tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6260513473341103382024-03-12T21:47:11.634-04:00Movie Review UniverseMovie Discussions: New and OldDavidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400220474824398301noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626051347334110338.post-73064752731630948082011-08-27T23:31:00.002-04:002011-08-27T23:31:12.220-04:00Mooky Duke<iframe width="560" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/BVsU8RihgX4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400220474824398301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626051347334110338.post-21690827288279858232011-08-27T23:29:00.000-04:002011-08-27T23:29:07.321-04:00Playtime At The Park<iframe width="560" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/4cvJKLeW494" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400220474824398301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626051347334110338.post-76372119092116573342011-08-25T21:44:00.000-04:002011-08-25T21:44:22.363-04:00GREATEST STORE EVER - Daily Vlog #265<iframe width="480" height="295" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/l_rYalskiYg?fs=1" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen=""></iframe>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400220474824398301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626051347334110338.post-67216370279720074272011-08-25T01:44:00.000-04:002011-08-25T01:44:25.088-04:00AIR HEADS<iframe width="560" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/LK5Sa5dDFUg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400220474824398301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626051347334110338.post-63666442899861866882011-06-06T10:06:00.001-04:002011-06-06T10:06:24.861-04:00<a href="http://ping.fm/ZbVDY">http://ping.fm/ZbVDY</a>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400220474824398301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626051347334110338.post-37682415962753502062011-06-06T10:04:00.001-04:002011-06-06T10:04:38.167-04:00Northern Kentucky Internet Marketing<div class="pp_items"><div class="pp_item" align="center"><object CLASSID="clsid:02BF25D5-8C17-4B23-BC80-D3488ABDDC6B"CODEBASE="http://www.apple.com/qtactivex/qtplugin.cab"><param name="src" value="http://static.pixelpipe.com/26a55b5f-d39e-4f4f-8b36-2a99311b534f.m4v"><param name="qtsrc" value="http://static.pixelpipe.com/26a55b5f-d39e-4f4f-8b36-2a99311b534f.m4v"><param name="href" value="http://static.pixelpipe.com/26a55b5f-d39e-4f4f-8b36-2a99311b534f.m4v"><param name="autoplay" value="false"><param name="loop" value="false"><param name="controller" value="true"><param name="scale" value="aspect"><param name="width" value="336"><param name="height" value="336"><embed src="http://static.pixelpipe.com/26a55b5f-d39e-4f4f-8b36-2a99311b534f.m4v" qtsrc="http://static.pixelpipe.com/26a55b5f-d39e-4f4f-8b36-2a99311b534f.m4v" href="http://static.pixelpipe.com/26a55b5f-d39e-4f4f-8b36-2a99311b534f.m4v" autoplay="false" loop="false" controller="true" pluginspage="http://www.apple.com/quicktime/" scale="aspect" width="336" height="336"></embed></object><br /><p>Internet Marketing<br /><br />If you really want to dominate your market and be everywhere your customer looks online, then you need to check out our Internet Marketing Services.<br /><br />One of the most frequently asked questions that we receive from website owners is…<br /><br /> “How do I get more traffic to my website? 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Believe it or not…the layout, images, your logo, what you say…right down the colors you choose to have on your website determine whether your visitor chooses to do business with you, or click away to your competitors.<br /><br /> “Because of this, you must do your website right the first time. Otherwise, you’re wasting your money and your time.”<br /><br />We know the “ins and outs” of this business, and we know exactly what it takes to turn your website into the marketing powerhouse that it should be. With our years of experience in web design and internet marketing, you can count on us to get all of this right for you.<br /><br />We specialize in:<br /><br />- Small Business Websites<br />- Content Management Systems<br />- Business Blogs<br />- eCommerce Stores & Online Marketplaces<br />- Directory Websites<br />- Mini Sites & Sales Page Design<br />- Landing Pages<br />- Forums & Message Boards<br />- WordPress Theme Design<br /><br />Web Hosting<br /><br />Small business web presence has just been made more affordable in the Northern Kentucky area. Northern Ky Media Pros offers you a choice of great packages for your website and friendly support. Email today at Northern Ky Media Pros for pricing information.<br /><br />SEO Reputation Manager<br /><br />What this means is we help companies who have bad PR showing up when you search their name on Google.<br /><br />So, if people are bad mouthing the company on blogs or forums or facebook and that information is showing up in Google, we get multiple “good” PR stories to show up and push the “bad” PR stories off page one of the Search Engine Results.<br /><br />Call Us Today Before Your Competitor Does (859) 795-2433<br /></p></div></div>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400220474824398301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626051347334110338.post-83163238102163561752011-06-06T09:59:00.001-04:002011-06-06T09:59:45.909-04:00Northern Kentucky Internet Marketing <a href="http://pi.pe/-21fchi">http://pi.pe/-21fchi</a>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400220474824398301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626051347334110338.post-5147062390361774622011-06-06T01:27:00.000-04:002011-06-06T01:27:56.823-04:00TestHello World.<br />
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Wow this is amazing.Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400220474824398301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626051347334110338.post-30840521132539775262011-04-11T16:11:00.002-04:002011-04-11T16:11:34.072-04:00Check out this video!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/NrIOU3iBChE?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400220474824398301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626051347334110338.post-18636930555416559962010-11-30T23:35:00.000-05:002010-11-30T23:35:53.317-05:00Breaking News Regarding Guns, Drugs, & The US Government<iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Up6vuIy523w?fs=1" width="480" frameborder="0" height="295"></iframe>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400220474824398301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626051347334110338.post-57889821133000828622010-11-19T02:31:00.002-05:002010-11-19T02:31:51.940-05:00Unstoppable Review<i>Trains</i> and <i>brains</i> may rhyme, but both are in short
supply in this movie about a locomotive that takes off without a
driver. Dewey (Ethan Suplee) is the dolt who insists he doesn’t need to
connect the air brakes just moments before he hops out of a moving cab
to throw a switch. Not able to run any faster than he can think, his
engine and its half-mile of cars are soon heading down the track
