The Movie Guy

Where The Wild Things Are - 3 Stars

2009-10-16T04:46:00.000-07:00

A beautifully "painted" film with lots of lessons when you dig deep, but Where The Wild Things Are is a sad story that certainly won't fly with the demographic aimed at the popular children's tale.

I know what you're going to say. The story book was aimed at adults. Think again. The story book had hidden depths. No, again you're wrong. The story book was dark and beautiful - are you serious? A full grown adult can read the children's book, Where The Wild Things Are, in under a minute standing in line to pay for groceries. There are 6 pages entirely devoted to colourful monster pictures. I'm not knocking the book - it teaches kids lessons about acting in polite society and that everyone has a wild side etc., but you can't seriously tell me that you can base an hour and forty-five minute film solely on this book. You'd be crazy to think that. So, let's take the book out of the equation entirely and focus on the movie.

The film is gorgeous! Cinematically, it's beautiful. It looks like it was taken directly from a children's book and painted onto the screen. It's really amazing - and the lighting is top notch. Dark and broody at times, light and bright at others. The cinematography definitely captures the emotions of the film! But as for the story. Kids aren't going to like it! It's long and nothing is happening on the screen. When I came out of the theatre I felt the same way that I did after seeing The Wrestler. And although I loved that picture, I never thought I'd feel that way after seeing a film so clearly marketed to children.

Max, played by new comer Max Records is fantastic as the boy in the wolf pajamas. He has a lot of talent and every time he looks at one of his new monster friend's you see just how incredible a casting choice this child was. This movie is technically achieved. But what about a story?

I have to say that there were real genuine moments in this film that hold on tight and don't let go. The opening scenes are some to name a few. But as soon as we get to the monsters, you've lost me. It's a really dark story that represents the loneliness Max feels. But it was hard to watch. I kept thinking something horribly wrong is happening on screen. Some camera shots would take me out of the world altogether. Most of the time is spent fighting and jumping around a forest, proving to an audience that it could be done I guess? Friendships that are forged are forgettable at best, and that heart in your throat moment never really arrives.

Where the Wild Things Are is a technically achieved film, and director Spike Jonze is warranted applause for his risky choices in this otherwise unassuming piece. But technically achieved does not a story make.

The Top 25 Halloween DVD Rentals

2009-10-13T09:14:00.000-07:00

Hit the"Fullscreen" button to find descriptions & titles of the flicks!

Zombieland - 4.5 Stars

2009-10-01T07:36:00.000-07:00

Zombieland is a riotous, gruesome, hysterical and fun movie. As a matter of fact I should clear my voice (if I could through the written word) to announce, Zombieland is my favourite movie of 2009, so far!

A creative blend of old school horror matching wits with America’s new comedic style makes Zombieland a tour de force that frankly, is one of the best pieced together pictures I’ve seen of the 2000s. Zombies are a lot of fun to make fun of. They’re dangerous, sure, but really, they’ve got a weakness that can be exploited. A love tap on the noggin, and slam – they’re out cold! Britain’s recent contemporary hit, Shaun of the Dead, was the first to exploit zombies in a fun new light. Then there was Fido that flew under the radar. And now Zombieland. Not just a horror/comedy, but also a coming of age story with the reputable new talent, Jesse Eisenberg.

You may think to yourself, I’ve seen this kid before, and you’d be right! The last feature he starred in was Adventureland next to Twilight’s Kristen Stewart. In this one, he doesn’t disappoint either. He stars as the neurotic young man who really didn’t have a life before the zombification of the world, and he still kinda doesn’t. And when his “rules” get in the way, Woody Harrelson is there to set him straight!

Woody Harrelson plays the too cool, movie good guy, but because it’s a comedy, he’s more like Simon Pegg than Bruce Willis. Spinning with two Uzis, knocking out zombies – hilarious (and very Hot Fuzz-ish)! But it works in every way! What to expect: It’s a Zombie film, so lots of gore, vulgar language and jumpy scary scenes. The opening credits set the tone for the entire film as we see a zombie exotic dancer chasing down a business man. Awesome! But this film is rated R, and with the content you should respect the rating.

It’s a lot of fun, so you’re not going to have bad dreams after seeing it! In short, this movie has everything you would expect from a zombie picture, and then on top of that, a solid story. The moral of which you’ll just have to check out for yourself, but you honestly can’t go wrong with this flick!

Neve Campbell joins 4th 'Scream

2009-09-28T05:05:00.000-07:00

Why Neve? You're a good smart Canadian gal, so why would you cave? Did they have a knife to your throat, or have some dirty photos? Trust me after Wild Things, it's not something everyone hasn't seen. Again, I have to re-itterate my theory of sequels. If you make a sequel to a good film, and it's not as hot as the original - DON'T DO ANOTHER! There are exceptions to this rule (including Craven's Nightmare series), but no exceptions for anything made past 1995!

The theory is simple. Scream 3 wasn't scary any more. You stripped the almighty R rating. Stop making them. And if you are going to redo them, it should be a reboot of the franchise a la Friday the 13th style. Ugh. I'm not getting through to anyone.

For the full story click the link below:
http://jam.canoe.ca/Movies/2009/09/26/11127456-wenn-story.html

Re-Buffing the Buff

2009-09-09T04:10:00.000-07:00

It may seem strange that I'm blogging about a movie that was turned into an extremely successful television series but I recently purchased (for a small amount of eight dollars) Buffy the Vampire Slayer starring Kristy Swanson & Luke Perry on DVD.

I think it's pretty fantastic that when one man named Joss Whedon decided to create this idea (a cheerleader who becomes a "trendy" vampire slayer) and actually released the story on the big screen, it didn't make any money at all. As a matter of fact the total gross of this film was a mere 16 million dollars (considering it's success and popularity world wide now).

In 1992 when films like Clueless were making their debut and the world of teen flicks was on the rise, this type of money was just small potatoes. But, instead of abandoning his creation, Whedon created the pilot for a television series. This isn't the first time Whedon has ignored an audience and went about things any way. In 2005 Joss Whedon released "Serenity" after his television series Firefly was cut after only 12 episodes. But Whedon stays true to his fanbase and seems to make sure that he can give them something more to enjoy instead of letting them stew in their anger that their television series had come to an abrupt end. During the writers strike while everyone else was picketting, he found another medium - the web. He created & financed "Dr. Horrible's Sing-A-Long Blog" that was released in 3 parts & has now rocked DVD sales.

But back to the Buff. The actual film is hokey. Fun, but still hokey. Lots of ass kicking, wise cracks and hey, what a stellar performance by Ben Affleck for all of 2 seconds! One of his first feature roles. Not to mention Hilary Swank as the popular clique chick, who you desperately want to have bitten by the clunky and goofy vamps. All in all, the Buffy the Vampire Slayer movie is much like the series (with less scary vampires) with a few exceptions. The scoobies. Angel, Xander, Willow & Giles. But to be frank, I must say that Luke Perry's character is probably closer to Xander than Angel because of all the really stupid jokes - that are pretty bad. Luke Perry really was a tool, and for that reason alone you should want to watch this movie and see the other side of this once "teen idol". If you're too young to remember Luke Perry, he was the heartthrob of one of the greatest prime time teen soaps ever. The original Dawson's Creek and O.C. Yes, we're talking about Beverly Hills 90210. Not the new CW remodelling, but the original, back in the day with Brandon Walsh. AKA, good Canadian boy Jason Priestley.

So we have Buffy, starring Kristy Swanson, who by all accounts is somewhat more convincing in her role as a ditzy cheerleader than Sarah Michelle Gellar, but of course, we don't have 7 full seasons to watch Swanson progress into the dynamite thinker that Gellar becomes, because hey, it's an hour and a half long movie. But if you're into Buffy at all, make sure to check out this pinnacle in the Joss Whedon creation that rocked the world. What don't believe me? Google Buffy, not even The Vampire Slayer and watch how much info comes up. Or hell type Buffy the Vampire Slayer in the search engine on Wikipedia and I'll bet you never knew how many dorks like me actually watched and became obsessed with the show. It's a following now, much like Star Wars. Wow I'm a geek.

But after all that is said, I must say that I'm a giant Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan, and even after 7 seasons of Buffy and 5 seasons of Angel, I'm not done with this series. And as long as I have the X-Files to still watch on DVD TV and the upcoming release of Supernatural's season 4, I should be ok until some new show takes over the "demon world" genre.

Toronto's Fan Expo - Day 1

2009-08-29T06:49:00.000-07:00

Now, I'm trying very hard not to spend money at this year's FanExpo. It's proving to be incredibly difficult - but I made it through day 1.

On Day 1 I met some awesome people though! And I ran into @agnesgarbowska (twitter talk) who gave me this awesome book called You, Me & Zombie! It's a freaking Zombie story book for kids of all ages! Check out her stellar work at mymisiu.com - I'm freaking serious! A ZOMBIE KIDS BOOK! She also signs them at her booth and adds a little pic of you as a Zombie :) Thanks Aggy!

Below are some pics I took of the awesomeness that was Day 1 - Mark came along as you can see with the Tie Fighter.

District 9 - 3.5 Stars

2009-08-13T08:22:00.000-07:00

Jackson produces a creature feature with a twist! District 9 has more substance than scares and tons of brave choices for debut director Neill Blomkamp.

Neill Bomkamp’s directorial debut sci-fi flick starts like an investigative news story and quickly becomes a fantasy tale unlike any other. “Prawns” (a derogatory name due to the aliens shrimp-like appearance) have landed in Johannesburg, South Africa and for 20 years have lived within the quarantine zone of “District 9.” Over those 20 years, District 9 has become a crime ridden slum, and our story picks up when a government agency that deals with Human-Alien relations (in the same fashion Nazi Germany dealt with Jewish people in a ghetto) decides to move the millions of alien refugees to a new plot of land. No better than the current conditions, but at least further away from the Johannesburg’s human population. Things don’t necessarily go according to plan though…as I’m sure you can imagine.

Bomkamp & Jackson select new comer Sharlto Copley to play the hero of the picture. His name is Wikus De Merwe, a meek, polite advocate for MNU, the agency that deals with human-alien relations and he’s way out of his league. But it’s a brave choice to cast an unknown for a film of this caliber. Not only that, he’s not really likeable when you first meet him, which is an even larger gap to bridge when he becomes the fore runner of the story. But somehow the story bridges the gap effortlessly and now Wikus is the hero he never dreamed he could be.

