November 2008

Australia, The Movie That Wouldn’t End

  • Title: Australia
  • IMDB: link

Australia is a mess; it’s at times a pretty mess, but a mess nonetheless.  The seemingly endless tale of a dover and an aristocrat, and a Aboriginal child, and an evil cattle baron and his evil assistant, of cattle drives and social conventions, and so much more, would have been better suited for a mini-series than a single feature film.  Instead we get at least 12 hours of plot cut together into a 3 hour movie.  The result is less than spectacular.

Where to begin?  Director and co-writer Baz Luhrmann gives us an epic (in time though not scope) tale about Australia.  Over the course of nearly 3 hours we follow the troubles and tribulations of our main characters, plus many side tales, until finally it all mercifully comes to an end.

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Transporter 3

  • Title: Transporter 3
  • IMDB: link

That’s right Transporter 3 stands for 3 razors. Seriously it does what it sat out to accomplish: 1. Lots of ass-kicking action (clothing optional) 2. Car chases, crashes, floating and train jumping and last, but not least 3. Independent films have an action hero and his name is Jason (OMG he so hot) Statham. No seriously Transporter 3 is just that, part 3 to a chain of films that rock on the choreographed fight scenes, but come up short in content and quality acting.

I simply can’t go into this review from a serious point of view; Transporter 3 is a wonderful release to the melodrama and uptight contender season. Something that all action fans can set back and enjoy without thinking a whole lot.

Rule #1. Never change the deal. And that is exactly what the director did, he didn’t change a thing. Cuter girl, maybe, a little more adventurous car scenes, for sure and a certain amount of new humor, but overall it’s like the rest, simply a little better.

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Milk

  • Title: Milk
  • IMDB: link

“I’m Harvey Milk and I’m here to recruit you.”

Sean Penn stars as Harvey Milk, a businessman from New York who would struggle for years in an attempt to become San Francisco’s first openly gay elected official.

The film follows the failed campaigns and the process of organizing and entire community into public activism.  Director Gus Van Sant also spends considerable time on Harvey’s friendships and love life, giving us a complete picture of the man from his days before politics to his untimely end.

Penn is terrific as the lead.  Emile Hirsch, James Franco, Diego Luna, and Alison Pill all put in strong performances as the constellations which revolve around Hervey’s world.

Van Sant does a good job in showing us how Harvey related to the rest of the world.  Although the big public moments are meant to get your attention, its the quieter and more intimate ones that are more memorable.  Though those uncomfortable with gay relationships might want to steer clear of this one.

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Four Christmases

  • Title: Four Christmases
  • IMDB: link

Seriously I wanted to laugh. I really wanted to laugh, but for some reason where scenes should have been funny, just ended up lying there like a dead stinky fish. Vince Vaughn’s ability to act completely stupid is innate, but it gets a little exhausting and Reese is just too adorable, but who hasn’t seen her perfectly put together and adorable. I must say the clever combo of Robert Duvall, Tim McGraw and Jon Favreau as father and sons, was absolutely brilliant. They made most of the trip worthwhile.

Four Christmases will be entertaining enough for the brain dead moviegoers who drool a bit and find humor in every slapstick remark perfectly placed. I think there are a certain few that’s totally going to get the Spam casserole and backyard YouTubing body slam wrestling matches, the rest of us might sit there in awe that these things actually do happen.

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Bones – Season 3 on DVD

  • Title: Bones – The Complete Third Season
  • tv.com: link

“You know, this is our first Christmas as a couple.”

“Aw, too bad Santa’s dead.”

Dr Temperance “Bones” Brennan (Emily Deschanel) and Special Agent Sealy Booth (David Boreanaz) return to solve another season of bone-chlling (pun-intended) mysteries.

I became a quick fan of the show enjoying not only the mystery of the week but the chemistry of the cast.  This season includes the deepening of Hodgins (T.J. Thyne) and Angela’s (Michaela Conlin) relationship, the search for Angela’s long lost husband, a new cannibal serial killer, the murder of Santa Claus, a Halloween adventure with real skeletons, and the poor decision making of Zack (Eric Millegan).

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