(no subject)
"Toy Story 3" (2010) Animated.
Second sequel to the movie of the same title. A good film but overrated that strains at times to be emotional rather than simply telling its story. Pixar for better or worse it seems has decided they need to try to make everyone cry at some point during their movies. Tears bring in bucks and bring in little golden men apparently.
There's nothing overly wrong with the movie, but it's not the best film they've made and certainly not the worst. It's just solid with a couple of over the top moments that felt forced.
*** out of ****
"The Secret of Kells" (2009) Animated.
Academy award nominated story about putting together the famed Book of Kells. For those who don't know, the Book of Kells is an illuminated, heavily illustrated version of the four Christian gospels.
The movie itself is stylistically simple in it's character design and weaves a variety of fantasy elements together to tell its story. Overall, the voice acting, animation and story generally work. There were a few elements that, for me anyway it would have been nice to have explained more but, the movie is still good in it's own rite.
*** out of ****
"Megamind" (2010) Animated.
Comedy based around the trials and tribulations of a super villain of the titular name as he has to deal with Metroman and eventually Titan. The movie is silly fun and solidly animated. The voice work of Will Farrell and David Cross really make their characters come to life. Tina Fey also is pretty good in her role too.
Overall, it's a solid comedy that does what it does well enough and is a solid rental if you didn't see it in theaters.
*** out of ****
"The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader." (2010) Starring: Skandar Keynes, Georgie Henley, Ben Barnes, Will Poulter, and Simon Pegg. Directed: Michael Apted.
The third or so book in the Narnia stories takes place at sea. It's well shot, the performances of Poulter and Pegg (Reepicheep) are good fun and add a whole lot to a movie that really has nothing going for it.
Poorly scripted, plot points are picked up and dropped quickly, characters appear and have no real reason for being there, the danger isn't that impressive (oh no a green fart cloud) and a scene that is almost straight out of Ghostbusters. On top of that the Edmund and Lucy characters are simply boring and if they make a fourth one thank God they won't be in it.
** out of **** (Visuals make it mediocre)
"The Expendables" (2010) Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, Mickey Rourke, and Jason Roberts. Directed: Sylvester Stallone.
A throw back to the 80's even early 90's beat'em up action films. In this one Stallone ultimately leads a band of mercenaries against a corrupt military dictator on a small island nation. A couple of cameos from Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger are noted. Overall, it's just a big dumb action movie with lots of fighting and violence except for one thing and that's Mickey Rourke.
During the movie he delivers a monologue that is probably the best acting in the entire film. It kind of bumps it up a bit above the standard formulaic stuff. Overall it's a pretty good action movie.
** 1/2 out of ****
"The Fighter" (2010) Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Mickey O'Keefe, and Jack McGee. Directed:David O. Russell.
This is the story of the eventual rise of "Irish" Micky Ward, a professional boxer. The movie is both hilarious and sort of heart breaking. Ward's family is dysfunctional and yet some how they make things work sorta.
Bale deserves an academy award nomination for his portrayal of Dicky Eklund who also is Ward's brother, a former boxer, trainer, and through a large chunk of the movie a crackhead. Melissa Leo who plays Ward's mom also does a fantastic job too and could be up for best supporting actress.
Overall, this movie is one that deserves award consideration.
*** 1/2 out of ****
Second sequel to the movie of the same title. A good film but overrated that strains at times to be emotional rather than simply telling its story. Pixar for better or worse it seems has decided they need to try to make everyone cry at some point during their movies. Tears bring in bucks and bring in little golden men apparently.
There's nothing overly wrong with the movie, but it's not the best film they've made and certainly not the worst. It's just solid with a couple of over the top moments that felt forced.
*** out of ****
"The Secret of Kells" (2009) Animated.
Academy award nominated story about putting together the famed Book of Kells. For those who don't know, the Book of Kells is an illuminated, heavily illustrated version of the four Christian gospels.
The movie itself is stylistically simple in it's character design and weaves a variety of fantasy elements together to tell its story. Overall, the voice acting, animation and story generally work. There were a few elements that, for me anyway it would have been nice to have explained more but, the movie is still good in it's own rite.
*** out of ****
"Megamind" (2010) Animated.
Comedy based around the trials and tribulations of a super villain of the titular name as he has to deal with Metroman and eventually Titan. The movie is silly fun and solidly animated. The voice work of Will Farrell and David Cross really make their characters come to life. Tina Fey also is pretty good in her role too.
Overall, it's a solid comedy that does what it does well enough and is a solid rental if you didn't see it in theaters.
*** out of ****
"The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader." (2010) Starring: Skandar Keynes, Georgie Henley, Ben Barnes, Will Poulter, and Simon Pegg. Directed: Michael Apted.
The third or so book in the Narnia stories takes place at sea. It's well shot, the performances of Poulter and Pegg (Reepicheep) are good fun and add a whole lot to a movie that really has nothing going for it.
Poorly scripted, plot points are picked up and dropped quickly, characters appear and have no real reason for being there, the danger isn't that impressive (oh no a green fart cloud) and a scene that is almost straight out of Ghostbusters. On top of that the Edmund and Lucy characters are simply boring and if they make a fourth one thank God they won't be in it.
** out of **** (Visuals make it mediocre)
"The Expendables" (2010) Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, Mickey Rourke, and Jason Roberts. Directed: Sylvester Stallone.
A throw back to the 80's even early 90's beat'em up action films. In this one Stallone ultimately leads a band of mercenaries against a corrupt military dictator on a small island nation. A couple of cameos from Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger are noted. Overall, it's just a big dumb action movie with lots of fighting and violence except for one thing and that's Mickey Rourke.
During the movie he delivers a monologue that is probably the best acting in the entire film. It kind of bumps it up a bit above the standard formulaic stuff. Overall it's a pretty good action movie.
** 1/2 out of ****
"The Fighter" (2010) Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Mickey O'Keefe, and Jack McGee. Directed:David O. Russell.
This is the story of the eventual rise of "Irish" Micky Ward, a professional boxer. The movie is both hilarious and sort of heart breaking. Ward's family is dysfunctional and yet some how they make things work sorta.
Bale deserves an academy award nomination for his portrayal of Dicky Eklund who also is Ward's brother, a former boxer, trainer, and through a large chunk of the movie a crackhead. Melissa Leo who plays Ward's mom also does a fantastic job too and could be up for best supporting actress.
Overall, this movie is one that deserves award consideration.
*** 1/2 out of ****