The other tricky decision to make the “Prawns” disgusting-looking was surprising to me, as from the second frame we do see these creatures in full form, and then throughout. There’s no Spielberg-ish ere of mystery here, and I loved it! I even grew fond of one of the smaller, still disgusting looking Prawns as the story went on. CGI is also very well done, so well done in fact I had myself second guessing that it wasn’t really CGI and they had created body suits for people to walk around as Prawns, but I think that puppetry & creation is a dying breed in the world of cinema. But still, amazingly well done.

I hope I’m not leading you on, but this is a creature feature. There’s lots of gorey, bloody, science fiction horror on the horizon. There’s also a great deal of swearing and some mild sexual content in the picture – I think if a little one saw one of these aliens it might keep them awake at night. It’s rated 14A for a reason.

At the end of this one, I walked out of the Varsity amazed at how surprised I was by this new Wingnut Production (Peter Jackson’s production company). I really didn’t expect to be so thrilled by this rollercoaster actioner, but it was a terrific surprise all the same. But then again, I should have expected as much from a Peter Jackson production – and keep your eyes on newcomer Neill Bomkamp, he’s going to do amazing things!

John Hughes, remembered by Molly Ringwald

2009-08-13T05:11:00.001-07:00

This is one of the most touching pieces of writing I've ever read, and I'm not surprised that it comes at the pen of Molly Ringwald. Please take a moment - http://tinyurl.com/ogbjmy

MAXIM: The "So You Want To Rape Childhood Memories By Making a Sh%@$y Film" Instructional

2009-08-12T05:38:00.001-07:00

Enjoy this amazing link to a very funny instructional on how to crush childhood dreams by making a bad movie, from Maxim Magazine - http://tinyurl.com/lqzefv

Funny People - 4 Stars

2009-07-30T10:16:00.000-07:00

Judd Apatow’s third feature is a terrific display of directorial maturity, emotional growth and hilarity! I can say with confidence that Funny People will please the masses.

Say it with me. Dra-medy. This is a new term that I’m sure will be coined for the recent genre to join the cinematic world. With films like “Juno”, “Away We Go”, “Adventureland” and now Funny People, there becomes a real cinematic bridge to gap slap to sober. Funny People is the funny story of a famous comedian’s lonely life, when it escalates after a fatal disease is diagnosed. Adam Sandler is George Simmons, a successful comic/actor who befriends Ira (Seth Rogen) to write jokes for him at a time when nothing in his life is funny.

Much like 40 Year-Old Virgin & Knocked Up (Judd Apatow’s only other directed feature films) the jokes are subtle and are a part of speech instead of rebuttal or jabbing punch lines. But the story is brilliant in scope, and in the end is a story of friendship, something that so many of us take for granted – such a precious gift. It’s also about karma, as an eloquently spoken Australian Eric Bana points out to an audience aghast with laughter and tears. A fantastically real depiction of the right and wrong things in life, and certainly a shot for shot ride that won’t be forgotten.

Don’t go in expecting “Step Brothers”, “Pineapple Express” or “Forgetting Sarah Marshall.” The comedy is there, but don’t go to the theatres seeking it out or you might miss the point. Apatow is truly a great and real writer who seeks conviction in his characters as well as casting real life funny people who can crack a joke without knowing what they’ve done. Like the beautiful and talented Leslie Mann, the always silly Jonah Hill and the raunchy but somewhat weirdo, Jason Schwartzman (who’s performance is perfection). It’s a serious comedy about the funny people who can’t always crack a joke, even when they desperately need to.

Content wise, there’s a ton of swearing, some nudity and sexual content, but the film is rated 14A so parents will need to make the appropriate decision as they best see fit. But between you and I, younger kids, going upward into their teens, aren’t going to get it.

Funny People may not be what I thought it was, but in the end it was so much better. A special feature film, with lots of laughter, creativity and realism is certainly worth your box office dollar!

The Burton Factor

2009-07-28T16:53:00.000-07:00

I'm going to try and put this argument to rest right now. Tim Burton is an incredible cinematographer. He also has an enormous range of imagination, and as a casting director he is maybe the best in the business. But Tim Burton is not the great story teller the world has made him out to be.

Tim Burton fascinates me. He's a cult director with a loyal, mainstream fanbase. So loyal in fact that his fans have an "off switch" when it comes to his resume. Remembering only Edward Scissorhands or Nightmare Before Christmas (which he didn't even direct). And this amazes me. Whenever someone steps into the mainstream world I do try to ask myself why him, her or them. How did they do it? Sometimes I completely agree (ie. High School Musical, Steven Spielberg, Samuel L. Jackson & Shia LeBeouf), whereas other times I don't get it (ie. Megan Fox, Tom Cruise, Ridley Scott, Labrynth & the Scary Movie Sequels).

With all the hype surrounding the upcoming Alice in Wonderland, no one is realizing one thing. It's probably going to be bad. Just because it looks cool, doesn't necessarily mean it will be good. This happens quite a bit. Speed Racer was one of the most amazing looking movies of last year, but one of the worst reviewed. Another Wachowski Brothers' movie, Matrix Reloaded (and Revolutions for that matter), may have looked great in every way, but the story was god awful - and when it comes down to film making, telling a great story comes first. But that's only one filmmaking team. Here's a few more fantastic looking films that weren't stellar: Starship Troopers (for it's time), Waterworld, Judge Dredd, Johnny Mnemonic, Labrynth and Spawn. These were all fantastic, imaginative ideas that looked great on the screen, but sucked.

But Tim Burton may very well be the biggest culprit of creating fantastical films that aren't good. This is The Burton Factor. He's so cult he's deemed amazing, but why? Let's disect some of his critically acclaimed, shall we (oh and when you see that Nightmare Before Christmas isn't on the list, look it up - he didn't direct it, he produced):

Pee-Wee's Big Adventure - 1985: Um. Yeah. Probably one of the worst movies. It was one of these freaky ass movies that you watched and thought it was terrific when you were 9. But as you grow up, and watch more movies realize how insanely bad it really is. Not to mention how creepy Paul Reubens was and still is. And this is where you can see that Burton likes latching on to stories and characters that aren't his - not a horrible trait by any means, but you can't really take credit for a story you didn't come up with.

Beetle Juice - 1988: Here's where you really can tell Burton is a dynamic casting director seeing more than Mr. Mom in Michael Keaton and really expanding his range. Fantastic character...but again Beetle Juice is not exactly a stellar film. It has holes and lulls and when Keaton isn't on, we have to endure Baldwin & Davis puttering around trying to work the chemistry they don't really have, and the funny that isn't great without our star. But again kudos on the casting! This film also brought Winona Ryder into the public eye.

Batman - 1989: Batman has been around since 1939. Hardly a new character. And the material was there for a dark director to pick it up and run. Burton again casts Keaton and knocks Hollywood on it's ass when an every day joe becomes a Superhero. Forever changing the way we look at who can be cast to play a Superhero - and certainly one of the most amazing things Burton has done for the industry. His dark imagination created a Gotham worth saving - maybe even more so than Nolan's. I have nothing bad to say about Batman, it did so much for the industry I love that all I have are thank you's fot the cult film maker.

Edward Scissorhands - 1990: Johnny Depp may have had his hand in the industry already, but Burton and Depp make the most charasmatic duo in Hollywood today. If Burton's name is on something, you can normally find Depp's name attached. As a matter of fact Depp has recently said that if Burton asked him to be in a movie at all, any role, Depp would jump at the chance. Edward Scissorhands may still be a cult favourite for Depp, but Ryder is the one who stole my heart and her performance was by far the best part in this picture. Then Weist. Then Depp. As for a film, it was a fantastic success, and maybe the last really wonderful film in Burton's arsenal.

Batman Returns - 1992: The sequel. No where near as good as the original, but again the casting was right. But because the story wasn't there I think it was the right decision for Burton to leave the franchise for Schumacher to mess up. But, he read the script, and he knew what he was getting into. Not a great movie by any means, but I'll give him credit for sticking it out with Keaton and knowing how to cast DeVito & Pfeiffer.

Ed Wood - 1994: I know I said I'd stick to his critically acclaimed, but Ed Wood was pretty fun. An autobiographical piece about real life "B" director, Ed Wood. Adding to Johnny Depp's zany cast of characters, but Ed Wood was fun. But it's cult because Ed Wood was cult and that's the reason not every one knows about it - but something tells me Burton fans recognize this title.

Mars Attacks! - 1996: Please. It's a cast driven comedy and an excuse for Burton to cast Jack Nicholson again. I could watch this movie again and again, but it's not because it's a stellar story. I watch Road House everytime it's on TV too, but the Double Deuce isn't a hot flick. I watch Mars Attacks! because it's one of the largest casting calls in Hollywood history. Again, kudos to Burton the casting director, but it's not a good story. Look inside your soul and you'll know it's true. The aliens died from country music. Oh and those female aliens...C'mon.

Sleepy Hollow - 1999: A terrific opportunity to expand on a classic American tale becomes a love story between Depp & Christina Ricci. This stylistic feature is a favourite because of the setting. The story dives deeper into the life of Ichabod Crane (that depending where you live actually happened) than ever before. A spooky story, and an original spin on the classic wasn't the greatest piece of horror to invade big screens - but for one Hallowe'en it did the trick. More style than substance.

Planet of the Apes - 2001: Yes this cluster f*@& is on Burton's resume. First time casting Helena Bonham Carter, who would become his new leading lady and another stellar casting call. But everything about Planet of the Apes screamed trying too hard for a story that was done so well before. Moving on.

Big Fish - 2003: Thank you! Another wonderful and original story. Not as fantastic as Edward Scissorhands, but this film surely showcases a wide variety of imagination, a more subtle style choice that is still obviously Burton and a step in the right story telling direction. But will he keep it up?

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - 2005: The answer to that question is hell no, he will not keep it up. An original story from Roald Dahl. An adaption by Mel Stuart. And Burton jumped on the re-make casting Depp in the role of Willy Wonka. Forgetting the title entirely, Depp becomes the wacky star of a movie that shouldn't have been all about him. Stupid unnecessary backstories to explain things that shouldn't be explained ruined this once fantastic film. A colourful & wildly imaginative world, but give me Gene Wilder in this role, and Stuart's rendition of this classic book any day of the week. Tim, you done wrong!