without him. Even more surprising, his coworkers just laugh at the
situation. When Dewey eventually finds the yardmaster (Rosario Dawson),
he admits his mistake like a schoolboy who has cheated on a test,
leaving Connie to figure out how best to cope with what is now
described as "a missile the size of the Chrysler building."<br />
<br />
Meanwhile at the other end of the line, veteran engineer Frank
(Denzel Washington) and his rookie conductor Will (Chris Pine) have
just pulled out with their load. And guess what? They are headed
straight for the runaway. About the only thing more you could add to
this already tense situation is a school field trip, tanker cars of
hazardous chemicals and a small city with a big curving railroad bridge
that can only be navigated at 15 MPH. Yup… they are all part of this
movie mix.<br />
<br />
If you come into this film expecting only exciting pictures of a
train on the lamb and a passel of railroad workers wondering how they
will stop it, then you may not be disappointed. However, being a big
rail fan myself, I was hoping for a little more to get stoked over in
this great locomotive chase. Pardon the inevitable pun, but this truly
is a one-track script. Character development is virtually non-existent,
with the exception of Frank and Will taking a few sideline moments to
discuss marriage woes.<br />
<br />
Then there is the critical lack of intelligence that overshadows
much of what is on screen. Early in the movie, after being informed
there is a train barreling toward him, Frank asks the obvious question:
"Where is it?" Connie replies they don’t know. Yet Fox News (which is
promoted to the point of saturation in this film that features dozens
of fake embedded reports) has a helicopter tracking the locomotive with
a live video feed. Too bad the yardmaster didn’t look at the huge TV in
her control room. Later, when Connie finally <i>is</i> watching the
news, she sees one of the company heroes madly driving his truck beside
the speeding engine in an attempt to make a daring rescue. Shrieking,
she gives this poor sap a call, forcing him to answer his cell phone
while trying to pull off the difficult maneuver.<br />
<br />
Along with the many moments of peril, an accidental injury with some
blood effects is depicted. We also learn that railroad employees can
swear up a storm because we are treated to a boxcar load of moderate
and mild profanities, terms of deity and a sexual expletive.<br />
<br />
Loosely based on an actual event from 2001, <i>Unstoppable</i> is a
fast-paced, frenetic film with many hand-held camera shots that often
tries too hard to convince us that a million tons of steel running out
of control is a serious matter. For parents of older teens who are
willing to tolerate the language and ignore the plot holes, this train
may barely make the grade.Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400220474824398301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626051347334110338.post-50252259968030565192010-11-19T02:29:00.000-05:002010-11-19T02:29:00.881-05:00The Next Three Days ReviewIt’s not hard to understand why John Brennan (Russell Crowe) does what he does. But is it possible to justify?<br />
<br />
His wife Lara (Elisabeth Banks) has been accused and convicted of
murder. Three years into her sentence, their son Luke (Ty Simpkins) is
beginning to forget what it is like to have a mom at home and John is
tired of the prison guards and bars that stand between him and the
woman he loves. Convinced she is innocent, he tries the legal recourse
route using every penny he can scrape together from his teacher’s
salary. But the couple’s hopes for a new trial are dashed when their
appeal is thrown out.<br />
<br />
Rather than continue to fight the system, John tracks down an ex-con
(Liam Neeson) who has published a how-to book after escaping from
prison seven times. Though John is warned about the risks of attempting
a jailbreak, he forges ahead with a plan to spring his wife out of the
correctional facility where she is being held.<br />
<br />
Increasingly obsessed with the idea, he plots out his strategy on
his bedroom wall, collecting maps, photos, time schedules, delivery
truck routes and Internet videos on stealing cars and making bump keys.
He also drives to the seedier side of town where he sells prescription
drugs on the street to make some quick cash. While there, he also
searches for a criminal element that can forge passports and other
vital documents he’ll need for a quick trip out of the country with his
wife and child.<br />
<br />
Directed by Paul Haggis, the film’s tension builds at an escalating
pace as the awkward academic seemingly bumbles his way through his
early preparations. He is nearly caught while trying to test a homemade
elevator key during a prisoner visit. Too eager to acquire fake papers,
he is beaten and left bleeding on a dark side street after two thugs
lure him into a trap and steal his money. Still filmmakers take no
shortcuts to ensure audiences are on side with the petite blonde inmate
whose innocence is questioned. They also give ample reasons to explain
John’s vigilantism. But it becomes increasingly difficult to excuse his
actions when he turns to crime as a way to secure his wife’s freedom
and leaves a trail of fatalities in his wake. His recklessness also
forces his parents (Brian Dennehy, Helen Carey) and sibling (Michael
Buie) into compromising situations even though he is fighting to
correct an injustice in the justice system.<br />
<br />
Playing a cat and mouse game with detectives who are closing in on
the escapees, the film does a fair job of holding the audience’s
attention to the final climatic moments. However, the movie is not
quite as convincing at making the audience cheer for a man who
knowingly steps outside the boundaries of society to secure his own
desires.Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400220474824398301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626051347334110338.post-60960288373413402632010-11-05T17:24:00.000-04:002010-11-05T17:24:17.552-04:00My Attempt To Free Animals at a local Pet Store<object style="background-image: url(http://i3.ytimg.com/vi/JqiUAGJJUNY/hqdefault.jpg);" width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/JqiUAGJJUNY?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/JqiUAGJJUNY?fs=1&hl=en_US" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="295"></embed></object><div style="margin-top: 3px;"><div style="font-size: 12px;"><b>[ <a href="http://keep-tube.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DJqiUAGJJUNY?fs=1" title="Download with Keep Tube!"><img src="data:image/gif;base64,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" border="0" /> Download</a> ]</b> </div></div>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400220474824398301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626051347334110338.post-47492642125142991482010-11-05T17:23:00.000-04:002010-11-05T17:23:44.853-04:00Miley Cyrus Hannah Montana Video Store Adventure<object style="background-image: url(http://i3.ytimg.com/vi/FqSCtbZsdMc/hqdefault.jpg);" width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/FqSCtbZsdMc?