Movie Reviews

X3 has critics and audiences dancing 50/50; some love it and others hate it. True comic book geeks will be very very sad; the characters are hodge podged and mixed up with poor make-up, hair and costumes. Director Brett Ratner certainly screwed up this famous marvel line and the massive egos from the talent finished out any characters that we have grown to love and set on the edge of our seats to see on the big screen. On the other hand, if you want a fluffy semi-action filled popcorn flick with mutants, then X3 will completely please.

X-Men: The Last Stand
Custom Rating

I’m sure you are asking yourself, “what is this raving critic going on about?” Let me explain, I could easily list the many things gone wrong here. Character backgrounds and purpose to the storyline is completely left out; most of the time you will be at a total loss for why, who or when a character came about, and they come and go so quickly. Somebody should have fired the hairdresser right out of the gates, Wolverine’s hair was flat and messy and Jeans was just plain bad. Focusing on Storm and her powers and leaving out all the rest, come on Halle give us a break, it’s not called X-Men: All About Storm. Wolverine started out light hearted, then turned into love crazed and ended up psycho killer with a touch of Van Helsing; dicing up Magneto’s teenage post-neo-goth army, must have been one hell of a workout for him. There are times where characters completely disappear for segments of the film or for good, but nobody’s worried about where they went or if they are ever coming back. X3 is full of technical, character and casting errors and blunders, I could literally go on and on, but I’ll save you the painful read.

It starts 20 years prior and introduces Dr. Jean Grey’s history with The Professor and Magneto and then jumps forward 10 years more and introduces Angel and his father, with one more jump we are in a battle zone between Wolverine, Storm and a group of mutants, from the school, and a very large robot. Don’t worry, no damage is done, it’s just a training exercise. Scotts crying in his glasses and hearing Jean’s voice and The Professor is merely teaching a class. Suddenly news flashes and there is a cure for all mutants, Angel’s father has come up with a cure for his son. Angel doesn’t want the cure, does his Victoria Secret’s Super Model pose and flies out the window. Magneto is doing his usual save the mutant world by killing and destroying; he starts a small army of teenagers who have minimal powers to stop the government from forcing this cure on mutants and stop mutants from volunteering for it. Wolverine, Storm, The Beast, Kitty and Iceman head off Magneto and saves the world. That pretty well sums up the whole story.

Mutants die, innocent people die, others get to live, important characters come and go, The Golden Gate Bridge gets moved (cause a boat would have been just too easy), cars are blown up, mutants become human and if you wait past the credits there is a big secret hiding there. No, X3 doesn’t compare to any of the past X-Men films and comic book lovers will most diffidently be disappointed, but the general audience and a special age group between 10 and 19 will possibly adore it. It’s popcorn fluff through and through.

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.

Okay, I love Underdog and thanks to flicks like Chasing Amy and Almost Famous I’m a huge Jason Lee fan.  Lee’s taken to vocal role for the animated hero in live action/CGI hybrid (think back to 2000’s The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle).  Peter Dinklage will star as baddie Simon Barsinister and Amy Adams has signed on for voice the lovely Sweet Polly Purebread.  Director Frederick Du Chau (Racing Stripes) will take control behind the camera on the script by Joe Piscatella and Adam Rifkin (Small Soldiers).  Hopefully there will be no need to fear come next August.  For those of you who don’t remember Underdog was Saturday morning cartoon staple in the sixties and seventies (and re-ran through much of the eighties).  The story told of lovable Shoe-Shine Boy who would take his “magic pill” in times of danger and rescue the city from the likes of Simon Barsinister and Riff-Raff saving the day while rhyming.  No word yet if other characters like Tennessee Tuxedo, Klondike Kat, or The Go-Go Gophers will make cameo appearances.  Extra fun link for those of you who want to listen to the original theme song or see the lyrics (click here).

Underdog
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