film will start off as the young Xavier and young Magneto leading up to their adult years.

Singer will probably sign Patrick as the adult Xavier for the film, as well. We haven’t yet heard if Patrick Stewart will return, but I’m sure we will hear something soon. Maybe even Ian Mckellen will return as the adult Magneto as well.

Patrick Stewart took time off from Hollywood to work Broadway theatre full time. He’s still doing Broadway I believe. So  hopefully Patrick will return, we’ll have to cross our fingers.

I miss Patrick on the big screen. He’s a fine actor that deserves an Oscar award for a certain role at some point. I’m sure he’ll return to X-Men.

Kev

Brock’s Top 5 Best and Worst films of 2009…

The end of the year is just around the corner and here it is, Brock’s “Top 5 Best and Worst films of 2009”. I’ll name them in order. I’ll explain the reasons behind them too.

Here it is:

Top 5 Best Films of 2009:

  1. “District 9” – This is indeed my favorite film of the year. It is hands down amazing. I thought this film was better than, “Avatar”. “District 9” is masterful storytelling, such an amazing film over all. Great writing, great acting, etc. Everything about the film is perfect. It’s what I call a true science fiction movie.
  2. “Star Trek” – Best Trek film since “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan”. This film is amazing as well.
  3. “Inglourious Basterds” – It’s one of Tarantino’s best flicks. I can’t wait to get the DVD.
  4. “Michael Jackson’s – This is It” – I’m still in awe from this musical film. It is brilliant, made you feel like you’re watching an actual concert, not a documentary.
  5. Rob Zombie’s “Halloween II” – I still stand by it that this is a masterpiece by Rob Zombie. Phenomenal work and this is what true slasher films should be. Focusing on the villains and not the heros. Seriously think about it. I absolutely love this film. No complaints about this film at all.

Top 5 Worst Films of 2009:

  1. Drew Barrymore’s “Whip It” – Bad writing, bad acting, the women are annoying, just an all around terrible film that I wished I walked out of. Too chick flick for me.
  2. “12 Rounds” – This is that action movie that starred John Cena. Just a typical popcorn flick like all the others. Nothing new.
  3. Sam Raimi’s “Drag Me To Hell” – Sam tried to return to horror but failed. Didn’t like it for many reasons.
  4. “Transformers – Revenge of the Fallen” – I gave this film a bad review before and still stand by it. Too racist and crude for children that were fans of this franchise. Shame on Michael Bay.
  5. “Jennifer’s Body” – The Diablo Cody horror flick that starred Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried. It’s nice to see Diablo give a shot at horror but she needs to stop trying before she destroys the genre.

Kev

Film Review: Avatar

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoey Saldana

Directed by: James Cameron

Just got back from seeing Cameron’s “Avatar”, here is my review:

Plot/Synopsis: Sam Worthington plays a former U.S. marine named, Jake Scully, who is paralyzed from the waist down. He is stuck on a wheelchair for life. Jake is selected to participate in a science experiment that was held by the Marines, in the Avatar program, to replace his twin brother Tony, whose Avatar is compatible with him too.

Jake was ordered to travel to planet Pandora which is a planet that is full of unique life forms. On it, are these blue colored people called, the Na’vi, which are controlled by actual humans by experiment.

Instead of following orders of the Avatar experiment by the Marines, Jake becomes obsessively attracted with these Na’vi people and becomes part of them himself. He falls in love with a female, Na’vi named, Neytiri (Zoey Saldana). Now that Jake had betrayed the Marines…the Marines decides to destroy Pandora and it’s people, while Jake does his best to help the Na’vi people survive.

When movie critics and fans say that this movie is like a “live action video game”, I’m going to have to agree with them. It does seem like a “live action video game”, indeed. Pretty much the whole movie felt like a video game. When it comes to the action scenes, the hero needs to survive like a video game, when the action scenes get over with, it goes to a cut movie scene like a video game. It’s like that throughout the whole movie.

Especially the final fight scene at the end of the movie when Col. Quaritch (the film’s villain played by Stephen Lang) fights Jake Scully at the end of it. Quaritch gets into this huge robotic machine to fight Jake as the Na’vi. The robotic machine felt like it came from “Transformers” or the, “Metal Gear Solid” video games.

Is James Cameron a big video gamer himself? It seems that he is, ’cause it seems like he is borrowing a lot from action/adventure type of games. I felt like this movie was too much, “Terminator”, it definitely had a lot of “Star Wars: Return of the Jedi” in it, and too much, “Metal Gear Solid”.

Like usual, there is also a bit of romance in this movie ’cause everyone knows Cameron is a romance nut too.

I was most impressed with the film’s special effects and cinematography. I also loved the musical score and the action scenes were kind of fun. I must say that Christmas time was a bad time to release this, ’cause this was more of a summer movie. It is definitely a popcorn action fest.