Corpse Bride - 2005: Burton takes the director seat for his first clay-mation feature trying to redeem himself for the world thinking he directed Nightmare Before Christmas, which he didn't. Another example of a fantastic colourful world that flatlined from one bad song to the next. This time we don't even get to see Depp's charisma on screen. Add another stinker to the pile.

Sweeney Todd - 2007: This is where Johnny Depp will do whatever Burton says. He never sang before and it wasn't too shabby. Another stylized flick, that ended with the style. It wasn't anything spectacular and you don't feel the way a musical should make you feel - it's almost like the anti-musical. And where is the chemistry supposed to come in to play? It feels so mechanical that even Depp could've been a robot. At the end of this film, I really knew I wasn't a Burton fan. And again, not too much room to play around to make it that much better because this isn't original material either.

Alice in Wonderland - 2010: So with all this said, that's not a great body of work. A lot of terrific casting choices, but at the end of a film, the viewer remembers what they thought of a story. Saying "Depp was fantastic" is trying to be nice after seeing a picture they didn't really enjoy. And I think that's why the biggest movie event of next year could very well fall short for this movie goer. Oh and it's a Burton-Disney flick, not sure how that can make it any better.

Enjoy the teaser trailer for the upcoming Alice in Wonderland by clicking here!

The Dark Knight Returns

2009-07-27T05:30:00.000-07:00

If you're like me at all, you will see The Dark Knight sequel (or trilogy) as a cloudy shadow on Christopher Nolan's resume - but seeing as I haven't met too many people like this, take a look at this article. Filming to start next year.

http://sify.com/movies/hollywood/fullstory.php?id=14901666

Flynn's Arcade from TRON

2009-07-24T15:58:00.000-07:00

To celebrate Tron 2.0, Disney has, for Comic-Con, created a real Flynn's Arcade!

The Ugly Truth - 2 Stars

2009-07-22T08:01:00.000-07:00

The marketing isn’t the only thing wrong with this movie. Lack of chemistry, jokes that don’t work, and a rehashed storyline makes The Ugly Truth a hideous choice.

The first thing you NEED to know before buying a ticket is that this isn’t a romantic comedy like this year’s “The Proposal,” or “Ghosts of Girlfriend’s Past.” This movie is a crude, misogynistic, foul mouthed little jerk of a flick that could offend the sentimentalities of any rom-can fan. Even me, who loves all the offensive movies that have been released this year, was put off while watching this film, so please do heed this warning.

I love Katherine Heigl and after “P.S. I Love You”, I know Gerard Butler has the acting chops to do anything, but together this dynamic team doesn’t flourish. That’s not to say they don’t have their moments. One seen involving “vibrating undies” was exceptionally funny, and I did laugh my heart out, but as we’ve learned before, one scene doesn’t redeem a film of zero chemistry and a worthless finale. I think the real problem is that the jokes rely on the audience’s excitement to offensive and crude humour, but too often the joke is over the top and falls flat.

Little kids, and some teens, shouldn’t go see this movie, there is a ton of swearing. All of this foul language in a marketed light romance makes you feel a little uncomfortable sitting next to your girl or guy. The F word really doesn’t add anything to a comedy about an office relationship, and the writing is proof. In short, The Ugly Truth has one moment of glory surrounded by a few short bursts of giggles, but will leave the viewer cursing them self as they walk out. See Harry Potter again, at least that one has more genuine laughs.

Experiencing Jaws Again

2009-07-19T11:13:00.000-07:00

When I tell strangers what I do for a living, and how a portion of it is writing and talking about new movies, it isn’t uncommon that I’m asked, “What’s your favourite movie?” What is uncommon is how fast and honest I am when I respond with Jaws. Most people can’t come up with a favourite movie. Most people have too many to choose from, but not me. I know without a doubt that I could watch Jaws anytime, anywhere – and I believe that’s what makes a favourite. Not that it’s cool or unknown, or dare I say, hip. No Jaws is my favourite movie for the simple reason that I love watching it.

I must have been ten years old when I first saw “Bruce” (the nickname Spielberg gave to the mechanical great white – he had named him Bruce after his lawyer) and it scared the bejeebers out of me! But it wasn’t until after I saw Jurassic Park that Spielberg became my favourite Director, and I became a huge fan of his fantastic worlds. So it’s not really a surprise that I started collecting all of the movies I could of his. Like Dawson Leery, it became my obsession as well (yes Dawson, from Dawson’s Creek). As years went on I watched loads more Spielberg flicks but it wasn’t until I was in my first semester of college that I realized how impressive Jaws was and I claimed it as my favourite movie.

The characters: These characters are so rich and have so much chemistry; it’s very difficult not to love seeing them on screen. From Hooper laughing at the Mayor; to Quinn’s infamous singing of that “Spanish Lady” song; and finally to Brody’s infamous “We’re going to need a bigger boat” line. The story becomes more and more about these three as the story moves forward and less about a gigantic killer shark.

The Shark: Everyone should know by now that something is always scarier when you can’t see it and Spielberg knows this better than most. Nearly an hour and a half goes by in the film before you even catch a glimpse of this monster fish! And it isn’t really until the end of the film that you see it in its entirety. Brilliant, because the suspense never breaks. Even after seeing this movie 30 times (so far).

Cinematography: From the night swimming scene to the sing-a-long in the cabin the lighting in the film doesn’t only creep you out, but it also draws you in. Not to mention how do you light a little cabin so well for those shots? I mean really – brilliant!

Timeless: You have to know that if this movie was remade it wouldn’t be anywhere as classy as the original and that’s because they’d show you all the special effects they can do, forget about a story and add a higher death count. It would suck. But I’m sure that if it were re-mastered and re-released it would still take in over 100 million dollars. And I think that’s a guarantee. They just don’t make movies like this any more.

So why all this Jaws talk in 2009. Well like I said, it’s my favourite movie and I finally saw it on the silver screen. It was playing at the Bloor Cinema for 2 showings only. I happened into the matinee screening and about 50 people showed up in the middle of the day. It was an amazing experience to listen to the laughter, see people jumping out of their seat, and totally enjoying themselves. As the credits rolled, fans clapped. I don’t know if people do that any more in movies, but I smacked my hands together in unison with theirs, simply happy that I had finally seen this masterpiece the way it was intended to be seen.

Harry Potter & The Half Blood Prince - 4 Stars

2009-07-14T10:46:00.000-07:00

A near perfect film. The style, the framing, the cinematography and finally the acting make The Half Blood Prince an instant favourite!

Harry Potter is one of those franchises that continue to amaze me. Somehow, after six movies, I still love these characters just as much as I ever have. Watching this cast fall in love with each other again and again is mesmerizing and simply wonderful. From the moment the audience sees Harry, it can’t help but smile knowing our hero is back again to cast some spells, duel some baddies and genuinely be the person we wish we all could be daily. That’s the real magic of this series and the Half Blood prince does not disappoint.

In this feature the cast members are stepping into the world of hormones, and everyone is affected. Love potions are on every witches mind and girls are on every wizards. It’s certainly a topsy turvey world at Hogwarts in year 6! But there’s also a dastardly plot to destroy the school from its very core. Death Eaters are on the rise, the Wizarding world is well aware of Voldemorte’s uprising and these are truly troubled times. But you wouldn’t know it through your constant giggling.

This is certainly the funniest of the films. Watching the awkward wizards in love is absolutely fantastic, making this a favourite Potter pick for me! But keep in mind you won’t understand what’s happening and the amazing developing relationships without seeing The Half Blood Prince’s predecessors. Watching the other Potter movies is key here. And parents, if you’ve taken your youngsters to The Order of the Phoenix, they should be fine with the scare factor in this one. It’s not as dark and there’s really only one scene that makes you jump out of your seat.
Harry Potter & the Half Blood Prince is, fantasy or not, one of the best movies of 2009. And the filmmaking IS, so far, the best of 2009. Hands down. Do what you have to do and see this movie!

Brüno - 3 Stars

2009-07-13T05:31:00.000-07:00

Brüno is the less funny little brother to Borat. But less funny is still hilarious in the world of Sacha Baron Cohen!

Offensive. Cruel. Vulgar. These are words that have been used to define the works of Cohen (Da Ali G Show) but often forgotten is how funny this guy truly is. Taking a controversial topic, spitting on it, throwing it your face and moving on is basically the theme of this comic genius. And the point is this: If you’re laughing at intolerance, than in turn it allows us all to be a bit more tolerant in our own lives, if not completely embracing of the things we may not understand.

Obviously this movie can’t be taken seriously for much more than a lot of crude and often very lude jokes, and after a 30 second scene of Brüno’s “manhood” flying around the big screen, you really realize what you may have walked into. Yes there is a quite a bit of full frontal male nudity in this film…it is rated R for a reason. But where I might look away and say to myself “awwww no” I couldn’t stop laughing in the Varsity Theatre seats. I was doubled over, tears coming from my eyes and my hands clapping aloud, because that’s just the kind of movie this is.

If you’re thinking you won’t be offended by this movie, you’re wrong. Everyone will take offense and have their own little ‘ugh’ moments while watching Brüno, but really, it’s okay. Breathe. Just check your ego at the door and let out a hearty laugh when you can. When the movie’s over you may realize how much fun you had for an hour and a ½ simply stretching your funny bone.

Brüno is not much more than images of offensive and hilarious nature, but in the end what were you really expecting from a flamboyant gay Austrian interviewing hunters from Alabama?

I Love You, Beth Cooper - 2 Stars

2009-07-08T11:18:00.000-07:00

Sigh. The popular book of the same title is stripped of its funny and branded with mediocrity. It’s unfortunate when a great book doesn’t translate to the screen.

‘I Love You, Beth Cooper’ is the story of Denis Cooverman who proclaims his love to the hottest girl in school while addressing his entire graduating class as Valedictorian. Oh, and did I mention her psychotic army brat boyfriend watches from the crowd. It should end there, but Beth and the other two members of “The Trinity” (hey that’s what we geeks do, we think up clever names for people we know) show up on Denis’ doorstep all bets are off!

