Babylon A.D.

 

We just got back from seeing this one. I have two words: SAVE YOURSELF. Don’t see this movie – unless you’re prepared. Which is what I’m going to help you with here…

Babylon A.D. is about a mercenary named Toorop [Vin Diesel] who takes a job to deliver a package from Russia to New York City. The package turns out to be a girl [Mélanie Thierry], and nobody is sure what it is about her, but she’s different… She knows things people who’ve grown up in a convent in Mongolia shouldn’t know. She was raised by one of the sisters [Michelle Yeoh], who is also along for the ride, making sure she gets to where she’s going in one piece. Along the way they have many obstacles, and the journey is long enough that the three characters get to know and trust each other.

The journey itself is great. Lots going on, lots of action… Vin Diesel slides effortlessly back into the role he’s meant to play [in my opinion] – the anti-hero. But the ‘why’ behind the story itself is sketchy at best. This movie goes from an interesting vision of the future wrapped around the characters and their plight to true sci-fi – and for my tastes, not it a good way. I would have liked to have known what year it was, too. They make a reference to ‘back in 2017′, but it was never clear how far in the future this was supposedly taking place. I’m sure they were following the book, but if it were up to me, I’d have simplified some of it and gotten rid of some of the fluff at the end to give this movie a more tight resolution.

I walked out thinking this felt like Children of Men meets Minority report. It had the look and feel of Children of men – a bleak, ugly future where it’s everyone for themselves in Russia and Eastern Europe, where the movie opens, but then there is some really great tech stuff ala Minority Report, that the bad guys had the money to possess, and is just everywhere in North America. You can bet Motorola paid top dollar for placement in this flick – the idea of advertising being everything seems pretty realistic. For that, I did enjoy most of this movie.

For the rest, the acting was really good, the story for the most part was intriguing and there were some really great stunts and plenty of explosions, if you dig that stuff. It did feel slow in parts and convoluted in others. If the ending were better it would have been a 3 1/2 or a 4, but because the ending made us angry… I’d say it’s more a 3 out of 5. If you expect the ending to disappoint, the rest of it is pretty cool and worth seeing – on DVD. If you’re a Vin Diesel fan, or just love explosions, it’s still worth seeing on the big screen.

Add’l Info: Release Date: Aug 29, 2008 • Runtime: 90 minutes • Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, language and some sexuality • Photo credit: ©Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation via movieweb.com

Preview: Fast & Furious

“New Model. Original Parts.”

We saw this preview this past weekend and I have to say, I got excited. I loved the original The Fast and the Furious when it came out. I love cars, driving fast… seeing fast cars and hot people in a movie is pretty much all it takes to entertain me pleasantly. A little plot goes a long way if the stunts are well done. This one looks like it has the right mix of original characters and new schemes where the not-so-bad-guys team up with the not-so-good-guys. 

This movie reunites Dom [Vin Diesel] and Brian [Paul Walker] after a crime is committed in L.A., as feuding rivals on opposite sides of the legal fence, who end up having a common enemy and having to find a way to work together – with trust lacking on both sides. It sounds like this latest chapter of the franchise gives us a little of everything in terms of heists, getaways, muscle, custom and exotic cars, as well as a taste of that lifestyle – bringing us back to where it all began. Directed by Justin Lin, who was also at the helm of Tokyo Drift. Michelle Rodriguez and Jordana Brewster also reprise their roles. Looks cool to me. Looking forward to it… if only we didn’t have to wait until next summer. 

Check out the first trailer here: Fast & Furious Trailer

Add’l Info: Jun 5, 2009 • Runtime & Rating: TBD • Photo credit: ©Universal Studios via thefastandthefurious.com movie trailer

Death Race

“Get Ready For A Killer Ride.”