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/FqSCtbZsdMc?fs=1&hl=en_US" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="295"></embed></object><div style="margin-top: 3px;"><div style="font-size: 12px;"><b>[ <a href="http://keep-tube.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DFqSCtbZsdMc?fs=1" title="Download with Keep Tube!"><img src="data:image/gif;base64,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" border="0" /> Download</a> ]</b> </div></div>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400220474824398301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626051347334110338.post-41920862362856818412010-11-05T17:22:00.000-04:002010-11-05T17:22:45.117-04:00Driving Tip of the Day for November 5<object style="background-image: url(http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/x9dsFd2BICI/hqdefault.jpg);" width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/x9dsFd2BICI?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/x9dsFd2BICI?fs=1&hl=en_US" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="295"></embed></object><div style="margin-top: 3px;"><div style="font-size: 12px;"><b>[ <a href="http://keep-tube.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dx9dsFd2BICI?fs=1" title="Download with Keep Tube!"><img src="data:image/gif;base64,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" border="0" /> Download</a> ]</b> </div></div>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400220474824398301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626051347334110338.post-67077768848739736072010-10-26T18:50:00.000-04:002010-10-26T18:50:23.280-04:00HereafterDirector Clint Eastwood doesn’t waste a single bullet in the production of <i>Hereafter. </i>In
fact, bullets aren’t even a part of the script. But that doesn’t mean
people don’t die or leave others behind to deal with the aftereffect of
their demise. Death, when depicted in this film’s natural disaster, an
accident and supposed terrorist attack, is often sudden and startlingly
realistic. But in comparison to those brief intense scenes, the rest of
the storyline ambles along at an unhurried pace introducing the movie’s
main characters. Though they live in different parts of the world, we
know they will eventually find one another—even if we haven’t seen the
trailer. Yet it takes most of the movie to make that happen.<br />
<br />
On the San Francisco docks, George Lonegan (Matt Damon) works in a
sugar factory. After hours, his brother Billy (Jay Mohr) badgers him to
reopen an office and cash in on his gift as a psychic. Billy even goes
so far as to show up at George’s apartment with the occasional client
(Richard Kind).<br />
<br />
However George recognizes that knowing everything about
a person weighs heavily on him and hampers the ability to build a
long-term relationship. (Still, George is not opposed to trying to do
so with his cooking class partner played Bryce Dallas Howard.)<br />
<br />
Meanwhile Marie LeLay (Cécile De France), a French journalist, deals
with the posttraumatic symptoms of being caught in the crushing waves
of a tsunami while on vacation at an idyllic tropical resort. Her
experience with seeing shadows of the afterlife has left her grasping
for a deeper understanding about what happens when a person passes.<br />
<br />
Finally, a young London schoolboy (Frankie and George McLaren)
searches for consolation after the death of a close family member. But
his succession of visits to psychics, who use mirror gazing, high
frequency microphones and other measures to contact the dead, leaves
him disillusioned and often unresponsive to the compassionate gestures
of living people around him.<br />
<br />
In the final minutes of the film, Eastwood manages to bring the trio
together through a series of coincidences that even feel somewhat
believable. Yet it appears to be all for naught. After building up some
strong sexual tension in a kitchen scene and coaxing out convincing,
emotional performances from many of his actors, Eastwood doesn’t seem
to capitalize on what could have been a powerful climatic conclusion to
the story.<br />
<br />
While many of his other productions (among them <i>Million Dollar Baby, Changeling</i>, and<i> Gran Torino</i>)
have given audiences plenty of opportunity to debate his characters’
actions, this script fails to justify the instant connection between
individuals or the film’s seemingly abrupt ending. Still the
possibility of life after death is an idea that will likely spark
discussion among viewers once again. And with only a single strong
sexual expletive and a handful of other profanities, the death scenes
offer the most concerns for parents who may be considering an outing
with their older teens to see this ammunition-free movie.Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400220474824398301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626051347334110338.post-41350381646286156272010-10-06T17:47:00.001-04:002010-10-26T18:49:11.652-04:00The Social Network ReviewIn <i>The Social Network</i>, the character of Mark Zuckerburg
(played by Jesse Eisenberg) is an academically brilliant, but socially
inept, Harvard undergrad. When his girlfriend Erica Albright (Rooney
Mara) breaks off their relationship, Mark retaliates by posting his
unedited thoughts about her on his blog. (The same lack of personal
censorship has come back to sting other social network users who hit <i>post </i>before
reconsidering their comments.) Mark then hacks into the school’s
directory, steals information and sets up a website where his fellow
classmates can rate the girls on campus.<br />
<br />
While the site doesn’t do anything to endear him to the female
population, it catches on immediately with the male students. The stunt
also comes to the attention of the faculty when it brings down the
school’s server. The result is academic probation for the computer
whiz. Yet despite that, Mark convinces his friend Eduardo Saverin
(Andrew Garfield) to help him create an even bigger version of a social
networking site. In exchange for a thousand dollars seed money and a
mathematical algorithm to make the program work, Eduardo becomes the
business manager for the fledgling company that ultimately becomes <i>Facebook.</i><br />
<br />
Meanwhile Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss (Armie Hammer)<b> </b>approach
Mark with their own idea for a social website and ask him to help them
write the computer code necessary to launch it. But accusations and
lawsuits fly when Mark unveils his own version of the concept after
repeatedly ignoring the twins’ attempts to communicate with him.<br />
<br />
As the popularity of the original <i>thefacebook.com</i> explodes,
NAPSTER creator Sean Parker (Justin Timberlake) approaches Mark and
convinces him and his programmers to relocate to sunny California
(where it appears the group lives solely on licorice and liquor). The
move tears a rift between Mark and Eduardo who have different ideas
about the company’s direction and initiates yet another court case
aimed at the young entrepreneur.<br />
<br />
During scenes of the hearings, Mark remains indifferent to the
allegations and insolent toward the plaintiffs and their lawyers.
