Alice in Wonderland

I sort of wish I had read the book first, however I do understand the story from the good old animated Disney classic. The only thing that really sucked about watching the movie is that I didn't get to see it in 3D. I believe the animation behind all the special effects would have been more powerful if I had.

Some parts even seemed fuzzy. Did they just throw the 3D one on the screen and forgot to give us the glasses?

But besides all that, the only other downside to the film was the lack of energy from Alice herself played by Mia Wasikowska. I think she gave us the most of her acting skills at the end when she takes part in the final battle, which in itself was a little short.

But nothing could go wrong with the rest of the actors who played their roles fabulously. Of course I am talking about Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, and Anne Hathaway. Besides the outrageous scenary, these actors are the ones who made this film! (Except for Johnny's breakdancing at the end... that could have been left out).

Go see this in theatres. I won't hold it against you! But if you do, go see it in 3D!

The Crazies

Not at all exciting, The Crazies was over emphasized during the commercials giving me the idea that you'd have more involvement with The Crazies themselves. However, the formula for this film included:

(This of course happens after the fact that something has gone terribly wrong)

- Wander around

- Find "safety"

- Oh no the military!?!

- We're safe

- Wander around

- Split up

- CRAP A CRAZY!?!?!

- Get away safely...

...and repeat every 20 minutes or so.

I had higher expectations of the film hoping that it would involve more of the zombie theatrics but I guess a lot of other zombie films have given us that all ready and they wanted to involve more military action, which in itself was not that exciting.

I recommend renting it. It's not worth spending 9 bucks on unless you go on a cheap day. Otherwise watch Zombieland... that's scarier than this movie!

Karate Kid or Kung-fu Kid?

The upcoming remake of the karate kid will premier in the new year of 2010 (which happens to be this year).

However, I have one tiny thing to complain about. Is it the karate kid or the kung-fu kid? After watching the the most recent commercial for the movie. I have learnt that Jaden Smith plays a young New Yorker who ends up getting his ass kicked by an 11 year old martial art master who will obviously meet his match later in the film.

Jackie Chan, who is now playing Mr. Han in replacement of Mr. Miyagi teaches Jaden the ways of the martial arts to kick this Asian boys ass.

I understand that Hollywood martial art films are obviously flashy and more spectacular than the real thing. But can they get the title right at least? You can not take the term "karate" which is Japanese and use it for a Chinese martial art!! It just doesn't work! People will go to karate schools expecting to learn certain things when in fact they'd be learning something completely different.

So far it's one tiny complaint about the film. I will more than likely see it when it comes out but I am sure I will only have more to complain about after I see it. Though I thoroughly enjoy martial art films, this one will probably aggravate the crap out of me!

The End of Time Part 1

All I've really got to say is wow... and that's still just an understatement. Whatever the writers of Doctor Who have planned for David Tennant's regeneration is going to be BIG!! It was quite hilarious to see my friend turn into a ten year old boy once again and cry at the fact that he has to wait until January to see the finale. I could only imagine what must be running through his mind seeing as he's been watching the show for many years now!

I can't wait to be there when it finally happens. It will be interesting to see how the Tenth Doctor's time will come to an end.

Avatar

Sit back, put your 3D glasses on and get ready for a ride worth watching! The movie Avatar, and I don't mean the last airbender, was a very stunning and beautiful piece created by who other than James Cameron who also brought you such amazing movies/stories as Terminator, Terminator 2 and Titanic.

His most recent film since the ever popular Titanic film, James Cameron has apparently been thinking about this film for quite some time. Giving his designers the idea, they simply turned to him and said "we're going to DIE!!!" Seeing as the technology didn't even exist to create such a film!

The movie itself was a sigh of relief. An original story for once!! Sure we have our superheroes and books turned into film, but we already know the story. This time however, we entered the cinema not knowing the tales we'd be witnessing for the next three hours.

It all takes place on a planet known as Pandora. It's about six years away from our planet. The Na'vi are the lifeforms that inhabit the planet who wish the "sky people" would leave! Unfortunately for them, they sit on a massive amount of minerals that the humans want. And what better way to get rid of them after a loooooong time of talking then to blow them out of their home!

Not trying to give away too much of the film. I will not say whether they are successful or not. But what I will say is that the final battle between Human and Na'vi is quite epic. Very entertaining and definitely a film you must see in 3D. I've never really liked the thought of 3D but it's become quite popular. I liked James Cameron's view on the idea. The screen becomes more than a screen but a window into the world you are watching and he wanted to create that image for everybody. Well... it worked!

Very original. Every aspect of the film was well thought of, down to the physical features of each creature shown in thie movie. You can definitely see the underwater life brought out in the physical nature of the world Pandora has to offer as everything at night glows so beautifully. I will say that I can not describe any further but to see the film for yourself. You will not be disappointed and if you are then you're standards are too high!

I give this a well above average rating. As I said earlier, I am glad to see some originality is still out there. Keep up the amazing work James Cameron! I expect another great film in due time!

Universal Soldier - Regeneration??