We decided to see a matinée for this one in case it wasn’t so great – it could have gone either way for us after seeing the trailer a few times. Despite projector issues [2/3 of the screen went black... then they had to shut it down for 10 minutes to figure out what was wrong with it] and eye-strain inducing flickering after they ‘fixed’ the problem, we both really enjoyed this movie more than we expected. I was afraid that the trailer might have given the entire plot and all the best scenes away, but it didn’t. 

Death Race is a remake of the 1975 version, Death Race 2000. This time, the race happens at ‘Termination Island’, a maximum security prison a mile off the coast, Alcatraz-style in the not-too-distant future of 2012, when TV goes to live stream craziness for huge money. Jason Statham plays ex-con ‘Jensen Ames’, a former NASCAR champion driver who did some time in prison when life hit bottom. After he got out, he got a fresh start when he met the woman of his dreams, and now they have a baby daughter. Even though he was just laid off from his job, they know they’ll make due… life is good. Until his wife is brutally murdered and he’s framed for it…

6 months later he ends up at Termination Island and is asked to drive in a Mad-Max style race for a reality show that ‘Hennessey’, the warden [Joan Allen, who does a great job playing a character that is super-cold and ruthless] created – aptly named ‘Death Race’ – as the winner is basically the last man alive. The race takes place over 3 days with many twists and turns, rules and weapons, so it’s no surprise the ’show’ gets huge ratings. The drivers are like the gladiators of their time and the world tunes in, thanks in part to it’s star driver named ‘Frankenstein’ – a name given to him after being mutilated after crashing in one of the races when most of his face sustained burns bad enough to have him wear a very creepy mask. He also never talked to anyone, adding to his mystique. Without Frankenstein, the warden’s ratings are in danger of going down – and that’s where Jensen comes in. The question isn’t ‘was he framed for killing his wife?‘, it’s ‘what’s he going to do about it?‘  

Death Race had a little more plot depth than I was expecting, which was cool – I don’t require it really for pure action movies… The action was almost non-stop once things were set up, the stunts were great [some were pretty gorey, which made me laugh, I loved it...] as were the fight scenes. This movie is mostly testosterone-driven [excuse the pun...], but I don’t have a problem with that if I know what I’m getting myself into. Seeing Jason Statham beat people up and doing pullups while topless didn’t hurt, either. Don’t worry guys – you get some great eye candy with Jensen’s navigator, Case [played by Natalie Martinez]. Ian McShane, Tyrese and the rest of the supporting cast also did a great job.

The only thing I they could have done better was the final scene – I found it a little unbelievable [not that the rest wasn't, but in terms of the characters], but it wasn’t bad. For the action and fun I give this Mad Max meets Fast and the Furious flick a 3 1/2 out of 5.

Add’l Info: Release Date: Aug 22, 2008 • Runtime: 89 minutes • Rated R for strong violence and language • Photo credit: © Universal Pictures via allmoviephoto.com

Star Wars: The Clone Wars

“Prepare to see Star Wars like you’ve never seen it before”

My husband, Russ, saw this one on Friday while I was at a bookclub meeting, so he’s written this review for me… hence the different format and writing style. Thanks Honey!

Plot summary:
Star Wars: The Clone Wars takes place between the two most recent Star Wars films (Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith). With the war raging between Count Dooku and his Separatist droid army and the Clone army of the Galactic Republic, Anakin Skywalker has been dispatched by the Jedi Council to locate and rescue Jabba the Hut’s son who has been kidnapped by renegades. Since the Hutt’s control a prime area of space trade routes, whoever has Jabba’s favor will have use of these routes and thus gain a significant advantage over their opponent. However, the plot thickens as we learn there are more sinister forces are at work.

Review:
This film has some of the best animation I have seen. If you liked the Clone/Droid battle sequences from the last three films, this movie will not disappoint. 

While the film is definitely geared toward a younger audience, this isn’t “A Land Before Time” or “A Bug’s Life”. The Clone Wars introduces the audience to Ahsoko Tano who is Anakin’s new Padawan learner (basically, an apprentice). She is somewhat of know-it-all teenager, thus the connection to the younger audience. – There is also some well placed humor in this movie.

