May 2006

The Story So Far

/ / Film News & Trailers

We’ll have reviews for X3: X-Men United for you Friday, but before we get to where we’re going it’s always a good idea to look back where we’ve been.  So let’s look back at the first two chapters of the series, shall we?  Indeed we shall…

X-Men & X2
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The mutant gang of Marvel Comics has come a long way from the original conception of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby back in 1963.  The group has, for not better word, evolved and grown into a series of titles that has become the backbone of Marvel Comics.  Three films have been made, the latest about to hit theaters Friday, so let’s take a look at how mutants have faired on film.

The story begins:

A war rages between two groups of mutants (humans who have “evolved” with genetic mutations that leave them stronger and more powerful).  As the film opens a US Senator (Bruce Davison) is pushing for the mandatory registration of all mutants and two outcasts Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) and Rogue (Anna Paquin) stumble into the struggle between Professor Xavier’s (Patrick Stewart) X-Men who wish to coexist peacefully with normal humans and Magneto’s (Ian McKellen) Brotherhood of Mutants who believe themselves superior to the rest of us.  Magneto’s plan in the film involves using Rogue to power a weapon that will turn every world leader attending the UN summit into a mutant (for reasons that are only clear to Bryan Singer).  The X-Men save the day and Wolverine leaves to search into his mysterious past…

The story evolves:

Wolverine learns a little about his past which involves government scientist William Stryker (Brian Cox) who wants every mutant dead and has discovered a way to meet his goal which involves using the mutant mind-control powers of his son and the big brain of Prof X.  Other plot threads involve Jean Grey facing her fears that her powers are growing out of control, Iceman (Shawn Ashmore) and Pyro (Aaron Stanford) vying for the attention of Rogue, and an attempt on the President’s life by a myserious new mutant called Nightcrawler (Alan Cumming) which leads to a government lockdown on mutants and an all-out assault on the school.  Aside from Nightcrawler, both Colossus (Daniel Cudmore) and Deathstyke (Kelly Hu) make their first appearances on film as does the Beast (sort of).  The film ends with the team successfully stopping Stryker but with the tragic loss of one of thier own…

Brett Ratner (Rush Hour, After the Sunset) takes over for Bryan Singer as the film gives us the showdown between the X-Men and the Brotherhood, Iceman and Pyro finally have it out, the resurrection of Jean Grey as the Phoenix, a “cure” for mutation, and new heroes like Beast (Kelsey Grammer) and Angel (Ben Foster) and villains such as the Juggernaut (Vinnie Jones) but oddly enough in a film with every freakin’ mutant imaginable no progeny of Magneto make an appearance.  We took a peek last night and Aaron and I both agree (wrap your mind ‘round that one folks!).  You’ll have to wait until Friday for the review, but until then I’ll wet your appetite with a review from a film that in every aspect is on par with this one (click here).

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New on DVD

/ / Uncategorized

We’re here to keep you informed on hot choices for renting or buying new DVD releases. Released this week: Cheaper by the Dozen 2, Transamerica, London, One Last Thing, Metal: A Headbanger’s Journey, The Devil’s Miner, The Goebbels Experiment, Julie Johnson, Who Gets to Call it Art?, Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Chipmunk Adventure, Samurai Jack Season 3, Boston Legal Season 1, Deadwood: The Complete Second Season, Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan: The Complete First Season and Mash Season 10.

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Here’s what is getting released today on DVD:

Film:

Transamerica – Felicity Huffman in the best role of her life. A tough part about a transgender who is doing her best to finish her transformation and finds out that she’s a dad. Toby gets into trouble and has no other choice, but to call her from New York to get out of jail. Sabrina’s counselor won’t sign off on her operation until she meets with her son. She drives him across country, introduces him to her mom and dad and along the way finds her maternal instincts. Touching low-budget film, a little slow at times, but worth it for the quality and depth of characters. Check out our past review on Transamerica.

Cheaper by the Dozen 2 – If you enjoyed Cheaper by the Dozen 1 then Cheaper by the Dozen 2 will be okay. Steve Martin and his crew isn’t as funny as they were the first time around. The storyline is there, but something is missing. The family decides to go to their cabin in the woods, which is a run down shack that’s been around for years. In competition with his high school rival, Bakers against the Murtaughs, which family is going to win the summer competition? It doesn’t matter who wins or loses, it’s about family and love. Pretty well the same story as before, except the kids are all a little older and they go on vacation.

Film: Limited Release:

London – London (Jessica Biel) is having a going away party, she is headed to New York to start a new life. Syd (Chris Evans), her ex-boyfriend, gets pissed off cause she didn’t report to him about taking off. He decided to crash her party, but chickens out of talking to her and holds up in the bathroom with a pile of cocaine and Bateman (Jason Statham), an Englishman he had just met. The two snort the night away discussing life, love, sex and a little S&M, all along Syd is trying to build up the strength to talk to London.