Larry Doyle wrote “I Love You, Beth Cooper” as an homage to the great teen movies of his life. Unfortunately this flick simply gets shuffled into the drawer with the humourless movies of the last few years. And yes there are a lot of them. The chemistry between Beth Cooper (Hayden Panettiere) & Denis Cooverman (Paul Rust) is sweet though. There are a few moments that drift into more of a dramatic performance here and there, and I do believe both of these two young actors will go further than this bound to be persecuted picture (Paul Rust will be appearing in Tarantino’s new war movie, Inglourious Basterds).

But the wonderful character of Rich (played by Jack T. Carpenter) just isn’t funny and spends most of the movie defending his sexuality instead of being the classic comedic relief (which honestly does work well in teen movies, it’s necessity). The book didn’t branch far off from formula, so I didn’t expect the film to.

All in all, it’s just not a funny movie, and it really tries hard to be. I guess we’ve just forgotten how funny slapstick is, because that’s a big part of this story. The two best parts for sure were the towel whipping scene (not as gross as it sounds) and the speech. I think I might have liked the movie a lot more had I not read the book. So obviously the moral of this story is don’t read. Of course I’m kidding! If you dig a movie trailer, it’s probably a great idea to find out if it was a novel and read the book first. But don’t hold high expectations for adaptations unless they’re named “Harry Potter and…” or something to do with Vampires, because those translate pretty well most of the time.

Transformers Revenge of the Fallen - 2 Stars

2009-06-24T16:11:00.000-07:00

Incredible special effects in this one! But an “I don’t care” attitude fills my head ½ an hour into the film. And I’m pretty sure director Michael Bay’s head too.

Every story needs…well a story. Yes, I understand this is a summer blockbuster, but it all stems from a script, and when the material isn’t there – cut it, re-write it, or scrap the darn thing! I’m seriously disappointed. There was a section in this film where an elderly Transformer must have spoke for about 20 minutes straight, and I have no idea what he said. I love rich stories as much as the next guy, but if you’re just standing around bantering with one another about nothing, it wears on the already too long film.

And when there wasn’t the unnecessary banter, there was the over reaching comedy. I mean honestly, a little transformer humping someone’s leg (much like the Chihuahua did to another puppy at the beginning of the movie) isn’t funny. Actually it’s kinda icky, and placing two massive wrecking balls on another Transformer in a strategic location is just lunacy. This movie does not star Will Ferrell, so I guess I just expected more from the writers (Robert Orci wrote Star Trek & the original Transformers, which were both incredible).

Nothing seemed to really resonate with me while I watched this flick and the dialogue while CGI characters did battle was the worst yet. I guess there was a quota of jokes, explosions and bad dialogue that had to be hit. But yes the effects were fantastic, and it’s great to see Michael Bay understands that the faster you move the CGI, the less flaws you’ll notice, which worked beautifully for all the epic battles between Autobot and Decepticon. With a runtime of 2 and ½ hours, there is very little story, and lots of metal destruction to go around that often are longer sceenes than they have to be. As a family feature there’s some course language, lots of mild sexual references, and tons of Transformer like death to consider before taking younger children. The Ontario Film Board has rated the film PG.

But I say learn from your mistakes and put this franchise back into the Hasbro box where it belongs! Bring on G.I. Joe!

Year One - 2 Stars

2009-06-18T08:30:00.000-07:00

An oddity in the comedy world, Year One is like a giant treading lightly while smashing down religious and scientific issues with a massive club marked NOT FUNNY.

Certainly the comedy giants of Jack Black & Michael Cera should be a laugh riot, and with Year One helmed by funny man Harold Ramis (Egon from Ghostbusters) you would think the best. Unfortunately this cameo filled flick falls short every step of the way. Is it just me, or is Jack Black just not funny any more. Michael Cera (Juno) is hilarious, but he’s a one trick pony. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great trick but sometimes the writing doesn’t work for this awkward newcomer, and the joke falls short. Then the audience sits and participates in actively not laughing, which is just as horrible in a dark theatre as it is in a comedy club.

So the movie is basically two cavemen buds walking around the world trying to find out if there’s more to life than what they have. Questioning everything and everybody, Jack Black & Michael Cera ultimately are just poking religion with a big stick stirring up answers to life’s tougher questions. Like where does the sun go when it’s dark and where do babies come from.

Crude content is everywhere in this one; from eating poop to a ridiculous amount of gay and lesbian jokes, that sometimes make you cringe, and are often not very funny. Also, parents should mind the rating on this one, 14A. There’s not a lot of course language, but the sex talk is everywhere. Ultimately Year One was a let down with a few chuckles thrown in from Michael Cera’s well known delivery. If you can see it for free, you probably should.

The Hangover - 4 Stars

2009-06-04T03:57:00.000-07:00

The Hangover is the perfect raunchy comedy. It’s outrageous, insane and absolutely hilarious. If you aren’t laughing throughout this movie, see a doctor because something is wrong!

Hangovers are a part of life. Geez, I’ve got one while I’m writing this. We go out and we drink, act stupid and wake up the next day wondering if last night was real. Then you direct your focus on the healing process, vowing never to drink again, or until the next time. Enter Stu, Allan, Phil & Doug, just a couple rowdy guys visiting Vegas for a bachelor party. After toasting a night they’ll never forget, the boys wake up on the floor of their Las Vegas hotel room. And it would seem they’ve lost something rather important. Doug, the groom to be is no where to be found. Now the three left, sort of standing, must re-play a night they don’t remember and follow the clues left behind to find their friend.

The thing that really makes this film terrific is that these guys are just three normal men who couldn’t handle themselves in Vegas. Within the first five minutes, Bradley Cooper sets the tone of the movie with one phone call to Doug’s fiancé. He simply says, “Tracey, yeah…we messed up.” The understatement of the century. The Hangover has some drug use, tons of profanity, drinking and lots of gross imagery that is presented to a more than willing audience. But do keep in mind that this film is rated 18A. I know the guys in your household will love it, and I’m sure there’s something in there for the ladies as well. It really is a perfect comedy.

Todd Philips directs, a man with a resume of such films as “Starsky & Hutch,” “Road Trip” & “Old School” is definitely a fan of the crazy comedies and this could be the best yet! With tons of likeable characters, The Hangover is sure to an instant comedic classic.

This flick completely redeems Warner Bros. after releasing last month’s train wreck, “Terminator Salvation.” The Hangover will certainly have you keeled over your seat in fits of laughter, clapping your hands and covering your face. If you’ve already seen Star Trek, then this is the next movie to see on your list. The second best movie of 2009!

Drag Me To Hell - 3 Stars

2009-06-03T06:01:00.000-07:00

Sam Raimi, director of the “Spider-Man” franchise has been better known as the king of funny frights. His Evil Dead trilogy is adored by not only this film critic, but on a global scale. And Drag Me To Hell is in fine Raimi form.

I say fine “Raimi” form because if you’re not familiar with this kat’s early work, you may expect a terrifying movie instead of the highly entertaining flick and fun movie with a few scares thrown in. Sam Raimi loves to hide his scary spirits a la “Jaws” and understands what isn’t seen is just as scary as what is. But when you unveil your creation, the thing you were so terrified of never really justifies how scared you felt, so why not have fun and make it insanely silly. That’s what Sam does. In “The Evil Dead” trilogy, once you see the possessed creeps, they laugh and dance and snarl and float, and really get under your skin, but it’s fun, not really scary. The same is true to form here.

What Raimi never has skimped out on though is the gross-out. The gross-out factor in Drag Me To Hell is unbelievable! The vile fluids, bodily spews, bloody spurts, and even a formaldehyde spill is enough to make even an experience gore hound seize up a bit. But it’s all apart of the fun! And don’t worry, there are a ton of pop at the screen scares to keep you from sitting too comfortably throughout.

But obviously all this must be put aside to showcase the really stellar horror story that brings loan officer, Christine Brown (Alison Lohman) to her knees. Christine refuses an old woman a loan, in return this gypsy woman curses Christine. The curse takes over the young woman’s life and challenges her to do things she would never ordinarily do (much like Ash in “The Evil Dead” trilogy). The big finish may not be what everyone’s looking for, but in comparison to other horror picks in recent years, Drag Me To Hell will stand the test of time.

If you choose to check out Sam Raimi’s latest creation, make sure you’re looking to have a good time at the movies and you should certainly leave with a smile on your face and a frog in your throat!

Disney Pixar's UP - 3.5 stars

2009-05-28T04:56:00.000-07:00

Disney Pixar’s UP is a wonderfully entertaining and colourful movie going experience that is sure to entertain the masses. But try to stick to 2-D.

UP is certainly a lot of fun and these characters not only will touch your heart, but also tickle your funny bone. The story is rich and original, and developing characters has never been something that has been a problem for this company, but something is missing here and I’m not sure what it is. Maybe I’m just out growing my Peter Pan phase…but wait I watched High School Musical the other day, so that can’t be it.

There’s just something off with this Pixar movie. It’s definitely funny, and the characters are rich, the story is fluid (not rushed or boring) and the animation is wonderful as well. So what’s my problem? UP is definitely the second best movie of the month (the first being Star Trek) and in the top 10 of 2009, but I just can’t put a finger on why this film wasn’t more well received in my mind. Maybe following Wall-E, Pixar productions just fall short? I’m not sure how to word it. This is terrible for a movie critic to admit, but I’ve run out of words, haven’t I.

So let’s move on to the one drawback that I know it had. Being in 3-D was unnecessary.
The third dimension of film was always supposed to be a niche trend and all of a sudden plastic frames are being handed out to the masses for every animated film that comes out. To be completely honest with you, it’s only cool if there are things that are popping out of the screen and you pull your head back. So just stick to 2-D animated features. The colour in the art is really what you want to see and 3-D has to mess with the picture to get the affect. You’ll never be able to do what horror can for this medium.

UP is definitely worth watching, and you’ll be more than happy to shell out the cash for the kids who will eat it up as well. And if you can put a finger on what I’m trying to say about it, please, will you tell me?

Terminator Salvation -1.5 Stars

2009-05-20T06:22:00.000-07:00

I have a theory. It’s not a hard one to swallow either. If you make a quality movie, and you have the means, make a sequel. If that sequel is better than the original (as T2: Judgement Day was), make another. The moment the sequel isn’t as good as the predecessors – STOP! This theory is usually 100% right, and in the case of Terminator Salvation, they should’ve heeded this advice.