Though he has all the smarts needed to found a world-changing
phenomenon, his lack of social skills and maturity fuels hurt feelings
and threatens the company’s reputation. Consequently, it may be
difficult for some audience members to warm up to this character that
can hardly maintain a face-to-face relationship and yet is the guru
behind the largest social site to date.<br />
<br />
Putting in strong performances, the actors in this film bring
believable versions of the multi-billionaires to the big screen.
Unfortunately, these newly minted moneymakers use some strong
expletives to express themselves. They also get involved in plenty of
sexual exploits and parties that include smoking, drinking and the
recreational use of illegal drugs.<br />
<br />
While Facebook now boasts a net worth in the billions and over 500
million active users, this production gives a new face to the story
behind its beginning—one that is often more acrimonious than friendly.Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400220474824398301noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626051347334110338.post-5414468478785346902010-09-17T18:38:00.000-04:002010-09-17T18:38:14.056-04:00Alpha and Omega Movie Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJiwZ6pbXnghVYrjYS7PYRisnpMWxiA3gx1vlRY7Xt_daDJAW8DYbVwqoAGsMzbiM_scP1SEG9GlHUhKmIXo4nCsqkSCteNzfzlWBjDOi0xUyc1Ep4A43MlRTyeK7zIxOW4lfBFavmi04/s1600/alpha-and-omega.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJiwZ6pbXnghVYrjYS7PYRisnpMWxiA3gx1vlRY7Xt_daDJAW8DYbVwqoAGsMzbiM_scP1SEG9GlHUhKmIXo4nCsqkSCteNzfzlWBjDOi0xUyc1Ep4A43MlRTyeK7zIxOW4lfBFavmi04/s320/alpha-and-omega.jpg" /></a></div>
Justin Long and Hayden Panettiere provide the voice talent for two
animated wolves named Humphrey and Kate in this 3D adventure. The pair
of carnivores calls Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada their home.
But even though they enjoy cavorting with their friends and family in
the serene nature preserve, there is still a problem brewing. The
“Eastern Wolves” led by Tony (voiced by the late Dennis Hopper) live
across the creek and are desperate for meat because the caribou don’t
roam there anymore. These hungry neighbors want access to the land
dominated by Kate’s father Winston (voice of Danny Glover).<br />
<br />
One obvious solution appears to solve the territorial dispute: Have
Kate accept Tony’s son Garth (voiced of Chris Carmack) as a mate. As
both are Alpha wolves, they are equally matched in the accepted social
order. However, there is one secret dissenter to the plan. Humphrey, a
second-class Omega male silently yearns to woo Kate himself. But
figuring out a way to overcome long-established class boundaries and
getting approval from her father and the rest of the pack, are
substantial obstacles he has yet to overcome. (And then there is the
fact that Kate views him only as a buddy.)<br />
<br />
While the animals attempt to sort out some resolution to this soap
opera, a couple of animal control officers appear on the scene. The
human officials are looking for a pair of wolves they can relocate to
help repopulate a state park in Idaho. And guess which two they pick?<br />
<br />
The next thing Kate and Humphrey know they are waking up in the back
of a pickup truck on their way to the Gem State. When they are released
into an unknown wilderness, the pair immediately begins to look for a
way back home. Soon they meet up with a duck (voice of Eric Price) and
a Canada Goose (voice of Larry Miller). Although the foul are first and
foremost serious aficionados of golf, they also claim to have visited
Jasper often and offer the lost wolves a few pointers on finding their
way north.<br />
<br />
So Kate and Humphrey set out on a long road trip. Of course, this
means they will have to spend a great deal of time together and… well…
I’m sure you can see where the plot will go next.<br />
<br />
While the conclusion may not be a huge surprise, parents may be
wondering if they are the only ones feeling a little awkward about the
portrayals of the animals in this film. Although there are no overt
sexual discussions in the movie, it’s the “howling” that may raise some
eyebrows. This somewhat musical activity is described as the ultimate
uniting of a male and female wolf, and the dialogue accompanying the
event implies there is more to it than just exercising vocal chords.
(After their howl, one character asks the other, “Was it good for
you?”) It’s subtle, but the term is essentially a synonym for sexual
activity.<br />
<br />
That aside, there is little other content for concern. The wolves
get into a couple of skirmishes and are seen hunting on a few
occasions. (This "natural" pursuit is depicted without blood and very
little peril). Some mild bathroom humor is also heard.<br />
<br />
On a final note, artistically this film falls below what audiences
are used to seeing from more mainstream sources. It’s a US-based
production that’s animated in India and set in Canada. Sadly, this
international blend doesn’t work very well, and the animal movements,
as well as their environmental surroundings suggest few of the creators
have ever seen a wolf or its typical habitat. If you go expecting more
of a beta experience, you’ll be in for less of a disappointment.Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400220474824398301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626051347334110338.post-14133904054311072272010-09-16T03:23:00.000-04:002010-09-16T03:23:21.196-04:00Kevin James to Play MMA Fighter in New FilmTwo bit of movie news that by themselves don’t quite deserve their own post, but together! Well, they still don’t deserve a whole post, but these are the only two interesting bits of movie news I could find right now, so, you know.<br /><br />
First up, Kevin James will be playing an MMA fighter in a new, untitled comedy for Sony. No, really.<br />James is attached to play a physics teacher whose school faces drastic cutbacks. In an attempt to save his best friend’s job and the music program his students love, he moonlights in the octagon as a mixed martial arts fighter, ultimately leading to brawling in the UFC.Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400220474824398301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626051347334110338.post-70798339345042165002010-08-27T21:59:00.000-04:002010-08-27T21:59:08.217-04:00The Last Exorcism<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyBHub0cxhHs3sWtMyVmoFRyDv4gp40F8myXzEDpJA0sMqBmRP-QVoETb3DkvUfRICSnW6n5PkxkeFuIJWPWClz6NIAGw9C-Bo0JsFfjOAFvm-V8lIWeyTmD5jIbkK3FZ5LCuTp5d1-pU/s1600/cottongirl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyBHub0cxhHs3sWtMyVmoFRyDv4gp40F8myXzEDpJA0sMqBmRP-QVoETb3DkvUfRICSnW6n5PkxkeFuIJWPWClz6NIAGw9C-Bo0JsFfjOAFvm-V8lIWeyTmD5jIbkK3FZ5LCuTp5d1-pU/s320/cottongirl.jpg" /></a></div>
