Thursday, December 27, 2012

21 Jump Street Review.



Watched 21 Jump Street (2012) Starring Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, and Dave Franco.  I thought the film was a floppy cross of high-school movie and buddy-cop comedy. The film was very hilarious and very raunchy, but that is all this movie has to offer. I thought the main problem of this movie was the script and dialogue. It was horribly written and all of the dialogue did not make any common sense, and it felt like the script and dialogue was just a rough draft that needs more drafting to make a better product.  The film also lacks from weak characters, gags, and poor action sequences.  The film was very well directed with a visionary insight of how the high school scene is today.  The acting was good, but it was overly acted. Jonah Hill was just hilarious and his comedic improvisation was just amazing. Channing Tatum was just horrible in this film. Tatum does not have the comedic chops to carry this film. I don’t think Channing Tatum is suited for comedy. Tatum is more of a robotic actor because he does not know how to interpret a role. He is emotionless and he does not know how to be physically funny. I really like James Franco’s little brother Dave Franco in the film. Dave Franco was very funny and he can respond to the physical demands on a comedy.  I did not like the comedic tone of the film because 21 Jump Street brand is more of a drama/serious tone and this movie is complete crap to the original series of 21 jump street TV show.  The film was very formulaic and very cliché and basically all the scenes and dialogue did not make any common sense that made it even more stupid to watch.  Johnny Depp and Peter DeLuise make cameo appearances, playing the same characters from the original TV show, and their scene was funny but I did not like the end result of their characters. The film was hilarious, but it was just a really badly made movie. I will give it a D-.



Thursday, December 20, 2012

Rock Of Ages Review.



Watched Rock of Ages starring Tom Cruise, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Alec Baldwin and Paul Giamatti. The film was pretty fun despite a terrible script with jokes that fall flat, in addition to a third act that is about 20-30 minutes overlong. The film suffers from a horrible choppy editing because the film does not flow smoothly from scene to scene. The film's problems begin with who it cast as its leads because Julianne Hough and Diego Boneta are not strong enough actors and singers to carry this movie musical. I like that the writers changed a few things from the original Broadway musical such as , Hertz Klinemann and his son Franz, who are the main antagonists in the musical, had their roles filled by new character Patricia Whitmore (Catherine Zeta-Jones), with the Mayor of L.A. now being Patricia's husband Mike Whitmore. The musical choreography was very well executed and expressed the 80's dance scene. I love how the scenery and the set production really embody how Los Angeles was in the 80’s. The only actors who were amazing and dominated in the film was Tom Cruise and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Tom Cruise gave a spectacular and convincing performance as the lost soul rocker Stacee Jaxx. I was very impressed with his vocal abilities and how professional he was by getting a vocal coach to help him with the songs. I believe this is Tom Cruise Oscar Gold worthy performance. Academy Award Winner for the movie musical of Chicago (2002) Catherine Zeta-Jones was sexy hot as the religious conservative villainess who wants to shut down the Bourbon Room an attempt to rid L.A. of its sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll image. Catherine Zeta-Jones was fantastic and she has awesome vocal abilities and she can dance her ass off. Overall the songs were performed very well sometimes it was pitchy and out of tune, But you will have a rock 'n' roll of a good time with this 80's rock musical. I will give it an B-.

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Silver Linings Playbook Review.



Watched Silver Linings Playbook Starring Bradley Cooper, Robert De Niro and Jennifer Lawrence. The film is a charming, touching, funny and believable film about the ability of even the damaged and imperfect to earn a little happiness. The films script and dialogue was beautifully written that brought its sharpness of the dialogue, and the rawness of the characters. Bradley Cooper was phenomenal and this is one of his best performances in his entire career. Jennifer Lawrence is quite fearsome and brilliant in the film. They play characters that suffer from mental illness, but are also brutally honest and that spark drives the movie.  De Niro gives one of his best performances as Cooper's dad, who has some real issues of his own. De Niro is tough and moving in this film. The Director David O. Russell does an amazing job with his sensitive direction allowing the story to breathe and be respectful of the main character's issues.  I just love how the film combines football fanaticism, ballroom dancing, romance, and mental illness into an unlikely and winning celebration in this film. As the title suggests, the film's overall thematic message is about finding a silver lining in any situation. It is not the deepest theme and I believe Russell understands that by using the phrase "silver lining" throughout the film so it is showcased on the surface of the film. The film deals with reviving old relationships, fixing familial relationships, and beginning new relationships all made more complicated when psychiatric complications are at play in two of the central characters in these relationships.  The film is one of the best movies I have seen this year alone and with Oscar nominations in its future. I really enjoyed the dynamics of the relationship between the main characters and the supporting characters which made the film very witty, heartbreaking, and emotionally gripping.  I thought the film was amazing from beginning to end. Awkwardly real and intriguing. What I loved about this film is that the humor is just so effortless. I will give it an A++++. Everyone must see this awesome film.

007 Skyfall Review.



 Watched 007 Skyfall starring Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, and Judi Dench. I thought the film was just amazing and a first-rate edge of your seat psychological thriller.  I only have 2 problems that I did not like about the film. First, was the cookie cutter revenge plot that has been recycled and done so many times in so many movies. The second part was that it did not have a lot of action sequences that a James Bond movie requires.  I did like how old fashion and how dark the tone of the movie was.  It made the film more surreal and made more of an impact.  The film is an utterly enjoyable thrill-machine that brings back the fun and excitement that made Bond great as well as some familiar characters and toys that will make you wanting more.  Daniel Craig sets the screen on fire with his thrilling performance; he has finally got his groove on with Bond and attacks it with confidence, charm and intensity. Judi Dench is superb as always. Ralph Fiennes is terrific. Javier Bardem is absolutely magnificent and brilliant as the main villain. Sam Mendes does an excellent job directing the action scenes. The camera shots are superb and follow the action extremely well.  The action sequences were still amazing, even thought it does not contain a lot of them.  The opening sequence is a car chase, which switches to a motorcycle chase which then finally ends on a top of a moving train. The sequence was amazing to watch. The film has this weird and out of nowhere creepy homoerotic scene between Silva towards Bond which made their connection and chemistry as a tragic hero and villain to have more intensity.  The script and dialogue was well written, but suffers from unconvincing plotting and a cookie cutter revenge plot that made the film predictable and cliché. I really enjoy the character development between Bond and M and also between Bond and Silva which made the film more character driven. I liked how the audience got to learn more of Bond’s past and how damage this character really is. The film has an impressive cinematography that just jumps out of the screen and the amazing opening sequence song by Adele which made the film more awesome. I will give the film a B+.

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 Review.



Watched The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 starring Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, and Taylor Lautner. The film was an improvement over Breaking Dawn part 1, but it still suffers from a mediocre script and dialogue.  The acting was nothing much than horrible from the three leads, and the movie suffers from some major pacing issues in the first hour of the film. The director Bill Condon did a good job in directing this movie and did his best with the crappy material given to him. The film did have its funny moments and was entertaining at times. The best part of the film was the well executed epic battle at the end, but they completely killed that scene with a terrible and stupid twist which was not needed. I believe that the battle scene should have happened because it would have given the scene more of a realistic look of sacrifice for a better future, but they totally killed it with that stupid twist. The film delivers some of the best fighting sequences of the entire series; they're extremely well-choreographed and intense. The visual and special effects are still very mediocre and not up to the standards of other blockbuster movies at all. The film was beautifully shot, with amazing cinematography, and a great musical score.  I still think it was an improvement over its processor, but I think it’s the second best of the franchise with Eclipse coming in first. I will give the film a C.