One Last Thing – Dylan (Michael Angarano) finds out he has a terminal illness and makes his last request, on national TV, to spend a sultry weekend with a supermodel. Mom isn’t to comfortable with his last wish and is having problems with coming to terms with loosing her son. A film that looks like it could have a happen ending, but “bittersweet” in the end.

Metal: A Headbanger’s Journey – Heavy-metal fan Sam Dunn puts together a full documentary of the world of “Metal”. He approaches such subjects as sex, religion, violence, drugs and death. Interviews with Black Sabbath, Dee Snider, Lemmy, Alice Cooper, Rob Zombie and others. If your a metalhead, then this is film is an owner.

The Devil’s Miner – Two very young brothers work in the silver mines of Cerro Rico, mines that date back to the sixteenth century. The children show us what it’s like to be a devote Catholic and superstitious about the devil who controls the mines and either keeps them safe or destroys their lives. They must work to earn money for the clothes on their backs and any education they get. In the poverty stricken way they live, if they don’t get an education, then they have no chance at a happy and fulfilling life.

Obscure:

The Goebbels Experiment – Kenneth Branagh narrates this WWII diary of Joseph Goebbels, the man who shaped the propaganda and public opinion of the Nazis. Devoted to Hitler and the Third Reich, he finds a home, a place of acceptance and feeling like he belongs. Great insight to the inner workings of the Nazi party, Joseph leaves nothing out of his diaries.

Julie Johnson – Lili Taylor and Courtney Love stars in a film about an odd friendship and a housewife coming to terms with her true self. Julie is taking night classes and finds that she has a worth past the everyday drudge of taking care of the house and kids. She finds a friend in Claire and begins to experience different feelings about herself, sexuality and life.

Who Gets to Call it Art? Here is a documentary about the art scene in the 1960’s and a pivotal icon for contemporary art, Henry Geldzahler. Includes plenty of works from Geldzahler and pieces from other artist that he respected and loved.

Family/Animated:

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Chipmunk Adventure – Awwwwe, the singing trio Simon, Theodore and Alvin meet their match with three lovely female chipmunks in a around-the-world hot-air balloon race. It’s the chipmunks, what’s not for the kids to love? Really, young kids love it.

Samurai Jack Season 3 – A TV animated serious about a Japanese samurai who must save the world from evil. Season 3 all for you.

TV:

Boston Legal Season 1 – Boston Legal is night time soaps with lawyers as the characters and the courtroom as the stage. Just like Days of Our Lives, sex, violence, love, romance, users, bastards, unethical, ethical and good vs evil.

Deadwood: The Complete Second Season – It’s a rough and tumble HBO series that kicks a little butt and uses the F word like its common practice. Deadwood is definitely a man’s man show, it’s for the big boys who loves them some Westerns and plenty of gritty, whisky drinking, non-bathing guys and gals. The only problem I see with Deadwood is the dialogue, it’s uncomfortable to listen to such a Shakespeare way of speaking with so much profanity and believe this is how it really was.

Mash Season 10 – It’s Mash Season 10, are you going to make me say more?

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This Week

/ / Film News & Trailers

So what’s out there this week.  Well today we’ll take a look at the films scheduled to be released this Friday which includes a foreign film from India and a documentary in limited release; oh yeah, and there’s this thing called X-Men: The Last Stand too (you might have seen a preview).  Read on.

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Here’s what’s scheduled to hit theaters this week.  Want to know more, just click on the title for film info including a full cast list.  Want a closer look, just click on the poster to watch the trailer.

X-Men: The Last Stand

The “Brett Ratner” X-Men years begin (and end?).  Almost everyone’s back – Professor X (Patrick Stewart), Cyclops (James Marsden), Wolverine (Hugh Jackman), Storm (Halle Berry), Rogue (Anna Paquin), Iceman (Shawn Ashmore) and added to the mix are the Beast (Kelsey Grammar), Angel (Ben Foster),  and soooo many more, hell, Jubilee (Kea Wong) is included!  Problems for our intrepid heroes include Magneto (Ian McKellen), Mystique (Rebecca Romijn), the Juggernaut (Vinnie Jones), sentinels, a “cure” for mutation, and the resurrected Phoenix (Famke Jensen).  Whew!  Can fanboy Ratner control this unwieldy cast and still find the emotion behind the stories and characters?  Check back on Friday for our answer!

An Inconvenient Truth (limited release)

Anybody remember Al Gore?  In a documentary very close to the former VP’s heart audiences are asked to take a hard look at global warming.  The film focuses on presenting facts and scientific evidence and cautions and calls for the need for serious change in the United States and the world.  Will it raise debate in country over the issue or will “non-believers” simply stay away?  Early word says the film isn’t doomsday-ish, but a rallying cry to motivate support for the cause.  There’s no word yet if George W. Bush will attend opening night (but, I’m guessing…no).