Terminator Salvation flatlines from start to finish with nothing contributing to its existence except some half decent special effects and an incredible sound mixing team. Otherwise, it’s a wash. The characters aren’t charismatic at all. You just simply do not care about this team of human beings who are supposed to represent the survival of our species. The bad guy is a machine, so still emotes nothing, and do we know why they're so cranky with humanity? We're a threat or something, right? Either way, the viewer simply doesn’t care. This movie didn’t need to be made, and I’m chopping the whole thing up to a quick cash grab.

To contribute to a series you need to actually give something to it. With Director McG at the helm, nothing really is accomplished in this regard. It’s predictable and aside from some interesting action sequences (that don’t even get you agitated enough to have your heart pulse), offers nothing to the storyline! People, what’s the point? It’s like Alien Resurrection, X-Men Origins: Wolverine and Batman and Robin. You missed something decent on the previous film so why make these ones? Oh right, cash grab. No more on this movie, it rattles my chains. Spend your cash at your own risk.

Ghosts of Girlfriends Past 3 Stars

2009-05-01T04:27:00.000-07:00

This trendy macho man rom-com flipped with a Dickensian twist actually delivers genuine laughs and a surprising amount of sincerity.

“Ghosts of Girlfriends Past” stars hunky Matthew McConaughey who leads a blissfully ignorant life of money and women. We’ve all seen this before - hot jackass who lost his way and fell into cash, cars and collateral. Boo hoo, right? Well the fun part about “Ghosts of Girlfriends Past “is the flashbacks that lead to the great love scenes that will inevitably set the stage. Chemistry isn’t red hot between Mcconaughey and Jennifer Garner but it works. Not to say that it’s explosive, just that it works. And when we step back into the 80s and 90s to relieve the moments that defined Connor Mead’s (Matthew McConaughey) life we not only get a really great sense of character, but also a ton of fun play by play from present day Connor (and which ever ghost he may be visited, in this case obviously the ghost of girlfriends past).

And so the story goes for Connor meeting the present and future ghosts as well of course, leading to a Scrooge like realization, of course. And who plays Marley, the ghost to warn our protagonist of the dangerous course he’s on….none other than Michael Douglas, who’s role in the picture is probably the funniest. He plays Connor’s womanizing Uncle, Wayne who sets Connor down the familiar path of indecency. And although he doesn’t have a lot of screen time, Douglas’ role is probably the most memorable.

The film also stars Breckin Meyer as Connor’s brother Paul. I’ve always enjoyed Meyer’s early work (Road Trip, Clueless) and it’s nice to see that he’s still getting work. One of the touchy feely points actually comes when Paul defends his brother’s seedy ways and hopes for his redemption. So there’s a great part to look out for. And yes, I know that’s reaching, but I do enjoy Breckin Meyer.Probably the most surprising part of the film is the stunning visual effects. The ghosts are done really well! Cheezy falling beds, snow covered spirits and ghostly transparency all look great for a romantic movie. In short, women will enjoy it, and the macho jokes will have guys chuckling in their seats.

"Ghosts of Girlfriends Past" is better than expected and is a sure fire bet for your box office dollars.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine 2.5 Stars

2009-04-30T04:55:00.001-07:00

Although this flick is full of entertaining action, X-Men’s first prequel doesn’t have the story, characters or special effects to keep you clawing for more.

If you’re up for some mindless entertainment you may find yourself enjoying this revenge monster, but you’re not going to find a well laid story. Wolverine uses what people already know about Wolverine to a disadvantage (assuming you know everything you need to), and wail through the story at rollercoaster speeds. But the worst part, the absolute wort part is the neglect of character development.

Characters are not crutches that you use to keep your movie afloat. Do you hear that Marvel? Here’s the Blob. Here’s Deadpool. Here’s Gambit. And then they’re gone completely. What?!? No one cares about the characters in this movie because how could you when they’re gone after 10 minutes of screen time, leaving Logan (Wolverine) alone to do battle with the nasties of the world.

But at least the special effects would redeem this superhero movie, right? After everything we’ve seen on screen that looks incredible from Spider-Man to Lord of the Rings, X-Men Wolverine doesn’t measure up. At one point I was actually embarrassed at the look of Wolvie’s new found claws. Embarassed! It looked like they were floating in the air. How many X-Men movies have we seen that these claws looked fierce and awesome, and you can’t even get it right for the prequel story all about him! For a movie and comic book fan like me, I had had enough.

But of course, Marvel will pan out big at the box office despite my weary cry to stop screwing up things I love, and hey, you might even love it – if you’re into movies that are just trying to churn a buck.

Earth - 2.5 Stars

2009-04-22T13:39:00.000-07:00

With every good intention, Disney has released a spectacular documentary of the creatures that inhabit the planet. But some original footage would’ve been nice.

If you witnessed the phenomenon that is BBC’s Planet Earth you’re going to notice something very similar. Sure Disney does have a few extra scenes, but the most compelling and dramatic footage shown is recycled straight from the BBC series. This would be all well and good if Blu Ray sales weren’t already through the roof for the television show narrated by Richard Attenborough. Disneynature’s Earth is narrated by James Earl Jones, which to my surprise was recycled near word for word to that of Attenborough’s.

The sort of twist is that we follow three families. A family of Polar bears, Humpback Whales & Elephants. In following these families, the narration is very Disney - but the footage is still not fresh, give or take a scene of cuteness. And there is quite a bit of cuteness.

Oh and don't worry parents there isn't enough blood even in this documentary to keep your kids scared through the night - even a breaching Great White Shark is too cool to really freak out over. Other creature fatalities include a sea lion (to the forementioned Great White), a gazelle & a caribou and a junkload of krill (but they're too small to really see). There's also a few gross pickings of insects, but hey, it's a nature doc, it all comes with the territory kiddie keepers!

Does this make it a poor film? Not at all. The documentary does credit BBC and the Discovery channel within their production titles and the footage has always been so incredible that it lights up the screen in a way we hardly see.

If you’re eco-friendly and want to contribute to Earth Day, Disney has said they will plant a tree for every ticket they sell! So there’s no reason not to pay to see this spectacular nature flick, but don’t be surprised if you’ve seen most of the footage before.

17 Again - 2.5 Stars

2009-04-17T04:41:00.000-07:00

Zac Efron isn’t half bad as the leading man in this mediocre movie.

17 Again isn’t very good, but it’s not Efron’s fault. The problem is that we’ve seen this before. From Liar Liar to The Shaggy Dog, magic has intervened to help a wayward Dad find the path back to their kids. Part Mr. Destiny, Part Freaky Friday, 17 Again recycles old jokes with “super inappropriate” actions. A 17 year old hitting on a mom is never funny. However, it is always creepy.

Matthew Perry has a little bit of fun with his small role, but Efron is definitely the star of this film. He’s charismatic as the overprotective father and plays the role as close as Lindsay Lohan did (in Freaky Friday). Which doesn’t make the picture better, but it does make for a funny and endearing character. And what would a movie with Zac be if he didn’t have a quick dance number. So dance it up Mr. Efron, your tween fans are going to destroy the box office for you anways.

But there is one thing that I did find interesting. What would happen if a guy from the eighties had to take on high school today? Cell phones, Computers and YouTube fights just don’t commute to someone who graduated before parachute pants! It’s fun to watch someone back in school without a clue to what’s hip today (again we saw this in Never Been Kissed), but because this movie doesn’t know if it wants to be a teen movie or family flick sometimes the funny just isn’t there. A sappy sub-plot does find a way into the flick but the level of chemistry just isn’t there to push it to great movie heights.

17 Again doesn’t push anything new at it’s audience except teen heart-throb Efron, (who takes off his top in this one). It’s a been there, done that type of movie that you don’t need to spend your hard earned dollars on.

Hannah Montana: The Movie - 3 Stars

2009-04-15T10:15:00.000-07:00

Bring out the little ones, kick up your heels and tap your toes to the latest Disney musical sensation. Hannah Montana is definitely one for the kid in all of us.

It’s no surprise that Miley Cyrus captivates the world as Hannah Montana. The every day girl who is also a superstar appeals to the rock star in all of us. Who doesn’t dream of being in front of millions of screaming fans on stage rocking out to your favourite pop songs? I know I have. But the fun part about Hannah Montana is that she’s not always Hannah, she’s also Miley Stewart. Hannah = blonde. Miley = brunette. It’s not that tricky for even a non-fan like myself. But that wasn’t the case with the crowd at Scotiabank Theatre.

Disney is all about class. They rolled out the red carpet for three rows of screaming fans from the Children’s Miracle Network. And if that wasn’t cool enough, before the show they had dance moves by Miley on screen! Every little pre-teen was on their feet in a matter of seconds trying to pop, lock, and break like Hannah. Three girls sitting next to me were also in the mood, but a little apprehensive so I shook my rump for a chorus to get them started…yeah I know, I’m a geek, but it really got me into the “Montana” spirit.

The film itself is family fluff, but definitely something that anyone of any age can enjoy. If you like music and goofy family fun, Hannah Montana: The Movie is for you!

Observe & Report - 1.5 Stars

2009-04-15T10:14:00.001-07:00

Redundant punch lines follow unlikable characters in this poorly constructed comedy.

Seth Rogen isn’t a leading man. He wasn’t a leading man in Zack & Miri, 40-Year Old Virgin or even Knocked Up. He is only as good as the actors he can feed off of. And that’s not a bad thing Mr. Rogen. I enjoyed you in the aforementioned flicks, not to mention your voice work in “Horton Hears a Who” when you were able to feed off of Jim Carrey.

In this rated R mall cop movie, Rogen takes on the duties of a raging security guard trying to find his place in the world. The problem is you don’t like him. Actually all of these characters are so tragically grotesque that it’s hard to find anything redeeming about them at all. Rogen plays a gun loving psychotic who really has no moral code. In fact when he applies for the police academy he simply states “he’s just a guy with a gun.”

This disturbing look at suburbia has been done, and done much better with smaller budgets. Empire Records, Glory Daze & Clerks are just a few that truly hit home in the suburban renegade genre. If you’re looking for a mall movie, check out Paul Blart: Mall Cop’s goofy family fun instead.