So I am browsing the internet minding my own business and I happen to come across this trailer. (Go to this LINK to view trailer)

Is it for real??

Universal Soldier Regeneration coming soon!! I'm not exactly sure what to think!!

2012

Before I start with my review, I've decided to change my rating method. I am no longer going to use the numbers 1 - 10 but the terms poor don't see it to Fantastic!?!

So last night I had gone to see 2012 with some really average expectations. I mean come on, I think that is a little far fetched as too what may happen in a couple years right? ... Right? Well let's hope not because the destruction involved the first 45 minutes of the film were very well done. Although, I think they tried a little too hard to show as much as they could for every possible idea of dying.

For example: falling out of a skyscraper, having a car push you into the crevis forming between your legs, drowning, etc, etc...

The only other thing I did not get is when the entire city of California began to fall into the Pacific Ocean. I mean how does a limo driver win the lottery and avoid every possible attempt getting himself and his family killed? I mean it's a chance of only 1 in a million that he'd avoid falling off a cliff while hurdling towards it, it's a 1 in a million chance that he'd not get crushed by a sky scraper while driving through it. IT'S FALLING DOWN ON HIM!!! ... I'm sorry, I really didn't get it. But it was still very entertaining to watch.

After all this like any other movie where the world is coming to an end, there is always a sigh of some relief as they journey to safety. This, however, is full of not enough sappy moments where everyone forgives and forgets about their family issues. And by not enough I mean WAY to many. I could hear my older brother next to me sighing in disgust everytime a sappy moment ended and it was about every 15 minutes until the end of the film.

Lame.

But I guess you need that when the world is about flood over... sort of sounds familiar. The whole flooding thing...

Anyways, if you go see this movie I doubt you'd need to be afraid of what may happen in December of 2012. It seemed to me that they bundled up all the theories and made sense out of it like some awesome deal at the supermarket.

I would like to give some credit though to two actors in the entire film. John Cusack and Chiwetel Ejiofor from the movie Serenity. Out of the entire cast and crew they had to be the two best actors of the film. Everybody else I couldn't care for. Their acting skills were a little weak, so when the died I could only sigh in relief that I didn't need to put up with them anymore.

All in all I will give this one an average rating. Personally I'd wait until it comes out on video just to save yourself a couple dollars.

Ugh...

So I just feel like saying this, but we happened to rent Transformers 2 last night because my folks haven't seen it yet. I happened to be at a small get together and when I got home they were half way through it. You know, the part where Shia (if that's how you spell it) is now wanted all over the world! Well by world I mean the USA because The Fallen can only broadcast himself in one country apparently.

However, to no surprise, my mum was on the computer playing a game and my dad was asleep (though that's common for him). I decided to sit down with my brother to see if my opinion would change about the film... It hasn't. In fact, I want to rate this film again because I was WAY to easy on it the first time giving it a six. I totally agree with a friend of mine when he placed a 1 for his rating. The only reason why it gets a 1 is the fact that Optimus kicks ass. The rest of the film was even MORE boring the second time around because I knew what was coming.

I honestly can't figure out how they made it so boring. Maybe the action scenes were too long? Maybe there was less robot and more slutty girls with no brains? Or maybe it's the shitty fact that the final fight with Optimus (now unconscious through 75% of the film) and "The Fallen??" lasts a mere 30 seconds... OooOoOoOooOoooo..Oooo...oo?

I really hope that if they make a third one it will be worth seeing in theatres. My siblings can't understand why I don't enjoy the movie, but what I don't understand is how they think it's great when they grew up watching the series!!! Oh well my opinion still stands.

I am rating this AGAIN at a 1 out of 10. I was definitely WAY to easy on it the first time... I'll be sure not to do it again.

Saw VI

I guess the biggest thing that annoyed me more than sitting and watching yet another Saw film was this jerk who decided to sit RIGHT in front of me during the movie. Not like the cinema was packed or anything. In fact there were a few seats empty which he could have picked. BUT NO!! He had to sit in the seat right in front of me! Not to mention texting... Ugh...

Alright, I am not writing a review on choosing seats. In fact I am suppose to be writing about Saw VI.

"HOLY CRAP there is another Saw movie??!?! No fricken WAY!"

"Yea way!"

There is nothing really to explain. I am sure after the first five, you know that this film is full of puzzles and contraptions meant too disembowel "innocent" people while teaching a very valuable lesson to the pawn in Jigsaw's game.

Oops, did I give it away? Oh well, I am sure you all knew that was coming anyways since they are all the same. The only difference between this one and the other five is that part six takes you another step farther in the now complicated story-line, which you need to remind yourself of because after eight hours of blood and guts you need to refresh yourself with what happened in the last one. I can tell you I can not remember what happened in each one except for the first Saw and the one I previously sat through. The rest are just a blurr of various torture exercises, flashbacks and lessons to be learned about valuing your life.

"Do you remember the uh... the one with the hole full of needles?? Which one was that in?"

"I can't remember!?" Sob...

And I guess the only other difference in part VI is the way people are tortured. I am sure the writers have a great time imagining those up!