In the Deep South, Reverend Cotton Marcus (Patrick Fabian) is a
well-known preacher who began working in the ministry as a child and
performed his first exorcism while still an adolescent. Now as an adult
he often receives impassioned pleas from those seeking relief from
demons. But Cotton, who has perfected the showmanship aspect of his
sermons, is facing a crisis of faith.<br />
<br />
After reading about exorcisms that resulted in the death of
children, he determines to expose these acts as fraud. To do so, the
religious shyster (with all the saintly sincerity of an unscrupulous
used car salesman) decides to accept one last invitation to reclaim an
innocent soul. While doing so, he plans to expose all his tricks of the
trade to a documentary film crew he is bringing along.<br />
<br />
With a smirk on his face, Connor drives with his sound specialist
(Iris Bahr) and a cameraman to the Louis Sweetzer farm where he is
greeted by a distraught father (Louis Herthum) with strong
fundamentalist beliefs. In an emotional voice, Louis recalls the recent
death of his wife and the impact it has had on their family. He also
introduces the trio to his son Caleb (Caleb Jones) and his teenaged
daughter Nell (Ashley Bell). He accuses the innocent looking young girl
of killing and disemboweling the family’s farm animals and presents her
bloody clothes as evidence of her deeds. Nell, on the other hand, has
no recollection of the nightly activities she is supposedly involved in.<br />
<br />
Employing a few slight-of-hand tricks to convince Louis of his
power, Cotton finally agrees to execute an exorcism but only after he
has personally prepared the bedroom where the event will happen with
props that will help simulate a departing devil. With the camera
rolling, the purging takes place. And by nightfall the team has left
the farm and settled comfortably in their hotel rooms five miles away.
Then Cotton wakes in the night to find Nell standing beside his bed in
a blood splattered nightgown. Wide-eyed and unresponsive, the girl
looks more possessed than ever.<br />
<br />
If the erratic movements of the handheld camera haven’t begun to
bother you by this point in the film, the increasing gore might. Taking
a knife, Nell slashes open her brother’s face. (The act takes place off
screen although<b> </b>Caleb’s blood soaked mouth and clothes are seen
as he tries to stop the bleeding.) Lashing out like a wild animal, Nell
also becomes increasingly demonic as the plot continues, contorting
herself into strange positions and breaking her own fingers. Throughout
the production, the moviemakers maintain the notion that this is a
factual film, much like producers promoted the reality of paranormal
activity <i>in The Fourth Kind</i>).<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, the script does little more than further the negative
stereotypical portrayals of religious believers as fanatics and
Southerners as illiterate, incestuous and superstitious. Using the
simple tactics of camera angles, scary sounds and darkened sets rather
than an excess of complicated computer generated special effects, the
movie manages to create a sense of suspense. However the focus on
satanic rituals may disturb some young viewers or spark a curiosity in
the occult among others.<br />
<br />
Though this film is titled with the promising adjective "last", a sampling of similar type horror movies (<i>The Exorcism of Emily Rose, The Haunting in Connecticut, Dark Water </i>and<i> The Skeleton Key</i>) already on DVD shelves, proves it might be too optimistic to hope that this is truly <i>The Last Exorcism</i> we’ll see.Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400220474824398301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626051347334110338.post-87768196372751835872010-08-27T21:44:00.000-04:002010-08-27T21:44:48.499-04:00Takers ReviewThe cops and robbers genre has been around for a long time—though in
the early days it often involved a sheriff and gun-slinging outlaws.
But movie figures who are sworn to protect and to serve are having a
hard time of late. No longer are they the heroes wearing the white hats
and restoring justice. It is the felons who get away with the money,
the murders and most often the girl.<br />
<br />
Following the formula for films like <i>Oceans Eleven</i>, <i>Twelve </i>and <i>Thirteen</i>, and <i>The Italian Job</i>, <i>Takers</i>
features a cast of men who feel no remorse over lining their pockets
with currency from other people’s savings accounts. (They do, however,
donate ten percent of their haul to charity—presumably as a way to give
back to the community after ripping off individuals who earn their
livelihood in a more socially acceptable manner.) Living in luxurious
homes, they use the piles of bills they have stashed away to imbibe in
the best liquor and cigars, drive expensive cars and outfit themselves
in top-of-the-line suits.<br />
<br />
To put it simply, there is nothing shabby
about the everyday life of these thieves.<br />
<br />
But greed can get to even the most charitable of crooks. The day
after they make off with bags of loot from a California bank, Gordon
(Idris Elba), John (Paul Walker), A.J. (Hayden Christensen) and
brothers Jesse (Chris Brown) and Jake (Michael Ealy) are unexpectedly
visited by an old team member who had his sentence shortened for good
behavior. While Ghost (Tip ‘T.I.’ Harris) may have been the model
inmate, he is far from reformed. With next week’s armored car route in
his hands, he proposes a new heist with a $20 million payoff.<br />
<br />
Compared to these high living criminals, LAPD officers Jake Wells
(Matt Dillon) and his partner Eddie Hatcher (Jay Hernandez) are a sorry
sight. Eddie lives in the suburbs with his wife (Zulay Henao) and their
young son (Harrison Miller) who is facing serious medical issues. Jake
is a rumpled, short-tempered workaholic devoted to justice. He gets a
bad rap when he follows up on a lead in the robbery on the day he is
supposed to be spending quality time with his daughter (Isa Briones).<br />
<br />
Yet in reality the police do little more in this storyline than keep
George and his gang from publically flaunting the source of their
funds. The real conflict comes when a group of <i>badder</i> rogues
attempt to steal the hot money from the bank robbers. The result is
endless exchanges of gunfire. (For apparent artistic purposes, the
director accompanies one lengthy hotel room shootout scene with strains
of violin music and millions of feathers from perforated pillows