Fanboys Review - 3 Stars

2009-04-02T10:15:00.000-07:00

Star Wars and Star Trek fans will find the force in Fanboys, but general movie-goers may not see the funny.

In the world of film geek-dom it all comes down to one simple question, Star Wars or Star Trek. Personally, I’m a Jedi kind of guy over those Starfleet folk. And as a “fan boy” myself, there’s a ton to take away from this picture. It’s the American Pie of Star Wars. Crude jokes, sci-fi references and stellar cameos ride the course of the movie, as four Star Wars geeks try to penetrate George Lucas’ Skywalker Ranch. The year is 1998 and six months before Episode 1: The Phantom Menace is released; our four fanatics want to see a rough cut of the movie before anyone else.

Fanboys is filled with the junk film buffs love: Mass quantities of inside jokes and hilarious cameos by cult heroes like Kevin Smith, Billy Dee Williams, Carrie Fisher and of course, William Shatner. But for those who waited in line for the midnight screening of The Phantom Menace (guilty), you’ll be surprised to find something more poignant. You may find yourself laughing at just how silly it was to setup shop 24 hours before hand to grab tickets to a movie that is now hailed as the death of the franchise. And Fanboys is definitely something to share with that guy you hung out with in high school arguing over the forbidden love of Luke & Leia. And for the record, they didn’t know they were brother and sister!

I just moved into a new place with two women. Neither of them knows anything about “Han shooting first” or the replacement of Sebastian Shaw in the re-mastered final “Jedi” scene. So while watching Fanboys, I remember how growing up sometimes means leaving behind things you love. My former roommate, Mark, and I would debate for hours how Yoda should’ve been able to take the Emperor in Revenge of the Sith. Or how Harrison Ford really was the best part of Star Wars and how Luke was a tool until Jabba’s palace. And it sucks that we have to move away from the good times in our lives, no matter how dorky, because they made us who we are. And yes, it matters to us.

Mark and I are no longer roommates and I’m going to miss those times, but just like the movie will attest to, moving forward doesn’t necessary have to mean you give up on your own “Death Star” (Luke’s superlative moment in history). Mark’s out doing that now, and I’m here writing for you, piecing these moments together.

Fanboys may not be the best movie, and it doesn’t score as well as Road Trip, American Pie or even Tomcats but what you do take away from this corny romp will probably be something like I did. A film with really good intentions, and a fantastic message: Growing up doesn’t mean you have to give up everything about who you were.

The Teen Movie Thing

2009-04-02T07:05:00.000-07:00

"17 Again" will be hitting theatres next weekend and with star Zac Efron at the helm, you can bet the tweens will bring in the box office dollars. With the release of this film, I can actually write about a genre dear to my heart. Teen movies have always been a great passion of mine.

If there was any movie that I loved more than teen movies, I haven't seen the genre pass a screen yet. The innocence, the love, the jokes, and the crudeness. So where did it start? What do I love about them? What do we all love about these movies? I'm going to try to get to the bottom of this. It all started for me one night staying up late with my parents watching an old movie on television. I think it was one of the first movies on tv that I watched the whole thing because I was just too into it. After that, I waited and waited to record a copy of this movie because it was such a highlight in my life.

That movie was called "Some kind of Wonderful." This fun flick caught my attention, and not just because of a super cute Lea Thompson...no no, it was all about the punkish looking Mary Stuart Masterson! Damn right folks. I was hooked. I remember waiting in line at HMV the day I first bought this movie on VHS. It started it all. And it didn't have much except two stunning beauties and a real geeky lead actor who just happened to befriend some of the roughest nasties in the entire school. And who is the villain? Of course the popular guy! Of course this film was by the leading teen filmographer of our day and generation, John Hughes. This man revolutionized the way we see teenagers. Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Pretty in Pink, St. Elmo's Fire, Sixteen Candles...and the mother of all teen movies. The Breakfast Club.

What film could spark such emotion? Bond all the different classes of social misfits? And of course tie in a little silly love story that will always make you remember to "Answer the question Claire. "No film will ever compare to this one in the Teen Genre but as great as these are, they don't keep me up at night watching them over and over again. That honour rightfully goes to the first real 90s teen comeback film, She's all That. Oh yes, this film swept the nation. From Canada (home town boy here), the States, Britain, Eastern Europe, and yes even Asia. She's all that claims all my respect because this film re-invented 90s teen movies.

Now of course some of that credit should go to 10 things I hate about you (on my tv now) but She's all that (although not supposed to) did release first in a wide release.This of course started a spiral of movies such as Down with Love, Boys and Girls, Strike!, Can't Hardly Wait (a top fave) and so on, until we get to 1999 and a film called Drive me Crazy is released in North America.This is a little guilty pleasure of mine, this film is beyond cute. So we have the story of two teens that feel completely rejected. They find solice in a "scam" to get their loves back by pretending to be oh so in love. This film stars Adrian Grenier (independent artist) and Melissa Joan Hart (Sabrina the teenage Witch).The film is fantastic and the titlerevolves around the Britney Spears single. It was pure marketting, but a lot of people actually have not seen this film so get to your blockbusters people. Check it out. It's a really cute story and for any high school student, you will especially dig this one.

Now if we're going to be talking about teen movies, there was one series that set apart the rest from just teen films, to disgusting over the top, wild teen humour. Of course if you haven't been living in a box you know that I mean American Pie.Come on, Stiffler is the man! And here's another one that went above and beyond just North American box office dollars. When you think of these names, Jim, Stiffler, Kevin, Oz, Michelle, hell even the Sherminator you feel connected in a very real way that most films don't let you.

So let's fast track to today. We have Lindsay Lohan in Mean Girls and of course all those lovely Hilary Duff pictures, that truly I can not get enough of...I don't really know why, but I think the reason for loving these films so very much is because we all have been to high school. It's usually the most fun, and the most difficult times of our lives. We all would trade up anything to go back there, and when we sit down for two hours and watch what other people think of their high school experiences, whether it be going to prom with your "Ducky" or if it was getting caught masterbating to scrambled porn, you can really idolize these people because you were one of these pervert people too at one point.

Another great thing that I have to comment on before I go off the deep end here and regret it. The greatest thing about starting a trend is obviously being recognized. Well how about John Hughes High School in "Not Another Teen Movie".A movie that the first time I watched I cringed, and tried so hard not to laugh, knowing it was stupid, ridiculous, not worth my money...but now? Yeah I own the stupid movie. I'm not saying that it's a work of art but come on, poke fun at yourself every once in a while, and that's what that flick did.

Most movies are supposed to just simply get a reaction out of you, so react already.The very last point I'm going to make...if we didn't enjoy these movies. If we didn't laugh, and have fun along with them. If we didn't see eye to eye with these people, and love the characters...then why was Dawson's Creek on the air for six fucking years.

Crossing Over - Hidden Gem

2009-03-13T04:44:00.000-07:00

What “Traffic” does for drugs, Crossing Over does for immigration.

Following several stories of people and families that are being affected by the United States Immigration department, Crossing Over examines the reality of the western world and what our freedom stands for. So many every day turned away, so many crave the opportunity of a better life, and so many can quite literally be cast out. Crossing over is a beautifully moving film of the lives of an immigration officer (Harrison Ford), permanent resident applicants (Alice Eve & Jim Sturgess), An immigration defence attorney (Ashley Judd) and husband who approves citizenship (Ray Liotta) , a young man hardened by crime (Justin Chon), and an outspoken Muslim teenager (Summer Bishil) who is proud of her heritage.

Above all else, this film lingers after the lights turn on, and will provoke necessary thoughts of how lucky it really is to belong to a country like Canada and why so many desire citizenship in the free world.

The most impressive portion of the film wasn’t Harrison Ford (he played himself mostly, and isn’t that just awesome anyways) but newcomer Summer Bishil. I tell you now, keep your eye on this girl. I called it with Amy Adams, and Kal Penn, and even Zac Efron. Now I’m going to call it for Summer Bishil, this girl has talent. Often young actors blow off their lines and think a tear or two makes or breaks a performance. Summer who plays Taslima knocks this performance out of the park. She’s brave and tough, but she’s also sensitive and lonely and it resonates to the core. I’ll say it again, Summer Bishil – I’m going to look into her and maybe post a few other Bishil titles (if there are any).

Crossing Over is a great film with triumphs and failures and strong performances by its star studded cast. A must see for any drama hound looking for a hidden gem.

Watchmen - 4.5 Stars

2009-03-06T08:16:00.000-08:00

Hot on the heels of The Dark Knight, “Watchmen” delivers the second DC masterpiece inside of a year.

“Watchmen” is not like Spider-man, Iron man, or even Superman Returns. It’s a gritty, intelligent movie that stakes its heroes in a political arena as well as a crime fighting one. It was the best movie so far of 2009. I was amazed at how clever the story was (which I can’t really be surprised about…Watchmen: The graphic novel made Time Magazine’s top 100 NOVELS of all time) and how well developed the characters were. Not to mention how the vision of this story was portrayed on screen. It was so realistic, and just one of the coolest movies I’ve ever experienced. Superhero or otherwise.

But now I want to take a minute to say that this isn’t a family feature. It’s rated 18a for a reason. And after discussing the movie on air, we received a phone call from the Ontario Film Review board urging us to link to their site (click here for the site). Just type in WATCHMEN to see what they say about the film. Some of the things they don’t really discuss is the full frontal male nudity, attacks on women (and for that matter dogs), and gore that rivals the recent release of Friday the 13th. So again, this is not for kids, or anyone else who is squeamish around blood, guts and nudity.

The one thing that I should mention I loved more than anything else was the soundtrack. The story takes place in 1985, but in the Superhero heyday, some of the best musicians of all time rocked the planet, and it seems there’s just a fantastic array of talent in this picture. I don’t even know where to start, but when you see the movie you’ll understand what I’m talking about. Watchmen may not be the contemporary format of a Superhero movie, but what is after the recent Dark Knight release? Watchmen is a dark look at what’s happening to the superhero franchise, and it shows clearer than ever the transition of the anti-hero into the popular film genre.