Fanaa (limited release)

More Bollywood fun in this Hindi film about a love story between a tour guide/terrorist (Aamir Khan) and a blind Kashmiri girl (Kajol).  He shows her around the city as the two begin to fall in love only for her to later discover about the hidden part of his life that could endanger not only their relationship but both their lives.  The film was directed by Kunal Kohli (Hum Tum and Let’s Be Friends!) and also stars Shiney Ahuja, Rishi Kapoor, Kiron Kher, Lara Dutta, Sahil Chaudhry, Tabu, and Wishal Rampal.

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So Dark, the Con of Man

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: The Da Vinci Code
  • IMDb: link

The Da Vinci CodeRon Howard probably wasn’t the best director for a vast conspiracy/thriller picture; off the top of my head Oliver Stone seems to be the more natural choice.  Neither was Akiva Goldsman (I, Robot, A Beautiful Mind) the right man to try and adapt Dan Brown’s novel to screen.  The final look of the film feels very much like a book stuffed into a movie.  The film really is a confusing jumble of odd choices and missed opportunities.

In case your one of twelve people who hasn’t read the novel the premise runs like this:  Scholar Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) is on a book tour in Paris where he is summoned to the Louvre where a man (Jean_Pierre Marielle) who was scheduled to meet that afternoon has been murdered.  Captain Fache (Jean Reno) is certain Langdon is the killer while cryptographer (Audrey Tautou), who is also granddaughter of the murdered man, is certain he is innocent.  Neither one of their certainties is satisfactorily explained.

…

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Over the Hedge

/ / Movie Reviews

How many films can boast entertaining a whole theater full of kids hopped up on sugar? Over the Hedge is one of those films. A great animation for all of the family, funny enough to keep the adults and the older kids entertained and bright colorful evolved characters to keep the little kids happy. Over the Hedge is a story that shows society’s relationship with over indulgence and material items and the value of family. Showing kids right from wrong that’s not too preachy, but more entertaining is exactly what DreamWorks accomplished.

Over the Hedge
3 & 1/2 Stars

Quirky colorful characters and perfectly chosen voice talents, Over the Hedge is guaranteed to please the whole family. Plenty of laughs and feel good moments, not over done at all. About time we get a year where there might be a little competition for the Best Animation Oscar category.  Over the Hedge is a simple yet solid story with well drawn out animated characters that teaches kids a lesson about life and gluttony.

RJ (Bruce Willis), a greedy mischievous raccoon, gets himself in a bit of bear trouble. He tries to sneak away with Vincent’s (Nick Nolte) hibernation stash and gets busted, big time. Vincent threatens to eat RJ unless he replaces all of his stash, including the little red wagon and blue cooler within a week.
RJ stumbles across a group of woodland misfits who have formed a family of their own and weasels them into helping him replace Spike’s goodies. He convinces them to jump the hedge and enter into the world of suburbia, making them believe that they can set themselves up for next winter’s hibernation in no time.

Verne (Garry Shandling), the self proclaimed papa turtle, warns the crew that RJ is up to no good, but all the treats on the other side of the hedge is all too tempting for the little ones.

As they begin to scavage for food the suburbanites start to get a little put out that animals are invading their homes, trashcans and yards. They call in a professional, if you will, The Verminator (Thomas Haden Church), to rid themselves of such vermin. But Verne gets smart to this and tries to return all of stolen goods, trying to make nice with the humans.

Hammy (Steve Carell) the crazy A.D.D. hyperactive squirrel, Stella (Wanda Sykes) stinky bossy skunk, Ozzie (William Shatner) a over dramatic acting possum and all the rest of the family gets upset with Verne and favors RJ and his tactics. All the food is lost and they bond together to gather the stash all over again. RJ shows his true colors and leaves them high and dry, busted by The Verminator and caged.

RJ, realizing no matter what happens to him, that family is the only important thing. And the crew that now set in cages headed towards a quick end is the only family he has known and needs his help. Leaving Vincent high and dry, RJ crashes the wagon of food into The Verminator’s vehicle and saves them all. Everybody lives happily ever after.

“Over the Hedge” is based on a popular comic strip that translates beautifully to the big screen. The film provides us with an inside reality check to society’s over gluttony and lack of ability to share our space with the environment. Other lessons learned from the importance of family, don’t mistreat your friends and always be honest it pays in the end. Not too preachy and very funny, Over the Hedge is perfect for kids of all ages. There is a character for everybody to love and a simple story that the audience will easily relate to. Don’t just take my word for it, go see for yourself.

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