Another reason to see this film is that Anakin Skywalker is not portrayed as the excessively whiny and angry Jedi he was in the last three films, but rather a more focused and masculine character. There is also a new villain as well, Asajj Ventress who is like Darth Maul’s sister from “Episode I” but actually talks.

Also, if you’re like me, when you see an animated film you’re always wondering whose voice it is you’re hearing. While Christopher Lee (Count Dooku), Anthony Daniels (C3PO), and Sam Jackson (Mace Windu) all reprise their roles, most of the voices you’ll hear are not the actors/actresses from the last three films. However you probably won’t notice since they come from people that do the voiceovers from the Star Wars video games.

Be wary of Star Wars “purists” that will not be satisfied with anything until George Lucas brings back the original crew of Han, Luke, Leia, and Chewy. This movie is an enjoyable action packed adventure for small and big kids alike.

This is the first animated feature film from Lucasfilm animation.

Add’l Info: Release Date: Aug 15, 2008 • Runtime: 98 minutes • Rated PG for sci-fi action violence throughout, brief language and momentary smoking • Photo credit: Copyright © Warner Bros. Pictures via allmoviephoto.com

Weekend Box Office 8.18.08

I was surprised to see that Tropic Thunder beat out The Dark Knight this weekend. It was really funny [see review below]… My hubs saw The Clone Wars without me [I had a bookclub meeting]. I’ve asked him to write up a quick review that I can post for you. Hopefully he’ll find the time tonight… check back tomorrow if you’re interested in knowing how it was from a die-hard Star Wars fan.  ;)  I have to say, since he told me all about it, I want to see it now. I don’t know if the trailer did it justice… 

USA Weekend Box-Office Summary week of 15 August 2008 courtesy of IMDb.com

 

Rank		Title	Weekend	Gross
1		Tropic Thunder (2008)	$25.8M	$36.8M
2		The Dark Knight (2008)	$16.4M	$471M
3		Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008)	$14.6M	$14.6M
4		Mirrors (2008)	$11.2M	$11.2M
5		Pineapple Express (2008)	$9.81M	$62.7M
6		The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008)	$8.21M	$86.2M
7		Mamma Mia! (2008)	$6.1M	$116M
8		The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2(2008)	$5.79M	$32M
9		Step Brothers (2008)	$4.81M	$90.7M
10		Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)	$3.76M	$3.76M

Preview: Hamlet 2

Hamlet 2 looks like my kind of humor. The tagline when you go to their official site is, “One High School Drama Teacher Is About To Make A Huge Number 2.” According to IMDb.com, Steve Coogan plays “failed actor-turned-worse-high-school-drama teacher” who “rallies his Tucson, AZ students as he conceives and stages a politically incorrect musical sequel to Shakespeare’s Hamlet”.. Supporting cast includes Amy Poehler, Catherine Keener, Elizabeth Shue and David Arquette. I can’t wait to see it! Check out the trailer here: Focus Films Hamlet 2 Rated R Trailer.

Add’l Info: Release date: Aug 27, 2008 • Runtime: 92 minutes • Rated R for language including sexual references, brief nudity and some drug content • Photo Credit: Copyright © Focus Features via allmoviephoto.com

Tropic Thunder

“The movie they think they’re making… isn’t a movie anymore.”

We just got back from seeing this one and it was way better than we expected. When it was over and the house lights came on, the couple behind us blurted out, “That was SOOO funny!” and “That was really, really, good!” lol… and it was. The audience as a whole [us included] laughed out loud so many times – it was a truly fun experience. My husband and I were blurting out some of the ridiculous lines as we were walking out, laughing all over again. I’d see this one again in the theater on a slow week, it was that good.