He's Just Not that into You - 3.5 Stars

2009-02-07T06:09:00.000-08:00

“Any movie that references Some Kind of Wonderful, instantly deserves an extra star rating!” – Jay Kennedy

Yes, I once said this to a friend of mine after seeing a movie that made reference to the exploits of Eric Stoltz and Mary Stuart Masterson’s 80s teen rom-com. But can you blame me? After watching He's Just Not That into You, I came home to pop the familiar DVD into my player and enjoyed the kind of teen angst only John Hughes can deliver. So you can imagine my delight when Ginnifer Goodwin is seen gorging herself in front of the tube watching the aforementioned classic! And sure enough, instantly this feature went up an extra star point for me. You have to keep to your word in this life.

Ken Kwapis directs He’s Just Not that into You. Who’s he you might ask? Well he brought us such screen gems as Dunston Check In, Beautician & the Beast, and 2007’s License to Wed. So when I stepped into the Varsity theatre at Bay and Bloor, and those lights came down, I had to wince as Kwapis’ name flashed on the screen. But that was it. That was the only time, because this is a wonderful picture. It’s hard to explain it, but it’s like Magnolia meets Swingers, if that makes any sense at all. The big thing you have to remember is the serious actors in the picture bring a lot of chemistry to the table. There's laughter from the deliriously entertaining Ginnifer Goodwin who thinks she’s finally figured it all out to heavy drama between Ben Affleck and Jennifer Aniston’s expiring relationship. If you were going to separate genres you would have to call it a docu-dram-rom-com. There is so much of each person offered to this picture. Jennifer Connelly’s breaking point will have you in tears immediately...followed by Affleck’s unselfish gratitude. It’s actually quite a beautiful thing.

He’s Just Not That into You is the first poignant picture of the year, and twenty-something’s to almost-sixties will share in the delight of a movie that dives deep into the one topic that never fails to engage us all. Love. So congrats to Ken Kwapis for directing such a charming feature. If engaging in adoration interests you in the least you’ll run out and see this story of courting, loss, love and friendship. He’s Just Not That into You is what everybody’s is seeking out during these turbulent times. And again, it references Some Kind of Wonderful which is just awesome.

Bottle Shock - Hidden Gem

2009-02-07T05:06:00.000-08:00

Bottle Shock is the intrinsic classic that not only will get you to stand up and cheer, but will redefine your love of another classic signature, wine. And as this critic sits down to write this review, with a little cool jazz in the background, I just can’t help but tell you that I’m also popping the cork on a 2005 Chardonnay from our very own Niagara Escarpment.

To set the stage for this new piece by director Randall Miller & writer Jody Savin, we take you back to the California Vineyards of Napa in the year 1976. Young Bo Barrett (played by a fairly new face on the scene, but still recognizable, Chris Pine) is enjoying the simple life. Hitting the bars, and pretty much lazily living through his father’s dream of selling an extraordinary wine. Enter Alan Rickman, a snotty Brit from France who had decided to hold a blind tasting for the world’s best wine critics pitting French Wine against the Californians. But he must travel to Napa to see what all the hub bub is about.

This story in wine’s history is beautifully told, with monstrous scenic shots of California’s Napa Vineyards, and is incredibly developed. With a range of talent from new young stars Chris Pine and Rachel Taylor to the old faces of Alan Rickman and an enormously powerful Bill Pullman, in a role that could redefine his career.

As wine movies go, you can’t dismiss the latest contemporary classic, Sideways. In no way will I discredit this mighty piece of film culture, but because Bottle Shock offers a period piece as well as an origin story, movie-goers and wine aficionados alike, will be drawn to the subtle charms of this full-bodied feature. Bottle Shock, like a fine vintage shows balance and poise, culminating in a lingering, lip smacking finish!

Doubt - 4.5 Stars

2008-12-18T07:38:00.000-08:00

Doubt it an important film that reminds us all how important our humanity is. We are a people of gossip, greed and maliciousness and the cloth doesn’t shield this human nature in the already acclaimed, Doubt.

An unthinkable act may have happened, but without proof two nuns (Meryl Streep & Amy Adams) conspire against Father Flynn, played by Phillip Seymour Hoffman. It’s hard to critic a film that is near perfection. Beautifully set in 1964, Doubt contrasts the emotions of the piece with changing weather patterns, and plays with themes of homosexuality, inequality, morality, and above all uncertainty. Doubt asks the question again and again, is gossip a sin?

With knock out performances from Oscar winners Streep & Hoffman, and Oscar nominated Amy Adams. But the real winner in Doubt is writer & director, John Patrick Shanley. The only other feature film directed by Shanley happened to be 18 years ago, with “Joe versus the Volcano.” Doubt is more than a glimmer of hope to follow his first.

The greatest part of this suspicion picture is that it will leave you talking about it for possibly hours after you leave your seat. With its many themes, Doubt plays perfectly to the subjectivity of its viewers. The only thing I don’t like about this film is that it bumps The Dark Knight out of my top five list of 2008, making its way to the number 3 position for the entire year.

Quantum of Solace - 2.5 Stars

2008-11-14T04:17:00.000-08:00

Such high hopes for this new Bond in the stellar franchise, but sadly Quantum of Solace falls short of anything but a blood bath.

When I left the theatre, at first I thought to myself, “well, did I get it?” The answer to that was no, not really. The plot is so convoluted, and if you haven’t seen Casino Royale an hour prior to Quantum of Solace you’re going to be lost. I understood the underlying theme of revenge, and I picked up on the enviro-terrorism key points…but I didn’t understand why this Bond flick had to be so dark.

Understandably, he just lost the only woman he ever loved, but wait, I’ve seen this flick before. It’s called The Bourne Supremacy! A super powered agent hell bent on revenge for the murder of his lady-friend (who, in Casino Royale’s case, was going to kill our tuxedoed hero the first chance she could, anyways).

Don’t get me wrong. These are some of the strongest action sequences I’ve ever seen on the screen, Bond film or otherwise. That’s not to say they’re without holes. With the advancements in special effects over the years, we suspend our belief that James Bond is unstoppable. But to NOT show how he gets out of a car chase or a boat chase is irresponsible. The audience would love to see how he maneuvered around that tight little gap, instead of simply pulling the steering wheel hard and miraculously Bond is saved. There are a lot of those little things in this picture that will keep you saying “Huh? What?”

The flick is definitely darker than Casino Royale, and if I had to compare that darkness to anything it would be The Dark Knight. The Dark Knight took a franchise that was light and sometimes campy and reinvented it for a new generation of fans who crave on the gloom. And don’t go thinking that I’m bashing The Dark Knight because I’m bashing Bond. The Dark Knight was a much welcomed re-invention. I don’t think Quantum of Solace is. This film does offer some breathtaking scenery, and amazing shots though, and from a filmmaker’s stand point there is a lot of invention behind some of the more fast paced action scenes.

I’ve seen about 20 of the 22 bond flicks that are available (with the exception of License to Kill and On her Majesty’s Secret Service) and I’ve never been stumped as to what’s going on. After two hours of just trying to keep up...followed by mindless action sequences that are a very extravagant distraction, I’d have to say don’t go in expecting much from Quantum of Solace. Rogue Agent or not, this Bond is just a little too dark and a little too heavy for the every day James Bond fan.

Changeling - 4.5 Stars

2008-10-28T03:53:00.001-07:00

There doesn’t seem to be a force in nature that could slow Clint Eastwood down when he decides to direct a picture. Changeling is his latest directorial release starring Angelina Jolie. If this picture isn’t nominated for best picture I’m going to be thoroughly disappointed. And out of all the movies I’ve seen this year, this is in my top five.

Jolie plays Christine Collins, a single mom working in Los Angeles as a telephone operator in the late 1920s. When she discovers her son missing after a day at work she becomes unraveled, but quickly composes herself. Jolie’s portrayal is one of strength and control.
The story revolves around the true events that were later called the “Wineville Chicken Coop Murders.” Google it and take a look if it interests you, but take my word for it the film is incredible. The story’s main focus is of Christine Collins and what happens to her personal wellbeing when she fights a corrupt police department to disprove a child returned to her is not her own. After all, wouldn’t a mother know if her child was in fact, her child?

Shot in a style that could almost be described as a “duster” (after all this is a Clint Eastwood flick), and even though it’s set in the 1920s, a much slower time, there’s something electric about the city of Los Angeles.

Changeling has a tight cast of Angelina Jolie, John Malkovich, Jeffrey Donovan, Colm Feore and an exceptionally chilling Jason Butler Harner as Gordon Northcott. I’m trying not to give anything away but you’re not going to believe what Christine Collins (the real Christine Collins) went through just to get the police to do their jobs! The 20s wasn’t a time for the single mother, but what transpires is nothing short of barbarism.

Changeling is a film mixed with emotion, struggle and strength in a difficult time, proving again without hope all is lost.

High School Musical 3: Senior Year - 4 Stars

2008-10-28T03:40:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, I think of myself as a superhero, because I try hard to defend the movies that aren’t given a chance. And I feel like I’ve been defending movies like High School Musical my entire life. High School Musical 3 doesn’t need a review; it’s a triumph without even seeing a box office dollar. And at this point I’ve probably lost you.

Pull up a chair and grab a cup o’ java because I feel like telling you a story. Two years ago a movie was released. It wasn’t seen on a silver screen and it couldn’t be found in a blockbuster video store. No this was a picture that was filmed in 24 days. Its soundtrack in five. In fact, the title wasn’t supposed to stick either but no one could think of anything else so they released it as is. And much like thousands of movies, it was put on television. A made for TV movie that filled a few hours in a primetime slot. But something pretty remarkable happened. People watched. And not a few here or there…but 7.7 million people sat down and watched High School Musical.

Fast forward 2 years. You’re going to see the merchandising, the popularity (2 Emmys), the famed youngsters, another straight to television sequel (attracting 17.6 million viewers), and now a theatrical release. That’s what I meant by triumph. Hollywood laid to waste by an original TV movie that debuted on the Family Channel (we Canadians have to look out for our own). It’s a beautiful thing.

So the question is does High School Musical 3 live up to the hype. In a word, yes. High School Musical is the type of film that makes everyone – young and old – check their ego at the door and force a smile. And if you’ve really checked in, you might even notice your feet pounding along to the energetic tunes.