I am not even going to rate this movie until it's done, which by then they will be on Saw XXXXXVVIIIVVIVIIXXI. So until then, I am just going to rent the next one if they ever decide to end it. That will be the biggest shocker! Bigger than the first outrageous scene in the series!

Sigh...

Ice Age Dawn of the Dinosaurs

Ice Age 3 Dawn of the Dinosaurs

Between adorable baby T-Rex's and a heartbroken acorn this movie is your usual adventure comedy. With original actors and keeping up with the story from the previous two movies, Ice Age 3 still delivers its hilarious script with success and keeping your interest throughout the film.

I won't exactly say "see it in theatres" nor will I say not too. But I will leave that decision up to you. I've not got much else to say besides seeing it for yourself. It's a good laugh and a cute story which will keep you interested from beginning to end.

I'll give it an average rating. No numbers this time ha ha.

Transformers Revenge of the Fallen

Review



A bit of a snooze fest and slightly disappointing compared to my actual expectations. All in all a good movie, but I feel that the wow factor had already been taken when the first movie was released. This time I watched and thought "okay, this was done before," and I waited for something intense. There were only two fight scenes that actually amazed me throughout the entire film. These were... when Optimus ends up with Megatron's sword through his spark and the very last fight with "The Fallen" (which by the way is the Decepticon's name ...??).


It would have been more effective if they had not shown that massive desert constructicon over a million times on commercials. The first time I saw that I couldn't fathom any of it! By the time I sat and watched the movie I couldn't care about it.

My only other con for this movie is that they had WAY to many easy laughs; such as two massive wrecking balls for the constructicons testicles... OoOoOoOo I hadn't seen that one coming! And don't forget a cracked out mother after eating special brownies! Because that's not an easy laugh either! I prefer the sarcasm, which did enter from time to time otherwise it was not exactly a laugh out loud movie unless you think stupid things are hilarious.

On a positive note, Micheal Bay did learn from his mistakes with the previous fight scenes and decides to slow them down every so often so the audience can catch up with all the CGI blurs. He also zooms out so you can actually figure out what you're looking at and who it is that's talking. I remember asking myself during the first movie "is that Star Scream or Blackout I am looking at... OH it's Blackout, never mind".

Overall, I give this movie a 6 for the corrections made on their previous mistakes but I suppose it's mostly the advertising that destroyed my personal expectations.

UP

The movie "UP" is a hilarious, emotional, enjoyable ride which takes you all the way to South America where an old man and a young boy scout slowly become the best of friends during their adventure.

In the first twenty minutes of the film you're introduced to the main character and shown the life events that lead to his complicated plans raising his house off the ground. Marrying his childhood friend, Carl and Ella are determined to raise money to go to South America for their own adventure but it slowly dies as they keep putting it aside. Getting older, Ella passes and leaves Carl by himself. Not wishing to move as high rises are built all around him, Carl is nearly forced to leave until he decides to take his house with him.

It's while he is in the air you are introduced to Russel again, a young chubby little boy who is determined to earn his last merit badge in the boy scouts... helping the elderly.

They both land in South America and have their destiny set as they are found by the famous beast who Carl's childhood hero is hell bent to capture. It's through this that Carl and Russel grow closer together as Carl realizes that he has to let go of the past for him and Ella lived their lives which was her adventure and now it's Carl's turn to have his.

The movie was sweet as you see an old man become a child once again. The cleverness behind each character is memorable. Hilarious and exciting I give this movie a 9 out of 10 for it was to short! But holds a nine for being classically funny like all the other Pixar creations.

Terminator Salvation Review

Warning: this blog will contain spoilers. If you have not seen the movie please do not read this post!

As Corey, Kukwa, and I sit down in the movie theatre (again) I personally did not expect anything bad to come out of the film I was about to see. I did hear that it had nothing but bad reviews, though, I do not see where they could have come from because the movie had everything it needed to be a good terminator movie.

You obviously can not compare it to the original two mainly because they are the classic films which brought the story to life. "Terminator 3 Rise of the Machines" again should not have been compared but I still think even the third one was a good movie although it was a little bit tacky!

"Terminator Salvation" is in a league of its own. I was very impressed with everything! I won't lie. Camera angles were well placed unlike some movies where you see nothing but CGI blur, explosions, characters you don't care about and MORE CGI blurs! Characters that you could have some connection to while watching the film. The classic machines you see in the first film and the moment that made the movie for me! The director had found a way to get Arnold in the film without having Arnold in it!

The role was played by Roland Kickinger, another Austrian body builder who actually worked with Arnold back in the day. They used his body and with computer graphics, they were able to put the young Arnold Schwarzenegger's face on the actor playing the first Terminator T-800. It was a very satisfying moment when the camera shows from the feet up and you see his face! It would not be a Terminator movie if they had not got him in there somehow.

What is even better is John Connor laying on the floor looking up at him and thinking to himself - friend or foe? And then of course being tossed around.

I give this movie an 8 out of 10 not comparing it to any of the others but for the well casted characters, the amazing camera shots, stunts, a well written script, and for no cheesey bits! And most of all for having everything they needed to make it a terminator film.