drifting gently through the air.) The only thing that outnumbers the
barrage of bullets is the constant use of scatological slang and
profanities that are teamed up with frequent portrayals of smoking and
alcohol use. A brief, shadowed depiction of male buttock nudity is also
shown when a man enters a pool where two women wait for him.<br />
<br />
Although there is some collateral damage along the way, these
criminals not only glamorize robbery, murder and the destruction of
public property but they do it with a sense of entitlement—as if all
that cash was due them. But then what can you expect from a group of
guys who admittedly revere Genghis Khan as their historic hero.Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400220474824398301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626051347334110338.post-39924544438872869542010-08-23T22:46:00.000-04:002010-08-23T22:46:53.430-04:00The Last Song Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2k2k8qoOmXu1pqGhH84LgDrQ5KQ_exrL1vH84ittXjv-CaMVe0kgrlORFsisGefkEXZ4n3oUKKLw1WiuGXyHximFHNJRGLGrcrh6dI_EtaTr8QlDFiQ11dGvKTHj62acCBdPv_YwZZKU/s1600/last-song.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2k2k8qoOmXu1pqGhH84LgDrQ5KQ_exrL1vH84ittXjv-CaMVe0kgrlORFsisGefkEXZ4n3oUKKLw1WiuGXyHximFHNJRGLGrcrh6dI_EtaTr8QlDFiQ11dGvKTHj62acCBdPv_YwZZKU/s320/last-song.jpg" /></a></div>
Miley Cyrus fans will likely weep their way through this teen
tearjerker. Other audience members, however, may be less than smitten
with the <i>The Last Song.</i><br />
<br />
Despite the number of Nicholas Sparks’ novels that have been tailored<b> </b>for
the big screen, this is the first time the author has penned the
screenplay as well. Unfortunately too many of the scenes in this
adaptation suffer from awkward or unbelievable dialogue and others,
which appear to have some potential, are shoved on the screen and then
yanked off before the characters or circumstances have time to develop.
It takes some consummate acting skills to give life to these clumsy
lines and regrettably Miley Cyrus is not a consummate actress—at least
not yet.<br />
<br />
Learning her trade on the preteen sitcom <i>Hannah Montana</i>
required nothing more than a limited number of exaggerated emotions,
namely sad, happy, angry. While this works for the show’s target
audience, it never allowed Miley to practice portraying more subtle or
complex feeling. Just like Hannah, her character Ronnie in <i>The Last Song</i>
is either cheerful, cheerless or cheesed off, and it is usually the
latter. Thankfully, Miley’s younger costar, Bobby Coleman, puts in
several emotionally touching performances<b> </b>that help redeem the script.<br />
<br />
In the story, Ronnie is a defiant, sulking teen who wears a scowl
that would scare off a pit bull. Forced in the back seat of her
mother’s (Kelly Preston) SUV, she and her little brother Jonah (played
by Coleman) are hauled off to spend the summer with their estranged
father (Greg Kinnear) in a Georgia beach town. While I can think of
worse places to be dumped, Ronnie is still seething over her parents’
divorce and appears to want some kind of blood sacrifice to atone for
their decision to separate. Even though she has exceptional talent and
years of musical training, she also punishes her mom and dad<b> </b>by refusing to sit down at the piano or accept an invitation to Julliard.<br />
<br />
After arriving on Tybee Island, Ronnie has an accidental run-in with
one of the local boys. While she is pushing through the throng at a
shoreline carnival, Will Blakelee (Liam Hemsworth) unintentionally
bowls her over during a beach volleyball game. Maintaining the same
"I’ll forgive when I am ready" attitude that she uses with her parents,
Ronnie refuses to graciously accept his apology. Undeterred by her
rudeness, Will continues to try and engage the glowering girl every
time he sees her in the small town. Eventually he wears her down with a
long and lingering kiss on the beach. But the rest of the film is spent
watching Ronnie boomerang between professions of love and loathing for
the young man. Her ever-changing attitudes make it difficult to feel
any real affection for the troubled teen.<br />
<br />
On the other hand, Ronnie makes a few good decisions that most
parents will appreciate while watching this film with their preteens.
Given a chance to consume alcohol at a late night make out session on
the beach, Ronnie rejects both alcohol and some advances from an
inebriated partygoer. As well she refuses to be involved in stealing
from a street vendor. Later she helps a girl in an abusive relationship
find the courage to get out. Audiences will also see more than one lip
lock between Ronnie and Will, yet there isn’t even a hint of more
intimate relations. And Ronnie finally exhibits some maturity when a
family tragedy befalls them. Ultimately she even takes her eyes off her
own problems long enough to help someone else.<br />
<br />
In a similar fashion, viewers will have to look past this film’s
flaws and lock on those few redeeming qualities in order to appreciate
this story. Otherwise this summer romance barely earns a passing grade
even for Hannah Montana fans who are ready to watch their favorite
sitcom star grow up.Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400220474824398301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626051347334110338.post-75506415136412371662010-08-23T22:41:00.002-04:002010-08-23T22:41:45.433-04:00Nanny McPhee ReviewTo say the Brown children misbehave is an understatement of
magnificent proportions. These seven motherless children are down right
naughty. <br />
<!--PARAGRAPH2--><br />
Sneaking down to the kitchen, they
whack the cook (Imelda Staunton) over the head with a frying pan before
tying her up and ransacking the kitchen. They drive their seventeenth
nanny screaming from the house after pretending to eat the baby, and
one brother routinely decapitates dolls and teddy bears with his
guillotine. <br />
<!--PARAGRAPH3--><br />
The situation is so bad the local employment agency refuses to answer Mr. Brown's (Colin Firth) inquiries for more help. <br />
<!--PARAGRAPH4--><br />
Fortunately, Nanny McPhee (Emma Thompson) doesn't
work for the agency. Arriving unbidden on the family's doorstep, the
bulbous-nosed woman with the warty chin and black attire immediately
takes measures to restore peace. <br />
<!--PARAGRAPH5--><br />
Given the challenge of a new victim, Simon
(Thomas Sangster) and his siblings assume they can run off this hired
help as easily as the others. They introduce themselves with bogus
names (body parts and bathroom terminology), intending to rattle her.