Starring Ben Stiller as the typical action-hero, typecast actor, ‘Tugg Speedman,’ who’s career is tanking [not unlike a certain Mission Impossible actor we all know and used to love], Robert Downey Jr. as the extreme Aussie method actor and winner of 6 Oscars, ‘Kirk Lazarus’, who goes into character for his role in ‘Tropic Thunder’ as a Black man, and doesn’t want to come out…  Jack Black as the one-trick pony comedian ‘Jeff Portnoy,’ known for his white version of Big Mama’s House style movies where he plays every rude, gas-passing obese character himself – who longs to be taken seriously… Jay Baruchel as the young, skinny newbie actor ‘Kevin Sardusky’ who just wants to get laid… and Brandon T. Jackson as ‘Alpa Chino’, the rapper-turned-actor with a huge reputation for being a man-ho who pimps his energy drink ‘Booty-Juice’ on the side. 

The movie’s spoof direct ‘Damien Cockburn’ [Steve Coogan] can’t get his primadonna actors to work together without trying to hog the scenes, so the movie ‘Tropic Thunder’ is way behind schedule and of course, over budget. To shake things up, Cockburn takes the advice of the story’s author, ‘Four Leaf Tayback’ [Nick Nolte], and decides to throw the actors into the Vietnam jungle with hidden cameras and plenty of rigged explosions to scare the crap out of them and capture more realistic, from-the-gut performances. And of course it all goes to hell … and it’s awesome. 

There’s over-the-top gore, horrible action one-liners and plenty of toilet humor. There’s also some great guest star/cameo roles by Matthew McConaughy [watch his hair in his first scene], Nick Nolte, looking like his real-life mugshot the whole time and in being much like his tabloid-style self, he manages to be over-the-top dramatic and hilarious. And Tom Cruise in my favorite role of his EVER. He pokes fun at himself and does a cameo that is so out of character for him, but I won’t say any more than that. If you like slap-stick comedy or movie spoofs, this one is clever with plenty of stupid and lots of laughs. We loved it. 

4 out of 5. 

Add’l Info: Release Date: Aug 13, 2008 • Runtime: 107 minutes • Rated R for pervasive language including sexual references, violent content and drug material • Photo credit: Merie Weismiller Wallace. © 2008 DreamWorks LLC. All Rights Reserved via allmoviephoto.com 

Tropic Thunder is basically a really funny and clever war movie spoof. You’ll see tidbits from many of the big ones like Platoon, Full Metal Jacket, Black Hawk Down, Tears of the Sun and more.

Chocolat

“One Taste Is All It Takes.”

Ain’t that the truth. This movie is satisfying on many levels. I love Juliette Binoche… I love Johnny Depp… Alfred Molina, Judi Dench, Lena Olin, Carrie-Anne Moss, Peter Stormare…I love Europe… and I love… CHOCOLATE. lol… This movie has it all. 

Chocolat is a fairy tale-like story of Vianne Rocher [Binoche] and her daughter, Anouk [Victoire Thivisol] – drifters who follow the winds – how they move to a small French village and open up a chocolate shop during Lent, across the street from the church, much to the chagrin of the town’s overly-pious Mayor [Molina]. The Mayor believes that indulging in such pleasure is a sin, and tries to steer his townsfolk clear [as he denies himself] so the shop will fold and the outsiders will be on their way. But Vianne works her magic, offering samples of her divine product she lovingly makes herself by hand from fresh cocoa beans, with an uncanny knack for guessing peoples’ favorites. That is, until a band of gypsies come through on the river, including the mysterious Roux [Johnny Depp], whom she can’t peg no matter how hard she tries. Can Vianne win the hearts of the townspeople and change the Mayor’s mind before the winds carry her and her daughter away? 

Directed by Lasse Hallström, the man that brought us The Cider House Rules, and The Shipping News, you can expect the same calibre with Chocolat. This is such a great story, with an amazing cast. All the characters are so rich. When we saw it in the theater I was completely immersed in that village with them. I bought it as soon as it came on DVD and when I watch it, I always have a couple of chocolate truffles on hand. It’s tough to see all that delicous looking chocolate without partaking. By the way guys, this movie isn’t just for the ladies, you’ll enjoy it too.  ;)

4 1/2 out of 5. 