Is it worthy for “Best Picture” of the Oscars? Definitely not. The writing needs to be better ’cause the plot was kind of cheesy. The acting of the cast was ok, but I am glad that Sigourney Weaver and Cameron reunited. This isn’t a cameo for Signourney, she is pretty much part of the lead, she was in the movie throughout. Michelle Rodriguez had a small role in the flick which was entertaining.

I can see this film winning Oscar awards for Special Effects and the Cinematography categories definitely. Other than that, the film was pretty good, exceptionally entertaining. It doesn’t make my top 5 best films of the year for 2009 though, I can tell ya that. This is nothing I would see again or buy on DVD. I did like the film though.

Cameron plans to make this a trilogy as he already confirmed for us online. It will definitely be a trilogy ’cause the ending left open for another film. I hope the sequels will be better.

Score for “Avatar” – *** 3 stars as in good

Kev

Report: Disney may not be doing “Wild Hogs” sequel, but I think a different studio will pick it up…

Never say never on, “Wild Hogs 2”, folks. I think there’s a chance that a different studio will want to buy the rights to make the sequel. If that happened with “Chronicles of Narnia: Dawn Treader”, the same could happen to, “Wild Hogs”. Maybe Warner Bros or Twentieth Century Fox will buy, “Wild Hogs 2”. I hope so. I was hoping another “Wild Hogs” movie would happen ’cause I loved the first film so much. I don’t see it being canned for good.

More on it here:

http://www.darkhorizons.com/news/15940/disney-cancels-wild-hogs-sequel

Kev

Report: Rene Russo will play Thor’s mom…

Rene Russo has been on a hiatus from acting. She will make her Hollywood return in the Marvel film, “Thor”, which she is set to play Thor’s mom. She will star alongside Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston and Natalie Portman. How about this for a cast shocker? According to IMDB, Rene Russo hasn’t had an acting role since 2005.

More on it here:

http://www.darkhorizons.com/news/15943/rene-russo-to-play-mother-of-thor

Kev

Top 10 Films to Look Forward to in 2010!!!

2009 was a pretty good year for movies, not bad at all. Major improvement. I expect 2010 of Hollywood to get even better. Lots of exciting movies coming out next year. I’ll name 10 films that I look forward to seeing next year. I’ll do them in order.

  1. Stallone’s “The Expendables” – This is definitely no. 1 on the list. I look forward to seeing this one more than anything else really. Stallone starring and directing a movie with all these badass action stars? Including, Bruce and Arnold? Fuck yeah!
  2. “Shutter Island” – The horror film directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Leo Dicaprio. This looks like a very interesting and good flick.
  3. “The A-Team” remake – definitely makes the list. This is one remake I look forward to.
  4. “Clash of the Titans” remake – another remake I actually look forward to. This film is looking very good and I’m impressed with it so far with the trailers I’ve seen.
  5. “Wall Street 2” – Who wouldn’t want to see a tempered tantrum, Gordon Gecko back on the big screen? It’s badass the character is coming back. I’m definitely paying my money to see this!
  6. “Nightmare On Elm St.” remake – Another remake that actually looks like a promising one. Pretty excited for this one.
  7. “Twilight Saga: Eclipse” – Of course, another Twilight film is always a must see for me.
  8. “Salt” – Angelina Jolie action spy flick. The reason I want to see this movie is not because some of the movie was filmed in Albany, I want to see the flick ’cause it looks good over all.
  9. “Tron Legacy” – The sequel to Tron is a must see for me. With Jeff Bridges coming back as his leading character. I’m interested to see what new technology they used for the new “Tron”, it looks like a fun flick  and can’t wait to see it.
  10. “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of Dawn Treader” – Loved the first two films. Seen the first two “Narnia” movies in theater when they first came out, I will see the next one too.

I’m sure there is more movies, I look forward to see, but these are the top ten I look forward to the most.

Kev

Report: Mel Gibson to star in “Summer Vacation” but not direct…

Mel Gibson is about to keep himself a very busy man in Hollywood. Not only that he is going to direct a “Vikings” film with Leo Dicaprio, he is also going to star in an action/drama titled, “How I Spent My Summer Vacation”. This is not a comedy, although the title sounds like it. Mel will be starring the leading role in, “Summer Vacation”. He won’t be directing this one. Mel did write the script himself, though.

The plot/synopsis is about a man who is a career criminal and is arrested by Mexican authorities. He is sent to a prison where he learns how to survive prison life by a 9 year old boy.

More on it here:

http://www.darkhorizons.com/news/15922/mel-gibson-takes-a-summer-vacation

You may think a 9 year old boy in an adult prison is silly and you may find it unrealistic, but if you do your research on prisons, yes, it is possible that children can be sent to an adult prison for life. It happens.

Sounds like Mel doesn’t want to direct two movies one after another. Maybe that’s why he decided to star in this one and not direct? I know he has starred the leading role in and directed both at the same time in movies before with movies such as “Braveheart” for starters and also, “The Man Without a Face” is another one.

I wonder who they’ll pick for the 9 year old prison boy. Shall be interesting.

Kev