But Nanny McPhee, unruffled by their rude humor, insists on proper
manners and uses her magical touch to enforce them. With firm but
tender composure, she ensures the rowdy offspring experience the
consequences of their choices <br />
<!--PARAGRAPH6--><br />
Knowing she can only stay as long as she is
needed, Nanny McPhee promptly goes about establishing calm in the
chaotic household by helping the children deal with the loss of their
mother and their father's lack of attention. When their stuffy and
bossy Aunt Adelaide (Angela Lansbury) arrives for tea, she also helps
the brood use their heads to solve a familial dilemma. <br />
<!--PARAGRAPH7--><br />
However, even she can't interfere with matters of the heart. So when
Mr. Brown--a mortician who talks to his deceased clients--presents Mrs.
Quickly (Celia Imrie) as a possible stepmother, the children are left
to their own devices to scare her off. Unfortunately, in an attempt to
shield the bawdy widow from his children's nasty pranks, the father's
actions are misconstrued as overt sexual advances. <br />
<!--PARAGRAPH8--><br />
In addition to playing the robust nursemaid, Emma
Thompson penned the screenplay based on the Nurse Matilda series. Over
and above the rambunctious progeny, her characters include two comical
funeral assistants and Evangeline (Kelly Macdonald), a self-conscious
scullery maid. While the outcome is predictable, the colorful sets and
inevitable food fight will likely entertain older children. <br />
<!--PARAGRAPH9-->Whether or not <em>Nanny McPhee</em> sparks another reading frenzy like <em>Harry Potter</em> or <em>The Chronicles of Narnia</em>,
her insistence on civility and her corresponding kindness demonstrates
it's not necessarily bad to carry a big stick as long as you have an
equally big heart.Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400220474824398301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626051347334110338.post-63022273941771372322010-08-20T00:20:00.000-04:002010-08-20T00:20:15.851-04:00Vampires Suck ReviewSince the book release in 2005, <i>Twilight </i>has had a polarizing effect on the general public despite spending over 91 weeks on the <i>New York Times </i>Best
Seller List. The first film debuted in 2008 in sold out theaters and
grossed over $392 million worldwide. But not everyone bought into the
craze. So considering the phenomenal success of the Twilight franchise,
it is amazing it has taken the writing team of Aaron Seltzer and Jason
Friedberg this long to lampoon the vampire trilogy for the sake of
those who dislike the glittery image of Edward. What recent film series
is riper for the ribbing?<br />
Jenn Proske plays the brooding and angst-ridden Becca Crane with the
same stammering, incomplete sentences and constant hair tucking that
the Belle Swan character has become known for. The other cast members,
Matt Lanter as Edward Sullen, Diedrich Bader as Becca’s father Frank
and Chris Riggi as the shirt-sluffing Jacob, recreate their more famous
counterparts with a certain amount of comedic precision. And the script
doesn’t miss the opportunity to poke fun at some of the more
unexplainable points of the original story. Why, in fact, does the
morose new girl at school attract so much attention from not one but
two boys?<br />
Unfortunately the scriptwriters, best known for the crass humor <i>in Date Movie, Scary Movie, Disaster Movie </i>and<i> Meet the Spartans,</i>
let the real possibilities of this parody slip through their fingers.
Rather than penning an original storyline that could stand on its own
while taking jabs at the series, they randomly pluck lines and scenes
from the trilogy and slap them together with excessive, farcical
violence. The scenes portray characters being beheaded, impaled with a
pitchfork, hit with a shovel and pierced in the head with a spiked bat.
Unending crude sexual innuendos and comments are also included, along
with some male buttock nudity and inappropriate comments from a father
to his daughter.<br />
Using up all their good gags and one-liners in the first 40 minutes,
the plot lags during the final act as Becca strives to stop Edward from
exposing himself (literally) to the evil leaders of the vampire
underground (Mike Mayhall, Ken Jeong, Bradley Dodds) and the entire
crowd at her high school prom. But by that point in the movie, any
reason to engage in this overwrought attempt to mock the undead has
long been sucked dry.Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400220474824398301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626051347334110338.post-40857215256186081482010-08-14T04:28:00.000-04:002010-08-14T04:28:16.782-04:00The Expendables Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifRr2za1JhA-vQ2nFNVoSUGZDQh2r7acVkLMCbmSQqE7qBo1DtS2ERx7tl8vNj2NTz9Eot0Lh4js3zx7M6eiJ35ZK6ms21_xF_yi6cTwen3Rd_bv9vR79oi_u5IZigwsPXzTtcGf7YiP8/s1600/the-expendables-movie-poster-404x600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifRr2za1JhA-vQ2nFNVoSUGZDQh2r7acVkLMCbmSQqE7qBo1DtS2ERx7tl8vNj2NTz9Eot0Lh4js3zx7M6eiJ35ZK6ms21_xF_yi6cTwen3Rd_bv9vR79oi_u5IZigwsPXzTtcGf7YiP8/s400/the-expendables-movie-poster-404x600.jpg" width="267" /></a></div>
Well the Summer 2010 movie season is winding down. As usual we’ve had a couple of hits (<em>Toy Story 3, Inception</em>), misses (<em>The Last Airbender, Jonah Hex</em>), and a whole lot of in-between. This downhill side of summer now brings us to Sylvester Stallone’s <strong><em>The Expendables</em></strong>
– a promised testosterone fest that many have been looking forward to
as a throw-back to the good old days (1980s) of macho, cigar-chewing
tough guys (with a soft spot for women in danger) who have endless gun
magazine clips and cheesy but funny throwaway lines of dialog.<br />
<br />
The question of course, is whether Sly and the gang deliver just that?<br />
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The
film opens with what’s come to be the standard,
introduction-to-the-team action set piece. It’s a hostage rescue
situation and the nice thing about it is that it’s very effective at
establishing both who the characters are when it comes to dangerous
situations and what we can expect from the rest of the film. The action
and violence factor is made clear right up front in a satisfying
sequence where the team takes down the bad guys without backing down
even a fraction of an inch.