Add’l Info: Released: Jan 5, 2001 • Runtime: 121 minutes • Rated PG-13 for a scene of sensuality and some violence • Photo credit: ©Miramax Films, via allmoviephoto.com

Trainspotting

“Choose life. Choose a job. Choose a starter home. Choose dental insurance, leisure wear and matching luggage. Choose your future. But why would anyone want to do a thing like that?”

This is one of those movies that is both painfully funny and morbid at the same time. It’s one of my favorite movies of all time and I’ve seen it dozens of times. I enjoy twisted, dark humor and awesome dialog with a touch of surrealism thrown in.

Trainspotting is the story of Renton [Ewan McGregor], a young heroin addict from Edinburgh, who’s ready to kick his habit despite the fact that most of his friends aren’t. They’re basically a bunch of guys who can’t handle the idea of growing up and submitting to the hopeless daily grind, so they let the good times role while milking the system, unaware of the eventual consequences. But they become painfully aware soon enough when they realize that heroin isn’t better than the mundaneness of life, given the alternative…

This movie has an amazing cast playing some really great characters. Along with Ewan McGregor’s ‘Rents’, there’s Jonny Lee Miller’s ‘Sick Boy’ – the worlds biggest Sean Connory fan who can kick his heroin habit anytime he wants, “thereby downgrading” Rent’s own struggle… There’s ‘Spud’ played by Ewen Bremner [you might recognize him from Black Hawk Down's 'Nelson', or AVP's 'Graeme Miller'] – a kooky, not-so-bright, yet funny guy [who's accent is really tough to understand if you're not familiar with the Scottish accent -you've been warned...], who’s biggest goal in life is to get laid, and who probably has one of the most embarrassing experiences any of us could fathom… Kevin McKidd plays ‘Tommy’ [best know as 'Lucius Vorenus' from the HBO series Rome] - the clean-living, athletic friend who finds himself curious about his friends’ attraction to drugs and decides to see for himself… Robert Carlyle plays their older friend ‘Begbie’ who has massive anger management issues and is a total psycho… And then there’s Kelly McDonald who plays Renton’s underaged girlfriend ‘Diane’ [see lately in No Country for Old Men].

Based on the book by Irvine Welsh, it’s no surprise it was nominated for an Oscar for best screenplay. There are plenty of whacked-out, disturbing images in this movie, including plenty of shooting up and gross bathroom scenes, so it’s not for the faint of heart, but if you’re a Ewan McGregor fan or you just like quirky characters and killer dialog, you’ll dig this.

4 out of 5.

Add’l Info: Released: Jul 19, 1996 • Runtime: 94 minutes • Rated R for graphic heroin use and resulting depravity, strong language, sex, nudity and some violence • Photo credit: movieweb.com, origin unknown

This Weekend’s Box Office 8.11.08

We didn’t end up going to the movies this weekend – too much to do, nothing we were dying to see. I did start watching La Vie En Rose this weekend, so I’ll have a review for that one soon. Here’s this past weekend’s box office results:

USA Weekend Box-Office Summary week of 8 August 2008 courtesy of IMDb.com
 

Rank		Title	Weekend	Gross
1		The Dark Knight (2008)	$26M	$442M
2		Pineapple Express (2008)	$22.4M	$40.5M
3		The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008)	$16.1M	$70.7M
4		The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2(2008)	$10.8M	$19.7M
5		Step Brothers (2008)	$8.9M	$80.9M
6		Mamma Mia! (2008)	$8.08M	$104M
7		Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008)	$4.86M	$81.8M
8		Hancock (2008)	$3.3M	$222M
9		Swing Vote (2008)	$3.11M	$12M
10		WALL·E (2008)	$3.04M	$210M