Continuing the story of Troy (Zac Efron) and Gabriella (Vanessa Hudgens) as they make final decisions before graduating, the third installation tends to remind its viewers of a time when things were a little bit brighter, louder and sometimes messier. Let’s face it we all have decisions to make. That’s how life works right, make a decision – then make another one, and so on until the end of time. Well, remember a time before making decisions was really tough? That first big one was a hurdle, and that’s what these stories are really all about.
I have to admit that after enjoying two films prior to this one it did feel like I was losing some pretty great pals when that final curtain fell. But it was one heck of a ride. High School Musical may have made its claim to fame long ago, but the hits keep coming with this toe-tapping flick that could surprise you. You may just find yourself tapping your feet in the aisles while wiping your eyes with your palm. A very entertaining picture.

2008-09-27T05:37:00.000-07:00

It's finally here! If you're not familiar with Empire Magazine, then you're in luck to find this blog. If you like movies at all, it's one of the best websites to visit...and now after deliberating for months they've announced The 500 Greatest Movies of All Time...as voted by filmmakers and fans - check out where Jaws scored!

Click here to view the list.

The Go-Getter - Hidden Gem

2008-09-20T07:54:00.000-07:00

Starring a fresh cast of young talent, The Go-Getter is an entertaining coming-of-age Indie that reaches a wide audience with subtle surprises.

Mercer (Lou Taylor Pucci) hasn’t felt right since his mother passed away nearly a year ago. This jettisons an act of random theft when he steals a volvo from a local car wash. Comparing his journey to Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn, Mercer is on a cross country road trip to find his half-brother Arlen to give him the news. His melancholic odyssey is interrupted when the owner phones her cell phone and gives Mercer permission to use her car in return for details of the trip.

What follows is a large scale lesson of life, love, and trust. The Go-Getter is, like most independents, morose but honest. With a powerful cast of Zooey Deschanel, Jena Malone, Bill Hicks and Maura Tierny, it’s subtle charms will likely be celebrated by a younger audience. But may not be formidable enough to reach any viewer. With this said, it’s most certainly worth a look.

Don’t be surprised if you find yourself falling in love with the characters in this film. Director Martin Hynes’ clear style choices work the development in such a way that enhances it’s characters and exceeds the script. You can’t help but admire the risks taken in Indies that would never be taken in mainstream Hollywood, and so it should be. If we saw these kind of bold shots in everything on the silver screen, how could we find the hidden gems?

The Go-Getter is a rare and unusual film that will inspire this hip generation of transient young people, but may miss it’s mark on a wide scale demographic. But don’t let this hinder you because you could miss out on something fresh and exciting in this delightfully mild piece.

Lakeview Terrace Review - 2.5 Stars

2008-09-19T05:09:00.000-07:00

Samuel L. Jackson plays the race card close to home in this new neighbourhood thriller. Lakeview Terrace is a welcomed suspense flick that we haven’t seen in a few years. I remember at one time social thrillers were bounding into the theatres a dozen at a time. But after watching Lakeview Terrace, I tried to think of the last one I had seen and all I could remember was John Travolta & Vince Vaughan’s Domestic Disturbance. That was 7 years ago. Normally I’m better at remembering these types of things, but I honestly believe the genre has changed. The most popular of these type of films would probably be Pacific Heights, starring Michael Keaton. This brings me to Samuel L. Jackson’s new thrill ride, Lakeview Terrace, a movie about neighbourhood racism for the new millennium.

The social commentary here is quite evident when an inter-racial couple moves next door to Able Turner (Samuel L. Jackson). At first Chris & Lisa Mattson are just mildly annoyed, but tension soon mounts when the two find out Able is a police officer, who has his own sick brand of justice. So the question becomes, who do you call when your problem is a cop? And how far can you be pushed before you start fighting back?

Lakeview Terrace is an entertaining thriller that has a fresh cast, and a riveting plot, that can relate to anyone who has ever had that neighbour from hell. There are even some very real moments where Samuel L. Jackson steps out of his “intense” character, and actually shows you a new depth to his talent.

With all this said, the most difficult part of a thriller is ending it. This is true of most suspense movies. Lakeview Terrace holds you on the edge of your seat until the very end…where it falls flat. An anti-climactic finish can diminish a terrific plot all too quick and leaves a stale taste in your mouth. This is unfortunate because Lakeview Terrace has a lot to offer the average movie-goer.

Lakeview Terrace is a riveting and entertaining thriller that falls a little short of it’s mark.

100 Girls - Hidden Gem

2008-09-17T12:50:00.000-07:00

I came across this gem early in 2001 on DVD when a buddy of mine said, "Jay, how is it possible you haven't seen this movie?!?" Director Michael Davis was somewhat a hero of mine ever since he cast Keri Russell in Eight Days a Week, a movie about a geek who gets his girl by sitting under her window all summer long. Classic movie, and the dialogue is very Dawson-esque but truly a fantastic movie.

Now Michael Davis brings you 100 Girls, and I use the term 'now' simply for affect because it was made in 2000. So here's a movie starring Jonathon Tucker (Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Hostage, The Ruins) as Matthew, a boy who shares an incredible night with the girl of his dreams. The problem is the night is spent in a dark elevator in the middle of a blackout. He never sees her face! The next morning she takes off and his quest starts to find her in the women's dorm. So there's your plot. Kinda lame by teen movie standards but it works. Using the same ideas and portraying the same gross out features, as an American Pie flick, Davis conveys exactly what it's like to be a college freshman who just wants to get a date with the girl of his dreams. Sure there are some Wyle E. Coyote type of tricks played, (they even make mention to the famed Roadrunner nemesis) but it's such a fun ride.

Now when you go to the movie store to rent this jewel, make sure that you rent 100 GIRLS not 1000 Women, which is kind of a knockoff (even though Davis did direct that one as well). It's not nearly as good as it's predecessor. Make sure to pick up this hidden gem the next time you're at the videostore.

Screen info on Green Lantern Flick

2008-09-17T06:50:00.001-07:00

Information has surfaced regarding the new Green Lantern script that's been long awaited. Marc Guggenheim had this to say about his project.

"I will tell you it features Hal Jordan and is an incredibly faithful rendition of the character. It honors everything everyone loves about the hero. We approach it from a fan's perspective. Every step of the way, we ask ourselves what we want to see and what the fans will want to see. I think we have a script that will actually satisfy on those levels. Right now I'm just doing a rewrite for the studio with Greg [Berlanti] and Michael [Green]. We'll turn that in next week."

Longoria rumoured to play The Wasp?

2008-09-17T02:07:00.000-07:00

Deperate Housewife star was recently seen walking out of Marvel Studios holding a copy an Avengers comic. This leads to the idea that this sexy star might be up for the role as The Wasp in an Avengers movie.

Now we all know that Marvel is piecing together their own works right now so that they can bring the ultimate team-up to the big screen. Whether it flies or not is yet to be seen. But so far we've seen traces of the idea pop up in this summer's new favourite hero, Iron Man. And also in the refranchising of The Incredible Hulk. If you've yet to see these scenes I suggest you YouTube them - I've placed the links at the bottom of this article.

This is more than I can say for DC's Justice League rendition that has been put on the backburner so many times that it will probably get cold and dumped. Much like the Superman Lives of the early 90s - at one point a lot of people were penning a script to star Nicolas Cage as the man of steel in the early to mid 90s before it was scrapped. Frankly, I think having all those big salaried actors in one movie is worth checking out, but will probably disappoint.

Tony Stark w/ Nick Fury Thunderbolt Ross w/ Tony Stark

- the quality is not 100% on these YouTube vids -

Burn After Reading Review - 4 Stars

2008-09-16T18:01:00.000-07:00

The Coen Brothers have carved their name in stone as one of the most dynamic writing/directing team that ever there was. And in a Fargo-esque way, they’ve returned to the dark comedic charms as though they had never left. Burn After Reading is the type of comedy movie-goers rarely find and can instantly become a contemporary classic.

Rich and vibrant characters flow from this all-star cast that consists of John Malkovich, George Clooney, Tilda Swinton, Francis McDormand, and J.K. Simmons. And of course an unforgettably stellar performance from the ever ranging Brad Pitt, who is one of those actors that used to impress ladies with his physicality and now, stuns us all by exploring new heights of genuine brilliance. By far the most appealing in Burn After Reading, Brad Pitt plays an optimistic physical trainer who has a plan to return stolen CIA documentation, for a reward. This act of good faith quickly goes bad when it appears to others as blackmail for America’s secrets.

The writing is exactly what you expect and crave from Academy Award winners, Joel & Ethan Coen. And although this film takes viewers in a completely opposite direction than No Country For Old Men, fans of Raising Arizona, O’Brother Where Art Thou & Fargo will revel in this new fable from the two.

Amazingly with a runtime of only 93 minutes a striking story unfolds. Characters develop effortless while intertwining with each other and creating an irreverently funny comedy, that pokes fun at the "super power" more than once. Burn After Reading won’t disappoint.

Why a movie blog?

2008-09-16T16:25:00.001-07:00

Hi, looks like you've found a great blog! My name's Jay, and for as long as I can remember I've loved movies. There`s nothing more exhilarating than sitting back in a chair as the lights go dark. The smell of popcorn wafting while you`re surrounded by excited movie-goers. And then something magical happens...the projector roles. And if you`re lucky for two hours you`ll be engrossed with the kind of unforgettable storytelling that only occurs in a place with felt walls, big screens and sticky floors.

You might be wondering why I've posted some of the flicks I have in my banner. Well each of them mean a great deal to me.

My favourite movie of all time is Spielberg's Jaws. I say Spielberg's because as much as I admire

and respect Benchley for lending his story to the screen, Spielberg made this movie what it was...and that was a gruelling, frustrating, son of a bitch. But the end result gets me every time! I think your favourite movie should be something that you can watch again and again, any time. So as much as I did enjoy Fight Club, Requiem for a Dream, American History X and yes even The Dark Knight (I'm sure that stepped on some toes), it's difficult to see myself watching these movies time and time again without wanting to kill myself.

In this blog you will see commentary on all things cinema. From big news, to movie reviews, to my nifty top 5 lists that will always be visible. If you have any ideas you can most assuredly comment on any of my blogs and I will take your criticism, comments and concerns under advisement. Of course if it's something that's absolutely ludicrous, sorry but you're going to be scrubbed.

Enjoy "The Movie Guy" blog!