<br />
The team:<br />
<ul>
<li>Ross (Sylvester Stallone), leader of the Expendables</li>
<li>Christmas (Jason Statham), Ross’ second-in-command</li>
<li>Yin Yang (Jet Li), Chinese martial arts master</li>
<li>Jensen (Dolph Lundgren), a borderline psychotic Swedish sniper</li>
<li>Hale Caeser (yeah, I know, played byTerry Crews), heavy weapons specialist</li>
<li>Toll Road (Randy Couture), demolitions expert</li>
</ul>
Home base for the team is a warehouse that former Expendable, Tool
(Mickey Rourke), calls home. Rourke is the philosophical anchor of if
not the team, then Ross, who leads it. They’re good, long time friends
and it’s Tool who Ross turns to when he’s struggling with a decision.
Jensen seems to be enjoying killing now – he’s been in the game too
long and can no longer be trusted, and Mickey warns Ross that will
happen to everyone who stays in the business too long.<br />
<br />
Ross is looking for one more job, and this is where Bruce Willis and
Arnold Schwarzenegger make their cameo appearances. Willis is effective
as Church – apparently a CIA higher up who needs a job done in a
foreign county, but needs it done off the books. Arnold comes in as an
old rival to Ross, and while it was amusing to see the banter between
the three characters, Arnold’s cameo felt completely superfluous and
the film would have been had he been left out.<br />
<br />
The mission is to overthrow a South American dictator, but once the
team gets there they find things to be much more complicated than they
had anticipated (or been told about). Ross meets their contact there, a
lovely young woman named Sandra and played by Giselle Itié.
She’s afraid but overcomes her fear for love her country and people.
Things go wrong and the team has to escape – in a pretty awesome action
scene involving their cargo plane and of course some really big
explosions. <br />
Ross was forced to leave Sandra behind and it eats away at him – he
has to decide whether to save himself or attempt a suicide mission to
rescue her (one guess which he picks).<br />
So enough about the story… is the movie any GOOD?<br />
<br />
Well, that will depend on you. <em>The Expendables</em> is a movie that I already know is going to split people down the middle.<br />
<br />
If you’re looking for anything more than a macho throwback to 80s
action movies you’re going to be very disappointed. If you’ve been
looking forward to blood, brutal hand to hand, thousands of bullets
flying and tons of explosions then you’ll be one happy camper.<br />
<br />
Me, I’m somewhere just north of the middle.<br />
<br />
I get what Stallone was trying to accomplish here – I just don’t
think he quite managed to do it as well as it could have been done. For
one thing, while I’m not privy to early incarnations of the script, it
seems evident that it was supposed to have more of the aging action
stars thing happening than what ends up in the finished film. Among the
actors that were approached to appear in some roles that ended up being
filled by younger actors were Jean-Claude Van Damme, Wesley Snipes,
Kurt Russell (Chuck Norris and Carl Weathers would have made fine
additions as well). Instead younger (mostly non-) actors were chosen:
Steve Austin (who plays bad guy Eric Roberts bodyguard), Randy Couture
and Terry Crews.<br />
<br />
The three younger actors mentioned don’t get a lot of dialog, and
honestly that’s something I’m thankful for. They’re in the film to look
and act tough, and at that, they are pretty damned good. There was one
scene where Terry Crews waxed poetic about his uber-gun and it was a
pale shadow of Jesse Ventura’s description of “Old Painless” in <em>Predator</em>. Was Ventura a great actor in that film? Of course not – but that leads me to another point…<br />
<br />
One of the hallmarks of those bodybuilder-filled action movies from 25 years ago were the throwaway one-liners:<br />
<blockquote>
“I’ll be back.”<br />
“Yippee Ki Ay Mother F****r.”<br />
“Dead or alive, you’re coming with me.”<br />
“Hasta la vista, baby.”<br />
“I ain’t got time to bleed.”<br />
“Stick around.”</blockquote>
You get the picture.<br />
<br />
With the exception of the aforementioned scene with Stallone, Arnold
and Willis, most of the humor in the movie falls flat. You keep waiting
and hoping for a witty or even cornball quip that might put a smile on
your face – but it just doesn’t happen. Most of the dialog is just
plain weak. There are a few decent moments that shine through – in
particular a scene where Mickey Rourke is thinking back to the event
that changed the course of his life… powerful stuff for a movie like
this. There are also a couple of scenes between Statham and his
girlfriend that manage to convey some depth of character for the man –
and a fight scene on a basketball court related to that which manages
to seal the emotional tie between him and his young lady (go figure). I
would have liked to have seen a little more screen time from Jet Li,
but at least he got more than the professional fighters in the cast.<br />
But other than those and a few scattered moments (usually between
Stallone and Statham) the conversations never really seem to click.<br />
<br />
Due to that, a lot of the movie feels like waiting around for the
next big action set piece or the next hand to hand combat sequence.
With the exception of some jarring in-close camera work (which to my
recollection is thankfully the exception and not the rule) those scene
are most DEFINITELY worth waiting for – and are what this movie is all
about.<br />
<br />
The fight scenes are brutal, with lots of bone-breaking and blood
shooting and splattering. They go on for a while and for the most part
allow you to see what the heck is going on (although some of them are a
bit to WWF-ish). The big action sequences are pretty amazing as well –
the escape from the South American country, both the car chase scene
but especially the flight out of there. Damn sweet for action fans.
There’s also an over-the-top action sequence combining gun battles,
hand to hand, massive explosions, collapsing buildings and a river of
fire at the end. ‘Nuff said.<br />
<br />
For me, it was great seeing a bunch of guys being guys. Especially
the older actors, who were obviously raised before they started putting
estrogen in the meat supply. No emo guys here, and even when being
introspective they’re muy macho.<br />
<br />
So if you’re looking for a guy’s movie that’s heavy on the action and you don’t mind if it’s missing a lot of everything else, <strong><em>The Expendables</em></strong>
is for you. So now you’ve been warned: If you’re expecting more from
this movie, don’t come crying to me because it lacks emotional depth
and character development.Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400220474824398301noreply@blogger.com0